Dead and Dating
Disclaimer: I don't own the Southern Vampires. Sole copyright belongs to Charlaine Harris. I'm poor, please don't sue.
This story occurs after From Dead to Worse
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Eric and I walked into the employee entrance as we usually did. Once in his office we discussed our game plan for that night. I was going to go solo. Completely independent of Eric. My goal was to see as many people as possible. Once we settled on a strategy he smacked my bottom and kissed the back of my neck. I felt like I was being fed to lions.
I walked out onto the floor like I owned it. We had decided that I was to cover a few tables from each section. It was a little confusing. But once I got the hang of it I started to pick up pace. I was getting hit on by the guys as usual. I wasn't sure if that was the outfit, or the attitude Eric had me adopt. He wanted me to act like a real Fangbanger. I greeted everyone with displeasure and made sure I was always flirting with a vamp. I went up to one of the tables in the corner. And that's when I heard what I had been waiting for.
I'll just stake the pretty blond one. She seems to be attached to the leader. She must not recognize me from the other night. It will be easy. Eventually, she'll go outside for a break. Then her vampire loving ass is mine.
I was startled. The voice was thinking of me. I took a big breath and tried to act normal. After I served him his drink I walked up to Eric but stopped short. Some Fangbanger was throwing herself at him. She had on a super short skirt and an almost see-through tank top. Eric wasn't even smiling. He shooed her away. I can't say I wasn't happy to see him turn her away. I made a 'come here' motion with my finger and walked into his office. He waited a few minutes then followed me back.
"Eric, the guy is after me." I could barely hide my fear. How many more times was my life going to be in danger?
"We aren't going to let anything happen to you." That was Pam's voice. I hadn't even noticed she was sitting at Eric's desk.
"I think I have an idea. I'm going to go back out there. I'm going to make a point of informing the table behind him that I'm going on break. He'll follow me. That's what he is waiting for." I gulped. "He has a stake. So follow me out, but be careful. I'm going to try to not get killed."
Eric grabbed me and kissed me hard. "Why would you put yourself in harms way?"
"Because, I'm not going to let him get a hold of any one else. And once you have him we can figure out what the big picture is. I doubt he just wants your waitresses."
I took a deep calming breath and walked out into the bar again. I grabbed two drinks and walked up to the table behind the man in question. I loudly asked if they needed anything else because I was going on break. They looked at me oddly but said no.
Turning to the door I gathered myself. I walked past the bar, dropping my tray, and walked out the front door. I heard footsteps behind me almost immediately as soon as I got outside. I turned the corner to the side of the building, away from the line of people waiting to get in.
As soon as I turned the corner I swung around. He was lunging at me. I put my hands up to protect myself and prayed that Eric and Pam were watching. The stake came down on my shoulder and I cried out. It burned so bad I could barely see through the tears in my eyes. Everything was blurry. I seen him lift up like he was going to stab me again. I closed my eyes. This was it, the night I die.
I felt weight lift off of me. Eric had the guy by his throat and was slamming him against a wall. Pam was kneeling over me trying to put some pressure on my shoulder. Her fangs where out. I knew she was thinking of the blood that was flowing under her fingers.
"Eric" I croaked out his name. "Remember, big picture, don't kill him." I could hear Eric laugh as the guy screamed. I didn't want to know what Eric was doing to him. I started feeling dizzy and I closed my eyes, just for a second.
~*~
I opened my eyes. I was staring at the ceiling of Eric's office. I tried sitting up but I was in too much pain. I looked down at my shoulder. It wasn't bleeding anymore. I could tell that Eric (I hope) had licked my wound clean and had tried his best to bandage it. Once he realized I was awake he was immediately at my side. He brought me a glass of water and helped me sit up.
"Sookie.." His voice trailed off and he laid his head in my lap.
"You know, I've been staked twice now. It's getting old." I tried to laugh but it hurt to much so I just smiled.
