Chapter Twenty Two:

Mackenzie could do nothing but stand there and watch as the wolf that had only moments ago been Alcide, leapt at the men. Her eyes were wide as her heart raced in her chest. She couldn't comprehend what she had just witnessed. How was it possible that a man had just transformed into a wolf? How was it possible that one minute Alcide was standing there, and the next, there was a wolf in his place? None of it made any sense.

She didn't have time to think of a plausible explanation, however, as the wolf knocked the closest man to the ground, snapping it's razor sharp teeth in his face. The other two screamed, a string of curses escaping their lips as they panicked. The man beneath the wolf struggled, trying to shove the creature off of him; but the wolf had superhuman strength, keeping him firmly pressed against the ground.

"Oh no," Sookie whispered fearfully, her eyes widening in disbelief as she suddenly shot to the door.

"What the hell are you doing?" Mackenzie demanded, looking between the telepath and the scene outside the window. "You can't go out there!"

"One of them has a gun," Sookie hurriedly unlocked the door, tearing it open. "Stay here, Mackenzie."

"But what are you going to…" she never even got the chance to finish before the blonde was throwing herself down the stairs and across the parking lot.

Mackenzie didn't know what to do but just stand there in the open doorway of the trailer. She watched in horror as Sookie jumped onto the back of the man, distracting him from whatever he had been reaching for.

"Get the girl!" he screamed to the youngest of the three men, the one who had pressed his back against the side of the bar in fright. His eyes were wide and full of fear as his stare turned towards the trailer, realization setting in. Not even throwing a glance back to his comrades, he shot towards Mackenzie.

"Shit!" Mackenzie shot out of the trailer as fast as she her sick body would allow and down the stairs. There was nowhere to go, however. The door leaving back into Merlotte's was next to the fallen man and the wolf, and the only way out of the parking lot was passed Sookie and the man with the gun. She was trapped.

"Run!" Sookie shouted as she was thrown off of the man's back, cringing as her back met with the ground. "Mackenzie run!"

But she was frozen to the spot. She couldn't move as the third man grew closer.

"There's nowhere to hide, fangbanger," he snarled with a wide smirk as he approached.

He lurched forward, reaching out to grab her. Mackenzie shrieked as her senses finally caught up to her. She twisted on her heel and ran back towards the trailer. She was caught, however, before she could read the door. An arm wrapped roughly around her waist, hoisting her right off her feet and from the porch in one solid movement. She kicked and screamed, trying to claw as the arm holding her captive, but it was no use. She was still sick. She was still so weak.

"No!" Sookie cried out a she scrambled to her feet. "Let her go!"

"Shut the fuck up!" the gun was suddenly withdrawn from the man's pocket, aiming directly at Sookie's forehead. The telepath's eyes grow wide as she stilled completely. "Don't say another word, you fangbanging whore!"

"She's just an innocent child," Sookie tried to reason, her eyes never leaving the gun. A growl could be heard to the side as Alcide forgot the form on the ground and prepared to leap forward, only to be yanked by the fur and into the side of the building. Sookie yelped as Alcide whimpered. "You don't have to do this!"

"Get the girl in the truck. Now!" The ringleader bellowed. "And you, you little bitch. You're going to…"

Mackenzie's eyes grew wide as his hand grasped onto Sookie's ponytail, yanking on her locks of hair painfully. This was all her fault. Everything was her fault. She had been so stupid to leave the house. She had been so naïve to think that this wouldn't happen. Alcide and Sookie were going to get hurt because of her stupidity.

"No!" Mackenzie fought, her teeth gritting as she kicked as hard as she possibly could. When a grunt sounded behind her as her heel landed with a kneecap, she took the opportunity to scratch at the arm holding her as deep as her fingernails could go.

"You little bitch!" she was dropped momentarily to the ground as she drew blood from her captor.

She didn't waste a moment as she shot towards Sookie to help the telepath that had been nothing but kind to her. She was stopped her in place, however, when the large ringleader whipped around, swinging his arm until the butt of his gun was met with the side of her head.

