Revisions

by JumbledThoughts

Alexandria is a girl who has never really fit in, though her problems aren't supernatural so much as physical. She has no wish to be mixed into the life of vampires, werewolves, witches or anything out of the ordinary. Sometimes, though, what you wish for and what you get are two totally different things.

2. Chapter 2

Revisions

THANK YOU! Thank you SO much for all your support and wonderful reviews. I honestly didn't expect to see that many responses on just the first chapter :). Made writing the second chapter flow a lot easier! Hope you enjoy this one as much as the last!

Disclaimer: I own nothing that belongs to the writers of True Blood.

---

"Let me take her, I can heal her." Bill murmured, reaching for my friend as I frowned deeply, looking up at him.

"What are you talking about?" I demanded, instinctively pushing his hands away. "She needs to see a doctor!"

"She's going to die even if you take her to the hospital, but I can heal her using my blood!" Bill hissed at me as I felt the color drain from my face. "I can smell death coming for her, Alexandria. Please, let me take her." Bill murmured as he gently pushed my stunned figure out of the way.

"I'm not leaving you alone with her!" I hissed at him and he seemed slightly shocked that I was still arguing with him. "She's covered in blood. How do I know you'll be able to control yourself." I continued angrily as he frowned all the more, before he locked gazes with me.

"You'll let me take her," He began with a hypnotic voice, "and you will not panic, nor tell anybody. I will heal her. For her sake you must trust me." There was a weird pull in my stomach, and suddenly I found I didn't have the will to argue with Bill any longer.

"Alright," I found myself saying as a sense of calm overtook me. "Just…be careful with her, okay?" I added quietly as he calmed and nodded stiffly, picking Sookie up quickly into his arms.

"Go home, Alexandria, rest and take care of yourself. Don't worry about Sookie, you'll see her again soon and she'll be good as new." Bill added softly, his voice still taking on this very hypnotic hum that just begged for me to listen. I nodded slowly, standing as well and wincing as my body ached. I watched, unable to explain why I was able to let him carry my best friend off into the woods without putting up any further arguments. I couldn't fathom why I was suddenly okay with Bill being alone with her. All I knew at this point was that I wanted to go home, climb into my pitiful bathtub, down some painkillers and let sleep take me.

I sighed softly as I got through the front door of my apartment, letting my purse drop to the floor and throwing my keys into the glass bowl as I normally did. I toed off my shoes, walking into the kitchen and checking my answer machine, relieved to find there were no messages left on it. I trekked over to the fridge and opened it up, looking at the rather desolate selections, realizing that it was probably high time I went grocery shopping.

Huh, my friend was on the brink of death alone with a vampire and I was worried about groceries.

Feeling sick to my stomach at the realization I slammed the fridge closed, wincing as it jarred my sore sides. I rubbed my hand along my stomach and sore ribs, sighing heavily as I did. Well, at least as far as I could tell nothing was broken, though my stomach was pretty sore from the kick it had received. I wasn't coughing up blood, which was a good sign that I didn't have internal bleeding either.

I still couldn't believe that against all my better judgment I had allowed him to leave with her. What the hell was wrong with me? She could be dead now for all I knew, and I hadn't even put up a fight! I sighed shakily, running my fingers through my hair as the urge to take a bath hit me strong and I trudged out of the kitchen and over to my bathroom. I forgo the lights, instead lighting some candles I had placed around the bathroom and pushing the plug into the drain of my tub, throwing the water on to the right temperature and letting it fill. As it did I walked across the hallway to my room grabbed some pjs I had discarded about on the floor along with a towel and brought them back over to the bathroom with me. I dropped them onto the covered toilet seat, undressing as the tub continued to fill. Once it was done I stuck my foot in, hissing slightly at the heat as I slowly stepped completely into my small tub and lowered myself down into it. If I leaned back the water would cover most of my body, but not all of it. It definitely wasn't a soaker tub, especially when my dream was to own an old claw foot tub one day.

I sighed as I washed the blood and dirt from my hands, arms and face, wincing as my fingers pressed against the tender spot on my temple. Well, no doubt I'd have a bruise there come tomorrow. Shit, I hadn't even thought of the possibility of having a concussion, and the only thing I wanted to do was sleep! I sighed irritably, my head throbbing a bit in a telltale headache as I leaned back further into the warmth of the water steaming around me. I forced my eyes to stay away, frowning as I glanced down at my slightly slouched body just below the rippling surface of the water.

My breasts weren't huge, but not small either and ended up sitting above the water level of the tub. I guess they might be defined as a little less than a handful, but that wasn't the part of my body that bothered me the most. I frowned as my hand brushed over my rounded stomach, my skin layering slightly into folds sitting the way I was. I could see a bruise starting to form on my otherwise pale and slightly freckled skin under where my hand now rested on my stomach. This was the part that bothered me the most; you'd see girls out and about here with flat stomachs from just under their breasts down to the apex of their thighs, whereas I had slight rolls and curves along that same expanse of my body. If I laid down flat it was hardly noticeable, but as soon as I sat up, even slightly, the fat was easy to see on my body. I sighed heavily, following down to my thighs as my knees bent out of the water, frowning a bit as I took them in as well. Large, pale, and slightly freckled, the same description I would give my stomach. Hardly anything about me was toned, not even my butt which was rather larger than I'd like it to be.

Yep, I was a hefty woman, that was for sure. Sadly I took some joy in knowing I wasn't the heftiest out there, but I was still a pretty big girl.

I rolled my eyes at myself as I shook my head, figuring if I was going to be ragging on myself there wasn't much point to this 'relaxing' bath. I reached for the plug, standing and wrapping the towel around me as the tub drained, stepping out of it onto the rug. I dried off quickly, not bothering to spare a glance into the mirror right now as I pulled on my clothes hastily and blew out the candles. I walked over to my room, seeing my inviting bed sitting there in the moonlight streaming through my basement window.

With a huge sigh I eased myself into bed, not bother with painkillers or the possibility that I may very well have a concussion. Instead I let myself drift off into a rather deep sleep, where not even Vampire Bill and his nefarious plans for Sookie could bother me.

---

I pulled up to the Stackhouse residence, smiling some seeing Jason's truck there. Sure, the guy was an asshole to me, but I wouldn't wish jail on the poor bastard. I got out of my car after making sure that my bruise on my temple was covered for the most part; unfortunately cover up hadn't done as great of a job as I had wanted. I walked up the path and knocked lightly on the screen door before stepping in. "Anybody home?!" I called through the house, and smiled wider as I heard Sookie answer me with her own call back. Thank god she was all right!

I walked through to the kitchen and saw Tara, Jason and Sookie already sitting down at the breakfast table, the smell of eggs, sausage and homemade biscuits in the air.

"Hello, sweetheart." Annabelle Stackhouse cooed as she walked up, pressing a kiss to my forehead as she cupped my face. It was now I realized how a lot of people who knew me well always referred to me by that pet name in particular.

"Hey, Miss. Stackhouse." I murmured politely as I smiled warmly at the older woman. When my folks had moved away after I had finished high school she had become like another Mother to me, then again, she'd always treated me like one of her own grandkids whom she had taken under her wing when they're parents had died.

"I just put another pot on of coffee. Sit on down, dear, and I'll pour you a cup when it is ready. Help yourself to the food as well." She added kindly as she gently patted my bottom whilst directing me to the table. "You keep losing weight like you are and you'll be nothing but skin and bones."

"That will probably still take a while." I laughed a bit as a I sat down in the only open seat next to Jason who snorted a bit after hearing me. I pinched him roughly in the arm, to which he yelped and sent me a glare as Miss. Stackhouse remained oblivious to the silent conversation between the both of us at that point. I looked across the table towards Sookie, surveying her as she gave me a look before shaking her head and nodding to Annabelle when she wasn't looking. Ah, so her Grandma didn't know.

"How is everyone feeling this morning?" I asked easily as a way to get Sookie to tell me she was doing all right.

"Hungover." Tara muttered easily as she sighed some, rubbing her hands over her face.

"I feel just fine." Sookie replied as she grinned widely at me, showing me the truth behind her words. I nodded a bit, before Jason spoke up as well.

"I feel like a free man." He replied easily as he leaned back into his chair and rose his arms above him to stretch. I pinched my nose as a whiff of B.O. came across from him, waving my hand a bit.

"You also stink like one. Seriously, when was the last time you had a shower, Stackhouse?" I asked lightly as he chuckled, and as he was lowering his arms he swatted me over the back of my head. I hissed a bit, as the impact jarred my sore face and my temple throbbed.

"Shit, I didn't think that would hurt you." Jason frowned deeply as he leaned forward, and in a surprising move to me he pulled my hair back from my face to check on me. "What the-where the hell did you get that bruise?" He demanded as his hand grabbed at my chin to force me to face him a bit more.

Of course, this was when the extremely rare gentleman Jason came out.

"It's nothing, tripped and fell walking through my apartment last night." I tried to wave off as I gently pushed his hand from my chin. "My fault really, I should learn to put things away instead of having them laying around on the floor to trip over." I added as I glanced to Sookie who looked worried and anxious all at once.

"What the hell did you fall onto, the corner of a desk or something? That's some scratch you got there with that bruise." Jason frowned as Annabelle came shuffling around, pulling my hair back and looking at the bruise and cut herself, tsking slightly.

"Sweet girl, you're far too clumsy for your own good. Did you wash this out and clean it?" She asked as she lightly ran her fingers over the bruise and scratch, but even the slightest pressure caused me to wince and she instantly pulled back with a soft apology.

"Yeah, I did. Don't worry, Miss. Stackhouse, I took proper care of it." I smiled warmly at her as she smiled back, though she looked unsure. That was one thing with Annabelle Stackhouse; she could smell a fib a mile away. The phone rang suddenly, though, thankfully taking her attention from me as she moved across the room to answer the call and left the room to take it. I sighed softly then as Sookie relaxed as well, and we ate in silence for a few moments before Jason broke it.

