Riptide Fic - Portrait of the Vampire
Title: Portrait of the Vampire - Part 1 of 2
Author: tinx_r
Fandom:Riptide
Pairing/Characters: Cody Allen/Nick Ryder
Challenge: Mental Combat with the Rising Vampire for stupidboysfest's Spooktacular; Fear for 10_hurt_comfort
Crossposted: 7_suns, halloween_fic, pier56
Rating/Category: NC17/Slash
Word Count: 5800
Summary: A spooky killer is stalking King Harbor. Could the Riptide Detective Agency be up against a real live (or possibly undead) vampire?
Disclaimer: Not mine. No money being made. No copyright infringement intended.
Beta: oddmonster, Queen of the Ficmarch.
Notes/Warnings: For valis2.
Portrait of the Vampire - Part I
Murray Bozinsky hurried homewards along the beach, stumbling occasionally over a rock or piece of driftwood. 'I really should keep a better check on the time,' he thought ruefully, tripping again. He'd intended to be home hours ago but he'd become caught up in the intricacies of the device he was testing. Now it was nearly dark.
He smiled to himself, thinking of the afternoon's test, and patted the camera that hung around his neck. It incorporated a special lens and microchip he'd developed, enabling it to take photographs interpretable by computer. 'I can't wait to get today's shots from the Comp-u-cam downloaded and see what Roboz can do with them,' he mused.
The lights on the pier winked into life as he approached and Murray shivered slightly, feeling the chill in the air.
He was halfway up the steps when a scream rang out, stopping him in his tracks. It came from the direction of the amusement arcade. "Who's there?" Murray yelled, adrenaline coursing through his body. He ran the rest of the way up the stairs.
A dark figure was crouched near the doorway of the arcade, and Murray hurried towards it. "Who are you?" he called breathlessly. As he watched, the figure straightened abruptly. Murray caught a glimpse of a white face, broad shoulders and a pointed collar, and instinctively he raised the camera, clicking the shutter frantically. As he watched, the shadows seemed to swirl around the person like a dark-colored cloak, and then suddenly, there was nothing there but the night. Murray dropped the camera in disbelief, yelping as it bounced against his breastbone, tight on its lanyard.
"Help!" A weak cry reclaimed his attention, and Murray realized the vanishing figure had been bending over another person. He started to run again.
"Amber!" Murray recognized one of the Contessa's crew, and dropped to his knees beside her. The blonde girl was shaking, scrunched back against the wall of the arcade, eyes wide and staring with terror.
"M - Murray," she stammered. "Murray, he - he wanted - he said - drink my blood."
As Murray reached out to her, her eyes rolled back in her head and she fainted.
*
"A vampire?" Nick and Cody repeated in unison, looking at each other then back at their third partner. Murray Bozinsky stood, hands on his hips, arms akimbo, in front of Lieutenant Quinlan's desk.
The lieutenant leaned back in his chair and swung his feet up onto the desk. "Your friend Bozinsky here been drinking?" he asked, looking from Cody to Nick.
"Quinlan, this is serious!" Murray interrupted. "A young woman's been attacked, and the man who did it wanted to drink her blood." He paused and looked at his partners, then back at Quinlan, and continued more quietly. "I saw him myself. He was there and then he - he disappeared."
Nick and Cody exchanged another look, and Nick sighed. "Murray, were you watching the Creature Feature again? You know that - "
"No, Nick, I - "
"Save it, ladies." Quinlan swung his feet to the floor with a bang and stood up abruptly. "Normally, you three come in here talking about vampires, I'd lock you up for a month just for the hell of it." He regarded them through narrowed eyes. "Thing is, right now there's two dead bodies in my morgue, drained of blood, with fang marks on their necks. Bozinsky, I think you interrupted Dracula before he got to number three."
"Quinlan, you don't really believe it's a - a vampire, do you?" Cody asked, looking thunderstruck.
"No Allen, I don't believe it's a fucking vampire any more than I believe you're a PI. Now get your asses out of my office before I jail 'em for you."
*
"The legend of Nosferatu has been around for centuries," Murray said, leaning forward from the rear of the Jimmy.
Nick shot him a skeptical look. "Nosferwhat?"
"Nosferatu, Nick. Vampires. Quinlan said the bodies were drained of blood. That's not an easy thing to do, drain all the blood out of a body."
"Maybe so." Cody joined in. "But Murray, that doesn't mean Count Dracula's taken up residence in King Harbor, right?"
"Not Count Dracula exactly." Murray giggled. "Documented cases of vampirism are rare, Cody, but twelve years ago now, in Haiti, there was a girl who lived on the blood of chickens." He began to explain the ramifications of a diet of blood.
"You had to ask," Nick muttered, glaring at Cody.
Cody shrugged and glanced at Nick. "Let's just see what Amber's got to say, huh?" he responded as he pulled into the parking lot in front of the hospital.
Amber, clad in a blue hospital gown, was sitting up in bed when they entered her room. She looked pale and wan, but her face lit up when she saw them. "Murray! Oh, and Nick and Cody! Thank you for coming." A bruise was purpling her cheek, and a large flesh-colored dressing was taped to her neck.
"How are you feeling, Amber?" Murray hurried to her bedside, closely followed by his partners.
"Well, you know, kinda scared." She gave them a small smile. "Kinda scared and kinda lucky at the same time."
"I bet you are," Nick said sympathetically. "Amber, what can you tell us about the guy who did this to you? We're gonna nail him, don't you worry about that."
"He was..." Amber looked down, biting her lip. "He was really tall. Wearing all black, and a sort of...cloak-thing. I tried to run, but he chased after me - " Her voice rose anxiously.
"Take it easy," Cody said soothingly, crossing to the other side of the bed. He took the frightened girl's hand. "You're safe now, Amber."
She took a deep breath and nodded slowly. "Thanks," she whispered. "It was - he grabbed me. I thought - I thought - but then he said 'Be still, little girl. I want your blood.' He pushed me on the ground and - something stabbed my neck - I screamed and then Murray came!"
"You're doing great," Cody reassured her, patting her hand.
"Did you see what he looked like at all?" Murray asked hopefully.
"Not really. He was very tall, and - and wearing all black, like I said. His face looked weird - I wonder if he had some kind of mask on?" She looked up at Cody, then turned her gaze to Murray. "It was so white... really freaky."
"Where did you see him first?" Nick stepped forward to stand next to Murray, looking down at the girl on the bed.
"I was by the arcade." Amber shivered. "I heard a squeaking noise, like a rat or something, and I turned around and - and when I turned back he was standing there, right in front of me." Her eyes filled with tears. "Please find him. Please find him and stop him."
"We will, Amber." Cody nodded reassuringly, and laid her hand gently on the covers. "You concentrate on resting, okay? And don't worry."
"Thanks." She summoned a wan smile. "I guess it won't seem so scary in the morning."
*
Cody picked up a cigarette butt in his latex-gloved hand, and dropped it in the plastic bad he carried. He straightened up. "Murray, I really don't think this is getting us very far."
Murray, on his knees with a magnifying glass next to the door to the arcade, flapped a hand at his partner without looking up. "Trust me, Cody. He was right here. Collecting everything in the vicinity is the only way to ensure we don't miss a vital piece of evidence."
"If the vital piece of evidence you're after's a bottle cap, Boz, chances are I got it." Nick, squatting by the railing, dropped something into his plastic bag that landed with a metallic 'chink'. He stood up and stretched, grimacing. "Honestly, Murray, all this junk is telling us is that we need more trash cans on Pier 56."
"Well, you know, Nick, that's interesting you should say that." Murray sat back on his heels and looked around at his partners. "I've been thinking we could bring that up at the next Residents' Association - "
"Murray!" Nick and Cody interrupted in unison.
