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"Little one," Eric whispered.

I jerked awake, considering I'd been woken up before with the shock of my life—a gun to my face, to be exact. I turned and saw Him smiling at me as we sat in His car. "Are we there already, Master?" I mumbled.

"Yes. You passed out as soon as I closed your door."

"Oh. Well, it helped a little."

"Good. Before we go in, you must remove your collar." I was taken aback for a moment before I understood His point. I did so and put it in the glove compartment.

As we approached the entrance of Merlotte's, from the exterior it was not exactly the type of place I'd see myself going into. But when we got in, it was clean with comfortable décor. Considering it was a Tuesday and just after ten o'clock, it wasn't busy at all. I looked around for Sookie, who was working that night.

"Connee!" I heard a holler from behind the kitchen cubby hole and saw Sookie talking with a tall, thin black man, who must have represented the Bedazzler Jewelry Company from the clothes he was wearing. "Bill's over there." She cocked her head. "I'll be right with you."

I turned and saw Bill stand at the end of a booth in the corner of the restaurant. I smiled warmly at him. Before I could take a step, Eric grabbed me by the elbow and leaned down. "Remember, you are still my sub, and I am still your Master."

"I will never forget that, Master," I said sincerely.

He didn't smile. I wondered while we walked to the booth how exactly I was supposed to act with Him in such a public place. I guess it being our first time in the 'real world,' I'd find out. But I wasn't going to push anything.

"Hello, Connee," Bill said. Seeing Bill without being semi-conscious, his voice was so much more genteel than Eric's. But Bill also looked much older than Eric. Bill just looked ... hard. "Eric." With Bill's acknowledgment of Master, anyone could have cut the air in the room with a knife, it was that tense.

"Bill," Eric said coldly. I wondered if Eric thought I was attracted to Bill. Master had nothing to worry about, though.

Right after we settled in the booth—Eric beside me and Bill across from us—Sookie came to the table. "Hi, Eric, Connee. "What can I ..." Sookie stopped in mid-sentence when she looked at me. I didn't realize I still looked bad, even though I'd slept almost two hours on the drive over. "... Get you, Connee?"

"I would love an iced tea, please."

"Great! I know what you like, Bill. Eric?"

Eric didn't reply, but looked directly at me. I blushed, though I don't know why. I remembered what He drank. I'd fallen asleep many a night saying, 'B negative, B negative, B negative.' I told Sookie and she bounced off, saying she'd be back in a second. Eric gave me a small, quick smile.

"Bill, do they have good food here?" I asked because I was starving. I hadn't eaten since the night before.

"So I've heard," he replied nervously. "I no longer eat."

I shook my head embarrassed. "Of course. I'm sorry."

Eric shot His eyes in my direction, and I knew I messed up. Mark a punishment off for Connee.

Sookie came back with our drinks and Bill told her I wanted to order something. She returned with a menu, I ordered, and she finally joined us when she made sure her tables had full glasses. There was little conversation between the three of us while she was gone. "So, what's going on?" she asked, looking excited.

I, on the other hand, wasn't. I was the one that brought them into this mess, so I replied, "It's true that the Bintaurs are dying out, and I'm the sole female, apparently. That's why Thomas Milton wants me." I shivered. "I did research but didn't get much information. Other than my telekinesis, other Bins use mind-control, oh, and cutting. With a flip of the hand they can slice through the skin of an elephant." That made Sookie shiver.

"I made a few calls," Bill intervened. "This Thomas Milton lives in Arcola in Loudon County, Virginia. He is very powerful in that it appears to possess all of the abilities."

"Oh, god," I stuttered.

"Yes, Connee," Bill said, his voice soft. "The Hemophelia gene runs in the majority of Bins, which is why the females have trouble conceiving. They've died shortly thereafter either through miscarrying or delivering a dead child."

"Right. Mom must not have had that gene because she gave birth to me. But how the hell are we supposed to stop him from getting me?"

"I've been thinking about that, Connee," Eric finally joined the conversation. "We have to bring that out of you. You were really angry when you tossed me ..." Bill and Sookie looked shocked. He didn't elaborate. "And we've got to start right away if we are to use that when we meet."

A woman with flaming red hair came over with the cheeseburger that I ordered. "Arlene, you didn't have to bring that," Sookie said. "I would've gotten it."

"No big deal," she replied as she set it in front of me. "Enjoy," she said then left. I no longer had an appetite. Staring at the food, although it smelled good, my stomach was tied up in knots.

"Why don't you eat, Connee," Eric said with an edge to His voice. I took it as an order, not a suggestion.

I took a few bites and had to admit it was good. While I ate, Eric explained, "We'll leave Sunday, early evening, for Dulles airport," Eric said. "The flight has already been arranged. We'll meet with the queen as soon as we arrive and explain everything to her. Maybe she knows what to do with Milton."

