First, thank you for all who have reviewed and put me on your alerts etc. I wish I could answer everyone individually, but my husband all ready thinks I'm having an affair with the computer.

Now, I apologize that I was unclear at the beginning. In this story Mick's human cure has worn off. He's 100 vampire again. I picked this up after my story "Heartache". TV held Josh's funeral later than I did. I hope this chapter explains this better and clears up the confusion. It's my world and I have stepped away from the show slightly.

Chapter 2

Beth got out of Carol's car laughing. She was the last of the three Carol was dropping off. They had gone to dinner, seen a movie and now she was home. It had been a long time since they all had a night out and her friends had been relieved to see Beth back to her old self again.

"So when do we get to inspect the new man Beth?" Carol teased from the car. "He must be hot stuff to have you this happy."

"I'm not sure he's ready to have you gang up on him. Mick's old school, he believes in going slow. I do not want to inflict you three on him yet," Beth said leaning back into the car. She grinned. "I'm afraid to let you in the same room with him, he's that hot."

Both women giggled.

"You're probably right. Angie would probably try to steal him away. You know what a man eater she is," Carol hooted. "Night Beth. We need to do this again."

"Right. Bye Carol," Beth said and slammed the door shut. She watched her friend drive off.

"Angie should meet Josef," Beth said grinning to herself. "They're two of a kind."

She knew she could never explain Mick to her friends. She could tell them he's a PI. The vampire part might prove to be more difficult. And she in love with a vampire might really stretch their belief.

Beth knew it hurt Mick that Coraline's cure had been so very short lived. Because she had been so angry at the time she had missed sharing his taste of mortality. When they got back together and she could forgive herself for Josh's death, his cure was over. It was so very hard to convince him she loved the vampire in him as well. The fact that he cared so much was a big part of her loving him. Beth was still making peace with the events of early January. Now in May she was comforted by the knowledge that at least they had finally opened up about their feelings.

Smiling she headed inside and up to her apartment. She didn't see the two shadows move into the building behind her. As she got to the apartment door, she felt the presence behind her. Turning, she faced the two men standing uncomfortably close. Her heart lurched, she did not need to be told that they were vampires, it radiated off them. The short stocky one moved to stand behind her. The other was tall, around 6'1" and lean. His dark brown hair was fashionably cut and his dark eyes intense. She felt cold and wondered if she could get her phone out quick enough to dial Mick. Then she remembered she had not turned it on after the movie. They had been having too much fun. Her stomach did a sick rollover.

"What do you want?" she asked fighting to keep the fear out of her voice. "You Ms Turner," the tall man said. There was a faint accent she couldn't place.

"Why?" she said inching to the side. She knew she'd never out run them, but she needed the space. She saw the man smile; it was obvious that he could sense her heart pounding. His smile widened. His smile softened the cold features and made him look very familiar.

"You're one of Coraline's brothers, aren't you?" she asked bluntly.

"Very good Ms Turner. Philippe," he said with an inclination of his head. "Now, we must go. Come along we need to leave in case Mr. St John decides to show up."

"I'm not going anywhere," Beth said bravely.

The short man immediately grabbed both her arms from behind roughly.

"I would prefer we do this quietly and quickly. I do not wish to harm you at this time Ms Turner, but rest assured that I will if I'm pushed," Philippe said harshly. "Now, let's go."

Her captor hustled Beth outside as Philippe followed. They no sooner walked out of the building, than a large black car glided to the curb. She was shoved into the back seat, Philippe slid in next to her. The other guy hopped into the front seat. Beth couldn't see the driver; smoked glass separated the front from the back. The car pulled away from the curb and down the street.

Mick stopped in front of Beth's place. He saw the taillights of a car disappearing several blocks down. He hoped it was Beth's friend dropping her off. The minute he got out of the car, he picked up the scents. With a feeling of dread he ran in and up to Beth's apartment. In the hallway the scent was clearer and stronger. Two vamps, old, one scent familiar. Lance's servant or whatever, the other was older, most likely Lance's brother. And Beth, he could smell her fear but not any blood. Some relief ran through him, she was still alive. They had taken her but not bitten her. He had to hold on to that thought. He couldn't track the car, if the car he saw was the, one Beth was in. But his gut he knew it was. He had been so close.

Mick returned to his car pulling his phone out. Calling Beth, he only received her voice mail. His next call was to Josef.

"Yes Mick?"

"Beth's gone. They got to her first," Mick said in frustration.

"Did they hurt her?" Josef snapped.

"No, no blood. I think they just took her."

"Then it's okay. They'll call you Mick, depend on it. If they wanted her dead, she would be," Josef assured him. "Get over here. There's nothing you can do out there."

"But I have……"

"Mick think," Josef ordered. "They took her without harming her. She's their lever to control you. They won't harm her. They need her."

"You're right. I'm coming," Mick said and hung up.

Jumping in the car, Mick headed to Josef's house in the hills. He kept glancing at his cell phone lying on the passenger seat. He couldn't will it to ring. His mind was in turmoil when he pulled into Josef's driveway.

Josef was in his private office, barking orders to Rider on the phone, while clicking his computer mouse.

"Okay, so airlines are out, hotels are out. Check all the private air fields. Now Rider," he growled. He looked up and threw Mick a grim smile.

"We can't track where they landed. And there's no trace of them in any hotel."

"How do we know who we're checking for?" Mick asked. "I recognized the scent of Lance's lap dog. The other was older, close to Lance, it must be the brother."

"I believe they took Beth to keep you in line," Josef said. "Your brother-in-law knows you care for her. They know what your weaknesses are."

"I really hate it when you refer to them as my brothers-in-law. As far as I'm concerned they are not my family," Mick said angrily.

"Temper, temper. The last I heard you didn't divorce Coraline; you just thought you had killed her. I believe that still leaves you married."

"And I consider her my ex-wife and she knows how I feel," Mick said firmly. "Drop it Josef."

"Okay. Just remember, you are dealing with someone who may not consider her your ex. Don't lose sight of that when he calls," Josef warned. "Marissa!" he called out and in less than five minutes a tall, leggy blonde came in carrying a glass of blood. She handed it to Mick and then went to stand next to Josef.

"Drink up," he instructed. "You'll need the strength. Some of the girls decided to play blood donor so you'd have some fresh blood instead of that stale blood bank stuff. They took pity on you and put a few pints in the fridge just for you," Josef grinned. Marissa smiled at him.

Mick smiled back. He was touched and knew they did it with Josef's permission. He drank half the glass. He could tell that Marissa had poured from her donation.

"Very good," he nodded to her. She blushed slightly and held out her wrist to Josef. He took it, inhaling deeply. "Only the best," he said to Mick and then with a warm smile to the girl, he bit into her wrist. Mick finished the glass and took it out to the kitchen. When he returned to the room Marissa glided out of the room with a small smile for Mick. Josef beamed at him.

"So, ready for action?"

Mick pulled out his phone and set it on the desk. He glared at the object.

"I hate waiting," he said for the second time that night. "Ring damn it."

End chapter.

I do hope that cleared some of the confusion. There is a thread out on one of the fan sites that is speculating that Josef might actually be one of the six brothers in the bloodline. It's an interesting theory and I'm not sure if I agree. But is a very tempting idea to explore. What do you think? Again reviews are greatly appreciated. I love the feedback.