Disclaimer: does not belong to me, a sad fact which applies to this and all subsequent chapters.

Okay, folks, this is my first foray into Being Human fanfiction. Long time viewer, first time writer. Love love LOVE the show! Please let me know if I'm doing the boys justice!

Ever-so-slightly AUish, in that this chapter is a reimagining of their first meeting and Nora doesn't make an appearance in the story. But all the gloriousness of Josh and Aidan (and Sally, in later chapters) will remain intact!

I'd love to hear your thoughts, so please take the time to review!

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Aidan was starving, his hunger more persistent and excruciating than he could ever remember it being. Considering his long life, that was saying something. He'd suffered through a famine when he was a child and had grown agonizingly familiar with the gnawing, clawing pain of food deprivation before his family's meager harvest had come in. He'd been at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War, where the merciless winter coupled with a devastating shortage of rations had left him weak, fatigued and near delirious from hunger and illness.

But that was before he'd been Turned.

Human starvation was a mild irritant compared to the unrelenting, all-consuming, irresistible instinct – the dire need – to gorge himself on the life-blood of another. It was all he could think about! There were times when he could taste the blood on his lips as he stared at a co-worker's pulsing jugular vein or a patient's open, flowing wound. God, it would be so easy to just take what he needed…

Aidan gave his head a violent shake and scrubbed his face wearily with his hands, determined to force those thoughts aside. He continued to walk through the black, damp streets of nighttime Boston; no destination in mind, just the need to escape for a while. He wasn't quite sure why he'd thought an escape from his empty, sterile apartment would translate to an escape from his own head, but all those dark impulses held a lot more sway in the oppressive silence of his apartment. He had hoped the distractions of the city would be enough to take his mind off of the consequences of his new-found conscience.

So far, it wasn't working.

He'd been single-handedly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people over the centuries, maybe more, but the effortless slaughter, the accepted justifications, the perverse game of it all, had started to grate on him over the last few years. He blamed his latest career move. He'd flippantly decided to pursue medicine as his newest occupational endeavor, thinking only of the ready access to blood and weakened victims.

If he'd known the price beforehand, he would have written it off as being far too high and undoubtedly would have stayed a history professor.

Yes, there was blood aplenty and yes, the victims were easy pickings, but it could never be that simple, could it? For every easy meal, he had to face the tears and pain of bereft family members, the pleadings and hysterical anger of abandoned spouses, the raw wails and tragic sobs of parents mourning their children. It was almost enough to revive the cold, dead organ in his chest – fill it with warm memories of his parents, his siblings, his wife, his son, and countless others he hadn't thought of in centuries, only to have his newly awakened heart shatter at their deaths all over again. That he was making others feel the same pain, pain he thought he'd long since put behind him, was enough to resuscitate his almost non-existent conscience.

And so, here he was. Trying an experiment that, when explained to Bishop, had sent the older vampire into blustering, hysterical laughter. After Bishop had finished making him feel like an idiot, the blond had casually waived him away with an indulgent, kids-say-the-darndest-things smile and a softer, bemused chuckle that had echoed after him as he left.

As Aidan turned the corner onto a deserted street, gritting his teeth at the memory of Bishop's condescending dismissal, he came out of his musings abruptly and promptly forgot all about the sanctimonious Vampire. He perked up his ears and heard a panicked, rambling voice coming from a nearby side-street.

"Look, man, take whatever you want! Here's my cell and my wallet and I don't have much cash, but there's credit cards and my Subway LinkPass and a coupon for ½ off a shrimp basket at Long John Silvers and…and a condom!...that I, wow, really hope you don't plan to use right now. 'Cause um...I've got herpes! Yeah! And, uh, it's bad. Scorching, even. Yep, scorching and totally incurable."

