Disclaimer: I own [almost none of these characters, they belong to their respective TV shows/books.

This is a crossover fiction that I've been toying with for a few weeks now, so I just sat down and wrote the first six or so pages. I do know basically what's going to happen, this is essentially me testing the waters to see how well this might work. Of course, if I do continue, it will get much more interesting

I stare at him blankly for a second. "You're saying…" He waits for the other shoe to drop.

"You're saying we have to go outside the loop." I finish, my gut sinking.

"Yep."

XXX

The rest of our day is spent figuring out who is where and if they can help. I must say, so far I haven't come up with much. Looking through these files, almost everyone is antisocial, hates other vampires, or is completely unwilling to help anyone but themselves.

"So…" Mort says.

"So…" I reply.

"Here's what we've got so far." He's holding a stack of files which looks disappointingly slim. I brace myself, I know that I'm still going to have to deal with four or five.

"For you, m'lady," He waves the stack in my face.

"Wait, all of those are ones I have to call?"

"Yep. I've got my own pile."

"Aw, come on!"

"No, these are ones that I think you'll be able to handle better. My stack's different." He walks over to me. I'm perched on the edge of a desk, looking at our clear board with the tacked up map of North America. Next to it is one of those foam boards on wheelie legs, with several colorful pushpins stabbed into the material here and there.

"First." He picks up the first one and slides out a photo, tacking it to the foam. The face looks familiar, but then again, I have a terrible memory.

"Mick St. John." He says. I remember now; the tall guy with the dark wavy hair. He always had this chivalrous, self-hating attitude about vampirism, though I can't say I hated him.

"So, what, I just call him?"

"I guess so."

"Wow, that'll be a fun conversation. 'Hello,'" I hold my hand to my ear in a mock-phone. "'This is Joanna Lovett, from the scary vampire government? You see, someone in our system is randomly turning people and we need outside sources to help us. Call me back if you get this message!'" I laugh and Mort smirks.

"You done?"

"Not remotely. Hit me again." I hold my hands up and curl my fingers in, sort of a nonverbal 'You want some? Huh? Do ya punk?!'. He hands me the first file and takes a photo out of the second one, tacking it up on the board right next to St. John's photo. This guy I most definitely know, seeing as he inadvertently saved my life a month ago.

"Henry Fitzroy." I say. While the two of them look very different, that same chiseled, stare-holes-in-concrete look is present in both of them. I've noticed that that's a common trait in male vampires; a tendency to be extremely serious at times.

"Right, well, we do have a favor to call in with him. You and Nelson are on good terms, right?" Victoria Nelson, the PI who also kind of helped save my life, after hers was saved. We've stayed in contact since then, sort of a women-of-vampires support group.

"Yeah," I answer. "Actually, she'd probably help." He gives me a funny look.

"I'm not so sure that more than one PI is a good idea for this thing." I forgot about that; Mick is a private investigator too. I'd mock the both of them, but the fact is that Mordecai and I are really only barely a step above private investigation. Basically, it's vampire investigation (essentially 'hey, buddy, wanna stop before you suck her dry' maintenance).

"We'll see." I answer. He smiles and hands me that file as well. I can clearly see at least three more that he has, though. He takes yet another photo out of the next file and puts it next to Fitzroy's picture. Now, this one I'm sure I don't recognize. Well…wait. Not in this lifetime. I look at Mort questioningly.

"Josef Konstantin." He tells me. Ah, wait, never mind. Never heard of him.

"No clue. Fill me in."

"Rich stock…guy. Hedge funds and trading, you know?"

"No."

"Well, turns out he's pretty good friends with Mick St. John, so that's how we found him. Not the most selfless of creatures, but I'm willing to bet he'd listen if you put the right…spin on it." He finishes carefully. Little do you know, Captain Subtext, that I can hear you loud and clear.

"You mean he eats from live women and you want me to make sure the little head does the thinking for the big head in order to convince him."

"You always were blunt."

"I'm not liking this trend." I waggle my eyebrows at him meaningfully. All three so far have been males of a similar age.

"Well, I mean…It's just that, and I'm not sexist or anything, but, there's just a certain…" I laugh, it's fun to see a thousand year old vampire flustered.

