A/N: OK I think I've kept you wonderful people hanging just long enough. I hope this chapter doesn't leave you feeling all anti-climatic but it works for me. I've got more to say but I'll save it for below...Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or anything else here. I'm writing purely for shits and giggle purposes. Please don't sue.

One last thing, big shout out too my totally awesome Beta, slcurwin, for putting up with me. She laughs and all the right places and makes me feel so smart. Thanks!

Chapter 9

Eric plucked the arrow from the air mere inches from slamming into Sookie's chest. But before either of them could speak another one was unleashed and this time aimed straight for Eric's heart. Eric actually laughed as he snatched Sookie with vamp speed and took cover inside the music store where Laf was now squatting next to the register, staring in open shock. The few customers left in the mall had also taken cover and it was then that Sookie noticed the arrow Eric was still holding was wooden with a silver tip.

"Oh My God, Eric what the hell?!"

"Is the shooter still out there?" He asked as he pulled out his cell phone to dial Pam.

"Ummm…," It took Sookie a few seconds to come out of the shock enough, before realizing what he was asking. She then opened her mind up and found her instantly. It was the snarled, angry red of a Were's mind. Sookie had met a few werewolves in the past few days because of the added security Eric had been interviewing for but she didn't know this mind. It wasn't familiar at all, and all she could get from it was feelings of hate and jealousy aimed toward Sookie and Sarah, that and a location.

"Were, on the roof, south-west side of the building facing the road. She's pissed and I think she might be high on V and she's moving fast Eric, oh god no, toward the bookstore." Her heart began to race as she began to panic about Gran.

Meanwhile as Sookie was searching for the shooter Eric had dialed Pam, "Kom till sydvästra delen av köpcentret bredvid bokhandeln. Vi har en skytt, beväpnade med silver tippas trä pilar, hon är en varg på taket på väg mot bokhandeln och gatunivå. Sookie misstänker att hon är högt på V. "

"Jag är redan där." Pam said quickly as Eric hung up and called Bull.

"Secure Adele. There is a wolf high on V and armed with silver tipped arrows heading in your direction."

"Got it," Bull said. Eric could hear Adele in the background ask what was wrong before Bull hung up.

Sookie was just beginning to panic about Gran when Eric ended the call. "Adele is fine and Bull is securing their position as we speak."

"Oh Thank God! Here give me this," she took the arrow from him and began wrapping a tissue around the tip. "What now? Laf, honey what's wrong?" He was madly looking around the store and under displays, as his mind was moving in such a panic she couldn't grasp anything.

"Where the fuck is Sarah?!" he nearly yelled.

Sookie had a brief moment of panic, before she honed in on her with her mind. "I don't know but she's close and safe."

"You don'ts know?! How the hell does that work? You's da one wit the mental tracking system."

"It doesn't work when someone's asleep. All I can tell is she's safe, close by, warm and exhausted. She must have fallen asleep the moment she was still."

Eric said, "I can track her by scent as soon as the all clear is given." Just then, his phone rang. It was Bobby.

"Pam has caught the shooter, sir. She's securing her as we speak. Your orders?"

"Call Bubba, Find out the status of the Vamps in the club and inform him to bring a van to pick up the bitch and secure her in the basement once it's completely clear."

"What about the human authorities, sir? Pam says someone called them because she can hear the sirens getting closer."

"Knock the bitch out and put her in the limo for the moment until Bubba arrives. If the authorities approach you, smoke screen them, otherwise just stay out of their way. How was it Pam was already there when I called?"

"I pulled the limo around to the bookstore's entrance since its closer to your location inside. That and the moron—er…Bobby got lost trying to find me and ended up here. We were moving bags when you called." Pam said, though it was Bobby who was still holding the phone, and breathing annoyingly loud into it, Eric still heard her like she was standing next to him.

"Good, call Bull and Adele and inform them of your status, then wait for us outside once you have met with Bubba."

He could hear her groan, "Do I have to be nice to the were-bitch?"

"No. Just make sure you don't do too much obvious damage before we get her locked down."

"Yes, Master. Bobby, finish moving these bags I have an 'itch' to take care of."

"Bobby, make sure the items are taken to the Stackhouse residence in Bon Temp. Leave them in the living room. You'll find the key under the second flower pot on the porch. Make sure you announce yourself to the Were guards on the property or they may think you're an intruder."

"Y-y-yes sir."

