Drumming her fingers on her table Sookie tried calling Jason's cell phone for the tenth time in so many minutes. Shit. Each time her brother's upbeat voice answered her, asking her to "please leave a message because I'm not around right now," her heart sank further.

She tried to think of the last time she had seen her brother. His house when she was hiding from Russell. Before that, when? After the hospital? She sank her head into her hands. First Tara now Jason, had she neglected everyone in her life when she was wrapped up with Bill? Her head shot up. Jason had been so angry at Bill for feeding on her. He couldn't have gone after him, Bill could have easily... No, no. She tried to calm her racing heart. Bill would never have hurt her brother and she would have known by now if something had happened to him.

What about Tara? What if Jason had told Tara about Eggs and Tara she, she… Sookie trailed off of that thought. She just couldn't imagine Tara hurting her brother and if Jason had run off with her friend she was certain he would have somehow gotten word to her, wouldn't he? She shook her head to clear her thoughts.

Okay, what did she know? When she was in Jason's house she had absentmindedly looked at his thoughts and seen something about a girl, about were-panthers. If she hadn't been so wrapped up in vampire bullshit she would have questioned him about it. Why was Jason involved with drug dealers and supernatural creatures? She weighed her options carefully then grabbed the phone.

A man's voice answered on the second ring and a little thrill shot through her at the sound of it.

"Hi, Alcide? I'm having a problem and I was hoping you could help." She quickly explained the situation to him and waited with bated breath as he thought over her circumstances.

Overwhelmed by the silence she leaped in, "They could have taken him, Alcide. I mean they're panthers and, and drug dealers and he's just Jason and they could have taken him somewhere and how will I ever find him?" She could hear the edge of panic in her voice but she didn't know how to calm herself down. She would die if something had happened to Jason while she had been too busy to notice.

"Okay, okay," Alcide's voice was a deep and calm rumble. "Look, I don't know much about these people, alright Sookie? But I'll look into it. We have connections. I'll find out what I can and I'll get back to you. Okay?"

"Okay," she murmured.

"Listen to me Sookie. Don't you do anything rash right now okay? A lot of shit has been going on and it would be easy to panic but you can't right now, you hear me? We'll find out what happened to Jason okay? I promise. It's probably something silly. What we don't need right now is for you to run off and get into more trouble, okay?"

The steadiness in his voice helped brush back the hysteria bubbling at the back of her throat and she swallowed and nodded. Then, realizing he couldn't see her, she said quickly, "yes, right, okay."

"Okay," Alcide sighed. "Now I'm going to look into this alright? I'll get back to you."

Sookie hung up the phone with trembling fingers and then sat silently watching it, willing it through her stillness to ring.

Hours later, she remained in the same spot, the phone gripped so tightly in her hand that her knuckles were white. Ohmygodohmygodohmygod. No word from Alcide and definitely no word from Jason. What could she do? She wondered desperately if Bill would be up yet. If she ran across the cemetery and collapsed in his arms and confessed everything that was wrong he would fix it. The possibility twisted her stomach in equal parts pain and hope.

She glanced outside to see the sky streaked with orange as the sun set. Without another thought she leapt up and dashed outside the house, not even bothering to lock her door.

When she reached her destination she took a few calming breaths. She straightened her shirt and climbed out of her car. The music thumped loudly outside Fangtasia and the line behind the red velvet rope was as long as she had ever seen it. She noted that the graffiti present the last time she was here was gone and as she walked toward the entrance she couldn't help but glance down at the spot where Eric and Russell had burned together. She shuddered at the memory and then smiled weakly at Pam who was working the door.

"Well hello there," Pam drawled showing some fang in her pleasure. A few of the people waiting in line gasped in awe. One clapped. "What's the occasion?" Pam eyed her up and down and Sookie shifted, uncomfortably aware that her t-shirt and jeans made her stand sorely out of place among the gothic and promiscuous dress code present.

"I need to talk to Eric," She said shortly and Pam raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow.

"Well," she breathed "Go on inside." She unclipped the hook and ushered Sookie closer to the door. Those left in the line made noises of protest but Pam shot them a look and they immediately silenced. "You go on" Pam told Sookie "I have to stay out here before they get nosebleeds from the rejection."

Sookie continued reluctantly into the bar. It had been a long time since she had been inside when it was lit up in all its glory. The lights were dim and the music here reached such crescendo that it vibrated her whole body. The place was full of bodies, some alive and some undead, and people were swaying and grinding and screaming to be heard over the beat. The effect of the experience left her feeling off-kilter and a little nauseous. She hesitated and looked around for Eric's blond head. Seeing mostly drunken humans she stopped where she stood and began to rethink her plan. When someone brushed intimately against her from behind she whipped around. The man treated her to a show of his fangs and with a pang of panic she turned to leave.

"Sookie." She felt a cool hand on her arm and although she wasn't sure how she heard him over the roar of the bar she knew it was Eric. Relief flooded her and she turned to face him. He was dressed all in black and the mood lighting made his face look severe.

