Subject: Between You and Me (01/06) Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 15:40:18 +0900 From: Cousin Raven Courtney To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu Forever Knight Fan Fiction Title: Between You and Me Category: Challenge:song By Cousin Raven Courtney (Jennifer Courtney) Email: raven@naturesong.com Rating: PG-13 Status: New Date: 1 Feb 99 Sequel/series: Stand alone Archived at http://www.naturesong.com/raven Other Archiving: Permission given to archive at fkfanfic.com and the ftp site. Others, please ask. All characters herein were borrowed, abused, and put back. Characters are owned and copyrighted by Sony Pictures/Tristar Corp and were created by James Parriott and Barney Cohen. I'm just borrowing them for awhile, I promise to put them back in relatively good condition. No copyright infringement is intended. Any similarity to any real persons, living, dead or undead, is purely coincidental. Between You and Me Lyrics from Jennifer Paige's song of the same name. Part (1/6) ***** They say the road of life is paved With the good intentions we have No matter how we try to keep our promises Sometimes we just can't A little bit of faith can be wondrous It's the only place we can turn to ***** Natalie sighed as she moved the paperwork around on her desk. It seemed that's all she had been doing all night. She'd pick up a report, then put it down, and pick another one up. Not really reading it, just searching for the mundanity of life. The report she had read earlier took ultimate precedence of all things in her mind, and it agitated her. "Hey, Nat." Nick said as he entered. All he got in response was a grunt from her. She continued staring blankly at the various reports. His brow wrinkled at her non-response. "What's up, Nat?" She glared at him from behind her desk. "Just go back to your little immortal world, and leave me alone." She bristled. His eyes widened, and he turned to go. "Nat?" "Go." He went. (End Part 1/6) Cousin Raven raven@naturesong.com http://www.naturesong.com ICQ# 19949518 Forever Knight - \(^^)/- Because Fangs are sexy! Subject: Between You and Me (02/06) Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 15:40:20 +0900 From: Cousin Raven Courtney To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu Part 2/6 Disclaimers in Part 1 Archived at http://www.naturesong.com/raven *** Between you and me There's enough love that I believe We'll rise above And we'll get through anything Between you and me *** Nick was a confusing and moody person all night. His partner, Tracy, just looked at him from over her desk all night. He seemed to be on auto-pilot, doing the paperwork, but not really seeing it. He had a far away look in his eyes. Not the same look as he got when he was remembering something from the past, but the look of heavy concentration, trying to figure something out. Tracy guessed it was probably about Natalie. Everything went back to Natalie. She wondered for the umpteenth time just what their relationship was about. Natalie paced in the Morgue. She was getting tired of Nick complaining about his immortal existence. He had no right to complain about what most people would give their eyeteeth for. She smiled wryly. Including herself. She stared at the test results again. Malignant. A malignant tumor in her breast. It was not deadly, but she did not relish the alternative either. She sighed and sank down into her desk chair. She just couldn't think. She needed to talk to someone. Anyone. Scratch that, anyone but nick. But who? The Raven was crowded tonight, and she wove her way through the thick crowd and toward the soundbooth in the back. She had no idea why she was here. She only knew she needed answers, and there were only two people who could give them to her, and she was afraid of both of them. Lacroix felt the confusion in his son's mind. He knew that silly mortal woman, Natalie Lambert, had something to do with it. She always seemed to be making Nick's life a living hell, and Lacroix's life with it. He slammed the cd into the tower and turned with a growl, ready to begin his monologue. The view through the soundbooth window startled him. It was Natalie. He stared at her with cold, unfeeling eyes, debating what to do. She was, after all, the cause for all this distress. Perhaps he could smooth everything over for his moody son. He turned and flicked a switch that would turn on a recording of a previously recorded performance, along with a little music. He had no idea how long this would take. Natalie fearfully looked into the soundbooth. It was a stupid thing to be here, in the very mouth, per se, of the spider's den. Her thoughts wandered back to the test results she had received. Her resolve hardened, and she met Lacroix's eyes. They seemed to be laughing at her, her weak mortal self. Tears formed at the edge of her eyes, but she angrily brushed them away. The