Moonlight Virtual Season 2

s02e06.1 A Night on the Town (Short)

2009-02-01T10:16:00.000-08:00

Author: Mx wwmickd
Music Credits: ClChen
Biographical Research Credits: Photosue

A Night on the Town This short takes place between Virtual Episode 6 and 7

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Beth felt she was going to go crazy if she had to spend another moment with Oscar’s perennial silent treatment. Everyone had some kind of internal monologue, right?

"Oscar, is it rude to ask a vampire where, and when, were you born?"

"Rude questions? None. Questions we won't answer, many." Oscar answers, his face expressionless and his attention never waivering from the road.

"I'll start with the basics, how old are you?" No answer. "Where were you born?"

"St. Petersburg."

"White nights of summer, it's that far north, right?" Beth observes the tiniest of motions at the edges of Oscar's mouth. "I've never been further north than Vancouver, BC. What's it like?" A hint of motion at the jaw line shows Beth that Oscar has ousted the memory from his mind and he's back to business at hand.

"I made you remember your childhood, didn't I?" Oscar thinks, This one is observant... I could teach her."

In return for Beth's perceptiveness Oscar volunteers the information, "I was born in 1866, the serfs were freed in 1861"

"Your parents were originally serfs, then?" A reasoned assumption, good.

"1861 is just a date."

"I reminded you of your childhood Oscar,” Beth said gently with a smile, “naturally you thought of your parents. Even vampires have parents.” There is no other reason to mention that particular fact."

Another reasoned assumption, good, there’s more to this one than I originally thought.

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“Oscar, you can drop me off at Mick’s, we’re going out.”

Oscar worked his jaw, Mick was only 85 years old and he’d only been a vampire for 50 or so. Would he be careful? Would he use the back entrance? It wasn’t like Mick had a regular pattern of “eating” at one restaurant. Oscar had stood over the body of more than one Mafia hit lying on the sidewalk, just outside the restaurant where he had been holding court not thirty minutes before. Jesus Fucking Christ, ah, his favorite American curse, if Mick would tell him… he could check out the restaurant in advance. To bad all the vamp bars were unsavory or salacious. A vamp bar wasn’t necessarily safer, but certainly more predictable. Oscar hated having Beth outside of his control, he understood secrecy, that’s why he had this job. A team would make things easier.

“Oscar, who’s your favorite Russian author?” Beth asks as they ride up in the elevator to Mick’s place.

“Nabokov.”

“Like Lolita and Humbert Humbert, that pervert.”

“My favorite.”

He calculates the effect and impact of expensive details on an LA social mission. Tighter than normal T-shirt, distressed black jeans and a slim cut jacket, the corners of his lip twitch imperceptivity thinking how ridiculously in love St. John is; this woman, he can’t refuse her. Good… life is too short to ignore love. Oscar strips to take the opportunity to catch a few moments of freezer time.

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Music: Mirage Of Hope

"Mick, we're over dressed." Beth stops mid-step as they approach the entrance to the first club, music throbbing whenever the door is opened

"Yeah, but one look at that dress and they'll let you in." Mick looks down at her smiling appreciatively, enjoying the skin exposed by the dress that barely covers her.

"What about you? I don't see many guys in dress shirts and long jackets."

"I'll be right behind you; I'm too quick to keep out." He slips an arm around her waist, lightly tugging her toward him. "We'll be fine."

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Music: Milkshake

Cameron's pace has gradually slowed... trolling the clubs has turned up more than one bad behaving celebrity, people having sex in the bathroom stalls, lots of underage drinking. Beth’s ears are ringing and her feet hurt when they find Cammi’s car outside of The Massage Garage... a stripper bar. Oscar leans against it... immovable, refusing to go into one more club, especially one that assaults reason and the senses, while he’s on the job. Mick thinks, I’m going in there… with Beth… shit. Concentrate on the job at hand... bad choice of words.

“Beth, I’ll talk to the bartender and you check out the women… there shouldn’t be many who aren’t working.”

The bartender is an Amazon wearing a flesh colored bikini top and jeans. She looks naked from a distance; Louisville Slugger is tattooed across her upper arm. He’s going to have to order an overpriced drink before she says a word. There is no escape. Behind the bartender, he can see the women dancing in the mirror and soon one of the girls is flirting with him, up close and personal. Don’t touch the stripper, don’t touch the stripper, don’t touch the stripper. A muscle in his jaw is twitching; he scans the room for a safe place to rest his eyes, when he sees Beth emerging from the women's restroom. He stands up so quickly the girl staggers back and he has to catch her before she falls. Is Beth mad, no… she’s laughing at him, he can tell by the sparkle in her eyes.

“She’s passed out in the bathroom, Mick.”

“Let’s get her out of here.”

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While they wait for a tow truck, a quiet tightlipped argument takes place outside the club about who takes Cammi home. Mick, the gentleman, feels like it’s his duty, Oscar counters that he’s being paid and Beth says she’ll take them both on in a game of rock, paper, scissors for the right to decide.

“Fine… but you have to take another five percent, Oscar.”

“Shall I collect the second payment?”

“Don’t be too threatening.”

Oscar smiles his “I like humans,” smile and Beth shutters.

Mick and Beth drive away and Oscar thinks, Get lucky Beth, drag him over the edge… it wouldn’t take much tonight.

Author: Mx wwmickd

s02e05.1 Tensions (Short)

2009-02-01T10:14:00.000-08:00

Author: Photosue

Here is a little something cooked up by the girls at VS2, fits in between eps 5 and 6. Remember Beth and Mick have not "sealed the deal" yet in our universe. Enjoy!

MLMLMLMLML

They came here, joined together by the desire to relieve their tension, a mutual want. Only now as they began to shed their clothes was he having doubts about what they were about to do. The music playing was soft and sensual, a bouquet of aromas filled the air, all with the intent to relax and sooth. She laid down on the small bed first, pulling a light sheet over her naked body to ward off the chill and nerves as she waited for him to laid down next to her. Strong hands touched her bare skin, rubbing calming circles along her back. She let out a soft moan and it was almost his undoing. Small delicate hands ran their way up his back, neck and into his hair, nails lightly scratching down his body and pulling the silky sheet to his rear. He opened his eyes to look at her, beautiful lids closed for the coming ecstasy. Beth, lifted her head to look at him, and gave him a small reassuring smile, before her eyes rolled back with pleasure and head once again fell down to the pillow. He tried to relax, tried to focus on the hands moving along his body, painful and perfect in all the right places.

She moaned again sighing his name, pulling him back to reality. She whispered for his ears words of love and reassurance about their mutual celebration. It was slow and torturous, Mick felt his arousal harden begging for release. The knowledge that he would soon be on his back exposed to her kept his embarrassment firmly at the forefront of his mind. A grip on the little control he had at the moment. Fine fingers once again moved their way along his body, tranquilizing the beast. His thoughts of Beth, naked, laying there, and groaning with the excruciating delight, kept him from totally enjoying the experience. A treat she had told him, a way to alleviate all their pent-up tensions, but he could only feel the pressure building. His hands clutched the sheets in aggravation, nails ripping the Egyptian cotton. His erection burning with need, he jumped off the small bed pulling the top sheet to wrap around his naked body hiding his arousal. Beth sat up on the bed a confused and shocked look on her face. He began to speak but didn’t know what to say, how to explain his actions, he huffed his frustration and stormed out of the room to retrieve his clothes. Beth looked at the two perplexed masseuses and shrugged her shoulders.

Author: Photosue

s02e04.2 Good Things? (Short)

2009-02-01T10:10:00.001-08:00

Author: Mx wwmickd

“Good things?”

“Not really?”

That was about as close to human as Ben Talbot had ever seen Mick St. John act.

Maybe, just maybe someone else’s opinion might jar him out of that air of perpetual coolness. Someone’s opinion other than that of Beth Turner, she had him at a disadvantage. She had all of them at a disadvantage, himself, St. John, Davis and of course the late Josh Lindsay. The federal government should license her as a truth serum… she looks at you with those blue eyes and says… tell me all… and you do.

You hope, that she’s on the side of GOOD, TRUTH and JUSTICE. That hiring her doesn’t blow up in your face and all of a sudden the DA is screaming CONFLICT OF INTEREST and Ben Talbot looks like some 16 year old holding his dick in his hand.

Whatever Beth is asked to do or wherever she is sent, Mick St. John is there too. The vigilante PI, one that the cops won’t arrest because they are too lazy, complacent or because they enjoy letting someone with cajones give the bad guys a beat down, Dirty Harry style.

When Lindsay was killed, all the LAPD could see was the cop gunned down on Turner’s doorstep, so what, if St. John lied about Tejada’s whereabouts and got there first… to kill Tejada and burn the place down… the cops just snicker and mutter el Diablo, el Diablo.

The DA’s office looks at St. John and wonders if he isn’t cleaning up for the HML brotherhood; a hit on Tejada, to send the message that 80’s style death squads are passé and bad for business. The city had only one lawyer who worked full time on gang-related organized crime and he retired in June. The baton was supposed to pass to Lindsay. Now Lindsay’s dead and there is no political will to pursue another prosecution of Mafia style crime. Who would we prosecute anyway, after St. John’s scorched earth policy the HML bosses are being discrete.

Beth Turner… Mick St. John and of course the ghost of Josh Lindsay…

Ben Talbot thinks, I’m supposed to protect Beth Turner from Mick St. John? Like everyone else I’ve fallen in love with her. Josh Lindsay, even dead, is just another rival and a fool. He left me a file, one inch thick on St. John; a weird collection of information which would only prove to Beth that Josh was obsessed and jealous. Not that St. John isn’t dangerous, he is.

Maybe Lindsay’s ghost slipped “the list” under his door, a bizarre collection of names, some local and others that were historical. Talbot had been calling them The X-files until Beth took stole them.

He smiles, remembering when it became clear to him that Beth had the files.

He’d seen her in a new way after those two children were killed, fierce and wanting justice not just for those two children but for all children who had had their childhood stolen in some way. She’d practically yanked the files out of his hand and said she was taking them to Mick. She justified breaking the rules saying, they were old, a matter of public record. The wrongful convictions, mistrial and suicide of one defendant were all embarrassments to the DA’s office. Even the information in Talbot’s father’s case was sketchy, he had agreed to a plea-bargain even though he was innocent.

That’s when he’d seen Mick and Beth were two of kind. Without asking Mick, Beth committed them both to finding justice for Ben, his sister and his father. He knew that Mick would back her up, risk his good name, such as it was and take chances, all for the truth in his father’s case. This didn’t make him like St. John any better… but there was something dirty and mean about the list and that file on St. John. Of course Beth had taken it… and he’d find out why.

Author: Mx wwmickd

s02e04.1 A Little Dance (Short)

2009-02-01T10:06:00.000-08:00

Author: ClChen
Rating: PG13

A warm glow lit the apartment as soft music played in the background. The only other sound heard was the shuffling of feet against the hardwood floor. This evening was special, Mick had been planning it for a few days now. It was not a special date, anniversary or the like, just an evening spent with his girl. They had been over worked for the past several weeks. Between cases that involved vampires killing children and the Legion, they both needed the quiet sanctuary that this evening brought them.

Sure he could have taken them to some club that played the same music, but he wouldn’t have felt the quiet comfort that the steady rhythm of her heart brought. Or the peaceful sound of the rise and fall of her full breasts. Her scent would be mixed with others, not like here, where it felt like.. like it belonged to him alone. He savored the way it permeated the entire apartment, reminding him every day that his Beth was with him, really with him.

Mick held Beth close as Etta James' “At Last” played softly. Her fragrance filled his nostrils, her soft curves pressed tight against his hardened chest. He danced with her with no particular motion or rhythm. Just for the sake of holding her close. Beth smiled as she felt him place a soft kiss to her forehead, one hand holding hers close to where a heart once beat. His other arm around her waist and the gentle swaying of their bodies. Her free hand was wrapped tightly around him, stroking his back as the songs continued to play.

Mick didn’t say a word, just closed his eyes and hummed along. He could get used to nights like these and quietly hoped that somehow together there would be more.

Author: ClChen

s02e01.1 - Dreamin (Short)

2009-02-01T10:03:00.000-08:00

Author: Misfit

Here's another short from the VS2 writers. In our world, Mick and Beth haven't sealed the deal, so here's a peek at what happened after the door closed.

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“You’re staring again.” Mick opened his eyes to Beth’s smile. “Was I snoring?”

“No.” Beth moved her hand in slow circles on his chest, threading her fingers through the soft hair. “I was just …thinking.” Patches of moonlight shifted in the room, touching her face and lighting her china blue eyes. “I was thinking that I shouldn’t have closed the door.”

“It didn’t stay closed.” Mick lifted her hand, kissing her fingertips. “I couldn’t let it.”

“And here we are.” Beth brushed her lips against his. “I still can’t quite believe it.”

Mick’s arms wrapped slowly around her and he kissed her gently. “This is what my dreams are made of, Beth. You… me… together.” His lips covered hers, cool and seeking and she was lost in his passion. Beth wrapped herself around him, thrilling at the touch of his tongue on hers, his hands soothing and coaxing her closer. His chest was wide and warm, and she moved softly against him, sensation long denied urging her on as she stroked his cheeks with trembling fingers. “If I’m dreaming, please don’t wake me.”

Mick smiled against her lips. “We’ll have to wake up sometime.”

“I know.” Beth fell back on her pillow, turning her head to watch his face in the shifting shadows. “I don’t want to think about tomorrow. I want to wake up here, in your arms, in the morning.”

“I want that, too.” Mick rolled to an elbow, looking down on her with cautious longing as he touched the soft skin just below her camisole. “I can stay until morning.”

Beth raised her hand to his cheek, drawing his lips closer. “And are we going to…” Mick kissed the question away, his hand gently stroking her stomach. Beth’s fingers tightened in his hair and she moaned softly as the kiss deepened, stealing her very breath.

The kiss lasted a moment, forever and their lips parted with a heart-expanding gasp. Mick lay back, drawing her with him; her head snug to his shoulder, his arms holding her tightly. He took a deep breath as her hand slipped past his navel, brushing near his belt and he covered it with his own. “We don’t have to make love tonight, Beth.” He moved his head until he could see her face. “We don’t need to rush into it.”

“You…don’t want me?” Beth whispered in disbelief, her eyes dimming with rejection.

Mick lifted her chin with careful fingers, feeling her anguish. He kissed her softly again. “Of course, I want you. I think I want you in too many ways for us to go any further tonight.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “I want to keep the magic of right now for as long as I can. Okay?”

Beth’s eyes searched his face and she took her own deep breath. “Okay. Will you still stay with me? Hold me until morning?”

Mick pressed her cheek to his chest and closed his eyes. “God himself couldn’t move me right now.” He kissed the top of her head as he felt her smile against his chest. “I love you.”

Author: Misfit

s02e10: A Matter of Blood

2009-02-01T09:41:00.000-08:00

Author: Misfit

The doctor on duty and several attendants ran for the ambulance as it came to a skidding halt near the emergency entrance of Versailles Hospital. Jerking the doors of the ambulance open, they pulled the gurney out with a thump, jarring its occupant. The young blond screamed in agony, her bloody clawed fingers clutching frantically at her swollen belly. Running alongside the gurney, the doctor lifted the sodden mess of the girl’s skirt. Blood, bright and copious puddled between the white thighs and he cursed, shoving a nurse toward the phone. “Call Duvall now! Go!”

The blond gulps, trying to raise her head to look at her belly and he curses silently as a bloody froth foams from her lips. Anxious to soothe her terror, he touched her cheek briefly as the gurney was shoved into the exam room. “You’ll be fine, chere’. I do not want to die.”

The clock on the wall marks the minutes…

“She’s dead.” The doctor trembled, heart pounding in his chest as he refused to look at the vampires.

“And the child?” Lance’s voice was deceptively soft. “It survives?”

“No.” The doctor’s chin dropped to his chest. “I’m sorry. I did everything I could. It was too late.”

“And the blood?” Lance glanced at his servant, Edward, before he turned back to the dark, rain-streaked window. “I trust you kept the child’s blood?”

“Yes, yes, of course.” The doctor groveled, eager to regain favor. “We retained all of the AO-.”

“That’s very fortunate for you, doctor.” Lance lifted his shoulders, adjusting the lapel of his fine woolen suit jacket. “Your forward thinking will let you live. This time.” The doctor broke into relieved tears and Edward smirked as he followed Lance’s long strides down the hall. Lance slapped his gloves against his leg. “Have the plane readied for the States. We need to visit my dear sister and the very lovely Miss Turner.”

MLMLML

Well, it’s a marvelous night for a moondance
With the stars up above in your eyes.
A fantabulous night to make romance
Neath the cover of October skies.

Beth twisted the towel around her head, smiling as Mick sang softly at the sink. Wrapping another large, fluffy towel securely around herself, she pushed the glass door open, meeting Mick’s smile in the mirror.

All the leaves on the trees are falling
To the sound of the breezes that blow.
And I’m trying to please to the calling
Of your heart-strings that play soft and low.

Mick rinsed the razor in the sink, his eyes never leaving her face as he continued to sing softly, the razor moving in long, smooth strokes.

And the nights magic seems to whisper and hush
And the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush.
Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love?
Can I just make some more romance with-a you, my love?

Beth giggled, raising herself on tiptoe to rest her chin on his shoulder as he rinsed the razor for the final time. “Are you going to lead on this moondance?”

“Maybe.” Mick toweled the remaining traces of shaving cream from his face and glanced up at her reflection with a flash of desire. “A few more lessons and I might be ready.” Turning from the sink, he drew her close, kissing her smile. “You’re quite the dancer, Miss Turner.”

“I’m glad you noticed.” Beth’s hand slid along the low-slung waist of his pajama bottoms and she rested her forehead against his chin. “It was nice, wasn’t it?”

“It was more than nice.” Mick gave her a little squeeze and kissed her forehead before releasing her to turn back to the sink. “And I need to stop thinking about it, so you can go to work.”

Beth’s mouth opened and closed in mild frustration. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” She pulled the towel from her hair and shook it out around her shoulders. “I can hardly wait for Ben’s vampire questions this morning.”

Mick straightened, running his hands through his hair. “You need to stall him, Beth. Avoid any details until we figure out where he stands.” The small worry lines creased between his brows and his eyes locked with hers in the mirror. “You think you can do that?”

“Well, I guess I don’t have any choice, do I?” Beth pulled off the towel and tossed it at the shower door. “I’ll be ready in about 30 minutes.”

Mick bit his lip as her naked bottom marched from the room and he shook his head as he met his own reflection in the mirror.

Mick VO: Ever catch yourself with a stupid grin on your face...I keep seeing myself in the mirror and I can't say I recognize myself...shaving while Beth takes a shower, an ordinary morning after a night...what a night...where the monsters stayed away and kept themselves in the shadows of the past where they belong.

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Beth jumped, startled as Ben’s voice spoke from the intercom. “Beth? Can you come to my office, please?” Setting her cup down, she wiped the dribble of coffee from her chin, glancing at Oscar as he shifted casually to alertness in his chair.

“Sure, be right there.” Grabbing a notebook, Beth took a deep breath and pasted a smile on as she entered Talbot’s office. “What’s up?”

“Shut the door.” Ben waited until she closed the door before tossing an envelope on the desk in front of her. “What is this?”

“An envelope.” Beth picked it up, looking curiously at the spidery script. “Mr. Benjamin Talbot, Esquire? Have you opened it?”

“Of course I opened it.” Ben pursed his lips and leaned back in the chair. “I’m just not sure what it’s supposed to mean.”

Beth pulled the single folded sheet from the envelope and opened it carefully. Scanning the page quickly, she gave Ben a skeptical look. “It’s an invitation to a Halloween Ball, Ben. That’s pretty plain.”

Ben’s eyes narrowed. “Why would Kostan invite me to,” he gestured for her to hand him the invitation, “The Blood is Life Ball?” Ben snorted and dropped the invite on the desk. “A vampire saying Blood is Life? He’s kidding, right?”

“No, I think he’s serious.” Beth picked up the invite again. “He’s very involved in charitable organizations and causes. It says right here,” Beth tapped the page, “all proceeds are donated to the American Red Cross.”

Ben was still skeptical. “So I’m not being invited as a ‘treat’ then? It’s a legitimate function?”

“I’m sure it is.” Beth folded the invitation and put it back in the envelope. “I’m sure Mick and I’ve received an invitation, too.” Beth smiled, trying to reassure him. “Ben, they’re not monsters. They have normal lives just like we do. Well, almost normal lives.”

“Normal?” Ben snorted. “You just accept drinking blood and living forever as normal, Beth?”

“No, I’m not saying I accept everything about them as normal, because I don’t.” Beth took a deep breath and dropped the invitation back on his desk. “I know you have a lot of question but you’ll just have to ask Josef or Mick. I can’t give you any answers.” Beth could still see the need to ask questions written all over his face and she sought to change the subject. “Sooo…do you have any new cases I could be working on?”

Ben gave a tight smile of resignation. “No, nothing new, but you could follow up on the bombing case. The coroner should have some of the preliminary reports completed on the victims and we need to get them in the system. Why don’t you check?”

“I’ll get right on it.” Beth opened the office door, pausing for a moment as Ben picked up the invitation to study again. “Bring a date, Ben. It’s for a good cause.”

MLMLMLML

Mick grinned mischievously as Josef stood in undershirt and tux slacks in his office while the tailor marked for alterations. “You’re really getting into this civic minded thing, aren’t you?”

“You’d do well to follow my example.” Josef turned in front of the mirror to judge the fit of the slacks, brushing a trace of lint from the pleats. “Word of mouth goes a long way in your line of work. You could establish contacts on all levels of the business world.” Satisfied with the slacks, Josef stripped them off and handed them to the tailor. “The Halloween Gala would be a perfect place to start.”

“I don’t know, Josef.” Mick leaned back in the chair, resting his chin on his hand. “Costume parties just aren’t my thing. I wouldn’t know what to wear.”

Josef smirked. “Well I’m sure Beth would have some ideas. Let her dress you up,” he sniffed slightly, “or undress you again. You haven’t…?”

“No, we haven’t, Dad. We’re…working our way up to it.” Mick’s glance slewed away as Josef started to dress. “I don’t want to rush it.”

“The Dad thing’s getting old, Mick. Just do it and get it over with. This is ‘My Beth’ we’re talking about, it won’t be like Coraline, trust me.” Josef pulled on his dress shirt and made quick work of the buttons. “At least she’s not asking you to turn her.”

“She wouldn’t.” Mick’s hand moved slowly over his mouth as he thought about Beth’s tear streaked face on the night Emma and Jackson died. What about when I start to get old?” “And I don’t know if I could if she did.”

“Well, I’ve been asked.” Josef snapped his suspenders in place and knelt to put on his shoes. “And Simone won’t leave it alone. She refuses to take no for an answer.” Josef stood and moved behind the desk to flop in the chair. “I’m don’t need this right now.”

Mick chuckled. “We’re really making progress on our commitment issues, huh?”

Josef snorted. “I wouldn’t call it progress. We’ve got aggressive women on one hand and the Legion culling the tribe on the other. I’d rather face a torch-bearing mob.”

Mick sobered and pushed from his chair. “You may get that chance if we don’t find out who’s feeding Talbot information.”

“I’m way ahead of you.” Josef stood, too, and moved to the bar to pour a much needed drink for both of them. “ADA Talbot’s not making a move that I’m not aware of.” He gave a tight smile as he raised the glass in mock salute. “The Legion’s recruitment methods are nothing compared to mine. He’ll come to understand what it means to get an offer he can’t refuse.”

MLMLMLML

Beth settled herself into the passenger seat of Oscar’s Jeep, barely shutting the door before it began to move. “Are we in a hurry?”

“No.” Oscar checked traffic and pulled quickly away from the curb. “I have an assignation.”

“Assignation? As in appointment?” Oscar didn’t answer and Beth shook her head. He rarely responded to direct questions and she found it particularly irksome today. She tried another question. “Did you get an invite to Josef’s Red Cross Ball?”

“Yes.” Oscar glanced at the rearview and quickly took an exit. “I have been before.”

Beth blinked in surprise. “Are you bringing a date?”

“I’ll have guests, yes.” Oscar gave her a quick look, the corner of his mouth raising slightly and Beth blinked again. “Guests, as in you’re bringing more than one girl?”

“If you are there, you will see.” The Jeep slowed with traffic and Oscar looked at her again. “You will be coming with St. John?”

“I guess so, Mick hasn’t told me about it yet.” Beth began to gather her things as the Jeep turned onto Drexel Avenue. “Will you be coming up with me?”

“No.” Oscar pulled close to the curb and lowered his head to scan the area near the door. “Security has already okayed your arrival.”

“Oh, alright then.” Beth nodded, surprised by yet another level in her protection. “I wonder if Mick’s home?”

“He is.” Oscar’s mouth twitched again as she got out of the Jeep. “You need to work on your breathing again, Beth. He will know you are home as soon as you leave the elevator.” The Jeep peeled away before she could close the door and Beth shook her head, turning to go inside.

>>>>>

The apartment was dim and quiet as Beth set her purse on the couch. “Hmm? I thought he’d be up?” She walked to the staircase, listening upstairs. “Mick?”

A slide of something and a muffled thump answered. “Yeah, I’m in the bedroom.”

“Okay.” Beth jogged up the stairs and hurried to the room. “What’re you doing up here?” The door was slightly open and she pushed it wide, stopping in her tracks. “What...?”

Mick smiled from his squatted position on the floor, a dark fedora perched on his head. Beth began to smile as he rose from the floor and hitched the white pajama pants a fraction higher on his hips. “Um, nice hat.”

“Thanks.” Mick lifted the brim slightly and settled it back on his head. “I was looking for something to wear to Josef’s ball.” He sauntered toward her. “Whadda ya think?”

Beth looked up into his smile. “I think you should wear more than a hat.”

Mick chuckled and pointed toward the bed. “I’ve got the suit and maybe something for you, too.”

“Oh, really.” Beth walked to the bed to look at the dark suit. “What’d you pick for me?”

Mick rubbed his brow with his thumb, suddenly nervous that he’d made the wrong choice. “Its, um, a couple 40’s era dresses I thought you might like.”

“Oh, cool!” Beth’s eyes brightened as she reached for the garment bag. “I love dress-up.” Mick breathed a sigh of relief as she dug happily into the bag.

MLMLMLML

Guillermo slid the last rack of blood samples into the cooler and pulled the latex gloves from his hands with a snap. All the human and vamp remains had been processed and he was ready to catch some freezer time in drawer #6 before his shift started again in five hours. One more swallow from the Starbuck’s cup and he was…

“You got anything for me yet?”

Guillermo smiled against the plastic lid. “Not yet, Carmen. The tests aren’t done.” He schooled his face to seriousness and turned to face her. “The coroner requested additional time on the bloodwork.”

“Great!” Carmen dropped the box she was holding on the exam table. “Kostan’s already called me five times today.”

Guillermo hid his smirk as he stepped forward to look at the evidence tags on the small paper bags in the box. “And you’re working for him, right?”

“Not as exclusively as he thinks.” Carmen frowned, opening her bag to flip through the loose reports. “I look for the truth.”

“Right.” Guillermo sniffed slightly while she was distracted. Subtle jasmine and… “ADA Talbot sicked Beth on you, too?”

“Not yet.” Carmen pulled the list she was looking for from her bag and stepped closer. “Here’s the list of “male” evidence from the club. You just need to match the evidence with the appropriate body.”

Guillermo glanced at the report. “This stuff all clean?”

“Of course it is.” Carmen raised a brow. “You think I’m an amateur?”

“No, no.” Guillermo rubbed his spiked hair in a quick nervous gesture. “I’ll match it up with the human plants as close as I can.”

“Good.” Carmen slung her bag over her shoulder and turned to leave. “Call me when its ready.”

Guillermo put the box back down. “I’ll need your number then.”

“Sure.” A smile touched Carmen’s lips and she held out her card. “I’m on the clock at 8 p.m. Before that, you take your chances.”

A slow smile spread across Guillermo’s face as she walked away. “Yeah, I’ll take my chances. Maybe you’ll tell me what’s going on between you and Oscar. ”

MLMLMLML

The large black sedan pulled to a stop in front of Coraline’s party house and Edward scurried around to open the door for Lance. Exiting the car, Lance settled the trenchcoat about his shoulders and looked around with obvious distaste. Scanning the surroundings, he sniffed, pointing with his chin. “Find refreshment for us. I’ll wake Coraline.” The smile that touched his lips held no humor. “She should be delighted to see me.”

>>>>>>

“I can’t get near her.” Coraline ducked her head as Lance pushed her hair back from her face. “She’s already staked me twice and I’ve been warned.”

“Kostan has no authority over us,” Lance scoffed, “he knows the cure comes before his personal interests.” Stepping back slightly, he offered her his hand to assist with her exit from the freezer. “My word carries more weight within the hierchy than some upstart from the Colonies.”

Coraline warily avoided his hand to climb from the freezer herself and grabbed her robe. “Your word won’t keep them from killing me if I try to get close to Beth again.” She flinched as Lance’s long fingers lifted her chin and she met his cold eyes. “You’d let them kill me to get to her, wouldn’t you?”

Lance’s lips curled in semblance of a smile. “Oh, sister, of course not.” His cold hand pulled the collar of her robe closer to her throat. “You acquire Miss Turner and the family may let you keep St. John.”

Coraline glanced away and then slowly back, her eyes as cold as his. “Tell me what you want me to do.”

MLMLMLML

Simone’s bedroom was lit by a soft amber glow and she sat draped in the canary sheets as Josef dressed beside the bed. “The Whitley Trust is reviewing grant requests next week. We’ve processed at least a dozen from various vamp hunting groups.”

Josef slipped on his shirt, frowning at the news. “Are any of them potential threats?”

“Not as far as I can tell. They’re mostly newly formed groups looking for money.” Simone swung her legs over the side of the bed and lifted the damp cloth from the nightstand to dab at her newest bite. “There are, however, a couple research requests we should consider; studies involving blood born pathogens and antibodies that seem very well thought out.”

“Push them through,” Josef answered matter-of-factly. “We farmers need to keep the food healthy. Anything else?”

“Well, I thought we could talk.” Simone patted the bed beside her in invitation. “Have you given more thought to our turning conversation?”

Josef groaned inwardly. “Yes, I’ve been thinking about it. And, no, I’m not making such an important decision in the middle of all this turmoil.” He smiled as Simone narrowed her eyes. “Trust me. I wouldn’t put you off if it wasn’t so dangerous right now.”

Simone sighed and rested her chin on his shoulder as he continued to smile. “You know I’d make a great vampire and be an asset to the tribe.”

“Yes, you would.” Josef kissed her nose and got up to collect his jacket. “As soon as I deal with this Legion problem, we’ll have this talk again.”

MLMLMLML

Josef moved quickly through the small parking area of Simone’s building, headed for the Ferrari, his Blackberry in hand. Now that the human business day was over, he could get on with the more pressing vampire… The decay smell brought him to a shuffling stop. “What the hell…”

He vamped, turning slowly in a circle as the night whispered around him. The scent of decay shifted, wafting close and then away and Josef growled, low and threatening. “I know you’re here. Show yourself.”

“Took you long enough, child.” The disembodied voice grated in reply, sending him spinning in search of its source. “What do you want?”

Laughter rattled like dry twigs. “I’m only watching, watching, watching…” The voice touched him from every direction and Josef bristled with anger. “Watching me, why? Do you need financial advice or the name of a good tailor? What the hell do you want?”

“Be at ease, boy.” He was there, dark, faceless in billowing blackness. He began to circle. “Lady Wallace said you were smart, wise beyond your years,” his voice mellowed to a more human tone. “You have much responsibility and much to prove.”

“Prove to who?” Josef sneered as he circled, matching the old one’s pace. “The Legion?”

“No, child.” The old one moved faster, his voice rising as he blurred to a swirl of darkness. “Yourself, boy. Prove it to yourself.”

“Prove what?” Josef shouted to the empty parking lot. The old one was gone. Chest heaving, Josef took one last look around. “Fucking vampires!”

MLMLML

"Logan…" Josef barked into his phone, "Meet me at my office." Continuing to curse Josef summoned his security staff to meet him as well. "I need real time information, so call if you need to… don't wait for me to arrive."

Hell, Lady Wallace and old vamps delivering messages… as if I didn't already know that the Legion in LA is my mess… my security which failed at the club. Vamps at the fringes of LA society are already leaving… the Lost Boys, who had handled Dean Foster were now stalking celebrities in London. Vamp deaths were up all over but not place was as bad as LA and it was only the confidentiality of the Cleaners which was keeping people from knowing how many vamp deaths have already occurred.

It's vamps like myself with business interests, who can't leave LA… we make ideal targets.

Mick… it's time for him to stop… Hell, stop what… I need his head in the game, to figure out security and coordinate with the Cleaners.

Over the whine of the Ferrari he hears the signal from his Blackberry and flicks a glance at the screen.

Fuck! Coraline and Lance… No doubt, Coraline was coming to claim Mick again and Lance to claim Beth citing the ancient rights of French nobility… it was the wreckage from Coraline's little experiments that focused the Legion on LA to begin with. I guess I'll just invite the wicked step mother and her wicked brother to the ball… Josef smiled at the though of Lance having to rub elbows and socialize with the food.

MLMLMLML

“This is it, doll. You ready?” Mick teased with the tough guy look from beneath the brim of the fedora and Beth smiled nervously in return. “I’m as ready as I’m going to get.” She waited impatiently for Mick to circle the car to open her door. Mick offered his hand and Beth stepped from the Benz, her eyes shining. “I kinda feel like Cinderella.”

Mick let his gaze travel lazily over her; from the shining blond curls falling about her bare shoulders down over the form fitting ocean blue satin to the matching pumps that peeked from beneath the flowing skirt. “You look like a Princess.” He raised her hand to his lips and gently kissed her knuckles. “You might find Prince Charming while we’re here.”

“You think?” Beth swatted his arm. “Don’t get your hopes up. You’re still taking me home.”

“Let’s hope.” Mick offered her his arm. “Miss Turner, may I escort you to the ball?”

MLMLMLML

The Sarah Whitley Memorial Sports Arena had been transformed into a ghoulish Halloween confection and Mick guided Beth carefully through the crush of revelers, nodding to familiar faces while searching for their host and reserved table. Beth tugged at Mick’s elbow, halting their progress as she spotted Oscar and his guests. “Look, Oscar did bring guests.”

Mick gave the bodyguard a quick once over, amused by the Roman Centurion garb. “Not every man can get away with wearing a skirt and a leather bra.”

Beth giggled. “I’ll say. Though I think they’re called breast plates, not bras. Are those two his dates? She pulled Mick close to whisper. “I thought witches wore more clothes than that.”

Mick grinned, nodding acknowledgement as Oscar inclined his head. “Apparently that one doesn’t.” The witch pressed herself against Oscar and reached to pull his other companion, a young Jedi Knight, closer as well. Oscar remained stoic, arms crossed and powerful legs planted firmly as they fawned over him. Beth continued to stare until Mick tugged her arm, drawing her attention back to him. “I see Josef over by the champagne fountain.”

Josef was filling a long stemmed glass for Simone and Mick shook his head at Josef’s lack of imagination in his costume. “Who’re you supposed to be? Fred Astaire?”

Josef smirked and straightened his cuffs. “Costumes are for people who need help with their imagination, PI Mick. I have no trouble in that department.” He raised Simone’s gloved hand to his lips, brushing a scant kiss to her fingertips. “Simone could pass for Jean Harlowe, couldn’t she?”

Beth and Simone laughed when all Mick could do was nod. Beth leaned to fill a champagne glass for herself before turning to Josef. “Do you actually know all these people?

“Most of them.” Josef scanned the crowd with a tight smile. “There are a few I don’t recognize and the human mix makes it hard to sort them from the vamps in this crowd. As long as they’re behaving and making a donation to the Red Cross, they’re welcome.” He offered his arm to Simone and patted her gloved hand as she placed it at his elbow. “Let’s circulate, my dear. I’d like a closer look at some of our guests.” He inclined his head, throwing a mischievous look at Mick as they moved away. “What’re you standing around for? Dance with girl.”

Beth smiled over the rim of the glass as Mick looked at her expectantly. “Do you want to dance?” The music throbbed in a techno beat and Mick looked uncertainly at the dancers as he waited for her answer. Beth shook her head, leaning close. “Why don’t we wait for something a little slower.”

“That’d be good.” Mick gave her a pained look. “For a minute there, I was having disco flashbacks.”

“You discoed?” Beth laughed as he shrugged sheepishly. “I’d like to see that.”

“Believe me, you wouldn’t.” Mick chuckled at his own expense. “There’s nothing perpetually cool about the Hustle.”

“Well, I don’t know about that.” Beth set her glass down near the fountain and turned to take his hand as the music faded and a slower, more romantic song started to play. “I think this one is us.”

Nat King Cole - I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face

“I think you’re right.” Mick gently tugged on her hand, drawing her onto the dance floor, spinning her in a slow turn to pull her close. “I like how you feel in my arms.”

They began to sway slowly, and Beth looked up into his eyes as he threaded his fingers through hers, pulling her closer. “I think this dancing thing is becoming a habit.”

“We are making progress.” Mick glanced at the couples around them. “I’m re-learning the steps I’ve forgotten.”

“Yes, you are.” Beth smiled softly as he spun her around. “It’s not complicated, difficult or danger…”

“Ssshhh!” Mick spun them around again. “Not tonight, Beth. Let’s just be tonight, just you and me.” He touched his forehead to hers, smiling the crooked smile she loved so much. “Can we do that?”

“I’d like that.” Beth kissed his cheek, laying her head on his shoulder and Mick hugged her close. The crowd faded around them. Tonight they would just be.

MLMLMLML

Lance silently cursed the decadence of humans as he shadowed the movement of the dancing couple. A group of overly decorated and heavily perfumed matrons continued to stalk him around the fringes of the dance floor, not one of them put off by his glacial stare and he was growing weary of their pursuit. Catching Edward’s eye, he motioned the servant to intervene.

With a quick glance around, Edward grabbed a tray of champagne glasses from a startled waiter and stumbled full bore into the matrons’ midst, spilling champagne and pardons all over them. Lance moved quickly away, leaving the curses and berating for Edward to deal with. St. John had maneuvered Beth to other side of the dance floor and Lance pushed through the crowd to follow, careful to keep the large plumed hat tilted low to hide his face. He barely paid attention to the chubby Guitar Hero and the Morgue Attendant as he shoved his way between them.

“Jerk!” Logan shook the spilled champagne from his hand as he glowered after the pirate in the billowing cape. “At your age, you should have some manners!” His grin faded as he caught the look of alarm on Guillermo’s face. “What? Who was that?”

“Trouble.” Guillermo looked around quickly, searching faces for Mick or Josef. “He’s big trouble. We need to find Kostan or Mick now!”

MLMLMLML

Mick filled two champagne glasses and turned with a smile to hand one to Beth. “Drink. You need your energy for another dance.” He rolled his eyes goofily and Beth giggled, almost spilling the glass. “So we’re dancing again?”

“Of course we are.” Mick sipped the champagne as he looked out over the dance floor. You want to, don’t you?”

“Yes, I…Hello, Ben.” Beth smiled as Talbot pushed his way through the crowd to join them. “I didn’t think you’d show.”

“Mick.” Ben nodded stiffly to Mick. “I guess I was curious.” Casting a quick look around at the crowd, he focused back on Beth. “It’s like every other civic function I’ve ever attended. Looks like everybody who’s anybody is here.”

“Yeah, well, Josef knows everybody who’s anybody.” Beth put her hand on Mick’s arm and smiled up at him. “This is my first Blood is Life Ball, too. I’m really enjoying myself.”

Mick put his hand over hers, nodding absently as he watched the crowd. The ebb and flow of the crowd was distracting and he began to search faces, looking past the costumes and masks. He felt…someone watching…eyes on him, Beth…where…And there it was. Anger flared and he nudged Beth toward Ben, giving her shoulder a tight squeeze. “Stay with Ben. I’ll be right back.”

“Wha..?” Beth tried to cover her confusion, giving Ben a pained smile. “I guess he saw someone he knows.”

Mick slid quickly through the crowd, focused on the pale shoulder sporting the Fleur Di Lis tattoo.

MLMLMLML

Lance smiled as Mick took the bait, scurrying to follow Coraline through the crowd as she drew him away from Beth. “Sister, you still possess the courtesan wiles.”

Circling the fountain, he swooped in a billow of black cape and confidence, smiling as Beth startled at his touch. “Hello, Beth. I don’t believe we’ve met. I am Lance Duvall.”

“I…” Beth backed a step as gooseflesh crawled up her spine. “Lance Duvall? You’re…you’re Coraline’s brother. I…where’s Mick?” She batted his hand away as he reached for her arm. “Don’t touch me! Where’s Mick?”

Ben watched the short exchange, becoming alarmed as the stranger tried to grab Beth’s arm. He stepped forward to pull Beth away. “Hey, buddy. Keep your hands to yourself.”

Lance glared at his interference. “This doesn’t concern you, human. Leave us.” He backhanded Ben sharply, sending him flying onto the dance floor to knock dancers and observers from their feet. Ben landed flat on his butt, skidding back in shocked pain. A chorus of shouts and curses flared and all eyes turned toward Lance and a very frightened Beth.

>>>>>>>

Coraline stopped as the commotion flared, turning back to grace Mick with her most beguiling smile. “Mick? So nice to see you.”

“What are you doing here, Coraline?” Mick gritted out, ignoring the shift of the crowd back toward the fountain, “What do you want now?”

“Why, Mick, aren’t you happy to see me?” Coraline pouted prettily. “I’ve risked everything to…” Her voice faded as they were suddenly surrounded by Josef’s security and Mick turned warily in confusion. “What the hell is going on?”

