(⬆️What Alice is wearing⬆️) 

I woke up in a cold sweat from the same nightmare I had been having since I came home, sighing I climbed out of bed immediately pushing the dream as far from my mind as I could, not only for myself, but so Sookie would not have to see the images I lived with, I looked at the time realizing I need to get ready for work so I quickly jumped into the shower and wasted the sweat away, once I was dressed I made my way downstairs hearing Grams and Sook talking in the kitchen and when I came in my grandma came right over giving me a hug, I tensed but hugged her back, she is the only one I would allow to touch me since I had been home, no one knew what had happened and I never wanted them to know, but grams managed to get it out of me when she heard me having a nightmare.  

(⬇️The Uniform she is wearing⬇️)

 I sat with Sook who continued giving me side glances and I could tell she was trying to read my mind, "Spook, it is rude to poke around into someone mind without permission," I said not taking my eyes from my plate, she then cleared her throat and went back to eating her breakfast, she wanted to know what I would not talk about so she could understand why I was so guarded even from her, Grans watched us closely as we  ate in silence and when we were done, I took our plates to the sink, before I could start washing them, Grans placed a hand on mine, "let me get these Hun, you 2 are going to be late," she gave me a loving a loving smile and I nodded, kissing her cheek and following Sookie out the door. 

I mentally prepared for another night working at the bar, actually hoping for a slower night, I put a smile on my face as we walked in and headed to Sam's office where we kept our things, I left and headed straight to the bar and starts setting up the music and prepping for night, patrons slowly came in all members of the town and I began making drinks when I needed, images of the war still happening overseas flashed across the TV and I had to tune the racist comments coming from the people at the bar, when I turned back I saw Arlene looking flushed as she walked back to where the waitresses get the plates of food from, I then poked my head around the corner just in time to hear her telling Lafayette that the guy wanted a burger that did not have aids, my blood boiled and I then stormed back grabbing the plate from Arlene, "oh fudge,"  she said as I walked away from her back to the table I knew where it came from, I could hear Sam saying something as him Lafayette went to follow.      

(⬇️Lafayette is Alice in this scene⬇️)
(and yes, I know it is age-retracted) 

https://youtu.be/H7l-VVxCLo8

The men at the table all looked up at me as I got to their table with smirks, "who ordered the burger with aids?" I asked setting the plate down in front of me and they all stayed quiet still smirking, when the man on my left pipped up, "I asked for the cheeseburger deluxe," he started to say something else when I slammed my hand on the table, everyone went quiet and Jason, my brother, readied himself to protect me, "I really do not give a shit if this bar belongs to Sam or not, when I am here it is my house and that sexy ass looking man right there," I started and pointed to Lafayette, who now had a smirk of his own, :makes the food, you come into my house, you eat the food how he mother fuckin makes it, are we clear!" The man then got angry and puffed out his chest, "I am an American I got to say who make my food now how about you go back and makes me a sandwich sweetheart," he said smirking back at me, I laughed and grabbed the top of the bun, "what makes you think he is the only one with aids," I said before licking the bun and shoving it in his face, as I turned to walk away, I saw Terry and how his body language change just as the man grabbed my wrist, "how about I show you some manners sweet cheeks?" 

In that moment it was like I was back overseas, I spun around and hit him yanking my wrist free, his friends then jumped up and I quickly hit them both making them fall back in their seats, suddenly arms were around me and I was being pulled back, "calm down soldier, you are alright," Terry whispered so only so I would hear, I fought to get free a moment before setting down, Terry turned me away and led me towards the back, knowing I was about to go into a panic attack. 

Lafayette followed before giving everyone a look that said go back to your drinks and food and once I was back into Sam's office, Terry let me go and I dropped to the ground moving into a corner by Sam's desk, my breathing got ragged and Terry was afraid me again understanding what was happening, Lafayette kneeled down in front of me and stopped waiting for me to signal I was okay, "just breathe Alice, ya got to breath baby girl," he said gently holding his hand out, but not really touching me, Sam and Sookie came bursting in the room and I felt my anxiety get worse, not wanting her to see me like this, "get her out of here now!" I yelled making everyone jump, Terry and Arlene quickly grabbed her and pulled her out as Sam shut the door.

I did not even notice the tears pouring down my face and could not hear what Lafayette was saying, Sam was tried to move closer, but I saw and flinched back further into the corner, but Lafayette told him to stop and leave.

"Go help Terry in the kitchen or something I got this," Lafayette said and Sam nodded before leaving the room, Lafayette then turned back to me and slowly reached out until he could old my hand, "focus on me, you have to breath," he said in a calm quiet voice and slowly he pulled me into him, he then carefully and slowly laid me back against his chest and left my arms free, "breath with me, just like I do, you are safe I got you," he said making me focus on the rise and fall of his chest, as I started to calm down, he slowly wrapped his arms around me, making me feel safe.

