Chapter 8

Having a nap in the car on the way to Shreveport meant that I didn't sleep quite so late. I had the second best shower of my life in Eric's marble walk-in rain and steam shower. If we'd wanted to have a dinner party in it, we could have. I wiped the glass doors down so Natalia wouldn't have to. There was a closet in the bathroom that had fluffy robes hanging from satin hangers. There were more towels than the linens department at Macy's. I looked around for a hamper and couldn't find one. I pulled open a pair of French doors and found a laundry room. I set the towel in the washing machine and decided that I would ask Eric more about this later.

I glanced at my watch. It was only just after 10. I still hadn't found my clothes, so I wrapped up in one of Eric's robes. It was so long on me that I couldn't manage it. On a hunch, I went back to the closet and found a shorter robe that was probably meant for me. That explained the phone calls he'd made in Russian.

I crossed the large room and pulled open a set of double doors like the ones in the bathroom, hoping that I'd encounter a dressing room. Instead, I discovered that the bedroom was part of a much larger suite. There was a gorgeous sitting room with three white sofas arranged in a square U. The sofas were surrounding a fieldstone fireplace that took up most of the wall. But the most interesting thing in the room was a beautiful, highly polished cello on a stand next to a chintz chair.

I went over to the music stand; Suite for Solo Cello Number 2. So, Eric played the cello and grew his own roses. I was sure that if any of the clientele at Fangtasia knew that the dangerous bad-boy vampire played cello and grew his own roses, the bar would be out of business within weeks. I wondered if Pam knew, but then I realized that there is probably very little about Eric that she didn't know.

I turned around and went back into the bedroom. Clearly, I was missing the dressing room. I went back into the bathroom and checked for another door and found the entrance to an adjoining dressing room. As I opened the door, lights came on above the shelves and in the cabinets.

Walking into Eric's dressing room was exactly as I'd imagined it would be. There were suits of every color arranged neatly: grays, blacks, browns, blues, olives. If I knew Eric, they were probably organized in more ways than just color.

There were glass doors, behind which sat turtlenecks and T-shirts. My clothes were hanging to the right in a pitiful representation of Sookie. It had seemed like so much when I was shopping. I chose a pair of soft blue jeans and a pale pink cashmere sweater. I was excited to wear my new knee high leather boots.

I sat in the mirror, brushed my hair, and put makeup on. I wouldn't have to wait much longer to put the top down on my new car. I had always wanted a convertible and now, thanks to Eric, I had one. I dabbed perfume behind my ears and grabbed my purse. I have to say, I was happy with the results.

I went down the stairs, my heels echoing once I got off the carpet and onto the marble staircase. I heard singing and followed the sound.

Eric's kitchen would make any serious chef cry. For a vampire who didn't need to eat, his kitchen was right out of a magazine with Viking appliances all the way around. Oh, Eric, I smiled.

I saw a dark haired woman, not much larger than a 10 year old, stocking the refrigerator with all manner of fruits and vegetables. The only fruits I could ever afford were apples, grapes and bananas. In the summer, I would splurge on as many lemons as I could to keep fresh lemonade on hand.

"Well, hello." I stuck my hand out and waited for a response. 'I'm Sookie."

She took my hand and shook it firmly. "Hello, madam. I am finished here in a moment." Her voice was the tiniest adult voice that I'd ever heard. She sounded like a toy; a heavily accented toy.

"No hurry, I'm actually headed to Bon Temps. May I just have an apple to tide me over and I'll be out of your way." She handed me the biggest, reddest apple I had ever seen.

"Everything is washed, you take okay?" She stared at me for a long moment. "You are aware that you are glowing, no?" I didn't know if she meant glowing with health or glowing like Eric does. I thought I'd stop and check myself in the mirror before I left. Nothing I could do about it either way.

"Uh, no, I wasn't aware. Glowing isn't something I normally do...." My voice trailed off because she was scrutinizing me as if I might burst into song, or run out of the room screaming.

"You have the blood?" She was gesturing, but I couldn't make it out. "You know the blood, the blood. Forgive my English. Uh, Mr. Eric's?"

"Oh, yes, yes. Uh, I have had his blood." Well, that wasn't awkward at all. My smile seemed to say, I realize that we just met tiny Russian lady but in addition to sleeping with your dead boss, we sometimes drink each other's blood and now I'm your new boss. Would you pass me a napkin? I bit into my apple, grateful that she couldn't hear my thoughts and didn't seem to really care. She finished putting vegetables into a crisper and closed the refrigerator. Some of those vegetables I'd only ever seen in soups. I hope she didn't think I was planning on doing much cooking here. While I can cook, it's just not a big thrill for me.

"Well, it was lovely to meet you, Natalia. I'll be back before Eric awakens." She nodded and said something that sounded like Ha-row-shi.

