Chapter 52

Since Danielle came back from her 'girl talk' with Jean she had been flushed, unable to look him in the face, and quite. As Danielle and Coop made their way home she asked him to stop at the pharmacy, insisting she wanted to go in alone and would be right back. Coop waited in the car until she came out with a brown bag and they were off once more.

"Your place or mine?" Coop asked making sure he got took the right turn to get to whichever place she would be more comfortable at.

Danielle looked over at him, "Mine…if you don't mind."

Coop looked over smiling, "Of course not."

*****

Danielle went straight for the bathroom with her package stashing the small box under some towels in the cabinet. She flushed the toilet and came back out carrying the bag, setting the bottle of Pepto-Bismol on the counter along with a new thing of lip balm.

Coop looked at her concerned she wasn't feeling well again a look that didn't go unnoticed. Danielle looked away under his watchful and worried eye, "I'm fine just had to pee."

"You hungry?"

"A little, but I was going to take a shower."

Coop wound her up in his arms and kissed her forehead feeling her tense then relax before turning her towards the bathroom, "Go on, I'll fix us something small."

Danielle walked into the bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind her. She turned on the shower and pulled the box out opening it and reading the directions for the simple test. A pregnancy test…she had been told by a vampire that she was pregnant and that she could hear the heartbeat but she had to do this. She pulled her pants down and took the test.

Now it was time to wait. Danielle put the cap on the end and left it on the sink edge and finished stripping; stepping under the warm mist. When she finished her shower she wrapped a soft towel around her and took her time wrapping her hair in one as well ignoring the stick on the sink. After she was dried and dressed in her shorts and tank top she took a deep breath and picked up the stick on the sinks edge…

Pregnant.

No mistaking that, clear as day with digital word, she was pregnant. Her mind raced with questions, questions without answers. How? What will Coop think? Does he want children? Do I? What kind of mother would I make? We're always careful how did this happen? He's been so great through this all, he's always been there for me…but this…Will this be the last straw?

Knowing she had to tell Coop, maybe she could at least find out what he thought; if she would have to face this alone. With that in mind she took her hair from the towel and ran a wide tooth comb through it quickly before clipping it back. Looking in the mirror she took a few deep breathes before walking out of the bathroom.

*****

Mick drove Beth back to the office to pick up her car and then followed her home. He thought back to what Josef had said about letting the law handle this. He was glad that after Carl had left Josef had explained it was just to buy them some time. He assured him that Zac would suffer, if the law happened to do their job and get him then so be it but he would pay. Maybe the law would get him; Carl seemed like a competent man, Beth thought highly of him. Even if the feelings Carl feelings for him didn't reciprocate, he would have to talk to Beth about him and find out why he seemed so hostel towards him.

Mick parked beside Beth in their usual spots and jumped out opening her door for her before she had even grabbed her papers from the passenger side seat. Beth just shook her head as she got out welcoming his arm around her as they made their way to the elevator.

Inside Mick shrugged out of his leather jacket he had been wearing and tossed it over the back of one of the chairs on the way to the kitchen. Beth followed him setting her purse and papers on the table; she went about grabbing two glasses handing Mick one for his blood, the other for the wine Mick had in hand for her.

They worked so well together, and could sense when the other was off. Mick got that sense now, that Beth had something on her mind. When she pulled his hand in hers towards the couch he knew what it was about. Mick sat down pulling her to sit with her back pressed against his chest his arm draped over her breathing in her scent.

"What's on your mind?"

Beth took a sip of her wine letting her hand trace patterns on his leg as she spoke, "I know we have a lot going on right now but...we need to talk about the cure."

Mick knew it was coming and he still had no answers. "I haven't had a chance to talk to Josef yet about other possible options."

"But if there's no other options…"

"Beth…"

"Mick please. I want you to take it either way. I can handle you feeding fresh. I know its nothing more than that. And I was thinking….if you bit me first—"

"NO!" Mick growled. Sensing Beth tense he set his glass down and ran his hands along her shoulders, "I'm sorry. I just…I can't risk that. I couldn't live with myself if I hurt you and I don't know how pleasurable my bit will be when I revert."

Beth understood and turned her head kissing his neck, "Okay…last then. If you drink from me last, I want to be a part of it, to be there with you through it. Just like you will be there with me when its time."

Beth turned her eyes to his letting him see how true and deep her love ran and he couldn't help himself but to kiss her. First her lips, then nose, eyes, until Mick pulled back with a final kiss to her lips his own eyes watery.

"I might not have to use a freshie at all. I was going to talk to Josef see if freshly bottled would work."

"Do you think it will work?"

"I don't know but it's worth a shot."

"Why ask…if we keep trying to talk this into a perfect little box it's never going to happen. We should just do it, dive right in and deal with it together, that's how we do everything else." Beth looked up giving Mick a grin.

Beth could see he was uncertain, and turned to sit on her knees facing him setting her glass down on the floor. "Look you said it yourself, right now we're letting the law handle Zac. They should have him in custody soon right. Then he will go through a trial while Josef does whatever it is Josef is doing. Even if he makes bail he'll be watched by both the cops and David's team. There's nothing more you can really do you said it yourself, at least nothing you need your vampire skills for."

"Yes but Beth…I want to spend time with you as a human. You are going to be working a lot right now…and I don't want to share you."

Beth smiled, "Okay…then we wait a day or two. I've been gathering information on the guy since Coop came to us." Beth caressed the side of his face letting her thumb trace his lips, "Besides we can stock up on food."

Mick captured her hand in his turning to kiss her palm, "Okay."

*****

To Be Continued…

Evilous