Finding My Own Way: Chapter 16
Title: Finding My Own Way
Summary: Sookie's world gets turned upside down by her handsome, yet very mysterious, new neighbor. Will she be able to help him face the demons of his past, and maybe help herself in the process?
Pairing(s): Eric/Sookie
Genre(s): Drama/Romance
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me.
Chapter 16
Sookie screamed when Bill aimed the gun for his head and blew his brains out all over the pavement, seeing her ex-boyfriend’s now lifeless body on the ground, his blood flowing over the concrete. Chaos erupted as Sam, along with a few last minute patrons ran out of the bar, taking in the scene before them. Sirens could be heard in the distance and she knew someone called the police, but was too stunned to move. It wasn’t until Sam took a hold of her that she snapped out of it, promptly bursting into tears. The fear that he would end up shooting her, and then having to witness him commit suicide was just too much to bear. Before she knew it, Eric was there and taking her in his arms, letting her cry against his chest. She was never so relieved to see anyone in her life.
* * * * *
“Do you want me to make you something to eat? You’re probably starving.”
Sookie shook her head, still in a daze. She was finally back at her house, after spending nearly an hour at the station to tell the police everything that happened. “The look in his eyes, I’ve never seen that before. Not even when he shoved me into the table, I was so scared that he was going to shoot me. I’ve never seen anyone kill themselves; I can’t believe Bill could have done something like that. He would have rather been dead than go to jail, it makes no sense.”
Eric sat down beside her. “He was a very sick man, love. I don’t think there were any limitations to what he would do, I’m just so thankful that you weren’t hurt. I almost had a heart attack when Sam called. I’m sorry you had to see that, but I can’t be sorry he’s gone. I know that probably makes me a horrible person, but he brought you nothing but misery. If I could, I would kill him all over again for putting you through this.”
“You could never be a horrible person, but I doubt my nightmares will go away now. I can’t wait to get away from here for a while.”
Eric was pleased that she still wanted to go with him, and as much as he was dreading the upcoming trip back home, he was looking forward to spending it with his girl.
* * * * *
“Damn, that’s pretty fucked up. I never would have guessed Bill Compton could be so crazy. He was always such a decent guy.”
Sookie rolled her eyes. She wanted everyone to stop gossiping about Eric, but hearing Bill’s name wherever she went wasn’t any better. She held her head up high, ignoring the whistles of the perverted men who worked at the construction site; there was only one she cared to see.
“Oh, fuck, baby! Do it harder!”
Sookie stopped; appalled at the sounds coming from inside one of the trailers, having a feeling of whom it belonged to. This may be outdoor work, but it was still a place of business and that was completely unprofessional. He apparently didn’t care about the death of his friend. The door flew open a moment later, and a much disarrayed brunette came out, fixing her skirt in the process.
“You were great, babe. I’ll see you tomorrow,” the bald man said with a leer.
She gave him one last kiss on the cheek before walking away, leaving Quinn to stare after her backside, licking his lips.
“God, you are such a pig.”
He turned at the new voice, looking her up and down. “Sookie Stackhouse, to what do I owe this pleasure? If you would like to take a test drive, I can show you just how much of a pig I am. Although, I prefer tiger, it’s manlier.”
Sookie scrunched up her nose in distaste. “I’m trying to keep my lunch down, thank you very much. I’m looking for Eric.”
“Northman left early today, said there was some emergency. I thought you two were real close now, guess he didn’t care to mention it.”
“I’m sure if it was anything of major importance, he would have told me.” Sookie took off without waiting for a response, knowing the prick was checking out her behind, but could really care less. Right now, she just wanted to find her boyfriend.
* * * * *
Sookie entered his house, both of them having exchanged keys weeks ago. She found him lying in bed shirtless, but his jeans were left on. Without saying a word, she took her shoes off and lay down beside him, placing her head against his chest.
“I can’t turn my brain off,” he muttered after a minute of silence.
She glanced up at him. “What do you mean?” When he looked at her, Sookie noticed that his eyes were red, as if he had been crying.
Eric inhaled a breath. “Everyone at work was talking about what happened, I had to get out of there. I know this doesn’t even have anything to do with me, but when I think about Compton pointing that gun at you…” his voice trailed off, not wanting to finish that sentence. “It could have been so much worse. Whenever you spend the night, I practically lie awake just watching you sleep, thinking about what my life would be like without you in it. Because if I close my eyes, I see it all happening differently. I am so terrified every day that something, or someone, will take you away from me.”
Sookie grasped his hand, giving it a light squeeze as tears filled her eyes. “I’m right here, baby. Hey, look at me.” She waited until his eyes were focused on hers, taking in a deep breath. “I’m not going anywhere, okay? Not for a very long time.”
It was nice to believe, but there was no way she could know that. Still, she gave him so much hope in just a few words. Eric cupped her face, kissing her closed eyelids, the tip of her nose, both of her cheeks, and finally reaching her lips, tasting the salt of her tears that mixed with his own. “I love you so much,” he whispered, rubbing noses with her.
She smiled, feeling choked up. “I love you, too. Always and forever.”
* * * * *
Eric hardly left her side after that, but Sookie had no complaints. They walked hand in hand to the market to do some last minute shopping for their trip; Sookie pulled him over to a group of elderly ladies in one of the aisles, clearing her throat to get their attention.
“Do you have something to say to me now, Mrs. Fortenberry?”
The woman scoffed, and with one last glare that her friends reciprocated, left without a word.
Sookie shook her head at their departure. “Well, that was just rude.”
Eric chuckled. “I think that’s the best you’re likely to get from them.”
She shrugged and carried on with her shopping, counting down the days until they were off to the city that never sleeps. It couldn’t come soon enough.
