Dead At Dawn

This is my first ever fanfic and I am slightly anxious about posting it after reading so many great stories on FF. Haha please be gentle and review like mad if you like it (or if you don't, any feedback is greatly appreciated). Here goes nothing, I hope you all enjoy!

Dead At Dawn begins at the end of Club Dead and explores and alternate sequence of events. I won't say any more or you may not bother reading :op

*And of course I do not own any of the character's they belong to Ms Harris I'm just playing with them in the long hiatus till Dead in the Family comes out sigh May 2010 seems very far away.

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Sookie's POV

I looked at Bill my eyes swimming with tears it really was for the best or at least that's what I was trying to tell myself. I had to take stock of the situation, here I was lying in a vacant apartment in a strange city, listening to Alcide scream at his ex, the vile Debbie, that I was great in bed! also I was in no small amount of physical pain, staked, drained, battered and ra...raped I could hardly think the word let alone connect it to what had happened to me. Regardless of whether Bill knew it was me in the trunk with him or not he had drained me, raped me and left me close to dead. With that thought the tears rolled down my cheeks in waves. I couldn't do this any more in fact I didn't want to.

I shoved Bill away and wobbled towards the door where Eric was crouched listening in amused silence to the battle still raging in the next apartment.

"Take me home" I said.

He looked at me in surprise but rose quickly "Of course, now?" He asked.

"Yes. Alcide can drop my things by when he goes back to Baton Rogue"

"Is the Lincoln drivable?"

"Oh, yes" I said, the Lincoln was functional but I shuddered at the thought of sitting in it for any period of time.

"Here" I tossed the keys at him and with that turned and walked from the apartment without a backward glance.

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Bill's POV

I couldn't believe it, Sookie was walking away from me without so much as a word. I reached out towards her and though certain that she must have felt my fingers brush against her arm she just kept on walking back poker straight and eyes forward.

I swear in the trunk I had not known it was her. The hunger I felt was overwhelming, both hungers. I came to when she pinched me and when I realised that I was inside her and she was sobbing a terrible high pitched keening. I had immediately desisted though it would appear the damage my attack had wrought was to great for her to forgive at this time. My love, my Sookie was leaving and a chill swept over me and I felt like screaming. Only Eric's presence stopped me from doing so. The arguing in the other apartment had stopped replaced by the recognisable sounds of sex. I wanted to flee screaming into the night instead I sat there with bloody tears streaming down my face, even now the cold and emotionless persona I had built up refused to fall away completely. I was vaguely aware of Eric wheeling to face me and I waited for whatever retribution he chose to rain down upon me. Instead he did nothing but consider me for a minute before turning and following after Sookie.

Seeing him pursue her lit a fire in me the rage started to build. I knew he desired her and would pursue her tirelessly until she submitted to him, but it would not happen, Sookie is mine.

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Eric's POV

I watched Sookie walk down the corridor before turning back into the apartment towards Bill. I could smell her tears and the sadness flowing from her was overwhelming. I flashed back to the scene I had witnessed in the trunk, Bill already starting to heal a pink flush illuminating his cheeks with a look of horror and guilt still present on his face before he realised I was staring down at him and his face shut down into it's smooth mask and then there was Sookie. Sookie, my mind had screamed, she was so still, so cold her heartbeat slow and worryingly erratic. I had picked her up and raced her into the apartment before Bill could protest, as if it would matter if he had.

When she was in my arms I realised her clothes were slightly askew and the smell of sex, sweat and fear clung to her. My vision blurred and a red haze settled into my mind as a lay her gently on top of the blanket that the Were had placed on the bed and swung to face Bill.

"What have you done?" I roared at him watching as he stumbled back in his haste to put some distance between us "WHAT?".

The gods must have been smiling upon him because at that moment Sookie's heart faltered and I was suddenly focused solely on ensuring her survival, the brief altercation forgotten as we all bent and worked to save her.

I snapped back into the present and glared down at Bill who's tears were cutting red bloody tracks down his pale face, he was pathetic in my opinion but he was at that moment realising that he had lost Sookie I felt I at least understood his reaction and took vindictive pleasure in the torture that his realisation was ensuing upon him. This lead me to muster my impulses for revenge or should it be called justice and force myself from the room, down the elevator and into the Lincoln where Sookie was waiting. I started the car and heading down the highway back towards Bon Temps, I wish I could take her back to Shreveport but I knew she wouldn't agree.

