Chapter 5

"Sookie!" I shouted as I ran up the steps of my Gran's house. Zander and Bryson were right behind me. As soon as Sookie told me about Gran, I ran to my car. Zander and Bryson had both followed and I told them in the car. "Sookie! Sookie!"

The front door was open, and I rushed inside. I stopped in my tracks when I saw both Sam and Bill facing each other, and they turned to me. Just behind Bill was Sookie, who had blood on her hands and lower legs. My breath caught as the blood scent hit me full force. I ripped my arm away from Zander who tried to hold me back.

Running past Sookie and towards the kitchen, I stopped short as Bill tried to block my path. Over his shoulder, I saw my sweet, loving Gran laying in a pool of her own blood on the kitchen floor. I grabbed onto Bill as my knees buckled. Bill kept me from hitting the ground, and my vision blurred as tears filled my eyes.

The one person who always believed in me, kept me grounded, and always reminded me that I had a home, was gone.

*Queen of the Wolves*

Bud Dearborn and Andy Bellefleur were in the kitchen with Mike Spencer, the coroner, and his assistant. I felt completely numb as Zander wrapped me in a blanket, and he rubbed my arms trying to comfort me. Sookie sat next to me as Sam wrapped her in a blanket as well. We both were staring blankly into space and in shock.

"Why don't you two go upstairs and lie down?" Sam suggested to us. "There gonna be in there a while. As soon as we find anything out, Zander and I'll let you know."

Sookie didn't say anything but looked into the kitchen. I followed her gaze, and I suddenly heard the voices of everyone in the kitchen, in my head. Sookie was in such shock that all her walls were down. Normally, we both had walls that kept me from hearing others through her, but they were down, so I could hear everything.

'Oh, shit. I got blood on my boots.'

'So much blood, I'm gonna be sick. Pull it together, pull it the fuck together. Do your job. No wonder they don't respect you.

'…cut her up real good. Must be 30 stabs. The throat's wide open. Holy hell, we got ourselves a serial killer here.'

I was finally able to block out most of the noise by tearing my gaze away, so now it was only background noise. I heard my name being called and turned to see Bryson giving me a worried look. He rubbed my arm in comfort and I nodded to him that I heard him.

"Maybe I could…use a little air," Sookie said in a voice that was void of emotion. She rose out of her seat without another word and walked out to the front porch. Sam followed after her, and Zander sat next to me.

"Maybe you should get some air as well," he suggested with concern lacing his voice. I only shook my head at him. I didn't want to go anywhere. "Theodora, this is the one time I'm gonna pull the big brother card. You're gonna get some air."

With that he picked me up and carried me outside, just as Sam walked in looking like he ate a lemon. Zander gently sat me down on the porch swing, and I tried to smile at him, but I don't think it looked like one. "Thank you Z," I thanked him in a blank voice.

Zander gathered me up and hugged me with my head tucked under his chin and shoulder. "I know that all of this hurts Teddy," he whispered, his voice thick. "But you and Sookie aren't the only ones that lost her. She was Gran to me too."

I nodded to show I understood, and my eyes filled with tears again, but I pushed them down. I would cry when I was alone not when others could see me. The whole of my personal pack viewed Gran as their own, everyone will be hurting. Bryson walked out the door and came over to kneel down in front of me.

"Teddy, I don't think that Gran was the target," he whispered so that only Zander and I would hear him. "I overheard Bill saying that he thinks that Sookie was the one that he was after."

My eyes widened. The bastard that was out killing women, killed my grandmother and intended to kill my cousin. Over my dead body. He just fucked with the wrong family. "I want someone around Sookie at all times," I commanded, my eyes gaining a little life back. "Everyone takes shifts, except at night, no exceptions."

"Why not at night?" Zander asked quietly.

"Bill will be watching over her at night," I stated plainly.

Suddenly, the front door opened, and Bill walked out. Sookie stood up and walked over to him. "Bill, what's going on?" she asked.

Bill put his arm around her and walked her over to where I was. Andy and Bud walked out of the screen door as they moved. He glanced at me with concern in his eyes. "They're about to move your grandmother," he said.

I stood from my seat to stand next to Bill who had Sookie on his other side. Andy turned to us. "Sookie, Teddy, you both might wanna go sleep at a friends," he suggested. "Someplace less isolated. Maybe at your brothers or at your own house Teddy."