Quickly glancing around the quiet, abandoned streets, Aidan silently made his way toward the alley the sounds had come from and peaked around the corner at the scene. Some scrawny, pitiful kid was backed against the wall by three well-dressed, extremely pale and distinctly scented men. Vampires. Focusing on the kid, Aidan sniffed at the air and recoiled slightly at the wet-dog smell of him. So, he was a Werewolf. There was no love lost between Vampires and Werewolves and even Aidan's burgeoning conscience, as troublesome as it was, thankfully didn't extend to the half-breed mutts. That should have been that. But, for some reason (that may or may not have had to do with the kid's awkward, albeit hilarious, ramblings), he stayed immobile against the brick wall and listened.

"We don' want your useless shit and we sure as hell don' wanna go near your mangy ass." One of the men voiced, in a slight Irish brogue. "Just lookin' for a little fun, is all. It's gettin' close to the full moon, innit?"

The kid, if possible, spun into a whole new dimension of freaked-out, complete with a paling face, shaking body and squeaking voice. "W-what? F-full moon, why would I care if it's a full moon? The only people who c-care about that are sailors a-and wiccans and I guess, maybe astronomers…" One of the man's hands shot out, clutching the kid's neck threateningly but not yet squeezing. "Oh, god, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please don't kill me!"

A new voice joined the fray, one that had Aidan's eyes darkening dangerously. Marcus. "Seems we're the pup's first Vampire encounter, boys." Marcus said casually. The kid's face crumpled in confusion, the panic bubbling just beneath the surface.

"M-my first what?"

"Your first. Vampire. Encounter." Marcus intoned slowly. Then, in the blink of an eye, he transformed. His eyes blackened and he bared his fangs, hissing slightly. His two companions followed his example and at this point, the kid well and truly lost his shit. A nanosecond scream escaped him before one of Marcus' henchmen slapped a hand over his mouth. Marcus smiled around his fangs. "And unfortunately for you, it'll also be your last."

"Marcus." The sound echoed through the dark alley and drew the attention of all four men. As all eyes focused on him, Aidan's brain caught up to his actions and he realized he'd called Marcus' name and stepped into the alley.

"Well, well. If it isn't the Vegan Vampire himself." Marcus drawled, his companions snickering. "It's a bit late to be prowling the streets for a blood bank, isn't it, Aidan?"

Aidan barely paid Marcus' pathetic taunts any mind. At some point his eyes had drifted from Marcus to the kid, whose wide doe-eyes were locked on his. Those light brown orbs, so undeniably innocent despite being a Werewolf, were pleading with him. Those eyes were begging to be saved, pinning Aidan with all of his hope and desperation, looking at him like he was God himself. Those eyes didn't belong to a monster or a deranged mutt; they belonged to a scared kid, a good person, someone who was clearly in way over his head. And suddenly, Werewolf, Vampire, Monster, none of it mattered. Aidan was just a guy and this kid was just a guy, one who needed him. It nearly took Aidan's breath away, the awesome responsibility of being vital to someone, like blood was vital to him.

Dragging his eyes away from the kid's, Aidan focused on Marcus and let his fangs extend with a faint hiss. The kid gave a muffled yelp from under the goon's hand, but Aidan ignored him. "Let him go."

Marcus sneered. "What, you're playing the knight in shining armor for a fucking Were, now? God, Aidan, what happened to you?"

"Be more concerned with what'll happen to you, Marcus." Aidan growled dangerously.

"So mutts and humans are on your protected species list, but Family is fair game? Is that it, Aidan? God-damn, you disgust me. I'll never understand why Bishop favors you above more worthy Vampires."

But Aidan wouldn't be distracted, not when those big brown eyes lingered in his mind. "Let. Him. Go. Now, Marcus!"

"With pleasure." Marcus grinned evilly, stretching his lips open wide. Aidan rushed through the alley, his speed just shy of super-sonic. As soon as Marcus lowered his head, his fangs a centimeter away from sinking into the kid's young flesh, Aidan was in front of him and knocking Marcus down half the length of the alley. The other two Vampires couldn't have been more than fifty years old, given their slow reflexes and dismal defenses. He dispatched them easily and for all of Marcus' talk of being more worthy, the younger Vampire knew a hopeless fight when he saw one. Marcus gathered his cronies and they were soon absorbed by the dark Boston night.

