Author's Notes: I honestly thought about dividing this up into two chapters. I should have done that anyway, but I wanted to get it all out here now. After this, things will go back to each chapter being a separate POV. Posting this early because I'm going out of town. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own SVM or the characters.

Secrets That Kill

Chapter Six

APOV

Two weeks. Two weeks since John Quinn disappeared and there has been no sign of him, anywhere in the state of Louisiana. The police of Bon Temps were stumped and had no idea what to do next. I was lucky that the sheriff or one of his deputies had not approached me, looking for federal assistance. I think that they just assume that he left town. They could be right.

However, my gut was telling me that John Quinn did not leave his apartment willingly. Why, when all reports said that he was well settled and happy in the area, would he fake a break-in and struggle then leave with none of his belongings? Add to the fact that he disappeared right after Jason and I arrived in the area, right after we met him for the first time. Was it merely just a coincidence that John Quinn was on our list of people to watch concerning our case? I didn't think so. I had no idea what Jason thought since I haven't had much of a chance to talk to him privately. We checked in with each other daily, as was our routine, but he was caught up in Sookie.

Sookie. That was another problem. Often times I felt helpless in my line of work. Mostly when I'm unable to help a victim or when I know that the suspect is guilty, but unable to prove it. Never in my career as an agent of the FBI have I felt as helpless as I did that day that Sookie looked at me like I shattered her world. It wasn't even my fault. Completely. How was I to know that Quinn never told her anything about his past? But he hadn't and I had more or less told her that it was wrong, that he didn't care for her.

When I watched her walk away, looking so broken and forlorn as she crossed the cemetery, I felt like I had taken a two by four to her head and beaten her senseless. What I should have done was gone after her and tried to console her. I should have tried to make it right for her, even if it meant lying to her. Instead I took the coward's way out, in my mind. I had gone back into the old farmhouse, told Jason I had gotten a call and was needed back in Shreveport, borrowed his SUV and drove myself back to his truck. I left Bon Temps that day and I haven't been back sense.

I wasn't sure I could face Sookie or Jason. Jason hadn't mentioned Sookie and mine's conversation, so I assumed she hadn't told him. I was afraid that he'd be able to read my guilt on my face. Jason was good at that. Jason often gave the impression that he was a careless man, that he didn't pay attention to people or his surroundings. After being his partner for three years, ever since he joined the FBI, I knew different. I knew that Jason was a lot more perspective that people gave him credit for. Jason had the kind of gut instinct that I envied. He had a way of reading people, of knowing when they were lying or when they were guilty of something without having any professional training. It was just natural to him and that was what made him an invaluable agent in my book.

As for Sookie, I knew I wouldn't be able to look her in the face without seeing our conversation play out in my mind again. Hell, whenever I just thought her name, I flashed back to the defeat on her face. I might not have been the man to break her heart, but I had a hand in it. That was something I could never forgive myself for.

So when Jason called me late one afternoon, two weeks after that day, and invited me over for steaks, I was hesitant. He had mentioned his Gran and Sookie being there and it was the knowledge that Sookie was going to be there that I held back. But, when Jason really wants something, he always managed to get it. This time he conned me into coming over by badgering me about living the high life at my father's firm. He was working for my father's firm, but he actually got to be out in the field, building the houses. He knew I hated being stuck in the offices, doing paperwork and playing politics with the high rollers. Just as he knew that a few well placed barbs would have me agreeing to come over for dinner. Sometimes, having a partner who knew you as well as you knew yourself was a pain in the ass.

He had said it was a casual dinner, just grilling some steak and veggies out on the grill, so I dressed for comfort. I pulled on my favorite worn jeans, a tank top, a black short sleeve button down shirt, and brown boots. I tucked my back into my back pocket and concealed a small hold out gun in my boot. After Quinn's disappearance, I went nowhere without a gun. I didn't expect to get into a situation where I actually needed the small gun, but it always paid to be prepared. I knew that from experience. You only had to get caught with your pants down once before you learn to wear a belt, so to speak.

