Repost by permission of McLisa. Please send comments to Elise:   
ejdeal@sga.quik.com


ROAD TRIP, part 1 of  7
By Elise 

     "I'll get right to it, gentlemen," Captain Amanda Cohen said.  She never 
was one to beat 
     around the bush.  "Yesterday, there was a murder up near the lake.  
Technically it's still our jurisdiction, but the nearest town is Sratford so 
their people were the first on the scene." Captain Amanda Cohen continued, "The 
city of Sratford has asked us to send two detectives to help them solve this 
before any news can leak out.  It's a small resort town, and tourist season 
there is about to officially open."


     Schanke clapped his hand together and rubbed them with glee.  "When do we 
leave?"  He was grinning with pride.

     "Monday night, but don't get too excited, Detective," she told Schanke.  
"Sratford is far enough from town that this will be an over-night trip, so clear 
it with your wife before you volunteer."  Schanke's happy face sagged.

     "Yeah, I'd better call Myra on this one," Schanke muttered.  

     "And you, Detective Knight?  Any reasons why you can't go?  Anyone you need 
to clear this with?"  Cohen asked Nick.

     Nick shook his head.  "No, there's no."

     "How about Dr. Lambert?" Schanke teased.  "You two seem pretty cozy."

     "Natalie and I are ."

     "Ooh, hoo!  Natalie is it?"  Schanke interrupted in gleeful tones.

     "Do I need to put you in `time out,' Detective Schanke?" Cohen asked 
acidly.

     Schanke stared at his toes.  Why was Cohen always on his case?  His head 
bounced up and down on his neck as he mumbled an apology.  

     Nick had to finish his sentence.  He simply had to.  "I've told you before.  
Natalie and I are just friends," he growled.

     "That's fine, Detective, because Dr. Lambert will most likely be sent with 
you."  Cohen held her hand out towards the door, and Schanke, eager to be out of 
there, left the office in search of his desk phone.

On the Road

     "We should have been there by now," insisted Natalie from the backseat of 
Nick's Cadillac.
     
     "The map says we've only got another ten miles if we keep following this 
road," Don Schanke told her.  Turning sideways in the front seat, he showed her 
the map.  "See?"
  
     Natalie slid forward on the seat and began to scrutinize the map Schanke 
held open for her.  "How can you tell?" she asked in a skeptical tone.  "It's 
too dark to see."

     "Aha!" the detective crowed gleefully.  He whipped a pen light from his 
breast pocket, and with a magician's flair, he turned it on, lighting the map.

     "It's still too dark to see anything," Natalie shook her head, "and, it's 
nearly sunrise.  I don't see any signs for Sratford anywhere.  All I've seen for 
the past hour is that one little town we passed about ten minutes."
      
     "That's it," Nick interrupted her angrily.  He wheeled the car off the 
highway and turned around heading back the way they had just come.

      Natalie and Schanke traded looks.  "So, uh, where to, Partner?" Schanke 
asked as he retrieved the map from Natalie and began folding it up.  

     "Back to that motel we passed ten miles or so back.  We can stay there for 
the day and recheck the map."  Nick's tone was brusque.  He wasn't happy when 
things failed to run smoothly, which generally meant going the way he wanted.

     Natalie sighed loudly with irritation.  Leaning against the front seat, she 
asked, "Why don't you guys just ask someone for directions?"  Both Nick and 
Schanke stared at her with masculine disdain.  Then they turned to exchange 
looks of long suffering before ignoring her completely.  Natalie threw up her 
hands in disgust.  "Fine," she muttered and leaned back against the upholstery.

     After a few miles of total silence, Schanke nodded and frowned.  "Yeah, we 
can call in to Captain Cohen and let her know what's up."   He kept nodding to 
himself and leaned back against the seat.  "I need to give Myra a call, too."

     "We'll have to stay the day there," Natalie suggested quietly.  "Nick's 
allergy, you know."  She felt a need to protect Nick.

     Turning sideways to face Natalie again, Schanke spoke casually.  "Well, 
this was supposed to be a day-trip anyway.  Myra knows that."  Schanke leaned 
against the door so he could glimpse Nick's face as well as Natalie's.  "So, how 
about you, Nat?  Got anyone you need to call?  How about that new ME who's so 
crazy about you?  What's his name again?"

     "Dr. Jeffery Parker," she admitted softly.

     "Yeah, yeah, that's the guy," Schanke agreed.  One sharp glance at Nick 
told him he'd scored a direct hit with that question.  His partner was clearly 
in love with Natalie, and why the hell he didn't admit it to her was beyond him.  
He tried rubbing a little salt into the wound.  "Still sending you flowers every 
week?"