"I don't even know why they suspected me, other than somebody had said I was with Maudette."

"Wait, you were being convicted for Maudette's murder?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, this being news to me. Of course I had heard that Maudette had been killed, but I hadn't linked one and two together. No, my mind had been rather preoccupied with the stunts that Sookie has been pulling the past couple days.

"Had you?" Sookie asked with a raised eyebrow as Jason munched rather grotesquely on a sausage, and I reached over him for one of the biscuits. He smacked my hand lightly and I pouted at him, to which he rolled his eyes and tossed one my way.

"No." He answered, his mouth still filled with the sausage as he did.

"Jason, should I be reading into your sausage complex a little more?" I asked as he hungrily bit into it once again, taking another large piece. He glared at me once more, chewing a little more slowly this time.

"Are you sure? She was a woman." Sookie added rather sarcastically to him as I snorted in amusement, and he gave Sookie a look now as if to tell her to drop it.

"That's funny, but at least she was human." He snapped back and for a moment I couldn't help appreciating his answer to Sookie. After all, she had technically started it, and once in a while it did her some good to be pulled off of her high horse, which Jason was pretty good at doing.

"You will never believe what happened!" Annabelle came rushing back in, effectively ending the uncomfortable silence between the four of us.

"What happened?" Sookie asked as Annabelle went back to shuffling around the kitchen and getting more breakfast settled on the table. I hummed at the smell and instantly started to pile things onto my plate, smacking Jason's hand this time when he started to get too greedy with the bacon. He pouted, throwing his hands up in the air in an exasperated fashion before sitting back in his chair and starting to pick at what he already had on his plate.

Ha. I win.

"Apparently a tornado touched down over by four tracks corners. It turned over that red trailer in the clearing, you know which one?" She asked as we all nodded. Yeah, we all knew where Denise and Mack lived unfortunately, it was the honey hole of all drug activity in the town. "Well it killed that couple that's been staying in there."

"Woah, wait, Mack and Denise Rattray?" Jason asked as he sat up a bit more, clearly startled by the news. I felt the color draining from my face as my hands shook slightly and I hid them under the table. That's right, last night, he had killed them; Bill had killed both the Rattrays. How on earth hadn't I thought of that till now? Apparently Sookie was in the same boat as he shared an anxious glance with one and other.

"They were trapped, under the trailer. Mike Spencer said they were squished to a pulp." Annabelle ended rather solemnly as I swallowed heavily hearing her.

The rest of breakfast was a rather solemn affair, and Jason left soon after along with Tara, leaving just Sookie and I.

"Gran, Alex and I are going to take a drive." Sookie spoke up as I nodded and stood, knowing where she was planning on heading. If anything my curiosity was peaked as well. "We'll be back soon, alright?"

"Take your time, dears, it is your day off after all." Annabelle smiled kindly as I smiled back, unable to stop from doing so. Her smiles were always infectious.

"Thanks again for breakfast, Miss. Stackhouse."

"Oh, you are more than welcome, sweetheart." Annabelle replied easily as we both bid her goodbye and fairly well ran for Sookie's car.

---

"Oh my god. Sookie, this is just too coincidental. He had to have had something to do with this." I gushed out as Sookie pulled from her driveway, nodding and swallowing heavily.

"What else was he supposed to do though? He killed the both of them for us, Alex." Sookie reasoned as her grip tightened on the wheel. "All he wants is to lead a normal life here, and I don't think being known as a murderer is going to help with his transition into our world." She added as I had to bite back a remark that he was already a murder, if not a hundred times over.

"So what exactly happened last night after he left with you?" I asked, unable to stop my curiosity any further.

"Oh, Alex, he was just so…" Sookie sighed happily as she looked positively radiant this morning, a far cry from how she had looked near death last night. "He took me down by the pond, and he…well he fed me his blood."

"Dear lord," I sighed heavily as I let my head fall against the passenger side window. "I've heard of some pretty fucking weird shit happening when humans drink vampire blood, Sook."

"It wasn't weird at all, I was completely healed. It was like a miracle or something. I mean, you can see for yourself, I feel even better than I normally do." Sookie replied happily as I couldn't help but admit that she definitely did look a lot better. "He's going to call on me tonight." She giggled excitedly. "Oh my gosh, 'call on me', I feel like I'm in some 1800s romance novel." She squealed a bit as I rose an eyebrow at her.

"So he's going to meet your Gran?" I asked skeptically as she looked over to me, frowning some.

"Yeah, what is so wrong about that?" I laughed a bit as I shook my head.

"God help him if he ever hurts you once Annabelle knows what he looks like." I muttered as Sookie sighed heavily.

"He isn't like that. He's a perfect gentleman. If you'd just give him a chance you'd see it too." She murmured as she glanced over to me with those big blue eyes. "That is what I always liked about you. Unlike Tara, you're not narrow minded. At least, not really." She added softly as she sighed some. "Just please, for me, give him a chance. I'd love for him to get to know you, for you both to become friends."

Dear lord she was pulling that fucking shit on me? I groaned a bit, running my hand over my face and wincing as I pushed to hard, agitating the bruise once more. "I can try, Sookie, for you." I muttered begrudgingly. "But if there is any weird shit that happens, I'm out of there, you understand?"

"Deal!" Sookie squealed happily. "I'll have to plan a time for the three of us to go out together, just not tonight." She looked at me apologetically. "I think he's meeting enough new people tonight."

"Especially when one of them is your Gran." I snorted a bit, knowing that the elderly lady would be absolutely awestruck and asking him all the questions she could manage to fit into a night.

"By the way, how are you?" Sookie asked then in concern as I looked over to her, shrugging my shoulders and offering a bit of a smile.

"I'm alright for the most part." I murmured as she chewed some on her lower lip.

"You were really brave last night. I'd have probably been much worse off if you hadn't have been there." She added as I smiled some hearing her. Truth be told, I didn't think I was much help at all, if any. I wasn't a fighter, not normally, not until my friends or I were directly threatened.

"It wasn't so much bravery as stupidity. If I had been smart I would've called for help, ran for Sam. We were no match for those two, what with them being all hopped up on drugs. I pulled out Denise's hair, bruised her back most likely, broke Mack's nose and kicked him in the balls and they both still kept coming." I muttered dryly as Sookie couldn't help a small laugh.

"Did you really break Mack's nose?"

"Yeah, but I think your vampire boyfriend one upped me by breaking his neck." I added sarcastically as Sookie and I fell into an uncomfortable silence once more, thinking about last night. I don't think the sound of bones breaking will ever leave my sub-conscious and it made me feel slightly ill.

The car rounded down the dirt road that led to the Rattray's place and we stopped just before the yellow tape and the metal rails that were meant to keep people out. Obviously Sookie and I didn't follow such rules. We got out of the car, and I couldn't believe my eyes as I saw the full destruction before us. Tornado indeed; well Bill had certainly covered his tracks rather well. A fallen tree lay across the trailer, uprooted and twisted along with the metal frame it sat upon. Just seeing the sheer destruction, and knowing the real cause behind it, send a shiver of foreboding down my spine. Vampires were meant to be feared, that much I came to the definite conclusion of as I looked at the steel roofing that laid half way across the yard.

"Oh my goodness, Sookie, this place is absolutely destroyed." I gasped as I looked around in sick wonder, looking back to Sookie who held a look of bewilderment on her own face.

"I just never realized…what utter and raw strength he has." She murmured in awe struck wonder, before we were both startled out of our thoughts as a van came rumbling down the road. The coroner's van, to be precise. Out of the van stepped the sheriff and Mike Spencer, Mike greeting them both with a warm smile.

"Well, Sookie Stackhouse and Alexandria Hanson." He called out in greeting as the sheriff leaned against one of the metal railings, looking at us both suspiciously. Well, we were standing inside a crime scene, so I suppose that was warranted.

"Sookie, Alex, you both remember Mike Spencer?" The sheriff asked lightly as Sookie gave a bit of a colder smile.

"Of course, you buried my parents." Sookie's voice had a bite to it, but Mike Spencer either ignored it or genuinely didn't seem to notice as he gave a happy nod of affirmation.

"Yep. I got a new job now; coroner, but I still run the funeral home." He replied lightly, all smiles and laughter as he did.

"Oh, that's gotta be convenient." Sookie replied sarcastically, and Mike actually seemed to catch on as he looked a little awkward after that.

"Sookie, Alex," The sheriff began, "this is still a restricted crime scene." He told us both seriously as he walked in an over to us now, Mike staying behind the barrier still. Smart man. "Why are you girls here?"

"Oh, well, when we heard what happened we had to see for ourselves." I spoke up, giving Sookie time to calm herself from her barely restrained temper at the time. No doubt she was still pissed at the sheriff and Andy for taking Jason into jail the other day.

"Yes, what an awful thing." Sookie supplied, though I wished she could've sounded a little more sincere about it right now.

"You know I heard you both weren't too fond of the Rattrays." He looked at Sookie and I with a raised eyebrow, tucking his thumbs into his gun belt as he did.

"Where did you hear that?" Sookie asked lightly and I couldn't bring myself to even try to respond as a lump caught in my throat.

"My niece is the emergency room nurse in Monroe. Says someone busted up ol' Mack pretty good the other night. Everybody says that, that somebody was either you or Alex here."

"Me? Little ol' me bust up a big man like Mack?" I asked dubiously then as I placed a hand on my cocked hip. "Now sheriff, where can you make sense out of that one?"

"They were hurting a friend of our's." Sookie replied, completely ignoring my attempt at lying as I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and throw my hands into the air hearing her.

"Would this be that vampire I heard about? The one who is living at the old Compton house?" The sheriff asked as he continued to regard the both of us with suspicion.

"The old Compton house? Just across the field from where I live?" Oh, of course that would be what Sookie would pick up on.

"That's the one."

"Your grandmother lets you associate with a vampire?" Mike spoke up dubiously from behind his both.