"I'm not going anywhere," Sookie protested firmly while I stayed silent.

"Sookie, perhaps—" Bill tried.

"No," Sookie cut him off. "This is my house. I'm staying right here."

"If she's staying, then I am too," I declared, and stopped the protests from my brother and Bryson.

Mike Spencer then called to say that they were coming through and brought out our Gran's body. I could tell what Bud was thinking and I didn't have to go through Sookie. The judgmental look on his face said it all. "We're truly sorry about your grandmother," he said.

"Are y'all done in there?" Sookie inquired. "Cause we'd like to clean up. If that's alright."

"All right, then," Bud conceded. "You call us at the first sign of anything."

They both turned to leave, and Andy looked to Sam, Zander, and Bryson. "Keep an eye on them," he practically ordered.

"I will," they all chorused at the same time.

As they left, Bill turned to Sookie and I. "They are right," he argued. "You both should not stay here."

"I agree," Sam spoke up. "You both can have my trailer. I-I'll sleep at the bar."

"Or you can sleep at the house," Zander offered. "It's got more than enough room for everyone."

I knew what he meant by that. Having most of the pack around in the house, they could better protect the both of us.

"I'm as safe here as anywhere," she argued. "Besides, I got both of you and Teddy to protect me, haven't I?"

'You heard?' I asked in her head.

'Bud isn't exactly subtle with his thoughts,' she commented back, to which I snorted.

"Sookie…" Bill said with regret. "I have to go."

"Of course," Sookie said realizing the point. "It's almost dawn."

Bill nodded softly. "And I will come back. Later."

Sam then stepped closer. "I can take it from here."

I rolled my eyes at the pissing contest they were having. This is why I'm glad that I'm a wolf. We have one mate and that's for life. Sookie though seemed oblivious to the small stare off they were having. "Don't worry about me," she told Bill softly. "Sam and Teddy won't let anything happen. Go."

Bill quickly walked away and down the porch as Sookie watched him leave. She then shakily turned to Sam. "Uh, there's an extra mop round back?" she told him. "Would mind getting it for me?" Sam tried to object but Sookie cut him off. "Gran took a lot of pride in her home. She wouldn't want anyone to see it like this."

As Sookie walked inside, I turned to Zander and Bryson. "Can you two go tell the rest of the pack? And bring some extra cleaning supplies?"

Zander looked like he wanted to argue, but the look I wore had him sighing and nodding instead. He and Bryson took off, while I followed Sookie inside. I went upstairs first to change out of my dress, and into a pair of shorts and a tank top. Coming back down, I grabbed another basin of water, gloves and a cloth and began to help Sookie clean up the blood.

*Queen of the Wolves*

Later on in the day, the whole town had heard about Gran's death. The whole house was full of people offering their condolences that they didn't really mean. I was so glad that I couldn't hear any of their thoughts, but my strong hearing was picking up all of the gossip that was going through the house. The entire time, I haven't been able to focus on anything. I was sitting outside on the porch swing with Georgette sitting next to me.

I wasn't alone at all. One of my pack had always been beside me. Sam, Tara, and Lafayette were inside most likely handling the crowd along with my pack. Sookie and I were practically catatonic and unemotional the whole time. I felt Georgette pat my hand before she got up, and I saw Lafayette walking up to me. The two of them switched places and Lafayette wrapped his arm around my shoulder in a side hug as he sat down. I rested my head on his shoulder with a content sigh. Lafayette was always able to bring my spirits up.

"Hey there White Lightning," he greeted softly. "You're strong. You'll get through this."

"I'm trying Chocolate Thunder," I told him. "But Gran was my rock. Throughout the years I've been gone, she always managed to contact me and remind me that I would always have a home here."

"Hey," he said and pulled back a little to look me in the eye. "Listen, you will always have a home here. More importantly, you have a family here. You still have Sookie, Jason, your brother. But you have Tara and me and you have Sam and the rest of your pack. You ain't gotta go through this alone. Because you're not alone."

For the first time since this morning, a small but genuine smile pulled my lips. "You can be very poetic when you want to be LaLa," I joked lightly, and he smiled at me. "But thank you."

