--------------------------
Forever Knight and the characters on the show are the property of Tri-Star,
and are used here for fanfic purposes only.  All other characters are mine.
       
This story is my interpetation of what I believe the events of Last Knight to
be.  If it were an episode, it would take place after it. 
--------------------------

Time: About a week after the events of  Ashes to Ashes, about midnight
Place: The shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto, Canada

"Boy, it's a lovely night, isn't it?"

The guy looked over at his date in response to her comment.  It was a lovely
evening indeed.  The moon was full and bright, glimmering on the water.
 There seemed to be a million stars in the sky, and he had the girl he loved
by his side.  It was the perfect scene.

He started to bend in closer.  She began to do the same, knowing what he
wanted.  Suddenly she heard something.  She wasn't sure of what it was, but
she turned to see where it was coming from.

"Did you hear that?"
"Hear What?"
"That noise.  There was a noise.  I heard it."

Then, she heard it again.  It was a muffled moan.  She felt the uneasiness
slowly come over her.  As she faced her companion, she could tell he felt the
same.

" I think I better get you home now.  Will you help me pick up the blanket?"

Before he could finish the last statement, she was up and already to pull it
up off the ground.  While they were doing this, ther was another moan.  It
was still muffled, but less so that before.  She knew this wasn't good,
whatever it was.

"It sounds human. Maybe someone's hurt. Should we call the cops or
something?"
"After we leave, I'll find a pay phone,and ypou can call till your heard's
content."

She turned back toward the sound to see if she could make out what was
producing the it. Suddenly, she thought she saw a small patch of dirt moving,
like something was under it. Her eyes were fixed to that spot.

"Okay, let's go."

He grabbed her arm, but she didn't move. He turned to see what facinated her
so. What he saw emerging from the ground were fingers-human fingers!

As if on cue, she let out a terrified scream.  He would have stood there in
shock if it weren't for fear and self-preservation. He took of running,
half-dragging his date along with him. When they reached his car, he opened
his door and pushed her in with him practically on top of her trying to get
in.  As soon as he was behind the wheel, he stared the vehicle and sped away.

"Screw calling! We're going directly to the station!"
-------------------

Time: Next evening; just after dusk
Place:Nick's loft

Nick stood under the warm water of his shower. Well, warm to a vampire, he
thought. If Natalie was to feel the temperture of this water, she'd probably
yell that it was freezing. Ah Natalie, if only she was here with him now at
this moment. What they could do. But it was to risky. Yes, he was growing
impatient with their platonic relationship, but he loved her too much to
chance her life. And now he was even more sure of it.

All of a sudden, he sensed a presence entering his loft, and he was pulled
away from his pondering. The visitor was a welcome one.

"I'll be out in a minute, Nat," he shouted over the running water.

"Okay."

He quickly finished his shower and stepped out of the tub. He grabbed a towel
and began to quickly dry the droplets from his body. After wrapping the towel
around his waist, he reached for a second one to dry his hair as he walked
out to the living room. Standing there was Natalie, with her back facing him
as she read the front page of the newspaper.

"It's amazing who they'll put in the papers lately."

She turned to hand it to him, and stopped suddenly when she saw his lack of
attire.

"Nice outfit. Plan to wear that to work?"

"I think the Captain may have a problem with it," he responded as he gently
takes the paper from her hands with a imply grin. "Why? Do you have a problem
with it?"

"It's just that I've never seen you like...this before."

"If it bothers you, I can go and..."

"Oh no! It's not that. You're perfectly fine. Don't mind me."

He smiled and turned his attention to the news. As he scaned though the
articles, he quickly glanced over at her. She was staring at him, and he knew
what was going though her mind. Shame on you, Nat. But he couldn't blame her.
He'd be thinking the same thing, situation reversed.

When he looked back down at the newspaper, he saw the story that had promped
her first comment. It was about the tomb robber found at the Raven. Natalie
could tell from his look that he had found it.

"So, what do you think?"

"It's not a bad picture of LaCroix."

"Be serious, Nick. Do you believe they actually refered to him as
'innocent'?"

"Of this man's murder, yes, he is."

'It's not a word I would use in reference to him. It also says the police
have no leads."

"Well, it's gonna be hard since our suspect was staked by me and the body
burned by LaCroix."

"How much longer do you think you'll be working on it?"

"Until Reese decides there's a case that we must take care of, and he either
reassigns it or closes it."

