AN: It was pointed out to me a while ago that some stories have the cliché of Bill cheating on Sookie, plotting his revenge and then Eric coming to the rescue. Well I did not want that to be my story so I went a different route. However, I could not resist the idea Eric coming to save her so I have incorporated it in a hopefully cute way. Let me know what you all think and please go vote in the poll on my profile page. I am going to leave it open through Saturday. Thank you to all 90 of you who have put this on alert, the 32 of you who have favorited it and the 20 of you who have reviewed I love every one of you to pieces. Oh and if y'all can't tell by the end of this I was having a horrific craving for Chinese food when I started writing this chapter. It kind of worked its way in. It is shorter than usual but it was a good place to end. Anyway please enjoy.


Chapter 9 Knight in Shining Armor or Tow Trucks and Chinese Food

Sunday morning Jess called to say that she would be over at three to get me. Hunter was doing well all things considered. He had woken up this morning wanting to play and he only asked about his mother a few times. Daddy had worked it out with Gran that she would be taking him during the day when Daddy was at work. I got together what little I had brought home at two. When I was done I went and sat on our porch swing. Hunter was chasing Dean around outside when Jess pulled up.

"Hey Sook is your dad here?" She asked stepping out.

"Yeah he's in the kitchen. Why?" I countered.

"Mom made some frozen casseroles for him." She answered retrieving a large box from her back seat.

"Take 'em on in. I just need to grab my bag and we can hit the road." I said going back into the house. "Daddy we are going to take off I'll see you Friday." I gave him a quick hug and went to get my bag. Daddy and Jess were back outside when I returned. Hunter came running up and gave me a hug. "I will see you on Friday Hunter."

"Ok did you leave the play dough?" He asked in a very serious tone. It had quickly become his favorite thing.

"I did and I made some more last night so you could let what you make dry if you want to." I said walking over to the passenger side of Jess's car.

"Cool." He responded continuing his game of chase with Dean.

"Call when you get there baby girl." Daddy said giving me a hug. Hunter found Daddy's nick name for me hilarious. Last night at dinner he told Daddy that I was not a baby cause I was "too big".

"I will love you." I whispered back.

"See ya' Mr. S." Jess said getting into the car. I waved one last time as we drove away. Our conversation on the way back was real light her little sister had gotten in trouble for swearing at her teacher. From the way Jess described the situation the teacher kind of deserved it. Everything was great until we were about fifteen minutes from our turn off. Jessica's car made this awful metal crunch sound, shook violently, and then died. She tried to start it but it was a no go. Neither of us really had any clue about cars so we started to call our friends to see if someone could come get us. By our fifth no answer we were getting a little worried. It seemed like everyone either had their phone off or were too busy to answer. I finally got a hold of Pam but she was on no help since she and Ames were down in New Orleans visiting Amelia's dad.

"Call Eric he is at home." She suggested before hanging up.

I dialed his number he answered after six rings. "Hello?"

"Hi Eric this is Sookie. Jessica's car broke down and we're stuck. The tow truck is supposed to be coming but we have been waiting about half an hour now. Could you come get us?" I rambled.

"No problem where are you?" He questioned.

"Um we are just pass mile marker 115 on the 167." I replied fidgeting with the bottom of my shirt.

"Ok I will be there in a bit. Call if the tow truck beats me there." He said before hanging up. He showed up just as the tow man was hooking up her car. "You guys ok?" He asked walking over to us. He was wearing a dark red button down shirt and jeans that cupped his magnificent backside. He had his hair down and it was just floating around his head as he walked. It kind of looked like a halo with the sun back lighting him. I was super relived he was there the tow man was just a little bit creepy. In the unwashed serial killer kind of way.

"Yeah, he is going to two her over to Dawson's but they won't be open till tomorrow. She talked to the owner's son Tray and he said that they would look at first thing in the morning. So we can go once the car is all hooked up." I gestured to the tow man. "Thank you for coming to get us I probably should have said that first. You are kind of our knight in shining armor right now. Nobody was answering there phones and I really did not want to make my dad drive all the way up here." I continued to ramble. He just smiled and put his arm around me.

"Well ladies I am all done. I will get your car all settled. Do you need anything else out of the car before I take it?" The tow man asked.

"No I think we got everything. Thank you." Jess said. He nodded and got into his truck to take it away. We loaded our stuff in to the back of Eric's metallic blue Audi Q5. Pam had been giving him shit about his '67 corvette not having enough room to do anything so he got the Audi. He had considered getting a Hummer but he really did not want to listen to her jokes about it. I won rock, paper, scissors, lizard, Spock so I got shot gun.

"Do you want to stay for dinner? It could be our thank you for rescuing us." I asked as we were pulling up to our apartment.

"Sure that would be nice. Are you going to cook?" His smile was still on his face.

"Um … I would but we don't really have anything edible except maybe some canned soup. I was thinking we could order in. What are you in the mood for?" I returned his smile.

"Whatever you girls want is fine with me." He said putting the SUV in park.

"Chinese Home Style it is." Jess declared from the back seat. It was one of the best take out places that we have run into. The food is awesome and cheap enough that we can have it fairly regularly. I almost always get the Mongolian Beef and Jess likes the Twice Cooked Pork.

"You know I forgot about that place. My old roommate Clancy and I used to get that every week. I remember one time when we mixed the Angry Chicken and Kung Pao Beef we both thought we were going to die it was so hot. Are their eggrolls still good?" Eric got a reminiscent look on his face.

"Yeah but you can beat the fried wonton and French fries soup." Jess interjected as we made our way to the steps. It is one of those things that are only thought up in a college town. You just know that someone who was either drunk or really high could not make up their mind on what they wanted to eat. It is off menu but those in the know order it. I have had it a few times and it is pretty good especially after a late night of drink.

"Well figure out what we are getting cause you know it takes longer on Sundays." I say over my shoulder as we enter the apartment. I called Daddy to let him know we were home and why it was later then normal. They argued for a little while before deciding that we would all share our usual plus General Tao's Chicken and Combination Egg Fu Young, with a mess of appetizers and soup. When the food arrived Eric and I settled on to the sofa and Jess was in my chair. We ate and watched a marathon of a show on HBO that we were all pretty obsessed with. I about lost it when Jess noticed that Eric had a striking resemblance to one of the main characters who I just happened to have a ridiculous crush on. My entire body seemed to blush. By ten all the food was gone, the miny marathon was over and I was getting tired. During the show I had maneuvered over to where Eric was sitting and had my head on his shoulder with his arm draped around mine. We were sharing my quilt too. He was just as much of a snuggler as Johann maybe even a little better. I was starting to doze when Jess got up to go to the bathroom.

"Thank you for coming to our rescue." I mumbled curling further into his side.

"I am glad you called me. I had fun tonight. Thanks for dinner." He answered playing with the end of my pony tail.

"I had fun too. We should do this again." I tried not to yawn.

"How about next Sunday? We could get Chinese Home Style make it a tradition." He asked.

"I think that can be arranged." This time I did yawn and so did he. "I don't want you to get up I'm comfy. Just a few more minutes please!" He hummed in agreement. I woke up at two in the morning still snuggled into Eric's side but we had lain down at some point. The TV was off and the lights were all out. I guess Jessica must have shut everything off when she came back from the bathroom. Eric was softly snoring in a peaceful rhythm that lulled me back to sleep. I woke a second time still wrapped up in his arms but in my bed. I made to lean over him to see what time it was.

"Shh go back to sleep. I set your alarm for eight." He grumbled pulling me back to where I had been. If I was more awake I probably would have been a little freaked out about the change of sleeping arrangements. As it was I just settled back into his arms.