"You're nervous?" He whispered his question against her cheek. She nodded and closed her eyes with embarrassment. He placed her gently on her back on her bed and situated himself beside her. He traced the contour of her hip and nuzzled the side of her neck. Eric suddenly stiffened his posture and growled. Her eyes snapped open and she started at his sudden shift in mood. She had seen this look before. She placed her hands over her eyes and gave a little growl herself.

"I'll handle it. You stay up here. Don't move." Sookie ordered Eric as she pushed off the bed. Before she made it to her bedroom door the doorbell rang.

"I will handle Compton." Eric ignored her words and pushed past her to answer the door. She scrambled to grab his arm. She might as well try to stop a Mack truck with her bare hands. She latched on and stumbled slightly when he kept moving.

"Eric!" His anger abated enough to catch her before she fell. He stopped abruptly and glared at her. She matched him glare for glare.

"I will handle this." He sneered.

"No. Don't make me rescind your invitation." He growled at her again and balled up his fists.

"Why are you being difficult?!" He hissed.

"Just go wait in the living room. I don't need you making matters worse. If I need you, you'll know." She shoved him towards the living room and was surprised that he allowed it. She rushed to the door and took a deep breath before opening it. The stricken look on his face almost made her feel sorry for him. Almost.

"Good evening, Sookie."

"Bill."

"May I come in?"

"No." His face fell and the agony of his features pulled at her still broken heart.

"Please, you have to give me another chance. You have to understand."

"We've had this conversation four times now, Bill. We're done."

"So now you are Eric's!?" His sudden change in tone frightened her, but anger quickly replaced it. She took a few steps forward until she was standing just outside the doorway.

"That's none of your business." Before Sookie had time to react, Bill reached out and grabbed her by the arms and pulled her to the porch.

"He won't protect you. He'll lie with you and then cast you aside like all the other whores he takes."

She slapped him across the face and grimaced as the pain shot through her hand. He grabbed her arm again and started to pull her down the steps. "You're being unreasonable and childish. You've got to listen."

"Bill, let go! Stop!" She stumbled but Bill continued to pull her. "Eric!"

Bill's grip released her and she fell to the ground. She scrambled back and took in the scene in front of her. Eric had Bill by the throat.

"Will you allow me to handle this, now?" Eric snarled in her direction.

"Don't kill him!" She begged.

"After his treatment of you, it's the least he deserves."

"No! I don't want that." Eric ignored her and focused on Bill's pained face.

"Who sent you? Your interest in Sookie is not just emotional. What are you after?" Bill struggled against his hand and refused to speak.

"Answer me! I'll torture it out of you if I have to."

"I…You have to…it's higher than the both of us. I am under…protection."

Eric's eyes narrowed and he squeezed a little harder. Sookie heard something crack in Bill's neck and winced.

"What do they want with her?"

"Her gift." Bill choked out. Sookie's eyes widened. Eric released Bill and looked down at him in disgust and rage as he crumpled to the ground.

"Tell them that Sookie is under my protection now. She is mine. If they wish to use her gift they must now go through me."

Bill nodded his understanding as he scrambled back on his feet.

"Leave us. You will not come to Sookie's again." Bill disappeared through the woods before Eric reached out his hand to help Sookie stand. Sookie slid her hand into Eric's and allowed him to pull her to her feet. He wrapped his arms around her waist and carried her back into the house. She instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist and held him tightly around the neck. He kicked the door closed behind him and walked with purpose to her bedroom.

He sat her on the edge of the bed and knelt before her. Her eyes were still wide with confusion and fear.

"Are you hurt?" She shook her head quickly and rubbed her hands down the thighs of her pajama pants. He stilled her hands and turned her palms upward. He frowned at the small dirt covered scrapes. He gently pulled her by the wrist to the bathroom. He held her hands under the tap and washed the dirt from the wounds carefully.

"Did he hurt your arms?"

"No." She whispered. Eric rubbed his fingers down her arms and looked her over carefully. He dried her hands with a towel and regarded her for a moment.

"He won't bother you again."

She closed her eyes and took a deep ragged breath.

"So there is someone after me."

"Yes."

"Who?"

"I have an idea, but I will have to make a few calls to be sure."

"Who do you think it is?"

"I'll explain more when I have more details. Until then, you are under my protection."

