I got a bit lost, I think. Eric was getting wussy, Sookie was wussy. This is the beginning of returning to their normal personalities. I hope.

Again I hope you get any British references I missed, I've spent a tiny amount of time in PA, but this is stretching my knowledge.

Hope you like it J

Sending all my love and respect to Charlaine Harris, for bringing us the joy of the southern vampire books. Re-directing my lust to Mr Skarsgard junior. hmmm

'come to my office at the end of the day so we can discuss this further.' Pam told me before heading off down the corridor.

I walked back into the lab in a daze. Do I go along with this blatant matchmaking, or should I tell her that I'm a chemist and I belong in the lab? Should I call her on this silly plan, or do I let her carry on, towards her version of a happy ever after? Do I risk my happiness in England for what might be nothing, or do I dive into it head-on, consequences be damned.

I sat down in front of the computer I was working on, and tried to read the method. After I'd read the first paragraph 3 times I gave up. Lynn, the girl from lunch yesterday was sat near me, I did my bet to strike up a conversation. She must have taken pity on me, she took charge and began telling me some very useful things.

'Judith's been seeing Bill on the quiet, she'd admit it in a second, but Bill's worried about his career' she was saying, this was quite interesting. Info to be analyzed later.

'is Pam a good boss?' I asked, trying to lead the conversation into a certain direction

'to be honest, this is the most I've ever seen her. She must think your a genius to be chasing after you' she said, 'I heard she has some connection to your friend Eric.' this got my attention.

'really?' I said, hoping she would continue,

'yeah, and I hear he's making quite an impression on you' she smiled,

'he's a nice guy, just a little confusing.' I said, telling the utter truth.

We chatted a little longer and Lynn told me the best person to talk to is Judith, which would be difficult, seeing as how I'd just been moved out of her lab. Apparently all of the time she would normally spend with Bill, she ended up gossiping because he was busy. I learned she took a break at 2pm for coffee everyday, without fail. I must remember to clock watch a little better and catch her.

Soon it was lunch time, and Eric appeared at the door as promised. Lynn gave me a little wink as I swapped my labcoat for my bag and left. Eric seemed a little distracted, so I waited until we reached our seats in the diner to talk.

'everything ok? You seem a little stressed' I asked, feeling real concern for his lack of cheer.

'yeah, its nothing. How's your day going?' he replied, sounding glum.

'Pam wants to see me later, and I really feel I should talk to you first.' I said, diving right in. I couldn't bear that his mood might have anything to do with me.

'oh? She's spoken to you? Look Sookie….' he began, I interrupted him before it went to far.

'Eric, wait. I don't know what's going on, but I'm here to help out in the lab. I'm pretty sure you are doing great in the office, and I aren't about to come in and tell you how to do your job.' I began, 'so, I'm going to see Pam later to tell her I'm going home. She doesn't need me, she needs an engineer.' I said it all in one go, otherwise I would have bottled out.

'No Sookie, I'll have a word with her. When she gets an idea in her head, she's like a dog with a bone.' he said, surprised.

'I have a vague idea of her plan, but she isn't in charge of whether I stay' I told him, 'I think I'll go chat to her after lunch.'

'there's a few things I need to tell you before you do' he said, looking at his hands.

'Oh?' I asked,

'Pam and I… used to be a couple. Now she seems determined to find… well, someone to make me happy. But it isn't up to her, I'm capable of finding someone. I think I may have, but that's not the point' he struggled to explain, I could see he was embarrassed.

'are you saying she is trying to push us together?' I asked.

'yes' he replied,

'well that's very flattering of her, but like you say, your capable of doing your own looking'

'yeah. Tell you what, I'll talk to her when I get back and sort this all out.' he reasoned. I was hoping for another outcome, but he seemed to be stalling.

The waitress took our orders, and we sat in relative silence as we ate. On the way back to the lab we walked quietly, until we reached the front door.

'we should go out tonight, if you aren't too tired.' Eric said, with renewed confidence in his voice.

'yeah, ok. You have anywhere in mind?' I asked,

'I think so, I'll come find you at the end of the day' he replied, smiling and following me through the first set of doors. He paused outside Pam's office,

'everything should calm down after today, you can finally begin to enjoy your stay.'

