Let Go - Part 7
Title: Let Go (part 7)
Author: Kelly aka pittchic04
Rating: PG-13ish
Warning: nothing too explicit, some "steamy" scenes/suggestions and mild language
Pairing: Mick/Beth
Genre: Romance, Drama
Spoilers: thru "Fever" for sure
Summary: Beth gets into trouble and runs to Mick for help. Stuff happens ; )
Disclaimer: CBS owns the show and characters. If they were mine there'd be a lot more Josef, Mick & Beth would live happily ever after, and Moonlight or a live Mick-cam would be on 24/7.
Previous Parts: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6
Thanks for all the comments! They're what make writing worth it : D
Remember: This is set after Fever, so none of the episodes after 1x04 have happened yet in this fic.
Let Go - Part 7
“Wha…” Josh started, still trying to figure out how Mick had appeared in front of him. He tried to yank his arm away but Mick was too strong.
“Leave,” Mick growled through tightly clenched teeth. “Now.”
His voice left no room for arguments, but Josh was a lawyer and not used to listening to such warnings. “Get your hands off me! I’ll leave when Beth comes with me.” He tried to jerk free but Mick just squeezed tighter. He could snap Josh’s arm with a flick of his wrist, no harder than swatting a fly, but Beth wouldn’t like that. He roughly shoved Josh away, sending him stumbling towards the door.
Josh righted himself and stupidly started towards Mick again. Mick clenched his fists, itching to knock the young D.A. out, and took a step forward. Beth knew she had to do something before this went any further. She reached out, hooking a finger in Mick’s belt loop just as he took another step forward. He felt the tiny tug and stopped, glancing questioningly at Beth.
She moved forward and Josh stopped too, watching as she walked closer. This is it. She’s choosing him. Mick swallowed hard and tried to keep the hurt from his eyes, reminding himself it was probably for the best. He’d brought enough monsters into her life already.
He wasn’t sure who was more surprised when she stepped around him and stopped, facing off with Josh. She reached back with her right hand and found Mick’s hand, pulling him forward until his arm was wrapped around her waist. She placed his palm on her stomach with her small hand on top of his larger one, lacing her fingers through his to keep him there.
Josh stared, dumbfounded and unable to look away as she leaned into Mick. She slid her left hand back, searching for Mick’s. He hesitantly reached forward, half expecting her to disappear any second. He slowly wrapped his arm around her and placed his hand on top of hers on her stomach. She put her left on top of his again, completing the circle.
“This is what I want.” She said softly, as much for Mick’s benefit as for Josh. “I’m sorry Josh, but you need to go now.”
Still shocked by the sight in front of him, Josh didn’t know what else to do. He turned and left, looking back one more time as he passed through the door and then wishing he hadn’t. Beth was still locked in Mick’s arms, resting the back of her head against his shoulder so she could look up at him. And Mick was looking down at her like she was the most precious gift in the world, his gaze slowly traveling from her face to their joined hands and back again.
Josh steamed in the elevator the entire ride down from Mick’s floor. He’d known that PI was going to be trouble, but Beth had refused to listen. Now she thought she was leaving him! He’d just have to make her see the truth. By the time the elevator doors dinged open, Josh had a plan. He stalked off with a new purpose. Mick St. John wouldn’t know what hit him.
Back in the apartment, Mick finally broke the silence. “Are you…” But Beth cut him off, whirling around in his arms.
“I swear, if you ask me if I’m sure one more time, I will stake you myself. Got it?”
Mick nodded, biting his lip to keep from smiling. He loved how fiery she got but the idea she could stake him was laughable. Beth saw the laughter in his eyes and tried to shove him but he caught her hands and held them to his chest, smiling down at her before turning serious.
“I didn’t want to make you choose until you understood things. You had a great life before I came along and you deserved time to understand, to think things through. But now…” He trailed off, feeling guilty again. She doesn’t even know what she’s giving up her life for. I didn’t explain things, didn’t want her to see the truth. And now it’s too late. She won’t have anything to go back to.
“Now, I have you.” Beth finished for him. “If you’ll let me in.” She knew what she wanted and knew it was really Mick who needed time, but she didn’t know how to make him see that.
Mick looked away. “We really should get started on the case. The sooner we figure it out, the sooner…”
“You can send me away?” Beth interrupted, pissed that he was trying to shut her out again.
That got Mick’s attention again, but he wasn’t sure what to say. She was right but he hadn’t meant it that way. He gave up and resorted to a tactic he often used with Beth when he couldn’t tell her the entire truth, but he couldn’t lie to her either. He stared into her eyes, letting her see the truth there. “The sooner you’ll be safe.”
She glared at him and he relented. “I don’t want to send you away, but I don’t want you here because you have to be either.”
“I don’t have to be here now.”
“You do if you want to be safe.”
“I’d be safe no matter what,” Beth smiled at him. “Because I know you’d be close by. Even if I left, you’d follow me. You’d protect me.”
Mick grimaced inwardly. Did she have to point out his lies? Yes, he’d follow her. She had no idea how long he’d followed her. And when she found out, she’d understand why they couldn’t be together. He should tell her, right now. She could probably still catch Josh before it was too late, say she’d had a moment of insanity. He opened his mouth but she cut him off again.
“Besides, I chose to come here, remember? Come on.” She moved to the couch with him dragging behind her. “I’ll work on this all-important list while you fill me on life with a vampire.”
He grasped the lifeline. He wasn’t looking forward to telling her about vampire life but he hated the idea of telling her he was a stalker even more, so he pasted on a smile. “Sounds good, just let me grab my laptop for you.” He dropped her hand and quickly escaped to the sanctity of his office, shutting the door Josh had left open on the way.
Mick came back carrying his laptop to find her already seated Indian style on the couch. His mind immediately conjured images of them on the same couch, their sweat mingling together as their bodies collided in a rhythm as old as time. He swallowed back a groan as he handed her the laptop, careful not to let their fingers touched. Already knowing a single touch would be enough to set him off.
He needed space, the more the better, so he started towards the opposite chair. She grabbed his wrist before he could escape and he felt his body clench in response. It was just his wrist, damnit, not a vital part of his anatomy. There was nothing sexual about a wrist, he told himself. Unless it was Beth’s wrist, or hand, or fingers...wrapped around him. Shit, he had to slam the door on that train of thought fast.
“Quit trying to keep distance between us. It doesn’t work.” Beth’s voice brought him back to the present. She patted the couch next to her invitingly and he sat down without thinking. She smiled in triumph and he realized his mistake.
Beth knew she was driving him crazy. If she kissed him right now, he wouldn’t be able to stop. It was beyond tempting, but she wanted him to make the first move. He needed to give into them, not just be a willing participant. That’s not saying she wouldn’t do what she could to move things along though.