Another chapter for you because the reviews have been coming in so amazing. I try to get back to everyone, but there have been so many it's hard for me to keep up. It doesn't mean I don't read them. I read each and every one of them and love each and every one of them. So keep it up!

Chapter 12: In My Head –Until June

Sookie

Sookie woke up stiff and sore. She felt a cool wash cloth dabbing at her forehead and she slowly opened her eyes to Amelia and Lafayette hovering over her in concern. Amelia immediately pushed a glass of water to her mouth.

"Drink. Your body is now short of blood and is in need of iron and water to replenish its supply," she ordered.

Sookie's head pounded as she drank the water down quickly.

She sat up slowly and felt inside of her for some change. There was something different…she felt like she was better and worse all at the same time. She felt like she had been healed and wounded. While it was odd, she also felt relieved. She was herself again.

Sookie looked to Amelia. "It worked? You're sure?"

Amelia nodded. "Oh no mistake. If it didn't you wouldn't have experienced any pain or passed out. You had quite a bit inside of you. The spell lasted almost an hour and you have been asleep for almost an hour."

Sookie nodded, believing it. It felt like it had taken the entire day. Sookie looked to the clock and saw that it was close to four. She looked to Lafayette, "Can you drive me to work? I just don't want to drive myself after that."

He nodded, but asked, "Sook, I think I'mma call Sam and tell him you's won' be able to make it tonight."

Sookie pursed her lip, "I am fine. Just need water and steak. You heard Amelia yourself. I'll be fine. Better than fine actually."

Lafayette gave her a skeptical look, but nodded when he saw her determined face. There was no arguing with Sookie when she had that face.

"Alrigh', but you's need to eat some meat and rest some before I take you. Hear me?" he scolded her. She chuckled. "Yes, ma'am," she teased jokingly, to which he burst out laughing.

He helped her up and moved her over to the couch. He grabbed the afghan her Gran had made off the back of the couch and covered her up. He raised his eyebrow. "You rest while I fix you somethin'. I'll bring you some water too."

"Thanks Lafayette. And thank you Amelia. You are welcome to stay and have some of whatever Lafayette is makin'," she offered.

"Thanks hon, but if you say there will be vampires knocking on your door come sunset, I'd rather not be here."

Sookie nodded in understanding and said she was very appreciative. Her eyes were already drooping closed as Amelia walked out her front door. Sookie dozed for the next hour when Lafayette woke her up and said, "I hate to wake you, baby, but you's need to eat this slab o' beef I slaved over."

She stretched and inhaled the delicious flank steak he had prepared for her.

She grabbed the dish and ate it up, groaning in appreciation. Lafayette said, "I laid out yo' uniform. Now go throw it on so I can drive you, Miss Daisy," he joked. "You are terrible!" she laughed and ran up the stairs.

She stripped in record time, throwing the clothes she had been wearing into her hamper. She had sweated so much during that, she would definitely need to wash it. She threw on her uniform, grabbed her sneakers and ran down the stairs.

Lafayette was waiting on the porch with his keys ready and they drove to Merlotte's as the last rays of sun left the sky.

Eric

Eric had been awake well before the sun set. He sat next to Pam's coffin, waiting for her to rise and for the sun to set. When he first rose, the hole where his bond with Sookie had been acted like a black hole, sucking in anything of substance to fill it. But there was nothing would suffice, except Sookie.

Eric focused on what needed to be done. His first priority was to deal with Pam once and for all. When he felt her rise, pushing her coffin lid open, he waited until she was out of her pink coffin he had given her for the 100th anniversary of her being turned vampire to begin.

She looked to him and raised her eyebrow, questioning his behavior. She said, "You're okay?"

He nodded in response and said, "I have had enough Pam. Sit," he ordered softly. Pam warily walked to her coffin and hopped on top of it. She thrummed her nails against the lid, waiting to hear whatever he had to say.

"Pam, I have threatened you and punished you, but it is not sinking into that beautiful head of yours."

She looked to him in confusion. "What?"

"Pam, I love Sookie. I have tried to feed and fuck my way out of it. I have tried to forget my time with her. Tried to forget my love for her. But nothing will change it. Nothing. It causes me physical…and as embarrassing as it is to admit it, emotional pain every time anyone or anything hurts her. Especially you."

Pam looked like she was about to argue, but he held his hand up to her "I'm not done and you will remain silent until I am."

She snapped her mouth closed and waited for him to continue. "You will cease your pursuit of Sookie now. If you harm her, or hurt her in anyway, I will permanently ban you from my sight. I am completely serious Pam. I love you and care for you, but it offends for you to hurt me over and over this way. So accept Sookie as a part of your everyday reality now, or leave and never come back."

