UNCOMMON SOLACE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April, 2000
Micki Lynn McCormick

DISCLAIMERS:
Not mine, wish they were. They belong to Parriott, Sony, et al, no profits are being made from this, and it's just for fun. I'll hand them back shortly.

ARCHIVING:
Permission to archive is given to Mel. It is also given to Jadfe if they want it. Anyone else please ask and I'll likely say sure. It will also be archived on my own fiction page as well.

TIMEFRAME/SPOILERS:
This story is set between 2nd and 3rd season, just before the events in Black Buddha, to which there are also some references.

THANKS & DEDICATIONS:
I want to thank the N&NNuts in IRC. Special thanks to Marci, Lisa, and Mary for their comments and suggestions! You guys are a great bunch!
Also special thanks to Mary Lou Manzie for beta reading!

This story I dedicate in part to Mary, Jody, and Lisa, who were a big help when my dad was fatally injured in an auto accident late last year.

IN MEMORIUM:
I also dedicate it to my father, who may have made some mistakes, but I know he loved me dearly. He always wanted me to be happy. N. Allan McCormick (1936 - 1999), I miss you, I love you, and thank you.

WARNING:
This story contains adult material. Please do not read if you are not of legal age to do so or if you are offended by adult material.
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UNCOMMON SOLACE
Chapter 1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you running again?" Somehow Urs' question was more of a statement.

Vachon blinked and took a drink from his glass before answering. "Why does it matter," he shrugged. "We're not a crew anymore. You don't have to come with me."

Urs looked angry for a brief moment, feeling something that fell somewhere between disappointment and betrayal. Then she smiled sadly. "Why?"

Vachon thought for a moment, pondering that simple question. 'Why am I leaving?' She already knew the answer to that. His mortal enemy and immortal brother was again nearby. He knew that Urs, as his child, could feel his presence too. 'Why are we no longer a crew?' That got a little more complicated. He had enjoyed running in a pack with the others. It wasn't that he hadn't. But somehow he had ended up being the pack leader. He'd never felt cut out for responsibility. That was part of the problem between him and the Inca. Now he felt like he needed some personal space, like he just needed to be on his own. Urs was ready. She didn't need him around anymore. Perhaps that was it.  'Why am I leaving you behind?' That was the question he'd answer.
"You're ready. It'll be good for you to be on your own." He swallowed the last of his drink. "I need to be alone for a while. There's not much in Edmonton of our kind, certainly nothing organized like there is here. I'll come back after a while." He leaned over and kissed her
before he stood and left the Raven.

Urs looked around the Raven, thinking. Who were these people? She'd spent her time among them here, most certainly, but she didn't know them. Since she had been made a child of the night, she had spent all of her time with Vachon, with Screed and less frequently Bourbon showing up for a while to hang around. Her life since that night had been Vachon. But now he too was abandoning her.

Urs left the club and began to wander through the city's streets, heedless of where she was walking. Unlike many of the community, she had never felt particularly comfortable with flying, and needed to concentrate when she did. So she walked when she wanted to think.

She had been walking for quite some time and had ended up in a pretty rough neighbourhood. Urs began looking around her for someplace she could slip quietly out of view of the human denizens of the night to take flight, because she could feel that dawn was drawing close, and she would not have time to walk back. The street she was on seemed to turn slightly ahead, but if she was right, there should be an alley about there which would also likely have a little bend, obscuring it from any passing humans that might chance by.

Urs rounded the corner and saw a group of youths at the next corner passing a bottle of liquor around under a streetlight. She also saw the alley she had hoped for, and slipped quickly into the dark confines, hoping both that the boys in the gang jackets had not seen her and that the alley would give her the protection she needed to take flight.

Such was not to be however. The further into the alley she got, the more the eaves of the dilapidated buildings seemed to extend into the alley and the greater the number of clothes lines and other ropes and cables that seemed to crisscross the area above from fire escapes and windows on both sides. Then she saw the fence across the alley, and realized that she would have to go back. This alley would not grant her any access to the waning night's sky.

As she reached the little bend in the alley, her hope sank. Waiting for her was the group of youths she had seen under the streetlight. She stopped in her tracks as they began to slowly approach.

