*** All characters from the SVM belong solely to the amazingly talented Charlaine Harris. Thank God for her, otherwise where would I be now? No copyright infringement intended. Hope you enjoy my spin on Sookie and the gang! Rated M!! Happy reading! ********

Chapter 9

"Lover?"

I heard Eric speaking, but it seemed so far away. I was disjointed and not quite in my body. Still quivering from his attentions, I wanted to languish in the moment. Feeling him still inside me, I clenched my inner muscles and he immediately grew rigid. I stayed in the place between wakefulness and dreams while Eric made love to me again. Knowing that my residence here was only temporary, I wanted to savor it.

"Sookie, we have much to attend to."

I wanted to pout and cry, but knew it was no use. Eric was right. Tonight was the night Amelia was to be set free. I could feel deep in my bones that it would not go smoothly. There was about to be full on war and the Viking was plunging headlong into battle. I rose from the bed and stretched, giving Eric an eyeful. I heard him growl low in his throat and was drenched by wave of desire coming through the bond. I turned my head slightly to see him over my shoulder. I had his full attention, so I crooked my finger at him. He was with me in a heartbeat, his front against my back. It was hard to function when he was this close.

"You are an insatiable wanton, Lover. I find that quite favorable."

He raised an eyebrow. I licked my lips an instant before his found my ear.

"Know that when all this with the witch is said and done, you will be at my mercy. I will have you begging, pleading, and needing me."

I shivered as his words were etched into my memory. I could hardly stand the thought of having to wait to be one with him again. However, the niggling at the back of my mind was forcing my attention to the present, to Amelia. She needed us.

"Idle threats will get you nowhere, Mr. Northman, but promises like that will get you everywhere."

The last word exited my mouth on somewhat of a moan because Eric was doing something positively wicked to my ear with his tongue.

"Sookie…"

He broke away, leaving me frustrated. Apparently one of us was still capable of rational thought. I was long gone, past caring about more than the moment when Eric and I were two halves of the same person. When did I become the sex fiend in this relationship?

"Shower. We must shower and prepare."

I let out a sound of disgust that earned a chuckle from Eric. He took my hand and led me to the shower.


We emerged a scant ten minutes later, only to find Pam poised for action. She was dressed in head to toe black. For once, I saw her for what she really was: a cold-blooded hunter, a dealer of death. I was about to join those ranks. I hedged for a moment then shelved the idea. The last thing I needed was to have Eric on my ass about my doubts. I was full of them.

"Pam, make the call."

Eric's voice was so low I barely heard him. I could only stand and await the next plan of action. I was out of my league. This was their forte, not mine. Battle, death and destruction: Eric and Pam were made for it. I was just a waitress. Pam picked up a cordless phone and punched in the number for Wilder.

"Has she been freed?"

Simple and direct, that was our Pam. Her lips curved up in to menacing smile, fangs down.

"You just signed your death warrant."

The dial tone buzzing was so loud even I heard it. I looked at Pam, trying to read her face. I found nothing there but battle lust. I then turned to Eric. His face was too, quite unreadable. His thoughts were jumbled and red.

"Okay, human here, I need explanations."

"They said if we wanted the girl we had to come get her." Pam said quietly.

"Come and get her we shall. Call the others. I will not be caught with my pants down." Eric spoke.

I giggled. The thought of Eric with his pants down at that moment was hysterical. Even Pam was grinning.

"I am glad to be of some amusement to you ladies."

His tone no longer worked with me. Big, bad Northman was all bark and no bite, where I was concerned anyway.

"Thank you for providing the laughs, Baby, but don't we have vamps to dust?"

I was becoming too cheeky for my own good. Eric's expression said he was in total agreement.

"Remember my earlier promise, Lover." His voice came into my head.

I immediately sobered. I didn't want to push him too far tonight. I knew he was already on edge. We all were. This wasn't going to be a walk in the park.

"Alright Sheriff, what's the plan?" I asked with trepidation.

"Ambush, attack and recover."

I rolled my eyes. Thanks for the details there, Captain Obvious. I was becoming annoyed with Eric for keeping me in the dark about the rules of engagement. Then my annoyance rounded on me. When did I become so damn dependent of Eric? I'd always done things my way. I could take care of myself and had been doing so for quite some time. I didn't need this shit from him. He was always berating me about not giving all I had; well it was time to turn the tables. I didn't want to have this discussion in front of Pam, but it couldn't wait. I needed him to see me as an equal.

"Eric, we need to talk."

"Sookie. Later." He dismissed me with a wave.

I was livid and tears of anger pricked my eyes.

"Now, Eric."

My words apparently conveyed something to both of the vampires because Eric looked shocked and Pam looked amused that someone would speak to him in his own haughty tone.

I walked from the room, hoping with everything inside me that the big oaf I was in love with would follow. Men were just so dense sometimes.

I felt, rather than heard, Eric's approach. His confusion was evident. I stopped and rounded on him. He actually looked startled.

"You have to stop excluding me. Stop treating me like a child."

"Stop acting like one."

Intense rage shaded my whole world in red. I couldn't even fathom the words to tell Eric where to get off. Who in the hell did he think he was? I was not one of his fucking minions. I would not do as I was told. He knew I wouldn't heel. He had said it himself!

