Quick reminder that this is set during S2/3. I've mixed things around plenty (sorry!) and I'm mixing in random storylines from across the seasons and adding my own. Creative licence, ftw.

Also, as you could probably tell from the last chapter, we're edging slowly (how else, really?) into 'M Rating' category. I'm not the best at lemons/limes/writing about people getting off but I'll give it my best go and hope I don't sound like a moron.

PLEASE let me know if it's just cringey/awful.

Also, Sarah is supposed to sound kind of needy and desperate in this chapter. Don't lie to yourselves and tell yourself you'd be much cooler around an Eric Northman. You'd want to jump his bones too.

This is sort of filler, but needed. Sorry! (This is such a long AN, my bad!)

Enjoy!

While Lafayette stammered his way through a report on the workings on Bon Temps, Sarah sat on the couch with the large t-shirt pulled around her knees to preserve at least some of her modesty. She realised it was completely pointless since everyone in the room had surely seen her half-naked anyway, but it made her feel psychologically better if she held on to a shred of her dignity.

She wasn't really listening to what Lafayette was saying, for she had better things to think about: the toe-curling, breathlessness-inducing kiss she had just received was at the top of the list. It didn't surprise her that it had happened. She wasn't going to mentally berate herself for something as innocent as a kiss between two people who were clearly attracted to one another.

There was nothing innocent about that kiss, she thought somewhat smugly. It was nice to feel as though Eric wanted her in the capacity she had moments ago. Caught –up-in-the-moment kisses were the best. But that still didn't stop her from thinking about what Godric would say. Would he be pleased that she and his child were getting along so well? Would he encourage their blossoming…friendship? Or would he reprimand the both of them for foolishly complicating the arrangement he'd set up to protect her?

For once, Sarah just didn't know what Godric would have said.

It worried her slightly that Eric was not exactly well known for keeping the women he 'played' with any longer than a night. Even that was a push – they usually only held his interest for a few hours before he swiftly had them escorted out and told not to come crawling back to him. He rarely liked to fuck the same woman twice. It didn't worry her for the reasons other women surely fretted about it. She didn't expect a relationship from him; the thought alone almost made her laugh. She didn't want a relationship with him. What she did want, and need, was protection. That was the reason she came and she had to admit that after the Fellowship debacle she needed it.

So if she did end up giving in to her slowly-building attraction to him – and she had no doubts that she would regret it; she was sure it would be worth it – would she also be sacrificing the pseudo-friendship and trust she'd worked so hard to achieve?

And then there was Sookie. The woman Eric really wanted. Could Sarah be with someone who really wanted the kind, bubbly woman she was staying with? Who had let her into her home without a fuss? It would be strange to imagine that Eric would rather it be the buxom blonde beneath him instead of her.

Shaking herself out of the poor self-esteem cycle she was surely sinking into, Sarah heard Jason Stackhouse be mentioned. Before she could stop herself, she blurted out a sharp, "What about Jason?"

Following her questiont, the room was silent except for the muffled thumping of music from behind the door Pam had closed behind her on her way out. Sarah asked what Jason had to do with anything again, feeling nosy since she'd actually found the guy interesting and genuine. Plus, she needed to look out for him somehow if only to repay Sookie for her hospitality. Letting a stranger into you house was not something Sarah would ever take lightly.

Eric didn't reply and Lafayette was still fidgeting with his flamboyant clothing and looking around the room as though he'd rather be anywhere – anywhere – but this room.

Sarah sighed. "Are you just going to ignore me?"

"I'm thinking," Eric replied, turning to face her fully, hands in his pockets. "How well do you know Jason Stackhouse?"

Sarah blinked. "Eric, we met for about three minutes when he came to find Sookie. He woke me up, asked me to a party, I turned him down. After that it was just at that party, and I doubt he remembers." She paused. "Why, what's going on?"

Eric continued to stare at her and lightly threw out, "Jason's using."

For a second, it didn't register with her. Thinking Eric was going mad, she thought using what? Drugs? Surely he wouldn't be stupid enough to deal V again.

She sighed, placing her hand lightly on her forehead. She knew how bad drugs could get; it wouldn't harm a vampire if one ingested it but it didn't make them feel light and fuzzy either. Inevitably, however, it didn't mean much to vampires. They were quite careful about stopping before they consumed too much and usually stayed away from impure blood of those proportions. Clean, unpolluted blood was best, she knew. Sweet, kind, innocent and naïve virgins were the crème de le crème of the vampire world. Hence the rules they had to enforce to keep vampires away from children, otherwise they would feast of their unsoiled blood like an alcoholic would drain liquor.

