Part 3

After seeing Guillermo out and refilling the fridge, Mick downed a healthy dose of A positive. After some inner debate, he poured some of the same in a glass for Beth and headed upstairs to the freezer. He paused to look at her, curled up at rest where he usually slept. How many endless frustrating nights had he spent here, vainly wishing she were close? But in all those nights he'd never dreamed of her where she was now, asleep in his freezer.

Almost unbidden, images of his own turning began to play through his mind, the joy of his wedding night dissolving into a sanguine filled nightmare he couldn't wake up from; his own repulsion at discovering what he'd become and worst of all, memories of Coraline. Try as he might, he could never make her understand the pain, anger, fear and horror she'd put him through especially in those early years by turning him against his will. Instead of the forever she'd hoped for, she'd made his life into a living hell and eventually lost him for good.

As he looked down at Beth's small frame, the love he felt for her surged up, blotting out the unpleasant memories. At that moment, he vowed on his own soul to do anything within his power to keep Beth from going through the ordeal he had after being turned. Josef might be technically Beth's sire, but she belonged to Mick and he'd do whatever it took to help her through the transition to becoming a vampire.

Almost as if she sensed him thinking about her, Beth began to stir. As he opened up the freezer, she sat up and he gently lifted her out. Almost immediately she melted against him and lifted her face up for a kiss. Unable to deny her he lowered his head and happily obliged. But just as things were becoming heated, Beth broke the kiss and took a loud sniff. For the first time she noticed the glass in his hand.

"I hope that's for me. It smells delicious and I'm famished." At vamp speed, Beth took the glass and downed its contents before he could stop her. "Oh my gosh!" She exclaimed. "Was that what I think it was and did I really just chug that like a beer at a frat party?!"

Mick was torn between being concerned and wanting to laugh. "That would be a yes to both questions."

Beth scrunched up her nose in that adorable way she did when she was thinking. "Well, I guess it's official now. I really am 100% a vampire." After a few seconds, she scrunched up her nose again this time in disgust. Sniffing her own arm, her face showed her distaste. "Ewwww. I smell like someone dipped me in a bottle of disinfectant. It must be from the hospital. Honestly, it's so strong I don't know how you can stand to be around me. I definitely need a shower."

Mick watched her enticing form as she headed in the direction of a shower. Some of the tension eased from him as he realized she was exhibiting none of the typical symptoms most fledglings seem to suffer after the shock of turning. As far as he could tell she was simply his Beth. As she reached the door, she gazed enticingly back over her shoulder. "Aren't you coming, Mick?" She practically purred in a sultry tone. He couldn't hold back a sappy grin as he followed her like an obedient puppy.

It took Mick the better part of an hour to get Beth out of the shower and coax her into her clothes. They had serious matters they needed to discuss but she'd been so sweet and frisky that he hadn't been able to completely resist her. Only the promise of taking up where they left off later and something to drink had finally convinced her to go downstairs to the kitchen.

After another glass, they settled comfortably on the couch. Yet even here he kept Beth close, a protective arm resting lightly on her shoulders as she snuggled against him.

"So what happens now?" She asked nervously as she gazed at the man she loved. "I guess I'll be packing up and moving somewhere else. Isn't that what vampires do in a situation like this?"

"Only if you want to. Paris, Rome, it doesn't matter. We'll go anywhere you like."

Her eyes got bright and her voice trembled. "I still can't believe you'd do that for me. Just give it all up; your home, your business, even your friends. I want you to know my being turned hasn't changed anything. I still love you, Mick. "

Mick frowned as he took her hand in his. "Of course nothing has changed, Beth especially not the way I feel! The only reason I've stayed here this long was to be close to you!"

She took a deep breath. "To be honest, I'd rather stay here. I know I have to adjust to being a vampire and all. But if there were a way to manage it, I'd rather not have to make such a big change as a new identity right now. At least for a little while anyway."

"Well, Joseph may not be the Cleaner but between Guillermo and Logan, I think you'll be okay. We just have to come up with a plausible explanation about where you've been and stick to it. That's reminds me. I've been meaning to ask you what you were doing in that taxi anyway?"

Beth gave a sigh. "I was on my way over to Julia's new place to check on it for her. Her sister went into labor in San Diego late yesterday and she couldn't get a flight so I loaned her my car so she could drive down to be with her family."

That gave Mick an inspiration. "Did you tell anyone you were going there today?"

"No. To be honest, I wanted to be by myself. I've been a little upset the past few days."

Mick felt a fleeting moment of guilt. He didn't have to ask why she'd been upset. "This new place of Julia's? Where's it located and what's it like? Is it possible you could have been there all of today without someone seeing you?"

Beth paused as she thought about what he said. "Yes, I think so. Julia bought a small house outside the city in a quiet neighborhood. The only people she's really met are an older couple that lives next door, the Johnsons. She introduced me when I first saw the place."

Mick nodded his head in unconscious assent as the idea crystallized. "Then that's what we'll go with. You spent the day at Julia's. You left your bag in the taxi and that's how the mix up occurred."

"Mix up?" Beth had to ask. Reluctantly, Mick told her about the tragic substitution that had been necessary to cover her turning.

"Oh, Mick! That poor girl! I know she didn't have any family but I feel so bad. Can't we do something for her?"

His arm tightened and he pulled her close. "Don't worry, Beth. I've already discussed it with Guillermo. He's going to handle everything." According to his friend, it would take at least a few more hours before tests revealed the body in the morgue wasn't Beth, giving her a short time to make her choice. After that if Beth decided to stay in Los Angeles, the morgue attendant would arrange a quiet funeral for the poor woman under her own name at Mick's expense.

"Ok, so now we have a plan. What do we do now?" Beth asked, her curiosity piqued.

" We act as if the situation was real. The first step is probably to head over to Julia's and start from there." Their plans made, it was time to put them into action.