Chapter Thirteen:

"Will you just let me heal you already? You're stubbornness is agitating." Eric grumbled as he leaned against the wall across from the bed.

I ignored him as I shuffled to find a comfortable position, wincing anytime my bottom half moved even the slightest. My ankle was bent in a gruesome position and the state of my knee was revolting. This was far worse than just a shattered hand. And far more painful. I nearly forgot about the gash that ran down the side of my face until a drop of blood dripped into my eye. I sighed as I gently wiped the blood away, only to bite down hard on my bottom lip to keep from crying out. I cursed the fellowship of the sun for this. They just couldn't leave me alone, could they? I just couldn't live a quiet and peaceful life. I wasn't some monster. I was just a girl. So why did they feel the need to torment me like this? I was tired of fearing for my life.

"Really you're just getting blood everywhere." Eric sighed heavily. Pushing himself off the wall and waltzing over to the bed, he nudged me over, earning a glare and a muffle of pain from me as he began raising his wrist to his lips. "Just be a good girl and it'll be over in seconds."

"No." I shook my head, reaching a hand out to grab his arm. I knew I should have just let him heal me. I knew it would end all the pain and suffering I was forced to endure. It was the smart thing to do. But a part of me didn't want to be healed, at least not from him.

Eric raised an eyebrow. "No? Do you enjoy being in pain, teacup?"

"Yes, Eric." I rolled my eyes. "I love being in pain. It's my fetish. What can I say, I'm kinky that way."

There was a hint of a smirk on his lips. "You're being ridiculous, you know that right?"

"I don't want you to heal me, Eric."

He tilted his head to the side as he contemplated my statement. It wasn't that I didn't want to be healed. If I went to the hospital and let my injuries heal at a normal rate I would be in pain for far longer than I would like. But it wasn't Eric's blood that I wanted, that I wished for. It was Godric's.

Eric must have realized what I meant after awhile as he snickered under his breath, shaking his head as he raked his fingers through his slicked back hair. "You want Godric to heal you."

"It's worth a shot." I shrugged. "Sharing blood was always an intimate thing between us. Maybe it would help."

"And what makes you think he'll heal you? What makes you think he'll just show up here and offer you his blood?"

I didn't know that for sure. I didn't know that at all. But I hoped for it. I hoped that Godric would love me enough to not let me suffer. He may have closed our blood bond for the past few months, but the fact that he had suddenly shown up tonight out of the blue made me believe that he no longer had those bonds closed. So he must be feeling every ounce of pain I was in. He would come to me eventually, right? He would realize after awhile that Eric hadn't healed me and would be forced to do it himself. And maybe once I had his blood in my system once again after all this time, it'll bring us closer together.

It wasn't a fool proof plan, but at least it was something.

I still wasn't going to give up on Godric, even after everything that happened tonight.

"He won't just let me suffer. He won't." I insisted, determination set in my eyes. "He'll come."

"Don't hold your breath, teacup." Eric shook his head. "You really should just let me heal you."

"I promised you I would do anything to get him back. If I have to sit here for a few hours in pain, then fine, I will." I wasn't backing down. Maybe it was a stupid decision, an extremely radical stupid decision, but it was one I intended to stand by.

"He won't come to you tonight. And I doubt he'll come to you tomorrow night or the night after that. Do you really want to go days in pain? Because that's what you're facing." He gazed down at my injuries. "You might as well just let me heal you, Teacup."

"I said no, Eric." I told him pointedly. "This is my decision. My body, my decision."

"A very stupid decision." He snorted before pushing himself off the bed. "But fine, if you insist on being ridiculously stubborn, then I'll just leave you to your unnecessary suffering."

"Fine. Goodbye." I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest, my gaze never wavering from his.

"You are too stubborn for your own good." He muttered with a sigh before stalking towards the door. I expected him to just leave, so I was surprised when he stopped in the doorway, slowing turning back around to face me. "Is there anything I can at least do to make this more comfortable?"

He wouldn't look me in the eye as he said this, and I was almost glad for it. Because my mouth had dropped open in complete surprise. Was Eric Northman actually being considerate? Was he actually caring about the feelings of others? Was he actually being generous and kind? No, this must have been some sort of dream. Maybe I was in so much pain that I was imagining all of this. Because this certainly couldn't be real.

