Author's Notes:

I will try to keep these brief. First, much love to my beta for this story Catie. She did an excellent job helping me out with this chapter and I am really excited to be working with her, both now and in the future. You rock hun.

Second, thank you to all the fans out there reading my work and taking the time to write up a review. I know it is inconvenient and tedious to write a review but your kind words mean the world to me and encourage me to persevere when I am frustrated. I look forward to hearing from all of you in the future. Without you the story would not be able to come to life.

So, with all that out of the way, just sit back, relax, pull up a comfortable chair, get your popcorn ready, and enjoy the ride.

Much love from the West Coast,

Lilli

Chapter 2

*Sookie's POV*

"Excuse me everyone, if I could have your attention. My name is Luke McDonald. I'm a member of The Fellowship of the Sun and I have a message for you all from Reverend Steve Newlin." I gasp slightly as his words sink in to my already addled brain. I watch helplessly as he unzips the obviously oversized and heavy army jacket, to reveal a bomb. Before I can even utter a warning to those around me, Godric and Eric launch themselves at me, not at the boy like I would have expected, but at me. Everything slows down to a snail's pace. Godric and Eric flying through the air straight towards me. The boy lifting his left hand with the trigger for the bomb, that is strapped to his chest. Vampires scrambling away, trying helplessly to protect themselves from the inevitable blast. Some vampires desperately running towards the boy trying to get to him before he hit that little red button. Humans standing, seemingly lost and bewildered, just staring at the boy, their brains unable to process what is coming next.

Godric and Eric hit me simultaneously, launching us up and off of the ground, spinning us in an endless spiral. At the same time a blinding light and indescribable force knocks into the three of us, launching us even further into the air. The world went silent, holding its breath waiting for the outcome of this catastrophe, as Eric, Godric, and I fall for what seems to be an eternity to the ground. Both of their arms are wrapped tightly around me cradling me protectively, and even with all the tragedy that I know is inevitability going to come crashing down on me in seconds, I could not have felt safer and more at home then pressed tightly between these two men.

Now, I know what you are going to say about my following thoughts, flying through the air, after having just been blown up is hardly the time to start examining my feelings towards anyone, but that is exactly what I found myself doing as I was flung into the unknown.

I had never in all my life felt more loved then I did in this one moment, where they were willingly sacrificing themselves to keep me safe. Not with my mother, or my father, not with Jason, not with Gran, and most defiantly not with Bill, had I ever felt this safe. To say that I was surprised was a bit of an understatement. In this one instant of pure self sacrifice, with these two men whom I barely knew, I fell in love with them both deeply for what they were willing to do for me, without a moment of hesitation. Neither one of them had to do what they did; instead of taking cover like they should have, they both reacted instinctually to make sure that I would survive the blast of a fanatic.

The logical side of my brain was trying to argue with my sudden epiphany. Eric was evil. He had kidnapped and tortured Lafayette for weeks and had manipulated me into coming here to Dallas. He could never truly love me, could he? His actions though, his action's right now, in this moment showed me that he cared. If I was really honest with myself, I knew that he had from the first moment I laid eyes on him, I had just been trying to fight it with my entire being. I was scared of what would happen if I allowed myself to succumb to his advances.

Bill was safe, easy; although I loved him I wouldn't call myself heavily invested in our 'relationship.' I knew something was off about everything with him, but I just pushed it all aside because he was the safe choice. He might be able to rip out my heart someday, but never my soul and I knew one betrayal from Eric would do just that. If I was truly honest with myself and in this moment where I knew that I could quite possibly be going to meet my maker, I had to be, Bill was all wrong for me. What's done is done though, and even if I somehow miraculously survive this, I am with Bill. I love him and I cannot just turn my back on him for something that may just be a passing fancy. Yeah right, keep telling yourself that girl.

Godric, now he confused the hell out of me, even more so then Eric. I hadn't even known him twelve hours yet, and he's risking himself to save me, or at least attempted to, depending on the outcome of being blown the hell up. I am not entirely certain, but I am pretty sure, being in a room, where a big fucking bomb has just gone off, is pretty bad for your health. I felt just as drawn to him as I did to Eric, and that confused my delicate, Southern sensibilities even further. How is it possible that I was in love with not one, but THREE men at the same time? Not only that, but seriously entertaining the idea that I would like nothing more than to be pressed between these two firm bodies that embraced me now for the rest of eternity. Somehow, I do not think that polygamy was something that my Gran would approve of.

