A/N: Same as last time.

I drowsily propped myself up on my elbows and leaned up against the headboard of the bed. I'd been here for a while and sheets still hadn't been changed. I know that this is a cheap place, but come on, how hard is it to bundle some sheets into a washing machine? I realised I was just in really grumpy mood. I got up and switched on the TV, aware that Tara was going to finish her shift at any moment. I laid flat on the bed. This time, I told myself that I shouldn't meet her, but as soon as I turned to look at the clock I started to get restless. What if she missed me? What if something happened to her on the way home? Tara did face off against two guys, but what if there were more than that? How could she handle a vampire and win? "She can't" I said aloud to myself. Thanks to my own paranoia I was out of bed in worried anguish, putting on my jeans so fast, if I was human I would have been covered in scratches. I went to the parking lot, hoping that I'd see her walk out a few minutes later it occured to me that she could have go home, or she was still inside. People were leaving, but I bypassed them, hoping to see Tara with her Jacket on ready to see me, but when I saw her it was obvious she was ready for something else.

She was standing at the counter with her boss, that guy who threw that loudmouth out, and another guy laughing and drinking on the other side. Her boss looked up at me and said.

"Sorry Sir, we're closing" I thought that was a little hypocritcal. This other guy was drinking apparently having a really good time, but I wasn't there for a bar crawl.

"Hello Tara, going home?" I asked her.

"Where else would she be going?" He boss asked.

"Umm, well guys I'm gonna call it a night see ya tomorrow" Tara said. I watched her walk away and began to walk behind her, until I heard footsteps behind me. The other guy that was in the bar came out walked towards Tara hesistantly walking by her side.

"Tara do ya know this guy?"

"Yeah it's alright" The guy looked at me and nodded.

"Hi I'm Jason" Jason held out his hand to me, and the only reason I shook it was so that Tara didn't think I was a snobby bastard. I griped his hand lightly and Tara watched me nervously, but looked at him more which annoyed me.

"Jason...Stackhouse I presume?" I asked him.

"Yeah how do ya know?"

"You're a hometown celebrity in these parts" I lied "Nice to put a name to a face"

"Really? Cool" Tara shook her head and Jason looked at her before asking " Tara, ya ok getting home?" I glared at him impatiently.

"Tara's fine getting home, I'll be there" Jason didn't really pay attention to me. What an arrogant git, He was too vacant to realise I was the one in control here, and I always would be.

"Tara?" He asked her. I could definately see Tara waver, fortunately she declined. "Nah Jason it's ok, I'll see ya tomorrow alright?" Jason quietly nodded before walking away and anger grew inside me as Tara eyes followed him. I walked her to her house in silence but couldn't keep it in any longer.

"Stackhouse, Sookie's brother, you've known him...most of your life"

"Someone's done their research" Tara said.

"Well obviously I haven't done enough, what was that about?" I asked her carefully. Tara leaned against her house and sighed.

"Jason looks out for me, that's all"

"That not his job, that's mine" I told her, trying not to sound childish.

"Get real Franklin, I look after me, and telling Jason that he's a hometown hero? He'd don't need his ego getting any bigger"

"It's not his ego, that I'm worried about" I said flippantly, trying to sound like it wasn't a big deal, but it was. I'm no psychologist, but Tara's not the most easiest person to get along with. So when she finally talks to me without snapping my head off or allows me to stand as close as I possibly can without telling me to move the hell away, I felt like I was making progress and I wasn't going to have that progress ruined by a guy that was inferior. Tara opened the door and I looked at her and she nodded and I came in. I sat on the sofa while she got herself a drink and sat down on the chair.

"Could you get any further away?" I joked. Tara stared at me.

"Ya got a problem with Jason?"

"Do you like him?"

"I like everyone who likes me" Tara added.

"Tara, you know what mean...do you really like him?"

"Not like that, not anymore" I leaned back on the sofa and rolled my eyes, while Tara leaned forward. "Ya see Jason is such a cool guy, he's wacky, real funny" Tara said. I squinted as I watched her eyes glaze over.

"He doesn't mean to be funny, he's just a dunce, have you two ever..."

"Course not" Tara said sharply, and I tried not to look too relieved and decided to change the subject to gain extra points.

"Sorry about the "fantasy thing" last night, did I go too far?"

"Nah, I agreed to it"

"Have you got any highly dangerous cravings that I should know about?" I asked with a smile.

"Not yet"

"Mmmm...interesting" Before I could even think about reaching over and touching her, my phone rang and I had to go back and get information from my case file. In the hotel, as I was going over papers I wondered if Tara would be dreaming about Jason tonight as she slept. They had never done anything, that was good, but from experience, there could be this spark of longing on either side, and I was determined to do everything within my power to extinguish it.