Chapter 26

Disclaimer – I do not own the characters of the Southern Vampire Mysteries or True Blood. I just want to play with the Viking!

Chapter 26

As I watched JP and Russell gazing at each other with smiles on their faces, I began to smile too.

Then I thought about what Jason had said and wanted to make sure I understood him correctly. I leaned over to them breaking their focus on each other.

“What is Jason talking about?” I asked quietly to Russell.

I addressed Russell because JP was far too giggly to hear what I was saying. He had already begun to talk to the others animatedly.

Russell looked away from JP, but kept the smile on his face as he turned to meet my eyes.

“What Mr. Stackhouse was attempting to say, in his own way, is that the filming has been put on hold for an indeterminable amount of time,” he chuckled.

I noticed him squeeze JP’s hand. JP glanced at him and winked before returning to his conversation.

“Is it because the venue is still unavailable? Will you return here to finish or will the gala scene take place somewhere else now?” I asked tentatively.

“I don’t have all the facts, my dear. We don’t know how long we will be on hiatus. What I do know is that your dear friend and I have just been granted several more nights together.”

“So then you and JP are leaving tonight?” I asked with sadness evident in my voice.

“Yes, but you have nothing to fret about, little songbird. I will take very good care of him,” he said, glancing again fondly at JP.

“He wants to remember,” I whispered pointedly as I leaned in closer.

“I know. Honestly, Dumpling, you can trust me. I won’t let anything happen,” he whispered back.

I knew that, but I would still miss him. Whether he wanted me to or not, I would still worry about him. I thought for a moment before asking.

“Is…um…everyone leaving?”

“No, my dear, I don’t believe everyone is leaving, but everyone now has a few nights off that he hadn’t anticipated,” he said with a wink.

I let out a breath that I didn’t realize I had been holding while waiting for his answer and smiled wide. We had more time together! His was now free as they had been scheduled to shoot several more scenes. I wondered how many nights we would now have and if he had been planning on staying longer anyway before this happened.

Butterflies began to flutter in my stomach thinking about the fact that I was off work and now, so was Eric! I don’t know how long I had been lost in my daydream until I felt JP nudge me and gesture with his head. I looked to find Jason standing on the stage in front of two microphones.

“So, how about it, purdy lady, are ya gonna keep me waitin’ or ya wanna git up here and sing with me?” he asked with a wide grin.

I looked at the table when I felt something bump my hand and saw two more shots sitting in front of me that JP had slid over. I had no idea when they had arrived or the food, for that matter, that everyone was now eating. I let out a loud laugh and slammed back both shots before standing. What the hell! I had to catch up, right? Russell grabbed my hand as I stood and shoved a bottle of water into it. I nodded my thanks to him before making my way to the stage taking it with me.

“Sure, Jason! I can’t imagine a more fitting way to spend your last night here!” I shouted.

When I stepped up on the stage, I swayed just a little, but Jason grabbed my hand to steady me. OK, so maybe six shots back to back was a little too much!

“OK, handsome, what did you choose for us?” I giggled to Jason into the mic.

He just looked at me with that goofy grin as the music started. I started giggling harder when I heard the intro to ‘Can’t Say No to You’ begin and nodded to him to start the first verse as I started bouncing to the beat.

I can do anything with these hands,

Work all day like my old man

Until I’m delirious

Then I took the second, looking him up and down in a joking manner as if I was appraising him. I couldn’t keep the smile off of my face.

I know a good deal when I see one

A saint I’m never gonna be one

I’m serious

We were both laughing by the time we joined together harmonizing and kept going with silly smiles, really getting into it, and moving along with the beat. This was such a perfect song for him. I could just picture him playing this song and singing it to all of his girlfriends.

But baby, when it comes to you

There are things I can and cannot do.

Darling,

Stars shine whenever you’re with me,

I melt like the ice in your sweet tea,

I’m bulletproof

I just can’t say no to you, girl.

