Stay by PersianFreak
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Charlaine Harris. Please don't sue.
Rating: T
A/N: One-shot set immediately after Dead and Gone. Reviews are welcome.
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I spent the following day in a different room of the clinic (as I had learned it was). I didn't get to visit Bill; I was told he was taken somewhere else, somewhere where there was a higher chance of him surviving. So I slept; or tried to, anyways. Before I could stop myself my thoughts would wander back to my most recent experiences, to the way they took delight in hurting me, to the way Bill collapsed beside me after the fight, to how Claudine would never become an angel, how I would never be the same person again...
With the arrival of night, Eric appeared at my bedside once more.
"I assume you want to go home?" He asked, stamping down his unhappiness at my state. I nodded and even managed to smile a little, grateful that he knew me well enough. He carefully helped me change into a nightgown which he told me Pam had purchased. Having done that, Eric carried me out of the small clinic, going past various nurses and several other doors on the way to his car which was parked temporarily by the front doors.
"Careful," I murmured as a nurse opened the door and he kneeled to place me inside the car, making me wince a little from the overall tenderness of my body. He drove slower than usual, careful to slow down when making turns and making the entire experience as painless as possible. Amelia was already in bed by the time we got home so he carried me into my bedroom, settling me comfortably under the covers.
"Do you want me to check to make sure the house is safe?" He asked softly and I nodded. HE appeared a second later, gently pushing the door open and casting his shadow on the floor.
"All safe," Eric called softly, peeking into my bedroom.
"Thank you," I murmured from under the covers, my voice sounding raw to my own ears. Eric nodded and was about to turn and walk away when I mustered up my courage. "Eric?" He turned back.
"Yes, dear one?"
"Can you..." I gulped, wincing a little as a healing wound on my leg itched, "I know it's not what we do, but do you think you can..." I bit my lip. Eric stepped further into the room, the light from the hallway spilling unto me and the bed.
"Yes?" His voice was gentle.
"Do you think you can stay with me? Just for a bit," I added quickly, "Just until I fall asleep."
"Of course," He nodded and quickly rid himself of his shoes and t-shirt, leaving only his jeans, before sliding into bed beside me. I rolled gingerly to avoid hurting myself until I was in his arms.
"I know you have to get to Fangtasia, but I feel safer with you here, and you don't have to stay all night, just until I'm asleep." I was babbling in my nervousness, but he seemed to understand.
"I will stay until dawn," He promised softly.
"You don't have-" I began to protest.
"I will stay," He said firmly and I found myself half-smiling. Despite the nightmare that I had been put through in the past day, I found my heartbeat slowing as I lay in my Viking's arms. He began humming, his low voice rumbling pleasantly in his chest, and I slowly drifted off to sleep.
"I will stay with you as long as you will let me," His voice was a trickle of water, a whisper, a figment of my imagination before I was swept away by sleep's welcome oblivion.