Sookie wrung her hands anxiously and looked around. "I have to talk to you." Her ears felt cottony from the experience and she couldn't be sure she had even spoken but the look on his face confirmed that he had heard her. He motioned with his head and turned to begin walking. She stumbled a little against the mass of people straining to get a look at him up close. He turned back and furrowed his brow before placing a hand softly on the small of her back and leading her to his office.

He closed the door behind them and sat behind his desk. The silent room was such a drastic change from the bar that Sookie felt her ears ringing and echoing the noise they had just withstood. She resisted the urge to check to see if they were bleeding.

"My God," She gasped. "How do you stand it? Your hearing is even better than mine, times a million probably, it would drive me crazy!"

He tilted his head slightly and smirked at her "You see the sacrifices I make for my fans." He placed his fingertips together and leaned forward and she knew he was waiting for her to speak. She could tell by his serious expression that he felt her emotional upheaval and was expecting something from her.

Feeling uncertain, she began walking around his office fingering different objects. His eyes followed her every movement.

"So you got the bar back open alright," she burst out surprising herself. "It looks pretty good. No lingering problems with vandalism?"

Eric studied her for a second longer then leaned back in his chair. "Yes, well," he said dryly. "It appears those who felt so strongly against Fangtasia only felt so when there were no vampires around to discuss the issue with them." His face remained serious and for a moment she felt a rush of sadness for all the vampires were going through right now.

"Well I'm happy for you that everything is back to normal because it's not right that people did that to your place." He raised his eyebrows slightly but made no comment. "I mean you work real hard and it's just not right that people would try to hurt you like that. And also," she babbled "also I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for those things I said to you that night about you going back to hell and all that. I mean you've been a big jerk to me a lot lately but I have this feeling that you also, you know, saved my life and so thanks, I guess. And for," she faltered. "And for telling me. Although I'm not sure your motives were entirely honorable." She narrowed her eyes briefly at him. "I… thank you I mean. I guess."

A small smile was tugging at his lips and she looked away in embarrassment and irritation. In a flash she suddenly remembered that the last time she had been in here alone with him he had kissed her. A kiss to which, with little resistance, she had responded to intensely. A kiss that was still featured in her secret fantasy file and made her toes curl.

"Is this what you came here to tell me Sookie?" He stood up and before he could come any closer she held up a hand and took a step back.

"No, no." She stammered. "I came here because…because my brother is missing and I don't know who to turn to for help. I don't want to go to Sam because he's so busy and we haven't really been in touch lately, and Tara's gone, and I asked Alcide and he hasn't gotten back to me, and I can't go to Bill because, well because you know, and also maybe he's involved! And," she trailed off and looked him in the eyes. "I don't know what to do, Eric."

He stood silently for a moment. "You went through quite a list before you decided to come to me." Sookie scoffed at his vanity.

"Honestly, Eric, after all that all you got from it was I didn't come to you first? You know, you don't exactly scream the most trustworthy in my list of people."

Eric opened his mouth to speak and Sookie braced herself as she realized all of the hurtful things he could say about the people she had trusted, but instead he smiled and then nodded thoughtfully. "True enough."

They sat in silence for a few moments.

"So…"

"So." She made a motion with her hands and he sat back down. "You want me to help you find your brother."

"Yes."

"And you think Bill may have something to do with his disappearance."

"Yes. No. Maybe? Or these drug dealers in Hotshot. Or maybe he just took a long walk and got lost. I don't know, Eric that's what I need your help with." Eric's ears perked up.

"Drug dealers in Hotshot?"

"Yeah I picked the sheriff's brain and I guess Jason had something to do with them and they're panthers or something. Honestly, I don't really know. I've been a little busy what with all your vampire bullshit." She was getting frustrated and she couldn't help but snap at him. She had half expected him to fly off immediately upon hearing of her need so he could locate Jason within minutes. You just never knew with Eric; either he was pledging to protect you and spurting off innuendos or he was locking you up and sucking you dry.

"Well?" She said impatiently.

"Sookie," He rose again and came to stand in front of her. She craned her neck to look up at him and he gazed at her steadily. "I will help you with this but it is no simple task if your brother has gotten involved with weres and drugs or vampires for that matter." He paused. "You said you have contacted the Were." When she nodded he continued. "I will also contact him and some other individuals. I will do my best to help find your brother but you must be patient."

"Thanks." She started backing toward the door feeling uncomfortable by his nearness and the familiarity to their stances. "So that's it then? No orders in return?" He leaned against his desk and leered at her.

"I'm sure I'll think of something you can do for me." His eyes trailed down her body and if she didn't know any better she'd think he had x-ray vision. "We'll just call it an IOU for now."

"Great." She fumbled for the doorknob without looking and felt relief when she found it. "Thanks." She turned to go but stilled at his words.

"Sookie?" He purred, "I'll be in touch." She felt a shiver start at the base of her spine but forced herself to leave without looking back.