Nick crossed to stand next to Cody, who said, "Come on, Murray. What we need to do is identify this guy, right? You got a look at him and so did Amber. Whaddaya say we go inside and see if you can work up a picture of him on the computer?"
"A picture on the computer?" Murray looked thunderstruck. "Cody, that's it! I don't know how I forgot!" He leapt to his feet. "The Comp-u-cam! This is so boss! Come on, guys!"
Nick and Cody stared, open mouthed, after the retreating back of their partner. "What the hell?" Nick asked.
"Only one way to find out, I guess." Cody slung an arm around Nick's shoulders. "Come on, pal. Don't forget your vital evidence."
"Yeah." Nick looked at his plastic bag skeptically. "Won't let it out of my sight."
Back on the Riptide, they found Murray ensconced in front of his computer, Roboz at his side. He wore an excited grin. The Comp-u-cam lay on the desk, cover open, wires protruding from its innards and snaking to the orange robot's claws.
"What's all this, Murray?" Cody asked, handing his plastic bag to Nick and leaning over to look at the screen. He blinked in confusion at the green numbers scrolling over the display.
"I was testing the Comp-u-cam on the beach today," Murray said, turning to Cody. "When I saw the guy, I grabbed it and took some pictures of him!"
"Pictures? That's great, Murray!" Cody said enthusiastically. He looked dubiously at the computer monitor. "So what's this for, Boz? Won't you need to develop them?"
Nick stepped closer, and put the two plastic bags on the desk. "They don't need developing, right, Murray?" he said. "Isn't the Comp-u-cam your new invention that puts the pictures straight into the computer?"
"That's exactly right, Nick." Murray nodded slowly, a satisfied smile on his face. "All we have to do is wait for the Roboz to download the information from the camera, and then the computer will analyze the pictures. I expect it will give us a clear picture - the test results to date have been pretty amazing, if I do say so myself."
As Nick and Cody watched, the green numbers on the screen rolled to a stop. The display went black, flashed once, and then a picture in shades of gray slowly appeared.
"Hey!" Cody blinked at it and grabbed Murray's shoulder. "That's the beach, Boz! Wow!"
"It sure is." Nick smirked. The picture was grainy and pixellated to the human eye, but he could see clearly enough to recognize the girl in the foreground. "Amber was on the beach this afternoon too, huh?"
"Oh!" Murray went bright red. "Well, sure - uh - she said she didn't mind being part of the experiment - "
Cody chuckled. "I'm sure she didn't, Murray. Anyhow, this isn't getting us closer to finding the guy who attacked her, right? Where's the pictures from tonight?"
"Right!" Murray sat up straight. "Tonight. Let's see - " he punched some keys on the keyboard. "It should be about here..." The beach scene disappeared and in its place the monitor displayed a cloudy gray swirl. Murray leaned forward, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Strange! I don't know what this is." He pushed some more keys, but the display didn't change. "Roboz! Image analysis mode."
The Roboz's head turned towards Murray with a whir, eyes lighting up, and in orange letters its screen proclaimed IMAGE ANALYSIS MODE. The monitor on the desk flickered, and the gray swirl was replaced by scrolling green numbers.
*
Cody woke up with a start, cold, stiff and uncomfortable. He looked around him and realized he'd fallen asleep on the bench seat in the salon, half-lying on Nick, curled up in the corner behind him. His arm was around Cody's chest, and his even breathing was hot on the back of Cody's neck. Cody shifted slowly, aiming to detangle himself without waking Nick.
"Cody?" Despite his careful movements, Nick was awake in an instant, his arm tightening around Cody's chest. Cody felt him tense.
"It's okay, Nick." Cody swung his feet to the floor and turned to face his partner. He reached an arm around Nick and pulled him close, feeling him relax again as he recognized his surroundings.
"Long night," Nick muttered against Cody's neck. "What time is it anyhow?"
Cody yawned and freed an arm, looking at his watch. "It's three a.m."
Nick sat up. "Better go see if Murray's still up," he said, blinking. His eyes were heavy with fatigue. "I'm guessing tomorrow's gonna be a busy day."
Murray was where they'd left him, poring over the keyboard and pages of notes. "Oh, hey guys," he said distractedly.
"Find anything, Murray?" Nick yawned and stretched.
"What? Oh, no, it doesn't make any sense," Murray said, strain in his voice. "The Comp-u-cam worked perfectly all afternoon! It works perfectly now. And yet, every picture I took on the pier tonight is completely over-exposed! There's only one possible explanation!"
"What's that, Murray?" Cody rested a reassuring hand on his friend's back.
Murray turned in consternation. "I've ruled out equipment failure," he said, brown eyes wide. "The only thing I can come up with is - " he swallowed hard, hesitating.
"What, Murray?" Rubbing his eyes, Nick stepped forward to stand next to Cody, looking down at their partner.
"A real vampire!" Murray blurted. His voice rose sharply. "A real vampire, right here in King Harbor!"
Nick opened his mouth and shut it again. He looked at Cody. Cody looked back at him, confusion and surprise chasing the sleepy look from his eyes. He shrugged, and Nick turned back to Murray. "There's no such thing as vampires, Murray," he said slowly.
"I've never been sure about that, Nick." Murray shook his head, leaning forward intently. "I mean, Dracula, that's a story, pure and simple. Not likely to be a grain of fact in it. But every culture has a vampire legend of some sort. Just off the top of my head, in fact, there's upiri, incubi, nosferatu, and even gods and goddesses - the Indian goddess Kali just for a start! You don't get a legend as widespread as that without some sort of basis in fact. For heaven's sake, vampire legends are more widespread than Christianity!"
"More - " Nick stopped. "Murray, this is the eighties, you know? Not the eighteen hundreds. I'm telling you, whatever attacked Amber tonight, it wasn't a vampire, all right? It was a person, and we're gonna figure out who it is."
Murray took a deep breath and looked at Nick, brown eyes doubtful. "Maybe you're right." He looked back at the computer screen and then at the Comp-u-cam, now in pieces on the desk. "It just doesn't make any sense. I'm afraid - "
"Murray," Cody said encouragingly, patting his shoulder, "Nick's right. Come on, why don't you get some sleep. In the morning we'll go talk to Amber again, and between the two of you we'll get an identikit drawn up."
"You're right, Cody." Murray nodded and took a deep breath. He offered his partners a weak smile. "I'm sorry, guys. I guess I got a little carried away..."
"Don't worry about it, Boz." Nick yawned again. "Go to bed, man. Nothing makes sense at three in the morning."
Murray got up from the desk, heading towards his narrow cot on the far side of the room. "I am tired," he admitted. "Maybe I missed something." He stopped and looked doubtfully back at the equipment on the desk. "In fact, perhaps I should run the polarizing software again - "
"Murray!" Nick and Cody spoke together. "Bed!"
Grinning ruefully, Murray nodded. "You're right. I'm too tired to do it properly," he agreed. "I'll set my alarm and get up early - Roboz! Alarm clock."
Roboz is an alarm clock? Nick raised his eyebrows at Cody.
Cody shrugged, gesturing at the orange robot. Sure looks like it. He turned and headed out of the room.
Nick looked where Cody had pointed and saw Roboz's display: WHAT TIME, MURRAY?
"Who knew?" Nick muttered to himself, and followed Cody out of the room.
*
Cody came back from the head and found Nick already in his bunk, curled up with his eyes closed. Stripping quickly, Cody joined him, sliding into bed and curling around his lover. "You still awake?" he whispered.
Nick rolled over to face him and wrapped both arms around him, pulling him close. "Yeah. What is it, babe?"
"This vampire murder thing's kinda spooky." Cody shivered.
"Cody, don't," Nick said firmly, raising himself on an elbow and looking down at his friend. He touched Cody's cheek and said more gently, "There's no such thing as vampires, man. You gotta believe me."
