Chapter 11: My Daughter's Hero

EPOV

There was a uniformed police officer standing guard just outside of Sookie's room. I had a sudden and very unpleasant realization. There were still people out there looking to harm Sookie and possibly Pam too. I spoke briefly to the officer who then allowed me access into Sookie's room. I knocked before entering and as I slowly made my way into her room, I noticed her eyes were glued to the doorway.

"Hi." I said cautiously. "I'm Eric. Northman. Pam's father." I introduced myself awkwardly. She had tubes in her nose, an IV drip and she was hooked up to all sorts of monitors. She looked to be in pretty bad shape with all the cuts and bruises on her, not to mention that her whole body seemed to be wrapped up in bandages.

I suddenly felt really and truly awful for my previous behavior. Seeing how beat Sookie looked, and knowing that she only wanted to see if my daughter was okay put a lot of things into perspective for me.

Her lip began to quiver and her eyes filled with tears, but she didn't seem to be able to formulate words. I sat down on the chair next to her bed. "Pam is going to be just fine. She's sleeping right now." I wearied. "I didn't want to wake her, you know." I finished lamely.

Sookie nodded her head, but remained quiet. The air was thick; at least I thought it was, perhaps due to my own guilty conscience. "Are you going to be alright?" I asked.

"You must hate me." She responded in a pained way. I immediately began shaking my head.

"No. I don't." I rejoined. "I really don't."

"It's all my fault." She agonized, wiping her tears. He voice was deep and scratchy, probably from the smoke. "If it weren't for me, Pam never would've been taken."

"We'll never know that." I said. Even if it were true, I still wouldn't blame her. "But I do know that if it weren't for you, she might not be alive." I replied and I'm not sure why I did it, but I took her hand, the one that didn't have the IV, and squeezed it. I suppose it was my way of constraining my words into her, to make her believe their truth.

"I'm so sorry." She responded and then began to cry in earnest. She really didn't have anything to apologize for.

I didn't know what to do, so I dropped her hand and got up to leave. "Can I see her? When she's awake?" Sookie asked, sounding almost desperate. Again, my protective instincts kicked in. I really wanted to speak with a psychologist. Pam was already showing signs of post-traumatic stress and it was my duty to ensure that she was not exposed to any situation that would worsen her mental state. However, looking at Sookie's pleading, sad eyes, I found that I couldn't deny her. But more that, deep down, I just didn't believe that their relationship was detrimental.

"I'll bring her by tomorrow. Maybe around noon." I said giving her a sad smile. Sookie immediately relaxed at my words. I guess I hadn't realized just how much my daughter meant to her.

The following day, Pam was given the go ahead to leave the hospital and as promised, we stopped by Sookie's room.

"Mommy!" Pam yelled and ran towards Sookie who was sitting up at a slight incline watching TV.

"Careful Pam!" I admonished and quickly stopped her from tackling Sookie. I'm sure she wouldn't have complained, but I can't imagine it would've felt good, broken ribs and all.

Pam climbed up on the bed and gave Sookie a gentle hug, careful of her bandages. They both began to cry during their lengthy embrace. It was an odd sight to witness. I had never really seen my daughter interact so naturally with a female mother figure. I can admit that Pam did need someone like Sookie in her life. Girl's need their moms. I always knew that to be true deep down, but as her father and sole provider, I tried so hard to be everything for her.

Lost in my own thoughts, I completely missed a part of their conversation, which was apparently about some kind of princess day. "Can we daddy, huh, can we? Please?" Pam begged. I didn't know what the question was, but it didn't matter.

"Of course we can." I replied smiling.

"I getta go home today. Are you gonna come to?" Pam asked Sookie. She was sitting next to her on the bed playing with a strand of her long hair.

"No sweetie, I'm not. I think I have to be here for a little while longer." Sookie replied.

"Then I want to stay here with you. I don't want the bad man to come take you again." Pam cried and held on to Sookie's arm possessively. Pam's behavior was beginning to seem a bit erratic to me, coupled that with the mention of "the bad man" and I was beyond troubled. I knew that I needed to get her into Dr. Ludwig as soon as possible.

"He's not ever gonna come for me or you. Ever." Sookie implored. She was right. The bad man, Lochlan, was nothing more than an unclaimed body down in the morgue and so was his step-sister Neave.

Through Rasul, I found out that their cause of death was officially the fire, though Rasul did mention that both Lochlan and Neave sustained blunt force trauma. After that conversation, I had a new found level of respect for Sookie.

The story was slowly pieced together by investigators who had interviewed Sookie. They tried to interview Pam, but I wouldn't allow them to. They did say they'd need to speak to her at some point, but that Sookie's statements should be enough to officially close the case, well at least part of the case.

"She's right, Pam." I said approvingly. "The bad man won't ever come for either of you again thanks to Sookie."

"You're such a brave girl, Pam." Sookie said hugging Pam with half her body.

We stayed another ten minutes, before I announced that it was time for us to get home. Rasul had made arrangements for us to drive back to Shreveport, which was about an hour and a half away. Rasul was to stay behind and head up the remaining investigation of the kidnapping plot. He also assured me that Sookie was going to be guarded every minute of the day. We would also have a police patrol round the clock at my house, at least until the plot was completely foiled.

"Ok, Pam. We really need to go. Say goodbye to Sookie." I said which caused Pam to have a meltdown. She cried and whined and lamented about not wanting to leave Sookie. I felt awful. They clearly cared deeply for one another and no matter how dependent on each other they seemed, I can't deny that the sight of the two of them crying and hugging each other hurt me deeply. I wanted to see both of them happy and smiling, not this.

I knew nothing of Sookie, but oddly enough, she mattered to me, and not just because she mattered to Pam. I found that I genuinely cared for her well-being. I wanted to see her happy. She was brave, she was strong, and she saved my daughter. In my estimation, she was a remarkable human being and my daughter's hero.

"It's okay Pam, hush now. If it's okay with your daddy, I'll come and see you sometime." She reassured Pam.

"Yes, that's fine with me. Would you like that Pam?" I replied.

"Uh huh." She sniffled. Then hugged Sookie one last time and I swear I heard her say that she loved her.

After the emotional goodbyes were said, Pam and I left Magnolia and made our way back to Shreveport, and hopefully, back to our lives.