----- Disclaimers: The characters in this story belong to TPTB, thanks for their use. The concept of DP Tracy isn't mine. (She just showed up and wouldn't go away 'til I wrote this.) If you wish to sell this story for profit, seek psychiatric help. Title: Just One of Those Days (01/01) by Emma Lighton Tracy stormed into her apartment slamming the door behind her. She stopped, took a deep breath and counted slowly to ten. No, smashing her furniture to kindling might make her feel better, but it wouldn't solve her problems. Well, it would if she dragged it all back to the station and broke it over Nick's head. Two weeks on that case, with her doing most of the paper and leg work, and Nick gets all the glory because he happened to be closer to the suspect when the guy tripped and fell. She didn't even get a "Thank you" or "Good work Tracy" from him, much less any credit. Not that the suspect was even trying to run away from Nick! "Next time he can go around back, I'll wait for the suspect to try and escape through the front door.", Tracy muttered as she headed into her bedroom. She threw open her closet. If she wanted any where to sit tomorrow, she needed to get out of the apartment. Soon she was suitably attired in a dark pink top and a black leather mini skirt. It made riding her motorcycle a little harder, but the leather pants still were at the cleaners. Too bad bar brawls were so messy. She pulled the bike to a stop outside the Raven. It seemed to be the perfect choice, mainly because Nick seemed to get another ulcer every time he heard she'd been in here. Of course vampires probably didn't get ulcers. She sighed, that was another mark against Knight, he seemed convinced she was blind or an idiot. How could she NOT notice he was a vampire. She stepped into the dark interior of the club and stopped briefly to look around. No sign of anyone she knew. Didn't seem to be anyone she'd want to know either. She headed for the bar and ordered a drink. She leaned back against the bar, sipping her drink, and scanned the crowd. Tracy barely registered the man who slid into the empty space next to her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him gesture to the bartender and receive a glass of what appeared to be red wine, but was just a bit too thick. "You seem to be becoming a regular." A silky voice said, practically in her ear. She turned slightly to look at the man. He turned out to be a tall, well dressed man with a crew cut. Both his clothes and his, apparent, age made him look out of place, but this didn't seem to bother him. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Lucien Lacroix." "Great," Tracy thought, "I seem to be a vampire magnet." She shrugged in response to his comments and returned to scanning the club. "You seem bored by all of this," he gestured at the interior of the club, "Perhaps I can help you find some amusement more to your liking." Tracy rolled her eyes slightly and turned back to face him. "Nothing personal, but you look a bit too old to interest me." "Ah, but experience can be very rewarding." He gave her a smile that was probably designed to make her melt. It didn't work. She turned to once again examine the crowd in the club. Suddenly she spotted a familiar dark haired figure descending the stairs into the club. "Finally." She said and tossed back the rest of her drink. As she turned to put the empty glass on the bar, Tracy saw Lacroix was still next to her. He was still looking at her, but now he was frowning slightly. "I dislike being ignored." he growled somewhat menacingly. Tracy shrugged again. "So what." Then she pushed away from the bar and started to move in Vachon's direction. Lacroix reached out, caught her arm and turned her to face him. He looked directly in her eyes and Tracy started to feel a slight tickling sensation in the back of her mind. "You will do as I say." he intoned in a odd voice. Tracy shoved him against the bar and he released her arm in surprise. "Look, I told you I wasn't interested. Live with it. If I wanted to talk to a control freak I'd call my father." With that she turned away for the last time and slipped into the crowd. She found herself almost running over Vachon. "What was that all about?" he asked her. "Oh nothing. Just some guy with a problem understanding the word no. A perfect addition to the day I've been having." "Umm...Trace, that guy he's..." "One of you. I noticed, even before he tried to whammy me. That was truly pathetic. Let's get out of here." She started dragging him towards the door. "Sure, your place or mine." "Mine, unless you've started dusting." He shook his head and followed her eagerly out the door. The End ______________________________________________________ --- Emma (elighton@hotmail.com or elighton@operamail.com) "We want realism! Do you know somplace we can go and stage it?" - Sergio Aragones Vaquera * T+Vpack * DP * War 9 Vet. http://members.tripod.com/lostshadows/main.html FanFicPage ______________________________________________________