Cody looked up at him, blue eyes wide and anxious and fixed on Nick's. Nick sighed. "Baby, I mean it. Murray's right about a lot of things, but Creature Feature time..." Nick shook his head. "He's got a bee in his bonnet when it comes to ghosts and vampires and stuff, you know he does, Cody. Remember that ghost repellent? Even geniuses have blind spots, you know?"
This time, Cody smiled slightly. Nick smiled back as he watched Cody's eyes soften and he lay back down, pulling his partner close. "I love you, Cody," he murmured.
"Love you too." Cody snuggled closer as Nick rubbed his back, burying his head against Nick's shoulder. "Nick..."
"Yeah?" Nick asked softly, sliding his hand down Cody's spine, feeling his partner arch against him. Cody didn't answer, instead pushing his body close against Nick's, and kissing Nick's neck. Nick shivered as Cody's cock filled, twitching against his stomach. "Babe," he murmured half-heartedly. "We should get some sleep."
"Mmm." Cody kissed Nick's neck again, then raised his head and found Nick's mouth. "That what you wanna do?" he asked huskily as he broke the kiss.
"No," Nick said softly and pushed his hips against Cody's, his own erection hot against Cody's flesh. He hissed through his teeth as Cody pinched his nipple then claimed another kiss, harder this time. Nick rolled onto his back and pulled Cody on top of him.
Cody straddled him, leaning forward for another kiss, and Nick's hands slid down his back to cup the globes of his ass. Nick moaned into Cody's kiss, squeezing his ass and arching up against him. Cody groaned, lowering his hips and thrusting gently against Nick's stomach.
"You're so damned beautiful," Nick whispered in Cody's ear, sliding a hand between them and closing it around his cock. Cody moaned, and Nick's other hand traced the crack of his ass, tickling at his pucker.
"Nick," Cody gasped, spreading his legs wider. He dropped his head and bit gently at Nick's neck.
Nick kissed Cody's shoulder and fumbled one-handed for the lube. His other hand was firm on Cody's cock, stroking him, and Cody whimpered, biting his neck again.
The lube was cold on Cody's entrance and he yelped, then groaned as Nick's fingertips spread the glob over his skin. "Nick," he moaned, closing his eyes, trembling as Nick's finger probed him. "Nick, please."
Nick released his cock, moving his other hand back to Cody's ass. Gently, he pulled his cheeks apart. Cody whined, pushing his ass back against Nick's hands, and Nick pressed gently at the center of his hole. "God, Nick, yes," Cody gasped as Nick's finger passed his ring.
Groaning softly, Nick let himself fall into the sensation of Cody's hot passage pulling him in. Cody bucked against him and Nick pushed further in, feeling Cody opening for him as he sought his pleasure spot. He felt the nub under his finger as Cody cried out. Nick eased a second finger past Cody's rim, stretching his entrance, working his fingers in and out, and Cody trembled and moaned as each thrust massaged his prostate.
Nick greased his cock one-handed, the fingers of his other hand still buried to the hilt inside his lover. He shivered with anticipation, and turned his head to kiss Cody's cheek. "Baby," he whispered.
Cody raised his head. "Nick," he whispered raggedly, and pushed himself up off Nick's chest.
Fingers sliding out of Cody's ass, Nick grabbed the base of his own cock. Cody lowered himself and Nick groaned, holding himself steady as Cody's ring pressed against the head of his cock. "Baby, yes," he whispered, looking up into Cody's face.
"Nick..." Cody groaned hard and long as Nick's cock passed his entrance. "Nick!"
Closing his eyes, Nick flung his head back and rolled it from side to side as he sank further inside his lover. He moaned softly and moved his hands, fingers clutching at Cody's hard, muscular thighs.
Cody rocked backwards and Nick felt his lover's hips against his own. He forced his eyes open, looking up at Cody, and watched as Cody slowly started to move. He let his eyes trail downwards, over Cody's chest, the sparse gold hair glistening with sweat in the light of the bedlamp, down over the taut stomach to his cock, proud and glistening with sweat and pre-cum, bobbing as he moved.
With a moan, Nick reached for his partner's cock and Cody gasped. "Nick!" He thrust faster and Nick groaned at the friction of Cody moving around him, spreading his legs and pushing up to meet Cody's strokes.
Cody's passage tightened as his orgasm approached, and Nick whimpered, feeling his own balls contract. He stroked Cody's cock faster, panting, and it swelled in his hand even as fireworks exploded at the base of his spine.
Cody collapsed on his chest and Nick's arms closed around him automatically. They lay together in silence, recovering their breath, sweat and come slick between them. Cody kissed Nick's collarbone softly. "I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too." Nick's hands roamed over Cody's back, tracing patterns in the slowly-drying sweat. He turned his head and kissed Cody's ear. "So much, Cody. Love you so much."
Nick wriggled, and Cody, sighing happily, moved to curl up next to his lover in answer to his unspoken request. Nick shifted next to him. "Here, Cody," he whispered, and Cody stretched out as he felt a towel against his chest.
"Mmmmm," he voiced his approval softly as Nick dried him off then turned over to face him. He snuggled closer, burying his head against Nick's shoulder.
"I got you, Cody," Nick whispered in his ear, and Cody relaxed completely as Nick wrapped himself around him. "I got you, baby. Go to sleep."
*
Eyes still closed, Nick snuggled closer against Cody's back, resting his cheek against the back of Cody's neck. He tightened his arms around his lover. Early morning was one of his favorite parts of the day, curled up in the bunk while Cody slept in his arms. He lay still, basking in the warmth of Cody's body against his, listening to him breathe. 'Home.' Nick sighed contentedly and let the familiar sounds of the Riptide in the morning wash over him - gentle creaks and groans from her timbers, the slap of the Pacific against her hull, Murray's voice from the salon as he chatted to the Roboz.
Followed by hammering.
Nick opened his eyes, puzzled. The hammering came again. 'Not dreaming. Damn.' With another sigh, this one of resignation, Nick unwound himself from his lover and sat up. He'd better find out what Murray was doing with a hammer. Make sure the little guy hadn't decided to remodel the salon overnight.
"Nick?" Cody asked sleepily, rolling over and raising himself on his elbow.
"Go back to sleep, babe." Nick pulled his sweats on, and bent to kiss Cody. "Murray's hammering or something. Just gonna see what he's up to."
"Hammering?" Cody sat up, just as the noise came again. "Hammering on my boat? Nick - "
"Take it easy, babe," Nick soothed him. "It's probably just some experiment, you know?"
"Maybe so." Cody got up, blinking sleep away. "Pass me my jeans, buddy."
Nick followed Cody up the stairs to the salon and nearly cannoned into his back when he stopped suddenly at the top. "Cody - " he growled, and then broke off, staring in awe at the sight that had brought Cody to a halt.
The Riptide's salon was festooned with strings of garlic, strung across the ceiling like fat white bunting and hanging over the blinds. Six large carafes of water stood on the table. Murray was precariously balanced on the rattan chair, wielding a hammer, trying to nail a large crucifix above the stairway to the wheelhouse.
"Murray!" Cody recovered first. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Cody!" Murray looked around and lost his balance. Cody tried to steady him but Murray's windmilling arms made him stagger, and the two of them ended up in a heap on the floor.
"For God's sake." Nick stepped forward and lifted Murray bodily to his feet. "All right, Boz?" he asked, not waiting for an answer as he lifted the chair off Cody's legs. "Come on, pal." He bent and grabbed Cody's hand, helping him up, one arm going around his shoulders as Cody staggered to his feet. There was a smear of blood on his forehead.
