A/N: Here is another update! Please forgive any typos I was in a rush because I wanted to get this in before I went to class. R&R!

Clarity

Well you really got yourself into it this time, Chase. Real good job.

My arms were crossed tightly over my chest as I paced back and forth in the guest bedroom of Russell's mansion, going wall to wall, my teeth clenched as my nerves were rattled. I didn't know what was going to happen to me. It was only a matter of time before Russell found out that I was lying, or worse wanted to drink my blood. I hadn't bothered checking for windows after seeing how many vampire guards and werewolves that Russell had at his disposal, there was no way I would make it off the grounds alive. Even if I did somehow be able to make it out the only chance I would have would be to use my powers and they were so uncontrollable and sporadic that I couldn't count on them.

My thoughts went back to the conversation- if I could even call it that- I was having with Eric before Russell's untimely interruption. I couldn't stop picturing the look on his face when I had said those three words to him and wondering what his response was going to be before Russell had come in. I felt stupid, again, for even being surprised that he had admitted to Sookie that he cared for her. I had known it all along. It was the main reason that I had told him that I was done with him. That I needed to move on. I just didn't understand why it was still so hard. I had Alcide to look forward too, and while we may not end up in a relationship he was still a very pleasant distraction. He was kind, gentle, honest, and treated me great; and Eric was the exact opposite of that except on the rare occasion where his soft inner Eric broke through the hard vampire exterior. I wasn't going to wait around for him to change or deal with his crap; unlike him I didn't have forever.

I shook my head with a frustrated sigh. Stop thinking about the unchangeable and focus on a way to get the hell out of here, Chase, I thought to myself with a frown. My legs were beginning to burn from my power pacing and I flopped down onto the bed with a groan. The bed enveloped me in a blanket of softness and I went still, reveling in the way it instantly comforted me. I yawned sleepily, not realizing until that moment when I felt the bed and sat up quickly. There was no way I was going to fall asleep in this house. I may never wake up.

I leaned against the headboard and hugged my legs, leaning my head against my knees, staring at the walls. My eyes felt heavy and I yawned sleepily again. "Stay awake, Chase," I groaned to myself. "Stay awake."

I spent the next hour or so urging myself to stay awake, even getting up a few times to pace around again. I gave up when I was yawning so frequently that my mouth was starting to hurt. I pulled the covers back and crawled into the bed, telling myself that a quick nap wouldn't hurt. It would help me stay awake and keep me alert. I snuggled into the pillows and shut my eyes.

"Chase! Chase! Get the hell up!"

I sat up quickly at the sound of the yelling, my heart pounding and brain struggling to catch up. Sookie and Tara stood in the room, the doors wide open and the body of the guard unconscious on the floor in the doorway. I blinked in confusion looking at them.

"Tara?" I said incredulously. "What are you doing here?"

"I'll explain later," she grumbled rushing over to the bed and grabbing my arm to yank me out of the bed. "Come on we got to go."

"Wait, wait, wait," I said wrenching my arm from her grasp and almost stumbling out of the bed. "What about the guards?"

"It's day time! All the vampires have gone to ground, only guards in the house were the ones guarding our rooms and as you can see they are unconscious, but probably not for long so let's go!" Tara replied irritably.

Tara didn't wait for me to agree, she took off down the hall and Sookie went after her. I sighed heavily and went after them, finding them not far down the hall, tiptoeing as they all but pressed themselves against the wall.

"Chase, I am really sorry about the Eric thing," Sookie said looking at me over her shoulder.

"Sookie, now really isn't the time to discuss this," I said quickly. I didn't want to talk about it now or later. I wanted to forget the whole thing even happened. "It's Eric okay? I am honestly not that surprised."

Sookie seemed reluctant to believe me. "So you aren't mad at me?"

"Not mad. Indifferent. I just wish you would have told me."

"I didn't want to make you upset," Sookie replied stopping her in tracks. "Eric-."

I stopped too, completely forgetting that we were in the middle of escaping. My fists clenched as I looked at her and cut her off. I hadn't been angry at her; the thought to be angry at her hadn't crossed my mind until she had brought it up. I had always thought that she just couldn't help how Eric felt about her, it was out of her control, but the fact that she hadn't told me made me begin to wonder how she may have felt about him. Why hadn't she told me that he had said these things?

