Previously...

"Jason and I are going to pick you up," Eric elaborated. "Wait for me."

Ironically, Eric didn't wait for her to reply before he hung up, leaving Sookie gaping at her cell.

"So Eric's coming?" Alcide asked as they kept a lookout for the cavalry to arrive.

They were leaning against the bumper of Tara's jeep overlooking Doris.

Sookie nodded as she stared at her car's gaping hood. The smoke was already dissipating, which was probably a good sign.

"How did you meet him?"

Sookie pulled her cardigan tighter before crossing her arms over chest. This was exactly why she didn't want to be alone with Alcide. She was trying to avoid another interrogation.

"Tinder," she replied without glancing at her companion.

"Huh." Alcide shoved his hands in his pockets, seemingly unconvinced.

"What?" Sookie asked, her own curiosity betraying her.

"Nothing." He shook his head. "I just didn't realize you were into that kind of stuff."

"What do you mean?"

His condescending tone was beginning to grate on her nerves.

"Don't take this the wrong way, Sook, but I always thought you were sort of old-fashioned." Alcide pressed his lips together and gave her a one-shoulder shrug. "You know, the kind of woman who ends up with someone who lives closer to home. Someone she grew up with..." He let the though trail off.

Sookie snorted. "That narrows down my options to Hoyt, Sam and Lafayette then."

Alcide laughed. "Sorry to burst your bubble but I don't think you're Lafayette's type."

Sookie chuckled too, not because she found the comment funny but because she didn't want to address the elephant in the damned parking lot. She wasn't stupid. She knew where Alcide was going with this. And that was the kind of topic she didn't want to get into.

"Where's Eric from by the way?"

"New York." At least that's what he told her.

"Louisiana's a long way from the Big Apple, don't you think?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"What happens when he goes back to New York?"

A sharp shooting pain went straight to her chest. Alcide was dissecting her fake relationship with Eric and all that probing was giving her real pain.

"I dunno. We haven't thought that far ahead." She jutted her chin up and gave Alcide a sideway glance. "How about you? What's gonna happen to you and Debbie when you go back to Nepal? You are plannin' on goin' back there, right?"

Alcide nodded. "I am. There's still so much to be done in Nepal. It'll take years to rebuild that place. People need medicine, clean water, food, and most of all, volunteers who are willing and able to help. Just because they're no longer in the news doesn't mean they should be forgotten."

Sookie couldn't help but crack a smile. Times like these reminded her why she originally fell in love with Alcide.

"When are you goin' back?"

"I don't know yet. We're still in the process of raising funds and finding volunteers." He turned to her and smiled. "Would you like to come?"

She jerked back, blinking in confusion. "I-I'm not a doctor."

"So? You took biochemistry for your pre-med, right? If that's not impressive enough, you can always apply for general logistician, Lord knows we need more of those. Working in the field can be disastrous without management. And you know how to speak French, that's already an advantage."

"Cajun French," she corrected him.

"Still more than what I can say for myself. Plus, MSF will look good on your resume when you apply for med school, don't you think?"

Sookie became pensive. Once upon a time, not so long ago, she had imagined what it would be like working side by side with Alcide - see him every day, watch him save lives.

"What about Debbie? Is she coming too?" She had to ask.

Alcide hung his head and pounded the hard-packed soil with the heel of his shoe. "Debbie and I aren't together anymore."

That. That was news.

Sookie studied Alcide closely, staring at him while waiting for the angels to sing Halleluiah.

There were only crickets though. Perhaps the angels would sing later, when the news had completely sunk in.

"Since when?" her voice was faltering

"Since the failed kidney transplant," Alcide murmured, massaging the back of his neck.

"But that was years ago," Sookie said, befuddled. "I remembered you vouching for her then."

Alcide sighed heavily. "Yeah, well. It was the last favor I did for her before we split up." He straightened his back and let out another sigh. "I thought I could get past it."

Sookie stared at him long and hard, conflicted. "She made a mistake, Alcide. Even surgeons have bad days."

"I know that," Alcide's voice rose defensively. He glanced at her then closed his eyes and took a deep calming breath. "The problem is, Debbie didn't want to admit it was her fault. She didn't want to be held accountable for what happened. And that infuriated me. How could I be with someone who couldn't accept that she, like everyone else, was fallible?"

Sookie couldn't come up with anything to say. She should have been celebrating, throwing confetti in the air while doing somersaults because Alcide had finally seen Debbie for the self-serving, snooty bitch that she was.

Yet, here she was, rendered speechless as she waited for her heart to go ba-dump.

Zilch.

She felt nothing.

Alcide turned to look at her and laughed, which sounded a little forced. "Look at me, rambling like an idiot."

"You're not rambling," she murmured, her gaze falling on her lap. "I'm sorry it didn't work out for you and Debbie."

