Another Reality  (08/16), 
Jeannie Ecklund,


Chapter 8

Nick smiled and said to himself, "A sleep-over date." Schanke would never
believe it nor let him live it down. He decided to keep it to himself. He
looked around the morgue and set about putting out the tools and preparing
for the body. 

He thought about Natalie's words, "My master." The idea of this creature
touching Natalie made him furious, yet he knew if this creature and he ever
came face to face he would have to remain calm and professional. Provoking a
jealous vampire might get him instantly killed. 

Don Schanke came through the door. "Hey Nicky, Buddy, heads up. Here comes 
Grace." 

Grace appeared pushing the gurney and her partner followed. He was a young 
man with piercing dark eyes and his wild hair tied a the nap of his neck.
Nick always kidded this young man about his pale complexion, An idea occurred
to him, "what if....nah, that would be to big of a coincidence." He dismissed
the thought from his mind. 

"Javier, I thought I told you you needed to get a tan," he said, helping
Grace and the young man to put the body on the autopsy table. 

As they unzipped the bag and removed it from around the body, Javier said,
"You know I sleep all day man. I get out of here at 2:00 am and then hit the
nightclubs. I play with a band here and there." 

Nick smiled. It was a running conversation. He had seen the young man at a
daytime crime scene once. 

"Well, get some sun anyway. The ladies like a tan." 

"Yeah, I don't see a warm glow to you either," the young EMT said, folding up
the bag. 

"Touché!" He smiled. "One day we'll all have to switch with the day shift." 

"Then I'd never get to sleep," Javier said. "Come on, Grace. Let's get out of 
here. I've seen enough of this body for one night." 

Grace gave Nick a hug and headed out. 

Nick turned to the body. Until a certain Vampire had come into his life,
Grace was the only woman who had hugged him in ages that wasn't a relative.
He saw Grace far more than Janette. 

Don was working on the girl's clothing and singing a song to distract himself
from the grizzly sight. Nick always wondered why Schanke chose forensics. He
always had to fight his stomach when the cases were bad. 

Nick helped him cover the body and they went about methodically uncovering
and examining only the parts they needed to. 

As quitting time arrived, Nick said, "Don, go home. I'm just going to put the
body in the cooler and head home myself." He was looking forward to seeing
Natalie and he didn't want to waste a moment of time on work. 

"Thanks Nick, I'm looking forward to those two showers tonight." 

He headed off and Nick sighed. He quickly put the body away and headed out.
He stopped briefly by a store to buy some food, mostly junk food and a can of
dog food for Beast. He bought popcorn, just in case they did watch a movie. 

When he reached his apartment, he took a shower and dressed casually. He
grabbed up Beast. The little dog licked Nick's face happily he was getting to
go, and got back into the modest Ford Escort LX. Beast stood on his hind legs
and looked out the window, his little short legs barely reaching the edge of
the window. Occasionally he growled as they passed a cat sitting on a street
corner or a yard with a big dog. Nick loved to see him get excited. His eyes
would pop out and his tail would wag and he barked fiercely as if he was a
one hundred pound animal ready to take on anything instead of only eleven
pounds. 

As he drove toward the address that Natalie gave him, Nick saw the sun begin
to rise. It was glorious, painting the sky in brilliant oranges and reds. It
made him sad that Natalie couldn't share it with him. 

He found the address led to a curious old warehouse. The security door had as
intercom with a coded panel. He had groceries in one arm and Beast in the
other. Tucking the dog under his arm, Nick punched the button. 

"Nick?" came Natalie's voice. 

"It's me," he said. 

"Come to the second floor." The buzzer sounded and he gave the door a push
with his hip. There was a dimly lit entryway of about 10 feet long and 4 feet
wide. There was a lift at the end and a stair well going off and up to his
left. He made sure the door behind him was closed and he set Beast on his
feet. The little dog looked around curiously. Nick pushed the lift button and
waited for it to arrive. When it opened, he stepped inside and with a little
coaxing got Beast to follow him. He pushed the third floor button and stood
back. This place sure was fortified. There was even a security camera in the 
corner of the lift above him. He waved in case Natalie was watching. 

Natalie smiled when she saw him wave. She hope she'd made the right decision
to trust this man with her life. It was a big step for her to want to share
her life with another human. It had been 56 years since the last one. It had
been so devastating. She'd loved others and hope they were the one but it
always ended in death. Usually at Lacroix's hands or to be more precise,
fangs. 

How would she protect Nick. The lift door opened and Beast barked at her. 

She eyed the little dog warily. There was a small crucifix at his neck as she
had instructed. She stepped back. 

Nick said sternly, "Beast, quiet boy." 

The dog quieted but continued to eye her warily. 

Nick strode into the large room. It was an open warehouse. There were
sections of furniture for different purposes. A couch and chair was arranged
in front of a big screen TV of the latest technology. Another couch sat
before the fireplace. There was even a bearskin rug at the base of the hearth
and a white fire blazed. Nick stared at it. 

Natalie followed his gaze and then glanced back at him to see that the tips
of his ears turned red. "What is he thinking?" she grinned. 

Nick felt his ears turned red and he turned to take in the kitchen with its
silver shiny counters and cabinets that didn't look as if they'd ever been
used. There was also a table with chairs and a top the table sat an expensive
laptop and paperwork. 

Beast moved past him, curiously looking around. 

Natalie said, "Come, put your things here on the kitchen counter and in the
frig." She felt nervous and mentally kicked herself. She seldom felt her
heart beat but it always did a flip-flop when Nick was near. He was such a
beautiful man. That's how she thought of him. Fair, hair of gold and eyes of
light. All things her heart desired. 

