Sorry this took so long, really busy on my work trip and lousy internet connection. I hope you like.

Nothing is mine. (Except this particular plot)

Chapter 12

Sookie pulled into Fangtasia's parking lot, she had decided to enter from the front so she could try to talk to Pam, but Indira was at the door. As she nodded to the small vampire, and went to hurry inside, Indira stepped in front of her. "You are late. Pam said you are to get straight to work once you get here."

"Yes ma'am." Sookie gave her a quick bow and hurried through the throng inside the bar. It was almost eight and the place was crowded. Quickly stowing her purse and grabbing a black apron and order pad she worked her way onto the floor. She saw Leanna at a distance and waved at her trying to look apologetic for getting in so late.

She started taking orders and trying to read the customers in small groups, not dropping her blocks too far. She seemed to be handling it pretty well and thought it must have been in part due to the heightened senses she always felt after some vampire blood. She looked around for Pam, but didn't see her at all which just made her more nervous. Glancing at Eric's throne she saw that he was texting something a slight smile on his face. He looked up while she was looking at him and he winked. She rolled her eyes at him and he chuckled, before turning his attention back to his phone.

When she finally ran into Leanna at the bar she started to gush an apology but the waitress stopped her. "Don't worry hun, it happens to all of us. Did they end up towing your car?"

Wishing that someone had filled her in to the official story as to why she was late she shook her head. "No, he was able to fix it. I'm just glad my Daddy always buys me the auto club membership every year."

"Yeah, these clothes aren't made for changing tires." Leanna looked down at her own impractical dress.

"Have you seen Pam?" Sookie asked glancing around. "I hope she isn't really mad at me."

"She and Eric were meeting earlier, he came out but she stayed in the office I think. But last time I saw her she didn't look mad. If anything she looked happy."

Not really sure a

Sookie wasn't really sure what to think of that but finished arranging her orders on her tray. "Okay, well I'll try to talk to her later." She picked up her tray and went to deliver her orders.

She worked different areas of the floor, trying to catch any stray thought that wasn't the usual stream of lust. But so far she hadn't picked up anything and it had been almost three and a half hours. She was getting jumpy too, expecting Pam to attack her at any moment. Near midnight, Eric stood and began pacing on his dias. A wave of appreciation rippled through many of the females and a few of the males in the club. Then she sensed an intense guilt and self-loathing coming from the area between her and the door. She headed that way taking drink orders. She said softly hoping Eric could hear her over the noise. "Eric, I think he's here, tell Pam to wait a little." She didn't want to lose him in the commotion. She glanced towards the throne but he was standing facing the other way, she had no idea if he heard her or not.

Heading in the direction she thought the strange thoughts were coming from, she let down her blocks little by little. She thought she had lost him, then she picked up a strong stream of thoughts. Stop looking at him! You're not a fag or a fangbanger! You're a good, upstanding christian. You are going to find a sweet girl and settle down! Oh Lord, give me strength, take these sinful thoughts from me. Why does he have to be so magnificent? Stop it! Stop it, you're not here to look at that vampire. You are doing your duty as a Soldier of God. You will stay here, and not look at that vampire, but wait for an attack and report back.

Sookie was finally able to find him physically as well as mentally. His head was turned partly away from Eric, but his eyes were transfixed. He was in his mid twenties, with dark brown hair and a nice tan. He looked like he must hit the gym pretty regularly. He was standing on the periphery of a larger group, and he almost looked like he was with them, but his demeanor was different. He had a studied casualness that was betrayed by his sweating. She went up to the group and asked for orders. He ordered a club soda, nodding at the group. "Designated driver." he said ruefully.

"Good for you, this will be on the house." she smiled sweetly at him and gave him a full view of her cleavage which he didn't even glance at. Yeah, he's not gay, she thought sarcastically. She took the orders to the bar then worked her way up near the throne.

