This is the sequel to "Drving Miss Tracy."  If you have not read that, you
may not understand the situation 100%.  E-mail me for a copy it if ya like.

Disclaimers: TPTB have them, I don't and I"d like to talk about time-sharing,
archiving is granted to Mel's fkfic and the DPs.  Comments, those wonderful
things that I want more of cause of finals, may be sent to DPangel79@aol.com.

oh, there are a few words in this.  just a few. :)  the phrase "kiss my butt"
wasn't as effective...

Tracy Eyre (01/01)
by Shana Nolan
******************

Sitting on the curb, her purse between her knees as to not embarrass herself,
Tracy Vetter checked her watch again.   "Oh, come on Nick. What, you have to
let the Caddy idle just to hear it purr?"

As if on cue, the large greeny-blue car pulled up to where she was, nearly
running over her toes with the right front tire.  Hopping out of the driver's
seat and coming around, Nick Knight looked down at his partner. "You okay?"

Tracy glanced up.  "Yeah, just left my keys and my car behind, and have I
mentioned that I really want some coffee?"

Running a hand through his hair, Nick sighed, wrapping his long coat around
him more as a wind blew through.  "Okay.  It's cold out here too.  Shall we
go?"

"Yeah."  Standing up, the hem of her skirt sliding up her thigh, she opened
the door to the passenger side before Nick could react.  Sliding in and
leaning her head against the seat back, she smiled slightly.  "Well?"

Breaking the stare he had affixed on his mortal partner (and her nyloned
thigh), he closed her door, walked around and got into the driver's seat,
pausing a few moments before starting the engine.  "So, how come you gave up
your keys?"

She shrugged.  "'Cause its illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol."

Pulling away from the curb, he resisted the urge to interrogate the mortal
next to him.  "So who has your keys?"

"The club owner."

"Which club owner?"

Tracy's mouth twisted into a wry smile at the thought of Lacroix.  "Eh, you
probably don't know him; the guy who owns the Raven."

"What?!" Accidentally swerving into the other lane, Nick shot a look at
Tracy.  "The Raven?!  Are you crazy?!"

"Um, Nick... would you mind, this isn't England... "

"Oh."  Back on the proper side of the road, Nick tried to fight the images of
Tracy being served on a silver platter to the many not-so-mortal patrons of
the Raven.  "The Raven?!"

"Geez, no wonder my father likes you; you lecture me the same way."

"I am not lecturing."

"You're lecturing."

"I am not!"

Tracy smacked her partner's arm.

"Okay, so I am.  But what were you doing at the Raven?"

"'Kay, watch the tone there, buddy, or I'll *walk* back to the club and get
my keys."

"You will not!  Oh.  No, don't... I... "

"Do I hear a please?"

Nick grumbled. "A grudging one, but yes.  What were you doing at the Raven?"

"Drinking a beer."

"That's all?"

"Obviously not.  I was driven home by the very suave club owner."

"That's all?"

"And I'm seeing him tomorrow."

"WHAT?!"  The Caddy screeched to a sudden stop, nearly propelling Tracy
through the windshield.

"Sweet gods, Nick, take it easy.   It's just a date."

Nick looked like he had swallowed a *really* bitter pill.  "With the club
owner!"

"What, you know him?  So, what kind of wine does he like?"

~Fresh and mortal,~ Nick thought to himself.  This was perfect... how was he
going to fix this?  Or live it down should the rest of the community discover
that his mortal police partner was associating more freely and intimately
with his master than he was? ~Open your mouth and do something or let it be
and hope for the best...~

Tracy glanced over at Nick, who seemed to be figuring out the best way to say
something.  Stopping at a red light, taking a deep breath, he blurted, "Okay,
but be careful."

Tracy immediately crossed her arms.  "Thanks, dad."

"I'm serious."

"Yes, dad, do you want me to be home at a certain time?"

"Tracy... "

"Okay, look, Nick, I'm not out to get raped or anything and I do know how to
stop a guy if he gets too rough.  I'm just here for my keys.  And speaking of
'here,' we're here."  Tracy pointed to the side, the Raven building directly
in both of their views.

Pulling down the alley ~Gee, deja vu,~ Tracy thought, the Caddy came to a
stop.  Unbuckling the seatbelt, the young mortal woman turned to face her
partner once more.  "Okay, I'm going in, you're welcome to join me, but if
you '20 Questions' this guy, I'll put you in a holding cell and leave you
there."

