Disclaimers:
Forever Knight and its characters were created by James Parriott and Barney Cohen. Copyright lies with Sony Entertainment.
This story is a work of fanfiction, no money had exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended.
This story contains explicit sexual scenes between consenting adults; consider yourself warned.

Many thanks to my beta readers, Cloud and deb, for pointing out my errors, and encouraging me so much. Thanks, guys!
And a special thank you to the person who helped with the Spanish parts. She does not wish to be credited by name. ¡Muchas gracias!

[ ] denotes translations

With a flourish, Grace pushed the filing cabinet drawer closed.

"All right! I'm finished with the filing, and now I'm out for lunch!" she declared.

"Bring back a double cheeseburger for me?" Natalie called after her retreating back. Grace waved to indicate a yes.

With her assistant gone, Natalie Lambert tried once more to concentrate on the report she was writing. So far, she had only succeeded in getting distracted every time she started anew. This time was no exception.

"Alone at last, Doctor?" a slightly rough male voice spoke into her ear.

Natalie nearly jumped out of her skin.

"What the? Vachon? What are you doing here?" she exclaimed.

The Spanish vampire shrugged and gave her a crooked little smile.

"I wanted to thank you for what you did, finding a cure to the fever, and all that. And, uhm..." Vachon let the sentence trail away and let his hand, which he had pressed to his right side, drop, revealing a torn tee shirt and a large bloodstain under his leather jacket.

"Oh my...what happened?" Natalie jumped up from her chair. "Never mind. Let me see the wound." Even her gentle touch made Vachon flinch.

"Careful, doctor. This hurts", he hissed between clenched teeth.

"This should have healed already, but you're still bleeding. I need to get a better look at the wound, while you tell me how you got it", she said, indicating the autopsy table.

The vampire nodded and tried to shrug out of his leather jacket, but the pain in his side intensified, making him grimace.

"Here, let me help you." Natalie helped him out of the stiff garment, taking care not to jar the wound.

"Some stupid mortals started a fight. I tried to break it up when one of them drew a knife." Slowly and painfully, Vachon climbed upon the table while Natalie placed the jacket on her chair and started to prepare her instruments.

"He stabbed you?" she asked, looking up from the tray.

Vachon threw the tray an uneasy glance. "Yeah. The damn blade broke off. I think it got stuck in the wound."

"Ouch. That must have hurt."

Vachon grimaced. "Still does."

"We'll take care of that in a moment." Natalie held up a syringe, filled with a clear liquid. Vachon watched in morbid fascination as a glistening drop formed on the needles point and slowly slid down the length of the needle.

Catching his nervous look, Natalie smiled. "Scared?" she asked with a wicked gleam in her eyes.

"I hate needles", Vachon muttered.

"Just give me your arm."

Reluctantly, Vachon held out his arm.

"You know, you're acting as if this was a wooden stake." Natalie swabbed the crook of his elbow with an alcoholic pad. Vachon chose to ignore her comment, and instead nodded in the direction of the pad.

"You don't need to do that", he observed.

"Force of habit. At least with patients who still move", Natalie quipped and quickly inserted the needle. "See, that wasn't so bad", she said as she withdrew the syringe.

"Hardly felt it at all", Vachon admitted. "Uh... what was it?

"Curare. Don't worry, it can't kill you guys."

Vachon blinked. The throbbing pain in his side ebbed away, leaving a blessed numbness. The vampire let out a sigh.

"Feeling better?"

"Uh-uh." Vachon nodded an affirmative, looking very relieved indeed.

Natalie chuckled and patted his cheek; his three day stubble felt rough against the palm of her hand. "You better lie down, before the stuff really hits your system."

"What do you... oh!" Vachon grabbed the rim of the autopsy table when the room suddenly tilted and spun before his eyes. "This is... potent stuff", he managed, and giggled. "I feel like I'm flying. Only I'm not."

"Well, you should know how that feels." Natalie placed her hands on his shoulders and gently pushed him down on the table. "Now let me pull the blade out."

"Sure, Doc." Vachon's speech was starting to slur, too.

Tracy Vetter waved a folder in front of Nick's face to get her partner's attention.

"Hmm?" Knight grunted questioningly.

"Nick, have you been listening at all? I said I'll drop this off at the morgue on my way home."

"Sure. Go ahead. I will catch up with you later", he mumbled, eyes fixed on the computer screen.

Rolling her eyes and groaning in frustration, Tracy picked up her bag and left. *Men*, she thought.

The drive to the morgue was short and uneventful. Tracy parked her too-practical Ford Taurus in front of the building and went inside, waving to Grace who was just on her way out.

