Hello! I hope everyone is enjoying things so far...
So, this is obviously a sequel to Hunters & Preys S03-S04.
This is the final season.

It's still rated M for language, graphic depictions of violence and sex scenes.

Previously on Hunters & Preys:
Jill is a hunter, a kind raised to kill vampires. However, she chose a different path for herself, and decided to be a doctor instead. When she met Eric, she thought it would be the end of her. But he, in turn, chose a different option. Her ability to feel his emotions and scent his past, let her in, deeper than anyone before. First, the disappearance of his maker brought them closer; then a mutual enemy, and the revenge they took on him, sealed their mutual fate. She was forced to become an advocate for the end of vampire hunting, and he had to become an agent of the vampire Authority. Though, eventually, after saving each other's lives and proving their affection, several times, they still couldn't manage to make it work. Because she has a plan for her own life, that she won't let him change, and he can't accept it. So, when she left to begin her surgical internship, in Seattle, he told her that it was the end... But was it?

SEASON FIVE

Episode 501: Once Again

I wake up with a start; I dreamed he was at my door.

Jake is lightly snoring beside me. We've only been dating for a couple of months. He's nice. I thought I would end up with a fancy doctor, and here I am, dating a bearded bartender. With calloused hand, a passion for carving wood and crafting beer. I'm having fun like never before. No drama. It's simple and cute, with good sex, peaceful conversations, and good-hearted laughs. He gets along with my friends; he doesn't care that I work a 100 hour a week, or answer my pager at the most inappropriate times. He shrugs it off, and makes me waffles when we get to sleep in. Jake and Jill, everyone finds that adorable. But he's his own man; he didn't expect me to come into his life, as I didn't expect him. So, we're taking it slow, without being needy; and I feel content.

So why am I dreaming about Eric now?

I'm trying not to think too much of it. It wasn't an erotic dream either, like it used to be; he was just showing up at the door, nothing more. Two days ago, I lost a patient that I really liked; I had followed him for several months and we had connected, especially over a book that I had once read in Eric's office. That's probably just it: the stress of it. When that patient died, I had a slight breakdown and was sent home in the middle of the night. I showed up to work the next day, though. Life goes on.

It's harder these days because we have to prep for the intern exam next week, while still working full time. Not that I'm complaining; exams are so much easier for me, than for any of the others. All the procedures are easier too; I'm faster, more precise, and I don't tire as quickly. I'm not bragging; I'm actually a bit embarrassed about that unfair advantage. All the praises I get, I feel, are a validation of an upbringing I despise.

I tiptoe down the stairs, wide awake in the silent house. It's still the middle of the night, but I'm supposed to leave for the hospital in an hour anyway. I'm making sure I'm not waking up any of my roommates thought. There's five of us living here – although some are working nights right now. Of course, – I should clarify – I made sure I'm on the lease. Vampires have not been a problem for me lately, even if the sheriff here is a prick. Though I'm not letting my guard completely down.

When I first got to Seattle, I lived alone, as I always had. Though, after a few months, I found it was eating me away. I was distant; I didn't connect with anyone. So, when one of my fellow interns quit and left this house, I applied to live with the others. They were somewhat reluctant at first, since I hadn't come off as the most amiable person; however, during the year, I've found my place in that small community. After all, we are all wannabe surgeons, competitive, obsessed with work, immature, egomaniacs…so we have a lot in common.

I'm making coffee for when Trissa and Craig wake up; Jake worked late at the bar, so I'm not expecting him to see me off. I'm feeling weird, as an impromptu shiver makes small hairs rise on my nape. The dream was lively, but so incongruous; I can't shake it off. With finally a hot cup in my hand, I'm making my way to the living room, so I can laze about on the couch, until I'm properly out of my morning fog.

The cup breaks on the floor when I see him.

His icy blue eyes are fixed on me from across the lawn. Suddenly, with his inhuman speed, he's at the house. It takes me a second to recover from my surprise. However, when I realize I can feel his presence behind the front door, as clear as ever, I run to open it.

"Eric-"

I'm cut off by his look. He frowns in incomprehension, glancing up and down at me. His mouth is a bit agape, his usually styled hair in disarray, and his eyes wide and lost. Then, we both get a whiff of each other's scent, in the whirl of air caused by the suddenly opened door. I jolt backward. His fangs spring out as he snarls and attacks.

His scent is completely blank. No salt, no see, no snow, no fire. It's like he's entirely new. And the way he looks at me; that man has never seen me in his life. I wonder if I'm not looking at a newly made clone. But the main problem is that now: he's just a vampire, in the presence of a hunter.

Thankfully, he can't cross the threshold. He hisses in frustrated anger.

"- Eric, what's going on?

- Eric…"

Or has his memory been wiped clean?

"That's you."

