Subject: 97-TheTalentShow This dropped in on my brain entirely uninvited while working on the corrections from my beta-readers on an entirely different story, and I needed to write it to get it out of my brain so I could go back to what I was supposed to be doing... It's a bit of N+N fluff. If you know anyone who would like it and isn't subbed to FKFIC-L, feel free to forward if you want, as long as no one else claims to have written it... My fic might be a bit nuts sometimes, but it's still mine. :> Well, I don't normally put in disclaimers since we all know who the FK characters belong to... This time I have used a song in it, which I need to put disclaimers for, but if I put that info "up front" it'll give away too much information, so the info as to song title and where it's from are at the end, as much info as I have anyway... No copyright infringement is intended and no income is being received for this, so I think it should be ok... As with all my stories, unless stated otherwise, anyone who wants to archive it anywhere is welcome to, unless they do so for profit... This is set in first season. I also refer to a particular commercial which we should all at least know of... Again, no copyright infringement is intended. It was just too good of an opportunity to pass up, even if I'm not sure if it was being done at the time of first season. I decided to use it anyway. Hope you enjoy it. -Micki =========== Nick and Nat scanned over the various titles on the various shelves of the video store. Nothing seemed to catch either of their attention, particularly, at least not anything that wasn't already rented out. "We can always just watch tv, Nick. Even at this hour there's bound to be something on one of the cable channels, at least." "Sure you don't mind Nat? We can go to a different video store if you'd prefer to rent a movie..." "Nah. Let's just stop at a 7-eleven and I'll get some munchies. Nothing wrong with just watching the tube." Natalie closed the few steps to stand beside Nick and reached out to take his arm. "Let's go." ---- Natalie had picked out a sub-styled roast beef sandwich. She also bought Coke and a Choclair chocolate bar. They were sitting on the sofa watching the television, as Natalie finished the last of her sandwich. There was nothing particularly interesting on, so they ended up turning to the kids channel and watching some of the early morning cartoons... "You know, Nick, when I was a kid, even before my parents died, if my brother or I had gotten up at this hour and turned on the television, we'd have been in trouble. Now they have kids programs 24 hours a day. It just makes me think about how things have changed, just in my time." "I know what you mean Nat. How do you think I feel? Sometimes it just seems so..." Before this could turn into some great philosophical discussion, a commercial break came on, and the ad that was run stopped Nick cold in his tracks. There was some guy on the screen who could have been a modern twin of his master, with a good though exagerated Scottish accent, hocking some sort of oatmeal cereal... The resemblance was absolutely eerie... "Nick..." "What? Oh, sorry... That ad... that was weird..." "Well, those ones seem rather popular right now... If you haven't seen them, I know you aren't watching enough tv these days." Natalie slapped his arm, playfully. "But it reminded me of something I wanted to ask you..." Nick looked at her and forced a smile. He was still a little 'weirded out' by how much that actor looked like LaCroix. "What?" "I was wondering if you know how to speak with a Scottish accent?" "Yes... It's not that hard, at least not for me." "Can you do one now? I'd love to hear it." Nick answered in a thick highland brogue "Aye lass, as long as your nay gunna ask me to tell ye of my time spent in the hielans." Natalie smiled mischieviously. "Oh, that is perfect, Nick! That'll work fine." Nick looked at Nat and slid back to his normal voice without a thought. "It's perfect and will work fine for *what*, Natalie?" Nat blushed slightly, "Well, you know how your precinct is hosting the fundraiser dinner for the children's hospital? Well, they are also having a talent show and contest... I entered us in it. I figured you wouldn't mind... The show is a draw for the dinner, and *that* is a fundraiser for a really good charity Nick..." Natalie looked at him, with a broad smile, that didn't completely hide the mischievious twinkle in her eyes... "Tell me what you're up to Nat... Your grin tells me you're up to something, and you're not managing to hide it behind that innocent smile." Natalie blushed slightly, "Just a little song for us to sing. Nothing bad." "Then tell me what it is, Nat." Nat slid over next to him, and crawled under his arm, so that she was cuddling him as she leaned up to whisper into his ear. "NO WAY, Nat. I'm not going to get up on stage and make an ass of myself in front of