Punch and Tracy

Disclaimer

This is my Christmas Forever Knight story.  The characters, setting and
description contained herein are the property of Messrs Cohen and Parriot
and Sony/Tristar.  No infringements of their intellectual property rights is
intended.  This piece is the property of Spike Shovelton and I assert
copyright hereto.

Archive permission is given to Mel for the fkfanfic archive.  Anyone else
who wants it is welcome to do so, but please do ask first and leave my name
and this disclaimer attached.  Constructive comments are welcome at
blot30@hotmail.com but flames are not welcomed.  I would rank this one as
PG-13.  There is no explicit sex but there is some bad language and
expletives as well as more innuendo and implicit sensuality than usual so I
don't think it's fit for small children.  Enjoy and happy Christmas.

Punch and Tracy 1/2

By Spike Shovelton

Tracy Vetter sighed as she stretched.  The cool satin sheets felt good
against her warm body, holding her in a voluptuously hedonistic embrace.
Tracy frowned, she did not have silk sheets, so she was not in her own bed.
She stiffened.  She was not in her own bed so where was she?

She moved slightly and realised that wherever she was, she was not alone.
There was another body pressed against her own, cool, unfamiliar and
definitely male.  One hand was running up and down her thigh.  Tracy forced
her unwilling eyes to open and as she did so the room began to spin around
her as the slight ache in her temples developed into a full blown headache.
She felt her stomach beginning to churn and she sat up.

"Bathroom."  She murmured and climbed out of bed, reaching an expensive
looking vase, just in time for her stomach to complain and make her
violently sick.  She became aware that a hand was stroking her back,
soothing her as she retched and tried to get rid of her insides.  She stood
up and took the glass of water that was offered her and gulped it down,
wanting rid of the foul taste in her mouth.

The room was still spinning and she could feel her head throbbing.  She
stumbled and tried to focus in on the arm supporting her.  She forced her
brain to work and put together the facts she could see.  Cold, pale skin and
blue eyes, now what was that?  She frowned, trying to remember how she knew
this face.  "Oh f***."  Tracy said as she put the facts together.
"Lacroix."

"Good Morning."  Her companion studied her.  "The bathroom is the door on
the left."  Lacroix saw her wince.  "Something amiss?"

"Stop shouting."  Tracy pleaded and saw a smile cross his face.  "I have a
dreadful headache which is odd, because I didn't remember drinking."

"You didn't, someone spiked the drinks."  He responded.  "I will fetch you
something, try not to die before I return.  I'd hate for you to deprive me
of the pleasure of killing you later."

Tracy did not see him go, but she went into the bathroom and looked at
herself in the mirror when she was done.  God she looked terrible, then
again she felt terrible.  She was also stark naked and had a rather
interesting set of marks.  In addition to the three bite marks on her neck
she had red marks all down her torso, a fine set of bruises on her hips and
she ached contentedly. As well as the throbbing in her head, the pain in her
stomach and the fact that the room was still moving slightly she could not
remember anything after arriving at the police Christmas party.

She struggled back to the bedroom and sat down gratefully on the bed.  "I
brought you some paracetamol."  Came the soothing voice, this time barely a
whisper.  "Drink this first."  "This" was revolting but she drank it down,
not knowing what it was.

"What is that?"  When she had done he handed her a glass of fruit juice and
two tablets.

"It is a mixture of herbs and spices, an ancient Roman cure for a hangover."
  He responded.  "It will help."

It did, the room stopped spinning and Tracy was able to string two thoughts
together.  As she did so she realised that something must have happened,
that she did not know what, and that she was not at all happy.  "F***."  She
said again.

"If you insist, but I would prefer to wait until you are sober."  Lacroix
responded.  "Get back into bed, you need to rest."

"Not until you tell me what the hell happened last night, why I am here and
what you are playing at."  Tracy looked at him.  "And where are my clothes."

"Very well."  He looked at her and walked across to the cupboard.  He
returned with something and put it over her shoulders.

Tracy slid her arms through the sleeves of what appeared to be a black silk
shirt, a contrast to the blood red silk sheets.  "What is it with dead
people and silk?"  She asked as she fastened the shirt up.  It was
comfortable and smelled faintly of sandalwood and oranges, his scent.