Nick nodded, making moves to get out of the seat.  About to open the door, he
paused.  "What's '20 Questions?'"  But his answer fell on silence, Tracy was
already halfway across the pavement to the doors of the club.

Pushing open the silvered doors, stepping into the dusky club, Tracy noted
that as it was getting later in the morning; many patrons were clearing out,
pausing to glance at the young blonde siren in the short skirt entering the
club.  Coming down the stairs and rounding to the bar, she leaned across the
surface, her best I'm-sexy-and-edible look at the bartender.  "Have you seen
Lucien?"

The dark bartender rose an eyebrow, looking at Tracy's young face.  "He does
not normally get visitors this time of day.  The bar is closing, come back
tonight."

Tracy was about to open her mouth and say something, when she was
interrupted.  "Everything's fine, she's with me."

Seeing the bartender backing off and nodding, Tracy froze.  That wasn't
Lacroix who had just said that; and it wasn't Lacroix who had a possessive
hand wrapped around her waist, it was...  "Nick!!"

He jumped back.  "What?  He was about to kick you out."

Trying to ignore how nice it felt to have an arm around her, Tracy crossed
her arms and stared down her partner.  "Yeah, and thank you for that.  Now
behave and let me deal with this."

"Tracy, I'm not sure you're aware of what you're going to be dealing with....
"

"Oh, bite me, Nick.  I can do this."

Resisting a ~if you insist,~ Nick huffed.  "You're as stubborn as Nat.
Listen to me for one, and trust me on this thi-- "

"Yes, dad.  Would you like to kiss my ass, dad?"

From his obscured position, listening with great amusement to the argument
between his son and Miss Vetter, Lacroix considered gracing them and stealing
a few more moments with the lovely young blonde woman.  However he paused,
hearing a barb from his paramour:

"And so what if he's older?  You have learned, oh, no,  of course not, you
wouldn't get it if you tried."

Nick glared.  "Not get what?  Women? Hah!  If you're an example of womanhood
in general, I have not a prayer!"

"Good.  Our secrets are safe for another generation.  God, it would just kill
you to have to ask for directions, wouldn't it?"

Nick's mouth gaped open for a moment, but before he shot back his response,
he was  "ahemmed" silent.

Tracy's argumentative snarl turned to a wicked grin.

"Ahh, my dear Miss Tracy, how pleasant it is to have you come back?   Have
you decided to move our date from tomorrow to now?"

Tracy took a few step, crossing past her stunned partner, over to Lacroix.
"No, unfortunately," she hooked a thumb towards Nick, "chaperone and all.
But I do need my keys back."

Lacroix smiled, barely licking his lips.   He knew perfectly well that
Nicholas was aware of both of their every movements; then he tested that
awareness.

Bringing a large cool hand up, brushing it silkily up her arm, across her
shoulder, to her neck and cupping her chin delicately, he drew her face close
to his and murmured, "Then perhaps I can give you taste of tomorrow."

Tracy tried to not shudder.  His presence was driving her crazy; what, did he
ooze 100% pheromones?  Mustering her flighty energy, she relaxed into
Lacroix's strong hold and purred softly, "Perhaps, but I do love the element
of surprise... "

Nick, standing back and feeling treated the way he was when he was a fledging
vampire, tried to ignore the obvious danger going on between his master and

his partner.  Tracy was far too close to Lacroix for her personal safety, a
single movement and *snap* she would be his early morning snack.  Fiddling
with his gun, trying to distract himself, he finally snapped when he heard
Tracy's heartbeat quicken in a way that meant that she had no intention of
leaving the club for the day.

"I'm sorry, we have to get going, don't we, *Detective Vetter*?"

Setting ice blues eyes on his son, Lacroix's smile was not entirely kind.
"Est-ce tu m'envie?" <are you jealous?>

Nick grumbled for a moment.  "No, but I don't like this.  Il y a autres
femmes, pourqui choisis-tu cette elle?" <there are other women, why choose
this one?>

"Oh, Nicholas," relaxing his hold on Tracy so she could see exactly who he
was being condescending at, Lacroix, waved a free hand in the air.  "You do
not wear jealousy well, nor have you ever.  Miss Vetter has consented to my
attentions and has the free will to leave if she wishes."

"But she doesn't know anything about our-- "

"Hush.  Show a dram of patience and I will return her to you unscathed."

