Disclaimers: I do not own any of the lead characters. I do like putting them in varying fun, perilous and/or provocative situations. I think Bill is the sexiest of all vampires. No wait... Frank Langella is Juusst a tad better. (He's taller, sorry!) Hey... is lusting after my favorite vampires really a disclaimer? Hmm... I'll have to give that one some thought!

At any rate, enjoy the coming adventures and don't forget... some situations are geared toward mature audiences!

Aftermaths

After the true death of Decebal, Mr. Garth became, pardon the oxymoron… a demon possessed. He worked hard to counter the damage that had been done. Bill was unable to keep Mr. Garth from putting to rights every area of 'their' home that had seen damage. Even as far as to having a professional landscaping company re-sodding areas where the grass had been rutted during the battles to defeat Decebal before he was captured.

Bill and Sookie had gone to their Shreveport apartment and spent nearly forty-eight hours sleeping, making love, and playing in the hot tub. They turned off their phones and neither turned on a computer. Bill was intent on Sookie being far removed from the events of the previous weeks. He could feel her emotions on overload but was more concerned when he began to sense her pain closing in on herself.

After they'd reached Shreveport, Bill had ordered in food and put in one of Sookie's favorite DVDs in. She curled up next to him on the sofa, eating just a few bites of her dinner, watching the screen and seeing nothing as she did. After a while Bill got up and left her on the couch. He went to the bathroom and started filling the tub. When it was ready, the candles lit and soft music playing… he went to the living room and gathered her up in his arms. She offered no resistance.

He placed her on the deck of the tub and carefully undressed her and then himself. Lifting her once more he stepped into the tub and settled into the warm and fragrant water. He sat with her on his lap and kissed her face very gently… delicately. She closed her eyes as his lips traced hints of kisses down her jaw, her throat.

She tilted her head back and to the side, resting it on his shoulder. He traced the fine line of her collarbone then placed a soft kiss in the hollow of her throat. The warm water surged around them and Bill kissed his way to the tops of her warm, wet breasts as his hand gently cupped them. He felt desire growing within her emotions but it was distant, almost as if it were an afterthought of sorts. He heard her sigh and shift slightly against him.

He held her tenderly and debated with himself, should he just leave her be? Should he try and ignite her passion further?

His question was answered when she moved herself off his lap. Leaning back against him, she pulled his arms around her. He tightened his grip on her as the frothy water swirled. When the jets timed out, Sookie was deeply asleep and had been for some time. He dried her well and tucked her into bed.

He walked into the living room and cleaned up her uneaten dinner, then fired up his laptop just long enough to send an email to his counterpart that he would need a few more days. With everything taken care of, he slipped into bed beside her and watched her sleep. He felt a bit of melancholy as he listened to her deep and steady breathing. Watching her eyes flit beneath her lids as her mind dreamt of things he hoped desperately were sweet and pleasant.

He couldn't stop himself from wondering how different her life would have been if he'd never returned to Bon Temps. Would her life have been easier? Probably. She wouldn't have lost her precious Grandmother for one.

Then again, he had to look at the fact that she'd also still be waiting tables, dealing with drunken rednecks, crazy Cajuns, the occasional Saturday night bar brawl, a steady barrage of unwanted thoughts and feelings. Working long, exhausting hours for little more than minimum wage and forced to live a hand to mouth existence. So in that context, his being a part of her life had made the world a much easier place for her to navigate.

The truth of the matter was blindingly simple and completely biased. He would be able to rationalize away any thoughts of wishing he hadn't entered her life… he had never loved anyone the way he loved her. Caroline, God rest her soul, had been a lovely and sweet woman, the mother of his children, a loving and dutiful wife whom he'd loved dearly.

But loving Sookie? His love for Sookie showed him what true desire… what complete and utter passion really was. Now he could not fathom a life without her. He found himself feeling great joy and excitement at the thought of her being his wife. About the possibility of her becoming a mother to a child. Their child or children she might someday desire…

As he began to feel the pull of the dawn, he slipped even closer to her, cradling her in his arms, the crown of her warm head and silky, soft blond hair nestled beneath his chin. He closed his eyes and relaxed. The steady rhythm of her strong and loving heart soothed him and it wasn't long before he slid into his rest and dreamt of a life with Sookie with him forever.

XxXxXx

Sookie woke slowly in her favorite place… wrapped in Bill's arms. She could smell the subtle fragrance of lavender, and her skin felt silky to the touch. Smiling, she stretched slowly then extricated herself from her lover's embrace. She started her usual morning routine, completely ignoring the fact that it was mid-afternoon. She sat at the kitchen table and did sigh deeply… not having a half dozen coffee urns perking, along with more food than she'd cook in a month of Sundays laid out was still a little hard to ignore.