>>>>>>>>

“Time for us to leave, Miss Turner.” Lance murmured smoothly, unconcerned by the sudden attention. “We’ve an important matter to discuss.” He took a firm hold on her upper arm and drew her close. “It’s a matter of blood between you and I.”

Beth began to struggle and her voice rose above the crowd. “I’m not going anywhere with you!”

“Yes, you are.” Lance jerked her closer. “Behave and I won’t have to hurt you.”

“She’s not going anywhere.” Josef’s voice was coldly amused as he motioned for security to clear the area. "Ah Lance, I've just seen your charming Marie Antoinette, I wonder if it's safe for her here in LA… or will she lose her head like her predecessor?"

Mick came shoving through the crowd, desperate to reach Beth and Oscar intercepted him, holding him back with an unbreakable bear hug. “Stop. He’ll let her go.”

Lance thrust Beth away, eyeing Josef imperiously. "Kostan, you wouldn't dare touch what is mine?"

Josef’s laugh was humorless. "Mine, interesting concept… especially when it extends to people. I've let your sister live twice now… the first time, I was being a good little vampire. The second because she gave me information about the compound… now she is back in LA, breaking our agreement. I disagree…,” he inclined his head toward the security staff holding her, “Coraline is mine."

Lance's eyes silver as Josef makes his claim. "You will never be able to hold her… you're just an orphan who doesn't understand family. Money does not buy loyalty."

"Neither does power, it only buys fear.” Josef’s eyes paled briefly and he gestured for Coraline to be released. “Consider that you are my guest, at this event and in my city." He moved closer, matching Lance’s arrogant stare with his own. “I believe your business here is done. Take your sister and go."

In a swirl of cape and Coraline’s lace, Lance was gone.

Beth ran to Mick’s arms and Josef took a deep breath.
I could use a drink… right now. I just told "The Count" to go fuck himself… if there ever was an evening for staying hungry… this is it. Josef calculates the angles and the odds as he looks over his guests, his friends, his enemies and the unknown factors like Talbot. And now The Legion, the bastards were watching all of them.

Author: Misfit

s02e09: Revelations

2009-01-07T16:26:00.000-08:00

Author: Candomom

Wars are never pretty. The Legion is waging a war against us. Their attacks are escalating…….

It’s late by human standards, but the party is just getting started at the “Gentlemen’s Club”. Bill and James are both partaking of lovely freshies, unaware that their undead lives are about to end.

The timer counts down 10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…
BOOM!……..BOOM!…….BOOM!

Multiple explosions rip through the club turning it into an inferno.

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

“Beth….Beth,” Mick says as he tries to wake her. She groans opening one eye. “Mick, what time is it?” “About 3 am.” Just then Beth’s cell starts to vibrate. She sits up and reaches for it. It’s Ben. She starts to answer but Mick shakes his head. “Call him back in a minute.” Beth quirks an eyebrow, but let’s the call go to voicemail.

“Why do I get the feeling you already know why he was calling me.” Beth eyes Mick. Mick sighs. “I do…there was a bombing tonight.”

Beth’s eyes flew wide. “Where? Who? Was Josef involved?” Mick chuckles a bit as her inner reporter surfaces. Unfortunately the humor does not make it to his eyes. “Umm, it was a private club that Josef is a member of, but he wasn’t there tonight.” Beth runs her hand up his arm to caress the curls at the base of his neck. Mick turns meeting her gaze with tears gathering in his eyes. “Mick? Hey…tell me.”

“Well, we don’t much yet except that about 20 vamps were killed along with 10 freshies.”, he says hoarsely. Beth gasps moving into his lap pulling him to her fiercely.

“Did you know any of the dead?” she asks pulling back to look at him. Mick looks up at her. “Yeah… yeah, I did. Two guys I play poker with, Bill and James, were there.”
Beth caresses his face. “I’m sorry, baby,” she whispers and kisses him tenderly.

MLMLMLMLMLML

Beth heads downstairs pulling her hair back into a ponytail. Mick is already dressed and waiting on her. Mick finishes his glass of blood and rinses it as Beth makes her way to the kitchen. “Well, I called Ben back. He wants me down at the scene so I can try to interview some of the witnesses.” She heads straight for the coffee. “Uh, you know some, if not all, of those so called ‘witnesses’ are gonna be plants.” He offers quirking an eyebrow. Beth pours a cup of coffee and turns back taking a sip. “Really, I would have never guessed.” Beth smirks over her coffee cup. Mick smiles. “Come on, smarty. I’ll drive you. I have to check out the scene too.”

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

As Mick pulls up to what used to be the “Gentlemen’s Club”, Beth gasps at the destruction. A full half of the building is gone and the other half is charred black. Mick kills the engine and comes around to open Beth’s door. “Whoever did this had to be on the inside or have access to the building. Security is tight.”

They make their way to the police tape.

Ben spots Beth and starts towards her. He sighs. God, are these two joined at the hip. “Beth. St. John, are you here for moral support or are you working this case too?” Beth looks from Ben to Mick and back. They look like two teenage boys sizing up the competition. She rolls her eyes. “Ben, Mick is working on this case for one of the owners. Since I was over at his place tonight, he drove.” Mick smiles smugly at Ben.

“So where are the witnesses I need to interview?” Beth is trying desperately not to think about it but she wishes that someone would, for once smack them both in the back of the head. Ben snaps his eyes back to Beth. “Det. Novak has them over near the ambulances,” he says motioning towards the line of ambulances. Beth nods and heads over in that direction. Ben starts to follow her when Mick speaks up. “Ben, do you think I can take a look inside?” Ben stops, turns, shaking his head. “I’ll let you know when the CSI’s are done,” and with that he follows Beth over.

Mick shakes his head. He needs to get in there now before things are found that can’t be explained. Like the fact that this is a gentlemen’s club but the only bodies they find will be the female freshies. As he makes his way in he spots Carmen. It’s a small miracle that Josef has finally been able to get a vamp on the CSI staff.

Carmen inhales deeply while gathering samples. She looks up to see Mick and shakes her head. She nods in the direction of a dark corner indicating they should talk out of sight. “What the hell are you doing in here?” She growls only loud enough for Mick to hear. Mick gives her a lop sided grin. “Well nice to see you too, Carmen.”

Carmen rolls her eyes. “Cut the shit St. John. You can’t be here right now!”

“Then give me a reason not to be.” His expression is now completely serious. “Has the scene been cleaned?” Carmen sighs. “Yes. It was a close call though. The Cleaners barely made it out of here before the police and medical descended on the scene.”
Mick nods. “Thanks Carmen. I need you to keep me in the loop on this one.”
Carmen nods. “I will Mick. Josef already called me, but you have to get out of here now.” Mick smirks. “I’m gone.”

Beth is just finishing up with the last witness. She sees Mick headed her way and meets him half way. “Where have been?” she asked. “Just checking out the scene, are you all done?” Mick tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Beth leans into his touch. “For the most part I just need to transcribe my notes, so I’ll have to go into the office for a bit.”

“Come on, I’ll drop you off,” he offers guiding her towards his car, “Oscar should be there soon anyway.”

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Josef has yet to hit the freezer; he is pacing his office waiting for information to filter in on this latest Legion attack. He is looking out over the city when he senses Simone is near. “Shouldn’t you be in the freezer by now Josef?” Simone comes around Josef’s desk leans against it. “Yes, I should, but alas there is no rest for the wicked,” he snarks turning to face her. It is then that he can see how tired she looks. He reaches out and caresses her cheek with the back of his hand. Simone leans into his touch and sighs. “You are not taking care of yourself my dear.” Josef smiles tenderly at her. “Been a bit busy lately and I haven’t been getting much sleep.” Josef sits in is chair pulling Simone down to his lap. “So why are you here instead of asleep in bed?”

Simone toys with the collar of his shirt trying to find the words. “Josef…..” she raises her eyes to look at him, “do you remember the conversation we had over martinis a few months ago?” Josef’s smile fell to a worried thin line. He leaned his head back in the chair. “Yes and why should I be remembering this, now? ” Simone frowns at his change in mood. “Don’t you want to be with me?”

Josef’s head snaps up. “It’s not that simple. The Legion is waging a war against us right now. I have a responsibility to the tribe right now. I am trying to keep panic from spreading like wild fire. Do I care about you? Yes….enough that I don’t want to put you in anymore danger than you are already in.” Simone groaned and stood. “I’m not some hot house flower that needs to be handled with kid gloves.” She begins to walk away. Josef grabs her hand and she whirls back at him. “Don’t you think I know it’s dangerous! I want this!”

Josef stood. How could this one woman make him so happy and frustrate him to no end. “Why now, Simone, it’s just not a good time to be a vampire, babe.” He said it as nicely as he could but from the expression on her face it wasn’t nice enough. She jerked her hand away from him and gave him the ‘I’m going to stake you in your sleep’ look. She kept her voice calm but her eyes were alight with a deadly fire. “Josef, I’m a lawyer and a damn good one. I know about strategy and power. I deal with it every day. I want this not only for me but for the tribe. Haven’t I already shown you that,” with those words she turns and leaves, slamming the door on her way out.

Josef pours himself another scotch, tossing it back quickly. He eyed the empty glass before heaving it against the wall, watching it shatter into a million pieces. How does Mick do it? It’s like these women are drawn to danger like a moth to the flame.

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Mick pushes through the double doors to the morgue. Both Guillermo and Terrance are working through on the bodies of the freshies. “If you’re here for a report on this Mick, I’ll tell you the same thing I told Josef… I don’t have it yet.” He throws down his scalpel and rips off his gloves.

Mick sighs. He knows this is hitting Guillermo. hard. He was close with Bill and James. “How you holding up G.?” Guillermo hung his head. “This is bad Mick. Vamps are running scared. I’ve had five regulars call for orders so that they could leave town.” Mick squeezed Guillermo’s shoulder. “It’s hitting us all hard.”

“I know man…. I do.” Guillermo turns back to his desk and picks up a file. “Here. It’s just preliminary stuff but maybe it’ll help.” Mick takes the file. I’ve never seen him look so defeated before. This madness has to end.

Guillermo turns back to the bodies. Mick thumbs through the file. Have you seen the new CSI?” Mick asks Guillermo. Finally, a smile from Guillermo. “Hot chick, with killer high heels? Who hasn’t.” Mick smirks, “I don't think she likes me very much.” Guillermo chuckles. “Finally there's someone the Mick St. John charm does not work on.” Mick looks disgusted. “I don't want to charm her... Josef wants to know what happened at the Gentleman's Club like yesterday, so we can stay ahead of the Legion. He can't wait for the official report.”

As he speaks, Carmen walks in with a couple of large coolers. “Were my ears burning? Tell Kostan I'm not taking any shortcuts for him. We can prosecute humans... so I don't want to screw things up or babysit, trip over and or dodge the helpful private investigator. But if you need something to do... identify these vamps.” She slams the coolers down on floor, the only open space. Guillermo looks at the coolers then at Carmen. “Ahh… how many are in there?” Carmen brushes her hands down her jacket. “We don't know... it's the bits and pieces the cleaner collected.” He quirks an eyebrow, “Don't you have a lab for that?” Carmen smiles, “Not one I can bring vamp parts too. Have fun, St. John. Guillermo, I need you to work on the humans.” With that she turns and heads out.

As Carmen leaves, the two men stare at her back, the fluid motion of high heels and the determination hypnotizing them both. Guillermo whistles and pass his fingers on his goatee, still staring at the now empty door. Mick looks at him. Guillermo shrugs. “I guess we work for her now.”

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Beth leans back in her chair stretching. Mick had dropped her off a couple hours ago. God, and it was only 8am now… I’m gonna need more coffee. Beth turns to go for more coffee when Simone appears at her desk. “Simone what are you doing here?” Beth asks more than a little surprised to see her. Simone smiles, “Remember when I said we are part of an exclusive club,” Beth nods, “well I need to call a club meeting,” she smirks. Beth chuckles, “ A club meeting, huh?” Simone nods, “Grab your bag. I’ll take you to breakfast.” Beth smiles grabbing her bag. “Lead the way.”

……………………

Deciding on a sidewalk café, Beth and Simone are seated quickly and order. Beth looks across the street to see Oscar watching from his Jeep. As much as she didn’t want a body guard she feels safer for it. She takes a sip of her coffee. “So what prompted the club meeting,” she smirks. “Stubborn. Pigheaded. Men.” Simone sighs as the waiter arrives with their orders.

Beth takes a bite of her omelet. “I take it you and Josef had a fight.” Simone nods taking a sip of orange juice. “He just refuses to listen to reason.” Beth forks another piece of omelet. “So what happened?” she asks as she takes a bite. “I asked him to turn me, now, but he thinks this is a bad time to do it.” Beth’s eyes are wide and her eyebrows shoot up as she swallows. “You want to be turned? Now?” Beth set her fork down taking a rather large gulp of water. Simone could tell Beth was a bit surprised. “You seem surprised.”

“I am a little. You have to remember Mick has only recently bitten me. And let’s not forget that we haven’t made love yet!” Simone tries to suppress a giggle. Beth giggles too. “I guess I’m a little more frustrated than I thought.” Simone leans back in her chair. “What are we gonna do with them?” Beth quirks an eyebrow, “Well we could always stake them.” Simone grins and nods, “Always an option, and I hear you’re pretty good with a stake.” Beth rolls her eyes. “Let’s just say I think I have some unresolved issues with a certain female.” Simone lays a comforting hand on Beth’s, “I think Mick has unresolved issues with that female too.” Beth sighs, “Ain’t that the truth.”

They spent the better part of the morning talking and confiding in each other. Only parting company when Beth gets called back to work. Both felt lighter and more determined than ever to make their boyfriends see things their way.

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Mick wakes early in the evening. As he steps out of his freezer he inhales deeply. Josef. Mick showers and dresses quickly, heading down stairs. As he hits the bottom step, “To what do I owe this visit?” Josef has made himself at home and is drinking a glass of blood sitting on Mick’s sofa. “What I can’t just stop by to see my best friend,” he smirks. Mick smirks in return and heads for the kitchen. “You can, but you didn’t, so?” He pours himself a glass of blood turning to face Josef who has followed him to the kitchen. “Have you spoken to Beth since this morning? Oscar said she had breakfast with Simone.” Mick gives him a puzzled look. “No, why? What did you do Josef?” Josef gives Mick his innocent look. “Who me? Nothing. Which according to Simone is the problem.” Mick chuckles, “So what didn’t you do?”

“Turn her.” Mick sits his glass on the counter and swallows hard. “She wants you to turn her?” Josef nods. “With all the Legion problems she wants to be turned now?” Josef nods again, “Which is exactly the point I tried to make. She thinks I’m being overprotective. Sound familiar?”

Just then Mick’s cell goes off. Beth is texting him. Mick looks up at Josef. “Beth wants me to meet her over at the bombing scene.” Mick grabs his duster and heads for the door. Josef is right behind him. He looks back at Josef, “You want to come along?” Josef motions for him to lead the way. “Maybe she’s got some information on the bombing or Simone.” Mick shakes his head and chuckles.

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

As Mick pulls up to the scene he spots Oscar leaning up against his Jeep. “Hey man.” Oscar nods. “Hey. She’s inside with Talbot going over the scene.” With that he gets in his Jeep and drives away. Mick and Josef head toward the club when they here Beth scream.

Mick takes off at vamp speed. He is fully vamped when he makes to Beth. She is being held with a knife to her throat. “Let her go,” Mick growls and begins to circle them. Josef is circling the other direction. Both are focusing on Beth and her attacker, they do not see Ben slumping against a pile of debris. The attacker still staying completely silent. Beth makes eye contact with Mick. She nods slightly and stomps the on the attackers instep. Mick has him caught and suspended in the air with in the blink if an eye.

Ben is beginning to come to when he sees Mick holding the attacker in mid air with one hand. That would be shocking enough but Ben sits transfixed, staring at Mick’s face. “What the hell are you?” Ben exclaims. Mick’s head snaps in Ben’s direction. He forces his vampire back down. “Ben!” Mick looks back up at the attacker who just smiles at him. Mick tosses him into the wall knocking him out. He turns to Josef and speaks only loud enough for Josef to hear, “Get the Cleaner out here.” Josef nods. “Great job super hero,” he snarks before dialing the Cleaner. Mick just glares at him. He helps Beth up making sure she is not hurt. She looks up at Mick, “Now what?” They both look over a very confused Ben Talbot.

Beth moves toward Ben checking to make sure he isn’t seriously hurt. He only has a few bumps and bruises. He looks at Beth and then at Mick. “What is this? What are you?” Mick sighs running his hand down his face, ‘I’m a vampire.” Ben shakes his head disbelievingly, “You know I really want to laugh at all this but it makes too much sense.” Mick takes a step towards him, “It’s not something we want everyone to know.”

“We?” Ben eyes Mick. Beth touches Ben’s arm, “Mick and Josef.” Ben’s head snaps toward her. “And you’ve known all along.” It was more of a statement than a question. Beth nods. Mick steps behind Beth running his hands up her arms. “I know you have questions Ben, but we need to leave the scene.” Ben nods and follows them out.

MMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Josef insists that they all go back to his office given the turn of events. Mick is handing Ben a scotch as Josef’s walks back into the office. Mick pours two more handing one to Josef. They both take long draw from their scotch. Josef is eying Ben. “Well, ADA Talbot you now know what we are.” He puts his glass down on his desk. He can hear Ben’s heart rate increase. “I guess I do but this all seems very surreal,” Ben shakes his head. “Be that as it may,” Josef waves his hand, “I must insist that you speak with no one about this.” Ben swallows the rest of his scotch. “I doubt anyone would believe me,” he scoffs.

In a flash Josef is in front of him fully vamped. I think those who left you that list would be very interested, don’t you,” he hisses. Ben gasps and presses himself further back in his chair.

Beth stands, “Josef!” Mick shakes his head and motions for Beth to sit back down. He turns his attention to Ben. “You have to understand that our secrecy is how we survive. There are many who would come after us, including those that have already contacted you.” Mick put his hand on Josef’s shoulder urging him to back off.

Ben straightens in his chair looking from Mick to Josef, then to Beth. She moves over taking a seat next to him. “Ben you have to understand if the public finds out….” Ben holds up a hand stopping Beth. “I get it. I also get that there are those in this room that will kill me if I open my mouth,” he states looking straight at Josef.

Josef straightens his tie, “Good, I’m glad you understand.” Both Mick and Beth roll their eyes. “Look Ben I get that this is a lot to get, “Beth smiles at Mick’s choice of words, “but right now I think we all need to get some rest.” Beth nods, “Mick’s right we can talk more later. Come on we’ll drop you back at your car.” Ben nods standing. He turns to Josef offering his hand, “I won’t say anything, but I will have questions.” Josef looks from Ben’s hand to his face, noting that his heart rate is steady. He shakes Ben’s hand. “Good, just don’t expect me to be happy to give you information,” he snarks. Ben nods. “Understood.”

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

After Josef’s is alone again in his office he dials his security. “I want to know where ADA Talbot is at all times.” Mick and Beth may trust you but I haven’t survived this long on blind trust.

………………………..

Ben enters his apartment. He is completely exhausted. He peels off his clothes and heads for the shower. He stands under the water trying to wrap his mind around what happened tonight. He washes quickly and steps out of the shower.

He steps back into his room wearing a towel around his waist and using another to dry his hair. His phone begins to ring.

“Talbot here.”

“ADA Talbot…..now you know the truth.”

“Who is this?!”

“We’ll be in touch.”

The line goes dead. Ben is standing phone in hand just looking at his phone. He clenches his jaw, rage boiling just beneath the surface. He hates games and feels like he is being pulled into one. He heaves the phone across the room watching to break apart as it slams into the wall.

He throws his towel on the bed and heads for his closet. He is no longer in shock. Now he’s pissed. The realization hits him that he has been part of this game being played since his mother’s apparent murder. He dresses quickly and grabs his keys heading for the door. I need answers and I’ll be damned if Josef Kostan is going stop me from getting them.

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Mick has showered and is sitting in the middle of the bed when Beth enters the room wearing a tank top and boy shorts. She has showered also and is towel drying her hair. She looks up seeing Mick with his head in his hands. She walks to the edge of the bed, “Mick?” He looks up slowly.

Beth crawls across the bed to him. She cups his face with her hands and straddles his lap. “It’s been a rough day, huh?” Mick sighs. Beth kisses him tenderly. Beth breaks the kiss pulling back to look at him. “Please tell me you’re not blaming yourself for all this.” Mick smiles sheepishly at her. Beth shakes her head. “You did not cause this,” she exclaims.

“But-----“, he begins but Beth lays a finger on his lips to silence him. “No buts. Did you plant those bombs? Did you tell that guy to attack me?” Mick shakes his head, “No. I just hate that you are in danger and so many others are getting hurt.” Beth smiles tenderly, “I know you hate this, but the fact that you care so much is one of the reasons I love you.” She could see him visibly relax.

She leans in and begins to kiss him slowly but passionately. She can feel and hear him begin to purr. She smiles against his lips. “You know I love that sound,” she giggles. She begins to snake her hand into the top of his pajama bottoms but he catches her hand. “What are you doing?” His eyes full of desire and fear that she will push him over the edge. She takes her other hand and caresses his that back of his neck.

“Relax…..I am not asking for you to make love to me.” She kisses his nose. “But I think we both need and deserve a little stress release.” His grip on her hand loosens. “And maybe just maybe,” she moves her hand past his waistband, “if we take a few baby steps and you let me lead,” they both gasp as her hand encircles him, “you’ll trust yourself as much as I trust you,” she whispers against his ear as she begins to nuzzle his neck.

Mick’s head falls back as her hand begins to move on him. She pulls him back into a searing kiss. His hands have a mind of their own one snakes up under her tank top and the other runs up her thigh. It inches into her shorts until he can cup her. Her hips move forward against him as she moves her hand faster on him. They can no longer speak on kiss and touch. He lifts her top and begins to kiss her breasts. She can feel his fangs run along her nipple.

“Oh God Mick ……please,” she moans and looks down at him. Mick is staring at her with crystal blue eyes. His hand moves against her and she undulates her hips against his hand. Their breathing has become gasps and pants. They are both close. Beth pulls Mick toward her breast where he bit her before. “Please baby,” she moans. Mick kisses and nips at the mark. As he sinks his fangs in Beth gasps, then moans as she falls over the edge into bliss, only this time Mick is right behind her.

He laves the bite then kisses his way up to her lips. Beth smiles as his lips move up her throat. “Hey,” she says softly. Mick smiles against her skin, “Hmmmm?” Beth leans back from him just enough to look into his eyes. “So… do you trust yourself a bit more?”

She pushes his hair back off that has fallen in his eyes. He gives her his signature lop sided grin, “Maybe.” She chuckles and kisses his nose, “Well at least that’s progress.” Mick leans in kissing her tenderly. “I love you,” he breaths. Beth smiles against his lips. “I love you, too.”

Author: Candomom

s02e08: Old Friends

2008-10-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

Author: Mxwwmickd

Our special thanks to Fah and to Christophe, for the translations from English to French.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to persons living, dead, or undead is coincidental, although some historical events are accurate.

Civil War Draft Riots - NY

Dark Moon, High Tide

"It's rather refreshing to watch the torch bearing mob go after the filthy rich rather than vampires."

"Mr. Constance, you are the filthy rich"

Mr. Josiah Constance looks up from his game of billiards. The billiards table has been set up on the top floor of Constance's waterfront warehouse. The draft riots had raged for a day and a half. "Mansions can be rebuilt, but inventory is another matter. Brick warehouses, steel shutters, and of course, protection monies paid to the ‘Dead Rabbits’ to fight fires and restrain the unwashed mob, this seems to be keeping the wolves from the door. Although why anyone would respect a gang called ‘The Dead Rabbits’ is beyond me.”

"Sir, it appears we have visitors, two ladies. They've sent up a calling card, a Miss Cora Lynn D' Vale and her companion."

"Show them in, we can always use another set of fangs in these troubled times, especially fangs with an appreciation for manners. Did you pack the crystal decanter... then if you would serve us drinks… Oh, there will be no need for the usual clean up to the East River, what with bodies in the street."

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Josiah Constance is surveying the skyline of Lower Manhattan from the roof of his tallest warehouse; fire does not seem to be an immediate threat to his business concerns. The chaos of the riots has created a rather festive evening among the vampire community gathered together in the relative safety of brick buildings. Drinks are flowing freely; it is hardly likely that outrageous vampire celebrations will come to the attention of the public on this night. If things do get too extravagant there is always the East River.

“My dear Miss D’Vale, are you and you lovely companion Cynthia enjoying the evening?”

Cora Lynn shudders, a far away look in her eye, “Revolution is always unsettling… but still this seems to be a human affair…” she says in a low voice.

“My dear, I love it when a woman can make even revolution sound romantic.” Constance slips an arm around her thin waist and pulls her close to drag his lips beneath her jaw line and ends with a tiny nip beneath her ear. Two drops of black blood glitter in the light from distance fires. “America… here we think the bastards had it coming…” Cora Lynn looks at him like a traitor through narrowed eyes… “War, on the other hand, good for vampires and business, revolution bad for both. Let’s collect Cynthia and I can show you the arrangements I’ve made for your accommodation.”

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

“My dear Mr. Constance, this is indeed delightful and cool to be surrounded by a house of ice.” Cora Lynn coos. Large blocks of ice packed in sawdust are stacked to the ceiling, building blocks for the small house of ice which has been set up in the open space of the warehouse, candles glittering on wet surfaces.

“Ice in summer, who would imagine that ice can be made into profit; I apologize for the roughness of these accommodations, but since the unruly mob is busy looting my fellow captains of commerce…”

“So, ladies, shall we undress each other… and for a late dinner and entertainment an Irish lad or Irish lass… a cock? We need another cock, for the ladies!” Constance grins and snaps his fingers.

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

The ice is beginning to glitter with daylight, candles long since burned out. Constance thinks… Now if every riot could turn out this well, as he listens to the two women talk over the top of him, playing with him, stroking his body. Viva los Vampiros, no one can tell if you are dead or sleeping.

Cynthia: Combien jusqu'à ce que Lance se rend compte que nous sommes à New
York?
(How much time do we have until Lance figures out we are in New York. )

Coraline: Lance est un bâtard avide, maudit les espoirs que je rembourser la famille parce que l'Union a brûlé l'usine Duvall coton à la Nouvelle-Orléans. Le stupide ne peut être reconnaissants parce que je suis vivant?
( Lance is a greedy bastard, that jerk expects me to repay the family because the Union burned the Duvall cotton warehouses in New Orleans. Can't the little shit be grateful I'm alive.)

Cynthia: Attention, ne pas savoir Constance ... il est plus vieux que nous.
(Shush, we know nothing about Constance... he's older than us.)

Coraline: Je n'ai jamais su à propos de la upstart... il n'est pas important, juste un profiteur de cette guerre.
(I've never heard of the upstart before... he's of no importance merely a profiteer in this ar.)

Cynthia: Look our little friend is starting to stir.

Coraline: It is time to take matters in hand once again.

Josef Voice Over: Merde, the French bitches are connected to that greedy bastard Lance, I'll have to hide the silver (all of it) whenever Coraline and Cynthia are around.

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

1906

Josef Voice Over Three hundred years old next year, you wouldn’t expect it to feel different, but it does. Money, on the other hand, never feels any different, you have it good, you lose it bad.

“Sir, Mr. Edward Thaw has sent up his calling card.”

“Do I know him?”

“Yes, he said you had business dealings with his father, William Thaw, during the civil war and that he expects to ‘find you unchanged,’ sir.”

“Well, send him up, but lock the door behind him.”

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Stanford White

“Mr. Thaw, to what do I owe this pleasure? May I get you a drink?” Edward Thaw lifts his eyebrows, indicating a question. Josef responds gesturing to himself, “You have the pleasure of speaking with Joe, Joe Fitzpatrick.”

“Joe, a mutual acquaintance of ours is causing us both a problem. He's a new member of your community I believe, Stanford White”

“Yes, the architect. How is he your problem? The wealthy and the famous are almost always poor additions to our community, Mr. Thaw, they have very little discretion.” Josef pours them both a drink of whiskey and offers a glass to the younger man. “I certainly wouldn’t have sanctioned his entry into our society; he was already a man of many appetites.”

Thaw’s jaw tenses, “Well bad luck all around, we believe he found his ‘patron’ on a recent trip to Europe while looting some villa in France. This trip gave my brother time to court, propose and marry Evelyn Nesbitt, White’s former lover.”

“Ah, Evelyn,” Josef muses with some appreciation, “one of those Floradora Girls who have always been very “willing” to please their patrons. We both know that White has never been someone who respected any convention in private, including Miss Nesbitt’s newfound respectability as a married woman.”

Evelyn Nesbitt

Thaw continues, looking out the drawing room windows across 5th Avenue and into Central Park. “Of course my brother is quite deranged and suspects White of designs on his wife. He also believes we have some sort of hereditary responsibility to expose vampires among us. He’s been known to carry a gun.”

“Does he have the right ammunition?”

“Actually, Joe, I’ve come to request permission to use the proper ammunition. If my brother shoots Stanford White and he survives… well, the scandal will touch us all. If my brother kills White, Henry goes to prison, the insane asylum or at the very least is denied any kind of controlling interest in the Pennsylvania Railroad and our other concerns, which are Legion.”

Josef comments, “I propose we toast the continued success of the Pennsylvania Railroad and other concerns.”

Edward Thaw lifts his glass, “To other concerns then, which are Legion.”

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Josef watches Thaw cross the street from the windows of his drawing room cursing softly, gritting his teeth until anger and rage call out the beast. His secretary enters the room and Josef announces, “I’m heading to the waterfront. If any of those blue-blooded bastards want to know my whereabouts, I’m out of town. I need something to drink that will wash away the odor of pretension.”

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Josef is sleeping rough in his ice warehouse, stretched out naked on the large blocks of ice. Curled up next to him in a buffalo skin rug is a young woman, not yet twenty, sleeping peacefully, bite marks on her inner arm.

“Josef!” Waking with a start, he hears his name is called out. “Josef,” a long wail, it’s coming from the street. Instantly he is over at the window, leaning out. The sky is lightening, Coraline is below, crying and distraught, her human face barely in place.

“Cora, Cora, Floradora Girl,” Josef says softly, “I’m up here.” Her skimpy showgirl dress is already torn as she rapidly crawls up the side of the building and into Josef’s arms. Josef curses her indiscretion and peers out into the street. Was she seen?

“Josef, Stanford is dead!” Shit, she turned him… Josef is calculating the strength of the Sire/offspring bond, what, less than a year ago? Damn it, Coraline always chooses strong-willed offspring who clung to their old life. In the case of Stanford White, this meant his sexual appetite for younger and younger women… it was only a matter of time before White turned a 12 year old girl.

“I know, Cora, the Legion came to me yesterday.”

“And you just let them kill him!” Coraline is clawing, hissing and biting at Josef’s throat. Josef twists his hand in her hair, yanking her head back to expose her neck, while he locks her arm back. She can choose to continue her attack or face the momentary pain of dislocated joints. Josef doesn’t really care what happens, he hasn’t had a good fuck in a while… that’s where it always ends with Coraline. He smiles, sadly she’s too grief stricken to continue. Josef brushes his lips along her and nips her neck before he releases her.

“I didn’t have a choice, Thaw was going to shoot him anyway, and White’s survival of the event would have endangered us. You knew him better than most… would he have gone into hiding; given up a life as America’s most famous architect?” He was internationally recognizable!” Coraline collapses sobbing on Josef’s chest until she smells food. Her eyes silver and fangs descend as she focuses on the prey. The girl is looking at them wide-eyed, only slightly frightened.

“Mister, what’s wrong with the lady?”

“She’s hungry, that’s all.”

“Hungry like you?” The girls eyes go wide as she looks from Coraline to Josef.

“Yes.” Josef chuckles. “Can you keep this a secret?”

“Lord, Mister, I've seen worse things down in the lower east end.”

“Put some clothes on and talk to the warehouse boss, there’s a position if you want it.”

“Do I have to fuck you?”

“Feed more than fuck. I won’t leave you with any brats, can’t have them.”

“Sure, Mister.”

“The rules are simple, no stealing and no telling or you’re dead.”

“Phhttt,” the girl makes a rude noise with her lips, “Like I said, I've seen worse.”

His attention returns to Coraline, “I’ll get you something to eat and don’t touch her… she’s mine.”

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

“Sleep well, Mick?” Beth is spread out with newspapers on the couch, still wearing her pajamas, relaxed and happy.

“Don’t you have to work today?” Mick asks, smiling and glad she is still here.

“I took a personal day, it was nice to spend Sunday together and I didn’t want to break the spell. Do you have things to do today?”

“Don’t tell anyone, but Oscar and I have been doing the crossword puzzle, so when he came by I asked him to bring over some papers. I said I’d be spending the day with you.”

“How did the crossword thing happen?” Beth smiles mysteriously and thinks, Oscar’s tightfisted attitude toward information may be rubbing off. Maybe I'll practice controlling my breath and heartbeat around Mick today.

Mick stretches and Beth stares, thinking, how are those pajama bottoms staying up? They’re hanging on nothing but… Even Beth can hear her heart begin to race… maybe I’ll get lucky… and she says quickly, “I think we’re ready to move up to the New York Times or… maybe not… Mick, does Josef know about this?” Leaning over her shoulder he takes a moment to inhale her scent, stopping mid-sniff as he reads…

WHITLEY TRUST FINANCES VAMPIRE HUNTERS

“I believe that’s him calling now,” Mick says as the phone begins to ring.

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

“I can’t believe they’re saying this is my problem.” Josef is pacing in his living room “I’d kill John Whitley, if he wasn’t already dead. I should have killed him last winter,”

“Josef, the Times states that the trust has been in place for three years… it wouldn’t have made any difference. It’s just being endowed now.” Beth looks at Mick, who shrugs… now isn’t the time to be reasonable. Josef continues to rant.

“Do you know how much effort I put into making sure that the Legion in New York is run by fools? A century worth of idiots and lunatics… starting with Thaw, I romanced his mother, yuck, I kept him out of prison, invested in his movies, sent him to India for research… electro-shock, that was effective… reduced him to a drooling idiot for a few months. Dead someone would have taken his place, alive he filled a void… when he died… vampires were ridiculous celluloid monsters. More importantly, the Thaws abandoned their support of the Legion, renounced their hereditary role because Uncle Harry was certifiable. Now they have billions again! Fuck!”

Mick tries to distract his friend, “Josef, the New York Tabloids are still doing your job.”

LEGIONNAIRE'S DISEASE: VAMPIRES ON THE BRAIN
MAD COW DISEASE CAUSED BY VAMPIRES FEEDING ON LIVE STOCK
WHITLEY DIES WEARING GARLIC TURBAN
POPE REFUSES TO ENDORSE COMMERCIAL BOTTLED HOLY WATER.
CABLE ACCESS VAMPIRE HUNTER’S PLAN FOR WORLD DOMINANCE

Beth speaks up, “Look, there is an exclusive interview with the cable access guy. This guy, Tyson, isn’t that a brand of chicken… It says here that be believes that he’s the reincarnation of a Hungarian vampire hunter. He’s been chasing Dracula across various lifetimes. The moment of truth happened during fourth grade, apparently someone shot him with a paper clip in the side of the neck and he recovered a past life memory of Dracula sucking out his last drop of blood. He’s accusing Larry King of being the reincarnation of Dracula, King’s refusing a meeting. I bet he’s got episodes posted on YouTube.”

“This is bad,” Josef mutters, “Beth, I need you to go to New York and do spin control on this thing. I’ll handle the financial end and Mick… Mick, we’ll find something for you to do, investigate this chicken guy…”

“I have a job, Josef,” Beth protests.

“Call Talbot and take a week off.”

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Ben Talbot rubs the slight stubble on his jaw, it was another long weekend. Driving up to San Quentin to see his father every Sunday made Mondays grueling. Fortunately, he wasn’t scheduled to appear in court today. His sister, Caitlin, hadn’t made the trip with him yesterday. He and his father had an unspoken agreement not to talk about the crime that had landed him in prison in front of Caitlin.

Ben had looked across the table at the man whose face resembled his so closely. He had no specific memories of the man, just feelings of being loved, protected; odd, when they seemed to share the same cynical sensibilities as well as physical resemblances.

“Dad, Cate’s not here today, can I ask you why you didn’t fight this?”

“Every man has limits, son.” His father smiles a half smile, one that Ben has seen on himself in pictures.” “I never thought I’d get to say the word, ‘son’ to you or ever see you again.” His lips tighten before he begins to speak, “the insanity defense is a double edged sword, there would have been no other way to explain what I saw. The prosecutor would have countered that I had merely disassociated and killed your mother anyway… and since I wasn’t claiming to have lost time or that I had lost the ability to distinguish right from wrong… Ben, I talked to the police at length… not a confession… lots of evidence in my own words. I've defended men using the insanity defense. I helped compulsive liars win a ‘not guilty’ verdict and watched genuinely sick people be convicted, in spite of my best efforts.

“That all sounds very noble… but they would have tried to put you on the stand to testify.” He says the last quietly, looking away from Ben. “So I used my resources to arrange a plea bargain for second degree murder and a private adoption for you and Caitlin. My parents had they been alive, were old fashioned, prison was a terrible stigma… Your mother’s parents, since I believe she’s still alive, wouldn’t have been safe. I wasn’t scared of prison… a jailhouse lawyer is always welcome… and I’ve done some good work here.”

"What did you see, dad?"

"Read the police reports and then we need to have a private interview... as my lawyer you can set that up, Ben."

"You’re hiring me?" Speaking these words gives Ben chills... this man, his father... a connection that had been so lost, he hadn't known it existed.

Ben's attention snaps back to the present as his phone begins to ring.

"So, you're trying to tell me the list I received is a list of vampires living in LA?" Ben resists the urge to laugh out loud, "and Mick St. John is a vampire... yeah, I know he's strange, but there's lots of strange people living in LA. What... so now you're threatening me... threatening to expose my mother as a vampire? Would this be my biological mother or my adoptive mother? Tell me where to find my biological mother and I might listen to you. Good-bye."

Ben shakes his head. Just when weird couldn't get any weirder... he looks up to see Beth tapping at his door frame. Is St. John, the vampire... with her, right down the hall?" Come in, Beth, I thought you were taking the day off."

"I am, but I got an offer to go to New York for a week and do some reporting on the Whitley Trust... I guess I'm a vampire expert from my days at Buzzwire."

"What's the Whitley Trust and what does it have to do with vampires?"

"It's on the front page of the New York Times... John Whitley left his fortune in trust to a group of so-called vampire hunters. I'd like to do some reporting again... if you think there isn't a conflict of interest.”

"Only if these vampire hunters start hunting the vampires in LA, a rather unlikely scenario, don't you think?" Talbot watches the color drain from Beth's face and considers that she stole the list of so-called vampires from his office. "The problem with any sort of vigilante group is when they start targeting innocent people... so go, Beth, and keep your eyes open."

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

“Beth,” Mick has mentioned her name several times before she snaps out of her distracted state of mind. “What did Talbot say that bothered you?” Mick is frowning and concerned, Talbot knows too much, he hates that Beth has to lie and steal information for him... for us... vampires.

“He was odd, I expected him to find the New York vamp hunters ridiculous. Instead he just said any kind of vigilante group… like the Legion, would be a genuine danger to innocent people. I think he knows I took the file.” Beth feels anxious at the thought of Talbot confronting her with her theft.

Mick reaches over to touch Beth’s hand, to reassure her with a gentle squeeze. “He hasn’t said anything?”

“No, it’s like he’s stopped looking for it and that’s not like him.”

They ride in silence until Mick pulls over at the curb near Beth’s apartment, “Hey, when we’re in New York, let’s go out on that date we missed the last time… we'll dress up and go some place nice.”

“Will we have time?” She can't help but remember the last time they were in New York, Mick trusting her, open... asking her to go downtown with him... to go out. The excuse that sounded empty even then... she wanted to make it up to him, make a new memory.

“We’ll make the time.” Mick smiles at her shyly, "To go out... like any other couple on a trip to New York."

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Josef’s private jet is waiting for them at the airport. Oscar is already on board but Beth is surprised to see Simone with a group of extremely attractive young men and women dressed in suits. Beth thinks, Are they all freshies? Business attire? Not what exactly what I imagined other freshies would look like.

“Beth,” Simone smiles, “It’s good to see you, I was afraid this trip was going to be all business, we’re looking into the legal approaches to controlling the Whitley Trust. Let me introduce you to the team.

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“Mick, this place looks like an early bordello.” They’ve arrived at a small hotel off of Times Square. In the high ceiling rooms and wide hallways dark reds and purples are the dominant colors, the furniture suggests Victorian styling and the lighting is low, stingy.

“Josef did pick this place," Mick says with a smirk, "we’re on the vampire floor.”

“Has anyone ever suggested vampire style needs a make over… It's so dark in here, just turning on my laptop is going to blind you people… and why..." Beth says in a tone of baffled exasperation. "Is the honeymoon suite on the vampire floor?”

Mick’s embarrassed and can’t look at Beth directly, “ah, it’s not ah… just ah… the honeymoon suite.”

“Oh…" Beth mutters in a whisper, “here I was thinking I was going to get lucky tonight,” knowing that Mick can hear her. She pushes by him roughly and drops her bags in the middle of the room. I will not think about luminal, I will not think about black lights, I will not think about why the bedding is all black and purple, I will not… “I’m taking a shower, a long one.”

After her shower, Beth, wearing a camisole top and boy short pajamas, looks at the king sized bed warily… “Mick!” she shouts.

“Hey, I can hear you,” he says with a grin as he walks out from the freezer room next door, shirtless and wearing his own pajamas.

