Chapter Notes: Time passing, most likely the same night for the first part (same night as end of chapter 9), and most likely pretty linear from there.

"We will be going to Dallas soon."

Kit perked up from their spot on the couch. "We?"

"I will be taking you with me, yes." Eric continued to type away on his computer.

"Wait, why?"

Eric paused with a sigh. "A... friend of mine has gone missing, and I would like to try to find him."

"Eric, this isn't a friend, is it?"

Eric turned his head to meet their eyes, and for the first time, Kit thought they saw fear in the ancient vampire. "No."

He gave another sigh, this one more haggard than the last and stood from his place behind the desk. He pulled them off the couch and into his arms, falling back onto the black leather to sit where they once were, drawing comfort from them as they had from him so many times before. He buried his nose in their hair, breathing in their scent and allowing himself time to gather his thoughts and emotions.

"The vampire missing in Dallas is Godric, my maker, the one who turned me into a vampire. I don't even know where to start explaining the enormity of what it means to be a maker, or even what Godric means to me."

"Then don't." Kit pulled Eric's arms tighter around their middle. "It's clear you care for him a lot, I would even say love. I mean, I'm still curious, but you can explain to me later after we find him and make sure he's okay."

"Thank you." Eric pressed a kiss to the top of their head and leaned his head further back against the couch. "I want to have your sister help on this. Her telepathy could gather information faster than we could without it."

Kit turned in his lap to face him, hands on his chest to brace themselves up. "Then do it and don't worry about me. You need to do whatever you think is best to find Godric, and if that means I have to spend some uncomfortable time with a transphobe, then I will do it."

"Thank you." A hint of relief made its way onto Eric's features, and he pulled Kit down to hold them against his chest again.

The office door slammed behind him loudly as he came into the room, stopping in the center and resisting the urge to throw his desk. He combed a hand through his hair, stopping at the back of his head and turning his gaze upwards towards the ceiling in thought.

"Sookie said no?" Kit pulled the earbuds from their ears.

"No, Bill wouldn't even consider the proposal."

"Bill? Why would you ask Bill?"

Eric brought his hand down, and took a chair from the front of the desk to face Kit. "Vampire law is a bit more archaic than what you are used to. Bill claimed Sookie as his human, meaning that I am not allowed to confront her, and with something like this, Bill would need to give permission for me to take her."

"Oh." Kit sat back. "Well that just fucks things up, doesn't it."

Eric gave a weak chuckle. "Yes it does. I think I'm going to need to issue a formal order."

"Why didn't you do that tonight?" Kit's tone was far from condescending, it was simply curious, and Eric didn't fault them for it.

"We were in public."

"Oh."

"Yes." Eric sighed and stood, returning to his seat behind his desk and pulling a few papers forward to him. "At least Fangtasia is closed for tonight, I would loathe to entertain the humans after dealing with that nuisance of a vampire."

Kit gave a snort and tucked their earbuds back into their ears.

Kit stepped into the main area of the club and sat at the bar, watching Pam as she organized and took inventory of the alcohol. "Do you need any help?"

"No, I'm just about finished." She turned to reach for the few bottles left on the counter, making a mark on a sheet of paper as she did so. "Why? Eric boring you?"

"No. Kind of?" Kit shrugged. "He's got paperwork to do."

Before Pam could form a coherent answer, the door to the club swun open to Bill carrying a bloodied Sookie in his arms.

"Where's Eric!"

Eric came out from the back nearly immediately, and took a glance at the scene before turning back to the office. "I will call Dr. Ludwig."

Pam smirked at Kit. "Not so boring now, is it?"

Eric pulled Kit down to the seat next to them on their next pass by him of their pacing.

"Calm yourself, liten räv (little fox)." Eric half listened to the explanation that Dr. Ludwig was giving. "Dr. Ludwig is one of the best, all will be well."

"Give us some privacy. I need to remove her clothing."

Eric followed the Doctor's order, returning to his office after a touch to Kit's shoulder. Bill hesitated, staying to whisper something softly to Sookie, but only being rushed out by the Doctor when Sookie started seizing and foaming at the mouth. Kit took up the place Bill left.

"Would you like an extra pair of hands?"

Dr. Ludwig looked at Kit with a scrutinizing gaze for a moment, and gave a curt nod. "Place your hands here and lift her."

A scream brought Eric and Bill out from the back, seeing Sookie writhing around on the leather bench, held down at the shoulders by Kit.

Dr. Ludwig turned her head slightly to the vampires. "Hold her down! Or let her die, your choice."

Bill came over quickly, holding Sookie down with hands on either side of her hips, effectively stilling her movements. Sookie screamed as more of the liquid from the Doctor's vials were poured over her back.

Vicious white-yellow puss welled up from the wounds on Sookie's back, but fizzled away just as quickly as they came. Kit watched from the corner of their eye, not wanting to wholly see what was going on.

"Okay, you can let her go now." spoke when the wounds stilled, no longer reacting to the Doctor's treatment.

Kit stepped back, arms numb and shaking from putting their full weight on them. They found a seat at the bar to watch the proceedings and rest. Bill was already giving Sookie blood after the Doctor allowed him to, and after a quip from Eric.

