Long chapter ahead, folks! I can't believe I've posted 4 of them today! Lol I thought I'd give you a short playlist of the music I listen to when I write these chapters, if any of you were looking for some beat :) Here it goes!

Fresh Blood - The Eels (dahhhh :P obviously)

I Shot the Sheriff - Eric Clapton (Am I the only one to wish this song ended an actual episode of TB with a smug looking Sookie kicking (with much love) Eric's sorry butt? hahaha)

Everything is Broken - Bob Dylan (I love the actual TB soundtrack!)

Avalanche - Leonard Cohen

Where is my mind? - The Pixies

Hospital Beds - Cold War Kids

Give Me One Reason - Tracy Chapman

Teeth - Lady Gaga (Oh, the irony :D)

Get Down - E-train

Timebomb - Beck (Again, love the TB soundtrack very dearly!)

Hunting Roger Rabbit - Entrepreneurs

ETC. Am a big music fan, I listen to pretty much anything depending on my mood! If you have suggestions or want some more ideas, you tell me :) I read all the comments and even if I don't reply personnally to every single one, I try my best to answer everyone's question in my author's note so that everyone gets the pertinent infos :)

HUGS AND KISSES :) I love you all that much! PLEASE REVIEW :)

I awoke a decade later, it seemed to me. The fact that the figure looming over me was a were, from what I could judge by his brain wave, scared me at first. But I was reassured when I read the werewolf's thoughts. Alcide.

My eyes fluttered, adjusting to the ambient lighting. I realised I had been moved from the bar to the employee room. On the floor, near me, leaning over me was Alcide. He smiled when he saw my eyes open and spoke to a person behind me. I didn't make out his words as the entire room seemed to buzz around me. I opened my mouth to speak and only mouthed the word: 'Water.' Alcide understood and grabbed a bottle lying close to me on the ground and lifted my head, drawing the bottle to my dried out lips. I drank long and deep, feeling like a woman saved from the desert.

'Bill and Eric? And Pam?' I whispered, my voice hoarse.

'Bill's with the Magister and Nan. They left when the sun went down. Pam is over there, drinking True Blood.' Alcide informed me, wrinkling his nose at the thought of a bottle of True Blood. I had been out of it for almost an entire day. I however felt much better now after hours of sleep.

'And Eric?' I whispered once more.

Alcide gave me a meaningful look before he moved out of my sight to allow me to see another person resting on the second couch. Eric was lying on his back, half of his face burnt. He looked in pain and seemed weak for the first time since I'd met him. His arms were burnt too and he had many wounds on his bare chest. Pam was attending to him, drinking True Blood and giving him some. But he needed real blood, human blood. I could tell from his state that his wounds would take long to cure otherwise. I lifted myself up on my elbow, feeling my head spin. If Eric was here and all of them were alive, it could only mean that Russell had been defeated. I gave Alcide a questioning look as Pam leaned close to Eric to whisper something in his ear. It seemed to please him for his lips curled in a semblance of a smile.

'Eric asked me one last favour. To come and help take down Russell since he feared he wouldn't hold on long enough in the sun to do so himself.' He swiftly explained me. 'We threw silver nets on Russell the moment he stepped outside and restrained him. He was strong but with Eric's help we were able to hold him long enough for the sun to burn him completely. He won't be bothering you ever again.' Alcide said, a hint of a smile on his face.

'And Eric? How bad is he hurt?' I whispered, feeling groggy. It was as if I had just awoken from a long dentist's appointment. My wrist hurt badly whilst my neck gave me just a gentle throbbing.

'He'll heal. It will take time since he got badly burnt both from the sun and restraining Russell in the silver chains, but he'll heal.' Pam answered me. She looked almost happy, for the first time in a long time.

'Can I do anything at all?' I asked, hopeful. My energy was coming back slowly, like a warm glow spreading through my stiff limbs.

'Not for now. You're too weak, right now. But your blood might help him heal, if you'd give him some willingly.' Pam continued. Alcide winced at the idea.

'I'll get going if you don't need me anymore, Sookie.' Alcide said to me. 'I have to take Debbie home to her kind so we can punish her the way she deserves.'

'What about Russell's wolves?' I asked, nervously.

'We'll deal with them in due time.' Alcide assured me before walking out.

I looked again at Eric. He whispered something in Swedish to Pam and she exited the room without further ado. I laid on my side, looking at Eric's profile. He was still lying on his back. His face, though badly burnt, still had its strong manliness and he looked beautiful even like that. His voice almost surprised me when he spoke to me.

'You feeling okay? I'm afraid Russell always was a greedy bastard.' He said, his voice low. I giggled at his comment.

'I'm alright. A bit weak. And I wish I was home with Tara and Jason and Sam and even Jessica. But I'm alright. Thanks to you.' I said, a slight smile on my lips.

