A/N: Sorry about the wait, I've written (or started and then discarded) this chapter three times now. For whatever reason it just wasn't working. If anyone is interested in becoming a beta for Fool's Love please PM me. I think if I'd had someone to bounce ideas off of it might not have been such a struggle. As always hope everyone enjoys!

Chapter 13

Jason POV

As the shower sprayed down on Jason's tired and dirty body, the flood gates finally released, and he began to cry. He wasn't ashamed of his tears, after everything, he'd have to be one sick fuck for it not to effect him. It was like the whole world was out to break his sister down, and because he loved her, he was along for the ride. His sister, the only family he had left, had nearly been taken from him twice. Tara, a girl he'd protected and loved since he was a child, had been drained. Even if there was a chance she wasn't dead, Jason knew the odds of her returning to them were slim. If the first wasn't enough to drive any man to tears, to top it off Jason was in real fear for his soul. He'd taken so many lives in the last few weeks it was down right obscene. Eggs, the vamp that hurt Tara, and seven werewolves. The bodies were piling up around him, with no end in sight. He could justify his actions with a whole slew of excuses, but at the end of the day he was still a killer. He taken their lives! No matter how bad they were, there were people that cared about them, loved them. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, somewhere in the world that would never know what had happened. The guilt Jason felt for what he'd done to them, was overwhelming. He'd run out of tears long before he could cry over everything he should.

But his sister was safe. He'd done what he'd had to, and if the guilt and sadness was payment for that, he'd pay that and so much more for her. Jason had checked on her when he'd gotten back to the house. He'd needed to see that the vampire's blood had saved her like he'd promised. She was sleeping so peacefully curled up beside him, and he'd cured her just as he'd said, but there was more to it. Eric had comforted her, made her feel safe in a way that Jason just hadn't been able to. He wanted to be angry that Sookie was trusting another vampire after everything that had happened, but all he really felt was gratitude. He was thankful for the serenity on her face, thankful that for whatever reason, he chased away the nightmares, and most important of all, thankful she was alive. Lord knew the big blonde vampire could be flat out menacing at times, but you'd have to be blind not to see the intense adoration in his eyes when he looked at Sookie. Now that's not saying, Jason was about to just start trusting Eric without question, but Jason believed in what his gut told him, and it was telling him Eric was all right. Definitely not the same sinister vibe it had thrown off around Bill, so Jason would give Eric the benefit of the doubt, for now. At the same time though, he'd be keeping his eyes peeled, and at the first sign that something wasn't right, he'd have a wooden bullet at the ready with Eric's name on it. Jason wouldn't be taking any chances with his sister's safety, not ever again.

Jason shook the water from his hair, as he knotted the towel around his hips. He wiped the fog from the mirror and just stood there looking at his reflection. He looked the same as always, but somehow that felt wrong. He was changing so much on the inside that he felt like it should somehow reflect the exterior as well. He was a whole different person than he had been just over twenty-four hours ago. Mostly for the better, but there were some new parts of him that he wasn't quite sure about. He scrubbed his hands over his unchanged face before he padded off to his bedroom. He allowed himself to drop to the familiar mattress and listened as the breeze rustled through the trees. He lay there waiting for its lullaby to drag him under as it had so many nights when he was a child, but minutes passed, then an hour, and still sleep didn't come. He thumped his hands against the mattress, and tried to clear his head but it was chaos in there. Images, feelings, questions, and memories all spinning and whirling about, and Jason found himself wondering if this was what Sookie experienced when around too many people. It felt like his head was gonna explode! He took a few deep breaths, tossed and turned, counted sheep, but eventually Jason watched as the sun began to rise. He gave up, throwing his legs over the side and sitting up, allowing himself a much better view of how the sun's light cast the trees of the forest crimson. He rubbed his hands up and down his legs, as his breath hitched and his stomach rolled. What should have been a picturesque scene now only brought to mind seeing those same trees awash with blood, as empty shells of what used to be a living breathing beings littered the ground just below. It was like the sun was exposing all that he'd so carefully tried to hide. Secret's don't stay buried forever Jason Stackhouse,not under the harsh light of day. Came the voice of his Gran from his memory.

