DISCLAIMER: The setting and characters belong to CBS, a production company or two, and pretty much anyone who isn't me; I do this for fun and not profit and I only really own Gracie and Charlie. Well, that and a new addiction to 'Moonlight'. ;O)
Okay, so I've had people PM and e-mailing me asking me to do a whole story. I read these consecutively and realised they read pretty well as a story; so here's the 'one-shots' all together. I will update as I go on and it will remain as one story from now on; hopes that helps. :O)
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
Summary: Samantha Lewis is a newbie to the city; with Beth gone Mick is lost and alone. Josef decides that his friend needs a boost; his new aide may well be just the thing.
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COMPLICATIONS
Chapter One - Cold
Josef sighed as Mick raged around his office "how could she just go?!!" he glared out at the sunshine, as if it was stopping him from going after her.
"Coraline scared her, I scared her – Mick, it is hard enough for a mortal to deal with the idea of one vampire; but three….?" he let the end drift.
Mick waved him off "you were no threat to her Josef; Coraline wasn't either, I could've handled her."
"You and I both know that, but Beth was a mortal – it was more than she could deal with. I don't blame her for running; under the circumstances I'd have probably done the same."
His friend focused his glare on him "you keep mentioning the fact that she was mortal…."
"Because it bears repeating – you were either falling in love with her, or had already fell; it would never have ended well my friend. What were your options?" he didn't wait for a reply "to turn her, as Coraline turned you – or to watch her grow old and die? Neither option is very palatable is it?"
The fight left Mick in that instant; Josef had voiced the concerns he'd buried since Beth had seemed to accept him as a vampire. He'd tried very hard not to contemplate their future; as long as they were together right now, that was all that had matterd. Sadly it seemed she had reached a different conclusion.
"What you need is an assistant" Josef smiled "someone to keep all that ratty paperwork of yours in check; honestly, Mick your office looks like a paper dump!"
Mick accepted the change of subject as Josef saying the matter was closed. However, he wasn't sure it was – he'd find her, one day; if only to ask why she'd left. Not only left, but went without telling him why and no way to find her to ask.
He shrugged "I've never said I was good at filing."
"No, but thankfully I know someone who is. Sam, my new PA – she's off sick at the moment; stinking cold apparently, decided to stay off rather than give it to me" he smiled at the sill thoughtfulness of mortals.
"I assume then she doesn't know you're a vampire?" Mick arched an eyebrow. Josef was not known for keeping those who worked closest to him in the dark as to what he was.He felt if they knew who, and what,they were dealing with then they'd be less likely to mess him around. He wasn't wrong.
"Not yet; I've been busy" he shrugged "first there was the merger that required my presence in Oslo, then the meeting in London. It's been hard to set aside the time to tell her – it's not something you can just mention in every conversation."
He grinned sheepishly "Oh by the way Sam I'm a vampire, but hey ho. Now….about that meeting in London next week; is it still on?"
Mick couldn't help but grin "you like her then?" Josef was a hard task master; he went through assistants like other bosses went through company cars. For him to hesitate about telling someone what he was meant that he wanted them to stay on.
"She's good at her job; probably the best PA I've had. Lord knows that's been a few. She's resilient, thoughtful, kind, observant, organized and undeniably sarcastic." Josef grinned "really sarcastic. She's also good at not being overly curious. Not too much anyway – I've yet to meet a woman who isn't a least alittle nosey."
"So you like her then?" Mick pressed with an evil smile "enough not to fire her or…..anything else?"
"Exactly – I find that her presence has a way of ensuring my working day passes without any hitches; my staff do what they're told, and all is well in my kingdom." He gave a self satisfied smirk at Mick.
His friend rolled his eyes "and yet you feel you can spare her for me, this paragon of virtue?" he bowed "I'm suitable honoured."
"I never said she was a paragon of any virtues – in fact she has an evil temper; hence the reason my staff behave. It seems they are more scared of her than me." He smiled reflectively "even the ones who know what I am..."
Mick arched an eyebrow "really – so when do I get to meet this……person?"
Josef scribbled onto a piece of paper and handed it to him "that's her address; go, tell her I sent you and that she's got to help you out for a while."
"How long?"
"Till I say otherwise." Josef waved him away "go – I need to work." As Mick turned to leave, his friend spoke again "Mick?"
"Yeah?"
"Forget her" there was quiet advice in those two murmured words; Mick fleetingly wondered if someone like Beth had once happened to his friend and mentor.
