Title: "Now and Forever Pt. 2"
Author: Rebecca Bradstreet
Rated: PG
Archive: Sure.
Summary: John and Becca give blood.
Warning: Language.
Disclaimer/Notes: This is a Profiler/Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Crossover. I don't own John Grant, or any other Profiler character. I don't own Asher, or any other Anitaverse character. I do own Rebecca Belinda "Becca" Drake. She is a dragon version of me. I own the other characters that aren't Profiler or ABVH canon. I've included the end of Part One at the beginning of this part inside <<>>. I use :: for telepathy, // for thoughts, and ** as emphasis.
Special Thanks to: JoLN who beta'd this for me.
"Now and Forever Pt. 2"
Rebecca Bradstreet (c) 2002Atlanta
Headquarters of the Violent Crimes Task Force
Laboratory
Tuesday July 3, 2001<<"Actually...I'd just as soon nobody looked at my blood. I mean it's not like I'm a carrier of anything," Becca grinned hopefully.>>
"You have a fear of needles?" Grace asked.
"No, my blood may fake being human, but it isn't. I worry someone will notice it isn't human," Drake answered uneasily.
Grant took one of Becca's hands in his and squeezed it, "Come on Grace you know you don't need to test her blood, or mine."
:: Or yours? If I'm getting out of giving blood so are you? :: Drake smiled at him.
:: You bet, :: John grinned at her.
"I know that *you* are supposed to have a blood test done by a state approved facility, *and* the proper form signed by that facility. I am not signing the form without doing the blood test. I will do the tests myself so no one else sees them, but I am *not* signing a form saying I did the test when I didn't so..." Dr Alvarez held up a syringe.
:: Uhu, so much for getting out of giving blood. Who's going first? :: Becca sighed.
:: Ladies before gentlemen, :: Grant answered.
:: What a guy, :: Drake grumped at him, taking her hand out of his and rolling her sleeve up for Grace.
"You promise no one else will see my blood?" Becca questioned once more as she gave Dr Alvarez her arm.
"I promise Becca. Now hold still this won't hurt a bit," Grace assured her.
:: Won't hurt, ow, a bit. She learn to lie like that at med school? :: Drake scowled at John while Dr. Alvarez drew her blood.
:: You could ask her. It doesn't hurt that much, :: Grant told her unsympathetically.
:: Yeah right. You haven't, ow, had your turn yet, :: Becca bared her teeth at John as Grace finished drawing her blood.
"There all done. That wasn't that bad was it?" Dr Alvarez asked Drake.
"It wasn't having my blood drawn I was worried about, it was who might see it. Get the blood test done safely, and I'll say it wasn't that bad," Becca told her warily. She got up from her seat, then gestured for John to take it.
"I believe it's your turn, sweetheart," Drake gave him a smile that showed a few less teeth then her snarl.
"Thank you, love," Grant said sincerely, smoothing over her irritation.
:: Very nice. You know I may remember I was mad at you for something later, :: Becca warned him.
:: I, ow, know, :: he smiled reaching out for her hand with his free one.
Bailey's Office
Fraley knocked before he entered, "Umh, Sean and I were talking last night. We...ah...were thinking about a party for John and Becca. I mean even if they don't want their wedding to be a big deal..."
Malone shushed George, "I spoke to Asher last night. We'll do something to celebrate their wedding. It is *their* wedding, and we'll let them have the one they want. Then we'll have one hell of a party. Did you and Brodie talk about guests for the party?"
"Oh yeah! We started a list. Want to see it?" Fraley smiled.
"Not right now, George. Grace will only be able to keep them in the lab for so long. Lets get through the wedding first," Bailey cautioned.
"You think they'll let me video tape it?" Fraley asked, sitting down.
"Becca told you it would be great if you could tape the ceremony for them. I think you're invited to the wedding," Bailey grinned.
"The ceremony...you think they have any plans for it?" Fraley wondered.
"They sounded like they had some idea of what they want," Malone responded.
"We have some ideas," Drake agreed with Bailey as she, Grant, and Alvarez came back from the lab.
"And they are?" Malone asked her.
"Don't say small, simple, and short," Grace warned.
:: Great. What *do* we say then? :: Becca looked at John, flustered.
:: We could get married at the cabin, :: Grant suggested.
:: The cabin? You're sure? :: Drake questioned.
:: Yes, :: John put an arm around her.
"We want a small ceremony out at the cabin," Becca told Bailey.
Alvarez shook her head when Drake said small.
Malone said thoughtfully, "The cabin."
:: Just remember *you* volunteered it, :: Becca cautioned Grant.
:: I'll remember. We're going to need witnesses. George might work as one, but we need two, :: John reminded her.
:: So what do you want me to do? Ask Grace to be my maid of honor? :: Becca asked him.
Grant looked at her silently.
:: Oh sure, if you ask Bailey to be your best man, :: Drake agreed skeptically.
