A/N: I do not own any characters or the world of True Blood, but I do like to play in it.

I hear you guys loud and clear. More Eric it is. I know it's a dark place that I'm taking Sam and I feel bad for the guy, but it felt like that was the direction the show was going with him.

"You're a good friend Alcide." Sookie smiled warmly up at him, leaning against his arm to keep from getting a crick in her neck.

"I could be more." He said, watching her face carefully.

The breath went out of her body at the smoldering look on his face. Part of her was very interested. With Alcide there would never be any games or power plays. He was honest as the day was long with his feelings, she could tell that even if she couldn't get much more than a general sense of his feelings for her from his mind. It was still more than she got from Eric. But something kept her from taking what he offered.

"I know Alcide, I just…"

"Don't say it." Alcide interrupted with a single finger to her lips. "I reckon I can guess…" His head came up sharply then, canting to one side. "Sonofabitch…" He growled, brushing past Sookie to barge into the bathroom door. A string of curses came from the bathroom then, some strong enough to bring a touch of color to Sookie's cheeks. Alcide emerged a moment later, a sheepish look on his face. "Sam's gone."

"Gone? How can he be gone?" Sookie pushed past him to the bathroom door to stare at the open window that seemed too small for a grown man to fit though. But then again, Sam could shift to whatever form he liked, couldn't he? "Son of biscuit…" She breathed, turning back to look at Alcide.

"You want me to go after him?" In two steps, he was already at the door, looking anxiously back at her.

Indecision warred over her pretty features as she considered the best course of action. Her immediate reaction was to chase after him herself. Find a way to get through to him and make him come home with her and stop being a horse's you know what. But how many times could a man run away and not give the clear impression that he didn't want to be found? Sookie wasn't Sam's mama, she wasn't even his girl. Maybe he had a right to stay hid? Her mind went back to the swirling darkness of Sam's thoughts… maybe it was best if he did stay away?

"Maybe you better just let him go." She murmured, shoulders slumping in defeat. Only what was she gonna tell everybody back home? Merlotte's would have to shut down for sure. While she was pretty sure there was enough in Sam's bank account with the daily receipts to cover payroll, she didn't have any kind of authority to write checks to his suppliers, or pay utilities. Hell, she didn't even know where Sam's bookkeeping stuff was. Eventually they'd have to shut down. Which meant she'd have to find another job…

"Are you sure?" Alcide's eyes searched her face.

"No, but I can't keep sending you out all over god knows where to bring back a man who doesn't wanna be brought." She sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"I don't mind doing it, tracking him down wouldn't be all that hard." He offered, leaning against the doorframe.

"No, it's high time I realized I can't make him care if he doesn't want to. Besides, I've got other things to worry about for the moment." Sookie looked to the window, fancying she saw Eric's silhouette through the drawn curtain.

Alcide's brows knit together into a single dark line. "I don't like you getting all mixed up with vamps." He muttered.

"Well it's not for you to like." She returned crossly, her nerves more than a little frayed over the events of the past few days. "I'll just…" Rising to her feet, Sookie's foot caught in the strap of a bag that was tucked under the bed. She went down like a sack of potatoes, smacking her chin against the threadbare carpet and cutting her bottom lip on her teeth.

Instantly at her side, Alcide helped her up, searching her face anxiously as he scented blood. "You hurt?"

"Just my pride." She winced, more than a little embarrassed for the less than graceful fall. "I'd have been fine if it wasn't for this stupid bag. Hey…" Her words trailed off as she caught sight of a bundle of money sticking out of the corner of the bag. "Lord almighty…" Tugging the zipper open all the way she found the bag positively stuffed with similar bundles of cash. What on earth was Sam doing with all of that money?

Alcide let out a low whistle. "Damn… that's a load of cash."

In a flash she'd made up her mind. "I'm taking it with me." Sookie zipped up the duffel and struggled to heft it.

"It ain't your money to take." Alcide protested.

"Well now, we don't know it's Sam's money either do we?" She pointed out. "Besides, it's not like I'm stealing it. I'm just gonna take it back to Merlotte's with me. I've got vendors to pay and if Sam wants his money back, he'll know where to come and find it."

"I thought you didn't want to make him come back if he didn't want to." He still sounded less than convinced.

"This isn't about Sam, this is about the people who are counting on him. Counting on me to make sure they still got jobs to come into every day. This money is a godsend. It'll keep us afloat for a good long while as long as business stays good." Maybe that was a little shifty of her since she wasn't a hundred percent sure the money was Sam's to begin with, but she wasn't going to borrow trouble by worrying about it.

"I still say…"

"Alcide, what if Sam doesn't come back to this room at all? What if he just keeps on running? Better it go towards his business than the cleaning lady." She snorted, moving to the door.

Alcide gave her a curt nod. "Alright. You heading out with Eric then? I could give you a ride home in my truck." The offer was made, but she could see on his face that he didn't have his hopes up that she might accept.

"Thanks all the same but like I said, I've got other things to worry about. The sooner I get this money back to Merlotte's, the sooner I can take care of the other business. No offense, but Eric can get us back there a helluva lot faster than your truck." There was more to it than that, but Sookie didn't feel like trumpeting the fact that her feet were itching to get back to Eric's side. "It was good seeing you again." She gave him a smile to soften her refusal.

"You too, chere." He gave her a lopsided smile. "Don't be a stranger now. You call me if you get in a jam. Anytime, day or night." His expression grew more intense and Sookie dropped her gaze.

