a/n: Thanks so much to everyone reviewing and adding this story to their alerts! Ya'll rock my socks! I know there are quite a few questions about Eric and where all of this is going. For now my lips are sealed, there will be more hints hidden in the chapters.

Chapter 3

I woke up the following morning with Eric still on my mind. I was painfully curious about him. Unfortunately I had the day off today so that meant I wouldn't see him. I just hoped his sister did not show up and take him home suddenly. I still wanted to get to know him better.

The phone rang and when I picked it up I heard my brother Jason's voice over the line.

"Sook? You awake?" He really asked dumb questions sometimes.

"Yes Jay, I'm awake if I'm answering." I grumbled and opened the fridge to pour myself some milk.

"You still need that firewood chopped for the winter?" That was surprising. Jason wasn't the worst brother in the world but he also wasn't the best either.

"Yes…." It was obvious I was suspicious.

"Alright well I can come by and do that today for ya, maybe lunch could be included in the deal?" Ha, he must be bored and hungry. I bet Hoyt was busy and it was too early for a booty call to Dawn.

"Sure thing, see you here in a few" I agreed and hung up the phone. Lunch was a small fee to pay and even if it was because he was bored, I was still grateful he was helping me.

Jason showed up soon enough and got to work outside. I made us both homemade beef stew for lunch. It wasn't the most summery meal but it was one of our favorites from Gran's recipes. As I cooked I thought over a million scenarios of who Eric might be in his regular life. He seemed so quiet and mild mannered… I bet he worked at a computer all day. Maybe he was one of those people that sat in a cubicle in a massive company and had just become another number. He seemed shy enough to just blend in with the masses despite his stature.

Then I thought about his sister Pam. She seemed rich and definitely from the city. I bet if she was wealthy his entire family was. Maybe Eric was actually the CEO of a company and sat in an executive office all day in some spotless suit. I'm sure he would look delicious in it… but I couldn't say I liked picturing him that way. Somehow it made him seem arrogant in the image in my mind. I didn't like it.

I looked out the window and saw Jason finishing up the last of the wood. He wiped some sweat from his forehead. What if Eric was like us? Like my brother and I, I mean. What if he was not super rich and was not from the city at all? Maybe he was like Jason and knew how to work outside and drove a pickup truck. Picturing Eric out in the sun with his shirt off was quite the nice image. Now why couldn't he be in my backyard instead of my lame brother right now? I clearly remembered what Eric's bare torso looked like. It was close to perfection.

"Lunch ready?" Jason came stomping, covered in sweat.

"Almost, have a seat I'lll get you some iced tea." My wonderful daydreaming was forced to an end. I got Jason his food and sat down across from him. Since Gran was gone this was the family I had. So even though we both annoyed each other we did our best to spend time together. Jason used to be much more of an ass than he was now. Ever since we lost Gran though I noticed he changed his tune some. Instead of putting sex before everything else he actually made time to come see me each week. It was nice, even though he definitely had his moments where he seemed like a 16 year old jerk again.

The rest of my day off was uneventful. I found myself looking forward to my shift at the hospital. Plus I knew I was working with Kennedy tomorrow. She was as laid back as they came. Supposedly she had been in prison before but that was never confirmed. Kennedy was not a nurse but she did a ton of secretarial work for us. She also tended to get super absorbed in her Cosmopolitan magazines and wouldn't talk for an entire eight hour shift. That meant she would have no idea, and wouldn't give a shit if I spent an hour or two talking to Eric.

Early the next morning I headed into work. My old Honda chugged down the road to Brennan Hospital which was just inside the Shreveport border. I parked in my usual spot beneath a huge Willow tree. The sunlight filtered down through the leaves creating splotches of light. Maybe I could bring Eric outside for a walk through the small garden today. I'm sure he was sick of sitting in his room all the time.

I said hello to Kennedy who was already reading a magazine and barely registered my presence. Perfect. Before I was bored by her and wanted to work with my friend Amelia. Now I was happy for the extra space. I went through my tasks in record time. I checked up on everyone and made sure they took their morning medication. Everything went smoothly and by 10 AM I was knocking on the door to 214, Eric's room.

"Come in" He said quietly and I opened the door to find him staring out the window again. The only thing that had changed was his pajama bottoms were light blue instead of white. We didn't have much else to provide him with to wear. Most of our other patients who could get out of bed had families that brought clothes for them. I had no clue why Eric's sister wouldn't have taken the time to do such a small thing for him. She seemed quite selfish to me so far.

"It's just me. Any better today?" I left the door ajar.

"Sookie" The smile on his face made it obvious he wasn't expecting me. "I didn't know you were here during the daytime. I missed you yesterday."

I had no idea how he could be so open like that. He said he missed me, as if it was nothing to miss someone you had just met.

"I had the day off and my schedule is always changing. Sometimes I'm here nights and others during the day." I explained and Eric seemed to be hanging on my every word, absorbing any tiny fact I told him.