:: Done.:: John said to Malone, "Bailey, will you be my best man?"
Disbelief flashed across Becca's face before she glared up at Grant, :: You are sooo going to *pay* for this. ::
:: Play nice with Grace, :: John smiled down at her.
Malone watched Drake's reaction and Grant's smile, wondering what was going on between them, "If you want, of course, John."
"Thanks," Grant grinned, squeezing Becca.
Drake grimaced, took a deep breath, and said to Alvarez, "Grace, will you be my maid of honor?"
"I thought you wanted a simple wedding?" Alvarez checked.
"We do, but that isn't the same as no wedding. Besides, we're going to need people to hold the rings," Becca grinned.
:: The rings...you realize now we'll have to have some? :: John asked her.
:: Of course. If we're lucky Asher will get them for us. If not...well I'm sure Sean would just love to, :: Drake told him casually.
:: Asher, and Sean... :: Grant sighed.
:: And David, don't forget David. Wait until he hears you asked Bailey to be your best man, :: Becca smiled.
John moaned.
:: Suddenly I feel so much better, :: Drake observed.
:: I hope Grace makes you wear a long train, :: Grant scowled down at her.
:: *Not_funny,* :: Becca scowled up at him.
They glared at each other for a long moment before they started to laugh.
:: It's to late to elope isn't it? :: John asked, leaning his head on hers.
:: Oh, I think we've sunk that ship -- totally sunk that ship, :: Drake nodded.
:: We're only going to do this once? :: Grant checked.
:: Absolutely, :: Becca swore firmly.
"Haven't got the rings yet?" Bailey guessed with a grin.
"Yeah," John answered lifting his head off Drake's.
"We haven't got our license yet," Becca frowned at Alvarez.
"The tests will take a few hours to do. I'll get them finished today, or tomorrow," Grace shrugged.
"Tomorrow is the Fourth of July," John reminded her as he wrapped both arms firmly around Drake.
:: I'm *not* going to kill her. We'll never get the blood tests back if I do, :: Becca turned to grin up at him.
"Okay, today or Thursday," Alvarez admitted.
"You guys don't have the rings yet. Do you know what you want for rings?" George asked.
:: Careful, whatever answer we give him will definitely get back to Sean, :: Drake warned Grant.
:: Plain silver bands? :: John suggested.
:: Ooo, silver I like that, :: Becca eyes lit with mischief.
"Plain silver bands," the pair said in unison.
"Silver?" Fraley repeated.
"Yup," Grant and Drake answered together.
"A small, simple, short ceremony...plain silver bands...I suppose you're going to wear blue jeans at your wedding?" Grace rolled her eyes.
:: It's a thought, :: Becca thought impishly.
:: Play nice, :: John repeated to her.
:: Yeah, yeah, yeah, :: Drake grinned at Alvarez, "Actually, I was thinking about a white sheath gown."
:: You were actually thinking about a dress? :: Grant was doubtful.
:: I was -- one without a train, or a veil, or... :: Becca let herself trail off.
:: I love you, :: John squeezed her tight.
:: I know. I love you too, :: Drake folded her arms over his.
"A sheath might make you look taller. You won't wear heels," Grace smiled at Becca.
:: What do you know? No mention of a train, :: Grant teased Drake gently.
:: Mmmh...of course she hasn't talked of a veil, :: Becca pointed out to him.
:: She puts you in a veil. Asher buys our rings. Sean and David each insist on doing...something for our wedding. They get to play their part, and we get to have our wedding. Let her play her part, love, :: John told Becca.
:: Ha, you are a relentless pain in the, :: Drake leaned against him.
:: I've had some very good teachers, :: Grant confessed.
Becca shook her head, "I am *not* wearing heels. Bailey, do we have anything to work on this afternoon or?"
"Nothing but paperwork. Letting Rachel go home to Buffalo for the week seemed like a good idea," Malone answered ruefully.
"Good," Drake nodded.
The Grey Goose
:: Remind me what we're doing here, :: John whispered to Becca.
:: Making sure Asher is the one buying our rings, :: she answered.
:: Not going to trust that saying we want silver rings will be enough to stop Sean, : he checked.
:: Absolutely. Besides, while Bailey has probably already told Asher we're engaged it wouldn't hurt to actually comfirm it for him, :: Becca explained.
:: No more than it'll hurt to tell David anyway, :: John sighed.
The Master of the City slipped quietly into his office. Unnoticed, he studied the couple waiting for him there. Asher had wondered if he'd be able to see some difference in them -- *feel* something different about them. There was a difference, though he doubted a stranger would see it. The silence as they sat on his couch was a busy one. Asher couldn't pluck their thoughts out of the air, but he could read how they were reacting to each other's thoughts. There was something else too. Though even the Master of the City had a hard time detecting it, there was...an echo of their power each in the other.
//One life force,// Asher reminded himself before he spoke, "Is there something the two of you would like to tell me?"