July, 1998.

"Do you think Coach’ll ever find someone to sponsor us?" the young dark haired boy asked the blonde, riding next to him.

"I don’t know. There aren’t many businesses that can afford to sponsor us in our district. And those that can, we can’t exactly use." Nicky replied with a smirk.

It was early evening and almost dark. The two boys were riding their bikes home from hockey practice along the waterfront walkway running parallel to Lake Shore Boulevard.

"Yeah we’d end up being called ‘Joe’s Kinky kids’ or something and be thrown off the rink." Billy said, they laughed heartily at the thought.

Nicky had begged his Dad to let him join the local junior hockey team when Billy had told him that his Mom was letting him play.

The district they fell under, was situated in a less affluent part of the city, and the team had been issued with barely enough gear, which was well worn and much of it was far too big for the ten and eleven year old who would be wearing it. Their uniforms were nothing but a motley collection of rags.

Sponsorship rules stated that they could only be sponsored by a local business in their district. They were District 7, the lowest team in the grade. Nobody ever sponsored D7.

The boys didn’t really care if they didn’t get a sponsor and flash new gear though; they just wanted to play a game they loved.

They had their first game last Saturday. They may have looked really bad, but they had played well, winning the game 3-1.

Billy’s Mom had offered to take Nicky to and from the Saturday games on hearing about Nick’s sun allergy, the boys rode straight to practice from school then home during the week.

Nicky felt a little disappointed that his Dad hadn’t been able to come. The game didn’t start until 8am, and getting to the game was difficult with the sun shinning. He knew exactly, and understood, why Nick couldn’t come, but he still wished he could have been there all the same.

It was quiet along the waterfront; hardly any cars came this way. It was a short cut to Billy’s house, where Nicky stayed until Carrie, his babysitter, or Vachon came and picked him up after dinner. Nick had to be at work by the time Nicky would have arrived at home, so he went to Billy’s on practice nights.

Both boys turned and stared as a black limousine suddenly passed by them.

"Reckon they're lost?" Nicky said nodding toward the Limo which was in stark contrast to the rundown warehouse district around them.

"I doubt it." Billy replied quietly. The boys stopped riding, and sat watching the Limo carry on down the street until it turned and disappeared into a warehouse on one of the piers situated along the lakefront.

"What do you think they’re doing?" Nicky asked his friend, eyeing the warehouse where the car had vanished.

"I don’t know, and I don’t want to." Billy tersely replied. He glared at the warehouse, then ducked his head and continued ridding. He had recognized the car. It was one of his fathers.

Nicky suddenly passed by him standing up as he pumped the pedals harder, picking up speed. "Come on lets have a look." he said as he went by.

"Nicky! Are you crazy? They’ll kill you if they see you!" Billy sped up to catch his friend.

"They won’t see me." Nicky said when he stopped at the entrance to the pier.

Billy pulled up beside him.

"Don’t do it Nicky. Please!" Billy pleaded.

"I’ll just have a quick look in the window and leave." Nicky said as he stashed his bike and gear behind a bush. "You can wait here if you want."

"Fine I will." Billy gave up.

Billy dismounted and sat on a nearby railing, nervously watching as Nicky made his way through the shadows to the warehouse at the end of the pier.

Nicky scurried up to the side of the warehouse. Through grimy translucent windows, he could see a dim light shining from within. A fire exit ran up the outer wall to the second floor. First he quickly glanced around for anyone who might be watching, when he saw no one, Nicky quietly and carefully ascended the metal staircase.

"No, no Nicky. What are you doing?! Don’t go up there!!" Billy whispered desperately to himself , clutching tightly at the railing, as he watched his friend climb the stairs.

Nicky reached the window at the top of the stairs. He tested it to see if it was unlocked.

It pulled open with a slight scrape, it sounded intensely loud in the darkness which had suddenly descended upon them. He waited holding his breath until he was sure no one had heard him, then quickly slipped inside.

"Oh God! Nicky you are crazy!" Billy was beginning to panic. Slipping down off the railing he clutched at his hair. He had to get some help. Nicky didn’t know what he was getting himself into. He was going to get himself killed. Billy made a decision. He picked up his bike and tore off down the street, in the direction of the 96th precinct.

Nicky was in an empty office. Maps, schedules and calendars with naked girls decorated the walls. He paused for a split second to glance at Miss September.

Continuing on, he peered through the window in the door out into the corridor beyond. It was empty.

Nicky pulled open the door and cautiously crept down the hallway heading towards a light coming from behind the door at the far end.

The door was ajar, so he pushed it open slightly to better see inside. It led on to a catwalk high above an expansive storage area inside the warehouse.

Nicky stepped on to the walkway and moved slowly along until he could see the figures that were talking below.

He could now see the Limo parked just inside the large closed roll-a-door. It was flanked by two large men holding automatic weapons. Two more men were standing in front of the car. One holding a silver briefcase, the other was dressed in a dark red suit and long dark coat.

Three men dressed in equally expensive suits, approached the two with the briefcase, from behind a stack of wooden crates. Nicky silently watched from above, rapted by the scene as the men began to converse.

"Tony! Good to see you!" the man in the red suit congenially greeted the man, spreading his hands out as he spoke.

"Mr. Gulliano." one of the three men replied. "Let's get down to business, shall we?"

"Whatever you say Tony." Gulliano said pleasantly.

They both moved to the car, and the man with Gulliano placed the briefcase on the bonnet.

"Now, Did you bring your share of the bargain Mr. Collier?" Gulliano asked Tony.

Tony reached into his breast pocket and pulled out an envelope.

"This holds the information on where the merchandise is being stored. It will be ready and waiting for you to collect at your leisure." he handed the envelope over to the man with the briefcase, who checked the contents and nodded to Mr. Gulliano in confirmation of it’s contents. After a signal from Gulliano the man pushed the briefcase over to Tony.

Tony opened the briefcase. Nicky saw the flash of a large amount of American green.

The dealer closed the case and removed it from the car.

"Always nice doing business with you Mr. Gulliano." he said with a smile.

"Likewise Tony."

Tony turned away from the car and headed back toward the direction he had come.

"I’m sorry I wont be seeing you around." Gulliano said. His tone of voiced made Tony halt and turn back to face him.

Tony watched as the two men on either side of him suddenly dropped dead to the floor.

"What the hell are you doing Gulliano?" He stammered stunned.

"Just ridding myself of the middle man Tony. Nothing personal." Gulliano cocked his head and smiled, pointed his own gun at the man standing a few feet away, and pulled the trigger.

Tony fell limp to the floor, his brain and the back of his head spread over the warehouse behind him.

Nicky stared disbelieving at the scene below. It was hardly real, more like a really bad gangster movie.

He was lying flat on the cat walk to stay out of sight. He must have gasped, because Gulliano suddenly looked up.

"What the hell...!!" He and Gulliano locked eyes for a moment before the man pointed his gun at Nicky and pulled the trigger. Nicky scrambled to his feet and hurried further along the cat walk as bullets ricocheted of the metal around him. He kept on running, the zipping sound the silenced guns giving him plenty of incentive to move. Covering his head, he dashed to the farside of the warehouse.

"Get him!" he heard Gulliano yell at his goons.

Nicky slammed open a door and ran down the corridor.

Oh shit! Oh shit! His mind screamed. He turned a corner, and slid to a halt as he saw one of Gulliano’s men round the corner at the far end.

He backed up and ran into an office. Going to the window, he pushed it open. Looking out, all he could see was black water. Oh shit! Nicky could hear the men closing in on him and climbed out on to the small ledge. A bullet slamming into the framework by his hand, prompted him to launch himself off the pier and down the thirty feet into the freezing water.

Billy dropped his bike noisily at the foot of the precienct's steps and barreled in the front entrance.

"Help!" he cried out panting, as he entered the foyer, sweat plastering his dark hair to his forehead. A nearby officer came over to him and put a hand on his shoulder to help calm him.

"What’s wrong kid?" he asked calmly.

"You gotta help me! I have to talk to Detective Knight!"

"Knight?"

"YES!" Billy yelled. The visions of Nicky dead at the pier by the time he got help, making him almost hysterical.

Nick heard the commotion in the foyer and went to investigate.

"Billy?" What was he doing here? Nick frowned as the boy ran to him.

Billy saw Nick and ran over to him. "Nick! You have to help him!"

"Help who?" Nick asked kneeling down in front of the distraught boy, holding him by the arms.

"Nicky!"

"What’s happened to him." Nick said shock and sudden anxiety making his tone curt.

"He’s gone crazy that's what!" Billy poured out what had happened at breakneck speed. When the boy had finished, Nick looked into his eyes.

"Stay here. Call your Mother to come and get you." he commanded Billy. Then ran back to his desk to grab his coat and Tracy.

Together with three squad cars they roared off in the direction of the pier.

Nicky felt the freezing water suck the heat and air from his body the instant he hit the water. Bullets zipped through the water around him. Surfacing, he swam as fast as he could further out into the darkness of the lake, spluttering out the water he had breathed in.

When he finally stopped swimming and treaded water, he could hear sirens. Billy! Thank God!

Nicky saw the figures disappear inside the warehouse window, then saw the taillights of the Limo as it sped away from the crimescene.

He was shivering. The water was bloody cold. He started to swim slowly back towards the shore. He was a lot further from the shoreline than he had thought, and the cold was tiring him quickly. He had to keep stopping to rest. Nicky wasn’t too sure if he was going to make it.

Nick leapt from the caddy as they pulled up to the pier with the marked police cars. He spotted Nicky’s bike and hockey gear in a bush at the pier entrance, and drew his gun as he entered the warehouse.

His stress level increased a hundred fold when he saw the dead bodies strewn across the floor.

"Nicky!" he called out. He listened for his heartbeat. Nothing.

Nick searched the rooms and offices, followed by the uniformed police. "Nicky!"

"He’s not here Nick." Tracy called from further down the hallway as she searched with her own entourage of uniforms.

"Detective Knight!" a voice called. Nick and Tracy hurried to the location the voice had come from.

"In here!" the officer called waving his gun into an office at the end of the hallway.

He pointed to the bullet holes in the woodwork of the open window.

Nick rushed over and lent out the window. "Nicky!!" he yelled at the water below.

Dad? Nicky forced himself to focus. He was barely keeping his head above water.

"Nicky!!"

"Dad." he croaked, then a little louder. "Dad!"

Nick heard the weak call. "Nicky hang on I’m coming!" Nick began to rip off his coat and gun holster, he kicked off his shoes, and took a few steps back from the window.

"Nick, what are you doing?" Tracy asked in a level tone.

Nick didn’t answer. Instead he ran at the window and dove through it and into the icy water below.

"Wow." one of the officers exclaimed as he lent out the window along with Tracy and every other officer present.

Nick surfaced and began to swim out to where he could hear Nicky paddling. The blonde head was just going under, he reached out and grabbed his son, pulling him back above the water.

"I’ve got you. It’s ok." Nick soothed as Nicky coughed and spluttered. He held him close with one arm, treading water with the other.

Nicky just hung on for dear life as his father swam them back towards the shore.

The swim was a long one. Nick felt strangely tried, making the going slow. It must be the stress. he thought.

Torches and search lights were scouring the water looking for them. One of them trained on them as they neared.

"There!" someone shouted pointing into the water.

Natalie had arrived on the scene by now and was waiting at the lakes edge, calling for blankets and dry clothing.

Nick swam his son to the waters edge where several hands pulled the boy from his arms and then helped himself out of the water and up the bank to the where Natalie was waiting.

The water had been so cold, it had sapped what little body warmth Nick had from his skin, making him feel uncomfortable. He shivered ever so slightly.

A blanket was thrown over his shoulders as he walked to the caddy, where Natalie was rubbing a violently shivering Nicky dry with a towel and removing his sodden clothes.

She glanced up as he approached.

"Take off your clothes." she ordered. Nick began to slowly peel off his shirt. He shivered again. He frowned at the sensation. He still felt cold. This wasn’t normal, not for him anyway. Usually he would have warmed up again right after leaving the freezing water. He shivered harder, and then kept on shivering.

"Nat." he rasped.

Natalie finished pulling a dry jersey over Nicky’s head, and bundled him up in a blanket together with Tracy using her body to warm him safely. She sat them in the passenger seat to cuddled each other. She heard Nick call her and turned to face him.

"Nick!" she exclaimed softly as she watched him shivering almost as hard as Nicky had been. "What’s wrong?"

"I’m bloody cold! That’s what’s wrong!" he snapped.

"Ok ok. Come on, I’ll help you out of those wet clothes." Natalie could see that this unexpected development was unnerving Nick and took control of the situation.

She finished pulling off his shirt and undid his belt buckle. She wrapped the blanket Nick was holding, around his waist, knowing how modest her 800 year old vampire could be, and then pulled off his pants and underwear.

"Nat, I don’t feel so good." Nick moaned as she threw his wet clothes on the ground with a splat.

"I know Nick. You have hypothermia." She spoke to him sympathetically. Natalie grabbed another towel and began to rub Nick dry. He was still shivering.

All the while they were soliciting leering smiles and looks from the surrounding officers and detectives arriving at the scene.

