Date: Fri, 4 Oct 1996 20:14:33 -0600 From: Sarah Baker Disclaimers: The characters in this story (Nick, Natalie, Schanke, Cohen, and LaCroix) do not belong to me, but to TPTB of Forever Knight. I am only borrowing them. The other characters in the story have simply "evolved". This is a season 2 story, the result of a long drive nearly two years ago with a fellow FK fan. Thanks, Deborah. It is probably the closest I will ever get to writing a 'cop story', but it isn't really that either. Oh well. Please send any comments (or whatever) to me at sstorme@earthlink.net. I have a much 'mushier' (and darker) story waiting in the wings -- just trying to decide what to do with it! THE TAPESTRY (Part 1/10) by Sarah Baker (sstorme@earthlink.net) The sound of an unmuffled yawn starting from across the desk broke Nick's concentration. He looked up from the half-written report to find Schanke stretching and completing the yawn. "Bored already? You've only been at work for an hour," Nick chided. "No, not bored, just tired. Myra dragged me to the museum this afternoon. I can't believe she made me get up early to look at a bunch of swords and junk! Man-o-man, like I really want to spend my bedtime hours checking out museums!" Schanke started into another yawn. Nick laughed to himself and shook his head. Just as he started to dive back into the report, Captain Cohen leaned out of her office. "Knight. Schanke. There's a homicide at the Royal Museum. You better get over there." "We're on it, Captain," Nick replied as he pulled on his jacket. He slapped Schanke on the shoulder as he passed him. "Maybe a ride in the night air will wake you up." ***************************** When they arrived at the museum, the scene was already hectic. The body of a guard lay in the middle of the ordered chaos. Natalie was leaning over the body with a man from forensics taking photographs at her elbow. With practiced rhythm, Schanke stopped to talk to the uniformed officers as Nick knelt down across from Natalie. She began to rattle off the statistics. "The spinal chord was snapped between the third and forth cervical vertebrae. Bruising around the mouth and shoulders suggests the killer had rather large and extremely powerful hands. TOD is approximately one to one and a half hours ago." Natalie then looked up at Nick. Her expression was serious as usual at a murder scene, but something in her eyes took him by surprise. "Nat?" he looked at her questioningly. "Let me show you something over there," she said as she glanced significantly at the photographer beside her and then started towards a quiet corner of the room. Nick followed her. When she was sure no one was within earshot, she leaned towards Nick and whispered. She knew he would hear her even though she could barely hear herself. "Nick, have you seen this exhibit?" There was definite trepidation in her voice. "No. Why?" "This is an exhibit from the thirteenth century, of several Western European families." Natalie waited a moment for the significance of her words to sink in. Nick began looking around the room furtively. "Nick, there's a tapestry in the next room that you to see." Natalie motioned with her head toward a doorway to her left. Nick's eyes followed her movement to the doorway. His eyebrows furrowed slightly. "What is it?" he whispered back.. "Trust me. You'll want to make sure you're alone when you see it." Natalie suddenly raised her voice to a normal level to indicate the approach of someone. "... and the scuff marks seem to start over here," she pointed to the floor. Schanke slapped Nick's back, causing him to jump slightly. "Man, it doesn't pay to be a security guard in this place." Schanke smiled wryly and shook his head, recalling the murder of another guard in this same place just over a year earlier. "And this guy was a retired cop," he continued. "Can you imagine making it through twenty years on a beat to end up like this?" Natalie looked back at Nick and raised one eyebrow as she walked back to the body. Schanke caught the signal and watched her walk off. He poked Nick in the stomach with his elbow as he chided, "Another little lovers' quarrel?" Nick ignored the comment. "So what did you find out?" "Well, the silent alarm was activated when the guard didn't punch in for his rounds. The uniforms arrived to find the building locked with no sign of a break in. After a brief search, they found him up here and called us. That's it." "Anything missing?" Nick asked. "The curator of the exhibit," Schanke consulted his notebook, "one Rose Bernard, is checking things out now. It may take awhile. She's a little shaken. She's right over there." Schanke pointed with his notebook to a woman across the room. Nick felt something familiar stir in his brain as he looked at the back of the woman. Her slender, small build and flowing brown curls tinged with gold seemed vaguely familiar. Schanke followed Nick as he crossed the room. "Excuse me, Ms. Bernard..." As the woman turned, Nick froze. The face of Fleur, almost forgotten after nearly 800 years, stared up at him. Nick blinked hard and looked again. The eyes, shining as Fleur's did, were stained with tears. The rounded face was so close to Fleur's, and yet not quite the same. The face was more modern. Maybe it was the makeup or the haircut or the earring... The woman stared back at Nick, reflecting his shock. After a moment, she shook her head slightly and extended her hand. "Yes, I'm Rose Bernard." She tried to hide a sniffle. Nick took her hand. "Nick Knight, Metro Homicide." Schanke, confused by the confrontation, cleared his throat. "And this is my partner, Detective Schanke." Schanke also shook her hand and threw a sideways glance at Nick. "Ms. Bernard, can you tell us if anything is missing?" Nick continued in his most businesslike manner. Rose Bernard looked at the floor and rubbed her temples. "Um, no. I mean I can't tell yet. There's a lot of stuff to look through. The exhibit covers five rooms, you know." "Yea, I know," Schanke muttered under his breath. "We realize it will take time for you to go through everything." Nick pulled a card from his pocket. "This is the number where you can reach us. Do you live in town?" "Yes and no," she replied. "You see, I travel with the exhibit. The museum has an apartment for us just a few blocks away." "Us?" "Yes. My daughter travels with me." A touch of pride mixed with concern shown through her eyes. Rose looked at the card. "I'll call you as soon as I've been through the inventory." Nick smiled and nodded. "We'll wait to hear from you." "C'mon, Nick. I've looked around already. There's no sign of a struggle. For some reason, the body was dragged across the room, but that's it. Let's go see what Natalie finds, OK? I feel like I spent all day in here already," Schanke was almost pleading. "Here, Schank, you take the caddy and I'll get a ride back to the station. I want to look around a bit." Not waiting for a reply, Nick handed Schanke the keys and walked off. "Fine," Schanke called after him, "but I'm not starting the report without you." He walked toward the door, muttering, "You're not getting out of the paperwork that easily." End Part 1. THE TAPESTRY (Part 2/10) by Sarah Baker (sstorme@earthlink.net) Nick looked around to be sure he wasn't being watched. He caught Natalie's glance from across the room as she followed the gurney from the building. He then headed toward the next room. His pace slowed as he entered, and the strangest sensations overtook him. It was as though he had entered his own home. The room was arranged somewhat as his had been when he was growing up. The stones that covered the walls gave off a damp smell that was so familiar. With a start he realized that the