Sookie's heart rate doubled at Eric's suggestion. This time out of excitement and curiosity, not fear.
"Where?" Eric asked as he picked Sookie up and wrapped her legs around his waist. The belt of the robe, which had already been sliced open once by the fairy last night, but pieced back together by Eric, ripped apart again, causing the two halves of the pink fluffy robe, to hang open.
Sookie glanced down at the display, suddenly nervous at how far they would take things for Bill's benefit. Her mouth became instantly dry.
"Umm. What?" she asked, not looking up from her view.
"Where's the best spot for our little show?" he asked with a smirk.
"Here. Or um, I guess the living room. Oh, the couch – he'll be able to see right in through the windows," she stammered.
Before Sookie could finish that sentence, Eric had used his vampire speed to get them exactly where she had suggested. He sat down, causing her to straddle his lap.
"Don't be nervous. I won't do anything you don't want me to do. Besides, the only way Bill would ever see you in that way, is over my pile of ashes." Then he fisted a handful of her hair, pulled her firmly against him and pressed his soft, cool lips to her much warmer, full ones.
Without even being coached, Sookie moaned into the kiss and let her hands do some roaming. She thought back to yesterday, in the car, after she had sucked the bullet from his neck and how much she desired Eric in that moment. Sookie willed herself back into that place and time – trying to ignore the void that felt like it was right outside the front door.
Eric moved from Sookie's lips, trailing kisses to her jaw-line and just behind her ear – a place that drove her mad with want. She moaned again, this time crying out his name. Sookie ran her hands across his hard, bare chest, moving to push the robe from his shoulders. She needed to be closer to him and Gran's robe was not only a distraction, but was in the way. She ground herself into his hardness, trying to create as much friction as possible.
When Sookie felt Eric's tongue run along the spot between her neck and shoulder, she shuddered. "Bite me!" she cried out, surprising both of them.
Eric wasn't sure if this was all for Bill's benefit and Sookie was just a really great actress or if she truly meant it, but he didn't need to be asked twice. Sliding her long hair out of the way, he licked his chosen spot one final time before sinking his sharp fangs into her soft flesh. He was like a python. His fangs held Sookie in place, as his arms constricted around her, squeezing her tightly against him, until she cried out in pleasure. Only once her trembling had ceased and she went limp, did he loosen his hold on her.
Sookie pulled away from him, her eyes heavy with the weight of her lust. "Perfect," she whispered, before kissing him lightly on the lips. He wanted to say that she couldn't mean that – he was a monster after all – consuming her lightness to feed his darkness. But, her positive emotions washed his negative thoughts away.
"Is he still there?" he dared ask.
"Hmm? Oh…ah, yeah. What a jerk," she sighed. Then she leaned in for another tongue-tying kiss, scraping her nails down Eric's chest, across his hardened nipples. She wasn't sure what was making her so bold all of a sudden, but she oddly felt empowered and began kissing down his neck, following his example from earlier.
She let her hands do some further exploration south and startled herself when she brushed against his length. Eric growled in response, closing his hand around hers, effectively trapping her in his grip. Then he slowly began to move both their hands up and down with a bit of a twist when they reached his tip. His other hand snaked up under her shirt and snapped open her bra clasp.
Feeling his wetness in her hands and his strong grip, Sookie moaned one more time. She really wanted this but not in front of peeping-Tom, Bill. "My room," she rasped. "Now."
Eric swiftly stood up with Sookie still latched around his waist and found his way to her room. They struggled for a minute once they reached her bed, with her wanting to pull back the covers and he just wanting to throw her down and have his way with her. Finally, she would yield, he thought.
"I'm cold," she explained with a shiver.
"I'll warm you up," he smirked, setting her down and throwing back the covers at the same time. He tossed the hideous pink robe he had been wearing, to the floor, allowing Sookie to appreciate the full view.
She tentatively tugged her t-shirt over her head and slid the bra off with it. "Ahhh. there they are," Eric grunted, pushing her onto her back and latching on to one of her nipples like a hungry pup.
Sookie groaned, weaving her fingers into Eric's hair and holding him tight to her. While he worked her nipples into throbbing points as hard as diamonds, his hands were busy ridding her of her pants. All that stood between her and the great G.P. was a pair of negligible lace panties. But after a rather quick move, only accomplished by a skilled vampire, they too were gone and Sookie found herself melded against the strong, muscled frame of a thousand year old Viking. Surprisingly, it felt just right.
