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

LaCroix held the car door open for her.  "I hope you
know what you are doing, Natalie.  Your mortal friends
might find it odd if I remained at your side, rather
than your `fiancee', but, I'll be around if you need me.
Nicholas, you remember our conversation?"

"Yes,  LaCroix.  I will play along with this, but after,
we are even over Fleur.  I've more than met our agreement.
Her life is yours."

He thought it over a few seconds.  "Yes, you did love her,
didn't you? Very well, Nicholas, you're free to seek out
your own true love, and I'll let her rip your heart out
with no interference. Freedom is so overrated."

"LaCroix!"

He ignored her outburst.
 
Nick held his arm out for her,  relief lightening his
features. "Come on, Nat.  We've got a show to do."

Hesitant, she took it.  "Are you still mad?"

"Not at you, don't worry about it.  This had to happen
sooner or later.  But, we need to get in there before
Schanke orders out for pizza."

Cringing at the thought, she took his hand.  "Good idea.
We'll see you in an hour or so, LaCroix."

"Take care of her, Nicholas, or else."  LaCroix pressed
a kiss to her forehead.  "I will be watching.  Enjoy your
evening, my dear."  He nodded to Nicholas, then took his
leave.

They glided in through the open doors and stopped in shock.
She expected a large portion of the 96th precinct, and some
of the coroner building staff to come, but almost the entire
city staff milled around the room.  She spotted officers
from three different precincts,  court staff, two judges,
and every member of the coroner's building.  She mentally
tallied about six hundred people, give or take a hundred.
Good God, if everyone was here, who was watching the city?

"Uhm, Nick, I don't think I can do this."   Their
heartbeats coalesced into a maddening buzz.  So many of them
in close proximity sent her fight or flight instinct into
overdrive.  She saw the world through a blood red haze.

Beside her, he stiffened, then moved to block her from the
others.  "It's too late, we've been noticed.  Close your
eyes, hurry!   Try concentrating on your link, he'll help.
I hope."  He had the horrible suspicion this might turn
into one of LaCroix's object lessons.  "If you have to,
leave.  I'll think of an excuse."
 
Right.  She opened her link with LaCroix.  He sat in the
cafe across the street, pretending to drink a cup of coffee
while reading the paper.  She felt him look up in confusion at
being needed so soon.  When he found out why, the laughter
rippled out across their connection.  Great.  Help,
LaCroix... anytime now.   He concentrated and she felt him
force the vampire back through sheer force of will.  Laughter
followed her after she closed the link. Ugh, she'd be hearing
about this tonight.

"You okay now?"  Nick asked.

She risked opening her eyes.  No red haze. "Yeah, all systems
go."

Coming towards her was the one responsible for the mass.

"Grace!  You shouldn't have.  This is amazing, how did you do
it? And more importantly, if we're all here, who's patrolling
the roads?"
 
"The rookies complained about not having enough to do.  As for
the lab, there is still a few people manning the shift, don't
worry. It's good to see you again, Nick.  You had us
worried."  She grabbed Nat's sleeve and pulled her inside.
"Come on, we have this great band from one of the nightclubs
downtown. Sorry I couldn't find Mel, but trust me, the guy
playing the guitar will do."

"Mel, Nat?  Is there something you want to tell me?"  Nick
asked.

"Nah, mate."

Grace turned away to hide the smile.  "I'll be right
back."

They mingled near the door for a few more minutes, exchanging
pleasantries before moving into the main part of the room.

"About time you two showed up."  Cohen's fists sat on her
hips. "Knight,  if you still worked for me, I'd have you up
for extra shifts."

"Sorry, Captain.  The sun set late."

Natalie surreptitiously elbowed him.  "What he means to say,
Captain, is he's going to miss you too."

Nick caught on, breaking in smoothly. "It's been a pleasure,
Cap. Leaving will be one of the hardest things I've ever
done."