"You can take that up with her, Mike Spencer. I'm sure she'd love to hear that someone thinks she's not taking proper care of me." Sookie snapped at him as I frowned deeply, crossing my arms and looking to Mike.

"I call dibs on your funeral home." I spoke up nonchalantly, and Mike had the good sense to shut up again.

"The Rattrays were draining him." I sighed softly, speaking up and Sookie regarded me with a surprised expression. "Now correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that draining a vampire is against the law, is it not? Where the law couldn't be Sookie and I stepped in, and unfortunately Mack ended up hurt." I shrugged my shoulders slightly with feigned indifference.

"And now they're both dead?" The sheriff asked me as he frowned deeply, obviously getting a little agitated by my proclamation.

"Yeah," Sookie replied in a 'no duh' voice, "killed by a tornado."

"Tornadoes hop, and this one didn't land anywhere else. Nobody around here heard or saw anything like a tornado last night." The sheriff continued in an accusatory voice as he circled around Sookie and I. Sookie stood with a straighter back now, but I unfortunately was losing my confidence in our argument.

"Are you telling me you seriously think that one man could do all this?" Oh, bad argument Sookie, bad argument.

"He's not a man." Mike spoke up from beside the van and even Sookie had to stop for a moment to think about another valid point.

"They're really not that different from you and me, if you even bothered to try and get to know one-"

"Sookie, Alex, you both are good girls. I'd hate to see you both go down this path." The sheriff sighed, suddenly looking rather tired and I couldn't help take pity on the guy.

"And we appreciate your concern, really we do." I spoke up as I motioned for Sookie to back down with a gentle press of my hand to her arm. "But Sookie is right, just like not all humans are bad, not all vampires are bad. And of course, the flip side being that not all humans are good, same as not all vampires are good. Are we going to base our assumptions of, essentially, another human race on a few bad apples?" I asked with a raised eyebrow as Sookie sat there, obviously stunned. Hell, even I was surprised at myself. Never would I have thought that I'd be arguing in favor of my worst nightmare. But after last night, seeing the way that Bill had swooped in and taken care of Sookie, well, some of my faith was built in regards that some vampires might actually have good intentions. The men were both speechless and I decided this was as good an opportunity as any to duck out.

"Well, gentlemen, Sook and I really must be on our way. It is getting late after all." I added as I gently tugged on her hand. "Come on Sook." I muttered quietly to her as I tugged her with me to her car and got in with her quickly. She pulled away silently, remaining silent for a few more moments, before breaking into a large grin.

"Alex?"

"Dear lord, I think I'm going to regret this, but yes?" I sighed heavily as I looked over to her beaming face.

"I'm going to tell Bill you defended his honor when I see him tonight."

"Do and I'll kill you before he has a chance to." I muttered darkly then, slumping down into my seat and Sookie giggled her tinkling laugh as we continued down the road back to her place.

"No, really, you're an amazing person, Alex. I'm glad to have you as my friend." Sookie spoke up softly after a few moments and I sighed as I relaxed a bit more, looking over to her and smiling softly.

"Same to you, Sookie." I murmured lightly, before returning my gaze back out the window.

This has been a long forty-eight hours.

---

I sighed softly as I shook my head whilst walking about the bar, on the floor tonight since Tara was in at the bar. I smiled as I walked past Sookie as she was taking an order from a group of younger guys, all of which were looking at her like they would rather have her spread out on the table for dinner.

Well, at least they were human.

I snorted some at that thought and shook my head, heading over towards the bar to get a pitcher of bud for a table full of men and women both who really didn't need it at this point.

"Tara, need another pitcher of Bud!" I called to her as she waved at me lightly, and moving around to grab a pitcher to fill for me. I sighed some as I leaned against the countertop, before frowning deeply as I caught sight of Arlene standing off to the side behind the bar, looking deep in thought. I walked around quietly, reaching out and gently placing my hand on her back so as to not startle her. She hardly moved, but her eyes shifted to acknowledge me.

"Hey, what's going on, Arlene?" I asked her gently as she let out a shaky sigh.

"Nothing." She muttered and I frowned more, knowing something was definitely up. Arlene didn't waste an opportunity to complain about something going wrong with her life, but if it was something huge she usually holed it up inside of her.

"Alright…well, if you find you wanna talk at some point tonight, you know where I am." I murmured lightly then, backing away, before frowning as Sookie came around the corner looking rather flustered.

"Whats up, Sook?" I wondered if everyone but me was having an off night tonight.

"The boys at the table grabbed at my ass." Sookie rolled her eyes as I smirked and shook my head. Of course, what night wasn't complete without Sookie, Dawn, or Arlene being groped? "Listen, Arlene, could you let Réne know that I'm really grateful for help with those jerks tonight, I was so flustered that I might've seemed ungrateful…" Sookie trailed off and I realized what she was doing, my eyes widened as I shook my head quickly at her.

"No, Sookie, don't, it's a time bombing waiting to go off." I tried to warn her quietly, but she pushed past me to pull Arlene into her arms into a hug. Arlene was started, even hugging Sookie back at first, before she got her wits about her and shoved Sookie away angrily.

"Did you just read my mind?" Arlene asked with disgust as she regarded Sookie angrily.

"Sorry, I'm not very focused tonight." Sookie winced as Arlene didn't back down.

"My private thoughts are none of your business." She huffed, before turning sharply away as I sighed some when Sookie looked at me. I shrugged my shoulders uselessly, before frown deepened as she looked behind me and I saw Sam standing there.

"Sookie, can I see you in my office?" He asked, his voice serious, before he continued on down the hall.

"Tonight is not your night." I laughed at her and she rolled her eyes then, shaking her head and moving on past me with a slight huff.

I walked back around, seeing Tara finishing on filling the pitcher of beer as I slid up beside Dawn, leaning against the countertop.

"So, how is Jason?" Tara asked lightly, but I could tell she was really interested in the nature of his and Dawn's relationship. I nearly sighed, wishing that Tara wouldn't put herself through this.

"He's probably pretty pissed of at me right about now." Dawn giggled as she finished writing up a receipt. "Hell, he probably deserves it."

"Yeah, I gotta say, I'm surprised you and him got back together." Tara continued on lightly as she set the pitcher down in front of me, before leaning casually against the counter. I threw her a knowing look whilst Dawn was preoccupied and she threw me one back that definitely screams 'not a fucking word.'

"No more than I am baby, believe me." Dawn laughed as she shook her head.

"Think things are going to last?" Tara almost demanded to know as Dawn tilted her head slightly, as if finally catching on. Great, Tara, way to be subtle.

"Is there a reason you wanna know, Tara?" Dawn asked lightly as a knowing smile lit up her features and I had to hold back a snort as Tara shook her head.

"No. Ever since I've been friends with Sookie I've just gotten a kick out of watching Jason's escapades; women…ya know." She shrugged, trying her best to seem indifferent at this point. Dawn had caught on though as she gave a small nod, but the slight smirk on her lips told me she definitely didn't buy it.

"Mhm, sorta." Dawn laughed as she turned, heading back towards the dining room, and I grabbed onto the pitcher.

"Way to let her know that you're totally not interested in Jason." I muttered sarcastically as Tara glared at me.

"Shut the hell up and take your beer." Tara barked at me as I broke into a grin, shaking my head and doing as I was told. I walked up to Réne and Hoyt, setting the pitcher down for them and smiling kindly. They were a couple of the more decent guys that frequented this place.

"T'anks, chére." Réne smiled as I nodded in return.

"Thanks, Lexie." Hoyt spoke up as well, a little more shyly and I smiled a bit more.

"Not a problem, gentlemen." I returned, before turning around and heading back towards the bar, taking notice that Sookie had returned from the back by now. Both her and Tara were looking rather perplexedly at the television, and I tilted my head to watch as well. My eyes widened in surprise seeing the picture of Theodore Newlin and his family on the screen, the headlines telling of their death in a car crash earlier that evening. I frowned, and both Tara and I looked to Sookie, who simply shook her head and moved by the both of us. She obviously had the same idea as us; vampires no doubt would be blamed for this so called accident. I sighed heavily, running my fingers through my brown waves as I watched her go, sharing a look with Tara for a moment.

Why couldn't we get through one night of work anymore without any drama?

"She's dead, Alex!" Came Sookie's frantic voice over the phone to me the next day. I frowned deeply, able to hear the desperation in her voice and immediately knew that she was being utterly seriously.

"Who, sweetie, who's dead?" I asked sharply, grabbing my keys from the bowl by the door and shoving my feet into flip flops. "Where are you, honey, I'm coming." I added as she stuttered hysterically into the phone, unable to even answer me. "Sookie! Take a deep breath and tell me where you are!" I shouted, regretting it as soon as I did, but she was really starting to scare me. Who was dead?

"I'm at-I'm at Dawn's…" Sookie choked out and I paused in my doorway, having thrown the door open. Dawn's…oh god no. "It's Dawn, Alex, she's dead."

"Oh my god…" I gasped, feeling as if this moment was extremely surreal. Dawn? Lively, vibrant, sweet Dawn was dead? "Oh my god…" I repeated once again, unsure of anything to say, before swallowing thickly, snapping myself back into it. I held onto my car keys tightly, feeling the teeth of the metal biting painfully into my skin as I rushed for my old Trailblaizer. "Sookie, I'm on my way. Don't. Move." I told her firmly, slamming my phone shut and tossing it into the passenger side seat hastily as I climbed in. How? Why? Who would kill Dawn of all people? Why was Dawn dead? I took a deep shaky breath, feeling my throat closing up and my eyes burning, trying to force it all down as I started the car.

Just one day, just one fucking day, that was all I asked for, and instead Dawn is dead because of it.

---

It only took me a few minutes to get to her house, I was speeding most of the way no doubt.

