Awakening

14

Morgan was still seated on the porch with the blanket wrapped around her, Raven kneeling down in front of her, cleaning the blood off of her legs with a warm and damp rag, doing the same with her hands and making sure to get under her fingernails. She could still smell the blood, a small gag emitting from her, turning her face toward Eric's shoulder and inhaling his scent, blocking out the other disgusting smell. Morgan didn't know why she found the smell of blood disgusting, neither did Raven, but she promised to figure it out in order to help her best friend. Unintelligible speech is heard from the police radio, the white haired woman lifting her head from Eric's shoulder, turning her head slightly in the direction of her sister,

"Sook . ." She trailed off, her voice slightly rough from screaming "we - we need to call Jason. He needs to know what going on"

"I can do it if you like" Sam offered

She looked over to him, giving him a small nod in agreement,

"Thank you" she said gratefully

Sam have her a small nod in return, taking his cellphone from his pocket and walking down the porch steps, dialing Jason's number and holding it up to his ear.

"Bill?" Sookie asked as her vampire turned his head slightly "what's going on?"

"They're about to move your grandmother" he informed

With his arms still wrapped around her, the two of them walk to one side of the porch, Sam walking up the steps, putting his phone back in his pocket and shaking his head slightly. Morgan brought her feet up to the bench, curling into Eric's side, his arm around her shoulders with a hand on her knee, having a feeling that by him just being there was enough for her, and it was. Raven grasped Morgan's hand, sitting down on her other side. It was strange to see someone else comforting her best friend, especially since she had been doing it since they were kids, but she also knew Eric was important to her. But Morgan couldn't believe that someone would kill a helpless old woman, which caused another thought to form in her mind.

"What if Gran wasn't the intended victim?" Morgan whispered, causing Raven to look at her "Maudette and Dawn slept with vampires. Let the vampires bite them. Gran welcomed Bill, accepted him, befriended him"

Raven looked at Eric, who turned his head to look at Bill, the dark haired vampire clearly listening in to what she was saying, and she could have been right. It made no sense for the killer to make Gran his next victim, she wasn't a fang-banger like Maudette and Dawn, she was innocent. Andy opened the screen door, walking out of the house with Sheriff Dearborn following him. Bill, Sookie and Morgan turn to face them,

"Sookie, Morgan" Andy said, looking at the two "you might wanna go sleep . . at a friend's. Someplace less isolated"

"We're not goin' anywhere" Sookie replied, shaking her head slightly

"Uh, Sookie," Bill said "perhaps . ."

"No!" turning toward him "this is my house. I'm stayin' right here"

"Turn her there!" Mike said "all right! Comin' through!"

Sheriff Dearborn and Andy turn to see Mike Spencer and Neil Jones come through the front door with Gran's body on a wheeled gurney, Morgan following with her eyes, Sam looked at Sookie from across the porch and she returns the look before returning her attention to Mike and Neil.

"Please, God. Hope they didn't recognize me at the vampire bar"

Morgan remembered him, he had worn makeup, a black half-tank, and a wild hairstyle, he had been dancing with other people in Fangtasia, when Bill had made his authentic comment.

"I look different, it was dark, and them two was fang-bangin' – "

"Dumb luck you're not in that bag right now"

Her head slowly turned to Sheriff Dearborne, her eyes narrowing slightly at his thought, hearing it as clear as day,

"Both of you could be next"

But she wasn't next, Morgan knew that because she had never been bitten by a vampire, never letting a vampire bite her nor had she slept with a vampire. But she was also sure that Eric would keep her safe, even if he knew she could take care of herself.

"I'm truly sorry about your grandmother" Sheriff Dearborne said sincerely, looking at Sookie and Morgan

"Are y'all done in there?" Sookie asked "'cause I'd like to clean up. If that's all right?"

"All right, then" giving her a small nod "you call us at the first sign of anything"

Dearborne and Andy turn and walk away,

"Keep an eye on those girls" Sheriff Dearborne whispered to Sam

"I will" he replied, giving them a small nod

"They are right" Bill said, looking at Sookie "both of you should not stay here"

"I agree" Sam added "you girls can have my trailer. I'll sleep at the bar"

"We're as safe here as anywhere" she replied, glancing between the two "besides, we've got both of you to protect us, haven't we?"

"I have to go" Eric said gently, looking at Morgan "it's almost dawn"

Morgan looked up at him, not wanting him to leave, but she knew he had to. She gave him a small nod, his arms reluctantly unwrapping from around her, his hand lingering on her knee, 

"I will come back later" he assured

Eric looked at Raven, who gave him a small nod, moving closer to Morgan,

"I got her" she assured

He gave her a small nod, giving Morgan's knee and small squeeze, gone from the porch in a blink of an eye, 

"We can take it from here" Sam said, looking at Bill

"Don't worry about me" Sookie added, looking at Bill "go"

She watched as he walked away, the four of them in silence for a moment, Raven wrapping an arm around Morgan's shoulders, bringing her to her feet,

"Uh, there's an extra mop 'round back" Sookie said "would y'mind gettin' it for me?"

"Sookie . . " Sam trailed off

"Gran took a lot of pride in her home" she continued "she wouldn't want anyone to see it like this" walking inside the house, leaving Sam looking confused

"I'm gonna go get her cleaned up" Raven said, leading Morgan inside as well