Thanks so much for all the awesome reviews, alerts, and favorites. I know it seems redundant to thank you all in every chapter, but each time I see a new email with so and so has added you to…I get so happy.

I am glad you smut-mongrels all enjoyed that last chapter (hehe). I really enjoyed writing it for you because you all deserved a little dirty! So thanks!

Here we go!

Chapter 36: Green River

Sookie

Sookie sat and buckled her seatbelt as Pam called to her, "I told you he pulled good string, Sookie."

She sank low in her seat and closed her eyes as Eric sat and buckled himself in next to her. She looked out the window, trying to forget the looks she was getting. Eric's hand stroked her thigh and she inhaled sharply, reminded of the pleasure her bonded had brought her just now. She hadn't ever thought she would have sex in an airplane where there were other passengers, but she now had and it had turned her on.

If she was completely honest, it turned her on even more when she realized they had been overheard. Sookie put her hand over her mouth and smiled as Eric continued to rub her thigh, but he pulled her hand away from her mouth and said, "Let it show, my love. It's too beautiful to hide."

She smiled at him, but her attention was caught by Bill's face looming behind Eric's. His face was full of hatred and disgust. She flinched as she looked into the face that she once thought so distinguished and handsome. Now she saw the darkness of his soul spread throughout his face.

"I would never have thought you would allow yourself to be treated like one of Eric's whores. How cheap you must feel, Sookie," he spit out. Pam growled, but Sookie was more focused on Eric who was attempting to kill Bill with four of Bill's guards on his back trying to subdue him.

Pam was also being restrained and the pilot was barking over the intercom to be seated or the plane would become "unstable". Sookie was pissed and she was scared. She screamed at Eric to stop, but he was lost to his own rage. She then noticed her hands glowed, but she knew that she couldn't expose the light to the other vampires in the room.

She didn't want a repeat Russell Edgington situation, which even now made her shudder. She shoved her hands behind her back, but as she watched Eric struggle, she also saw another guard approach Eric with a wooden stake.

She was suddenly as furious as Eric and stepped out into the aisle between the approaching guard and Eric. "Ma'am, I am going to need you to return to your seat and…"

"And allow you to stake my bonded? I don't think so," Sookie interrupted in a harsh tone. He was about to push her to the side, but she placed both glowing hands on his chest and zapped him. He collapsed on the floor, apparently unconscious.

The other vampires looked confused and Sookie was sure they didn't know what had happened. "Help Pam, now!" she yelled.

Once they were all distracted with assisting Pam, Sookie placed her hands on the backs of the guards on Eric and zapped each of them until they were a pile at her feet. She was single minded and had one goal, which was to protect her bonded. Eric had a death lock on Bill's throat, so she placed her hand gently on his arm and prodded the bond thread.

He trained his eyes on hers and she sent calm and love to him, and also her desperation for him to come back to her.

"Eric, listen to me. He is jealous, he is disgusting, but most importantly he is not worth it," she said softly. "Please let him go so this pilot can land the fuckin' plane."

He flared his nostril and closed his eyes, but his hand unclenched as he relaxed his death grip on Bill's throat.

Eric stood up straight and looked Sookie over to make sure she was alright, but they stopped at her feet where there were five unconscious guards. He looked back up at her in shock and she shrugged her shoulders, not even knowing how to explain.

Eric sat her back in her seat and looked to the other guards who were watching the entire thing.

"Bill, I suggest you get your other guards under control and away from my progeny," he said coolly. Sookie watched as the guards backed off Pam and Eric turned to Bill.

"There goes that southern gentleman façade, your majesty. Oh wait, that was when we caught you watching Sookie almost being raped and jerking off in the bushes. Insult my bonded again, and I will end you and become new king of Louisiana."

The other sheriffs and Pam gasped in shock at the threat and Bill simply glared at Eric, knowing that his threat could happen and on this plane. He nodded, and took his seat.

They were all seated within minutes as the other vampires scooped up the guards and placed them in their seats. The other guards looked them over and tried to rouse them. Now Sookie was shaking from the stress she had just gone through. Had she seriously injured the guards?

Eric grabbed her hand and kissed it as they began their descent. The flight attendant stayed at the very front of the plane, looking at the passengers in fear. Sookie heard her thinking that the she was transferring to strictly commercial flights during the days so she wouldn't have to deal with vampires anymore.

Sookie shook her head in annoyance. That was the kind of thinking that pissed her off. Just because Bill had pissed off Sookie and Eric on purpose, the flight attendant decided to blame all vampires and say they were soulless animals.

As Sookie saw the lights of the runway get closer and closer, she tensed up in fear and Eric held her hand tightly, sending her waves of reassurance through the bond. She smiled and focused on his beautiful blue eyes as they bumped to the ground and the plane slowed. She exhaled the breath that she didn't realize she was holding.

Eric

Eric hadn't been kidding when he said he would rather take a job he would hate than to have Bill insult Sookie and make her feel the worst that he could.

Although Eric despised the thought, Sookie had believed herself to love Bill unconditionally for more than two years, and it was time Bill showed her the respect she deserved. Eric could to some extent understand why Bill was so upset. He had lost the one woman in the world that could be described as perfect in every way. But he was now acting like a spoiled little brat king on his throne.

When he made the crack about Sookie being cheap, he felt her hurt and reacted instinctually. Nobody talked to Sookie that way. Eric planned on ripping his head off if Sookie hadn't stopped him by calming him down. Now Bill owed Sookie more than respect, she owed him for his continued existence and reign over Louisiana.

Sookie was now fidgeting in her seat, anxious to get off the plane and Eric couldn't agree more. What Sookie and him needed more than anything was some time alone to regroup. And fuck.

He looked over his shoulder to Pam and she began getting ready to disembark the plane. He wanted to get them all to hotel and time to have some downtime before they went to day rest.

He felt Sookie in the bond and felt that she was tired, but she was also feeling safe and semi0excited to get off the plane and into a new city she had never been. Eric held her hand and grabbed her leopard coat, sliding the soft fur on her shoulders. She smiled at him and he couldn't help but smile back down at her as they waited for the plane to stop moving.

Finally that plane ride is over! What did everyone think?