“You’re sure no one was Turned in this bed?” Beth asks, her voice filled with apprehension. “That would be too weird.”

“Nope, I can’t smell a drop of blood anywhere on the bedding or mattress. The cost of ‘cleaning’ is probably included in the room.” He walks over to pull her into a hug, bending to nibble lightly at her lips. She shivers at the thought, skin all goose-bumps and nipples erect with the chill. Mick can feel them press sharply against his chest through the thin cotton of her pajamas… feeling protective and aroused at once, he lets his hands slowly slide down over Beth’s bottom. The fabric slides against her skin and he pulls her against him. Mick thinks, maybe this is the time and the place, as he lifts her into his arms.

“I love you.” Inhaling and savoring the smell of her damp skin, shampoo, soap and the musky aroma of her sex as well as the flavors of the room; clean cotton, naturally oiled furniture, the bouquet of tuberoses and lilies he ordered from the florist downstairs when Beth was in the shower… and beyond... Coraline! She’s outside the door.

It’s heartbreaking, then and now… Then, Coraline in his arms on his wedding night… he’s in love. Now, Beth in his arms now… he’s in love. He freezes, arms tightening around Beth… eyes glaze over silver, fangs long, Coraline is here to take him... and to take Beth away from him.

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Josef Kostan looks down the hall observing Coraline outside of Mick and Beth’s door. Oscar had alerted him to her visit and would have been more than willing to physically intervene, she would be so easy to kill right now… obsessed as she is with Mick. Coraline startles when Josef places a hand on her shoulder.

“Ahhhh, Coraline… It’s been such a long time since we’ve been in New York together… let’s reminisce in my room.” She won’t refuse… this floor is Josef Kostan’s territory… he’s taken every room. “I’ve finally met your charming brother, Coraline… and might I add he is the only reason you are alive right now.”

Josef’s room is done in grays and blacks. “Help yourself to a drink from the fridge, Coraline. This is a working visit, I can’t offer you fresh.” Josef thinks, you won’t drink from my freshies ever again. As they enter, he walks over to close the door on the adjoining room, where Simone and her team are researching the board members of the Whitley Trust, analyzing their financial interests and vulnerabilities.

“It’s time you moved on, Coraline, and let Mick live his life.” Josef looks at her; he’s never understood her obsessions, the drama she insists on creating in the name of love. Sex with her was always exciting, her freshies desperate to be bitten and scarred. Love for her is stalking, seduction, sex and pain, and Josef could never really join her as she burned. He sees her more clearly than ever; she’s addicted to Mick’s pain, guilt and love. Mick, you’re a better man than I’ll ever be… you remember that you loved her once… I would crush her for you if I could.

Coraline shrugs, “Beth will die, she can’t be Turned or ever offer Mick immortal love… I’ll be there to catch him when he falls… he always falls.” Finishing her drink, she walks from the room… daring Josef to catch her, stop her, fight her and fuck her.

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Beth looks up, Mick is beginning to frighten her; this intensity and that his mind is elsewhere, not in the present. Does he even know I’m here? She begins to breathe, counting the length of each inhale and exhale as Oscar has taught her. When her mind is calm she uses a matter of fact tone to say, “Mick, you’re squeezing me so hard I can’t breathe.”

“Oh…” he startles, “oh.” The reverie is broken. Mick lays her on the bed gently as if she is made from glass and then turns, incapable of facing her.

Beth gets up to wrap her arms around his waist, laying her head against his back. “What just happened, Mick?” Her voice is soft and soothing. She can feel Mick's hand reach up to cover her own.

“I thought I could make love to you… then Coraline, she was outside our door.” His voice was breathless and low, Beth could hear his pain and confusion.

“Oh, Mick…” she turns him around to face her, reaching up to push back his hair and then standing on her tip toes to kiss him gently on the lips. “Come lay down with me, tell me what Coraline did to you when she Turned you.”

“I knew I was dead, Beth... and somehow that Coraline had killed me. I was cold, not like the chills... I'd been around enough bodies in the war to know whatever thing ‘it’ is... soul, spirit, breath... that separates the living from the dead was gone. I was lying in my own blood. All my senses were focused on my pain... light hurt... hunger... and Coraline was more beautiful than ever... I really thought I was in hell. I had been alive, in love maybe... with the most amazing woman I had ever seen and then... I was dead and hungry, every appetite food, sex, emotion... burned to be satisfied... and Coraline was there... I needed her... I needed the monster... to be a monster with her. “

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Beth is sleeping and Oscar is guarding the door when Mick leaves to join Josef and Simone down the hall. The humans are looking a little frayed from the long hours; they’ve been working since they got on the plane. Fresh coffee and snacks are available at a table set to one side.

“Hey, Josef, Simone, what do we have?”

Simone smiles her gentle smile, “Whitley had a hard time finding board members willing to be publicly anti-vampire so it’s a small executive board only seven, all we need is four members willing to vote in our favor and we can control the board. She hands lists of the board members to Mick and Josef.

Dolores Whitley-Sanderson
Enrico Whitley
Bishop Racine
Edward Morris-Thaw
Jamie Van Allen
Franklin Graveside
Louise Fortune

“There appears to be a three person voting block; Dolores Whitley-Sanderson is John Whitley’s sister and Enrico Whitley is her son; they are likely to be tightfisted with the board’s money regardless of Whitley’s intentions. They are angry that Whitley didn’t leave his money to them and are going to resist any expenditure. They will be most interested in funneling money to projects which support their own interests. Enrico may be a problem in the future, his father was a polo player from Italy and he’s never worked a day in his life… for the moment he’s dependent on his mother’s allowance.

“Bishop Racine is close to Whitley-Sanderson, she’s a major benefactor of the Church here in New York. He’s against everything modern and is a supporter of the increased use of exorcism and a return to the Mass in Latin. They would all be trouble for us if the Pope issued an edict against vampires… the Pope however seems to have better things to do.”

Josef mutters, “Latin, the undead language… now that always works against vampires. It bores us to death.”

Mick suggests with a straight face, “Racine would endorse the effectiveness of holy water as vampire repellent or Enrico would support research on preventing vampire bats from feeding on polo ponies.”

“Fortunately Dan Brown, who wrote The Da Vinci Code, won't be writing any books about vampires and the Catholic Church."

“Josef, what did you do?"

“All his researchers also work for me.” Josef says with a smug smile

Simone yawns, “Will you two stop it… I’m not being paid enough to stay up and listen to you. Edward Morris-Thaw…”

Josef’s attention is immediately focused on matter at hand, “Morris-Thaw I will approach him personally.”

Simone adds, “Sorry, Mick, you and I will have Van Allen and Graveside… neither of whom can stay faithful to the women they marry.”

“Simone! I’m not going to entrap them with incriminating pictures of you, ah… y’know, sitting on their lap. Josef would kill me.”

“Mick, you’re blushing, or you would be… we’ll each take one and Louise Fortune is looking for investors for her new line of shoes, the Kostan Financial Group can approach her easily with an offer of capital investment. Whitley found her because there was a typo in her last press release ‘even vampires would kill for these shoes,’ read instead ‘kill vampires with these shoes.” Josef shutters at the thought of investing in Goth fashion.

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Mick arrives at their room with coffee and some newspapers; he tips the papers, an imperceptible salute to Oscar, who’s standing outside the door. “Beth told me about doing the crossword puzzle.”

Oscar smiles cryptically, “I have simple tastes, codes, anagrams and country music.” He walks away humming tunelessly Mama, don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys.

“What was Coraline up to?” Oscar asks.

Mick replies tiredly, “Josef dealt with her.”

Oscar’s tone of voice is fatalistic, he knows this isn’t the end of Coraline, and he pauses as if there were more to say. Finally, with a nod to indicate Beth, he says, “Luck… to you both,” and walks off down the corridor.

Beth is awake and dressed, sitting cross-legged on the bed, scrolling through files on her laptop, “Coffee... for me?" Mick grins at her as he steps to her over to hand her the coffee "Thanks, Mick.”

“You’re not usually this excited to go into the DA’s office,” Mick says handing her the coffee and dropping the papers on the bed.

“I miss it.” Sipping her coffee Beth makes a satisfied sound, as she continues to read articles on her computer. “I don’t miss the new Buzzwire. But I miss being a reporter…We have a staff meeting at the Daily Star at 7AM and the editor has arranged an interview with the Cable Access Show guys at 10. Oscar’s going as my audio/pod cast guy.” She looks up and catches Mick’s eye. “You’re giving me a look…”

“No. I’m not.” He looks away uncomfortably.

“Yes, you are… giving me THE look. The one that says, you expect me to do something stupid or dangerous.”

“I don’t think that…” Mick gives her a frustrated smile and then sobers again, "I worry..."

“Relax, we’re meeting the Legion of Vampire Hunters at the New York Public Library Video Production Facilities.” She looks up at him smiling, eyes sparkling, finally she gives the bed a little pat, indicating he should lie down and stretch out beside her while she works. As Mick lies down across the bed, one of the pillows is knocked aside.

“Beth, why is there a stake under this pillow?”

“Hmmmmm, yeah, Mick?” Beth answers in a distracted voice

“You’re keeping a stake in the bed!” Mick raises himself up on one elbow giving her a questioning look.

“Oh, toss that over by my purse, would you.” Damn it, Mick thinks, he can’t really read her emotions right now, is it because she is only half paying attention to him or is she so engrossed in her work?

“You weren’t planning to use that on me, were you?”

Beth leans back to give him a quick kiss, “No, I wasn’t, don’t be silly.” God, she’s been hanging out with Oscar too long… when did she get so stingy with information? “Relax, Mick.”

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Beth is definitely the newbie at the New York Daily Star staff meeting. She doesn’t rate a seat at the conference table and has to perch against the wall; her presence barely gets a nod from the other reporters and columnists. So what if Josef pulled strings to get her here, she’s going to enjoy it while she can. The headlines are amazing,* “Petcka testifies that he was terrorized by 7-lb. cat” “He towed cars & sold 'em – police” “Hey, I'm sittin' over here!” “Honor student suspended for 'noogie'” When the city editor introduces her and mentions that she will be reporting on the Whitley Trust and vampire… hunters, several people choke on their coffee.

“There’s nothing more in that story… those clowns have had their 15 minutes of fame… it’s over.”

Beth speaks up, “It’s not over if those so-called clowns decide to pursue vigilante justice. They’ve already accused Larry King of being a vampire… King can take care of himself. What if they decide their neighbor who stays up all night and sleeps days is a vampire? I reported a story in LA where a graduate student took his professor’s ‘vampire’ research way too seriously… two women died because the professor insisted he was a vampire.”

Low voiced comments of “whatever, dude” and “cool,” are muttered around the table before the subject is changed and a serious discussion ensues over the headline “Bronx Bigamist,” versus “Brooklyn Bigamist.” The guy in question apparently lived in Brooklyn while four of his five wives live in the Bronx and one in Queens. Fifteen minutes later they settle on headline 4 to 1 Bronx wives v Queens keep Brooklyn Bigamist Busy. “Pound it,” knuckles crash against knuckles in celebration of the headline while talk slowly winds down to talk of sports rivalries.

“Beth,” at the end of the meeting the city manager calls her over to his office, “We want to send a photographer with you.” As she walks into the office Beth is stunned to see Coraline, sitting in the city editor’s office, legs extended and elegantly crossed at the ankles. “I believe you’ve worked with Morgan Vincent before. She tells us that if vampires exist she can get the photographs.”

Morgan looks up from the chair beside the desk and looks at Beth with eyebrows arched and a long lazy smile, "Hello, Beth, it will be fun to work together again... just like old times."

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Simone looks at her watch for what seems like the thirtieth time in as many minutes. Franklin Graveside agreed to meet her at his Brooklyn studio. The assistant let her in and it’s obvious why John Whitley invited him on the board, he paints giant pictures of staked, dismembered and flayed vampires; dripping transparent washes in black and red to make the figures look like they are trapped in some liquid hell. Simone shudders at the thought of Josef confronted with these paintings. When Simone can no longer stand looking at the violence she turns to stare out windows overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan.

“Ms. Walker, I’m sorry I’m late, call me Frank.” Graveside doesn’t make immediate eye contact, he’s too busy undressing her in his mind. When he does look up he asks disingenuously, but with a good natured smile, “Have you ever modeled for an artist before?.” Hearing this from a short round hairy man, she’s got him pegged. Hits on every woman, happily cheats on his wife who tolerates him. Breathing a mental sigh of relief, she thinks, Thank god, I don’t have to sleep with him.

“No, I haven’t, I prefer presenting closing arguments before a judge.”

“Oh, you’re a lawyer, representing…”

“Kostan Financial Group, Mr. Kostan became intrigued with the Whitley Trust because he followed Mr. Whitley’s investments.”

Frank roars with laughter, “You’d be amazed how many people are curious. It’s such a bizarre way to leave your money, vampires and vampire hunters… pretty outrageous, huh. Still it’s good for me, vampires are in style and I may be able to sell a painting or two because I’m on the board.”

“Have any of these so-called vampire hunters approached the board for financial support?”

Frank is suddenly serious, “There’s the cable kids… not kids really, but I call them kids, the vampire conspiracy buffs, they just want to make a movie. There have been a few inquiries, scary guys who want surveillance equipment and weapons… I’m against that. I’m a vet from the first Iraq war and Bosnia… my shrink at the VA got me painting as therapy… I just Goth up my memories in vampire imagery and it sells.”

Simone thinks, no wonder the violence in the paintings looks so real, “Mr. Kostan’s interests are to prevent just that sort of private army that might target innocent people, especially people like himself with an Eastern European heritage.”

“No kidding, there are better things to do… war is real and there’s no such thing as vampires… I’m not approving anything to do with violence.” Frank shakes his head vigorously as if to shake off the somber tone of the conversation, “You should reconsider modeling for me… I think you would look fabulous as a vampire.”

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Beth stares fixedly out the window during the cab ride to the library. Fortunately Coraline is riding in the front seat. Beth tries to breathe and control her feelings but she feels so outmatched. Coraline claims the attention of almost every man present just by walking into a room Standing too close to them, talking in that low breathy voice that requires a man to lean in too hear her… then she’s her hands are one them... touching them. Beth sees Mick in every one of them… helpless against her charms. Think, Beth… If she’s with you… she’s not with Mick. Look at Oscar, he’s immune… and he growled when Coraline tried to claim the seat next to her in the cab. Inhale Turner… breathe out… repeat… If she’s with you… she’s not with Mick.

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It’s early still. Mick could use more time in the freezer after a long night. He tries not to think about his conversation with Beth about Coraline. Sex and blood, just knowing Coraline’s around sends his mind racing down memories of sex so violent they had to call for clean-up. Mick runs his hand through his hair and across his chin…he should have shaved.

The Van Allen’s apartment is on 5th avenue overlooking Central Park. Mick rides the elevator to the top floor… before the door is even open he can smell gunpowder and blood. The apartment door is ajar and Mick approaches cautiously, gun drawn. Just inside the door a man and woman are lying crumpled together dead… very little blood is pooled around the bodies which have cooled slightly… they’ve been dead a half hour or so. Beyond the foyer he can see a woman with blonde hair, which is graying and cut short sitting dejectedly on the couch, gun in hand. She is very thin and livid bruises mark the length of both arms, some old, green and yellow others new, blue and purple. It’s a room done all in white, high ceilings, pale furniture and accessories; a cold white light filters through sheer curtains. What happened here?

The blonde had tried to block the woman lying on the floor from entering the apartment… asking, begging, “Jamie, please don’t bring your girls here, let me have this one place… I grew up here. He’d just grabbed her forearm in a crushing grip and dragged her out of the way of the new girlfriend. The wife had been just a minor obstacle on the way to the liquor cabinet.

Mick can smell the blonde’s memories of this place, growing up here, happier days and the loneliness, the kids are gone. Her husband had been fun once, another big kid with their two boys, the fun dad an anti-workaholic in sharp contrast to her own father who had been driven and largely absent. Jamie had been the kid’s buddy but was always critical of her, the little rich girl. She notices him standing there and lifts the gun to her head… Mick is quicker than her intentions, disarming her.

“Did he do this to you?” Mick indicates her arms.

She nods and asks, “Who are you… and why did you stop me… there’s not going to be any more good days.” Her eyes are hollow, the life already gone.

“I’m Mick St. John I was going to meet with your husband about the Whitley Trust, you're Grace Van Allen, right?”

Grace swallows and nods before she begins to talk slowly, “Jamie said he wanted more to do… It was a favor to John Whitley, he couldn’t find board members and he was my godfather… I’m the alternate now that Jamie’s dead. I don’t suppose I will be able to serve from prison.”

Mick sits beside her listens to her talk about her husband’s downward spiral, his multiple trips to rehab and how the children stay away because she won’t, rather wouldn’t leave him… faithful to memories of better days… “I couldn’t take it any more…"Her voice cracks with raw emotions. "Especially my part... I couldn't stand up for myself.” Her cold eyes slowly look up to meet Mick's.

“If I gave you the gun back, would you kill yourself?” Mick needs to know, he can’t make an offer if she’s already dead in her own mind.

“No… I don’t think so.”

“Why?”

“Talking to you, I realize there are still good memories… if I died I wouldn’t have those memories.”

“I can make this go away?”

“What? Why?” She looks at him with confusion and disbelief.

“I’d like to say that you don’t deserve to go to prison, that you’re an abused spouse but I want a favor. I work for a man who is concerned that so-called vampire hunting to be funded by the Whitley Trust, will be used an excuse to target immigrants and minority populations. He’s lobbying board members to prevent this.”

She looks at Mick like this is a bad dream that maybe she could wake up from.

“Get dressed and I’ll take you out to discuss this over coffee.”

“Why should I do this?”

“Are you ready to leave your sons alone and miss the rest of their lives?”

“I don’t believe this is possible… but I’ll listen.” She walks slowly toward the back of the apartment to get dressed.

Mick gets out his phone, “Clean up needed.”

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When Coraline sees Tyson and his buddy TJ, the two guys with the cable access show that claims “Vampires are Real,” leans over to Beth and laughs quietly… “I wish I could show these guys a real vampire.” Tyson and TJ can’t even pull off the coolness of basic black. They aren’t emaciated enough to look Goth, don’t wear enough makeup to appear EMO, even their tattoos don’t look threatening and they aren’t pudgy enough to look like total pathetic geeks. They look like community college students who stalled halfway to an Associates degree in Communications. TJ is slightly thinner and an inch or two taller. He wears his hair clipper-cut short while Tyson’s hair is longer and curls slightly. He is one of those guys who never looks clean shaven and gave up years ago.

“Hey, I’m Beth Turner,” she nearly says ‘from Buzzwire,’ I’m freelancing for the Daily Star.

Coraline glides past Beth, arm outstretched to shake hands. She holds Tyson’s and then TJ’s hand just a little longer than necessary. “Morgan Vincent, photographer, I’m hoping that you will help me find away to photograph a real vampire.”

Tyson is the talker, “We could show you pictures… we have a list… but we haven’t had the resources to track down these people or the time to do research.” For a moment Beth, Coraline and Oscar are all united, they have got to stop this… “We invited a potential producer to his meeting. We want to do a documentary for the history channel since a lot of the names we have are historical. This must be them, Jim and a…”

Who are these guys? Beth thinks. This doesn't look good. Speaking up sharply she says, “We could only reserve an hour here at the library, so let’s get this interview going… we can talk about a documentary later.” Beth hustles the TJ and Tyson into the production room. Oscar’s got her back. She gets the door closed, latched and finds a wood door jam to wedge the green metal door shut. Kicking it under the door as hard as she can with the heel of her boot... it’s not much but it will have to do.

“What’s this about?” TJ demands. Beth thinks, Shit, all I have is a stake… it was good enough for human Coraline…

“You’re not the only one who believes in vampires. How well do you know those guys?” Sounds of the fight are muffled by the sound proof door but they can still hear dull thuds and rough voices and growls.

“We just talked to them on the phone and asked them to meet us here.”

Beth rolls her eyes, “Give me the list.” Thank god… mostly historical figures and the most recent names on the list are penciled in: Elvis Presley… did Colonel Tom Parker continue to represent him after he was turned…? Bruce Lee and Tupac… “You’re saying those two guys are vampires… really vampires.”

Beth is mad, these guys are a danger to themselves, “No I’m not saying they are vampires… there are other vampire hunter wannabees who want money from the Trust… God what stupid idea! A Trust for hunting vampires!” The sounds from the hallway recede and sixty minutes slowly pass.

At some point Tyson raises his hand timidly like he is in school, “Are you a vampire slayer… y’know… like Buffy?” Beth almost laughs out loud when she thinks about the stake in her purse and manages to turns the snort into a cough. “No, I’m a journalist.” Finally her phone rings and Oscar is lets her know that it’s safe for them to come out.

Coraline and Oscar look immaculate when Beth and the boys exit the production room, Beth takes charge, “Morgan you take care of these two… I’m sure Mick would expect you to keep them safe, until someone from the trust takes over.”

TJ and Tyson can’t believe their luck, even Beth can hear TJ whisper to his friend, “Do you think she’ll have my baby?”

Without looking back Beth walks away with Oscar following her. At the end of hall he reaches forward to hold the door open for Beth and takes a moment to look back at Coraline with a smirk.

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Josef Voice Over: The only thing more undead than vampires is corporations and trust funds... Whoever said, "when you want something done right do it yourself, they sure as hell weren't talking about asking your friends... AND WHEN IN HELL'S NAME did Josef Kostans find himself with friends whose good opinion mattered... can't we just kill someone. I'd rather face a torch bearing mob... of course Beth is already looking for the matches... Simone still respects and fears me... or does she. I intend to sound threatening but I only sound whiny when I say.

"Can't we do more to guarantee the board votes in our favor."

Mick is frustrated, "What, like threatening someone with scary vampire vengeance... the wife already thinks I'm a hit man for the mob."

Beth explodes, "Damn all you wealthy bastards. You steal a rich man's daughter and he declares war... these other people are innocent bystanders."

Josef protests, "They had a list."

"An ancient list with Elvis on it, Elvis! Even if all those people were vampires."

"They are."

"It doesn't say who they are now..."

"And Beth, Elvis is dead, he kept showing up at the Piggly-Wiggly in Memphis to buy smokes... I've lost track of the number of Elvis impersonators on the payroll."

Beth's temper tantrum has given Simone courage to speak up although she still looks scared and her voice is shaky when she says, "I was ready to sleep with this painter if I had too..." will Josef dump her or worse, "He may hit on every woman who comes within range... but he's a decent guy." Simone gains confidence as she presents the facts, "completely anti-violence and for personal liberty and privacy. I did more research, he volunteers to work with wounded veterans at the VA... his paintings are more for personal therapy than anything else.

Beth stomps out of the room. Mick is a step or two behind her, ready to stop her if he has too. Oscar is waiting outside the door to Josef's room and gives Mick a nod, acknowledging that he's watching over Beth now. Mick sighs and turns to go back to the argument with Josef... he can't really leave Simone unsupported as she makes her case, especially if she's taking on Josef Kostan, the vampire institution.

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Beth kicks off her shoes and dumps her bag on the bed. How, she thinks, is she going to spin the Whitley Trust, NINJA ASSASSINS ATTACK DORKS IN THE NY PUBLIC LIBRARY, HOW SAFE IS CABLE ACCESS, WHEN TO SHARPEN THE STAKE, EXPOSE: BUFFY USED RUBBER STAKES. She spreads out her notes on the bed and with her purse to one side sits cross-legged and begins to type.

"LEGION KIDS, VAMP HUNTERS WITH HEART. Tyson and TJ, best friends since preschool expressed hope that the Whitley Trust Fund will support their efforts to produce a serious documentary on the subject of vampires. Tyson maintains that his previous comments about hunting vampires were taken out of context, 'Every 10 year old wants to be Van Helsing man of action, man of science. Recently we talked with a photographer who assured me that vampires can be photographed. Like, how cool is that! Real vampires, no more stupid special effects... remember alien autopsy... I believed it when I was eight... now I'm just embarrassed. If we can elevate the subject of vampires to the level of serious discussion, I can die happy.'"

Beth thinks, you two could have died today. She continues typing. "John Whitley, suspicious, paranoid and possibly deeply prejudiced against immigrants prepared a mission statement which defined the goal of the Trust as 'exposing the hidden danger of vampires among us.' It is easy to imagine words such as, 'communist,' decadents,
undesirables or any other marginalized group could easily replace the word vampire. This mission statement represents the worst failings of humanity..."

Coraline watches Beth from the doorway of the freezer room, What does Mick see in this human, other than his pathetic need to be seen as good? Coraline had liked that part of Mick but only as a kind of foreplay. Mick would want to patch up their relationship by pretending they were an ordinary couple. She could stroke his ego so easily just by being nice to him... He wanted her obsessively... she could smell it... when he wouldn't be denied... when he smashed the window to get to her... tiny shards of glass rained down on him... slicing invisible cuts... she could smell that he would bleed for her and that "goodness" was just pretense... he would fall and she could show him everything.

"Hi, Beth," Coraline saunters over and looks down at Beth... Coraline enjoys the taste/smell of anger/fear and maybe an edge of grief as Beth's heart rate increases. "You belong to us, vampires made you, bred you for your blood type... just like I made Mick." She walks around the bed, viewing Beth from all angles, considering..."He's afraid to take you..." Coraline inhales, "afraid of your passion..." Pausing at the foot of the bed, Coraline's words are dismissive. "You're no angel and he still sees you as a child... you can't meet his needs, fulfill him or catch him when he falls..." In her softest most seductive voice she whispers, "He will destroy you, degrade you, ruin you for the compound... and then we will destroy him."

Thump thump thump thump Beth stares at the screen of her computer... she refuses to look at Coraline. Her heart is pounding, accelerated but steady, tears are leaking from her eyes but she won't stop crying or be distracted by her body’s response. There it is ... the adrenaline dump that extends time, Coraline takes her chin in a strong hand "LOOK AT ME!" forcing Beth to turn her head and stare into Coraline's eyes. THUMP, a thick crushing sound, like stepping on a bug. Coraline's eyes glaze over and staked by Beth, she falls back on the floor beside the bed.

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Mick pauses outside their door unsure of what he will say to Beth, "Thanks, Oscar... for everything." Oscar nods, an abbreviated motion and leaves without another word. Josef is ruthless, he hates diplomacy and unresolved human... emotions. I hope he listens to us.

Coraline! Dammit! Mick freezes when he sees her lying on the floor. His instinct is to rush over and pick her up... even staked she is alluring, red lips parted, legs buckled beneath her body. The position of her legs arches her back and pushes her breasts against the thin fabric of her blouse. It twists his gut and arouses him. Mick clenches his fists and forces himself to scent the air... Beth...

"Beth!" His voice is frantic as he calls her name again.

"Beth!" She's here... in the bathroom... rage and grief... throwing up... Mick's by her side in a flash... pulling her hair back handing her a cold wash cloth... a glass of water. It sets his teeth on edge as he smells/sees Coraline touching Beth...he pushes aside the cold rage that's growing inside him. Coraline can wait... Beth needs me now.

"Hey," he offers Beth a hand up and pulls her into his arms, to hold her tight. Long minutes pass until Beth tips her head up to look at Mick, searching his face. Brushing the back of his hand against her damp cheek he whispers, "You and me, babe, you and me." Her heart beat slows and Beth she holds herself a little less rigidly as Mick strokes her hair. "Let's go down to the bar, I need a drink, how 'bout you?"

Not yet trusting herself to speak Beth nods, returning a gentle smile Mick says, "Some one will pick up the mess in here before we get back."

With unblinking eyes Coraline watches Mick guide Beth from the room, strong hand resting at the small of her back.

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Josef surveys the room. The board for Whitley Trust has agreed to be his guests in a private gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Oversized portraits of golden age robber barons and captains of industry look down on the guests. Mick and Beth have stopped to talk to Van Allen's wife. Beth is lovely in a dress that clings to her curves, a flowing fabric which brushes against her thighs and knees when she moves. Josef listens from a distance as Beth reassures her, "Grace, Mick told me what happened, he's saved my life more than once, he's a good guy... he'll take care of you."

Simone is on his arm, charming their guests and quietly reporting to Josef the nature of their interests and the state of their assets. Her willingness to agree with Mick and take his side against him causes Josef to reappraise her, valuing her counsel. She's willing fight him for the truth. With a self assured smile she says, "Josef let me introduce Edward Thaw-Morris, he's been a hard man to reach."

More than a century has passed since he last saw Thaw-Morris, "Joe, I believe we met some time ago, to discuss my brother Harry."

"I remember it well Eddie, I never expected that I would find you "unchanged" after all these years."

"One of us had to take the long term view of the family interests after Harry shot Stanford White. Since I almost died once when my lovely aunt tried to poison me, I wasn't keen on repeating the experience so I switched teams. So what do you think of the board Joe?"

"My associates assure me that Van Allen, Graveside and Fortune are reasonable people and then there is you Eddie... I think we can all work together. Shall we have a drink later, say before the sun comes up."

"I will gladly drink to our interests before the sun rises on another day."

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Heart and soul

Mick walked to where Beth was standing, his hands in his pockets, and a soft smug grin on his face. He eased himself behind her, taking a moment to inhale her sweet scent, closing his eyes, letting it wash over him. He could feel ever fiber of his body call her name. Before he opened his eyes he leaned close to her ear and spoke softly.

“Do you want to get out of here? I think we’ve done our duty, as far as Josef is concerned.” Mick couldn’t help but smile just a little more as Beth jumped. She quickly turned and swatted his arm, her hand covering her heart.

“Stop doing that…” She was breathless, for more than one reason, the feel of his cool breath behind her ear and the thrill of his voice always set her heart racing. He’d been attentive all evening, watching and worrying as she slowly relaxed from the confrontation with Coraline.

“What?” He said innocently. Beth quirked and eyebrow and shook her head. Mick continued,” Josef’s got things under control, turns out there’s a vamp on the board. He and Josef are reminiscing about old New York.”

“Where are we going?” She said as she took his arm. Mick rubbed his mouth, trying to keep himself from chuckling.

“It’s a surprise.” He held the door open as they left the Met walking to the curb. There was a horse drawn carriage waiting at the end of the steps, the ones that toured around Central Park. Beth turned her head and smiled sweetly at Mick.

“Surprise huh…” Beth had a pretty good idea of what he was planning.

“As I recall a beautiful blonde told me she would give me a rain check.” He couldn’t help but smile. He dipped his head toward her lips, placing on them a soft chaste kiss. As he pulled back he held her eyes with his and then he looked toward the carriage and nodded his head in that direction. Beth gave him a beaming smile as she held his hand tight. Mick helped her into the carriage and then stepped in beside her, pulling her close to him. Mick told the driver to take them through the park and telling them their next destination.

Beth eased back into Mick’s arms as the carriage toured around the park. She wondered if this is what he had in mind the first time they were in New York together. She closed her eyes and smiled as she felt him press a soft kiss to her forehead, his hand stroking her shoulder. For the first time since arriving she felt safe and comforted. All of the emotions surrounding the thought of Coraline, of staking her (twice) and her own reaction to Mick’s tormented and mixed feelings toward his ex-wife receded. This ride was the very balm she needed for her frazzled nerves.

When Beth finally opened her eyes the carriage had stopped in front of a restaurant. Mick stepped out, placed his hands to Beth’s waist to lift her up and out of the carriage and then pulling her toward him. His lips found hers immediately kissing her tenderly, softly, leaving her more than a little breathless.

“Steak for the lady?” Beth said finally. Mick smiled against her lips and gave a wink. He laced his fingers with hers and guided her inside, giving the hostess his name and they followed her to a small table in the back of the restaurant. Mick ordered the wine and steak for Beth. He took her hand again and gave it a gentle kiss. This evening was for her, reassuring her of his love, making sure she relaxed and unwound. He never meant for this trip to bring more trauma into their relationship. It was merely supposed to be damage control for Josef over the Whitley Trust, instead it became so much more, dragging his past into their present and his hopes for a future together.

Their conversation was light and they shared the occasional giggle over dinner. Then Mick took her down to the Village Vanguard
where they listened to Brian Blade while drinking Martini’s, Mick quintessential New York date was finally complete. Beth was laughing easily, happy and relaxed.

They walked hand in hand back toward their hotel, Mick telling tales of how New York looked during WWII, when he came back home on the Queen Mary, wounded but alive. “None of the nurses would pay attention to me they all had dates with returning GI’s and sailors.” How the streets seemed so different than now. Beth pulled herself tighter into his embrace, just enjoying being near him, their cares and worries temporarily forgotten, except by Mick. His mind once again drifted back to what had happened and he felt the need to apologies.

"I, ah.. I wanted to apologize, for Coraline, earlier…" He stopped in the middle of the street, one hand holding hers, the other in his pocket his head bowed. He hated that she seemed to be in constant danger, he hated that he hadn't kept her safe from Coraline. Beth stepped closer to him, touching his cheek with her hand, tracing his jaw to his chin. His hazel eyes slowly traveled up to meet with her ocean blue, it was like his soul was set on fire.

"It isn't your fault, I don't want you apologizing for Coraline. I … I really don't regret staking her. Not this time Mick. She said horrible things about you and us. And I guess I finally had enough. I hate how she can come in, and turn your world and mine upside down. She's your sire Mick, I can't pretend to understand what that's like for you. I don't want her between us, even in your mind... I want all of you."

“You have all of me.” Mick touched her cheek stroking it lightly. “She won’t get near you again, I won’t ever let that happen. I love you.” Mick wiped a single tear from her cheek. As he stared into her blue eyes, he felt drawn to her, pulled by the need to feel her against him. His first brush against her lips was chaste and soft, but with each touch, each caress he crushed her to him, devouring her lips with his. Beth moaned from this searing kiss, parting her lips ever so little, giving Mick the only invitation he needed to taste the sweet spice that was with in. She clung to his neck, her breath being taking away by his sudden need, she traced her tongue along a fang, a rumble issued from his chest, and Mick began to ease his ardent kisses against her pink swollen lips. He smiled against her lips as he kissed her again, feeling her tremble in his arms. He pressed his lips to her forehead and released a shaky breath. He took her hand into his and they headed back inside their hotel.

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Josef Kostan looks around the empty town house... it was a home of sorts when Sara, lost in between Sara, was still here. He hasn't been back since November... one day shortly after his last visit she had just slipped away. It was like secret of their love couldn't stand being dragged into the light of day. Josef smiles a cynical smile, Mick knew, Beth knew, he'd loved and been loved... nothing would ever be the same.

Simone, another human woman, what was he going to do? She had demanded consideration as an equal today. Charles Fitzgerald, Josef Kostan was either going to have to leave her or turn her, fuck!

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Outside, Coraline wonders who's inside the town house, is it Josef or is he turning her back over to Lance? Oscar escorts her wordlessly to the front door, the sleeves of her black trench coat covering silver handcuffs. The front door is unlocked and Oscar gives Coraline a stiff fingered shove that sends her stumbling into the foyer. She's relieved, it's only Josef but she can't read him. Is he really emotionless or are her senses dulled by the silver. She remembers the first time he saw Mick. "Why didn't you invite the young man in?" Josef had said with a smile, "or do you have plans for this one?" Love? Josef had laughed cynically when she had used the word, love with a human always ended badly, "He loves you but he doesn't see you... call him back for a drink." and echoing the young man's words Josef said, "let's have some fun."

With no furniture in sight, Josef leans against the window frame. "Mick still isn't much of a vampire, Coraline."

"He's mine, Josef, he'll always he mine."

"You're still sure about that"

"He loves me."

Josef looks at Coraline, eyebrows arched. "I'm not sure you know what love is. What do you smell in this place?"

She inhales the smell of a sick room, a vigil that lasted more than half a century... is this love or loyalty?

"I smell loyalty and loss... too bad for you, Josef... I thought you were stronger.

Josef responds with a hiss, "Loyalty, tell me what is the price of your loyalty. I can end this war simply by killing Beth. If I kill Beth, I kill Mick's only reason for living. I neither need nor want the compound, my interests died in these rooms." Josef pauses, to let Coraline consider his words. "I know where the rest of the compound is hidden, that you gave it to Oscar and he passed it off. It's beyond your reach... so whose side are you on?"

* Real headlines from New York Papers

Author: Mxwwmickd

s02e07: A Dangerous Game

2008-10-02T21:15:00.000-07:00

Author: ClChen

Mick and Beth's morning starts just like any other morning, Beth showering, getting her overnight bag packed, readying herself for work. Mick can already smell Oscar approaching his door. A slow frustrated sigh escaped his lips. He began to twirl his dinner around in his glass and then slammed it back all at once before walking over to Beth, who was bent over the couch, finishing with her bag. Smiling to himself he places his hands on her hips, pressing into her gently, then bending over to place a gentle kiss to the back of her neck. He hears her heart quicken and he smiles against her ear.

"Don't start something you are unwilling to finish, St. John ." Beth turns to him, quirking an eyebrow and placing a quick kiss on his lips. He gives her a boyish grin and steps away from her, already feeling the effects of that one small act. Beth smiles at him again, her face lighting up completely. She feels his hands go around her waist and he pulls her close again, placing a gentle yet playful kiss on her lips.

"It isn't that I'm not wanting to start something…" He looks away and she almost believes he could blush at that moment. "I want it to be special." He raises his eyes to hers and she almost stops breathing. She could feel her cheeks flush and her heart pounding, what he could do to her with just a look, a quick glance. Beth pulls her arms from him and turns back to her bag, wanting them both to cool down.

"Is Oscar here yet?" She asks as she closes her bag.

"He's outside." Mick rubs his jaw and takes in a deep breath. As Beth places her bag over her shoulder, he decides he wants to take her to work himself. "How about I take you in today?" He smiles as he closes the distance between them again pulling her toward him and placing another kiss to her lips.

"Its okay, really, Oscar is here now. Besides, it's your bed time remember," she says teasing his coarse chest hairs. Beth watches as he looks away, and she realizes something is bothering him. "You aren't jealous of Oscar are you? It was your and Josef's idea that he follows me everywhere, remember?" She fights the urge to smile at him, realizing that this might be something that is genuinely bothering him.

"NO! Why would I be jealous of Oscar? He's supposed to watch you." Mick lets her go and walks to the door. Turning to look at her, his frustrated look now replaced by uncertainty. "I just miss taking you to work, that's all." He crosses his arms, trying to hide his feelings. He hated that she could read him like a book.

"That was for about a week. Mick, you were all nervous about the Foster boys… but I would love your company, so hurry up." Beth smiles at him again, she steps closer and pecks his cheek quickly. Her smiles brightens once more. As he moved away from her, he was smiling ear to ear. Beth shook her head and released a sigh, sometimes he was just like a little boy in a vampire's body.

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Mick is still tense and worried as the elevator stops at his floor. Even though Oscar watched Beth, Mick still felt it was his responsibility to make sure she arrived safely at work every day. It cut into his freezer time, but he didn't care, the league was becoming bolder. With this new business about her blood and all the other connections, Mick was beginning to get antsy. He buzzed himself into his home and froze dead in his tracks. Not far from his stairs, looking out over the city, was a tall stately woman. She was wearing a long white gown and seemed out of place, or even out of time. She turned to face him and Mick felt an uneasiness creep over him. Sensing who she was, he immediately vamped and hissed at the woman before him..

"Don't think about it, St. John . You would be dead before you reached me." She wasn't fazed as she turned completely toward him, a long sword in her hand. A claymore, used by English and Scotsman in the Dark Ages, its double edge blade perfect for removing heads or limbs with ease. Her voice was cold and her accent was definitely English. She was calm, too calm and confident in her abilities. Mick slowly returned to normal, his chest heaving with fear.

"What do you want?"

"We have a common need, you and I; to end this foolishness, when there are no easy answers how. We've been watching you, the elders and I. You aren't like other vampires, are you?" She said as she slowly came to him. "You live by an honor code that is strange for your, how do you say, tribe." She chuckled to herself as she toys with the claymore in her hand. "If others lived by this code, we may not have had the need to kill you, or your kind." This confirmed Mick's suspicions, she was part of the Legion.

"If I'm so important, why do you want to kill me?" Mick glared. The woman before him chuckled again.

"Awe, yes, that PI mind of yours, always with questions. All in due time, St. John , all in due time." She watches him closely as he begins to move.

"Why are you here?" He kept his questions short as he circled around her. She matched his movements with ease, never shifting into a defensive posture.

"Please, St. John , quit this posturing. It is futile. If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead. Besides, don't you want to live for Beth? We can help each other, you and I. You want answers regarding her blood and its connections. We want the harvesting of people to end. We have a common goal, not all of us want to see the vampires wiped completely out. Good cannot survive without evil, equal balance. However, good shall always overcome. Besides, I grow weary of these games." She slowly walked past Mick and out the door, leaving him more confused than he had been before. He needed answers, and somehow he knew Josef had them.

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Josef stares at his ball, then at the hole in his make shift putting green inside his office. He taps the ball slightly and smiles as it sinks into the hole.

"Still improving your game?" Mick says as he leans against the doorway. Josef glances behind him as he bends to retrieve the ball from the hole.

"Can't improve perfection, I thought you knew that." Josef sets the ball down on his desk as he turns to check the stocks in Japan . "Just fine tuning it."

"You're up kind of late, aren't you?" Mick pushes away from the wall and takes a chair in front of Josef's desk.

"Yes, well, Asian markets giving me a headache, so…" Josef sets down in his chair and folds his hands in front of him. "And you are here because… you're not in trouble with Beth again?" Josef says, eyebrows arched. "No, if you were you would go straight to the bar and be grunting one word comments. So, what is it?" He lays his head back and sets his feet on his desk crossing his ankles.

Mick gives a heavy sigh, he looks out Josef's window then back at him.