Most of the boys began to form a loose but shifting circle around her, while the 3 largest closed towards her within the larger circle. 'Can I whammy them?' she thought quickly, but realized they were staying too far apart for her to do anything of the sort. Any whammying would need to include all three of the leaders, or none, since she would be vulnerable to the other two if she concentrated on just one at a time.
Nor could she vamp out because there were too many of them who could get away before she could convince them they had not seen her. That would be a violation of the code sufficient to get a young vampire into serious problems within the community.

"What have we got here?" One of the youths taunted.

"A trespasser!" called one.

"Maybe she's a spy?" suggested the youngest looking boy, who looked to be about 15.

A few more similar answers came from the youths in the larger outer ring around Urs, before she saw one of the three in front of her turn towards the other boys and speak. "I'll tell you what we have," he spoke loudly enough to silence the others, then turned to face Urs, pulling a butterfly knife from his pocket and opening it with a flourish. "We have ourselves a woman, who walked into our territory," he taunted.  "And what about things in our zone?"

He grinned wickedly as the others yelled, "They're ours!"

"That's right boys." He grinned evilly at her as the other two leaders pulled well-oiled lockblades and flicked them open while the outer circle drew an assortment of weapons. "LET'S HAVE OURSELVES A LITTLE FUN!"

As the inner three drew nearer to Urs, one of the youths in the outer ring called, "Hey Dragon! When do we get our turn?"

The youth with the butterfly knife looked at Urs and laughed, "After we're done with her. The rest of you can do her as much as you want." 

# # # # # # # #
<End of Chapter 1>

UNCOMMON SOLACE
Chapter 2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

# # # # # # # #

Nick and Schanke sat at their desks, working on the paperwork to accompany their latest case. Nick reached over for his phone, and Schanke smiled.

"Checking up on Nat? I heard she's really sick."

Nick looked at his partner. "I'm worried. She hasn't been able to hold anything down for a couple of days. Roy's daughter had that flu so badly she was hospitalized."

Schanke got up to go grab a snack while his partner called Nat, effectively giving him at least a little bit of privacy.

When he returned, Nick was cleaning off his desk. "So?"

"She's still not well. I've booked off for the night, and I'm going to go look after her."

"Ok partner, probably a good idea. Are you taking her to your place?" Schanke knew Nick tended to be a homebody except for when he hung out at the Raven. But with Nat so sick, he worried about her travelling.

"No. I'm going to go over to her place and spend the day with her there. I don't want to make her worse." Nick pulled on his coat, checked to make sure his keys were still in his pocket, then left.

Schanke finished up as much of the paperwork as he could without his partner there, then booked himself out too.

Schanke wondered about going straight home, but he knew that he needed to get his own mind in order before he did. If he went home now, he would be home relaxing before bed when his early-rising daughter woke up. Until he knew what, if anything, could be done, he would rather not confront her yet.

Starting up his car, he decided to drive around for a little while and think. Perhaps there might be some solution that would come to mind.

Driving past a Tim Horton's, Schanke pulled in and picked up a coffee and a jelly filled donut, which he took back to his car. He still hadn't figured out anything new that might solve his problem.

He sighed, and rethought the problem as he ate the jelly donut, unaware of the powdered sugar falling onto his shirt. The fellow they had caught needed to be transferred to Edmonton to stand trial for the courthouse bombing. That was a given. There was no way that Nick could take him back, simply because in Edmonton they would not be aware of Nick's allergy to sunlight, and would not be willing or able to accommodate his needs. They simply would not understand the severity of it. 'Like I didn't at first,' he thought wryly to himself. 'That is why Captain Cohen and I are taking him back instead.'

'But that itself is the problem. Jenny's Sunday school is having a family day, and Jenny thinks that the transfer of the prisoner should be able to be held off until after her Sunday school event, so that both Myra and I can attend it with her. And I can't think of any way to
actually do that.' Schanke heard a horn behind him, and realized that while he was thinking, the light had changed to green. 'Great! Now I'm acting like Nick,' he thought as he started to drive, and saw the delivery truck behind him pull into an alley.