Natalie helped him get into a spare set of clothes he kept in the trunk of his car. His limbs didn’t seem to do as they were told.

Natalie glanced over to Captain Reese as he approached them.

"Been for a swim I see Knight." he said lightly. He observed his detective as he stood before him shivering badly.

"Is he alright?" he asked Natalie when Nick didn’t respond to his remark.

"He’s suffering from hypothermia, they both are." she gestured to Nicky and Tracy bundled up together in the car. Natalie was rubbing Nicks hair dry as best she could as she spoke.

"What can I do?" he asked the coroner. Natalie looked Nick quickly over again, and seeing not a lot of improvement, she gestured Reese over to them.

"Come here and give Nick a hug for a while." She said with a grin. Reese just raised an eyebrow and walked over to where Nick was leaning heavily against the car. Natalie got them both to get in the caddy’s backseat.

Reese wrapped himself around Nick, while leaning against the side of the car, holding Nicks shivering back against his chest. Natalie wrapped them both in a blanket.

"The things I do to keep you happy Knight." he muttered. This was going to keep the precinct entertained for long while.

"Don’t let him fall asleep." Natalie said. "You to Trace." she added to the couple in the front. Tracy nodded.

"I’ll be back in a while. I have to go sort this lot out." she said nodding toward the warehouse. "Stay here until I come back." Natalie took a last look at her handiwork then headed into the warehouse to tag and bag her latest customers.

"So is someone going to tell me what the hell went on here tonight?" Reese said after a few minutes of hugging Nicks frozen body to his.

"Jesus Nick your cold!" he added.

When Nick didn’t respond, Reese pulled around to look at his face.

"No Nick! Come on. No sleeping on the job!" he said firmly. Nick had drifted off.

Reese gently shook him until he felt his detective stir.

"Ok, the report can wait till later." he said.

"Knight, you still awake." he said loudly after a couple of minutes.

"Yeah hmmf."

"How’s little Nicky doing there Tracy." Reese asked.

"I’m Ok." the boy replied. Regaining his body temperature faster than his larger father.

"Yep, he’s warming up nicely Cap." Tracy added.

They talked about anything for awhile, trying to keep Nick awake. He mumbled answers to questions and appeared lethargic. But he had stopped shivering after a while and soon Natalie was back opening the car door.

"How are they?" she asked.

"Nicky’s fine" Tracy said "But Nick still seems pretty out of it."

"Ok, I’m going to have to take him home." she said to the captain.

Reese nodded as he extracted himself from Nick and climbed out of the car.

"Do that. I’ll book you all both off for the rest of the night." he said to Natalie and Tracy. Natalie gave her thanks and slipped into the drivers seat. She lent over the seat to where Nick was propped up in the back swathed in blankets and fished through his wet clothes on the floor, for the car keys, praying they weren’t at the bottom of the lake. Thankfully finding them she started the car and headed for the loft.

Tracy glanced at Nick sitting slouched with his eyes closed in the back, and turned to Natalie.

"Should he be like this?" she asked concerned. This was not normal vampire behaviour. They were indestructible, weren’t they?

"No." Natalie smiled a little as she continued. "We tried a new treatment this afternoon. It seems to have had an effect on him."

"Well I don’t think I like this effect." Nick mumbled from the backseat.

Natalie smiled. "Well it wouldn’t be so bad if you hadn’t both decided to go for a midnight swim." she scolded.

Nick just harrumphed.

"How you feeling?" Nat asked Nick tenderly after a minute.

"Better."

"Can Nicky go to sleep now?" Tracy asked Natalie. Natalie lend over and felt Nicky’s skin temperature. He felt almost normal.

"Yes, well wake him when we get home."

"Can I go to sleep yet?" Nick whined. As they stopped for a red light. Natalie reached back to touch his still way too cold skin, even for him.

"No, you’re still too cold."

Nick groaned.

Once home Natalie woke Nicky, and seeing that he woke easily, let him drift off again. Tracy took Nicky inside and put him into bed. Then watched as Nat guided Nick, still buried in his blankets up to his room.

"Trace, there are a couple of hot water bottles under the sink. Could you fill them and bring them up while I put our hero to bed?"

"Sure Nat."

Tracy filled and flicked on the kettle. She stood thinking about the implications of what had happened tonight, while waiting for the water to boil. Tracy went over to the security system and activated it. When the Mafia were involved, one was always better to be on the safe, bordering paranoid, side.

Tracy took the hot waterbottles up to the bedroom. She smiled when she saw that Nat had changed Nick into his pyjamas, and was tucking him snuggly under the covers.

"Great thanks." Natalie took the hotties from her hands and shoved them under the blankets.

"Can I go to sleep now?" Nick grumbled from under the comforter.

"Yes my love, you can go to sleep now." Natalie said tenderly kissing Nick on the forehead and rubbing his covered arm. He was out like a light.

Natalie uncovered Nicks arm while he slept and took a blood sample.

"He’ll be alright?" Tracy asked following at Natalie as she gathered her things together and headed back downstairs to check on Nicky.

"Yes, Nick should be fine by tomorrow night."

"Would you like me to stay?" Tracy offered.

"No, it’s Ok, I’ll stay with them. They’ll be alright." Natalie said, giving Tracy an appreciative smile.

Natalie made sure Nicky was warm and snug, and after seeing Tracy out, she went back upstairs and snuggled under the covers, wrapping her arms tightly around Nick. Sleep came slowly as she thought about what had happened tonight. By the looks of it, Nicky could be in some major trouble. He had witnessed a mob hit, and they would want him dead.

The worry and fear seeped away slightly, as she smiled. Nick had began to gently snore.

Nick led his son into the interview room. Captain Reese, Tracy and Detective Ricard were waiting patiently for them to arrive.

"Hello Nicky. How are you feeling this evening?" Reese asked the boy.

"I’m better Captain." Nicky was feeling a little nervous with all the people wanting to talk to him about what happened last night.

"Why don’t you sit down and tell us everything that you saw last night." Ricard gestured to an empty chair. Nicky sat down and Nick took a chair behind him, present but unable to participate. He was here as the parent, not the cop.

Nicky watched as Ricard unwrapped a new cassette and placed it into a tape recorder sitting on the table in-between the detective and himself.

Tracy and Captain Reese were standing in the background letting Ricard conduct the interview.

Ricard pressed the record button and began to speak.

"23rd September, 7pm. Conducting this interview is Detective Michael Ricard.

Also present are Captain Reese and Detective Vetter.

The interviewee is a minor, one Nicholas Lucien Knight, aged 11, who is accompanied by his father, Detective Nicholas Knight."

They all sighed now that the formalities were out of the way. They had to do everything by the book, they couldn’t let whoever did this walk on some technicality.

Ricard looked Nicky in the eye. Nicky held it steadily. The detective nodded his approval. The boy could handle this. That would make his job a hell of a lot easier.

"Nicky, could you tell us, in your own words, exactly what happened at Pier 17 last night."

Nicky looked down at his hands as he entwined his fingers. He began the story of what he had seen in the warehouse the previous night.

"Well, me and my friend Billy were riding home from hockey practice..."

Nicky felt his father twitch as he described how he snuck up the fire escape to get inside. It had been a pretty dumb idea. He went on to tell them everything he had seen.

"...one of the three men who had just arrived, greeted the man in the red suit, he called him Mr. Gulliano..."

"Are you sure that was his name?" Ricard interrupted, leaning forward over the table. Everyone else seemed to stop breathing and did the same.

"Yes."

"Oh boy." Tracy breathed.

"Ditto." Reese added.

"Ok, so the man greeted Mr. Gulliano...keep going Nicky. Tell us what happened after that." Ricard prompted Nicky to finish the story.

"...they swapped the briefcase for the envelope, then as Tony and his guys walked away, the two guys by the Limo shot two of Tony’s guys, then Mr. Gulliano shot Tony, then he saw me and started shooting at me, so I ran back into the offices. The two by the Limo chased me, and I jumped out the window into the lake."

"You’re sure Mr. Gulliano shot Tony?" Ricard asked.

"Yes, positive. I saw him do it." Nicky confirmed confidently.

The room was silent, except for the wur of the tape recorder.

"Interview terminated at 8:04pm." Ricard stopped the machine.

"We’ve got him" Tracy said quietly.

"You damn well bet we do." Reese said.

"By the book people. I don’t want any stuff ups on this one." he added firmly, looking into the eye of everyone in the room, before striding out the door as they all nodded obediently.

Lacroix was out for an evening stroll, enjoying the crisp night air as he mentally prepared his monologue for tonight's broadcast.

He quietly reminisced on the feelings he had received from his son the night before. Their bloodlink had grown weak for a number of hours and he had felt nothing but physical discomfort and lethargy coming from Nicholas. No doubt a result of one of the good doctors abhorrent potions, he mused.

It was perhaps time he paid a little visit to his impertinent son.

Lacroix, taken by surprise, staggered slightly as a warm body suddenly bounced off his shoulder.

Jordan let out a grunt as she hit the footpath, bottom first. She hissed in her breath as she wiped her stinging hands on her jeans. Looking up at the man she had just run into, she smiled slightly in apology and took the hand he offered her. She noted how easily he pulled her to her feet.

"I’m really sorry..." Jordan heard a noise behind her and looked back down the alleyway from which she had barreled, then back at Lacroix. "...but I’m afraid I can’t stay to expand on my apology."

Jordan sprinted across the busy street, dodging cars as they flew by, and headed down another dark alleyway.

Lacroix stood where he had been hit, and watched the woman hurriedly continue on her way and disappear. He too had heard the approach of her obvious pursuers. He moved further into the alley to meet them as they rounded the corner at the far end.

Three men wearing dark suits came toward him, all carrying hand guns. He stepped out in front of them halting their progress.

"Gentlemen." Lacroix gave them one of his best smiles. It wasn’t pretty. All three men felt the hairs rise on the back of their necks. "I do believe, you no longer wish to continue pursuit of this woman." Lacroix said pushing slightly into their pathetic minds.

The men shook their heads to clear them of the odd sensation. One of them turned to the others and waved his gun in the direction of the busy street.

"Come on, leave her. She’s got nothing now anyway. Lets go." the others nodded in agreement and followed the other back down the alley from which they came.

Lacroix glanced about for witnesses, then took to the sky. But after half an hour of searching, he finally gave up. The woman had simply vanished. He sighed, and she had such beautiful eyes too. Pity. Banishing her from further thought, he flew to the Raven to finish preparing for his show.

Detective Ricard grilled Nicky on the details of the homicides he had witnessed for well over two hours before letting Nick take him home. Nicky waited in the corridor outside the interview room while Nick had a few words with Ricard in private.

"His going to need protection Nick." Ricard told the detective in no uncertain terms. "They saw Nicky, and they’ll come after him."

Nick sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I know Mike. I’m not taking him to a safe house though, they aren’t good enough."

"What will you do then?"

"I have somewhere I can take him, he’ll be as safe as he can ever be anywhere."

Nick paced the room as he thought.

"Only Tracy and Joe Reese will know it’s location. I’ll stay at the loft, so no one can follow me to him."

Ricard nodded his support.

"You’re positive he’ll be safe there?"

"Completely."

"Ok. Lets go and talk to Joe."

"Just give me a minute with my son." Nick told the detective.

"Sure. I’ll meet you in his office." Ricard left the interview room, and Nick beckoned Nicky back inside.

"Nicky, I need to talk to you about Billy." Nick pulled his chair directly in front of Nicky's and took his smaller hands in his.

Nicky glanced down at the floor, then up at Nick.

"Mr. Gulliano’s Billy’s Dad, isn’t he." he said quietly, looking his father in the eye.

"Yes."

"And you are going to arrest him."

"Yes."

"He wants to kill me."

Nick could only nod.

"Billy’s going to hate me." Nicky’s bottom lip quivered.

Nick gathered his son to him and tried to belay his son’s very real fears.

"No, no he won’t."

Nicky composed himself again and pulled away from his father. "I’m alright."

Nick wiped his son’s face dry and gave him a smile.

"How would you like to go and stay with Grandpa for a while?"

"Ooh, do I have too." Nicky whined.

Nick ruffled his hair, still smiling.

"I’m afraid so." Nick stood, and pulled Nicky grudgingly to his feet.

"Come on, after I’ve talked to the Captain, we’ll go home and pack your things."

Nick put an arm around his son’s shoulders, and Nicky wrapped both of his around Nick’s waist as the made their way to Reese’s office.

Jordan slipped inside the basement of an aging apartment complex. She found a quiet out of the way corner and sank warily to the floor. She pulled her knees to her chest. It had been a long night. She felt exhausted and her body hurt from the recent beating she had received with compliments from her now former husband.

She had finally filled for divorce after four years of near slavery to her husband. When the summands arrived today, he had gone berserk. His words haunted her even now as she tried to sleep.

"I own you Jordan! I’ll never let you leave! Ever!!"

Jordan jerked awake. the dream had been so real, she could have sworn he was still in the same room. She ran her hands through her long light brown hair. It felt horrible, greasy with sweat and grit. Her clothes were a mess.

"Well Jordan, you have real talent." she told herself. "You’ve only been on the street for a few hours, and you already look the part."

She sighed and stretched her arms and back before getting up to do the same for her legs.

