CHAPTER FIVE

I spent the next three days bouncing between spending time at Jason's watching tv and staying up late, reminiscing about the 'old days', and spending time at work, enjoying the mind numbing banter between Lafayette and Tara. I even spent a day in Shreveport, shopping for furniture with Tara for her new house. It turned out that while I was in the fairy relm, Tara had moved away from Bon Temps and had travelled the country. The morning of our planned trip dawned sunny and warm. It was the way one would expect a summers day.

I woke up and showered, deciding on a pale green baby doll dress. I finished my shower, dressed and brushed my teeth. I slipped into a nice pair of brown sandles and pulled my hair into a braid when Jason rapped on the door. "Sook, breakfast is ready." He called.

"I'll be out in a sec." I called back. I finished my hair and gave myself the once over to make sure I looked decent and then I went to the living room slash kitchen to eat. Jason didn't have anything in the way of a table so we usually sat either side of the breakfast bench. I stared in surprise at the array of food on the table. "Jason, did you make all this?"

"Nah, you know I don' cook, Sook." He said. I frowned.

"Well where did the food come from?"

"It was delivered." He replied. I heard the uneasiness in his voice and placed my hands on my hips.

"Delivered by whom?" I asked carefully. Jason said nothing so I was forced to do what I hated. I gently probed into Jason's mind, sucking his thoughts out of his head and into mine.

Wish she didn' ask me these questions. She won' like the answers. I dunno why he wants her.. she obviously don' want him. Nice of Eric to send the food over, even if that blonde vampire that brought it over is scary as all fuck...

I pulled out of his mind. I had heard enough. "Eric sent the food?" I asked. Jason lifted his eyes to me and I could read the confusion in his eyes.

"How'd you..." he began and then he narrowed his eyes. He grew angry and pointed his finger at me. "I told you that you need to stay the fuck outta my head. A person's thoughts are private! It's like..." he searched for the right word and I cocked my head.

"Tresspassing?" I offered and he nodded.

"Yeah, thats right, tresspassin'" he handed me a plate and motioned to the food. "He's tryin' Sook. At least he kept his word. He ain't callin' ya is he?" Jason asked and I had to hand him that.

"No, he hasn't called." I agreed and Jason nodded.

"An' he didn' bring the food, he sent someone else to drop it off. He cares about you enough to look out for you but also to not overstep the boundaries you laid down."

"I know." At that moment there was a knock at the door and I grabbed some hot cakes as Jason went to the door.

"Come in." He said as he stepped aside and came to get some breakfast. Tara wandered in. She took one look around at the food and shook her head.

"Holy hell. Who the hell made all this?" She asked and I rolled my eyes. Jason opted to answer this one.

"Eric sent it over."

"So he isn't keeping true to his word huh?" Tara asked and I growled.

"No, he is."

"He sent someone over with it." Jason finished and Tara laughed as she grabbed a plate from Jason's sink.

"Wow, he really is something isn't he?" Tara asked. "I like him more and more each day." She helped herself to some of the food. After we had eaten Jason dumped his plate in the sink and rinsed it before putting it in his new dishwasher. "Well I'm off to work. Seems Andy got himself into a bit of trouble again." He said with a sigh.

"What happened to Andy?" I asked. "He seems different from how he was a year ago."

"He got hooked on V." Jason replied and I closed my eyes.

"Shoulda seen it coming." Tara said. "With his history with alcohol V was just the next step."

"Yeah." Jason said. "Well anyway I gotta go. Need a lift to work tonight, Sook?" He asked and I shook my head.

"Nope, got the night off."

"What time will I expect you back?" He asked and I rolled my eyes.

"Jason, I'll be ok. I'll be with Tara, nothings going to happen."

"Ok, already. Jus don' want a nasty vampire getting all medievil on my ass for not keepin' an eye on you. Had enough of that with vampire Bill, thanks a lot." He said as he holstered his gun.

"I'm real sorry for that Jason."

