Chapter 9 – I so got you!
A/N: Just a note to say I LOVE MY BETA'S they rock! Sassyvampmama and kjwrit are the absolute best and if you don't read their stuff you are so missing out. Thanks to all my sweet little minions and your continued outpouring of support as I go through the loss of my grandma who raised me. It is sad but you all have been so wonderful it just reminds of all the beauty in the world she so believed in! Thanks again! OH and I OWN NOTHING! CH does.
LAST TIME:
"I love you Sookie Stackhouse. I love you." I was shook down to my core at what we just shared.
"I love you too but who is Sookie Stackhouse?" she said and I started to laugh but when I looked back at her she didn't blink she just looked at me like I was the one who was crazy.
EPOV
I reached out through the bond and could feel nothing and it seemed that her shields were up. I was about to panic when she said, while laughing out loud,
"I so got you!" She opened the bond back up and filled me with love and laughter!
"You are turning into Pam, you're such a brat!" I laughed and she just grinned as she yawned.
"It's near dawn my love and you have only been cat napping this evening so my sweet Lover, you need to go to bed and get some sleep." I drew her into my arms, kissed the top of her head and asked her, "Do you remember all the codes to get out of the room and up the elevator?"
"Yep, I know how to get in and out of 'The Bat Cave'." she yawned.
"The Bat Cave?" I questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh come on Eric, don't even act like you don't know who Batman is or the fact that this place is sooooo the freaking Bat Lair." She smiled at me but continued to yawn as she climbed off me and walked toward the bathroom. I didn't respond, I just laid there and listened to the sweet sound of my beloved getting ready for bed. She was here, she was really here. I eventually pulled myself from the floor and climbed into the bed. I wanted to go to rest with her scent on me so I did not shower. I could feel that she was tired as she padded back into the bedroom with her face scrubbed, teeth brushed and one of my Fangtasia T-shirts on as her nightgown. She climbed into bed and smiled at me. I kissed her gently and whispered to her,
"Sleep well my bonded. I will see you when I rise. I love you My Sookie."
"Mmmmm, love you too baby. I ….." and with that she was dead to the world. I laid there and watched her sleep. By the gods it was becoming a compulsion to just lay and watch her sleep. I had to pull myself from the bed and out of her arms. I only had a few precious moments before dawn and there was a phone call that had to be made. I could put it off no longer, so I went to the small desk I kept in the hallway between my bedroom and the one Pam used when she stayed here and pulled the phone out as I dialed a familiar number.
"It's The Northman; I need to talk to her now." I paused and waited for the voice I longed to hear.
"Hello Viking, what has you calling me this fine night?" she asked with in a voice that would have sounded like it was being faked on anyone but her.
"I have bonded myself to the girl." I declared tenaciously.
"You bonded yourself to the little telepath? Well now, that puts a whole new spin on things now doesn't it?" she said with surprise and a hint or irritation in her voice. I could almost see her arching her left eyebrow to the ceiling as she spoke to me.
"Yes it does. I have a plan." I stated bluntly.
"I am sure you do, my Viking, you always have a plan. The question is am I going to like this plan?" she demanded with a wicked tone.
"Probably not my Queen, probably not…." I smirked into the phone knowing she was not going to be happy, but it was the beginning of the game. Making this call and garnering her approval, was the first move on my chess board of a plan. And as I made my first move, I felt that old, but familiar feeling of defiance as I set the board to my liking and prepared for the game.
SPOV
I awoke and felt like I had a brick wall on top of me. I wondered for a moment if I was trapped underneath something? I realized that I could breathe, but there was just an unexplained pressure on my lower extremities that had me a little worried. Then I opened my still very sleepy eyes to find a large Viking with the bulk of his body between my legs, his arms wrapped securely around my waist and his head lying on my chest. It was obvious to me that he had "fallen asleep" as I like to think of it, listening to my heart beat. That thought brought a smile to my face and joy to my heart.
"Baby, you have to let go. I have to get up." I whispered and he made a noise that reminded me of something a two year old would make when one tried to take a favorite toy away.
