Well, here it is, not entirely happy with it, and it's a bit longer than normal, but oh well.

Not mine, yeah, yeah.

Chapter 26

Beth was curled up next to Mick on the couch, the credits for the movie rolling across the TV screen. Mick was looking at Beth, with a curious expression on his face. He seemed slightly annoyed with her for trusting him enough to fall asleep next to him…although this wasn't the first time she'd done it; it was the first time since he'd been aware that she knew what he was. But annoyance was slowly fading into awe, and admiration. Were her self preservation instincts ever going to wake up? Most humans wouldn't be able to even relax in his presence, let alone fall asleep next to him! He shook his head in frustration.

Stubborn, that didn't even begin to describe her…true he was the same, but at least he had reason to be. When would she realize that he wasn't a 'Guardian Angel'; as she called him in her letters? His gaze drifted over to the box resting innocently on the table. He still couldn't believe she'd kept those he had written back all this time. He ignored the fact that he had kept hers as well.

Beth started to toss and turn, slightly, not enough to catch a human's notice, but certainly enough to catch his attention. She began to mumble, not words really, just sounds. Her tossing was getting worse, and he held her close. So she wouldn't fall…or so he told himself.

"No, Mick, no, please, don't-" She sounded afraid; he sighed, he knew this would happen eventually…he just hadn't thought it would happen this soon. But it was better this way, now he could get out of her life without feeling guilty about hurting her.

"Mick please." She sounded desperate. Unable to stand listening to Beth please with him in her dreams, Mick carefully got up, and lay her back on the couch. He stared at her for a long moment, then left.

***

Beth opened her eyes; something was wrong, and not just what had happened her dream. She shivered, the memory of Mick letting her die, of him not turning her, came a little to close his attitude towards her being turned for comfort. She looked around, Mick wasn't in the room…and she sensed he wasn't in the house either. She sighed, grabbing the phone, and pressing the speed dial.

It rang for several minutes.

"Hello, this is Mick St. John, I can't-" She hung up when she got his voicemail. She tried his home phone, again no answer. She frowned at the phone in her hand, why wasn't he answering? She stood up and walked to the window, and could have hit herself for her stupidity as she glanced at the clock. It was 10 in the morning; he would be asleep by now. She'd call later. For some reason she didn't feel any better than she had before.

As she got ready for work, Phantom picked up on her unease and followed her everywhere she went…although he didn't follow her into the shower this time, he just sat on the counter waiting for her to finish so he could resume he trailing after her.

The uneasy feeling she had continued throughout the day. Something wasn't right, something to do with Mick…she just didn't know what, and that made her frustrated; which in turn, she vented on anyone stupid enough to try talking to her for more than ten seconds.

By the time she was heading out to go home, just about everyone at Buzzwire had learned the hard way that she was in a bad mood. She headed towards the door…and groaned, why did he have to come now?! Her dark mood was just going to get worse.

Josh was waiting by her car. Beth gritted her teeth in annoyance. Couldn't the guy take a hint? She walked out, slowly; hoping that the few extra seconds would help her control her temper…which was already boiling dangerously close to the surface.

"Hey, Beth. Look I was just wondering if you had any plans for this evening cause-" He trailed away as Beth's eyes seemed to glow angrily from within. "Hey, is something wrong?"

"Oh no, nothing, why would anything be wrong?" If he didn't get out of her way; and soon; he was going to regret it…and by tomorrow so would she.

"Well you just look like you-"

"Like what?!" She spat. "Like some idiot can't or won't get the idea through his thick, stupid head that I am not interested in him nor have I ever been! Like I've been on edge all day waiting for someone to call me, who hasn't! Someone that I am very concerned about because he just found out something that changes his life drastically! Was 'that' what you were thinking?!" She was breathing heavily, her face flushed. "Now get out of my way, I have somewhere I have to be."

Josh frowned. "Beth, I really don't think you should be driving when you're this-" Beth completely lost it.

"Get out of my way and leave me the hell alone or so help me I will 'make' you!" Josh stumbled back in some surprise.

"Beth, something is wrong, let me take you home-" Beth gave a half scream, half growl of frustration.

