Beta read by Mom-Ra
Forever Knight Fan Fiction
Class: Slash (Gentle Slash)
Warnings: None!
Ratings: I would almost call this PG, but well we are dealing with Vampires so Okay, will go with the R rating.
Pairings: LaCroix/Natalie, Nick/Natalie/LaCroix
Writer’s Note: In my world, Last Knight never happened and Human Factor was just a dream.
September 1997
It happened shortly after the death of Divia. Nick had become careless in the uneasy peace he and his Master/Father had made in the past few months, and the closeness in which he and Natalie seemed to be reaching.
Nick Knight had just arrived at the precinct when the call came in. Someone had made threats to bomb a nearby hospital clinic for Aid’s and Homeless victims. The Perpetrator was, supposedly, some Ku Klux clan member against the inferior creatures of mankind.
Without looking back, Nick left the precinct, and using his skills as a vampire flew to the nearby hospital. He snuck into the back of the building. He then had used his powers to pounce on the suspect and while he and the madmen battled the remaining twelve hostages escaped to freedom. Just as Nick was about to get the upper hand, the madman pulled out a small remote control box. Pressing one of the buttons, the whole hospital erupted into flames as the bomb detonated. ***
Lucien LaCroix was just about to make a broadcast when he lost the connection with his son.
"Nicholas?"
Terror overtook the ancient vampire. He had only just started to recover from the death of his daughter, Divia. Losing another offspring, especially one as Nicholas, whom he loved was too much to even think about.
Without break in proceedings to put on music, the vampire flew to the skies trying to locate his child.
The flames and smoke that radiated slowly in the sky drew his attention.
Arriving among the mortals, he watched as a crowd gathered. Fire trucks and police officers followed.
The firemen went inside the building trying to smother the flames and find any survivors. LaCroix stared into the flames and watched fearfully for what was to come.
It seemed like hours before the firefighters emerged. With them they carried out several bodies. Before LaCroix could move in to see if his son was among them, a beautiful auburn haired woman ran in front of him. He recognized her as Doctor Natalie Lambert. His son’s mortal lover. The woman he despised because she sought ways to return Nicholas to his humanity. The woman who sought to take his child from him. He hated her like no other, and still he had to admit she was a beautiful woman, resourceful and intelligent.
His son chose his lovers wisely. The Firefighters shook there heads at her, but she pulled the body bags away from one of the men, then continued her search going to another and then another. Finding him, she held down her horror and fear and pulled them away screaming for an ambulance and that he was still alive.
The Firefighters looked on at her in disbelief but the Doctor only pushed away her tears, and clung to the half burned body in her arms insisting she felt a pulse.
The ambulance came and the emt’s arrived. They took the body in to a stretcher with the woman doctor following.
He followed as well. He got into the ambulance just as they were closing the doors. Ignoring the questioning medical officers, LaCroix fixed them with a stare and told them that he was family of the injured man.
Once inside, he ignored the frantic and tear filled eyes of the Medical examiner and watched as the Emt double checked his findings.
"I’m sorry Doc, but you must have been mistaken, he’s gone."
The Emt made to cover up the body with a sheet, but LaCroix once again intervened and placed the man into a hypnotic state then pushing the female mortal aside, LaCroix looked down at the remains of his son. He was completely burned. His eyes sealed closed, his fingers almost melted completely. At first LaCroix started to believe that the emt might be right, but that was when he felt it. Brief and far away. So very far away. The bond he held with his child.
LaCroix grabbed a sharp instrument and at once sliced his wrist then did the same to the burned body and finally pressed the skin together.
She watched him in awe. Doctor Natalie Lambert seemed like she wanted to say something then decided against it.
She knew who he was. Lucien LaCroix, Nick’s Master, the dark vampire that had brought him across eight hundred years ago. The Master who often tormented Nicholas and seemed in her mind’s eye the most evil man in the world. She hated him. She hated him because he stood in the way of her redeeming Nicholas Knight.
