AN: Yikes, bites nails. Okay this chapter makes me a little nervous, heh you will see why. Im hoping some things dont come out too prematurely. And I apologize for the length, lol. The more I tried to hash this baby out, the more I had to add as far as context so it could all flow together better. But I hope its all worth it, especially the last part. ;) Thanks to everyone for reading and the awesome reviews. I hope you like this one. Enjoy! xoxo
Chapter 9
Eric wasn't quite sure where to begin, but he had a very large bone to pick, or maybe rip from it's socket and then dismember all of the adjoining bones so Russell was unrecognizable when he was through with him. Eric didn't need a gun. Guns were for pussies. He had his bare hands and as pissed off as he was right now, after everything he'd been through after dealing with Sookie's insanity, well he was ready to pop off on someone and he couldn't think of a better candidate than the Mayor of New York himself. He had this coming for a long time. Eric didn't care what Pam thought; he wasn't going to let him get away with dumping Sookie's reputation in the gutter down with his own. And he certainly wasn't going to settle for attempted murder. This was a matter of a personal vengeance.
He was driving in his car as Eric considered all of his options, he could go check in with Pam for reinforcements, he could go back home and make a few slandering phone calls of his own, or he could deal with Russell himself. If he hadn't already been arrested, which Eric hoped to god he hadn't. He needed an outlet for his anger right now. This relationship or whatever it was with Sookie was ripping him apart.
He finally opted for option C, go deal with Russell himself as Eric contemplated where he might be. It was a Saturday morning so he most likely wasn't at work. If he was anywhere he'd either be at his house or hiding like a rat in his hole.
Eric was closer to Russell's Manhattan town home so he headed down Park Avenue towards party central for New York's upper crust society.
He found parking on the street and got out. On the walk up, Eric tried to pull himself together. He had gotten a few minutes in the bathroom before Sookie woke to freshen up and wash out his mouth but he still looked like he had been up all night. Sleeping in a chair would do that to someone, Eric thought. His long legs climbed up the stairs in three steps flat and then he rang the doorbell. Eric didn't even know if the chicken shit would answer it, but if he did, he debated on just going for the chokehold like Russell had on Sookie, or playing it nice. Eric knew if he went for the chokehold there was no going back, he was like a pit bull in that respect. If anyone crossed him or Sookie, they would never do it again, he made sure of that. He didn't care if this man was the goddamn mayor.
Eric stood on his feet and put weight on his other leg as he waited impatiently. He rung the doorbell again, thinking perhaps they got him, and that's when he heard the lock come undone and watched the door creek open.
"Well hello blonde big and beautiful." A woman from behind smiled at Eric as she took in all 6 feet 5 inches of him. Eric recognized her as Russell's wife, whom he had never met personally, but he knew of, and he nodded his head politely trying to keep his true intentions under lock and key…
"Good morning Mrs. Edgington."
Vivian raised her brows impressed and she asked him snaking her manicured hand around the door as she leaned into him revealing a very skimpy silk robe…
"Good manners and the body of a Greek God? I must have done something right in this life."
She smiled back at him flirting and then put her finger in her mouth suggestively asking him as her glance dropped to his crotch…
"So what brings you here Mr.?"
"Northman." Eric replied his gaze unwavering as she smiled and pushed her door open inviting him into her large home.
"Well by all means come in Mr. Northman." And then she brought up a cigarette she was holding up to her mouth while ogling him more. The odor of the damn thing made him feel sick on his empty stomach, but he pushed those thoughts aside and Eric decided just to get to the point and he explained in nonchalant tone well aware of Russell and his wife's current marital problems…
"I work with your husband, I was wondering if he was at home?" Eric asked.
Vivian smiled and she walked over to perch on the back of her couch, purposely flashing her panties to Eric under her robe invitingly as she crossed her legs she replied slowly…
"No he's not, but perhaps I can help you."
She took another drag and then set the cigarette down in a near bye ashtray licking her lips.
Eric thought these two really deserved each other the way the wife behaved and he asked her plainly refusing to respond to her advances…
"Do you know where I can find him?"
Vivian smiled and then she stood up again and then walked up to Eric and bravely put her hand on his package. Eric's whole body stiffened and she smirked wickedly replying…
"My my you are a big one."
She looked down and licked her lips hungrily. Running her hands up his chest she asked him…
"Why do you want to find him when you could have me, here now?" Vivian reached up to pull his neck down trying to reach his lips for a kiss, but Eric backed away disgusted. He thought he saw something out of the corner of his eye, but then it was gone. Frankly he just wanted to get out of here and when she tried to touch him again...
Eric yanked himself out of her grasp because he didn't believe in hitting a woman and replied sharply…
"If you won't help me I'll find him myself."
Eric turned back to the door and Vivian ran after him, reaching around him she pushed her hand on the door and locked it and then she replied with a wicked glint in her eye as she looked up towards Eric determined to keep him there…
"No honey you're not going anywhere."
-----------------------
Amelia had the good sense to call Pam before she and Sookie hightailed it out of the hospital. Pam was furious when she found out what Eric had wanted to do. Although Pam was confident the police would cut off Eric. She knew Russell had been arrested last night on murder charges, and that's when Amelia had relayed to Pam what Sookie had told her about Vivian. That's when she could tell Pam had tensed up and then ordered Amelia to meet her with Sookie as quickly as they could.