"Don't look so surprised." He grunted gruffly. "I'll just leave..."

"Sorry." I quickly shook my head, trying to clear my surprised thoughts. "Um, some ice maybe?"

I expected him to just laugh in my face and proclaim it all as some big joke, to call me a fool. But he didn't. One minute he was there, and the next, he was gone, only to appear moments later with two cloth covered bundles of ice. I watched as he crossed the room to the bed, sitting back down where he had previously occupied and ever so gently placed the first bundle of ice on my broken ankle. I couldn't stop the cry of pain that escaped my lips this time, and quickly covered my mouth completely mortified. I hated feeling weak in front of Eric. I hated showing any sort of emotion in front of him. But the pain, it was almost unbearable. No, it was unbearable.

"I can still heal you." He offered, sending me a pointed look.

"No, I'm fine." I grit my teeth, my hands clenching into tight fists in my lap as Eric set the second bundle of ice over my bruised and battered knee. The pain wasn't as severe, but there was still a shot of agony that was sent spiralling through my body. It took a few moments before the relief of the cold ice did anything, but once it began working it's magic, even just the slightest relief was good enough for me. It would have been simpler if I had just let Eric heal me, but I knew that if I could get Godric to heal me, then we would finally begin the healing process and get this relationship back to where it should be.

"Whatever you say, teacup." He shook his head as he stood once again, slipping his hands into his pockets. "My offer only stands for tonight. After that, you're on your own."

"He'll come eventually. I know he will." I assured him. "He won't just let me suffer."

There was only what I could describe as pity on Eric's face as he turned back towards the door to leave. I tried to ignore the look, tried to pretend Godric's own progeny didn't think he would show up, and tried desperately to keep faith. Because that's all I could do now.

"Thank you." The words slipped from my lips before I could even stop them.

Eric froze in the doorway, this time with tense shoulders. He didn't turn around, and instead, just stood there, staring into the hallway.

"Thank you for showing up tonight. I know you don't always like saving my life, so thank you."

"I did it for Godric and no other reason." He insisted.

"I know." I nodded, knowing that was exactly why he had swept in and saved my life every time that he had, starting with the night I had taken bullets for him. This was all for, Godric, I wasn't stupid. I was just grateful. Because he might not be the kind that anyone wanted, but he was almost like my guardian angel. An arrogant asshole of one, but a guardian angel nonetheless. "But thank you anyways."

"Whatever." He grumbled, not used to being thanked.

"Goodnight Eric. And he will come."

He gazed over his shoulder at me. "You better hope so."

"He will."

"Taylor..."

I groaned at the soft voice whispering in my ear. I had been in and out of sleep all night, the pain from my ankle and knee keeping me from a proper night of sleep. The relief from the ice had worn off not too long after Eric had left, the ice melting into a messy pile of water eventually, leaving me to deal with my pain all on my own. Jackson had tried to make me as comfortable as possible, offering me pain killers and more pillows than an entire army could ever need. Nothing, however, helped. No position, no amount of drugs, was able to take the pain away, even for a second. The only thing that did somewhat help, were the dreams. Falling asleep, even if it was only for a split moment, it gave me the tiniest sliver of relief. I tried desperately to fall into a peaceful slumber and sleep the night away and into the morning. Maybe when I would wake up next, Godric would be at my side, ready to heal me and end the suffering. But every time I would wake with a jolt, pain shuddering through my body, I would only find myself alone in the bedroom, not a single vampire in sight. It came to a point where even if Eric had shown back up I probably would have let him just heal me so the pain would finally be gone.

But no such luck.

"Taylor..."

That voice, it sounded so familiar. And yet my mind was hazy, a fog settling over me as I fought to fall back asleep.

"I'm sorry."

It wasn't the voice that eventually tugged me from my sleep and threw me back into reality. My feet began to feel hot, as if they had been sitting in the hot sun for hours on end and were now burned. Except the burning just continued until it was almost painful. I tossed and turned, the pain shooting up my spine and earning a cry of pain to sound from my squirming form. But I couldn't stop. Because it felt like flames were licking at my feet before engulfing them completely. I howled as the agony grew, as my feet burned as they were consumed by the flickering fire. I tried to pull away, tried to cry out for help, but I found I no longer had a voice. My body felt frozen to the spot, my convulsing halting immediately. I whimpered over and over again, as the flames rose up my ankles, over my calves, further and further up my body. It was excruciating. It felt like my skin was melting right off my bones, the pain unimaginable.