people with that song... Forget it!" "Nick, it's just for fun. No one in the contest is going to be professionals. It'll just be a bunch of other officers and maybe a few of their families out to have a little fun and raise some money for a worthy cause. You've probably had more acting experience than anyone else going to be in it. Come on Nick. It'll be fun." "I'm not an actor any more, Nat. That was a long time ago." Natalie thought for a moment trying to recall if Nick had ever told her he'd been an actor... She couldn't recall, but that wasn't the issue at the moment, so she ignored it. "I'll make it worth your while Nick..." "Really? How?" Natalie looked around the loft... "Well, if you weren't such a good housekeeper, I'd offer my sevices in that regard. And you don't eat *food*, so a nice home-cooked meal would be a waste... I could make other suggestions..." she licked her lips subconsciously, which Nick noticed, "but I don't think that's something you want to get into..." Natalie sighed. "I dunno. What's it worth to you?" Nick smiled as an idea came to him. He leaned down and whispered it into Nat's ear. "Ohhh. Yeah. I could do that." Natalie blushed as she thought of the price Nick had asked. Not that she minded, of course. ---- Schanke was sitting at his desk as Nick walked in. "Hey, partner! Why didn't you tell me you and the Doc were going into the talent show? I just saw one of the programmes for the dinner Sunday, and happened to see your names." Schanke grinned at him. "So what *are* you guys doing for it, anyways, Nicky-boy?" Nick winced. "I hate that, if I had been going to tell you, Schank, I wouldn't now." Nick smiled hoping that Schanke would stop pestering him. "Come on, Knight. I need to tell Myra. You wouldn't want her to be mad at me now, would ya, partner?" "She doesn't even know that we're going in it... though I'm sure you'll tell her. But how can she want to know something like that when you haven't told her yet... Forget it Schank. I'm not telling." One of the other officers from the shift change overheard, and had to join in. "Hey Knight. Don isn't the only one who'd like to know. The others who are going in haven't been hiding it. Makes us wonder just what you and the coroner have planned..." "Forget it, guys. If you want to know what we are doing for the talent show, then you'll have to come out and see it for yourselves. I'm *not* talking." Schanke pointed over to where Natalie was just walking into the precinct. "We could always ask her..." Natalie walked over to they guys, smiling. "Hi Nick. Don." She looked over at the other fellow. "Sorry. Was it Brad?" The other officer nodded, "Hey, the pleasure is mine, Doctor Lambert." Nick and Schanke saw him smile at her rather suavely, though Natalie didn't notice... "Here's your costume Nick. They finished them today." She handed Nick a plasic bag covered hanger. "Mine is out in my car. I wasn't sure about if it was ok to fold yours or not, so I figured I'd let you look after it." She looked at Schanke and smiled. "And you won't get it out of me, Schank. That'll be up to Nick if he tells you. You're *his* parner, not mine." She turned to leave, then stopped. "So now that we've got the costumes, Are we going to rehearse tonight after work? We've only got tonight and tomorrow night before the show." When Nick sighed and nodded, she laughed and said "OK. I'll see you at your place later, then. Bye guys." After she had left, Schanke picked up the bag, undoing the zipper and looked in. Schanke's comment made Brad burst out laughing. "Your costume is a SKIRT?" ---- Nick and Natalie had sat with Don, Myra and Jenny. After they had enjoyed a lovely dinner, which Nick had not touched, of course, they called for those who were going into the talent show to come backstage and get ready... Nick and Nat excused themselves, and as they left the table Jenny wished them luck. Myra corected her and said it was better to tell them to break a leg, and was explaining that to Jennie as they left. Nick was getting impatient since they were second from last in the show. He was beginning to pace in nervous anticipation. Out front, Jenny was getting just about as impatient, waiting for her father's partner to get his chance to perform. Finally when the next performers were anounced, she was relieved to hear "Det. Knight and Dr. Lambert". Jenny had no way of knowing that Nick was just as relieved to finally "get it over with" as she was to finally see his performance. The curtains opened again, and Nick was standing there in a full kilt, with Natalie by his side in a lovely dress of older style of the identical tartan. They were each holding a microphone. then the music began and Nick's voice in the same thick highland brogue he had displayed to Natalie rang out: I've just come down from the Isle of Skye I'm no very big and I'm awful shy And the lassies shout when I go by "Donald - where's your