WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
By Kimberlea Klein, 1995
Dreamstess@aol.com
sequal to He Thinks He'll Keep Her


 "I get by with a little help from my friends,
   I get high with a little help from my friends
   Going to try with a little help from my friends."
    -The Beatles "With a little help from my friends"

 Gabrielle de Lioncourt had rushed away from her son's house that night,
confused but determined. She said what she had wanted to for many years.
Where to go now? Back out into the wilderness, possibly, but not likely. Her
experience with her son and modern culture had intrigued her, left her
wanting more. 
 Music enchanted her. It touched her heart in so many ways. Every song held a
memory, an embrace of the past. Wherever she turned, some mortal, old and
young alike, was playing song. 
 She had been in New York one night, walking through central park. The bitter
night air swept around her and the night's stars twinkled above in an endless
parade. Mortals everywhere, talking and laughing about the day's events.
 But she had been drawn to one park bench, where a radio played. 
 Gabrielle was feeling lonely, tired and confused. Hundreds of years of
existence had worn her down and she began to ponder the idea of going under.
Then her ears picked up the strains of a song that floated through the air.
 "What do I do when my love is away?
 (Does it worry you to be alone?)
 How do I feel at the end of the day?
 (Are you sad because you're on your own?)"
  Yes, sad to be on your own. After all these years of being alone, time had
taken it's toll. Closed up her heart, that is, until she saw her son and his
companions again. It made her want to feel again and talk and see again. She
began to sing along with the repetitive lyrics,
 "Do you need anybody?
 I need somebody to love.
 Could it be anybody?
 I want somebody to love."
 
 "Do you, Gabby?" a voice interrupted her reverie. She spun around to face
it's source. She met twinkling green eyes and a mouth so prone to laughter.
 Jesse.

