Disclaimer: I own AJ, but the rest of the True Blood/ Sookie Stackhouse Chronicles is not mine.

A/N: Thanks to all of my reviewers, and silent readers! Also, I'd like to note that this story occurs in a series limbo of sorts, and probably won't follow the plot line of the current season (though I may allude to it). Not that this season isn't fantastic! I'm especially loving Jason right about now.

Chapter 2:

Aspirin

"I'm leaving. I'm not coming back."

"I know you think that, you silly girl. But the moment you use your gift, I will find you."

"I won't use my gift."

"The earth is a dangerous place. I'll get you eventually."

AJ woke up to a migraine pounding a steady beat into her head. Absolutely breathtakingly painful. Her only solace was that where she was, wherever she was, seemed blissfully dark. AJ had only had a migraine once before, and knew that any light would be like a knife through her skull.

Panic later, sleep now. AJ instructed herself firmly, rolling from her back to her side. You've probably just been glamoured, possibly been fed on by vampires, and definitely don't know where you are. But you're in a bed, apparently. Take advantage while you still can.

Well, there you go. AJ wanted a bed, and now she was in one. Life just seemed to work out.

Or it would have, if she could fall back asleep. Frickin' eh.

Find aspirin. Go back to bed. Good plan.

Pulling what appeared to be a heavy quilt off of her, AJ pulled herself into sitting position. Her migraine was not happy with her.

Leaning back, AJ realized It wasn't a bed after all –sonofagun- but a couch. AJ had been taught to appreciate what was given to her, but the letdown was still there. Blocking out the pain, she stood slowly and stumbled through the dark, hands gliding across the wall until she found the lightswitch. The light reveal what appeared to be an office, apparently, with a modest desk, chairs and some shelves. AJ didn't really care about that. Obviously, there was not going to be anything to help her head here. She walked straight for the door and turned the knob.

Or, tried to. The damn thing was locked. What kind of an office locks from the outside? Knowing her effort was in vain, AJ tugged with all her might anyway.

"C'mon..." she muttered, twisting more fiercely now. AJ could not pick a lock. Perhaps years ago she could have kicked it down, but that was before she had become a vagabond and lost most of her muscle mass. All she could do now was get really pissed. "SHIT! I NEED ASPRIN! ANYONE OUT THERE?" the yelling hurt but it satisfied her anger.

Within seconds the door was open, and a vampire woman was standing in front of her.

"Perfect timing, I was just about to wake you up. Now what's this I hear about needing aspirin?" The woman's voice was sweet as honey, with that southern bell kind of charm to it. The rest of her contrasted completely. Oh she was beautiful- no doubt about that. However, a true southern bell wouldn't wear black pumps and a skin tight purple mini dress with a plunging neckline.

"Who are you? Actually, I don't care unless the answer is 'the aspirin lady'. My head is about to burst." AJ hoped her rudeness could distract the woman long enough to get around her. She tried to worm around her, but was easily thwarted. The vampire got her by the throat in a vice-like grip, pushing AJ against the nearest wall in the office.

"My name is Pam, and you must either be an idiot with a death wish or have one hell of a trick up your sleeve to think you can talk to me like that," Pam's voice never rose, but there was a touch of steel to it. Her grip tightened. "Well, you should use that trick right about now."

AJ tried to focus. Last time she timed herself, AJ could go about five minutes without air. Keep in mind there was no adrenaline rush speeding her oxygen use and she was sitting last time, AJ could probably go for three if she stopped struggling.

Don't use your power, she commanded herself.

The grip slackened, then her hand fell away entirely. "That's what I thought, AJ."

AJ didn't respond. Instead she massaged her throat, which would probably bruise. Crap.

Her head hurt too much to look at Pam's aura, but she was willing to bet that it looked a whole lot like Eric's.

"Did I hear a problem?" Speak of the devil.

Eric, the vampire from last night (or, what AJ assumed was last night, it could have been a week for all she knew), entered the office.

"She is exactly as rude as you described her."

"Was little AJ giving you trouble?"

AJ's face burned. Being 5'0 (well, 4'11 ½ but she rounded up) made height a bit of a sensitive issue for her. After having people comment on how short she was for her entire life was rather irksome.

"I need a goddamned aspirin."

Eric smiled. Somehow, the smile seemed more like a threat. "It seems that AJ has not learned her lesson about being rude to vampires."

"I'm afraid I won't learn much with this killer headache."

They moved on as if she said nothing. "You know, she hasn't once asked about where she was, what we did to her, how long she's been out for, all that whiny crap humans usually bring up." Pam commented dryly.

"Really?" Eric tilted his head to the right. She was still interesting. Good.

"What can I say? I live in the now. And right now I feel like my head is going to burst open."

"You also don't know where you are right now either. You also don't know why your head hurts right now." He smirked and they exchanged a look. AJ's stomach sunk. What the heck had she done?

"Pain will always be at the top of my fix it list. So, aspirin?"

They ignored her began talking in a language AJ was completely unfamiliar with. The only way she could describe it was that it sounded heavy on the tongue, like Russian. But it wasn't Russian. However, Pam's face appeared more and more annoyed as the conversation continued. Eventually she stalked out of the room, glaring over her shoulder.

"Pam has kindly offered to go to a drug store to get you aspirin." Eric told AJ, with his clear blue eyes boring a hole in her. "So, you never did explain how you could smell me."

"Forgot to ask when you glamoured me?" She responded in, what she hoped, was a bored tone. In reality, it began to dawn on her the extent of what she may have revealed to him.

"No, I did ask you, little AJ, but while you were open as any human on some subjects, others were... closed."

"Like?"

"Did you really think I was going to be completely forthcoming about the remainder of last night?" AJ didn't think it was possible, but her stomach sank even lower. "You still did not answer my question. The more you tell me, the more you will find out."

"How can I trust you're telling me the truth about what happened?"

"I have footage from my security cameras- however they do not have sound. So, you will just have to trust me." He grinned. It wasn't very trust inspiring.

"You really don't know what you're getting into," AJ said quietly, "It's not too late. You could let me go, and forget this ever happened."

Eric stared for a moment, then stepped towards her, until they were dangerously close. AJ could have sworn electricity was bouncing between them. He leaned over, so she didn't have to crane her neck to look him in the eye. That cool, wintery smell she noticed before filled her nose. She closed her eyes, and felt his face come even closer, Eric's lips were perhaps a hairsbreadth from her own. Hell, AJ wanted him.

"Now, where's the fun in that?" He asked. AJ opened her eyes and he was at least six feet away from her, smiling that stupid smile of his.

Pam returned, a glass of water in one hand, a pill in the other, and an irritated expression on her face. "I know the adult dosage is two pills, but I really think the child amount will be enough for you."

AJ glared, but said nothing. She took the water and pill, and moved to the couch to sit. Eric and Pam pulled up chairs and sat across from her.

"Well, might was well get this over with."

AJ placed the pill on the palm of her hand, so they could see it clearly. She concentrated on the tablet, feeling its structure. The acetylsalicylic acid was the main curative ingredient. Thinking about where the inflammation was, she gradually siphoned (siphoned it the best way to describe it) the acid through her skin and into her a vein. She followed the path to the heart , and made sure it went straight to the brain.

She wiped the excess from the pill (lubricant and such) onto her pants. AJ was relieved to see she was in the same clothing as before.

Within seconds, her head felt better.

"So, first question?"