WARNING: this story is rated MA as it will contain adult themes; meaning lemons, violence, blood play etc. That said if that kind of content isn't your cup of tea or if you are underage, kindly please find something else/age appropriate to read.
Disclaimer: I do not own TB or SVM, the series were Allan Ball's baby and the characters and the main plot belong to Charlaine Harris, capice? Okay then…
Chapter 3
A MONTH EARLIER: MERLOTTE'S BAR & GRILL
Sam heaved a sigh of great relief when his sensitive hearing picked up the sound of approaching sirens - ''...well God damn finally!'', he thought, the sight of Sookie - pale as death, incoherent and bleeding as she was having scared him half to death.
He squeezed her limp, cold hand in one of his while carefully brushing a few blonde strands that have escaped her high ponytail sometime during the hectic work day back with the other and upon realizing the ambulance was much closer now - close enough for ordinary human hearing to pick up the sound, he noted as he spied Arlene hurrying out into the parking lot to help guide the ambulance people towards the bar - he closed his eyes for a moment, relief washing over him.
''Just hang in there cher...'', he whispered, still petting her head gently, ''...helps comin' any second now''.
He raised his blue eyes off of the girl then and looked towards the door, which had just bounced none-to-gently off the wall as it was opened and although he couldn't see her over half the bar's patrons now congregated around him and Sookie, he sure could hear Arlene lead the paramedics towards them.
''Hey!'', Sam raised his voice to be heard over the excited hub-bub of his clientele and the rest of the staff, ''...ya'll shut the hell up and get outta the way now, go on!'', he tried but it was like trying to talk to a brick wall; Bon Temps was, is and always will be a small town where not much of anything exciting ever happens so this was gold level tongue-waggers material and his words went unheard by the people...well, most of them.
''Ya'll heard the man!'', Andy Bellefleur shouted over the noise, his voice carrying, ''...move!''
There was general grumbling and harsh side-eyeing in spades following the loud request but finally people started dispersing - some left the establishment to call up 'the grape vine', most stayed but returned to their tables so they could watch the unfolding events and add to the rumor mill once it started up no doubt but they've moved and for once in his relatively short four years of living in the town, Sam found himself truly and genuinely appreciating the more-often-then-not brash and abrasive detective.
''Thanks Andy'', Sam nodded at the man in question, ''...your tabs on me today''.
At first, the surly detective frowned - he did not like it when people called him by his first name when on duty, damn it! 'Sure, it's a small damn town and everyone knows everyone and their dog but God dammit, can't a man get some fuckin' respect 'round here!'
And then, Sam's words seemed to have finally reached his brain. His light-brown eyes widened almost comically and a weird little half smile stretched his lips: ''...thanks, Merlotte!'', he offered in return, rubbing the back of his close-shaved head in a nervous, embarrassed gesture.
Sam nodded and noticing the approaching paramedics, he raised his hand up: ''over here! She's over here!''
Sam and Arlene - stood just outside of the main Merlotte's entrance - watching as the paramedics closed the door to the ambulance, their unconscious friend strapped to a gurney in the back, an oxygen mask over her pale, blood-streaked face.
The red-haired waitress covered her mouth with a single, well-manicured hand as her wide blue eyes watered at the sight of the ambulance finally taking off, Shreveport bound.
''Oh good Lord, Sam! Someone needs to call Mrs. Stackhouse! Did anyone call her?!'', she asked, her voice growing higher with her worry. ''Oh, I'll just go call her now...and Jason...Where can I find him though? Only God knows where that no-good cad's gone off to no-'', she kept on ranting while pulling gently on strands of her bright red tresses.
''Arlene...Arlene!'', Sam grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her gently, hoping to snap her out of her worry-induced babble.
The red-head gasped and looked at her boss with wide, teary eyes.
''Cher, don't you worry any 'bout that, okay? I'm gonna go over to the Stackhouse's right now and I'll tell Adele what's happened myself, alright? Lord knows, that woman's gon' be worried...and at her age...she shouldn't be alone when she hears this...plus, she'll probably need a ride to the hospital.''
Arlene nodded frantically in agreement: ''yeah, yeah you're right, Sam''.
''Alright then, I'm going now-'', he said, fishing in his pocket for his car keys.
''Okay, you do that...and don't worry 'bout the bar - I'll close up tonight, you just make sure our Sookie's alright...and you call me as soon as you know anything, Sam Merlotte, ya hear me?''
''Aww, thanks cher, I appreciate it'', he smiled, ''...and of course, I'll pay you for the extra hours...''