soundbooth door opened, and Lacroix stood in the doorway..."Come in Dr. Lambert..." Lacroix looked over the desk at the woman sitting there. He might have loved her himself in another life, but in this one, she was Nick's problem. She had started crying as soon as she sat down, and had yet to say a word to Lacroix himself. He gave her his monogrammed handkerchief, and she took it gratefully, wiping the old tears away, just to make room for new ones. A fresh flood ensued. Lacroix sighed and leaned back in his chair, studying her intently, trying to draw an understanding from her silence. Perhaps she was having a silly mortal fight with Nick. The cross of tidals of emotions emanating from both Nick and Natalie was making Lacroix quite uncomfortable. If he just knew what was wrong, maybe they could fix their silly squabble and he could live his own emotions for awhile. Natalie's tear stained face regarded him quietly. The tears had stopped for awhile, and she looked imploringly up at him. "Why?" she choked out. "Why does it always end up this way?" "My dear doctor, whatever do you mean?" Lacroix's aristocratic voice boomed. "I'm dying." (End Part 2/6) Cousin Raven raven@naturesong.com http://www.naturesong.com ICQ# 19949518 Forever Knight - \(^^)/- Because Fangs are sexy! Subject: Between You and Me (03/06) Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 15:40:23 +0900 From: Cousin Raven Courtney To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu Part 3/6 Disclaimers in Part 1 Archived at http://www.naturesong.com/raven Nick blew out of the precinct as soon as he could get the captain to let him go. His tires screeched out of the parking lot as he drove to the coroner's office. He could barely see the road. Things were so clear now. Just from what she said, he thought he understood. **mini-flashback** "Just go back to your little immortal world..." **end-fb** She was sick, or in trouble. There was definitely something wrong, and he wanted...needed to find out what. He jerked the wheel quickly to avoid an oncoming car. He defiantly needed to stay in the present, at least until he stopped the car. At the morgue, Natalie's office was dark. "Hey, Grace...Where's Nat?" Grace looked up from her file..."Hmm? I thought she was with you." Nick had to calm down so he wouldn't fly from the office. "I gotta find her...Grace, do you know what's wrong with her?" Grace shrugged her shoulders..."I thought you two had a spat or something, she's been kinda moody lately." Nick shrugged..."It's not me, at least I don't think it is. Anything else?" "Well, she had some hospital tests done..." Grace shifted uncomfortably. "But I'm not supposed to say anything..." Nick walked toward her. We hear her heartbeat getting louder...(Whammy mode on)"Grace...listen very carefully...you need to tell me what the tests said..." "No...She didn't want me to say anything...I wasn't even supposed to know..." Heartbeat gets louder as Nick concentrates more. "Tell me what the tests said..." In a faraway voice..."Malignant tumor...right breast...operable, but only a mastectomy will get rid of it..." Nick sighed. That explains it all. "Now, Grace, you didn't tell me anything...I asked, but you refused to tell me, and I left." "I didn't tell you anything...You left..." Nick smiled and flew from the coroner's office. End Part 3/6 Cousin Raven raven@naturesong.com http://www.naturesong.com ICQ# 19949518 Forever Knight - \(^^)/- Because Fangs are sexy! Subject: Between You and Me (04/06) Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 09:37:53 +0900 From: Cousin Raven Courtney To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu Part 4/6 Disclaimers in Part 1 Archived at http://www.naturesong.com/raven "Poor Nat..." it was all he could think as he drove through the streets of Toronto. He needed someone to talk to. He needed someone to tell him what to do, how to handle this. "What does Nat _really_ want?" The possible answers to that question haunted him all the way to the Raven. He turned on the radio. Lacroix was on the air, but...something was wrong. The monologue was old. He'd heard it only last week. Something was definitely up. The Raven's music didn't penetrate though the soundproof walls of Lacroix's soundbooth. Lucien doubted she would have heard it even if it was right in her ears. She was so shaken up. It had taken a half an hour to get her to quiet down and speak civilly to him. Usually she was reserved around him, afraid he supposed. He liked it that way, it was easier to keep the being around you afraid. Right now, Natalie seemed totally oblivious to any fear, except her own inner fear. The tears had never really stopped, but she poured her story out to him, leaving nothing out. If anyone could understand, it was Lacroix. "...the test results were positive...(sniff)...I know it's silly (sniff) but I'm afraid...I don't want to live like that...maimed...