"nuh-uh…mmmm…mine…" it would seem the bonding did not help with the crazy possessiveness.
"Baby, I'll come right back now Let. Me. Up. or I am peeing in your bed." I cooed the first part, but got very serious with the last of the statement due to my predicament. Very reluctantly he let me go and I eased out of the bed as I made my way to the bathroom. My human needs were screaming at me as I practically ran the last few steps to the toilet.
By the time I had freshened up a little and headed back to the bedroom. I kissed my Viking's cheek as I had promised and then I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was 4 pm. WOW, how did that happen? Then it hit me, 'Oh my Lord…Sam...work…crap.' My mind was racing and I felt so guilty for leaving Sam in the lurch. I ran for the door and elevator, I was so flustered it took me two attempts to get the codes right. I got upstairs to find that Eric had somehow procured a cell phone charger for my phone and it sat next to his on the kitchen counter. 'Nice touch Viking, nice touch' I thought as I dialed Merlotte's and prayed Sam would not be too mad. The phone had rung eight times before someone picked up; that was so not a good sign.
"HELLO Merlotte's!" Sam shouted.
"Hey Sam, I am so sorry… I…" I tried to explain, but he interrupted.
"Cher, How are you? Pam said you were under the weather and would be out for a couple days. She sent over help but they just walked in the door and we are slammed….hang on…hang on" He informed me much to my surprise. I decided I would be mad at Pam later for 'handling' my life. I had to admit I was glad for the time off though. I realized when he told me to hang on he was transferring me back to his office line to afford us some privacy. I waited for him to pick up again and as he did he asked,
"So Cher, are you feeling okay? Where are you? When Pam told me you were sick I went by the apartment, but it didn't look like you had been there in a while." He sounded so worried and I knew he was not going to like what I had to say.
"Sam I'm fine. I have been very tired and I needed some time to sort some things out so I am staying at Eric's house." I winced as I said it waiting for the backlash.
"Damn it Sookie. You're going to get sucked back in to all that Vampire shi….." he was just getting wound up so I just blurted out the rest.
"I bonded to him last night and I'm in love with him Sam, so please don't, just don't." I made the incoherent statement not knowing what else to say. I just did not want to fight with him. He went silent for a moment before saying,
"If he hurts you…" he started.
"I know I know...you'll stake him." I smiled at the male posturing.
"Sookie you're my best friend and I love you. If the truth be told, I always hoped for more for us, but I was too late on the draw. I'll always be here for you Sook, whatever you need." It was sweet and sincere. Sam was a true friend and he made me feel like maybe just maybe things between us would be okay. I knew that Sam and Eric would never be best friends, but I thought they would now at least try to get along for me.
"Thank you Sam and thanks for the time off. I am so happy here. Sam, I haven't talked to Eric about it yet, but I'm going to look for a job here in Shreveport and move in here with Eric. I just wanted to give you a heads up." I informed him of my impromptu decision. To quote Katie Perry 'I hope my boyfriend don't mind it' but something told me Eric would be thrilled with my latest decision.
"Sookie, I hope you find everything you want and I hope the vampire makes you happy." He emphasized the word vampire.
"Sam, I made him quit calling you 'the shifter' so you can't call him 'the vampire' anymore. His name is Eric and that is what you are going to call him from now on, you got me?" I popped off quickly to show my irritation.
"Sorry Cher, I will try, but no promises." He laughed into the phone. I could tell he was trying to appease me. My stomach started growling and I told Sam I would see him soon but then I had to go eat.
I went to the fridge and much to my delight there was left over pizza from last night. Pam could be a pain, but Lord she could cook. I giggled to myself, but then I really thought about Pam and the night before last.
When I was on the floor when I broke down in Eric's office it surprised me when she got on the floor with me and held me. When she cried right along with me it shocked the hell out of me, but comforted me in a way I still can't quite explain. Last night when she made supper for me and held me during the movie, it felt familiar; it made me feel safe. It wasn't just Eric that had made me feel safe, it was Pam too. Pam felt like…..oh hell…. family. Pam felt like family. 'Well hell, when did this happen? I love freaking Pam. Shit. Eric will never let me live this down and if she thinks for one second this means I am going to put up with all her snarky shit she has another thing coming.' I thought to myself as I finally realized I had a family again. I laughed out loud and threw the pizza in the microwave and waited for my yummy goodness to heat up.
