Hallo again!

I feel like I owe you a warning regarding this chapter: some of you will probably want to strangle someone (and I can only hope it won't be me) after reading it. Just remember - sometimes it needs to get worse before it gets better.

Betaed by Breathesgirl

Disclaimer: I disclaim everything and everyone - fully professionally, free of charge; fast, easy and thorough, if you're interested in my offer, please call...

Previously:

After finishing evening chores I wrapped myself tightly into a housecoat, took the phone, sat on my bed and with a heavy sigh picked the number for Fangtasia.

I was greeted by the unknown voice of one of the waitresses. After I introduced myself and asked for Eric I was pleasantly surprised when she connected me with his office without much hassle.

"Is this my lover?" he said instead of a normal greeting, instantly throwing me off balance.

"Hi Eric," I said stiffly, completely ignoring his provocation. "I wanted to thank you for the coat. It's very kind of you. You didn't have to do it though."

"Don't mention it," I could hear a smile in his voice and it made me reluctant to continue with what I had to say next. Before I could speak up he continued, "The colour suits you."

I took a deep breath. It was time to move on to the less pleasant part of conversation.

"There is another reason why I'm calling."

"I'm all ears."

I rolled my eyes, knowing that he couldn't see it.

"I want to know why you gave me fifty thousand dollars."

"I didn't give it to you. I paid you, like I already explained."

He wasn't happy that I insisted on talking about it. Well, tough titty.

"Jason remembers a different number. Care to explain?"

"Pam negotiated the deal on my behalf, but I am the one to make the final decision. You earned that money."

"Eric, if you wanted to give me a bonus, you went overboard. It's too much. I can't accept it."

I was a little sensitive when it came to taking money I didn't work for, especially from men, more so from men that were interested in me. My gran raised me to be an independent and proud woman and I didn't like the thought that someone might be trying to buy me.

"Think about it as my way of saying I'm impressed and extra money for exceptional service."

His intentions were probably good, but the way he phrased it made all the alarm bells in my head go off.

"Extra money for what exactly," I managed to grit out through my teeth.

"Sookie, I'm well aware that you don't want dirty money. If you did you would have just sold me out to the witches. You don't have to prove anything to me. It's because you didn't do that that I want to reward you. I know that true loyalty is something you can't buy, but I actually do appreciate it. I assure you that I don't think it's over the top."

But my mind was already stuck and I didn't really registered what he was saying, at least not at that moment.

"Forgive me, Eric, but fifty thousand bucks for lending someone a place to stay for a few days IS over the top in my book. What is it that you're paying me for, anyway? What exactly was worth so much?"

I was tired and irritated. I'd hoped that I could get this settled smoothly and without any major arguments, but it looked like I wasn't going to be successful on either front. When Eric got something into his head, he was determined to get his way.

"My life," he said tartly. "Just accept the fact that the money is yours. I know you need it."

Tactical error. The thought that he chose to pay me so much just because he knew I needed the money only set me off and undid everything good that the beginning of his speech might have done to get through the red haze that started to cover my rational brain.

"I don't need help!"

"Yesterday, you told me that I reach out for you only when I need something. If that's what you believe, then I don't see why you'd be upset that I'm making sure to give you in return something you might need. Isn't that how it usually works?"

"Oh for God's sake, Eric, we're talking about cash, not social rules for basic kindness in interpersonal relations! It's not like we're friends, you're my boss!"

I regretted my words the second they left my mouth but it was already too late to take them back. I said it thoughtlessly, without any ill will and only when I heard myself did I realise how it sounded.

I got an unpleasant silence as my only reply. I wanted to apologise, but before I found my voice again Eric said icily, "I'll try to keep that in mind."

I swallowed the bile forming in my throat. I wasn't sure exactly why I cared so much about what he thought or how he felt but I suddenly realized that this whole exchange with Eric bothered me more than I was ready to admit. Which made for a very poor combination in addition to my earlier anger.

From that moment on it was just pure Murphy's Law at work.

"I want thirty five, as agreed upon," I choke out.

I didn't tell him I was sorry. Just because.

"It's non-negotiable."

"What is the raise for? 'Hospitality'?"

Unfortunately, Eric didn't notice my sarcasm.

"Why not?"

"Because you don't pay for hospitality! It's not for sell, at least not in my home!"

"Make up your mind! What do you want? I don't know why you're making such a big deal out of it. You didn't say a word when I re-graveled your driveway."

"Well, it's not exactly an easily returned gift. What was I supposed to say?"

"Why was it okay for you to accept it then, but not now?"

"I want to know what the money is for!" I yelled reaching my stress limit.

I have no idea why I uttered the next sentence I did. I don't know where the thought came from. I never intended to say it.

Maybe it was the insinuations overheard earlier in Eric's day-man's mind treacherously taking root in my subconscious and worming itself a way out to the real world.

Maybe that's what it was all about? Maybe that's where this whole conversation came from?

"What exactly did that exceptional service that I performed for you consist of? What act of hospitality did I excel at so impressively? Are you sure you're not so generous just because you got extra company for a few nights?!"

I stunned myself speechless with my own outburst. Much to my horror I heard a crack at the other end of the connection. It sounded as if Eric crushed something in his fist – for example chipped off a part of his desk. It shut me up at last.

You can accuse Eric of many things, but lack of intelligence is not one of them. He knew very well what I was hinting at.

"Sookie Stackhouse," he said slowly and in a very low voice, his accent the thickest I'd ever heard it. "Never. You will NEVER say anything like that again."

My heart raced. I had no doubt about it – it was both an order and a threat.

"You have no IDEA what you're talking about, so you WON'T talk about it. You are wrong about what happened. You don't know what happened. I've NEVER treated you like that!"

Talking about never, I had never heard Eric so mad or so close to losing control. In that moment I was really glad that we were on the phone, not face to face.

He paused and if I didn't know better I'd think that he was trying to get a grip on himself.

"Eric…" I whispered weakly, but I stopped there because I was afraid to say anything else.

He kept quiet for a beat and I thought he was going to hang up on me, but he had to have the last word. When he spoke again, his voice was so cold that a shiver run down my spine.

"I gave you that check because I'm grateful for everything you've done for me and I knew that you wouldn't let me give you anything but a payment for some work done for me."

Then he hung up – or crushed the phone – one of the two.

I rubbed the back of my hand against my cheeks to brush off the tears that I hadn't even noticed were spilling. What the hell just happened?

Why did Eric seem so affected by my apparent 'ungratefulness'?

I didn't want to owe him anything. If anybody, a vampire should understand perfectly well the reluctance in creating a debt to someone more powerful than you. Sure, I said a few things I wasn't proud of, but Eric wasn't usually big on emotions, especially his own. When it came to others actions, the word 'observant' came to mind rather than 'sensitive' if I had to describe Eric's attitude.

And why, in the God's name, did arguing with Eric make me feel so miserable?

I suddenly remembered that the reason for all this mess was Eric angering the witch by throwing insults at her after she demanded that he pay the tribute by 'working it off' - somehow, it seemed to fit perfectly into the story, though it didn't improve my mood in the slightest.

I groaned loudly, burying my face in my pillow. After trying to sort my feeling for a while I gave up and simply crawled into bed. Thankfully, I was so tired that I managed to fall asleep pretty fast despite my foul mood.

Did you really expect it to go without a hitch?

Next time: Sookie continues struggling with making sense out of everything and the Viking makes a statement.

Oh, and one more thing - we're closing in to the 100 reviews mark, so how about a game? Whoever sends review number 100 gets a teaser ;) Aaand you can always make your chances bigger by reviewing more chapters if you have not reviewed them yet...