She wasn't sorry, not even a bit. But she felt like it needed to be said.

"Are you?" Alcide asked, making her head snap to face him. He didn't sound acerbic but genuinely curious. "Are you really sorry Debbie and I broke up?"

Sookie didn't like where this line of questioning was heading so she decided to plea the Fifth.

"I lied," Alcide said when she didn't respond. "I went by your farmhouse the same day I got back but it was already so late so I decided to leave. 'Sides, I haven't seen you in three years; I didn't want you to see me looking like the abominable snowman."

Why was he telling her all these now?

"Alcide…" she started, uncertain how to proceed.

He chuckled while shaking his head. "I have the worst timing, huh?"

"Yeah, you do," murmured someone from behind.

Sookie and Alcide turned around at the same time to see Eric standing behind them, with a grim look on his face.

"Eric!" Sookie yelped as soon as she saw him while taking a couple of steps to the side to widen the gap between her and Alcide. Her reaction was purely out of reflex. It wasn't like she was guilty of anything.

"Are you okay?" Eric asked in a low tone that made the hair at the back of her head bristle. She had never heard him speak like that, so serious, so mutinous, so… terrifyingly serious.

She never thought she'd miss the cheeky Eric, the cocky guy with the perpetual sneer.

Eric stepped forward, wedging himself between her and Alcide.

"Eric," Alcide muttered behind them, making his presence felt. "You're looking better."

Eric turned around and zoomed in on the doctor. "I'm feeling better," he replied tersely.

The two men regarded each other in silence.

Alcide was the first to break. "You didn't have to come all the way here, you know. I wouldn't mind giving Sookie a ride."

"Obviously," Eric murmured under his breath.

Eric remained shuttered, while Alcide squared his shoulders. Sookie swallowed hard. She couldn't handle this kind of awkwardness. In her effort to diffuse the tension, she seized Eric's fisted hand and tugged it.

"When did you get here? Where's Jason?" she asked, pulling Eric's attention away from Alcide.

"Right here," Jason yelled behind them, careening toward them in his track pants and tattered Bon Temp High shirt.

It was a good thing the party was over because clearly Jason was pushing it with his 'overly' casual attire.

"Where have you been?" Sookie turned to her brother.

"Checking my tires for a dead squirrel," Jason spat, giving Eric the stink eye. "There's none, thank God."

"Why would there be a dead squirrel in your tires?" she asked.

"Why don't you ask Schumi right here?" Jason waved his thumb in Eric's direction.

"He's convinced I ran one over on the way here," Eric replied without looking at her, his tone still chillingly cold.

"You drove here?" she asked incredulously.

"Correction…" Jason interjected. "He didn't drive, he fuckin' flew. He's like a demon possessed by another demon. I was shocked he even heard me givin' him directions. "

"You let him drive?" Sookie snapped at Jason, flicking his shirt with the back of her hand.

"Let him? Ha! He didn't even give me time to change my clothes. I was sleeping soundly when he hauled me out of bed and practically dragged my ass into my truck and assumed ownership of Betsy. Oh, and by the way…" Jason fixed his gaze on Eric. "you, my friend, are never allowed to drive Betsy again."

"You shouldn't be driving that fast, Eric. In fact, you shouldn't be driving at all," Alcide gave his medical opinion.

Sookie winced as she felt Eric's balled hand clench beneath her grip.

Damn it Alcide, shut the hell up!

Jason's eyes ping-ponged from Alcide, to Sookie and lastly to Eric, comprehension washing over him.

"I see," Jason muttered mostly to himself as his gaze flickered back to Alcide. "Now I understand."

"Understand what?" Alcide asked.

Jason shook his head, grinning. "Nothing." He turned to Sookie. "Where's Doris?"

Sookie blinked her eyes into focus. "It's, um, it's right there." She pointed her chin toward the ailing vehicle.

Jason followed the white smoke and the rest of them made a beeline to her yellow Honda. She released Eric's hand but he grabbed it right back. She was about to protest but no word came out of her mouth.

Alcide and Jason huddled by the hood of her car, while Eric remained by her side, holding her hand like a vice. She might need a crowbar to pry his fingers off of hers.

Sookie furrowed her brows as she regarded Eric closely. She could see the bunched up muscles leaping against his jaw as he stared at Alcide and Jason.

What are you thinking, Eric?

If only she could read minds.

It didn't take Jason long to examine the extent of the damage of her car's engine as he jogged up to them after a few minutes of tinkering. "Looks like the head gasket blew up. We're gonna have to replace it. But I have to tell you, gaskets don't come cheap. It might be better to replace the car than buy an expensive part."

"She's right there, Jase," Sookie snapped. Doris was family. She had been with her for years. Hell, she even survived Katrina.

Jason's arms shot up. "I'm just sayin'-"

"Don't say it." Sookie cut him off. "You know how I am with her. She's my first."