Even with Eric's help, there was no way they'd washed away every trace of what had happened out there. What happens when those people's family's report them missing? Could they somehow be traced to the Stackhouse's? What if someone had heard all the gunfire and reported it? Dear Lord what if one of the Were's that had been sent to Hot Shot had escaped and ran to the police? On and on the questions came, and Jason felt himself growing more and more panicked. Seven murders, that was life in prison for sure! Jason paced rapidly in front of the window as he yanked at his hair. Fuck, fuck, fuck!What the Hell was he gonna do? Could he claim self defense or something? He could maybe ask Andy, if he could figure out a way to word it without implicating himself. Shit Andy! He had an in with Bon Temps' Sheriff! He could go down to the police department, all casual like, and find out if there had been any odd reports last night. Jason triumphantly punched his fists into the air, to top it off by the time any missing person reports made it this far, he'd be a cop. He could handle it himself! Jason raced around the room to get dressed. He'd be there bright and early for work today!

Jason's truck came to a screeching halt in front of Bon Temps Police Department at 7:55 a.m.. He had to check himself more than once to slow to a walk as he came up the sidewalk. Deep breaths Stackhouse, remember cool as a cucumber. Jason's pep talk was interrupted as he swung open the front door to find a sobbing Rosie at the desk. Shit! Do they know? Jason felt a cold sweat burst out along his skin. Andy was standing stoically just next to her, failing in his awkward attempts to comfort her.

"What er. . . ah. . . What happened?" He asked choking around the sudden tightness in his throat. Another bought of sobs rendered Rosie's explanation to nothing but gibberish. "Huh?" Jason said looking to Andy for clarification.

"We had a man down last night." Was Andy's gruff reply. Jason mind tried to think of who that could be ticking off the names he could remember, but came up empty.

"What, who?"

"Jesus Stackhouse, Kevin!" Andy bellowed and Rosie's crying reached a deafening point as his name was said.

"He was the only man I ever loved!" Jason and Andy both looked at the woman in disbelief.

"He uh. . ." Andy shook his head. "He's hanging in there, his momma's there with him, over at the hospital." Jason's mind spun. Was this his fault? Had one of the werewolves done it?

"How? I mean stuff like that just don't happen!" Rosie dabbed at her face with a tissue.

"It was my fault, I sent him out on that call. I should have insisted he take back up, but I though it was a prank! Some kid called in and said someone had hijacked a bus. I thought he was just joking, I mean who steals a bus! It was like somethin' out a movie ya know? So I. . .I didn't take it seriously." Jason squatted down in front of her and took both her hands in his.

"Shhh, it's gonna be alright Rosie, you couldn't have known." Jason looked over her head at Andy. "What'd they want? To hold the passengers hostage or somethin'?" Andy shrugged.

"We don't know. All the passengers are fine, and the bus was located a few miles from where it was taken."

"So all they did was hurt Kevin, was it somehow personal against him?" None of it made sense why steal a bus, and then almost kill a cop? What could the perp. have possibly wanted?

"Naw, there's no way they could have known Kevin would have been sent out."

"Then what it was just for fun?" Andy stomped away angrily.

"I don't know! I just don't fucking know Stackhouse! I want this fucker for hurtin' one of my people, but I have not one damn idea how to find him!" Jason rose from his crouch in front of Rosie and walked over to Andy, placing his hand on the other man's shoulder and squeezed.

"You listen here man, we will get this guy. We just gotta keep our heads ya hear me." Jason clapped his hands together in front of him. "Alright now, let's think. Were there any other odd reports last night? Maybe the bus was only part of what he had planned." Rosie started shifting through the stacks of papers on her desk. The three spent the rest of the day pouring over every report that had been placed in the last week. On one hand Jason was relieved that no one had reported a single thing on what had taken place out at Sook's, but on the other he felt there was something he'd missed relating to what had happened to Kevin. It left Jason feeling guilty, and that itchy sensation in his brain had returned. Something was bothering him about the whole thing with Kevin, but damned if he could think of what it was. Jason's cell began to ring as he climbed into his truck, just an hour before sun was due to set.

"Hey Sook. you alright?"

"I'm fine, I was just callin' to thank you. Lafayette just left, and my fridge and freezer are near to bursting with more food than I'll be able to eat in ten years!" Jason heard the laughter in his sister's voice and it brought a smile to his face.

"Well it wouldn't kill ya to put some meat on your bones. You eat like a damn bird!"

"Ah so this was all just a ploy to fatten me up, and here I thought it was your own stomach that you were worried about." Jason chuckled, it was so good to hear Sookie happy. "You gonna be back for dinner?"

"I'm at the police department with Andy, workin' on some police stuff. Will you be alright there by yourself? We're chasin' down some leads, and I don't know if I'll get back over there til late." He asked, feeling like a complete ass for lying to her.

"Jason, I'll be fine! I think it's real good that you're helpin' out, and I know you'll make a good cop. I'm proud of you for goin' for what you want."

"Thanks Sook. Love you."

