My Forever Knight Memories

Schanke continues, She's been busted three times. The last one was two months ago. As Nick listens to Schanke on the answering machine, he remembers where he hid the last bottle of blood. He walks over to the fireplace. Schanke says, Can you beat it? A love junkie. Stonetree wants her brought in for questioning, and guess who drew the gig? You did, you lucky bastard and by the way, what I said earlier. Nick pulls out the bottle of blood then pulls the cork and begins to drink. Schanke continues, about the addiction stuff... Stricken from the record, pal. I apologize. You're my partner, and I'll take you any way I can get you. Bye. The answering machine clicks off. Nick answers, Good.

Nick's voice coming from the answering machine saying, Yeah, Nick Knight. I'm either in bed or incommunicado... Nick grabs his head as he continues to hear LaCroix cackling in his head. Nick's answer machine clicks on and Schanke's voice is heard, Yo, Nick. I got some news on Monica Howard. Nick looks up and LaCroix is gone. Schanke continues, Brace yourself. She's got a rap sheet. That's right. For giving massages at the Windsor Arms Hotel.

Nick looks around confused and trying to remember. LaCroix says, Think. Where did you hide it? Think... Nick's telephone rings. LaCroix begins to cackle as Nick's answering machine clicks on. Nick's voice coming from the answering machine saying, Yeah, Nick Knight.

Nick watches the bottle fly across the room. LaCroix demands, Come on, Nicholas, where is it? The last bottle?

Nick watch Lacroix as he taunts Nick. LaCroix says, I told you, Nicholas, you're wasting your time. LaCroix throws the bottle across the loft.

Nick hears a voice and looks up at the second-floor balcony. The voice asks, This is the humanity you seek? Nick is having a hallucination or maybe a delusion of LaCroix. LaCroix asks, This is your mortal strength. He smiles then takes a swig from a bottle.

Monica laughs and smiles then walks to the elevator door slides it open and get on the elevator letting slide shut in front of her.

Nick continues to watch, and irate Monica as tell him, I'm going to go get some help now with or without you, and... it's going to feel really, really good.

Nick watches as Monica berates him, God forbid I should weaken for a fraction of an instant. Does that make me a monster? It never goes away, Nick. Our beasts are on our backs forever. There's no magic bullet, there's no cure, and you'd better learn how to carry your beast on your back.

Monica goes after Nick and begs, Nick, please, please, please, please? Nick grabs Monica and pushes her away then says, Go. Monica sighs and pushes Nick. Monica walks away from Nick and begins to shout, Why do you all have to be the same, huh? Monica picks up her coats from the piano bench and walk toward the elevator still yelling, Coming after me bleeding with your addictions.

Nick pleads, Okay, don't do this to yourself. Monica caresses Nick's face and says, Oh, just a little warmth, that's all I need. How am I supposed to get the strength to recover if I don't get any relief? I helped you with your addiction. Why can't you help me with mine? Nick yells, Go home! Nick pushes Monica off and jumps off the sofa.

Nick walks away from Monica towards his sofa and says, I'm trying to recover, Monica. Monica walks over to him and says, Come on, Nick. Recovery is just the spaces between fixes. Monica practically climbs on top of Nick on the sofa and says, It's not like doing something about the need once in a while is going to make it any stronger. God knows, the need can't get any stronger. Nick pleads, Monica, don't do this to me.

Nick pushes Monica away abruptly and says, Monica... Monica grabs Nick and brings him in closer and says, You're here with me now. Nick fights her again and says, Go home. Go home. Monica gets angry and says, Don't you get self-righteous with me. You hear me?

Monica tells Nick , I need you too. I need to be close to you. I've been dreaming about you, and when I wake up, and I'm reaching for you, and You're... I can't believe you're not there.

Nick playfully fights off Monica and says, That's why you have to control yourself. Monica looks into Nick's eyes and says, I'm not so sure about that, then goes in for a light kiss. Monica whispers, I'm really not so sure. Nick asks, Not so sure? Monica answers, It's just so hard to be sure all the time. Mmm... Monica and Nick continue to playfully kiss and rub their faces together while conversing. Nick snaps out of it and says, Oh, Monica, go home. Come on, I need my sponsor.

Monica says, Sometimes, though, it gets to be too much... Too much to hold in, and you just want to... Monica brushes Nick's face with her hand and says, Give it a rest. Just say, "What the hell." Just let it out. Monica and Nick get very close. They almost kiss.

Monica says, Ah, the beast within. It's a good description for it, isn't it? The way it gnaws at you... The way it chews your insides? Nick answers, Yeah, yeah, it's a good description. Monica grabs Nick's hand.