A/N: Hello again, or for the first time.
I think my favourite Sookie/Eric trope is amnesia!Eric, just like the fourth book is my favourite book. This one is a little different. It picks up the night before Eric would have popped into existence running down Hummingbird Road.
I have two other WIPs on the go, I know, but those will be finished. As will this. I promise.
Chapter 1
Sookie let the employee entrance door close behind her on the way out of Merlotte's. It was early in the morning of December thirty-first and she was tired. Just thinking about her next shift later that night made her even more so. The good news was that it was going to put a good bit of money in her pocket. New Year's Eve was her best tip night of the year and then she would have two days off afterwards. She turned the key in the lock and headed for her little yellow car. It was the only one left in the parking lot. Sam had gone home to his double wide behind the bar just a few minutes earlier and she was the last one out.
Halfway there, she paused. She felt like something was wrong, but she couldn't really put a finger on it. It almost felt like she was being watched. She looked around and over her shoulder and saw nothing but the bar and the corner of Sam's trailer. She rolled her eyes at herself. She stuck her keys between her fingers, though, just in case. She had been a little paranoid since the Weres in that motorcycle gang had been after her. Not to mention getting attacked by the maenad. And, truth be told, since the rape, even though she knew that Bill hadn't really been able to help it. But she sure did hate seeing him again.
Somehow, those thoughts led her back to the bedroom in Russell Edgington's house with Eric, and what might have happened if Bubba hadn't interrupted them. She shivered, but it was only partly because of the cold. She could still feel the effects of his blood in her system since she'd drunk it that night. Unfortunately, she was pretty sure that meant that Eric could, too.
She shook her head and opened her car door. In the side mirror she caught a glimpse of someone creeping around the car. So, she hadn't been imagining things. She debated getting in and trying to get the door closed and locked in time, or turn around and fight. A few months prior, she would have done the former. And gotten caught. This time, she spun around and threw her fist. It caught the person right in the jaw, keys first. And then there was nothing.
…
Eric Northman closed the door around the side of Fangtasia. There was nobody around. He liked it that way. He was just climbing into his Corvette when he heard footsteps, getting closer. Whoever-it-was was running. He paid it no mind. Not until he could feel the runner's approach. Sookie. He watched her jog past him on the road across the parking lot from the bar. He had no idea what in the world she was doing there.
"Sookie!"
She started to run a little faster. Almost a sprint. He didn't think she'd be able to keep up that pace for very long. She turned around to look at him when he called her name again and started to follow. She tripped over her own two feet and stumbled to the ground. He caught up with her before she found her footing. She tried to skitter away from him when he took her arm.
"Sookie, are you alright?"
Through gritted teeth she said, "Get your fucking hands off of me!"
She was struggling hard to get away from him but couldn't budge. He let her go and raised his hands in a show of peace. She backed away from him and stood up. She had moved out of reach but she didn't run.
"Sookie, what-"
She cut him off.
"Who in the hell are you? And what in the hell is a Sookie?"
He wrinkled his brow but his lip twitched, despite himself.
"Well, you are. That is your name."
She paused.
"Are you trying to trick me? And who even are you?"
His brow wrinkled a little more.
"I am Eric. What are you doing here, running down the road past Fangtasia in the middle of the night?"
She relaxed just a little bit but was still ready to run if she needed to get away. Not that she could outrun this guy.
"I… I don't know. I don't know anything. It's like I didn't exist, and then I did. I don't remember anything before I was running down the street a few minutes ago. And I know you?"
"Yes. You know me very well. Come. I will take you home."
She tensed up again.
"I'm not getting into a car with you. You could be some kind of pervert or something."
He laughed.
"I promise not to bite."
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"What is that, vampire humour?"
He laughed again, pleased she knew he was Vampire, at least.
"Yes. But please don't hold it against me. If you won't get in my car, how about Fangtasia? You could sleep on the couch in my office. And we need to heal the wounds on your hands and knees."
She looked at him warily. She didn't know if she could trust him, but she was freezing cold and terrified and hurt. She didn't know who this vampire was, but she didn't know who she was, either.
She knew how her mind worked, though, and wished like hell she could read his and know for a fact that what he was telling her was true. But he seemed to know her, and had expected her to know him, too. And he seemed to be able to fill in at least some of the blanks. And she didn't have anywhere else to go.
After a couple of long moments, she said, "Okay..."
She kept her distance and followed him to the strip mall beside them. It was across the parking lot from a Toys R Us. He unlocked the employee entrance and held the door open for her. She hesitated before she hurried past him and inside.
"It is the first door on the right."
She didn't want to be cornered, so she scurried past the door to wait for him to enter first. He did, and she followed him in. True to his word, there was a sofa off to the side. He gestured to it. She paused before sitting down. He sat down in the chair across from her. After a moment, she let out a big breath.
"So, how do we know each other, anyway?"
"I met you here at my bar almost a year ago. You were with your boyfriend at the time. Another vampire named Bill Compton. You know you are a telepath, yes?"
She nodded.
"You've done work for me, reading minds."
She frowned. She didn't know if that was something she would do or not.
"Is that all?"
He paused, the wheels in his mind turning.