"Why does this affect you?" Since it wouldn't be much of an issue to the vampire world, why would a Sherriff require a simple cook to tell him the boring details of the human world. Millions of humans used. She hoped and prayed it was just drugs. Not V. Not V.

All Eric had to say was one syllable for Sarah's heart to drop to her feet. "V."

She knew the punishment for it and she surprisingly agreed with it. She'd seen first-hand the damage Drainers did to their prey – it was disgusting. "Sookie won't be pleased with you if you kill her brother." She'd pointed out the same thing last time. She had stopped Eric from killing him in return for 'fealty'. Two offences was bad.

She didn't know why she said it. She'd just shaken herself from the pity party in her mind for becoming mildly attached to a man who practically loved someone else and then she just brought up her name so casually? She should've never mentioned Sookie's name again in Eric's presence. She selfishly liked the idea of him thinking of her when they were together. Besides, he knew he couldn't kill Jason. He knew everything.

"I'm not going to kill him."

Sarah blanched as the lawyer in her came out to play. "But it's the law. It's his second offence...One is enough... It's law, Eric."

Eric smirked slightly, like he knew she would say that and knew she couldn't help it. As she focused on his lips, she couldn't help to replay the memory in her mind of those lips on hers, teasing, taking, bruising…

"I didn't say I was going to do nothing. Just that I won't kill him. Sookie's useful and killing the only person left in her family would not bode well for us."

"So what will you do?"

His answering devilish grin was the only response she needed.

"No way."

The next night saw Sarah back in Eric's office but for far different reasons than the previous night. She was dressed in a white dress Eric had put her in that clashed with her tanned skin. It was entirely backless but had long sleeves and a high neck that preserved her modesty slightly. She didn't think it would matter what she wore since Jason had been attracted to her in her pyjamas with bed-hair and no make-up, but Eric had insisted. He'd even growled slightly when she'd emerged from her room at his house.

"I'm assuming that means I look the part?" She'd asked bitterly when she'd heard him.

He'd not replied but when he turned to leave the house – assuming she'd follow – she caught a glimpse of fang peeking out that told her that she did, indeed, look the part.

If she was being honest, she was quite excited for this. It was the first time she'd actually used her gift for good rather than to get something she wanted. She wasn't sure that doing something that Eric wanted was a lot better but it was at least better than selfish reasons. And she had to admire Eric's adamant opinion that Jason not be killed.

The plan was astoundingly simple – she would invite Jason here (and Eric was sure he'd come) and she'd simply ask him where he was getting his V from since Lafayette swore it wasn't from him and he didn't know any other dealers. And he swore up and down he didn't know of anyone with balls enough to sell V in Bon Temps. But she would use her 'skill' to ask him so they knew he wasn't lying to her. Once it had been established who was issuing the V (and therefore attacking vampires and draining them), Eric would find them and end their probably lucrative business. Probably by ending them, Sarah thought.

Eric had practically lectured Sarah on safety measures so they didn't have a repeat of the last Fellowship debacle. She thought he didn't come across as nervous or worried – if Eric ever worried, then they were in serious trouble – but he did seem mildly concerned. She presumed it was because he thought he'd failed Godric's dying wish despite the amount of times she told him otherwise (after all, she reasoned with him to no avail, they'd have taken her anyway and he saved her).

Alas, Sarah wasn't worried about the Fellowship. She was slightly worried about tricking Jason and using her persuasion tactic on someone so unsuspecting but she reasoned that Eric was being lenient. A lot of other Sheriffs would kill Jason on sight simply because he had V in his blood. Sarah had once asked Godric how he could tell the difference between V and vampire blood given willingly and his response had made sense: one, because there was distinctly a different smell between vampire blood ingested fresh and the drug V. He'd said the V smelt almost rotting because it had not come from the source. And secondly, no vampire would willingly give his blood to a human without biting them also and most V users had not been marked by a vampire.

Sarah was therefore glad that she would be able to resolve such an issue without hurting her roommate's family. She wouldn't want to repay Sookie in such a way.

"You understand your role?" Eric asked her as he went to sit behind his desk, picking up some papers Pam had left there for him on the way.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "For the last time yes. I'm not stupid. I get it."

She saw Eric's lips pull up slightly behind the sheet of paper he was reading as though he enjoyed antagonising her.