He was the first person who had been able to calm me like this, not even Grams could touch without me flinching when I was was like this, once I was finally calm down and breathing normal again, Lafayette relaxed and looked down at me, "you did not have to do that," he said quietly.

I scoffed at him and pulled away and shakily standing up, "yes I did, you are like a brother, hell you might as well be and I will be dammed if I let anyone treat you with anything but respect and dignity, I do not care who they are," I said as I started cleaning the tears from my face, "Terry should not have grabbed me like that but it was probably a good thing he did."

Lafayette came over with his make-up bag and started fixing my make-up looking at me sadly, "ya ever going to tell me what happened?" He asked as he put fresh make-up on my face and straighten up my hair, I just smiled at him knowing that I would have to but just not today, "one day I will tell all of you, but not just yet," I said shakily as he nodded and smiled down at me knowing he would be the very first one that I would told.

He was always the first to know even before Sookie which made her mad sometimes, but she gets it, "alright how do I look," I said more than asking, hoping that no one would be able to tell that I was crying, Lafayette looked at me smiling big and snapping his finger, "baby girl if I was not gay..." I laughed at him as he held the door open for me, he then walked in front of me as Sookie came running over with concern all over her face.

Lafayette stopped her and shook his head, giving me the chance to walk by and back to the bar, "leave it Sook, she will talk when she is ready," he said gently and walking back to the kitchen, I then noticed the men was now gone and I continued about my work at the bar, ignoring all the looks from people, a little while later Sam walked up to me cautiously remembering how I flinched in his office.

"You good, Ally?" He asked giving me a concerned look, "maybe you should take the rest of the night off," I just shook my head and did not look up as I continued making drinks, "I am fine Sam," I said as I put the drinks on the bar in front of the people who asked for them, when I looked up he still had the same look. 

"I mean it," I said putting on a smile before turning back to work, Sam stayed up with me the rest of the night helping when needed, I heard the door open and looked up when I heard whispers starting, Merlotte's just had its first Vampire Walk though, he looked around his eyes resting on mine for a moment before he headed over to a booth, one I knew to be Sookie's, the Rattree's and I could see just by their looks what they were thinking.

Sam tensed up when he saw Sookie walked over excitedly and talking to the dark-haired Vampire, "she will be fine, Sam," I told him making him shake his head, I then went back to work only half listening to Sookie as she ran back and forth between us and the Vampire, after a about an hour she came up looking upset.

"What is wrong?" I asked as me and Sam walked over, she gave me a guilty look and I knew she had heard something in someone's mind, "out with-it Sook," she rambled out how the Rattree's were planning on draining the Vampire, Bill and selling his blood, when she turned back to Bill and the Rattree's were gone and she went running towards the door, Sam went to chased her, but I stop him, "I got it," I said as I set the bar rag down and went to follow, I chased after Sookie and found her sneaking up to a chain, I stopped  her and whispered for her to stay behind me, I could tell that the Rattree's had a silver holding down the Vampire and tried not to give me away, but I also saw concern on his face, once I was close enough I threw the chain and watched as it wrapped around the guys throat, he fell back and began choking as the chain was tightened around his throat, the woman pulled the chain loosen a little and grabbed a knife moving towards me.    

"Stupid fuckin' move bitch," she said glaring at me, I then took a fighting stance and smirked at her, "maybe but you will be stupider if you try it," we then stood staring at each other for a minute before she finally decided not to try taking me on. 

"This is not over," she said seething before grabbing her husband and dragging him off, Sookie ran to help Bill and I walked closer, watching him closely, "thank you," he said sliding back against a tree as Sook pulled the silver chain off of him, Sook turned to me and I felt a rush of air before we turned to see that Bill is gone, "c'mon, Sam is gonna be freaking out," I said pulling Sookie back towards the bar, when we walked back in I watched as Sam started to checking over Sookie asking her if she was alright, "I am fine Sam, Ally wad the one who took them on and she is fine too by the way," Sookie said slightly irritated that Sam had ignored my existence.

We went on the rest of the night which stayed uneventful for my sake, Sookie and I left together and the whole time I felt as if we were being watched, when we got home I saw a light on in Gram's kitchen and made my way there with Sookie, she told her about Bill, but thankfully left out what happened with the Rattree's.

I eventually made my way up to bed and got snuggled in under my blankets after changing, I just hope tonight would be a dreamless sleep, but knowing my luck I doubt it.