Chapter forty-nine:
The smile felt permanent on Mackenzie's lips laid in her bed that night. It had taken a good hour before Eric had remerged from his office, blatantly ignoring the cards until after the movie. Only then had he swiftly grabbed the shoebox and hurried back into isolation. Mackenzie made sure to retell every detail to Pam before she had climbed the stairs to her room. What had started off as a catastrophic night had turned into an evening she would surely miss when the inevitable occurred.
But she wouldn't let herself think about being sick, not after the night she just had. She wanted to enjoy the happiness she felt. She wanted to fall asleep with a smile on her face, not with looming fear.
When her phone started to ring, however, Mackenzie was tugged back down to reality. Recognizing the ring tone, she groaned as she picked the phone off of the nightstand.
Godric.
She had missed a dozen calls from the vampire, with just as many voice messages awaiting her. She had a feeling she knew what he wanted, and she was nervous to answer. He would demand that she tell Eric, and that would only burst her perfect little bubble. She just wanted to last for a little while longer. She knew what she was risking, but to be able to spend time with her father without the worry of being sick or of hurting him, it was worth it.
Knowing Godric would only continue to call her, however, Mackenzie hesitantly answered. The vampire was stuck miles away; if worse came to worse, she could just hang up and deal with the consequences later.
"Hi," she greeted softly.
"I've been calling all night," he didn't sound pleased. "I was worried, Mackenzie."
"Sorry, I didn't have my phone on me," she twirled a piece of hair around her finger nervously. "What's up?"
"You know what's up," she could hear the concern in his annoyed tone and she couldn't help the guilt that she felt for going against her word. "You haven't told him, have you?"
"Well you see…"
"Mackenzie," Godric signed heavily. "You need to tell him. This isn't like before. You can't keep this from him. Eventually my blood will wear off and you'll once again be sick."
"I'll tell him," she assured. She just needed some time first. And to figure out how in the world she was going to do it.
"Why do I doubt that you will then?"
Mackenzie rolled her eyes. "Well then tell Eric yourself."
"I've tried. My child doesn't wish to take my calls."
"Can you really blame him? He was pissed off at me half the night. How was I supposed to tell him when he was that angry?" it wasn't a complete lie, she told herself. It was just the partial truth.
"And afterwards?"
"I wanted some time just to spend time with him. We haven't exactly had a calm minute the last few weeks," she could imagine the look that was likely on his face and she was glad there was distance between them. "I'll tell him, Godric, I will. I just…I need time."
"No, what you need is to tell him."
"And I will."
"When exactly? On your deathbed?" his bitterness caused her to shudder. She hated knowing that she was disappointing him.
"Soon. I'll tell him soon," she promised. "I have to go Godric. I'll see you soon I hope."
"Mackenzie, this conversation isn't…"
She hung up before he could finish. She was going to get an earful she was certain when Godric returned from Dallas. Until then, however, she was going to try and desperately forget she was dying. She just wanted to be a regular teenager. Just for once.
"Eric is going to kill me," Mackenzie mumbled to herself as she rolled down the windows of the red corvette she had borrowed from the garage. Sure, she had her own car just waiting for her to use for the first time, but the corvette was calling to her. She was trying to be a regular teenager, after all.
She didn't know what had gotten into her when she woke up late that morning. She felt better than she had in quite some time and she wanted to take advantage of that. Soon she would feel dreadful, unable to eat, move or breathe properly. She was going to enjoy as much of her time as she possible could. That just happened to mean sneaking out like any normal teenager would when they weren't supposed to.
"Yeah he is so going to kill me," she pulled off the interstate, heading into Bon Temps.
She barely remembered the way to Merlotte's, taking multiple wrong roads and having to back track. But eventually, she parked the car far away from any other vehicle in the parking lot of the bar and hopped out.
"So worth it though," she licked her lips, thinking about the delicious burger waiting for her. She hoped the blonde telepath would be as well. She needed some appropriate girl time that didn't result in Pam having to go off to eat someone. It always seemed to ruin the mood.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Sookie stormed towards her the moment she entered the quant bar, the telepath shaking her head as she grabbed her arm and nudged her right back out. "Oh no you don't. Eric will kill us both if he wakes up to find you gone. Home."
"You sound like my mother," Mackenzie rolled her eyes as she managed to pull herself from Sookie's surprisingly strong grasp. "Eric won't know, I swear."
Sookie planted her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow at her. "I've heard that before. Home."
"Oh come on, I'm completely fine."
"You're sick," she pointed out. "And I'm guessing as you're not under lock and key that Eric doesn't know."
She shrugged in response, trying to slip around the blonde. Sookie caught her arm, however, and began dragging her back towards the corvette.
"He's going to kill you just for taking his car," Sookie sighed in disbelief. "I thought you were supposed to be the sweet, rule-listening teenager?"
"I'm just switching it up a bit."
Sookie threw her an unimpressed look over her shoulder, causing Mackenzie to chuckle. "You should be resting, Mackenzie."
"Godric gave me his blood yesterday; I'm fine for now," Mackenzie insisted.
