A/N: Charlaine Harris owns all of her characters. Evil genius that she is, she has created the Sookieverse for our pleasure.

I gratefully acknowledge beta reader VampLover1's** thoughtful advice and assistance re: all things FF. When you find errors, I must claim them. **She is the 1st Place Drama Winner in the recent Dead Pan contest with The Secret Life of Eric Northman—read it!

And hugs to GaijinVamp for the loan of Leif.

So, chickadees, let's see: where the heck are we in this story? *blushes*

Plot summary: (feel free to skip this if you have a memory like an elephant)

Jason has been abducted by Alcide the Vamp, Eric the Were is in trouble with the IST over violating the Prime Directive (refer to the Prologue) and has contaminated Sookie in some way, Vampire Leonardo is still finally dead, and Sookie has a plan for saving Eric (which she hasn't revealed—impatient, much?)

Niall, Eric's Sire, is pissed about everything. He has gathered the Weres at his bunker, and Demon-Elf Pam is around as well to stir the pot. We met the lonely Vamp Leif; he and the lovely shopaholic Vamp assassin Amelia are soundly sleeping. It's Sunday afternoon and time's a-wasting—Sookie has to go back to work on Monday at Belks. We ended the humongous Ch. 14 on a hot little lemon—you may wish to re-read it? js

Thanks to all who have recently fav'd and alerted this fic—I owe it to you all to finish up before my story completely fades from your memory. Thank you. We begin with a look inside post-coital Beast's, erm, Eric's head.

Chapter 15

From Chapter 14: Beauty and Her Beast: And in that purest of moments between them was their shared adoration and satisfaction, groaning and gratification, a primal seeking and a joyous acceptance, male unto female. It was a blossoming of all that was natural and good.

And it was…yes, it was enough. And Sookie did love him, for what passed as an eternity.

Post their memorable, sweaty, marathon screwing session, Eric was grateful that his beloved Sookie was lost in slumber in his arms.

Regrettably, his own weary Were-ish mind refused to allow him the same escape.

He should be sleeping the sleep of a well-sated, contented Wolf; instead he stifled another groan as his leg muscles twitched and his collarbone chimed in with a familiar ache.

Meanwhile, feverish thoughts of the uncertain future continued to torment him.

If he wasn't a full-blooded Were… Well, no human male could muster the reserves he was using to remain both silent and nearly motionless as he mentally reviewed the rush of events of the last seventy-two hours.

First, he'd feel a surge of elation at finding his mate after more than a century alone, only to have it dashed by the gut-churning anger he felt over the price he'd have to pay for claiming Sookie. Then he'd experience a nearly crushing wave of anxiety as he contemplated the likely forms the inevitable punishment would take for him... After which he'd question the wisdom of fixing on a True Human with a life span so much less than his own, followed by a sensual memory of his eager tongue pushing against her parted lips… On and on it went; torture of a kind with which he was unfamiliar and ill-prepared to handle.

And for which he could find no resolution. He should be out howling; instead he found himself tightly muzzled and staring down the double barrels of the worst challenge he'd ever faced.

For in winning his True Human mate's trust, Eric had exposed both himself and Pam to censure and discipline from the International Supernatural Tribunal's nastiest Vamp, Leostet.

And with Leostet in charge? He knew his chances of a reprieve were non-existent: his Sire Niall wouldn't throw around the term "that rat bastard" when referring to the French Vamp without serious, centuries-long provocation from the Frenchman.

In any event, this little I.S.T. witch hunt would be very 'personal' indeed. Save a space on the barn wall for his skin—it was about to be flayed right off his back and hold the anesthetic.

Fuck it: happily-ever-after and the I.S.T. should never be uttered in the same breath—it was like asking for the gods to strike you down! Akin to painting a giant bulls-eye on your backside…

And should any evidence linking him to the disappearance of a headless Vampire Leonardo surface during tonight's witch hunt, this Werewolf could expect a very painful death meted out by the I.S.T.

After the best sex of his life with the perfect female, instead of being re-energized and thinking of initiating round two, he was now thoroughly depressed and limp as a stalk of aging asparagus, minus the buds.