"Fuck," Cody groaned and raised a hand to his head. "Murray! Put that damned crucifix down before you hit anyone else on the head with it! And what's all this junk anyhow?" He gestured around the salon.
"Oh! I'm sorry, Cody." Murray twisted the crucifix in his hands and looked around the room, then back at Nick and Cody. "Well, you know, I got up early this morning and I did every test I could think of on the camera and on the pictures. All the answers came out the same. And with what Quinlan told us about bodies of drained of blood - the only conclusion I can draw is that the thing I photographed last night was a real vampire, guys. So - well, I thought it would be best if we took some elementary precautions."
"Elementary precautions?" Nick echoed. "Murray, where did you get all this stuff?"
"I got the garlic at the market - it's in season at the moment which is really lucky. Then I went to see Father Bob and he got me the holy water," Murray gestured to the jugs on the table, "and loaned me the crucifix."
Cody pressed his hand to his forehead and shot Nick a pained look. Nick gave his shoulders a squeeze - Leave it to me - and turned to Murray. "Boz," he said patiently, and held out his hand for the crucifix. Murray handed it over. "I told you last night, there's no such thing as vampires, all right?" Murray opened his mouth to speak and Nick held up his hand. "And while we're sitting around thinking about vampires, the guy who attacked Amber is getting away, you know?" He looked down at the crucifix in his hands. "The only use this thing is gonna be is for slugging crooks over the head."
Murray sighed and looked from Nick to Cody. "Cody, I'm sorry about your head," he said, looking down and shaking his own head. "But what if it really is a vampire? Guys - "
"Just get rid of this stuff, Boz, okay?" Cody said irritably. "Look, call me when you're ready to go to the hospital and see Amber." He turned abruptly and headed back down the stairs.
Nick handed the crucifix back to Murray, who looked at it and then back around the room. "I just wanted..." he began sadly.
"I know you did, Murray." Nick patted his shoulder comfortingly. "Listen, just don't hammer anything else on board, all right? And how about if I help you take the holy water to your room?"
"Hey thanks, Nick!" Murray brightened. In the end, Nick managed to persuade him to remove the half the garlic as well as all the carafes to his stateroom.
"I'll get ready." Nick ran a hand over his unshaven jaw. "Then we'll go see Amber again, okay?"
"Sounds great, Nick." Murray stood by the door, clutching a string of garlic. "Are you sure you don't want to take this, Nick? For your room?"
"Thanks Murray, but you keep it." Nick patted his shoulder again, and headed for his cabin.
Cody was waiting for him there, sitting moodily on the bed. He'd shaved and dressed, and was fingering the scratch on his forehead, looking in a hand-mirror.
"I don't think you're gonna be scarred for life, babe," Nick commented, picking up his shirt and jeans.
"It's still bleeding." Cody shot him a dirty look. "I don't want blood on my clothes, but I don't want to go to the hospital with a bandage on my face!"
Nick looked at his partner and sighed. "Take the white sweater off and put on a shirt," he suggested. "Then if it does bleed it won't matter so much."
Cody shrugged unhappily. "I guess I'll put a bandage on."
"Listen." Nick put his clothes down and dropped on the bunk next to Cody. "Lie down while I take a shower, all right? Let me put some gauze on it now, and I'll bet you by the time I'm done in the bathroom it'll have stopped bleeding. Okay?"
"Okay." Cody let Nick push him down on the bunk, and smiled slightly as Nick kissed him.
"Don't move," Nick warned him, grinning. He went to the bathroom and returned quickly with a wet washcloth, a clean towel and a package of sterile gauze. He bathed the blood off Cody's forehead, confirming in the process that the scratch was as slight as he'd thought in the salon.
"Nick," Cody murmured fretfully, twisting his head away. "That's cold."
"I thought I said 'don't move'." Nick stroked Cody's cheek, then brought the cloth back against his forehead. "Babe, it's cold to help stop the bleeding, all right?"
"All right." Cody sighed but lay still as Nick finished with the washcloth and dabbed his handiwork dry with the towel. He tore the gauze package open and unfolded the soft white strip, smoothing it gently over the cut.
"There," he said, bending and kissing Cody's lips. "I think you'll live."
"Thanks." Cody smiled and Nick patted his cheek again.
As Nick had thought it would, Cody's scratch stopped bleeding by the time he'd finished in the bathroom. They headed up the stairs and Cody only rolled his eyes as he saw the remaining garlic in the salon.
"Guys!" Murray bounded up the galley stairs, brandishing two brightly colored water pistols. "Take one of these each."
Nick and Cody looked at each other. "Uh - why, Murray?" Nick asked as he took the orange toy his partner handed him and looked at it dubiously.
"They're loaded with holy water. It will burn a vampire like - well, like sulfuric acid would burn us!"
"Murray - " Cody started angrily, but Nick's hand on his arm cut him off.
"Boz, we're going to the hospital," Nick said. "And it's broad daylight. Even if there was a vampire, we're not going to meet him now."
"I guess you're right." Murray looked at the lime green gun he still held. "Well, how about if I put 'em in the glove box? Just in case?"
"Great idea, Boz." Nick squeezed Cody's arm warningly and Cody closed his mouth again. "Come on, are you ready?"
"Sure, Nick! I'll just get the crucifix Father Bob gave me for Amber!"
"Get her a water pistol while you're at it," Nick called after him as he ran down the stairs. "We'll wait in the car." He started for the hatch.
"Nick!" Cody said, following him on deck. "Water-pistols?"
"Take it easy, man." Nick slung an arm around his shoulders as they headed for the companionway. "Look at it this way. If he drops a water-pistol on your head, it won't hurt, you know?"
"You're right." Cody chuckled, pulling away as they reached the pier and going to the driver's seat of the Jimmy. Nick climbed in beside him. "Guess I'm being a little hard on him, huh?"
Nick looked back towards the companionway, watching Murray make his way slowly up it, arms full of strings of garlic and rough-cut wooden pegs. Balanced on top of his bundle was a crucifix and the lime-green water-pistol. "I dunno, pal." Nick shook his head and looked down at the orange toy still in his hand. He stuffed it in the glove compartment. "I just wish he'd stop watching monster movies and thinking the damned things are real."
Cody hesitated. "Nick, I don't agree with all the garlic and stuff, but I guess it's possible there's such a thing as ghosts, right? And maybe even vampires too?" He pressed his lips together and turned to look at his partner. "I mean, there's a lot of things we don't have answers to in this world, right?"
"Cody, what we're dealing with here is some loony-bin who thinks he's Dracula, all right?" Nick said, turning to Cody in exasperation. "Don't you - "
They both swung around sharply as brakes screeched behind them. On the pier, a huge black limo skidded to a stop just as Murray stepped through the gate. The door opened and Murray dropped his bag, a horrified expression on his face.
"What the hell?" Cody scrambled for the door.
"Come on, man." Nick was already out of the truck and running towards the limo. A thick black cloud emanated from the rear door, enveloping Murray. Nick heard a strangled yell, sharply cut off, and then the rear door slammed, the big vehicle's tires spun, and it took off up the pier. "Cody! The car!" Nick yelled, not breaking stride, sprinting in the wake of the fleeing vehicle.
Panting, he stood on the sidewalk, watching the speeding car disappear. "Fuck." Nick turned to look for Cody and the Jimmy. Instead, he saw his partner running towards him. "Cody!" Nick ran to meet him.
"The cars, Nick," Cody panted. "Someone's screwed with the Jimmy, and the 'Vette too. They won't start."
"Fuck!" Distraught, Nick turned away, taking a deep breath. "These assholes have Murray, Cody! We've got to get after 'em!"
"I know, pal." Cody nodded seriously. "Let's go talk to Quinlan. He's working this case - he must have some leads. All we need is somewhere to start."
"You're right, Cody." Nick took another deep breath. "Come on, man. Let's find a cab."
