Chapter 11: You'll Be the Death of Me

"God damnit Jason Stackhouse," I muttered angrily as I walked through the police station. Andy tried to stop me, but I turned my heated glare to him, and he backed off. Walking into the cells, I growled out loud and it caused Jason to jump in his cell.

I had just gotten a call from Felix that Jason had called the police because Amy was killed. And Jason thought that he had done it. I was still furious about last night, between the conversation with Deshawn, the almost kiss with Eric, and then Sookie. My anger was still very high, and I was fighting my instincts to just lash out at everyone in sight. I walked right up to the cell and glared at Jason with a deep frown. "What the fuck is the matter with you?"

Jason came up to the bars and looked at me like a lost puppy. "Teddy, I am so sorry," he apologized in a broken voice.

"Jason Stackhouse, I never thought you would be so stupid that you would confess to something that you didn't do," I growled. "Felix told me that you refused to have him with you too."

"I don't want to be let out," he said brokenly.

I took Jason's hand through the bars. "Jason, I have known some sick, twisted, and dark individuals. I guarantee you that you are not one of them, and I'm not saying that because you're family. Now, Sookie and I are gonna get you out one way or another, whether you like it or not. You got that?"

"I wish you wouldn't waste your time," he muttered.

"Well, too bad Jason," I shot back at him. "I take care of my family and you are gonna deal with it. Now, Felix is working on getting you released, but it won't be until tomorrow, so hold tight until then, okay?"

Jason nodded but didn't really seem as though he believed it. I pulled his hand out and kissed the back of it, sending him a reassuring smile. He sent a small one back at me before I left the lockup. This killer messed with the wrong family when he went after us. First, he killed my grandmother. Second, targeting Sookie, even if I was mad at her. And third, he put my cousin in jail. This fucker was gonna die one way or another.

*Queen of the Wolves*

I walked into Sam's office as Sam was talking to Sookie. I didn't look at either of them as I put my things away in my cubby.

"Teddy, I know that you're mad at me, but you can take the day off," Sam told me as I looked at him while tying my apron. "Don't tell me that you want to hire a private investigator too."

"Don't need to," I told him, and they both looked confused. "I called Ruth at the law firm after talking with Felix this morning. I gave her the name you told me and the other information, she's already on it. And Felix should have Jason out by tomorrow since they didn't let him have a lawyer when they questioned him."

Sookie practically tackled me in a hug. "Thank you so much Teddy. Now, we just have to find this Drew Marshall."

I smiled as she let go of me. "We'll find him. He messed with the wrong family." However, I put a finger in her face. "You don't go anywhere alone, you got it? We don't know where this son of a bitch is."

She nodded quickly that she understood, and I nodded back. With that, we both went out to start our lunch prep. Once the lunch hour started, I kinda got lost in serving like I usually did. It was kinda like my escape. I didn't have to focus on anything else but what was right in front of me.

I only stopped as I was filling up a glass behind the bar when I caught what Andy Bellefleur was saying. He was bragging about having Jason in jail. He was exaggerating the details of the confession to the others that were around him. Bud had tried to defend against him, but Andy just turned it around. I didn't even realize I was squeezing the glass too hard until it shattered, and everyone stopped talking, looking over at me.

I was just glaring at Andy, and he shifted in his seat at the heat behind my gaze. Sam then came over to me and placed a rag in my left hand. It jolted me out of my glare, and I noticed that my hand was bleeding. Sam put his arm around my shoulders and led me into the kitchen where Lafayette came up to me with a glass of tequila. I took the glass from him and threw back the tequila, shivering at the burn. I was more of a bourbon, scotch, and wine kind of girl, so tequila was more of last on the list kind of drink.

"Oh, darling, what have you done to yourself?" Lafayette questioned in a worried tone as he took my hand.

I looked down and noticed that I had a large chunk of glass stuck in my palm. There was also little bits of glass around it. I was so angry that I couldn't feel any pain from it. I noticed that Big John was being ushered from the kitchen by Lafayette as Sam brought over the first aid kit. Feeling as though I was in a daze, I barely felt Sam pulling out the glass. Then I realized something.

"Where's Sookie?" I asked.

"She went to drive around to get some air," Sam responded. "You're gonna have to keep from healing right away."

I sighed and realized he was right. I couldn't have others noticing something was different with me. "I'll heal so I won't need stitches."

Sam nodded as he pulled out the large piece of glass. I healed quickly so that way not a lot of blood would come out. Sam quickly cleaned the cut and put a bandage over it. He then wrapped my hand to keep the bandage in place.

After tying it off, Sam patted my shoulder. "You can go home Teddy," he told me.

I shook my head. "I'm not going home and running from this. I refuse to give into this."