Eric continued to kiss his way down Sookie's body, stopping every so often to tease a point that seemed to make her quiver like a live wire. His hands slid down around her hips, smoothing across her ass. Without even thinking, Sookie opened her legs for him. Eric took in the scent of her. She smelled wonderfully feminine and clean, with a hint of something that he couldn't quite place.
He kissed her glistening nub that was just visible between her soft curls. Sookie trembled with desire and anxiety. She had never even thought of going this far with anyone before and this act made her feel incredibly vulnerable. His hands cupped her bottom, bringing her closer as he ran his tongue gently through her folds. Sookie shivered with delight.
"Look at me, lover," Eric commanded. Not realizing her eyes had closed, Sookie snapped to attention. "I want you to watch me pleasure you." How could she say no to that? She propped herself up on her elbows and opened herself up a little wider for him.
Eric ran his hands over her thighs, trying to settle the shaking in her muscles, before settling them back under her buttocks. With one last lick of his lips and a devilish smirk at Sookie, he lowered his head to her center.
He sucked and nibbled and did things with his tongue and fingers that no human man would ever be able to emulate. Sookie was so lost in the feeling, she found herself tugging and pulling at her own nipples, giving herself over completely to the pleasure of it all.
Eric replaced his mouth with his long thick fingers, settling back to take in the beautiful sight before him. He couldn't recall seeing a more perfect woman in the throes of passion than Sookie in that moment.
As he grasped his impossibly hard length in his free hand, he used his tongue to tease the vein in her inner thigh. "Look at me, lover," he commanded again. Just as her eyes locked with his, he sunk his fangs into a supple spot, sending her and him over that golden edge.
Sookie cried out Eric's name and Eric grunted words in a language Sookie had never heard, in between laps of her sweet, sweet blood.
"Ohmiggod," she panted, trying to get the room to stop from spinning. "Ohmiggod," she said again.
Eric slid back up her body, stopping to appreciate his now favorite parts along the way, before coming to rest at her mouth. Sookie could taste a mix of her fluids and the unique flavor that was Eric, as they kissed. "That was…" she didn't get to complete her sentence, because the house phone started to ring.
"Urghhh. You've got to be kidding!" she complained, lightly banging her forehead into Eric's shoulder.
"Let it go to voicemail," he suggested, pulling her back up for another addictive kiss.
"Sooks, it's Jase," the voice over the answering machine began. "Sorry to bother you two love birds, but I was just by to see Gran and something just ain't right. The doctor is only going to be there for another 20 minutes or so. Do you think you could stop by and talk to him. Find out what the heck is goin' on? Thanks."
"Fuck!" Sookie swore, than quickly covered her mouth, embarrassed she had used such vulgar language.
"Apparently not yet," Eric sighed, rolling over on his back.
Sookie wasn't ready to bail just yet and laid herself across Eric's expansive chest. Jason had a bit of a flare for the melodramatic. If there were anything serious going on with Gran, the hospital would have called her cell.
Then, Eric's cell started ringing incessantly. He broke away from Sookie reluctantly to answer. Nothing like being double-cock blocked by ringing phones, he thought.
"I am here."
Sookie stifled a giggle, thinking that was the funniest way to answer the phone. Eric shot her a smirk as he listened to the caller.
"That is interesting indeed. Thanks for the update, Claude. By the way, a fairy was here just before dawn, disguised we are assuming, as Sookie's paternal grandfather Stackhouse, unless you know something we do not. I managed to send him to the Summerland, so keep your pointy ears open for any gossip about a dead fairy. Seems our girl here is way more important than anyone thought."
Sookie's heart flip-flopped at being called his girl, but brushed it off to hear what Claude had to report. "Well?" she urged.
"Dermot found a dead body in the woods outside the bar this afternoon when he went in to open the place. He caught a scent that he didn't recognized, went to investigate and discovered a naked a male body, with a distinct tattoo on his left shoulder. It was a Were and he had been killed by what looked like the same animal that killed Belinda. This was the Were from Mississippi, of that I am certain. It appears the one that Sam fought with – the one who killed Belinda – was not the one he followed from Bon Temps. Which means there is more than one set of Weres out there, trying to do us both in."
Sookie shook her head in disbelief. "But why? I'm just a college kid from a backwater town in nowhere Louisiana. What is so special about me?"
Eric brushed the back of his hand across her cheek. "You are a beautiful telepath with some unknown connection to the Supe world. I think your Gran may hold a key to that, so we need to go see her – now."