Sookie couldn't understand it, it was just intuition, Eric was in trouble. She didn't care how much they fought she had to get to him. She didn't even have a plan but she strode out of the hospital like a woman on a mission and then Amelia informed her of their real plans to meet with Pam first on the steps of the Museum of Natural History.
Amelia needed someone here with a level head on their shoulders who knew what was going on, someone who had an edge on Eric's motives and whereabouts, and she knew that someone was Pam. Based on their brief phone conversations and musing about the daily soap opera that was Eric and Sookie's lives they actually had become friends.
However, Sookie was certainly lacking in the helpful department at the moment. She was all adrenaline and impatience and impulse. Amelia half wondered if the Doctors snuck some crack into Sookie's coffee this morning. Although she had the same coffee and it hadn't affected her. The girl was more jittery than a greyhound penned up before a race. Amelia thought she could talk some sense into Sookie by explaining how careful they had to be because Daphne was murdered.
This however seemed to have the opposite effect since Sookie apparently hadn't heard about the murder even though it was all they were playing on television for the last 13 hours since it happened. Amelia was surprised Sookie hadn't gotten any press attention herself yet actually. This whole thing was all very weird and she couldn't help but think they were standing in the middle of it all. It felt like the calm before the storm and Amelia hated that feeling like they were just waiting for the other shoe to drop. And of course Sookie's 20 questions about Daphne's death wasn't helping her in the worry or frustration department either.
They finally got to the museum and Amelia handed Sookie a twenty-dollar bill and asked her…
"Sook can you go get us a bag of those mini donuts over there, I skipped breakfast." Amelia lied and Sookie looked back at her baffled asking Amelia…
"I thought Pam was meeting us here?"
"She is, but you don't want to run around town on an empty stomach now do you?" Amelia asked needing just one minute of peace away from Sookie for some clarity, she grew more irritated by the minute. She just needed some breathing room because frankly Sookie was pissing her off.
"If she's not here in 1 minute I think we should just go look for Eric ourselves, maybe he stopped home for a clean pair of clothes" Sookie offered. Amelia's annoyance was on simmer as they lingered on the steps while waiting for Pam. It was a windy morning and Sookie added...
"Or, maybe I could go to city hall and find Russell's home address and you guys could meet me there!" Sookie's impatience was written all over her face and it was infuriating to Amelia because she had been pacing for the last 10 minutes and Amelia grabbed her sleeve and replied sharply...
"No!"
"She will be here any minute. Go get the damn donuts!"
"What if something happened to Pam?" Sookie asked and that's when Amelia snapped...
"Okay I get this whole chivalry thing because you love him and all, I even get the little game of cat and mouse and foreplay you two have going on, but what I don't get is how can you be so clueless?"
"Excuse me?" Sookie replied taken back by Amelia's sudden outburst and Amelia shook her head in disbelief...
"The man saved your life Sookie, he breathed air into your lungs, he is the reason you are standing here right now, and yet you're the one who shuts him out."
"I do not." Sookie protested but Amelia had her hand up, clearly displaying to her that she had the floor Amelia answered...
"Yes, you do...I saw the defeat in his eyes when he left your room this morning, I bet he stayed there all night too and YOU pushed him out didn't you?"
Sookie looked down at the ground with her brows creased as her mind churned over that possibility and Amelia concluded...
"We might not even be here right now looking for him if you had it in you to show some gratitude." Amelia surrendered throwing her hands up into the air and then Pam strode up to them just in the nick of time before it got ugly, dressed to the 9's in a pair of gorgeous Italian heeled boots a jade green suede skirt with matching jacket and a pair of turtle colored sunglasses to mask her beautiful face and she lowered the glasses and replied with a perfectly painted mauve smirk...
"Did I come at a bad time?"
Amelia looked back at Sookie who was still feeling guilty sulking a few steps away and then Pam replied firmly when neither one answered her due to the obvious tension in the air...
"Good, because I have no patience for sissy PMS crap, we have some business to take care of."
That got both Sookie and Amelia's attention and they both looked up at Pam in question. Pam had noticed the two girls bickering earlier as she approached recognizing a brewing storm when she saw one, especially when Eric was in danger and she replied sternly as she began to turn around, giving both women no choice but to keep up with her Pam replied…
"We can go to the police station first, but while we are making our way there I want you to tell me everything that happened, (She looked back at Sookie pointedly and added…) from the beginning."
----------------------------------
"The last time I checked, I could go wherever I want, now step aside." Eric lowered his voice seemingly to appear more hostile and Vivian raised one brow in intrigue.
"What if we exchanged Intel for services?" She asked brightly running her tongue over her lips suggestively with a devilish smirk, but Eric clearly wasn't buying it, one hand already on her door handle, his dark eyes boring holes into her skull as if to say 'don't fuck with me!' and then she finally surrendered, realizing he wasn't going to budge one centimeter…
"Okay, okay, he was arrested last night, on murder charges! Haven't you been watching the news?" She asked him baffled by his ignorance but Eric jerked out of her grasp.
Vivian finally let go of him and threw up her arms in exasperation and she shook her head still in disbelief.
"The bastard has been sleeping with half of this city, dragging my name through the mud along with his and now he's gone and offed 3 of his ex girlfriends!"
She put her hand over her face faking a sob while trying to bait Eric and she put her hand over her mouth and replied pretending to be very broken up about it…
"Can you blame me for wanting to find a little happiness too?"