Tracy cast a curious upward gaze at Lacroix.  "To him?  Who says I belong to
any of you?  I'm my own person and if you can't get that, you don't get
anything from me."

Lacroix chuckled.  Nick shoved his hands in his pockets, hiding his
discomfort.

Stepping fully away from the pale, buzz cutted gentleman, Tracy shrugged.
"Keys, please."

"On the table inside the radio booth."

She nodded.  "Oh, sure.  I'll get them, thanks."

When she was out of earshot, Nick suddenly glared at Lacroix.

The master vampire didn't flinch.  "What is it now?"

"I don't want you to hurt her."

Lacroix chuckled again. "I will go as far as she asks me to.  She is a lovely
young woman, full of fire.  I'm amazed you haven't taken her for yourself."

Nick hesitated.  "Never thought about it."

"Oh, that's bull and you know it.  Her blood so young and sweet, she's a fine
prize, Nicholas and you are perfectly aware of it."

"If I was?"

"You'd know she was mine and not for you to interfere, unlike before."

Nick kept his mouth shut, looking up to see Tracy, keys in hand, coming back
down to the dance floor where they were waiting.    Coming up to Lacroix, she
placed a lingering hand on his lower back, trailing it as she came round the
front to take a parting kiss from him.  "I'll see you soon," was her lilting
whisper.

Lacroix's smile was a satisfied curl of the upper lip.  Watching as Tracy,
departed from his personal space, swept by Nick, snatching the blonde man's
wrist to drag him along with her.

Nick's look of sudden shock made the curl of Lacroix's lip broaden into a
chuckle.

"Nick!  Are you there? Come on.  Sunrise is soon!"

"Um, yeah, okay.... "

Finally outside the doors, giving her partner a "you're weird" look, Tracy
crossed her arms.  "Well, are we gonna stand here the whole day or get in
your car and go to our respective homes?"

Nick shook his head, trying disperse the confusion.  Too much information had
just been shoved upon him in a very short space of time.  "Yeah.  Just a
minute, they're in one of my pockets."

"Mmm-hmmm."

"They are....  not there, but maybe... um... lemme check... uh-oh... "

"Nick... "

Nick huffed. "I had them a second ago!"

"Yeah, sure.  Am I still illegal to drive?"

"Probably."

"Oh, good."  Turning on her heel, Tracy headed right back for the silver
doors, "You coming, or do I get to discover just how phototropic you are?"

~So much for planning.~  Shrugging, Nick fell in step behind her.  "I
probably should.   We'll have to call the precinct though."

"Whatever.  Let's go.  I may not have to wait until tonight for what I had in
mind."

"What you had in mind... ?"

"Yeah.  What were you thinking?  That we're gonna play Scrabble<tm>?  Yeah,
right.  And here everyone thinks I'm the innocent one?! Geez... "

The doors nearly throwing him across the club as they closed, Nick tried to
get certain images out of his head.  "But, Trace, you have considered that
that may not be a wise choice."

"Yes, I have and I don't care, dad."

"Let's not go there again."

Quickly closing the distance between herself and Lacroix, who was counting
cases by the bar, Tracy cast a look back.   "Don't take this personally, no,
wait, check that, take this personally; the last time my father tried to run
my life for me by getting me into pre-law I showed him my 'appreciation' by
turning around and changing to an art major.  As for you, Nick Knight, there
are ample ways to show my 'appreciation.'  Right now, though, I am happily
distracted and will think no further of your 'worries.'"

Lacroix, seeing the young woman almost flying his way, paused his task,
setting the small knife down, extending a hand out to her.  When she was
standing next to him, her tall lean body dwarfed by his own, he cast a cruel
smile towards his son, who was standing across from them, unsure of what to
do.  "There is a room in the back if you would like to rest there, Nicholas,
but you will have to drink what we have here.  As for the lovely Miss Vetter,
I think I know exactly where she can get some rest, or anything else she
might like."

Nick stuttered, knowing he had lost this battle like some sinking aircraft
carrier in an ocean full of enemies.  His mind was screaming protests at the
accommodations (hers, not his), but he knew if he said anything, he'd get in
trouble, to say the least.  "Ok- kay."

"Oh, and Nick?"  Tracy called to him as Lacroix was leading her away, a
keyring dangling in her hand, "Thanks for losing your keys!"

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


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