Kill him. Sookie snickered, and I remembered she could read my mind. I thought it was cool, actually, that she could do that, although I wasn't sure if I could live with it.

"It is ... inconvenient," Sookie answered my thoughts out loud. "I learn to live with it, most of the time."

Eric's body became rigid. "If you'll excuse us, Bill, Sookie, I need a moment alone with Connee." I had a French fry almost to my lips when He yanked me from the seat until I was able to scoot myself out. We stood in the area by the restrooms because there was no one there. Getting a quick glance from the bartender who looked at us oddly, like he thought I were in trouble. I wanted to tell him I was fine, but there was no way I could. I only smiled reassuringly.

Leaning down, Eric whispered with authority, "You will watch your thoughts with Sookie around you, sub."

I knew exactly what He was referring to. "Yes, Master."

"Will it be too difficult for you?"

"Yes, it will, but I will watch myself."

"Good." He still didn't smile.

After rejoining Bill and Sookie, I finished my dinner and was pleasantly full, but I could barely keep my opens open any longer.

"Why don't we start tonight," Eric suggested.

I really, really didn't want to.

"I still have to finish my shift, but if things quiet down Sam might let me join you. I'd love to watch," Sookie said. "Unless you're not too tired, Connee," she added with a look of concern.

God, I'm exhausted after ... "I guess I can at least try, but I have to use the bathroom first."

"We'll meet you outside, Connee," Bill said as he stood and let Sookie out.

My eyes flew open. "You mean ... with you two?" I asked in shock.

"Of course," Eric said as He put His hand out for me. "We'll have privacy at Sookie's house. And she sweetly offered." Sookie gave Him a sour look.

Scooting out of the booth, I protested the whole way, which was only five seconds. "I can't! Not with ... Sookie's boyfriend and ..." I knew I wouldn't win. "I just don't want to hurt either of you."

Both vampires laughed. "That'll hardly happen, Connee," Eric said.

Daniel threw you ten feet ... "Oh, god," I muttered, straightening my skirt.

"We'll meet you outside. We'll go in my car," Eric told me, then I watched them walk out.

"Sookie! Need another draft over here!" I heard someone call out.

"I've got to get back. I'll come straight home after work, or hopefully sooner."

I wanted to talk to Sookie about the possibility that I could really hurt Bill, but I didn't. I used the bathroom and came out, nerves starting to build up. Sookie had been waiting for me. "Connee, before you go, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"It's personal," she warned.

"I'll answer if I can," I told her truthfully.

"Is Eric making you do this, going to Virginia, I mean?"

"What? No! He isn't."

"You just seem ... scared of him."

I smiled, understanding her concern. Fighting to keep my thoughts to myself, I said, "Eric has done a lot for me. He's putting Himself in danger, too, by going."

"And why do you look like you haven't slept in days?" She was really concerned then.

"I ... had trouble sleeping last night, worrying about all of this. Look, Milton wants me to repopulate a species." I scoffed when I realized what I'd said. "He can't have me. I'm fine, really. Don't worry about me."

She furrowed her eyebrows. "Fine, but you can talk to me if you need to, you know?"

I smiled. "Yes, Sookie, and I appreciate everything you've done for me. By the way, I still have to make my lasagna for you."

"We'll make plans as soon as we come back."

"You bet," I said and watched her walk off.

Taking a deep breath, I headed outside to meet Bill and Eric. Eric was leaning against His car and Bill had his hands in his pockets. Oh, do you boys know what you are getting yourselves into?

A short time later ...

"Connee!" Eric barked at me. "You've got to try!"

Master, Bill and I had been in Sookie's backyard for the past two hours practicing honing my 'pushing' ability, or so I called it. Bill and Eric stood twenty feet from me, both stanced to take my push and react in time so that they could land without injury. I knew Eric could fly, but was curious why He wasn't able to get control of himself to land on His feet when Daniel pushed Him.

"You've got to pull from your gut—get mad. Think of something that made you the angriest in your life. Remember how you felt the night you shoved me," Eric was telling me.

At the moment, it was Eric Northman that was making me angry. And he was pissing me off because I'd been hearing the same thing for the past hour.

"I'm trying, Eric," I whined, running my fingers through my hair. I was on the verge of tears I was so tired, but I knew He was right.

I planted my feet firmly in the soil, took a deep breath trying to find emotions that could flow out of me and threw my arm out. Bill giggled and jerked a little. Eric looked at him perturbed before He looked at me. I thought maybe a bug was running up his leg. "Connee," Bill said, quietly at first. "I felt that."