I’m loving you without trying,

Whatever you got I’m buying

So try me

I ain’t no one’s fool

I just can’t say no to you

He took over the next verse trying to be serious which made me laugh harder.

I know when to walk away

When the fists fly

I never had a problem with goodbye

I know right from wrong

I pretended to swoon as I took the next verse.

There’s one thing in this world

That makes my knees weak

Tongue tied up and I can’t speak

When I think it’s wrong

We looked at the room as we joined together again, saw everyone smiling, and dancing in their seats.

Hmm, baby, when it comes to you

I’m all “yeah yeah yeah” from my head

Down to my shoes

Yeah yeah yeah

Darling,

Stars shine whenever you’re with me,

I melt like the ice in your sweet tea,

I’m bulletproof

I just can’t say no to you, girl.

I’m loving you without trying,

Whatever you got I’m buying

So try me

I ain’t no one’s fool

I just can’t say no to you

When the song ended, he took my hand, raised it in the air, and we took a bow.

“Thank you!” he shouted before picking up his beer, practically stumbling off the stage.

I put my mic back in the stand and started to step down when I saw Lafayette walking toward me with two shots in his hands. Oh boy! I really needed to eat soon. I took a big drink of my water and set it back down.

“Where ya think yous goin’, hookah? I ain’t had my turn!”

He stepped up on the stage and handed me one of the shots. We clinked our glasses together and downed the shots before I grabbed my microphone again. That makes seven!

“Should I be worried?” I asked.

“Oh, honey chile, in all kind a ways! Deys always sumthin’ up my sleeves,” he winked.

I looked to our friends for help and saw several shrugs as their laughter ran out in the room.

“Is you ready Ms . Songbird?” Lafayette asked while bumping my hip.

“Probably not.”

“This here be one of my personal favs,” he said.

Lafayette winked at me again as the music started to play. I practically jumped up and down, clapping my hands when I heard “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane start playing.

Oddly enough, this was one of my absolute favorite Karaoke songs. In undergrad, JP and I almost always requested this song to sing when we would go out. He would bring along his tambourine and dance around behind me, shaking it and his ass at me while crashing them both against my hips. We were generally drunk each time we did this, which made the whole thing funnier to us as we tried to perform seriously, failing for obvious reasons.

A huge smile crept onto my face as I looked over to Peej quickly. He was also smiling and laughing. He nodded his head in approval at Lafayette for his song choice.

It didn’t occur to me that I was the only one holding a microphone until I heard jingling near my ear. My eyes tore away from JP to look at Lafayette who had a twinkle in his eye and a tambourine in his hand. Where the hell did that come from? I looked back at JP whose eyes were as wide as mine, staring at him before he bounced out of his seat and stood in front of us like a groupie dancing around the floor to the music.

I looked at the mischievous grin on Lafayette’s face. Yeah, he’s definitely one of us!

Realizing I was now in it by myself vocally, I shook out my hair, put on my best ‘Grace Slick’ look, and gave over to the music. All the while, Lafayette was dancing around me as JP used to do back in the day.

One pill makes you larger

And one pill makes you small

And the ones that mother gives you

Don’t do anything at all

Go ask Alice

When she’s ten feet tall

And if you go chasing rabbits

And you know you’re going to fall

Tell ’em a hookah-smoking caterpillar

Has given you the call

Call Alice

When she was just small

At that point, JP couldn’t stand it anymore and ran up onto the stage, grabbed the other mic, and started belting out the song with me. Lafayette let out a loud laugh, and then started dancing around both of us shaking his tambourine.

When the men on the chessboard

Get up and tell you where to go

And you’ve just had some kind of mushroom

And your mind is moving low

Go ask Alice

I think she’ll know

I glanced at Peej and knew he was also thinking of the one and only time we had tried ‘magic mushrooms’ and how this song was the embodiment of that night.

When logic and proportion

Have fallen sloppy dead

And the White Knight is talking backwards

And the Red Queen’s off with her head

Remember what the dormouse said

We were practically yelling out the lyrics as we sang the last couple of lines.

Feed your head!