furniture, barely recognizable from age, was his own. The bed was his, as was the chair in the corner tucked neatly under his writing desk. He crossed the velvet rope to stand in the middle of the room, and turned slowly. A wave of dizziness hit him as he recognized his armor and sword in the corner. The room was not quite right, but it was the room of his youth. The walls, however, were covered with unfamiliar trappings. Nearly completing the circle, he froze in midstep as he came face to face with himself. His own eyes stared back from a life-size tapestry, sewn with meticulous care to detail. He saw himself standing in his armor, helmet tucked neatly under one arm. Overcome with a wave of something close to nausea, he stepped backwards from the cross that hung from his neck, and then stared again with amazement into his own eyes. "The likeness is uncanny!" Nick jumped at the voice behind him. He whirled around to find Rose looking at the tapestry with a smile. Her eyes met his, which were still filled with shock. He couldn't think of anything to say. Rose walked past him, again looking at the tapestry. "This tapestry was done by an ancestor of mine in 1232. It's in remarkable shape, don't you think?" Rose turned back to Nick. He had regained his composure and smiled at her. "Yes, it is." "It is amazing how much he looks like you," she repeated. "Maybe we are related somehow. I had knights in my family," she smiled and waved toward the armor, "but I don't know of any Knights with a capital K." "You never know about families," he answered, and then found himself staring at this woman. She turned from his stare, blushing slightly. "This room is my pride and joy," she explained as she walked away from Nick. "Everything in here came from a castle that has been in my family..." She suddenly stopped and gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. "Oh no," she cried as she ran to a cabinet surrounded by broken glass. Nick followed her. "Of all the things to have stolen!" "What was in here?" Nick asked. "A broach with a portrait of one of my ancestors, and several letters she had written. The letters were very delicate. Exposure to the air will probably cause them to disintegrate." Concern and sorrow filled her voice. Nick touched her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Ms. Bernard. If you will give us a complete description, we'll try our best to recover them." He tried to sound as hopeful as possible. Rose Bernard nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. Nick suddenly felt a desire to comfort her, as though he was seeing his sister in pain. Gritting his teeth, he realized he needed to get out of here. The whole room was swallowing him into the past. "Please call as soon as you have the information together." Nick removed his hand from her shoulder. "I better go." He quickly turned to leave, not wanting to look back. With determined speed, he headed out of the museum. ********************* Leaving the museum, Nick had felt a burning need to take to the air. Back in the loft, he sat staring into the fireplace holding an open bottle on his leg. He was trying to comprehend what he had just seen. A few minutes ago, he had been standing in his own room, talking to his own sister. But she had been dead for almost 800 years. The memories flooded back: the last time he had seen Fleur as she walked off to sleep and forget, the letters from her as her life ended, the letters he had written her describing a life he didn't live. He felt a great sorrow threatening to overtake him, one that he had tried to hide for many centuries. It was the sorrow of leaving more than his family behind. As he closed his eyes, the ringing of his phone pulled him back to the present. He started to reach for the phone and then realized that he wasn't supposed to be home. He listened as the machine answered. Natalie's voice overrode his own. "Nick....Nick.... are you there?" He quickly picked up the phone. "Nat." "I thought you might be there. They are looking for you at the precinct. Was it my imagination, or was that you?" "No, Nat, I don't think it was your imagination." His voice sounded strained. "Nick, you OK?" "Yeah. It was just a little strange being in there." "What are you going to do about the tapestry? I mean, it's an incredible likeness. If I saw it, I'm sure others will, too. How are you going to explain it?" Nick took a deep breath to clear his head. "What's there to explain? You're the only one who knows that it could be me. To everyone else, it will be a coincidence." Natalie thought about this. It was true that no one else would believe it was really Nick on the tapestry. What was she worried about? She laughed at herself. "You're right, of course." When Nick didn't respond, she continued, "Are you coming back in?" "I'll be there in a few minutes. Will you cover for me?" "Sure, as much as I can. See you later." "OK." After replacing the phone, Nick took one more big swig from his bottle and tried to shake off the strange feelings this night had caused. ******************* "So what do we have so far?" Schanke locked his fingers behind his head and leaned back in his chair. "We have a guard that was surprised by someone who got into the museum without forcing an entry. It sounds like an inside job to me." Nick leaned on his elbows on his desk. "Someone could have hidden in the museum until after it closed." "Yeah, but they would have had to get back out and the doors were locked. The only way they could have gotten in and out would be with a key. And they would have to know the alarm system." Schanke leaned further back and propped his feet on his desk. "And why would someone break into a museum like the Royal Ontario, kill a guard, and take only a few letters and a necklace? There's lots more valuable stuff in there." Nick thought about Schanke's statement. Who would break into the museum for letters that might be from the Brabant family? His face darkened as he realized the answer. LaCroix. Nick stood up suddenly. His movement was so fast that he nearly toppled Schanke in his chair. "Jeez, Knight!" Schanke exclaimed as he recovered his balance and composure. "What is it?" "Sorry, Schank," Nick apologized with a forced smile. "I just remembered something I was supposed to do. I'll be back in a little while." "What am I supposed to tell Cohen?" Schanke called to Nick's back. "Tell her I'm checking out a lead," Nick replied over his shoulder. End Part 2. THE TAPESTRY (Part 3/10) by Sarah Baker (sstorme@earthlink.net) Nick steered the caddy to the curb in front of the address he'd been given at the museum. Ms. Bernard had just finished checking through the exhibit and had gone home. The address was to a Victorian-style house that had long since been divided into apartments. He found the door and knocked. "Who is it?" a woman's voice asked. "Nick Knight," he responded. "Ms. Bernard?" Rose Bernard ushered him into the tastefully decorated apartment. Her demeanor suggested that her daughter slept in a nearby room. She spoke softly. "Please sit down, Detective. Can I get you something to drink?" She had been home long enough to change into blue jeans and an oversized sweatshirt, and she was barefoot. Nick sat down in a chair at the far side of the living room. "No thanks. I'm sorry to stop in so late, but I have a few questions." "That's OK. I'm not really sleepy yet. I just can't believe all this has happened." Rose Bernard picked up an open can of Coke and sat on the sofa across from Nick. She tucked her feet under her and leaned on the arm of the sofa. "I just finished checking the exhibit; I didn't have a chance to call you yet. I'll answer whatever questions I can." Nick tried to suppress his amazement