Sawyer sat on the floor on the washroom her head resting on the cool toilet seat. Sookie had brought her in the house and Sawyer had immediately felt sick. She sat there trying to calm down and rebuild the wall that she had spent ten years erecting between the life she lived now and the life her parents had wanted her to live. She turned when the door opened. She looked and saw Eric standing there. She hated how perfect he looked not a single blonde hair out of place even after chasing that guy though the forest. She stood up and griped the sink for support.
"He give you his name?" she asked turning on the taps and splashing cold water on her face.
"He is not talking," Eric answered walking more into the washroom.
"I can get him to talk. I speak crazy."
"He called you Sawyer Kendrick."
Eric saw Sawyer's back stiffen. She shut off the water and grabbed a towel to wipe her face. She turned and looked at him. She leaned against the sink. She looked up at him and he saw pain in her eyes. He watched as she brushed her hair over her shoulder and met his eyes. She silently begged him to understand.
"I was born Sawyer Antoinette Kendrick. I have a twin brother Finn Charlemagne. My mother is Eve Hampton Kendrick and my father was Kristoff Kendrick. When I moved with my grandfather at fourteen he changed my last name."
"Why are you telling me their names?"
"You need to find my mother and brother and kill them. They... They will keep coming here, coming for me and I... I can't do it. I can torture, maime, but I can't kill. I have tried, Eric. I have tried to use my gift to snap a neck but I just... I can't make myself do it. Not even when I am the one at risk."
Sawyer felt herself falling apart again. She turned around and griped the sink tight. She leaned against Eric when she felt his arms wrap around her from behind. He held her tight against his body and she felt stronger with him there. She placed her hands over his and looked up in the mirror. His eyes met hers and she saw that his eyes weren't void. They held understanding and she even thought she saw a flash of love in them as well. She watched as he leaned down and gently kissed her neck.
"I will not kill them yet. We do not know everything. And until I do, I cannot act. I... I may need your help. Can you handle it?" he asked softly.
"Just stay by my side and I can handle anything," she answered.
"Did you think I would walk away from you?"
"I don't know what to think. Everything... It's just too much right now. I just want everything to stop."
Sookie knocked on the door and walked in. She saw Eric holding Sawyer. She had never seen him look so human before. Suddenly it seemed like he was a different person so full of compassion and all for Sawyer, who was human. Eric turned and looked at her. She stood taller.
"He's tied up... And crying for his momma," Sookie said.
"Vacker?" Eric asked softly.
"I can do this. God, what I wouldn't give for a drink," Sawyer muttered as she pulled away from Eric and walked out of the washroom.
Bill stood beside the man tied to the chair in Sookie's kitchen. He looked up when Sawyer walked in. He saw the man's demeanour change immediately. He looked at Sawyer with hate in his eyes. Bill watched as Sawyer stood in front of him and stared down at the man.
"What's your name?" she asked softly.
"I will never tell you," he spat out.
"You will treat the lady with respect, as she deserves it," Bill said smacking him across the back of the head.
"You're wasting your time Bill. I'm a traitor to them. I failed the cause, right buddy? And now for the ultimate slap in the face I am seen actively engaging with vampires."
"Not engaging as much as I would like," Eric said walking in the room and watching her.
"You shut up about her, monster! She may be a whore but she's not your whore!" the man yelled.
Sawyer held up her hand when she felt Eric breeze by her. He stopped and stood beside her glaring at the man with his fangs showing. She looked at him and shook her head. Eric stood up straighter and looked down at the man. The man looked at Eric and suddenly he seemed afraid of the vampire that towered over him.
"I am not a whore. But I will let that one go, now what is your name?" Sawyer pushed.
"Tell the lady your name before I give into my hunger," Eric said.
"Griffin Montegomery."
"Montegomery?"
"Yes."
Sookie watched as Sawyer stepped back. She saw her friend looking at the man then looking at the floor. She then watched Sawyer leaned in real close to the man. She saw immediately Eric change. He stood taller and she saw him flexing his fist. She looked at Bill and Bill nodded. They had been right; Eric liked Sawyer.
"What were your orders tonight, Griffin?" Sawyer asked.