Her eyes hardened and she pulled her hand away from his.

"You told him I was yours. I'm not. Why did you tell him that?"

"He needed to believe it. He needed to know that there was no chance in your returning to his bed."

She closed her eyes and let her chin drop to her chest. How did her life become so screwed up? Eric placed his finger under her chin and lifted her face to his.

"Pack some clothes. It's not safe for you here."

"I will not!" She balked.

"Sookie!" His voice was loud and commanded attention. She startled at the shear volume of it. She pushed away from him and glared.

"This is my home. I won't be run out."

He clenched his jaw and closed his eyes in an effort to calm himself. He would have to try a different approach.

"So you'd rather be carried out?"

"You wouldn't dare!" He raised an eyebrow at her and smirked. She took a step back and put her hands on her hips.
"Sookie, someone wants you. Obviously, they want you in a very permanent way to send Bill to infiltrate your life. Until I can figure out the extent of the threat, you are going to stay with me. I won't let any more harm come to you." He reached his hand out to her and she just stared at it. He could see her mind spinning with all the uncertainties surrounding her.

"Bill said it was higher than you. What if you're made to just hand me over?"

"I won't let that happen."

"How can you be sure?"

"I am."

"I'm scared." Her mood shifted from defiance to trepidation. Eric closed the gap between them and slowly took her hand in his.

"I have offered you my protection. That's not something our kind does lightly."

"Why would you do that then?" She searched his face.

"Your beauty and charm have erased my better judgment."

"Now you're making fun of me." She frowned and he studied her face. She didn't think she was beautiful or was it remnants of the damage Bill had done to her heart and self-esteem?

"Let me take care of you. Stop being stubborn and foolishly proud." He softened his words by kissing her gently on the cheek. "Pack or I will take you with me as you are."

She took a deep breath. The tears were pooling in her eyes again. She saw Eric wince slightly and she couldn't help the short laugh that escaped her throat.

"You hate it when I cry." He tried to ignore her as he busied himself with opening her drawers in search of clothes for her to wear. He grinned when he found her underwear drawer. He shifted through the sensible white panties until he found the small scraps of lace he longed to see her in. He held up a pair of bright green panties and grinned at her.

"Pack these." She stalked across the room and snatched her underwear from his fingers.

"Stop that."

"Then pack."

"Fine." She huffed and grabbed some clothes from her drawers and started making piles on the bed. She pointed to the top of the closet for Eric to reach her duffle bag. He complied and soon she had enough clothes to last a few weeks if necessary. Eric looked at his watch. It was only 2 o'clock. He tossed a pair of jeans on the bed and a long sleeve t-shirt.

"Here. As much as I love the way you look in your sleep clothes, you'll need to wear something a little more appropriate to Fangtasia."

"Why am I going to Fangtasia?"

"I need to talk to Pam and a make a few phone calls before we go home." She felt her pulse quicken when he spoke of taking her home. He picked up the shirt and pushed it at her in an effort to get her to move again. She took it from his hands and then realized she didn't have on any underwear.

"Go wait in the living room."

"Why?"

She glared at him again.

"Because I need to put a bra on." She knew she'd have to be blunt with him for him to get the idea.

"Oh, don't do anything on my account. I rather like you without such trappings."

"Gimme a break." She muttered as she pulled a bra and panty set from her top drawer. Eric chuckled as she huffed past him and slammed the bathroom door behind her. The click of the lock caused his smile to widen. Like a small ancient lock could stop him if he chose to enter. He sat on the edge of her bed and listened as she shuffled around behind the closed door. She was pouting. Immature, but endearing. She didn't like feeling helpless. She wanted her independence. But if his suspicions were correct, he's going to have to get her to act a certain way. Her compliance will keep her safe. She won't like it, but that's her problem. She'll have to accept it. She flung open the bathroom door and walked past him to the closet. He watched her carefully as she moved through the room. Her dark jeans fit her every curve. The black long sleeve t-shirt hugged her waistline making her breasts even more pronounced. Her hair was in a tight ponytail and the blonde against all the darkness of her clothes was an exquisite contrast. He was pulled from his musing as she flopped down on the end of the bed and slid on a pair of black flats.

"You look lovely."

"Shut up." He laughed while reaching for her bag. He offered her his other hand and was not surprised when she ignored it. She lifted her chin and stomped down the hallway.