Summary: Sookie's world gets turned upside down by her handsome, yet very mysterious, new neighbor. Will she be able to help him face the demons of his past, and maybe help herself in the process?
Pairing(s): Eric/Sookie
Genre(s): Drama/Romance
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me.
Chapter 16
Sookie screamed when Bill aimed the gun for his head and blew his brains out all over the pavement, seeing her ex-boyfriend’s now lifeless body on the ground, his blood flowing over the concrete. Chaos erupted as Sam, along with a few last minute patrons ran out of the bar, taking in the scene before them. Sirens could be heard in the distance and she knew someone called the police, but was too stunned to move. It wasn’t until Sam took a hold of her that she snapped out of it, promptly bursting into tears. The fear that he would end up shooting her, and then having to witness him commit suicide was just too much to bear. Before she knew it, Eric was there and taking her in his arms, letting her cry against his chest. She was never so relieved to see anyone in her life.
* * * * *
“Do you want me to make you something to eat? You’re probably starving.”
Sookie shook her head, still in a daze. She was finally back at her house, after spending nearly an hour at the station to tell the police everything that happened. “The look in his eyes, I’ve never seen that before. Not even when he shoved me into the table, I was so scared that he was going to shoot me. I’ve never seen anyone kill themselves; I can’t believe Bill could have done something like that. He would have rather been dead than go to jail, it makes no sense.”
Eric sat down beside her. “He was a very sick man, love. I don’t think there were any limitations to what he would do, I’m just so thankful that you weren’t hurt. I almost had a heart attack when Sam called. I’m sorry you had to see that, but I can’t be sorry he’s gone. I know that probably makes me a horrible person, but he brought you nothing but misery. If I could, I would kill him all over again for putting you through this.”
“You could never be a horrible person, but I doubt my nightmares will go away now. I can’t wait to get away from here for a while.”
Eric was pleased that she still wanted to go with him, and as much as he was dreading the upcoming trip back home, he was looking forward to spending it with his girl.
* * * * *
“Damn, that’s pretty fucked up. I never would have guessed Bill Compton could be so crazy. He was always such a decent guy.”
Sookie rolled her eyes. She wanted everyone to stop gossiping about Eric, but hearing Bill’s name wherever she went wasn’t any better. She held her head up high, ignoring the whistles of the perverted men who worked at the construction site; there was only one she cared to see.
“Oh, fuck, baby! Do it harder!”
Sookie stopped; appalled at the sounds coming from inside one of the trailers, having a feeling of whom it belonged to. This may be outdoor work, but it was still a place of business and that was completely unprofessional. He apparently didn’t care about the death of his friend. The door flew open a moment later, and a much disarrayed brunette came out, fixing her skirt in the process.
“You were great, babe. I’ll see you tomorrow,” the bald man said with a leer.
She gave him one last kiss on the cheek before walking away, leaving Quinn to stare after her backside, licking his lips.
“God, you are such a pig.”
He turned at the new voice, looking her up and down. “Sookie Stackhouse, to what do I owe this pleasure? If you would like to take a test drive, I can show you just how much of a pig I am. Although, I prefer tiger, it’s manlier.”
Sookie scrunched up her nose in distaste. “I’m trying to keep my lunch down, thank you very much. I’m looking for Eric.”
“Northman left early today, said there was some emergency. I thought you two were real close now, guess he didn’t care to mention it.”
“I’m sure if it was anything of major importance, he would have told me.” Sookie took off without waiting for a response, knowing the prick was checking out her behind, but could really care less. Right now, she just wanted to find her boyfriend.
* * * * *
Sookie entered his house, both of them having exchanged keys weeks ago. She found him lying in bed shirtless, but his jeans were left on. Without saying a word, she took her shoes off and lay down beside him, placing her head against his chest.
“I can’t turn my brain off,” he muttered after a minute of silence.
She glanced up at him. “What do you mean?” When he looked at her, Sookie noticed that his eyes were red, as if he had been crying.
Eric inhaled a breath. “Everyone at work was talking about what happened, I had to get out of there. I know this doesn’t even have anything to do with me, but when I think about Compton pointing that gun at you…” his voice trailed off, not wanting to finish that sentence. “It could have been so much worse. Whenever you spend the night, I practically lie awake just watching you sleep, thinking about what my life would be like without you in it. Because if I close my eyes, I see it all happening differently. I am so terrified every day that something, or someone, will take you away from me.”
Sookie grasped his hand, giving it a light squeeze as tears filled her eyes. “I’m right here, baby. Hey, look at me.” She waited until his eyes were focused on hers, taking in a deep breath. “I’m not going anywhere, okay? Not for a very long time.”
It was nice to believe, but there was no way she could know that. Still, she gave him so much hope in just a few words. Eric cupped her face, kissing her closed eyelids, the tip of her nose, both of her cheeks, and finally reaching her lips, tasting the salt of her tears that mixed with his own. “I love you so much,” he whispered, rubbing noses with her.
She smiled, feeling choked up. “I love you, too. Always and forever.”
* * * * *
Eric hardly left her side after that, but Sookie had no complaints. They walked hand in hand to the market to do some last minute shopping for their trip; Sookie pulled him over to a group of elderly ladies in one of the aisles, clearing her throat to get their attention.
“Do you have something to say to me now, Mrs. Fortenberry?”
The woman scoffed, and with one last glare that her friends reciprocated, left without a word.
Sookie shook her head at their departure. “Well, that was just rude.”
Eric chuckled. “I think that’s the best you’re likely to get from them.”
She shrugged and carried on with her shopping, counting down the days until they were off to the city that never sleeps. It couldn’t come soon enough.