After watching the three seasons of "Forever Knight" over and over again, it
soon became clear that Mr. Parriott's wonderful characters were only
partially explored.  More stories cried out to be heard and displayed as
they deserved. The three seasons were unparalleled, but they were only an
appetizer, and we were still left hungry.  And as Nick could tell you, the
hunger can be a very difficult drive to deny.

This story began a few minutes after "Last Knight" was last aired.  Even
though I usually go through a two day bout of depression each time I view
this final episode, I am convinced that both Nicholas and Natalie survived.
This series was too magic to end!  So as dozens of scenarios passed through
my mind while trying to explain away my pain, I heard a song by Barry
Manilow that inspired this story.  So pay no attention to USA's version of
Nick and Nat's fate for as the song I was listening to proclaimed, they are
still going on burning bright "Somewhere In The Night."

This fan fiction piece takes place after "Ashes to Ashes" and before and
including "Last Knight."  This story came about as I desperately tried to
understand what it was that was going on in Nick and Nat's lives that would
allow them to be receptive to trying this last ditch attempt at Nick's cure.

This is a Nick and Nat story, make no mistake.  Sorry Immortal Beloveds, but
I was going with cannon and Janette had already been re-vamped by Nick, and
had taken off by this time.  The same is true for Vachon, who as far as
Tracy remembers has moved on.

A very special thanks to my beta reader Rosemary for her help, insight, and
good nature.  And for giving so generously of her time.

Also I wish to express my gratitude to my husband Neil for his patience
during all the times I zoned out while watching the story play out in my
mind.  And for his support, encouragement, and enthusiasm for my writing.
Thanks for inspiring me, and allowing me to grow.

Archive Permission:  Permission to archive to Mel's FKFanfic Archive, and
the FK Ftp site IS GRANTED.  All others must ask permission.

Disclaimers:  The Forever Knight characters belong to Columbia Tri/Star.  No
copyright infringement is intended.  This story and all other characters are
copyrighted by me.

In addition to being blessed with excellent beta readers for each story, I
am indebted to to all of you who kindly sent suggestions and comments on my
first story.  I have tried to incorporate all your ideas, and I sincerely
appreciate all your contributions.  This is a learning process, so please
continue to communicate your thoughts. Please send all comments to:
[email protected]
 

Part 1

Looking up at the cloud filled skies, Natalie closed her eyes in disbelief.
There had been rain off and on for a week now, and it was not helping her
mood.  It was already eight o'clock in the morning, but it looked as though
it were twilight.  This was supposed to be summer, but the dreary grayness
was more reminiscent of a winter's day.  Glancing across the Supermarket's
parking lot, she noticed that all the street lights were still lit verifying
that she was correct about how little light this new day was bringing.
Standing under the protective awning of the store's entrance, she tried to
estimate how wet she would get if she just made a mad dash for the car.  The
rain was gentle, and she only had a few small bags to carry.  How wet would
she get if she ran straight to the car?  Why hadn't she tried to find a
closer parking place? Placing all her groceries in one arm, she rummaged for
her keys in her coat pocket with her free hand.  Her fingers clasped around
the keys as she removed them from her pocket and repositioned her purchases.
  Glaring at the annoying rain, she now knew that she had everything she
needed to rush to the car. Everything except the motivation.  But, that was
not unusual, lately.  There did not seem to be motivation for anything.
Going to work each day had become an exercise of just going through the
motions.  Simple pleasures like eating were gone.  Nothing seemed
interesting on television or at the theaters 'Oh G-d, would they ever stop
playing The Phantom?' The most frightening thing of all was that finding the
solution for Nick's cure was also becoming a chore that made her cringe each
time she thought of it.

The wind suddenly shifted, and a gust of wind blown rain swept against her.
Feeling resigned, she looked down over her now dripping coat and sighed.
"Oh well, now I can ride home wet."  She silently thought how strange it was
that even this annoyance did not matter much.  Since how wet she was did not
matter anymore, she slowly walked to the car as she watched others, with
their umbrellas, trying to avoid becoming wet.  There was no desire to even
pull her coat closer together as the others were doing.  What did it really
matter if she were wet?  So what!  No one cared, she didn't care.  The world
would go on even if Dr. Natalie Lambert were wet, even if she did not go to
work, even if she did not find Nick's cure, and even if she did not live.
Who really cared?

Finding the keys to the trunk, she mechanically placed the bags in their
usual place, and moved to the driver's side of the car.  One last quick
glance at the sky in an unrealistic hope to find the sun just caused her to
sigh as the raindrops touched her face.  "Okay Lambert, you accomplished the
shopping, now let's see if you can drive home and get some rest."  Opening
the door, she threw her purse across the seat to the passengers side.
Looking all around herself, she couldn't stop the feelings of sadness and
loneliness from taking hold of her.  Nothing ever seemed to change, this was
not any way to live a life.

The drive home was silent except for the sounds of the windshield wipers
moving from side to side, and the rain beating against the windshield.  Only
one week in darkness, and she felt like it was swallowing her alive.  How
did Nick survive century after century like this?

After arriving home, she went back to her trunk to retrieve her packages.
The bags were still wet and seemed significantly heavier as she pulled them
out one at a time.  Dragging her shopping order and herself up the stairs,
she looked as if she had gone for a swim with her clothes on.  One bag tore
apart as she fumbled with her keys, unlocking the door, just in time to
cause all the groceries to spill through the now opened door.  Although
everything seemed to be going wrong, at least Sidney would be happy to see
her although she would not be much company today.  Sidney ran straight for
the can of cat food that had escaped the torn bag, and purred loudly.

"Okay Sidney, give me a few moments to put away these groceries and I'll
open a can for you."  Holding up the can, she scrutinized her pet.

"So, this is what you really want, and I thought you loved me for myself."

Sidney was still eating when she went to change into a nightshirt, and
collapse into bed.  Closing her eyes, she hoped that this dismal day would
clear up by the time she awoke this evening when she would once again start
the same monotonous routine.  Sighing, her thoughts drifted back to how much
her life had changed since she discovered Nick, and all that science could
not explain.  Nothing in her life felt right anymore, something was missing.
  In every part of her body, she could feel that the time for change would
have to be soon.  What the change was going to be she did not know, but it
was clear that it would be between her and Nick.  It was impossible to be so
near to him all the time, and not be a part of his life in every way.  As
she drifted off to sleep the rain fell, and a gentle breeze played with the
curtains on her opened window.  The many indistinct images of her thoughts
began to dance in her head as they all blurred into the beginnings of an
exhausted sleep.

                              ******************

Twisting her hand to see the face of her watch, Natalie took a quick glance
at the date.  It was Tuesday, and she had told Nick that she would stop by
and get some more samples of his blood for another round of experimental
chemicals she was testing.  There really was nothing new, but it was
important to check occasionally to see if any of the other treatments such
as the cutting back on blood consumption, were effecting his physiology.
Probably not, but there was nothing left to try.  Leaning against the side
of the elevator on the way up to the loft, she yawned as the door slid open.
  Stepping out, she stood frozen as her eyes began to scan the empty loft.
Searching with her eyes in every direction, she suddenly began to panic.

