Crimson Rain

Chapter 8

Recap: I sighed, know that was all I would get out of him. "Fine, I'll be going now."

"Perhaps I should take you home, you have been drinking after all."

"I think not, my buzz left an hour ago, and there is no way I'm showing you where I live."

"And here I thought we were friends," he replied.

"If we're friends then I never want to meet your enemies."

I assumed that Bill and Sookie had already left, so imagine my surprise when I walked back into the club proper to see them still there. "I thought you guys left."

"We decided to wait for you, your car doesn't sound very reliable," Bill answered.

"Hey don't dis The Beast," I replied. "I know it's an eyesore but it still runs."

"Doesn't sound like it's going to last much longer," Eric interrupted.

"Well it's all I can afford right now so it's just going to have to last. That car got me from one end of the country to the other and back again, it's got some life left in it. Now," I said, "let's get home, I'm tired." Sookie and Bill were the first ones out the door and I heard Bill start the car, though I didn't hear them pull out. I pocketed Longshadow's lighter, since he no longer had any use for it and gathered my keys and the second pack of cigarettes. Before I left I turned to Pam, "Thanks for the smokes. How much do I owe you?"

I was reaching into my pocket for money to repay her when she answered, "No need." My first instinct was to argue, I didn't like owing people, but I knew that I wouldn't win so I just gave in with a sigh and a nod. With that I left the bar and climbed into The Beast, which started on the first try, almost like it was proving a point. I peeled out of the parking lot, squealing my tires slightly and headed back to Bon Temps. Because I was so tired and it was so late, I didn't really pay attention to the speed limit. Apparently Bill did though, so I beat the two of them home. I was too tired to wait for them so I went ahead and unlocked the door and stepped inside.

Suddenly I felt something warm and thick splash across my face. I groped for the light switch and felt slightly sick when I saw the mess. Someone had decapitated Sookie's cat and hung her from the ceiling fan. The fan was on so Tina was slowly circling around, splattering blood on the walls and floor. I heard another car pull up and quickly stepped back out of the house to meet them.

Bill was assuring Sookie that he would be fine when he saw me. "What happened?!" He asked in a concerned tone, flashing to stand right in front of me.

"I'm fine," I quickly assured. "Don't let Sookie see," I said in a low voice so only Bill could hear, "just take her upstairs…please."

Bill just nodded, trusting my judgement and, using his vampire speed, flitted back to Sookie and then suddenly, they were gone. I heard an upstairs door shut and the distinct sound of Sookie yelling. Apparently she didn't like the fact that we were keeping something from her. However, I could have cared less. Once again I found myself faced with having to clean up a bloody mess. I first turned off the ceiling fan and then moved to the kitchen to gather all of the supplies I would need and was looking for a step ladder when I heard the shower turn on. Bill came back down the stairs to find me balancing on the step ladder trying to get Tina down from the ceiling fan. Gravity was still causing blood to drip from the cat's neck and it was running down my arms. I went onto my tip toes in order to better see the knot but I misjudged my balance and would have fallen if Bill hadn't caught me. Without saying a word Bill set me on my feet on the floor and moved to take my previous place on the ladder. Since he was an inch or two taller than me it was easier to get Tina down from the fan. I ran upstairs and found an old shoebox in Sookie's closet, I don't even know why she had it, and came back down the stairs. Bill was still holding Tina's body when I joined him back in the living room. Silently he placed Tina in the shoebox and took her outside. While he was gone I began cleaning up the blood, hoping to have it cleaned up before Sookie was done with her shower, though I knew it was probably impossible.

Suddenly the rag I was using was taken from my hands and Bill was gently guiding me outside and sitting me down on the porch. Bill was suddenly gone from my side but from the faint noise I could hear from inside it seemed like he was busy cleaning the living room at vampire speed. I grabbed another cigarette from my pack and lit up, shakily inhaling the smoke in an attempt to calm myself down.

I had handled Bill's staking of Longshadow much better than I was handling the murder of Tina. However, Bill had staked Longshadow in defense of Sookie. In this case someone had broken into the house and decapitated Tina, leaving her in a position to where she would easily be seen. This could only be a message to the residents of the house. Home is supposed to be safe, when scared or hurt you're supposed to go home and be safe. Gran's beautiful home had been tainted by a killer…twice. The first time he killed my grandmother and now he had come back.

