All characters belong to the lovely CH, I just like to build sandcastles on her beach.

Chapter 21 - Legendary Hero

We had just made our way to the gate. I had checked with the airline attendant to make sure that Quinn was securely on board. I glanced at the clock on the wall. The flight left in forty-five minutes and we would be boarding in fifteen. A wave of violent anger swept through my soul and I didn't have to guess why. His feelings were so powerful I could make out the tenor of his vicious thoughts. Eric found my note. Just when I thought Frannie and I would get away from Nevada unnoticed, my phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID hoping I was mistaken, but there was only one person that would be calling me now, Eric. I deluded myself into thinking that we would be safety aboard a plane before he would notice my absence. My luck was never that good, time was not on my side. I almost turned my phone off and ignored the call, but I'd have to deal with him sometime. At least it was over the phone and not in person. I excused myself from Frannie and pointed to my phone. She barely acknowledged my presence as I stood up and walked a good thirty feet from where she sat.

I answered my phone, "Hello Eric."

"Where the fuck are you?" he screamed at me. I flinched from his venomous words and moved the phone a few inches away from my ear. I could feel through the bond his anger and disbelief that I would high tail it and run.

"I'm at the airport with Frannie. I'm taking her home," I coolly answered back.

"You did not feel the need to let me know this before you left!" he spat back at me.

"I left you a note. We were in a hurry."

"Damn it Sookie. You are my bonded and have openly submitted to me. What does it look like to the new King when I cannot even keep track of where you are."

My temper flared, "What right do you have to tell me what to do?"

"I have every God Damn right. You are mine."

That did it, I was seething, "Since when. When have you staked a claim on me Eric just because Pam tricked me into bowing to you does not make me yours."

The pause on the other end of the line extended into a few long moments and I wondered if he actually hung up. But, I still felt his aggression and agitation through the bond. Nope, I wasn't that lucky.

"Why is the tiger's sister with you?"

"I invited her to stay with me at my home." I meant to say it with conviction, but my voice was barely above a whisper for fear of his reaction.

"Why would you do such a thing?" His disbelief belied the calm of his words.

"She has no place to go Eric and I made a promise to Quinn that I would take care of her."

"You will not have her in your home. Quinn has plenty of money she can live on. Take her to his place and drop her off. She is not your concern."

"You cannot tell me who can stay in my house and what my concerns are. I am my own person not yours." I snapped my phone shut hanging up on him effectively ending the conversation as far as I was concerned. I turned the ringer off and placed it on vibrate. I walked back over to Frannie and before I even sat down my phone was vibrating again. This time I didn't even look to see who the caller was, I didn't have too.

Redirecting my attention and thoughts I asked, "When was the last time you ate Frannie? Are you hungry?"

"I don't think I could eat anything right now. Who was that?"

I sighed rather loudly, "Eric." I really didn't want to talk to her about the ins and outs of my…situation regarding Eric.

"Is that vampire your boyfriend?" She asked in a mildly curious manner. I didn't know how much she knew, but Eric had been at my house the night of the takeover.

"No, not at all. We…share a blood bond." That was the best way I could sum up my relationship with Eric in a nutshell to Frannie. What was Eric to me? I threw my hands up to cover my face as shame overtook my body. What did I do? In a moment of weakness I had given myself over to Eric. Was he right, did I give him a claim on me without mean too? The last time I mentioned casual sex to Eric it didn't go over well. Did I inadvertently give him more power over me without realizing it? As much as I lusted after Eric so did every other woman and most men whether they were gay or not. Eric was something to behold regardless of your sexual preference. He would never give up all his women and fangbangers for me. I may be special to him but I would never have his heart all to myself. Monogamy and Eric were two words that didn't belong in the same sentence. In fact a simile that went well with Eric was a philanderer, downloaded from my word of the day on-line calendar. I could even imagine the thousands of woman Eric has had in his long life, I was just another girl to add to that list. Bagged Sookie, check! I could almost envision the lists he kept. I couldn't even imagine the numbers of woman he would have had in a year never mind over a thousand years of life. Who was I compared to all those woman? I was a telepathic barmaid from Bon Temps, uneducated and unworldly up until a few years ago. I have never traveled or been out of the country. I bought most of my clothes at Walmart for Christ sake. Who was I to him? I was nobody that he would commit to. I had no hold on him and no claim to stake. I sat up a little straighter and berated myself for thinking so lowly of my character. Damn it, I am Sookie Stackhouse, an independent intelligent woman who supports herself and is a loyal friend. That's who I am.