"Any time sexy mama," he replied, and I actually let out a small laugh.

There was shouting that came from inside, and it sounded like Sookie's voice. Both Lafayette and I shot up and rushed inside to the kitchen, to see Sookie clutching Gran's last pie in her hands. She was looking around wildly, most likely listening to the thoughts of those around her. Tara then came over, wrapped her arms around Sookie and led her through the crowd. "If y'all excuse us," she announced. "I need Sookie upstairs."

As she passed by Sam, he looked like he wanted to help, but Tara shooed him away. "Just give us a little girl time," Tara told him as she led Sookie to the stairs. "Come on, Lafayette, Teddy."

The two of us followed Tara and Sookie upstairs to Sookie's room. We all sat around the bed, Sookie at the head, Tara and I sitting at the end, Lafayette stretched out on one side, and Gran's pie in the middle.

"I shouldn't have lost it like that," Sookie lamented.

"Don't feel sorry for yelling at that snoopy old bitch," Tara snapped. "She's been stickin' her nose where it don't belong for years."

"Say it," Lafayette agreed. "I mean if she talked any more shit she'd be shaped like a toilet."

I let out a small laugh as Tara and Lafayette chuckled. Sookie just looked at us in shocked realization. "Gran's gone," she stated, and I reached over to take her hand. "She's really gone."

"Yeah, she is," Tara agreed, sounding regretful.

Sookie shook her head and gripped my hand tighter. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do," she admitted. "Can't even think straight."

"Of course, you can't! How can you, with all these circling buzzards?" Tara countered and Lafayette hummed quietly in agreement. "You know, you're not their entertainment. You don't have to dance for 'em. You just gotta feel whatever you're feelin'."

It was then that I noticed Tara had wrapped her arm around my shoulders. I looked over to see Tara giving me a look. Sookie shook her head slightly. "I'm not sure I'm… feelin' anything," she admitted, and I squeezed her hand. "I'm just numb."

Tara nodded. "Numb is good."

"Yeah," Lafayette and I agreed.

"Numb is probably exactly what you need right now, the both of you do," Tara continued, and squeezed my shoulder. "Stop worrying about being so damn appropriate. This is not an appropriate event."

Sookie didn't say anything and looked at the three of us with a blank look. I looked over to Tara. "Thank you for getting us both out of there," I told her with appreciation in my tone.

Tara smiled and nodded to me as Sookie echoed me. "I haven't had a single minute of silence," she admitted. "Can't seem to… block anything our right now."

"You want me to tell 'em all to shut the hell up?" Tara asked immediately, ready to do just that.

"I wish it were that easy," Sookie told her.

"It is," Lafayette declared, and dug into his pocket, pulling out a plastic bag. "Your wish… is my command."

"Oh, no," Sookie denied. "I-I don't do drugs."

"Sook," Lafayette said with a sigh. "Relax. This is not drugs. This is just a Valium." He held up the tiny blue pill. When Sookie still looked skeptical, he held it out with a smirk. "Well, I'll tell you what. Put it on your nightstand just in case you change your mind."

Sookie took the pill and put it on the nightstand, and Lafayette gave a regretful sigh. "I'm gonna go and check on the circling buzzards," he said standing up.

"Lafayette?" Sookie called.

"Yes, ma'am."

Sookie picked up Gran's pie and held it out to him. "Would you mind… taking this downstairs for me?"

"I will guard it with my life," he said as he took the pie and left downstairs.

*Queen of the Wolves*

Tara, Sookie, and I settled more in Sookie's bedroom. I put on some soft music that played in the background to block out the voices downstairs. We all lay on our fronts across the bed. Sookie was in between Tara and I.

"Do you want me to call anyone?" Tara questioned. "Your cousin Hadley?"

"No one has heard from her in over a year, since she ran away from that rehab Gran paid for," I told her.

"I don't even know how to get hold of her," Sookie added.

"What about Bill?" Tara asked. "Are you gonna invite him?"

"Tara, he can't go," Sookie reminded her.

"Oh, right."

"It's not like you've known a lot of vampires," Sookie reassured her. "Kinda takes getting used to." She then turned to me with a curious look. "Have you known a lot of vampires Teddy? You've been a lot of different places."