''Oh don't 'cha worry 'bout that now - just go.''
With a nod and another small smile to convey his gratitude, Sam turned on his heel and jogged back into the bar and out the back, towards where his trusty blue jeep was parked.
Carefully dabbing under her eyes with the corner of her apron to rid herself of the few tears that had managed to escape her, Arlene sniffed and watched her boss's car as it peeled out of the parking lot in a hurry.
A MONTH EARLIER: ANGEL OF MERCY HOSPITAL, SHREVEPORT
He'd been struggling to sit calmly in the hard backed chair of the waiting room of the Neurology wing since the moment they'd all been told to wait there on news of Sookie's condition...But, when the Doctor currently treating her came out to talk to them a couple of hours in, telling them that he'd like a permission from next of kin to go ahead with an MRI and a couple more tests that were a bit more invasive than standard ones, and his Gran - who up till then remained strong and steadfast - had crumbled were she sat, crying her eyes out...Jason got up and started pacing the length of the room, his brown eyes squeezed shut tightly against the worry and helplessness choking him.
Glancing at the clock on the wall as he yet again repeated his circuit of the room, he noticed that another three hours had ticked by as it was now close to 11 PM. 'I wonder when they're gon' tell us what's goin' on with ma' sister, God dammit! It's been hours now...'
A couple of tears he couldn't blink back in time rolled down his ruddy, sun kissed cheeks and he swiped at them angrily before resuming his pacing, his fingers buried in his hair.
Sighing, Sam Merlotte stood from his seat next to Sookie and Jason's Grandma and approached the highly strung man. ''Jason'', he called out gently, laying a hand on the other man's shoulder to stop him in his tracks, ''...Jason, go sit down'', and when it looked like the younger male was about to argue with him, he added: ''...I know you're worried, but your grandmother needs you to be strong right now''.
At those words, Jason's red-rimmed brown eyes shifted away from his sister's boss and locked onto the equally as red-rimmed blue eyed gaze of his gran; his gran whom he'd never'd seen cry like this before, not when Hadley ran away from her last stint in rehab that she and Sookie had scraped every single free penny they had to pay for...she didn't cry like that when granddaddy Earl disappeared, not even when momma and daddy perished in that damn flash flood...
Swallowing the lump of emotion building in his throat, Jason quickly nodded and made his way over to the seats, parking himself next to his gran before pulling her into a hug.
Sam watched the two for a minute, happy to see that Adele seemed to be calming down some now that Jason was next to her, whispering soft words of comfort into her ear.
Exhaling the breath he'd been holding for what seemed to have been hours, Sam glanced down the corridor in search of Tara who had gone down it to see if she could find a coffee machine and just as the woman in question rounded a corner - her hands laden down with four cups of to-go coffee, he noticed Doctor Turner step out of an elevator just behind Sookie's best friend.
''Hey ya'll...'', Sam quietly interrupted the moment between grandmother and grandson, ''...the Doctor's comin' this way''.
Jason immediately jumped up to his feet and extended a hand, helping his gran stand with a muttered, ''well, about time...''
''Hey, what's goin' on?'', Tara asked as she finally made it back to the waiting room and held a cup out for gran to take.
Adele took the offered beverage with a weak ''thank you, honey'', and Jason continued for her as he took his own cup from the girl he thought of as his second sister: ''you're just in time, Tara. The Docs on his way here.''
''Yeah?'', the dark skinned young woman asked, her eyebrows raised and Jason motioned the approaching figure of the doctor with a nod of his head.
Tara turned around and found that Jason was right: Doctor Turner had just come to a stop and was looking at them, seemingly searching for the right words to use in whatever he had to tell them and perhaps this silent stand-off would have continued for a while still, if not for Adele Stackhouse, who seemed to be barely holding onto her famed patience.
''Doctor'', the elderly woman spoke, her voice croaky from all that crying, ''is there any news? How's my Sookie doing? Did you find out what's happened to her..?''
Doctor Turner sighed tiredly. He'd been working for hours now to find out the root cause of what had happened to the young woman currently in his care and how to help her and while he had made some headway, he was still stumped.
Smoothing back his mid-length black hair generously peppered with silver, Nicholas Turner looked at the worried people congregated in front of him and nodded. ''I do have some news, yes...'', he began slowly, trying to find the best way to explain the situation at hand, ''...however, I think it's best if we discuss this in my office. And please - family only.''
Adele gasped and clutched her chest. ''Alright then. Jason, Tara - come.'' Muttering a quick prayer in her mind, the older woman grasped her grandson's hand in her own and then did the same with Tara.
