Recap: Clark Halloway, a member of the Fellowship, shows up at Sookie's house to get her or Eric. After Sookie interrogates him, she learns the Fellowship wants to force Eric to die for good.

My eyes were crusty slits when I opened them and focused on the window outside. Still dark- had I only gotten a few hours of sleep? But when I turned to look at my alarm clock, I realized it was seven- the following night! I sat up with a start and noticed that something in my bed protested the movement. It threw something around my waist and I shrieked, thrusting out my leg to kick it swiftly.

"Ack! Sookie!" It hissed. My eyes adjusted to the dimness of the room and a blush crept over my cheeks.

"Sorry Eric... I didn't think you'd still be here," I answered. He mumbled something about wanting to be here for me and then rolled over. "Are you still sleeping?"

He sighed and sat up. "No. Thinking. I've been up for a while. You need to eat."

When he said it, a pang of hunger hit me and I nodded grudgingly. I slipped out of the bed and took care of my bathroom business before padding down the hallway in my underwear. Really, it's a good thing Amelia and Octavia weren't home. I made myself a sandwich and ate it fast, then went to the living room. Eric was clad only in boxers, sitting on my sofa, leaned forward, his elbows on his knees and his hands intertwined together. His eyes were dark as they watched the news intently. Slightly confused by his interest in it, I sat next to him and listened to the local reporter.

"There have been a number of reported attacks in the Shreveport area. Police say they are doing the best they can," at this Eric snorted, "to ensure the safety of local vampires. Jean, back to you." The screen switched from a blond reported to a brunette at the news station.

"In more local news, a woman identified as Arlene Fowler has been found, dead, at her home. Her children were not at home at the time of death. Police reports have mentioned it was suicide, though there was no note. Arlene was a-"

Without thinking, I dashed for the remote and turned off the TV, and fixed my eyes on Eric. He returned my icy glare with one of his own. "What?"

"You KNOW what! Why did you do it?" Since I was standing, I felt like I had the advantage, towering over him for once.

His icy glare changed to a look of confusion, before morphing into one of anger. "You are accusing me of... Of murdering that woman?"

"Yes! I am!" My hands were on my hips now and oh, I was angry.

He rose to his feet and looked down on me, obviously furious. I almost backed up in fear but thought better of it and raised my chin defiantly.

"Woman, I refuse to explain myself to you. Think what you will," he spat. He stepped around me and disappeared from the room and was back in a flash, completely dressed. "Either way, Sookie, that woman got what was coming to her." And with that he was gone from the house, the only evidence of him leaving was the resonating thud from the door.

I sank back down into the sofa, fists balled because of a shaking anger I knew wasn't mine. Sure, I was angry. He killed one of my ex-best friends and left her children motherless. No matter what she had done to me or anyone else didn't matter- she didn't deserve to die.

Three hours later I was still contemplating Arlene's death. Waves of anxiety washed over me, each one stronger than the last as my body registered that Eric was no longer near. The anger in the bond had simmered into just a hurt feeling, intensified because both Eric and I were feeling it.

In the past three hours, I had admitted to myself that it was wrong to accuse Eric so quickly. There was no proof that he had killed Arlene; though I was upset that she was dead, I couldn't just place the blame on Eric.

Just because Bill had killed my uncle when I told him of his... misconduct, doesn't mean Eric would kill Arlene simply because she posed a threat. Eric was better than that. And much, much more calculative. Her sharing the information about my handicap was probably trivial to Eric; by glamor or by manipulation, he could have gotten her to back off.

Heaving a sigh, I trudged to my bathroom to take a shower. No matter how mad or upset I was, I had to see him. Not only did I feel stupid for accusing Eric, I also knew that if this issue wasn't resolved before sunrise I would be miserable until I saw him tomorrow night.

After showering, I lathered my entire body in a mandarin-mango lotion and blow dried my hair to voluminous perfection. My make-up was done with a hand so light, you could barely tell I was wearing any- Eric would love that. With that thought I frowned; impressing Eric wasn't my main goal all the time, and I was disappointed that I immediately thought of what he would think about my outfit.

Because I was definitely still mad. Even though I now knew it was unlikely that Eric had killed Arlene, he could have just denied it! He wasted so much time by acting as if he had done it.

Stubborn arrogant ass.

At the door to Fangtasia, Pam greeted me (and my light blue halter summer dress) with a mischievous grin plastered on her thick lips. "Sookie! You look delicious," she licked her lips to emphasize her point as she led me into the bar. "It's about time you came to apologize."

I halted in my tracks. Pam rolled her eyes and tugged an unwilling me along as she weaved her way through the crowd. "I wouldn't have to apologize if he hadn't acted like he killed Arlene!"

Pam waved a hand as if to say, who cares? "Sookie, Eric may be cold hearted in some situations, but I must say, when something involves you he treads very carefully. He did not kill that woman."

"Well, I know that now! Besides, how do you know?"

"Because I killed her. Really, Sookie," she said, sounding exasperated. Shocked, I dug my heels into the ground and Pam stopped walking when she realized she couldn't drag me any more. "What?"

"You killed Arlene? Pam!" I gasped, "Why would you do that?"

Pam turned to face me completely, her smile friendly, rather than the murderous one I expected to see. "Sookie, you are my friend, yes?" I nodded. "Arlene was your friend?"

Wow, tough question. "Well, she was, but not really anymore..."

"Because she- how do you say it- stabbed you in the back?" I nodded again. "Dear Abby says real friends do not stab you in the back. She says real friends take care of each other and defend one another. As you are my friend, I defended you against the wicked woman, and now she is dead."

The way Pam said it made it seem like perfect logic. I was too stunned to even respond to that, so I let her continue to drag me towards Eric's office. "He was too sullen to enthrall the vermin," she explained, "So he has holed up in there. I'm sure you can use that dress to your advantage while apologizing," she winked. Studying it for a moment, she reached out and tugged it at the waist so more of my cleavage was showing. "Better. This will speed up the process, I'm sure."

Okay, you know, whatever. "Um, thanks Pam." She nodded and pressed a kiss against my now flushed cheek.

With that she was off. I took a deep breath and tapped on the door gently.

"Come in, Sookie."