     "Roses," Natalie smiled as she answered.  She blushed as she shot a quick 
glance at Nick.  His jaws were clamped tightly shut.

     Yep, thought would-be match-maker Donald G. Schanke.  Now let's shake up 
Nat.  "How `bout you, good buddy?"  Schanke punched Nick in the arm.  "Gonna 
call that Janette babe?"  He turned to get a good look at Natalie's face.  "I'm 
tellin' ya, Nat.  She is one hot mama.  Yow!"  Schanke slung his hands in the 
air as if they had just been burned.  Uh huh, Schanke nodded to himself with 
glee.  Natalie's looking just a tad green right now.  She loves him just as much 
as he loves her!  And since they're two idiots who won't admit it, it's up to 
old Schanke to get them together.  With these thoughts echoing in his mind, Don 
Schanke leaned back against the seat and began whistling his favorite Elvis 
tune.
End of  Part 1




All disclaimers apply.  None of this REALLY belongs to me.  I claim none of it.  
I merely found it in the bowels of my computer. Sincere apologies to anyone 
offended.  Adult header is needed.  May I please have permission to archive?

Please send comments to Elise:   ejdeal@sga.quik.com

ROAD TRIP, part 2 of  7
By Elise
 
That Day

    As the Cadillac pulled into the parking lot, the headlights flashed across 
the motel sign.  "The St. Hell Hotel" gleamed a dull, yellowish color in the 
pre-dawn light.  The sign should have read "The St. Hellena Hotel," but due to 
several missing bulbs its present name, if incorrect, would prove more accurate.  
 
     "I'll go in," Natalie volunteered when Schanke opened the door.  She 
squeezed from the back seat and headed for the office, far away from the knowing 
smirks of Det. Don Schanke and the haughty coldness of his partner.

     Nick and Schanke sat silently as the sun began to creep towards the 
horizon.  Minutes later, Natalie raced back to the Caddy and herded the two men 
and their bags towards room number thirteen. 

     The interior of the room seemed to be furnished in early disaster.  The 
floor was covered in a mud colored cloth, which had long since lost the right to 
call itself carpet.  The walls boasted no framed pictures of any sort.  Only 
stains, best left a secret, decorated the chartreuse walls.  The draperies, at 
least, covered the window and blocked out any trace of sunlight.  In fact, 
except for a single, dingy, overhead light the room was as dark as midnight.  
Worst of all, though, was the fact that there was only one double bed in the 
room.

     "Excuse me," Schanke told them.  He pushed past his companions and headed 
for the bathroom.
   
     "This is the best room available?"  Nick asked Natalie incredulously.  He, 
like she, was stunned by the appearance of the room.

     "Would you rather sleep in the trunk?" she retorted.

     Nick snorted softly.  "It would be cleaner."

     Natalie had to laugh in agreement with that.  Nick treated that Caddy like 
a baby. Turning to face her with a smile on his face, Nick lifted a hand and 
opened his mouth to speak.  "Nat, you aren't really interested in that Parker 
fellow, are you?"

     "Well, we have one less roommate," Schanke declared loudly.  He entered the 
main part of the room with a bounce, interrupting whatever answer Nat was going 
to give.  "Yep," he told them with a snap of his fingers, "that's one cockroach 
won't bother us today."

     Natalie grimaced, and Nick shook his head.  "Well," Schanke continued, 
"I'll take the couch."  He pointed to a dilapidated piece of furniture set 
against the far wall and dropped himself onto the structure.

     Crack!  The middle support of the piece suddenly collapsed, and Don Schanke 
fell through to the floor.  Nick and Natalie burst into gales of laughter.

     "Ha, Ha," Schanke complained as Nick pulled him up.  His dignity only 
slightly impaired, Schanke rubbed his backside and turned to survey his now 
defunct bed place.

     Nick sat on the bed and picked up the phone.  "I'm calling in to Cohen," he 
told them.  "If the phone works."

     "Well, I get the bathroom first," Natalie declared.  She grabbed her 
overnight bag and picked her way carefully to the bathroom.

     "Schanke, let's see that map," Nick called.  

     Schanke moved around to the other side of the bed and spread the map.  
"Man, oh man!" Schanke suddenly burst out.  "Nick, would you take a look at 
this?  They gave me the wrong map!"

     "What?" Nick asked startled.  "Here. Talk to Cohen."  He pressed the phone 
into his partner's hand and examined the map himself.  Schanke began mumbling 
into the receiver.

