Tara could see that Eric and Alcide were not happy with the sight of her comforting Sam, on the floor. But she had a few questions of her own! The biggest one of all was who the HELL had shot Sam?!

Sookie appeared in the doorway and Alcide grabbed her to keep her from entering the room!

"It's not safe." he cautioned. But Sookie pulled out of his grip and entered the room. She knelt down next to Tara.

"Is he one of the prisoners?" Sookie asked softly. Tara nodded then rested Sam's head down on the floor and got up. Sookie examined his wound, then looked back at Prince Eric and Alcide.

"We need to get Surgeon Bill down here! He could die!" she cried out.

"That was the point," Eric bitterly, his eyes challenging Tara's, "this...this...servant, turned into a wolf and tried to tear out my throat! I want him thrown in the ocean! NOW!"

"Okay," Tara interrupted, "can we talk about this? I didn't think you were going to talk to anyone but LaFayette? How did Sam get up here?"

"I decided to question both men, Tarayan," Eric said curtly, "and THIS one gave me answers I did not like! When I pressed him for answers, he changed into a beast and tried to kill me. I'm sorry, but he will have to be killed."

"Can we just talk about this?" Tara asked again, unable to believe that the situation described, called for Sam to be wounded, then just dumped at sea!

Eric looked at Alcide.

"Get some men in here to carry him out. Put him back in the other room we were interrogating him in. For now. I need to speak to my wife alone."

Alcide nodded, then opened the door to the cabin, summoning several men. An injured Sam, who was now passed out, was carried from the room, followed by a concerned Sookie. Once the door closed, Eric schooled her, so to speak.

"Tarayan, that man tried to murder me. That offense cannot go unanswered by any other punishment but death."

"Eric, you'd throw a wounded man in the ocean? I mean he's not going to stand a chance this way."

"I don't want him to stand a chance! Oh and by the way: Mr. Merlotte is in love with you. That is clear to see." Eric informed her.

Tara ignored his assessment and came up with another idea.

"How about we nurse him back to health then throw him in the sea? I mean maybe he can turn into a fish or something? I mean it just doesn't seem very merciful to throw an injured man in the water like that! Some shark could get him or something."

"And again, Tarayan, why would that be so bad?" Eric asked, now tired of quibbling about this. She would just have to understand that these sort of decisions didn't concern her anyway.

"Eric, I brought you those guns..."

"Do you really intend to keep holding that over my head?"

"No. But I want you to show some mercy with Sam. I can't stop you from throwing him overboard, but you could at least wait until he's well. Will you agree to do that?" Tara asked hopefully.

Eric did not answer. Instead he turned away and picked up a few things off of a table in the room. He picked them up and set them back down absently, then turned back to her and responded.

"The man known as LaFayette, told me that he works for my cousin."

Tara frowned.

"LaFayette works for him? Why?"

"I don't know. But he's clearly nothing more than spy and a toadie. He can be turned so that any information he gleans, will benefit our side. But your Mr. Merlotte was insolent. He said he'd known you since he was a lad. And he seemed to doubt the legitimacy of our union. I don't want someone like that on my ship." Eric insisted. Tara moved forward.

"Okay, well, when he wakes up I'll tell him the truth." Tara promised.

"Which is?" Eric prodded her.

"That we're married."

Eric slowly closed the distance between them.

"That we are married and they you belong to me. You will tell him that, Tarayan, when he is better?"

Tara realized that she was hearing Eric agree to her terms. She would figure out a way to keep Sam from being thrown in the ocean later. Buf for now, Tara nodded, then met his lips for a hungry kiss that deepened as they hurriedly shed their clothing! Eric quickly sat down on the end of the bed, then grasped Tara by the waist before impaling her on his manhood. Tara slowly moved upon her husband's swollen organ, as her full breasts brushed teasingly across Eric's lips, then settled into a smooth pattern of fierce ministrations upon him, while Eric almost lost control of himself in his excitement! Spasms of pleasure would soon seize them both, and Eric was left silently swearing that this was the last victory he could allow Tarayan to have with regards to his authority.

Eric left the cabin shortly after their quickie and Tara took the time to find Sam. He was in a room with no bed! Surgeon Bill and Sookie were seeing to him on the floor. Surgeon Bill rose and spoke.

"I've put him together all I can, but infection has set in. I'm afraid he will probably die by the morning." Surgeon Bill said regretfully. He bowed to Tara then left the room. Tara hurriedly kneeled beside Sookie!

"I have to go back again." Tara said. Sookie's eyes widened!

"What are you saying? You can't go back! For what?"

"There are drugs that will help Sam. Drugs and vampire blood." Tara said solemnly. She was going to go back, bite into her wrist, find a cup or container then bring it back here. Sam would then be up and around in no time!

"Lady Tarayan, if I may be so bold: you can not go back to that other reality, for this man! I have eyes! Prince Eric is jealous of him. Wouldn't it be more kind to let him just die in the night?"

"No! It wouldn't, Sookie Stackhouse! And I shouldn't have to tell you that!"

"I am not named Sookie sta...house...whatever! I am Mrs. Alcide Herveaux. And you can be off if you like, but do not ask me to lie for you whilst you are gone."