"We have him, we tied him up to the chair." Eric pointed over his shoulder and I glanced up at the man who had staked me. He looked black and blue. Eric must have beat him really bad. I almost felt sorry for him. Then I remembered my shoulder and that sympathy went out the window.
"Did you get anything out of him?"
"A little, but I can't tell if he's lying or not."
"What did he say?"
"He said the FotS paid him to kill the waitresses here. He swears he doesn't know anything else."
"Want me to find out if he's telling the truth?" I sat up a little straighter, then slid my legs off the sofa. I tried stand up but I was a little weak. Eric got up and walked over to the man, pushing the chair he was tied to over to me.
"You will answer her questions or you'll die sitting here." Eric's voice was icy. I could tell he was shaken by what had happened to me.
I reached over and put my hand on the guys arm. He flinched like I was going to hit him. I figured I'd start simple.
"What is your name?"
"Thomas"
"Who sent you here?"
"FotS, the just told me to kill the waitresses and staff. I swear I don't know anything else."
This crazy bitch. I don't know anything. They just paid me to kill the freaks that love the corpses. These people are going to kill me.
"Eric, He isn't lying. What do we do now?" I looked up at him, trying to read his face. He didn't even answer me. He grabbed his cell phone and made a few phone calls.
"The police are coming for him. They are going to do it discreetly at my request."
"I didn't realize you had so many connections." I tried my best to smile at him. He just laughed.
We waited for the police and then waited while they hauled Thomas off to jail. Once the were gone, Eric sat down next to me. I slid over and crawled up onto his lap and snuggled in his arms.
I could feel great sadness come across the bond.
"Sookie, I'm so sorry. I tried to get out there as fast as I could. People were in my way. I was pushing and shoving them. I couldn't get them out of the way fast enough. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you." He laid his head against mine. I reached my hand up and brushed his hair away from his face. I put on hand on his cheek and kissed his lips lightly.
"You've taken bullets for me, you've frequently thrown yourself in harms way for me, you are always there for me. I know you tried your best. And I'm fine. I'm not dead. I'm just a little sore. That's all." My shoulder hurt like hell, but I didn't want to let him see me in so much pain, so I pushed it aside and wrapped my arms around him.
"What are we going to do about FotS?", I asked him. Curious to see if he had a plan of action.
He just shook his head. "I have no clue, I'll think of something. But I won't put you in harms way again. I will not."
The door opened slightly and Pam stuck her head in. Once she seen we were clothed she came in and sat down in the chair that had been vacated by Thomas.
"Sookie, We are going to have to keep you away from stakes." She laughed a little then got serious. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Sorry we didn't get out there in time."
"It's okay Pam. It really is."
"Do you need anything from your home. I'm going over tonight to spend some time with Amelia." If I didn't know Pam that well I could swear she was blushing. But she had probably just fed.
"No, I think I have everything."
"Okay, call me if you need anything." She bowed a little to Eric and waved to me and left.
~*~
The ride home had felt like an eternity. But we were finally pulling up Eric's driveway. He came around and opened the door. Picking me up to carry me into the house.
"You know, your spoiling me Eric, I may never walk into your home again. Why walk when I can be swept off my feet?" I kissed his neck. He looked down at me and kissed me hard. "I will carry you anywhere you wish lover."
He walked up to his front door, unlocked it and carried me in. He sat me on a huge overstuffed leather recliner. He got me a blanket from his linen closet and wrapped it around me. Once he made sure I was warm and comfortable he kneeled down in front of me and took my hands. He brushed his lips along my knuckles.
"Sookie, when you passed out tonight. I was scared. I thought you died. I felt like a part of me was ripped out." He paused for a moment to gather his thoughts.
"I love you Sookie Stackhouse. I know you want to date. But I know I love you, I don't need any further confirmation." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny black box. I immediately started to hyperventilate.
"Eric, we can't, we can't, I-I.." I was a stuttering mess. Eric smiled and and opened the box. What was inside took my breath away.
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Oh, yes, a cliff hanger! Muahaha.