So, if tonight's events unfolded as he feared, this True Were was resolved he would not submit to anyone. He would go out fighting, claw and fang.

Claw and fang. Not much in the Supe world could touch or restrain an angry True Were.

But first, he would secure his Sire's iron-clad agreement to protect his Sookie.

He was raised to be an honorable Wolf, but he knew he had only reluctantly returned to his Sire's house at Niall's insistence because of his mate.

Now that Sookie was too tired to be peppering him with questions (his inspired and pleasurable method for achieving this rare but blissful state had panned out,) he began to relax but continued to let his thoughts wander aimlessly. After indulging in some pleasant Sookie-centered fantasies in which he played a major role, he was reminded once again of the many fantastic stories and legends floating around the Supernatural world.

One of his favorites was the certainty among Supes that when someone special was needed to fulfill a select purpose, such as the right hero to slay an out-of-control dragon, or a genius to invent a cure for a deadly contagion, that individual would magically appear in their midst. And it was always a dramatic sort of reveal; the individual would have been recently imbued with the necessary powers, or have been in training since birth for the very task needed, doing so under everyone's radar until unexpectedly stepping forth with the right skill set and saving the day.

Even the Humans had incorporated diluted versions of this concept into their popular culture, keeping the tales of Arthur and Merlin alive for centuries.

Eric knew he was no King Arthur. Lancelot? Maybe.

But was there someone 'out there' who could step in and save him? Because he knew if the Vamp Leostet had him executed, his Werewolf father Niall would declare war against the Vamp contingent. And all the North American Weres would line up for the fight.

All the Werewolves he knew lived for the next brawl, scrap, fray, melee, slugfest, tussle, rumble, hand-to-hand… He stopped himself, clamping down fast on the vivid memories his words inspired; he was starting to get hard again, and that wouldn't help his tenuous situation.

In fact, while such a war would be a bloody event, it wouldn't be so in the good way that Vamps and Weres could both enjoy. The two groups were just too evenly matched, physically; too many of his friends and cousins would be joining Skoll in the afterlife. He'd miss them. No loss on the finally-dead Vamps, though.

He sucked in a shallow breath at his next thought.

And if his love, Sookie, was left alone during such a war? She would be exposed and vulnerable to the scrutiny of his fellow Weres, or the wiles of the Rogue Vampires searching for her.

Now he just felt sick. She was safe when he was with her, but how long after he was confined or chained or…worse, before someone snatched her for reasons that would only lead to her death or dismemberment?

A gruesome slideshow flashed against the inside of his closed eyelids as he recalled various Were bodies he'd seen over the decades. And he'd been powerless to stop those deaths, too.

His grip involuntarily tightened on the woman he knew saw him as her hero. If only he could measure up; but in fact there were so few things he could do to protect her, and fuck all if his Sire did not agree to help him.

A deep growl rumbled in his chest. He finally had his mate, and he was about to lose her for a certain dead-man beheading of one Vampire Leonardo incident performed before she was even born.

Yeah. So what if he'd definitely broken the Prime Directive? In his favor, it was a big-ass piece of Supe legislation designed to ensnare unsuspecting Weres like him, just following the decrees of his Pack Leader. And double whammy to him, his Sire. As if he had any choice in the matter.

Actually, a case could be made that he was still within the boundaries set by the corollary directives, because Sookie was safe at present (not accidentally dead, for example, as had often happened in the past) and… He huffed in frustration; that damn Directive business was noticeably vague in its specifics when looking for a loophole.

Unfortunately, there was nothing vague about the beheading of the Vampire Leonardo. In truth, he had immensely enjoyed that entire assignment, and most especially the moment when his sword sliced deep into the tendons, his claws tangled in the Italian's curling hair as he yanked…

Controlling his breathing, Eric calmed himself this time by allowing just a tiny full-body wiggle starting at his toes. It felt so good and distracted him from the image of the full, luscious, round, welcoming silvery orb floating above his head in the heavens, once again invading his thoughts, calling his wolven-nom.

The moon: she was invisible during the daylight, but still exerted her enormous pull on him.

Shit. It was his time of the month and wildly inconvenient when he needed to be concentrating on his Vampire problems.