Sookie swallowed a knot in her throat and nodded her assent. She couldn't imagine what Gran had to do with anything, but it was as good a place to start as any. "Let's go then."
They hurriedly dressed and left in Eric's Corvette, flying through the streets of Bon Temps and into the town of Monroe, where Gran's hospital was.
Eric's mind was trying to move all the puzzle pieces around to figure out just how many beings were involved with Sookie Stackhouse.
His instincts told him that there were at least three different factions after her, with the fairies being the most dangerous. It would appear that the Were from Mississippi didn't want Sookie dead, but was merely gathering intelligence about her or he wouldn't have wasted time asking around about her. And he wouldn't have wound up dead.
The Were who did the killing at Hooligan's must belong to some other group – maybe the same group that tried to shoot them in Eric's car. He had a hunch Bill had something to do with that group, since he was both at Hooligan's and at Sookie's apartment the night Belinda was killed and they were shot at. However, what exactly Bill was involved in, he couldn't be sure. It might be that Bill was working with Hot Rain, to exact revenge on Long Shadow's death. But, why wouldn't they just ask for compensation, such is the custom, instead of trying to kill him? Eric was very old and well respected, even feared among most of the vampires in nearby states and his connections were far reaching. An attempt to send him to his final death was reckless on the planner's part.
Then a thought occurred to him. "Sookie, what exactly are you going to school for?" He thought back to their conversation with Sam in the cemetery and realized there had to be a connection with the information the Mississippi Were was seeking and what he was after.
"Hmm?" She asked, snapping out of her own deep thoughts as they made their way to the hospital. Hers being much more carnal in nature than his.
"Oh, umm – well I'm sort of undeclared. My first year, I was majoring in Psychology. You know, being a telepath and all, I thought it would help give me insight into the human psyche and understand how the brain worked. But, at the beginning of this year I met up with one of my teachers, a grad student, who was doing some advanced research in hematology – the study of blood – and I found that blood was much more fascinating than the brain. There are so many myths and connections to human blood that I couldn't help but be drawn into the area. With as many avenues of biology there are though, I thought I would hold back in declaring a specific major and just take classes that interest me. In the meantime, I'm still working as an assistant to my teacher while he finishes his PhD research and it has been compelling."
"Blood, huh? Are you sure you're not a vampire?" Eric chuckled.
"Not yet," Sookie drawled, subconsciously rubbing the spot on her neck where Eric had bitten her earlier.
The thought made Eric hard, but he knew she wasn't serious.
"You know, in Norse culture, my culture, blood was considered sacred. We used the blood of animals as part of our ritual sacrifices – sprinkling our gods' statues and even ourselves with its' power. Who know a millennia later, blood would mean so much to me still."
"See what I mean? The fact that we are sitting here having this conversation because of some magic that is in your blood and has kept you undead, even animates you - is just amazing to me. How could I not want to study such an area?"
"What kind of research is this teacher doing?"
"Oh, it's really bleeding-edge work," Sookie giggled. "I mean really outside the box. He's trying to develop synthetic blood. It would solve so many problems in the world. Think of how many people die every year because there isn't enough clean blood donors in the world. Or out on the battlefields – units wouldn't have to worry about storage and keeping supply lines open. Synthetic could be freeze-dried and its type would be universal."
Eric slammed on the brakes and skidded to the side of the road. He was out of the car and pulling Sookie out of the car too before she could even process what was going on. He pinned her to the side of the car by the opened passenger door. His fangs were on full display and his face was snarled into the harbinger of death. She had seen him this way twice before, once after killing Long Shadow and once after ripping the arm off the Were that shot him. She couldn't fathom what had set him off and immediately regretted all the trust she had placed in him. He was going to kill her and she had no idea why.
"Who are you working for? Is Bill in on this with you?" Eric growled.
Sookie couldn't speak, she was so scared. Eric roughly grabbed her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. She could tell he was trying to influence her and for the sake of her own existence, she relaxed her mind and let him in.
Her eyes went slightly unfocused and Eric felt the shift in her consciousness. "I said who are you working for!" he demanded, moving his jaws within striking distance of her neck.
Sookie mouthed, "No one."
The smell of her fear and tears made the beast in Eric roar. He had never wanted her more than now. But he needed to find out who had sent her, first. "Liar!" he accused, although he knew that she was compelled to tell nothing but the truth.
"No," she gasped. "Feel."
Even under his influence, she held her wits about her. She was telling him to feel the truth through their slight bond. He stepped away from her quickly, effectively releasing her from his control. He stomped away, running his hands through his hair. "What the fuck is going on?" he yelled.