Since I get no reaction, I keep going:

"- Your name is Eric Northman. You're a vampire-

- I know what I am! – he snaps.

- Alright. – I raise two open hands in a peaceful gesture.

- Who are you? – he gruffs.

- I'm Jill-

- Who are you to me?

- I'm your friend."

I had to think fast on that one; it's not like I could hesitate too long. But the way he spits his retort sends a swell of pain that gets stuck in my throat:

"That's impossible."

He even smirks meanly, as he's so sure I'm lying.

"- I know, it's hard to believe, but it's true-

- Let me in, then."

Only, I can't do that. I see murder in his eyes, and his muscles are ready to lunge forward, fangs first. I'm trembling, not in fear, but in anguish.

"- Let me in, - he repeats seductively, and I can feel the pull on my mind.

- Don't try to glamour me!"

His hand slams hard on the door frame, cracking the wood; he's livid. I have to calm him down, so I pronounce the next words softly, tenderly:

"What happened to you?"

He growls like an animal and finally withdraws from the door frame, to pace on the pathway to the house. I can take a step forward, and I sense his agitation, his confusion. The way he walks, with his head down, lets me know he's thinking hard. It's so disturbing, that his mannerisms are the same, but he's not going to take me in his arms.

"- I can't remember, – he finally admits, shamefully.

- What is the first thing you remember?"

For a second, he looks at me and I see the boy, that didn't know if his father would come back from the war, or the lost man that looked at Godric as if he would never know what to do anymore. I want so bad to run to him, hug him, tell him it's going to be alright.

"It's okay. Don't worry, – I soothingly say. – I'm going to call your sister. She'll surely know what to do."

And before I leave to find my phone, still in my bedroom, I can clearly see in his eyes that he has no idea who I'm talking about.

While I'm upstairs, I strap on my weapons before dressing up with a long-sleeve shirt. As I do it though, I'm convinced that I would never stake him. He could kill me; I still wouldn't do it. Jake turns on the bed, but he's still asleep. I have absolutely no idea how I'm going to defuse this situation.

The only thing I can surmise, is that he was sent by the Authority on a mission that went wrong. Or that he made an enemy who hurt him. Only, vampires certainly can't get concussions; it would heal. He must have messed with something powerful. Then, I'm suddenly hit with the obvious question I forgot to ask: Why are you here? If he can't remember who I am, how did he find me? And why me?

Nora's phone rings until it gets to voicemail, while I'm making my way back down. That's when I hear a conversation downstairs.

"- Who are you?

- Don't invite him in!" I anticipate.

Trissa and Craig are both there, and Eric is leaning alluringly against the doorframe. Somehow he managed to regain his composure, while I was gone.

"- And don't look him in the eyes, – I add as I reach them.

- You hurt me, little girl, I thought we were friends…"

Damn, I had forgotten how he used to call me that. It sends a shiver down my spine, and that makes him raise an eyebrow with a sly smile. I need to focus:

"- Your sister is not answering.

- You know him? – Trissa asks.

- That's a vampire, right? – Craig adds in a useless whisper.

- I used to. But he seems to have retrograde amnesia. So, he could be dangerous."

The two humans gape at me, then Eric.

"So what now, little girl? – the vampire asks with an intense glare. – It's going to be dawn, soon; are you going to let me fry out here?"

He acts seductive now, since he's sensing my affection. However, I get none back from him. I only feel waves after waves of raw power, irradiating from him, as if he had absolutely no deep self-control.

He's playing a risky card though. I actually could leave him outside. And, in the middle of those suburbs, he's not going to find somewhere to go to ground easily. Either he's got enormous faith in his ability to persuade us, or he's desperate.

"- Why did you come here? – I ask.

- Why, to see you, my dear friend!"

He's messing with me without even trying to conceal it. He's just trying to prove to me that we couldn't be friends. That's not smart though. But maybe his pride is bigger than his survival instinct.

"How did you find me, since you can't remember me?"

This question makes him clench his teeth, as he's trying to keep his false confidence up. He's uncomfortable, because it may prove me right.

"- I felt your sadness from across the country, – he admits because he wants answers, and I realize he felt when I lost my patient, two days ago.

- So you must know I'm your friend.

- I thought so. But now, I'm starting to think, maybe, you stole some of my blood.

- I didn't; you gave it to me, to save my life.

- That's impossible, – he barks again. – I wouldn't give blood to a hunter.

- Yet you did.

- Why?

- Well… Because you cared about me."

He growls. So I have to argue quickly:

"- You didn't at first, of course. But we got to know each other-

- Why didn't I kill you at first sight?"

I waver. The truth is, I don't know.

"I guess, only you know that."

He growls again and goes back to pacing in the front yard, as if he were laying siege to the house.