She finally caught Eric's eye and said softly. "I found him, he's part of the Fellowship of the Sun." Eric nodded slightly and she continued. "He's by that group, third table in from the door. I'll serve him last. He's attracted to you, but he refuses to admit he's gay." Eric's lips curled slightly.

She went back to the bar, somewhat more relaxed, now that she found him Pam didn't need to attack her. She collected her orders from the bar and delivered them all making sure to serve the spy last. Halfway through handing him his drink, he went slack, glancing at Eric she could see he was putting the whammy on him. Sookie smiled and took the drink back. Eric motioned that the man should come to him and then headed to his office, the man dazedly followed.

Sookie searched the crowd and found Leanna then made her way over to the senior waitress. "Hi, I know I came in late and all, but do I still get a break tonight?" she asked with a hopeful look.

"Sure honey, although you always wait until pretty late."

"I know I was trying to tough it out, but I bought a big soda while I was waiting for the auto guy and now I am regretting it."

Leanna chuckled in sympathy.

Sookie headed to the back, which fortunately was the same direction as Eric's door was closed so she knocked lightly and let herself in. The man was seated on the couch and Eric was perched on the short table in front of it, their eyes were locked.

"I'm on a break." she said softly, Eric nodded but did not break eye contact.

"Alex," he began, he had obviously gotten that much information. "Why are you here tonight?"

"To wait and watch." Alex replied dreamily.

"Watch for what?"

"A vampire to attack someone." he said it as if it were obvious.

"Do you know why a vampire might attack someone?"

"Something in the make-up."

"Do you know what?" Sookie sat down beside Alex and placed her hand on his wrist. He didn't even look down. She slid into his mind easily.

"No. Some science guy came to us and said he knew of a way to drive vamps crazy." Sookie could see Alex's view of the exchange, he was obviously not one of the people in the know, it looked like he had been working in the office when the "science guy" had come in. He was dressed in business slacks and a short sleeve button shirt. He was in his forties and looked bitter. He was talking to someone Sookie vaguely remembered from Dallas, Alex was filing papers.

"Do you know the science guy's name?" Eric was trying to be patient, but the short answers were annoying him.

"Dr. Taggert, but I don't think he is the type of doctor who treats sick people."

"Why do you say that?"

"He works in some factory."

Eric and Sookie exchanges glances, that could be the source of the make-up. "Do you know which factory?" Eric prodded.

"No, I just heard him refer to the factory." Sookie looked into his head but found no further information and shook her head.

"Alex, what were your exact instructions they gave you for coming here?"

"Keep my eyes open. Blend in. Watch for attacks and try to record them. Watch out for the blonde."

"What blond, me?" Eric asked , but Sookie shook her head, she saw a picture of herself in his mind. It was obviously taken in Merlotte's but she had never seen it before. Sookie pointed at herself. Eric raised an eyebrow.

"Some girl, she's a mind-reader. I'm supposed to stay away from her because she would be able to find out why I am here."

"Do you have any other instructions regarding the blonde?"

"Report it if I see her, but don't try to capture her. She's protected by vamps."

"Alright Alex, you've done well. In a moment you are going to go to sleep until I wake you. While you are asleep you won't be able to hear or see anything, do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Okay, sleep now." Like that, Alex fell over onto his side.

Eric stood and walked towards his desk, Sookie followed. Turning so they were half facing Alex they spoke in hushed tones.

"Well we know a lot more." Sookie started.

"Yes, what worries me is the warning about you." Eric ran a hand through his hair.

"They have a picture of me, it was taken at Merlotte's so they know where I work, probably where I live." The idea gave her the creeps, but didn't really surprise her.

"How does this Dr. Taggert know about fairy blood driving vamps crazy? Does he know it is fairy blood even?" Eric asked.

"I don't know. This guy doesn't though. In fact, I think we were lucky he knows as much as he does." She glanced at her watch. "I better get back on the floor. What are you going to do with him?" She glanced at Alex.

"Make him forget we had this talk and send him on his way."

"Okay, see you later." She ducked out the door.

