Disclaimers Here

LaCroix stood silent determined to control his escalating fury. Since Nicholas' attack, he had smothered a strong desire to rend someone, preferably Gautier. He broke from his violent contemplation when a light touch brushed his arm.

Janette extended a glass of the Raven's best vintage toward her father, watching him assume his mask of stolidity. She knew and understood this projected attitude. There was much more to LaCroix than what he displayed to the world.

Hearing a slight moan from upstairs, a small frown creased her forehead, her worry concerning Nicholas quite apparent. "How is Nicola, LaCroix?"

"He is sleeping."

Janette could feel the tension in her sire as he sipped his drink. He would never display it, but she knew he was troubled.

The whisper of cloth moving from the upstairs landing drew both vampires' attention. Two sets of intent blue eyes tracked Natalie as she slowly descended the stairs. "Why are you allowing her to stay?" Janette softly hissed, annoyed at the coroner's presence in the loft.

"I believe she may prove useful, particularly in dealing with Nicholas' mortal pastime."

"I don't like her involved in this." Janette glowered darkly at the doctor as she approached the tall, silent patriarch.

"Doctor."

Natalie forced eye contact determined to stand her ground with Nick's master. The stone-faced Roman may actually scare her to death, but she would be damned if she showed it!

"Will you tell me what happened now?"

LaCroix controlled the slight smile that her words sparked. He so enjoyed sparring against this mortal. "I believe I already did so, Doctor."

"LaCroix, an altercation is a black eye or a bloody nose!" Natalie watched as the tall vampire quietly sipped from his drink. His silence irked her; didn't he realize that she needed to understand what was going on to help Nick? As it became clear LaCroix wasn't going to offer any information, Natalie swallowed her annoyance and sighed.

"Do you know why he's not healing the way he should?"

"You need not concern yourself with why, Doctor. I would suggest you simply appreciate the fact that I am allowing you to stay."

"Allow? You're allowing me... I have as much right to be here as you do!" The nerve of that man! she fumed. Nat could feel her temper about to erupt.

"Really, Doctor, you must learn to moderate this tendency to negatively react to obstacles. What is it they claim - high blood pressure leads to death?"

Janette leered hungrily at Natalie. "Of course, we could offer another treatment for high blood pressure. Unfortunately it also leads to death." Her voice purred seductively, the vampire evident as Janette flaunted her feelings at the doctor.

"No, thank you!" Natalie retorted sarcastically. "My health isn't what I'm worried about, thank you." She glanced from the dignified Roman to the suave, dark-haired beauty and back again. "However, concerning medical help, if you'd just tell me what's going on, I might be able to help Nick." Nat knew their tendency to keep information private, but maybe they would impart more to her this time than 'get out'. She might be able to help Nick, then.

LaCroix didn't answer her. Instead the imposing gentleman glided into the kitchen, took two full bottles from the crates Janette had brought, and headed for the stairs.

Janette glanced at her sire as he passed her, then turned back to the coroner. "I wouldn't worry about Nicola, Natalie. We've dealt with this problem before; we will handle it now."

"What do you mean? You've handled..." A surprised look flared in the coroner's eyes at the unexpected opportunity to hear something from this threesome's past.

"Janette, aren't you needed at the Raven?" LaCroix's annoyance at his daughter's faux pas was scarcely audible in his voice, though very clear to everyone in the room as he smoothly interrupted Natalie. Casting a cautious look at her master, Janette nodded in agreement. "Oui, LaCroix."

"Then I would suggest you depart before any mishaps occur during your absence."

After nearly 1000 years, Janette knew when it was wise to acquiesce to LaCroix' demands. Walking toward the middle of the living room, she briefly glanced over her shoulder at the human woman. It was probably better if LaCroix handled Natalie anyway; she would probably end up making the coroner her dinner, which would upset Nicholas. She smiled to herself at the thought of the upcoming argument between these two strong willed individuals. A soft breeze filled the loft as she leapt through the skylight and headed for the Raven, her thoughts still very much grounded within the loft.

Natalie blinked when she suddenly found herself facing empty space instead of Janette. Turning toward LaCroix she saw he was already almost to the top of the stairs. "LaCroix."

*Ring* *Ring*

Nat turned toward the elevator door, annoyed at the interruption, then looked back at LaCroix.

"Hello?" a tinny, but recognizable voice sounded over the intercom.

"I would suggest you answer that, my dear. It sounds like our visitor is going to be insistent.

"Hey, Nick? You up there?" Schanke's voice sounded again, surrounded by more ringing from the doorbell. "Hey, anyone up there in that dungeon of doom?"