Part II
More Stories
Author: tinx_r
Fandom:Riptide
Pairing/Characters: Cody Allen/Nick Ryder
Challenge: Mental Combat with the Rising Vampire for stupidboysfest's Spooktacular; Fear for 10_hurt_comfort
Crossposted: 7_suns, halloween_fic, pier56
Rating/Category: NC17/Slash
Word Count: 5800
Summary: A spooky killer is stalking King Harbor. Could the Riptide Detective Agency be up against a real live (or possibly undead) vampire?
Disclaimer: Not mine. No money being made. No copyright infringement intended.
Beta: oddmonster, Queen of the Ficmarch.
Notes/Warnings: For valis2.
Portrait of the Vampire - Part I
Murray Bozinsky hurried homewards along the beach, stumbling occasionally over a rock or piece of driftwood. 'I really should keep a better check on the time,' he thought ruefully, tripping again. He'd intended to be home hours ago but he'd become caught up in the intricacies of the device he was testing. Now it was nearly dark.
He smiled to himself, thinking of the afternoon's test, and patted the camera that hung around his neck. It incorporated a special lens and microchip he'd developed, enabling it to take photographs interpretable by computer. 'I can't wait to get today's shots from the Comp-u-cam downloaded and see what Roboz can do with them,' he mused.
The lights on the pier winked into life as he approached and Murray shivered slightly, feeling the chill in the air.
He was halfway up the steps when a scream rang out, stopping him in his tracks. It came from the direction of the amusement arcade. "Who's there?" Murray yelled, adrenaline coursing through his body. He ran the rest of the way up the stairs.
A dark figure was crouched near the doorway of the arcade, and Murray hurried towards it. "Who are you?" he called breathlessly. As he watched, the figure straightened abruptly. Murray caught a glimpse of a white face, broad shoulders and a pointed collar, and instinctively he raised the camera, clicking the shutter frantically. As he watched, the shadows seemed to swirl around the person like a dark-colored cloak, and then suddenly, there was nothing there but the night. Murray dropped the camera in disbelief, yelping as it bounced against his breastbone, tight on its lanyard.
"Help!" A weak cry reclaimed his attention, and Murray realized the vanishing figure had been bending over another person. He started to run again.
"Amber!" Murray recognized one of the Contessa's crew, and dropped to his knees beside her. The blonde girl was shaking, scrunched back against the wall of the arcade, eyes wide and staring with terror.
"M - Murray," she stammered. "Murray, he - he wanted - he said - drink my blood."
As Murray reached out to her, her eyes rolled back in her head and she fainted.
*
"A vampire?" Nick and Cody repeated in unison, looking at each other then back at their third partner. Murray Bozinsky stood, hands on his hips, arms akimbo, in front of Lieutenant Quinlan's desk.
The lieutenant leaned back in his chair and swung his feet up onto the desk. "Your friend Bozinsky here been drinking?" he asked, looking from Cody to Nick.
"Quinlan, this is serious!" Murray interrupted. "A young woman's been attacked, and the man who did it wanted to drink her blood." He paused and looked at his partners, then back at Quinlan, and continued more quietly. "I saw him myself. He was there and then he - he disappeared."
Nick and Cody exchanged another look, and Nick sighed. "Murray, were you watching the Creature Feature again? You know that - "
"No, Nick, I - "
"Save it, ladies." Quinlan swung his feet to the floor with a bang and stood up abruptly. "Normally, you three come in here talking about vampires, I'd lock you up for a month just for the hell of it." He regarded them through narrowed eyes. "Thing is, right now there's two dead bodies in my morgue, drained of blood, with fang marks on their necks. Bozinsky, I think you interrupted Dracula before he got to number three."
"Quinlan, you don't really believe it's a - a vampire, do you?" Cody asked, looking thunderstruck.
"No Allen, I don't believe it's a fucking vampire any more than I believe you're a PI. Now get your asses out of my office before I jail 'em for you."
*
"The legend of Nosferatu has been around for centuries," Murray said, leaning forward from the rear of the Jimmy.
Nick shot him a skeptical look. "Nosferwhat?"
"Nosferatu, Nick. Vampires. Quinlan said the bodies were drained of blood. That's not an easy thing to do, drain all the blood out of a body."
"Maybe so." Cody joined in. "But Murray, that doesn't mean Count Dracula's taken up residence in King Harbor, right?"
"Not Count Dracula exactly." Murray giggled. "Documented cases of vampirism are rare, Cody, but twelve years ago now, in Haiti, there was a girl who lived on the blood of chickens." He began to explain the ramifications of a diet of blood.
"You had to ask," Nick muttered, glaring at Cody.
Cody shrugged and glanced at Nick. "Let's just see what Amber's got to say, huh?" he responded as he pulled into the parking lot in front of the hospital.
Amber, clad in a blue hospital gown, was sitting up in bed when they entered her room. She looked pale and wan, but her face lit up when she saw them. "Murray! Oh, and Nick and Cody! Thank you for coming." A bruise was purpling her cheek, and a large flesh-colored dressing was taped to her neck.
"How are you feeling, Amber?" Murray hurried to her bedside, closely followed by his partners.
"Well, you know, kinda scared." She gave them a small smile. "Kinda scared and kinda lucky at the same time."
"I bet you are," Nick said sympathetically. "Amber, what can you tell us about the guy who did this to you? We're gonna nail him, don't you worry about that."
"He was..." Amber looked down, biting her lip. "He was really tall. Wearing all black, and a sort of...cloak-thing. I tried to run, but he chased after me - " Her voice rose anxiously.
"Take it easy," Cody said soothingly, crossing to the other side of the bed. He took the frightened girl's hand. "You're safe now, Amber."
She took a deep breath and nodded slowly. "Thanks," she whispered. "It was - he grabbed me. I thought - I thought - but then he said 'Be still, little girl. I want your blood.' He pushed me on the ground and - something stabbed my neck - I screamed and then Murray came!"
"You're doing great," Cody reassured her, patting her hand.
"Did you see what he looked like at all?" Murray asked hopefully.
"Not really. He was very tall, and - and wearing all black, like I said. His face looked weird - I wonder if he had some kind of mask on?" She looked up at Cody, then turned her gaze to Murray. "It was so white... really freaky."
"Where did you see him first?" Nick stepped forward to stand next to Murray, looking down at the girl on the bed.
"I was by the arcade." Amber shivered. "I heard a squeaking noise, like a rat or something, and I turned around and - and when I turned back he was standing there, right in front of me." Her eyes filled with tears. "Please find him. Please find him and stop him."
"We will, Amber." Cody nodded reassuringly, and laid her hand gently on the covers. "You concentrate on resting, okay? And don't worry."
"Thanks." She summoned a wan smile. "I guess it won't seem so scary in the morning."
*
Cody picked up a cigarette butt in his latex-gloved hand, and dropped it in the plastic bad he carried. He straightened up. "Murray, I really don't think this is getting us very far."
Murray, on his knees with a magnifying glass next to the door to the arcade, flapped a hand at his partner without looking up. "Trust me, Cody. He was right here. Collecting everything in the vicinity is the only way to ensure we don't miss a vital piece of evidence."
"If the vital piece of evidence you're after's a bottle cap, Boz, chances are I got it." Nick, squatting by the railing, dropped something into his plastic bag that landed with a metallic 'chink'. He stood up and stretched, grimacing. "Honestly, Murray, all this junk is telling us is that we need more trash cans on Pier 56."
"Well, you know, Nick, that's interesting you should say that." Murray sat back on his heels and looked around at his partners. "I've been thinking we could bring that up at the next Residents' Association - "
"Murray!" Nick and Cody interrupted in unison.