"Not your fault, he was a crazy man... like I didn't feel bad enough already when he came down on me." He kissed my cheek. "Love ya Sook." Then he left the house.

"You ready?" I asked Tara and she smiled.

"Lets do this." She said. We climbed into her car... well Lafayette's old car, and we drove out of town. On the drive I turned to face her.

"Can we try to be out of Shreveport by four?" I asked and she shot me a sideways glance.

"Sure, but can I ask why?"

"I don't want a certain vampire sensing that I'm nearby."

"You think he'd seek you out even though you asked him not to?" She asked and I picked at my skirt, shrugging.

"I don't want to risk it."

"Hmm..." she responded. I could tell she didn't believe me... hell I didn't think I even believed myself.

"Ok, I don't trust myself." I confessed. "I want to see him" I whispered. "I think..." I sighed. "I think I miss him."

"Call him." Tara offered and I shook my head vigorously.

"Absolutely not! I don't need that right now."

We arrived at Shreveport and we shopped. We wandered in and out of stores, homeware stores, department stores and furniture stores. We stopped for lunch at a nice little cafe where I ordered a sandwhich and what they called a strawberry frappe'. Tara had nacho's and a coffee of some type. The lunch was lovely and for a moment in time I forgot all my troubles and felt like a normal woman with no supernatural problems.

After lunch Tara and I passed a lovely little dress shop and I urged her to pull over. "I haven't been shopping in longer than I can remember and I have all this extra money." I informed her and she looked at me slyly.

"Where'd you get the money, Sook?" She asked and I got embarrassed.

"Eric." I managed to murmur and she chuckled.

"Ah so you're more than happy to spend the man's money are you?" She asked. I glared at her.

"It's not like I just took the money!" I snapped. I softened my features. "I earned it. It was payment for finding Godric for him."

We walked into the shop and I smiled as I absorbed the decor'. It was brightly coloured and the windows were so open and wide that the room was bathed in the golden glow from the afternoon sun that streamed into the building. I walked through all the displays and racks as I examined every item. I picked a few items, shirts and skirts that I had liked and I tried them on.

I was pulling a purple halter neck dress over my head when Tara called out "you need to try this on." I finished tying the straps around my neck and I stepped out of the change room. Tara was holding up something and I blinked.

"What the hell is that?"

"Lengerie." She replied.

"Are you sure?" I asked and she smiled.

"Positive." There were three items on the hanger and they were black. They were obviously see through and lace. I touched the fabric and was pleasantly surpised to feel that the fabric was lusciously soft. It would feel nice to wear. The pants were tiny and clearly meant to be boy leg but were small enough to allow some of the bottom cheeks to peek out underneath the bottom. The top half was a fishbone bodice that tied up with ribbons at the back, sort of like a corset that you would have seen in the old-time movies my Gran used to like to watch. It came with a matching lace shrug which you could either tie up or let hang loose. I pulled my hand away from the item and I glared at Tara.

"Why on Earth would I want to buy that." I said simply, not really wanting to hear Tara's response I had a sick feeling I knew where it was going and I really didn't want to think about that.

"I think you'd find that E..."I raised my eyebrows and cocked my head at her and she smiled. "Well, you never know when you'd need it." She finished. I took the hanger and she smiled triumphantly.

"You never know when you'll need it?" I asked and she laughed with a shrug.

"So kill me." She replied. I changed back into my clothes and bought all the things I had decided I liked. And yes, I bought the lengerie... though God only knew why I had done it. I suppose it had something to do with the fact that I had nothing in the way of lengerie and a girl needed something sexy to climb into should the occasion arise.

Tara and I made our way back to her car just as the sun was setting. I had lost track of the time, being so lost in my shopping. "Come on, lets get out of here quickly." I said and Tara frowned.

"Come on Sook, I think he's a better man than to come look for you when you've asked him not to."