Mackenzie fell with a whimper to the ground, hissing as the gravel dug into her back. She could feel the skin on her forehead break, blood pooling in the wound. Her heart was pounding as the ringleader leered over her, pointing the gun towards her. This was how she was going to die. It wouldn't be the disease that had cursed her fate. She wasn't going to die of cancer after all.

"Leave her alone! She's just a girl!" Sookie was pleading, her eyes widened in fear. She listened to the men, listened to each horrible thought. What disgusted her, however, was that they believed they were doing the work of god. "You're from the Fellowship of the Sun. You're Christians. How can you do this?"

The ringleader faltered at the sudden accusation. Head snapping to the side, he gazed at Sookie closely. "How the hell did you know that, whore?"

"This isn't very Christian. God wouldn't want this," Sookie spat at him. "How can you think this is okay? She's just an innocent girl."

"She's a fangbanging whore, just like you are sweetheart." The ringleader grit his teeth, narrowing his eyes as he turned his attention back onto Mackenzie. She froze, having attempted to crawl inch by inch away from the man. She was stopped by the threatening stare, however, her entire body shaking in fear. "She shall pay for her sins."

"No!" Sookie flew forward, ready to throw herself in front of girl.

She didn't need, though, as the ringleader stilled completely.

"Put the gun down," Sam Merlotte pressed the barrel of his shotgun against the back of the man's head. "Before I shoot you."

Mackenzie was frozen to the gravel ground as she stared wide-eyed up at the unexpected savior. The owner of the bar gazed down at the girl and offered her a reassuring smile before pressing the gun harder into the man's neck.

"Put it down before I blow your head off," Sam warned in a low voice.

The man's dark orbs darted to his comrades, but when he discovered one was grasping his bit leg in pain and the other already cowering near the edge of the parking lot, he knew he had no choice but to oblige.

"Now go run along and don't even think about showing your faces anywhere near Bon Temps again."

The man snarled at Sam but quickly scuttled over to his fallen friend when Alcide growled in his direction. He didn't even help the bleeding man up and instead began dragging him towards their van. The moment they disappeared from sight, a collective sigh sounded between the four.

"Oh thank god," Sookie shook her head in relief. She hadn't been entirely sure they were all going to survive the altercation. "Thanks Sam."

"Not a problem," Sam nodded in return before gazing down at Mackenzie. "Are you alright, sugar?"

Mackenzie could only nod, not able to utter a word. Her thoughts were swimming. She barely even felt the cut on her forehead until Sookie knelt beside her and gently touched the wound. Hissing in pain, Mackenzie leaned away from the telepath, only for her orbs to jump to Alcide. He was still standing there in the middle of the parking lot as a wolf, a fact she was still trying to process.

"Sook, why don't you take…" Sam frowned as he realized he didn't even know the teen's name.

"Mackenzie." Sookie offered.

"Right," Sam nodded. "Why don't you take Mackenzie into my office and you can get yourselves cleaned up."

Sookie nodded as she helped Mackenzie up, frowning as she noted how unstable she was on her feet. She wanted to search the girl's thoughts, to know if she was feeling worse than she was portraying, but she didn't want to betray the girl's trust.

"What about…" Mackenzie managed out as she stared at Alcide's wolf form.

Sam grabbed at Alcide's discarded clothes and motioned for the two women to head inside the bar. "Don't worry about him."

Mackenzie nodded as Sookie began ushering her inside. She shot one last glance towards the wolf before slipping inside the bar and allowing the telepath to drag her towards what she assumed to be Sam's office.

"I can't believe those people!" Sookie huffed as she sat Mackenzie down on the worn couch in the office before rummaging around for a first aid kid. "How can those people call themselves Christians when they attack innocent people!"

Mackenzie only sat there, biting her bottom lip as she tried to comprehend everything that had just happened. Nothing had gone right. She had only wanted one afternoon of normalcy, of not being the poor dying girl everyone pitied. She just wanted one afternoon of freedom, of peace and quiet. But it had been anything but that. It just wasn't fair.