"If we keep talking about it, Sookie, I will get angry," I said cutting her off. "You know how I feel about him, and you would be pretty stupid to not realize that he has some kind of feelings for you too. You should have told me, especially after all the talks we have had, and you knew I was having a hard time letting go. Keeping it from me only makes me suspicious of how you feel about him."

Sookie blanched her face dropping as she shook her head. "I hate Eric Northman," she said through clenched teeth. "He has done nothing, but put me and people I care about –like you- through hell. I do NOT have feelings for him, Chase. I just didn't tell you because-."

"Look you think you guys could sort this shit out some other fucking time?" Tara snapped angrily. "If you haven't forgotten we are trying to get the hell out of an extremely dangerous situation?!"

Sookie and I turned irritated glares on her, but she was right. We didn't have time to argue about Eric Northman. We had to get out of there before the wolves regained consciousness or worse, some vampire woke up. Tara took off down the hallway again and Sookie and I followed after her, all of us moving at full speed, before finally slowing down once we reached the stairs. I was panting with the effort from running and the thought that I really needed to hit the gym crossed my mind.

"Russell has his dogs patrolling the grounds during the day, but if we can get to one of the cars and hotwire it-," Tara started as we descended the stairs.

"Where are the slave quarters?" Sookie cut in making Tara frown. "I have got to find Bill."

"Sookie, you can't be serious? Bill is a big vampire who can take care of himself. We need to get the hell out of here!" I said.

"Not to mention he was covered in blood and he was going to let them kill me!" Tara snapped. "I am not risking my life to save his dead ass and neither should you."

Sookie looked furious. "He may not be dead yet and they forced him to do all those things, that's not who he is! Chase, you know Bill, he helped you with the whole maenad thing. You know him! I am not leaving here without him!"

"Well you're a fucking idiot then," Tara shot back through clenched teeth.

"Okay everyone just calm the fuck down!" I growled holding my hands up. I didn't drop the F bomb a lot, but it seemed necessary in the situation. "Sookie, you go find Bill and we will get a car and meet you at the slave quarters alright?"

Sookie nodded, looking grateful that I was willing to help while Tara didn't look pleased at all. Sookie was right, I had forgotten that Bill had not only taken me back to Bon Temps after my fight with Eric at the queen's mansion, but he had also protected me from all the black eyed zombie Bon Temps people that were under Maryann's spell. I did kind of owe him. But I was only willing to do so much. Dying for him was not a part of that favor.

"Fine," Tara grumbled yanking open the front door. "The slave quarters are to the right. Chase, we head for the fence line."

I nodded and followed Tara out the front door, while Sookie took off in the opposite direction in search of Bill. My legs burned as ran right behind Tara, struggling to keep up and keep my breathing even. I marveled at how well she ran and how fast she was, she didn't look tired at all. By the time we reached the fence line and slowed down to a quick job, I felt lightheaded and almost ready to pass out. The fence line was surrounded by a small wooded area and after hopping over the trees, we ducked behind one, allowing me a chance to catch my breath. My legs and feet ached, running with no shoes and pants on, didn't really make the situation any better. I should have stolen a robe and slippers or something.

"Jeez Tara," I huffed as I bent over my hands on my knees. "When did you become so athletic?"

"I'm not," she replied placing her hands on her hips and looking around. "I just had a shitload of V."

I frowned at her as I straightened. My heart was still pounding. "What?"

"Another thing I will explain later," she replied absently. "I think we should go this way."

"Okay, let's go," I groaned.

There was a soft growl behind us which made a chill run up my back. Tara and I shared panicked stares before I turned quickly seeing a large white wolf standing near a tree, its eyes glowing red. I felt my stomach drop and my face fall as I stumbled two steps backward, almost knocking Tara over.

"Oh fuck!" Tara shouted.

"Run!" I screamed grabbing her arm and running in the opposite direction.

I had barely made it five steps away when I heard the sound of a very familiar voice calling my name. I froze and turned slowly, seeing Alcide standing in the exact same place that the wolf had been. He was also naked as the day he was born and I struggled to keep my eyes above his waist. Relief hit me like a bulldozer and I screeched his name like a foolish school girl, running towards him and jumping into his arms. He caught me and hugged me against his hard body, my legs in the air and my arms going around his neck. His face dipped into the crook of my neck and I felt him give a heavy sigh of relief. I was so happy to see him alive and well and coming to my rescue that I felt like I was going to burst.

"Thank god I found you," Alcide breathed into the crook of my neck.

"I'm so glad you are here," I whispered against his skin, squeezing him tighter. "I thought Coot had really hurt you."

