Another chapter, probably post maybe only 1 or 2 more tonight. That outta hold ya.

I do not own The Charlaine Harris characters, they just inspire me.

Review please!

I was aware of voices around me. I felt myself slipping back into consciousness. I was laying on my side on the leather couch in Eric's office. The leather beneath my fingertips reminded me of his skin, smooth, strong and cold. Pam was speaking to him with an unusual amount of venom in her voice. I did not want to alert anyone to my state of awake so I tried to keep my breathing steady and my heart from racing, which was extremely difficult considering his proximity. But Eric would already know I was awake, there was no way to avoid that. Yet he stayed silent as Pam talked to him.

"Bill's behavior cannot remain unchecked, he could have killed her, which would have damaged you very much. You should let it stand no longer, he needs to be punished."

I wasn't about to defend Bill, considering he was probably about to rip my throat out. Not too long ago I might have argued with Pam about his need for punishment. But his behavior was getting out of control. I hadn't seem him in such a long time too, but I knew he was around. I could sense him stalking through the woods surrounding my home every night, whether he had been keeping a protective eye on me or was just spying I didn't know, but it had begun to frighten me.

Surprisingly Eric did not reply to Pam, I had expected him to say something but he sat in silence, that hurt. It was as if my reaction to him coming to my rescue had injured him more than Bill's threat against my life. Eric had always been the first to enact revenge on my part but now I felt abandoned.

My grief must have been evident through the bond because without further verbal communication with each other Pam got up and walked out the door, closing it loudly behind her. Then he and I were alone, for the first time in what seemed like an age.

"I know you no longer sleep, might as well stop hiding," he said with a lacing of ridicule.

I opened first one eye and than the other. My head throbbed with pain, blinding me momentarily. I must have hit my head on the ground after Bill had released me. He felt my pain, there was no way he didn't, I felt sorrow through the bond but he did not make a move at all. My longing doubled.

With a heartbreaking sigh, I gingerly sat up on the couch, noting that my dress was (thankfully) perfectly intact. I set my feet on the floor, willing myself to looking anywhere but in his eyes. As I sat up my dress fluttered around my feet, which I suddenly noticed, were bare. I looked on the ground next to the couch and saw that someone, one guess who, had taken off my shoes and set them next to me.

I placed both palms on the couch beneath me, took in a very deep breath, closed my eyes and raised my head. As I exhaled I slowly opened my eyes, delaying the inevitable for as long as humanly possibly. But to my surprise and complete astonishment, Eric was not looking at me, if anything he didn't even seem to register my presence any longer. He had busied himself with papers on his desk.

Uncontrollably I let a sob escape from my lips and I clung one hand over my heart and the other over my mouth. Eric's head snapped to attention, his eyes boring into mine, trying with all his might to understand these feelings that were crashing from me into him like a stampede. I had been fighting for so long to keep my feelings hidden in some deep recess in my mind, but feeling his plain rejection and cold indifference made everything bubble up and boil over. Every emotion flew from me that I had kept even from myself, the loneliness I had felt these past months, the deep yearning that I had from him and all the agony that his latest actions had done to me.

He looked visibly taken aback, which is a lot for Eric, especially at this point in time. But I didn't care right now, all the pain I felt was making it impossible for me to think, let alone look at him. I jumped to my feet, felt my legs almost give out from underneath me but before I could fall I made a quick dash for the door, my gown fluttering around and behind me like butterfly wings. I grabbed the handle and ripped the door open quickly turning and running with all my might towards the employee exit. I didn't care that I was barefoot and that I was about to put myself in a very vulnerable position alone outside. I had to get away from Eric, I felt as if I had stayed in his presence a moment longer, I might have literally exploded with all the anguish. I knew he was following me, I could feel his rage bearing down on me. But all that did was make me run faster through that door and continue running through the parking lot.

I ignored the voice I heard calling after me, I assumed it was Amelia. If Eric really wanted to catch me he could, his vampire speed made my running look like a crawl. I quickly turned the corner and continued running down the street that ran parallel to Fangtasia. After about 2 minutes of randomly turning corners and running at full speed, I slowed my pace to a walk and noticed that it was lightly raining. My dress was already clinging to me and the rain had added what felt like ten pounds it.

Wrapping my arms around my chest, I started to contemplate my latest situation. I was alone, on a street I didn't know, not quite sure how far I was from Fangtasia. I continued walking down the street, ignoring the pain in my bare feet, that were sure to be bloodied and near frozen. I felt suddenly and completely alone, I lowered myself to the sidewalk, just not caring anymore. Why should I when no one else obviously did.

I pulled my legs into my chest wrapped my arms around them, laid my cheek against my knees and began to sob, it came from deep within my being.

I don't know how long I had been sitting there, I was soaked through by now, when I felt a presence cautiously circling me. At first I thought it was some beast ready to rip me to pieces and for a moment I didn't care but then I felt the void where a brain should be and I knew it was a vampire and I knew which one. Why did he insist on always following me, even though he was the one that had made me flee?

"Sookie…" Eric began cautiously, taking a step from the shadows so his form was visible under the lone streetlight. I looked up at him, he towered over me, making me feel as small and insignificant as the day we met. He was wearing a tuxedo and my goodness he looked amazing. His blonde hair was wet and clung to his face. His blue eyes were afire, with what emotion? Anger? No, it was despair.

Well if he was worried or cared about me, he sure had one hell of a way of showing it.

"Why did you flee? What was it that frightened you? Please, I want to help you." He said this last sentence almost pleadingly. That was it, I had had enough.

I flew to my feet, my hands curled into tights fists at my side, I returned his gaze but filled myself with rage, not caring what the consequences would be.

"Who do you think you are?" I asked vehemently.

"Excuse me?" Eric retorted with amusement. I couldn't believe it, my soul was falling apart at my feet and all he could do was mock me?

"That's right, who the hell do you think you are? Acting like you give a damn when you obviously don't! Why won't you just stop torturing me, you know what the blood bond does to me and all you seem to be able to do is make me as miserable as possible. For what? Your own amusement? Well you know what Eric, I can't take it anymore, please…."

My voice trailed off, unable to finish the thought, I sunk back to the ground and resumed my previous position. For a moment I thought he was going to leave me there and I wouldn't have been surprised if he did, but after a brief hesitation he gathered me in his arms and started walking down the street the way we came. I rested my head against his shoulder, unwilling to let myself look in his eyes.

" My lover, I am sorry to have caused you such deep pain." He didn't say anything else as he walked me back to Fangtasia.