'I didn't do much. And it what I did wouldn't have worked without your help. Thank you for trusting me, Sookie.' He replied, turning his head slowly to look at me. His eyes were still beautiful and I could see the skin was beginning to heal, slowly and painfully. He took in the image of my face and body and I noticed for the first time I was not wearing the jeans or top anymore. I was only wearing Yvetta's lacy underwear and a thick blanket had been dropped on me. It wasn't covering much at the moment and I pulled it up, very conscious of his eyes on my body.

'You're welcome, I guess.' I said, easing myself on my elbow. I must have looked like a mess right now, but he didn't look his best either so I didn't mind. 'How are you feeling?' I returned the question.

'I have been better. But I will take a while to heal. I got to see the sun for the first time in a millennium. And I got to see Russell burn to shreds. Both worth the pain. I would be better if I could have some human blood. But I detest Yvetta's.' He said, plumping his head on his folded arm. His biceps bulged and his skin looked better with each passing minute.

'I could give you some of mine' I tried, 'But Pam says I'm too weak at the moment.'

'You are. I appreciate the offer but I won't weaken you more. Actually you're the one who needs the most blood right now. Do you want some of mine?' he offered, a slight grin on his pained face.

'Don't you need it to heal?' I asked, curiously.

'I can spare a few drops on you.' He whispered. I crawled off my sofa and approached him, kneeling next to him. I left my blanket in its place, not really caring if he saw me in my underwear. He lifted a hand and caressed my hair.

'How long have you known Bill was using me?' I asked, my voice uneasy.

'Not long. I figured out his purpose when Hadley told me what you were. I knew that Sophie-Anne was fond of special humans and it all added up in my mind.' He said, twirling my curls around his strong fingers. I noticed for the first time the damage to his palms, surely from where he had held the nets over Russell. His palms were deeply scarred. I took his hand and without thinking, brought it to my lips, kissing at the scars. He groaned and closed his eyes, enjoying my mouth on his seared skin. I did not realise I was crying until he passed his under thumb gently on my cheek, and then bringing it to his lips. He lifted his head with a grunt and pulled me towards him.

'Why are you crying?' He whispered, caressing my cheek and passing his thumb on my lips.

'Isn't it obvious?' I croaked, my breath catching in my throat.

'I despise Bill for hurting you, Sookie.' Eric purred, lifting my chin so our eyes would meet. I sniffed loudly, ashamed of looking so weak in front of him. 'He is blind if he doesn't realise he'll never be worthy of you. You're strong and beautiful and one day, you'll be mine.' He concluded, sealing the deal with the softest kiss on my lips. I pulled back, looking at his burnt face. Even like this he was beautiful, a strange, dangerous beauty.

'What did you mean when you said Sophie-Anne's greed had hurt Pam?' I asked, cocking my head to one side, questioningly.

'The previous Magister, the one that Russell killed, tortured Pam to get me to turn in the Queen or Bill.' Eric explained. I mindlessly caressed his bare chest, my fingers fluttering over his injuries. He hissed when I touched a particularly deep scar that went from his collarbone to his jean band.

'How did this happen?' I whispered, afraid.

'Russell had a silver knife. He fought back.' Eric said, his hand twisted in my hair at the nape of my neck. His touch could still make me shudder, even after having lost so much blood.

'Why can I feel what you feel?' I asked, tears still rolling down my cheeks.

'Because I've had your blood. A little part of you is in me.' He explained, slowly. 'And I can feel what you feel, because you've had my blood.'

'I don't like that. It's like sharing my thoughts with someone.' I muttered, pouting like a child.

'You who reads people's mind are afraid of sharing your emotions?' He asked, genuinely surprised.

'I like vampires, I don't have to keep my shields up with them. I simply can't hear anything. Very relaxing compared to the buzz of annoying thoughts I hear every single day at Merlotte's.' I replied, grinning a bit.

'I like you.' He simply said, making me smile some more.

'Why does the bond make me attracted to you?' I asked. This time, Eric laughed.

'I truly have no idea, Sookie. I just know it does. In some ways, but not in all.'

'Why are you attracted to me? You must have had thousands of women throughout your life. Why me? I'm not the prettiest, the smartest. I'm just plain ol' Sookie, the crazy telepath.' I giggled, drying the remaining of my tears.

'You are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.' He said, his eyes devouring my face. He pulled me in for another kiss, this one long and fiery. I didn't feel any shame in kissing him. He was an extraordinary kisser. I traced the tip of his fangs with my tongue and he hissed.

'If you do this again I'm afraid I'll have to have you on this couch.' Eric whispered against my lips when we finally broke apart. Our faces were an inch apart and his vulnerability made him even more touching.

