AN: this is MA, folks -- adults only! Next in the Half Breed series. In this story, Shane & co. pay a visit to the gang in L.A. This is not so much a story about vampires, although vamps do feature as the main characters. This turned into a story about the rock & roll lifestyle, especially as it was in the late 80's/early90's. These are rockers, folks. That means they tend toward the wild side of life. It in no way reflects my own lifestyle or beliefs. There is background here on the new characters, which is necessary since they are a major part of the revelations to come, so be patient. Josef is taking a bigger role in this universe, there's a lot of background coming on him, and have no fear I will also be getting back to torturing Mick posthaste.

Dedication: To "AussieJo" – without her, this story might not exist. Her support and feedback inspired this one.

C o m p l i c a t i o n s

By Cat Moon

Chapter One:

Strike Up the Band

All your life there's gonna be a constant barrage of people trying to pull you into their shit, and trying to push their way into your shit. Your job is to avoid being pulled into their shit, and not let them butt into yours. If you do that you'll have a healthy, happy life.

--SHANE'S WISDOM

And it came to pass, in a world ruled by fate and governed by coincidence, that a tape of Shane Alexander's band mysteriously found itself in the mail of several key people in the music industry in Los Angeles. One of the people who stumbled upon it was "Pops" Andrews. A long time musician, Pops had settled into a working retirement, and had just purchased a club in L.A. that would specialize in oldies music – oldies being the rock and roll of the 80's and 90's, with a smattering of 70's thrown in for good measure. He was looking for a house band to kick off the grand opening of "Rock and Roll Rodeo", and after hearing Shane and his band, "Stand" he decided they would be perfect. The fact that Pops just happened to be an old friend of Shane's was just a fortunate streak of luck.

A deal was struck; Shane's band would travel to L.A. for a 'working vacation' and help the club kick off its first two weeks. Details were hammered out: some of the band wouldn't be able to take off that much time from their jobs in Resurrection; replacements would have to be provided. Greg and Silas would only be visiting for an extended weekend. Their other guitarist, Freddy, was the local real estate agent, and left his business in his partner's capable hands for the duration. Shane of course, was irreplaceable.

Deals had to be haggled out at home in Alaska, as well. When the band's #1 fan found out about the L.A. gig, she insisted on coming along. Made it quite clear, in fact, that she was going with or without the band, to her parent's chagrin. Some parents just couldn't let go, even after their children were of legal age. It was better than the alternative but well, some things have to be learned by experience. Finally, knowing she couldn't possibly be in better, safer hands than their friend the Sheriff's, they sent her off with their acceptance.

Some things have to be learned by experience.

XXX

The airport was bustling in the early morning hours. Sunshine splashed through the large windows, warming whatever it hit despite the air conditioning doing its best to freeze the cattle being herded through. Passengers anxiously rushed to make their flights, other, lucky ones were wearily returning home from their journeys. Some of those milling about were only there to pick up relatives and friends arriving in the City of Angels for a visit. Josef, Mick, and Beth were three of them.

After the ubiquitous but brief flight delay, the visitors finally staggered through the gate. Greg, Shane, and Sara. Silas and Freddy would be taking a later flight in. Much later, as in an evening flight. Freddy just had one last deal to close, but Silas, well, he thought any vampire who would willing take a daytime flight to L.A. when they didn't have to was just a touch crazy. Shane didn't disagree.

When Shane came into view Josef smirked, and Mick couldn't help chuckling. Even Beth, who tried to be polite, found herself fighting a battle with lips that kept twitching upwards.

His cowboy hat was pulled low over his face, eyes covered by wrap-around sunglasses. Jeans and long black jacket made sure that no skin was showing whatsoever except for his hands and part of his face not covered by the glasses or hat.

"Look what the cat dragged in," Josef proclaimed, grinning widely.

"You sure do look the part of the quintessential rocker; up partying all night, hung over in the daylight," Mick added.

Shane pointed a long finger at all of them. "Don't." He took off his glasses, determining the light indoors was acceptable even with the windows. "Josef Kostan coming to greet me at the airport himself. To what do I owe that honor?"

Josef hooked a thumb toward the blond currently hugging Sara hello. "She made me."

The others watched in not a small amount of surprise as Josef allowed Shane to envelop him in a bear hug, and even hugged back. "Damn, it's good to see you, man, it's been too long," Shane told him.

"Yeah, we wanna hear stories. Lots and lots of stories," Beth put in.

"Josef, this is Greg Barrister, my full time deputy and part time bassist."

