Chapter 28: Not Okay

Mick watches as Beth undresses mechanically. She is tired he knows, they all are but there is something more. She is worried.

Already undressed himself he moved behind her and wrapped his strong arms around her shoulders. Beth leaned into the embrace and let out a sigh. They had put Kayla to bed in her room at Josef's. She hadn't asked too many questions, she liked spending time here and getting to swim but she did say she missed her tree house.

"How are you holding up?" He asked kissing the top of her head.

"I'm fine."

Mick smiled softly, "You know vampires make really bad liars."

Beth couldn't help but smile at her own words being used against her. "I have to be fine."

Turning her in his arms Mick looked into her piercing blue eyes. "Not right now you don't. Baby you can feel however you feel, don't bottle it up."

Beth could feel her eyes begin to water. Mick was right she had been holding everything in trying to focus on finding Candice and take care of her little girl and make sure David kept it together she never let herself feel it.

"I'm scared."

Mick pulled her tight into his arms. His hands stroked her back as she burred deeper into his chest making sure there was no possible way for space to come between them. "We'll find her."

"She's in danger because of me. Because she was my friend."

"She found Coraline. Being so close to you is probably what is saving her."

Beth looked up as tears slid down her cheek, "You don't think Ryan did it do you?"

"I think this smells more of Coraline."

"Do you think she's okay? Really okay?"

Mick looked into her eyes as he searched for the words. He knew she'd see right through false assurances. "I think Coraline is smart. I think she'll try and use Candice to get what she wants."

"But you said it yourself she's not a good bargaining chip for you."

Mick shook his head, "She is." Moving his hands up Mick wipes away the tracks of tears with his thumbs and gives her a weak smile. "If she has any idea just how important Candice is to you, more than a friend and more like a sister then she knows I would do anything to ease this pain."

Beth's eyes widen in shock. "Promise me you won't do anything without telling me. I want her back so much but I can't lose you either."

Mick breaks eye contact for a fraction of a second. Just enough time for Beth to grab his face between her hands, "Promise Mick. Promise you won't leave me and Kayla alone." She knew it was a low hit to use their daughter to win an argument but she'd do anything to keep him from playing hero and losing him.

With a long sigh Mick nodded, "I promise."

After a few moments of silence and Mick having brushed away the last of the shed tears Mick nudges her towards the freezer. "Let's get some sleep. Josef has plenty of people working up our newest information. Hopefully by morning something will have come of it."

"You're right," Beth took his hand and climbed into the freezer. Mick followed right behind her and they settled in for some rest snuggled in each others arms.

Mick stroked her hair and breathed in her scent soothing his soul. He's the reason Coraline was brought into any of their lives. Her obsession with him. Beth moved closer squeezing him tighter as she fell asleep making him smile. Mick placed a kiss atop Beth's head and closed his eyes willing sleep to take him.

Josef had been waiting when they got home from the hotel. They passed off Coraline's newest alias they found Noelle Banks and quickly started running it. That hadn't turned up much form that but the surveillance footage proved to be much more valuable.

After looking through it they found one van leaving about half an hour after Ryan and his guards arrived. After the van left Candice's car and the guards SUV left heading in separate directions. They had been lucky enough to get a tag number from the van. Josef had people on it instantly trying to track it down.

Everyone in town who worked for him or even owed him a favor was looking for that van. So far the registered information on the van showed only that it was registered to a corporation with too many subsidiaries in LA for them to track down one by one.

Beth had not wanted to involve Coop in this. She feared she'd already put them at risk being their friend and didn't want to involve them any further. Now that Beth was in the freezer with Mick, Josef pulled out his phone and dialed the number. He had no such objections.

"Hello," Coop answered groggily.

"I realize the hour is late for you but I was hoping you could come over and help us find Candice. I believe your particular skills could be very useful."

Josef could hear Coop throwing on clothes, "I can come but the guards will stay here right?"

"There are two teams, one for you and one for Danielle and the boys. One of them will bring you in just walk outside to the large black SUV."

"I'll be ready in 10 minutes."

Coop disconnected the phone and pulled on a T-shirt. He looked at Danielle starting to stir in bed reaching for him but finding it empty. Rubbing her eyes she sits up clutching the sheet to her naked body, "Coop?"

"Right here baby," he moves to sit on the bed.

Brushing the bed hair from her face he leans down and kisses her softly. "I'm sorry I work you but I have to go. Josef called, they need my help with something."

"Is it about Candice?" Danielle asked hopeful for news on her friend.

"Yeah, I don't know anything yet. I'm going to go try and help though okay. Guards are going to stay here with you and the boys okay. I'll call you when I know something okay."

Danielle yawns and nods her head looking at the clock. "Now go back to sleep." Kissing her forehead once more Coop lies her back kissing her once more before pulling back.

When he comes out from brushing his teeth and running a comb through his hair Coop finds Danielle sound asleep again. Grabbing his shoes he quickly moves to his home office down the hall and grabs what he can think he might need. Having everything he can think of Coop heads out, locking the door behind him.

To Be Continued…

Evilous