Feed your head!

I turned and hugged them both laughing.

“Thanks, Lafayette. That really brought back memories. Where’d you get that thing?” I asked him, gesturing to the tambourine.

“A girls gots to have her secrets,” he said, winking as he stepped down and walked back to the table.

I turned to JP and whispered away from the microphone.

“Hey, I’ll get Sookie and Tara up here and you tell Dan…” I whispered the name of a song in his ear.

He smiled brightly and left the stage heading toward the bar. While I waited I drank more water, and then looked to the girls.

“Ladies, will you come up here and sing with me?” I said to them.

The both stood, laughing as they made their way over. I noticed that more shots were headed our way on a tray carried by a waitress. I looked over and saw JP raise a glass himself as he walked back to our table and handed another to Lafayette before dragging him onto the floor in front of us. I told Sookie and Tara what we were going to sing, and they both laughed and nodded quickly.

Since there were only two microphones, they stood side by side using one as my backup singers.

I raised my glass in the air and so did the others.

“To Lafayette!” I shouted.

“To Lala!” they called before we drank and the music started.

Sookie and Tara struck a pose and started singing the beginning of Patti LaBelle’s ‘Lady Marmalade’ directly to him with attitude.

Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, go sister

Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, go sister

Lafayette’s eyes grew wide and a large smile took over his face.

“Hells yes, hookahs!” he shouted out.

I winked at him and started the first verse displaying my attitude in my eyes and movements.

He met marmalade down in old New Orleans

Struttin’ her stuff on the street

She said “hello,

Hey joe, you wanna give it a go?” mmm, mmm

I glanced over to Sookie and Tara who were giving innocent looks with their eyes and sexy grins with their lips while they sang out the lyrics. They looked so carefree, having so much fun. I imagined what it would be like to be real friends with them. I wished we’d had more time.

Itchi gitchi ya ya da da

Itchi gitchi ya ya here

Mocha-choca-lata ya ya

Creole lady marmalade

Lafayette and JP were singing along with the girls from the floor and dancing. I noticed others, mostly women, had moved onto the floor to dance and sing with them.

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?

The crowd seemed to be having as much fun as we were, with the exception of Bill, of course, who was sitting back in his chair with his arms crossed and a scowl on his pinched face, glaring at me. What the fuck is his problem? I wasn’t sure if I wanted to stick my tongue out at him or flip him off. I just shook it off and sang to the others in the room.

He sat in her boudoir while she freshened up

The boy drank all her magnolia-wine

On the black satin sheets oh I swear he started to freak

Itchi gitchi ya ya da da

Itchi gitchi ya ya here

Mocha-choca-lata ya ya

Creole lady marmalade

I watched as Jason made his way onto the improvised dance floor. He really had some moves as he twirled one girl after another around the floor with one hand.

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?

Hey, hey, hey

Touching her skin feelin’ silky smooth

The color of cafe au lait

Made the savage beast inside

Roar until it cried, more, more, more

Now he’s back home doing nine to five

Living his grey flannel life

But when he turns off to sleep

Old memories creep, more, more, more

Itchi gitchi ya ya da da da

Itchi gitchi ya ya here

Mocha-choco-lata ya ya

Creole lady marmalade

We sang as we danced around the stage, reaching our arms out to touch hands with Lala, JP, and the others.

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?

Voulez-vous couchez avec moi ce soir?

Creole lady marmalade

Itchi gitchi ya ya da da

Itchi gitchi ya ya here

Mocha-choco-lata ya ya

Itchi gitchi ya ya here

We took a bow when the song was over and more or less stumbled down the stairs steadied by Jason, JP, and Lafayette, who weren’t in much better shape.

“Ain’t ya gonna sing more?” asked Jason.

“Ha! Not yet, buddy, I need to get some food in me and drink a gallon of water!”

“Aww, man!”

“Don’t worry, it’s still early,” I chuckled out and ruffled his hair.

