I laughed, dry aside from my hair. My clothing was under my arm, feet bare as I moved toward Jason's front porch. Ben trailed after me with the bag and box.

"You got a key?"

I wave a hand in dismissal. "No need. Mastered breaking and entering when I was a kid."

I twist the knob without issue, stepping in with a sly grin back at Ben. "Plus Jason's a bit of an idiot and doesn't lock the door. Be right back."

He nods, opening the back door to the SUV to toss the bag in. He was crossing to toss the box of trash in the can as I stepped in and left the door open. It was later than I had wanted. It wasn't full dark, but Eric and Godric woke early usually.

"Come on, come on," I mutter anxiously as I rush to the bathroom and open the cabinet to check pills and suck.

Ben hadn't tried to kiss me again, allowing me to distract us and mostly relax and have fun. That wasn't my issue. My heart clenched in pain, left arm giving a sting. My focus on keeping up the façade vanished soon as I was in the bathroom.

The sound of my blood rushing was in my ears. The odd pulsing of my heart was at every pulse and in my head, hammering a steady beat to add to the pain.

There. I made a loud clatter, staggering to the left with a gasping breath. My vision had darkened on me a moment before slowly coming back. Bottles were in the sink, thankfully not popped open. My hands were grasping tight at the sink to keep myself up.

On top of this near gut wrenching pain, I felt that odd surge of heat from my core. I felt weak as a new born, but like I could some how lift a grown man at the same time. My eyes looked over the bottles, grasping one I thought would help. What I wanted wasn't there, iron. Mom always had me on iron pills when I used to go out a lot. Said it was low iron, weak blood.

I opened the bottle of aspirin, popping three to swallow dry. It eased a bit of the pain, but not the pulsating of my heart or the weakness. Not a heart attack then. Iron. Iron…I looked toward the hall that lead to the kitchen. Mom showed me foods that were high in it, Jason might have some.

Glancing up, I pulled the tie from my hair. Best make it look like I was in there up to something. A towel flew to my hand from the rack, working at my hair quickly. It wasn't too dry, but it wasn't dripping any more, damp at best.

I slipped out of the bathroom after putting the stuff back in a rush. I had my phone out, listening to the voicemails. Missed Sook's call. Missed one unknown; turned out to be Bud. A few from- The screen lit up as I bent into the fridge, blocked from view of the door as I dug in drawers.

I hardly thought, automatically answering. "What?" I snip with little bite to the word.

Raw. Raw. Ew. Nope. Nope. "You were to be here and ready before we woke."

Eric was not amused. There was a pause on his end. I was on my knees now, quickly ripping open the lunch meat I had found.

"You are in pain. Am I needed?"

"No!" I gasp out quickly, swallowing the food fast. "No. Just another headache, promise."

"It hardly feels that level. It is in your chest."

My eyes shut as I ate the roast beef like a ravenous junky. "Are you eating?" he all but sneers. "Why are you always eating?"

"You just suck at timing," I grumble as I realize the package was empty. It was helping. "'Sides. I'm taking tonight off. I was-"

"Hardly," Eric cuts, tone commanding. "Godric has plans for you."

I grumble, being an ass and leaving the empty package in the drawer. It was something Jason did from time to time. Best to make it look like he did it.

"Where are you?"

"Jason's. Was swimming."

My eyes kept flicking to the steak. I hadn't realized my hand was hovering over it until a voice broke the trance.

"Fae?"

I jumped, snatching two beers before rising with the phone pressed between my ear and shoulder. Ben was just outside the door, looking a bit like he was worrying.

"Sorry," I laugh as I shut the door to the fridge with a lazy side thrust of my hip. "Only lite."

"Works," Ben chuckles as I pass the beer and step out of the house.

He took the beer as I stepped out, shutting the door. Secretly using my power to turn the locks again. I may have lied when I said the place wasn't locked. I was just well versed with using my power to open doors, locked or not.

Eric gives a bit of a growl. "Were you hoping to get out of work to spend a night out with one of you partners, Faelyn?" Right pissed. Yup, I was due for some unfair work and evil eyes. "I do not pay you to have fun."