as he looked at her. Even in this 20th century garb, she looked so much like Fleur. He avoided looking into her eyes as he spoke. "Ms. Bernard..." "Please call me Rose. Ms. Bernard sounds so... old." He smiled at her. "OK, but you'll have to call me Nick." She returned his smile. "Do you know who wrote the letters that were stolen?" he asked. "Well, I think so. You see, I started tracing my family tree a number of years ago when I was in graduate school. There were a few major gaps, but the Bernard line seemed to lead back to Belgium. The last reference I found was to a Louis Bernard who married Fleur de Brabant. I was fortunate enough to find her bible in a museum in Belgium that listed her parents and a brother. I tried to trace her brother's line, but wasn't able to find anything. The letters that were stolen appear to have been hers, written to her brother in Paris. From the content, it seems that he fought in the Sixth Crusade and was injured. I can only guess why the letters were not sent on to him. Maybe he died young as a result of his injuries. Anyway, the letters were found in the Brabant castle. I still can't believe they took those..." Rose glanced up at Nick's face suddenly and fell silent. The letters were definitely from Fleur. Nick remembered the occasional letter he received from his sister describing the state of affairs at the castle, the bliss of her marriage, her sorrow at the death of her husband, and, finally, the letter asking Nick to care for her son after her death. Most of her letters had been filled with life and the light that she emanated. Even when describing her husband's death, Fleur had found a way to look for the good in the misery. Why would she have written letters to him that she didn't send? "Nick?" He looked up from the floor, realizing that he had been lost in thought. "I'm sorry. I was just thinking. You said there was also a broach stolen. Was the portrait of Fleur?" "I don't know for sure, but I think so. It was also found in the castle, and the age is about right." The detective seemed to be lost in thought again. "You know, your resemblance to the tapestry is really eerie." Nick looked up at her with his eyes slightly wider than normal. "Yes," he finally answered, "it is a little strange. As you said, maybe we are related somehow. I take it the tapestry was also found in the castle?" "Yes it was. It had been carefully stored a long time ago. That's why it's in such good condition." Nick nodded, mostly to himself. He had found the information he needed. If Fleur had written the letters and LaCroix had found out about them, LaCroix was definitely capable of stealing them and the broach. But why would he kill the guard? He could have slipped in and out of the museum without being noticed. And if LaCroix had killed the guard, there should have been teeth marks. OK, first things first. He needed to see LaCroix. "Mom...", a small voice called from the next room. "Excuse me, Nick. I need to check on my daughter." "That's alright," he said as he rose, "I need to be going anyway." "I hope this information has helped." "Yes, it has," he responded. 'More than you know.' "I'll let myself out." ****************** On his way to the CERK, Nick switched on the radio. He expected to hear LaCroix's voice, but instead was met with the soft sound of strings. At the station, he found the radio running on autopilot. He returned to the caddy and drove quickly to the Raven. Entering the Raven, Nick's sensitive hearing was assaulted by the heartbeat rhythm of bass. He stopped a moment to adjust and then made his way toward the bar. Nick found Janette sipping from her wine glass, staring into space. He walked up undetected behind her and planted a kiss on her shoulder. He was surprised when she jumped. "Nicola," she cooed as she turned to face him. "To what do I owe this pleasure?" "Is he here?" She did not respond. "Janette, is he here?" "Yes, Nicola, he's in the back. But I wouldn't disturb him, if I were you. He's not in a very... pleasant... mood." Janette took another sip from her glass and watched Nick's reaction. He seemed to be considering her advice. "I have to see him," he said decisively. "I'm investigating a murder." "Oh my," she teased with feigned distress. Then more solemnly, she asked, "Do you have to see him ?" "Yes." He took her hand in his nonchalantly. She squeezed his hand. "Be careful, Nicola." "I'll be alright." He brushed her lips with a kiss and turned towards the back room. "I do hope so," he heard her say to herself as he walked away. At the back room Nick cautiously opened the door. LaCroix was sitting with his back to the door and only slightly moved his head as he sensed Nick's presence. Nick moved slowly in and closed the door behind him. He spoke tentatively, "LaCroix..." "What do you want, Nicholas?" His voice was quiet but stern. "Were you at the museum tonight?" Without warning, LaCroix flew across the room and pinned Nick by the neck to the door at arm's length. "It's fault," he seethed through clenched teeth. "I could have kept her from such misery." Suddenly LaCroix's anger seemed to subside. His grip loosened as he let Nick slide down the door. Nick rubbed his neck as he watched LaCroix walk slowly back to the table, his head drooping uncharacteristically. When he recovered from the shock, Nick followed LaCroix to the table. The table was covered with many small pieces of yellowed parchment. Nick picked up one of the larger pieces and it crumbled in his hand. It was impossible to see more than a few flowing words on any one piece. Whatever messages the letters contained would now be know only to LaCroix. Nick watched the older vampire curl himself into a chair in a dark corner clutching a crystal glass. As LaCroix finished the last sip, he let the glass drop to the floor where it shattered. Nick had never seen LaCroix quite like this and it frightened him. He was somewhere beyond depression, and rage was just below the surface. Nick did not want to stir that rage again, but he had to at least find out about the guard. "LaCroix," he barely whispered, "did you kill the guard?" To Nick's surprise, LaCroix laughed and looked up at him. "No, Nicholas, I didn't kill your precious guard." LaCroix spat the words in Nick's direction. "That was done by a couple of common thugs. I think my... sudden appearance interrupted their mission." "How did they get out, LaCroix?" LaCroix looked pensively at the floor for a moment before responding. "I suppose they had a key." He then raised his eyes to Nick's and they were filled with hate. "You have your information." The volume of his voice rose noticeably. "Now get out!" Not wishing to push LaCroix any further at the moment, Nick left the room quickly. As he left the Raven, he thought about LaCroix's words. There was no reason for LaCroix to lie about the guard; he was certainly beyond the reach of mortal laws. So there were two killers loose out there. But more disturbing was the thought of Fleur's letters. Nick needed to know their content. There was no doubt that LaCroix was not about to share this information any time soon. He would have to wait as patiently as possible. End Part 3. THE TAPESTRY (Part 4/10) by Sarah Baker (sstorme@earthlink.net) Nick knew he should return to work, but he couldn't resist going back to the museum. He left the Caddy several blocks away and flew to the roof. The same skylight that had been available as an entrance a year ago was open. He watched the replacement guard punch in at the station under the window and then disappear down the stairs. With absolute silence, Nick entered the museum and found his room. Knowing what to expect, he was able to view the room without the previous