Lafayette and Sam shared a look and a sigh at my stubbornness. I knew that Jason didn't kill those women and I would show everyone that they were wrong. "White Lightning," Lafayette tried. "Maybe you should take the day off." I went to glare at him, but he shook his finger at me. "Don't you give me that look, I am just saying to rest. We know that you aren't hiding."

He sat down next to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, hugging me. "You need you strength if you're gonna fight against this," he reasoned with me.

I sighed before turning a teasing grin to him. "When did you become the reasonable one?"

Sam and Lafayette both laughed at my joke. "I have always been reasonable," Lafayette defended. "You just don't pay attention."

Lafayette squeezed me once more before leaving to get Big John. I went and got my stuff before walking out to the main room to see Sam leaning against the bar. He saw me and smiled, and I nodded at him in thanks. It was then that Lafayette called to Sam from cleaning up one of the tables. "Sam, Rene left his vest," he said in a bord tone.

Sam lifted his hand for Lafayette to throw it to him. "I'll put it in the lost and found."

I got out my keys as Lafayette tossed the vest. I was about to walk past Sam when I noticed he had a confused look on his face. "Sam?" I asked quietly. "Is everything okay?"

Instead of responding, Sam sniffed the vest a couple of times. His eyes then shot open, and he bolted outside. I followed him in confusion. Exiting the bar, I turned and saw Sookie's yellow car sitting in its usual parking spot. Sam ran up to Terry, who was smoking a cigarette. "Hey, where's Sookie? Did you see her?"

Teddy looked startled and put the cigarette behind his back. "Yep."

"Where'd she go?" Sam continued to question.

"She left with Rene about 20, 23 minutes ago," Terry answered.

Sam was about to run off again, but I grabbed his hand. "Sam! What is goin' on?!"

Sam turned to me with a terrified look on his face. "It's Rene," he rushed out. "Rene is the killer, and he took Sookie home."

I was shocked but didn't protest when Sam started pulling me with him. Both of us climbed into his car and he drove as fast as he could to get us to Sookie's. Along the way, I tried to call Zander to let him know, but all I got was a voicemail. Cursing, I put my phone away and Sam looked at me in worry.

"Can't get a hold of Zander?" he inquired, worry evident in his tone.

I shook my head. "He must be on a construction job. He's not allowed to have his phone."

"Is there anyone else?"

"No, we're on our own," I sighed in aggravation. "Everyone is either at work or too far away to help."

We got to Sookie's house, and Sam hadn't even stopped the car when I jumped out and ran up the steps. "Sookie!" I shouted.

The front door was wide open, and I saw a belt as well as blood on the floor. By the scent, it was Rene's blood though. I turned back around and called out again. "Sookie!"

Getting no response, I looked to Sam and we both took deep breaths. Sam shot in the direction of the graveyard, stripping down, and shifting as he went. I chased after him and pushed myself faster as I saw Rene choking Sookie. Sam launched himself at Rene, throwing him to the ground. I quickly checked on Sookie as Rene hit Sam with a statue.

Thankfully, Sookie was still breathing. Rene started to beat Sam as he shifted back. I felt my anger rise and my fangs and nails grew longer. But I knew that I could expose myself and I just didn't care. I took a swipe at his back and Rene screamed in pain. He looked over his shoulder as I grabbed a shovel. I couldn't kill him as a wolf, because the police would look into it, but I could certainly kill him this way.

The color drained from his face as he saw me. "What the fuck are you?!" he shouted around the blood in his mouth.

"You don't need to worry about it," I growled deeply. "You won't tell anyone anyway." I then thrust the shovel down on his neck with a crunch.

I stood there panting heavy breaths as I tried to calm down. Slowly, my fangs and claws receded. It was then that I caught the smell of something burning, and I looked over to see Sookie and Sam running towards something burning on the ground. "Bill!" I shouted in realization as I followed them.

Sookie gently rolled him over then began to cry as Bill apologized. "No, Bill, please," she sobbed.

"We gotta get him out of the light," Sam directed. He picked up Bill and put him in an open grave. I helped to bury him with Sam as Sookie stood there crying.

*Queen of the Wolves*

I sat in the kitchen after getting off the phone with Felix and Ruth. I had told Ruth to give everything she found to Bud, that way the DA could have every fact available. I just sat there while Sam, Lafayette and Tara sat with Sookie. There was a part of me that felt disgusted that I had taken a human's life.

Sure, I knew how to fight and every weak point in the human body. It was one of the things my father actually taught me. It was even reinforced while I was in Dallas. But that was the first time that I actually used any of it. The first time that I had killed a human.

