Layla froze as Sookie fired the gun at the same moment the Werewolf started running. Eric, pushing Layla aside jumped in front of the bullet, shielding the werewolf from harm. Layla screamed and dropped to her knees beside Eric just as the Werewolf shifted and rushed forward trying to drink Eric's blood. Eric grabbed the thing by the throat at the same time Layla grabbed him by his hair. No way in the hell was this thing drinking from him.

"Move away, Layla." Eric commanded.

"Fat fucking chance." Layla said, jerking the werewolf by his hair.

"Stay back, Sookie. Don't shoot him. He knows." Eric said, grappling with the creature above him. The werewolf threw an arm back and knocked Layla nearly across the room. Shit he was strong.

"Knows what?" Sookie asked.

"Who do you work for?" Eric asked.

"Gimme a taste, fucker." The werewolf gasped even as Eric held him by the throat.

"Who sent you?" Eric screamed. Layla glanced nervously between the bullet wound in Eric's chest and the struggling Werewolf. The thing struggled to respond and so Eric, very slowly released his throat, but the minute he was free the disgusting beast ducked down and began drinking Eric's blood. Layla damn near lost her mind then.

She pounced from where she had been crouched on the floor and knocked the werewolf aside. It took all her strength and body weight to do so, but that was all she really wanted. The stupid werewolf off her vampire. As she realized the possessive route her thoughts had taken she grimaced to herself. In frustration, both with herself and the situation she lay a solid punch to the thing's jaw. Unfortunately he punched her back. Sookie took the opportunity to shoot him in the leg. He yelped like a dog and Layla scrambled back a bit just as Eric leapt forward on top of him.

"For the last time...who is your master?" Eric growled.

"If I tell you, I'm as dead as you are. You might as well kill me now." the werewolf said.

"As you wish." Eric said, right before sinking his fangs into the beast. Layla shut her eyes as her traitorous mouth began to water and heat coursed through her veins at seeing Eric so vicious and primal...ugh, why couldn't he be an unattractive asshole as opposed to a flawlessly gorgeous and sexy one? She watched as he pulled away from the now dead body which was leaving a huge puddle of blood in the doorway.

"I've got your rug all wet." he said to Sookie before turning to Layla. "And I bet that isn't the only thing."

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Sookie, Eric and Layla dragged the body to the Bon Temps cemetery. Actually, Eric just carried it and the girls followed. In fact, Eric pretty much did everything which was infuriating to Layla who felt utterly useless as she carefully touched the rising bruise on her cheekbone. She's lucky nothing had shattered. Holy shit, that thing knew had to throw a punch.

"Fresh graves are ideal for burying a body. The ground is already disturbed so no one will think to dig again." Eric said as he poured on of the last shovelfuls of dirt onto the grave.

"Good to know." Layla said sarcastically.

"So much for keeping him alive so we could question him." Sookie griped, arms crossed in front of her chest.

"That's what I was planning..." Eric said quietly.

"But then you saw his brand." Layla finished. Eric looked at her carefully, pausing before he spoke.

"It brings back many memories. Unpleasant ones." he said. "Besides, he hit you. You couldn't expect me to let him live after that could you?" he asked, throwing her a dazzling smile.

"If you'd given me half a chance to listen to some more of his thoughts we might have-" sookie began but Eric cut her off.

"You have no concept of how dangerous werewolves are. They're virtually silent, they have no fear of death, and when they've had a bit of our blood their strength can be a challenge."

"Yeah, no kidding." Layla said bitterly. Eric cast her a sympathetic look.

"Even for me." he added. Okay, that helped her pride a bit.

"Like I said, thanks for saving my life." Sookie said sweetly. Layla fought back the urge to gag.

"How's your bullet wound?" Layla asked, her eyes catching on the bloodstained shirt he still wore.

"It healed fast, thanks to you." he said, nodding towards the puncture wounds in her wrist. She still was annoyed with the giving part of her that had offered him her blood in the first place, but there was no use crying over spilled milk...or blood.

"Walk you back." he said, ushering both girls back towards the house.