Natalie watched the elder vampire disappear into the bedroom. "Damn it," she sighed and headed for the control panel mounted by the door.

"Come on, I know you're up there, Nick."

"Hi Schanke. Come on up," Nat replied and pushed the release button to open the locked outer door, freeing the elevator for use. She didn't relish dealing with Schanke now, but knew he needed to be misdirected away from Nick's current exigency.

The elevator slid into place and the door rolled open. Schanke bounced into the room, holding a grocery bag. Looking around, he noticed Nat standing nearby.

"Hey, I'm glad you're here. How's our boy doing?" He headed for the kitchen with Natalie trailing along behind him.

"Ahhh... I'm afraid he has a pretty bad case of the flu," she replied, casting a quick glance toward the bedroom. "What are you doing here, Schank?"

"Man o' man. I kept telling him he needed to eat better." Schanke smiled and placed the bag onto the kitchen table. "That's why I brought this stuff over."

"Stuff?"

"Yeah. I had Myra whip up 'Schanke's instant flu remedy'."

Natalie watched as Schanke began to pull out covered Tupperware bowls followed by a large plastic juice container from the bag.

"All this stuff is just what Nick needs." Don popped the lid on one of the larger containers. "Chicken soup, prepared especially for Nick. It's an old family recipe of Myra's.

The aroma rising from the bowl was heavenly to Natalie, though she knew Nick wouldn't think so. "That's nice, Schanke, but -"

"There's extra matzo balls and a vaporizer. I threw in several cloves of garlic too." He glanced over at Natalie for a moment, a serious glint appearing in his eyes. "You did know that garlic has been found to build the blood, didn't you? It should help Nick fight this flu too." He smiled and turned back to the table, thus missing Natalie's expression at the mention of garlic and Nick being brought together.

"Schanke."

"And to top things off, a large container of orange juice." He straightened up and glanced toward the refrigerator. "You know Nick never has anything in his refrigerator. I knew he would need some stuff to help him feel better."

Just as Natalie began to open her mouth, a low, moan echoed from upstairs, followed by sounds that neither could really identify.

Schanke looked at Nat, waiting for an explanation, then began to move toward the stairs when she didn't immediately say anything. Nat grabbed his arm and gently pulled him back.

"Schanke. Schank, it's all right. He's just -- uh, well...sick, you know?" she stammered, trying to figure out how she was supposed to explain this without sounding like a moron. Fortunately, Schanke supplied his own explanation.

"Can't hold anything down, huh? Yeah, I've made sacrifices to the porcelain goddess myself."

Another series of groans ending with a weak gagging sound floated down from Nick's bedroom. Schanke frowned and began to edge toward the stairs. "Maybe we should go up and help him?"

"No, Schanke, it's okay. I had a friend of mine, a doctor, come by and examine him. He's up there with him now. Once he finishes, I'll have whatever medication he prescribes delivered."

"Oh, okay." They both stepped back to the kitchen table. "Ah, Nat? How long do you think this bout of flu will last?"

"It's hard to say. It could be over in 48 hours or he could be fighting a fever for a week or more. We'll have to see." She slipped her arm around his, hooking their elbows together and began to walk him toward the elevator. "It might be better for you to go, Schank. I know Nick wouldn't want you to catch this stuff and take it home to Myra and Jenny."

"Yeah, I guess you're right, Nat."

As they reached the door, Schanke turned toward Natalie. "Have you called Cohen about Nick not coming in?"

"No, I was going to do that in a few minutes."

"I'll take care of it, Nat. You just make sure he's doing okay." The detective stepped into the elevator, then turned back to face her. "You going to be into work later?"

"I don't know yet. I'll talk to my friend about someone staying as soon as he finishes his exam." Frowning slightly, Nat added, "I still have to check my schedule at work. As long as nothing major has come in today, I should be able to stay with Nick, just in case."

"Well, if you need any help, let me know. I know Myra would come over and help if you needed her." Schanke opened the door and stepped into the elevator. "Tell him not to worry about work. I'll handle things until he feels good enough to come back."

"Okay, Schanke. I'll tell him. See you tomorrow. Night."

"Night, Natalie." As the door began to close, Schanke yelled out, "Oh Nat, don't forget to add salt to the vaporizer."

Natalie sighed, relieved they had avoided one problem. Luckily, Don hadn't seen who the 'Doctor' really was or what condition Nick was really in.

She headed back to the kitchen and began to place the items Schanke brought into the refrigerator. At least she knew where her dinner was going to come from. If she was lucky, she might even have time to eat it.

She was placing the last item in when she heard another groan of pain, then a scream ring out from upstairs. Slipping the last bowl inside, she slammed the door and hurried toward the bedroom.

To Chapter 15

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