Even though I had talked myself into this course of action it was agonizing waiting for our flight to board. I could feel Eric's rage and I was on edge ready to sprint to the gate when we were called. I darted my eyes around the terminal thinking that any moment he would be rushing to my side to drag me back to the hotel kicking and screaming. I knew that I wouldn't go quietly, but I hoped and prayed to the Gods that Eric was detained and unable to track me down before the plane took off. I was sweating so profusely that if I didn't board soon, I'd need to change my clothes.

For Frannie so caught up in her own emotions she was quite observant, "He makes you nervous." I turned my attention to her giving her a half smile. That was the understatement of the year. It pleased me that she was trying to make conversation, if anything it served as a distraction.

"No, more like his temper does."

"He's mad." She looked at me with round innocent eyes.

"Mad doesn't even cover what he is."

"Do you think you should anger him so? Maybe we shouldn't have left." I had to admit Eric's feeling were the last thing I was thinking about when I fled the hotel. Eric could be terrifying and I was sure beyond any doubt that he had brutally tortured and killed people in his life. I never thought much about what Eric could force from me. Did I think that he would intention injure me? I hoped not. But if I upset him enough…I shivered thinking about all the things Eric could will me to do. Granted he couldn't glamour me and I didn't heel, but the bond has gotten progressively stronger and I didn't know what he was fully capable of. He always seemed hell bent on making me come to him, what if he was done. What if he was tired of waiting and enforced demands on me? He couldn't enter my house without my permission, but I had to leave it sometime. My panic and thoughts began to spiral out of control. Finally when I was practically dancing in my chair from all my self inflicted anxiety the flight attendant announced that our plane was boarding. I gripped Frannie's arm and led her with swift velocity towards the plane.

My stance didn't relax until I saw the door to the plane close. Even then I had fleeting visions of Eric crushing the side wall of the plane to gain entrance. Even after takeoff I shut the window shade because I was afraid to see a familiar blonde angry vampire floating outside. But none of this happened. I looked over at Frannie. She was sleeping curled around my arm for protection. Scrutinizing her demeanor I knew regardless of my terror of Eric's reaction, I had made the right choice. I gathered from what I knew that she didn't have many close friends. She needed a friend and I would provide her what I could.

I took my phone out of my pocket to see that I had five voice messages and fourteen text messages. I didn't even want to hear the messages, but I scanned the texts and saw that three were from Pam. I opened the first one.

Pam: My master is not pleased. Why do you run from him?

I blew out a noisy breath and hit next.

Pam: We must talk about this. You cannot run anywhere that he will not find you.

Next.

Pam: What is going on? Call me before he tears apart the hotel.

I didn't really want to talk to Pam. I knew with the two hour time difference the advantage was on my side. Sure enough Pam's last text was sent at 2:30 which meant she sent it at 4:30 from Shreveport. I looked at the blaring digits on my phone. It was already 3:30 so Pam would be dead to the world for the day. Relief washed through me when I discerned that I wouldn't have any vampires to deal with until Pam rose at sunset that evening. Feeling a little better about my situation, I lifted the window shade to satisfy the last of my fears, no Eric. I was able to breathe a sigh of relief before I shut the shade. I leaned my head against Frannie and welcomed the pull of oblivion and the peace I knew would only last a few hours.

