A/N: Yes I know I am far overdue for an update and I suck majorly. But its better late than never right?!

Break Ups and Shake Ups

Alcide grunted painfully as I pressed the alcohol soaked gauze against the deep gash into the back of his shoulder blade. He growled deeply, turning his head to look at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Sorry," I mumbled with an apologetic smile.

He sat on his king sized bed in his nearly bare bedroom inside of his nearly bare and not exactly tidy apartment. His shirt lay across the bed next to the medical supplies I was using to treat the wounds he had received from the fight at Lou Pine's. He held an ice pack to his ribs which I assumed were bruised and hopefully not cracked, like his ego seemed to be. He had been tense the whole car ride to his apartment not saying a word to Sookie or I. Once we had finally made it to his place we had followed him inside silently, not daring to comment on the state of his apartment. Awkwardness hung in the air despite Alcide telling us to make ourselves at home and for a long moment Sookie and I just stood in the foyer of his apartment watching him make a weak attempt to straighten up a little. I eventually offered to check and treat his wounds after I noticed him flinching in pain and he agreed.

"Alcide, don't take it personally," Sookie piped up from where she stood behind me, watching me play nurse. "The Were you were fighting had vampire blood in him…Bill's blood, so I know it's strong," she finished matter of factly.

Alcide looked at her incredulously and sighed turning his attention back to the wall in front of him. I gave Sookie a look, wishing for once that she could read my mind so that I could tell her to just keep her mouth shut. Way to add insult to injury. She smiled half-heartedly and shrugged, I know it was an attempt to make him feel better, but it was in vain.

"Werewolves doing V?" Alcide said with a huff, more to himself than to us it seemed. "That goes against everything we stand for. Is the rest of the pack into that shit?" he asked looking at Sookie.

Sookie nodded sadly. "Well…the ones who took Bill at least."

"Like I need more reasons to hate them," Alcide grumbled shaking his head. "Ouch!" he snapped as I applied the gauze to the gash again. His body moved forward away from me and he turned, looking at me irritably again.

"Sorry," I mumbled once more. "I'm almost done."

Sookie cleared her throat and moved closer to us. "The woman…Debbie…is that your ex-girlfriend?"

My head turned quickly and I met Sookie with a glare. She gave me that innocent look again with another shrug as I shot daggers at her. I didn't know what her deal was but she was bringing up things that definitely didn't need to be mentioned when Alcide was already wounded both physically and mentally. I didn't know if this was her idea at making conversation, but she was doing a horrible job picking topics. But I also could not lie and say that I wasn't curious to know who this Debbie woman was. Was she the girl that he was still hung up on? The one that had been ready to marry him before they split? I could see how hurt Alcide was when Hollis had told him the news. I practically saw the knife going into his heart.

Alcide finally answered her in a low voice, continuing to stare ahead. "She's my fiancée," he replied. "She moved out a month ago."

I felt my face fall as he finished that sentence. A month? No wonder things were so fresh. That wasn't very much time at all. Sookie didn't agree with me.

"A month? And you still haven't gotten new furniture?" she questioned looking around.

I gave her another look. "Sookie," I hissed. "Leave the poor guy alone."

"It's alright, Chase," Alcide cut in absently. "I don't have time to get new furniture. I am a busy guy you know."

Sookie continued with her third degree questioning. "Do you ever….hear from her? Debbie I mean."

Alcide sighed again. "My sister Janice does. She runs a beauty parlor. Debbie stills goes in and gets her hair done up."

The hurt in his voice was subtle, but I noticed it. I pressed my hands against the bare skin of his shoulders, wanting to comfort him the best that I could, but making sure to put my mental block up. He seemed to sense it, his head turning slowly as his brown eyes locked with mine. I felt a rush of heat burn through me as our eyes met, making me catch my breath as he gazed at me. I bit my lip to stifle any sounds that would betray me and attempted to smile. I removed my hands from his back as temptation welled up inside of me and reached for tape to secure the gauze. When I looked back down at Alcide I realized his eyes had never left me and he was still staring.

Sookie's cellphone snapped Alcide and I out of whatever trance we were in, making me turn as she rushed for her purse and retrieved her phone. "Excuse me," she mumbled taking the phone and rushing out of the bedroom. Seconds later I heard the front door open and close and guessed that she had gone outside for privacy.

The reality that Alcide and I were alone hit me and I looked down to find his eyes on me once again. I blushed crimson, trying to still my racing heart, and keep my breathing to a normal rate. I applied tape to the gauze covering his wound and smoothed my hands over it to make sure that it was flat and secure. Alcide's eyes still hadn't left me. My fingers brushed his bare skin as I flattened the tap and electricity rushed through my fingertips. I bit my lip again and took a step away from him, scared of the reactions my body was having to being so close to him.

"There you go," I forced myself to speak. "Good as new."