Lacroix smiled at this.  She was certainly unusual, he had noticed that when
he was trying to whammy her.  "When one has spent as long as I have in
uncomfortable, primitive beds, or even no beds at all, one learns to
appreciate a few delicacies, although I do have a coffin somewhere around if
you would prefer."

Tracy giggled before realising that this was not helping.  "I would prefer
an explanation."

"Very well.  I was visiting a friend at the hotel and as I passed the
ballroom on the way out I heard the noise.  The party appeared to be
degenerating into an orgy and I was curious.  I went to investigate."  He
smirked.

"Why doesn't that surprise me."  Tracy said acidly and he shrugged.

"It was quite obvious that the drinks had all been spiked, even the soft
drinks.  I should say a mixture of stimulants and aphrodisiacs, to lower the
inhibitions.  You were in the process of removing your clothes.  You should
do that more often incidentally."

Tracy coloured. "Go on."

"You then began to remove my clothes and asked to see the size of my fangs.
Then you informed me that you wished to screw me to death to punish me for
trying to whammy you."  He said, enjoying her discomfort.

"I don't like where this is going."  Tracy said quickly and he nodded.

"I decided at that venture to remove you.  You made several other lascivious
comments about my looks, sexual potency and expressed a strong desire to
stake me.   I flew us back here.  Next time do not undress me when I am
flying, it makes it harder to concentrate.  Neither does trying to stake me
with a cocktail stick in mid air while calling out "meet Mr Pointy."  It
simply serves to make it more difficult not to drop you."

"There won't be a next time."  Tracy said and glared at him.  "Except for
the staking part."

"We shall see."  He responded and looked her over.  "I brought you up here
and we amused ourselves.  For a mortal you are extremely inventive."

Tracy had a sudden flash of memory, cold hands moving over her body and
razor sharp fangs tracing a path down to her breasts, putting every nerve on
the borderline between pain and pleasure.  Her skin seemed on fire and she
shivered under his skilled touch.  She felt herself turn red.  "I don't
think I want to know."

"No?"  He smiled at her.  "You are fortunate I have so much control."

Tracy snorted.  "So much control that you take advantage of an intoxicated
woman, who is blatantly not responsible for what she is doing?  I didn't
think you were that desperate."  She was angry now.

"I am not Nicholas, I never claimed to be honourable."  He responded.  "You
were very willing so why should I turn it down?  I have wanted to have you
since you tried to give me a black eye at the church.  I knew then that you
would be challenging."

"You were stealing my memories."  Tracy spat back.  She had not fully
forgiven him.

"I know, but it was so appealing, someone who would fight rather than run."
He looked her over.  "Even with the drugs making your blood taste duller."

"Duller?  Are you implying that my blood tastes bad?"  Tracy said sharply.
"Vachon said I smelt delicious."

Lacroix burst into laughter at her odd complaint.  Seldom did mortals
complain that their blood tasted bad.  "You do."  He sat down on the side of
the bed.  "Quite delightful, but drugs spoil the taste, probably why most
junkies taste so bad.  Only good for emergencies really."  He wondered why
she was so annoyed and found it oddly touching.  "You are very pleasing,
next time I will ensure you are sober."

"I keep telling you, there won't be a next time."  Tracy said and glared at
him.  "For all I know you killed Vachon.  I don't know you, I certainly
don't trust you, so why don't we forget this ever happened."

He looked at her.  "Do you want to?  You enjoyed it as much as I did.  There
is no harm in physical pleasure."  He ran a finger up the back of her hand.
Tracy shivered at the touch, his cold finger leaving a warm trail where it
went.  "You are very lovely, Tracy."  He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"Such a mixture of fire and gentleness, anger and compassion."  He kissed
her lips.

Tracy felt herself responding, despite the headache, and the unsettled
feeling, a part of her was very much enjoying this.  She wrestled, she did
not trust him.  Then again she was still alive, so he couldn't be all bad.
Stop it Tracy!  She was not doing anything and she pulled away, struggling
out of his surprisingly pleasant embrace.  "Let go of me."