     "Damn!" exclaimed Nick.  Angrily, he jerked the phone back.  "Captain," he 
spoke quickly, "Schanke has the wrong map. We took 400 north, but at our exit, 
we turned right instead of left.  Instead of heading towards Sratford, we've 
been driving to Stratford.  We're five hours away in the opposite direction."  
Nick listened intently.

     "Hey, don't blame it on me," Schanke argued back.  "This is the map and the 
directions the guys in traffic gave me."

     Nick listened intently for a good while.  "All right, Captain, we'll call 
you as soon as we're ready to leave tonight.  Goodbye."  Gently, Nick replaced 
the receiver in the cradle and glared at Schanke.

     Schanke held out his hands palms outward.  "Look, partner," he began but 
stopped abruptly.

     Nick dropped his chin onto his chest then looked up again at his partner.  
All traces of anger were gone.  "I know, Schank.  It really wasn't your fault.  
The guys in traffic gave you the wrong directions."  Nick stood and paced the 
room.  "Cohen said for us to stay here today and head back tomorrow night. She's 
giving the case to Maw and Meggins and sending them out to Sratford this 
morning."

     "Damn!  Those two clowns will never let us live this down," Schanke 
complained.  "I guess we just got a free mini-vacation for the day then, huh?" 

     "Looks that way," Nick replied.  The two partners sat on opposite sides of 
the room, Nick on the bed and Schanke on the broken couch, staring at each other 
in utter disgust, each intent on his own thoughts. 
End of Part 2

All disclaimers apply.  None of this REALLY belongs to me.  I claim none of it.  
I merely found it in the bowels of my computer. Sincere apologies to anyone 
offended.  Adult header is needed for Part 3.  May I please have permission to 
archive?

Please send comments to Elise:   ejdeal@sga.quik.com

ADULT HEADER FOR THIS SECTION.
ROAD TRIP, part 3 of  7
By Elise 

     Finally, Schanke broke the silence.  "I'm hungry."

     "Me, too," Natalie's voice caught the two men off guard.

     As one, they turned their heads to face her and stood.  Quickly, they 
exchanged looks and turned back to look at her.  Twin smiles shone on their 
faces.  Natalie was wearing a long flannel Winnie the Pooh nightgown with her 
pink fuzzy slippers.

     "You know," Schanke told Nick, "Jenny has some Tigger socks she wanted to 
get rid of.  Said she was too old for such things, herself."  He put one hand on 
his hip and the other to his chin as if in thought.  "I bet she wouldn't mind at 
all if I gave them to Natalie."

     "Watch it, Schank," Natalie huffed.  "I'm a doctor, and I know just where 
to hurt you so the pain lasts the longest."

     Schanke held up his hands in surrender.  "Hey, I'm gonna call Myra."  
Quickly he dialed the phone.  "Honey," Schanke turned back to say into the 
phone, "yeah, we're fine.  Let me give you this number."

     "Guess I'll take a turn in the shower now," Nick muttered.  "And have my 
supper."  He picked his bag from the pile and headed to bathroom.

     Natalie nodded.  She was embarrassed. Why had she ever chosen to wear the 
Pooh gown?  Natalie switched on the television.  The Weather Channel was on, but 
the picture was grainy and the sound was worse.

     "That was Myra," Schanke told her again.  He clapped his hand together and 
picked up Nick's keys from the bedside table.  "Look, I'll head into town and 
grab a couple of sausage biscuits for us, okay?"  He grinned at Nat and took a 
parting shot before leaving.  "It's not like you can go out wearing that get 
up."  Don Schanke chuckled to himself as he shut the door.  I'll just leave the 
two of them stranded in there together for a while. 

     She glared at Schanke's departing back and continued her attempt to find 
something to watch on the television.  

     It wasn't long before Nick emerged from the bathroom in a cloud of steam.  
Nick stood just outside the door, tucked an empty bottle back into his bag, and 
placed the bag on the floor next to Natalie's.  He was barefoot and wearing his 
usual black, silk pajamas.  His still wet hair was a dark shade of blonde.  

     "Read any good listings lately," Nick asked as he sat down beside her on 
the bed.  "Where's Schanke?"

     Natalie plopped the phonebook back onto the floor.  "He went to get us 
something to eat."  

     "He took my Caddy?" Nick's voice rose in near panic.

     "No, he sprouted wings and flew," Natalie snipped.  Instantly, she was 
regretted her words.  "I'm sorry," she muttered. "This trip is just terrible."

    "I know.  Want to watch television?" he asked quietly.