I realized that I hadn't put enough space between him and me as he rose to his feet, quickly towering over me, his body barely an inch from mine. My head craned backward to maintain eye contact with him and I felt my breath catch in my throat. He didn't move, only stood there, looking down at me, and burning me with his observation. Something shifted in the room and my heart was suddenly pounding and butterflies danced in my belly. What the hell is happening? My brain was barely functioning as I searched for something to say and attempted to tell my limbs to move, to do something; but nothing was happening.

"Thank you," Alcide breathed. "For patching me up," he added as my eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Oh…no…no problem," I said softly, amazed at my ability to finally speak. God he's so close. I could feel the immense heat radiating off his body. "I uh…I owed you anyway…"

The sound of the front door opening startled me, making me finally break Alcide's gaze and turn to find Sookie walking into the bedroom slowly with tears streaming down her face. I felt my face fall and I reluctantly moved away from Alcide to embrace her. She fell into my hug and sobbed into my shoulder as I held her, looking at Alcide who raised an eyebrow.

"Sookie, what's going on?" I asked as I smoothed her hair.

She took deep breaths trying to calm herself down as she pulled her head from my now damp shoulder and looked at me. "Bi….Bi….Bill bro…broke up with me," she sobbed, immediately going back into a sobbing fit.

I shared another look with Alcide who turned away from us and exited the room. I was in disbelief that Bill could do such a thing to Sookie. Their love was almost sickeningly real and true. I was envious at times of her because she had found a vampire that truly loved her and was willing to do anything for her. Something else had to be going on. I ushered Sookie to Alcide's bed and forced her to sit just as Alcide returned with a roll of toilet paper, taking off a couple of rows of squares and handing it to her. Sookie took them with a small whisper of 'thank you' and wiped at her eyes.

"What happened Sookie?" I questioned, sitting beside her. "What did he say exactly?"

"He said that he is only going to bring me suffering…and…and pain…" she took a few more deep breaths. "And that…he…he's Lorena…and he slept with her."

I frowned as my mind went back to that pale vampire that had attacked Sookie and I at Godric's house, Bill's maker. My fists clenched as I thought about that black eyed bitch. There was no way Bill could have said these things of his own volition.

"Lorena is probably controlling him," I offered trying to make her feel better. "Bill loves you Sookie. I know he does."

Sookie cried some more, wiping at her eyes again. "I know…something else has to be going on… He…he says he doesn't want to be found…what does that mean?" Sookie continued, wiping her eyes.

I hesitated not having a quick answer for that response, when Alcide piped up for me. "I'm pretty sure it means he doesn't want to see you anymore."

I frowned at him, definitely not the answer that I would have gone with.

"That isn't what he said," Sookie said quickly.

"Well then what did he say Sookie?" I asked.

Sookie seemed frazzled. "I don't know what he said, I just now that isn't the man I love."

Alcide huffed as he joined us on the bed, sitting beside me as he placed his elbows on his knees. "Well," he continued. "Maybe the man you love never existed outside of your head."

Sookie looked over at him in disbelief. I continued to frown at him as well. "Alcide, we are supposed to be trying to make her feel better," I sighed.

Alcide snorted. "All I know is, no matter how much you think you know someone, they can still turn around and kick you in the nut sack."

I knew that that reference must have been directed at Debbie. She had broken his heart after all and now she was getting married to boot. That had to be hurtful. And I was having no better track record with love and thinking I knew someone. Eric had done nothing but hurt me so far and every time I thought that he and I could have an semblance of a normal relationship and have him love me in return, he kicked me in my figurative nut sack. So I unfortunately had to agree with Alcide. Sookie on the other hand didn't.

"I don't have a nut sack and…Bill….he's….risked everything for me….our love is way bigger than him breaking up with me…over the phone," she sobbed. She was crying again, holding tissue to her eyes.

"Oh Sookie," I sighed placing my arm around her.

"How many relationships have you been in?" Alcide asked looking at Sookie.

She looked up, frowning at him. "What does that matter?" she continued to sob.

"Well all I'm saying is there's no nice way of getting out of these things," Alcide continued.

Sookie didn't seem to convinced and fell back into my arms, crying some more. All I could do was hold her as Alcide and I shared another glance. It seems we had come to Jackson for nothing and my trip away from Bon Temps would be cut short. I still was in shock that Bill would do this to Sookie, but each day I was learning that vampires really weren't that trustworthy and were probably incapable of true love. I hugged Sookie tighter as she cuddled into my shoulder and ran my hand over her hair. Alcide watched us for a moment as Sookie sobbed some more, dampening my shoulder with her tears, before he rose to his feet looking uncomfortable and unsure.

"I'm gonna give you guys some privacy," he said backing up slowly towards the door. "I will be in the living room if you need me."