"I…I don't understand, Eric. Why are you so mad?" Sookie cried, not even attempting to move from the position he had held her in.
He quickly turned around and was back in front of her, his arms pinning her to the car once again. "For years, certain factions of vampires have talked of this invention, saying that if it could be done, we could come out to humans and stop living in the shadows – to stop pretending we are something we are not. Not everyone agrees with this theory, but there is a lot of money to be made, if it does happen. Think of the ramifications if we were to reveal ourselves to the world? Now you show up in all your beauty and innocence, waving yourself in front of me like a white flag and you are working on the very product that could change everything for me. You are the only human that I've ever encountered that cannot be glamoured – unless it's your choice; you show up mysteriously in this enticing package, complete with some kind of fairy connection – the proverbial carrot or bag of blood in my case. Why wouldn't I be upset or at the least suspicious of you!" he growled and pushed himself away again, trying to rein his anger in before he did something they would both regret later.
"The only person I work for is Akio Tanaka. He's a Japanese Grad Student that's been working on this for years, under the supervision of his mentor and funded by LSU. There are a few other assistants like me, but they are all Japanese too. I'm the only local gal helping out. I swear there is no one else! I have no evil, hidden agenda. I promise you that I had absolutely no idea anything supernatural existed before I met you and Long Shadow. I truly thought I was the closest thing to supernatural as there was and it terrified me. To find out that I'm not alone, that I'm not a freak like I've grown up believing and to have the possibility of 'normal' relationships with people without having to hear every thought from a person has given me hope for the first time in my life – despite how dangerous it all seems!" Sookie yelled to the back of Eric, who was pacing like a caged animal along the tree line of the highway.
Hearing her bear her soul like that tore him up inside. He could feel how sincere she was, even though she was also terrified of him. Eric was still suspicious though, because it was too huge of a coincidence that Sookie wound up in his path. She was like a blinking neon Trojan horse wrapped up in a virginal bow. Someone wanted them to meet up, to what end, he couldn't fathom.
In frustration, Eric stomped over to a large Cypress tree, pulled it out by its roots and threw it into the woods with a roar.
Sookie shivered in fear and debated on whether she should make a run for it.
"Don't bother, it will just set me off further. Never run from a vampire. Remember Long Shadow?"
Right, Sookie thought, lesson learned. "Do you believe me at least?" she asked, shivering again, this time from the chilly evening air. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to keep her sanity and her body heat about her.
Eric rubbed his face with his hands and sighed, in a very human gesture. "I think you believe what you say, but I'm also convinced there are other forces at work here. Which leads me back to your Gran. Come, we need to see her before it gets too late."
He flashed to his car and had it revving before Sookie could exhale a breath. She hesitated, not wanting to get back into the car with Eric after he scared her so bad. Sookie could see his logic, but if she was willing to trust him, he should be willing to trust back. After all, she shot someone for him – and even sucked a bullet out of his neck for godssake! Then, she nearly gave him her virginity as well.
Eric rolled down the passenger side window, "Get in," he ordered.
With a huff, Sookie complied, Eric spinning out the tires onto the roadway before she had even shut the door. His grip tightened on the wheel as he watched all of Sookie's emotions play across her face. Several times he went to say something but couldn't just yet.
As they pulled into the parking lot of the hospital, Sookie quickly unsnapped her seatbelt and reached for the door handle, not even waiting for the car to come to a complete stop.
"Sookie, wait. I need you to understand," Eric said, feeling as vulnerable as he'd ever felt in his existence. "I have allowed you my blood twice now – you have taken it once against my will. You have fed me in return. We are a part of each other now, whether we like it or not. And we are in this thing – whatever it is – together. I was within my limits to question you the way I did, even if my methods were less than chivalrous. Going forward we must trust each other and if you know anything that you are not letting on, you need to tell me now."
Sookie crossed her arms over her chest in defiance and looked him straight in the eye, "If this is an apology, it's the crappiest one I've ever heard." Then she left the car, slamming the door in the process. She marched with purpose towards the doors of the building, hoping by some miracle that Eric would just disappear.
"Can I help you?" a sultry voice welcomed Sookie and Eric at the check-in desk. It was a voluptuous blonde, not unlike herself, but more made up. Her nametag read Gemma. Sookie felt Eric sizing the woman up and rolled her eyes.
