I try to role over and escape the annoyance. I reach to put my pillow over my head and then realize its not there, so I pull my blanket over my head instead. That sound, I still can't get away from it. I simply couldn't ignore it anymore so I finally opened my eyes to find the source of the offending sound.

The bright light of the sun that I was expecting to accost my eyes never came; instead there was only the soft light of Eric's desk lamp illuminating the room. I couldn't help but whimper when I remember that I never made it into my own bed last night and that I spent it on the couch in Eric's office.

When I finally get my bearings I make it over to Eric's desk where I find my cell phone going off like it's lost its mind. I didn't even know the damn thing had an alarm clock let alone how to turn it off. After much fumbling and finagling I turned the damn thing off. Now my head is officially pounding and I become aware of the pain in my neck. Although Eric's couch is extremely comfortable to sit on and is good for short naps it was clearly not made to be slept on all night.

Next to where my phone was sitting on his desk I find a note:

Lover,

I am sorry that were not able to sleep in the comfort of your own bed last night and I promise that this night will be different. I told you last night that your Were friend will be here to pick you up at 10am. I took the liberty to set the alarm on your phone for 9am so that you will have enough time get ready and eat the breakfast that I am having Bobby bring for you at 9:30. I am sorry that I will not be able to make it for you again but maybe if you are up for it I can make you breakfast for dinner when I rise this night. I fear that you are not eating enough so please try and be conscious of the number of times you are eating a day I know with all of the stress it may be easy to forget.

I will see you as soon as the sun allows me and we will make a plan to retrieve your brother.

I put your clean clothes in the employee bathroom along with a fresh toothbrush and some toothpaste for you.

Take care this day

Love,

E

I couldn't help but smile at the thought of Eric cooking for me again, he was just so cute with it last night but I'm afraid that if I start to rely on him too much he may begin to think that I want him to take care of me like this constantly and that I can not have that. As much as I love him I cannot bring myself to rely on another so completely because in the end they all leave and it will just be me.

Trying to shake myself from my thoughts I make my way to the employee bathroom hoping that a hot shower will help to wash away the crick in my neck and these depressing thoughts. The shower was hot and inviting but it only succeeds in relaxing my physical tension. My mental stress is still weighing heavily on me, as I get dressed.

I am not given the chance to think about anything in particular for too long before I hear Bobby Burnham calling my name from the bar area. By the time I make it to the front of Fangtasia Bobby already has one foot out of the door.

"I left your breakfast on the bar and a copy of the keys for here so you can lock up when you leave."

Then Bobby is gone avoiding me like the plague. I can't say I blame him given the fact that our last encounter didn't end too well. But given the fact that I can't do anything about it right now I ignore it and make my way over to the bar and my breakfast.

Before I knew it I was done eating and my phone was ringing. I looked at the caller ID to see that it is Alcide. I let him know that I'll be out soon I just needed to put my breakfast stuff in the trash. He is just pulling up in front of the club as I was locking up. I got in the truck and could already tell that this was going to be a long day.

Alcide looks like he's about to say something but I cut him off before he starts.

"We need to pick up Amelia before we head to my house, she spent the night at Bill's. He lives just across the cemetery from me so it won't take long."

He opens his mouth to respond but before he can get the words out I have my phone out calling Amelia to let her know we are on our way to get her. I can tell from Alcide is anxious and nervous to give me whatever information he has and I am trying my hardest to avoid hearing it at all costs.

A groggy sounding Amelia answers after two rings.

"Hello, Sookie what's the matter?"

"Hey, Ames. Everything is fine; Alcide is taking me to the Bon Temps house. Eric wants you to stay there with us until he gets there and we know what's going on. We are going to pick you up in about an hour."

"Okay, well I guess I'll see you soon. I have to leave Bill a note and let him know where I am so he doesn't worry when he wakes."

"How is he?" I feel like a bad friend for not having checked in on him but I think he understands.

"He's okay Bubba is keeping him entertained so it think that helps."

"Okay, that's good. I'll see you soon then."

I hang up and chance a glance at Alcide he seems to be trying too hard to focus on the road, there isn't much traffic but he seems to be on high alert anyway. He starts to speak again when my phone rings. It is Mr. Cataliades I really hope he is not at the house already; I would hate for him to have to wait outside for so long.

"Hello."

"Ms. Stackhouse, I am glad that I caught you I just wanted to let you know that I got tied up in New Orleans last night and was unable to leave at the time I had planned but I will be at your house today around 1:30. I hope that is alright with you?"

"Oh, Mr. Cataliades that's perfectly fine especially since I am not back from Shreveport as of yet. Has there been any word on Daintha?"

