A/N: Um…anyone still out there? I could come up with a billion reasons why I haven't posted since the beginning of June, but they're not going to make up for me not posting. Real life, writer's block, all of that was a factor. I'm really sorry, and I have a feeling it's going to be better for at least the duration of this story, which I'm seeing as 1-3 more chapters. I finally found my voice again with this story, and anyone who's talked to me on twitter knows that it wasn't an easy task and led to a slight degree of resentment before things got better. I'm also going to apologize because this chapter is quite short in the scheme of things, but it does cover a lot, and it is something. So I'm proud of that. It's also the natural progression before we get to the big finale.
A big thanks to everyone for sticking with me for this, my twitter gals for their constant love and support, and especially Lubadub, who constantly puts up with my whining via gmail. She's the bomb.
Enjoy!
Recap: Sookie's been dancing nightly at Fangtasia, while Eric has placed a few strange calls to de Castro to get some kind of payment reduced in exchange for Sookie dancing. Everybody seems to be favoring nicely. We're now in the beginning of December chronologically, Monday the 7th when we start, and Tuesday the 8th when the chapter concludes. Sookie is sitting with Eric at his table when Arlene approaches and asks if Sookie or Eric has seen Cicita this evening.
Chapter Twentyone- Leads
"No, I haven't," Sookie replied, looking up at Arlene. "Did she come in tonight?"
Arlene tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Ya know, now that I think about it, I don't think she did. Oh, and Sook? Can you come give us a hand?" Her tone wasn't snide, but Sookie hopped right up out of the booth.
"Of course. You shouldn't even have to ask."
…
Back at the waitress' area, Sookie cracked open some beer bottles while simultaneously balancing a phone on her shoulder, listening to a dial tone as she waited for Cicita to answer.
"Damn it," she cursed, hanging the phone back up.
"Voice mail again?" Arlene asked as she picked up two of the beer bottles that Sookie had uncapped.
Sookie nodded and picked up the remaining bottles. "She's probably sick or something. I know I wouldn't feel like picking up the phone if I felt like death warmed over."
"Yeah, you're probably right," Arlene replied, sauntering off to deliver her drinks. Sookie went in the other direction to deliver hers. Eric slid up beside her as she dropped off the final beer.
"Did you get in touch with Cicita?"
"No. Just got her voice mail." Eric nodded in comprehension.
"Did you notice anything up with her on Saturday?"
"She said her stomach hurt, but that was probably because she was on her period," her voice trailed off and she looked up at Eric and blushed. Eric pulled her towards him and kissed her temple before gesturing for her to continue. "Might've developed into a stomach thing or something." She shrugged.
"Most likely," Eric agreed. "Maybe try her again if you get a chance?"
"Of course. I wanna make sure she's feeling okay."
He sighed happily. "Your compassion is very endearing, love." Eric kissed her again before dropping her off at the waitress' area. Sookie slid behind the counter, collecting some empties that had accumulated there and loading the dishwasher to be turned on later.
Arlene joined her a few minutes later. "Hey, Sook, I grabbed five of my tables orders at once, would you mind helping me mix and run?"
"Nope, not at all." Sookie grabbed a ticket and started assembling a tray. She grabbed and heated four TrueBloods in varying types for the first table, and two beers, a screwdriver, and a Jack and Coke for the second table. After plucking a couple more beers for Arlene's tray, the two of them made the deliveries. Pam was waiting at a table near the bar when they returned.
"What brings you out amongst the vermin this evening, Pam?" Sookie lilted, putting her empty tray up on the bar as Arlene walked back through the swinging door. Pam barked out a laugh and patted the other chair at the table, which she had brought around next to the one she was currently sitting in. Sookie complied and joined her.
"I was just helping you guys make last call," she smiled, the expression looking a little scary on her face. "And I wanted to tell you that your tips from dancing are backstage."
Sookie glanced down at her white plastic digital watch. "Damn, it is almost closing, isn't it."
"That it is," Pam replied. She glanced around and offered a cursory wave to a table of thirty-something human men who were on their way out.
Forty five minutes later and the club was cleared out of patrons. "Ready to go, Sookie?" Eric asked as he strode out of the back hallway. Sookie nodded, said goodbye to all present, and walked with Eric back down the hallway.
Eric could sense Sookie's anxiety as they made their way out to his car. After he got her settled into the passenger seat, he wordlessly handed her his cell phone. She smiled up at him before he closed the door. "Thanks, how'd you know?" she asked when Eric slid into the driver's seat.
"I saw your phone plugged in when I picked you up tonight, and I can feel the anxiety rolling off of you in waves."
"You're pretty amazing, you know that?" Sookie leaned over and kissed Eric on the cheek before settling in her seat and dialing the number that she had committed to memory.