I wasn't sure where to find my car. I hoped that the garage was nearby. As I stepped out of the front doors and into the sunshine, I could not stop thinking that I would wake up in my bed in Bon Temps and wonder how many gin and tonics had made me hallucinate this. Eric was offering me the world on a silver platter. What had I done to deserve this?

I turned and locked the door behind me. As I descended the stairs, the black Mercedes came up the drive. No wonder Eric never moved to lift a finger. Everyone around him anticipated his needs. An older man with salt and pepper hair and beard, and wide, thick glasses slid out from behind the wheel. He took my hand and guided me into the car. "Morning to ya. Name's Oliver, but everyone calls me Ollie. Except for Mr. Northman. You have a full tank of gas and a built-in GPS if you know how to use it. If not, I can show you how."

"Well, thank you Oliver, I'm Sookie. I could use a few pointers so I don't end up in Mississippi." Oliver came around to the passenger's side and climbed in. He showed me how to type in the address of my destination and how to get back here when I needed to come home. Home. Could I really move my things in with Eric and make this my home? I wasn't going to rush things. There was time. I programmed the GPS to take me to Merlotte's. I needed to talk to Sam about a few things, and I needed to see about my house.

I followed the calming British voice that directed me to the highway. From here, I knew where I was going, so I didn't have to concentrate at all. I thought about the events of the last week. How different my life was. What we really needed to be concerned about was who tried to kill Eric. Would that person try again? Would that person be trying to harm me in some way? I did have anonymity on my side at the moment. No one would recognize this car and Shreveport was not a place where I'd spent much time. I reached for the radio knob, but didn't find anything that inspired me. I didn't listen to much music, I'd won an iPod once, but at the time, I didn't have a computer to use it with. I leaned over and pulled open the glove compartment door. Sure enough, there was an iPod. I looked at the controls on the steering wheel and figured out how to get some music going. It wasn't my music, obviously, but it was something different.

I drove to Merlotte's enjoying the feel of a new car under my control. I didn't have to wonder if I'd left the muffler at the entrance ramp. I didn't have to be embarrassed when I pulled up to traffic lights.

Merlotte's parking lot was getting crowded. The lunch crowd would be tapering off soon, but the lot was still pretty packed.

I climbed out of my car and slid the keys into my bag. I felt like I'd gone Hollywood and was coming home for a visit. Would everyone treat me the same as they always had? Or would they be able to smell money on me and treat me the way we treated rich tourists? I shook those thoughts away. I was the same old Sookie, I just had a few nicer possessions. The bell chimed as I stepped through the door and I slid into a booth in Dottie's section.

"My Lord, aren't you a sight for sore eyes? What happened? We didn't hear from you. Sam got a call from that Vampire lady and they said you were all right, but we didn't know for sure."

"Dottie, I'm okay. Thank you for your concern, but I really am okay. Eric is too. We just need to lay low for a while until he recovers fully and until we figure out who did this to him and if someone is trying to hurt me." I looked around for Sam and didn't see him right away. "Is Sam in today, is he in the office?"

"Yeah, he's doing the req's. Look at you, sitting there all pretty and bright. It's like the sun followed you in here. You can go on back, you still work here don't you?"

"Of course, I wouldn't leave Sam high and dry. I just need to work some things out for now." I got up to go to the office. "Would you have Terry make me a tuna sandwich?"

"Sookie, I'll have him mix up some fresh just for you. I'll bring it to you in Sam's office." She tucked her pencil back into her hair and scanned the dining room quickly.

"Dottie, you're amazing, thank you." I kissed her cheek and gave her a quick hug.

Sam's door was cracked, so I knocked. "Hey, there Sam, you got a minute?"

"Sookie Stackhouse. Look at you." He twirled me around and whistled under his breath a bit. "I take it that everything is okay. You look amazing."

"Things are better. Eric is recovering quickly and I'm helping him get settled in at home." I should have been more clear because I immediately noticed his eyebrow raise; "His house, not my house. We're testing it out to see how we do together."

"Any idea who did this to him?" Sam sat down and motioned for me to take a seat. I shook my head as I sat down. "I kind of suspect that Eric knows and he's not saying. I can't imagine why he would keep it from me, though."

Sam was quiet so long, I thought maybe he'd had a stroke. He stared at me, opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again.

"Sam Merlotte, if you have something you want to say, spit it out."

"Well, it's just that…." He ran his fingers through his shaggy hair and said, "I don't know, Sookie, sounds to me like maybe Eric arranged this whole thing to get you to move in with him."

