Fracture of Lies

Evilous

Disclaimer: Usual disclaimer, I don't own Moonlight. I do however own my original characters, hehe so I guess I do own something.

Chapter 12: Seeing A Ghost

As Jean started to wake she was caught off guard by the arm wrapped around waist, and the body pressed against her back. Jean opened her eyes and looked over her shoulder to see an unexpected sight, Josef he smiled down at her. Jean sat up in the bed pulling the covers up with her, Josef's smile fell.

"What's the matter Jean?" He reached out and stroked her bare shoulder pulling his hand back when she moved away from his touch.

"What are you doing here?"

Still she kept her back to him. Confused Josef sat up in the bed reaching to turn her to face him. Something was wrong; he could tell he just couldn't figure it out. She had been so blissful what had changed while she slept. Could she be regretting their night together?

"Where else would I be?" He asked trying to get her to expose the reason fro her sudden and unexpected change.

Jean didn't say a word; she had no idea where she expected him to be, just not in her bed again. After the most amazing experience of her life she had fallen into the black oblivion of sleep in his arms. When she awoke later in the night she woke alone in the bed. Josef was gone as if he had never been there to begin with, only the feeling between her legs reassured her that he had most definitely been there.

Never sure what this thing with Josef was, she didn't want to put too much into it. She didn't want to get hurt and Josef was too important in her life. She resigned herself back to sleep with her mind focused on remembering the amazing way Josef had made her feel, knowing it would never happen again.

"Jean, talk to me."

Now Josef was back in her bed, holding her, caressing her. He was confusing her, just when she had things figured out he changed the rules on her.

She was unresponsive to his gentle explorations of her feelings; he asked the only question he wasn't sure he wanted the answer to.

"Do you regret last night?"

That got her attention, Jean turned to face him looking into his deep chocolate eyes. "Never, I could never regret that Josef."

"Then what happened? Why are you pulling away now?"

Jean pulled her knees to her chest still clutching the sheet to her burying her head in her arms.

"I'm confused," she muttered.

"About what Jean?" Josef kept his hands in his lap for the time being.

"You," he was silent. Jean took a deep breath and raised her head to look at him once again, "Thank you for last night Josef, it was unbelievable."

"You were amazing yourself," Josef allowed his hand to stroke her shoulder as her body flushed slightly.

"I...what is this? I need to know. I am grateful for last night…but what does it mean?"

"Jean," Josef continued to stroke her shoulder and arm with one arm the other he cupped her face. "I don't know what this is. I care for you; I would like to see where this goes."

"Oh," her expression of shock did not go unnoticed.

"You sound surprised," Josef gave a smile.

"I…its just that you were gone. Then you were here, I didn't know what to think. As soon as I think I have it figured out…"

"Gone?"

"When I woke up earlier."

Realization dawns on him as he silently beat himself for leaving to his freezer. He had not wanted to leave her alone, but he was unaccustomed to not sleeping in his freezer, and was sure he would be back before she awoke.

"I didn't want you to wake up alone; I thought I would be back before." Josef gave her a reassuring smile as he leaned over to kiss her forehead. "You accept me for what I am with no questions. I sleep in a freezer." Jean's eyes went wide at his admission. "I don't have to sleep in it every night, but I have never had a reason not too, and you were fast asleep I thought I could grab a couple hours in there and be back before you woke."

Jean stared at him silently, "I'm sorry you woke up alone."

"You sleep in a freezer." More of a statement than a question.

Josef gave a little chuckle, "Yes, there are lots of things you are going to have to learn if you are interested in seeing where this goes."

"Yes," she answered a little too quickly. "I want too. I didn't mean to pull away, I just… you are so amazing. You have been so great, it felt like a dream, too good to be true."

Josef understood her insecurity, "It's not a dream." Josef lead her hand to his chest, "See I am here, undead, but here."

Jean couldn't help but laugh. "Can we try this again?" Jean laid back in bed hoping he would play along.

Josef took his spot behind her once again his arm resting over her hip. Jean closed her eyes with a smile on her face for a few moments. Then as if waking for the first time she opened her eyes and rolled to face him, "Good morning."

"Good morning."

