Chapter seven- Four Strong Winds

Sookie stared at the phone in her hand for a long silent moment. Pam stood beside her wide eyed and frightened, waiting impatiently for Sookie to move, to do something, to take control. But she didn't, she just stared at the phone, seemingly in a catatonic shock.

Bill roared drunkenly from downstairs followed by the sounds of furniture being knocked over.

'Sookie please, what do we do?' Pam said shaking the older woman with as strength as she could muster. Sookie still did not move, looking intently at the phone, as if willing it too work through her brainwaves alone.

'Sookie!' Pam shrieked, this time snatching the phone from Sookie's hand and throwing it aside. 'Please, I'm scared.' She added and finally Sookie's wide eyes moved up to lock on Pam's. Then with that, she was off, running over to the window instantly, yanking it open and leaning out as far as she dared.

'Right, right we're getting out of here.' Sookie said, seemingly coming to a decision as the sound of Bill's unbalanced stomps reached their ears meaning he was coming up the stairs. A moment later he booted the bedroom door, causing it to wobble, but thankfully Sookie's homemade barrier held firm.

Pam was staring intently at the door, and then snapped her head back to Sookie and was surprised when she saw Sookie climbing out onto the ledge and calling for Pam, who quickly scurried over. Bill kicked the door again.

'I'm going to climb down than you're going to climb down after me, but I'll help you ok.' Sookie said, helping the little girl climb out of the window, shutting it tight when they were both out. Pam looked terrified with the idea but she didn't protest, she just stayed quiet, and close to Sookie. Dolly the bunny still firmly clutched in her hand.

Sookie went down low and edged herself over to the edge of the little balcony ledge. She looked one more time at Pam. 'We'll be fine sweetie.' She said and then began the shaky task of climbing down the rather hefty and dangerous drop. The strong winds were not helping anything. Pam waited at the top, her head snapping back at the door once again as Bill kicked even harder, the unit moving a fraction of an inch. Pam shrieked in a tiny whisper.

'Pam, Pam sweetie?' Sookie suddenly called from several feet below. Pam crawled to the edge on her hands and knees' and fearfully looked over the edge. Sookie smiled encouragingly up at her.

'Ok sweetie, right, now you just copy what I've done ok, see that bit there...' Sookie said pointing up at a sticking out bit of wood. Pam nodded. 'Right well, use that as your first step ok.' Sookie said her voice high with stress and encouragement for the little girl.

Pam nodded seriously, than carefully and shakily turned and began to lower herself so she could reach the first little foothold. It was hard and she was terrified and the wind batted at her little frame ruthlessly.

'That's it!' Sookie whispered happily, 'now repeat that again, take it slowly, you're doing great sweetie.' She added, hating Bill more than ever for doing this to them, she could see Pam trembling from where she was below and felt so much guilt.

Pam was stretching her legs as far as she could, trying to reach the next little foothold available, but her legs were too short and nimble, not like Sookie's long supple ones. 'Sookie, I can't reach!' Pam half whispered/half shrieked as she clung on for dear life feet up in the air.

'Yes you can, you have too!' Sookie half whispered/half shrieked back in panic in seeing that her little limbs couldn't manage the dangerous task. Pam started to sob when Sookie insisted she had to and began to wobble dangerously in the air. 'Sookie I can't do it.' She sobbed and then yelped as she heard Bill fully kick in the door.

Down below Sookie heard the door being smashed in too and instantly began to panic. 'Jump Pam, I'll catch you- jump!' She yelled and Pam's eyes widened in disbelief. Bill was struggling to open the window to get out.

'What if you can't?' Pam sobbed, not wanting to jump, not wanting to be out in the cold night, and just wanting her Daddy more than anything in the world.

'I will, I promise you, now jump!' Sookie shrieked, her own tears brimming at the corners of her eyes.

Suddenly the glass smashed as Bill kicked the window in and in the panic, Pam leapt backwards, falling through the night.

Sookie's heart was thudding in her chest so hard it was hurting as she saw Pam fall in slow motion. She had her arms out ready to catch her and prayed to God that she succeeded, at the same time watching out for the falling shards of glass.

