Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Forever Knight (though if I did, things would have turned out differently!), they are property of Sony/Tri-Star and I am merely borrowing them and promise to put them back relatively unscathed when finished with them. No copyright infringement is meant and I incur no financial gain by the posting of this story. It is merely for entertainment purposes only.
Detective Kayla MacInnis (amid other characters introduced herein), and The Wyvern, however ARE mine and I will personally tear the throat out of anyone who dares steal them.
This takes place several years after 'Last Knight'
That said, and with upfront apologies to all Nick-and-Nat-packers (just wait till the end of the story till you flame me, please), enjoy the story.
Das Vampyre
Under the Wyvern's Wing
Chapter Two
Mac the Knife
She had seen Lanna beat a hasty retreat from her office door and high-tail it back down the hallway. What Kayla MacInnis hadn't seen, however, was the individual the Captain had unceremoniously shoved into the office. She had known that Lanna had been gunning to set her up with a new partner after what happened to Patrick. Kayla was in no genuine hurry, but she was getting really tired of being a 'desk jockey' and wanted to get out in the field again, and the only way that the Captain was going to let that happen was setting her up with a new partner. With a sigh that heaved itself up seemingly from the tips of her toes she plodded back to the door of her office.
It didn't take opening the door to realize, with a sudden rush and wave of resentment, that there was someone else in there. She's take this little 'breech of etiquette' up with her Captain later.
With the stealth that one would normally attribute to a cat-burglar, she pried open the door and hazarded a peek within. The back and profile that met her gaze nearly made her forget about being moderately annoyed with Lanna at the moment. She opened the door fully and lent her back against the jam. "So," She intoned with more than a slight smirk to her lips, "you're the partner du jour, eh?" She offered the attractive, blonde gentleman a genuinely friendly smile. "Gotta give it to Lanna, she's trying every trick in the book, and even some that aren't in it, to get me teamed up with someone. One would think I was getting on her nerves here." She extended her hand to him companionably. "Kayla MacInnis. Pleasure to meet you, Mister....?"
Nick started to the voice behind him and actually had to do a double take. It had been a long time since someone had really been able to surprise him like that, much less sneak up on him. He took the proffered hand and gave it a firm but friendly shake. "Nicola DeBrabant." He said politely. "Sorry, but you startled me."
Kayla grinned. "I seem to have that effect on a lot of people around here you'll find." She indicated a seat across from her desk. Though I think the average is fewer and fewer that will chock it up to being startled to being downright unnerved." She shrugged with a smile. "Not that it bothers me. Please, take a seat. I assume that Lanna, that is Captain Kenyan, has chosen to put us together as a team. Am I correct?"
Nick flashed an amused smirk. "You know what they say about assumption. But in this case, yes, it would be correct." He took the seat offered, and regarded the young woman who settled comfortably behind the desk.
She was not unappealing to the eye in the least, Nick appraised. A somewhat petite, trim figure, not the least bit disguised by the plain but stylish pant-suit she wore. Soft emerald eyes that glittered with more than just a hint of good natured mischief, and a full, thick mane of gilt touched strawberry. Certainly Kayla MacInnis was going to be, at the very least, easy on the eye. And, based solely on first impressions, would indeed be easy enough to get along with. Certainly he was no fool and realized that in the same instant she was appraising him similarly and came to fairly the same conclusion.
"So," she began casually, leaning back in her chair, "seems you've been saddled with the unenviable task of keeping me in line." Her smile was offered in good nature, but he could see just a hint of...something...possibly resentment...behind it. Nick wasn't sure that he couldn't blame her. He still remembered vividly the day Stonetree teamed him with Don Schanke. "Though I highly doubt we'll manage any calls tonight. I think Lanna wants to see if we get along first." She smirked. "Which in and of itself, is a first for her." An inscrutable glitter lit her eyes. "I think she wants to find out if you're going to end up trying to strangle me." She offered a nonchalant shrug. "Guess we'll have to see."
It was not without some trepidation that he felt as though he was betraying Nat's memory, as well as Tracy and countless others. But a coolly intellectual part of his brain whispered 'dead is dead, and there's nothing can be done about it. Move on.' The mental voice gave him pause and a cold shiver down his spine – but he couldn't argue with the point it made. He would have to get along eventually. And, for once shared the mindset of his master, and reasoned: if it had to be done – best enjoy it. And he resolved himself to do just that. At least as best he could.