Her nostrils flared and she confessed…
"He was the only man I remained faithful to for the last 25 years and now I find out about all of this!"
She pursed her lips together and looked up at Eric earnestly her eyes blotchy from false tears and she replied…
"Your voice sounds familiar to me Mr. Northman…I feel like I can trust you …" She wiped away a stray tear and looked up at him with her best puppy dog expression, pleading…
"I lost my whole world in one night, won't you please stay? Just offer a poor helpless lonely woman a shoulder to cry on?"
Eric observed at Vivian for a moment, she appeared torn up enough, but there was something else, something was off about her, remembering his original plan, although he knew Russell was now locked behind bars, Eric still had a thing or two to say to him, and then he had another matter to take care of—Sophie Anne.
"You don't seem that helpless to me Mrs. Edgington."
"Please, Mr. Northman after all of this news I…I don't now if I can live with what happened."
Eric certainly didn't want her to kill herself, but he had bigger fish to fry at the moment and Eric finally answered…
"I find in tragedy, it's best to lay low, find someone to stay with who you can trust."
"Mr. Northman!"
She ran to grab him again but Eric cut her off with his sharp glare…
"I must go." He concluded sharply.
And then he turned and walked out the door.
"Mr. Northman!" She called after him again chasing him out, but in a flash he was gone.
Vivian's pout instantly faded away as she watched him leave and then went back inside her house. A man holding a camera wearing a gray newsies hat came out from behind a doorway that led into the dining room and Vivian asked him impatiently…
"Did you get it?"
He, looked back at her, nodded his head, and smiled.
Vivian's dark smile returned and she replied and she replied with another wicked smirk…
"Wonderful, you can tell her our publicists will be in touch."
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Eric briefly wondered to himself what he was doing here at the Police Department. In the back of his mind he was worried about Sookie and wanted to make sure she had a clean bill of health before he left this morning. If she hadn't been so stubborn and so impossible he could have made sure she was all right.
He shook that off for the moment now that the guard had summoned him from his waiting spot. He followed the man to a private lounge room with a table and some board games. He figured they must have pulled some strings to get the mayor to meet him here instead of a cold cell and the guard nodded to him letting him know that he was leaving…
"Just call for me on this intercom when you are ready to go."
Eric gave him a brief nod over his shoulder and then he took a seat in one of the leather recliner chairs crossing his legs as he waited for Russell to come out. And then as if on cue a door from the other side of the room opened and Russell walked in accompanied by his guard. He was handcuffed and the guard took the cuffs off him and declared sharply in a very deep South Bronx accent…
"5 minutes!"
Both men looked at him and then he backed out closing the door behind him. The moment the door clicked, Russell quickly took the seat opposite Eric and he put his hand on Eric's leg in gratitude…
"Northman, thank God you're here!"
"I don't like being touched!" Eric replied with venom in his voice shrugging off Russell's hand and nodded his head earnestly…
"I know it looks bad, but you of all people have to know I didn't do it, I'm innocent."
"Cut the bull shit Russell, we both know the truth!"
"Know the truth about what?" Russell asked put off and Eric replied sharply…
"That you killed those 3 women, and tried to go after a 4th!" Eric couldn't control his anger as the burning fury washed over his face and he cast Russell a deadly glare as his jaw clenched and contracted. Every muscle in his body became tense and his white fingers gripped the side of the chair making permanent imprints as he thought about Russell's attempted attack on Sookie.
"3? Now there are 3?" Russell stood up and he shook his head and replied…."Listen Eric, I'm being set up, I'm in…."
But before Russell could reply Eric stood up and had Russell's neck in a vice grip backed up against the wall and he hissed…
"Yes Russell? What were you about to tell me? That you didn't kill those women??"
His nostrils flared and Eric tightened his grip his fingers burning marks into Russell's neck just like the marks had shown on Sookie's from her attack and he replied angrily…
"If I didn't want to spend a life time behind bars, I would snap your neck right now, I could do it, don't think I couldn't."
"I…I…" (Russell choked and Eric finally released him as the man fell to the floor…)
"If you come near Sookie Stackhouse again, I WILL make good on my promise!" Eric threatened pointing his finger at him to show him he meant business and then Eric straightened up and remarked…
"Unfortunately for you, she lived, so I'm sure you will be hearing from my lawyers regarding her testimony at your trial. I hope you rot in hell!"
Eric spat back in disgust all the while Russell was trying to get his breath back, coughing and he shook his head confused…
"Sookie? Who's Sookie?"
Eric glared at him in a challenging manner and then it finally clicked for Russell as he realized who she was…
"Oh Sarah? That damn reporter who fucked me over for a story?"
Russell looked back at Eric annoyed and Eric desperately wanted to make some more dents at the moment but held back.
"Get your facts straight ass hole, she works for the Times, the Post fucked you over, and now you are going to be royally screwed by the time the media is done with you."
"Eric!"
He stood up and put his hand out as if in surrender, trying to get his balance back he held onto a chair and he replied honestly…
"I have proof it wasn't me, check with your secretary…I called your office at the time of Daphne's murder, she can verify my whereabouts."