"Pig," she coughed into her hand and she knew Eric heard her. "Adele Stackhouse's room please," she replied, channeling her proper southern manners Gran had instilled in her.
As Gemma took down their information and checked IDs she explained how to get to Gran's room. "And if you get lost, feel free to just ask anyone. I'd escort you myself," she said with a lick of her lips and eyeballing both of them like they were juicy burgers, "but I need to stay here to check others in." Sookie was distracted by the noise of some paramedics rushing in an accident victim and her shields slipped, just in time to hear the very loud, very erotic thoughts of Gemma and what she'd like to do with both Eric and Sookie in the hospital elevator.
Turning beet red, she forced her shields back into place, threw on her crazy Sookie smile and thanked Nurse Naughty for the directions, while heading to the elevator bank.
"What was that about?" Eric asked, obviously catching Sookie's reaction.
"That you too are made for each other," she huffed, stabbing the number three until the doors shut to the elevator.
They rode the rest of the way in silence, Sookie trading her previous fear for anger. She wasn't exactly sure why she was so angry, but she was and held on to it for all she was worth otherwise she would probably burst into tears once she saw Gran.
As they approached Gran's room, she noticed the doctor coming out of it. "Doctor?" Sookie called. He looked up and smiled.
"Ahh, Ms. Stackhouse. I'm happy you are here. She'll be pleased to see you. Your brother was in earlier, twice actually and really caused a scene the first time."
"Jason? What do you mean, he caused a scene?"
"Well, he came barging in while one of the nurses was giving her a sponge bath, demanding to know where 'he' was. He was very animated and obviously agitated about something. It took two orderlies to get him to leave. Then about an hour ago he came back as if nothing had happened and hadn't tried to scare the wits out of his grandmother just a few hours before. It was all very strange, almost as if it were two different people. Does mental illness run in your family?"
"Umm. No. I don't think so anyway. I don't have much family left. How is she doing?" Sookie asked, lowering her shields to see if she could pick anything more out of his thoughts, other than what he was verbally saying.
"She really has great breasts and they are obviously real. I wonder who Roid-Boy is next to her? They have the same exact hair color. I wonder if he's her cousin or maybe her boyfriend? Or maybe both, who knows around here. He sure is huge, though and really scary. I wish I could figure out what caused Adele's condition. It presents as a stroke with the classic paralysis and lack of speech, but her brain scans and EKG's show no signs of heart damage or other trauma."
"Her condition is the same, but stable. Once we get her settled into either private care or an assisted living situation, we can start her on physical therapy and get her back to normal," the doctor said aloud.
Well, that certainly was interesting. "Thank you doctor. I'm really sorry about my brother's behavior. I can't even begin to explain it. Do you mind if we go in to see her now?"
"Sure. Sure," he replied stepping aside, giving Eric a wide berth. Eric flinched a little towards the doctor, causing him to yelp and jump back a little. Sookie whipped her head around, taking in the scene. Eric had a slight smirk on his face as he pushed Sookie through the door to Adele's room.
"Did you read his mind?" she asked curiously.
"I didn't have to. I know the look. And you do really have great breasts."
Sookie elbowed him in the gut as she walked all the way into the room. It hurt her more than him, considering the six pack he was sporting, but he got the point.
Gran was laying in the standard hospital room bed, propped up at a 45-degree angle, sitting quietly with the TV remote in her hand. It appeared that she was watching a Danielle Steele movie on Lifetime. If she couldn't read one of her stories, you could find her watching one on the telly.
"Hi Gran," Sookie said, moving quickly over to her side and leaning in to kiss her on the forehead. She picked up her free hand and squeezed it lightly. "How are you today?" Sookie noted that her hand felt cool to the touch and it worried her.
Gran shifted her eyes to Eric and back to Sookie. "Gran, this is my friend Eric. I know you probably don't like the idea of strangers seeing you this way and all, but he's been real helpful with things lately and well, we wanted to talk to you about some strange stuff that's been going on."
The heart monitor that was logging Adele's blood pressure and pulse began to beep wildly and a panicked look ran across her face.
"It's OK Gran. As I said, he's a friend," Sookie reassured her.
"Mrs. Stackhouse. I wish it was under better circumstances that we are meeting," Eric's deep voice filled the room. Then he went over, closed and locked her door and pulled up two chairs to her bed. He slid one behind Sookie so she would sit and he turned the other around and straddled it.
The heart monitor beeped wildly again for a second, but this time a small smile spread across Adele's face. Eric smirked and gave her a wink.
