Woohoo, a real update! I feel so proud!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I will get around to answering them ASAP! Plus, thanks to everyone who clicked favorite and follow. :)

This chapter is back in SPOV. It is not Beta'd.

Enjoy!

After spending my day off obsessing over my encounter with Eric Northman, I was relieved to go into work Tuesday morning.

My Monday had consisted of sleeping until noon and after getting up and eating a quick bowl of cereal, I had powered up my laptop, determined to find some information on the perplexing Vampire.

I had only meant to make my search a quick one, but after Googling Eric and seeing all the websites dedicated to him, my quest of curiosity turned into something more.

I was shocked at the number of websites that were only about him. Men and women alike speculated on the elusive Vampire, many bemoaning the fact that while he took the blood willingly offered to him, he never went further than that. I wasn't sure whether to believe the nonsense I read or not, for the Vampire I had met the night before had oozed so much sexual tension I was surprised I didn't choke on it.

Another peculiar thing I found were the lack of photos. Many artists had taken Eric's visage to canvas or sketched him on a piece of paper, but an actual photograph was nowhere to be found.

Needless to say, by the end of my search, I had more questions than answers about Eric Northman. I was irritated by the dead end I found myself in and in an attempt to get rid of my nervous energy, I spent the rest of the evening at the gym.

Upon entering the office, I was a little surprised to see Alcide at his desk. He usually arrived later than I did and as I set my purse down, I spied the dark circles under his eyes. He looked beyond exhausted.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked softly in greeting, coming around to his side of the desk.

He gave me a tired smile and grunted in response. "I've been better."

Placing my hand on his shoulder, I leaned down toward him, genuinely worried. "Can I help?"

"Nah, just been going through all the files and evidence reports. Plus," he looked around discreetly, making sure noone was within ear shot, "the full moon is coming up. I usually feel like shit if I'm not getting a full nights sleep before hand. But don't worry. I'll be okay. How are you? How is Jason holding up?"

Opening my mouth to respond, I froze when I heard my name spoken in the familiar voice of my Lieutenant. Looking over my shoulder, I saw Whitley leaning against the door jamb of his office.

"Can I see you in my office, Sookie?" he asked, taking a sip from the coffee mug in his hand.

Smiling, I nodded my head. "Sure. I'll be right there."

Returning my attention back to Alcide, I sighed softly. "Jason is doing okay. I talked to him last night after I got home from the gym. He's hanging in there." Jason was still raw around the edges, but I had every confidence that he would get over this.

Alcide quirked an eyebrow. "And you? How was the rest of your weekend?"

I had to remind myself that my partner had yet to know that I went to Fangtasia by myself and the drama that ensued. Better keep that kernel of information to myself.

Busying myself with taking my blazer off and draping it over the back of my chair, I shrugged innocently. "You know me," I said, stowing my purse in the bottom drawer of my desk, "nothing ever exciting happens on my days off. I lazed about all day, then I went to the gym and beat the ever living crap out of a boxing bag."

"Sounds pretty boring," Alcide hummed, leaning back in his chair, which creaked ominously under his large frame.

"Exactly," I agreed, smoothing the wrinkles from the silk blouse I was wearing.

"Funny thing though," Alcide began, just as I was turning to go to Whitley's office, "Hartman was in here yesterday complaining about his failed raid at Fangtasia Sunday night. Swears that he saw you there."

Pausing in my movements, I glanced back at Alcide. His piercing green eyes caught mine and held them captive. I tensed up, preparing myself to be chastised.

"I'm not going to pretend to understand why you would go to that place. What I want from you is a promise that if you ever go there again, you tell me. People who get mixed up with Vampires usually end up as one or in a grave. I worry enough for you as it is, but imagining you in that place makes my blood run cold."

I felt his worry for my safety go straight to my heart and instead of saying something snarky at his request, I nodded my head slowly, finally breaking eye contact with him.

"I promise," I murmured. He was right. It'd been reckless and foolish of me to go there, alone.

"Well, I better go see what the Lieutenant wants," I said softly, offering Alcide a small smile, which he returned with one of his own. He seemed relieved that I wasn't fighting him on the subject.