Jack had sent his goons after her to bring her back. But there was no way she was going to comply, so she had run. She had nothing but the clothes on her back and thirty eight dollars in her pocket. But right now she didn’t care about what she had and didn’t have. She just welcomed the cold concrete floor. She was free. She felt like a totally different person. One she recalled from her youth.

She would start over again, she had before, she could again, and she didn’t need a man, especially that one, to do it.

Lacroix was sitting at the end of the bar with a wad of paperwork in front of him. Sipping from a glass of bloodwine he turned and watched his son and grandson, approaching.

"Lacroix."

"Nicholas." He acknowledged the bag his son held in his hand.

"Going somewhere?"

Nick gave his sire a nervous half smile.

"Nicky needs to stay here for awhile." he said.

"Does he indeed?"

"Yes."

"And why is that Nicholas?" Lacroix asked his son as he eyed Nicky in his usual cool manner, as the boy stood quietly at his fathers side.

Nick glanced around the bar, then motioned Lacroix to follow him into the back office.

Lacroix raised an eyebrow. He hesitated, curiosity won out though, and he followed his son out the back.

Nick stood with his back to Lacroix for a moment, he turned around with his hands on his hips and looked him in the eye.

"Nicky was a witness to a mob related homicide last night. He’s in danger. I thought here would be the safest place for him." Nick held his breath waiting for Lacroix to react.

"And yourself?" Lacroix asked taking a sip from his wine.

"I’ll have to stay at the loft. I won’t be able to come here." Nick fidgeted under his sire’s intense gaze.

"Very well." Lacroix finally agreed reluctantly. He only just managed to bear caring for the boy once or twice a fortnight, this would defiantly be a challenge. But then, on a positive note, Nicholas would owe him. Immensely.

"Thank you Lacroix." Nick knew he would owe his sire for this. He also knew he would collect on it too, he always did.

"I’ll take him upstairs and settle him in."

Lacroix watched Nicholas brush past him to gather his son, and take him up to the apartment.

Nick helped Nicky unpack his belongings into draws and the wardrobe. He kept fluttering around, delaying the time for when he had to say goodbye. He made the bed, and folded clothes, arranged books. When he had run out of things to do, he stood in the centre of the room and looked at his son, whom was watching him. Nicky went to him and wrapped himself around his waist.

"Don’t go." he whispered.

Nick gazed down holding Nicky’s head in his hands.

"I have to. It’s too dangerous for me to stay." Nicky didn’t say anything. Nick hugged him to his chest and squeezed. Finally he had to let go.

"I’ll call you from my cell phone. Ok?." Nick said as he rose to his feet.

"Can’t it be traced?" Nicky asked.

"Not without difficulty. Lacroix will look after you." Nick said calming his own misgivings as much as soothing his son’s.

"Be good. Please don’t give your grandfather a hard time Ok?" Nick pleaded.

Nicky smiled weakly.

"Ok."

Nick felt a little teary eyed as he left and went downstairs and out through the club. It could be weeks before it would be safe enough to see his son again.

Nicky sat in the living room and watched TV for awhile. He would miss his Dad. Feeling bored already though, he ventured downstairs.

He approached his grandfathers office, cautiously he poked his head around the corner of the open doorway.

Lacroix was at his desk flipping through a stack of inventory forms.

Nicky smiled when Lacroix glanced up at him.

"Yes?" he said despondently. "Can I help you."

Nicky fully entered the room and plonked himself into a chair directly opposite the desk.

"No thanks Grandpa, I’m fine." Nicky was glancing at the paintings and artifacts arranged around the room, so he hadn’t noticed the flash of gold. He did however hear his grandfathers voice.

"What did you just say." Lacroix’s tone was low and dangerous. Nicky snapped his head back to look at his grandfather. He wished he hadn’t.

Lacroix had frozen in mid shuffle, with papers in either hand, he stared at Nicky with hooded eyes.

Oh my god! What did I just say?! he screamed at himself. Trying to think. Nicky stuttered.

"Um. I...I don’t know." he finally admitted. Lacroix dropped the papers from his hands, and very slowly, rose and went around the desk. He bent down, resting a hand on either arm of the chair, until his face was level with Nicky’s, effectively imprisoning him. In the same low tone he spoke slowly punctuating each and every word.

"Never, call me that again."

Nicky bawked, forgetting himself and his present position, and exclaimed.

"I was sure I just thought that!?" realising now what he had said.

"Let me assure you, that you did not." Lacroix said not having moved an inch.

"Oh." Nicky sobered a little, dropping his eyes. "Sorry, Grandfather."

"Now, what are you doing in my office." Lacroix said a little lighter, still having not moved.

Nicky gave him his best innocent puppy dog look.

"I just wanted to say hello." he said meekly. It always worked on his Dad.

Lacroix stared hard into his eyes, until Nicky couldn’t help but let slip a small guilty smile.

He had a feeling it wouldn’t work on his grandfather. Their bloodlink had strengthened somewhat since Lacroix had sucked the venom from his arm. He had been unconscious at the time, but he had still received images and feelings from his grandfather. He hadn’t told anyone though, not even his Dad, and especially not Lacroix. That, and he didn’t think Lacroix liked puppies all that much.

"Is that so?" Lacroix raised a disbelieving eyebrow.

Nicky nodded still smiling.

"Hello." Lacroix growled.

"Hello." Nicky said cheerfully back, giving the vampire a little wave.

"Go." Lacroix ordered before rising. He strode back to his desk chair and dropped himself into it, picking up order forms as he went.

Nicky pushed himself to his feet and walked slowly to the door. He turned back to Lacroix with a wicked grin on his face.

"Ok, Bye Grandpa." he said quickly. As he saw movement from his grandfather, he ran as fast as he could toward the stairs. He didn’t have a hope in hell.

He shrieked with laughter as strong arms lifted him from the floor and carried him upside down up the stairs and into the bedroom. Giggling uncontrollably, even though his grandfather was being rough with him, he felt himself being dropped unceremoniously on to the large bed.

"You will not be laughing if you disobey me again!" Lacroix growled at the boy, leaning over him pinning him to the mattress.

Nicky laughed harder and rolled around on the bed, spluttering

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry!".

Lacroix just rolled his eyes and left exasperated. Amusement crossed his features as he strode back downstairs.

Dawn approached and having closed the club for the day, Lacroix entered Nicky’s rooms to check that he was in bed. He wasn’t.

The boy was sound asleep on the couch, the remote control to the television still in his hand. Lacroix slipped it from his grasp and switched the TV off. He dropped the remote to the table, then scooped the sleeping boy up, carrying him to his bed. He removed the boy’s shoes and tucked him in under the covers. Lacroix shook his head as he stared at the sleeping form, he appeared deceptively peaceful and harmless.

The next few days, or Hell help him, weeks, were going to be intensely trying.

Flicking off the light, he left, retiring to his own room to gather his strength and prepare for the challenging time ahead.

It had been three days, and still no sign of Gulliano. Nick feared that the gangster had fled the country. He sat at his desk idly flipping through their case notes. Tracy, opposite him, was doing the same.

"Maybe he’s still in Toronto?" she said despondently to her partner.

"Maybe." Nick was in a testy mood tonight. Tracy had refrained from speaking to him about an hour ago.

Natalie entered the room and went over to Nicks desk. She noted his tense expression as he read his notes.

"Why don’t you just call him?" she said from behind.

Nick didn’t look up as he replied.

"It’s too dangerous."

Natalie rolled her eyes at Tracy who just shrugged. She’d given up already.

Natalie just knew Nick would become over protective. Granted though, it had only been a month since their nightmare with Gaelan.

"You know you miss him like crazy. And I’m sure he would be thrilled to hear from his Dad."

Nick glared at Natalie, but soon surrendered.

"Ok. I’ll call him." Nick grumbled. He took his cellphone from his jacket hanging on his chair, and strode to an empty interview room.

He had tried hard not to call his son since leaving him at the Raven. The more he called the higher the chance of the call being traced. So after the first night he had yet to call again.

He quickly dialed the Raven.

"Nicholas." Lacroix’s mellow voice greeted his son before he had even spoken.

"Lacroix." Nick felt relieved to hear his sires voice. I must really be worried he thought. "How is everything." he asked.

"‘Everything’ is just fine." Lacroix answered . "How is your search for the elusive Mr. Gulliano developing." he added.

"Not as well as I would like." Nick said curtly.

"Ah." Lacroix said malcontently. He wasn’t about to be handing his inauspicious grandson back anytime soon. "I suppose you would like to speak with Nicholas."

"Yes thanks. Oh Lacroix?," Nick said quickly before he left. "Thank you again for looking after him. I know how...trying...he can be sometimes." Nick sent his sincerity along their link, emphasising his words.

Lacroix paused for a moment as he felt his son’s connection.

"I always protect my family Nicholas." he said softly.

"Yes, yes you do." Nick replied in the same tone. It was one thing Lacroix had always done. He may have caused him his own amount of suffering, but when it came to protecting him and Janette from others, he had always been there.

Nick heard the phone being placed on the desk, then smiled as he heard Lacroix bellow for Nicky.

"Nicholas!"

Nicky was upstairs reading when he heard his grandfather call him. He dropped his book and ran downstairs.

"Yes?" he said to Lacroix standing impatiently in the doorway to his office.

"Your father is on the telephone." Lacroix pointed to the phone on his desk and went out to the bar leaving him alone. He had no desire to listen to the sop which he was bound to be subjected to if he remained.

Nicky raced to the phone and put it to his ear.

"Dad?"

"Hey, how are ya." Nick said cheerfully.

"I’m fine. I miss you though." Nicky said.

Nick sobered "I miss you too son."

"When are you coming to get me?" he asked almost desperately. He wanted to go home.

"Soon." Nick’s heart tightened at his son’s tone.

They talked quietly for awhile, then Nick announced.

"I have to go, we can’t talk for too long at a time." he said softly to his son.

"Ok." Nicky whispered.

"I’ll call you again soon. Ok?"

"Ok."

"I miss you kiddo."

"Me too." Nicky wasn’t going to cry.

"Be good, I’ll see you later." Nick said lightly.

"Bye."

They hung up. Nicky stood by the phone for a moment, then quickly walked up to his room and shut the door.

Nick silently sat in the interview room for a time. He had to get this guy and soon.

Early the morning before, Natalie looked up from her paperwork as Nick swept through the door.

"Good you’re here. Come look at this." She said without preamble, dragging him over to the microscope. "Look."

Nick looked into the eyepiece. He saw red blood cells.

"What am I looking for?" he asked.

Natalie changed the slides. Nick looked down again. They were different this time.

"Nat. Enlighten me." he glanced at her impatiently.

Natalie showed him the first slide.

"This is your blood, before I injected the hormone based drug the night you went for a swim." Nick gave her a questioning look.

"And this is the sample I took when you were freezing cold a few hours later." she said. Nick broke out in a grin. They were different.

"It worked!?" he said excitedly.

"Sort of." she wasn’t smiling. Nick frowned.

"What do you mean sort of?" he asked.

"It only works for a short period of time, and everytime it’s used, the effects last for a lesser time period." Natalie rubbed his arm.

"I’m sorry Nick."

Nick held Natalie's face in his hands.

"Don’t be Nat. It’s progress, yes?" he looked into her eyes. Natalie gazed into his.

"Yes, it’s progress." she smiled at his optimistic reaction. She had been sure he would have gone angst on her as he so often did when he was disappointed like this. Nick hugged her to him and reached down to capture her lips in a passionate kiss.

He broke away slowly, and burrowed his face in her hair.

"You said it could be used again?" he asked her softly.

Natalie pulled away slightly to look into his face.

"Yes."

"How many times?"

"Once. Maybe twice." she tenderly caressed his lips with her fingertips. He gazed at her, his eyes radiating his love for her as he ran his hands down her sides and up to caress her back.

"Give it to me now Nat. I love you so much. I want to take you home, and make love to you in the sunlight. Please, spend the day with me. It could be the only chance we may ever have." Nick whispered. He caressed her hair, her face, her neck, his lips followed the path his hands took. Until he finally captured her lips once again.

<<>>

Natalie reached for the remote on the coffee table, and closed the blinds. She and Nick were entwined together on an ancient bearskin rug in the middle of the loft. The blinds had been open, letting the warmth of the sun caress them as they made love, fulfilling a fantasy they both had only dreamt about ever since they had met.

As Nick lay sleeping in her arms, she had noticed the red tinge appearing on his bare skin. The drug had worn off.

Pushing the tears away, she snuggled closer to his cooling body and let his beautiful scent lull her to sleep.

Nicky woke early a few days later. Since he wasn’t going to school anymore, he had changed to the night shift. He wandered downstairs and into the bar. His grandfather was still asleep, as would any others staying down in the basement. He looked around the empty club. It was strange not seeing anyone here.

Wandering around the room he stopped at the stage, and gazed at the array of instruments there. His eyes came to rest on the piano near the back. Nicky pushed himself up on to the platform and drifted towards the baby grand.

Running his fingers along the keys he applied pressure to one or two, listening to the tone of the instrument.

It sounded good, it was a nice piano. But then he expected nothing less from his grandfather.

