Time frame: Years after "From Dead to Worse"
This is a companion piece following "Family", "Bowling for Vampires" and "Leather Underwear" Please read the end of Family or you will be extremely confused.
Disclaimer: I don't have any claim on any characters in the Sookie Universe. Please don't sue me. The other characters are my own creation and just wanted to play with them for a while.
A/N: A special thanks to ED for supporting me on the last chapter knowing too well how uncomfortable I was writing it. Thanks to my husband who thinks that James should have been given a taste of his own medicine before dying. Gotta love a man who will defend his fanfic woman.
I was listening to Delta Goodrem's "Can't Break it to My Heart" when writing Cole's POV.
******************************************************************************
Chapter 9
I woke up laying on fresh cotton sheets and with a soft down comforter tucked under my arms. Bill was on top of the covers lying on his side facing me with his hand resting over my heart. He was dead for the day. I shifted slightly so that I could look at his face. He looked paler than normal and his brow looked creased with worry. I ran my fingers over his face to try to smooth them. Leaning over to give him a soft kiss, I was hit by a sudden flash of pain all over my back and down below. I let out a gasp as memories of the other night flooded my mind. The gasp was followed by a shriek as I felt someone grab my hand.
"Ally it's me. It's Cole." he said softly. Then gently, carefully, he helped me sit up tucking a pillow behind me for support. He sits on the edge of the bed next to me and offers me a mug of warm liquid. "Drink this Ally, you'll feel better." he soothes. I lift the mug to my lips and take a sip. Warm lemonade with ginger. I always drank it when I was feeling blue.
I looked at him, the tears forming. "You remembered." I whispered. His eyes were soft and sad, not the sparkling blue that I was used to seeing.
"Always." he replied softly, stroking my hair.
I heard the doorbell ring downstairs followed by a several knocks at the door.
"I'll go see who it is. You rest." he offered. I nodded gratefully and he got up placing a quick kiss on the top of my head. I heard Cole and a stranger talking for several minutes. Cole sounded slightly angry. After a moment, I heard the door close and Cole was back in my room standing at the doorway.
"That was the police. They wanted to take your statement about last night." he said carefully. "I told them that you'd call them when you were up to talking. I'll take you to the station if you want- when you're ready."
"Thank you Cole. That was very thoughtful of you." I said giving him a small smile.
He looked at Bill laying next to me. He seemed to be debating with himself about something. I could feel his turmoil. I could feel his love for me as well. Looking back at me he said, "If you want to rest for a while, I'll leave you two alone." I looked down at Bill. It would be hours before he rose. I didn't want to spend those hours thinking about what happened to me.
"I would actually like to get cleaned up a little bit and go downstairs for a while. Do mind helping me?"
"Of course Ally." he said moving back to my side of the bed. I kissed Bill on his forehead then swung my legs over the side of the bed. Cole folded down the comforter to make it easier for me to scoot my body to the edge. When I did, he squatted slightly in front me as my hands pushed down against his shoulders, his hands under my arms supporting me. Standing up, he guided me to the bathroom. I shuffled to the toilet. I stood facing it trying to figure out how I was going to sit and get back up again. I heard Cole's voice behind me.
"Ally, I'll help you up when you're done. Just let me know when you're ready, okay?"
"Okay."
He walked out of the bathroom and closes the door behind him. When I finished my business, I called him and he helped me up. I guess I should be embarrassed but with all that we'd been through over the years, this was definitely nothing in comparison. When he was sure I was steady, he walked back out leaving me to shower. I carefully lifted my nightgown over my head. Angling my back to the mirror I winced at my reflection. There were at least a dozen circular shaped burn holes all over my back and shoulders. They were about halfway healed. I shudder to imagine what they had looked like last night.
I stepped into the shower and turned it on. As the water ran down my body I was bombarded by thoughts of James' hands on me, his mouth, his laugh as he groped me in the shower. He was vile, but not completely to blame. I could have resisted. I was foolish enough to believe that I would snap out of my delirium in time to save my dignity. That was what I was- a fool. The realization drew out slowly like a blade- I was to blame for this. I let him do this to me. I sank down in the shower sobbing, the water pelting my legs, my guilt and shame circling the drain refusing to go down.
Suddenly the water was shut off and I was wrapped in a soft towel as Cole gathered me to him. He held me, sitting on the wet shower floor. I clung to his shirt as he rested my head on his shoulder as I cried. He held me in silence for what seemed like an hour sitting on the wet shower floor. Then gently nudging me he whispered, "Ally, you'll catch your death of cold sitting here." I looked at him with my face all puffy. Before I knew it, I was laughing still clinging to his shirt.