Heading over to the Lieutenant's office, he bade me to enter after I knocked on the door.

"Ah, here she is," Whitley was saying as I stepped inside .

My attention was immediately drawn to the man occupying the chair in front of my Lieutenant's desk. He had shaggy brown hair and boyish features.

"Sookie, I would like to introduce you to Detective Hugh Martin. You will be joining him on reassignment."

The new Detective stared at me with raised eyebrows. After an awkward pause, he jumped to his feet, eagerly offering me his hand.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Detective Stackhouse. I have heard so much about you." he gushed, his hazel eyes studying me intently.

Taking his hand in a firm grip, I shook his hand. Slowly, I lowered my shields, taking the opportunity to use the skin contact to get a good read on the kind of person I would be working with.

...so, so beautiful. Keep it together, Hugh. Don't make yourself look like an idiot. Wow, her eyes are so blue. She should be on the covers of a magazine, not working grisly murder cases...wow, she is so beautiful...

Putting my shields back in place, I had to bite my lip to stop the smile that wanted to form. If only all the thoughts I heard about myself were so flattering, I would have had an easier time growing up.

Glancing down at our joined hands, I was unsure of how to politely remove my own which was still clasped within Hugh Martin's hand. He continued to look at me dreamily, lost in thought.

I looked over at Whitley, who helplessly shrugged his shoulders at my dilemma. Raising a fist to his mouth, he coughed softly, which seemed to bring Hugh back to reality. He immediately flushed red as he released my hand, which I discreetly wiped on the back of my skirt, hoping to rid the sweat that had formed.

"Take a seat, Sookie. I have to be in court in an hour and I would like to get you up to speed on the details of this case," Whitley stated, dropping a case file folder on his desk.

Taking a seat in the extra chair, I crossed my legs and gave my full attention to the Lieutenant.

"Martin is from our Bossier City Division. He has been working this alone since the department there is running low on personnel and I figured that this case would do well with you on it." Whitley said, gesturing toward the case folder. Leaning forward, I grabbed the folder and opened it. My eyes widened slightly by the picture that greeted me.

The picture was of an older black gentleman, sprawled out on the ground with a gaping hole in his chest where his heart should have been.

"I'm not sure if you have been paying attention to the news, but there has been a string of three murders within the last three weeks. The first body was found in the Red River National Wildlife Refuge. The second was found in Haughton, near the interstate. The third was found on the outskirts of Minden." Whitley sighed heavily, his brown eyes serious as he looked at me. "As you can see, the murders themselves are disturbing enough. But what is most concerning is the fact that fifty years ago, five people lost their lives in the same manner."

I frowned, my eyes going back to the folder in my lap. Quickly thumbing through the pictures and ignoring the ghastly sight on each one, I found the file report and quickly read the pertinent information.

Keyon Wilkins, 53, was the first victim to be found. An employee of the Red River National Wildlife Refuge, he was found in the early hours of the morning by park rangers after his wife phoned, worried when her husband had not returned home the previous night.

Jamie Arlon, 17, was the second to have his heart ripped out. Found two miles from the interstate, the teenager was a runaway and had been missing from his Baton Rouge home for over year.

The third, which oddly enough was found during the time I was entertaining the Rattray's Friday night, was Louis Benoit, 36. A truck driver, he was found at a rest stop outside Minden.

Pursing my lips, the first thing I noticed caused me to look up and stare at Whitley with a hint of fear. "They're moving East." Bon Temps was to the East.

"The murders from fifty years ago followed the same pattern," Hugh said, staring at me. "When we found Mr. Wilkins body, my first thought was that perhaps someone was dabbling in Voodoo and needed a human heart, but that was before the second murder and it came to light that the same thing happened back in '62. If the murderer stays true to the original killings, the next body will be found in Taylor."

I fidgeted with the hem of my skirt. "And the fifth?"

"Just outside of Bon Temps." Hugh answered.

Looking at my Lieutenant, I was confused why he would put me on another case that might lead to my home town and someone there having their heart ripped out. He seemed to understand the look I gave him and spoke up.