As I left my apartment complex, I slipped on my sunshades. A voice calling my name had me turning and sighing with resignation. My father strode towards me, a scowl on his face. Even though it was a Saturday, he was dressed for work. He wore a dark gray suit and shiny loafers with dark glasses concealing his eyes from me. His hair was cut short and was the same black as mine, with threads of silver, just about the only sign of age on him. The way he walked told me that he was pissed at me. Not just pissed, but P-I-S-S-E-D at me. As I waited for him to catch up with me, I wondered what I did to tick him off this time.

My father, the one and only Jackson Herveaux, stopped in front of me, pulling off his sunglasses as he did so. He didn't say anything, which didn't surprise me. He just stared at me with cool eyes, his lips twisted in distaste over my wardrobe. Good thing I stopped worrying about what daddy thought years ago. I stared back at him, refusing to speak first since that was exactly what he wanted.

"Alcide, you didn't come into work today." he said tightly, tucking the sunglasses into his breast pocket.

I gave him a dry look. "It's Saturday. Most of the world takes Saturday off. You should try it, you might actually have fun."

He ignored me. "I expected to see you in the office."

"Well, that is what you get for having such high expectations for me, Dad. I'm not working today. I'm going to go see some friends. I was on my way out, as a matter of fact." I said with a shrug.

"I thought that you returning home meant that you had come to your senses. As my son you stand to inherit a lot, Alcide. I expect you to know how to run the family business. Which you won't learn unless you come into the office." Dad said, once again ignoring what I had said about going out. "I expect to see you in the office within the hour."

"I won't be there."

"What did you say?" my father asked, his voice low.

Apparently he thought that I'd just fall into line. This was the one reason why I did not want to be doing this. My father, though I loved him, felt that if he was going to work seven days a week then those who worked for him would as well. At least, he felt that if he worked, then I should as well. One reason I left home was because of my father. He thought that I should just fall into step behind him and work the business like him. I didn't want that and it caused many fights before I finally got tired of it and just left home. Now I kept my visits down to once or twice a year. It was about all I could stand. Now I was being forced into this and since I couldn't break cover and tell my father why I was really home, he felt that it meant I finally came around to his way of thinking.

"I said that I would not be coming in, Dad. You can work yourself into the ground if you want, but I still have a life. I'll see you on Monday." I said, moving to step past him.

Dad arm snapped out and he grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks. "If you walk away from me now, boy, don't bother coming into work on Monday."

I flicked my gaze down to his hand then back to his face. With a calmness I didn't know I had, I shook off his hand and walked towards my truck. "You can't afford to lose me just because I refuse to work my life away. See ya later, Dad."

I left my father staring at my back. If looks could kill, I'd be dead on my fifth step away from him. I unlocked the truck, climbed in, and just watched my father's figure on the sidewalk. Finally, after several long minutes, he shook his head and walked away. I sighed as I put the keys in the ignition and started the truck. I wished my father and I could see eye to eye, I wished that he would understand that his way just wasn't for me. I know it upset my mother when Dad and I were at ends with each other, but I couldn't help it. I wouldn't let myself be railroaded into what he wanted. I liked my life and I liked my career with the FBI. I wasn't ready to leave yet, and if I did what Dad wanted, I would have to leave. I shook my head and pulled out of the parking lot, shoving my troubles with my father back into the depths of my mind. Seeing Sookie would give me enough to think about today.

As I drew closer to Bon Temps, the apprehension I was feeling towards seeing Sookie grew heavier. Hell, I did not know why I was so messed up over this one woman. It didn't make sense, I never got so worked up over a woman I didn't have some kind of emotional connection to. Sookie was just a friend's sister. I had helped him, which mean helping her. It wasn't a big deal. I would have done it for any of my friends.

Sookie just got under my skin, that was all. She was so innocent, which was rare in this world. Part of it, I think, was Jason's fault. He had seen the evils of this world, he worked with them almost every day. So it was natural that he would go out of his way to protect his sister. But by protecting his sister, he was limiting her. I mean, how could someone be in a relationship and not know that not sharing personal information about your past was a big sign in the 'something is wrong' category?

