Chapter Twenty:

Neither woman moved as Henley stared at Sookie, and the waitress at Godric. The vampire raised an eyebrow as he stared between the two, his hold on Henley loosening before he took a step back.

"Holy crap," Sookie eventually shook herself out of her trance, a hand covering her gaping mouth. "Holy mother of crap!"

Henley wasn't sure if she was panicking or just plain confused. How in the world was it possible that Sookie saw Godric? She eyed the vampire closely, wondering if he had accidentally let himself be shown. There was no indication of anything different, though she wasn't sure what she would have been looking for if there were.

"Are you…" she muttered as quietly as she possible could to the ghost.

"I'm not," Godric shook his head, watching Sookie with interest. "Miss Stackhouse? Are you able to hear me?"

"Oh god!" Sookie's eyes grew even wider, stumbling until her back was pressed against the bathroom door.

Henley took that as a yes. But how? "How is this…"

Godric though, had an idea. "Miss Stackhouse, are you currently in Henley's thoughts?"

Sookie had to blink a handful of times before realizing that Godric had been talking to her. That mere thought alone caused her heart to skip a beat. She had been there, on that rooftop, the morning Godric died. She had watched the blue flames that had consumed his body, turning him into nothing but dust in the breeze. How could it be possible he was talking to her, that she could actually see him?

"Sookie?" Godric smiled kindly at the telepath. He could see the confliction on her face, and he couldn't fault her. Weeks ago, he too never thought this would have been possible.

"Uh," Sookie swallowed hard as she concentrated on pulling herself out of Henley's thoughts, her shields clicking back into place.

And just like that, Godric was gone.

"What the…" her orbs darted in every direction, searching for the vampire. "Where did he go? Oh god, am I finally going crazy?"

Henley couldn't help herself; she laughed. She was exhausted, confused, scared and just tired of everything that was happening in her life. All she could do was laugh. Hysterically.

"I'm sorry," Henley tried to compose herself when Sookie stared at her as if she were insane. "It's just, if you've gone crazy, then I sure as hell have."

Sookie just didn't understand. How could she see Godric one moment and not the next? Frowning, wrinkles forming on her forehead, Sookie once again concentrated as she slid easily into Henley's thoughts. Glancing at the place the ancient vampire once was, she was shocked – and oddly, relieved – to find that he was once again there.

"I am assuming, Miss Stackhouse, that you can only see and hear me when you are in Henley's thoughts," Godric guessed, gauging her reaction.

Sookie could only nod numbly, still wide eyed that she could see him at all.

"Wait," Henley quickly caught on. "What do you mean she can see you when she's in my thoughts?" she twisted her attention onto the waitress. "What does he mean?"

The blonde chewed on her bottom lip nervously. "I'm, er, a telepath."

"I do believe you're than that, aren't you little one," he mused kindly. He hadn't been surprised when he had been with Eric when he discovered Sookie's true heritage. There had been something about her in the short time he knew the telepath that was just more than she ever could have imagined. He should have recognized the spark, but it had been centuries since he had last encountered the Fae.

Sookie blushed as she nodded. "I'm actually a Faerie."

The laughing returned. "I'm sorry, you're Tinker Bell?"

"Don't be rude, Henley," Godric chided, but didn't even try to hide his amusement. "You communicate with the dead."

Henley sent him an annoyed glare. "He gets it from you, doesn't he?"

A slight smirk appeared on his lips before he focused back on Sookie. "I'm imagining my child didn't exactly tell you what Henley was capable of."

"When is Eric ever straightforward," Sookie sighed with a shake of her head. "He just said that she was in danger and in need of a place to stay. It seems I'm just magically drawn back into vampire problems no matter how hard I try to live a normal life."

Henley scoffed. Of course Eric would just force her on the waitress. "You don't have to, Sookie. Really, it's fine. I'll be fine. Eric shouldn't have…"

"It's fine," Sookie shot her an assuring smile. "I feel like I owe him anyways. Honestly, it's sort of just nice to see him caring about something again. It's been awhile."

The red head remembered Godric telling her about Nora, and the depression the Viking had fallen into after her sudden death. "Well at least he's more focused on some psychotic witch than anything else. See Godric, I'm making progress here."

Godric only rolled his eyes in her direction. Sookie raised an eyebrow as she eyed the two, trying hard not to burst out laughing. It was obvious that however long Henley was able to see Godric, and for whatever reason, the two had grown very close. She wondered if Eric knew that.

"So how can you see Godric, if you don't mind me asking," Sookie wondered curiously.

Henley shrugged. "I know that you're Tink, so it's only fair. But really, Godric sort of summed it up pretty nicely. I communicate with the dead. That's it. Nothing very exciting. Hell, I don't even know think there's a name for it!"

"Medium."

"Huh?" her eyebrows furrowed. "A medium?"

"In a sense," Godric nodded. "Though you are much stronger than an average one, that I can tell you."

"Oh, like Lafayette!" Sookie's eyes brightened.

Henley's head snapped towards the Faerie. There was someone else like her? "You know someone who can do it to?"

