Cause darling, it was good

Never looking down

And right there where we stood

Was holy ground

Tonight I'm gonna dance

For all that we've been through

But I don't want to dance

If I'm not dancing with you - Taylor Swift

Sookie POV

I was having a nice dream, a really nice dream. Eric and I were together and there were no threats, there were no shootings, there were no memories of our pasts to hold us back. Eric had managed to turn me into a pile of jello by moving his hands and mouth along my body in a seemingly synchronized dance. His eyes stayed on mine the entire time through his actions, making it the most intimate act that I have ever participated in, dreamland or otherwise. His kissed and caressed me almost reverently, like he was worshipping my body.

I was about to flip us so that I can return the favor and do some worshipping of my own, when I see something out of the corner of my eye over Eric's shoulder. It's like a shadow and I can't make out who or what it is. It has the vague shape of a person. Something like an arm reaches up and rushes down towards Eric. Just before it's going to hit him, my eyes open.

I wake up breathing quickly and reach for Eric, wanting to seek comfort in his presence. Just knowing that he is still here with me, that he made it through the day, will be a cold comfort to me at the moment. When I don't feel him, I sit up quickly and look to the side of the bed he was sleeping on afraid of what I might see. I feel better at what I do not see.

Only a bit better though.

As my breathing becomes normal, my mind can't help to go back to the last time I was in a situation similar to the one I find myself in now. Last time I went to sleep with Eric, I woke up alone too. Though at least this time it's not him screaming at Pam that awakens me, I can't help but have this eerie feeling that something is wrong. I was not in bed with him when he went into his day rest, well when he was forced into it early from the trauma of being shot. Even with how good things have been with us lately, maybe waking up in bed with me was too much, some thing he wasn't ready for. The thought that things have been ruined between us again has me yelling for Eric.

I get up and move to the hallway, determined to find him but freeze when I see him coming down the stairs with his own worried look on his face. He must have heard me scream. He freezes too as he makes it to the bottom of the stairs.

Seeing him lifts most of the weight off my shoulders. I was nervous for him. With the silver poisoning, I am scared of how hurt he truly is. In fact behind my own insecurity of why he was not in bed with me when I woke up, I was frightened that he wasn't there because something had happened to him. But I wasn't even fully aware of how frightened I really was until I saw him. Although his color is off, he's here and walking and I can't help but start to cry happy tears that he seems okay.

I long to run to him and jump into his arms but there is something holding me back. I would say fear but that's not exactly it. Whatever it is fades to the background however, as he opens up his arms for me. There's nothing holding me back as I run into his arms. He stumbles back a bit and I curse myself for forgetting he's not exactly one hundred percent at this point. All that goes out the window though as he angles my head and presses his lips to mine.

He takes them away far too soon and asks why I screamed for him. I debate on telling him about my nightmare. I think about telling him I was scared that some thing had happened to him. But I settle on telling him the simple truth. I take a deep breath and look up at him. "I woke up and you weren't there."

I get a quick kiss to the lips for my words before he straightens up continuing to look at me. "I was so happy when I woke up in your arms," he says softly. "I cannot remember the last time waking up with arms around me left me feeling so content, so complete." He pauses before saying, "And this time, unlike last time, the happiness stayed. It was not immediately dashed with the fear of what I may have done to you. I did not want to get out of that bed. I did not want to leave you."

"But you needed to find out what happened. You needed to find out how everyone was," I tell him. I understand. I know how I felt with him in danger last night, wanting nothing else to make sure that he was okay.

He nods his head. "You felt exhausted and I wanted to let you rest."

When he says, felt, my mind immediately goes to the bond between us, the bond that could very well be complete, tying us together forever.

"I gave you blood last night," I tell him and start to look away not wanting to see the potential anger in his eyes. He stops me with one finger to the chin.

"You were willing to complete the bond to help me," he says.

"That was the least of my concerns. I just wanted you well," I tell him moving impossibly closer to him.