Nick crossed to stand next to Cody, who said, "Come on, Murray. What we need to do is identify this guy, right? You got a look at him and so did Amber. Whaddaya say we go inside and see if you can work up a picture of him on the computer?"
"A picture on the computer?" Murray looked thunderstruck. "Cody, that's it! I don't know how I forgot!" He leapt to his feet. "The Comp-u-cam! This is so boss! Come on, guys!"
Nick and Cody stared, open mouthed, after the retreating back of their partner. "What the hell?" Nick asked.
"Only one way to find out, I guess." Cody slung an arm around Nick's shoulders. "Come on, pal. Don't forget your vital evidence."
"Yeah." Nick looked at his plastic bag skeptically. "Won't let it out of my sight."
Back on the Riptide, they found Murray ensconced in front of his computer, Roboz at his side. He wore an excited grin. The Comp-u-cam lay on the desk, cover open, wires protruding from its innards and snaking to the orange robot's claws.
"What's all this, Murray?" Cody asked, handing his plastic bag to Nick and leaning over to look at the screen. He blinked in confusion at the green numbers scrolling over the display.
"I was testing the Comp-u-cam on the beach today," Murray said, turning to Cody. "When I saw the guy, I grabbed it and took some pictures of him!"
"Pictures? That's great, Murray!" Cody said enthusiastically. He looked dubiously at the computer monitor. "So what's this for, Boz? Won't you need to develop them?"
Nick stepped closer, and put the two plastic bags on the desk. "They don't need developing, right, Murray?" he said. "Isn't the Comp-u-cam your new invention that puts the pictures straight into the computer?"
"That's exactly right, Nick." Murray nodded slowly, a satisfied smile on his face. "All we have to do is wait for the Roboz to download the information from the camera, and then the computer will analyze the pictures. I expect it will give us a clear picture - the test results to date have been pretty amazing, if I do say so myself."
As Nick and Cody watched, the green numbers on the screen rolled to a stop. The display went black, flashed once, and then a picture in shades of gray slowly appeared.
"Hey!" Cody blinked at it and grabbed Murray's shoulder. "That's the beach, Boz! Wow!"
"It sure is." Nick smirked. The picture was grainy and pixellated to the human eye, but he could see clearly enough to recognize the girl in the foreground. "Amber was on the beach this afternoon too, huh?"
"Oh!" Murray went bright red. "Well, sure - uh - she said she didn't mind being part of the experiment - "
Cody chuckled. "I'm sure she didn't, Murray. Anyhow, this isn't getting us closer to finding the guy who attacked her, right? Where's the pictures from tonight?"
"Right!" Murray sat up straight. "Tonight. Let's see - " he punched some keys on the keyboard. "It should be about here..." The beach scene disappeared and in its place the monitor displayed a cloudy gray swirl. Murray leaned forward, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Strange! I don't know what this is." He pushed some more keys, but the display didn't change. "Roboz! Image analysis mode."
The Roboz's head turned towards Murray with a whir, eyes lighting up, and in orange letters its screen proclaimed IMAGE ANALYSIS MODE. The monitor on the desk flickered, and the gray swirl was replaced by scrolling green numbers.
*
Cody woke up with a start, cold, stiff and uncomfortable. He looked around him and realized he'd fallen asleep on the bench seat in the salon, half-lying on Nick, curled up in the corner behind him. His arm was around Cody's chest, and his even breathing was hot on the back of Cody's neck. Cody shifted slowly, aiming to detangle himself without waking Nick.
"Cody?" Despite his careful movements, Nick was awake in an instant, his arm tightening around Cody's chest. Cody felt him tense.
"It's okay, Nick." Cody swung his feet to the floor and turned to face his partner. He reached an arm around Nick and pulled him close, feeling him relax again as he recognized his surroundings.
"Long night," Nick muttered against Cody's neck. "What time is it anyhow?"
Cody yawned and freed an arm, looking at his watch. "It's three a.m."
Nick sat up. "Better go see if Murray's still up," he said, blinking. His eyes were heavy with fatigue. "I'm guessing tomorrow's gonna be a busy day."
Murray was where they'd left him, poring over the keyboard and pages of notes. "Oh, hey guys," he said distractedly.
"Find anything, Murray?" Nick yawned and stretched.
"What? Oh, no, it doesn't make any sense," Murray said, strain in his voice. "The Comp-u-cam worked perfectly all afternoon! It works perfectly now. And yet, every picture I took on the pier tonight is completely over-exposed! There's only one possible explanation!"
"What's that, Murray?" Cody rested a reassuring hand on his friend's back.
Murray turned in consternation. "I've ruled out equipment failure," he said, brown eyes wide. "The only thing I can come up with is - " he swallowed hard, hesitating.
"What, Murray?" Rubbing his eyes, Nick stepped forward to stand next to Cody, looking down at their partner.
"A real vampire!" Murray blurted. His voice rose sharply. "A real vampire, right here in King Harbor!"
Nick opened his mouth and shut it again. He looked at Cody. Cody looked back at him, confusion and surprise chasing the sleepy look from his eyes. He shrugged, and Nick turned back to Murray. "There's no such thing as vampires, Murray," he said slowly.
"I've never been sure about that, Nick." Murray shook his head, leaning forward intently. "I mean, Dracula, that's a story, pure and simple. Not likely to be a grain of fact in it. But every culture has a vampire legend of some sort. Just off the top of my head, in fact, there's upiri, incubi, nosferatu, and even gods and goddesses - the Indian goddess Kali just for a start! You don't get a legend as widespread as that without some sort of basis in fact. For heaven's sake, vampire legends are more widespread than Christianity!"
"More - " Nick stopped. "Murray, this is the eighties, you know? Not the eighteen hundreds. I'm telling you, whatever attacked Amber tonight, it wasn't a vampire, all right? It was a person, and we're gonna figure out who it is."
Murray took a deep breath and looked at Nick, brown eyes doubtful. "Maybe you're right." He looked back at the computer screen and then at the Comp-u-cam, now in pieces on the desk. "It just doesn't make any sense. I'm afraid - "
"Murray," Cody said encouragingly, patting his shoulder, "Nick's right. Come on, why don't you get some sleep. In the morning we'll go talk to Amber again, and between the two of you we'll get an identikit drawn up."
"You're right, Cody." Murray nodded and took a deep breath. He offered his partners a weak smile. "I'm sorry, guys. I guess I got a little carried away..."
"Don't worry about it, Boz." Nick yawned again. "Go to bed, man. Nothing makes sense at three in the morning."
Murray got up from the desk, heading towards his narrow cot on the far side of the room. "I am tired," he admitted. "Maybe I missed something." He stopped and looked doubtfully back at the equipment on the desk. "In fact, perhaps I should run the polarizing software again - "
"Murray!" Nick and Cody spoke together. "Bed!"
Grinning ruefully, Murray nodded. "You're right. I'm too tired to do it properly," he agreed. "I'll set my alarm and get up early - Roboz! Alarm clock."
Roboz is an alarm clock? Nick raised his eyebrows at Cody.
Cody shrugged, gesturing at the orange robot. Sure looks like it. He turned and headed out of the room.
Nick looked where Cody had pointed and saw Roboz's display: WHAT TIME, MURRAY?
"Who knew?" Nick muttered to himself, and followed Cody out of the room.
*
Cody came back from the head and found Nick already in his bunk, curled up with his eyes closed. Stripping quickly, Cody joined him, sliding into bed and curling around his lover. "You still awake?" he whispered.
Nick rolled over to face him and wrapped both arms around him, pulling him close. "Yeah. What is it, babe?"
"This vampire murder thing's kinda spooky." Cody shivered.
"Cody, don't," Nick said firmly, raising himself on an elbow and looking down at his friend. He touched Cody's cheek and said more gently, "There's no such thing as vampires, man. You gotta believe me."