Greg shook Josef's hand and greeted Mick and Beth.

"And this is Sara Adams."

Josef however, had already spotted Sara on his own. He had the look on his face he always did when presented with a beautiful woman, especially of the human variety. "Sara." He stepped forward. "Well now, you didn't tell us you had such lovely women up there in Alaska." He bent to kiss her hand, never breaking eye contact. "It's a crying shame to hide them up there in the wilderness with just the bears for company."

Sara smiled at the compliment, no more immune to Josef's charm than any other woman. "That's what I've always thought!"

Shane smiled tightly and pinched the bridge of his nose, took a breath. "Can we get this show on the road?"

"Shall we?" Josef said, gallantly beginning to escort her toward the exit. He didn't seem to be able to take his eyes off her. Suddenly, those present that knew about Sara Whitley were uncomfortably aware of both her name and her red hair.

Once outside in the parking lot, Shane tried to disappear further into his jacket. "I forgot how nasty this stuff is."

Mick shook his head in amusement. "And I thought Josef complained a lot."

"Hey, you try living in Alaska for over ten years and then facing the L.A. sun. I'll get used to it again. I hope."

"I hear there's plenty of sun in the summer," Mick mentioned.

"It's not the desert."

"It is weird to be in all this sunshine," Sara put in, obviously attributing Shane's sun aversion to the lack thereof.

"Sun block," Shane reminded her. "Lots of sun block."

"And I have like, nothing to wear for California," she complained. "It's pathetic."

"Oh, we'll go shopping, don't worry," Beth promised. "My credit line has recently increased," this with a bright grin at Mick. "We're going to have a blast." And a dose of payback for some of Mick's little chauvinistic comments in Alaska wouldn't be unwelcome.

"Ooh, I can't wait. Gotta get some new outfits for the shows, too."

"So, this is the first time you've been back to L.A. ?" Beth asked Shane.

"Yeah. It's been a long time… for a lot of things."

"You must have a lot of things you want to do then."

"The Whiskey. The Rainbow," he said almost reverently.

"Sunset strip, sun bathing on the beach," Sara added, practically bouncing with excitement. "We're gonna have an awesome time."

"Did somebody say nude bathing on the beach?" Josef asked. Mick gave him a "look". "Oh, sorry, guess I was daydreaming."

Shane took his hat off his head and plopped it down on Sara's affectionately. "Well I don't do beaches, babe, but I'm sure Beth will be happy to be tour guide for you and the others."

"Rock stars. Why is it they all have an aversion to the beach?" she asked rhetorically.

"I'm not a rock star."

"Yet."

"Rock star?" Mick asked with raised eyebrows. "Something you haven't told us?"

"Ignore her," Shane said. "She's crazy. I think maybe it's due to living up there in Alaska in almost constant darkness."

Sara gave him a hard shove in the arm, as he grinned at her.

"You know, we might have to run you in, for accosting the Sheriff," Greg joked.

"You're out of your jurisdiction, buddy." Sara pulled Beth aside and whispered into her ear. "I wouldn't mind accosting the Sheriff." Beth whooped.

"What was that?" Shane asked.

"Nothing," Sara answered innocently.

"Girl talk," Beth said.

"Are we there yet??" Shane asked plaintively. Whispers. Vampires. No more need be said.

"As a matter of fact, we are." Mick stopped in back of Beth's Prius, which was parked next to Josef's red Ferrari. Beth tossed him the keys so their guests could stow their luggage.

"You should probably drop us off at the hotel first, so we can get checked in," Shane offered.

"I don't know why you don't wanna stay at my place," Josef complained. Shane gave him a look like he should know the answer to that. "What? I've got the whole guest wing… Don't tell me you're no fun anymore, either."

Shane just shook his head, refusing to be baited.

"Hey – was that an insult?" Mick wanted to know.

"Well, if you recognized yourself…"

"Wow, nice car!" Sara told Josef when she saw him unlock the door and realized it was his.

"Well it just so happens I'm in need of a gorgeous lady to decorate the passenger side. Do you know anybody who'd like the job?"

She grinned and jumped in.

Shane looked over his sunglasses at his old friend. "By the way, Josef, if you're not at the hotel when we get there… I'm going to take you sunbathing."

"Yes, Dad!" Josef yelled before peeling off out of the lot.

Shane watched as Sara drove off in Josef's car, wearing his hat. "I hope he gets a ticket."

As they were getting into the car, Beth took Mick aside to whisper to him. Her whisper was barely more than a breath. "There's going to be trouble."