"It's okay, I get it."

"You do?"

"Yeah." He breathes a sigh of relief.

"Good, because that would have been a really awkward conversation."

"I can think of worse ones we've had." I wink at him. I'm thinking back, as I'm sure he is, to the 'so…uh, four hundred years ago, when, I, uh, killed myself for you after knowing you for a day, uh, what happened then?' conversation, a week or so after he came back. He shakes his head and chuckles.

"Fair enough, Johnny."

"So, come one, what else you got? Make me cringe with your choices."

"O-kay…hang on a second…" He awkwardly maneuvers the next to last file into his other hand and hands it to me after taking out the picture. This one looks far too young to even be considered, if he were human.

"Come on. He's, what, seventeen? Sixteen?" I protest. Mort shakes his head.

"Also over a hundred years old."

"That's not that much."

"It's enough."

"What's his name?" I hold up my hand.

"No, wait, don't tell me, Edward Cullen." He chuckles.

"Haha. Very funny. But, he's pretty much the real life equivalent."

"What, he's got a true love?"

"Yep."

"MORT!"

"Sorry! Look, there aren't many people I could find. If it makes you feel any better, my list isn't much better."

"So, what is his name?"

"Bryon Doom."

"That's unfortunate."

"Tell me about it." He smiles and hands me the last file.

"What, you aren't going to take the photo out for this one?" He grins and holds up the photo, pinched between his fore and middle fingers, waving it back and forth tauntingly. He tacks it up on the board as well.

"No."

"Johnny, I know you don't want to, but really, he's good."

"No. I won't do it." I stare resolutely at the face of Roger Shepp. Nik's friend, he was there the night we met. I don't want to know what will happen if we meet again after what happened. Despite myself, I can feel my eyeballs grow hot. Mordecai shakes his head, but he knows not to push it. He takes down the photo.

"Fair enough." He crumples it up and tosses it in the waste basket. He hoists himself up onto the desk, right next to me, staring intensely. I don't really feel like working anymore.

"You going to be okay, Miz?"

"Hm? Yeah. Yeah, I'll be fine, just give me a little." I hop off the desk, with four of the five files in hand, and head toward the door, grabbing my coat on the way out.

"I'll call you tomorrow, 'kay?" I call.

"Bye, Johnny."

XXX

After getting back to my house, I put on my big grey sweatshirt and plop down to read the files I've been given. I realize that this is a real situation, and that I'm doing this for a reason, I do, but I can't help but feel excited. I've always loved encounters with strangers. Call me a bizzaro.

First, Mick St. John. I know little about him, save for he's pretty young for a vampire. Not that unipartas every really survive for too long anyway, but eighty-five is pretty much a sneeze. We're not exactly on the best of terms, seeing as he doesn't really believe that I'm just a girl with a passing interest in vampires, but I've no doubt he'll jump at the chance to do good. After all, finding the irresponsible guy who keeps producing feral vampires is pretty important, wouldn't you say?

Looking through the file, I don't learn much I didn't already know. He's no longer in reliable contact with his sire, his human interest is Beth Turner (yeah. There's actually a place for that in our files.), he only ever uses pre-packaged blood. And, in case you were wondering, his threat risk is low. Meaning that we don't really need to keep tabs on him. What's not really written in the files (here's where I wish we had a comments section) is that he's got this bourgeoisie, 'holier-than-thou', I don't eat women sort of attitude. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, but he literally told Mort 'I don't hunt women or children', and while I don't think he intended it, that sounds vaguely sexist. So, what, if the woman committed a crime you still shouldn't make her pay? Get real, fella. Then again, he was born in the twenties. Who can blame him?