Maybe, like Jason, I wanted to protect that innocence. When you spend your days chasing after killers and putting them behind bars, you see all the bad things in the world. So naturally, you want to cling to what you see as pure and innocent. Or maybe, the treacherous thought pushed itself into my mind, I wanted to take that innocence. Maybe I wanted to show Sookie what it meant to be with a real man.

Okay, yeah, I wanted Sookie. I wanted her like a man in a desert wanted water. I had been attracted to her since day one. I wasn't doing myself any good if I kept trying to make myself believe that there just platonic feelings between us. I had no idea how Sookie felt, but I knew that I was attracted to her. I also knew that the only reasons I held back from showing that attraction was Jason and Quinn. I had uneasy feelings about trying to get involve with my partner's sister. Then Quinn, well he was her boyfriend. I didn't poach.

I could deal with the whole Jason thing later. There wouldn't be a Sookie and me until the whole Quinn thing was dealt with. Even if she was mad at him, Sookie was not the type of woman who would just see someone else just because her man was AWOL. So there were three options: Quinn had to show up alive and she had to end it, Quinn had to get a hold of her and let her know he skipped town, or he had to show up dead. I won't say which one I was hoping for. It would get me in a shit load of trouble. Let's just say that I had not liked what I had read in Quinn's file. Sookie did not deserve to be with a man like that, she was far better than that.

I drove into Bon Temps and turned down the radio I wasn't even listening to. There were signs up in various storefronts and nailed to posts. I slowed down and got a good look at one and snorted. It was one of those, 'Have you seen this person' sign for Quinn. I bet that had been Sookie's idea, it just seemed like something she would do. I would bet my salary that she had put up similar signs in neighboring towns. If I got out more, I'm sure I'd see the same signs in Shreveport. The woman had heart and commitment, I'd give her that.

I continued on my way to Jason's house and pulled in, parking between his SUV and Sookie's Malibu. As I killed the engine, I heard music and laughter in the backyard. I opened the door and pulled up my pant leg and removed my gun, locking it in the glove compartment. I got out of my truck and slammed the door, pocketing the keys as I made my way around the house. I could smell charcoal burning from the grill as I rounded the corner to see Sookie and Jason tossing a football between them while their Gran sat in a reclining lawn chair under a umbrella attached to the patio table. The smoking grill was a few feet from the table.

"Heads up!" Jason yelled and the next thing I knew, the football was rocketing towards me.

I laughed and ran back several feet before jumping into the air and catching it. "Nice throw."

"Nice catch. Glad you could make it out here, man." Jason said as he wiped sweat from his forehead.

"Well, you know, coercion works every time." I sneered and tossed the ball back to him.

Jason waggled his eyebrows at me. "Shut up, you've been cooped up in that apartment and stupid office building for two weeks, you needed to get out. Right, Sookie?"

Sookie, who I noticed was avoiding looking in my direction, looked at me then looked away. "Yeah, sure. Glad to see you here, Alcide."

Gee, wasn't that the most unwelcoming welcome I've had in a while. Just from her tone I could tell that Sookie was not at all glad to see me in her brother's backyard. I knew it was because how we left things the last time we saw each other and I knew I'd have to do something to fix it. Problem was, I wasn't sure how to fix it. Dammit. Since I didn't want to get into it with Sookie at the moment, I just nodded to her and went over to greet Adele. There would be plenty of time to make things right with Sookie, I'd make sure of it.

I watched Sookie move past Jason and I, never once looking at me. I hated the whole avoidance concept. It never made much sense to me. Sure you can avoid someone, but you always work yourself up in the process. You made whatever it was that had you upset bigger than it actually is. When you finally confronted the person, it always turned into a cluster fuck. Fuck. Someone needed to knock me off my high horse. I was as guilty as Sookie when it came to avoiding. Isn't that what I've been doing for the past two weeks?