Eric looked back at Russell as if he was growing horns out of his head going back to that day in his mind, he never remembered seeing a message from Ginger--Wait! But he did remember Ginger telling him that Russell was on the line before he left to go buy that ring. A thousand thoughts ran through Eric's face and he looked back at Russell, no longer seeing the man he once knew but a destroyed man standing there crumpled beaten up. But he couldn't get past it; someone had to pay for what happened to her. He thought he would feel pity, but all he felt was rage and vengeance. That was Skokie's attacker sitting there. Maybe he didn't go for Daphne but that didn't give him an alibi for Sookie.
Eric's face hardened once more and he cast Russell a glare filled with contempt. Calling once to the guard he pressed the intercom and replied…
"I'm ready."
"Eric!" Russell plead one last time moving towards him but Eric held his hand out and narrowed his eyes in warning and he shook his head.
The door to the room opened from the other side and Eric stepped past Russell replying coolly under his breath so only Russell could hear him…
"Rot in hell Edgington!"
And then he stepped outside the door wondering why the weight hadn't yet been lifted off his shoulders. It wouldn't till this was over. Eric knew that much. He left the the Police Department and made his way to 47th avenue. Eric figured he was on a roll today—why stop now, right?
--------------------
Sookie was very disappointed when they didn't find Eric at the Police Station and even more put out when the officers made them wait to speak with someone.
"You must be kidding?" Pam replied in her usual take-charge voice but the clerk at the counter with no sense of humor and a flat scowl on his face replied…
"Ma'am, I don't kid, take a seat."
She sighed and threw up her hand and remarked angrily to Amelia…
"So this is what law enforcement in our country has come to."
Amelia just shook her head and then Sookie went back up and she asked the clerk…
"Have you seen a man come in here, he was about 6 foot 5 inches tall, blonde hair, blue eyes, very handsome and probably asked to see the Mayor?"
"Our visitor log is confidential ma'am, now if you just take a seat an officer will be with you in a minute."
Sookie sighed in frustration, wanting to run out of here and chase after Eric but she knew they needed to have the cops on their side first. So she slunk down in one of the uncomfortable chairs feeling hopeless.
Just then a homeless man piped up from the grouping of chairs across from them and he replied drunkenly…
"You just missed him!"
Sookie sat up a little straighter wanting to know more about what this man saw and she asked him for confirmation…
"I did, do you know when he left, and who he saw while he was here?"
He hid the flask he had just snuck a swig from in his jacket pocket sitting up intoxicated and then on closer attention to Sookie as he tried to focus in on her he replied in realization…
"Hey…I know you from somewhere…you look very familiar."
Sookie's eyes darted nervously back towards Amelia's and Pam's who sat up a little straighter and Pam announced…
"Of course you have, this is Miss America!"
Sookie raised her brows in surprise. It was obvious the man was drunk, and she realized Pam didn't want any more attention brought to them, but Miss America? Really?
"Oh my, I'm sorry Miss America, how rude of me!" The man took off his hat showing his respect with a balding head of hair and he replied in earnest…
"It's a pleasure to meet you." He held out his dirty hand and Sookie looked back at Pam in scorn, reluctantly taking the man's hand she replied in her most regal tone…
"It's nice to meet you as well, um?"
"Howie!" The man flashed her a toothless grin and he replied shaking her hand excitedly…
"Wait till the boys hear about this!" And he asked Sookie with a smirk…
"So what did you do for the talent competition?"
Just then the clerk called them up…
"Miss Stackhouse, Officer Donnelly will see you now!"
Sookie stood up quickly thankful to be saved by the bell and get this show on the road. And Pam and Amelia followed her into the back. Officer Donnelly was a burly man and he acted like he didn't have time to see them, pushing aside a stack of papers and not even bothering to look up as the clerk showed them in he replied looking down at more notes…
"Have a seat." There of course was only one chair in his office so Pam and Amelia stood behind Sookie. The clerk closed the door behind them and Sookie swore they waited a good minute in silence before the officer even looked up.
"Ahem…" Pam finally replied pointing to her watch she added…
"You're schedule isn't the only one that matters officer."
He of course flipped his eyes ignoring Pam, which wasn't a smart move and asked them…
"So which one of you is Sookie Stackhouse?"
"That's me." Sookie replied raising her hand slightly and the officer nodded and he began in a grumbling tone…
"So it says here you were brought into New York Presbyterian last night after being choked, I'm assuming this was a domestic assault so the first question is do you want to press charges?"
Sookie looked back at the man wondering what was wrong with him. Domestic assault?
"Don't you have statements from my friends?" Sookie asked him confused and he flipped through the file to the next few pages and he replied while reading…
"Sister: Amelia Broadway, and Fiancé: Eric Northman both said she was attacked by a perpetrator!"
Sookie raised her brows and looked back at Amelia in question. Fiancé? The word stuck out in her head, but Amelia just gave her a look that said 'Ill tell you later.'
He nodded replying "Ah" as if he understood now and asked her looking up again…"So it was a robbery?"
"No Officer Donnelly. Would you like me to tell you what happened now?" Sookie finally asked getting snippy and feeling frustrated that he hadn't yet asked her what went down and he sighed…
"Go ahead, I'm all ears."