"Who?"
"Good man" Josef smiled to Mick's retreating back; but they both knew he was lying.
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Mick arrived at the address Josef had given him. If he was expecting a minimalist pad in a state of the art apartment building then he was surprised.
Sam lived in a fairly ordinary building; her front door had the ubiquitous spyhole and a sign saying "I eat salesman, so only knock if you're invited."
She wasn't striking Mick as the sort of person full of the warm and fuzzies so he knocked on the door with a fair amount of curiosity and not, he had to admit, a small amount of trepidation.
It was flung open as if the caller was expecting someone "pizza?" she looked him up and down "no pizza – why? You get hungry and eat it on the way?"
An arched eyebrow quizzed him, just as a hoard of screaming little girls barreled to the door. "Hey where's the pizza?" the tallest of them queried.
"Ask him – he ate it." The woman pointed to Mick.
"Youate our pizza?" ten incredulous little faces stared at him, as the leader added "are you even allowed to do that; I mean isn't it illegal or something?"
Mick looked at the woman accusingly before replying to the girls "I didn't, and only if you paid for it first; actually I'm not here to deliver pizza, Jousef Konstantin sent me."
Instantly the woman's face changed "I see" she turned to the children " well girls, time to go back to your murder and mayhem; this is someone sent by my boss. No more teasing." Her tone brooked no argument, and the girls all turned as one and ran back into the apartment like kamikaze lemmings.
She gave Mick a sheepish look "sorry, they're bored and I'm sick. Desperation makes us do stupid things." She stood back "come in. So, what does Mr Konstantin want me to do?"
Mick entered the apartment; it was nothing like he'd expected. There was old furniture covered with throws; lots or ornaments depicting wolves and books about about the same animals dotted around.
On the floor was a wide array of make up and nail varnishes; all being used by the girls.
"Yours?" Mick gestured to the children.
"Are you mad?" She looked at him as if he was insane "I mean I know I'm not well, but Lord do I look thathaggard? Not only that, all ten girls are about the same age….." she tailed off meaningfully.
Mick shrugged "I was never good at math."
"Well, d'uh." She looked around and gestured to the kitchen area "come in, want some coffee?"
"No thanks" Mick shook his head "Josef said to tell you were to help me out until further notice. I'm Mick St. John." He held out his hand.
She took it "Samantha Lewis, though most people call me Sam. Although not until I tell them to." She added almost as an after thought.
Mick looked at her properly for the first time as she put the kettle on. She had a strong grip, confident. A curvy figure that was topped off by auburn/brown hair – caramel he supposed you'd call it.
Blue eyes that were almost iridescent swung out across the counter top into the living room, quickly assessing the girls were involved enough not to need help.
As if reading his thoughts she smiled "they don't need a referee for a moment, I can get some more flu remedy down me." She sighed "it's going to be a long night."
Mick smiled "Josef never said you had kids."
"I don't" she reiterated "don't you listen?" she eyed him up and down "Mick St. John – I've heard of you. Mr Konstantin considers you one of his best friends; you're a PI aren't you - can't be good at your job if you don't listen?"
The last part was dismissive and although Mick was pleased to hear that the older vampire liked him, the other statement prodded his ego. He scowled at Sam "so what, you kidnapped those kids then?"
She grinned suddenly "nope, no one's thatinsane – not even me. The blond one" she gestured to the tallest girl cooing over a bottle of pink nail varnish "she's my niece; I've got custody."
Mick nodded "custody?"
"Yeah, I suppose she'd be called my ward in the old days. My brother was killed in a drive by, along with his wife." she shrugged, but he could see she missed them "wrong time, wrong place. As well as being her Godmother and aunt I was also named as her guardian."
"Had her long?" Mick eyed the little girl and thought she was quite happy; which he thought would've ruled out becoming an orphan any time recently.
"She is not a straydog Mr St. John" Sam bit back and Mick was perversely gratified that he could needle her too "she's been living with me for eighteen months."
"Must be tough to have a kid around that's not yours." He couldn't imagine it; but then for him it'd be nigh on impossible, that was something Coraline couldn't understand.
"Sheis mine." Blue eyes narrowed and turned almost icy "she's my niece, my family; we do alright. It was an adjustment for both of us in the beginning, but loss is a great equalizer" her voice tailed off for a moment before she continued "we found we grieved together and so were able to come to an understanding."
"Which was?"
