Moonlight – Virtual Season 2
Episode One – Secrets
Rating: PG
Writer: Misfit
Beta'd: Writers Group

VS2 Writers Group includes PhotoSue, CIChen, Sunny, Misfit, Evilous, Osage Phantom, mxwwmickd, Night Owl, PhantomPhoenix and Candomom.

Disclaimer: Moonlight and its characters are owned by CBS and Warner Brothers. All use of Moonlight and its characters in this venue are for entertainment purposes and completed solely for the pleasure of Moonlight lovers. The original storylines and episodes have been created by the VS2 Writers and Discussion Group. We hope you enjoy.

The episode will be posted in three chapters.


Vampires depend on secrets, its what has kept us around over the centuries undetected. Our secrets protect not only ourselves but the community, our loved ones, our friends.

But sometimes our secrets work against us, making our lives impossible to interact with the mortal world, causing us to become the hunted.

Secrets are like double-edged swords, cutting just as deeply from both ends.

Secrets

Beth slipped her robe on and pulled the towel from her wet hair, quickly combing the tangled locks. She smiled softly at her reflection in the foggy mirror.

"Tonight . . . Last night . . . this morning, the sun not even above the horizon yet and . . . Mick loves me."

She opened the bathroom door and padded slowly through the bedroom, pausing in the French doors.

Mick turned from the counter, a large cup of coffee in his hand. He smiled warmly, lifting the cup to her. "I thought you might need this."

Beth accepted the cup, taking a sip as he continued to smile at her. "What are you smiling about?"

Mick trailed a finger down her cheek, lifting her chin to kiss her softly. "I just spent the night with the woman I love. That's a pretty good reason to smile, don't you think?"

Beth pushed a wayward curl back from his brow, smiling in return. "Yeah, I think it is."

She sat the coffee cup down and wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her head against the open neck of his Henley. Mick's arms encircled her and she closed her eyes, snuggling closer.

"I need to get ready for work. Talbot's going to be impossible today, with Emma escaping and all." She rubbed her face against the crisp furring of his chest with a sigh. "I'm afraid its going to be a long day."

Giving Mick a quick kiss, she stepped back, reluctantly. "You're probably ready for your freezer, aren't you?"

Mick glanced at the brightening kitchen window, giving her a lopsided smile. "Yeah, well, it is past my bedtime. I should probably go."

He reached for his duster, still draped over the back of the couch where he had tossed it. "Why don't you call me when you get off today and we'll go do something?"

"Like what?"

"Oh, I don't know. Something fun."

"Okay, it's a date."

Mick pulled the duster on, his face serious as he stepped close again. Drawing her into a tight embrace, he kissed her thoroughly, leaving her breathless as he turned to the door. "See you tonight."

Beth raised a shaky hand to her lips, her eyes wide, her voice breathy from the passion of his kiss. "Yeah, see you tonight."

MLMLMLMLMLMLML

Beth sat before her monitor, her fingers frozen above the keys, a dreamy expression on her face.

Reclined against Mick's chest, she smiled as the very unordinary sound of Mick laughing vibrated through her. She turned her head, fascinated by his smile. "And you were how old when you discovered girls were made differently than boys?"

Mick looked down at her, his eyes shining. "I'm pretty sure I was six. I think Mary Alice was seven." He chuckled again. "After we got her drawers untangled from the tree branch, there wasn't much left to hold them up. She just slipped out of them and I was literally face to . . a . . bottom with something that looked nothing like me."

Beth giggled and he raised an eyebrow. "Are you laughing with me or at me?"

She giggled again. "Both."

He moved from beneath her to cover her with his body so quickly she burst into giggles again. "With you, I was laughing with you."

Mick slowly lowered his lips to hers. "I thought so."

"Beth!"

Beth started, her fingers slamming the keyboard. "What?"

Ben Talbot sat on the corner of her desk, an amused smile lighting his face. "You okay? You looked a million miles away."

Beth blushed. "Oh, no, sorry. I didn't sleep well last night. I guess I kind of zoned out for a minute." She quickly took a sip of her lukewarm coffee. "What's up?"

Ben handed her a sheet of paper. "I have a couple individuals from an ongoing investigation I want you to look at for me. Do a background check, employment, arrest records, anything interesting you can dig up." He nodded at the paper. "See what you can find."

Beth glanced at the paper. Guillermo Gasol and Chance Whitmore. Guillermo? "Sure, I'll see what I can find."

MLMLMLMLMLMLML

Beth unlocked Mick's office door, closing it quietly behind her. Setting her purse carefully on his desk, she tiptoed into his living room, pausing at the foot of the stairs. Hesitating briefly, she bit her lip and creeped slowly up the stairs. She moved quietly along the hall until the gray door loomed in front of her.

Taking a deep breath, she placed her hand on the knob, only to withdraw it quickly. "I can't do this. I'm not ready and I'm pretty sure he's not ready for it, either."

She cleared her throat slightly. "Mick?" She tapped the door twice with a knuckle and pressed her ear to the door. "Mick?"