Jason looked at me and noticed that I was looking at Sookie's retreating form. "Hey, Alcide, did something happen between you and Sookie?"

I started, jerking my gaze away from the woman in question, who now walked to the dock. "What? No. What makes you say that?"

Jason ran a hand through his hair and gave a little shrug. "It's just, you've completely avoided coming out here the last two weeks. I've had to come to you when we check in. Plus, Sookie looks like a scalded cat whenever your name is mentioned."

Well fuck me. This is what I get for forgetting how freaking perspective Jason is. It comes and bites me in the goddamn ass. I considered telling him the truth but decided that I did not want to spend the next few days with a black eye. Jason might be sorry for punching me, but it wouldn't stop him from punching me.

I looked him straight in the eye and shook my head. "Nothing really happened. I mean, there was a simple misunderstanding, that's all. I'll take care of it later."

Jason narrowed his eyes and suddenly I knew what the perps felt when Jason had them in interrogation. I got the urge to confess all, but held myself back. "Did you hurt her?"

"Jesus Christ, Jason, no! What kind of man do you think I am? I thought you knew me. I'd rather cut my own hand off than hurt a woman, especially your sister." I snapped.

"Sorry man, but the two of you are driving me straight up crazy. Work out your damn issues." Jason said with a roll of his eyes. He was shaking his head as he walked inside the house, probably to get the steaks to put on the grill.

I was a little surprised by his reaction. Telling me that we should work out our damn issues is not a standard Jason response. The Jason I knew, the Jason I partnered with, would have gotten in my face until I told him what happened. This Jason just calmly accepted my explanation then told me to deal with it. I think that being back home has mellowed him. I liked it. One of the downsides of being Jason's partner was that I was constantly cleaning up after him when he lost his temper.

I looked out towards the pond and saw Sookie sitting at the end of the dock. My first thought was to go to her, but I think she wanted the time to herself. Instead, I turned and walked over to where Adele sat and took a chair next to her. She laid down her book and I saw the name of the author, Danielle Steel. I shuddered. That was one of those romance writers my mother was nuts over. I didn't get the appeal of them, to be honest. I liked my books a little more bloodier. Give me a good horror book any day. Stephen King was my god.

"Hello there, Alcide, would you like a glass of tea?" Adele offered, waving a hand towards the pitcher of tea sitting on the table.

I smiled at her. "Well, I think I would, Mrs. Stackhouse. Glass of tea would be real nice on a afternoon like today."

"Please, call me Adele." she said as she poured a glass of tea for me.

I accepted it from her and took a long sip. Tea with the slight tart taste of lemon. It was delicious. "Alright, then Adele. How have you been the last couple of weeks?"

"Oh just fine. Terrible thing that happened to that boy, that John Quinn. Sookie is real upset by it." Adele said with a short nod.

I had to hold back the snort. I doubt that Sookie was more upset with his lies than his disappearance but it wasn't my place to say anything. "I imagine so. How's she been doing?"

"As well as to be expected, I suppose. She's going to work and whatnot." Adele said after a little pause. "She keeps calling the sheriff, every day, asking for any news. It breaks her heart a little more when there isn't any." Adele let out a long sigh. "But my Sookie is a tough girl. She just needs the time to come to terms with it all. None of us expect the boy to show up, not after all this time. Sookie is just a little bit slower than the rest of us in admitting it."

I nodded since I couldn't really think of anything else to say. Adele seemed to have said all she was going to say because she picked her book back up and started reading again. I leaned back in the chair and studied Sookie's profile thankful that the sunglasses concealed what I was doing. She looked so peaceful that I hated to disturb her, but I knew that now was the best chance to talk to her without Jason hovering. I pushed myself out of the chair, slipped off my boots, hooked the sunglasses in my shirt, and started the walk down the dock.

SPOV

I had spent the last two weeks in some kind of dazed state. I was aware of the passage of time and I went on with my life like nothing happened. Only, every time I turned around, I kept expecting to see Quinn. It was very odd to go from spending three to four nights a week with someone and seeing them just about every day of the week to not seeing them at all. I don't know how many times I started towards Quinn's before remembering that it was still marked off as a crime scene.