"MOVE!" She gave him a push that nearly sent him sprawling. "You need to learn when to just shut up and go, and learn it 'fast'!" She unlocked her car, got in, and slammed the door. She started up the engine and took off at the highest speed she felt comfortable with…which at this time…was rather high. She gripped the wheel tightly with both hands, her knuckles white, fighting to keep herself from screaming.

Within ten minutes she was in front of Mick's place. She slammed the door shut and headed up. She knocked…no answer. She knocked again. Still nothing. Huffing, she called Natasha.

"Hey."

"Natasha, what is the pass code to get into Mick's, again?"

"Whoa, did someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed?"

"No Tasha I didn't even wake up in a bed, but something is wrong, I just don't know what, Mick hasn't answered his phone, either of them, and he's not coming to the door."

"Ok, ok, it's 421-MESJ-Mdngt. Happy?"

"Thank you." She hung up, and punched in the numbers, and walked in…or tried to. The door was manually locked.

"Mick, I know you're in there, please open the door." Nothing. "Mick, please!" She was starting to get desperate. "Mick please at least tell me you're ok." Still she got no response. She called Natasha again.

"What now? Did he change it?"

"No, he's got it locked manually, and he's not answering."

Beth could almost hear the frown in Natasha's voice. "Beth are you sure?"

"Yes I'm sure, I put the pass code in, the handle turned, but the door wouldn't open. Natasha please, I need to get in; or at least find out what's going on!"

"Beth calm down, everything will-" Beth cut her off.

"Don't tell me to calm down Natasha! Mick isn't answering his phones, he's not coming to the door and it's locked manually, that means he has to be inside, and either hurt enough that he can't answer, or I did something to make him ignore me, and though I'd hate for it to be true, I'm hoping it's the second!" Tears escaped her eyes, what was going on, why was Mick avoiding her, and if he wasn't, then what was wrong?

"Beth, you need to calm down, you have to be able to think clearly."

Beth drew in a few slow breaths, hoping they would clear her head, they did…a little. "Ok, what should I do?"

"Ok, if Mick is in there, then the best thing for you to do is to just keep talking, if he's hurt, then that way he knows he's not alone, if he's not and he's just avoiding you, then eventually his guilt will get the better of him and he'll open the door. You got that?"

"Yeah."

"Ok, I'll be over in a few minutes."

"Ok, thanks."

"No problem, seen you in a few."

Beth put her phone away, and leaned against the door, slowly she slid down it until she was sitting on the floor, curled as close as she could get to the door. "Mick, if you're in there, I'm not going anywhere unless you open this door and tell me what is going on."

She hugged her bag closer to her, finding no comfort in it, but needing something to cling to. "What did I do? Please just tell me and-" She stopped as her voice caught. She tried blinking back the tears, but it just caused them to spill over. "Did I do something wrong? Mick, please just say something if you're ok." She bit her lip when she received no reply.

"Fine, then I'm not leaving. I'm going to sit here until someone who can get in comes, and then I'll find out what is going on. I don't care if you want me dead, I'll just stay here long enough to make sure you are ok…after that I'll go…if-if you don't want me here, I can handle it, I-I mean, come on I'm-I'm just a human, what-what would you want me around for. All I ask is that you give me-give me a reason." Although she was sick silly with worry, she knew that if he was ok, only her talking like that would make him feel guilty enough to open the door for her. "Yeah, I'll-I'll go apologize to Josh and-and take him up on his offer for tonight, or whenever it is I see-" She fell onto her side as the door opened, removing her support. She looked up.

Mick was standing there, his face covered in shadow. She scrambled to her feet, and hugged him with all her strength. He just stood there, impassive. Beth pulled back, staring at his face. His eyes seemed to sear her where she stood. They were cold. They were his normal brown, but not infused with the warmth she had become accustomed to. Beth wondered if even his vampire eyes could be that penetrating.

"Well, I'm fine, you can go now." Beth drew in her breath, bit her lip, and closed her eyes.

"Fine-just-just tell me-tell me why."

"You already gave it, you're a human. Why would I want you around." This was so contradictory to what he'd said yesterday that Beth knew he was lying; she just didn't know why.

