Disclaimer: Moonlight and characters don't belong to me; I'm simply a fan having fun with the characters.
Mick hurried towards Beth's cubicle, hoping she hadn't gone out to cover a story. He smiled as he recalled their last phone conversation.
"Mick! Got lost trying to find Buzzwire? Or do you miss me already?"
He laughed. "And hello to you too. Actually, I'm calling to let you know that I can't stop by after all."
"And why's that?"
The disappointment in her voice, though slight, thrilled Mick. Stop it, he told himself. Things between them were already complicated enough as it was. Feelings like this wouldn't help matters; it would only make him want her more, something he couldn't afford to have happen. Besides, she had Josh, her very human, very real boyfriend.
"I just got a tip from Josef that I need to follow," he explained. "But I'll come by this afternoon… if it's okay with you."
"I'll hold you to it," she replied, the smile back in her voice.
"I don't know how long this will take though," he warned.
"I can wait. But don't keep me waiting too long or I just might answer the call of all the crimes out there begging to be covered."
"Your wish is my command," he teased.
As he had hoped, he was rewarded with her laughter. "If only…"
He was still smiling when he reached Beth's desk, but to his surprise, it was occupied by her scruffy-haired cameraman who, upon seeing Mick, sat up straighter.
Mick nodded to him in acknowledgement. "Beth around?"
"Actually… no. That's why I'm here. She wanted me to give you this." He handed Mick a clear, CD jewel case. "Copy of the footage from yesterday's theft."
Mick took the case and slid it into his coat. "Thank you…"
"Steve."
"Steve. Where is Beth? Is she okay?"
"Oh, yeah! She's fine. Left with Josh about half an hour ago."
"Josh?" Mick repeated hollowly. He felt a pang of jealousy. Even though Josh was a good man. Even though Josh would never endanger Beth the way he did.
"They had a fight yesterday apparently. He came by and asked her to take the rest of the day off. He wanted to take her to dinner, make it up to her."
"I see." The phone conversation flashed through his mind again. "I'll hold you to it." … "I can wait…"
Steve rose. "Sorry man." He patted Mick's arm as he brushed past him.
This is good, Mick reminded himself. He knew that she and Josh had been having trouble for awhile now… of course she would want to patch things up with him. Good for her. But he couldn't stop his mind from conjuring images of what Josh and Beth might be doing for half an afternoon and an entire evening. And he certainly couldn't quell the voice in his head that whispered that she had chosen Josh over him.