Trust Me

Chapter 1

A/N: Okay, now I know I mentioned in my profile that I would only write about the SVM book series, but after watching episode 9 ("I Will Rise Up") of True Blood—many times, I might add—I felt I had to write this. I would also like to thank my beta for catching the little things that I missed.

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'Trust me,' he'd said at the church. They were two simple words that implied he was worthy of my trust. I had wanted to believe him, but I had seen a side of Eric Northman that scared me. While we were all worried sick about what might have happened to my friend, Lafayette, Eric had locked him up and tortured him for weeks in the basement at Fangtasia.

At the time, I had been so angry with him that I had put aside my fear and slapped him across the face. Let's face it. He had deserved it. He had probably even left Ginger there, knowing I'd read her mind again and find out that he had Lafayette chained up in the basement. Then I had let him maneuver me into working for him again in exchange for Lafayette's freedom. The more I thought about it, the more I knew that is exactly what he had done. I could be so gullible at times.

When we had arrived in Dallas, Bill and I had discovered that he had booked a room for us that didn't even have a bed, knowing that we were lovers. The man could be infuriating at times. Not only that, but he had booked his own room right across the hall from ours. He even interrupted us when we were about to make love and ordered Bill to meet him in the bar. He has always seemed determined to cause problems for us. The big A-hole.

I had confronted Eric at Godric's welcome home get together about his allowing me to infiltrate the Fellowship of the Sun, when he had known full well that I was walking into a trap. Yes, I know it had been my suggestion to go in the first place, but he had jumped on that bandwagon like white on rice.

I had always thought that Eric's heart, if he even had one, was as cold as a cast iron commode. But I had come to realize that somewhere deep down inside there was a part of his humanity that still had the capacity for love. I had seen for myself just how much he loved Godric and to what lengths he would go to secure the safety of his maker. Even though I was pissed at him for involving me and Bill, I knew that he would have done anything for Godric, even, finally, letting him go.

I had climbed the stairs to the roof of Hotel Carmilla in time to hear part of Eric's conversation with Godric, at least the parts that were spoken in English.

"Two thousand years is enough."

"I can't accept this. It's insanity!" exclaimed Eric, vehemently.

"Our existence is insanity. We don't belong here."

"But we are here!" Eric yelled back.

"It's not right. We're not right," Godric stated.

"You taught me there is no right or wrong. Only survival… or death," said Eric angrily.

"I told a lie, as it turns out," admitted Godric.

"I will keep you alive by force," threatened Eric, moving menacingly closer to Godric.

"Even if you could, why would you be so cruel?" asked Godric.

With amazement, I heard Eric's voice change as he spoke in another language, pleading with Godric. I was further shocked that Eric's voice had broken as I watched him fall down on his knees and bend his head forward, nearly touching Godric's leg.

They spoke to each other as Eric sobbed and pleaded with Godric. Whatever Godric said to him, Eric couldn't answer. Finally Godric said in English, "Let me go."

I saw Eric swallow then slowly raise his head, and he surprised me again as he said, "I won't let you die alone." Was he really offering to meet the sun with Godric? He loved him that much?

Godric answered, "Yes you will." Eric had lowered his head again, and I could see his shoulders shaking with grief. Godric's hand moved to touch Eric's hair as Eric sobbed. Seeing this high and mighty vampire sheriff brought to his knees and weeping in pain, nearly made my heart break as well. Perhaps my dream about Eric had some truth to it. He was a big faker. Maybe he wasn't a lost cause. Even after what he had done to me after the bombing, my heart just went out to him.

As Eric looked back up, Godric's hand slid to Eric's neck as he said, "As your maker, I command you."

Eric had stood up then and walked away from Godric toward me. When he stood close by me, he looked back at Godric. I took Eric's hand in mine and promised him that I would stay with him. That is exactly what I did after Eric left.