I hadn't been in town when Gran was killed, so the truth of the situation hadn't fully hit me yet. I was still in mourning for her, I knew she was gone and wasn't coming back, but it didn't really register that she was killed in her own home. However, it seemed that the killer wasn't done with this family, why else would he kill Sookie's cat and leave her displayed in such a way?

"Leah?" I turned and saw Bill had come back out and was looking at me concerned, "Are you alright?"

"No," I said, turning back to look out at the yard, "no I'm not. Your home is supposed to be safe, nothing is supposed to happen at home, nothing is supposed to be able to hurt you in your home. I knew that Gran was killed here, but I guess I was so focused on the fact that she was gone that it never registered that she was killed here." By this time, I was crying quietly, trying to keep Sookie from hearing in case she came back downstairs. I expected Bill to go back inside, uncomfortable with my open display of humanity. However, he surprised me by taking the seat next to me, pulling me into his arms, and letting me cry.

"You don't need to worry Leah; I'll protect Sookie, and I'll protect you too," he whispered.

"All I want to do right now is run," I confessed, after I was calmed down enough to talk.

"Why don't you?" He asked, more curious than judgmental.

I thought for a moment before answering, "Sookie and Jason are the only true family I have left. Gran and my father are dead, my mother is a drug addict, and my grandfather is a monster." I could tell that Bill wanted to ask for clarification, but he was too polite to ask what everyone else knew. "Technically Gran was my great-aunt," I began to explain, "my grandfather is her brother, Bartlett." I noticed how Bill stiffened at Bartlett's name, it was subtle, but I caught it. Instead of commenting I just continued, "my parents were addicts and my dad overdosed when I was young. Mom didn't want a kid so she dropped me off with her dad."

"Did he…like Sookie…?"

Realizing that Sookie must have told Bill about Bartlett I quickly shook my head, "No, I was only in that house maybe thirty minutes before Gran came and got me."

"Well it certainly explains a lot," I quirked an eyebrow at him, "you had to grow up so fast…too fast."

I shrugged, "Maybe, but there is no use wasting energy pinning over a past I didn't have. But Gran was good to me, she taught me what real family love is. And now Sookie and Jason are all that I have left, I owe it to them to at least stay and be there for them. And I'm sick of running."

Before Bill could comment anymore on my past something caught his attention, his head cocked slightly toward the house. "Sookie's finished," he said, answering my silent question, "come on." Bill held a hand out to me and I took it, allowing him to gently pull me to my feet and guide me back inside.

"Did you tell Sookie anything?"

"Not yet. You go ahead and get cleaned up, let me worry about Sookie for a while."

I snorted, "Bill it seems to me like that's all you'll be doin' for the foreseeable future. She does have a way of getting herself into trouble."

"Nevertheless," he began with a slight smile, "you let me worry about everything for a while. Now go get cleaned up."

I nodded slightly and gave Bill a quirk of my lips, the closest thing to a smile I could muster. Luckily I didn't pass Sookie, I figured she was in her room changing. Thanks to Bill's impeccable hearing I managed to get into the bathroom and lock the door before I had to deal with Sookie's pestering. I stripped out of my bloody clothes and quickly jumped into the shower, turning the water up as hot as I could stand it. I scrubbed until my skin was raw and the water ran clear again. Even though the blood was gone I still didn't feel clean and scrubbed myself down one more time. I only stepped out of the shower when the water turned cold. It was only after drying off that I realized I hadn't brought any clothes into the bathroom with me.

Once again I was lucky and didn't pass anyone as I crossed to my room. I quickly changed into my pajamas and returned to the bathroom to brush my teeth and gather my bloodstained clothes. There was no salvaging my clothes, too much blood had splashed on me from cleaning up Longshadow and when Tina was spinning around the room, and it would never come out, so I just threw them away. I could hear Sookie and Bill talking in her room, so I left them alone and retreated back to my room. Sleep didn't come easy that night and even when it did come I was plagued by nightmares of a shadowy intruder killing Gran and Tina.