He gingerly pulled out the stool and sat down, silently caressing the keys.

He hadn’t played since his mother died, but now, the music he thought gone forever, was slowly drifting back into his soul. Nicky took a deep breath, and began to play.

Lacroix was woken by music, beautiful music, but early music. He angrily wondered who had dared to turn the clubs sound system on at this blasphemous hour. Slipping into his robe and slippers, he strode downstairs, freezing midstride when he reached the bar.

Nicky had his eyes closed as he played, he felt completely engulfed in the music. It radiated through his body, tingling his skin, he was one with piano. He relaxed and let his hands flow over the keys. It felt so perfect, the music came to him as it should, the sounds in his mind matching that drifting from the piano.

Lacroix sat quietly in a chair to listen to his grandson play. Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.

It was quite possibly the best rendition he had ever heard from anyone, save the composer himself.

He was amazed at the feeling pulsing from the stage. The boy played completely from memory, and every note was perfect. He felt his chest tighten with pride.

Why had he never heard him play before? More importantly, why had his son never told him of his grandson’s obvious talent? Filing these thoughts away for later contemplation, he closed his eyes and lent back in the chair, savouring the impromptu performance.

Nicky finished playing. He sat with his eyes closed until the final note faded to silence.

He suddenly spun in his seat to face where his grandfather was sitting watching him. He stammered as he spoke.

"I...I’m sorry. Did I wake you?" he apologised. Not meeting Lacroix’s eye.

"Yes. But it was well worth the intrusion." Lacroix rose and strolled to the bar, reaching under it to pull out a bottle.

"You play very well. Your mother taught you, yes?" he said pouring himself a glass of bloodwine.

Nicky nodded.

"Yes." still not looking up, he followed his fingers as they ran along the rich woodwork surrounding the ivory keys.

Lacroix walked to the stage, sipping slowly from his glass.

"Why have you not played for me before now?" he asked the boy curiously.

Nicky smiled ever so slightly as he answered.

"You never asked." Lacroix rolled his eyes then took a calming swallow of his blood. As he did Nicky continued.

"I’ve not played at all since I came to Canada." he said somberly.

"Whyever not? Your father has a fine piano." Lacroix frowned.

Nicky just shrugged and turned to face the baby grand, but instead of playing, he carefully closed the lid, and slipped off the stool.

Sliding from the stage, he glanced up at Lacroix.

"I’m sorry I woke you, it won’t happen again." He said quickly.

He left Lacroix standing by the stage, confused at his behaviour. Nicky retreated back to his room.

He quietly closed his door. He hadn’t meant for anyone to hear him playing, especially Lacroix. His music had always been for his mothers ears only. Never had he played for anyone else, and to hear such high praise from his imposing grandfather, was just too much. He needed to be alone.

Lacroix watched the boy leave, clearly embarrassed. He sighed and decided to let it be for now.

Since he was already up, he returned to his room to dress, then headed back down to prepare the bar for opening.

"Evening Boss." Patrick said as the older vampire came into the bar. "Nicest alarmclock I ever heard." he said smiling, referring to Nicky’s playing.

"Indeed." Lacroix kept his expression as cool as always.

Patrick pottered around shifting glasses for a few minutes, while Lacroix went through a batch of receipts and prepared the till at the end of the bar. Patrick glanced at him, then approached slowly.

"Ah, Lacroix?"

"Yes Patrick." he said without looking up.

"We have a small problem." Patrick flinched at the glare he received from the ancient vampire. Lacroix raised an eyebrow in question, demanding he continue.

"Sherri quit last night. We’re short a waitress. It’s Saturday and well be busy, she’ll be a rough night without her." he waited bravely for the immanent scathing reaction to the news.

It didn’t come. Lacroix rubbed his fingers across his forehead and sighed.

"Fine, leave it to me. I’ll find a replacement." As he spoke an idea sprang to mind. Looking up he asked.

"Who is washing glasses tonight?"

"Lucy."

"Promote her to wait tables." he said curtly, continuing with his preparations.

"You wanted to see me?" Nicky said as he entered Lacroix’s office later that evening.

"Yes. Sit." Lacroix rose from his desk chair to pace around the boy now seated before him.

"I believe you have been confined upstairs long enough. It’s about time you earnt your keep."

Nicky looked suspiciously up at his grandfather. He just knew he wasn’t going to like this.

"We need some help in the bar tonight, and you have volunteered to wash dishes for a few hours."

Nicky slumped further down in his chair, but he daren’t say anything. The vampires tone of voice told him there would be no tolerance for any argument.

With amusement in his eyes, Lacroix smiled evilly as he threw an apron into the boys lap.

Ah! Revenge could be so sweet! Grandpa indeed!!

Nicky needed a chair to reach into the sink properly.

"Why don’t you get a dishwasher?" he grumbled to Patrick as he unloaded yet another tray of the seemingly endless abundance of dirty glasses.

"Because they take too long."

"Typical." Nicky sighed. "Even machines don’t like washing dishes." he moaned eliciting a laugh from the vampire as he dumped the glassware in the sink.

"Hang in there lad, just another hour, then you can call it quits." Patrick said clapping Nicky on the shoulder almost tipping him in to the industrial sized sink along with the glasses.

"Wonderful." Nicky replied sarcastically. Patrick smiling, left him to his misery.

His fingers were wrinkled from being submerged in the hot water for so long. He hated doing dishes. It was something he and his mother had argued about often. He sighed. He supposed it was a change from watching TV, or doing school work.

"I see they’ve finally put you to work." a voice said from the doorway.

"DAD!" Nicky leapt from the chair straight into the arms of his father. Who hugged his water logged body tightly to his. Nicky clutched onto him like limpet, wrapping his legs around his waist, refusing to let go.

"What are you doing here?!" he asked from his shoulder.

"I came to visit. I missed you too much." Nick said.

"Nicholas." Nick turned still fastened to Nicky, to Lacroix standing in the hallway.

"Lacroix." he smiled and greeted his father. Seeing his expression he added. "I flew. I came in the roof entry. No one saw or followed me."

Lacroix nodded. "Come upstairs, no mortal should see either of you here."

Nick followed, his son still firmly attached.

Nick stayed the day, sleeping with Nicky curled up beside him. He ultimately wrenched himself away and back to work the next night, both glad and not, that he had let Natalie talk him into visiting his son. He felt recharged somewhat, though it wasn’t something he could risk too often, but he felt better now having seen him in the flesh, knowing far beyond any doubt, that he was safe.

<<>>

Jordan pulled the remains of her worn and dirty coat across her chest. She ran her hands through her hair, trying to rid it of the tangled mess it had become.

Staring at the door before her, she wondered, for what must have been the hundredth time, what on earth had possessed her to think that anyone would hire someone in her condition. She was homeless, pennyless, dirty, and starving. But then that was why she was here.

She was desperate.

She had spotted the advert in yesterdays paper, which someone had conveniently thrown out in the rubbish not too long before she had stumbled upon it.

A nightclub, The Raven, was looking for help. Well, she was it.

Ha! she thought, you’ll be lucky if they even let you in the front door. But here she stood anyway. All she had to do was knock.

"Well here goes nothing kid. Seize the day."

Jordan quickly pounded on the silver door of the nightclub, before she could change her mind, and run like hell.

A shortish red and grey haired man with pale skin, opened the door.

"Yes? Can I help you?" he asked haughtily.

"Yes, um, I heard you’re hiring." Jordan said.

"Ah. I think the position has already been filled." the man said as he disapprovingly inspected her appearance

She didn’t believe him.

"Yeah right." Jordan was about to turn away, when the anger that had been building for the past two weeks, unleashed itself.

She wurled on the middle aged man.

"You know, It would have been kinder to just tell me you didn’t want some street person working for you. But no, you had to lie. Why don’t you just kick me in the guts and have done with it!! Huh?!! You bastard, son of a bitch, no good freak of nature!! Jordan stood there screaming at the man, with her hands firmly planted on her hips.

"Patrick?" A deep voice called him from within.

Smiling at the woman's last comment, Patrick turned away from the crazy woman at the door to face Lacroix.

"What does she want?" he asked the barman.

"She’s looking for work."

Lacroix nodded his head at Patrick. Patrick hesitated for an instant before opening the door wider motioning the woman to enter.

Jordan stared at the man for a moment then stepped cautiously inside. The place was almost empty, business had yet to begin for the night.

Over by the bar, a tall man stood. His short hair accentuating his aristocratic features.

From his bearing, she guessed he was very definitely the man in charge.

She followed Patrick over toward him.

The man sipped from a glass of red wine, inspecting her openly.

"You are seeking employment, yes?" his voice was rich and mellow. He seemed familiar somehow?

Jordan unconsciously drew herself to attention.

"Yes."

"What can you do." he asked, his attention falling back to the clipboard in his hand.

"Anything." she said firmly.

"Indeed?" he said skeptically. without looking up.

"Specifically, in this establishment, I can tend bar, wait tables, wash dishes," she paused slightly glancing around the dimly lit room and added. "And change lightbulbs."

The last statement caused the man to glance back up at her. He stared into her eyes. She felt him pierce her soul, but she didn’t break away. She had vowed never again to show weakness to anyone ever again, and especially not to the opposite sex.

Lacroix brought his attention fully back on to the woman before him. He looked into her green eyes, they were unusual, the colour of greenstone. He recognized her as the woman who ran into him in the alley several nights earlier. She was looking a little worse for wear.

"You can begin tonight." he asked, no demanded.

Without hesitation she answered.

"Yes."

"Good." he nodded his approval. "Patrick." he called, his eyes never leaving the woman's.

"Yes Lacroix?"

"Take Miss...?"

"Walker, Jordan Walker."

" Take Miss Walker and get her presentable for tonight's shift. She’ll be waiting tables."

"Yes sir." Patrick looked to Jordan and gestured her to follow him. A few feet from the door she turned back to Lacroix.

"Thank you." she said sincerely, looking into his icy blue eyes once more. Lacroix nodded and watched her leave. Sighing, he shifted his attention back to the clipboard in his hand.

Patrick took Jordan up to the guest bathroom. He handed her a pair of large soft towels from a cupboard just inside the door.

"Anything else you may need is in the cupboards under the sink."

"Thanks." Jordan stood in the huge bathroom. It was lined with tiles reminiscent of ancient Rome. It had a huge bathtub, sink and shower.

The club wasn’t about to go under any time soon, so her job was safe in that respect. She mused as she glanced around the luxurious room.

"What sizes are you?" Patrick asked.

Jordan frowned. "Why?"

"With no offense intended, ye canna wear those t’ work." the Irishman said pointing at the rags she was wearing.

Jordan looked down at herself and chuckled lightly.

"Yes, I do believe your right." She rattled off her clothing and shoe sizes.

Patrick watched the woman take the situation she suddenly found herself in her stride. He was beginning to think that his boss had done the right thing in hiring her.

"I’m Patrick." he said in his best Irish drawl holding out his hand. "I’m the barman extrodonaire and general ‘dogs body’ of the Raven."

"Jordan." the woman said giving him a relived smile.

"Well Jordan, I’ll try t’ have these all here fur ye by the time yer finished. I’ll put them through there, in the guest quarters."

"Thanks. Oh and if it’s not to presumptuous of me to ask. Could you please try and get me shoes with low heels. If I’m going to spend the night on my feet, I’ll need to be properly attired. And perhaps some food?"

Patrick smiled

"No problem." Aye, she’ll do just fine. he thought happily. Sherri can go jump. If this lass’s work is as good as her attitude, there was no way Sherri was getting her job back, dare she even ask.

Jordan waited for Patrick to leave, before ripping her clothes off and dumping them in a pile on the floor. Turning on the shower, she stepped in, relishing the hot water. She stood under the hard flow letting it clean her body and soul, of more than just the dirt and grime.

This was her new beginning. Now, all she had to do, was not screw it up.

HHH nhj

Nicky sat at the coffee table in his lounge. Math, he hated it. It was boring, and he was finding it difficult to understand what the book was asking him to do.

His teacher had sent him work in each of his subjects to do while he was away, so as not to get behind. He was behind anyway. Though some of that was due to him watching TV when he should have been doing his school work.

"Ahh...this is stupid anyway." he threw his pen down in frustration on the table, and dropped his head into his hands.

"Problem?"

Nicky looked up at the open doorway to see a strange woman standing there. She was dressed in black jeans and T-shirt, her brown hair tied back in a lose bun. She leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms over her chest in a non threatening manner. She was mortal.

"Depends. Who are you? And, are you any good at math's?" he said eyeing her sideways, with his chin in the air. He was sure his grandfather wouldn’t let anyone that he hadn’t approved of up into the apartment. So he wasn’t too worried.

Jordan smiled at the handsome blonde haired boy sitting on the floor of the spacious yet cosy lounge.

Just as promised, a new set of clothes and shoes had been waiting for her when she finally exited the bathroom. She had dressed and eaten quickly, and having a couple of hours to wait until her shift started, she couldn’t resist having a look around the apartments. She had heard the boys exclamation as she stepped into the hallway and had gone to investigate.

"I’m Jordan, the new waitress." she said with a friendly smile.

Nicky’s eyes widened his eyebrows raising to their full height.