In a couple of minutes, Alex came back and resumed his spot at the periphery of the large group. She brought him his club soda as if nothing had happened. She saw Eric reappear a few minutes later.

The crowd was thinning out, but it was still busy. So Sookie had a full tray of drinks when Pam whirled her around. The drinks went flying and Sookie had just a second to see Pam's face closing in on her throat before she could feel Pam's mouth against her neck. Since she had assumed that the attack was off after they had found the guy they were looking for, it took her completely by surprise. Sookie screamed and was sure the fear on her face looked real, because it was. The fear she had felt from Pam's attack two nights ago, came back in full force and she realized maybe she was not as over it as she thought. She saw flashes going off around her and assumed a lot of the customers were taking pictures.

Most of the customers were running out of the bar, but two brave guys tried to pull Pam off her. Pam was able to completely ignore them as they pulled with all their strength. As fangs sank into Sookie's throat she screamed louder. She hadn't expected Pam to really bite her. Then she heard Eric shout "Pam!" and she felt the same sense of relief as before.

"Go!" he ordered the men trying to pull Pam away. One look at the ferocity on Eric's face and they let go of her and stepped back. He pulled on Pam's arm. Her teeth left Sookie's throat and she turned, hissing at him. Eric backhanded her hard and she went flying across the room, knocking tables and chairs out of her path. She landed a good 15 feet away in a motionless heap. "Out!" he yelled at the crowd as he turned and swept Sookie up into his arms. She put her hand to her neck and shrank against him as he carried her to his office. She got a glimpse of Alex backing away, holding up a camera. She was hoping no one at the Fellowship would recognize her.

Once inside with the door closed he set her gently on the couch. "Are you alright?" he asked brushing her hair out of her eyes. ""I can feel your fear."

She nodded shakily, "I'm okay. I think it was too soon after Pam really attacked me the other night, it was like really bad deja-vu." She brought her hand away from her neck and looked at the blood there. "And I wasn't expecting her to really bite me."

Eric tilted her head so he could see the wound. "Well, the plan had been for me to bite you, and we wanted it to look real." His fangs clicked down, Sookie forced herself not to jump, then he bit his tongue, hard, so it was bleeding.

"Ouch." she said in sympathy. He grinned slightly as he moved in to her neck and licked the wound. She felt the same tingle as earlier in the evening and realized this must have been how he healed her then. After thoroughly licking the bite he continued to lick all of the blood off her neck, down to the top of her dress. Her heart was starting to race again, but not from fear, when he pulled his head away.

"Won't the police wonder what happened to the blood?" she asked, her voice husky.

"We don't want it to look real to them, or Pam will be in jail for who knows how long." He picked up a bottle of True Blood off the floor and opened it. "We are going to convince them it was a stunt, since business actually picked up after the last attack. That will probably still get us a big fine and closed for a couple of nights but not indefinitely. Lean your head back over." He held up the bottle to apply some to her neck.

She shifted so her neck was exposed and almost parallel to the floor. He let the thick liquid drizzle out onto her skin, she gasped as it hit her. "Oh, that's cold!"

"Sorry, I didn't think about the temperature." He put down the bottle and stood.

She went to stand but her legs were a little wobbly. He immediately steadied her. "You're really shaken aren't you?" Concern was evident on his face.

"Please don't tell Pam. It was just too real after the other night." She straightened and put a brave face on, fighting against her crazy smile. "Tell me why we still wanted to get the bar closed after we found the guy."

Eric reached for the door, opening it as he explained. "If their plan appears to be getting results here they may not pack up shop and try elsewhere. Also it will keep any more accidents from happening here." His voice lowered seductively, "But most importantly it will give us more time together."

They walked back into the bar area, to find it a mess and Pam talking to the police. Leanna and Lily were sitting at the same table as the night of the real attack, but this time Indira was sitting with them and a quick peek into their thoughts told her that they had been glamored. She wondered what the official story was going to be and wished she had asked Eric for more details.