She wanted to scream at him and tell him to get away from Nick, not to touch the man she loved. She wanted to kill him and plunge a stake into his heart. This evil creature who had killed countless thousands without so much as a flicker of an eyelid. The Creature that had killed a few human mortals that she had loved and pitied. The Creature that stood between her and Nicholas’s love. She hated him, and yet she knew that here and right now he was needed if Nick was to survive.
She watched and waited.
The ambulance came to a stop and the driver hurried to the back of the doors, opening them in haste where seconds counted the most. When he did he found his fellow emt waiting with the female Doctor who was now hovering over the patient. But the mysterious alleged man who was family to the injured, was gone. ***
Time seemed to go by rapidly. Natalie tried to stay with Nick until finally several nurses and Doctors pulled her away and Nick was no longer in her sight.
She sat down in a nearby waiting room and did the only thing she could do at this point. Wait and pray.
Captain Reese and Tracy came asking her for some information, but Natalie had none to give. Hours later, the Doctor assigned to Nick came out and gave his report that although Nick was indeed alive, he was in a coma and was badly burned. They didn’t expect him to live much longer.
After Reese and Tracy left, Natalie found her way to the ICU unit. She looked through the glass window and saw all the wires and computers Nick was connected to. Including a respirator. It vaguely reminded her of the time Nick had been shot in the head and had almost died. When Nick recovered from the gun shot wound he had no memories of who he was. It had been her hope then to try to bring Nick back from the darkness, but her attempts proved fruitless when LaCroix entered the scene and not only ruined her attempt but had succeeded to make Nick feel indebted to the ancient master for saving his life.
How she hated LaCroix, how she loathed him for taking Nick away from her. Yet, in these past few months she had seen a change in Nick. The Crusader who had always seemed so dark and gloomy about his life and now seemed to be lightening up. He was smiling more these days, walked a bit prouder and actually enjoying life. Natalie wanted to believe that it was because of her that he was transforming into a happier being, but she knew in her heart it was because LaCroix and Nick after centuries of fighting had somehow come to a truce. An uneasy truce, but a truce nonetheless. They didn’t seem to argue as much and they seemed to becoming closer, as if drawn together. Bonding.
While her relationship with Nick had gone from hot and passionate to cold as ice. Nick still cared for her, she knew he did. The flowers, and presents were his subtle ways of confirming that and the nights they spent off from work together watching movies and going to the theatre. But still, in that time she could feel him keeping his distance. She wanted to believe it was for her own safety but she was beginning to believe that he was preparing to leave.
All vampires had to move on eventually in there lives, after a period of time to keep there existence secret but Nick and her had something and she knew that she was only a step away of finding a cure for Nick. To make him mortal once more. Then they could be together.
But, she was slowly starting to have doubts, LaCroix’s hold on Nick was getting stronger, while her love for Nick was put on hold and seemed to be fading.
She felt alone and empty inside. It was all LaCroix’s fault. All of it. The tears filled her eyes, as she stared into the room, and shaking her head she turned and left. ***
He watched her leave and then made his own presence known by staring into the room. The boy was weak and LaCroix could barely feel the thread of his son’s bond. But he could feel it. Thank the Gods. No, Thank himself. Nicholas would have died from the burns and loss of blood if it hadn’t been his sire’s help. *Oh, my Nicholas, what trouble you get yourself into.*
LaCroix did not know how many times he wished he could chain Nicholas up into some boxed room so the boy would never get into any more mischief or danger again. He was solely tempted many times, just to ease his mind of worry. However Nicholas never liked confinement and balked every time his sire commanded him to remain in one spot. The boy was head strong and stubborn. Shouldn’t have spoiled him when he was brought across, should have been firm with him at the start.
Sighing, LaCroix looked down at his child and felt a wave of love and longing fill him. ‘I was so close into losing you? Do you even know how close Nicholas? We have come so far you and I? For almost three centuries we have been at war and now finally as we slowly start to come back full circle, you are almost taken from me.’