The older woman smiled, waved back, and called: "I'm bringing back lunch, Tracy. Want some?"

"No, thanks, I'll only be a minute."

She continued down the corridor at a brisk pace, eager to reach Natalie's office and drop off the file. After that, Tracy would go home to freshen up and then meet Vachon at the church. Thinking of the new dress that waited for her at home, Tracy smiled to herself. A certain Spanish vampire with a severe commitment allergy was in for a big surprise tonight. There was no way he would be able to resist her once he saw her in that outfit. Undead or not, Javier Vachon was a helpless victim of testosterone, and Tracy Vetter was going to take advantage of this fact tonight.

Tracy opened the door to Natalie's office - and stopped dead in her tracks. There on the autopsy table was the object of her affection. Tracy dropped the folder and gaped at the tableau in front of her, too shocked to speak.

"Aagh!" Natalie almost dropped her instruments when the papers hit the floor. She spun around and met Tracy's shocked gaze with her own. "Tracy! Do you always sneak up on people like that? You almost gave me a coronary."

"Vachon?! Nat??!" Tracy squeaked.

The vampire lifted his head from the table the fraction of an inch. Funny how difficult moving became when you felt like you were floating in jelly. He also had a hard time focusing his eyes on Tracy. "Hi Trace. Iss not wot ya ss - think, sweetie", he slurred, and giggled.

*Sweetie?* Tracy thought, incredulously.

*Think fast*, Natalie thought to herself. "Uh... I take it you guys know each other?"

"You can say that again, Natalie. Remember the plane crash?" Tracy shook her head. "Of course you do. Well, you could say we first met at the crash site. Natalie Lambert, meet J. D. Valdez, a. k. a. the missing corpse."

Natalie chuckled. "I know what you mean." The next moment, her eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute, wait a minute. There's more, is there? You know about his.. ah.. special condition, don't you?"

Tracy stared at her and nodded.

"What happened to Vachon?" she asked, concern evident in her face and voice. Stepping closer to the table, she took the vampire's hand in her own.

Vachon smiled up at her."Dinna know ya cared, baby", he murmured.

"Of course I do", Tracy replied softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead.

"It's nothing to worry about, Tracy", Natalie tried to reassure her. "He has a knife blade stuck between his ribs, nothing that would bother a vampire for long. Once I've removed it, the wound will heal in less than an hour."

"But he seems so out of it", Tracy replied, looking into Vachon's unfocused gaze. The vampire's pupils were dilated, his eyes glassy.

"I gave him something for the pain." Natalie waved her hand in a vague gesture. "There aren't many things they react to at all, so it's the strong stuff or nothing, I'm afraid. And nothing is not an option for me if my patient has fangs and may really like me, if you get my drift", she finished with a wry smile. "Not that I would worry too much about that with Vachon here. He's a real pussycat compared to some others I've met. But it's easier for him. And easier for the surgeon when the patient doesn't flinch."

Snapping on a fresh pair of surgical gloves, Natalie took the scalpel and set to digging the knife blade out of Vachon's side. Tracy studiously avoided looking in that direction. She did not need to see Nat slice into Vachon's flesh with a sharp instrument even if he did not feel a thing. The thought alone made her slightly nauseous, so she busied herself holding his hand and stroking the silky strands of his hair. Vachon sighed and closed his eyes.

"S' nice", he muttered sleepily.

"How do you know about them... him?" Tracy finally asked.

"Well, I had a patient wake up on me right here in this room. Not Vachon. Someone else. Nearly scared me to death." Natalie drew a deep breath. Should she tell Tracy the truth about her partner? No, she decided. She could not go behind Nick's back. "I treated him, we became friends, and suddenly I found myself having a lot more patients. I guess I'm the only doctor to the undead in the whole of Ontario. It's a good thing these guys are so healthy, or I wouldn't have time for my regular job." She dug a little deeper, turning the scalpel slightly "Gotcha!" With a triumphant cry, Natalie held up a wicked looking, bloodied piece of metal. She grinned. "Now, I'll just patch you up, and you're ready to go."

"Doesn't he need stitches?" Tracy interjected.

"If he were mortal, yes, but vampires heal so quickly, it would be kind of superfluous." Natalie shrugged and slapped a patch of gauze on the wound,securing it with adhesive tape. "By tomorrow, he won't even have a scar left."

Nudging Vachon's shoulder, she spoke into his ear: "You're all done. Time to wake up and go home."

"Mmhhh?" Vachon opened one eye. "Wasn't 'sleep", he mumbled. "Juss ressn' m' eyes." He yawned. "Wh'n will ya git th' damn thing outta m' side?"

