As Franklin Mott would say: I feel like I've been stakkkeeeddd! That is what my muses might say for their defence for being so terribly cheap with me these days, but then again I'm writing a new chapter for both Concrete In Your Hair and After The End whilst writing a new chapter for Fresh Blood too. So here are my pathetic excuses for making you wait so long... AGAIN. LOL

I must thank you once again for the amazing reviews. They warm my heart and make me go all giddy goody :) They melt my heart to dead-vampire goo :) oh the yummy comparison hahahahahah seriously, I love you guys, you make my day by reviewing even when you don't agree with our dear Sookie :P I do try to make her somehow (A LOT) smarter than poor Anna Paquin's character because let's face it, she can be depressingly stupid... Oh and I must apologize for not filling your cravings for Eric-ness... Do not worry, next chapter or the one after that, he'll be back in all his (naked?) glory :)

Now, now, now, chapter title comes from the wonderfully hype song Back To Daylight (HAHA OH THE IRONY for a vamp-story :P) by the Dub Pistols Featuring Ashley Slater! Love zha beat.

A couple of songs to listen to if you wish :D my vibe :P

Back To Daylight - The Dub Pistols Feat Ashley Slater (dadadaaaaaaaa :) yes I somewhat retarded when I don't sleep enough :) hahaha)

The Difference Between Us - The Dead Weather

Fun For Me - Portishead & Moloko (can a duo get any better than those two delicious bands together?)

Do It Again - Five Times August (it's the theme song for HBO on the TB DvDs - no I still do not possess them but I have a lucky friend who does and we had ourselves a little TB night yesterday :)! - so yeah I loved the song :P)

Fuck You - Damien Rice (haha sweet Damien)

9 Crimes (Guitar version) - Damien Rice (I insist on the GUITAR part because it's the version that was used in the eponym episode 4 of TB's season 3. The original version is great too but the guitar version is just rwar)

The Equaliser - Clinic (Evan Rachel Wood and a tongue piercing getting stoned in a park... Need I say more? :) I'll just drop this clue: 13 !)

SO THERE GOES THE MUSIC FUN.

Now on with the real furry fun! I hope you guys will like my take on the packmeeting because I think you might be surprised (I hope so anyways :P)

Love you all! Please review! (I can't believe I have more than 850 reviews really.. I think I might throw a party for my 1000th review LOL)

xoxoxooxoxoxox

When I think back to the pack-meeting, I can't remember what started the ball rolling, the ball which sent us all to hell. As I stood in the middle of the room which was littered with blood and naked bodies, all I could think of was to thank God I was still alive.

When we first arrived, I spotted a good two dozen of cars and trucks parked all around the old werehouse. Before we made our way to the door, Alcide stopped both me and Pam to talk to us.

'I know that Eric wants you to remain with her at all times, but I don't think the pack will take it all that nicely if I show up with a vampire…' Alcide said, eyeing Pam seriously. Of course Pam would have none of his shit and she made it abundantly clear with her raised eyebrow as she relayed to him the information with a sarcastic drall.

'If you want her in there, you'll have to endure me, dog. She's Eric's. Surely that rings bells in your thick skull…' Pam said, a hand on my bicep, squeezing just enough to cause me to grimace. Alcide didn't fail to notice this but he said nothing. He knew of course there was no kidding with Eric.

'We won't be trouble, I promise.' I said, offering him a tiny smile. Of course, I couldn't have been more wrong, but then again, one never knows what the future holds in store.

'In there, it's going to be… special, to say the least. You ever been to a pack-meeting like this?' Alcide asked Pam, roughly. Pam rolled her eyes.

'No, I haven't but I know damn well it ain't no tea party. Now can we just cut to the chase and go? I was actually hoping not to spend the entire evening in the mud. Especially not with those pumps on.' Pam sneered annoyingly.

'A pack-meeting like this one is quite peculiar for humans…'

'Eric spoke about fights and… and sex…' I said, staring at my hands with a suddenly fascinated gaze.

'Yes...' Alcide muttered. 'But the reason I needed you here is that my father is competing to be the new pack master and his competition, Patrick Furnan, is not known to play exactly fair. I was wondering if you could perhaps probe his brain and see what are his intentions, if he's going to cheat and all…' Alcide said, causing my brows to furrow.

'I see. But isn't it that a bit touchy? I mean what if he is going to cheat? What am I supposed to do? Call out his bluff?' I asked, looking at Pam out the corner of my eye. She didn't look one bit pleased with Alcide's less than smart plan.

