"Coreen!" Mike shouted as he rushed to help Vicki. She put her hand up and shook her head no, "I'm okay, really, I don't need your help." Coreen came rushing in.
"Ewww, Vicki are you okay?" Coreen looked horrified. Vicki shot a sideways glance at her, "Just get me a wet towel Coreen and take this, " handing her the trashcan, "the hell out of here." Vicki stood up ever so slowly.
"Vicki, sorry, I didn't know that would make you physically ill.." Vicki put her hand up.
"Don't flatter yourself, studly, I was nauseous before you got here. I told you I didn't feel well, remember?"
"Oh, yeah, so...?" he kind of shrugged his shoulders waiting for her reply.
"Congratulations?" she shot back. Mike shook his head, "Still jealous huh? You know, I though YOU would be the one I would spend my life with, have kids the whole package. I don't know what I was thinking. But I do know this, Vic, having Death come for you will change you." He looked at her for a response.
Vicki was wiping her face down and staring at him. She rubbed her nosebridge, damn she had a headache!
"Mike, I don't know where you have been the last couple of years, but I've had few close calls myself." Vicki walked into her bathroom off of her office and through brushing her teeth said, "Besides, I am truly happy for you and Kate, really. You need to move on. Have a life Mike." She came out of the bathroom looking somewhat better.
"Look, I'm not saying we are going to stay together just because of the baby..." Vicki shot him a daggered look, "So you just get her pregnant, dump her and move on? Gee, what would I have missed?!!"
Vicki walked angrily over to her couch and flopped down, wishing she hadn't after she did. Mike walked over to sit beside her, 'No, that's not what I meant. I will always be there for my child, no matter what the circumstances. Not all men leave, Vic. I just mean, hell I don't know what I mean!! Three days ago I was just Det. Mike Celluci, dating Kate, falling in love with her, leading a semi-normal life, unless I'm with you and Fang Boy of course, " that caused a half-smile from Vicki.
"But today, I've beat death, for now anyway. Beat my own demons, I'm going to be father, Vicki, a dad, you know yourself how bad I wanted that. Remember what happened when we..." Vicki stopped him.
'I said to never speak of that again Mike," she said her voice cracking, "Not ever."
He sighed and took her hands in his, "Vicki, it's been four years now. We lost a baby, that's it. Said and done. That's why I debated on whether to tell you." At that very moment, it hit Vicki why she had been so angry. How Stupid! she thought.
Her ability was sensitive enough along with Kate's Bruja to sense that Kate was pregnant. She had so much to learn! Vicki was not just territorial but hurt, and she hadn't even known. She didn't realize she had tears flowing down her face until Mike wiped them away. He misunderstood why she was crying. He thought she was said over the baby, but it was anger for feeling weakened.
"That's it, let it go. It will happen again for you Vicki. It wasn't meant to be then. I'm just sorry it didn' t happen for you first." he leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. Vicki could sense his psyche at full peace, finally. He got up to leave.
Mike smiled at her as he walked toward her office door. "Mike?" He turned, "Yes?"
"Congrats-I mean it. I hope that everything works out for you." she smiled an honest smile and Mike knew she was telling him the truth.
Vicki leaned back on the couch and fell asleep. She began to dream. She dreamed that she was pushing a child in a swing. The child was laughing, the higher she went, the louder she laughed. Suddenly, as the swing came down, it was empty.
Vicki bolted up her breath coming in quick pants. Henry was sitting beside her.
"Vicki? Are you okay? What's wrong?" Henry asked furrowing his brow. "Was it Mike?" he growled. Coreen had filled him in when he arrived. He sent Coreen home and had been watching Vicki sleep for several hours.
Vicki grabbed him tightly around the neck. She began to sob, deep heavy sobs. Henry's eyes filled with quiet tears. He cried with her feeling her pain release with every sob. He stroked her hair and tried to soothe her, not knowing why, just doing it.
"Henry," she said as she pulled back from him, "I need to take some time off." Henry agreed.
"I'll take you anywhere you want to go, name it." He continued to stroke her hair.
"No, I need to go away, alone." Henry looked hurt. "Why?" he asked.
"It's not you, I just need to clear my head. I think I'm going to spend some time with Maggie, just a few days. Okay?" What she really wanted to scream out was "I'M LOSING IT AND I CAN'T BE HERE WHILE I DO-I WILL NOT APPEAR WEAK" but she kept it all inside.
"I understand, girl time." Henry smiled.
"Very funny Henry, I don't do girl time, just clearing out time." She held his face between her hands and began to kiss him deeply, exploring his mouth very tenderly, she was really grateful she had brushed her teeth earlier-Henry might not have been thrilled with her right now had she not.
He moaned, "Don't start something you don't intend to finish, I think we've discussed this before." He knew she intended to finish allright.
He wasn't sure the couch would take another round, but things were gentler this time. They undressed each other slowly. Henry whispered in her ear as he lay gently on top of her, "How long will you be gone?"
She answered quietly "A week." Henry began to nibble on her neck, her favorite spot, "Then I better make this worthwhile and lasting..." She giggled as he continued to nibble, biting but not piercing her skin. He moved down to each breast, taking them gently into his mouth one at a time. She wriggled underneath him, begging him for more. He kept moving slowly, teasing her until finally he gave in and entered her full force. This time, instead of waiting until they finished together, he began to bite down on her neck and draw as small amount of blood. Each time he took blood into his mouth, Vicki spasmed underneath him. He knew that this moment would be impressed upon her for quite awhile. Although he could have always done this to her, he never had. Vicki was letting him know that it was definitely worth the wait. After several times of this, he finally took the last big bite and waves crashed over both of them, so hard that Henry thought Vicki had stopped breathing. She tastes different, Henry thought to himself.
They lay together on the couch, panting, "Why-have-you-never-done-that-before-might-I-ask?" Vicki asked taking a breath after each word.
Henry smiled at her, kissed her forehead and said, "Because, my lady, that is a week's worth, and I enjoy a daily dose." She kissed him full on the lips and whispered, "Please don't leave me, promise me?" Henry's eyes filled with tears again, feeling her pain, sensing it.
"Like I said, unless I'm staked or burned, you are stuck with me Victoria Nelson. I'm going to miss you while you're gone."
Trying to pull it together and break the mood Vicki said sarcastically, "Really? I think you'll be having a vacation too."
The next day, Vicki was sick again but she left for Maggie's anyway.
"I hope Maggie can help," she said to herself. If Maggie couldn't help her, she didn't know what she would do. How could she handle everything, sort it out, the power, Henry, Mike and now a pregnant Kate...damn she hated being weepy!!!...