A/N: Thank you to everyone who has posted reviews, alerts, and favorites! hugs This a long one, before we get some action next time.

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"Hello Sookie."

His voice sounded like music against the echoing murmurs and clanks of her cell walls. Sookie spun around, a big grin spread across her face. For a moment she felt self conscious. Her hair was messy, she hadn't had a good shower in months, and she probably looked more like marsh monster than a human. But seeing his face made her forget all of those thoughts. She rushed up viewing hole in the door.

"Bill!"

The door creaked, and opened to reveal Bill standing straight in a black suit, crisp, white shirt, and a large Starbucks mug in his hand. Sookie rushed up to hug him. He felt like home, like clean, and like safe. She knew that she shouldn't be surprised that he looked exactly the same as when she last saw him. After all, vampires didn't change. And that was something she liked most about Bill: he was dependable. Aside from Alcide, he was probably her only friend in this place.

Looking at the coffee cup with eager anticipation, she asked, "Is that for me?"

Bill smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Yes sweetheart. I thought you might like this. The barista called it a Macchiato with a shot of mocha. She recommended it highly."

Sookie's grin couldn't grow any bigger, and tears threatened to appear. Bill was such a nice guy. Granted, she wished he'd sprung for a Venti instead of a Tall, and before her incarceration should would have probably have commented on it. But that was before, and here in the now the warm liquid tasted like ambrosia.

"Oh Bill, it's wonderful. You know, right now, it's probably the best tasting thing I've ever had," Sookie said earnestly, stepping back to allow Bill to enter the cell. She was glad that she had made her bed earlier that day, and gestured for him to sit down. Sitting down next to him, she fought the urge to smooth out her unflattering uniform. Compared to Bill's clothes, she might as well be wearing garbage bags.

Then again, her's and Bill's relationship had always been a bit mismatched. Misunderstandings, different clothes, different expectations. It was good old Southern values that had kept them together. If he had been human, Sookie would probably have married him.

A spilled drink, some ketchup, a mustard stain that would probably never come out, and the faint smell of beer. Sookie took inventory of tonight's battle wounds on her uniform. Grateful that the downstairs' bathroom light was so weak that it didn't reveal more to clean, she redid her hair into a slopping bun and went into the kitchen to put away the remnants of her post shift snack. It was almost 2am, but having worked for 12 hours straight, she had needed something to eat before bed. Her reflection in the mirror seemed a bit wider than usual. Experimentally, she lifted her shirt to look at her belly. No longer the flat, toned stomach of a few years ago, the extra pounds were starting to show. Sookie sighed. She hated dieting, but short of a miracle weight loss drug, she needed to start eating less. No pies for two months, she vowed confidently. She turned again from side to side, noting any difference to her gut as she sucked it in. The weak reflection didn't seem to improve any.

Sookie gasped at the figure that had appeared in the window, just visible in the corner of the mirror. A moment later, it was gone. Wrinkling her brow, she dropped her sweater back down, and moved out to the living room window to look out. Mentally, she ran though what she had done since coming home. Locked doors. Made sandwich. Ate. Went to bathroom. Could any of the other doors or windows be open?

She cast her mental net out, but felt nothing. Even less than nothing. Almost like a void.

She looked at the old wall phone, and debated calling the Sheriff's office. She couldn't see or hear anything outside now, but maybe she should call and filed some sort of report? Maybe she should just call Gran? But Gran was probably enjoying herself on the Descendents of the Glorious Dead's trip to the National Archives. No need to worry her. Besides, Gran was definitely asleep by now.

Sookie took the phone in her hand, equivocating. Slowly starting to punch in the numbers, her action were stopped by knocking at the door.

Her heart felt like it stopped too.

Grabbing the closest weapon she could find, a rolling pin, Sookie inched over to the door.

"Who is it?" she yelled out. Who even says that, she asked herself. Not only was she scared to death of whoever it was, now she was looking like an idiot.