"I'm glad you are okay," he said pulling back to look me in the eye as he brushed a stray strand of hair from my face. "I thought I'd lost you."

Butterflies fluttered in my stomach at the tone of his voice as he said those words. His voice was filled with fear, relief, concern and everything else that made me truly believe that he cared about me. I didn't have to wonder or worry; I could hear it, see it, and feel it. I couldn't stop the overwhelming flood of emotions that coursed through me as I looked up into his brown eyes. I had feelings for him there was no denying it, and I wasn't going to hold them back anymore. Not when there was nothing left with Eric for me. It just didn't make sense.

"I'm sorry to interrupt this happy fucking reunion and all, but can we get the hell out of here?" Tara hissed.

I had almost forgotten she was here and blushed heavily as Alcide set me on my feet. "Sorry, Tara, Alcide, Alcide, Tara," I introduced motioning to each of them.

Alcide nodded at her and took a step back from me, putting both hands over his manly bits to cover him. "Let's get the hell out of here, my truck ain't far," he said nodding in the direction I assumed his car was in.

"No, we can't, we have to get Sookie and Bill," I said pointing back towards the mansion.

Alcide frowned. "She's still in there?"

"No, she's in the slave quarters, looking for Bill," Tara answered.

Alcide looked just as irritated as we had when Sookie brought up the fact that she wasn't leaving with Bill. "I'll get the truck. Don't move from this spot."

Alcide returned with his truck within five minutes and I was thankful- and a little disappointed- to see that he had donned a jump suit from work. I was even more thankful when he offered me one, which I slipped on quickly, finally covering myself. It was way too big for me, but after rolling the pant legs and sleeves it wasn't too bad and I could walk safely.

Alcide parked his truck in front of the slave quarters, all of us jumping out of the van and heading for the door. I made it through the door first with Tara and Alcide close behind me, stopping in my tracks as the strong metallic smell of blood and gore hit my nose. I frowned as I saw Sookie kneeling beside an unconscious and shackled Bill, a bit wound on her neck, and tears streaming down her face as she dug through some dead vampires remains, which I assumed were Lorena's. There was blood all over the floor and Bill as well. The room looked like some sick torture chamber. Tara and I shared a worried glance as we stepped forward.

"Shut the door!" Sookie ordered looking up at us desperately. "She had to have the keys to the manacles on her somewhere."

Tara looked terrified. "Is he dead?"

"No," Sookie replied still digging through the gore. She looked flustered and frantic. "He's in real bad shape, but he's not."

"Cause he looks dead," Tara insisted.

"He isn't dead!" Sookie screeched making me jump slightly. "This is what vampires look like when they are dead," she finished picking up some gore and tossing it back on the floor. She finally found the keys and began releasing Bill.

"Jesus Christ," Tara mumbled looking at me worriedly.

"Ladies we have got to get out of here, there are wolves all over the place," Alcide commented looking at the door urgently.

"I know," Sookie replied absently, fumbling with the keys and locks.

"Sookie it's only a matter of time before they come back!" Alcide added irritably.

"She isn't going to get him out any faster if we just stand here dammit," I growled rushing forward to help her. Sookie looked at me gratefully and passed me the keys with shaking hands. "Someone grab something to wrap him up in."

"What?" Tara snapped. "We aint got that kind of-."

"Tara, just find something!" I shouted cutting her off.

It was Tara and Alcide's turn to share irritated glances now. I knew that Sookie wasn't leaving without Bill and I couldn't leave without her so there was no point in arguing with her. It only slowed down the process. If we all wanted to get out of there before getting caught we had no choice, but to help her. I quickly unshackled Bill, my hands steadier than Sookie's hand been, and tossed the chains aside, stepping back to let Alcide grab his arms while Sookie and I each grabbed a leg. We lifted up his dead weight and carried him over to the tarp that had already been laid out on the ground. Sookie and I hurriedly wrapped Bill as best we could with the materials provided. Sookie was still sobbing.

"It's going to be okay, Sookie," I insisted. "But this will have to do. We have to get the hell out of here."

The sound of malicious giggling made me freeze and I saw sunlight as the door to the slave quarters opened. I scowled as Debbie sauntered in, her hands covered in blood, her outfit tackier than anything I had ever seen, and a gun in her hands. I rolled my eyes in irritation as she aimed the gun at Alcide.

"You have got to be shitting me," I growled through clenched teeth, rising back to my feet.