Natalie chuckled. "I already did. You are ready to go, Vachon", she replied, enunciating each word carefully.

The vampire nodded drowsily. "'S nice."

Laughing, Natalie gestured to Tracy to help Vachon into an upright position. The vampire offered no resistance, but very little help, either.

"Think you gave him too much?" Tracy inquired.

"Nah." Natalie shrugged it off. "Well, maybe a little. But isn't he adorable, all drugged up and muzzy like this?" She patted Vachon's cheek.

The adorable fanged one tried his best to glower at her; all he managed, however, was a pout. "Ah take 'ception ta that. 'M purrfectly sober." Swinging his legs over the table rim, he fell face forward into Tracy.

"Yeah, right", Natalie muttered under her breath. "How do you feel?"

"Bit woozy", Vachon mumbled, his face buried in Tracy's shoulder.

He slid from the table and tried to stand on rather wobbly legs. Luckily he was already leaning against Tracy; the young detective wrapped her arms around him and kept him upright when his balance failed him.

"Hmmm... I like that", Vachon mumbled against Tracy's shoulder in a drunken voice. Suddenly, his vampire senses kicked in, warning him to take cover. He lifted his head, squinting against the bright lights. "Somebody's coming", he declared.

"Oh my god... Grace!" Natalie cried. "She must not see you here." Nat frantically looked around for a place to hide Vachon. Where could one hide an intoxicated 5 ft 10 vampire?

"The cooler! Quick, get in there!"

Natalie took Vachon's elbow, and together the two women propelled the Spaniard into the cooler.

"S'cold in here", Vachon protested.

"It's not for long." Tracy pressed her lips to his in a quick kiss and closed the door, leaving Vachon in the dark room.

The door opened again, and in flew his leather jacket, landing neatly in Vachon's face before dropping to the floor. The door closed, and Vachon was alone in the dark cooler again. Just him, his jacket, and the corpses.

"S'dark, too", the vampire observed somewhat belatedly, staggering into a gurney and almost falling over it's occupant.

"¡Joder!" [Fuck!] Vachon cursed. "Move outta the way, buddy." He nudged the corpse, but the dead body did not obediently rise and make room for one very loaded and slightly drowsy vampire.

"Oh, yeah, you're dead, right? Real dead." He thought about it for a moment. "Yech!" Absently, Vachon wiped his hands on his jeans. "Need some light in here. Guy can't see in the dark. Not this kind of dark", he mused. Wavering slightly on his feet, he stumbled into the nearest wall. "¡Mierda!" [Shit!] Vachon decided he had enough of walking into corpses - and walls - for the moment and set down on the floor, propping his back against the wall.

Outside, Tracy and Natalie leaned against the door to the cooler when Grace stepped into the lab.

"Oh, hi, Grace", Natalie greeted her nervously. "You're back early."

"Thought you were hungry, girl", Grace replied. She placed a take-out box on Natalie's desk. "There you go."

"You're right, I'm starving!" Natalie fairly leaped to retrieve her dinner. "Oh, Grace, I almost forgot. Could you run down to forensics and ask about the results in the Wilson case? I've tried calling them, but you know how it is. When the lines are not busy already, the guys down there don't bother to pick up." She gave her assistant a nervous smile.

Grace threw her hands in the air. "Yes, yes, I know all about it, don't you worry." She cocked her head. "You know, if I didn't know you better, I might think you are trying to get rid of me. You're not hiding something in the cooler, are you? Or someone?" The large woman gave Natalie a conspirational wink.

"What are you thinking, Grace!" Natalie huffed. "Kindly get your mind out of the gutter before you give Detective Vetter a completely wrong impression about working in a morgue."

Tracy giggled nervously. If Grace had any idea how close she was to the truth... and yet, how far from it.

"Oh, I think she had the right impression from the start, didn't you, Detective?" Grace grinned at Tracy.

"Grace, there is no living human being in that cooler", Natalie admonished. "Now, I really need that report."

"Alright, I can take a hint." With another wink, this time in Tracy's direction, Grace left.

Natalie leaned against her desk. "Oh my... that was close."

Tracy was shaking with laughter. "No living human being. Right. Vachon will just love that one."

Natalie grinned at her. "I bet he will. Now let's get him out of there, before he is frozen solid."

"Yeah, I don't want to take home a vampsicle", Tracy quipped. At Natalie's laughter, she added: "Talk about being cool..."

The two women wiped tears of laughter from their eyes. Tracy, however, sobered quickly, and put her hand on Natalie's shoulder.

"You know how long I wished I could share this with someone? It's so crazy. When I met Vachon, my whole world changed. I changed. And I couldn't talk about it to anybody."