After that, Henry Fitzroy. Also no longer in reliable contact with his sire, human interest is Victoria Nelson, feeds off of consenting adults (without their knowledge). Almost five hundred years old. Threat level low to medium. Sometimes I wonder if, provided all of the 'human interests', as they love to be called, were gathered together, rank would depend on the age of her/his vampire. I can't helpbut giggle at the thought. What a bizarre way of pulling rank that would be. I've met Fitzroy, and though I easily confess that I thought very little of him at first (the words man whre come to mind), it must be said that his intentions are pure. Plus, you know, the fact that he was one of three people who saved my life kind of prevents me from trashing him anymore. But enough of that. Next: Josef Konstantin. This looks interesting. He looks like he must have been turned in his early twenties, certainly no more than twenty five. He's over four hundred years old, and while I've certainly met older, that's nothing to sneeze at. Apparently not much is known about his past life other than his age. He is also no longer in contact with his sire (are any of them?), and…this is mildly intriguing. No human interest. Perhaps this is one of those that Mort describes having given in to the emotionless side. Or, he's a Casanova of the vampire world. Wouldn't be the first. Under feeding habits, it says…'willing freshies'? What does that mean?

Well, I mean, I can guess what it means, but where did that come from? The term freshies…must be an LA thing. Still, 'no human interest' intrigues me. Usually it's inevitable. Did he lose someone? Does he have someone, but is being discreet about it? I look forward to finding out. Oh, and look at this. Threat level: medium-high. I wonder why. I'm guessing it has something to do with 'freshies' – lets them know what he is. I'm sure he takes the necessary precautions with them, however, so it must also have something to do with his high status in society. I move on to the last file.

Hello, Mr. Doom. He was turned when he was seventeen, surprisingly the same age as Fitzroy, though he doesn't look it. He's handsome enough in his own right, certainly, but you can see that he's young. Lessee…still in contact with his sire. Interesting. Apparently it's…never mind, 'identity of sire unknown'. Human interest: Isadora Cygnet. Are you kidding me? Her last name literally means 'baby swan'. The universe has a fantastic sense of humor. A fantastic, cruel, ironic sense of humor.

XXX

I wait uncomfortably as the phone rings. If I've figured the time difference correctly, it must be about 7 pm in California right now. Hopefully he hasn't left his office yet.

"Mick St. John, Private Investigator."

"Oh! Oh, hello, uh, Mr. St. John."

"…Ms. Lovett?"

"Yes." There's an awkward silence.

"Can I help you with something?"

"Uh, sort of."

"…would you care to elaborate?"

"You know my partner, Mordecai Bloodworth?" [Okay, he so did not pick that last name at random.

"Yes. We've met."

"I have no doubt that you know who we work for at this point."

"I have a general idea."

"Well, there's a…" I make a mildly distressed noise. "Leak isn't the right word. Someone in our employer's…employment is making vampires and not bothering to teach them. Just letting them go."

"What? I'll be glad to help, any way that I can. Do you know why?"

"Well, once they reach a certain age, vampires tend to grow…weary of the normal ways of amusing themselves. Some of them turn to outright killing, but an unfortunate few decide that it would be more fun to watch a bunch of newbies run around killing each other and anything else that gets in the way." I wince. That's how Nik got turned, why he's not here anymore. And, though he's never outright told me, I suspect that's what happened to Mort as well. Why he's never 'snapped' like so many others.

"That sick bastard!" Just wait till it happens to you, boy-o.

"Yes, well, other than that. We'd like to ask if we could rely on you for help? Not everything is figured out yet, but we do have some information on our vampire's whereabouts. Obviously we can't just use our normal…er, team. So, when we do have a plan of action, we'll need some outside sources to assemble."

"You can count on me. Anything you need, we have to stop this sicko." 'Sicko'? Whatever. From what I know, he's not a half bad fighter, and it can only help to have him on our side. So, one down, three to go. I hang up the phone. Next!

Bryon Doom. Oh, man. I really hope he doesn't live with parental figures.

I let the phone ring a few times…ring…ring…ring…

"Bryon speaking."

"Hello, Mr. Doom?"

"Yes?"

"((You have the coolest name EVER!!!)) This is Joanna Lovett. May I speak to you for a moment?"

"I'm very happy with my long distance service." I laugh a little.

"No, that's not it at all."

"Then who are you?"

"Let me start off my saying that I know you're a vampire." I snort as Mort's words about my bluntness come to mind. There's silence on the other end.

"It's okay, it's fine, I've met over fifty and know of almost every one in the major cities of North America."

"Why have you called me?" His voice is low, and I can't help but wonder if he's gone all predatory.