dizziness. He walked around the room slowly, carefully checking each display. It was amazing how many items Rose was able to collect. One case held many of Fleur's personal items. He wasn't sure, but beneath the thick glass the ivory brush seemed to hold a strand or two of hair. He took a deep breath and continued on. One case was dedicated to a child. These must be Andre's toys and clothes; he was the last child to live in the castle in the 1200s. Nick remembered closing up the castle after Fleur's funeral. The memories flooded his brain and brought him close to tears. He tried to shake them off and continue. In one case he found his own things: some of the clothes he had left behind and the crucifix that he had worn as a boy. It was the crucifix that Fleur must have remembered when working on the tapestry. The case also contained the antler-handle knife that Nick himself had made. The workmanship was crude, but he made the knife under the watchful eyes of his father when he was only ten. He smiled when he remembered the many hours he spent smoothing the handle and the pride he'd felt when his father had praised the final product. Nick thought about removing the knife from the case. He examined the hinges and found them delicate but secure. He considered breaking the glass -- it was, after all, his knife. 'Can that really be considered stealing?' he asked himself. Even though his answer was 'no', he knew he really shouldn't take the knife. He remembered Natalie's reaction when he took the harp. The soft beat of an approaching heart made the final decision for him. Nick was surprised to realize he had been in the museum for an hour. By merging into the shadows, an art he had perfected after all this time, he was able to avoid the guard and make his escape back through the skylight. ************ "Well, Knight, I'm so happy that you finally decided to come back to work with your partner!" Schanke snapped at Nick. Nick sat solemnly down at his desk without responding. "Rose Bernard called a couple of hours ago. She said she forgot to tell you that there was nothing else missing from the exhibit." Schanke waited for a reaction. "What the hell is going on here? You go chasing leads on the case without me, and without even telling me? I know she's cute and all..." Nick's glare shot through Schanke as surely as if it had been a bullet, stopping his speech in mid-sentence. This was a look that Schanke hadn't seen from Nick in a long time. "OK, look, I don't know what's going on in that weird brain of yours, but our shift is almost over and I've got a few files to put away. Are you going to check with Natalie on your way out?" Nick furrowed his eyebrows. "Natalie?" "Yeah, to find out if she has anything else on the guard?" Schanke rolled his eyes as he got up from his desk. "Yes, I'll check with her." Nick looked regretful of his anger. "OK. I'll see you tomorrow partner. Get some rest, alright?" Nick nodded and left. ***************** "The only thing I can tell for sure is that there were two perps. See the hand print on the arm? It's much smaller than the marks on the shoulders and face." Natalie pointed to a red mark on the right forearm. Nick leaned over to examine it. Natalie watched Nick's face as he looked. He had been extremely quiet and sullen since he entered the morgue. "Nick, are you alright?" Nick straightened up, took a deep breath, and walked to Natalie's desk where he perched on the corner. Natalie walked around the table and stood in front of him. She folded her arms and leaned back on the table. "So what's going on?" she asked with sincere concern. Nick took another deep breath and looked up at her. "The missing letters were written by Fleur, my sister. They were written to me, Nat." Natalie's eyebrows went up. "Wow." It was quite strange to think that she was talking to a man who had letters written to him over 700 years ago. "So why did these two guys want to steal 750 year old letters?" "They didn't. They didn't take the letters." "Then who did?" Nick hesitated a moment before answering. "LaCroix." Natalie shook her head in confusion. "Why would LaCroix steal letters that were written to you by sister?" Nick stood up and started pacing the room. He was hesitant to explain this part of his past to Natalie, but decided that he needed to talk to her about it. "LaCroix thought he was in love with Fleur." "LaCroix?? In love?! I find that hard to believe, Nick." "It's true. He wanted to bring her across." Fleur's face appeared in his thoughts again. Suddenly Nick quit pacing and stood staring at the floor. Fleur's face changed to Rose's face. What would LaCroix do if he saw Rose? Had he already seen her? In his present state of mind, there were only two possibilities. He would either kill Rose for revenge, or he would see her as Fleur and bring her across. LaCroix must not have seen her yet. But she's living so close to the museum, and the chances of LaCroix returning to the museum were good. Nick looked up at Natalie with true fear in his eyes. "Nick?" Natalie moved to stand close to Nick. She couldn't remember seeing him look like this before. "Natalie. I don't know what to do. The curator of the exhibit is a descendent of Fleur's. She looks just like her. If LaCroix sees her..." his voice trailed off as he rubbed his head. He took a deep breath and gently grabbed Natalie's arms. "Nat, I can't take her to the loft. LaCroix will find her there. And I can't let her wander around Toronto. She has a daughter, Nat." The answer seemed obvious to Natalie. "She could stay at my place until you figure out what to do, Nick." Nick looked into her eyes, debating with himself. "It could be dangerous for you, Nat." Natalie laughed nervously. "Well, LaCroix and I don't exactly move in the same circles. Besides, if she's a descendent of Fleur's, doesn't that make her your relative somehow?" Nick hadn't really thought about this. "I guess I'm her great- great- great- great- great uncle or something." They both laughed a little. "If you're sure about this, Nat, I'll go get them. But at the first sign of trouble, we'll figure something else out. It'll only be until I can get them out of town." "I'm sure about it." Nick gave her a gentle and grateful kiss on the forehead. With a smile, he quickly left. The night was growing old; he had to do this quickly. As he walked out, he tried to think of what he was going to tell Rose. End Part 4 THE TAPESTRY (Part 5/10) by Sarah Baker (sstorme@earthlink.net) Nick waited at the door for quite awhile. It was finally opened by Rose. She was wearing the same blue jeans and sweatshirt, but her appearance suggested that Nick had waken her up. Nick hurried into the apartment. "I know this is going to sound really strange, but you are in extreme danger." Rose looked at Nick with a start. "How did you... I mean... what are you talking about?" Nick held Rose by the shoulders. He was ready to use his persuasive powers if he needed to, but he hoped to convince her in a more conventional manner. "Rose, I can't explain this right now. You are going to have to trust me." Rose saw the sincerity and concern in his eyes. "I do trust you." "You have to leave this place right now. I have a place for you and your daughter to stay for a few days while we sort things out. Can you be ready to go quickly?" Rose hesitated while she considered the situation. Nick's grip tightened in an attempt to hurry her decision. "Yes. I only need a few minutes." Nick released his grip and Rose disappeared into the bedroom. She reappeared in a few moments carrying a waking child and whispering to her reassuringly. Rose placed her daughter on the sofa and moved quickly back to the bedroom. The little girl, five years old, sat