This is a short chapter, sorry. The good news is I'll be posting more frequently as I have finally completed the final draft and am just doing some proofing and polishing.

I want to again thank all my reviewers. You give me so much encouragement.

Again, I own nothing except this little plot I cooked up.

Chapter 16 - Shopping

It turned out they had no problem filling the 35 minutes, or the 35 after that. When it became obvious he was ready to go for the next 35, she sat up. "Eric, I have to go before the stores close."

He turned over onto his back, one hand under his head, his alabaster body glowing in the dark made her mouth water, and almost made her change her mind. "Have I told you I hate your work ethic?" He murmured as he ran a finger down her arm.

Smiling, she stood, "I thought I was a good, practical viking woman?" she challenged. She headed to the bathroom, bending and sweeping up her clothes as she went. When she straightened he was standing in the bathroom doorway.

"Practical is not what I'm looking for now." He turned to let her into the bathroom. "Shower?" he suggested.

"Mmm, when we get back." she promised him with a kiss. "But now I need to use the ladies and find a wig. Can you see if you can find a wig shop in town that's open this late?" She held the door so she could close it once he moved.

He leaned in to kiss her again. Then mumbled against her lips. "This will be the quickest shopping trip ever."

"So shoo! So I can get ready." she gave a little wave to send him off and closed the door.

He did his best to make it a quick shopping trip, looking down right annoyed when, after she had picked out a long, straight, brown wig, she suggested stopping for a bite to eat. But she put her foot down. "Were you planning to eat later?" she asked, one eyebrow raised accusingly.

The question, and its implication, caught him off guard and he actually looked a little guilty, before he gave in, "I see your point. Where do you want to go?"

"I think there is a foodcourt here at the mall, I can find something there." She grabbed his free hand, the other was carrying her box from the wig shop, and pulled him in that direction.

"Are you sure? I can take you someplace nicer." he offered.

"It's fine for now," she shrugged, "we're in the middle of an investigation and don't have time for anything too fancy."

"How about once we figure this out I take you out to a nice dinner?"

"You mean like a date?"

"Yes, like a date. We could do dinner and dancing. I enjoyed watching you dance at Josephine's" he added, a lustful look in his eyes.

She smiled, "I could tell." her eyes sparkled up at him. "It didn't take a telepath to know what all the vampires in the bar were thinking." They had reached the food court and she scanned the choice of restaurants trying to decide what to eat. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Eric stiffen and look around, she was instantly on alert. "What is it?" she asked warily.

"A fairy is here, or has been recently." he said softly so only she could hear.

"Are you sure it isn't someone wearing VampBait?" She asked equally low.

"Yes, this is different, fresher, not so dry." He was inhaling deeply, trying to track by scent. He must have determined a direction because he started to head toward the exit. Sookie kept her feet planted.

"What are you going to do? Hunt whoever it is down for a snack?" She asked through clenched teeth.

"No," he rolled his eyes, "I have better control than that, but it may be someone watching us." He pulled her toward the exit. "I want to see who it is, and ask them some questions."

She sighed and started to follow. "Fine, but we are coming back in so I can eat."

He gave a curt nod, all his senses focussed ahead of him. As they got to the door he released her hand, signaled for her to stay where she was and be quiet. Then at lightning speed he was through the door, stopping about 20 feet out and turning to look around for any sign of someone lying in wait. After a moment he gestured for her to follow, which she did cautiously. When nothing attacked her she joined him and they followed his nose out into the parking lot. It was getting late and it was a week night so it was only sparsely populated. He stopped at an empty parking place. "Whoever it was must have driven away." he murmured looking frustrated.

"Did you recognize the fairy? Could it have been Claudine?" She asked looking around, now she was worried about being watched, wondering if she should have been before.

He shook his head, and gave her a crooked grin, "I've become fairly familiar with Claudine's scent lately. It wasn't her."

"Well, let's go back in so I can eat. I still need to get done up in this wig so you can take my picture for an ID." She turned back to the mall entrance. "How soon do you think it can be done?"

After taking one last look around the parking lot he fell into step next to her. "It should only take an hour or so. I'll have Bobby drop it off in the morning."

Sookie got a combination plate from the Chinese-style restaurant and they walked over to a table. As always she was a little self-conscious eating in front of a vampire. For one thing her up-bringing told her it was rude to eat in front of someone who wasn't eating, for another, Bill had always had a hard time hiding his revulsion at the process. Eric didn't seem to have the same problem.

"Does it bother you to watch me eat?" She asked.

He shook his head, "No, I've been around so long I just decided it was something I needed to get over. Besides, I like watching your expressions when you eat. I can tell when you're really enjoying yourself."

She nodded since she had a mouthful of food. It certainly made sense.

The mother and tween at the next table finally got up and left so Sookie asked a question she had been holding. "Do you really think the fairies are watching us?"

He gave a noncommittal shrug, but she could see in his eyes that he did.

"Why would they? We're trying to help stop whoever is using their blood. We're on the same side." she reasoned.

"If none of them are behind this." She started to interject but he stopped her. "Sookie, you're very trusting, but fairies, while they don't lie, are not known for their honesty."

"Are you saying Claudine is hiding something from me?"

"I am saying she might not have been completely truthful, or that others were not truthful with her. With the..." He started to continue, but worker came to wipe down the vacated table and he changed what he was about to say. "With these... folk there are different factions and they do not play nicely. One faction could be behind it and have managed to completely hide it from the others. If Claudine wasn't careful in her asking around she might have tipped our hand and then she and anyone she has come in contact with could be under surveillance, which would be you."

"Sounds as bad as vampire politics."

"Ha, they make our politics look like schoolyard squabbles." He leaned in so he could speak softly, his face very serious. "Never take anything they say at face value. I hate dealing with them, it's always dangerous."

Her eyes grew wide, up to this point she had only met Claudine and her brother Claude, and other than his rudeness, she didn't imagine having anything to worry about from that supernatural direction. "I never thought of them as dangerous, they have pretty good PR if what you are saying is true."

"Read the old stories." he suggested. He shook his head. "I've been worried ever since Claudine showed an interest in you. That both she and her brother seem to be watching you makes me even more suspicious."

"But Claudine has saved my life, a lot of times!" Sookie protested on behalf of her fairy godmother.

"But why? Why you and why now? Do you know anyone else who has a fairy godmother?"

She shook her head.

"And if they are watching over you, who are they protecting you from?" He looked around to make sure no one else was listening. "Just the very act of them watching you might attract unwanted attention from their enemies." He shook his head with finality as if he had just convinced himself of something. "No good can come from being close to fairies. The sooner we are done with this the better."

Sookie found herself no longer very hungry, she put down her fork and dabbed at her mouth with the paper napkin.

He glanced down at her almost empty plate. "Are you finished?"

"Just have my fortune cookie left." She picked it up and cracked it, pulling out the little slip of paper.

"A thrilling time is ahead for you."

For most people that wouldn't sound ominous, but based on her life since Bill had walked into Merlotte's she was pretty sure this didn't bode well. She showed it to Eric and he raised one eyebrow. His look said he agreed.