"And you were willing to be tied to me forever to do so," he says with astonishment in his voice. My heart breaks a little when I hear it. Eric doesn't realize that he has people who care for him. He doesn't think that those in his life would risk anything for him, just like he would risk anything for anyone he cares about. Not for the first time and probably not for the last, I curse his maker. The one vampire who should have been teaching him all of these things, who should have been the one Eric could trust above all other, he's to blame for this. I'm not even sure if the vampire who made Eric is still on this earth. Though it would be a great thing if he weren't, part of me hopes that I still have the chance to stake him.

It doesn't seem like it but I have to ask, I have to be sure. "You're not mad," I ask him. "You were unconscious, it's not like you had much of a ch…," I start but am silenced when his lips slam into mine. Well, silence may not be the right word to use as a moan escapes me as his tongue pushes past my lips and starts to massage mine.

"No, not mad," he says when I have to pull away for oxygen.

"I can see that." I hesitate before asking, "Can you feel it? Is the bond complete? Ludwig said she wasn't sure with everything that happened it would be."

"The silver in my blood is messing with everything," he tells me while shaking his head. "I will not be able to tell until I am healed." He pauses before asking me. "Do you feel a difference? You should if it is complete."

I think and try to feel. What I am trying to feel exactly I don't know. I don't feel any different. Maybe, I almost feel something, but I shake it off. It's nothing new and it would be if the bond were complete. Right?

I shake my head and am a little hurt at the relieved look that appears on Eric's face. It's then that I remember not too long ago, he wanted to break the bond, which I didn't think was even possible. That's something that we have not really discussed at all. Maybe Eric still wants to break it.

Eric takes my hand, brings it to his lips and kisses each of my fingers. "Two of our exchanges involved getting you well and one of those also involved getting me well." I notice he doesn't mention the second of which he has no memory. "If our bond were to be complete, I would like it to be something we have both decided on."

Though not exactly reassuring to my inner musings about the bond, I understand what he is saying. And although if it helped Eric, while I wouldn't exactly regret the bond being complete, I can't help but agree that it would be better if it were a decision we both make.

"When will we know for sure," I ask him.

"As the silver leaves my system I will be able to tell if the bond is stronger, or if the silver has affected the one we already had." I am not happy at the thought that the silver could be affecting the bond we already have.

He places his head gently on mine as he pulls me even tighter into his chest and I am surprised with just how well we fit together, especially with our height difference. I nuzzle into his chest, close my eyes, and take a deep breath hoping to catch the distinct smell that I have come to know as Eric's. I smell it but there is another more metallic smell coming from him too.

"How are you feeling," I ask him mad at myself for not asking it any sooner.

"Better now." Though part of me is so happy to hear him say though words, I want to know how he really is feeling.

I pick my head up off his chest forcing him to take his head off mine. Looking up at him and running a hand down his cheek I repeat my question. This time, he's the one taking a deep breath before telling me, "I am feeling the effects of the silver poisoning. I woke up later than usual but Ludwig says it's not as bad as it could have been. My blood loss may have actually helped a little bit and with having Pam's blood as well as yours, it is a lot better than it could have been."

We start to make our way upstairs and are met by Pam who does not look happy. "What do you mean we are going to Area 3," she asks. "Are you high on something other than silver and fairy blood at the moment? You're in no shape to go anywhere."

"Get Octavia here," Eric says, ignoring Pam's rant. "Hopefully she will have a spell that can hide the appearance and odor that will work on silver poisoning."

"Hiding it won't make the symptoms go away, Eric."

"Maybe it would be better to reschedule," I tell him. I don't even know anything about this trip but the way Eric stumbled downstairs has me siding with Pam.

"That cannot be done," he says with a sigh. Eric goes on to explain that the little visit includes Pam, him, and me. Apparently, the Sheriff has been hearing some things and could use the help of a telepath. "She called while Andre was here. I cancel and he finds out and I have a lot of explaining to do."

"You want to keep the shooting from the Queen," Pam asks her voice getting a bit shrill and has me rubbing at my ear.

"I want to keep my silver poisoning from the Queen. I want to keep the shooting from Andre for as long as possible. I want to keep it as quiet as possible with no details getting out."

