This is my first attempt at fan fiction, so I would love to hear feedback! I know I posted another story prior to this, but I've actually been working on this one for awhile now. There are several more chapters ready to go; I'll post them as soon as I can.

Disclaimer: Moonlight and characters don't belong to me; I'm simply a fan having fun with the characters

Beth Turner sighed as she wrapped up her live report. Some days, her job drove her insane. Though considering the lack of any major crimes lately, Beth had to admit that she was lucky to be here. She was almost certain that Maureen had been on the verge of sending her to cover a high-profile photoshoot, probably in the hopes that there would be a repeat of the black crystal incident. Somehow, Beth doubted the likelihood of that happening. The black crystal incident had been… unique. She should know; she had experienced it firsthand.

Beth gave one final, sweeping glance at the crime scene, though it hardly deserved to be called as such. There was no yellow tape to incite the curiosity of civilians, no noisy hustle of reporters scrambling to get the scoop. In fact, there were only two patrol cars and had it not been for the smashed convenience store window nearby, Beth would have thought they were off-duty. So much for her big break of the week. After all, petty thievery—even a string of seemingly related ones—could only be embellished to such a degree.

"Beth."

Mick! Beth recognized his voice immediately and turned towards his voice to see him approaching. For some reason she could not fathom, she was delighted to see him here. "Stocking up on human necessities?" she teased, by way of greeting.

Mick laughed. "You don't know how much I wish that were true!"

"So what brings you here on such a fair night? Shouldn't you be out doing… doing whatever it is you do?"

Mick raised an eye. "Well, I am a PI and this is a crime scene…"

"You're here on an investigation?" Beth asked incredulously.

"I saw your report."

Briefly, Beth's eyes flickered up to his. For a moment, she had thought he had meant that he had come to see her. But he had simply paused in his explanation, that was all. At least that's what Beth tried to tell herself. Stop looking for hidden messages that aren't there, she chided herself.

"Beth. This story you're covering… I think it may be related to my case."

Beth perked up, all awkward thoughts forgotten. Looked like this story was more than just another dead end after all.

She smiled up at Mick. "Tell me more."

Beth's excitement was infectious, Mick noted as he smiled back at her. He hadn't even told her the details of the case yet but already she was acting as if he had given her a gift.

"For about a week now, I've been looking into the disappearance of a very young girl," Mick began. "Her mother came to me in tears, begging me to find her daughter."

Beth's eyes widened. "You mean kind of like how my mother asked you to find me?"

Mick glanced at her sharply, but her expression was unreadable. It had been almost two weeks since she had confronted him but still, the memory burned vividly in his mind. Too vividly for him to broach the subject—at least not in the way Beth had, cool and collected.

"Why did you hide it?" She tossed the file on the ledge, glancing at him. "Made me think it was in my imagination."

Mick placed his hand on the file, bringing it closer to him without opening it. He didn't need to look down to guess the name on the tab but he did anyway. Anything to avoid looking at Beth.

"You have every right to be angry." What else was he suppose to say? What else could he say?

Her gaze didn't falter. "I'm not angry." Mick looked up then, and she continued, "I found my guardian angel."

Mick half scoffed, half laughed in disbelief. Guardian angel. Right. He had rescued her, yes, but he was far from what she believed him to be. But hearing it from her… hearing it from her, he could almost believe it. He knew that she was waiting for him to respond but he didn't know what to say so he let the silence between them stretch.

Beth seemed to accept that he wouldn't answer so she broke the silence, her voice filled with unshed tears. "I just wish… I just wish he'd talk to me."

In some ways, it would've been easier if she had been angry. He could deal with anger. Anger was a simple, clean-cut emotion. Ugly, yes, but uncomplicated. Part of him had hoped that she would give him that simplicity but a bigger part of him had been glad that she had chosen not to walk away. Instead, the way she had looked at him, the things she had said had been anything but uncomplicated.

"Mick?" Beth pressed, her voice expectant.

Mick hesitated, suddenly confused. Memory overlapped the present, making it hard for him to sort out what she was asking, much less muster an intelligent response. Besides, he couldn't shake the feeling that Beth's question had a hidden level, a question within a question.

"Yes," he answered finally, not sure what else to say, but not sure that his answer had been sufficient. "But this girl, she's only an infant—three months old."

"Three months old?! Who would take an infant?"

"We'll see. But whoever took her left nothing behind. She was taken in the middle of the night and nothing in the house was disturbed. Nothing. Doors, windows—there were no signs that they had been tampered. The police dusted for prints and nothing unusual turned up."

"What about you?"

"There was nothing Beth. I'm telling you, it's as if he walked in the front door and walked back out with her."

"Mick, are you sure she's still alive? You said yourself that you've been working on this case for a week."

"I wasn't until tonight."

"You mean when you saw my report?"

"Yes."

"You think my thief is the guy you're looking for," Beth said slowly, piecing everything together. "It makes sense; all that's ever missing from these heists are baby supplies and mostly diapers and formulas. It all started a little less than a week ago and this girl you're looking for, she was taken…?"

"A little more than a week ago," Mick replied, confirming her suspicion.

Beth started walking towards the convenience store, her quick steps echoing on the pavement. "I didn't think to ask so thoroughly before but someone must have seen something this time. He broke a window. Usually, all he leaves is a mess in the baby aisle but if he broke the front window, someone has to know something or have seen something."

"Beth," Mick called, following her. "Beth, stop. I've already… you know… sniffed around. And I've asked around. That window on the pavement and the mess inside are the only clues he left."

Beth came to a stop and turned back to Mick. She was silent for a moment. "So what are we going to do?"

"Right now? You go home and get some rest. I'll go and talk to Anna again. See if I missed anything."

Beth looked ready to argue but seemed to decide against it. "I'll do a little research. See if anything stands out. Keep me updated."

"I will."

"Good night, Mick."

"Good night, Beth." He breathed in her lingering scent and watched her disappear into her car before he turned and walked into the night. It was time to speed things up.