While Awaiting Sunday

Chapter 3

A/N: Not a continuation of Chapters 1 and 2 (sorry, nothing has struck the muse with that quick and dirty story), but more of a vignette of the way I would have liked to have seen Eric and Sookie in 'Scratches…', which over all left me warm with all the appearances of Eric and Sookie and Lafayette, but cold with the whole Marianne trouble- is- brewing, Sam's on-going angst, Tara blowing hot and cold and being completely irresponsible, and well- anything Daphne, Jason, Bill or the FOS people. The pastor's wife reminds me, not in a good way, of a certain tony private university in my hometown who puts out cookie-cutter Stepford sorority sisters that are surprisingly similar to the blonde pastor's wench, right down to the walk, the talk, and the clothing. The book Pledges was about same school and same sororities. I find myself consistently surprised to find Jessica continuing to grow on me. Jessica and Hoyt giggling about his mother's dolls in his closet was a riot, 'I'd die of embarrassment if I wasn't already dead'—classic! And Arlene's babbling on about how her daughter tried to give her son a nose ring was another classic in great lines. Enough commentary and onward to how I would have liked to see the scene. Remember, these chapters are quickly written and published without my usual higher (but not perfect) standard of continuity, grammar, etc.


Sookie opened her eyes slightly to take in the image of a strange looking woman with one of those blue medical hat things on her head and glasses. She had on gloves and was doing something to her, something painful. "What kind of doctor are you?" Sookie whispered through her pain.

"The healing kind…" The doctor's voice was not kind, but was gravelly and cold. She almost seemed irritated at being there at all.

Sookie tried to focus behind the doctor and could barely make out Bill leaning against the black and red bar. They were at Fangtasia. Sookie sighed painfully and passed out again into a painless oblivion.

The next time she woke, Bill was sitting in front of her apologizing for what had happened to her. "I am so sorry Sookie," his voice was full of pain and guilt. "I will be right outside, I promise." Sookie felt another hand touch her head, gentle long fingers running through her hair as the person passed by her. They weren't Bill's fingers…and she passed out again.

This time she was ripped to consciousness by her own screams in agony. The doctor was pouring something horrible on her scratches and the pain was causing her to convulse in pain and torment. Bill and Eric came running in, and Bill cringed at the sight of Sookie writhing in pain on the table.

"What are you doing?!" he cried.

"I'm saving her life. If you want her to live, hold her down!" Bill reluctantly moved towards Sookie, her anguish making it almost unbearable for him to hear. Before he knew it, Eric had moved from behind him with vampire speed and bravely taken to holding Sookie down. Eric looked into Sookie's tormented eyes with calm and straightforwardness. There was no weakness in his eyes, no coldness but no real warmth either. Sookie simply saw a frankness that showed no pity or pain for her, but a resolute mind-set that she would not die. If he were in front of her, she knew what Bill's eyes would hold for her: fear, pain, anger, self-loathing, guilt, all things that would not help or reassure her, some of which if she was able to think more clearly she would believe were more about Bill than about her.

Instead, looking into Eric's implacable dark eyes gave her a sense of hope that despite her agony and pain she would live, because Eric simply wouldn't have it any other way. What Eric wanted, Eric got, without fail. Eric's strong arms held her upper body completely still and their eyes remained locked as screams continued to erupt from Sookie's mouth. The doctor finally said she could be fed and then left to heal.

Bill went to Sookie's exhausted and prone body to feed her, while Eric quickly grabbed Bill's wrist. "My blood is older and more powerful. It will heal her more quickly."

Bill looked at the blond man and smirked, "I think not." Eric looked at Sookie and laughed slightly and pulled away. It didn't hurt to try of course.

Eric watched Bill feed Sookie, watched her gulping down Bill's blood with an impassive face. But inside he was…what was he? Jealous? Angry? Frustrated? He never had feelings for breathers, for much of anyone but himself really. And this little spit of a girl brought all kinds of feelings that were just better left unsaid and unfelt. When he told the doctor earlier to forgive Bill because he was a little overattached to his pet, he could have been talking about himself Eric thought ironically. And yet he was the one who went to hold her down while she was being tortured by that witch of a doctor. Bill didn't have the stomach for it, and he was feeling so guilty and afraid for Sookie that he was virtually useless when the doctor needed his help. And Eric found himself stepping in.