"My apologizes, ma'am. My name is William Compton." She didn't answer as he paused. " I'm your new neighbor. I came by earlier, but no one was home. While taking one of my nighttime constitutionals, I saw the light on, and wanted to introduce myself."

She thought for a moment. It sounded right. There had been a Compton recently moved to the old Compton place. And rumors (also known as Ms. Fortenberry gossiping) said that he kept very odd hours.

Sensing no ill will, Sookie unlocked the door and looked at her visitor. He smiled. For the second time that night, Sookie felt as though her heart stopped. He was dashing, despite the jeans jacket and jeans, wearing a simple white collared shirt. His sideburns and brown hair looked like they belonged in another era. Most notably, she couldn't hear anything from him. Why couldn't she hear anything from him? His kind eyes brought her back to the present.

"Sorry about that," she apologized, smiling shyly. "I thought I saw someone lurking outside the window just before you knocked. I guess my mind is playing tricks on me." She looked straight into his beautiful eyes, and felt captivated. "Sookie Stackhouse. Pleased to meet you. Won't you come in?"

"Have you talked to Gran?" Sookie asked excitedly. "Is she alright?" Bill usually visited her after having visited her Gran, a routine which game Sookie comfort when she was alone. He had told Sookie that he couldn't disclose anything about her and the facility to Gran, lest the government think it a threat. But he had promised to check in on her now and again, and make sure that she was taken care of.

"I did, just this weekend in fact. She is doing well."

Sookie relaxed slightly at the news, even if her mind had no idea how to process how much time had elapsed. Weekends and weekends all lost meaning when you are locked in a gray cell.

"Is she taking her pills?" she asked. "You know how stubborn she can be about her pills."

Bill patted her free hand reassuringly. "I ensured that she is indeed taking her medications as prescribed. Her knee is completely healed. Judging by the roses, she has been well enough to be tending to them again."

"I'm glad," Sookie said, falling into silence. With Bill there, she could let her mind and troubles just drift away. Her own personal bubble.

"Since being turned, I have witnessed humans at their best, and at their worst. But I find the moments I most appreciate are the simple acts of kindness people do for one another. A smile when holding the door open. Helping someone cross the street. Giving someone a hug. Those are the times when I most regret losing my humanity."

Sookie felt a warm surge of affection brew for Bill. Having only meet him a week ago, and then found out that he was a vampire, she was at first skeptical. But the more she got to know him, she more she felt close to him. The misery of fate that the one man she had ever felt close to was the only man whose mind was completely opaque to her. Like her, he had been given a lot in life he didn't want, and was trying to make the best of things.

"That's beautiful," she finally managed to say. "I hear what people are thinking all day, and let me tell you, if there were more people like you in the world, why, we'd never have another war. We'd be able to live our lives without all that crap that makes people miserable."

Sookie heard herself after finishing, and realized her mistake. "I mean, I hear people talking in the bar all the time. You would not believe the things folks will say with a waitress around."

Bill just squeezed her hand reassuringly. "That is most kind, Ms. Stackhouse. You are truly a wonderful woman."

"Any word on when they'll finally let me go see Gran?" she asked in a voice that felt smaller than herself. She knew the answer. Bill wouldn't have waited to tell her if there was good news. This was just a friendly visit. She had learned not to hope too much anymore. Still, it was hard not to feel some hope.

"I'm sorry, darling. I brought it up with the Director again, but this would need to be cleared at so many levels, it could be months before we get word back. I'm trying."

Sookie squeezed her eyes shut, feeling the familiar feeling of bile in her throat. Bill stroked her back, slowly back and forth. The gesture should have felt reassuring, instead, it felt like resignation.

Looking at their intertwined hands, she knew that she needed to tell him. Explain to him why the town had so many rumors about her. Why she was known as "Crazy Sookie". As her anxiety levels threatened to rise, she reminded herself that Bill would understand. He worked at a vampire medical research facility, after all. Even if she didn't understand what he did there, he wasn't a doctor, she figured he would understand. She knew her heart would break if he rejected her.