"I had a visitor this morning, after I dropped Beth off at work. A very old and distinguished woman, who favors a claymore." Josef slowly straightened in his desk as he looked at Mick.

"How distinguished looking?" Josef's eyes became cold as he looked at Mick.

"Very, long white hair… She said she was with the Legion, and how she got into my apartment… you're the only one who makes beating my security a game."

"Since you seem to think poker night is bad luck, breaking and entering into your place is the only way to show that I can still beat you at any game."

Mick stood up from his chair rubbing his jaw nervously. "She said that there's a war coming, sides would have to be chosen. She said that she was watching me. Me and Beth." He turned to Josef, who was sitting more alert and focused in his chair.

"She didn't say anything else?"

"She said that they were tired of humans like Beth being harvested. Why would Beth be harvested?" Mick's voice was quiet but piercing as he watched Josef rise from his chair. He stood in front of his large window behind his desk, his hands on his hips. Mick could tell a battle was waging inside his friend. Josef did know something, and he was debating on how much to tell Mick. Weighing how much information would be too much, and what would do harm more than good.

"Beth..." Josef looked behind him then back to the window. "Beth would be killed for the Cure. Drained, actually."

"What?" A look of horror and shock over came Mick's face as he quickly walked to his friend.

"AO-, Beth's blood, is part of the Cure. I mentioned it the night we rescued Katherine Simmons. You got distracted." * A slow laugh came from Mick as he looked up into the air, that was the night he found out Beth asked Josef to kill Foster.

"You're gonna have to try and keep track of all the balls that are in the air and start thinking with your big head, Mick." Josef ran his hand through his hair as he walked away from Mick, heading to his bar. He needed a drink and he was sure, before this was over, so would Mick.

"You know, for someone who said there was no such thing, you seem to know a lot about the Cure. Mick shoved Josef's chair aside as he walked to where his friend was standing. He looked at the Scotch that Josef was holding, he grabbed it and slugged it back, then slammed the glass back on the bar.

Josef gave a light smile to his friend, his usual smile, the one that said, let me tell you a story. He filled Mick's glass again and touched his friends shoulder to guide him over to the suede couch.

"Mick if I shared every secret I had, with every person I knew, including you, how successful do you think I'd be." Josef's smile quirked further up his face as he pushed Mick down onto the couch and chuckled at the frustrated sigh that escaped Mick's lips. He sat in a chair across from him, crossing his legs and taking a slow sip of his drink.

"I do know of the cure, I never had access to it like you did." Josef sat his glass down and repositioned himself, resting his arms on his knees, folding his hands in front of him. "Before Sarah died I was trying to find it, for her. But Lance kept it hidden. Why do you think I was mad, when you showed up, all human again." Mick looked at Josef realizing how painful it must have been, to know the Cure was true, only to be to late for his Sarah.

"People like Beth were kept for the cure, their blood was harvested, but after the Revolution, and the scattering of the tribes, the number of AO- donors and the bloodlines that held that particular blood type were lost." Josef rose from his seat and moved to the back, gripping it with his hand." As the centuries moved on, and technology advanced, we were able to track the bloodlines. I'm not sure what Coraline was planning for Beth, her wiring was off once she met you. But I do know that with the Legion becoming more and more predominate, Beth is in as much danger from them as Lance and Coraline."

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Mick came down the stairs in a rush; he was late for a meeting with a client. He had forgotten all about it. Being visited by a lead council woman from the Legion seriously put his day in a twist. As he hit the bottom step, he was overcome by an all too familiar scent… Coraline. He froze, then slowly made his way to the monitor and turned it on; he rolled his eyes, not wanting to deal with her usual need to goad him, or his own stupidity, at how easily he allowed her do it. Leaning his head against the door wearily, he clenched his jaw and opened the door. Coraline turned and gave him a dazzling smile, she always one for the dramatic effect. Her deep brown eyes and raven hair sparkled with renewed vigor. His jaw tightened and he cursed his own body's usual response. He stepped aside to let her enter against his better judgment but knew if she was here, he probably should know why.

"My, my… Don't you look well." Her eyes hungrily took in his face and body as she stepped past him. She scented the apartment and immediately picked up on Beth's aroma which permeated the entire space. She flashed with an instant of jealously, quelling it with difficulty it as she turned to look at Mick. He was now standing behind his winged back chair gripping it, as if it would give him strength or a barrier from her usual charms.

"Aren't you going to offer a girl a drink?" She said as she folded her hands in front of her and gave him an innocent glance. He swallowed hard, his mouth feeling like sand paper and pushed himself away from the chair deciding a stiff drink might be just what he needed, to learn the reason for her visit. He grabbed two glasses and poured some nicely aged scotch into each one, then walked over to Coraline, handing her one. Abandoning the barrier Mick had placed between them he sat in the chair with a huff. He studied her for a few seconds before downing his glass of scotch.

"What do you want?" He asked coldly. Coraline's eyes slowly travel from her glass to Mick, taking in his nervousness, his arousal and his dread. He was full of contradictions, and she reveled in it.

"You." she said with a smile. Mick shifted in his seat and almost stood to take her out the door when she giggled and sat down her glass. "Relax, Mick, geeze. You used to be so fun. Has Beth made you so prudish?" She quirked an eyebrow, Mick covered his mouth with his hand and rubbed his jaw nervously.

"Get to the point, Coraline. I'm expected at a meeting." He gripped the arms of the chair trying to regain back his own control. Coraline sat back in the leather couch pouting, he wasn't playing her game the way she wanted. She folded her arms and crossed her legs bouncing one of them ever so slightly.

"So… Did you enjoy your mortality?"

"Yes, I did." he said with a soft smile. The memory of the beach and Beth seemed to give him a little strength against her charms.

"I'm here about the Cure."Coraline suddenly said as she stood from the couch walking over to Mick's fireplace. "And about Beth." She slowly turned around to look at Mick as she felt the coldness his protectiveness toward Beth set in. Mick's head cocked to the side and his eyes narrowed as he waited for Coraline to continue.

"What do you know about her blood type?" Coraline moved to sit near the fire.

"Extremely rare and the same as yours. Is that why you took her, Coraline? For the Cure?" Mick stood and walked over to her. Coraline could feel the anger rolling off of him. She looked at the fire then back at him.

"I took her to try and make us work. You were so hung up on being human, I thought a family would help you. Who knew it would make you want me dead." She said with her best hurt voice.

"She was a child, Coraline, a child with her whole life ahead of her. That wouldn't have fixed things between us and you know it." Mick turned and took several steps, rubbing his chin then his neck. He closed his eyes, trying to get his old anger over the subject under control.

"Other Vampires are watching her, watching you. They want to make sure that you are doing things for the tribe. Her blood is meant for the Cure, Mick." She slowly came up to him, touching his shoulder. He flinched from her touch and she smiled to herself.

Mick closed his eyes, knowing what was coming; he felt her hand ease around his waist and up his chest. She let her hand caress him as he pulled it away, smiling at Mick's sharp intake of breath. She easily moved to his front and touched his cheek.

"You still miss me, don't you?" She said in a sultry voice, her face lighting up with a seductive smile. She moved her finger tips over his lips and Mick caught her hand. His breathing had become erratic from her touch.

"Don't." His hoarse voice was barely above a whisper. Coraline caught the ding of the elevator and then the sweet scent of Beth. Another devilish smiled crossed her face and she leaned into Mick, holding his pained eyes with her own. She waited till she heard the door click before she captured his lips with hers, tracing them with her tongue and being rewarded with just the hint of his. Once the door was completely open, Mick pulled his head away, his mind reeling with guilt and shame.

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Beth stared at Mick and Coraline, her arms placed around his neck. Coraline kissed his lips one more time, causing Mick to look away embarrassed and ashamed. She stroked his cheek to add insult to injury, and turned to give Beth a sultry smile.

"Hey, Beth, just stopped in to say hi." Beth clenched her jaw, fighting back hot tears. Her eyes were filled with pain, and her heart was breaking. She knew both Mick and Coraline could smell what she was feeling, but she wasn't going to let it show.

"So you said your hellos, now get out." Beth held the door open, her words short. Her hand started to tremble as she held the door open. She kept her gaze locked on Mick's turned face. His jaw was clenching, his head was bowed and he was gripping the counter top so tight his knuckles were white. Beth waited until Coraline was completely out before she slammed the door behind her. Once she was out, Beth's tears started to fall. She leaned against the door, her head back, her tears falling unchecked. Sobs began to hiccup in her body as she looked back at Mick.

Mick closed his eyes tight as he smelled the salt from her tears, the heartache rolling off of her in waves. He fought for composure and the words to say, but all he could think of was to apologize.

"I'm sorry." His words were barely audible. Beth bit the inside of her lips, hot tears still falling. She nodded her head and walked half way to him.

"You're sorry? That's all you have to say, 'I'm sorry'." Beth threw her hands up, letting them fall to slap her thighs harshly. Mick pushed off the counter, turning sharply toward her. His mind began to race. He was afraid she would walk out and not return. His heart began to panic. They had come so far. His heart belonged to Beth, not Coraline, and he was about to lose it all. He rushed over to her, grasping her shoulders.

"No, that's not all…" He gathered his thoughts fighting for the strength to keep her here, next to him. "She came here for…" He closed his eyes and shook his head. "I don't know why she's here."

Taking Beth's hand into his, he guided her to the couch. He sat next to her, pulling her into his arms, placing kisses to her forehead, stroking her back and hair. "She was here telling me that you're blood is part of the cure, that when she first took you it was for that reason, then it turned into a way to try to save our marriage." He closed his eyes and images of that night ran through his mind like a movie reel. "She said you're in danger, not only from the Legion, but from some of the vampire elders." Beth turned her face up to his; her eyes reflected the fear that was beginning to build. "I'm not letting anything happen to you, that's why you have Oscar around you. He answers only to Josef, and no one else." Mick stroked her jaw with his fingers, trying to reassure her.

"And the kiss?" She said softly. Mick dropped his eyes and released a slow breath.

"I told her that I was in love with you, and that there was no more her and I." He pressed his lips to Beth's forehead as he spoke. "And Coraline, being Coraline..." He closed his eyes tight, forcing her memory from his head, his jaw working, clenching in frustration and embarrassment. He hated how helplessly he fell into her web, her lies and treachery. Mick inhaled Beth scent, as if it would cleanse him of Coraline's memory, anything to get her out of his head. "I love you, Beth." He tilted her head so he could see into her ocean blue eyes. Tears were falling still, and he wanted to kiss every single one of them away, kiss her until she was completely his. Lost to his own need and as if on their own accord his lips met hers, what started as timid and slow soon ignited into a deep and passion filled kiss. Beth gripped desperately at the back of Mick's neck, pulling him closer to her, wanting to melt into him, under his skin be one with him.

Mick pulled Beth tighter to him, caressing the velvet softness of her mouth, the sweetness that was Beth began to awaken the beast within and his fangs descended. He felt Beth's tongue graze over the tip of a fang and a low growl erupted from his chest. He pulled away from Beth's mouth leaving her breathless. He kept his hands at her cheeks, caressing them with his thumbs as he fought for control. He felt Beth push closer to him seeking his lips again. Knowing full well to where this was heading he sat them both up, his hands now trembling along with Beth's body.

"When, Mick, when? I'm not scared of you." She breathed as he pressed his forehead to hers.

"Not like this..." His voice shook from the amount of need that was coursing through him and Beth wasn't helping. Her scent most definitely shifted to that of passion and desire. He rose from the couch running his hand through his hair and nervously rubbing his jaw. Beth took several deep breaths sitting up completely, her legs now crossed and her face filled with frustration as she watched Mick pace the floor. He eased himself back to the couch and took a deep breath closing his eyes, trying to get himself back under control.

Beth finally had enough. She was tired of Coraline and her games. Beth watched as Mick rubbed at his temple absently. She knew he was torn, torn between his love for her and his fear of hurting her. Finding strength in her decision Beth eased herself onto Mick's lap, straddling him with her legs. She pressed her forehead against his and breathed a sigh of relief when his hands went to her back, drawing her near.

"I want this to be... I need this to be for us. I don't want this to be because of Coraline." He said as he started to catch his own breath. "I love you, please believe me. I do." He looked into her soft blue eyes, pleading with her to understand what he was feeling, his fears and apprehension.

"I know you love me and not Coraline, I do. But it scares me that she can still have this power over you. We haven't made love yet. I know you're worried about hurting me, the last time you tasted me was in the desert." She took a steadying breath and held his eyes trying to judge how he would react next. "I need to know you want all of me, my body and my blood." Her voice was soft, almost caressing in a way.

Mick was frozen, hearing her simple words, want all of me. “I do want all of you."

"Then bite me, Mick. I know this isn't the time and place to make love for you... but I need to know." Her voice was pleading, pleading with him to reassure her that she truly was the only one he wanted, needed.

Mick's eyes narrowed to Beth's throat. He leaned in slowly and started to kiss her neck lightly, inhaling her soft scent. "You'll tell me if it hurts and you want me to stop… I'm not hungry…I'll only take a little." Beth closed her eyes to his words. His lips continued to kiss her neck, tracing her veins with his mouth and his nose. He moved his lips down the column of her neck to her shoulder only brushing them against her alabaster skin. He soon found his mark, a small vein above the swell of her breast.

Beth's breaths soon became pants, filled with anticipation of what was about to happen. Her hands hung around his neck, stroking the soft curls around his collar. She didn't have to look at him to know his eyes were white and his canines were fully extended, she could already feel it.

Mick pressed his lips against the light blue vein he had found, it pulsed lightly, unlike the urgent throb of her arteries and the ever present beat of her heart. A steady unfrightened rhythm that said want all of me, want all of me. Her skin seemed transparent and he thought she is life. Fangs descend, poised above this line of blood. A sharp cutting bite pierces the vein and Mick pulls back to watch blood swell out of the wound following down the contour of her breast. The borderline between him and her, he licks it erasing the space between them.

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It had been a long hard day for Beth Turner, her mind was no where near where it should have been. Once again Coraline messed with her mind, once again Coraline invaded her life, hers and Mick's. When they seemed to be doing fine, when life seemed to be perfect, she was there.

Oscar opened the door to his Jeep Cherokee scanning the surrounding area for anything that shouldn't be there. He looked at Beth as she settled in, something was off, and he hated the fact that he could tell. It irked his professionalism that he was getting attached to this human, he liked to keep moving for just that reason.

Beth sat silently as he drove her back to her apartment. She had already called Mick and told him not to come over. She was still confused Coraline's return, Mick's usual unsure caginess and the feeding… Her heart slowed and spiked at the memory, the flood of sensations running through her. She swallowed at the sensation in her gut, her cheeks flushing at the sensation of pure pleasure that flowed through her at that moment, his mouth laving at her breast, coaxing blood, his tongue caressing…

"Beth… remember, I am a vampire…" Oscar felt strained, he could sense her arousal and her spiked heart rate. Her cheeks flushed again as she shifted in her seat, her hand covering her eyes. This is what she hated most about vampires, their ability to sense what the humans felt and desired. She groaned inwardly and pushed her head back into the cushion of the seat.

"Out with it Beth, what is it?"

"Nothing…" She looked at him quickly then looked back out the window.

"Nothing? Is that why Detective Davis had to repeat his questions to you at least twice. And the Assistant DA had to call your name the same amount of times to get an answer?" A small trace of a smile crossed Oscar's face.

"You know for someone who says he doesn't get involved with his charges you sure are asking a lot of questions" she said defensively.

"Fine…" Oscar shook his head as he concentrated on traffic.

"Why do you think Mick can't shake his attraction or connection or whatever it is to Coraline? He says he loves me, and I believe him. But the minute she shows up, he's…" Her voice trailed off as she felt the sting of tears. She turned her head more toward the window, not wanting Oscar to see her cry.

"If you are going to cry, we're walking back to your place." Oscar looked at Beth again her hand pressed to her mouth her eyes closed tight.

"She's his sire, he may not be in love with her, but he'll always be connected to her, that doesn't go away, no matter how much you want it to." Beth watched as traces of memories or where they emotions trace across his face. Oscar took in another audible breath and then looked at Beth again.

"Vampires can't read minds; we depend on our ability to read your emotions. And for you, a human, they're a weakness. It gives Coraline the advantage she craves. You have Mick, its obvious to any human or vampire… Believe me!" Beth couldn't help but give a shy smile. "If Coraline see's how upset you are, she'll pounce it like a cheetah attacking its prey." Oscar steers the car away from her apartment and back to Josef's.

"Where are we going?"

"To let you vent."

Beth followed Oscar into a part of Josef's home she had never been or seen before. It was a downstairs gym. There was a huge open floor, like a gymnastic floor. She watched as Oscar toed off his shoes and went for a staff and then a second one. He stood in front of Beth.

"Remove your shoes." Beth swallowed and her eyes became as big as saucers. She took the staff and watched as Oscar went to the middle of the room. "You need to be in the middle of the floor Beth." She looked at the staff and then walked over to where Oscar was standing. He put down his staff and came around behind her. He pulled her feet further apart and pushed behind he knees, as they gave he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her up a little, keeping her from falling. "Don't move." He came around to her front and squared her shoulders and then stood beside her, his stance the same as hers, only more sure of himself.

"Now, you follow every move I do. I'll do it slow, but you follow me." Beth nodded timidly and started to copy Oscar as he moved the staff in the air. As Beth focused on Oscar's movements she started to relax her attention shifting from her fear and apprehension of Coraline's return, and more at the task at hand. She always did better when she could focus on something else, help her process what was going on. Nice

"How much do you know about becoming a vampire?" Oscar shoves the staff forward and watches in the corner of his eyes as Beth does the same.

"Not much, just what Mick told me, being turned on his wedding night by Coraline. He said he went to bed a happily married man and woke up a monster." Beth turned as Oscar turned and shoved the staff down and then up.

"Do you think he's a monster?"

"No… No he's not…" Beth stopped and looked at Oscar. "He could never be a monster." Oscar touched Beth's shoulder and guided her to a seat. He handed her a towel and a bottle of water.

"There are things you don't know… And there are people that need to tell you. I'm not one of them." Oscar looked at Beth then at a dummy that was standing in a corner. He walked over and pulled it to the center of the room. He went to the wall and pulled a stake from the wall. He walked back to Beth and pulled her up guiding her to the dummy.

"I'm betting you know how to use this. So show me." Oscar handed the stake to Beth and then stood behind her "Think of it as Coraline, and what you saw the other day." His voice was lower than a whisper but Beth heard it. Her heart slowed and her eyes narrowed. And suddenly she charged the dummy, a shriek escaping her lips as she lunged toward the dummy and plunged the stake deep into the chest. She stood in front of the dummy shaking, her hand trembling. She released several shaky breaths and started to cry. Oscar walked behind her and placed a hand on her neck rubbing it gently as Beth held onto the dummy, her body shaking from her tears.

"This is our world Beth, cold and deadly."

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Josef watched as Beth pulled herself together, Oscar handing her another water. He heaved a sigh, he was disgusted with the whole situation, the Legion dictating what should and shouldn't be done and wondering about the return of Coraline and no doubt Lance. He couldn't help but feel that quite possibly Coraline was the reason behind the sudden surge of the Legion. Josef finally went back up to the main part of the house and into his den. He decided to see if Logan had any more information on Ryder's death. He wanted to know if this was a random act of violence or if it was related to Legion. He was suspicious, especially with Lady Wallace visiting Mick. The whole chose sides speech had him worried whether they were going to try and play on Mick's sense of loyalty. Not that he questioned it, he knew Mick, his best friend, "brother" as he called it. Of course it might mean telling him how ruthless the Legion can be as well, if the Foster brother's were indication enough of the extremism of the Legion. Especially those that thought they were doing God's work.

Josef snorted as he went to his bar pulling out a bottle of aged Scotch, filling a glass he (delete no more and) went back to his desk when his cell rang, it was Logan, he had Josef's information.

"Logan , what do we have so far?" Josef said as he walked back to his desk Scotch in hand.

"It isn't good. Definitely looks like Ryder's death was a Legion hit and it isn't the only one. A few more have been taking place again as well. But Ryder's was the first. Some big names to Josef, really big names. I'll email you the names I have so far. They are taking their time close space, stalking their prey, should I send out an alert?'

"Not yet… I'll get back to you when. Send the same information to Mick as well. I'll call him later to discuss where we go from here. I need to you track this more Logan, I don't like being kept in the dark got it."

"You know they attack the same way the Sith do."

"The Sith??"

"Yeah, you know, like in Star Wars. Very sneaky and under handed. When they began the process of killing the Jedi in Star Wars Episode 3, it was like a pack attack. The coolest one was Eva Zacura, who happens to be one of the hottest Jedi's I have ever seen. She has ..." Logan started to grin as he thought about the scene. "She was considered a powerful Jedi and Clone Troopers were really scared by her, so they all snuck up behind her and shot her in the back. It was TOTALLY cool." Josef looked at his phone and almost growled.

"What the hell does that have to do with anything?" Josef barked back.

"Well… Just an observation... Nothing really. I'll, I'll get right on it Sir, Mr. Kostan... Bye." Josef ended the call and gave a disgusted huff. This business was beginning to get ugly. "War… More like genocide. Joyous." Josef slugged his drink back, and then contemplated how to convince Mick he was already on the right side.

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Mick made his way to Josef's office, it was about 2 hours after sunset and he was still exhausted. Between Coraline's return, Beth insecurities and the business with the Legion, were taking its toll on Mick. Now he was headed to Josef's with disturbing evidence of the Legion's activities. He kept thinking about the Council woman who came to his apartment, her warning about choosing sides and that there was a war coming. What side was he on? The idea of Beth being "harvested" for her blood or anyone else for that matter, made him sick to his stomach. And then there was the fact his friends were being hunted. He may not like being a vampire, but he would be damned if he allowed them to be hunted. He groaned at the thought of deciding between humans and vamps. Was there room for a gray area in his life, or did things really need to be black and white, cut and dry?

"Mick, you look tired, not sleeping much. You and Beth…" Josef bounced on his heels as he grinned at Mick. All he got in return was a disgusted look. "I would take that as a no. Yeah know, if you did you might be in a better mood." Josef walked around to his bar settling on getting him and his grumpy friend a drink.

"Josef, do we need to discuss my sex life every time we see each other?"

"Man, you are testy. What the hell is wrong with you?" Josef handed a scotch and sat in his chair watching as Mick sat in the high back chair rubbing his head in an agitated manner.

"I'm tired… That's all." Mick took a quick sip of the Scotch and refocused on Josef. "So this Legion business, how bad can we expect it to be?" Mick leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees as he watched his old friend.

"Well if they do as they have in the past it will be like wolves hunting their prey, more of pack mentality." Josef took a slow sip and then settled his gaze back to Mick. "Whose side are you on Mick?"

"What kind of question is that?" Mick sat back in his chair, taken off guard by Josef's sudden question.

"It's a valid question, are you vampire or still wanting to be human, who's interest will you protect?"

"My own, Beth, my friends. If the Legion is full of lunatics like the Foster brothers who want to threaten me and mine… I have no problem fighting back. If we're being called to accounts because Lance and Coraline want to play God… because they think they own Beth and her blood or she's part of some sick family feud… I think we should clean house." Mick rose from his seat and went back to Josef's bar, filling his glass and slamming it back and then filling it again.

"So that what its about for you.. a quarrel with the ex-wife?" Josef sits back into his chair gaging Mick's answer.

"That's not what I said, Josef, human's aren't toys."

"Tasty, but not toys.. I can live with that and our secrecy?"

"Yeah, its all we got… Does the Legion want to expose us?" Mick said from the bar, his back turned to Josef.

"I don't know Mick, I don't know…" Josef walks over to Mick giving him a reassuring squeeze to his shoulder. Mick nods and pats Josef on the back and heads for the door. Suddenly he has the urge to see Beth, hold her, find comfort in her arms. He's not sure what's coming, but he's pretty sure it will change everything.

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She watched as Mick left Josef's office, the one Vampire she would let live no matter what, one she would fight for. A saving grace among predators who had found his own way. Why couldn't vampires learn more from him? Lady Wallace slowly made her way into Josef's house, up his stairs and into his freezer room, knowing he would be showing up at any moment. She had long practice in hiding her scent and heart beat from vampires, a secret that she would take to her grave. It was why she was feared most by vampires. They considered her the grim reaper of the Legion. If, as a vampire, you saw Lady Wallace, your undead existence was over. True, she had nothing to do with Ryder's death. That was a majority ruling and had been carried out by the proper team. Nor did she have any intentions that on this night or dawn she would be taking the life of one Josef Kostan. No, this visit was to establishing his new found role in this war.

Josef smiled at the freshie that sat in his lap, his hand caressing her arm, finding the vein that would suit his needs for his last meal of the day. The young blonde smiled sweetly at him, her heart pounding in anticipation, her scent signaling she was ready for him. He held her gaze as his eyes slowly iced, he lifted her arm to his nose, and like a connoisseur sniffs a fine wine, Josef sniffed her arm, finding his mark and sinking his fangs in. She whimpered then sighed, and soon began to moan, undulating her hips on his lap as she started to climb toward oblivion. And once she came, Josef took a few more swallows, licked her wound and allowed her to swoon in his lap, satisfying his ego as well as his hunger. He indicated to the attendant he could finally take the girl. Once he had removed her from Josef's lap he rose, more than satisfied as he headed to his room.

Lady Wallace listened as Josef started to remove his shoes, his socks, she heard the rustling of fine silk, she assumed it was his shirt and the unclasping of his belt. She used the noises to mask her removal of her coat and the drawing of her claymore. She placed the tip of the blade on his expensive Italian marble floor, leaning against it, waiting for her prey to enter the room. A cat like grin traced across her face as she squared her shoulders and watched as Josef stepped into the room.

She charged immediately, not giving the 400 year old vampire any advantage to recover. She kicked him in the chest sending him into the opposite wall. Josef straightened and vamped, growling wildly at the woman that dared enter his chamber. Lady Wallace flipped the blade so that the handle was now a weapon swinging it and hitting Josef across the temple. He staggered to the side, not ready for the next blow that Lady Wallace already had lined up. She swung the blunt hilt of the sword and slammed it into Josef's back then turned the sword slicing across his chest. Josef hissed and staggered to a corner, his bare chest already healing, but fighting for breath as he stared at his attacker realizing who it was.

Lady Wallace leveled the tip of the blade to Josef's throat, letting him know if he twitched she would removed his handsome head from the rest of him, drawing the only slightest bit of blood.

"Now that I have your attention…" She smiled at the vampire that eyed her and the blade she pressed firmly to his throat. "Don't worry, Kostan; today isn't your day to die. But I want to keep your attention." She raised her head and peered down at him, her soft light blue eyes holding his ghostly white eyes.

"What do you want?" Josef pushed his head further back into the wall, wanting to get away from the blade that pressed to close to his neck.

"Your cooperation, Kostan. And I'm more than sure I have it now. The girl, known as Beth, and her vampire lover, Mick St. John, you know them, yes?" Josef nodded his head forgoing the use of words.

"Good, you have the arduous task of keeping them both alive, from the Legion as well as that abomination known as Lance Duvall and that bicth of a sister Coraline." Josef eyed the blade that pressed harder against his neck and winced at the pain.

“They have been both marked by the Legion."

"Why should I believe you?" Josef said breathlessly.

"Do you think I would be here now if it weren't true? And do you think you would still be alive if you didn't serve a purpose? Use your head, Kostan, you claim to be an intelligent vampire, prove it to me." Josef winced again as she dug the blade in once more for good measure.

"Why are they in danger?"

"Her blood and the very fact he is a vampire, lying with a human girl. Lance and Coraline's desires should be enough for you to know. I doubt his ex-wife and Sire would give up on him that easily. Beth life is in far more danger now that they seek your Cure." Lady Wallace eased the pressure of the blade and looked at Josef again. "Know this, Kostan, if he or she dies, I will personally remove your head. They are to live at all cost. I can not protect them; it is up to you to do it." Josef looked at her in confusion wondering, why is it my responsibility?

"Did the great Lady Wallace loose her seat in power?" Josef sneered. She pressed the blade hard enough to make Josef cry out in pain.

"Winds of change Josef, and they are blowing against you. Bite your tongue, vampire. I shall be watching you, Josef. Pray I never visit again." She turned and ran to his window leaping from it. Guards could be heard from below. Josef grabbed his neck and touched the already healed wound. His hands shook as he closed his eyes, thanking who ever would listen to his already condemned soul for sparing his life.

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everyday

Mick walked briskly into the "Gentleman's Club". It was really a who's who of vampire society. He didn't like the place, it seemed every time he came here, something would always go wrong. And by the tone of Josef's voice, this visit would be no different. As he stepped toward the pool room He picked up on a familiar scent. He looked around the room for Josef, spotting him by the bar, already motioning to him.

"So… Pick up on it yet." Josef said a little nervously.

"Yeah, is he here?" Josef nodded behind him and as Mick turned he saw Lance with two girls sitting on his lap giggling. His jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed.

"This is why you called me here?" Mick said through pursed lips.

"Of course…" Josef picked up a glass and handed it to Mick. He downed the aged amber liquid in one gulp. He already knew Lance was standing behind him.

"Hello brother-in-law. So good to see you… Alive." Mick slowly turned to see the menacing smile on Lance's face. His jaw clenched again as he eyed Coraline's brother. He should have known if she was in town, her keeper would be too. "So tell me St. John , how is... what's her name again?" Lance turned toward Josef and then smiled as he turned toward Mick. "Ah yes, Miss Turner. How is our Miss Turner?" Mick moved forward when Josef pulled on his arm and shook his head.

"She's none of your business." It was taking all the restraint Mick had not to pounce him. And all Josef's willpower as well.

"Ahh you see, that's where you're wrong. She is my business. Her blood is my business. And I want to make sure she is well taken care of." Lance stepped forward, purposely getting into Mick's face. Mick released a low growl and Josef stood quickly stepping between Lance and Mick.

"What could you possible want with Beth?" Josef forced himself closer to Lance, almost bumping him back. Lance stepped back and straightened his shirt.

"Oh come now, Josef you know the reasons. Her blood type alone warrants her safety." Lance glared at Mick who was still growling. "You've marked her haven't you…? Did you claim her as your own? How sweet is her blood St. John ?"

"That's it…" Mick charges only to have Lance hit him square in the chest throwing him clear back against the wall. Mick sat up and charged again. Josef grabbed him and pushed him back.

"He's threatening Beth and you want me to stand here?" Josef pushed on Mick back and gave him a warning stare, reminding him even though he didn't claim to be Mick's sire, in some respects Josef held a sire's authority over him.

"Let me handle this. Pull yourself together." Mick jerked his arm from Josef and then jerked his jacket back to straighten it. Mick ran his hands through his hair and released a slow breath still eyeing Lance. He started to pace back and forth as Josef tried to ease the tension.

"Lance this isn't the place and you know it. And whatever interest your crazy sister thought she had in Beth, forget it. She's being protected. We can discuss this another time." Lance looked at Josef and then back at Mick. He gave another one of his ruthless grins and chuckled as he nodded his head.

"Fine Josef, another time. But I will press my case again. Keep your pup in line, remind him who I am." Lance gave another growl and left the room. Mick ran his hand through his hair again and down his face rubbing his jaw.

"He has no right, Josef. NO RIGHT!" Mick bit his lip, his temper completely gone.

"What the is a matter with you? That man has more power than even me. Don't piss him off! We'll protect Beth, but use your head!" Josef walked over to his chair and jerked his jacket from his chair and stormed from the room. Mick watched as Josef left the room. He was the only one there, he picked up a bar stool and slammed it over the bar "DAMN IT!"

* Back in Episode 4....

Mick walks in and notices Josef's grim expression. "Did Logan find out anything else?"

"No but I just received some unsettling news." Josef stood and hands Mick the report.

Mick scans the page and his expression becomes one of fury. "CORALINE! You know where she is and you didn't tell me!"

"Uh think with you're big head….you are totally missing the point. Did you look over the part where she told them about Beth?"

"So Coraline told Lance about Beth. What does that ha----."

"Beth's blood type AO- is component of the compound."

Realization dawns on Mick. "So Coraline never want to make a little family it was always about Beth's blood."

"I'm sorry man. I'll do whatever to keep her safe you know that."

"Yeah….yeah I do."

Author: ClChen

s02e06: Posers and Promises

2008-09-16T08:05:00.000-07:00

Author: Evilous

Beth is working away at her desk reading over reports, and is startled when Ben literally drops a file in front of her.

"Jesus, you scared me," Beth looks up at him.

"Sorry, didn't mean to. I'm just in a hurry, I have to be in court soon. I want you to look into this for me, all the notes are inside just see what you can come up with."

As Beth starts to look at the folder, Ben is already making his way out of the office. He is in a hurry, must be an important case, Beth muses to herself.

Startling her all over again, her phone rings, "Beth Turner," she answered.

"Hey, how is your day?" Mick asked.

"Good, just got a case."

"I was wondering if you were still going to come over for dinner tonight." Beth couldn't help but smile at how nervous he always sounded, like a boy asking out his first crush, half expecting her to turn him down.

"Of course, if you still want me to."

"Yes," he answered a little too quickly. "Any special requests for dinner?"

"Surprise me."

"I’ll see you tonight."

"See you then."

Beth hung up the phone, ready to get through the day and over to Mick's later.

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With her personal security detail in tow, Beth made her way to the home address of the most recent attack. Taking advantage of her personal security meant she didn't have to drive, leaving her time to read over facts during the ride, which made for better company than her silent protector.

Arriving at the first home, Beth tried to convince Oscar to wait in the car but it seems that he is just as stubborn as she is. Oscar walked with her up to the home and as silent as ever, they waited at the door.

"Hi, my name is Beth Turner, I'm with the DA’s office. Are you Bryon Fletcher?" Beth presented her ID badge to the man at the door.

"I'm Bryon Fletcher, how can I help you?"

"Would you mind if I came in and asked you a few questions about the robbery?"

"Come on in," he motioned for her to enter, eyeing the silent Oscar behind her.

"Don't mind him, he is here to provide protection, company policy."

"What can I do for you? My wife and I have already talked to the police. We didn't see anything thing we were out of the house, it was date night."

Beth smiled at something so simple and sweet. "Is your wife home?"

"Yes. Have a seat. I’ll get her, she is doing her workout tape.”

As he went up the stairs to gather his wife, Beth walked about the room looking at the pictures on the wall; looking for anything that seemed out of place. Nothing, the pictures of them throughout the room were of a couple completely in love.

A few moments later, Mr. Fletcher came back down stairs with his wife, who was wearing her sweats and had a towel thrown over her shoulder. It was clear she wasn't expecting to entertain anyone at the moment.

"Miss Turner, this is my wife Julia."

Beth extended a hand to the woman, which she happily shook, before they all made their way to the couch. Oscar had moved to stand guard by the door.

"Can we get you anything to drink?" Julia offered.

"No, thank you, I would just like to ask you what happened. I know you went over it with the police, but I would like to hear about it first hand."

Mr. Fletcher put his arm protectively over his wife’s shoulder as he began, "We came home and nothing seemed wrong at first. Then we got further into the house and there were drawers pulled out and the TV and our sound system gone. We didn't know if they were still here so we ran next door and called 911."

"Where were you?"

"It was our weekly date night. We go every Wednesday to dinner, a movie, something just for us."

"Does anyone know you always go out on Wednesdays?"

"Everyone, we never thought it was something to hide."

"How long were you gone?" Beth scribbled some notes onto her pad.

They look at one another, "We left around what, 6?" Mr. Fletcher asked his wife.

"Yes, because we were almost late for the 6:30 movie," she confirmed.

"You're right. After the movie we grabbed a late dinner, got home around 11."

Beth took a few more notes then stood, "Thank you for your time."

"Anything to help the investigation, I just thank God that we weren't home. If anything had happened to her I..."

Mr. Fletcher held his wife closer, it was clear to anyone just how much in love they were. Beth just stepped towards the door where Oscar awaited her. As they walked out Beth noticed some brochures for Whitmore Reality on the table by the door, swiping one on the way out.

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The drive to the next address was short. Beth didn't even bother trying to get Oscar to stay in the car this time. They made their way up to a house quite like the first, two stories, 2 car garage, beautiful front yard with a picket fence, a small garden; only this home had children’s toys littering the yard.

Stepping over a large Tonka truck on the porch Beth knocked on the door.

"Mrs. Vickers?"

"Yes, can I help you?" The petite woman asked looking at the two strangers at her door. "Are you here to see the house?"

"My name is Beth Turner; I'm with the DA's office. I would like to ask you some questions about the robbery."

"Oh yes come on in. Please excuse the mess but we are still working with Aaron on the concept of picking up your toys when you are finished with them."

"You have a lovely home," Beth commented as they made their way in, past the scattered toys and to the living room.

"Thank you. Have a seat," Mrs. Vickers sat on the couch pushing the hot wheels from the arm of the couch. "What about your friend?"

"He is part of company policy; he will just wait by the door." Beth was growing tired of explaining Oscar's presence.

"What can I do for you?"

"Is your husband home?"

"No he is at work."

"Can you tell me what happened the night of the robbery?" Beth had pen and paper ready.

Mrs. Vickers takes a steadying breath releasing a heavy sigh, "No one was home, Todd, my husband, was out of town on a business trip, Aaron was at his grandparents, and I had the monthly PTA meeting Aaron's school. When I came home the front door was open, I was scared so I called the police."

"That must have been horrible, I'm sorry that happened."

"I'm just glad Aaron wasn’t home, our things can be replaced."

"Mrs. Vickers--"

"Please call me Lisa."

"Lisa, when I arrived you asked if I was here to see the house, are you selling your house?"

"Yes, Todd was made partner and we are moving to San Francisco."

"Have you had any showings?"

"Yes, we have had one the day before the robbery. Why?"

"No reason. You have a beautiful home, I am sure someone will snatch it up."

"Thank you. Is there anything else?"

"No, I think that’ll be all. I can show myself out."

Beth made her way out the door, Oscar waiting for her. As they made their way to the car Beth was rechecking the police reports.

MLMLMLMLML

Arriving at Mick's, her overnight bag in tow, research in hand. Mick had ordered her dinner from a little bistro down the road from his place that he enjoyed those few days as when he was human.

Beth made herself comfortable, taking off her shoes and setting her bags aside while Mick poured them both a glass of wine, and set the table with her dinner.

"You're not having dinner," Beth motioned to his glass of wine noticing he wasn’t drinking his usual dinner.

"I ate before you got here. So, how was work?" Mick asked knowing she had a case, files in her hand and that look in her eye always gave her away.

"Good, I got a case. A string of home invasions. I think I have a lead."

"Want to talk about it?" Mick asked as he watched her eat sipping on his own wine.

"Sure, the file is on the couch if you want to sort through it."

Mick got up from the table and retrieved the file before returning. Mick spent the rest of the meal reading over her notes commenting on some of the things she had picked up on.

As Beth started to clear her plates Mick stopped her and took over, "Why don't you tell me what plan you have?"

Beth grabbed a towel and joined him as they cleaned up. "All the houses that were hit had a home showing one or two days prior to the attack. I thought what if one of the potential buyers who came to see the house was planning the crime. They could get a good look at the floor plan, security and each of the homeowners said they talked with all the visiting couples and mentioned they would be out of the house on specific days and times. One couple had movie night, another PTA, so..."

"What’s your plan?" Mick loved to watch the wheels that were turning in that head of hers.

"Go to a couple open houses see who shows up, then run some names." Beth said innocently as she took the cleaned dish from him and dried it.

"You just want to go and pretend to be an interested shopper? Do you think they will believe you?"

"Yeah," she shrugs taking another sip of her wine. "Although a couple of newly weds does stand to be more believable, but where would I find someone interested in helping me?" She looks up at Mick with a knowing grin.

"I think I know someone who would be willing to help."

Dishes now done, Mick takes her hand and leads her to the couch to sit. They continue to talk about little things, his day, his music choices since Dashboard Confessional was out, he told her some of his favorite bands and promised to give her an education in good music.

Growing tired, Beth made her way up to get ready for bed as Mick prepared the air mattress. Soon they were both snuggled together on it, both always aware of the way their bodies seemed to fit together as he held her she drifted off to sleep.

MLMLMLMLML

Beth is working at her desk, looking up a list of houses on the market that would match the description of the previous crimes and also had open houses that day. Finding only two with showings later in the day she prints off the addresses and other information. Being a good investigator, Beth researches other houses in the area and put together a list of questions to ask about the house, things a normal interested couple would ask.

She rubs her neck, trying to work out a kink some passerby might mistake for stress. No one would suspect her aching muscles were from spending her nights on an air mattress instead of her nice comfy bed. It almost made her laugh, it was still better than his couch.

Still a nagging feeling of doubt lingered in her mind, did he ever plan on getting a real bed? An air mattress is not intended for a lasting fix, did he think of their relation as temporary? They always seemed to end up at his place rather than hers due to his need for a freezer and the contents of his hidden fridge. Not that she minded staying at Mick’s she liked it there, just not his choice of sleeping arrangements for her, after he left to go to his freezer the small comfort of the air mattress was gone with him. Taking a drink of her now cold coffee she pushed the thoughts aside.

Looking once again into his office to see if Talbot had returned, with no luck, Beth left Ben a note telling him she was going out of the office to follow up a lead. Leaving the note on his computer screen, Beth grabbed her things and headed out to meet Mick.

MLMLMLMLML

Mick parked across the street of the office to wait for Beth and their day of house shopping. He wasn't waiting long before he saw her bounding across the street to him with Oscar close behind.

As soon as she was safely in Mick's protection, Oscar nodded to Mick to head home for a few hours of freezer time. Mick leaned over to Beth greeting her with a soft kiss.

"Are you ready to go house hunting?" Mick asked with a playful grin at the idea of it as he pulled out.