His swirling thoughts settled back on the likely reactions of his Sire to the forthcoming I.S.T. charges against his True Were son.

In all fairness, Niall had been a little perturbed at Eric's initiative at the time of the beheading of Leonardo; he'd been expecting his son would return with the Vampire so their Were cousin Vane Kattalakis could perform some experiments. Although the Vampire himself had naturally been expendable, the genius that was the man as a resource for Vane's work would have been invaluable. Eric had to admit he had slightly screwed-up, but it had been worth it. Or so he thought at the time.

In retrospect, Eric knew that offing another Supe without provocation was cause for punishment if one was caught. And the artist/scientist had been a high-profile Vamp.

Possibly not one of his better decisions.

Eric gave a noticeable grimace, one that Sookie would have responded to with a million questions had she been awake. His emotions had been whip-sawed so many times over the last few days, even the last hours, that if he'd been a girl, he'd probably have enjoyed a good cry.

But, he was a guy. A Wolf-Man, in fact. Such easy relief was forever denied him.

As Sookie gave a small whimper in her sleep, he felt again that swelling sensation behind his ribcage. It reminded him how rapidly his circumstances had been altered since Vampire Will had been assassinated over a century-old forgotten bad debt, and Niall had assigned Sookie's care to him. He readily recognized the physical sensation now; it was love for this True Human. Perhaps he could tell her while she was safely sleeping?

"Sookie, I know this is very early, but I think…I am in love you." He was whispering; no need to let the other super-sharp ears in Niall's Buckhead mansion in on his secret. Pam, who'd arrived earlier, would never stop teasing him once she had confirmation of his affections for this quirky, beautiful, sexy woman who trusted him implicitly. And who held down a modern job and was as independent as he was, if not more so. Females in his limited experience were either clingers or users; Sookie was neither and it was the sweetest of balms to have found her.

"Agreed." The response from his sleeping Beauty was unexpected and rather gruff, startling him as it reminded him that she appeared to be carrying his essence in her blood. Could it have been any clearer that the gods intended them to be together? No matter how short a time he might have with her, it would definitely be worth it.

Unperturbed, he wondered what she was agreeing to with that response. One way to find out.

"Will you mate to me, Sookie?" Eric asked softly, wondering how she could be both sleeping and yet answering his questions.

"Yes, Lord." This time the response was warmer, sweeter.

He felt himself once again respond physically to her, her soft flesh pressed against his growing member just an added bonus to the ache that was seemingly always seething below the surface when he was with her.

Pam's sharp knock interrupted his half-formed plans for fully awakening his mate. He sighed and called quietly, "Enter."

She did, with her usual aplomb.

"Smells like a bordello in here, Eric." A small moue flitted over Pam's face as the Demon stood over his bed. "And if I, a mere Demon, can smell this, imagine what your Sire Niall and the other Weres are gleaning about you from the room down the hall….?"

"Shut it, Demon!" Eric snapped as Sookie again snuggled deeper into his embrace. He regretfully disentangled himself, and rolled naked from the bed. He and Pam shared no false modesty among friends.

Stretching in relief, he held his index finger to his lips and motioned to the door, re-draping the coverlet over Sookie's form before stepping away and grabbing his shorts. He stepped into them; then he and Pam scooted out of his bedroom and stood, facing each other in the hall. Pam's steadfast affection for him was clearly visible in her expression.

"So, is it official, little Wolf?" Pam asked him gently after several moments of silence between the pair.

Eric cocked an eyebrow at his Guardian. "Official, demon? You've known I'm a Were for more than a century, now…"

"Oh, snap, Eric. You're in love, right?" It wasn't really a question.

"If I am, doesn't change anything, does it? I'm sure my Sire has informed you of my dire outlook. I'll do my best to protect you, dear friend, but the I.S.T. is looking for reasons to punish me, I guess. The head Vampire Leostet won't rest until he has severely crippled the Wolves, and what better target than Niall's son for his vengeance?" He finished with another grimace, his pleasure at sharing his altered emotional state with Pam washed away by the reality of his imminent punishment and the likely Were/Vamp war.