'I was already enjoying it, this is the most fun I've ever had.' I told him, 'mostly thanks to you, my most gracious host.'

'that's good to hear, I'll see you later' he said, and disappeared behind the door.

I got back to the lab, Lynn was bubbling over with excitement.

'Sookie, you'll never guess what I found out.' She almost screamed across the lab.

I prepared myself for just some gossip, but found she had actually discovered a lot of useful things.

'so Bill had convinced Pam that he should host the visitor, until she saw Eric's reaction to you. Now Bill's having a hissy fit, Pam is punishing him, and you are getting shuttled around to her whim' she explained, not even pausing for breath.

'they're a bunch of high school kids really, aren't they?' I said to her, laughing at it.

'you'd think, wouldn't you?' she laughed.

The rest of the afternoon moved without event, until about 4pm when I was due to see Pam. Eric hadn't told me the outcome of his chat, so I had no idea what to expect. I just hoped she wasn't angry.

Bobby grunted that she was still in a meeting and that I should wait. After only 5 minutes, Pam buzzed him and he told me to enter.

'hello Sookie, we have a few things to talk about. Please, make yourself comfy' Pam said from across the room. She appeared to be pouring a drink.

I sat down and waited for her to turn around before I spoke.

'I'm sorry if I've caused any problems being here, but I need to discuss my role here' I said, trying to remain professional.

'yes we do' Pam replied bluntly. I was slightly worried, I had decided to stay regardless of her plans, maybe she was going to kick me out. 'I must apologise for my behaviour, I have become slightly over zealous. I think your presence is having an affect on quite a few of us.'

'I'm sorry?' I said, utterly confused.

'I'm a highly motivated woman, Sookie. When I see a problem I try to find the best resolution. I hear Eric spoke to you about our past. Well, I want you to know it was all my fault. I hurt him and now I want to fix him. I apologise for using you as a Band-Aid.' she was struggling to hide a smirk.

'ok, we can put that behind us. Can we focus on what I'm here for now?' I said hopefully

'yes, that sounds best. How have you done today?'

I spent about 15 minutes explaining all I had found, and what could be done to solve it. She seemed suitably impressed.

'where am I tomorrow?' I asked, hoping she had changed her mind since this morning.

'oh, yes. You will be remaining in the lab for now. I may still put you in the office briefly if necessary at a later date. I appreciate your hard work Sookie, the company you work for may own this business, but I may yet start a new one. I would like you to consider staying for that reason, you would be paid a good wage and given a suitable job title.' Pam said, she seemed like she was ticking off reasons that weren't linked to anything but work now.

'oh wow, Pam that's really nice of you. I have to admit, this is a great place to work, let me see how the next few weeks go, then I'll be able to give you an answer.' I reasoned. She was still pushing, just gently.

I left her office, giving an overly polite 'goodnight' to Bobby. Heading down to the corridor back to the lab I ran into Bill.

'Ah Sookie, can I borrow you for a moment?' he asked

'sure, what's the problem?' I replied,

We walked to his lab, chatting about one of his methods on the way. A machine I had worked on had reset itself and lost my programming, shouldn't take long to fix. I made a hard copy.

As I fiddled with the computer, Bill hovered nearby. The lab was deserted, which made his every movement echo around the room.

'you should watch yourself around Mr Northman' Bill said unexpectedly.

'I should?' I asked,

'he has a poor reputation for flirting with everyone, don't let him lead you on' he replied, with no emotion in his voice.

'thanks for the advice' I said, glad I was almost finished.

'could I take you out for a drink?' Bill asked, after a few moments of silence.

'um, I'm fine thanks. That computer should be fine now, see you tomorrow' I said, rushing out of the lab.

I got a little lost, I wasn't paying attention for the first couple of corners I dashed around. Strangely I seemed to have found my way to the office. I reached for the handle, just as it opened. Eric appeared in front of me.

'ah, I was just coming to find you. Are you read to go?' he asked,

We quickly went back to the lab, I told Sam I'd see him in the morning, and then made our way to the car.

Eric drove into the city, and parked near a long string of shops.

'I only got lost because I was escaping Bill's advances' I joked, after yet another joke about whether I'd get lost if he left me for a moment.