(wipe tears)...for life...just another reason for Nick to leave...(sniff)...and that Nick always complaining about being immortal, like you hated him with a passion, and so you wanted him around forever...c'mon...(sniff)...it can't be _that_ bad...(hic)...I mean, sure (sniff) you can't go to the beach and get a tan...(sniff)...and you'll never eat chocolate or popcorn (sniff) but it can't be all that bad..." Lacroix sat forward and listened intently. He had a feeling she was asking for something. *** They say that bridges burn >From one soul to another And it don't take nothing And I pray somehow with love To build an understanding >From the ashes that remain Not enough faith can be dangerous It's the only place we can turn to *** Nick walked into the Raven. He looked around, looking for Natalie, though he had no idea why she would be here. Something told him she was though. Nick glanced at the soundbooth. He could see Lacroix clearly through the glass, and that he was talking with someone, but Nick couldn't see who. "Wine, Nick?" Maurice asked from behind the bar. Nick nodded absently, still looking toward the booth. Maurice gave it to him and without much thought he drank it down. He decided to approach the soundbooth. He put the wine glass down and started for the door. "...and then (sniff) how do you all drink that stuff anyway...(wipe)..." she looked at Lacroix. (sniff) "I'm so scared." It was the first controlled thing she had said since entering the soundbooth. He looked at here carefully. "Just what are you asking me for, doctor?" She stared at him as if he had a huge bug on his face. Her eyes widened. Lacroix got up and closed the blind on the soundbooth window. Nick flinched when he saw the soundbooth blinds close. Something was very, very wrong here. Tried to listen, but the soundproofing kept even his ears from hearing anything. He knocked on the door, hard. Nothing. He knocked again, harder. The door opened slightly, and Lacroix stood in the doorway. "My, my the prodigal son returns...I hope you are bearing gifts..." Nick just glared at him. "Well, then, at least collect your mortal." He stepped away from the door, revealing Natalie's tearstained face. (End Part 4/6) Cousin Raven raven@naturesong.com http://www.naturesong.com ICQ# 19949518 Forever Knight - \(^^)/- Because Fangs are sexy! Subject: Between You and Me (05/06) Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 09:37:56 +0900 From: Cousin Raven Courtney To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu Part 5/6 Disclaimers in part 1 Archived at http://www.naturesong.com/raven Lacroix seethed inside. His son had such horrible timing. He could've come just ten minutes later, the deed would've been done. Lacroix watched Nicholas with a cold eye. He remembered what Natalie had said only minutes before..."Do it Lacroix. I'm tired of this mortal suffering...help me please." He had been about to oblige her, after all, she had help save him and the rest of the vampires from that virus. True, it was he who discovered the cure, but she had helped dispense it, and had given him the information to find it. If he brought Natalie over, it would also be another thing binding Nicholas to him. Another thing to make Nick stay at Lacroix's side. It would've been perfect. It still could be, Lacroix decided. "My dear, do you care to repeat what you said to me in the presence of our friend Nicholas?" Natalie glared at Lacroix with clear eyes. The tears had stopped a few minutes ago. "It is my life, Lacroix. It is my life, Nick. I will do with it what I please." She seemed hardened now, determined. She glared at Nick, daring him to tell her she was wrong. Stark realization struck Nick. She had asked Lacroix to make her a vampire. It seemed an impossibility, yet there it was. For all her talk of faith and trying harder to become human, she was just a scared mortal. It made Nick want to hold her close and protect her from the world. *** There are times when I don't feel safe Like we're not on solid ground But I trust your eyes When I see you look this way I know we'll find it We're gonna find it *** Nick looked at Lacroix. A flood of emotions exchanged between them. "Oh, Natalie." He took her in his arms and held her. She held him tight. Lacroix watched with cold eyes, but in truth, he hoped he could bring the good doctor over. She was a strong woman, normally. He reached for her hand. "Natalia...I am still here if you want this..." She looked up at Nick. He smiled down on her. "It's better if Lacroix does it, if it's what you really want. At least you wouldn't resent me for doing it..." He swallowed thickly. It wasn't easy. He didn't want her to face the darkness and guilt he did. Perhaps since times had changed it wouldn't be the same for her. She didn't need to kill. He hoped it would stay that way. She took Lacroix's hand, and Lacroix held her for a minute, before