A Small Victory (Forever Knight)

[estinose]

Summary: Grace does something about Natalie's health.


Disclaimer: The Forever Knight characters do not belong to me. This is set sometime third season, probably late but before the last few.

A Small Victory
by Estirose
copyright 1998

Nat was leaning her head into her hands when Grace came in. She'd been doing that a lot, lately, and Grace had been concerned. Concerned enough to do what she was doing, now.

"I could use a vacation. A nice, sunny place," Nat said to herself. Or maybe to Grace. She didn't seem to know her assistant and friend was in the room.

"Maybe you should take it," Grace replied.

Nat's head jerked up. Grace took pity. Natalie looked awful. Not enough sleep, and a lot of emotional trauma going on right there. Nick was a nice guy, but something about him was apparently driving Nat to the edge.

That's why she'd planned this for so long, collected the funds, arranged the time off, and so on. Natalie needed to just go off and think for a while, and she couldn't do it here. And she wouldn't just *do* it- she had to be shepherded. Grace would do it, if she needed to. And she needed to.

"I don't have the time, Grace," Nat said by way of greeting. "I'm already backed up on all my paperwork, and that recent gang action has brought us too many people."

"Your vacation is scheduled for tomorrow. You have three days off, and so do I."

"When did I schedule vacation?" Nat asked wearily. "I don't remember doing that."

"You didn't. I did," Grace replied. "Nat, you need it. Everyone agrees. Everything's scheduled, you just need to relax and not work. My cousin has this cabin that he's lending me. I suggest you go too."

"Grace," Nat said, tiredness in her tone, "I appreciate it, really. But I need to stay."

Grace smiled, glad she had an ace up her sleeve. "No, you don't. I'm not the only one that noticed. If you don't go with me, you'll be called in tomorrow and ordered to take a vacation. And you won't like *that*.

Nat seemed to crumple a bit. "No."

"Don't worry. You just need time to think. And you'll have the time and space to do it in. Everything's arranged. Are you with me?"

She knew the answer would be yes.

-The End