     "Well," Natalie cocked her head to one side as she continued, "you have a 
choice."  Officially she handed him the remote control.  "We can watch the 
Weather Channel or a cable porno channel."  She wagged her eyebrows waiting for 
his answer.

     Nick sighed and lay the remote back in the bedside table.  

     "Chicken," Natalie teased.

     Looking about the room, he asked, "Listen to the radio, perhaps?"

      "Broken," she explained.

     "Well, what do you want to do?" he asked her.

    The room became suddenly still as they faced one another on the bed.  Both 
of them knew what the answer to that question was.  Natalie blushed furiously.  
Nick raised a cautious hand towards her.  Natalie hesitated before asking, 
"Nick, I know that you and Janette." 

     At the precise moment, the door flung open and Schanke straggled in, his 
arms loaded with McDonald's takeout bags.  Kicking the door shut, he dropped the 
bags on the room's table.  "Dinner is served," he announced.  

     Natalie joined him at the table, and they began rummaging through the bags.  
From the bed Nick called out, "Give me my keys, Schanke, and don't ever take the 
Caddy again without my permission."

     "Okay, okay, soon as I'm done eating," Schanke mumbled.  He took another 
bite of egg McMuffin.  "Hey, this one has no cheese."

     Nick raised his voice.  "Now, Schanke," ordered Knight.  A sudden pounding 
echoed through the wall.

     "Jeez Louise," muttered Schanke.  He stood up and began fishing in his 
pocket as he walked over to the bed.  With exaggerated care, he placed the keys 
on the nightstand and patted them.  Spying the remote control, Schanke grabbed 
it up and with a flick of his wrist snapped on the set just as Natalie issued a 
warning.

     The porn channel materialized in living color.  A threesome was in 
progress.  Natalie went beet red, as did Schanke.  Nick roared, "Turn it off, 
Schank!"   

     "I'm trying!  I'm trying!" he wailed.  But the power button would not 
respond.  The only effect he was having was on the volume.  It soared louder 
than ever, as did Nick's orders to switch it off.  Moans of pleasure 
reverberated throughout the tiny room.  The pounding on the wall began again, 
this time accompanied by demands to "hold it down over there!"

     During this chaos, the phone rang, and Nick, being the closest of the 
three, grabbed the receiver.  Just as the banging on the wall increased, Nick 
barked into the phone, "What do you want?"  The poor recipient of his anger must 
have been terribly bewildered.  The caller was being yelled at as well hearing 
incoherent cries of passion as the trio on the screen reached simultaneous 
orgasm.  "Natalie, do something about Schanke and all that noise!  The neighbors 
are complaining!"  

    Natalie leaped forward and snatched the electrical cord from the wall.  
Silence roared though the room.  Nick turned back to the phone, but whoever had 
been on the other end was now gone.  Slowly, he hung up and dropped himself on 
the bed.
End of Part 3

All disclaimers apply.  None of this REALLY belongs to me.  I claim none of it.  
I merely found it in the bowels of my computer. Sincere apologies to anyone 
offended.  Adult header is needed for Part 3.  May I please have permission to 
archive?

Please send comments to Elise:   ejdeal@sga.quik.com

ROAD TRIP, part 4 of  7
By Elise 

     Natalie and Schanke were just finishing up their meal, when the phone rang 
again.  Nick picked up, but the voice blasting from the other end so was loud, 
Natalie and Schanke had no trouble hearing.  "What the hell is going on up 
there?" screamed Captain Amanda Cohen.  "Myra just called me in tears!  
Something about Schanke and Dr. Lambert having sex!"

     "Oh, my." Natalie lay her head on the table.

     "Myra!" screeched Schanke.

     Nick inhaled loudly through his nose.  "Captain, Schanke accidentally 
turned on a less than desirable channel."  He shot an evil glance at his stunned 
partner.  "And the remote control wouldn't work so Natalie had to unplugged the 
set."  At the table, Natalie groaned.  "I swear to you, that nothing was going 
on between Dr. Lambert and Detective Schanke."  

     From the back ground, Nick heard a shout.  "Ya gotta believe him, Cap.  Nat 
the Cat wouldn't be makin' it with Donut Don!"  Unfortunately, Donut Don and Nat 
the Cat heard it as well.

     "Get off this line at once, Stevans!" Cohen hissed.

     But even as she gave her order, another cry rang out.  "Especially not when 
the Donut's partner is around. Heard he fills Lambert's days and her Knights!"  
The line dissolved in laughter.

     Even Cohen had a hard time keeping her voice free of a small chuckle when 
she spoke.  "All right, Knight, just see that Detective Schanke calls his wife 
at once."  