"Waitress?" he said an octave higher than normal.

"Yep."

Nicky dropped his head to the table with a thud.

"I didn’t mean to disappoint you." Jordan said in a wounded tone.

Nicky looked back up at her.

"Sorry, it’s not you. It’s just that if your waiting, then I’m still on dishes." he sighed theatrically.

"Damn my big mouth." It had forced him into slavery for the past four nights.

"Well I may not be able to help you much with the dishes, or your mouth, but I could give you a hand with your math. What are you studying?" Jordan entered the room and went over to the table, joining him on the floor.

Nicky grinned broadly at his good fortune.

"Calculus." he said enthusiastically pushing his books over to her.

"Ah! My favourite!" she said exuberantly. Jordan glanced at the grinning child beside her.

"So, who are you known as?" she asked him.

"I’m Nicky. " he said smiling offering her his hand.

Lacroix had been observing them from the doorway for quite sometime. Neither of them had sensed his presence.

"Yes but why do you put it there instead of over there?" his grandson asked the woman sitting beside him.

Lacroix had hardly recognized her as the same woman who had walked into the bar a few short hours ago. She had her hair up, revealing her sensuous neck. She was quite beautiful. She glanced up at him suddenly, almost catching him gazing at her. He stood frowning, with one hand to his chin, the other crossed his chest.

Nicky followed Jordan's gaze to his grandfather. He wasn’t looking at all happy.

Then he and Jordan seemed to hear it at the same moment. Thump Thump Thump.

"Oh my God!" Jordan exclaimed in a horrified whisper. She was late. She could hear the telltale music coming through from the club, and the boss himself had come looking for her. Jordan rose rapidly to her feet.

"Mr. Lacroix, I am so sorry. I lost track of the time." she profusely apologised.

"Obviously." Lacroix remained in the door way.

"Not the most expressive way to begin ones newly acquired employ. If I should dare heist a guess." he remarked coldly.

"No, no it’s not." Jordan headed to the door. Lacroix turned sideways to let her pass.

"As long as I’m not already fired, I’d best get to work." She paused in front of the imposing owner.

He nodded his head in the direction of the club. Jordan left quickly to assume her duties.

Breathing a huge sigh of relief as she went.

"Am I fired?" Nicky asked smiling hopefully up at his grandfather.

Lacroix shifted his eyes from the retreating waitress, down to his grandson now standing before him. He raised an eyebrow.

"Hardly." he huffed, eyeing the boy with hidden amusement.

Nicky put his hands in his pockets and scuffed his foot across the floor.

"Ah, nuts."

He let out a yelp, as a hand grabbed the scruff of his T-shirt, and marched him downstairs into the kitchen.

The club had finally closed. Nicky and Jordan sat at a table sipping a soda , both resting their wary feet up on opposing chairs.

"Hey, Jordan lass, ye did great tonight." Patrick praised his new favourite waitress, as he handed over her share of the tips. She had been efficient, hard working, and dealt with both species of customer, with great skill and enthusiasm, not taking any angst or inappropriate behaviour from anyone.

"Indeed. You conducted yourself quite well, considering your somewhat unsavory beginning." Lacroix issued the rare praise as he exited from his soundbooth, ignoring Patrick's shocked glance at his words.

Having finished his show long ago, he had been prerecording monologue for the coming night.

He crossed gracefully to the bar and received the glass Patrick offered him.

Leaning against the bar, he sipped at his beverage, looking over to the woman sitting with his grandson.

"Miss Walker, am I correct in assuming, you will be needing a place to rest for the day?" he asked nonchalantly.

She glanced up from her own glass, hesitating before she answered.

"Yes, you are." she smiled as she added. "Know anywhere cheap I could stay."

Lacroix raised an eyebrow in disgust at the mere idea of knowing anything ‘cheap’.

"No." he said curtly. He stared at the woman, she seemed amused at his response. Softening his tone he continued. "You may however make use of my guest quarters, while you seek your own living arrangements." Lacroix watched the woman's eyebrows rise in surprise.

"Thank you Mr. Lacroix, that’s most generous of you." she said in a stunned whisper.

Patrick had to tear his open mouthed stare from his boss and new waitress before he was discovered. Now this is going to be very interesting. He thought smiling slightly to himself as he realised the cold, hard, ancient before him, had apparently taken a genuine fancy to Miss Walker. Patrick then wondered if Lacroix had realised how often he had been caught gazing openly at the waitress as she had worked that night.

<<>>

Nick turned his ‘62 Cadillac into the deserted street and drove up to his garage door slowing as he hit the remote button to open it. Nothing. He hit it again, stopping the car. Still nothing.

"Damn. Piece of junk!" he threw the remote on the passenger seat and climbed out of the caddy to open the door manually.

He was only a few feet from the car, when a sharp pain coursed through his right thigh. He let out a cry of pain, and looked down to see an wooden bolt protruding from his leg. He was hit again, this time in the back, then again in the shoulder. He let lose cries of pain with each bolt. Another drove into his chest, then another, and another, this one close to his heart. He screamed and dropped to the ground. The pain was incredible, he couldn’t move. He moaned as tears blurred his vision. He tried pulling himself along the ground to the safety of the garage. Suddenly a face appeared before him.

"Well, well, well. How does it feel, to now be the hunted instead of the hunter Detective Knight?"

Nick tried to focus on the man crouching over him.

"Who...?"

"Who am I?" the man interrupted. "I Knight, am your worst nightmare."

Nick felt a needle pierce the skin on his arm. It was followed by a numbing feeling, the pain from the bolts faded, then the darkness came, and he was lost.

"Nicholas will show you where everything is." Lacroix said glancing in his grandsons direction. He finished off his drink in a single swallow.

Nicky rose from his chair. "Oui, I’ll show you to your room."

Lacroix was turning back toward the bar, when he dropped his glass and stumbled heavily gasping for breath against the bar, then down to his knees.

PAIN!! He closed his eyes and bit down against the sudden onslaught.

He could dimly hear voices around him. But could only respond with a single rasped word.

"Nicholas!!"

Patrick and Jordan watched as Lacroix fell to the floor in obvious agony.

"Lacroix!" Patrick rushed to his side.

Jordan turned to where Nicky had been standing. He wasn’t there. She cried out when she saw him sprawled unconscious on the floor.

"Nicky!" She rushed to him, immediately checking his pulse and breathing. Looking up at Patrick kneeling over Lacroix, she desperately asked him.

"What’s wrong with them!"

"Something that’ll take too long to explain." he replied. "Just trust me when I tell you they’re alright."

Lacroix had gathered himself slightly, he was breathing hard, but now coherent.

"Take him upstairs." he ordered gesturing at Nicky. He attempted to rise to his feet, he stumbled and let Patrick offer him a shoulder for support. Patrick guided the ancient vampire down the hallway. Jordan followed carrying the limp child in her arms.

By the time they reached Lacroix's room he had regained enough strength to push Patrick away. He crossed to his personal bar and yanked the cork from a bottle. He downed the contents in one gulp, and began on another.

Jordan just stared at his actions. She placed the boy on the large bed, checking his life signs again. He appeared to be Ok, but people didn’t just pass out for no good reason.

She was about to say something about Lacroix’s drinking at a time like this, when Nicky whimpered.

"Daddy!" He writhed on the bed in pain as he became fully conscious, he almost screamed. "Grandfather!"

Lacroix quickly crossed to the bed, and gathered the boy’s head in his hands.

"Nicholas! Look at me." he said firmly. Nicky opened his eyes.

"Relax your thoughts, breath deeply, and try to empty your mind. The pain is not yours, it is not real."

Nicky breathed and did as he was told. The pain and jumbled thoughts in his mind ebbed, then faded.

"Dad’s hurt." he said more calmly to his grandfather.

"Yes."

Nicky lay holding on to his grandfathers hands as they held his face.

"Could someone please enlighten me as to what just happened?" Jordan asked. "Should I be worried?" Patrick’s leer didn’t help allay her fears. She felt suddenly like a trapped rabbit and forced herself to calm down and assess the situation logically.

"Ok. I can see that something abnormal is happening between the two of them." she said firmly to Patrick. "Just who is hurt?" She turned to Lacroix as he spoke.

"My son."

The pain returned tenfold as he became aware of his surroundings. He was in a warehouse. There was a collection of machinery scattered around the large open space. He looked around for any windows, he could feel weakly the sun had risen. Luckily there were none. He glanced up at his wrists which were handcuffed over a large metal pipe which seemed to run from a large vat of some sort. The handcuffs were supporting his entire weight, as his legs no longer chose to hold him. They cut into his wrists, adding to his multitude of pain.

The crossbow bolts were still embedded in his body, sending sharp waves of pain rippling through him each time he breathed. He would have stopped, but his injuries demanded the increase in oxygen.

He pulled at the restraints, attempting to break free.

"Don’t bother. They’re titanium." the same voice from the loft spoke into his ear. Nick turned his head to look at his captor.

"Who the hell are you?" Nick spat.

"I am Gerald Foxton, and I, am your executioner." the man sneered.

Nick glared at the Hunter. He was short, in his late thirties, dark hair and eyes. And Nick didn’t like the way this guy was looking at him.

"Why me?" Nick asked.

"I was hired by a certain business man, to gain information of some kids whereabouts. When low and behold! I discover the cop I’m scoping, turns out, much to my immense pleasure, to be nothing more than one of the evil blood sucking beasts of the night."

Knowing this man was a hunter, sent real fear coursing through his body. He was in major trouble.

"Get her out of here." Lacroix said to Patrick as he sat on the bed comforting his grandson.

As Patrick moved toward her Jordan cried.

"No way! I’m not leaving you two alone." she said firmly. She was concerned for their safety, especially the boys.

"You will leave immediately. Miss Walker." Lacroix growled dangerously, glaring at her.

"He needs help." she reasoned, pointing to Nicky.

"LEAVE!!" Lacroix stood and moved to stand directly in front of Jordan, his eyes blazing and fangs extended.

Jordan jumped back a step, startled by the sight of her boss fully vamped out. His eyes are gold!! OH MY GOD!! Her brain screamed. Quickly she calmed her self the best she could and managed to stay standing. If he wanted to kill me he would have already. She reasoned with herself. Who am I kidding, that line only applies to certain Fiction and TV programmes.

Still, she met his blazing glare with as much outward calm as she could muster and said.

"Nice fangs." Proud that her voice wasn’t shaking as much as her knees.

Lacroix just stood glaring at the woman. The audacity!! He was enraged by this mortals arrogance. Moments away from ripping her throat out he stopped himself.

He found himself impressed by her show of inner strength. He was torn between whether to bite her, or kiss her. The ancient vampire decided on neither. Lacroix spun away from the woman and paced to the far side of the room. He grabbed another bottle from the bar and drained it. He didn’t have time for distraction, his son needed him. Lacroix forced himself to down another bottle preparing for the conflict, both internal and external, which would immanently lay ahead.

Nick screamed.

Foxton was yanking the bolt in Nick’s leg up, forcing it further into his flesh.

Nicks head was still thrown back, as he groaned after the mortal had removed the pressure from his leg.

"Where is he!" Foxton demanded.

Nick remained silent. Foxton grabbed another bolt, this time in his back. Nick screamed again.

"I say again! Where is the boy!"

Nick spat blood in his face.

Foxton repeatedly punched him in the face until he lost consciousness.

Nicky was sobbing. He was still lying on the bed. Jordan held him in her arms as the child trembled. He could feel his fathers pain. Lacroix paced the room faltering occasionally when he was hit by sudden bouts of intense pain. His son was being tortured and he couldn’t do anything about it. The sun had risen. He waited.

Lacroix was drawn from his thoughts by his grandson’s sobs. Making a decision he crossed to him and sat on the edge of the bed, gently bit into his wrist. He let the blood well up. He held his arm out to the boy.

"Drink Nicholas."

Nicky looked apprehensively up at his grandfather.

"It will strengthen our bond. I can help block the pain." he told the boy quietly.

Nicky reached for the offered wrist and sucked the blood from Lacroix.

Jordan watched as they both closed their eyes, immersed in the exchange. Vampires! How had she ended up in a room full of vampires! One of which was just a child. She had a million questions, but Lacroix had made it quite clear, that discussing anything other than the absolute basics, was not on the agenda at this time.

Recalling the events of the past hour, she couldn’t help but wonder why she wasn’t already dead.

"What are you." she had whispered to Lacroix as he stood drinking. His eyes still ablaze, he suddenly moved them to just inches from her own.

"I am a vampire." he growled.

"A a a...what?"

Lacroix glared at her again.

She was scared, out of her mind actually, but she also felt a tenacious sense of curiosity take some semblance of control in her brain.

"A Vampire." he said slowly sounding it out.

"As in ‘I vont to suck your blood’ kind of vampire?" she asked.

"There is another?" Lacroix continued to glare at the woman. Why wasn’t she screaming? They always screamed. She was clearly afraid, but he could also see that she was in control of that fear. Such a rare commodity he mused.

"Are you going to kill me?" she asked him frankly.

Lacroix didn’t answer, instead he spun away back to the bar.