"For now, but for how long?"
Her wild high was starting to come crashing down around her and she didn't like it one bit. "Come on Sookie, one burger. That's all I'm asking. And then I'll go home and he'll never know."
"The last time you said that you ended up nearly being kidnapped," Sookie reminded.
"Yeah well, that's not going to happen this time. I promise. Just please please please let me stay," she wasn't above begging. She had with Alcide what felt like eons ago. "I would like to let you know that I'm very very excellent at getting what I want."
"Manipulative just like your father," Sookie huffed with a frown as she eyed the teen. She should have driven Mackenzie back to Shreveport herself. She knew Eric would be furious if he found out. But the puppy dog eyes were working on her too well and she was cracking. "One burger."
"One burger," Mackenzie vowed with a grin. "One burger I swear."
The one burger turned into two as the hours passed quickly. Sam had let Sookie off her shift early and the two hadn't stopped talking since. Mackenzie was curious about her relationship with Bill, tossing in questions about Eric every so often. She saw the way the two looked at one another. There was something off about Bill and she wanted to make sure her guardian would have someone around to comfort him after she was gone.
Sookie on the other hand, was far too interested in Godric and trying to get every little detail out of her on last night. After the bribe in the form of fries, Mackenzie ended up spilling. She could use another perspective on the whole situation.
By the time either woman realized what time it was, it was too late.
"Uh, Sookie," Sam called the telepath over, the bar's phone held in his hands.
Sookie raised an eyebrow at her friend, and after an insistent nod of the head, she hurried over to the shifter.
"What?" she asked curiously, glancing at the phone.
"Good luck," was all he said before shoving the phone into her hands.
Mackenzie watched with interest as she watched Sookie lift the phone to her ear. When her face paled though, Mackenzie had a terrible sinking feeling.
"Fuck!" she cursed under her breath, glancing at the closest window. The sun was starting to set in the distance. She had been there longer than she had expected and now she was certain she was actually going to die.
When Sookie began waving her over, Mackenzie started wondering the odds of jumping into the corvette and driving as far north as she possible could get without Eric catching her. She realized it was a losing battle, however, and dragged her feet towards the phone.
"He's angry," Sookie warned.
"I have a feeling he's a little more than angry," Mackenzie groaned, hesitantly taking the phone. "Are you sure you don't want to keep talking to him?"
"Not a chance. Good luck," she repeated Sam's words before she started meaningless tasks around the bar, always keeping a watchful eye on the teen.
Inhaling sharply, Mackenzie raised the phone to her ear.
"You better have a good excuse for why you aren't at home," Eric hissed.
"Well…ah…" she had no good reason other than a sudden whim as to why she left the house. She knew that she could fall ill at any time. But she had thrown caution to the wind and rebelled like she never had before. And she was certainly about to pay the price.
"Even think about stepping one foot out of Merlotte's and I will rip it off. Do I make myself clear?"
Mackenzie's eyes grew wide as she recognized the dangerously low tone. "Yes," she squeaked out.
"Do. Not. Leave."
The line went dead and Mackenzie was almost positive she wouldn't have to worry about the cancer defeating her.
"Well I'm pretty sure the cancer isn't going to kill me," she groaned as she plopped back into their booth, Sookie sliding in across from her.
"A petty person would say 'I told you so', but I'd like to think I'm not petty, so I won't."
"Gee thanks," Mackenzie rolled her eyes. "Eric should be here soon."
"Actually," Sookie glanced out the window with a frown. "He's already here."
"What?" Mackenzie pale, her head snapping to the door to the bar as it swung open with a loud bang.
Eric Northman was not a happy vampire as he caught sight of Mackenzie. He had tunnel vision as he stormed across the bar to their table, trying his best to keep his calm mask in place.
"Keys. Now," he ordered, holding out his hand.
Mackenzie hurriedly grabbed the corvette keys off the table and offered them to the Viking. He snatched them out of her hand before grasping onto her wrist and yanking her from the booth."
"Eric…" Sookie followed quickly behind as Eric half dragged Mackenzie from the bar without uttering a single word.
Mackenzie didn't even bother to object. It would do no good anyways.
"It would be in your favour to return inside, Miss. Stackhouse," Eric warned coldly.
"It's okay Sookie," Mackenzie offered the telepath a small smile. "I'll talk with you soon."
"Try in a decade," Eric's voice was deadpanned as he began tugging Mackenzie towards the car. "She'll be grounded until then."
"I'm eighteen; I'm not entirely sure you can still ground me," Mackenzie pointed out, only to immediately quiet at Eric's dark glare.
"In," he yanked open the passenger door and all but shoved her inside.
She barely was able to situate herself in the car before Eric was in the drivers seat. His glare bore right through her as she fumbled with the door and seatbelt. She tried not to be intimidated, knowing he was only angry with her out of concern for her wellbeing, but his glares still unnerved her. She didn't think that would ever change.
