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

"Mick, Mick, Mick." Josef raised a frosted, half-filled glass in greeting. "You're home. I was starting to worry."

Mick rolled his eyes as he shrugged out of his coat. "You know, you're always saying that; maybe you should try calling one of these days. I hear it's what all parents are doing," Mick suggested with raised eyes.

Josef smirked. "You're a big boy, Mick. I know my worries are unfounded."

Mick dropped into a seat across from Josef. "So to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit tonight?"

"What? A vampire can't get a little lonely and drop in to visit a friend?"

"Not usually, no."

"You know, in the old days, hosts fed and entertained their guests before interrogating them."

Mick eyed the glass in Josef's hand pointedly. "You're fed."

"Hmm. Sad but true," Josef grunted, giving his glass a little waggle. "Seriously, man. I don't know how you live on this retail stuff!"

"I manage somehow," Mick replied good-naturedly, used to Josef's snide comments regarding his feeding habits. "So out with it; what's up?"

"Young ones these days… not an ounce of patience!" Josef muttered in mock disgust. "Alright, alright. I came by to warn you—we have a bit of a situation."

"Ah. My favorite words."

"There's been an increase in vamp carelessness," Josef explained disdainfully. "Now so far, the cops don't suspect a thing—we've been able to get the messes cleaned up, keep them quiet. But if you see any of these punks, be sure to murder them for me."

"Are we talking feral vamps?"

"Some are, some aren't. If you ask me, it looks like a bunch of first feedings."

Mick thought about Shane, remembering the wild look in his eyes, the desperation in his movements. Mick didn't think he was feral—Gilly, and no doubt, countless store owners, would be dead if he was. And he wasn't newly turned either—he hadn't reacted to the smell of fresh blood shed when he had thrown a man into a shelf; he had kept his control, control that could only be acquired through experience and practice. Was he trying to sire?

"How long has this been going on?" Mick asked, with some trepidation.

"Few weeks actually. Two, bordering on three."

Mick stared at him incredulously. "And you wait until now to tell me?"

"I thought we had it under control."

"Josef, you're a terrible informant! Beth has made herself more useful and she's a mortal!"

"Keep the insults coming why don't you? It sure makes a vampire feel warm all over," Josef responded lazily. "But hey, if I had known you and your girlfriend were so interested, I would've let you know sooner."

"Josef…" Mick warned exasperatedly.

"What?"

"Beth and I are just friends. She's not my girlfriend, okay?"

"Whatever you say. But remember, she did shoot a man for you, fed you when you were near death, came to you when she was high on black crystal…"

Mick groaned inwardly. He rose to get himself a glass of blood; it was going to be a long night.