Sookie nodded. "He hasn't been able to do it very long, or at least, I don't think he's known he was able to do it."

A grin slipped across Henley's lips. She had always just thought she was completely alone in what she was able to do. Then again, she hadn't exactly sought out anyone else like her. She had been too scared to.

Maybe, however, it was time she started just accepting what she was – who she was. Who knew how many others were like her. There could have been an entire community of support she could have leaned on if she hadn't been so stubborn and fearful of this ability.

When had she started viewing it as an ability, not a curse?

Henley supposed all the time she was spending with Godric was rubbing off on her.

"Oh shoot!" Sookie caught a glance of her watch. "I better get back out there. I still have about half an hour left of my shift, and then we can head over to my house if that's all right with you."

"You really don't have to do this Sookie. Jackson is…well, he's insane. He's dangerous. I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me. Willa already did," Henley didn't know what she would do, or where she would go, but she couldn't just let some innocent girl get put in dangerous way because of her. Eric was an ass to think that this was okay. Sookie didn't deserve this.

Sookie only offered her a kind smile as she pulled the door open. "It's really no problem, Henley. I sort of…owe him, anyways."

Henley tried to argue, but the Faerie just shot her a pointed look before slipping out of the room and back into the hustle of the bar.

"You feel guilty," Godric mused with a frown. He appeared before her again, in the same position he had been before Sookie had interrupted them. Henley was wishing the Telepath would reappear.

"I just don't want anyone else to get hurt," Henley swallowed as he caught her chin again, drawing closer until his nose could have touched hers.

"Eric cares for her greatly; he wouldn't have placed you in her care if he thought she would be in grave danger," he assured, his thumb moving up to caress her cheek. "Please don't worry, Henley. You're safe for the time being; relish in that."

Her shoulders slumped, and she hated that his words – and touch – was able to soothe her so quickly. "For how long, though?"

"We'll figure this out," Godric vowed, leaning even closer as his lips, his very warm lips, grazes across her forehead.

This wasn't supposed to be able to happen.

"You won't leave, right?" in that moment, Henley really didn't care about the impossibility of it all. Being near him just felt nice. It really didn't matter if he was supposed to be a ghost or not.

Godric shook his head with an assuring smile. "No. I'm afraid you won't be able to get rid of me that easily."

"And a week ago I prayed you would just go poof and leave me alone."

"You were obviously very misinformed," a soft chuckle sounded from his lips.

"Apparently," her eyes fluttered close. "Godric?"

"Hm, little one?"

"Don't you ever pull that shit again," her voice was low and even, but Godric could feel the temper brewing behind her words. "Or I will figure out a way to kill a ghost for a second time."

"Third, in my case."

Sookie couldn't help the small smile from forming as she eyed the sleeping redhead in the passenger seat. It was a short trip from the bar to Hummingbird Lane, but the mysterious medium had drifted off to sleep the moment she was buckled in. Sookie couldn't exactly blame her; Henley had been put through the ringer from the looks of it. Eric had only told her so much, and she had only been able to get a few pieces of information out of her during the last bit of her shift. It seemed, though, that this girl had found herself into trouble that Sookie could relate to more than she would have liked.

Arriving home, Sookie put the car in park and was about to sadly wake Henley when a figure on her porch paused her. Adrenaline suddenly pumped through her veins as the familiar tingling returned to her fingertips. But as the Faerie braced herself, she found she had nothing to worry about.

"Willa?" Sookie slipped from the car quietly, raising an eyebrow at the brunette sitting on her porch, a dog settled at her feet.

"Hi Sookie," the young vampire smile softly before her gaze turned to Henley. "Is she…"

"Just exhausted."

Willa nodded in understanding. She had been in the bar when Eric had attacked Henley and she had been furious. Her maker could be a real ass sometimes.

"Sorry for just showing up," Willa stood, her hand brushing over the top of Moony's head. "Pam said she would be staying with you and I thought Henley might like some of her things. And this guy."

Sookie cooed as the german shepherd lifted his head, her eyes sleeping yet alert as he heard his owner's name. "What a cutie you are."

The attention went straight to his head, his tail starting to wag as a chuckle sounded from the telepath.

"And somebody knows it," she snorted as she glanced back at Willa. "I'm surprised how calm he is around you. I thought animals didn't like vampires?"

"They usually don't," Willa shrugged. "But considering what she can do, he's probably used to the supernatural."

Sookie nodded. "Makes sense," she frowned suddenly when Willa shuddered, a pained expression crossing her face. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Willa sighed heavily, petting Moony one last time before beginning down the porch steps. "Eric's summoning me. I hate when he does that. Are the two of you going to be all right."

"We'll be fine. I'm not exactly weaponless," Sookie wiggled her fingers before waving the girl off. "Go before he has a fit. And tell him that he and I still have a lot to talk about."

Willa smirked at the Faerie's tone. She didn't know the woman well, but what she did know, she liked. She had a feeling Sookie was the only one who knew how to keep Eric in his place. Anyone who could talk back to her maker and live to see the next day was someone Willa could admire.

