*Flashback* After that first very trying night Eric and Sookie tried there best to avoid each other. She decided to take the job but she was gone by 7:00 pm.Since it was Summer it didn't get dark until after nine. Sookie was scared to death of Eric Northman but he had been nothing but a gentleman since that first night. Two weeks after she started she was waiting on Pam to get there so she could leave for the night. It was the first time she had worked this late. It was quite a long drive back to Bon Temps. It was just after 9:15 when she saw Eric's red BMW pull into the parking lot. She couldn't help but stare as he walked toward the building. He had on a nice black suit. She couldn't help the knot that formed in her stomach. She couldn't deny she was attracted to him. But he was a married man for crying out loud. He entered the building without even glancing her way. It was like a kick in the stomach. She swallowed her sob as the phone rang. All the sex dreams she'd been having were making it just that much harder. The phone rang on the counter she went to answer but noticed Eric had already taken the call. She finished checking in the returns when she saw Eric walking toward her."Sookie you have a call, it's Bon Temps Police Department. Something about your grandmother." Eric stayed next to her as she took the call. " Good Evening Sookie, it's Bud Dearborn, Adele asked me to call because it's almost time for you to be off work. Adele was in a Descendants of the Glorious Dead meeting this afternoon and she had a stroke. Maxine Fortenberry called 911 and she's stabilized now but she broke her leg and they had to admit her because of her breathing. " Sookie felt Eric take the phone gently from her hand. "Sheriff Dearborn, this is Eric Northman, I am Sookie's employer, I'll be driving her, could you tell us which hospital they've taken her grandmother?" Sookie just stood there with tears running down her face, thankful Eric had taken over because she couldn't remember how to put one foot in front of the other at the moment. She couldn't hear what Eric was saying anymore. She was scared. What would she do if she lost her Gran?"She's in Shreveport, let's close up I'll drive you." Eric hung up the phone and ushered her to his car. He opened the door for her and all but pushed her in. "Sookie, it's fine, she'll be fine." Eric opened the door and slipped in the driver's seat. "What about the store? " "Pam will be here shortly, I locked the door." Eric cranked the car and headed in the short direction to the hospital."I can drive, you could stay if someone needs to be here?" Sookie suggested hoping he'd stay with her. He was helping keep her centered. "And have you wreck and kill yourself in the process?"She didn't argue with him after that. "I can't lose her she's all I have." Sookie began crying into her hands. She felt Eric place an arm around her shoulder. "Where are your parents?" "They died in a flash flood when I was 8. My brother Jason and I have lived with Gran every since. Well Jason moved back into Mama and Daddy's house when he got out of highschool." Eric squeezed the shoulder where his hand was. " I'm truly sorry.""Pam won't be mad because you drove me out here will she?" Eric laughed and muttered something in another language under his breath."I forgot you thought we were married. Pam is my progeny. I made her a vampire and you probably have a better shot at marrying her than I do." Sookie let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "Thank you Eric, for everything." He pulled into the hospital entrance. Sookie expected him to drop her off but to her surprise he parked the car and got out. He went around to her side and opened her car door and held her hand to help her out. The chemistry and attraction between them had been undeniable from the start. "Sookie I'd very much like it if you would let me take you to dinner after we make sure your Grandmother is ok. I apologize if I frightened you the night we first met. I thought my boss had sent you to spy on me and I don't react kindly to being spied on." Sookie looked up into his eyes. They were so blue she felt that she could get lost in them. "I'd like that." She smiled as his hand found the small of her back when they began to walk. "You know I've been different all my life. I didn't even mind that much that you weren't... what's the word I'm looking for? um different?" Eric laughed. "So what frightened you? When I threatened to kill you? I'm truly sorry. You have nothing to fear from me but I do protect what is mine and I won't hesitate to kill someone or something that is a threat. I'm also in charge of all the vampires in this area that's where the spy part comes in. We have had a couple." They were walking up the steps to enter the hospital. Sookie stopped walking but grabbed his arm that was resting on her back. "I could listen to you talk forever. Where are you from? And how old are you?" Sookie asked wide eyed. Eric laughed at her. "How about I tell you at dinner." Sookie smiled at him and they kept walking. Sookie stopped at the front desk to ask about her grandmother's room. The nurse at the front desk told her and soon they were on the 4th floor. They walked down the hall to her Gran's room and Sookie gently knocked on the door. "Hey Gran, it's me."she walked in, pulling Eric behind her and kissed her grandmother on her forehead. "Gran, this is Eric. He's my boss. He drove me here. How are you feeling? Eric this I my Gran, Adele Stackhouse." Sookie said introducing them."I'm feeling better dear. It's so nice to meet you Eric." Eric reached out and took the older lady's hand. "Likewise." Eric was laying on the charm. They talked for a few minutes and Sookie paged the nurse to see what the doctor had said. Gran had had a very minor stroke, but when she fell she'd crushed her leg. She was going to have to have surgery to fix the damage and would be wheelchair bound for at least the next 2-3 months. Sookie sighed and plopped down in the chair and held her hand. "Eric, I may as well go ahead and quit now, I'm going to have to stay home to take care of her." Sookie was doing everything in her power not to cry."Absolutely not, I'll go into a rehabilitation center. You are not to miss a day of work or one class young lady." Adele demanded in the voice she use to use on Jason when he would skip class."Gran, I can't let you do that." "Sookie I'm old, but I don't want you putting your life on hold. You've worked to hard together where you are." Sookie squeezed her hand. "I love you Gran." Sookie kiss the wrinkled hand that had taken care of her her whole life. "Eric, please look after my grand daughter."Sookie had stood up to leave and Eric had placed his hand on her back between her shoulder blades "Yes ma'am." Eric promised. Sookie kissed Gran's forehead and promised to see her the next day. They were almost out of the hospital when Sookie stopped and froze. Eric followed her gaze to an old man in a wheelchair. He acted like he wanted to talk to Sookie but she ran away as tears filled her eyes. Eric followed her to a hallway. She had started to cry and was pacing back and forth."Sookie, who was that." Eric gently walked up behind her. "My great uncle. Eric I need to get out of here now." Sookie took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them she was in Eric's car. * Flashback Ends*That was the first and only time until now that Sookie had teleported. She tried to pull herself up the steps of the huge house she shared with Eric but it was no use. She couldn't move her legs and her back was killing her. Eric was coming, he'd be there any second. She started to shiver from the cold.
