I felt Eric beside me, laying right next to me. Wrapping his body around mine. I still had no idea how many days I had been held. He felt me move and quickly sat up to look at me, to make sure I was alright.

"Lover, are you ok?" He didn't know how to talk to me.

"Yes, you're not hurting me." I answered what I thought was his question.

"No, not ok with me laying next to you. Are you…alright?" He needed to ask the question.

I inhaled deeply…'was I alright'. I honestly didn't know. I had no idea if I was alright. I was alive, I was safe…but alright?

"Eric, I will not break." It was the only response that filled my mind. I felt my eyes well with tears. "I will not break." I repeated with declaration.

The room was quiet, there were no nurses, no doctors…just us. I looked at him, knowing what was on his mind. All I needed to do was say the word.

"Please, take me home." My voice begged him to listen He immediately stood up, removing the IV from my arm. He cradled me in his arms, wrapping the bed covers around my body. He kissed my head and opened the window. We were airborne before I could think twice.

I am never afraid when I fly with him, I know that nothing will ever happen. It is peaceful, quiet…ethereal. I buried my head into his chest and closed my eyes. I would be home soon. I would be safe and away from the horror of the past few days.

We touched down on the doorstep and he carried me upstairs to our bedroom. He carried me directly into the bathroom and sat me on the floor, still wrapped in the hospital linens. I watched as he filled the tub with very hot, very steamy water. I thought about how much the water might sting my raw body. He helped me up and dropped the linens from my body.

I couldn't help it, I cowered and tried to cover myself. Never have I hidden myself from him. I just couldn't stand there and not shelter myself. He met my eyes, knowing not to push. He held out his hand in order to help me.

"Come, I will take care of you. Please, let me help you." His words hurt, I wanted to let him help me…I just was scared. I took his hand and reluctantly climbed into the tub. The water was hot, it felt scalding after being cold and naked for days.

He undressed and climbed in also. I was still standing up, afraid to submerge my body, afraid of the sting that could happen. He sat down and rested his back against the end of the tub.

"It is ok, go slowly. You need to soak and get clean, just take your time." He looked at my eyes, understanding why I was so concerned. I slowly lowered my body, careful not to make any sudden moves.

I felt the hot water creep up my skin, it felt so good, but it also hurt. I took a deep, cleansing breath and sat down. I blew out the pain as the hot water touched the open, raw wounds. My eyes burned as I tried to hold back my tears. I felt him reach out for me, to allow me to brace myself against him.

I felt my body lean back against his hard chest. He did not touch me, just let me lay there and balance on the edge of terror and comfort. The sting had subsided, I felt my body begin to relax. I closed my eyes, happy to be home.

I must have been half asleep, I felt Eric's hand on my leg and I freaked out.

"Please, no…don't touch me!" My voice was startling, crazed. For a moment I did not realize that the hand belonged to that of my husband. I felt him snap his arm back, knowing that I was scared.

Not only had I screamed in fear, but I apparently rocketed myself to the other end of the tub. I was crouching and shaking, my knees pulled up to my chest. I looked at the water, rippling around my tremors. It was colored an awful brown color. Dried blood and water does not make a pretty color.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you. I just wanted to…" He was sorry, but I cut him off.

"Oh God, no…Eric, I'm sorry. I know you would never hurt me. I don't know what happened. I just felt something and lost it. I know it's you, I know you would never hurt me. Please, it's my fault…I'm sorry." I was ashamed of myself for reacting in such an intense way.

"Sookie, none of this is your fault. You have nothing to be sorry for. I should have told you that I was going to touch you, so you expected me." He was looking at me with eyes that were do blue and so intense.

I slowly made my way back to him, allowing my self to lean back against him. This time I took his hand and placed it on my stomach. All he wanted to do was touch me, feel me next to him.

He drained the water and filled the tub again with hot water, this time I was going to get clean. He kissed my head, carefully raised his hands to my hair, pouring water down my mane. He washed my hair, scrubbing the smell of blood, sweat, and tears away. His fingers massaged my scalp, I could feel the tangles fall from my strands.

After he washed my hair I felt him lather his hands with soap, I knew he was going to wash my body…but I couldn't stomach the idea. I quickly took the bar of soap and pushed my body away from his. I wasn't ready to feel his hands on my battered skin.

He seemed to understand my need, he did not object when I did the task myself. Never had I denied him the touch of my skin, at least not since we had committed ourselves to each other. I could feel the concern flow through our bond. I was thankful I could feel anything at all through the bond. It had been too long since I had felt him.

"Eric…how long did he have me?" I looked at the water intently.

"Six days. You were gone for six days." He lowered his eyes to the water. "The entire time I was searching, trying to feel you, trying to find you. I could not sleep during the day, all I did was curse the fact that I could not be out there, searching for you. The minute the sun would drop I was out and hunting. I couldn't feel you?" He looked at her, concerned about the fact that their bond had been interrupted.

"He kept giving me shots of something. I couldn't even think. It made me feel drunk and tired, and sick. It was like I couldn't put any thoughts together. I couldn't call to you, I couldn't even push my fear through the bond." My voice began to shake as I recalled the feeling that my body was describing.

