Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Moonlight, and write the story for my own enjoyment
Summary: See Chapter #1
Authors Notes:
1. ""= Dialogue, ''= thoughts
2. Bold indicates dream sequence or flashback
3.C.O.S: Change Of Scenery
Look In The Mirror: Chapter #4
Beth woke up startled by a knock at the door. "Go away," she grumbled. They knocked again.
"Go..." before she could finish the sentence Josef stood beside the couch.
"Where's Mick?" He asked. She blinked waiting for her brain to wake up.
"I've been asleep the last few hours, I don't know. Upstairs maybe?" Josef moved upstairs. She pushed the blanket off, placing her feet on the ground she slowly followed. She found Josef kneeling next to Mick, who had collapsed on the floor in front of the mirror. Josef placed his fingers at his throat, and took them away in surprise:
"He's got a pulse."
Beth gingerly kneeled next to Mick and uncurled his hand.
"No... he said he wouldn't. No... didn't. We agreed." Josef quickly picked up the empty vial and sniffed it.
"Coraline's cure. It figures the fool took it again. Did you know about it?"
"Yes. I knew he had it. We talked about it, and agreed he wouldn't do it. "
"What changed?" Josef continued questioning. Beth told him the whole story about meeting with Talbot, and the ambush.
"Guilt drives a man to do strange things." Josef said after she'd finished.
"What do we do now?" She asked looking to Josef.
"You get Mick. You live happily ever after; have a bunch of kids. Name one Josef." Josef answered. He grinned:
"I can make the last part a compulsion," he suggested. Beth rolled her eyes. Mick heaved a huge breath, and sat up. Beth sunk down on t he floor next to him, rubbing his back in circles.
"I'm fine. Relax." He hurried to reassure her. Josef jumped in, beginning to question his friend:
"How do you plan to keep her safe now superman?"
"I won't need to. I'm human. I'm out." Mick answered.
"That may be. But making you human, won't take your name off the list. It won't take away the fact that you used to be a vampire, and as far as many people know still are one. How long will it last this time?"
Beth looked expectant. Mick didn't have an answer for that.
"You don't know. In Coraline's absence I'm going to fill in that little detail. It's going to last as long as you don't get your butt killed. And we both know you're too much of a boy scout: Especially as it comes to miss damsel-in-distress over here." Mick looked at both of them:
"I'm going to stay out of trouble." Mick was resolute. Beth took his hand.
"What did you want Josef?"
"I've tried calling you several times, but you haven't answered. It appears your little escapade has stirred up some trouble. Another vampire's been killed." Josef explained.
"Who?" Mick asked.
"Vlad Tepes." Josef imbued the name with reverence. Beth chuckled.
"Of course Dracula's real."
"Josef amended: "Was real. He really wasn't as bad as people make him out to be. That Stoker fellow had him way off base."
Mick steered the conversation back on track.
"How did he die?"
He was shot. They found a silver bullet in the chest; unlike with you there was no willing donor available so he died of the poison." Josef answered.
"Do we know what group it is yet?"
"No. I'm working on it. I'd like to take the vial for more analysis at one of my labs too. Get you some answers on how long this miraculous transformation will last." Mick dropped the vial into his friend's hand.
"I'd better get going. Write down everything you experience from now on- it could be important." Josef strode out the door with Beth on his heels. She didn't say a word until they stood at the door.
"You're worried it won't last. You're probably right. But for now enjoy every minute, and stay out of trouble. If anything changes suddenly, call me." She nodded favouring him with a smile.
"You're a good friend Josef."
"I know." She shut the door behind him and yawned. She felt uneasy about Mick's newfound humanity. On the one hand, it was in her wildest dreams what she wanted; they could have kids, the white picket fence- the works. What more could a girl want? On the other hand, how long would last? Did she want to spend a life with Mick, with a deadline hanging over their heads? She wasn't sure. She didn't know if she wanted to watch him slowly return to his former state, one day be eating food, and be out in the sun. The next he'd be stuck inside with an aversion to daylight. She slowly made her way upstairs. Mick had climbed onto the bed, and was lying sprawled on his back.
