A/N: Well you all should shoot me or jump ship and swim for shore. I sincerely apologize for the extremely long hiatus. I know that regardless of the situation none of you care for the whys and how-fores, but I think I should explain a little. I moved to TX, and was working more than my fair share at my job, started a new relationship, and promptly found out that I was pregnant...oh happy day, at 20 weeks I had a miscarriage due to a condition known as incompetent cervix. Needless to say I was rather depressed and not in the mood for anything other than listening to depressing opera and working more hours to get threw the day, when I did manage to write a line or two they were severely off and very morose. A year passes from his birthday to his first, and I am much better, but in July of 2012 I find myself pregnant again and a baby is due on March of this year. Life throws me another curve ball, and my son was born on the 21st of December, 14 weeks earlier than expected. The long and arduous journey of being a NICU parent begins...ups,downs, sleepless nights and days, fear, and hope abound. 3 months later and 2 weeks shy of his due date we get to leave the hospital. Today my son is a healthy 5 month old. I hope life will be on an even keel these days, and things can get back on track.
Enough chatter let me summarize thus far:
Sookie watches the news, finds out about the existence of vampires, puts in application at Fangtasia, is mesmerized by Eric, falls in love, gets bonded, Queen Sophie is beheaded, Godric is King, Sookie has met Eric, Pam, Alcide, Calvin, Ginger, and Amelia...I am quite sure that I am forgetting something major, but I hope I can be forgiven.
Friday December 3, 1999
Apartment 4D – Shreveport, Louisiana 10:40 a.m.
I woke early to the blaring sound of Amelia's broadcasting blaring into my head like a freight train on a collision course with a dynamite factory. Blurry-eyed, and incoherent I stumbled from bed to be met with my complete nakedness two mornings in a row. I had the decency to blush, even though there was no one around to catch me in the buff, thank heavens. Shuffling into the bathroom I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and threw my hair into a messy half pony-tail/bun at the crown of my head. Feeling refreshed and focused I slammed my shields into place and heaved a sigh of relief as I reached for the ibuprofen in the medicine cabinet. Shaking out three of the 650 mg tablets I swallowed them with a handful of water still gushing out of the faucet. Today was going to be killer I just knew with a start like this one and a meager five hours of sleep it was going to be rough.
Shutting off the faucet and sinking down onto the toilet I did my business only to come to the realization that my period had hit me sometime during the night. After a moment I finished my business and headed into my room to find my period panties, you know the ones, granny panties you wouldn't be caught dead in any other time if it wasn't strictly necessary. A few more drawers opening and closing and my favorite sweats and Jason's Bon Temps high school football jersey later I was fully prepared to sit on the couch, veg in front of the TV and eat copious amounts of chocolate and consume my stock of Ben and Jerry's in the freezer.
As I emerged from my bedroom, the first thing that hit me was the complete and utter chaos of my living room. Boxes, papers, Amelia, Alcide, Calvin, Bobby, and an army of tools littering the floor caught my attention first.
"I don't care if the Zombie Apocalypse is here, and you all are seeking shelter and reading up on how to kill the undead while manufacturing grenade launchers, I haven't had any coffee and I need twenty minutes before you all bombard me with the latest dire issue."
In the wake of my hormone induced miniature rant the room fell totally silent as I meandered into the kitchen for my coffee and toast. The toaster was just popping up as I finished pouring myself a cup, leaning against the counter I ate my toast and drank my coffee steeling myself to return to the madness for an update on the goings-on in my living room. Just to be on the safe side I poured another cup and marched head on into the mess.
Alcide was the first to notice me as the others had all gone back to their rat-killin'. He took one look at my face and blanched, "Sook, he started, I know how this looks, but please let me explain."
He took an exaggerated deep breath and I held my hand up to stop the verbal diarrhea that I knew was to follow. "Alcide, does this have anything to do with our change of plans and abrupt trip to Thermae? Nod your head "yes" or "no". If the answer is "yes" was it ordered by the King or Eric? If the answer is "no" all I want to know is who is cleaning this catastrophe up, because it isn't this girl.", I said while pointing to my chest as I sat on the one clear corner of my sofa.
"Yes, Both, and we are."
"Until further notice that is all I wish to know, unless someone can explain how I ended up here at home when I am certain I fell asleep at Plantation last night."
For several minutes the only sounds in the apartment were breathing, the shuffle of papers, and the hum of Calvin's drill. As the hum was becoming background noise my cell rang, I was sorely tempted to let it ring through to voicemail, but few people have my number, and I knew I couldn't avoid my responsibilities just because I was irritated in more ways than one.
I hit the answer button and placed the phone up to my ear, "Hello" my voice sounded tinny and repeated back into the ear piece. Through the crackle and hiss I could make out Mr. Hart's frantic voice, "Misssss Stackhouseeee, BUZZ; I am sorry to bother you, but I have several questions and Mr. Burnham isn't answering his phone. POP, POP, HISS.