She must admit that she enjoyed their banter, but she'd enjoy him antagonising her in other ways…more sexual ways… far more. She'd not been able to stop thinking of the previous night. They'd hardly spoken when they'd arrived at his house once more and he'd just given her an incredibly loaded look as he went "to ground" for the day. He actually went to a lovely room with plush, luxurious bedding and no windows. He'd let her see it when she'd asked nicely before he all but threw her out. She supposed he didn't trust her with his vulnerable state just yet, which she couldn't blame him for or resent.

When night had come once more, Sarah had awoken to the strange sensation of being watched. Sure enough, Eric had been stood right over her bed looking down at her hungrily. She'd sleepily realised that her tank top and panties hardly left anything to the imagination but she was far too worn out from the previous night to worry about it. Besides, he'd seen many women naked and had nearly stripped her to even less just hours ago. So she just yawned at him to leave which he did after giving her the dress she currently wore.

So naturally, she was wound tight with sexual frustration. After coming so close to a much needed release the night before, Sarah was almost embarrassingly needy for something – anything – that involved Eric and orgasms.

Sarah squirmed slightly where she stood and looked at the shoes she wore in an attempt to distract herself. They were high, nude pumps that Isabel has brought with her; nice, Sarah thought, but probably not worth the extravagance the red sole indicated.

She nearly fell off said shoes when Eric appeared right in front her, looking down at her intently. Her eyes shot up to his as she held onto his muscular arm to steady herself.

"Keep thinking those thoughts," he muttered, stepping impossibly closer. Sarah stepped back in an automatic response she didn't like (after all, she'd just been thinking of what magic he could probably do with his hands) but left her hand on his arm, dragging him towards her a little more.

"I didn't know you were a mind reader," she teased huskily.

And then he whispered the sexiest sentence she'd ever heard.

"I can smell how wet you are for me."

She opened her mouth to reply but nothing came out. Just a large exhale of breath.

She wished she could say something witty, something teasing like, "how do you know I wasn't just thinking of Johnny Depp?" but she knew it was pointless. They both knew who was responsible for her state. She also wished she could do something she might have done with someone else, someone less consuming – she would have grabbed the front of their pants and squeezed, making a cocky comment in return.

She couldn't even consider doing something like that with Eric. He was the one in charge of this and she somehow thought he always would be. He would dictate the situation always. And she didn't even mind.

"Pam's about 10 seconds from walking in again to tell us that Jason's here otherwise I'd have you now."

Sarah almost growled with frustration and wondered if Eric would mind if she killed Pam.

"Later," was all he had to say to melt the frustration into lust.

She'd never seen someone look so out of place as Jason did. It was obvious he didn't belong in his jeans and casual shirt not from the clothes he wore or his sunshine-kissed skin or the naïve innocence in his eyes… it was obvious he didn't belong from the way he smiled as though he did. He looked almost proud to have walked into such an establishment. Like he didn't expect he would pull through and turn up.

Sarah, too, felt almost proud that he had done. Showing up to a vampire bar with V in his system required balls.

Not wanting him to be kept waiting in a room of vampires not half as forgiving as Eric was being, Sarah rushed over to him and put a somewhat flirtatious smile on her face.

"Jason, you made it."

He whipped around with a goofy grin on his face. "Hey! Yeah, I didn't have any plans tonight so I figured – what the heck? Let's see what all the fuss is about." At this, he looked around the bar as if he was at a theme park.

It was cute, Sarah decided. He was cute, too, but she didn't want cute.

She wanted sarcastic, witty, almost mean Eric Northman. And she wanted this night to be over so she could finally enjoy the God waiting for her. (She internally thanked God that Eric wasn't telepathic – she'd give him an even larger ego and/or a complex if he could hear all the compliments she kept giving. She supposed being horny would do that to a woman.)

"It's not much different to your average bar, really," she admitted, and it wasn't that different if she was honest. Sure, the occasional biting on premises occurred (she'd walked in on Eric feeding once) but it wasn't permitted for the customers. It happened, she knew, but it was rare.

Jason shot her a doubtful look like he thought she was on drugs.

Which reminded her…

"Hey, let's go somewhere quieter where we can talk."

The emotions that went over his face confused Sarah a little. First he looked confused, then realisation seemed to dawn and his mouth spread into a cocky, triumphant grin.

"Sure," he replied chirpily and slowly, like he was in on a big secret.

