a/n: I've done some editing. I changed a few minor things and fixed a few errors and formatting problems. This is done up to Ch 11, as of 1-1-14 (Happy New Year!). The major change is that the name Mick will be used more. Thank you!

"Prophylaxis: measures designed to preserve health and prevent the spread of disease"

-Merriam Webster Dictionary

Ch 1

I stood when I heard the knock at the hotel-room door.

"Be right there." I called and shrugged into my jacket.

I checked myself in the mirror on the way to the door. My plain brown hair was slicked back from my face and forced to stay there with gel. I brushed a piece of lint from my dress shirt. I liked this shirt, it was a nice shade of eggplant. It was just a little too wild to wear to work at home. I didn't see any lint-bunnies clinging to my slacks, so I slipped on my boots and laced them up. Dress shoes might have looked snazzier with the outfit, but I didn't know what kind of tromping around I might have to do for this job. The clients would probably get all weird and secretive and take me out to an abandoned warehouse or something. No need to scuff up any fancy kicks.

I opened the room door without looking through the peep-hole. I wouldn't recognize anyone coming to pick me up anyway. I fought the urge to take a step back when I saw the man waiting for me. He was leaning against the opposite wall with his arms crossed over his chest. His dark hair hung in his eyes, and he shook it out of his face as he straightened. He was much bigger than me, but that was nothing new. My skinny ass was five foot eight, maybe five nine in these boots. I was used to looking up at most men.

What made me want too back away was the cloud of pissed-off that radiated from him as soon as he saw me.

"Mick Williams?" He asked, voice tight but polite.

"That's me." I said happily. I couldn't help my excessive cheerfulness. It was self-defense.

He raised an eyebrow. "Right. Well, I'm here to take you to meet the... to the meeting-place."

Oooh, he'd almost slipped there. I almost got to find out how big the big-wig was that needed my services.

"Sounds good." I beamed and followed him out of the building into the dark parking lot.

"My car is right over there." I said to my tall, dark, and grouchy companion. "Tell me what you're driving so I can follow you."

He shook his head. "I'll drive."

"That's ok. I can drive. I'll just follow you. What color is your car?" I said hopefully. I didn't want to be stuck in an enclosed space with him and I didn't want to have to rely on someone else to get me back to the hotel after I finished the job.

A growl rumbled up in his chest. "I'll drive." He said again.

I fought a sigh. "I guess you'll be driving then."

He walked off without another word. I followed obediently. At least the view was nice. My driver had dark jeans that accentuated his long legs and showed off a very tempting ass. What can I say, I like good butts and I cannot lie. When he glanced back at me I quickly shifted my gaze and tried to look innocent. No ogling here, no sirree.

My grin was honest when we got to the car.

"This is your car?" I asked. I didn't know a lot about cars, but I knew old Mustangs were yummy. This one was definitely a pretty one.

He shrugged. "Yeah."

"Shiny." I said and slid into my seat.

I clicked my seat-belt and smiled as we headed out of the parking lot.

"May I crack a window?" I asked, keeping my voice fiercely friendly.

He shot me a look. "It's fifty degrees outside."

"Yeah, it's just... you don't seem very happy and it's getting a little thick in here." I rubbed my palms on my pants-legs. "Please?"

He sighed. "Whatever, just don't bitch at me when you freeze."

"Thanks. I promise to hold back my bitching." I said and cranked down the window a few inches.

The cool air blew in, smelling of damp earth and things wanting to grow. I loved the spring. It was cool tonight, but tomorrow was supposed to be warmer. When I got home, I could open all the windows in my house and let the fresh-air blow through.

After about fifteen minutes we pulled up in front of a warehouse in an industrial area. Yep, I totally called it. The man next to me cut the engine and tucked the keys in his pocket, but didn't move to get out. There was a flood-light on the building, so I could see him easily. When he pushed his hair out of his face I noticed his eyes for the first time. They were a mossy hazel, with mahogany brown around the pupil that was the same shade as his hair. The brown by his pupils spiked out to a soft green. They were lovely. I wondered if his eyes turned more green or brown when the change was on him. The brown color was the same as the eyes of a labrador I'd had when I was a kid, my sister had named him Chewbacca. He'd been a big sweety-pie. My sister liked to dress him up and put tiaras on him. He'd just lay there, content that he was getting attention.

I doubted this guy had a labrador personality

His eyes flashed. "Keep your head down when we go in. Please refrain from making eye contact with anyone but me or the person who is speaking to you."

This sounded like a rehearsed speech. I wondered if he'd given it before.

He continued. "Should anyone become agitated, please avoid fast movements or running. If I step in front of you, please stay behind me until the situation is resolved. We don't anticipate any problems, but precautions have been taken to ensure your safety and the safety of others. Please follow all directions I give you immediately. Do you understand, Mr. Williams?"

I grinned and nodded. "You bet, and please, call me Mick."

He nodded and got out of the car. I hopped out of my side after I rolled the window back up. I followed him to a big metal door that opened before we reached it. There were probably twenty or thirty people inside. They parted like the red-sea when we went in and we walked down the narrow path they'd opened up. They fell in behind us, blocking the way to the door. The skin on the back of my neck prickled. A young man with spiky blonde hair leaned toward me as I passed. I could feel his breath on my ear as he did what could only be described as sniffing me. I jerked, trying to lean away from him, but the people on the other side of me were too close.

My escort turned to see why I wasn't still hot on his heels. His eyes narrowed on blondie, who was still leaning toward me. He cuffed the young man upside the head, knocking him to the floor.

"Control yourself, Jamie." He growled.

The blonde hung his head and said nothing. My pretty-eyed protector jerked his head toward a door at the back of the room. "Let's go."

I followed him meekly. Christ, I hated working with werewolves.