beginning. Nick inhaled shakily, and locked the door to the soundbooth. The reels on the recorder were still playing. Lacroix watched Nicholas as his fangs dropped, and his eyes yellowed. Nick's face was impassive, like he was the observer in a dream. Lacroix moved her hair away from her neck, and scraped his fangs along it slowly, drawing little blood. Natalie whimpered. Lacroix's tongue touched the blood, and Nicholas was suddenly forgotten. He sank his fangs deep into her neck. Natalie cried out, but quieted quickly. He drained the correct amount and eased her down into the chair. She seemed sleepy, and Lacroix knew he had little time to finish the deed. He tore the flesh of his wrist, causing ample blood to flow. He put it near her mouth, and her eyes widened. She was really doing it. Not a dream, reality. Her lips closed around his wrist, and she felt the blood flow through her insides, setting an internal fire to her. She drank and drank. Images of Lacroix's past flowed through her mind, as the blood through her mouth. She felt his love for Nicholas, and his pain at being rejected by him. Lacroix suddenly pulled his wrist from her mouth, and she fell back onto the chair. The last swallow trickled down her mouth as consciousness faded away. *** They say that bridges burn >From one soul to another And it don't take nothing And I pray somehow with love To build an understanding >From the ashes that remain Not enough faith can be dangerous It's the only place we can turn to *** End part 5/6 Cousin Raven raven@naturesong.com http://www.naturesong.com ICQ# 19949518 Forever Knight - \(^^)/- Because Fangs are sexy! Subject: Between You and Me (06/06) Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 09:37:59 +0900 From: Cousin Raven Courtney To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu Part 6/6 Disclaimers in Part 1 Archived at http://www.naturesong.com/raven Natalie could see a bright light. It seemed to glow before her eyes. She started for it. "Natalie..." She heard Nick's voice clearly. "Nick! Nick, where are you?" She looked around. She was in a desert-like place. Nothing was visible besides sand, and that bright light. "Nick?" "Natalie...come back to me...Natalie...please." She could hear him. The light beckoned to her. Nick sat in the soundbooth room holding Natalie. She had gone slack just a few minutes ago, but it seemed like hours. He was worried. "Lacroix, what if she decided to step into the light...Lacroix, I cannot lose her...Lacroix?" "Nicholas, you know we cannot make that decision for her. She must." Nick looked down at Natalie's closed eyes. "Please, Natalie...come back to me." Natalie understood then. She heard Lacroix, and Nick calling to her. If she listened to the light, she would die. If she listened to Nick, she would live, as a vampire. Not her first choice, but dying was even lower on her list. She would go back. A resolute look came into her eyes. "Fires of hell, be damned, I'm going back..." Natalie started to struggle in Nick's arms. Nick smiled and looked at Lacroix for approval. He was holding out a bottle. Nick read the label. It was human of course. "Better be quick, Nicholas, before she wakes up and takes a bite out of you." Nick took the bottle, and pulled the cork out. He put it near her mouth. Her eyes flew open, they're yellow glinting fiercely. "Here, Nat." She sucked the whole bottle down. With the bottle empty, she seemed to regain her senses. Her eyes still glinted yellow. Her fangs protruded slightly from her mouth. She leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes..."Hgow gu you contwrol it?" Nick smiled, "It's hard, Nat, but you'll learn...after all, you have all the time in the world." *** There are times when I don't feel safe Like we're not on solid ground But I trust your eyes When I see you look this way I know we'll find it We're gonna find it *** Between You and Me As sung by Jennifer Paige They say the road of life is paved With the good intentions we have No matter how we try to keep our promises Sometimes we just can't A little bit of faith can be wondrous It's the only place we can turn to Chorus: Between you and me There's enough love that I believe We'll rise above And we'll get through anything Between you and me They say that bridges burn >From one soul to another And it don't take nothing And I pray somehow with love To build an understanding >From the ashes that remain Not enough faith can be dangerous It's the only place we can turn to Chorus There are times when I don't feel safe Like we're not on solid ground But I trust your eyes When I see you look this way I know we'll find it We're gonna find it Chorus **** Cousin Raven Comments: raven@naturesong.com "I am what I am, and I don't think Betty Ford takes vampires."--Nick Unholy Trinityer, N&N Packer, Dark Knightie, Dark Nattie, and of course, Cousin. Forever Knight - \(^^)/- Because Fangs are sexy!