"I will." She promised. "Bye now."

Sookie left the hotel room, breathing in the fresh air with a measure of relief from escaping those close quarters. Spotting Eric leaning against his car, she immediately headed for him, lugging the duffel bag with her.

Eric's bored expression changed to one of almost hunger as his eyes traveled over her, and just as quickly, concern. "You are hurt." He declared, moving faster than her eyes could track to stand before her, tilting her head first one way and then the other.

"What? No I'm…"

In a heartbeat Eric's mouth descended over hers, his tongue laving over the cut on her lip. Having mistaken the intent behind the kiss, her tongue had already swept out to meet his and came into contact with his fangs that had descended at the taste of her blood. A tiny cut appeared on her tongue from his sharp fangs. A low moan rumbled from his chest and she felt the pull as he sucked lightly.

This was dangerous. Apart from the fire that sprang up between them wherever their bodies pressed against each other, there was the very real possibility that he might lose control and drain her in an attack of bloodlust. "Eric…" Sookie wrenched her mouth away from his, heart beating a fast tattoo within her breast.

"I'm sorry. I had almost forgotten…" He pulled away, releasing her with great effort, needing precious time to cool his blood before his fangs retracted with a 'snick'. "You are a dangerous woman Sookie Stackhouse."

"Me?" The thousand year old vampire was calling her dangerous? Drawing in a shuddering breath, Sookie was glad for the chill of the night air that soothed her burning cheeks. "I think we should go back now." Her voice was still shakier than she would have liked.

"As you wish." Eric nodded. Playing the gentleman, he opened the car door for her, plucking the bag from her fingers. "You stole his clothes?" A single brow was raised as he tossed it in the back.

"No, it's full of cash." Sookie replied, settling into the passenger's side.

"Really…" Eric sounded interested and she wondered if she'd just made a mistake. After all, Eric had seemed motivated by money in the past, and hadn't Ginger said something about Yvetta having stolen money from him?

"Well… yeah. But I took it to help pay expenses at the bar. There's a lot of people counting on that money." She added quickly.

"Yes I am familiar with what running a bar entails." He smirked, bringing the shiny red sports car to life with a roar of the engine. "Back to Bon Temps then to settle these affairs?"

"Unless you've got a lead on Hadley, I'd feel a lot better getting this money back there and locked up tight. Have you got any leads about her car yet?"

"Not as of yet." Eric admitted, sounding less than happy with the fact as he guided the car out onto the road with a burst of speed. "You said you had some ideas on where to find her?" He prompted.

"Nothing too solid. I had this idea that she wanted to take her boy someplace where he'd be safe, just in case. I just thought she was gonna come back after that."

"What makes you say that?"

Sookie debated whether or not to say anything about Hunter to Eric. On the one hand she was starting to trust him again, perhaps against her better judgment. On the other hand, it wasn't her secret to tell, and it was a pretty big one. Studying his profile in the darkness, she was silent a long while before she spoke. "The last time I saw her, she was with her son Hunter and she seemed worried to death about his safety. He's special… like me."

"A telepath?" Eric's brows climbed in surprise.

"Yeah. He's just a little boy so he doesn't have a whole lot of control, but he's definitely able to read minds."

"Another fae… how interesting."

Sookie didn't like the sound of that, but was almost afraid to ask what he was thinking. In the end curiosity won out though. "What makes you say that?"

"I had just wondered if that was why the queen was so partial to your cousin. If perhaps the quality of her blood had proven addictive."

"You make it sound like it's a drug." Sookie scowled.

"She doesn't hold a candle to you, alskling." He darted a quick smile at her.

There was that word again… "What does that mean by the way? Alskling?" She asked, murdering the pronunciation with the lilt of her southern accent.

His lips twitched into an almost smile. "Ask me again another day." Eric replied, and would not say more on the subject.

They rocketed through the night at top speed on the way to Bon Temps. Eric seemed unconcerned at the idea of getting a speeding ticket. In fact he seemed to doubt that any standard police cruiser would be the equal of his sports car. At first Sookie gripped the door tightly as the scenery blurred by, but after a while she grew used to it, trusting Eric as she had with Hunter's secret. In many ways her life was in his hands, best not to worry about it overmuch.

Eric's mood seemed lighter than it had been on the way to visit the queen, as though every mile that took them farther away from her dominion put him in better spirits. Though he did complain bitterly about her smelling like "wet dog", before sinking into a quiet sulk when she refused to answer his questions about just what had happened in the hotel room between her and the Were.

Soon enough they were pulling into the familiar roads of Reynard Parish, and Sookie perked up a little to be home.

"Do you want to go home or to the bar?" Eric asked, slowing a little as they left the highway.

"To the bar please, I don't feel right keeping all that cash at my place."

"I could take charge of it if you like." Eric's eyes glittered with avarice.

"Thanks all the same, that'd be a bit like putting the weasel in charge of the hen house." She snorted.

"Mind your tongue, woman. A proper companion would not liken me to a… weasel." He said with distaste.

A roll of the eyes was given. "Oh Eric, I sooo want lessons on how to be a proper companion." She fluttered her eyelashes at him dramatically, her voice high and simpering before she dropped to her normal tone. "We're not at the queen's place anymore, so we can drop the act, remember?" She reminded him.

"There are many dangers apart from the queen's court, remember?" He retorted, his voice deadly serious.

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