I've Got To Have You

Putting it if no longer, Bill goes to visit Sookie but an unexpected turn of events changes everything for them both.

My thanks to the creative genius of Alan Ball, HBO and Charlaine Harris for giving us the characters we love so much.

Chapter 2

Bill waved away his security as he walked through his garden to the path that had been so well worn in the past, the path that led to the gate into the cemetery then on to Sookie's home. He could not help himself as he paused on the lawn, remembering that very first time that he had stood there with Sookie in the moonlight. He could still see her hair like a halo of silver shimmering around her face in the moonlight, her innocence and beauty that night like a cloak of loveliness enveloping her.

'Take your clip out' he had said and he could smell her hair again. 'I can smell the sunlight on your skin' he had said and he could smell her tanned skin. He could taste her lips on his as she held his head to her face and kissed him. At the memory of her lips Bill let out a small inward groan. He shook his head, squared his shoulders and walked on.

He was half way through the cemetery when he was suddenly over come by an overwhelming feeling of fear. Stopping in his tracks, he stood still trying to evaluate where this feeling was coming from.

As he stood there large spots of rain began to fall. Within seconds a heavy downpour had him soaked to the skin but still he hadn't moved. Just as suddenly, he was aware of what was pulling him, Sookie was in trouble, he could feel her and he knew he had to find her.

Despite the rain streaming down, Bill moved at Vampire speed in the direction he felt her fear coming from. He was nearer her house now but not at her house, somewhere off to the back of her property over in the woods that boarded the Stackhouse place and a small back road, no more than a track really that meandered past the back of property not particularly going anywhere, it ended in a dead end.

As he neared where he could pick up the strongest feelings coming from, he stopped to listen, his hearing picking up muffled voices in the distance. Moving noiselessly, he crept through the undergrowth, not willing to show himself until he had determined what he was up against. Listening, he made out what sounded like two humans talking softly while carrying a body, the body being a bound and gagged Sookie.

Bill saw red. With a flash he snapped, the darkness over taking his senses. All he knew was that Sookie was in danger and these two were responsible. Before they knew what had hit them, the two of them were knocked out and Bill was untying Sookie who was lying motionless on the ground where they had roughly dropped her.

As Bill untied her he was still wary, he could sense that somewhere close by there was another presence and it was not human, so as soon as he had Sookie untied he picked her up and moved with Vampire speed. Instead of going back in the direction of his home he made his way deeper into the woods, taking a back trail that had existed since he was a young child and would now be unknown to others, overgrown and impassable in places to others, Bill forced his way through with little concern.

Bill had grown up fishing and swimming in the local water holes, playing in the woods and exploring the lay of the land for miles around. He had played at hide and seek in these woods with his school chums, built rafts and canoes to explore the bayous and water holes, pretending to be pirates or fur trappers and had forged trails playing at explorers.

The land around here had not changed that much in all these years as there were still pockets that were part of the wilderness, set aside as uninhabitable. It was to one of these areas miles to the west of Bon Temps that Bill fled carrying the still unconscious Sookie. Unknown to all but Neville, he had a light tight secure cabin in the back woods in the midst of a series of bayous that, should any fisherman or camper come across by chance, they would be totally unaware of the elaborately secured interior by just looking at the ramshackle structure of the cabin.

Taking out the keys he always carried with him, he let himself in. Sookie was soaked to the skin and so was he. She had not regained consciousness and Bill was alarmed. Still holding her in his arms, with one hand he quickly pulled at the mattress on a make shift cot that was installed for appearances sakes and laid it on the floor in front of the fire, gently laying Sookie on it. Quickly going over to the well set fire place he set light to the fire then turned his attention back to Sookie.

She was chilled to the bone and Bill knew that he had to get her out of her wet clothes and get her warmed as quickly as possible. He was not worried about being in danger as he was sure he had not been followed, his only concern at the moment was for Sookies health.

As he got her out of her wet clothes he examined her body for injuries. Apart from a dark bruise on the side of her head he could find nothing else. He wrapped her in the rug from the bed and as the fire crackled into life and began to throw out some heat, he left her for a moment while he hunted through the cupboards in the small kitchen area for something that he could give her. He had given instructions to keep the property well maintained in case of emergencies so this would put Neville to the test.

He found what he was looking for in a bottle of brandy and a glass and thanked his wisdom for making sure he had competent staff. Quickly undressing himself so he wouldn't be wet when he climbed under the covers with Sookie, he slid in next to her. Gently lifting her he cradled her into a sitting position.

'Sookie' he called her softly as he held her, 'Sookie' he said again rubbing her hands and body to warm her. 'Sookie' he called her again kissing her hair, her face 'come back to me my love' he was whispering. He rocked her as though trying to will her back to consciousness. 'Oh Sookie my love, don't leave me' tears streaked his face now as he held her to him.

Outside the storms fury had increased. The wind was like a howling gale and although Bill had his cell phone with him, there was no reception. He knew that even if there was and he made a call, there would be little likelihood of anyone other than a Vampire making it through this storm. Even that would propose dangers as a tree branch blowing down was no different to a stake and could do just as much damage. No, Bill realised, he was on his own.

Just as Bill was contemplating leaving her on her own, weighing up the risks in trying to go for help himself, Sookie groaned softly and stirred a little in his arms. 'Sookie… Sookie' he whispered again to her. 'Bill' she mumbled attempting to open her eyes. 'Shhh, shhh it's alright, I am here' he cradled her closely to his chest as he reached over to the glass of brandy he had left on the hearth to warm by the fire. 'Bill is that you' she was barely audible.

