A/N: My sincerest apologies to all my readers for not posting anything for awhile. I've had severe writers block since all my writing is been used up in school. I'm glad though that during my absence some of you have taken the time to check out my baby DONB. I know most people think it isn't about Sookie or Eric, but it is, it's just their relationship seen from an outsiders POV.

Without further ado...

Chapter 14

Sookie's POV

I held the phone to my ear waiting for somebody to pick up. The harsh ringing of the phone almost drowned out my inside terror. I was responsible for Caroline and I had left her alone because I had to have my little pity party. Why didn't I invite her to come along? We could have gone on a Ben and Jerry's binge together- now that's a party. My body started to tremble; the hand holding the phone shook violently. I stared off into space, my mind racing. Holy shit this cantbehappeningwhatdoIdowhatdoIdo... What do I do?

Eric walked up slowly behind me, and wrestled the receiver out of my hand. It was as if the phone had been my lifeline because when it left my hand, my knees buckled underneath me. I would have fallen on my ass if it hadn't been for Eric's quick thinking. He cradled me to his chest and I started weeping. I buried my face into the crook of his neck as my body was racked by sobs. He sat us both down on his leather couch with me sitting on his lap like a child. At first he was rigid and at a loss as to what he should do. From what I could tell, nothing freaked out Eric more than a crying woman.

Eric's POV

I had just been pondering what to do about little Miss Stackhouse when here she had appeared in my bar. I was silently overjoyed that the anonymous call I received had not been true. I didn't want to concern myself with the Fellowship of the Sun. Sookie was safe. That's all that matters. At least I thought that was it until she started crying in my lap. Her arms wrapped around my neck, her warm tears trickling down my cool skin. At first I was completely rigid because I don't know how to handle crying women, but then I started feeling rigid for another reason. Her breakdown had made her breakout in a sweat and her unique aroma saturated my senses. She was so close to me that there was no way to try to distance myself. Her sobs made her blood pump faster and I could feel my dick start to respond.

Shit. Right now is not the time, unless Sookie wanted to fuck to make herself feel better, but I imagine that would not be the case. I needed to get her off my lap asap. I steeled my nerves to prepare for contact. I lifted her chin up to look at me. When we took in each others eyes, she softly exhaled, bringing her breathing back to normal. My gaze steadied her as she put herself to rights and slid off my lap. I ruefully watched as she wiped away the sweet tears from her face. How I wanted to run my tongue along her cheek What the fuck Northman? Get your ass in gear and do something damn it!

She surprised me when she spoke first.

"I want you to call the Fellowship back and ask them what they want in return for the safe return of Sookie Stackhouse. Arrange a meeting with them next week so I have a chance to gather information. If all goes well, maybe I can get her out in the daytime without any blood spilled."

For a moment I was stunned that she already had a plan. I was not surprised however that it sounded like a suicide mission. When would this woman get it through her head that she's not immortal?

"I will do no such thing. If you think that I'm going to let you infiltrate the Fellowship of the Sun again, then you're sadly mistaken. What's to keep somebody from recognizing you? Don't you remember what happened the last time you tried this?"

"That's why you're going to call to assure them that they do have Sookie Stackhouse. If they think she's Sookie, then they won't be looking out for Caroline Fields."

"I'm not going to let you do this Sookie. It's irrational and doomed to failure."

"You can either call them or not. Either way I'm going to go to the church tomorrow."

What the fuck was she thinking? She was just being stubborn because that's all she could do to stop crying. I'm glad that she wasn't weepy anymore, but this Sookie that stood before me with an angry glare in her eyes was going to get both of us killed.

"Dammit Sookie. You are not going to step one foot in that church. Do you hear me?"

"Who the hell do you think you are to order me around like that?"

"You know who I am Sookie. I am Sheriff of my area, who has a thousand years more experience than you when it comes to hostage negotiations."

"Don't you dare patronize me Eric Northman! I'm going to the church tomorrow to find out what's happened to Caroline and there's not a damn thing you can do to stop me!"