"Yes, honey," Beth gives him a smile batting her eyelashes.

Mick can't help himself and laughs at her little display, "So do we have a story or are we just improvising as we go?"

"Basically we are newly weds just back from our honeymoon in Fiji, looking for our dream house to spend our blissful married lives in."

"Ah, so naïve lovers is the cover," he teased.

Hitting his arm playfully, "Yes, I suppose so. Everything else we can come up with as needed, will sound more natural."

Mick reached across the seat taking her hand in his, stroking her fingers. The realization hit her suddenly, how could she have forgotten it.

"Rings," she blurted out. "We are a playing newly weds with no rings, that is a dead give away."

Mick thought to himself where would be the best place to get rings on such short notice. He could go into any jewelry store and buy a ring for others to envy, one that was worthy of her, but when he gave her a real ring he wanted it to be more than just something from a case. Thinking back to his childhood, when the boys would give the girls the rings out of their cracker jacks, he got an idea.

Pulling off into a grocery store, Mick turned to Beth, "Stay here, I will be right back."

Having no idea what he could need from a grocery store, now of all times, Beth focused her attention on reasons she wouldn't have a ring. It was being resized; she left it on the bathroom sink, something.

A few minutes later, Mick comes strolling out not even a bag in his hand but a smile on his face.

"What was that about?" She questioned after he was back in the car.

"Hold out your hand," she did as he said. Holding his hand over hers Mick placed a small plastic container. Beth gave him a strange confused look and pulled it closer.

It was a ring, a ring from a bubble gum machine in the cheap plastic case. Opening it she took in the childish toy and found that oddly enough could work as long as no one got to close. Mick took the ring from her hand and slipped it on her finger looking up at her with that boyish smile.

"You didn't get yourself one," she asked.

Mick simply took off his ring he always wore and held it out, "The selections were not for little boys so much as that for girls and I have one."

"That you do," Beth took the ring from his hand and slid it onto the correct finger.

Pulling up at the first open house Beth notes that it is the same style as the others, two stories, two car garage, nice neighborhood, a place to raise a family. Mick quickly helped Beth out of the car lacing their fingers together as they walked inside. There were a few couples standing around, none of which looked like criminals but then again how often is it that easy to recognize a criminal?

Mick pulled Beth in the direction of one of the couples, "What do you think honey?"

"It's beautiful," Beth turned to the couple beside them. "This is beautiful, there has to be a catch."

They continued with small talk and exchanging tips on how not to get scammed for about 10 minutes when Beth ventured away to find the ladies room. When Beth returned the realtor was showing Mick around explaining the neighborhood and all the wonderful aspects of the house.

Walking up behind Mick, Beth put her hands around his waist her chin on his shoulder, "You started without me."

"Mr. Randall was just telling me about the house," Mick turned pulling Beth in his arms and giving her a passionate kiss.

"Newly weds?" Mr. Randall estimated by their contact.

"Is it that obvious? I just can't help myself around her." Mick smiles at Beth, their noses still touching.

"It's a good thing. How long have you been married?"

"One month," Beth answered quickly. "Just got back from Fiji last week."

"You don't look like you have been at the beach," Randall laughed.

"We didn't leave the room very often," Mick informed the man placing another kiss on Beth's lips as her checks blushed at the idea.

"With a beautiful wife like yours I understand. Now are there any questions I can answer for you about this house?"

"Why is such an amazing house on the market?"

"The couple who is selling is right over there talking to another couple," Mr. Randall indicated 2 couples laughing. "They are moving to the country, getting out of LA."

"Thank you, Mr. Randall. We would like to look around some more, if we have any questions we’ll come find you."

Mr. Randall nodded and backed away to find another interested buyer. Mick was still holding Beth close moving to stand behind her whispering in her ear.

"The brunette and the man in military uniform are Robert and Michelle Copeland, he just got transferred near here and she is a writer. The other couple are the homeowners, like Randall said they are just looking to start fresh away from everything, they bought some land in Wyoming."

"Wow, vampire hearing is really useful," Beth whispered as she leaned up and kissed his jaw.

"It comes in handy."

Mick and Beth continue to walk around a while longer holding each other giggling and point out things about the house before making their exit. Mr. Randall simply laughed as they passed him on their way out, a young couple in love.

MLMLMLMLML

"I’ll be fine for a couple of hours alone. I am in the DA's office so I’ll be safe," Beth argued against waking Oscar to come watch her for a few hours.

"He does need his freezer time," Mick agreed. "Promise you won't leave?"

"I promise I’ll be in the office until I come down to meet you for our next showing."

"I’ll see you in a couple of hours," Mick leaned across the seat placing a lingering kiss on her lips.

Beth gets out of the Benz and heads up to the office as Mick watches until she is long out of sight. Beth arrives at her desk and phones in an order for takeout to be delivered.

As her food arrived about 30 minutes later, she was already hard at work checking out the names of the people at the first showing. Nothing more than a few minor spots, traffic tickets mostly. Robert Copeland did catch her eye though, he had said he was in the military and had been transferred into the area but she couldn't find any record of him being in any branch of service.

Beth saw Ben approaching her desk just as she finished her lunch.

"How is the case going? You got a lead?" Ben asked pulling up a chair to her desk.

"Good, we have another showing to go to but I think this could be it."

"We?"

"Mick and I."

"You know Beth I hired you not your PI boyfriend."

"I know that but I needed a man to help me, and you have been busy with court. I left you a note."

"Why did you need a man?"

"Turns out all the houses hit were on the market and had an open house within 2 days prior to the home invasion. I thought it would be good check out some of the houses that fit the profile with open houses. They are larger homes, more for a family so a husband and wife blends better than single woman."

Ben's phone starts to go off he takes a moment to look at it then at Beth as he stands up, "Keep me informed. From now on, just talk to me before you involve St. John."

Ben answered his call and walked towards his office in a hurry. Beth rolled her eyes, "Men," letting out a frustrated sigh.

MLMLMLMLML

Mick made his way into Josef’s office, hearing him from all the way down the hall yelling at some poor soul on the phone. Josef ended his call as Mick entered already heading to his bar.

“Mick, to what do I owe the honor of this visit?”

“I was around, had some time to kill and thought I would come by. Any news on the Legion?”

“Around? The DA’s office is around? Would you be waiting for Blondie to call you?” Josef teased him as he poured him a glass of A+.

“I am helping her on a case. She had to go into the office run some names and fill in Talbot before the next showing.”

“Showing?” Mick now had Josef’s full attention.

“We are looking into the recent string of burglaries. All of the houses are for sale and had showings within 2 days prior.”

“So you and Blondie are playing happy married couple house shopping. If you are helping her why are you here, not with her…helping?”

“She needed to talk to Talbot and we don’t get along so well, so…”

“So you decided to be the bigger vampire and come kill your time here. I’m honored.” Josef tossed back the remainder of his glass.

“Have you been able to find anything more out about the Legion?”

“Talk abroad is troubling, they are bad news, professionals prepared to go up against vamps but since the Foster boys we haven’t had any problems here in LA.”

“Do you think their attack in LA was strictly personal? Revenge for his brother’s death?” Mick knew the answer but still held out maybe they would get lucky and the Legion would show their hand.

“Not likely. The attack to draw you out may have been personal but that is not the end of them, of that I am sure.”

MLMLMLMLML

Mick picked Beth back up in front of the office and they made their way to the next showing. She filled him in on what she had found on the names. Arriving at the house Mick and Beth made their way up towards the house, hand in hand just as before.

“Round 2,” Mick joked into her ear.

Beth giggles as they make their way in greeting people along the way. This house had a few more people, probably due to the later hour. Across the room Mick spotted a couple from the first showing, Robert and Michelle Copeland.

Pulling her closer Mick kisses her softly on the lips before moving to her ear, “On your right by the window, look familiar.”

Beth pulls back smiling getting a glance in the direction spotting then right away. “Lets go say hello shall we.”

Beth leads the way pulling Mick behind her, Mick pulls her aside and down the hallway before they are seen. “What are you doing?”

“Beth we don’t want to spook them. If they know they have been recognized they might move on to another house.”

Beth laughs, “You’re right and here I thought you just wanted to get me alone.”

“That is just a perk,” Mick placed a kiss to her forehead.

“Okay lets get your ears working find out what they are saying.”

“You only love me for my hearing.”

“No its just a perk,” throwing his own tease back.

They make their way back out into the room, looking around making small talk with a couple of the people in the room, while Mick whispered to her the conversation being had on the other side of the room. Having had enough they make their way out and back towards the Benz.

Before Mick starts the engine he looks over at her, smiling at the butterflies he got in his stomach every time he asked, "Are you coming to my place tonight?"

Looking over at him Beth couldn't stop her heart from skipping, there was just something so adorable in his smile. It hurt her to have to turn him down.

"Not tonight,” I need to sleep in a real bed.

Beth could see the light leave his face and the look of disappointment. Mick gave her an understanding smile and started towards her place.

The rest of the ride had been silent as Mick walked her to her door. Beth had time to examine her thoughts, thoughts about Mick and what their relationship meant to him. Yes he loved, her but what did that really mean to a vampire?

At her door Beth quickly opened it and stepped inside quickly, practically shutting the door. Mick was shocked she didn't invite him in even more confused when she almost shut him out.

"Are you okay?" He asked her cautiously not sure what was going on with her.

"I'm fine, just tired. Good night Mick, thank you for your help."

"You never have to thank me Beth, we're a team remember," Mick showed her his lopsided smile.

"Yeah we are, good night."

Beth goes to close the door but Mick stops her, putting his foot in the way.

"Something is bothering you," he declared putting his hand on the door.

"I'm just tired, I will see you tomorrow."

Beth opened the door fully leaning out to kiss his lips, the kiss was soft and gentle. Mick took the opportunity to pull her closer so her whole body was touching his as he deepened the kiss. Pulling back only when he felt she needed to breathe, placing softer kisses on her lips.

Beth was breathless her hands on his side, his body against hers she could hardly stand. Mick relented, easing the intensity of his kisses slowly, leaving her body aching for more.

"Get some sleep." Beth nodded. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Mick allowed her to close the door as he went to the stairs. After shutting the door Beth went and collapsed in the comfort of her bed thinking how much better it would be if Mick were in it too.

MLMLMLMLML

At the office the next morning Beth sees Ben heading to his office. Grabbing her notes, she heads in to fill him in.

"Hey, is this a good time?" She asked cautiously from the door noting the serious look on his face.

"Yeah, come on in. What did you and St. John find?"

"We went to two showings and only one couple was at both." Beth sets their pictures in front of him on his desk, "Robert and Michelle Copeland. They are both clean, well after they turned 18 anyways. Their juvenile records are filled with petty theft reports."

"Do I even want to know how you got their juvenile records?" Talbot asked shaking his head at the legal ramifications of opening sealed juvenile records.

"No and I know they can't be used as evidence but it helps to know who you're dealing with. Both homeowner couples had plans they discussed in casual conversation at the showings. Meaning, if these are our guys there is a good chance they will hit one of these houses tonight."

"Beth, this is good work and I think you’re right but we are short staffed right now and I can't justify ordering surveillance based on what you have."

Beth lets out an exasperated sigh, "I’ll go myself."

"No, you will not. Beth it's--"

"I’ll just stake it out, if I see anything I’ll call it in."

Ben gives her a stern look and she doesn't flinch, he knew he would not win this battle. Deciding to compromise Ben strikes a deal.

"Fine, go, as long St. John will be with you and you give me your word that you will call the minute something happens."

Beth lets out a huff, sick and tired of everyone thinking she needed a babysitter, "Deal."

With that Beth walks out of his office. Ben is left looking at the pictures she had left in front of him. He may not understand or trust St. John but it was clear he went above and beyond what was necessary to protect Beth, that would have to be good enough for now.

Beth is looking over her notes of the two homes they visited trying to decide which would be the better choice to stake out waiting for Mick to arrive to pick her up. When right on cue he there was a knock on her door. Taking a deep breath she went to the door opening it.

“Hey,” she greeted as she moved to let him come in.

“Hey,” Mick leaned in and gave her a kiss. “Sleep well?”

“Yeah, now I am trying to decide which house would be better for us to stake out, any ideas?” Beth walked back over to the counter where she had her notes spread out.

Mick walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, “I missed you last night.”

Beth pulls away from his arms grabbing a bag and checking its contents in almost a whisper she adds, “You’re going to have to get used to it.”

Mick looks hurt, unsure what was wrong, everything had been going good with them. Before he can question her she is back focusing on her notes.

“Why don’t we watch both?” Mick chooses to focus on work for now, he can question her later when she can’t push him away.

“How? I promised Ben I would be with you since apparently, I am helpless,” her irritation at the assumption clear.

Mick pulled out his phone, looking at the location of the two homes he dialed Josef. After two rings he picks up, “Mick you are interrupting my snack.”

“I need a favor.”

“What is it, are you and Blondie having a lovers spat?”

Mick furled his brow at that, he honestly didn’t know if they were or not, so how could Josef. “It’s for the case. We are going to stakeout one of the houses, I need you to watch the other.”

“Why do I want to do this again?”

“Josef, are you going to help or not?”

“Yeah, yeah don’t get so touchy. Give me the address.”

Mick rattled off the address for Josef.

“If I have to do lackey work I plan on bringing my dinner with me,” Mick could hear Josef licking his lips.

“Just stay focused, I know how you are distracted when you eat. I’ll send the pictures to your phone if you see them show up call us.”

“Yeah, have fun on your little stakeout. Don’t get yourself distracted with Blondie.”

“Goodbye, Josef,” with that Mick hung up. Turning to Beth, “Now both are covered, you ready to go?”

Beth grabs her bag and heads to the door, Mick right behind her.

MLMLMLMLML

Mick parks the Benz a few houses down the street where they have a good line of sight on anyone approaching the house. After shutting off the engine the car fills with silence. Mick reaches over to take Beth’s hand but she pulls it away, reaching in her bag, pulling out a bottle of water and a book. Beth situates herself with her back against the door and starts to flip through the book. Mick’s eyes never leave her, she was avoiding him and he had no idea why.

“What’s wrong?” His voice full of his uncertainty.

Not even looking up from her book, “Nothing.”

Mick reaches across the seat and takes the book from her hands setting it on the floor board getting her to look up at him, Mick takes her hands in his. “No, there’s something wrong. You are mad, mad at me and I don’t know what I did.”

Beth is ready to let him have it, ready to get her answers, “Where do you see this relationship we have going?”

Mick looks like a deer caught in headlights, “Beth, what do you mean?”

“Do you plan on us being together in say 3 months?”

Mick pulls her hands to his lips holding them tight as she tries to pull them away. “I love you; I will love you as long as I live. I want to be with you as long as we have no matter how long that is.”

I want to spend your life with you, I even find myself wishing for eternity with you. I don’t know what my life would be without you in it.

Beth blinks back a tear, “Well it doesn’t seem like you want me around for very long.”

Mick goes to say something when Beth reaches for the long range camera she borrowed, “They’re here.”

Beth hands the camera to Mick as he snaps a few pictures, Beth pulls her phone out and dials Ben.

“They showed…yes, I will stay in the car…just get here and arrest them.”

Beth hangs the phone up frustrated at being told to wait in the car. Mick can hear the sirens off in a distance.

“I’m going to go watch the back make sure they don’t make a run when they hear the sirens.”

Beth nods, “I’ll be right here waiting in the car.” Mick cant help but laugh she was so cute when she was being sarcastic.

MLMLMLMLML

The police arrive and arrest Robert and Michelle Copeland with no problems. They are informed of their rights and taken downtown. When Mick makes his way back to the car Beth is not there. His panic is eased when he spots her talking to Ben surrounded by cops, at least she was safe.

Seeing Mick watching her she tells Ben she will be right back and heads back over to Mick.

“We got’em,” Mick flashes is boyish smile.

“Yeah, we did. Hey I have to go into work, I want to write my report while it is fresh on my mind. I am just going to ride in with Ben.” Beth grabs her things from the passenger side of the Benz.

“I can give you a ride,” Mick still wants to finish their discussion.

“No, its okay it will be easier for me to ride with Ben he needs me to fill him in. It might take a while I don’t know how long I’ll be, I can just get Oscar to give me a ride home.”

Beth looks over to Ben who is waving her to come on, she starts back towards him, “Thanks for your help, Mick.”

Mick is left leaning on the hood of his car, trying to figure out what just happened. Realizing Josef was still watching the other house he decided to relieve him.

“So did we get the bad guys?”

“We got them, you can go home.”

“Don’t sound so happy.”

“I’m coming over for a drink.”

MLMLMLMLML

Mick makes his way into Josef's, pouring himself a drink. Lost in his own thoughts he doesn’t acknowledge Josef.

Josef waves his hand in the air talking to himself. "Thanks for your help Josef, and your Scotch. You are welcome Mick, no problem at all to help a friend."

Mick downs the drink in one gulp. "Thanks Josef."

"Now Mick, if you got the bad guys why are you in such a bad mood? Playing house with Blondie not turning out so good?"

"Yes...No....I don't know." Mick throws his hands in the air in frustration. "Beth is mad at me for...I don't know."

"What did you do now Mick?" If looks could kill Josef would be dead, with the look Mick was shooting him. "Okay what happened?"

"Everything was great, we were happy then she got all pissed off."

Mick threw himself into Josef's couch; Josef joined him bringing their glasses and the bottle. After pouring them both a glass Josef hands one to Mick.

"Think about it when did she get pissed off? What was the first sign?"

Mick took a small drink, "Last night I asked her is she was coming over and she said no. It seemed like she was upset about something but she said she was tired. Then I get there today for our stakeout and she...she pulled away just focused on work wouldn't look at me."

Mick finished the glass, "When we were in the car I tried to ask her about it and she starts asking me where I see us going, do I see us together in 3 months. I have no idea why she would ask me this but when I tell her how much she means to me she gets even more upset saying it doesn't seem like I want her around. What is that supposed to mean?"

Josef finishes his glass and refills both.

"Mick I have learned a lot about women in my years, one thing I have learned is no one will ever completely understand women."

Mick rolls his eyes, "That isn't much help Josef."

"It's just the truth but let’s see if I can figure out what you did wrong." Josef takes a drink and thinks it over for a moment. "She declined your invitation to come over in favor of sleeping in her own bed, that's not good. Blondie can’t be comfortable sleeping on your couch."

“I have an air bed for her,” he replied indignant.

Josef looked Mick straight in the eyes and started to laugh. His laugh was loud and deep, tears could be seen in the elder vampires’ eyes.

"Mick you have to be kidding me. It's a wonder Blondie hasn't left your clueless ass high and dry."

Mick still failed to see what was so funny, regretting bringing this subject up.

"What is so funny Josef?"

"Mick an air mattress are you serious? I still don't see how you went all these years without a bed."

"I'm a vampire I don’t need a bed," Mick answers defensively.

"A bed is good for more than sleeping Mick."

Mick stays silent and downs the last of his drink. Josef follows suit and pours them another.

"Are you saying she is mad at me for not having a bed?"

"I would be. Mick she has come to accept you, the things that come with you. She has made changes to be a part of your life and you are still keeping her at arms length."

"What? I have not.”

“How much have you really told her about us? I’m guessing you have only told her what she figured out for herself.”

“I have tried to make her welcome. I keep food, my bathroom is full of things I have no idea what they are for."

"That's all well and good Mick but the bed. One it's not comfortable and two an air mattress is supposed to be a temporary thing Mick, your keeping one instead of getting a bed could make her feel like you don't expect her to be around long enough to have a bed."

"I...I never..."

Mick starts to think of everything Beth had said along with everything Josef just said and starts to realize he was right. Mick gets up finishes his drink and walks out.

"You're welcome," Josef shouts after Mick.

MLMLMLMLML

Mick makes his way around his apartment; it had never been anything more than an office and place to sleep now it felt like a home. Beth was able to do that, he could smell her all over his loft; in every room he had memories of her, well almost every room. Opening the gray door, his bed room, Mick leaned on the door frame. No memories of her in here. Not a suitable place for her to sleep for obvious reasons, he had to sleep alone.

Pushing off the door frame Mick shut the door and walked down the hall to another room that Beth had never seen. Opening the door the room was almost empty, only boxes of old files and things from the past which he had kept including his old army chest. Looking at his watch he looks at the room once again a smile tracing his lips.

MLMLMLMLML

It is a quarter after 11 when Mick pulls up outside of Beth’s apartment. It had taken him longer than he thought to get things ready but her light was still on. Steadying himself Mick makes his way up to her door silently praying she would agree. Knocking softly he hears her inside as she comes to the door.

“Mick, what are you doing here?”

“I needed to see you.” Mick pulls her hands into his still out in the hallway. “Come with me.”

Beth quarks an eyebrow, “Its late Mick.”

“I know. I’m sorry. Will you come with me though? Please Beth.”

When Mick gives her his pleading smile she is unable to resist. She has him come in as she changes, which allows Mick with his vamp speed to grab her overnight bag sitting by the door and drop it in the car before she is changed.

MLMLMLMLML

The ride had been silent after Mick refused to tell Beth where he was taking her. As they pulled into his parking garage she eyed him up and down, then she noticed her over night bag in the back seat. Silently Beth struggled with herself, on one hand she thought his determination to get her to come over was sweet; on the other hand it was presumptuous of him to assume she would just stay.

As they got off the elevator and to his door she couldn’t hold it in any longer, “What are we doing here Mick?”

“I have something to show you.”

Mick opened the door and extended his hand for her to come in. She looks him in the eyes trying to read him, her eyes giving nothing but a look of irritation, but she comes in. To her surprise the air mattress isn’t ready, no candles, no music playing, nothing.

Setting her bag down on the couch Mick takes her hand in his, “Follow me.”

Beth allows him to lead her up the stairs and down the hall towards a room she had never seen before. Her heart starts to race as he stops just in front of the door. turning to her, taking both hands into his, bringing them to his lips and placing a kiss on her knuckles.

Holding her eyes with his, “I never want you to think I don’t want you around. I want you in my life…for a long time. I know sometimes I screw up, I am still getting used to this…to us.”

Mick pulls one of his hands from hers he reaches down and opens the door. Beth’s hands drop from his as she looks inside the room. It is simple nothing fancy the corner piled with old boxes but what was in the middle of the room brought a tear to her eyes. A simple king sized bed. The only other furniture was a nightstand with lamp and alarm clock to the right hand side. As Beth looked speechless at the room, Mick wrapped his arms around her waist leaning into her ear.

“Forgive me for making you sleep on that air bed all theses weeks. Given my normal sleeping arrangements it was a vast improvement I never thought about anything but you in my arms. I want you in my life. Stay the night with me Beth.”

Beth turns in his arms tears falling down her checks; Mick brushes them away with his thumbs.

“You bought a bed for me?” Beth asks in astonishment at his sweet gesture.

“No.” Placing a soft kiss to her lips, “I bought a bed for us.”

The smile on her face made Mick’s undead heart jump, in that moment the hours he spent rushing to clean the room, buy a bed and other simple furnishings and have them set up was worth it. Mick leaned down feathered his lips across hers, she sighed pressing her lips to his harder deepening the kiss. Their teasing kisses continued for long moments, both lost to how perfect the moment was. Mick pulled back causing her to pout sticking her lower lip out slightly, a move Mick found incredibly irresistible.

Mick looked into her eyes, “Stay the night with me.”

Beth smiled wider, nodding her head yes, before bursting into a giggle, “Yes I will stay the night with you Mick.”

Mick kissed her lips soundly again taking in her words, music to his ears. Mick released her so she could go down and grab her bag and get herself ready for bed for the second time that night, Mick did the same running to his freezer room grabbing his red silk bottoms. When she returned from the bathroom Mick had the covers turned down.

Beth set her clothes down in a pile to the side before joining Mick by the beds edge. Beth was the first to crawl under the covers of the comfortable bed, Mick sliding in right behind her. Beth turned into him using his chest as her pillow as her hand absently traced small hearts and other shapes while he did the same to her shoulder. Beth sat up pulling his left hand into hers, slipping his ring off and put it back to its rightful place on his right index finger.

“Back where it belongs.”

Mick smiled at how well she knew him, down to which finger he wore his ring. Taking her hands in his he started to take her ‘wedding’ ring off when she pulled her hand back.

“What are you doing?”

“It’ll turn your finger green,” Mick teased as he took the ring off her reluctant finger.

“I want to keep it, a memento for our case.”

“I’ll get you a chain for it,” Beth nodded.

Mick set the ring on the night stand and turned off the lights as they settled into each others embrace. Back to front Mick held her close listening to the sounds of her heart, her breathing soothed as she fell asleep. He followed soon behind her placing a kiss to her shoulder.

Author: Evilous

s02e05: What Goes Around

2008-09-16T07:48:00.000-07:00

Author: Photosue

Mick stepped out of his car, closing the door and reaching for his large maroon golf bag. He turned sharply as a cart came flying around the corner, Ted behind the wheel and James holding on tight. The small tires screeched to a halt at Mick's feet.

"Hey man, glad you could finally make it." Ted said waving at Mick, James nodded his agreement.

"Where’s Josef?"

"He’s waiting at the first tee."

Mick secured his bag on the back of the cart, and took a seat, holding on tight to the railing. The course was pitch black, at Josef’s request, he said it gave a different edge to the game. They rode up and over the perfectly manicured landscape until they reached the first tee. Six giggling freshies stood around Josef, eyes wide and fumbling in the darkness. Josef was moving around between them enjoying his advantage over them. Pinching, whispering, nipping, moving the girls together to watch them fumble their way around. Games, Josef declared, were always more interesting in the dark.
"Mick!" Josef grabbed a very familiar freshie and walked towards him.

"Freshie Golf?" Mick raised his eyebrow in agitation.

"Well, since you’re here, you might as well play." Josef kissed Simone on the cheek. Mick sighed, tonight eternity would seem like a very long time.

"Hi Mick," she peered into the darkness trying to focus on his face, but ended up facing Ted.

"Hello again." Mick smiled at her, then turned to glare at Josef.

"Relax, it's not like I brought you any freshies," Josef eyed a tall blond bending down, and in a low tone added, "C'mon be a sport," Josef clapped Mick on his shoulder. Mick rolled his eyes and shouldered his bag.

The night carried on with Cuban Cigars burning and MacAllen Scotch flowing. Josef was surprisingly well behaved, given that Simone was there. She couldn’t see, but she could hear, and that kept most of Josef’s attention on her. It also gave Mick someone intelligent to talk to.

Ted was thoroughly enjoying himself, more than once he had grabbed one of the girls and proceeded to play rock the cart with her. James played Freshie golf with a little more finesse, at least he pulled them out of sight, when he wanted more than blood. It wasn't like he hadn't seen it all before. In fact that was the problem, he had seen this all too many times before. It made it a very long game, if you could even still call it a game. Mick was the only one keeping score, and Josef was still beating him. Simone walked over to Mick, using one of Josef’s putter as a walking cane.

"Hey, Mick?" She said, stepping a little too close to him. He could smell the actions and boundaries of her relationship with Josef.

"Hi," he responded, causing her to startle at their closeness, and quickly move back a step.

"I was just wondering, where Beth is?"

"Well, Josef had me under the impression that tonight, we would be playing a gentlemen’s game."

"No gentlemen has even played this game, I can assure you!" Josef barked back, then began feeding again.

"I was talking about the Golf." Mick replied.

"So was I." Josef answered.

Simone was giggling at their exchange. Mick guided Simone back to Josef, "he’s going to need that club soon," Simone nodded in his approximate direction.

The game was quickly loosing it’s players, and Mick was surprised that they had actually made it to the 9th hole before half the team had started playing "Hunt the Freshie" and "Seek n' Sex" around the course. As much as the women giggled and squealed there was always an element of real fear and the requirement that they trust Josef to control his friends. This set Mick on edge until he finally packed up his bag and drove back to his car. At least he got a little practice.

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It was a quiet neighborhood, full grown trees and cared for lawns. The kind of place you would want to buy a home and start a family, except for all the crime scene tap and police cars. Beth pulled her car across the street and walked up to one of the officers fending off the press and nosey neighbors. She flashed her badge and he lifted the tape. The Coroners were wheeling the body out the front door when Carl walked up to her.

So working alone again, where’s your friend?" Carl asked.

"Who, Mick?" she asked, on guard.

"Yeah, Mick, seems like you two have been joined at the hip lately." Beth thought, God, Carl is in a mood.

"He’s busy." She tersely replied.

"Yeah, right. When he's not all over our crime scenes the master P.I. must be in high demand for finding cheating spouses, and false insurance claims." He replied, "I thought I warned you about that guy, I hear he is still around. Ever think that you're dating a guy who's an expert on infidelity."

"C'mon, Carl, why should I listen to your advice."

"Yeah, well, I just had my annual review and a comment was made about the number of times you and St. John appeared in my reports. If you like your job, you should distance yourself. Do the job on your own."

She ignored his bitter comment, pulling out her note pad and walked away. Carl wanted to push buttons, and she wasn’t going to give him any satisfaction. "So are you gonna give me the grand tour, or should I call Ben to explain my authorized appearance in your report?" she crossed her arms, "We're on the same side."

"Right this way… Miss Turner." He motioned her towards the door. Beth pulled some booties over her shoes and put on a pair gloves. Carl escorted her through the front door stopping just inside.

"Victim was found laying here," he motioned towards a large brown spot on the carpet just inside the door, "gardener found her and then called it in."

Beth looked around the house, everything seemed to be intact. Shelves of figurines, small tea sets, and doilies adorned every square inch of usable space. Lacy pillows were neatly aligned along the couch and matching chairs.

"No sign of a struggle." She commented. Carl nodded.

"Yeah, wait till you see the bedroom." He walked her through to the back of the house.

The crime scene investigators were working the room. The mattress of the bed was leaned up against the wall, ripped open. Stuffing and bits of fabric littered the floor, blankets from the bed piled in the corner.

"Wow." Was all she could say.

"Yeah, the killer seems to of had an agenda."

"Did she keep her money in the mattress?"

"Good guess, it’s not uncommon for children of the depression to do that and CSI found a money wrap on the floor. They bagged it for prints." Carl motioned her back down the hall.

"We think the victims name was Vida Ingles, according to neighbors she lived alone, no known relatives, age around mid eighties. I need you to help the officers interview the neighbors."

They walked out of the house, Beth pulled off her gloves and booties sticking them in an evidence bag.

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Beth walks down the familiar corridors of the LA County morgue, Oscar close behind, texting on his Blackberry. She smiles at Guillermo as she walks into the exam room. He gives her a friendly smile and walks her over to the body of Vida Ingles.

"Hey, where’s Mick? I thought you two were joined at the hips?" his waggles his eyebrows at her.

"He was doing some male bonding with Josef last night on the golf course." She chuckled. "He’s sleeping in."

"Ah, oh, ok." Guillermo nods and sighs as he pulls the report. "She was stabbed up close and personal, looks like a steak knife," he chuckles at the pun.

"Is this a… vampire crime?" she whispers the last part, Oscar briefly looks up from his phone.

"No way, besides, you know I’d drag Mick’s frozen ass down here if it was." He points back at the body, "she died of blunt force trauma, even before she bled out. The rest is in the report. Shame, really."

"Wow, I didn’t know you had such a soft spot for little old ladies?"

"No, I just don’t like wasting food." He gives her a fanged smile and she giggles.

Oscar shifts to stand alert just before Terrance walks into the room,

"Hey, Beth. Didn’t think you’d be among the living today."

"Why would you say that?" She cocks her head to one side.

Guillermo is shaking his head trying to shut Terrance up, but he’s not getting the hint.

"You and Mick, golfing with Josef last night, heard it was really wild! James had this chick, oh, man, Par Four! Do you guys even play golf?" Terrance was laughing and his face fell slowly as he looked at a very curious Beth and a stunned Guillermo.

"Um, what’s up?" He asks in a shallow voice.

Beth crosses her arms, "Wild huh?"

"Uh, you are his freshie, right?" Beth shakes her head. Terrance swallows hard, "I’m gonna… go do something." he vamps speeds out of the room.

Beth turns on Guillermo, "Did you know?"

"Beth…"

"Just give me the damn report." She snatches it out of his hands and leaves the room. Oscar walks silently behind her.

Beth stops before she gets to her car, turning on Oscar, "Did you know?"

Oscar folds his arms and takes a defensive stance.

"Of course you did! You all fucking knew!" She slams the car door and jams the key in the ignition.

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Mick stepped out of his freezer, scratching frost off of his face and out of his hair. He grabbed his robe and headed downstairs, tying the strings on his pants. He had slept much longer then he intended, grabbed his phone on the way to his kitchen. Beth had called, and left a message. "Hey, I’m working late at the office, I’ll talk to you tomorrow." It was quick and cold. He played it again. [em]Working late? Since when did that make a difference?[/em] He ran upstairs to dress, and then go see Beth.

Files and notes were spread all over the large conference table. Photos in one pile and the various notes from officers in another. Ben walked in carrying take out bags from a Chinese restaurant, placing them on the table. He looked at Beth, she was absently picking at her fingernail, holding a statement but not reading it.

"Hey, are you OK? You seem a little distracted?" Ben asked, handing Beth her styrofoam box dinner.

"Yeah, I’m fine. Just focused on the case," She lied. Images of Mick and orgy golf had been clouding her thoughts since the morgue. She didn't want to think that anything had happened, she trusted him, but then again, she was just too angry to talk to him about it without overreacting.

"Sure... Well, did you get any leads so far?" he opened his own dinner and dug in, taking a huge bite of noodles. Beth watched him, transfixed.

[em]When had it become strange to see another person eating?[/em] She wondered.

Ben stopped chewing. "Do I have something on my face?" he asked.

"What? …Oh, no, sorry, just used to eating alone." She smiled and began eating, flipping through reports.

"Mick doesn’t eat with you?"

She swallowed. Hot needles prickled their way down her spine. [em]God! Why did I say that?[/em] Her mind filled with a dozen stupid answers and none of them sounded even remotely plausible. "Of course he does," she said casually "We eat together... when we have time," she bit her lip, "Here’s something," changing the subject, she pulled the page up, "Carla Johnson, neighbor three doors down, says that Vida tried to poison Tim Carson’s dog, Tim lives behind Vida."

"Yeah, well, Tim is currently out of town on business." He rolled his eyes. "Another neighbor ratted him out already. But a Cyndi Lewis says that Vida was having sex with the UPS driver, the mailman, and her gardener. There’s a few jealous lovers." He took a bite of his spicy orange chicken, and let out a moan, "Damn that’s good! How’s the kung pow?"

"Mmmm, it never disappoints." Continuing to make satisfied eating noises, she stops to say. "Yea, well, the same Cyndi Lewis says that Vida would walk around on her roof at night in the nude." They both let out a laugh.

Mick could hear Beth and Talbot laughing as soon as the elevator doors opened. [em]Certainly didn’t match the abrupt tone of her voicemail[/em]. The lobby doors were open, and he could see the lone office light on, and it’s occupants. Oscar hovering nearby in the darkness. Beth was eating and flipping through papers. [em]Talbot sitting there, watching her, fondling her with his eyes[/em]. Mick walked closer, then stopped just before the doorway, still in the darkness.

"Here, try the chicken. You'll love it." Ben spears a piece with his fork and holds it up to her. She hesitates, then grabs the fork, pulling the piece off with her own fork, then handing the utensil back to him. She almost thought for a moment that Ben had intended to feed her. It was odd, but she smiled and tried to stay polite. She was just beginning to wonder if staying late was such a good idea when she noticed that Mick was standing in the doorway. Arms crossed, brow furrowed and staring straight at Talbot. Ben was still looking at Beth when his eyes also moved to the doorway.

"Mick?" Beth breathed. Her heart skipped and she wondered if he noticed. She stood up to hide her sudden, unfounded embarrassment.

His look softened and he walked over to her, placing his hand possessively on her back. "I got your message and thought I’d come down to see if you needed any help." He leaned in and placed a kiss on her cheek. [em]Did she pull away?[/em]

Trying to remain professional, Beth grabbed Mick’s wandering hand, and took a step back. "yeah, well, I think we have things under control here… just paperwork." She gives him a half hearted smile.

Talbot leans back in his chair, and folds his arms. "You know, Mick, she’s perfectly capable of doing her job." he smiles sarcastically. Mick lets out a deep breath slowly, and thinks about throwing Talbot into the next zip code.

Beth squeezes his hand, pulling him out of the office, glaring at Ben as she passes him.

She turns to him when they are far down the hall, "Why are you here?" dropping his hand.

He reaches out to touch her arm, "you sounded upset in your message."

"I told you I’d talk to you tomorrow."

"I just wanted to make sure you were alright." He reaches out to caress her shoulder.

"Look, I have a lot of work to do," she stands unresponsive in front of him.

"Really?" He cocks his head, and pulls his touch away.

"…and I have to get up early tomorrow," she continued.

He puts his hands on his hips. "What the hell is going on?"

She crosses her arms and adjusts her stance, "Just be honest with me, what [em]exactly[/em] does golfing with Josef really entail?"

His expression dropped from concern to dread. She noticed the change, a secret revealed, and he looked shocked that she knew. Before he could answer her, Beth put her hand up shaking her head, "I have to get back to work."

She turned and started to walk away, "Beth... wait... Call me." he pleaded.

She nods turning the corner to the office. Mick runs his hand through his hair, [em]Fuck![/em]

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Mick sat at his desk, drumming his fingers, and trying to think of any one that might have talked to Beth and given her the wrong idea. He picked up his phone and called Josef. After several rings, he finally answered.

"What?"

"Did you talk to Beth?"

"Why would I want to talk to Beth?" Josef was annoyed.

"Did you?"

"No, why?"

"She heard about last night from someone and now she’s got the wrong idea…"

Josef burst into laughter on the other end of the line. "No, man, she didn’t hear it from me," he laughed.

"Give me Simone’s number." Mick demanded.

"She didn’t talk to Beth either," suddenly humorless

"Give me her number."

"Look, I’m sorry you’re in the doghouse, so I’ll call her and make sure she didn’t say anything to Beth."

"Your still with her, aren’t you?"

"Damn you’re a good P.I.!"

"Ok, yeah, whatever. Call me later." Mick hangs up.

Josef rolls over and puts his phone back on the night stand. Simone comes walking back into the room, bowl of ice cream in her hands.

"What are you going to talk to me about?"

"Mick’s in trouble with Beth again."

"Hmm, that seems to happen a lot to him, and he’s such a gentlemen?"

"Yeah, well he could save himself a lot of trouble if he just sat her down and explained a few things about vamps."

"I don’t think he could have explained last night very easily to her." He nuzzled into her neck and the sex play began all over again.

Mick scrolled through his phone and dialed Oscar’s number. On the second ring he answered.

"My shift is over." He declared

"Who did she talk to today?"

"Don’t get me involved with your little affairs. Sort out your own mess." And he hung up.[em] Fuck![/em]

Mick wanted to throw the phone across the room, but instead he was back to drumming his fingers. [em]11:42pm, she’s not going to call[/em]. He held his phone, silently willing it to ring.

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The next morning, Talbot knocked on Mick’s office door. Nothing. He knocked again, and this time Mick answered. He stood there, arm on his door, regarding the early morning visitor.

"Hey." He said looking around the hall.

"Hey, Mick, I uh… Can we talk for a minute?"

Mick pulled his door open, allowing Talbot to enter his loft.

"Sorry for the early visit, but I was in the neighborhood…"

[em]Beth’s boss, be nice,[/em] he reminded himself.

"Not a problem, can I get you something?"

"Yeah, coffee, please, if you still have some… late night." Talbot looks around the open loft.

Mick gives him a sidelong glance, "Sure." He grabs the French press. "So… big case?" Mick asks.

"Beth didn’t tell you about it?" Talbot pretends to look surprised.

"No," Mick replies, slamming the press down to brew the coffee. "Not yet."

"Surprising," Talbot responds.

Mick hands him a cup of black coffee.

"Cream?" Talbot asks before taking a sip.

"Sorry, I’m out."

"Not a problem." He takes a sip, gives a smile "That’s good."

"So, are you going to tell me why your here? It can’t be for the coffee." Mick turns around to place the press in the sink. Talbot delicately tips his cup, letting the dark brew dribble down the front of his tie.

"Damn," he says "Murphy’s Law, always happens before work. Can I use your restroom?" Talbot’s heart rate suddenly spikes.

"Sure, up the stairs and to the right. Door’s open." Mick gives him a suspicious look.

Ben sets his cup down and heads up the stairs. He closes the door behind him and looks around. Mick’s bathroom was as big as his office. He walked over to the sink, pulling off his tie and splashed some water on it. He pulled on the mirror above the sink, swinging it forward. Toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, other than being almost empty, there was nothing extraordinary. He opened some drawers, same thing, normal stuff, soap, comb, nail clippers. Ben wasn’t sure what he was looking for, maybe he just wanted to see that Mick was a normal guy.

He opened up the cabinet, towels and sunscreen. Lots of sunscreen, about 12 bottles, all SPF 80. Skin problems? Ben stared at the bottles, all various brands. He opened the mirror again, then the drawers. Something was wrong. Something was missing. He began to do a mental check list of his own bathroom, when it hit him. Medicine. No bottles of Tylenol, Tums, old prescriptions, nothing. The guy didn’t even have band aids. Nobody is that healthy. He dried his tie, loosely putting it back on and headed back downstairs. Mick was nowhere to be seen. Ben walked back to the kitchen, grabbing his coffee and taking another sip. Still no Mick. He walked over to the refrigerator and peeked through the glass door. Apples, soda, and some kind of take out food container. He opened the nearest cupboard and began to peek inside…

"Need something?" Mick asked from behind him.

Talbot’s heart rate shoots through the roof. Mick smiles.