Natalie looked into the younger woman's eyes. "You and me both", she replied. "Come on, we don't have much time."

She opened the cooler, and they both went in. Vachon was still sitting on the floor, with his back to the wall. He looked about ready to nod off.

Natalie and Tracy walked over to Vachon and helped the vampire to his feet.

"You left me alone in here", he complained. "It's cold in here. And dark." He nodded for emphasis.

"Poor baby", Natalie crooned. "But you wouldn't want Grace to find you here, would you? You're in no shape to whammy anybody right now."

Tracy wrapped her arm around Vachon's middle. She barely suppressed a shiver. His body felt colder than usual against hers. "Come on, I'll take you home. You look like you could use a good night's sleep."

"Ahm a vampire", Vachon slurred. "Ah sleep days."

"A good day's sleep, then", Tracy amended. She did not want to start a quarrel with him as long as he was in that state.

Mollified, Vachon leaned against her. He felt dizzier and more tired by the minute. Plus, he could hardly feel his own body.

"You're taking him to your place, Tracy?" Natalie asked. Why was she not surprised?

"Yes, I think it's better. Why?"

"Do you have enough blood in the fridge to feed him? He'll be hungrier than usual in the morning", Natalie explained.

"Oh. Well, I can always swing by his place and pick some up."

"Don't bother." Natalie walked over to the refrigerator, taking two packs of blood out of it. Almost as an afterthought, she added a third. "Give me your bag."

Reluctantly, Tracy handed her the bag which she had slung over her shoulder. "Are you sure this is okay? It won't be missed?"

"Nah." Natalie dismissed the thought. "After all, I write the reports. And hey, these are for emergencies." She waved a hand at Vachon, who was almost asleep on his feet. "If this isn't an emergency, I don't know what is."

Tracy gave her a warm smile that turned into a smirk. "Now I know why you answer the phone with 'Natalie's bed and breakfast'", she giggled.

Chuckling, Natalie took Vachon's leather jacket and draped it over his shoulders. "I couldn't call it 'Community ER', could I?"

Vachon looked at her from beneath heavy eyelids. "Gracias, doctora" [Thank you, doctor], he mumbled. Yawning, he blinked a couple of times.

"Vachon? Are you okay?" Tracy inquired.

"Estoy cansado" [I'm tired], he replied.

"What?" Natalie looked at the vampire, puzzled by his sudden inability to speak English. She did not understand Spanish and had no idea what Vachon was saying.

"He said he's tired", Tracy translated. Blushing slightly, she admitted: "I learned some Spanish in high school."

"Better take him home, before he falls asleep on his feet", Natalie suggested.

"Right." Tracy nudged Vachon; the vampire obediently stumbled forward.

Natalie shook her head at the sight. "I love my job, but it's nice to see someone leave under their own power once in a while", she deadpanned.

"Do you really think he counts?" Tracy shot back. Smiling, she led Vachon out of the building and to her car. It took some judicious juggling on Tracy's part to retrieve her car keys without either dropping her bag or letting go of Vachon, who leaned against the car, but seemed intent on assuming a more horizontal position. She finally managed to open the passenger door and help Vachon into the seat. "Come on, don't fall asleep on me just yet", she entreated.

"Hmmm?" Vachon lifted his head slightly and stared at her with glassy eyes.

"Por favor, no te duermas aún" [Please, don't fall asleep yet], she repeated in Spanish.

The vampire blinked. "Vale" [Okay], he murmured. "Voy a intentarlo." [I'll try.] His head fell forward. Tracy closed the door with a sigh and walked around the car to get into the drivers' seat. How was she ever going to bring Vachon into her apartment? She definitely could not carry him up the stairs if he fell asleep.

Vachon was barely awake by the time they arrived at Tracy's apartment building. Tracy parked the car and got out. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she stepped around the car and opened the passenger door. The vampire was slumped in his seat.

"Come on, Vachon, we're there", she said. Taking his shoulders, she turned him around so he faced the open door. Vachon mumbled something under his breath. Tracy took his face in both her hands. "Wake up! I can't carry you."

"Huh?" he replied. "Tracy, mi querida." [Tracy, my beloved.] He gave her a drunken smile.

"Can you walk?" Tracy looked into his eyes, trying to determine if he understood her at all.

"Walk? 'Course I can walk", Vachon slurred. He set his feet on the ground and heaved himself out of the car. Swaying, he stood, one hand on the car's roof to steady himself.

Tracy took his free arm and slung it over her shoulder. "Here, I'll help you. We'll take this slow and easy, okay, Vachon?"