Every time I thought of Quinn, I'd get mad. I was pissed because of the way he treated me and pissed because I was never going to get the chance to let him know how I really felt. Just about every time I started towards his apartment, it was with the intention of going there and chewing him out. I had talked to Gran about it and all she could tell me is that he must have had a reason for not sharing his past with me. Which did not make me feel any better, to be honest.

Jason was real good about coming by everyday, either out to the house or to Merlotte's to check on me. I think that Alcide had talked to him because he kept his visits short and did his best not to hover. Gran had been real great as well. But, as each day that passed, I lost a little more hope that Quinn was returning. I finally came to the conclusion that Quinn wasn't coming back, regardless of what happened to him. I think it was my acceptance that had Jason planning this little family afternoon.

Only it wasn't really family because Jason had invited Alcide. Which he neglected to tell me until Gran and I had arrived. Did he know about the conversation that Alcide and I had had that day Quinn went missing? When I had returned my sojourn to the empty Compton house, Alcide had been gone. Jason just said that he had been called back to Shreveport. I was pretty sure that Jason didn't know because if he knew that Alcide had upset me, Jason would have let everyone know of his displeasure.

I'm glad that Jason didn't know. I don't know how I would handle Jason being upset when I wasn't sure if I was upset with the man. On one hand I was furious with him because he had shattered my perfect little bubble of Quinn. On the other hand, I was thankful that he helped open my eyes. They say knowledge will set you free and I have to say it is a little liberating. Not that I went out and slept with the first man I saw, but I did appreciate my life a little more. Everyone else in the town considered me to be single now, and honestly, I felt single.

I sighed and stretched in my lawn chair. Music poured from the stereo. Jimmy Buffett was singing the praises of a Cheeseburger in Paradise. I still wasn't sure what I was, taken or single. How does one decide your relationship status when the significant other was missing? I wanted to go and date someone else, I didn't want to spend the rest of my life locked in my house, never getting out and having fun, just because I didn't know where Quinn was, or even if he was alive. I truly missed the days of my youth where the biggest decision of my life was whether to wear my hair up or down to school.

Jason came out with a bag of charcoal over his shoulder and he dropped it next to the grill. Gran came out behind him, carrying a tray of lemon ice tea and several glasses. I had wanted to help, but Gran had ordered me to sit in the lawn chair and just relax. I learned several years ago not to argue with Gran when she was in one of her moods like today. So I did as I told, smearing suntan lotion on my arms and torso, and just tried to relax. I wore my favorite bikini top and a pair of cut off shorts.

I watched lazily as Gran poured three glasses of tea and as Jason stacked the charcoal in the grill and lit it. Soon the air smelled like hickory smoke and I breathed deep. I was taken back to the summer before Jason left. We had a huge party to celebrate his graduation out at the farmhouse. All of Jason's friends came, as did all of Gran's and mine. We had set up a volleyball net in the backyard and there was horseshoes too. Pretty much all of Bon Temps had been there and it had been a grand old time. The end of the night had been perfect. Some of Jason's friends had...acquired a whole mess of fireworks and set them off. Gran always said that it was a good thing Sheriff Dearborn had been three sheets to the wind, otherwise those boys would have spent the night in jail for setting off illegal fireworks.

Jason yelled at me. "Sookie, come on and toss some ball with me."

I groaned. "Jason, you know that I don't like throwing some stupid ball around."

He flashed his most charming smile at me. I swear, if he could bottle that smile and sell it, he'd make millions. That smile pretty much got him whatever he wanted, especially from the ladies. I was no different and I hauled myself up out of the lawn chair and jogged out in the direction he pointed to as the music changed and Margaritaville started to play. He and I tossed the ball back and forth as Gran watched. She kept laughing when I dropped the ball, which was more than I caught it. I had no talents when it came to tossing a pigskin around. My talent in high school had been softball, not football.