"Unfortunately no. We are still looking for her but I do fear the worst."

"I am so sorry, but don't lose faith yet you still might find her."

"It's doubtful but thanks anyway child. I will see you in a few hours."

"Okay, Mr. Cataliades I will see you then."

I hang up the phone feeling worse than when I woke. I really hope that nothing too awful has been done to Daintha; Mr. Cataliades has already lost one niece trying to get a message to me. I am pulled out of my reverie when Alcide snatches my phone from my hand.

"What the hell are you doing? Give me my phone back." I have no time for these kinds of childish games and Alcide would be the last person I would expect this from.

"No more distractions Sookie. I have things I have to tell you. So stop trying to put it off."

I was hoping that he hadn't noticed what I was doing, but I apparently was not as clever as I thought I was. Thoroughly ashamed I nod my head.

"Well I told you that my trackers went out with the panthers to see what they could find. They followed your brother's scent to the Shreveport airport's private jet hanger. Obviously they can't follow it any further from there but they were able to get a copy of the flight manifests for all of the private and chartered flights that have left in the last few days. We have narrowed it down to a few that fit the time frame a little better but after that we are stuck."

I take a deep breath. If Jason was taken out of the state, by air no less how in the hell am I supposed to get him back?

"Where were those flights going?" I knew I didn't really want to know but I just had to.

"One was heading to New York, another to California, one to Nevada, and one to Virginia. I'm really sorry Sookie I wish I could do more but without more information there isn't much I can do."

I feeling of helplessness and despair washes over me and I can't help but cry. All of those places are so far from here and so large the chances of finding Jason are slim at best. I pray that he is not in Nevada because that would mean I would have to worry about Victor and Filipe, and that is something I really don't want to do. Even though I don't think I am ever going to see my brother again its not going to stop me from trying.

"Thanks, Alcide. I really appreciate all of your help. Mr. Cataliades is coming by the house with some information later today so hopefully it will help."

The rest of the drive to Bon Temps was silent, too long, yet over too quickly. We pull up in front of Bill's house and I get out to ring the bell. Amelia answers quickly and gives me a big hug. She seems to be in a better mood than she was when she left me that voice mail yesterday. I have to admit that Amelia's moods were always a bit contagious. I take a peek in her head in hopes to see what the cause of her good mood is but I just get the feeling that she is intentionally trying to not think of something. I shrug it off and walk with her back to the truck.

I can't recall these two ever meeting so I make quick introduction and we are on our way again.

When we pull up to my house it feels like I haven't been here in years rather than a day but I quickly fall into my role as hostess and offer Alcide a drink. We all sit around the kitchen table in the most awkward of silences. I decide to get started making lunch so it will be ready in time for Mr. Cataliades' arrival and Amelia goes off to clean something.

"Is there anything I can help with?" Alcide asks while putting his now empty glass into the sink.

"Sure I guess you can start cutting up the veggies for the salad." I pause for a moment thinking of Eric making breakfast last night and how much fun it would be to cook with him one night. I can't help but chuckle a bit when I think of the blueberry that was in Eric's hair. Maybe cooking with him would be fun but I doubt the clean up afterward will be. My mood sobers a bit when I look out the window at and see the sun and realize that even though we may be able to cook together it will never be with the sun coming through the windows, but I think I might be okay with that as long as I have him.

"Everything okay Sook?" Alcide's voice startles me.

I smile at him my mind going back to the blueberry in my head. "Yeah I'm okay I was just thinking of Eric cooking last night, it was very cute and very funny. Its just easier to think about that right now than everything else."

"Wow, he cooks for you? I never would have expected that. I guess I really don't have a chance now do I?" He tries to say this in a jesting manor but I know him better than that.

Why didn't I see this conversation coming? I really should have known better, I sigh and turn to face him. "No, you don't, all I can offer you is friendship if you can't accept that I don't know what else to tell you."

Thankfully Alcide just sighs and returns to what he was doing and says, "Okay Sookie I can respect that but just know if for whatever reason you two don't work out I'll be the first one at your door."

"Right." Is all I can think to say in response; this is so not the time to be having this conversation.

Thankfully Amelia picks this opportunity to come into the kitchen and offer to get the table set seeing as it's almost 1:30. Just then there is a knock at the front door and I pick up the static of a demon brain. I was just finishing frying the last bit of chicken when Amelia brought Mr. Cataliades into the kitchen. To say that his appearance surprised me would be an understatement.