"I never said you did!" I snap into the phone, pausing on the porch to glare at the ground. "First off, who I spend my time with isn't any of your business! Not after that crap. Second off, stop being such a hypocrite, ass hole. The amount of hook ups I get is mostly nonexistent since I came to this damned state. I'm always busy with one thing or another. So quit thinking I'm as much of a whore as you are."

"That is hardly how you portray yourself. You will-"

I angrily stabbed at the red button on my screen, muttering foul curses aimed at Eric that probably made no sense at all. A loud and drawn out breath left me, trying to push off thoughts of what I wanted to do to Eric.

I grinned, looking back up to Ben. Clothes…..Shit.

"Frack," I utter while whirling around and twisting the knob, locks opened before I even touched the thing. "Clothes."

"Work?" Ben calls as I grab the tops and pull the pants on.

I was buttoning them as I stepped out, shirts over one shoulder while my hands worked.

"Yeah," I call without looking to him. Buttoned, I left the belt to grasp the beer I set on the side to pull the door the shut in the other. "Being a bit of a prick, but nothing new there. Not sure if I'd rather go back to my old job or put up with the drama."

"It's fine if you have to go."

I give an apologetic grin as I hop over the side of the porch to move for the driver's side. He was getting in the passenger side, door shut before I was even opening my own door.

"May need to. He's the sort to hunt me down just to piss me off."

I started us toward town. "I didn't see a car at the cemetery. I can drop you off." I flashed a smile at him. "Least I could do."

"Be a fool to turn down a free ride from an offering lady."

I laughed with him, shaking my head. "I'm sorry about today being a bit of a bust."

"Not at all," he says with a hint of pride. "Means you get to make up for it."

I laugh hard, turning at his direction. "Sly, Ben. Real sly."

"If it works, don't dismiss it."

"Then I'll have to give you my number to reach me. Can't say when I'll be up and about. Kind of depends on when I can get to bed. But I will get back to you."

"Here."

I slow and turn into the rather sad looking motel. The only motel in Bon Temp. He glanced over the place as I parked by the office.

"Not the best looking, but it's clean while I wait for paperwork."

I reach over, almost pressing against him as I grab my back to get the books in them. A folder flopped out on my lap with the list of donor names as I took the scheduling book. I hardly bothered to cover it up as I flipped pages to the back to rip a corner off. The bright red pen scrawled my number with my name.

"People who work with you?"

He nodded to the names and numbers. I glance down.

"Nah. Boss doesn't like synthetic. Donors and such."

Ben frowned. "You get his food for him?"

I shrug. "Yeah. And I make him go out to get me food to return the favor."

He grins, chuckling. "You're a spitfire."

My eyes roll, offering the number to him. "Yah, yah. Spiteful is more the term you're looking for." He takes the paper, fingers brushing mine. That tingling sensation remained a bit after his touch left. His eyes searched mine, grin still in place. "Go on then," I laugh as I push at his cloth covered shoulder. "Before I change my mind."

"Right, I'm going."

He slips out, turning to look back at me after stepping back for me to leave. He points to me with the fingers holding my number.

"I'm holding you to your word."

I shift gears, cheekily winking at him. "I say lots of words, Ben. Pick them wisely."

With that, the phone was lifted to my ear as I backed away. One wave was offered back before I left the lot.

"Fae?"

"Mother of fuck, Sook. I swear to God I have terrible luck."

I heard Sook shuffling in her kitchen. "Yeah? What do you mean? That body?"

"Ugh," I moan as I drive. "Do not make me think of that. Jason stopped by to tell me before he went to tell you at the bar."

"He did say you were at his place swimming. But, Bud came in asking if I knew how to reach you."

"What did you say?"

"Gave him your number, same as Jason did. Told him you probably didn't want to talk about it though. Jason seemed pretty set on telling Bud to keep you out of it. Want to come over?"

"Can't. Eric's being a right prick. Said Godric wanted me for something or other."

"So, what did you want to talk about? You safe to talk about it?"

