Nothing but the Truth

Sookies visit to Merlottes results in a revelation about William.

Examining her feelings Sookie comes to a realisation.

An unexpected visitor leads to an unexpected but cherished gift.

As usual all the True Blood characters will be returned unharmed to Alan Ball, HBO and Charlaine Harris however William is mine.

Chapter 5

'Sookie? Sookie, are you all right?' William was asking. Snapping back into reality she gulped. He was still holding her hand in his and she could feel the warmth of his soft touch as he stroked her finger tips. She felt electric shocks shooting through her, his face close to hers looking intensely at her. 'Sookie are you okay? You were miles away' William asked again. 'Yes sure' she said trying to focus. 'Would you like me to take you home?' he was saying a little concerned. 'I'm okay honestly. I'm sorry I was so distracted I guess I was a little overwhelmed coming here' she finished. 'Please don't worry about me, really I'm fine' she said but all the while she was staring at William trying to remember she didn't know what?

The moment was broken as she felt a pat on the back and looking up, she found Jason beaming at the couple. 'Hey Sook it's so good to see you up and around. William, good to see you man' Jason smiled while holding out his hand to shake Williams. 'Sookie, William, you all remember Jess?' he said by way of introduction. Well, Sookie thought, Jason sure put his hospital visits to good use. At the same time she was really pleased to see Jessica with him instead of the usual girlfriends he seemed to attract. 'Do you mind if we join you for a drink before we head out for dinner?' Jason said a little sheepishly. Well here's a first Sookie was thinking, Jason never takes a girl to dinner, the most any girl could usually hope for with Jason was a quick burger and serving of Terry's special chilli fries washed down with a beer. Hmm, he must be serious about her she thought smiling. She really liked Jessie and realised that she would be a perfect match for him, keeping him on the straight and narrow so to speak.

The two couples sat chatting while sipping their drinks. After some time Sookie and Jessica excused themselves and in the ritual that still baffles all men, they went to the powder room together. As soon as they were through the door Sookie took Jessica's hand and gave it a small squeeze. 'So how long have you two been seeing each other?' Sookie asked smiling 'A little while' Jess smiled shyly back. 'Hmm a little while huh?' Sookie was laughing. 'Anyway, you can talk. What about you and William? I just so love listening to him talk, that accent…it's like it could charm you to pieces' she shivered, 'there's something sort of glamorous about it, something …' she laughed. Sookie giggled, 'I know what you mean. It's like coffee coloured silk, soft and rich and just so incredibly sexy.' They both sighed and giggled again. Returning to the table Jason immediately launched into speech. 'Sook it's still early and the reservation for Chez Lucien that Jess and I have for dinner isn't until eight o'clock so how about you two go home and get changed and join us. I've already run it by William and he's interested' Jason chuckled, 'so how about it?'

At that moment Sookie's attention was caught by two new comers who had walked in, namely Pam arm in arm with Dr Ericsson. Making eye contact with Jess, she gave a slight nod of her head in the newcomer's direction. Jess leaning in so she couldn't be over heard whispered in Sookie's ear, 'Poor Pam, she's so in love with him but I'm not so sure he feels the same way.' Sookie's eyebrows rose questioningly. 'To be honest, and please don't say this to Pam, but I had the distinct feeling that he was more than happy being your doctor' the implication making Sookie blush with an uncomfortable feeling that Jess was quite right in her assumptions. He had seemed very attentive. At the time she had put it down to his beside manner but now she wasn't so sure. 'You have to admit that Rolph Ericsson is one good looking Swede. You can just see the Viking blood fairly popping out of his skin' Jess commented as Sookie watched the new couple being seated at a table close by.

Turning back to the table she felt William's eyes watching her closely and blushed an even darker shade of red, as though she'd been caught sneaking a peek at something she shouldn't. She looked at his face and for a fleeting moment thought he bore an expression of hurt or even resignation. She recognised that look of sadness but it wasn't William's face that she had seen it on she realised, it was her dark lover's face that stood out like a pale mask of betrayal that she was remembering so well. 'So Sookie, what do you say? Will you join us for dinner or are you too tired. I don't want to tire you out' Jason was saying 'and I'm sure William will get you home safely won't you?' he questioned, giving him a friendly nudge and a wink. 'I'd be happy to if that's what Sookie wants' he said quietly.

