A/N – Here's the next installment. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you all for your reviews and your alerts. I really appreciate all of it! A big shout-out to nmarie3 who took the time to review the chapter for me and who made some really great suggestions that are incorporated.

Disclaimer – Charlaine Harris owns the SVM.

Chapter 20

SPOV

I had been dreaming. I had been outside gardening, tending to Gran's flowers when some dark figures started to approach. I could tell they were up to no good, because their thoughts were filled with rage. I started to run. I took off around the house and tried to get away, but they were so fast. I realized that they caught up with me because I was running but not getting anywhere. It was if I was running in place, or on a treadmill. No matter how fast I ran, I was still stuck in one place. One of them caught me and tackled me to the ground. I was so nervous, fighting for my life. I was so frightened. I remembered that I had my pruning shears in my hand and thrust them up into the figure's belly. He cried out in pain and withered away off of my body. The other figure was making his way towards me when I heard a familiar voice. It was Gran's sweet voice, reminding me that this was just a dream and I could wake up whenever I wanted to. Thank God it was just a dream. It felt so real.

As I woke from my haze, I heard two hushed voices speaking quickly to one another. They seemed to be arguing a little bit. Where was I? Who was here with me? What happened to me? I remembered the pain that the men had caused me, so I prepared for a struggle as I tried to move and was surprised when there was no pain as I did.

I was in my room; and there at the foot of my bed was Eric. He looked a little disheveled with blood on his clothes and his hands and some stray hair fluttering out of place. He knew that I was awake and was up at my side in an instant. He took one of my hands in his. With his other hand he brushed some hair from my cheek and caressed my face so tenderly.

"Dear one you gave me quite a scare. How do you feel?"

"Eric, you found me. Those men," he cut me off mid-sentence.

"Do not waste your energy or time thinking of them now. They cannot harm you any longer. I am here, you are safe."

"Eric, did you give me your blood?"

"Yes. You were badly injured. However I did not force it upon you; I" It was my turn to interrupt now.

"I remember. Thank you. Thank you for asking me first." He placed a kiss upon my forehead. I smiled meekly at him. I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye and saw a petite blond woman standing in the corner of my room, observing Eric and me.

"Hello. I don't believe we've met. I'm Sookie. And you are?"

"Pam." Well, she was one of many words wasn't she?

"Hello Pam."

"Pam is my child. I am her maker. I called her here when I found your home ransacked. She came to help."

"How did you know to come here Eric? I am amazed that you found me. I was thinking that it would be too long before I'd see you again. I got distracted and didn't pay attention to my surroundings. Before I knew it, those guys were after me."

"I wished to speak with you. I had learned that Bill had been spotted back in Louisiana and wanted to let you know. I also wanted to make sure you were safe. I phoned your home and then your cell phone. When I did not reach you at either number, I phoned Lafayette and sent him here to check on you. He called when he arrived at your home and found it in such disarray. I believe he said it looked like a tornado ran through here." I had to laugh at Lafayette's description. I could just picture his surprise. He knew that I kept a clean home and from what I remember the downstairs did look like a mini tornado ran through it. Eric continued his story.

"When I arrived and saw your house I told Lafayette to call Pam and have her come immediately. I was able to track your blood and the scents of the Weres through the cemetery and up to Compton's house. I have checked your feet, they are fine. There is no more glass."

Eric turned to Pam and spoke in a language that I did not recognize. She nodded her head respectfully and made her way from the room. Before she did, she stopped to speak to me briefly;

"Sookie, I hoped to meet you under better circumstances. I do hope that I get the chance to see you again soon. Eric." And with that she left.

"Where is she going Eric?"

"She has to check in on a new guest we have at Fangtasia. One of the Weres that attacked you is being held there. I want her to find out who sent him."

"Eric, what do you intend to do with him?"

"I do not see what it matters as his life was forfeit the moment that he accepted an assignment that intended to bring you harm."

Well he certainly was very blunt and pragmatic about it.