With a heavy thwack we finally descended from our free fall through time and landed roughly to the earth. My breath was pushed out of me with the heavy force of the fall, and the world was still. One, two, three ragged breathes later, and the noise started to reenter my little world. At first it was very quiet, nothing more than the ringing in my ears from the explosion, my ragged breaths in and out trying to stabilize themselves, and my heart beating out a steady rhythm to let me know, for certain, that I had somehow managed to survive.

The volume on the world around me was turned up a notch at a time, the quite moans of the two men who still held me encased in their arms, the wails of the few human's who were far enough away from the blast to survive, the vampire's angry voices screaming their righteous indignation at what had been done to them. I felt the cool drip drip drip of blood seeping onto to me; I squirmed slightly beneath the weight of Godric, and realized that half my body was soaking wet. I squirmed again, and the wetness, which was cold and oppressive against my skin was becoming more uncomfortable by the moment. Wait, cold? SHIT. It had to be Godric and Eric's blood that was covering me, and for over half of my body to be covered in it meant that my two saviors were seriously injured. I had to help them NOW!

I tried franticly to push Godric off of me with all of my strength, but as hard as I tried I could not move him. They had locked me into an iron grip that my strength would never be able to break. I was becoming frantic pushing and wiggling beneath Godric's weight trying to free myself so that I could save him, save them. Hot tears burned my face fearing that I would not get free in time. I could hear Stan and Isabelle not far off and I screamed for them. "STAN! ISABELLE! HELP! GODRIC AND ERIC ARE HURT BADLY!"

Within mere moments the weight of Godric was lifted from me and I could see the horror that this peaceful nest had become. The walls were covered in blood and gore from the blast of human and vampire's insides spraying apart in every direction. The floor was littered with bits and pieces of unidentifiable parts and ash, scattered in almost every inch of the once beautiful white and gold marble flooring. My mind was reeling, screaming at me to look away, cover my eyes, run as fast as my feet would carry me away, far far away from this horror that now would forever be burned into my tiny little brain. My mind was trying to protect itself, and I could feel a wave of blackness threatening to rush up and take me away from all of this, so that I could retain some shred of my sanity.

"Sookie, SOOKIE!" I felt a gentle shake on my shoulder, and turned slowly towards the voice. I felt like I was in one of those badly made horror movies. Except this was real, it was so real, the blood in horror movies was never so crisp and vibrant, it never moved so fluidly down the walls, the smell had never filled my nose, my lungs, my brain, seeping into every pore of my being. The heavy metallic smell and taste of copper, and the distinct pungent acrid smell of bowel and stomach acid, was filling all of my senses. It was all threatening to overwhelm me.

"SOOKIE!!" I felt another shake, harder this time and I looked into Isabelle's face. I had never in my life witnessed such devastation. I had never been to war. Heck, I hardly even watched anything above a pg-13 rating. This, this was a whole new world that I was currently witnessing; all my innocence was stolen with the simple push of a little red-button. Such violence, such depravity. How could anyone do this horrendous thing to anyone, regardless if they were vampires or not? Hell, there were plenty of humans here too, that act was just filled with such hate, the likes of which I had never seen, and these people that committed this act call themselves Christians. I prayed with all my might that I would never have to witness, such a terrible thing again, for as long as I lived.

Hot tears filled my eyes, and Isabelle looked down at me with sudden understanding, and compassion. She pulled me to her gently, and held me tight, running her hands through my hair softly. "Sshh… sshh… I know… I know mio piccolo sole(my little sun), I know." I look up into her eyes and she smiles gently at me, and I see nothing but love behind her eyes, and an almost desperate need to comfort me.

There is a hiss just behind me, and my attention is drawn away from the vampire who had somehow taken on a motherly role towards me. Stan is crouched next to Godric trying to dig something out of his chest. "What's wrong?" I ask.

"The bullets are silver Sookie, I cannot get a grip on them to get them out, and some are too deep for me to even reach. Typically, our bodies would just push out the foreign objects so they could begin to heal. Even with them being silver he should have been able to, but there is just too much lodged in his body for him to do so. If we don't get it out soon, I am afraid of what might happen."