"That's bull and we both know it." Beth turned to see Natasha walking over.

"Really, and since when do you know my mind better than I do?"

"Mick don't start shit like this with me! Just tell her what's wrong; I'm sure she has a good excuse."

"Oh really, and how do you know what happened?"

"I stopped by Beth's place on my way here." Beth frowned in confusion, what had happened at her house?

Mick looked back down at her, saying nothing.

Natasha sighed. "Beth, what were you dreaming last night?"

Beth shivered. "I-I was dying and Mick…he-he wouldn't turn me. I begged, I pleaded with him to but-he-he wouldn't do it. I begged him to not let me d-die, but…" She trailed away, not noticing that Mick was staring at her, shock plain on his face. "Why do you ask?"

"In your sleep you said 'Mick' and something about 'no' and 'please', it's been almost twenty-four hours, so the memory wasn't very clear." Understanding dawned in Beth's eyes.

"No, Mick no." She closed her eyes. "Mick if I were at all afraid of you, don't you think you would be able to tell? Wouldn't you be able to smell it?"

"Then where is the fear coming from now?"

"Mick I've just gone through half my day, wondering if you were all right. I just sat outside your door talking to you constantly in case you weren't; am I not allowed to be afraid for you?"

Mick said nothing, but his eyes weren't quite so cold anymore.

"Mick, please just…say something, anything." Mick continued to stare at her, as if he'd never seen her before.

***

Mick heard her, but it was as though she was talking through water, it was indistinct, and he couldn't catch all of it. A thought was coming to his head, slowly, very slowly, but he knew that if he just waited for it, everything would make a lot more sense.

"Mick, are you there? Mick answer me." Beth was starting to sound slightly worried, he didn't want that, and the thought was almost there.

Finally after several more seconds, it came. Beth wasn't afraid of him, she never had been.

He looked at Beth again, she was biting her lip, and seemingly fighting to stay where she was and not rush at him and find out what was wrong. He registered dimly that Natasha was standing off to the side, but he paid her no attention. "Beth-" He broke off, unsure of how he was supposed to word this. He looked down at the floor, then almost immediately looked back up at her. She seemed to know what he wanted to ask be cause she shook her head.

"No, I wasn't afraid of you. I was afraid of leaving you…or you leaving me." She looked unsure as she finished, as though she still expected him to want her gone.

"I-I'm sorry." At her heartbroken expression he rushed to explain. "No, no, not-I don't." He bit his lip, why was this so hard?! "I don't-I want you to stay." There he'd finally said it. "I meant I was sorry for ignoring you…all day; and…" Beth stopped him by pressing her hand to his mouth.

She gave a one-sided smirk. "Stop, you're starting to ramble." He smirked back.

"Oh really; are you telling me you do not want to hear my ramblings?"

The smirk turned into a smile. "Yes, I am."

Mick rolled his eyes. "Fine."

"Finally, now will you two please try and maintain this peace for at least a few days, so I don't have to deal with crying fledgling wanna-bees, and sulking vampires attempting isolationism, just for my sake…please." She gave a puppy face…that didn't quite work, as she vamped out halfway through, allowing her fangs to peak out.

Mick frowned at her description of Beth, but didn't say anything.

Beth grinned. "Yeah, we can try; don't know how successful we'll be; but yeah, we can try." Natasha rolled her eyes.

"Oh, and Beth…at your work, there's a guy sitting where you normally park, do you know who it could be?"

She groaned. "It's probably Josh. I think I scared him earlier when I almost ran him over. He can't take a hint…" She looked at Mick. "You know, if you and Josh switched personalities, it would be great, you never stop trying to keep me away, and he can't get it through his head that persistence doesn't always mean you win." Mick glared at her, where did she come up with stuff like this?

Natasha smirked. "But wouldn't that take all the fun out of it?"

Beth cocked her head, thinking for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're right, I prefer him like this." Mick rolled his eyes at their antics…although he was interested in finding out who this 'Josh' person was.

"Look, when you two've finished deciding if you prefer me this way or not, I would like to decide on something." Beth turned back to him, her eyebrows raised.