     "I will.  Goodnight."  He hung up the receiver and promptly moved out of 
the way as Donut barreled past him to the phone.  

     It took some doing from all three of them to reassure Myra that everything 
had been a terrible mix-up, but finally she was satisfied that her hubby hadn't 
strayed.  Hanging up the phone with a sigh of relief, Schanke muttered his 
thanks to Nick and Natalie and headed to the shower.  He was 
uncharacteristically quiet the rest of the day.

     As soon as Schanke shut the door, Natalie grabbed a pillow and a blanket 
from the bed and began making up the couch.  

     Nick leaned back against the headboard of the bed and watched her closely.  
"Nice of you to make up Schanke's bed," he told her.

     "It's not for Schanke," she told him.  "It's for me."

      "But he's already claimed the couch for himself."  Nick watched as she 
crawled into the blanket.  "I thought you were going to sleep with me."  His 
voice sounded wistful.

     Natalie pulled the blanket closer to her chest.  "Nick, I never thought I'd 
hear myself say this, but you can forget it."

     "Maybe later, then Nat the Cat."   He couldn't help it.  Nor could he help 
it when the pillow she threw his way missed and caught the wooden lamp beside 
the bed.  It fell over catching Nick squarely on the nose.  

     Normally, such a blow wouldn't have bothered the vampire in the least, but 
the lamp, being made of pine, did some damage.  Natalie scrambled from the couch 
and onto the bed.  "Oh, Nick, Nick," she cried as she crawled over his groaning 
form.  She straddled him.  "Nick, move your hands and let me see."  Blood was 
pouring from around his hands which were clamped over his nose.

      "Jeez, Nat, I'm glad you and I weren't fooling around.  You'd have killed 
me," Schanke causally mentioned as he walked nonchalantly to the couch, brushing 
imaginary lint from his navy blue pajamas.

     Natalie spared only one quick glance at Schanke, but it held multitudinous 
promises for revenge.  "Get a towel, Donut," she ordered.  "The lamp hit him in 
the face, and he's bleeding!"  She didn't watch to see him dash back towards the 
bath for a towel because she had turned back to Nick.  

     Nick had removed his hands, giving her a good look at his face.  It wasn't 
as bad as she had thought it would be.  Schanke handed her a damp towel, and she 
used it to mop Nick's face.  The bleeding had stopped.  "Well, Nick, you're nose 
isn't broken, but it sure looks like you're going to have a couple of black 
eyes."  He sat up and glared at her.  "I am so sorry," she whispered.

     His first thought was to forgive her.  She looked so repentant, but he 
couldn't pass up a chance to tease her, especially with Schanke listening.  "Aw, 
Natalie," his voice quivered as if in fear, "when you said you liked it rough, I 
didn't know you were going to hit me with the lamp!"

     Schanke fell on the bed, and hooted in companionable laughter with his 
partner.  "Oh, that's rich, Nick!"

     "Fine!" yelled Natalie at both of them.  There was pounding on the wall 
again.  Natalie stormed to the couch and climbed in.  Immediately, she turned 
her back to the laughing duo and huffed down under the covers.

      The laughter ceased.  It had been a very long day for all of them.  Nick 
removed his blood stained shirt and tossed it on the floor.  He moved silently 
towards Natalie and perched on the couch's arm.  "Nat," he whispered, "I'm 
sorry.  I wouldn't hurt you for the world.  You know that."  Tenderly, he leaned 
over and kissed her head.

     Nat's head emerged from the blanket.  "I'll forgive you, Nick, but please."

     He touched her cheek.  "I promise.  If anyone dares say or even imply one 
degrading word about your reputation, I'll kill him."  He stroked her hair.  

     Natalie smiled.  "Goodnight, Nick."

     Nick stood and walked back to the bed where Schanke was already wrapped 
under the blanket.  "Goodnight, Nat," Nick told her softly.

     "Goodnight, Johnboy," Schanke added sarcastically.  "Jeez, it's already 
nearly eleven.  Could we get some sleep?"
End of Part 4


All disclaimers apply.  None of this REALLY belongs to me.  I claim none of it.  
I merely found it in the bowels of my computer. Sincere apologies to anyone 
offended.  Adult header is needed.  May I please have permission to archive?

Please send comments to Elise:   ejdeal@sga.quik.com

ROAD TRIP, part 5 of 7
By Elise 

Late Afternoon

     They had been asleep for almost three hours when a blood curdling scream 
shattered the air.  Schanke bolted from the bed frantically searching for the 
light and his gun.  "Nick!" he shouted.  "Nick, what is it?"