"'Kay." Vachon looked down at his feet. "'s funny, ya know. Can't feel m' feet."

"That's the curare. Come on, I'll take you upstairs." She gently pulled him towards the door. Obediently, Vachon stumbled along. His head was spinning so badly that he could not seem to concentrate even on the simple task of putting one foot in front of the other.

By the time they reached Tracy's floor, the young detective was drenched in sweat. Vachon's knees suddenly buckled, and the vampire crashed into the wall, pulling Tracy with him. "Vachon! Come on, it's only a few steps more. You can do that, right?" Tracy tried to coax Vachon to get up again.

"Now, what is that ruckus in the middle of the night? Tracy Vetter, you should be ashamed, bringing home strange men at this ungodly hour!"

Oh, no, Tracy thought. Not this, too. But whoever listened to the prayers of cops and their vampire friends seemed otherwise occupied tonight. She was alone with an intoxicated vampire and the nosy neighbour from hell.

"Mrs. Crenshaw! It's not what it looks like."

Mrs. Crenshaw harumphed. Her disapproving glare made Tracy cringe. "If my dear George, God rest his soul, was still with us, this would not be happening!" the good neighbour declared. "Drunken men, in this house, in the middle of the night! What is this world coming to?"

"Please, Mrs. Crenshaw... Gladys... Vachon isn't drunk. He's injured. I just brought him home from the ER", Tracy wheedled.

"Really. He should have stayed in the hospital, then." Despite her harsh words, Gladys' expression softened somewhat. Tracy knew then that her posturing was just that. "He saved a life tonight, but he got stabbed in the process. The doctor gave him something for the pain, and it's making him drowsy", Tracy continued. "He didn't want to stay, though. He hates hospitals. You see, his best friend died only a few weeks ago."

"Oh, the poor dear!" Gladys exclaimed. "Of course you were right to take care of him. Here, let me help."

Gotcha!, Tracy thought. For all her bluster, Gladys Crenshaw still had a soft heart. She was the kind of woman who would lecture you on today's fashion when you caught a cold, and how unhealthy these jeans and short skirts were, and then cook up enough chicken soup for a whole battalion. She also had an amazingly dark sense of humour. A little bending of the truth would not hurt her.

The two women helped the nearly unconscious vampire to his feet and led him to Tracy's apartment. Once inside, they manoeuvred Vachon into the bedroom. Mrs. Crenshaw quickly pulled back the covers, and they helped him onto the bed. Vachon immediately keeled over and was sound asleep even before his head hit the pillow.

Tracy deftly removed his boots and socks, and was reaching for the covers when Mrs. Crenshaw stopped her. "You cannot let him sleep in his clothes like this, my dear. It must be terribly uncomfortable. And it would ruin your sheets, too." She pulled the torn, blood-soaked tee shirt over Vachon's head; the vampire did not stir. Dropping the tee shirt, she reached for the waist band of his jeans and undid the button fly. "Oh my!" she exclaimed. "What a unique answer to the boxers or briefs question!"

Tracy blushed beet red when she realized what Mrs. Crenshaw was saying. "Gladys", she squeaked.

"Oh, hush, Tracy. I was married, you know. I'm sure your friend has nothing I haven't seen before." That said, Mrs. Crenshaw pulled the jeans off Vachon. "Well, you certainly have no reason to complain. Your boyfriend may not be as well endowed as my dear George was, God rest his soul, but then again, who is."

Tracy blushed an even deeper red. "He's not my boyfriend", she insisted.

Mrs. Crenshaw pulled up the sheets and comforter around Vachon. "Really, dear. I'm not blind. I've seen this young man come to you at all times. Oh, don't think you haven't been discrete. I'm a nosy old woman. I see more and hear more than most people. More than is good for me, really." Mrs. Crenshaw gave Tracy a warm smile. "I'll be gone, now. You take care of your friend." With a pat on Tracy's cheek, she left the apartment, quietly closing the door behind her.

Tracy gathered Vachon's clothes up and threw them into the laundry basket. Going into the bathroom, she took off her own clothes and stepped into the shower. Tracy allowed the hot water to run down her back and soothe her tired muscled. After a few minutes, she turned the water off and towelled herself dry before slipping into a thin satin night-gown. Her new outfit was still on a hanger on the bathroom door. She threw it a longing glance. No, this was definitely not the way she had wanted this night to end.
She walked over to her bag, which she had left behind the front door, and took out the blood packs. They wouldn't do Vachon any good if she did not keep them refrigerated, so she placed them in the fridge. Top shelf, next to the bananas. Last she checked her blackout curtains, making sure they were closed all the way. Barbecued vampire wasn't her idea of a morning treat. That done, Tracy stretched and yawned. For a moment, she considered sleeping on the couch. After all, Vachon was in her bed. Naked. No, she decided, she would never get a decent rest on the couch unless she folded it out, and she was too tired to do that tonight. Having made her decision, Tracy climbed into the bed next to Vachon, leaving the sheet between them for modesty's sake. Snuggling up to his cool body, she quickly fell asleep.