"Do you know anyone named Jackson? It's the only thing I could make out in his thoughts." Sookie asked Eric as they walked the dirt road back to Sookie's place. "Maybe that's the person he's working for."

"Jackson is where he lives." Layla said quietly. Sookie looked at her sharply, confused, then to Eric who shrugged.

"He had a Mississippi accent." Eric agreed. "Can't you people tell the difference?"

"Even I heard it Sook, and I'm a Yankee." Layla said with a smirk.

"My God, he's from Jackson? Do you think that's where Bill is? Guys we have to go like yesterday!" Sookie said.

"I can't, not yet." Eric said, not looking at either of them. "The problems of the world consist of more than finding your missing boyfriend."

"Fiancee." Layla corrected.

"You shouldn't go by yourself either, these werewolves are looking for you." Eric said. Layla frowned.

"I'll be going with her, stupid." she said. Eric fixed her with a blank stare.

"You made it obvious tonight that against a Werewolf on V you are little better than a girl scout trying to tackle a mountain lion. You'd be dead in minutes and no help at all. You are most assuredly staying here where I can keep an eye on you. You're no good to Sookie, Bill or me if you're dead."

"Fuck that! I'm not up to superhuman par so me and Sookie have to sit and cool our heels until you get around to escorting us?" Layla snapped. Sookie glanced sharply at Eric.

"How can you expect me to sit around when we finally have a lead?" Sookie asked.

"It will be morning by the time you get to Jackson. If you're planning to rescue a missing Vampire during daylight I have seriously overestimated your intelligence. At least take the day to think it over." Eric asked the blonde kindly. Layla stomped her foot angrily on the ground.

"Hold up! She gets to go? Sookie, the walking trouble magnet gets to go, but me, the half-vampire bodyguard is staying behind? What the fuck? Are you kidding me? I'm going, and nothing you say will stop me."

"If you try to go I will stop you both." Eric said smartly. Layla groaned, now Sookie would be on Eric's side. she would rather search for Bill alone than waste time trying to get Layla to go with her, no matter how dangerous it may be.

"Fine, I leave tomorrow. I don't care about being alone but I have to go. Bill would do it for me." Sookie said. Eric just looked at her and Layla gave a bitter laugh and shook her head.

"Don't expect him to understand, Sook." Layla said, watching the blonde turn and go towards the front door.

"I understand very well." Eric said softly, tossing a look a Layla that made her blood all hot and cold at the same time. Layla sighed, knowing she was screwed here. She wouldn't be able to fight them both on this.

"If she's in trouble, you'll feel it right?" Layla asked, though it seriously bothered her to see him nod a 'yes'.

"How fast can you get to Mississippi?" Sookie asked.

"Probably not fast enough." Eric admitted. "Stay out of trouble, Ms. Stackhouse, and do us both a favor." he said. "Ms. Dahlin." he whispered her name, almost reverently but before Layla could look up and see him the was a small gust of wind and he was gone.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Layla went home the next morning and slept until well after sundown. In fact, the only reason she woke up at all was because of a knock on her door. She ignored the fact the the only thing she was wearing was a pair of black underwear and and old Joan Jett t-shirt and opened the door. Eric smiled when he saw her.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was in the neighborhood." Eric said smoothly. "May I come in?"

"I thought you didn't have to ask anymore since I told you before that you could." Layla asked, leaning against her door. Normally she would be embarrassed to be talking in her underwear, but the man had already seen all of her and it was doubtful he had forgotten.

"True, but I do have some manners. So...may I?" he asked with a devilish smile. Layla sighed.

"If you must." she said, stepping aside and letting him in. Layla ran a hand through her hair, still slightly tangled from sleep and she was sure she had makeup smudged beneath her eyes.

"Good to see you're using my money for redecorating." Eric said sarcastically noting the unchanged layout.

"Yeah, well I've been a bit too busy to bother ordering new furniture. What with missing Vampires and V-addicted Werewolves, and whatever the hell ruined Sookie's house. Doesn't leave much time to slap on a fresh coat of paint." Layla said, reaching into the refrigerator and pulling out a Tru Blood. "Want one?"

"Why do you have that?" Eric asked, wrinkling his nose. Layla shrugged.

