I stepped from Sookie's room later the next day. A huge button up men's shirt was hanging on my frame, eyes hollow as Ben looked up from where he'd been napping on the couch.

"Fae?"

My head lifted. The hollow look slipped away, a mask of happy in place as I gave a smile his way.

"Hi, Ben."

He was up, moving around the couch to meet me and close arms to pull me into a tight and warm hug. My arms curled up his back, fingers curling into his shirt to hold on tightly. His smell and warmth were enough to help ease, more than welcoming the hug.

"What happened?"

For once, I wasn't famished upon waking. I felt…contented. But I didn't want to talk about it. I wasn't upset in the way I should have been. I was disappointed. Ben placed his hand upon my cheek and I felt the pressure as he reached for the fresh memory. The hand on my cheek quickly turned my gaze up to him, eyes searching.

"You're not going out on your own like that again."

I lightly pull from him, moving toward the kitchen with a hand lightly caught in his to drag him along. The door of the fridge swung open, two cans of soda coming out to the table. I lowered, opening a can. Ben lowered to the chair before him, but didn't reach for the soda.

I stared down at the can, one hand rubbing at my eyes to clear sleep. One pale hand curled around the dark can, listening to the carbonation of the drink. After a deep breath, the hand lowered and my eyes shifted to the wood of the table.

"I'm more upset with what I did than what happened," I utter so somebody out of the room wouldn't hear. A hot hand lifts to let my chin rest in. "I knew…" My eyes close, remembering how intense it all was. "I didn't mind loosing control on Bill and the guards. Even if they showed up to help me. But I couldn't stop. And I hurt somebody I care for because I was compromised and hungry."

Ben lets out a small laugh, hands lifted to cover quickly. My own lips twitched, wanting to enjoy that odd humor, but still upset that I'd hurt Eric and could have hurt Sook. My head shakes back and forth slowly, actually smiling now.

"Oh yuck it up, Ben. Told you I get mean when hungry."
"Mean? Sounds vicious. But effective."

The wider smile lifted to look at him through lashes. "Very."
"So the arm, huh?"
I let out a snort, lifting the can to get a drink. "Disgusting as it sounds… I only meant to rip it out, not eat it. But I couldn't help it. Ass shot me." My hand rubs at the flesh where the scars were from my attack as a child. "Hurt at the time."

Ben frowns, "You were shot?"
The shirt is lifted to show off flesh and the bottom of breast. Perfect as before. "Vampire loads. Apparently the guards fired before Bill wanted. Very surprised myself. But that's where I sort of lost all control and Eric showed up."
"How did he know to be there?"

"We were supposed to have a call tonight over what's going on. I must not have answered." I shift forward, drinking more of the soda. "I'll have to talk to him tonight."

Where had Godric been during that? Why hadn't he come?

A hand closes around mine, pulled from the can. Ben met my eyes over the table, serious.

"I'll protect you. You're mine."

Warmth blossoms in my chest, loose hand in his grasp shifting to tangle fingers and grip tightly back. If this was love, I'd kill for it. No wonder Sook fell head over heels so quickly. But I knew in my heart, I would not let this blind me from what was most important to me. Sook. Jason. My special people that I'd gained here. Ben.

Boots thunked on the porch, door swinging open. I swallowed, hand pulling from Ben to look to my soda. Jason marched in, pulling up short at the sight of me in a men's shirt.

"Who's top is that?"

He was taking a safe route. I grin into the can, eyes flicking up at Jason. "Depends."

Jason laughs, moving in to pat my arm and drop to join us. "Shit, gave us a scare. Glad you bounce back quick."

I motion with a hand at the fridge. It opened, meats and cheese coming out to the table to rest before us.

"Mustard too."

The bottle thumped as an after thought, door shutting behind him. The bread was dropping in another blink. Jason glanced over my face a few times while making his sandwiches.

"So who was it?"

"Some of the Authority. Apparently they wanted a medical check up."