"NICK!  NICK!"

The only response was the echoing sound of her own cries for Nick.  She ran
to the stairs, and was up them in a few seconds.  The bedroom was bare.
There was no black sheeted bed or furniture.  She turned to look at the
opened closet door, which exposed a desolate interior.

"Nick, Nick, Where are you!"

Her only answer was silence.  Running down the stairs, her heart pounded
frantically, and she could feel herself begin to shake.  Tears began to
slide down her face more rapidly than she could catch them.

"Nick, Please don't frighten me like this."

The weight of her sorrow made her feel as if she were hundreds of pounds,
and she sat heavily on the bottom step.  As she glanced around the vacant
loft, she held a hand over her mouth as her breathing turned to a frightened
pant. He was gone.  He had moved on.  How could he leave, and not say
anything to her?  But, hadn't this almost happened before?  So why was she
so surprised? So hurt?

"No, this could not be happening.  This is just a mistake.  Somehow, this is
only a mistake."

The tears would not stop.

"Please Nick, I can't be without you.  You are the only reason I go on.
Please Nick come back!  Please come back."

Thunder crashed loudly, and lightning lit up the room as she sat straight up
in bed, and gasped to take in some air.  Rubbing at her eyes, she tried to
stop the images of her nightmare, and calm herself by regulating her
breathing and by quietly repeating,

"It's only a dream, It's only a dream."

Yes it was only a bad dream, but it was the fourth time this nightmare had
occurred in the past week.  The fear would not stop flooding her, as she
hugged her pillow tightly against herself and cried.  Turning to look at the
clock, she saw that the power had gone out, so she reached for her watch.
The time shocked her, she could not remember a day when she had slept so
long.  It was certain now, she was definitely showing all the signs of
clinical depression.  A chill swept across her, and she began to shiver.
What if Nick really moved on?  Would he tell her?  Or would she just wake up
one day to find him gone?

                              ******************

Smiling, Andy sat in his one room apartment listening to the rumbling of the
distant thunder.  It had been almost a week since the storms had delivered
their first message to him from his Mother.  Each night he had waited
patiently for instructions that would lead him to the redemption he so
avidly sought.  By the sacrifices of their lives, they would be delivered
from their sins.  With the anticipation of the oncoming storm, he would soon
be directed to who would be the next, to make amends.  Today he had lost his
third job in only two months, but that really did not matter now.  There was
so much to be accomplished, and a job would only have gotten in the way.  It
was not as if it was a good job anyway.  They had put him to work in the
back of the warehouse where no one could view his grotesqueness.  Having a
decent job was never an option for him.  There was never any money for him
to go to College, so what was there to expect?  As the realization of
knowing that he would never have a successful career tore at him, it was the
loneliness that really hurt.  No reasonable girl would ever consider being
seen with one as mutilated as him, and he could never fault them for that.
Walking over to the broken mirror on the wall, he peeled off the eye patch
to see better.  The removal of the patch allowed for a small amount of light
to enter, but that was all.  The burns had destroyed too much of the eye to
ever allow it to see images again. His stomach turned as he got closer to
the mirror to view the deformed eye. So little could be done to save the
eye, the patch merely shielded the world from the sight of the scorched eye
with no eyelid.  The physical pain was now gone, but the emotional pain of
the scars his face bore burned as fiercely today as they did that horrifying
night so long ago.  That was the time that had left behind the markings of a
night filled with so much terror that it would forever change him both
physically and emotionally.  Did they really think that he had just
forgotten how they had hurt him?  Had they thought that he would be able to
go on unaffected because he was moved to a foster home? How could he ever
walk by a mirror, and not be reminded of how his own Father and his friends
treated him as though he was not human?  A rush of adrenaline exploded
inside him as the storm's intensity began to increase.  Excitement mixed
with his anger as he relived the fierceness of the flames that charred his
flesh that night.  When would these memories stop haunting him?  Would he
ever be able to live a normal life?  It was clear that the one life that had
been sacrificed had not been enough.  The thunder crashed as the lightning
flashes came one after another.  The lights in the tiny apartment flickered,
as the power went out.  Now surrounded by complete darkness except for the
flashing of the lightning strikes, Andy walked across the room to watch the
storm through the window.  The window fan blades still moved powered by the
storm's high winds, as Andy waited anxiously to once again hear his Mother's
words.  Long bolts of lightning stretched across the darkened sky, the light
almost blinding him.  Thunder loudly cracked, and he screamed out just as he
had done the night the flames had streaked across his face.  Tightly closing
his eyes, he recalled his past and he whimpered, "Please Daddy, help me.
Why are they laughing?"  Then he called for her, a mistake that would follow
him for the rest of his life.  "Mommy!"  Frightened he watched as his
Father's anger grew.  How could he have been so stupid?  He was never to say
her name for he knew the consequences of an utterance said without thinking.
  However, he had only called out for her in a moment of terror, it was
nothing more than that.  It was not his fault that she had died, and left
his Father with a child to raise.  How could he blame him?  If she were
still alive, this never would be happening.  The reasons for his Father's
contempt did not matter now, his Father's pain of his own lost was being
placed on him.  Another night of drinking with his work buddies, had
transformed into a night of horrors.  With his eyes still tightly closed, he
raised his hands to his ears and covered them with all his strength, trying
to block out the laughter and his Father's words.  Their laughter grew as
his Father explained that it was now time to teach the boy why it is
important to never play with matches.  Clenching his teeth, he shifted his
hands to cover his face as he again screamed out in horror.  "Mommy!
Mommy!"  Could she hear him in Heaven?  Their laughter surrounded him as the
group of Firefighters took turns holding him so his Father would have easy
access to his son.  Terror seized him as he watched his Father roll up the
nearby newspaper, and light the end of it.  He screamed as he recalled the
flames that swept across his face, and the pain that burned him.  As he
opened his eyes, a large bolt of lightning reached down towards the ground
and struck the tree in front of his window.  It exploded before him, and
began to burn.  Finally, the long awaited message had returned.  His Mother
was again providing him with the answer to stop his endless torment. The
redemption of Bryan Brett was not enough, there was more to be done.  The
time for more redemption had arrived, the time to kill had arrived.  The
answer had been so clear, if only he had known it sooner.  Fighting fire
with fire.  How had he been so blind?  The key to his salvation had been
there all along.  Standing by the window of the darkened room, he watched as
the burning tree lit up the area.  The fire that had destroyed his life was
now the very thing that was to reclaim him.  This was not only his victim's
redemption, it was his.  He had been waiting his whole life for this
solution.  The long familiar lightning had always been there, it had always
been the answer. After tonight, he would be one step closer to having
payment in full.