I smiled softly as I thought of a few vampires that are just a state away. "I've met quite a few vampires actually. And quite a few are actually close friends, so I'm pretty used to being around them."

"I'm not sure I'll ever get used to it," Tara commented, and Sookie just gave her a look. "What? Cause not everyone is as open-minded as the two of you. Shoot you. You should hear the things people are saying."

"I do," Sookie snapped raising her voice a little. "Bill did not kill our grandmother."

"Don't you get all mad at me," Tara snapped back. "Nobody's blaming Bill… exactly. But didn't you say that he had some scary-ass friends?"

"Not all vampires are like that," Sookie defended, and looked at me. "Right?"

I nodded while thinking of a few that could be like that. Thinking about them had me thinking of Eric. My wolf growled in my head from just thinking about him. Maybe Isleen and Georgette were right, maybe Eric really was my mate. Apparently, I zoned out with my thoughts, and was brought back when the bedroom door slammed open. I sat up to look behind me and see Jason walk in looking angry.

"Jason," Sookie started as she stood up.

Suddenly, Jason slapped her across the cheek, and she fell on the bed. Both Tara and I jumped up, Tara going to keep Jason back and me standing in between them. I started giving a warning growl and I could feel my eyes glow. Jason didn't even seem to notice me because he just stared at Sookie.

"It's your fault!" he shouted at her. "Gran's dead cause of you. It should have been you!"

Tara held him back from behind as he lunged, and I put both my hands on his chest. He seemed to be a lot stronger than normal, and it made me wonder what he was on.

"Son of a bitch!" Tara shouted as I pushed Jason away. "Don't you lay a hand on her!"

"She's screwing a vampire, Tara," he growled. "A fucking vampire!"

I growled louder which got his attention back to me and Tara managed to throw him back. "That vampire was there for her when you weren't. He was there for both of us when we couldn't reach you!"

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself!" Tara shouted next. "Is that how your grandma raised you? To beat on your own sister?" That seemed to make Jason come down from his rage. "Look at you!" she continued. "I don't even recognize you anymore! Get the hell out of here. Get out! Get out!"

She managed to shove Jason out of the door and slam it in his face. Turning back around, she rushed back to Sookie, asking if she was okay. Sookie looked dazed for a moment, before taking the little blue pill that Lafayette gave her.

*Queen of the Wolves*

After Sookie fell asleep, Tara and I went downstairs to kick everyone out. "All right, everybody!" Tara called from the stairs behind me. "Sookie needs her rest. It's time for y'all to go now."

When everyone just stood and stared at the two of us, I started to get angry. "What the hell are y'all staring at?! You heard her. The side show's over. Now git! Get the fuck out!"

"We appreciate y'all coming out," Tara continued trying to be more polite. "We love y'all. Come on, let's go. Let's go. Thank you."

Everyone passed by the two of us and I was given hugs by my pack. It had been decided that Zander and Georgette would stay with Sookie and I, along with Tara and Lafayette. Tara then spotted Sam still in his spot and smiled sympathetically at him. "That means you too, Sam," she said. Sam walked up to us with a worried look. "Look, I get it. But right now, she needs to be alone."

"All right," he conceded. "Well, if there's anything I can do, you call me. Both of you."

Tara sighed, looking away. "You're a good friend. Now get the fuck out of here. Please." Sam gave me one last hug before leaving. Tara then turned to Arlene and Mrs. Fortenberry. "Don't make me throw you all out myself, 'cause you know I will."

"I heard you Tara," Arlene snapped, and then gave me a tight hug. "If you or Sookie need anything at all, don't hesitate to ask, okay?"

"I'll be sure to remember that," I said, smiling at her. "Thank you Arlene." Arlene may be small minded on some things, but she was more genuine about her feelings than most. She was a good friend, even if we've had our differences.

Once everyone had left, Tara, Lafayette, Zander, Georgette, and I were standing over all the food that was brought over. The food was all half eaten, and we were all wondering the same thing. What the hell are we gonna do with all of it?

"What the fuck is it with white people and Jell-O?" Lafayette asked in genuine confusion. He then looked at Zander and I. "No offence. I just don't understand."

Tara sighed and asked the question out loud. "What the hell are we gonna do with all this?"