‘...I won’t let you go! I will never let you go, I will kill anyone and destroy anyone who even dares to try. Even that foolish female doctor. You did not fool me, Nicholas on Valentine’s day. I know you love her. But I also knew taking her life would only drive the wedge between us even more. So I spared her life, so you would stay in mine. I need you Nicholas. Don’t you know you are my sunlight? ’
LaCroix entered the room and walked over to the limp form. He was still badly burned and he looked pale. It would take many weeks for the body to heal. ‘But you will live. I will not allow you to die, Nicholas. Not even death will take you from me! I won’t allow it!’
The Ancient paused for a moment and then his hand reached out. He touched the unmarked forehead and swallowed. ‘Don’t you know how much I love you? Oh my sweet Nicholas, I will never let you go. Never!’ ***
Nick Knight survived that night and, slowly in the days that followed, his body healed. The Medical staff unknowingly were subtle instructed by LaCroix, to provide the Detective with human blood transfusions. Natalie watched from afar, knowing who had adjusted there thoughts and simply waited things out. Waiting for Nick to awaken.
Soon the computers and respirator were removed from his body. His body healed and soon the burns were gone. But though he had healed, his brain wave activity remained in a passive coma state.
After work, Natalie would come during the daylight hours and sit quietly by Nick’s side. Sometimes she would read to him, sometimes she would talk to him, but mostly she would just sit and wait.
At night, She would leave and he would come. He would sit quietly by his side. Never uttering a word, LaCroix would just sit, watch and wait.
Nicholas Knight, once Nicholas De Brabant, slept on. ***
Part two
(Two months later)
With no improvement on Nicholas Knight’s condition, the police officer homicide detective was transferred from the ICU to a separate floor. Swept off into a far corner, Nick slept on unaware of time or place. Natalie still came on a daily basis, but Tracy and the Captain seldom came by, although they would call once a week to check on Nick’s condition. Natalie tried not to be upset by there lack of visits but inside Natalie had always thought they cared for Nick. That they thought of him as family. But they seemed to be distancing themselves from him. Natalie refused to let go, and continued her vigil on the man she loved.
It was then one night that she forgot about the time and awoke from her nap to find a visitor standing a few feet from her. Natalie tried to keep calm but her heart rate still picked up its pace at the sight of LaCroix. The Ancient vampire glanced at the IV ignoring Natalie’s presence making sure the transfusion of blood was entering the body keeping it fed and healthy. Natalie ventured to speak as he looked the tubing over.
"Thank you." Seeing his confused stare, she bit her lip and added. "By hypnotizing the staff to make sure Nick receives continuous blood transfusions."
He raised an eyebrow and sniffed at her as if she was an insect that had just ventured into his domain, and wanted nothing more then to squash it. Then he lowered his head and gave her a stiff salute. He glanced at his watch and smiled like a predator at her form.
"Shouldn’t you be in bed by this time? Or at work? You are usually gone after supper."
Natalie felt a cold chill at his words. He knew of her visits? That bothered her somewhat but she refused to be brow beaten by this evil man.
"Yes usually, but it’s Friday and I’m off the weekend, I thought I would stay and keep Nick company." She kept her head high as if daring him to make her move from her seat.
For a moment he looked as if he might, then he pushed into a nearby empty seat and sat down on the opposite side of the mortal woman. He looked at her for one long lingering moment and then focused his attention on his son.
"Why hasn’t he awakened?" After a few minutes of silence, Natalie ventured to question the vampire before her. He shrugged. His hands moved to the sleeping form’s forehead there he stroked the golden blond hair and caressed the cheek.
"I do not know. He has healed, and the connection I feel for him is strong again and yet he has...no awareness. As if he is in a deep sleep. I have tried to break through it but for some reason...I can’t."
Natalie nodded and leaned back against her chair. She glanced at the clock on the wall it was nearing 8:30 pm, she would have to leave soon.
"He will wake up, won’t he?" Natalie asked.
LaCroix looked up and stared at the woman, his eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Why such concern Doctor, you who have trying to make him mortal and bring him ever closer to death I should think you would be pleased with your success."
Anger seethed through her and she rose from her chair, her voice rising slightly in outrage.
"How dare you! I would never have wished this on Nick, I love him!"
