I hope those of you who are sticking with this story enjoy this next chapter. Thanks to Charlene for creating the characters I get to play with, and to all of you for reading and reviewing; and for giving Bill the benefit of the doubt for a few pages.

Merick

Part 4

I walk the perimeter of the Stackhouse lands, over and over as the night settles into complete dark, and even the woods finally grow silent. I can hear the stream, and the few sounds of the animals, who like myself, remain in the dark, and I can hear Elizabeth's heart beating in a peaceful cadence of sleep. She sat on the porch with me, long after Andy's departure, I fetched tea for her, though not in the beautiful silver service that had been Adele's, and she had told me about her work, research for an Environmental Company. I did not know it by name, but it seemed that the gulf oil spill had brought it into existence, and that the work had been steady since, for whatever good or bad the universe chose to see in the occurrence. It seemed that she was just as lonely as I, though up until that point I had not seen myself as lonely, only alone. Perhaps she had only been afraid to go to sleep, whatever her reasons. I assured her I would stay until just before sunrise, to ensure her safety as I had promised, I think she might not have trusted that, I cannot blame her for that mistrust. Having told her, in not so many words what I had done to Sookie I believed that she had to be reconsidering her hastily granted acceptance of me. Though she did not rescind her invitation to the house. We did not speak of it again.

But for the promise I would have tried to discover more about the man who had come after her, but that exploration will have to wait for another night; I notice that I am speaking to myself in terms of my continued existence suddenly and though I am ashamed of myself for not having the fortitude to complete my original plan, I find that the purpose of protecting my new mistress gives me a reason to live, as I do, just a little while longer. The universe will have to wait for my amends as I make my patrols. I bemoan my decision to have destroyed my cellular phone, I could have used the time I now find myself with to learn more about her company, or at least make some inquiries about the man who I disabled. An idea has come to me, that perhaps the attack has less to do with Elizabeth living in Sookie's house, and more to do with her occupation. I have been out of touch with the world for so long that I know very little about the oil spill, but I resolve to find out more. Sadly that is going to involve finding a computer, and internet access, and with that exposing myself to the citizens of Bon Temps again, but since Andy has likely spread the news of my 'return' to most everyone by now, I guess that it won't surprise folks quite as much when I stroll into the public library.

The air around me smells damp, it isn't always that way in the middle of the night, unless it has rained during the day and the earth is giving up its moisture back to the heavens again. I like the smell, it reminds me of being human, sitting on my porch after those rain spells had ended, smoking a pipe and watching the fields around my property. My wife would bring me iced tea, or if it was later and I had the company of my peers, it was whiskey. Then I had the respect of the people of Bon Temps, now I have their fear and derision, but it doesn't matter; I have been an investigator before, I shall do so again. I make another circle of the property, everything is still quiet, and I find I miss the sound of her voice. I shouldn't let myself miss anything about her.

I am convinced that little else is going to happen tonight after my sixth walk and so I sit back down on the porch, and try not to listen to Elizabeth's heartbeat. It feels like I'm eavesdropping on her. I'm sure she has a computer inside, she'd mentioned as much when she'd been talking, but I'm not about to enter the house and search for it. I'll wait. There are so many things running around in my head right now, which is good, because for the first time, in a very long time, I am conscious and I am not thinking about Sookie.

I see something black slink across the lawn, at the far end of the drive, it's very quiet, and has virtually no scent. But I know what it is, or rather who it is. It stops and looks over at me with yellow eyes that cut through the black as if they have an internal luminescence. Maybe they do, I've never asked Calvin too many questions about his second nature, it seems bad form. I stand and raise a hand to him, I'm trying to show him that it's me, and that I mean him no harm, it seems a feeble gesture truthfully, I'm sure he's not alone, and I know if he wanted me dead that I would be. The panther pads closer to me on his cat feet, the gravel not crunching a wit as he does so. He is an elegant predator.

"Hello Calvin." I greet him, not in a loud voice; I don't want to wake Elizabeth. It seems that Sookie, or at least her property, has many protectors. The panther rises up in front of me and morphs back into Calvin Norris, the eyes, not yellow any more still cut into me.

"So it is true? Andy said you were back here, but I didn't believe him, had to come and look for myself."

"You look well Calvin." Some might find it odd, having a conversation with a naked shifter on your ex-girlfriend's property, but I had the suspicion that it actually wasn't the first time something like this had occurred.