I sat down at the kitchen table and ate my pizza. The thought of family made me think of Jason, my oh- so-selfish brother. He may not have the sense to come out of the rain, but I do love him. Even if I sometimes think he only loves me when it's convenient for him. I dialed the phone as I ate my pizza.
"The one and only Jason Stackhouse here." Yes, he actually answered the phone like that.
"Hey Jase, it's me." I chirped.
"Sook, where in the hell are you? I went by the house to check on you today and all I found was a mess," he said with inflection in his voice. I actually thought he was there to check on me until he continued,
"I needed to borrow some tools out of Gran's shed and I was hoping to get some of your fried chicken, but it looked like you still ain't got that kitchen fixed." He was actually mad at me because I wasn't home to cook for him in my kitchen that was burnt down almost to the ground.
"Jason, in case you forgot, about half my house burnt down three nights ago and Alcide just got out there two days ago to give me the estimates on what it will cost to fix it. SO I AM REALLY SORRY that I was not there to cook for you! Jason you are soooo selfish. I swear, we're blood, but you treat me like I'm some dog that you get to decide when to pet it and when to kick it around. Well you know what? That shit is over! I have a family that loves me now and you can just forget all about me." My initial burst of rage was over and I was in tears crying so hard I could barely speak.
"Jason, why don't you love me? All I ever wanted was for you to be my big brother and love me." I sobbed into the phone and was surprised to hear Jason crying as well.
"Sook, I do love you. I'm so sorry I haven't showed you enough for you to know for sure. I love you baby sister. I love you." he said and to my surprise continued when he kept crying right along with me.
"Really?" I sniffed and he did respond immediately for his own tears, but I knew he was trying and that was all that mattered. My brother loved me.
"Really, and I am going to make it all up to you. I promise Sook. Now who is this new family you think you're replacing me with?" he said with a touch of teasing in his voice.
I sniffed and smiled as I chose my words wisely. "Jason, now I don't want you to start 'cause I know you don't like vampires, but you don't know how they are with me. It's Eric and Pam; they love me. Eric and I, well we are together now and Pam, she's becoming one of my closest friends, if she's not the closest one already. I feel so safe and so happy when I'm with them." I once again waited for the backlash.
"Sook, if you're happy that's all that matters to me. I love you baby sister and I am going to make sure you know it from now on out. I'll support you and whatever decisions you make as long as you are safe and happy. If he hurts you though…."
"I know, I know. You'll stake 'm your damn self." I giggled at all the male posturing. Why did all the males in my life have to be alpha dogs? (Several of them quite literally were, come to think of it.)
I heard movement behind me and then Eric's sweet voice.
"Who are you going to stake Lover? Should I alert the staff at Fangtasia or should I be worried?" He laughed as he kissed my cheek while I stroked his hair and told Jason,
"Listen big brother, I have to go. I'll call you later and we can make plans to see each other, okay?"
"You got it Sook, I love you and tell that big vampire of yours he better take care of you and keep you safe. Let him know that there are shifters still getting shot and I'm worried. I think it's best if you stay where ever you are." He informed me.
"Someone else got shot?" I asked.
Jason replied "Yeah some girl, I didn't know her but she was a shifter that Calvin knew. To be honest she favored Crystal from the photo Calvin showed me. It was kinda creepy. She's gonna make it, but she didn't get a look at the shooter so just be careful Sook, okay?" he said with sincerity in his voice.
"Okay Jason I'll be careful I promise. And please, you need to be careful too. I mean, whoever this is Jason they are after two natured people, that means you now. I'm going to tell Eric everything as soon as I get off the phone with you. He's the Sheriff of the area this is happening in so maybe he can help. I love you, Jason! Bye." I heard Jason give a quick love you too and we hung up.
I stood up, hugged Eric and kissed him hello. He leaned back and gave me a concerned look.