seriously staring at Nick. He was so stunned by her appearance that a small gasp escaped him. The flowing blonde curls framed a round face and large eyes. She looked exactly as Fleur had at her age. The shock nearly took away his balance, and he reached for the back of a chair to steady himself. The child continued to stare at Nick. "Who are you?" she asked very timidly. Nick realized she was shaking, either with cold or fear. Her eyes, filling with tears, gripped his heart. He moved quickly to sit beside her with his arm extended along the back of the sofa behind her. He spoke calmly and reassuringly. "I'm a friend of your mother's. My name is Nick. I'm a policeman." The girl studied Nick's face carefully. She was trying to decide if he was truly trustworthy. Her decision was obviously positive when she looked away and rested her small head on his chest. Nick couldn't help but hear the racing beat of her tiny heart. He encircled her with his arms and felt her shaking finally subside. In less than five minutes, Rose reappeared from the bedroom with two packed suitcases. Nick marveled at her speed. "Is that it?" he asked as he released the girl and took the suitcases from Rose. "There are a few more. I'll get them." Nick noticed how light the sky was getting as he put the bags in the trunk of the caddy. He hoped he wouldn't have to make room in the trunk for himself. When Nick returned to the apartment, he found Rose with her purse over her shoulder and four small bags balanced in her arms. As he moved to take the bags from her, she stopped him. "I've got these if you can get that one." She motioned toward her daughter with her head. "Sure," he smiled. The girl accepted Nick's offer of a lift by wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder. Once Rose was settled in the front seat, Nick released the girl to her mother's lap. As he walked around the caddy, he felt his face warming from the morning light and was glad that he had left the top on the car up. He drove to Natalie's as fast as the law allowed, and just a bit faster. ******************* Natalie opened her door to a woman carrying suitcases and Nick holding a child. She ushered them in with a smile for the woman and a worried look for Nick. "Welcome to my humble abode." Natalie reached for some of the bags as Nick introduced them. "Nat, this is Rose Bernard. Rose, Dr. Natalie Lambert." "And who is this cutie?" Natalie asked as the returned the girl's hesitant gaze. "This is Fleur," Rose replied. Nick shuddered involuntarily and shot a look of surprise to Natalie. She returned his look. Nick carried Fleur into the bedroom and tucked her into the bed while Natalie helped Rose find places for her bags. After making sure that Fleur was comfortable, Nick joined Natalie in the kitchen where she was preparing hot chocolate for Rose. He stroked her arm as he stood beside her. "Fleur, huh?" she whispered. "Yeah, it just seems to get stranger and stranger." He sighed. "Well," she said as she glanced at the kitchen clock, "you're either going to have to stay here for the day or let me give you a ride home. You want some hot chocolate?" she joked. Nick crinkled his nose in disgust. "No thanks, I think I'll pass. But I will take you up on the ride. I to get home." He finished the sentence to himself, 'for a drink'. Natalie understood without the explanation. Nick returned to the living room where Rose was looking out the window. He smiled and reassured her. "I'm sure you're wondering about all this. I promise that there is a reason. It's just a little hard to explain." Surprisingly, Rose didn't ask for the explanation and just smiled. Nick continued, "If you need anything, Natalie will help you. I'll be back this evening. I'm sure you both need some rest." Nick returned her smile. "We'd better get you home, Nick," Natalie interrupted. To Rose she added, "Please make yourself at home. I'll be back in a few minutes." As they walked through the hall, Nick's smile disappeared. "There shouldn't be anything to worry about during the daylight." "OK. Just call me when you get up, alright?" "Sure. First thing." Natalie tried to lighten the situation up a bit. "You keep up this daytime travel and I'll have to find an appropriate pillow for your truck." Her shoulder nudge elicited a smile from Nick. "Maybe Elvis's portrait on black velvet?" Nick staggered and clutched his heart as though he had been shot. "Oh no... please!" he pleaded. They both laughed. End Part 5 Tapestry (6/10) Sarah Baker Nick finally got out of bed well before sunset. He was still tired, but there was just no way to sleep. He decided first to take a shower to clear his head. After dressing, he sat down to 'breakfast'. The shower had helped at least to sort out some of the thoughts that had kept him awake. There were several things bothering him. He tried to concentrate as he sipped from the goblet. There was, of course, the obvious disturbance caused by the resemblance of Rose and Fleur to his long-dead sister. But there were a number of other things bothering him. Rose's reaction to his announcement that she was in trouble disturbed him. It seemed as though she was expecting trouble. He was sure she knew nothing about LaCroix; why would she be expecting trouble? And then there was LaCroix. Under normal circumstances, LaCroix could be cruel, but could also show great restraint and self-control. LaCroix was certainly not in his usual form. Nick shuddered as he remembered the ancient vampire curled in the chair. The crime scene from last night popped into his mind next. 'It sounds like an inside job to me.' Schanke's words rang through his head. Nick took another long drink from his glass. Solving the murder was important, but preventing another one was more important at the moment. Schanke would just have to chew on this one alone for tonight. Shortly before sunset, Nick called and convinced Schanke that a cold seemed to be trying to take over his life. Nick tried holding his nose to sound convincing. "Wow! Sick? You? You're almost never sick. Want me to drop some homemade chicken soup off at your place on the way in? Myra makes a chicken soup with lots of garlic. It's just the thing to wipe out a cold." The very thought turned Nick's stomach. "No tanks, Schank. I pwababy just need to sleep." "Well, OK. I'll call you later to check on you. Get some rest, partner." After completing the call to Schanke, Nick left a message for Captain Cohen to the same effect. He then called Natalie. "Hello." "Nat, it's me. How's everything going?" "Fine so far. Rose and I are eating a bite and Fleur is coloring." "I'll be there as soon as I can. I called in sick." "We'll be waiting." Nick felt better after talking to Natalie. She usually had that effect on him. He poured another glass and anxiously walked to the window to peak through the shutters. The sun was setting; it wouldn't be much longer. Nick's thoughts were drawn back to the original Fleur and to his parents and home. It was all so far back in time, and yet seemed like yesterday. He cursed his perfect memory. Still lost in thought, his mind suddenly started to vibrate from the presence of another vampire. "LaCroix," he stated as he turned around. The tall, pale vampire stood ten feet from him. "Good evening, Nicholas." As LaCroix took a step toward him, Nick fought the desire to take a step backward. "What do you want?" LaCroix took a deep breath and moved toward a chair. He sat so gracefully in the chair. Nick was relieved to see that LaCroix looked more like his normal self than he had the night before. "I simply stopped in to apologize for my behavior last night. I do hope you will forgive me." Nick noticed the touch of sarcasm. LaCroix propped his elbows