The door opened and I could smell Arlene's scent with the salt of tears. Standing, I went to the others to see a sobbing Arlene howling out some flowers to Sookie. Placing one hand on her shoulder and the other taking the flowers, I turned Arlene to me and pulled her into a hug. She started to cry harder into my shoulder and I led her into the kitchen so I could find something to put the flowers in.

I sat her down at the table while I got a vase. After I put the flowers in water, I turned to Arlene as she sniffled. I pulled her into another hug, and she clung to me while I rubbed circles on her back. "Shh Arlene," I told her softly. "It's not your fault. Rene fooled all of us, it wasn't just you. So, don't blame yourself."

Arlene pulled back with a hiccup. "I just can't help it. I brough him around my kids! And I never knew what was going on in his head."

I sighed as she hugged me again. "Do you want something to drink?"

She shook her head as she pulled back to wipe at her eyes. "I'm just gonna sit with Sookie a bit."

I nodded as she went to sit with Sookie. I straightened up a bit before going out to the porch for some air and found Sam, Lafayette and Tara standing out there. Lafayette was the first to see me and opened his arms with a comforting smile. I smiled back as my eyes stung. Stepping forward, I walked in his arms for a tight hug.

Lafayette was someone that helped to relax me. It wasn't just his cooking in the bar, it was his presence in general. He had a fantastic energy, a fabulous personality, and one of the most calming scents that I had ever come across. It was warm like the sun combined with honey. I just sank right into his arms.

"How are you feeling with all this baby?" he asked me quietly.

I took a deep shuttering breath as I hugged him tighter. I let go but Lafayette kept his arm around my shoulder. "I'll be okay Chocolate Thunder," I told him. "It'll just take some time."

Tara came over and took me in her arms. "I'm so glad that you two are alright," she said with a thick voice. "I don't know what I would do without you two."

I hugged her back as I stroked her hair. "You won't be getting rid of me that easily."

Tara chuckled as she let me go. It was then that I heard my name from the side of the house. I turned to see the large form of Eric standing at the tree line. Lafayette went to pull me back, but I gently removed his hand. "He won't hurt me."

Lafayette just gave me another hug. "I'm gonna head on over to the bar," he said as he let go of me. "Make sure Terry ain't PTSD-ing all over my clam chowder. So, call me later."

I nodded then walked slowly towards the woods and Eric. Eric walked out of the tree line to step in front of me. He ran a finger over my left hand that still had a bandage over it. "What happened?" he asked.

For once, I didn't feel the need to deflect his question. "I shattered a glass and got cut in the process." I then raised my eyebrow. "Is that why you're here? Or do you need something?"

"Not tonight," he responded while glancing over my shoulder. I turned slightly to see a woman picking up Tara and she said something to Sam, who looked like he'd seen a ghost. Eric voice had me turning back. "I heard that the killer you were looking for is dead, and I can smell another male's blood on you."

I tensed up but let out a long breath. "He went after Sookie," I explained. "I killed him."

Eric searched my face for a moment. "You did it to protect your cousin. You did it out of defense."

My eyes started to sting and water. People had been telling me that all day, but for some reason, hearing it from Eric meant so much more. Maybe it was the mating call or maybe it was the fact that he would have no reason to lie to me. "That was the first time I've ever killed anyone," I whispered in a thick voice as a tear fell down my cheek. "I was so angry. He killed two of my friends, my Gran, put one cousin in jail and nearly killed the other. It was like I couldn't control myself."

Eric's cold finger swiped away the tear that fell and trailed down my cheek. "You shouldn't cry from someone like that," he whispered. "What you did was survive. You should never regret surviving the only way that life lets you."

"Teddy?" Jason's voice called to me, and it made me turn to look over my shoulder. I saw Jason standing there staring at me.

Turning back to Eric, I smiled at him. "Thank you for coming to check on me Eric. I appreciate the thought. And thank you for your words as well."

"You're welcome," Eric said awkwardly.

I nodded before turning around to walk to Jason. Jason smiled and pulled me into a tight hug. I clung tightly to him and buried my face in his shoulder. "I'm so sorry that I wasn't there Teddy," he whispered.

I shook my head as I let go of him. "Don't blame yourself Jason. I promise that I'll be alright. You should go see Sookie."

"I will, but I wanna tell you that I am gonna take care of both you and Sookie," Jason told me as he held my shoulders. "I promise that you won't have to worry about me anymore."

I smiled at him as I wiped my eyes. "All I want is for you to take care of yourself Jas. So, just focus on that. Now, go see Sookie."

He nodded and went inside. I turned around to the tree line, only to see that Eric had left. I sighed before going back inside.

