A/N: This is a one-shot I originally posted on my tumblr with a graphic edit so you can head there to check it out! :)

XxX

"Jordan!" Nigel popped his head around the corner with his Chesire smile.

Jordan sighed, not bothering to look up, "What is it, Nige?"

"Well, since we drew the short stick and got stuck with the night shift, which has been obnoxiously quiet," Jordan watched as he invited himself in and claimed her couch, "I was wondering if you'd like to play a game on this stormy All Hallow's Eve?"

She rose a brow and began shaking her head when he held up a Tarot deck, "No-no-no-no-no!"

"Oh, come on!" He pleaded as she started for the door.

"Can't you get Steve to play with you? It's not like he has much to secure what with 80% of the building occupants being dead."

"He ran into his office and locked the door when he saw me coming." Nigel huffed, looking every bit like a petulant child. Jordan couldn't help but chuckle. After his little pout, he looked to her with sad, puppy-dog eyes.

She crossed her arms, drawing the moment out, but eventually gave in and nodded. His face lit up as he pulled the small coffee table to the side and cleared a place to play. Jordan sat crisscross across from him, trying to hide her smile.

For as much as she ragged on Nigel, Jordan knew she could count on him. He had always been there for her long after everyone else had given up, either to join her on one of her hairbrained schemes or staying hours after his shift had ended to help her out.

The game was ridiculous, really, but it cost her so little to make him happy. Besides, what harm could a deck of cards really do?

"Oh and, don't worry," Nigel winked, "I took the Fool out."

She gave her infamous half-smile, "Great…"

After he had shuffled the deck, he set it between them, "So, since it's Halloween and the veil between worlds is thin, I thought it might be fun to explore a past life."

"As long as it doesn't involve a past relationship."

Nigel gave a slight grin at her quip before continuing, "With all the spirits and goblins out and about, we want to make sure we are protected from any dark energy first though."

Jordan twitched her nose but sat up straighter, watching Nigel closely and shifting to mirror his posture. She jumped slightly when the thunder rumbled, announcing its presence. The night's ambiance was really on point, and she felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle before she shook her head, reminding herself it was just a child's game. Still, she wished she had her rosary on her, though she wasn't sure what good it'd do her.

"Picture a bright, white light enveloping you. It starts at your head, traveling down your body to the floor. Let it expand out to fill the room."

Jordan tried to relax, allowing her mind to clear as she took in the feel of the room. The morgue was so quiet, so still. There was no noise except the tapping of the rain on the window and their shared breathing.

"There, now," He gathered the deck and offered it to her, "Select six cards, and then lay them down in two rows of threes."

Jordan did as she was told, keeping the cards face down. As she finished, Nigel reached over and turned the first row faceup.

"Interesting, you have mostly Major Arcanas."

Jordan resisted a roll of her eyes, wanting to be a good sport, "And what does that mean, Nige?"

"It just means you are in the midst of a life-altering event, something big is going to happen."

"Yeah, or you didn't shuffle the deck well."

He chuckled as he looked over the first row. He tapped the middle one, "So, you were a Knight of Wands." He hurried to add when he caught sight of her unamused expression, "Knights are still searching for their soul's purpose. They are often thoughtful, and more often than not words are their choice weapon. Paired with the Suit of Wands, they are bold and impulsive, like fire. It means that you were a brilliant but temperamental soul."

"Right so far." She smirked.

Nigel pointed to the one off to the card's left, "The challenge in this life was Justice – shocker!" He grinned, "You were focused on truth and fairness, so, not much change there…well, 2 for 2 so far!" He looked to the remaining card and his brow knit, "Interesting."

Jordan looked over and read The Star.

"This one means that you found who you truly were in this life, that was this life's achievement. Be glad it isn't reversed, otherwise you'd have been alienated from yourself."

"I think the powers that be saved that for this life."

Nigel gave a good-natured smile as he started on the second row, one at a time, "Temperance is how your past life can affect your current one."

"Yeah, I'm not giving up alcohol."

Nigel chuckled, "No, like how metal is tempered. Just as it is reforged, so shall you be. Or, at least, you have a chance to be in this life if you can learn from your past." He hesitated to continue.

Jordan watched his eyes linger on the card, "What's up?"

"Oh, you've had three Major Arcanas thus far."

"English?"

"The number three represents a strong, unyielding connection. It's found across many cultures and religions, actually. But add that to the weight the Majors already carry and, well, it's a Halloween miracle!" Nigel chuckled, flipping the next card over to continue their game. His brow knit once more, and he grew quiet.

"What does that one mean?" Jordan asked, hoping it'd prompt an explanation.

"Well, this slot is for your current life's purpose. The Suit of Cups represents feelings, emotions, and the Two Cups traditionally mean a union of souls, either in a romantic or platonic way. Sometimes it can be even more personal, though, and mean a union of your head and heart. But it is pretty binding either way, usually significant a refining and completing effect of lasting love of some sort." His eyes lingered on the remaining card, a thought crossing his face, almost as if he had a guess, or fear, of what it might be.