Aidan looked down at the kid, who had slid down the wall and was now hugging his knees to his chest, his face slack with shock.

"Come on, kid." Aidan stuck his hand out. The kid looked at it uncertainly. Those luminous, wide eyes moved from his hand to his face and back again before clasping the offered hand and allowing himself to be pulled up. "You look like you could use a drink."

"More like a dose of Risperidone." The kid muttered shakily. Aidan glanced at him in surprise, having heard of the antipsychotic drug around the hospital. He looked a bit young to be a doctor, but then Aidan himself looked a bit young to have personally met George Washington, so he wasn't going to judge. The kid glanced over his shoulder at the alley behind them. "Did that really just happen or am I going crazy? Well, crazier, anyway."

Aidan shook his head. "Booze first, then life-changing, foundation-rocking conversations. Trust me, you'll prefer it in that order."

"Whatever you say, man." the kid shook his head. "I'm Josh, by the way. Josh Radcliff."

"Aidan McCollin."

"Thanks, Aidan…you know, for the save back there."

"Anytime, Josh."

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It was nearly four in the morning and the bars had long since closed down, so Aidan led Josh to his apartment. He pulled out a chair at the breakfast bar for Josh before moving into the kitchen. Pulling a bottle of scotch from the cabinet and pouring them both generous glasses, he slid one to his companion.

"Thanks." Josh mumbled, not looking at him. He grabbed the glass with a shaking hand and, much to Aidan's surprise, he downed the entire drink in a couple of gulps. Sputtering and gagging, Josh slammed the glass down and Aidan couldn't help but chuckle. He was just so – the first word that came to mind was cute, but Aidan repressed that in favor of the more neutral – human.

"More?" Aidan asked, smirking.

"After the night I've had? God, yes." Josh shuddered, whether from the alcohol or the memory, Aidan didn't know. Aidan poured another glass and while Josh took a healthy gulp, he didn't try to down it all in one go again. Smacking his lips against the burning liquid, Josh finally looked at Aidan. "So…were those guys really…you know…"

"Vampires?" Aidan asked. "Yeah."

"And you're a…too?"

Aidan chuckled again. "You can say it, you know. Saying it won't make you one."

Josh took a deep breath and seemed to gather his courage. "You're a Vampire, too."

"That, I am." Aidan confirmed. "What about you? When were you Turned?"

Josh put his hands up, waving frantically in disagreement. "Ohhh, no! No, no! I'm not…I mean, I've never…I'm not a Vampire!"

Aidan gave him a deadpan look. "I know that, you idiot. I meant, when were you bitten?"

"I just said I'm not a Vampire!" Josh choked out, getting that panicky tone he'd had in the alley.

"And I just said I already knew that. I meant, when were you bitten by a Werewolf? When did you Turn into a Werewolf?"

Josh stared at him agog for a moment, when some horrified bubble of laughter escaped him. His expression seemed to alternate every few seconds, at one moment being consumed by incredulous laughter and the next overtaken by a mask of horror and anxiety. "I'm not…a Werewolf." he said, nearly whispering the last part and glancing around them, as though just saying it made him feel ridiculous.

"Um…yeah, ya are." Aidan said, wondering if the kid really was a moron.

"No, I'm not." Josh said more forcefully, frightened denial in his tone. "I'm not a Werewolf, or a Vampire, or a Goblin, or a fucking Leprechaun! I'm a normal guy, with a normal…well, slightly dysfunctional…okay, totally fucked up, life. But a human life! "

"And becoming a four-legged killing machine once a month…that's part of being human?" Aidan asked.

"Hey, that's only happened once!" Josh stood up suddenly, his eyes wide with fear and his breathing labored. "And I'm almost positive I was hallucinating! So just shut up, okay! You don't know anything about it!"