The Doctor raised a skeptical eyebrow and opened his mouth to remind the older woman that this was strictly for 'family only', but she wouldn't have it; with a firm, cold glare in her eyes and an even colder tone of voice, Adele Stackhouse rounded on the Doctor: ''Tara is family.''
Doctor Turner gulped and Jason openly smirked at the look on the man's face.
''Right then'', Nicholas croaked out before clearing his throat, ''this way please.''
''So Doc, what's the verdict?'', Jason asked as soon as they all made themselves comfortable in the privacy of the Doctor's office.
Doctor Turner - hands resting on top of the desk, fingers interlocked - sighed. ''To be completely honest with you, Mister Stackhouse...I'm not sure.''
Jason frowned.
''What do you mean, you're not sure..?'', Tara asked, not quite able to withhold the incredulity and anger she felt from her tone. ''Aren't you a doctor? It's your God damn job to know!''
''Tara...'', Adele Stackhouse looked at the girl next to her, a reprimand in her wise old gaze.
''Sorry'', Tara mumbled under her breath yet the slightly mulish expression on her face showed everyone in the room that she was not sorry at all.
''It's alright miss..?'', Nicholas Turner inquired, an understanding look in his eyes.
''Thornton'', Tara answered gruffly as she defensively crossed her arms over her chest.
''Miss Thornton'', Doctor Turner started again, ''I will try to paraphrase: what I meant to say is that...your friends case is...unique. '' Here, he stopped speaking and bringing his now steepled fingers to his lips, thought about how to best explain the situation to people with little to no knowledge of medical terminology.
''In fact, it's so unique that, in all my 28 years of experience working in Neurology field, I have never ever seen anything like it.''
Tara found herself feeling shocked and bereft at the doctor's words but Jason, who quickly took his grans hand into his own in a show of support when she gave a little helpless sob, frowned. ''What do you mean? Can't you tell what's wrong with her..?''
Doctor Turner sighed. ''Not quite, Mister Stackhouse.'' He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, ''...when your sister was brought in, I heavily suspected a stroke.''
At this, Adele gasped and squeezed Jason's hand like a vice but the young man didn't show any outwardly signs of discomfort and only gulped in fear of what Sookie suffering a stroke would mean.
Tara gripped the edge of the desk in front off her. ''Suspected?'', she asked, her voice warbly.
Doctor Turner nodded. ''Yes. Judging by what the paramedics gathered from the people at the scene as well as Miss Stackhouse's vitals at the time, it was a big possibility...and that's why I ran all of the usual and required tests for somebody suffering a suspected stroke. But, the results came back as negative, there were no signs of a stroke.''
Jason stared at the doctor in confusion, feeling scared and utterly lost.
''It's alright though as signs of a stroke don't always show in preliminary testing. So to be absolutely sure, we went to the next step - a brain scan. Now, what I need you to understand is that there are quite a few scans available in general but, when dealing with a patient with suspected stroke, every minute counts and so we went straight for an MRI as it was the fastest way to see if there were any stroke signs at all.''
''Alright, what'd it show?'', Jason asked while hanging onto the docs every word, trying his best to understand what was being said.
''We found a bleed.''
''When you say a bleed...'', Adele started, her voice gravelly from crying.
Jason's forehead furrowed - ''...is that why there was blood comin' outta her nose?'', he asked and both Tara and his gran turned to look at him. He shrugged, ''...Dawn told me, when she called to tell me 'bout what happened...''
The two women nodded in acquiescence before, once again, giving their full and undivided attention to the doctor.
''That would be correct, Mister Stackhouse although it is quite rare for there to be visible signs of internal bleeding - such as blood coming out one's nose...but not unheard of'', Nicholas Turner confirmed before turning his attention to the elderly woman: ''...and, Missus Stackhouse...by a bleed, I meant a bleed in your granddaughter's brain, which usually is a sign of a stroke'', he clarified in a kindly tone, ''knowing this, we next needed to find out where exactly the bleeding was occurring and what type of a bleed it is as there are different types of strokes. The first type is called an 'Ischaemic Stroke' and it happens when the blood vessels in the brain are blocked by a clot or have become too narrow for blood to get through.''
Here, Doctor Turner waited a minute for his patient's family to digest the information before continuing: ''the second type is known as an 'Haemorrhagic Stroke' and it occurs when a blood vessel in one's brain bursts rather than becoming blocked and, of course, there is the third type known as 'Subarachnoid Haemorrhage', which occurs when an aneurysm bursts.''