'Whatever you say.' I said, standing up slowly to go back to my couch. He roughly pulled me on top of him and I landed on him. I tried to remove myself, afraid I would hurt him more than he already was but he drew my lips to his and kissed me with all his might. It felt as though he was sucking the life out of me. I panted when he let my lips go for a second and nibbled at his bottom lip. I moved a bit, my hips clinging to his and he winced in pain.

'Oh my god. I'm so sorry.' I muttered, slipping out of his embrace. He breathed heavily and stared at me with a puzzled look.

'Why did you stop?' he said, trying to draw me back to him.

'This is wrong. I don't want improvised sex with you, Eric.' I replied, my arousal saying otherwise.

'Improvised sex?' he replied, grinning. 'That's not exactly what I had in mind. I was more in the mood to fuck you breathless.'

I gasped at his words. The man was so blunt sometimes. Even in the state he was in, he still wanted to have sex.

'You are so blunt!' I yelped, sitting back on my couch, wrapping myself in my blanket. At least, he had taken my mind off the big hole left by Bill's treason and departure. I suddenly felt terribly homesick.

'Can I please go home?' I asked him.

'Anytime you wish to go, you may go, Sookie. I can ask Pam to drive you. But I would like you to have some of my blood before you go. You look awfully pale.' He said. His left cheek was almost fully healed by now. I took the bottle of True Blood Pam had left on the table and brought it to him. He drank a long gulp of it, sitting on the couch so it would be easier to give me his blood.

'Doesn't my drinking your blood make the bond stronger?' I asked.

'It does. But you need it now. Russell drank more than he should have. Your heartbeat is rather low.' He answered. Biting his wrist, he gestured for me to sit between his legs as we had done what now felt like weeks before but was just the previous evening. I sat, reluctantly and took his wrist to my mouth. I liked the taste of his blood. It was creepy in a human kind of way to appreciate the taste of blood, but his tasted like dessert. His other arm snaked around my stomach and his hand wrapped around my throat, feeling my pulse quicken as the blood slid down my greedy throat. The more I sucked at his wrist, the tighter his hold on me was. He was almost purring like a content cat. He finally let me go and I didn't dare turn back to look at him. I simply grabbed the blanket and wrapped myself into it.

'Pam!' he called, his voice now strong and commanding.

'No need to yell, Eric.' Pam muttered, entering the room by the door through which she had gone earlier.

'Take Sookie home. At her brother's. Her house is still a mess, she can't stay there. Make sure the surroundings are safe.' Turning to me, he smiled and said: 'Farewell, Miss Stackhouse. I'll be seeing you very soon. And thank you for your help.' I found it took him a lot of humility on his part to actually thank me, a mere human. I was touched by that more than I would have expected and soon enough, I was weeping like a child. Pam hushed me out of the room and gave me one of Eric's shirts to wrap myself into. She also handed me my shorts, the one I had arrived in. At some point during the recent events, someone had had time to clean then and dry them. My t-shirt, however, was nowhere to be seen. I thanked her and pull the clothes on, ready to sleep for the next decade, my heart aching in ways it had never before.

The drive home was gloomy. Pam wasn't in the mood for girl talk, nor was I. She simply patted me awkwardly on the shoulder when we arrived at Jason's. I then realised I didn't have my purse with me, but out of the blue, Pam grabbed it from the backseat and handed it to me. I took it and hurried towards the house. Jason was on the porch, waiting for me. Tara was nowhere to be seen. I guessed someone had called him in advance to tell him of the recent events because he didn't ask a single question and just hugged me tight. He hushed me inside and as I turned to say goodbye to Pam, she simply said:

'It reeks of werepanther here.'

I looked at her, my eyes wide as plates and gave her my fabulous Crazy Sookie smile before I closed the door of Jason's house. After a good bath and a goodnight kiss to Jason whom I would have a long talk with in the morning, I plumped myself into bed in Eric's shirt and slept a dreamless sleep.

When I woke up the next day I was quite puzzled at first as to where I was. I recognized the flowered wallpaper from my room as a child and realised I was at Jason's.

And then the pain came like a tsunami. I was drowning and burning at the same time. I started sobbing uncontrollably. Bill was gone. He wouldn't be back for a long time. He had betrayed me. But I couldn't very well tear the love I had for him out of me just like that. It wasn't a band aid case. Forgetting our time together would take a long, long time, if I could ever bring myself to forget. When I had calmed down a bit, I went to the bathroom to take another shower. When I was clean and well, I went to my purse and looked for my cell phone. Luckily, I still had battery. And a dozen messages from a worried Sam and an angry Tara. Just my luck, I thought. How I wished I could fast forward until all the explaining and excuses were done with. I needed coffee badly so I went into the kitchen. There was a note for me on the table, from Jason.

Gone to work. Be back at 5 p.m.

