A/N: Thank you again for all the kind reviews!
Sookie snuggled up against the form behind her, feeling safe for the first time in weeks. Unconsciously, she tried to roll a bit towards her stomach – her modesty insisting she not mash her butt directly into the other person's crotch as he cuddled her – but it caused her dislocated shoulder to drop just enough to register in her sleepy haze. Instinctively, her eyes flew open as she winced in pain, crying out softly, unintentionally scooting away from her bedmate.
"Shhhh," she heard very softly, as he gently helped her to lay on her back, settling his arm around her. The weight across her chest made movement impossible and the pain subsided, as Sookie slipped back to sleep, inhaling light smells of the ocean and the sea, finding herself in a lucid dream.
She can hear the waves crashing along the shore. The rumbling feels so distant, like the purr of a kitten – soft, menacing, ominous. She's aware that she might drown, but it won't be today. She lets it drift from her mind – everything ebbs and flows.
Gazing out into the horizon, she watches the waves dance and flit about the surface of the sea - it spits and curls. The dying sun crafts prisms and mirrors along the curves of the water – reflecting the beauty of the universe above. There is a fire and a calmness in it – it is stirring her up and quieting her down. She can feel it within her grasp and yet it's completely out of reach. It's haunting.
She meanders along the shore. Where the water nips at her heels. Still so cold after a day in the sun. Yet inviting and friendly. Crashing and slipping around her toes, it tugs – trying to persuade her to swim. She wants to – to give in – because she loves the water and she knows it loves her.
But the waves whisper in the distance. Buzzing like the wings of hummingbirds. Murmuring an unsettling reminder.
She turns her view inland. The light doesn't dance or hug the shapes of the objects she can't make out. The sun doesn't sneak past the shore. She's afraid of the dark. Instinctively, she steps into the sea. Inhaling sharply, she squints and shivers, still facing the mainland. Her body sinks onto the sand, into the shallow water; her clothes beginning to cling to her. Goose-pimply, she shakes and sways – straining to adjust, unwilling to crawl out of the surf. She knows she would feel better if she just dove in – let the sea envelop her. It's the hesitancy that keeps her cold and struggling.
She re-positions towards the sea, the water crawling up the fabric of her clothing and running down her arms. It feels… comforting. She can't tell if the temperature has shifted or if she has. She sits, and breathes deeply – there is sweet salt in the air. She is unmoved as the sun sinks below the line of the sea. The moon taking its place in the sky.
The water is even more beautiful now – as there are no distractions. She can see nothing but the sea in front of her. It sings to her – and she sings along.
"It may not last; but I am not naïve – I am in love."
'Love?'
Sookie's dream startled her awake. Trying to raise her arm to wipe the sleep from her eyes, she discovered she was pinned to the bed; she struggled a bit, wondering what was going on, unable to see in the pitch black room. Sookie could still smell the salt water air from the ocean, like her dream - the musky scent that reminded her of someone. "Eric, it's only Eric." She said out loud, surprising herself that his presence had somehow become comforting to her overnight; she felt soothed by the nearness to him, like something inside of her longed to be as close to him as possible. She laid next to him until she couldn't anymore - her human needs suddenly making their presence known. There was no time to wait - her body screaming at her, 'Bathroom now!'
"Eric," She said softly, "Eric," a little more loudly, "Eric!" feeling particularly frustrated, not understanding why he wouldn't wake, "ERIC!" she yelled as she poked at him, trying to wriggle out from under his arm. His arm was a dead weight, and she felt powerless against the man sleeping next to her. Why wouldn't he wake up? Shaking off her sleepy haze, her mind began to knit together the pieces. Remembering bits and flashes of what had happened.
'Vampires sleep during the day,' she chided herself, and then it hit her like a freight train, images from the night before came rushing back, flooding her mind.
Suddenly, she swore she could see Pam straddling her waist, holding her down, looking wild and feral, savagely biting her. Pam's fangs were ripping into her flesh, as her body screamed in pain, becoming weak. Undone by her hallucination, Sookie began to hyperventilate. Her wriggling turned to thrashing as her breaths became shorter. Her body launched into a full-blown panic attack, tears streaming down her cheeks as she rasped for breath. Her shouldered burned fiercely from wrenching it around. She wailed loudly, sure she was dying.
"Shhhhh." She heard whispered into her hair, as she hiccupped each sob, "Shhhh."
"Please... (hiccup)... let... (hiccup)... me... (hiccup)... go... (hiccup)."
"Shhhhhhh... You're safe. See?"
Sookie barely heard Eric's words over the distinct clap that echoed in the space. She came back to reality as the lamp next to her lit up. 'Why does a vampire have a clapper?' she thought. At the room's illumination, Eric pulled his arm back, freeing Sookie, who instantly jumped from the bed, backing up towards the wall. Still short of breath, she sank to the floor, her back against the wall, tucking her legs underneath her. She placed one hand on her chest and one on her stomach, rhythmically inhaling and exhaling, in an effort to calm herself down.