Then with a soft crash, Pam was in Sookie's arms and Sookie was crying in relief that she had caught her and that they were out. Without pausing for breath, she grabbed the little girls hand and they both ran towards the wooded area that surrounded the Northman house.

Bill was still fighting with his drunken senses at the bedroom window.

'Dolly!' Pam suddenly cried, jolting to a stop as she realised she had dropped Dolly. Sookie stopped too, her eyes snapping back to the open piece of law behind them, to the little lavender bunny lying on the grass. Pam went to run back and retrieve it.

But Sookie's hand tightened around her hand, not letting her. 'No leave her.' Sookie said, hating how it broke Pam's heart when she said it. 'But I need her if Daddy's not here.' She said, tugging on Sookie's hand. Bill had managed somehow to climb down; he was a few feet away now. Sookie's eyes shot from him back to Pam.

'I know Sweetie, but you've got me. Will I do?' Sookie said, crouching to Pam's level. Pam looked deep into Sookie's eyes, and then nodded. They ran. Bill close on their feet. And a game of cat and mouse began in the dark and deep wood.

...

Eric screeched to a halt outside his house, having already phoned the police whilst driving. He jumped out without shutting the door, running up to his front door, barely noticing its broken hinges as he shot through the trashed living room and up the stairs. His heart was in his throat as he entered his bedroom, with that door kicked in too he knew Bill had been here, a chest of drawers toppled over by the side. The window was smashed. They had gone outside.

He instantly spun on his heels and legged it downstairs and out to the back of the house, breathing raggedly with panic and anger and sheer blind desperation to get to his daughter and Sookie before that psycho did.

He came to a halt in the back garden, standing still as stone, listening out for any sigh of their whereabouts. The glass shards were scattered on the glass.

Then Eric's heart sent a horrifying chill through his body as he spotted a little shadow up ahead lying on the ground. He walked up to it solemnly, bending to pick up the soft little bunny that went anywhere and everywhere with his daughter. 'Where are they Dolly?' He asked looking out towards the dark woods before him. Shoving the little corduroy rabbit into his pocket, he headed into the dark.

...

Sookie and Pam had been running for nearly 8 minutes and they were beginning to run out of breath to the point of panting heavily. Sookie pulled Pam over to a small area of thick bushes and crouched down, partially hidden, finally coming to a halt.

'What...' Pam began but Sookie slapped her hand tightly over the little girl's mouth, mouthing to be quiet. They both watched a minute later with frightened eyes as Bill stumbled pass. One hand held a nearly finished bottle of Vodka, the other held a gun.

Both of the girls inwardly fainted at the sight.

A few minutes of silence after Bill had passed, leading away from them, Sookie motioned that they could stand up once again. They scurried out from the hiding place, trying desperately to control their breathing and still keep silent.

'Come one, let's head back to the house, find a neighbour.' Sookie whispered, holding her hand out for Pam; who surprised Sookie by smiling up at her, albeit a tiny and worried smile. She took her hand and they began to walk back.

Unfortunately fate had other plans and a few steps later Bill's ominous voice suddenly broke through the silence.

'Don't move.' He slurred dangerously, and Sookie turned slowly to the sight of a gun being pointed at her.

'Bill, please, don't do this.' Sookie begged as Pam began to whimper next to her. 'Please she's just a little girl.' Sookie added hoping to touch some normal and caring part within Bill that had existed at some point.

'Shut up!' Bill yelled, shaking his head to refocus his eyes. 'You're coming back with me.' He said.

'Fine, just let Pam go, let her get out of here.' Sookie said, willing and ready to sacrifice all she had for the little girl she had come to love so much in such a short amount of time.

'You let them both go and stop this now.' Eric's deep and chilling voice soundly sounded, all three heads whipped to the side to see Eric approach from the deep foliage of the forest.

Bill swung his gun arm round to face Eric suddenly snarling and frothing once more. 'I'll fucking kill you.' He warned, as Eric approached still.

'Do it then, you're not that guy though, you're better than that.' Eric reasoned, now face to face with Bill, the gun digging directly into his chest.

'I will!' Bill shouted and cocked the gun, his hand shaking violently with both the liquor and the stress he was under.

'Daddy...' Pam whimpered from behind them, as Sookie edged her and herself behind Eric and back out of danger.