<<>>

Lacroix pulled his wrist away after Nicky had only tasted his blood. He kept his eyes closed and concentrated on their growing bond. He felt the link strengthen enough to allow him to probe into it and block out his sons link with the child, freeing his grandson from the continuous pain he was feeling whenever his son was conscious.

"Thank you." Nicky whispered. Lacroix brushed his knuckles down the boys cheek.

"How long will it last?" Jordan asked the vampire, watching as he gently caressed the child, as he fell into an exhausted asleep.

"For as long as I allow it." he replied. Lacroix sighed, and rose to his feet.

Natalie arrived at the loft to the sight of Nicks caddy sitting outside the garage door, with the drivers side door wide open.

She cautiously glanced around before exiting her own car and headed toward the caddy. She gasped when she saw the blood spotting the ground. It was lying in the shade of the warehouse. The sun had come and gone from the immediate area avoiding incinerating the blood. Natalie looked around for any more clues as to what had happened. Gulliano?

But how would he know how to hurt Nick? A Hunter maybe? She thought of Liam and shuddered.

Making a decision, she reached into the caddy and called dispatch on Nick’s police band radio.

"It’s confirmed Joe. It’s Nicks blood." Natalie told the Captain

"Damn it!" he exclaimed. Dropping his phone back into it’s cradle. Reese rubbed his forehead then looked back up at the ME standing in his office doorway. He moved around to join her. "Ok." he said brushing past her into the bullpen.

"Listen up people!!" he waited for the din to lessen. "It’s official. Knight’s got himself into a whole heap of trouble. He’s been missing for three hours, and he’s injured." he looked to Tracy and Ricard, standing by Nick’s desk. "Vetter, Ricard. I want you two on this, Miles, Hale, York and Hutchinson, you too." Reese paused to take a breath. he glanced at each of them in turn.

"Find him." he ordered. The precinct buzzed back to life. Everyone jumping to their assigned tasks.

Tracy crossed over to Natalie standing outside Reese's office. At the detectives raised eyebrow, Natalie told her in hushed tones.

"Trace, I’m really worried. This has all the markings of a Hunter."

"Nat no!" Tracy knew the implications and the real threat Hunters were to vampires.

"I’m going to the Raven, to see what I can find out." Natalie said.

"Nat be careful. Make sure no one follows you. This could be just what they were waiting for." Tracy warned her.

"I will." Natalie strode from the precinct. Taking the scenic route to the nightclub.

"Lacroix!! Damn it! Someone let me in!!" Natalie pounded on the rear of the building once more.

Patrick finally opened the door, standing far back from the threatening sunlight flooding inside. Natalie quickly entered and closed the door behind her.

‘Thanks."

"No problem" Patrick said as he led her upstairs to where the others still waited.

Natalie surveyed the room. Nicky and a woman she had never met before were asleep on Lacroix’s bed. The ancient vampire was slouched uncharacteristically in an armchair across from them, his eyes closed and his head resting against the back. He looked tired. He opened his eyes as she entered.

"Doctor. How good of you to join us." he said sardonically, steepling his fingers. Attempting unsuccessfully to hide the extent of his weariness from her.

"How is he?" she asked knowing he could feel Nick.

"Alive." he admitted quietly. Natalie nodded and turned to Nicky sleeping on the bed.

"Can he...?" she began.

"Yes, he could." Lacroix sighed. " I’m now blocking Nicholas from him." Lacroix rose and moved closer to the bed.

Natalie glanced at him, his face in it’s usual stoic poise, but she could hear the pain and frustration in his voice. She looked back to the bed and nodded at the woman.

"Who’s she?"

"My new waitress." Lacroix raised an eyebrow. "She is having a rather eventful and enlightening first night."

"I’ll bet."

Natalie watched Lacroix as he gazed at the sleeping woman. She was very beautiful as she comforted Nicky in her arms as they slept.

Natalie moved in to check on Nicky’s condition.

"What happened?" she asked quietly as she took the boy’s pulse.

"He passed out during the initial burst of pain from Nicholas." he replied.

Natalie jerked her head up to look at Lacroix.

"Initial?" she wasn’t sure she wanted an answer.

Lacroix turned from her for a moment before turning back.

"Unless he is unconscious, the pain is almost constant, though it varies in intensity." he paused and looked directly at Natalie.

"He is being tortured."

Natalie saw the raw pain in his eyes. rising from beside the bed, she went over to Lacroix and put a hand on his arm.

"You’ll tell me if anything changes." She said quietly. Lacroix nodded, shifting his gaze. He sat back down in the armchair, steepling his fingers, he closed his eyes.

Nick was hanging limply from the handcuffs. Blood dripped down his arms from the lacerations on his wrists as the rough metal cut savagely into them. He was barely conscious. His head lolled forward onto his chest, he no longer had the strength hold it up. His face, right leg and torso were covered in his blood. Foxton stood in front of him.

"I can make this pain all go away Knight. Just tell me where the boy is." he said leaning down close to Nicks ear.

Nick looked up at his captor from hooded, swollen eyes.

"Fuck you." he rasped into his face, blood dripping from his bottom lip.

Foxton tugged at the bolt by his heart, he slowly pulled it from his body. Nick screamed again. His voice ragged. The bolt from his leg was yanked out with equal brutality. Tears streamed freely down Nicks face as the pain began again.

Lacroix jerked awake once more, his face contorted in pain. Natalie glanced at Nicky. He remained sleeping untouched by the deluge coursing through the link.

Oh God Nick! What are they doing to you! She was becoming more distressed as the day progressed thinking about what was happening to Nick. Also she feared for Nicky. Just how long could Lacroix keep on blocking the brutal pain from Nicky. She could see it was taking a toll on the ancient vampire.

Lacroix had tipped out of the chair and was kneeling on the floor, his head on his arms. He had begun to struggle with the pain coming from Nick. He was expending a lot of energy blocking Nicky’s link and dealing with Nicks physical and emotional pain. Throughout it all he had never uttered a sound, it would have been considered a sign of weakness, and

Lucien Lacroix was never weak.

Natalie went to Lacroix’s side as he knelt on the floor. Putting a hand of support on his shoulder, she rode out the salvo with him. She wasn’t even sure if he realised she was there. The bursts were more intense now. It had been like this for almost an hour.

Natalie left him and went to gather more blood. The good stuff this time, uncut whole blood. The old General was going to need every drop.

It had been eleven hours since Nick was abducted and the sun would fall below the horizon in about two. At which time Lacroix should be able to follow Nick’s link to his location. If he is still physically able that is.

Natalie returned to the bedroom to find the waitress woman helping Lacroix back into his chair. He shrugged the woman off, irritated at himself for displaying his discomfort in front of the mortals.

Natalie gave him one of the bottles she had fetched, which he devoured instantly.

"He’s unconscious again." Lacroix whispered dropping the empty bottle from his lips. Relieved of the invasive pain for a time, he closed his eyes again and instantly fell asleep.

Jordan looked at the woman who handed Lacroix the bottle.

"Will he be alright?" she asked the Doctor nodding in Lacroix's direction.

"I think so." Natalie followed Jordan's gaze to the sleeping vampire.

"But then again, I’ve never seen him experience the bloodlink like this before." Natalie said sighing.

"Um Hi. I’m Jordan Walker. Mortal Waitress." she said, hesitantly, watching Natalie gently take the empty bottle from Lacroix’s hand and put it with the others that were beginning to pile up on the bar.

"Natalie Lambert. Doctor to the undead." Natalie replied and shook her hand.

Jordan returned her smile and chuckled at the comical description. She liked this woman instantly.

She surmised from her comment and actions, that she too knew about ‘them’. Maybe now she could finally get some answers.

Natalie yawned and sighed again, she sat down on the bed. She was exhausted. She’d been awake for almost 24 hours. She lay down next to Nicky and closed her eyes.

"If you don’t mind keeping an eye on the troops. I’d best get some shut eye."

"Of course." Jordan could see that Natalie was exhausted. The questions could wait. She pulled up another chair and sat close to Lacroix, watching him sleep.

She took the opportunity to admire the strong angles of his handsome features. His lips were full and slightly parted as he slept. His skin appeared flawless, he appeared tired and paler than he had been earlier. She had an intense desire to touch his soft marble exterior. But restrained herself, not wanting to wake him, nor to be bitten for her trouble.

Her attention was diverted by the sound of Nicky waking. Jordan shook her head, dispersing the ridiculous thoughts about the vampire which had surfaced there.

"Hey there." She said softly to the sleep dazed boy.

Nicky sat up and surveyed the room rubbing his eyes with the palms of this hands. He saw Natalie beside him and his grandfather asleep in the chair with Jordan nearby. He rose carefully so as not to disturb Nat, and went over to the woman.

"Hey." Nicky gave her a quick hug. He stared sadly at his grandfather. He looked tired. It unsettled him to see his grandfather in anything but perfect condition.

Nicky had seen many unusual things during the blood exchange with Lacroix. Intense images, some were scary, some just plan gross. He had seen his father, and a girl, whom he guessed was Divia. He also saw a woman, she stood in the moonlight holding a white rose, inhaling it’s sweet scent. She had looked up at him and smiled. Beyond these strange sights, sounds and smells, were glimpses of emotion. Pain, sadness, love, loneliness. They had been vague, barely a glimpse, his grandfather blocking much of the transfer from him. Whatever had seeped through though, had been enough to give Nicky a new understanding and respect for his grandfather, and perhaps a little fear of him too.

"You must be hungry, would you like something to eat?" Jordan whispered to him.

Nicky nodded slowly taking his eyes from Lacroix to look at Jordan. He turned silently and led Jordan down stairs to the kitchen.

"How are you feeling?" Jordan asked the boy, as he rummaged through a cupboard.

"I’m Ok." he paused as he recalled the pain he had felt from his father, and what he still must be in.

"Lacroix will do everything in his power to save your Dad." Jordan soothed Nicky, brushing the back of his head with her hand. She had seen the concern and worry shroud his young face.

"We’re going after him?" he asked

Jordan nodded. "Lacroix’s heading out as soon as it’s dark."

"We should go too." Nicky said.

"Why? Wouldn’t he do better without us?" she asked the boy dubious as to whether he knew what he was really talking about, but she knew he knew a hell of a lot more than herself. Her curiosity grew, she wanted very much to learn more about this intensely strange family.

Nicky had been thinking about this while he was hunting for food. He looked up at Jordan with a thoughtful frown.

"Wwell, if Dad is being held by a hunter, it might take a mortal to get into where ever he’s being held." Nicky told her. "Hunters tend to leave boobytraps designed for vampires. You know crucifixes, garlic, that sort of thing. It would stop a vampire, but it wont stop a mortal. He’ll need someone to clear the way for him." Nicky explained, as he passed her a sandwich. Jordan accepted it gratefully and took a large bite. After she swallowed she glanced at Nicky and asked.

"How do you know all this?" Nicky answered simply.

"TV."

"Ah." Research material, she thought. Might be worth looking a few programmes up, maybe even investing in an Anne Rice novel or two.

They ate and chatted quietly. Then taking a snack for Natalie, they headed back upstairs to wake the others. It was almost dusk.

Nick rushed to consciousness. Cold water dripped from his face and bare shoulders, momentarily soothing his battered body. His shirt, shoes and socks had been removed. Clad only in a pair of blood soaked jeans, he remained hanging from the pipe. Foxton stood a few feet away holding a bucket.

"Wakey, wakey, Knight." Foxton tossed the bucket to the floor with a painful clang. Nick watched in a daze as Foxton walked slowly toward him. He pulled a plastic bag from his trouser pocket.

"Now it’s time for the fun part!" he leered grinning with anticipation as he opened the bag.

Nick was overpowered by the stench of fresh garlic, making him gag. He realised what Foxton was planning to do and he began to struggle against his bonds, desperately trying to free himself.

As Foxton came closer he reached into the bag and scooped a portion of the crushed garlic onto his fingers. Nick tried to pull away from the advancing weapon. His mind was screaming, his eyes wide, panic rising.

"No." he moaned. "Don’t." Nick pleaded.

"I wont, if you just tell me where the boy is." Foxton demanded in a low monotone.

Nick closed his eyes, gathering his strength to endure the coming torrent of pain. He would never divulge his sons location.

This physical pain would either go away, or he would die. There was no other option.

"Kill me now. I will never betray him." he gave his answer.

"Oh I will kill you Knight, mark my words. But first things first."

Foxton smiled sadistically as he plastered a wad of garlic over the wound in Nicks stomach. Nick opened his mouth and screamed, a haunting scream...that was completely silent.

Lacroix grasped the bar to hold himself upright. He waited for the episode to fade before continuing his task of gathering a supply of blood.

Natalie watched him as she checked her own inventory of IV’s and various other items needed to give first aid to a vampire. She left him be, knowing any help or sympathy would not be accepted or tolerated by the man.

Clasping her bag closed she announced. "Ok I’m ready."

Lacroix moved to her side and held out his hand for the back pack Natalie held. When she didn’t give it to him. He raised his eyebrows.

"Is there a problem Doctor?" he asked.

"I’m going with you." she stated firmly. Never letting her eyes waiver from his.

"No you are not." he replied.

"Yes I am."

"No you are not. It will be too dangerous."

"Since when have you ever been concerned about my safety?" she said forcefully.