"- Maybe you could let him in the basement… – Trissa obliviously offers. And I'm grateful, but also in awe of how his seduction already worked on her.

- Are you nuts? – It's lost on Craig, though. – He could kill us all-

- Did he say you were a hunter?" Triss interjects.

Hunters have come out during the past year. They didn't give away all our secrets, but people know there's a kind that protects them against vampires. We're supposed to be cooperating with law enforcement now. Roman must be fuming. Some of the interns had recognized me from the 'End the Hunt' campaign. But it had never gone beyond some teasing about my aborted political career.

"- I used to be. Well, I was trained as such, but I've never actually been one…" I say loud enough that Eric hears me too.

- That means you can protect us! – she exclaims, not even that impressed.

- Not against a vampire as old as him, no.

- How old is he?

- A thousand…"

That leaves them both speechless. When you think about it, it is truly mind-blowing. I glance back at Eric, to realize he is looking at me with wide eyes too. He had no idea.

He had no idea how much he'd lost.

I walk to the doorframe, though I'm not confident enough to step outside.

"I'm going to help you get it back, Eric, I promise. – Why am I saying that? I can't help him; I've got work. And he dumped me. Nora or Pam are going to help him, not me. Not my problem. Not anymore. – You have a sister, and a progeny, I'm going to tell them you're here. Do you have your phone?"

He shakes his head no. I call Nora again, but still no answer. And I've never known Pam's number.

Suddenly, he's inches from me. I almost activated the mechanism on my forearms on reflex. His energy is so much darker than the last time I saw him.

"- What are you to me? – he asks again.

- I- I'm your friend. – I stutter like I used to.

- I'm not your friend, – Eric goes on, pointing at the humans in the house, – your friends don't know me.

- I know who you are – Jake interjects, and I'm baffled. He's coming down the stairs with a frown; I wonder since when he's been listening. – You're Eric, right? You're Jill's ex."

Yep. That's too far.

Obviously, Jake knows everything. When I met him, I was drunk at his bar, feeling sorry for myself during the holidays. And I let my whole story out. We had talked all night. It was liberating. Eric burst out laughing.

"Now I know you're fucking with me." And his tone is more threatening than amused.

His hand, clamping the doorframe is splintering the wood. And the contempt, the utter disgust, displayed on his face makes me shudder queasily. This is the exact look I've seen on so many vampires, but never him. This is agonizing.

- Then tell me, Eric, why are you here? – I try again, almost choking.

- I told you-

- Except you have a progeny! Why aren't you with her? And I know you gave your blood to at least two other people. Sam and Alcide. Why have you come all the way here to see me, Eric?

That – and probably the pain he must feel from me – leaves him at a loss for words. Once again, his features fail to keep up the pretense, and I can see how overwhelmed he truly is. I continue with a broken voice:

"It's because we're connected you and I. Even if you can't remember me, you feel it. I even dreamed you were coming tonight. – I add in the softest tone: – If you could trust me, I could help you."

It's disconcerting to witness such a tall strong man, such a powerful ancient vampire, being suddenly so vulnerable. I can see the sky behind him turning from black to blue; he turns to see it too, so I go on:

"The sun is coming up. I'm going to let you in. But first, you're going to swear to me, on your maker, that you're not going to hurt anyone here."

He chuckles sadly: "I don't remember my maker."

I don't think I can repress the look of deep sorrow those words elicit from me. And he gazes at me with a quizzical frown.

"He was the greatest vampire I've ever met. And you love him."

He just gulps for air while still staring at me.

"- Promise me. – I ask again.

- Let me in; I won't hurt anyone. I have nowhere else to go, anyway."

The admission is painful, and he lowers his eyes in defeat. For the first time, I feel his aggressiveness receding. So, I can now fully sense the extent of his own pain and frailty. I wonder if he fed since he's like this.

"Come on in."

It's a murmur, and I have to refrain even harder not to throw myself in his arms. But when I only extend a hand, to squeeze his shoulder, he recoils, by reflex. I almost break down crying just then. I lead him to the basement, while the others remain frozen. Jake follows us with a beat, though, probably worried I'm not completely safe yet.

In the basement, we cover the little window with several layers of towels and sheets. Then I put a blanket on the concrete floor; I don't have anything better. Eric keeps his distance, not ready to trust me fully yet either. I'm late for work; I have to go. The lump in my throat doesn't let me utter a word, and he keeps quiet too. My whole body itches to comfort him. But he doesn't want me to. When I leave him there by himself, I feel like I'm abandoning him.

Upstairs, Jake gazes at me with a concerned look.

"- Don't worry, I'm just letting him stay until his sister picks him up.

- You seem to know what you're doing."

I have no idea what I'm doing.

"Just, don't let him hurt you." He adds with a peck on my cheek. And I know he doesn't just mean physically.