"Hayden, please call me Sookie, and I would be glad to answer any questions that you might have. How can I help you this morning?"
"I was in the West Wing seeing to Godric's day-time needs as the sun was rising, the shutters have come down, and the air-lock has engaged, and I don't know the code to get out of his private quarters. I am not in his immediate resting place, but Margo was always so ravenous come sundown, and I am trapped in here with a 2000 year-old vampire."
"I only know the codes to the East Wing. I am sure that his rooms are set up much like Eric's. Go into the guest room off the living quarters and lock yourself into the bathroom. Send him a text message to alert him to your presence. He should be civilized, but I don't want to make a mistake. At sundown I will have Eric come to make sure you have made it out alright. Understand? Get to the bathroom and lock the door."
"Thank you, Sookie. I am not really scared he will hurt me, more that he will think I am an idiot and fire me on the spot."
"Highly unlikely Hayden. Call me again if you start to feel scared, or you just need to talk."
"Absolutely."
I ended the call and sank into the cushions with a huff. Calvin was the first to speak, "Is everything alright Missus Stackhouse?"
The room was far from quiet the inquisitive thoughts of the occupants were deafening as I answered as clearly as possible, "Peachy keen, Jelly bean. Bobby do you happen to know the codes to get in and out of Godric's personal rooms at Plantation?"
Bobby's response came quick as lightning, "Nope, I don't even know Eric's codes I was never in his personal space while he was dead for the daylight hours. The times that I was there I was never any further than the great room and the closet in the guest room to pack his bags for business. I know that the luxurious part of his wing you saw was a front there is no way that his personal rooms are out in the open."
"That's what I figured," I said nonchalantly as I scrolled through the messages on my phone, Eric's name was lit up with a message received at 4:40 a.m.
ERIC: Lover I know you were expecting to wake up beside me here, but I am afraid until some modifications are made to my private quarters that is impossible. I drove you home shortly before dawn much to my distaste. I have Alcide's father coming to make adjustments to the security system in the house to rectify the situation A.S.A.P. Some security equipment is arriving today and a Representative of Northman Enterprises is coming to instal several cameras and a keypad into the house that is remote wired into the security system in place at the bar and the house. I you will be safe 24/7.
I sneered at the phone in mock indignation, 'of all the nerve.'
I typed out a quick reply.
SOOKIE: Darling Hayden is locked into Godric's day-chamber, at sundown can you make sure that everything is alright and that he is unharmed, please and thank you.
"Amelia what is on the agenda today?", I asked as I hit the send button.
"Nothing pressing most everything happens tonight. I wrote a quick want ad for a day manager at the bar, I need you to read it over before I submit it to the paper for running. All 22 of the area's vampires have consented to tomorrows contract signings. Desmond was supposed to be in town for some business with Eric last night,but Bobby's planner has a notation that the meeting was canceled."
"Let me see the ad, we need to get moving on that. I would like to schedule the interviews for during the daylight hours, just because I think they need to see the bar the way it would be while they are there, not the way that it is at night. The hectic and supercharged atmosphere might be a deterrent to some of the more qualified interviewees."
Manager/Bookkeeper - NEEDED Fangtasia: Shreveport, LA
Job Description:
Looking for an Office Manager whose duties include full-charge bookkeeping and have the ability to work with minimal supervision required. Ideal candidate has creative ideas to solve problems takes ownership in their work and is very organized.
Job Responsibilities:
Office Manager
Provide daily back-up for front desk support & receptionist duties - greets and forwards all incoming calls and visitors to the appropriate contact,
Assisting CEO, CTO on a daily basis,
Managing office related needs, including shipping, deliveries & office supplies,
Assist vendors with bill payments,
Coordinate special event set-up.
Bookkeeper
Accounts Payable: match invoices to statements, monitor due dates,
Accounts Receivable: posting invoices, payments, receipts, and adjustments,
General Ledger: expenses, adjusting journals entries, acquisition and disposal of assets, bank reconciliation
Payroll reporting for approx 15 employees
Qualifications:
3+ years experience in Office management role
Strong communication skills,
Pay very close attention to detail.
Ability to learn fast and multi-task.
Ability to type 45+ wpm, and must be advanced in: MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Adobe, and especially proficient in Quick Books.
Flexible, resourceful and responsible,
Punctual
Benefits discussed at interview
For immediate consideration,please send your resume as an MS doc and place a follow up call to Sookie 673-5074 EX:4264
We are an equal employment opportunity employer.
"Looks great submit it to the classifieds at the Shreveport Times, and then run it on . Depending on the response I would like to set interviews for later in the week next week, either Thursday or Friday."
"You got it, anything else while I am on the phone?"