The ball smacked into my palms when we heard the slam of a truck door. Jason held up his hands and I threw the ball halfheartedly back to him. He waited until Alcide rounded the corner and threw it towards the dark haired man with more force than he used with me. I watched Alcide catch the ball with ease, vaguely impressed and a little annoyed. I could never jump and catch a football. The last time I tried I missed the ball and landed on my ass.

I looked away from Alcide as he joked with Jason. There was more than one reason I didn't want to see him again. Last night I had another one of those dreams about him. I sighed, the dreams were much more amusing when I didn't know who the mysterious man was. Now I just thought I was dreaming about him because I knew him.

I was knocked from my musings by Jason saying my name. Knowing I could no longer avoid looking at Alcide, I glanced at him quickly. " Yeah, sure. Glad to see you here, Alcide."

I looked away from him as portions of my dream the night before flashed in my mind. There was no way I could look at him and not see him naked in my shower. I kept seeing the ripple of his abs, the trail of short dark hair down his stomach, and his...okay time to turn my brain off. I jogged past Jason and Alcide towards Gran. I exchanged a few short words with her, picked up my glass of tea, and walked down to the dock at the pond. It was slightly cooler on the dock, above the water. If I stared hard enough at the water, I could see the silver flash of scales from the fish that we kept stocked in the pond.

I promised myself that I would go see my friend Amelia Broadway within the next few days. If anyone could tell me what these dreams I was having about Alcide meant, it was her. Amelia was completely into the whole dream interpretation and tarot cards and all that other wacky stuff. Of course, with Amelia you could never tell what she'd say. Hell, she'd probably just tell me that it was fate and I should jump his bones.

I couldn't believe how worked up I was getting over this man. I was seriously regressing back to high school. If I started to giggle inanely every time he spoke to me, I was committing myself. It was like he was the famous jock who won every game and I was the nerd who peed herself every time he spoke to her. Even if I expressed interest in sleeping with Alcide to him, I knew he wouldn't accept. Alcide had morals and standards, and sleeping with someone who may or may not be in a relationship just wasn't something he'd do. I think.

I sat on the end of the dock and dangled my feet in the water. It was cold and I found it very refreshing. I leaned back on my hands and tilted my head back towards the sun. Between the cold water on my feet and the warm rays of the sun on my face, I found myself relaxing more than I had in days. Of course, that relaxation didn't last long.

A shadow fell over my face, blocking the sun. Annoyed I cracked my eyes, ready to read Jason the riot act for being an ass, but found myself staring into the oh so green eyes of Alcide. Hello, handsome, thank you for turning my brain to mush with that one concerned look.

"What do you want?" I asked lazily, forcing myself to act naturally around him.

When he smiled at me, I found myself fighting the urge to giggle. "I just wanted to see how you were doing. Jason is getting ready to put the steaks on the grill and your Gran is completely immersed in her novel."

I nodded. "Danielle Steel. They are like an addiction to her."

"Mind if I join you?" Alcide asked, gesturing towards the empty spot beside me.

Yes.

No.

Only if you kiss me.

I had no idea where that last part came from so I just nodded. It was the only way I could prevent myself from saying what I was thinking. And Jason says I never know when to shut my mouth. HA!

"Thanks." Alcide rolled up the legs of his jeans and sat beside me, dangling his feet in the water. He shivered. "Cold."

"Ponds usually are." I swished my feet around in the water.

"Ya'll have fish in here?" Alcide started to swish his feet too and between the two of us we were creating small waves.

"Some. We try to keep it stocked. Kinda useless with Jason gone since he's the only one who really fishes here." I answered. What in the hell was going on here? We were sitting and playing in the water while having a completely normal conversation. It was a little awkward, but it was a conversation. Was he going to mention my little trip back to reality or what? Should I mention it?

Alcide fell silent and seemed content with just starting at the waves we created roll out to the center of the pond. I followed his lead and stayed quiet as well. It was actually pretty nice to just sit there with a guy and not have to talk. Quinn always wanted to talk. Well, when he wasn't talking, he was trying to get into my pants. I found that I liked Alcide's company a lot more than I had liked Quinn's.