"Well, suffice to say that I work for a form of…uh, vampire…government, or police, depending on who you ask, and-"

"I haven't done anything wrong."

"No, no, of course not, the exact opposite in fact."

"What does that mean?"

"Well, lately, we've been having some trouble on the inside." I'm impressing myself with my professional, business-like tone. "We need to create a team on the outside, and were wondering if you'd like to help us?"

"What constitutes me helping you?"

"Well, when we do figure out the exact problem area, the lot of us will go there for…no more than a few weeks, I imagine, and…deal with the problem as fits."

"Why me?"

"There is a surprisingly low number of vampires who actually seem willing to help anyone."

"Forgive my boldness, but are you a vampire?"

"No. Well, sort of. No."

"Fair enough. When you figure this out further, call me again. Goodbye, Ms. Lovett."

"Johnny."

"I'm sorry?"

"Everyone calls me Johnny."

"Goodbye, Johnny." He hangs up. Well, you certainly don't live up to your awesome name. What a dreadfully boring boy. Then again, that was a phone conversation. I suppose we'll have to see.

I think I'll only do one more tonight. Save what will likely be the easiest and the least awkward for least, huh? So, I'll just call Mr. Konstantin and have done with it.

It only rings once before I hear a distinctly feminine voice answer the phone.

"Mr. Konstantin's office." Come on, Pollox's guys! You couldn't even get a personal number?

"Yes, I would like to speak to Mr. Konstantin, please."

"I'm sorry, he's not in at the moment." Yes he is, you idiot. I know very well that he is. I didn't know before that, but wow. You are a terrible liar.

"I don't care whether or not he's in. I'd like to speak with him." She is flustered into silence for a few moments.

"…you…you…you can leave a message, if you'd like. I'll be sure to have him call you back right away." Oh, yeah, that'll work out great. 'Write this down for me: I need you to tell him to call back and tell me whether or not he'd be interested in being on my Supreme Team of vampires to fight evil and protect the great secret.'

"Please tell him that it's regarding a very personal matter and that he needs to come to the phone immediately." She pauses, trying to come up with another plausible lie.

"Excuse me. I seem to be out of paper. Give me just a minute." I hear her put the phone down and shuffle out of her seat, walking away into the distance. However, being bitten so many times means that inevitably a few vampirism traits have rubbed off on me. I can distinctly hear in the background her speaking to Mr. Konstantin, telling him that "there's a rather rude woman on the phone who insists that you're in and won't tell me why she wants to speak with you." I hear her footsteps grow louder as she returns to her desk.

"You're in luck! He just returned from a dinner." At 7:20? A likely story, dear.

"Goodness me, I certainly am lucky." I reply darkly. I hear a few deft clacks as the phone lines change.

"This is Mr. Konstantin. Are you the rather rude woman?"

"I am in fact the rather rude woman. Would you be the prudish businessman?"

"I would indeed. How can I help you?"

"Would you be interested in helping to…take care of a problem?"

"What kind of problem?" I take a deep breath, ready to let it out in a whoosh.

"There's a vampire, likely an old one, that's been turning people and setting them loose with no training." I love how I sound like I'm talking about cows or puppies.

"…who are you?"

"What? Joanna Lovett."

"Are you with Pollox?"

"Well, not him specifically, but yes." How would he – I don't care. Honestly, I don't.

"I see. Why are you not asking me for help?"

"We don't know exactly who, but our…" I resist the urge to say 'perp'. "Vampire is one in the company. We aren't willing to risk him finding out that we're onto him."

"That sounds about right. Yes, I would be interested in helping, assuming that's what you're asking."

"Well, we aren't asking for money, but your time and presence once we have everything figured out."

"I understand that. Please call me when you have further details."

"Goodbye, Mr. Konstantin."

"Josef." I hang up. Huh. Well, more interesting than Bryon Doom, lemme tell ya.

A/N: This is basically just the prologue, but I think you get the general idea of what I'm doing here. I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts (and in case you're wondering about all the background and stuff references, the back story of the characters is my first story. Right, because clearly everyone is so interested.) You made it all the way to the bottom! Good for you! Reviews feed my plot bunnies.