"I'm the only one that needs privacy," Sookie piped up making Alcide halt. She straightened and wiped at her eyes some more. "Chase, if it's alright with you I just…need to be alone for a little while…"

"Oh…of course," I said quickly, pulling away from her and rising to my feet.

"Is this where we will be sleeping?" Sookie asked looking to Alcide for the answer.

Alcide nodded. "Yeah, I can sleep on the pull out couch. You guys can have the room."

"Okay, do you mind if I take a shower?" Sookie continued climbing off the bed.

Alcide shook his head. "No go ahead. Let me get you a towel."

He disappeared from the room leaving me alone with Sookie. I approached her cautiously, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Sookie, if you need me or to talk or just…be here you know that I will do that…"

Sookie nodded wiping at her eyes more as if her own tears were irritating her skin. "I know that Chase. I do. I just…need to think. And I don't want you to have to sit here holding me while I cry when you can be hanging out with Alcide."

I huffed. "Sookie, I think me being here for you as a friend is a little more important-."

"No, Chase, it's not. And if you are really trying to get over Eric then I think you should explore the other tall dark and handsome options in front of you. He likes you I can tell," she said managing to smile weakly despite the tears on her face.

The butterflies in my stomach fluttered at her words. I hoped that Alcide liked me. I did want to explore the other tall, dark and handsome options in front of me, but I was nervous. Everything with Eric was still so fresh and I was still hung up on him despite what I told myself. It almost didn't seem fair to Alcide to even try anything. Not to mention Alcide's engagement with Debbie had only ended a month ago. But was it fair to me to keep myself from exploring new things just because I wasn't completely over Eric? What if I never got completely over him? Then I would end up alone. That didn't seem like an ideal situation to me.

I shook my head. "I don't know, Sookie," I sighed.

"Trust me, Chase. He thinks about you a lot," Sookie divulged.

My cheeks flamed and I felt my jaw drop a little. "Sookie, you were poking around inside his head?"

"No, he was thinking about you so loud I couldn't help, but hear it," she replied with a chuckle.

I didn't get the chance to question her further about just what it was that Alcide thought about me, as Alcide strolled back into the bedroom, holding a towel and washcloth for Sookie. "Here you go, Sookie," he said handing it to her. "It takes a minute for the water to heat up and it don't last long so make the most of it while you can."

Sookie offered that same weak smile and held the towel to her chest. "Thank you Alcide."

There was a brief awkward silence as we stood there staring at each other before Sookie cleared her throat and bent to pick up her duffel bag. "Well I am going to take a shower and go to bed," she said walking towards the bathroom.

"I will be right in the living room if you need me okay?" I offered, hesitating in the doorway to the room.

She nodded absently, the weak attempt at a smile still on her face as she ducked into the bathroom and shut the door behind her. I took a deep breath and made my way out of the bedroom, stopping in the entryway to the living room when I noticed Alcide rifling through a laundry basket in the corner. I watched as he pulled a white tank top from the clothes and slipped it on, turning to find me staring at him.

"Grab your coat," he said absently as he pulled a flannel shirt from the basket next and pulled it on his broad shoulders.

My face scrunched in confusion. "We're going somewhere?"

"Yeah, I'm starving and I'm sure you are too," he answered. "Let's go."

My stomach rumbled at the mention of food. I hadn't eaten since breakfast this morning in Bon Temps. I hesitated looking back at the closed bedroom door. "But what about Sookie?"

Alcide's eyes followed mine, staring at the door for a brief moment as he buttoned up his shirt. "She'll be fine. You heard her, she wants some privacy," he said with certainty. "'Sides you don't want to spend your time cooped up in this apartment."

I didn't like the idea of leaving Sookie alone, but he was right she had said that she wanted some privacy. But if she needed me I also wanted to be available to her. The only reason I had come to Jackson in the first place was to be there and support/protect her. My stomach turned uneasily at the thought of leaving her, but my heart fluttered at the idea of getting to spend some alone time with Alcide. Now was the prime opportunity to get over this fear-and Eric-and move on with my life, possibly with Alcide at my side. I wanted to explore new things and relationships and now was my chance. I was not going to let Eric or anything else for that matter hold me back.

"Okay, I would love to go," I admitted making Alcide smirk. "But let me at least write Sookie a note and tell her what's going on."

Alcide got me a pen and paper and I wrote Sookie a quick note letting her know we had gone out for a bite to eat and to call me if she needed anything. I pulled my coat on and followed Alcide out the door, butterflies swimming in my stomach. Instead of driving Alcide insisted we walk claiming that the diner he intended to take me to was not far at all. Two hours later I was full and hydrated. Alcide and I had decided to walk off our meal and we ended up circling a park a few blocks from his house.

"Well uh…looks like your trip is cut short huh?" Alcide commented with a smirk as he placed his hand into his pockets.