Adele nodded to show the doctor that she was keeping up with what he was saying and Jason, while slower to absorb the influx of information since he never was the brightest crayon in the box, so to speak, nodded too while Tara hmmd her understanding.
Satisfied, Doctor Turner continued: ''...alright then. Well, having found a bleed, I was sure that my initial suspicion of stroke had been confirmed. But then we were facing the dilemma of finding the precise location of the bleed to see what our next step ought to be. This in mind, we performed a secondary scan - an fMRI - which is a lot like a normal MRI but whereas the first one can help confirm or deny signs of a stroke, the fMRI gives a more in depth, internal view of the brain to help pin-point the exact location of the bleed. Does that make sense?''
Nodding, Tara asked: ''...and did you find it? The location..?''
''Yes'', Doctor Turner answered, ''we found it and were able to have a better look at the bleed thanks to the second scan, however...'', here, Jason and Adele tensed, waiting with dread in their hearts for the doctor to continue while Tara sucked her plump bottom lip in between her teeth and gently bit down on it - ''...it's what we didn't find during this scan that has me lost on what's going on with Miss Stackhouse.''
''Huh? Okay, now you lost me...'', Jason chuckled, scratching at his head.
Raising his index finger in the universal 'hold on' gesture, Nicholas Turner smiled. ''I am sorry Mister Stackhouse - let me paraphrase: yes, we found a bleed in your sister's brain and we found the exact location of it. However, the fMRI showed that the bleeding was not stroke related as there were no burst vessels or clots.''
''Okay'', Jason whispered hoarsely, ''...but then what's with the bleedin'? It can't be just 'cause, right?'', he asked, his expressive brown eyes wide and brimming with tears.
Doctor Turner swallowed past the lump in his throat. ''We found a lesion.''
Tara gasped, ''are serious right now?''
Adele looked at the girl she considered as her second granddaughter and then glanced back at Doctor Turner. ''What's a lesion..?''
Holding his breath, he answered: ''a lesion, Missus Stackhouse is a medical term for a rupture.''
The Stackhouse family's matriarch gasped and covered her face with her hands, her shoulders quaking with the sudden outpouring of emotion as she once again found herself crying.
Jason was simply floored; he too found himself crying with the doctor's explanation, the expanding feeling of utter despair threatening to drown him and Tara - silent tears rolling down her cheeks - bit back a sob and faced the doctor. ''What caused it, do you know?''
Raking a hand through his graying black hair, Doctor Turner answered: ''...under normal circumstances, I would say Miss Stackhouse suffered a serious injury to the head but, since that is not the case here I...It's a mystery to me, Miss Thornton.''
Tara nodded in understanding before laying a gentle hand on the shoulder of the elderly woman that had all but raised her as one of her own since she was little.
''Also...'', Doctor Turner cleared his throat to continue and all three worry-stricken people looked up at him, ''...I would like to say that the lesion is very small - minuscule really and Miss Stackhouse should make a full recovery, given enough time, with bare minimum to no permanent damage.''
With those words, it was as though a fresh breeze washed over the room - everyone felt the gloom lift almost immediately.
''Oh, thank you, sweet baby Jesus'', Jason cried, before embracing his gran and then pulling Tara into the hug, ''...come here, you.''
Again, Doctor Turner cleared his throat to gain the attention of the room's occupants. ''Now that we have that out of the way...I would like to discuss with you another glaring thing I've noticed during the scan...''
''What would that be, Doctor Turner?'', Adele Stackhouse asked as Jason released her from the hug but kept his arms around Tara as the girl was still trying to rein in her tears.
''I may not know or ever find out what caused Miss Stackhouse's current condition as frankly - medically speaking - this kinda thing is simply impossible without sustaining a very serious head injury.''
''Alright'', Adele nodded.
''...but I do have a small inkling as to a possible cause.''
''My stars'', the elderly woman whispered, sitting up in her chair, ''you do?''
''Yes'', Doctor Turner answered, ''please keep in mind that this is only a speculation that - currently, at least - cannot be proven...''
''Of course, I understand'', Adele dipped her head once in understanding.
''During the second scan, I've noticed something else: certain areas of Miss Stackhouse's brain were 'lit up', for a lack of a better word, all at once as though they were being continuously stimulated. Parts such as the parahippocampal gyrus, which is responsible for such things as storing long-term memories and making those memories resistant to forgetting, also as place recognition, navigation...'', here he went quiet and thoughtful for a moment, ''...and...there are speculations, wild speculations going around the scientific field that, this part of the brain? That it may also be responsible for unusual...talents, let's say.''