"Gosh, Sook. I think something's wrong with me," I utter with a bit of despair.

"Like being sick or something?"

"I wish. I'm famished, like all the time. At the meeting the other night I kept smelling something. I keep smelling things from time to time. Unnaturally, Sook. What ever it is, it's delicious."

"You sure you're not pregnant?"

"I'm fucking sure! Come on, you think I didn't think of that? It's not just that, Sook. I almost freaking had a heart attack or something a bit ago at Jason's. I'm running hot, too hot. My eyes hurt from time to time. And I'm getting angry over nothing. Like Hulk angry. Which if horrifying, Sook. Something is wrong. Really wrong."

"You could just be having hormone imbalance, Fae. Don't jump to conclusions."

"Sookie," I bite as I get closer to Eric's house. "I am craving raw meat. Bloody things. My blood doesn't even look right either."

"I never did, Fae. Isn't this like before you left?"

"No. That was..a bit like this. On a small level. But, you're right. Anemia. Fatigue. Sun sickness and sun exhaustion. What the crap…"

"I say go to the doctor, Fae. Just suck it up. I can go with you if you want also."

"Nah. I'll think of something. How are you?"

She lets out a huff with lots of pent up anger and unspoken words. The fridge door slammed in the background.

"Me and Bill are fighting."

"Yeah?"

"He doesn't trust me with you. You with me, what ever."

"That's hardly it, Sook."

"I found this paper in his house today when I went after work to wait for him to get up."

"Paper?" I was just saying the right words to get her to let it out.

"It had our family tree, Fae. And then I thought about how I met Bill. On top of finding out the new girl likes V. Which actually reminded me of the effects of vampire blood. I don't even know what to think, Fae." I say nothing, letting my anger at such proof simmer. "Fae, he had my name circled, grandpas and a question mark by your name."

"It's too plotted out," I murmur as my eyes widen.

"What?" It didn't pick up clear on her end, but my realization did.

"On my fucking Jeebus! Sook. You have to break it off with him. It's not safe at all. Sook, you are a telepath. Your grandpa Earl had to have been one. I had odd powers. He happened to come back to Bon Temps at just the right time? Too many things just fall too well into line for him, Sookie."

"Fae, you're being unreal..It is too plotted out."

A sniffle came from her end. "Sook? Don't cry. You know I'm here for you. Fuck that prick! Revoke his invite and open that tub of ice cream."

She took some sniffling and stuttering breaths. "Call me when you get up tomorrow?"

"You know I will. I'll talk to Eric about coming out to spend the night with you. He should allow it."

"Ugh, men," she tearfully complains.

"I love you, Sook. You remember that."

"Love you too, Fae."

I hung up, blankly looking at the wheel before me. I'd parked a bit back, just sitting with the engine and light music on to talk.

Thwunk

I jerked, hand smacking the horn in alarm. The startle shot a spike of pain through my chest, bringing back that pain from before. The startled cry turned to one of pain as I grasped at my chest and curved forward, ignoring Eric at the window.

Eric had the door open, dragging me out before I could understand. I let out a yell, feeling worse than I had back at Jason's. My skin felt feverish, breath short, eyes so dry and burning, teeth aching, heart giving stutters between too fast for healthy palpitations.

Godric was there in seconds as I was put on the couch. Jessica leant over the stairs to look on. Eric's fangs were out, wrist up to bite into it. Godric had hold of his hand fast.

"Stop."

My skin was flushed, breath loud as my hands grasped at my chest. And where I touched, it felt like I was gouging flesh. The stings were quick and sharp, fading off as if it were nothing more than a too hard scratch that didn't break skin.

Godric looked over my face, leaning in to catch my utter focus. One cold hand held my hands in a bundle.

"Eric, I believe the doctor will be needed."

Eric pulled his phone on, snipping to Jessica to go back to her room. She didn't argue much, looking a bit scared as she looked to me. Godric shifted down to sit on the bit of couch open at my side. His other hand was out, pressing over my brow to keep my focus. It helped calm me. Which seemed to help ease the odd stuttering of my heart to slow.

