All Hell Breaks Loose

Chapter 51: Talking In Your Sleep

Sookie had spent the evening at Merlotte's and she wasn't alone. Tara was minding the bar and Hoyt was already there enjoying a grilled chicken sandwich with a side of chili and a beer. After visiting with Arlene she went to Michaels and looked around the crochet area. She found a some guide books and looked at the prices of the yarn and hooks. One of the sales staff was very helpful and Sookie told them they would end up coming back.

"Hey Sook," Tara greeted when she came in.

"Hey," Sookie said and sat down.

"You feeling okay?"

"I just had a bombshell delivered to me," Sookie answered. "I'm going to need a drink before I return home."

"You are in luck," Tara said as she draped her hand towel over her shoulder. "Because I happen to be your bartender tonight."

Sookie could not muster enough energy to laugh. She did smile at her friend's joke and give her a friendly nod.

"So what will be your poison?"

"I think I'll try one of those cosmos that Cassidy seems to enjoy."

"I wonder if she's a fan of those Sex in the City gals," Tara said as she pulled out various bottles including one of cranberry juice.

"It does seem that it might be festive." She in haled deeply and placed her head in her hands.

"You want to unload on me. I am your bartender and your friend. Trust me I can listen to whatever shit has got you down and I don't care if it is deep shit, holy shit or bullshit."

"It was Jason," Sookie answered.

"What did he do to you?" Hoyt asked. His mouth had been full up until now.

"Nothing to me personally."

"What did he do his vamp of a girlfriend?" Tara asked as she set the drink down in front of Sookie.

"Nothing to her either except behind her back," Sookie answered before she took a sip. It was tart and sweet. "Tara this is pretty good."

"Not surprised," Hoyt said and rolled his eyes. "I can't feel sorry for her, besides knowing her she probably has another blood donor lined up for her."

"I have no idea if she does or not," Sookie said.

"So who is the flavor of the week?" Hoyt asked. "Sorry Sookie, I know he's your brother, but he's a slut."

"So who is it?" Tara asked. "That is if you want to tell us."

"Steve Newlin," Sookie answered. She should have checked to see if Hoyt had been drinking because he sprayed beer out while laughing.

"Seriously," Tara said.

"I am serious."

"No shit?"

"Jason with a guy?" Hoyt asked.

"I like Jessica," Sookie answered "She's my friend and almost like having a sister and I don't want her hurt."

"She's a vampire," Tara said. "That kind of thing won't hurt her."

"Yes it might," Sookie said and sighed. "Maybe I'm just feeling like this because it's Steve Newlin, because of what he was like and he's different now and not just physically." She rubbed her head. "I probably sound like a huge homophobe right now."

"No you don't," Tara and Hoyt said to her at the same time.

"You feel all strange and stuff because Jason cheated on Jessica right?" Tara asked. "Not because he slept with a guy."

"Because of Jessica." She knocked back the rest of her drink while she thought about ordering another drink but she was still sober enough to know that might not be wise.

"Another?" Tara asked.

"Just a Cherry Coke please." She felt her phone vibrating. "Is it okay if I answer this?"

"Your phone," Tara said as she put ice in the glass and poured in the soda. She topped it with an actual cherry.

"Hello, Eric?" Sookie had read the number was from Bill's house but she was certain that it was Eric who was calling her, or she was hoping it was.

"Hello Sookie," Eric greeted her. "Do you have plans on the tenth?"

"Not really," Sookie answered. She wasn't sure if she was working. "Why what is going on?"

"There will be a carnival outside of Shreveport," Eric answered. "For all holidays and sponsored by the AVL."

"Do you want me to go with you?" It sure did sound like he was asking her out on a date.

"I would love to go with you but I can't," Eric said and it almost sounded like it pained him to say that. "There will be many representatives from the Authority and AVL that will attend."

"Ismene still can't get through to these people?" Sookie asked

"They are set too far into their ways. I know you are probably lonely right now since your brother is over here."

"I'm at Merlotte's," Sookie answered and took a long drink from her soda. Knowing Jason wasn't home would make it easier to return to that house.