A moment of long, heavy silence descended on the small office while the two continued their appraisal of the other. As that moment of tangible silence lengthened, Nick saw Kayla's eyes dart to regard the glue-chipped glass panel in the door, and a knowing smile tick at the corners of her lips and she inclined her head that direction to indicate that their conversation was being monitored.
With same stealth that she had displayed earlier, Kayla deserted her chair and crept quietly to the office door. Within the span of a heart beat the door was flung open and a red-faced and very awkward looking Lanna Kenyan stood in the opening.
"I hope," Kayla said, casually regarding the fingernails on her right hand, "that our first meeting went as well as you had hoped, Lanna." She cast a meaningful look at her Captain, and there was no disguise to the thick layer of sarcasm with which the words were delivered.
The precinct Captain looked suitably rebuked. "Just wanted to make sure you two were getting on is all." She began with an air of confidence that was clearly lacking, and the words just came out sounding like a lame excuse for eavesdropping.
"If you want to know the content of conversations in this office, Captain, I suggest a wire tap." The suggestion was offered in a tone as smooth as silk. "You've done it before." And before Lanna could even draw a breath to defend herself or her actions, eyes of crystalline emerald regarded Nick with what was clearly more than mild or moderate annoyance. "I was about to suggest taking a drive to acquaint my new partner with his new work environment." Those eyes now fixed swiftly on him. "If he would be so inclined, that is."
He certainly didn't need an engraved invitation. Rising and taking up his black duster then tossing it casually over one arm, he presented the annoyed red-head a slight nod. "I think that would be a good idea." He offered by way of answer to the unasked question.
"Glad to hear it." Kayla muttered with a ghost of a smile, and then rounded on her Captain again. "An excursion, to which, I assume, there are no objections." It wasn't presented as a question.
Her own coat and a jangling set of car keys in hand, Kayla made her way back around from the desk to the office door. "I have my cell if needed." She said with a hint of menace that the precinct Captain actually offered a visual balk to. "Though, somehow, I don't think it's going to be an issue tonight."
She gestured that Nick should precede her out the door. Which, with but a moments hesitation, he did. And hyper-keen ears didn't miss the soft growl of a string of profanity, in a myriad of languages, issuing from Kayla's lips as they made their way down to the garage.
While the elevator ride down two floors was uneventful, aside from a few good natured jibes directed Kayla's direction from some blue-shirts – which were summarily ignored or merely put off with an indulgent, if weary, smile on behalf of the tormented. By the time they had reached the garage, it was clear she was in a far better humor.
"Sorry." She muttered softly, but loud enough to be heard over the squealing of tires and the loud bark of a siren from a black-and-white. "It's the little things that get to you, you know." She shrugged dismissively and offered a weak smile. "Guess I really made a good first impression, eh?"
Nick smiled indulgently. "I've seen worse."
This time, her smile was genuine. "Thanks." Then a sudden thought seemed to occur to her out of the blue. "Hope you don't mind taking a ride. I just thought it would be better to get out of there and commune on a person-to-person level and not have to play Lanna's game of 'good cop, bad cop."
At this he actually had to chuckle. "No. I don't mind." It had been a long while since he had really had a chance to 'explore' the city like this. It would be a welcome break. At least he supposed. "Just for the record, which one are you, the good cop or bad cop?"
Kayla grinned. "Depends on who you ask."
It was a bit of a walk from the elevator to where Kayla parked her car. A fairly unassuming emerald green Saturn: save for the plate holder stating 'Kay-lee's Ticket Attracter', and a bumper sticker reading 'Kiss Me Arse' in Gaelic.
The car alarm chirped softly, echoing in the confines of the garage, and the two settled into the dark grey interior comfortably and in surprisingly companionable silence before she turned the engine over and the melodic strains of Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb filled the interior.
"Sorry." She offered with a slightly sheepish grin, turning the stereo off. "Sometimes you just need a little trip to get you away from the drudgery of real life."