"To kill you, your friend and the vampires."
"Who gave these orders?"
"I can't-."
Eric watched as Sawyer made Griffin slam face first into the floor then backwards on the floor. Griffin screamed and then his chair was righted again. He looked at Sawyer and Eric couldn't help but laugh. The man had pissed his pants again. Sawyer stood there and Eric could feel the amount of energy she was putting into not falling apart. He was proud of her.
"Griffin, who send you here?" Sawyer demanded again.
"Your mother. She is working out of Dallas. She was going to work with Steve Newlin but that fell though."
"Why did it fall though?"
Sawyer saw Griffin glance at Eric and Sookie behind her. She grabbed his face and focused him back on her, "Why did it fall though?"
"Ask them. It's their fault," he said.
"Should I know this?" she asked looking at Eric.
"Later," he said his eyes still on Griffin.
"Is she still in Dallas?" Sookie asked.
"As far as I know."
"Who's running things in Tulsa?" Sawyer asked.
"Your brother. He wanted to kill you when you put out those books. You made us out to be the bad guys."
"You are. You kill vampires without cause or evidence of guilt!"
"They aren't alive, they're dead! And they eat us! That is reason enough!"
"No, it isn't."
"Your momma said you would fight for them. That you wouldn't give into reason. Said your daddy was the only one who knew how to persuade you. Tell me, does your rotting boyfriend over there know how you like it?"
Bill stepped forward but it was already too late. He saw Griffin's head spin completely around and then pop off. Blood spurted everywhere. He looked up and saw that most of it landed on Sawyer. She stood there shocked and shaking. Bill shoved the body away from her as Eric turned her back to it. Bill looked at Eric and the other vampire nodded.
"I will take her upstairs," he said.
"Sawyer, honey do you need me with you?" Sookie asked softly reaching out and stroking Sawyer's blood covered hair.
"I'm sorry," Sawyer said a sob coming out.
"There ain't nothing to be sorry about. He deserved to die."
Sawyer nodded but she could tell Sookie was just trying to soothe her. She leaned against Eric and let him help her as he took her upstairs. She couldn't stop her body from shaking. Griffin had mentioned her father and she had snapped. The memories of what her father had done floating back to her. She had killed a man just after telling Eric she couldn't; at least she had thought she couldn't. She started crying as he led her in the washroom and shut the door. He leaned her against the tub and started running the bath water.
"I killed him," she whispered.
"Shh, you do not need to talk," Eric said gently pulling off her t-shirt.
"Yes, I need to talk, Eric. I killed him in cold blood."
"Look at me," Eric said turning her face to look at him, "it wasn't your fault."
"Please, don't glamour me. Please just let me freak out."
Eric kissed her on the forehead and felt her wrap her arms around him. He held her for a few moments. He pulled away and pulled off his jacket. He then pulled off his shirt. He leaned down and shut the water off. He turned back to Sawyer and saw her push down her sweats and underwear. She reached up and undid her bra standing there naked in front of him. He undid his jeans and toed off his shoes before pushing his jeans down and kicking them aside. He watched as she climbed in the bathtub. He climbed in right after her. He sat down and leaned his body against the back of the tub stretching his legs out before him. He opened his legs and Sawyer sat in between them her back resting against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him. He felt her tears fall on his arms.
"I won't leave you, Vacker," he told her softly.
"Please don't. I don't want to be alone right now," she said.
"I know. Would you like it if I distracted you?"
"Please."
"Alright, my people, the Vikings, we believed in Valhalla. It is a beautiful place where soldiers go when they die. It was believed that their lives would carry on there. Everything would be like it had been on earth except better," Eric explained grabbing a cloth and running it down Sawyer's arms washing away the blood splatter.
"Did you really believe it existed?" Sawyer asked taking comfort from Eric just being there and holding her.
"At the time yes. I... I was wounded in battle and I thought... I thought I would die and go there."
"You were wounded?"
"Yes, I knew I would not survive. My friends made a pyre for me and laid me on it ready to light it the moment I died."
"But you didn't die."
"Oh, I did, just not the forever kind of dying. Godric came and turned me that night."
"Godric?"
"My maker."