Sitting her up a little he held the glass to her lips so she could sip it. 'Here drink this' he urged her. Like an ill child she took a sip then spluttered a little, pulling a face as the strong liquor sent a burning trail down her throat but as she was too weak to push it away and at Bill's urging, she sipped again, the next mouthful going down a little smoother. He managed to get a fair amount into her before she pushed it away.

The fiery liquid warmed her and she began to show a bit more life to Bill's enormous relief. Struggling a little she managed to open her eyes a little wider now, looking around her dazed. 'Bill….Bill where are we? What happened?' She still sounded weak but Bill was relieved that she was conscious at least. 'Bill, why are you here?' she asked groggily as she closed her eyes again. Bill suspected she was concussed and knew that falling asleep could be dangerous 'Sookie darling, don't go to sleep again. Open your eyes Sookie, you need to stay awake' he urged her.

She was like a rag doll in his arms. Her eyes were so heavy and she was so sleepy, she was warm now and felt so comfortable lying there cradled against Bill's chest, his strong cool arms wrapt around her. 'Sookie honey, come on open your eyes for me now' Bill gently urged her again. With much effort, at the sound of his insistent voice Sookie opened her eyes again to look up into Bill's eyes.

'Bill, I was dreaming I was with you. It felt so good' Sookie smiled a little just like a contented child feeling safe in the arms of a loving parent before closing her eyes again. Suddenly Sookie opened her eyes wide and looked at him with surprise, blushing deeply.

'Bill, you haven't got any clothes on' she said startled. 'Neither have you Sookie' he said 'we were wringing wet and I had to get you dried off and warm.' The brandy combined with the knock to her head when her attackers had made their move had taken its toll and she was feeling light headed and giddy.

'Sookie can you tell me what happened to you, do you remember anything?' Bill asked her quietly, stroking her back soothing her like he would with Thomas or Sarah when ill. Sookie's face screwed up in concentration before slowly she recalled to Bill the events that had lead to her capture. 'I was taking out the trash, I remember that I had just sorted all the recyclables when I thought I saw something moving over in the trees near the garden shed. That's all I can remember' she managed to get out before her eyes once again closed sleepily.

Alcide was right, Sookie must have been under watch for some time, Bill thought, studying her habits and waiting for an opportunity to take her. That Russell was behind this he had no doubts. It was a very clever ploy to use humans in this, Russell had obviously learnt a lot from the fall out after his melt down on national TV.

Although he wouldn't care at all about the sensation he had caused, Russell Edgington was no fool. He would be more cautious for his own sake as the human authorities were on the alert for any more such examples of Vampire extremism. Yes, Bill thought, Russell had laid his plans well and of course, what else would he have had to think about when lying buried under the concrete for month after month since Bill and Eric had buried him.

It was pure luck that Alcide had been to see him when he did. Had it been one more day and things would have turned out very differently. Bill shuddered at the thought of what may have become of Sookie if Russell was ever successful in capturing her. What were Russell's plans for her, to keep her like a milking cow, draining her to the point of turning every time he wanted to go out in the sunlight? His own personal chattel to be treated like a precious exotic bird in a cage for his own personal use until old age took her or god forbid he used her in some diabolical breeding program, attempting to start a tribe of Faes for his own personal use.

Bill sat horrified at the very thought of all the possibilities that could befall Sookie. Hadn't this been the very fears he had for her when under Queen Sophie Anne's rule? It was history repeating it's self as far as Sookie's future was concerned. For as long as she lived and Vampires existed, Sookie would always be under this threat of attack should her Fae blood line become known. He wanted to protect her but that was the last thing that she wanted, she wanted her independence but it was that very independence that would mean she was vulnerable, tonight was the proof of that Bill sighed.

It wasn't just Russell or other vampires in general that Bill feared either, there was always a threat much closer to home. As much as Sookie had told Eric of her choice, Bill knew Eric and he knew that he was not one to take defeat lying down. Hadn't he proved that by the very fact that he had not alerted him to the danger that he knew Russell's escape would propose to Sookie?

Bill doubted if Eric would ever give up on his relentless pursuit of Sookie and he also knew something that he felt Sookie did not fully realise; no matter what Eric had been like under Marnie's spell, that was not the real Eric that she loved, Eric was Vampire and Viking, that would never change.

This had nothing to do with Bill's personal feelings either, he loved Sookie too much to hold her back from finding the happiness that she deserved even if that meant he had to let her go. He had already accepted this as painful as it was, if he hadn't he would not have spared Eric when he had the chance to eliminate him once and for all, but that would not have won her love back once it was lost. Bill sighed as he thought back over things, sadness creeping through him like a poison.

And now, here he was with the love of his life once again in his arms and in danger. The guilt and shame of her predicament resting solely on his shoulders he felt. If they had never met, never come to know each other and love each other. If their passion and love had been different, had been able to withstand the hideous circumstances that they had faced…if, if only. Would there ever be any chance for them again, had there ever really been any chance for them? He had thought that with time there may be some hope but life plays strange tricks on you. Life is what happens when you are too busy making plans, as the saying goes.

He kissed the top of her head again as he held her to him. If this was to be their final parting he wanted to embed the memory in his brain like a photo he could take out and look at when he needed to.

As though responding to something within him flowing through her, Sookie opened her eyes again, staring directly into his eyes for a moment. To Bill it was a life time. Tilting her head she searched for his lips, cupping his face as she held him.

Bill trembled at the touch of her hands.

To Be Continued ...