"I had to give Bill a few instructions about cleaning up the mess he caused" I said to Sookie. A complete lie better that than the truth 'I was just reflecting on your battered body and contemplating ripping Compton limb from limb before he started crying and I left', yes the lie was much better. The thought of Bill alone and crying would only make Sookie soften towards him.

I steeled myself and voiced my next thought, if I was to make her mine I had to know what I was entering into before I progressed down this path with her any further.

"Had it occurred to you that you tend to walk away when things between you and Bill become rocky? Not that I mind, necessarily, since I would be glad for you two to sever your association. But if this is the pattern you follow in your romantic attachments, I want to know now".

I heard her suck in a breath as if to scream at me but her words were calm though laced with venom.

"Firstly, Eric, what happens between Bill and me is just none of your business" she hissed. I could only think that's where you are wrong lover everything that goes on in your life should be my business...It will be my business. "Second, my relationship with Bill is the only one I've ever had, so I've never had any idea what I'm going to do even from day to day, much less establishing a policy".

She carried on too further points but I was no longer really listening I was contemplating what she had said, Bill was her first? Her first love? Her first lover? If this was so it would explain the unwavering loyalty and love she bestowed upon him. He is so unworthy of her, he is anachronistic to the extreme and I could never see the reason why she was always defending him, even while in Jackson when she was almost certain of his betrayal. The answer was simple, if having never before felt loved, she now clung to the love she did know and was unwilling to move on in case of getting hurt or perhaps forsaking what may be true love with Compton. Well she had gotten hurt, hurt worse than anything I would ever do to her. Surely she couldn't believe that I would ever do something so abhorrent to her. I looked at her from the corner of my eye she was still looking straight ahead her cheeks flushed from anger. I had never seen anything so beautiful or appealing but I simply said "You are spoiled for humans".

She sighed "Maybe I am. Though I don't see that as much of a loss, since I didn't have any luck with guys before but I'd be happier with no one than I am now".

I didn't know how to reply so I just looked straight ahead. I knew she wanted to talk to me but I didn't want to be the one to break the silence. We needed gas and I was sure she would need to attend to human needs, humans needed to do things like go to the bathroom and eat frequently and I don't recall when she last did either. I took the next exit ramp and drove along until we came to a small gas station. We were only an hour or so from Bon Temps. I wanted to see her again but now without Bill around I would be unable to get him to escort her to Fangtasia. I wonder if I summoned her if she would come or would she just try to ignore me now that I didn't hold the threat of harming Bill if she didn't comply. I was vaguely aware of her offering to pump the gas, honestly I was more than capable but she was always offering to do menial things for people. It was below her and it was the last way I wanted her to serve me. She was capable of so much more why wouldn't she aspire to something else something better. Every time I had a job for her the amount of resistance she gave when it came to leaving her job with the shifter, I didn't understand.

As I finished pumping the fuel and headed towards the automated doors I looked up from my contemplation and saw Sookie walking down the back of store towards to bathroom. I couldn't help but notice the way her hips moved, how her chest heaved with each breath and that her hair bounced as she walked I was mesmerised and that is the excuse I will use as to not hearing the man creep up behind me until it was to late. I felt the silver sear into my face and neck the silver net was of poor grade mainly steel but it was still enough to stun me for a few crucial seconds as the man started to yank me by the arms around the back of the gas station. Next minute another man joined him and they hauled me next to an overflowing dumpster. I heaved and managed to get one knee underneath me the next minute though the larger of the two men slammed the butt of his gun into my temple. I fell and if someone who is dead could lose conciousness I probably would have, instead I lapsed into a deeper kind of downtime which happens when our kind is healing. I could still hear everything clearly but was unable to move as the men dragged me further around the side of the building. I could feel the blood oozing steadily from the wound in my temple but was still unable to move. I could hear the men questioning the attendant, really a robbery occurring right now was just Sookie's luck, speaking of Sookie I prayed fervently that she was well, I didn't doubt that the men would harm her physically or worse and that is the last thing I wanted to happen.