Sookie shook her head, thinking he had no excuse for his rudeness. If her Gran was here she would give the man a nice talking to and she finally began…
"Well as you know I have been in the news, well it started out with an undercover story I was doing for the Times. I was investigating the Murder of Maudette Pickins and some inside sources told us that the Mayor was seen with Maudette before she died, so I followed my leads, and posed as his secretary so I could get into this party at Andy Warhol's Studio, only I had no idea when I got there that they were into voyeurism. So long story short, I was cornered into playing this game of spin the bottle, the bottle landed on Eric Northman and then Andy asked us to have sex in front of everyone, but I was undercover and he was…well he just happened to be there too, and the next morning we find out that our faces are plastered all over the Post. Of course I went into work that day and tried to explain to my editor, and he fired me, then I went home and that's when Russell's wife Vivian assaulted me with a gun. She knocked me over the head and then tied me up on my bed and told me she wanted my death to look like a suicide. She confessed to everything when I asked her if she killed Maudette and then in a moment of lapse I was able to kick the gun away and wrestle her, but that's when she began to choke me. My hand was tied to the bed so I couldn't fight back and she put a pillow over my head and that's when I lost consciousness. Luckily my fiancé and my sister arrived in time to save me and I was taken to the hospital."
Sookie put her hand on her chest out of breath. She didn't think she could get it all out missing one of two little details but impressed she had got the gist, and she looked back at the officer hoping he was taking notes because she didn't want to repeat that again when she noticed his mouth was partially open and he was staring at her.
Sookie took a breath and smiled awkwardly and she concluded…
"So that's pretty much what happened."
Officer Donnelly had his brow raised and fingers folded as he sat back in his chair and surveyed Sookie and he replied confused…
"That's it huh? And you expect me to believe a story like that?"
Sookie's face fell in disbelief her brow creasing in frustration and Donnelly added…
"You might want to check out the medication your Doctor prescribed you Miss. Stackhouse, because that is one cooked goose of a story."
Pam who had been standing there this whole time blurted out…
"Oh for Pete's sake, she's telling you, you have the wrong man and the real killer is on the loose you moron!"
"I understand that." The officer replied in an annoyed tone rolling his eyes at Pam, which again wasn't a very wise move, and he replied…
"But the testimony of a mentally unstable (he paused for a minute looking back at Sookie and censored himself in an attempt to not offend her) victim, needs further evidence to back up the case, if this happened how you said it did, the case will solve itself."
"It will solve itself?" Pam asked incredulously unable to believe this mans audacity.
"Why don't you go back to your boyfriends and let the real men do their work, this isn't some soap opera, we have to check facts and verify and check them again before we make any moves." The officer replied.
Pam glared at him clearly pissed and she told Amelia and Sookie to go wait outside.
"I wasn't done with her yet!" The officer declared and Pam replied sharply closing the door behind her…
"Oh yes you were."
He glared at her and he asked Pam in a sarcastic tone…
"So what are you going to do blondie? Glare me to death?"
Pam smirked and she sat down in the chair in front of his desk. Crossing her long legs she laced her fingers over her knees and she met his gaze pointedly replying smartly…
"You know I'm quite close with your Chief of Police, Stanley Davis, Officer? (She leaned over and read his name tag having already forgotten his name from earlier she replied…) Donnelly."
She drummed her perfectly painted nails on his desk and added…
"I'd hate to see what might happen to you should he learn that we gave you first hand witness Intel regarding a wanted murderer and you did nothing."
Officer Donnelly pursed his lips and looked Pam up and down, obviously hating the fact that she had the upper hand at the moment and Pam finally replied standing up…
"Do we have an understanding?" Pam asked him with the flick of her brow and Donnelly finally looked up and replied begrudgingly under his breath….
"Yes, we do."
"Good, then I will be in touch with you later today regarding your findings Officer Donnelly."
She gave him a brief smile and thought she heard the term "Bitch" cast in her direction as she closed his door behind her.
Now that that was settled, where was her brother? Pam thought. She knew Eric was not one to sit idly by and watch things crumble around him; he was a man of action, which meant he was most likely stirring up trouble somewhere in this city. Pam looked at the clock on the wall as she walked back out to the lobby noting it was after 1pm. They had been here for 2 hours. She sighed, just how she wanted to spend her Saturday afternoon.
"Amelia, Sookie, let's go!" Pam ordered them as they rose to attention. The drunk bum from earlier began to sing the Miss America song…
"There she is, Miss America…"
And Sookie's face turned a bright crimson color as other people in the lobby stared at them.
"So what now?" Amelia asked looking back from Pam to Sookie and Pam shook her head and she replied for the first time uncertain…
"I think we need to find Vivian Edgington before she finds Eric." Pam wasn't sure whether or not Eric had taken his gun along, but the more she thought about it the more she thought it might not be a bad idea for them to be armed. This was turning into a wild goose chase not sure when they would ever find her brother, she finally added as they started to walk towards Eric's Manhattan loft…
"I need to grab his Magnum first."
"Magnum? He's packing heat?" Amelia asked surprised with a laugh, the double entendre lost on the other women at the moment and Sookie asked just as confused…
"Eric has a gun?" Sookie didn't know how she felt about that, but before she could think about any more bad things Pam replied…
"He got it after he was robbed…Bastards got everything, a Dali painting, his Armani suits, our mothers jewelry."
Sookie creased her brows suddenly feeling bad for them. In that moment she just wanted to get to him. She said a silent prayer to herself for Eric's safety and then she hurried trying to keep up with the quick pace Pam was setting. Something about those tall long legged blondes, they didn't like to slow down—ever! Sookie noted.