"Yes he is here along with Jessica and Steve."

"Does Jessica want to return to her home since Bill is there?"

"I have a feeling she is going to be spending equal time at both here and at Jason's."

"So he did tell her," Sookie said with a smile. "And he did take it well."

"Are you certain you won't be lonely when you return to Jason's place? I have no idea how long they will be here."

"I'll be fine. I just want to go home and relax."

Sookie had relaxed when she returned to the house an hour later. She took a long and refreshing shower and read a few chapters of the book she had borrowed before she curled up under the covers. She had felt herself fall asleep but woke up sharply to the sounds of loud sex and to her horror she heard three voices. She buried her head under her pillow, hummed some of her favorite songs to herself and went back to sleep.

She had thumbed through the cabinets guide and she had to make a decision between three styles that she liked. She had decided to bring the catalog with her to work and maybe Holly or Sam might help her decide.

"You don't look like you slept well at all," Holly said when Sookie had entered the bar.

"I didn't," Sookie answered and stared in the mirror. She had brushed her hair and used a type of concealer to cover up the shadows under her eyes but she still looked tired.

"Wild animals making noise?"

"You could say that." When she returned home she was going to tell Jason and the vampires to cool it with the loud sex.

"Not getting enough sleep isn't good for your skin," Holly said as she strapped on her little apron.

"I'm aware of that."

"Before you start, ask Sam for a small glass of water. Drinking plenty of water is good for your skin."

"You should get together with Valentino and discuss beauty regimens and natural healing."

"I need to think about that," Holly said and tilted her head to the side. "I suppose I could."

"Great." Sookie set the guide down on the table in Sam's office with the three styles she had picked out and circles. She had placed a post it note on top of the guide asking Sam for his opinion. "Oh and Holly?"

"Yeah?" Holly asked. "If it's about the cookie swap I'm in."

"No just a small favor. When you have time can you look through that guide? I'm stuck on a decision between three."

"No problem," Holly said. "Which ones are you stuck on?"

"They are the ones that are circled." She ran out to the bar where Sam was mixing a few pina coladas. "Sam, since I got about three minutes before I'm on can I have just a small glass of water?"

"Sure, Sookie," Sam said. He selected a small glass and filled it with water. "Are you feeling all right?"

"Had a rough night," Sookie said as she accepted the glass and took a long drink. "Thank you. You don't mind helping me pick out new cabinets?"

"Do you want me to come with you to a store?" Sam asked.

"I left the catalog on your desk. The ones I really like have been circled."

"I can take a look."

"Thank you." She gulped down the rest of her water.

Her first customers was Maxine Fortenberry and her two friends. One of them was a rail thin woman with a pointy nose and long stringy hair pinned up into a bun and the second was petite and wore huge glasses and a pillbox hat on her head.

"Good afternoon and welcome to Merlotte's," Sookie said as she handed out the menus. She would of asked Maxine if she wanted her usual but Maxine had three usuals.

"Hello, Sookie," Maxine said. "How is your house coming along?"

"Good," Sookie answered. "Going to have the tiles installed tomorrow and picking out the cabinets right now."

"Is it all right if I borrow your catalogs when you are done?" Maxine asked. "That is if you are using catalogs? Been thinking about giving my place a makeover."

"I tend to do that every five years at least," the lady with her hair in the bun said. "Not a major overhaul or anything like that. Just a few little things."

"I haven't painted the inside in years," the third lady said. "I've been thinking of doing each room in a different color."

"Those projects all sound like fun," Sookie said. "Can I start you out with something to drink?"

"I think I'll have an iced tea," Maxine said. "No sugar and lemon."

"No lemon and plenty of sugar," hairpin said.

"Just a slice of lemon, no sugar and decaf," hat lady said.

"I'll be back with your teas," Sookie told them after she had written it down. She head back to the bar and filled three glasses with ice, poured regular tea in two of the glasses and decaf into the third one.

"Got him," Andy said as he burst through the door. He ran straight up to the bar. "We got him."

"Got who?" Sookie asked. She knew he couldn't possibly mean Russell.

"Got Patrick Devins," Andy said with a smile.