"None of your beeswax!" a young voice piped up behind him.
Mick swung round suddenly as Sam grinned "she's quiet isn't she? Sneaks upon you when you least expect it!" she looked at the little girl "hey short stuff, what's occurring – getting bored? Told you a sleepover wasn't all it was cracked up to be."
'Short stuff' rolled her eyes as she whispered conspiratorially "they're a bit boring; all they want to talk about is that boy from 'high school musical'."
Sam smiled "I thought you liked him too though, Ellie?"
"Mmm, but I don't want to marry him – I mean I'm only ten!Anyway I want to be just like you, Sam." Her eyes were warm on her aunt.
Sam's mouth set in a hard line "you don't want to be like me Ellie, trust me."
"Yeah I do – you have an answer for everything." The little girl smiled at Mick "I don't think anything would phase her."
He however could think of one thing that would, but said nothing. As Josef said, how do just drop the fact that you're a vampire into the conversation?
"Here" Sam handed over huge bowl of popcorn "go stuff yourself on junk food. Just don't be sick on the carpet."
"EWWWW!" Ellie grimaced "that's disgusting."
Sam grinned "yup that's me – disgusting Aunt Sam. I'm gonna be an even bigger embarrassment when you're older; you know one of those sad old ladies with a smelly house full of cats."
Ellie rolled her eyes and wandered off. The doorbell went and Sam quickly returned with pizza; the girls all fell on the food like starving minions.
Sam rolled her eyes at Mick "you'd think they hadn't been fed in a month." She offered a slice of a smaller pizza to him "it's chicken and mushroom."
"No anchovies?" Mick smiled; nearly everyone he knew liked the revolting fish.
"Nope, they make me sick." She nodded at him "seriously I could throw up for the Olympics……well, if they made vomiting a sport."
Mick smiled suddenly and she returned it "you not married?"
Sam shook her head "nope; trust me, if I was the other half would be here suffering with me."
"Shame." He smiled.
Sam nodded "oh absolutely; I'd love to be married. It must be so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life."
Mick laughed out loud "I can see why Josef likes you so much."
"Does he?" Sam nodded "good to know when I want a raise." She looked at Mick a little closer; who was trying, and failing, to stifle the smirk at her sharp tongue "so what do I have to do for you?"
"I'm a PI; he wants you to help me with my paperwork, I'm not too good at the whole filing thing. He made you sound like a well organized facilitator." He looked around the apartment "I guess he's not been here…. ever?"
"Don't criticize my mess unless you'd like to become part of it." Sam arched an eyebrow "work and home are separate entities."
"I can see that."
She ignored him "so I will see you when I'm better." It was then that Mick took in the heightened temperature, too bright eyes, red nose and general air of frailty about her. She kept the last well hidden, it was only that he was a vampire and used to sensing weakness.
He shook his head "nah I reckon I can hang about for a while" his cool hand snaked out and touched her forehead "and at a guess I think you're running a temperature."
As he spoke Ellie came over "is she worse? I told her we could put this sleepover off for a bit."
Mick eyed the child; she reminded him a lot of Beth as a ten year old. But he pushed all thoughts of thatblond from his mind; down that road lay madness.
"Mister?" he realized that Ellie was still looking at him.
"She has the flu" he forced a smile "it's never going to just flit past. Oh and call me Mick."
Ellie nodded "you staying?" Mick nodded "good, she could do with someadult company. Do you know she sings along to the 'Kim Possible' theme tune?"
"It's catchy" Mick grinned; Ellie rolled her eyes and wandered off muttering about 'never understanding adults'.
He turned to see Sam watching him in a slightly enigmatic way "I think we'll get along Mr St. John."
"Call me Mick, everyone else does."
"Alright Mick, you can call me Sam." She offered him some popcorn.
"No thanks." He tapped his stomach "got to watch my weight."
The enigmatic look remained, it was somehow unsettling – like she could see into his soul, knew what he was "hmmm, Mr Konstantin says the same thing."
"Perhaps he's as vain as me?" Mick smiled in what he hoped was an innocent way.
"I would think you were many thinks…Mick; vain would not be one of them." Mick had the sure and certain feeling she knew a lot more than she was letting on. If she didn't she should certainly think about taking up poker, as her bluffs were outstanding.
"Pull up a chair….." she began just as another argument broke out.
Mick stood "hey girls! What's wrong?"
