Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS or Moonlight
Sorry for not updating, but I've been really busy and next week I have finals so don't expect another chapter right away, but I will try to update soon. This is my Christmas present for all of my readers since I'm horrible at updating...Happy Holidays.
...
The next morning the team returns to the bull pen, still a little weary from the previous night.
"Did what happen last night, really happen? Or was I just dreaming?" Tony asks no one in particular while throwing his back pack on the floor behind his desk.
"I am also not sure about what happened last night, but everything does seem to make more sense now," Ziva replies trying to make the situation sound a little less stressful.
McGee just stares at his computer screen while listening to his partners complain about the new developments. He decides to interrupt them before Ziva threatens to kill Tony with only a paper clip. "So, who is going to be the one to tell Abby that vampires exist and that Mick is one of them?"
Tony and Ziva stop their complaining and look at McGee before looking back at each other. "I'm certainly not going to get yelled at for not telling her. You do it, McGeek, since you brought it up."
"Why do I have to do it?" McGee questions.
"Because you brought it up, and she's less likely to be mad at you," Tony points out.
Both agents look to Ziva for help in determining who is going to tell Abby. Ziva sees this as her chance to mess with Tony, "Well, Tony, since you're the injured one she will more likely not hurt you as she would McGee or I."
Tony looks at Ziva and McGee not really wanting to be the one to tell Abby about last night, "I'm not doing it."
"Doing what, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asks walking into the bullpen with Mick trailing not far behind and making Tony flinch at his sudden appearance.
Tony rubs the back of his head, "Well, we, ah…"
"Spit it out, DiNozzo!" Gibbs snaps at his stuttering agent.
Tony, not wanting to make Gibbs anymore irritable quickly says what is on his, Ziva's and McGee's minds, "Well, uh, boss, we were wondering who was going to tell Abby about what happened last night."
Gibbs looks at all his agents as if just now realizing what he meant, when Mick cut in, "I'll tell her, because it is my fault you all got dragged into this mess." Everyone turns to Mick with dumbstruck looks on their faces.
Gibbs decides to break the silence, "We will all go down and talk to Abby…together." Gibbs heads back toward the elevator him and Mick just came from…Mick quickly leaves the bullpen to catch up with Gibbs, and the reluctant agents slowly make their way to the waiting elevator.
...
As the elevator doors, open Mick cringes and covers his ears to block out the loud music, before slowly sliding down to the floor. Gibbs quickly sees the issue for Mick and signals for McGee to quickly turn Abby's off music, McGee quickly leaves the elevator without even thinking about the consequences Abby was going to give him for touch her music.
As soon as the area is silent Mick removes his hands from his ears, "Thanks." He is about to ask if it is always that loud but is cut off by the yelling emanating from the lab.
"We better hurry before Abby hurts McGoo for touching her music," Tony says making his way toward the lab.
Gibbs and Ziva help Mick up onto unsteady feet, "Are you, okay?" Gibbs asks in concern.
"Yeah, just a little disoriented, I wasn't expecting the loud music."
"I guess we could have warned you before we came down here," Ziva says still watching Mick carefully.
Gibbs hurries into Abby's lab in order to stop whatever other yelling was about to be said, "Abs."
Abby turns from the cowering McGee and Tony, "Gibbs!" Abby says in shock. "What are you doing here, because I just received the evidence from last night's homicide, so I don't have anything for you."
"We came down to tell you about what happened last night, so you can stop reprimanding McGee for turning off your music, because I told him to."
Abby quirks an eyebrow at Gibbs in confusion, "Why?" At this moment, Mick and Ziva enter the lab. "Uh, Gibbs, that's…"
Gibbs holds his hand up to stop Abby from speaking further, "I know," Gibbs turns and indicates for Mick to come closer. "Mick, wanted to come down here and explain about what happened last night…after the homicide."
Abby looks back and forth between Gibbs and Mick, "What other things?"
Mick begins to speak before Abby can continue to question Gibbs about the previous night, "I was attacked in my friend's apartment, right before the murder that happened outside by Lancaster."
Abby looks at Mick suspiciously because she doesn't see any obvious signs of injury.
Mick can easily see the suspicion and mistrust in Abby's eyes, so he continues with the story, "Agents, Gibbs and McGee found me after tracking my phone." Mick pauses and looks around the lab, "I believe, Agent McGee actually bagged the bullet I was shot with and brought it to you."