Eventually I couldn't take the nightmares anymore and gave up on sleep. Instead I tip-toed downstairs, hoping Sookie was asleep, and put on a pot of coffee. Imagine my surprise when Bill joined me. "Can't sleep?"

I shook my head, "I keep seeing Tina, and imagining Gran."

"Sookie said much the same thing. I won't let anything happen to either of you," he replied, taking a seat at the table.

I thought this over while I poured my coffee and then turned to Bill, "You can't always be there Bill. Eventually dawn will come and you'll have to go to ground. And you can't be in two places at once. What will you do if Sookie and I aren't together and something happens to both of us? "

He was silent for a moment and then confessed exactly how he felt, "All of this is because of me."

"Now you stop that right now William Compton," his eyes jerked to mine in surprise, "this is not your fault. Did you kill Gran? Or Maudette? Or Dawn? Did you kill Tina? No you didn't, no vampire did."

"How do you…"

"No vampire would leave that much blood behind," I explained. "This killer is human, psychotic, and a coward."

"Coward?"

"He hates vampires, believes that vampires and humans shouldn't mix, but he's too scared to confront a vampire. Instead he takes his rage out on humans, he strangles them, watches them die. He watches the light leave their eyes, and it's slow. Hell he took Tina's head for fucks sake. This dude is just plain evil," by this time I was sitting opposite Bill at the table and staring into my coffee.

"Do you know who this killer is?"

I shook my head again, "No, I've just read too many true crime novels and done some research on criminal psychology."

"Why?"

I shrugged, "Call it a morbid fascination but I've always been interested in it. What twists a person into a killer? Some may have some type of mental illness, others were abused. There are those that kill in defense, for a thrill, revenge, greed, and a thousand other reasons. But if that urge to kill can be understood better, maybe it can be recognized and stopped before it happens."

"To each their own," Bill said after a moment. I barely managed to not scoff at him. Was my hobby different? Yes. Did I care? No. I wasn't going to apologize for my interests. I couldn't dance, sing, draw, or sew (well other than patching up holes); the typical archaic female pursuits. I was more interested in reading, watching TV, and working on Beast when time allowed. I wasn't a mechanic or anything, but I could replace various filters, some fuses, the wipers, and some spark plugs; and I could change the oil and the tires. I was clueless when it came to the breaks, transmission, suspension, and other areas of the car; but I wasn't completely helpless when it came to basic car maintenance, and I was always looking to learn something new.

Instead I looked at the clock on the wall, "You should go, it'll be dawn soon."

"I'll pick you and Sookie up from work tonight," he said, standing.

"I'm off today." Bill looked conflicted, knowing that I would be alone part of the day. "I'll be fine, I plan to go into town after Sookie leaves for some things and I'm hopeful that the movers will be here later with the rest of my clothes. I'll call if there's any trouble."

"What if you can't get to the phone? How will you be reached in time then?"

"What do you suggest 'oh wise one?'" Instead of answering verbally, Bill released his fangs and brought his wrist up to his mouth. "Hold it right there cowboy!" Luckily I had been forceful enough to stop him from biting, but quiet enough so Sookie didn't come running. "There is no way in hell that I am drinking your blood."

"It will ensure that I'll be able to feel if you are in danger," he tried to persuade me, fangs still out.

"Then that's a chance I'm willing to take. I seriously doubt that Eric will appreciate you and I being connected. And no offense but I don't need any fucked up dreams."

Thankfully Bill retracted his fangs, "You've had blood before?"

"No, but I've heard stories. I've known some fangbangers and vampires."

"Very well," Bill replied, after a moment, respecting my wishes even though he clearly didn't agree. "But please, do me a favor and stay out of trouble."

I snorted, "Sookie is the trouble magnet, I just get caught in the crossfire." I could tell that Bill was sorely tempted to roll his eyes at me, but he just gave a nod and left at vamp speed. I checked the windows and doors one last time to ensure they were locked and put away the cleaning products that had been left out. No one had cared before that they were left; we were more focused on how fucked up the situation was. But now that I was alone with my thoughts again I needed some form of distraction. Once the cleaning supplies had been put in their proper places I tip-toed upstairs and gathered my dirty clothes to put in the wash.