"Look, Eric…" she began as the corvette left the parking lot faster than she would have liked. She clutched onto the seatbelt holding her in place, glad for the device as Eric's anger got the better of him. "I know I shouldn't have…"
"Of course you shouldn't have sneaked out of the god damn house," he hissed, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the steering wheel. "Are you an idiot, Mackenzie? Did you lose some brain cells in Dallas? What the fuck were you thinking?"
She cringed at his words, knowing she deserved them. She had acted recklessly, after all. "I was just…"
"That's right, you weren't thinking," he growled. "You acted like an idiotic rebellious teenager at the worst possible time."
"Well I am a teenager. Aren't I supposed to be rebellious?"
A low rumble sounded in the car as Eric suddenly swung the car onto the side of the road, pulling the corvette to such a sudden stop that Mackenzie was ever so glad of the seatbelt that was now crushing into her.
"Do you even realize how much danger you are in? Are you that stupid?" he glowered.
Mackenzie paused, a frown settling on her lips as she tried to comprehend. "What do you mean I'm in danger? The whole Dallas thing is behind us, Eric."
"You cannot be this foolish, Mackenzie," Eric shook his head in disbelief. "Your psychotic family is still out there. They're still looking for you."
Her nose scrunched up in disgust at the mention of her aunt and uncle. "Can we all collectively agree that they aren't my family?"
"You need to take this seriously!" his hand slammed down onto the steering wheel, causing Mackenzie to jump. She eyed the Viking as she uncomfortable shifted beside him. "We ruined their plans. We ruined their attempt at revenge. They're going to keep looking for you. They won't stop."
"But the interview…"
"Will keep them at bay for the time being. But the Fellowship is all but disbanded. They won't be thinking straight. They won't have anyone to keep them from going too far," he tried to make her understand.
"I really don't think the Newlin's helped to stop them from going overboard, from my experience," she snorted.
"Damn it, Mackenzie!" Eric caught her chin, forcing their gazes to meet. "This isn't some joke. You are in danger. They won't stop. They know where to look. It's only a matter of time before they show up again. You're not safe."
His anger started to slip away as the worry consumed him. He had nearly lost her to them once; he couldn't let them harm her again.
"I…" she hadn't realized just how serious this was. She had hoped that portraying the poor dying girl that was wronged by those people would mean she would be left alone. But it had only been wishful thinking. She was still in danger. She was still hiding from the people that were supposed to be her own flesh and blood. "I didn't realize."
Eric sighed as his hand dropped, Mackenzie dropping her gaze to her fidgeting hands. "You can't go running off, Mackenzie. You can't do whatever you please. Not when they're still out there. I'm doing my best to find them, to keep you safe. But I need you to work with me. I can't have you battling me on this."
She gave a quick nod, her thoughts rampant as her fingers gripped at one another. Neither uttered another word as the corvette moved back onto the road taking side roads back to Shreveport. Mackenzie didn't know what to say. She knew she was being reckless when she decided on going to Bon Temps. She knew she was going to end up regretting it. But she hadn't thought for a single second about Eric or anything else. She hadn't thought that she might be putting herself in danger.
"I didn't think," she admitted softly.
"Well of course you didn't," he rolled his eyes, though his tone had softened.
"No I mean I didn't want to think," she began chewing on her bottom lip. "After everything in Dallas I just wanted to not think. I didn't want to think about being kidnapped and tormented by people that are supposed to be my family. I didn't want to think about nearly dying. I didn't want to think about this bond that I have with Godric. I didn't want to think about anything."
She glanced out the window, avoiding Eric's pitying stare.
"So I did something stupid, and I'm sorry. I just needed to get out of my head for a little while. If I realize dhow dangerous it was, I never would have left the house. After what happened, I never want it to happen again."
"I should have communicated the danger with you better, perhaps," he offered with a frown. "I never did set any rules last night. Like not stealing my car."
She realized his attempt at lightening the mood and appreciated it. She wanted a little bit longer of not having to think. "It's technically not stealing if I had every intention of returning the car. I'd call it more borrowing than anything else."
"You have your own car," he reminded. "Which reminds me, is now part of my vast collection as part of your punishment."
"I never asked for the car to begin with."
"Well you won't have to worry about that anymore. Not to mention your phone, computer and library."
Mackenzie's face pale. "What?"
"You're grounded."
"Car, phone, computer, who the hell cares. You're grounding me from my library?" her jaw dropped open as her head snapped towards her guardian. "You can't do that!"
"Oh I most certainly can. Two weeks. You're either in your bedroom or the kitchen. That's it. Nowhere else. Let's thrown no TV in there while I'm at it."
"But books!" she stared at him like he had two heads. He couldn't take books away, that was just preposterous!
"And you didn't think I couldn't ban books," there was a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.
Mackenzie groaned as she crossed her arms with a pout.
"No pouting, Mackenzie. You were the one who stole my car…"
"Borrowed!" she insisted.
"Stole," the smirk was prominent now. "You stole my car and snuck out of the house. Three weeks."
"Three!"
"Four now."
"You've got to be kidding me!"
She had her wish, at least. She certainly knew what it felt like to be a normal teenager now.
A/N: I thought we could all enjoy some cute Daddy Eric before everything goes terribly wrong.