"I mix it with chocolate ice cream, strawberries and bananas in the morning to make a smoothie." she admitted quietly. Eric raised a brow at her and she straightened her shoulders defensively. "Whatever, judge all you want, but I find it energizing, and when you mix it with chocolate and fruit it doesn't taste so bad. Still not the real thing, but..." she trailed off, remembering the only 'real' blood she'd ever tasted belonged to the towering blonde who was swiftly closing the gap between them.

"What are you?" he asked softly, resting his arms on the counter behind her, effectively caging her.

"Half-Vampire and all woman." she replied jokingly, ducking out from under his arms and walking across the room. "So, I take it Sookie left already?"

"She did." Eric said, taking a seat opposite her. Somehow he managed to look regal even sitting on a bean bag chair.

"Alone?"

"Do you think I'm stupid?" Eric asked. Layla smiled.

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

Eric sighed. "I sent Alcide Herveaux with her. He's a werewolf, so he can get her where she needs to go and keep an eye on her."

"So you sent a werewolf with the cute little blonde who you didn't want to be alone with werewolves? Gee, how very brilliant you are, Mr. Northman." Layla said sarcastically. "Well, that settles it. I'm going." Layla said, standing quickly and walking to her room, throwing things into a duffel bag. Eric was by her side instantaneously, closing a hand around her arm.

"What do you think you will accomplish by going to Jackson besides pissing me off?"

"As if that weren't reason enough, my friend is there, virtually alone-"

"She has the werewolf-"

"I DON'T TRUST THE WERWOLF!" Layla screamed, wrenching her arm from his grip and resuming her scattered and messy version of packing. "I'm not going to let her wander around, without a friend, hunting for Bill who for all we know doesn't want to be found, or god forbid, can't be found. What if all he is now is a steaming pile of blood and tissue? Did you ever think how to protect Sookie from that scenario? No, of course not, because you would expect her to suck it up and move on, hopefully to you." Layla said angrily.

"You're. Not. Going." Eric said, tossing clothes out of her bag.

"Yes. I. Am." she said, tossing the clothes back in.

"I have no authority in Jackson. I can't help you-"

"I don't need your help. Besides, what do you care if I die? One less thing to worry about. Anyway, Yvonne can keep you company."

"Yvetta." Eric corrected. The sound of the slap seemed to come before the actual action. Layla didn't even remember raising her hand, the action moved with Vampire swiftness, the only reason she knew it had happened at all was the look of shock on Eric's perfect face.

"Never..." Layla hissed. "Never say her name to me."

Layla continued to move about her room while Eric stood there in silence. She threw on sweatpants and flip flops before dashing out to her car, leaving Eric in the bedroom. Eric was suddenly there between her and the driver's side door.

"Move."

"No."

"Yes."

"I refuse to let you go." he said and then paused before adding "I don't want you to go."

"I don't care what you want. I'm going."

"I could stop you." Eric said quietly, bending down his face close to hers. Layla sighed and cocked her head to the side.

"Eric...if you were going to stop me you would have by now. Some part of you knows I have to do this. Listen to that part of you that still feels and let me go." Layla pleaded quietly. Suddenly Eric was crushing her in his arms and smothering her in an intensely passionate kiss. It was something she had never planned to experience again, something she had been denying a craving for. He tasted like anger and regret and desire...and fear. When they finally drew back from each other Eric still kept his eyes closed and both of his hands on either side of her face. Layla ran a finger down his flawless cheek.

"I'll be safe." she promised. Eric's eyes snapped open.

"You'd better be." he snarled before opening up the door for her. Layla rolled her eyes and got in.

"So where exactl-" she began. She had been about to ask where she was headed but Eric was already handing her a slip of paper. On it was the address for Alcide's place. Layla quirked a brow and smiled. "You knew I'd go?"

"I'm not nearly as stupid as you think." Eric said, resting his elbows on the edge of the rolled down window. He leaned in and gave her one last, lingering kiss before disappearing into the night. Layla smiled and then punched the steering wheel.

"Fucking Vampires." she growled as she pulled out of the driveway, headed for Jackson.