That was something Nick could more than relate to. He just kept the mild smile fixed to his lips and gave the impression of listening intently to all she imparted about the night-life of the city and what tasks they would be set to. As they drove he sensed more than a few members of the community hereabout. Many, like him, displaced from the familiar and trying to fit a square peg in a round hole – as it were – soldiers without a country.
Kayla rambled on, but he found himself paying less and less attention to her. He'd heard it all before, after all, and was more than familiar with the beat. He let his mind wander. Listening to the pleasant drone of tires on pavement, car horns outside and Kayla's steady voice – and lost himself in memories of past and errant daydreams for the future.
It took the snap of Kayla's fingers to bring him back to reality and the realization that his new partner had pulled the car over and was offering him a very concerned if somewhat perplexed countenance.
"Thought I'd lost you there for a minute." She muttered, leaning back into her seat, and biting back another comment that would have only served to upset her personally. "I didn't realize I was quite that boring. I mean I'm used to talking to myself, but not when someone else is around." It was meant as a joke, but in the underlying tone there was genuine concern, and for some reason, Nick was touched by it.
"No." He returned lamely, looking abashed. "Not you at all, I assure you. Just lost in thought to be honest. Didn't mean to be rude, just got caught up in thinking."
Kayla smirked slightly. "No worries. Just didn't want to bore you into a coma is all." She leaned an elbow casually on the steering wheel. "I've been told it happens quite frequently. Seriously thought, I know when I'm boring someone." She regarded him carefully, and Nick was immediately struck by the intensity of her gaze – it was not wholly unlike one of his own ilk, and for that very reason made him uneasy. "You know all this rigmarole by heart, don't you? And could probably give me lessons on where I've done my discourse wrong." She tapped the side of her nose knowingly and slipped into a light brogue. "Aye, as sharp as a bag of hammers, I am. Ya can'ne hide these things from a canny Scot."
Smiling, he flung his arms up in a gesture of mock surrender. "Alright, you've got me dead to rights, officer!" Her laughter was like crystalline, clarion bells of a time long past and memories that held a painful remembrance of one of his true kin, long lost to this world...Fleur.
"Think I can honestly say that's the first time a fella's said that to me without having a nightstick at the back of his neck and handcuffs on his wrists." She mused earnestly. "It makes for a pretty nice change."
Nick shook off the shroud of melancholy that had settled over his shoulders and offered a half-hearted smile. "Glad to help."
"Tell you what, what's say we dispense with the formality, since it's pretty clear you know all this b.s. anyway and just see if we can get along...and by that I mean get through what would be a shift without you wanting to throttle me." She eased the Saturn back into the surprisingly light flow of evening traffic and just tooled around aimlessly and in silence, seemingly content, for the moment, to leave him to his private musings.
It was almost two hours into the aimless meandering of the city streets and side streets that she finally caved and broke the silence. "Not wanting to pry, but lengthy silence unnerves me, just wondering how long you've been in the area. You don't strike me as a Bay Area, much less California native."
He had wondered how long it was going to take and was pleasantly surprised at the stay of heavy silence she had allowed. Without really thinking, he answered, unawares that his carefully fabricated background would unravel with his answer. "I've been in Canada for the last few years. Only came to the States recently."
Kayla merely nodded. "Mind if I inquire as to what you did there that would make you so familiar with police procedure."
An innocent enough question on the surface, but it was enough to jar Nick out of his absent minded revere and back to reality. "I..." he floundered for an excuse, even a lame one, she had caught him off guard again, and he silently berated himself for his mental lapse. "I did some work for an art dealer in the Toronto area." A half-truth, to be sure, but he had to say something. "He had some friends on the force and I learned a little from them."
"More than 'a little', I would say." Kayla mused, mostly to herself, but the inference was not lost on her companion.
It didn't take vampiric instinct to know that he'd made a severe faux pas. It would be no use trying to hypnotize her, not while she was driving anyway. And he had the distinct impression that she would be much like Natalie and resist that self-defense mechanism of his kind. "They tended to have loose tongues when plied with strong drink." He added quickly and was visibly relieved to see her curiosity to that subject was seemingly mollified. But the part of him that kept wary these many hundreds of years sensed in her a profound knowledge and perhaps understanding of the darker community that lurked in the shadows.
It would be seven months into their tenure as partners when he found out just how profound that knowledge was.