As they neared his building Sookie asked Amelia absently…"So did Eric tell the Doctor he was my fiancé? Or did you?"
Amelia looked back at Sookie a smirk coming to her face and she asked Sookie in a kidding tone…
"Are you rethinking his proposition Sookie?"
"What proposition?" Pam asked curiously as she walked ahead and Amelia announced proudly…
"Eric asked Sookie to marry him."
That's when Pam got her heel caught in a sidewalk grid and she went tumbling forward.
"Oh my god, Pam!"
Amelia rushed to her side and Sookie the other and Pam stood up quickly brushing herself off. She looked back at Sookie and she asked her with desperate curiosity…
"Is that true? He asked you to marry him?"
Sookie looked back at Pam replying as she continued to walk not wanting to really dwell on the subject because it was one that gave her torment…
"Not really, well he had a ring."
"He had a ring?" Sookie suddenly wondered if Pam had swallowed a parrot and she replied honestly…
"Well he thought it would be a good cover, if I acted like his fiancé the press might drop the Club X story."
Pam raised her brows but said nothing. Sookie, however was uncomfortable with her silence as they continued to walk and she asked Pam…
"What? What is it?"
Pam shook her head not wanting to talk she replied unconvincingly…
"Oh nothing."
Amelia chuckled and she replied…
"Oh come on, even I can tell your hiding something, so spill it sister!"
Pam looked back from Amelia to Sookie awkwardly for a long moment trying to contemplate what she should tell them, and Sookie added…
"Yes, what are you keeping from us Pam?"
Pam looked back from Sookie and then to Amelia and she finally answered them as they reached Eric's building…
"He swore he would never get married, after our parents died. He couldn't bear to go through losing someone in that way ever again. He made me promise him never to let him fall into the curse like they did."
Sookie felt her heart sink in disappointment, when she realized that Eric viewed marriage as a curse. Knowing he was just trying to create a cover for them. Even though she herself told him she didn't want to get married either, she felt a small pang of heartache when it clicked for her that marriage wasn't in the cards for him.
Pam watched Sookie for a moment in empathy and she put her hand on Sookie's arm and replied honestly…
"I'm surprised he did that and he never surprises me."
Sookie looked back at Pam a confused look on her face and Pam ascended the stairs. She led them in and greeted Eric's doorman. The last time Sookie was here she came in from the garage entrance so she had missed the whole grand lobby tour and she was very impressed.
Pam walked over to the elevator and within a few minutes they were outside Eric's apartment. She took out the keys from her purse and unlocked the door.
"Maybe the tide is actually turning." Pam muttered under her breath with a smirk as she pushed the door open and she stopped in her tracks startled by what she saw.
"Oh my god, Eric!" Pam proclaimed, not expecting him to be here she had her hand held over her heart. Eric was holding a remote in his hand and standing by the television when Sookie and Amelia burst through the doorway along with Pam.
"Eric!" Sookie proclaimed wanting to run up to him and throw her arms around him with relief. It had been a very long day and she was just so thankful to find him here and safe, and not in some body bag somewhere, but he just stood there looking at her, keeping his distance, so Sookie looked down at the floor afraid that he was upset with her.
"What are you doing here?" Pam asked him with hands on her hips. "We were looking everywhere for you, we just came from the police station."
"You talked to the police?" Eric asked suddenly setting down the remote and he walked over to them. Sookie took a deep breath because she could smell his intoxicating scent and it was driving her crazy not to go and run into his arms when Amelia added…
"Yeah we did, we were worried to death about you and your girlfriend here was beside herself the whole time!"
Eric shot Sookie a glance unsure of what to think. She had made things pretty clear that she wasn't interested in taking things further with him, that what they had was just a meaningless fling. He couldn't deny that her rejection this morning stung him. And now he just didn't know what to think.
"Yes and we came back here to grab your Magnum incase you ran into Edgington's wife..." Pam added.
"My magnum? You were going to take my gun?" Eric asked puzzled and growing more annoyed by the second. And he asked Pam frustrated…"What does any of this have to do with Edgington's wife?"
"She attacked Sookie, you idiot!" Pam proclaimed and Amelia added in Sookie's defense…
"Maybe if you would have stuck around this morning she could have told you that."
Pam looked back at Amelia impressed by her bravery to speak to Eric that way and Eric sat back down putting his hand over his head feeling a very bad headache coming on. And he asked them…
"So Vivian attacked Sookie?"
Sookie closed her eyes feeling like she was the third wheel here, but she wasn't going to get badgered out of the conversation, especially when she was the topic and she finally replied in a softer tone than the other two women…
"Yes, Russell's wife attacked me, she confessed to the murder of Maudette Picken's as well and I'm pretty sure she killed Daphne too."
Eric looked up at Sookie his eyes searching hers for the truth desperate to know how she felt about him, for real, and Sookie continued, putting her hand down on the back of his leather couch…
"She was embarrassed by Russell's cheating and wanted her revenge."
She saw the resistance in his gaze and Sookie looked down at her hand not sure what more she could say to get him to believe her. It was hard enough with the police. She hoped at least she wouldn't have the same problem with Eric, getting a sick feeling in her stomach when she realized he wasn't giving her the satisfaction of a reply like he had with the other women here.