 I have to say that I was stunned when I saw Jesse standing there. It had
been a few years since I saw her last. Our tearful good-bye on Night Island
when Maharet saw it fit to take her away to Rangoon. I begged Maharet to let
her travel with me, I'd teach her the "ropes" to use the modern phrase. But
no, Jesse must go now, maybe next time.
 Her questions to me, desperately searching for answers in her new life, were
ones she had to answer for herself. Hell, I sure didn't know the answer!
 And now, here she was standing in front of me, and I couldn't even believe
it. I moved a step closer to her, reaching out with my hand and touching her
face, delicatlly as if she'd break with my touch. Tenderly, her eyes full of
love she covered my pale hand with her own and pressed my hand harder to her
cheek. So soft for preternatural skin, so comforting the touch of my own ilk.
 And my apprehensiveness disappeared and I embraced her and she responded by
squeezing me back. I hate to admit that I cry, but I do, and at that moment I
did.
 "Look what you do to me Jesse, you make me cry!" I sobbed.
 "Well, it's about time, my friend. A good cry does wonders for a gal once in
while. Now, are we going to stand here all night or are you going to come
with me back to my apartment." Jesse said, trying to be stern, but miserably
failing.
 Laughing, I nodded and accepted the hand she offered and we walked through
the New York night. It wasn't peaceful, it wasn't calm, it was alive and
vibrant. I rather liked this city jungle with it's neon lights and hard
driving beat.
 :Enough to jumpstart a weary vampire's heart, eh Gabby?: Jesse's voice
chimed in my head.
 I answered her with a bit of silent laughter and we continued to walk. Jesse
was my sister in so many ways. On Night Island, she helped me keep my sanity
and gave me a purpose. The purpose was to instruct her, and it was nice to be
needed for a while. It's always nice to be needed.
 And that is what I needed again, was it not? To be needed by someone, to
have a purpose. I scanned Jesse's face, she looked tired. I then scanned her
mind discreetly as possible. 
 Poor Jesse. From the images that I received I could tell she was confused
and even frightened of her life as a vampire. Not much had changed from the
time she left Night Island, she still felt the loss, the imminent sorrow of
all those she loved dying. Her vampiric life still mingled with her mortal,
in work, in play and in love. Her mind screamed but one thing,
 "I am lonely!"
 I could understand that, I'm lonely too. Everyone has someone else to worry
about, be loved by and talk to. Lestat has Louis and that new fledgling,
David. Armand had Daniel, did he not? And Pandora whom I liked greatly, had
Marius. But Jesse and I, we have no one, why not have each other? Can Jesse
understand? Does she really know.....
 :I understand: a sigh from Jesse entered her mind, laced with sorrow. :I
understand only too well, Gabrielle. Let us not talk of it in the cold night
though, it bites at my skin and I'd rather be safe inside.:
 I could only nod as she led me down a few streets to an impressive apartment
building where she lived. Almost every light was on in every room, making the
building a breathtaking sight. Light, like sunshine, streamed through every
window, so inviting, so Lestat. 
 And I remember now a moment not so long ago, where I stood in front of
Lestat's flat admiring the light. No matter where I went, or what I did,
light always made me think of Lestat and his smile. I sighed as we entered
the building through clear, glass doors and arrived in an amazing lobby.
 The floor was gray and white marble, sparkling clean so that you could see
your reflection as you looked down. All the furniture was cherry and shone
just as impressively as the floor. Statues of angels, done in white marble
graced the room with their presence, they reminded me of Armand. Soft music
drifted throughout the room, how charming.
 We rode to the top floor, the penthouse, in a private elevator. Jesse
fidgeted nervously as we made our slow ascent to the top, biting her lip in
the process. I had to smile, Jesse somehow always managed to look mortal at
any given moment. 
 The golden doors opened and gave way to a black marble hall, at the end of
which was a door. Jesse moved towards the door, gave it a quick thought and
it opened to her penthouse.
 And I thought Lestat had elaborate homes.
 This was uniquely Jesse. It was decorated in her favorite color of green and
technology was everywhere. The big screen tv, the high tech computer, vcr's
and more graced tables and cabinets with their presence. And of course, every
picture which graced the wall or the tables told a story. 
 One of Jesse and I on the beach, a blond head popping in the corner with a
mischievous smile upon his face, Lestat of course. One of Louis and Lestat,
sitting together on the couch at Night Island, looking so beautifully happy
together. Yes, I was lonely.
 Looking at every picture, of every one of our coven made me feel even older,
even more weary and alone. I yearned for their presence, their talk and their
support. I suppose deep down I'm quite sentimental.
 The richness of this home shocked me a bit, I never thought Jesse had much
money.
 "Wow Jesse. Where did you get the money to get this?" I asked.
 Jesse blushed a bit and said a little embarrassingly, "It was a gift, the
donor isn't all that important."
 I wasn't going to push her, although I was curious. I was a bit lost in my
own thoughts at the moment. Why is it that I feel so empty, like I'm the only
one in the world who understands me? God knows my mortal family couldn't, not
even my son. But could Jesse understand it? Jesse who is alone in this big
city. I stand now upon her balcony, looking out into the vast reaches of a
city so alive. Every lit window told a story, each occupant had a life. 
 I'm looking into a window in a building across the way, every room lit for
all eyes to see. There are children in this room and their mother is cooking
dinner for them. They stand up to hug and greet their father who just walked
into the room. So nice, so perfect....a family where no one would have to be
alone. They had each other. I had no one.
 I wrapped my arms around myself as if trying to protect myself against some
silent attack.
 : "The silent attack", what do you mean? Let me see Gabby, let me help you.:
Jesse intruded into my thoughts.
 A telepathic sigh and then the wall came down. Thousands of images
