Well, here's chapter 4. It took a little longer than I thought it would. My muse gave me a new idea half way through, but I refuse to start another story until I finish at least one of my current projects. The piece of song I use is from 'Dark Night of the Soul' by Loreena McKennitt. No copyright infringement intended.

Enjoy!

Bold italics = telepathic messages

Disclaimer: I do not own Sanctuary or any of its characters.

Chapter 4:

Declan sat with his back to the wall, surveying the entire room. When he found himself noting where all the exits were, he forced himself to stop and take a deep breath. He was here to relax and have some fun, but he honestly wasn't sure he could do that. Years of special forces training had imprinted on him the need to be in control of every situation. Relaxing was an indulgence he very rarely engaged in. His attention was brought back to the table, when a mug was placed in front of him.

He looked up and Will said, "Your guys ordered you a Guinness, since you seemed a bit… occupied."

Declan looked down at the mug dubiously. Lifting it slowly to his lips, he took a hesitant sip. He smiled and joked, "Not half bad."

Henry grinned, "Told you…" He stopped abruptly, when the lights came up on the stage. An impeccably groomed gentleman stepped out of the wings and up to the microphone.

"I'd like to welcome you all to The Blue Rose and thank you for coming out. We have a special treat for you tonight that's pleasant on the eyes as well as the ears. It doesn't hurt that these balladeers are British, either. So without further ado, let's give a warm welcome to Forsaken Immortals." He began clapping and soon everyone in the place had joined him.

A young couple emerged from the wings, both dressed in clothes that more resembled those of a bygone era, rather than the current fashions. The woman's long dark auburn hair was left to fall loosely over her shoulders, while the man's dark blonde hair was tied back with a ribbon. They both bowed slightly, before the woman took a seat at the piano and the man stood at the opposite end holding a violin and bow.

"Good evening, everyone. My name is Elizabeth and this is my brother Carlyle. We are Forsaken Immortals," the young woman stated with a sheepish smile. She nodded to her brother and they began to play a haunting melody.

Declan couldn't seem to take his eyes off of the woman. She seemed so familiar to him, as if they had met before. When she started to sing, he was further captivated. Her voice both lulled and roused him at the same time.

'Upon a darkened night
the flame of love was burning in my breast
And by a lantern bright
I fled my house while all in quiet rest'

He was hit with the sudden realization that, as impossible as it may seem, this was the woman from his dream. As the images from his, all too real, dream came flooding back into his mind, he thought he heard her voice falter for a moment. He glanced up to see her looking at him.

Really now, Declan my love. Her voice seemed to echo through his mind, reaching into places he didn't even know existed. It was as if someone shone a light on a place in his mind that had previously been too dark to see. He then knew that it had not been a dream. That he had spent the most amazing night of his life with the woman sitting there onstage. He had the urge to go up there and pull her into his arms, kissing her until she explained how this could be. Soon enough. I promise.

A hand shaking his arm startled him back to attention. Will said, "By the look on your face, I'll take it you approve."

"Yes," Declan managed to get out, "she is quite… good."

"I'd say you think she's more than 'good', dude. You haven't taken your eyes off her, since she stepped onto the stage," Henry told him with a big grin on his face. Declan didn't know how to answer, so he remained quiet. Soon he was, once again, focused solely on her; his Talia.

No one made further mention of Declan's sudden infatuation with the singer. In fact, the men at the table had all become rather silent, as had most of the other patrons. With few exceptions, all eyes were directed to the stage and the couple performing there on.

As the notes of the last song died away, the young woman turned her attention to the audience, "On behalf of my brother and myself I'd like to thank you for having us here. You have been a truly amazing audience. We hope to see you all again, when we return. Good evening."

Without warning, Declan rose from the table, "I need to find the loo, mates. Be back in a jiffy." He didn't wait for a reply, he just headed to the back of the pub.

x x x x x

After her little speech, Natalija and Vladimyr made their way backstage. Following her brother into the hallway that led to the dressing room, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Talia," she heard Declan say in a hushed voice.

She turned slowly and smiled at him, trying to keep her own voice from trembling, "Hello, Declan."