"I called Niall, he thought the you were under the influence of some type of drug. It even clouded his ability to use magic to locate you. We had no idea where you were. The only thing I knew was that I would find you. I didn't care who I needed to kill to find out, but I was going to do whatever it took". He slowly placed his hand on my face, caressing my cheek.

"You haven't slept in six days?" I was shocked at this confession. It is almost impossible for a vampire to remain awake when the sun is out. In fact, sleep deprivation is a favorite form of torture among vampires. "How are you able to function. Come one, we need to get you some sleep." I don't know why I suddenly became so concerned with my husband's well being. Oh wait, I do no why…avoidance.

"Sookie, do not worry about me, it is you that needs caring for. Let us get out of this water and get into bed." That actually sound like a good idea to me. I let him help me up and flinched and shrunk away as he tried to dry me off. The feel of the towel on my skin was hurting.

I walked into the bedroom and sat on the bed, allowing him to comb out my wet hair. The smell of the lavender and vanilla shampoo was so nice to take in. I had gotten used to the stink of blood, dirt, sweat…everything. I closed my eyes and breathed in the relaxing scent.

Eric took out a pair of cotton sleep pants and a t-shirt. I let him slip them on my body, and he was careful with his touch. I hadn't slept in clothing for quite a while. I loved the feel of my skin against his, but all I wanted to do was cover up. In fact I got off the bed and retrieved a sweatshirt from my dresser. I pulled the sweatshirt over the t-shirt and rubbed up and down my arms, causing the friction to heat me up.

He just looked at me. I was a mess, my face was blue and purple from his blows. My lips were chapped and cracked from the dehydration. I looked like I had lived through a war…I actually had. He sat down next to me and I rested my head on his shoulder.

"Sookie, we must heel you. I need you to take some of my blood. I…I," He was thinking very intently on his next statement. "I saw what happened to your body. I saw the depth of the pain and the wounds. It is best for you to take from me, and allow me to heel you." I knew that he was treading on delicate territory.

"I know…I know that I need your blood. I'm just so afraid and I am so sorry." I don't know what I was sorry for, it just felt like to right emotion.

"I will be gentle my love, I will not hurt you. Lay down, get comfortable." I did exactly what he asked. I propped my head on the most comfortable pillow in the world. Eric slid himself right next to me, turning his body on his side so he was facing me.

I heard him bite into his wrist and place his arm over my mouth, making sure he did not press. I wrapped my cracked and rough lips around the wound and allowed the fluid to flow into my mouth. Tears escaped my eyes as I tasted the blood. He made sure not to make any noise of pleasure, this was not the time for him to get all aroused.

When I stopped drinking I looked at him, happy to have a burst of energy.

"Sookie, I need to touch your wounds with my blood. I need to get my blood to cover the area's that are so tender. Please, let me help." I shivered at the idea of him touching me, but I knew he was trying to help. If I allowed him to do this he would see, and feel the torture that my body had experienced.

"I don't know, maybe the blood that I just took will be enough. Can't we wait and see?" Anything to delay what I knew was going to happen. I would argue that I was fine, he would point out all of the things that were wrong with my plan, and I would end up giving in, knowing he was right

"My love, it is for the best. The blood will heal your internal injuries, it will make you feel stronger, you know what I need to do." And I did, I knew exactly that he was being kind and wanting to help me. I pulled off the cotton pants and started to cry as I felt the pain.

"Can you please turn the light out?" I knew that he had eyesight that was better than a hawk, but it just made me feel slightly more…invisible. I laid back and felt his cool hands rub my leg, letting me know he was being gentle.

I heard him snap through the skin on his fingers with his fangs. I felt him move his hand to my center, barely touching the enflamed skin. I let out a cry of pure fear, I was so scared for him to touch me. I trembled and I sobbed as he rubbed gently.

He was experiencing no pleasure from this act. Never before had he touched me in such an intimate area without it being some type of foreplay. He was healing me, making sure to touch every tender area. I flinched and I pulled away from his hands.

"Sookie, please, try not to move. I know this is difficult, it will be better very soon. I promise my love." I held on to his words and concentrated on his voice. His cool, smooth, loving voice. I blocked out the feel of his fingers as they weaved through the folds of tissue. I felt the tears slide down the sides of my face, moistening the pillow beneath my head. Just a little longer, I can already feel the pain start to dissipate.

Suddenly I feel him slide the finger inside of me and I scream in horror. I know that he is reaching inside of me to make sure he touches the inside walls of my body. I scream, shocked by the unwanted entry.

"No, No, No… stop, please…don't. Stop, please!" I lost any control that I had and slapped his hands away from my body. I curled into a ball on the bed. I can't keep doing this, this is my husband.

He looked at me and I knew how much he wanted to comfort me. He knew that I was traumatized, he knew that no amount of his blood could take that away.

"I'm sorry Eric, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please, don't hate me." I begged him to forgive my actions. He said nothing, all he did was take his place by my side, and wrap his long, strong arms around me. He held me as I sobbed, uncontrollably sobbed. I cried for everything that had been taken from me. I cried for what my life had become. I cried for myself, my body, my spirit. I cried, cradled in my husband's arms.

TBC….