From sclark@best.com Tue Jul 28 11:41:21 1998 Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1998 19:20:09 -0700 From: clark To: fkfanfic@merlin.darkmage.net Subject: Substance #22 Thanks to Lisa for giving me the idea for this one. Last names are withheld in case you don't like it. Permission given to archive at fkfanfic website and the FTP site. No other permission is granted to repost/reprint/reuse. If you're interested drop me a line. As always, feedback is welcomed. This story is based on characters and situations that aren't mine. Thanks to TPTB for their use. Substance #22 by S. Clark Nick came into the morgue and rolled himself onto the examining table. Natalie walked in and, thinking she'd had another delivery, checked for a tag. She started at the feet not thinking to look at the face. "Do you grope all of your client's feet?" asked Nick. Nat jumped. Although it wasn't the first time he'd spoken to her from this table, that didn't mean she was used to it. "Nick," she said, taking a swipe at his leg. "What are you doing up there? You scared me." He groaned, clenching his stomach. "I don't know, but I think something is wrong." She felt his forehead. "You do feel closer to room temperature than usual." She looked at his face. "And your color is even more pasty. What are the symptoms?" "It's my stomach," he said. "Maybe it's something I ate." She peered at him, raising an eyebrow. "But I thought you only ate one thing." "I do. Usually. Maybe it was the protein shake you left in my fridge last week." "Last week? Nick, the last one I left there was last month." "That could explain it." She patted his cheek. "Let me fix you something." Nat went to the far side of the lab and returned with a container of something that was red and bubbling. "C'mon, sit up." "I don't feel like it." "Well, I don't have any straws. Now be a big boy and sit up." She helped to push him into a sitting position. He sniffed at the concoction. "Nat, this has blood in it." "I know, Nick." He took another sniff. "Human blood." "Drink," she ordered. He raised it to his mouth but pulled it away again. "I'm not sure I can." She took the glass from his hand. And, pinching his nose, held it to his mouth. "C'mon, Nick. You can do it." With a lot of struggle and a few spills she was finally able to pour a bit into his mouth. "Hey," he said, surprised. "That's tasty." Nick grabbed the cup from her hand and took another swig. "Not bad at all. Rather light. Refreshing". He downed the rest of the glass and let out a loud burp. "Nick!" "Excuse me," he said, covering his mouth. "Can I have the recipe, Nat?" "No," she said. "Why not?" "Because then you won't drink my protein drinks." "It was your protein drink that got me here in the first place," he protested. "Besides, I'd be good. I'd make it with cow." He burped again. This time red foam came to his lips. "Excuse me," he said, covering his mouth. She handed him a tissue. He burped again. More foam. "On second thought," he said, "maybe it's not such a good elixir." He wiped his mouth. "But it was tasty." She rolled her eyes. "Get out. Go home. That's the last thing we need is for you to get busted for 'Mad Vampire's Disease.'" "Good thinking," he said, punctuated by yet another burp. She laughed. Then went to her journal and made another entry under the heading 'Substances patient cannot tolerate.' She scribbled in the book, '#22. Alka Seltzer.' Natalie chided herself knowing that this wasn't the most scientific list in the world. But, at times, it could be amusing.