on the arms of the chair, pressed the tips of his fingers together, and stared into Nick's eyes. The intense stare seemed to Nick to last forever before LaCroix spoke again. "Ah. I see that you've been thinking of Fleur, too. Good. I want you to remember what you took from me. I also want you to know how unhappy she was." LaCroix dropped his stare for a moment to the floor. "But I think I'll save that for another time. It's too painful to dwell on." LaCroix's stare returned to Nick. He raised one eyebrow. Nick realized with horror that LaCroix must be reading his thoughts. He tried to completely remove Rose from his mind. "I don't understand, Nicholas." A spark of anger flashed in LaCroix's eyes. "How could she be here now? Or is she only here now for you because of the exhibit?" Nick tried to appear calm. "Yes. The exhibit brought it all back so clearly." Nick put his glass down and shoved his hands in his pocket. He leaned back against the wall. As afraid as he was of having LaCroix discover his secret, he also knew that LaCroix was the only other being who could understand the torment he felt. "Yes. The curse of a perfect memory. To be able to forget is, at times, a blessing, is it not?" Nick silently nodded in agreement. "Well, we both have to go to, don't we?" LaCroix sighed and rose to leave. "I'm truly sorry for your pain, LaCroix." Nick knew that stopping LaCroix from bringing Fleur across so long ago had been the right thing to do, but he appreciated LaCroix's feelings. He also knew that LaCroix would some day share the content of Fleur's letters, probably when he wanted to inflict some emotional pain. "Yes, Nicholas. I will someday tell you about them." Nick tried not to show that LaCroix had startled him with the statement. In a blur of shadow, LaCroix disappeared as quickly as he had appeared. Nick blew out a relieved breath as he felt the vibration from LaCroix cease. He rushed around the loft gathering keys and other necessary items, and then hurried to the garage and backed out the Caddy. As he started down the street toward Natalie's, he was unaware of the shadow watching his progress from the roof of his building. End Part 6 THE TAPESTRY (Part 7/10) by Sarah Baker (sstorme@earthlink.net) Natalie welcomed Nick with a squeeze to his arm. "I need to get ready for work," she whispered to him. "You want to do the entertainment honors?" He put his arm around her waist and squeezed back with a smile. "Sure," he said in her ear. Nick took off his coat as Natalie disappeared into the bedroom. Rose looked up from a stack of papers at the table and smiled. Nick returned her smile and knelt in front of Fleur who was furiously coloring on the back of computer paper. Sydney lay stretched out against her leg, purring. "Are you having fun?" "Yes," she beamed up at him. "I like Sydney. He's so soft." She reached over to pet the purring cat. Fleur's angelic smile stole Nick's heart and made his own smile grow. He couldn't resist tussling her hair before he stood up and walked to the table. "And how are you doing?" he asked Rose as he sat across from her at the table. "Fine. Natalie is a very gracious host, and I'm getting a chance to catch up on paperwork." Nick watched her as she shuffled the papers self-consciously. "Rose, what kind of trouble were you expecting?" "What do you mean?" Her look of surprise was not convincing. "You weren't surprised when I told you that you were in danger. And it certainly didn't take you long to pack. What were you expecting?" Nick watched her eyes as they darted towards Fleur. "Fleur, why don't you go brush you teeth and get ready for bed? I'll be in there in a minute to help you." "OK." Fleur put the colors back in the box, gave Sydney a final stroke, and padded off to the guest bathroom. Rose and Nick both watched her go. Rose took a deep breath and folded her hands on the stack of papers. "I was expecting Fleur's father. Or rather, the men that he sends for her." She looked up at Nick and found him waiting for her to continue. "He periodically tries to take her from me. It has been going on for two years." "Your maiden name must be Bernard. You changed it back after the divorce?" "No. We were never married." Nick tried to hide his surprise. He had no idea why he would expect this woman to act like a woman from the 13th century, but he did. She might look like Fleur, but she wasn't. "Does he have any custody rights?" Fleur looked down at the papers. She answered quietly, "Yes. He was given shared custody. I complied with the court order until he told me that he intended to keep her for good. You see, he comes form a very wealthy family. I have no way to fight him. He'll get away with whatever he wants." Tears were welling in Rose's eyes, and her voice was tinged with desperation. "I make enough money for us to live on, but everything else is tied up in the exhibit. I spent all of my available cash on it." She looked up at Nick with the tears falling down her cheeks. "I lose her, Nick." Nick reached across the table and held her hand in an attempt to reassure her. Her look of desperation suddenly turned to confusion. "What do you mean 'what kind of trouble were you expecting'?" It was Nick's turn to look confused as he tried to invent something to explain this situation. There was a deafening crash behind Rose as a window shattered. Nick and Rose both jumped, and Nick's grip on Rose's hand tightened as he realized LaCroix was standing in the middle of the room. LaCroix's eyes glowed with vampire rage and his voice seethed through his fangs. "So this is what you were hiding from me Nicholas." Nick slid out of his chair to stand in front of Rose. "How can this be?" LaCroix's anger was mixed with confusion as he saw the woman's face. Nick's eyes took on the vampire blue. "It's not what you think, LaCroix." In a flash, LaCroix pushed Nick aside and lifted Rose by her shoulders. Nick slammed into the wall and shook himself as he jumped back up. He saw Natalie standing in the bedroom doorway holding the jamb. He flew to LaCroix's side and grabbed his arm. "It's not Fleur, LaCroix. This is Rose Bernard. She is a descendent of Fleur's." LaCroix was carefully studying Rose's pale, terrified face. Nick wasn't sure if his words were sinking in or not. After a few moments, an evil smile began to creep over LaCroix's face. He quickly spun Rose around and held her in front of him. He smiled at Nick. "She may not be Fleur, but she could easily be her replacement." LaCroix pulled Rose's hair from the side of her head. "No!" Nick and Natalie cried simultaneously. LaCroix flashed Natalie a threatening glare. He then returned his attention to Rose and Nick. Nick gave Natalie a 'stay back' look. "It has been a very long time since I had a chance to reverse my decision, Nicholas. I enjoy this." LaCroix held Rose's forehead and slowly tilted her head. "No, LaCroix.," Nick growled. "Don't you see that Rose carries on Fleur's light? It was the light that you knew you couldn't kill so many years ago. You can't do it now, LaCroix. You ." Nick's voice was both threatening and pleading. LaCroix hesitated for a moment. The door to the guest bathroom opened and a small blonde head peered out hesitantly. "Mom?" LaCroix's head whipped around to stare at the child. The door opened further and Fleur ran from the bathroom to her mother's side. Tears streamed down her face as she grabbed her mother's leg. "Mom," she sobbed. LaCroix relaxed his grip on Rose to stare at the child. " is Fleur, LaCroix." Nick's voice softened in an attempt to stop scaring Fleur. He reached down and pulled her to him. Fleur changed her grip from her mother's leg to Nick's. "You can't take her mother from her." A look of total confusion