Vachon lingered in that precious state between sleep and wakefulness. The first thing he became aware of was the sweet aroma of apricots and calla lilies filling his nostrils. Tracy's scent. He inhaled deeply, savouring it, when he felt the warm weight across his chest. He slowly opened his eyes to find Tracy nestled against his side, one arm draped over his chest. He blinked a few times to clear his head. What was Tracy doing in his bed? Not that he was complaining. He found he liked waking up to her scent, her nearness. But the question remained: How did Tracy end up in his bed? Vachon frowned. No, wait, that wasn't his bed. It was Tracy's. In her bedroom. In her apartment. Okay. So he was in Tracy's bed, in her apartment, and he had no memory of how he got here. Must have been some party, Javs old boy, he thought wryly.

He turned his head slightly. His clothes were nowhere in sight, but his tee shirt was definitely not on his body, and he could not feel his jeans encasing him, either. Javier lifted the comforter and sheet. Yep, as naked as the day he was born. And he noticed something else; Tracy was lying on the sheet, leaving it between their bodies, allowing him some degree of modesty. He smiled. As if sleeping next to her, naked, would have bothered him. Well, on second thought... after all, he was a healthy young male, forever frozen in the sexually most active age.

Well, at least Tracy was still warm and breathing. Whatever else had happened, he had not lost control or brought her across. Now, that would have made things complicated.

But had they...? Damn his memory... Vachon turned over slightly to check Tracy's neck for the telltale marks of a vampire's lovemaking. The motion was enough to wake her.

"You're awake", Tracy stated sleepily and stretched. "How do you feel?"

"Pretty good, considering I don't know how I got here."

"You don't remember?" Tracy shifted her weight, propping herself up on one elbow.

Vachon shook his head. "The last thing I remember is going to this bar..." He let the rest of the sentence trail away. "There was a fight." Vachon shook his head. "I was stabbed. Things get fuzzy from there."

"I found you in the morgue." Tracy thumped Vachon's shoulder. "You could have told me that you know Natalie."

"Huh? Uh... well. She's..." Vachon fumbled for words.

"... the only doctor to the undead in Ontario." Tracy concluded the sentence, grinning from ear to ear. "As I said, you could have told me." She thumped him again.

"Ouch! Hey, that hurts!" Vachon complained. "How could I know that you guys are friends?" He pouted.

"You're right. You couldn't know." Tracy chewed on her lower lip and decided to drop the subject. "Are you hungry?"

Vachon's stomach growled in response.

"I'll take that as a yes", Tracy laughed. Patting Vachon's rump, she got up and went into the kitchen. "Natalie gave me dinner for you."

"Good", Vachon called after her, thoroughly enjoying the view. "I am rather hungry, and I don't think I could safely make it home now. What time is it, anyway?"

Tracy threw the kitchen clock a quick glance. "2 PM", she called back, taking a bloodpack out of the fridge. Ripping the edge open, she poured part of the contents into an extra large mug. She brought both the mug and the partially emptied pack back to Vachon.

Meanwhile, the vampire had stuffed the pillows behind his back, reclining against the headboard in a half sitting position. Tracy handed him the mug. Vachon hungrily gulped down the contents and held out the mug for a refill. Tracy poured the rest of the blood into it. Vachon drank down the second mug as quickly as the first.

"More?" Tracy asked. He only nodded. The young detective quickly brought another pack and refilled the mug again. The third mug went slower than the first two. After he finished it, Vachon let out a contented sigh.

"Thanks", he breathed. "I haven't been that hungry since... well, in a long time." He gently took the half empty blood pack from Tracy's hand, refilling his mug again. "So, what happened last night?" he asked lightly between sips.

Tracy shrugged. "I walked in on Natalie treating you. You had a knife blade stuck between your ribs, and she gave you curare for the pain. You were pretty out of it, I took you home, you fell asleep", she explained.

"That's it?" Vachon raised his eyebrows.

"That's it." Tracy fidgeted nervously.

Vachon tilted his head. His steady gaze bore into Tracy. After a few moments, she could not stand the silent scrutiny anymore.