"You don't have to resign.  I'm sure we can work
something
out with the schedules.  We need good detectives, and you're
one of the best.  I've already talked with the powers that
be, and they're willing to offer a raise."

"Thank you, but I can't. Natalie's wanted to work in
research
for years, and the job off from Montreal is everything she
could ask for.  Now that I finally convinced her to keep me,
I'm not willing to live apart from her."

Natalie looked away from him, not wanting to give away his
lie. And, boy was that a doozy.  She swore to make sure
LaCroix kept his end of the bargain.  Nick paid for his
freedom with blood tonight, and if his heart survived, he
deserved the chance for happiness.

"Oh well, I had to try.  We have a presentation planned for
you, so go stand by the microphone.  Schanke will be doing
the honors."

Amanda motioned to the growing crowd by the stage.  Most of
the 96th precinct stood near there, hooking up wires, and
shooting glances their way.

The music started up then, filling the hall.  Sure enough,
the guitar player was to die for.  Grace hadn't exagerated.
He had a prescience about him, a buzzing she couldn't put
her finger on.

"Nick?  Who is that?"

"Who?"

He had to feel it too.  But, like always lately, Nick the
brick remained in the dark.  That or he didn't want to
answer.  She felt like smacking him, but feared the blow
might damage what little grey matter he had left.  "The
guitarist.  He feels familiar."

"The Spaniard?  He's Vachon, a younger member of the
community. Stay away from him.  LaCroix has uh, difficulty
sharing with others.  He tolerates me only because I am
family.  The Spaniard, he would rip in two."

Vachon took that ill timed moment to blow her a kiss.
Right…never mind.  He looked like a god, but acted like god's
gift to women. Wasn't it always the way?   Making it past
those drowning pools of liquid brown eyes, she took note of
his clothing.  He wore an old black leather jacket that had
seen better days.  The shirt underneath was gleaming white,
pressed, but left untucked.  The perfect advertisement for
scruffy gigolos are us.  She still smiled at him, acknow-
ledging his compliment.

"Don't worry, Nick.  I doubt he's my type."  At
least, not
for the next few millenia....she added to herself.

Vachon rose from his chair and approached the edge of the
stage.  "Ladies and gentlemen,  tonight, as you know, one of
your own leaves with your blessings, and with the most
beautiful medical examiner this city has ever seen.  Some of
you want to present him with a medal, and I overheard someone
offering to shoot him for grand theft.  Let's have a hand for
the cute couple in the front row."

Laughter and applause broke out through the room, even cheering
from the people in charge of the punch bowl.

"Now, for the person who has put up with the Knightmare more
than anyone else in the last decade, Detective Donald Schanke."
Vachon moved aside.

Schanke smiled, hamming it up.  "Thanks.  Heya, Partner,
everyone. Let's make this quick, there's some garlic souvlaki
over there with my name on it.   Come on up here, Nick.  Me and
the rest of the guys have something for you.  We noticed your
old jacket had a few bullet holes, and we can't have you going
up to Montreal letting them think we can't take care of our
own.  Well, come on!"

Nick squeezed her hand, asking without words for her permission
to leave her alone.  She smiled back, pushing him towards the
stairs.  "Go on, I'll be fine."

He grinned, then took the stairs two at a time.
 

Schanke motioned back behind the curtain, and three uniformed
officers carried in a new leather coat.  Gold and silver
covered most of the exposed surface.  She squinted to see
better, gasping when she realized what it was, signatures,
hundreds of them.  Turning to Nick to gauge his reaction, she
saw the tell tale red moisture at the corner of his eyes.  Uh
oh.  Not a good time to vamp out.  At the last minute, he
blinked them back, regaining his composure.

"Don, I don't know what to say."  He took the coat from
the officers, reading the notes and best wishes.   "Thank
you.  Thank you, all. I can't tell you how much this means to
me."

"Yeah, yeah, put it on."

 End Chapter 13a