'Dog, you're going to be putting her in the crossfire doing that and I won't have that. I much value my life and I won't have Eric killing me over your imbecility.' Pam snarled. Alcide shot her a warning glance.

'My father's life is on the line here, Pam. I won't let anything happen to Sookie but she said she'd help me so unless she decides she doesn't want to, we'll be doing this.' He growled menacingly.

'Alright, I'll do it, Alcide but I'm not saying a word to any of those wolves. You're the one who's going to have to call out Furnan's cheating if it so happens he is cheating.' I said. Alcide nodded and we proceeded to the door.

'This is the worst plan I've heard since the Great Revelation…' Pam muttered. I looked at her over my shoulder and rolled my eyes. She could be such a drama queen. I must admit at that point I wasn't exactly jumping with joy. To be most honest, I was literally shaking with angst and anxiety. I had not idea whatsoever what to expect of the pack meeting even though I could pretty much imagine it to be some sort of ring fight and then sex but then again that still left place to a lot of improvisation and lots of gaps for things to go wrong. When we entered the werehouse (haha, ironic, I know), there were a good sixty people already there, gathered around a ring - as in a boxing ring – yelling and snarling and drinking and talking loudly. Most were dressed like truck drivers and the girls had on skimpy outfits. However, some elder ones looked neat and well put together.

The room was literally split into two gangs and you could tell immediately more than one half was rooting for a tall man, just an inch shorter than Alcide, standing in a corner, drinking a glass of scotch whilst talking business to an older woman who was very elegant compared to the rest of the women present. She had on a dark grey suit and a row of pearls at her neck. The man turned towards us when we entered and his face seemed conflicted. He gazed at Alcide and I immediately understood who that man was. The resemblance between Jackson Herveaux and his son was more than striking. Looking at Jackson Herveaux, I could tell that Alcide would age exactly the same. Jackson Herveaux was remarkable for a fifty-something man. His hair, though greying at the temple was still thick and trimmed just a bit shorter than Alcide's. His strong jaw sported the shadow of stubbles characteristic of dark haired men after five pm that only added to his overall masculinity. His eyes, though shaped like Alcide's were a dark grey instead of the stormy chocolate that was Alcide's. I assumed he had his mother's eyes. But however dashing Jackson Herveaux looked, the moment he spotted Pam, his brow furrowed and he almost growled when we joined them.

'What the hell are you thinking, son, bringing a deader here!' Jackson Herveaux hissed, eyeing Pam with a disgusted glance.

'Sookie is Northman's, Dad. And we need her here. I won't have Furnan cheating and you risking your life. The condition for Sookie coming was Pam being with her…' Alcide explained. Jackson assessed me for the first time and the tight curl of his lips relaxed into a warm smile.

'So you are the beautiful lady my son has been rambling about on and on for the last few weeks…' Jackson said, obviously teasing Alcide who tensed and frowned at his father. I blushed slightly and gave Jackson Herveaux my best smile. He took my hand and a true gentleman, he kissed it softly. I noticed his lips were rather soft for such a masculine looking man.

Pam hadn't said a word and was simply looking at our surroundings carefully inspecting the place. I couldn't help but glance in the direction she was looking at and noticed she'd already spotted the exit door. Right, never go in a place without knowing the exit path in case things turn messy. Of course, once again, Pam couldn't have been more right. Somehow, not many werewolves had yet noticed that Pam was a vamp and I attributed that to the fact the ambient lighting wasn't all that great. But surely their sense of smell would betray Pam to them just as vampires could sniff a werewolf kilometres away. Debbie's image flashed in my mind and my face must have shown my discomfort because Alcide shot me a worried glance. I wondered briefly if any werewolf in Jackson was actually worrying about Debbie's whereabouts. Not forgetting my manners, I reminded myself I should greet Jackson Herveaux properly instead of just looking around.

'It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir.' I said. Jackson's eyes narrowed, an amused grin on his full lips and he winked at his son.

'I see what got my son's attention. You are utterly charming, my dear.' Jackson's warm and manly voice held this influence, this power that was inherent to some men and that so many others spent their life seeking. 'And you are?' Jackson said, this time addressing Pam. Pam turned her gaze to him and studied him a few seconds before answering with a surprisingly polite tone.

'Pamela Swinfort de Belfort, progeny of Eric Northman. And bodyguard of Miss Stackhouse tonight. Is my nose wrong or is there a weretiger in the place?' Pam said, conversational. Jackson smirked.