Lacroix moved directly in front of her and glared into her eyes. She forced herself to remain still. His eyes were gold, and he towered over her in an extremely intimidating manner.

"You will remain here with the others Doctor." he snarled at her.

Unfortunately for Lacroix, at that very moment another burst of pain came searing through his link with Nicholas. He closed his eyes and swayed. Natalie put a hand out to steady him.

"Look at you." she said quietly to him. "You can hardly stand, let alone fly." Lacroix just glared at her again. Jordan took this opportunity to move closer.

"And what about getting in. Whoever this Hunter is, he knows all about your kind. He’ll be expecting you. There could be boobytraps and God knows what else waiting for you." She Looked up at the imposing vampire and continued. "But one thing he wont be ready for is a couple of mortals clearing the way, to save a vampire." Jordan held her breath waiting for him to respond.

Lacroix continued to glare at the two women. Relenting, he sighed. Turning to Nicky standing against the bar he said.

"You will stay here. Help Patrick prepare your fathers room for when we return."

Nicky nodded. Then turned away to begin gathering his own supplies to take up to the bedroom.

Water splashed forcefully into Nicks face, he tried to turn his head from the harsh torrent. Foxton stood away from Nick holding a hose on him, washing away the garlic from his gapping wounds and skin.

"There." he said happily. "That should keep you up and about for a little while longer. Can’t have you dying on me before I’m done now can I?"

Relief coursed through his body almost as excruciatingly as the pain had earlier. Nick sighed as the sensation faded, his body was growing numb, his mind would soon follow.

Nick heard Foxton move away. He hung his head, searching for his father in his mind. He could feel him. Nick drew strength from the compassion and support from him. He was coming.

Nick jerked his head up. A swishing sound he recalled from a time long past, echoed in his ears. A loud crack snapped right beside his face.

"I ‘m sure you know what kind of damage this does." Foxton said laughing as he saw Nick flinch and shudder. Foxton swished the bull whip along the ground again, making sure Nick could see the wooden tip.

"But before we begin, I have a gift for you." Foxton said setting the bullwhip aside. He moved out of sight, returning a moment later with a bottle in his hand. He opened it and held it out to Nick. Blood. Human blood. Foxton poured the blood over the wounds the bolts had made in his torso. They began to heal, albeit slowly.

However, that was all the blood did, it wasn’t enough to give Nick any added strength. But he welcomed the relief in pain as freshwater to a shipwrecked sailor. The feeling slowly began to return to his body.

"Ah that’s much better!" Foxton said as he examined his handy work. He moved to retrieve the bull whip and went to stand behind Nick.

Nick had almost passed out again when his back was struck. It felt as if he had been staked again.

His body was so depleted, that even if he’d been hit with a pillow, it still would have hurt. Let alone a custom fitted bullwhip. Nick cried out with each stroke of the whip. Oh, God let this end! he wailed.

In Natalie’s car, Lacroix heard his sons cry. He closed his eyes and turned his head away from the women sitting beside and behind him.

Natalie was driving, while Lacroix sat next to her navigating. Jordan rode patiently and quietly in the rear. They formulated a plan of attack as they traveled. Natalie and Jordan would enter the building, ahead of Lacroix, clearing any vampiric obstacles as they went. Lacroix had protested at the thought of the women going in first. But it had been the most logical course of action, so that was how they would do it. Lacroix would come in behind and direct them to Nick. Then he would take care of the Hunter, once and for all.

"Turn left." he instructed Natalie. She turned down the next street on the left.

They had ended up in a warehouse district and were zeroing in on Nicks location.

"We are very close." Lacroix said searching the darkness with his enhanced vision through the windows of the car. Natalie slowed almost to a crawl.

"Stop!" he whispered suddenly. "Go back." Natalie reversed twenty feet."

"Stop." he said again. "Here." Natalie turned off the engine, as Lacroix leapt from the car.

Natalie glanced back at Jordan.

"Ready?"

"As I’ll ever be." she replied her green eyes flashing in the moonlight.

Grabbing the backpack, they exited the car to join Lacroix as he stood at the entrance to a large warehouse.

Lacroix and Natalie shared a look before she silently went to the door and turned the handle. As she suspected it was locked. She raised her eyebrows at Lacroix, who gave her a snide half smile as he move to the door. Grasping the handle he easily turned it, breaking the lock as he went.

Jordan stared at Lacroix as she caught her first real glimpse of the true strength of the vampire.

Lacroix gently pushed the door open, then standing well back he gestured to Natalie.

"Please, after you." he said in a formal gentlemanly tone.

Natalie put on her best Scarlet O’Hara, and replied.

"Why, thank you sar, you are most kind." she drawled as she cautiously entered. Lacroix rolled his eyes at the Doctors antics and followed behind Jordan as she went in after Natalie.

Natalie made him wait by the door while they checked out the dark hallway, before allowing him to continue.

Lacroix hissed suddenly, jerking away from a doorway. Natalie stopped and turned back to the vampire. Seeing the wreath of crucifix’s hanging around the door. She went and unhooked them. She threw in them into an empty room, where she had also stored the garlic flowers and two other crucifix arrangements they had found when they first entered.

"This way." Lacroix said pointing to the offending doorway.

Natalie and Jordan continued on in that direction, spreading out to remove obstacles and boobytraps as they went. As they approached a metallic door. Lacroix stopped them with a whisper. "He is through there." Natalie went to Lacroix.

"Can you hear any mortals?" she asked. He nodded.

they heard the crack of a whip. Then Nick crying out in pain. Natalie flinched at the sound. She watched as a darkness engulfed Lacroix, his eyes blazed red, his fangs dropped.

Crack! Nick this time, could only moan. Lacroix acted. He charged the metal door throwing it from it’s hinges, into the large room beyond. It crashed loudly to the concrete.

A short dark man spun toward them. He was holding a vicious looking whip in his hand, sweat from the exertion of beating Nick dampened his hair.

Lacroix grabbed the man ripping the silver crucifix from his throat and throwing it away with a snarl.

"This will not save you now!" he bared his fangs at the terrified man before throwing him across the room into the side of the vat. The sound of breaking bones preceded the thump as he hit the hard floor and didn’t move. Natalie had gone straight over to Nick.

"Oh my God Nick! Nick. What has he done!" she whispered tears blurring her vision. She wiped them briskly from her face.

His back was criss crossed with bleeding lacerations, most likely from the whip. He had a projectile wound in his right leg, his face was beaten, wrists also lacerated. She professionally listed his injuries as she gently prodded his bloodied and battered body. She felt his broken ribs, he moaned softly.

"Lacroix!" she elicited the vampires attention. "Help me get him down." she asked desperately trying to pull the cuffs free.

Lacroix glanced at the still form of the Hunter, whom he was about to advance upon again. Turning back to his bloodied son he quickly crossed the room to help.

He reached up and pulled hard on the cuffs. Nick moaned at the jarring it gave him. Lacroix had to pull three more times before the cuffs finally broke letting Nicks body fall limply into his arms. Lacroix lowered himself to the floor, Nick lying against his chest. Nick began to sob.

"Father." Nick whimpered.

Lacroix put his mouth by Nicks ear and comforted his son.

"You’re safe, I’m here." Nick moaned. Lacroix pulled his son closer to him and wrapped his arms around his shoulders, he kept whispering soothingly to him.

Tracy chose this moment to charge into the room, gun drawn.

"Freeze police!" she was followed closely by Ricard, Miles, Yale, York and Hutchinson.

"Nat?" Tracy said in disbelief.

"It’s Ok Trace. The guy is over there." Natalie pointed to the still form across the room.

"Tracy waved for the other detectives to lower their weapons. Hale and York went over to the Hunter, after feeling for a pulse, they handcuffed him none to gently.

Tracy looked to where Nick and Lacroix were sitting on the floor. She covered her mouth when she saw the extent of her partners injures.

"Oh my God."

Natalie was crouched next to Lacroix. She watched silently as Hutchinson called for an ambulance. There wasn’t much else she could do. But then she knew it wouldn’t deem to be much of a problem. They’d get him discharged by morning anyway, and it would look better this way. Lacroix would surely go with him and handle anything which may arise from the medical point of view.

"Is he alright?" Tracy asked bending over beside Nick and Lacroix. Lacroix snapped his head up and glared making her flinch.

"No Detective he is not alright!" he snarled. Tracy got the hint and moved away over to another woman standing a short distance behind them.

The paramedics soon arrived along with another police contingent, including Captain Reese. He took one look at Nick and started yelling at everyone. Ordering the perp to be taken away, prints and evidence collected. The paramedics pried Nick gently away from Lacroix loading him face down on a gurney, gently they rolled him out to the waiting ambulance. Lacroix following close behind. Natalie walked with him.

"I’ll take Jordan back to the Raven and check on Nicky, then I’ll come by the hospital." she said. Lacroix just nodded as he stepped into the back of the ambulance. Natalie watched as it pulled away, lights flashing. The barrage of policemen and cars moving aside to let it pass.

Jordan came up behind Natalie and put an arm around her shoulders. Natalie turned into her embrace and cried.

When Natalie pulled away, Tracy moved toward her.

"Nat." she said quietly. Natalie looked up to see her friend. She gave Tracy a hug.

Still hugging Nat, Tracy said. "Nat, I need to ask you some questions." Natalie sighed and nodded.

"How did you find this place?" Tracy asked. Voice sotto.

"Lacroix."

"I thought as much."

"How did you find him?" Natalie asked Tracy.

"We were checking out all of Gulliano’s holdings, this was one of them. and when I saw your car out front, I knew he must be here." Tracy explained.

Natalie thought for a moment. They were going to have to come up with a cover story as to how she and Lacroix had found Nick.

"That sounds logical. Good thinking Trace. Mind if I use that one as well." she smiled slightly as she added. "Somehow I don’t think, ‘I followed a vampiric homing beacon,’ is going to be received all that well." Tracy grinned.

"Ah no, I don’t think it will." The three women introduced each other, and then hurriedly formulated a plausible cover up.

Soon after, she and Natalie were about to pull up to the Raven.

"Jordan." Natalie said, after a moment of silence. "I would really like to thank you for your help. I don’t think I could have coped without you." she glanced in her direction and gave her an appreciative smile.

"It hasn’t exactly been my idea of fun, but then again I don’t think I would trade tonight for anything." Jordan looked back to the woman driving. "It was my pleasure." she added sincerely.

This was the most ‘alive’ she had felt for such a long time. She had forgotten what it had felt like. It felt wonderful.

Leaving Jack had been the first best thing she had ever done in her life. Answering the Raven’s advert in the paper had been the second.

As they entered the empty club, Nicky came barreling out from the back rooms and into Natalie’s arms. She hugged him ferociously to her.

"He’s Ok." She said to the boy.

"Where are they?" he said pulling away from her. She looked into his blue eyes. So much like his fathers...

"The paramedics took him to the hospital. Lacroix went with him. Nicky nodded.

"Can we go?" he asked her.

"I want you to stay here with Jordan for tonight. Nick’s in pretty bad shape, he’s going to need to rest." She looked at his crest fallen expression. "But I promise to take you first thing tomorrow. Ok?"

Nicky stared at his feet and nodded. Natalie gave him another hug which he returned. Giving Jordan another thankful look she headed back out to the car.

Lacroix sat next to Nicks bed, holding his hand, and gazing tenderly at his son.

He had been proud of the way his son had endured the intense torture forced upon him.

He had been afraid at one point that he would lose Nicholas. He closed his eyes against the chilling memory.

He schooled his expression as he detected Natalie’s heartbeat coming from the hallway.

He stood to meet her when she entered. They exchanged a look before she asked.

"How is he?" she moved to Nicks side, taking his hand in hers.

"They dressed his wounds and gave him something to sleep." he said.

Natalie turned to him surprised.

"They gave him something to make him sleep, and it worked?"

"No." he said calmly, smiling slightly. "I made him sleep. The nurses will also report normal heartrate and blood pressure readings when they check on him during the night." he added. He watched as Natalie brushed the hair tenderly from his sons forehead. He placed his hand on her arm for a brief moment, then left her to sit with Nicholas.

Natalie was stunned at Lacroix's show of compassion. She watched as the exhausted vampire left the room. Looking back down to Nicks sleeping face, she muttered.

"Well if I didn’t know better, I’d be inclined to think that the old General was actually beginning to like me." she bent down and kissed Nick lightly on the lips, before pulling up the chair and resting her head on the bed next to his and drifting to sleep.

Lacroix entered the Raven. It was strangely empty. He had told Patrick not to open tonight, expecting to have Nicholas here recuperating. Toronto’s finest had forced him to change his plans. He wasn’t about to lose any more revenue over this whole debacle.

"Patrick!" he called for his barman. Patrick appeared from the storeroom.

"Yes, boss."

"You may open for business." Lacroix said to the surprised barman as he stalked to his office, not waiting for an reply.

Lacroix sat in his desk chair, contemplating his next course of action. Gulliano had gone too far. Not only had he posed a threat to his grandson, but he had now hired an assassin to gain information from his son, then kill him and the boy. Lacroix had made a promise to his family to protect them. Gulliano was a threat, a serious one, and one that needed to be taken care of without delay.

