(no subject)
Jason Stackhouse had done a lot of sitting the last couple days, but it wasn’t until he was kneeling on the floor of his Gran’s house-- well, Sookie’s house, now, with his sister safe and warm in his arms, that he felt at all comfortable or rested. When he squeezed a little too tight, earning her protest, he let go, ‘cos he had a lot to say. Taking a deep breath, he started, “You know, I was sitting in that jail and I just kept thinkin’ about all the stupid stuff I done--”
“That must’ve kept you busy.” At least she was smiling.
“And I know it seems like all I ever think about is myself. And drinking. And chasing women. But that’s only because that’s all I thought I was good at.”
“That’s not true. You were... good at football,” Sookie said, with the drawl of something really having to think about it.
“No, not good enough for a scholarship. I ain’t never been good enough for anything, or anybody. Well, except maybe Amy. But she’s gone, so... so I was in there, waiting to die too, and I realized my life wasn’t worth nothing. I’d never done nothing worth being proud of. And all I could think to do was to end it--”
“Jason!”
“No, it’s okay! ‘cos then, something happened. Sook, I was saved. I was given a second chance. And now I know that all this bad stuff, this bad stuff that happened, it happened for a reason.”
“What’s that?”
Jason flashed her a sheepish version of his best charm smile. “...I ain’t sure yet. But I do know I’m meant to do something important with my life, and as soon as I find out what that is, I ain’t gonna fuck it up.”
“That’s good, I guess.” God, she looked so tired, and small, and it just tugged on his heart like he wouldn’t have thought possible. Jason leaned forward, smelling her shampoo and the Neosporin on her face, and kissed her forehead.
“I love you, Sook, and I’m gonna take good care of you from now on. I promise.”
“I love you, Jason. Just take care of yourself, and stay out of trouble.” She watched him get up, and even though he knew she wasn’t too sure, he put on his best bravado.
“Nah, you don’t gotta worry about me no more!” And then, of course, he ran smack dab into the coffee table, getting what was sure to be a hell of a bruise on his shin. “I’m good!” he called, relieved to hear her giggling faintly when he was supposed to be out of earshot.
Jason skipped down the steps towards his truck, sucked back up into his own thoughts. Things were gonna work out. No way he’d been pulled out of this shit for nothing. He could... well, he’d work hard and try to figure out something to do with his life. And take care of Sookie, now that her vamp was all burned up. Jason felt kinda sorry for the poor bastard, but this really might be for the best. Then he had to apologize to Lafayette, he sure owed him one.
He was so deep in his own head that he didn’t notice when the solid ground turned into shift sand, not until he went to open the door to his truck and caught only air. “What the hell?” he said, frowning, and turned around.
“Oh, goddamn, oh FUCK,” Jason swore, doubling over in horror. The place was a goddamn tropical getaway! “I didn’t even take no V, you fuckers!” He threw his keys, and they landed in the sand that sure as fuck couldn’t have been from a V trip. “I’m clean,” he groaned, scrubbing his hands over his face.
So much for second fucking chances.
[Non-traditional! First tag gets the entrance, next tags get a pissed-off Jason stomping around on the beach.]