'advances? He asked you out?' Eric seemed surprised and slightly angry.

'yeah, but he's seeing Judith, and he's odd' I said,

'still, not his normal professional self' Eric replied, as we walked towards a bar.

We found somewhere to sit, Eric got us some beers, and we ordered food.

'how was Pam with you this afternoon?' Eric asked after the waitress left.

'odd, but better. Very interesting, but still odd' I said, the beer going straight to my head.

'sounds like she's back to normal' Eric laughed.

We sat and joked, after finishing our food and a couple more beers, Eric suggested we dance.

'you look like an angel when you dance' Eric said as his arm went around my waist.

I didn't have any idea how to reply to that so I just smiled and nodded.

We danced a little longer, and when the music changed to a more upbeat song than before, we got a little separated. When I next spotted Eric, he was being followed to the bar by a tall brunette woman.

I was curious, so staying out of eyeline, I watched him.

Eric walked straight up to the bartender and spoke, presumably ordering a drink. The brunette positioned herself next to Eric, leaning over the bar a little and flirting like crazy. Suddenly Eric turned to her, and after saying something quietly, looked at her like she'd just insulted his mother. The brunette put her best 'fuck you' face on, said something and then stormed off. It was hilarious to watch.

I made my way around the bar, back to our seat. I was really starting to feel the beer now. Eric joined me soon after, with another beer.

'you having fun? Or you wanna go home?' he asked, sitting closer than he had been before.

'I'm a bit drunk, but we can stay if you like' I said, enjoying the culture.

'let's finish these and go for a little walk, we'll have to hail a cab anyway' Eric said, indicating the beers.

As we drank our final bottle each, Eric and I ended up sitting shoulder to shoulder looking out at the clubbers.

'I used to like watching crowds like this' I told him, feeling very drunk.

'why? They are just a bunch of drunkards' he said. I looked a him and he laughed.

'if you pick out the most drunk man or woman, its guaranteed that within 10 minutes, they'll do something hilarious.' I explained. 'look at that one, in the green dress' I said, pointing to the brunette who had tried to chat him up earlier.

'that's a dress?' he laughed, 'she's not the drunkest, look at the one in the sparkly top' he pointed out another good candidate.

'hmm not bad, now how drunk do you think they are? Will they fall over, or walk into something, or maybe start a fight?' I said,

'I dunno, maybe fall over' he offered.

We sat back and watched for a little while, we were now pretty much leaning on each other. Eric finished his beer and moved to stand up.

'back in a minute' he said and disappeared.

Within second of him leaving, the brunette in green was staggering towards me. She paused a moment half way, almost like she'd forgotten what she was doing. She finally made in to the booth and leaned on it to talk.

'what you watchin' me for bitch?' she slurred,

'I wasn't watching you, I was watching someone else' I told her, 'and mind who you call bitch'

'I calls it like I sees it, and you are a snooty ass bitch' she said, waving her hand around.

'not snooty, just coherent' I giggled, unable to hold it in any longer.

'what you call me?' she yelled and reached to slap me, she missed which only made me laugh harder.

'I didn't call you anything, but I could think of a few things' I said, moving towards her and standing up.

Sadly at that point, Eric came back.

'hey honey, come to find me have you' said the drunk,

'not if you were the only woman on earth, but if you trouble my friend again….' he managed before I interrupted.

'I'll kick your scrawny drunken ass back to your grotty little trailer park' I told her firmly, 'shall we go?' I asked Eric, reaching for my bag.

'good idea' he said, grabbing his coat.

'aww sugar, you not staying' the drunk continued, she obviously drank enough to have memory issues.

'You area waste of a Y chromosome' Eric said sharply, finally stunning her to silence.

On our way out of the door, we spotted her arriving back at her friends table, and starting a fight with sparkly top woman.

'I guess we both win that round, but I won first' I told him, pointing to the bouncers trying to separate the women delicately.

'did you start a fight to win the bet?' Eric asked,

'no, of course not. But I would have won' I smiled up at him.

'no doubt' he said.

We strolled down the street, talking and joking like we had been friends for years. It was only when Eric moved to hail a cab, did I notice we were holding hands.