_____________________________________________________________

I woke up and the plane was still in mid-flight. Nothing had significantly changed, Frannie was still curled up next to me. Comprehension dawned on me. What was I going to do with Quinn once the plane landed? I couldn't exactly strap a coffin on the roof of a car. When I had previously traveled with vampires and their coffins they always cared for their own arrangements. I had no one. I flipped open my phone and called the only person I could think of that have reverence for Quinn and would hold the answers that I sought. Alcide Herveaux. I had a pang of guilt when I saw the hour of my call, but this was important. On the first ring Alcide picked up.

"Hello."

"Alcide, I'm sorry to bother you at this hour but I wouldn't have called if it wasn't important."

"Are you ok? I heard…what happened." It hadn't even occurred to me that Alcide had even an inkling of the situation. I should have known, gossip spreads like lightening through the supe community.

"I will be. I have a situation that I need help with."

"Anything Sookie you know that."

"I'm on a plane with Frannie on my way back home. She's going to be staying with me for a while. The problem is…my problem is that I have…Quinn with us. I'm not sure what to do when we get off the plane. I don't have any way to transport…"

"Oh, Sookie. When you get off the plane I will have everything arranged to transport…Quinn. How did you end up…in this situation?"

"I invited Frannie to stay with me. She doesn't have anywhere to go. I didn't know what else to do. I boarded a plane." All I could mange to squeak out were short concise sentences.

"Eric's not with you."

"No, I…left him behind. I left him a note." I heard him stifle a laugh into the phone. I gathered that he was pleased I left the Viking high and dry.

"No worries. When does your plane land?" I gave him the information and hung up the phone. The time had already advanced into the next time zone and it was five. I felt a little better knowing that it was six in Shreveport, so my call wasn't that early. I wasn't exactly sure where my friend of the pack status stood. I didn't know if I used my status up with Tray when he was killed in the line of duty protecting me. I reckoned that Alcide would help if not for me but for the legendary status Quinn held within the supe community. Transporting Quinn was taken care of, now I just had to figure out how Frannie and I were going to make it home. Bobby had dropped me off, I didn't think it would be appropriate for me to call Eric's day man and request a pickup. I didn't want to piss Eric off anymore than I already had. I surmised that I could rent a car at the airport if I absolutely had too.

An hour later the plane taxied into the Shreveport Regional Airport. I gently woke Frannie from her slumber. It troubled me to do it. This was probably the most rest she had gotten in days.

"Frannie we're here. We have to get off the plane." She stirred under my touch then she opened her eyes to meet my gaze. Her eyes were red and swollen and her cheeks were puffy. I extended my arm to her and she took it. Attempting to stand she wobbled a bit and I gripped my arm firmer around her waist to keep her steady.

How are we going to…move my brother?" She quietly whispered to me.

"I called Alcide Herveaux. He's the packmaster for the Shreveport Weres. He is going to help us with…transportation." She clung to me as we exited the plane together. I wasn't exactly sure where to go, but I decided the best course of action was to make my way to baggage claim. It was slow going, Frannie leaned heavily on me for support. I wrapped both arms around her waist and towed her through the terminal. Descending down the escalators I spied Alcide waiting for us at the luggage carousel. He glided over to me with a look of pity.

"Sook…Frannie." Directing his attention to her he said, "I'm sorry for your loss. Quinn was a great heroic man." He lifted his hand to her shoulder in comfort. "I have made all the arrangements. I just need the claim ticket you were given so I can…take care of everything." I fished around in my purse for the ticket and handed it to him. "I also didn't know if you ladies had transportation back home, but I am willing to take you if you need a ride." I thanked him for his kindness and led Frannie over to a seat. I had to wait for my luggage and I could see what a strain it was for her to remain standing.

I felt Alcide come up behind me, "Sookie, I know this isn't a good time, but I wanted to extend an offer to help with the funeral arrangements. Quinn was legendary to the supe community and we would like to give him a service deserving of a hero." The softness of his expression and face when he said the word hero brought tears to my eyes. I would have liked nothing more than to give Quinn a funeral worthy of a hero, but it wasn't my choice to make.