He swallowed, but gave voice to his other fear. "And that will lead my Sire to declare war on the Vamps, and you know it. So why don't you look more unhappy? The Demons will be forced to choose sides again, as your Kind did during the thirteenth century. And look how that very minor skirmish turned out… Contemporary humans still shudder over the fallout from events they know only as the Inquisition."

Mysteriously, Pam's cheerful expression didn't falter during his little confession. She looked at him for a full minute before responding, letting him first know she understood the gravity of his fears.

She patted his stiff shoulder, an affectionate gesture, before continuing. "Eric, relax that pinched mouth of yours. Your Sire has a plan, as always. The Rat Bastard Leostet has been sent on a diversionary mission by the Vampire Count to squelch some embarrassing revelations over in Romania. Niall's good friend Vampire Leif will be in charge of the I.S.T. formal review of the evidence."

Pam couldn't hide her jubilance at what she clearly deemed good news, and waited for Eric's acquiescence to her assessment. She was doomed to disappointment, of course.

"Leif again." Eric muttered in disgust. "First Niall, now you, too." He stopped for a moment, various emotions ghosting over his features as Pam waited patiently for him to continue. "Will you agree to take Sookie and hide her away for me if Niall refuses to do so?" Eric made it clear he could sense no rationale for optimism in Pam's words.

"It won't be necessary, Eric. The I.S.T. will likely meet this evening to accommodate the Vamps timetable, and you can…"

Pam was becoming just a little irritated with her boy as he once again cut into her flow.

"Listen, Pam. If I was a member of the I.S.T, after reviewing the evidence, I'd probably find myself guilty of breaching the Prime Directive, although there were extenuating circumstances. You know I did it, right?"

As she nodded slowly, Eric continued with renewed energy. "So, my future is uncertain. I don't want the I.S.T. calling Sookie to give evidence against me, and then wiping her memory of me." He squelched the urge to whine, delivering his next thought as devoid of emotion as he could. "I want her to remember me, Pam." He hesitated before delivering the next word. "Always."

Pam's expression did not change, but her words were electric none-the-less. "She has been changed in more ways than one, Eric. I doubt her memories could even be wiped; once a Human falls for a Supe, she becomes highly resistant to Supe manipulations about her mate."

Pam hesitated before continuing. "And you aren't acknowledging the most obvious change; her blood seems to share some characteristics of your own, right? Isn't that what you told Niall earlier?" Pam waited for his reply, intuiting that he would be loathe to acknowledge the strange form of Sookie's blood contamination, however unique it might be to their world.

Eric just shook his head in resignation. "Friend, take her and go while she sleeps." He visibly straightened, moving to leave the hallway and join Niall as distraction against the loss of Sookie's presence and all it implied, but his heart and his head still hurt.

"As you wish." Pam called as she watched Eric retreat toward the sounds of the other Weres gathered in Niall's house. She would not argue with her charge. She had her own plans, and felt she was wasting time with the stubborn Wolf. It would be a few hours until the Euro Vamps awakened from their daily beauty rest. She moved quietly into Eric's bedroom and retrieved the sleeping True Human and an extra-large man's black tee and wrap to cover her.

Crooning an ancient Demon song to deepen Sookie's slumber, she moved stealthily until she had her safely settled in Eric's Jeep. Pam wasted no time in putting many miles between them and the Buckhead suburb. She hadn't stopped to assess how Niall would take the news she had removed the True Human from his compound. But then, Eric would have to defend his decisions to his Sire, not her.

She had only to save Eric's ass from the big, bad I.S.T.

As the details of her plan swirled in her thoughts, she heard Sookie finally stir, stretch, and yawn.

"Pam, where's Eric?" a tremulous Sookie queried the Elf beside her, the grim expression on Pam's face not lost on the Human.

"Back at his Sire's as they plot their strategy for tonight's I.S.T. hearing. And a warm hello to you, as well, little weibchen."

Ignoring Pam's chiding tone, Sookie went into full pouting mode; why wasn't she there with Eric?

But for once she knew the answer; he'd sent her away for her protection, and Pam was only acting on his orders.

Remembering what she and Eric had been doing, she was surprised to find herself clothed once again in one of Eric's black t-shirts. The incongruous attire triggered other non-Supernatural World thoughts; she'd need to call her employer, Belks' cosmetic department, and take a sick day for Monday, no doubt.