He grinned at me and held out my chair before moving over to his own. I took a bottle of water and drank it down quickly before looking at the table to see if there was any food left. We talked amongst ourselves and listened while others got up on the stage to sing, which at one point or another included each of the others.

Not too long after, I found myself being dragged to the dance floor by the hand and twirled around before being pulled to JP’s chest. I put my arms around his neck as we swayed to the music.

“This is great, isn’t it?” he asked.

“Yeah, I can’t remember the last time we went out with friends and just hung out.”

“I guess it has been just the two of us for quite a while,” he said quietly.

“Um…not really…unless the ‘two’ of us includes you, me and your hookups,” I laughed and swatted his chest.

“Hey! There haven’t been that many!” he said, looking offended, but his smile gave him away.

“Whatever. I’m not your Mom. You do what you want. I love you just the same as long as you come home to me,” I said, batting my eyelashes coquettishly before starting to giggle.

“I love you, too, Cricket. You’ll always be the only woman for me,” he hugged me to him laughing.

We stayed like that for another minute until a fast song started to play and we pulled away to really dance. The others joined us and we laughed, danced, and sang to the music, bouncing and squealing with each new song we recognized and loved. Of course, I knew them all. It had always seemed as if I knew a song even if I’d never heard it before. I found myself singing along knowing all the words before they were sung.

Eventually, another slow song started and Russell appeared pulling JP into his arms. I smiled as I walked back to the table and sat down to drink more water. I was more or less only tipsy now and I could feel my body was hot and flushed. The night had continued with more shots and drinks while we’d been up dancing.

“That was so much fun!” Sookie blurted out when she sat down across from me with Bill sitting to her left.

“A little too much, I’d say,” Bill grumbled.

“Oh, lighten up, Bill! We were just singin’ and dancin’,” Tara complained as she returned as well.

“A lady does not move her body in that manner before a room full of strangers,” Bill retorted in a serious tone.

“Whatever,” Tara rolled her eyes.

“Sookeh, I think it’s time to call it a night and start our journey home,” Bill said.

“But Bill…” she started before he interrupted her.

“Sookeh, you know I have to go,” he said, giving her a serious look and his eyes darted to mine.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake, Bill, I’m pretty sure they know!” she huffed.

“They?”

“Yeah, Bill…JP and Cricket.”

He eyed me suspiciously.

“Northman!” he said angrily in a low voice.

“Don’t forget about me, Mr. Compton,” Russell chimed in as he and JP approached the table.

Bill gave him a hard look that Russell returned. Bill was the first one to break their stare and Russell just chuckled at him.

“Sookeh, I’m serious now. We need to go. If they know,” he said, waving between Peej and me, “Then I’m sure they understand.”

“Fine,” she sighed.

I stood with them and she moved around the table to hug me. We programmed our phone numbers into each others’ cells before hugging again and promising to keep in touch.

“I mean it, Cricket, you’ve gotta come and visit me…us,” she said, waving around at the others who had all returned to the table by that point.

“Oh, yeah, ya’ll gotta come! I’m sure there’s a bar ’round our parts that has Care-row-kee,” said Jason excitedly before sitting and chugging another beer.

I laughed at his mispronunciation and shrugged.

“We’ll see. Maybe we’ll make a trip up when I have more vacation time saved and JP gets a break from school. Besides, you’ll be back once the filming starts again.”

There was a moment when everyone looked at each other. No one seemed to know if that would be true or not. I broke the silence when I spoke again.

“You really do live in Bon Temps?” I asked.

No one had told me, but I was fishing for information casually.

“Yeah, and it’s oh-so-exciting…” Tara trailed off, rolling her eyes.

“Speak fo yoselfs. I gots no problems findin good times…I ain’t sayin’ no mo’ ‘bout that,” Lafayette gave a wave of his fingers in front of his mouth.

Sookie and Bill left after she had hugged JP, Lala, Tara, and Jason.

“I’ll see you guys at home,” she said before they walked away.

The rest of us sat down again and JP waved over a waitress.

“Oh, I don’t know if I can drink anymore,” I said.

