Ch 2.

Sookie's PoV

My nose crinkled as I neared the perfume counter. Why does that smell so much stronger than normal? I wondered. How anyone could stand to work in that overpowering stench was beyond me. I guess eventually they would habituate (Word of the Day, March 21st) to it, but surely they must go home smelling like a French whore every night. As I walked through the make-up section, I began to feel a dull burning sensation at the tips of my fingers and toes. I mindless rubbed my fingers on my palms, but the sensation seemed to spread with the contact. That's odd. I looked at my watch. 4:06. If I high-tailed it, I could still make it to work on time. I walked out the double doors into the afternoon sun. The light was so bright I was blinded and stumbled back against the doors. I instantly closed my eyes, but white and red flicks continued to dance across the back of my eyelids. I tentatively opened my eyes again. What the hell? The lot looked that same as it had when I went in to the mall two hours ago, but then again it looked completely different. Brighter, more colorful, more defined. I looked out at my crappy car, which was a good twenty parking spots away and immediately noticed that it had a small black ding where someone had hit it with the door of their car. It couldn't be any larger than an eraser, but I could see it clear as day….from half-way across the parking lot? I heard a bee buzzing and followed the noise with my eyes to see the bee land on a flowering bush about fifteen yards away. I could smell the bougainvilleas as if I was holding them. A bee. From fifteen yards away. I stood there dumfounded for a few moments. What. The. Hell.?

I shook my head and tried to compose myself. The burning sensation had spread from my hands and feet and now was working its way up my forearms and calves. It was almost like having an extreme case of pins and needles. I gathered my bags, which had fallen to the ground when I stumbled, and made my way across the lot being careful to watch my feet as I went. I looked around as I reached my car door and casually noted that there were 71 cars, 3 motorcycles, and two bikes parked in the lot. There were also twelve people, although, two of them did not quite smell right. Their scent was woodsy and musky. The scent made the hairs on the back of my head stand up slightly. Don't smell right?! What's wrong with me?

I took a deep breath, unlocked my car door, and settled in gently leaning my head against the wheel. The burning sensation was spreading. It had crept up my arms and legs and was now igniting every nerve ending in my body. Slowly, ever so slowly, I felt the tingling engulf my heart and brain. My mind sputtered for a second and then went blank. I sat there in silence for a long time before reality came back to me. The tingling had subsided, but a soft feeling of warmth remained in my muscles. Kind of like how you feel after a workout or really good sex (so I'm told). I looked at my watch. 4:46. Shit, shit shit. There's no way I'm going to get to work in time. I closed my eyes and lowered my head to the wheel again with a sighed. I need to get to Merlotte's like NOW. Then, out of nowhere, I heard a loud pop and felt wind rushing around my head. It sounded like being stuck in a tunnel underwater. I opened my eyes but everything was dark and misty, then I heard another resounding pop. With a slight thud my butt hit the gravel of a parking lot. I lifted my head. My car was gone. No, I was gone. I quickly tried to orient myself to my surroundings. I was sitting (literally) in the middle of the employee's parking lot at Melotte's with my bag in one hand and my car keys in the other. Absently, I noted that Sam's trailer was slightly more yellow than cream and that his hedge needed trimmed. What. The. FUCK!!! I'm not one to drop the F-bomb often but really if there was a time and a place this most certainly was it.

I stood and wiped off my behind, but continued to stare at the spot where I had literally popped in. At that moment Sam walked out of the bar's back door with a bag of trash to toss in the dumpster. "Hey Cher. You're early, that's great." From my peripheral vision I vaguely saw him toss the rubbish in the bin and walk toward me. "The dinner crowd is already in full swing. It seems like half the town ducked out of work early. You'll be taking over for Dawn tonight and Holly called to tell me she'd be late. You know how that goes and…Sook? Sookie, are you alright?" It was about this time that I finally registered that not only was Sam in front of me but that he was speaking. He grabbed my shoulders and shook my slightly. I broke my gaze away from the spot on the ground and looked at Sam. Another part of my brain noted that he also didn't quite smell right, like pine trees and dogs?

"Sam what time is it? How did I get here? And why do you smell like pine trees and dog?" I asked slightly confused and more than a little disoriented. Apparently my brain-to-mouth filter was not functioning. Did I just ask my boss why he smelled like a dog? In my confused state, my shield was none existent, so I could clearly 'hear' Sam. This troubled me for two reasons. One, in the past when I 'heard' Sam it was never sentences, but more emotional states and ambience even when we were touching. He wasn't a very clear broadcaster. I guess that was one of the reasons I liked Sam so much. It was hard to 'eavesdrop' on his mind even when I wanted. Not that I did it often. Like I said, I tried to stay out of people's minds as much as possible, especially my boss', but I digress. Second, and more importantly, as soon as I said he smelled like pine and dogs I saw a series of images of (a very naked) Sam turning into a Collie and running through the woods. WHAT THE FUCK!!!

"WHAT THE FUCK!!" Apparently that filter still wasn't working. I pushed his arms away and looked into his eyes.