Sawyer was quiet. She could hear sadness in Eric's voice when he said the name. She took his hand in hers and held it. She waited for him to go on. She wanted to know so much about this man. She wanted to know everything. Maybe then she could find a reason as to why she felt so much for him in such a short time.
"You loved him," she answered.
"I don't... I wish I could say that I did but I do not know the meaning of that word or the emotion," Eric answered truthfully.
"This right here is love, Eric. Comforting someone and caring about their own well being above your own, that is love. Being there and never leaving that person and just wanting to be with them always, that is love. You loved Godric, Eric. I never met him but I can tell by the sound of your voice, the way you say his name that you did love him."
"You truly believe that?"
"Yes, I do. You aren't... I know you are capable of love. I'm just... I'm scared you can't love me."
"Before I would have said that I couldn't but now... You have made me feel things I have not ever felt. You have surprised me in ways humans rarely do. If there is anyone I could love, Sawyer, it is you," he whispered in her ear.
Eric felt her nod. He continued washing her body. He wanted so much more from her but right at that moment he was content in washing her. He felt her run her hand down his thigh and knew that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. He smiled thinking maybe tonight would be their night.
Sookie looked up the stairs and worried about Sawyer. She turned when Bill came back inside after disposing of the body. She went over to him and welcomed his arms around her. She pulled away and kissed him. She felt his hand go though her hair and felt at home.
"Bill, I'm worried about Sawyer. Maybe I should go check on her," Sookie stated.
"I think Eric has it under control," Bill told her.
"That is what I am scared of."
"Sookie, I think you are going to have to just accept the fact that Eric is going to be with Sawyer."
"But he isn't good enough for her."
Bill looked at Sookie and took her hand. He led her over to the door and grabbed her coat. He helped her get it on and turned her around to face him.
"I think we should just leave Eric to take care of Sawyer and I can take care of you," Bill said.
"Mmm, I actually like that idea," Sookie said softly allowing him to pull out of the room. She turned and looked at the stairs one last time and wondered if she as doing the right thing leaving Sawyer alone with Eric. She prayed that Eric wouldn't hurt Sawyer. If he did, he would have to answer to her.
Sawyer stood in front of the bathroom mirror drying her hair. She had pulled on Eric's shirt and loved the feel of the soft fabric on her skin. She turned and saw Eric pull on his jeans leaving them undone. She grabbed the brush and began to pull it though her hair. She stopped when Eric came over and took the brush from her. She let him have it and watched as he slowly pulled it though her hair. She couldn't believe how gentle he was being with her.
"Is what I did tonight going to get you in trouble?" she whispered meeting his eyes in the mirror.
"As long as Bill hid the body well enough no. I do not know why you are worried about me though, they are after you."
"I know how they operate. They'll go after anyone close to me. Sookie, Bill and... You are targets. Especially Bill and you. They know what killing you two would do to Sookie and I."
"So, I take it that you do like me after all."
Eric watched as Sawyer turned around and faced him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her tiptoes. She leaned in closer to him and he smelled her vanilla scent. He smiled when he realized that her scent was mingled with his own. He let her pull his face towards hers and felt her lips kiss him softly. He dropped the comb and raked his fingers though her hair pulling her closer and deepening the kiss. He pulled away from her when his fangs came out. He looked at her and saw that she wasn't afraid of him.
"I wouldn't let you near me if I didn't like you," she told him.
"I guess the next question is how much do you like me?"
Sawyer let Eric swung her up in his arms and carry her out of the bathroom. She rested her head on his shoulder and knew what was going to happen and she was ready for it. She wanted him and wasn't going to run away from that. Not now when it seemed like her family was after her. She needed as much happiness as she could find in the short period of time that she had before her mother really went all out to try and kill her.
Eric carried her into her room and placed her on her feet. He kissed her hard and deep pushing her back towards the bed. He felt her hands running over his chest and down to his jeans. She griped the waistband tight. He ran his hands up her thigh pushing up the shirt she wore. He felt Sawyer hold on to him as the back of her knees hit the foot of the bed. He pulled away from the kiss and quickly pulled the shirt over her head and tossed it aside.