and shock overtook LaCroix as the child returned his stare. He released Rose; she fell to the floor and buried herself in Fleur's hug. LaCroix stared at both of them and then back at Nick. He released a vampire growl of pain as, in a blur, he disappeared back through the window. Nick fell to the floor with his arms around both Rose and Fleur, and Natalie rushed forward to join them. End Part 7. THE TAPESTRY (Part 8/10) by Sarah Baker (sstorme@earthlink.net) Rose's hands shook so badly that she was afraid she was going to spill the wine all over herself and Natalie's sofa. She carefully drank several large sips. Nick watched her from the chair where he sat perched on the edge, his hands folded in front of him and his elbows resting on his knees. Natalie tiptoed out of the bedroom. "I think she's OK now. She seems to be going to sleep." Natalie put her hand on Nick's shoulder as she walked past. He looked up at her with a very worried smile. Natalie sat beside Rose. Rose took a deep breath and lower her wine glass. "Can somebody please explain what just happened?" Her voice still quivered with fear. She looked at Natalie. Natalie turned her head from Rose to Nick. "What are you going to tell her?" "The truth. She needs to know in order to protect herself." Natalie turned back to Rose and put her hand on Rose's arm. "You'd better take another drink first. You'll need it." Rose complied with Natalie's order. "Rose, Nick is a vampire." Rose stared at Nick in disbelief. Nick winced. Rose looked back at Natalie in confusion. "Nick is a very old vampire. In fact, he's been a vampire for 767 years." Rose stared back at Nick, doing the calculations in her head. "You mean... the tapestry..." Nick smiled at her. "Yes." Rose dropped her gaze to the floor and shook her head. "A vampire?" Natalie put her hand back on Rose's arm. "It's OK. Nick does not drink human blood anymore. In fact, I'm working on finding a cure for him." Natalie smiled at Nick and to herself at the thought of saying this so matter-of-factly, and then looked back at Rose. "But the other vampire who was here tonight, LaCroix, is not like Nick. You need to stay away from him. It's hard to explain." Natalie looked to Nick for help. Nick's voice drew Rose's eyes to him. "Your ancestor, Fleur de Brabant, was my sister." He hesitated and then continued, "LaCroix fell in love with Fleur and wanted to make her one of us. I stopped him. He holds that against me." Nick tried to emphasize the importance of this information with his voice. "Rose, you must leave Toronto and stay away from LaCroix. He is... unpredictable." "But what if he finds me?" "There are things you can do to protect yourself. I will explain it all to you." Natalie gave Rose's arm a quick squeeze. "Are you OK?" "I guess," Rose answered hesitantly. She took the last of the wine in one large gulp. Natalie turned to Nick. "I either need to go to work or call in sick. Do you think he'll come back?" "I doubt he'll return tonight. And I'm sorry about your window Natalie. I'll get it fixed." "Well," Natalie looked at the bulletin board blocking the missing window, "it should be alright for tonight. I guess I'd better go then. You guys going to be alright?" Nick stood up with her. "Yes, we'll be fine. Thank you, Natalie, for everything." He kissed her gratefully on the cheek as she walked past him. Rose studied Nick as he and Natalie spoke. An 800 year old vampire, and a relative of hers no less. His blonde hair and kind face were very striking again his black attire. What a strange turn of events tonight had brought about. This was going to take some adjustment. *********** Nick carefully created a cup of hot tea in Natalie's kitchen while Rose sat at the table. She had gotten over the initial shock and fear. She was starting to realize what an incredible opportunity this was for a history major. "Nick," she called into the kitchen, "when were you born?" "1193," he replied. Rose's jaw dropped in amazement. She quickly recovered. "Did you really fight in the Crusades?" "Yes," he answered as he slowly carried the cup of tea to the table. "Do you want sugar or something?" "No. This is fine. Do you remember much about your childhood?" "Yes." He smiled at her. "I have so many questions for you that I don't know where to start." "Why don't we start with finding a way to keep you safe. How much longer is the exhibit going to be in Toronto?" "Two more days. Then we're going to New York for two months. Oh, Nick, I've got an idea!" Nick smiled at her sudden enthusiasm. It was like watching his sister tell him about some discovery she'd just made. "Can we go to the museum together? I have so many questions about the exhibit. Can we go now?" "What about Fleur?" Nick asked. "We'll take her with us. She'll probably sleep through it all anyway. Can you carry her for awhile? She's getting so big." "Sure," Nick responded happily. Many people throughout the years had asked about his vampire life, but no one had been quite this enthusiastic about his mortal life. "Nick," Rose asked seriously, "why did LaCroix attack me?" Nick put his hand on Rose's. "You look so much like Fleur. The original one, that is. And Fleur looks just like her, too. It's a very appropriate name. Fleur would be pleased." There was a touch of sadness in his voice. End Part 8. THE TAPESTRY (Part 9/10) by Sarah Baker (sstorme@earthlink.net) Nick carried a sleeping Fleur as he walked from one display case to the next. Rose followed closely beside him with her notebook in her hand. She scribbled as many details as she could. When they got to the case containing Nick's things, he tried to recall the origin of each item for her. He told her of the hours he spent making the knife. He stopped at the crucifix. "You know, you should wear a crucifix at all times." "Well, I'm not exactly religious." "It doesn't matter. It will still effect us. It will provide you some amount of protection." Rose nodded in understanding. They continued on. Nick stopped again at the broken case. "The letters were to you, weren't they?" "Yes," he frowned. "I don't know why she kept these. I received a number of letters from her after.. I moved to Paris. I wish I knew what was in them." "Are you really sure you want to know?" Rose asked tentatively. Nick thought for a moment about the question. "Yes." "I have transcripts of them back in Chicago." Nick looked at her in silence. ******************** Nick returned to Natalie's apartment the next evening as he 'fought his cold'. It was going to be hard to let Rose and Fleur walk out of his life, but he was happy they were going to be out of LaCroix's reach. There had been, fortunately, no sign of LaCroix after the initial encounter. Rose opened the door and gave Nick a hug. "I'm so glad you were able to come by tonight." "I wouldn't miss seeing you two before you leave," he replied honestly. Rose stepped back from him with a coy smile. She reached into the neck of her sweatshirt and pulled out a crucifix. Nick winced and turned his head. After he got over the initial surprise, he looked at the crucifix and smiled as he recognized it. "Sorry about that," Rose apologized as she dropped the crucifix back into the neck of her shirt. "That's OK," Nick responded. "I told you it works. Besides, it's nice to know that I'll be sort of helping to protect you when you're not here." It did make him feel good. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out an envelope with 'Rose' written on the front in his flowing hand. "This is for you, but I'd rather you open it after you leave." Rose cocked her head to one side and accepted the envelope. "OK. Thank you for whatever it is." "Where's Fleur?" he asked looking around the living room. "She's getting ready for bed. She wants to know if you'll tell her a story before she goes to sleep." Nick laughed. "I guess I can do that. What kind of stories does she like?" "I'm sure she'd love something about knights and princesses, but only if I can eavesdrop." Rose also laughed. "This should be the best bedtime story she's ever heard!" *************** Nick spent the most enjoyable evening he could remember in hundreds of years with what remained of his mortal family. He brought sparkles to Fleur's eyes with stories from his youth. He had to embellish the stories a bit to make them entertaining to a five-year-old, and her mother seemed to enjoy the stories even more than Fleur did. She also seemed to be working hard not to interrupt Nick with questions. After telling Fleur good-night, and good-bye for now, Nick sat with Rose in the living room and continued to answer her questions, and she answered his questions about her family history. He found out that Andre had married and had two children, but that only one of those children had continued the family line. He found out, too, that Rose had no siblings. Fleur was probably the last direct descendent of his family. Rose told him more details about the families between his and her generations than he cared to remember. It was amazing how much information she had gathered. "My parents both died when I was in college," she explained. "It was my way of having a family to belong to. Of course, I never dreamed that I would find a family member like you." "I'm sure you didn't!" Nick laughed. Rose got off of the sofa and walked to the window. Her expression was more than just a little concerned. "Nick, I have something to tell you, and I don't know how you're going to take it." She turned her back to him so that he wouldn't see her tears and she wouldn't have to see his reaction. "It's my fault that the guard at the museum is dead." Nick felt a twinge in the pit of his stomach as he watched Rose from the sofa. "What do you mean?" "I hired the men who broke in... and killed him." "Rose... why?" Nick couldn't find the strength to stand up. Rose turned back to Nick as she wiped the tears from her face. She sat facing him from the other end of the sofa. "I realize I am sending myself to prison, but I can't live with this any longer." With a deep breath, Rose wiped her eyes again and started her explanation. "I told you about Fleur's father. He is going to take me back to court and sue for full custody. He will win if I don't have the money to fight him. The University of Chicago owns about half of the exhibit; I own the other half. I just couldn't bring myself to sell off any of the objects that belong to my family, so I hired the men to steal several of the items for me. I planned to collect the insurance on them and use it to pay the lawyers. It seemed like a simple plan at the time. They had the key and the combination to the alarm, as well as the guard's schedule. I don't know what went wrong. Oh, God, I can't believe what happened!" Rose raised her eyes to the ceiling as the tears flowed. Nick stared at the floor in disbelief. "How did you find the men?" "I found them through a connection from Fleur's father. His family is surrounded by people like that! That's why I can't let him..." Her words were choked back with a sob. She watched Nick. Nick felt his heart breaking. He saw little Fleur's face. How could she survive without her mother? And how could he possibly take Rose to jail? Nick stood up and walked away from the sofa. He leaned one hand on the living room wall and rubbed his head with the other. Rose wiped the tears from her face and worked up as much courage as she had left. She got up and stood behind Nick. "You do what you have to do, Nick. I don't know if you believe me, but I would not do it again if I had the chance. I would rather run the risk of losing Fleur in court than live with the knowledge that I've caused the death of an innocent man." Nick realized that the cop in him would not win out this time. There was no way he could be responsible for taking Rose from Fleur. And how many innocent lives had he been responsible for taking? He knew Rose's regret was sincere. He could definitely identify with her pain. He turned around to face her. "Rose," he spoke slowly as he look deeply into her eyes, "you must tell anyone else about this. Do you understand?" Rose looked into his eyes with disbelief. "Oh Nick..." She fell into his arms and sobbed as he held her. If his sister was really ever in such pain, he wished that he could have comforted and helped her in the same way. To him, this was what he was doing. He held Rose until she was finally quiet. "I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you," she whispered. End Part 9. THE TAPESTRY (Part 10/10) by Sarah Baker (sstorme@earthlink.net) As the plane reached cruising altitude, Fleur leaned back in the seat and thought of Nick. She had met the most amazing person on earth and she knew that he was a part of her very being. She listened to Fleur's soft snoring from the seat next to her. Rose suddenly remembered the envelope that Nick had given her and pulled it from her purse. The envelope contained a hand-written letter. 'Rose, I can not begin to express what is has meant to me to find you and Fleur. You will never be far from my heart. I hope that this will help in your quest to keep Fleur with you. You must keep her. Please remember that I am only a phone call away. With love, Nick' Rose stared at the $50,000 cashier's check with disbelief. She reached over to Fleur and lovingly moved the blonde hair out of her face. ***************** It had been three weeks since Rose and Fleur's departure. Nick was returning to the loft from Natalie's apartment. Natalie had been an incredible comfort to him. There was no way that she could possibly understand what all of this had meant to him, but she seemed to anyway. He had never appreciated her as much as he did right now. Nick threw his coat over a chair. He felt a little guilty about not telling Schanke what he knew about the guard's death. But, then, he was used to keeping secrets from Schanke. He was relieved that the file had finally gone into the 'unsolved' drawer. Nick sorted through his mail without interest until he uncovered a large envelope from New York. He ripped the top off and dumped the contents onto the table with a thud. The top layer was a folder of loose pages topped with a short note. He read the note first as he sat down. 'Nick, Thank you for everything. What more can I say? All my love, Rose' Nick put the note aside and lifted the folder. Hidden beneath was his antler-handle knife. He held the knife up to the light and inspected it with a smile. As he laid it on the table and opened the folder, he felt a familiar tingling. He stood and turned to find LaCroix standing behind him. LaCroix looked sad, but composed. It was the first time that Nick had seen him in three weeks. "I assume that Rose and Fleur are safe." "Yes." "Good." LaCroix walked past Nick and looked at the open folder on the table. He touched the top page and looked up at Nick. "I love her, Nicholas." LaCroix paused to give Nick a chance to comprehend the honesty of his statement. "No matter what you find here, I want you to know that the decision you forced on me so long ago was the correct one." "Thank you, LaCroix." LaCroix took several steps back away from the table. With his back to Nick, he spoke with restrained compassion. "I will see you soon, Nicholas." After he disappeared, Nick took a bottle from the refrigerator and poured the contents to a glass. He took a sip, sat back down at the table, and placed the first page in front of him. 'My Dearest Brother,' THE END