That was what motivated me to move my fear for Sookie's safety I had to laugh, after a thousand year's of self preservation and putting myself first I was going to find and save Sookie before thinking what was best for myself. Pam would die (again) laughing over this. I rolled towards the edge of the wall and saw a truck parked only a few feet away there was a jagged edge at the right side of the bumper and after a few attempts I hooked a few chinks of the net on the edge and rolled out of the net. I gasped (a completely unnecessary action) in relief as the burning and weakening affect of the silver was removed. It took me but a few minutes to completely heal but I still felt weak from the net's effects and wished more than anything for some unsuspecting human to wander by so I could feed. It was with that in mind that my whole body stiffened as I heard a footfall against the gravel at the front of the gas station. Moving stealthily towards the sound I caught the sweet scent which was Sookie on the air.

"Sookie"

I saw herself muster a scream and clapped my hand hard across her mouth. I pressed against her back and revelled in her warmth even in this situation I couldn't help but feel my lust rise being in such close proximity to her. Sookie was insisting on saving the clerk and I honestly couldn't see any reason to agree. I wanted her no closer than necessary to the men inside the store.

"There looking for us" she whispered.

"Tell me" and I listened intently as she relayed all she had heard from the conversation between the men and clerk.

I reached for the gun though I had to admit I have had little experience with firearms and had a sudden wish that I had my longsword at hand.

"You know how to use one of these things?" asked Sookie looking sceptically at my grip upon the shotgun.

"Probably as well as you" I said authoritatively, I like Sookie's spirit and independence but this was certainly a time I wished that she would just comply with my wishes. Before I could stop her she jerked the shotgun from my hands and ran into the store brandishing the weapon like she would like nothing better than to blow the two thugs away. I had to admit I was turned on by the whole situation and seeing gentle and caring Sookie ready to deliver death made me want to grab her and ravage her against the store counter, as I have always said she would make a wonderful vampire if she would just embrace her desires.

"You gonna shoot us, little lady" Leered the larger of the two.

"You bet your arse I am" Snarled Sookie.

Beautiful simply beautiful, I thought adding to the men "And if she misses I will get you" I smiled.

The idiots started to babble about the vampire getting loose, well obviously I was standing right in front of them and was clearly not wrapped in silver or incapacitated. Ignoring their obvisious slow wits I turned to face Sookie

"Before the police get here, Sookie, we need to find out who sent these two imbeciles" I said coldly I was still angry that they had incapacitated me if I hadn't been so distracted by Sookie's body it never would have happened but still it was no excuse. Sookie glanced at me for the first time since entering the store and I saw her do a double take as she took in the oozing burns on my face and neck and felt her alarm and concern flow through the bond and once again wanted to gather her in my arms, again I fought the urge and catching Sonny's eyes ordered him to come to me.

After glamouring him and asking a few pointed questions we deduced that the two idiots had been sent by the Hounds of Hell.

"What were you supposed to watch for"

"A big dark guy (Alcide I assumed) and a tall blonde guy. With a blonde woman, real young, with nice tits" said Sonny.

I was suddenly incensed how dare he, before I fully considered what I was doing my hand flew out and struck him across the face "You are speaking of my future lover. Be more respectful. Why were you looking for us?"

"We were supposed to catch you. Take you back to Jackson" mumbled Sonny blood trickling steadily down his chin.

I guessed this was nothing more than a shoddily planned abduction attempt and all over a missing Were, the Were who had marked Sookie at the club, one thing about Weres loyal very loyal if not brutal and stupid. Thankfully the vampires of Jackson were for the most part unaware of any of this and were more concerned about Lorena and Bill's disappearance. Sorting the situation here with the local authorities was not an option it would tie us up for hours and all I wanted to do was get Sookie alone in her house were she was comfortable and I could talk to her, well try to fuck her brains out was more accurate but I would settle for a discussion about a few things Bill's programme, Lorena's death and how she felt about me after the night at Russell's for a start.

We left quickly after confirming that the boy wouldn't talk and drove at a sedate pace along the road back to Bon Temps the silence was deafening and only interrupted about 15 minutes later by the processional of wailing police cars heading in the opposite direction.

"How's your face?" asked Sookie

"It's getting better" I said, unwilling to elaborate, but of course Sookie wasn't going to let it go so easy.

"What happened" she asked and of course I had to relay the whole humiliating experience. She commented that I must have been quite distracted not to have noticed the attack, she had no idea just how distracted I was around her, it was a dangerous habit. She then relayed her side of the story and I could hardly believe what I was hearing when she confessed that her plan was to save both myself and the clerk and apprehend the two thugs.