"You look like shit Bill."

I cannot disagree.

"Andy said you found one of my quads out here, said some guy hopped up on V stole it."

"And attempted to kill the new tenant of the house." I add, because it is important to me.

"The kids were out horsing around with them the other afternoon, didn't even notice one was gone till Andy showed up to question me. We ain't dealing V."

"I believe you Calvin."

"So what the hell is goin' on Bill? Some new vamp trouble?"

"I don't know Calvin, but I intend to find out."

"You gonna be watching the place then?"

"When I can."

"We'll take up shifts too. Had enough of this supernatural crap and drug shit around here. Hot Shot may not be fuckin' Beverly Hills, but it's my home, and I aim to keep it safe."

"I would greatly appreciate that Calvin."

"See you around then Bill." And he changes back into his panther form as easy as if he was pulling on a new sweater, gliding off into the woods as only a big cat can. The action puts me in the mind of Bubba just now; I wonder how much he'd have enjoyed snacking on a panther. I wonder what's happened with him.

I have been away too long.

A sound within the house disturbs me; she doesn't need to turn on lights, not like Sookie did. But now that I concentrate on it, her heart rate has sped up and it is her foot fall that I hear coming across the living room towards the screen door, and the bolted inner door that unlatches then opens.

"William?"

"I'm here Elizabeth, I'm sorry if I woke you." I turn away from scanning the woods for other sets of glowing eyes; I have noted two in addition to Calvin's. I trust him, he is 'salt of the earth' as my wife would have said, likely as Adele Stackhouse would have said as well. He really does care deeply for his family, and for Sookie I note, which doesn't inspire any jealousy in me. Perhaps I am maturing?

"You were talking with someone?"

"Calvin Norris. Do you know him?"

"From Hot Shot, he's a friend of Sookie's. He comes around to check on the house for her sometimes. Makes sure the plumbing still works and that I haven't burnt it down I guess. Why is he here so early, is something wrong?"

I choose not to lie to her.

"The quad runner I found belongs to him, it was stolen yesterday. He came to see what had happened. Andy told him I was here."

"He didn't know the man that attacked me did he?"

"I didn't get that impression Elizabeth. He seemed very angry about the incident."

She leans against the side of the house, looking towards me; it still amazes me how she seems to always know where I am without even being able to see me.

"Have you found anything William?"

"Nothing, it has been very quiet."

The way she looks at me is not quiet, but I am not certain what she is saying. Her fingers go to her hair and she plays with the strands of black that are curled over her shoulder. She is wearing a tee shirt and a pair of shorts, just like what Sookie used to wear. I push the memory out of my head and look at Elizabeth. She is beautiful, and I have no right to notice that.

"You should go back inside, get some more sleep." I urge.

"I will. I just wanted to make sure you were okay William." I'm not sure if that is irony, her wanting to ensure my safety when that is what I am trying to do for her. I'm not going to look it up. It doesn't really matter. "You won't be here when I wake up will you?" She asks me, the right side of her smile curled up just a bit in resignation.

"I won't, I have to go back to my own home, I need to eat." The diet of Tru Blood isn't as nourishing as the real thing, but it is all I allow myself. It means I have to drink more often than I used to. I have been a full night and a day and another night without anything. The hunger is there, I like to think I am used to it, but being this close to a mortal, the old urges spike again. I know I cannot stay in her presence for another day without it.

"I'll make sure to have something here for you, for when you come back." She tells me, still looking at me as if she can hear what I am thinking. She knows I'll be back, just as I know it. It kills me.

"I'll bid you goodnight then William." I watch as she steps towards me, the slight breeze whips her scent to me and I tremble. She holds her hand out and I take it, my weakness appalls me. She pulls me over to her, her other hand reaching up to try to touch my face again, I grasp her by the wrist, not cruelly, I hope not cruelly, and hold her fast.

"Please don't." I whisper.

"William?"

"I will protect you Elizabeth, even from myself." I let go of her arm and she lets it drop to her side, a sad smile on her face even as she squeezes the hand I have allowed her to keep.

"You make yourself out to be so evil William." She brings the hand to her mouth and kisses it. "Perhaps the only forgiveness you need is your own?"

Her warmth is like a drug, one that I have to walk away from. But every time she says my name something in me flickers. I take my hand back from her.

"I need much more than that Mistress."