Hope everyone had a happy holiday time. Mine were busy. Hope you enjoy.

When I felt the girl's mind 'click' on a couple hours later, I was sitting in my kitchen looking over my new credit card and bank card; having just put away the laptop computer (still no gatherings for the FOTS). Mr. Cataliades had sent me a bunch of information with them, but her waking up was a good distraction. At first, there was confusion (where am I? What day is it? where are my clothes?), what I would assume to be a pretty typical reaction to waking up in a stranger's house after being held prisoner for god only knows how long. When Sebastian had checked her bag, there was no plane or bus ticket to tell us how long she'd been in the South and they hadn't told Eric on the phone.

But by the time I walked towards the room she was in and went to knock on her door, a soft, but sure "It's open" came before I could touch my knuckles to the door. She must have heard me walking towards this room, the sounds of my footsteps were the only sound other than the normal noises of an old, but well loved house.

I pushed open the door and plastered a smile on my face, hoping it would look like I'm coming in peace, rather than her being a prisoner in an insane woman's house (the theme to the movie Misery played in my head and I had to stifle a giggle). It was the first time I got to see her eyes. Her licence had said they were green and you could see it in her picture, but it did not do them justice, they were green that reminded me of pictures taken of the top of the rainforest. Dark, mysterious and deep. And right now, they were wide with suspicion and fear.

"Who are you?" she asked, trying to get up, but her left arm was in a cast and she was hardly in top condition to move. "Where am I?"

"My name is Sookie Stackhouse, this is my home" I said, holding my hands up to try and convey that I came in peace. She had stopped trying to get up, realising that she was naked under the blanket and not physically able to get up quite yet. "You're okay now, you're safe, I promise" I just wanted her to calm down. The painkillers had a doping kind of effect in her mind, but she was still alert and aware. At my words, the fight or flight panic must have settled because she believed me. The way she thought was strange, like she worked backwards in her thinking. She just knew it was safe, then her mind filled in the blanks of how she knew: no restraints, her arm in a sling, the IV in her arm and my stance were proof to her that she was not in the same place as before and that I didn't mean to harm her (yet). But she was still wary of me, but I didn't blame her.

She eyed me warily, "How long have I been here?" Her voice sounded hoarse.

"We got you out last night" I told her before moving very slowly and carefully closer to the bed. "May I sit down and explain it to you?" She looked surprised at my request, but nodded. I sat down and explained what had happened last night, leaving how I had "overheard" the info on where she was and such. Her eyes had strayed to my neck as I spoke and she noticed the marks Eric had left.

"Dr. Ludwig fixed you up last night and left some information here" I gestured to the envelope on the bedside table. "And Eric called your King last night."

"What did Darius say?" she was asking questions to try and forget the pain she was in, raising my respect for her a little.

"He said he was sending an emissary here tonight, but he'd come to get you himself soon" I told her. I didn't want to bring up the other part quite yet, I needed to know where she stood with this vampire, but her mind wasn't telling me anything. "Listen, I know you're in pain and I don't want to worry you, but I need to know before they get here in a few hours if that is what you want".

She blinked a couple times, genuinely confused, before she got it. She was surprised at my question, but even more so at my concern. "Yes, that is what I want" she said firmly and her mind confirmed it. "I know it sounds weird, to be saying this about a vampire, but I have never wanted to see him so much in all my life". Her last words came out in a croak as she fought back tears. She steadied herself with a deep breath. Her mind showed me she wasn't a big crier or one to depend on others, but this experience had pushed her pretty far.

"No, I understand" I sighed.

"Who's Eric? Is he your King?" she asked as she shifted her weight, but winced in pain as she did so.

"No, he's the Sheriff of this area, Area 5. He's my..." I didn't know how to finish that sentence. Boyfriend? Not really. Husband? Definitely not. And I didn't know if she knew what being pledged meant.