Nick placed the food on the counter and then looked at Natalie. She was
wearing pedal pushers and a shirt open at the collar. Her feet were bare and
her hair tied up in a ponytail. He face was freshly scrubbed. She was
beautiful like a porcelain doll. 

She smiled at him and he realized he had spoken the word "Beautiful" out
loud. He was also staring. He turned away embarrassed. 

He felt her fingers on his arm. "Come. Let me show you around." 

On close inspection Nick realized she must have money. The furniture was rich
leather and carved wood. The big screen TV was top of the line, as was the
laptop and other things around the room, expensive paintings and carvings. 

As they came close to a part of the room that was set up as an artist's
studio, he realized something and looked back around the room. "You did all
the sculptures."" 

"Yes," she said softly. She reached out and caressed the figure of a woman.
"This was my mother." 

Nick could see that the woman was dressed as a 12th century person would be.
That was the era Natalie said she'd come from. He looked closely and realized
Natalie looked a lot like her mother. The figure wore a hat, a long dress and
she carried a basket of flowers. 

He saw Natalie run her hands over the piece with her eyes shut. He reached
out to touch her arm and she drew away. She indicated the next piece. It was
a small boy. 

"This was my brother, when I last saw him," she said, touching the child's
hair. 

Nick heard the pain in her voice. They moved around the room. She showed him
teachers and friends. A mentor here and men that Nick guessed where probably
lovers. All were beautifully done and almost alive. 

There was a large bust in the middle of the work table covered with a cloth.
Nick reached out to take the cloth off. Natalie's hand shot out to stop him.
"Please," he said. She thought in silence a full minute before she nodded and
released him. He pulled the cloth away. There he was. The likeness was so
amazing. He stepped back. "You did this?" he asked the obvious, looking at
her. 

"Yes," she said, her eyes flashing with amber. Her body tensed to fight. She
was surprised when she realized he wasn't angry that she wanted to have him
close to her. They were barely friends, yet how could she explain the
feelings she'd had when his blood had touched her tongue that first night
they had met" 

"It's very good," he finally said. "You flatter me." He replaced the cloth
carefully. 

"Nick, I..." 

He held up his hand, "No need to explain. I would have a photo of you in my
bedroom if I had one." He blushed, embarrassed by his admission. 

One of her wonderful smiles lit her face. "Then I will see that you get one.
Come. Let me show you upstairs." 

They started up the stairs and Beast ran past them, curious to see the new
place. Nick looked after him fondly. 

"Have you had Beast long," Natalie asked, watching him watch the dog. 

"Yes, 10 years. He was 5 weeks old when I got him. He could sit in one of my
hands. My life had been a bit lonely. It's hard to have a social life when
you work all night and sleep all day. He's been a constant companion and the
best of friends." 

Natalie seemed to look into herself. "I had a cat once. LaCroix became
jealous and destroyed it." 

Nick reached out and squeezed her arm and she smiled sadly at him. They
reached the door to the bedroom. It was furnished lavishly. Thick carpets,
and an oval bed dominated the room. It had red satin sheets and white sheer
drapes that hung from tall spiral wooden posts. He could barely take his eyes
off it. He could imagine lying with Natalie there. 

He heard her laughter twinkle like fine wind chimes. He refused to blush this
time and looked steadily at her with desire. 

She stepped forward and he took her hands and leaned in to give her a soft
gentle kiss on her lips. She smiled at him, then stepped away. "Nick, as much
as I would love to pursue this I think it best we continue the tour." 

He nodded. Her restraint was admirable. 

Her bathroom was white. Everything in it, sunken tub, shower, carpet, towels,
all white marble. His eyes lingered on the sunken tub, but he forced his
thoughts away. "Man get a hold of your thoughts," he berated himself. 

"Feel free to use the facilities anytime. The bathroom downstairs is only a
half bath. This tub is glorious." She breathed sensuously. Then she reached
out and gripped his arm to get his attention. "Do not, under any
circumstances, try to wake me. Not even for an emergency. The vampire wakes
first and I might attack and you will not be able to answer questions later,
do you understand?" She released his arm. 

Nick brought his other hand up to rub the sore arm. He wondered if he might
have bruises. He nodded. That was certainly sobering. 

Beast let out a little yap. He was sitting at Nick¹s feet. Eying the dog,
Natalie said, "Come on down, you can eat and I need to feed. I hope you won't
mind." 

They went downstairs. Nick fixed some bagels with cheese and got a large
glass of orange juice. He watched with interest as Natalie pored some red
liquid from an unlabeled wine bottle into a mug. She put it in the microwave
for a bit. 

"Go sit on the couch. I'll join you when this is ready." 

Nick got a small blanket from one of his bags. He went to the couch and Sat,
spreading the blanket next to him. Beast followed, then jumped up and settled
at his side on the blanket. Natalie came along with her mug and Nick caught
the scent of blood and wine. 

He asked, "Do you mind if Beast sits next to me?" I have his blanket here." 

Natalie studied the dog's face. He seemed to be looking at her expectantly. 

"No, he's really cute. I guess he won't hurt anything," she said, settling in
at the other end of the couch. Nick took a bit of the cream cheese from his
bagel and let Beast lick it off his finger. He ran his hand over the soft fur
on the dog's head and ears. He looked up to see Natalie take a sip of her
drink." 

Fascinated, Nick watched her face. She had closed her eyes and was leaning
back. Emotions crossed over her face. Pleasure seemed to take on a life of
its own on her features. They softened and she sighed. 

End Chapter 8 


By Jeannie Ecklund Gersknightlady@cs.com