Pam looked shocked at his approach. Usually he ordered and laughed when she outright disobeyed him. Now he was coming to her, being honest and serious with her. Eric knew this was something that would probably freak her out.

Sure enough, she gave a small whimper, "Eric? Are you fucking kidding me right now? You would have her over me?"

He looked her in the eyes. "It is hard to admit, but yes, I would."

"You are a fucking idiot. She is not even accepting you now. She has rejected you and humiliated you repeatedly!"

"Pam, you are on thin ice. Now, I will give you some time to think things over, then you can decide and either tell me you accept her or you will tell me when you are leaving," he said. As he stood and walked to the stairs he paused and said, "I hope you choose to accept her, because I would miss you greatly, my child."

Pam's eyes welled with red tears at his words and it took everything in him to not turn back to her and comfort her. But he held strong and walked up the stairs, making plans for his next move.

Sookie

Sookie just barely made it into work on time and she rushed to the back to switch out with Holly, who quickly gave her the run down on the tables and left. Sookie ran around Merlotte's making sure all the patrons were content before looking to items that she could do as she waited the tables.

She grabbed the salt shakers and the ketchup and mustard bottles for refilling in between table runs. Sookie was able to keep busy, and despite her earlier fatigue and soreness, she was feeling good. Sookie was refilling the napkin holders when she heard the crowd quiet and the thoughts begin to bang against her shields. Everyone was wondering what he was doing here.

Sookie looked to the main area of the bar and immediately found what had caused the ruckus. Bill was standing, inhaling in deeply, and looking around the bar. She assumed for her. She made her way out to the kitchen and grabbed some of her orders and went to the main area of the bar.

Sam was standing behind the bar and looked between Bill and Sookie warily. Sookie just delivered the food, politely asking if they needed anything else. She took her drink orders for a different table to the bar and placed it with Sam. Bill stalked up behind her and asked, "Sookie, might I have a moment of your time?"

Sookie turned and said, "Bill I am actually really busy and I already know why you are here. So let me cut to the chase. I have nothin' to say about this to you. So please don't bring it up to me again. I hope to remain friends."

Sookie looked at her former lover as she spoke looking for what had drawn her to him. He was handsome in a dark and mysterious way, but she knew now that what had attracted her to Bill was his silence, which she had never experienced before then. She was confident in saying that she had never truly loved Bill. Her blood infused with his blood loved him.

Sookie smiled in relief as she finished her spiel and Bill looked at her in confusion. "Sookie, please-," but was cut off as she waved him to be quiet. "I have said my piece, Bill. I hope you will understand why I did what I did. If you can't, well I understand if you wouldn't want to remain friends. But like I said, I am done talkin' about this. I think you better order somethin' or get out of here. I am piled up with orders and need to focus on my job now."

With that she took the tray of now filled drinks from Sam and moved between her tables, placing the drink down for the locals of Bon Temps.

The bar was still silent, trying to figure out what just happened and everybody was wondering if Bill would lose his cool. But after a few moments, he motioned for his guards to follow him out of Merlotte's. Sookie turned to the kitchen where Terry was smiling at her as she approached him.

"You are lookin' better Miss Sookie."

"I am feelin' better, Terry. Thanks," she said grabbing a dish of his chili, sliding it on her tray. She turned and Sam was smiling at her from the bar and she could see that he was proud of her. She smiled back and delivered the chili to the table and she finished up her stocking and wiping down tables.

When she heard the door tingle, she closed her eyes, expecting her other night time caller, but was surprised when it was Lafayette. She turned and walked to him, looking at the clock over her shoulder. It was time to go home.

Sookie told Lafayette she was going to give Arlene the gist of her tables and then she would be ready to go home. She knew Arlene would hear all about her Bill interaction from the other waitresses and customers and knew she would be buzzing soon enough.

Sookie grabbed her purse from Sam's office and walked out the bar where Lafayette was talking to Sam. She smiled at Sam.

"Have a good night, Sam. I'll see you tomorrow."

Lafayette finished the shot he had ordered and handed the keys over to Sookie as he followed her out of the bar. "I's real proud of you hookuh. Gran and Tara are too," he said as he buckled himself in his corvette's passenger seat.

Sookie revved the engine, and closed her eyes as the car purred to life and vibrated in satisfaction at her. She smiled and pulled the car in reverse, "Wanna go for a drive, Laf?" she asked.

He smiled and nodded and they took off, cruising the back roads of Louisiana, taking in the night sounds and smells of the swamps.

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