Disclaimer: Charlaine Harris owns all.

Rated M for several reasons.

Chpt 11 Call Me When You Need Me

SPOV

I wasn't delayed long with the humans, nothing of note there, but I wasn't getting dinner with Bill either. I didn't even see him, Pam took me home. She didn't speak to me, just kept looking over at me from time to time and chuckling quietly to herself. That made me feel better. Not.

I showered again and put myself to bed but sleep eluded me. All in all I don't think bonding with Eric was a bad idea under the circumstances, it would take a brave vampire to mess with him, I've always known that . And if he keeps his word about our business deal then the impact on me should be minimal.

But as is always with me I only realise I haven't thought things through properly after the fact. When we exchanged blood I hadn't felt anything much more than embarrassingly turned on, in fact I'd been a bit smug about the fact that I knew more about what was going to happen than he did. Stupid, stupid, Sookie. I should have asked for some time, talked to Niall again before leaping off the deep end.

I can feel him now, Eric, creeping through me like a barium meal, warm and vaguely foreign. And I'm frightened to go to sleep in case I wake up in the morning and find something I can't deal with staring back at me from the mirror.

And I'm praying it's just my over active imagination. All sorts of random fears are making themselves known, the way they do late at night when your rational mind has all but checked out and your body is trying to make you sleep.

What if this feeling is because I'm turning? What if the warmth is Eric's blood working its way through every cell like venom? I don't want to be a vampire, I'd rather be dead, I love the sun.

What if it's him? Insidiously eroding my barriers so that when I wake in the morning I'm nothing more than his puppet? Maybe his blood is so strong it can burn away the fairy in mine?

What if, what if, there are so many things I don't know . . . . visceral fear has me tossing and turning, sweating in my sheets, thrashing my limbs, gasping . . . .

My mind scrambles, following the path of the feeling, trying desperately to pull the warmth back, expel it from my body somehow. But I can't do it, nothing will stop it, I've been fighting it for what feels like hours, years, millennia. Frantic, desperate, terrified, I turn to the Eric light pulsing gently, innocuously, but when I try to access it, to find out what's happening to me, let him know I need help, there's a blinding explosion of light before everything goes black.

…..

Bang, bang, bang.

Whoa. Hangover?

Bang, bang, bang.

I don't remember drinking anything . . . .

Oh, not true.

Eric.

Bang, bang, bang.

The door.

"Okay." I croak.

Bang, bang, bang.

"Okay!" Jesus, ouch.

"Ms Stackhouse?"

"Humph."

"Sorry. It's getting late I was worried about you."

"Humph."

"I'm Alcide. Herveaux. Your bodyguard."

Oh.

"Just give me a minute. Sorry. Bad night."

"Okay, no rush Ms Stackhouse, I'll be out here waiting."

My manners have deteriorated rapidly these last few days. Gran must be spinning in her grave.

Squinting against the light I drag myself into the bathroom to relieve my protesting bladder. If he can hear me speak from out there he can probably hear this too. I'm not sure how I feel about that, embarrassed naturally, but, with his hearing he must have heard a lady pee before mustn't he? There are more reasons for humans to be grateful for their ignorance of the supernatural world than they'll ever know.

I need a shower, nightmare sweat is clinging to my skin, making it feel clammy, but now I know he's out there it would be rude to keep him waiting any longer. At least I assume it would be, I've never had a bodyguard before. And I don't want one now. Eric, Mr I Am In Charge Here. I might not remember the nightmare that's turned me into a woolly minded wreck this morning but I remember the rest of last night well enough.

Speaking of which, I turn inward seeking out the Eric light, but I can't find it. Huh. I guess when he's dead for the day he's dead for me too. That could be useful . . . .

Oh. The bodyguard. Right.

I wash quickly and drag on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, flinging the door open with a neutral expression of southern unwelcome already on my face, only to find a handsome and well-built man pacing my porch with almost lupine grace. Obviously.

