Disclaimer: I do not own Moonlight. I do love living in this world.

Thank you once again for reading my story. I appreciate it.

Chapter 12 Sonata: Judgments

Kira was able to feel the sadness that was taking a turn to anger in Beth. It hurt the vampire to know that every answer she could give her friend would not necessarily make her feel better. She realized that Beth had stopped at Mick's and interrupted the vampire's meeting. Of course Mick had sent her away and kept her in the dark. She could not be involved in their plans.

"I couldn't say Beth. I've been out of town, remember?" she countered Beth's question of what was happening at Mick's. She knew that she should not be the one to tell Beth what was going on. "Why don't you tell me what has happened since I left. I've only been given hints."

Beth looked doubtfully at Kira but did as she asked.

"Okay. We learned that Emma was the one who killed Dominic. Do you know Emma?" Kira nodded. "When the police went to arrest her, she attacked. Mick subdued her and kept her from killing the cops and Ben. Later we brought Jackson to talk to her and while I couldn't hear what they said, Mick could. He looked worried and I think he is making plans to break Emma out of custody. But he wouldn't let me in when I stopped at his place," Beth fumed.

"Did it occur to you that if they are planning to free Emma that you can't be part of it? Beth, you work for the DA's office," Kira pointed out.

"I would never betray your trust. I have kept your secret," Beth said angrily.

"I never said you would betray us," Kira countered. "But think about it, if something went wrong, Mick doesn't want it to touch you."

"What could go wrong?" Beth asked puzzled.

"What if Emma reveals herself before they spring her? If their rescue goes wrong then Talbot and the others will know about us. You cannot be caught in the middle of this if things go wrong."

That took Beth by surprise. It had never occurred to her that Mick might fail to make things right.

"If it is so dangerous why did you come back to LA?" Beth asked suspiciously.

"This is my home."

"But Mick and I always work well together. I want to help and I can cover things up," Beth insisted.

It pained Kira to know she would have to burst Beth's bubble. The human was so earnest in her desire to help that she didn't see the danger in knowing about Emma's rescue and the possible fallout.

"You may notice I'm not included either," Kira commented. "Let it go." She neglected to tell Beth that no one knew she was back.

"Are you worried?"

"I am concerned but I am willing to wait and see how things play out. This is very complicated and there are parts of our world that it is better you stay out of it."

Beth was stung. Now even Kira was shutting her out. Maybe Mick was right, maybe she couldn't be part of both worlds. He had made it clear that he didn't want her the way Josef wanted Simone. While she had saved his life with her blood in the desert, he now acted as if her blood repelled her. Yet he tasted Simone and the woman enjoyed it.

Mick had included her in questioning Jackson but he refused to let her be part of Emma's rescue. And now Kira; her supposed friend was telling her that she was only welcome in parts of their world. She knew she wasn't ready to become a vampire and because of that this only made things more complicated. She now was aware of how much of an outsider she was and would never be privy to all their secrets.

And finally she realized how very little she knew of Mick's feelings for her. In spite of Kira's assurances, he always dodged the topic with her. His kisses held promise but there was always a wall between them.

Kira could sense the downward spiral that Beth's emotions were taking. She felt great disappointment in the way she had handled this conversation but she was reluctant to reveal things that Mick and Josef wanted kept from Beth.

"I'm sorry Beth, I have no wish to hurt you," she said softly.

Beth got to her feet, pulling her coat close to her.

"You've made yourself very clear Kira," she said stiffly. "I see…..I don't belong in your world."

Kira also rose to her feet, dismay written all over her face.

"Beth please…….this is so……"

"Complicated. I get it Kira," Beth finished for her. "I need time to think."

"Please don't make any rash decisions," Kira pleaded following her to the door. "Be patient."

Beth nodded and hurried out. Kira watched her go, a sinking feeling in her stomach. She needed to let Mick know how this had gone wrong. And that thought led her to wondering what was happening with Emma. She went to the phone and dialed.

"Do you need a clean up?" a no-nonsense voice answered.

"Claudia, its Kira."

"Let me guess, you didn't stay in Vegas," the Cleaner stated, although the tone of her voice warmed considerably.