“I call bullshit!” said Tara as if daring me.

“Yeah, Cricket, I’ve seen you drink a good bit more than you have tonight without the benefit of all that water you’ve been drinking,” JP complained.

“OK, but no more shots for me,” I said.

“Deal!” they said in unison.

No more shots turned into several more shots in quick succession. Once again, we were all tipsy-drunk, laughing, and telling stories. I couldn’t remember when I had enjoyed myself in the company of so many others. They were all staying the night, with the exception of Russell and JP, and heading home tomorrow.

I had switched to energy drinks mixed with cherry vodka to keep myself awake and avoid what I knew could potentially be the worst hangover I’d ever had. I had turned Lala onto it too, explaining my reasoning and swearing by the results.

I was just getting ready to stand and head to the restroom when I saw Russell lean over and whisper something in JP’s ear. JP began to smile and nodded his head before looking up at me.

“I think we’re going to head out and get on the road,” JP said.

“OK,” I said, feeling a small lump in my throat.

He walked over to me and hugged me tight.

“I’m going to miss you,” I whispered, looking up at him.

“Me too, Cricket, but I’m so excited!”

I could easily see it in his eyes and on his face, and it made me happy to see him that way.

“I’m excited for you and I want to hear every detail of your trip! Take pictures of everything…OK, not every detail and don’t take pictures of everything,” I cringed and hugged him again causing him to chuckle.

“I’ll be back before you know it. Besides, I’m sure you’ll have details for me too,” he winked.

“I certainly hope so,” I said, smiling and feeling somewhat better.

Russell took my hand when JP and I separated.

“Take care of my boy,” I said to him.

“Always,” he replied with a little bow and kissed my hand.

I watched them leave and looked to the others to see drooping eyes and goofy smiles.

“I’m going to run to the restroom,” I said.

I received three nods, and I grabbed my bag and turned toward the hallway that led into the restroom. Someone was already inside, so I stood in the hall and waited. I pulled my phone out of my purse and checked the time. Jesus! We had been drinking for nearly six hours. I was enjoying myself so much; I didn’t notice how much time had passed. I slid open the screen and my heart sunk seeing no new texts or missed calls.

The door opened and a very inebriated Maria-Starr stumbled out.

“You’re great, Cricket!” she slurred as she hugged me, or rather, fell against me.

I was a little shocked to see her behave that way, not to mention the hug. Every time I had met with her, she was always so collected and together. She must be as excited as everyone else to have some unexpected free time!

“Thanks. Please be careful getting back to…wherever you’re staying. Do you have need a ride?” I asked stepping out of her embrace to steady her.

I knew I couldn’t drive her, but I could certainly call her a taxi. I planned on calling one for myself if we were going to keep drinking.

“Nah, I’m good. My friend is going to take me,” she said with a smile.

I watched her walk down the hall and saw she was met at the end by Tray. He put his arm around her waist, but never took his eyes from me. I shuddered under his stare before I turned and walked into the restroom, locking the door behind me. Looking at the knob, I laughed and shook my head remembering the last time I did that. It hadn’t worked out so well for me. Of course, I hadn’t known then that something as simple as a push-button lock couldn’t keep out Pam.

I took my time using the restroom and washing up before looking in the mirror. My hair was stuck to the sides of my face from sweating on the dance floor, and I ran my hands through it before pulling it up in a scrunchie that was in my bag. I splashed some water on my face and ran a wet paper towel under my eyes to remove some of the eyeliner and mascara that had smudged there when I had been sweating. I smoothed out my dress and rinsed my mouth out with some water. Feeling refreshed, yet still sticky, I looked in the mirror again.