Jordan grew agitated and reached over to flip the card up, unable to handle the tension of the moment. The card was a Knight as well and her brow knit when she saw his startled eyes.

"Knight of Pentacles?"

She watched as a wry smile captured his face, which was already etched with an almost satirical expression. This card had been his guess, she was sure of it, but he was still amused to see it lying there.

"What…what does it mean?"

"The person who you know in this life, who you knew in that one, was another lost Knight, but with a character of stability and dedication. They are a mix of earth and air, so practical and intelligent." His voice softened to a whisper, "The complete opposite of the Knight of Wands." With a chuckle, he shook his head, remembering it was just a silly game, "Third one I've seen today." His laughter grew nervous, his eyes lingering on the well-worn card.

"Whose did you see it in?"

He cleared his throat as he began gathering the cards, "Erm, when I played earlier with Lily and Peter."

"So, they were both Knights of Pentacles?" She drawled, snatching up the card before he could and taking a closer look. Her heart raced, remembering what he had said about threes.

It just goes to show it's a stupid game with only so many outcomes, she thought, trying to argue against the uneasiness she felt at another set of three.

"Erm, no."

Jordan rested her arm across her knee. His eyes shifted nervously, refusing to meet hers. She stared him down and he finally relented.

"When they did mine, I was the Knights of Pentacles in both turns." He brushed his hair back before he began fidgeting with the deck, "But, like you said, it's just a silly card game—"

Nigel reached for the card she held and just as his fingers brushed the cusp, reality shattered.

XxX

Jordan was the first to recover, feeling the weight of the armor she wore. The sounds of battle assaulted her ears; clanging, screaming, neighing. Pain consumed her side and she drug herself through the icy ground until she found the edge of the frozen river. Her hand shakily touched her face. Her eyes were the same, as were her dark curls, but the face that looked back was not hers. Broken beauty had etched itself upon her; she recognized the pain, but not the beauty. She was sure she was much too pretty to be the Jordan Cavanaugh she knew.

"Iseut!"

Her ears perked at the name. She wouldn't have assumed it was hers if not for the draw she felt to it, to that voice. Her heart raced as she tried to make sense of the skirmishes scattered around her, her eyes desperately searching for him.

Finally, the brilliant courser broke through and she saw its rider looking all around, "Iseut!" He called again.

"I'm here!" She yelled back before she could think better of it. Her eyes grew when she saw a giant of a man cut down his opponent and make his way towards her, death in his eyes.

Her hand stumbled over her sword as she scrambled away and she took it up, surprised at how well it fit. The will to live was stronger than anything and she managed to parr a few of his hits, keeping him at bay long enough for the knight to charge over and relieve her adversary's body of its head.

The knight dismounted, his familiar smile a comfort, "Did anyone ever tell you that the battlefield is no place for a woman?"

"Then, pray tell, what are you doing here?"

He laughed as he helped her to rest against the tree so he could examine her wound, "Is that anyway to speak to your prince?"

"You are the spare, don't go getting all high and mighty on me now." She winced. The part of her that remained Jordan knew the cut was deep, but survivable. She didn't taste any blood, so no vital organs had been hit.

"Well, I just saved your life. Surly that must count for something, if not a bit of gratitude."

She finally met his eye, and a gasp escaped her soft lips. Nigel. His smile was what gave him away the most. Though, Nigel wasn't the first name that went through her thoughts when she saw him.

"Trystan." She was certain it was Nigel, even if the name she spoke was unknown to her. He responded to it, attentive as always. She reached out and took his hand, holding it to her, "Thank you." She couldn't help her half-smirk, it was forever imprinted upon her soul, "For being my knight in dented armor."

He laughed as he kissed her hand, "Always, my lady."

XxX

They both landed back with a resounding thud, the wind knocked out of them. Jordan continued to lay on the floor with wide eyes as Nigel shot up, wondering what the hell had just happened.

"What was that?" She finally breathed.

"I have no idea…" He shook his head, "I…I was on a horse, looking for something—no, for someone." Nigel shook his head then ruffled his hair as he thought. It had felt so real, the emotions so raw. He could still feel the sheer desperation to find her, "Did we just have the same dream?"

She shook her head, "I don't think that was a dream."

"Then…" His eyes lingered on her until she turned to him, an understanding in her eyes. His eyes grew and he quickly looked away, "Okay, that is enough Hocus Pocus for one night! I'm going to go see if anyone has traveled beyond the veil yet and see what we can do to make sure it is a one-way ticket."

Jordan nodded from her place on the floor, still trying to reconcile with what had just happened. She let her head fall to the side, a small smile playing at her as she watched his lengthy form head for the door.

"Hey, Nige?"

He grabbed the doorway as he turned back to her, "Yeah?"

It felt silly, but she had to say it, "Thanks for having my back."

He gifted her with one of his wide smiles, "Always, luv."

With a final tap, he disappeared out the door, leaving Jordan to ponder what to make of their little card game.

XxX