Title: Necessary Precautions
Rating: PG-13 (for now)
Summary: AU. After the Great Reveal, the government must take action to make sure it, and its citizens are safe. Eric, Sookie, and others get caught up in the process. Eventual E/S. Likely OOC.

A/N: Hello everyone! waves This is a story that I have been kicking around with for a couple of months, but finally is beginning to take shape. Expect irregular updates. I love AUs, so this is my dystopian take on the Great Reveal. This is un-betaed, so any mistakes or inconsistencies are my own!

Eric awoke, the grey concrete of his cell greeting him, taunting him, ever so softly urging him to try his luck. To see if they had missed incasing some portion outer walls in silver. He knew better than to waste his strength finding out. Time, he had plenty to waste. Strength was a different matter.

He had counted 38 nights since he first arrived at the facility. Golden Oaks, as it was so charmingly named. Given the sophistication of his capture, Eric knew that vampires had to be working with the humans running the place. Sniveling bastards. Silver was embedded into every wall he passed. The guards all carried silver mace, and, perhaps for show, wooden stakes. After the first week, he knew well that brute force wouldn't get him out.

He began to pay more attention to his surroundings. He could smell the weres and shifters, kept somewhere not too far. The guards were either weres or humans, invariably wearing those ridiculous sun glasses to prevent glamouring. The guards patrolled in a semi regular fashion - enough change in the schedules to make a timed escape difficult. Sometimes, he could hear screams echo through the halls and air vents. Men, women, even children, all cried out. Eric knew for sure that this was more than a holding facility. But he hoped to get out before he found out exactly what they were doing.

The small, unmistakable tapping sound caught his ear. He turned on his side, trying to avoid the gaze of the cameras, and listened more carefully. The staccoto rhythm brought back memories. Morse code.

Anyone listening? SOS.

Eric hesitated responding. Given the thickness of the walls, the source couldn't be far. It was unlikely a were - little possibility they would know Morse code. Which meant that a vampire was trying to make contact. Was it a trick?

Trick or not, Eric knew this was an opportunity.

Who is it? he tapped out impatiently, repeating the message three more times.

Russell. Who is this?

Russell. The Russell? Eric wondered. Of course, there could be any number of Russells in the vampire world.

Eric, Eric responded. To confirm his theory, he tapped, I hear the Carpathians mountains are beautiful at night.

The silence seemed to stretch.

Better climate than Scandinavia, in my experience.

Eric contained a smile. Russell Edgington was a useful ally. And his response meant that word had been spread about his capture. There was no reason to think he wouldn't soon be out. Then again, if Russell had been caught, it could mean that Eric was in greater trouble than first expected. He shoved that thought to the back of his mind.

He ended the conversation quickly as the footsteps of his dinner delivery came into range. A small, silver lined compartment opened on one of the walls to reveal a cold bottle of Tru Blood. Despite his disgust, Eric drank the entire bottle. How he longed for the blood of some cheap fangbanger in Fangtasia now. Even Ginger would be acceptable. Anything to abate the constant hunger.

Replacing the bottle into the compartment, he watched as it disappeared and the guards' footsteps soon retreated.

So far, he had only been brought out of the cell twice, each time to be interrogated by some pitiful officer in the Vampire Affairs Bureau who clearly had an elevated option of himself. Eric had soon corrected that feature in the first officer. The second had wisely brought more silver mace, and stronger restraints.

Footsteps sounded again. Eric wondered what kind of pathetic example of law enforcement would come this time.

The guards, clad in black, opened the door swiftly and had him in silver handcuffs immediately. He hissed, despite himself. He didn't want them to see how much pain he felt.

"So, boys, anything exciting scheduled for tonight? I could be persuaded to have a massage, or maybe a shower," he said, a casual smile on his lips that he had perfected from years at Fangtasia.

"Follow me," one barked in a deep voice. Were. Eric sneered.

"Of course. Although I wanted to lodge a complaint about my stay here. A longer bed would really help improve conditions here. Or, some fresh air perhaps?"

The guard behind him gave him a shove, and yanked at his handcuffs. The silver burrowed deeper into Eric's wrists. He hissed, and his fangs extended in defense. Clenching his fists, he swallowed unnecessarily. The action did little to distract him from the pain.

Instead of following the red edged corridors to the west, they went east. Eric noted the change with internal interest, and saw a glimpse of corridors with yellow edging. They pushed through into a gleaming white room, filled with medical equipment, vials and beakers. Eric's eyes widened when he saw the contents of the containers. Blood.

He needed to get out. Now.

A/N: What's going to happen to Eric? And can he trust Russell? Stay tuned to find out, and for Sookie's appearance! Feedback appreciated, but not required. I always love hearing what people think.