"Bill?" she said softly, as he gazed out at the darkened lake. It was his idea to talk an evening walk to the lake, and even if she could barely see in the crescent moon light, it was relaxing just spending time with him.

"Yes, Sookie?" he replied, turning slowly to face her.

"Bill. I need to tell you something, and I need to promise that you'll wait to say anything until I am done." The words began pouring out of her, and she told him that she was a telepath, that she could read human thoughts but not vampires, that she struggled sometimes to keep out of everyone's' heads, and that only a few people knew. She knew she was rambling, but she felt like if she stopped, he might not fully understand. He listened patiently, not moving. When she finally did stop, all she saw was a cheek muscle twinge, before a smile broke out.

"Why Sookie, I think you have a remarkable gift. And you can't hear vampire thoughts at all?"

She let out a long breath of air, and finally grinned. "Nope. I think that's part of the reason I like being with you so much. You're just you - no extra thoughts or nothing." She didn't know how to phrase the next part, and figured it was better to just spit it out. "Bill, have you met others?"

"Others?"

"Others like me, I mean. Telepaths? I mean, maybe someone at your workplace knows more about it."

Bill looked contemplative for a moment, and Sookie briefly wondered if the fact that she was a freak was sinking in.

"I have never met another telepath, but," he paused, crickets chirping in the background, "I can ask someone, if you'd like."

"Yes please. Anyone at work you might know. I just want to figure out why I am this way. Oh, thank you Bill!"

"Do you at least know what the hell they are doing to me this time?" she bit out, tears threatening to spill. Damnit, she was a Stackhouse. She wasn't going to cry over this again. She was going to stay strong. Bill had promised to get her out, and she trusted him. She should have listened to him in the first place. Then she wouldn't be in this hell hole to begin with.

"Here you go," Sookie said, sliding the heated True Blood to Bill. "One O positive True Blood."

Before she could leave, Bill grabbed her hand. If it had been anyone else, she would have just yanked her hand back and said something about them needing to wait. But Bill's vampire strength made that difficult. Plus, Bill was her friend. More than a friend, if she was honest. He knew everything about her. Only two months had passed since they first met, but Sookie was sure she was in love with him.

"Bill?" she asked, stepping back to the table. "I have tables waiting. What's wrong?"

"Sookie," Bill said with a deep, low voice, "we must talk. I have something very important to discuss with you."

Sookie had a good feeling what Bill wanted to talk about. The research facility had called her earlier that day, inviting her in for a series of tests. She figured that Bill had mentioned her telepathy to someone, and maybe they knew more about it. The money they were offering for a weekend of tests was too good. She could pay for a new roof for the farmhouse, pay their taxes, and still have a little left over for a rainy day. Besides, she would never have found out that Golden Oaks even existed if it hadn't been for Bill.

"Can it wait until the end of my shift?" she asked in her softest Southern belle voice. Bill always liked it when she played the part. "Its a crazy busy night, and we're short staffed. I promise, as soon as my shift is over, we can talk for as long as you want."

Bill nodded solemnly, and Sookie could feel him watching her the rest of the evening. The shift passed quickly. Sam was in a good mood, people were ordering plenty, and a game playing on the tv resulted in enthusiastic rounds of beers. All in all, she thought as she patted her pocket of tips, things were going good.

Bill was waiting for her the minute she stepped outside.

"Sookie, we must talk immediately," he said, pulling her to her car. She knew the drill - let Bill drive so he could feel like a gentleman. Without question, she handed him her car keys. She smiled at his silly hang ups, and was grateful to be able to relax in the passenger seat. He drove slowly out from Merlottes.

"Bill, I know what you are about to say," she started. Might as well get ahead of this while she could. "But they are offering good money. So I'll just go in, do a few little parlor tricks, and even if they don't know what's wrong with me, I'll go home with a big fat check to show for it. What's the big deal?"

