Author's Note: This story is set in the month of October. I know it doesn't fit in with the books, but by the time I figured that out the outline was done.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Oo00oo
I spent the night at Eric's, as usual. After we made love, we lay there on the bed for a while. Then he asked how my day went. I told him about work, a few things I did during the day, and then about Dermot's proposal, but kept the conversations with Sam and Terry to myself. His opinion surprised me.
"I think a vacation is a good idea," he said. When I started to object he held up his hand. "You would be safe, and I would not have to worry about Victor harming you."
"Has he done something? Have you heard from your spy?"
"I have not, which is what worries me. Without his second, Victor seems to be keeping his cards close." As always, I felt a twinge of amusement when he used modern phrases. Eric gave me a disapproving look and went on. "He knows that you are a very useful asset, as well as my weakness. Pam also cares for you, which puts you at greater risk."
"So you want me to just leave and let you take care of it? Run like a coward?" I was angry. Did he really think I'd be happy to let him stay, putting himself in danger, while I would be "safe" elsewhere?
"I want you to get away. Sookie, I've survived for over eleven centuries, I can take care of myself. You have not yet seen thirty winters; instead of fighting, listen!" He was getting angry; his speech pattern was more formal.
A part of me wanted to keep fighting, but another wanted to give in, which made me angrier. I wondered if he was manipulating me through the bond. I told him as such, which made him angrier and stirred my own anger.
"I am not," he said, succinctly. Then he stood up and began to pace.
In a brief moment of déjà vu, I was reminded about when he first invited me to come to his house. I had turned him down, and the end result wasn't pretty. That thought helped me calm down. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I don't know what came over me."
He paused in his pacing, looking over at me. "Another reason you should go. Dermot was right, you need to think of yourself. Although, I would rather you not go with him. I will arrange for you to go elsewhere."
My temper flared up again. "Why can't I go with Dermot?"
"Sookie, he tried to kill you. He is half-Fae. Do you need more reason than that?"
"He never tried to kill me! He saved me from the crazy fairy that was going to kill me. I'm going with him. He is my great-uncle, my family. I don't have much of that left." Tears started to blur my vision.
Eric immediately tried to calm me down. He rushed over and wrapped his arms around me. "Very well then, you will go with him. There is no need for tears, my lover."
I decided to change the subject. "Are you going to Fangtasia today?"
He pulled back and looked down at me. "No, we have the night to ourselves. May I suggest we make the most of it? I will miss you when you are away."
Just hearing him say that made me miss him already. I decided to go along with his suggestion.
Oo00oo
I drove back to Bon Temps the next morning. Dermot was waiting in the kitchen for me, with breakfast.
"Have you reached a decision? Or do you need more time?" he asked as he served breakfast for me. He, Claude and I took turns cooking.
"I'm coming with you," I replied.
He beamed at me. "Excellent! We will leave on the 17th of this month and leave India on the 4th of November. I suggest you pack accordingly. There will be rains, mosquitoes and a party or two." He paused, "but it will not be fun and games. We're going there for a reason, and the journey may be difficult."
"Will it be very hot? I don't know much about India, I've never met anyone who has been there. Where will we be staying?"
"We will have our base in Bangalore but will travel to other parts. Rural areas, other cities, a few tourist spots. One thing you must keep in mind is that people in India are very conservative. As a foreigner they will be lenient on you, but you must dress conservatively. A few of the places I take you to will not let you in if your arms and legs are uncovered. That means full sleeves and pants, Sookie."
I nodded my head. Great! Another Iraq.
After I finished breakfast, I called Sam to tell him the news. He sounded happy and told me he had a waitress to cover for me. After Arlene left, Sam had hired a new waitress and a college student who came in as a substitute. I didn't feel too bad about leaving Sam short as I knew the student would fill in. She needed the money, too.
After I hung up, I decided to go over to Terry's. The talk we had yesterday made me want to know him a little better.
Oo00oo
When I got out of the car, Terry's dog ran up to greet me. He loved his catathoulas, perhaps because it's easier for him to be around them than people. I saw his red hair peeking out from the sitting room window.
"Hello Sookie! Come on in," he called out to me. I walked in and he gestured for me to sit. "Why'd ya come all the way out here?"
I decided to come clean. "After you spoke to me yesterday, I realized I don't know you all that much. You notice much more than you let on. Most people don't notice you, talk to you and really get to know you, and I'm the same. I'm sorry for that. I came to try and change that."
He looked at me with a smile on his face. "You're wrong. You aren't like the rest. One thing I always liked about you and your gran. Ya'll were never afraid of me, or called me insane. You accepted me and ya'll are great cooks, too." He suddenly stood up. "I forgot. You're a guest. I should get you something to eat." He smiled ruefully. "I don't get many guests, so I don't have much."
I rushed to reassure him. "I don't need anything Terry, you're an amazing host. Don't ever think you're not."
I went with him into his kitchen. We sat down at his small rickety table and ate biscuits, drank water and talked. We chatted for over an hour. I was sorry to leave, but I had work. I couldn't believe how refreshing it was to talk to someone about just normal, everyday things and not supe-related topics. Don't get me wrong - Eric asks about my day, and we have conversations about normal things too, but it is always there. The pink elephant in the room. It was so refreshing to talk to Terry. He knew about the existence of vampires and the two-natured, but nothing of their politics.
It made me realize just how much my life had changed lately. How much had happened in so little time.