Wow. Almost as tall as Eric he rivals him, a bit, in almost every other respect. Tall, muscular, dark haired. Warm, dark brown eyes.

Having not quite got to grips with other people's unwanted thoughts yet this morning I catch a stray one out of his snarly two natured mind.

. . . . wow, not a Fangbanger . . . .

"I am so sorry." I gush, aware that the Crazy Sookie grin has taken over. "I had every intention of being ready when you got here but I had a real bad night's sleep. I should have set the alarm. Would you like some tea, um, coffee, um . . . ." I check my watch. "Lunch, um, late lunch?"

"There's no need to worry about that Ms Stackhouse, I've made my own arrangements."

"Alcide, right?"

He nods.

"I'm sorry. I have had a really bad night but my Gran would skin me alive if I let you sit out here without offering any hospitality. At least come inside and have a drink while I get some lunch."

For the first time he smiles.

Wow. Again.

In the kitchen we go through the whole what do you like scenario before I get him sat down with a tall iced tea.

Flustered and off balance I make myself a bowl of cereal, its breakfast time to me, and marshal my startled thoughts. There never seems to be a moment for me to completely get to grips with anything lately and somehow I can't see today, or what's left of it, turning out any different.

"So." I begin, dropping into one of the kitchen chairs with a little more force than I normally would. "I've never had a bodyguard before and I'm not sure I need or want one now. I don't really like the idea of someone dogging my every step."

He laughs and I realise what I've said.

"Oh, sorry."

"No worries Ms Stackhouse . . . ."

"Sookie, please."

"No worries Sookie, I'm a wolf not a doggie anyway." And he flashes those decidedly un-canine white teeth at me again before continuing. "I'm not normally a bodyguard, my dad and I own a construction firm but I owe Northman a favour and he's asked me to look out for you until he can get a professional in place."

I don't like the sound of that, I'm picturing someone who dresses like a commando and keeps popping out of bushes with a giant knife clenched between his teeth.

"As to whether or not you need one." He goes on with a shrug. "Vamps don't tend to do anything they don't have to. If Northman thinks you need a bodyguard, you probably need a bodyguard."

I digest that for a moment. This whole thing with Eric was about me knowing I needed protecting from other vampires and he'd clearly come to the same conclusion, though not with the same interest in my personal wellbeing that I have.

"Eric said he'd drag me back the hair if I gave you the slip." I tell him, watching his reaction.

First his face twists in disgust. Then he consciously smooths out his features.

. . . . nasty . . . .

"He did indicate to me that you wouldn't like the idea of being guarded. But trust me Sookie, I'm a were, you wouldn't be able to give me the slip."

Confidence? Sookie likes a challenge . . . .

"What exactly does guarding me involve?" I ask, getting back to the crux of the matter.

"I'm to be near you at all times but not interfere with you unless I think you're in danger. You'll need to trust me Sookie, my senses are a lot sharper than yours, if I tell you we need to do something. We need to do it."

I nod. I can see how that would have to work.

"Alcide, forgive me, but I can't see how having a large man following me around everywhere isn't going to 'interfere' with my life?"

He laughs, a deep rumbling sound, that gets a genuine smile from me in return. I like him.

"Then let's talk about how we can work together Sookie . . . ."

Two hours and a great deal of haggling later he wanders back outside so I can grab a shower and get ready for work. We've agreed a few things we can both live with, literally in his case and figuratively in mine. Eric. Not the world's most sensitive employer apparently. Since no one can be expected to work all day everyday he's also shown me pictures of the other members of his pack who will be helping out, so I won't get duped. It's a bit frightening to be honest, but I really would be Crazy Sookie if I didn't at least pay some mind to the fact that someone like Eric thinks all this is necessary.

