Your Not My Only Progeny

Hours had passed and still the lingering scent of John Quinn filled the mansion, a strong pungent smell that had clung to every solid furnishing in Bill Compton's home. It was thick and sickly that even made Bill's face screw up at the stench. Within the next few hours Bill had hoped that the smell would soon disappear as he was not particularly enjoying the scent. With the house almost empty of his staff as he had ordered most of them to vacate his home, only the guards that patrolled the halls on the first floor where Jessica still remained recovering from her recent attack from an unknown suspect. But Bill did have his suspicions that the attacker was Sookie's brother Jason Stackhouse. But without any solid proof as Jessica was still unable to remain awake for long periods of time for Bill to speak to her.

But tonight with no interruption as Kiara had gone to see another client interested in her products that her company was supplying, after no argument from her that she be accompanied with several guards on her journey which she excepted without no trouble which Bill was thankful for. As he sat on the steps on the grand stair case debating the Tiger's words that he would hand over the attacker when he was reprimanded and brought to Bill. He would make him pay for the pain that he had caused his only progeny. Bill let out a heavy filled sigh as he pushed himself to his feet and turned to climb the stairs to the hallway to Jessica's suite. After greeting the guards who both of them vacated the hallway to let the next guards take over for their routine shift in protecting Jessica.

Bill knocked on Jessica's door as he waited for a response.

"Jessica? Are you descent?" he asked in a polite manner.

I heard Bill's voice outside my door and rolled over slowly to face it. "Yeah, yeah I'm decent." I pulled a strand of hair behind my ear and swallowed the feeling of throwing up again. My stomach still ached but I was regaining some strength just slowly. Jason really did a number on me, I give him that. Now the time came for Bill to ask...I knew that was inevident. It would happen, but the question was...could I tell him?

"Yeah, yeah I'm decent"

Bill opened the door to her room and smiled as he saw her sat, he could still see that her skin was still paler than it should be. He closed the door behind him and sat down on the edge of her bed. He hated that there was nothing that he could do to help speed up the healing process but it was just a waiting game now til all the silver had left her body and that took time.

"How are you feeling?" he asked curiously.

I managed to sit myself up in a sitting position and pulled a pillow onto my lap to hug it for comfort, the added pressure helping the sharp pain of my stomach. My insides were healing...slowly, and very painfully. Occasionally I still coughed up silver that had managed to escape Kiara's suction, and that in itself burned like fire. I was miserable, on the mend and alive but miserable. Whether it be death or pain, Jason succeeded in almost killing me but the pain...I wished for death some days. I looked up with a soft smile at the man who cried while I lay there writhing in pain. I knew he cared for me, I was like his daughter. I nodded, "I'm...good I guess. Didn't know healing would hurt so bad."

"It will take several days for you body to fully heal, it will be painful for a while. But it will get better, i promise you" he said offering her a smile as his hand reached out and rested on her hand.

"Jessica. I need to ask you something" he whispered.

I looked up at him and knew it was coming..he was going to ask who did this. How could I begin to explain this? He'd fly off the handle and demand Jason's head on a platter. Did I blame him? Well no, but he had to know killing Jason would only anger Sookie, who would tell Eric and then Bill would gain two enemies, four with Pam and Tara. I worried about that, and I didn't know if I should tell him. "What do you want to know?" I knew what he wanted to know, but I was hoping I was wrong.

"What do you want to know?"

Bill paced himself as he could feel in the blood that she was hesitant, his hand wrapped around Jessica's as he waited a moment. He wanted to remain calm as possible as he knew that she was in pain and he did not want to cause her any further pain than she was already in. He had experienced the same pain several times in his life.

"Jessica. You are my progeny, my blood line, my daughter. It is my right as a Maker to to avenge you. Now I need to know, who did this to you?"

I looked back down at my hands after his question. I knew he wanted and maybe had a right to know but I just couldn't. I needed to know why, I needed closure to know why he blamed and hated me so badly. I'd never get that chance if Bill knew, he'd kill him. "I--well, I didn't see his face. I was talking to Hoyt and then he went inside and then I heard the shot. Sam came running and then you showed up. I don't know who did it." I hated to lie, I really did but I knew that Jason was a dead man and I'd never get my answers.

"Did Hoyt have anything to do with your attack?" he prodded as he tried to feel out if she was lying, but it seems that now she had learned to hide her feelings very well.