"Listen, Sookie," Alcide said suddenly and I turned to look at him. Once more I was caught by the intensity of his stare. His eyes watched me like the way a wolf eyed it's prey before attacking. I should have felt nervous but I wasn't. I was completely at ease with the man.

"Yes?" I questioned when he paused. I wanted to know what he was going to say.

"About that day, when Quinn was found missing. I didn't mean to upset you." he said quickly, as if it was poison he had to draw out. There was this expression on his face that I was finding hard to read. Like a light bulb going off in my mind, I realized that he was showing regret. He knew that it had hurt me and he was sorry for it. How was it not possible to like this man?

I sighed and shrugged. "Don't worry about it. I'm not mad at you, not really."

"You aren't?" he asked, arching a brow.

"Not really. I mean, sure, a little bit. But that will go away. You made me realize the truth of the matter and I needed that. I didn't know how much I needed the truth until that moment. Quinn, for all he acted like the gentleman, treated me like I wasn't an equal. You can't have a good relationship like that." I answered slowly. I meant every word that I had said. It took me the better part of two weeks to come to that conclusion, but there you go.

"Still, I shouldn't have pried." Alcide said, looking away from me.

I felt so sorry for the man that I reached over and touched his shoulder. I felt a jolt from my fingertips to my shoulder. I quickly pulled my hand away as he turned to look at me. He had felt it too, I saw it in his eyes. The thoughtful look that turned his green eyes darker said it all. I gulped hard and tried to remember what I was going to say. "It's alright. If you hadn't pried, I'd still be living this illusion of the perfect relationship. So, I owe you, okay?"

Before he could respond, Jason's voice reached us and we both turned to see my brother striding across the dock in his swim trunks. "Alcide, stop hitting on my sister."

"He wasn't hitting on you sister," I shot back as I climbed to my feet, "Even if he was, it is none of your business."

Jason snorted. "Everything Alcide does concerning you is my business."

I glanced at Alcide and saw him staring back at me. I think we both knew that neither one of us had told Jason about what happened in the backyard. Good to know. I groaned and walked over to Jason and poked him in the stomach. "Stop acting like that. You were doing so well, too."

Jason grinned at me and I was suddenly was very nervous. He had that look in his eye, the same look he got when he just pulled off the perfect prank. He lunged towards me without saying a word and I shrieked when he scooped me up in his arms and tossed me over his shoulder. "JASON STACKHOUSE! Put me down!"

"Not a chance, little sister." Jason said, jostling me a little bit as he adjusted his grip on my legs. His shoulder was digging into my stomach and I pounded on his back. "I've been wanting to do this for ages."

I had a very clear vision of what he was planning to do. It was almost as if I had read his mind. "Don't you even dare!"

"Oh I dare." Jason said with a chuckle. Then he was running towards the end of the dock. One moment I was opening my mouth to scream at him and the next I was airborne. I barely had time to suck in a breath before my body, and Jason's, hit the water. I felt the cold shock of the water all the way to my bones. It was fucking freezing in the pond!

I clawed my way to the surface and sucked in a deep breath. My teeth chattered as I tread the water, raking my now wet hair out of my eyes. I twisted around and searched for Jason. He was bobbing in the water off to my right, laughing his ass. I narrowed my eyes at his smile and splashed him with water. I heard Gran and Alcide laughing from the dock as Jason and I engaged in one serious water fight. I was half drowned before I demanded a truce. Jason, who looked like a wet rat at this point, agreed.

"That was so not funny." I muttered as I floated in the water. Now that I had been in for a while the water wasn't so cold. It actually felt good, a perfect way to beat the heat.

"I dunno," Jason drawled, swimming closer to me in easy strokes, "I haven't laughed that hard in ages."

I turned my head towards him. "Don't make me dunk you."

"As if you could." he challenged.