     But Nick couldn't answer.  He was in bed struggling with someone.  An 
intruder!  Schanke lunged for the light switch.  "Nick!" he yelled.  "Hold on, 
Partner!  The cavalry is on its way!"

     Schanke lunged for the lamp just as the pounding on the wall began again.  
Flicking on the light, Schanke saw Nick straddling Natalie.  Knight was doing 
his dead level best to contain her, but Nat was giving him a hard time of it.  
From next door, a voice howled, "Will you morons cut out the noise?"

     Schanke couldn't see the vampire, gleaming fangs and amber eyes, pinning 
his prey to the mattress.  All he could see was Natalie, white as a sheet and 
shaking like a leaf, as she lay beneath Knight.  

     "You know, I could go sleep in the Caddy if you two want some privacy," 
Schanke joked.

     Now that the vampire had been vanquished, Nick was able to move.  He slid 
off her and gathered her into his arms.  "Natalie," he asked tenderly, "what 
happened?"

     She had calmed down now and was capable of speech.  She clung to Nick as 
she answered him.  "A mouse," she squeaked.  "A mouse ran over me."  She began 
to cry.

     Schanke and Nick traded looks of confused understanding.  "A mouse?" 
Schanke mouthed.  

     Nick shrugged slightly and mouthed the answer back.  "A mouse."

     "Oh, for crying out loud," Schanke muttered.  "She's yours, Knight.  I'd 
rather sleep with the mouse," he added as he buried himself in the couch.  Soon 
his snores sang out.

     Nick held her tenderly but chuckled softly.  "Nick," she sniffled, "it's 
not funny."  She stared at him for a moment, and then she reached up to trace 
the black rings that were setting up around his eyes.  "Well, if Schanke gets to 
sleep with the mouse, I guess I'll have to sleep with the raccoon."

     Nick winced at her touch.  His eyes were sore, but luckily for him, they 
would heal very soon.  "And I will sleep with the Cat," he grinned at her.  
"Okay, okay," he relented.  "No more teasing about the Cat.  I promise."  He 
kissed the tip of her nose.  "Let's get some sleep."  Nick and Natalie curled up 
together as they often did while watching videos at his place and soon were 
sound asleep.

Dusk
     Sunset saw the trio packing the Caddy and roaring out of the parking lot.  
They had had enough to the St. Hell Hotel.  Now they could look forward to home 
and the hell they would have to face there.

     They had driven for ten miles or so when Natalie leaned forward and turned 
on the radio.  Golden Oldies filled the air.  Nat turned to Schanke who'd taken 
his turn riding in the back.  "This station okay with you?" she asked.  "I 
thought maybe the music should match the car."

     "Well, it's not polka music, but it'll do," he answered with a grin.  
"Maybe we can luck up and hear some Elvis."

     "Nick?" she asked.

     He glanced at her.  The bruises around his eyes were beginning to fade to a 
dull purple.  "Yeah, that's fine, Nat.  You know I love old things."  He grinned 
at her, sharing their private joke.

     "It's Twofer Tuesday here at CERK radio.  We're coming at you with some 
golden oldies for that long ride home from work."  The DJ announced.  "First 
we're sending you `She Loves You' by The Beatles."  

     Immediately, Schanke joined in, surprising his partner and Dr. Lambert with 
his singing ability.  He was actually pretty good. Schanke sang louder than the 
radio and kept punching Nick from time to time to emphasize the words of the 
song.  Yeah, Schanke thought, Nick needs to really hear this song.  So he sang 
his heart out in an effort to get Nick to realize just what he was going to lose 
if he didn't speak up for Nat, and soon.

     A bit more DJ chatter and the second Beatles song was played.  Natalie 
joined Schanke in singing "I Want to Hold Your Hand" as loudly as she could.  
Nick smiled indulgently at them both.  He'd caught Schanke's meaning with the 
first song.  He knew that keeping Natalie (and himself) waiting just wasn't fair 
to her (or to him).  Nat deserves more than I can give her.  She deserves better 
than me. Even as these thoughts coursed through his brain, Nick reached across 
the darkened front seat and took Natalie's hand in his own.  She squeezed his 
hand back. 

     "Next up are two tunes by the Monkees on our Twofer Tuesday," the announcer 
told them.  "First up is `I'm a Believer'." 

     Schanke, who had noted his partner and the medical examiner holding hands 
under cover of darkness, leaned back against the upholstery.  He whistled along 
with this song, and smiled to himself when he heard his partner join in with 
them in singing.  Yep, he thought, this should knock some sense into old Knight.  
He snorted to himself.  Just friends my Aunt Fanny!
End of Part 5

All disclaimers apply.  None of this REALLY belongs to me.  I claim none of it.  
I merely found it in the bowels of my computer. Sincere apologies to anyone 
offended.  Adult header is needed for Part 3.  May I please have permission to 
archive?

