Hello, everyone! Here's the start of a new AU story—but it may or may not be very long. I've gotten so much inspiration for it lately that I'm already halfway through the next chapter. This is just the prologue.

Just a little author's note before you begin reading—Admirals are a band that Mal and his friend, Jim, created.

Disclaimer: I don't own Cause of Death or any of its characters. I do own Admirals and Jim, however.

"I think I made myself perfectly clear, Jim," Mal Fallon grumbled over the phone as he fingered the Gibson that rested in his lap. "I'm a solo guy. All of our recordings are of myself and Admirals playing instrumental in the background."

"Mal," Jim groaned on the other line, "just because you sound fucking brilliant on recordings and in live performances doesn't mean that you don't need a backup vocalist. You need higher pitches in your music-that's the only thing it lacks!"

Mal groaned. "What else, Jim?"

Jim Larson smiled from the other end of the call. "Well, my friend's girlfriend has a hell of a voice-that is, if you'd be interested in adding a woman to Admirals?"

Mal ran his free hand through his hair and sighed. "Jim, you're the co-manager of this band, aside from me. If you think this will help Admirals, then I trust your better judgment. When will we meet this woman?"

Jim laughed. "I knew you'd come to your senses! She's flying in to San Francisco tomorrow, and will meet you at the studio to get 'Realism' recorded."

"Whoa, hey!" Mal groaned. "I never told you to rearrange the vocals on 'Realism' to add a female part! I've never even heard this bird sing before!"

"She's lovely, trust me," Jim reassured Mal. "You won't regret adding her to the band!"

With that, he hung up.

"Oh great," Mal frowned and placed the phone down. "Jim is going way over his head with this."

He stepped into the living room and picked up a cigarette, quickly lighting it and taking a sharp breath. Sounds of a drum set came from the basement downstairs, which made Mal grin. Even when he wasn't there, Admirals were still working hard to practice.

They were a good band; Mal admitted that. The four other lads on guitar, drums, bass, synthesizers, and piano had the spirit and talent to make wonderful music. And Mal had the voice for it.

But Jim Larson was right-something was indeed missing from the gorgeous music that Admirals were making. Mal couldn't tell if it was a female voice or not, but he soon calmed down and mentally accepted Jim's offer.

After all, what could a simple addition to the band do to largely affect his life?

Special shout-out to the person who guesses which person/band sang "Goodnight Tonight." Hint—he's one of my celebrity crushes, hehe.