"You want to know if someone knows more than they should."

Eric nods at that. His color has gotten grayer during the exchange and he moves to sit down. Pam has a blood in front of him as soon as he sits. I move over to him and offer my wrist but he shakes his head.

"Going tonight may not be the best decision, Eric," I try to tell him gently.

"It most certainly is not but not going will open up more consequences that will be even less pleasant. I do not want to bring attention to the fact that anything is wrong. I do not want Sophie-Anne to question the cancellation is because I am trying to keep Sookie from using her telepathy elsewhere in the state. The potential questions the simple cancellation could cause are not worth it and may only bring more issues. We will go, spend an hour or two at the most, and come back. We should return by one in the morning at the latest."

I bite my tongue instead of pointing out to Eric that nothing has really gone to plan lately. Instead, as he moves to get another blood, I look pointedly at Pam, who shares my look. Pam sits him back down and puts her wrist in front of his face. He tries to push it away, and he should be able to without a problem, but her wrist stays firmly in front of his mouth.

"You need more than the sludge in that wretched bottle," she says. It sounds like she is trying to sound angry, but her voice breaks. "I won't turn down a willing donor so I can replenish. Blood of your line is best. You'll need it to get through tonight. Drink."

He listens before I get the chance to yell at him too. Smart vampire.

As Eric finishes, the door opens and Thalia leads Octavia and Amelia inside. Judging by the looks on Pam and Amelia's faces when they make eye contact, she just may have her willing donor. Eric and Pam start to explain what they will need the spell to accomplish and ask if the witches could be of service. Eric may not have asked quite that nicely but the point is the same.

As Octavia says she has something that might work and starts gathering what she needs, Eric asks Amelia if there is any more information on getting his memories back. Amelia assures Eric that nothing new has come up, that they are still looking for the spell that could have been casted or what may have to happen for him to get his memory back. Frustrated, he turns towards Thalia and starts to talk to her about tonight. Since my focus is still on Amelia, I catch her glancing at Octavia quickly. I'm not sure what they share in that split second but I am about to ask when I get distracted by what Eric is saying to Thalia.

"Everyone should split into pairs and spread out amongst the Area. Everyone should check in every 10 minutes. If you cannot get a hold of a group, contact Pam. She will let you know if something additional has to be done. Both packs in the Area have agreed to be our eyes tonight."

Thalia nods at Eric's words as I call out to get his attention. "You're acting like you think something will happen tonight."

He looks to me before saying, "I am planning on the chance that something may be happening tonight. I do not think it so but I am simply trying to account for all contingencies." When I nod he turns back to Thalia and says, "I would like you to call the Queen and alert her of the shooting. Tell her I am still trying to gather information and will inform her of my findings when I have something to report. Do not give her any details."

Thalia nods just as Octavia says she is ready. Pam and Amelia come back into the room. I hadn't even noticed that they left. Pam looks a little pink so she got to eat, drink, whatever they call it. Besides that I don't want to know what they did, especially with the looks on their face.

The spell really is surprisingly simple. Octavia does whatever it is she does to a few bottled bloods. Eric drinks one of the bloods and even I, with my human vision, can see he's no longer looking gray. Pam looks at him appraisingly before getting close enough to smell him. "You smell fine but your clothes still carry the stench of the poison. You need to change."

He leaves to do so and is back quickly. Octavia explains that the spell will work until the blood is out of his system. He should be good to go for about two hours before his coloring will gradually get worse again. If he drinks another bottle right when we get there, he should be fine if his plan works and we are out of there in two hours. If not, there is still one bottle.

I can't help but hope we don't need it.

Octavia also reminds him that this will not help things such as his speed and strength. Eric simply nods at her while getting Pam and I out the door. If we want to get there in time, we need to leave now. I thank Octavia as Eric is pulling me out the door.

Eric POV

For a night that started off pretty good with waking up wrapped with Sookie, it sure is not continuing to hold such promise. As we pull up to Elena's business, where she wants Sookie to use her telepathy, I cannot help but feel a sense of foreboding. I definitely do not want to be here tonight. I do not want to see Elena tonight. There are too many unknowns right now for me to reschedule. My cancelling tonight would have been better in the short term but with the many possibilities of what maybe going on in the background, it could have hurt us in the long term.

