As soon as I touched the pillow that evening, I was out like a light, deep in slumber. It felt like mere seconds had passed when the next morning, my alarm clock rudely reminded me of my work obligations – And the fact that I didn't have a damn car to get there.

"Shit, Shit, Shit!"

All the memories from the previous night hit me like a ton of bricks, and with cheeks blazing hot (among other heated up body parts), I leaped out of bed. No car meant bus. And finding a reliable bus line in Bon Temps was about as likely as finding a unicorn taking a leak in Times Square.

After sleeping like a baby, I was already running late. I quickly brushed my teeth. I had wanted to shower, but that was a luxury I had to skip. My hair hung greasy in my face, so I threw it up in a high ponytail, channeling my inner Sookie Stackhouse, and then scrambled into my work clothes at lightspeed.

No coffee was a no-go, but my old rusty coffee maker would take at least 15 minutes to brew something drinkable. So, I had to hit the road without my morning caffeine fix. Worst day ever. As I stormed out the front door, my bag slipping off my shoulder as  I almost forgot my keys in my apartment. Quick on my feet, or rather, as quick as I in my caffeine-deprived state could be, I had the brilliant idea to stop the slamming door with my fingers in the door frame like an elevator door.

"Motherfucking chicken shit!"My crushed fingers throbbed painfully as I snatched my keys from the side table with my other hand. Cursing, I was about to head out when I froze mid-breath."Motherfucker!"

There it was. My car. Washed and, by the looks of it, polished, sitting in my driveway. I slapped my hand against my forehead only to inhale sharply afterward. Freshly bruised. Pain. Right.

I tried to make sense of it all.

There were two possibilities.

Either I had dreamt up last night's events and hadn't actually driven to another city to track down a murderer with Sookie, ooooor...

I gritted my teeth.

Or Mr. Control Freak had brought my car back to me overnight and even had it washed in the process! And I was damn sure it was freshly washed! It hadn't seen a scrub since I bought it over 3 years ago. Or seen the inside of a car wash, for that matter.

Suspiciously, I opened the manually locked door. It was odd not to hear the usual creak that accompanied the door. Great, my door had been repaired as well. I slumped into my seat unease creeping up at me. Instantly, I was enveloped in unfamiliar scents. Damn, it even smelled good!

Like pine and oak and... Christmas tree? I felt like a whole forest had made itself at home in my car, and I was taking a stroll through the trees.

It smells like Eric, you crazy, all-encompassing freak!

Ah yes, there it was again. My mind, irritating as ever. If this kept up, I'd try to exorcise it. The judgy bitch was really getting on my nerves...

I rolled my eyes. My gaze fell on my passenger seat where an expensive-looking white envelope lay. The meticulous calligraphy caught my eye immediately.

Ash,

Even without opening it, I knew who it was from.

I told you so. This whole thing reeks of Eric!

Ba-dum-tss. Wordplay. Now my inner voice was a comedian too.

And here's another one: This whole thing here has Eric written all over it

I laughed out loud and then clapped my hands over my mouth in shock.

Oh my God, I was slowly losing it! I was telling myself jokes!

With racing heart, I took a deep breath and opened the envelope.

I expect to find you at my bar tonight.

Mobile, as I've ensured you are again!

(Although I'm pretty sure you'd probably be faster on foot than with that rust bucket!)

- E.

As with everything Eric, I didn't know how to feel about this. What was the right emotion?

Gratitude for fetching my car? Should I feel flattered that he wanted to see me again? Angry that he thought he could dictate my actions? 

Mostly, I should probably be afraid, considering how relentlessly he tried to pry my secrets from me. Especially since, if he ever succeeded, he'd probably consider ending my existence with a flick of his wrist.

Yet, fear wasn't on the list of feelings he invoked in me. And THAT, in turn, scared me.

Furious with Eric, with myself, and with my own foolishness, I shook my head and hastily buckled myself in, yanking the seatbelt in a fit of annoyance until it clicked into place with an offended snap. The whole drive to Merlotte's, I cursed myself and my spineless behavior. And of course, Eric.

Of all people.

Who did he think he was anyway?

A vampire, a Viking king, a sex god...

"Aaaargg. Oh my God, shut the fuck up!"I exclaimed, banging my fist against the steering wheel.

For the rest of the drive, I blasted my (also repaired) radio so loud that I couldn't hear my own thoughts anymore. My ears might have been ringing, but it was worth it.Grumpy, I arrived at Merlotte's. Lafayette was the first to greet me.

"Who peed in your cereal?"

My expression must have spoken volumes because Lafayette raised his hands defensively and withdrew his head from the pass-through window.

"You, babydoll, need coffee!"

He quickly handed me a steaming cup, which I gratefully accepted. Even as I tied my apron around my waist, I thanked him with a tired smile.

