A/N Thanks for all the reviews! They are as good ... or even better ... than any Christmas present. Well, this is my treat for you!

Enjoy!!!

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Ascertaining

Sookie sat with her back to me on a high stool at the bar, her shoulders slumped, her head down, playing absent-mindedly with the straw in her drink.

I didn't believe that she'd sensed my approach, but just as I'd reached her, she lifted her head and locked her eyes with mine in the mirrored wall behind the bar. I could see myself smile at her, and oddly I was hoping for the same response on her face, that would tell me that she was just as happy to see me as I was in seeing her. But what was I thinking? Why the hell would she be glad to see me?

Because we've kissed … hardly! I took the first step there … but she'd reciprocated … oh whatever …

Instead of a smile she pulled her eyebrows together, and frowned, followed by a small sigh of exasperation.

Oookay … she's definitely not glad to see me … or maybe anyone else for the matter …

But because I neither had been nor would I ever be the giving-up-easy kind of guy … and I always enjoyed a nice challenge … I ignored her resenting behavior, and took a seat on the empty stool right next to her. I breathed in her sweet and already familiar scent, trying hard not to actually lean in and sniff at her hair. I was slightly disappointed to discover that she'd indeed showered, thus getting rid of my scent.

Too bad. But maybe I would get another chance to replace it … later … tonight?

Suddenly my mind was busy going through the many different ways I could finally make Sookie mine, and I had a hard time to keep my fangs retracted. Reminding myself where I was, I slightly shook my head, to clear it of these pleasant but momentarily inappropriate thoughts. Unfortunately, it didn't do any good for the discomfort in my pants.

Later!

"What are you drinking?" I asked conversationally, hoping it was a good opening line for a talk. What did I know about chit chat? And about how to cheer up a woman?

Nothing!

Sookie emptied her glass in one big gulp, before she answered my question. "Gin tonic."

Her tone of voice matched her facial expression … and her feelings. She was not really interested in talking … or anything else. But as long as she wouldn't tell me to get loose, I decided to stay just where I was … as close as possible to this woman. She was like a magnet … drawing me near her … especially since I'd tasted her sweet lips … lips that were pouting right now.

Alcohol … interesting …

I knew that humans used to drown their grief or bad mood in that kind of drug, mostly men … but I'd never thought Sookie would act that way as well. She always seemed to be so tough.

"You want another one?" I asked her, instead of questioning her about what was going on. She wasn't drunk … yet … but it looked like she could use a refill. "My treat, of course." Like, I wasn't paying for this whole damn trip already.

Sookie shot me a confused and curious look, and then she just shrugged her shoulders. "Sure … why not."

She sounded neither flattered nor appalled by my invitation, which was fine by me, as long as I was allowed to remain in her presence. For a short moment I diverted my focus from her to call for the bartender.

"Another one for the lady," I verbalized my order, pointing at the empty glass in front of Sookie. And because I was still pretty hungry, I (grudgingly though) decided to order a bottle of the best synthetic blood the bar had to offer.

Without needing confirmation by looking at her, I could sense Sookie's astonishment. It matched my own feelings. I'd never thought I would be changing my feeding habits in order to please a woman … a human woman above all. But then again, she wouldn't allow me to drink from her … not yet anyway … and feeding from one of the willing donor in her presence would most certainly be weird and would make it impossible for me to keep up a conversation with her. At least that was what I told myself …

"So … where is Bill? Weren't you supposed to leave tonight?" I asked with honest curiosity. She clearly wasn't expecting him to come here any second, and that was good news for me. Of course, I couldn't care less about Compton's whereabouts … but seeing Sookie here all alone and sort of miserable, made me wonder.

She stared at me in silence for a long moment, scrutinizing my face, thus trying to decipher any hidden meaning in my inquiry. Because there wasn't anything to find, she finally relaxed … a little bit at least.

"He already left." Sookie stated simply, shrugging her shoulders again, like she didn't care much about that fact.

That revelation took me by surprise. What in the hell had made Compton decide to leave his precious Sookie behind? Here alone … in a strange city … and with the knowledge that I still was here, too. Something must have happened between them. I wasn't sure if I should be glad about the developing drift or concerned.

The bartender placed our ordered drinks in front of us, but immediately left us alone again.

"He left?" I repeated, my confusion plain in my voice. "Why?"

"Who cares?" She muttered under her breath and took a sip of her drink, trying to sound indifferent but failing. Her feelings gave her away, not to mention her demeanor.

"I do." I stated simply, and truthfully, because I did care even if I wasn't completely sure about the reason.

"Why?" she countered.

"Well …" I began, knowing I had to be careful about what I would say to her, and more importantly how to word it, not to upset her further. "Well firstly you'd insisted that Bill would accompany you here … as your protector, and I agreed to that term. And I am a little bewildered that he would leave you here … alone … especially after what had happened with the Fellowship."

Not that I believed that anyone from the Fellowship would try another attack so soon after the previous disaster, and more importantly that they would dare to assault anyone inside here, but still … Sookie was only human after all, therefore vulnerable, weak, and in need of protection … protection I could provide better than Compton, if she would only let me …

"Just so you know … he didn't leave me here all alone." Sookie emphasized. For a moment I thought she was talking about me. But that bubble burst, when she added. "Jason stayed as well."

Oh great, leave her here with her stupid brother … like that would make his decision more acceptable …

"Good," I said, not very convincingly, but I didn't care whether or not she believed me, because I was more interested in the reason that made Compton leave in the first place. I had my suspicions, but I needed them confirmed. "Why didn't you leave with him?"

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A/N Well ... What had happened between Sookie and Bill, that would make him leave her back at Dallas? Stay tuned and find out in the next chapter.