I look down at the broken man in front of me, the man who had undoubtedly saved my life, and my brain instantly switched gears. "Stan, check on Eric, and find out who is worse of the two of them, I think we were closest to the blast." He nods at me once and moves to Eric. "Isabelle, find my brother. Get all of the vampires who are seriously injured into one area, so that we can tend to them quicker and more efficiently, I don't want anyone to be missed because they were blown into a separate room. Round up any humans that are still alive, we need to get blood into the surviving vampires quickly. Have Jason and the other humans help you remove any sliver from the wounds. Make sure to pair up any uninjured vamps with the humans so that there are no more casualties here tonight. After that, we are going to need to find everyone a safe place to rest for the day, call the hotel, tell them we have incoming, and arrange for donors to be at every vamps room, along with security for the unstable vamps where you think it is needed." Isabelle nodded and was off like a shot to go about the tasks I had set for her.

I looked over at Stan; he had a small smirk plastered on that handsome face of his. "What?" He just shook his head slightly at me, his smirk growing larger, and turned back to examining Eric.

"Godric's injuries are far graver. Sookie you're going to have to get those bullets out of him." I nod my head slightly, determined to keep a cool head and do what has to be done. I fall to my knees next to Godric and take a large steadying breath. I could do this. I move Godric's shirt further away from his body and for the first time, I was able to take in the amount of damage that was there. I gasp in horror at the ruin that lay before me; I feel a large hand press firmly on my shoulder. I look over and Stan is kneeling next to me and I see the same look of concern and compassion behind his eyes as I had seen in Isabelle's earlier. "You can do this." He said softly.

I nod again, turning back to Godric silently, and take another steadying breath. "I can do this," I whisper to myself. I insert a finger into a wound on his chest just above his heart, which would be the most important spot to clear first. I knew that the sliver would eventually burn its way through his chest, possibly piercing his heart and killing him. This was something I could not, would not, allow. I could feel the wound sucking at my trembling fingers, pulling me further in, closer and closer to my goal. I could just feel the edge of the warm metal, incased in this cold flesh, but I couldn't quite get a grasp on it.

"I can't reach it." I growl in frustration.

"You can do it Sookie." Stan says squeezing my shoulder gently, to reassure and comfort me. I reach again, but this time I feel the bullet move further away from my fingertips, going deeper into Godric's body.

"Stan find a knife, a really sharp one quickly." Without even looking to see if Stan is complying with my orders, I lean forward, place my lips around the wound, and suck as hard as I can, willing the bullet to come free of his body, and into my waiting mouth. I didn't give a second thought to the fact that I was swallowing mouthful after mouthful of Godric's blood. All I cared about is getting the damn things out of him.

Finally, I feel the bullet pop into my mouth; I spit it to the side and move to the next wound. This time, I don't even bother trying to pull the bullet out with my fingers I just latch on and suck. Quicker this time, the bullet comes free and I move to the next, one by one, I sucked them out, freeing him of all the harmful silver that was riddling and polluting his body.

"Sookie there is more imbedded into his back." Stan says from right behind me. "And I'm sorry Sookie the knives are all being used at the moment by the others.

"Fine, whatever, it doesn't really matter; help me roll him please so I can get to his back." Stan darts over to the opposite side of Godric, and pulls him gently towards him, so I could get to his back. Without a word, I repeat the process of pulling the foreign objects from him, until I am positive that every single one has been purged from his body.

"Roll him back, we need to get blood in him." Stan instantly complies, how the fuck was I going to do this? It isn't like Godric can really bite into me to take my blood, so he can start the healing process. Without even thinking, I hold my wrist up to Stan. "Bite!" He looks at me in clear shock.

"Sookie…"

"He can't do it Stan. Open up the wound damn it, NOW!" He instantly strikes opening up the wound in my wrist; I bite my tongue to keep from crying out from the pain. This was no gentle love nip in the throes of passion. Stan pulls away and my blood is flowing freely from the bite. I place it firmly to Godric's parted lips, praying that he would latch on. "Please Godric, please drink." After what felt like eternity, I felt his lips tighten around the wound, and the gentle suck of him pulling blood from me. "Thank God." I say softly as tears slip down my face. I watch in amazement as the wounds on his chest and sides slowly start to heal. His tongue slips over the wound on my wrist, sealing it shut and he finally opens his beautiful, dark chocolate eyes to me.