Controlling my emotions as I descended the stairs from the roof took considerable effort on my part. When I finally arrived on our floor, I found myself thinking about how much Eric must be hurting right now. If the connection between a maker and his progeny was as strong as Eric told me it could be, then he must have felt Godric's passing the moment it happened. I glanced across the hall when I got to my room and saw that the door to Eric's room was slightly ajar. I knew I should just go and get in bed with Bill, but I felt that I needed to check on Eric before I did.

As I pushed open his door, I walked inside and closed it softly behind me. I moved past the lounge area of the suite to the bedroom, where I found Eric sitting shirtless on the side of the bed. He was hunched over staring down at nothing. I walked over to stand in front of him and saw that his red tears had streaked down his cheeks, neck, and even his chest. I had to do something, so I reached out my hand, touching his shoulder, and said, "Eric."

"I know. It is over. He is gone," replied Eric.

"I…I'm sorry for your loss."

When he didn't speak and his shoulder started to tremble beneath my hand, I took my other hand and lifted it to his chin and raised his head so that I could see into his eyes. God, he looked like shit. His eyes were bloodshot, and a fresh tear was starting to roll down his face. As his mouth trembled slightly, I moved a little closer, took my hand off his shoulder and used my thumb to wipe away the tear. He just swallowed as he looked up at me, looking like a lost little boy.

I leaned down and gently kissed his forehead, then the bridge of his nose, and finally his cheek before I lifted my head again. As we looked at each other, he grasped my arm firmly yet gently, moved his other hand up to my neck, rested his forehead against mine and held me close to him.

"He told me he was full of joy. I don't even think he suffered at the end," I said softly.

Eric pulled me even closer as his trembling lips sought out mine. In my heart, I knew it was wrong, but I found myself responding, nevertheless. It wasn't exactly passionate at first, but was more comforting than anything, as our lips met each other in an easy yet questioning manner. As I pulled his upper lip in between my own and returned his kiss, I noticed how different he tasted from Bill.

I don't remember how I moved from standing in front of him to being lowered on the bed next to him, with him hovering over me, but that is where I ended up. He moved his right hand up and fisted it through my hair and deepened his kiss. No, he definitely tasted different, and Jesus H. Christ on a popsicle stick, this man knew how to kiss. I just knew that centuries of living had obviously been put to good use in this area and found myself feeling about him the way I had felt during my recent dream. A very good dream it had been at that. Not nearly as good as the reality, though.

How long we lay there with our mouths and tongues exploring, I wasn't sure. Eric did let me come up for air as he raised his head and looked down at me. He lowered his lips to my jaw, moved down my jaw line to my ear, and nibbled on it with his teeth. His tongue licked the vein along my neck, and I felt his teeth graze lightly there. His weight was pressing me down into the mattress as his lips stopped moving on my neck. When he didn't move, I moved my head toward him. He had finally succumbed to the dawn and was at rest.

Repositioning myself slightly, I found that I could enjoy gazing upon Eric Northman without all the masks he perpetually wore to distance himself from others. Even with the dried blood on his face, he was beautiful and very tempting. I ran my hand through his hair, traced the contours of his features, and ran my fingers over his exposed flesh. I sighed and realized I should get back to Bill.

Stroking his hair one final time, I eased out from under him and slid off the bed and leaned over to make him more comfortable. After sliding off his shoes, I rolled him so he was lying on his back. I went into the bathroom and wet a washcloth; walking back into the bedroom, I sat on the bed next to him and wiped the blood from his face, neck and chest. When he was all cleaned up, I pulled the comforter up over him, even though I knew vampires didn't feel the cold. It just seemed the right thing to do.

As I leaned in to give Eric a little goodbye kiss, I was amazed when he actually stirred and muttered, "Sookie."

Back in my room, I undressed and climbed in next to Bill. I was feeling a little guilty for enjoying the time I had spent with Eric. Mostly, I just wondered if Eric would find the will to go on without his maker. I found that I didn't want him to meet the sun like Godric.

"You will care for him? Eric?" Godric had asked. Could I do that? How would I ever be able to trust him after he had lied to me and had interfered with my relationship with Bill? Maybe, just maybe, Eric needed to trust me before I could trust him.

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TBC