We were there for hours, Sookie, Jason and I, as the cops came and surveyed the crime scene before finally getting to asking all three of us questions. I wasn't questioned nearly as much as Sookie or Jason, since they had been there first, but things definitely weren't looking good for Jason. Apparently he and Dawn had, had a fight last night that the neighbor had caught, and with Jason's current track record of being involved with murdered women he shot straight to the top suspects list. In fact, he was the only suspect at this point.

I frowned as I waited now by my car, the crowds still hanging around like vultures waiting from any piece of juicy gossip, or to even watch morbidly as Mike Spencer and his help carried Dawn's lifeless body out from the house. A shudder ran down my spine as I wrapped my arms around myself. Shewas gone; that was really hard to wrap my head around. She wasn't going to suddenly be there, hugging me like she normally did, or laying sloppy kisses on my cheeks anymore. There was nothing left of her except that empty body.

I had never done well with death, not since I was a kid and my grandmother had passed away. The finality of it always terrified me. No matter if there was an afterlife or not, you never returned to this place as the same person you once were. You never see your family again, or your friends. You're just gone, and the only thing left behind is some ashes or upturned soil with bones buried in an overpriced box six feet under. Death was a terrifying concept, a terrifying event in every human's life, and anyone who tells you differently are lying in my opinion. I suddenly wanted out of here. Now.

I glanced towards Sookie as she sat next to Sam, Sam having come by as soon as he had heard. I let him and Sookie talk after he had given me a large and long hug before I made an excuse to go to my car. Only a few moments later, though, and they were interrupted by one of the officers, and then soon after Sookie stood as they finally carried Dawn's body from her home; no doubt what all these good people of Bon Temps had gathered around to watch. My gaze followed the large black bag that now held my departed friend, and a cold shiver washed through me as the chill of death seemed to grip me upon seeing it. I swallowed heavily, before turning my attention to Sookie as she made her way over to me, opening my arms as she walked right into me and I held her tightly while rubbing her back gently as I did.

"I'm going into work tonight." Sookie murmured after some time had passed and she gently pulled away, her own arms wrapped around me as well. I nodded in understanding hearing her as I offered a small smile.

"Yeah, I think that is a good idea. I'm going to go as well." I murmured softly, this being one of my days off as well. Just like Sookie, though, I couldn't be left alone to just sit and think about all this. Hell, I had done enough of that by now and I wasn't even alone to really let it sink in. "Did you want me to drive you out to your place?" I asked then, concerned to have her behind the wheel. What with Dawn, and Jason being thrown into jail again under suspicion of Dawn's murder, well, any sane person would be having a mental breakdown. Not to say Sookie was insane, but when it came to death she was unique in a sense; it didn't faze her nearly as much as it should have. At least, not yet.

"No, I'll be fine." Sookie assured me as she managed a small smile in return, before letting her arms drop back to her sides. "I'll see you later at work then?"

"Definitely." I murmured softly as I sighed shakily then, before chewing some on my lower lip as Sookie turned to move away. "Sookie?" I found myself calling out then; after all that had happened, I couldn't stop myself from reassuring her and I. "I love you and Tara like sisters, you know that right?" I murmured quietly but seriously. I had even considered Dawn family, but she probably hadn't known that before she died today. Sookie nodded, her eyes understanding as she did.

"You too, Alex." She replied softly, before turning and walking more quickly to her car now as I took a deep breath and shakily climbed into my own car.

Dawn was dead, and for me and countless others, Bon Temps will never be the same without her.

---

"Dawn sure left us high and dry here." Arlene complained as I turned to her with a disbelieving snort. True, it was a busy night at Merlotte's, and it didn't help hearing all the dirty rumors going around about Dawn. Well, some of them were true, but still, it hurt to think that people would speak so nastily about the dead. It was rather unsettling actually, and one of the few times I was pessimistic enough lose my faith in the human race. I had to bite my tongue almost to the point of bleeding when I would serve the tables and hear them talking in hushed whispers about Dawn being a 'fangbanger' or her deserving to die because she spent a lot of time at that bar Fangtasia in Shreveport. Where in the hell do they believe it's alright to say shit like that? No one deserved to die, not unless they themselves have killed another human being, at least that was my view.

"It's not like she meant not to be here." Sookie spoke up then as I frowned deeply, standing between both woman now as I waited for my own drinks to be made to take with the food to Dawn's old section. Maybe I was overreacting slightly, but it was haunting to even be in that section right now.

"No, but if she didn't spend her nights off at that vampire bar in Shreveport she still would be." Arlene had the utter gull to reason as my mouth dropped open in shock and disgust hearing her. How dare she?

"Seriously, Arlene? You're going to bring this all down on someone who isn't even here…" I found my throat closing up a bit then as I took a shaky breath, "here to defend themselves?" I finished with a weak voice as Arlene had the audacity to shrug her shoulders in indifference. "You're unbelievable; just as bad as the rest of those people out there, except worse cause you were supposed to be Dawn's friend." I hissed at her angrily then as she turned and looked at me with clear surprise. Well it wasn't normal for me to act angry after all, usually I was the happy person who people figured never got angry, or depressed. Well news flash, just cause I act happy and easy going on the outside doesn't mean that I'm not capable of other fucking emotions. Like the utter rage I've been feeling all tonight; perhaps it had been a bad idea after all to come into work. "What's more is that you're speaking to friends of Dawn's and I've honestly had it up to here with everyone's crude and disgusting remarks about her. I don't need to hear it from you, especially when it shouldn't be coming from you." I muttered darkly, jerkily grabbing the drinks passed to me for my order and slamming them down on the trey. "For your own health, Arlene, I suggest staying the fuck away from me tonight." I muttered, hearing her sputter in shock before turning sharply and jerkily throwing down the order onto the table of unsuspecting customers. Only, I didn't feel so bad because they had been one of the ones bad mouthing Dawn before.

"Hey!" Cried one of the men indignantly as he frowned deeply at me. "Watch it!"

"Oh shut the fuck up, eat your shit and leave." I muttered, at this point hardly caring about professionalism as I turned sharply from the table once more, storming further into the dining room to take more orders with increasing reluctance. I managed to blunder my way through a couple more orders, bringing them back to Lafayette as he stood in the kitchen.

"Hey there, sweetheart." Lafayette spoke up, before looking up to me and whistling lightly. "Oh girl, you look hot when you're all bothered." He smirked, but I didn't have it in me to even crack a smile at him like I normally did when he said stuff like that to me. Stuff that in an indirect way was meant to make me smile and lift my self-esteem that little bit he was always trying to achieve. His smirk fell into a serious look as he nodded his head towards me now and I swallowed heavily, walking around and back into the kitchen. "Come here, child." He hummed and grabbed me, pulling me into his arms and holding me tight. It was there, at work of all places and in Lafayette's arms that I felt the first tears prickling and falling from my eyes.

"They're all saying such awful things about her." I croaked as I held onto him tighter and he gently shushed me, rubbing his large hands comfortingly against my back. "It's terrible; how could they all be so fucking heartless?" I hissed out as I gave a shaky sigh, and Lafayette gently pushed me back to regard me as his thumbs brushed at my tears.

"Honey child, people are assholes by nature. It's only through proper selection that people like you and I come to be." Lafayette murmured soothingly as he sighed some. "I know it is difficult to do, but you need to try and let it go. While here at least." He added quickly as I looked up to him with watery green eyes no doubt and he tsked lightly. "Pretty eyes like your's shouldn't have tears in them." He muttered as he wiped at my tears once more. "Now come on, Dawn wouldn't want you sobbing and getting Lafayette here all snotty. Green doesn't work as well for me as it does for you." He teased and I gave a watery laugh, amazed at how a simple hug from Lafayette suddenly helped me to release all the tension and rage I had been holding in since the start of the shift.

"You're awesome, beautifully, spectacularly awesome."

"Don't I know it, sweetheart. Now do me a favor and get me some hamburger patties from in the freezer?" Lafayette smiled then as he lightly pushed me towards the freezer and I nodded, placing my hand and giving a heaving pull. "WAIT!-" Lafayette suddenly yelled as I looked at him confused when the door swung open, before looking back into the freezer and looking on wide eyed at what I saw.

Apparently Lafayette had forgotten he had left a horny Jason inside of his freezer.

"DEAR SWEET JESUS! PUT THAT THING AWAY!" I screamed then, feeling blinded by the bright purple…thing that was staring right back at me in that moment. My hands flung up to my face and I backed away quickly, Jason clearly struck stupid by my sudden appearance before I heard him scrambling for something in the freezer to cover himself. When I dared to open my eyes I saw he had a frozen steak sitting in his lap. "What the hell is wrong with you?" I shouted and Lafayette rushed to my side, pressing his hands to my shoulders whilst trying to gently shush me.

"He's having a bit of an issue. Took some trial drugs at the hospital for money. You know how the boy is." Lafayette explained smoothly as I looked from him to Jason, before looking back to him. See, a naïve girl such as myself believed Lafayette whole heartedly, whereas a more experienced girl would realize that what Lafayette was sputtering out to me was complete and utter bullshit.

"Uh, should he be going to a hospital then?"

"Fuck no!" Jason hissed from inside the freezer. "And if you know what is good for you, you won't say a damn word to anybody about this!" He shouted, clearly flustered and just as embarrassed as I was.

"He'll be going to the hospital once I can drive him there, for now he needs to keep his dick on ice." Lafayette replied, a hint of humor in his voice as he glanced over towards Jason, before looking back to me. "Our secret though, lil' bit. Sam wouldn't take kindly to-"

"Jason having his junk all over the steaks? Yeah, I could see why." I muttered sarcastically as Jason glowered at me from the floor of the freezer. Any other situation and I would've found this absolutely hilarious. "Fine, fine, just…if Arlene has supper here one of these nights and asks for a steak, she gets that one." I muttered, pointing to the steak that Jason had in his lap, and Lafayette rose an eyebrow at me.

"Deal."

"Awesome, good luck with that thing, Jason." I muttered as he looked even angrier.

"It's my dick, Lexie, my dick." He muttered, pouting. "Not as if you'd have anything to compare it to."

