Well, here it is, as promised, one Tracy/Lacroix story by
your's truly.
For those who missed it, my favorite Disney movie, and
movie period, as guessed by Ren, is Fantasia.
Needless to say these aren't my characters and this hasn't
been betaread.
I think I'll keep Terpsichore around though. I had *no* idea
what to write when I sat down.
Permission to Cousin Mary to archive on her CP page.
Enjoy.
>
Title: Meetings
by Emma Lighton
>
>
  Lacroix turned off the microphone and sat back with a sigh of
contentment. These mortals would listen to any drivel he cared to
spew on the air. He rose to his feet and switched off the last of his
equipment, then headed out into the Raven itself.
  His imperious gaze swept the crowd with vague amusement. He
wondered if these mortals had any idea how ridiculous they looked. He
strolled over to the bar as he watched there frenetic gyrations to
what he would barely described as music.
  Once seated at the bar, the bartender immediately brought over his
usual drink, then disappeared again. Yes, he liked that in employees,
unobtrusiveness. Sipping his drink he turned his attention back to
the sideshow that the club's patrons provided him. He really couldn't
say he regretted his choice for the club's new atmosphere, unless, of
course, Janette found out. That was definitely not a conversation he
wanted to have.
  He'd been musing for a while, when he realized that his gaze kept
returning to a young woman seated nearby. He paused to study her. She
was a tall, attractive blonde he'd seen here several times before. A
quick search of his memory was all it took to bring her identity to
mind. Nicholas' new partner. She'd been in here several times looking
for Vachon.
  Lacroix's gaze swept the crowd, and confirmed that neither his son,
nor the Spaniard was present. She seemed to be alone, and from the
slight swaying of body, he suspected she'd been drinking heavily. He
turned his head as he felt the presence of another vampire nearby.
Urs stopped at his gesture and came over.
  "Where is your master?"
  "Javier?" The blonde dancer seemed startled at his interest. "He's
out of town. The band he joined recently had a gig in..." Her pretty
face screwed up as she tried to remember.
  "Never mind. The details are unimportant." He waved her away before
she could begin to question his interest.
  He pondered the situation. Nicholas had been quite annoying of
late, and nothing would annoy him more than something happening to
one of his pet mortals. Dr. Lambert was out. He'd given up his chance
to deal with her last Valentine's Day, and he quite enjoyed watching
Nicholas try to avoid admitting that he was in love for fear that his
father would take her away from him.
  But his partner... Yes, he seemed to be rather protective of this
particular mortal. He'd even intimidated that irresponsible slacker
into taking the responsibility of protecting her from the community.
And here she was, alone... unprotected... and rather tipsy.
  He summoned the bartender and sent her a drink. She turned in
surprise when the bartender indicated her admirer. She smiled and
raised her glass in his direction. Well, his general direction
anyway. Lacroix interpreted this as an invitation and slid off his
stool, to join her.
  "Greetings my dear. I am Lucien Lacroix."
  "Tracy Vetter." She smiled again, and after a few attempts managed
to clasp his outstretched hand. Instead of shaking it, he brought it
to his lips and kissed it. Tracy gave a drunken giggle. "Oh, your one
of them."
  "Them?"
  "Don't worry," she said conspiratorially, leaning towards him, and
almost toppling off her stool. "I won't tell anyone, but you might
want to remember that men don't do that anymore."
  "I'll keep that in mind." he assured her as helped her regain her
balance. "What brings you to the Raven? It doesn't really seem your
type of place." Her casual suit seemed far more appropriate for her
job as homicide detective, than for the clubs dark interior.
  "I was looking for a friend of mine. He usually hangs out here, but
I forgot he was out of town." She drained her glass and waggled it at
the bartender til he came over to give her a refill. He took in
Tracy's condition and gazed questioningly at his employer. Lacroix
gave a slight nod, and her glass was refilled. "Your voice sounds
familiar, have we met before?"
  "No, I'm sure I'd remember meeting you before. Perhaps you've heard
my radio show, 'Nightwatch'?"
  "So, you're the Nightcrawler. My partner listens to you all the
time. I've never really been a fan, too gloomy." She giggled again.
"No offense."
  "None taken." he answered dryly. "It doesn't appeal to everyone.
You really don't seem to be part of it's intended audience." Just his
partner, he added silently. "It tends to escape some of the less
intellectual members of the city.
  Her eyes narrowed in annoyance. "I have no trouble understanding
it. It's just always so morose and cynical. I'm a cop and I've seen a
lot of garbage out there, but the world isn't as bad as you seem to
think it is."
  Lacroix looked at her in surprise. He hadn't really expected such a
tirade from her, or anyone else for that matter. People had a
tendency not to talk back to him. Then he smiled, somewhat
patronizingly. "Are you sure you really understand human nature as
well as you think?"
  "You want to quiz me?" She downed the rest of her drink. "I grew up
with a lot of that crap around me. My parents, my uncles, my sister,
Bruce. All of them acting all nice and perfect, while trying to hide
all kinds of stuff they were up to. But that didn't change the fact
that there were other people around who were nice and generous, even
when they didn't have to be. Now, I'm on the police force, I see all
kinds of criminals, and even *you* probably wouldn't believe what
some of them are capable of, but I also get to meet a lot of people
who want to help others, and are willing to take a stand against all
kinds of scum, even at the risk of their own lives. So, don't tell me
that people are all only out for themselves, it isn't true."
  Lacroix met her gaze directly for the first time, and saw a true
understanding lurking in their depths. One, that probably a lot of
people missed, in their rush to judge her by petty stereotypes. He
wondered if Nicholas or Vachon had ever noticed, or whether they just
saw her as some fragile damsel that needed protection.
  No, Nicholas hadn't noticed. His son could be quite dense at times.
The Spaniard, he wasn't so sure about. He seemed to be trying to
protect her, but only against their community. Perhaps he was capable
of understanding her fully, in time. He'd have to have a talk with
the boy when he returned.
  The bartender signaled last call, then turned to Lacroix. "Should I
call her a cab?" he asked, pointing to Tracy.
  "No need. I will see to her." He glared at the man's surprised
look, and he hurried away. "The club's closing. Let me see you home."
  Tracy gave him a slightly dubious look, but when she almost ended
up on the floor while attempting to stand, she reluctantly accepted
his assistance.
  After she gave him her address, Tracy dozed off in the passenger
seat of his car, leaving Lacroix to his thoughts. He still could go
through with his plan. No one but his employees had noticed him leave
with her.
  With a reluctant sigh, he realized that she had touched something
deep inside of him, and he couldn't bare to destroy her anymore than
he could allow Nicholas to destroy himself with his foolish quest.
  Gently, he helped her into her apartment, half carrying her. He
laid her sleeping form on the bed, and gazed down at her. He could
bring her across, but deep down he knew she would react to his
guidance the same way his son did. No, she was for someone else to
take, if she was to be taken at all. Mentally, he added it to the
list of subjects to discuss with Vachon and turned to go.
  He paused in the door of her bedroom and looked back, thoughtfully.
Lacroix then disappeared into her bathroom, and returned a moment
later, carrying a glass of water and a bottle of painkillers.
  He placed these on her bedside table, then leant down and planted a
light kiss on her forehead.
  "Sleep well child."
The End

---
Emma (elighton@operamail.com or elighton@hotmail.com)
Vaquera * T+Vpack * DP * War 9 vet
"So this was how you died, in whispers that you did not hear."
--Hemingway
http://members.tripod.com/lostshadows/main.html My FanFic Page