"It's... well, it's not what I had planned for last night." She felt the colour rise in her cheeks again. Damn her fair complexion! And damn her cowardice! How could she ever think she would go through with seducing Vachon? No, she cared too much about him. About what he thought. She felt awkward, embarrassed. There she was, a cop, a detective, a strong woman. Ha! She couldn't even bring herself to act on her feelings for a man!

Vachon gave her a slight nod, urging her to continue. Tracy found she could not look into his face. Why did she have to fall in love with him, anyway?

"I... it's silly, really. Forget about it." She shook her head.

Vachon reached out and laid his hand on her cheek, gently turning her face towards him.

"I don't think so, Tracy", he said softly. "Whatever you planned couldn't be silly." He waited for her to reply. When no answer came, he continued: "If you can't tell me, show me."

Tracy turned a darker shade of red. Her eyes darted to the bathroom door.

"It's in the bathroom? Maybe I should go and see for myself", Vachon teased.

"No!" Tracy yelled. She stared at him, totally mortified. Screw this nosy vampire! He left her no escape. "I mean, okay, I'll show you", she continued in a quieter voice. "But you have to promise you won't laugh."

Vachon gave her his sexiest grin. "Cross my heart and hope to die", he whispered. He wondered briefly if Tracy had any idea how much she turned him on. His fingers tugged at the comforter, rearranging it in a vain attempt to hide his growing arousal.

Tracy got up abruptly, her movements jerky. She quickly went into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. Leaning against the door, she covered her face with both hands. What would Vachon think? No matter what he said now, he would laugh when he saw her in that... thing. Damn, damn, damn. What had ever possessed her to buy this outfit in the first place? It just wasn't her! Oh, well, she had no choice. Better to get over with it. And to make things even worse, she was aroused as hell. So aroused that she needed to change her panties. Damn. She could not go back into the bedroom to get some fresh underwear from her dresser. Not with Vachon in her bed. Tracy wondered if he knew how much he turned her on. Quickly, she got out of her night-gown and panties and stuffed both into the laundry hamper. Taking a deep breath, she took the new outfit from its hanger. Time to face the music.

Vachon had drained the last drops from his mug when Tracy re-emerged from the bathroom, wearing a black leather mini skirt with a slit up her left thigh, and an equally black leather strapless top that left her midriff bare. She hadn't bothered with make up, had not even combed her sleep-mussed hair. She was beautiful beyond words.

Vachon's mouth hung open, the empty mug fell from his suddenly numb fingers and landed with a thud on the carpet. "¡Santa Maria!" he breathed.

Tracy edged away from the bathroom door, putting a little more distance between herself and Vachon. She didn't want him to see her. What had made her think she would impress him by dressing up like a hooker? She felt dirty. Cheap. How could Vachon ever respect her again, after a stunt like this? Tracy felt the tears well up in her eyes. "I'm sorry", she whispered. "I told you, it was a silly idea." God, she was so embarrassed!

With vampiric speed, Vachon vaulted from the bed and crossed the distance between them. Gently taking her face into both his hands, he whispered: "No, mi querida." [No, my beloved] "It's not silly." He smiled at her. "It's the sweetest thing anybody has ever done for me." Capturing her lips in a soft kiss, he let his hands trail down from her face to her shoulders, and further down her body. Tracy hesitated, tried to push him away, but Vachon wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to him until she could feel a hard bulge press into her abdomen. Her eyes grew wide as she realized that it was Vachon's manhood, fully erect and trapped between their bodies.

"Te quiero, Tracy", Vachon whispered. [I love you, Tracy]. "I've wanted you for so long, but I didn't know... I didn't want to rush you." His voice was low and husky.

"You... like this?" Tracy queried, her voice almost failing her.

"Oh, yes!" Vachon kissed her again. "You're beautiful, Tracy. You're beautiful, and I want you", he murmured between kisses. Relief flooded through her until she felt her knees grow week. This time, Tracy leaned into his embrace. She let her hands trail down his chest, feeling the rough texture of his chest hair, and down his stomach, until she reached the tip of his engorged member. Gently she wrapped her fingers around him, stroking down. He felt cold and hard in her hand.

Vachon shivered and moaned. "Oh, this feels so good. Please don't stop, Tracy", he pleaded.

Bolder now, Tracy put one arm around him, massaging his buttocks with one hand, while the other continued to stroke his length.