"You guys shouldn't have. A vampire burrito for me?" she asked looking down at Bill.

"Debbie," Alcide said calmly, raising his hands as she pointed the gun at him again. "Just let everyone else go; and take the vamp with them. You and me…we can talk…"

"Fuck you!" Debbie shouted. "I'm the one with the fucking gun and aint no one going nowhere!" She turned the gun on Sookie and Tara making them both jump.

I felt the energy swell in my stomach and my fists clenched. I was getting real tired of this trashy werewolf and I had just about reached my limit. I was not going to die on Russell's property let alone by her hand.

"Sweetheart," Alcide started softly.

I felt the green eyed monster rear its ugly head as he looked at her sincerely. He glanced at me quickly and apologetically, before taking a step towards her with his hands out. Debbie frowned at him.

"I ain't your sweetheart no more!" Debbie shouted making Alcide halt. "I know you been fucking this bitch," she said pointing the gun at me.

"What did you just call me?!" I growled stepping forward.

Alcide stepped in front of me quickly, his back to my chest as he blocked her from me. "Chase! No," he snapped. "Debbie, calm down!"

"Everybody shut the fuck up and let me think!" Debbie shouted.

She swung the gun around aiming it at each of us as she looked well on her way to a full on nervous breakdown. I stood behind the large mass that was Alcide, watching her shuffle on her feet and waiting for her to go crazy and kill us all. Her dilated pupils fell on Bill's body and she licked her lips hungrily. I knew what she thinking before Sookie was shouting out in anger at Debbie's thoughts.

"Don't even think about it, bitch!" Sookie shouted angrily, her body shaking.

Debbie's face fell as she turned the gun on Sookie. "Oh you picked a dumbass time to call me bitch, bitch!" she countered.

"Yeah Sook don't do that," Tara said grabbing her hand.

"Sookie, I got this!" Alcide assured.

"You ain't got shit!" Debbie shouted.

Alcide stepped toward her. "Yes I do! There's no way you are pulling that trigger. This ain't you," Alcide insisted. "It's that V talking. This isn't who you are."

"Alcide, I been listening in and she ain't exactly misrepresenting herself," Sookie declared with a sideways glance.

Debbie frowned turning the gun on Sookie once again. "Okay freak, your mind reading shit is getting real fucking old."

"Alcide I am getting really sick of this!" I mumbled grabbing his arm. My patience was wearing thin. It was only a matter of time before more wolves showed up and then we would really be in deep shit. Alcide stepped forward at my words.

"Debbie! Debbie! Look at me!" he called making the frantic girl look at him. His face changed suddenly, looking much more sincere and his voice softened. "You loved me once. I know you did," he said to her softly.

Debbie's face turned upward and she looked on the verge of tears. "I would have given up everything for you," she said to Alcide, shaking her head. "And you wouldn't even give me a baby."

I felt my face fall in surprise as I looked from Alcide to Debbie and back. That unknown fact certainly seemed to change my view on her. Essentially any woman was only a few bad decisions away from being her. Being with the man you love for years and years only to be devastated by the fact that he wouldn't give you a child. I could see how she would turn to drugs, to another man that would probably put more than one baby in her or as many as she wanted until she felt as if she was whole, if she ever did. It suddenly pissed me off that I felt sorry for her. Even though I could sympathize, it didn't mean that she wasn't now a psychotic bitch worthy of my hate and disdain.

"I'm sorry," Alcide breathed taking another step towards Debbie. His voice sounded so sincere and genuine and full of regret. I found myself staring at him, wondering what was going through his head, if his apology really was sincere.

Debbie huffed; the sadness leaving her face and being replaced by anger. "Oh you're sorry? Whatever happened to 'I don't want to bring another one our kind into the world'? It's too late for you to be fucking sorry!"

"No, it's never too late; you want to talk about it? We can talk about it," Alcide insisted taking another step forward. I felt myself deflate a little at his words.

"Back off!" Debbie yelled brandishing the gun at him.

"Alcide," I said cautiously as he took another step.

"I got it Chase," he growled not bothering to look at me.

"She is gonna shoot you!" I warned.

"No she won't," he assured taking another step.

"Oh yes I will!" Debbie spat cocking the gun. "There ain't no going back! This is who I am now!" she yelled touching her shoulder where Coot's pack had branded her.

Without warning Sookie screamed at the top of her lungs making me jump as Tara rushed at Debbie full speed, knocking her over and the gun out of her hand. I retrieved the gun from the floor as Tara held Debbie against the wall, her arm against her throat as Debbie screamed.