'They make a nice couple' William said breaking the silence of the journey home. The dinner with Jason and Jessica was over and although Sookie had enjoyed dressing in something a bit more formal, putting her hair up, makeup on and going out, she had felt William's reserve and was hurt by it. After his confession this afternoon had awoken deeper feelings for him, she had thought they would be closer but tonight she felt a gulf between them and didn't understand it. Thinking back over the night looking for reasons, the corners of her mouth twitched into a smile.

William's change of mood had been a direct result of her looking at Rolph Ericsson, William was jealous she realised with a sigh of relief and she almost laughed out loud at the thought. Oh lord I'm acting like a teenager, he thinks I like Rolph. 'What's so funny?' William asked miffed. 'You, you are.' 'And why would you say that?' he said in a most dignified English accent that only sent her into further peels of laughter.

They had stopped in the driveway of William's house as he had invited her to have an after dinner coffee. Getting out of the car William quickly moved to her side of the car, opening the door to help her out. She stood looking up into the light of the full moon shining down, bathing the lawned area is a silvery shimmer.

Closing the car door, William stepped over to where Sookie was standing gazing at the moon. He stood looking at her, drinking in her presence before stepping in front of her. 'Take your clip out' the whisper of a memory so profoundly life changing sending shivers through her very core. Her dark lover, as she had come to call him, stood in front of her as she slid the clip from her hair. 'May I' he questioned before touching the soft tendrils of silver drifting around her face, gently leaning in to take in her fragrance before stepping back shaken. 'I can smell the sunlight on your skin' he had rasped as she gazed at him. Stepping up to him, gently caressing his face, she pulled him in to softly meet his lips before the passion of the moment took them both. He stepped back turning away panting, then turning again she saw his mouth open, his fangs drawn.

William softly said again 'Take you clip out' and gently mirroring that other world, Sookie let her hair fall down around her shoulders in a halo of silver. She stood looking up at William, his face blending with that of her other lover, the moments seemingly intertwined, woven in some kind of dance in time. He leant down tenderly and with the slightest of touches brushed his face in her hair and neck, drinking in her scent before taking her in his arms and kissing her. Unlike their previous encounters this embrace was all consuming, the intensity sending waves of desire coursing through them, William holding their bodies locked together, his hardness sending Sookie into a spiral of need. 'You have bought me back to life' William said frantically kissing her lips, her face, and her hair before gently kissing her wounded neck. The heat of his lips sent her pulse racing and her neck throbbed in recognition.

As much as William desperately wanted to take her, to fill her with his love and touch her soul, he knew that he couldn't. She had not healed enough and her emotional scars were all too obvious. Looking at her standing there, his desire was almost too much but he would wait, there was time enough. 'Don't you want me' Sookie asked in a small disappointed voice when he stopped himself. 'You know how much I want you' he responded reaching for her hand to show her just how much he needed her. 'I can wait Sookie, I want it to be perfect for you and for both of us' leaning down and kissing her on her forehead.

As the days flew by melting into weeks after her release from hospital, her physical recuperation progressed but her mental state remained confused. She had physiotherapy twice a week to help strengthen her leg and her neck was beginning to heal although, at times it did throb. Funnily enough those times seemed to coincide with her visits with William and she laughed to her self thinking it was her pulse racing at the sight of him that caused it. She sat in the sun and worked on her tan, reading her books, realising that she was just as bad as Adele when it came to her literary tastes, she loved happy endings too but with a bit more spice and action to the story than she thought her Gran would.

As she had promised Lafayette, she diarised not just her dreams and odd experiences but also her thoughts and feelings. It was no surprise that a lot of pages were being devoted to William and how she felt about him. She saw him almost every day now and on those odd days that he didn't come over to visit and walk with her, for her rehabilitation he would tell her laughingly, with that musical tone to his voice that made her melt, on the days she didn't see him she felt it deeply.