LaCroix only curled his lips upwards in a pleased smile at succeeding in goading the doctor’s fury. She was quite attractive when roused.
Rising, he met her stare head on.
"Oh, spare me your emotions for my son, if you truly loved him you wouldn’t be seeking to destroy him!"
"I want to save him!" She replied hotly.
"You want to kill him!" He replied back. "Deny it as you wish, but you want him mortal. So he, like you, can slowly age and wrinkle before your eyes. I see it Doctor, you’re already getting some wrinkles in those cheeks of yours. Soon your beautiful auburn hair will start to gray, and along with it, your body slowly decaying and falling apart until finally..."
LaCroix didn’t get time to finish his tirade before Natalie brought up her hand and slapped him right across the face.
His eyes flashed gold, and for a moment Natalie feared for her life, but shaking it off she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Oh yes, and what about you? You, who has followed him through out time, tormenting him, beating him, hurting him. You, who confess on that damn radio show how much you love him and yet you do everything in your power to harm him. Nick has told me how everything he loves, you try to kill or destroy."
"Lies!" LaCroix spat back. But Natalie was on a role and continued.
"Let’s see, the time you allowed a mob to think that he killed a local girl and you watched as they strung him up and hung him."
"Nicholas doesn’t need to breathe, he was in no danger what so ever."
"Or, how about the time when you had him mobbed and chased into a church; the only place that he could find sanctuary?"
"He needed to be taught a lesson! Besides I was nearby!"
"You told him you wearied of him!"
"I was angry at his rejections, I didn’t mean it and he knew that!"
"How about making his dog into a carouche and therefore forcing Nick to kill his own pet?"
"The dog didn’t like me!" He paced the room and flung his hand to his head as if warding some blow that was not visible.
"Even when it was brought across...it had to die! Besides Nicholas didn‘t need that stupid animal to love him, I loved him! That is all the love he needs!"
"How about the time when you tricked Nick into killing a ballerina girl that he was infatuated with, and made him believe she was a whore?"
"He was making a fool out of himself over a mortal woman!" LaCroix raised his finger and pointed it in her face. "Thinking that she was an angel! Ridiculous, she was taking Nicholas from me, and she had to die!"
"Really!" Replied Natalie, now ready for the kill. "And all those things, did they bring Nicholas back to you? NO! He only ran further away from you. How about the time when you destroyed the book of miracles, what if Nick had decided to go into the burning building after the book? He would have been burned to death! Or the many other times you destroyed any chance for him to become mortal? And gloated over it while he wept!"
"He is mine! I will never allow anything or anyone to take him from me! I had to burn the book. I wouldn’t have allowed Nicholas to go into the building! I would have stopped him!"
"Sure." Natalie replied, not believing him for a second. "What about the time when you beat Nick because he allowed a mortal to live and refused to feed, you killed the man and then placed its corpse in Nick’s bed."
"It was only a game!" LaCroix retorted.
"While Nick slept!"
"I was only trying to demonstrate to Nicholas that mortals are nothing more then food, nothing else. I meant only to show him the error of his ways. To make him strong! So he can survive."
He turned to her and shook his head. "I love Nicholas."
"Love? You don’t even know the meaning of the word love. I think you’ve done all of this to him because of Fleur?"
LaCroix stopped, he stared at her, bewildered.
"Yes, I know of your past with Nick’s sister, and how you wanted her and Nick begged you to leave her alone. Of his promise. I know, and I remember that night. That night at Azures."
LaCroix licked his lips. "How? Nicholas erased your memories?"
Natalie smiled. "You forget, I am a resister."
She then added. "And like you, I know that he said he didn’t love me to save my life. You know he loves me...and he does and I love him. Whether you want to believe that or deny it doesn’t matter. What matters is that I intend to keep on loving him and find a way to make him happy and if that is foolish to you, then so be it. At least I have his love. That is more then you will ever have."
LaCroix nearly killed her, he was going to. He meant to. But even as he reached for her with his eyes blazed in red, something stopped him, he spun from her and flew from the room.