"Sookie do you want to tell me why I felt such sorrow from you earlier?" he asked sweetly.
"Jason and I had to clear the air between us. I thought he didn't love me but I was wrong." I smiled happily. He did not question me about it farther, but moved on to the last of the phone call.
"Tell me Lover, what is it that Jason was telling you at the end of your conversation?" he asked very inquisitively.
"That someone is still shooting shifters in Hot Shot and he thinks I should stay here. I also promised him I would get you to look into all of these shootings. Will that be a problem?" I asked sheepishly.
"I will have someone look into the shootings, and I will keep you safe, I swear. And my sweet Lover you can move in here with me and stay forever. I love every moment of having you here. I love listening to you get ready for bed, watching you sleep, making love to you every night, and waking to your voice floating through the house; well it has made me happier than I have ever been. I am hoping you will come to think of this house as your home, as our home. That is what this house has suddenly become for me. In the past two nights this place has finally become my home simply because you are here." he said with that goofy smile I'm falling in love with all over again.
"I'm glad you feel that way, because I just told Sam I'm going to look for a job here in Shreveport and that I want to move in with you. Are you sure that's that okay with you?" I asked quickly and with a little fear of rejection. I mean we just got back together but suddenly he smiled at me and said,
"Why don't you drop your shields and see how I really feel about it?" he grinned.
I hadn't even realized I was shielding. I guess that's why I had not felt him rise for the evening. I'm just so used to doing it sometimes I just shield myself out of habit. I dropped the shields and lost my breath in the process.
EPOV
My sweet little insecure Sookie, she was shielding so heavily she couldn't feel me. I wasn't even sure she could feel all the love I was sending her through the bond. The moment she let down her shields her eyes flew open wide and she jumped into my arms.
"I love you so much!" She was kissing me all over my face as my cell phone rang. I could tell by the ring tone that it was Pam, so I answered.
"Yes Pamela, this is not a good…." She cut me off.
"I have to see you. I am NOT happy. Are you coming here or am I coming there?" she demanded.
"Come here, straight here. What does this concern?" I asked cryptically.
"Pick a topic! We have problems." She hung up on me.
As I hung up from Pam I looked at Sookie and said,
"We are unfortunately about to have company. Pam says she has to speak to me." I explained
"Is everything okay?" she asked full of concern and worry as she furrowed her little brow.
"You are safe and you will stay safe. Why don't you finish your pizza and we will go wait in the library for Pam. I know you wanted to go in there last night and snoop." I teased and then she amazed me again.
"You're safe too, Baby." she said with a distant look in her eyes. "Eric, you don't have to hide things from me. I know you have done things and have had things done to you that would break my heart if I knew the gravity of it, but it doesn't make you who you are. Not to me. You have to let me in Eric all the way not just halfway or it will come between us. I'm not saying you have to tell me everything tonight, but soon, you have to quit shielding it all soon. I'm stronger than you give me credit for. I can take it. I won't be scared because I know you will take care of me and I will take care of you. I will not run." She kissed my cheek as she popped another piece of pizza on her plate and walked toward the library.
I wanted to tell her, 'soon Sookie soon', but I wanted all the chess pieces in place first. I wanted to know the first moves were successful and that my plan was working before I told her anything.
About 10 minutes later Pam arrived in a huff.
"Compton is a douche! I hate him. Can I stake him?" she exclaimed as she let herself in the house. She had parked in the garage like she owned the place. It's my own damn fault since I have spoiled her rotten.
"What has he done now?" I asked.
"Well for starters, he had a total girl fit, when I may or may not have, let it slip that you and Sookie are together now and that you bonded…."
"Pam, did you poke the bear?" I asked with fake annoyance in my voice.
"Well, maybe a little." She smiled her evil little smile at me as I said,
"Good Girl. What was his reaction?" I asked as I smirked.
"A lot of flapping his arms, pacing around and he muttered something about the Queen and you putting Sookie in danger. Do you think he will call her?" Pam asked with worry in her voice.
"No. He doesn't want Sophie Anne to get her hands on Sookie either. He will help us. What did he say about Charles?" I asked.