Pam turned when she heard them approaching. "Here you are officers, you can see she is fine." She held her arm out to indicate Sookie, like she was a prize in a game show.

Tonight there were only two officers, neither were the same as the other night. They both looked at her intensely, their eyes going directly to the apparent blood on her neck, although both let their eyes travel lower for an instant. The older of the two addressed her. "Are you alright miss?"

"Yes, officer, I'm not hurt at all." She said wide-eyed, in her best dumb-blonde voice.

"What about the blood?" The officer gestured with the pen he was using to take notes.

"This? It's just True Blood." She lightly put a finger to the viscous liquid and held it out for them. The older officer gingerly touched his finger to hers, to pick up a little of it. He smelled it and rubbed his fingers together then nodded to the other officer.

He looked at Eric. "Is there a place where we can talk to this woman alone?"

"Of course, you can use my office. She can show you." he nodded at Sookie.

"Sure, come this way." She started to lead the cops away, wishing again that she and Eric had gone over their story better. As she walked, she peeked into the officers' minds. They were mulling over Pam's story that this was all a publicity thing, they had doubted it at first but seeing her looking okay they were starting to believe it. But that didn't make them happy, they thought it was a stupid stunt to pull, and thought anyone who came here must have a death wish. They weren't anti-vamp as a rule, but they weren't real fans either.

She opened the office door and gestured for them to enter, they insisted she enter first so she went in and sat on the couch. They followed her into the room and closed the door.

"Can you tell us what happened miss?" Their pens were poised ready to take notes.

"Well Eric, Mr. Northman, asked me if I would do him a favor, he was short a waitress, so I said sure. Then, when they saw how big a crowd was here last night after the attack the night before, he asked if I would do a little play acting. It sounded like fun. So tonight, close to closing, Pam pretended to attack me, so I screamed and acted scared." She shrugged to emphasize it was no big deal.

They were busy writing, she grabbed some tissues from the box. "Is it okay if I wipe this off now?" she indicated the fake blood, "It's kind of sticky."

"Of course." the older officer said. She started wiping at the blood which ran down to the top of, and into her dress. She lowered her head to watch her hand. And could tell by dipping into their minds that they were watching her hand as well. Good, she thought, distracted is good.

"Your name miss."

"Well, the other waitresses think I'm Desirée, but my name is really Sookie, Sookie Stackhouse."

"Why don't they know your real name?" That, unfortunately, got their suspicions up.

"They're very jealous of me, 'cause Eric likes me. So I thought it would be easier to work here if they didn't know it was me."

"And they don't recognize you?" He looked skeptical.

"Oh heavens no. I never dress like this." She looked down at herself. "I'm a sundress or jeans kind of girl and I hardly ever wear make-up. I hardly recognize me." She looked suddenly concerned. "Am I in trouble?"

The older officer sat down on the couch facing her, trying to look fatherly. "That's what we want to know." He looked her straight in the eye. "Miss Stackhouse, did anyone force you to do anything you didn't want to?"

"No." She purposely looked confused.

"The vampires aren't making you do this? They aren't threatening you? Because if they are we can protect you."

"No, they aren't threatening me. Really, I just did this as a favor." She looked a little scared, "Are you going to arrest me?"

"No, you're not under arrest." he assured her, patting her hand.

"Eric's not in trouble, is he? Nobody got hurt. Or Pam? She didn't hurt me."

"I'll have to talk to them before we make a decision. You're sure you're alright? The other witnesses were convinced that it was a real attack."

"Really? I didn't know I was such a good actress." She looked flattered. "Can I go now?" She looked from one to the other.

"Yes, you can go, please send Mr. Northman in." He bent his head to make a few more notes. He was thinking that this was no more than yelling fire in a crowded theatre. He was a little relieved that he wouldn't have to try to apprehend vampires.

