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Delaney C.O.D. or D.O.A.
Title: Delaney C.O.D. or D.O.A. 15/16
Authors: docwho2100 and ellie-no-name
Fandom and Pairing: Nikki/Nora - F/F
Timing: Takes place after the TV pilot and after the stories "I Want Them" , "Dark Lady", "Firsts" and "Seconds"
Rating: R - NC-17
Disclaimer: Nikki & Nora are the property of Nancylee Myatt and Warner Bros. Television. No infringement intended.
Authors' notes:
Timing: this takes place some time after the pilot and is the fifth in a series of stories: "I Want Them", "Dark Lady", Firsts and Seconds. The events and people referenced in those stories may be referenced here. This story takes place in the same universe and at some point/time after. Meaning anything established in those stories would go for this one
Character thoughts between ~~ ~~ symbols
Reference to prison case from story Firsts - the flashback takes place Friday Night timing between the story Firsts and the story Seconds
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Chapter 15 - 04:23:08
Nikki lay in bed, fully clothed on top of the covers. She had been this way since making the drop; dozing a couple of times, but more just running everything over in her head.
She had failed Nora.
A quick call to the station confirmed that nothing had changed on the website except the video feed had been turned back on, Nora sleeping or passed out. But there had been no other change, no other contact. Unable to go back immediately to the station, to the others, to Nora, she had gone to their home.
She told them she was heading to her home to change. Realistically she knew she did not have enough control yet, they would see through her, they would pry out the secrets she and Nora were keeping buried. You would think she would have run back to Nora, but she was scared. She kept glancing at the phone lying on Nora's pillow, always checking to see if a call might have come through. Somehow she doubted it would, she had dropped the money and bowed to the blackmailer's taunts and game. She didn't regret it per se; having come to the point she would do anything for Nora. That thought scared her almost as much as the image of Nora stuck in that box.
She loved Nora so much; she was willing to do anything for her, of that, she was now certain. That was the only possible plus to come from this. She'd had her feelings for the blonde laid bare and stark. She twisted to her side, staring at the phone, replaying the words the blackmailer had slapped her with.
"You have the ability to free her, you have had it with you since the beginning. You've just been too dumb and stupid to find it. Her suffering could have been stopped at the beginning; her torture is your fault."
She started crying again as the blackmailer's words ripped across her mind, the tears dotting the pillow's surface as she pulled her lover's pillow to her, taking the shirt out from under that she had placed there earlier. It had been worn by Nora the night before she was taken. Nikki had kept it near, the scent faded but still distinct enough to feel like she was holding Nora. It had been dull comfort, but had been better than a large empty bed.
Once more the words circulated through her head. Angry, she picked up the nearest thing, her own phone, and was about to throw it when it vibrated in her hand. She looked quickly at the caller ID, a frustrated yell echoing around the room as it was the number for the local gym, probably wanting to remind her she'd not renewed or something similar. One of those things Nora always took care of... Nora... god she'd come to depend so much on the blonde. And now... what would she do without her partner, lover... friend?
She squeezed the phone and would have thrown it but something struck her. She looked up, her arm extended above her head ready to toss the electronic device. "You've had it since the beginning, just needed to find it..." She blinked, could it really be that easy? Could they all have been that blind? The blackmailer liked to play games, all the trouble of the box, web site and cloak and dagger proved that. He liked the rush from the game as much as the money. She knew it had stopped being about money a long time ago.
Nikki dropped her phone and grabbed Nora's, pulling up the last number called list on the phone, going through the numbers; no, they were all accounted for. She then went to the contact section. Scanning through the short list, there was only one name she did not recognize, her knowledge of French giving her hope this might be what she was searching for, Vous Perdez. She called it, listening to the rings as she began to sit up. She jerked the phone away from her ear as an answering machine picked up, loud, cackling laughter blaring from the receiver before the machine hung up.
She grabbed her phone and dialed Dan's number. "Come on, come on, pick up..." She muttered as she rolled out of bed.
"Dan, listen, meet me at the precinct. I think... I have a lead. I need a number traced and the address for a number, can you do it?" After a moment's pause for his answer, she gave him the number, "Good, see you in ten."
With that she pushed to her feet, "God, please let this be right. Please... I need my Nora. I need my peanut butter crush..."
---------- flashback about a week and change earlier - Friday night creeping into Saturday Morning
"I can not believe she asked that. And you, you did it? You continued?"
Nora blushed and looked down, taking a drink from the water bottle to hide her embarrassment. "Yeah, I did, all through high school and college too. I kept going to Madame Pavlova's dance school. I couldn't go on a regular basis, and we didn't, I didn't have a lot of money. But it seemed not to matter to her. She would just put me into what ever class and away I'd go... So I learned all of the dances, just so I could have my..." Nora cocked her head to the side, "Escape..."