Please send comments to Elise:   ejdeal@sga.quik.com

ROAD TRIP, part 6 of  7
By Elise 
     The evening was progressing fine, and the trio wound their way back to 
Toronto singing as they went.  They had rolled down the windows and a fine 
spring breeze cooled them as if blew through the car.  Nick pulled off the 
highway once in order for Natalie and Schanke to make a pit-stop.  Then he 
bought them all a cola (he secretly poured out his, substituting a drink all his 
own) and they were back on the road.

     The Caddy was rolling along at cruising speed and its occupants were fairly 
enjoying themselves.  Despite the bad beginnings, the home trip appeared to be 
running smoothly.  "Next up is the King," the DJ told them.  

     Schanke quickly shushed them.  "No singing along with the King," he told 
them.  "No one can compare."  The tender strains of music began, and Schanke 
leaned back and closed his eyes, secretly watching the two up front.  If Elvis 
couldn't move them to a romantic frame of mind, they were both hopeless.
     
      "Wise men say, only fools rush in, but I can't help falling in love with 
you.."

     The opening words thawed Nick's cold heart, and Natalie smiled at him, 
mouthing the words.  Nick knew that she was not just singing along with the 
record, but speaking those words especially for him.  Natalie leaned back 
against Nick.  Schanke is half-asleep, she thought.  

      "If I stayed, would it be a sin?  For I can't help falling in love with 
you..."

     The voice asked just the question Nick had asked himself a hundred times.  
Boldly, he placed his arm around her shoulders.  Natalie closed her eyes and 
snuggled against him.  Was it only this afternoon they had slept together like 
this?

     Suddenly, Natalie stirred at sat up facing Nick.  His hand fell to her 
thigh.  Nick's heart melted entirely as Natalie purposefully stared at him and 
mouthed the next lines along with the radio.

     "Take my hand; take my whole life too, for I can't help falling in love 
with you.."

     That's when Nick caught sight of the deer out of the corner of his eye.  A 
male, in rut, had bounded to the edge of the highway and run into the road.  
Nick snatched the wheel to the left as hard as he could, but it was too late!  
He hit the deer, and the Caddy spun out of control on the damp road.

     If Nick had been human, he probably would have broken a rib or two on the 
steering wheel, but as it were, he was fine (save for the remnants of the black 
eyes from yesterday.)  Schanke was thrown forward, and hit his face on the back 
of Knight's head.  A bloody lip and chipped tooth were all he suffered.  
Natalie, like the deer, did not fare as well.  She was hurled against the dash 
and windshield, but unlike the deer, she was only knocked unconscious. The deer 
was history.

     Schanke recovered from his trouble and bolted out the door to see to the 
Caddy and the deer.  Nick, although not as wounded as his partner, was slower to 
react.  He shut off the vehicle and twisted Natalie into his arms.  She was 
alive and breathing; there were no broken bones, cuts, or scratches.  She was 
just knocked out by the blow to her head.  Nick craddled her to his chest.

     Schanke walked around to front of the car inspecting the damage and dragged 
the deer out of the way.  Then he returned to the driver's side of the car, 
where Nick still sat holding Dr. Lambert.  A bloody handkerchief held to his 
lip, Don Schanke leaned in the window.  "Deer's dead," he announced.  There was 
no reaction from his partner.  Knight just kept clinging to Lambert.  "She 
okay?" Schanke was beginning to fear the worst with the way Nick just held her 
like that.

     "Yes," Nick answered.  His voice sounded gritty like sandpaper.  "She hit 
her head on the wind shield and is just out cold."

     Schanke nodded and sighed.  "The Caddy is going to need a new headlight and 
grill," he told Nick.  Schanke had expected his partner to go ballistic with 
this news.  His precious car had been harmed, but Knight didn't even acknowledge 
the statement.  Donald G. Schanke, would-be matchmaker, grinned a broken-toothed 
smile.  "You know it's true love, when you care more for the girl than you do 
your car," he whispered softly.

     Nick reacted to that.  He turned to face his partner and nodded slowly.  "I 
guess you're right, Schank," he said with all seriousness.

     Don Schanke blinked several times.  He never thought he'd hear Knight admit 
to it.  Gently, he opened the door and helped Knight and Lambert into the back 
seat.  Nick continued to hold Natalie.  Schanke climbed behind the wheel and 
started the engine.  The radio came on with the engine.