"Nothing would please me more, but…it's not my decision. Today might not be the best day to bring it up to her. Let me get her settled in and we can talk about it tomorrow." He agreed and stood by me. When my suitcase came into view I went to grab it and Alcide beat me to it.

"Everything is taken care of. Quinn will be transported to the local funeral home in Shreveport," he said as we walked towards Frannie to rejoin her. I pulled her up onto her feet and we made our way to Alcide's truck. I helped Frannie get in the middle between Alcide and I.

The drive to Bon Temps was silent until Alcide asked, "Why did you leave Eric behind?"

"As if you don't know." I looked down at Frannie who was snuggled up against my side like a child coddling a security blanket. He nodded his head once and we drove the rest of the way in silence.

We pulled up to my house and Alcide helped us out of the car. He walk my suitcase and us up the back stairs. I unlocked the door and dragged Frannie into my living room placing her on the couch. Alcide dropped my bag off by the front door. He turned to me and whispered, "When your ready, I'd like to know what happened. All I heard were the rumors and your call confirmed the validity of them." I thanked him for his kindness and we agreed that he would come over tomorrow to talk more about the arrangements. We said our goodbyes and he was gone.

I walked into the kitchen, though I had been gone a few days I still had a some things in my refrigerator. Without even asking I busied myself into preparing a meal for Frannie. She needed strength and rest for the days to come, for I could only imagine the stress the confrontation with Eric and the funeral would bring.

Without saying a word I brought her the chicken salad sandwich I made and a glass of milk. She grabbed the plate hungrily and drank the milk down in practically one gulp. I thought for now the best place for her to stay was in the downstairs guess room that Octavia occupied for a while. The only downside of that room was the vampire hidey-hole, but I didn't think I'd have any guests for a while. I still felt like the upstairs belonged to Amelia if she ever chose to return. When Frannie was done eating I took her plate and glass placing it in the sink.

"Frannie, you must be exhausted. Why don't you take a bath and lie down."

She breathed out, "Thank you," so low I almost missed it. I helped her to her feet and half carried her to the bathroom. I sat her down on the toilet seat while I drew her bath water. I took a towel from the linen closet and grabbed a change of clothes from my bedroom.

"Here. If you need any help let me know. When you are feeling up to it, I can take you shopping for some new clothes and maybe get a few things for your bedroom. I want you to feel at home here." She nodded her head and I shut the door behind me. I took my suitcase into my room and started to unpack. Most of the things needed to be washed so I threw them in the hamper. I'd deal with laundry later. I fished through the pockets to see if I had emptied everything out when my fingers touched a sheet of paper. I pulled it out remembering it was the note from Eric that I found in the hidey-hole. I sank down onto my bed as tears sprang into me eyes. I had packed this note as a reminder to myself of what might have been. I was pretty sure that whatever I had deluded myself into thinking regarding Eric was wrong. He could never and would never love me. I folded the piece of paper. Not quite sure what to do with it, I tucked it in between my mattresses. I was so exhausted that I curled up on my bed. I only planned on shutting my eyes for a few minutes, I wanted to check on Frannie to make sure she had everything she needed. That was my last thought before I was overtook by sleep.

A/N- I have a question. I searched through the books, went to CH's website, and even goggled John Quinn. Does anyone remember how E(E)E was set up. I know Quinn owned a part of the supe branch. Did the books ever say how many owners there were? Was it three! Any other details about E(E)E that you could think of would be most helpful. I need the information for the next few chapters. Up next, Pam's reaction. Eric is still stuck in Vegas so his reaction with be up and coming. I was toying with doing the next POV in Pam's perspective. That way you'd get some of the background information on what happened after Sookie left. Tell me what you all think. As always, I'd like to thank all my loyal reviewers and lurkers. I know your there so please review it makes me happy.