I was almost glad that Eric wasn’t there yet…almost. We still had plenty of time left before sunrise and I was glad he hadn’t seen me before I could clean up. I mean, he saw me plenty sweaty and sticky last night, but that had been his own fault. My face blushed as I thought about the previous night again and I felt a tingle in my lady bits. The night was still early for a vampire, so at least now I was presentable and I could always take a shower when we got home. Maybe we would take one together again! I felt my face get hotter as I blushed even more. I splashed my face again in cold water to calm myself down before returning to the table.

~~~

I stepped out of the restroom and noticed it was very quiet. The lighting was different than it had been before, too. The only lights on were the ones Dan left on after closing. When had he closed? The music had been turned off and when I entered the main room, I saw the overhead lights were off and all the chairs had been turned upside down on the tables. There was no sound save for the humming of the exit signs.

What the hell? How long was I in there?

I had my bag with me, so I supposed no one would have known I was still there. My friends were gone, but I knew they had been drunk, and it didn’t bother me in the least that perhaps they had stumbled back to their trailers, hotel, or wherever they’d been sleeping.

Fortunately, Dan’s door was the type that locked on its’ own when you walked through it. I decided I would walk to and wait in my car until I either sobered up enough to drive the few miles to my house or called a taxi. I dug through my bag for my car keys and once I found them, I looked up to see someone standing nearly in the middle of the room. I jumped and let out a little yelp before relaxing and laughing. As I walked closer, I stopped and sobered immediately at the look I was given.

~~~

I looked around quickly before meeting the gaze again.

“Where is he, Pam!?” I asked, practically demanding an answer.

Her brow furrowed and I saw a look of anger flash across her eyes before she controlled her features again.

“Pam? Where is he?” I asked, trying to sound more forceful than I felt.

“Gone.”

“What? What do you mean gone?”

Her face was stoic, but I could see pity in her eyes. I didn’t want her pity.

“What do you think I mean? Do you see him? He’s gone. He left, as in he isn’t here,” she said, waving her arm around the room.

“When is he coming back?”

“He isn’t.”

“But…but…he said…I mean last night he said…” I could feel the lump in my throat and I swallowed it down.

I felt my knees start to weaken so I took a deep breath to steady myself. She didn’t move. She simply continued to stare at me silently with one eyebrow raised until I became uncomfortable under her gaze. It was as if she was waiting for my reaction. I wanted to scream at her, at him.

“OK,” I said quietly rather than giving her what I thought she wanted.

I straightened up and started walking past her toward the door, refusing to show the pain I felt. I was sure it was obvious anyway. She grabbed my arm gently as I passed her.

“Chelsea?”

“Don’t call me that! Now let go of me. I said OK as in I’m fine,” I said, mimicking her previous tone.

I pulled my arm from her grasp and continued walking.

“You can’t drive and I want to make sure you get home safely.”

“Why do you care?” I said sarcastically, thinking of all the nastiness she had shown me trying to keep me away from him.

Well, she got what she wanted! She was right! I should have listened!

“Normally, I couldn’t care less, but in your case I need to. Give me your keys. I’ll drive you home.”

I looked back at her. Her face was blank again.

“Why? Did he tell you to take me home?”

She simply looked at me. We stared at each other for a second before I sighed in defeat.

“Fine,” I said and handed her my keys.