"Well, at least I know one thing from sex ed, it definitely shouldn't look like your's." I snorted a bit, before tilting my head some. "Wonder if we took a needle to it, if it would pop? Like a pimple, or a balloon or something?" I questioned lightly, watching all the color drain from Jason's face. Lafayette hooted with laughter, before gently ushering me towards the door of the kitchen after shutting the door of the freezer.

"That was bad, girl, but deserved nonetheless." Lafayette smirked as he lightly shoved me out the doorway. "Remember, mum is the word." He murmured with his index finger pressed to his pouty lips, before sashaying his way back into the kitchen. I shook my head, before jumping as someone grabbed my arm, but heart racing as I turned to see it was Sookie looking rather excited.

"You need to go home and change before meeting me at my place in a half hour. We're going to Fangtasia tonight?

Say what?!

---

Well, turns out I was a sort of buffer for Sookie as she needed some way to establish to Bill that this was in no way, shape or form a date on her behalf.

Yeah, I'm used to being used, however pathetic that sounds.

I still couldn't believe I was on my way to a fucking vampire bar, the last place on earth any sane person (i.e., ME) would want to be caught. At this exact moment , though, I was more concerned with what we were listening to; it sounded like something from forty years ago, and it was the only sound in the car as everyone was eerily silent.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Sookie asked from beside Bill in a sweet voice, finally breaking the quiet in the car between the three of us.

"You might not like knowing what I'm thinking." He responded lightly with a playful smirk on his face as he glanced from her back to the road. Oh dear lord, please just remember I'm in the backseat the both of you.

"Most of the time I do." She replied, egging him on, and at this point I knew she was fishing for a compliment. Way to make it subtle, Sookie. I rolled my eyes and slouched back slightly in the seat, preparing myself for an extremely awkward conversation. For Sookie not wanting this to be a date, she seemed to be trying awfully hard to follow the guidelines of one. She had dressing up down, and now she was working on polite small talk.

"You won't care for it." Bill insisted, his eyes dragging over to her once more, obviously appreciating what Sookie was wearing. This was the part that I grew rather annoyed with when it came to Sookie; she'd say one thing because she knows its improper for her to do so, but then she'll make actions that scream the opposite. Just own up to the fact you want him to be attracted to you! Golly!

"That doesn't mean I don't want to know."

It is supposed to, Sookie. Jesus, quit acting so desperate for attention! I nearly sighed in annoyance, glad to see that it appeared she wasn't listening to my thoughts at the moment, or else I'm sure I'd have gotten a glare or two by now. Lord knows I love the girl, she's one of my best friends, but this is something that really annoyed me about her. She was so pretty and yet the way she craved Bill's attention right now to the point of desperation showed how insecure she really was. If anyone should be insecure in this car it was me! But you don't see me flaunting my boobs and asking some guy to comment on them!

"You look like vampire bait." Bill replied gruffly and my attention was now completely directed towards the conversation. What the hell had he meant by that?

"What?" Sookie asked with a laugh, obviously just as shocked by the terminology, but clearly not offended. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I promise your Grandmother that no harm would come to you, or Alexandria, tonight at Fangtasia." Bill replied evenly as I lifted an eyebrow, my heart warming hearing the concern shown by that wonderful woman for me. As if she didn't have enough to worry about with Jason and Sookie, but she worried about me as well. God bless her. "I'm not sure I'm going to be able to keep that promise with you dressed like this." He added lowly as Sookie raised an eyebrow.

"So are you saying you think I look nice?" Sookie asked in a smooth southern drawl as I couldn't help but roll my eyes this time, barely holding back a snort of disbelief at her blatant flirting. I really had to talk to her about sending mixed signals.

"Doesn't matter what I think. This isn't a date, remember?" Bill replied evenly and a laugh burst through my lips hearing him. I slapped my hand over my mouth then, unable to stop smiling though in amusement as Sookie turned to playfully glare at me and Bill sent me an amused look in the rearview mirror.

"You're telling me that Alex doesn't look like vampire bait as well?" Sookie asked, and I glared back at her this time, knowing she was trying to embarrass me to get back for laughing at her. I frowned a bit, my skin flushing with my embarrassment as Bill looked at me in the rearview with a kind smile. I already knew I didn't look like 'vampire bait' as for one I wasn't nearly as pretty as Sookie, and for another thing I didn't exactly have my girls pushing up from under my top like Sookie did from her dress. I was wearing a black spaghetti strap tank top under my fake leather coat (which I didn't plan on removing all night) and once of my nicer fitting jeans with my black cowgirl boots. My wardrobe was plain, but I added on some really light make up around my eyes to make the green stand out and a very light shade of lip gloss to make my full lips look smoother which dressed up the ensemble slightly. It may have not been some knock out out-fit, but I still thought I looked nice enough.

"She looks nice as well, but she's not showing as much skin as you are. She'll seem less…available to the other vampires there." Bill replied diplomatically. Hell, I knew I dressed conservatively, as I have been told I need to update my wardrobe from grandma to young woman multiple times, but in this instance obviously my style choices were working for my advantage. "Which is good since she isn't claimed." He added as I did a little fist pump.

"Mission accomplished." I replied lightly and both Sookie and Bill couldn't resist giggling and chuckling at me. So what if I didn't look good enough for some vampire to pick up? That didn't concern me in the least. Wait, what the hell did he mean by claimed.

"It's a vampire's way of protecting a human. They claim the human as their own, and thus no other vampire can touch them. Bill did that to me once to protect me from some of his, uh, friends." Sookie spoke up, having obviously listened into my thoughts just then as I sighed at her. She had the good sense to look a little guilty as she shrugged her shoulders helplessly. "Sorry, I slipped."

"It's alright." I sighed some as I frowned a bit. "I suppose this whole story on how exactly you learnt what claiming is will have to wait for another night?" Sookie nodded as I sighed some and slumped back into the car, the silence reigning once more except for the very old music playing lightly through the speakers.

This was going to be the longest drive I've ever made to Shreveport.

---

I frowned as I got out of the car, hearing the music from the bar as I swallowed thickly, glancing at the people milling around. I couldn't for the life of me tell when I was walking by a vampire or human as I trailed behind Sookie and Bill. Everyone was dressed up obnoxiously in leather and heavy eyeliner with crazy colored hairdos; the stereotypical Goth look. Sookie and I were both going to stick out like sore thumbs, more so Sookie than I. At least I had something leather on, I mused to myself as my fingers pulled slightly at the cuffs of my jacket. The less skin I showed, the better.

I watched as Bill wrapped his arm protectively around Sookie as we reached the doorway, glancing back towards me quickly. "Stay close." He murmured gently, but lowly and I swallowed heavily and nodded hearing him. Believe me, I was not going to be wandering at all in this place. I stepped in through the small doorway and looked about, the room filled with reds and blacks, decorated to look the part of a vampire bar. There was techno music playing in the background, and I noticed to my embarrassment that there were also scantily clad women dancing to said music on platforms. Sookie seemed to feel just as out of her element as I did, before all three of us came to a halt as a tall blonde woman stopped Bill.

"Bill," the woman almost cooed as she looked at him, and something about her hit me as off. She was distant, her eyes cold and sarcastic, and beautiful too. I could almost guarantee she was a vampire. "I haven't seen you in a while."

"I'm mainstreaming." Bill answered as I remained behind him and hopefully successfully out of sight. Dear lord, I never thought I'd see the day I ended up hiding behind a vampire to feel safe.

"Good for you." She replied in a clearly disinterested and carefree voice, before directing her attention to Sookie. "Who's the doll?" She asked, her eyes lighting up with interest now as she gazed over my blonde friend.

"Pam this is Sookie, Sookie this is Pam." That's right, don't introduce me, I'm never coming back here again, not ever. If Sookie ever denies me a favor again I will be hanging this night over her head for the rest of her life! Invisibility is key here, and I planned on maintaining it.

"Pleased to meet you!" Sookie spoke up in a clearly enthused voice as she politely held her hand out to shake with the other woman's. Pam just looked at her hand with disinterest once more, and Bill looked away awkwardly as Sookie shifted a bit nervously then.

"What about your other friend behind you?" Pam asked lightly then as she nodded over Bill, and directly at me. Great, just perfect. The one time I actually want to be invisible I'm spotted. "She's got pretty eyes on her." The woman added smoothly as I flushed, stuttering a bit. Hardly anybody complimented my eyes, though I for a fact felt they were indeed pretty. How the hell could she even see my eyes from where she was standing?

Vampire, duh.

"Uh, this is Alexandria, Sookie's friend from Bon Temps." Bill replied, standing to the side and I fought back a look of utter betrayal at him. He was clearly just as uncomfortable with attention being drawn to me as I was, probably because I didn't have this all-powerful claim on me.

"Hmmm, very pretty eyes." Pam cooed as I stiffened and a slow cruel smirk came over her lips like she was sizing me up. "Can I see some I.D.?" She asked then as she glanced back towards Sookie and Sookie's expression turned from anxious to slightly shocked at the question.

"Oh, sure, who'd have thought, getting carded at a vampire bar." Sookie giggled nervously once more as I rolled my eyes, unable to stop myself. Dear lord, at least I could hide my own awkwardness better than she could. Just give her the damn I.D. Sookie and let's get out of here!

Sookie held out the I.D. for Pam to look at, gazing down at the card whilst I dug out my own, figuring I'd be carded too.

"I can no longer tell human ages, we must be careful we serve no minors in any capacity." She answered as she took mine as well and looked it over. Capacity, what in the hell had she meant by that? Clearly I had more things to learn. "Hanson, hm?" She inquired as she lifted her eyes to give me that unsettling look once more, as if she were sizing me up again.

"Uh, yeah. Is there a problem?" I asked, my voice accidentally betraying my slight irritability at having to feel so on edge in this place. I hated feeling like I was being judged, call it post-traumatic bullying stress from public and high school.