Much to her embarrassment she also had a visit from Rolph Ericsson that left her feeling uncomfortable. He had dropped in unexpectedly one afternoon as she was lying out on her sun lounge in her 'short shorts' the ones for sunbaking only, and her bikini top. Adele had shown him around to the side yard where Sookie was relaxing. She did not hear his soft tread and was startled when rolling over she found him standing watching her. She caught a look in his cool Atlantic blue eyes that she found disconcerting. There was something familiar and menacing about the look in his eyes. Was it her imagination or did she catch a glimpse of want and more than that, was it a fragment of possession?

She shook herself, the fleeting moment passed but left her pondering the reasons behind it. 'How are you Sookie?' Rolph asked as his eyes skimmed over her skimpy outfit, leaving her feeling undressed. Well he is a doctor she thought to herself, making excuses for his for his demeanour. 'I just thought I would call in to see how you are feeling and check on your progress' he said innocently enough. 'Thanks Dr Ericsson, that's kind of you.' 'Please, call me Rolph. I'm not on duty now' he said his smile lighting up his face. For the first time she noticed that really he was a very handsome man. He was dressed in a black tee that suited his blonde Nordic features and did nothing to hide his finely sculptured body. Hmm, I can really see what Pam would be so entranced with she thought.

She realised that Rolph was once again watching her as if he could read her thoughts and she blushed. 'Please I'm being rude, can I offer you a cold drink?' she said to cover the confusion she was feeling. 'No thanks, I really just called in to see if you were healing and as I can see, you definitely are' he said running his eyes over her body with a not too orthodox glance that lingered uncomfortably on Sookie's thigh. Sookie again had the unmistakable feeling of recognition and squirmed a little. 'Would you mind?' Rolph asked as he stepped closer indicating her leg. 'I, well…' but Rolph had already kneeled down at the side of the sun lounge and was gently examining her scarred leg.

Sookie couldn't help but give a small involuntary shiver as his hands ran up her thigh. Her leg was still very tender and sore from the accident and even though she told her self not to be ridiculous, Rolph was good looking and it had been quite a while since she had been touched by a man, but regardless he was still her doctor. She closed her eyes in an attempt to block out his face but that just made the whole situation seem more erotic. 'I own you, you will be mine' the cold manipulating voice was wafting through her mind with such conviction that Sookie was almost afraid of it. She felt trapped and panicky as she tried hard not to hold onto the fleeting glimpse of the unfamiliar scene playing in her head.

'Hello' William's smooth voice broke into Sookie's thoughts as she hurriedly opened her eyes to see him emerge from the tree line and stand next to Rolph. 'Dr Ericsson' William said nodding 'good to see you again'. William was looking at Sookie with comprehension, as though he could feel her alarm and had come to her rescue. At the sight of William, Rolph's face had changed to ice, his blue eyes cold as the Nordic seas. It was clear that he was not happy to see William at all and more than annoyed at the intrusion into his visit. As she had felt before in the hospital, there was something between these two attractive men, something more than just a rivalry for her affections. Sookie had the feeling there was something a lot deeper in their feelings of animosity towards each other, it was contempt and it was on a palpable level.

'I just came over to make sure you were still able to come tonight?' William asked pleasantly enough. 'Yes, sure that's fine' Sookie said not quite sure what was going on. She had no idea what William was talking about but felt relieved that he had shown up when he did. She was still feeling shaken by the latest flashback and really what she needed was time on her own to think things through but neither of her suitors seemed to want to be the first to give ground, both standing eyeing each other like two dogs ready to start fighting. Enough is enough Sookie thought, and abruptly standing she said to them both 'Well I'm off to have a shower and change, pick me up at seven William' and turning, she went inside.

