A drabble based on Ep. 4, "Fever" of Moonlight.
"The Quick"
Mick receives Lenni's spontaneous hug, lending her the warmth and comfort that Beth could have used, herself.
A moment before, he was breaking the neck of a man that had threatened Beth's life. Neither asking, "Are you okay?" nor the smile he offers Beth over Lenni's shoulder seem like nearly enough to ease her shaken emotions or a fair trade for the sacrifice she made to save his life.
She's not a baby, though, she tells herself. But deep down, it hurts that he doesn't consider she's more tender than she acts. Sure, she talks a good game, but when it comes down to it, she's a gentle person. She was only strong because she had to be strong, like all the other times. It's always been that way with her. Get hurt, deal with it, grow up, put up defenses... act tough, don't let them see you cry.
"It was all my fault," she says, "I'm such a klutz."
She's very surprised Josh takes the cliche phrase to heart. But she's good at hiding things, too good, maybe. And accidents do happen in the heat of the moment, such as a fight between killer and PI.
Honestly, she doesn't know what she's thinking, going to Mick's place. She has so many rationalizations bouncing around in her head, that she can't even pick one. All she knows is that she needs to see him, needs to talk to him... needs even more than just those.
She knocks, but he doesn't answer. He must know she's here, if he's in there. And why wouldn't he be in there? Unless he's gone out... but he seems like he's a man who enjoys his solitude. Then again, how well does she really know him?
But somehow she knows that he's there, just the way a person feels when someone else from their family is in in the house. Little sound cues maybe, or just... intuition.
Beth leans her head against the door, touches it with her palms. Her face feels so hot, but the door is ice cold. The muscles in her neck tense; she closes her eyes. She knows he's there, and not just there, but close.
Even if a door wasn't standing in their way, there are other things. Not just Josh, not just that Mick is a vampire... a lot more than that, things that can't even be put into words.
It doesn't stop her from wanting, though. And she can sense him in the house of her mind.
She knows he's there, too.
End