"As you will."  He studied her.

"I'm going home.  As far as I'm concerned this never happened and if you
tell anyone then you're dead."  Tracy looked around.  "Now where are my
clothes?  What did you do with them?"

"You left most of them on the dancefloor."  Lacroix sighed.  "If you are
sure you wish to go, I will not stop you."  He walked to the wardrobe,
amused by the way her eyes followed him.  Not all that uninterested after
all.  He leafed through Janette's wardrobe and pulled out a dark blue dress
that his daughter did not much care for, before finding underclothes to go
with it.  He pulled out an unopened pair of tights and some dark blue ankle
boots.  Good thing his daughter had so many clothes, she would not miss this
one.

Tracy looked at the clothes on the bed and waited.  He raised an eyebrow.
She waited again.  Finally she took the clothes and went into the bathroom
with them.  "It is a little late, I have seen everything."  His voice
pursued her and she shivered.

Lacroix smiled, oh this was going to be so amusing.  He would not tell
people, he would not have to.  She was marked now as his, since he had taken
her blood.  Every vampire in Toronto would know it by the end of the week.
This was going to infuriate his son.  He smiled.  It was worth it for that
alone, but doubly so given how interesting Miss Tracy Vetter was.  He
watched as she came out of the bathroom.

End Part One

Punch and Tracy 2/2

By Spike Shovelton

See part one for disclaimer

Tracy looked at herself.  The dress was quite revealing, being low cut and
giving the impression of more cleavage than she had expected.  It was dark
blue velvet with straight skirts and a slit up one side.  The outfit was
both tasteful and attractive.

"You look most edible."  He said and smiled.

"I look terrible, the shoes are too tight and the dress is too short."  She
snapped back.

"I am sorry, I will ask my daughter to have larger feet and alter her body
shape."  He said sarcastically and Tracy laughed.

"No, thanks anyhow."  She looked at him.  "Now you don't tell anyone, I want
your word, or I'll have licensing close you down so fast you won't know
what's hit you."

"I wouldn't dream of it."  He smiled at her.  "I hope to see you soon.
Thank you for a wonderful evening."

"My pleasure."  Tracy said automatically, education kicking in before she
laughed again at the comment.  Lacroix joined her in this as he showed her
to the door and hailed her a taxi.

Tracy sighed as she went into work that evening.  Everyone was a little
anxious, and embarrassed.  The main topic of conversation was discussions of
who had done this.  Oh people usually added extra alcohol to the punch, but
for someone to drug all of the drinks, indicated a more serious intent.  She
did not like that thought.

She was working on her paperwork when she saw a shadow move over her and
looked up to see Natalie Lambert handing her paperwork.  "Hi Nat."  Tracy
smiled as she saw the unusually high necked blouse.  "Have fun at the
party?"

Natalie smiled, looking like Sidney after a nice dinner. Nick had been so
wild, it had been quite wonderful.  She was still having trouble walking.
"Yeah, tell whoever is running the pool on Nick and I getting together that
the correct answer is last night at midnight."  She went bright red and
Tracy chuckled.

"How about the other pool?"  Tracy sighed, she was a month out on the pool
on when Nick and Nat will get together.  She could always pick up on the
other pool.

"No comment."  Natalie said and they both laughed.  "I'm not saying."

"Aw, I wanted to win."  Tracy smiled.  "At least tell me if I'm right or
not.  Is it nine?"

"No comment."  Natalie said again and smiled.  "So what did you get up to at
the party?  Last thing I remember was you starting to sing.  She smiled.
"Nick dragged me into a corner after that."

"That's all I remember."  Tracy shrugged, not quite true.  She was starting
to remember more details of her evening's entertainment, and the memories
made her embarrassed, and secretly pleased at how creative she could be.
"Do we have any ideas who dunnit and what it was?"

"I'm still testing the drinks, amphetamines I think, probably something
aphrodisiac, but I'm still working on it.  Certainly a small dose of neat
alcohol, also positive on one of the mild hallucinogens. " She sighed.
Looking up she indicated a dark haired man crossing the room.  "That's
nice."