No way was she going to be able to concentrate on selling eye shadows and lipstick when Eric was in danger.

If only she had her mobile, the call would be at least one task she could mark off her list. Then, maybe she'd still have a job come Tuesday.

Meanwhile, there was her idea for saving Eric. She hadn't shared it with Pam, because…well, no point in having Pam outright reject it 'just because.'

"Pam, how can the Wolves attend the I.S.T. hearing if there is a full moon? Isn't this an unforeseen glitch?"

"Not with the help of an interpreter." Pam shifted sideways in her seat and gave her an appraising look. It was as if she'd forgotten Sookie wasn't really one of the Supes and didn't know all the rules.

"Who will interpret for Eric?" And can I watch? she thought.

"Standard practice, child." It wasn't much of an answer, but not atypical for Pam.

"Where are we going, and what time is the hearing? I'd like to have some clean clothes before we head out." Sookie assumed she would be present; for a start, she could give evidence in Eric's favor. Whatever it was he needed from her…

"I'm to protect you for now. Clean clothes, you ask? Okay, I can make a detour to your house."

They rode in silence for a few more minutes, before Sookie decided to try again.

"Have you seen my mobile? I'd like to check for messages and make a call to my employer."

"Under the back seat, along with your purse, and your dead relative's pearls."

Wincing at that last phrase, Sookie dove back into the passenger area, noting that Eric's performance gear for Clancy's had been removed as her fingers molded around first her bag with the pearls and then scrambled to find the smaller shape. Luckily, Eric's Jeep was kept relatively clean and her hand emerged moments later with the longed-for item. With a dead battery, however, it was all but useless for now.

"Now I'm eager to get home, Pammy." Why did the mobile make her admittedly bizarre circumstances suddenly feel a little more normal? She wondered how many calls she had missed over the last few days.

Thirty minutes later, they pulled onto Lupine Avenue, and Pam stopped the Jeep just at the corner of her duplex, a thoughtful expression settling over her usually ingenuous features.

"Are we walking?" Sookie was confused. She could see her house; the driveway was empty except for her car.

"You've had a visitor or perhaps more than one…" Pam's voice trailed off as she shut off the engine and with it the air conditioner. It wouldn't take long for the car to heat up in the Georgia sunshine. Sookie began to crank down her window, but Pam stilled her movement.

"Let me check first. Lock the doors after me, Sookie." And the Demon slithered out, faster than Sookie's eye could follow.

Awesome trick, she thought.

When she looked up again after locating the lock buttons, she could no longer find Pam. Perhaps she had moved into the tall Fetterbush hedge to search for her visitors?

Several minutes passed, agonizingly slow as Sookie wondered exactly what Pam was seeking. More worrisome, could she have been taken, and Sookie missed it?

It was a small relief when Pam eventually emerged from the back of the duplex; the dark look on her face visible even from Sookie's distant vantage point. What had she found?

Pam motioned to her to leave the car and join her on the duplex's front lawn. Sookie didn't waste any time; she met the Elf-Demon, observing the swirling neon colors had reappeared in her eyes. This time, though, it wasn't as startling. Just something she'd learned to accept without question.

"A Vampire, I think," Pam offered by way of explanation. "If Eric was here, he'd probably be able to tell you what the Supe was wearing and who he ate last night, but my senses are not as sharp." She sighed in frustration.

Sookie knew it was bad; Pam clearly had something else to tell her.

"Child, there was also someone else here."

She waited for an explanation that was not forthcoming.

"Just tell me, Pam."

In answer, she got a question. "No. Let's charge your phone; that may provide some answers." They stepped out of the early afternoon heat, escaping into the cool confines of the rental. Sookie wanted to know if they were safe, and Pam opined that as the visitor had been a Vamp, he was likely sleeping at present.

Thirsty, Sookie grabbed a Diet Coke, offered the same to Pam, who accepted, and then retreated to her bedroom with the explanation that she was mad for a shower, to which Pam nodded. "I'll wait here for your phone to charge. Don't take too long. We are still in crisis management mode."