Pam noticed something was up between the two and she took the moment to stand up from her perched position on Eric's bar stool and she remarked…
"Well now that we know you're still alive, it's time for some lunch."
Eric stood up and replied begrudgingly just wanting to get this over with…
"Fine."
And Pam shot him a look and asked him with her own brand of attitude…
"Where do you think you're going? I didn't invite you!"
Eric met her gaze confused and Pam replied looking over at Amelia…
"Amelia, would you care to join me for a bite to eat, so we can discuss our careers, dissipating social lives, and emotionally retarded brothers and friends?"
Amelia looked over to Pam with a smirk understanding what she was doing and she swept up her purse and replied eagerly…
"I'd love to."
Sookie met Amelia's gaze pleadingly not wanting her friend to leave her alone with angry Eric. The last thing she was in the mood for right now was a fight but before she could even utter another syllable Amelia was kissing her on the cheek and Pam went to go kiss Eric and before they walked out, Pam replied in a smug tone…
"Behave yourselves children."
She cast them a playful smirk and then she shut the door behind her.
There was a resounding silence in Eric's apartment, as Sookie looked at him and he her. Sookie hoped Eric would give her an olive branch or something, but he continued in his silent protest and sat back in his chair. Sookie felt the chill of his cold shoulder routine and she figured she was going to have to be the brave one. She had to break through this tension and she began with…
"Eric?" But before she could even complete her sentence Eric interrupted her and replied…
"Shouldn't you be getting back to packing? I saw the luggage, must have been an important trip to pack up in the middle of the day without telling me where you were going."
He regretted the words the moment they came out but Eric couldn't help lashing out. He still held a lot of anger, not all for Sookie, but for everything and he wasn't sure what to do with it, in no mood to play nice at the moment he held his ground.
Sookie looked back at him with a pained expression on her face, his words hurt her, mostly because he was right, and she shook her head explaining quietly…
"No, I have somewhere more important to be."
She took a step closer to him and Eric looked up with a flinch, her hold on him weakening his stubborn resistance.
"And I didn't tell you because I was scared." She knew that now. Eric finally met her gaze and he asked her point blank his voice still calm…
"Scared of what? Me?" He shook his head getting tired of this horrible person routine. His actions proved time and time again that he was nowhere near the pond scum she thought he was and Sookie finally replied taking another step closer now standing in front of him, she answered with a hitch in her breath…
"This…I was scared of this, this pull you have over me (his eyes rose to meet her's in question and Sookie swallowed and continued….) I was scared of falling in love with you."
And then she had him, all of him, Eric felt the familiar jolt of his pulse pumping blood through his veins in excitement, that was all he needed to hear and he wanted to reach out and tell Sookie he felt the same, but she wasn't done apparently, standing now in between his legs she watched his eyes as he watched hers and she confessed as she began to pull her top off over her head….
"But I don't want to be afraid anymore…" He saw the marks on her neck and winced wishing he could kiss it away Eric sat up ready to catch her, but Sookie stood her ground as she slipped her bra off…
"I don't want to be a victim anymore." Her angry gaze flicked with his and he felt that spark return. They weren't even touching yet, but he could feel her energy against his body, wanting to reach out and touch her, she was even more beautiful more perfect in the light of day. Her hands moved delicately over her own breasts and Eric felt his dick jerk in his pants. Fuck, she was hot.
He understood that she had a point she was making with her words, with her body, she could have told him she was running away with a 3 ring circus to tour Russia at the moment and he wouldn't have cared, and as her hands moved down her silky smooth skin to the fly of her denim jeans she concluded…
"I don't want to get my heart broken again."
His eyes, which had been fixated on her perfect breasts, finally rose to meet Sookie's and he realized what she was saying. She didn't want him to break her heart. He wouldn't even dream of it and Eric replied catching her hand…
"You wont."
The two words were so simple but when Sookie looked into Eric's eyes she knew he meant it. He had melted her heart all over again and she felt all of her shields truly evaporate away. She met his gaze with an earnest kind of love and unzipped her pants feeling empowered by his words she stepped out of them and waited for Eric to look. Sookie wanted him to see her drenched panties before she peeled them off and then she actually saw his arousal threaten to rise up through his pants and felt another tremor run through her body. She wanted to taste him to touch him and lick him and swallow, but first she had to feel him, yanking his own shirt up over his head her mouth watered when she saw his perfect chest. She leaned into him, keeping her body at a distance from his hands so she could remain in control because she needed to take the lead this time and she began to trail soft kisses along his neck and collarbone. He was so beautiful, his body was finer than a Greek god and as her lips kissed one breast and then the other she felt his hands encircle her own soft pillows of flesh. The sensation was delightful, but nothing was keeping her from her dessert and she lowered herself to her knees and trailed kisses along his abdomen as she unbuckled and unzipped his pants.
Eric was completely lost in Sookie. He wanted her just as badly as she did him it seemed. Whatever had come over her, whatever she was doing right now, he was under her spell. And nothing could break it. He couldn't believe she was actually doing what she was doing right now, in his fantasies maybe but not reality wondering how she got from rejecting him this morning to this. His eyes closed when he felt her lips brush his hard and heavy arousal. It was so intense he could barely stand it as she gently kissed him teasingly up and down his hard length. He wanted to kiss her so badly and touch her and pleasure her and make love to her, but this torturous and painful pleasure kept him very restricted. She slowly brought out her tongue painting a warm line along his sternum that turned cool when the air brushed it, and then she did the other side. Eric absently wondered if she had done this before because she was very good. And then her hand came into play as she began to massage and toy underneath his hard shaft while her tongue licked his tip. Eric let out a sharp hiss as he felt his body respond to every stroke.