Alone, Natalie sat down shakily in her chair. Then looking at Nick she reached for his hand and held it carefully and lovingly in her palm. ***
(Two weeks later)
Natalie checked the time, she should get going. She should get to the hospital so she could spend some time with Nick but she was tired. So very tired and all she wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep. It was starting to take a toll on her; she had lost weight and her eyes were baggy and red from lack of sleep. Her work was back logged and disorganized. It would take Grace two weeks to sort it all out. A part of Nat just wanted to leave, to run away from all the pain and feeling of loneliness to do something other then go to that place where Nick laid lifeless and dead to the world. But, if she didn’t go who would?
LaCroix? Damn it, she would not be outdone by him. She wouldn’t let him gloat about her not coming to see Nick, or give him ammunition. She had to go. If only to prove to that bastard that she loved Nick. Gathering her coat and purse, she made for the door stifling a yawn.
She paused as she opened the door, and came face to face with LaCroix. He just stood there staring at her and she stared right back at him.
She had to admit one thing LaCroix was a handsome man, in fact very handsome. But she’d die a thousand deaths before admitting that.
Realizing several seconds passed in silence, Natalie recovered from her shock and asked him bluntly. "Can I help you?"
"Yes, I thought perhaps we would take a break tonight. I am feeling rather tired and thought you might be to."
Natalie paused about to retort his speech when she yawned in front of him. Damn. She lowered her eyes and nodded as her face flushed. "I guess I am tired, but...I don’t want Nick to be alone."
"He won’t be...he has company tonight."
Natalie didn’t flinch. "Janette?"
"Yes. She's come from Paris, to look after him for a few days."
She paused and smiled lightly. So LaCroix had seen the competition too, and was just as tired as she or at least drained. In his own subtle way he was creating a temporary truce between the two combatants that wanted Nicholas’ love solely on them. She decided to give in, even though the thought of Nick being alone with Janette was unsettling. Janette and Nick had a history, and had a vampire marriage that lasted ninety seven years. Still, if Nick had felt anything romantic for Janette, he would have left with her when she disappeared from Toronto a year ago. Besides all that, she really was tired.
"Thank you, I guess I really do need the sleep."
He nodded and made to leave when Natalie realized she didn’t want him to go. Why, she didn’t know, she just didn’t. Perhaps she was lonely, after all the only one she really talked to was Nick. Two months have dragged by and Nat realized she really would like some company, even if it was her worst enemy.
She paused and started to speak and then stopped. He turned and raised an eyebrow at her.
"I beg your pardon Doctor Lambert, you have something to say?"
Natalie finally sighed and mumbled a few words under her breath.
"I’m sorry my dear, I’m rather an OLD vampire and my ears are just not what they use to be...what did you say?"
Natalie bit her tongue. "I said-Would you like-To come in for a drink?"
He paused as if amused then glanced at his watch. "I would love to my dear but I have things to do and..."
That’s all she needed and Natalie was swinging the door closed, when LaCroix turned and walked quickly inside before the door could close on him.
"But I suppose a few minutes couldn’t hurt."
He smiled wolfishly at her and Natalie sighed. Damn.
Seeing the so obvious hunger in his eyes, Natalie walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of blood. She kept it for Nick in case of emergencies. She walked over and offered it to him.
LaCroix paused and sniffed it. "Human?"
Natalie shrugged. "I keep it for emergencies. "
"Yes, one should always be prepared." He gulped it down in one swallow and held the glass out to her waiting. He even added a smile.
Natalie poured him another glass. He sipped it and made to wander Natalie’s apartment, He stopped in the living room. A shelf of books were before him. Several on the anatomy of the human body but there were several that caught his eye. Romeo and Juliet. He moved to the sofa and sat down. Something small was sitting nearby and on seeing him it suddenly sprung up and ran from the room mewling in fright.
LaCroix smirked in glee, then swallowed the last of the blood and held it up in front of the doctor who had taken a seat opposite him. She paused and stared, while he in turn held the empty glass up in expectation.
Natalie swallowed and getting back to her feet went to the refrigerator and taking the bottle out she practically threw it in to his hands. "Here!"