Nikki scooted her stool so it was next to Nora, placing it behind so she could wrap her arms around the blonde, Nora immediately leaning back and snuggling into Nikki's arms. "It was different from everything else, yeah?"
Nora half nodded, her head rubbing against Nikki. "Oh yeah. And it was actually great training, very athletic and..."
"Flexible..." Nikki had to interject, her voice low and sultry, the response causing both woman to laugh.
"Well, I may have picked up a few things here and there that come in handy in the bedroom." Nora admitted in a sly tone. "Actually, it was not until a few years later that I found out why Madame had taken a liking to me and given me a place to come."
Nikki was quiet, content to nuzzle her nose and cheek into and through Nora's hair, the texture lovely against her skin.
"She knew I was different..."
"Mmmm, um, different?" Nikki pulled herself away from her activity to try and focus back on the conversation.
"Yeah, I..." Nora shifted a bit as she struggled with how best to tell the story. "I came in one day and found all classes were cancelled for the week and maybe permanently. All of the dancers were talking and no one was sure and just saying all sorts of stuff. Well, they all filtered out, I'd left a bag last time I had gone and needed to get it. So I am looking around, trying to find it and end up down in the basement where she stored the scenery for the different recitals and also had some lockers. Not finding anything I was about to go when I heard crying. So, looking around, I found Madame back in a small room, she had been drinking and had a few photos. They were of a woman I'd seen around the dance school a few times over the years. There was a wedding ring on the table by the photos..."
"Wait... ohhhhh, different..." Nikki's response was slow as she thought she understood what Nora was leading towards. "Why do you think that you are different?"
Nora wriggled in Nikki's arms, grunting a little, a sign Nikki knew meant the blonde was uncomfortable with a conversation.
"I... sorry. It's just what's been ingrained in my head I guess... I guess I shouldn't think of me, us, as different I..."
Nikki sighed but instead of speaking immediately, she just tightened her arms around Nora, snuggling and pressing closer. "Does this feel different?"
"No, it doesn't, I didn't mean anything, just..."
"Nora, it's ok. You feel more different in my arms than anyone I have ever held. That's how I know I am so in love with you. No one, male or female has ever felt like you do, or made me feel so different and alive as you do. So yeah, you are different. That's ok. It's just when people think being different is wrong..."
Nora twisted to face Nikki, making sure not to break the embrace too much. "You're not wrong, we're not wrong, you're the best thing that ever happened to me." She leaned in, pulling Nikki to her so she could show the brunette, not just tell her. She held tight to her lover as their kiss deepened, the emotion flowing between them.
Eventually, they pulled apart, hands still tenderly running along each other, soft and gentle.
"We talked, all night, about her partner, her wife and, about, well, my crush."
Nikki tilted her head, but held her tongue and questions.
"I'd not really, well," Nora rubbed awkwardly at her neck. "I'd only had boyfriends, but I'd been having, ideas, thoughts..."
Nikki gave the blonde an encouraging smile and nod, laying a hand along the woman's cheek, her thumb stroking along Nora's jawline.
"She knew. She was the first person I ever really told and talked about it to. There'd been someone else, but." Nora closed her eyes, leaning against Nikki's hand. "I'd never faced it, really said it out loud. I had a crush on one of her best students. I never followed up on the crush, but, it was a big step for me."
She opened her eyes and took in the wonderful warmth Nikki's eyes were radiating. "We got so drunk, ended up sleeping in the sets. She taught me the hangover concoction the next day. I've used it ever since. She always asked me about how I was doing after that. She'd use the code peanut butter crushes, since you know peanut butter is the main ingredient." Chuckling at the memory, Nora leaned over, picking up the jar of peanut butter and turning it in her hands.
"Thank you Nora."
The blonde looked up, confused.
"For sharing that, a part of you with me. For giving me a part of you, your peanut butter crush..."
For a moment, Nora's face crumpled, the blonde overwhelmed with emotion and love, she swallowed and composed herself. "Always."
"So, do I rate as a peanut butter crush?" Nikki teased a little as she took the jar from Nora, standing and grabbing the blonde's hand, walking backwards a bit as she began pulling Nora out of the kitchen, the blonde wobbling after her.
"Baby, you are my one and only peanut butter crush."
"Oh Darlin' that is just what I want to hear. How'bout you come show me just how much you like your peanut butter?" She shook the jar a bit, wiggling her eyebrows and squealing in delight as Nora stepped up, grabbing Nikki around the waist, pressing in to place kisses along the brunette's neck and shoulder.
----------------------- present
"I might have a lead," Nikki was running through the squad room to the others, her clothes askew and dirty as they still held the traces of her adventure from the drop, leaves still stuck to her blouse and hair as she'd not changed.
"You look like shit girl," Georgia came up, pulling a sticker for package of cookies off of Nikki's butt.
"People keep telling me that. When this is over, I am taking everyone to the spa."