She shook it off as the coffee pot finished brewing and she poured a cup, and then went looking for her phone. She found it and scrolled through the messages, but didn't read or listen to any of them. She just stuffed the phone back into her purse and turned and walked to the living room. She popped in the DVD she hadn't watched the night before and settled in to do just that.

In the bedroom, Bill smiled in his sleep when he heard Sookie giggle.

XxXxX

Bill woke from his resting state in his favorite way… with Sookie's hands and mouth creating delicious sensations on various parts of his body. He reached for her and she slid up him and laid her naked body across his chest. Her smile was radiant and her eyes had a wicked but sexy spark in them.

"Good evening Mr. Compton!" she brushed a kiss across his lips.

"Good evening to you, Miss Stackhouse." He gave her bottom a friendly pat and earned a big grin in return.

Sookie cupped the side of his face with her hand and leaned in for a kiss. Bill slipped his fingers in Sookie's hair, bringing her mouth closer. His tongue flicked against her lips and she parted them slightly. Their kiss deepened as Sookie gently licked the spots behind Bill's fangs and he moaned in response.

In a blink, Sookie found herself beneath him. She smiled and ran her hands down his back until she had her hands firmly planted on his perfect and sculpted butt. She looked into his eyes and whispered, "Make love to me baby."

"Happily, my darling…"

XxXxX

Weeks later, Sookie sat at her desk adding the final notations on the now closed Mark Cushing file. She had a small smile on her face as she typed. She had finally gotten to the bottom of the strange, unlucky saga of Mark Cushing Construction. Sookie still couldn't believe the outcome.

With Bill's help, they were able to find an older vampire to help read behind the glamouring of Mark Cushing. When Bill had talked about it at first, Sookie was glad when Bill hadn't suggested Eric, but when she mentioned Eric to Bill he was oddly evasive so she didn't push the point.

Sookie had been surprised as everyone else present when it was discovered that the backlash against Cushing had all started with Alan Kentwood. Cushing was being targeted by one of the dirty contractors Alan had been in bed with. Tony Medina had lost tons of cash when Alan had been arrested,

Medina hired a vampire thug after discovering Mark Cushing had been one of the contractors that had cooperated with Garth and Associates about Alan's underhanded dealings, once the investigation of Alan had begun. When the huge amount of kickback cash had stopped rolling in; Medina, who was big on 'do unto others' when they pissed him off, so he had set out to ruin Cushing at the very least, in order to snatch his company out from under him, but also wouldn't have cared if Cushing was murdered in the process.

Once Joe had the information he needed, Tony Medina was quickly shut down and Joe made sure Mark Cushing was given everything he needed to get his company back on track. Sookie hadn't asked when Medina was going to be placed under arrest; she knew that she would have no part in the proceedings. This case had too many aspects that couldn't be delved into too deeply. So she just finished her final, internal report, and left it at that. It was up to other agencies owned by Mr. Garth to figure out the legal recourse for the situation.

Just as she emailed the notations, Abby buzzed her, "Miss Stackhouse, there is a… Miss Ginger that would like to see you?"

Sookie could hear the odd tone in Abby's voice and if Ginger looked anything at all like she did when she was at Fangtasia, Sookie understood the odd, 'question within a question' image Abby was trying to make sense of. Sookie couldn't help but smile, yet there was a fair amount unease… why in the world would Ginger need to see her? Here at work, no less!

Sookie kept her voice neutral and said, "Show her in please." as she stood and walked around her desk, Abby opened the door and motioned Ginger in. Ginger was wide-eyed and open-mouthed as she entered the office, clearly impressed and quite intimidated by her surroundings. As Sookie had suspected, Ginger was wearing a pair of cut-off shorts, a blindingly hot pink tube top and platform shoes that added at least four inches to Ginger's height. Making her about 5'2" and "90 pounds in a wet fur coat!" as her Gran would have said!

"Hello Ginger," Sookie gave her a warm and genuine smile, hoping to put her at ease, "Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Sweet tea…"

In a hushed and timid voice Ginger said, "Um, ya' got a soda maybe?"

"Certainly, what kind would you like?" Abby asked. Ginger told her and then left to fetch it. Sookie read loud and clear that Ginger was a bundle of nerves and it wasn't just her surroundings, not completely anyway. Abby walked out and Sookie led Ginger to the small sofa and chairs. Sookie was being overwhelmed by Ginger's anxiety.

At the moment, Ginger was afraid to sit down because her shorts might be dirty and the couch was pearl gray. Sookie stepped up and took a seat at one end and said, "Please, sit down! You've just got to feel this fabric! I couldn't believe something like this would ever be so soft."

Ginger sat and ran her hand carefully over the seat. Her mind distracted from her fears for the moment. "Thanks… wow Sookie this is really something'!" Ginger was beginning to feel less intimidated and that suited Sookie just fine.