Abby's eyes widen at the sudden mention of the bullet McGee brought her, "That bullet was pure silver, and covered with dead blood cells…there is no way you were shot…that bullet had to have been shot through a dead body, and clearly your living."
"There is a reason for that, Ms. Sciuto," Mick says trying to figure out how to explain what happened the previous night without freaking Abby out, but one look at the peppy goth and Mick really doubted he could freak her out or shatter everything she knows about reality. Sighing, Mick prepares to say what needs to be said, "Vampires are real. Your killer is one and I'm also one." Before Abby can interrupt about how impossible that is Mick continues, "That will also explain why you found dead blood cells on the bullet, and why the bullet is made of pure silver."
Abby is looking between the group and Mick and can tell he is not lying, then it clicks and her eyes go wide, "That also explains why you still look the same as you did back when you first attacked Spalding in 1983!" Before anyone can say anything, Abby continues, "So, if you're a vampire can I see your fangs, or and a take a sample of your blood, or, or…"
"Abby!" Gibbs cuts her off before she can continue to pester Mick further.
"But, Gibbs, do you know what this could mean…to never have to worry about dying again, to have more strength than the average person, to have heightened senses?"
"I'd rather be human again," Mick says making Abby turn to face him with a slightly confused expression. Seeing her expression, he begins to tell her his back story and how the team found out about vampires before her. The team decides to leave to gather more information while Mick is telling Abby everything.
A couple hours later after Mick finishes recounting the past events, Abby is still in awe and a little sad for Mick. "So, what do you look like when you show your vampire side?"
Mick smirks at Abby, having already suspected that she would want to see, so he bows his head and looks back up. His brown eyes are replaced with the his white-blue eyes and is paler than he was before; he smiles at Abby so that she can see his fangs.
"Wow," is all Abby can seem to say, when something catches her eye. She gets up quickly grabbing the fang like molds and holding them up to Mick's fangs. "These are fangs, I knew it!"
Mick reverts back to his normal 'human' form, "Where did you get those?"
"Palmer brought them down shortly after the body was brought in. Why?"
"Because this only further proves that Lancaster is a vampire and after this case is done I'm going to need you to either hand those over to me or destroy them," Mick says in a serious tone
"What, why?!" Abby says furious that Mick is telling her to destroy evidence even after the case ends. "Plus, no one could possibly believe he's a vampire because of a couple of molds, they will probably think he's into some kind of occult and put on fake fangs to commit the murders," Abby says crossing her arms over her chest.
"There are laws for vampires, remember me explaining that, Abby? You might think it is okay, but others won't, and they would rather kill you and destroy the evidence if you don't destroy them first," Mick says trying to get Abby to see the seriousness of the situation. "Promise me you will destroy those after the case is wrapped up."
Abby sighs, "Okay, I promise."
Mick smiles, "I know it's probably hard for you to destroy evidence, but it's for your own safety." Abby just nods at Mick when they both hear the elevator ding, and shortly after Gibbs walks back into the lab.
"Come on, Mick we think we might have a lead on where Lancaster is," Gibbs walks back toward the elevator.
"See you later, Abby," Mick quickly makes his way out of the lab to follow Gibbs.
...
"McGee, tell him what you found," Gibbs says reentering the bullpen with Mick not far behind.
"I traced Lancaster's phone, and…he's here." McGee says looking at Mick.
"What do you mean, here?" Mick questions coming to stand behind McGee's desk to see his computer screen. He sees Lancaster's position as being just outside the naval yard.
"What do you think he's doing, Mick?" Gibbs question watching Mick's posture tense slightly.
Still staring at the screen Mick replies, "He's looking for me."
"Excuse me, what?" Tony questions from his desk looking between Gibbs and Mick.
Mick looks away from the computer screen to look at the team, "The night when Lancaster paid me a visit and shot me, he said that is was just a warning, that he didn't want me working on the case."
"So, you think that he's here to kill you?" Tony questions.
"I'm not sure," Mick says starting to move to exit the bullpen.
"Where do you think, you're going, Mick?" Gibbs questions standing behind Mick in between Tony and Ziva's desks.
"I'm going to confront him…without any of you," Mick says moving toward the elevator once again, only to be stopped, yet again by Gibbs placing a hand on his shoulder.