"Your vampire?" she finished for me. "I know it can be hard to explain vampire relationships to other people". I picked up on an image of one of the FOTS members berating her for "selling out her species" for letting a vampire touch her, but I quickly put up my shields before I saw more.

"Are you in a relationship with a vampire?"I asked softly, trying to turn her thoughts elsewhere. A face popped into her head, banishing all others. Aristocratic and strong, the face was like the light at the end of her tunnel.

"Yes, I've been with Darius for over 5 years now" Relief washed through me; she wasn't being forced. In fact, from what I could garner, she loved him very much. "It's much easier to talk about now, since the Great Revelation" she continued. Thinking of Darius made her happier and I could see little glimmers of the girl she used to be through the haunted look in her eyes.

"I bet it must be! I only met my first vampire just after they came out of the coffin" I confessed. Suddenly I found her staring right at me and our eyes met for minute. I felt like what some people felt like when they met me, like I could see everything about them (and I could). I couldn't tell what she was looking for or why her gaze felt like an X-Ray or even why this moment had turned so serious, but I kept my gaze level with hers, not wanting to back down or break it. Finally she cocked her head slightly to the side.

"Pardon my bluntness, Miss Stackhouse, but what are you?" she asked politely. It had taken Amelia a little bit and her tarot cards to figure out that I was different, but Hanna knew that I was. I don't think she even understood how she knew, but she just did.

"I could ask you the same thing, Ms. Ptolemy" I replied evenly, deciding to use the last name I had seen on her licence, and since we had both agreed that vampire relationships could be murky, the Ms. title seemed the most polite. I let that statement sink in for a second before answering her. "I'm a telepath".

She nodded knowingly. "May I use your washroom? I'm not avoiding telling you about myself, but I really need to use the facilities" she said contrite. I felt my lips curving up into a smile slightly as I told her where it was, but that I had to take the IV out of her arm first.

"Oh! Yeah, I guess so" she said, startled, having forgotten it was there. "I've never had one before".

I read through Dr. Ludwig's note quickly to see how to take the IV out properly as I answered her. "Unfortunately, I have. Do you mind pressing-" I stopped as I saw her pressing a cotton ball to the needle in her skin, already prepped for what I was just about to ask her to do. She hadn't been lying when she'd said she'd never had an IV before... I shook my head a little and pulled the needle out. I passed her an extra Fangtasia t-shirt I had around, which was even longer on her than it was on me, since she was a good 4 inches shorter than me. I helped her walk to the bathroom, where she thanked me, but insisted she would be okay on her own from there.

A bit later, we had managed to get her to my living room. She was wearing the t-shirt and jeans that had been in her bag; I had brought them to her, explaining how Sebastian had found her phone crushed to pieces. It was the first time she had actually cried. "It was a gift from Darius" she whispered through sobs that she was very desperately trying to hold back. "It was engraved and he had made me a playlist and everything". I had left her alone then, since she was clearly uncomfortable with me seeing her cry and not at a place to receive a hug quite yet.

Amelia had made some tea and we sat down in front of my fireplace. Hanna looked terrible, but better than yesterday. Her eyes were still bruised and the ones on her neck were now turning a gross shade of black/purple. Her broken arm was set in a heavy cast, but she could walk with help and had refused to stay in bed. I don't know how Dr. Ludwig had done all she had for her.

"You have a beautiful home, Miss Stackhouse" she said softly.

"Thank you, it's been in a my family a few generations now" I loved my home.

"Is it just the two of you here?"

"Yeah" Amelia said. "I love this place too. It's got character and it's unique. I can't stand all those new houses that look all the same. I mean, how can the people who live in them even tell their house from their neighbours? It's too cookie cutter".

"I agree" Hanna said, staring into the fire. The sun was starting to make its way down towards the horizon but we still had a while before darkness. Amelia glanced at me quickly and was speaking before I could react to her thoughts.

