I wanted to point out that I based my fic off Mick line "It's not like there is a clubhouse where we all hang out." So I built up this club and now we come to find in Te Mortal Cure that there is a clubhouse where Josef sharks pool. What dod you guys think of this?

Review: Beth wants to be turned. Mick wants her to be too. Beth and Josef are getting blood test (because they are 'married') to see if they can be turned. Josef is still mortal. Adriana is a half-vamp. Mick has picked up some human qualities (tasting food) from drinking Adriana's blood. Rose is Josef's lead freshie.

Okay, I think that covers everything…

Enjoy!!!

Filling in the Gaps

Beth dressed quickly. She was so glad to be alive, for Josef to be alive, and for Mick to be happy to accept eternity with her, that she didn't even think about Adriana. So, Beth was more than a little startled when she walked into the room.

"I need to talk with you." Adriana's manner was curt and to the point.

"Okay, how 'bout later? I have to go with Josef right now," Beth replied, pulling on her shirt.

"No, now." Adriana looked at Beth with demanding, yet pleading eyes. "I need to know what happened last night, after you called. You did call, didn't you?"

"Yes," Beth said hesitantly. "I called from the Agency and I tried to dial when I woke up in the SUV."

"You did. It saved your life. Mick wouldn't have known to come after you if you hadn't. But I want to know what happened. Why did they take you? Where did they take you? And why was Josef so tired?"

So he hasn't told her anything. "The Agency ran a background check on me and my marriage license with Josef came up. Of coarse the license tipped them off that I was on 'friendly' terms with Josef." That license has gotten me into a bunch of trouble. It's something I mean to take care of… today.

"So they abducted you?" Adriana asked.

"It wasn't that hard, I was sitting in their headquarters, waiting for their command. They must have drugged me because the next thing I remember was waking up in the back of an SUV. I saw my phone and dialed Mick." Thank God I have him on speed dial. "I blacked out again after that prick kicked me in the head."

"So, Mick and Josef got there in time?"

A smile crossed Beth's lips. "Sort of. I fought off the male vamp, but the female had me in a strangle hold when Mick and Josef showed up."

"Wow, how did you fight off the vamp?" Adriana didn't mean to be rude, but the chances of Beth fighting off a male vampire were slim to none.

"I had the shards of silver backed mirror. I stabbed him with it." Beth was trying to be brief. She didn't want to have to tell Adriana about Josef if she didn't have to.

"So, Mick fought off the female, you guys disposed of the bodies I assume, and you returned?"

"Why do you assume we disposed of the bodies? Is that standard operating procedure?" Beth asked.

"Josef reeked of gasoline when he got back and…blood." Adriana gave Beth a poignant look. Clearly, this is what she had wanted to talk about since she entered the room.

Beth gulped. "Adriana…"

"Tell me, Beth," Adriana pleaded.

Beth took a deep breath. "There was an accident. Josef was shot."

"Shot? But he had no bullet wound…"

How does she know that? "He was shot in the chest and he was bleeding to death, but luckily," By the grace of God, "He had a bottle of vampire essence in his pocket. I poured it in the wound and he recovered. Quite quickly, I might add," Beth explained.

Adriana just stared at Beth. She was still trying to take in the situation. "He almost died?" she whispered.

"He did," Mick stated as he entered the room. He kissed Beth on the cheek and looked at Adriana. "Josef's heart stopped."

"But that's impossible. Vampire essence only works if the recipient is alive. It works with humans' healing abilities," Adriana said.

"I know," Mick said. "I'm just telling you what I heard. His heart had stopped."

"You talking about me?" Josef sauntered into the room. He stopped when he was met with silent stares.

"What? Do I have something in my teeth?" he joked. He sobered up when they didn't laugh. "What is it?"

"Mick said you died. That your heart had stopped beating," Beth answered.

"No, can't be. Vampire essence only works on living humans," Josef replied.

"I said that, but Mick insisted," Adriana replied.

"Maybe your hearing needs to be checked, Mick." Josef was back to his playful self.

"Humans can be revived after their hearts stop beating…maybe life hadn't fully left you yet?" Adriana pondered.

"Maybe…" Josef seemed far away, lost in thought. He snapped out of it and looked at Beth. "Let's get going, Blondie. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can get an annulment."

"How romantic…Give me five more minutes," Beth replied.

"Oh, here." Josef handed Beth his wedding ring, again. "To keep up appearances, and make our story believable," Josef explained at her questioning look. Beth slipped the ring onto her finger, not noticing Mick and Adriana's jealousy.

Josef and Mick left, but Adriana remained. Beth continued to get ready. "Was there anything else?" Beth got the feeling that there was something Adriana wanted to ask her.

"Yes… I was wondering… was Josef… did he… do you know if…" Adriana couldn't find the words to express what she wanted to say.