Eric's deep but quiet and commanding voice filled the quiet room, "Be careful Bill. You don't want to overcook her." Bill realized that Sookie was taking too much and pulled his wrist away. Sookie looked at him as if he was a life raft and she was drowning. "Thank you," her voice croaked out as she laid her head down on the table. Her eyes drifted to Eric standing slightly behind Bill and she smiled before losing consciousness again.


Bill left her lying on the table unconscious and went to sleep in Longshadow's coffin in the back. Eric sighed and looked at Sookie lying there so close to death. Her breathing was more stable and her heart rate sounded strong, so the worst was probably over. They would tell more the next night. Ginger would be there to watch over her and would come and get him if anything were to happen. Eric went behind the bar and got a clean wet cloth and returned to Sookie's side. He couldn't leave her lying there with blood drying on her face like that. Her face was too beautiful. She was too pure and innocent, at least compared to most, for her to lay there like some sort of Chuckie doll from the horror movies.

He carefully bathed her face and lips, and cleaned off the blood on her back. His snorted slightly to himself as his fangs extended. Here he was, Sheriff of Area 5, the most powerful and old vampire in the area and he was cleaning blood off of a wounded human. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

He got her a t-shirt and trying to give her as much modesty as possible, which definitely grated against his instincts, he removed her torn and ruined clothes and pulled the clean red Fangtasia t-shirt over her body. He laid her back down gently on her stomach, fanning her hair out beside her, and pulled the blanket he brought from the back to cover her. He sighed as he dimmed the lights to let her sleep. Interesting that while Bill professed so much love for his pet, he never considered any of her comforts. Eric retired to his own room for some sleep. While he normally went home to sleep, tonight, or rather today, he would stay at Fangtasia in case he was needed.


Sookie woke up drowsily from her sleep trying to remember where she was and how she got there. She moaned a little as she stretched up from the table she had been sleeping on and moved over to a mirror to see how bad the scratches still were. She was pleased when she saw they were gone, and with them she hoped the toxins were as well. She looked a little confused when she saw the shirt she was wearing and the black silk panties, but just shook her head not remembering how she got changed.

Ginger came in carrying some sort of disgusting sandwich for her to eat, talking about how hanging around vamps had helped her lose 37 pounds. If she ate like that, no wonder! Sookie just looked at Ginger, trying to be polite and not look at her like she had just grown two heads as she babbled on about nothing. Sookie's shields were done, downright non-existent by this time, and she caught Ginger's mind when she made the mistake of mentioning Lafayette.

Sookie jumped towards the flighty girl, seizing her shoulder. "Lafayette? What do you know about Lafayette? Is he here?"

Ginger hemmed and hawed trying not to answer as her mind once again spilled about the gun under the cash register. Sookie spun around the bar and pulled the gun, pointing it at Ginger. "TELL ME where he is!"

Soon Ginger was leading Sookie into the basement at Fangtasia. It was dark and unlit except for the light coming from the doorway. Sookie could hear the dripping of water and the stench of body sweat and waste. She gagged as her feet touched the bottom of the stairs. She heard a moan against the wall and ran over to Lafayette. She took in his beaten and bitten body, the bullet hole in his leg, and fury boiled up in her.

"How long have you been here Lafayette?"

"Hey, Sook. How do I look?"

"Terrible!"

"I feel worse. I guess that means I'm not a vampire yet. That's good."

When Ginger couldn't cough up a key, Sookie turned back to Lafayette. "I'm going to get you out of here."

"That'd be great Sook. I thought I might die down here."

"I'll be back Lafayette."

Sookie returned upstairs hanging on to the gun. She could feel herself physically weakening with every movement. Ginger disappeared and Sookie gratefully cradled her head in her arms on the black table top. And that was how Eric found her a few hours later.

Eric walked silently behind Sookie's sleeping form sitting at the table. He lightly touched her hair and she jumped back into consciousness. She stood suddenly and pushed away from him. "Eric!" she yelled in surprise. "Where is Bill?"

Eric looked at her calmly, that insufferable façade of dangerous tranquility on his face. "Bill is still sleeping. He took Longshadow's coffin for the night. He will arise in another hour or so."

"How is it you are up?" Sookie's voice held suspicion and unease at being alone with Eric for any length of time.

"I am very old, Sookie. I do not need as much sleep as the young ones."