"Hey, there you are." Talbot tried to calm himself. He took a few slow steps away from Mick.

"Look, I know you’re Beth’s boyfriend and you're good at your job. The Department doesn’t mind P.I.’s helping with cold cases, but when it comes to an ongoing investigation, we just can’t risk it. I appreciate your help in the past, and if we need you, we’ll call you. You’re top of the list, promise." He took one last sip of his coffee, "And about last night," Mick stiffened at the memory, "don’t ever bring your relationship issues into my office again. I’ll see myself out."

Talbot turned and walked out of the loft. Mick stood rooted to the spot. His chest was constricting, painful spasm with every breath, Did Beth tell him? Mick growled at the thought of Talbot giving solace to Beth, last night, …in his office, …alone. [em]Fucking Oscar, why was he being so tight lipped[/em]? He tried her cell phone, straight to voicemail, [em]Damn it! [/em]

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"Thank you Miss Goldstein, for meeting with me." Beth smiled at the elderly woman who sat at her desk.

"Not a problem, deary, I couldn’t believe it when I heard the news last night. Cyndi came over to my house and told me all about it. Was she found in the nude? Anyway, I thought the least I could do is come down here and talk to y’all… what a way to end a vacation." Miss Goldstein rambled on. Beth sipped her coffee and took notes.

"Well, Actually we wanted to know if Mrs. Ingles had any strange visitors, problems, anyone that might want to cause her some harm?" She inquired.

"Well, she wasn’t exactly the socialite of the neighborhood, but I can’t see why anyone would want to kill her."

"You said ‘Mrs.’, was she married?"

"Oh, darling, that was years ago, she was a late bride, and an only child too, I believe, but she married Bruce, and he had plenty of family to fill her heart."

"Married? We didn’t hear about that from any of the other neighbors."

"Well, like I said, she wasn’t exactly the social butterfly of the block. But she and I did become friends. I’ll miss her, but that’s what happens when you get as old as me I guess, everyone you love goes away."

The comment struck a chord with Beth, she gazed at the old woman’s tired eyes, her age close to that of Mick’s. Even immortality didn’t protect you from loss and Beth wondered what the difference would be; living forever, or living to old age, you still lost in the end.

"Is there any family from her late husband’s side that you know? Someone we could contact?"

"Well, after Bruce died, they stopped coming around," she looked down for a moment and fiddled with her purse, "but there was Gregg."

"Who is Gregg?"

"Gregg is, well, I guess her step-nephew, he would come by every now and then. I didn’t like him much, but he would come over and spend time with her. She would dote over him. I found out she was giving him money, so I told her he was young enough to go out and get a job and to stop giving him money. She did and he stopped coming by."

"How long ago was this?" Beth put her pen down.

"About three months ago, I think."

"Do you know his last name?"

"It’s Bruce's brother’s son, so I assume the last name was Ingles, but nowadays you never can tell."

"Thank you, Miss Goldstein, here’s my card. Please give me call if there’s anything else you can think of."

Miss Goldstein gathered her purse, smiling at Beth and walked out of the office.

"Ben!" Beth rushed into his office,

"Get this, Vida had a nephew! I looked him up and I think the detectives should go and check him out."

"Ok, I put it on their docket" He threw the file down on his desk and turned back to his computer. Beth shifted her stance and crossed her arms.

"Um, are they going to get to it anytime soon?"

"They’re busy right now. In fact, all of our homicide detectives are being stretched thin, it seems there have been a rash of murders lately." He leaned back in his chair and gave her a challenging look.
"Well, then if you don’t mind, I’ll just look into it myself." She grabbed the file and headed out of his office. Ben jumped to his feet and caught her.

"Beth, wait! Don’t go by yourself," Beth looked down at his hand holding on to her forearm, he released her. "I mean, take one of the uniforms with you."

"I’ll see you later," and with that she walked out of the office.

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He had to get out of the loft, even if it was just for an hour. Walking down the familiar green corridors of the morgue was a small escape and seeing friends might do him some good. He pushed open the door to Guillermo’s exam room and greeted his friend. He could smell her in the room, amongst all the blood and chemical, Beth’s smell was still strong there.

"Was Beth here today?"

"Uh, …no, yesterday. She came in to see a body and get a report." Guillermo suddenly found himself extremely busy.

"Really?" Mick followed him to another table, "So, did you guys talk?"

"Talk? Of course we talked, we talked about the body, we talked took about the report. Did we talk? Really, Mick, you sound paranoid." Guillermo pulled out a bag of blood. "Want a drink? Blood Alcohol Content is 2.5"

"No, thank you." Guillermo didn’t like the tone of Mick’s voice or the way he was looking at him either.

Guillermo was just about to make a break for the door when Terrance walked in, whistling, the poor bastard. Terrance took one look at Mick, scented the anger in the air and started to run for it. Mick chased him down the halls and pinned him on a gurney.

"Why you running, Terrance?" He snarled.

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Beth rode in the cruiser with Officer Daniels, looking in the mirror she could see Oscar following behind. She felt silly asking an officer to take her to a suspect’s house knowing that Oscar could dismantle any person that posed a threat to her. Her second guardian. That’s when her phone rang, it was Mick again. Daniels looked over at her as she turned her phone off.

"Avoiding someone?"

"More like still cooling off." Beth took a deep sigh.

"Yeah," he chuckled, "My wife does the same thing to me when she’s mad. Hey, go easy on him, he probably doesn’t even know what he did."

Beth chuckled then rolled her eyes "[em]he knows alright[/em]!" she thought. But she wasn’t about to let Officer Dildo into her personal life.

They walked up the steps to the apartment, loud music playing inside and a sweet smell lingered. She looked back and saw Oscar leaned against her car across the street.

Officer Daniels knocked on the door, a shuffle of movement was heard. He knocked again with more force. A sleepy blonde answered the door, shielding her eyes from the sun. Beth wondered momentarily if she was vamp, then thought better of it when she saw the track lines on her arms.

"What the fuck do you want!" she barked.

"We’re with the District Attorney’s office, is Gregg Ingles here?" The Officer asked.

She slinked away from the door, "He’s on the couch," leaving the door open she walked down the hall and out of sight. Beth and the officer exchanged looks.

"You’re the civilian. Take a look."

Beth peeked inside the apartment. It was dark and smoky; trash littered the floor and every available surface. Dirty laundry was laying around, old dried food stuck to dishes piled in the sink and along the counter. But in the living room, the source of all the loud music, was a brand new stereo system. Squinting her eyes she could see iPods and a large pile of heroine sacks next to the largest bong she had ever seen. Cozy.

"I think you might want to take a look at this." She called to the officer. He peeked in the door, and nodded to her.

Stepping back outside, he called into his radio for backup.

Beth waited outside the apartment until the backup units arrived. The occupants were all arrested on drug charges and Gregg was being taken in for questioning. As Beth started to make her way back to the office, Oscar sat next to her.

"You’ve been in a foul mood." She chided him. It was a game she began to play due to his lack of conversation. "I at least expect you to nod or smile or do something besides…nothing."

He turned his head and gave her a great big fake smile and held it until it began to make her uncomfortable.

"Ok, you can stop now! You’re much prettier when you do nothing."

Oscar smiled inwardly

"You don’t like humans do you?" she asked.

"Oh, I like humans."

The remainder of the ride back to the office was in silence.

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He kept glancing at the clock, then pacing, then angrily staring at his phone, only to return to the file sitting in front of him. Josh had been very close to the truth, he only needed a gentle nudge to find it and he probably would have. He had a statement from Leni, and made remarks about Beth’s arm. Notes about Lola’s factory, Black Crystal, and Beth's cell phone record. But it was the older records and files that Lindsay had pulled, cases Mick had worked on before Beth, even notes about his so called father Mick St. John Sr., that made him wonder how close Talbot is to the truth.

The visit this morning was unsettling on many levels. On one hand the guy seemed like he was vying for her, then on the other, he seemed out to discover his secret. Maybe both. Mick sat back in his chair, looked at the clock, then to his phone. He closed the file and began to pace his office. When his phone rang he nearly lunged for it. "Josef." He answered, his tone one of disappointment.

"Really! Don’t tell me you're still in the doghouse?"

"What’s up?" Mick asked exasperated.

"It can wait. This is far better. So how’d she find out anyway?" Josef could have been a school girl with the glee in his voice.

"Vamp at the morgue, Terrance."

"Want me to take care of him?" his tone almost hopeful.

"What?… No!" Mick slammed the file shut.

"Well I’ve had my fair share of trouble with the ladies, so I’ll give you a little piece of advice; just go to her, explain your lack of… actions, and she’ll forgive you for being so boring."

"Very funny." Mick scoffed, " But I'll give it a try."

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Beth plopped down in her chair, and wiggled the mouse to wake up the computer. She had most of her report written and it would only take a hour to finish it off. Ben appeared at her desk, pulling a chair up beside her, effectively blocking her in the cubicle.

"Good job on the Ingles case." He said with praise.

"Thanks, I’m just finishing up the report." She replied tired.

"Glad to see you're in the swing of things."

"Thanks again." She gave him a doubtful look.

"Listen, a bunch of us are going down to the San Juan Club for drinks and I’d like for you to come, with me." He was playing with a paper clip on her desk.

Beth’s eyes widened.

"Oh, well, that’s a nice offer, but really I just want to go home." [i]To Mick[/i].

"Sure, I understand." Ben stood up and pushed the chair back. "So, who’s the guy?"

"Guy?"

"The guy that’s been following you around. Officer Daniels said he followed you two today."

[em]Shit.[/em]

"That’s Oscar."

"Oscar?"

"Yeah, I was going to tell you about him. He’s interested in being an investigator, I told him he could tag along, so long as he stayed out of my way, you don’t mind do you?"

"A groupie, eh?" he questioned.

"Yeah, well, he’s more of a glorified intern really." Beth voice raised, wondering if the vampire could hear her.

"Sure that’s fine, just keep him out of classified information."

"Will do, Boss."

Ben turned and walked back to his office, glancing back to ponder the mystery that seemed to surround Beth. He had seen Oscar before and the guy definitely did not look like the intern type. She didn’t seem to even acknowledge the guy when he was around so he couldn’t be a lover. No. One thing for sure, whoever he was Beth felt she needed to lie about him.

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Beth walked up the short flight to her floor, she rounded the corner and found Mick pacing in front of her door. He turned to her and dropped his worrying hands to his sides. She took a deep breath and continued down the hall. Walking up to her door, she didn’t say anything, just unlocked her door. Mick stood there watching her, giving her space. She opened the door, a few steps inside she turned to Mick still standing in the hallway. "You coming?"

He didn’t think twice, stepping in with one long stride and closing the door behind him. He stood in the foyer watching her place her purse on the counter, dock her phone and grab a bottle of wine. "Want some?" she offered.

[em]Ok. Maybe she’s not as pissed as I thought[/em].

Mick nods his head, walking into the living room and taking a seat on the couch. Beth walks in with two glasses and sits down on a chair across from him, setting his glass on the table. She leans back in the chair and folds her legs under her. Mick shifts in his seat, he had half expected her to share the couch with him, and now it felt huge and lonely. He grabbed the glass and took a nervous sip. Beth just stared at him.

"I didn’t see your car on the street." She spoke.

"Yeah," he studied the floor, "I didn’t want to scare you off."

He smiled, she didn’t.

"We have to be honest with each other, Mick." He felt like a little kid in trouble. "I find out about this at the morgue, Mick, the fucking vamps are gossiping about it," she motioned her hand through the air between them. "about you and me. What the hell happened that night?"

"Nothing happened…"

"[em]Something[/em] happened."

"Yeah, ok, something did happen," he stands up and hears a hitch in Beth’s heartbeat, "I stayed, despite my better judgment, played a lousy game of golf, and I fucked up with you. And that’s all that happened." Beth rises from her chair and walks over to stand next to him. Mick inspects his wine glass, then shoots back, "Now, what did you tell Talbot that made him so anxious to come over to my house at seven in the morning?"

"What? I didn’t tell him anything. He did that on his own." She sets her glass down. "Why would you think that I would talk to Talbot about us?"

"I just… well… he…"

"He gets under your skin."

"Yes." he sighed. [em]More than you can imagine[/em]. "Talbot's file on me is pretty thorough... it doesn't take much before I want to cause him bodily harm. My mind went crazy with the idea you were talking to him about us...

"About us... You didn’t fuck up. I was angry when I heard about the freshie golf; I just needed time to cool down…"

"I’m sorry. I should have just left. I did stake Terrance for being a gossipy bastard. He had to slurp down two pints of blood before the bruises went away. I hope it cut into his profit margin."

"That's supposed to make me feel better about the whole thing?

"No," [em]I'm fucking up again.[/em]

Beth steps forward and with a hand on Mick's chest pushes him back toward the couch. Forcing him to sit down or fall over the couch, Mick sits and Beth plops down on his lap. "You're cute when you’re busted, I over reacted, I should have trusted you..."

"Well me too..." Mick angles forward to kiss her, pausing a fraction of a moment to listen to the sound of Beth's pulse for signs of anger. Before he can move forward Beth closes the distance. Lips meet and loneliness retreats, for now. His mouth pulls at her lips, nibbling requesting entrance until it is granted...

"So..." he nibbled and kissed his way down her neck.

[em]"Mm-hmmm"[/em]

"...the next time you play golf with Josef"

"I’ll tell him where he can shove his clubs." He breathed against her skin.

"No, I want to be your caddy." She giggled.

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Music: Stop and Stare

It was strange. Talbot sat back and studied his notes. He had made a new list and taken notes from memory, to replace the files that had gone missing. Mick’s file had somehow disappeared, and he only had one suspect. Beth. There were secrets there, and not the bedroom kind.

[em]Uninjured when hit by a car…
No medicine in house
Aversion to sunlight
Doesn’t eat
Seemingly psychic
On the list[/em]

His phone rang. Unknown caller. He looked at his watch, almost eleven, who would be calling now?

"Ben Talbot" he answered, rubbing his eyes.

"By now I’m sure you have some questions, [em]strange[/em] questions?" The raspy voice asked

"Yes." he answered. Ben knew this caller, remembered his voice.

"Good. We’ll be in touch." The line goes dead.

Author: Photosue

s02e04: Turmoil

2008-08-09T02:03:00.000-07:00

Author: Candomom

Dark room, somewhere in LA. Chains rattling. The cell door opens. Katherine struggles against her shackles.
“Who are you? Why did you take me?” she hisses.

“You have no need to know who we are,” her captor states calmly, “but you will lead us to Mick St. John,” he declared.

She shook her head, “No I won’t!” she cries.

“Ms. Simmons it is not your choice. You are just the cheese in the mouse trap,” he chuckled and walked out slamming the cell door.

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Two weeks ago…..

As Mick and Beth walked through the double doors of the morgue Guillermo looked up and greeted them, “Good, you’re both here.”

“You said you had the reports on the sniper and the homeless man,” Mick asked his friend.

“I do,” he pulled open the two drawers that held the bodies, “you need to take a look at them, man.” He gestured at the bodies.

Mick stood between the two bodies and inhaled deeply, “No decay, but they were both around vamps recently.”

Guillermo pulled the sheets back on both bodies, “See the tattoo on the right wrist of each,” he motioned to the bodies, “the homeless guy’s is new but the sniper’s has been there a while.”

Beth looked up at Mick, “You think they are tied to the Legion, Josef was taking about?” she asked.

Mick frowned, “Yeah I do.” he sighed and turned back to Guillermo. “Do you have copies of those reports for me?”

Guillermo hand him a single CD, “That should have all the information you need.” He covered the bodies back up and closed the drawers before turning to Beth.

“Oh, and Beth, Talbot asked for the reports too.” He smiled, “Here’s your copy.” He winked and handed her another CD.

Beth rolled her eyes and smiled, “Yes this would be less any mention of vampires”, she chuckled.

Mick started to lead Beth out but turned back to Guillermo, “Be extra careful”, he said seriously.

Guillermo just nodded, “I will man, I will”, he assuredly.

Beth stops and turns to Mick as they reach the car, frowning she asks, “You’re worried about the Legion, aren’t you?”

Mick voice over: Guillermo’s a good guy, and we; I’m not close to many people, living or undead. I don’t want to lose anyone else I am close too.

“If someone can get to Ryder, who was under Josef’s protection, yes I am.”

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“You know I can’t work with you hovering,” Logan looks up at Josef hoping for him to stop leaning over him.

Josef straightens walking back behind his desk, “Ah, yes….. well, look at this way, Lando, deal with it or no more freshies for you,” he snarked back.

Logan sighed but smiled and went back to typing, “I have searches running on all recently deceased vampires looking for any that appear to be executions,” he advised.

Josef nodded, “Make sure you run national and international searches,” he instructed.

Logan just rolled his eyes, “Of course I’m not a novice,” he declared.

Josef sat bringing up the days stock reports, “Just let me know when you get a hit on something,” he says dismissively.

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Beth is just back from the visit to the morgue when Ben stops her desk,” Good you’re back from lunch,” he greets her, “I have a new case for you.”

“Okay, but before I forget,” she pulls out the CD Guillermo gave her, “here is the report from the ME’s office you requested,” she handed the CD over to Ben.

Ben sighs, “Hope this helps the investigation along a bit…..anyway I just sent you all the data on a missing persons case,” he stated.

“Is it another missing child?” she inquired. Beth hoped it wasn’t, memories were still too raw. Visiting the crime scene where two children had been killed by vampires and learning that Talbot had survived such a crime changed their relationship. Somehow they were closer but Talbot responded by becoming more formal.

Talbot looked away quickly. “No, actually this is a woman in her late twenty’s. Her name is Katherine Simmons,” Talbot had recognized the name from the mysterious list. Her name had been mentioned in passing at the weekly liaison meeting with the LAPD. Dammit that file was still missing. Talbot had thought he was usually more organized but the discovery of his biological parents had turned everything upside down. “Let me know when you get a lead, the police are stumped.” Ben said as he headed back to his office.

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The Present

Katherine Simmons is either a ghost or just obsessive about her privacy. She’s a professor, the university called when she stopped showing up to teach class. Beth thinks as she settles down at her desk to follow up another slime lead when her cell rang, “Hey Mick, what’s up?” she answered.

“Can you meet me at Josef’s office after work?” he asked.

“Yeah I get off about 5:30 so I can be there by 6pm,” she confirmed, “what’s going on?”

“Just more stuff on this case we need to go over. I’ll explain when you get here,” he assured.

“Well maybe you can help me with the missing person case I’ve been struggling with for two weeks.”.

“Of course I’ll help,” he smiled, “who’s missing?”

Beth scanned the report. “A young woman in her late twenties by the name of Katherine Simmons.”

Mick went silent on the other end. Beth looked at her phone to see if they were still connected.

“Mick? Mick? Are you still there?”

“Yeah…..yeah, I’m here.”

“You okay?” she asked.

“Oh yeah, Josef was just trying to tell me something,” he lied, “see you at 6 then,” he said.

“See ya then”, she said and clicked off.

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Josef looked at Mick as he hung up with Beth, “You know it may not be the same Katherine Simmons,” he offered.

“Yeah you’re right…..but if it is how do I tell Beth,” he wondered out loud.

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“Wow, Josef you really went all out for your office remodel!” Beth exclaimed as she entered Josef’s newly remodeled office. It was modern and traditional all at once. Low minimal lighting spotlighted contemporary furniture vaguely reminiscent of classical early-American furniture against dark grey walls with steel accents—gunship modern.

“Good evening Blondie, I’m glad you like it.” Josef greets Beth as Mick leads her to a seat next to him.

“So I assume you want to go over the M.E. reports.” Beth shrugs out of her jacket taking the bottled water which Josef offers.

Josef takes a seat across from Mick and Beth. “That’s part of it.”

“Okay………so what’s the other part?” Beth questions looking from Josef to Mick and back.

Mick and Josef share a look knowing Beth will baulk at their request.
“Beth we want you to have a security detail.” Mick braced for Beth’s righteous indignation.

Beth took a deep breath. “I appreciate the thought guys but don’t you think it will look a little odd for an investigator for the DA’s office having a private security detail.”

“She’s got a point Josef.” Mick chuckles thinking of the security team trying to keep up with Beth.

“Well considering that you two were followed the other day, not to mention the attack in the parking garage, I think we need to up our security.” Josef leans toward them.

Beth was about to offer a suggestion when Logan enters the office looking excited.

Grinning Beth leans over to Mick, “I thought you said he never leaves his basement.”

Logan just rolls his eyes. Mick chuckles leaning further toward Beth, “I believe Josef made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”

Josef leans back in the chair smirking. “That I did.”

“I got major hits on the searches.” Logan hands Josef the list of connections.

Josef scans the report letting his eyes fade to blue for a brief instant.

“If this is correct the Legion is staging covert attacks on vampires worldwide,” Josef hisses.

......................

“Why are we not executing the vampire?” Daryl paces in front of a small desk. “She’s getting hungry and dangerous. We can’t keep feeding her bottled blood. The vampires will hear about humans buying blood on the black market.”

Ian leans forward across his desk. “Because I want St. John. He has eluded us for too long. Dean almost had him but he got careless. I don’t believe we will ever find his body.”

Daryl stops pacing. “Dean was careless, that’s why he was never brought completely in for this mission. You are making this personal. That is not our way.”

Ian crosses in front of his desk. “Damn right this is personal, he killed my brother!”

“You don’t know that!” Daryl exclaims and begins to pace again.

“It has to be,” Ian declares.

Daryl steps up to Ian, “You cannot put our mission at risk for this vendetta. We don’t eliminate vampires without permission. Killing Kostan’s tech guy was supposed to send a message only, not publicize some covert hit list.” ”

Ian smiles in an evil way, “What’s one more dead vampire, besides he’s on the list anyway.”

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Mick leads Beth into his place and pulls her into a kiss.

Breaking the kiss Beth giggles. “Miss me?”

“You have no idea.” Mick mumbles into her neck.

Beth gives him a push back and a knowing smile. “Actually I do, but you promised to help me with my case.”

Mick pulls her hand to his lips brushing a kiss against her fingertips. “Yes I did. So let’s have a look.”

Beth pulls out a hard copy of the file making herself comfortable on the sofa. Mick sits down next to her. Beth opens the file resting it in Mick’s lap. “Katherine Simmons is a complete mystery. I can’t find anything about her other than she is missing, she’s as an anthropology professor who just stopped showing up for class.”

Mick voice over-The first thing I see in the file is a picture of the missing woman. It’s Katherine alright, although I don’t know why a vampire would become a missing persons case . Damn it, Katherine should have been able to take care of herself.

....................

Mick voice over-We all have secrets we bring into relationships…I have not told Beth all the things I am ashamed of and she hasn’t pressed me to tell her. But Katherine is from my past….. Beth will have questions.

Beth is going over the file giving Mick the run down on the facts known at this point. She looks over at Mick who is staring intently at the missing woman’s picture. “Mick, what is it?”

“Beth I know this woman.”

“Was she a former client?”

“No.”

Beth smirks and leans back against the arm of the sofa closing the file. “You dated her.” She swings her legs over Mick’s lap. “So tell me about her.”

Mick gives her his trademark lop-sided grin. “I don’t kiss and tell.”

“Ha. Ha. Spill St. John.” Beth demands and playfully punches his shoulder. “I assume she is a vampire since you told me you haven’t been romantically involved with a human since you were turned.”

“Yes, she’s a vampire.”

Beth takes his hand sensing his hesitation. “Hey. I’m not going anywhere.”

“We met by chance at Josef’s. She was helping Josef with a property he was trying to acquire. There were Native American artifacts found on the site. She’s a professor of Native American history but she does some consulting on the side.” Mick smiles thinking back to their first meeting….

“It had been 10 years since I rescued you and left Coraline for dead.” Mick said as he toyed with Beth’s fingers.

Flashback
“Ah, there is Ms. Simmons now,” Josef motioned toward the beautiful woman entering his office.

Mick stood to greet Katherine. “A pleasure to meet you Ms. Simmons.”

“And you Mr. St. John. Josef speaks very highly of you.” Katherine greeted Mick warmly and took a seat closest to him.

Mick sat back watching her and Josef discuss the matters at hand. He paid little attention to what they were saying, he just took in the vision of beauty next to him.
Flashback ends

“So how long were you two together?”

“A couple of years on and off.”

“So why did it end?”

Mick voice over-Because of you.

Mick chuckles and leans his head back on the sofa. “We found we were better friends. Besides she wanted someone who would commit to only her.”

“So she broke it off because you wouldn’t commit?”

“Well playing Guardian Angel to a certain high school freshman was taking up a lot of my time.” Mick leans toward Beth kissing her nose.

Beth giggles pulling Mick down for a deeper kiss. “I did tend to get in a lot of trouble about that time.”

Mick shifts so that Beth is lying on top of him. “That you did.”

Beth props herself up on his chest, looking at him with concern. “Do you think the Legion took her?”

Mick sighs pushing a lock of hair behind Beth’s ear. “I’d say that is a good possibility.”

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Beth is stepping out of her shower pulling on her robe. She wraps her hair in a towel and heads for her kitchen. She busies herself starting the coffee and toasting a bagel.

Ian inches towards her. Picking her lock had been so easy and luckily for him these apartments have closets near the door. He is just about to grab her when feels his presence. She whirls around knife in hand. He puts one hand over her mouth and the other forcefully knocks the knife from her hand.

Her eyes are wide with terror.

“You’re his aren’t you?” Ian whispers into her ear.

Beth struggles against him muffled pleas coming from behind his hand.

“Shh! Shh! All will become clear in time but for now,” he slams Beth’s head into the cabinet, “I’ll just take what I came for.” Ian drags the now unconscious Beth to her living room lays her down and takes out a syringe. He pushes up the sleeve of her robe and finds a vein. He takes two vials of her blood. Lays an envelope by her marked “St. John” and walks out of her apartment.

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Josef sits alone in his living room over looking the pool reading again the information that Logan had been able to unencrypt from his mole within the Duvall family. Mick might think him paranoid but information is power. Josef presses his lips tightly together. He is worried about the impact this information will have on his friendship with Mick and Beth. Coraline was never known for keeping her mouth shut.

Mick walks in and notices Josef’s grim expression. “Did Logan find out anything else?”

“No but I just received some unsettling news.” Josef stood and hands Mick the report.

Mick scans the page and his expression becomes one of fury. “CORALINE! You know where she is and you didn’t tell me!”

“Uh think with you’re big head….you are totally missing the point. Did you look over the part where she told them about Beth?”

“So Coraline told Lance about Beth. What does that ha----.”

“Beth’s blood type AO- is component of the compound.”

Realization dawns on Mick. “So Coraline never want to make a little family it was always about Beth’s blood.
”
“I’m sorry man. I’ll do whatever to keep her safe you know that.”

“Yeah….yeah I do.”

Just then Mick phone buzzes with an unknown number. “St. John.”

“St. John, you should check on Beth.” The line goes dead. Mick looks confused at his phone and scrolls to Beth’s number.

“Who was that?”

“I don’t know but they said to check on Beth.” He listens as the call goes to her voice mail. “She’s not answering.” Mick begins to walk out. Josef grabs his keys, “I’ll drive.”

.................

THWAK! THWAK! Mick is pounding on Beth’s door. No answer. He shoulders the door open. He is barely in when he sees Beth laying on the floor. “BETH!” He rushes to her pulling her up into his arms trying to revive her. She groans, “Miccckk.”

“I’m here baby.” He caresses he cheek. “What happened?”

Beth tries to sit up. She touches the back of her head and hisses in pain. “Oh my god.”

Mick runs his hand over the back of her head feeling for the cause of her pain. His fingers brushed over the large lump that had risen on back of her head. “Jesus Beth, you need to go to the hospital!”

Beth pushes up off the floor standing up shakily. “Really, I’ll be fine.” Before she can take a step she collapses into Mick’s arms.
Mick scoops her up and heads for her bedroom. Josef spots the envelope on the floor and picks it up before following Mick into Beth’s room.

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“Thanks for coming on such short notice Nikki.”

“It’s not a problem Mick. I was scheduled to meet with Josef today anyway.” She gave Josef a sultry smile.

Josef bounced on the balls of his feet. “See Mick, having professionals on retainer is a good thing.”

Mick just shook his head. “How is Beth?”
“She has a slight concussion but other than that she is fine. She needs to rest for today but she should be okay tomorrow.” She closed her bag and headed for the door.

Mick gave a slight smile and headed back to Beth’s room. Josef turned to Nikki and smirked. “Thank you Dr. Nikki.”

“You’re welcome Josef, anytime.” Nikki winked and opened the door. “See you tonight.” She waved and sauntered out.

…………..

Beth was changing when Mick opened her door. “Why are you up?” He stood there on hand on his hip and the other on the door.

“I’m not gonna sit in my robe all day.” She pulled on a baby blue sweater and sat on the edge of the bed to put on her shoes.

“So you don’t think a slight concussion warrants a little rest?” He grabbed her hands to get her attention.

“I already called Ben I told him I would be working in the field today and not to expect me in the office.” Beth went back to putting her shoes on.

Mick knew she would not stay put. “So I guess telling you to take it easy won’t help.”

Beth smiled and kissed him gently. “No.”

“Sorry to break up you two love birds but I think we have a problem.” Josef handed Mick the envelope left on the floor.

Mick look at the envelope then closed his eyes and inhaled. He could see the attack play out. When he opened his eyes Beth was looking at him with concern. He grabbed her arm and pulled up her sleeve.

“What are you looking for?” Beth questioned.

Mick ran his finger over the inside of her arm. He stopped at the inside of her elbow. He looked up at Josef. “Why did he take her blood? You don’t think…” Had Coraline planned this whole thing?

Josef knew what Mick was thinking, he shook his head.

Mick looked back at Beth. Josef may not think Coraline was behind this but I intend to find out.

Beth eyes got big. “He took my blood!”

Josef nodded. “Yes he did and I do not know why…yet.”

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“So let me get this straight. They want you to show up at this address. Alone. And you’re going to go.” Beth sat back arms crossed over her chest, legs crossed and head tilted.

“Yes I’m going.” Mick just smirked. Neither one of them liked being told what to do. “But I won’t be alone.”

“Really?”

Josef walked back into his office. “No he will not be alone. I have a team in place to go with him.”

Beth sighed. “Good.”

“Don’t worry Blondie, I’ve been doing this since before you were born.”

Beth smiled and rolled her eyes.

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Ian sits at his desk rolling the blood vials back and forth in his palm. His commander ordered this mission. A mission that had gotten his brother killed. But why? And why is this woman’s blood so important?
“I know St. John is behind Dean’s death,” he says quietly to himself.

Placing the vials in their travel case he picks up the case and heads out. Time to set the trap.

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“Be careful.” Beth kisses Mick gently.

“I will.” Mick embraces her tightly, then turns to leave.

Beth watches as the elevator doors close then turns and walks back into Josef’s office.

Logan was busy searching through the most recent data received on the legion. He was cross-referencing it with all the data they have on Katherine’s disappearance and Ryder’s murder. Josef was on yet another phone call so Beth pulled up a chair next to Logan.

“Find anything interesting yet?” Beth tried to sound upbeat but she was worried about the situation Mick was walking into.

“Not yet but I was about to cross reference some images with the data we just got in. Maybe something will pop.” Logan tried to sound reassuring but he was just not good with human women.
Beth sat forward as the images began to flash across the screen. “Let’s hope.” A moment later the first image popped up with vital statistic listed below it. “That was quick,” she declared.

Logan gave her a smug smile. “Well with my talent and Mr. K’s money anything is possible.” Josef had come to stand behind then. “Mostly my money.” Josef snarked and smirked. Logan cleared his throat. “Ah well yes….”

Beth tried to stifle a giggle as Logan started to click through the images. All three were scanning the information for anything that looked promising. Then Ian’s picture came up.

Beth gasped. “That’s him….that’s the guy that broke into my apartment!”

Josef looked at her. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.” Beth motioned at the screen. “He was right up in my face!”

Logan looked at Beth then back at the screen. “Let’s see…..” He brought up the rest of Ian’s data. Beth read the name. “Ian Foster.” Looking up at Josef, “You don’t think…”

Josef kept staring at the computer screen. “I have a bad feeling about this. Logan does it show any family?”

Logan scrolled down through the data. “Okay here it is…..parents deceased…..no spouse…one brother. A Dean Foster.” Beth gasped. Josef was grasping the back of Logan’s chair so hard he tore the leather. “Fuck! Mick’s walking into a trap!”

................

Mick watched as the night blurred past the window. He rode in Josef’s Hummer surrounded by four of Josef’s top security. When it came to security Josef only hired the best. They were followed by a van with a Cleaner team. The two vehicles slowed pulling into a dark alley far enough away from the warehouse not to be seen.

The teams broke into units of two and using vamp speed made their way to the old warehouse. Four pairs took the perimeter of the warehouse while Mick and Jackie, the driver, took the roof. They made their way to the roof access door take the stairs silently. As Mick made it the landing overlooking the interior the warehouse he stopped. His eyes bled silver at the sight before him. Katherine was chained by her hands and feet suspended from the support beams that ran up to the ceiling.

Fully vamped Mick jumped the railing landing just below Katherine. Jackie was right behind him. Mick and Jackie tried the chains. “Shit silver.” Mick hissed wiping his hands down the front of his coat.
“Of course it’s silver.” Ian sneered as he strode from the shadows followed by Daryl and two other Legion guards.

Mick spun around. “Who the hell are you?”

“Well you already figured out that we are part of the Legion, since went after Ms. Simmons, but this is a bit more personal. You don’t know me but you have met my brother Dean. Dean Foster.” Ian began to circle around Mick and Jack.

“So you’re brother is a sleazy tabloid photog, what’s that got to do with this?”

“Ah don’t play innocent with me Mr. St. John…..Dean has not been seen in a while and I’m sure you know why.” Ian pulled down on the length of chain hanging down. As he did Katherine screamed, the silver chains digging into her skin.

“I haven’t seen your brother since the night of the Tierney Tate murder. He was very alive when we parted company.” Mick set his jaw fighting the urge to rip Ian’s head from his shoulders.

“You lie!” Ian yelled and lunged at Mick stake in hand.

At that moment Josef dropped down behind Ian. He grabbed his arm twisting it behind him painfully.

Mick was staring at Josef. “What the hell are you doing here and where’s Beth?”

“Nice to see you to, Mick.” Josef snarked and yanked hard on Ian’s arms causing him to scream in pain. “Blondie’s fine. I left her with Logan at my office.”

By now the rest of Mick’s team had silently entered and had the rest of Ian’s crew subdued.

Josef shifted Ian around grabbing him by the throat. “So you want to know what happened to your sleazy brother? Well you were asking the wrong vampire.” Josef was fully vamped by now. Ian was struggling against the vice grip of around his throat. Josef hissed. “He went after one of my own so I had him taken care of….permanently. Why don’t you join him.” And with that Josef snapped Ian’s neck with the flick of his wrist.

Mick made a disgusted grunt and moved to help Jackie free Katherine. Josef tossed Ian’s lifeless body down and made his way over to Mick. “How is she?” Katherine was moaning as Mick carried her outside. “She’s pretty bad. They’ve had her for at least two weeks.”

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLML
Josef laid hand on Mick’s shoulder as he hand Katherine off Guillermo. “Take good care of her man,” Mick said hoarsely as Guillermo got an IV line set up so he could get some blood back into her. “You got it man.”

Mick turned towards Josef. “Who did Foster go after that it was worth all this?” He motioned back toward to Katherine. “You,” Josef said. Mick could only stare at Josef in shocked disbelief.

...........................

“Why hasn’t someone called!” Beth paced around Josef’s office.

The fear and worry pouring off Beth was like a thick fog hanging in the office. Logan felt for Beth but had no idea how to help her. “Beth I know you’re worried but Josef knows what he’s doing.”

Just then Beth’s phone beeped in her hand. It was Mick. “Oh God Mick! Are you okay? What happened?”

“Calm down. I’m fine. I’ll tell you about it when we get back to the office.” Mick chuckled to himself. He could tell she had been right on top of her phone.

Beth sighed relieved to just hear his voice. “Yeah. Okay. How long before you get here?

“Probably another 15 minutes or so.”

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Beth said releieved.

“Yeah me too.”

Beth could tell something was off. “Hey….I love you.”

Mick sighed smiling to himself. “I love you too.”

Beth stood staring at her phone after the called ended. Does he know about Dean Foster? If he does will he understand?

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

The ride back from the warehouse had been very quiet. Mick was lost in his thoughts. Still stunned that Dean Foster had come after him and that Josef had killed him. Okay, not surprised that Josef killed him. “So how was he coming after me?”

“Dean Foster?”

“Yeah.”

Josef kept his eyes trained on the road ahead. “One of my media contacts was fed some rather incriminating photos of you getting run over and walking away without a scratch.”

Mick just looked at Josef. That happened back during the Tierney Tate case. He had thought someone was after Beth but they were after him. “So you had no idea Foster was linked to the Legion?”

Josef turned into his parking garage. “None at all. The Legion has not operated this way in the past.”

Mick had known Josef long enough to know he never gives you the whole story. “So who was your media contact?”

“Oh no one you know.” Josef avoided Mick’s gaze pulling into his parking spot and turning off the Ferrrari.

Mick saw the mask go on that Josef uses during a Poker game. Who was he protecting? Why wouldn’t he want me to know? Mick’s head snapped up as he realized who it was. “Beth. It was Beth wasn’t it?”

Josef got out heading for the elevators. Mick was right behind him. “Answer me Josef. It was Beth. Why?”

Josef turned facing Mick. “Yes it was Beth and she’ll probably try to stake me for telling you,” he snarked. They stepped into the elevator. “As to why…..she wanted to protect you. And she knows I have to problem with taking care of those that threaten those I care about.”

“Protect me! Mick shouted. “Then why not come to me?”

Just then the elevator opened to Josef’s office lobby. “That’s something you will have to ask Beth.” With that Josef motioned for Mick to exit. Josef reached and pressed the down button. Before the doors closed Josef looked at Mick. “She loves you, ya know. So don’t be an idiot about this.”

MLMLMLMLLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Beth’s head snapped toward the sound of the elevator. Her heart began to pound fear and hope mingling to make her head hurt. Logan looked at Beth and headed out of the office. “I think I’ll go check on…..something.”

Mick barely noticed as Logan passed by him. He could already hear Beth’s racing pulse. As he entered the office his face softened a bit. There was his Beth. She standing in front of Josef’s desk doing her best to look calm.

Beth folded her arms across her chest. “You know don’t you?” More of a statement than a question.
“Why Beth?”

“Love…..Fear.”

“Then why not come to me?”

“You told me the when a vampire think they are going to be exposed they move on….start all over.”

“What does that ha---“ Beth held up her hand for him to stop. “I was afraid you would leave. That you would leave me behind. I just found you I didn’t want lose you.” Tears were streaming down her face but she stood her ground.

“So you didn’t trust that I could handle it myself?” Mick accused.

“ I trust you with my life. Trust has nothing to do with it.” Beth moved to stand in front of him. She laid her hands on his chest. “I love you and will do anything to protect you.” Beth met his fierce gaze with one of her own.

Mick cupped her chin with his hand. “ I don’t want you to have blood on your hands.” Sadness flitted across his face. Yet again she had been pulled into his world of monsters.

Beth pulled him by his shirt closer to her face. “Don’t even start with that “I’m a monster, crap!” Mick tried not to smile. He pulled her into a fierce embrace and kissed the top of her head. “I promise it’s not about being a monster,” he sighed. ‘It’s that I never want you to have to make these kinds of choices.”

Beth pulled back. “You’ve killed to protect me.”

“But----.”

Beth shook her head. “But nothing. I’m not letting anyone hurt you, if I can stop it!”

Mick searched her face. She was as fierce in her need to protect as he was. He pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, giving her a lop-sided grin. “Next time come to me first.”

................................

A few days later.

Beth walked into Josef’s office. “Okay so what was so urgent that I had to leave work early.” She flopped down exhausted in the chair closest to Mick.

“Well nice to see you to Blondie,” Josef snarked.

Mick chuckled. “Given what’s been going on lately we wanted to revisit the issue of your safety,” Mick explained.

Beth sighed. “I really don’t think it will work. It will just raise more questions from Talbot.”

Just then the office door opened. A rather grumpy looking man entered. Josef motioned for him to come forward. “Beth. Meet Oscar. He will be your bodyguard. Oscar this is Beth Turner.”

Beth looked from Josef to Mick. “Are you guys serious?”

Mick knew she would resist. “Beth I can’t always be with you and with the threat from the Legion and everything, you need extra protection.”

Beth sat up folding her arms across her chest. Josef just smirked. “Sorry Beth but you’re out voted on this one. It either Oscar or Mick here is going to lock you up in his loft for the foreseeable future.”

Beth looked up at Oscar. “Just don’t get in my way,” she grumped.

Oscar stood unmoved. “Hmmpf.”

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

“Sir this package just arrived.” The travel case with Beth’s blood was passed across the desk to a figure hidden in shadows.

“Well now it looks like those careless Foster brothers were good for something. Ms. Turner’s blood may prove to be very useful.”

Author: Candomom

s02e03: Open and Shut

2008-07-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

Author: Mxwwmickd

Just when I think I have a chance at living a good life, maybe help a few people and redeem myself in my own eyes. Someone else’s present becomes my past and I know the scales are still unbalanced.

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

"Beth, thanks for meeting me for lunch.” Ben rose from his chair as Beth stepped up to the small table covered by the large umbrella. He shook her hand giving it an extra gentle squeeze as she smiled at him. “There's some things I want to talk about away from the office."

"Hey, I'll choose a pleasant café lunch outside over the cafeteria any day." Beth leaned back in her chair as she watched a young woman come up behind him. "There is of course the danger of being recognized—I think someone has serious business with you.”

