three.

"Gemma Ann, if you don't slow down I'm about to slap you upside the head," Maggie scolded her best friend who was quick to run into Merlotte's rambling words with a look of fear.

"Dawn. She's dead. I overheard Andy in the other room before he left," Gemma briefly explained.

"Shit," Sam let out before he was quick out the door.

"Did he seriously just leave his own damn bar?" Maggie questioned in disbelief.

"Mags, Sookie was the one who found her. But they think Jason did it. I know he wouldn't have done something like that. But the neighbors said he and Dawn were fighting last night," Gemma told her. Maggie couldn't help but laugh at the idea. Jason Stackhouse murdering these women? Sorry. That just couldn't be.

Maggie's laughter died down as her eyes landed back on her best friend's worried face.

"Oh my goodness. Gemma, you really are starting to think it was him, aren't you?" Maggie let out in disbelief.

"I can't help it, Maggie. It's becoming a pattern," Gemma admitted. Two girls Jason had been with are now dead. It left the Bellefleur girl a little shaken up.

"Gem. You have known Jason almost your whole life. Heck, you've had a crush on him for ages. I know I'm biased in all of this, but Jason? That boy is a downright idiot. He couldn't have murdered those girls without making a mess. And Jason Stackhouse doesn't even take time to clean his own place. He's not going to spend his time cleaning up a crime scene," Maggie pointed out. Deep down she was a little nervous for her older siblings. Sookie for having to find Dawn's body and Jason for being pinned as the main suspect for murder.

Gemma sighed, "You make a valid point. But you know that Andy and Bud are going to be on him and ready to nail him for this completely."

"I figured that much. They're gonna realize they made a mistake. They have to," Maggie nodded her head.

"So, you think someone is framing him?" Gemma wondered.

"Has to be. And it's easy for them because they must know Jason isn't the brightest."

Gemma looked down at her hands that she placed on the counter of the bar to slightly calm herself. But a thought was picking at her head. Maggie could tell something was bothering her best friend, but she refused to dig for answers.

"Maggie, don't you find it a little strange that Maudette and Dawn were both known to be hooking up with vampires and now they're dead?" Gemma asked. Maggie furrowed her brows slightly, not having thought of the connection to the two deceased women.

"I mean, if it's someone who hates vampires in this town, our list will definitely be pretty large. Which makes it harder to cross names off. But it is a strange pattern," Maggie said. Gemma chewed on the inside of her cheek, tapping her nails.

Maggie grabbed Gemma's hand in a reassuring manner.

"Gem, are you nervous about someone finding out we were at the vampire bar?" Maggie couldn't help but question.

Gemma nodded her head, "What if I'm next? I was with a vampire."

"You didn't sleep with him or let him bite you. It was harmless making out. Which I admit, it did throw me off a bit when you went from the tattoo guy who was slightly buff to the guy who was like a beanstalk. But, whoever is murdering these girls only sees them as Fangbangers. Which you aren't. I won't let anything happen to you. And you know, even though he's a jerk the majority of the time, Andy won't let anything happen to you."

"Yeah, you're right. I'm just psyching myself out right now. And it's not helping anybody. How are you not even worried?" Gemma asked, Maggie shrugged in response.

"I'm not sure. I just have this feeling like everything will be fine... eventually. What's Bon Temps without being a little crazy? Jason will be in the clear soon enough. And hopefully they'll get the real killer. But until then, we just have to stick by each other, and be cautious of people," Maggie said.

"Now, maybe we should take a trip back to Gran's. She sure must have heard the news already," Maggie suggested, pulling Gemma along with her.

+

"Hey, Gran," Sookie walked into the house, her eyes falling onto Adele, Gemma, and Maggie who were in the kitchen.

"I heard," Adele sadly let out.

"About Jason too?" Sookie questioned.

"He didn't do it, you know," Adele said.

Maggie nodded her head, "He's being framed."

"Jason may be many things, but he is not a murder," Adele told her granddaughter.

"Funnily enough, Maggie said something along those lines," Gemma piped up from her spot at the table.

"I know he isn't one," Sookie stepped more into the room.

"I'm worried that if the police can't find the person who did it, they're going to find Jason. He needs your help. His sisters need to be in his corner and clear his name," Adele told the two blonde sisters.

"Gran, how are we even supposed to help?" Sookie asked.

"Use the gift God gave you both. He's your brother and he needs you," Adele grabbed the two girl's hands in reassurance.
"Not to put my brother to shame too much, but don't worry Ms. Stackhouse. We can all play detectives way better than the police around here. Unfortunately. We're going to figure this out and clear Jason's name," Gemma said.

Sookie nodded her head in agreement before heading out of the room. Maggie shared a look with Gemma before the younger Stackhouse went after her sister.

Knocking on the doorway of Sookie's room, Maggie leaned against the frame. Sookie scrambled around her room for her uniform.

"How are you holding up?" Maggie questioned.

"I don't know. At first I was in shock but now. I don't know," Sookie admitted. Maggie sighed before walking over to her older sister to pull her into a hug.

"You know, for being the younger sister, you sure seem to act motherly," Sookie couldn't help but comment with a chuckle.

Maggie let out her own laugh, "I can't help it. It's in my nature."

"I have to pick up a shift tonight now due to, well, you know. But maybe once I'm out, we can try and plan out where to start with all of this?" Sookie suggested.

"Yeah, sounds like a plan to me. But make sure you stay guarded and keep your mind peeled just in case," Maggie reminded Sookie.

"Yes Ma'am," The older girl saluted.

And not even close to the end of her shift, Sookie was soon to find a lead on where to start. Which would drag Maggie back to the one place she was trying to avoid for the time being.

A quick filler.
I figured I'd publish this chapter since it's been sitting in my drafts for quite some time.
I have a new book published called Tornado Warnings, go check that you in the meantime! :)

Enjoy! —Cait