Each stutter drew a sharp breath in, chest feeling as if it wasn't taking in air as it did. His hand holding mine used the pinky to tap a rhythmic beat that I found myself attempting to keep my breath in time with.

Eric came back to the room, eyes narrowed as he looked me over.

"What happened?"

I took in a few stuttering breaths, trying to get the air to speak.

"Sunny," I rasp, having to gasp in a breath. "So tired-fatigued-too- quickly." I kept my eyes to Eric. "Worse than- before."

"Sun sick?"

Eric shot a glare up the stairs at Jess seated at the top. "I said to your room."

"But I know what she means," Jess calls out, unwilling to leave. "My little sister used to get that."

"Is that it?" Godric questions as he looks to me.

"Yeah. Worse."

"I'll say," Jess gushes dramatically as she comes closer to sit on the stairs over me. She looked down at me. "The flush fits the claim though."

Eric looked to Jess again. "What are the symptoms of it?"

"Well, she'd flush. Not just burn. Then get light headed and sleepy. There was pain, dehydration. Lots of dizziness that lead to nausea. Then she'd get chills and fevers if it was real bad."

I was tasting blood at the back of my throat, hands jerking in Godric's hold. Jess's eyes got huge, fangs snapping down without her say. And a small crack like click, warmth and wet flooded my nose.

Godric acted fast, outer shirt ripping in one smooth motion and under my nose. Eric was barking at Jess to go upstairs.

A/N: So, it warms my heart to get so many reviews. It's honestly what's keeping me going on this. My Best friend has been a good source of help as well. We were aiming for something different. As such, I was glad to get her ideas and aid. We have a goal and aim for this now. This is nothing like I had originally planned for this story. It was going to be a bit of a crack fic that followed the original plot of the show. But, I got to the point where I thought it was time for different.

I'd like to thank all who reviewed. I love getting questions and answering what I can without giving things away. There is only so much I can answer at a time though. Such as things yet to be given away in the story.

Thanks for the inspiring and wonderful reviews from: JamesNorthman96, Psyka, beth626, Guest, hollowes, outlawwoman, zuleika126, permisable, and Angel4EverLostInLife.

JamesNortman96

Sorry to take so long to answer your questions. I spent a deal of time thinking on that very point before I put that part in. But, thinking on it and after speaking to another TB fan, we decided it could happen and work.

Fae has powers. These powers are an asset to Eric. An asset that does aid financially as well as help if he needs it in any place. Or, at least, in the view of another vampire. If I remember, vampires are very aware of assets and the Authority does note them and allow room with them. So, on this note, I had hoped to use this idea that it would mark her as an asset that would be detrimental to Eric if he lost her. Financially, etc. Again, this was just something I thought they would route to in order to draw a line to keep her.

As for the exploding, I dare say she probably thought so too. But there is always more with Fae.

Sadly, your second review can't be answered just yet. In due time. ;)

zuleika126

Thanks! I'm glad to hear you like her. It took me a good while to fit out her character. I thought a good deal of likeness to Eric would fit. It's still hard to keep her human and faulting like the rest of the world.

hollowes

I'm so happy you enjoy it. I enjoy writing it, thus I hope to keep on it as I had originally meant to. I'm rather interested as well. While the original goal of Fae was to be for Godric, it has changed. Upon putting her to written word I found so much of Eric in her that I wondered if that original plan would still hold. As of now, I'm thinking it will either be up in the air or a whole storm of trouble just as Eric and Fae are at heart.

Psyka

I'm glad to please! I'm actually at least four chapters ahead. I'm trying to keep from putting it all up at once in case I feel the need to fix something. I'm also very happy to hear you enjoy it. I hope it keeps pleasing you. As for Ben, he's a bit of a main point in the story at this time. How do you think he should play into everything? I'd love any feed back.

Again, thank you all for reviewing and reading. Please ask any questions you have or inform me of things you hope or wish for in the story. Can't say I will make them happen, but I can try to incorporate them if they do fit with the basic plan for now.