I told Bill the truth when I said I was hopeful that the movers would come by. When I had first set out I hadn't packed much and this having to do laundry every couple of days was getting old. The laundry didn't take very long so once finished I set to lightly cleaning the house. Sookie was very particular about the cleanliness of the house so I left the big stuff to her; waxing floors, cleaning the oven, cleaning the rugs, etc. I instead set to complete the general upkeep; sweeping, dusting, and cleaning the bathroom. With the sheer size of the house and all of the knick-knacks Gran had collected it took me several hours to complete.

I could have kept going but I began to hear Sookie stirring in her room, so instead I set about making breakfast. I am no chef, but I can cook a decent meal. I dug some of Gran's homemade sausage out of the refrigerator and set that to cooking, while I whisked together the ingredients for some French toast. Once the sausage was done and the last batch of French toast was in the pan cooking I made a fresh pot of coffee, since I drank all of the first pot. Sookie stepped into the kitchen just as the coffee was finished brewing and I was cracking eggs into the frying pan.

"Breakfast is almost ready," I informed her, "and the coffee just finished brewing."

Sookie didn't say anything at first, she just grabbed a mug and prepared her coffee. It was only after she took a seat at the table and had taken a sip of her coffee that Sookie spoke to me, "Thank you."

"For what?" I asked, sliding the eggs onto our respective plates.

"Bill told me about Tina, you found her." I nodded, "He also said that you asked him to keep me from seeing her. Why?"

"You didn't need to see her like that," I explained, taking a seat at the table and handing Sookie her plate. "The living room was a mess Sookie, you already found Gran, you didn't need to see Tina like that."

Sookie nodded and we ate in silence for a while before she asked, "So you and Eric?"

I groaned, "I went to Fangtasia for a drink and Eric called me up. I guess that they don't get too many tourists that don't fawn over the merchandise. Anyway, Eric claimed me when he found out that I couldn't be glamoured."

"You can't be glamoured?" I shook my head, "Neither can I."

Well that explains a lot, I thought. "But that's how I got mixed up with Eric. Now I just have to figure out how to get out of it." I could see that Sookie was about to say something, probably offer her help or suggest that we ask Bill, but I interrupted her, "Don't worry Sookie, I got myself in this mess and I'll get myself out of it. You just focus on staying in one piece."

"But…"

"Sookie," I began, sighing, "we have more important things to worry about than one egotistical vampire sheriff."

Sookie gave me a look, but eventually nodded, conceding my point. Sookie wasn't very happy with me, but she understood where I was coming from. We had a demented killer on our hands, I could worry about dealing with Eric later. One problem at a time, I thought.

We finished breakfast in silence and Sookie eventually left for work. After doing the dishes I changed out of pajamas and into a tank top and denim cut offs, which was lucky. I had just finished buttoning my shorts when there was a knock at the door. I went down stairs, still barefoot, to find a man in coveralls on the porch. Before I opened the door I quickly glanced around and saw the logo on the man's coveralls and the moving truck sitting outside.

"Yes?" I asked, after opening the door.

"Leah Thompson?"

"Yes?"

"I'm John with American Moving Pros ma'am."

"Ah," I stepped out onto the porch, "I was hoping you'd come today."

"I'm sorry ma'am, I know we were supposed to be here the day before yesterday, but we got lost," he explained, giving me s sheepish smile.

I laughed slightly, "Its ok John, Bon Temps is extremely tiny, blink and you miss it."

Another gentleman helped John to move my boxes into the house and up the stairs. Luckily the movers had the ability to run my bank card to pay for the move and for putting my things in one of their storage compartments. Man, that really took a chunk out of my funds. After the movers left I spent the rest of the morning unpacking the boxes and washing the clothes that Mrs. Ellis had packed. Mrs. Ellis had even gone a step further and even packed all my pictures, using my clothes to keep the frames from breaking. She even packed some of my favorite books and my laptop.