End Part

                             ******************

The music stopped abruptly.  If it were not for the silence, Nick would
never have even been aware of the power outage.  The candles were already
burning, and none of the electrical lights had even been on this evening.
The thunder's rhythm took the place of the disturbing CERK music.  Maybe
this was a blessing in disguise.  LaCroix had been particularly bleak
tonight, and had been depressing him with the gloom of his messages.
Resting his head against the back of the sofa, he watched as the flashes of
light illuminated the loft as he had never seen it.  Blinking as the flashes
of intense light stung at his sensitive eyes, he still welcomed the small
taste of light into his world of darkness.  Trying not to flinch at the
brilliance of each lightning strike, he desperately attempted to cling to
each small token of daylight.  The dark green bottle that stood on the
nearby side table appeared almost translucent as the bold flashes struggled
to pass through its concealing murky glass. Changing positions, he sat up
and reached for the life sustaining fluid that filled one of his special
containers.  As he neared the vessel, his hand slipped causing the bottle to
crash to the floor.  The small remaining amount of liquid flowed out onto
the carpet, and was quickly absorbed.  Feeling confused, he wondered how he
could have misjudged a bottle that was easily within his reach.  Sleep
deprivation was certainly not an explanation for his clumsiness.  Actually,
he had been getting far more sleep than normal.  It was early evening now,
yet he could feel himself again gravitating to sleep after sleeping all day.
  If he were mortal, he'd bet he was sick but that was not possible for him.
  Maybe he needed to feed more, or maybe the cow's blood was just not
providing enough nourishment anymore.  After all, his body was set up to
receive human blood, not animal.  The thunder cracked again, and lightning
flooded its blinding light throughout the loft.  Suddenly, he felt
something. He heard something.  Someone was in the loft.  Standing up
quickly, he felt dizzy but caught himself from falling.  A faint voice
whispered through the roaring thunder.

"Nicholas"

Stumbling to move around the sofa, he called out through his haze of
confusion.

"Who's there!"

"Nicholas, we can now be with each other forever."

"Who are you?  What do you want?  I can't see you."

"I still love you, Nicholas."

The lightning flashed, and there she stood by the window as beautiful as the
day he married her.  His head was spinning as he reached out to her.

"Alyssa?"

She smiled lovingly, "If you want to be with me, you will need to come
soon."

The lightning flashed again, but she was gone.  Taking another step to where
she had stood, he felt the room begin to spin and he slipped to the floor
and slept.

The telephone had startled him awake as he crawled across the floor and used
the sofa to help pull himself up.  Still feeling quite groggy, he grabbed
for the receiver and pulled it close to his face.  Hoping that he was
holding the receiver in the correct position, he pushed his voice to speak.

"Yeah, Knight."

"Where are you?  Reese has been trying to get a hold of you for hours now.
I told him that you had an important errand.  I think he bought that, but
it's not going to hold him much longer.  So how about getting here already."

Rubbing at his eyes, he tried to remember the name of the person at the
other end of the line that was lecturing him.

"Tracy?"

"Are you all right?  You sound strange."

"Yeah, I'm fine.  I must have overslept.  Thanks for covering for me."

"That's what partners are for, right?"

Nick tried to clear his head, but the memories of Alyssa's image returned,
and he frantically turned his head in every direction trying in vain to
locate her.  The voice on the telephone commanded his attention again.

"Nick, are you still there?"

"Sorry Trace.  I guess I'm still not fully awake.  I'll be down at the
precinct soon.  Thanks again Trace."

Hanging up the telephone, he carefully scanned every inch of the loft.  The
digital clock on the CD player was now blinking the time in red.  The power
had been restored.  Another nightmare, yet it had seemed so real.  However,
it couldn't have been, he must have been asleep.  Why dream of Alyssa now?
That was resolved.  She just needed to know that he still remembered her,
and what they had.  And he did.  A trick of light, that's all it was.  This
was becoming more explicable now, and he was late for work.

Rising from the sofa, his foot struck the bottle that had been carelessly
dropped during the electrical storm.  The small stain of cow's blood had
already dried into the carpet.  Bending down to retrieve the bottle made him
recognize that his head still felt cloudy.  Standing up made him feel
lightheaded, as an overpowering hunger took hold of him.  His hunger
demanded human blood, but cow would have to do.  It was his intention to
improve himself, and it was the promise to Natalie to not consume human
blood no matter how difficult the struggle, that compelled him to continue
drinking the cow blood.  As he turned towards the kitchen, he felt the
hunger pangs intensify.  They tore at him, driving him to move faster.  His
fangs descended before he had a chance to stop them, and he felt drawn to
stalk the darkness. Quite naturally, he found himself searching out prey
from his window.  The sensations of the impeding hunt rushed throughout his
body uncontrollably. Slowing his breathing, he opened the window and locked
on to a heartbeat in the darkness.  All his senses were sharp and alive to
the point of near ecstasy as he watched a young girl as she waited by a bus
stop near his building.  Every beat of her heart called out to him, and he
could feel or see nothing else.  His eyes glowed red as the pain of his
hunger embraced him as a lover, which demanded to be satisfied.  Surveying
the empty streets, he knew he could be out the window and possess her in a
moment.  The sweet smell of the air from the storm mingled with the
fruit-like scent of the innocent's blood.  His head pounded as her heartbeat
beckoned him, her essence demanded that he drink of her now.  The need to do
this was strong, and the time to do this was now.  Swiftly and silently he
flew from his window towards his prey, and with this came the old familiar
rush of excitement which came from swooping down upon a victim.  Landing
behind her in the shadows, he felt his anticipation grow for his
unsuspecting waiting bounty.  Quietly approaching her, he imagined how his
fangs would penetrate her warm soft flesh, and how he would drink until all
that she had would be depleted.  When he felt himself to be close enough, he
naturally locked on to her heartbeat, and she slowly turned towards him.
Looking deeply into his eyes, she became lost to all thoughts but his.
Standing only a few feet from her, he summoned his powers to draw her away
from the streetlight, and into the shadows with him.  His stare invaded her
consciousness, all thoughts and feelings were willingly given to him as he
spoke.

"Come to me."

As she took her first step, the bus stop suddenly became flooded with the
light from the buses large headlights.  That was immediately followed by the
loud hiss of the buses opening door.  The startled and confused girl looked
up at Nicholas, then turned and rushed into the waiting bus.  Her trance had
been broken, and Nicholas turned away in pain and frustration.  As he hid
his face from the bus driver and the passengers, he desperately tried to
regain control.  The driver gently honked his horn.

"Hey Mister, you getting on?"

Feeling the burning glow of his eyes, he knew he could not yet turn around.
As calmly as he could, he pushed out the words that he hoped would have the
driver leave.

"No, I forgot something.  Go on."

"Okay, but I'm the last route for tonight."

