Wow! You people rock! I was not expecting such a reaction for this story, but since you've been so kind, here's another chapter for you.

As always, I do not own these characters, nor do I make a single penny from them.

"Order up, Sooks!"

Sookie Stackhouse paused as she wove through the tables lining her section and gave Lafayette a distracted wave of acknowledgement. A brief stop at table two delivered the ketchup they hadn't yet asked for and table six got the bill they were about to wave her down to ask for. She smiled and nodded to all of her customers, her ponytail bobbing, as she made her way through the packed restaurant.

"Thanks, Lala," she smiled at the cook as she picked up Mrs. Fortenberry's order of deep-fried pickles. "I'll be right back for Andy's burger," she hollered over her shoulder as she walked away.

"Stop doing that, Sookie!" he bellowed back through the small pick-up window. "I never even told you it was ready!"

She laughed as she carried the order to Mrs. Fortenberry.

"And here's your order, Mrs. Fortenberry." Sookie smiled graciously as she slid the basket in front of the portly woman her grandmother had called friend. Her son Hoyt was sitting with her and Sookie gave him a grin. Hoyt had grown up hanging around the Stackhouse residence. He and Jason had been friends since childhood.

"I didn't order this." Maxine Fortenberry sniffed out as she pushed the basket towards Sookie. "I asked for pickles, not onion rings."

Sookie smiled triumphantly, even as Hoyt groaned. She winked at Hoyt's embarrassed face before she turned her thousand watt smile on his over-bearing mother.

"And, as you can see, it is indeed fried pickles in the basket, not onion rings." Her smile turned even more sickly sweet as her grandmother's friend turned accusing eyes on her. Everyone knew what a pain in the ass she was, and Sookie was sick of having to cater to her crazy whims. "Can I get you anything else?"

"Harrumph!" Mrs. Fortenberry snorted indelicately as she turned her attention to her beloved fried pickles. Everyone knew that Stackhouse girl was crazy, she thought. The Stackhouse girl walked away from the table pleased with her small moment of triumph over evil. She laughed to herself as she went back to pick up Detective Bellefluer's burger.

"What was all that about?" Lafayette asked with a raised eyebrow. Fluffy false eyelashes fluttered as he spoke. Lala was nothing if not immaculate, even for a shift flipping burgers.

"She's getting back to her old tricks and I didn't want to have to deal with it again. I knew she was planning on sending the onion rings back after taking a couple and asking for pickles, so I just brought the old bat her pickles instead."

It was one benefit of telepathy, she thought wryly. Sookie had been a telepath for as long as she could remember. From infancy, when she couldn't understand the words, through childhood, when she could understand the words, but not the meanings, Sookie had heard it all. For most of her life she'd considered it a curse, a disability. It had taken years for her to learn to shield her mind from the onslaught of every thought in a mile radius.

Lafayette threw back his head and laughed uproariously. Tears streamed down his face as he struggled to catch his breath. "Lordy, hooka, am I ever happy your ass in back here in Bon Temps where it belongs!"

"I missed you, too, Lala." Sookie smiled as she picked up the waiting burger platter. Lafayette was one of the few people she considered to be a true friend. He was one of the very few who knew the truth behind her telepathy. He never treated her differently because of it, even though she knew it freaked him out, just a little.

It made her love him all the more.

Not many people wanted to take the chance on being friends with someone who could read their every thought. She'd experienced plenty of isolation and loneliness in her short life. It just made her even more fiercely loyal to those who showed her kindness and understanding. She would fight to the death for those she loved, even if that list was short.

Her Gran, God bless her soul, had taught Sookie the value of friendship, even without meaning to. Adele Stackhouse had been as loved by the community as her granddaughter was reviled by it. She'd spent her life caring for those around her, always making sure those who needed it most were provided for.