It was at that moment that it all went to hell. I guess Eric was right when he said trouble followed me. We had just gotten to Tara's car when Jesus came out of nowhere. "Hey." He said as he got to us. Tara and I were both still jumpy and we got startled.

"Fuck, Jesus. You scared the hell out of us." Tara said and Jesus smiled.

"Sorry about that."

"It's ok but you need to remember not to do that." Tara continued. "What are you doin' in Shreveport?"

"Honestly?" He said with a smile that I thought seemed more like a sneer. "I was in the neighbourhood." He shrugged. It was a reaction but I didn't trust him. I opened my mind and pulled his thoughts into my head.

I wish they weren't here. We have to move quickly, if the vampire feels her fear he'll come running and we don't know how to deal with him. The sun is setting, gotta do it fast and now.

The realisation of why he was here hit me and I screamed. I turned and ran as fast as I could down the street. I heard Tara scream "SOOK!" I didn't stop nor did I offer to call out an explanation. It wasn't Tara they wanted. It was me. And it was still sunny... Eric wouldn't be able to save me. I was on my own... maybe if I could get to Fangtasia...

I felt arms wrap around me and I screamed at the top of my lungs. I could sense the moment Eric woke up. I don't know how I knew... only that I could sense emotions bubble to the surface of his mind... anger was the strongest and I knew Jesus was gonna be in a world of hurt. I felt a heavy hand clamp around my mouth and Jesus' voice in my ear. "We don't want to hurt you but we need you and your abilities." He lifted me off the ground and started to carry me away. I was kicking and trying to wrestle my way out of his grip. I saw the black van and I felt panic overtake me.

I knew Eric was awake and ready to strike the moment the sun went down. Even though he would be on them in minutes I was still afraid and revolted at the sight of the van. I really had enough of being kidnapped and trapped against my will. I struggled as best as I could against Jesus. We reached the van and someone on the inside slid the door open. I placed a foot on either side of the door and pushed back. Jesus growled and tried to shove me into the van. Once more I pushed back from the door.

The person on the inside grabbed one of my ankles and pulled my leg into the van. Once one of my legs had been prised from the door the other naturally followed and I was stuffed into the van. I noticed that Tara was also in the van, being held by two men. Jesus was about to climb into the car when he was torn away from the door. A snarling vampire was standing in the doorway and he was pissed. I had seen him angry but never this angry.

"You have made a very grave mistake." Eric growled at the people in the van, he held his hand out to me and I took it, gratefully, climbing out of the van. I stood beside Eric and couldn't help but cuddle up to him. He gracefully wrapped an arm around my shoulders, never taking his gaze from the witches. He then noticed a shaking Tara and held his free hand out to her. She waited a moment and then she reluctantly took his hand. Tara climbed out of the van and hid behind Eric.

He was still livid with anger. I didn't want to let him go but I didn't want to be around when he decided to extract his revenge on the witches. He tore his gaze away from the van and he gently cupped my chin, turning my head gently from one side to the other. "Are you hurt?" He asked, the concern evident in his tone. I shook my head.

"No, just shaken." He nodded.

"Tara, are you ok to take Sookie back to Jason's?"

"Uh, yeah." She replied timidly.

"OK, good." He kissed me in a toe curling kiss and then he pulled away. "I'll be there as soon as I'm done here."

"Promise me you'll be extra cautious." I begged, placing a hand on each of his cheeks. Even though he was still seething at the group who had tried to abduct me his gaze softened when he looked at me. He placed a hand on my cheek and smiled.

"I will." I pulled his head down to me and stood on my toes so I could kiss him as passionately as he did me.

"They're witches and who knows what they're capable of." I told him as I pulled away. Eric raised that bothersome eyebrow of his "I know."

Tara took my arm and tugged. "Come on Sook. We need to get back to Bon Temps before Jason comes looking for us." I reluctantly let Tara pull me away from Eric and we returned to the car. I was thankful that Eric held onto his self control until we had gone. I wasn't sure my nerves could handle any more death and blood.