Gaining back his control, he painfully pushed down the vampire.  Turning
back to the driver, he smiled.

"Thank you, since the rain has stopped, I'll walk."

The noisy bus door slammed closed, as he watched the bus and the girl he
almost killed drive away.  Something was seriously wrong.  Not only had he
lost control, he had acted on it.  It was vital that he see LaCroix for some
answers.  This drive to feed was reminding him of his first hunger.  What if
this happened while at work?  Work!  He had better come up with a good
excuse, not that it would be hard after so many centuries of practice.  The
real reasons paraded through his head.  He was late because the girl at the
bus stop looked so good that he had decided to stop and drain her of every
last drop of blood.  He was also late because his dead wife of over 450
years had stopped by to pay him a visit.  Well, at least those were probably
two excuses that Reese had most likely not heard.  He was sure that he would
think of something when he got there.  Tracy was waiting for him, and he
really should get that drink before he went.  This time the desired blood
would come from a green bottle, and not the nearest mortal.  A quick glance
around, and Nicholas headed back towards his loft's open window and his
refrigerator.

End Part 2

                              ******************

The drive to the precinct seemed endless tonight.  Maybe it was because he
had too much sleep, maybe it was all the rain, or was it that nightmare of
Alyssa's return?  Something was causing all his perceptions to act as if
they had a mind of their own.  But why would his mind conjure up memories of
a ghost he had already made peace with?  The last time he had seen her at
the Kessel house, she had warned him that he was in danger of dying there
and that he would not be able to join her because of his past.  Replaying
her words, made him relive the sorrow which she confirmed, that he had not
repented enough to be considered worthy of redemption.  Despite all he had
done, he was still a long way from the heavenly forgiveness that was denied
to him.  Grief over the loss of Alyssa gnawed at his heart as renewed
visions presented themselves to him.  Alyssa, beautiful Alyssa.  How
differently things could have turned out that magical night.  However, all
his dreams of an eternal life with her were wiped away by his enthusiasm and
inexperience.  She trusted him, a fatal mistake, but her love for him
blinded her good sense.  So willingly she gave herself to him, and so
foolishly he took her.  He had loved her, as he had loved so many over the
centuries.  Even with all his evil, he found the capacity to love and loving
mortals was his weakness.  They contained a piece that he himself was
missing.  So many mortals he had loved, and so many he had destroyed with
his type of love's expression.  However, Alyssa was not supposed to be one
of them.  At that time, he was so infatuated with her that he had not wished
to consider that bringing her across would also destroy her.  He allowed his
foolish love to allow the vampire to express his affection for her.  There
was no other way for him to love her.  She had to become like him or he
would have to let her go.  In those days, he was too selfish to allow her a
life without him.  He could not do what he had coerced LaCroix to do for his
sister 300 years before Alyssa had entered his life. Those were the times
when he had wanted it all.  Having eternity as a vampire, and loving a
mortal too.  It was too easy to feel like a G-d when he reveled in his
immortality and his powers.  Every wish, every indulgence was his to
possess.  It was his wish to possess Alyssa forever.  If only she had not
been his first attempt, if only he had the control to stop in time.  The 300
years before he met her had provided so many opportunities to practice the
subtle art of making another of their own kind, but the desire had never
before presented itself.  How could he have been so confident with Alyssa's
life? How could he have been so sure of himself, so certain?  LaCroix had
instructed him in the beginning, but all he could think of then was whom his
next meal would come from.  Why would he abandon any of the glorious red
liquid, and bring another across?  Digging into his vast storage of
memories, he thought about the time shortly after LaCroix had met and loved
Fleur.  Janette had been by his side as LaCroix declared that the time had
arrived for them to learn more of the powers they possessed.

                             **** Flashback ****

LaCroix sat absorbed in his own thoughts as he and Janette playfully
entertained each other with teasing nips at each other's necks and arms.
The night was so young, and somehow eternity seemed too short a time to
discover all the unknown pleasures that awaited him.  He felt blessed to
have been chosen to receive so many endless years, and equally grateful to
spend those years with Janette.  Their laughter and wistfullness soon
transformed itself into the intense sensual desire that they so mutually
shared for one another. Eagerly desiring privacy, he stood and pulled
Janette into his embrace, then he began to escort her from the room.

Abruptly, LaCroix stood up and commanded the insatiable lovers to remain.

"Nicholas, come here!  I have decided that even though you are still quite
the novice, that it is time for you to explore one of your innate yet
unfamiliar skills."

Although he had shuddered at first at LaCroix's authoritative tone, he
dismissed the importance of any studies, regained his composure, and turned
back to face Janette.  Cupping her face in his hands, he bent towards her to
tenderly kiss her.  Then pulling away, he reached down and swept her off her
feet and into his arms as she screamed and laughed in delight.  Turning
towards LaCroix with Janette giggling in his arms, he confronted his Master.

"I have more important matters on my mind right now LaCroix.  There will be
time for my schooling following my attention to a more pressing concern."

Picking her up higher so as not to step on her long flowing gown, he moved
closer towards the door.  Unaffectedly, LaCroix watched as his disciple
declined to submit to his will.

"So the son rebels against his Father with no regard as to the consequences.
Really Nicholas, it would seem as if there is more than one lesson to be
learned here tonight."  This time LaCroix's words penetrated him as he felt
the icy chill of his implied threat cut through him so deeply as to numb his
spine.  Gently releasing his attentive lover, he graciously helped her down
until she had regained her balance.  Cautiously, his eyes never left his
teacher as he lifted Janette's small hand towards his lips.  After the
slightest whisper of a kiss, he freed her hand and prepared himself for his
Father's wrath as he hoped to spare Janette the same fate.  Although he was
only a fledgling, he could easily distinguish the vibrations that his Master
exuded when he was angered.  Not wishing to provoke him any further, he
tried to calm his own fear knowing how effortlessly LaCroix possessed his
once private emotions.  As his excitement diminished, the words of what his
mother had once told him repeated themselves in his mind.  'Nothing is
without cost,' she had once told him, and now he realized how wise her words
had been.  However, he was still new, and most likely there would soon be a
day when he would be free of LaCroix and be able to do as he pleased.
Briefly closing his eyes, he envisioned the time when he and Janette would
eternally roam the world in blissful togetherness.  For now, he must endure
whatever LaCroix desired, and protect his beautiful sister.

"I beg your forgiveness LaCroix.  I was, as I am sure you can appreciate,
irreversibly distracted.  I vow to give you my complete attention, and I
will accept and understand any outcome which you deem fit for me."

Stepping closer to his Master, he hoped that by being further from Janette
he would spare her from being in the path of LaCroix's first blows.  But
surprisingly, LaCroix stepped back to look at his new son and smiled.