Adele blinked, and blinked again before discreetly side-eyeing the two youngsters next to her, who seemed to have been frozen by the doctor's words. ''Unusual talents, you say?''
Doctor Turner nodded. ''Yes, ma'am. This 'idea' was born when a few scientifically inclined minds were discussing the believability of the so called psychic's, I believe, and whether their 'powers' and 'abilities' could be scientifically proven.''
The three people listening attentively to the doctor's explanation nodded and waited for him to continue.
''But I digress as that last part there - even to this day - is only speculation'', Doctor Turner rubbed his chin in thought, ''...and although that particular part of the brain is where the bleed in Miss Stackhouse's brain is located which, again, should not be possible without serious trauma, it also should not be lit up the way it is either. And to make matters even more peculiar, her limbic cortex is also lit up like a Christmas tree...'', Doctor Turner huffed in obvious consternation.
''Her limbic-what-now?'', Jason asked, his face the picture of innocent confusion.
''Limbic Cortex, Mister Stackhouse. It's a part of the brain responsible for emotions as they originate from the limbic system of our brain, which is a region that controls emotions and behavior that we all rely on for survival'', Nicholas Turner explained patiently.
''Oh'', Jason muttered with a frown, then nodded.
''So, what does that all mean?'', Tara asked, ''...in regard to Sookie, I mean...''
Jason snapped his fingers, ''...what she said...'', he added with a gesture of his head towards Tara.
''Well'', Doctor Turner began slowly, trying to find the best way to explain his theory, ''...I am almost 85% certain that that particular part of Miss Stackhouse's brain became stimulated - by what, or how exactly - I do not know, and at first she probably couldn't focus perhaps were in some pain...and then something caused the stimuli to increase exponentially and her brain, unable to handle such stress, shut down.''
''Oh...'', Adele murmured - the way Doctor Turner explained it, she was almost sure this was because Sookie's...gift...was acting up.
''So, is there anything you can do for her?'', asked Tara, worriedly nibbling on her lip.
Doctor Turner sighed tiredly. ''Yes there is. If the bleed had occurred due to a stroke, we would operate to try and repair any vessel damaged or to remove a clot...however, in Miss Stackhouse's case, the lesion being so small, we would normally heavily sedate her and just let her rest while keeping an eye on her, followed by follow-up scans to see whether the lesion is healing.''
''And that's it?!'', Tara demanded to know, her voice rising in volume.
Nicholas did not react to the young woman's show of character, ''...yes, Miss Thornton - normally. However, Miss Stackhouse's scan showing what it is, the most pertinent thing in this case is to stop the constant stream of...whatever it is that's over-stimulating her brain and, I am afraid that a simple sedation will not help her. That is why, with your permission of course-'', Doctor Turner looked at Adele and Jason, ''- I would like to induce a medical coma...''
TWO WEEKS EARLIER: STACKHOUSE FARM
''Jace honestly'', Sookie huffed from her perch in Jason's arms as he carried her from his truck to the house they both had grown up in, ''...you're my brother and I love you but I ain't an invalid - I can walk.''
Jason looked down at his baby sister - the beginnings of a pout on her lips - and shook his head. ''I know that but Sook, you were only brought out of that coma thing three days ago - back in the hospital, you couldn't even go to the bathroom by yourself without keelin' over 'cause ya legs were quiverin' like newborn colt's...and now you want me to not only let you walk up to the house all on your own but also let you climb them stairs? You got a death-wish or somethin'?''
The blonde waitress huffed again and was about to open her mouth to argue Jason's very valid point when her plan was ruined: ''Sookie, you listen to your brother'', their gran admonished from behind them as in her advanced age she could no longer keep up with the young'uns, ''oh, Tara honey, could you get the door for Jason?'', Adele asked of the girl beside her as they followed the sibling pair up the front porch steps.
''Sure thing, gran'', Tara answered with a quick fond smile for the woman that had raised and loved her as her own, before swiftly slipping past Jason to open the door.
As soon as the key had turned in the lock, Tara pushed the door open and entered the house that had been in the Stackhouse family for several generations by now, keeping the door ajar while she flattened herself to the foyer wall so her childhood crush and her best friend could enter the home without any issues.
''Thanks Tara'', smiling gratefully, Jason winked at the girl he always considered as another sister as he walked past her on his way in. ''Okay sis, we're almost there'', he stage whispered to Sookie as he started their trek up the winding staircase, Tara watching his every step with a love-sick expression on her face.