Abby returned with the refreshments and before she returned to her desk, looked to Sookie for instruction. Sookie smiled when she realized Abby was wondering if she should interrupt them if Sookie was just being polite to this strange woman.

"Thank you Abby, we've got some catching up to do, so why don't you just take a message if anyone calls." Sookie gave her a slight nod and Abby smiled and closed the door.

Ginger took a sip of her soda and her hand was trembling slightly, "Wow… you sure done good Sookie! No wonder…" her voice trailed off and her eyes dropped to her hands. She began to fidget and Sookie was glad Ginger was a strong broadcaster because Sookie was shocked by what she heard before Ginger gave it voice.

"Um… I'm here 'cause… oh! Damn, I wished it wasn't me had do this!" Ginger's hands were suddenly very shaky and Sookie reached over and carefully placed her hand on Ginger's arm. Ginger gave a bit of a start from the contact, and then met Sookie's eyes. Ginger's voice was little more than a ragged whisper when she said, "Oh Sookie… things are real bad, really bad! Pam sent me to you… she needs your help, but she says you can't come near her… and… and Master Eric is… well, it's just scary bad! Ya' gotta help her Sookie! Ya' just gotta!" Ginger's voice had become screechy and her eyes were filled with both fear and sadness.

Sookie rubbed Ginger's forearm and made the shushing sounds a person used to help calm a crying child, "Ginger, shh… it's going to be all right! Just tell me, what's going on?"

Ginger's eyes were sorrowful and a tear ran down her cheek, "God Sookie… he's gonna kill her… Eric's gonna be the death of her and I don't want to be there when he does! I don't wanna be there at all, 'cept for he makes me! But Pam? She got me to come here…" Ginger suddenly shoved her hand into her pocket and pulled out a sealed, crumpled envelope and held it for Sookie to take.

Sookie opened it carefully and smoothed the note inside it the best she could. Ginger drank half of her soda in one gulp, her mind's burden eased now that her mission had been completed. Sookie had been filled with a great deal of trepidation over Ginger's state, and the note confirmed her worst fears…

Sookie,

I must meet with both you and Bill as soon as it can be managed. I fear that without intervention, I will soon meet the true death at the hands of my maker.

If there is any chance of you being able to meet me in your parking garage at sunset on any evening, please tell Ginger yes, nothing else, just yes. I will be there as often as I can manage, I am hoping to be there tonight but I can give no guarantee.

Please keep this note so Eric doesn't find her with it. I am desperate Sookie, I need you and I especially need Bill's counsel on this matter. Whatever you do… DON'T COME NEAR HERE! I can't begin to explain how dangerous it would be for you.

Thank you Sookie, I know what I am asking for is a lot, but I have absolutely no help without you. If I should meet the true death, Ginger has been given instructions (she doesn't know it, it'll be triggered by my disappearance) to bring certain things to you. I know you admired the vintage Harry Winston sapphire necklace and earrings, I can think of no one better to have it. (And no Sookie, I didn't write that just to get you to try to help me!) I hope to see you soon.

Your friend,

Pam

Sookie was stunned by Pam's message, what in the world was happening? She had countless questions she wanted answered but clearly there was no chance of that. Ginger's fragile psyche was so fried she'd likely crumble under the pressure of answering questions. Sookie knew this because in the random space that was Ginger's mind, she discovered Ginger wasn't even sure of her own middle name!

Sookie gave Ginger a big smile and said in her most gentle and soothing voice, "Tell Pam I said, yes."

Ginger's face looked blank for a second and then she grinned a big toothy grin, "All righty then!" She smacked her hands on the tops of her thighs and jumped up from the sofa. She headed for the door, gushing about how great Sookie's place was, thanking her for the drink and how Pam would be thrilled. After she left the office, (and had startled the hell out of Sookie with a completely unexpected bear hug!) she flitted her way out of the office like a humming bird on crack.

Sookie stood in the doorway and could hear Abby's curiosity about the visit forming into a question. Sookie knew that this was best kept under wraps so she gave Abby a quick smile then closed her office door. She sat at her desk and reread the note, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end as she did.

When it had begun, Sookie hadn't understood Pam's silence. They hadn't been BFFs or anything like that but they had enjoyed time together on occasion. In fact there had been a time or two when she and Pam and had actually fun together! Pam's sense of humor was quite dry (and often outright sarcastic!) but once you got used to it, she could be pretty funny.

It had been so long since she'd heard from her; she had pretty much thought of her dealings with Eric and friendly moments with Pam just another chapter in her life as she moved forward. It concerned her greatly that obviously, Pam's distancing herself from Sookie had not been by choice. Sookie again read the note, still shocked by Pam's warning to stay away from Fangtasia. While Sookie knew Eric was capable of many acts of violence, she'd never thought he'd do her serious harm. But even as her mind tried to rationalize away her unsettling thoughts, she made the first of two phone calls…

To Be Continued...