"Well, he said he would not rest until he knew the truth. I believe him about that. He got this look in his eyes when I told him she could be in danger. I think the idiot really did fall in love with her." She said with a hint of disbelief in her voice. I sensed that Compton had annoyed her more than upset her. I wanted to get to the bottom of the feelings of worry that was rolling off of her, so I asked,
"So, what had you so upset on the phone?" I spoke softly and she was still on a tangent as she complained that,
"Hot Rain, Longshadow's maker, called again. He is still demanding restitution for Longshadow's death. I told him that his 'child' was stealing from his Sheriff and attempted to kill one of his Sheriffs' assets, but he's not hearing it. You are soooo going to have to deal with him. Send him something, a horse or a goat, I don't know. He is an asshat. I am too young for all this stress." she snarked.
"So your problems are; Hot Rain is being an asshat and Bill Compton is being a douche? Pam, Hot Rain has always been an asshat and Compton, as we all know, has always been a douche. SO what is all of this really about?" I asked as I motion to her pacing around the kitchen.
"I think it's about what Bill said when he started researching Charles. He looked him up before I left and it was more what he didn't find than what he did find." She paused for a moment to sit on the counter top so she would be closer to my eye level. She often did this when she was worried. She always wanted to be able to see my eyes, to read my emotions.
"Charles is in the database, but when you click on the maker he listed, well no one has ever heard of him. There is no information, NONE! It's like he's a ghost. He just showed up one day a vampire. Bill is going to dig deeper, but he is worried Eric, so worried in fact, that he told me to tell you that he would help you any way you needed." She ended her explanation as she twisted the ring on her finger. The ring was the one I had given her for her 1st death day present and it was the only ring she ever wore. She reached for my hands and hopped back down as she looked up into my eyes. Then, clenching her hands and twisting the ring, as she got all glassy eyed. That had always been her biggest tell that she was scared.
"So what's really bothering you, is that you think Sookie is in danger and that scares you?" I asked gently knowing it would not be easy for her to admit that she loved someone other than me and that she was worried about them.
"Yes, Eric, something is not right. All of my senses are telling me that something bad is about to happen. We should be ready. We can't lose her Eric, we can't. Tell me you have a plan." She said with true worry in her voice.
"I do and I have already set it in motion. Everything will be fine my progeny." I explained as Sookie was making her way down the hall to look at us.
"What is a progeny and why do ya'll look so serious?" she asked looking so innocent and adorable.
"The definition of progeny is an offspring or something that develops or results from something else. Lover, it is fancy way of me calling Pam my child. I do it normally to calm or soothe her." I explained.
"So Pammy, why are you upset?" Sookie asked as she walked toward Pam.
'Pammy? Did she really just call Pam, Pammy?'
"I am not upset and don't …." She started to explain, but as Sookie reached out to hug Pam, she gave a huge sigh and said, "I am worried about you and keeping you safe." Pam snuggled into Sookie's embrace and smiled.
"Awww Pam, that is so sweet but you don't have to worry about me anymore." And with that she lit her little hands and gave Pam a little zap on the ass.
"OUCH! What did you do, you little BRAT?" Pam demanded as she rubbed her ass and glared at Sookie, but then just at me because I was laughing so hard.
"I'm a freaking fairy!" she giggled.
"You are not!" she yelled in a shocked laugh.
"Yes I am and a fairy princess at that!" She was still laughing at Pam's reactions.
"Well, fuck a zombie! That sure explains a lot!" Pam smiled her evil smile as she picked Sookie up and spun around with her in the kitchen. They laughed and giggled until they collapsed in the floor together.
A/N: I just had to stop it there my little minions. We are about to cover a lot of ground in the next chapters so hold on to you hats. Why and who did Eric make that mysterious pre-dawn phone call? Will Pam ever get Eric to buy someone a goat? Will Bill ever not be a douche? Can I get Asshat added to the Webster dictionary? They are all very good and important questions, some more than others. HUGS
NOW REVIEW FOR MOMMA and make me do the Happy Dance!