"Jessica, I would not be doing my duty as your Maker or as your King if i let this attack slide. I need to know who was behind it" he asked again.

I looked up at him and shook my head negatively. "No, no of course not. Hoyt...Hoyt and I are okay. He..the glamour wore off, I don't know how or why but he remembers everything." I didn't remember if I'd told him what I'd done so I continued. "He asked me to take his pain away, to make him forget me. Forget...Ja-Jason. I did as he wanted, but he started to remember everything. I don't know how it failed but Jason doesn't know he remembers. I mean at least I don't think." I said fast, remembering Jason was not there.

Closing my eyes at the pain, waiting for it to disappear I sighed heavily and shook my head. "Bill if I tell you who did this, will you...will you let me speak to them, if or before you kill them. I need your word. I need this."

"You glamoured him? I was not aware of that when he came too see me a few night ago. If i had known that I would have questioned him further" he said as he caught onto her stutter of the Stackhouse boy which only made his suspicions grow further. "Jessica...I will not allow the person who almost killed you into this home. As you Maker i cannot condone that" he finished.

"Jessica, there is far more out there that wants to do harm to you, and i will not add to that growing list" he said strongly.

I looked and felt confused. "Bill, I know you have enemies but that doesn't mean I must be kept in a bubble. Don't you trust me? I'll even compromise you being there but I need...I need to talk to them before you...do whatever you do." I grabbed his hand and winced at the sudden movement. "Your word?"

"Jessica. I am not talking about the Fellowship of the Sun, or other Kings and Queens. There is something out there far more dangerous than you know. Much stronger than I" he said turning from her, hoping that he wouldn't have to reveal anything else. He paused as he heard the last of her plea as her hand snapped onto his.

He hated that he was putting her in more danger "You have my word" he sighed.

I sighed and closed my eyes, looked down at my hands and knew the minute I said his name he'd fly off the handle and see red. Looking back up I met his eyes and swallowed hard. "Jay--Jason...Stackhouse." Before he could answer, his face contorted and I said fast, "Bill he hasn't been the same since New Orleans. I think that head injury really affected him more than we think, he's...he's not himself. You have to know that, but I need answers I need to talk to him." I shook my head, "At least give me that."

"Jay--Jason...Stackhouse"


Bill's face's contorted as he fought to keep himself under control his anger bubbled as the name passed her lips 'Jason Stackhouse' Sookie's brother had been the one to cause her this pain; had tried to end her life. His suspicions had been confirmed, he would have his security detail search for him immediately. Bill mildly heard the rest of Jessica's pleas, but this was not the time to let his angry flourish. That would come later.

"I will keep my word. I will not harm him. But now i have a request of my own Jessica" he spoke.

I looked concerned at him as he asked for his own request. I was afraid it would be something I couldn't do, not because I didn't want to but because I couldn't. Would he want me to allow him to kill Jason? I swallowed and nodded, "Anything...what is it Bill?"

"I want you to move back in here, with me and Kiara. There is something out there that wishes to punish me and i do not want you or Kiara taking the brunt of it. That is my only request" he said.

He knew that only weeks ago he bought her own home to have some space, but with Christian still out there he couldn't be too cautious with Jessica or Kiara. He had to take precautions on this seriously.

I gaped at him, was he for real? Move back in with him, lose the only piece of independence I had. I tried to speak but only looked like a fish gasping for air. "Bill...I--but--I just moved out, I'm trying to find myself, grow....living here....I--Bill...you can't be serious?"

"I am serious Jessica, there is someone out there who will wish to hurt you other than Jason Stackhouse. And he will do it too hurt me. You will be nothing more than a casualty in his vendetta against me. So i need you to move back, I will have the guards go to your home first thing tomorrow and collect your things"

He knew that Christian was still out there somewhere and he did not know where he was, but he wasn't about to taken any further risks.

"Bill...that's not a request, sounds more like an order to me. I guess I have no argument since I can't exactly leave. Thanks for taking my freedom away because you're too paranoid to deal" Although I still hurt I stood and refused to let him touch me. I was so angry with him, out of all this he takes away the one thing I had, my freedom. And above all, he wouldn't even tell me who this person was. I slammed the bathroom door and slowly slid down to the floor, clenching my jaw at the pain in my stomach.