Alcide stepped in. "She's right Jase. They have history together. It's not something you can easily replace."

"History?" Eric snorted beside her. "Yeah, that's what Sookie will be if she sticks to Doris. There's nothing wrong with getting something new, something better, something that won't give her false hopes only to leave her high and dry in the middle of the road."

"Something new isn't always better," Alcide lobbed, straightening his spine.

"Her first doesn't have to be her last," Eric shot back.

Sookie and Jason exchanged a look. Her brother must have been thinking the same thing: Eric and Alcide weren't debating about Doris anymore.

"It's about time Sookie gets rid of unwanted baggage anyway," Eric jabbed as he puffed up his chest and gave Alcide the stare down.

Alcide's eye twitched at the barb. He opened his mouth to refute but Sookie was quick to block his view as she placed a hand on Eric's chest. "Eric, a word?"

Eric managed to skewer Alcide with another glare before Sookie could yank him toward the chapel. Out of the corner of her eye she spied Jason, her ever reliable brother, pulling Alcide toward Doris, giving Sookie and Eric as much distance as possible.

As soon as they were out of earshot Sookie's grin vanished, replaced by a frown. "What the hell was that? Would you mind telling me why you're picking a fight with Alcide?"

"Isn't it obvious? That guy is clearly hitting on you," Eric shot back without a moment's hesitation.

Sookie drew up short. She wasn't expecting that much candor from him.

"Are you… jealous?"

"Yes."

Again, the frankness made her stagger.

"Why?" She sounded like a fool for asking, but she had to be certain.

What is going on in that pretty little head of yours, Eric?

"Because…" Eric, for the first time tonight, looked stumped. He drew back as he stared at her, seemingly lost. "Because as far as he's concerned, we're together. As far as he knows, you are mine and it pisses me off that he's trying to steal you from me."

His words hit her hard, making her heart thump.

"He doesn't want me," she hushed. It was infuriating how pathetic she sounded even to herself.

Eric's lips thinned. His eyes blazed as he shot her look. "What if he does?" He took a step closer, forcing her to look up. "What if I hadn't gotten here when I did and he asked you to dump me to be with him? What would you do, Sookie? Would you say yes?"

Her vision was getting blurry. She was near tears. Dammit, she hated crying.

She jutted her chin defiantly, hoping it would be enough to fend him off. His eyes remained mutinous though as he waited for her response.

In the end, Eric won. She hung her head and looked away.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," he murmured before he turned on his heel and marched toward Jason's truck.

She could hear Jason's familiar footfalls behind her.

"Hey, you okay?" Jason asked as he closed the gap.

Sookie inhaled deeply before swiveling to face her brother. "Yup." She even bobbed her head to reiterate she was fine. "Can we go now?"

Jason gave her a look. "You sure?"

Sookie's gaze flickered to Eric, who was leaning against the door of the passenger seat of the truck, and huffed. "Can you believe that guy?"

Jason followed her gaze and sighed. "Honestly? I get it. Alcide is Eric's Chad."

Sookie arched her brow at her brother. "What?" Sometimes talking to Jason needed subtitles. This was one of those times.

Jason shrugged. "Remember Chad? The Sheriff's cousin?"

Sookie came up blank.

"About this tall?" Jason's hand hovered a few inches over his head. "Dark hair, green eyes?"

Sookie shook her head.

"You'll know him when you see him. He has the look that makes you hate yourself." Jason's nose wrinkled in irritation. "Well, he's Crystal's regular in Fantasia. He comes in almost every night. Not your typical douchebag though. Chad's almost the same age as me, well-to-do, educated, can be charming when he wants to, and most of all he has two fully functioning legs. Every time he was in Fantasia, he would always ask for Crystal. Even when I was around, he'd still for ask her. It takes everything in me not to punch Chad's perfect teeth in every time he's with Crystal."

Sookie tried not to look at Jason. She felt sorry for her brother but she knew damn well never to show it. Jason would only resent her for her sympathy.

"Get it?" Jason asked her. "Alcide is Eric's Chad."

Sookie pouted before stealing another glance at Eric. "It's not the same, Jase. You actually like Crystal. Eric doesn't like me. He's just bein' territorial is all. It's an ego thing."

"No, Sook. It's a 'you' thing."

The lines on her forehead deepened. "What do you mean?"

"Sookie, Sookie, Sookie," Jason hummed as he shook his head. "And they say I'm the dumb one."

He strutted back to the truck, apparently impressed with himself as he whistled joyfully, before Sookie could ask him what he meant.

A/N: I don't own Eric.

Here's the second part of Sookie's POV. Next will be Eric's. Sorry for the slow pace. I hope you still like it. I appreciate your thoughts, always! Thank you!

A loud holler to my gal MsStitcher, my fragile and adorable beta. Love ya!

All mistakes are mine.

xx