"Why do you say that?"

"Woman's intuition."

Mick nodded. "Just call me Shirley, then."

Beth pulled out of the lot, taking the route to the hotel at a much more reasonable pace. Mick was in the front seat the other two in the back, with Shane slouched down as far as he could.

"You know," Greg told him, "we wouldn't mind if you wanted to stay at your friend's instead of the hotel with us."

Shane shook his head. "The Adams asked me to keep an eye on Sara. Let's just say the atmosphere at Josef's isn't conducive."

"Not gonna be as easy as you thought it was, is it?"

"I never thought it was gonna be easy."

Complicated was a much more likely word.

XXX

The boys were passing the daylight hours the way vampires are apt to. Greg had been left to his own devices to do some sightseeing. Beth and Sara, well, they had a serious date with the mall.

They were currently resting their tired feet in the food court, digging into burgers and sipping drinks. It had been a fun afternoon of shopping. Beth wasn't much into the girl-bonding thing, more often she could be found hanging with the guys, but it had been a lot of fun. Kind of like having a little sister. The teenager's energy and youthful approach to life was refreshing.

"So, do you like current music too, or just retro?" Beth asked.

"Oh, I love all music. Heavy metal, alternative, emo. Even country. When you live in the middle of nowhere, sometimes all you have is the music and your daydreams for escape."

And into that colorless, changeless existence, came Shane Alexander. The most exotic thing Sara had ever seen, somehow at once both perfectly suited to the role of Sheriff to the outpost town and glaringly out of place. A contradiction, a mystery. And now, finally within reach. She could taste it on her tongue, sweeter than the ice tea in the cup in front of her…

It would be hot, so hot the night air blowing onto their skin through the open window provided no relief for the heat wrapping around them. The taste of him would explode on her senses as his tongue explored her mouth desperately, demandingly. He would rip her blouse open, exposing her naked skin. He would pour some ice cold tea onto the skin between her breasts, causing her to shiver before his hot tongue licked the sweetness away…

"Sara?"

"Huh?" She abruptly became aware that Beth had been trying to get her attention. "Oh, sorry," she muttered in embarrassment. "Guess I was daydreaming again."

"Well, you're not a minor anymore, you can leave there if you want to now, go to college somewhere. Do you have any ideas what you'd like to do with your life?"

"I have thought about leaving Resurrection. Seriously, in fact. There's… nothing there." Except Shane.

"If that's what you really want to do, you should talk to your parents about it. They'd miss you but I'm sure they'd be supportive of you choosing a career."

Sara laughed. "No, actually, I don't think they'd be at all supportive of what I really want to do with my life."

"What's that?"

She grinned but shook her head. "Everybody's gotta have their secrets."

"Ain't that the truth," Beth couldn't help but agree, even though she had a feeling Sara's were tame compared to the ones she was privy to.

Sara took a sip of her ice tea. "Y'know, I'm the one who 'anonymously' sent the tape of Shane's band to L.A."

"I thought the guy who owns the club is an old friend of his?"

Sara shrugged. "That's just a crazy coincidence, that he saw it and was the one to call."

"Why would you do that?"

"I wanted to give them a chance to get noticed. They're good."

"Does Shane know?" Beth asked, with an unpleasant suspicion that she already knew the answer.

"Hell, no."

"Maybe he doesn't want to get noticed. And they aren't full time musicians; they have other jobs, important ones. I hope you're not thinking they're going to get "discovered" and stay here to become famous."

Sara frowned at her. "I may be nineteen and live a sheltered life in Alaska, but I'm not stupid."

"I didn't say you were."

"So it's just a chance to have some fun. It'll be good for Shane to have a vacation. Get away from his responsibilities for awhile."

Beth tried to choose her words carefully. "Honey, Shane's... well, he's um, in a 'different' place than you are in his life, and I hope that you're not reading more into things than—"

"Oh you don't have a fucking clue, so don't patronize me. You don't know Shane and you don't know me. "

"I'm just trying to help."

"You may see Shane as Mr. Responsible Sheriff, but he's the lead singer in a rock band. He gets up there on the stage and performs. He's a musician. And I'm a hot 19 yr. old. Trust me, he wants me. And it won't take much for me to get him. Thems the realities, chickie."

And Beth remembered the part about teenagers being difficult. She thought about arguing – she had a lot of responses to that. But had a feeling it wouldn't be listened to anyway.

The word Hindenburg came to mind.



End of chapter one: Strike Up The Band