The Doctor packed her things away now that her job was finished. She stopped before heading out the door, turning to speak to Eric.

"I'll expect my payment by the end of the week."

Eric inclined his head. "It's always a pleasure doing business with you, ."

Dr. Ludwig left, and Eric gave a warning to Bill before sitting next to Kit at the bar. Kit had leaned back against it, arms crossed over their chest, eyes drooping as they tried to stay conscious.

"Are you alright?"

"'M tired." Kit mumbled and leaned against Eric.

Pam and Chow came in through the door, each looking a little more disheveled than usual.

"The entire area has been scanned."

"Tracks were human, but the smell was distinctly animal." Chow picked up where Pam left off.

"What kind?" Eric pulled his attention away from Kit.

"Something filthy." Pam's face showed her clear disgust.

"We didn't recognize it." Chow was more neutral.

"How intriguing. Send an alert through the appropriate channels. Find out what the neighbors know." Pam and Chow turned to leave, but Eric called after them. "And Pam, those were great pumps."

Bill turned back to Eric from his position over Sookie. "I don't wanna move her."

"Of course not. I'll make sure she's taken care of."

"I'm not leaving her." Bill's tone was firm, as if detecting the slight mocking in Eric's voice.

Eric resisted rolling his eyes. "Longshadow kept a coffin in the back. He liked to feed before resting, so it might be a bit messy, but you're welcome to it."

"I wanna thank you for your hospitality. And for saving Sookie's life."

Eric raised an eyebrow with a glance to Kit. "I'm sure there's a way she can repay me."

Eric led Kit down to the basement, their backpack slung over their shoulder. Kit looked around, the old stains of blood on the floor and the coffins in the corner.

"I am not sleeping in a coffin with you."

Eric chuckled. "Those are just for show."

He led them over to a secluded corner, typing a code into a panel that was once hidden, and a portion of the wall gave way to an elegant hallway. Eric grinned at their eyes-wide expression.

"Come on." Eric tilted his head in invitation, and Kit followed him in, down the hallway and into a comfortable bedroom.

"This is a secure area that Pam and I use when we know we won't be able to make it to our main home before sunrise, or in other similar occasions. The other door in the hall was for her room. There's a bathroom right through there, should you need it." Eric gestured to another door in the room. "All I ask is that you don't leave these rooms without me, mostly for security purposes."

"Understood." Kit shrugged off their backpack and started to undress.

Eric walked over to the dresser, pulling out some of the spare clothes that he kept. Kit pulled off their binder with a sigh of relief, and was met with a shirt in their face. Kit pulled it off and raised an eyebrow at a smirking Eric.

"I thought you'd want to sleep in something other than your current clothing."

"Yeah." Kit pulled the shirt over their head. "Thanks."

Eric and Kit eventually fell into bed together, as they had been since the day Kit moved in, Kit's face resting in the crook of Eric's neck and their legs tangled together. Kit fell asleep quickly, the events of the day exhausting them. Eric traced idle patterns on their shoulder as he waited for the sun's pull to take hold.

"I love you." Eric whispered, and gave a sigh. "I'm just not sure how to tell you. Or if you reciprocate those feelings in your own human way."

"Seriously Bill, I think Eric's glamoured her. I just want my sister back."

Kit glanced back at Eric with a questioning look as they paused their climbing of the basement stairs at hearing Sookie's conversation with Bill. Eric simply shrugged but gestured for Kit to continue up the stairs.

"I haven't been glamoured." Kit spoke as soon as they were in clear view of the others in the room.

"Kathlene!" Sookie went to hug Kit, but they sidestepped the blonde to avoid it.

"Please don't." Kit held out a hand.

"Eric!" Sookie turned on the vampire who had followed behind Kit. "Release Kathlene from whatever glamour is on her."

"I didn't glamour them. And their name is Kit."

"Like hell!"

Sookie swung her hand at Eric, but he caught it before it could make contact with his cheek, his fangs out in clear threat. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Sookie pulled her hand from Eric's. "Then release Kathlene from whatever you did to her."

"Sookie that's enough." Bill tried to scold, but it fell on deaf ears.

Eric gave a sigh. "Perhaps we can come to an agreement."

Kit looked to Eric, a coldness in their eyes that made him think of murder. Eric simply gestured the group to his office.

"So if I agree to go to Dallas with you to find this missing vampire, you'll let Kathlene go?"

"You nearly died last night, you're not going to Dallas." Bill tried to intervene, but was brushed off with a wave of Sookie's hand.

"If you come to Dallas and find the missing vampire, I will release Kit from any glamour I might have put them under. I will also pay for all your expenses."

"And I want $5,000." Sookie turned to Bill to explain. "I've missed a lot of work and I need a driveway."

Eric looked to Bill. "Your human is getting cocky."

"She will take $10,000 and I will escort her."

"No."

"Yes." Sookie took over the conversation. "$10,000, and Bill comes with me or it's a deal breaker."

"Fine. You will need to leave immediately."

"I will make the travel arrangements. Bill spoke up. "But I will need your credit card number."

End Notes: I will mention this later in the actual story, but pay attention to the wording of Eric's deal.