Talbot swiveled in his chair, looking over his shoulder. “You're about to meet my sister."

Swooping in to give him a peck on the cheek she announced, "Benjamin Talbot! You have been avoiding me! Since I’m clearly left in the dark about your life and I am barging in on your lunch date, who is this joining us for lunch?"

“Sit down Sis, this is Beth Turner one of my Investigators. Beth, Caitlin--kid sister, emphasis on the 'kid.'” Ben cocked his head in her direction and lifted his eyebrows when his sister stuck her tongue out at him. “See what I mean.”

"Well this kid's biological clock is ticking.” Ben hid his head behind his hand. “Good, I'm glad to see you can still blush." Caitlin smiled at her brother.

Beth stood and extended her hand to Caitlin. "Why don’t I excuse myself, I'm very pleased to meet you." Noticing her engagement ring, Beth smiles, "Congratulations on your engagement."

Beth turned leave and looked back at Ben grinning. “I’m leaving you to your fate. Would you do me a favor and get my lunch to go? I'll see you back at the office. I'm going to be imagining Uncle Ben all afternoon as it is, without hearing about the biological clock details.”

As Beth leaves Caitlin starts to teases Ben. "You like her, don't you Ben." Caitlin watched as Beth as walked away.

"Your matchmaking tendencies never take a vacation do they? Beth works for me Caitlin, and she's dating someone else."

"That never stopped you before." Caitlin gave her brother a mischievous grin that caused him to laugh.

"Ha, well she's dating a scary guy--a vigilante P.I. who is about 8 different kinds of weird. Girls who like the bad boys never liked me.”

He made an annoyed look as he thought about Mick St. John being everywhere Beth seemed to be, invited or not. He looked back toward his sister who looked more than ready to continue the conversation he’d been dodging for weeks. He set his jaw then turned to his sister. “Listen Ben,” she said, “Whether you like Beth or not, what happens when you meet someone and you want a family? Won't you want to know about our parents then?" Her eyes suddenly soften with a hint of sadness in them.

"I don't plan on having a family and if I do, I will take my chances like the parents who raised us." He leaned forward already uncomfortable with this familiar conversation. This was an old argument which brought up old memories he would rather forget.

"Well I want to know about our parents." She sat back in her chair, exasperated with her brother. “Ben I need your help, you're a lawyer. I can't get past the sealed records. I've placed all the adopted child notices to let our parents know I'm looking. Please, Ben.” Her eyes were pleading as she touched his hand wanting her brother to see how desperately she wanted this.

“I'm not that kind of lawyer. Did you ever think our biological parents might be dead?” He said in his direct manner that always sounded sarcastic, even to her, his sister.

“C'mon Ben." Caitlin was beginning to get angry. “Don’t patronize me!”

"I'm sorry Caitlin, I don’t mean to sound cold. I just don't want to know--not like you do." Ben rose from the table and kissed his sister on the head smoothing his tie as he stood up. “Good luck.”

MLMLMLMLML

The last sliver of the waning moon is setting. Walking down the beach at night has become an intermittent ritual when the moon and tide cooperate.

Beth slides her arm around Mick's waist behind his jacket hooking her thumb in the waistband of his trousers. Mick squeezes her toward him in a one-armed hug.

"I met Ben Talbot's sister today." Mick said as he looked at the moon hovering above the horizon.

"So did I, Ben had been avoiding her. She ambushed him at the restaurant." Beth smiled a little as she remembered the conversation.

"You had lunch with Talbot?" Mick said looking down at her giving her a mischievous grin.

"We were going to have lunch but then his sister came by. It looked like she was ready to tell embarrassing family stories, so I excused myself and left."

"Talbot…" Mick said as he looked away back toward the ocean.

"Mick, I'll have lunch with you too, anytime you want to free me from the halls of justice. Take me to a sidewalk café one on the shady side of the street.” She pulled on his waist and smiled as he placed a kiss her forehead. “You're jealous." She gave him a devilish grin looking up at him.

"No, just jealous of your time." He was not going to admit that he was a little jealous of Talbot. His pride wouldn’t let him do that. Joking about Talbot had become routine, although he made them both uneasy for different reasons. "I'm going to have to kiss you, reassert my claims." Mick said as he stopped for a moment pulling her tight to his chest. Brushing his lips against hers he pulled back just a fraction until her lips opened. He inhaled sharply to fix the moment, Beth, the night, the ocean air all in his memory before he returned to her.

"Mmmm, I definitely feel reclaimed,” breaking their kiss. “So are you going to tell me about Ms. Talbot, or invoke the client confidentiality clause?” Mick released her with a sigh of disappointment.

"Actually I told her I wouldn't take her case when I figured out she was Talbot's sister. She wants to find their biological parents." Mick took Beth’s hand as they continued up the beach.

"They're adopted? There's a story there—when Ben came back to the office he asked me about being taken. He said, 'How much did I really want to know?' And if I had a chance to find out more, would I take it." Beth looked at her feet as the sand began to squish
between her toes. Mick guided them closer to the waves. The wind off the ocean began to blow her hair across her eyes.

"What did you say?" Mick asked gently, thinking about how Coraline had stalked them as Morgan Vincent and how Beth’s fierce desire for the truth had stripped away any protection granted by forgetfulness.

"I told Talbot I had found out more about being taken and that it was a lot to process."

Beth feels herself stiffen, just mentioning it tonight is enough to replay the memory. Coraline clinging high on the wall, the fight, the fire and the charged sexual atmosphere that she didn’t understand as a child.

Mick hears her pulse jump and listens as her breathing starts to become shallow and rapid. "Is it still a lot to process?" He squeezes her arm; his touch and the concern in his voice brings her back to the present.

"Sometimes," Beth whispers, the memory begins to recede and her focus returns to the moment.

"Sit down with me.” Mick suggests. As they arrange themselves on the sand with Beth resting herself against Mick looks down at her. “You amaze me Beth. You do know that?” Stroking her cheek with his thumb he thinks to himself I’m a lucky man.

As the moon finally sets, Beth regretfully shifts gets up. "I need to get back, I have to work tomorrow." Mick stands up and looking disappointed extends a hand to lift Beth from the sand.

Walking back Mick says with a grin, "Talbot's sister told me she got the idea to hire a Private Investigator from him. He mentioned one of his investigators was dating a "scary PI" who was eight different kinds of weird."

"So what'd she do, when she figured out you were the "scary PI." Beth tugged on Mick’s arm.

"She ran screaming from the room." Beth laughs, something between a giggle and a snort. Mick elaborated, "Actually she looked embarrassed and apologized. I hope she has a half a dozen kids, she'll need that many to stay out of trouble.” Pulling Beth close in to his side, he says,” It's a new moon on Friday and unless you have to go in on Saturday…"

"It's a date."

MLMLMLMLMLML

Music: Escape

"Moonlit walks on the beach, drinks by the fireplace; wasn't there a song about that in the 70's. You know drinking songs used to be lusty and bawdy." Josef looked at the tip of his dart giving it a curious stare.

"Josef... if we are going to play darts...you have to stand behind the line." Mick stopped waiting for Josef to step back. Josef laid his dart down on the bar in his den and leaned back on his elbows staring at the dart board with a look of disbelief, this was a game?

"I could sing a few bars, 'If you like... walks on the beach' of course they weren't singing the praises of a certain AO negative. I could rework the lyrics if you like. What are we playing here?" His frowned as if to concentrate on what he and Mick were doing here.

"301, 401, 1201 how much time do you have. You still keep a lute player on staff-how Elizabethan." Mick threw his shot and shook his head as it missed the mark, so much for vampire skills.

"Jacobean actually, I was a child during Elizabethan times. Why do you insist on having the line so far back; I laid off the minstrel because the freshies prefer satellite radio." Josef grabbed the dart noticing how Mick had missed the target. Damn it he would have to get the wall repainted—served Mick right though for insisting they throw from across the room. Still, this was a chance to beat Mick at his own game. He threw the dart, "Bulls eye. I think I like this game!"

"Rework the lyrics all you like, it's the melody that gets stuck in your head, trust me you're playing with fire." Mick shook his head and went to the bar to pour a drink--it was going to be a long night. Every night without Beth was a long night.

MLMLMLMLML

Zandra, can we sleep with Red tonight? The pit-bull was snorting and rolling a mattress laid out on the floor trying to dislodge the butterfly barrettes clipped to her ears. "We made her a necklace of clover but she shook it off." Brother and sister are laughing.

"Sure you can sleep with Red, but you've got to keep her quiet, Mommy's going to have a visitor."

"Zandra…"

"Mommy," The woman in the flimsy transparent nightgown corrects the child. "Mommy means it. Very quiet, or…" She looked down at the child with a warning glare.

"We get a beating," the adolescent laying across a white enamel and brass daybed says with a dull voice… The white ruffled bedding is dingy, decorated with pink princesses, a character popular with girls more than a decade ago.

Zandra looks at her daughter with narrowing eyes, "Or Mommy gets crabby. You two, your daddy is coming back tomorrow night—so be good." Wide eyed the children listen to the irritated slapping sound of Zandra's baby doll slippers retreating down the hall, the sound gradually fading as she descends to the ground floor.

"Ow! You pinched me." The child said as she rubbed her arm glaring at the teenager.

"Ssshh. Listen, or I'll pinch you again. I wasn't kidding about beating—you don't want one. Keep the dog and your kid sister quiet. I'm sneaking out."

"You're supposed to be babysitting, don't leave us." The small voice was filled with panic.”

"You're not really my brother and sister. There are worse things than a beating after my Mom has company."

MLMLMLML

Red lifts her massive head—butterfly barrettes now attached to her collar. She heaves herself up and off the mattress, head down, nose to door growling at the same time quivering with fear.

MLMLMLML

Lt. Carl Davis parked down the block and spent a moment observing the neighborhood, town house apartments built in the 90’s line on sides of the block. An ordinary neighborhood, modest… cars aren’t trashed but they’re not new either. It’s a crowded and subdued crime scene—the word has already gone out that there were children involved, hard on everybody. The street has been blocked off at both ends to keep the media as far away as possible.

“Carl,” Officer Novak says, “Glad you’re here, Animal Control is ready to leave. Do you want to talk to them before they go?”

“Do we have a dog attack, Novak?” Carl gets out his note pad.

“I don’t think so Carl. There is lots of blood downstairs and the two kids were upstairs. Less blood, but children are smaller. The animal control guys say the dog, a pit bull is docile—they had no problem removing her from the scene.”

“Yeah, I’ll talk to them.” Carl walks over to a modified shop truck—a rolling dog jail, individual kennels on either side. Two techs are clearly shaken up. “Hey, tough night.” They nod, “This is a rough crime scene for the pros, you two are holding up pretty well, considering. What can you tell me about the dog?”

“The dog was strange,” says a slender young woman. She’s hugging herself while her partner a stocky young man stares at the grounds. He looks up nods and adding, “She was glad to see us, crept out from under the bed and came to us with no problem. Just pressed herself up against my leg, the way a dog acts when it’s scared of thunder.”

“Was there any blood on the dog?”

“Not that we observed.”

“We’ll find out what CSI wants to do about the dog and then you can leave. We’ve got counselors available if you need them.” Carl returns to officer Novak. “When animal control leaves send an officer, those two don’t need to face the press right now. What else do we have Novak?”

“The father came home after a trucking run up the coast, he called 911. He said the girlfriend was supposed to be watching the kids. She’s missing.”

MLMLMLMLML

“Beth, do you know Carl Davis?” Talbot called to her from his office. His brief case was open his desk as he sorted through the files he would need in court today.

Not sure where this is going Beth answers cautiously, “Yes,” Carl was a friend, sort of, a contact from her time at Buzzwire and he had worked with Josh. Beth thinks she hadn’t really talked to him since Josh’s funeral.

“More importantly, can you work with him? He’s running the homicide investigation on the two children.” That particular crime had blown through the office like a cold wind stirring thoughts of vengeance and mortality. “You’re the closest thing we have to an investigative expert on crimes involving children. No one wants this one and we need a liaison with the police department.”

“Sure, I’ll do it.” Beth sighs, “I kind of know the territory.” Ben looks up from his desk when he hears the reluctance in her voice.

“They’re interviewing the father in a half hour and thanks… ” Ben looks at his desk and continues going through his files, “I’ll be in court until all day …fill me in when I get back.”

MLMLMLMLML

The father sits in the interrogation room worn out and drained, looking like the ragged shreds of an exploded balloon…

Carl and Beth watch through the observation window.

“…the shared custody thing is a mess…I pay less child support if they live with me but because I’m a trucker I work odd hours…still Mona, my ex-wife and I usually work things out…but this last trip…Mona’s mom is sick and doing some experimental treatment in Mexico…a total crap shoot…and there was no way Mona could take them. My family is in Arizona… I don’t like asking Zandra to watch the kids…

“Who is Zandra, for the record?” The interviewing officer asks.

“Zandra’s my girlfriend.” He rubs his hand across his face, eyes red and hot, tears held back. “God, I fucked up.”

“Why don’t you like Zandra to watch the kids?” The interrogation continues; Carl Davis watches the man’s expression intently.

“She’s wild, …the kind of girlfriend you think is cheating on you…but you don’t care because she’s hot… you know, I come back from a trip and she’s got new sexy underwear… expensive and I didn’t buy it… every nickel I make goes to child support and the mortgage. ” He swallows hard and his eyes fill with tears and his face contracts in pain as he realizes his children are really dead.

“I hear you there,” the officer comments with sympathy more deliberate than real. It sounds forced but the father doesn’t even notice as he keeps on talking.

“I can’t even remember why Mona and I split up,” he shakes his head, trying to clear away the memories “…actually I was paying Zandra’s daughter to babysit… kind of a backup plan.”

“Do you know where she is, the daughter?” The officer sits up and reaches for his note pad. “What’s her name?” He looks up at the father who appears dumbfounded, “I don’t know everyone called her Missy.”

Outside Carl watches the interview, tight lipped and frowning. “We don’t think the father is a suspect. He works for Cal-Allied Trucking and all their rigs are constantly tracked with GPS—and if that isn’t enough each truck has a giant bar code printed on top so satellite pictures can be taken from space. Unless of course there is some conspiracy with the girlfriend… but there was a lot of blood… at least one other body is stashed somewhere… Oh, and good to see you Beth… glad you joined the light.”

“So you have a hunch, Carl?”

“You may be on working for us but you’re the same old Beth. Let’s walk down the hall,” he smiles as he notices Beth’s obstinate expression when she is asked to leave the observation window “…don’t worry I will get you a transcript of the interview.”

“I’ll take that as a complement.” Their conversation goes forward in fits and starts as they negotiate the corridor, detectives, techs and others have crowded into the hall, hoping that the father is the killer, they want an arrest and quick justice.

“I think we’re going to come up empty.”

“So what do you want me to do?”

“My guys are going to be busy with the immediate stuff, crime scene evidence, finding the girlfriend’s daughter and so on. Would you look for similar crimes? Look up and down the coast, if the father is involved …we might not find anything here in LA… but since he’s a long distance trucker. What do you think, did he kill his kids?”

“No. He’s rambling on and answering every question.”

Arriving at the end of the hall, Carl holds the door for Beth and follows her. On the other side of the door he stops her with a touch to her arm, “Beth…”

“Yes.”

“The grapevine says you’re dating St. John…be careful.”

“Why, do you disapprove?” Beth says eyebrows arched and chin tilted defiantly, as if it’s a dare. “Talbot did say he was eight different kinds of weird.”

“Only eight? How’d you hear that? I’m just saying that if Mick were a cop, Internal Affairs would have a field day. He’s not as far below the LAPD radar as he thinks and you can’t always count on us to look the other way.”

“Thanks, Carl. If I’m a little defensive I still feel like some people around here blame me for Josh’s death.”

“Only if they were crushing on Josh… C’mon Beth all those reporter’s instincts and you haven’t figured out that Law Enforcement is a gossipy soap opera.”

“This is how you know that ‘threesomes never end well.’”

“No comment. Damn it Beth, play nice. We’re on the same side now.”

“I just had to hear it once for old times’ sake. Thanks, Carl”

MLMLMLMLML

“Hey Mick, this is Beth, I’m working late tonight pulling case files for Carl and Talbot. I’ll call you when I’m done” Beth sets her phone down after leaving a message. She smiles thinking that Mick will be getting up soon. A pleasant thought but research is a different kind of fun. She trusts Carl’s instincts. Right now a lot of resources are committed to this crime, so if she finds some leads quickly while this case has priority…

MLMLMLMLML

Guillermo was pacing on the roof top across from the morgue waiting for Mick drinking occasionally from a closed stainless steel container.

“Hey Guillermo, why did you want to meet me here?”

“It’s a bad night Mick. I got two little kids over there—killed by vampires. I don’t even want to be in the same room, I vamp out with rage.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah shit, it’s too damn easy to get dead at any age without some greedy bastard having you for dinner… Adults can make their own mistakes, be in the wrong place at the wrong time but kids…” His voice trails off as he thinks about the duties facing him across the street.

“There are limits.”

“Yeah, limits, no one has to die because of who we are.” Guillermo swore bitterly, “I don’t know if it’s better or worse but I think this thing is going to pass as a human crime.”

Mick sets his jaw and says tightly. “I’ll look into it, anything else you can tell me?”

I’ll get you the report and when I calm down enough to go back in… I’ll get in touch. Here you’re going need this when you’re done.” Mick frowns, concerned as Guillermo hands him a second container “Some fool with the highest blood alcohol I’ve ever sampled met a palm tree at 90 miles an hour—how they got the car up to 90...”

MLMLMLMLMLML

Beth taps on Talbot’s door. Talbot looks up from desk littered with paperwork, he looks tired. “You still here?”

With a half smile Beth shrugs, “Sure, why not. I can’t think of anything else I would rather do. Well almost anything.”

“Hmm almost anything,” Ben mutters to himself, imagining Mick St. John showing up to put in his two cents on this case.

“What did you say,” It’s an awkward silence and she thinks, Is he flirting or making an innuendo about Mick, blushing she rushes to say “Carl doesn’t think the father committed the crime, so he asked me look into similar crimes.”

“What do you have?”

“Remember I’m not a profiler, just an investigative reporter. This is a sensational crime the kind keeps the media going for years…so I looked for similar crimes and pulled the files. Keep in mind that this is only California.”

“I have four crimes Sacramento 1978, Los Angeles 1980, San Diego 1992 and San Jose 1999. What makes them remarkable is the father, husband or boyfriend’s story. It’s like that old TV show The Fugitive. He comes home and there is fresh blood everywhere and he confronts either his wife in flagrante or an intruder. In all cases this guy, like our truck driver, is someone whose whereabouts can be verified for up to 48 hours before the murders. The husband calls 911 right away and gives a full statement. The wife or girlfriend’s body is never found. Children are present and sleeping in the house but not harmed in 1980 and in 1992 the children survived with a few scratches and tentative bite marks. In 1999 the wife and their two children are missing but the blood evidence suggests they were killed at the scene. In the last case the husband killed himself after calling 911, even though it seems impossible that he killed them.”

“So basically lots of blood, missing wife, husband with alibi and mysterious intruder. “OK, let’s look at the files. Talbot reaches out to take two files from Beth. I have to admit I don’t like murder scenes with lots of blood and I have to look at the pictures.”

Beth looks at him for a moment before continuing. “I’ve got 1978 and 1980. The State successfully prosecuted Franklin Smith in 1978, Andrew Royce-Givens in 1980. Smith died in prison four years ago.

Talbot speaks noting, “There was an acquittal in the case of James Philipson in 1992, bite-marks matched the ex-wife’s,” he glanced at the pictures in the latter case file only to sharply look away his eyes focused in the distance.

Beth completely engrossed in reading files fails to notice Talbot’s distress. She looked up and noticed the pain of his expression. “Ben,” she asked gently, “How old are you!”

“33, why?

“Your sister, how old is she?”

“29, why are you asking these questions? What does this have to do with the case?”

Beth ignores the question looking at him with sad eyes, “Is your middle name Andrew and your sister’s middle name Marie?”

“Yes.”

“I think I just found your parents.”

MLMLMLMLMLMLML

Music: Let the Drummer Kick

Blood speaks. The vampire sense of smell sometimes leaves me feeling that no separation exists between me and the victim. I know too much. Like that sorry bastard Guillermo poured into a to-go cup for me—that guy died feeling invincible. I’ve seen the insides of too many people’s lives. Josef would say I obsess about humanity and I need to focus my attention on something else. Taste aside; experiencing the boredom of someone donating blood in a high school gymnasium can be kind of relaxing.

The blood at the scene is excessive. More than twenty four hours later it’s oppressive like watching violent porn. Blood and sex, this sire is all about seduction. He likes to watch and hear humans bleed to death—he drinks very little of their blood. No wonder it passes as a human crime, the police never calculate that a pint or two is missing. He’s old enough to have worn beaver hats and frock coats, zoot suits and platform shoes although lately he prefers a hip hop styling, clothes over sized but crisply pressed, everything absolutely new like money straight from the mint.

I hear his words, “C’mon baby, do you want what I have, all of it?” Of course she does bling and blood.

I see this newly turned vampire rising from a pool of her own blood. The fine patterns of formerly white lacy lingerie blotchy with drying blood. Giggling she announces “I’m such mess, but I’m so hungry. I must have the munchies.”

“I’ve got something for you upstairs.”

Is this what this sire wants, a vampire whose first memory is drinking children’s blood?

“You don’t have to do this.” Beth and Ben say to each other simultaneously as they stand outside the door to the townhouse.

“Seriously, Ben there is no forgetting, no magic rewind if you go in and remember what happened to your parents.”

Inhaling deeply, Ben holds his breath and exhales. When Beth told him she found his parents he had automatically stated, “My parents live in San Diego.” Then he had angrily asked, “How do you know I was adopted?” Beth gently told him she knew because his sister had gone to Mick St. John, apparently picking his name at random out of the phonebook. Proving once again that fate had an ironic sense of humor; it irked Talbot that St. John had the grace to turn his sister down...

“Beth, would you go back to forgetting, that is, if you could?”

Morgan/Coraline, Coraline/Morgan, Beth thinks, I staked that bitch. “No, there’s just a different kind of fear and the dreams are just as bad. But, Mick he’s there for me and… he understands.”

Ok, so there’s more to that relationship than I thought. “Let’s go in.”

Memories force themselves upon him as he looks across the blood stains which spread across the floor. His mother had been soaked in her own blood, at the time he remembered thinking, “Mommy’s hurt.”

Now Ben remembers her resurrection.

“Ben, listen you have to talk about it—if only because what you remember is evidence!”

Without looking away from the bloodstain on the carpet he says, “I woke up and started to come downstairs and I saw my Mom. In a pool of blood, like that, I thought she was hurt. It must have been a head wound or something that bleeds a lot because she got up. She saw me and started coming up the stairs to get me… I thought it was going to be alright… then I was really scared. Maybe it was the smell of blood… I felt as if every hair on my body was going to be shocked by electricity. …my father came in… and there was a really big fight. ”

Ben and Beth stand in silence until Ben breaks the silence, “I need to see the upstairs.”

“Ok, but let me go first, I’m not the one looking at this from the perspective of my childhood.”

Mick is there at the end of the hallway, eyes silver, mouth partly open, fangs visible, breathing in the smell of blood and murder. Beth sees him as she steps into the hall and he is gone. This is a vampire crime.

MLMLMLMLMLML

Image "The Boogeyman" used with permission, Copyright all rights reserved by Chris Rahn chris@rahnart.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Chris is a young illustrator making his way in the world--don't take money out of his mouth.

MLMLMLMLMLML

“So are you going to share?” Josef is tempted to kick his friend’s long legs off the coffee table, if only to get his attention. “You call me over. I can already tell you’re in a nasty mood. I get here and find that you’re half drunk and won’t talk. So at least pass the bottle—yes I know it’s a travel cup.”

Josef pauses to inhale the subtle fragrances before taking a sip, “Pity about the car, where did you get this?”

“Guillermo, at the morgue.”

“My friend, I do question your tastes in beverages but this is extraordinary and I might add out of your ordinary price range.”

“Guillermo called me over because he had two kids in the morgue murdered by a newly turned vampire.”

“What, a rogue?”

“No the sire apparently likes this sort of thing. The turning was intense, sexual…”

Josef snorts, “A lot of them are…”

“Josef, it’s not that! Afterwards he takes her upstairs to feed on a couple of kids sleeping in the bedroom.”

“That is an expensive clean-up one where children are involved” Josef remarks seriously, “One that can get you sanctioned.”

“There isn’t any clean-up. It was set up to look like a human crime.” Mick watches his friend calculate and weigh the repercussions of this crime. He knows the outcome; as long as secrecy is preserved vampires don’t judge vampires.

“Well some vamps like that, seduction and hunting. You of all people should know that.”

“What do you mean?”

“C’mon Mick, you and Coraline always drank fresh and Coraline handled her own clean-ups. Who took the last bite?”

Mick’s head jerks up at this last comment to stare at Josef…

Music: Hurt

He tries to get up before Coraline, just before sunset to find the time to sit outside alone and watch the city darken or to read in the dark.

“There you are, Mick.” Her hand drifts across his shoulders in a slow and sensual movement.

“I’m here every night.” He flinches away her touch, trying to deflect Coraline’s demands.

“Come out with me, Mick, you know I like to be seen.” She slides into his lap and pushes back his hair.

“The party always ends up here; you know I’ll be waiting. I’ve got something to read, I don’t want to spend eternity as some dumb Irishman.” He moves the book between them an unsubtle reminder of his resistance.

“I like you to see me. I like it when you watch me.” She pulls the book from his hands and sets it aside and rests her arms around his neck. Coraline inhales and lets the smell of Mick trigger the vampire; a sire intent on claiming her own.

Mick protests, “Watch you flirt with other men.” His eyes silver and he is aroused in spite (or perhaps because) of his resistance,

Coraline leans in to whisper to him, “You know I always come home with you. Besides this isn’t some Freshie party with boring old vamps. This is a Hollywood party, everyone will be so eager…” Continuing to run her fingers through his hair, she leans in to kiss him on the cheek. “I’m glad I married a musician—I don’t think I could stand some crew cut college guy.” He knows that Coraline is referring to who she brought home for “dinner” the last time he resisted going out with her; a king of the world type who had played a season of college football before he was sidelined with a knee injury or so he said. The smell clinging to Mr. Varsity instead spoke of several women who “loved” and supported him.

Isn’t that what Coraline did, loved and supported him?

The party always ended up at her house, vamps, a few cold-eyed Freshies with flexible morals who could look the other way when a fellow human stumbled into the Vampires lair. After a certain point in the evening it doesn’t matter what happens or where it happens. Mick knows he will no longer be able to avoid her and will catch whoever came home with Coraline in a drunken dance, maybe with his hand up her skirt, pawing at her breasts or declaring his undying love. At that moment, Coraline will meet his eyes and bite her victim. When Mick takes his turn the victim will smell like Coraline.

Mr. Varsity had been aggressively successful, finger fucking Coraline, in the process of unzipping his trousers the very moment Coraline sunk her teeth into his neck. Mick had ripped his throat out.

“You’re a good looking man, why don’t you bring someone over to the house tonight.” She says with a coy smile knowing there will be no argument.

“How did you choose your victims, Mick?” Josef won’t let it go.

“I didn’t kill them!” He blurted, protesting, denying… pushing himself up from the chair to stand and sway drunkenly. Defeated he collapses back into his seat.

“Freshie math is simple Mick. One vamp, one pint, three or four vamps and the freshie is dead depending on the size of the victim. How many vamps did Coraline support, who ate when you two were finished?”

Mick’s phone begins to ring, neglected on the table.

Josef smirks, “How many times have you ignored Beth’s calls tonight?” When the pounding on the door begins, Josef smiles with satisfaction, “You’re so busted.”

“Mick, I know you’re in there—open up.”

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

“Josef, sit down.” Beth cuts short his protest that he was just leaving and pulls two files out of her shoulder bag to thrusts them at Josef. “Mick, here are the other two.” Reaching up from his seat on the couch he slowly takes the files. He flips them open; avoiding Beth’s looks and keeps his eyes focused on the files.

“You have a vampire serial killer, ‘78,’ ’80,’ ’92” and ’98,’” Beth ticks off each date on a finger. “The violence escalates with each crime. These are only the crimes in California and according to you two, vamps move around a lot. What am I going to find when I start looking in other states?”

Josef sets the files on the coffee table unopened. “Beth, you work for the district attorney’s office. I don’t know why you think I should be responsible; besides what makes you think these other crimes were committed by vampires.”

“Because Ben Talbot was there in 1980, he watched his mother get up from a pool of blood that the crime scene techs estimated to be at least six pints. She bled out and then she attacked her own son.”

“Josef,” Mick says tiredly, “Look at the files, see how much blood was involved. I was there, I could see it—this sire likes to watch and listen to humans as they bleed to death. It’s not about food and it’s about seduction and power. If you don’t think this is serious we can visit morgue and Guillermo can show you the kids’ bodies. Do you want to know first hand how a couple of kids died? If you do go visit Guillermo, I’d go easy… he’s taking this pretty hard. He’d stake you for as a heartless bastard in half a second.”

Beth looks ready for a fight, “Innocent men are being convicted and have killed themselves because of…” she stops herself before she finishes the sentence.

Josef coughs; suppressing the enjoyment he gets watching an angry and impassioned Beth and opens the files. Quickly shuffling through the file he lays out the crime scene photos. These turnings were all messy; his eyes flash silver as he thinks how much he hates messy vampire arrogance. “So…yes, this is excessive… and potentially dangerous to the community if, as you suggest, the actions of this sire are becoming more extravagant and attracting attention.”

Beth looks ready to say more when Mick reaches forward and puts a hand on her arm. He says quietly, “Where do we go from here? Do you have any information that will help?” Beth wonders why Mick seems barely engaged in the conversation especially since she and Josef are on the verge of yelling at each other, he’s usually more protective.

“The only person unaccounted for in the most recent crime is Zandra Carpenter’s fourteen year old daughter who was supposed to babysitting the two children.”

Beth continued on, “You can keep the files for now; I have Talbot’s permission to leave them with you, it’s a matter of public record. The State will not be interested in overturning two convictions, the mistrial in 1992 was an embarrassment and in 1998 the father committed suicide.”

“Yeah,” Mick muses, “it was the daughter’s room where the two kids were sleeping, I could probably find her.”

Josef watches Mick and Beth with slightly narrowed eyes, if Mick has a sense of purpose he is probably alright for now. “Mick, do what you have to… and Beth let me know if I can help.” Josef and Beth’s eyes meet and she quickly looks away. Josef knows that she’s heard his meaning. Tell me if this gets too dirty for Mick to live with himself. “I will see myself out.”

Making no move to get up, Mick says abruptly, “Goodnight, Beth,” adding “Josef, will you see Beth to her car?”

“Certainly, allow me,” Josef takes her arm in a manner that doesn’t allow argument and he steers her toward the door.

Beth looks back with worry on her face and sees him lost in his own thoughts, “Goodnight, Mick.” He doesn’t hear her.

MLMLMLMLMLML

As they exit the elevator, Beth pivots and demands, “Josef, what was that about?”

“Leave him alone, Beth, you can’t fix everything.” Josef snickers, “I don’t think you could get a coherent thought out of Mick tonight.”

“I’m not trying to fix Mick!”

“I’m not saying you are trying to fix him, you’re trying to apply human justice to a vampire crime. You can’t change what we are.”

“That’s bullshit, Josef; you don’t hunt people or children for fun!”

“No I don’t, I prefer a nine page non-disclosure agreement that outlines all the ways you could accidentally die as a Freshie, including disclosing the non-disclosure agreement. That manner of death will not be accidental and I make that clear. Lots of vamps don’t even care about what happened to those children. Mick does… he’ll do the right thing… so leave him alone to work it out.”

Give him time to sober up, Josef thinks as he watches as Beth gets into her car and drive away. I must really see if Guillermo has more of that blood; maybe if I act properly appalled…
MLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

I never want to see this place again but I have to find out what I can about the daughter, Missy. They were here again, the sire and his offspring! What did they want… to pick up some clothes and… Damn it, they’re hunting the girl.

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

I swing by the bus station… there’s Leo, checking out the runaways… good thing he is predictable, I’ll beat up the little slime-ball later for stalking the runaways later… but tonight I need him.

“Leo, get in the car.” Mick says as he pulls up along side the disreputable vamp. “I need you, so don’t make me chase you.” His voice is deadly and Leo freezes and gives him a nervous look.

“What? You need me?” Leo is flattered by Mick’s attention.

“I’ve got two vamps hunting a runaway, her parent’s hired me to find her,” Mick lies, knowing that Leo’s romantic and sentimental justifications about drinking children’s blood will persuade him to help. “There’s her backpack and a journal, see what you can find and smell.”

Mick drives with the top down, alert for any smell of the girl. Leo asks some of the runaways about Missy. This isn’t good, Mick thinks, he’s on a first name basis with too many of these kids. He’s only a hairs breath away from pimping them for blood. Leo’s head jerks, “She’s been here at the all night market.” I can smell the sire and his more than willing pupil. Mick circles the block and stops in a quiet driveway.

“In the trunk Leo, you don’t need to see this.” Leo hesitates. “If I go after you it will be worse.” Leo nods, he’s shaking scared of the trunk, scared of running but he gets in willingly. Mick stakes him, “Just so you don’t run off.” He looks down at the paralyzed Leo who stares back with stunned unblinking eyes. Mick slams the trunk shut.

MLMLMLMLMLMLML

Mick sees them a few hundred yards away, three kids sitting on a picnic table in the dark park sharing a 40 oz. beer.

“P911,” one of the teens notices Zandra approaching, “Missy, your mom’s found you and she’s brought her scary new boyfriend.”

“Shit,” Missy swivels around and sees Zandra standing in the light of a street lamp. Pimp Daddy (Did she ever learn his name?) is watching from the car.

“Anyone ever tell you your mom, she is hot?” One of the boys says as jumps off the picnic table grabbing the 40 oz.

“Hot or not, we got to go.” Laughing they run off, jerking Mick’s attention with them. Prey!” Zandra is only focused on her daughter and walks toward her slowly.

“Missy, I worry about you when you run off.”

“It took you 3 days to come find me… you couldn’t be too worried. Is it time to do the laundry or maybe trucker dad wants me to baby-sit again, so what… so you can take my money again? You’re a crappy mom.”

Zandra twitches, this isn’t happening the way he wants it to happen… “Make up with your daughter she needs you.” He wants to see a cozy mother/daughter reunion, love and kisses, a hallmark moment… the seductiveness of a child feeling everything will be alright.

“Go away, I don’t need you.”

“But sweetheart, I need you, we’re not a family if you don’t come home.”

Mick is suddenly there between them. “Hey hey, Zandra, whoa, you don’t want to do this.” Zandra hisses, eyes milky white and launches herself at her daughter. Biting, clawing with the desperate speed and strength of a hungry newly turned vampire. Horrified, Missy stumbles off in the background.

“That was your daughter,” Mick snarls in her ear, he has her arms locked behind her. Zandra has to choose between the pain of dislocating her shoulders or continuing to struggle. “Your baby, the one you held your arms when she was an infant.” Zandra rips loose, one arm dangling. Mick elbows her across the face and whips back to grab her head, to snap her neck and Zandra crumbles to the ground.

The sound of ironic applause from an audience of one, “I like this game. It’s gotten rather one sided over the years. The girl would never have stood a chance without you,” Pimp Daddy drawls in an incongruously posh English accent, “and the mother was already getting tiresome. I’ll leave her in your chivalrous hands.” Before Mick can growl the sire is gone.

MLMLMLMLMLML

“I don’t know why you want me to do this, Mick,” Leo whines. “We leave each other alone, don’t you know that?” He’s begging for his own future. Leave me alone Mick, I don’t hurt anyone… really I don’t

“Do it for no other reason because her sire has abandoned her and she likes the taste of children’s blood.” Mick says wearily, “besides if I start cutting off heads, I’m not going to stop at one. Do it and you get to live.”

MLMLMLMLMLMLML

“Don’t tell me Mick St. John is calling for a clean-up.”

Mick doesn’t react, just reports the location in a dull voice, “Leo is baby-sitting the body. Read him the standard non-disclosure agreement, and if he disappears I’m still in the neighborhood. Oh, I’m going to need the car detailed… no, tomorrow is soon enough.”

The sky is lightening as Mick drives home on streets where the only humans still out are for sale. It’s only a matter of time before the police track down Missy. He hopes she has a good alibi and if not, he trusts that Beth and Talbot can steer the investigation in the right direction.

MLMLMLMLMLMLML

The sky is dark under a new moon. Light fog has settled in along the coast, held in place between the west wind and warm inland air. Beth drives slowly up the coast looking for his car at the turnouts and beach access roads. Mick didn’t call and cancel their date. He didn’t pick up the phone or return her calls either. She nearly misses the Mercedes as the fog reflects the glare of the headlights.

Beth grumbles as she reaches for the flashlight in the glove box, “Mick St. John, if I fall on my ass getting down to the beach, I’m going to be pissed.” Through the windshield she sees a fire on the beach and tells herself, I’m not going to worry until I get there.

MLMLMLMLMLMLML

Music: Trouble

The fire is not nearly big enough and sometimes even the sun feels like it is too small to shine on all the crimes of my kind. Mick stands back watching the fire burn and feeling the uncomfortable heat on his face and hands.

“Mick St. John, if you’re planning on throwing yourself on the fire, I’m going to be annoyed!” Beth yells across the fire.

Startling, Mick realizes his thoughts had been miles away and he hadn’t heard Beth approach when suddenly he sees her facing him across the fire. His eyes flash silver in the fire light and Beth inhales sharply. The space between them looms large and then contracts but it’s just a trick of the light.

“No, I’m too big of coward,” he says with a broken smile and sad human eyes, “I can’t even return your calls and I make you chase me out here.”

Gritting her teeth Beth negotiates a way around the fire and reaches out… Even the fabric of his coat is hot. “I’ll only say this once; I’m not going to have this fight again,” Beth shrugs as he looks at her, then drops his eyes unable to meet hers, “at least I’m only going to say it once tonight. You have to stop hating what you are.”

“I don’t hate myself Beth,” Mick struggles to keep what little composure he has, “I could try and go forward and live a good life but I hate us. I hate vampires when we ruin lives and justify it without a cause.” He looks past the fire and stares into the fog. He runs hand through his hair in frustration and takes another quick glance at Beth, still unable to meet her eyes. “I don’t even know the name of the vampire behind these… these… family crimes… but he enjoyed it, when I stopped his offspring from killing her own daughter… he was glad I did. He said it made the game more fun and that now I’m part of his game.” Mick holds his hands helplessly in front of him, looking from one hand to the other he says, “He didn’t care about the woman he turned and abandoned her without a second thought.”

Mick lapses into pained silence and continues to stare into the darkness. “Coraline and I played the same game… seduction and then hunting. I didn’t want to see it… but we did.” His conversation with Josef replays slowly in his mind… Who took the last bite?

“So how is this, not hating yourself? You asked me last time we were at the beach if remembering more about how I still felt about Coraline taking me… now that I knew more. I said it was a lot to process… isn’t it the same for you? Bad things don’t go away Mick… we just get better at looking them in the eye. Come away from the fire. Sit with me… At least one of us was prepared for a date… I even brought us a blanket.”

Mick looks at strangely at Beth, weighing her words. How is it when he can’t find forgiveness for himself he finds acceptance from her… the idea is foreign… but he loves her to much not to believe the acceptance… at least a little.

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Dry inland air has pushed the fog away leaving the stars above them; the fire has burned down to glowing embers. Beth is stretches out on top of Mick, his coat a cover for both of them. Struggling against their rumpled clothes Beth scootches up to kiss him again, brushing his lips with hers, pulling on his upper lip, his lower lip until his jaw relaxes and she slips her tongue inside.

“Woman,” he mumbles against her lips as Beth allows a sliver of space to hang between their lips “do you intend to cause me pain.” Sliding his hands out from under shirt to rest on the curve of her bottom, he rocks his hips up.

“That entirely depends on you.” Beth says, pushing back against him with a wiggle and stealing another kiss.

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

The stars spin above them as the pale constellations slip below the western horizon.

“We’ll find him Mick.” Beth says, as she rests in his arms and watches the sky above them.

“We?” Mick lifts his head and turns his head to look at her, eyebrows raised and a questioning look on his face.

“You and me… and Talbot.”

“Talbot, does he know?”

“No, I don’t think so… but he knows there’s a serial killer out there… and the damage is personal, his father is in prison, his mother… Her voice trails off as Mick starts to shift his attentions back o the stars above. “C'mon Mick, you're not alone here." Beth pushes a stray tendril away from his face and gives him a soft smile.

“Beth, I know… but.” The last word slips away unspoken.

AFTERWORD

Caitlin Talbot is annoyed and sarcastic. She needles her brother as only a sibling can, as she slides into the passenger seat of his car. “So Ben, what’s with this 6AM wake-up? You call me last night and tell me you need to see me first thing on a Sunday morning. Are we going to early mass or will we miss visiting hours at San Quentin?”

“Yes.” Ben pulls away from the curb.

“Yes, we’re going to church or yes this is some law and order field trip? You’re not still mad at me about contacting that private investigator, Mick St. John. C’mon Ben what’s this about?”

Every time Ben has tried to talk to Caitlin about what he knows about their parents, words fail him. He wants to protect her so she never knows what happened… but he has contacted their father. Even though the two of them avoid the topic of what Caitlin knows or remembers… It’s not enough to look across the rift of time… Ben knows their father has to see them.

“It turns out I was the right kind of lawyer.”

“Now you’re being cryptic, what do you mean?” She says irritated, folding her arms across her chest.