"Sookie," Bill looked at her with reproach. "You have no idea who you are dealing with. That place is much more than you think it is."

Sookie huffed at his over protectiveness. "What do you mean Bill? You work there, and you've said you like working there. You said you guys are trying to help vampire and human relations. $5,000 is a hell of a lot of money for a weekend away. I'd be a sucker to turn it down."

Bill abruptly stopped the car, jerking it to the side of the road. He turned his body to face Sookie.

"There are things I can't tell you about..."

"Blah blah blah, security clearance... I know Bill. We've been over this."

"Yes but this is far more than simply national security. Sookie, you must trust me. You shouldn't go there. Its better if you stay away."

"How about Jason," she asked next, changing the topic. She lay her head on his shoulder as she lacing her fingers in his cold hand, trying to regain a sense of self. "He's not getting into any trouble, is he?"

"No, your brother has been quite industrious. Your grandmother told me that he received a bonus at work for completing a project ahead of schedule."

Sookie couldn't help but frown. While Bill was diligent in seeing her grandmother, he never spoke of actually seeing Jason. She had even asked Bill to check up on Jason a couple of times, but every time she got the same answer - some unlikely positive news relayed via Gran. It wasn't that she didn't believe Bill. Heck, she loved her brother and hoped he was doing good, but he was no saint.

Jason hadn't much liked Bill though, so she couldn't blame Bill for not speaking to him directly. For all Bill was doing for her, she really had no right to fault him for some small thing like that.

"And everyone at the bar?" she asked, trying to imagine what was happening at the bar. She wasn't sure of the date anymore. Maybe they were preparing for Halloween, decorating, choosing costumes. Or maybe it was closer to Homecoming, and the Bon Temps high school kids would come streaming in, all excited for the big weekend. It all just felt so long ago, as it had been some story from some book.

"They are well," Bill reassured her, taking her hand in his.

"You sure you don't want company? Even just for the ride?" Terry asked again. Sookie smiled a genuine smile at him. Even if she felt worn out from an unusually busy morning shift, Terry could manage to brighten her day. He had been such a sweetheart with her trips to Golden Oaks, letting her switch shifts, giving her a day off yesterday. He even made her make a pact- once Sookie felt like she was in a good place money wise, the two of them would start part time at LSU. He could do it with the GI bill, and she could pay using her Golden Oaks money.

"And leave you there waiting for six hours? Don't worry Terry. I've got music for the ride, and someone made me the best sandwich this side of the Mississippi for a snack." Terry blush at her compliment and averted his gaze. "You should get busy with looking at classes mister. I'll see you on Monday!"

The clinic visit was quick this time. As usual, she was handled by two new lab techs. They only took some of her blood, and then put her in front of a vampire to test her mind reading skills. But the whole visit felt off. Like there was something going on that she wasn't grasping. But when she tried to dip into the staff members' minds, she didn't find anything out of sort. People were excited for the weekend. Someone had a crush on someone else. Nothing more racy than what she got at the bar.

She collected her check at the reception. The usual girl was there - a thin, curly haired blond woman who seemed to have a few screws loose. As she checked the check amount, which seemed obscene for the short day, a tall, blond woman with a severe expression caught her attention. Or rather, she had caught the woman's attention. Dressed in black, with tall stiletto heels, the woman looked more New York than Louisiana. Sookie smiled, trying to look friendly as the woman regarded her with curious eyes.

The woman strode up to her in long, confident steps that made staccato clicks along the grey, linoleum floor.

"So good of you to come today, Miss Stackhouse," the woman said coolly. Sookie stood a little bit taller to match the woman. Vampire, Sookie realized as she felt the void. Must be one of Bill's friends.

"Oh, I just love helpin' out," Sookie answered, plastering a "crazy Sookie" smile on.

"I think you'll do more than just 'help out'," the woman replied, and briskly turned around, sauntering off.

Some people, vampire or human, were just plain rude, Sookie thought to herself. She couldn't help but shiver, and rushed out the door.