"Don't cry dear one, I am fine." He whispers softly, reaching up and cupping the side of my face gently. "Go help Eric." I nod once, and move over to the other man, who has stolen a piece of my heart. He looks so peaceful in his unconscious state; I almost have to laugh as I think of the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. She had to have the kiss of her true love to wake her from her death sleep, and at the moment, Eric was definitely my sleeping beauty.

I yanked his t-shit, trying to rip it free from his body, so that I could get to his wounds. Try as I might though I could not get it free, even with the vampire blood now coursing through my veins. "STAN!" I yelled.

"Go, go help Sookie, I will be fine in a moment." I hear Godric whisper roughly behind me.

"What do you need Sook?" Stan asks softly.

"I can't get his shirt free so I can get to the wounds." He grabs the shirt by the collar, yanks quickly, and it just magically vanishes from Eric's chest. "Thanks." I scan Eric's large chest and waist assessing the damage, Stan was right, it wasn't nearly as bad as Godric's wounds. I set to work, repeating the same process that I had performed with Godric. When I was certain I had all of the sliver out of his chest and belly, I turned to Stan. "Is there any more?"

"One more in his right bicep and that's it." I make quick work of the last bullet and spit it to the floor, thanking all that is holy that I was able to get through all of this. I hold my wrist up to Stan and without a word he strikes, reopening the wound in my wrist. In much less time, Eric's eyes slowly flutter open, and a huge smile spreads across my face. I don't think I had ever seen a more beautiful pair of blue eyes in my entire life. "I thought I lost you." I whisper to him as he licks my wound closed.

"Never, Sookie. Never." He says just as quietly, placing one hand gently on my face. Before I have a chance to respond, I am flying through the air backwards, a sharp pain shooting through my arm.

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING!" I was completely shocked, and surprised as I looked into the snarling face of Bill. Crap. "WELL?!" he growls at me and shakes me slightly. For the life of me I have no clue what the hell he is talking about. My mind is drawing a complete blank as to what answer he is looking for. What had I done that had been so wrong that he would be reacting this way? Before I even have an opportunity to answer I hear loud growls completely encompassing us.

"Release the girl Compton." Godric snarls, I look around noticing that every, single, vampire that was still alive and ambulatory was closing ranks on Bill and I.

"SHE IS MINE!" Bill snarls.

"Bill what is going on? Why are you so pissed? I don't understand, what is going on?"

"WHAT'S GOING ON? WHATS GOING ON!!!?" He shakes me again and a small whimper escapes my lips. "I COME IN AND FIND YOU IN THE ARMS OF NORTHMAN, STINKING OF HIS BLOOD, AND CLEARLY WITH FRESH BITE WOUNDS, AND YOU DARE TO ASK ME WHAT IS GOING ON!?"

"Bill you don't understand I …"

"YOU WHAT SOOKIE? YOU SLIPPED AND JUST HAPPENED TO FALL INTO NORTHMAN'S ARMS. YOU… ARE… MINE."

"I won't tell you again. Release the girl Compton. Her quick thinking saved the lives of every injured vampire here tonight. Not to mention my own and Eric's. Now I would suggest you treat her with a little more respect."Godric growled in his small menacing voice. He didn't have to scream and yell to get his point across. You just followed his order, and that was the end of that.

"I HAVE WORKED TOO HARD, AND TOO LONG, TO HAVE HER STOLEN AWAY BY THE LIKES OF ANY OF YOU. SHE IS MINE. I AM LEAVING AND SHE IS COMING WITH ME."

Bill tightened his grip on my arm, and proceeded to drag me out of what was left of the front door of the nest. I was so shocked by Bill's behavior; I wasn't entirely sure how to react to it. I had never seen him so angry before, let alone raise his voice, much beyond a quiet murmur. I got one last look over my shoulder at Godric and Eric; they were standing together, side by side, as they must have been doing for a millennia. Both were so handsome and loving, and yet so hard and lethal at the same time; they were a bundle of contradictions. They watched me being pulled away from them, with nothing but love and concern in their eyes. Bill yanked me roughly away from them, and into the chill of the Texas night air. What the hell had I done by choosing Bill?