It was only after three sips that I realized how unusually quiet it was in Merlotte's.

"Where is everyone?"

Lafayette pointed to Sam's office. "Over there, Dorothy!"

I rolled my eyes at his 'Wizard of Oz' reference and headed to Sam's office.

I wasn't prepared for what awaited me on the other side of the door.

Standing before me were Sam and Sookie, locked in an embrace. For a split second, I almost turned on my heel in embarrassment, but then I noticed Sookie was crying.

"Sook?"

Sniffling, she pulled away from Sam and turned around.

"Oh my God, what happened?"

I was ready to blame Sam for everything and glare angrily when Sookie told me the impossible news.

"Jason has been arrested for the murders!"

"Again?"

Her expression darkened. Clearly, that wasn't the reaction she was hoping for. I was supposed to be more shocked or sympathetic. But having had my own run-ins with the jail cell a few times, Andy Bellefleur's repeated attempts to throw Jason in prison seemed laughable.

"He confessed!"

Okay, almost laughable.

"He did WHAT? Is he stupid?!"

Even as I asked the question, it was answered by those in front of me. Sam just raised an eyebrow sardonically, and Sookie rolled her eyes.

Jason, to put it nicely, wasn't the brightest bulb in the box.

I sighed heavily and planted my hands on my hips.

"Phew. Okay. What now?"

Sookie sniffed and shrugged. "Carry on as usual, I guess. I'll poke around in guests' heads a bit more and try to solve the murders before Jason 'inherits' all his belongings to his friends even more..."

Now it was my turn to raise an eyebrow and for Sam to roll his eyes.

"Are you sure you want to do that?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"You always have a choice, Sook!"

She snorted."Sure, and Santa brings the gifts!"

I realized she was trying to be brave. But reading the hateful thoughts of the guests about her brother wouldn't do her any good. I reached out to comfort her, but Sookie pulled away and headed for the door.

"I'll do it now!"

Then she was gone.

"How can you let her do that?" I snapped at Sam. Of course, I knew it wasn't his fault, but he was the only one in the room I could vent my anger on.

"You know as well as I do that you can't 'let' Sookie do anything!" He smiled sadly. "She makes her own decisions."

And with that, the conversation was over, and Sam left the room. He respected her reluctantly. Not like Eric, who just steamrolled over anyone. Grrrr.

Sighing, I started my shift. Just as I was retying my apron, I heard the first gossipers at the table next to me whispering. Leading the charge was Maxine Fortenberry, Hoyt's mother. "Poor family, I tell you. First the parents, then the grandma, and now the boy's a murderer." With pursed lips, she took a sip of iced tea through her straw to avoid smudging her lipstick.

"But even when the boys were little and Jason and Hoyt were always playing together, I knew something wasn't right with him." She leaned in conspiratorially. "Handsome as the devil that boy is, but just as corrupt!"

The women at the table all nodded in agreement, and I bit my tongue to refrain from setting them straight. Sure, I wasn't particularly fond of Jason, but he wasn't a murderer. As someone who had come into contact with real murderers, I knew how they behaved. James, who had surprised me outside Merlotte's three days ago, flashed in my mind, and I shuddered.

Yes, I had met worse people than Jason Stackhouse.

"Here's your iced tea, ma'am!"

Maxine Fortenberry looked surprised.

"Oh, has Sookie left already?"

Of course, she wanted to hear more gossip from Sookie. I glanced up to signal Sookie to steer clear of this table, but she was nowhere to be found.

"Hm, seems like it..."

The woman across from me snorted. "Can't blame her, poor thing..."

Even without being able to read minds, the disappointment at Sookie's absence was clearly written on the 'ladies'' faces. Disgusted, I grimaced. Quickly, I tended to the remaining tables, cleared dishes and abandoned items before heading back to the employee area.

"Sam, can you let Sookie know to steer clear of Fortenberry and Co.?"

He looked at me, puzzled.

"Sookie's gone home. It seems it was all too much..."

I nodded understandingly. "Alright then. I'll take care of her tables..."

Just as I was about to head back out front, a strange feeling washed over me. I felt cold. Ice-water-thrown-in-your-face-and-held-underwater cold. My vision blackened. I gasped for air, panicked."Something's wrong!"

"Yes, I can see that!"

Panicked, I looked at him."No, that's not what I mean. Something's wrong with Sookie!"

I grabbed Sam by the collar, shoving the orange vest I had just picked up from one of the booths in his face. Sam took a deep breath and his eyes widened.

"Where did you get this?"

"René left it behind, I was going to put it in Lost and Found..."

Now it was Sam's turn to shake me and drag me along behind him. Taken aback, I stumbled after him.

"René is the murderer!"

I didn't know why or how he knew that, but I felt like he was right. Somehow.