Sookie rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Unbelievable," she said under her breath. "The doctor said your speech still isn't the greatest, so I'm hoping you won't mind if I use my little quirk to help talk to you?"
Gran let go of Sookie's hand and pulled a small rolling table over in front of her. There was a pad and pen sitting on it conveniently.
"I take it you'd rather write?" Sookie asked, looking back at Eric, as if this were a telling sign.
Gran nodded and began to write. Her penmanship was a bit off, probably due to whatever was causing her condition, but it was still legible.
"What is he?" it simply said.
Sookie looked at Gran with new eyes and then looked over at Eric who looked equal parts menacing and handsome sprawled out in his chair. "She wants to know what you are," Sookie told him.
He looked right at Adele and spoke the truth. "Vampire."
She nodded as if she had figured as much. Sookie was blown away by her reaction. "Gran?" was all she could say.
Adele began to write more. "Can you hear him?" she wrote.
Again Sookie looked back at Eric and then to Gran. "Umm. No. It seems I can't hear any vampire. Or many of the others either. Gran, how do you know about such things?"
Gran shook her head. "What has been happening?"
"Well, where do I begin," Sookie sighed, tears welling in her eyes. Then she related all the crazy, near-death experiences she'd had over the last couple of days, leaving out some pertinent details between her and Eric.
"Adele, do you know why Fairies would be after your grand-daughter or why one would come to your house, looking like your late husband?" Eric asked.
Tears welled up in Gran's eyes. "I can't say," she wrote.
"What do you mean, you can't say Gran? Has someone threatened you?" Sookie asked.
Gran shook her head no. "I physically can't say," she wrote.
"Like some compulsion?" Eric asked.
Gran nodded in agreement.
"Did someone do this to you Gran? Did a vampire compel you?" Sookie asked, shooting daggers at Eric.
Gran shook her head no.
"What other being can do something like this Eric?" Sookie asked.
"Fairies," he replied coolly. "They have a magic all their own and can pretty much do anything. Adele, was that Jason who came to see you today, the first time?"
Adele shrugged and then began to write. "It sure looked like Jason. But, it didn't act like Jason."
"Who was he asking about? Who is the 'he' this imposter was asking about?" Eric inquired.
Adele shook her head no – refusing to answer.
"Dammit woman, your grand-daughter's life is in danger and subsequently mine. Do not play games!"
"Eric!" Sookie snapped. "What's the matter with you?"
Gran patted Sookie's hand then started writing again. It took her quite a while to complete it.
"You will mind your manners around me and my grand-daughter, I don't care who you are. I physically cannot say. I am sorry Sookie is in danger, but it is out of my hands. I am thankful she has someone like you to keep her safe. It seems you are well matched from an attitude point of view. Sookie – honey – I wish I could tell you what is going on, but I cannot."
Sookie sighed after reading the note and handing it on to Eric.
"Try reading her mind, Sookie. Maybe she can't physically write it or speak it, but perhaps she can think it."
Sookie shook her head. "No, Eric. I am not going to invade the private thoughts of my Gran. You wouldn't like it if I did that to you, so why do you think its OK to do that to her." Then Sookie looked at Gran and pushed some of her hair back away from her face, in a loving gesture. "I'm sorry if we upset you Gran. We're just at a loss as to what is going on. Is there anything you can say to me?"
Gran wrote, "I love you, sweetheart. Just as my own. Please be careful and trust this man, even if he is a brute."
Sookie scoffed. "You have no idea! Gran, I'm trying to raise enough money to get you a private nurse and get you back home, but it's taking me a bit longer than I thought it would. Do you feel safe here? Are they treating you well?"
Gran shrugged, "As safe as someone my age and condition can be, I guess. You just worry about yourself, you hear?" she wrote in response.
Sookie teared up again and stood up, hugging her Gran tightly. "I love you too, Gran. You call me if you need anything. Understand?"
Eric stood too, moving his chair against the wall. He decided he would make arrangements for Adele's move to a safe location and in the meantime, install a guard to ensure her safety. Even if she didn't tell them much, she didn't need to. Something was definitely not right with this situation and it seriously stunk of fairy.
A/N: Well, I hope I answered some questions…sort of…while setting up some others. Do you think Eric was fair in reacting the way he did with Sookie or do you think he was being an Ass? Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the US celebrating. You know what I'm thankful for? Among other things, it's you all, who read, review, alert and/or add this story and tell all your friends! Thanks for your support! Angry Viking Hugs (they're pretty hawt!)