"I never realized how comfortable this bed was." He greeted her. She climbed on the bed next to him, snuggling into his arms.
"You want to talk about this?" He knew without having to see her expression.
"I think we should. I feel like we have this imaginary deadline hanging over our heads. We don't know if this will work. We don't know how long this will work. One day we could be eating out on our patio, the next you could suddenly sprout fangs." He turned on his side regarding her.
"You understand why I did it right? I couldn't stand thought of killing you. I couldn't live with myself if one day I took too much." Beth grew angry:
"How many times do I have to tell you? It's my life. It's my choice. I'm willing to live with the consequences. I'm willing to have you turn me. You are Mick- my Mick. I never cared that you were a vampire. That was just part of the package for me. Why won't you accept that?"
Mick sighed, and looked at the conviction written in her eyes.
"And now I'm human. I can eat food. I can feel the warmth of the sun on my face. I can sleep in a bed, with you." He kissed her for emphasis. She returned it.
"We need to... What happens if you return to your former state?" Beth asked.
"I won't. You're stuck with me" Mick confidently kissed her again. They rolled back on the bed.
Josef stared at the lab report before him on the vial. It yielded no new information: the compound was made of herbs found in Europe, with an unknown binding agent from South America. He threw it against the wall, and it only bounced.
"Tsk, tsk Josef." One heeled foot stopped the vial from rolling through the doorway. Josef smiled:
"My favourite lawyer. Aren't you a sight for sore eyes."
"I would be if I believed your eyes were sore. What's got you so off your game?" Simone asked. She sunk into the leather couch.
"Mick. He took what was left of the cure. I want to make sure it's permanent."
"And so far?"
So far, I only have an empty vial with evidence of what herbs were in it. No sign of the binding agent." He answered. Simone picked up and delicately sniffed the vial.
"Patents- at some point this had to have been patented. The ingredients would have been listed on them. I'll do some research into it." She half-smiled, knowing that's what he was looking for. He nodded.
"That would be great. You know the patience I have with bureaucracy." He told her. She smiled.
"He thinks he's safe; this life will never touch him. He's the man who turned into a beast, and then back into a man. He'll be sought after by anyone of our kind who is ever tortured enough, anyone who has ever dreamed it could be different." He shut his eyes, frustrated.
"It won't be that bad. We'll find it. Have you fed?" She asked. His young shoulders slumped in an expression of fatigue. He gulped, his senses becoming aware of her closeness; picking up the heartbeat.
"No." Simone kicked off her heels and moved to stand facing him. She reached up stroking his face, watching his eyes turn icy blue. His kiss came; barely a touch of her lips. But quickly she felt the twin pricks of pain as he bit her neck. She groaned in ecstasy, and all too quickly it was over.
"Mick never understood how to quickly feed from humans," Josef commented.
"You worry about him." Simone stated.
"They would do anything for each other. For Mick that means putting his newly-resumed mortality at risk, and taking a bullet for her. And she'd do the same for him. I don't know how I can protect them from that." Simone pulled him to the sofa.
"She was fully aware of what would happen if he took too much, and willing to become a vampire. I think on some level she wanted it. An eternity with a man she loved more than life itself- what woman wouldn't want it?" He turned to face her and posed his next question:
"Would you?" He asked. Simone had a moment of confusion before understanding dawned. She smiled.
"Yes." It was his turn to smile. It widened to a grin.
"I'm over 300 years older than you," he teased.
"I always liked older men, especially ones that look like you." She playfully tapped him on the nose. She straightened up:
"Was that a proposal of marriage?" She asked. He furrowed his brow.
