3 Days before the Were Reveal. Sorry, but it is necessary. We need to let the boys chat for a while. I apologize in advance for any POV issues...
7:
Alcide had heard a rumor about a Were being in Bon Temp for a 'side job.' Side jobs in the supe world could involve any number of shady characters so he had checked in with Calvin to see if he knew anything about it.
Alcide was determined to head off as many problems as he could before the revelation. He was paying well to be informed of all activity in northern Louisiana, including gossip and rumors. He was not going to allow anything or anyone make the revelation any harder than it was already going to be.
He had just expected a phone call back from Calvin, so he was a bit surprised when he walked into his office that afternoon. "Hey Calvin. I figured you would just give me a call back." Alcide stood and shook hands with the older were-panther before offering him coffee which Calvin quickly declined.
Calvin wanted to get down to business. He had investigated last night as Alcide had asked him. Of course, the problem took him straight to Sookie Stackhouse's property. That girl seemed to bring trouble down on her of all kinds.
"Alcide, I went out running last night and found the strange Were scents and they led straight to Sookie's place."
Alcide sighed. He should have known. Trouble follows Sookie around. "Well, could you tell what happened and why they were there? Did you see Sookie?"
Calvin had figured he would ask him about Sookie, so he had headed that one off by going to Merlotte's for lunch to make sure she was there and in one piece. "After what I smelled out there last night I went by Merlotte's to make sure that she was okay. She seemed fine. Workin' the lunch shift and going about her business like nothing was going on. But Alcide, there has been more than just Were's in Sookie's woods lately."
Alcide sat forward in his chair putting his elbows on the desk, "What?"
"Fae."
"What would a fairy be doing out there with Were's?" Alcide asked. Calvin simply shrugged. He knew Calvin wouldn't know anymore than he did, but it had to be voiced. What had Sookie Stackhouse gotten herself into this time?
"With the revelation coming this week I want to make sure she is safe. I can't send any of my pack out there. I'm spread too thin at the moment as it is." Alcide looked hopefully at Calvin, hoping he would offer.
"Well, Mel will be there, but I don't want to pull my pack in unless necessary. We are not going as public as you Were's are. We are just a small community. I don't want to lose anyone."
Alcide was a little frustrated with Calvin's reluctance to help, but he understood where he was coming from. His pack was small and getting smaller by the year. Of course he wouldn't want to put them in the middle of anything involving the fae.
"Is she with anyone right now?" Alcide asked the awkward question that they were both thinking. Calvin shrugged again. Taking care of Sookie was a full time job and they both knew her brother didn't give a damn. Was she still seeing Quinn? Or was she with Eric now? Alcide had heard of Quinn's forced involvement with the Nevada takeover and knew that it probably hadn't went over well with Sookie, but you can never tell with that woman.
Alcide knew Quinn was in the area this month, maybe he should just be a man and ask him straight out instead of gossiping like a girl with Calvin.
"I'll call Quinn. He's in Louisiana this month. Maybe he has been in contact with Sookie." Calvin just nodded. He hadn't seen Quinn in Bon Temps lately, but that didn't mean that they weren't still together. Calvin had the utmost respect for that man. He had been honored to meet him when he came to Jason and Crystal's wedding. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Quinn would be a good match for Sookie. Who better to keep her safe than a tiger?
Alcide dialed the number and put it on speaker so that they could both talk if necessary.
"This is Quinn."
"Quinn. It's Alcide Herveaux and Calvin Norris is here in my office as well."
Silence.
"Yes?" Quinn's gravelly tone made it sound more like a growl.
"Well, it seems there has been some suspicious Were and fae activity in Bon Temps and…."
"Bon Temps?" Quinn cut him off. "Is this about Sookie?" Well, you couldn't fault Quinn for beating around the bush.
Alcide continued, "Uh, yes, as a matter of fact it is. Calvin picked up traces of Were and Fae on her property. I had asked him to look into it when I heard a rumor about a Were performing a 'side job' in Bon Temps."
Quinn chuckled briefly, "Side job, huh?"
"Yes, exactly. You understand how these things can go in our world. I wanted to know if Sookie had mentioned anything since it was on her property?" Alcide had phrased his question carefully so Quinn would have to admit if they were still an item or not.
Quinn was silent again.
"Quinn?"
His voice seemed to drop an octave if that was even possible, "I haven't talked to Sookie since the Nevada vamp takeover, Alcide."
Alcide looked at Calvin and they both shared similar expressions as their eyes widened a bit and their eyebrows shot toward the ceiling.
Well, that answered that burning question. They weren't together after all. Sookie must not have taken Quinn's assistance to Nevada lightly. Not like he had much of a choice. I wouldn't want to have to choose between my sister Janice and a girlfriend, especially if that girlfriend was Sookie. Janice was the only family I had left after my dad was killed. Quinn was in a similar situation with his sister now that his mother was finally dead.
Well, maybe Quinn wouldn't be the one to keep an eye on Sookie then.
Quinn started talking again, "However, the King has ordered me to guard Sookie the night of the revelation. She is under his protection, and he does not trust Eric Northman to do the job."
Alcide and Calvin's jaws dropped. Calvin recovered first, "Well, Quinn, that is actually what we were hopin' to hear. We wanted to make sure Sookie was looked after that night, but Alcide can't spare any of his wolves and my pack is too small to get involved if there is fae mixed up in this."
"So you thought of me?" Quinn asked, but you could hear the amusement and twinge of cockiness in his voice.
Alcide visibly bristled and Calvin just looked chagrinned. Calvin really didn't like interfering in others' business. Alcide had heard enough, though.
"Quinn, if you discover anything to do with the Were's activity in the area, please let me know as Pack Master so that I can handle it accordingly. I am trying to avoid all possible problems with the revelation soon."
"I will. Thank you for alerting me to the situation. We will speak again soon."
Alcide said goodbye and ended the call. That was settled then.
The only question Alcide had now was whether or not to call Northman.
