Dreamcatcher | PG | for jinxed-wood | Celebrating 5 Ficathon
Title - Dreamcatcher
Author - Midknight2501
Rating - PG
Category - H/C
Pairing (if needed) - Mick/Beth/Josef
Disclaimer - Moonlight isn't mine.
Warnings - None.
Spoilers - None.
Summary - When Mick's in trouble it's Beth and Josef to the rescue!
Notes - For jinxed-wood's Beth and Josef need to work together to help Mick challenge.
Beth digs the ski suit and parka out of the back of her closet. Mick was getting out of hand with his nightmares; a side effect of their adventure over the weekend, when he'd accidentally been injected with something. Some kind of hallucinogenic truth serum- the after effects for vampires seemed to come while he was sleeping, giving him screaming nightmares. He'd called her twice this week, terrified, hyperventilating, not calming until she was there, fingers brushing his fear sweat soaked hair.
Josh had gone to work half an hour ago and she'd called in- Mick would just call her, when his nightmares woke him. Throwing her coat on over her pajamas she carried the ski clothes with her out to the car.
Josef answered the door, shirt unbuttoned, and he lounged there, giving her the slow up and down.
“Oh. Hi, Josef.” She tried to look over his shoulder for Mick, startled. “Is Mick here?”
“Why?” And he still wasn't getting out of the way.
She sighed, glaring at him. “He's been having nightmares.”
Josef raised an eyebrow, looking at the bulking clothes in her arms. “And you were going to take him... skiing?”
“Hey Beth.” Mick said, looking bruised and tried behind Josef who rolled his eyes and got out of the way. “What's that?” She came in and pushed the door closed.
“A parka. I thought-”
Josef and Mick stared at each other, and she realized he was already dressed for bed- shirtless, cotton sleep pants. Mick yawned and Josef glanced at her before unbuttoning his cuffs.
“I think I've got it handled.” Josef told her. She glanced to Mick who looked vaguely abashed at his predicament with the nightmares.
“He called you too?”
Josef shrugged. “He didn't have to, I could feel it. Him. Whatever. And there's not enough room in the freezer for three.”
“Well, I didn't know.” she snapped at him.
“No, Beth, it's ok.” Mick glared at Josef, who pulled his shirt off and hung it over the back of a chair. “There's room.”
“Fine. It's your bed.”
Beth threw her coat and purse onto the sofa and Josef stifled a whistle at her fleece camisole and knee shorts when Mick leveled a quiet glare at him. Josef wound up in his underwear, though it seemed it was only Mick's look that was keeping them on. The older vampire disappeared into the kitchen while she pulled on her ski bib.
“Am I interrupting something?”
Mick shrugged, holding himself and looking weary. “No. I doubt it.”
“I can go if you want...” She trailed off.
Mick shook his head. “It means a lot that you're here. Stay.”
Josef came back in, rubbing the blood from the edges of his mouth, looking sullen. “It does mean something to me that you're here for him.” And the look he gave both of them was final enough that Beth smothered a grin in her parka. Josef, the big softie.
Mick looked vaguely bemused watching Beth try to hitch a leg over the side of the freezer, while Josef laughed and pushed her in. She pulled her hands back from the freezing metal and glared at him, pulling her thick gloves out. At least her slipper boots had stayed on, and she pulled up her hood over her ears. Patting the freezer bottom she gestured for Mick to get in. He did it a lot more gracefully than she had, and Josef hit the light switch, turning the room to a dusky blue twilight.
He climbed in next to Mick, cramming them all together on their sides. It took a moment for them to get comfortable, Josef's knees behind Mick's, Mick's hand on Beth's waist, her right arm across the both of them. She pretended her gloved hand wasn't on Josef's side, feeling the muscles move under his skin, sleek, but didn't move her hand off him. He his hid face in Mick's nape, but she didn't miss the pleased look he wore. With a start she realized she was almost nose to nose with Mick, almost kissing him, and her breath caught at the realization.
“Shut the lid.” Josef muttered, sounding tired for the first time and broke their stare. She reached up, pulled the lid down, and Mick burrowed his forehead under her chin, purring sleepily, and she saw Josef's eyes again. His look was possessive, but considering. Like maybe he'd be willing to share, if Beth proved worthy of Mick.
She felt his hand move, from where it had been splayed across Mick's abs, heard Mick make a questioning noise, and then Josef's hand curled against her lower back, pulling her in. Mick made a pleased noise, sandwiched between them, and Beth fell asleep thinking not even a nightmare could fit between the three of them.