I walked over behind the bar and grabbed two ‘Raspberry Porters,’ and then led her out to my car. We were going to have a little talk whether or not she wanted it.

~~~

The short drive home was silent. I looked over and started to open my mouth a few times, but then closed it again. We arrived and parked in the driveway. When we exited the car, I held up the two bottles and waved them in the air gesturing my head toward the door. She nodded and followed behind me. I turned and handed them to her, taking my keys and opening the door. I walked in and started down the hall, and then I stopped and turned around.

“Oh sorry, come in, Pam.”

She stepped across the threshold and closed the door quietly. I led her into the kitchen and pointed to the microwave.

“I assume those are the real ‘Truly Bloody’ drinks or whatever the hell they are. I don’t know how to fix them. There’s the microwave.”

I walked to the laundry room door, pulled off my shoes, and then returned to the kitchen to pour yet another energy drink mixed with cherry vodka.

“Are you sure you should continue drinking?”

I just looked at her and she nodded, preparing her own drink.

“This stuff tastes like shit, you know?”

“I can’t say I’ve ever tasted shit before, so I’ll take your word for it. Besides, that’s all I’ve got for you, so take it or leave it,” I deadpanned.

I heard her growl behind me, but she didn’t say a word as I proceeded into the living room and sat on the couch. After a moment, she joined me and we sat in silence. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it wasn’t exactly comfortable either. She just continued to observe me as if I was going to suddenly have some huge reaction that she wanted to witness. If she was going to report back to him that I had broken down, she was sorely mistaken.

“Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“As if you think I’m going to entertain you by falling apart. You were right, OK? You were right and I should’ve listened to you, but I didn’t. It happened, and now it’s over. Don’t look at me like you don’t know what I’m talking about. Russell said he could smell it. I’m sure you could too, on…him,” I choked on the last word.

“Chelsea…”

“I said don’t call me that!”

“OK, Cricket. I said those things before, but I wouldn’t say them now.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?!”

“It means that I was wrong. I hate when I’m wrong. I never apologize if I can help it, so that’s as good as you’re going to get.”

“Then I guess I accept your almost half-assed apology,” I snorted.

“You know, Dear Abby says…” she began before I cut her off.

“Are you fucking kidding me? Are you going to give me some bullshit from an advice column about how time heals all wounds or whatever?”

“Not now, I’m not,” she smirked.

“Tell me what happened. Why did he leave?”

She took a drink and grimaced, but didn’t say anything.

“Please, Pam. I know he’s gone and he isn’t coming back, but can you at least tell me what I did wrong? Why did he leave?”

“I can’t.”

“You won’t.”

“Not exactly.”

“He told you not to tell me.”

“Not exactly.”

I thought that over for a minute before I came to a realization.

“He commanded you not to tell me!”

She nodded, but quickly replied.

“Even if he hadn’t, I couldn’t tell you.”

“What? Why not?”

“Because I don’t know where he went.”

“You don’t? He didn’t tell you? Why wouldn’t he tell you?”

“Look, he commanded me to tell you he left, he won’t return, and he doesn’t want you to look for him. He didn’t tell me where he was going or why. Nor did he tell me what happened between you, but you’re right, I could smell it. Hell, I can smell him on you right now,” she rolled her eyes.

I flushed and looked down, but then shook it off. Russell already told me that would happen.

“I would glamour you to forget him, but I know that won’t work.”

I looked at her quickly.

“I suspected, but he confirmed it when I suggested it to him before,” she said.

“OK, so you did what you were supposed to do. Why do I feel like there’s more you’re not saying?”

“I told you what he commanded me to tell you.”

“And?”

She looked at me pointedly.

“So I’m supposed to guess?”

“Well, we both know I can’t fucking volunteer any information, now can I?”

“But you could answer questions as long as they don’t go against his commands?”

“You’re smarter than you look, you know?”

“Fuck you,” I said with a small laugh.

“Sorry, honey, you’re not my type.”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Yeah, you are, but he also commanded me not to touch you. What a shame,” she sighed.

“Huh, that’s not very fair, is it?” I chuckled.

“What can I say? What’s mine is mine and what’s his is his, and we don’t share…well, not anymore.”

“TMI, Pam,” I rolled my eyes.

She only laughed.

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

