By the time you joined Sookie in the lobby, you were more convinced than ever that her brother hadn't killed anyone. You just didn't buy for a moment that he wouldn't remember any of it.

"You're a horrible person, Andy Bellefluer and it won't be long until everyone knows it." Sookie was giving the detective another piece of her mind and you almost felt bad for him.

Jason's friend Rene was leaning on against a nearby wall, his eyes darting between Sookie and Andy as he they fought. His gaze shifted to you as you stepped forward and he gave you a small smile. You nodded in acknowledgement as you stepped forward and placed your hand on Sookie's shoulder.

She jumped at the contact and spun to face you, her eyes wide. "This isn't doing any good, Sook. Let's give Detective Bellefluer a break."

Her mouth opened to respond and you squeezed her shoulder as you gave a little shake of your head. She frowned but nodded and headed to the door. You remained right behind her, nudging her forward when she would have resumed yelling at the detective.

As soon as the two of you were out the door she turned to face you. "Jason didn't do this. He wouldn't."

"I know, Sook. Get in the truck."

"But, Y/N—"

You'd already made it to your truck and glanced back at her. "Truck, Sookie."

She was in her seat chattering away by the time you got yourself settled behind the wheel.

"Sookie," you said firmly but not unkindly. You needed her to pay attention.

She shut up and stared at you with wide eyes.

"You don't have to convince me of anything. There's no love lost between me and your brother, but I don't think he did this. But you have to quit running around declaring you know who did to anyone that will listen. You're going to get yourself killed."

She grinned. "That's what I've got you for, isn't it?"

***

Even though you tried to talk her out of it, Sookie insisted on going into work. You backed off when she agreed to only investigate telepathically. No questions. No discussing the case with anyone. No public accusations. And no yelling at the deputy.

You sat at a table in the corner of Merlotte's that gave you a view of most of the room. Your gaze trailed Sookie as she worked. As much as you tried, you found it impossible to ignore Andy and his groupies any longer. When Sookie stopped to stare, you knew she couldn't either. Bud dismissed himself from the table obviously unwilling to listen to Andy's bullshit any longer. You slid into his spot.

"Hey, Andy."

He grunted and looked you over. "Hey." He opened his mouth to say something else and you cut him off.

"How about using a little tact?"

He frowned in confusion.

"No? Too much for you to understand? How about compassion? You know that one?" You gestured toward Sookie with your thumb. His gaze darted over and he at least had the heart to look a little guilty.

Nothing but disdain remained by the time he shifted his attention back to you.

"You don't think that about her, Andy Bellefleur," Sookie demanded appearing next to the table. "She's good people. Better than you, that's for sure."

Your lips twitched. She was breaking her promise to refrain from yelling at Andy but you reckoned he deserved it. Before he could respond, she turned to you. "I need to go. You were right. I shouldn't have come in."

You were up in an instant. "Yeah. Let's go. Tell Sam you're leaving while I grab my book."

By the time you snatched your book off the table she was already heading down the back hallway. You hurried to catch up with her. As the two of you stepped outside you draped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into your side. "It'll be okay, Sook. We'll find out who really did this and Andy will look like a bigger ass than he already does."

Both of you got into the truck and you turned the key. Nothing. Odd. You never had issues with this truck.

"What's wrong?" Sookie asked.

You shook your head. "Don't worry about it. Just give me a moment." You popped the hood and opened the door to hop out.

"Everything all right?" Rene called out, making you jump.

You turned to him as your feet hit the gravel. "Just a little car trouble. Nothing to worry about."

"Want me to take a look?"

"No." You supposed you could have been politer but you didn't care. "I got it."

Sookie got out on the other side. "Hey Rene."

"Hey Sookie. You want me to take you home? I can get my buddy to tow it to the shop for you."

His attention was on Sookie so you took the moment to study him. This was all too convenient, too helpful.

"That sounds great. Doesn't it, Y/N?" Sookie says, happy to have a solution in sight.

"Not really, no."