"Toss it," Lafayette said simply. "Sookie and Teddy don't need no bad juju cooking."

Tara and Zander looked at Lafayette in confusion. "Bad juju?" Tara inquired.

"Way to a man's heart is through his stomach," Lafayette explained. "That shit trued as gold. You put some love in your food, and folk can taste it."

"Amen brother," Georgette agreed.

Lafayette grinned over at her in thanks. "She understands." He then picked up a container that had corn bread in it to Tara. "Smell this. You can smell the-the fear and nastiness coming off that corn bread."

Tara to a bit of the corn bread and placed it in her mouth. "Taste just fine to me."

"See, bitch, you gonna wish you ain't did that," Lafayette warned her. "Watch."

"Well, regardless, we need to get rid of it," I spoke up, and they all just looked at me. "I honestly don't care how. Zander and GG can clean up the dishes and Tara, Lafayette, and I can clean up the other rooms."

Zander and Georgette both nodded at me, while Tara and Lafayette looked unsure. "Are you sure you don't wanna lay down Teddy?" Tara asked. "Sookie's not the only one who needs rest, you do too."

"I'll rest tonight," I told her. "I just need to keep busy right now."

With that I walked out of the room to get the broom and dustpan. I overheard Zander try and reassure the cousins. "Just let her do what she needs," Zander told them.

"She'll come around," Georgette agreed.

*Queen of the Wolves*

That night, Zander and Georgette were finishing up the dishes as I finished up cleaning one of the rooms. I went to see how Tara and Lafayette were doing when the door burst open, and a blur shot past me up the stairs. Knowing who it was, I ran up the stairs after the blur as I heard Tara shout and their footsteps behind me. Running into Sookie's bedroom, I stopped when I saw Bill next to Sookie's bed, shaking her and shouting her name.

"What the hell are you doin'?" Tara demanded, stepping forward, but Lafayette and I pulled her back.

Sookie opened her eyes sleepily and looked over as Bill let out a sigh of relief. "Bill, what's wrong?" she asked drowsily.

"I thought…" he exhaled, smiling slightly. "I had a dream. That's all. You go back to sleep." Sookie tried to argue, but Bill hushed her. "Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere."

Sookie blinks groggily, and rolls back over, falling asleep almost instantly. I turned and ushered the cousins back downstairs. I turned back to Bill and smiled at him as he stood up. We both walked out of the room and closing the door quietly. Bill pulled me into a tight hug, and I just leaned into his embrace. "Thank you for coming Bill," I whispered softly.

"Of course, I came Theodora," Bill replied as we pulled back. "How are you holding up?"

I heaved a heavy, shaky sigh and wiped away my tears before they could fall. "As good as I can be right now. If you're gonna stay, would you like something to drink? Gran had me buy a few Tru Bloods for when you came over again."

Bill nodded and gave me a small smile. "Thank you Theodora. I appreciate it. I'll step outside so your friends don't feel uncomfortable."

I nodded and led him downstairs where Zander smiled at him. I let them talk while I got his drink warmed up. After that, he went back outside to stand watch and I went upstairs for a night of fitful sleep.

*Queen of the Wolves*

The next day, I sat with my cousins, my brother, Georgette, Tara, and Lafayette in the front row of Gran's funeral. There was a woman sighing and I was just staring at the coffin in numb silence. I didn't wear a black dress like Sookie, Tara, and Georgette. I wore a black tee shirt, black dress pants and black flats. Not exactly all that dressy for a funeral, but Gran never did mind my lack of dressing up.

As the song ends, the minister steps up to speak. My hearing fades his words into the background as I hear the sound of a wheelchair. I looked over to see a young man, Neil Jones, pushing an older man in a wheelchair up the path to the funeral. My heart rate sped up as I gripped onto Sookie's hand, at the same time as she grips mine. We both know who it is, Uncle Bartlett Hale, Gran's brother.

The older man used to touch both Sookie and I when we were younger. I had only just found out what I was, and was terrified of hurting someone, so I never did anything about it. Sookie, on the other hand, had told Gran what was going on and she ran him off. It probably would have gotten worse if she hadn't. It was after that that my mother died, and I was sent to live with my father.

I noticed that Jason greeted him with a smile and a pat on the leg. Sookie had a very different reaction. "Uncle Bartlett, what are you doing here?!" she demanded quietly.