As he ended the call, he saw the eager looks from the two humans and said, "Pam's detained the Were and Bubba's on his way to collect her and take her to Fangtasia."

"Well then what's we waitin' fo'? Make like a bloodhound and track our girl down!" Laf said without even noticing the unintentional pun. Since Sookie also didn't seem to notice, Eric let it slide, as he left the store with the two humans following close behind.

He didn't go far. Two stores down the trail suddenly stopped in front of the closed Disney store.

"Excuse me! Is anyone still in there?" Sookie called out. She could hear a mind coming from the back of the store.

"I'm sorry miss but we've closed."

"I know but I think my niece is hiding in here. Do you mind if we look, please!"

The human had the gull to look annoyed, "Ma'am, I checked the store personally five minutes ago, there's no one here."

"Look I think she may have fallen asleep, please just let us look."

Eric was beyond annoyed when the rude clerk said, "Look lady, there's no one in here and if you're irresponsible enough to lose your kid it ain't my problem."

Eric stepped up to the gate before Laf and Sookie could lay into the lazy asshole, "You will open this gate and let us search. You will be nothing but polite or else I will rip out your disrespectful tongue!" He didn't even bother with glamor as his fangs clicked into place at his anger.

"Fuck! The hell I will! I'm calling securt…," now Eric glamored the fuck.

The man quickly unlocked and raised the gate as Sookie and Lafayette ran in and began to search and call for the missing tot. Eric followed his nose to the back of the store and stopped to stare at an enormous mound of stuffed animals. Eric quickly zoned in on a sleeping Sarah. He signaled the fool over and released him from his influence. He grabbed the back of his neck, pointed to the sleeping child and said, "Either you're blind, an idiot, or a kidnapper, which is it?"

"Holy crap! How did…? Where did…? Oh crap!" With a shake to his head, the idiot clerk said, "I'm sorry! I didn't see her!"

"Blind it is, idiot too since we told you she was probably hiding. I will be speaking to your manager to alert him of your incompetence and that you nearly left a child locked in your store all night, alone, and asleep." Eric dropped the pathetic man on the floor whimpering and apologizing to Eric's shoes. He resisted the urge to kick the fool.

During Eric's 'talk' with the employee, Sookie ran over to the display of all the Disney characters and saw Sarah's tiny face nestled between a Cinderella doll and the main character from Tangled, whatever her name was. She couldn't help but marvel at how ingenious Sarah was to place herself between two blond human looking dolls and bury the rest of her under others so that she wouldn't be seen. "Sarah, sweetheart, it's time to go," Sookie crooned softly as she uncovered the clever angel.

"Is safe now?" Sarah murmured as she stared groggily at the three concerned adults.

"Yes sweetie, it is and we're going home now. Come on down."

Sarah climbed closer, and reached for Eric.

He was startled for a moment that it was him she wanted, but he quickly recovered and lifted the child into his arms. She immediately put her head on his shoulder and fell back to sleep at once. The night's excitement had finally caught up to her.

As they all turned to leave, Sookie went up to the man still cowering on the floor and squatted to meet his gaze. "I hope that the next time you criticize a concerned parent looking for their missing child you remember that the reason you don't have any yourself is because no woman wants a grown thirty-eight year old man that still lives with mommy and spends all of his off time playing W.O.W."

Lafayette added, "Bitch, you is lucky I just gots my nails done or else I'd mess up that already fugly face of yous, for dismissing our panic because yous wanted to gets home to fucks yo' machine."

As they left the store and headed to meet with the rest of their party, Eric asked, "Lover, what is W.O.W. and what does fugly mean?" He said it softly so that he wouldn't disturb Sarah and hopefully so no one else would hear is ignorance.

"W.O.W. also known as 'World of Warcraft', is a computer game, that from what I could see in his mind, is pretty addicting and all consuming. He literally spends ten or more hours just sitting in front of his computer obsessing over characters and stories created in this virtual environment. It's just sad really and fugly means…"

"Fuckin' UGLY!" Laf calls out over his shoulder. "Admit it Sook, yous never would have said the whole thing."

"I try not to cuss at all LaLa. Gran raised me to be a lady after all and you know what she says."

"A foul mouth is the sign of an uneducated mind. If you want to bless someone out use words they don't understand. It'll make more of an impact." They both said in unison.