When she got home, Bill was waiting for her. He made himself clearly visible so as not to scare her, and while she appreciated that gesture, the tumult of emotions she felt at the sight of him was very unwelcomed after the day she had experienced.

"Sookie."

"Bill." Her answer was flat and she shifted her weight uncomfortably. Bill took a step toward her, holding out his pale hand slightly.

"I have given you time to grieve for the mistakes that I made that are barbaric and inexcusable," he paused and Sookie wondered in irritation whether he was waiting for her to deny the depravity of his past actions.

"It has pained me deeply to be away from you and to know that I have caused you pain," he continued. "I know I do not deserve your forgiveness, but I ask only for some of your time so I can explain the situation in more detail. I need you to understand that I made those awful decisions before I truly knew you, but that now, and for quite some time, I love you deeply and honestly for who you are."

Sookie could feel her mind racing as emotions shot through her one after another. She was grateful when the one her body settled on was finally anger.

"You NEED me to understand? You need me?" She took a step closer to him and poked a finger into his chest. She wished fleetingly, and for the first time, that she were a vampire so she could tear him apart. "You know what I need, Bill? I need to be in a relationship with someone who doesn't have to take the time to explain to me how lying to me every day and almost letting me get killed to appease his own agenda was a mistake. I need to not be involved with any of your supernatural crap anymore so I can attempt to have a normal life and not be miserable all the time and almost die every other weekend. What I need, Bill, is to go inside and go to bed because I have had the day from hell, yet again, and I just don't have the time to let you 'explain in more detail' how you broke my heart. Okay?"

Bill's face was hard as stone as he looked at her, but she could see the red welling in his eyes.

"But you must know," he persisted. "You must know how I feel. How I love you and would do anything in my power to protect you."

As a tear slipped down his cheek and stained a spot on his white shirt crimson, Sookie felt all of her energy leave her in a whoosh. She fiddled with the keys in her hand and shook her head.

"Your idea of love scares me," she said softly and turned to walk away.

"Sookie, wait!" The desperation in his voice bit into the night air and when his icy fingers gripped her elbow she jerked herself away.

"Don't you dare touch me!" She spat bitterly. "You better leave me alone, Bill Compton. I have no room in my life right now for your excuses or more of your lies so go fuck with someone else's life you dead bastard!"

When he made a move to grab her again she held up her hand in warning.

"Do you not remember that I have superhuman fairy powers to zap things like you? Of course you do; that was what interested you in the first place wasn't it?" She walked up to her door and gave him one last look. "Don't make me use my blasty light thing on you. Because I'll do it, I swear."

"Sookie-"

"I'm sorry, but I can't forgive you for this, Bill. I just can't. Please go away."

She stood silently with her forehead resting against her porch door for a long moment before she ventured a look around. Her yard was empty.

Eric sat with his feet up on his desk studying some monthly figures as the bar raged behind the door. When there came a knock he sensed Pam and barked for her to enter. As the door swung open, one glance at Pam's face showed him that something interesting was about to happen. He straightened slightly in his chair as a woman stepped out from behind Pam. She had curly black hair and shockingly blue eyes and she wore next to nothing. Eric shifted.

"Hello," he murmured. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

The woman ran a hand through her hair and jutted out her hip. "I heard you were down a dancer." She licked her lips and leaned forward slightly. "I was wondering if I could audition."

Eric's eyes flicked over to meet Pam's amused ones. He blinked and Pam pouted but left. Eric turned his gaze back to the woman in front of him.

"Well," He grinned. "Show me what you have to offer."

Back at her house Sookie was on her hands and knees scrubbing her bathroom floor. Her movements were frantic and rough and sweat sprinkled her forehead and trickled down her neck. Her hair frayed out from behind the bandana she had fastened in an attempt to restrain the stands and she exhaled violently to clear her vision. Her phone rested on the edge of the sink and as she raised herself to double check the screen, the back of her skull came into contact with the porcelain in a sharp crack.

She cried out and dropped back down on her knees, reaching her hands to cradle her head. Tears sprung to her eyes as the throbbing pain spasmed through her body.

"Dammit!" She sobbed desperately. She grabbed at the phone and threw it across the room, crumpling into a ball on the floor as it shattered against the wall. "Dammit."

The air around Eric was humming. It had taken him a second longer than it should have for him to notice, but he had been preoccupied with the dancer, who was, as it turned out, very skilled. He tensed as he caught a whiff of an unsettling smell permeating the air. He couldn't pinpoint what it was, it smelt of cedar and incense and animal and blood, and he knew he should get up. He knew something was happening.

The woman was swaying seductively with her arms straight up and her head thrown back exposing her neck. Eric's fangs slid down. The scent was swirling around his body now and he felt himself begin to tingle. The rational part of his brain kicked in and he tried to stand, but found that his body would not move. He looked down at himself as he felt a fiery burning beginning at his feet and slowly spreading. His eyes rose to the dancer and when she looked down at him her eyes were white orbs. Eric felt a pang of horror. She smiled.