When he finished the article, he looked up to notice a puzzled look on her
face. "Penny for you're thoughts."

"It's nothing, really. I was just wondering why you were taking a shower.It's
something I've never seen you do before."

"Well, one usually takes a shower when one is dirty."

"So what did you do? Sleep in the mud?"

"Very funny, Nat." His amused expression faded into a sober one, "Actually, I
woke up sweating because of a dream I had last night. I figured it wouldn't
be good if I came to work covered in blood."

Natalie's expression became more serious as well, "That must have been some
dream. Care to take about it?"

"Not really," he said resitantly, almost stuttering, "Maybe later."

"That bad, huh. Well, when you're ready, we'll talk about it. Right now, I've
got to head off to work."

As she reached for the door and opened it, she turned toward Nick, "May I
recommend something warmer. I hear it's going to be chilly tonight."

Nick pulled the towel of the top of his head and threw it in her direction.
-------------------------

Time: Around 10pm
Place: 96th Precient

"Nick, are you okay?"

The voice of his partner pulled him back to the reality of the precient.

"Yes, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"You look like you're on another planet. Wanna talk about it?"

"It's nothing, really. Not even worth taking about."

She may not have known him very long, but Tracy knew how to read between the
lines with Nick. He was basically saying he didn't want to talk about it at
all, period.

He looked at her from across his desk, "You've been visiting the same planet
alot lately, too."

"I've just been thinking about someone."

"Vachon?"

Her jaw dropped, "How did you..."

"You mentioned his leaving..."

"I did, didn't I? Just that I miss him. I wonder about where he is, and if
he's doing well."

For him to hear her say this, and to know the truth made him heartsick. All
he could do was smile and say, "I'm sure wherever he is, he's okay."

"Thanks." And with that, she turned back to her work,"So, you find anything
new on our club owner?"

"Nothing here we don't already know. Anything on our grave robber?"

"Well, there's plenty of suspects, starting with the Egypian government.
There's no shortage of possibilities. But no connections yet to Mr. LaCroix."

Then Nick's prayers were answered.

"Knight, Vetter, drop what you're doing. I got something that requires your
attention."

Nick and Tracy turned off their computers and made a beeline for Captain
Reese's office. He handed Nick a sheet of paper.

"Here's the location. Some homeless guy or something. Dr. Lambert said it
would be right up you two's alley."

"Remind me to thank her when we get there," he responded with a tone of
sarcasism in his voice.

They left the office and went to their desks to get their jackets. Just as
they were about to leave, Captain Reese steped out again.

"Vetter, call on line 2."

"Can you take a message, Captain?"

"No. Number one, I'm not a receptionist. Two, it's your father. Three, he
says it's important."

"It's always important with him!"

Nick patted her on the arm, "I'll wait."

"No, you go. I"ll catch up."

"You sure?"

She shoke her head.

"Okay, I'll meet you there."
------------------


Time: Around 10:45pm
Place: Shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto, Canada

A feeling of dread came over Nick as he neared the crime scene. It was if
something wasn't quite right. There was a sense that he should know this
place, he just couldn't put his finger on it. As soon as he reached the
yellow tape, Natalie met him.

"Where's your partner?"

"She was detained, but she's on her way. So, what do you have that requires
our perticular attention?"

"Come with me and I'll show you."

As they made their way to the body, she filled him in on the details, "His
name was Erik VanOver, age 25. Was in the military, then got out and opened a
small produce store. Married, but was kicked out last night when the wife
filled divorce papers due to his numerous affairs. When no one else would
take him in, he came out here. The wife was contacted, and she's not too
grived about being a widow."

When they reached the body, she pulled the sheet back to reveil the victim.
The deceased was covered with bruises and gashes, almost animal-like. Nick
knelt down to inspect closer.

"Looks like he put up a fight with whoever got him."

"Whatever is more like it."

He spun around to face her, "What?"

"His killer is not human," she said as she rolled back the head to bring the
two puncture marks in the neck to view, "It seems someone was very hungry,
and was going to feed, no matter what."

The feeling he had when he arrived deepened. "Who found the body? I'll need
to talk to them."

"The body was discovered by a patrol that was out here since strange activity
was reported by a couple of teenages last night."

"What strange activity?"

Natalie lead Nick to a large hole in the ground several yards away from the
body. Nobody was near it. It loked like a grave.

"The couple, Karen Huber and Mike Davies, both 17, said they heard moaning,
and it looked like something was trying to get out. They were quite
persistant."