"So you planned to save me and the clerk, together?" I said in exasperation.

"Well...yeah, I didn't feel like I had a whole lot of choices there. You don't seem to happy about something" she said. After I didn't answer straight away she added "Would there be something wrong with me rescuing the two of you?"

Stupid stupid stupid was all my mind was screaming of course I wasn't happy I wanted to yell at her shake her and make her realise what a terrible idea her rescue was. Honestly did she have no grasp of her own fragility? Did she not understand just how painfully mortal she was. I could feel her anger rising through the bond it was especially clear since she had had so much of my blood the previous night.

"Yes, there is something wrong with that" not wanting to elaborate I added "and why the hell don't you get your driveway fixed?" At this point we had just turned of Hummingbird Road and unto her long winding driveway every foot of which was testing the suspension on the Lincoln.

I did not expect the reaction that that statement pulled from Sookie as we pulled up in front of her house. Her controlled facade fell away and she looked wild as she sprang from the car and turned to face me. Her eyes crackled with electricity and her hair flew around her face and waves of power rolled off her, I was stunned I couldn't understand what I was witnessing. I had always suspected that Sookie wasn't entirely human though she was adamant that she was just a telepath, like that was a normal everyday occurrence. The closest thing I could relate this display of otherness to was what a faerie looked like when angered. Could Sookie be part Fae it would explain the pull of her blood. I filed away this question for another time, I was sure that Sookie knew nothing of the Fae or other supernatural groups and I could make a few quiet inquiries into this at another time. Instead I focused on her and was mesmerised by her heaving chest.

"Because I can't afford it, that's why! I don't have any money! And you all keep asking me to take time off from my job to do stuff for you! I can't! I can't do it any more! I quit!" she screamed.

"Bill.." I began then could have hit myself for my misstep her face darkened at the mere mention of his name...stupid! I growled to myself.

"He's spending all his money on the freaking Bellefleurs, he never thinks about giving me money. And how could I take it? It would make me a kept woman, and I'm not his whore, I'm his...I used too be his girlfriend". Hope surged through me at her last statement, used to be, yes I definitely preferred that term to the 'current boyfriend' tag she usually attached to Compton. I nearly smirked but caught myself before my face could betray what I was thinking. Though I was exasperated by her logic, how did accepting money from your partner, mate...whatever humans were calling there companions these days, make one a whore. Partnership was about sharing, an odd concept to someone who hadn't shared much of anything in a 1000 years. The closest I came to sharing was with Pam, I casually wondered how Sookie viewed my relationship with Pam, they seemed to care for each other in some way but I hadn't questioned Pam about it, that was something I would rectify as soon as I returned to Fangtasia.

"Where do you get off, telling them that I'm your...your lover? Where'd that come from?" she yelled all of a sudden. That was certainly not a topic I wished to discuss right now. I paused trying to regather my thoughts and direct the conversation into safer territory, in the silence I heard something, it sounded like footsteps but a second later all was silent.

"What happened to the money you earned in Dallas? An innocent enough question and not something she could be offended by. I knew I had surprised her when she fell silent and looked at me in shock.

"I paid my property taxes with it" she blurted.

"Did you ever think that if you told me where Bill's hiding his computer programme, I would give you anything you asked for? Did you not realise that Russell would have paid you handsomely". I could tell instantly that these thoughts had never crossed her mind. Her loyalty and affection towards Bill was truly amazing and I couldn't help but think that I would enjoy when she showed me the same loyalty and affection.

"I see you didn't think of those things" I whispered trying to impart some of the admiration I felt for her into those words.

"Oh, yeah, I'm just and angel" She spat. But I wasn't listening any more I could hear murmuring coming from inside the house and another scrape of a footfall against what I now decided must be the steps to the back porch.

"Someone's waiting in my house, Eric" Sookie said suddenly as if she to caught a sound and without hesitating she swung around and quickly stomped across the yard to enter the house.

No no no, I thought "No Sookie stop, STOP!" but I already knew it was to late as she yanked the door open and I saw her crumple to the ground.

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A/N Well that's it Chapter One. Please review! I was going to make this story a one shot but I think I will continue it as I haven't started getting to my storyline yet. Also please note this work is un-beta'd so all mistakes are mine.