"Oh, none at all, retract those claws sweetheart." Pam cooed as I bit down hard on my lower lip. What was it with everyone calling me sweetheart?! "Twenty-five, huh?" She asked us both before looking towards Bill with an amused smirk. "How sweet it is." Bill quickly pushed Sookie past Pam then with a mildly annoyed look and I shuffled behind quietly, my skin crawling as I could feel that woman's eyes following all three of us as Bill led our way further into the bar.

"This feels more like what a vampire bar would look like if we were on a ride at Disneyworld." Sookie commented as I nodded silently in agreement, my eyes looking around both in an attempt to take everything in and to keep an eye out for myself.

"Well, don't get too comfortable, it tends to get more authentic as the night wears on." Bill commented and my eyes widened hearing him. What did he just say? This wasn't as bad as it gets?!

"Um, we'll be out of here by then, right guys?" I asked lightly. "Right?" I squeaked out in a rather embarrassing tone, but both seemed to ignore me as I followed them stupidly further into the bar. Why the hell did I agree to this.

Oh, right, because Sookie didn't want it to look like a fucking date, which is exactly what she wants it turns out.

"Can I get you girls something to drink?" Bill asked lightly as he looked back towards me as well and I nearly jumped at the opportunity. I definitely needed something to quiet down my nerves.

"Yes, please." Sookie replied as I nodded eagerly and I could tell Bill was slightly amused at my enthusiasm. I needed some liquid courage, could he really blame me? I was knee deep in my living nightmare after all. We stepped up to the bar as I stood beside Sookie, before nearly backing right up as the man turned to us, his fangs, his very real fangs out there in the open.

"How's it going, Bill." He murmured in a rather creepy voice as my fingers dug into the bar slightly in my attempt to not turn and bolt like a little girl. This vampire, seeming to notice this, turned and gave me the most lecherous look I've ever seen directed towards me.

"Very well." Bill replied as he leaned against the counter, the vampire behind it smirking.

"I'll say it is, are these your meals for the night?" He asked as I felt a cold shiver run down my spine as my eyes narrowed, but I couldn't find the courage to say anything or tell the vampire to mind his own fucking business.

"These are my friends, Sookie, and Alex. Sookie and Alex, this is Longshadow."

"Nice to meet you." Sookie replied as I nearly wanted to reply at the same time, no it ain't. Longshadow continued to give Sookie, more than I now, a rather unsettling stare down, but Sookie seemed to take it in stride. "I'll have a gin and tonic, Alex will have a whiskey and ginger ale." Sookie added in my order for me, for which I was thankful. I don't think I could've found it in me to utter a single word at the moment with how terrified at felt.

"I'll have a bottle of O negative." Bill spoke up before glancing around the bar, looking back to Longshadow as the man finally quit staring at us and moved to make the drinks. "Longshadow, Sookie has some questions she'd like to ask you. Would this be acceptable?" He asked politely as I frowned a bit, waiting for the other vampire's reaction. Sookie meanwhile started to dig into her purse before Longshadow could even answer.

"I just have a couple photos I would love for you to look at." Sookie replied as she showed him the photos of Dawn and Maudette, and I watched intently as he took the photos and stared down at them with cool disinterest. What was it with vampires and having to appear disconnected all the time?

"Yeah, I've seen them both here before." He answered rather assuredly as I managed to get over my anxiety at this, looking at him with interest now. Sookie looked elated hearing his answer. Maybe we were going to get to the bottom of this after all; Dawn deserved some closure.

"That's great, and thank you. Do you happen to remember who they hung around with?" She asked excitedly.

"That's something we don't notice here." Longshadow replied as he leaned against the bar, uncomfortably close in my opinion, but this time his gaze was directed at Bill thankfully. "You won't either."

"Okay then." Sookie surprisingly took his answer, not digging for more. I looked to her, both glad and shocked she wasn't pushing her luck. Finally, maybe something is starting to click in her head about self-preservation. "Thank you, I appreciate you taking the time."

"This one," Longshadow surprisingly went on then as I found myself leaning closer seeing him pick up one of the photos. It was the one with Maudette in it. "She wanted to die." I swallowed thickly, my heart stopping hearing him say that. What was that supposed to mean? That she wanted to die or…or be turned?

"How do you know?" Sookie asked, looking unsure now.

"Everyone who comes here does, in their own way." Longshadow answered, his eyes shifting towards Bill once more as Bill looked at him with an unreadable expression. "That's what we are, death." Bill didn't say a word to the obvious slight, simply handing Longshadow the bill for their drinks and grabbing his and Sookie's whilst I grabbed my own, eagerly leaving the bar side with the both of them. We found a table near the outskirts of the bar, sitting down in the relative calmness there as Sookie suddenly became unfocused and I could tell she was listening intently to people's minds in the bar.

"How's your drinks?" Bill spoke up suddenly as Sookie and I looked to him.

"A gin and tonic is pretty much a gin and tonic no matter where you drink it." Sookie replied lightly as I smiled knowingly and nodded.

"Same thing for my drink." I replied lightly as I took another sip, the alcohol already rather embarrassingly causing me to relax a bit more after the first few swigs.

"I know exactly what you mean." Bill replied as he drank his own True Blood and Sookie and I looked at him with skeptical glances, before Sookie's attention was once again drawn elsewhere. I followed her gaze out of curiosity, and saw she was looking at a rather broody looking blonde individual sitting upon some sort of chair on the stage.

Well, he doesn't look creepy at all. I thought sarcastically to myself, my gaze dropping back down to my drink as I took another rather large draw from it, feeling the tell tale tingles getting stronger in my limbs. Yeah, I was definitely a lightweight in at least this sense.

"Who's that?" Sookie asked lightly as Bill frowned some and glanced to where she was looking, an unimpressed look flittering across his features as she saw who it was she was looking at.

"Oh, you noticed him, did ya?"

"No, it's not like that, I just-"

"Everyone does." Bill interrupted in a slightly biting tone as I frowned some hearing him, glancing back towards the blonde individual once more now. What could Bill mean by that? He sounded jealous. "That's Eric, he's the oldest thing in this bar." I snorted into my drink, having been about to take a sip, after hearing Bill description. Who knew that Bill could be so funny, even when he was clearly irritated by this apparently old vampire.

I looked back up towards the front once more, taking notice that a man was now kneeling in front of him, as if praying to him or something. What the hell was this shit?

"What is that man doing?" I asked then as I looked to Bill for an answer and Bill sighed heavily.

"He's trying to offer himself to Eric to feed upon." He answered and my mouth dropped open in shocked disgust. Humans would literally get on their knees and beg to become some vampire dinner? Especially knowing the risk. A vampire had no moral obligation to stop drinking from a complete stranger before the human died after all. I couldn't believe that people willingly offered themselves up like proverbial cattle to the slaughter! I jumped when suddenly there was a scream, and turned in time to see the man that had been at Eric's feet go flying through the air. I stiffened, about to jump up to go and help him out of instinct as he lay on the ground now, but Bill's hand shot out and grabbed my arm to stop me.

"Don't. The last thing you need to do is get between a vampire and their meal." Bill murmured lowly to me, nodding back towards the man who now had a crowd of hungry looking vampires surrounding him. I shuddered and Bill let me go as I sat back down.

"But shouldn't we help him?"

"This is what he wants. Just watch." Bill murmured then as I turned to do as he said, and saw that a female vampire stepped up to him and offered the injured man her hand. I swallowed thickly, feeling as if I was in some sort of horror film watching the victim as they unknowingly went to their death as he grabbed her offered hand and left the bar with her.

"Still think you're in Disneyworld?" Bill asked lightly to Sookie now as I frowned all the more, looking back towards that asshole at the front of the bar. Well, he was a vampire that was definitely filling the stereotype that I had built my fears upon, and I would do all I could to continue to remain out of his radar.

---

We were still sitting there, to my great displeasure, two hours later as Sookie continued to sift through everyone's thoughts at the bar. I remained silent now, observing but making sure I never looked in one place for too long. I was back to feeling on edge after witnessing that scene before with the man and Eric, and desperately wanted to just forgo this whole thing and go home.

But then I remember Dawn, and what she deserved, and I found myself staying without hardly any complaints.

"Are you picking up on anything?" Bill asked lightly after our prolonged silence and I glanced towards Sookie, really hoping she had gotten something so that we could get out of here.

"All anyone is thinking about here is 'sex, sex, sex'." Sookie sighed, obviously frustrated and I snorted a bit in amusement. Well, what did she expect coming to a vampire bar?

"One needn't to be telepathic to pick up on that." Bill responded lightly with a knowing smirk as he looked Sookie over for the hundredth time that night and I laughed a bit, shaking my head.

"That's for sure." I muttered as I took in the vastly different and extremely indecent wardrobes donned by the risqué patrons of this bar. Sookie looked a little pleased, but uncomfortable, and I could tell that she had taken Bill's innuendo towards herself.

"Uh oh." Bill suddenly uttered and I looked over at him sharply. Out of everyone at this table, hearing 'uh oh' from a vampire was extremely unsettling.

"'Uh oh'? What do you mean my 'uh oh'?" I asked sharply as I quickly glanced around, before nearly falling off of my stool.

He was looking directly at us.

"Don't say 'uh oh'! Vampires are not supposed to say 'uh oh'." Sookie agreed frantically as I couldn't bring myself to look away from him for some reason. It was like if I let him out of my sights that would be enough for him to kill me, but his stare was intense, even all the way across the room where I could barely make out his eyes. Pam was standing next to him, leaning against his chair as both of them now stared down at our table.

"It's Eric, he's scanned you twice." Bill replied as he glanced over towards Sookie, letting her know that he meant that she was the one being scanned. I was relieved to some degree at least to hear that; my self-preservation has kicked in at this point. "He's going to summon us."

"He can do that?" Sookie asked, clearly shocked, and I nearly groaned whilst downing the rest of my drink.

"Well I'm not going up, he wasn't scanning me." I replied evenly then, but Bill gave me a look.