Sawyer stood there in front of Eric naked. She looked up and met his eyes. She saw desire in them. She kissed him when he yanked her forward and kissed her. She let him pick her up and they both fell on the bed. She wrapped her legs around Eric's waist running her fingers though his hair messing it up. She pulled away and smiled at him.
"About time you didn't look so damn perfect," she said softly.
"Well, isn't that the pot calling the kettle black," Eric answered kissing along her jaw then down her neck. He could hear her heart pumping the blood though her veins. He needed to taste her.
He reached between them and released himself from his jeans. He slid his shaft into Sawyer slowly at first. She was so tight and he didn't want to hurt her. He felt her arch her back against him giving better access to her neck. He pushed himself all the way inside her and then bit down on her neck.
She gasped as she felt Eric sucking the blood from her neck. She felt him slid in and out of her and she really didn't know which was turning her on more. She tighten her legs around his waist and raked her nails down his back. She felt her body tensing up and knew she was close to coming. It had never happened so quick for her before. She moaned Eric's name as she came. She felt him lick the blood off her neck then kiss down her shoulder.
Eric held her in his arms and watched as she turned and looked at him. He smiled at her and she shook her head. She reached up and touched a finger to the corner of his mouth.
"You got a little something there," she said smiling.
"Oh, do I?" Eric said leaning down and kissing her.
He pulled her up in his arms and sat on the edge of the bed. He ran his hands down her side and griped her hips in his hands. He pulled away from the kiss and looked at her face. By kissing her he had smeared some of her own blood on her lips and chin but he didn't care. She looked sexy with that tint of red there. He slowly moved her hips watching her face.
Sawyer wrapped an arm around Eric's neck and leaned her body against him. She nuzzled her face against his neck and moaned as his jeans rubbed against the inside of her thighs. She felt his cool hands running down her back. They would stop and trace her scars. She had always been self conscious about them before but not with Eric. She knew she didn't have to hide any part of herself from him.
"I just want you to know, I am giving the Jeep back," she whispered in his ear.
"I bought it for you."
"I don't want it."
"I will make you a little wager," Eric said licking her ear.
"What?" Sawyer asked feeling Eric move her hips faster against him.
"If I can make you scream my name in five minutes, you keep the Jeep."
"And if you can't?"
"I fire Yvetta."
"Would that be the slut you were fucking?"
"Yes, that would be the one."
"Eric, you're going to fire her anyway."
"Oh, I am, am I?"
Eric pulled away to look at Sawyer's face. She nodded and then pushed down on his chest pushing him on his back on the bed. She pinned his arms down and Eric looked into her sapphire eyes loving how much deeper in colour they got when she was aroused. He kissed her when she kissed him hard on the lips.
"You are if you ever want to touch me again," she answered her lips still on his.
"Then I will get you anything else you want."
Sawyer shrived when Eric pulled his arms away from her and ran his hand over her breast. He pinched the nipple and she pressed her body against his more. She felt Eric wrap an arm around her waist and pulled them both back to the sitting position. She sucked in a breath when she felt his mouth on her nipple. She raked a hand though his hair and moved her hips faster against him. She was coming close again. She jumped when Eric gently bit her nipple. She felt the pressure building and couldn't hold it in.
"Eric!" she yelled as she came again.
"Hmmm, three minutes. I am losing my touch," Eric muttered against her breast as he rolled her on her back.
"Your touch... Is just... Fine," Sawyer said trying to catch her breath.
Eric raised his head and kissed her hard. He pulled away and stroked her cheek softly. He then slid out of her and climbed off the bed. He pulled his jeans off and climbed in bed next to Sawyer. She immediately cuddled next to him and he laid on his side watching her. She kissed his chest softly and looked at him.
"Stay until dawn," she said looking into his eyes.
"I wasn't going to leave you anyway," he told her wrapping his arm around her.
Sawyer closed her eyes and let herself fall asleep in Eric's arms. She felt him stroking her hair and knew that she wanted to spend every night in his arms. She didn't know however if she would have the chance. She knew her mother and knew that Eve would not give up until she got what she wanted. And what she wanted was Sawyer dead. She held Eric tighter and knew that there was a chance she could lose everything before she had a chance to enjoy it.