I rolled my eyes at this suggestion. "First of all Sam, Eric has never had any problem stating his intentions. If he'd wanted me to live with him, he would have asked. And by the way, he did suggest that I move in with him several months ago and I declined. Second, and more importantly, you didn't see him. We almost lost him Sam, there's no way that he could fake that and there's no way Pam would go along with it."

"Maybe not knowingly, but Sookie how well do you know any of them? It just strikes me as odd that someone would be able to overpower him, drain him and leave him to die. Someone happened to find him. You get a call to rush to his side. You don't find any of this strange?"

"Sam, I find the whole thing strange. Maybe this was a bad business deal, or some low level vampire trying to take over Area 5. I don't know. Maybe this is someone trying to hurt me by hurting him…."

"You really love this guy, Sookie." He seemed genuinely surprised.

" I do, Sam. For the first time in my life, I'm sure about my feelings and I love Eric Northman." Sam shook his head and rubbed his hands on his jeans.

"Is it the money? I mean, did I just never have a chance because of the shifting or was it something else, because I've been getting mixed signals from you for years and I just wanted to know what I could have done that might have made you see me for who I am instead of just seeing me as your boss."

"Oh, Sam. It was always mostly because you are my boss. I just don't see how that could have ever worked out." He had a pitiful look on his face and I thought it might be best if I left. "It was never about money and it's not about money with me and Eric. It's just right and we know it. He and I click." I stood and crossed the room. "I didn't mean to send you mixed signals Sam. I've had a rough time trusting men….I know you will make someone a fine boyfriend or husband, but…."

Dottie came in with my sandwich. "Hon' do you think you're gon' stick around and eat this?" She held the plate up as if she already knew the answer.

"No, Dottie, I think I'd better get going." She walked back out to the kitchen. I turned to Sam and placed my hand on his shoulder. "I would still like to work here if there's a place for me."

"Sookie, there's always gonna be a place for you at Merlotte's. I'm bringing in some part-time help though to carry us through 'til you get this sorted." He stepped out from under my hand. "Like I said, you look great and I wish you and Eric all the best."

"Thank you for being gracious, Sam. It means a lot to me. I don't want to lose any friends over this, I just hope you all come to see that Eric is the best thing that has ever happened to me."

"Yeah, yeah. Just don't let him short change you out of a proper wedding, that vampire ceremony don't count for squat here in Bon Temps."

"Thank you, Sam." I leaned in and kissed his cheek.

I paid for my sandwich and got in the car. That was more difficult than I'd anticipated. I expected some resistance from Sam, but I didn't think he'd accuse Eric of arranging to have himself drained. That was just insane. I turned the car down the road and headed for my house.

I hadn't been home for several days and my house had that "So this is what my house really smells like" scent of disuse and settling. I brought the mail in, sorted it and sat down at the kitchen table to eat my sandwich and get some bills paid. I heard tires crunching up the driveway and wondered who would have the perfect timing to know that I was home. I went to the window and saw Quinn's truck. This was starting to feel less and less coincidental all the time. How would he have known that I'd be here of all days?

I threw the back door open and went out before he could get to the door. "What are you doing, Quinn?"

"Sookie, I'm just trying to have a conversation with you. Is that wrong? Why won't you just give me five minutes to plead my case, then I'll be gone." He looked at me pleadingly and I felt a bit of the ice around my heart melt. "Not to mention I brought you some chocolates."

Against my better judgment, I agreed that he could come in for not more than 10 minutes to say what he was so all fired up to say. He took a seat in my living room and I remembered my manners.

"May I offer you something to drink?"

"No, I'm good thanks." He was dressed as if he was heading out to a function. His tie was clipped with a gold bar. He was sporting a diamond earring this time. He sat staring at me for a moment and I wondered if he was trying to screw up his nerve.

"Sookie, you never gave me a fair shot. That's what I've been trying to say. I think you were being a coward and you took the easy road. Eric has a lot of money, but I'm not doing too badly. Yeah, I know, my mom is a handful and my sister is not totally right. But I'm a great guy and you just shut me out. You were wrong to do it and I just wanted to ask you for a second chance so that I can show you that you and I had something special. You and I were great together in bed. You know I can take care of you, give you nice things. Yeah, we'd have to save a little and it might not be what Eric can give you right this second, but it would be honest. You wouldn't have to be afraid of your boyfriend, I wouldn't ever get you into half the shit you get into and I can be there for you day and night. You shouldn't have to settle for a part-time partner. I'll make you first in my life. I'll put my business aside for a few months and devote that time to making a life with you. If you'll just give me a chance."

I looked at him and bit my lip because I couldn't believe what he had just said.

"So, Sookie. What do you say? We could start with an early dinner, maybe drinks at that new hotel by the airport?