A deep growl escaped Vachon's chest. His hands traveled to her breasts, cupping and massaging them through the soft leather, while his tongue demanded entrance into Tracy's mouth. She parted her lips for him, and their tongues dueled. Vachon's right hand travelled further south, resting shortly on her quivering stomach. His left pulled at the thin leather straps that laced up the top and ripped them apart. With an impatient growl he flung the garment aside, laying both hands on her now naked breasts again, flicking his thumbs over her already erect nipples.
Tracy moaned in pleasure. Her kisses became more urgent. She alternately stroked the delicate area behind his incisors until his fangs were fully extended. Grabbing his right hand, she led him to her already moist, hot entrance, gasping when his cool hand touched her. Vachon's knees nearly buckled when his questing fingers didn't encounter anything but Tracy beneath the short leather skirt. He threw his head back and ground his hips into hers.

"¡Madre de dios!" he moaned. "This feels so good!" His breath came in short gasps now. "Tracy, are you sure? I'll have to bite. I need..." His voice failed him as Tracy took him into her hands again, stroking and pulling him to her.

"I don't care", she nearly sobbed. "I want you, Javier. I need you."

"Bed", he stammered, "Let's get to the bed."

Tracy nodded, not trusting her voice. Her hands continued to roam the hard planes of his body in a feverish pace, her lips trailed soft kisses down his throat until she reached the tender skin at the side of his neck. She licked and nibbled the area, causing Vachon to mutter incoherently in Spanish. Driven only by the need to be within her, he placed his hands under her ass and lifted her up. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, and together they tumbled onto the bed, Vachon somehow landing on top of her. Tracy laced her fingers into his hair, pulling his head down to her breasts.

"Please, Javier", she moaned. "I need to feel you inside me." Her body was covered with sweat. Vachon inhaled deeply, losing himself in the musky fragrance of her arousal. It nearly drove him mad. Caressing her breasts with his hands and tongue, he slid into her moist, welcoming depth.

Tracy gasped and arched her back when his cool hardness entered her hot core. Her legs tightened around his body, pushing him deeper into her. Vachon started to move within her. His thrusts were deep, forceful, and gaining speed quickly. Tracy's hips rose up to meet his every thrust. His coldness did nothing to quench the heat within her. Instead, his own desperate need fed hers, spreading the heat until every nerve in her body was on fire. She was writhing beneath him, gasping and moaning, her fingernails digging into his back when he grabbed her chin with one hand, forcing her to look into his eyes. His own eyes were glowing gold.

"Now, Vachon", she whimpered. With a feral growl, he plunged his fangs into her neck just as her orgasm hit and her inner muscles clenched around him. Tracy's blood spurted into his mouth, hot and unimaginably sweet, triggering his own release. Together they rode the waves of ecstasy until, finally, their passion was spent.

Vachon was resting on top of Tracy, licking up the last drops of blood that welled from the twin puncture wounds on her neck. He had taken no more than a mouthful of her blood, not nearly enough to put her in danger. When he moved to roll off of her, Tracy stopped him with legs still wrapped securely around his middle.

"No", she whispered. "Stay inside me." She proceeded to gently lick and nibble the tender flesh of his throat, her hands exploring his body, her hips grinding into his until she could feel him grow hard again inside her, filling her up again.

"Oh, Tracy", he sighed, "do you have any idea what you're doing to me?" The sensation of her growing tight around him was like nothing he had felt in all of his four hundred and ninety years. It almost beat being brought across. He purred deep in his throat.

"Now roll over", Tracy whispered into his ear. "Let me ride you."

Vachon obediently rolled on his back, Tracy still securely attached to him. Immediately, she began to move her hips in a circular motion. He shuddered and sighed with pleasure. Their second lovemaking was slower, without the desperation borne of months of denying both their needs. He let his hands wander up her thighs, cupping her behind. He kneaded her buttocks. Tracy's hands rested lightly on his stomach, her head was thrown back to reveal the pale column of her throat. A look of intense pleasure was on her face. Leaning forward slightly, she changed her motion, rising up until only the tip of his shaft remained in her, and sliding down again. Vachon felt his body respond to her. Soon her pace grew faster, and she slammed into him with her full weight. Vachon's hips rose up to meet her, thrusting into her until she shook with the force of another orgasm. He pulled her down to him, plunging his fangs into her neck again, drinking her sweet nectar. It pushed him over the edge immediately, and his own body convulsed and spasmed uncontrollably for the second time this afternoon.

They collapsed in a tangle of arms and legs, their energy finally spent.

"That was... incredible", Vachon whispered as soon as he had recovered enough breath to speak.

"Mm-hmm", Tracy replied sleepily. Yawning, she snuggled up to Vachon's cool body and quickly fell asleep. The vampire regarded her for a while. There would be hell to pay when Tracy's partner saw the fang marks on her neck, but it was worth it. She was worth it. Older or not, he wouldn't allow Knight to interfere in their relationship ever again. Having made his decision, Vachon too drifted off to sleep.

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