Suddenly a flurry of mini female accusations assailed his ears; he got the giste of it enough to know that the bone of contention was the movie they wanted to watch – half wanted 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' and the other half wanted 'High School Musical the Concert'.
He got them to agree to toss a coin; the winning side got their option – which turned out to be 'Harry Potter' - and the losing side got extra ice cream.
Sam smiled as he turned round, a victorious smile on his face "that was no mean feat; I'd pretty much given up trying to retain control. I was all for allowing 'the Lord of the Flies' to develop and only dealing with the survivors. However, you're wasted as a PI – you should've been a diplomat!"
Mick bowed and came over "you know you really should be in bed with that temperature?"
She waved away his concern "yeah, yeah and if this is all I ever have to worry about, my life would be a bowl of cherries." She sighed "my brother's death made me realize how transient our existence is. We all take tomorrow for granted – the sun will rise, we will wake up and another day will begin. But it might not, and even if it did we still might not make it through to evening."
She shook her head "so you make the best of everyday. Oh Lord what was that poem? Oh yeah, 'dance as though no one is watching you, ove as though you have never been hurt before, sing as though no one can hear you and live as though heaven is on earth."
"Nice sentiments."
"Yeah and ones we should all live by." Sam looked at him "at least I try to."
"Do you really dance as though you're not being watched?" Mick grinned "and sing as though no one can hear you?"
She returned it "you know what? I actually do!" She grinned at his disbelief "Seriously, Ellie can vouchsafe for how much I can embarrass her. Especially at the local store – I'm well know in there for singing along, albeit it fairlyquietly, to the music they put on. And" she added with an evil smile "I have even been known to dance down the aisles with the cart."
"Nowthat I would love to see!" Mick roared with laughter at the mental image of the woman before him singing and bopping her way round the grocery store, with a mortified Ellie trying to pretend she didn't know her.
"Hey I'll have you know I'm well known there – they all greet me now when I go in." Sam replied in mock affront.
"Yeah, as the mad lady!" Ellie called over, having caught some of the conversation.
"Listen kiddo one day you will be old like me and you're only evening entertainment will be treating your local grocery store like a night club!"
Mick chuckled again and once more touched her forehead "your temperature's going down a bit."
"Are you always so touchy-feely?" Sam asked with a frown "coz seriously, don't be doing that to just anyone, you could get arrested."
"Ha, ha – no I don't do it to just anyone; you can count yourself as singularly special. I just need to ensure you're not going to keel over on me before you've done my filing." Mick reassured her with a knowing smirk.
"Yeah, and I won't let on you're a nice guy really. You quite obviously have a rep to protect." Before he could reply she turned to the kids "hey girls, Mick here is going. Let's hope Pizza Boy doesn't eat any more of his deliveries tonight right?"
A chorus of childish catcalls and laughter followed him out of the apartment.
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Five minutes later, as he was heading back to his own apartment, his cell phone rang. "St. John."
"Hey" it was Josef.
"I went."
"I know."
"Are you spying on me?" Mick smiled.
"Nope; just figured you would do as I asked straight away, as the PI in you is too nosey to leave it until tomorrow; how is she?"
"Really sick – I think she has the flu."
"Oh and of course you're a doctor now."
"No, but I've seen enough mortals with the flu to know the symptoms. It's at times like this I'm glad I can't get sick; she very snotty." Mick could imagine Josef making a 'ewwww' face.
"Think you'll get along?"
"She's definitely feisty." Mick replied non-committedly.
"I've heard her called a lot worse; but then you're a gentleman."
"And you're making fun of me. I've got to go, I'm at my apartment and I need a snack……" something struck him "is she one of us?"
"No, why?" Josef sounded intrigued.
"I just wondered."
"Why?"
Mick shrugged without realizing his friend wouldn't see it "she just has this way of looking at you that makes you think she knows; and she doesn't seemed freaked. Most mortals freak, however much, the first time they find out."
"As far as I know Mick ,she neither knows what we are nor is she one of us. But I know the look of which you speak; she has refined that look to a sharp point – I've seen grown men crumble before it and tell her whatever she wants to know." There was a smile in voice as he added "do not knock 'the look', you might find it useful."
Mick chuckled "yeah well, like I say – she's a feisty one; beyond that I reserve judgment."
"Whatever. Goodnight Mick." Mick went to punch the 'call end' button as he heard his friend add "but you like her."
He quickly replied "about as much as you do." Chuckling at the brief indignant snort before the line went dead.