"Wonderful, I need a pedicure," Dan said dryly as he handed Nikki a paper.
"Look a man not afraid to get in touch with his softer side." Georgia patted Dan on the back.
Nikki's chuckle died as she looked at the screen, watching as Bobby clicked the light and fan a few more times. "What's she doing?"
"Actually, she is um, talking to a bug." Bobby blushed as he realized how that sounded. "She woke up about 10 minutes ago and freaked a little when a worm fell on her face. " He pointed at a brown smear across the top of the box. "That was Hugh. She's currently, um, talking to Hugh the second, AKA Bulldog."
"Hugh?" Nikki questioned.
"That was, our, um, older brother's name. He... he died a few years back." Bobby looked down, taking a few steadying breaths.
"Oh, yes, he was doing something with his unit and was lost..." Nikki struggled to remember the story. She had heard it only once, the name Hugh Delaney never again mentioned.
It had started with a discussion of where Nora's name had come from and the revelation Nora's mother and father had named all of their children after favorite detectives, especially those popular in movies during the 30s and 40s. The two had been drunk and Nikki had pried a lot of information from Nora that night, including the fact that she had an older brother that had been a marine. She could not remember details, much of the night a blur.
She watched Nora, the blonde barely moving or talking, a few words here and there as Nora watched the worm crawling along the side of the box.
"So, you have cousins, or is this a fiancée?" Nora's normally smoky voice now a crackling, haunted shell and whisper. "There's this great little place down on Hanson, food is shit, but the music is heavenly. I plan on taking my..." The blonde trailed off, eyes closing. "Yeah, I'm going to take someone special there. You should too Hugh, we can double date, you'd like h..." Her voice trailed off as another round of coughing started.
Nikki frowned, needing to turn away, swept up by how close Nora had come to revealing her well kept secret. Now Nikki wondered if other things had been said during Nora's entombment. The original intention for coming to the station totally gone as her mind was so fragmented. She swallowed, her brow drawing down into a V. "Um, where did the worm come from?"
Everyone in the squad room looked from the monitor to Nikki. "Did you see a worm, well two worms earlier?"
There was silence as minds processed. Slow shakes of the head no signaled the group had come to the same conclusion. "So where did they..."
A straggly cry cut across her words as Nora was flinching, wildly flailing her arms. "Get off me," she croaked.
Everyone stepped close, witnessing as another bug was crawling across Nora, this one a beetle. The blonde managed to squash this, her body and arms shaking uncontrollably from the excitement and adrenaline. She blinked open her eyes, looking around. She began to stomp her feet down by the end of the light. The camera was shimmering violently, the picture disrupted.
What Nora did not know, nor anyone else because of the camera's vantage point, was the fact there were quarter-size holes drilled into the box by Nora's head; holes that the damp dirt and mud had plugged when the box was initially buried. Tobias's original intent of having the tomb slowly fill up with dirt while Nikki watched had been stopped because of the recent rains and high water table wetting the dirt.
This had saved Nora from being buried in dirt, suffocating to death as the box would have filled. He'd been disappointed, but had found it was only a minor setback.
What he'd not thought about until right before meeting Nikki was the rains causing the water table to rise, the higher water level forcing the underground bugs and creatures to begin to tunnel and flee. A few hardy diggers had been creating tunnels and had popped out through the holes into the box with Nora, a temporary escape from the water.
As the rain had continued, the water table had crept higher and higher. Now more and more had found the tunnels and were using them, ending up in the same trapped plight as Nora. And they were as confused and disoriented as Nora so they began to defend themselves, instinct taking over as the crawled over the blonde, sometimes biting or stinging depending on the type of insect. Each bite reflected by a grunt, or cry or gasp of pain as Nora was clawing at her skin and body trying to rid herself of the intruders.
Stunned, the onlookers began to realize what was happening, Bobby actually pointing out the water line as it was a darker color against the side of the box. It was higher on the box than when they had first started this mad journey, the water line nearing the level of the holes. Groundwater does not flow, not like a river or stream, it creeps and drips and slithers from open space to open space. But, the more open the space, the faster the water will travel. The tunnels the bugs and critters had created were open space.
"Drink me..." Nikki whispered, the taunt from earlier slapping her in the face.
Open space that even as more bugs continued to crawl into the box, was beginning to fill with more and more drops of water, these drops merging and becoming rivulets. The rivulets twining and braiding, becoming strings, the strings merging to become streams. Drop by drop, the water was beginning to seep and drip into the box along with the intruders. Now it was not just Nora fighting the box for space and air to breath, now it was Hugh the second and Hugh the third and fourth and many more as they kept crawling in and over the detective, trying to escape what was beginning to flood into the box, water.
Nora wasn't going to have to worry about running out of air, or having toxin from insects that were now biting her causing her demise.
She was going to drown.
Chapter 16
contact: docwho2000@hotmail.com
page last modified -
September 1, 2009
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