"Seen worse."  Tracy confirmed, something was off about him.

"Dr Lambert?"  Came a voice, slightly accented and he looked from one woman
to the other, settling his gaze finally.  "Nick called me this morning,
asked me to get something out of storage."  He held out a small box, quite
old looking.  "He'll be in soon, he's making arrangements."

"Sounds good."  Tracy said and the strange man looked at her and did a
double take.  "I didn't get your name."

"Feliks Twist.  Nick and I go a long way back."  He looked her over.  Tracy
frowned at him.  "You must be Tracy Vetter."

"Last I checked."  She responded.  "You want to wait or open that?"  Tracy
asked Natalie and the other smiled, opening the box and drawing in a deep
breath as she studied the shimmering pearls set in jade.  It was a beautiful
pendant on a thick gold chain.

"Oh it's beautiful."  She whispered and sat down on the desk.  Tracy
fastened it behind her.  "I want to thank Nick."  She stood and seemed to
melt across the room, reappearing at the door where Nick was waiting.

"Isn't that sweet."  Tracy said, watching as Nick led her away.  "Such a
nice gesture."

"Tracy, may I give you some advice?"  Felicks asked and she nodded.  "Come
outside."  She followed him.  "We aren't all very pleasant, getting involved
with the old devil is not a good survival tactic."

"I'll kill the misbegotten bastard, he said he wouldn't tell anyone."  Tracy
said, furious at the sympathetically amused look on the other's face.

"He didn't.  I spent last night with a friend at the Raven, I saw you
leaving, saw which door you came out of, plus the bites."  Felicks decided
it wouldn't be tactful to mention the fact that every vampire within ten
yards would be able to smell whose pet she was.  If Lacroix had branded it
on her back then the effect would have  been the same.  "Not a difficult
deduction."  He looked at her.  This would get around the community quickly.
  "Do you want to talk about it?  I am quite a good listener."

"I don't think there is anything to say.  Someone spiked the drinks, I was
drugged, I woke up at the Raven."  Tracy said sharply.  "I don't like it,
and I wish it had never happened, but that is it, end of story."

"I don't think you should count on him leaving it there."  Felicks murmured.
  "General doesn't work like that.  Just be a little careful, try to keep a
low profile."

"The hell I will."  Tracy spat back.  "I don't have to do what he wants, I
certainly don't intend to take any notice of it."

Felicks groaned, this could be interesting, but it wouldn't be wise to get
in the way.  Good thing that Knight was incredibly unaware of that sort of
thing unless it directly affected him.    "Play with fire and you get
burned."  He warned her.  "He's not the best person to thwart."

"Neither am I."  Tracy said and smiled.  "Now I have work to do."

She sighed as she went back to her desk.  Nick was miles away and barely
noticed that she was there.  Tracy was glad she was not the only one who was
a little distracted.  The memories were coming back and she blushed at them.
  She realised that Nick was saying something.  "Sorry what?"

"Not going to ask me about last night?"  Tracy looked at the smug grin on
his face.

"Some things are so obvious as not to require questions."  She responded and
he chuckled at this.  The tartly amused note in her voice, for some reason
reminded him of his maker.  "I am so glad you got together finally.  You two
are perfect for each other."

"Did you enjoy yourself?"  Nick asked, trying to draw his mind away from
Natalie.  He had to stop thinking about her, or buy less tight trousers.

"It was interesting."  Tracy said and returned her attention to the papers
in front of her.  She tried to avoid conversation, still unable to believe
what she had done.  It was just so not Tracy.

As she sat in her room a few nights later, looking at the marks on her neck
she sighed as she finished cleansing her face and poured skin toner onto
cotton wool.  They were fading yet if anything she could remember even
better, what had happened at the party.  She looked up, aware that she was
being watched.

"I brought your clothes back."  Came an amused voice.  "I got them out of
the hotel manager."

She turned to see the figure behind her and her hand went to the marks on
her throat.  "Mr Lacroix."

"I would like you to call me Lucien."  He purred back.  "It is my name and
it sounds so good on your lips."