With a small wistful smile, Adele Stackhouse walked past the oft times brash and opinionated young woman without a word so as not to embarrass her over her obvious mooning over her grandson as she headed to the kitchen to prepare a light lunch, not for the first time wishing said grandson would be more observant. 'Oh, if only that boy would stop chasin' every skirt in Renard Parish for just five minutes, maybe he'd finally see what's right in front of him...'
Jason carefully lowered his baby sister to sit on a chair by one of the window's closest to her bed whilst he busied himself with turning down her flowery comforter and fluffed her pillows, an expression of deep concentration on his face.
He stood back once finished, evaluating his handiwork with a critical eye and Sookie couldn't hold back the snort of hilarity from escaping her even if she tried.
Jason glowered at her. ''Are you laughin' at me sis? Cause, lemme tell you, that ain't cool'', he growled but his brown eyes were sparkling with mirth.
Sookie giggled and then quickly slapped a hand over her mouth. ''I'm sorry Jace'', she apologized, trying and failing to keep a straight face as she shook with silent laughter.
Jason playfully narrowed his eyes at her. ''Uh-huh, like hell you're sorry but your gon' wish you were'', and then he pounced, tickling her sides mercilessly till she started wheezing she was laughing so hard. He let up then and quickly scooping her back up into his arms, he carried her over to the bed only to drop her unceremoniously onto it, a shit eating grin on his face.
With a squawk, Sookie bounced a couple of times before stilling, her dark brown eyes wide and her blonde tresses now wild and half in her face. She brushed the golden strands back and out of her face, her lips puckered up as though sucking on a lemon as she looked up at her big brother.
Jason chuckled, ''that'll teach you how to laugh at your favorite brother'', he said pointing a finger at her.
Sookie narrowed her eyes at him, ''now who told ya you're my favorite brother?'', she asked, her own eyes sparkling with poorly hidden merriment, ''...there's always Lala and at least he's always up for a good old girls day out...''
''Sookie Stackhouse! You take that back, right now!'', Jason demanded with another growl.
''Nuh-uh!'', Sookie retorted with a snort and Jason - his arms raised high and hands curled into claws - roared loudly and pounced again. ''Say you're sorry and that I'm the absolute favorite!'', he demanded while his baby sister writhed on the bed, squealing with laughter as he continued to tickle her.
''Never!'', she gasped out, ''it's Queen Lala all the way!''
Jason smirked: ''...it's your funeral'', he quipped, this time going for her Achilles heel - the backsides of her knees and as Sookie shrieked loudly with uncontrollable laughter, two sets of footsteps approached the room only to stop in the doorway: ''what in tarnation is all that noise about?'', Adele Stackhouse asked loudly enough to be heard over the unholy racket as she stood there, looking for a good spot to place down the tray-full of sandwiches and a pitcher of iced tea on.
The sibling pair froze like does' in the headlights of an oncoming car, both sporting disheveled hair and identically wide brown eyes.
From behind Adele, Tara snorted and quickly turned away, her body shaking with silent laughter at the siblings antics.
At the sight of her laughing, Jason seemed to have snapped out of his shock. ''Oh you think that's funny, do ya?!'', he grinned before launching himself over the bed and straight at Tara.
The girl in question squeaked and tried to run but Jason had always been fast - there was no escaping him when he set his sights on you - and so it was no big surprise when his arms wrapped around her middle like iron bands and bodily lifted her of the ground, spinning around wild and fast a couple of times before picking her up proper and making his way back over to the bed.
Tara looked up at him from beneath her lashes just in time to catch the playful wink thrown her way and as she looked up at him fully, he grinned un-repentantly and tossed her on the bed just like he'd done with his sister earlier.
Landing with a shrill shriek, Tara too bounced on the mattress before stilling, her deep brown - almost black - eyes blown wide. 'Did he really just do that?'
Now sat next to her best friend, Sookie winced when a sharp zing of pain shot through her temples and then Tara's thoughts where swirling in her head - 'Did he really just do that?'. Pssssshhaw, yeah he did...I always knew Jason was strong...and fast, but daaaamn.'
The next second, she was assaulted with a visual image of Jason from last summer, if she had to guess, when Tara caught him mowing the lawn in the back garden; barefoot and wearing only a ratty pair of old jeans and a dirty baseball cap worn backwards, his bare chest glistening with sweat in the early morning sun...and then he stopped and bent down to pick up a dry twig off the ground so it wouldn't get pulled into and damage the machine's blade.