"Actually, that's exactly what I am going to ask of you, girl! I need you to cover for me with Eric while I'm gone."

"No." Sookie said and dabbed Sam's now sweaty forehead. "I will not deceive the prince if he asks me about your whereabouts."

Tara eyed her.

"Are you still mad about that bird that got shot?"

Sookie threw down the cloth and looked at Tara!

"My Lady! I have known the prince since he was a child! Alcide and myself grew up in his household! He is clearly besotted with you in just the short time he has known you. Keeping this man here around is dangerous to your marriage!"

"He is not a threat, Sookie! But he is a friend. And I asked the prince if I could nurse him back to health, before he is thrown in the ocean."

Sookie seemed a bit mollified by this bit of news.

"So he will be allowed to mend, THEN be thrown into the ocean?"

"Yes. And he is a shifter. So he will be able to turn into a fish to save himself."

"Well...as long as he is no longer aboard, I can see this being alright." Sookie said slowly. "But I don't think it's a good idea for you to go back to that other reality."

"The sooner he's well, the sooner he can get out of here." Tara said in a sing song voice. Now Sookie agreed completely!

"So when the prince comes looking for me?" Tara prompted.

"I will say I have not seen you as of late." Sookie told her.

2013

Eric, from his Authority detention cell, could feel Tara's presence again. How he had missed it the other time, he did not know.

Well, yes he did. He had attended the memorial at Merlotte's and was so busy scowling at Pam and Sam, then Alcide and Sookie, then...

Tara's mother had had the nerve to stop by, wearing huge sunglasses! Eric had coolly told her she was not welcome. Lettie Mae ignored him and tried to speak directly to Sookie, but she backed him up in wanting Lettie Mae to leave.

So they had been in the midst of so much drama, that he himself had missed the signs that Tara had returned. But he wasn't missing them now.

Eric called for a guard and insisted on seeing Chancellor Zimojic. Meanwhile, Bill had spotted Tara in the alley, via a camera surveillance they had set up. He volunteered to go and get her, so she could answer before the Authority.

Roman arrived and walked into Eric's cell.

"You wanted to let me know that Tara Thornton has returned to this reality. Well, I do know this and Mr. Compton is going to retrieve her. It looks as if your trial will be starting soon."

"Chancellor Zimojic, with all due respect, I should go with his Majesty to bring my progeny in."

"Why? From what I understand, they get along well. I don't see any problems." Roman said coolly.

"That's because you are under the mistaken belief that Tara's reason for leaving this reality was to seek some sort of sanctuary from me. I can get her to return your ring."

"So can Mr. Compton. Now if that is all, I need to get back to my lunch. Nora and I are dining together." Roman said blithely. Eric took that to mean what Roman had wanted to infer: that he was sleeping with his sister. Eric said nothing as Roman left his cell. His thoughts returned to Tara. She had returned once before for guns. What else did she plan to transport from this reality and to the next? And why? Had she joined some sort of militia?

Meanwhile, Tara had arrived in the alley and then zipped to Sookie's house! She hid behind a tree and watched Sookie come out of her house, dressed in her Merlotte's uniform, get in her car and drive off. Tara then zipped into the house, hurried up the stairs, showered for longer than she should have, then hurried back down to her basement room to pack some things.

She emerged carrying a suitcase and stopped in the kitchen to get a cup for Sam. Tara then bit into her wrist and let the blood drip into it. It shouldn't take much.

Bill suddenly entered and smiled calmly at Tara.

"Hello, Tara."

Tara slowly put the cup down and sealed her wound.

"Bill. How've you been?"

"Better than you, since you're dead."

Tara looked confused, just as Bill figured! He pulled her funeral program out of his jacket and Tara snatched it from him!

"Oh my fucking God! Where in the world did people get the idea that I was dead?"

"From Eric. He and Nora told everyone that some Were assassins had killed you."

Tara rolled her eyes and tossed the program on the table.

"Eric and Nora told me they killed them and that I had nothing to worry about."

"Yes, well, when you took off with the ring, Tara, Eric probably had to cover for you. I see it on your finger there. Roman Zimojic wants it back."

"Bill, he can have it back, but he needs to come with me to get it."

Bill eyed her.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I'm someplace where I'm happy! You're a surgeon and Sookie, Alcide and Eric are there...Sam is sick so I need to get him some vampire blood. The point is, Roman can have the ring because this is the last time I'm coming back here. But tell Sookie and LaFayette that I love them, okay?"

"No, Tara, it is not okay! I mean I do get your meaning, but...but...you have to explain all of this before the Authority!" Bill insisted.

"Why?"

"Eric is about to go on trial for lying about your death. For lying about the ring. Tara, I don't know how this exactly works, but if he is found guilty, his whole line is to be executed. I know you have no caring for Eric or Pam, but do you really want to see that happen?"

"Eric shouldn't have lied. And in another reality, where I am not a vampire, that will not make any difference to me."

"I can't just let you return."

Tara picked up the cup and the suitcase with one hand, then turned the ring.

Bill could not get to her fast enough! Damn, Damn, DAMN!

But...he did have knowledge and Tara's offer. He would take that back to Roman. And Eric.