I shrugged halfheartedly and matched his movements, tucking my hands into the pockets of my shorts. "I suppose it is…I just wish it was ending on better terms with Sookie and Bill…I doubt this is what Sookie expected. She thought he had been kidnapped."

Alcide sighed. "Well at least Sookie finally can see that fanger for what he really is and move on."

"It's not always so black and white. You can't help who you love," I replied as Eric's face popped into my head. "And knowing Sookie this won't be the last that Bill has heard from her. She won't give up on him no matter what, even if it's what she should do."

Alcide looked disappointed. "Well then your friend isn't very smart. Can't keep hanging onto something that doesn't want to be hung on to."

"It's not always that easy," I countered shaking my head. "Sometimes you just…can't help it."

That's how it felt inside with Eric. I knew I shouldn't love him. I knew he was nothing, but trouble and that there would always be heart ache, pain, lies and secrets with him. But I loved him with damn near every fiber of my being. And though my mind knew better, my heart didn't know any better apparently. I looked up to find Alcide looking down at me thoughtfully and felt a blush touch my cheeks, he must have known that I was talking about Eric.

"That's true I suppose…" he admitted looking away from me finally. "To a certain extent."

I nodded slowly. "But on the other hand you are right...It probably would just be better for Sookie to leave Bill alone and move on with her life with a normal guy…but girls like Sookie and me aren't normal and that leaves us with few love options. So does that mean we are supposed to be alone forever?"

Alcide sighed, halting his footsteps and making me mirror his movements. He looked down at me disapprovingly. "Chase, just because you have these…. powers doesn't mean you have to start dating some fanger so that you can feel normal. You are better than that. You deserve more. And don't let anyone tell you any different. Any normal-or un-normal guy for that matter- would be lucky to have you."

I felt my cheeks flaming. "Alcide…" I started looking down.

His hand was warm as his fingers grazed my cheek, cupping my chin to lift my head. "I mean it, Chase. You may not be normal, but it doesn't mean you deserve any less."

Those were the nicest words a man had spoken to me in a long time. I felt my stomach flutter with emotions and so did my heart. If I hadn't already fallen for this tall, dark, and handsome man then I definitely was going to now. The fact that he still hadn't removed his hand from my face came to forefront of my brain and my neck leaned back so my eyes could meet his. I watched as the brown in his irises visibly darkened and he licked his lips as if he was gazing at some piece of delicious meat. My lips parted as I attempted to say something, but all that came out was a soft squeak. I froze as he took a step forward and our bodies touched sending a fire racing through me that felt like the heat of the sun. It was like we were right back in his bedroom again in that same moment, the air changing around us, leaving me feeling breathless. He was leaning towards me as I struggled for my brain to function.

This is too soon.

Oh no it's not.

I need this.

He needs this.

Both of our exes are jerks.

We just need to move on.

Yes, that's what we are doing moving on.

My thought war was over. It wasn't too soon. The obviously more rational side of my brain was right. I needed to move on. This is exactly what I needed. I needed a guy like Alcide; someone who was strong, sweet, kind, and honest. I shut my eyes in anticipation as I felt his nose touch mine. My heart felt like it was going to thud out of my chest. My fingers gripped the material of his shirt and I resisted the urge to pull him closer.

"I can't," Alcide sighed. "I'm sorry."

My eyes snapped open as Alcide withdrew from me shaking his head. He turned his back on me pacing slightly with his hands on his hips as I stood there crushed, my stomach slowly caving in. I felt like I had been slapped; like I had been offered something amazing only to have it taken away from me just as I went to grasp it. Alcide turned back to me as I struggled to keep the hurt from showing on my face. His apology, reluctance, and regret written all over his face.

"Chase, I am sorry, I want to-."

"Alcide, don't it's fine," I cut him off as I raised my hands. I attempted to smile. I wiped at my eyes quickly as they threatened to water. "It's okay. Really. Let's just go back to the apartment. Sookie might need me."

I turned and headed back in the direction of what I hoped was his apartment before he could get a word in. I felt like an idiot. I felt hurt. Hell, I felt like punching him in the face. I am sure he had a reasonable explanation. I am sure that it was not his intention to hurt me and he probably really did want to kiss me. The sexual attraction between us was undeniable. Sookie had even said that she heard it in his head that he liked me. I just didn't want to go through the awkward conversation of him explaining himself, of him telling me what I thought I knew already, that it was too soon.

Alcide didn't say anything as he caught up with me, walking at my side as we headed back to his apartment. I was thankful that it was a quick walk because the tension between us was so thick it was almost suffocating me. The silence lingered painfully. When we reached his apartment I thanked him for dinner and told him goodnight, escaping to his bedroom before he could even utter the beginning of a word. Sookie was thankfully already asleep as I shut the door behind me right in Alcide's face, not bothering to turn on the bedroom light and leaned against it trying to get a hold of myself.