"Call it the start of a business negotiation. You'll know when I propose marriage. I usually arrange a candlelit dinner, drop to one knee- pull out all the romantic, clichéd stops."
Simone chuckled: "I see."
"Marry me." Mick said it so quickly, Beth thought she'd misheard.
"Pardon?"
He moved to her side of the bed, and dropped to one knee. He took g her hand in both of his. "Marry Me." Mick pronounced the words slowly, so there was no mistaking it this time. The early morning sun shone through the windows bathing them both in warmth Beth looked at him, smiling:
"Yes."
"Tonight?" He named the date.
"Yes."
"You, me, and a justice of the Peace?"
"Yes."
"Okay. I'll pick you up from work, and we'll go straight to the courthouse from there." Beth nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Beth moved through her day with a smile on her face, humming as she finished writing her last report. She carried in placing it on Ben's desk, eager to be gone.
``Beth, `` She wanted to move out of his ear shot. Ben ran to block her way at the front door.
``How did you and St. John do at the house? ``
Beth absently touched her neck. "The report's on your desk," she turned walking through the door.
He jogged catching up as she reached the steps down to the sidewalk. He put a hand on her shoulder to stop her from moving. She sighed knowing she'd have to give a verbal report.
"We found their hideout but no sign of the list. We just learned about the security of the place, and left." Beth looked right at Ben as she spoke.
"And the police call after? Saying a man matching Mick's description was shot, but by the time police were on scene he'd fled."
"It's in the report. Now if you'll excuse me, my ride is waiting." She said, pushing his hand off her shoulder. She stalked off.
"What is the hold he has on you?" Ben asked her retreating back.
All the way to the courthouse Mick wondered if Beth was having second thoughts. Her carefree smile disappeared shortly after they pulled away from her office, and hadn't come back. Was she having cold feet? Did she not want to marry him?
"You said yes. It's too late now to back out of the proposal," he teased her pulling around the last corner to the courthouse.
She sighed- she didn't want to tell him about the conversation with Ben, but honesty was always the best policy. It was better to have it out, and then she can go back to enjoying her wedding day.
"Ben mentioned there was a police call from one of the other houses on the street near the hideout. Someone saw you getting shot."
"Did they see me..." Mick didn't bother to finish the sentence.
"Ben didn't go there. But if I were to guess the answer to that would be yes. Vampire or not, you were shot, and then walked away." They parked, and Mick reached over grasping her face in his hands.
"I'm flesh and blood. I can claim to be wearing a Kevlar vest; nothing will happen, "he kissed her to back up his assurances. She believed him:
"Now let's get married." The smile reappeared, and they entered the courthouse. They sat down on the hard white plastic chairs. Beth grabbed his hand. 'I'm getting a second chance with the woman I love, what could be better.' Mick thought, he looked at her sideways; she was beautiful even in profile.
"Michael St. John, and Heather Elizabeth Turner," the clerk called out. They stood up together, linking hands and followed the clerk up to the bench.
"Do you want to say your own vows?" The Justice of the Peace asked. They both nodded. He motioned to Beth to begin.
"I've loved you from the moment I saw you. You make me laugh, and are there to dry my tears. One word from you makes me feel loved, and protected. Nothing will ever stop me from loving you, no matter what happens in our future."
"I've loved you since the moment I met you, and more every moment since. You will always be the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and it will be honour to spend the rest of our lives together." The Justice of the peace smiled at their vows, turning back to Beth:
"Do you take Mick to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do." She couldn't wait to say it.
"And do..."
Mick cut off the Judge mid sentence: "I do." The judge laughed: "But I still need to say it Mr. St. John."
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." Mick responded by giving Beth a passionate kiss. Beth broke it off first
"Mick... we need to breathe." She pulled back long enough for him to see the stupid grin on her face. They settled for linking hands on their way out of the courtroom.
Will there be fallout for Mick and Beth because of the shooting? What about Simone and Josef?
Stay tuned, and review to find out...