"I knew your grandmother was smart I was however, unaware of her inimitable sense of humor." Eric stated as they walked into the bookstore. They saw Bull standing very closely behind Gran, as she sat in a lounge chair reading a Better Homes and Gardens magazine.

Gran saw them as they entered and rushed to Sookie and Laf to embrace them and inspect them for injuries. "My sweet lord in heaven what took you so long? After Bull locked me in the ladies room for ten minutes he told me some one was shooting at you with arrows and that Pam caught her. Are you all ok?" She looked right at Eric as she said this.

"We're fine Gran. Eric caught the arrow before it even got close to me. But Sarah ran and hid like I told her to but then fell asleep the poor thing. So we had to find her. It took a little time. She's good."

They made their way outside to a waiting Pam and an empty limo. Pam looked very satisfied. After they'd settled inside the car, Eric told Pam to head toward Bon Temp but make a short detour to the 24hr car dealership.

"What's up cuz? I's thought we was headin' home? I needs my beauty sleep, I gots a hot date tomorrow." Laf smirked remembering his 'date' with the hot waiter from the restaurant.

"Given your 'win' earlier this evening and in gratitude for your care towards Sarah, I'm taking you to the dealership I got my corvette from to get you something for yourself. I would buy one for Sookie also if she'd allow me too. Hers is a deathtrap." He stated casually as if he were talking about buying postage stamps instead.

While Laf gaped at Eric like a guppy, and tried to find his voice, Sookie took the opportunity to say,"You've never mentioned anything before. I mean you've said how much you hate my car but you've never mentioned you wanted to get me another one."

"I didn't bring it up because I know how independent you are and I thought you might be mad if I just bought you one out of the blue." Eric said quietly.

"Well your right about that. I'd be pissed if I didn't get any say in a decision that big." She thought about it for a few moments. She really did need a new car. The one she had simply wasn't safe for her to drive anymore especially with Sarah in the car. And after a tiny brake incident the other day, that had scared the stuffing out of her but she hadn't told Eric about mainly because of pure pride, she'd been ready to scrap the hunk of junk despite the sentimental attachment she had. It was after all her first car. "I suppose I wouldn't be opposed to accepting an early Christmas present tonight, on the condition that I take care of the insurance, that is if you still want to get me one." She gave him a smile that literally felt like his heart was on fire.

"I would buy you anything you desired to make you smile like that," he whispered in her ear.

Finally Lafayette gained the use of his speech again as he said a little too loudly, "A car? Yous gonna by me a mother-fuckin' car?!"

"Lafayette Reynolds so help me if you wake this baby with that foul mouth of yours, I'm gonna wash it out with soap! And don't think I won't either! Car or not, I'll get Eric to hold you down while I clean out that filthy mouth of yours! How many times do I have to tell you, you're better than using language like that? A foul mouth is the sign of an uneducated mind. You've had education. Use it!" Gran admonished him heatedly.

A well chastised Lafayette came quickly down from his high as he said humbly and apologetically, "Yes Ma'am. I'm sorry Mrs. S. I know better than to speak that way and promise to try to do better."

She gave him a loaded look, "Boy, did you forget that I've been around the block so many times I've made a ditch? I know a line when I hear one. I know you cuss like a sailor anytime I'm not within earshot. I only ask you not do so in front of me or Sarah. I will not have her picking up your bad habits!"

"Yes Gran, I promise it won't happen again," he said with as much sincerity as he had.

"Good. See to it that it doesn't."

Eric was impressed. He could see why Bobby was so terrified of her. She had a fierceness to her that would make any vampire piss their pants. Metaphorically speaking of course. He'd thought before, what a beautiful and talented vampire Sookie would make but now he thought Adele would also make an excellently frightening vampire. However, he had his orders where she was concerned.

They arrived at the dealership a few minutes later and the three of them got out of the limo while the others elected to stay with Sarah. Eric guided Sookie into the showroom floor as a vampire salesman, zipped up to them out of nowhere making Sookie and Laf both jump.

"Sheriff Northman it's an honor to see you again. To what do I owe this pleasure?" He was a short little man barley Sookie's height, but he seemed to have a way with him that gave him presence despite his stature. He was broad in the shoulders and seemed well built without being overt about it. He had almost a swimmers type of build. Despite his profession Sookie liked him instantly.

"Good evening Dimitri, It's good to see you as well. I'm here to purchase two new vehicles, one for my beautiful companion and one for a loyal…friend." As he said this he gestured to Sookie and Lafayette respectfully.