After three more tries, and no responses, she gave up for the night and handed Eric his phone. "I'm sure she's just sleeping off whatever sickness she's gotten," he tried reassuring Sookie. She nodded as they pulled up to Sookie's apartment. Eric had a feeling that there might be more to Cicita's sudden disappearance, but he didn't want to alarm Sookie. After helping her out of the car, the two of them went up to Sookie's place for the night.
…
No one had heard from Cicita the following night at Fangtasia either. Sookie had just finished her routine and was back serving drinks, and Eric was making his way back to his office. Sensing something was off, he opened his door cautiously, revealing de Castro sitting at his desk.
"Wonderful show, Northman. That waitress of yours is…something." He stood up, making a show of dusting off his pants.
"What are you doing here?" Eric asked as calmly as he could.
"Merely passing through, on my way back from visiting some of those…associates you're so invested in avoiding," Felipe replied, not-so-subtly reminding Eric who was in charge.
"You're checking up on me," Eric growled, following Felipe out into the back hallway and towards the door.
"Relax, Northman. It's nothing of the sort. Just…scouting talent."
"Stay away from my girls, de Castro. You're getting your money, and I know you have other ways of confirming what is going on in my club."
"Alright, alright. I can take a hint. I'm leaving." He smiled, fangs out, before leaving through the club's back entrance.
…
"I just don't believe that Cicita would miss work two nights in a row without so much as a phone call," Sookie commented as she filled a beer pitcher.
"That does seem quite unlike her," Arlene added, sticking olive toothpicks in the martinis she was making.
"You actually think she's missing?" Dahlia snapped as she approached the outside of the waitress' area. "This isn't CSI, you know."
"I can't get a hold of her and she hasn't called in. Excuse me for being a little concerned for my friend," Sookie shot back.
"Whatever. Keep your eye peeled for the big, bad kidnapper." Dahlia rolled her eyes and walked off with her orders. Sookie looked over at Arlene, who just shrugged.
"You might be right, you know," Arlene offered, coming over to stand next to Sookie. "There's been a guy who's been at my tables a time or two, Dahlia's and Cicita's too. I've never seen him in all my time working here, started coming in here on Halloween." She shrugged again and took her own tray to her tables. All of Sookie's tables had been fully taken care of, so once she cashed out her checks, she headed back to Eric's office.
As she rounded the corner, she saw a man slipping out the back door. She waited until the door was completely closed before she continued down the hall and into Eric's office. Eric was standing with his back to the door, and his desk chair lay in splinters on the floor.
"Eric?" Sookie asked, rushing to his side. "Eric, what's wrong? Who was that man?"
Eric turned to face Sookie, quickly pulling her tight to him. "Nothing's wrong, love. And that was Felipe de Castro." There was no sense in lying to her, Eric figured. She'd already seen him. Better for her to know who to be wary of.
"Nothing doesn't cause you to break things, Eric. And de Castro? The guy you bought this building from?" Sookie felt Eric stiffen.
"Who told you that?"
"Pam did, she uh-"
"What did she tell you, Sookie?"
"Just that you bought the building from him. Why? What shouldn't she have told me? And why shouldn't she have told me it?"
Eric brushed her questions off. "Sookie." He kissed her on the top of the head. "Nothing's wrong. Just make you come to me straight away if you see him in here again." That was the truth. Nothing was wrong. Not yet anyway. At least Sookie now knew to stay aware of de Castro.
"That still doesn't sound like nothing, but I know you're not going to tell me anyway." She turned towards the door. "I'm all ready to leave when you are. I'll be backstage with Amelia."
"I love you, Sookie," Eric said. And he did. With all his heart. Everything he did was to protect her, to protect their future.
"I love you too, Eric." Sookie turned back to give him a half smile before leaving the office.
So, like I said, we're almost at the end. I'm actually pretty stoked about writing the rest of this little ditty, which is something I haven't felt…pretty much towards writing in general in awhile.
A couple of notes:
I know that a lot has been going on about writers moving off the site because of more problems, and I really wanted to address this during it's peak, but you're hearing from me now. I'm not leaving here until I'm kicked off, but I am on wordpress and all of my stories (except Drawn) are fully updated there now too. And it got a spanky new makeover. So you can subscribe to that for email updates, because I'll occasionally post news items, like if I get supernova writer's block again, and other things like that. You can also always find me on twitter (chiisai_kitty).
Wordpress blog: http:/ chiisaikitty . wordpress . com
Another note: I recently went into business for myself, it's a jewelry and accessories store on Etsy. Great prices, fast shipping :)
http:/ cupcakecameo . etsy . com (clickable link and more information on my profile as well)
-Sydney