The can lifts, pinch of my brows and angry look in my eyes spelling the end of that. The can was emptied in a number of gulps. Ben looks to Jason.

"You on your lunch?"
"Yeah," Jason says with a mouth full of food. "Wanted to check on Fae. You not hungry?"

I was actually eyeing that second sandwich he made. My hand shot out, a bit quicker than Jason was as I happily took a bite of the thick thing.

"Make your own," Jason complains.

I chew happily at him, mocking. He shakes his head, smiling as he takes another bite. It was a content and warm quiet, two eating as Ben finally opened the soda and sipped at it.

"So where is everyone?"

"Sook's got early shift. Should be home before dark. Gramps said he had to check something out."

I slouch back in the chair, sandwich long gone. "Man, I would love to go swimming right now."
"You aint," Jason cuts, all warmth gone. Those eyes were serious as they pinned me. "Stay away from those places, Fae."

I frowned at him, shifting to face him. "Jase, knock it off."
"You jump head long into danger, Fae. Everywhere you turn there's something. Just stay put."

This had been bothering him. I could tell clearly by how passionate and determined he was to say it.

"I don't jump." I look firmly to Jason. "I dive and enjoy the brawl until they stop kicking."

"Yeah. Yeah. One tough bitch," Jason dryly shoves that off. "But what happens when it's more than you can handle? You don't take help."
"Trust me, Jase. I go down. I'm taking all I can with me. But I know when to cut and run."

"Just stay put, Fae! Let us help!"

His fist slammed on the table. I didn't flinch. In fact, I shifted to face him better, legs crossing toward him. He was heaving in breath, looking heavily at me.

"Jason."

"No. I'm tired of being looked over since I'm the useless one of us. It's ridiculous that you wont listen to us."

"I never said I wasn't listening. I'm gauging where things are before decisions are made. Unlike Sook and you, I don't just accept what is offered. I make new options far more than you understand."

"That's bull, Fae. Don't go twisting-"

"I walked into that restaurant for a dinner with Hadley and the Queen and Eric. Instead I walked in to Erin surrounded by guards ready to shoot and Bill with a woman I knew not to trust. They expected to take me with them then and there."

Jason was quiet, eyes narrowed, but listening. "She wanted to play like she wanted me willingly. So I used it. Got Eric and I out and a deal of stuff for Sook."

"That's hardly a new-"

"That is new, Jason," I cut him off, fingers tapping the table top. "And I absolutely refuse to dwell in the negatives. I will enjoy myself where I can, while I can."

"Just let us help, Fae," he tries to push in a light plead. "You don't have to do it without us."
"I do. This is vampire politics. I've two people I trust helping me already. People who understand their rules and laws far better than I do. I'd rather this false polite route than the bloody fight it could be. It opens more time to focus on what's happening here."

"Speaking of," Ben speaks up a bit, like he was trying to gently edge in. "What is going on here? I've not been actually told what we're doing aside from keeping Sookie and you safe."

Jason sighs, sitting back and raking his hair. I rubbed an eye.

"Shit."

"Seconded," I utter.

"Gramps was supposed to tell you," Jason sighs, looking to Ben. "Apparently there's some vamp after Sook or Fae because they're like Gramps."

"In a nut shell," I edge to help there. My eyes flicked to Ben, wincing smile there. "Since we're fairy, or so says Gramps."

"That would have been helpful to know previously," he sighs, looking at the table as he too sat back in his chair. I grin, leaning a bit across to pat the table once before him.

"At least it's something I'm used to," I playfully wink before pulling back to get up. "I'm getting something on. I think this is Gramps' shirt. Smells funny."

Jason looks to the shirt, brows lifted. "Explains the size. Gramps did help to get you in bed."

"I'd rather sleep in my underwear," I lightly complain while moving for the bedroom.

"I'll be sure to tell Gramps to not bother with your modesty next time," Jason calls with a laugh.

"Please do. I've lacked that for years."

I was ripping the shirt over my head as I passed the front door. Only to stop and slowly take a step back, head turning.