"Not that I can think of, but I seem to be running on empty even with my coffee fix. To top it all off I have domestic things that I should be tackling before the weekend whirlwind gets underway, and I just don't feel like doing much of anything. Bobby do you know why the meeting was canceled?"
"I was informed that he had something of a personal nature to take care of and to please inform Mr. Cataliades to the change in plan with his sincere apology."
Just then my brain started firing on all cylinders, Eric was busy last night with the job that Godmother Sookie had enlisted him to do. I pursed my lips at the anger that flared in my veins just thinking of Bartlett and his misdeeds to Hadley and myself, especially Hadley, and was thankful for the connections that life has afforded me of late. I knew that the feelings that I am experiencing aren't christian in nature, but dammit this just couldn't be helped.
"Okay, Alcide, please tell me where we are with the cardboard tornado strewn that touched down in here,walk and talk there is a lot to do."
Alcide sprang to his feet and pulled out an index card with scribbles and scratched out writing on both sides and followed me from room to room as I gathered laundry all the while explaining the security system in detail. He finished his spiel as I shut the lid to the stackable washer and dryer.
"...so now you know what is what. A secretary at Northman Enterprises called me at eight to let me know the technician should be here at about one pm, and we would have sporadic bouts of power loss while he worked with the wiring of the cameras and the keypad."
By the time we came out of the guest bathroom and back into the hallway, 95% of the chaos had been removed to the dumpster and the coffee table was over-run with electronics and wires. The cameras were non-obtrusive modern little bubbles surrounded by a dome of tented window; there were four of them and I guessed that each room and outside at the door would all be monitored. Alcide had explained that channel one would allow me to watch the CCTV. I never would have dreamed that I would need so much security two weeks ago. So far I had been informed that I had been receiving hate mail via Fangtasia, we were being followed/watched at the Wal*Mart, and apparently security guards and cameras were my new reality.
To bypass anymore of the technology jargon I skipped right on threw to the kitchen and started to unload the dishes in the dishwasher. Keeping my hands busy meant my brain couldn't go off onto a wild tangent. As the racks of the dishwasher became more empty my foul mood and my pain level decreased thank heavens for ibuprofen. With the dishes in their proper place I took out the four-oh-nine and gave the counters a liberal spritzing before I attacked them with a scrubbie. Cleaning has always served a dual purpose. One, everything looks brighter when your environment is clean, and two, when using elbow grease on menial tasks your mind is free to wander and solve the problems that have been plaguing you.
As I was pouring Pine-Sol into the sink to mop, I suddenly understood that even though these security measures irritate me and are hard for me to understand, Eric has suffered a millennium of loss and he doesn't want to add me onto that pyre. I have consented to guards and cameras and alarm systems all with indignation and I realize now that it makes me seem ungrateful, which isn't true, but perception can sometimes be just as damning as actions. I made a vow to myself right then to be more gracious of the gifts I receive even if I don't understand at the time the significance of some of them.
With the kitchen clean and a much lighter head and heart I went to change out the laundry. Before too long the house was sparkling clean and all that was left was folding the load of towels that were in the dryer.
The doorbell rang and Calvin and Alcide sprang into action like a choreographed dance. Calvin was up off the couch and behind the door with his gun drawn just as Alcide palmed his piece and opened the door to the apartment just enough to get a good look at the person on the other side.
"Hello Herveaux, why am I not surprised to see you here?", said the man just out of my view.
"Dawson when did you get back into town? I thought that you were in Jackson making a name for yourself."
"Been there and done that, but it seems that debts run deep in this family and I got in over my head and Mr. Northman bought my business and absorbed it into his holdings. I'm still the boss, but he owns my ass until the debt is paid."
Shock overran Alcide's features as he stepped aside to let the man through the door.
"Sookie I would like to introduce my Cousin and tactical IT genius Tray Dawson. He's also a mighty fine mechanic, but don't tell him I told you that, asshole has an ego the size of Texas."
Dawson laughed as he extended his hand for me to shake. His grip was firm and warm just like his smile.
"Nice to meet you Miss Stackhouse, I'm here to install your security system."
We exchanged pleasantries and I offered him a refreshment, which he declined, soon after he got down to business. Three round holes were drilled in the corner of each room in my apartment excluding the bathroom, one outside of the front door, and a small rectangle was cut out of the wall next to the door for the keypad. He had me go into my closet and flip the main breaker as he wired up the cameras and the keypad. As he buttoned up the last of the holes he asked me to flip the breaker back on and started messing with the television. Soon I could see all four views split screen live and in living color.
"Their isn't any audio, but you can survey the entire apartment or select a single camera and see it larger on the screen. I would use this before answering the door camera one shows the view outside. Two is the living room, three the kitchen, and four the bedroom. The keypad is simple to operate we just need to program it and there is an app you can use on your phone to arm and disarm it by remote."
