******************************************

Leaving Nick to his work, LaCroix flew with his precious
cargo to the upstairs apartment and deposited her in his bed.  He
smoothed her hair back, away from the damage on her face.  His
clinical eyes taking charge, he mentally went over the procedure to
come.   There was no chance of them healing on their own, and merely
bandaging them now, would cause her more pain in the long run.

      "LaCroix?"  Her dry voice rasped out, her lips barely moving.

      "Shh, I'm here, don't talk, just rest."

      "Where are you?"  She sounded lost.

      "Here.  Right here, beside you."  Taking her hand in his, he
rubbed the smooth skin gently.  She held on for dear life.

      "I can't see you! Why can't I see?" The high pitched note,
giving away her panic.

      His heart broke at the fear in her voice.  "You're blind,
Natalie.  The holy water...it burned your eyes.  I need to get the
bandages.  Stay here, I will be back momentarily."

      Retrieving the ancient leather bag from his closet, he
removed the gauze, scissors, and tape, each movement practised, his
body taking over where his heart had no place being.  The basic
routine, done countless times over the centuries made the transition
a habit.

      When he returned to the bed, and his patient, the pain and
fear was leashed under his ironfisted control.  He measured out the
gauze, snipping off three handlengths.  Weighing the options, he
nicked his wrist with a fang and soaked the strips in his healing
blood.

      She stirred when the smell hit her nostrils.  Reaching up to
where she sensed his hand to be, she felt the wet gauze.  "What are
you doing?"

      "Preparing to fix your eyes, before the damage becomes
permanent."

      "Permanent?" She felt like shouting, but only a hoarse
whisper made it past her cracked lips.

      "The wounds will heal, but there will be scaring.  Think
about it, Doctor, what happens when scar tissue covers the cornea?"

      "I'll be blind."  she lifted her hand to feel her face, but
he intercepted, holding it firmly in his grasp.

      "No, don't touch it."  He lifted her fingers to his lips and
kissed each one lightly.

      "LaCroix, there are no blind vampires, are there?"  Pain and
fear filled her voice.  She suspected what was going to happen.

      "None.  If this does not work...there will be no choice."

      "I don't want to die."

      "I know.  Go to sleep, Natalie." He concentrated on their
link, and sent the command out again. It was better that she not be
awake through this.  He felt her struggle against his will, briefly,
before surrendering.

      "You can come in now, Nicholas."  He'd sensed his son's
return, minutes earlier.  Wisely, his son hadn't entered without
permission.  "There's a scapula in the bag, get it for me."

      Nick walked in and stood looking down into the familar black
bag.  He grasped the sharp little knife, swallowing against what was
to come.  Wordlessly, he handed it to LaCroix.

      "Hold her shoulders.  I put her under, but with this much
pain...she may come out of it."  LaCroix waited until his son climbed
onto the bed and placed his firm hands on each shoulder.  "Ready?"

      "Yes."  Nick turned his face away, unable to watch.

      LaCroix hesitated a moment, the scapel poised over her
devastated left eye.  Blinking away the emotions, he made the first
incision, cutting through the soft tissue, quickly, before she had
the chance to regain conciousness.  As the eye came loose, Nick
flinched.  Had Natalie awoken then, he wouldn't be capable of
restraining her.

      The second eye went easier under LaCroix's deft touch.  When
he finished he pressed the blood soaked bandages in place and wrapped
her head with the remainder of the gauze.  "I have done all I can."
He just hoped it would be enough.

      "Now we wait."

      LaCroix nodded, and pulled the blankets up over her.  "Stay,
Nicholas. Please."  The night's events had taken their toll on him,
and if this didn't work...he didn't want to be alone.

      Nick looked into the paler than usual face of his sire, and
found himself agreeing.  LaCroix did not say please often.  "I'll
stay, at least until she is better."

      "Thank you." Exhausted, LaCroix moved about the room,
cleaning up the mess.  Nick followed suit.   Their hands colliding as
they both reached for the scissors, and LaCroix gave up.  "If you
would be kind enough to finish?  I need rest."  He pulled his shirt
over his broad shoulders, amused when Nicholas's stare lingered
there.  How fitting, that when he was finally unable, Nick would want
him.   "Goodnight Nicholas."  His lips tilted into a sardonic smile,
he leaned back into the pillows and laced his hands together behind
his head.

      Nick quickly gathered the dirty linens and turned the lights
off.  Standing by the door, he turned to look at the couple sleeping
on the bed.  "Goodnight."  He spoke, knowing neither of them were
capable of hearing it.

      A few hours later LaCroix awoke to the darkened room.  The
sun was up, so why was he awake?  What had disturbed him?  He turned,
taking in the image of Nicholas, sitting in a chair beside the bed,
staring down at him.

      Something in that face, tore at him.  It was the longing in
those huge blue eyes.  "Nicholas?"  He whispered, not wanting to
disturb Natalie.

      "Yes.  I just wanted to check on her."  And you, he added
silently.

      LaCroix sighed, interpreting the longing for what it
was.  "Come to bed, meus filius."

      Nicholas still hesitated, staring at Natalie's naked
body.  "She won't accept this, LaCroix."

      "She will not have a choice, nor do I think she will mind.
Now, come."  He closed his eyes, leaving the decision to Nicholas.
When he felt the bed shift under his son's uncertain weight, he
grinned at the ceiling content.

      Nick chose the other side of Nat, sandwiching her between
them.  He trailed his fingers over her lower jaw, praying that when
she awoke, she didn't stake them both.  Kissing her lightly, he
surrendered to his own slumber.
 

 End Chapter 10b