Love the One You're With
by Gayle McCreedy

Occasion:  Diane's hallucinatory birthday party
Site: Diane's hospital room


The nurse sighed as the machines kicked up again.  "How many dreams does
this woman have in one night?" she wondered. 

And as Diane continued to dream about her birthday party at the Raven... 


8:30pm

LaCroix sat at the table with the cousins, bored.  Oh sure, it was nice
having slavish associates and all.  But being surrounded 24 hours a day by
yes-men/women took its toll.  LaCroix stood up purposefully and began to
stride toward the bar. 

Almost immediately, the table of cousins rose and made to follow him. 
LaCroix turned back to the table, an evil look in his eyes. 

"Sit!" he commanded in a stern voice.

The cousins sat again at the table as though with one body.  Several
canine members of the Woofpack who had previously been eagerly sniffing a
potted palm also sat at attention. 

"Stay!" LaCroix said, and indeed, most of the cousins looked like they
might just do that. 

LaCroix turned sharply, one might almost say militarily, on one heel, and
proceeded to bash directly into Natalie as he took his first step. 

"Hey!  Watch it!"  Natalie grouched as the contents of her glass were sent
to the floor. 

"I'm sorry, my dear," LaCroix said as he took the nearly empty glass from
her hand and adroitly tossed it against the far wall.  "Now, what am I
supposed to say when I do that?  It doesn't matter, I suppose." 

LaCroix draped one arm around Natalie's shoulder as he guided her toward
the bar.  At first, Natalie began to pull away, then after a moment
wrapped one arm about his waist and pulled LaCroix closer.  (A big wave to
all the LC/Nat fans out there!) 

"What were you drinking?" LaCroix asked. 

"Chardonnay."  Natalie replied.

"A chardonnay for my friend, Milkos," LaCroix said gaily.

"Thanks, LC, but I'm drinking Budweiser tonight," Milkos replied.

"Okay then, a Bud for you and a Chardonnay for Natalie," LaCroix rejoined
agreeably.  "And I'll have some of that private stock from the American
prohibitionist period.  They *really* knew how to party!" 

LaCroix lounged comfortably against the bar, chatting with Natalie, as he
wondered silently what, exactly, coroner's wore under lab coats.