Sookie leaped towards him in anger. "What have you done with my friend Lafayette? Why are you keeping him in the basement, bitten and shot and living in his own waste?!"

Eric's voice got very low and dangerous. "He traded sexual services with a vampire named Eddie in exchange for his blood. That is a very serious offense."

"And so you captured him and tortured him for it?" Sookie looked stunned.

"Others would have done far worse…"

Sookie paused soaking up Eric's last words. "And what became of Eddie?"

"He's missing. It appears he was kidnapped and held for his blood. He is probably dead." Eric was still implacable but knew this conversation could lead to terrible results.

"Why isn't the person who kidnapped this vampire Eddie down there? It seems like his or her crime is greater than Lafayette's. Lafayette *traded* services, he didn't *take* from the vampire. One is not equal to the other. Or don't you know who kidnapped Eddie?" Her voice took on a level of disdain even she hadn't been aware of. She should be thanking Eric for saving her life, not condemning him for what is effectively vampire business. But it was her friend down there, and she'd be damned if she let him get away with that.

Eric paused before continuing. "We believe that it was your brother Jason who kidnapped Eddie from his home and took him to his, along with his girlfriend Amy." Eric's voice never rose, even in the face of Sookie's growing hysteria.

Suddenly, the room fell silent and Sookie's breath came in great gasps and her face went white. Eric caught her before her body hit the floor and carried her to a small booth. Her heart was racing too fast and she couldn't seem to get her breath. She must have been to active, too emotional after being so seriously ill. He quickly tore into his wrist and put it to Sookie's lips, feeling her mouth start to move automatically to take his blood in. Soon her eyes drifted open and she looked into his. Her anger and panic was gone and was replaced with some of the unruffled peace and tranquility that was Eric's.

He gently pulled his wrist away from her lips, but she pulled him back to her. Her tongue quickly licked the remaining blood from his wrist, closing the wound. Her eyes were heated and her eyelids half closed as she watched Eric. He slowly moved to her mouth, his own tongue slowly licking the spilt blood off her lips and corners of her mouth. Sookie breathed deeply as he pulled away, unaware she had even been holding her breath.

He repositioned her in his lap, making her more comfortable and keeping her face and eyes with his. She started to speak, slowly, almost drunkenly. "Your blood is different than Bill's."

"Yes, I am much older and my blood is more powerful."

"It also tastes like chocolate cherries and port."

Eric laughed, thinking that was quite funny. "I take it you like chocolate cherries and port?"

Sookie's eyes drifted closed for a moment, "Hmm…yeah…"

He sat there holding this amazing woman-child who wasn't even aware of her own power. And Eric admitted in the dark recesses of his mind that she just might have some power over him as well.

Sookie's eyes opened again, clearer this time and looked straight at him while she adjusted herself more comfortably. Eric was pleased she didn't try to leave his embrace, just shift herself around a bit. "So I think before I collapsed, you were saying that you believed Jason kidnapped this vampire Eddie."

"That is what the evidence is showing, yes."

"So why haven't you captured him and thrown him down into that horrid basement?"

"It is more complex."

"Complex," Sookie stated unbelieving. "If you believe Jason has committed even worse crimes than Lafayette then why haven't you found him and done something terrible to him too?"

"He is *your* brother. It makes a difference."

"You are saying that you are not going to hurt Jason because he is my idiot brother?"

Eric paused and looked away and then returned his gaze to Sookie. "Yes, that is what I am saying."

Sookie and Eric looked at each other as moments passed. "Eric, you said earlier that others would have done much worse than the whole basement turn-wheel torture thing. Why didn't you?"

"Have no false illusions Miss Stackhouse. I can be at least as terrible as my other counterparts. More ruthless, more violent, and more cruel, but while I can be, I see no need to be on a regular basis. If we save the Big Bad for the more serious crimes, then as vampires we can be more successful in the world around us. It just makes good business sense."

Sookie looked at him and smiled slightly in recognition, "Ah… yes. Good business sense. And that is why you haven't taken my brother into your medieval torture chamber? Good business."

"You Miss Stackhouse, can be very key to our business. We would not want the complication of harming your brother if we can avoid it. But it doesn't mean that he will never be brought to justice. Simply being your brother cannot protect him forever."

Sookie's lips had turned into a tight line. "I want you to release Lafayette, now. He is no longer your prisoner."

