A/N: To the reviewers who are frustrated by Sookie's inability to see all that Eric has done for her in the past, even thirty years later when she's in her 60s, yes, it is frustrating. Yes, I want to smack some sense into her ... and I promise, I will and soon. But not just yet. And to those who are annoyed at her low-self-esteem/doormat status. Yes, that is frustrating too. That is how CH wrote her. I will rehab her, it just takes some time. It's hard to undo all those years of stupidity, depression, disappointment, etc. She isn't the strong Sookie some of you may be used to in fanfiction. She's the Sookie CH wrote - full of doubt, self-loathing, feelings of inadequacy, with unrealistic dreams for a supe. If you can't bear it, then I understand if you don't want to read anymore. I'm sure there is a lot of fanfiction out there where you get the strong smart Sookie immediatly and she and Eric fall easily into each other and fight all of the external forces that are working against them and I suggest you seek one of those out. This story is the interpersonal struggle and Sookie's realization that even when you plan your life, things don't always work to plan. Life can be disappointing and you may just realize that when you were you're most scared, that was when you were really alive, and really in love. The question is, what is she going to do about it.
Ch. 11
Eight Days Earlier
I was at the Shreveport airport early, well, at least earlier than I would otherwise normally be at the airport before a flight. With my years of travel experience for the Contingency, I was usually an efficient – and light - traveler. Not this time though. I stepped out of the long-term parking shuttle laden with my bags. One suitcase carried nothing but my two ball gowns and their matching shoes: one for the opening ball and one for the closing ball. Another suitcase carried the business attire I would need for the rest of the meetings this week, as well as my make-up and toiletries. My carry-on bag had my laptop, the Summit/Conference Agenda, attendee roster, all of the notes and papers I needed for the Were Contingency matters I would be participating in, and a true crime book (I'd give up romances thirty years ago). I checked-in at the American Airlines ticket counter and made my way to the security check point so I could get past security and get a cup of coffee.
I had just settled at the gate with my book and coffee when I caught the familiar thoughts of Sam. Gate 13… 14… ah, here we are, A15… Oh, Sookie is already here. I slammed my shields up and pretended to read my book as he came over and took a seat next to me. I ignored him at first, but he was fidgety and after a few awkward moments, I finally shifted my eyes to his. "Hey Sook," he said softly.
"Hey Sam," I replied, and then I noticed that Mandy was standing by a potted fern about 20 feet away. I kept my eyes on Sam, expectant.
"Gosh, Sook, this is a little awkward, but I was wondering, well, you and I booked our tickets for this trip months ago and we're sitting together … Mandy got one of the last seats on this flight and well, I was hoping you'd swap tickets with her so she and I could sit together. I don't expect you'd want to sit next to me …"
I seethed. I hated that Sam was a taker, and I was starting to realize that maybe he always was. I was also kicking myself. I remembered to make arrangements about the room, but I forgot about the plane tickets. I guess it was asking too much of Sam to think about these things, but then, I knew he wasn't thinking about me. No, he was doing this for her. I didn't have to dip into her head to know she wanted to sit by Sam. It was written all over that nervous insecure face of hers. Sam's face was earnest though and I knew he was right. I didn't want to sit next to him or Mandy. After letting him sweat it out a minute or two, and simply said "Fine," and handed him my ticket. I would have to make sure to change my flight on the return trip, because I didn't want to have to deal with this twice. Sam handed me Mandy's ticket and I took a quick look at the seat. "Are you fucking kidding me! 28B! I gave up 5A for 28B!"
"Yeah, sorry Sook. Mandy was supposed to be flying out of DC but changed her flight after … well, you know. She was lucky to even get on this flight."
"Yeah lucky," I mumbled. "Is there something else you need Sam? A kidney maybe?" Honestly, how much more was I going to give this guy before I was done.
"No, that's all. Just… thanks Sookie," Sam said and slowly got up and walked over to Mandy holding up my … now her … ticket. My only consolation was that this was a relatively short flight.
Of course, the airline boarded the plane from front to back, so by the time I got on the plane there was no overhead storage space available. And I was in the middle seat between one person who physically spilled into my seat and another person who thought he clearly should have two armrests instead of one. And for some reason, I was getting no air from my little overhead vent and then the heavy set person next to me started to sweat and then I had to deal with his body odor. I was silently thinking of the many ways I was going to torture Sam and Mandy in my head. It was the longest two and a half hours of my life.
Of course, all three of us were milling around the baggage carousel when Sam suggested we share a cab to the Four Seasons.
"Yeah, I think I'm going to pass. I can get my own cab," I responded as I hauled my luggage onto a trolley.
"You know, that's actually a good idea," Sam said eyeing my many bags, no doubt thinking about how a cab would accommodate all of my stuff and theirs too.
"Well, don't act so surprised. I am known to have them on occasion," I snipped and I walked off towards the taxi line. His jaw was hanging and I could care less. I swear, this week could not be over with soon enough.
…
The hotel was stunningly beautiful. The lobby had high ceilings with intricate carvings of rosettes. The floor was a white marble that stood in stark contrast to the black marble pillars and rich dark wood that accented the lobby. I made my way to the check-in desk and a porter brought my bags up behind me. Ever since Rhodes, I had made it a point to listen in when I checked into hotels. I was always doing a risk assessment. Since it was only late afternoon, the vamps were all dead still; however, Bill had already checked in the night before, so I only had to get my room key and I head on up. I dipped into the check-in clerk and her thoughts were only that it was odd that I wasn't traveling with my vampire. Over the years, there had been a lot of acceptance for vamp-human relationships, at least in the big cities.
Because I was staying with Bill, I was on a vamp floor where all of the rooms were light tight. There were ten such floors in this hotel and Bill's room was on the 28th Floor. I was actually happy to be staying on a vamp floor. First, I wouldn't have to shield so hard since I can't read vamps. Second, I wouldn't see (or hear) Sam and Mandy on their floor. I scanned the card and went into the room. This hotel was so much nicer than the Giza in Rhodes, which was the last time I went to a vampire Summit. The room was fairly spacious and had a little living room area in addition to the bed in the main room. There was a bathroom to the left, which had a really nice deep bathtub and a shower with about five shower heads. The shower made me feel immodest though given where all of the shower heads were poking out.
Bill's coffin was set just next to the bed and even though I knew he couldn't hear me, I still gave it a little tap on the lid and said "Hey Bill, it's Sookie. I just got here."
I wasn't due for anything until that evening so I decided to go ahead and unpack my bags, filling the empty drawers Bill had left for me, hanging my ball gowns next to Bill's things in his closet, and setting my toiletries on the side of the bathroom sink that Bill had left for me. It felt so weird to be sharing Bill's room, putting my things next to his, putting my toothbrush next to his. It brought up a lot of memories and dreams that I once had where he was concerned, when I was a young woman of only 25 and Bill was my first love. However, I was wiser now, both in the ways of supes and vampires in general, as well as with life experience. I had no intention of repeating history with him.
Once I was done, I looked around the room and with still a couple of hours until dark, I decided to take a nap. Sleep found me quickly.
A/N: Love love love to tabularasa88, pre-reader extraordinaire!
