Chapter 9
"Sookie, don't hang up. We need to talk."
Sookie tried to sit up, and found herself very stiff from spending the night on the couch. She winced and there was more pain in her voice than she wanted to convey. "Jason? What time is it?" She squinted at the grandfather clock in the corner. "Eight in the morning? What are you doing calling me? Shouldn't you be at work?"
"Yeah, yeah, I called them and told them I'd be late, I had to check on you," he said dismissively. "Since everyone in town knows what happened, they were more than happy to let me. I didn't call to discuss my work schedule with you though."
Sookie groaned inwardly and stretched. "Then, by all means, tell me why you had to disturb my sleep, Big Brother." My very good sleep, she added silently.
"Why did you get in the middle of the fight between Compton and Herveaux? Why didn't you just let Sam throw them out?"
"You called me at eight in the morning to find out my motives for getting in the middle of a fight?" Disbelief colored her voice. "Jesus Christ, Shepherd of Judea, Jason. The least you could do is pretend concern for me."
"I'm sorry, Sook, of course I'm concerned about you. Are you okay?" he replied.
Sookie sighed. "I'm fine, Jason. A black eye is all."
"I'll kick his ass. Which one did it? Compton or Herveaux?" Jason's protective mode was kicking in.
"Jason, don't. I'm fine. And to answer your question, I jumped in the middle because I caused the fight in the first place. Bill saw something he didn't like, and came after Alcide."
"Sookie, I don't like you living so close to Bill Compton when you're by yourself. He seems to have gone off the deep end."
Sookie pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed audibly. "Jason, I'm twenty six years old. I am an adult and I can take care of myself. Besides, I've already made up my mind about Bill."
Jason didn't say anything for a moment. "I know you can take care of yourself, Sookie. But I'm your big brother, and I do worry about you all alone out there in that house."
"You could have fooled me, Jason. But seriously, I'm fine. I am thinking I might have an alarm installed, and some motion lights in the yard too. Would you and Hoyt install the lights for me when I get them?"
"Sure, Sis. Look, I gotta go, but you take care, and don't go jumping in the middle of any more bar fights or I will go beat the crap out of anyone that hits you."
Sookie giggled a bit. "I promise, Big Brother, no more bar fights for me. I'll call you when I get those lights."
She hung up the phone and flopped back onto the couch, tossing her phone on the cushion beside her. She didn't have to work until that night and it was still really early. She considered going back to bed, but wasn't sure she'd be able to fall asleep. Her thoughts drifted back to her dream. It had seemed so real, and a part of her wished it had been. Maybe Pam was right. What was there to think about? Alcide was amazingly good looking, he had a steady job, his own apartment. He was funny and sweet and he adored her.
"I just don't know!" she said out loud to the empty house.
She pushed herself up off the couch and went to the kitchen where she started the coffee maker and raided the refrigerator for eggs, bacon and butter. While the coffee brewed, she cooked herself a big breakfast. It occurred to her that this scene, minus reading the newspaper and a half naked man in her kitchen, was just like in her dream. Sookie sighed as she finished her meal and got up to wash the dishes by herself.
Sookie returned home after an uneventful night at work. A few customers had stared, but no one was bold enough to ask her about the black eye she had tried unsuccessfully to cover up. Unless they lived under a rock, no one should have had to ask her about it. The gossip mongers had spread the story around town within hours of the incident. Sookie had heard some whispers of what the townspeople were saying. Some said that it had been a love triangle. According to the rumors, she had been dating Alcide and Bill at the same time. Supposedly Bill had found out about Alcide and he came to confront both Sookie and Alcide.
Sookie shook her head as she went through the motions to get ready for bed. It didn't surprise her how much the story had been blown out of proportion. She knew the truth, therefore making the rumors seem even more ludicrous. She finished gently washing her face and leaned over the sink to examine the bluish purple mark on her cheek more closely. It still hurt like a son of a bitch, and it looked worse tonight.
Pushing away she went and crawled into bed, hoping that her dreams would work out her problems for her.
Sookie was awakened by a persistent loud beeping sound. Her eyes fluttered open and she glanced at the clock, noting it was four in the morning. As the sleep induced fog cleared her brain she realized that the sound she was hearing was her smoke alarm.
Suddenly a pair of strong arms grabbed her and Sookie screamed and started clawing at the exposed flesh around her middle
"Shh! It's me! You have to get out!" Bill's voice said roughly.