"Or someone was trying to." Then it hit him, like a brick wall at 60mph. He
knew why this place seemed so familar, "Vachon!"

"Wait a minute, Nick. Vachon's dead. He impaled himself. How could he come
back?"

"I don't know, Nat. But this is where Tracy buried him, and he's not here, is
he?"

"It's been about a week..."

"Which would explain the condition of our victim. Vachon would need blood
desparately, but would not be strong enough to control him without a fight."

"Nick, how could this be?"

"I'll have to find him and find out. I know where he'll be." Just then, he
remembered his partner, "You'll have to find a way to keep Tracy here tiil I
get back."

"Why? Could she be in danger?"

"I don't know at the moment. But at any rate, I need to see him first. Just
do anything you can to stall her. She may figure out what happened here."

"But I thought you told me LaCroix took care of that."

"He did, but she's a resistor, and this might bring it all back."

"Oh no!"

"Do anything you can to distract her. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Nick glanced over to see if anyone was looking in their direction. When he
was sure no one was, he took off into the evening sky. All Natalie could do
was stand there, baffled as to how they were going to get out of this mess.
-----------------



Time: Around 11pm
Place: Vachon's church

Nick landed on the front steps, and he already could feel a presence inside.
It was indeed Vachon. Quickly, he made his way into the church. Before he
could reach what was Vachon's living quarters, he was suddenly knocked
against the wall. Holding him there was the resurrected vampire, in a state
of vampiric rage.

"Where is my stuff, Nicholas!"

"LaCroix and I put it in storage. We didn't know what to do with it at the
time. You left no instructions in case of your demise."

"Why should I? I am suppose to be immortal, aren't I?"

"Apparently, you are. Now, if you don't mind, could you let me down."

He released Nick and began to regain his composure, "Sorry about that. It's
been a pretty rough two nights."

"I saw."

"Since you're here, I figured you did."

As Nick stood face to face with Vachon, he was aware that he was at a loss
for words. He didn't know where to begin with everything he was to ask. His
overwhelmed mind couldn't form a question.

He wouldn't need to. "You probably want to know why I'm here."

"The thought has crossed my mind."

"Actually, I have you and your partner to thank."

"How? For what?"

"Tracy for removing the stake and burying me. And you for the blood."

"The blood? How did you get my blood?"

"Don't ask me how, I was 'dead,' remember?"

"Are you sure it was my blood?"

"Nicholas, after 800 years, you, of all people, should know that the one
thing a vampire is sure of is blood and the identity of the mortal, or
vampire, it came from. I may only be half your age, but the blood was yours.
Of this I am sure. And it was in dire conflict with Divia's."

"How so?"

"While I lied in torpor in the ground, I would go back and forth between your
memories and hers. Then, before I awoke, I had the strangest nightmare. There
were people in it that are a part of your life."

Nick couldn't believe what he heard. Could this be the same dream he had the
night before? Before he could ask about it, Vachon, unaware Nick wished to
speak, continued.

"I also played a small, unintended part in that I somehow didn't quite get
the stake all the way through my heart. Not that I'm complaining. The earth
healed my wounds, your blood cleanse mine, and I'm a bad shot. That's why I
stand before you now, and I get a second chance at immortality."

It was a logical explaination. Yet, it also seemed a little too simple,
"There's something else, isn't there?"

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Something more helped to pull you out of an early grave. Something to give
you the will to live."

"Can't the simple will to live be enough?"

"After 800 years, I know better."

"You're getting at my feelings for Tracy, aren't you?"

"I don't know; you tell me."

He just let out a sigh. Why couldn't Knight just leave things alone? Why did
he always have to push the issue?

"Fine, my feelings for her DID play a factor. Are you happy now?"

Nick became sober, "Do you love her, Vachon?"

He was taken back by the question, "I never thought about it. I do care about
her deeply. Those feelings were strong enough to bring me back. Is it love?
I'm not sure."

Nick knew he had to tell Vachon about Tracy. He couldn't put it off.

"There's something you need to know about her since you were 'out of
commission'."

Vachon became apprehensive, "What has happened to her? What has happened to
Tracy?"

"Nothing, she's fine. As a matter of fact, she's probably arriving on the
crime scene now. It's just that, after you 'died', well, she was very grived
with no one to turn to, and..."

"What happened!" He grew impatient.

"LaCroix, at my request, took away the memory of your death, and let her
believe you had just moved on."