Aidan stared at the panicked, confused kid in front of him and it finally made sense. He hung his head and shook it. The kid had only been through one Shift and clearly, his maker wasn't around to explain things. No wonder he was so lost! Aidan couldn't just turn him loose on the world, still in denial of what he was. That would be setting the kid up to become a killer and little distinctions like 'it was the wolf, not you' wouldn't matter to someone as sensitive as Josh. Aidan couldn't bear the thought of that inexplicable innocence leaving his eyes.

Aidan grabbed the bottle of scotch and topped off Josh's glass, filling it clear up to the rim.

"Drink up, Josh." Aidan sighed. "This is gonna be a long night."

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Aidan was impressed. Josh had gone through all the stages of grief in record time. Denial had lasted the longest, but after getting Josh to admit he'd woken up next to a dead, half-masticated deer carcass after his first Shift, well, there was really no point anymore. Plus, Aidan had bared his fangs and let the Vampire take over for a moment, reinforcing the fact that creatures like them weren't just science fiction.

The anger stage was nothing short of adorable and it had taken all of Aidan's self-control to hide his smile when Josh picked up a glass, pulled his arm back to throw it, then deflated and set it down gingerly before repeating the process with various objects around his home. Even in what had to be one of the worst moments of his life, the kid was still so freaking polite that he couldn't just let go and abandon the social niceties.

Surprisingly, bargaining was nearly non-existent. All Josh had said was, "I can't imagine God caring enough to deal with the Devil's pets."

…which had slid them right into depression. Those big, pretty eyes had welled up and in a display equal parts petulance and defiance, he'd swiped the length of his sleeved forearm across his eyes like a tired and broken child. Aidan hadn't known what to do for him, since he'd hadn't comforted anyone since Roosevelt was president. So, he'd just placed his hand on the back of Josh's neck, grasping it lightly in what he hoped was an appropriately reassuring gesture.

Aidan knew that acceptance was pretty far off, but Josh was doing a decent imitation of it, thanks to the booze. He didn't appear to be a sullen drunk; no, he was a giggly drunk.

Of course, he was.

"Hey, Aidan. H-hey…Aidan!" Josh giggled, his head lolling to Aidan's shoulder as they sat side by side on the couch. Aidan took a sip of his scotch, absentmindedly rubbing slow circles into Josh's tense neck muscles with his thumb. "D-did you hear what that douche-y Vampire said? You remember, the ginger one?"

"Marcus." Aidan supplied.

"Right. Marcush." Josh slurred. "H-he called me 'pup'! I…wow, I so didn't get that at the time. Bwhahahaha!"

It was stupid and Aidan knew it, though he couldn't stop himself from laughing with the drunken Werewolf. With a faint smile still on his face, Aidan turned his head to the side, taking another sip of his scotch. He turned back to Josh, mouth parted to say…something, when he felt a pair of soft, warm lips cover his own. His eyes widened and his lips froze against Josh's, but the kid's eyelids were squeezed tight and he didn't seem to notice Aidan's shock. Those supple lips shifted slightly against his, causing Josh's five o'clock shadow to scrape against his own perpetually smooth skin. Just as Aidan's eyes slid closed and he leaned in, the moment was over and Josh had shifted back a couple of inches. His eyes were serious and suddenly clear of the alcohol-induced haze.

"You saved me." Josh said, his tone solemn and grateful.

"I –" Aidan started, only to cut himself off as Josh slumped back onto the couch, unconscious.

Aidan sighed, but picked up the hapless Werewolf and tucked him into the guest bed. It wasn't until he was settled in his own bed, staring up at the ceiling and listening to Josh's light snores through the wall, that he realized he hadn't thought about his persistent hunger once all night.

And in the morning, when it was clear Josh didn't remember kissing him (or anything after the anger stage, really), Aidan told himself it was for the best and started building a strong, honest, and completely platonic friendship with Josh Radcliff.

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Stay tuned, there's more to come! Read and review!

~Fate Harbor