"How are you holding up, hun?" Sookie took her place beside the teenager and gently began dabbing at the cut on her forehead with a clean cloth.

"Alcide just turned into a wolf and I was nearly kidnapped," Mackenzie sent her an incredulous look. "I think it's safe to say I'm not doing all that well."

Sookie sighed as she nodded in understanding. She wondered how much one simple girl could take. She was already sick, already dying. She had been raised by vampires, and not the nicest vampires Sookie knew of either. Mackenzie didn't need anymore trouble coming her way. She was already dealing with far too much for such a young girl.

A young girl that may not even see her next birthday.

Sookie shuddered at the thought. "I'm sorry you have to deal with all this," she squeezed her arm gently. "No one should have to go through something like this, especially not…"

"Especially not the dying girl?" Mackenzie offered with a mutter.

"I didn't mean it like that," Sookie shook her head. "I just meant that…"

"It's okay, Sookie," Mackenzie shrugged, a forced smile being sent to the telepath. "You did mean it like that and it's okay. I'm used to being pitied. It's hard not to pity myself some days."

"You're just so young," Sookie frowned, her eyebrows furrowing together. She still couldn't understand how such a young, innocent girl had gotten so sick. She knew it had just been a cruel twist of fate, that anyone could have fallen prey to cancer, but it still struck her hard to see someone so young having to fight for their life. No one her age should have to.

"Cancer doesn't discriminate."

Sighing, Sookie went back to work on bandaging the girl's wound in silence. Mackenzie gladly succumbed to her own thoughts, only for both to be interrupted from their own little worlds by the office door opening. Both blondes froze what they were doing, eyes wide as Sam entered the office, followed by a now human and clothed Alcide. Mackenzie couldn't help but blush and look away the moment Alcide's gaze turned on her. It was difficult for her to look him in the eye after what she had seen.

"Look, Mackenzie…" Alcide began, taking a step forward. He stopped, however, when Sookie shook her head discreetly. The man sighed deeply but nodded, keeping the space between them. "What you saw out there…"

"Are you a shifter like Sam?" Sookie wondered, glancing at Sam out the corner of her eye as he set the gun down onto his desk. He folded himself into his chair a moment later, letting out a long drawn out sigh.

"No, he's not," Sam shook his head. "He's a werewolf."

Mackenzie nearly choked on her own saliva at Sam's words. "A what?"

Alcide glanced at Sookie once more before explaining. "I'm a werewolf. It's one of the reasons Northman hired me. He knew I'd be able to protect you because of my…ability."

"You mean your ability to transform into a wolf," Mackenzie was wide eyed as she stared up at Alcide. She was reminded all too well of the day she had discovered her own guardians were vampires. A world she never could have imagined was opened up before her and it was overwhelming. She should have realized that if it were possible for vampires to exist, that everything and anything could as well. "Because you're a werewolf. You're an actual honest-to-god werewolf."

"I am," Alcide nodded slowly, eying the girl carefully. He had never intended on her knowing. He had promised Eric that she never would learn of what he was. But when the situation arose, he hadn't thought twice before shifting into a wolf. He had given his word to protect Mackenzie no matter, and he intended on keeping that promise. "I understand it's a lot to comprehend right now…"

"Oh no, not at all," Mackenzie rolled her eyes. "It's not hard at all to try and understand the fact that you're a friggin werewolf! What are you, Jacob?"

Alcide didn't understand the reference, but as Sookie snorted beside the girl, he realized it was not a compliment.

"I never wanted you to find out. You never were supposed to find out. But I promised Northman I'd protect you, Mackenzie. And I'd do so again in a heartbeat if I had to."

Mackenzie knew that he was telling the truth. He would shift right then and there if a threat revealed itself. And in a way, she appreciated it. Alcide had barely known her for more than a few hours and he had already thrown himself in dangers path for her. She appreciated every ounce of what he had done. But she was shocked. She was surprised at what she had learned; that her bodyguard was a supernatural creature she never thought could have existed. It was difficult to wrap her mind around.