"I heard you were keeping interesting company recently. I've been working so much I haven't been able to get in to Fangtasia to see for myself. Please, "he gestured toward both Sookie and Laf, "allow me to help you find your heart's desire."

Laf murmured quietly in Sookie's ear, "Damn, I thinks I just did."

Having heard the comment, Dimitri smirked and said, "I'll be happy to show you any model you like and allow you a test drive." Sookie giggled as Eric rolled his eyes while the two men flirted shamelessly. Each innuendo getting more elaborate and dirty than the last, until finally Eric told them he and Sookie would let them know when she'd made her choice and the two disappeared from the lot for about fifteen minutes. They returned looking a little rumpled but much calmer.

It didn't take long after that for Laf and Sook to make up their minds. After getting some information from each of them to process the sale of the car through, Dimitri told them their cars would be delivered in a few days after getting the upgrades that were standard for all of Eric's purchases. Things such as a top of the line security system, reinforced tires, and On Star if the model didn't already come with it, plus a kick-ass sound system for Laf. He may be gay but he was still male and he liked his tunes. In Sookie's case he told Dimitri in Russian that he wanted armor plating to be discreetly added to Sookie's car along with bullet proof glass. He wanted her safe.

Sookie was joking to Gran as they were getting back into the limo to finish their drive back that Laf had 'scored' yet another date for the week.

Gran just rolled her eyes and said, "Your hound dog ways are worse than Jason's but at least you're responsible for your actions."

Something about that comment made Sookie pause and very tempted to check in Gran's head for clarification, but she resisted. She reminded herself that she was giving her space and respecting her privacy. While she was thinking, Eric's phone rang again. She snuggled up against him as she listened to his end of the conversation but apparently Sarah wasn't the only one that was worn out from the evening's activities, she was out in moments.

She woke with her head in Eric's lap and his hand rhythmically running through the strands of her hair in the same type of loving gesture she usually did with Sarah when she needed comforting. "Hey," she smiled sleepily up at Eric. It was then she noticed her surroundings. She was in her room lying on the bed as he leaned against her headboard. "What time is it?"

"A little past four, we need to talk, Lover." Sookie wasn't sure she liked that ominous statement.

"Alright, let me take care of my human needs and check on Sarah then we can talk."

Eric nodded and began to undress and prepare the bed for Sookie to sleep in, as Sookie grabbed her night clothes and went into the bathroom to begin her nightly routine. Afterward she padded quietly downstairs and saw that someone had tucked Sarah in her bed. Gran's door was closed and there were a mountain of bags and items stacked in the living room, while Lafayette was sprawled out on the couch, sawing some very impressive logs. She noted that the limo was gone and figured Bull probably caught a ride with Pam. She grabbed a glass of water and headed upstairs for 'the talk'.

When she walked in the room, Eric was waiting for her in the bed. She snuggled in between the covers and into the side of his cool chest. "I think we need to take a few precautions concerning Sarah, so that an event like tonight's game of hide and seek doesn't happen again." Eric began as matter of fact as he could considering that he felt like he almost lost two of 'his girls' that night. He didn't think he could stand to lose another family, and every instinct in him was telling him to leave now before he got too attached but he knew he never would.

"Oh Eric, you're not going to lose us. I swear I will not let you suffer the loss of another family, but I need you to promise me that you will not leave us!"

Eric looked calmly at Sookie; he had suspected this might happen eventually. "Lover, I never said that, I thought it."

"Well shit!" Sookie said.

Several days later…

Desmond Cataliades was overdue in his return to New Orleans but had received a mysterious letter the day before requesting an appointment. The mysterious letter had been waiting for him at his hotel the morning he was scheduled to leave. The clerk had no idea who dropped it off for him saying it must have been in the early morning hours but he just couldn't seem to remember, and this had his curiosity peaked. It sounded like possibly a vampire but the request to meet was for lunch, very curious indeed.

When he arrived at the popular restaurant, he came armed with an appetite. The confrontation he'd had with Miss Stackhouse, had left him drained and if he were honest with himself a little ashamed as well.

He was escorted to a discrete booth in the back of the restaurant, given a menu and told his lunch date was in the restroom and would be back momentarily. He was engrossed in the appetizers, when he was aware of company. Of all the people he'd thought he'd see today, she didn't even cross his mind though he shouldn't have been surprised, given the events that had transpired a few days ago.