Watching the vampire dart off, Sookie turned back towards the car. Henley was still sleeping peacefully, and she almost didn't want to wake her up at all. She sought out Godric for his advice, but slipping into Henley's mind while she was sleeping was harder to do. Her dreams reminded her of the voids she was familiar with whenever she was around vampires. She pushed harder, hoping for even a sign that she would be able to communicate with Godric.

After a moment, a breeze caught her arm. But it wasn't windy.

"Godric?" Sookie called out, her eyebrows furrowing. "I can't see you, but you are there, aren't you?"

"I am, Miss Stackhouse," Godric assured her.

A sigh of relief sounded. "Oh good. Should I wake her up? I don't want to disturb her but…" Sookie trailed off. Her gaze immediately went to the line of trees surrounding her property. A shiver rose up her spine as she thought of this witch possibly watching them, just waiting to pounce.

As if reading her thoughts, Godric promised that they were alone. At least for the time being. "Allow me," the vampire ghost offered.

She was about to question exactly how he was going to wake Henley up, but decided against it. She had witnessed the two's unique relationship in the bar's bathroom.

"How about I get you some water, big guy?" Sookie found Moony had wandered over to her side, his muzzle nudging at her leg. When he licked her hands, she took that as a yes and chuckled as she ushered him into the house, grabbing Henley's things as she went.

Godric waited until they were alone before moving over to the passenger door, willing a sharp breeze to open it. He had to catch Henley before she topped over, a smile gracing his lips as he laugh her head against the headrest instead of the door's window.

"Little one?" he called to her barely above a whisper. His fingers danced across her cheek before trailing down her neck. The pad of his thumb rested above her pulse point, almost mesmerized by the low, but steady beat of her heart.

And then she moaned.

"None of that, love," Godric murmured. "Or else I'm going to have to break my promise to you."

She moaned again.

Sighing, Godric lifted his touch. Another noise sounded from the red head, though this one made the vampire chuckle.

"Nooooooooo," Henley drew out stubbornly, shifting so her cheek knocked back into his hand. It was just so warm and nice, and it left a foggy haze around her that she just didn't want to leave.

"You need to wake up now," he stoked her cheek, relieved that she was waking. He wasn't sure whether or not he would have been able to control himself had they had a repeat performance of the other night.

"Five more minutes," she mumbled.

"You only need to walk to the house, and then you can sleep for as long as you please," he encouraged. "Come on now, little one. Wake up for me."

But she refused to let the ghost tug her out of her rare little happy place. The vampire was cruel, however, and as something brushed across her lips, Henley's eyes suddenly snapped open. They widened when she found Godric so close, his lips barely an inch from hers. Had he just tried to kiss her? Or was she just mistaken? Was he just playing with her, trying to get her to wake up?

"Is my sleeping beauty awake now?" there was a smirk on his lips, a smirk that looked surprisingly like a certain Viking's.

"You really did teach him that, didn't you?" her eyes narrowed into a glare.

Godric remained exactly where he was for another long, drawn out moment before rising to his feet and holding out a ghostly hand for her to take.

"Shall we?"

Henley pouted but nodded, slipping her hand into his and allowing the vampire to tug her out of the car. It was still strange to her that she could feel – could touch him – exactly as she could any other human. But how? Things were only growing odder at every turn, and Henley wasn't sure if she liked these new developments or not.

Well of course you do, her conscious teased.

But she didn't, did she? Being able to touch Godric, well it couldn't have meant anything good.

It did feel nice though.

There wasn't anything wrong with that, right?

"Henley?"

"You really aren't going to leave tonight, right?" Henley shook the thoughts away, her fingers lacing with his as she allowed Godric to lead her towards the house.

"It would take a very strong sorcerer to force me away from you," he assured.

"Well, technically, we have one of those trying to kill me."

He turned suddenly, growing so close that she swore she could feel him breathing. But he couldn't breathe. He was dead. Twice over.

"That will not happen, do you understand me? Jackson will not lay another finger on you. I would go to hell and back to ensure that he doesn't," Godric vowed, a dark, venomous look in his eyes.

Henley shuddered at the darkness that radiated off of him. "No offence, Godric, but you are a ghost."

"Be that as it may," he caught her chin firmly, tilting her head to the side so his orbs could gaze down at her slender neck. His gums ached, his fangs wanting to extend at the sight. "That does not mean I am merely going to hand over what is mine."

Henley blinked in surprise. "I'm sorry, what?"

But he didn't clarify anything as he simply turned back around and led her towards Sookie's home.

Ghost or not, Godric was certain this girl was his. He wasn't sure he really cared about the consequences of what that might mean. He had found this girl for a reason, Godric had begun to realize. It wasn't a mistake that he had come across her all those weeks ago. There had been a reason for their meeting, one that he intended on learning. Until then, he would keep her safe. He had grown quite attached to her, after all. She would be his.

A/N: Godric is getting a little possessive. Hey, ghost or not, the guy was once a savage vampire that was very intent on having whatever he wanted. He can't always suppress those urges, now can he ;)

Thanks for all the reviews and reads guys! Majorly appreciate them all. You only give me more of a reason to write.