Cody looked up at him, blue eyes wide and anxious and fixed on Nick's. Nick sighed. "Baby, I mean it. Murray's right about a lot of things, but Creature Feature time..." Nick shook his head. "He's got a bee in his bonnet when it comes to ghosts and vampires and stuff, you know he does, Cody. Remember that ghost repellent? Even geniuses have blind spots, you know?"
This time, Cody smiled slightly. Nick smiled back as he watched Cody's eyes soften and he lay back down, pulling his partner close. "I love you, Cody," he murmured.
"Love you too." Cody snuggled closer as Nick rubbed his back, burying his head against Nick's shoulder. "Nick..."
"Yeah?" Nick asked softly, sliding his hand down Cody's spine, feeling his partner arch against him. Cody didn't answer, instead pushing his body close against Nick's, and kissing Nick's neck. Nick shivered as Cody's cock filled, twitching against his stomach. "Babe," he murmured half-heartedly. "We should get some sleep."
"Mmm." Cody kissed Nick's neck again, then raised his head and found Nick's mouth. "That what you wanna do?" he asked huskily as he broke the kiss.
"No," Nick said softly and pushed his hips against Cody's, his own erection hot against Cody's flesh. He hissed through his teeth as Cody pinched his nipple then claimed another kiss, harder this time. Nick rolled onto his back and pulled Cody on top of him.
Cody straddled him, leaning forward for another kiss, and Nick's hands slid down his back to cup the globes of his ass. Nick moaned into Cody's kiss, squeezing his ass and arching up against him. Cody groaned, lowering his hips and thrusting gently against Nick's stomach.
"You're so damned beautiful," Nick whispered in Cody's ear, sliding a hand between them and closing it around his cock. Cody moaned, and Nick's other hand traced the crack of his ass, tickling at his pucker.
"Nick," Cody gasped, spreading his legs wider. He dropped his head and bit gently at Nick's neck.
Nick kissed Cody's shoulder and fumbled one-handed for the lube. His other hand was firm on Cody's cock, stroking him, and Cody whimpered, biting his neck again.
The lube was cold on Cody's entrance and he yelped, then groaned as Nick's fingertips spread the glob over his skin. "Nick," he moaned, closing his eyes, trembling as Nick's finger probed him. "Nick, please."
Nick released his cock, moving his other hand back to Cody's ass. Gently, he pulled his cheeks apart. Cody whined, pushing his ass back against Nick's hands, and Nick pressed gently at the center of his hole. "God, Nick, yes," Cody gasped as Nick's finger passed his ring.
Groaning softly, Nick let himself fall into the sensation of Cody's hot passage pulling him in. Cody bucked against him and Nick pushed further in, feeling Cody opening for him as he sought his pleasure spot. He felt the nub under his finger as Cody cried out. Nick eased a second finger past Cody's rim, stretching his entrance, working his fingers in and out, and Cody trembled and moaned as each thrust massaged his prostate.
Nick greased his cock one-handed, the fingers of his other hand still buried to the hilt inside his lover. He shivered with anticipation, and turned his head to kiss Cody's cheek. "Baby," he whispered.
Cody raised his head. "Nick," he whispered raggedly, and pushed himself up off Nick's chest.
Fingers sliding out of Cody's ass, Nick grabbed the base of his own cock. Cody lowered himself and Nick groaned, holding himself steady as Cody's ring pressed against the head of his cock. "Baby, yes," he whispered, looking up into Cody's face.
"Nick..." Cody groaned hard and long as Nick's cock passed his entrance. "Nick!"
Closing his eyes, Nick flung his head back and rolled it from side to side as he sank further inside his lover. He moaned softly and moved his hands, fingers clutching at Cody's hard, muscular thighs.
Cody rocked backwards and Nick felt his lover's hips against his own. He forced his eyes open, looking up at Cody, and watched as Cody slowly started to move. He let his eyes trail downwards, over Cody's chest, the sparse gold hair glistening with sweat in the light of the bedlamp, down over the taut stomach to his cock, proud and glistening with sweat and pre-cum, bobbing as he moved.
With a moan, Nick reached for his partner's cock and Cody gasped. "Nick!" He thrust faster and Nick groaned at the friction of Cody moving around him, spreading his legs and pushing up to meet Cody's strokes.
Cody's passage tightened as his orgasm approached, and Nick whimpered, feeling his own balls contract. He stroked Cody's cock faster, panting, and it swelled in his hand even as fireworks exploded at the base of his spine.
Cody collapsed on his chest and Nick's arms closed around him automatically. They lay together in silence, recovering their breath, sweat and come slick between them. Cody kissed Nick's collarbone softly. "I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too." Nick's hands roamed over Cody's back, tracing patterns in the slowly-drying sweat. He turned his head and kissed Cody's ear. "So much, Cody. Love you so much."
Nick wriggled, and Cody, sighing happily, moved to curl up next to his lover in answer to his unspoken request. Nick shifted next to him. "Here, Cody," he whispered, and Cody stretched out as he felt a towel against his chest.
"Mmmmm," he voiced his approval softly as Nick dried him off then turned over to face him. He snuggled closer, burying his head against Nick's shoulder.
"I got you, Cody," Nick whispered in his ear, and Cody relaxed completely as Nick wrapped himself around him. "I got you, baby. Go to sleep."
*
Eyes still closed, Nick snuggled closer against Cody's back, resting his cheek against the back of Cody's neck. He tightened his arms around his lover. Early morning was one of his favorite parts of the day, curled up in the bunk while Cody slept in his arms. He lay still, basking in the warmth of Cody's body against his, listening to him breathe. 'Home.' Nick sighed contentedly and let the familiar sounds of the Riptide in the morning wash over him - gentle creaks and groans from her timbers, the slap of the Pacific against her hull, Murray's voice from the salon as he chatted to the Roboz.
Followed by hammering.
Nick opened his eyes, puzzled. The hammering came again. 'Not dreaming. Damn.' With another sigh, this one of resignation, Nick unwound himself from his lover and sat up. He'd better find out what Murray was doing with a hammer. Make sure the little guy hadn't decided to remodel the salon overnight.
"Nick?" Cody asked sleepily, rolling over and raising himself on his elbow.
"Go back to sleep, babe." Nick pulled his sweats on, and bent to kiss Cody. "Murray's hammering or something. Just gonna see what he's up to."
"Hammering?" Cody sat up, just as the noise came again. "Hammering on my boat? Nick - "
"Take it easy, babe," Nick soothed him. "It's probably just some experiment, you know?"
"Maybe so." Cody got up, blinking sleep away. "Pass me my jeans, buddy."
Nick followed Cody up the stairs to the salon and nearly cannoned into his back when he stopped suddenly at the top. "Cody - " he growled, and then broke off, staring in awe at the sight that had brought Cody to a halt.
The Riptide's salon was festooned with strings of garlic, strung across the ceiling like fat white bunting and hanging over the blinds. Six large carafes of water stood on the table. Murray was precariously balanced on the rattan chair, wielding a hammer, trying to nail a large crucifix above the stairway to the wheelhouse.
"Murray!" Cody recovered first. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Cody!" Murray looked around and lost his balance. Cody tried to steady him but Murray's windmilling arms made him stagger, and the two of them ended up in a heap on the floor.
"For God's sake." Nick stepped forward and lifted Murray bodily to his feet. "All right, Boz?" he asked, not waiting for an answer as he lifted the chair off Cody's legs. "Come on, pal." He bent and grabbed Cody's hand, helping him up, one arm going around his shoulders as Cody staggered to his feet. There was a smear of blood on his forehead.
"Fuck," Cody groaned and raised a hand to his head. "Murray! Put that damned crucifix down before you hit anyone else on the head with it! And what's all this junk anyhow?" He gestured around the salon.