Sarah stared at him for a moment before shrugging it off and walking towards an alcove in the room. As she walked, she spotted Eric sat on his throne watching her intently with a smirk on his face like he knew something she didn't know.

When they reached the area that was separate from the rest of the club and she pulled him closer with her arm with the intention of catching his eye and getting to work. But his eyes weren't on her. They were closed. And they were closed because his lips were coming to hers at an alarmingly fast rate.

Before she knew it, Jason Stackhouse was kissing her. Her eyes were wide with surprise and she'd frozen the second she'd realised what he planned to do. She had to admit he was a good kisser but after kissing Eric, who'd had 1000 years to practice, he paled slightly in comparison.

Pulling away sharply, she hissed, "What the hell?" before catching his eye and getting to work.

The sooner this was over, the sooner she could release the tension that had been building for what seemed like forever when she thought about it.

"Are you on V?" she asked, almost testing her control.

"Yes."

She almost heard every vampire's head swivel round to stare at them but she didn't take her eyes from Jason's.

"Where are you getting it from?"

"A guy in New Orleans."

New Orleans? That wasn't close in the slightest.

"What's his name?"

"I don't know, he's never told me."

She paused, thinking. "So how did you know who to buy from?"

"I didn't. I found a package on the floor by the construction site I work at and did some. There was an address inside that I wrote and… well, asked for some more. They gave me some."

What? That wasn't how V Dealers did business? A return address? It wasn't some fancy letter to your grandma, it was V – an illegal substance that would kill you if it got into the wrong hands. Who was stupid enough to do something like that? And what was a package of V doing in Bon Temps from New Orleans?

It seemed Eric was wondering that too, as he appeared behind Jason, grabbing him by the scruff of his neck and dragging him to his office. She assumed he wanted her to talk to him without the audience.

She followed the pair of them to his office, subtly glancing around to see who was watching them. Thankfully, everyone seemed to be more relaxed since Eric took over. The people of this area clearly had faith in their Sherriff.

As soon as she shut the door behind herself, Eric barked instructions at her.

"Ask him where this site is."

She did as he ordered and Jason told them exactly where he worked in perfect detail.

Eric was quiet then, clearly thinking as he paced slowly back and forth. Not flustered. Never flustered.

"Why would someone be dealing V right under the Queen's nose?"

Sarah was fairly sure it wasn't a question for Jason, but was just a question he was wondering out loud.

"The Queen? Um, Sophie?" She struggled to remember the name Godric had told her. She'd never had to learn the specific names in the hierarchies of the US for her job, otherwise she'd have to remember a lot of names. A basic knowledge of the way it went in Vampire World was enough.

"Sophie-Ann," Eric responded, preoccupied with the thoughts in his head.

As if realising Jason was still there, he waved a hand at him. "Get him out of here."

Not wanting to be rude, Sarah started to walk Jason to the back door of the building. She would have walked him to his car but she didn't think it would be particularly safe crossing the empty parking lot after her last experience there.

She had no intentions of being burned alive again.

"Thanks, Jason. I'll call you soon and you can give me the tour of Bon Temps you said you'd give me?" She felt awful just leaving him alone after using him for information.

Thankfully, she didn't have to.

"You can go back to Eric. I need to deal with this." Pam strolled out the back door, arms folded like she'd rather be anywhere but there with Jason Stackhouse.

Sarah sighed. "What are you going to do to him?" She didn't want him injured for just making the simply mistake of trying something he found on the floor.

Pam rolled her blue eyes that were covered in dark make up for the tourists of the night. "Glamor. What else?"

Sarah nodded. "Don't hurt him."

"You sound like Sookie – I'm-so-innocent-and-naïve-and-stupid Stackhouse."

Woah. So Pam didn't like Sookie. Sarah stored that information for a later date and made a promise to herself to not get on Pam's bad side.

Sarah looked around to Jason who seemed to be eyeing Pam up with interest. It looked like her work was done for the night.

She thanked Jason for coming and walked back through the door to where Eric would more than likely still be pondering his next plan of action.

Hopefully, she thought, it would be fucking her.

Pretty speedy for me, huh? Well it is my birthday and I've been given lots so this is part of my Pay it Forward, I guess! And I also go on vacation tomorrow so I wanted to get this out (hence the shortness/fast-pacedness of it. Sorry if you didn't like it because not much happened, but I suppose it can't be gogogo all the time).

THANK YOU FOR READING! Review?