Snapping out of the memory at the sound of his laughter and gran scolding him gently, Tara starred unblinkingly at the object of her fascination as he - unknowingly mimicking his own actions from her memories - bent down in real life to set down the chair he just brought over to the bed.
Tara's teeth sank into her plump bottom lip as her eyes glued themselves to his butt. 'Mm-mm...just look at them buns, girl...all round and firm, just the way you like 'em...'
With a groan, Sookie let her head hit the headboard. She squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed past the sudden feeling of nausea, praying the pain would stop when another searing zing hit her temples.
Suddenly, there was a hand on her shoulder. ''Sook, you okay?'', Jason asked, his voice laced with worry.
Slowly opening her eyes, she saw him kneeling at the side of her bed, his face which only moments ago had been shinning with happiness was once again marred with worry lines.
She tired to smile past the pain but it came out looking more like a grimace.
''Oh honey'', her gran whispered as she sat down at the foot of the bed, her trembling hand wrapping around her ankle and gently squeezing. ''Does your head hurt?''
With a barely audible whimper, Sookie nodded yes.
''Here sis, I've got your pills. I think you better take 'em'', Jason muttered, pulling out a bottle of pain meds from his jeans pocket.
At this point, Tara slowly got up and off the bed before tip-toeing her way over to the tray where she proceeded to fill a glass with iced tea.
Shaking two pills out, Jason quickly handed them over and Sookie popped them into her mouth, ready to dry-swallow them when a cold glass of fragrant iced tea was passed to her next.
''Thank you'', she whispered weakly once she was done, her eyes closing again.
Adele Stackhouse gazed worriedly at her ailing granddaughter for a moment before rising from the bed slowly and carefully so as not to disturb the girl who seemed to be already succumbing to sleep. Clasping her hands, the old woman murmured a quick prayer and then turned towards her grandson, who was still kneeling at his sisters side. The boy looked stressed and tired.
''Jason'', she whispered quietly, ''honey, let's go. Let your sister rest.''
Nodding, he rose to his feet yet found it impossible to move away: it was Sookie - layin' there in that pink bed of hers...all sick and helpless when she was never sick before, never. His baby sister, whom he loved more than life itself...even if he didn't tell her that often enough.
Watching as Jason gently covered Sookie with a blanket, Tara smiled and quietly retreated out of the room, carrying with her the tray holding the barely touched iced tea and a plateful of sandwiches none of them got to taste.
''I love you, Sook'', Jason whispered as he kissed his sister's blonde head and wordlessly wished her sweet dreams before he followed his gran out of the room, closing the door quietly behind them.
It had grown dark hours ago and the sole occupant of the clearly feminine room - generously decorated in pinks and whites and creams - was still fast asleep.
Her brow was furrowed and small gasps kept escaping her pouty, pink lips as she tossed and turned, her blonde tresses sticking to her sweaty face...
As if waking from a deep sleep, her eyes open and she gasps at what she sees: its the local swimming hole - a sandy, relatively shallow river bank hidden by lush trees and other such greenery, just 15 miles east of Bon Temps. The same swimming hole her momma and daddy used to take Jason and her to in the summers when it got too hot.
The summer breeze is warm as it brushes through her wavy blonde locks and the water is shinning in the afternoon sun. Her ears catch the familiar strains of a song she's sure she's heard before but cannot remember where and she finds herself turning towards the sound...
'Someone told me long ago, there's calm before the storm,
I know, it's been comin' for some time,
When it's over, so they say
It'll rain a sunny day,
I know, shinin' down like water...'
She freezes like a scared little rabbit at the sight before her: there's her momma - lookin' every bit as beautiful as she remembers - rootin' through the boot of a car that's awfully familiar, it's sandy brown color and darker wood side paneling calling her name. Almost as though in a trance, she finds herself walking towards it, her eyes glued to the vehicle when the driver's side door opens and the song playing on the car's radio washes over her.
'I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?
I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?
Comin' down on a sunny day...'
Someone steps out of the car, someone tall, and Sookie glances up to see their face but is momentarily blinded by the harsh sunlight. Blinking to rid herself of the white spots dancing in her vision, she quickly shields her eyes with an arm over her forehead and then she's gasping again when she sees daddy step out of the car: he's only wearing his favorite jean shorts and a simple grey muscle tee, his face and neck glistening with sweat.
'Hey champ!', daddy hollers and Sookie frowns - daddy never called her that...then her eyes widen and she turns around only to see Jason...Jason as he was when they both were children: not too tall yet not the shortest, a deep tan and brown eyes - just like her's and momma's - and a rather awkward dirty blond bowl-cut atop his head...and she can't help it; she grins widely as she watches him almost throw the packed basket onto the pick-nick table and take off running towards their dad, even as their momma scolds him for being careless.
