Falling ch. 2

Chapter 2

I could still smell Eric’s burning flesh. The stench made my stomach turn. I looked at my hands and saw tiny specks of burned skin on the silver rings. Before I could think I ripped the rings off of my fingers, leaving bloody scrapes on each finger in the process. I pulled over, tossed the rings out the window and continued to drive down the road. Rage coursing through my veins.

Apparently Eric attempted to open the Bond completely and thus enabling me to tell everything that was going through his mind at the moment – the primary emotions being confusion, rage and utter despair. As far as I was concerned he had no right to feel any of them. I tried to the best of my ability to close the Bond from my end. He felt it immediately. At that very moment my cell phone started ringing and for some reason, curiosity maybe (you know what killed the cat), I pulled the device out of my pant pocket. Of course it was Eric. I ignored the call and threw the phone on the passenger seat next to me.

I couldn’t focus on the road. Every single thought, event, action and emotion I’d been witness to or felt the last couple of years were crashing down on me. Since the takeover and that night Eric walked into Merlotte’s to, officially, offer the King’s protection, I hadn’t seen or heard anything from him. Not even Pam had said anything other than he was busy with de Castro and his entourage and that, considering the circumstances, Eric was well.

The Bond was taking its toll on me too. I didn’t have the same control over it like I do my telepathic abilities. I couldn’t completely block it. I’d of course tried several times, but with very little success. The best I could do was to suppress it enough so it became a faint hum, but I could still feel Eric. Apparently Eric was more successful in his endeavours with regards to control over the Bond. Some nights all of the stress, and with it anger, he was going through overwhelmed me. Other nights he completely blocked me out. On different nights I would feel happiness and pleasure slipping through. During the day when Eric was asleep, it was a calming sensation I felt. All in all it was like PMS-ing 24/7 for months on end.

That fateful day I had the lunch and early dinner shift at Merlotte’s. All day I had been pondering the whole Eric situation and had come to the conclusion that it was time to take action…I am woman hear me roar!...I just wanted to get everything settled between us, one way or the other. No more loose ends.

Since Amelia was home, the first thing I did was to go to the privacy of my own bedroom. I really didn’t want Amelia listening in, not that she would, but just in case. I just wanted the conversation to be over and done with – I didn’t even change out of my uniform. I just sat down on the edge of the bed, tried to get a feel through the Bond, but didn’t get anything but the usual from it. That had to be a good sign I thought. I took a deep breath and dialled Eric’s number. I was prepared to maybe deal with an irritable, pissed off vampire, but not the very seductive voice of a woman answering his cell phone! A voice that wasn’t Pam’s, not that she would ever answer his cell.

“Sheriff Northman’s phone. What might I help you with?”

“Ugh!”

I hung up the phone and started hyperventilating. I probably even blacked out. When I came to, a sense of determination washed over me and I heard Gran’s voice in my head.

“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, my dear girl.”

All hell broke loose after that!

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!

Hell hath no fury…

HELL. HATH. NO. FURY. LIKE. A. WOMAN. SCORNED!

Those words became a mantra to me as I drove. Through my haze I’d heard my phone ring on and off, followed by the annoying ‘beeps’, indicating I’d received a text message. I didn’t pay much attention to it or the road for that matter.

It occurred to me I didn’t know where I was or how much time had passed since I’d left the house and Eric. As I looked to the horizon I could see the sky slowly becoming brighter. Well I guess there is something positive about this whole fucked up situation. The sun is raising ergo no vampires. I thought blatantly.

A fit of rage suddenly came through me – my own or Eric’s I had no idea – I floored the gas pedal. The next thing I knew my car was flying through the air, flipping over multiple times. And then everything went black.

A week later

Beep…beep…beep…beep…beep…My eyes fluttered…beep…beep…beep… What was that infernal sound? When I was able to see through my drug clouded eyes, I was greeted by a smiling elderly nurse who was writing down, what I assumed to be, my stats. Oh great I’m in the hospital…again!

“Well good afternoon Dear. It’s nice to see you’re finally among the living again. You got some nasty bumps on your head and a few bruises, but nothing too serious. The doctor will be in to see you soon and he’ll fill you in on what happened. Oh, before I forget, my name is Nurse Lang, but you can call me Loretta.”