"Yes you will go up. I'm not about to leave you alone in a bar full of vampires." He replied evenly.

Oh, yeah, right.

I frowned, turning back and felt my heart stop as Eric lifted a single hand and twitched two of his fingers once in a 'come hither' motion. Did he have to make such a simple move seem so arrogant? Sookie took Bill's hand nervously now, and I slid off of my stool, stumbling a bit as I did due to the alcohol now in my system. I wasn't drunk, but it took me a second to get my land legs back. I huffed, feeling slightly embarrassed knowing that someone, at least Eric, had most definitely seen that clumsy moment of mine. I followed the two up silently now, and once we got closer I noticed that despite the long hair (I found long hair on guys unattractive no matter what) Eric was handsome, but anything that could've attracted me to him was quickly doused by my fear and self-doubt.

"Bill Compton." Eric spoke up smoothly as I stood to Bill's opposite side, Sookie standing in closer to him. Pam, meanwhile, oddly looked towards me, a slow smirk coming over her lips, before it dropped as she turned her attention back to Bill and Sookie. Well, that made me feel so comfortable, I mused to myself having tensed over Pam's glance towards me. Was she a lesbian or something? Great, the first individual I've attracted is not only a vampire, but a female one with lesbian tendencies. Not that I had anything against homosexuality, I just wasn't one. What I did have a problem with was necrophilia. "It has been a while."

"Yes, well, I've been-"

"Mainstreaming." Eric finished, effectively interrupting him with arrogance. "I heard." I glanced towards Pam as she looked clearly proud of herself, and realized that these two must have some sort of relationship together. Eric looked towards Sookie then his blue eyes sparking a bit in interest. "I see that is going well for you." He added easily.

"Yes, of course, sorry. This is my friend-"

"Sookie Stackhouse." Eric replied easily as I had to refrain from rolling my eyes. Couldn't he even be politely ignorant and allow Bill to finish his goddamn sentences?

"How do you know my name?" Sookie asked curiously and Pam was the one that spoke up this time.

"I never forget a pretty face." Pam replied easily as she straightened up, looking over to me once more. "Or pretty eyes." She added smoothly and I shifted slightly, feeling extremely uncomfortable and looking down automatically as a reaction to her backhanded compliment. She lifted a finger to her temple, before saying in the most unsettling voice, "You're both in my vault."

"Great…that's just, great." Sookie replied, clearly unsure and trying to remain polite as she turned her attention back towards Eric. "It's nice to meet you."

"Well aren't you sweet?" Eric replied in a monotone voice that screamed sarcasm to me, and Sookie obviously picked up on it too.

"Not really." She replied evenly, and Bill tugged at her sharply to get her to stop. Eric snorted slightly as a slow smile came over his lips, obviously amused by Sookie's behavior. I for one wasn't; was she trying to get herself and us all killed?!

"And what of your mute friend here?" Eric asked then, his attention turning to me as I felt his unsettling gaze. "Alexandria Hanson, am I correct?"

"You are." I replied, short and sweet as I managed to get enough courage up to look him back in the eyes. His own were the coldest blue I had ever seen, and as he looked at me I felt like a bucket of ice had been dumped over my head. I wanted out of here, now.

"You don't seem to be enjoying yourself as much as Bill and Sookie here." Eric stated evenly as I shook my head, figuring it wouldn't do me any good to lie.

"To be completely honest I never wanted to come here in the first place."

"A breather who didn't want to come into a vampire bar, and yet here you stand." Pam replied lightly as she smirked coolly. "Imagine that."

"You do stupid things for those you consider your family." I replied evenly and both Eric and Pam seemed to quieted at that, observing me with both of their unsettling gazes. I had no idea what they were thinking at this point and I absolutely hated it. Eric turned his head to speak to Pam, and I recognized the language as Swedish. I couldn't speak the language, nor translate it, but the tone and sound was much the same as my grandparents used to speak when I was little. They were both of Swedish descent.

"Miss. Stackhouse I believe you've been asking questions about some my customers? Eric asked rather sharply.

"Yes, I have."

"If you have anything to ask you should ask it of me." Eric continued in his stern voice, his gaze slowly turning from Pam back to the three of us.

"Alrighty." Sookie replied as she started to dig through her purse for the photos, and I could tell she was starting to feel just as on edge as I have been this entire night. "You recognize either one of these girls?" She asked as she handed the photos of Dawn and Maudette over. Eric hummed deep in his chest as he looked at the photos, a pleased hum, and a sound that for some unfathomable reason sent a shiver down my spine.

"This one offered herself to me, but I found her too pathetic for my intentions." Eric murmured about Maudette as he pointed to the photo. Well, I couldn't help thinking he had probably been right in his assumptions. "But this one," He added silkily as he grinned a bit pointing at Dawn's photo, "I have tasted." He murmured as he looked up, but for some reason he looked directly towards me instead, his blue eyes locking on my own once again. I fought the urge to swallow heavily, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other as I did.

"I remember them both." Pam hummed pleasantly as Sookie's eyes snapped up to her.

"On account of the vault?" She asked rather snootily and I turned my head sharply towards her, seeing Bill grasp her hand tightly once more to stop her. When would Sookie learn to fucking shut-up, especially when we were getting someone on Dawn's murder?!

"Never had either of them though, neither were really my type." Pam replied silkily as she gave Sookie a look, and I was glad she had obviously looked over Sookie's attitude.

"Well, thank you very much, that is all your time I need to take." Sookie spoke up, reaching for the photos and taking them back, almost hastily trying to shove them into her purse.

"I'm not done with you yet." Eric turned his attention back to Sookie; I only just realized he'd been staring at me even as I had turned to look at Sookie and it made me feel rather uncomfortable. I wasn't used to anybody, let alone a male vampire, looking at me so…intently. "Please, sit." Eric cooed as he motioned for Sookie to take the seat next to him now, and Bill looked entirely uncomfortable. Sookie didn't look any more comfortable as she took the seat now, and Bill shifted a bit closer to me at this point now that Sookie was clearly out of reach. It was then that I realized at some point that night I had started to trust Bill with my safety; when the hell had that happened?

"Are you quite attached to your friend?" Eric asked, clearly implying something much deeper than his statement as I looked towards Sookie who was staring uncomfortably at Eric now. Bill tensed, stepping forward now and in the most menacing voice I've yet heard him use he uttered his claim.

"She is mine." He growled low in his chest as Sookie glanced towards him and I watched on with morbid interest. He indeed was very possessive of Sookie, and that thought comforted me at the moment with Sookie being obviously scrutinized by Eric, but in any other situation I'd be concerned for her safety from Bill.

"Yes, I am his." Sookie insisted then as she looked back to Eric who glanced from Bill to her, looking slightly amused.

"What a pity, for me." Eric murmured lowly, his voice huskily as his eyes slowly dragged along Sookie's form and I watched as he licked at his lips, the action entirely sexual in nature. He turned sharply back to Bill and I, motioning to his other side and it was only then that I noticed two more chairs had been silently brought up to the stage. "Sit with us," Eric insisted, his eyes slowly going from Bill and staring at me now. I honestly don't know how my heart has lasted the past few hours with how erratically it sped up and down this entire night, even more so now with his cool eyes staring at me once more. "Bill, we have catching up to do, you and I. It has been too long." He added.

"Yes." Bill muttered, looking entirely reluctant, before he placed his hand on my lower back, guiding me to the seat furthest away from Eric and sitting down in the seat next to him.

I knew, begrudgingly, that I'd have to thank him later for looking out for me as well.

Eric had thankfully turned his intent stare back to Sookie, but I noticed that she looked rather distracted. Obviously she was listening into more thoughts at the moment, perhaps even testing to see if she could hear Eric's thoughts. What the hell was she doing practicing that around a vampire like him?!

"We have to get out of here." Sookie spoke up suddenly, urgently as I stiffened hearing her. Bill looked surprised and concerned, but most likely because she had interrupted the blonde asshole.

"Sookie-"

"Eric, the cops are coming, there is going to be a raid." Sookie spoke over Bill as I nearly groaned hearing her, running my fingers through my hair. Though mine was a groan of relief, not irritation. Yes, let's get the fuck out of here. Now!

"Tell me you're not an undercover cop." Eric growled out, though he remained relaxed despite his tone as Pam stiffened up slightly at his side.

"I'm not, but the man in the hat is." Sookie replied and I nearly reached over to slap her. Way to throw another human under the proverbial bus, Sookie! I screamed in my head as I noticed the murderous glint that Eric's eyes gained as he looked directly at the said undercover cop.

"Even if you're right we do nothing illegal here." Eric replied assuredly, which seemed to cause Pam to relax at his side and I nearly slumped in disappointment in my chair. Why couldn't we just leave? Why couldn't I leave? Obviously I wasn't of any interest to anybody there. Not that I'm complaining, I really didn't want the attention, I just wanted this night to be over with and back in the safety of my bed.

"There is a vampire named Taryn in the ladies room with that man that you kicked before. She's feeding on him." Sookie replied quickly as I couldn't stop myself from sighing heavily, knowing that now the questions would arise. I didn't have to know that whatever it was Sookie was it wasn't supposed to be common knowledge. It was just a feeling I had, and here she was practically screaming it to the singularly most dangerous person she could be.

"God love you Sookie, but you are an idiot." I muttered, knowing Sookie wouldn't hear me over the music, but judging by the slightly amused look Eric and Pam both sent my way, they had. Their attention was only diverted for a second though before they both turned their interest back to the blonde telepath.

"How do you know this?" Pam demanded as Eric looked on with silent interest, and I saw Bill sharply shake his head from the corner of my eye.

"Police! Police! Get down!" Men started to shout as all of us stood up sharply then, and Eric spoke up above the chaos.

"Follow me." He told us calmly, and Bill reached across for Sookie to take her hand, holding her close to him as we filed off of the stage. I felt a hand on my lower back, Bill's hand no doubt, as we moved through the dark hallway and another arm reached out around me and flung the door open as we stepped out into the night.