'Yes, Quinn and his company, E(E)E, are organizing the events of the night. I believe he's in the back, chatting with Patrick Furnan right now…' Jackson said. 'It's a…pleasure to meet you, Miss Swinfort de Belfort, even though I must say I would have preferred meeting you under different circumstances. I do not particularly like Mr Northman interfering with werewolf business…'

'Well, Sir, I guess than you shouldn't interfere with vampire business. And seeing as Sookie is Eric's… girlfriend, I hardly see how your requesting her presence here isn't acting on double standards.' Pam replied, coldly. Her eyes had lost that conversational gleam and she was now sizing up the man. Even though Jackson Herveaux was a strongly built man, vampires were still infinitely stronger, unless of course werewolves had had vampire blood, which surely wasn't the case here, seeing as Jackson seemed repulsed by the idea of Pam being undead.

'Now, now, no fighting, you'll need all your energy with that snake Furnan…' The older woman suddenly said. I turned to her and gave her a soft smile.

'I'm Sookie Stackhouse.' I told her, extending my hand. Unlike vampires, werewolves – I could tell by the slight buzz of her brain that she was one – didn't mind shaking hands and her grip was surprisingly strong for her age.

'Christine Larrabee. It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Stackhouse. You are… most infamous in the Supernatural world.' She said. Her voice was velvety but her will was steel underneath.

'Christine was Packmaster Hilford Larrabee's wife. He was the previous Packmaster, before Colonel Flood.' Jackson explained. I made a private joke in my head of the fact he was called Jackson and lived in Jackson Mississippi but the serious of the situation caught me back.

Is it true you can read any thoughts you like?

I turned towards Christine Larrabee.

'Not vampires. But humans I can. Some people broadcast louder than others and touching intensifies the connection. For werewolves and shifters it's a bit different. I can hear most of what you think if I let my shields down, but there's always a slight buzzing, like interference…' I admitted, surprised at myself for confiding so easily to this older woman. Jackson observed me fascinated as Christine smiled.

'You are truly unique. You're not completely human, are you?' Jackson said, sniffing me. I would have blushed hadn't I been used to that sort of attention from werewolves but I felt uncomfortable nonetheless.

'I don't think Sookie's ancestry is relevant here.' Pam interjected. Of course, Eric wouldn't want us spilling the beans about my lineage to Niall Brigant in front of werewolves…

'Right. Well you can go around as you like. If anyone asks question, you are here on my strict invitation, as well as your bodyguard. Alcide, I suggest you stay close to her… You know how they get with strangers around…' Jackson said. Alcide took my arm and Pam stayed a step behind me as I was given a brief tour of the place. I made sure to spot all the exits in case I needed to flee. It wasn't long before none other than the infamous weretiger approached us, grinning like we were Christmas gifts under the tree and he, a very excited five year old. I couldn't help but feel unease when our gazes locked because he was almost shouting his thoughts at me.

I see you're no longer with the vamp… Aren't you one beautiful lady…

I blushed and gave Pam a fast look before Quinn planted himself right in front of me, sizing up Alcide and then turning to undress me most rudely.

'So it is true then… You are here.' Quinn said, a smirk plastered on his face. I politely smiled back.

'Yes, here I am…' I chuckled nervously. Alcide tensed next to me and I briefly had a glimpse in his mind.

Is he so thick he doesn't know she's taken? Eric would rip him to pieces if he knew how he's catching flies gaping at her, undressing her with his stupid eyes… Damn Northman anyhow…She should be with a man who can provide for her…

As if Eric couldn't provide for me. As if I'd want a man providing for me in any case… Men could be rather shallow sometimes. Neanderthal wasn't that far back in their evolution, it seemed.

'Always the charmer, aren't you? So what are you here for? This your new man?' Quinn said, jutting his chin at Alcide.

'No. He's my friend. I'm still with Eric.' I said, trying to make the point clear I was very happy in my relationship.

'Ah, pity for me…' Quinn had the nerve to say. I gave him my best Crazy Sookie smile and tried to edge around him to continue on our tour but he wouldn't have it.

'Have you been offered a drink, Miss Stackhouse?' Quinn asked me, his gaze insistent on my chest. I resisted the urge to both roll my eyes and cross my arms on my chest.

'No…' I muttered. Quinn was really handsome in an army boy kind of way, but he had a way with me that troubled me. Did the man seek a painful death? Sophie-Anne had been silvered for twenty years for drinking from me… Andre too and Longshadow had been staked for trying to kill me… And that didn't even begin to cover the grounds of Vampires-Are-Possessive-Bitches land.

'Let me get you something. Gin-and-tonic?' Quinn said, winking at me. I nodded and glanced at Alcide and Pam. Pam was trying very hard not to lose her temper and Alcide looked petrified with annoyance, a deep frown on his face.

