"Its red and you drink it"
by Maddog


Disclaimer 1:  This is sick, sick, sick, sick, sick....  If you
             don't like, sick, sick, sick, sick, sick things,
             don't read it.



Disclaimer 2:  Stop right here if you don't like gross stuff.



        "Hey Nick, you sure you don't want some coffee?"  Schanke
called over to his partner."

        "No, no thanks,"  Nick responded.

        "You know, Nick, you really should drink more.  You've got
to keep the old kidneys going.  Its not healthy to go an eight hour
shift and not drink anything at all,"  his partner informed him.

        Nick went back to reading the paperwork he was trying
to get through.  Then it occured to him that Schanke was right,
well, in a way.  He should really start eating and drinking more
so that he would fit in better with his co-workers who spent
a lot of time either eating and drinking or talking about it.
He dialed Natalie Lambert's number.  "Hey Nat, Nick.  I was wondering,
you know all those protein drinks you've been giving me.  Well, is
it possible to make one of them freeze dried so I can make a tea
or something out of it?  It would give me something to drink while
everybody around here is downing coffee."

        "That's a great idea Nick,"  replied Natalie, happy that
Nick was even thinking about consumming beverages like a normal
person.  "Only I thought that we agreed that you need to concentrate
on getting a little more blood lately.  You've been feeling pretty
weak."

        "Yeah, well, I was just wondering, that's all."

        "Tell you what, give me a day or two to come up with something."

        Nick thanked his friend and went back to work.  Two days later,
Natalie came into the precinct carrying a small bag with her.  She
unceremoniously dumped it on his desk.  "What's this?"

        "You know that tea you wanted?  Well here's some bags of
it.  Try it and let me know what you think,"  Natalie told him as
she wandered over to the coffee maker and got Nick a styrofoam cup
full of hot water.

        Nick opened the package and took out one of the tea bags, they
were oddly shaped and a dark reddish brown.  He took the cup from
Nat and plunked the tea bag in it.  In thirty seconds he had a brew
of delicious smelling tea.  He cautiously took a sip.  A smile
spread over his face, "That's delicious!  What is it?"

        "Trust me, you don't want to know,"  Natalie informed him.

        Hey, what have you got there?"  Schanke walked over.  "Hey,
Nat."

        "Its a new herbal tea,"  the coroner infromed him.  "Specially
formated to help Nick with his sun sensitivity."

        "Smells awful, but each to his own.  Me I'll stick to coffee,
black."

        "And a doughnut, cream filled,"  Nick kidded.  He opened the
bag.  "There's not very many of these things."

        "I'll give you some more at the end of the week.  Then you'll
have to wait until next month for some more."

        "Why so long?  They hard to make?"

        "No,"  Natalie informed him.  "Let's just say its something
that I can only do once a month.  See ya, Nick."




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              Maddog - A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of
              Too Much Caffeine and Chocolate