LaCroix looked only slightly hurt, and then shrugged filling the glass himself and this time sipped at the blood all the while gazing at the doctor.
"You have quite the home Doctor Lambert...so much a part of you. Innocence, beauty, bright and feminine."
Natalie only shrugged. "May I ask you something?"
LaCroix paused and shook his head. "Only if in turn, I may ask you a question?"
"Truth, or penalty."
He looked at her in confusion.
"It's a children's game." she explained, "We ask our questions, and we have to answer truthfully, or pay a penalty."
LaCroix was intrigued. He smiled. "Really? I think I like this game already. What shall the punishment be?"
"Well, ah." She hadn’t thought that far ahead. Finally she blundered and said. "Oh, I don’t know when I was a kid we use to have each other walk on one foot or get put in a closet for five minutes."
LaCroix raised his eye brow and tsked at her. "Hardly a suitable punishment for adults. How about this, if you lie, you have to kiss me."
Natalie’s jaw dropped open. LaCroix helpfully closed it for her.
"And if I lie, well I won’t, but if I do. Then you may punish me in what way you see fit, as long as it ah does not involve sunlight, stake or beheading."
Natalie smiled and nodded. "Deal."
"Feeling generous this evening and since you made the suggestion, you may go first."
Natalie paused wondering how she had gotten her enemy in her home and was now playing a game with him. Nick would be more then shocked. He would be horrified. Oh well, all she could do now was try to stay a float.
"Alright. My first question..." Natalie thought about it and then smiled, the night is young mind as well keep the game light hearted. At least before she asked the question she most desired to have answered. Lull the victim into a false pretense. Yes, that is what she would do.
"What is your all time favorite movie?"
LaCroix raised one eye brow at her, recovering he smiled and shrugged. "Movie? Movie? Of all time? Well let’s see, I did like that classic Dracula movie he was rather amusing. However, I think up to date my favorite movie is Star Wars."
"Star Wars?" Asked Natalie, rather shocked.
"Yes, all those dark scenes and I really connected with that role of Darth Vader, personally I think he was doing his children a great service."
"He tried to make them join the darkside, he also tortured and nearly killed them?"
"Yes, but for there own good." He chirped. Natalie only narrowed her eyes at him.
"My turn." He replied with a grin. "How old are you, really?"
Natalie bit her lip and shrugged. "Thirty two." She replied far too quickly. LaCroix tsked her and pulled something up from his hand. Her driver’s license.
"Oh dear, I’m afraid you fibbed my dear Doctor...in fact your off by at least a decade."
Natalie glowered. LaCroix grinned and then turning his head waited.
Natalie almost barfed in his face. Instead she moved in and kissed him on the cheek and as quickly fell back to the safety of the couch.
Seeing her embarrassment, LaCroix grinned. Being so close to her he finally got the scent of her...roses. An intriguing and flowery scent that was quite alluring to him.
She tried to subtly wipe her lips with the back of her hand and then getting her self in order shrugged.
"Ok, my turn again. How many children do you have?"
"I only had one, my dear."
"I meant, brought across."
LaCroix shrugged thinking it over in his head and counting names silently then finally he nodded. "One hundred and two."
"One hundred and two? But you only seem to have interest in Nick and Janette. Why don’t you go bother them for a while?"
Ignoring the fact that she asked two questions, LaCroix decided to answer her. Truthfully.
"Because my dear, I brought them across as mere fancy. Not as my true children. Of my long existence, I have only two that have held my interest and affection. My turn."
Natalie huffed and waited, determined to be truthful this time.
"How old were you when you lost your virginity?"
Natalie paled.
"Well?" He prodded impatiently.
Natalie swallowed and biting down her tongue and drawing a small bit of blood with it she whispered. "I haven’t."
LaCroix raised both eye brows. "I suppose I will have to believe that, although there is a way to make sure."
Natalie scurried further away from him. Changing his mind, LaCroix finished his glass and refilled it for the fourth time.
Thinking over her next question she asked without thought.
"Why do you hate mortals?"
Continue to The Conclusion of Uneasy Truce