Which is why I am unfortunately going to be spending at least part of my evening with Elena, the Sherriff of Area Three.

As the car is parked, Sookie starts to move towards the door to get out but my hand on her arms stops her. I do not want to tell her this, as I am worried it will hurt her, but I do not want her to go in unaware. I steel myself against the emotions am certain I will feel from her.

"I have fucked Elena in the past," I tell her as Pam moves out of the car. Sookie who had been starting to get off the seat sits back down and looks at me. Her eyes look a little pained but the rest of her face is holding steady. It is then that I realize I have underestimated her yet again.

"Recently," she asks.

"A decade ago, give or take a year."

She nods and says in a soft voice, "Will you have to tonight?"

"No," I tell her in a strong voice and move to sit beside her in the car. "No," I repeat for emphasis. "She can be rather hands-on with her flirting though. I just thought you would want to know."

"I appreciate that." She continues to astound me. I was worried this would upset her. I was worried she would simply react which could make tonight even more difficult. But instead she takes the high road, as these humans tend to say.

I swallow the second bottle, wishing the spell could have helped the taste and we make our way inside Elena's club. I hold onto Sookie's arm as we are escorted back to her office. Pam is following close behind Sookie. Though I am not expecting any problems tonight, one can never be too careful, especially with my silver poisoning. Hopefully the spell to block the telltale odors and gray skin of the poison running through my system will work.

Once in the office, Elena explains in more detail why she has asked for Sookie to listen to her patrons. As in all Areas in Louisiana, the population of Weres has increased in hers. However, the new Weres in her territory do not seem to be as secretive with their connection to Threadgill as they are in the others. "The name Threadgill has been heard several times since the new Weres have been here. There has even been open talk about the proposed union between him and Sophie-Anne."

"That is careless of them," I say.

"No arguments from me there," she says, putting her hands on my shoulder. It takes everything I have not to shrug it off and I wish that I could. However, I have to be very careful to what I bring attention to here tonight. "But hopefully their carelessness can lead us to the answers we need."

"It has only been Weres you have heard talking about this," I ask her knowing Sookie cannot always hear them clearly. Elena confirms that it has only been Weres. "Sookie can get a clearer read without touch on humans," I tell her, hating to have to give any more information on Sookie's ability away. We are not sure just what information about her ability is out there and I want to be careful to keep it at its minimum.

"So have her dance. She's attractive enough. They will surely have their hands all over her," Elena says simply, her arm moving across my back. This time I do shrug it off and move away from her.

"No," I growl out, loud enough for the pictures on the wall to shake. Not only does the idea of others touching Sookie disgust me, but I will not put her through it. To have people pawing at her, I will not have her do that. "She is mine," I bite out. "Mine," I repeat with a growl. I tell myself to calm down. I cannot react like this. It brings on too many questions that I do not want to answer. "She will not be pawed all night by some stupid dogs. I will not have their scent on her."

"Master," Sookie says in a small, unsure voice, eyes still on the ground. I feel resolve coming from her and do not like what that could mean. "A minute alone with my human," I ask Elena, who nods before leaving the room. Pam does as well and I am sure she will stay close to the door to alert me of ears that may be too close. As soon as the door is closed I have Sookie in my arms.

"I will not ask you to do this," I tell her. "I will not let you."

"We need the information, Eric. This could help us learn what Threadgill is plotting."

"We will get it another way. Their hands will be all over you. I do not want you to go through that," I say softly looking into her eyes. "I do not want to subject you to that behavior."

"I don't want to go out there Eric. I don't want to have to let them touch me but this could be our only chance. There was just a shooting at Fangtasia. You, me, Pam we were all shot. Alcide was hurt and another Were was killed. What if Threadgill is behind the shooting?"

I do not have a response to that, as I have been worrying about that all night as well. If Threadgill was responsible it would strongly suggest that he not only had his people start to infiltrate the state but that he already had people here who know the state, know our routine.