It didn't take very long to unpack the boxes, since most of my things had been placed in storage, even with taking a break for a light lunch. Mrs. Ellis had somehow managed to make all my clothes fit into the minimum number of boxes. Geez, that woman can sure pack. I had just one pair of black shorts, which meant that I would still need to stock my wardrobe with some for work. So, after putting away my newly clean clothes, placing my pictures on the dresser, and stacking my books in the far corner; I gathered the tip money I had saved up and headed out of the house.

There were only a couple of clothing stores in Bon Temps and the first one I went in had exactly what I needed. After buying five pairs of black shorts I headed to the grocery store. Sookie had a habit of setting aside money in an old mason jar after every shift for things like groceries and other incidentals. I had grabbed this money before I left the house, so I had enough money to replenish the kitchen. Grocery shopping didn't take that long so I was home before sunset.

The sun was still peeking over the horizon when I finished putting the groceries away. Well, I guess I'll go see Bill. Show him that I made it all day without meeting the boogieman. I didn't bother with Beast since Bill lived so close by. Instead, I cut through the cemetery and was walking up his porch steps ten minutes later. I took a seat on his porch to wait for the sun to finish setting, which didn't take but maybe twenty minutes. Once the sun was safely gone, I knocked on the door. Bill answered before I could even finish knocking, still slightly dirty from his day's rest.

"Leah?" He asked, stepping back slightly and gesturing for me to come in.

"Hello Bill," I replied, stepping into his fore.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit?"

I smiled, "Just wanted you to see that the boogieman didn't get me."

"Very funny," Bill said with a scowl.

"Oh Bill lighten up. You can't be all doom and gloom all the time."

"Pardon me if I think that having a killer after you and Sookie is a cause for concern."

"Bill I highly doubt that he'll be by anytime soon. We just found Tina, we're on high alert. If he's smart he'll lay low for a few days."

Bill sighed, but conceded my point. Since we still had a few hours until Sookie was due to get off, and Bill refused to let me walk home, we decided to hook up his Wii. Having never played before, I quickly got my ass kicked. When I told Bill this he didn't believe me.

"You've really never played before?"

I shook my head, "No, I never had the money for one and no one I knew had one either."

Instead of continuing with the game, I retreated to the couch, content to watch as Bill moved on to golf. I looked around the room, getting a feel for the house. My eyes landed on a picture on the mantle.

"You had a family?"

Bill stiffened at my question, "Yes."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up any bad memories."

His shoulders relaxed, "It's alright. It's just not a subject I'm comfortable discussing."

I nodded, though his back was turned to me, "I understand." After a moment's pause, I asked, "How did you and Gran meet?" Bill proceeded to tell me about how he had gone to the house to call on Sookie and Gran asked him to speak at her DGD meeting. "Well I'll be, who would've thought that I would be having a conversation with a Civil War vet."

I spent a good hour at Bill's; him playing golf and telling war stories, and me watching him from the couch and asking questions. He had just made an impressive shot, a hole in one that had me and the fake game audience clapping, when there was a knock on the door. "I'll get it," Bill said, heading to the door.

Instead of bringing the guest in, they stayed in the fore, speaking quietly. Being nosey, I left the couch and headed towards the door. Imagine my disgust when I realized that Bill's guests were Eric and Pam. There was another with them; a tall, slightly heavy, Asian vampire that I didn't know.

"I liked Longshadow better," Bill was saying.

"Oh I don't know Bill," they all turned to look at me, "at least this one doesn't look like a greasy biker."

"Leah," Eric greeted, inclining his head and giving me a smirk. "Meet Chow."

"Hello."

"Nice to meet you," I replied to Chow before addressing Eric again, "why are you here?"

"They're here for me," I looked at Bill, "I have to go to trial for Longshadow."

I sighed, "You better tell Sookie, she won't take it well if you just disappear."

Bill nodded, "I had planned to."

"Good." I walked up to Bill and, in an uncharacteristic move for me, wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him. "Good luck," I whispered in his ear. I released Bill, who gave me a nod in thanks, and headed out the door.

Before I could get too far Eric called out to me, "No hug for me?"

"Go to hell Northman!"

AN: I know, I know. I am the absolute worst at updating. Please don't hate me. Many thanks to those of you have not abandoned me, and to those who have followed/favorited this story. And much, much gratitude to those of you who reviewed.