"So Hanna, what are you? Psychic?" she blurted out, ever to the point. Hanna never even looked up from the fire. The light played across her face, showing the sadness and pain she was trying hard to fight.

"In layman's terms, yes" Hanna replied, unfazed by the question or the manner in which it was asked, although she didn't look up from the flames as she spoke. "But I prefer the term precognitive. Psychic is too broad " her tone of voice took on a new zeal as she spoke, some of her passion and pride came through just a little. I remembered all the books Sebastian and I had seen in her bag and the student ID in her wallet. I added another bit of information to the stockpile I was keeping on Hanna to think about at a later time. She continued, "Psychic is a term people apply to anyone who is sensitive to influences or forces of a nonphysical or supernatural nature. Miss Stackhouse would fit this description just as much as I do, although what we do is very different, it's a matter of categories... but I digress. I don't see what is going to happen, I just know. Without thinking about it or knowing why I do things, I just know. Have either of you two watched Spiderman before?"

Amelia nodded and I did too, I did have a brother and he loved that show when he was little.

"Well, it's like his Spidey-Sense. A sixth sense or an intuition of what's to come, but much, much stronger when I'm in top shape". I thought about her explanation for a second and it made sense from what I had seen so far, when she'd known to put pressure on an IV before removing it, even though she had never had an IV before and how she had said to come in before I had even knocked.

"So, if you can tell things are going to happen to you before they do, how did the Fellowship manage to capture you?" Amelia asked. Hanna winced at her question, and she was thinking about the vampire she had been travelling with who had been staked. She had cared for that vampire, adding more to her pain.

"I don't feel everything, I'm not omnipotent. And even if I did, if it's meant to happen, it will" Hanna answered coldly.

"Hanna, going back, what did you mean by categories?" Other than Barry, I had never had someone else to talk to about being having a 'disability' and I wanted to hear where she had been going before.

Hanna still had not looked away from the fire. "This is only a pet theory of mine that Darius and I have been working on, but I'll share it with you, I'd love to know what you think about it sometime" she finally looked up at me and for the first time that evening, she looked something other than haunted or dolorous (Word of the day for today); I nodded and she went on. "It breaks down into categories of time, abilities, sensory input, control and secondary abilities. Time is relatively easy: past, present or future. Not everyone fits into just one category though. I fit into the future category in being able to sense what is to come, but not what has happened. Sensory input just means how you receive your information. It can be commanding voices, images, sounds, feelings or emotions, intuitions or instincts, just to name a few. Abilities is even more diverse, because everyone is different. No two abilities are exactly the same. Whether it's telepathy, prophesy, clairvoyance or telekinesis, everyone does it their own way, with their own strengths and weaknesses. And then control we put in a separate category. I don't know much about your ability Miss Stackhouse, so I can't say what your control is, but mine is pretty hard to explain. I don't get a choice as to what I know and what I don't get to know. about 90% of the time, it's minor things about myself or those closest to me and it's always beneficial. But the rest of the time, it can be completely random. Darius says I'm an instrument of Fate, because I will get the urge to do things that have nothing to do with me or anyone I know, but I know I have to follow it, so I do" she shrugged at this (wincing in pain from her bad arm), but I could tell this was a very important issue with her. I didn't want to interrupt her by asking about it, because I was genuinely interested in what she had to say about all this.

"Control can be enhanced or reduced by outside forces, substances or actions, like touching someone or something to get a clearer reading, or mind-altering drugs to induce visions. And then secondary abilities are just small things that aren't your main ability, but are kind of by-products of that ability. For example, my ability allows me excellent judgement of character and instinctual decision making. I'm also great to have around when gambling" she said, trying to force a smile, but it didn't really work.

"So do you study things like this?" I asked.

"Yeah, I guess so, it's just more of a fun side project I like to indulge in" she said.

"That sounds like more than anything I could imagine doing just for fun" I replied, impressed, but Hanna was lost inside her head and in her pain, staring at the fire again. I glanced at Amelia who shrugged. "You said this was a side project. What else do you do?"