troosers" Natalie's clear but unaccented voice joined him on the chorus: Let the wind blow high, Let the wind blow low Through the streets in my kilt I'll go All the lassies shout "HELLO - Donald - where's your troosers" Nick walked over to Natalie, and took her hand, leading her in a dance move popular at the turn of the century, as he began the next verse, obviously stepping rather carefully himself. A lassie took me to a ball and it was slippery in the hall and I was feared that I would fall for I had nay on my troosers Once again they both sang the chorus, their voices complementing each other. Then Natalie's clear voice rang out as she sang her verse. When he went down to London town he had some fun in the underground we all turned our heads around saying "Donald! Where's your trowsers!" They had rehersed that Natalie would bob her head down and lift the back of the kilt at that point, but how seriously embarrased she looked as she came back up to join with him in the chorus again told Nick he'd gotten his revenge! He had to give her credit, though, she didn't lose the song *at all* She just flashed him a very peculiar look as they sang together, and he didn't know what she was thinking. Then Nick's voice once again rang out, still in that thick brogue that he seemed to have no trouble with whatsoever. To weir the kilt is my delight it is not wrong - I know it's right the islanders would get a fright if they saw me in the troosers Once again, their voices blended harmoniously as they both sang Let the wind blow high, Let the wind blow low Through the streets in my kilt I'll go All the lassies shout "HELLO - Donald - where's your troosers" Donald, where's your troosers Donald, wherrrre's your trooooosers As the music stopped, people began applauding, as Nick and Natalie bowed rather quickly, then hurried off stage... Just after they had changed back into their own clothing, and gone out and sat back down at the table with the Schanke's, the family who was performing last, finished. They had done one of the songs from A Sound of Music, and had asked to go last due to which song they were doing... The hosts gave them time to change and come back around to the front, and claim their seats before the results of the contest were anounced. Apparently the judges were one of the comissioners, a Doctor from the charity hospital, and a member of the board of directors of the hospital. When the host came back on stage to anounce the winners of the contest, The first place award went to another entry. It was a weekend in Montreal. The second place prize was a dinner for two at the revolving restaurant at the CN Tower, and tickets to an upcoming play. This was awarded to Nick and Natalie. ---- After they got back to the loft, Natalie challenged Nick "So why'd you do that, Nick? That wasn't the way we'd rehearsed it?" She grinned, and continued "But I must admit I liked the view..." She leaned back against the sofa, as Nick came and sat down beside her. "I figured I ought to teach you a lesson..." He grinned as she looked at him and arched an eyebrow, slightly. "Besides, I figured it would add to your performance... give it that spark of authenticity that you just don't get in rehearsed scenes, no matter how good the actor is..." Nick sat grinning at Natalie. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?" "Well, you made a deal before... I told you what it was worth to me..." Now it was Natalie grinning. "Ok. So do you want it on the floor or the sofa?" "The floor is better. There's more room for moving around." Natalie watched Nick removing his shirt as she went to the kitchen and got a cup of *very* hot water, to warm up the oil. As she came back in, she stopped to grab a bottle of baby oil from her purse, that she'd put in there for whenever Nick asked for payment... By the time she had retrieved it, and looked back at Nick, he was lying on his stomach on the little rug, naked. He looked over his shoulder to see Nat's stunned expression. "What. You're a doctor. It's not like I've got anything you haven't seen before." As Natalie knelt down beside him and began to pour the warmed oil into her palm, Nick heard her say "True." Then he heard her mumble to herself "since our song, anyway." ============= Well, folks, that's it... I deliberately left it here so you can play out the aftermath however you see it going... I know I how I see it, but I wanted to keep away from needing to send it ADULT... Hope you enjoyed it. The song is titled DONALD WHERE'S YOUR TROOSERS? and was transcribed by hand from the album "Bonnie Old Scotland: the best of Scotland - vol.1" where it is sung by The Alex Sutherland Singers. I do not know who wrote it or if it is traditional or modern. (BTW, troosers is spelled that way in the title, and is said to rhyme with ooze... other words spelled with an accent are my best guess at the spelling... So I hope you could figure it out) -Micki