"Oh…and what might that be?"

"Oh I don't know, maybe when you two are done, I'll tell you." Beth and Natasha look at each other out of the corner of their eyes; they nod, and turn to Mick.

Natasha grinned. "We're done." Mick raised an eyebrow.

"Are you serious…that's it, that's all it takes?" If all he had to do was mention he had something he wanted to decide…well, it could prove very useful later on…although right now he'd have preferred they kept talking.

"Um…yeah, why, did you expect it to be harder?" Beth kept her face and tone solemn, but the glint in her eyes gave away the laughter she was holding back.

"Ok, before you two decide to continue…" Mick hesitated, biting his lip; did he really want to bring this up?

"Hey, Mick, hello, what do you want us to decide on?"

***

As she looked at him, Mick seemed to just stare at her. Was he talking about what she thought he was? If he was, and he wanted to come to a decision…then hopefully with Tasha there she would have a fighting chance.

"I-you-" He sighed. "I don't like the idea, but-" Beth held her breath. "If-if it gives you nightmares-then we-we should probably come to a decision about it, right?" Breathless, and unable to fully trust her voice, Beth simply nodded. "Ok…well if-if that situation ever comes up-I'll-I'll let you decide…ok?" Again she nodded. "Right, that's solved." Beth frowned, and shook her head.

"What, did-did I forget something?"

"What if-what if that never-never comes up?"

"Oh, well-"

"How about we go with this idea for a while, but in two years…and if I haven't been turned…you'll leave the decision up to me in case I want to be turned anyway."

Mick frowned, it was one thing if she was dying, it was quite another to have to actually kill her. "Beth-"

"No Mick, if I have not been turned by then, and I want to be, then you can't stop me. I'm not saying I will want to, but I want to have my options open." Natasha snorted, and Beth glared at her.

"What?"

"Oh, just the 'having your options open' thing, we all know you'll want to be turned eventually…I'm just confused as to why you picked two years from now?"

Beth sighed, and bit her lip.

Natasha thought for a moment, then grinned. "Ah, I understand, you'll be 29 then, almost 30 and you don't want to have to deal with being 31, I get it." Mick frowned, then rolled his eyes as he understood.

Beth gave a small smile. "Yeah, that's basically the gist of it."

"Ok, now is it solved?"

Beth sighed. "Not quite."

Mick groaned. "What else?"

"Who will turn me?"

Mick froze…this was not on his 'want to discuss' list…then again, nothing of this conversation had been. "I don't know…Natasha I guess."

Beth shook her head. "No."

Mick closed his eyes. "Beth, I don't think I could live with myself if I did it unless you were already dying."

Beth shook her head. "Ah…no, I didn't mean you, I was thinking I'd like Josef to do it." Both Mick and Natasha looked at her.

"Why Josef?" Natasha looked confused.

"Because the word 'sire' automatically makes me think of 'father'…not friend, or boy-friend, or lover." Mick looked at her sharply at that word. "And I don't want myself think 'father' when I think of either of you…and Josef I think could probably handle. If I had to choose between the three of you, it would be him…if some other option becomes available, then I'll take it…as long as it's within reason of course."

Natasha nodded, and so did Mick after a moment later.

"But if I'm dying where I am, then any of you three had better do it, and someone had better tell Josef about that too."

Natasha sighed. "Well, looks like I get to have fun…"

"Doing…?"

"Convincing Josef to agree to possible turn someone."

"Why?"

"Nothing, I-it's not my-"

"Story to tell?" Beth half asked, half finished for her.

Natasha nodded. "Yeah." She gave a soft smile and shrugged.

"Figures that Josef would have something hidden from me." Mick gave a wry grin. "I mean, I've known him for a while yeah, but I don't know everything…and neither does he, and we both know it."

Natasha grinned. "Yes well, everyone has their secrets, do we not?"

Beth smirked back. "Of course."

Natasha walked towards the door. "Well, now that the crisis has been averted, I'm going to take a nap, catch you love birds later." She walked out, leaving Mick and Beth to figure out a safe subject to talk about.

No not everything is resolved, and Mick still has...second thoughts about Beth being turned, but he is trying.

PP