Rolling her eyes, Sookie gathered her clothes and sped through her shower, thinking that a long hot soaking in the tub would have been nice, in spite of the outside Decatur heat. She chose clothing that was too warm for the 100-plus temperatures, but anticipated she'd be indoors the majority of the day and into the night. Wearing a black silk halter dress that zipped up the side, and matching low heels, she pulled a deep tomato-red three-quarter length button-less jacket from the closet with matching bag. Perfect!

Her still damp hair was a disaster, but then again, that seemed to be one problem that either Eric or Pam could easily fix. She clipped it back away from her face, and was ready in less than fifteen minutes. Too bad there wasn't an Olympic event for "getting ready." Her time today would definitely have qualified her for the semi-finals.

Emerging from the bedroom, Pam was holding her phone up, clearly intending for Sookie to check it. Her expression changed to one of glee as she took in Sookie's outfit.

"You are dressed like a large ladybug. Was that your intention?"

Sookie snorted; that was just so Pam, focusing on Sookie's outfit instead of the big picture—a plan to save her Wolfish future husband!

Ignoring the Elf-Demon's intended dig, she reached for her mobile and found several messages from a number she didn't recognize. When she played the first one, she realized Jason had been trying to reach her. It had been a while since they had spoken, but as usual his timing was so fail.

"Just my brother, Jason. I'll call him later; no need to listen to his other messages now…" her sentence trailing off as she watched Pam's expression change to one of chagrin. "What?"

"Try him?" Pam asked carefully.

Both of them heard the telltale mobile's music just beneath the front window of the duplex. Pam retrieved the device as Sookie sat silently, refusing to accept the only reason his phone could be in the shrubbery outside her window.

Pam returned, showing Sookie that the last call on the phone was early that morning to her number. She smiled sadly at Sookie but remained silent.

Not wanting to understand, Sookie was forced to ask the question as Pam's eyes, returned to normal irises, remained fastened on her.

"Did the Vampire take him?"

"I suspect so," was Pam's terse reply.

"How do we get him back?" It was meant to be a calm query, but Sookie's voice wasn't obeying just then, and it came out as a shriek.

"Eric will have a plan, but we will need his Wolf-nose to track the Vampire. I'll contact him…"

Sookie cut-in. "Please don't ask him, Pam, not today."

Pam ignored Sookie's plea, and focused her thoughts on Eric. He was much further away from her than they usually were on any given day, but if he was listening, he might pick up on Pam's hard-wired connection to him. As his Protectress, they had a special ability, part of the Demon debt acknowledgement ceremony, granted to them by her demon Sire.

Unfortunately, he seemed to be otherwise occupied. (Probably getting reamed by Niall for letting Sookie leave the Compound, Pam thought.) Pam quickly debated the pros and cons of silently screeching his name at Demon-frequency, one of the many perks passed along to her from her Demon-father's genes.

However, as with all things Supe, invoking her special abilities too often led to unintended consequences. And at the moment, she just wasn't in the mood to deal with unwanted amorous advances from Demons popping in to woo or annoy her once they picked up on her screech. Rather than risk another curious Demon poking around in her business, she finally resolved herself to the tedious necessity of returning to retrieve Eric with his super-sensitive tracking abilities. It wasn't part of Eric's plan for Sookie that day, but what choice did Pam have when it came to his mate's family?

She'd catch hell if she failed to inform him of all-things-Sookie, and brother-abduction was right up there on Eric's "Sookie" meter of notable events.

"I'll stop by my house, Sookie, for a change of clothes, and then we'll return to Niall's compound. Bring some extra clothing in a bag with you; I don't know how today's events will fall."

The trip to Pam's place was mostly uneventful. Pam's ongoing efforts to reach Eric through regular channels had been unsuccessful; her irritation growing with each failed attempt. At one point, Sookie forcefully suggested they call his Sire's BellSouth land line to reach Eric. Pam seemed to take a vicious delight in informing her that the head of the Americas Supernatural Council had a silent number; only a Human would think you could mistakenly crank call Niall d'Varg some night and be speaking with a Werewolf. After that, Sookie offered no more suggestions.

Once they arrived, Pam refused to leave Sookie alone in the Jeep, so Sookie followed her inside and waited as Pam quickly retrieved her clothing and tried Eric's mobile, without results.

