Chapter Six
"Nick? Nick? Nick!" Natalie felt a burst of panic that he was gone again before she heard him in his bedroom. Damn him for instilling this mistrust in her!
Nick bolted out of his bed, almost falling to the floor as his silk pajamas slid across his satin sheets. He had been having a nightmare - he felt guilty about how insecure the dream showed he was in Schanke's knowledge. It took him a moment to orient himself, change his eyes back to their normal blue, and retract his fangs.
"Nick? Are you awake?" he heard from outside his bedroom door.
Why was Natalie here at this ungodly hour of the evening? Nick glanced at his clock and swore.
"Shit! I'm late!" Nick heard Nat laughing outside the door.
"Nick, Nick, Nick. It's your day off, remember? Mine, too? You asked me last night if I wanted to come over tonight? You said right after sunset if I could? Ring any bells?"
As Nick brought himself back under control, he remembered that he had indeed invited her over for 'after breakfast', which was now. He had slept late, having been up late yesterday, doing paperwork he had brought home from the station. Thinking about the paperwork that Schanke was supposed to have done, but begged him to do, led him to think about their conversation a couple days ago.
FLASHBACK - A COUPLE DAYS AGO (a ridiculously short time to be flashing back to)
Natalie had fallen asleep on the couch a long time ago, Nick easing off her shoes and covering her with a blanket as he talked to Schanke, who was still full of questions. Schanke was insanely curious, eager to know everything. He even wanted to see Nick's fangs. Nick almost said no, but finally shrugged and let him see. That had freaked Schanke out for a minute; he hadn't really believed before, but there was proof. The souvlaki-loving detective had shaken it off quick and continued his interrogation. Nick, by this time, was exhausted and yawning himself, while typically dense Schanke was still going. He was like the freaking Energizer Bunny!
"Schank, Schank," Nick finally said. "I have to sleep."
"Do you?" Schanke quickly asked.
Nick grinned at his friend. "Yes! Geez, you're like the Energizer Bunny!" Suddenly not laughing and sober, Nick had thought of something. "Schank…If I were still your partner…would you want a new one?" He was almost afraid of the answer, because he would know if it was a lie.
"No!" And Nick was glad to know that it was the truth. "You're coming back to work, thought, right? You're going to figure out some way to get your job back, and be my partner again, right buddy? 'Cause, man, we really kicked some serious ass out there."
Nick smiled at Schanke. "Thanks, Schank. If I can, I'll be on the job. I'll go see Cohen tomorrow."
PRESENT TIME
Nick had actually been able to convince Captain Amanda Cohen to give him his job back, and his partner back. He had a feeling that she was just glad to see her best detective back, alive and well. The girl Schanke had been working with, the Commissioner's daughter, Tracy Vetter, had been transferred to a new partner, same precinct. Everything was basically back to normal.
Nick came out of his room in a pair of jeans and a black silk shirt. Somehow, he managed to look good in the unlikely combination. Natalie was waiting for him with a slight smile on her face.
"Good evening, sunshine," she said from her spot in one of the TV chairs, watching the news. Nick went into the kitchen to quickly eat his breakfast, knowing how it bothered Natalie. Technically, he could have waited, but he wanted to spend the night with her and not have to focus so much on his control.
When he was done - record time for him - he sat on the couch.
"So, was there any particular reason you invited me over, or was it just to hang out?" Natalie smiled at Nick.
Nick returned her smile with a sheepish grin. "I hadn't really thought that far ahead. I just missed you a lot when I was away…" he faded off as he saw a quick look of skepticism flash across her face. Ouch, that hurt. "Or maybe some more trying to make up to you for leaving?"
Natalie's smile widened. For the past week, Nick had been the sweetest thing to her, totally fueling the resumed office pool. He knew that she was still pretty upset and hurt over his leaving. Of course, Natalie wished he would try something more…physical…to apologize to her, but as usual, he was dense ol' Nick. She watched the troubled look on his face. Damn, was he cute! Her angsty blond vampire. She had sworn to herself not ever to let her emotions get involved with him if he came back. Her resolve was, of course, gone the instant she had seen him on her doorstep, instantly falling back in love. It sucked.
"It's a nice night out," Nick said, assuming it was. "Do you want to go for a walk?"
Natalie smiled and agreed. She had been smiling a lot lately, undeniably out of her yearlong blue funk. The night truly was beautiful, the stars twinkling brightly in the sky. Even though it was still early, there was very little traffic for once. The moon was so full and bright that the streetlights weren't really needed. They walked to the park, the moonlight bathing them in its glow. Nick surreptitiously studied Natalie in the moonlight. She was beautiful. He wondered what she would look like in the sunlight, wishing he could see her, just for once, in that bright, natural light. Artificial lighting just was not the same.
