Last chapter and I'm still being tough on poor Mick. There's something compelling about the powerful immortal creature brought to such a vulnerable state (or maybe I'm just sadistic!) Hopefully this all fits in with what happens in the next episode. Writing this, I just couldn't resist a veiled reference to what happens in 'Fever'.

Rating and spoilers as before.

Disclaimer: The series Moonlight and all characters from it are copyright of Warner Bros. I have no claim to any rights to the series, although I wish I had a claim to Mick. This story is written for non commercial purposes only.

MPOV

I undressed slowly, painfully, still feeling the effects of the silver. As I hung up my jacket, I looked at the bloody holes where the buckshot had smashed into my shoulder and back. They were a potent reminder of how close I had come to dying - really dying this time, with no 'unlife' to follow. The memory came to me unbidden - the sudden agony as the bullets hit, the spreading weakness as the poison began to take hold in my body almost instantly.

I had been near death a few times before but this time I really thought it was the end, and I was suprised to find that I didn't want to die. I had always hated my existence as a vampire but recently I had started to feel that there was something worth living for.

22 years ago, I had saved Beth's life and that one act had made me realise that I didn't have to accept the fate that had been handed to me. I could fight the monster within me and try to make amends for the past. I had looked into her frightened eyes, felt her small arms clinging to me so trustingly, and I had sworn to myself that I would keep her safe.

Through the years, I had watched over her from the shadows and seen her grow from the scared little girl to a confident woman. Then, when I was needed, I had saved her again and carried her in my arms one more time. Just like she had so long ago, she clung to me and everything else had faded away. No matter what I had endured or would suffer in the future, she made it all worthwhile.

I removed the rest of my clothes and climbed carefully into my freezer, lying down on the cold, hard glass. I pulled the lid shut and closed my eyes, but sleep eluded me. I kept seeing flashes of images: Beth as a child; walking barefoot through that fountain; unconscious on my couch; in the warehouse this evening; her face after I told her what I was. I had destroyed the trust that she had given me so freely and I would probably lose her as a result. The thought hit me hard, raising a sharp ache in my chest as if my unbeating heart had contracted. How would I cope with the empty space she left behind?

It shouldn't have been so difficult - I had lived without her for many years before, so why did I suddenly feel as if a great weight had been dropped on me? I knew the answer. All that time when she was growing up, I had stayed out of sight, unknown to her, but now I had felt her touch and I wanted more. I wanted to spend time with her, to talk to her and see her smile. I wanted her to know what I was and not be afraid of me. I needed her to trust me again.

I realised now that her hold on me had become as strong as Coraline's had once been, although it took a very different form. The two of them were opposites, like night and day. My ex-wife had been an addictive drug to me, seductive and deadly. Beth was like air to a drowning man or water in the desert. There was so much to her personality that drew me to her; she was smart, spirited, brave and determined. I should have known she wouldn't have stayed in the car when she heard the gunshots. My Beth was not easily deterred.

My Beth? No, she would never be that, especially now. Whatever friendship there might have been between us was doomed the moment she walked in through my door today. How on earth could I have been so stupid as to leave it open? I knew what she was like and I should have expected her to come looking for me. Then again, maybe I did. Perhaps deep down, I knew what would happen and I left the door open on purpose, wanting her to find out.

Well, if I had, then I deserved everything I got. It was unlikely that I would see her again after this and, if I did, the terror in her eyes would be my just reward. Even as I thought this, a small part of me still clung to hope. She was brave, as I had said, so maybe there was a chance that she could accept me for what I was and not be afraid. A foolish hope, I reviled myself, it would never happen.

My thoughts continued to chase round in circles as the fatigue slowly enveloped my mind. At last I drifted into a deep but uneasy sleep with no hope at all for sweet dreams.

BPOV

Mick was a vampire! My rational side rebelled at the very thought, still refusing to believe it. Perhaps I needed to say it out loud. Maybe if I heard the words in my own voice, I could take them seriously. Taking a deep breath, I spoke slowly and distinctly.

"Mick is a vampire."