"Sure, I'll send him right in." She stood and walked to the door, leaving it open behind her. As soon as she thought she was far enough away. She started whispering, "Eric, I told them my real name, since there would be no record of Desirée. I told them I was working here to fill in as a favor and was willing to do the fake attack as another. The reason I gave for giving my fake name was because the other waitresses are jealous of me and you." By this time she had reached the main room, he smiled and nodded at her which she took to mean he had heard her, she said out loud. "Master, they would like to talk to you."

"Thank you Desirée." He walked by her and into the back. She went and sat at the table with the other waitresses, Indira was no longer there.

Leanna spoke first. "You're a really good actress Desirée. I really believed Pam was attacking you." She looked impressed. Lily was nodding her head in agreement.

"Thanks, I just imagined what it would be like to really be attacked by someone as strong as Pam." Pam who was sitting at a table behind the regular waitresses, smiled and suppressed a chuckle, Sookie suppressed a shiver at the flashback.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Lily asked.

"The Master wanted it to be a surprise to everyone so they would react to it as if it were real." She leaned in conspiratorially and whispered. "I wanted to tell you, really."

"Why did they pick you to do it?" Leanna sounded a little jealous.

"Didn't I tell you? I guess we haven't had a lot of time to talk. I'm an actress, I'm just working as a waitress until I hit it big. I told that to Pam during the interview."

"Have you acted in anything yet?" Lily asked.

"Some school plays. I am trying out for something next week." She was hoping Eric hurried, she was getting tired of making stuff up.

"Do you think it would be okay if I went to the bathroom?" She asked them. "I'm still sticky from the True Blood."

"Sure, we'll let them know where you are." Lily offered.

"Thanks." She got up and walked to the restroom. Since she hadn't gone earlier she took advantage of the facilities, but then had to work herself back into the dress. She went to the sink with the plan to wash off the blood, but looking in the mirror, she realized her tan was already visible in places where the make-up had worn off. She didn't want to expose anymore of it, at least not to Leanna, who was getting suspicious. She cast her mind out into the bar and realized the police were back out in the main room. She figured she better get out there.

Returning quietly, she sat back down at the table and tried to look bored. Eric and the officers were standing near the entrance talking. They all looked very serious. She glanced at Pam, she was obviously listening from across the room.

The officers handed Eric a citation. He accepted it calmly, a wave of relief washed over the police, they nodded a goodbye and left.

Sookie didn't realize she had been holding her breath until she released it. Eric came and spoke to the waitresses as a group. "Unfortunately, the police did not like our idea of publicity. They are shutting us down for a week. You'll be paid your normal salary for the time missed. Pam will send you your schedules for when we reopen. You may go home now." Leanna and Lily looked upset. Sookie knew their salary was only a fraction of their income, they would be really hurting without the tips. She stood to go, but Eric added, "Desirée, please stay."

"Yes Master." She said with a deep bow and sat down again. Waving good-bye to the other waitresses. Eric then gestured to Pam and they went to the other side of the room to talk. Sookie remained in her seat looking bored for the sake of her temporary coworkers. They came back out from the locker area and bowed to Eric and Pam on the way out.

Once they were gone the vampires joined her at the table.

"Sookie you were great." Eric effused.

"Tasty too." Pam added and Sookie tried to chuckle naturally.

"Well, thank you. What did the police say?" She looked at Eric.

"There's a fine in addition to being closed for a week, but it's not that big. It's better than them hauling Pam off to the vampire unit, which was a risk."

"I still don't know why you guys switched it so it was Pam who attacked me and not you." She looked at Eric and let her gaze move between them.

"I didn't think anyone would believe that I could pull Eric off you, which I couldn't." Pam supplied.

"That makes sense, I hadn't thought about how to end the attack. I'm glad you didn't get arrested." She looked at Pam with a slight smile.

"Me too." Pam stood, "Good night you two. I know you're anxious to leave. But Sookie, anytime you get tired of Eric and want to try the other perspective, let me know." She winked and Sookie blushed, totally at a loss for words.

Pam chuckled, apparently that was the reaction she was expecting, then walked out the door.