"Oh! I'm sorry, Cody." Murray twisted the crucifix in his hands and looked around the room, then back at Nick and Cody. "Well, you know, I got up early this morning and I did every test I could think of on the camera and on the pictures. All the answers came out the same. And with what Quinlan told us about bodies of drained of blood - the only conclusion I can draw is that the thing I photographed last night was a real vampire, guys. So - well, I thought it would be best if we took some elementary precautions."
"Elementary precautions?" Nick echoed. "Murray, where did you get all this stuff?"
"I got the garlic at the market - it's in season at the moment which is really lucky. Then I went to see Father Bob and he got me the holy water," Murray gestured to the jugs on the table, "and loaned me the crucifix."
Cody pressed his hand to his forehead and shot Nick a pained look. Nick gave his shoulders a squeeze - Leave it to me - and turned to Murray. "Boz," he said patiently, and held out his hand for the crucifix. Murray handed it over. "I told you last night, there's no such thing as vampires, all right?" Murray opened his mouth to speak and Nick held up his hand. "And while we're sitting around thinking about vampires, the guy who attacked Amber is getting away, you know?" He looked down at the crucifix in his hands. "The only use this thing is gonna be is for slugging crooks over the head."
Murray sighed and looked from Nick to Cody. "Cody, I'm sorry about your head," he said, looking down and shaking his own head. "But what if it really is a vampire? Guys - "
"Just get rid of this stuff, Boz, okay?" Cody said irritably. "Look, call me when you're ready to go to the hospital and see Amber." He turned abruptly and headed back down the stairs.
Nick handed the crucifix back to Murray, who looked at it and then back around the room. "I just wanted..." he began sadly.
"I know you did, Murray." Nick patted his shoulder comfortingly. "Listen, just don't hammer anything else on board, all right? And how about if I help you take the holy water to your room?"
"Hey thanks, Nick!" Murray brightened. In the end, Nick managed to persuade him to remove the half the garlic as well as all the carafes to his stateroom.
"I'll get ready." Nick ran a hand over his unshaven jaw. "Then we'll go see Amber again, okay?"
"Sounds great, Nick." Murray stood by the door, clutching a string of garlic. "Are you sure you don't want to take this, Nick? For your room?"
"Thanks Murray, but you keep it." Nick patted his shoulder again, and headed for his cabin.
Cody was waiting for him there, sitting moodily on the bed. He'd shaved and dressed, and was fingering the scratch on his forehead, looking in a hand-mirror.
"I don't think you're gonna be scarred for life, babe," Nick commented, picking up his shirt and jeans.
"It's still bleeding." Cody shot him a dirty look. "I don't want blood on my clothes, but I don't want to go to the hospital with a bandage on my face!"
Nick looked at his partner and sighed. "Take the white sweater off and put on a shirt," he suggested. "Then if it does bleed it won't matter so much."
Cody shrugged unhappily. "I guess I'll put a bandage on."
"Listen." Nick put his clothes down and dropped on the bunk next to Cody. "Lie down while I take a shower, all right? Let me put some gauze on it now, and I'll bet you by the time I'm done in the bathroom it'll have stopped bleeding. Okay?"
"Okay." Cody let Nick push him down on the bunk, and smiled slightly as Nick kissed him.
"Don't move," Nick warned him, grinning. He went to the bathroom and returned quickly with a wet washcloth, a clean towel and a package of sterile gauze. He bathed the blood off Cody's forehead, confirming in the process that the scratch was as slight as he'd thought in the salon.
"Nick," Cody murmured fretfully, twisting his head away. "That's cold."
"I thought I said 'don't move'." Nick stroked Cody's cheek, then brought the cloth back against his forehead. "Babe, it's cold to help stop the bleeding, all right?"
"All right." Cody sighed but lay still as Nick finished with the washcloth and dabbed his handiwork dry with the towel. He tore the gauze package open and unfolded the soft white strip, smoothing it gently over the cut.
"There," he said, bending and kissing Cody's lips. "I think you'll live."
"Thanks." Cody smiled and Nick patted his cheek again.
As Nick had thought it would, Cody's scratch stopped bleeding by the time he'd finished in the bathroom. They headed up the stairs and Cody only rolled his eyes as he saw the remaining garlic in the salon.
"Guys!" Murray bounded up the galley stairs, brandishing two brightly colored water pistols. "Take one of these each."
Nick and Cody looked at each other. "Uh - why, Murray?" Nick asked as he took the orange toy his partner handed him and looked at it dubiously.
"They're loaded with holy water. It will burn a vampire like - well, like sulfuric acid would burn us!"
"Murray - " Cody started angrily, but Nick's hand on his arm cut him off.
"Boz, we're going to the hospital," Nick said. "And it's broad daylight. Even if there was a vampire, we're not going to meet him now."
"I guess you're right." Murray looked at the lime green gun he still held. "Well, how about if I put 'em in the glove box? Just in case?"
"Great idea, Boz." Nick squeezed Cody's arm warningly and Cody closed his mouth again. "Come on, are you ready?"
"Sure, Nick! I'll just get the crucifix Father Bob gave me for Amber!"
"Get her a water pistol while you're at it," Nick called after him as he ran down the stairs. "We'll wait in the car." He started for the hatch.
"Nick!" Cody said, following him on deck. "Water-pistols?"
"Take it easy, man." Nick slung an arm around his shoulders as they headed for the companionway. "Look at it this way. If he drops a water-pistol on your head, it won't hurt, you know?"
"You're right." Cody chuckled, pulling away as they reached the pier and going to the driver's seat of the Jimmy. Nick climbed in beside him. "Guess I'm being a little hard on him, huh?"
Nick looked back towards the companionway, watching Murray make his way slowly up it, arms full of strings of garlic and rough-cut wooden pegs. Balanced on top of his bundle was a crucifix and the lime-green water-pistol. "I dunno, pal." Nick shook his head and looked down at the orange toy still in his hand. He stuffed it in the glove compartment. "I just wish he'd stop watching monster movies and thinking the damned things are real."
Cody hesitated. "Nick, I don't agree with all the garlic and stuff, but I guess it's possible there's such a thing as ghosts, right? And maybe even vampires too?" He pressed his lips together and turned to look at his partner. "I mean, there's a lot of things we don't have answers to in this world, right?"
"Cody, what we're dealing with here is some loony-bin who thinks he's Dracula, all right?" Nick said, turning to Cody in exasperation. "Don't you - "
They both swung around sharply as brakes screeched behind them. On the pier, a huge black limo skidded to a stop just as Murray stepped through the gate. The door opened and Murray dropped his bag, a horrified expression on his face.
"What the hell?" Cody scrambled for the door.
"Come on, man." Nick was already out of the truck and running towards the limo. A thick black cloud emanated from the rear door, enveloping Murray. Nick heard a strangled yell, sharply cut off, and then the rear door slammed, the big vehicle's tires spun, and it took off up the pier. "Cody! The car!" Nick yelled, not breaking stride, sprinting in the wake of the fleeing vehicle.
Panting, he stood on the sidewalk, watching the speeding car disappear. "Fuck." Nick turned to look for Cody and the Jimmy. Instead, he saw his partner running towards him. "Cody!" Nick ran to meet him.
"The cars, Nick," Cody panted. "Someone's screwed with the Jimmy, and the 'Vette too. They won't start."
"Fuck!" Distraught, Nick turned away, taking a deep breath. "These assholes have Murray, Cody! We've got to get after 'em!"
"I know, pal." Cody nodded seriously. "Let's go talk to Quinlan. He's working this case - he must have some leads. All we need is somewhere to start."
"You're right, Cody." Nick took another deep breath. "Come on, man. Let's find a cab."
Part II
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