All Hell Breaks Loose

Chapter 7: The Hardest Thing

Sookie's mind was going a mile a minute as she and Jason drove to Shreveport following her end of the shift. She didn't have to worry about Tara who got bored with Merlotte's after a couple hours. Hoyt offered to drive her home or rather Tara drove Hoyt back to his place since he was stone cold drunk, but still sober enough to loan her the keys.

"I can't believe you talked me into this," Jason said as they entered the city. "And I can't believe you went with that fairy guy."

"I didn't have much of a choice," Sookie said as stared at the familiar sights. "Tara was practically dead." She told him everything about Debbie shooting Tara, Sookie shooting Debbie, how both Bill and Eric offered to help but couldn't and Claude coming to the rescue.

"Well at least she's alive and still human. She would have been pissed about being a vampire."

Sookie nodded. Tara hated vampires ever since Franklin Mott kidnapped her and planned on turning her into her vampire bride. Her hatred grew to wanting to help the witches kill them all. She was almost on the level of Fellowship of the Sun members.

"She might have adapted," Sookie said. "Steve Newlin has adapted, right?"

"I got the vibe he still hates being one and he hates the group that turned him but he's not that hateful anymore. We got to do some real talking last night and seemed grateful that Eric was taking him in."

"Still can't forgive him," Sookie said. She frowned when she saw a familiar group of people protesting outside of Fangtasia. "Do these people not have lives?"

"I think they are getting smaller," Jason said as he parked the car.

"Bangers are sellouts," one of the protestors shouted at them as they made their way up to the small line waiting outside the front doors.

"Reverend Newlin was right," several shouted at the same time. "Kill all vampires on site."

"All words and no fight," Jason remarked and pointed at the small crowd with his thumb. Not that the crowd could do anything, not with a few patrol cars and cops sitting in front. The cops didn't seem too bored and they had thermoses of coffee and were those donuts? No those were beignets and popcorn it seemed.

Sookie turned her focus to the head of the line and had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing. The guy at the doors looked like a Hot Topic threw up on him. He was dressed in black leather pants and heavy black boots. He had on a black t-shirt with the sleeves ripped out and spiked wrist cuffs. His hair was tousled and gelled to keep it that way. He wore dark makeup circles around his eyes and black lipstick.

"There aint no way that is a vampire," Sookie said and pointed at the bouncer. No vampire she had come across would dress in that get up.

The bouncer's eyes widened in recognition but he kept his cool. "I'm going to need to see your driver's licenses." That voice, that soft and almost calming voice with a Texas drawl will forever be etched in Sookie's mind.

"Rev-"Jason had started but Sookie placed her hand on her brother's mouth.

"Just call me Steve," the reverend answered as he held out his hand.

"Sure," Jason said as he and Sookie handed over their drivers licenses. "Can I ask why you've gone all Pat Boone?"

"Eric wants me to earn my keep," Steve said as he read them and handed them back. "I told him I'm not comfortable letting everyone know about by undead status so he helped me make this disguise."

"Steve," Another bouncer stepped out. This one looked human and was about six foot four and shaped like a brick. "Got some wannabes that need you to talk to them."

"Sure," Steve said. "Come on inside."

"Where is Bill and Eric?" Sookie asked as they entered the establishment.

"Eric is speaking with Pam about the whole situation with Edgington and I'm not sure where Bill is." He pointed at an empty table. "Please take a seat."

Sookie waited until he was gone. "That wasn't what I was expecting"

Jason tilted his head. "Even he didn't deserve that, being turned against your will then cut and shot at and who knows what else they done to him."

Sookie was about to say something when she remembered what her brother went through at Hotshot and how he thought he was going to be a Werepanther.

"Hi and welcome to Fangtasia," their waitress greeted them. She had wavy shoulder length strawberry blond hair and had the new employee sticker over her name tag of Hailey. "What can I get for you?"

"Seeing as I have to drive I better just take a Coke," Jason said as he was scanning around the crowd.

"I'll have a hard lemonade," Sookie said and wondered what Jason was looking for.

"I'll be right-"

"Jessica," Jason shouted and nearly turned over his chair from getting up so fast.

"Forgive me brother," Sookie said and turned to where Jason was running off. Instead of Eric seated on his usual throne and having several admirers fawning over him it was Jessica in a low cut gown and ball room style gloves.

"It's okay," Hailey said. She had a dimple in her left cheek when she smiled. "She is pretty popular." She walked away thinking envious thoughts about Jessica.

Sookie watched as Jason and Jessica kissed and begun a discussion while the admirers were staring at them in pure jealousy.

"I see he found her," Steve said in a voice that had a tone of disappointment. Was Jason right about him?

"What was that about?" Sookie asked and pointed at the young couple he was talking with.