Mick sat in his office watching Beth do her live report, coverage on the Mayson case. She agreed to go back on camera for one more story, only because this had affected her so much she needed to see it through. Mick watched as Beth listed the crimes in brutal detail making sure no one in their right mind could see him as a victim, she continued on with his plea of not guilty, claiming falsely accused, but the DA's office had photos proving otherwise.

A knock on his office door brought him from the report. Looking up he didn't have any appointments scheduled. He scented the air, Chanel, the same perfume Coraline used to wear. Shaking out of the past memories Mick walked to the door, when he opened it his mouth dropped.

"Hello, are you Mick St. John?"

"Coraline?" Mick couldn't help himself but to stare at her, it was Coraline, but she was dead he staked her to the floor and left her to burn to death.

"Excuse me?" She looked confused. "I'm looking for Mick St. John, the private investigator."

"How is this possible?" Mick was still stammering his words with his mouth hanging half open.

Morgan stared at his face, a confused look on her face. "I'm looking for Mick St. John, Ms. Cabrea at the DA's office recommended him for a job. Can you tell me where to find him?"

Mick shook his head trying to gain some distance from the memories surfacing in his mind. This couldn't be Coraline, she didn't know who he was, after another sniff he noted she was mortal, and then there was the fact he had killed his ex himself.

"I'm Mick St. John, please come in." Mick stepped back allowing her to enter.

Morgan eyed him suspiciously for his rather odd behavior but came in all the same. Smiling inwardly at how he reacted to her presence.

"My name is Morgan Vincent and I would like to hire you."

"What is it you think I can do for you?" Mick took his seat behind his desk trying to focus as if it were any other client seated before him.

"Someone broke into my place. They didn't take anything just riffled through my things and I have this feeling sometimes like I'm being followed."

Mick studied her carefully, her heart beat, her eyes, her movements. Looking for any indication that this was a lie, that this was really his dead undead ex wife. It seemed to be the truth. She was there for his help, and she was not Coraline, she was human. He thought about turning down the job, and then he remembered Candice had recommended him. He couldn't turn her down, but with her uncanny appearance to Coraline he didn't want Beth to see her. After all, she was just getting over the nightmares, seeing the face of her attacker all those years ago would just make things worse of that he was sure.

"Of all the PI's in LA what made you come to me?"

"I asked Ms. Cabrea for recommendations. She said you were good at what you do."

"How do you know her?"

"I'm sure you have read about the evidence brought forward in the Mayson trial." Mick nodded, of course he knew, "I'm a freelance photographer..."

Mick knew instantly she was who Beth was looking for, to his horror. Candice probably thought this would be helping Beth with her story without really breaking any of her confidentiality agreements. He would have to keep them apart, maybe helping this woman he could convince her not to do any interviews, while convincing Beth to drop it. It was a long shot and he knew it, but he had to try.

"Do you have any idea who would go through your things and follow you?"

"Not that I can think of...wait my ex maybe."

Mick watched closely, "Why would he do this?"

"He was a bit...obsessive. We met at a gig he played, he was a musician. Everything was intense, but then I left. I needed prospective after our last run in."

"What happened?"

"We had a fight."

Mick was watching her closely his mind foggy with everything happening. Here was a woman who despite what he knew and reasoned with himself reminded him of Coraline, her voice, the way she curled her lips when she smiled, the curve of her neck, everything was the same but different, she was alive really alive.

"What was his name? I will look into him after I check out your place."

"Mike...Michael Stevens. So does this mean you are going to help me?"

"I will do what I can. Have you had any reporters contact you about an interview since turning in the photos?"

Morgan shook her head, "No but my name wasn't released. Do you think that might have something to do with this?"

Mick smiled, he caught a break. "I don't want to cross anything out. I would suggest you turn down any if they come up."

Morgan nodded, "When do you want to come see my place?"

"I can go now if it's a good time for you."

"The sooner the better."

Mick pulled a pen and scribbled a quick note sticking it in an envelope. Mick grabbed his coat opening the door for Morgan as she brushed past him, a bit closer than necessary, filling his nostrils with her perfume. Mick looked at the letter in his hand and closed the door behind him. Morgan pushed the door to the elevator and waited as Mick stuck the envelope to the door to his apartment. When the door's opened she stepped in followed closely by Mick and they went down in silence.

To Be Continue...

Evilous