Summary: What would you do if you woke up in the shoes of Sookie Stackhouse?
Disclaimer: I don't own the Southern Vampires. Sole copyright belongs to the genius that is Charlaine Harris. I just want to live in her world for a little while
A/N: Thank you again to those who have written me reviews. They make me smile :) Enjoy!
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As I shuffled my way to yours truly now least favorite club, it just beat out Club Dead for that honor, I watched as other familiar faces got out of their vehicles and made their way inside. I had pretty much the same effect on everyone and I could see them cycle through the same emotions on each of their faces. Surprises, guilt, then avoid eye contact at all cost. I really hated having to lean on Sam but my legs didn't want to cooperate yet. I must look so pathetic.
Sam found me a chair and the rest of the people trickled in. The chairs were arranged in a circle around the club and it reminded me of King Arthur and The Knights of the round table having the effect of everyone being equal. I wonder if that was Eric's plan or he just happened to arrange it like that. I surveyed the room to look at my fellow knights. Alcide, Calvin, Bill, all looked liked they wanted to rush over and get something off their chest but kept looking to each other to see who wanted to go first. I was going to tell them that Sam had already beaten them all to it but Eric walked in with Pam trailing behind so I figured the meeting was about to start. Before I could even think about politics it was my turn to get a few things off my chest.
"Eric." I said in a loud commanding voice I didn't know I had. "Before we start this meeting I have a few things I would like to say."
Everyone looked from me to Eric and then back to me. I wasn't really asking him for permission to speak but demanding it and I think they all knew that.
"The floor is yours." He said softly and sat down. I didn't know who was more shocked. Me or everyone else. I could clearly see that Pam was enjoying her master's obedience and I almost felt bad for him. Almost. I went to stand up and when I almost fell over with a collected gasp from the assembly, Sam helped steady me and when he was sure I was stable he sat back down. Okay. Deep breath. Speech time.
"The last time we were all gathered here we engaged in a great battle. Although we were lucky and did not suffer any great causalities, they managed to shake our trust in each other. I could see how the situation could have looked bad for me but come on people. How long have you known me? How many times have you called asking for my assistance and against my better judgment I have come running to help. How many times have I bled for ya'll?" I had to take a deep breath and calm myself before I started either yelling or crying. "I don't want your sympathy or your apologies right now. Just prove to me that you are all the people I thought you were through your deeds. The times ahead are going to be rough and we need to stick together. That's all I wanted to say."
As I sat back down I turned to Eric and he nodded in my direction. I think I felt a little pride coming through the bond. He stood and went into the middle of the room obviously ready to make a speech of his own.
"Friends, allies, I have called this meeting today so that we may prepare for an attack of our own. They have caught us off guard and completely embarrassed us by attacking at our place of meeting. Although we now have information stating that the attack was personally aimed at me, I see it as an attack on all of us."
I couldn't help but watch Eric as he gave his battle speech. God that man could demand an audience. As I looked around every eye was on him as he moved around the room delivering his speech. I almost missed the next part because I was admiring him and lost in thought.
"We now know that the Fae are indeed working alongside the Fellowship of the Sun for the moment in an effort to weaken our numbers."
Oh here we go again. Humans involved so someone is going to need to do some brain reading. Isn't it lucky they have a non-comatose telepath around?
"I'm assuming that is where I come in." I said dryly turning all eyes on me. Eric looked almost taken aback.
"Sookie you are still recovering. We would never ask that of you now."
"Well that's the difference between you and me. You don't have to ask." I snipped back. I guess my little speech didn't help me get enough of my anger out.
Eric continued to just stare at me expressionless so I continued.
"So what's the plan? I'm not going to a Fellowship meeting again because it didn't go over so well the last time."
"Don't remind me." I heard Bill mumble from the corner with a little bit of his fangs showing.
"There is no plan." Eric repeated as to reiterate the fact that the idea was not premeditated.
"She wouldn't have to." Sam said now standing beside me. "They are regulars to Merlotte's and one of them is Arlene's boyfriend."
"Okay. So that makes it way easier." I said standing now myself. "All I would have to do is work a normal shift and see what was going on."
"I could go to the bar as well as I am a normal patron and would not gather suspicion as back up for Sookie." Bill said rising from his seat joining the growing trend. That must be the universal statement for I'm adding my two cents in.
Several others joined in standing and offering ideas and support. Soon the whole of the room was on their feet.
"Enough!" Eric boomed silencing the room. "We will think of another way of gathering intelligence that does not require Miss Stackhouse's abilities."