He was stunned. Words evaded him while he stood there in shock and disbelief.
Then anger began to replace them, and with it, he regained his train of
thought.

"How dare you!"

"I though it was best."

"For who, Nicholas? You had no right at all to take that from her!"

"She was in pain, and she had no one to talk to about it. I only had the best
intensions." 

"I hear the road to Hell is paved with them!" He paused a moment to catch his
breath. "So, what? Am I not suppose to mention the 'death' thing to her?"

"Actually, you may not have to worry about that."

"Oh great! What does this mean?"

"She may remember."

"How? Did you, or did you not, tell me that you had LaCroix fix that?"

"He did. But she is a resister, as you know, and it may not be gone; just
surpressed. If it is, seeing your grave and the body you left may trigger
it."

"So why did you tell me all this?"

"I thought you should know."

Both of them stood in silence, not knowing what to say. Nick, taking a cue
from this, decided it was time to get back to work.

"I need to get back before I am missed." And with this, he was gone.

Vachon found a crate and collapsed onto it. If he were mortal, he thought,
he'd have a headache by now. He was having a hard time believing what he
heard. Is this what he came back to? Boy, can't leave these people alone for
a second.

"And the hits keep on coming," he muttered to himself.
------------------


Time: Around 11:05pm
Place: The shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto, Canada

If the sense of deja vu she was having were water, she'd be drowning in it,
Tracy thought. She knew this was the area Screed was buried, but something in
the back of her mind screamed that there was definately something else she
should know about this place. Something significant.

Natalie spotted her, and made her way in that direction. Tracy noticed her
approach and wondered why Nat was in such a hurry. She never had been before.
And where was Nick? He had to be here somewhere; she saw his caddy when she
pulled up.

"Tracy, you made it. Nick said you were delayed."

"Yes. It was my father. He wanted to talk about my mom again. He always picks
the worst times to call. I told him I had to go do my job and look at dead
bodies, I'd call him back later."

"How did he respond to that?"

"Not as I expected, but it got him off the phone." She looked around, "So,
where's my partner?"

"Ah...he had to run off. Said he wanted to look around a bit. You know Nick
and his hunches."

"Yeah, I do. So, where's our victim?"

"We're getting ready to load him up. We were waiting for you before we did."

"Oh goody."

Natalie walked her over to the ambulance and unzipped the black body bag.
Tracy began to examine the corpse intently. As she did this, Natalie watched
her, looking for signs that anything was coming back to her. When she found
the bite mark on the neck, her expression reveiled that it registered this
was the work of a vampire, but nothing surfaced; maybe Nick could be wrong.
Natalie relaxed.

"So, do you want me or Nick to fill you in on all the perticulars?"

"I'll get it from Nick. No need for you to stay for that. You've got work to
do."

Tracy zipped the bag, and let them load it in the back of the ambulance. She
stepped away, "I'm gonna have a look around while I wait for Nick."

"Be my guest. The body was found over there." Natalie pointed toward a bush.

"Thanks."

Tracy made her way toward the spot. She searched around, coming up empty.
Then she examined the plant for blood. There wasn't a trace. Then she began
to check the dirt below her. No blood there, either. For someone to die as
brutally as this man did, there was no blood to be found. It was definately a
vampire.

She turned her attention toward Screed's resting place. That feeling was
again screaming there was more to this place then meets the eye. And
something was pushing her to go over there. The next thing she knew, she was
standing along side his grave. She couldn't remember walking over, yet she
knew she had to of.

Just then, a pile of soil caught her eye. As she made her way over to
investigate it, she nearly fell into a hole. When she regained her balance,
she noticed that this was no small hole; it was more like a pit. On closer
inspection, it looked more like a grave. Suddenly, she felt a great wave of
memories and emotions all at once, as if a dam had broken down. She saw in
her mind the impaling, and the digging of this very grave. She now knew what
nagged her from the moment she arrived.

"Heaven help me, Vachon! Oh, how could I forget? I'm so sorry. So very
sorry."

Behind her, she heard someone. She turned to see Nick right there by her. She
tried to hide everything she was feeling.

"So, Nat said you were looking around elsewhere. Did it pan out?"

Nick could see in her eyes everything that was going on inside her mind. So,
he was right. She does now remember.

"Nope. Let's get back to the station, see where we stand, and wait for the
autopsy results."

"Can I meet you there a little later? I need to see an old friend right away.
It's important."

Nick smiled and patted her on the arm, "Take all the time you need."

Continued in Part 2......

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