I don't own anything here, Charlaine Harris does. I'm just taking her fabulous characters out into the sandbox :-)

It had been a week since Niall had come to see me. Jason came by every day to check on me, make sure there was food in the fridge and to ask if I needed anything. I'd never known him to be so attentive or concerned about someone other than himself. A brief glance in his head told me that he was alternating between being furious and being worried about my condition.

Despite generous quantities of Eric's blood I was still in less than great shape. Usually thousand year old vampire blood packs quite a punch but the beating I'd endured physically and emotionally at the hands of Neave and Lochlan had laid me low. Eric had wanted to keep feeding me until I was fully healed but on the third night after I was brought home Pam voiced her concern that we were approaching some kind of limit and after that I had avidly refused any more, even though some of the missing flesh had yet failed to fill out. Eric hadn't been happy, in fact he'd been furious with Pam for planting the concern in my head but, knowing how I feel about being turned, he had eventually calmed and agreed that it was best to stop the exchange for a while.

The following night I was surprised when Eric didn't return. I'd been used to his daily appearance at sundown and I welcomed his cold arms holding me at night while I either failed to sleep or did only to wake screaming. It was around nine when I heard a brash knock at the front door followed by Amelia's heart heavy trudge down the stairs to answer. I had known it wasn't Eric, or even Pam as they tended to let themselves in these days.

After a muted greeting in the hall my door popped open but from my vantage point in bed I didn't see anyone enter. No sooner did I consider dropping my shields than Dr Ludwig vaulted onto the bed by my elbow. "The Vampire told me to come," she said as if by way of explanation. "He tells me that you need some assistance getting some rest."

I had been about to protest when the doctor had placed a clammy, gnarly hand on my forehead. I closed my eyes and woke up the following morning. I had slept and for the first time since my ordeal, I felt rested and even better, slightly more positive.

That day Jason had arrived in his lunch hour to find me sat at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee and his smile could have brightened the midnight sky. His mind was reeling with relief but what fell out his mouth was, "What's for lunch, sis?"

That evening, again came Dr Ludwig and her magic hands but no Eric. I surmised (word of the day) that he had spent enough time tending the fragile human and had vampire affairs to see to. He was sending the good doctor and I was able to sleep without terrors plaguing me so who was I to complain?

More days passed. Tonight though I had sensed Eric strongly through the bond. I was in the middle of a catch up with Sam over a cup of cocoa when I brought my hand crashing to the table and yelped loudly at the pain that ricocheted up my badly damaged wrist. Anger, frustration and then dread coursed through me as Sam sat by, aghast at my outburst in the middle of his anecdote about Jane Bodehouse's recent escapades.

I was instantly scrolling for Eric's number. No answer. I tried Pam. No answer. Finally I called Fangtasia. Maxwell Lee answered and advised me that Pam and Eric were gone to New Orleans for an audience with the King. He would let them know that I had called when they returned. He did not know when to expect them back.

"This is bad Sam," I said, turning to my best friend. "Eric doesn't do desperate, something is wrong."

"Chin up Cher, you don't get to be his age without knowing how to get out of a pickle. I'm sure Eric would want you to just be worried about you right now."

Just then my cell rang. It was an unknown number but as soon as I answered Pam's voice asked "Sookie?"

"Pam, it's me, what's wrong?"

"I don't have much time. Are you alone?"

"No, Sam's here. Amelia has gone to stay with Octavia for a while. Where's Eric?" Amelia's leaving was still a sore spot but it was for the best. It was exhausting me working to block her all the time. I couldn't cope with getting better and dealing with her pain in addition to my own. Hopefully it would just be temporary until things became a bit less raw.

A heavy silence filled the line.

"Pam, you're freaking me out!" I cried. I couldn't cope with the sensation of grief I was getting from Eric.

"Sookie, listen to me. Leave your house, now. Victor is on his way for you."

My breath caught in my throat and the look on my face had Sam edging closer to the phone. I put her on speaker and she continued at a frantic pace.

"Eric was called before Felipe for violating Victor's orders and involving himself in the Fae War. Victor had gone so far as to silver Eric in the basement at Fangtasia to prevent his coming to your aid when he felt your need for him through the bond. As soon as Victor and his cronies died for the day one of the waitresses freed him. Eric argued with Felipe that he only involved himself as was necessary to procure the safety of his bonded. I think Felipe would have overlooked the transgression had Victor not been so adamant that Eric should be punished for going against his authority. As regent Victor feels that Eric's insubordination makes him look weak. As such Felipe has ordered Eric be lashed and bound in silver for a turn of the moon."

I was too stunned for speech. My hands started shaking and I laid the phone down on the kitchen table. I had wondered again and again why he hadn't come to me in those dark hours in the shack. Especially when I knew he would feel my longing for him and my pain at any distance. Eric had always been such a strong, commanding presence that the thought of him at the whim of someone else's authority, much less punishment, was boggling.

"A month? But…" I began when I finally found my voice.

"But nothing," Pam interjected. "As Eric's second it is my duty to protect you. Get out of your house immediately. Go to the Shifter's home and wait for me there."

"Why does Sookie have to go anywhere just because Eric has been reprimanded by his boss?" Sam asked, running his hands through his hair, further dishevelling it in frustration.

"Because, Shifter, it seems very much that Victor has engineered this whole situation to remove Sookie from Eric's protection."

Part of me wanted to break down into a full scale panic attack. Thankfully, it was my survival instinct that won out and I hauled myself to my feet. As Pam disconnected Sam took off to find his keys. Within thirty seconds we were in his truck and trundling down Hummingbird Road.