“I’ve found our father. It is visiting day at San Quentin, twenty eight years ago he was wrongly convicted of murdering our mother.”

Caitlin sits in stunned silence. All of her fantasies about her real parents have shattered like glass dropping, evaporated like smoke… she looks at her brother, eyes wide.

Ben offers, “If you don’t want to go… I can take you back home.”

“Bennie,” she uses her childhood name for him and pauses while she figures things out. “We’ve always been in this together… You can remember what happened, can’t you?” She looks at her brother, worried, disturbed by this new insight.

“Some… you know how I’ve never liked blood… I still don’t want to talk about it, especially with you.” In a second’s glance she can tell he is begging her not to ask for details. It can wait… she thinks, but asks another question anyway.

“Would you have told me any of this, if you thought our father was guilty?”

“No.” he says flatly.

Author: Mxwwmickd

s02e02: Out of Time

2008-07-15T19:47:00.000-07:00

Author: ClChen

Does a Vampire know when he is going to die? Can we sense when our end is near? It would seem that Death doesn’t claim one over the other human or Vampire; luck and time eventually running out for all of us.

The one thing our powers can’t help us with is when one of our own falls tragically, it’s just as hard, just as painful.

Out of Time

Ryder sat with a huff in his leather sofa, not sure if he was happy or sad being back in LA. South America was nice and so were the Freshies. He gave a rueful smile and drank some of the AB- blood that Josef had given him. He leaned his head back and froze.

“Mr. England.” The voice polite. Both men were masked, and Ryder didn’t understand how they had entered undetected. How was it possible? He felt the cold blade against his neck and he swallowed, a new sensation, stinging, coming from the silver blade. “Rise slowly Mr. England.” The masked man spoke softly and Ryder did as he was beckoned. As he rose, the other man placed handcuffs on him, and Ryder knew immediately, they were laced with silver, his strength was slowly fading. Both men grabbed his arms and pulled him toward the door, not saying a word to him and adding a jacket over his cuffs so they weren’t visible.

Ryder was led to the back of his building and down a service elevator. As it opened he squinted against the sun, his brow already heavy with sweat. Ryder England was scared, he didn’t know these men and they had gone undetected, he didn’t even sense them in his home, had no idea who they were or where they were taking him.

“Mr. England has been picked up.” The voice said into the radio. Two men in a van across the street observed as Ryder was placed in the car and, once it pulled away, the Van followed.

MLMLMLMLMLMLML

Mick stood at his kitchen checking his watch, it had been 2 hours since Beth had left his apartment. Just as the warm crimson liquid touched his lips he smiled at the thought of her.

Flashback

“You sure you want to leave?” He said as he nuzzled her neck closely. Beth giggled as she tried to pull away already feeling Mick kissing his way up her neck.

“No I’m not, but…” She paused as he got closer to her chin, she giggled and began to squirm in his arms. “Talbot sounded upset, and I’m pretty sure he’s figured out that the file is missing, not misplaced.” Mick froze at her cheek and straightened giving a quick sigh.

“You’re right.” He nodded and gave a smug grin, releasing his grip on her and placing his hands on her shoulders to gently rub them. “How bout, say in a few hours I take you to lunch?” He said smiling a little more. Beth nodded, giving him a quick kiss and pulled from his arms to grab her purse.

“Deal” She threw him another kiss as she left through the door.

Mick was soon pulled from his thoughts by his phone and by the ring tone it was Josef.

“Yes Josef.” He said quickly, finishing his lunch and setting it down.

“Ryder’s missing.” Mick could already tell Josef was agitated.

”Isn’t he in South America, and how do you know he’s missing?” Mick walked to his desk with his phone already feeling like Josef was panicking.

“No, he’s back.” Josef said as he moved past his desk from his new office. He stared out the high rise window, his nerves on edge.

“When?” Mick said quickly.

“A few days ago,” Josef said with more edge.

MLMLMLMLML

Ryder flinched as the mask was ripped from his face. He was feeling sick from the silver, and now he was hot and thirsty, powerless to do anything about it. He could tell he was in a warehouse, but he wasn’t sure of anything else. As his eyes focused he felt his fear return. Before him stood 5 men, all in masks; one of the men had an executioner’s sword. He swallowed hard and looked up.

“Good-bye Mr. England.” The man with the sword stepped forward, raising it to shoulder height. Ryder spoke finally, it was only a whisper “No…” He could feel the air from the blade, and then, nothing.

MLMLMLMLML

“And what makes you think he’s missing? Maybe he wasn’t ready to come back and he’s left again.” Mick sat down at his desk turning on his computer, just incase.

MLMLMLMLML

As the man swung it was a clean cut, completely severing Ryder’s head. Taking a silken cloth from his pocket, he wiped the blade clean, nodding to the other men. He pulled out a remote, pressing a button to start the timer. With a last look at Ryder’s body, they all turned and left the warehouse.

MLMLMLMLML

“Mick, Ryder doesn’t do anything unless I give him permission. He’s missing, and I’m worried. He was supposed to be here a few hours ago and he isn’t answering his phone. Trust me, this is BAD!” he put emphasis on the last words as he turned sharply back to his desk.

“Fine, I’ll swing by his place and see what I can find.” Mick hung up his phone and shook his head. Somehow he felt like this was going to be a wild goose chase.

MLMLMLMLMLML

Beth sat her desk going over the surveillance tapes of people coming in and out of Ben’s office, trying to find someone she didn’t have to; the person who took the file.

“Beth, let me know if you see anything, a file just doesn’t sprout legs and walk out.” Ben’s voice was tight and agitated

“Oh... oh ok.” She tried to sound anything other than guilty. Beth could feel the blood drain from her face and her stomach lurched, her heart was beating way too fast from fear; fear of being discovered. Her eyes darted up a few times from the monitor as she observed Ben move in and out of his office, certain at some point that she was going to be the one he brought in to question. She jumped, startled, as the phone on her desk rang.

“DA’s office, Beth Turner speaking.” She said quickly.

“There’s a body at a warehouse in Little Tokyo, 2225 San Pedro.” Beth was about to speak when the line went dead. She quickly rose, wrote down the address and headed to Talbot.

Mick pressed the send button to Logan with a list of things for him to do. He wanted him to see if there were any strange phone calls coming to Ryder. He sighed heavily again, not completely convinced that Ryder was missing. After everything that happened 2 weeks ago at Josef’s garage and Josef’s revelation about vampire hunters in LA, he just couldn’t chance it. Mick was just about to get up from his desk when his phone rang again.

“St. John.” He said quickly.

“There’s a person of interest to you, he’s at a warehouse in Little Tokyo, 2225 San Pedro.” Then the line went dead. Mick frowned and looked at his computer. He quickly rose and headed for his keys.

As he pulled into the warehouse, he didn’t notice anything in particular. The warehouse was old and deserted and he inhaled slowly trying to see if he could pick up any new scents. He picked up one right away, it was Ryder. Mick rushed inside, coming to a stumbling stop as his stomach lurched, and his dead heart jerked in his chest. Ryder’s head was at least 2 feet from his body. He made his way slowly to Ryder’s body and touched his hands, jerking back as he felt the burn of the silver. Wiping his hands quickly on the floor, he froze as another sound registered the steady Tick, Tick, Tick of a timer. He quickly searched the room and located the bomb, cursing as the timer showed it had only 2 minutes left. He bent to Ryder’s headless body and picked it up, bolting for the door.

Ben pulled his car into the street next to the warehouse, immediately noticing Mick’s car.

“Now why doesn’t this surprise me?” Ben shook his head and squinted from the sun as he looked at the warehouse. Ben wondered how long Mick had been in the building and if he had anything to do with Beth’s phone call.

Beth stepped out as well and looked to the front. In the blink of an eye, the warehouse exploded. Beth was thrown back into the car and Ben dropped to the side, covering his eyes with his arm, debris flying everywhere.

“You alright?” Ben yelled into the car at Beth. She nodded and looked around.

Beth shook her head and slowly rose from the car, looking frantically toward the entrance, her heart pounding wildly. As smoke rolled from the warehouse, a figure could be seen stepping from the black smoke. Recognizing Mick, Beth let out a haggard sigh and ran immediately for him. Smoke was billowing from his back, he was coughing and his face was black with suet. Beth stopped just before him as she realized he was carrying a headless body.

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Mick sat on the back of the fire truck, looking blankly at Beth as they waited for Talbot.

"It was Ryder?" She whispered harshly. Mick nodded as he looked at his hands, still feeling the sting of the silver that was on Ryder' body. Beth sat next to him, suddenly realizing that he was going into shock. She looked at Mick's face again, and then noticed that he was rubbing his hands on his pants. "Mick what's wrong?" Pulling one hand up, she examined the blisters and rubbed at something shiny that was all over his palms. "What is this stuff?" Seconds passed before she made the connection between his condition and the substance he was trying to wipe away. "Oh, my God, this is silver!" He didn't respond and she shook his hand frantically. "Mick your hands."

"We need to leave, I need blood." Mick mumbled as the poison continued to seep through his skin. Beth touched his shoulder and desperately looked around for Ben, finally spotting him near Ryder's body. She gave Mick a concerned look and headed for Talbot.

"Mick needs to leave; can you question him now or later?" Beth said a little urgently. Ben looked around the scene, then at Beth and nodded, making his way over to Mick.

"You don't look so hot." Ben commented as he came up to Mick. Ben pushed his jacket back, putting his hands on his hips. "I'll call you in the morning." He nodded to Beth and went back to the scene. Beth pulled Mick up and they headed for his Benz.

Beth glanced over her shoulder at Mick as he followed slowly behind her. “Give me your keys. You’re in no condition to drive.” She held out her hand as he caught up to walk beside her.

“Who says I can’t drive?” Mick’s eyes started to fill with panic. No one has ever driven the Mercedes but him, not that he didn’t trust her. Ok maybe, just not with his car.

“You don’t trust me?” She paused at the driver side door, smiling playfully. He gave her a lopsided grin as he shifted back and forth on his feet.

“I trust you.” He still held the keys in his hand as he quirked an eyebrow at her persistent stare. He looked around and shook his head, relinquishing his keys. Beth bit her lower lip and gave him a triumphant smile, quickly getting in before he changed his mind.

Mick sat on the bar stool in his kitchen, watching Beth as she poured him a glass of blood. She looked nauseous and Mick started to chuckle.

"What? Was I making a face?" she said as she handed him the glass. He just smiled and nodded his head.

"Once bitten, twice shy?" He smiled as he started to drink from the glass.

"Something like that." She said, grimacing as she watched him down the thick crimson liquid. "Better?"

Mick nodded and slowly stood to wash his hands for a second time. Taking Beth's hand, he guided them both to the couch.

"Do you think this was related to Josef's Garage?" Beth asked as she sat next to Mick, pulling her legs under her and resting her head on her hand.

"Maybe, maybe not, Josef has a lot of enemies. And it could be something specifically aimed at Josef. Letting him know he isn't untouchable. I still have to call him and let him know. I don't want to assume anything yet." Mick smiled softly at Beth, lifting the arm that he had fed on in the desert. The marks on her arm were completely gone, but the memory remained. He places a soft kiss where the mark had been, causing Beth to shudder.

"How ‘bout whenever you’re ready we go check out Ryder's apartment?" Mick's voice was soft as he spoke, holding Beth's blue eyes with his. Standing, he pulled her to her feet, his hand resting on the small of her back and they headed out of the apartment.

MLMLMLMLMLML

Josef sat at his desk as he watched the ticker go by, his frustration at Ryder’s disappearance compounded by watching his stocks fall. He threw his pen down on his desk and rose from his chair standing in front of the large picture window with his hands forcibly pushed into his trousers. He heaved a relieved breath as his phone began to ring.

“Better be good news.” Josef voice was deadly and cold as he waited for Mick to speak.

“It isn’t, Ryder’s dead.” Mick’s voice had an edge of sorrow to it. Josef released a low growl; his eyes faded from their warm brown hew to its deadly silver. “Beth and I are headed to his apartment now. Anyone in particular wanting some under lying revenge against you, or just the vampire community as a whole?” Mick said as he concentrated on the road.

“Oh I don’t know, we would have to go back at least 100 years or so, and I’m not sure who I might have pissed off in the last couple of days.” Josef’s voice carried a bitter tone that Mick wasn’t expecting.

“Anything at Ryder’s I need to be aware of, security codes?” Mick said as he pulled off the freeway and into Hollywood Hills.

“No I’ll meet you there, give me 15, 20 minutes.” Mick hung up his phone releasing a heavy sigh as he went up Ryder’s street.

As Josef arrived in his red Ferrari he saw Mick and Beth sitting on the steps into Ryder’s apartment. Walking up to the door he punched in the security code.

“Josef is there any place in a LA you don’t just walk into?” Beth asked

“Only if I don’t own the building,” he said smiling smugly at Beth.

“You don’t own mine do you?” Mick gave Josef a questionable look and got the same smug smile that Beth did. Mick stood pulling up Beth as he turned toward the door.

“I thought that you didn’t like investigating this sort of stuff?” Mick said smiling at Josef.

“That’s only if it’s in a poor neighborhood. I have my standards.” Mick chuckled as he guided Beth in.
Once inside the apartment Mick became serious and focused. Something was off, the only scent he was picking up was Ryder’s and it was mixed with fear. He inhaled twice and saw only bits and pieces, but he could make out voices and there was more than one. Beth wandered over to Ryder’s computer and took a chance hitting the enter key. The screen came up without a password. Beth gasped her hand going straight to her mouth as she looked at the screen. Ryder on the couch and 2 masked men behind him holding a blade close to his neck. Mick and Josef both release a low growl as they turn, taking in the image on the screen. Mick smiled and rubbed the back of Beth’s neck for once thankful for her curious mind.

“Well, one thing is for sure, you trained Ryder well.” Josef leaned into the screen, his jaw tightening and his eyes narrowing at his enemy.

Mick made a quick call to Logan wanting to keep the image and find a way to get it to him. He heard his phone ring two times then Logan picked up.

“Yes Mick?” By the way he answered the phone he was more than a little annoyed.

“I need to know if there is a way to send an image to you that is on Ryder’s computer.” Mick said as he switched seats with Beth.

“Sure let me talk to Ryder and I’ll tell him how to do it” Logan smiled to himself shock that Ryder didn’t know how.

“Um… Logan … Ryder’s dead. I need for you to tell me how to do it.” Mick said quickly. Logan swallowed hard at the news that Ryder was dead. He could feel fear rise in his gut at the very thought, let alone reality. If Ryder could be gotten to things were serious.

“Give me the IP address of his computer.” Logan said solemnly. Mick read him the numbers and Logan soon took over Ryder’s computer pulling the images that Mick needed. Mick hung up his phone and looked at Josef and Beth.

MLMLMLMLMLMLML

A lone white SUV sat outside Ryder’s apartment the driver watching 3 individuals walk out, checking to see what might have been found or left behind. Mick helped Beth into her seat looking around and inhaling the air. He could sense something, more of a feeling than fact, he knew deep down they were being watched. He sat in his driver seat and watched as Josef sped away. As he started his car he glanced into his rear view mirror and noticed two men sit up in a white SUV. He got his answer, that gut PI instinct still good. Mick smiled smugly to himself and kept track of the tail that was now following them, not saying a word to Beth, just seeing how far they would go. Mick didn’t go to Beth’s office or his apartment. Taking instead a different course, to the beach.

Beth watched as they came into the Santa Monica pier and looked at Mick, her expression filled with confusion and concern.

“Mick what are we doing here?” She said as she watched him get out and go to her door. She took his extended hand and felt him place it protectively to the small of her back. “Mick what’s going on?” Her voice on edge.

“I want to see the ocean with the woman I love.” He said as they continued down. He looked quickly behind him noticing the 2 men getting out of the SUV and leaning against it.

“Mick its midday, what about the sun?” Her voice laced with suspicion. She wasn’t completely convinced by his response.

Mick guided Beth to the pier and pulled her to him, lowering his head to her ear. “We’re being watched. Don’t turn around.” Beth instinctively placed her hands on his waist as her pulse took a sudden spike.

“How long?” She whispered back.

“Since Ryder’s apartment?” Mick placed a caressing hand behind her neck and guided her forehead to his chin, acting as if he was embracing her.

“Are they still watching?” She said as her hands went up his back from under his duster, pulling herself closer to him.

“For now,” his eyes kept the two men in site. Mick’s gentle touch continued from her neck to her shoulders, he wanted to calm her, reassure her.

“And being at the pier is supposed to do what?” She could feel her body tremble from a combination of fear and Mick’s touch.

“They are less likely to do anything in a crowded place, and I’m not going to draw them a map to where you work or I live.” He looked down into her eyes already smelling her fear. He kissed her lips softly and winked at her. Beth laid her head against his chest, letting her guardian angel do what he did best. Keep them both safe.

Mick watched as the 2 men got back in their SUV and pulled away. He released a sigh of relief and pulled Beth completely to him, holding her a little tighter, a little stronger. Beth closed her eyes tight as she felt Mick’s breathing even out, letting her know that the danger had passed for now. He didn’t like being placed in the snipers hairs, and he wanted the tables turned, and quickly.

MLMLMLMLMLML

Mick held Beth's hand as they walked down the corridor into the Morgue. He wanted to see if Guillermo was able to find anything on Ryder's body that would help. Since they left the beach Mick was quiet, his mind working. He didn't like being followed and he wasn't sure if Beth was a target now as well. This was the part of their relationship that he had always feared; because of what he was she would be hunted too, always in harms way. He knew he loved her and was sure, now more than ever he never wanted to be without her.

Beth watched as Mick frowned. She knew he was scared; she didn't have to be a vampire to tell. Ever since the night they declared their love, their bond seemed stronger, each more connected, more attuned to the other. She could tell when he was happy, playful or even worried. She tugged his hand and gave him a warm smile. He squeezed her hand
back and gave her a quick wink then rapped on Guillermo's office door.

"I had a feeling you would be coming by. I held off on calling the cleaner. I figure lots of John Doe's get lost in the morgue." Guillermo said as he guided them to Ryder's temporary tomb.

"So you didn't tell Ben who he is?" Beth asked looking at Mick and Guillermo.

"No, as far as Talbot knows I found a body, no name." Mick stood next to Guillermo and nodded for him to remove the sheet. Guillermo lifted it back and Beth took in a deep breath, closing her eyes and turning her head into Mick. "You ok?" He asked as he felt her squeeze his arm. Beth nodded quickly and slowly turned back to the body opening her eyes.

"Silver around his wrists from the handcuffs and traces along his neck. There were also traces of silver found on his jacket and trousers. There might have been some on the floor. The trauma to his neck, it was a clean cut. He didn't feel anything." Guillermo rested his hands on the table as he looked at Mick.

"I had a really rough reaction to the silver at the scene." Mick said looking at him.

"There wasn't enough on him that should have caused it. Becoming human again probably made you soft." Guillermo said with a smug grin. Mick quirked an eyebrow and gave him a disgusted look. "No other clues nothing else?" Mick said as he guided Beth back to the door.

"Not yet. I'll let you know." Mick nodded at Guillermo and then headed back out to the car.

As Mick started the drive home he took in a nervous breath and looked at Beth giving her a lopsided smile.

"I don't think you should go home to your apartment especially after the beach." Mick shifted nervously in his seat as he spoke. "After being followed and all. I think it's just too dangerous." He turned and started to concentrate on the road smiling to him self as Beth's
pulse spiked and she fought a nervous smile.

"If you want me to stay the night all you have to do is ask. You don't have to have an excuse you know." Beth smiled and turned to him, her cheeks already a soft red. Mick smiled wide again and shook his head.

"It's not an excuse, it's a real reason." A boyish grin appeared on his lips.

"And I know I don't need a reason that is I just like being with you." His smile softened as he turned and looked at her. He extended his hand to Beth. She laced her fingers into his as he guided it to his lips placing a soft kiss. Beth smiled and continued to hold his hand as they headed to her apartment to pick up a few things.

Mick buzzed them into the apartment. As he stepped in he gave the place a quick scan, more out of habit than anything else. He sat Beth's overnight bag under the stairs and then looked over to the kitchen.

"I'll get you a plate for your food." Mick gently stroked Beth's shoulder his hand drifting down her arm to her hand. He reluctantly pulled away and went to the kitchen. Beth put her purse by the couch and then walked over to the counter sitting on one of the bar stools.

"So how did you know about the warehouse?" Beth asked as she watched Mick get her food ready.

"I got an anonymous phone call. The person on the phone said that there was a 'person of interest' at a warehouse over on San Pedro."

He handed Beth her plate and a fork then went back to his hidden freezer grabbing his own dinner. "Before that Josef called telling me that Ryder was missing." His back turned he poured his dinner into a tall glass. He turned facing Beth and leaned against the counter. He had already downed half the glass before he realized that Beth was watching him with her eyes wide. She had a little bit of food in her mouth and she was chewing slowly. Mick swallowed hard and gave her an apologetic grin and started toward his office to finish his dinner.

"Mick wait," Beth said as she stood. He stopped and turned toward her as she stood next to the counter leaning on her hand. "It's going to take time for me to get used to. But you don't have to leave. Really, it'll be ok." Mick looked back at his office then at Beth.

"You need to eat; I have to check a few emails anyway. Come join me when you're done." Mick winked at her and then continued on to his office. Beth gave a disgusted sigh and flopped back down in her chair.

"Smooth Beth, really smooth." She put another fork full of food in her mouth and quietly ate her supper.

Mick went over his emails that he had received from Logan. There were no strange calls into Ryder's cell phone and most of the security cameras didn't pick anything up. The only thing they had was a video captured by Ryder's computer that showed 2 men placing a blade to Ryder's neck and taking him out of the apartment.

"So did he find anything?" Beth said as she leaned against the door frame. Mick leaned back into his chair and shook his head.

"Nothing we can use. We'll have to wait for Logan to analyze the images on Ryder's computer. Hopefully that will help a little." Mick rose from his chair and crossed his office toward Beth. He took her hand and they went back toward the couch. He sat next her about arms length away only touching her shoulder with his fingertips, leaning his head against his hand.

"Were you and Ryder close?" She asked finally. Mick shook his head no.

"First time I met him was at Josef's, only a day before you met him. He helped me find Cherish's address." Beth nodded and gave a shy smile remembering the case very well. How she had helped Mick, acting like one of the escorts to catch the killer. Mick smiled as he sensed Beth's embarrassment and heard her pulse accelerate. "Its still unsettling to see someone that close to Josef so easily killed." It reminded him how unsafe Beth really was.

Beth began to feel his uneasiness, Beth felt the need to be near him to feel his comforting arms around her so she leaned into him, resting her head on his chest. It took Mick a few minutes to realize what she had done. He slowly brought his arms around her and held her close. He closed his eyes taking in her scent and held her tight to him. Feeling her even breaths her steady heartbeat seemed to sooth him completely. Beth listened to his chest rise and fall his embrace comforting her from the day's events. She knew their differences still threw up obstacles to their future but she wanted to work around them. Mick kissed her hair letting the days events roll off him, comforted that she was safe at least for now.

MLMLMLMLMLML

Mick slowly rolled to his side and smelled a soft fragrance filling his nostrils and a slow grin started on his face. He felt warmth press against his chest and as he moved on the air mattress, Beth’s hip pressed tight against his. Her arms draped across his chest, and her hair on his shoulder. He started to close his eyes again when his phone began to buzz. He leaned over the side of the mattress and found his jeans then pulled his phone from his pocket. It was 4:00 in the morning and the call was unknown.

“ St. John .” He said as he rested his arm on his forehead covering his eyes, feeling Beth move to the side.

“Did you find what you were looking for Mr. St. John, or do you have more questions than answers. If I were you I would return to the warehouse, be there before 8:00 a.m. Evidence can disappear rather quickly.” Then the line went dead. Mick closed his eyes already disgusted with the call. His morning had been going so well to.

Mick rolled over to his side pulling Beth to him, stroking her hair and placing soft kisses to her forehead. He felt her heart rate change and smiled as she started to wake up.

“What time is it?” Came her muffled question.

“Early for you late for me.” Mick kissed her hair again as he rested his hand on her hip.

“How early?” Beth rolled from one side to the other, snuggling close to his chest. Mick’s grin slowly returned back to his face as he lightly touched her shoulder with his fingers.

“4:00 a.m. early.” He said through a chuckle. He felt Beth groan against his chest and he couldn’t help but laugh again. “Sleep well?” His voice filled with wonder as she stretched beside him only wearing his pin striped button down shirt, the same shirt he placed her in the night she had taken the Black Crystal. When she arrived having walked to his apartment wearing a number that left little to the imagination.

“Hmmmmm ya I did. Who was on the phone?” Beth craned her neck so she could see into his eyes. She couldn’t help but smile as his hair was tussled everywhere and he genuinely seemed content.

“Caller unknown, I think it is the same person that called yesterday.” Beth looked at Mick. Now she was worried. She felt Mick’s hand caress her back through his shirt as he rested his head on his arm.

“What did he say?” She shifted so that she was able to prop her head on her hands staring back into his eyes. Mick toyed with her hair trying to decide what to say. Taking in a deep breath he released it as he spoke.

“He said that I needed to be at the warehouse before 8:00 a.m., something about evidence not sticking around. I have to check it out to make sure.” Beth’s chin rested against Mick’s chest as she looked at him. He knew she didn’t like the idea. Her reporter instincts were telling her that this was off, it was too easy. In the back of Mick’s mind he was bothered by the tip, knowing just as Beth did, things weren’t as they seemed. “I’ll be careful.” Mick gave her another soft grin and pushed forward finding her lips with his kissing them thoroughly till she was breathless. He pulled off the sheet and tightened his pajama pants strings. He gave another quick smile and headed upstairs to take a shower.

MLMLMLMLMLML

Mick looked at what was left of the warehouse where he had found Ryder. He was early, having beaten the 8:00 am deadline. Police tape was everywhere and you could still smell the smoke lingering around the almost completely destroyed building. Mick scented the air and then quirked an eyebrow. As he pushed debris aside he noticed someone standing in the middle of the warehouse where the damage was minimal, his hands in his trouser pockets looking rather lost.

“Awful late in the day for you to be up isn’t it?” Mick said as he approached Josef from behind. Josef turned and looked at Mick giving him a tight grin.

“Well, silly me was dumb enough to answer a phone call at…” Josef didn’t finish.

“4:00 am?” Both Mick and Josef turn to see Ben Talbot standing behind them. “I got a similar call. I can assume that goes for the both of you?” Ben placed his hands in his trouser pockets and began to slowly make his way to Mick and Josef. Ben turned to Mick as he spoke. “I understand St. John being here. But a hedge fund trader, that’s a bit of a stretch. I don’t think we have been formally introduced. Ben Talbot, I work for the DA’s office.” As Ben finally reached both Mick and Josef he extended his hand to Josef. Josef turned to Mick and quirked an eyebrow and then looked back at Talbot.

“Josef Kostan and you seem to have me at a disadvantage.” Josef said as he looked at Talbot’s extended hand. Ben sighed and pulled his hand back and then crossed his arms over his chest.

“Your reputation Mr. Koston precedes you. Care to explain why you’re here?”

“I own the building.” Josef said as he looked at Ben. Mick jerked his head around to look at Josef.

“Really?” He folded his arms across his chest giving his friend a quizzical look.

“Who knew? Since I had a much larger building as of yesterday I decided to come and check out the damage for myself. Of course there was that phone call that said ‘there would be evidence’. You two are supposed to know about this sort of thing, care to point me toward the evidence? Not sure what kind of evidence we are looking for.” Mick unfolded his arms and snorted as he looked around, his vampire senses only picking up burned debris and nothing more. He remembered that Guillermo had stated that Ryder’s jacket was covered in silver and he wondered if there was more silver under foot and how much of a set up was this.

“Well CSI was here all day yesterday, if there is any evidence they should have prepared some kind of report by now?” Ben looked around, hearing the building creak from the wind and was a little worried as to exactly how stable the place really was. Mick felt this was a set up, but why set up the ADA? It didn’t make sense to him. Just as Mick stepped away from Josef and Ben, he heard it, the loud groaning of twisting metal. He jerked his head up and watched as the top of the last remaining part of the warehouse came down, right over Josef and Ben’s head.

“Look out!” Mick shouted. He dove for Ben shoving him into the clear. Josef bolted for the opposite end just as the last of the ceiling came crashing down. Mick and Ben slowly rose, dusting themselves off and looking up to expose rafters and the sun above. Mick covered his eyes from the intruding sun and felt the sting of the rays. Ben looked at Mick and then yelled for Josef.

“Mr. Kostan, you ok?” He said as he looked over the debris that now separated them.

“Oh yeah perfect, who gets the bill for my 500 dollar suit that is now ruined?” Josef said as he took off his jacket that was covered in grease and mud. Mick smiled and shook his head, looking at Ben who had a smile on his face.

“Well since you do own the building?” Ben retorted back. Josef raised his head and gave a disgusted look toward Ben’s voice.

“Well I guess that provides at least one answer, why we all got a phone call.” Ben turned to Mick as Mick looked up at the roof. He was beginning to believe that there was more than one target.

MLMLMLMLMLML

Beth set her purse on her desk with coffee in hand. She was exhausted. She had a late night with Mick and then the early morning phone call, interrupting her comfortable sleep. So far her morning had been rough, to say the very least. She looked up to see Ben’s office still dark, that he wasn’t in before her was unusual. She shook her head and started her computer only to be startled once again by her phone.

“Beth Turner, District Attorney’s office.” She said half enthused.

“I have information,” hearing a frantic voice. Beth sat down, her mind trying to catch what the caller was saying. “I have information about a recent murder that happened in little Tokyo.” Beth realized the caller sounded scared, really scared.

“What kind of information?” She was already headed into reporter mode.

“What do you mean what kind, do you want it or not?” He said more than a little defensive.

“Ok.. Ok calm down. Is it related to the actual murder or what you might have thought you seen?” Beth grabbed her pen and waited for the answer.

“I saw the murder, I was in the warehouse. Then I saw the bomb and I ran.” Beth was hoping this wasn’t like the call Mick got; she was really hoping this was a lead. “I need protection; I don’t want my head cut off like this guy. They didn’t even blink.” Beth knew she had a viable lead.

“Where are you, are you near the scene or somewhere else?” Beth asked.

“Near.. Near the scene. Are you going to help me or what?” The voice was still filled with panic.

“We’ll help you; just tell me where you are.” Beth bit her lip as he gave her what she needed. She pulled her piece of paper from her pad and grabbed her purse.

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Ben read over the reports that CSI had completed. He scrutinized every sentence, wanting to find anything that would give him a lead. He needed it, this case had to be solved. After the fiascos of the Monaghan and Anders cases, this was his chance to show how good his team was. Results were needed, too many screw-ups and his ambitious nature hated to loose ends. He rubbed his forehead with his finger, pen in his mouth as he looked at the lab results. The report showed there were traces of silver in everything. It didn't make sense. He threw his pen down in frustration and pushed back in his chair, rested his head on the back of it. He rose to see if Beth was back at her desk yet. Ben frowned and looked at his clock as he picked up his phone.

Mick was just getting into his car at the scene of Ryder's murder when his phone rang.

"St. John." He answered as he stepped into the car, already tired from the heat of the sun.

"Is Beth with you?" Ben asked as he rose pulling on his jacket. Ben knew if she was anywhere it was with Mick, it was if the two were joined at the hip.

"No, she's at your office." Mick’s voice began to fill with worry as Ben spoke again.

"Actually no, she was gone when I came in." Ben closed his office door and started down the hall to the exit for the parking structure. Mick looked around and he could feel panic starting to creep in.

"How long?" His voice became more agitated.

"I've been back over 20 minutes, you still at the scene?" Ben said confused by Mick's tone.

"Yeah, I wanted to double check a couple of things." Mick got back out of his car and headed back to the warehouse.

"There was a lot of silver found on all the evidence that was brought in, like the floor was dusted with it or something." Mick froze before he went back in. He lifted his boot to look on the bottom, not sure how much he had tracked into his car.

"Call me the minute Beth gets back." Mick said as he debated his next move.

"Well I've just stepped out, I'm going to go down and see if Guillermo found anything else on John Doe." Mick gave a half grin; he didn't have the heart to tell Ben the headless body was gone.

Mick ran through his numbers and found Beth's quickly dialing pressing send to catch her. Her phone rang then went to her voice mail.

"Beth it's me, call me back as soon as you get this ok." He hung up and cursed under his breath looking back at his car.

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Beth slowly walked up behind the dilapidated warehouse looking around for her witness. She was starting to get nervous about this being a wild goose chase.

"You alone?" Came the voice.

"Yes?" Beth stopped and waited for the voice again. Out of the shadows stepped a homeless man in full beard and dingy clothes.

"They were back this morning. I got nervous, I wasn't sure if I should talk to you or not." He stopped several paces from Beth.

"Did you see their faces?" Beth asked as she watched him look around nervously.

"Only one, he had a goatee and he was bald. The guy, he was like a bad ass in a suit." The man kept looking around, as if he were being watched.

"Did they see you?' She asked walking up to him.

"I don't know, where's my protection?" He asked looking at her. Beth smiled and pulled out her phone, she had a message. She skipped it and pressed send.

"Beth where are you?" Mick said just as he was almost back to his car.

"At the warehouse, I have a witness." Beth smiled at the homeless man as he continued to look around.

"Really? Lucky for you I'm close by, what part of the warehouse?" Mick asked in an irritated voice as he started around the side of the building.

"Back end, although there seems to be less warehouse than there was yesterday." Beth looked at the caved in roof and then jumped as Mick called from behind her. Her witness faded back into the shadows.

"That our guy?' Mick said as he stood by Beth. She nodded and looked toward where she saw the man last.

She called out to the shadows, "It's ok, this is your protection, it was his friend that was killed. You can trust him; he won't let anyone hurt you." The man slowly stepped forward, looking warily at Mick.

"We need to find Josef and get him into a safe house." Mick looked at the witness, hoping he was telling the truth.

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Mick watched as the man stepped from the shadows. As he did Mick inhaled slowly, selectively making sure he didn't pick up any unwanted scents. The man appeared to be homeless, dirty full beard and unkempt. The mans rapid heart beat indicated to Mick he was feeling uneasy.

"You got a name?" Mick asked as he slowly approached him.

"Thomas, call me Thomas. That's close enough." Mick stopped confused by the man’s response quirking an eye brow. “Are you a cop?" Thomas asked suspiciously he wasn't sure about this tall dark haired stranger or the pretty blonde. Every instinct he had said bolt and run. But a man died not that far from him and he just wanted to help.

"No, a PI." Mick looked at Thomas, his patience wearing thin. Too much sun and not enough sleep were making Mick hungry and agitated. "You want protection or not?" Mick's voice carried a harshness that startled Beth.

"I said cops not a PI." Thomas said as he stepped back.

"You called us, we didn't call you." Mick continued to watch as Thomas stepped further back. "Fine!" Mick grabbed Beth's arm and turned her back toward his car. Beth looked at Mick; she was confused and not completely sure of what just took place. She looked behind her once more and then heard Thomas as he yelled toward them.

"Wait!" He shouted. "I just don't know who to trust. I'm scared man. You didn't see." Mick could smell Thomas's fear and focused in on his quickening pulse. Mick could tell Thomas was ready to help. As Mick and Beth started to make their way back to him, Mick heard an all too familiar sound. Somewhere above them a rifle was being loaded. Mick's eyes darted around the top of the buildings, trying to find the shooter or a reflection of light off of a rifle but the bright sun was blocking his vision. He had to depend on his hearing and then decide who the actual target was. He looked at Beth as she continued toward Thomas. There were too many variables, was the shooter trying to silence Thomas or threaten Beth or himself. Deciding he was unwilling to take a chance Mick pushed Beth down behind a nearby dumpster.

Mick barked a command to "STAY!" at Beth. Beth startled as her gaze landed on Mick's cold eyes. His face was deadly and Beth knew she wasn't even thinking of going anywhere. Mick bolted for Thomas immediately feeling the pain of a bullet penetrating the back of his thigh. Mick vamped and snarled looking up behind him. A second later another bullet propelled through the air and hit Thomas between the eyes killing him in one deadly shot.

Mick finally spotted his target and he sped toward a building opposite the warehouse wreckage. Leaping with a wounded leg and snarling from the pain as he landed just shy of his intended target. He leapt again and spotted his victim. He knew the hunter was now the hunted. Fear again permeated the air as Mick snarled at his prey. The man struggled with his weapon trying to get another shot off. The shooter kept looking at this unworldly face that was staring at him, fangs bared and eyes white. He kept stepping back as he fumbled with his weapon, then suddenly he ran out of space at the edge of the roof. Before he could straighten himself he slipped completely. He felt a rush, then nothing. To Mick’s astonishment the man became off balanced and fell over the edge of the building to his death.

Mick looked over the side, seeing the broken dead body below. He raised his head to the blinding rays of the sun and cursed aloud. The only clue to Ryder's death was now lying dead in the alley below.

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Mick leaned against the building not far from the man who had fallen to his death. Beth was still giving her statement to Ben on what had happened and about the now dead witness. Ben was rubbing his head, still not understanding why Beth hadn't called him first.

"Why didn't you call me and tell me?" Ben's voice was agitated. He placed one hand on his hip and leveled a finger at Beth. "You work for me remember, not St. John. You called him first and now I have one dead witness, and a man that fits the description of the murderer provided by the now dead witness." Beth looked away from Ben feeling his temper. "I have yet, yet to put together a case that works. Yes we got back the missing boy. But these last 2 big ones, nada. You understand my point here?" Ben placed his other hand on his hip and glared at Beth. "The body that Mick found, our headless John Doe, is now missing as well." Beth didn't say a word she just continued looking down at her feet. Ben sighed the tension in his neck was beginning to make his head pound.

"I'm going to tell the DA that we found our murderer and he fell to an accidental death. I'll hope that CSI finds a sword or whatever was used on the first victims head." Talbot released a heavy breath and stared at Mick. He wanted to talk to St. John., but was pretty sure whatever story Beth told, Mick would repeat. He didn’t understand her need to cover for him. Beth seemed like a smart girl and covering for a boyfriend just seemed beneath her. He was sure there was more there, but for now it would have to wait. There was going to come a time when he and Mick were going to butt heads, Ben was sure of it.

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"Talbot ok with your story?" Mick pushed off the wall and walked beside Beth.

"No, but he took it. He's going to lay it out as an accidental death and say this guy killed Ryder and the witness." Beth watched as Ben looked back her and Mick as they walked away. Then she turned to Mick noticing he was limping. "Why are you limping?" She looked behind him and noticed the hole in his pant leg at the back of this thigh. "Mick you've been shot!" She stopped and touched the back of his thigh were the bullet was. Mick in took a sharp breath at the feel of her finger at the back of his thigh. He turned and grabbed her hand and then placed her fingers to his lips.

"Aw I wouldn't do that too much in public." Beth started to blush as Mick continued to hold her hand taking her to his car.

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Mick stood on his balcony watching as the full moon slowly rises over the city. He could feel the tension of the past several days roll off of him. Ryder was killed and they still had no answers, was it vampire hunters or was it someone else taking revenge against Josef. He hated how once again Beth was placed in harms way due to what he was, who he associated with and he wondered if there would be a time when things would be “normal”. He turned to the door as it opened and smiled as Beth brought him a glass of wine. She smiled softly at him as she stepped closer to him. Mick took both glasses and sat them on the balconies edge. Then he took Beth’s hands and pulled her tight to his chest placing a gentle kiss to her forehead. He wrapped her tight in his arms and released a heavy breath as he focused on her pulse.

“I feel like I have more unanswered questions then answered ones.” Beth spoke in a muffled voice as she held herself tight to Mick’s chest. He stroked her hair, she felt his chest vibrate from a chuckle and she couldn’t help but smile.

“We seem to share the same opinion. I didn’t solve this one, and hate it. I wanted to give Ryder at least that much satisfaction.” Mick bit the inside of his lip as he continued to look over the city lights of L.A.

“Well, you did your best, and we can still investigate it, just not from the DA’s office. Ben was still pretty livid after I left. He’s feeling like he’s being railroaded.” Mick quirked an eyebrow and tried to ignore Beth’s words. Talbot didn’t need to be getting into vampire business; it was probably better for his health Mick thought to him self. Beth leaned back and placed a quick kiss to his chin then turned into his arm staring into the moonlit sky, feeling safe inside Mick’s arms. Mick started to smile to himself then turned to the door.

“Ah-ha! I knew I would find you two up here.” Beth turned with a start to the door to see Josef stepping through with his own wine glass and a decanter that seemed darker than any wine she had ever drank. “Not wine Blonde.” Josef said reading the question in her eyes. “I figured Mick could use some strength since well, you know…” Mick rolled his eyes and shook his head. Beth’s eyes went wide as her she felt her whole body suddenly turn a rosy shade of pink. Mick turned to Josef with a disgusted look at Josef.

“And you are here for?” Mick’s voice filled with agitation at his best friend. His one night with just Beth and who would show up?

“I have a tradition when it comes to fallen comrades and I just don’t want to do it alone tonight.” His voice was low and Beth was almost sure she sensed a hint of sadness. Josef poured a large helping of liquid from the decanter into his glass then refilled Mick’s glass.

“To Ryder…” Josef lifted his glass to Mick and then turned toward the city. Mick gave a soft half smile to his friend and then turned to the city lights.

“To Ryder…” Beth smiled up at Mick as she held out her wine glass she was getting lost again looking into those soft hazel blue eyes. Mick gave her a quick wink and raised his glass.

“To Ryder…” Mick drank from his glass and held Beth tight to his chest, the back of her head leaning against his chin. He inhaled her sweet fragrance and listened to the city. Mick wasn’t reflecting on the day focused on what he failed to do, but instead, on what he was able to keep.

Author: ClChen