They talked, Natalie being eager to hear about Nick's time away, now that she was mostly over being mad. Paris hadn't been the only place he'd gone. Basically, he'd had a yearlong vacation, traveling everywhere he could think of. Although it bothered Natalie slightly, hearing him describe the places he'd been while she thought him possible dead, she loved hearing him describe the exotic places more. He'd gone to Fiji, to Rome, to Paris, to Bangladesh, and more.
At one point, noticing her slightly troubled look, he paused in describing the wonders of the Taj Mahal and gave her a quick hug. "Next time I pull a stunt like that, I'll drag you along, okay?"
"Next time?"
Nick shrugged and a sheepish look on his face. "You never know. It's safer to assume the worst."
They stopped at an all-night diner so Nat could eat 'lunch', silently enjoying each other's company. Natalie had to laugh, realizing she was spending her 'day' off at night. Usually, she tried to get as much actual sunlight as she could. Nick didn't notice her sudden grin, so intent was he on his own musings. Absently, as if from a mortal habit from long ago, he picked up a fry off Natalie's plate, rolling it over and over in his fingers. Natalie stopped eating, watching him intently. She was positive he didn't know he was doing this, probably spaced out in a flashback. This could be a big breakthrough. Nick bit off the end of the fry, still not in the world of the conscious…and immediately spit it out, a look of disgust coming over his face.
"Wha-? Yuck! Did I just-"
Natalie tried not to laugh at him. She really did. But the look of shock and disgust on his face… She couldn't help herself. She burst into gales of helpless laughter. Even Nick started to laugh a little.
"If you could have seen your face…" Natalie gasped out. "That was priceless!"
Nick just shook his head helplessly. He pulled a small silver flask out of his pocket, taking a quick swig.
"Sorry," he apologized to Natalie. But the taste in his mouth… He took another swig."
"Fair is fair," she said, still laughing a little, gesturing to the food he had brought her.
They still wandered around the city on foot. Natalie always had a good time when she was with Nick, regardless of whether she was walking with him on the street like this, or giving him the coroner's report on the latest murder victim. She supposed the last bit was a bit morbid, but that was how she felt.
The two of them actually managed to keep themselves occupied with each other, walking around Nick's section of town for a long time, almost until dawn. Nat had never really seen the city on foot, only from a car window or a crime scene. It was a novel experience. Nick, however, knew the nighttime city by heart, on foot or by car. In the park, he knew of places she had never even heard talked about, much less seen. Beautiful places, that would have been even better if she could have kissed him there, made love to him under that stars.
Eventually, though, Nick started to get jumpy with the coming of dawn, even though he wouldn't admit it, or say it was time to go back to the loft. Natalie made the executive decision that she was 'tired', and so they went back to the loft. Nick knew it was a lie, but appreciated her doing it. They got back to the loft with an hour till dawn.
"Do you want dinner?" Nick asked Natalie after the elevator door had ground shut. Nick may not need to eat, but he was still an excellent chef. Of course, he would never admit to that, claiming ignorance in the kitchen, but she had gotten him to cook for her a couple times…
"Sure, Nick." Natalie smiled at him and sat on the edge of the couch, watching him. He had restocked his refrigerator and cabinets with food for her, and she watched him with happy eyes as he turned on the stove and got stuff out.
When the food was done, Nick set the table and laid out her meal for her. Then he poured some of his 'food' into a mug and sat down across the table from her. He took great enjoyment in watching her eat. He had missed her so much in that single year. Studying her as she ate, he saw that the year had not necessarily been good on her. She was thinner and paler. New lines had appeared on her face, although she was not that old. Nick smiled sadly, reminded once again of why vampires and mortals tended not to mix. When the time came to let her go, could he do it? Or would he try to bring her across, damn her to his hell, before then?
"What's the matter?" Natalie asked. Nick had been unusually quiet while she ate, his eyes on her, but far away.
Nick shook himself out of his thoughts and smiled at her. "Nothing. Just thinking."
Natalie grinned at him. He did not smile much, even less now that he had come back. "Thinking or remembering?"
He laughed slightly, a sound Natalie would never get tired of hearing. "Only thinking, this time. Do you want to watch a movie or something? Or are you going to go home?"
"Movie sounds good." Nick kept a collection of her favorite movies near his VCR. "You pick it out, though." She put the last bite into her mouth, chewed and swallowed, washing it down with a quick sip of wine.
Nick bent down to kiss her cheek as he walked by, headed for the TV. Natalie put her plate in the sink and curled up on the couch as Nick put in a video, pulling down the afghan Nick left on the back of the couch for her. Nick pushed play and sat down next to her. She moved over, the afghan wrapped around her, until she was curled up next to his side, his arm around her. By the time the movie was over, they were both asleep, secure in each other's arms.