The following characters don't belong to me, I'm just borrowing them with thanks to Sony Pictures and Mr. Parriott et al. There will be mature subject matter (language, sex, violence etc.), so if that offends move along.
Morning Memories
Chapter10
When you live your life at the opposite end of most individuals, you tend to take for granted common everyday occurrences. Not so with traffic or getting seated at a favorite restaurant. Both of which could even tax the patience of a Saint. Natalie reflected as she entered the restaurant and sat at the bar. She'd been here many a time and always appreciated the quick service, overall cleanliness, and of course the best of all, the great food. The latter thought making her mouth water, her stomach grumble and her eagerness to be fed a priority. Negating the fact that Tracy had invited her out to lunch if you could call 'lunch' being served at 1:00 AM. The small minority of working class people would agree, while the overwhelming 'Majority' were already here, or coming in to try to placate the urgings after an alcohol imbibing evening. But at the moment, food was on the agenda and after a quick perusal of the menu, she decided on the 'French Dip' with a side of rice pilaf and a bottle of 'Blue'.
Tracy had yet to arrive by the time her meal arrived and the overwhelming aroma of the dish placed in front of her caused Natalie to bypass decorum at this time. She enthusiastically dug into her meal; heedless of the primary reason she'd come here.
That point became moot as Tracy walked through the doors and slid into the seat next to her.
" I see you started without me," Tracy said as she removed the menu from between the salt and pepper shakers and the napkin holder, "That looks good, what is it?"
" 'French Dip', Roast Beef with it's own juice on the side, for dipping." To demonstrate the name of her order, Natalie pushed an errant slice of beef back onto the French bread, before dipping the corner of the sandwich into the dark brown slurry and consuming the dripping result with relish. Nat took a forkful of rice, chewed and followed it down with a drink from the bottle.
" Good huh?"
Opening her mouth for another bite, Natalie nodded her reply.
"I'll have what she's having, but without the rice." Tracy told the barman when he came for her order.
"Something to drink?"
"A glass of milk."
His eyebrows notched upward at the request especially at this time of night but he didn't offer any comment. "That'll be just a couple of minutes."
Tracy toyed with her napkin, unsure of how to broach the subject of her partner's recent behavior. Now that she was here, she wondered if Natalie was the right person to talk to. She knew they had a history together, first from rumors in the department, then when she made detective and was working with Knight, she'd seen first-hand the relationship between the two, though when questioned, Nick would most likely change the subject. Natalie's response would be that it was a 'complicated friendship' and leave it at that.
By the time her meal arrived, the napkin was twisted like a bow tie and Tracy stalled for time in the easiest way she could think of, she ate.
Natalie watched her dig in and listened to her appreciative comments with half an ear. When the young detective took a break and sipped her milk, Natalie took the initiative and asked "So, what's been bothering you, Trace?" She chuckled slightly and added "Your father still offering you 'safer' assignments?"
"Ah…yeah, he's still trying," no matter how hard she tried, that one subject always caused her cheeks to flush with embarrassment "but that's not the problem."
"OK, then what is?"
"Well…Actually, it's Nick...It seems like lately, I've been partnered with Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde.
At the mention of Nick, Natalie smiled. As she continued to listen though, worry brought forth a furrowed brow and the smile disappeared.
"…He's been acting really weird of late, one minute he's happy as a clam and the next he's throwing a fit…It's starting to get to me, ya know? I mean he's always been a bit unpredictable but…I don't know, at first I thought it was me, but I saw him blow up at Miller a few days ago in the parking lot and then…" she broke off, not sure if she should continue.
"Then what?" Natalie's voice was edged with anxiety. The affected look she gave Tracy was enough to get her to continue.
"We got called in early tonight. A homicide at an abandoned Mill. The victim matched the two cases from the twenty-second.
Nat nodded and Tracy went on.
"Nick got there late and wanted to poke around at the scene while I checked out the victim's identity. After he got to the Station, we stopped by the morgue and then went to interview a suspect. When we got back, Reese called Nick into his office. Next thing I know, Nick books off and he's out the door."
"What happened?
"The Captain wouldn't tell me anything other than Nick would be back tomorrow. In the meantime, I was wondering if you could talk to him, maybe find out what's wrong?" Tracy raised her eyebrows in a pleading gesture.
"Sure Tracy, I'll see what I can do. But right now, you'll have to excuse me for a moment." Nat got up and headed for the restroom. Around the corner she detoured to the payphone. Her curiosity getting the better of her, thinking the call she missed might have been from Nick, she dialed her home number, entered a bypass code and retrieved her messages. Sure enough, He had called and if she hadn't spoke to Tracy, she'd would have been ecstatic that he was consuming the protein shakes. With this new information however, Natalie listened for any tell-tale signs of the errant behavior Tracy described. With her and Nick's schedule conflicting so much lately, they hadn't seen each other in over a week. She'd stop by the loft with the new mixture for him to try and left a note for him. He'd managed to send her a message via her e-mail. Nothing face-to-face.
At the end of her messages, Natalie hung up the phone and returned to the bar. Tracy was just finishing her meal as Natalie sidled up to her. "Thanks for letting me know about Nick, Trace, I haven't seen him in a week but I'll be sure to stop by. See if I can find out what's eating him."
"Thanks Natalie, I appreciate this." Tracy dug money out of her pocket and placed it on the bill tray.
"Let me pay for mine, Tracy.'
"Hey, I invited you, remember? And besides, you're doing me a favor."
Natalie put her coat on and quickly fished a few Toonies from her purse and tossed them on the bar. "Well, thank you for lunch, and I'll talk to Nick and let ya know." Both women left the restaurant and headed for their cars.
`
When Natalie reached her apartment, she quickly filled the mental list she made on her way over. Gathering items from her fridge and cupboard, she threw together a batch of the latest drink recipe. Computing the proportions to make a gallon of the solution, she drew eight heaping scoops of protein powder, added the powered iron supplement, she cut open the dispenser bag of artificial plasma and last but not least mixed them together with enough water to fill four quart containers. 'That should hold him for a while' she thought as she placed the jars into a canvas sack. As she mulled it over, now that Nick could tolerate it, he might as well keep the ingredients at his place. She did just that. Adding another bag to the ones going over to Nicks. After checking Sidney's food and water, Natalie gathered her bags, loaded them into the car and drove to the loft.
End Chapter 10