Love ya,

Jason

I felt grateful for the alone time, but needed badly to talk to him about the Eggs case. From Tara's message, I understood that he had told her the truth and I was now scared she might do something stupid that would put both Jason and Andy in big, big trouble. I just had so much to deal with right now, starting with the renovation of Gran's house which was in a pitiful state since Maryann's crazed orgies and the werewolves' attack. I gave Sam a call.

'Hey Sam, it's Sookie.' I said.

'Jesus Christ! Sookie! Where the hell have you been?' He almost yapped. He also sounded quite relieved.

'Long story. I really don't feel like telling you on the phone. When can I come back to work?'

'How about tomorrow? You up for the night shift?' He replied, understanding that this was not the time to be curious.

'Yeah, that'd be great. Thank you Sam. I really appreciate it.' I said before disconnecting. Next, I fixed myself the biggest breakfast I had had in years and decided to go back to my place for some clothes. If I was to stay some more at Jason's, I'd need more than a vampire's shirt and a pair of jean shorts. I realised my car was still in the Fangtasia parking lot, but, when I looked outside, it was sitting there in the driveway. I looked in my purse for my keys and found a note attached to them.

My dearest,

Thank you for everything.

I had someone drive your car back to your brother's house.

If you need anything at all, call me.

Come and see me at Fangtasia when you wish.

E.

I was glad my car was back and I rejoiced at the familiar feeling of sitting in its small interior. I drove down Hummingbird Road to my house and was very surprised to see builders' trucks literally everywhere. The driveway had been paved during my absence and the men were now working at cleaning the whole place and replacing whatever had been broken. I strode towards one of them, gesticulating.

'What in heaven's sake are you all doing!' I snapped at the man.

'What we're paid for, M'am.' He answered, puzzled. 'Putting the place back in order and renovating everything that needs renovating.'

'You must have the wrong house! This is my house!' I replied, accusingly.

'You are Miss Stackhouse, then?' The man asked.

'Yep, that's me!' I snapped, my hands on my hips.

'Jimmy, come here!' the man called another one over. The man called Jimmy took an envelope from his pocket when the first man explained who I was.

'If you're Miss Stackhouse, I'm supposed to be giving you this.' He handed me the envelope. In it was a check for 10,000$ and three words: Take care. Eric. I started breathing heavily and walked like a robot towards my car where I sat, starring at the workers who had gone back to doing whatever it was they were doing previous to my arrival. I took my cell phone out and dialled Eric's. I knew he was out for the day but I wished to thank him and tell him how ridiculous he was being at spending so much over me. I finished my message with a hushed thank you and laid my head on the steering wheel. The man was completely nuts. I crawled out of my car once more and walked up to the famous Jimmy.

'How much is all this costing? I could write you a check for half now and the rest later.' I blurted out, nervous.

'We were told not to tell you that. Mr Northman has already paid in full for all the repairs, M'am. We should be done in a few days. Till then, you may come and go as you wish, but the house isn't yet fit to be inhabited.' He replied. Of course.

'What about my things?' I asked, suddenly scared that my Gran's furniture would be gone.

'All was put back in order and repaired. Mr Northman insisted on us not disturbing anything that did not need to be.'

I almost started crying there.

'Thank you, thank you.' I muttered before slipping through the door. The house was looking better than it had in a whole decade. Men were currently working on replacing all the doors that had been damaged whilst others took care of the many windows that Maryann's madness had destroyed. I went straight to my bedroom. The work there was already done and I had a new bedspread as well as a pair of beautiful lamps to replace the ones that had been destroyed during my fight with Debbie Pelt. I also had new curtains to replace the ones that had been sprayed by her blood. The ensemble was beautiful and tasty, very feminine, very much to my liking.

I silently thanked Eric's generosity and bank account, for the stuff he had gotten me wasn't cheap at all. I took a bag from my wardrobe and filled it with clean clothes, my pyjamas and bathing suit, my Merlotte's uniform and my necessary products from the bathroom. Out the door I went and back in my small car. I thought about driving over to Bill's to leave a note for Jessica, but I decided it would be better to explain everything to her in person. I couldn't help but feel worried for her, with her being so young and inexperienced, I found it rather cruel to inform her that her maker wouldn't be coming back to her anytime soon. I drove back to Jason's place and decided I would rest for the time being. I took out one of the chairs on the lawn and put on my bathing suit to soak up some sun. I tanned the rest of the afternoon, going in just to have a quick lunch. I gave Tara a call but I only got her voicemail. I left her a short message telling her that I was alright and to call me back when she got a minute. I then relaxed back in my chaise, taking in as much sun as I could. It felt wonderful to be alive and in one piece. Every minute or two I'd think about Bill and feel a lump form in my throat, but I tried to think about something else. I still had the menace of Sophie-Anne hanging over my head, but I decided to be optimistic about the future. I was alive and that was all that counted for now.