Wait, okay, basic addition here. If Bill was using one hand to hold onto Sookie and the other to guide me, he was using two arms. Then how could he have opened the door? I turned sharply, stepping away from the hand that was on my back to find it had in fact been Eric that had guided me through the dark hallway. He was tall, freakishly so, something I hadn't been able to tell when he was sitting down before, slouched in his chair, throne, whatever it may have been. He looked down at me, smirking some in amusement at my clear shock, but let his hand slide from my back, and to my horror, over the curve of my ass before it dropped from me completely.

"Pam was right, you do have pretty eyes, Miss. Hanson." Eric murmured easily, before stepping away with Pam as Bill came out with Sookie and swiftly picked her up in his arms. "I enjoyed meeting you Miss. Hanson and Miss. Stackhouse. You will come again." He murmured as if in an order, and I felt extremely flustered at that as he and Pam fairly well glided away. Bill ran with us back to the car, the screams and shouts from the police and patrons heard from inside the bar as we slid in. Where Eric's hand had touched my lower back was still tingling to my utter disgust as I slid into the backseat of Bill's car.

Like hell I was ever stepping in that place again, and I refused to ever see him or Pam again.

---

It was tense in the car as we drove away, Bill had some sort of strange music on again and this time it was even getting on Sookie's nerves.

"Can we turn that down?" She asked firmly, yet obviously trying to be polite as Bill turned it down gently. "What language is that?"

"Cambodian. You don't like it?" Bill asked lightly as Sookie reached forward now and flicked off the music completely this time.

"You think we can pull over for a minute?" She asked, swallowing thickly and I seconded the motion as I sat forward in my seat. "I need things to stop."

"Sure." Bill murmured, looking rather concerned as he did as she asked, pulling over to the side of the road onto a small dirt pullover path.

"I just need a couple minutes of quiet and then we can go." Sookie swallowed heavily once more as I reached for the doorhandle then.

"And I need some fresh air, just shout when you're ready." I murmured as I slid out of the car, suddenly feeling like I wasn't meant to be there as I shut the door quietly behind me and wandered a little ways away. The air was thick, but clean and comforting as I took large mouthfuls of it, fighting back the nauseous feeling I had being having since we had set out on the road. I think it was a combination of my stress levels finally catching up to me from the bar, along with the drink I had. Either way the air was helping, and I was feeling almost instantly better as I stretched my legs.

I couldn't believe that Eric character; so assured of himself to the point of being utterly arrogant. Really, now that I wasn't scared of him, I was pretty disgusted with his attitude. Sure, he was hot, any straight woman or gay man could attest to that, but he also appeared to be a complete and utter asshole that scared the living daylights out of me.

I sighed some, before frowning as I noticed a single car heading down the highway, and groaned realizing it was a cop. "Shit, could this night get any worse?" I muttered as I turned sharply back to the car, the sirens going off and lights flashing just as I made it to the door.

"We've got company." I muttered lowly as I slid in, taking noticed that both of their heads were leaning in awfully close. Aw shit, were they about to kiss?

"This cannot be happening." Sookie groaned as she sat back then, clearly disgruntled whilst Bill looked increasingly uncomfortable, almost angry as he leaned back into his own seat. The officer meanwhile strode up beside the car, knocking the end of his flashlight lightly against the rear window

"Open up!" He commanded and Sookie looked between Bill and I frantically.

"Just let me do the talking, guys, okay?" She murmured in a hushed voice, and I nearly rolled my eyes.

Oh yeah, here we go.

Bill rolled down the window, exuding irritability at this point as I watched Sookie lean over, looking as pleasant as she ever had.

"Hello, Officer." She spoke up and for some reason I felt my irritating going with her sickly sweet voice. What on earth was the matter with me tonight? I felt like I was an a short fuse or something. I seriously just needed to go home and sleep this horrible day away.

"What are you doing out this late at night?"

"Driving home from a date."

"A date, huh?" The Officer questioned skeptically as he glanced towards me in the backseat. Awesome Sookie, you've obviously saved us all from looking fucking suspicious. A date? Now he is definitely going to either think we're lying or part of some weird ass cult.

"We're raiding a bar not to far from here." The Officer continued dubiously as he looked at all three of us. "Y'all coming from there by any chance?"

"No, not us." Sookie replied, though I could tell she was losing confidence in her own story now as she shook her head.

"It's called Fangtasia; that ring any bells?" He asked and Sookie actually stiffened up instead of continuing to lie. Way to go, Sookie.

"No, actually, not at all. We're not exactly familiar with vampire hang outs." I spoke up from the back. "We were hanging out at Macky's in town, down on the main street?" I added as I leaned forward whilst the officer looked back at me now.

"How about you, son." The Officer asked as he looked over towards Bill, obviously still suspicious. "You seem awfully quiet. Don't you talk?" He asked rather rudely; clearly he was the power tripping type.

"I'm a man of few words." Bill ground out in a very unpleasant voice as I almost threw up my hands in surrender right then and there. We were getting thrown into jail, just fucking perfect.

"Oh, a man of few words." The Officer snorted slightly in amusement as he smirked at Bill. "Alright then." He hummed as he looked back over to Sookie. "Would you shine this here light on your neck, Miss? If you don't mind?" Bill turned away from the officer then, his fangs dropping as I stiffened and shifted back further into my seat now. He looked absolutely furious as Sookie looked slightly scared, but shifted nonetheless and moved her hair from her neck.

"Not at all." She murmured, allowing him to shine the light there to see that there were no holes.

"Why don't you ask if you can shine that light between her legs as well?" Bill asked angrily, and for the first time tonight I was terrified of him.

"Excuse me!" The Officer frowned as he reached for his gun and Sookie looked absolutely shocked.

"Bill!" She hissed in reprimand as she sat back, her hair falling into place once more.

"Vampires sometimes like to feed from the femoral artery." Bill went on, is voice still holding an edge even as he tried to pass his statement off as an innocent explanation. I furrowed my eyebrows in concern as I watched him. Why was he behaving like this? I'd never seen him act with aggression towards an innocent human; but then again, I shouldn't be judging from what little I've seen or know about him. He is a vampire first and foremost, and luckily he was reminding me of that scary fact tonight. "The blood flows more freely down there. So one doesn't have to suck as hard." He continued, slowly turning towards the Officer with his fangs bared. I tensed, holding my breath; was he going to kill him?! "Or so I've been told."

The Officer was obviously and rightly frightened at this point as he grabbed his gun, pointing it directly at Bill as he did. Both gun and flashlight were shaking in his hands as the poor man breathed heavily, and Bill continued to stare straight at him with this eerie calmness. Suddenly, though, the shaking stopped, and the Officer's face became lax as Bill began to speak once more.

"I like your gun." He murmured lowly, "It's a beautiful weapon."

"Thank you." The Officers voice didn't seem quite right. It was like he was in some sort of trance. I finally clicked into the realization that Bill was glamouring him. What was he going to do? Make the man shoot himself?!

"May I have it?"

"Bill, I want you to stop this right now." Sookie spoke up, clearly as frightened as I was at this point. Good, it was about fucking time she realized who she was dealing with and acted rational about it like the rest of us. Meanwhile I'm my own worst hypocrite at the moment as I sat in said vampire's backseat, after spending the night with said vampire and actually having started to feel like I could trust him.

"Sure, I guess." The Officer responded dazedly as I watched him hand the gun over to Bill. So what, was Bill going to shoot him himself now?

"Nice, it's heavier than I imagined." Bill commented and now I knew he was just drawing this out. He could've taken the gun and we could've been long gone by now. No, he was being sadistic at this point, he was giving into that vampire nature he denounced so often. "Is it loaded?"

"Well, yes. Yes it is." I swallowed heavily, my fingers digging into the cushion of the backseat below me as I shifted tighter into the back corner of the car, wishing I could close my eyes and not watch this, but unable to do so.

"Good."

"Bill you are freaking us both out!" Sookie exclaimed, obviously picking up on my own fear at the moment as we both watched, horrified, when he lifted the gun and pointed it at the Officer.

"Now you listen to me, Officer." Bill began as he watched the man intently. "I do not take kindly to you shining your light into the eyes of my female companion." He was definitely tapping into his possessive side, and if this was it, the Sookie wasn't ever going to have a healthy relationship with him. Not that I ever really believed that possible to begin with. I had to tell Sam, I had to tell Tara, I had to tell her Gran; someone that would make her see reason because obviously I couldn't. "And as I have more than one hundred years on you, I do not take kindly to you calling me son." Okay, so he may have a valid point there, but not worth killing someone over. "So the next time you pull someone over on suspicion of being a vampire, you better pray to god that you are wrong." He threatened, and I swallowed thickly, looking on wide eyed. "Because that vampire may not be as kind to you as I'm about to be." I instantly relaxed in my seat hearing him.

"Oh thank god." I whispered to myself, realizing now that he wasn't intending to kill the man, but I was still freaked out nonetheless.

"I'm not going to kill you." Bill continued calmly as the man looked on stupidly, not realizing then that his life was hanging in the balance as his own gun was pointed directly at his face. "But I am going to keep your gun. Does that sound fair?"

"Yes." The Officer replied hypnotically.

"Yes, what?" Bill hissed out with an authoritative tone.

"Yes, sir." He responded quickly then, and Bill slowly pulled the gun back.

"There ya go." He praised as he did. "You have a nice night." He murmured as Sookie and I both looked on, unsure of even what to say at this point. Bill started the car, heading down the highway once more and leaving the poor Officer standing there on that dirt path.

The silence was heavy in the car the entire ride home, and I found myself counting the seconds till I could finally walk through my front door.

---

There we be! Chapter two! :) I had a lot of fun writing the freezer scene between Alex and Jason...as you could probably tell :P. As always please review with your thoughts or some constructive feedback, always open to both!

Thanks again and will post once more next weekend!

JumbledThoughts