"I do not want you to do this."

She gets up on her toes and presses a chaste kiss to my lips. "I don't want to do this either. But I will if it helps keep us safe. I can do this if you'll be there to support me after."

I kiss her forehead and tell her, "Always." We get another minute or two before a knock sounds on the door. It is probably Pam alerting us to the fact that Elena is coming back. Thirty seconds later Sookie and I are no longer the only ones standing in Elena's office.

"Well," Elena says, her voice impatient and with a hint of anger.

I look over to Sookie one last time in case she changed her mind. I do not like the fact that she is doing this. Both her face and the feelings that I am getting from the muffled bond show great resolve. For this reason I grudgingly tell Elena that Sookie will do what she needs to try and get the information.

"Perfect," Elena says while starting to usher Sookie and her people out of her office. I make to follow but her hand on my arm stops me. "There are a few things we should discuss about these new Supes in our Areas to make sure we're on the same page."

I do not even want Sookie out there at all let alone without me. I am about to object when Pam pushes past me and follows Sookie out, making sure to meet my gaze with a sharp look that says volumes. And she is right. If I go out there, I will surely not react well to those touching Sookie. We will be lucky to get out of here with everyone still having all the hands they came with. And that's not even taking into consideration the silver poisoning. I would be out there dancing with her if it would not wear me down. I would be ignoring Elena and at least watching her out there if I didn't think it would bring more attention to me.

But if I cannot be out there with her, Pam is the only other one I would trust. So with a heavy feeling in my chest I do not follow my child out of the room. I instead watch as the door closes slowly behind them before turning to face Elena, who has a smirk on her face that I wish I could just slap off.

Sookie POV

I make my way out of the office and head to where I saw the dance floor is on our way in. There is no part of me that likes this idea right now, but I can't deny that the danger around me, and those I care about, has been increasing. If I can do anything to stop it and protect them, I will.

My resolve wavers a bit as I hear Elena say she needs to talk to Eric. I thought his eyes would be just a glance away, ready to give me strength if I need it. When I don't hear him object, I let out a sigh and continue down the hallway.

I make my way to the dance floor, swaying a bit to the beat as I walk across it. There is no way I'm staying right by the entrance or middle, too much traffic for my liking. I find myself a little corner where I can see almost the entire floor and still be…accessible. I'll be staying here unless I hear something of interest or this is too low of a traffic area.

I begin to really move to the music while I think about all the reasons why I am putting myself in this position right now. I am doing this so we can all be safer, so hopefully we can deal with the threat and move on. But that thought gets me thinking about what I will be moving on to, and what I would like to be moving on to.

I think about how Eric and I were when he had amnesia. Though I am more than thankful he has most of his memories back and that we seem to be at a good place at the moment, we still are not at the place we were. I know he's still holding back and that's the big difference. He's trying and I appreciate that and I will work with him, but I hope he can trust me enough, trust in himself enough, to let me in. Because it was fantastic when he did.

That thought has tears springing to my mind and I almost walk off the floor before they can fall when I feel hands on my hips. My hopes that they are Eric's are quickly dashed by their small size and I momentarily panic before I hear, "Don't, Sookie. Whatever it is, it's not worth it. They don't deserve it. Now, let's dance and have a good time."

I smile and can't help a small laugh. If you would have told me three months ago that Pam would be offering me comfort, not even knowing why I needed it, I would have laughed. If someone had told me that I would be having fun dancing with her while trying hard to ignore the hands and people brushing up against me, I would have thought you were insane.

Yet having fun with Pam is what I do for the next hour or so. We dance, we laugh, she keeps the over eager hands from being too over eager and I listen for information that could tell us just what the hell is going on.

Hello readers. Well, we get a (short) reprieve on the cliffhangers. I hope you've enjoyed this chapter even without one.

To my guest reviewer – I enjoyed reading your theories and you will have to wait a bit longer to see if you are right or not about who's involved with everything. As for Appius coming around I will tell you that is not the reason for why Eric dizzy or having any other effects.