Her voice was soothing. She put my file back in the holder on the wall and proceeded to tell me to press the red button on the wall if I needed anything and then she left. I tried to get a read on her before she went out the room, but I couldn’t get a clear image from her. My head was hurting something awful. That, along with feeling dazed from the drugs they’d obviously given me, I couldn’t focus on anything.

Okay so I was in the hospital that much I knew, but I had no idea where I was or what had happened to me. I looked around the hospital room, trying to find some clue as to where I was. Of course no such luck.

The room was really nice. The walls were a soft peach colour and all the furniture was kept in a creamy white. From the looks of it, the room was definitely a private suite…wait my insurance doesn’t cover that. It must be some kind of mistake…before I could finish my next thought there was a knock on the door. A middle aged, slightly grey haired, man walked in. Must be the doctor I thought.

I tried to sit up, but I felt dizzy and everything hurt real bad. I slumped back down on my pillow. I guess the doctor saw me struggling, he came over to the right side of my bed and pressed a button on some kind of remote control and the upper part of the bed was slowly elevated.

“There you go Miss.” He said and smiled at me. I was more awake at this point, which made him easier to read and it all came out human and, thank the Lord, no weird shit was going through his mind. I tried to smile back but like everything else, that hurt too.

“My name is Dr. Balleby, Miss Stackhouse. Now I’m sure Nurse Lang has already told you nothing serious has happened to you, except for quite a few bumps and bruises. All of your tests came back clear. The x-rays and scans all looked good, no broken bones. However…” I held up a hand, indicating him to stop. I tried to speak, but nothing came out. The good doctor went over to my side table, poured me a glass of water and handed it to me. I was a bit shaky, but managed to take a few sips without spilling the content all over myself.

“Where am I?” I whispered. Dang even my throat hurts.

“You’re at the hospital in Shreveport, Miss Stackhouse. You were found by the side of your car just outside of San Antonio, Texas. Lucky for you, you weren’t in the car. From what the accident report said, your car looked like a crushed soda can. The police found your cell phone and handbag close to you, which is how the staff got in touch with your family and friends.”

I just let him talk. I was trying to figure out how I got from San Antonio to Shreveport. “Dr. Balleby, why am I in Shreveport and not San Antonio?”

“Ah yes, well like I said, the hospital staff got the number from your cell phone and called the person who seemed to have been most in contact with you. “ He said and looked through his papers. “A Mr. Eric Northman.” My eyes widened. This qualifies as an oh-shit-moment. I thought as the memories of what happened that night came back.

“It looks like Mr. Northman arranged for you to be moved here once you were stabile.” The doctor continued.

By now tears were streaming down my face.

“Now as I was trying to say before, your tests and scans look fine, but you’ve been unconscious for a week. You were awake for a few minutes a couple of days ago, but other than that you’ve pretty much been dead to the world.”

What is it with these hospital people and dead jokes?

“I would like to keep you here for at least a few days to monitor your progress. I’m not overly concerned, considering you didn’t sustain any serious damages. It is a bit unusual that you’ve been out for so long. However, it is most likely your body reacting to the trauma and it’s telling you that you need to rest.” He smiled at me again and handed me a kleenex.

“Why am I in this private room? I’m sure my insurance doesn’t cover private rooms.” I said sobbing.

“Ah yes…” he replied. “Mr. Northman took care of that too and insisted you only be dealt with by the hospital’s top specialists. I take it he is your boyfriend or fiancé?”

All the rage I had felt a week ago came back with a vengeance.

“NO HE IS NOT!” I tried yelling, but it merely came out as a pathetic whimper.

“Dr. balleby, I would like to be moved to an ordinary room and whatever Mr. Northman has already paid I want that to be transferred back to his bank account. Whatever expenses my medical insurance doesn’t cover I’ll pay for myself.” I attempted to sound calm and collected, I’m not sure the doctor bought it. He looked at me with a disconcerting glare and proceeded to tell me that Eric had insisted and wouldn’t take no for an answer when he was told there was no need for specialists and that regular doctors were more than capable of taking care of me.

So this was Eric’s way of sneaking back into my good graces? Well he can just go stake himself! I screamed inside my head.

“Please, I’m sure there are people more deserving than me of this room. Like you said there is really nothing seriously wrong with me other than a few bruises. And I can rest just as well in a normal room as I can here. So please, just put me in another room and transfer the money back to Mr. Northman’s account.”

