A/N: Next chapter!

Apologies & Explanations: Sorry to everyone who has stayed with me during this story. I understand the frustration but my work load has been just too hectic, but by the end of the month depending on my work schedule I should be able to be more generous with the chapters. But hopefully you've stuck with me, and hopefully the chapter is a tiny bit worth the wait.

Thank you: Reviews were amazing as always.

Beta: None.

Disclaimer: I do not own True blood; I just borrowed the characters for a bit of fun!

Chapter Thirty-Three
Resolving Tensions

Swinging her hips Sookie balanced several plates on her tray before making her way to the back kitchen, her gaze flickering to Lafayette who smiled at her sheepishly. Having known Lafayette for years, he had never failed to not make her laugh. It hadn't of been until she had stopped speaking to him that she had come to realise just how much she enjoyed conversing with the eccentric chef.

Sookie sighed, dumping her dishes before making her way back into the bar.

She hated that her relationship with Lafayette was suffering but it was hard for her to forgive a man who had nearly gotten her brother killed by being silent. She knew it wasn't completely fair that she was on speaking terms with Jason and yet wouldn't speak a word to him, but she just wasn't ready.

They were idiots, the both of them!

Refilling her tray with left over dishes that Arlene had neglected to deal with, Sookie made her way back into the kitchen only to pause at Lafayette asking "are you goin' ta stay mad at me forever?" not having expected him to make the first move.

Surprised, Sookie began removing items from her tray, eager for something to do with her hands. "What you did, Lafayette…" she trailed off.

"Don't ya think I know tat, Sooks? It's killin' me, if I'd of known it wud end like this I would hav never-"

"What? Gotten caught?"

"No! I wouldn't hav done any of it!" he waved his hands about.

Sookie didn't feel the slightest bit guilty for reading his mind, allowing her mental shields to drop just enough for her to gage whether he was being honest. She wasn't the best judge of character, it hadn't taken her long in the supernatural world to come to such a conclusion. She had to admit it was a relief to discover that he was telling the truth.

Still, that didn't suddenly make everything he had done go away. Still, she was curious as to whether Lafayette was receiving a similar treatment from Eric or worse. Eric had no doubt been generous in regards to his treatment of Jason, but that didn't mean Sookie wasn't concerned about her friend's well-being as well. They may not be speaking, but she did not turn down a person in need!

"Has Eric contacted you?"

Lafayette cringed at the reminder, "yeah, bloke is scary!"

"What'd he get you to do?"

"Just keep an eye on who comes after wanting V. I just write all the details down 'nd he comes 'nd collects all the information whenever," he shrugged.

"And you don't mind doing it?" It wasn't like he had any choice, and frankly Sookie couldn't help but think that Eric was letting him off lightly. She wasn't complaining, he was her friend after all, but it didn't seem right. "You kept Jason's name to yourself."

Wincing, "are you ever goin' ta let that go?"

"What do you think?"

Lafayette didn't need her gift to know her answer. Jason had no idea how lucky he was to have his sister on the inside with the vamps. He may not like his little sister being involved, but Lafayette wasn't naive as to think he would still be standing here breathing if she hadn't of been. "Not when it's their life or mine. Better than loosin' a limb or dyin'."

Clearly.

Sookie sighed, "have you given him any names yet?" she asked curiously. She doubted as a…dealer…he would have much emotional attachment to those who came to him seeking drugs.

"A few, mainly people who pass through."

It made her wonder just how many people consumed V without her knowledge. It wasn't as if she intentionally went around searching people's heads in order to be nosey. If she was being honest, other than when she did it for Eric, she tried to shut everyone else out under the pretence of being somewhat normal.

There were things that ran through peoples head she would rather not know, especially when it concerned herself. She didn't need to know what they thought of her boobs, her 'crazy-Sookie' smile as they called it, or how her behind looked in shorts.

Not every compliment was a compliment.

Spending the next few minutes catching up with Lafayette now they were back on speaking terms, for the moment anyway, it didn't take long until the topic of Tara was brought up.

"So," he flipped an egg on the grill. "I see your still not talkin' to Tara."

Sookie shrugged. "Arlene apologised. It wasn't an honest one but at least she tried, you know?" He nodded. "Tara's still holding a grudge for whatever reason. She didn't expect me to catch her at Fantasia and for some reason is under the impression that I'm the one who should be saying sorry."

"For what?"

"That's what I'm not sure of. What do I have to apologise for? Catching her? Not being happy with her hypocrisy?"

Lafayette thought about it while plating up an ordered breakfast. It wasn't her table so she didn't need to further reinforce her shields before going out there. Her section was now empty since her last customer had left not that long ago. It was a welcomed relief.

"Those vampires, they respect ya right?"

Sookie shrugged. "I guess."

Lafayette rolled his eyes, "come on girl, I've seen how they act around ya. I'm not stupid, I know if ya hadn't been around when that Eric bloke came 'nd got me I'd be a dead man. They like ya."

Thinking back to the vampires in Fantasia Sookie had to admit that they didn't treat her like they did the rest of the humans. Even the staff were treated with cold or neutral expressions from the vampires present, Eric and Godric especially. While Godric wasn't rude, he wasn't overly friendly with them as he was with her.

