Chapter 10

Sookie woke to the tingly feel of electricity all over her body. She somehow knew that this was her powers growing in strength just as she knew it was caused by a large amount of vampire blood. The vampire blood explained why all her injuries were now magically healed and the sunlight streaming in the window explained why her vampires were distinctly absent.

The weight of everything that had happened to her pressed down on her mind. She stretched out in the soft bed and sighed at the mix of feelings she was trying to master. There was so much to try and deal with. Her body felt wonderful but there was still a darkness in her heart as the horrid memories flashed through her mind. The events of the previous night had woken feelings inside her which she had tried for years to repress.

It wasn't until she heard the low voices (which she could still make out clearly, thank you very much vampire blood) outside her room that she realized she was not at home. She was in what looked like a hospital although she could not hear the usual bombardment of painful thoughts that she had always experienced when forced to go to hospitals in the past.

"I said you cannot see her." A strange and somewhat shrill female voice snapped.

"Do not forget who you are speaking with, healer," An angry male voice snapped back. The fury in his tone made Sookie shiver but she had the odd feeling of familiarity at the sound. "I have a right to see her just as she has a right to know what I wish to tell her!"

"That may be but I am under strict orders to keep her away from all visitors and give her the best care possible. You will have to take it up with them."

"Oh, believe me, I will!"

The door to her room opened a moment later and a very small woman walked in. The scowl on her face was quickly replaced by an awkward smile when she saw Sookie was awake.

"Hello, my name is doctor Ludwig and Eric has charged me with your care. You are in my Shreveport hospital and I have to say, you are a very lucky girl." As she spoke she approached the bed and began taking instruments out of her large black bag.

"How so?" Sookie asked cautiously. She couldn't read the little doctor- a fact which made her very nervous.

"You have so many people clamoring to protect you I don't know what to do with them all." Sookie chose to ignore that comment as she had no idea what it meant.

"Who was that man in the corridor?" She asked while watching the doctor's small face carefully. She saw fear and conflict flash in her eyes but the woman was clearly good at controlling her expression as it didn't reach the rest of her face.

"You will have to ask your vampires. They have set some fairly strict instructions and I do not wish to anger them by breaking any of their rules." Sookie sighed at how over protective she knew they would now be of her and nodded to show she understood and did not hold it against the small doctor. "Well, it looks like you have healed up nicely. I will instruct the nurse to bring you some food and a change of clothes so you can freshen up. Your vampires will be here to collect you at nightfall which is only a couple of hours away."

"Thank you," Sookie said with a small smile as the doctor packed away her instruments and headed out of the room.

"It's my honor," she said with a wry grin. Once again Sookie did not understand but she figured there was something very strange about the small doctor anyway so she probably didn't need to worry about it.

Roughly two hours later, Godric and Eric were in the car speeding along the roads of Shreveport in a desperate desire to get to Sookie as fast as possible. Neither of them had wanted to leave her the night before and the fact that she had been so badly abused- and they had failed to protect her- made them even more eager to be by her side. They loved her so very much that the purest anger coursed through them at the thought of what she had suffered.

Another reason they had been so reluctant to leave her was that her powers were rapidly growing and it was now obvious that she was not merely mortal. That could only mean she was in more danger than ever and it had taken the doctor promising to keep her isolated and the reminder of the sun to steal them away from their beloved's side.

"How do you think she will handle what happened?" Eric asked his maker in a solemn voice. Neither of them had spoken a word so far this night but he could no longer ignore the fear he had for her.

"I do not know. She is strong and I am sure she will get through this but she will require our support and encouragement as well as our protection."

"What do you suppose she is?"

"I think she is a mix of fairy and sorceress. Only such a combined bloodline could produce so much power in one as young as she and one whom has had no training. I think our Sookie is in a great deal of danger, Eric." They looked at each other, both noting the love and fear in the other's eyes, before turning their gazes back to the road and returning to silence.