"I think maybe I should get you home," Alcide sighed, running his fingers through his tussled locks. "This has turned into a disaster."

"At least eat something before you go," Sookie suggested. "Mackenzie's so pale she looks like she's going to keel over if she doesn't just sit down and eat something."

"I'm fine," Mackenzie insisted with a shake of her head. Though she couldn't deny that she was still hungry, her stomach doing somersaults in excitement at the prospect of food.

"I don't know," Alcide didn't look convinced. "We were just attacked. We should get you back before anything else can happen."

"What else could possibly go wrong?" Sookie raised an eyebrow, standing up and holding out a hand for Mackenzie to grasp. "Come on, let's go get you that burger you've been craving."

"Did you read my mind to know that?"

"You started drooling when you ordered earlier," Sookie chuckled, wrapping an arm around the girl's shoulder and ushering her out of the office.

"We can't stay," Alcide was adamant, following the blondes. "It's not safe. They could come back."

"I don't think they will," Sookie shook her head. "You just shifted into a wolf in front of them and one almost got his head shot off. I think they've been scared off."

"For today anyways," He frowned. "It's still not safe. They could call others…"

"Oh Alcide," Sookie sighed, motioning for Mackenzie to return to her booth before turning to Alcide. Her hands planted solidly on her hips as she sized the werewolf up. "Let the girl breathe for five minutes. She was nearly just kidnapped and learned her bodyguard is a werewolf. Let her digest."

"She can do that in the truck," He insisted. "It's not safe here. I never should have let her talk me into this. Northman will kill me if he finds out."

"She needs to eat something. She's too pale to be traveling right now," Sookie stood her ground. She barely knew Mackenzie, and hated her guardians, but she couldn't help but want to stand up for the girl. She wanted to wrap her in her arms and protect her with all her might. She was too innocent, too young, to be dealing with any of this. "She'll eat and then you can take her home; not a minute earlier."

Alcide wanted to argue, to grab the teen and storm out of there. But one glance at Mackenzie and he could feel his argument slipping away. The fact that he couldn't say no to her earlier was the reason they were in this predicament; He couldn't simply say no to her again. Even if he should.

"Fine," Alcide grumbled with a scowl. "One burger, and then that's it."

"Perfect!" Sookie grinned. "I'll go see if your order is ready!"

Alcide chuckled as the telepath skipped around him, her ponytail dancing behind her. His gaze couldn't help but fall lower, only for a snort to snap his head to the side. Mackenzie sat next to the window, a smirk on her face as she tried with difficulty not to laugh.

"Don't," he warned as he slid into the booth across from her. "Not a word."

She bit down hard on her bottom lip but a few laughs slipped out anyways. She raised her hands to cover her mouth, still refusing to meet his gaze.

"Look, Mackenzie," he sighed, staring down at his hands as they splayed across the table. He didn't know what to say, what to tell her. He had never shifted in front of a human before, not one that didn't already know what he was. He didn't know how to offer her an explanation that she would be able to understand.

"I just need to process." Mackenzie replied softly, sneaking a glance at the man out the corner of her eye. It had taken time to comprehend that vampires existed; she needed time to understand this as well.

Alcide simply nodded before falling silent. He eyed the girl cautiously while glancing out the window every so often. He kept an eye out for trouble but none came as Sookie waltzed over with their orders in her hands.

They were safe.

For now, at least.

A/N: Well this has taken me fifty thousand years to finish! Sorry about how terrible this chapter is. it took me forever to write, and even then it's like five pieces put together. So it pretty much just sucks. But onto the next chapter, which I promise will be a thousand times better. For some reason I was just blocked on this one chapter. I pretty much have this entire story figured out, I just needed to get passed this part somehow. Anyways, not sure when the next update will be. Still have just under a month and a half left, though I have tons to do in prep for my final year at college (thank god!).

BTW, True Blood has destroyed every ounce of emotion I have this season. seriously, do they just enjoy torturing us? My heart cannot take anymore!