"Quinn," I didn't know a gentler way to say this so I just said what I felt. "You are a great guy. You really are. I've never disputed that. You are asking me to give you a chance and I can't. I'm not only spoken for, I'm married to Eric. That's a lot different in my eyes than just being on the outs with my boyfriend."

"He tricked you into a fake-ass vampire ceremony that doesn't mean shit because you are human. He doesn't own you. You're so messed up on his blood that you don't even know what you're saying. If you got away from him, his influence would wear off and you would understand what I've been trying to tell you. You know I'm not the only one telling you that Eric is bad news. You can't deny that."

"You're right, I can't deny that the three other men who want me for themselves have something bad to say about the man that I chose. None of you know him, and quite frankly, none of you know me well enough to say what is best or right for me. All of you keep bringing up how much money Eric has and I'm sick of it. That seems to be all you guys can measure yourself against. You can't seem to understand that there may be a million strikes against Eric and me, but there are a million and one things that bring us together. Yeah, you have baggage. Every relationship comes with baggage. But love is what makes you unpack that crap and hang on for the ride." I looked at him for signs that I was making myself clear. "I'm so sorry, Quinn. I don't love you. I love Eric. If you and I had met a year earlier…."

"Oh please, don't give me that if we'd only met sooner bullshit. You just took the easy way out."

"You think this is easy for me? You don't know shit about me. Just go, your ten minutes is up. If you don't mind, I have things I need to attend to."

He stood up to leave. "You think he's ever going to be the kind of husband that you need? What kind of life will you have snatching a few hours together in the evenings? What are you to a man who is immortal? You'll waste your life on him, and he'll go on and on forever. You're just making this part of his life a little less boring."

"It's my choice and my decision is final." I began walking to the door expecting that he would follow. When he didn't, I began to worry that maybe I'd gotten myself into a bad position. Eric would kill me for not considering this. Especially when there was someone out there trying to harm him, or even me.

"If you won't consider being my girlfriend full-time, would you consider seeing me during the day when he's not around? Get to know me a little better. At least make an informed decision. I mean, someone's trying to kill the guy, he may not even be around for you."

"Are you asking me to be your whore? Because that's what it sounds like. Now I really, really need you to leave." I threw the door open and waited. I couldn't believe the gall. He walked towards the door and towered over me.

"You missed out on a good man. I would have given you anything, including babies. Something that dead freak could never give you."

"Freak? Really?" I was fuming now. What was with men throwing out the "you won't have babies" trump card? Maybe I didn't give a rat's ass about squeezing out a kid.

I glared up at him, and he pushed me against the door and began kissing me. I was caught off guard and he thrust his rough tongue into my mouth. He pinned me there and ran his hands under my sweater and bra. His calloused fingers gripped my breasts and pinched.

I cried out, but he misunderstood and became even more excited. I felt him pressing himself against me as he became more aroused. I pushed at him, trying to get him off of me. He got his hand down my pants, put his finger inside me, and started stroking me. I bit his tongue while he tried to undo my pants. He got them open and tried to get me onto the floor. I became frantic. If I couldn't stop him, he was going to rape me and I couldn't let that happen. I stomped down hard on his foot and he dropped to one knee. I was wild with rage.

He pulled at me to get me onto the floor with him. I screamed over and over like a crazy person, pulling myself out of my sweater to get away. As I broke free of his grasp, I grabbed the first thing with weight I could find, a crystal candy dish that Gran bought at a yard sale. I brought it down on his head and ran for my car. I locked the door and sat because I'd left the keys in my purse, which was on the kitchen table.

I watched him stagger out the door and into the yard. I kept screaming and began blowing the horn on my car. I just wanted him gone. He came over to the glass and banged on my window.

"Ask your husband who drained his bitch ass!"

I thought he gave me the finger, but it was the wrong one. I didn't care. I cowered in the seat, hoping he wouldn't smash the window. He climbed into his truck and sped out of the driveway, throwing gravel everywhere.

I sat in my car shaking and afraid that he might come back. How could he think that I would have sex with him? He was so dead to me. Didn't he know that if I told Eric, his life would be over? God, Eric. What did Quinn know about Eric being drained?

I reeked of cologne. Eric would know Quinn was here, and while I could account for the light scent of tiger, I couldn't account for all this. I'd have to take another shower.

I ran into the house and locked the doors. I checked again and locked the bathroom door just to be sure. If Quinn really wanted, he could break all of the doors in the house, but I did it anyway.

I got a towel from the linen closet and threw my jeans in the wash. My cashmere sweater was ruined. I was going to have to go home in different clothes. That was the third time that I'd referred to Ravenwood as home. I hoped Natalia wouldn't notice my changed clothing. I turned the water on in the shower and felt the spray hit my neck and shoulders. All I wanted was for Eric to hold me and make this right. I thought of our time together in this shower and I sat down in the water and cried.