"I never wanted this. I never wanted to be dragged into your schemes, into the danger. I always end up the loser in these situations and you have the nerve to tell me to stop acting like a child? Who the FUCK do you think you are?"

"Do not say something in anger you will regret." He advised quietly.

Eric was not helping his cause; in fact I was having mental images of tearing his head off and kicking it like a football. I was so consumed with anger and I wasn't sure how much longer I could contain it. Mount Sookie was about to erupt.

"You are not my father, my husband or my owner!" Venom laced every single word.

"No, I do not own you, but I am your Bonded. I do what I do to protect you. I do not mean to make you feel slighted. I do it for your own protection."

His words were creeping in. I understood what he was saying, but it didn't help. I was fit to be tied and some things just had to be said. I took a calming breath before I spoke.

"Eric, I didn't buy that tired ass line when I was a child and I damn sure refuse to buy it now. I have never asked you for anything. I never wanted your wealth. I don't want to be a kept woman. I can make my own way. I am in charge of my life. Never forget that. I will and can take care of myself. I am still my own person, human or vampire. If indeed I still become vampire."

He winced. I had hit him where it hurt. I knew it was a low blow but I wasn't above fighting dirty. Hell, Eric Northman had probably invented the concept. I was about to give up everything for him. Everything.

"Have you reconsidered?" His voice was husky with emotion.

The weight of his words was nearly enough to quench my mood. I was torn between my feelings for him and what I knew had to be done. I wanted to go to him, hold him close, erase his pain and worry, but I would regret not saying everything I needed to when I had the chance. After this night, neither one of us may never have the opportunity again. So many things were riding on this one moment. Forever was a mighty long time to live with "what ifs". Surely he realized that.

Eric had once accused me of running from problems in my relationship with Bill, so here I was confronting this head on. Grief and sadness assailed me through the bond; they were Eric's emotions. He wasn't going to make this easy on me, but I refused to be placated. My anger was slowly leaking out of me like a deflated balloon. There was no room for error here. We were gambling with our lives. Well, with my life anyway.

"No, Eric. I still want nothing more to spend all my days, uh, well, nights, with you, but you've got to stop handling me with kid gloves. I've endured my share of bumps and bruises. I'm not going to break. I am not fine china, I'm a woman."

" Just listen to yourself! Yes, you could be broken, so fucking easily and you're my woman. That makes a massive difference. It would be simple to end your life. That is my nightmare. You underestimate just how fragile you are. Sookie, until you are vampire you are susceptible to so many dangers. Do you understand what losing you would do to me? You refuse to see reason. Protecting you is my goal. You are so stubborn."

Hilarious—Eric Northman calling me stubborn. Yeah, that was the pot calling the kettle black. Now we were bothangry and hurt. This was not how I wanted this to go. Another fine mess I'd gotten into. Neither one of was backing down. We were at an impasse. He raked his hands through his hair and paced before me like a lion. All the pacing was making me nervous. My mind was whirring. It was so difficult to imagine someone besides Eric meaning so much to well, Eric.

"Baby, stop pacing." At my endearment he paused.

One of us had to end this. I would bend. I would bend or we would break. The thought of Eric and I broken was much larger than any argument I had. Tonight something much bigger than us was in motion. Both of us needed to focus. It wasn't smart to rage out into the night with this heavy in our hearts. So I bent. No one ever said being in a relationship was easy.

"Northman, I don't know what you've done to me. I'm emotional, reckless, plunge head first into danger and I feel so damn helpless."

He chuckled and said, " You've always been reckless. I've worried for quite sometime you'd get yourself killed."

"That's not even fair, mister. All the danger I've been dragged into was a direct result of my association with vampires."

He knew I was right, but wasn't ready to secede. "If you had listened to me—"

"Save it. That was then, this is now. Everything has changed. You and I are together now. We have to start listening to each other. It's all or nothing. You know this. So no more of the cave man attitude?"

"Cave man? Please. I am a Viking, well over one thousand years old, Sookie. Give me some credit. Dragging you around by your hair could have its advantages though." He leered at me and smiled.

"Of all the pig headed things for you to say. What am I going to do with you?"

My heart skipped a beat. What was my life before him?? Could I even remember? Did I want to?

He stepped toward me, took me in his arms and placed his chin on top of my head. I was in a vampire cocoon.

"Put up with me. You love me."

"Jesus knows you're exasperating, but yes, I love you."

"Exasperating? Me? I am a paragon of patience and virtue." He said with mock innocence.

"Eric, my bullshit meter is reading that as false."

Eric bellowed with laughter and it soothed me.

"I cannot hide anything from you, Bonded."

"Remember that for future reference and all will be fine."

"Are we settled then?"

I nodded my head.

"Good. I have the need to dismember something. Let's go for the witch."

I rolled my eyes.

I followed Eric back into the living room to get Pam. She was smiling.

"I told you to read more Dear Abby to avoid these kinds of things." She quipped.

Pam loved nothing more than having something over Eric's head. He only sent her a dirty look.

"Are we going to go now? I need to rip something apart."

Damn vampires.