"I can feel your unease Sookie. Do not trouble yourself with his welfare. Your concern is wasted on the likes of him."

"You can feel me?"

"Yes. Now that you have had my blood I can tell what you are feeling. Should you get into trouble again, I would be able to know as it happened and could get to you sooner. I could find where you were and help you. You would not be as hurt as you were." He seemed sad as he said this.

"Eric, thank you. I am glad that you found me when you did. I just want to know why they were after me and who sent them. They kept talking about a package and were really insistent that I knew where it was. I think perhaps it was that box that went missing from Bill's a week or so ago."

"I think you are correct. I have learned a bit more about that package." I was waiting for more of an explanation. After a moment, he decided to elaborate. "It was sent from a technology firm in Little Rock. Apparently, Bill has been working on some sort of database. He asked this company to encrypt his files and create a backup in case of emergency. I do not know what the subject matter is for this database, only that Bill thought it important enough to take these steps. The package contained the encrypted files and some other paperwork. Obviously someone felt it was important enough to violate you to obtain." He was angry as he spit out the last part. I could feel the tension in his body and saw his hands ball into fists at his side.

"Eric. I don't want you to leave me tonight. Would you please stay?"

"I do not like the idea of leaving you here unprotected during the day. There is much to be done to find out who is behind this and I think it best for you to come to my home again until we find out who sent the Weres and why."

"I have to work tomorrow though."

"Not anymore. Lafayette was here when I brought you home. He said he would call your boss and let him know that you would be out for a few days."

It was a little high handed of Eric, but I did appreciate him looking out for me. I had always thought that I could look out for myself, but it would appear now that I needed looking out for.

"Okay Eric. Thank you." Despite the fact that I had Eric's blood, I felt stiff and awkward with my movements. I tried to get out of bed to start to pack some things to bring to Eric's. He was by my side in an instant. He took my hand and guided me out of bed, putting one arm around me to steady me. I stood on shaky legs for a moment before I got my bearings. I smiled at him to let him know that I was okay. Although I couldn't tell what he was feeling, I could see the concern written all over his face.

Eric watched me move about my room busying myself grabbing clothes, some bras and underwear, a swim suit, a book or two and some shoes. I packed a swim suit because I thought during the day I could sit out in the sun and read. I needed some outdoor time. I didn't bother with packing any toiletries, because I enjoyed the ones at his house so much when I was there. He was silent as I went about my tasks; occasionally clicking on the keys of his blackberry quickly typing out a message to what I would assume would be one vampire or another. I wish I could type with his speed.

"I'm ready Eric."

"So you are my dear. We should leave now as it is getting late." It was getting late. My bedside clock showed that it was 3:00am. Eric took my bag from me and asked if I needed help getting down the stairs. I appreciated him asking instead of just picking me up and carrying me. I did rather enjoy having his arms around me, but I did not want to be treated like I would break. I think after the shock I got upon walking downstairs that I should have rethought having Eric carry me. I don't consider myself to be a weak person, but the shock of what I saw downstairs waiting for me almost had me black out all over again.

It was Bill.

He had returned and apparently had just arrived at my house. He had paused downstairs to look at the disarray. Eric let out a low growl and took my hand protectively.

"Sookie. What is he doing here? What has happened? Are you okay darling?"

"She is not your darling Compton and you would do well to remember that. What has happened is that people were sent to attack her Bill. They were looking for something of yours, something that you had Sookie look after for you. How dare you put her in danger?" I could tell that Eric was on a roll here. I thought he might lunge across the room and hit him. But he didn't. He continued to attack him verbally. "Oh, and Billy? I am here because Sookie is mine."

Bill looked incredulously (word of the day calendar thank you very much) between me and Eric. The normally cool and calm features of his face started to change and his fangs descended immediately. Eric's clicked into place the moment he saw Bill standing in my house.

"I know this could not be true Eric. Sookie does not know of our culture. She does not understand."