It was the first time Sookie had been inside a Demon's house, and she was inspecting every inch, while trying to remain nonchalant about her burning curiosity. The first thing she noticed was the smell, a very faint scent of rotten eggs. She thought about asking if Pam's house might have a gas leak, but stopped herself in time, recalling that Pam had a much more sensitive nose than any Human.

Whew! That could have been an uncomfortable moment.

Perhaps all Demons had a touch of rotten egg-smell about them? Odd she hadn't noticed it earlier. However, she really had no desire to test this theory any time soon. It was likely that not all Demons would be as pleasant as Pam when quizzed about such a subject. And Pam was no push-over, either.

However, other than the smell, it could have been any suburban house in any prosperous Southern city. The chintz, organza padded chairs and sofa in soft feminine colors were unexpected, considering Pam's more rocker-centered clothing, but Sookie was beyond being astonished by anything Supe-related anymore. In truth, the familiar furnishings and cozy atmosphere were more than 'normal,' and she needed to focus on Eric, and the idea she had for saving him. It was time to risk Demon-wrath and reveal all to Pam. She'd start small, of course.

"Pam, how safe do you think Jason is with the Vampire who captured him?"

"Judging by the time of his last call on his mobile being just about sunrise, and the lack of any evidence of violence, I suspect he will be safe while we scent and track the Vampire to his daytime lair. Provided we do arrive before dark, we should be able to retrieve Jason and dispatch with the Vamp."

Pam stopped and gave Sookie a sympathetic look. "If the Vamp had only been focused on a live meal, he would not have bothered with removing your brother Jason from the premises."

Sookie nodded in relief. Her next question was certain to be more difficult.

"If we cannot find him before dark, then what happens?" She'd really wanted to ask exactly how one 'dispatched' with a Vampire—stakes? Beheading? Fire? Instead, she'd settled on the easier question.

"Sookie, not all Vampires are dangerous to Humans. Look at your ex, Will Compton. Did he ever bite you?" At Sookie's hooded glance, she continued more firmly. "Certainly, he never drained you."

Pam's explanation was useful, but Sookie didn't trust it. Pam had offered it much too easily, as if determined to make her accept the logic of it.

'So, could this have been a Rogue Vamp plan to distract us while Eric is being investigated? Are the Rogue Vamps allied with the I.S.T.?"

"Sookie, I've considered that idea, but both Eric and I rejected any link between the Rogues and the I.S.T, even before your brother was snatched."

Just as Sookie was about to launch her next query, Pam reflexively held up a finger. Her middle finger.

"Sookie, I don't possess all the answers, and I find your endless questions so annoying when I am trying to think." Pam gave her a small, apologetic smile to soften her words.

"Are you saying I should stop?" Pam held her temper in check, instead inclining her head in agreement.

"Demon, do not displease me." Pam shit Sookie an odd look at the unexpected response.

Sookie quickly recovered herself. "So, will Eric meet us at the gate to the Buckhead compound or will we have to…"

"Stop, please? He'll be outside waiting; I'll be able to contact him when we are closer to Niall's compound. Once we collect him, we'll return to your duplex and track the Vamp to retrieve Jason, but only if you stop asking me questions. Right?"

Sookie knew Pam's threat wasn't serious, but she resolved to not risk further irritating the Elf-Demon. She'd hold her idea for saving Eric in reserve for now; she wanted the Elf in her corner, not the Demon-half of Pam struggling to swallow her irritation and failing to do so.

As promised by Pam, her Wolf was waiting a block from Niall's compound; his slamming bod clothed in a fitted, casual black tee and True Religion jeans that left zero to the imagination. The Demon gave a graceful nod of her head to him, before executing that slithering move of hers into the back seat, Jeep motor still running.

Sookie snorted. Death sentence hanging over him or not, Eric would insist on driving, and Pam would indulge him.

But if Pam was okay with his behavior, she too could let slide a so admittedly minor macho failing.

Eric leaned into her for a quick kiss, slipping her a little tongue before changing gears and heading back to her duplex in Decatur.

"So you didn't recognize the scent, Pam?" Looking back at Sookie in consternation, he asked, "Didn't Pam have time to do a comb-out on you, lover?"