"So what is this about?"  Tracy asked him.  "Is this some game to annoy
Nick?"  She had worked out the situation with this guy and her partner a
while back.

"No this is purely personal self indulgence.  Nicholas does not come into
the matter."  He wondered when his son would learn what was being said about
Tracy.  Probably not for a while, his son was not very clued up on community
gossip.

"I see."  Tracy looked at him.  He hadn't killed her, but that didn't mean
she trusted him.  "I still don't trust you."

"I would expect nothing less."  He smiled.  "You don't need to trust me, in
fact it is probably safer for you if you do not."  He shrugged.  "It did
occur to me that we really should get to know one another.  You might even
enjoy the experience."

"Why should we?"  Tracy asked wondering how someone so unsafe was so
amusing.

"Why shouldn't we?"  He responded with another question and she shivered.
"Apart from the fact that I'm untrustworthy, not safe, am doing something
nefarious with your partner, could kill you without a second thought, and
want your body, and preferably the rest of you too, I don't see a problem."

Tracy laughed at that.  "I can see several problems."

"Really?  Why don't we discuss the matter over coffee?"  His tone was
tempting and Tracy blushed.  She had a feeling she was going to be doing a
lot of that as the memories returned to her.  She smiled, still it could be
amusing and she didn't have a whole lot else to do.

"Well I suppose I could spare the time."  Tracy said finally.  "But I want
your word that you won't whammy, drug or kill me."

"You have my word."  He responded and smiled.  Well that left a lot of
scope.  At least he hadn't needed to promise not to bite her.  Yes this got
better and better.  It was so rare to meet someone with so much intelligence
who was so interesting in bed and so lovely.  "So when shall we meet?"  He
said and smiled.

"My night off is on Thursday.  I'll see you at ten at the coffee shop near
the CN Tower, the Tim Horton's one."  She said and smiled.  "Now be a good
vampire and fly away.  I have a pressing appointment with a face mask."

"Then I will see you soon."  He smiled and she felt a warmth run through
her.  If she could bottle and sell that smile then she would make a fortune.
  He really had to stop doing that.  She sighed as she felt the wind move,
indicating his passing.  This was definitely getting interesting.  She just
hoped she wouldn't regret it.

In bed in the loft Natalie Lambert smiled as she studied her sleeping
companion.  This had all worked out very well.  Who would suspect her of
having drugged the drinks?   In fact she had only asked for Nick's drinks to
be drugged, but the waiter had misheard her and drugged all of the drinks.
It had worked like clockwork, ensuring that Nick was uninhibited enough to
admit how much he cared, and still controlled enough not to bite her.

She sighed as she stretched out on the silk sheets and touched the necklace
she was wearing.  She smiled, things had been so lucky for her.  Discovering
that book of charms and spells when she had bought her costume and then
working out that she could manage the most interesting spell had been
rewarding.  "To liberate the passion and control the savagery of Vampyres
Werefolk Incubi and Succubi."  She had wondered at the title but it seemed
to work.  Although she wondered if that meant that werewolves, incubi and
succubi were real.  Then she decided that she did not want to know.

She had not bargained that it would make everyone else completely
uncontrolled.  Then again it had been the office party after all, so it had
been appropriate.  She hoped it would not be too easily detected in a
protein shake.  She had been working out a timetable for this, to ensure
that she could have Nick some of the time.

She did enjoy Christmas parties but she had enjoyed the aftermath of this
one all the more.  As her lover stirred and looked her over with lust filled
yet still tender eyes, she decided that maybe she could manage without the
spell.  At least for the moment, she could always put in the protein shakes
if he started brooding or acting guilty.  Yes everything was right with the
world and it had all worked out beautifully.  She looked down at Nick and
smiled, she could definitely clean up on the other pool, she made it eleven
inches but she could probably persuade him to measure it.  She grinned again
before Nick turned over and kissed her hard.

The End

1) In Buffy the Vampire Slayer "Mr Pointy" was Kendra the slayer's name for
her favourite stake in the episode "Becoming Part One."  I just couldn't
resist using the name and acknowledge that it was her idea and the rights to
it belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.