A/N: Takes place before Guy Talk chapter 16, A Change Is Gonna Do You Good.

Beth's friend Tessa, a TV reporter, called her Saturday with big news. "I got a job offer in Minneapolis. I don't have to give notice here so I leave tomorrow."

"I thought you wanted to make it in the L.A. market."

"Too much competition. I decided to be a bigger fish in a smaller pond."

"I'll miss you but I'm happy for you."

"The thing is, I can't take Travis. A new job in a new city, I'm going to be working all the time at first. Can you take him back?"

"Sure," Beth agreed. She wanted to do whatever she could for Travis, the last connection to her murdered boss Maureen at Buzzwire. Beth went to Tessa's apartment and returned to the penthouse with Travis. She would set him up in her office. He would have to be shut in to avoid Mick until she could find a new home. She would make some calls right away. Mick had been on a case last night so he was in his room freezer. Beth peeked in. He was still asleep but would probably wake up in another hour.

Beth went to her office in the second bedroom and unpacked Travis' litter box and toys. She let him wander around for now. When she was finished she would shut him in before Mick got up. Suddenly there was a startled shout from the room freezer. Beth went running and found Mick sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I woke up and there was a cat staring at me. I must have been dreaming. It looked like Maureen's cat."

"It was." Beth explained that Travis was back. "It's only for a few days, and I'll keep him in my office. I looked in on you when I got home and must not have latched the door."

"There he is," Mick mouthed at Beth. Travis was slinking back into the room freezer, body low to the floor, ears back, tail tight to his body. Mick looked a little sad and Beth felt bad for him. Travis had liked Mick when Mick was human and now he wouldn't.

"Might as well get it over with," Mick said. He held out his hand, expecting to be clawed. "Sorry I'm not the man I used to be." Travis had started growling and hissing but when he heard Mick's voice his ears pricked up and he came close enough to sniff Mick's hand. He seemed uncertain but he didn't attack.

"He recognizes your voice," Beth said. "And you must still smell something like the Mick he remembers."

Travis had made up his mind. He jumped on the bed and purred. He bumped his head against Mick's hand and Mick petted him.

"Do you think we could ..." Beth began.

"Keep him? Why not?" Mick was delighted. "Travis needs a permanent home. It's not right to keep moving him around."

They spent the evening playing with Travis.

Later Mick went to bed with Beth. They had just started making love when Mick stopped. "Travis is here. We forgot to close the door."

Beth didn't want to stop. "He'll go away."

They kept going. Things had reached a critical point when Beth suddenly said, "You're right, we have to stop."

"No ..."

"He's on the bed. He's looking at us."

"I can't ..."

"All right." Beth held Mick tight.

Mick rolled away a minute later. "Sorry, I was so close."

"It's okay. I got a little freaked out."

Mick looked at Travis. "You're killing the mood here." He picked Travis up and headed for the door. "Sorry, buddy, you'll have to stay outside sometimes."

Beth stopped Mick. "Both of you come back."

"Are you sure? I was going to catch you up."

"Not tonight. I'd rather be in bed with two males right now."

So they all cuddled until Beth fell asleep. Mick eased out carefully and went to his office. Travis stayed with Beth for awhile but he wandered into Mick's office later and explored. There wasn't much to see or smell so he jumped on a client chair and groomed himself while Mick finished working. Travis followed Mick to his room freezer.

"I have to get up early so I'm going to catch a nap. Gotta follow a guy to church, can you believe it? You won't want to stay in here. I don't have any body heat." But Travis jumped on the bed and curled up with Mick. An hour later Mick woke up to Travis meowing by the door.

"This is how it's going to be, huh?" Mick asked. "Big bad vampire and small domestic shorthair. Guess which one is in charge?" Mick was smiling as he got up and let the cat out.

He had almost dropped off again when his eyes opened wide at the thought: Josef will have to know about this ... eventually. Casual, Mick decided. He would casually mention it when the time was right.