"Fuck Sookie."
She simply smiled and continued her assault now noting the small drop of pre cum and she hungrily lapped it up. Sookie felt the dampness recoat her own thighs and knew she was getting just as turned on. God he was so big, it was almost overwhelming but when she was around Eric she lost track of all conscious thought. Finally after one last kiss she took the plunge swallowing his thickness whole she used her tongue to glide along his salty yet savory surface and felt his tremors flow into her own body.
Eric was nearly ready to pass out when she too him in her mouth. His fingers practically scratching claw marks in his upholstery and then she began to moan and he didn't think he could hold off anymore. His mind was reeling over every curse word in the book when he felt it, the familiar cliff was approaching and he needed to be with Sookie to share this moment inside her. In a jolted moment he yanked himself out of her mouth feeling the burning sensation of losing contact and then he pulled her up into his lap jutting his hips up while pulling hers down he plunged his hard and aching cock deep inside her and released his seed, an abundance.
Sookie cried out in pleasure when she felt his hips crash into hers, she was already so wet from before, the sensation of taking him inside her like a volcano ready to explode caused Sookie to orgasm instantly and then they both were suddenly enveloped in the white love as their bodies soared into the heavens together.
There was so much of it she felt like she was swimming as Sookie clung to Eric with her eyes closed tightly. She couldn't get over how amazing this felt. Never remembering sex ever being this good before, Sookie wanted to savor it. And that's when she felt his lips on her neck and large and warm hands scale her back and Sookie dared to open her eyes afraid to break the fantasy. This was such a fragile thing she and Eric had; they were both such fragile people even though they put up hard walls to the rest of the world, they were quite vulnerable underneath. Sookie knew they could just as easily shatter each other. She didn't want to do anything else to mess it up and then he pulled her down for a searing kiss and her lips returned his passionate gesture hungrily. She needed him so badly. Their lips twisted and meshed around each other as tongues slid in and out while their fingers fisted in one another's hair. It was all consuming, like something greater than just this moment. There was a burning hunger there.
Sookie hadn't even realized he was still inside her because her body was singing Beethoven's 5th symphony at the moment, but his movements started out small and then more pleasurable as the numbing ecstasy made way for new rising sexual endorphins of passion. She moaned feeling her pulse rise when he kissed her again tenderly touching her with his hands his tongue his entire body was wrapped up in hers and Sookie felt her hips rise slightly to meet him in divine friction.
He helped lift her with his large hands letting gravity pull her down back over him and Sookie was in a haze. Her body trying to catch up as the lingering aftershocks of her previous orgasm began to build once more as she began to move on her own and then Eric asked her in a hoarse whisper as his lips brushed over her bruised neck tenderly…
"Look at me."
He asked and Sookie found herself staring at the most intensely blue eyes she had ever seen. They were a deep blue like the deepest depths of the ocean and she was locked in enchantment once more. His hands came up to cup her breasts, her heavy breathing and his setting the tune as she rose and fell over him, her beautiful blonde hair cascading over her shoulders and aureoles turning a deep shade of pink, hardening just for him and Sookie realized something. As she looked into his eyes and watched him as he watched her. This wasn't just lust or some primal urge, this was deeper, she needed him as the sky needed air and the sea needed water, their whole bodies were into it and mind, heart, and soul--This wasn't just sex, this was making love!
In the moment the expression on her face shifted as she felt her walls clench around him and then release everything as the pressure exploded inside her like the goddamn 4th of July and then he held onto her tightly in reaction to his own release and Sookie couldn't help it…This was real, this wasn't a game or some fling, she couldn't picture herself with any other man kind of real. The orgasm spiraled and she felt her body crescendo over the climax with a newfound enlightenment. It was true. When she said those words before she meant it. She knew that now and finally, Sookie cried out those three little words she couldn't take back this time, not anymore, not after this….
"I LOVE YOU!"
She saw Eric smile, realizing she had just taken a huge leap and Sookie was suddenly terrified that it might be too much, that she would scare Eric, that he thought this was a joke or something because she was just his fuck buddy and she put her own pleasure on pause wondering if she needed to rethink this, looking for an escape route. And then Eric pulled her face back to him and he concluded…
"I love you too Sookie!"
Despite being on the same page like almost never, he got her. She didn't even know Eric as long as she had other people in her life but he could see right through her to her very soul and he still loved her. Sookie didn't understand how it was possible, she was the most impossible screwed up person she knew, how could a man like Eric love someone like her?
He brushed the back of his hand against her cheek and replied softly affirming it for her...
"I love you."
He smiled and as Sookie looked into his blue depths, she knew he meant it, and her face finally relaxed into her own smile. He loves me! He really loves me! She grinned and leaned into kiss him their breath, teeth and tongues mingling as she did so. Sookie wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his neck and held him tightly. Despite everything that had gone down between them, she felt like the happiest woman on Earth right now. In her last few moments of lingering consciousness before they were swept away by passion once more, Sookie said a silent prayer to herself that they could just stay here forever cherishing this moment because she knew better than anyone that all it could take was a split second to lose it all again.