We spent several minutes programming the alarm with the codes to arm and disarm it from inside the house. He downloaded the app into my phone and had me input the information.
When he was sure that I was comfortable with the operations of the electronics he spoke, "Alright Miss Stackhouse, pleasure doing business with you, Eric has already paid for my services I shall take my leave. If you have any problems or questions give me a call," he said as he palmed me his business card.
I thanked him and he and Alcide stepped outside and closed the door. Just to be nosy I flipped the CCTV to channel one and enlarged the door camera. They were exchanging a man hug and business cards, I changed the camera view to my room as Dawson turned to walk out into the sunlight. Alcide reentered the apartment and took up residence on the couch watching the cameras cycle. I changed the channel to ESPN and the Lakers game and the men and the room let out a whoop.
I glanced at the clock only to realize that it was nearly five pm, and I had yet to eat more than some toast earlier in the day.
"Anyone else hungry? Now that the cameras are installed and the visitors portion of the day is over until night fall anyone want to hit the store since I am not sure what happened to the groceries we bought yesterday. I was thinking that I could make Etouffee."
Bobby spoke up then, "I brought the groceries in this morning before the boxes started to arrive. I am sure you have all the ingredients in the kitchen, but if you are sure we need to make a store run I could do that while you do some of the prep to cut some time."
"Bobby you are just the best," I said as I headed into the kitchen to take stock of the ingredient list for one of my favorite meals.
As it turns out the only thing that I was short of having was about five pounds of shrimp. I sent Bobby and Alcide to Dupont Fish Market to get some fresh as you can get seafood. I started preparing the roux as the music kicked on and Ames saddled up beside me with a chopping board and a knife. Calvin was washing vegetables in the sink and passing them over one by one. Soon the apartment was filled with the glorious smell of garlic and sauteed vegetables. The guys made it back just as I was ready to add the shrimp into the sauce. Four minutes and a stick of butter later everyone was ready to settle down to the table that Calvin had set soon after the vegetables were all chopped and into the pan. Halfway through dinner the bond clicked on and my phone chimed with a new message.
ERIC: Hayden is safe. You look like you are having fun.
SOOKIE: Thank heavens. We are it has been a good day. I hope you wont be using that camera to watch me sleep just thinking about it gives me the heebie-jeebies.
ERIC: I can't make any promises, but I know something that would be a hell of a lot more fun to watch you do than sleep.
SOOKIE: Only you could turn that into something sexual. I'm serious that is totally creeper peeping tom behavior. Please don't watch me sleep or I am liable to sleep in the bathtub away from the prying eyes in the sky.
ERIC: I've been known to sleep in the bathtub, of course, it was the only light tight space available. Are you trying to tell me something Lover?
SOOKIE: Well aren't you on the ball tonight with the innuendos and the conjecture. What time will you be coming over tonight? I think I am going to have a relaxing night in.
ERIC: I have club business to attend to, tonight may be harder than usual to break free of the place since I got behind due to a tornado that hit my office. The only paperwork that has been completed was the payroll. I will try to make it before dawn, but if I can't be there it isn't because I don't want to be.
SOOKIE: 10-4.
The rest of the evening went in a blur after dinner Amelia helped me clean up the mess that we had made, and Calvin took up residence on the couch, Alcide bid us all goodnight with the promise to see us in the morning.
"Sook that was an awesome dinner, now I am afraid to have you eat my food for fear that it will be sub par."
"Nonsense. I am positive that your food will be just as delicious. I am actually looking forward to having dinner at your place and scoping out your decor. Tomorrow night we will have to have a picnic in my office because of the scheduling of the contracts, but it might Hors d'oeuvres."
"That I can do. If there's one thing I'm good at it would be party food. I'm gonna hit the road and see you tomorrow."
"Night Ames thanks for the help have Calvin walk you over will you? I will lock up behind you and use the CCTV to make sure that it's him before I open the door."
"Night Sook. I think your right all this talk of security has gotten me to thinking that we all need to be on the look out."
As I escorted Amelia to the door Calvin fell into step with her as she put her foot out onto the landing. He gave me a hairy eyeball and I closed the door and flipped the TV to channel one and waited for him to come back. The camera was so good that I could make him out as he made his way up the stairs and stopped infront of the door. I opened it for him as he raised his hand to knock on the oak wood. I stepped aside to let him enter and took off to the linen closet to make up a bed for him on the couch.
"Night Calvin, set the alarm please before you turn in. I am bushed I think an early night is just what the Dr. ordered."
"Night Miss Stackhouse. I hope you sleep well and have pleasent dreams."
"You too," I replied as I shut myself into my room.
The towels were piled at the foot of my bed, so I made quick work of them before I slipped between the sheets. I fell asleep realatively quickly considering that Eric was across town and not next to me.