"What?" I asked excitedly as I ran to them. "You felt what?"

"A tickle."

"Oh, for godssake!" Eric exclaimed. "Connee, you can't tickle someone to death!"

"Eric, it is something," Bill defended me.

Master shook His head, mumbled and started pacing. I could have stood there and cried if I hadn't heard Sookie's car come down her driveway and parked behind her house. She greeted us after she got out of the car. "How's it going?"

"Terrible!" Eric said. "We've been at this for two hours with nothing!"

"Now, wait a minute, Eric," Bill interrupted. "She tickled me."

"Why, Bill!" Sookie said, laughing. "I never knew you were ticklish," she teased before she kissed him. Bill grinned sheepishly.

Tickling? I had the power to knock people on their ass and all I could do was tickle them? That was it for me. I threw myself on the ground and started to cry.

"Oh, Connee," Sookie said, bending down to my level. "Why don't we go get something to drink."

"That's a good idea," Eric said. "I need a break."

"You need a break?" I snapped, looking at His blurred vision through my tears. "I'm the one that can't get ..." And I broke down again.

"Connee, honey, let's go inside," Sookie said again. Reluctantly I got up and we headed to the house, with Bill and Eric in tow. "Oh, no. Just us girls," she ordered.

When we were settled at the kitchen table, I had a little more control over myself, but the tears still fell. "Shit, Sookie. I don't want to let Eric down."

"Eric will get over it. He shouldn't push you like he is."

"Yes, He should. He's right. If we're supposed to meet Milton and confront him, how am I going to defend myself and protect you three?"

"We have four days to work on it, and you can work on it during the day while Eric is sleeping. Then you can surprise him at night."

Why hadn't I thought of that? I grabbed a tissue, blew my nose and threw it in the trash can. "Let's get on with this," I grumbled, not feeling any better.

Meeting up with Bill and Eric again, it seemed the two vamps had thought of another approach. "Connee," Eric started, "Sookie and Bill will stand at a distance, and I'll prompt you."

Yeah, that'll do it. I saw Sookie roll her eyes at me wearing a grin.

"Bill Compton," Eric continued, "You will forget everything you hear from me this night." Bill nodded. "Sookie, will you promise me to keep whatever you hear from Connee's thoughts to yourself, never to be mentioned." Sookie was startled, but nodded as well.

Bill and Sookie walked away. "Mas ... Eric, I'm sorry I'm letting you down," I told Him sincerely.

"Two."

"I'm sorry?" I asked, truly confused.

"Three," He counted, narrowing His eyes at me.

He was counting off my punishment! My ass twitched. "I'm trying, I really am."

"You're not doing enough! Turn around," He demanded. I did so. I could feel Him step right behind me. "Close your eyes." I did that, too. "I will accept just one step back from either them. For each step, I will deduct your ass being spanked for apologizing when I specifically instructed you not to."

I nodded and braced myself.

"Remember how outraged you were when Daniel kicked you out. How unloved and rejected you felt. The man didn't love you anymore. He threw you out like yesterday's newspaper. Three years of your life and your devotion to a low-life that didn't respect you ..."

Man, those words stung. He was right, of course. But I had long ago gotten rid of the hurt. Daniel had explained the situation to me. It was water under the bridge.

"... the hen's blood splattering on you, it's body limply beating you ... All the anger, the scared little girl that Daddy abused ..."

Okay, that I could work with. I put myself in my 16-year old mind-set and saw my father whipping me with the hen that the wild dogs had killed. I was so frightened then, shaking like a leaf. I couldn't protect myself. I'd never protected myself from that beast. I heard myself breath heavily. My lips glowered, the hate and anger and resentment building from my stomach that seemed to fill my entire being. I tried to picture myself the way I was then, to the way I was at the moment and what I would say to him.

Turning the situation away from my 'father,' He continued. "You hated me for punishing you ... you loathed me ..."

I cast my arm out and spread my fingers from the tight fist and yelled, "You fucking bastard!" Eric's voice had been right in my ear, still talking to me, but His voice suddenly faded away. I opened my eyes and looked at Bill and Sookie, whose eyes were as round and wide as the moon, looking behind me appalled.

"What ..." Turning around, I saw Eric just getting up ten feet away.

I didn't know what to think. Sookie grabbed me, jumping up and down, squealing, "You did it! Girl, that was great!"

My mind was still in a daze, though, when Bill padded my shoulder once Sookie let go of me. I hesitated looking at Master for fear of His reaction. "Well, now all we have to work on is to direct your anger towards the intended target," Eric said.

I was pissed then, but when I finally did look at him, He was smiling. I'd made Him happy! I sighed in relief.

Eric drove me home that night and rewarded me for my efforts—three times.

But I still had a long way to go.