Their visit ended far too quickly, as Bill had to leave for a meeting. He promised that he would continue pushing for her release, and make sure that her gran was alright.

In his absence, Sookie felt like she had become a vampire void herself. Numb. Empty. Alone. No, she reminded herself. She had to be ok. She would get out of here. She had to have hope, no matter how faint.

Six months of visits to Golden Oaks, and Sookie was feeling pretty good. Terry and her had signed up for classes - he was taking basic accounting, and she was taking intro to psychology. She had bought her gran some new rose bushes. Even bought herself a new dress.

She planned to debut her dress this Friday at her date with Bill. He'd been withdrawn lately, spending all kinds of hours over at Golden Oaks. She had almost thought that he was tired of her and wanted to end their relationship, until she got his text message last night.

"Dinner, Friday? I'll pick you up at 8:30. My way of saying sorry for being so busy."

Sure, it wasn't the most romantic message. It was hard to do romance via text. Especially for Bill, who hated texting. But those 17 words had made her heart flip. He cared about her. And she wasn't going to wait any longer to say that she was in love with him.

When she pulled into the driveway at 7:30pm, she felt the hubbub of mind just a little ways away. She listened closely, turning off her engine and slowly making her way over to the house. They had to be in the cemetery. Sometimes people would come and pay their respects, or it could have been a funeral, but never at this hour, at this time of year. Her gran was probably still at the knitting circle at church at this point.

Checking her watch, she cursed at how little time she had to shower and get ready, and pushed the whole questionable crowd thing to the back of her mind. After all, this was Bon Temps. The worst thing to happen here was Mrs. Fortenberry complaining that someone had sabotaged her pie at the annual Church bake-off. Now, that had been a hoopla Sookie didn't even want to begin to remember.

At 8:20pm, she heard a knock on the door, and bounded down the stairs. Bill had to be early.

"Miss Stackhouse?" the man asked as she opened the door. He was dressed in a crisp black suit, and had a boyish grin that made her feel like she could trust him. But, still she frowned. He was definitely not Bill.

"Yes?" she replied, glancing at the clock. "And who might you be?"

"Miss Stackhouse, my name is Dr. Newlin. I'm the Director at Golden Oaks. I've come to ask you something very important." She looked at the clock again. 8:23.

"Dr. Newlin, I am afraid I already have plans for the evening. Could this wait until the morning?"

"Ah yes," Dr. Newlin said with a broad smile. "With Mr. Compton. He mentioned something to the effect. Don't worry. He won't mind. After all, I am his boss."

As if on cue, Bill appeared in a blur. He looked at Dr. Newlin, and Sookie, with a distraught look Sookie didn't understand. Dr. Newlin, however, seemed to revel in Bill's arrival.

"Mr. Compton! Why, speak of the devil himself. Your ears must have been burning. I had just come over to tell Miss Stackhouse personally about the situation at work, and how her unique skill could save the lives of three young children."

"Children?" Sookie asked, concerned. "What's happened?" Bill walked up and stood beside her, standing slightly between her and Newlin. It occurred to Sookie that it was a protective stance.

"Well, Miss Stackhouse, we've been helping the police track a very dangerous kidnapper. We believe that he has taken three kids, just in first graders, and is holding them somewhere. Problem is, we don't know where. We've caught the guy, but he's not talking. You understand, Ms. Stackhouse, that we are working against the clock."

Sookie hadn't needed to hear anything more. Despite Bill telling her that she could say no if she wanted, she agreed to come in and help. They found the kids two hours later, scared, hungry, and sick, but alive.

When Dr. Newlin asked her to come live at Golden Oaks so that she could help with other such cases, she agreed, still high on the adrenaline of the night. As dawn approached, they lead her to a small, spartan room, and she succumbed easily to sleep.

It was the last night she ever felt free.

Hope, Sookie reminded herself. Please God, she prayed. If I can keep hope in you, and in that things will become better, will you help me?

The empty sound of her cell was her only response.