Inside his freezer, Mick stirred restlessly, Beth's voice calling to him from the distance. His eyes opened suddenly, and he looked quickly at the door.

Beth tapped a little louder, her ear still pressed to the door. "Mick?" Hearing a click and a soft whoosh of air, she drew back as Mick finally answered. "Beth?"

"Yeah. I need to talk to you."

"Okay, uh, give me a minute."

Beth moved away a couple steps, waiting. The door opened suddenly, and a sleepy-eyed Mick was there, hastily dressed in his silk pajama bottoms, his robe hanging open. "What's wrong?"

"Talbot gave me a couple names to do some digging on and one of them is Guillermo. I thought I should let you know."

"Guillermo? Why would he be looking at Guillermo?" His brow furrowed in puzzlement.

"He didn't say. The other name is Chance Whitmore."

"Beth, Chance is a vampire, too." Mick moved into the hall, pulling the gray door shut behind him. "What kind of investigation is Talbot doing?"

"I don't know. He said to dig around, see what I could find and he might have a couple more names for me tomorrow."

"I better go with you. Questioning Guillermo shouldn't be a problem, but Chance could be uncooperative."

"Okay, I'll . . I'll wait downstairs for you to . . to get dressed." She smiled, turning away. "Though may I say your current outfit is very sexy."

Mick smiled after her as she moved away down the hall. "Thanks."

MLMLMLMLMLMLML

Guillermo crossed his arms, leaning back against the exam table. "Why would Talbot be investigating me?"

Mick pursed his lips, glancing at Beth. "That's what we were hoping you could tell us."

Beth handed Guillermo the sheet of paper Talbot had given her. "Talbot asked me to look at you and Chance Whitmore. Background, criminal record, employment, anything peculiar."

Guillermo handed the paper back to her, amused. "I don't have a criminal record, Beth, and I've worked here as Guillermo Gasol for ten years. Before that I was Alejandro Vartan and I retired after 25 years under the old county coroner." He smiled at Mick. "I share my peculiarity with Mick, you know, the vampire thing." He raised his hands and shrugged. "I can't help you."

Mick quirked an eyebrow, his hand on Beth's back to guide her to the door. "Alright. Thanks, Guillermo."

"Mick?" Guillermo stopped them at the door. "I'd keep a close eye on Beth around Chance. He still has a way with the human women."

Mick looked at Beth, his humor gone. "Yeah, I know."

MLMLMLMLMLMLML

Mick stopped the Benz across the street from what appeared to be a very popular night club, judging from the line of people waiting for admittance. He stopped Beth with a hand on her arm as she started to get out. "Remember what I told you. You do not leave my side."

Beth nodded, not sure what all the fuss was about. "Okay, I'll be your shadow, I promise."

Mick looked at her doubtfully. "I mean it, Beth. Chance is . . .well let's just say he's legendary for his way with women. I don't want you alone with him."

Beth smiled. "Are you jealous?"

"No, I just know Chance. You might know him, too, once you meet him."

Beth touched his cheek, her smile possessive. "The only vampire I want to have their way with me is you. Don't worry."

They threaded their way through the slow traffic toward the club entrance. Beth looked at the long line worriedly. "Storm is the hottest club on the circuit right now. How are we going to get in? I'm not dressed for clubbing."

Mick brushed her hair back over her shoulder, his easy smile one of perpetual coolness. "We're going to walk right in." He grabbed her hand, heading straight for the door and the large, muscular man turning the hopefuls away. "Hey, Terry. Is Chance back in town?"

Terry turned, a wide smile lighting his dark face. "Mick? Mick!" He shook his hand happily. "I haven't seen you in ages, mon." He looked past Mick at Beth. "And this is your lovely wife?"

Beth giggled, shaking the massive hand. "No, we're just dating."

Terry threw his head back, laughing loudly. "Dating? Oh, man!" He couldn't stop laughing. "Chance is here. Go on in."

The club throbbed with a techno remix of "Riders on the Storm" by the Doors and Mick kept a tight hold on Beth's hand as they pushed through the crowd to the bar. Mick could see Chance holding court in the upper level and he drew Beth in front of him, directing her gaze up. "There's Chance."

Beth's mouth dropped open and she looked back at Mick, not believing whom she was seeing. "You . . . it's not . . . that's Jim Morrison!"

Mick lowered his mouth to her ear, making sure she could hear him above the music. "He's been Chance Whitmore for the last 20 years or so. I don't think Talbot is looking for him." He pushed Beth's chin gently to close her mouth. "Let's get out of here."

Mick met Morrison's gaze across the vast room and Morrison grinned back, pulling a barely clad blonde onto his lap, beckoning for Mick to bring Beth up. Mick frowned, giving a negative shake of his head and turned Beth back toward the door. "You can tell Talbot that Chance Whitmore is still in Paris according to his club staff."

Beth looked back to find Morrison still watching them. "Uh, yeah, my report can say he's in Paris." She smiled at Mick, pushing her way to the door. "You're right. Let's get out of here."