A/N Thought I'd try my hand at something different, hope you like it. I don't own TB or any of the characters, but it's nice to play with them for a while.
Bubba's Blues
Chapter One
Another balmy Louisiana evening. It had gotten dark an hour ago, but there was still no sign of Bill. I hated it when he didn't show on time, and didn't bother to call. Not that I claimed to be the only thing in Bill's life, just the most important. The feeling that I was missing something grew as the night went on.
Towards midnight I put the Trueblood, O Neg for Bill, back in the fridge. It was fair to say I was restless, I'd been expecting Bill early, he'd promised to bring me a surprise. Not that I wanted anything from him, it was just nice to know that he thought about me sometimes. I knew his heart didn't beat, but I'd like to think it could still love.
It was silly, I knew. Bill loved me, how often had he told me? It was just that seeing him was the highlight of my day. Cheated, that's how I felt, cheated. In my old room I dug out the record player from the closet, hunted through some old vinyl until I found something that matched my mood. As I set the needle down I was thinking of the preparation I'd gone too, I'd even shaved my legs for Bill coming around tonight.
Not even a phone call. Maybe his fingers were hurt. They would be if he didn't call soon.
You ain't nothing but a hound dog
I loved the song, if anything it would take my mind off my missing boyfriend and his obviously broken cell phone. Of course I could always phone him, but he was the one at fault. Let him do the chasing.
You ain't never caught a rabbit and you ain't no friend of mine
Okay so the song was lifting my mood, it always did. Maybe he was just held up. Life had gotten more complicated for Bill Compton, my southern hero and charming suitor. Anyway he was always worth waiting for.
Well they said you was high class, but that was just a lie
Hang on, I didn't sing that. Looking around first my room, then grandma's, there was no-one in the house.
Well they said you was high class
It was coming from outside. Running to the door I threw it open.
Bubba. So Bill was out of town I guessed.
He was one of those little mistakes the vampires didn't like to admit to, was Bubba. One of the mortuary attendants in Memphis had recognized him when they brought him in. There was still a spark so the attendant had done what he could. Unfortunately it hadn't gone according to plan. Bubba wasn't quite right, and it was bad to mention his other name. Bad for whoever mentioned it.
And he'd developed this thing about cats.
Out on my porch Bubba was singing along to the crackling vinyl. When Love Me Tender came on I thought my heart would break. He might not be just right but he still had it. For a moment I understood why so many women loved him. Then I saw the dead cat in his hand.
"Come in Bubba." He did, but reluctantly.
"Yes ma'am," he said.
"You remember those songs?" I asked.
When he looked at me, his eyes sad, I knew. Bubba knew exactly what and who he had been. And he wasn't so keen on what he was now. I thought I would cry for him, and it didn't help the way he kept singing harmonies for that song as it crackled along on the old record player.
"You were always the best," I told him.
For a second the pain in his face was replaced by a flash of anger. But then he remembered himself, that he was here to protect me, not to hurt me. Whatever hold Bill and the others had on him it was enough to save me from harm. Now it's never been said that I'm one to give up on a chance like this.
"Can you put the cat outside Bubba, I'll fetch you some O Neg instead."
Dawn was coming. In my life I've had nights of passion, Bill was good to me in all the right ways, but I've never had a night that lifted my soul. I'm just a waitress from Bon Temps who does favors for vampires. But for one night I was backing singer and whole band for, well for Bubba. How I wished I could phone round and tell everyone I knew, but that would be bad form, and would seem ungrateful to my vampire friends. After all they had sent Bubba here to watch me.
Before day broke he left, my only evidence of the night we'd shared was an empty bottle of O Neg, and a cat. A very dead cat.
Merlotte's was quiet, but my mood must have been infectious. I was humming as I worked, and while many of the customers who came and went thought I was mad, soon my colleagues were humming too. Arlene turned out to have a good voice, as we shared the harmony from her area to mine.
Jason came in around seven, on his own for a change. Our mood must have been infectious, because soon he was singing the words of the songs as we hummed. Sam came out to see what the noise was then returned to his office, shaking his head. At least he was smiling for a change.
Sheriff Bud turned out to be a fan, even if he couldn't carry a tune well. It didn't matter though, because as the night wore on, and the beer flowed freely, everyone was joining in. What a night! I didn't want to go home when my shift ended.
When I counted my tips it turned out to have been a very good night. They were still singing in Merlotte's when I drove home. Another night like that and I could get that old screen at the back of grandma's house fixed.
It was dark when I reached the rambling old house. For some reason I was disappointed not to find Bubba on the porch waiting. Bill was there, all southern good looks and glowing skin. Only now did I remember that I was mad at him.
"Phone broke?" I asked.
"The queen," he explained, I knew it was all he would tell me. Vampires and their mysteries. Well he could keep his secrets, I had one of my own now.
Bill led me inside. Instantly I knew he'd already been in the house. A half bottle of Trueblood sat on the sitting room table, but that wasn't what gave it away. Rose petals, hundreds of them, led a path through the sitting room and down the hall. I knew they would lead to the bathroom. My eyes welled up, and I forgot that I was mad at him. Was this the surprise he had planned for last night?
Stepping out of my shoes, I walked barefoot along the path that took me to the bathroom. Inside Bill had gone to town on candles and scented oils.
He knew how to say sorry.
"Sookie," he called me, and I went to him.
Turning me, Bill helped me out of my uniform, easing down panties and unhooking bra. After the time we had spent together I was comfortable to be naked with him. As I stepped into the scented bath he attended my hair. For a while I was lost in the comforting brush strokes. When he kissed my neck I was ready for him.
"Love me tender, Bill," I told him.
He grinned at me, "Too start with anyway."
Charming, sensuous, beautiful music of our own, our bodies the instruments. As always I hoped it would never end. That he was my first took nothing away from the fact that he was the best. He was all I ever wanted, my Bill.
I'd never told him about the dreams in which I opened my eyes and the vampire on top of me was Eric. Some things best not shared.
But it had to end, and when it did we lay together like two spoons in a drawer. My neck hurt where he had fed, my body hurt where he had played. Lying behind me I could feel that he was totally relaxed.
"Bill," I started.
"Sookie," he answered.
"Bill can I have something?" I'd never really asked him for anything before.
"Anything Sookie, name it," he assured me.
"Can I have Bubba come round more often?"
When he went tense I thought he was mad, but then I heard him laughing.
"I'll make it so, but why?" he said.
"I kinda love his voice," I admitted.
"Well then you will kinda have it around when you want. I'll make the arrangements, I'm sure no-one will mind," he breathed the last bit into my ear, and for a while we both forgot about Bubba.
A/N I'm out of my comfort zone here, but I hope you liked this.