"Sookie?" Godric asked tentatively, already feeling the hurt at her reaction to their arrival. He had not known what to expect but her fear and anguish had been totally unexpected. "Why do you fear us?" They both winced at the way she clutched her legs to her chest even tighter. She was sat on the bed and her knees were curled up as she peeked out at them.

"Are you angry with me?" She asked her voice breaking. Sookie was so afraid. She had come to love them so much and she was sure they would hate her for forgetting to call her guard and despise her for getting used the way she had been. Why could they possibly want her now? No one else did!

"What?" Eric asked shocked. "Why would we be angry at you, lover?"

"I forgot to call Alcide and got...I got..." She trailed off unable to finish the sentence.

"You think because those men raped you that we would no longer want you?" Godric asked stunned by her fragility. He had never met anyone who was so strong and yet so in need of protection before. It made him love her all the more for making him feel needed for the first time in centuries.

At her small nod both vampires surround her in their embrace. It took a moment but as Godric whispered in her ear the grip on her legs lessened until she was held securely between them.

"No, dear one. We love you so very much and could never be angry at you for that. It was not your fault and we promise to protect you so it never happens again."

Sookie did not look up. Her face was gently nuzzled into Eric's chest as she spoke, "really?" she could not help but feel the hope that sprang to her heart. She did not want to let them go. They made her feel cherished and safe.

"Of course, lover. You are ours and always will be, nothing can change that." Eric rubbed her back as he spoke to show her how much he cared.

Sookie sighed and breathed in their combined scents. She was safe in their arms and they still wanted her. The jolt of happiness and relief gave her the strength to pull away from their embrace.

"Ok. So, what are we doing tonight then?"

Both vampires were shocked, again. It seemed they could not keep up with their telepath. They simply could not work out how she could suddenly be so calm. It was as if nothing had happened.

"We do not wish to rush you, little one. We know that while your body is healed your heart will take time to mend. We thought we could stay home tonight." Godric watched her carefully for any sign that she was distressed or needed their comfort and support but he detected none.

"I'm alright. I just want to forget about it. Can we go to Fangtasia?" Sookie did not miss the look her vampires gave each other. It screamed 'she's in denial'. "Really," she promised them while taking a hand from each to twin with her own. "I am fine. It's not the first time something like that has happened to me. I can handle it. I was just worried about how you would see me." The second she finished she realized it was the wrong thing to say.

"WHAT?" They both roared in unison. "When did something like that happen to you before?" Eric hissed.

Sookie just shrugged her shoulders not wanting to answer. Godric stood over her and placed both hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him. "When?" he pushed.

"My great-uncle used to do stuff to me when I was a child. I don't like to talk about it. It makes me remember and I want to forget. Bill killed him anyway." She shrugged her shoulders again.

"Talk to us, Sookie." The way Eric spoke it was almost a beg and that broke her heart for him.

"I was five when it started. The worst thing was I could hear it in his thoughts, what he was going to do to me, but I could never get away. I told my mum of course but she just beat me for being a filthy liar. When I went to live with Gran it got worse for a while but when I was nine she caught him. She made it so I never had to see him again.

He never actually raped me...although I think he was working up to it. I know what happened last night was horrid and if I think about it I feel like I will explode with emotion but I don't want them to stop me living my life and I know I can get past this because I have before. I will not let them win. It's over and that's all there is to it."

"It's not so simple, dear one. They may be dead and you may be safe but there is still much to discuss. The queen still wants you and you have powers. We need to talk about a few things."

Sookie let Godric carry her out, guessing that he needed to feel close to her. Eric trailed behind as they headed to the car.

"So, where are we going?" She asked as she was settled into her seat and buckled in. She smiled to herself at her accurate prediction...they were being overprotective.

"Home," Eric answered with a wink. "We can talk and change before going to the club." The drive did not take long and by the time they pulled up at the house the silence was thick with tension.