"You want to know if Josef likes you," Beth quirked her eyebrow at the young woman.

"Yes," Adriana admitted sheepishly.

Beth sat down on the bed next to Adriana. "He cares about you. I think you guys have a chance." Beth looked reassuringly at Adriana. Then she got up to continue getting ready. "Why are you worried? What happened while I was gone?"

"After you called, we figured out the Agency was using the pregnancy patches to dope the freshies with Ritalin. That way the Agency would have a high return business." Adriana explained.

"So that's what's up? It makes sense," Beth said, as she combed her hair.

Adriana continued, "Then you called and the boys left and… I don't know… I was getting mixed feelings from him. First, Josef blamed our initial tryst in my office on the Ritalin he had imbibed from that freshie he fed on, but then he made me promise to stay here, to stay safe. He said he couldn't lose me too. Do you know what that means?"

Beth smiled. Josef does love her. "Adriana, I think he cares for you very deeply. He may have let his guard down because of the Ritalin, but he let you in and now he doesn't want to let you go. To me, that definitely sounds like something."

Beth watched as Adriana smiled and relaxed. She is defiantly in love with him too, Beth thought. She grabbed her purse and rushed out the door.

"Wait," Adriana called. Beth stuck her head back inside the room. "What should I do?" Adriana asked, nervously.

Beth didn't have an answer. Suddenly, she thought of the lunch she had shared with Josef yesterday. "He mentioned wanting to try chocolate. Maybe you could get him some before he returns to his undead self."

"Thanks," Adriana said and Beth left. Adriana smiled to herself. He wants to try chocolate…meaning he's never had it before? Well, that can be arranged…

Beth practically ran over Rose in the hallway. She muttered a sorry and continued down the hall. She had told Josef five minutes, seven minutes ago.

"Wait," Rose stopped Beth.

Beth rolled her eyes, but spun around to talk to Josef's lead freshie. "I'm kinda in a rush, could we talk later?"

"Just a moment," Rose sounded worried and urgent. Beth waited, a little impatiently, but she waited. Why couldn't Josef deal with all these issues? Why do I have to be the one to tell all the girls what's up?

"Sorry, but some of the girls and I are really worried. What with the elevator crash, the passed out freshie, coming back to a ransacked house, St. John eating a sandwich, and not to mention Josef not having a meal." Rose made some good points and Beth didn't know how she was going to dodge them.

"I'm not sure what I can tell you… what was your name?" Beth asked

"Rose. Please I just want to know if everything is alright."

"Things are under control. As long as you and the girls stay here, nothing bad should happen. Josef is fine, but he won't be needing your services right now. You might have already guessed, but Adriana has taken over feeding." Removed it altogether actually.

"Oh." Rose seemed a little hurt, but she looked reassured that everything else was going well. "How can Adriana continually feed Josef? It takes all of us."

"Adriana is different. She can regenerate blood like a vamp can heal." No need to give more information than needed.

"And the freshie?" Rose asked. She didn't even blink at the news that Adriana was more than human. Maybe being a freshie desensitizes you to supernatural beings?

"The Agency is drugging the girls through use of pregnancy patches laced with Ritalin. I found that out last night, but now I am late to go to the courthouse to finalize my marriage certificate with Josef," Beth said, excusing herself.

"Wait, your marrying Josef? I thought you were St. John's? And what about Adriana?" Rose was confused.

"It's complicated, but yes I am with Mick. Josef and I are just friends. I am helping him out." Beth bid Rose goodbye, leaving her more confused, but reassured that everything was going to be fine. Beth walked around the corner of the freshie hall towards the living room. It had now been twelve minutes since she told Josef five.

"Hey you." Mick hugged Beth from behind; before she could even register he was there.

"Hey," she breathed, relaxing into his embrace. She forgot Josef was waiting, all she wanted to do was spend eternity in Mick's arms.

"Be safe, Beth," Mick purred into her ear.

Beth was awakened from her dream. Right. Josef. Courthouse. Blood test. Mick pulled out the large syringe Josef had used earlier. Beth flinched but offered up her arm. She knew she needed the transfusion. Her head was spinning, just from the simple movement of walking, but that didn't justify her fear of big needles.

"Guess I will have to get used to these," Beth said, pointing to the syringe.

Mick chuckled and pulled her arm towards him. "You'll be the first vampire I've heard of who is squeamish around blood."

Beth looked up from the needle hovering over her arm and smiled, Somehow, he makes all of this bearable. "Tell me when."

"Already done." Beth looked down. The syringe was empty and he was holding gauze over the puncture. "Beth…" Mick waited for her to look up at him again. "Stay in crowded places. Don't talk to strangers. And come straight back here."

"Yes, Dad," Beth said sarcastically. She knew how to take care of herself. But she understood his concern. She and Josef had almost died earlier.

