Title: Controlled Conditions

Pairing: Eric and Sookie.

Summary: AU. In a world where organizations like the Fellowship of the Sun are federally funded, Sookie Stackhouse goes to work at a lab where a former vampire sheriff has been reduced to a mere test subject. Tons of angst and hurt Eric.

Disclaimer: The Southern Vampire Mysteries books are the creation and property of Charlaine Harris. This fanfiction was created strictly for entertainment purposes.

Chapter One

Luke MacDonald wished that the hot blond in front of him was not related to Jason Stackhouse. She looked like the kind of girl that would appreciate a man even if the man didn't have a lot of experience or talent. A grateful virgin that he bet he could get her all slick and worked up and….

The blond had acquired slightly disgusted look in her face but she smiled at him pleasantly. "The lab director said that you could show me what I was going to be doing."

"Ahh yes. Sorry Sookie it's been a long week. Well your job is pretty simple and it mostly involves the upkeep of the test subjects and the lab itself. The techs set up the studies and collect the data so you're mostly going to do a lot of clean up and feeding."

"How many vampi…err…subjects are there?"

"We have eleven housed here in our 'permanent collection' but sometimes the other labs lend us some of theirs for specific testing. This lab prides itself on securing a few of the oldest and most vicious beasts but don't worry we haven't had a problem with security in six years" he said smugly as he himself was responsible of the fact. Sookie grimaced internally.

"I know, Jason said that it was pretty safe here."

"Most certainly Sookie, the "Light of Day Institute" is doing God's work and He wouldn't let His children be in any danger. Now let me give you a tour of the facility. If you have any questions feel free to ask them. Here we are all family."

Sookie was having a hard time deciding what made her more apprehensive. Luke MacDonald seemed like a real creep and his thoughts had all but made her vomit but this place was just as bad. Maybe it was the proximity to the 'beasts' that Luke had mentioned but something here made her really uneasy.

"There are eight labs in this floor and one giant one in the lower one. The ones here are set aside for the testing of the various specimens collected and the data comparison. We have a couple of excellent people mapping vampiric DNA. Downstairs is where most of the collections occur things like blood, organ tissue whatever the techs need. In the basement is where the subjects are held. Of course everything is light tight and security is our prime directive. Let me take you there."

He led her to a corner where a black glass panel was set into the wall. Luke placed his right hand and the apparatus scanned each of his fingerprints. A ding informed them that he was cleared and the glass panel opened to reveal a spacious elevator.

"Pretty nifty huh?"

Sookie acquiesced and plastered the smile she had perfected after working years as a waitress. It was the smile that she gave particularly dim costumers who thought more of themselves than they should.

They stopped briefly on the first floor where she could see that the lab was especially large and equipped with all the latest paraphernalia. But the main attraction was one floor away and that's where they went.

"We keep the subjects heavily sedated unless we are recording their reactions. Since they do not have any human needs it is more convenient to keep them strapped down at all times. I was the person who suggested this policy and I have to say it's been most convenient" he volunteered smiling broadly.

Something about the way he said it chilled her. He seemed to take too much pleasure in his narrative. Hadn't these subjects all been human at some time? Luke apparently did not view them as such. "Aren't vampires hard to contain?"

"All of our restraints have silver in their core which they cannot break and it also weakens them very much. To be even more cautious we assigned each a cell that each subject is to be kept in when not in use. One of your duties will probably include wheeling them in when the techs are done with them. And here we are, welcome to the freak show"

They were standing in front of a large metal door Sookie would bet was made of some kind of silver alloy. There was another hand scanner at the side and Luke pressed his print on it. The door slid open and Sookie walked into what she would soon consider a particularly cruel level of hell.

As Luke had informed her the vampires were all kept in their tiny cells which were constructed with three solid walls and one made of unbreakable Plexiglas. The insides were bare but well lit so that each occupant would have absolutely no privacy. Not that they could since they were tightly strapped to their individual gurneys. Sookie gasped at the brutality.

"I know it's hard to understand that such evil creatures can exist but you'll get used to it. You see we have the whole system to perfection so that even when you are in close contact with the beasts you won't really be exposed to their depravity. Think of them as neutered dogs and you'll be right as rain. Feel free to look around"

Sookie walked the length of the hall slowly and considered if she should just leave and try to find another waitressing job. Merlotte's was a good place to work but with the economy in the state that it was everyone's hours were cut and property taxes were due in a few short months. Jason had pulled some strings and gotten her this job even though she had no education beyond high school. It came with a good salary with benefits plus a retirement plan.

Her brother was not a particular smart man or even a considerate one but he was lucky. He'd gotten involved with the Fellowship of the Sun early on and when they achieved the influence that they had, he'd been along for the ride. He was working in the New Orleans offices of the FoTS and had heard of this job opening in the Shreveport LODI lab. He'd recommended Sookie and here she was with few options and a lot of misgivings.

But at least she was free unlike the poor creatures trapped in those cells before her. A cell in the furthermost part housed a sweet looking redheaded teen. The girl could not have been more than sixteen when she was turned which was probably fairly recent. Sookie did not know how she recognized it but this girl had not been dead for very long. She should be in having fun in college and falling in love not strapped down to be experimented on. The cells that followed contained a couple of older vampires. They, like the girl, were asleep in their gurneys. In fact most of the vampires were dead to the world except for one housed a couple of cells down that seemed to be fidgeting. Sookie walked over and peered through the glass wall.

"Oh my." Was all that came to her head at the image before her. Inside that cell she found the most beautiful man she'd ever laid eyes on. He was exceptionally tall and well built. His muscles rippled where they were being held down by the straps and his bare feet extended beyond the gurney. Luke noticed her interest and came to stand next to her.

"This is a common reaction to the Sheriff."

"The Sheriff?"

"Oh yes. A decade ago this vampire was the Sheriff of the very area we are standing on. His bio claims that he is over a thousand years old and thus his powers were very advanced. He rose through the ranks and was assigned Area Five in Louisiana to rule over. It took us quite a while to catch him and if hadn't been for a tip that revealed to us his sleeping lair he would still be free. As it is he may be the only vampire to prove to be a challenge which is why he was punished like he was."

"What was done to him?" The girl ached for the beautiful creature.

"Can't you tell from here? Well, I guess not. His eyes were removed."

Sookie's heart clenched at the raw viciousness of the punishment. "That seems extreme" she whispered.

"No more than what he deserves but they will grow back as soon as we discontinue the silver drops that he is given once every day. They keep the wounds from supporting the growth of a new eye"

The girl approached the glass enclosure and for once wished that he could hear a vampire's thoughts and maybe be able to provide comfort. Luke interrupted her contemplations and motioned for her to follow him out of the specimen area.

"I think its time for you to get your credentials ready and your prints scanned. Don't worry you'll get your chance to work with the Sheriff tomorrow."

"Do you know his name?" she wanted to hear it for some reason.

"Of course. That's Eric Northman."

TBC

Okay I know this is very weird but please give it a chance. I will explain a little more about this reality in the next chapter as Sookie meets Eric for the very first time. I appreciate all comments even the bad ones which I am certain to garner with this piece.