Jordan stood in the doorway watching the emotions flicker across his weary face, rage, apprehension, concern. He was frowning, deep in thought. He hadn’t noticed her until she spoke.

"You’re going after him." she stated, coming further into the room.

Inwardly Lacroix started, outwardly he didn’t budge. He slowly turned his chair to face her. He resented her intrusion for a moment before sighing heavily and answered.

"Yes." Lacroix rose and made to leave the room. He brushed passed Jordan and was almost at the door when he turned his head back in her direction. "Your assistance tonight was...appreciated." He said softly before leaving the room.

As Lacroix went out of sight, Jordan all but whispered.

"I know where he is."

Lacroix slowly came back into view. He stood directly behind Jordan, who had her back to the door. He spoke quietly into her ear.

"Where." he demanded.

Jordan turned to meet his glare. She felt his reined anger, pulling free.

"I’ll give you what you want Lacroix, for a price." she said, her lungs no longer desiring oxygen as she waited for his response.

Lacroix moved close to her, they were almost touching.

"Do not presume to bargain with me, Miss Walker. What you do not give me, I shall take." his voice a low growl, sending a chill down her spine.

Jordan shuddered, but as she continued to look him in the eye, she gained the courage to ask.

"Will you not even ask what my price is Lacroix?" she put her hands on her hips. She was sick to death of being frightened. No more.

Lacroix raised an eyebrow at her tenacity. He stared, captivated, into her exquisite eyes of jade.

"Very well." he said coldly.

Jordan took a breath.

"My life." she stated, head held high.

Lacroix smiled in his baneful manner.

Jordan shuddered again. Damn. Way to go Jord, he’s going to kill you for sure now.

"Why do you plead for your life, my dear?" he asked calmly. Never leaving her intense gaze.

"Because I know what you are."

Lacroix raised a questioning eyebrow at her.

"Nicky and I have been having a little chat." she added. Lacroix made a disapproving face, then asked.

"And just what has my grandson told you?"

"That mortals generally don’t know of your existence and that you will do anything to keep it that way. That you have a choice of either wiping my memory...or killing me."

Jordan looked to Lacroix once more.

"I would prefer the former. Although that option doesn’t exactly excite me either."

Lacroix stared at the woman before him and paced around her, weighing up his options.

If he did indeed kill her, he would have to find a new waitress, she was good employee, and would be difficult to replace. Of course she was beautiful too, and if it weren’t for her particular skill in annoying him so...

"Very well." Lacroix suddenly stood in front of her again, looking deep into her eyes.

"Tell me where he is."

"How do I know you wont just kill me after I tell you." Jordan remarked.

Lacroix sighed.

"I give you my word."

Jordan looked into his eyes and saw his truth.

"642 Harris Ave, suite 17."

Jordan could suddenly hear the beating of her own heart, her mind grew cloudy.

"You will forget what you saw tonight." Lacroix spoke softly into her mind. "There are no such things as vampires." Stepping back he let her go.

Jordan blinked and looked at Lacroix.

He stared back.

She raised an eyebrow.

He raised one of his.

"Well?" she asked spreading her hands.

"Well what?" he said.

"Are you going to make me forget or not?!"

Lacroix closed his eyes. Why me?

Nicky padded downstairs. He could hear Jordan and Lacroix arguing in his grandfathers office.

"What do you mean it didn’t work?!"

"You are a resister."

"Well that’s just great. Just because you can’t make me forget, I have to die. Wonderful!"

Nicky stuck his head around the door.

Lacroix was standing perfectly still with his arms crossed by his desk as Jordan paced around him, waving her arms about as she yelled.

Without turning Lacroix suddenly spoke.

"Nicholas, return to your room." when the boy didn’t move he turned to him.

"Nicholas." he warned him to obey. Nicky almost did. But he had to say something.

"You don’t have to kill Jordan." he said quietly.

"This is not your concern Nicholas, now do as I asked."

"Jordan’s my friend, I don’t want her to die." Nicky persevered. Lacroix sighed then spoke sternly to his grandson.

"Nicholas, this is our way, you must learn to accept it." This was all beginning to sound horribly familiar Lacroix thought. Had he not said the exact same words to his son a thousand times before?

"Why can’t you do what Nick does for Natalie?" the boy said.

Lacroix glared at him.

"What does Nick do?" Jordan asked looking to Lacroix for an answer. When the vampire remained silent, Nicky answered for him.

"He protects her." Nicky said, glaring back at his grandfather. Lacroix held Nicky’s frowning glare for a long moment.

"Nicholas, go to your room." At the threatening tone of Lacroix’s voice, Nicky obeyed immediately.

When the boy had left, Lacroix turned his head to the waitress.

"You will wait here for my return." he abruptly left the office closing the door behind him.

After a moment Jordan went to the door and opened it. Standing in her way, looking down at her, was a very tall and very large vampire. She smiled sweetly up at him, he smiled back. Jordan closed the door. Damn.

Lacroix sat at the bar, sipping his third glass of bloodwine. Gulping the remainder of the glass, he slammed it down, stood and strode from the club.

<<>>

Marcus Gulliano sat working in a small study, reading over financial papers at an antique desk. The only illumination came from his desk lamp. The room was attached to a small balcony, looking out over the waterfront.

The man looked up as he felt a cool breeze cut across his desk, ruffling his papers. The balcony door was ajar. Odd? Could have sworn it was shut. Maybe the breeze blew it open.

Gulliano rose and went to the open door pulling it closed and securing it. He peered out the window. Nothing. Shrugging his shoulders he turned back to his desk, only to collide with a large black figure. Startled he jumped back a couple of feet trying to put some distance between himself and the intruder.

"Who the hell are you?" he said in his usual authoritative tone, masking the fear he felt rising within himself.

The figure remained silent.

"Do you know who I am?" he said trying to remain calm, the intruders silence was making him nervous.

Silence for a moment longer, then.

"The time has come, my dear Marcus, for you to learn there is infinitely more to this existence, than even your own pathetic little brain could ever hope to imagine." Lacroix allowed his eyes to change, blazing gold.

"What the...?!" Gulliano stepped back even further until his back hit his desk, staring open mouthed at the fantastic sight before him.

Lacroix moved forward in an instant grabbing Gulliano by the throat, cutting of his cry for help.

"Before I send you to your death, know this," Lacroix hissed emphatically into the mans terrified face, baring his fangs." No one, EVER, harms MY family!"

Releasing the mans throat, Lacroix pulled out Gulliano’s own gun, the very same he used to kill his business partner at the warehouse, and held it to the mans forehead. Looking coldly into the man’s pleading eyes, he pulled the trigger.

Lacroix could hear the men from down the hall rushing toward the room. He quickly wiped his prints from the gun and dropped it down on to the chest of the fallen crimelord.

The displaced air was the only sign of his departure as Gulliano’s associates fell upon the grizzly scene.

Lacroix entered the hospital through the fourth floor fire exit. He went to Nicholas’s room.

They were sleeping. Nick moved restlessly on the bed. Lacroix went to the far side and brushed his sons frowning face. Nick immediately responded to the touch, relaxing and settling down. He was propped up on his side to keep pressure off the wounds on his back.

He had fed Nicholas when they first arrived, but no other blood had been given to him since.

Lacroix left, and went in search of a doctor to arrange his release by dawn. Returning a short while later, satisfied that all had been taken care of he gently touched Natalie's shoulder to wake her.

"Doctor." he said quietly.

"Mmmm?"

Lacroix smiled at her lack of response. He bent closer to her ear and whispered in a menacing tone.

"I can help you sleep for eternity if you would so desire."

Natalie started awake at the voice. She turned to see Lacroix behind her with an amused look on his face. She frowned.

"Ha ha very funny." she turned back to check on Nick.

Lacroix sat down on the end of the bed.

"I have arranged for Nicholas to be discharged in a few hours." he told Natalie as he gazed at Nick.

Natalie nodded as she looked over the old vampire. She saw the slump in his shoulders and the paleness of his skin, even the lines, which had recently appeared on his usually smooth face. He was the very picture of a weary vampire.

Then she saw the blood on his shirt and hand.

"What happened." she said trying to remain calm. Lacroix looked down to where she was pointing and noticed the blood for the first time. Sighing, he looked back down at his son.

"Let us just say, that Marcus Gulliano, is no longer of any concern."

Natalie stared at him for a moment, then ducked her head, concealing her reaction from Lacroix. She was glad. She hated feeling this way about someone's death, but she couldn’t help it, Gulliano had been a threat to her family. Natalie started at the notion. But yes, they, Nick and Nicky, were her family, Lacroix perhaps was the uncle nobody liked, but even he was beginning to grow on her.

It was times like these, which had forced her to change her over all opinion of the ancient vampire. She could see it in his eyes as he looked over Nick as he slept, though he tried to hide it, he obviously loved his son.

Natalie sighed mentally. If only he could show Nick a bit of that love and respect, and Nick the same with Lacroix, perhaps they wouldn’t butt heads quite so often. Of course she still had a healthy respect for Lacroix’s strength, and ability to savagely manipulate, any given situation to his own gain. He would scare the bejesus out of her more often than she would care to admit.

Nick stirred. He moaned, fear and pain frowned upon his sleeping face. He reached for Lacroix. Lacroix took his hand, lent down close to him and spoke soothing words.

Natalie watched as Nick calmed down and slept peacefully once more. Nicks wounds were healing slowly, but they daren’t risk giving him anymore blood until they got him back to the Raven.

A nurse came by a couple of hours later with some forms for Lacroix to sign, and to take Nicks blood pressure, which read normal again, with the help Lacroix had given her earlier.

Captain Reese and Tracy also came by to check on him. Nick remained sound asleep the entire time.

Reese had told them Gerald Foxton had been arrested and had eventually given up Gulliano as his client. A search and arrest warrant was still in effect on Gulliano. Natalie caught a glimpse of a smile from Lacroix.

Finally they were told they could leave when they were ready.

"Nicholas." Lacroix shook Nick gently trying to wake him.

"Nicholas, wake up." he said again after no response.

"I’m sleeping." he eventually mumbled, still more asleep than awake.

"Nick you can go home now." Natalie said close to his ear.

"Good." he said not opening his eyes.

Lacroix sighed.

"Always the hard way." he muttered to himself. He bent down so that his mouth was right next to Nick ear.

"NICHOLAS!"

Nick bolted upright, looking madly around, the room. Seeing Lacroix and Natalie standing at either side of his bed. He winced at the pain the sudden movement, and made to lay back down.

"No you don’t." Natalie reached for him and held him upright. Nick frowned confused and groggy.

"We’re getting you out of here." she said.

Nick just nodded and pulled back the blankets. Natalie helped him to dress, taking the chance to look at his wounds as she did so. She frowned at how slowly they appeared to be healing.

"Prolonged contact with garlic, slows the healing process somewhat." Lacroix mentioned as he saw her examine Nick. Natalie quickly filed the tidbit away for further research at a later date.

Finally with Nick dressed and ready to go, they left the hospital, Lacroix almost having to carry Nick out to the car.

Once at the Raven, they entered through the back, Lacroix supported Nick up stairs to the bedroom. Then helped him to undress and get back into bed. Nick was asleep before he had his head to the pillow.

Natalie placed a few bottles of Lacroix’s reserve beside the bed.

"It will take him a few days to recover fully." Lacroix eventually said. He sat on the end of the bed. Looking as though he might fall asleep himself at any moment.

He suddenly glanced up at Natalie with an odd expression.

"Oh dear."

Natalie watched as he leapt to his feet and headed quickly back downstairs. She followed him curiously into his office.

A large vampire, she recognized as one of the bouncers, moved aside from the door to allow him to enter. Lacroix dismissed him with a wave and he disappeared into the thinning crowd at the bar. She entered and saw Lacroix crouched down by Jordan, who lay sleeping on the couch. Natalie chuckled.

"How long have you had her shut in here?" she asked the vampire quietly. Lacroix frowned.

"Several hours." he admitted. He had forgotten all about her.

"She will not be pleased." Natalie frowned as she thought of why Lacroix had locked her in here to begin with. Lacroix turned and saw her expression.

"She knows of our existence Doctor."

"She’s a resistor?" she guessed. He nodded.

"You don’t have to kill her." she said quietly. The manner in which Lacroix was gazing at the woman, wasn’t lost on her. He was obviously attracted to her.

Lacroix sighed and rose to his feet.

"No, I do not." he closed his eyes for a moment and made his decision.

Bending down he scooped Jordan gently into his arms and carried her to her room. Natalie watched smiling ever so slightly, behind his back.

Natalie went by to check on Nick only to find that Nicky had crawled into bed with him and was snuggled up beside him. Moving to the far side, she removed her shoes and jeans, and carefully joined them. She too was asleep before she could even turn out the light.

Lacroix stood in the door way to Nick’s room, gazing upon his family as they slept. His thoughts drifted to Janette.

If only she were to return, they would truly be together once again as a family. He took one last look at the sleeping forms, turning slowly, he switched off the light and with exhaustion dragging his feet, he made his way across to his own room. He quietly closed his door behind him, and barely managed to kick off his shoes, before falling onto the bed. Fully clothed he fell into the deep dreamless sleep of the undead.

Fin.