'So I can't change that I'll miss her Sunday school event. That means I have to get her to understand that I can't, because I hate to see her angry at me.' Schanke stopped for another traffic light, even though there was no traffic coming along the cross street at this time of the
morning, when he realized he could hear something.

Rolling down his window, he could hear the sounds of laughter and yelling coming from the alley just ahead. He pulled his car up slowly until he came to the entrance of the alley, and scanned into it.  Nothing. Then he looked to the alley across the street.

That was when he saw the blonde girl trying to defend herself against a swarm of youths with weapons. As he watched, for that brief instant before reacting, he saw a tall young man with a knife slash across her shirt, causing it to gape and very nearly exposing her breasts. The girl tried to grab the knife, and her hand began to bleed.

Schanke dropped the cup of coffee in the gutter as he climbed out of his car, and drew his pistol. "POLICE! BACK AWAY FROM THE GIRL!"

Urs heard multiple cries from the gangbangers around her, cries she couldn't put to the faces, not that it mattered. Mostly "THE FUZZ!" and "SHIT! COPS!" were what she heard, although she did hear a closer voice, perhaps one of the ringleaders, shout too. "SCRAM BOYS, PIGS ARE HERE!"

Urs watched as nearly a dozen teens disappeared into various doorways and the occasional window off the alley, up the fire escapes, with a couple even disappearing all the way up to go over the roofs.

Then a heavyset fellow came pounding into the alley towards her, pistol in hand. "Miss! Are you ok? I'm a police officer. You're safe now." 

Safe. Urs looked up towards the roofs, and the lightening sky, and realized she was not safe, and that this cop wouldn't be either unless she could maintain an iron will on her beast. He'd come to her rescue though. As much as his blood called her, she had to resist. Her hand hurt, and she looked down at the deep gash on her palm.

"You're hurt. Let me take you to a hospital."

"No. Please... It's not that bad of a cut, really. Can you just take me someplace I can get inside? Quickly?" Urs knew with how much the sky was lightening, there was no way she could make it back to safety herself, even if she flew. The sky was light enough that if she were in the air, the sun's rays would begin to reach her before she made it halfway.

"I really should take you to a doctor to have that seen to."

"No. Please, I take medication. It makes it so I can't stand the light. It gives me a migraine." Urs hoped her unknown rescuer would accept her request. "I'd rather deal with a small cut myself out of the light than get stuck in a hospital in the light long enough to end up
with a migraine for several days."

Schanke looked around, and realized that this alley was only a few blocks from Nick's place. "My partner lives close by. He's got an allergy to the sun. His fortress of doom is set up to be safe for him.  That will be a safe place for you for the day then. Come on."

Schanke glanced up at the roofs and windows overlooking the alley once more, then tucked his pistol back into his holster. He put an arm around the young woman's shoulder, and escorted her back to his car.

Urs thought to herself. If this fellow's a cop and his partner has a sun allergy, could the partner be the vampire who was a cop, the one that so many in the community secretly ridiculed for his love affair with human society? "What's your partner's name," she asked. "For that matter, what can I call you?"

"Oh, I'm Detective Don Schanke." He looked at the woman beside him with her innocent face and added, "But just call me Don. My partner is Detective Nick Knight."

"I think I've heard of him. You're certain he won't mind if I stay there today?"

"He won't be home. Nat's sick so he's looking after her today. Nat's not his girlfriend, but everyone knows she should be. We work with her often," Schanke shook his head, as he opened the door for the pretty blonde woman. It was so easy to talk to her; he felt more like they were old friends. It was easy to say more than he intended. "And what do I call you?"

"I'm Urs."

Schanke and Urs each made the short trip to the loft in silence, Urs thinking how Nick would probably have the blood around she would need to heal - even if it was the horrible bovine kind, while Schanke tried to figure out what he would tell his wife about not coming home today.

Schanke pulled as close to the door as he could, then went and punched in the alarm code, praying Nick hadn't changed it. Good! He held the door open, calling "Come on in, Urs." After his ward hurried past him, Schanke pulled the door shut and escorted the young woman upstairs to Nick's loft.