Her brother spun at the sound of her voice and growled low in his throat. Seeing Declan's hand on his sister, he advanced on the couple and looked questioningly at her, "Natalija?"

"It's alright, Vladimyr," she nodded to him. I'll take care. I promise. I just… Her eyes wandered back to Declan.

Vladimyr gave a curt nod, "Very well. I'll see you at home, but don't come in too late. If Mother finds out, we'll both be in trouble." He moved forward and placed a kiss on his sister's cheek. He stepped back and glanced at Declan, his eyes swirling with red/black. He turned on his heel and strode away, without another word.

Natalija turned back to Declan, "Please excuse my brother. He is overprotective at the best of times."

"And the worst?" he asked.

She appeared to go ashen for a brief moment, before answering, "You really do not want to find out."

Declan decided that perhaps she was right and changed the subject. He brought his hand up to caress her cheek and questioned, "Is this another dream?"

Natalija pressed his hand flat against her cheek and raised the other one to rest over her heart, "Do I feel like a dream, Declan?"

He shook his head, "No. No you don't. But how is any of this possible?"

"It's one of my special talents," she responds.

"Talents?"

Tilting her head she smiled and simple said, "Telepath." Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him down into a searing kiss.

At first Declan was stunned, but quickly caught up. Slipping his arms around her waist, he responded wholeheartedly to her lips on his. When neither of them could deny the need for oxygen any longer, they broke apart panting. They stood there, foreheads pressed together, just breathing.

"Take me to the Sanctuary, Declan, please," she whispered.

He didn't ask how she knew where he was staying, he really didn't need to. Taking her hand in his, they headed to the nearest exit.

x x x x x

Natalija laid with her head resting over Declan's heart, the fingers of her left hand absently traced the lines of a long healed wound on his chest. Propping herself up with her arm, she examined the scar more closely. Declan watched her through half-closed eyes.

"Shrapnel," she made it a statement not a question.

"Yes," he agreed, "Afghanistan, November 2001."

Natalija looked into his eyes, "Uncle James said you had been special forces, but he never mentioned when or where you had served. I guess I never really thought about it," Seeing sorrow shadow across his features, she added, "I'm so sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" he asked, brushing a stray lock of hair out of her face.

"For bringing up something that upsets you," she answered.

Declan became very quiet for a moment. When he spoke it came out as a hoarse whisper, "I have done things, Talia. Things I am not proud of. Things you need…"

Natalija silenced him with a finger to his lips, "Do you think me so innocent, my love? In this life I have lived? No, it has been a long time since I could claim that. I speak of peace, but have used violence against others. I work to save lives, yet I have killed, too. No, my dearest Declan, you are not alone in that. So, you see, you have nothing to explain nor apologize for. Not to me."

Declan pulled her down into a kiss filled with a tender passion, not like the raging inferno of their previous unions. This was a passion born of understanding and acceptance of who they were and are. When they came together, Natalija wept with the joy of it. After, she cried with the sorrow of knowing that to her lover it would be nothing more than a dream. While she cried, Declan cradled her gently in his arms.

As she made to get up, Declan's arms tightened around her, "Please stay."

"You know I cannot," she answered, caressing his cheek.

"But I don't want to forget you, to forget how much I love you," he pleaded. "And I do love you, Talia. I was never a big believer in love-at-first-sight, but I have loved you since the moment we met. I don't want to forget any of that."

Natalija found it hard to breathe, her heart tightened in her chest. She whispered, "You won't really forget, Declan my love. It will just be locked away for safe keeping."

"And you, my sweet Talia, will hold the key?" he asked with a wistful smile.

"Always, my love," she replied, kissing him softly. "Now go to sleep."

Declan reached out to wipe a tear from Natalija's cheek, trying to fight the fog that had begun to settle in his mind. He knew he had lost as he felt himself slip into the dark oblivion of sleep.

x x x x x

The next morning, Henry noticed that there were sections of the security footage missing. None of the alarms had been triggered nor did any of the systems show signs of tampering, and all of the residents and staff were accounted for. He chalked it up to a computer glitch and thought nothing more about it.

Let me know what you think. Thanks for reading. Until next time.