'Yesterday, and days before
Sun is cold and rain is hard,
I know, been that way for all my time.
'Til forever, on it goes
Through the circle, fast and slow,
I know, It can't stop, I wonder...'
She watches on as the father-son duo start up a fast paced game of catch, throwing the ball back and forth rather forcefully and momma - who's leanin' up against the side of the car now that she's unloaded everything needed for a family outing by the water - keeps on scoffing and rolling her eyes at the sight of her boys rough-housing so early on in the day.
Sookie giggles and goes to join her mama since she knows from experience catch is for 'boys only'. Approaching the woman who's own blonde hair is currently blowing in the breeze, she makes herself comfortable leaning against the sun-warmed side of the car just like Michelle Stackhouse.
She glances up at the older woman, trying to catch her attention when it suddenly dawns on her that she's looking up instead of looking at her...
'I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?
I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?
Comin' down on a sunny day...
Frowning, she glances down at herself, one of her hands outstretched in front of her: the hand is tiny and so are the bare feet and she's wearing...oh golly...it's her favorite dress - a white, sleeveless summer dress with ruffles at the shoulders and the bottom, dotted with small colorful butterflies - it was a birthday gift from gran but she hadn't seen it in ages as it had gone missing one day and that was that.
Sadness overcomes her and tears brimming in her eyes, Sookie looks up at her momma - only her momma ain't where she was anymore...all is silent, except for the song still playing on the car's radio. She turns towards where Jason and daddy are playing catch only to find them gone as well and she starts to panic.
'Momma? Daddy!', she calls out as hot tears start rolling down her chubby cheeks, '...Jace...?'
There is no answer but the far-away clap of thunder and a flash of bright light. Wiping at her eyes, she looks up at the sky and finds that it's gone dark and heavy with approaching storm clouds, lightning flashing across the vastness of dark gray in uneven intervals.
Ice-cold fear gnawing at her insides, Sookie closes her eyes and focuses her mind - listening.
Beads of sweat are rolling down her face as the blonde waitress keeps on tossing and turning, her incomprehensible murmurs and whimpers the only sounds in the room awash with the darkness of the forthcoming night.
'I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?
I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?
Comin' down on a sunny day...'
Then, there's sudden pressure on her chest; pushing her deeper down into the icy coldness even though she can feel herself struggle wildly to escape. Her heart racing in her chest, she opens her eyes and realizes that she is underwater, kicking and thrashing and screaming...
Water gushes down her throat and she can't breathe and it hurts!
Survival instinct kicking in, Sookie kicks off from the bottom and coughing and spluttering she manages to surface - brown eyes wild with terror dart around, searching for the unknown attacker and, perhaps, a way to escape but all she sees is the darkness of the night all around her, pierced only by two thin beams of light coming from up ahead - she focuses on them and can just barely make out the shape of a car because the light is sparse and it's being mostly blocked by the hulking figure in front of her as well as the heavy rain coming down in sheets.
She screams and kicks out at the figure before her as it pushes her under again, her thin legs and arms hitting out at whatever they can reach but it's no use as the one holding her under is so much stronger than her.
Faster than she thought possible, her lungs fill up with the icy water and her chest burns as, in her desperation, she inhales...and as eventually her body stops it's struggle, she is released from the iron grip of her killer.
Inches away from death, her body surfaces and through the darkness of the night and the ceaseless pelting of rain the last thing she sees before everything goes dark are blue eyes - familiar blue eyes she knows but can't quite name...
She wakes gasping and coughing, as though her airways are full of water and she cannot breathe. She panics and struggles with the bed sheets even as she frantically claws at her throat.
Unknowingly, she draws in a deep breath and then, the stillness of the night is rent by a blood-curdling scream.
A/N: There, a whole brand spanking new chapter for you all! I know I said I'd first edit the original 3 chapters before posting new material but I've realized that there was a lot missing and so here we are. The next chapter will be the original chapter 3 - heavily edited, of course - and then it will be new material only. Enjoy :)
P.S. - The song used in this chapter is Have You Ever Seen The Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival.
P.P.S. - The medical terminology used is legit as is the part about scientific research on abilities and which part of the brain is responsible for it. In this case, the parahippocampal gyrus is being investigated as a possible brain part responsible for telepathy and clairvoyance. The rest is utter bullshit lol.