<End of Chapter 2>

UNCOMMON SOLACE
Chapter 3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After getting Urs seated on Nick's sofa, he suddenly realized that Myra would be expecting him home anytime. "Scuse me for a moment," he said to Urs, then went to Nick's phone and dialed.

"Hi honey. I wanted to let you know I won't be home today."... "No, I'm not mad about anything. I just need to stay at Nick's today."...  "Everything's fine. You know how he is. I'll come home tonight before work and change, and I'll see you then. I love you."

Schanke hung up the phone, and turned back towards Urs in time to see her trying to hold her irreparably damaged blouse closed. "Oh, man, I'm sorry. I wonder if Nick... no, anything of his would be way to big for you. Hmmm..." Schanke absently rubbed his chin as he thought. This girl seemed to be about Myra's size, and he did have some clothes for
her in the trunk of his car. Of course, it was what he'd bought for Myra for a night Jenny was supposed to be sleeping over at a friend's, but that party had ended up cancelled due to chicken pox. Myra had not seen it, and didn't even know he'd picked it up. It would be better than what Urs had now and was having to hold closed.

"Wait here. I think I have something in my car of my wife's that will fit you." Schanke smiled, and left Urs as he stepped back into the lift.

When Urs heard the lift engage she quickly sought Nick's refrigerator, and found a bottle of cow's blood. It might not be her preference, but it would help. She quickly tipped up the bottle, and drank its contents, then looked around to see if Nick kept the bottles for
recycling. She found a crate with a few empty bottles in the bottom of one of the cupboards, and added her bottle to it. Then she returned to the sofa, where she was waiting on the detective's return.

When the lift door reopened, Schanke stepped out carrying a paper bag. He pointed out the bathroom to Urs, and handed her the bag. "I'm pretty sure these will fit you. You look about the same size as my wife. I'm sorry they won't be your style, but I think it'll be better than..." he nodded towards her torn blouse.

"Thanks, Don." Urs smiled sweetly at him as she took the bag. Then she disappeared into the bathroom.

Schanke went over and turned on the stereo, and was checking to see what stations he could find, when he heard her behind him.

"It fits."

Schanke turned to find her standing there in the little plaid miniskirt with a thin white blouse tucked neatly into it. She had even put on the white knee-high socks.

"I put the socks on too. Mine were wrecked. I hope you don't mind."  Urs came over to stand beside him. She couldn't tell him that the only damage to her own stockings was actually that they had been bloodied, and that as close as she was to hanging on, she could not be near them.

Schanke looked at the angel before him and swallowed a lump in his throat while trying hard to ignore the stirrings he felt in his groin.  "You must be exhausted. Nick's bedroom is just upstairs. You go up there and sleep. I'll take the sofa. I know where he keeps extra
blankets."

Urs walked up to him and took his hand as she shook her head. "No. I can't sleep in someone else's bed without them knowing." Urs squeezed his hand gently. "I'll stay down here." She was unsure if she would be ok with the little bit of Nick's bovine stores she had raided. If her mortal rescuer could be persuaded to go upstairs instead, then she could
further raid Nick's supplies in relative safety.

"I should be down here. If Nick surprises me and comes home during the day, it'll be best if I'm here. That way I can tell him about you before he sees you and wonders if you're someone who broke into his place." He looked firmly at Urs, and shifted uncomfortably. "Excuse me." He shrugged, "nature." Then he turned and hurried up the stairs to the upper bathroom.

Schanke closed the bathroom door and leaned against it, looking down at the bulge in the front of his pants that betrayed him. ~Why can't you behave?~ He thought. ~You know she came very near to being raped. What would make you think she would want you? Some cop you are to save her only to want her that badly,~ Schanke chided himself.

While Schanke was upstairs, Urs listened to his heartbeat as she downed another bottle of the horrid bovine blood Nick drank. It was easier to drink it down fast. With human blood it was nice to savour the nuances of emotion and memory. But the brief glimpse she had from this bull's blood concerning the cow in the next field she really didn't want to know. It was far better to drink this stuff as fast as possible. She rinsed out the bottle and tucked it into the crate with the other empty bottles. Schanke's heartbeat was calming. He would be down soon.

