A/N: I believe that Bill attacking Sookie was a pretty big part of both the books and the tv show, which is why I incorporated it into the last chapter. However, I will definitely not be going down the route of "Sookie immediately forgives Bill for no reason at all" as the show has done.

Chapter 12: Fear

"What do you mean the Magister was here?" Eric demanded, his brow furrowing as he leaned against a bar stool to look at Pam. "What did he want? Did he say who sent him?"

"We hardly had time to make idle chit chat," Pam snapped, placing her hands on her hips. "He came in here with six vamps, stormed the place, and left with your stash of V."

Eric stiffened, "He took the vampire blood? He knew it was here?"

"He knew exactly what he was looking for, yes," Pam answered, her eyes narrowing as she met her maker's gaze. "Now I'm just taking a wild guess here, but I'm thinkin' that the Queen betrayed you."

"Sophie Anne wouldn't do that," Eric replied, more out of habit than out of actual conviction.

"Oh yes she would," Pam retorted. "If the Magister was breathin' down her neck?"

"You make a fair point," Eric acknowledged, but his mind was elsewhere. "Russell also knows about the V because of that infernal Bill Compton."

"Didn't you say Russell went to see Sophie Anne? They probably both told the Magister together—" Pam broke off, and glared at Eric. "Speaking of which, why in god's name did you even help rescue Bill?"

"I am his Sheriff," Eric answered methodically, "I have a duty—"

"Bullshit."

"Excuse me?"

"You did it because Sookie asked you to."

"I don't see how that's any of your business," Eric said pointedly, and gestured to the crowd gathered in Fangtasia that night. "Shouldn't you be…mingling?"

Pam tossed him a bored look before jutting her hips and sashaying into the crowd. Eric stared after her. Maybe she was right…Sophie Anne had nothing to lose, she could have very easily betrayed—

Eric's thoughts were blotted out as a series of vivid images suddenly blurred across his mind's eye. "What the—" Eric swore, screwing his eyes shut.

Bill? It's me…

Sookie.

Without a second thought, Eric had whirled out the door and into the night.

Pain.

Every part of her body screamed in protest as she tried to move.

Slowly, Sookie opened her eyes.

And blinked several times at the harsh overhead lights.

Eric's face swam into her view. "Ah, you're awake."

"What—where am I?" Sookie stammered, trying to sit up. Eric's hand blurred as he reached out to help her. "Why the fuck do I feel like I've been run over by a truck?" Sookie griped, massaging her neck. As she did, her fingers brushed over a particularly sensitive spot, and she winced. Immediately, images came rushing through her brain. Bill...he had attacked her...

"Bill!" Sookie blurted out, looking wildly around in what she now recognized as Fangtasia. "He—he..."

"He was gone by the time I arrived," Eric scowled, his expression ridden with loathing. "I have no idea where he might be at the moment."

Sookie's eyes filled with tears, "He..."

"I know."

"I couldn't stop him," Sookie sobbed, her shoulders shaking as the events of the night finally caught up with her. "It was like he didn't even know it was me..."

Eric's jaw was clenched as he watched her. "Don't do that," he muttered, his voice strained. "Just...don't."

Sookie didn't appear to hear him. "It's all my fault! If only I hadn't gone out there to—" she gasped as Eric painfully grabbed her shoulder.

His fangs extended in anger as his face appeared inches away from her own. "None of this is your fault...If Compton wasn't such a worthless excuse for a vampire, then none of this would have happened!"

Sookie swallowed, looking away from Eric.

"Do you understand me?" he insisted, not relinquishing his hold on her.

"Yes."

"Good," Eric replied, beginning to step away from her.

But she held onto his wrist. "You fed me your blood again, didn't you? You just seem to keep savin' my life, Eric Northman."

"It would appear so," Eric murmured, his gaze lingering on her face as he maneuvered his wrist out of her grasp to let their palms touch. She didn't move away, and continued to gaze almost soulfully at him.

"Sookie..."

It was at that moment that a door slammed.

"LET ME SEE HER!" a voice roared.

"I DON'T THINK SO!" Pam shouted back. There was some scuffling and the sounds of chairs and tables being overturned.

Sookie gasped, and clenched on to Eric, her eyes widening in fear at the sound of Bill's voice.

"I ORDER YOU TO LET ME SEE HER!"

"YOU HAVE NO POWER OVER ME!"

More scuffling.

Eric's eyes flashed with anger as he stalked over to the door and flung it open. Both Bill and Pam came flying in, engaged in a brutal fight.

"Stop."

Eric's words were a mere hiss, but both Pam and Bill froze immediately.

"Sookie!" Bill jumped up and started towards her.

"One more step and I'll stake you myself," Pam snapped, her eyes glowering as she adjusted her dress and high heels. "I'm sorry, Eric. I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen."

"Not your fault," Eric answered, circling Bill with hooded eyes. "Compton here has a tendency for acting on his idiotic impulsive behavior..."

"Sookie," Bill pleaded, "You have to hear me out..."

Eric glanced over at Sookie, who had grabbed the covers of her blanket and raised them to her chin. She involuntarily jerked backwards as Bill took another step towards her. He looked devastated, "You're afraid of me?"

That was what did it.

Sookie dropped the covers, her expression going from scared to furious within a second. "Afraid? Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realize I had to be all nice and polite to the vampire who just tried to kill me!"

"I didn't mean to," Bill said desperately. "I just...couldn't stop...please, can you just—"

"Don't you dare ask me to forgive you," Sookie breathed, her voice deadly. "I'll never forgive you for this Bill Compton. Even if I wanted to...I just can't. Not now. Not ever." She crossed her arms and looked away, tears pooling in her eyes again and falling down her cheeks.

And still, Bill didn't leave. He just stood there, looking on hopelessly.

"I believe the lady has spoken," Eric warned, "You have no other business here, Bill."

"Eric—"

"I owe you nothing," Eric growled. "Or do I have to remind you of how you sold me out to Russell Edgington? Because of you, the fucking Magister was here today searching for the V!"

Bill blanched.

"And another thing," Eric said suddenly, advancing on Bill slowly. "Russell showed me a very interesting file that a certain Franklin found in your home...anything you could tell me about that?"

Sookie turned around at these words, having overheard the conversation.

"It has nothing to do with you," Bill said in a low voice, before turning to look at the woman he supposedly loved. "Sookie—"

"I've got nothing to say to you," Sookie whispered. "Just go."

Bill looked down, tears of blood beginning to spill down his face. He turned to leave, but paused next to Eric. "Take care of her, I beg you."

Then he was gone.