The normally portly bordering on rotund half demon lawyer looked almost drawn compared to his usual physique. His Santa Claus worthy belly was almost nonexistent, his cheeks were sunken in, eyes seemed to have recessed into his skull and were now just a shadow of their former luminescence. I can't help but gasp when I take in his appearance, Mr. Cataliades smiles as if to say it is no big deal but his smile is weak at best.

I rush over to pull a chair out for him, I know its rude but I can't help but exclaim, "What happened to you?"

"That is not the issue at hand now, maybe we can talk about at some other time." His eyes shift around to the other two people in the room clearly showing that he doesn't want to talk about it in front of strangers.

I nod slightly before changing the subject. "Mr. Cataliades I believe you may have met Amelia before, and this is my friend Alcide Herveaux Shreveport Pack Master."

Despite his grave countenance Mr. Cataliades still managed to look impressed. "My, Ms. Stackhouse you do manage to keep some powerful company. It's no wonder you always find yourself in perils situations, it seems their swords of Damocles always tend to come down on your head." He said before taking a sip of the sweet tea I just placed in front of him. I didn't really understand what it was he said but given the expressions of Alcide and Amelia's faces I knew it could not have been a good thing.

"We were about to have lunch would you like some?" I asked in an attempt to cut the tension a bit.

"That would be nice thank you. Then I can tell you all that I know, to tell it all again when your vampire gets here." He replies with a little more attitude than I am used to out of him.

Alcide helps me bring the food over to the table; I went a little overboard given my nervousness. I made fried chicken, collard greens, biscuits, mashed potatoes, and gravy, and the salad Alcide made.

"Geez, Sookie were you planning on feeding an army?" Amelia asks barely able to contain her giggles. I ignore her and go about eating my meal.

We all ate for a good while in silence before I couldn't take it anymore. "Okay, I can't take it anymore what do you know?"

Mr. Cataliades puts his fork down and sighs, "Well, there has been a series of disappearances across the country, all of which involve mix breed supernaturals. That is to say that part demons, bitten weres, demigods, chimaeras of other sorts, and anyone with the faintest hint of fairy blood have simply vanished. The only caveat is that the individual has to exhibit some characteristic of their supernatural heritage.

"These disappearances have taken place all over the country and only seemed to have started within the last month or so. There hasn't been much investigation into these disappearances because most full-blooded supes don't often care much for mix breeds. It is thought that a small group of demons is working together to collect these people. I've done some looking into this and it seems that Asmodeus an Az are at the bottom of all of this and if that is the case it does not bode well for the ones that have been taken.

"There have been rumors lately of an underground sex club that has opened in New York. Which makes sense given that Asmodeus is the demon of lust and Az is the demon of greed, I can't see a reason these two wouldn't team up for such a venture. From what I have found out wealthy supes and humans go there when they are looking for something exotic and choose among the captives based on their abilities and attractiveness.

"It is thought that vampires may be involved in this as well but I don't know for sure. These two working together is bad enough they are merciless, bloodthirsty and incredibly unpredictable. I don't know if they have your brother but if they do I'm sorry but I think he is as good as gone."

I simply sat there, open-mouthed taking in everything Mr. Cataliades has said. I don't know what to make of it, there is no way of telling if these two have Jason but if they do I can't even bring myself to think about what is being done to him. I try to breathe but it's coming in short gasps. I get a mental picture of Jason on the floor of a room like the one I was in, in Alabama with Thing One and Thing Two. I make a run for the hall bathroom and barely make it in time to throw up in the toilet.

The coolness of the porcelain and the water in the bowl helps to calm me a bit. Soon Amelia is sitting on the tub next to me rubbing my back and saying something but I cannot make any of it out right now. I can't believe this is happening, it was bad enough knowing he was missing but now that I have an idea of what may be happening to him it almost too much to bear. Soon the world stops spinning and I am able to breathe again.

"He's probably not even there Sookie." Amelia says in her best reassuring voice but the doubt in her head makes it hard to believe her.

I flush the toilet one last time, "I'm going to brush my teeth I'll be out in a sec." I try to give Ames my best reassuring smile but we both know it falls short.

I brush and splash some cold water on my face steeling myself before walking back into the kitchen. I find my roommate and two guests talking in hushed tones and I quickly put my shields back up before I accidently catch what they were talking about. I clear the table and set the dishes to soak, as I'm doing that I have a thought.

"Mr. Cataliades how were you able to find all of this out? I mean I doubt these two put out a prospectus for their little business venture." He once again gave me that look as if to say 'lets not talk about this in mixed company.' I decided to change the subject, or at least I thought I was.

"What do you think happened to Daintha? It's not like her to run off."

"No, its not. I fear that she was taken. I just can't believe that I've lost another one so soon." Mr. Cataliades looked as if he was about to cry so I decided to cut my losses and start on making dinner.