"I understand your concern, Sookie. I assure you, if it had not been for your brother, you would still be working the other case with Alcide. As it is, the Captain has insisted that this case become priority number one and that I put my best detective on it. There is talk that the FBI might get involved considering that this is obviously a copycat."

"But is it truly a copycat?" Hugh piped up, scooting forward in his chair.

Looking at him curiously, I felt compelled to ask, "What makes you think otherwise?"

"If you look at the coroner's report," he began, grabbing the case folder from my lap, "he stated that each victim literally had their heart ripped out, almost like in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The hearts were not cut out and the arteries around the hearts were severely damaged from the force used to pull the heart from the chest cavity."

I winced at the description. "But what makes you think it's not a copycat? Were the murders from '62 different?"

Hugh shook his head, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "No. They're chillingly familiar in every way. The reason I don't think this is a copycat is because of the claw marks found around the wounds."

Looking at the picture of Mr. Wilkins once again, I noticed the slight gouge marks around the hole in his chest. I glanced up at Hugh, still unsure of where he was taking his theory.

"I mean, come on! Think about it! We always thought the tales of Vampires were just stories, but then we get a reality check when we find out they truly do exist! What if this is some other supernatural creature, just like the Vampires, and this ripping hearts out of peoples chests is some kind of ritual or something?"

Before I could even process what he said, Lieutenant Whitley quickly spoke up. "Martin, let's stick to the facts of the case. Until Bigfoot and the Abominable Snowman come out of the woods and say they are real too, I want you to approach this case at a realistic angle. We are on a deadline and I don't need the Captain breathing down my neck because you are stuck in middle earth."

Hugh seemed to deflate after that. I felt bad for the guy. He was obviously passionate about his beliefs, and while his imagination did seem to be to large for his head, he wasn't too far off in his ideas.

He was right. Besides the Vampires, there were werewolves and what ever class of supernatural Sam was that allowed him to turn into different animals. I began to zone out as the Lieutenant continued to talk, my mind turning inwards as I considered Hugh's words.

What other kind of creatures were out there? When a child cried out in the middle of the night and claimed that there were monsters in the closet, was it true? Were dragons, goblins and trolls real?

The endless possibilities shook me to the core, causing me to reflect on myself.

My telepathy was a supernatural ability. Was I a normal human born with this talent like I'd always thought, or was I something more, the telepathy just a small part of who I truly was?

The thought caused me to shiver, fear of the unknown taking hold. As a child, Gran told me that I was special, that God gave me the power to read minds because I was special and he would never have given me this gift if I could not handle it. I had never questioned her explanation and or gave much thought where the true orgin of my telepathy came from, especially after I came to terms with it.

But now questions flooded my mind, questions that were undoubtedly dangerous and frightening. Questions I wasn't sure I wanted the answers to.

As my eyes came back into focus and my attention returned to where I was, the first thing I became aware of were the photos still resting in my lap. Lifting my head, I blinked, trying to get my swarming thoughts under control.

"...have the extensive archives at your disposal, I would suggest starting there. Modern forensics can only get you so far, sometimes you have to do real detective work and look for clues in overlooked places. I expect an update on the case in forty-eight hours. Any questions?"

I shook my head immediately, hoping that he didn't notice that I missed the majority of his debriefing.

"All right then, you are free to go," he said, reaching for his briefcase and standing.

Hugh nodded at the Lieutenant and exited the office, visibly embarrassed by the rebuke he'd received. Gathering all the photos and files, I slipped them back into the case folder and stood as well.

"Sookie, are you all right? You are awfully pale," Whitley asked, pausing by the door as he observed me.

Forcing a weak smile, I clutched the case folder to my chest. "Yeah, I just didn't eat any breakfast or drink any coffee this morning. I'll be right as rain as soon as I get some food and caffeine in me."

"Okay," he said, readjusting the grip on his briefcase. "I gotta get to court. See you later."

Exiting the office after Whitley left, I was surprised to see Hugh leaning against the wall outside the door. He stood up straight when he saw me and stepped forward.

"Sorry about that. I didn't mean to go off on a tangent. It's just...I think...," he paused, unable to explain himself further.

"Hey, I understand," I said, slowly walking back to my desk. Hugh followed after me. "You think outside the box. I like that."