"And why would that be Bill? You have known her for how long? And what have you shared with her about our world – nothing. You left her here unprotected and without any care for her well-being. Sookie understands quite well what it means to be mine. I have explained it to her and she has willingly come to me of her own accord." Eric had a triumphant look on his face as he said this.

"Bill, it is true. I am his. I am sorry Bill, this was not something that I planned. It…" I didn't get a chance to finish my thoughts as Bill angrily cut me off.

"Sookie you know not what you have done. Eric will surely discard you when he gets bored. You will be one of an endless string of women that Eric has used up and moved on from. He does not care for you like I have. I have taken care of you haven't I? You were happy with me."

I could tell that Eric wanted to intercede, but I pressed my hand lightly to his chest to let him know I'd like to answer Bill.

"Bill, I was fine when I was with you. I had some moments of happiness, but was I happy? No. I met Eric by chance and since I have met him my thoughts have been filled with him. He has been very open and honest with me."

"Honest?" Bill spat out with venom. "I'm sure you won't feel that way when you find out that he had your friend chained up in his basement for weeks. Beating him and treating him like an animal! How is that for honesty?" Bill looked pleased with himself.

"Bill, Eric told me all about that. I think that considering the circumstances that Lafayette should be glad that's all that happened to him. And while we're at it, if you knew, how come you did nothing or said nothing about it? That's awfully convenient."

"He's got you brainwashed Sookie. You can't want him."

"But I do Bill. You left me. You stopped calling, I had no idea when you'd return. You abandoned me. It's not like I was out looking for someone to take your place Bill. But I met Eric and things changed. I want more. I want him." It's not like I hated Bill, or that he treated me poorly. I just realized that Bill was not who I wanted, not who made me happy and feel alive inside. But he did abandon me and if he hadn't done that, then I never would have had an opportunity to even meet Eric.

"I had business Sookie, you knew this. I cannot drop everything to check in with you constantly. There are critical matters that I was attending to. I made it back as soon as I could."

"Yes Bill, and we are certain that it is your 'critical matters' that caused Sookie to be gravely injured this evening. If it were not for me finding her when I did and giving her my blood, she might not be alive."

"Oh, how convenient Eric. Sookie gets hurt and you use the opportunity to get your blood into her to override mine."

"Not as convenient as being late to meet Sookie one night when there were angry drainers nearby. Not as convenient as letting them beat her within an inch of her life so you could feed her your blood the very week that you met her. Not as convenient as not explaining to her what the effects of your blood would be. You seemed to leave some important details out Bill." Eric spit out Bill's name with disgust.

I was surprised to see Bill looking a little stunned by Eric's words. He was surprised that Eric knew all of that and looked to me with an unsure expression on his face. Was Eric right? Was there something more sinister about his intentions? Was he purposely late?

"Bill, you're awfully quiet there. Cat got your tongue?" Eric couldn't resist baiting him. This was going to get ugly, I was sure of it.

"Eric, Sookie is special. She needed to be shielded from our kind and our ways."

"So you admit that you did not tell her the full effect your blood would have on her. You built a relationship under false pretense."

"Perhaps I will Eric. Once you admit to your dealings with her friend Lafayette. The Sookie I know wouldn't stand for it." I looked at Eric curiously. He had told me all about why he had taken Lafayette and the basic idea of what he had done to him, without getting into the grizzly details. I wasn't angry over that. I became concerned however when Eric tensed slightly.

"Bill, do not try and deflect from your shortcomings as a vampire and as a proper companion."

"Oh, so then I take it Eric that you haven't let Sookie in on the fact that you now have Lafayette pushing V? The very thing that you abducted him and beat him within an inch of his life for doing?"

I dropped Eric's hand and looked up to him. He did not want to meet my eyes. It was true. Eric was having Lafayette sell V. I slumped down to the ground and wished for it to swallow me whole.

A/N – So there we have it. Bill came back. Were you expecting it? And… Sookie finds out what Lafayette has been doing for Eric. What do you think her reaction will be?