"Calm down, Sookie..What happ..." He was trying really hard to sound soothing, but the concern in his voice was clear.

"Why were you naked running through the forest? And how the FUCK did you turn into a dog?" I practically screamed at him. He looked completely taken aback and guilty(?). Under regular circumstances the look on his face would have been funny. In the current situation, it just made me more confused. Why would he feel guilty?

Several emotions flitted across his face (and his mind)…anger, fright, confusion, anxiety, and finally resignation and determination. He pulled me into his arms and crushed me against his (very defined and rock hard) chest and let out a sigh. "Of all the times, I've tried to get you to read my mind, you had to do it right now?" He muttered, more to himself than to me. Slowly he looked around the parking lot, and then turned his eyes back to me. "I'm a shape-shifter." He whispered. There was a moment of silence as I processed that. Sam's a shape-shifter. Like can change into things, shape-shifter. Like Odo on DS9 (Yeah, I know, Gran loves that show. She has a thing for Quark). Okay, could be worse. He could a communist or be sympathetic to the northern aggression.

"What do you mean a shape-shifter?" I asked cautiously being very careful to meet his eyes. I could tell he was anxious and slightly embarrassed and I wanted him to know I wasn't judging, just curious.

"I can turn into animals and on the full moon I have to shift." I quirked an eyebrow at him. "It's… uncomfortable not too." He elaborated shifting his weight slightly. The image in his head let me see exactly how uncomfortable it was. I saw a much younger Sam sitting in a movie theater sweating and coughing next to a girl who looked very concerned. Next, I saw teenage Sam stand up and bolt out the exit door of the theater as his cloths tore into shreds. Needless to say the girl he had previously been sitting next to looked even more concerned. I was dumbfounded. Okay. Shape-shifter. Right. I'm a telepath who am I to judge. Hell, there's vampires, why not shape-shifters?

I was still crushed into his chest so I tentatively put my arms around his waist. He let out a deep breath and relaxed. "I've wanted to tell you that for so long. I thought if anyone could understand it would be you." I wasn't quite sure how to take that. I decided to go with compliment.

"Are there others?" I asked his chest. He leaned down and kissed my hair.

"Yes. I can explain it to you another time, but for right now," he relaxed his grip on me and looked down at my face, his eyes were full of concern, "what happened to you? Where's your car?"

What did happen to me? I thought as I slowly came back to what had occurred a few moments before.

"I..I don't know exactly. My body felt funny and I was sitting in my car at the mall in Monroe and then I thought I was going to be late for work and then pop. Here I was sitting in the parking lot. That sounds crazy even to me. I think my car is still in Monroe." He stared at me for a full minute. I did my best to keep my shield up, which was surprisingly easy given my current state of duress.

"I'm not sure what to make of that, Cher. Let's go into my office." He released me, but kept my hand. I couldn't help but notice how good the heat and weight felt against mine. I blushed a little. Hey, I'm a red-blooded women and being a telepath makes the dating front a bit awkward. Knowing your significant other's every thought is distracting and sometimes just downright insulting. Ever since the winter formal when Daris West couldn't stop thinking how much I looked like Jason, my brother, and how much of a turn on that was (Eww) dating has been problematic. If I was being honest with myself it was problematic before that, but I denied it up until then.

Arlene stuck her head out the door just as Sam reached out to open it. "It's about time you two. We're dying in here. Sookie, Dawn already left. She had section three. Holly said her sitter can't come at all and she is trying to find someone else." She paused momentarily and her gaze stopped on our connected hands. "Why are you and Sam holding hands?" I pulled my hand away immediately, and carefully started inspecting my shoes. I noticed Sam's hand lingered for a moment like he was reluctant to pull away before it fell to his side.

There was a long awkward silence as the three of stood there in the doorway. I felt my nervous smile creeping across my face. " 'kay. Right then. Umm…I'll get to my tables. Thanks, Sam." I went to move past him, but he gently caught my wrist.

"Sookie, are you sure you're alright? I'm not sure what happened, but obviously something…" I cut him off before he could finish.

"I'm fine Sam. Just a bit disoriented. We'll talk about it later." I pleaded. I pulled my wrist away and flashed what I hoped was a reassuring smile. I'm pretty sure it came across as a crazier looking version of my nervous smile.

"Alright, Cher. Alright, but if you need to talk or a break let me know." He gave me a dubious (Word of the Day, January 29th) look. I walked past Arlene, who had been taking this whole scene in with more interest than was really appropriate, towards the office to put up my purse. Arlene was thinking that Sam and I would be a good pair, even if I was a little crazy. She was also wondering what Sam would be like in bed and if he was… I shot my shield up as fast as I could. Arlene was a loud broadcaster. As I walked by I noted that she had lost about two pounds since I last saw her and that her hair had grown about an eighth of an inch. Really?! Why do I know that?

