All Hell Breaks Loose

Chapter 17:Balls to the Wall

New Orleans

Eric had is eyes glued to the television screen as the three of them watched the interview with Newlin and Barbara Walters. Pam had told him that the Authority and AVL were trying to push him to reveal what he had become to the world.

"Damn," Amelia commented as Barbara embraced the child. "I don't think anyone expected to see him like that."

"We didn't," Bill admitted. "Never thought he would go on the air like that."

"I can see why," Eric said as he rubbed his chin. "Nan was centuries old. She had been a vampire for a while and could speak about us with pride and confidence. She seemed to be the prefect face for the friendly vampire image. Steve is new, a former hater who has to change some of his thoughts and ideas of our kind. He had friends and neighbors, a congregation. He has a great speaking skill on television."

"People can relate to him," Bill said finally catching on. "Nan tried to convince the humans that we are like them up until recently Steve was like them."

"They aren't going to use him as a puppet are they?" Amelia asked and shook her head. "Poor guy has been through a lot."

"He has," Eric agreed. He remembered when Newlin had mentioned that vampires had killed his family when the former reverend and his followers imprisoned him. It was hard for him to feel sympathy for Newlin when he was silvered by the Fellowship of the Sun but when Newlin brought up his baby sister Eric flinched and remembered seeing little Marta dead on the ground next to their mother. She was only a few months old. Eric could understand why Newlin was fueled by revenge.

"We don't normally get callers," Barbara said. "But it seems someone believes they can help Steve and those like him. Anthony you are on the air."

"Yes Barbara this is Anthony Johannes of the Deserve a Choice," the voice came through. "Steve, like you I was turned against my will fifty years ago. I was forced to leave my wife and my family. Our organization is a support group for vampires like you and me."

"I'm sorry you were also turned," Steve said with a sincere and sympathetic expression on his face.

"We have a website .org."

Out of the corner of his eye Eric could see Bill writing the name down on a piece of paper. He could understand why the younger vampire would want to explore that website and organization but he hoped that Bill would not do something stupid and sign up with his real name. While there are many vampires who hated the fact they were turned would reject the Authority there are also many who accept them as their leaders.

"You are not going on that website are you?" Eric finally asked as the interview came to an end.

"I want to look it up," Bill said.

"Do not register with your name. Do not register period."

"Can't he make up an alias?" Amelia asked. "Like a sock puppet?" She blinked when both vampires looked at her. "Have you guys been living in a cave? Whoops bad analogy even though you guys don't turn into bats. A sock puppet means a fake account some people use to get around online community bans, or to troll, or to post in communities were they don't want to be associated with their main account."

"Even then it is dangerous," Eric said and gave Bill and warning glance.

"I will not register," Bill promised. "But I will look."

"You'll be in lurk mode," Amelia said. "That means he would read and not-"

"Not write anything or post," Eric interrupted. "We not complete idiots when it comes to the Net. I don't think Bill should even go to lurk."

"I will read and tell Jessica about it," Bill said.

"I have a feeling she is going to be watching."

"I want her to look around and see if anyone knows Ismene."

"Ismene always asked," Eric said. "But they might be turned by some of her Progeny."

"Exactly." He folded his arms. "I would not lecture about compromising our safety if I were you. I was not the one who flew to Bon Temps."

"You knew?"

"You risked yourself just so you can see Sookie. What were you hoping for, Eric? Did you expect her to change her mind about you already?"

"I was informing her about Ismene," Eric answered. He tried not to look defeated only challenged at the accusation.

"You could have spoken to Pam and asked her to ask Sookie for us, but no. You went to where she was staying." He smirked. "Did you go to her window? Did you have a flower in your hand or mouth and quoted poetry?"

Eric slammed Bill into the nearest wall. "Do not use such words when they are extremely false. You know nothing."

"I know you can't stop thinking of her," Bill said.

"I am not like you."

"You have been poking at her trying to get her to date you."

"And you didn't?"

"I was a proper gentlemen," Bill said in a smug tone.

"A proper deceiving gentleman," Eric reminded him.

"Uh Angel, Spike could you ease up?" Amelia asked. "And not take it out on my walls."

Eric pursed his lips about the comparison and stared at Bill who seemed unsure if he was insulted or not. After a few seconds he relaxed his old on the younger vampire.