"I'm a professional student. I love to learn" she whispered. "But I work for Darius as a career, I guess. And I paint." I didn't need to wonder what kind of work she did for Darius, with her abilities.

"If you work for Darius and you're with him, why are you travelling without him so far away from where you live?" Amelia asked. Hanna glanced up at her and looked a little sheepish.

"His wife, Nera, Queen of the Dakota's, came to visit, so I went on 'vacation'" she admitted, but was surprised when she didn't see Amelia or I flinch. We had both had experience with Sophie-Anne when she had been Queen not to think that a 'married' Vampire King would be faithful to his spouse.

"So she has a grudge against you?" Amelia asked, confused.

"Or she wants you for herself?" I asked. Hanna nodded.

"Yeah, pretty much, good guess. It's all pretty messed up." she said. "I got a feeling I had to go and Darius trusts me, so I took off with Clara until the coast was clear."

"Why so far South?"

"Gumbo" she answered bluntly, then looked up between Amelia and mine's confused looks. "That's what you guys in the South are known for, right? Gumbo? Jambalaya? I'd never had it before and I was following my gut. Literally."

There was a good second or two pause before Amelia and I burst out laughing. It wasn't really appropriate, but I couldn't help myself. Hanna seemed surprised at our reaction, but didn't get upset. Laughing is just a way of dealing with hard situations sometimes, whether it's funny or not. Our bodies need the release, I guess. She took it well and even managed to curl one of the sides of her mouth up the tiniest bit, the closest thing I had see her do to a smile since I had met her.

"Yes, we do eat gumbo and I can make a pretty good jambalaya that my Gran taught me how to make. You must be hungry" At my words, her stomach let out a loud rumble. I took that as a yes. "I'll whip something small up for a snack and we'll have jambalaya for supper". Amelia excused herself to go to her room, while I went into the kitchen. I came back in to the living room to ask Hanna what kind of sandwich she wanted as a snack when I found her trying to stand up on her own.

"Stop that" I ordered her, rushing over to make sure she didn't fall over and hurt herself even more.

"I can get up by myself!" she yelled in frustration. I steadied her, placing my hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes.

"Now listen up. I know you are hurting and that having to get someone to help you for everything is really demoralizing, but I want to help you. You are my guest and I take that very seriously" I chastised her as we went into the kitchen. I sat her down at the kitchen table.

"Is this the famous Southern hospitality everyone talks about?" she grumped, her Northern accent more pronounced.

"This is just who I am. My Gran would have done the same. What kind of sandwich do you want?"

"I like anything except tomatoes" she answered. "What happened to your Gran?"

"She was murdered" I said softly. I didn't think it would be appropriate to say it was done right in this house. Or that once I had shot a woman in my old kitchen that used to be here.

"I'm sorry to hear that, it sounds like you really loved her" she bit into her sandwich ravenously. "Was she your only family?"

I started getting stuff together to make supper, foregoing the garlic, and nibbled on my own sandwich as I cooked.

"No, I have my brother too, his name is Jason. My parents died when I was pretty young". Murdered too, by faeries, I had just found out recently.

"Again, I'm sorry to hear that" she said, handing me her dish. Her eyes met mine again and there were tears there that threatened to spill. "Thank you, Ms. Stackhouse. For saving me and especially for your generosity". I reached out and took her good hand in mine and held it for a second.

"Please, call me Sookie. And you're welcome".

We were sitting down to eat when it was finally full dark outside. Hanna had kept me company while I made supper, although she claimed that she had no cooking skills of her own, she enjoyed watching me. We talked while I cooked and I learned more about her. She had 7 older brothers who were all witches and formed one of the strongest covens in the northern United States. We shared one family trait though, her parents were dead too.