This time around both Alcide and Amelia helped in an effort to escape the dark cloud that is Mr. C at the moment. We cooked just about everything in the house that was edible just to pass the time. I was so relieved when I saw that the sun was setting. Soon Eric would be here and we can start to make plan.

I here my phone ringing but have no idea where it is realizing I never retrieved it after Alcide took it hostage. He eventually realizes that the ringing is coming from his back pocket as he hands the phone to me.

"Sam, what's going on? Did you see Dermot again?"

"Hey, Sook, yeah I did and I actually spoke to him. I don't think he had anything to do with Jason disappearing."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, he seems kind of broken up over the whole thing. He wants to talk to you, he wants to help find Jason."

As much as I want to believe that my great uncle wants to help get Jason back I cannot help but think he still wants to hurt me. "Okay, where is he now?"

"He is at Jason's place again, Calvin and I came in hopes of finding him and we did. We have the iron and lemons like you said but he hasn't been hostile. He says he doesn't want to hurt you."

I don't know what to say, I don't want anything to do with the fairy but if he is willing to help Jason who am I to deny him that. He has had opportunity to hurt Jason in the past and used it instead to warn him. I know I'm going to regret later but I say.

"Eric will be here in about an hour, you and Calvin bring him over in about and hour and a half. He does not come into the house and you and Calvin stay on either side of him at all times. If he so much as sneezes you get him with the lemon juice you got it."

"Oh cher, don't you think that is a bit much?"

"No I do not Sam Merlotte. You have no idea what his people have put me through; I have no reason to trust him. I'm not doing this for him I'm doing this for Jason." With that I hung up on him and if he doesn't like it touch cookies.

Everyone does a good job of pretending that they have no interest in the conversation I just had. Alcide's butt starts to ring again but this time the call is coming in on his own phone. I try not to listen in as I clean up the last of the mess we made making dinner. He's off the call quickly and I can tell by the look on his face I can tell that it is not good news.

"My guys found out that on that flight that went out to New York a few nights ago that I told you about there was a guy on it that fit your brothers description and he didn't look too well. One of my trackers and one of Calvin's is on plane to New York now to see what they can find."

I don't even respond I go over to the computer and with my limited abilities I find rates for flights from Shreveport to New York. The rates seem to be a bit steep given the short notice but they are still doable since I have some cash leftover from my job in Rhodes. "I'm leaving tomorrow morning and I'm going to find him."

"You most definitely are not." A voice booms from the front door. I nearly jump out of my skin at the sound of it. "Where is it exactly that you think you are going tomorrow?"

Eric did not look happy but getting Jason back is more important to me than his happiness at the moment. "I'm going to New York to find Jason."

Eric strides up to me and we are nose-to-nose, well as much as we can be given out height difference. I'm not backing down on this one I'm going whether he likes it or not. Amelia, ever the brave soul attempts to squeeze between us and diffuse the tension. "Well let's wait to hear back from Alcide's guys and make sure Jason is actually in New York. Besides Eric needs to hear what Mr. Cataliades has to say."

Surprisingly Eric takes a step back before I do. "Yes I am quite eager to hear what he has to say." He replies not taking his eyes off of me.

When she is satisfied that we were not going to try to rip each other's throats out Amelia says that she needs to heading over to Bill's to check on him, and Alcide catching the hint offers to drive her with the promise to return.

Eric and I sit down in the living room where Mr. Cataliades is now seated and I listen to all that he has to say again. I am proud to say that I was able to keep what was left of my lunch down, although I do not think there was much left.

"I think that in addition to Jason they may have Daintha, she has been hanging around with an unsavory crowd as of late and I know for a fact some of the boys she was hanging with are helping with the collecting."

Before I could say anything Eric cuts in. "But how do you know all of this and what the hell happened to you?" Well at least I never said that I loved him for his tact.

"Yes Viking I am bit run down as of late. I have…lets just say I have spent some time in New York lately and I didn't seem to fit the appetites of the people there."

I was completely horrified to hear this but didn't have the time to process it before me phone rang. It was Sam telling me he was outside with Dermot and Calvin. Oh, fudge how was I going to explain this to Eric? Well here goes nothing.

"Sam is here and he has some information."

"Okay, and?" Eric quirks an eyebrow at me already knowing something isn't quite right.

"We have to meet him outside." I say moving to the door but Eric is in front of me before I even move three steps.

"What aren't you telling me?"

I'm about to spill the beans when Alcide walks in saying, "Sook why is Sam standing outside with Jason?"