"Your chivalry is as unparalleled as it is amusing.  Do you really think
that I would hurt Janette in my attempts to discipline you?  Let me assure
you that my aim is quite accurate, and if I desired her punishment there
would be nothing you could do to stop it.  Although, I suspect that you
might die trying.  I have no plans for the punishment of either of you, but
I can guarantee you that this act of defiance will not go without some
penalty."

He could feel the relief sweep over him as Janette once again rejoined him.

"What is this power that you wish for me to examine?"

"As you are already aware, there is a way in which we can make others of our
own kind.  This act will require you to abstain from draining the mortal,
and will demand tremendous restraint.  The line between eternal life and
death is very tenuous and once we cross over this line, we cannot return."

"LaCroix, is Janette also invited to learn?"

"If she so desires, but I have never known her to be one who would be
inclined to possess such a skill."

Turning his attentions back to his lover, she once again began to caress his
face and neck.

"Janette, will you learn these lessons as well?"

Seductively, she ran her fingers across his lips then slowly trailed her
hand down the front of his neck and chest.

"Why would I need another my Nichola?  Why would you need another?  Am I not
more than enough for you?"

His desire for her burned as she traced her alluring message of temptation
into his core.  Mesmerized by her beauty, he found himself rapidly becoming
enfolded in her passions.  Breathlessly, he responded to her.

"That you are.  You are so much more than anyone could wish for."  Turning
back to LaCroix without thinking, he rashly confronted him.

"LaCroix, we do not need these lessons."

If his Master's glare could have burned through anyone, it would have been
him at that moment.

"You will need to know!  I will teach you now, and you will learn now!
There will not be another time.  Pay attention, both of you.  Even if you
never bring another across, you will need to know how to prevent it from
happening unintentionally."

Feeling his fear of LaCroix's rage return, he began to back away.  But
Janette continued to pursue the issue with her Father.

"We drink our fill, and the mortal is done for.  What else is there to know?
We have never had any trouble, you worry too much LaCroix."

"Yes, so far your hunger has far exceeded your prey's supply.  However,
there are many reasons why you may leave your meal incomplete."

A smile crossed her face as she turned to look at Nichola, and then back to
her Father.

"I promise to finish every drop."

It was immediately clear that she had pushed LaCroix too far, and Nicholas
reached out to her to pull her closer to him.  She squinted her eyes, and
pressed one ear against Nichola's chest to protect her sensitive hearing
from LaCroix's outburst.

"THIS IS QUITE SERIOUS!  BOTH OF YOU WILL LISTEN, NOW!"

After a moment, to pace the floor, he turned to them with most of his anger
subdued.

"I am your Master, your Father, your Teacher.  You are like candles that are
eager to light up the night.  I am the flame that will allow you to burn,
but I must hold my flame to you and stay with you until you can burn by
yourself. You are not yet ready to stand alone, there is so much yet to
learn."

The room around them fell quiet, and holding Janette's hand tightly they
walked closely to their Master.  With belated sincerity he spoke.

"We are ready to learn."

The light turned green, and the car behind him roused him as the driver
leaned on the horn.  What had he not learned that night?  What did he still
not know? Was an incomplete lesson the penalty that was paid for their
disrespect? Pulling the Caddy into the Precinct lot, he saw his partner
walking towards her car.  Lightly tapping on the horn, he got her attention
and drove slowly along side her and stopped.  There seemed to be no trouble
in her recognizing the large green vehicle, and she genuinely smiled at her
partner's arrival.

"I wasn't sure if you were ever going to show up."

"I know, neither was I. Where are you off to?"

"The Carnival, I mean the crime scene.  It's at the Carnival.  We got a call
from the 88th, and we've both been assigned to it.  So should I meet you
there?"

"Hop in, and you can fill me in on the way there.  I'll clear things up with
the Cap. when I get back."

Tracy opened the door, slid into the seat, and turned to him.

"I think that you may be doing that a little sooner then you think.  The
deceased was a close personal friend of Captain Reese, and he is already at
the scene."

End Part 3

                              ******************

The rain had stopped, but a light breeze was still sending down showers of rain
on the Caddy from the tree's leaves.  The clouds were very dense, and
completely covered whatever there was of a moon.  The Caddy came to a sudden
stop only a few yards from the Carnival's entrance.  A large tree had fallen
across the road, and someone had already erected flares to warn of its dangers.
 A fire fighter was redirecting all the police and emergency vehicles towards a
clearing off to the side.  Nick sharply turned the steering wheel, and pulled
close to a fire truck that was struggling to free itself of the mud and move
closer to the smoldering building.  Sinking into the mud as he stepped out of
the car, he watched his partner as she tried to find a stable place to exit.
With her first step out, she immediately sunk into the mud and very audibly
groaned.

"That's it!  I'm so glad I decided to get dressed up tonight.  Nick?  Do you
think you could give me a hand?  I think I'm stuck."

Negotiating in the mud was not easy, but he managed to reach Tracy without too
much trouble.  One shoe was already freed by the time he got to her, and with
his help she hobbled out towards drier land.

"This is really disgusting, Nick.  I can not even imagine how many bacteria are
clinging to the dirt that is drying on me right now."

"Sorry about the car's location, but I just didn't see another place to park.
And I still don't understand why we have been called in here."

"I don't know either.  Reese just said to get down here with you as soon as you
arrived when he spoke to me at the Precinct, and then he took off. Collins at
the desk told me that the victim, Chief Glen Norris and the Captain go way
back."

"Okay, let's go find the Captain, and hopefully this will not take too long.
I'm not happy having mud dry on my skin either."

A fire truck pulled away as the detectives made their way towards the crowd of
emergency personnel.  The Captain was sitting off to the side quietly consoling
an elderly fire fighter who was wiping the soot from his face. Looking up,
Reese caught a glimpse of his two overdue detectives coming towards him.  Nick
saw the look of pain and despair that covered his Captain's face as Reese
gestured for them to approach.  Looking down at the watch on his wrist, Reese
then looked up at Nicholas, but Tracy cautiously interceded.

"Captain, we got here as soon as we could.  We had a little trouble with the
downed trees and the mud."

Reese just sadly shook his head.

"Yeah, that was some storm.  There is still no power around here for miles
around."  He turned to the fire fighter by his side, and placed his hand on his
shoulder.

"Lou, I want you to meet two of my best detectives.  This is Detective Nick
Knight, and his partner Detective Tracy Vetter."

The fire fighter stood up, and smiled as he reached for Tracy's hand.

"VETTER!  VETTER!  You can't be little Tracy Vetter.  Richard Vetter's little
girl?  I don't believe it!  Remember me?  I'm fireman Bagley."

An embarrassed smile flashed on Tracy's face as she looked at the Captain first
and then at Nicholas.  Nick smiled and gestured for her to turn back towards
the waiting fire fighter.  Another reminder to all her coworkers of the
nepotism that helped her secure her position.  She briefly closed her eyes, and
took in a breath as she turned to her Father's old friend.

"I'm sorry, I don't seem to recall...," she broke off.

