A/N: Okay, I know I said this one would be longer but . . . oops. I promise, there are some longer chapters coming. Thank the ladies of LTAE for this since they've hounded me. KCP, thanks again for being my beta. You rock.

I also want to thank each and every one of you that leaves a review. I get giddy every time I check my email and see a review alert. I'm sorry I can't respond to each one. I spend most of my days chasing three boys, two dogs and a husband around the house. In between I try to squeeze in some time to write and, also read some of the other incredible writing (which humbles me to no end) that I have found here. Thank you all for bearing with me, being patient (i.e., not bringing out the pitchforks) and, taking the time to read this.

Chapter 7

I awoke to pain. Only it was not mine, it was hers. That was an hour ago, and there was about another hour and a half until sunset. I growled in frustration, and then bent my attention to the bond between us. She was not close. If I had to venture a guess, I would say she was thousands of miles away. I forced myself out of bed. My age allowed me some movement during daylight hours, and it was easier when it was closer to sunset, but right now I was still sluggish.

Another flash of pain caused me to howl in anger. The thought of what she was enduring, if I was feeling it at this distance, was almost too much to bear. I paced my daytime chamber restlessly, frustrated at my impotence to help her.

I called her as soon as I awoke, but there was no answer at her home or, on her cell, so I called the shifter. He informed me that Sookie had not shown up for work that day and, that no one had been able to find her. Her car was not at home and he had called all of her friends, but no one had seen her. He told me he hounded the police to run a trace on her cell phone. Normally, they would not consider her a missing person for much longer, but Bon Temps was a small town and, whatever they thought of Sookie's recent associations, they knew she would never just not show up for work.

I sat down and focused once more on the bond. In addition to the pain, there was anger and shock. Good. Use the anger Sookie. If she was angry, she would still fight back, and my bonded was nothing if not a fighter. I tried to send comfort and support through the bond, but I'm not sure how much reached her at this distance or, if she was in any condition to focus on it.

The phone rang.

"This is Northman."

"Eric, it's Sam. They ran a trace on her cell phone. They found her car at the library, but there's no sign of her. Her purse, phone and books were on the ground by the car. Someone took her Eric. God damn it, someone took her!"

"I know. She's somewhere south. I'm not sure exactly where, but I can track her when I get out of here." I growled again in frustration. "Sam, she's not close. Not at all."

"Tell me what you need Northman and we'll be ready to move when you can."