This is a follow up to the story "A Night Like No Other."  It's posted under an adult header due to adult topics and the fact it's a follow-up to an adult story.  It is intended for adult audiences only, but it's probably PG-13 at worst.

Permission given to archive at fkfanfic website, the FTP site and the JADFE archives.  No other permission is granted to repost/reprint/reuse.  As always, feedback is welcomed.

This story is based on characters and situations that aren't mine.  Thanks to TPTB for their use.

"There's Got To Be A Morning After"
by S. Clark

Tracy unlocked the door to her apartment and dragged herself in.  After what had to be the most embarrassing moment of her life, she was glad to be at home, and by herself.

Nick had been down to see her after said embarrassing incident.  Natalie, however, had stayed hidden up in his bedroom.  Which Tracy thought was just as well, since she wasn't sure what she'd say, anyway.

Just as she was settling in on her couch, feeling the tension leave her body, she heard her bathroom door open.  Tracy jumped and let out a scream.

She stiffened as she felt a cold hand cover her mouth.

"Shhh.  It's just me, Trace."

Tracy relaxed as she recognized Vachon's voice.  "I'm a little on edge," she admitted.

He nodded.  "I was worried about you.  I came to make sure you were doing ok, what with the weather and all.  You weren't here, so I figured I'd hang out for a bit."

Tracy sunk back on the couch.  She wasn't sure where to start with this one.  "Well, I did get stuck out in the blizzard, but it was near Nick's and he took me in for the night."

"That was good."  He knew Nick would watch out for her.

Tracy buried her face with her hands.  "No, it was awful.  I did the stupidest thing."

Vachon smiled.  "It couldn't have been that bad."

Tracy could feel the blush rising, again, as she thought of the previous evening.  "It was bad."

Vachon sat down beside her on the couch.  "Care to tell me about it?"

His voice remained low, and even.  She was glad he was able to maintain his mellow temperament.  It helped her to relax when she was feeling like this.

"Well, it wasn't just Nick.  Nat was there too."  Tracy took her hands off her eyes and peeked at Vachon.  He was just calmly watching her, not blinking.  She covered her face again.  It'd be easier to continue that way.

"Anyway, I'd been up for about fourteen hours so when I got to Nick's place I just crashed out cold.  When I woke up I had to take care of a few things, if you know what I mean.  And they told me the restroom was at the top of the stairs," Tracy's words tumbled out faster as she relayed the story.  "Anyway, to cut the story short, I walked in on them doing it."

She looked to Vachon again.  And, again, no reaction.

"It?" he asked.

"It," she said, gesturing with her hands.  "You know, it?"

"It?" he asked again.

"It," she said, nodding.  "You know, the horizontal tango.  Parking the car in the garage.  Playing hide the salami."

"It?" he repeated for the third time. Now he sounded nervous.

"They were having sex, Vachon."

Tracy saw Vachon exhale.  For some reason, he had been nervous.  "What?" she asked.

He shrugged.  "I was worried you'd found out Knight was a vampire."

Tracy laughed.  "You're funny.  Nick, a vampire."

Vachon joined in laughing as if it was a joke.  Her announcement had surprised him, and he hadn't thought before he spoke.

"Sure," she said, "he's strange.  And he's got that whole sunlight problem. And I've never seen him eat.  And..." her words stopped.  Tracy's eyes opened wide.  "My partner's a vampire."

Vachon looked at the clock; it was almost sunrise.  "Trace, look.  I'm glad you're ok.  I've got to go."

"And he never told me," she continued.  "And Nat never told me.  I mean, she must know, if she was doing....it."

She looked at Vachon.  "And you never told me."

Vachon shrugged.  "I was joking, Tracy."

"But you told me vampires couldn't do it.  Not with humans, anyway."

"I'll catch ya later, Tracy."

Vachon sprinted to the balcony and took off.

"You better be glad you can fly, Buster," she yelled into the cold air of dawn.

Tracy sat down on the couch again.  She punched the number for Nick's cell phone.

"Knight," he said, answering after the second ring.

"Nicky, you've got some 'splaining to do."

"Trace?  If this is about last night, we're sorry if we embarrassed you."

"Oh, you will be sorry, Partner," she said.  "Just wait.  You and I are going to have a little talk."

"Excuse me?" he said, sounding suitable dense.

"I just found out a few things from my close friend, Vachon, about my close partner, Nick.  A few things he neglected to mention.  Old stuff, mostly, about his life."

"Tracy," Nick was back to his professional voice, "are you sure you've gotten enough sleep."

"Don't even try to play innocent with me," she said, voice now reflecting her perturbed state.  "I'm going back over there and it's daytime.  I know you're not going anywhere."

"Ok, Trace," he said, hanging up the phone.  "See you in a bit."

Tracy slammed down the receiver on her phone.  "You bet you will," she said.  "I will not be made a fool of by every vampire in the metro Toronto area."

###

Nick hung up his cellphone.  Natalie was used to his blank stares, but this one seemed more vapid than usual.  "Who was that, Nick?" she asked.

"Tracy," he said.  "She knows."

"What?"

"Somehow, she knows.  About me.  About us."

Nat slugged him in the arm.  "Of course she does, silly, she walked in on us."  Nat felt herself blushing again.

"Not us," he said.  "Us vampires us."

Vachon," he said, his voice a low growl.

"What are you going to do?" she asked.

"The only prudent thing, I think."

"Tell her the truth?  Be honest with her about why you were trying to protect her?"

Nick held out the caddie keys to Natalie.  "I'm going to get the heck out of here.  Mind driving?"

Natalie smiled and took the keys.  "Where we going?"

Nick grinned, planting a kiss on the back of her hand.  "Somewhere outside Toronto.  A hotel with underground parking and no glass elevators."

"And an inroom jacuzzi?  And room service?"  Nat's eyes lit up at the thought.

Nick pulled her closer.  "And heavy curtains.  And a king sized bed."

"I'll go warm up the car.  You pack provisions," she said, rushing towards the lift.  She turned at the lift door.  "Extra rations," she said, winking.

Nick smiled back at her.  'Maybe this won't be so bad, after all,' he thought.  Then he remembered his time with Natalie the previous day.  'Not bad at all,' he thought with a smile.

<fin>
<sclark@best.com>