overlapping until I won control over them and let them play out in my mind.
Night after night, alone. Hearing only of my beloved son once in a while.
Seeing all those I knew and loved die before my very eyes while I never grew
older. And the others in the coven.....well, it seems that they had forgotten
about me in their own turbulent lives. Gabrielle, the loner, the crazy
vampire who preferred fauna for company instead of her coven. How wrong they
are! Jesse voiced a reply above the commotion in my head.
 : Lestat never forgot. :
 : I know Jesse.....I know. :
 : But that's not enough? :
 : Not for me. :
 "What do you want, Gabrielle. You can tell me. You know that." Jesse said
softly as she appeared behind me and put a hand upon my shoulder.
 "I'm here with you. That's all I can ask for. Jesse, I just can't talk about
it!" I told her.
 "Don't try and pull that one over on me, Madame Lioncourt! Just think that
we're back on that beach again at Night Island, where we used to walk. Forget
you're in New York, forget about it all. You can tell me anything." Jesse
pleaded.
 I turned on my heel and sat down on her plush, green couch, resting my head
back against the arm for support.
 "Can we just talk, Jesse?" I sighed, closing my eyes.
 "About anything you want, Gabby."
 "Let's talk about Lestat then...I always need someone to talk to him about.
A mother can only see so much, being a fledgling of his, I see even less. As
you probably saw in my mind, I saw him not too long ago. I said things that I
had always wanted to say to him and then I left him....again."
 Jesse looked at me, confused, and she bit her lip in thought. I peered into
her mind and caught a glimpse of Lestat as she pictured him. The wavy blond
hair, the electric blue eyes and the muscular form. I almost cried seeing
this in her mind. She caught the flinch of pain I projected and drew back.
 "I'm sorry Jess...."
 "Don't be sorry. Why don't we talk about something more pleasant. I've seen
many of our coven lately for some reason. Methinks Maharet's trying
desperately to watch over me. Doesn't want me causing any trouble!" a
triumphant smile grew upon her face. I had to laugh,
 "You're kidding me."
 "No seriously. "Jesse said soberly, "I've had visits from Mael, Eric,
Santino, Marius, Khayman and even that little twerp Armand."
 "That Armand is one crazy vampire, one of these days I swear I'll pay him
back for knocking my son off a tower. He's going crazy in his old age." My
mind went into a small spasm of pain in mentioning Lestat.
 Jesse laughed, her eyes twinkling and then a veil of concern swept down over
them.
 "Gabby, what *is* wrong?"
 I drew my knees up to my chest and wrapped my slender arms around them. I
buried by head between my chest and my knees and slowly rocked myself back
and forth, trying to stop the tears from coming as I knew they would.
 How could anyone think me so cold? So unfeeling? I have feelings too. I cry,
I laugh and I love just as my son does, why can't anyone see that in me? All
those years I spent searching the farthest reaches of the earth, with no one.
All alone in those jungles, picking up impressions here in there of another
of our kind, I suffered. No one to talk to when times got tough, no one to
run to when I had enough.
 And then I went back to Lestat, and what do I do again? Run away from those
I would love. I always wonder if I was meant to be this way, or I forced this
cycle down upon myself. If I had only stayed with Lestat instead of leaving
him, what would have happened? But then again, one could spend their whole
lives playing "what if?", couldn't they?
 I couldn't be reached when Lestat needed me. I would have given him the
blood in a second, for he had saved me in Paris. I understand why Louis
wouldn't give him the blood, it was something he could not do. I am not
Louis, I am Gabrielle, the forgotten wanderer. And I could have saved
Lestat.....I could have saved him.
 "Ooh....Gabby. It wasn't your fault you couldn't get to Lestat. Marius
wanted it that way, to teach him a lesson."
 I jumped up angrily, my hand flying out, breaking a crystal vase that stood
on the table beside me.
 The glass breaking, the shards flying, scattered, unfixable. Falling to the
floor with the sound of fairy bells. Sort of like my life. I put my hands to
my head in a vain attempt to shut out my own thoughts. I think I was going
mad.
 "Well, damn Marius then!! Damn him! I could have saved Lestat the pain, the
agony, but no....I wasn't given that chance to make it up to him!"
 Jesse approached me with a gesture too quick for the human eye and took my
shaking hands in hers. My whole body shook with silent sobs and emotion.
 "Gabby, make what up to him Gabby? You have nothing to repay him for." Jesse
said softly.
 I turned on her, my eyes glowing with that inner madness, "Nothing?! He gave
me eternal life, Jesse! And for what? For nothing! I never gave him a
childhood, nor was I loving mother. I should have taken care of him and given
him the love he so needed. I pushed him away when he needed me most. Where
has that gotten me? I'm old, I'm alone, I'm half-mad and there's nothing left
for me anymore."
 I walked to the balcony doors and peeked through the windows. It was near
dawn. The sun god was starting to project his mighty steaks of light across
the sky while the goddess of night tried desperately to hold onto those small
hours that were hers.
 "I think I should spend the day out there."
 "GABRIELLE!" Jesse implored.
 "Why not? What else is left, might as well go out with a bang." I replied
wearily.
 Jesse grabbed me forcefully by the arm, one can forget how strong she is
when you look at her, and she dragged me clear across the room into another
hall.
 "*You* Gabrielle de Lioncourt are sleeping in this nice, sun proof room for
the day." Jesse pushed open a door while still holding onto me, "I don't want
to hear another word about it. You'll stay in there
otherwise....otherwise....I'll lock you in a room with only Daniel for
company!"
 I giggled, "You wouldn't really be that harsh, now would you?"
 Jesse's eyes gleamed mischievously, "Just try me!"
 "Ok, ok! I give up." I gave Jesse a playful push away from me and walked
into the bedroom and closed and locked the door behind me. I collapsed onto
the bed, fingering the silky softness of the blue satin sheets beneath my
body. I gently rested my head against the pillow and fell off into deep,
safe, blessed sleep.