Sookie stopped screaming but she didn't stop fighting. "Let me go! I can walk, I can walk!"
Bill had a moment's hesitation and then he released her. Sookie ran out the door. The smoke was thicker in the hallway and she could see a fire raging out of the corner of her eye. It was in the kitchen.
Bill followed her out and grabbed her wrist, dragging her toward the front door.
"LET GO!" she screamed at him again. "I have to grab my purse and phone!" She yanked as hard as she could and managed to pull free of his grasp. She tore down the hall and into her bedroom again. She grabbed her purse and cell phone, which were both sitting on the dresser. She debated grabbing a set of clothes, but the smoke was burning her eyes and she started coughing. Abandoning that thought she reappeared in the hallway. A half of a second's debate had her moving toward the kitchen and reaching out to slam the door shut between the hallway and the kitchen.
"Sookie!" Bill was behind her again, and this time he picked her up and hauled her over his shoulder, dragging her kicking and screaming out of the house. Once they were in the yard and far enough away from the house he stopped. "Do you promise not to run into the house again?"
Sookie stopped her frantic beating on his back and thought about it. "Yes," she finally replied and he set her on her feet.
She turned and looked at the house. She could see the flames shooting out of the back of the house and tears started streaming from her eyes, leaving clean tracks on her soot stained face. Generations of Stackhouses had lived in this house and now she didn't know if she would have a house to live in.
She could hear the sirens coming down Hummingbird Road. A minute later the fire trucks screamed to a stop in front of her house and the volunteers streamed off the truck and hooked up the hoses. Catfish Hennessy, Jason's boss, came over to her. "Is there a propane tank, Sookie? Where is it?" he asked gently but urgently.
"Out back, near the back porch," she answered him numbly.
Catfish relayed the location to the others before he and the rest of the firefighters ran around the sides of the house and started spraying the fire. Sookie sank to the ground as her knees gave out. She watched as those she knew, people she'd known her entire life, put their lives on the line to save her house. She started sobbing, her entire body shaking. She curled up on the cool grass, tears falling into the dirt, and watched.
Sookie wasn't sure how long she lay on the ground watching the firemen doing their job. She was only vaguely aware of Bill speaking to someone and then being gently lifted and carried away. She had the feeling of being cradled in strong arms and she closed her eyes, exhausted from everything.
The next thing she remembered was being set gently into a chair. She could hear water running but she didn't open her eyes. Only when she felt strong hands coaxing her up did she look at him.
"Sookie, I ran a bath for you. Take your time. I'll leave you one of my t-shirts. If you want to toss your soiled clothes out the bathroom door I will put them in the washing machine for you," Bill said quietly.
Sookie couldn't do anything more than nod numbly. She walked into the bathroom and slowly undressed. She opened the door a crack and tossed the clothes out the door and then climbed into the cast iron claw foot tub. She sank in up to her chin and then lower, letting the water cover her head. When she had reached the limit of her breath, she surfaced and just lay against the back of the tub with her eyes closed.
When the water started to cool off she washed her hair and the rest of her. After she pulled the plug and climbed out she wrapped herself in a fluffy towel and came out into the bedroom again. Bill had set a white t-shirt and a pair of shorts on the bed for her and she pulled them on before climbing into the big bed. She was exhausted and her eyes fluttered closed almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Smoke!
She couldn't breathe. Sookie started thrashing about, trying to draw in fresh air but it was impossible. She opened her eyes and all she could see was a black haze. She put her hand to her nose and mouth, trying to breathe but only managing to take in more acrid air. She coughed and tried to climb out of bed but felt like she couldn't move. Her vision was fading, her lungs were tight...
Sookie sat bolt upright in bed, breathing in deeply as if she'd been deprived of air. A nightmare. It had seemed so real, but it had only been a dream. She gazed around her, trying to remember where she was. Suddenly the memories came back with force. Her house on fire. Bill pulling her out. The volunteer fire department trying to save what they could.
She threw off the covers and headed for the hallway and the stairs beyond. She didn't remember where Bill had put her purse down, but she figured it had to be near the door somewhere. She wasn't sure what time it was, but there was enough light streaming through the windows to suggest that it was after seven.
She crept down the stairs quietly, not wanting to wake up Bill if he was sleeping. She had just reached the bottom of the stairs when she heard his voice.
"It's a good thing I was out in the woods," he was saying. "If I hadn't seen the flames, she might have died."
A/N: Please review!