No, it still sounded completely crazy, utterly ridiculous. I began to laugh a little hysterically. It wasn't long before the laughter turned into sobbing, as the stresses of the last 24 hours finally caught up with me. I cried for some time, letting out the turmoil of emotions that I had been holding back. Eventually, I calmed down and I walked to the bathroom to wash my face.

As I returned to the couch and picked up my now very cold coffee, I realised that my outburst had helped to clear my head. Suddenly I was able to view the situation quite objectively and it occurred to me to think about the implications of what I had found out about Mick. I crossed to the kitchen and switched the kettle on, deep in thought.

The first question had to be about my safety. I was no expert on the subject, but I knew the basic 'facts' about vampires, same as anyone else. And top of the list right now was this one: they killed people. I had seen enough old horror movies to know how it went. That iconic image of Dracula biting the neck of his helpless victim and draining her blood. If Mick really was a vampire (and I was still using the word 'if' right now), then was there any risk that he would want to drink my blood?

I tried to consider it seriously but I just couldn't imagine Mick being a danger to me. I had always felt safe with him, even when I smashed that vase over his head after he startled me in the dead student's room. I had suggested that he might be the murderer, but that was just an automatic reaction - I had never felt any threat from him. He had even saved my life, which wouldn't make sense if he wanted to kill me. Unless he was keeping me for dinner, of course... No, I was certain that Mick was no danger. I had learnt to have faith in my instincts and they were telling me that I could trust him. I just hoped I didn't end up regretting that confidence.

I realised that the kettle had boiled and I poured myself a fresh cup of coffee. I took a sip and held the cup in both hands, feeling the warmth seeping through the china, inhaling the comforting aroma while I let my mind wander. There were so many unanswered questions, I didn't know where to begin. If vampires really did exist, how many of them were there? Was Mick the only one, or were they all around us, living as humans? That was a disturbing idea and I wondered if there was some way of recognising them. Or maybe I should just carry garlic with me from now on. I laughed out loud at the thought, bemused that I was even contemplating this.

Sitting here in my apartment, with the morning light streaming through my windows and the familiar smell of coffee in the air, I was beginning to question what I had seen and heard. Perhaps I really had imagined it all. There was only one way to be sure - I had to speak to Mick. And if he confirmed my crazy notions, well I would have a lot of questions to ask him. I swallowed another mouthful of my drink then yawned widely, suddenly remembering that I had not yet slept. The mixture of adrenalin and coffee had held off the tiredness so far but now it was catching up fast.

I walked wearily into the bedroom and undressed, leaving my clothes on the floor to tidy away when I had more energy. As I crawled into the bed and dragged the covers over me, I thought about seeing Mick again. Maybe I'd leave it a day or two, as tomorrow seemed a bit too soon. I felt nervous about talking to him, but strangely not afraid. I recalled his face again and there was no sense of horror at the memory. The image of him huddled on the ground, hiding himself from me, evoked only sympathy now.

As the sleep began to claim me, his words echoed in my mind once more. I heard the apprehension in his voice as he said, "please don't look at me." He was ashamed to let me see him that way and, when he had finally told me what he was, it sounded like a confession from a condemned man. I had an odd desire to help him, to comfort him if I could. Eventually, I slipped into a quiet slumber, and my last waking thought was to wonder how you become a vampire.

I dreamed of Mick again but, this time, he looked at me and his face changed. He became the pale, inhuman creature I had seen this evening but I felt no fear. Instead, I smiled at him and, when he reached out his hand to me, I went with him willingly. My hands slipped behind his neck and I clung to him as he carried me. In my dream, I could not tell whether I was a child again or an adult, but I knew that I was safe in his arms, and that was all that mattered.

I slept on peacefully and my dreams were sweet.

END

So that's it! Thanks to everyone who has read this story. This writing business is still very new to me, so I welcome any comments and reviews. I'm now writing another Moonlight fic and I hope it will be completed soon. Best wishes to all my fellow Moonlight-lovers: it may have been cancelled but it lives on in our hearts and fanfics!