   			****************

 Jesse pounced upon me early the next evening, shaking me from that lovely
purple haze that occurs between dreamstate and reality. She pulled me from
the bed as I protested,
 "Be quiet, sleepyhead! You're getting dressed and then we're going out."
 I shook my head, still woozy from sleep, "I don't *want* to go out Jesse."
 She wasn't listening to me anymore, she was rustling through a closet full
of shiny, flashy clothes.
 "You're about my size, right? This should fit." Jesse announced cheerfully
as she threw a silver sequined dress at me along with matching heels.
 "Jesse." I said a little louder, "Didn't you hear me? I don't WANT to go
out." I stomped my foot for effect.
 Jesse stopped what she was doing and turned towards me, her hand on her hip,
impatient. "Stop acting like a child and stop letting the past rule the
present. Get your butt over here and get dressed. I'm going to get dressed
now and by the time I get back, you better be in that dress and ready to go!"
 Jesse turned on her heel a walked out of the room. I could hear her door
close further down the hall. I sighed as I slipped out of the t-shirt I was
sleeping in and slid the delicate dress over my body. I stepped into the
matching heels and looked into the full length mirror in front of me.
 Had it been so long since I looked in a mirror? The woman staring back at me
was beautiful. Every sensuous curve shown by the skin tight dress. The silver
reflecting of the golden hair which fell in waves down my back. On the vanity
I found a brush that I ran through  my hair and a tube of lipstick which I
applied a bit of.
 "Not bad." A voice laughed from the doorway.
 Jesse was looking on in pure amusement. Jesse was dressed to kill in her
flowing black dress, simple yet elegant. Her hair gathered in curls on the
top of her head. Unbelievable beauty. What did Marius once say? "Is no one
ever not beautiful given the Dark Gift?" 
 I highly doubt it.
 I was awaken from my thoughts by Jesse dragging me out of the room and into
the elevator that would bring us down into the lobby. Jesse had this wide
grin upon her face which could only be trouble.
 "What are we going to tonight, Jesse?" I asked.
 "You'll see." Jesse grinned back.
 I groaned and she just laughed at me as she led me out of the elevator. When
we reached the front door a young valet handed Jesse a set of keys.
 "Here's your keys Miss Reeves."
 "Thank you Michael." she replied as she pressed a generous tip into his palm
as she walked away.
 I climbed into the passenger seat of her forest green Lexus and she got in
the driver's side.
 "Put on your seatbelt Gabby, we may be immortal but who knows what will
happen when I drive." Jesse snickered.
 I jokingly made the sign of the cross and Jesse laughed.
 We pulled away from the curb and out into the alive New York night.
 Deep into the urban jungle we went, with it's vines of green neon and
flowers of the night. The flashing lights like the fireflies and sound
everywhere, telling you that, "Yes, we are here, you are not alone." 
 At this point we slowed to a stop outside a ritzy night club called "The
Jungle". Let's just say I liked it immediately! If the name wasn't comforting
enough to me then the inside was. We walked through the double doors with no
trouble and I was immediately surrounded by fauna and the smell of fresh
flower blossoms and the sound of a babbling brook.
 "Nice isn't it? I thought you may just like it." Jesse snickered.
 I only smiled in response as she led me to a table in a dark corner from
where we could watch all the action of the hundreds of mortals squeezed onto
the dance floor, half naked bodies pressed against each other all in a fight
for space.
 And that's what I needed, the company of hundreds of mortals would suffice
this one lonely vampire.
 :Would the company of another lonely vampire suffice as well?: Jesse
chuckled into my mind.
 :If he was tall, dark and handsome....maybe.: I responded like a breeze in
her mind.
 Without ever taking her eyes off the action before us she playfully punched
me,
 "Oh yes, dark, doesn't meet your criteria for love, does it? He would need
to have blonde hair and blue eyes, non? Much like Lestat."
 I recoiled at the mention of his name.
 "I'm sorry Jesse, it just struck a nerve. And who said I didn't prefer dark,
handsome men? You never know, maybe I've fallen in love with Louis...or
Armand ."
 "Ooh..Armand. He's one demented adolescant, I wonder if he still gets the
kid's menu in restaurants!" Jesse shivered, a playful edge to her voice.
 "Betcha he's a handcuff and bondage man." I said absently
 "Oh God, Gabby!" Jesse said, a look of disgust on her face.
 "Can't you see it though? 'Oh, Danny Boy, come here and big ol' Armand will
drag out the whips and chains for you. Put on the leather outfit Daniel, you
look like catwoman in it.'"
 Jesse was doubled over with laughter, "Enough! You're going to kill me, plus
isn't Armand underage, my dear? You could get in big trouble with the law for
that!"
 We both looked at each other for a minute before bursting into laughter once
more.
 "Seriously though Jesse, who said I never fell in love with Louis, eh? He's
dark...well...his hair anyway." 
 "Mmmmm.....what about Louis and Lestat....*at once*."
 "Jesse!" I said, trying my best to look shocked and miserably failing.
 "Oh, don't play innocent with me! I'm sure you *never* thought of that one,
right? Plus, isn't this Gabby, the one who seduced stodgy ol' Marius?" Jesse
said with a wink.
 "I NEVER SEDUCED MARIUS!" I said loudly, laughing at the same time.
"If he fell head over heels for me, it's not my fault. I can't help being
beautiful!" I said with a toss of my hair.
 "Sure you didn't." Jesse replied with a smile, "You what I think? I think
David needs a bit of strings loosened, don't you? And we thought Louis was
the prude!"
 "We'll have to work on ol' David, won't we? I think we should double team
him, catch him off guard, he'll never suspect it." I said.
 "Yeah, Gabby, but do you really think Lestat would've made him a vampire if
he didn't put out?"
 I lost it on that one, I just looked at Jesse and couldn't keep a straight
face anymore, I burst out laughing. Jesse did the same.
 "I haven't been able to talk 'girl talk' like this for the longest time!
It's so great to do it again!" I said, still choking on my laughter.
 Jesse gave me a kind smile and nodded towards the dance floor,
 "Wanna go pick up some guys?"
 "Sure, I was getting a bit 'hungry' anyway." 
 With that we separated and made our way through the swarming crowd to the
very center. The smell of human blood and sweat was maddening and I knew I
had to make my seduction quick before I went mad. I spotted a blond haired,
blue eyed mortal giving me the eye. I sent him a few persuasive thoughts and
it seconds we were in the alley behind the club. I drained him and disposed
of his body and went back into the club.
 I found Jesse back at our table, flushed and warm from the kill. She took my
hand and her voice whispered in my mind,
 :Let's go back to my apartment, this is getting tiring.:
 I nodded in agreement, the loud music and sweltering heat of the mortals was
beginning to take it's toll on me. We cut a path through the large crowd,
wiping the blood sweat from our face, and emerged out on the street.
 The cool, calm air was refreshing and inviting. The stars were twinkling
like the brightest diamonds, each different in their own way. You could feel,
hear and smell the electric energy in the air. The vibrant currents which
swirled and uplifted a person to he highest point. I was happy, for once I
was happy.
 The valet at the club brought Jesse's car around and I collapsed into the
inviting soft, leather seat. Jesse stepped on the gas and off we sped down
the twisting back streets of New York. Silence fell between us during the
ride home, each of us lost in our own little words of thought.
 We arrived back at the apartment complex and went directly up into Jesse's
penthouse. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do at the moment, so I went to my
room and changed back into jeans and a t-shirt and came back out and opening
the large french doors leading to the balcony.
 I stepped out into the night, the wind whipping around me and stinging my
face. I gripped the railing in front of me firmly. I noticed that Jesse had
put on a CD in the living room, that song that was playing that I heard on
the park bench just last night.
 I looked into another window across the way and saw a young mortal man,
slender but strong in build, long, blond hair and striking blue eyes. I
almost did a double take, it looked so much like Lestat.