"Sookie!" She heard Eric land and call her name. She stopped trying to move and just laid against the concrete. Tears ran down her face. He grabbed her hand as he fell beside her on the steps. She couldn't get her eyes to open to see him.
"Eric I fucked up." She choked out, blood pouring from her mouth. Eric brushed her blood soaked hair out of her face.
"It's alright Lover. Sookie drink! Now!" She felt his arm at her mouth and struggled to swallow. Eric picked her up and carried her in the house. He laid her down on the couch and took inventory of the damage to her body. Her back was most likely fractured. She had multiple compound fracture in both legs. Her face not recognizable. Both eyes were black and swelled shut. Her nose was bloody and turned to an unnatural angle on her face. The front of her dress was ripped down the middle and her panties were gone.
"Sookie were you raped?" He asked softly in her ear.
"No. He tried, Eric I teleported in front of Bill Compton." Sookie started to cry again.
"It's alright. Don't worry, I'll handle it. I'm going to clean you up, I'll be right back." He kissed her softly and got up.
Eric stood up and went in their bedroom and wet a wash cloth with warm water. He took his cell phone from his pocket and pressed the number to call Pam on speed dial. She answered on the first ring.
"Take Thalia and go pick up Bill Compton. He's staying in the old house across from Adele. Secure him until I can question him. Oh and Pam, feel free to rough him up." Eric ordered.
"Is she alright Eric?" Pam sounded concerned.
"She will be." Eric hung up the phone and crushed it in his hand. He grabbed her robe as he walked from the room. Eric sat beside her and began to wipe the blood from her face. The cuts were healed and her eyes were clear.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Eric helped her put the robe on and pulling her into his arms.
"I was on my way home and there was someone in the middle of the road. I swerved to keep from hitting him. And flipped the car. I think my breaks may of failed. I crashed through a fence and hit a tree. But then someone ripped the car door off and pulled me out. It wasn't a vampire, but I don't think it was human either. The brain was all red and snarly. He kicked me a few times then ripped my clothes. Compton pulled him off me but then he tried to give me his blood. I just wished I was home and suddenly I was." Eric tightened his arms around her.
"The important thing is you're not dead. Pam and Thalia are going to pick Compton up and detain him until I get there tomorrow night. Hopefully he didn't have a chance to talk to anyone. I have no doubt he was sent here. It's to much of a coincidence." Eric kissed her temple.
"What's your schedule like tomorrow? Can you work from home? I want you to stay close until we figure this out." Sookie unbuttoned his jacket and started working on his dress shirt.
"I think just some paperwork.I was supposed to have a meeting about the gift shop to approve new merchandise but Pam wanted to be there so I rescheduled. I can do everything from here. Except pick up dry cleaning." Sookie was still trying to get his jacket off. He let her go and stood up for a minute to take his jacket and shirt off. He sat back down and pulled her in his lap, facing him. She leaned against his chest.He rested his chin on the top of her head.
"I'll get Pam to get Ginger to pick up the dry cleaning."
"I think I'm going to go clean up. Do you want to go take a bath with me?" Sookie got up and headed toward their bathroom.
"Go ahead Lover, I've got to check in with Pam." Eric followed her in the bathroom and turned the water on for her. He poured her favorite bubble bath in the large tub and sat a towel out for her.
"I'll be in the bedroom, call me if you need something." He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the lips and left. Sookie went to stand in front of the long bathroom mirror. She took her robe off and let it drop to the floor. She began to cry. Her body was healed, but she was still in that car and she could feel each excruciating time she was kicked or hit. She got in the tub. The hot water and jets soothed her muscles. She heard Eric on the phone in the bedroom. He sounded pissed off. She had tried to teleport again since that day she'd run into Bartlett at the hospital. She'd never been able to do it again. Eric had tried to help her figure it out. She felt like she had failed. If she could just learn to control it. She looked up as Eric opened the bathroom door. He looked at her.
"Pam, I'll call you back." He never gave her a chance to answer he hung up the phone and went over to Sookie. He dropped his pants and climbed in behind her. She laid back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her under her breasts. He didn't try to get her to talk about what she was feeling, because she didn't even know. He didn't tell her it would be alright, she was hurting, that wasn't what she wanted to hear. He just held her while she cried. When her tears finally stopped he washed her hair and body. He wrapped her in a big towel and carried her to bed. He laid her down in their bed and held her close until her breathing evened out and she was sleeping peacefully in his arms.