Sam wasn't exaggerating when he said half the town was in the Merlotte's. Every table, booth, and stool was full. People were standing three thick at the bar waiting for drinks. I was so busy bussing baskets and drinks that I didn't have time to think about my unusual afternoon. I hardly even noticed the 'voices' of those around me. My shields were thicker and stronger than usual and they seemed to take much less concentration to keep up. It felt like I was moving quicker and more gracefully than normal as well. Even the trays felt lighter, though I'm not sure why.

About half past seven a very distinguished elderly gentleman came into the bar and sat in Arlene's section. He definitely wasn't a local with his long grey hair and perfectly tailored grey and cream suit. I was pretty sure that suit cost more than I made in a month…maybe two. He smiled at me gentility and bowed his head slightly as I walked by to bring a pitcher to Rene and Hoyt who were sitting a few tables down. I was struck by how handsome he was despite his obvious age. It was almost other worldly. In a way he sort of reminded me of Claudine, the woman at the Dillard's service counter I met earlier. I didn't have much time to think about that because about that time Jason came into the bar with Dawn on his arm. He had been seeing her off and on for a while and she was okay. I guess. He walked up and gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek as she walked over to Sam at the bar. Ladies liked a man that was nice to his family and Jason liked ladies. Hence why I got a hug and kiss whenever we saw each other in public.

"Hey, sis. How ya doing? How's Gran?" He said with that sweet lazy smile of his. Jason was a charmingly egotistical bastard. I knew this. Every woman between the ages of 18 and 40 in Renard Parish knew this. It didn't make him any less charming or sought after and it sure as hell didn't make me and Gran dote over him any less. Damn.

"I'm fine and Gran misses you. You should stop by the house sometime. Hey, can you give me a ride over to Monroe after my shift? I left my car at the mall." He quirked an eyebrow at me, but didn't ask.

"No can do, sis. I have a very lovely evening planned with a very lovely lady. We were just stopping in because Dawn forgot to pick up her check." He said as he snaked his arms around Dawn's waist as she stepped toward us. He pulled the girl closer before starting to nibble on her neck. She giggled. Actually giggled. I sighed.

"Fine. I'll have Gran drive me up there in the morning, but you should come for dinner tomorrow" He nodded with a smile and sauntered toward the door with Dawn all but wrapped around his waist. Every woman in the bar stopped to watch. Ah, Jason. I shook my head.

About half an hour later things started to slow down a bit and I nodded to Sam to let him know I was going to take my break. I noticed the elderly gentleman was gone and from the smile on Arlene's face he was a generous tipper. I headed out the back and sank down onto the old wooden porch swing next to the employee lot that Sam had hung up for the waitress the summer before last. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and let down my shield. It was quiet and the sun was just starting to set over the cypress trees. I absorbed the calm from the scenes around me. I don't me the scene around me made me calm. I mean I could feel myself literally absorbing the calmness around me. It was like taking in a deep breath and being filled with peace. It was a strange sensation.

"You'll get used to it after at time." Said a deep rich voice that was so smooth it almost sounded like velvet. "After I while, I'm told, you will not even feel the life force enter. It just becomes a natural part of breathing." The voice said this as if he were discussing the weather. Relaxed, simple. I slowly opened my eyes to see the elderly man standing at a respectful distance.

"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about." I said quietly gently kicking the gravel as I pushed the swing back and forth.

"You've had an unusual day and we have much to discuss. May I sit with you?" He smiled and motioned to the swing with his hand. I nodded my compliance. I should have been nervous or scared even. For pete's sake the man was just talking about breathing in life force. But I wasn't. I kept looking at my shoes as I felt the swing shift from the additional weight.

"The spark burns much brighter than I anticipated." He said almost to himself as I felt him inspecting me. Then to me he added. "I was not expecting you to be able to teleport for some time, if ever. Normally, we would not have allowed you to make your first trip alone. It can be quiet disorienting. I am afraid you will have to blame Claudine for that, though it was not her intent to unbind your magic. She sometimes gets a little emotional." He said with an indulgent smile. I had no idea what he was talking about but I was getting the impression that this man, a total stranger, knew what was happening to me. I wasn't sure how I felt about that.

"I have to get back to work now." I said as I rose from the swing. He stood as well. He gently reached out and clasped my hand. His skin was smooth and soft, not papery like I imagined it would be.

"We have much to discuss my child. When may I come to you?" He questioned as he gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

Without thinking I answered. "Tomorrow. 9 am at my house." He smiled and nodded thoughtfully. I gently released his hand and turned to walk back in to the bar, but hesitated at the door. "What are you? Wh..who are you?" I asked in no more than a whisper and turned to meet his eyes. I didn't know what he was, but clearly he wasn't human.

He looked at me for a long moment as if deciding something then final sighed. He smiled his wistful smile. "I am a fairy and your grandfather. I will see you in the morning, child." With that he turned and disappeared with a loud pop. Well that explains a lot. This has been one hell of a day. I thought sarcastically, Vampires, telepaths, shifters. Why the hell not fairies too? I sighed as I stepped back in the hallway. Maybe tomorrow I can meet a Werewolf. I thought with a slight smile, as I gently pushed my way past Tray Dawson as I headed back to the bar.