Chapter 4

Peace

Sookie quietly sat at the kitchen table for a while enjoying the sunlight flooding in through the windows as well as the peace. The enjoyment wouldn't last long.

Peace. That's a joke. When will I ever know peace again? I can't even sleep in peace without being hounded by nightmares. Then when I wake up I realize I'm still in one.

The memory of her dream set her thoughts on a different path and she began to wonder if it was suppose to mean something to her. Then the wonder turned to worry.

What if it was some sort of premonition? Dreams aren't usually so literal but still…what if he's going to be in trouble? What if he IS in trouble?

She looked at the clock…6pm…her 'peaceful' daydreaming had lasted longer then she'd realized.

Without questioning her motives; without giving into her pride; she picked up her cell phone from the coffee table and hit the speed dial labeled "E"

Eric had one of those phones that played a song instead of the sound of a ring tone. Oingo Boingo's Dead Man's Party was blaring down the phone into her ear. She wasn't too amused but she didn't mind it as much the song he'd chosen for last month – something called The Thong Song…yeesh!

"Lover? Is everything alright?"

That sound…sigh…Insta-happy…damn blood bond…guess I'll take what I can get, though.

"Eric I'm calling to see if YOU'RE alright."

"Come again?" Hold for dramatic pause "Did you say you were worried about MY well being?"

Let the games begin…I guess I asked for it.

"ARE your alright or not?"

Another pause.

"Well it appears I still have all limbs attached but the lack of breath or heartbeat may be a cause for concern." She could just hear him leering and wanted to clap the phone shut

No not yet, just need a little more of his voice. Sookie! Snap out of it!

"Well since you're obviously not taking me serious and I'm sure you have plenty of things to see and people to do I won't keep you tied up any longer."

He sighed. "You needed to laugh. I was trying to accomplish just that but I've failed and now you are cross with me." He was pouting but there did seem to be a hint of sincerity in his voice.

That voice, velvet over solid ice. How could ice make me feel so warm? Knock it off, Sookie! Really!

"What are you rambling about?" she was good at making her tone mirror any other emotion than the one she was really feeling.

"The moment I woke I felt your…dark mood. I knew you were not in danger so I did not pry. Should I have, lover?" his voice was so meek, so mild when he asked her that.

He sounds like another Eric I knew once.

But she wouldn't open that wound again. The wound that hoping had given her.

"I had a dream last night…"

No no no! What are you thinking, Sookie!?

"And what did you dream, lover?"

Too late now!

"Well it wasn't of me and Pam doing the wild thing so just keep your fangs up!"

Going on the defensive. Nice way to appease a curious vampire. Excellent form, Sookie. Excellent!

"That thought had not occurred to me…"

"Oh you're full of crap!"

"SOOKIE!" his voice rumbled with exasperated irritation. In this tone, 'Sookie' meant 'stop it!'.

"What?" now she was pouting.

"You are acting like a bratty child when all I am trying to do is find out what is wrong with you so I can, in some way, be of assistance!"

Sookie Stackhouse, ever the damsel in distress. He's right, though. I am acting like a child. Just don't wanna feel too much right now. Why did I have to open my big mouth?

"And now you are ignoring me? Sookie, please…"

"It was a nightmare, okay! I dreamt that your eyes, mouth and ears had been sew shut with silver thread." The images came flooding back…as well as the bile. She swallowed hard and continued. "Then your rib cage exploded and I saw your heart covered in flames." Sookie's breathing picked up as she tried to control her gag reflexes. Why had the images bothered her so much? It's not as if she hadn't seen and been covered in gore before. Why had something, that wasn't even real, made her so distraught?

The silence ate at her.

"Eric, I know I'm being melodramatic and childish and moody. I've just had a really bad day and the dream, for some reason made me ill…literally. And it made me wor…" she didn't finish the sentence. Couldn't.

Again with the big mouth! Maybe someone needs to sew MY mouth shut!

"Made you worry for me?" He was right on target. But she wouldn't jibe at him or sarcastically ask if he wanted a cookie. Where was his smugness? Where was the suggestive double entedre?

"Yes." She grudgingly admitted. Plain and simple…yes.

Now would come his explanation of how he's going to save me. His strategies would include such things as offering to screw me all night so that I couldn't sleep OR dream. Perhaps he would wave the – 'If you were a vampire you wouldn't have to dream' – card in my face.

"Sookie. I swear upon the gods above that I am all right. I am not harmed and I am not in danger. I promise you." He was serious now almost as if he were assuring his business partner before signing a contract. It helped. Perhaps it lifted a bit of weight off her shoulders to hear it come directly from his mouth.

I guess that's Eric, always knowing exactly what I need.

But the weight lifted was only a fraction of what she still labored. The shackles still welded around her waist and ankles. The burden dragging behind her, festering and clawing towards her to shred her shielded sanity.

No, don't turn around. It's not there. You're fine!

"Sookie?" again meek and mild.

Why was he torturing her with this mockery? Did he think mimicking Amnesia Eric would help? Silent tears came now and she did her best to steady her vocal cords.

"Yes Eric?" she failed…miserably.

"What else? You're not telling me everything…" she opened her mouth to suck in breath for her accusatory tirade which forewarned him "…and before you start spouting off about my lack of mind reading skills or that I should take our bond and shove it I want you to know that I am not trying to influence you are manipulate you in any way. Please do not forget that YOU were the one who called ME. If you need me I am here for you. If you want me to butt-out then tell me politely and I will." He waited for her to let his words sink in and sniffle a few times. "Now…what else happened today?"

"Amelia's gone."

"What?! Is the witch alright?"

"Yes…well no…I mean…"

Pull yourself together, Sook.

"She decided to go back to New Orleans for a while."

"I see."

"It's for the best."

"Was there an argument?"

"No. But after I told her about my dream…well…I guess it was kinda the straw that broke the camel's back. She's been through so much because of me…" sobs came freely now.

"You're concern for me which manifested itself into a nightmare is responsible for your witch leaving you." he said it more to himself and then grunted with frustration. She could hear what sounded like his fist pounding against a hard surface.

Sookie's face was soaked with tears and her breath sounded more like hiccups as she tried to calm herself. This was humiliating and she had to pull herself together…somehow.

"Lover? Can you do something for me?"

"Mmmm?"

"Do you have milk in your fridge and a jar of honey?"

"I think so." The absurdity and randomness of the question caught her off-guard.

"I want you to warm up a sauce pan of milk and add a couple spoon full's of honey. Then I want you to put Gone with the Wind into your DVD player, push play and then you are to sit on your living room couch with your yellow afghan wrapped around you while you drink. Will you do that for me, Sookie?"

She was too drained to argue. To tired to remind him what a controlling and manipulative undead person he was.

"Mmm-kay." She wiped her tears and her running nose onto her sleeve and then perked up as she heard a noise in the background. It was the roar of Eric's Corvette shifting gears to accelerate.

"Eric?"

"I'm already halfway to your house, lover. Please do as I asked and I will be there…shortly."

"O-Okay." She flipped the phone shut and sniffed once more.