Chapter Five
Nat was still there when Schanke arrived near dawn. She didn't want to loose sight of Nick, for fear of him disappearing again. She hadn't realized just how lonely she was until he was back, never realized just how much her life was wrapped up in this angsty blond vampire. He had instilled within her a sense of mistrust that would go away in a while. But for now, it was raging rampant.
Nick saw this. He wished he could take back all the pain he had caused her. He shouldn't have come back at all. All he did was cause pain, all he could ever do would be cause hurt to the people he loved. He was a monster - all he caused and would ever cause was grief.
"Oh no." Natalie's voice brought him back from his self-pity. "You've been here for a single day. You are not going into another angst session. No how, no way. Plus, here's Schanke.
She was right - he could hear the lift. Nick smiled at Natalie. "I'm not leaving anytime soon, Nat. I'm back for good."
She was about to say something back to him, but the door cranked open and Schanke stepped in. They proceeded to have a very happy reunion, with Nick once more apologizing multiple times for not telling anyone.
"Where'd you go?" Schanke asked.
"Paris," was Nick's truthful answer. "I had some money saved up."
It was silent for a bit, then Schanke said, "Nick, I really need to talk to you alone."
"Not even Nat can hear?" Nick asked, gesturing to the head ME with his head.
Schanke paused, then shook his head. "Sorry Nat."
Natalie studied Schanke for a moment. "He knows," she told Nick.
"I know what?" Schanke asked as Nick said, "How do you know that, Nat?"
"I just know," Natalie shrugged, ands aid to Schanke, "If your first sentence doesn't tell me I'm right, then I'll leave, okay?"
Schanke rubbed the back of his neck, trying to figure out something that wasn't too revealing of his suspicions. "Well… Your skin condition…"
"Told you so," Nat interrupted with a slight smile.
Nick shushed her. "Whatever this is, Nat can hear. Go on, Schank." Guessing what Schanke meant, Nick tried to make himself look as least threatening as possible.
"You don't really…you aren't really allergic to the sun, are you?"
Nick looked at Natalie, silently begging her tot ell him what to do. She just gave him a look that clearly said, 'Do what you want'. Nick did not like lying to Schanke, he did not like 'pulling a whammy' on Schanke, either. He would feel a lot better if his friend, his partner cop knew, but…
"No, I'm not," he said curtly, not meaning to sound that way.
"Well…" Schanke seemed like he did not want to continue.
Nick smiled, trying to put him at ease. "Just say it, Schank. I promise I'm not going to get mad at you, even if it's really stupid."
"It is ridiculous," Schanke said. "Really, really stupid."
"Would you just say it, Schank?" Natalie asked. "It can't be that bad."
Schanke raised his eyebrows and muttered, "I feel like an idiot.
"Areyouavampire?" he asked in a rush.
Nick took a breath like he was going to say something, then paused. He glanced at Nat again, but she was no help. He was so sure that if Schanke suspected, he would just admit to it. Now, he was doubting himself. Seriously doubting himself.
"Okay, I feel really stupid now," Schanke said, breaking the silence, "but…"
"Yes, I am."
Schanke blinked, shocked. "You are?"
"Yes."
"A vampire?"
"Yes."
"I'm not insane?"
"Let's try for something more intelligent, Schank," Nat said with a slight grin.
"Be nice, Nat," Nick said, glad for the alleviation of the tension.
"Sorry." Schanke gave his head a little shake, as if he was trying to clear his brain. "But, it's like finding out that the bogeyman is real, but the one living under your bed is friendly."
Nick smiled at that analogy. "Do you mind my asking how you managed to figure out? I thought I played human pretty good." He knew he played human perfectly, but he was still curious.
"You do," Schanke was quick to reassure him. Although he didn't really believe Nick, it still made him nervous. And this was making Nick feel uncomfortable. "But, I was researching allergies to the sun, you know, in case maybe I would hit on something you guys missed," Nick was touched that Schanke had cared enough to do something like that, "and all of the diseases include sensitivity to all light sources. Fluorescent lights, flashlights, headlights, everything. You never come to my house for dinner with me and Myra." This led Schanke to think about what dinner would be for Nick, causing him to falter a little. "And…and you hate garlic - you guys aren't just making fun of me, are you?" he asked, suddenly suspicious.
Nick gravely shook his head. "I'm afraid not."
"Garlic…" Schanke recalled all the times he had purposefully breathed his garlic-laden breath on Nick. "Oh my God! And all those times I've breathed garlic-breath on you! Sorry, buddy."
Nick waved off his apology, even as he grimaced at the memories. "That's it?" That wasn't really enough to put it al together, unless Schanke was a 'sci-fi freak', which Nick knew he wasn't.
"Well, then there as the time we were in that boat you call a car and that girl was with us, and she showed you her new cross, and you freaked out and almost got us hit by another car…"
"You still remember that? That was a long time ago, Schank."
"Then you left, and I managed to put it all together." Schanke shrugged.
"You must have a lot of questions," Nick said with a slight smile.