After a few minutes, once her breathing began to even out and her panic attack was over, her bladder reminded her why she had tried to get up in the first place. She padded into the bathroom, relieving herself before taking stock of her bloody clothes; she shed them and took a long, hot shower. Feeling renewed and revived, she wrapped herself in a terrycloth robe she found hanging on the back of the door before heading back towards the empty side of the bed.
On the nightstand, she spotted an envelope with her named penned in a beautiful script. She reached for it with her uninjured arm and sat down, leaning against the headboard, glancing over at the motionless man – vampire – beside her.
She brushed away a strand of his blonde hair that had fallen across his forehead, allowing her hand to graze his cheek. She felt the finest bit of stubble peppered across his strong chin, as she lightly traced her fingers down the line of his jaw. His skin felt so cold against hers, tiny shocks of electricity moving through her fingers at each touch. She continued to stroke her fingers down his arms, and across his bare chest. She dragged her nails softly over his pecs and down his sculptured abs, noting that he shivered ever so slightly – the only movement she had seen since he had removed his arm from across her breasts. She thought about dropping the robe and pressing her naked flesh against his, aware of the heat awakening between her legs. She started to pull back the sheet to roam further, touch him more.
But she stopped herself.
She felt ashamed that she had even entertained the thought of taking advantage of him in his vulnerable state. This thing he had done – bringing her into his chamber – was a sign of trust; she knew that and she wasn't going to betray him. But, the devil on her other shoulder reminded her that he had seen her naked. The proof was in the pudding – he had taken all her clothes off in the hotel and changed her in to HIS shirt. She wondered how bad it would be if she just took one quick look? Surely he wouldn't begrudge her the chance to level the playing field.
"Girlie! I'm not coming down there with the vampire; you'll have to come up!"
Sookie snapped her head towards the door, surprised to hear someone in the house. She felt certain the voice belonged to the doctor who had treated her the night before. She let out a little growl, dropping the sheet back over him, knowing she'd lost her opportunity and her nerve. Letter still in hand, she opened the door – discovering a well-lit staircase – closed it behind her, and ascended the stairs.
Sookie found the short doctor waiting for her with hands on her hips, impatiently tapping her foot.
"We don't all keep vampire hours, Miss Stackhouse; some of us have jobs. Now, let's take a look at you; I need to see how much you've healed overnight. I'm also going to help you get that dislocated shoulder back in."
Doctor Ludwig poked and prodded, while Sookie followed each of the doctor's requests to turn this way or that.
"I'm going to need you to lay down on the couch and we'll get your shoulder set to rights. It won't take more than a minute; try not to pass out from the discomfort."
Sookie braced herself and the doctor was true to her word – it took no time, but it hurt like hell; she howled in pain as it relocated. Dr. Ludwig carefully checked Sookie's arm and handed her a bottle of an ibuprofen. Satisfied at her healing, the doctor pulled up a small stool and sat across from Sookie.
"There's something special about you. Did you know that?" Sookie flinched slightly at the doctor's words, "Yes, I think you did know that. Don't worry, doctor/patient confidentiality – your secret's safe with me," Sookie nodded to show she understood, "You really shouldn't be here…your kind isn't safe around vampires. Northman may be older and stronger than most, but if you keep feeding him your blood, he's likely to become addicted, and then you'll never get back to your kin."
"What are you talking about? He's never… bitten me."
"He doesn't feed from you? But he still gave you blood, to heal you. Odd…that's just odd." Ludwig muttered to herself. And with that the Doctor 'popped' out of the room.
Bewildered, Sookie descended the stairs, and remembering the letter in her hand, she opened it.
Min älskade,
I'm certain you do not recall, but we first met years ago, very late at night, while you were traveling home. You captured me, captivated me. I watched you from the shadows. And then… all this happened, and I did not trust you, hiding my true nature, causing this catastrophe. For that I apologize.
I have not earned your trust, but I am sure you have questions, and I would like to provide the answers you seek. I only ask one favor in exchange – do not leave the house, be with me when I rise. I cannot protect you when I am dead, but my resting chamber is the safest place in the world. I hope you will not choose to kill me in my sleep, as I never chose to kill you in yours. It is not a threat, merely a truth that you should consider.
Until sunset,
-E
Sookie's mind was swirling with a million questions; she felt almost paralyzed trying to decide what she would ask him first.
Eric rose not knowing what to expect, but feeling Sookie's body next to him on the bed, he was the happiest he had ever been. Her body was turned towards him, but her eyes were almost intentionally focused elsewhere, on a random spot in the room. Before he could greet her, thank her for heeding his note, she blurted out, "Do vampires have sex?"
Well he certainly hadn't expected that.