"No. We are lovers. We have had sex many times."
She frowned again. It made sense that she would date vampires, with their silent minds. She just had no idea whether or not he was telling her the truth. He had certainly seemed very familiar with her, and had expected her to know who he was.
He smiled at her.
"I have had your blood. You have had mine, more than once. I felt you approach. And I can tell that you are frightened. Confused. Perhaps you feel drawn to me, as I feel drawn to you."
She nodded, hesitantly.
He leaned forward and gingerly took her hand.
"Shall I clean your wounds? I can get a wet towel if you'd rather, but my saliva will heal it quickly and take away the sting.
She hesitated.
"A towel, please."
He was a little disappointed but she had taken her hand back gently rather than ripping it out of his.
He got up and found a bar towel in the storeroom. He wet it at the sink in the employee bathroom and went back to his office. He sat back down and took her hand again. He was pleased when she allowed him to gently clean her skinned palms.
"The knees of your pants are torn. I smell more blood. I can take your jeans off and tend to those wounds as well."
She thought for a long moment.
"No. No thank you."
He grinned this time and waggled his eyebrows.
"Are you sure? I promise to try to behave myself."
She narrowed her eyes but he could feel the barest hint of amusement, despite everything.
"How about this? I will give you one of my shirts to change into. It will cover you, and I will be able to take care of your wounds."
She hesitated, but then nodded her head.
Frankly, she was terrified, but not of the vampire, although that sounded ridiculous. She was certainly wary of him, but he was being so helpful and kind and the world was a scary place when she had no idea where — let alone who — she was.
He handed her a clean T-shirt he had retrieved from a closet in the storeroom and closed the office door behind him to give her some privacy. She took off her white Merlotte's golf shirt and slid down her jeans. Her knees were skinned badly and had dirt and a bit of gravel embedded inside. They really did need to be cleaned. She put his T-shirt on over her bra and panties and it hung down past mid-thigh. She folded her clothes and set them on the arm of the couch and then peeked out the door. She didn't feel like being alone. It scared her and she… missed his presence. She was all alone in this world, except for him, and it felt like this was something that had been done to her, maliciously.
She opened the door to find him leaning on the wall outside, waiting. He smiled at her but didn't leer.
He entered the office again and cleaned the blood and dirt from her knees. He patted her leg gently when he was through.
"It is too late for me to take you back to Bon Temps. That is where you live. And I'm concerned that you might still be in some danger. I think likely there was magic involved in your condition. Would you come with me to my home? I will soon be dead for the day and I promise to give you space. If you stay here, my wait staff will arrive long before I do. I can leave them a note not to disturb you and keep their mouths closed, but I can't guarantee it."
It was getting close to sunrise and she had the feeling that staying would put her in more danger, whether it would or not. She felt very alone and afraid. And, for some reason, she almost trusted him.
"I… I guess I'll go home with you.
He was pleased. He wasn't comfortable leaving her alone in Bon Temps or the bar. Judging by her track record, he wasn't sure she would be safe. She had been wearing her work uniform, so obviously something had happened to her at Merlotte's, her house, or in between. He was sure she hadn't been down the road from Fangtasia at this time of night with her work clothes on so soon after closing on her own.
She was such a magnet for trouble, and they had no real idea why she had lost her memories. But he could guess. Hallow and her brother. He didn't know if they were after her or Sam or himself. At any rate, she was in danger and he needed to keep her safe.
"Come, then. And bring your clothes. You can wash them during the daytime."
The idea of a vampire doing something as mundane as washing his own laundry managed to amuse her just a bit.
She hesitated a bit before getting into the Corvette but then got in and buckled her seatbelt. He didn't bother. They drove in silence for a while. It was all so disorienting. She knew what everything was around her but none of it looked or sounded or felt familiar. Not even the clothing sitting on her lap.
"So, I have a job?"
"Yes. You are a waitress at a bar in Bon Temps called Merlotte's."
"I thought I worked for you."
He drove for a minute or so before he spoke.
"That is more of a… favour than a job."
"Oh. You'd think I'd make a lot more money reading minds than waiting tables."
He smiled. He agreed. It was just that the old Sookie did not.
"We can renegotiate our terms at another time. Are you hungry?"
She shook her head.
"I will have my day man, Bobby, bring you some food and supplies."
They went through the gates of the subdivision and pulled into Eric's garage and went inside. He led her to a bedroom with a huge bed.
"I must go to my rest soon. My bedroom is downstairs. Fortunately, the days are short this time of year and I will be up in just a few hours. Bobby won't disturb you and is glamoured to keep his mouth closed. I promise you will be safe here, Sookie."
She nodded.
"Thank you. For everything."
He could feel that she meant it. Her fear seemed to have been eased a little.
After he went downstairs, she lay down and closed her eyes. She was lonely and scared. The only person she had in the whole world was a vampire she barely knew, but she was thankful she'd run into someone like him rather than someone who meant to hurt her.
She didn't expect to be able to sleep, but the bed linens were soft and luxurious and her body felt like she'd had a very long and exhausting day, although she could only account for the last few hours. She closed her eyes and, soon, she was fast asleep.
