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The Birthday Blues by Susan Ellen Field -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The music throbbed in the background. Janette sat by the bar sipping on the house special, when LaCroix walked up slowly behind her. Janette turned around slowly and nodded in the direction of a table in the far corner, where a certain blonde was sitting and drinking. "He is revamping himself," she told LaCroix. His eyebrows lifted. "Again? What does that make it, three times this month?" "Actually, I believe this makes it the fourth time, but who is counting?" The pair looked back over towards the pathetic hunched over form of Nicholas. Nicholas, on the other hand, was doing his very best to ignore them. after all, wasn't that what they had been doing to HIM all week? Nick took another large gulp of unknown person. His eyes glazed over as he readied for another flashback. Thinking over the events that led him to this really small table, and wearing a really long hot leather coat, for no other reason, other than he looked really kewl in it! ........................... ..................... FLASHBACK: A few nights before.....well, since they never tell the exact time period on flashbacks, could be anything. But a few nights before is my story, I'm sticking with it! ANYWAY ........................................ It was New years day, well, actually, it was New years night! Nicholas B.Knights birthday. Well, not really. but he did have the paperwork that said so! And that should count for something, right? Not a word! Not a card! Not a bunch of cheesy half-dead flowers bought from the lady on the corner (geez! did SHE ever sleep?)!!! Schanke had gone home early, saying he had an upset stomach from the souvlanke he ate the night before. Said he hadn't noticed the confetti all over it as he swallowed, and as a result, his insides were having a celebration of their own! Well, it was a reason. However, thought Nick why didn�t he give me a gift before he left? Why not a 'Happy birthday pal, I didn't forget, but didn't quite remember' pat on the back?..... And Natalie, yeah. all of a sudden there was a backlog of work? EXCUSE ME! thought Nick. But I'm suppose to be a homicide detective! I would have noticed a little thing like alot of bodies around all at once!!! Seemed like an awful flimsy excuse!! Sas it asking too much for the gang at the precinct to chip in for a birthday cake? A little ice-cream? So what if he would gag on it, so what if he couldn't stand the smell. He could have just smiled alot at it, blown out the candles and made his usual wish for regained mortality! But he wasn't even given the choice. The mortal world had abandoned him on his made-up special day, ugh, night! //////////////// So, once again Nicholas being really fed up with mortals for the moment, decided to go where he was appreciated. He flew over to the Raven. Nicholas snuggled up to his "sister" Janette. "I'm sorry Nichola, but I do not have time for you this evening. Miklos and I are doing inventory. "But Janette,don't you remember what tonight is?" Nicholas asked. She thought about it for a minute and suddenly put her hands to her beloved Nicola's face. At last! Someone remembers, thought Nick. "Thank you, my love. I had forgotten all about the delivery that's coming! But how did you know?" She called Miklos over. "Miklos! Take care of the rest here, I'll be back in a bit." Miklos nodded as Janette gave Nick a quick kiss and left. "But Janette ,I" ............................................... Too late, she was gone. He was alone. "Miklos, a bottle of the 'House' special." Miklos raised his eyebrows and reached under the bar. He handed Nick the dark bottle with the nifty hanging label, that kinda got in his way as he drank, but what the heck! He looked at the bottle in his hand. Maybe I dont have to be alone. There is 'one' I can count on! LaCroix! Of course!!!!! Nick handed the bottle back to Miklos."I wont be needing that after all." Miklos just shrugged and took it back, replacing it behind the bar. Nick left the Raven and flew over to CERK radio........... his 'Father' was preparing to go on the air. "Nicholas, what brings you here at this extremely busy moment?" "You dont remember what tonight is?" he asked LaCroix. "Tonight?...hmmm.. Let me think YES!!" he said ,snapping his fingers. Nicholas got a huge grin on his face. When it came right down to it, he could always count on LaCroix to be there. Even if most of the time he didn't really ask him to be, actually, couldn't get rid of the guy! But this was different, this was his phoney birthday and his 'Dad' remembered when no one else did!!! Nicholas raised his arms, preparing for the hug he knew was coming. LaCroix stood up and walked towards his 'son'. He placed his arms on Nick's shoulders and grabbed tightly. "Thank you Nicholas! I had almost forgotten that the program is delayed tonight due to the special 'New Year' music retrospective!!! Well, that gives me a bit of time to chat with online friiends for a bit. You will of course, excuse me" ............ "But LaCroix, don't you even care what tonight is? .............WHOOSH.....................!!!! Too late, LaCroix had left! "That does it!" Nick was seriously pissed!!! He flew back to the Raven. He stormed over to the bar. Miklos didn�t even look up as he handed back to Nick the bottle he had handed back earlier ..................... BACK TO THE PRESENT..OR...NICK SNAPS OUT OF THE FLASHBACK SCENE .......... Which leads us back where we began. Nick sitting at the table, drinking the house special, looking sexy in the really long hot leather coat. Now it was about this time, that Miklos came to the table and said to Nicholas that he really ought not fly home in that condition and perhaps he would like to rest in the back room until he was in better control. Well, Nick thought that maybe he had a point. His combination re-vamp , birthday, but not really a celebration,was not only a bust,but the last bottle of mortal chablis was not too great either. "Just where did they find this guy?" he wondered. Miklos helped him into the backroom. It was dark, quiet. Nnick was getting settled on the bed, when suddenly the lights flashed on and there was heard a collective yell."HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!" Nick was overcome with emotion and nausea.(that unknown guy was repeating!). Nicholas looked around. There was his family and friends coming towards him with open arms and gifts!!!! There was Janette, LaCroix, Natalie, Alma, Schanke, Urs, Vachon, Screed....... "HEY WAIT A MINUTE!!!" he yelled out. "Thats seasons two and three together? It cant be! They....... no it must be a .....AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Nick sat up with a start. He got his 'vamp' eyes under control and looked around. The place was fairly quiet. Captain cohen came and tapped him on the shoulder."Time to go home detective," she said. Nick looked at the clock. Nearly dawn. He looked at the calendar..January 2nd. Nick grabbed his really hot long leather coat, the one he looked good in, and left the precinct, knowing his mortal friends had forgotten his birthday. "Guess I'll have to go to the Raven to re-vamp myself again................" "SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHH!!!!!!! everyone! Nicola will soon be here!! He will never guess that we planned the surprise for the night AFTER his birthday!!!"...... FINI |