“I thought I told you the other day that I liked you and I want to get along?”

“Yeah, but?”

“But nothing. I said it and I meant it.”

“OK. So, let’s see. My first question you already answered. You don’t know where he went?”

“No.”

“Did you know I’ve had his blood?”

“Yes, I was there at the end of it.”

“I knew that wasn’t a fucking dream!”

“Is that really what you want to ask? I don’t have much time,” she said, glancing out the window.

“No, you’re right. Maybe we’ll talk about that some other time or maybe we won’t. It doesn’t matter, I guess. Why did you say you were wrong before?”

“It’s you. You’re different. He’s different with you.”

“I’ve heard that before, but I don’t know what it means.”

“I can’t really explain that to you. Not because I don’t want to, I just don’t think I know how. I’ve been with Eric for over a century and with you…he’s just…different.”

“OK. Next topic. Did he say anything about me when he left?”

“Yes, he commanded me to tell you he left, he isn’t coming back, and you aren’t to look for him.”

“What is that, a recording, or is it an automatic response? Hey, how can you tell me that he commanded you?”

“He didn’t tell me not to tell you.”

“Did he say anything other than that about me?”

“I’m not sure.”

“OK. Did he say anything else at all?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know if it was about me?”

“No.”

“But you think it might have been?”

“Ugh! You’re not asking the right questions. Think!”

“For fuck’s sakes, I’m not on God damn Jeopardy!”

“Maybe I should hum the theme song to kick your brain in gear? Time’s running out and I have to be back home tomorrow. This is your only chance,” she said, glancing at the window again.

“OK. OK. Let me think.”

She sighed and nodded.

“Well, if I don’t figure it out right now, I can always call you tomorrow night and we can talk.”

“No, you can’t or rather I can’t.”

“He commanded you to not talk to me so if you found out where he was you couldn’t tell me?”

“After tonight, I’m not allowed to be around or talk to you.”

“So, why are you here?”

“Because it’s still tonight.”

“Loophole.”

She smiled.

“He thought you would tell me and leave, but he only commanded you not to talk to me after tonight.”

She smiled again.

“OK. I think I was on to something before.”

“Finally!”

“What else did he say before he left, that wasn’t about me?”

“Nothing specific.”

I groaned, but she continued.

“No, wait! There wasn’t anything specific. He was in a hurry and running around packing. He was mumbling to himself.”

“What did he say?”

“Even with my vampire hearing, I only picked up on a few words. He was talking to himself.”

“What words did you hear?”

“Wish. Mistake. Fucking Bond. Regret.”

“Thank you, Pam. As cryptic as that is, I think I know what it means and why he left,” I whispered as my eyes filled with tears and my throat closed up.

“What?”

I shook my head, not trusting my voice. A few tears made their way down my cheeks.

“How long?” I choked.

“How long what?”

“How long until his fucking blood leaves my system?”

“I’m…I’m not sure. I’ve never given my blood to a human, so I don’t know. I’m sorry.”

“It’s OK. I’ll never see him again so I guess it doesn’t really matter. I just wish he didn’t know what I feel right now.”

“Maybe he doesn’t. I don’t know if distance is involved or not. If he’s far away…”

“It’s fine. It doesn’t matter.”

I stood and so did she.

“You should go. Thank you again for coming over. You’re pretty smart to think of the loopholes, and I appreciate the fact that you cared enough to talk to me.”

“I didn’t say I cared,” she raised her eyebrow.

“Maybe not, but he didn’t say you couldn’t,” and we both chuckled lightly.

I walked her to the door before she turned to look at me.

“For what it’s worth, I think he’s making a mistake by leaving.”

“He thinks he did too,” I mumbled, but I wasn’t talking about the fact that he left.

She looked at me, but I only shook my head.

“Goodnight, Pam. Have a safe trip home.”

“Goodnight, Cricket.”

I smiled weakly and watched her walk off the porch before I closed and locked the door.

~~~

I didn’t bother to clean up the living room.

I didn’t turn off the lights.

I climbed the stairs.

I went to my room.

I didn’t take off my clothes.

I climbed into my bed.

I covered my head.

I fell apart.

~~~

Aurelia Gliwiski as Chelsea ‘Cricket’ Kerrigan

Alexander Skarsgård as Eric Northman

Sean Hayes as JP

Kristin Bauer Van Straten as Pamela Ravenscroft

 

Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse

Nelsan Ellis as Lafayette

Rutina Wesley as Tara

Ryan Kwanten as Jason

Ewan McGregor as Russell Edgington

Stephen Moyer as Bill Compton

BACK                NEXT

 A/N: A huge thank you to MsBuffy for her editing skills! Thank you to Gyllene for the beautiful banner!

Thanks to you all for reading and your patience! Please review and let me know what you thought!