Eric started to respond when Bill walked in the room and yelled, moving with vampire speed to seize Sookie from Eric's arms.

"Bill!" Both Bill and Eric were growling, their fangs extended. "Stop it!" Sookie screamed.

Sookie edged her body between the two vampires, a thought crossing her mind about what a stupid thing that was to do, before she did it anyway. Her arms pushed against both of them, and while they could have snapped her arms or her body in half, both of them stopped their movement towards each other while she was there.

"Stop it both of you! Bill, Eric helped heal me more tonight. Eric, stop fighting with Bill." Sookie was a mad as either of them had ever seen her. "I am not some bone for you two dogs to fight over. Stop it or I am going home!"

Both men pulled back and just glared at each other. Sookie turned back to Eric intending to pick up the conversation where they left off. "Eric, you will release Lafayette to me. Bill and I will take him home and you will leave him alone from now on."

Eric growled at her with his fangs extended. "I do not like being told what I will do, little girl."

Sookie held her ground thinking he wouldn't actually hurt her. "I am not a 'little girl' and you will do what I ask."

Eric hissed in her face and Sookie slapped him hard across his, his face hardly moving under her blow. Eric smirked, "I'm glad to see you are feeling better now. And I must say," his eyes moving up and down her body, remembering how it had felt to hold just a few moments ago, "that color really does suit you."

"Go to Hell, Eric."

Eric laughed and then gestured towards his office. "I have probably already been there. Let's go into my office to continue this conversation shall we?" Eric led the way back to his office, with Sookie walking between Eric and Bill.

Eric leaned against his desk and explained to Sookie what he needed her to do. "You want me to go to Dallas to help these vamps find out what happened to this really old vampire, even older than you."

Eric very calmly answered her with a "Yes. I would pay all your expenses of course."

Sookie looked at him with her lips pursed. "I'll go to Dallas and help your friends, but I want you to release Lafayette tonight and leave him alone in the future, I want $5000, and you'll pay all my expenses."

Bill spoke up. "No Sookie! You almost died last night. I am not going to allow you to go to Dallas to help some vampires we don't even know. It is too dangerous."

"Bill, I can think and talk for myself, thank you. Besides, I've missed a lot of work lately and I need a driveway."

Bill frowned and then looked back to Eric. "She'll go for $10,000, Lafayette's release, and I go with her."

Eric looked up with a quick "No!"

Sookie responded with an equally quick, "Yes, $10,000 and Bill goes with me. Otherwise it's a deal breaker."

Eric looked at Sookie, surprise, pride, and an unknown heat present in his eyes. "You surprise me, and that is rare for a breather. And Bill is right, you should not be alone. It isn't safe. I will go with you as well."

This time it was Bill's turn to exclaim "No!"

Sookie's eyes never left Eric's despite Bill's complaint. "Fine. The three of us go to Dallas, you pay me $10,000, and you let Lafayette go right now. Do we have a deal?"

Eric barely moved his head to nod in agreement, "We leave tonight. I'll make the travel arrangements."

At that moment the door to Eric's office was kicked open and Lafayette's damaged body was thrown in. Sookie immediately went to him and stroked his cheek. "Lafayette, we're going to take you home."

When Eric came to kneel beside Lafayette Sookie gracefully stood and watched what transpired between the vampire and the hurt man, but did not understand it. Eric stood up and walked past Sookie and leaned against his desk again.

Bill picked up Lafayette and walked out the door with him, not looking back leaving Sookie behind with Eric for a short time. Sookie just looked at Eric while Eric brought his eyes to hers, neither saying anything but both thinking a lot of things. Sookie finally shook her head briefly and walked towards Eric.

She ran her thumb across his lips lightly, while he playfully nipped at it. They were both surprised by their mutual boldness, especially since they had spent so much of the last couple of hours fighting. Sookie smiled slightly at him and whispered, "Thank you for saving my life, and I suspect it was you who took care of me and cleaned me up. Thank you for that too. And while I despise what you have done to Lafayette, thank you for releasing him to me and for not taking my brother." And her smiled turned slightly wicked as she leaned up to whisper in his ear, "Chocolate cherries and port are my favorite flavor."

He grinned as she pulled away and turned to follow Bill out.