Catch my death. That's rich.
He looked at me as if he thought I'd finally lost it. That made me laugh even more. Shaking his head he helped me up carefully and grabbing another towel rewrapped my body with it. Once secured he pulled the now soaked towel out from underneath it effectively keeping my body covered the whole time. He left the room to let me get dressed. I chose a black longsleeved tshirt and some black yoga pants-I couldn't handle wearing a bra. I combed my hair and brushed my teeth. Looking at the mirror I told myself to snap out of it and mentally tucked the pain deep inside my special place. The place I reserved for only one person to see and heal. Bill.
It was only two in the afternoon. At least three hours before Bill would rise. I wanted to be there when he awoke. I took one more look at him and then walked downstairs.
***************************************************************************************************************************
Cole's POV- Rescuing Ally.
Driving with Bill next to me. Ally's Bill. The Bill that fifteen minutes ago looked like he was going to kill me. How screwed up is this?
He hopped in before I had a chance to object. He said that since I already know where they're holding Ally, in his words and I quote, "it would be expedient to travel with the one carrying the map, so to speak. In addition, both Pam and I are equipped to diffuse their security measures if it is a small operation that your notes seem to imply."
A map. I'm a map. Honestly, who talks like that?
Of course he was also pointing out that I would be physically useless to rescue her on my own. Only a VAMPIRE could do it. What grated on me was that I knew he was right.
Ally was always the powerful one. She had powers that she is only now learning about. I always knew it and unlike everyone else I was drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
She would tell you of course, that I was the strong one. That I was her hero. At least I was.
"So how were you able to ascertain her whereabouts, Cole?" asked Bill.
"That's my gift. Ally calls it insight. I can see everything in a person's mind, their past, their present that kind of thing." I answered.
"So you are a telepath?"
"Not exactly. I don't hear the emotional mumbo jumbo. It's almost like reading an encyclopedia. I just pick the section I want and read it. Easy."
"That's an extremely useful gift to have." Bill said, nodding thoughtfully.
"Apparently, our parents thought so too." I said bitterly.
As we pulled into the parking lot I felt a sudden wave of nausea. I leaned over the steering wheel to catch my breath.
"What is the matter?" he asked. "Are you unwell?"
"Not me- Ally." I replied reaching in my center console and pulling out a bottle of water. I opened it and downed it quickly.
"You can feel her?" he asked astonished.
"Yeah. We could always sense each other, even when we were little. After we joined, the feeling was stronger and through a larger distance." Then looking at him I asked, "can't you feel her too? I know that vampires can sometimes feel their...uhm...mates."
He ignored my pause in reference to their relationship and answered "I can sense her feelings but only when she is close. For me to have that strong of a connection, she would have had to have my blood- several times. As of yet she has not."
That certainly was food for thought. I nodded mutely and we both got of the car. The ladies parked their car next to us and got out as well. We were a block away from the building. I didn't want to chance Ally's kidnappers spotting us before we could get inside.
"Okay, Bill. When we go inside to help Ally, I don't want you to kill anyone unnecessarily. Okay?" said Sookie. The other vampire, Pam, rolled her eyes. Bill looked at her angrily.
"I will notpromise you that, Sookie. They took her with full intentions in hurting her, killing her. I can only promise that I will not kill the ones that are smart enough to leave. That is all."
"I'll have no part in this then." she said adamantly.
"Sookie..." said Pam. Sookie set her jaw.
I just looked at her in disbelief.
"Then stay here if you must. I honestly don't care, Sookie." growled Bill. "Your husband may be the Sheriff of this area, but I will not accommodate your infantile morality. Not this time."
"But..." she said, her voice bordering on whining.
I would never raise my hand to a woman, but I would be lying to you if I didn't admit the thought crossed my mind sometimes. This was definitely one of those times.
"File your grievances with Eric. I don't care. I'm not going to debate this with you any longer. Your stubbornness has already wasted us valuable time." he snapped. Without another word, he moved toward the back of the street on the other end of the building. I shot her an angry look and followed him, in complete agreement.
A minute later, they joined us, Sookie looking chastened.
Bill and Pam were looking at each other. They looked like they were communicating mentally. It was weird. I could almost see what they were sending each other. Reels of information and images whizzing by me in rapid succession. I never gleaned into a vampire's mind before. Their thoughts were extremely precise though still too fast for me to hold on to. I concentrated on the space between them trying to slow it down. The thoughts were finally coming to me when they suddenly jerked their heads towards me, causing me to step back in surprise.