Uncle Bartlett just looked indifferent. "She was my sister," he reminded her.

"You haven't been apart of this family in a long time," I hissed at him, glaring and he glared in return.

"Ted, come on," Jason interrupted, leaning back to get between us. "Give the guy a break."

Both Sookie and I stared at Jason in disbelief. Jason was never told what he had done to us. But for him to actually invite him, that just hurt.

The pastor interrupted us by talking to Sookie. "Honey?" Sookie looked at him. "You wanted to say a few words?"

Sookie stood slowly and took her handbag up to the podium. She unfolds a piece of paper that she took out of her handbag. "Adele Stackhouse was… everything to me," she began. "She wasn't just my grandmother. She was… my parent, my teacher, and my best friend."

She took a pause and looked around at the crowd of mourners. The look in her eyes told me that she was listening to their thoughts. Sookie then continued. "To say she'll be missed… just dudn't cut it, 'cause… I couldn't even imagine a world without her in it. She was always there, with a kind word, and a hot meal, and a shoulder to cry on. Not just for me, but… for everyone who knew her."

There was another pause and Sookie's every kept looking around at everyone rapidly. I could tell that the thoughts were starting to get to her. "Shut up!" she shouted suddenly. "All of you, just shut the fuck up!"

Everyone jumped at her shout and looked startled that she was cursing. They started to mutter to themselves. Sookie rips up the paper she had and throws it down before grabbing her handbag and taking off. Jason got up and went after her, while I stayed where I was. I knew that Sookie was feeling overwhelmed and vulnerable, and simply needed to be alone. The pastor stood back up and looked at me. "Well… ahem. Would you like to say something Theodora?"

I simply shook my head. I felt so guilty that I hadn't been there to defend her and catch the killer. I didn't deserve to speak for her. It didn't matter what others were going to say about me, I just didn't care anymore.

Thankfully, the pastor moved on. "Is there anyone else who'd care to share a few words?"

There were a few mutterings, but no one made a move. Then there was a voice that I noticed sounded familiar. I looked over to Tara and Lafayette and noticed that they looked panicked. Turning around in my seat, I saw a short haired, dark skinned older woman standing and walking up to the front. My jaw dropped in shock that Lettie Mae Thornton, Tara's mother, had shown up to my grandmother's funeral.

She had always hated my grandmother and was confused as to why she was here. Tara tried to stop her, but she broke free and walked up to the podium. "I didn't know Miss Stackhouse like a lot of you did," she started. "But the few times I did meet her… she was nuttin' but kind to me."

Normally, I didn't listen to the heartbeats of someone, but I tried to listen to it at that blatant lie. I was surprised to find that her heartbeat was steady. My grandmothers had been kind at first, but not from then on. As Lettie Mae continued, her heartbeat remained steady, so either she didn't remember, or she truly believed what she was saying.

When she said that she would be grateful to my grandmother, I was in shock. That was not how I thought that would go.

*Queen of the Wolves*

I stood with Jason as people gave their false condolences. Jason seemed to be out of it and was sweating badly. I was worried about him, even though I couldn't smell anything wrong with him. After everyone had left and before I could say anything to him, Jason had disappeared. Zander came over to me before I could look for him. He pointed out that Sookie was back and staring at the casket as it was lowered into the ground.

I slowly made my way towards her and wrapped my arm around her shoulders. She glanced up a me, and then put her head on my shoulder. I leaned my head against hers and we stood there in silence. Soaking up the comfort we had for each other.

"Z wants me to stay at my house," I told her.

I felt her nod against my shoulder and mummer her answer. "I need to be alone right now Teddy."

I chuckled softly. "I would agree, but my pack won't let me."

Sookie wrapped an around my waist and we gave each other a loose side hug. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you."

I left her alone and walked back to Zander and Georgette. Georgette wrapped her arm around me and led me to my brother's truck. I climbed inside and Zander drove the three of us back to my house.

Walking inside, I ignored everyone and slowly moved upstairs to my bedroom. I slowly undressed and changed into a dark gray tank top and some gray cotton shorts. Laying down in bed, the tears started out slow, but soon flowed down my cheeks. That night, I cried myself to sleep.