Sam was woken up by Jill's call. Even with the two hours' difference, it was still early in Bon Temps.

"- I have a horrible favor to ask you.

- Well, I figured you wouldn't call me at this hour, just for catching up.

- I need you to go to Fangtasia, as soon as the sun is down tonight, find Pam, and tell her to call me.

- Yeah, no, that's not-

- It's really important, Sam. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't. Please, tell me you'll do it.

- Urgh, of course I will. Are you alright? What's going on?

- Can I tell you later? I'm late for work.

- You're the one that's horrible.

- I know; just… Tell her it's about Eric, okay?

- I thought-

- Bye Sam! Love ya!"

Well, he was not loving her then. Though, when he went to the vampire bar that night, he couldn't find the blonde anywhere. Of course, no one would to talk to him, and he wasn't keen on leaving Jill's number to some strange vampire. He texted to let her know, and she just asked him to try again the next day, no other explanation. He was indeed hating her then.

Meanwhile, in the basement, Eric couldn't let himself rest peacefully. He was just closing his eyes, sitting, with his back on the furthest wall from the staircase. And he was wondering if he shouldn't just slaughter them all. At least, if he did that, he could rest for a few days in this house without having to worry. But this was a flawed plan, people would probably come looking for the dumb humans. Maybe if he just got rid of her, he could glamour the others, so they'll leave him be. He was dreaming of ways he could kill her, all of them involved tasting her blood though.

The second he heard steps in the house, he was awake and alert, even though it was the middle of the day. He sensed that it was her, before her legs appeared up the stairs. It was so confusing to him, to feel just as much repelled as he felt intrigued by her. He couldn't refrain from licking his lips as she went down, and, has she always had until now, she felt it. She felt his thirst, his hostility, and maybe even his desire. He cringed.

She halted a few steps before the ground, remaining as far as possible, aware of how dangerous he could be.

"Come to stake me in my sleep, little girl?" he partially joked as he still held it for a likely possibility.

She sighed in frustration and rolled her eyes. She was wearing blue scrubs and a white coat, as a doctor would. She looked so young though. He could see why he would have wanted to bone her, if he'd had the chance, although he still couldn't understand in what circumstance he would have shared his blood with her.

She threw three transparent bags of blood his way. He understood that he was indeed a truly old vampire, when he was able to keep himself from lunging at them. He, quite literally, couldn't remember the last time he had fed, even if he tried.

"- Don't thank me, – she said.

- I won't. You're just making sure I don't feel the urge to eat you.

- I know you're feeling the urge to eat me.

- Did you steal those?

- Of course I did.

- Why didn't you just get me Tru Blood?

- You hate Tru Blood."

And she cared. He couldn't fathom the affection he was feeling coming from her. Attraction, he could understand. But she honestly cared.

"- Can I drink from you? – he ventured.

- No, you can't."

So he dove on her, fangs out.

She had time to conjure a silver chain, seemingly out of nowhere, and it hurt, but he could force it away, as he pushed her to the ground. The impact knocked the air out of her lungs, while the hand he used to grab her throat burned on her necklace. So, he flew both his hands to seize her wrists, pulling them as far as possible, and his fangs lightly scraped the skin of her cheek.

"- I asked nicely. But let me assure you: I can.

- If you asked nicely expecting a 'yes', – she panted, – and won't accept a 'no', you didn't ask nicely. That was just a disguised order."

He marveled at the fact that she was keeping a clear head, and arguing about semantics, while she was completely at his mercy. He could feel she was unnerved; though he couldn't feel the terror she should have been experiencing. He couldn't believe, deep down, she was still trusting him.

"- I think I'm in a good position to give orders, little girl. Can't you see how easily I could kill you?

- Yes, you could."

As she uttered this, he saw a tear escape her eye, to fall on her temple, and into her black hair. Although, still, it was not from fear, it was from the sorrow she felt at the thought. He brought himself back up and away at once. Even though she smelled fantastic. Wild and fiery. He began pacing ferociously, pondering his own weakness.

"I've got to get back to work. – She stated, straightening back her clothes. – If you pull that stunt on any of the others here, I'll just rescind your invitation, no matter the hour of the day."

She slammed the door upstairs. He had to be more careful. Even when the urge to kill her overtook him, he had to remember she may be his only friend right now. This whole ordeal enraged him.

Then it came back to him: she'd said he had a progeny. If he could find their bond, he may be able to summon her. The girl had been right; it was strange that he had come here, following instincts alone, though had to spend the whole afternoon, to rediscover the link he shared with his own daughter. She seemed terribly far away, and he indubitably felt that something was wrong with her too. However, it was such a relief when he could finally call her to him. He wasn't even sure she'd felt the call. And even if she had, she'd probably take a few days to be here, though. He had to be patient.

However, right then, he didn't even know what he was supposed to hope for.