AN: Sorry for the lack of recent updates! My 12 page report became 16 pages and two nights without sleep, but things are settled again, and the story is ready to be posted! This one is really short, sorry! There will be another, longer, one tonight, I promise.

Disclaimer: as before


Chapter 28

Quinn watched at Sookie and Eric entered the room. He hated that she was smiling, as he hated knowing that Eric had caused her to smile. The unfortunate torment of his emotions made his heart beat louder and faster at the sight of her delicate smile. He nearly grinned in reply, her face was so reminiscent of her greeting nearly a year before, before Rhodes. He caught himself in time, and opted instead for a look of stoicism. He needed to survive this, if only for the sake of his mother and Frannie, and, to do so, he needed to avoid angering Eric further, or alerting Sookie to any of his thoughts. He couldn't have her know that just seeing her brought up all sorts of memories, like the one moment they had, in the kitchen of Hadley's apartment... Sookie glanced up sharply, her smile gone, replaced with a deep blush and a look that slaughtered any last hope Quinn had harbored. Regret colored her expression, not the kind that he could have rejoiced in, the kind that indicated she missed their relationship. No, it was a regret of the relationship, regret of what they had shared.

She sensed his pain and quickly shut down her expression, her impassivity nearly hurt more than her rejection, but Quinn continued to keep his mask expressionless. Eric noticed Sookie's blush, and her mask.

"What's the matter, lover?" Eric asked Sookie. She shook her head mutely in response. Quinn cringed at Eric's term of endearment, but Sookie was the only one to have seen it.

"Eric, would you mind leaving us alone for a moment?" She kept her eyes on Quinn as she asked, but, unseen by Quinn, sent her resolve through the bond, coupled with her love and respect for Eric. He hesitated.

"Sookie, I'm uncomfortable leaving you with him. I understand that you trust him, but I don't." Eric watched her face closely as he said this, looking for some indication that his words had caused anger, as they usually would, but she remained unreadable. "I know you don't want him chained, so I won't do that, but I want some assurance that you'll be safe if I leave you alone."

"You could just ask me," Quinn said drily. "I wouldn't hurt Sookie, for a few reasons. The first is that I do still care about her. Somewhere closer to the end you'll see that I have a sense of self-preservation, and I don't intend on being killed today, as I have no doubt you would do in reparation. I also have a family to take care of." Eric nodded as Quinn said this, still hesitant until Sookie leaned over.

"Eric, you can sit outside the door if it makes you happier, I just want a private moment." Eric looked deeply into her eyes, and, finally, nodded.