"If you're working a joint investigation with my team, you are not doing anything alone, whether you know more about the situation than we do," Gibbs pauses seeing Mick turn to actually look him in the eyes. "We as agents place our lives on the line everyday…doesn't matter the circumstances."
Mick nods, "Alright, but we need a plan, and like you said I know more about the situation, so I'm taking the lead."
"Fair enough, but don't, ever think me and my team can't handle anything that is thrown at us."
...
Mick cautiously walks up to the lone figure standing and staring at the NCIS headquarters.
"Lovely day isn't it, Mick," Lancaster says without even turning to acknowledge Mick's presence.
"What are you doing here?" Mick all but growls out.
Turning, Lancaster makes eye contact with Mick, "I thought I told you to stop working on the case."
Shaking his head in a 'no' fashion Mick responds, "You know I can't do that, Lancaster. You've put the community in danger of exposure, and I know, you know what that means."
"Ah, yes, you're going to have to kill me," Lancaster starts to circle Mick like a predator, surveying its prey before it attacks. "If you think I'm going to go easily your wrong, and I'm sure by now you've figured out why I'm here, so just let me finish my business, and I will be gone."
"You know I can't do that," Mick says moving his head to follow Lancaster's movements.
Sighing, Lancaster finally says, "Well, Mick, I didn't want to have to kill you, but if this is how it must be I guess we'll just have to see who the better vampire is."
Lancaster and Mick both flash their fangs and proceed to fight. Mick dodges Lancaster's first attack, but the second attack manages to slash open Mick's shoulder; Mick hisses in pain.
"What's the matter, Mick, am I too much for you?" Lancaster taunts to the wounded vampire.
"I wouldn't get too cocky if I were you," Mick does a low sweep and knocks Lancaster off his feet making him hit the ground hard. In his anger, Lancaster wraps his legs around Mick's ankle and send Mick down to the ground with him.
He quickly tackles Mick so he can't get back up and finds the stake in Mick's pocket, "Well, well, what do we have here? Planning to stake me, Mick, maybe keep me from fighting back?" Mick stops struggle to stare at the stake in Lancaster's hand. "If I stake you that means I won't have to kill you, and I can get you off this case, but that also means I don't have to take the stake out of you either…have a good night, Mick."
Lancaster is about to send the stake through Mick's heart, when Mick interrupts him in a deadly clam voice, "Actually, I wasn't the one who was going to stake you."
Flashback
Mick nods, "Alright, but we need a plan, and like you said I know more about the situation, so I'm taking the lead."
"Fair enough, but don't, ever think me and my team can't handle anything that is thrown at us."
"Alright, Agents McGee and David, I need you to go back to the apartment I was staying at and prepare it for an interrogation…"
"Why not just use the interrogation rooms here?" McGee questions.
"Because that risks exposure…more exposure than just the team, and the last thing I want is for more people to find out that we exist.
McGee nods in understanding, so Mick continues, "Agent DiNozzo, you will transport Lancaster's body to the apartment…"
"Wait, wait, wait, why do I have to transport the body, and I thought we weren't killing anybody?!" Tony says a little frantic.
Sighing Mick pinches the bridge of his nose, "We're not killing anybody, we're just going to paralyze him."
"And how do we do that," Ziva questions forgetting about the talk the previous night.
"With this," Mick produces one of two stakes from inside his coat and passes one to Gibbs, who raises an eyebrow at being handed the stake.
"So, I'm supposed to stake him?" Gibbs asks with skepticism.
Mick nods, "I'll distract him, and while all his attention is on me, you'll be able to stake him without him realizing your there." Gibbs nods and the team heads to their respective destinations. "See you in about ten minutes, Gibbs…I'm counting on you."
End Flashback
Lancaster stops, caught off guard by the sudden statement before realizing what Mick meant. He turns only to see Gibbs shoving a stake into his chest. Gibbs catches Lancaster's paralyzed body before it falls on top of Mick and lays it on the ground. Gibbs helps Mick to his feet already pulling out his phone to call Tony to bring the car around. After finishing up the call Gibbs asks Mick, "Do you need Ducky to look at your shoulder?"
Mick looks at his shoulder, "It'll heal…I've had worse before." Gibbs nods and sees Tony pulling up with the issued Dodge Charger. Mick quickly grabs Lancaster's feet while Gibbs handles Lancaster's upper torso, and place him in the backseat. "Time to receive some answers."