Well, I couldn't just let it go, could I? I lunged towards him, hands outstretched and he ducked under the water and swam beneath me. I could vaguely see him in the murky water, as our horsing around had stirred up some of the dirt. There was a thrashing moment and Jason popped up, clutching his arm. I paled when I saw drops of blood dripping from between his fingers.

"Jason, what happened?" I cried, swimming quickly to his side. I had no idea how he could have been hurt, we weren't in very deep water, just around seven feet of it. It got deeper further out.

"I don't know. I think that there is fishing line or something tangled up in the reeds. I caught my arm in it and sliced it. Come on, you should get out before you get hurt too." he replied, swimming towards the dock.

I tread the water and frowned. There shouldn't be any fishing line in the water. Jason was very careful with his equipment. Occasionally flocks of ducks would use the pond as a summer roost and loose line in the water could be deadly to them. I haven't fished here in ages so I knew it wasn't from me. I turned towards the dock, saw Jason being helped out by Alcide. I yelled at them. "That can't be right, Jason. No one's been fishing here in years, unless someone is poaching. Go get me some goggles. We need to get the line out before a duck gets tangled up in it."

"I'll get to it later, Sookie. Just get out before you get tangled yourself." Jason yelled back as Gran inspected the cut on his arm.

I felt something slide against my ankle and yelped. It had been cold and kinda slimy. Jason looked ready to dive in after me and I waved him off. "Just a fish inspecting my feet. I'm coming back in."

Before I start stroking towards the dock, I felt something a lot heavier than a fish brush against my thigh. My first thought was, naturally, alligator and I quickly looked down, fully expecting to see a jaw full of teeth staring me in the face. It was stupid of me to think that, it had been almost twenty years since the last gator was spotted this far north. What I saw was a helluva lot worse. I screamed and threw myself backwards as the human arm, it had to be human, floated to the surface of the pond. I completely freaked out at that point and lost all control of my motor functions.

I kept screaming over and over as I tried to get away from that thing floating towards me. Water flooded my mouth, tossed up by my thrashing, choking me. I was so afraid that it was going to touch me that I didn't even notice when someone jumped in the water. When a strong arm wrapped around my waist and hauled me away, I lost it again and thrashed wildly.

"Sookie! Calm down, I got you!" I heard Alcide's deep voice in my ear.

It was as if he had flicked a switch and my entire body went limp. I turned in his arm, burying my head in his shoulder as he drew us back to the dock. Only, I hadn't turned quickly enough and what I saw on that arm had my heart falling to my feet. Glittering in the sun, wrapped around the half decomposed arm was a silver watch, the face pointing towards me. It had only been a quick glance, but I had seen what was on the watch face. A tiger, a beautiful Bengal Tiger with it's mouth opened in a roar.

I knew who that watch belonged too because it had been my Christmas gift to him. As Alcide pulled me up on the bank of the pond, I trembled in his arms, which were a blazing warmth to my suddenly chilled body. As Gran and Jason hurried towards us, I whispered, so soft that only he could hear, against his shoulder. "I think that is...was Quinn...the watch."

Alcide's arms tightened around me and I struggled to pull back enough to see his face. What I saw was shock and disbelief, and under that, a slice of cold rage. I knew he was thinking because I was thinking the same thing. That someone had kidnapped Quinn, killed him, then dumped him in Jason's pond. There would be so many questions from the police.

Alcide's voice was barely controlled when he spoke, though his hands were gentle in their rubbing motions on my back. "Jason, call the sheriff, I think he needs to be here."

"Why?" Gran asked, her voice trembling, as she stopped next to us, "What happened out there?"

Alcide glanced down at me and I nodded, knowing that they had to know sooner or later and I'd rather my family found out from us than the law enforcement. "Because, I think we found John Quinn."

Author's Notes: Longest chapter ever! Right so...hope ya'll enjoyed this chapter. I had so much fun writing it. You have no idea how much fun I've had writing this chapter. The whole Quinn dead in the pond thing has been planned since I had the idea. I mean, someone had to die, so why not Quinn? What will happen next? Only my twisted little mind knows. Ciao until next time!