I was Miss Stackhouse now? I had been demoted from Lover to Sookie and now to Miss Stackhouse. We were going to have to have words about this.
"The meeting for tonight is over." Eric practically growled out. Everyone was either too scared or too smart to contradict Eric and the room soon cleared out.
"Come on Sookie let's get you home." Sam said from beside me taking my arm to help guide me to the car.
"I have some things I would like to speak to Mr. Northman about. Meet you by the car?"
"Alright." He said hesitantly. "But remember …"
"Yeah yeah I know take it easy on your new crush." I said starting to make my way to his office.
"That's my Sookie." Sam hollered after me as he went to join the others outside.
I was about to knock on his office door, I did have manners after all, when Pam was suddenly standing before me.
"I wouldn't go in there if I was you." Pam said with little warning in her voice. "My master seems to be in quite a huff. You do the strangest things to him."
"Yeah well it's nothing like I'm going to do to you if you don't get out of my way." I knew threatening a vampire, even if you did consider them your friend in a sick way, was never a good idea but I honestly didn't care.
Pam laughed. "I could blow on you right now and you would fall down."
She slowly walked until she was behind me. I hated it when they did that. It gave me the willies.
"I like this new feisty side." She whispered into my ear.
"You may go in." She said backing off. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
I knocked and when there was no reply I opened the door and went in anyways. Eric was sitting at his desk with his face in his hands. He looked so tired and worn out like he had been beaten. But by what?
"Can I help you with something?" He said without even looking up at me.
Well that question opens a whole other can of worms I would have to go into at a later time. This was time for business and I was not going to let myself get distracted.
"Eric, how could you shoot down their ideas like that? If you're afraid that my abilities are not fully back I can test them out and let you know."
"That is not the issue." Eric said angrily without even looking up at me once more.
"Well if it is because you don't like the idea because it wasn't your own then that is just childish and …"
Before I could even get out another word Eric was in front of me holding my face in his hands.
"Don't you understand?" He said with such vulnerability in his voice it scared me. "I almost lost you Sookie and I am never putting you in a situation where you could be in potential danger ever again."
"Eric." I said almost breathless but before I could think of a response his lips crashed onto mine kissing me so passionately I thought I would die. As quickly as his lips had met mine they were gone. He still had my face in his hands, which was a good thing because if not I would be a puddle on the floor, and was staring into my eyes desperately searching them for God knows what. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but I couldn't find any words. He pulled me into him clutching me close to his chest like someone or something was going to try to rip me away.
"I can't lose you Sookie." He whispered into my ear as he stroked my hair.
"You never will." I whispered back burying myself deeper into his chest relishing the comfort and safety I felt there. It felt so familiar. Like it was somewhere I belonged.
He pulled away and looked at me seriously again.
"Sookie …" Oh my goodness. Was he finally going to tell me the L word I had been longing to hear?
"I think it would be best if we do not see each other for the time being."
"What!?" I screeched so loud I'm sure anyone still lingering in the parking lot could hear. "But …"
"Sookie you must understand that the Fae seem to be targeting me and going after the things I … care about, so the logical thing to do is to stay far away from me."
"Listen buddy." I said poking him in that glorious chest of his with my finger. "I'm not going anywhere so you better get used to it."
I put my finger to his lips as he went to speak again. "And there is nothing you can say that will make me leave."
"Very well." He conceded with a tiny smirk. "Promise me then that you will take Niall up on his offer to train you to defend yourself."
"That I can do. And just so you know you are not off the hook just yet. You have some serious groveling to do." I said smiling as well and made my way towards the door.
"That can be arranged." He said in that sweetly seductive voice I had been missing.
"Oh and Eric." I said over my shoulder as I was walking out the door of his office. "If you want a girl to leave, you really shouldn't kiss her like that."
I heard his rumble of laughter as I walked out to the car. God I loved that sound and tried to think of ways to make him laugh more in the future.
"I'm assuming that went well?" Sam asked as I buckled myself in.
"Now Sam Merlotte what makes you say that." I answered back clearly still on cloud 9.
"I'd say that goofy smile you got on gave you away." He said glancing at me from the driver's side.
"Just keep your eyes on the road Mister." I quipped back looking out the window.
It took a coma but I think Eric was finally coming around. I guess you need to lose something before you realize how much it means to you. Eric and I learned it the hard way but I was fairly sure we would not make the same mistake twice. Now it was time to get down to business. Sookie was going to stop being the damsel in distress and start causing some distress of her own. First thing on Sookie's new kiss ass agenda, call Niall and actually learn to kiss some ass.