hmmm.. Mary's story <waves> kicked me in the butt to get this finished, 
though I had no idea it would end the way it would.  Oh well, that's the CP 
in me. <g>  YOuse DPs can archive this, and I should be tossing it onto fkfic 
before the week is out (presuming my sanity remains intact after the first 
half of finals).  And the disclaimers are bitter and unenlightening as usual. 
<g>


Driving Miss Tracy (01/01)
by Shana Nolan
***********************

It was one of those nights.

Or rather, it was one of those drag down, I-need-a-vacation nights.

Sitting on a barstool, nursing a honey port, Tracy rolled her eyes, 
swallowing a large swig of her beer.  She hardly noticed when a presence came 
up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder.

"Tracy?"

The young blonde mortal turned around slightly, surprised to see who was 
waiting for her response.  "Urs?"

"Yes."  Urs smiled slightly.  The mortal woman before her was mildly 
intoxicated.  Not the kind of intoxicated that made people dance on tables, 
but the kind that took the edge off the stresses of day-walkers' lives.  "Do 
you have a moment?"

She nodded.  "Sure.  What's up?"

Urs made a small sound like a cough.  "I need your help on something."

Tracy raised an eyebrow.  "My help?  This I gotta see... "

The vampiress smiled.  "This way," she gestured towards the back of the 
Raven.  Walking towards the dark hallway, Tracy jumped off her barstool and 
followed.

Until someone blocked her path, stopping her cold.

"Ugh!  I'm sorry, uh, mister, uh, oh dear... Lacroix."

Lucien Lacroix glanced down from his tall stature to betray a small smile 
towards the young woman before him.  He knew perfectly well who she was; she 
was his son's police detective partner, and the receiver of his recent 
amourous affections.  "Ah, Miss Vetter, how delightful to see you.  And what 
brings you to this establishment?"

Tracy cast a glance at Urs, who shrugged.  "I was here to relax, and then Urs 
asked me to help her with something."

Turning to the younger vampire, Lacroix queried, "How delightful.  Perhaps I 
could borrow her?"

Urs nodded and headed further down the hall, leaving the two of them alone.  
Tracy cleared her throat.

"Is there something wrong, my dear?  Are you feeling poorly tonight?  Or 
perhaps I've unnerved you."

Tracy paused, considering her answer.  She didn't come to the club looking 
for a little fun, and here "fun" was, inviting himself into her evening.  The 
tall, pale gentleman before her was handsome enough with his buzz cut hair 
and ice blue eyes, and it went without saying that she found his voice 
utterly delectable, but there was something *off* about this.  "I don't think 
I should."

"Should what?"

~Damn him for having such a seductive voice.~  "I think I should go home and 
sleep this off."  Fumbling for her keys, Tracy was shocked as she felt his 
large hand reach out and snatch her keys from her pocket before she could 
grasp them.

"I don't believe I will be permitting you to drive yourself home."

She shook her head.  "Yeah, of course.  'Kay, fine, take me home, I'll pick 
the car up... ah, hell, whenever." 

"Excellent.  We shall take the side door."  Clasping a hand gently around her 
arm, Lacroix guided her towards the door in the partial shadows, leading her 
into one of the side alleys that surrounded the Raven.  

A few cars were parked along the sides of the alley, sickly yellowish lights 
illuminating the less than clean area.  Lacroix, retrieving the small 
keychain from his jacket, pointed to the one that was the furthest away.

Tracy's jaw dropped.  "That one?!"

Lacroix chuckled.  "Yes, you were expecting a Pinto?"

"No, I just, I... god, that's a pretty little car."  Staring openly at the 
black two-door convertible, she couldn't help but wonder for a moment whether 
or not she was dreaming.

Unlocking and opening the passenger door, holding it open so she could slide 
into the seat, Lacroix caught her look.  "It's a very nice car, I will agree, 
but it is far more lovely with you sitting in it."

~Oh, great, and now that voice is talking about you, seducing you, whether 
intentionally or not.~   Tucking her jacket in, Tracy smiled slightly as 
Lacroix graciously closed the passenger door and came around to the other 
side, sidling into the driver's seat.  "Thank you, by the way."

His expression was a darkly content one.  "It is my pleasure, ma chere."

Starting the car with a rumbling purr, shifting it gracefully into gear, he 
drove them out of the alley and into the lighted streets of downtown Toronto. 
 The slight, intentional haze that was clouding Tracy's thoughts was ebbing 
away as she began to realise just how much trouble she may have gotten 
herself into by getting into the car. Coming to the easy decision that 
Lacroix was not the type of guy who kept Rohipnol in his medicine cabinet, 
she rolled her eyes, leaned back in the passenger seat and sighed.

"Is there a problem, my dear?"

"Not that I'm aware of."

A smile touched his face.  "How pleasing.  Now if you will be so kind as to 
direct me to your house... "

Tracy laughed cynically.  "Apartment.  Turn left at the next stoplight, then 
right."

"What's so funny about living in an apartment?"

"On a cop salary, and living in one of the major cities of Canada and the 
world?  I can't afford a house with my income.  Do you know how much rent 
goes for nowadays?"

"Ah, but you don't strike me as a pauper."

"Nor a princess," Tracy quipped.

"True enough."  Lacroix's mind wandered past the mental image of Janette.  
Stowing the thought away, he cast a glance at the young blonde to his right.  
 

Tracy noticed immediately.  "You're staring."

"So I am."

"Um, you're still staring."

"Are you trying to tell me that I am making you uncomfortable, my dear?"

Tracy chewed on her lower lip.  "A little," she admitted.

Lacroix smiled.  Seeing Tracy suddenly point at a large building on their 
left, he pulled the convertible over to the curb and shut off the engine.

Unbuckling her seat belt and starting to reach a hand out to the door handle, 
she paused.  "Would you like to come up with me?  For coffee?"

Trying to hide the instinctive grimace, Lacroix shook his head.  "Perhaps, 
but not his night.  The sun is nearly up and I have a club to close."

"Oh."  Her response was almost disappointed.

"But may I request your presence tomorrow evening?"

"Absolutely" ~Brilliant, Trace, you just agreed to who knows what.  Even if 
it does sound like fun.~  Leaning across the passenger seat, she kissed 
Lacroix on the cheek.  "Thank you for the ride.  Oh!  How can I meet you at 
the club if my car is already there?"

"I shall pick you up from here."

Tracy blushed.  "That'll, that'll be perfect.  Good night."

"Good night, Miss Tracy."

Stepping out and closing the car door, the blonde detective lingered on the 
sidewalk until the black convertible was out of sight.  Sighing, she shook 
her head, marveling at the strange way her night had gone.

That is, until she decided to go inside.  Fishing for her keys, she made a 
disturbing discovery. 

There were no keys to find.  

Panicking for a moment, she slapped her forehead.  Lacroix had her keys.  
Thinking of what to do other than stand on the sidewalk until he came back 
the next night, she sighed and pulled out her phone, dialing a number she 
knew well.

"Hi, Nick? It's Tracy.  Got a strange favour... Would you pick me up in front 
of my place and bring me over to this club so I can retrieve my keys and 
car?... Yes, I know that sounds weird, but the owner, lovely gentleman by the 
way, took my keys and drove me home 'cause I was drinking tonight and... stop 
stuttering...  I'm okay, no he didn't bite me, whatever the hell that's 
supposed to mean...  just pick me up, it's kinda cold out here... stop 
lecturing!... "


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

hugs!!
Shana