Sookie had been just seven years old when she'd gone to live with her Gran. She and Jason had been orphaned when their parents perished in a flash flood, but Gran had opened her house and her loving arms to the grieving children. She'd been especially understanding with Sookie, having always believed the little girl could read minds. She'd been a rock in an unsteady world for the confused, shy child Sookie had been. She'd absorbed all of Gran's lessons, both the ones she spoke aloud and the ones she taught by example.

It was her kind, loving spirit that Sookie tried the hardest to emulate, even though she acknowledged she would just never be as pure of heart as Gran was. The telepath had heard too much from the pious, small-town minds of her neighbors to ever be as giving as Gran; she tried to follow her spirit in other ways. She was polite and well-mannered, and while she would never be accused of being over-educated, she was an avid reader and taught herself more than she had ever learned in school.

She hoped her Gran would be proud of her, even though her life had changed so very much since she'd died. Of course, Gran had known what might become of her, she just never shared it with her grandchild. Sookie often wondered how she'd managed to never think of it when she was around. Even though she made it a habit to try not to listen to Gran's thoughts, there was a time when she'd had no control at all, and years where her control was spotty, at best. Not once did she ever hear Adele think of her past, or of Sookie's future.

"Hey, Sookie!" Andy Bellefleur's voice penetrated her thoughts and she brushed them aside as she tended to Andy's table.

The night was flying by quickly, Sookie thought, as she stepped up to the bar to get another pitcher of beers. The dinner rush was over and many of the tables were emptied. She wiggled her toes inside of her black Nike's and smiled to herself. She couldn't wait to get home and soak in a long, hot bath. She was lost in thoughts of bath salts and bubbles when a hush fell over the room. Her head snapped up immediately to see what could cause such a reaction in the boisterous bar.

"Oh, my God!" Sookie's hand loosened on the glass she was holding and it fell to the floor, bouncing off her sneakers before rolling to the side. Rivulets of beer ran down Sookie's tanned legs as she stared at the newcomer in shock.

"What's the matter, chere?" Sam Merlotte stepped up beside his favorite waitress. "You know him, or something?"

"Or something," Sookie gulped before ducking down behind the bar. She grabbed a clean bar rag and made a pretense of wiping her skin free of beer. In reality, she was trying to remain out of sight as she pondered what it could mean for him to show up here. Eric Northman didn't frequent backwater dives. She was sure of it. Her heart pounded as she considered her options.

"What's going on here, Sookie?" Her boss lowered his slim, wiry frame until he was on his knees, facing her. Tousled, reddish-gold hair filled her vision as she avoided his penetrating gaze.

"Do you know who that is?" she whispered, hoping the loud music blaring through the speakers would keep their words private.

"The vampire?" Sookie didn't look surprised and he continued with a sigh. "Yeah, I know who he is. Eric Northman. Sheriff of Area Five."

"What do you suppose he's doing here?"

Sam stood up and looked around before ducking back down. "I don't know, but he's sitting in your section." He looked at her with concern in his metallic green eyes. "Do you want to serve him? I can always get Arlene to look after him. She's practically drooling on him, anyway," the shapeshifter finished with disgust.

Sookie grimaced. Even without seeing her, Sookie could picture the eager look in her eye as she stared at the tall, handsome vampire. Of course, Arlene probably hadn't yet figured out the sexy blonde was a vampire, she reasoned. She was probably way too busy fluffing her outrageously red hair about her shoulders. Sookie idly wondered if her co-worker might even chance a quick run to the bathroom to reapply a thicker coat of scarlet red lipstick. She shook her head before answering her waiting boss.

"No. I'll go see what he wants." She remained in a crouched position for a long moment, absently wiping beer stains from her sneakers.

"How do you know how he is?" Sam asked quietly.

"Claudine showed me a picture of him." It was true, even if it lacked the complexity of the entire truth.

"Why would a fairy be showing you pictures of a vampire?" Sam's reddish, bushy eyebrows came together in a frown.

Sookie shrugged her shoulder. Even if it were a story she was willing to share with Sam – which it was not – now was not the time. She focused herself and stood to her feet. Brushing herself off, she tightened her ponytail before striding resolutely towards the vampire sitting regally in the scarred wooden bench seat.