And here are a few scenes/lines I would like to see if this thread was followed:

Sookie and Bill enter their posh hotel suite and Sookie looks around in pleased surprise. On the center dining table she finds a 'guest basket' full of fresh fruit, chocolate covered cherries, port and a bottle of champagne. Bill wanders over and asked in a less than pleased voice, "This is a hotel that caters to vampires. Why would they leave such a strange guest basket?" Sookie responds her voice sounding as if she is the cat that ate the canary. "Perhaps they knew a human travelled with you." She smiled to herself knowing perfectly well who had left the basket.

"Sookie, have you ever been to Dallas before?" asked Eric.

"Yeah, once when I went on a field trip for school and we went to Six Flags. We stayed at this hotel. I remember the round ball at the top." (A/N: no one in their right mind would stay in downtown Dallas if they were going to Six Flags. It is miles and miles away and the traffic makes it seem doubly so, but hey, it's ficition right?)

"And what did you think of it then?"

"Dallas is ok, a lot of glass, gas, and crass. It is basically a city built on concrete for as far as the eye can see. And it's hot, really really hot. But I'm not surprised that this hotel went in for serving the vamp clientele…I remember the food in their fancy restaurant in the ball in the sky was really horrible. But the bar is nice, nicer at night than the day. After all, who wants to know your hotel is basically sitting in the middle of a train yard?"

And upon returning to Bon Temps… it is the middle of the afternoon and the limo is bringing Sookie home. She is alone for the first time since before they left for Dallas and she is thinking about how she has once again been beaten up, taken advantage of, how Bill abandoned her for his maker, and how Eric once again rode in on his white stallion to save her…Oh what a tangled web we weave. She doesn't notice they are close to her home until the driver stops to let her out of the car. She is surprised to find that where there was nothing but pitting gravel and potholes leading up to her home before, now is a smooth concrete from the highway exit all the way to her front door. A small parking area is in back and the front also has a small and well done circular driveway. And plants and flowers and even a few birdbaths and fountains have been added. She turns circles as she looks around her in surprise, when the driver hands her a card before unloading her bags and putting them inside the front door. She tips the driver and walks inside, glad to be home once again and swearing that this time she really won't leave again. She sits on the sofa and takes a look at the writing. She is certain it is Eric's and she pauses before she opens the note. Taking a deep breath, she unfolds the card and reads his words to her.

"Lover- I hope you find the driveway acceptable.

If it is not, we'll have them rip it out and do it again,

this time to your specifications. And I look forward to seeing you again soon,

Humbly yours, E—"

Sookie snorted. Like Eric had ever been humble. And then another paper fell from the card, a private check from Eric Northman made out to Sookie Stackhouse for $10,000. Apparently the driveway was a bonus from Eric. She smiled slightly amused as she walked into the kitchen for some water. She looked at the kitchen table and her grin spread as she saw what was waiting for her there. A large basket full of chocolate covered cherries, sweet and very old port wine with two crystal port glasses and a bottle of champagne with two crystal flutes. There was a note pinned to the basket suggesting she check the fridge…it was filled with frozen cherry and chocolate covered bon bons. Sookie laughed out loud delightedly. And he had sent *two* glasses to go with each drink. Perhaps that meant he might be joining her?


A/N: Disclaimers- I never finished book 2, so despite my plethora of knowledge about Dallas, I do not know what hotel they supposedly stayed at or if it was even a real place. My choice of the Hyatt Regency is based on it as a common and well-recognized Dallas landmark. Also, I know that Bill abandons Sookie for Loreena, but am unsure exactly where that comes in...during or post Dallas. I speed read through the books just looking for the places that Eric are mentioned so I know I miss alot of cannon. But seeing as how TPTB on TrueBlood have seemed to abandon cannon, I figure I can get away with it here. At least I hope they don't do the so very cliche thing and go out to Southfork. Some readers probably don't even know what Southfork is/was, but it continues to be a very popular destination for tourists. 'Ya'll cum back now, ya' hear!' And no, almost no one in Dallas talks that that, really. And we don't drive around in Cadillacs with horns on the hoods, and no one has an oil well in their backyard. We do have big houses, big cars, we eat out more times per week per capita than NYC (true fact), there are still those who still wear big hair and lots of big diamonds before dusk and have to carve their make-up off with a knife every night, and people care a great deal about 'what the neighbors would think.' And still, I'd move home in a heartbeat, if only for family, familiarity, Mexican food, and BBQ.