"Don't call me that, it sounds wrong. I am having a hard time convincing myself that our relationship is not child molesting. I mean, I rescued you as a child, watched you grow up and have acted as a guardian for more than 22 years. Calling me 'Dad'…well that just makes it harder."

Beth smiled. She hadn't really thought of that. She didn't think of Mick as a father figure, and she knew Mick didn't see himself that way either. She had only been reintroduced to Mick in the last few months. To her, his involvement in her life was nonexistent, something lurking in the shadows. "Guess, I didn't think about it. But if you like, I won't call you dad anymore, even in a joking manner."

"Thanks. I am going back to my place to clean-up and change clothes. Then I'll see if I can dig up any more info on the Agency. I'll pick up some groceries, so you can come stay there tonight." Mick waited with baited breath, for her answer. Was it too soon to ask her to stay the night?

Beth's smiled widened, growing mischievous. "Why?"

Mick stumbled for an answer. "W-well, it is safer than your place right now and I thought you… you might want a change of location?" Mick swallowed thickly.

Beth was going to crack a rib to keep from laughing, "Okay, I'll see you later… Grandpa."

Beth sauntered away, dying to look back and see Mick's reaction, but knowing that that it would ruin her dramatic exit line.

Mick stood there. What did she call me?—Well, I guess that is more accurate than dad—No. No don't think about it. She was playing with you. Minx.

Beth stumbled into the living room, laughing so hard she couldn't breathe. She knew Mick was watching her as she walked away and she had held off laughing until she was safely out of sight, around the corner.

"I'm glad you find wasting my precious time funny," Josef said, watching Beth double up on the couch trying to regain her composure.

"Sorry… sorry," Beth gasped through the laughing fit.

"You said five minutes. It's been fifteen," Josef said. Beth continued to laugh. Josef glared at her. "You find torturing him funny? So you are a sadist… maybe you will make a good vampire."

This last statement ruined Beth's mood and she stopped laughing. "I am not a sadist."

"Taking pleasure in other's pain. I believe that is the definition of sadist."

Beth huffed in response, stood up and said, "Let's get going."

"Exactly what I wanted to do ten minutes ago," Josef said, standing. He walked out of the room leaving Beth to roll her eyes and follow him to the garage.

I wonder what car we will take?

"I need you to roll your sleeve up, sir," The kind-looking nurse said. Josef unbuttoned his cuff and started to roll up his shirtsleeve.

Josef and Beth had made it to the courthouse, waited forever, and finally were at the blood drawing part. Beth looked at the nurse's needle questionably. She really wished she could get out of giving blood, but Mick and Josef had said that it might help in her turning.

"Mrs. Konstan… Mrs. Konstan."

Beth looked at the nurse. "Sorry, still haven't gotten used to the name yet."

The woman smiled, knowingly. "That's fine dear, let me see your arm."

Beth offered her arm. The woman picked up the needle and looked at Beth's arm. She stopped, staring at the puncture wounds. Beth got nervous. What is she thinking? Does it look like I'm a drug addict? Why can't she just draw the blood?

Josef came to her rescue. "Those are from the IV," he explained to the nurse.

"IV? Have you been in the hospital, recently?" the nurse asked.

"Ah, no… I had a transfusion, but I am fine now," Beth replied.

"If you had a blood transfusion, I can't draw your blood right now," the nurse explained.

"No, I had the transfusion, so I have blood now. I won't faint." Beth flattened the hair over her neck. She had combed it so it fell over Mick's bite marks, but the nurse's questioning was making her nervous.

"It's not that, dearie. You have someone else's blood in your system and it would defeat the purpose of the test, to test the other person's blood. You will have to come back in eight weeks." Beth groaned. Eight weeks? she wanted this to be done now.

"Can you still do mine?" Josef asked.

"Yes, as long as you haven't had a transfusion," the nurse said. Josef shook his head and offered the woman his arm.

She took it, inspecting it for any puncture wounds, then sunk the needle into his elbow.

"Owe!" Josef exclaimed. Apparently the nurse was not as good at drawing blood as Mick.

"Don't move," the woman ordered, but the warning came too late. Josef's wiggling had caused the needle to shift.

"Then hit the vein next time," Josef grumbled to himself.

Ten minutes later, Beth and Josef were leaving the courthouse. Josef hadn't stopped complaining about that 'butcher' of a nurse. Beth could already see a bruise forming.

"Well, at least you got your blood work done. I have to wait eight weeks," Beth protested.

"No you don't." Josef replied. "I couldn't go to the vamp doctor directly because of my situation. Having been a vampire, but not any longer would raise questions if they saw me. My blood work has to be anonymous, but you can go to him with Mick. The doctor can check your blood right there because you are, and always have been, human."

Oh, yeah, Beth remembered now why they were going through all this trouble.

"Besides," Josef continued, "I plan to have our marriage annulled before eight weeks from now."

Now I humbly beg for reviews!!!!