He was even more attractive in person, she mused absently as she approached the table. The pictures Claudine had shown her had appeared cold, lifeless in comparison. The vampire sitting before her oozed vitality, his blue eyes shining with intelligence, and something else she couldn't name. He was watching her approach with hooded eyes and Sookie could feel her smile tightening even further.

On instinct, Sookie lowered her shields as she approached the table and automatically felt for his brain signature. She stumbled slightly as she realized she couldn't get a read from the vampire. His mind was completely silent to her.

"Hi, I'm Sookie," she said brightly as she tried to avoid looking directly into his eyes. "What can I get for you this evening?"

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sookie," the vampire purred in response. Sookie's knees knocked together before she straightened her spine and her resolve. "Do you have any True Blood?"

"Sorry. There's no vampires around these parts." She smiled awkwardly in his direction before deciding to stop being a scaredy-cat and look into his eyes. If he was going to glamour her, he'd find a way with or without her assistance. Not looking the man in the eye felt plain rude. "Is there anything else I can get you?"

"That's fine. I was only ordering it to be polite." Sookie refrained from rolling her eyes at his not so subtle hint he didn't exist on True Blood, as vampires claimed to be able to do. She knew the difference, but the general population still believed most vampires drank the substitute regularly.

"Well, then, if there's nothing I can do for you…" Sookie trailed off awkwardly, a slight blush rising under her skin.

"I didn't say that, did I?" He flashed a devastating smile, white teeth shining in his pale face. "There is something you can do for me, Sookie. My name is Eric Northman. I came here to see you."

"Why would you do that?" Sookie's eyes narrowed as she studied the vampire, trying to look past the handsome exterior and gauge the intentions behind his words. As intrigued as she was by the fact she couldn't hear his mind, it put her at a distinct disadvantage. She wasn't used to relying on body language and instinct. Reading between the lines was a skill she hadn't truly learned to utilize.

"I was hoping to have a few minutes of your time," he looked directly into her eyes as he spoke and Sookie felt a slight pressure building in her head. "Can we speak somewhere privately?"

She blinked and shook her head, ponytail flying against her cheekbones.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," she replied slowly, frowning as she saw the frown form on his face. What could he want with her?

"I promise you I will be at my best behavior. I merely wish to speak with you on a personal matter." His direct gaze held hers and again, Sookie felt a strange pressure in her head. She wondered briefly if it was a trade-off for the silence his brain provided.

"Well, as you can see, I'm working right now. If you want to wait for my shift to be done, I'll hear you out then."

Sookie frowned as she watched Eric catch Sam's gaze. He spoke at a fairly normal volume, but it was clear his words were intended for Sam.

"You don't mind, do you?"

Sam looked at Sookie for a moment before shaking his head. He went back to wiping down the bar. He didn't look their way again.

"Your boss doesn't mind if you take a break. Would you care to step outside with me?"

"Hell, no!" Sookie snorted in a most unladylike way. "We can talk in Sam's office, but that's as private as this is going to get."

"I understand," he replied with a gracious smile, even as the look in his eyes implied he very much did not understand something. In one smooth, fluid move, the vampire stood to his full height, towering over the small waitress. She took one step back, putting some distance between their suddenly close bodies.

"Follow me," she quirked her head and turned to walk toward the hallway leading off the bar area. She ignored the long, low wolf whistle Lafayette gave as he saw the pair passing by the kitchen.

Sookie held the door open and indicated Eric should enter first. He strode confidently ahead of her, his long legs showcased to perfection in the dark washed denim jeans he wore. She followed him into the office and closed the door behind her. Swallowing reflexively as she noticed how completely he filled the small space, the telepath waited until he turned to face her to break the silence.

"What can I do for you, vampire?"

So what do you think? Want more?

For everyone reading Just in Time, there will be another chapter up later today.