"Sookie find some rope so we can tie her up," I called to Sookie pointing the gun at Debbie. It felt awkward in my hands, too heavy. I had never held a gun before and I had never shot anyone either, but I wasn't going to let that stop me.

Sookie didn't even get the chance to move when loud footsteps called my attention to the door. Coot came rushing in looking pissed off and confused. "What the hell is going on in here?" he shouted stopping in the doorway.

I immediately felt the tension in the room change as Coot and Alcide locked eyes and growls erupted from their throats. A cocky smirk slid over Coot's face and he rushed towards Alcide and me, making me tense in surprise. My survival instincts kicked in and my finger squeezed the trigger, a loud BANG echoed through the room, I felt my stomach sink and the gun fell from my hands as I stared wide eyed at Coot. He dropped to his knees, his eyes on me as blood seeped out of a wound just below his ribs. Tara jumped off of Debbie at the sound of the gunshot and Debbie stared at Coot in shock. Coot's eyes turned yellow as a deep growl rumbled through his throat and I couldn't move I stood frozen. I had hardly noticed Alcide rushing forward to pick up the fallen gun, before another loud BANG echoed through the room. Coot fell face first to the floor, the gunshot wound leaving his skull open and oozing.

"Oh my god!" Debbie sobbed rising back to her feet and moving to Coot's side. "Oh my fucking god!"

"I'm sorry Debbie," Alcide said looking down at her. "He didn't give me a choice."

Debbie lifted her head, looking at Alcide incredulously. "You had a choice," she replied through clenched teeth. She rose back to her feet and her green eyes found mine. "And you…you fucking bitch! You shot my Coot!"

She moved towards me, but Alcide stepped in her path, aiming the gun right between her eyes which made her halt mid-step. "You chose this fucking freak over one of your own?" she sneered looking up at Alcide as she pointed at me.

"Chase, get the hell out of here," Alcide said cocking the gun and staring straight at Debbie. "Get him to the van."

Tara and Sookie didn't need telling twice, they immediately rushed forward attempting to lift Bill's body. I, on the other hand, hesitated. I didn't like the idea of leaving the psycho v addict werewolf alone with Alcide. Even though he was much bigger than her, it didn't mean she couldn't get the jump on him. I knew she was able to pull on his heart strings in the same way that Eric was able to pull on mine. He loved her, probably always would. I didn't want her taking advantage of that.

"Alcide, I'm not leaving you," I said stepping towards him.

"Chase, I'll be right out, now go," he ordered.

"Alcide-."

"Chase! Now!" he snapped glancing at me quickly.

Tara and Sookie were already half way out the door and I moved to follow them, walking slowly past Debbie who glared at me as I went by. I was almost nearing the door when Debbie grabbed me by the hair, yanking me in front of her body and wrapping her arm around my throat, almost cutting off my airway. The energy rose up inside of me with fierceness, making my skin crackle, and my heart pound. I struggled against her for a moment until I heard the click of something opening and felt metal against the skin of my neck.

"Move one inch bitch and I will cut you," Debbie whispered into my ear.

I froze instantly, looking at Alcide with panicked eyes as I felt the blade of a knife pressed right against my jugular. Where the fuck had she gotten a knife?! "Alcide…" I said slowly.

"Debbie, let her go," Alcide growled cocking the gun.

"Or what?" Debbie spat pressing the knife deeper against my skin sparking pain. The energy swelled. I clenched my fists tighter, trying to keep it inside of me. Afraid of what would happen if I let it out. Alcide could be hurt in the backlash and I could have killed Debbie. I may have hated her, but I wasn't a murderer. "You going to shoot me? Over this bitch? I should gut her right now for what she did to Coot!"

"No!" Alcide shouted lowering the gun. "I killed Coot okay? Me. Let her go and you can do whatever you want with me."

I felt Debbie sigh behind me and heard her voice full of disbelief. "You really care about her don't you?" she asked incredulously as if the thought had been completely impossible and unimaginable. Alcide hesitated, his eyes locking with mine, the answer all over his face. He didn't need to answer. I could see it clear as day. Debbie huffed again and her grip on me tightened. "Well now you are gonna know what it feels like to lose someone you care about."

The last thing I saw was Alcide's eyes widening as I felt the sting of metal breaking into my skin. The energy exploded out of me like a hurricane and everything went black.