 "Would you believe in a love at first sight...."

 Jesse had stepped out onto the balcony and stood watching me.
 
 "Yes, I'm sure that it happens all the time."

 I closed my eyes for a moment, reveling in the black space in my mind.

 "What do you see when you turn out the light?"

 A mental image of Lestat was all that could come to mind.

 "I can't tell you but I know it's mine."

 I sighed and turned to Jesse, my mood still light even though what I had
just thought.
 She looked up at me with sad eyes, "You're going to leave, aren't you?"
 I looked back and tried to smile, "You know I have to Jesse. I can't stay in
one place for long, I have to move and find life in all it's forms."
 "I know, I just wish you could stay, that I could do more...."
 "Do MORE, Jesse? This visit has meant so much to me, it has kept me from
even thinking of going under." I stepped forward and ran a hand down her
cheek, "Ill be back."
 Then, I took my jacket and I left. I was down on the street when I looked
back up to see Jesse waving from her balcony. I could still hear the music
floating through the night,
 "Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends,
 Mmmm, gonna try with a little help from my friends,
 Oh, I get high with a little help from my friends,
 Yes, I get by with a little help from my friends,
  With a little help from my friends."

 I blew a kiss up to Jesse that was lost in the night and I returned, back in
the jungles of the mind of what is adventure, what is Gabrielle.

 And I was happy.

			THE END