"No, you were too little when your Dad and I used to get together.  He was not
even a Captain back then.  He was moving up, and so was I. I guess being so
busy we just drifted apart.  We both had a lot of up hill climbing to do in the
career department."

The fire fighter's short reminiscence caused her to blush.

"Well, it's nice to meet you........again, Chief Bagley."

Nicholas immediately extended his hand to the fire fighter.

"Nice to meet you sir.  I'm sorry it's not under better circumstances."

Hastily Bagley reached over and shook Nick's hand, and without even looking
over at Nick, he turned his attention back to Reese.

"Glen didn't deserve this, you know that Joe. He's got the best record around.
I'm counting on you Joe to find out who did this, and to find out quickly."

Again pointing to Nick and Tracy, Reese smiled confidently.

"Well like I said before, you are looking at my best team right in front of
you."

Ignoring Reese's praises of his detectives, Bagley looked back at the burnt out
building.

"I know that you'll give this priority status.  We're all in this together.
Police or Fire department, it makes no difference.  There's a bond here.  This
is not just your ordinary case.  Top billing, right?  I'll be in touch with
Commissioner Vetter on your progress."

Directing his eyes at his detectives, Reese sighed.  The implications of
Bagley's last statement was evident to all of them.  No one was going to have
any peace until this one was solved.  And Bagley knew all the right people and
was making sure that they knew it too.  Noting how uncomfortable Reese felt,
Nick spoke up and directed the attention away from his Captain.

"Captain, can we speak to you for a moment before we begin?"

Reese eagerly jumped at the chance to get away from Bagley's intimidating
words.  Patting Bagley once more on the shoulder, he started to walk towards
the fun house where Natalie and numerous other technicians from the Coroner's
office were finishing with some last minute details with the body.  After
trudging through the mud for a moment, Nick paused and placed his hand on
Reese's shoulder to stop him.

"Why have we been called in Cap?  Tracy said that a fireman died in a fire.
Isn't this something that should be handled by the arson unit?"

Looking frustrated, Reese took out a handkerchief to swab the sweat from his
face.

"Don't believe everything that you hear, Nick.  Especially, when you don't have
all the facts.  The fire fighter that was pulled from that fire was Glen
Norris, and it wasn't any fire that killed him.  Actually, it was the 88th who
called us in on this because it has the same MO as the fire fighter we found
last week.  The Brett case.  They both died the same way, and both were
discovered after a storm."

Walking slightly closer to the fire trucks, Reese pointed to the nearly
extinguished fire.

"That fire there tonight was an afterthought or a finishing touch, and it did
not kill him, just like in the Brett case.  Someone made certain that he was
dead, and the two of you are going to find out who.  Glen Norris helped me out
when I was a rookie, he really got me out of a jam that would have ended my
career.  I owe him, and this is how I'm paying him back."

Reese started to take the remaining few steps towards the Coroner's van, and
towards the victim while Nick and Tracy followed silently behind.  He leaned
down over the body opposite Natalie who was removing some skin samples from the
victim's face.  Sighing, Reese stood up, and looked across at Natalie with
sorrowful eyes.

"What can you tell me?"

Realizing that this was a difficult situation for the Captain, Natalie put down
her notebook and gave Reese her full attention.  Reaching into her bag, she
pulled out a clean instrument, and used it to point to the hole in the body's
forehead.

"As you probably already know, he did not die as a result of the fire.  Looks
like a single shot at close range.  It killed him instantly, just like the last
victim."

Bending down, Natalie began to probe with the instrument at several areas on
the victim's face.  Tracy began to hold her hand over her mouth and cringe as
Natalie indicated one place after another.

"See these burns?  They were not from this fire.  In fact, he is hardly burnt
at all other than his face.  I can not tell for certain yet, but I think he got
these burns before he was shot.  Again, just like the other fire fighter, it
looks like he was also tortured."

With a disgusted look, Reese turned away for a moment then watched Natalie as
she stood up.

"How long has he been dead?"

Drawing in a deep breath, Natalie sighed.

"That's going to be a real hard call.  The heat from the fire kept his body
temperature up.  But judging from other factors, I'd say he died sometime
tonight."

Frustrated, Reese rubbed his hand against his forehead.

"Can't you get any closer than that?"

"Not right now.  I will have more if I get ever get him back to the lab.  In
case you do not know, burn victims are not my favorite job.  I can tell you
that it looks like that bullet is still in him.  When I get in there I will be
able to tell you the caliber of weapon that was used."

With not much to go on, Reese looked resigned as he turned to face his
detectives.

"Okay Knight, Vetter, I want you to look around and see what you can come up
with.  Dr. Lambert?  Please let them know as soon as possible on that bullet. I
want them to follow through on ballistics."

Grabbing a couple of uniformed officers as they passed, Reese had them
relinquish their flashlights.  Then turned to give one to both Tracy and Nick.

"It looks like your going to be doing a grounds search with these.  No power
remember?"

Approaching Nat as she directed the technicians about the handling of the body,
Nick gently stopped her.

"Was it execution style?"

Natalie looked up from the body.  "Yes."

Nick reassuringly patted Nat on the shoulder as she readied herself to leave.
When Nat left, he turned to walk with Tracy to investigate where the body was
found.  Tracy was still feeling uncomfortable stepping over branches, and
sticking to the ground with each step.

"Nick, with all this mud, forensics has to be able to come up with a decent set
of footprints of the killer."

Looking at the ground, Nick let the light from his flashlight skim across the
wet dirt.

"Wish that were true, but there must be over a thousand different prints from
all those who were at this Carnival before the fire.  There is no way we will
be able to tell which is the killers."

Stopping at one of the fire trucks that was still around, Nick pulled out his
badge and spoke to one of the fire fighters.

"I'm Detective Knight, and this is Detective Vetter.  What can you tell us
about the fire?"

The fire fighter began to pull off some of his heavy protective clothing.

"This was no accident, I can tell you that.  Lots of accelerates poured around
the place.  It was a hard one to fight.  It's almost like whoever did this knew
just which chemicals were the hardest to extinguish.  I guess you're here about
Glen.  Great guy.  Why would anyone do that to him?"

Shaking his head slightly at the fire fighter's question, Nick tried to answer.

"Maybe we'll be able to answer that.  Do you mind if we have a look around?"

"I don't mind, but be careful.  The buildings not too stable.  Probably have to
tear it down.  Wish I could get you some more light, but, well, you know."

"Yeah, the storm, thanks."

Both of the Detectives began to walk towards the front door, but Nick stopped
suddenly.

"Trace, why don't you let me go in, and you'll do a search of the grounds
around the building?  That way we won't be bumping into each other in the
dark."

"Sure, fine with me.  I don't even like going into these places during the day.
 Be careful."

"I will."