"My father was murdered a few years ago. My mother died when I was 5" she said as we dug into our food with Amelia. Hanna was not being entirely truthful, not that I blamed her. Her mother had taken her own life and Hanna had only found out recently. The memory still pricked at her. She had more secrets than me and I felt all the more for her.

"Seven brothers? That's crazy!" Amelia said, looking with hungry eyes over the food. "I think I've heard of their coven before though. Only rumours, but man, that's a lot of power in one family"

Hanna nodded seriously. "I know. This is delicious, Sookie! I can barely make a Pizza Pop". Maybe it was the food or the fact that she wasn't focused on the pain her body and mind were dealing with, but Hanna seemed a little more human for a minute. Her face looked a little less pale and drawn, but still acted guarded around us, even if her thoughts weren't from me. Suddenly, she looked up at the back door a split second before I heard the knock.

"Okay, that's really creepy" Amelia whispered. I stood up to check who it was, but Bill was already coming through (his invitation had not been rescinded, but it was still really nice of him to knock first). He took in the sight of us, focusing on Hanna, before realizing that we were eating. If vampires could go green, I bet Bill would have been a nice lime hue by now.

"Pardon me, ladies" he nodded to Hanna and Amelia, then turned to me. "I apologise for the interruption". His voice was smooth and cool as always and I smiled at him.

"That's alright. Bill, this is Hanna from Montana. Hanna, this is Bill Compton. He lives across the cemetery from my property" Hanna and Bill nodded politely to each other.

"I won't comment on the irony of a cemetery lying between your house and that of a vampire" Hanna said to me with dry amusement (turns out she had a sense of humour somewhere underneath all the brains and pain). Amelia snickered into her bowl.

"I can assure the irony is wasted on no one" Bill smiled back, looking charming as ever. "Your King's emissary will be arriving in a couple hours and if it is alright with Sookie, Eric planned to have him pick you up here." Bill sounded worried about another vampire coming to my house, again. Or at least he sounded worried to me, only because I knew him.

"I'm sure Eric wouldn't let anyone he considered unsafe near me, Bill. Don't worry" I laid a hand on his arm to reassure him and he looked delighted in the contact, but my mentioning Eric seemed to just make him more upset. He excused himself to do a sweep of the property while we ate.

"He doesn't like human food" I explained as I sat back down to finish eating.

"He's also Sookie's ex" Amelia quipped and I glared at her.

"I see. I recognise his name from somewhere though" Hanna said, sinking back into her haze of bad thoughts. She was finishing up her seconds of supper, but a full belly of home cooked food could not solve all problems. At that moment, I missed Gran even more.

I mentioned Bill's vampire database and she confirmed that's where she knew it from. It was nice to talk to someone else who understood vamprie stuff and didn't think I was weird for knowing all of it. I cleared the table afterwards, but Hanna insisted on helping with the dishes, which was nice.

We all sat down to watch some TV when Bill joined us again. "May I enquire about your tattoo, Miss Ptolemy?" he asked politely. I had forgotten to ask her about that myself so far. Hanna looked down to where she knew her mark was and her voice got hoarse with emotion.

"I know you can probably already tell that it's done with vampire blood and ink" she said. "But it's also spelled. My brother, Gabriel, specializes in a new form of body art that integrates magic and spells. Usually it's just to make a tattoo look better, sparkling or lifelike. But he's the only one in our part of the States that does it, so he has the market cornered, even if it's not a new idea". She was hiding something, not telling the whole truth, I could tell. She was thinking how her tattoo was a mistake of some sort and how she had made her brother swear never to do one again. I wondered what that meant.

"The Druids did the same thing" Amelia piped up. "Spelled tattoos. But I've never heard of anything that involved vampire blood, too. Is it like a brand?"

"Kind of. I've always wanted a tattoo and it's not like I'm his pet or something. It's unique" Hanna agreed, but didn't offer any more information on what made it unique and I didn't think to pry. Bill and I glanced at each other and I could tell we were thinking the same thing; sometimes you just don't want to know.