"Would you like to take a walk outside? I'm sure you're sick of being in this room everyday." Eric was free to go to our common rooms as well. One had a piano and large windows that you could see the garden through. But from what I could tell he hadn't moved from 214.

"Okay, you're coming with me?"

"Of course" I smiled and led the way out of his room. It was hospital policy to not let our patients go outside on their own. They had to be with family or a staff member. I insisted to myself that's why I was going with him.

I found Eric a pair of slippers that would fit him and we made our way outside. When we stepped onto the back patio he paused. I shut the door behind us and he was still standing there, staring up at the sky again. I had no idea what his fascination was with the sky.

"I miss the sunlight" There was a pained expression on his face. It made me want to hug him.

"Well it's only been a couple days. I'll make sure someone comes outside with you everyday from now on." He was much more active than our other patients. Most of them were elderly. Eric definitely needed time outside his room and outdoors if that was what made him happy. We didn't need him getting depressed and sitting in bed all day long.

"I suppose" He seemed confused and unsure as he responded. "It seems like so much longer than that."

I didn't know what to say so I started leading the way down the path to the garden. Eric followed closely, his arm brushing against mine with each step we took. I tried very hard not to stare at him too much. But I'm damn sure I failed. The sunlight made his dirty blonde hair look golden and his eyes seemed brighter.

"This is nice" His voice was calm and almost a whisper. It was something I was getting used to around him.

"It is, I really like the garden. It's my favorite spot on the property." I sat down on a small bench near an old oak tree surrounded by rose bushes. Eric took the spot next to me. He made me look like a tiny elf sitting next to him.

"The garden is nice. But I was talking about you. I like when you're around." His expression still seemed slightly unsure, as if he lacked the confidence a man his age would normally posses. I suppose having no memories would do that to you.

"Oh…. Thanks" What else could I say? I think you're fascinating and devastatingly handsome? Nope, that would get me fired.

"You're different than everyone else." I wanted to tell him so was he. That his mind was the only one I couldn't read. But I had no idea if I could trust him.

"Sometimes that's not always a good thing. Being different…" I handled myself well enough now. I used my ability to try and help with my work rather than fight it. However it kept me at a distance from most people and definitely forced me to have no love life. I had one serious boyfriend my freshman year of college. His name was JB and it only lasted as long as it did because he barely had any thoughts. The ones he did have were basic, like being hungry, wanting to watch tv, things like that. We slept together once because I thought I'd be able to handle it. Apparently I couldn't because even though JB cared about me hearing his thoughts through the entire process of losing my virginity was just downright wrong. Hearing I wish she'd relax more. Or any form of 'I wish she'd do this or that' made the experience worse than normal.

I broke up with him the following day. I knew I was never in love with him but for a long time I thought he might be the only man I could make it work with. By now I had given up on love. I wouldn't have a husband due to my telepathy. Yet I found myself daydreaming about the silent minded blonde giant quite often.

"I think it is. You're unique and kind. Everyone else here treats me the same as the crazy eighty year old man in 202." Eric frowned. "Or they treat me like I'm a child. I might be a little lost but I am still a grown man."

I could admire his honesty and desire to live, and not just accept life as a patient at the hospital.

"I think they just don't know the best way to help you. We're used to crazy old men in wheelchairs, not a young guy who seems to have it altogether. Well… almost." I smiled softly at him.

"What do you do when you're not here?" Eric changed the subject and looked up at the sun filtering through the leaves of the oak tree. His floppy blonde hair fell back from his forehead slightly. I wondered if he always wore his hair like that. It gave him this boyish charm and I thought it was cute.

"I take care of my house in Bon Temps, care for the small garden I have, and usually I'll read a book when I get home at night." There honestly wasn't too much time for hobbies with my work schedule.

Eric nodded. "I wonder if I like reading…"

"There are some books in the common room, you should take a couple when we head back inside. Who knows maybe you're an author and write intense mystery novels." I couldn't imagine not knowing my own interests.

"I must be a pilot who is also a writer." He smiled, pulling from my comment before about his flying dream.

"Sounds like a pretty good life to me." I stood up again and Eric followed suit. We headed back up the path towards the main building.

"Are you here tomorrow?" Eric asked as we neared the doors.

"Yep, I'll be here the same time tomorrow."

"Will you come for a walk with me again?" He was so god damn hopeful looking. I don't know how he managed to pull it off. Maybe it was the boyish haircut.

"Of course. And you can let me know how reading goes." I led Eric back to his room and he had a couple books in his large hands. Once he was settled in I headed to the front desk to get some work done. The only thought I caught from Kennedy was her wondering why I was smiling so much.

a/n: so, now you know for sure Eric was out in the sunlight... and a few other key things were mentioned. Let's see if you guys caught them! Review, review, review please!