Disclaimer: All of these characters are my interpretations of Charlaine Harris', except Freyja, who is my brain child

Chapter 10

Sookie woke up slowly, her head spinning and her vision blurry. She wondered, briefly, if she had had any of Eric's blood the night before, but then it all hit her. She remembered the dinner, and being pulled over, but that's when she lost it all. Sookie couldn't find any mental registers in the area, but her experience in the day, both in her experience with Freyja and when she was pulled over, she didn't trust that as an indication that she was alone. She looked around her room. There were windows, but nothing was visible but woods, and a darkening sky. The night gave her hope. Sookie decided to try her bond. Eric? Eric if you can feel or hear or sense me, I NEED YOU, find me, love. Sookie pushed that out for about twenty minutes, but didn't feel anything to indicate he heard her. Sookie sat back, gathering her energy to do it again when the door opened.

Eric awoke, only a few miles from Sookie, to her voice crying, pleading, in his head. Eric…I need you…love. Having sensed, immediately, that something was wrong; he sprang from the hidey-hole in a position ready to attack. He searched the house, but found no trace of Sookie outside of the note. Eric… find me. Sookie's voice taunted him, weak to begin with, but unfortunately assuring him that his awakening fears were, in fact, true. He tried her cell phone, but was disturbed to find it off. He knew that she didn't shut it off. Even when she was working, she would leave it on and silenced. He glanced around the house, and, needing quick results, opened up the bond, allowing her as far into his head, and heart, as she would go. Sookie? Sookie? Can you hear me, lover? Where are you? Eric's husk of a heart twisted as he felt the pain and fear radiating from Sookie. He shifted into tracking mode, reading the bond, and sharing comfort, praying that she could hear and feel him.

Sookie looked up into the twisted eyes of her tormentor.

"What do you want?"

"My sister back, you cunt, but since I can't have that, I'll enjoy taking what you love most. Your vamp will be here soon, won't he?" Sookie shook her head, trying to close off the bond with Eric, but the comfort he was sending was so vital to her, there was a large portion that didn't want to lose it. Sookie looked at the insanity, hiding behind a face that would have been pretty if it weren't for the malevolence. She decided to distract the Were, in hopes that if –when, Sookie corrected herself – Eric got there, he'd be able to enter safely.

"How did you make a mental block like the one you were using earlier?" The pride on Sandra Pelt's face let Sookie know that she had chosen the right topic for a distraction.

"What? Were you upset that someone outsmarted you? Ha! You know both my parents had some practice in magic? Well, my mother didn't quite agree with my father's edict that we leave you alone. She taught me what I could do to block telepaths, with a little kick. Did a good job, didn't it?" Sookie didn't need telepathy to feel the pride radiating off of Sandra.

"Is that what knocked me out, then?"

"Yes, it did quite a good job. Kept you out just long enough to get you here and it kept you from sensing me the entire ride from the restaurant, to the spot where I pulled you over."

"So, how did you know I was going to be at the restaurant?"

"Well, that's the best part, isn't it? You see, Remy Savoy used to date a girl who is… suffice it to say she is a friend of a friend. I asked said friend to provide me with any information she could get on you, and, imagine our surprise, when my friend told me that she couldn't do research for the next week because her friend Kristen, who was trying to get back with her ex-boyfriend tonight, was having a bit of a breakdown because Mr. Savoy told her that he was spending the evening with you, and would see her some other time. I then called around for a little while, and found where you made your reservations. It was actually quite a simple process." Sookie blanched when she realized that she and Hunter had been connected, and Kristen, who knew of Hunter's gift, was indirectly connected to Sandra. Sandra could be crazy enough to hurt Hunter, but she didn't see the Were turning the child into the Vampires. Maybe, this could be saved, Sookie thought.

Eric circled one more time, fairly positive that he was outside the cabin that held Sookie. He was about two miles into Sookie's own woods. He paused for a moment, angry at the arrogance, and mockery of such a location, but then thanked the gods that he was able to find her. As he was about to go in, he got a tap on his back.

"I'm going in with you." Eric turned around to see Freyja, in full armor.

"I'd be pleased, my lady, to have your favor in this war." Freyja smiled, but Eric could see that her mind was already on the impending battle. She licked her lips in anticipation.

"Let's go." Eric and Freyja headed in. The first room of the cabin was nearly empty; another held a magnitude of torture devices, and four very beefy male Weres who were very quickly dispatched of. This room had two doors leading to two different rooms, Eric took one and Freyja took another, an action that indicated a trust in each other's battle efficiency and an urgency to find Sookie. Eric didn't receive this acceptance lightly. He was honored, but he decided to address that later. The room he entered held Sookie and a female Were. Sookie looked unharmed, the female Were had been talking, but stopped when he entered.

"Ah, I see you did come. How the hell did you get past the guards? Those men must have been 300 pounds of pure muscle, and were nearly 600 dollars an hour." Sandra was afraid, her spell wearing off and her mind screaming at Sookie's. Sandra was actually terrified, but she viewed herself as superior to both the Vampire, and the murderer, so she did everything she could to hide it. Freyja chose that moment to step in.

"Ah, I see you've found her! Good job, Eric." While Sandra wasn't about to admit to being afraid of Eric or Sookie, Freyja scared her. She couldn't identify what she was, but it wasn't human, shifter, or vamp. She was stronger than any Supe Sandra had ever seen, and when she turned her attention on Sandra, she nearly quaked. "As for you, I will see to it personally that you appease every wrong you have done to Sookie." Sookie watched this exchange with mild interest.

"I'm really glad to see you all… but before we get any further, could someone please untie me?" Eric walked over to do the honors.

"Do you know how I love you, Sookie? I was so worried."

"Eric, you made it here before an hour had even passed. You saved me, and were at risk yourself. I know, believe me, I know." Freyja cleared her throat, and Sookie looked at her unlikely hero.

"Freyja, it's nice to meet you again. How is it you came to be in my rescue party?" Eric jumped, startled at Sookie's "again," and turned to Freyja.

"You've met before?!" Freyja smiled.

"We met this morning at Wal-Mart, there was a mild incident involving day dreaming and the collision of two carts, but everyone was okay, save maybe a strawberry or two. I saw Eric headed in to save you, and decided I had to help." Eric noted that she left out all note of being kin, or being magical, but the latter part Sookie caught on to in a moment.

"Wait… Freyja… Eric, isn't there a goddess in your religion named Freyja?" Eric nodded mutely, and Freyja smiled. "Oh my… well…my goodness, it's nice that you have honored me with this." Freyja was about to respond when suddenly a shadow was cast on the doorway. The energy projected was as strong as Freyja's, and Sookie looked up puzzled, and sick of being surprised for the day.