"Thank you," Amelia said and rolled her eyes. "This might sound rude and I don't care but could you two leave for the rest of the evening? I have to be at Jackson Square at eight tomorrow for a tour and I have to hit the hay."

"We are overstepping our bounds," Eric said as he grabbed Bill by the arm. "Good night ,Amelia." He dragged the other vampire out of the apartment.

Bon Temps

Sookie's shift ended at eleven thirty and as soon as she entered Jason's home she went straight to the shower, ignoring the fact that Jessica was on the computer she had brought over from Bill's house. Sookie would be polite and make conversation with the vampire after she cleaned off the odors of greasy food and beer from her body.

Once she had showered and changed into a nightgown and put her hair up in a towel Sookie came into the living room. Jessica was still in front of the computer and Jason was standing next to her.

"That deserved a choice website?" Sookie asked. She figured Jessica would have watched the Walters and Newlin interview as well.

"I'm registered," Jessica said. "Made some posts on the message board." She frowned and shook her head. "A lot of these vampires are annoying though. They just are so angsty and self loathing it's disgusting."

"Not all of them came from homes like yours," Sookie pointed out. "A lot of them were happy and in love and had a lot of friends."

"But they don't have to take crap from anyone anymore," Jessica said as the phone rang.

"Got it," Jason said and walked off to answer it.

Sookie waited for Jason to answer the phone before she added. "Maybe some of them didn't mind after they got used to it but they had to adjust even with their Makers helping them. They were still separated from those they cared about."

"Some of them can be reunited now that we are mainstreaming. Bill even got to meet his descendants."

"Mainstreaming does help bring them together." Sookie thought about the two sisters from the Festival of Tolerance.

"Ah good," Jessica said and it was apparent that it wasn't from her discussion with Sookie. She was reading the forum. "Here is a section for those who didn't want to be turned but like their new lives."

"I'm glad you found one that makes you happy." She gave the girl a comforting pat on the shoulder.

"I wonder if Bill is thinking about this," Jessica said as she went to the introduction section and clicked on a new post. "Do you miss him?"

"Yeah," Sookie answered. She was honest. She missed both Bill and Eric and she wasn't sure who she missed more. She almost wish she could take back the way she dismissed Eric the night before. She did not want him gone. She wanted them both near bye, but new it wasn't safe with the Authority looking for them and if Russell's wolves were trying to capture Sookie then it wouldn't be safe for them in Bon Temps.

"I want to do more for them, but I don't know who to ask our where to ask about this Ismene." Her eyes widened. "Shit what am I saying? I'm right here at a vampire message board."

"That's right," Sookie said perking up a bit. "Just ask on that board if anyone has come across Ismene and might know where she is."

"Hold on I gotta find the right area. I don't want to make a noob mistake."

Sookie sighed with relief and glanced over to the direction of her brother. Jason was still on the phone with his caller.

"Sure if that is what you really want," Jason said. "We can all play video games or something. I'll pick up some packs for you before you arrive. Well you take care and I'm glad most of the calls you got have been positive."

"Who was that?" Sookie asked.

"Steve Newlin," Jason answered. "After what went down tonight he needs some time to relax and asked if he could come here."

"And you are inviting him over?" She tried reading Jason's mind but it was full of preparation plans for Steve and some positions he wanted to try with Jessica when she was done with the computer.

Jason shrugged. "He just needs some place to relax. Fangtasia will be crawling with fangbangers who want to corrupt a man of the cloth."

"I don't wanna know where you heard that phrase or why you thought of that. I still remember you kicking him and throwing your ring at him."

"Well that was before he got turned and went through all that hell," Jason said. "I can understand if you are not comfortable with him being here."

"I'm not uncomfortable."

"Jessica is it okay if Steve comes for a visit?"

"Your house," Jessica said and smiled. "It might be nice to spend more time with him."

Sookie shrugged. It was her brother's place. She had no say in the matter. She will be polite around him like they were in Fangtasia.

A.N: I wanted someone to make the comparison between Eric and Bill to Spike and Angel for a while and figure Amelia would be the one to do it.

After what Jason went through when he was prisoner of the Werepanthers I feel he could relate to Steve in a way.

Reply: Anonymous thanks. Pam and Sookie won't be exactly friends. They will respect each other but not on the same level as in the books.