"You know me, stubborn," Kira responded.

"Yes, you always have been," the Cleaner chuckled. "What do you need Kira?"

"Have you got Emma? Will she be dealt with at the warehouse?" Kira inquired.

"Yes. Kira, you don't need to be there," her friend said gently. "Josef and St. John will serve as witnesses."

"I made the same mistake," Kira reminded her.

"You never threatened our secrecy my friend. Don't compare your actions to Emma's. She is not facing judgment for killing the human but for threatening to expose all of us to the humans. You never did that," the Cleaner pointed out.

"It doesn't matter. I will attend," Kira said.

"If you must, then hurry. We need to deal with it in case the humans track her to us."

"Thank you Claudia," Kira answered and broke the connection. She grabbed her keys and headed for her Jaguar.

******

Kira slipped into the warehouse and hid in the shadows just inside the door. She made no move to attract the attention of the other vampires in the room and kept her distance. With their focus on the woman seated on the raised platform she knew that only Claudia had noticed her arrival.

It was moments later that Jackson Monaghan came running inside and begged for a chance to be with Emma. In amazement Kira watched Jackson offer to share his wife's fate even though Emma had betrayed him. Flinching back from the burst of light and heat from the flame thrower, Kira watched the couple burn. She tore her gaze form the scene to look at Josef's stiff form standing beside Mick. There was no doubt in her mind that Josef hated being witness to this. He believed in vampire justice but she knew he didn't like to be a witness to it carried out. He often held himself above the routine practice of the community's police actions.

When it was over, Mick turned to walk away.

"Mick, shall we get a drink?" Josef suggested.

"No, I have to go see Beth," Mick answered harshly. Kira could see he looked unhappy.

"Don't torture yourself Mick, Blondie could not be involved in this," Josef scolded. "Don't feel guilty."

"I get it Josef, but that doesn't help," Mick growled and stalked away.

Kira watched him go, relieved he was going to try and mend things with Beth. She hoped desperately that Beth was ready to listen.

Josef stopped to speak to Claudia and then headed for the door. He stopped the moment he picked up her scent.

"Kira? What are you doing here?" he demanded. "Didn't I tell you to stay in Las Vegas?"

"You might have mentioned that. Did you really think I couldn't make my own decisions?" Kira replied as she stepped out of the shadows.

Josef looked at her in surprise but decided not to pursue that question.

"Why did you come here?" he inquired.

"I needed to be a witness. Mick is right, we do need to watch. Too often we shield ourselves from the harsh side of our existence. We can't become complacent and let the Cleaners handle all our mistakes," Kira said firmly.

"Why do you insist on torturing yourself for acting in self-defense fifteen years ago? Forgive yourself my girl," Josef instructed.

"Still telling me what to do," she groused.

"Stop acting like a foolish child. Someone has to set you straight," Josef growled.

"Who made you God?" Kira bristled. "I am my own person and if you can't handle that then you can just stay away from me and my club," she huffed and turned to leave. Josef was on her in a flash, grabbing her arm.

"Not so fast," he commanded.

"Do not man-handle me Josef Kostan," she hissed, her eyes silvering. Fangs flashed. "Were you not the one who said we were past the sire/fledgling stage? You don't control me."

Josef released her arm as if it were made of silver. He held up both hands and took a step back.

"I have never desired to control you. I was only concerned about your safety," he said with a hurt look in his eyes.

"If you really wish to play sire again perhaps you should turn Simone. I hear she's interested and then you will have a fledgling to command," Kira said coldly.

"Now just where did that come from?" Josef asked in surprise.

Kira shook her head angrily. She wasn't sure what was driving her anger. Was it really Josef telling her what to do as usual or having things go so badly with Beth? Maybe it was watching Emma and Jackson die. Kira was just sure that she was knotted up in anger and she felt like taking it out on Josef.

"Just leave me alone Josef. I do not want to talk to you right now," she snapped and ran from the warehouse.

"Kira!!" he shouted after her.

End chapter.

I have now finished the last 9 episodes. I am not finished since I cannot leave this hanging. So I will wrap up the story and speculate on what might have happened after the door closed behind Mick and Beth. Thank you for reading, I do appreciate it.