Eric's fangs run down at hearing that knowing exactly what it means and heads for the door. I have to run to keep up with his long strides all the while trying to explain what exactly is going on. Before I know it Eric has Dermot by the throat lifting him off of the ground. Calvin and Sam know that there is nothing that they can do against an angry vampire so they both take a step back.

"How dare you come here fairy?"

"Eric please put him down, he wants to help. He's not going to hurt me." I try and get Eric to calm down but I fear he may be too far-gone. The fact that he was up close with a half-fairy wasn't helping matters at all.

"Go ahead vampire kill me, its not like there is a place for me in this realm anyway." Dermot says through gasps and coughs. "Show her that you are no better than the animals that attacked her, show her how you and I are the same."

Eric threw Dermot down on to the grass with a sickening thud. Dermot merely laughed, "Oh yes, she will see you soon."

"Speak now fairy while you have the chance." Eric spat while towering over Dermot.

Dermot's gave lingered on Eric for a moment before directing his attention to me, "Sookie, I had nothing to do with Jason going missing, I don't know where he is and I want to help get him back. He and I became somewhat of friends over the last month. We have much in common he and I, Niall spurned us both through no fault of our own, and we have both known great loss and betrayal. I have no expectations of you. But Jason is all I have."

How can I hold any ill will against him after that, and he never actually hurt me? I would be no better than the FOTS if I held him accountable for the wrong doings of a handful of other fairies. I can't read him but I can get the general feeling of truthfulness off of him and I would like to go with that. I'm not about to run and hug him but I can try and get to know him and hope that he is in fact being truthful.

"Eric please let him up, I don't think he's lying."

Reluctantly Eric rises from his crouched position and makes his way over to me. "You are way too trusting lover."

"That may be true but it's neither here nor there right now. Lets just all go inside, I made way too much food so lets have something to eat while we figure out what to do next."

Eric did not look pleased with my invitation but thankfully he decided not to argue. After a while everyone was settled around my small kitchen table, Eric refused a chair since he doesn't eat but he kept his distance from Dermot. I opened a window hoping the fresh air would help lessen the fairy scent some.

I looked around my table and could barely believe the diversity creatures that had gathered to help me. I wish gran were here for this she would have just loved it if we were gathered under better circumstances. I remember the way she puttered around and doted on Bill during his first visit here, I could only imagine how she would be if she was here now.

God do I miss gran, if she were here none of this would have ever happened. I couldn't hold back my tears any longer. Eric was by my side instantly picking me up and placing me on his lap. He spent several minutes calming me, rubbing my back and whispering to me in a voice so low that I don't think the even with all of the hypersensitive supe hearing around the table anyone other than me heard him.

Once I calmed a bit I was completely mortified by my little display. It was bad enough that I had a mini break down but to have my vampire have to sooth me in front most of my former suitors was uncomfortable to say the least. I might as well have set up a live feed to Bill and Quinn's houses so they don't feel left out. It would be a full house then and Eric will only have to feel this smug once.

Thankfully he decides to distract the men at the table with the issue at hand, "So, we need a way to determine for sure that Asmodeus and Az have Jason, we need someone that can get in then be able to get out again. The best way to get someone in and out of there is to have him masquerade as a potential client and try to get a visual confirmation, this person can't be a mix breed because we then run the risk of the person not being let out." Well I guess that leaves me out then.

"Once visual confirmation is made we will determine all points of entry, weakness, security, and surveillance in order to determine the best plan of attack." This is sounding more like a military attack than anything I have ever been involved in before.

"Or someone that looks like him can offer themselves up in his place." Dermot suggests as if it was the most logical answer to our problem.

"You most definitely will not." I say finally lifting my head from Eric's shoulder. "There is no way in hell I'm going to let you do something so foolish."

The only person at the table that was stunned by my outburst was Dermot; the other men have come to expect such things from me. "What do you care if I'm locked away in some sex cave for the rest of my life?"

Dermot had the nerve to look affronted. "Just drop it she is not going to back down on this." Alcide remarked to the fairy as the other men nodded their heads in agreement.

"I don't care what you think of me but I will not have you put yourself into such a position, I'll chain you to the porch with iron if I have to."

"My aren't we fierce? I see why Niall took a liking to you. Fine I'll save that as a last ditch effort if the vampire's plan doesn't work."

"His name is Eric and his plan will work just fine, now if you don't have anything constructive to add keep your trap shut." I felt Eric's chest puff a bit at my faith in his plan and my insistence that Dermot call him by his name. "We need to flush this plan out a little more and find out exactly what it is that each of us will be doing.

And there our little war council sat at my kitchen table deep into the night scheming to get my brother back.