"Get some people who want to be vampires," Steve explained. "They think it would be romantic with velvet sheets and poetry and some humans are night birds. I've been told that some of the other vamps usual talk them out of it and now it's my turn."

"Why convince them?"

"Since there is no going back," he started after a small sigh. "They have to understand it would be forever and Pam says they would be annoying."

Sookie nodded. "You seem to have convinced them."

"I used to speak with youths about similar subjects, wanting to join this and that, getting a tattoo wanting to be fed on by vampires. I have plenty of experience."

"Can I speak with Bill or Eric?"

"I'll see if they want to speak with you, but come on."

"Wait," Hailey called after them. "Already gave your brother his drink." She handed Sookie her lemonade. "Oh and Steve there are people getting ready to have sex in the men's room. I knocked on the door and told them to cut it out or move it to one of the designated locations, but they won't listen."

"I'll take care of it that," Steve said and bolted straight for the men's room in a blur. A few seconds later two guys, one with their pants down and pulling up his underwear came running out. "Get out. If I catch you even taking one step back in here I'll feast on your spleen."

"Wow," Sookie said as she followed him.

"All empty threats I can assure you," Steve said as his fangs retracted. "This way."

Sookie did not see Bill or Eric, or even Pam. She caught the eye of Chow at the bar and he just acknowledged her with a nod but she did not see a familiar face not even outside of Eric's office.

"I'll see if he wants to talk," Steve said and knocked on the door. "Eric, you have a guest."

The door open and Bill stepped out. He had a phone to his ear. "Diantha please, Diantha slow down. I need to speak with your uncle." His eyebrows raised when he saw Sookie.

"Bill," Sookie greeted him.

"When I'm done here," Bill said.

"Where is Eric?" Sookie and Steve asked at the same time.

"In the basement with Pam," Bill said and held up a finger. "Mr. Cataliades thank you for taking my call. Do you know when they will be coming? The next night? Mr. Northman and I shall prepare." He hung up.

"Bill what is going on?" Sookie asked.

"How is Tara?" Bill asked.

"Alive," Sookie answered. She wasn't expecting Bill to ask about Tara. "And healed and whole again. Who was that on the phone?"

"My lawyer, or rather the throne of Louisiana's lawyer," Bill answered. "He was loyal to Sophie Anne and is loyal to me until I'm replaced. He gave me vital news about the Authority."

"The Authority?" Sookie asked. "What about Russell?"

"We need to plan, from where we will be hiding," Bill said. "The Authority wants to deliver the True Death to me and Eric. We will have to leave tonight."

"Tonight but-"

"They will be here the next night," Bill answered. "They have been slowed down when they were given the news of Nan's death and received an anonymous tip about Russell."

"From who?"

"Alcide called them while we slept," Eric said as he and Pam approached them with Steve following behind. "Spoke with one of their human employees."

"But they know what kind of threat he is," Sookie said. "Shouldn't all of you work together or something?"

"That is not how the Authority works," Eric said as he reached to cradle Sookie's chin and paused at the last second. "Bill and I are leaving now. I had to make final arrangements with Pam."

"Sookie tell Jessica I ordered her to go home with you," Bill said and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Stop by my place and have her pack her things. She will staying with Jason for now."

"I think I should run this by my brother first," Sookie said and then looked at the pleading glance in Bills eyes. "Fine, what about Steve?"

"I will look after him," Pam answered. "I will teach him and treat him better than his Maker had." Pam never appeared to be the foster mom type before, of course Eric requested this of her.

"I'm an adult," Steve protested.

"You are a vampire child," Eric told him. "There is still plenty for you to learn."

"How will we find you?" Sookie asked.

"We will contact you," Bill promised. "Now please go find Jessica and your brother and go back to Bon Temps."

"One more thing," Eric said and snatched the thick stack of papers Pam was carrying. "I need you to sign on the all the lines where I marked X."

"Why?"

"I'm giving you back your house."

Sookie accepted the pen and papers and wrote her name down on all the lines that Eric had put an X on, and of course he would have used a bright red shade of ink for that. At least the pen she was using was black.

"I'll take those," Eric said softly while staring deep into Sookie's eyes.

"Here." She handed them over and even when he had the papers back in his possession he was still staring at her.

Without a single word Eric grasped Sookie's chin and leaned down to deliver a kiss to her lips. She felt cold sparks of pleasure course through her body from the kiss but she still pushed him away.

"Just something to remember you by, Now please go back home."

Sookie sighed. Her damn pride was rising but there were others lives at stake or unlife in Jessica's case. She wanted to hug both of them but instead she spun around and left.

A/N: Once again thanks for all the faves, alerts, and reviews and thank you for reading.

Jason's comment about Pat Boone was referencing the Christian musician back in 1997 when he published an album of heavy metal covers and donned leather.