'Could he be any less subtle?' Alcide muttered the moment Quinn was out of hearing range.

'Perhaps we should go closer to Patrick Furnan if you want me to probe his mind…' I murmured to Alcide. Anyways, I was pretty sure Quinn wouldn't just pop back with that Gin-and-tonic just yet. Many weres were (ha-ha) giving us strange looks by then. A few tensed next to Pam, knowing with a sniff that she was a vampire. A few spoke roughly with Alcide who muttered some bits of information so as to justify Pam's presence. A woman resembling Debbie - in attire and lack-of self-respect - approached Alcide and stepped on Pam's toes. I was afraid chaos would erupt but the girl excused herself before taking off. Pam hissed and simply glared at her.

'I hate were-bitches. They have so little manners…' Pam growled. Alcide rolled his eyes at her comment and took us closer to where I assumed stood Patrick Furnan. Before we approached the group of people surrounding him, Alcide took me aside and murmured in my ear.

'If it can help you probe his mind, just know the match is usually until one of the two wolves draw blood from the other. It is the winner's choice to let the other live or not. Most do. There are three stages to the competition, one about agility, one about strength and one about wits. If Furnan cheats, my guess is he'll try to incapacitate my father.' I nodded and we continued our way towards the group.

Patrick Furnan was very similar in size to Jackson Herveaux, but his hair was a dirty blond and his face was strangely feminine in a way that reminded me of Andre. I shuddered at the mental comparison and gazed up at the man's eyes which were a pale icy blue. He was staring right back at me with a dangerous smile on his face.

Who's that? Herveaux Junior's bitch? Nice tits…Wonder why he brought her here… no place for a pansy little Southern chick. And that vamp… what the fuck was Jackson thinking bringing that here…

I involuntarily raised my left eyebrow at the man's thoughts. Vulgar and shallow, as I'd expected. He however took a step towards Alcide, Pam and I.

'What do we have here… Alcide, you should have told me you hung out with scum…' Patrick Furnan said, glancing at Pam. Pam's eyes became slits and she growled softly, causing a few heads to turn towards us.

'You, however, are quite the sight, Miss?' Furnan said to me, ignoring Alcide's outraged glance.

'Miss Stackhouse. And you are?' Making him think about his purpose here would without doubt uncover his intentions if he meant to cheat.

'Patrick Furnan. I'm competing for the title.' He added with a knowing smirk. He had a glass of cognac in his hand but he had yet to take a sip from it. I eyed it, concentrating on his thoughts as Alcide and him exchanged somehow civil greetings.

Wonder what that prick will think of me becoming his pack master. Hopefully he'll know better than to turn against me… Frank must have delivered the bottle to Herveaux by…and then his thoughts were obscured. Patrick was staring at me as if he knew what I was doing.

'Miss Stackhouse you said?' He asked me, his eyes cold and calculating.

'Yes.' I replied, defiantly.

'The telepath… Northman's very own private little telepath…' He mused. My reputation was really becoming quite a burden. And now he knew that I could read his thoughts and he surely wouldn't think about that damned bottle again. An idea suddenly occurred to me. Remembering the spray can of silver particles in water that Pam liked so much, pieces of the puzzle fell in place in my head.

'Yes. Anyways, was nice meeting you, Sir, but Alcide was just about to show me the ring…' I said before storming off, Alcide and Pam in tow. Alcide grabbed my arm just as Quinn joined me, offering me my drink. I ignored him and turned to Alcide.

'He's going to try and poison your father with silver addled alcohol.' I murmured. Alcide's eyes widened.

'He thought about that?' Alcide asked. Pam suddenly looked ravenous as the noise in the room escalated. I spotted Jackson at the other end of the room and he was pouring himself a glass from a new bottle of scotch, a smile on his face. I read the thoughts of the man next to him and knew without a doubt he must have been the Frank in question.

'Sort of!' And I stormed off. I elbowed my way through the ever growing crowd of werewolves, slipping out of the grip of more adventurous ones and finally was a few meters away from Jackson. He was about to bring the drink to his lips so I did all I could think of.

I ran full speed to him and bumped his drink out of his hand and it went crashing to the ground in a loud noise. Jackson Herveaux looked absolutely bewildered. And the man next to him looked positively furious.

'It's poisoned.' I claimed high and loud, not realizing just how quiet the room had gone. Alcide was right behind me in a second, Pam by his side. Both looked speechless. Christine Larrabee looked shocked and was staring at the drink on the floor. Dipping a finger in the liquid, she hissed in pain and growled loudly. Herveaux's eyes went from me to Christine's seared finger to Furnan who was fuming at the other end of the room.