"Really?" he asked, genuinely surprised.

Laying the files on my desk, I turned to him and nodded. "Sure. If we all thought the same, nothing would ever get done now, would it? But, I have to ask," I lowered my voice and leaned forward, "do you really believe that...that-"

"That these victims were killed by something that wasn't human? Absolutely." he said, a little too loudly for my liking. A few of the other detectives, Alcide included, looked at him.

"We all know that rumours usually have some truth to them, so why can't fairy tales and old lore be looked at as non fiction, stories that describe first hand accounts that these people had with supernatural creatures? Vampires are real, so is it so far fetched to think werewolves, elves or even unicorns could be real?"

A pin could have dropped in that office and be heard. Hugh's little speech had gained the attention of everyone and I had to physically stop myself from looking at Alcide.

"Jesus fucking Christ, Martin! You should take that act out on the road! You may even get more money than you are now!" a voice yelled out.

The whole office erupted in laughter, loud guffaws and condescending whispers slamming against my shields. I grimaced, the mockery of everyone washing over me and in a fit of anger, I whipped around and glared at the one man who needed to be taken down a few notches.

"Hartman," I called out harshly, my eyes narrowing in on my target. The first wave of laughter died down. "Don't you have something better to do? Perhaps writing out a report on your failed raid at Fangtasia would be a good place to start."

Hartman turned red as all eyes turned toward him and I smiled in satisfaction. I hated bully's and I was happy to repay that one forward all the way. He deserved it.

Turning back to Hugh, I put my hand on his shoulder, trying to show some solidarity. "Why don't you go get your car and I'll meet you in the garage. You can show me the sites where the three bodies were found."

Flashing me a thankful look, he left the office as I stared after him. Running my hand over my bun, I bent over to retrieve my badge and I.D. from my purse and locked the drawer after I was done.

"Sookie."

Glancing up at Alcide, he motioned for me to follow him. I knew what he wanted to talk about.

Out in the hallway, he paused for a moment, then opened the door to the janitor closet and grabbed my arm, pulling me inside.

"You need to be careful with him," he said right away, a tinge of panic in his eyes.

"Alcide, he doesn't know anything-" I began, but he cut me off.

"But that's the thing, he believes it! If someone overhears him that shouldn't, he will be taken out to protect secrets that need to stay quiet. He will be viewed as a threat. And if you are with him when he says the wrong thing, you will be viewed as a threat as well. Please, promise me you will be careful."

Staring up into his eyes, I nodded solemnly. I would try my best to keep him focused, but I still couldn't help the curiosity that welled up in me at his beliefs and part of me wanted to talk to him about it.

Alcide let out the breath he was holding. I could only imagine how weird it must have been for him to listen to Hugh talk out about werewolves existing. He was shaken.

"I'll call you later, okay?" I said, patting his arm sleeve.

Opening the door and stepping out into the hallway, I marched toward the double doors that led to the elevators, ready to start my new case.

Yup, time to start weaving book two into the story.

I really enjoyed writing this chapter, it flowed well for me and I hope you like where I'm taking Sookie's reassignment. Curious to see what everyone's take on it is.

I hope you like Hugh. He is one of those scatterbrained dreamers with a big imagination. But he really is a good guy. He is one of those men who are always friend listed by the women he likes. :( In my mind, I see Jack Black playing this character perfectly.

On a somber note, Hugh Martin was a real man. He does not share any of the personality trait's my Hugh has, but he was a Sheriff's Deputy of the Colorado Springs Sheriff's Department and worked with my Dad. In April 1992, Hugh Martin was murdered in a S.W.A.T raid from a shotgun wound to the chest. He was wearing a bullet proof vest. He was killed right in front of my Dad, who was originally supposed to go through the door first, but Hugh took point and his life was snuffed out. He left behind a wife and a young son. His death affected my Dad really bad. He even got a tattoo on his leg in memory of him. :)

On my youtube soundtrack list, I added a new song. By Garth Brooks, The Last Dance was played at Hugh's funeral.

Sorry to end the chapter like this, but I needed to do it. My Dad came home to his family because of him. You are missed, Hugh.