Before the Elf-Demon could reply to either burning question, Sookie broke in, absently running her fingers through her bangs. "Irick, I appreciate your concerns about my hopeless tresses..." She coughed, and continued. "But Eric, I'll owe you forever if you help me track down my missing brother Jason. Do you think he is part of this plot that seems to be developing, or was he just a victim of 'wrong place, wrong time' when the Vamp snatched him from my front yard?"

"Sookie, my dearest? Then it looks like I'll own you forever when I retrieve your brother." Eric's accompanying smile was all that was male, smug, and totally obnoxious. Sookie momentarily considered withholding sex from him until his Supe-sized ego could be brought back to Earth, but then dismissed the idea.

She wasn't that foolish.

"Just answer my question, Wolf-man: sinister Vampire-plot, or something else?"

Frowning now, Eric left no doubt with his wordless response of his current opinion on all things Vampire.

Still, he felt it necessary to clarify.

"Never trust a Vamp. They are unreliable…"

Pam cut him off, admonishing him with a sharp reminder. "Don't forget Vampire Leif, Eric. And just how did Niall take the news I'd left with Sookie?"

"I've been unable to forget him for over a hundred years, Demon. Niall never stops talking about him." He paused, and added "Not well. I'd avoid being alone in a room with my Sire for the new few hours."

"Never forget, Little Wolf, that I am a Demon…"

Sookie tuned out the sounds of their wrangling as she reviewed what she'd just heard; had she detected a spot of jealousy in Eric's response? Who was Leif to Eric? Unfortunately, as they continued indulging in their mock-squabbling, her brother Jason was being held against his will by a Vampire! And that was just the best case scenario.

"Hey, please, can we focus? My brother Jason has been snatched, and Eric is going before the I.S.T. tonight. Lots on our plate today, and, hmmmm, when exactly will the shift to Werewolf occur, darling?" Sookie needed clarification alright, but priorities first. She was unconsciously stroking his free hand, which he'd obligingly dropped off the steering wheel for her to reach.

"The moon has to be visible in the dark sky, and then I begin to feel the pull of her body on my soul."

Eric then ruined the evocative tone he had set when he continued with, "Or when I see the form of my favorite prey, such as deer, rabbits, dogs, cats, or voles, scent me and turn to flee in terror. That can start the change when we are 'this close' to sunset." He held up his thumb and finger to show just how 'close' he felt to changing into a Werewolf. A hair wouldn't have fit between them.

Sookie gulped. Again, more information than she really wanted.

Intent on changing the subject, she finally asked, "Eric, who is Leif?"

Eric's expression, often moody, changed from serious to completely sour. "She might as well know everything, Pam."

The Demon merely nodded, confusion apparent in her expression; even Sookie was afraid to say more.

She could only pray that by freezing in her seat, Eric would be encouraged to continue with his explanation.

And it worked! After a few moments, he forged ahead:

"Leif, acting head of the I.S.T., who will be passing sentence on me? Leif has been exalted during my entire existence for being nothing more than a reasonable, level-headed, and evidently miraculous example of Vampire-ingenuity." Eric gave a small, involuntary snarl, and Sookie couldn't help a rather large shiver that raced up her spine.

"Leif also happens to be Niall's full-Were son. He was turned at an early age by a Vampire with a particular vendetta against my Sire."

Sookie blinked as she considered the ramifications of Eric's revelation.

"So, Leif is your sibling?"

"My half-brother." There was a pause, "and I hate him."

Well now, that was totally unexpected. Even Pam had given a small gasp at that revelation.

And, more to the point, it threatened to derail Sookie's formerly unassailable plan to save her Wolf. She somehow couldn't see her possessive mate agreeing to his hated half-brother sucking her True-Human blood… She felt the first stirrings of a deep-rooted irritation with her hard-headed consort. She was Shala, corn maiden, after all.

A/N: Been a long time; I guess my muse ran off with his beautiful boyfriend. In atonement, I promise the next chapter will be up very soon. (Checks behind me and no, my fingers are not crossed) Going to tell me what you thought about it? Going to rip me a new one for taking so long to update? Either way…