*Queen of the Wolves*

After everyone had left for the night, I was laying in my room, trying to fall asleep. Just the memory of killing Rene, it made me dream of ancient battles. Some of them I had only read about. But these battles were as if I was in the middle of it. A part of me wondered if I was seeing battles of the previous Queen. I could have sworn that I had seen a boy that looked like Godric.

The doorbell ringing was what brought me out of my thoughts. I got up quickly and went downstairs when I heard Bill's voice. Coming down the first set of stairs, I stopped at seeing Bill and Sookie kissing. They pulled apart and Bill turned to look over his shoulder at me. I smiled and run down the steps when he opened his arms to me.

I practically tackled him in a hug. I breathed out a laugh as I held him tight. "I thought I told you not to make a habit of betting in trouble."

He let out a rumbling chuckle in response and Sookie came over to have a three-way hung. I sighed contently. My life had never been normal, but now it felt more complete.

*Queen of the Wolves*

Two Weeks Later

Things had been quiet the past two weeks since I killed Rene. I was able to go back to my job normally. Sookie didn't need to be watched over all day. There were some changes though.

The first change, I was spending many of my nights when I wasn't at work at my house. The deal that I was trying to make with the VA was getting harder to get what I wanted out of them. Many of my pack thought that I should pull out. But I knew that I would get what I wanted soon enough. I just had to be a little patient and keep pushing on.

The other thing that changed were my dreams. Ever since that first night, I would have dreams of ancient battles. Sometimes, I would be in the battle and other times, it was like I was watching it from the side lines. There were two constants in the dreams. One was a young boy that looked like Godric. The boy had all of his tattoos, but I wondered how all of this was possible.

The second was a woman that looked so familiar, but I didn't know why. She had waist length ebony hair that was pulled back with large curls. Her skin was lightly tanned from the sun, and she had light gray eyes. She was beautiful and in the dreams, she was like a commander. I wondered why she seemed so familiar to me.

The third change was Eric. On the nights that I didn't have any meetings, I would stay at Sookie's house and Eric would show up. We would sit on the porch and just talk about anything. He would ask questions about my life, and I would omit certain details, but I would answer them to the best of my ability. I would ask Eric questions as well about his past. It was hard to get answers from him, but I did get some from him.

Currently, I walked into the bar to Arlene teasing Sookie about marrying Bill. I smiled at that. Bill and Sookie were doing pretty good, but I had a feeling that it was gonna change. Sookie still hadn't found out about Jessica yea, and I was worried about it.

I got to work to get lost in the service. Sam had been in a piss poor mood for two weeks and simply tried to stay out of his way. I had a feeling that it wasn't just Sookie and Bill he was upset about. I could have something to do with the woman that picked up Tara. His heartbeat had sped up when he saw her.

There was a part of me that was enjoying the peace the past few weeks. But, something told me it wasn't gonna last.

*Queen of the Wolves*

It was closing time, and I watched as Sookie tried to get through to Andy. Some part of me wanted to feel bad about how he was feeling. But I had to remind myself that he had locked up my cousin, truly believing that he was the killer. After wiping off a few tables, Tara came up to me.

"Teddy, can you come help us with Andy?" she asked. "He's drunk and trying to drive his car."

I sighed but nodded anyway. No matter how angry I was at Any, I didn't want him to crash and get hurt. We went after him and caught up with Sookie who was trailing after him.

"Where's my car?" I heard him mutter.

"Andy, you're not going anywhere tonight," I told him grabbing his arms to stop him.

"The only thing you're driving tonight is us crazy," Tara chimed in as Andy shrugged off my hand.

"Portia said she's on her way to pick you up," Sookie explained. "Give me your keys."

"I don't have 'em," he slurred as he stopped under a light. "I left 'em in the car. Right here, underneath this light. Some son of a bitch stole my car!"

I shared a doubtful look with Sookie and Tara. Sookie crossed her arms as she looked back to Andy. "You sure this is where you parked it?"

Andy then turned around, drunk, and angry, but he looked like he could cry. "This whole town's gone to shit. Nobody used to murder each other, stealing cars. That's what happens when you don't let a good cop do his job."

Tara then pointed over Andy's shoulder. "Ain't that it over there?" she asked in confusion.

All of us looked to where she was pointed and saw Andy's car parked under some low hanging branches. "That ain't where I parked it."

Tara and Sookie shared another disbelief look while I tilted my head slightly. The smell around the car was human but there was a smell that was overpowering it. I didn't recognize the smell, but it smelled like some kind of animal. There was also a dinging sound that was coming from the car, warning that a door was opened. "What the hell?" Andy asked.

He opened the back door and a black foot with red nails comes out. We all froze, and Andy looked shocked. "That ain't mind, I swear."

Tara and Sookie then began to scream while I tried to hold in my growl. The peace that we had been enjoying the past two weeks had just ended.