He looked back and watched as Tracy tried unsuccessfully to avoid stepping into
large puddles and mud.  Then he turned his attentions back to the fun house.
Checking above the door, he read the words as the colored flashing lights of
the fire truck swept across the letters.  It said house of horrors. Great.  Now
he knew why Tracy did not argue about searching outside in the mud.  Aiming his
flashlight into the darkened building, he carefully stepped inside trying not
to disturb anything.  The flashlights long white ray reflected off the walls as
he walked.  Its light was a distraction, for he was able to see just fine
without it.  But he couldn't be seen wandering in the dark during a search of
the premises.  Everything inside was wet, and the smell of smoke was everywhere
he turned.  Walking deeper into the maze of rooms, he thought he heard
something, and aimed his flashlight at the sound. The beam bounced back at him,
and then from wall to wall.  The room was filled with mirrors.  Almost all of
them had been shattered, and the many fragmented lights surrounded him.  A weak
voice penetrated the darkness.

"Nicholas"

Rapidly, he brought the flashlight to the source of the sound.

"Come to me my love."

Squinting, he tried to make out the figure of the image that appeared to
surround him in the mirrored walls.  The memories of her recent visit flooded
his thoughts.

"Alyssa?  Is it you?"

"Nicholas, I've come to accompany you my love.  The time of your redemption is
near."

Walking further into the darkness, Nicholas reached out for the white robbed
image.

"Why now?  I'm not ready."

"Nicholas, you said that we would be together forever.  Is this no longer your
wish?"

"But my soul will be damned if I go with you."

"Come Nicholas."

The figure reached for him.  His eyes remained fixed on her form, while her
words enticed him to draw closer.  Fighting to resist the temptation of her
offer, he struggled to utter a few words.

"But I will not be with you."

"Come Nicholas, we will be eternal."

The sweetness of her voice embraced him.  The desire to be with her, enchanted
his every sense.  Suddenly she appeared so bright, so warm that the need to
become a part of her world was irresistible.  With great anticipation of his
redemption with her, he walked towards her radiant glow, and in blinding joy he
called to her.

"We will be eternal."

"I still love you, Nicholas."  Her voice faded

"We will be together forever."

"NICK!  WATCH OUT!"

A hand came from behind, and pulled him back towards the door and onto the
floor.  Coughing, Tracy pointed towards the interior of the room.

"Are you blind?  Didn't you see those flames?  You looked like you were going
to walk right into them!  Let's get out of here!  We have to let the fire
fighters know that the fire is not completely out."

Helping her still stunned partner from the floor, Tracy guided him through the
darkened rooms and out of the building.  Still coughing, she called out as she
dragged Nick with her.

"Someone!  We need some help here, and that building is still burning inside."

The fire fighters rushed back into the fun house with hoses and chemicals. One
approached Nick who sat near the truck encased in a blur of emotions.  His eyes
locked in a confused gaze.  The fire fighter placed an oxygen mask over Nick's
mouth and nose.

"Sir, are you hurt?"

With a lethargic glance towards the fire fighter, Nick's reply was barely
audible and still very disoriented.

"What?"

"Are you going to be okay?  Would you like the Paramedics to take a look at
you?"

"No, no.  I'm fine."

"You sure?  You don't look too well."

Trying to clear his head, he spoke slowly, composing his thoughts.  Looking up
he saw both Tracy and the fire fighter scrutinizing him, and he gave them a
quick smile.

"Yes, I'm sure, thank you."

Pulling the mask from his face, he stood up and watched as the building was
once again ablaze and darkened smoke bellowed into the night sky.  Staring into
the fire, he again became dizzy and stumbled.  Tracy was at his side in a
moment and steadied him.

"I'm not sure you're fine Nick.  Why don't you let them check you out?"

"No, I'm fine.  I'm just a little shaken."

"I'd say that you are a lot shaken.  Who were you talking to in there?"

"I was talking to someone?"

"Yes, you were saying something about being together forever."

"I was?"

"Nick, I'm worried about you.  If I hadn't been there to pull you back, I think
that you might have walked right into that fire."

Confused and distracted, he looked into Tracy's concerned eyes, and then back
to the fire.  As one of the fire fighters exited the burning building, he
caught him by the arm.

"The fire was out, how did it start again?"

"This sort of thing happens all the time.  We thought we got it all, but
sometimes a tiny ember rekindles.  That's why we always stick around after the
fire is supposedly out."

Another wave of dizziness flashed across Nick as the fire fighter's words
reminded him of LaCroix's words the night Alyssa died.  The memory of LaCroix's
visit after he had taken too much from Alyssa streaked into his mind.  Reliving
LaCroix's words and the pain of losing his bride, he held his forehead as his
Master's voice thundered inside him.  'Life is a fire Nicholas, it can be
rekindled from the tiniest ember...' Shaking the consuming sensations from
himself, he confronting the fire fighter.

"Are you sure?  Could someone have deliberately re-started it again?"

"Detective, you were the only one in there.  Listen, why don't you sit down for
a few more minutes?"

"Could someone else have come in a different way?"

"Not unless they were a ghost, and could walk through walls or fly.  Why don't
I help you sit down?"

"No, I'm fine."

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath.  He reopened his eyes to the stares of
his partner and two firefighters.  They were watching him as if he were about
to explode.  Their stares made him feel as if he were from another planet.  So
feeling very self conscious, he relented and sat down on the edge of the truck.

"Okay, I'm sitting down.  Would it be all right if I finishing sitting in my
car?  I promise not to drive until my partner here feels it's safe."

A quick smile crossed Tracy's face as the fire fighter's nodded their approval,
and Nick allowed her to help him up.  As they struggled to the Caddy through
the mud, two more engines raced by them to get to the now, out of control,
blaze.  Neither spoke a word as she made sure Nick was securely behind the
wheel.  Closing his door, she then made her way to the passenger's side.  The
first thing that she noticed when she slid into the car was Nick's blank stare
as he supported his head against the headrest.  After silently watching him for
a number of minutes, she decided to check for signs of life.

"Nick?  Did you see someone else in there?  Is that who you were talking to?"

"No. There was no one else.  I probably saw my own shadow.  I'm sorry that I
frightened you, but I'm glad that you came in after me.  I think I just got
lost in my own thoughts in that house of tricks.  I never was much of a
Carnival type of person."

"Me too.  I prefer reality to fantasy."

"I'm feeling fine.  Do you think that it's safe for me to drive now?"

Inspecting him closely, she smiled.

"Yeah sure.  As long as you're feeling better."

The Caddy's engine hummed as he turned the key.

"Okay, then.  Let's get back to the Precinct."

End Part 4

                              ******************

After spending thirty minutes in the bathroom rubbing mud from her shoes and
stockings, Tracy walked back to her desk which happened to faced Nick's.
Sitting down, she leaned back in her chair and watched her partner studying
some papers.

"Any luck?"

Without looking up, he answered.

"No, still can not figure out the connection between the deaths aside from the
fact that they were both fire fighters."