'What on earth was all that about?' Sookie questioned as soon as she was in the car when William picked her up later that evening. William looked serious when he replied 'Honestly, I just came over to see if you'd like some company tonight and I got the feeling that you weren't too comfortable with Rolph so I umm… said the first thing I could think of.' 'You know you're right. I am not sure why but he does sort of make me feel a bit naked' she said, unable to look at him. 'Do I make you feel that way?' William asked softly. Sookie felt a thrill race through her and before thinking about what she was saying she replied, 'No you don't, but I wouldn't mind if you did' as she grinned and covered her mouth, embarrassed she had actually told William what was going through her mind at the time.

William positively smirked, his eyes sparkling at her. 'Oh Sookie, I do want you so much' he said with feeling and lifting her hand kissed it, sending more tremors through her. She let out her breath and William could see that she was feeling the same need for him as he felt for her. She did want him and wanted him badly but her feelings for him were more than just physical. She was truly falling in love with him and although she wasn't sure, she did think that he may care for her but something was holding him back. She didn't know what it was and was too scared to push him, the pain and loss of his wife and children being fresh in her mind.

She had never felt like this in her life. She thought about him constantly now. She had given up trying to read her novels as every mention of the heroine's lover conjured pictures of William's face in her mind. Every detail of each obligatory love scene had William on bended knee asking for the hand of the deserving but poorly put upon leading lady. He was Mr Darcy to her Elizabeth, Rochester to poor little Jane, Heathcliffe to her Cathy and Aragorn to her Arwen. The mere hint of a sex scene sent her into spirals of lust, her heart beating fast and the rest of her body in overdrive. She was aching for him, it was a need she had not experienced for any other man with the exception of her dark lover.

She could describe the way he would look in every situation, his expressive face clear in her mind. The way his mouth would form tiny little creases at the corners when looking at her or the way his lips were formed in perfect symmetry like a delicately sculptured statue of perfect proportions, all complimented by his creamy English complexion with its scattering of tiny pale freckles across his nose and cheeks. She basked in the penetrating stare of his blue eyes framed by his soft gossamer eyebrows and she felt the sadness in those same blue eyes when she would catch a momentary glimpse, as if hiding a wealth of pain.

She loved his polished English manners, his reserve in front of those he did not know well, his sense of humour, quirky and different. She knew the musical laugh of his happiness over some small shared moment of pleasure. She loved his honour and integrity and knew that but for his sense of duty to a stranger, she would not be alive. She felt the tragedy of his circumstances and admired him all the more for getting on with life instead of giving up. She loved him for his caring and compassionate nature. But above all she just loved him for his own sake, for the unidentifiable spark of something that he had that she could not put into words. He had said to her that she had bought him back to life, when truly he had given her life on all levels, for what had she been without him, she had simply been waiting for life to come to her. And now it would seem that it had.

The night was soft and balmy as dusk drew its midnight blue velvet curtain over the end of the hot summer's day. Sprinkled through the sky, stars glittered like random sequins scattered across the inky backdrop. William drove them to a small lake on the edge of Bon Temps. During the day it was a popular spot with all the locals for safe swimming and picnics but tonight William and Sookie had the peaceful spot to themselves. Spreading a blanket on the thick grass beneath a tree at the edge of the water, Sookie sat with her back leaning against the trunk with Williams head cradled in her lap, the quiet sounds of the night surrounding them.

He sat up and reaching into the picnic basket he had packed with wine and snacks, he produced a beautifully wrapped small package and handed it to Sookie. She looked at him with total surprise as she carefully opened the delicately tied ribbon and wrapping paper to reveal an ornately embossed silver box. Opening the catch on the box, she found it contained the most exquisite antique silver bracelet and matching long chain. 'Oh William they are so beautiful' she said touched. 'They have belonged in my family for many years, for generations in fact' he was saying while he placed the bracelet on her wrist. 'I want you to have them Sookie, I want you to wear them always so that even when apart, we are together.'

She was wrapping the long silver chain around her neck in loops when his low seductive voice chided 'Oh but you have other very juicy arteries, there is one in the groin that is a particular favourite of mine' as his darkness engulfed her.

To be continued …..