'Shit.' Alcide muttered.

I glanced at Jackson Herveaux's face and knew this was really no good at all.

'Silver?' Jackson Herveaux asked me. I nodded, eyes wide.

That little bitch figured it out…Not good, not good at all…

'Who's responsible?' Jackson said loudly.

'Furnan. He had his man, Frank, deliver it to you.' I said, my voice lower. Furnan hissed in anger and I turned to glare at him.

'Is that true, Furnan?' Quinn suddenly said, splitting the crowd like Moses the sea.

'Of course it isn't! What kind of a wolf do you think I am! I'm capable of winning the challenges without cheating. For all I know, they could have planned all this to discredit me!' Furnan roared, pointing a finger at Alcide and his father. Most of the crowd hissed and murmured and discussed briefly about the possibility. I felt completely outraged.

'You are such a lying no good son of a mother!' I hissed. Quinn's gaze fell on me and his eyes widened, just as the ones of about half the crowd. I'd just insulted a werewolf competing to become pack master… Apparently it was a terrible thing to do. But I simply couldn't stop the words flowing out of my mouth. 'You had this man deliver a silver-laced bottle of alcohol to Jackson Herveaux because you are a coward. And don't you dare deny it, I read it in your thoughts.' I replied, hands on my hips. Furnan looked positively outraged and Pam took a careful step in front of me to protect me from Furnan's fury if he decided to stupidly act on impulse and attack me. Some of Furnan's supporters looked equally outraged and I realized I should have let Alcide speak, or even Jackson, but I had simply been infuriated by that coward's words.

'If this is true, the competition shouldn't even continue and Jackson should be by werewolf law officially named Pack master. You could face death for such a treason, Furnan…' Quinn said, deadly serious.

'Are you seriously going to believe the words of a no good white-trash back water waitress over mine?' Furnan hissed. I blushed all shades of red at his words. What was it with people holding my job against me all the time? As if I'd chosen to be a waitress… Pam growled menacingly. She did not seem to take well her master's girlfriend being insulted by a cowardly wolf. 'One that associates with deaders…' Furnan added, baring his teeth at Pam. Pam snickered.

'Don't you insult her, Furnan. That woman has proven her loyalty time and time again to all the supes and she is a Telepath. Of course, we'll believe her word.' Quinn replied, taking my defence. I gazed at him briefly but he was facing Furnan with clenched fists. Oh right, now they were going to fight over some stupid comment.

'Please don't fight over this.' I said to Quinn. Quinn simply glared at me and then at Furnan. He then turned to Jackson.

'So, Mr Herveaux, what shall we do?'

And surprising all of us, Herveaux said something incredibly stupid in my opinion, and oh-so typically masculine.

'I won't win by forfeit because this idiot cannot play fair. I will fight him and prove myself worthier of the title. And I'll win.' Jackson said. And somehow, I just knew he'd just signed many weres present's downfall. Trust men to act on impulse and be proud and want blood when none need be spilled. Pam grabbed my arm and pulled me away from in between Jackson and Furnan.

'There's nothing more you can do here, Sookie. We should go.' Pam muttered. But Alcide stopped her.

'We still need her to read Furnan's thoughts during the challenges, to make sure he doesn't cheat some more. Please?' Alcide said, asking me, more than asking Pam, for which I kind of was grateful. I was getting fed up with being treated like a disposable thing everyone could rent the services of.

'Fine.' I acquiesced, not knowing I just have barged right out of there the minute I was offered an exit strategy. Pam hissed and her hand tightened on my arm.

'This is not a good idea, Sookie.' She muttered lowly.

'I know but I owe him.' I retorted, shaking my arm out of her clasp.

'You'll be the end of all of us, stubborn breather…' Pam muttered before stepping aside. The mood in the room shifted as every wolf present was eager for a good fight and Quinn resumed his position as organizer of the pack meeting, his men preparing the challenges. About ten minutes later, everyone was ready for the 'games' as a sick twisted person might refer to what was about to unfold in front of my very eyes. I felt like a roman getting ready to watch a gladiator match. And that metaphor was pretty much accurate as far as I can say.

Hahaha Yes I know, I'm mean, again some sort of a cliffie, but well if you've gotten this far with me, you know I'll make it up to you guys somehow 8-) :) at least I'll try :) I LOVE YOU GUYS YOU MAKE MY DAY! AND THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH FOR BEARING WITH ME :)