A/N:

This is the last of the shorter ones, I swear. Last time I was thinking this one was really long, but it was actually only a couple pages longer. It's the next chapter that's long. I know some of you don't really mind length at all, but others do, so I hope you all enjoy it anyway :)

Thanks to FDM for betaing, even after me bugging her to. Felt like a pest, I did.

Chapter 7 - Awake

When Sookie's eyes opened again, it took her a moment to remember what had happened, and then she realized that she was in a hospital bed. There was a noticeable throb in her head as she tried to sit up, so she lay back down and looked for the call button for the nurse.

"Sook?" A voice asked from the other side of the room.

"Sam?"

"Let me help you," he said, and came to her bedside to push a button that elevated the top half of the bed. "Nice to see you awake."

"How long have I been out?"

"It's been about six hours. It's just after nine."

"Is Tracey okay?" she asked.

Sam nodded. "I talked to her parents, and they said that the doctors told them it didn't look like she'd been molested. He'd kept her fed, but didn't bathe her. He just gave her a change of clothes when the others got too smelly. Bud told me some things he probably shouldn't have, but it seems that Derek, real name Rene, has done this at least three times before. He takes a kid and keeps them for about a month before he starts doing the things you saw in his head. That's probably why he was getting twitchy, it was about time to start in on her."

"The others?"

"All found more than two months after their abduction, strangled."

Sookie couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears. Sam sat on the bed and took her into his arms, but she was too upset to hold her shields and all his thoughts were flooding into her brain as soon as he physically touched her.

Could have died. Don't know what I'd do if I didn't have you. What if he'd had a gun? Stupid. Stupid. So warm. Beautiful.

"No," she said, and pushed him away.

"What is it?"

"I can't … I need you to leave. I can hear everything," she cried.

"Okay, I'm going. Want me to send a nurse in?"

Sookie nodded, and Sam left the room, taking his intrusive thoughts with him. The nurse came in a moment later, and thankfully her only thoughts were about checking Sookie out medically. She explained that Sookie had a concussion and they needed her to stay awake now that she was up. She then asked if Sookie was up to talking to the police. Sookie wasn't really up for it, but said she would, and asked for Bud.

Bud came into the room a moment later and shut the door, before pulling a chair up to Sookie's bedside.

"Before I say anything, I just have a question for you," he began.

"Okay," Sookie said.

"Did you know where the girl was through any means we can use?"

Sookie shook her head. While she was never more thankful to have her ability, she also knew she couldn't just help people with it openly for this reason. This was the reason she asked for Bud. He had been friends with her grandmother, and he knew what she could do, even if he was a bit skeptical.

"Derek… sorry, Rene, confessed to everything, but we still need to figure out how to explain you knowing he had her. The best I can figure is that you saw him throwing children's clothes into the dumpster behind Merlotte's, and later realized they fit the description of what Tracey was wearing when she went missing. He said that's how he disposed of her clothes, so it will fit. Can you tell another officer that for me?"

"Yes," she said, nodding her head.

"Good deal," Bud said, patting her leg as he stood up. "You get some rest for now, and Kenya will be by in the morning to get your statement."

"Thanks, Bud."

"I should be thanking you, Sookie. You saved that little girl's life, and you should be proud."

With that, he left the room, and Sookie hit the button for the nurse again. The same one from earlier came in, and Sookie asked if she'd help her to the bathroom. By the time she got to the toilet, she wasn't as dizzy and told the nurse she thought she could make it back on her own. When she looked at herself in the mirror she cringed. Her hair was a mess, and there was some dried blood on her neck from where she'd been hit. She saw that she still had her extra hair tie on her wrist, so she wet her hands and tamed her hair into a somewhat messy ponytail, before heading back to the bed.

Sam came back in to make sure she was alright, and after she assured him that she was, he went home. Tracey's parents came in after that and there was a big sob-fest when they thanked her for saving their little girl. Sookie gave them her phone number and told them to call if they ever needed her, since she was sure Tracey might want to talk to her when she got a bit older.

Sookie was left alone after that, and watched TV until about midnight, when she heard a deep voice in the hallway say her name.

"Visiting hours are over, sir," she heard a nurse say as her door opened revealing a very tall, blonde man holding a flower arrangement.

"It's okay," Sookie said when she saw who it was. "He doesn't keep regular hours. We won't disturb anyone."

The nurse looked back and forth between them for a moment, and then sighed as she closed the door and left them alone.

"What are you doing here?" Sookie asked. He was looking her over as though he was checking for injuries, and when he looked into her eyes she could see that he was concerned.

"When you didn't show up for the interview Pam tried to call. A man named Sam finally answered your phone and explained what happened. I brought you flowers. Pam said they're customary to give to someone you care about when they're in the hospital."

Eric came closer and set the vase he was holding on her bedside table. Sookie looked at the flowers and blushed a deep shade of red. It was a type of orchid that looked like a woman's lady parts.

"I was hoping you would have that reaction," Eric said, grinning from ear to ear.

Wanting to deflect from her embarrassment, Sookie focused on what Eric had said to her.

"You care about me?"

Eric looked away, and Sookie finally took in his appearance. He looked shockingly different in jeans and a gray t-shirt, with his hair pulled back in a knot at the base of his neck. He sat in the chair that Bud had pulled up to her bed and picked up her hand. Sookie immediately relaxed at the silence she heard when he touched her.

"It surprised me too, but yes, I do care. I didn't like the way I felt when I didn't know where you were, and when I found out what happened, I became worried about you. I wanted to see for myself that you were okay."

"Is it only because I'm the first woman you've actually gotten to know a little and not slept with?"

"Do you only like me because you can't read my mind?"

"Fair enough."

"I like you, Sookie. You're beautiful, that's how I noticed you. You're sweet, and kind, and even though you pursued me to use me, I know it's not the same as when other women want to use me. You're smart, and witty, and I can actually have a conversation with you. I like your innocence, it's endearing and refreshing, and I want to take it, but I also want you to give it to me because you want me to have it. Only me. I want to kiss you every time I see you. I want you to want me the same way."

"Well … that was honest," Sookie said, feeling her mouth go dry.

"Would you rather I lie about my feelings?"

"No, I just wasn't expecting it."

He stood from the chair and sat on the edge of the bed next to her, still holding her hand.

"I also like you because you're brave. You saved a life today. It's a sort of selflessness you don't find in many people."

"What about my telepathy?"

"I think it makes you different, and unique. I like that about you too."

Sookie stared up at him, letting everything he'd just confessed sink in. Eric Northman – The Vampire – liked her. She knew she liked him too, but she wasn't sure what they could, or would, be able to do about it.

"I don't know what to say," she said.

"Just be honest."

"I'm very attracted to you, but I don't think a single person on this planet wouldn't be. I want to get to know you better, and I've spent a lot of time trying to figure out if that's because I really like you, or only because I can't read your mind."

"Have you come to a conclusion yet?"

"No."

"Then on Saturday night, I'd like to take you on a date. We'll have dinner, maybe see a movie, or go for a walk in the park. Two abnormal people having a very normal date. When it's over you can decide if you want more."

"What about Fangtasia? Don't you need to be on display?"

"It can survive without me for one night. Besides, it keeps up the mystery," he said with a smirk.

"Then ... okay," she said, and his smirk grew into a big grin.