Schanke came down the stairs only to find Urs standing before the stereo swaying to the music she had tuned in. Turning to face him, she glided over toward him. Schanke stood still, half in fear and half in anticipation, as she reached out a hand towards him. Then her hand
began to brush at his shirt, and he realized he had lost the powdery sugar that iced his donut onto the front of he clothing.

Schanke began to pull away, feeling like a total idiot. "Oh Man! When I saw what was happening to you," he explained, "well, it was a lot more important than my donut. And then I just kinda forgot about it."

Urs dropped her hand and took his, pulling him towards her. "Dance with me."

Schanke lowered his head as he tried to fight his own desires, but his feet betrayed him now. Soon he was dancing in the loft with the beautiful young angel. Then he found that more than his feet betrayed him, and being as close to Urs as he was, she would undoubtedly feel his
growing erection too.

Schanke tried to step away, only to be pulled back close to Urs with a strength he found surprising in such a delicate looking woman.

Urs pulled him close and pressed her lips to his. Schanke found himself in a passionate embrace, and without thinking, began to return it.  Schanke moaned as Urs slid her hands down his shirt, slowly unbuttoning it. As his shirt fell open, she began to toy with his chest hair, running her fingers through the dense mat.

Feeling her cool fingers trailing his chest, Schanke let out a moan and pulled his mouth away from Urs'. He pulled her close and buried his face in the halo of curls that framed her face as he caught his breath.

Schanke took a deep breath, and slid a large hand under Urs' blouse, gliding it slowly up to her breasts, which he began to massage and gently squeeze. He looked deeply into her eyes, afraid he might see mocking or worse since he knew he wasn't the most attractive guy around.  He was pleased to find his fears were unfounded. Even if it wasn't love, the look of desire had reached her eyes. This was for real. It was really happening.

Schanke pulled his hand from under Urs' blouse, and began to undo the button on her back. It was a blouse that fastened with a row of small buttons up the back that reminded Schanke of pictures he'd seen of 18th century dresses. Removing her slightly sheer blouse, he found himself facing a thin lace camisole that clung exquisitely to her goddess-like form.

Urs dropped her hands to Schanke's belt, which she unfastened, then carefully unzipped the pants and guided them past the bulge in his Fruit of the Loom's.

Following suit, Schanke glided a hand under the short plaid skirt, only to find his questing fingers rewarded with Urs' damp mound, unrestrained by underwear. Schanke slid a finger into her folds, and drew some of the moisture to her clit. Urs reached down and began to stroke Schanke's hardened shaft in rhythm to the ministrations that he was giving to her.

Schanke was the most considerate lover Urs had had. He paid far more attention to what things she liked than to satisfying his own needs,  which was something that happened only infrequently in her experience.  Even then it was usually when her partner already knew and cared for her, not with some kind-hearted stranger.

Schanke took his time, stimulating her with hand and tongue until there was no question of her readiness. He eased her to the floor before the fireplace, taking a throw pillow from the sofa to place under her head, then slid off his undershorts. As an afterthought, once on the floor beside her, he removed his shoes and socks, then again began to lick and suck on her clit, bringing her as close to the edge of release as it was possible for her without the blood. Then he slid up her body, and gently entered her, being as careful with her as if she were a delicate flower that he feared he might break.

Holding himself off of her chest as he increased his rhythm, he began to roll sideways, but pulled her with him, until he was beneath her and she was riding him. "Now I won't crush you," he whispered as he pulled her close and kissed her.

Urs smiled, greatly impressed with his caring ways. He didn't know she was a vampire and far stronger than she looked. Instead, he was being so careful to make sure that she was satisfied too, rather than just satisfying himself. Sensing Schanke was close to his own release, she began to move her hips in a circular motion, effectively adding new pressure points to the act, and was rewarded almost immediately with feeling his seed pumping into her. Collapsing onto his chest and turning her head away, she brought her wrist up to her mouth and bit, allowing herself the release that had been building.

<End of Chapter 3>

UNCOMMON SOLACE
Chapter 4
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They lay together snuggling, until Schanke thought Urs had fallen asleep in his arms. He quietly untangled himself from her, and gently smoothed down her camisole and skirt as best he could without waking her. Then he pulled his clothing back on and went for blankets. Returning in short order, he covered Urs, then wrapped himself in another and curled
up to sleep.

