[ closed to Eric ]

[im_not_psychic]

Sookie had to make sure that Bill was all right before leaving. There was still a sense of obligation - and the truth was, she wanted to help. She was always going to care about Bill, even in spite of things that had happened before. Things that he might not even know about - but that had still happened

Comments

[hasgoodtaste]

Eric had gotten the clear sense that something was wrong from the tenor of Sookie's message, but he couldn't imagine what it was. Possibly she'd met Lilah? But, really, she had dealt with Pam for a while now, so he couldn't really imagine that Lilah would throw her that much.

Knowing she was on her way, he stayed where he'd told her he was, in their room, stretched out on the bed, flipping through a book idly, though he wasn't reading it anymore, wondering just what had happened that was so desperate they needed to discuss things.

Human women were still a mystery after all this time.

[im_not_psychic]

He was there, and part of her was a little surprised. Sookie had told herself to never become too comfortable and at ease where Eric was concerned, but little by little she was letting herself relax. It was taking time, but it was one of those battles she'd fight internally and not tell him anything about. Some things had to be done on her own.

Bill, though, was a different story. That would impact them both.

Sookie shut the door behind her and didn't immediately move further into the room. Instead she stayed with her back pressed against the door, the knob nudging at the small of her back.

"Bill's here."

[hasgoodtaste]

Of all the things she might have said, that was the one he wasn't prepared for. He should have been--people came and went here all the time, after all, but he'd gotten used to the idea of a world without Bill in it and he was really pleased with it. Now with two little words, that world tumbled down.

It was ridiculous, really. Sookie had said she loved him. He didn't have anything to worry about. But he felt an emotion he didn't understand clutch inside of him anyway. He kept it hidden as best he could, anyway, arching an eyebrow slightly.

"Is he?"

[im_not_psychic]

Sookie's face felt flushed, and her palms were tingling with a little more sensation than before. Her throat clenched around a rough breath and then she shook her head, but it wasn't to negate. It was in a helpless motion that ended with her hair falling halfway across her face.

"He..showed up in the village," she said, "all bloody and wrapped up in a carpet. I helped him, I..had to."

[hasgoodtaste]

Eric had to suppress a flash of fury at that, at the idea of just how she might have had to help him. He was off the bed in an instant, moving to her in a blur of movement, fingers running through her hair to drag it away from her face, off of her neck.

"You gave him blood, you mean."

[im_not_psychic]

"I had to."

He moved so fast that she didn't have time to react, and a second later Sookie realized just what he was looking at. Her head turned away - there was no point in trying to prevent his seeing it - and she fixed her eyes at a spot on the wall.

"I wasn't going to let him die."

[hasgoodtaste]

The rational part of his brain could understand that. The less rational part just remembered how Bill had hurt her, almost killed her, cheated on her, and she'd put herself in danger for him.

"If he had hurt you again..." He couldn't quite finish that, the words already revealing too much. Better that it be possessive jealousy than concern, in his mind.

[im_not_psychic]

"But he didn't. "

Sookie knew that Eric was upset, she didn't need to be able to read his thoughts for that. But there was no way she would have been able to sit by and just...let Bill die. Her fingers lifted, touching faintly at the cool skin of his arm.

"He didn't I'm fine."

[hasgoodtaste]

"Where is he now?" Somehow he managed to keep the growl out of his voice, but it was a bit of an effort.

[im_not_psychic]

"He's resting," Sookie said, rubbing her hand against her forehead. "I think he will be for awhile. In his room."

[hasgoodtaste]

Eric curled a hand around her upper arm, deliberately gentle, but firm.

"He and I are going to have to have a talk."

[im_not_psychic]

"What are you going to say?"

Sookie lifted her eyes to his. Hers were tired, but surprisingly calm.

[hasgoodtaste]

Eric hadn't fully figured that out, yet, operating mostly on a primal instinct he didn't usually let rule him, but he took a breath and met her eyes with far less calm ones of his own.

"To start with, that you're with me now."

He at least managed to stop himself from claiming possession of her, but that was probably a minor miracle, if one that showed he really had been listening somewhere in some of her talking about humans having rights and all.

[im_not_psychic]

For a second, Sookie was taken off guard and it registered in her face. She looked back at him for a few seconds and said nothing, letting it sink in that Eric - of all people, really - might actually be jealous. Fearful, and worried. It was strange, but there it was.

Her hand lifted to touch the curve of his cheek.

"Don't you think I'll tell him that myself?"

[hasgoodtaste]

"I don't..." He frowned a little bit "I'm sure you would, yes, but he and I have issues we'll need to work out."

Bill's warnings to stay away from Sookie for one. His hurting her. The claim on her he'd made. They'd need to settle that between them.

[im_not_psychic]

"I don't want you fighting over me." It was something Sookie would be adamant on. She didn't want anyone else hurt. "Eric, don't hurt him. It isn't going to help."