“You’re right Miss Stackhouse. I’ll see it get taken care of right away.” I was starting to like this guy. He got up and walked to the door. “Just get some rest Miss. You have some very anxious friends wanting to visit with you.” With that he left the room.

Oh hell no! Another oh-shit-moment! I don’t want to see anybody; I just woke up damn it!

The sun was still up so I was sure it wasn’t a vampire coming to see me. A minute later Amelia and Claudine stormed through the door. Amelia practically flung herself at me.

“Ugh…’melia!”

“Oh Goddess! Sookie, I’m so sorry! Sorry! Sorry! I’m just so happy to see you’re awake. I was so scared! We were ALL so scared! Especially Eric. We didn’t know where you were! Then Eric called and told us you were in a car crash and in the hospital in Texas! I just – I just can’t tell you how happy I am you’re alright!”

Claudine was standing at the foot of my bed with a resigned, yet worried expression plastered on her face.

“Amelia stop. Just stop!” She sat up and looked at me. I took a deep breath to make the lump in my throat go away. “I meant what I said at the house. Nothing has changed. Me being here in the hospital is just another bump in the road. I’m sorry, but please leave. Just leave me alone!” My Gran would have slapped me silly, treating a friend like that.

Amelia started crying hysterically. Claudine did the same thing as she did at the house a week ago. She put her arms around Amelia, but instead of ‘popping’ them out of there she just pulled Amelia closer and slowly rocked her. If looks could kill, the way Claudine looked at me would surely have been my end. I just turned my head and looked out the window.

Not long after Nurse Lang and an orderly came into my room and began to pack up my things and myself. The orderly motioned for Amelia and Claudine to step aside and started to roll me out of the room.

“Sookie, where are they taking you?” The girls asked in unison, looking perplexed.

I didn’t answer them. Nurse Lang took in my silence and decided to answer on my behalf.

“Miss Stackhouse has requested to be moved to a regular room and give this one to somebody who needs it more.”

“But Sookie, Eric’s taken care of everything you don’t need to worry about anything Sweetie.”

“Amelia! For the love of God just LEAVE! I don’t owe you or anybody an explanation. And I will NEVER put myself in a position where I will owe anybody anything ever again! Especially Eric Northman! I can take care of myself.”

The orderly rolled me down the hall and into the elevator. Apparently Claudine and Amelia weren’t leaving.

For some reason there are always mirrors in elevators. That’s when I first saw my face after the accident…Sweet Jesus, Shepherd of Judae What the hell happened to you Sookie? Same old story I guess, you always end up in the hospital girl! Bad karma that’s what it is! I thought to myself. It might not have been a vamp or any other supe who put me in the hospital this time – well I wasn’t absolutely 100% sure, but I was speeding so I guess this one was on me. Supes or no supes I was just plain bad to be around. Apparently Amelia and Claudine didn’t understand this and I had to do something drastic to get them to understand. I was out of the elevator by then and Nurse Lang was getting me situated in my room.

“Now girls, Miss Sookie here needs her rest. You can come back later to visit with her.” The nurse said with some authority in her voice, but mostly she just sounded concerned. Amelia and Claudine just nodded and made their way to the door. Before they reached the door I called out to them. Amelia was practically beaming. I could hear from her thoughts that she thought I’d changed my mind. Claudine however, still looked like she wanted to rip me a new one.

“Amelia please vacate my house as soon as possible and be gone before I get back.”

She started crying again. I couldn’t blame here. She was so much more than a roomie. Well, ex-roomie now. I loved her like a sister. I hated to hurt her, but she needed to get away from me before she ended up dead, or worse, a vampire.

“Claudine, I no longer consider you kin. You are no longer obliged to carry out any task you have been given involving my person.” I had no clue how you relieve a fairy of her duties, but I figured that would suffice.

Claudine started to cry as well. I love my cousin, but she was in danger too, especially with vampires around.

Two down, more to come. I was sure of that. I closed my eyes.

“The two of you just leave and do not come back!” I said, while trying to block out Amelia, which was hard considering I was still in serious pain. Nurse Lang had offered me some pain meds earlier, I refused, needing my head clear.

I heard them leave, but apparently Amelia felt the need to say something.

“What should we tell Eric?”

“Tell him to go fuck himself!”

With that they left and I fell asleep.