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 37: Shocking Discovery

Mick walked into Josef's main room, he had rushed over here after Josef had left message that there was an emergency. He had been avoiding Josef's calls since he went to meet Beth, part trying to avoid anymore run ins with Coraline, part not wanting to see him after he had kept something this big from him, and part due to his unease and frantic mind over losing Beth.

"What's the emergency Josef? Did something happen with the cure?"

Josef turned to see him holding two glasses of well aged scotch, handing one to Mick who reluctantly took it.

"No emergency but you haven't returned any of my 10 calls and I needed to speak to you. I know you're angry at me. Get over it, yes I lied to you its over and done with nothing we can do about it now."

Mick tossed the scotch back, he had needed a drink might as well drink Josef's. He had been on edge since he had delivered his letter to Beth into Candice's hands, unsure when she would get it or if she would even read it.

"What do you want?"

Josef rolled his eyes but grabbed the bottle and refilled Mick's glass, "To talk. What happened with Beth? Coraline mentioned Beth walked in as she was kissing you and walked out."

"That's the basic picture. Beth wants nothing to do with me, I broke her heart. If you could have seen the look in her eyes Josef…" Mick tossed back his glass once more.

Josef raised an eyebrow, "Really she left. Blondie sees a woman kissing her man and she just leaves all hurt?" Josef take a swig of his own drink giving a smile, "I thought she had more fight in her."

Mick growled at Josef's remark, "It was more complicated than that. She…Coraline was naked."

Mick looked away and snatched the bottle from Josef's hand moving to the chair to have a seat he poured himself another.

"She left that part out. How did she end up naked Mick?"

Mick told Josef about the explosion and the events leading up to the letter he wrote to Beth. Josef finished his drink wishing he had been able to get a hold of Mick sooner. Josef could see how this was affecting his brother, he would do anything he could to help him.

"Wow, I'm sorry man."

"Not as sorry as I am."

Josef and Mick sat in silence for some time, the only sounds were the filling and emptying of their glasses. Josef didn't know how to make him feel better right now, he knew only Beth could do that, so he simply kept quite until Mick broke out in laughter.

"Did I miss the joke?"

Mick's laughter was one of pain, "It's almost been a year. I never even got to ask her."

Josef furrowed his eyebrows, "What are you talking about?"

Mick bit back his tears, "Next month would be our one year anniversary, I have been planning the perfect night, now I may never know what she would have said."

"Said to what?"

"Too being my wife," Mick's head sunk into his hands.

Josef's mouth was almost hanging open, "You were planning on asking her to marry you?"

Mick gave a laugh, "For longer than you know. I knew I wanted to spend my life with her since the beginning, when she pushed into my life refusing to be pushed away. I started getting things ready so when the time was right it would be perfect. My moms wedding ring was simple just a band with a couple small diamonds, I had it resized for the band but the ring itself I thought of Beth the moment I saw it…"

"How long have you had the rings?"

"Just after I rescued her from Arnold," Mick took another drink.

"That long, has their not been a good time?"

Mick let out a chuckle, "I wanted her to say yes." Josef raised an eyebrow and Mick shook his head, "I would have dropped to my knee and asked her that night if I thought she would. Beth is independent, a free spirit, I wanted to take things slow, so I didn't scare her."

Josef reached over and grabbed the bottle filling both their glasses, as he thought they might need another bottle.

*****

Candice left the office early finishing her briefs. She had called David on her way out checking to see if he was home or at the office, and her luck he was home. When she arrived he meet her at the elevator standing in the exact spot they had made up not so long ago, she blushed remembering it.

"You sounded tense, is everything okay?" David leaned in and kissed her lips.

Candice smiled and pulled herself tight to his chest feeling the strength of his strong arms wrapped around her. "Beth's back."

David walked them into his apartment and to the bottle of wine and glasses already set out.

"That was fast, is she…how is she?"

Candice waited to have a sip of her wine before answering, "She decided she couldn't run from it. She took Ben Talbot up on his offer to work for him, today was her first day."

"She's working with Talbot?"

Candice nodded, "I gave her the letter and said my piece."

"Did she read it?"

"She put it in her purse before we left. If it were anyone but Beth I wouldn't be sure but I'm positive she will read it, shes to curious not too."

"I hope it works out for them," David pulled her closer.

Candice pulled back taking another sip of wine, "Should we call him and tell him shes back and has the letter?"

David thought for a moment, "Not yet, lets give it til morning. If she hasn't spoken to him herself by then I will call him." He kissed her forehead, "Are you staying here tonight" his voice was hopeful.

"If you think you can round me up something to eat I don't have anywhere else I'd rather be," she gave him a playful smile.

"So you'll only stay if I feed you?"

"Pretty much."

"I think I can handle that," he nibbled on her neck before turning to the kitchen. Feeding her was something he enjoyed doing, after all she always fed him.

*****

To Be Continued…

Evilous