She huffed. "Can I talk to you a minute?"

You moved around the truck and arched a brow as you stared down at her.

"Rene is one of Jason's best friends. He's not gonna hurt us and frankly I don't want to stay here a moment longer than I have to. Are you sure you can fix the truck?"

You shrugged. You were good at seeing what was wrong with a vehicle. Less skilled at fixing it once you'd found the problem.

"Then lets just take Rene up on his offer and get home."

You sighed. "Yeah, all right, Sookie."

You lifted the hood and let it slam shut as you walked past. After making sure there was nothing in the vehicle anyone was likely to steal you locked up. "Thanks for the ride," you said as you followed Rene to his truck.

He grinned. "It's no problem a'tall."

***

When you arrived at the house, Sookie ignored the look you gave her and invited Rene in for a glass of tea. "Excuse me a moment," you said before following her into the kitchen. Sookie was busy getting glasses out of the cupboard. "I get this is your Southern hospitality kicking in but one glass and then he goes."

"Y/N—"

You held up a hand to cut her off. "It's not up for debate. One glass."

She bit her lip as she nodded. "Okay."

You headed toward the living room not wanting to leave Rene alone any longer. You pulled out your phone to send Eric a quick text so he'd know the plan for the evening. "Sorry about that..." you trailed off as the empty room came into view. What the hell?

A sound from your left drew your attention but before you could turn toward it, pain exploded from your temple and the world went black.

***

Sookie screaming your name is what brought you around. You pushed yourself up, shaking your head in an attempt to clear it. What the fuck?

A male voice yelled calling Sookie a fucking bitch. Getting your feet under you, you ran out the open front door. After pausing on the front porch for a moment to get your bearings, you hauled ass toward the shouting.

Your long strides ate up the ground as you neared the cemetery. You reached behind to draw the gun you'd put on before taking Sookie to work only to find the holster empty. Son of a bitch. You didn't have time to worry about where you'd lost it now. You had to get to Sookie.

When you rounded the bend in the road, there was no sign of Sookie but Rene stood in the middle of the stones obviously searching for her. Forcing yourself to speed up, you launched yourself at him once you were close enough. You took him down but your momentum had you tumbling past him.

You were on your feet in a flash only to find Rene getting up as well. He narrowed his gaze. "You're a tough bitch, ain't ya?" There was no trace of his cajun accent.

You stepped forward, only stopping when he pointed a gun at you. Your gun to be precise. Fuck. A sound on the other side of the cemetery drew his attention and you took the opportunity to dive at him once more. Unfortunately, he was faster than you anticipated. The white-hot pain of a bullet punching through your upper chest pierced through you. You bit back a scream. You hated getting shot.

Before you could begin to recover, a solid kick impacted your ribs. You grunted in pain. Definitely steel tipped boots. The blows continued to come to your ribs and back as you covered your head and curled forward to protect your stomach. He lifted you by your hair and slammed your head into the tombstone behind you. Pain once again flooded through you. Your vision went fuzzy at the edges as you swallowed the bile that rose in your throat.

Suddenly, something latched onto Rene's throat with a growl. They rolled off and you used the opportunity to look around desperately for a weapon. A shovel laid in the dirt a short distance away and you scrambled toward it, getting a hand around it just as Rene hit the dog in the head with a small statue. You gave no warning before swinging the tool at his head. The blow knocked him sideways but your injuries kept you from putting the full force of your strength behind it.

You swung again, not about to give him the chance to recover. He yelled and reached for you. You responded by driving the point of the shovel into his throat. A couple of jumps onto the step separated his head from his body. "Asshole," you growled as you kicked him. You stumbled sideways with the motion and let yourself fall to the ground. You supposed you could take a break now.

You leaned your back on a headstone. Sookie's face soon filled your vision. "Check on Sam," you said with a lift of your chin.

"But you're bleeding."

"I'm also awake. Check on Sam, Sookie."

You squinted up at the sky trying to guess how far you were from sundown.