Radio Waves (A/N: I had this idea weeks ago, and I read one of VampireReader's fics and it just cemented it for me. Fate. So thanks to her, and no thanks at all to FFN who still are not forgiven for their EPIC FAIL.)
Two vamps walk into a bar... Okay this sounds like the beginning of a bad joke. But that is what happened, two vamps walked into Jack Rabbit's. She could smell them. She could also smell their hostility toward each other. They reeked with it. Both dressed well, business suits. Both were dark in complexion, eastern European she guessed. She knew, just knew, that if they didn't leave, something untoward was going to happen.
The bar was practically empty, which was a blessing. She was the only staff working, and it was late. Hopefully the three human patrons would leave before the vamps got violent.
The moments trickled past, and as the humans were getting up to leave the vamps began talking more loudly.
Bar fights were no uncommon occurrence, so the humans left without a glance.
Charlie breathed a sigh of relief at this, it was to be short lived however. The next moment they were at each other's throats. Charlie had been listening, apparently this argument was over property, no that was wrong, it was over territory. And it seemed such an insignificant thing, that she assumed they had just been waiting for an excuse. That this fight had been brewing for a while.
They didn't spare her a glance. They knew what she was. And they were preoccupied.
She understood. No time for pleasantries when you're trying to kill someone.
Her best bet she figured, was to go do inventory, and wait for them to kill each other. No way was she getting in the middle of that fight. While she was in the back, she called Mick to ask what standard operating procedure was in this situation.
"Hi Mick, it's Charlie," she began.
"Hi," he replied. "How are you?"
"I'm good. But I called with a specific question in mind," she replied cordially.
"Shoot."
"Look, there are two vamps trying to tear each other apart at the bar I work at, and I was just wondering what is the responsible thing for me to do?" she asked calmly.
He coughed in surprise. "Well, let them fight it out, but when they're done, call the Cleaner,"he replied.
"Okay, text me his number."
"Her," Mick laughed. "Will do. Be careful."
"Thanks," Charlie said, hanging up.
She when she was done in back and came back out to the bar, she wasn't surprised to see only one vamp laying lifeless on the floor, and the other vamp no where to be found.
She called the number Mick had texted to her.
"What is your location?" a woman asked.
Charlie gave her the address.
"Ten minutes," the woman replied, and the call disconnected.
She busied herself cleaning up a bit before they got there.
She was a little taken aback by the three women in full black leather, but when one began to drag the body, she picked up the guys feet. The woman looked at her speculatively before nodding.
They carried the body to a nondescript black van, and when they got back Charlie noticed that the other two had meticulously cleaned the bar.
"What's your name?" one of them asked, tall with black hair pulled back severely.
"Charlie Brandt," she replied.
"We've never seen you before, you handled yourself very well."
"Thanks," she said shyly.
One of the other women, red headed and petite, nodded. "Good luck."
"Thank you," Charlie said as they left.
She didn't really think anything more of their visit, but several days later, she got a cryptic message. "Pier 17, midnight," said a woman's voice.
Charlie almost didn't go, but curiosity got the better of her.
Arriving at the pier, she once again saw the three cleaners.
With no preamble at all, the blonde, who Charlie had actually never heard talk said, "We were very impressed by you. It won't surprise you that we looked into your background a bit. No sire to speak of, and you've cut ties with Josef Koston. Is that correct?"
Charlie nodded uncomfortably.
The blonde just nodded quickly. "We want to offer you a job."
"Huh?" Charlie said.
"Like we said," said the brunette, "You were calm and thorough, and not afraid to get your hands dirty. We'll expect your answer tomorrow night," she concluded giving Charlie a card with only a phone number on it.
Charlie really didn't need that long. She decided it was more interesting than wrangling drunk jerks. She called Papi to let him know that she had the opportunity to do research at the school, and that she'd have to quit the bar, for the time being at least. He chuckled understandingly.
She hated lying to him, but saying she was cleaning up bodies was somehow less believable.
The call to the Cleaners was interesting. Whoever she spoke to, she didn't yet know them well enough to guess which one was on the phone with her, sounded so smugly certain that Charlie was calling to say yes. Charlie did of course, but she hated to be predictable.
Marshall was ecstatic when he heard. Not only was he intrigued by her very vague job description, but he was there when several outfits consisting only of black leather and vinyl arrived. She tried not to look at his expression, and just went to hang them up.
While she was in the other room, he had poured her a glass of blood, and himself a glass of scotch. Handing her the glass, he gave a toast.
"Let's hear it for a new job that lets you spend more time with me," he chuckled, raising his glass.
"Ein prosit! (A toast!)" she replied in German. She watched laughingly as he downed the glass, and she sipped hers.
Just then, Beth breezed in. "I know I'm late, I was tied up," she said grabbing a glass and pouring some of Marshall's scotch in both hers and Marshall's now empty glass. "What are we toasting?" she asked.
Charlie's nose perked up. "Why do you smell like Josef?" she asked accusingly.
"I do? Really? I figured I'd smell like Mick," Beth said.
"You always smell like Mick, but today I smell Josef too," Charlie ground out.
"I saw him earlier," Beth replied nonchalantly.
"Damn it Beth! Stop. Okay, just please stop," Charlie begged.
Beth kissed the top of her head gently, "I just needed someone to yell at. That's all. Now toast to what..."
"Der Gemutlichkeit!" (A/N: No literal English tranlation, but it expresses the ideals of happiness, blessedness, closeness, beauty) Marshall said quietly, reaching for Charlie's hand. She just took his hand, and smiled sadly.
After Beth's scolding, Josef stewed until he could stand it no longer. He got into his car and drove to Charlie's apartment.
He practiced what he would say on the way over. Something along the lines of, "I'm an idiot. I miss you. I think I am in love with you. And if you don't feel the same way, I'm gonna kill Beth." Yeah, that was about right.
He was ready for the hard sell. He knew he'd have to convince her that there was no one else. Hadn't been in quite some time. And yet, he felt reasonably assured that if Beth was right, she would forgive him for acting like said idiot.
Walking to her door, he took an unnecessary breath before looking into room past the sheer curtains. What he saw made him want to double over in agony.
Charlie was sitting on the couch next to a young man. His head in her lap as she stroked his hair. The boy caught Charlie's hand and kissed it tenderly.
Having seen enough, Josef turned away.
Radio Waves by Eli Young Band
Ever since I met you
I've never been the same
Never been a woman
Made me feel this way
I know days are harder
And I know things have changed
But baby goodbye you know
I just can't say
Radio waves
Can you hear me singing out
I've got something to say
Can't you hear I need you now
Calling on the two of us
So we can be saved
Listen to my radio waves
Clear across the city
You're lying in your bed
Here I am regretting every word unsaid
The only way I know
To help you understand
To say what's going on the only way I can