     "That's all for our golden oldies show tonight," the DJ was saying.  "Next 
up is the Nightcrawler."  Schanke made to turn off the radio, but Nick stopped 
him.  They drove on as LaCroix's voice sounded out over the airwaves.

     "This is dedicated to my old friend," the master vampire explained.  "He 
has called he evil and accused me of all sorts of villainies."  He paused.  "Is 
it evil to love?  Is it villainous to care for someone?  I think not.  Indeed, 
it would seem just the opposite, would it not?  There are many who are afraid to 
say `I love you;' there are many who fear to commit themselves.  I am not 
afraid.  Are you?"  He paused again.  "Someone once said, `If you love someone, 
set them free.'  I would disagree.  If you set that someone free, then there is 
no commitment, no bound, no joining of souls.  That is only lust, sex; no noble 
feeling, that.  If you truly love someone, you want them beside you through all 
your days and nights not just those of your convenience.  And by binding them to 
you, you are actually doing them a favor, for if they truly love you, they would 
wish to bind you to them as well.  A mutual thing.  A marriage of minds, hearts, 
souls, and bodies."  There was a slight rustling sound.  "And that, my gentle 
listeners, is our topic for tonight.  What is the nature of true love?"
End of Part 6

All disclaimers apply.  None of this REALLY belongs to me.  I claim none of it.  
I merely found it in the bowels of my computer. Sincere apologies to anyone 
offended.  Adult header is needed for Part 3.  May I please have permission to 
archive?

Please send comments to Elise:   ejdeal@sga.quik.com

ROAD TRIP, part 7 of 7
By Elise 
     "Turn it off, Schanke," Nick told him.  "I think Natalie's coming around."  

     Natalie sat up and instantly grabbed her head.  "How are you feeling?" Nick 
asked.

     "Well, I've got a killer headache, but I think I'll survive," she told him.  
"What happened?" 

    "A deer in rut ran out in front of us," Nick explained.  "I'm okay.  Schanke 
chipped a tooth, and you're knocked out for about half an hour minutes," he 
finished as he consulted his watch.

    "What happened to the deer?" she asked.

    "Died right after having sex," called Schanke from the front seat.  "What a 
way to go."

     Natalie looked at Nick.  Schanke was known to exaggerate.  "It's true, 
Nat," he told her softly.  "What do you think about dying that way?" he 
whispered.

     "What?"  She looked at Nick as if he'd lost his mind.

     "Nat, I'm going to say this only once, and I'm going to say it in front of 
Schanke.  I love you.  Will you marry me?"

     Natalie stared at Nick in amazement.  Schanke eyed them incredulously in 
the rearview mirror.  Natalie turned to Schanke.  "Schank, I know I hit my head 
awfully hard, and I know I was out for quite a while, but did your partner just 
propose to me?"

     Schanke grinned.  "Sounded like it to me."

     Natalie turned back to face Nick.  Slowly, she put her arms around his neck 
and whispered quietly in his ear.  "I love you, Nick, but I don't want to end up 
like that deer, road kill."

     Nick pulled her back to look into her eyes.  "You won't.  I'll look after 
you for ever.  I promise."

     "Forever?" she raised her eyebrows and asked.

     He nodded solemnly.  "If you want."

     "Yes, Nick," Natalie smiled brightly despite the large lump growing on her 
forehead.  "I'd love to be your forever wife."

     The rest of the trip was uneventful.  The "murder" turned out to be no more 
than a couple of med students pulling a gag on some friends with a borrowed 
cadaver.  

     Donut Don took a lot of ribbing around the station over the chipped tooth 
and bloody lip.  Comments like "Nat the Cat too much for ya?" lasted about an 
hour.  Once it was learned that Nick and Natalie were engaged, such commentary 
ended abruptly.

     Nick had put an end to those remarks by promising a beating to anyone 
daring to sully the good reputation of his fianc,e.  What he couldn't stop were 
those locker room speculations on just how he had gotten those two black eyes.  
No one really believed the deer-story.  Not with how calmly, Nick took the news 
about how much repairs to the Caddy would cost.

     Natalie ran straight to Grace with the news of Nick's proposal and his 
promise to her.  "The next road trip we take, Nat, will be to London for your 
honeymoon.  We'll go by airplane and leave Schanke home."

The End

All disclaimers apply.  None of this REALLY belongs to me.  I claim none of it.  
I merely found it in the bowels of my computer. Sincere apologies to anyone 
offended.   May I have permission to archive?

Please send comments to Elise:   ejdeal@sga.quik.com