Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Moonlight, anything that occurs in this fanfic from the show, or any of its characters. I do, however, own this plot and any characters I decide to throw in. Yayz!

Mick stepped aside, allowing Rory to enter the apartment. Rory sighed as she walked in. She had hoped she'd be able to make it back before Mick woke up and discovered she was gone. She hadn't anticipated having to face him like this.

Mick practically slammed the door shut behind her and walked over into the kitchen area, leaning with his hands on the counter with his back to Rory as she sat silently on the couch. She was instantly reminded of a teenager caught breaking curfew, and she had to fight the urge to burst out laughing at this thought.

After taking a few deep breaths to try to calm himself, Mick poured two glasses of blood and brought them into the living room. He handed one to Rory, who muttered her thanks. He sat down across from her and, letting out one last deep breath, spoke as calmly as he could.

"Where were you? I was worried." Mick said, letting genuine concern show in his features.

"Why?" Rory asked. "It's not like I'm a fourteen year old girl or anything. I'm a big girl, in case you haven't noticed."

"I know…" Mick said, clearly trying to keep his voice steady. "But with a hunter running around L.A., the streets aren't safe for you. Besides, Jeff is still on the loose…and something tells me he's not finished coming after you." He paused, trying to make her see. "It's my responsibility to protect you. As a more experienced vampire and as your friend." He sighed. "After you ran off the night Beth was attacked, I swore to myself that I'd protect you. You're still learning, not to mention that at this stage, you're very vulnerable. You aren't aware of the world of dangers that awaits you now that you're a vamp. If I let something happen to you, I couldn't live with myself knowing that I failed to protect you." The room was silent for a moment before Mick continued. "You never answered my question. Where were you?"

Rory sipped her glass of blood, clearly trying to draw out the time before she gave an answer. She thought about lying to him, but she decided against it. He'd probably know if she was lying. And anyway, she knew she had to stand up for what she believed in. And she believed in Seth.

"I went out with Seth." She said. Mick's expression turned dangerous. It looked as though he were exerting all of his self-control in an attempt not to vamp out.

"YOU DID WHAT?" He asked, jumping to his feet, sounding more and more like a father who had forbidden his daughter to date. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA THE DANGER YOU JUST PUT NOT ONLY YOURSELF IN, BUT ME, AND JOSEF, AND THE ENITRE VAMP COMMUNITY?" He had explained to her already the threat Seth could potentially pose to the vampire community. He thought he had gotten through to her. Apparently, he hadn't.

Rory rose to her feet as well. "Look, Mick. He doesn't know, okay? He's not a hunter!"

"How do you know?!" Mick asked, trying desperately to contain his anger. Rory could feel her own temper rising.

"I would think that the fact he hasn't put a silver bullet in my head yet is some indication that he doesn't know!" She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "God! You sound like some overprotective father!"

"And you're acting like some stupid reckless teenager that's getting herself way in over her head! He could be dangerous!"

"But he's NOT! And no matter what you do, you can't stop me from seeing him. It's MY CHOICE! And damn it all, I refuse to believe he's anything but a kind, gentle and caring person. You have no control over who I choose to date, Mick. And whether you like it or not, I'm going to keep seeing him!" With that, Rory downed the contents of her half-empty glass, shot Mick a last dirty look, and stormed off upstairs and into the room she had occupied for the last few weeks.

Mick ran a hand through his hair and then, his anger getting the bet of him, flipped the heavy coffee table sitting in front of him clear across the room, smashing it to bits on the opposite wall. Then he stormed off into his own room, stripping quickly and climbing into his own freezer. He couldn't help but think that Rory was extraordinarily like Beth. When she wanted something, she went for it, damn the consequences. But the consequences of Rory dating Seth could go beyond her. They could affect the entire population of vamps within the vicinity of L.A. But as long as he had no proof that Seth was indeed a hunter, he had no justifiable reason to keep Seth away. And he couldn't very well explain all of this to Josef. There was a chance that Seth was simply an innocent party, and Josef would want Seth killed regardless, for security purposes. Mick couldn't let that happen. He would not have the death of an innocent man weighing on his conscience for all of eternity. If, in fact, Seth really wasn't the hunter. As he drifted off into an uneasy sleep, Mick came to the conclusion that, however he looked at the situation, he found himself stuck between a rock and a hard place.

AN: Okay, really short chapter, I know. Shortest chapter I've written, as a matter of fact. But don't hold it against me. The next chapter will be longer, I promise. And a lot's going to happen next chapter, too. (Evil Smile) So I guess you'll all just have to keep reading to find out what the next major plot twits are.

Luvz, Cat.