'Its ok baby, everything's going to be fine. Sookie take Pam back to the house.' Eric said and Sookie instantly protested. 'Eric!'

'Now!' Eric shouted, making Sookie flinch. 'I'll be fine, I've got Dolly.' He added, risking a side glance down at Pam who was in tears, he winked at her.

'Come on Pam.' Sookie said, not giving a chance for Pam to protest and just pulled her up into her arms instead.

When the girls had left, Eric looked back at Bill.

The atmosphere was thick and deadly.

'Go on then. Let's do it. Like men.' Eric said, tugging the gun out of Bill's hand and throwing away swiftly. He then stepped away from the startled drunk, holding his hands up ready for a fight.

Bill stumbled backwards slightly, holding his own hands up in fists. 'Like men.' He drawled and then lunged at Eric.

What happened next was swift and quick and over within a minute. Eric left hooked Bill as he lunged, knocking the man to the floor, where he repeated the action several times until Bill was defeated. He then pulled the smaller man up and holding his arms around his back, he hauled him out of the forest and to the waiting cops in his garden, where Bill was swiftly arrested.

'The gun's a few feet left of the house.' Eric said and the policeman nodded, told Eric some official things, and then told him his girls were inside waiting.

Eric stood still for a moment in the night's storm, it was going to pour down any minute, he knew it. The rain would clean everything, maybe not for real, but metaphorically speaking, Eric felt better. He walked back inside.

There on the couch in the trashed living room was Sookie and Pam, cuddled together, still in their night clothes and muddy feet. A fresh cup of coffee was in front of Sookie and warm milk in front of Pam. A lady police officer was in front of them, talking gently and quietly to them. She offered some chocolate to Pam, which Eric knew was to help against the threat of shock but Pam thought she was being nice and shyly took a square as did Sookie.

'Hey.' Eric suddenly said, clearing his throat. Pam was up on her feet so fast Sookie didn't even register what had happened. Eric pulled his little girl up into his arms, holding on tightly, rocking side to side and stroking her back. 'I got you little one, I got you.' He soothed as Pam sobbed into his shoulder.

'I was so scared Daddy, and we had to jump from a window and I didn't have shoes on and Sookie had to catch me and I dropped Dolly.' She whimpered in a flurry of sadness and desperateness. Eric smiled at his daughter. 'I know, I know you did little one, I'm so proud of you, you were so brave.' He said, pressing his cheek against her hair and closing his eyes.

Sookie looked on with wide eyes, feeling her heart bloom with new love and happiness for the two.

'Hey look who I got.' Eric said after a few minutes silence. Pam pulled away and smiled widely when she saw her beloved Dolly in front of her. 'Oh Dolly!' Pam shrieked and hugged her close, causing all three adults in the room to chuckle.

'Dolly saved the day.' Sookie joked and Eric's deep and burning eyes shot to her. Wordlessly he placed Pam on the sofa who was content to hug her stuffed rabbit, and walked over to Sookie.

He stood directly in front of her, placing his large hands on either side of her face. Sookie's heart was once again beating full pelt. The officer had turned her attention to Pam, who was happy to talk to her.

'I can never thank you enough.' Eric said and Sookie blushed, trying to say otherwise, but Eric continued.

'No, seriously, let me finish. You saved my daughter, my little girl; you put her life before yours. Thank you.' He said, so raw and honest Sookie was lost for words.

Then, he gently and slowly, so as not to startle her, leant forward until his lips brushed over Sookie's. Sookie was on fire. She returned the kiss, suddenly forgetting Pam, the officer, the cops outside and crashed her tongue over his lips begging for entrance. He obliged and Sookie's last little bit of restraint left her as she was able to explore Eric. Her hands began to shyly explore up and down his body and she could feel the heat rising between her legs as she did this.

Suddenly Eric pulled away, chuckling awkwardly, blushing bright red and adjusting his jeans with a tug around his sensitive area. 'Unless you want to end up being frisked naked with all this witnesses in the room, I suggest we wait.' Eric whispered seductively in her ear and Sookie blushed, and smiled all in one.

'I can wait...a little while.' She said back in her own husky voice, leaning up to steal one last kiss before returning to the room of people and drama and reality before them.

Chapter eight coming soon! Heeeheee!