I think Alcide and I will get on okay, and not just because he's very easy on the eye. Though I tried to stay out of his mind I did get the impression he's one of those people whose words and actions generally sit with what's going on in his head. That's quite rare I've found over the years. I'm also flattered by his opinion of me and my innocence. So much so that I've not told him yet that I'm not nearly as nice as I look. Likewise I avoided mentioning how I came to be connected to Eric, although is mind was alive with questions about how it could happen to someone like me. Maybe I will talk to him about it, after all it seems like we'll be spending a lot of time together and a semi impartial opinion wouldn't go amiss would it? Besides, I'm nosey and I already have a ton of questions about werewolves and packs.

So, anyway, it's time for reaction number one to my situation. Sam. We've agreed that I'll need to tell him the truth since it won't take him long to realise I've a werewolf following me about. I've no idea how this conversation's going to go and to say I'm nervous is an understatement. We're going to try to keep Tara out of it completely, it might work.

Alcide's following me so he can scout Merlotte's out and get familiar with my friends, colleagues and customers. He's also coming in for dinner, something he's promised he won't always do.

It's early and the parking lot is empty as I exit my car and dodge Alcide's truck as he pulls up beside me with a flourish of gravel.

I make my way straight back to Sam's office, waving at everyone I know as I sweep through. He's on his computer but he looks up as soon as I enter, raising his eyebrow in query as I close the door behind me.

"We need to talk."

"I know, I'm sorry cher. But Eric, you've Eric's blood in you now. I just . . . ." He trails off.

"I was injured Sam, he healed me."

"You've only got injured since you've been hanging out with vampires." He points out with a sigh.

And he's absolutely right.

"About that." I gird my mental loins. "Other vampires know about my disability."

He nods so I rush on.

"And I'm not really safe anymore so I needed to be protected."

He stiffens.

"Eric has um, agreed to do it . . . ."

"Are you crazy?" He practically shouts, leaping to his feet.

"Nice choice of words Sam." I point out quietly.

"Sorry." He mutters, rounding the desk and coming to stand before me. "But, fuck it, Sookie. Eric? Why couldn't Bill protect you, at least he cares about you."

"He asked Eric to do it."

"What?"

Yes. That's what I said.

"Sookie, Eric isn't the sort of vampire to agree to protect you to help Bill out."

Yes. Also what I said.

"He isn't. He's doing it to protect a valuable asset."

"Just exactly what form does this protection take?" Sam asks after a moment.

"He's claimed me as his in the eyes of other vampires." There, doesn't sound so bad if you can forget we're living in the twenty first century and I'm not a parcel of land on the moon.

"You're his pet?" Sam spits the word out like the worst curse, grabbing my upper arms and giving me a shake. "His pet Sookie, how could you agree to that?"

"I am not his pet!" I hurl back. "It's a business deal, pure and simple. He's got no interest in me, it's just so other vampires can't take me away."

"Sookie, I know you're not that fucking stupid . . . ."

I'm saved from responding, it wouldn't have been pretty, when the door crashes open and Alcide barges in.

"Let her go Shifter." He orders.

"Herveaux." Sam growls.

They know each other, why am I not surprised?

The air is thick with testosterone all of a sudden.

"Alcide." I grind out. "Sam and I need to talk. Could you not wait outside?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No. The vampire will have my hide if he harms you."

"The vampire can mind his own beeswax." I huff. "Sam is my friend, he won't hurt me."

"Right." Alcide drawls sarcastically. "Tell me that tomorrow when you're looking at the bruises he's leaving on your arms right now."

Abruptly Sam releases me and absently I rub them to restore the circulation.

"Sookie. I'm sorry. I'm just. Fuck." Contrite he steps back, shaking his head as if to clear it.

"Sam, Alcide is my new daytime bodyguard." Might as well get the rest of it over with.

Tense, miserable, silence. I hate the fact that I'm getting used to them and I'm about to attempt to fill it with more explanation when a burst of power rips through me like a hurricane, shredding through my every nerve and cell. Overwhelmed I stagger forward, crashing into Sam's chest. He grabs me automatically, keeping me from falling.

"Sookie?"

Blindly I push myself away. Twisting and accidently barrelling into Alcide, who closes his arms around me like a vice.

The Eric light. It's everywhere. My nightmare . . . .