"Love you too Jase. Bye." Jason flipped the phone closed and slammed his head back against the headrest. He turned the key in the ignition and made his way to the Stop & Shop for to pick up some True Blood. He was about to find out whether or not his hail mary pass had worked, it was time to see if Tara awoke or not. Jason knew Sookie would find out, in fact he was shocked that she hadn't already, but until whatever happened, happened he didn't want her frettin' over it. She'd had more than enough hardship in the past few days, and he just wanted to spare her from this as long as he was able. As he pulled down the long drive to the house, his eyes were fixed on where he'd buried Tara just the night before. He parked and walked over to stand just next to where she lay.

"Tara, you gotta wake up alright. I know sometimes it don't seem like it, but we all love you so much. We need you, you hear me. I'm so sorry I wasn't in time to save you, but you come back and I swear I'll make it up to you. I. . .I love you Tara." His heart ached something fierce. He'd been the biggest idiot in the whole wide world. She'd given him chance after chance, to pull his head out of his ass and see what was right in front of him; to get his shit together and be with her. Jason had always known it, but he'd also known there would be another shot, until now. In his typical man whore way, he hadn't been ready to settle down, to commit, cause that's what it would be with Tara. He'd pretended with so many others, but he hadn't kidded himself, he'd understood that he was just bidin' time. Even when they were kids, he'd recognized she was it for him. Now though, all he could see was the time he'd wasted.

He had to believe she would come back to them, to him. He swiped away the bitter tears and went back to the truck to grab the True Blood, before he climbed up to the porch. His key was just pressing into the lock when he heard shouting from inside.

"Felton he ain't here let's just go!"

"We ain't goin' nowhere you hear me! Now sit your ass down, before I knock you down!" Jason pressed himself against the side of the house. His hand yearning for a weapon, but he'd left all his guns at Sookie's. His eyes roamed the narrow porch until they landed on a small stack of wood he'd cut for fires when the weather got cooler. Jason crept slowly over and grabbed one of the pieces about as big around as a baseball. He tested the feel of it in his hand, taking a few swings experimentally. It wasn't ideal, but he supposed it would get the job done. Jason crawled back over to the door staying low, and listened intently to see if he could determine just where they were in the house. It seemed like Crystal's voice was coming from over to his right, possibly from the sofa? Felton however, remained frustratingly silent. Jason took in a few deep breaths before he rose quickly, kicked the door open wide, and ran full out to where Felton stood. Without pause Jason swung the make shift club savagely and it connected with a resounding crack against Felton's head. Over and over Jason swung until Felton finally fell. Ignoring Crystal completely he sprinted to the coffee table to snatch up his handcuffs, before darting back to restrain the unconscious man. Jason kept his eyes on the man's slumped form as he paced across the room, hands waving frantically at his sides. Why the Hell were they in his house? Why was Crystal even back in Bon Temps? His furious strides ate up the floor of his small living room quickly, as he made his way from one side to the other. Fuck, the bus! That's what had been nagging at him! Felton had hijacked the bus in order to get Crystal. Kevin must have tried to stop him. Baby Jesus it was so freakin' obvious now! But that didn't explain why Crystal had seemed to be cooperating with Felton before Jason had come through the door. She'd had to of told him where Jason lived, and that he'd been the one to help her. Jason finally turned his attention to the shivering, whimpering woman.

"What the fuck Crystal?" She opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was an ear rending scream as suddenly a body came crashing into Jason's knocking him to the floor. Jason twisted ending up on his back, and his heart lodged firmly in his throat as he got a good look at his attacker. Perched right on his chest was the largest goddamned black panther Jason had ever laid eyes on. It snarled and spit just a breath from his face, but then suddenly it changed. Now in the exact spot the panther had been was Felton. Jason blinked rapidly as his brain tried to catch up. They were like werewolves, but panthers?

"What right do you think you have forcin' yourself on one of our women?"

"Huh?" Was all Jason could come up with in reply, as was still trying to wrap his head around the seriously bizarre situation he'd found himself in.

"You raped my Crystal! Then you tried to send her away to cover up what you'd done. You think cause we're from Hot Shot you can just do whatever you want and get away with it? That we wouldn't retaliate? Well I'm here to show you just how wrong you are!"

"I didn't rape nobody! She came to me! Propositioned me!" Jason screamed in his own defense.

"Liar!" Crystal yelled as she brought the heavy piece of wood Jason had discarded down on his head. Jason's eyes might have been deceiving him, as a rolling darkness over came him, but he would have almost sworn he could make out a blurry profile filling the empty doorway.