"What are you doing?" asked Pam sternly.
"I was trying to catch your thoughts. Boy they're fast. Now when you break down the door Pam, do you want Sookie and me behind you two to try to get information or should we just head straight to where they are holding her. Also, do you have any weapons in case one of those guys attacks us?"
They were all staring at me.
"What?"
Pam blinked and then answered me, "Cole, I would like you and Sookie to stand behind us when we gain entrance. Do you know what part of the building she's being held?"
"Upstairs somewhere and the number twelve is popping up in my head." I said.
"Good, then we'll head there directly." she said. Bill nodded in agreement.
Sookie pressed a night stick in my hand. She was holding a bigger one in the other.
For a person who was so opposed to violence a minute ago, Sookie came prepared. Sensing my confusion, she said smiling, "I'm kind of an old hat at the being attacked thing."
This sudden turn around was baffling. I ignored it and looked at Bill. We ran around the back and I steeled myself as Pam kicked open the door.
The first man turned around just as I ran up and swung taking out his knee. He screamed and fell to the ground. Another guy lunged at Sookie and she squared her shoulders and charged the guy right in the chest knocking him down. Pam and Bill were grabbing guys left and right and throwing them against the wall. I heard someone shout, "Get James and the whore out of here!" I turned around to the source of the voice and smacked the asshole squarely on the chest with the stick and when he bent forward from the impact I punched him as hard as I could squarely in the jaw.
I felt a scary kind of emptiness washing over me. Panicking, I turned to grab Sookie's hand and dragged her upstairs with me. I felt Bill and Pam right behind me.
When I got to the door, I used my stick to smash the handle. As soon as I kicked it in I gasped.
There was Ally lying on her stomach naked on the bed handcuffed her face turned looking at the far wall. Seeping sores were all over her back and she had blood all over her thighs.
"Oh my God."
------
"MOVE IT!" shouted Pam and we all jumped forward. As I reached out my fingers touched Ally's arm and I involuntarily gripped it igniting a spark that rippled through my body.
We were suddenly surrounded by calm as I heard a muffled explosion tremor around us. I turned around to see that Ally had somehow managed to throw a barrier over us.
"Ally...Ally..." Bill was whispering to her. She was unconscious.
"How is this happening?" asked Sookie looking at the discernible outline of the protective field.
"That's part of Ally's gift. She can change the nature of things."
"She saved us." stated Pam. She was looking at Ally with deep admiration.
"She does that." I replied smiling down at Ally. Sookie leaned over to look at her.
"She's out. How do we get out of this?" she asked.
I squatted down and grabbed her hand willing her to stop. A wave of warmth hits us as the barrier dissipates.
Everyone was looking at me again. I gave out a big sigh.
"Look I know you all have lots of questions about my gift and Ally's. Why don't we save them for later- okay? I want to get her home."
As an answer Bill carried Ally to my car. I opened the back seat and he got inside cradling her on his lap.
As I drove to her house my mind was numb.
"Cole. Right before Ally used her powers I felt a strange sensation." said Bill.
"Yeah, me too."
"Is this normal?"
"When she is in contact with me I know her abilities are more focused, but the three of us together...It felt different. The fact that she was able to maintain the shield in her weakened state meant that it was a very powerful connection."
"But you are her joined."
"Yes, but you are her chosen. I think she has a strong connection to both of us."
I drove in silence for the remainder of the trip.
When we got to her home, Bill and I waited downstairs while Sookie and Pam carried Ally upstairs to clean her up. When they were done Sookie came out to get us. She looked like she had been crying.
Bill was instantly at her side and sitting on the edge of the bed looking at her.
I walked over to her as well and before anyone could object, I placed a soft kiss on her cheek. "Thank you, Cole." said Bill next to me. I nodded and backed out of the room my heart aching as the distance grew between us.
Pam was waiting for me in the hallway. "You saved her you know? You saved your beloved." I didn't answer as I went downstairs and settled on her couch. I didn't want her to wake up with no one to talk to.
No other words were spoken as the ladies departed.
I had saved her. I was her hero. Her knight in shining armor.
As dawn rose I crept upstairs to look at her. Bill was lying there next to her. Seeing them together like that was heartwrenching. Sitting outside her doorway, I began to weep.
Sometimes the hero doesn't get the girl...
TBC