Urs was not asleep, but let her mortal lover think she was. She felt him straightening out her clothing and covering her, and she had to smile.

She had almost drifted off to sleep when she heard the muffled sounds of sobbing. Urs sat up quietly, and looked around, the darkness no hindrance to her, and realized that Schanke was sitting on a stair, rocking and sobbing quietly enough a mortal would not likely have heard.

Urs stood, and grabbed her blouse, which she buttoned up quickly as she walked slowly over to him. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she asked, "What's wrong, Donnie?" She smiled sadly to herself. Somehow 'Donnie' seemed to suit him more, and sounded right.

"Oh God. What'll I tell my wife? I can't lie to her. You're such a nice girl. I shouldn't have taken advantage of you like that. My wife will be able to tell the second I walk in the door. I've risked my whole marriage with this. And you didn't need me to do that to you
after what you went through last night. What kind of cop does that?" Schanke's thoughts were jumbled together in his upset, but they were unmistakable to Urs. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"You really love her don't you? You've never done this before." Urs knew the answers even before he nodded his agreement. She knew what she had to do for him.

Urs leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I'll never forget today," she whispered. Then she focused on his heartbeat. "You were a perfect gentleman," she said.

"A gentleman," Schanke replied.

"I slept on the floor by the fireplace in blankets, while you slept alone on the sofa." She focused all her attention onto his calming heartbeat.

"You slept on the floor. I slept alone," he repeated.

"You are a man your wife should be proud of. Keep her happy." Urs took his hand and walked him back to the sofa.

"I'll make Myra proud and happy." Schanke lay on the sofa as Urs tucked the blanket around him.

"Sleep now," she said, then wrapped back up in her blanket on the floor for the rest of the day.

# # # # # # # #

Schanke woke up by mid afternoon, and watched the sleeping form on the floor. She was one hot lady, made all the more so to him by the outfit she was now wearing. But he was a family man, and she was a victim. It wouldn't be right to do what he wanted to. It wouldn't be right for her, nor would it be fair to Myra and Jenny. He would be content with the fantasies that had played out in his dreams. He didn't need anything else.

It wasn't long before Urs woke up. They sat together talking after straightening up the loft, until the sun sank below the horizon. Then they walked out to his car.

"Where can I drop you off? You're certain you don't want to see a doctor?" Schanke was still concerned with how much blood there seemed to have been on her hand this morning.

"I'm fine, really." Urs turned her hand over so you could see the thin white line of scartissue that would be completely gone the next time she fed. In the growing dusk it looked like a scratch or small scrape.  "It's fine now. It just looked worse in the gloom of the alley."

"So where can I take you?"

Urs thought about it then decided that the church would be best, and gave him directions.

As they drove, Urs asked questions of Schanke, and was treated to a proud father's tales of his beautiful daughter. And Urs knew she was right in her decision. He really was a good family man.

They pulled up at the corner by the old church, and Urs opened the door to climb out. Schanke reached over to her and squeezed her hand.  "Listen, I'm worried about you still. I have to go to Edmonton in a couple of days on business, but I'd like to check on you when I get back."

Schanke and Urs made arrangements to meet over coffee and donuts on his return, and then he drove home to change for tonight's shift and tomorrow night's plane trip.

# # # # # # # #

Urs sat at the bar in the Raven, listening with her sensitive hearing to the radio news she could pick out in the office. The club was closed for the day to all but the denizens of the night, yet there was something wrong. She could feel it in her soul. Then she heard it.

"Although police have not yet confirmed the identities of the victims, it is known that there were two members of Toronto Metro Police aboard the flight. Captain Amanda Cohen and Detective Donald Schanke are both believed to be among the casualties."

Urs stopped listening to the report. She knew all she needed to know.  The first man she truly trusted she would never see again. He had perished.

A single ruby tear trailed down her face and fell into the glass in her hand, mingling with the bloodwine therein.  "I will always remember you, Donnie," she whispered to herself, and emptied her glass.

<End of Chapter 4 & End of Story>
UNCOMMON SOLACE
Comments welcomed at <mickilyn@home.com>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~