He doesn't want to date them, a small part of her brain whispered. She flushed, hating herself for seriously considering getting into a relationship with the both of them.

She must be going mad.

That had to be the only reason she was actually considering it. Had they asked her a few weeks ago she doubted she would have even given them the time of day, but after witnessing not only Eric's gentle side but how he interacted with his maker…the thought suddenly wasn't go off putting anymore.

Still, there was no rush.

She knew they would wait…well Godric would anyway, she wasn't quite as sure about Eric considering his history. Still, she wasn't one to judge someone by their past, she wouldn't be able to get up in the morning if she did, nor would she have any friends.

The past was the past for a reason.

Shaking her head Sookie stared at Lafayette with a confused expression, "just what are you getting at?"

He rolled his eyes, "I'm sayin' that she isn't used to you bein' the one who gets all the attention. The blokes that come in here, they see a ballsy women they want to fuck-" Sookie cringed at the thought of Tara having sex, "-and when they look at you, not offense Sook's, but they see a crazy person."

She couldn't fault that.

"So when Tara went to Fantasia instead of being the centre of attention she is just like the rest of 'em, wantin' a fuck 'nd desperate enough to practically beg for it."

"And how is that my fault?" she frowned.

Lafayette shrugged carelessly, turning back to the window before ringing the bell signalling that Arlene needed to hurry up and get moving. "It isn't, but this is Tara we're talkin' 'bout."

"So this is about jealously?" she scoffed. Because there was no way that Tara of all people was jealous of her. It was ridiculous for Lafayette to even suggest it.

She got a shrug in response, "whatever hun, you better get that sweet booty of yours ta work, bossman's lookin' pissed," he jerked his head towards the bar. Following his line of sight Sookie winced at what greeted her, to say Sam looked upset would have been an understatement.

"Talk to you later, Lafayette" she murmured before hurrying back to work, oblivious to what she must have done to rub Sam the wrong way.

She wasn't in the mood to find out.

"You working tonight, Sookie?" Sam walked up to her just before the end of her shift. Glancing towards the mounted clock Sookie frowned, wondering where the time had gone.

"Tara is. She wanted to switch with me a few weeks ago. I'm working tomorrow morning and afternoon so she could have tonight's shift." Though what Tara had planned for the day she didn't know, not when her on-again-off-again friend usually demanded the nights off.

So much for her thinking she knew Tara well.

Sam frowned. "And you didn't think to tell me this before?"

"You've never had a problem with it before, Sam. As long as we get out shift covered you said it didn't bother you who showed up as long as we arranged it ourselves." Sookie frowned at Sam's anger, both confused and concerned about her boss and friend.

Watching as he took a deep breath, seemingly calming himself, Sam ran a hand through his hair. "You goin' to that vamp club again tonight?"

She didn't need to be a mind reader to know he wasn't happy about her association with vampires. He had made that clear on many separate occasions. For some reason Sam had a personal dislike for vampires, but she wasn't bitchy enough to mentally invade his privacy by reading his mind just to solve her own curiosity.

"Not tonight," she frowned. "At least, I don't think so."

She hadn't made any official plans to, nor had Eric or Godric phoned to let her know that they required her services to scout the club. It was unusual, but it was a sweet thought that they were trying to give her both space and time so she could work out where she stood on their relationship proposition.

And boy did it require some serious thought!

"I want you to work."

Sookie frowned. "You want me and Tara to work?" Merlotte's saw consistent business, but not enough to have so many staff on at once.

Sam nodded. "I need you to train a new girl. She's…uh…she's a vampire."

Now that did capture her attention, and despite herself Sookie found herself grinning. Finally Sam was beginning to get past his prejudices! "You actually hired a vampire? Well done, Sam!"

Sam grinned at her enthusiasm. 'Her name is Jessica. She's young for a vampire, scarily so, but she needed a job and, well, I didn't have the heart to say no."

Not being able to stop grinning Sookie pulled her boss in for a hug before pulling away with a bright smile. There was no way she was going to risk him changing his mind about equal rights with vampires and humans, not when he had come to her with this. It was flattering, even if she was the only one on staff who felt the same way.

"I'd love to!" she smiled perkily. "I'll see you tonight!"

Grabbing her things after pecking Sam on the cheek in thanks Sookie couldn't help but feel her mood dramatically lighten at the fact Sam had hired a vampire over a human. There were quite a few girls in Bon Temps who needed a job so it wasn't as if he was forced to. It meant progress.

By the time she had gotten home it didn't seem worth it to change out of her work clothes for the few hours before her next shift., so instead she made herself something to eat all the while wondering what both Eric and Godric were up to tonight. She hadn't been lying when she had said it was strange that she hadn't heard from either of them.

Shrugging, by the time her next shift rolled around and it was time for her to head back to Merlotte's she felt her face break out in a grin when she remembered that she was going to be training a vampire waitress that evening.

She couldn't wait.

Little short, and not my best work, but hopefully you liked it.

xxx