"Hello?"

"Beth, its me." There was an awkward pause at the other end of the line, and Mick felt the need to clarify. "It's Mick."

A sigh worked its way across the distance, and he found himself wondering if calling Beth had really been the right thing to do. They certainly hadn't left things on the best of terms, and most of that was his doing. Yet Beth had gone to Josef when she was in trouble. Even then, she had turned to the vampires. He would expect this of her, but most days found himself wondering why she put herself through it at all. Now, she just sounded tired, and resigned.

"I know. I just wasn't expecting a call from you."

"It's good to hear your voice. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to call with news." Mick knew that this was a half truth, and suspected that Beth was aware that he'd been specifically avoiding making a call back home, instead goading Josef to do all of the talking whilst he paced impatiently in the background, chewing on his nails.

"Was there something you needed from me? Or has something happened.?" He could just imagine her now, massaging small circles into the lids of her eyes as she listened to him talk. A testament to how long he had been watching over her.

"Oh no, nothing's happened since Josef called you I just-" Mick paused, drawing a deep inward breath of sea air as he walked slowly back to the hotel. "I just wanted to talk." He stopped there, waiting for Beth to accept him again, like she always did.

"Talk about what? We didn't talk much when we were together, Mick, what could you possibly want to talk about now?"

"I'm seeing someone." He said quietly. As expected, there was a long and uncomfortable silence, and he found himself considering this the most awkward phone call he had ever made. Two whole blocks had passed before Beth found her voice again.

"So am I." She replied just as quietly. Mick detected a hint of sadness, but he wasn't sure whether this was because she was seeing someone, or because he was. A suspicion that it could be attributed to both of these factors was confirmed when more information was fired at him in a torrent of words.

"His name is David, I met him today at BuzzWire. I only went there to pick up my things form my desk, it wasn't like I'm going back there to work or anything, not after that ridiculous man took over from Maureen and ruined everything, but he was a new guy and he was having trouble with the desk drawer, you know, that one that always sticks? So I helped him and he offered to take me out to dinner…"

"And you said yes. That's completely understandable Beth, after everything I said to you. Nothing to explain to me." He found himself trying to placate her, felt anxious about the fact that again, Beth was allowing for his feelings before she considered doing anything solely for herself. It was one of the reasons he had thought he loved her.

"I know," she replied. "I just can't help it. So, this new girl in your life. She keeping you busy? Because you haven't called in a while."

"Well, sort of. I mean, we're still following all of the possibilities regarding those photographs, but there's not really been as much information as we were originally hoping for. No-one wants to admit they killed one of their own kind, you know?"

He hoped that by keeping the conversation on the real reason they were in San Francisco, Beth would forget about this mystery person she had assumed was female. It was perfectly reasonable to assume such a thing, but suddenly Mick felt uncomfortable talking about Josef was though he was a woman. Yet there was no way he was going to drop another bomb on her now. There was no telling what she'd do, but he was pretty certain about how she would feel. Still, Beth was a reporter first and foremost, and she had an eye for the details.

"So you've been spending more time with her than you originally planned! When are you seeing her next?"

"Tonight actually. That was the reason I called you Beth; I'm really nervous. I know you're probably the last one that wants to listen to this, but I didn't know who else to call. The only other person that knows me as well as you is Josef." As soon as the words left his mouth he knew he'd landed himself in a hole.

"And what does Josef have to say about all of this?" Beth shot the question at him as though she were interviewing him for a particularly gripping story. Part of him was pleased, for the awkwardness that had encompassed the first half of the conversation had all but disappeared. But while Mick didn't want to lie, he couldn't bring himself to completely tell the truth, either.

"I haven't really spoken to Josef about it properly. Never really seems to be the right moment. He's been stressed about what happened with Sarah. You know how he gets. Feels responsible." It was as close as he could get to the truth without actually pulling back the curtain and revealing it. He held his breath, worried he might say to much.

"Well maybe you should discuss this with him. I'm kind of biased don't you think? After all, I don't expect you to listen to me rambling on David. Not that there's much to be rambling on about, but you know what I mean."

"Josef is kind of indisposed tonight. Please Beth, you're the only one I can talk to. What if I ruin things?"

Once more there was a sigh from within Mick's earpiece. He knew that, yet again, he was being selfish to involve Beth, but he couldn't help himself. Even now, she was a source of comfort.

"Just… be yourself okay?" She muttered bitterly. "People can't help but fall for your charms. And wear a white shirt."

With that Beth abruptly ended the call, and Mick found himself staring blankly at the wall of his room, unsure of when exactly he had made it back. He realised that he should have asked at least one question about this David. At the very least he could have pretended to have been interested in whatever she had to say about him. But no, instead he talked only of himself and how he was feeling. It was a wonder she'd ever wanted anything to do with him. Mick was tempted to call her back and apologise again, to try and make things right, but if he were Beth, he wouldn't want to talk to himself either.

On a whim, he made the decision to tell Josef how he felt. How the hazelnut in his eyes made him seem unassuming and yet deadly - that he wanted to keep staring into them forever, however stupid it sounded. How those slim but muscular hands fit perfectly into his own.

He pulled on a new white shirt, crisp at the creases and, giving his hair the once over, crossed the suite in three long strides. Before shutting out the lights and locking the door as he left, Mick placed his cell phone on the stand in their bedroom. After all, he was going to see the only person he wanted to talk to.

I'm a bad person for leaving things this long, but here is the new chapter. I hope you like it!

Charlotte.