-

ALEX SCRUNCHED UP HER nose, shutting off her alarm. The sound of the ringing in her ears was more than enough to make her grumble. It was around 10 in the morning when she got out of the shower and got dressed. She checked the landline for messages like she normally did and found 4 missed calls from Sookie and one from Sam.

She quickly called Sookie, leaning against her bathroom door. She leaned the phone between her chin and shoulder as she slipped her tennis shoes on.

"Hey Sook, what's up?" Alex questioned as she heard the background noise come through the speaker. Sookie was silent but Alex could hear her deep breathes. "Sookie?"

"You need to come on down to Sam's apartments, sweetheart. I found Dawn this morning, she's dead." Alex's face dropped and she placed the home phone down in its holder. She sprinted to the front door, making sure to grab her keys from the bowl before slamming the door shut.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" She took a deep breath and banged on the steering wheel. She started her old Chevy and her tires squealed as she backed up.

When she pulled in the apartments her heart dropped. Everyone she knew and more were out on their porches, standing in the grass, watching the scene unfold. Alex pulled over in front of Hoyt's house, running over to her best friend.

"What happened?" Alex breathed, hunching over with her hands on her knees. Hoyt placed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close.

"Dawn was strangled is what they're sayin'. Just like Maudette Pickens." He glanced down, and chewed on his bottom lip. Alex squinted, pulling her hand up over her eyes to shield the sunshine from her pupils. "Al, they're sayin' that Jason did it." Hoyt finally had the nerve to look her in the eyes and Alex pulled back slightly. Arlene and René were awaiting her response, and so was Maxine.

Everything was in slow motion for Alex when she glanced over to see Andy Bellefleur dragging Jason out of Dawn's house. Alex ran as fast as her legs could take her up to the squad car. Hoyt yelled her name trying to stop her but his mom was holding him back. Just as Andy put him in the car Alex caught up to them.

"What in God's Heaven do you think you are doing Andy Bellefleur?" Alex yelled. If people weren't looking before, they were now. Andy stumbled back a bit, before lifting his sunglasses.

"I'm not at liberty to discuss." He trailed on, "But it seems your brother here is the murderer. Dawn died the same way Maudette did, strangled. I knew you Stackhouse's were no good." His head was lifted high and mighty.

Alex folded her arms and scoffed, "And when do you think Jason would've had time to kill Dawn? He was at the house all night!"

"What about when you went to bed, huh? How do you know that little shit didn't sneak out and wrap his hands around that girl's neck!" Andy shouted back, a satisfied smirk on his face. He lowered his sunglasses down onto his nose. Alex gave a smirk too, she raised back her fist sending it straight into his nose. His glasses shattered on impact, sending pieces of the plastic acrylic lenses into Alex's fist.

There were gasps among the crowd and people were whispering. Andy looked taken aback as he grabbed his nose, calling for Bud to come with his handcuffs. Sookie walked out along with Sheriff Dearborne. Sookie glanced at Alex who was holding her knuckles to her chest, laughing at Andy who was leaning over clutching his nose.

"Alex!" Sookie yelled, and Alex glanced over her laughter ceased. She licked her lips and looked at her bloodied hand. She frowned, it wasn't really her best moment, punching an officer in the face in front of the whole town.

Bud sighed, walking up to Alex. "Alex, you know we have to file a report now. You might as well hop in the back with Jason."

"He provoked me. You know how Andy gets, Sheriff. This time he just went too far. Now I don't know about you but I have work to do. If you'll just send me on my way," Alex's words faded and she seen Andy walk up out of the corner of her eye.

"Bud, please tell me you ain't gonna let this bitch go? She hit me! That glass could've gotten in my eye!" Andy argued, wiping the blood that was still trickling from his nose.

"Andy, just get in the Goddamn car." Bud looked back at the man, who argued but got in the car. They drove away just as they brought out a body bag. Dawn was dead and Alex couldn't stop staring at the black bag she was zipped up in. Sookie came down the steps, hugging her sister. Alex wrapped an arm around Sookie's back, and bit her bottom lip, holding in her tears.

-

Alex and Sookie had left the scene at Sam's property and went on to their grandmother's house. They wanted to be the first ones to tell her the news but it seemed Everlee Mason thought she should be the one to tell the older woman.

"Jason may be many things, but he is not a murderer." Adele raised her eyes towards Sookie and Alex's head turned to stare at her sister's. Sookie almost acted like she didn't believe what her grandmother was telling her. Like she had some sort of doubt in her head.

"I know," Sookie nodded, stepping towards Adele.

"The thing is though, Sookie, in all the years that I've lived in Bon Temps, I can't recall but two, maybe three murders, and now there are two in one week. People are not gonna stand for it. And if the police can't find the person who did it, they're gonna find Jason. He needs your help." Adele was talking about Sookie digging in everyone's minds to clear his name. Alex looked down, fidgeting with her fingers as they talked. She always felt a little left out when it came to Sookie and her Gran.

"You too, Alex." Adele spoke and Alex's head popped up at the sound of her name. Adele squinted her eyes and nodded to her.

"You use the gift God gave you, Alex. You know how to control it deep in your heart, don't be afraid to let others help you. And Sookie, listen in on people, keep your ears open. You're bound to hear something." Adele said and Alex's eyes widened and glanced at Sookie.

"It's got nothing to do with my ears." Sookie muttered.

"Whatever it is you use to listen, use it. He is your brother, Sookie." Adele scolded, staring down the younger blonde. She just nodded and made her way up the stairs to get ready for work.

authors note
hey guys! please vote and comment, leave your love, criticism, anything below! it's a pretty short chapter, but i plan on updating again before monday! thank you for all of the votes and comments we have gotten so far!

love mack