"Well I must say this is unexpected considering the last time we met didn't end on the best of terms. Here to finish the job from Sunday, my dear?"

"No, and I would appreciate it if you would keep this professional. I would like some information about the item given to me and I have a request for you."

"Well in that case it's good to see you again, how may I help you?"

"Let's cut through the needless chit chat, demon; just tell me what you know about the shiny trinket and why Fintan made it."

He bristled at being called a demon. He was daemon, there was a difference! "He made it because he loved…"

She interrupted with, "Please, we both know that's a load of hooey!"

Cataliades made to say more but she cut him off, "I'm not interested in declarations of love everlasting. The letter's been read. I know his warped motivations, what I don't understand is what exactly a cluviel dor is and what it's capable of. I also want to know the dangers of having this highly coveted magical enigma around my family. We've already been hunted by some psychotic Were. Can this thing help to protect my family or will it put them in more danger? Who else knows he's made this 'love token'?" She said this last phrase with as much sarcastic bile as possible.

The lawyer sighed heavily, "As far as I know he made the item in secret, but that just means that other Fae would be unaware of its existence. Close family would be able to feel the exertion of magic needed to make one. If I had to guess I would say Niall at least would know and possibly Fintan's twin too. I doubt his half brother would know since they weren't that close physically or otherwise."

They were interrupted by their waitress coming back to take their orders and after he'd ordered half the menu, she snarked, "Hungry?"

"Yes, healing takes a lot of energy."

She smirked, "Yes, well 'the road to Hell is paved with good intentions' they say."

Cataliades took a long drink of water as he avoided her accusing stare. He cleared his throat and said, "Yes, well where were we? Oh, yes, danger or help. Like I've said before, the fewer that know about this the better and this includes Northman and his Childe."

"What about you?"

"Excuse me?" He looked genuinely offended.

"How do I know you can be trusted with this information? What is your agenda? I find it very savvy of you to excuse your leaking knowledge of a client's private affairs to the fairies as a 'prior commitment', when historically you have a record of being very loyal. Who holds your loyalty now? How can you be trusted to keep your mouth shut?"

"I'm the one who has held the item all this time. Fintan trusted me with it and the future welfare of his family since he made me sponsor," he huffed.

"That was then and I'm not Fintan. You don't possess the item now so you are out of immediate danger. What guarantee do I have that you won't run your mouth due to a 'prior agreement' or some other loophole? I have none that I can see except…," she smiled with a devious glint in her eye. "I'm going to guess that not too many are aware that YOU have the telepathy this curse came from. And if word got out that you did…well, we both know that there are some in the supernatural community that would do anything for an asset like you. Imagine a lawyer, an expert in vampire affairs that can read minds, the possibilities are endless and much more tempting than a telepathic bar manager."

He paled slightly, and studied her hard. Perhaps he had underestimated her a bit based on her good looks and status as a human. Perhaps he should have never agreed to get involved when Fintan asked him to repay his life debt, it was too late now to worry about either. "What do you want?"

"I want you to teach me all you know about telepathy."

"Why?"

"Because, I want you to 'gift' it to someone."

"Who?" He asked suspiciously.

She just smiled.

"When?"

"There's no time like the present."

Translation – "Get to the southwest portion of the mall next to the bookstore. We have a shooter, armed with silver tipped wooden arrows; she's a wolf on the roof heading for the bookstore and street level. Sookie suspects she's high on V." – Eric

"I'm already there" - Pam

A/N: Sooooooo, whacha think? A few of you sounded like you were ready to strangle me after the last cliffy so I hope this one isn't as bad.

Few things I wanted to address. Next chappie we're gonna skip back a few days to the bonding. I'm still editing but I've got most of it down. I wanted to acknowledge a few authors that I used as inspiration for writing my first lemon ever! I've been reading copious amounts of their work in order to figure out the 'right way' to do this. I hope you guys like. So a HUGE thanks to: MissyDee, EricIzMine, California Kat, ChanelAddict, and AllAboutEric for their oh so memorable lemons. I want to be them when I grow up.

One last thing, I'll be introducing a new character soon. Due to the terrible loss of one of my ALL Time favorite actors I'm modeling him in honor of Micheal Clark Duncan. May he RIP the world is a poorer place now that he's gone. I'll post the character specs on my profile soon.

OK that's it! Thanks for reading and reviewing! You guys went nuts this last week and left me 30 reviews! I luv you big time!