This is an older story, but one I've always really liked.

Title: Mutual Acquaintances
Author: Cousin Mary
Fandom: Forever Knight
Rating: G
Pairings: Tracy/Vachon, hints of Tracy/Inca
 

Usual disclaimers. Don't own 'em, wish I did. 

Mutual Acquaintances

By: Cousin Mary

            As soon as Tracy entered the Church, she knew that something was wrong. Even from the door she could see the flicker candlelight and smell the wax. She knew Vachon was still out of town, but much more unsettling than that, was that she could almost 'feel' a presence inside the Church. That peculiar prickling sensation along the back of her neck, strangely familiar, but somehow… different.

Moving with practised ease, Tracy silently pulled her gun and crept towards the main chamber. She didn't have to look very hard before she saw him. There, sitting in the front pew was a man she'd thought long since dead, the Inca. 

Tracy straightened her stance slightly and drew a shallow breath, pressing herself against the interior doorframe. At first she wasn't sure what to do, he hadn't noticed her yet, maybe she should just leave? 

But then he turned and looked at her. He didn't say anything, but his eyes were dark. Darker even than Vachon's, and twice as haunted.

            Sighing, Tracy re-holstered her gun. "Waiting for Vachon?" She asked lightly.

            "Yes."

            She looked around the dark church, as if she expected the former Conquistador to be hiding behind the vestibule. But of course he wasn't.

Tracy walked slowly and deliberately down the aisle, she curbed the impulse to cross herself and slid into the pew beside him. Casually, yet careful to keep her eyes on anything except the vampire next to her, she commented, "I thought you were dead."

            The Inca turned in his seat and stared at her profile, "And I thought you knew nothing of the Spaniard." 

            "That was before," Tracy shrugged and glanced at him, "This is now."

            "Yes." He nodded, as if that were a very deep sentiment. "As for my death," The Inca mimicked her shrug, "Rumors of my untimely demise were-"

            "Greatly exaggerated?" Tracy finished for him with a small smile. "Funny, I thought you blew up into itsy-bitsy little undead pieces."

            That earned her a slightly amused look. "No."

            "No." Tracy repeated, then turned her gaze back to the pulpit. 

            "Why are you here Tracy Vetter?" The Inca asked after several moments of silence.

            Tracy shrugged, "Saw the light on, thought maybe Vachon was back early."

            "Back? Did he go somewhere?" The Inca frowned.

            "Vegas, with Screed." Tracy rubbed her hands together briskly, it sure was cold in here tonight. "They're supposed to be back around next Tuesday."

            "He told you this?" The Inca looked at her incredulously.

            Tracy straightened, "You think he lied?"

            "No," He shook his head, "It's just not like the Spaniard to make such promises."

            "Oh," Tracy turned back to again ponder the pulpit.

            Again, a strained silence fell between them.

            "You've changed him," The man beside her said suddenly.

            "What? " Tracy twisted around to face him. "What do you mean by that?"

            "I have heard things." The Inca stated, as if that explained everything.

            "What 'things?'" Tracy's eyes narrowed.

            "He… helps you." The Inca said slowly, "Acts as he always should have. Protects the innocent, punishes the guilty. You brought that out in him, as I never could."

            Tracy gave the Inca a considering look, "I don't think that's entirely true." She sighed and leaned back in the pew heavily.

            As the Inca made no comment, Tracy tried to explain, "He does it… more as a hobby than anything else." She closed her eyes and sighed again, "To impress me."

            Another beat of silence.

            "You are wise beyond your years Tracy Vetter," The Inca mumbled.

            "No, just realistic," She said, then, realizing she was telling this to what most would consider a mythical creature, added with a slightly lopsided grin, "Well, as much as I can be."

            The Inca said nothing at that, but rose to his feet and turned to face her.

            Tracy had to crane her neck to look up at him. Some part of her knew she should be afraid, after all, he was a bloodsucking fiend. But on the other hand, was there ever a more noble vampire than the Inca? His quest was… well, very much what she'd dedicated her own life to, wasn't it? She found she couldn't fear him, so she just calmly stared up into his unfathomable eyes and waited for him to make the next move. Like a chess game almost, she waited, her mind at the ready. 

He stared back at her for a long while but in the end all he said was, "Until we meet again Tracy Vetter." He bowed to her slightly, then launched himself into the air, disappearing into the darken rafters above, to exit through the bell tower high above Tracy supposed.

            "'Til next we meet." Tracy echoed. She climbed to her feet and pulled her coat around herself tightly. She stared up into the darkness for a long moment, before moving silently towards the door. There she paused and glanced back over her shoulder. With another sigh, this one filled with a sort of tolerant amusement, she turned and walked back into the main room. Then she began extinguishing the candles the Inca had lit, unaware of the eyes staring down at her from above.

 
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