Eric's POV

She should have known better than to challenge me. It seemed that she was set on her own destruction and I sure as hell wouldn't let that happen. There had to be a less radical solution to this whole mess and I would just have to find it without Sookie. She was busy purposefully stomping towards my office door. I quickly moved to stand in front of her, startling her a bit. I smiled devilishly at the idea of what I was about to do.

"Oh yes there is." I picked her up before she could blink and hoisted her over my shoulder.

"Eric put me down!"

"You should have known better Sookie. You think I'm going to let you run off to possibly get yourself killed? If you want to help your friend, then the best thing you can do is let somebody else deal with it. You are too emotionally involved and since I can't watch you during the day, I'm going to have to put you on house arrest."

"But my house got broken into Eric."

"I'm happy to hear that you agree with me that your house is not safe Sookie. I'd be more than happy to offer you a place to stay for the next few weeks."

"Eric I couldn't."

"I do owe you for the weeks you let me stay at your house."

"Yes, but-"

"No, Sookie I insist."

One didn't need to be telepathic to sense the confusion and frustration emanating from Sookie. I couldn't explain why I had such an overwhelming desire to protect her, but I was excited at this new development.

I was already considering it all in my head. Sookie would think it improper to sleep in my bed so I would place her in one of the guest bedrooms. I would tell her I needed two weeks to initiate my plan and during that time she would need to stay inside away from the public where somebody could recognize her. I needed to call the shifter to inform him of the circumstances so that if the Fellowship came snooping they would think Sookie was missing. I should also call Herveaux to keep Sookie protected. She won't refuse having a body guard if it's somebody she knows.

"Eric will you stop plotting and put me down? I'm starting to get light headed."

"What makes you think I'm plotting?" I settled her gently down on the floor. She swatted my hands away and set to righting her clothes.

"Because of that damned smirk on your face, and the fact that you're always plotting."

Sookie was about to keep ranting when her stomach growled audibly.

"Have you had dinner Sookie?"

"No."

"What would you like to eat? Perhaps we can get Pam to quit lurking outside my office door and put her to use fetching you some food."

Pam walked in nonchalantly even though her eavesdropping had been discovered. "Did you call for me Eric?"

"Yes Pam I need you to find Sookie some food." I thought of something that would keep her occupied for awhile. "Sookie do you like Thai food?"

"I've never tried it."

"Well tonight's your lucky night Miss Stackhouse. Though I've never eaten it myself, I understand it's delicious. Pam would you please go fetch Sookie some Thai food?" Pam glared at me obviously contemplating revenge of some sort.

"Eric I think you know that the nearest Thai restaurant is an hour away and it probably won't be open by the time I get there."

"Well then you better hurry Pam." I couldn't hold back my smirk. She rolled her eyes and disappeared from the room.

"Eric you didn't need to have Pam go through all that trouble to get me food. I'm sure there's a fast food place close by."

"It's her punishment for eavesdropping on us Sookie. Oh, before we leave I need to make some phone calls. Could you please wait in the bar for me? I won't be long."

She nodded and bent down to retrieve her purse from the couch. Her ass was held high in the air just asking to be squeezed or slapped. I wanted to take her where she stood, holding onto her firm cheeks while I came inside her. Where was all of this imagery coming from? I could barely think of this scenario before Sookie looked up to notice I was ogling her. She stood straight up and fixed her eyes on mine. Her hands fidgeted nervously with the strap of her purse. From her expression I couldn't tell whether she was nervous, scared or excited. She bit her lip while she pondered what to say, then slapped on her fake nervous smile and quickly exited my office.

If all went well it looked like this would be a very eventful two weeks.

A/N: I know not much happened in this chapter, but now Eric has two weeks alone with Sookie in a confined space. It's about to get interesting. Let the games of cat and mouse begin.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please leave a review to share any comments or concerns.

Love,

PIP