"No I didn't mean that.  Did you have any success with the mud?"

Looking up, he smiled at the distraction she provided.

"No problem.  I was just thinking that it has been a few hours since Nat's had
the body.  Why don't we go see if she has anything for us?"

As they walked out of the Precinct, Nick told the desk officer to let Reese
know that they would be down at the Morgue.  Within a few minutes they had
parked the Caddy in the Morgue's lot and were in the door.  Natalie was alone
in the lab tonight, and she startled when they entered the room.

"I didn't know I was having company tonight.  I was just about to go in on
Reese's friend.  Do you want to stay?"

Taking a deep breath, Tracy walked over to Natalie and held her arm back from
beginning the autopsy.

"As much as we'd love to stay, we really just stopped by to see if you could
give us a starting point."

"Well, you're in luck."

Walking across the room, Natalie picked up a small evidence bag and handed it
to Tracy.

"That's the bullet that I just removed, and it's from a .22 caliber pistol. It
matches the one I removed from Bryan Brett last week.  Find me the weapon, and
I'll make you a match."

Pulling Tracy closer to the body, Natalie uncovered the victim's face.

"You too Nick, come here.  Do you see this slightly red area around his left
eye?"

Both Nick and Tracy leaned closer, but were having trouble noticing anything.
Walking back to her desk, Natalie picked up a magnifying glass and handed it to
Nick.

"Look closely.  See those tiny white specks?"

Looking questioningly at Natalie, Nick handed the glass to Tracy.

"Sorry Nat, there may be something there.  What is it?"

"At first I wasn't certain, but then I remembered where I had just seen it.
Bryan Brett had the same remnants of this residue around his eye also.  Both
had an adhesive patch over their eye when they were burned, and in both cases,
the patch was removed most likely after their death."

"So we are looking for?"

" Well, I don't know.  But I asked some of the fire fighters if Mr. Norris or
Mr. Brett ever wore an eye patch, and no one remembered ever seeing them with
one.  These patches were put on them before they were tortured."

Nick looked hard at Natalie for a moment trying to make sense of what she was
telling him.  Concentrating intensely, he spoke to Natalie.

"The killer tried to protect the one eye.  Why?"

"One eye and not the other.  I believe that falls under the category of
motivation.  I think that's your department."

"Anything else Nat?"

"Actually yes, a couple of things.  First, the burns.  At first I thought that
they might have been of a chemical nature, but as in the other case they are
not.  Who ever did this, held something that was burning against his face.  I
doubt it will be important, but I will be able to tell you what he held when I
get some results back.  The second and more interesting issue is the note.  We
found the same note from the killer in his pants pocket."

Picking up another evidence bag, Natalie read the message through the plastic.

"And he will turn back to G-d the hearts of Fathers with their sons and the
hearts of sons with their Fathers.  And he was gathered to his people."

Natalie handed this bag to Nick, and sighed.

"It sounds biblical to me.  What do you think he's trying to tell us?"

"It is biblical.  It refers to what will happen when one will come who will
bring redemption to the world, but he is definitely perverting it.  Nat, have
you determined if torture was definitely involved?"

"Oh yeah.  All these facial burns took place before he was shot.  The killer
wanted this man to suffer before he killed him.  I'd guess it was personal."

"It's beginning to look that way to me too."

Looking up into Natalie's face, Nick saw the dark circles around her eyes.
Remembering her aversion to burn victims, he cautiously walked over to her and
placed his hand on her shoulder.

"How are you doing, Nat?  I know how you feel about cases like this."

"Not too good, but it's not because of the burns.  It's something else."
Quickly, she brushed away a stray tear.  "It's nothing.  Go find this murderer.
 I have work to do."  She pulled away from him, but he stepped closer and
placed his hand over hers.

"Nat, if there's anything I can do....." he broke off.

"No, I'll be fine if you both just go and let me do my work.  Now go."

Pointing towards the door, she put on her best fake smile which was rapidly
diminishing what was left of her strength.  Nick's hand slipped from hers as he
turned to follow Tracy who was already on her way out of the door.  As soon as
the door swung closed, Natalie closed her eyes.  A deep longing ache ripped at
her inside.  She had pushed him away again when she so desperately needed him
to hold her in his arms.  One tear after another slid down her face.  No
attempts were made to catch the tears from falling on her sterile surgical
gown.  Opening her eyes, she stared at the door where Nick had just exited. She
incredulously felt resentful of him and of the ridiculous idea that he should
somehow know how depressed she felt.  Scolding herself, she thought, didn't he
just tell her that he wanted to help?  But she still felt that he could do
more.  What did she really want?  He was a vampire, not a mind reader.  He was
also a man, the only man she had ever loved.  Her thoughts pleaded for him to
come back.  To come back and tell her that he loved her, and wanted to be with
her forever.  Her eyes remained fixed on the still door. So empty inside, and
so alone in the quiet of the Morgue in the middle of the night.

The summer's night air was refreshing as both Nick and Tracy got into the Caddy
for the ride back to the Precinct.  The ride was quiet until Nick reached over
to turn on the radio, and Tracy intercepted his hand.

"Oh no you don't.  Don't you think that we are all a little too down to listen
to that creep?"

"Sorry, I guess it's an automatic response."

"I thought it might be.  Anyway, I think we should talk."

"Okay, we can talk."

"Okay."

A long silence elapsed until Nick looked over, and gave Tracy a questioning
look.

"Nick?  Did you notice how upset Nat seemed when we walked in?"

"It's this case.  It's hard for her to deal with burn victims."

"No, there's something else.  She seems so far away when she talks.  So
distant.  Like she's isolated herself from everyone around her.  I think you
should talk to her."

"You're wrong Trace.  Natalie is fine, and as soon as we solve this case.."
Tracy interrupted him.

"She was like this before this case.  Something is wrong.  Promise me that
you'll talk to her.  You know, I had a cousin who was acting just like her
before she..." she lingered.

"Nat's not like that!  She loves life.  She's so full of life."

"Not right now she isn't.  Look at her closely.  Try to step away, and look at
her."

The car became silent again as Nick tried to integrate all that his partner was
telling him.  Nat was a bit quieter, but there did not seem to be anything
more.  It had been a while since they had last seen each other outside of work.
 Giving her a call later was a possibility, except he would rather not see her
until he could figure out what was going on with himself.  He had come far too
close to killing a girl at a bus stop less than ten hours ago.  The hunger was
unusually strong, and the self control was gone.  If he got too close to
Natalie, he could not predict what would happen.  Yes, he would talk to
Natalie, but he would have to be sure it was safe.  Turning to Tracy, he smiled
as the Caddy pulled into the Precinct's lot.

"I'll speak with her Trace, but I'm sure that nothing is wrong."

A relieved smile spread across Tracy's face, but his thoughts drifted back to
Alyssa.

End Part 5

Onto Parts Six - Ten!