"Please forgive me."

"Godric..." I croaked out, my voice cracking as the screams of agony took over. Scream after scream, my throat felt raw, and yet the pain wouldn't let me stop. I could feel the flames at my waist, not looking like it was ever going to stop, not until I was entirely consumed by these flames.

"Taylor!"

The voice was different now; rougher even.

"Taylor wake up!"

But I could only scream in response, my consciousness slipping away.

"Taylor!"

I was jolted from the dead of sleep so suddenly that I wasn't even sure if I was awake or not, if it had all been a dream or if I was living the horrid reality. The screams were still sounding from my lips, not even the shaking of my body by two large, ice cold hands able to calm me down.

"It was only a dream, teacup." The hands shook me repeatedly. "Look at me Taylor. I said look at me."

Eric.

It was Eric who was shaking me.

So then why did I hear Godric's voice? Had that all been part of the dream? And if it had been, then what did it mean? Had he had the same dream? Or was I only imagining it all?

"You can stop screaming at any time, teacup." he sounded agitated, but at the same time, there was a hint of concern in his tone that surprised me.

I had to blink a handful of times to fully realize that my body wasn't engulfed in flames, that I was safe in my bed, not a single flicker of fire nearby, with an annoyed Viking hovering over me. The screams eventually died to a soft whimper, all the shaking and squirming shooting pain through my body. I bit down hard on my bottom lip as tears formed in my eyes. The fire may have all been part of the dream, but the pain, it was all too real.

"Don't do that. Don't cry." Eric sighed, his hands falling from my shoulders. "I hate it when humans cry. Stop it."

But I couldn't stop it. The pain, it was just too much. I couldn't take it. But the thing was, it wasn't just the physical pain that I couldn't bear. It was the emotions, the mental exhaustion that was weighing on me that I just couldn't take anymore. For too long I had been in complete misery. For too long, I had been feeling this way. And I was just tired of it. I was tired of the fellowship being out for my blood and ruining everything and I was just tired of feeling in general.

"Damn you." Eric grunted before I felt the weight shift on the bed before a pair of arms wrapped around me.

I knew it was Eric that was awkwardly trying to comfort me and not Godric, not the vampire I wished it was, but in that moment I just didn't care. I just turned my body as best as I could into the vampire and clutched onto him, sobbing into his chest and wetting his shirt. His arms tensed around me as the tears slipped down my cheeks, my body shaking as the sobs only multiplied. But he never once left me; he never once just shoved me aside. I couldn't understand why he cared at all. Maybe he had saved my life all those times because of Godric, but he never had to comfort me. He never had to care. That was never part of the job description.

"He's not coming, Taylor." His fingers stroked my hair. "I tried. But he's...he's not coming. Just let me heal you. Please."

I should have known Godric wouldn't have come. I should have known he wouldn't sweep in and save the day like he used to. It didn't matter that I was suffering, that I was in pain. He was determined to push me away, to send me running for the hills.

"Let me heal you, teacup." He pulled away just enough to raise his wrist to his now extended fangs, ripping right through his pale flesh.

The tears were still streaming down my cheeks, my eyes red and puffy as the sobs were muffled. My bottom lip quivered as I raised my gaze to meet Eric's. There was not a hint of that cocky bastard I had met nearly a year ago. There was no arrogance hidden behind those blue eyes. There was no hate on his face. Instead, pity, sympathy, and surprisingly sincerity blended in those bright orbs. I don't know why he cared so suddenly. I didn't know why my tears, my pain affected him at all. I wanted to ask him, but I knew he would never give me a straight answer. I knew Eric well enough to know that he would never admit to any sliver of humanity that still resided inside of him.

"Teacup..." he sighed, clasping a finger under my chin as the blood poured from his wrist and spilled between us, staining our clothes and the bed. He lowered the bloody wound towards me, and I surprisedboth of us when I just sat there and complied. I was in pain; I was suffering beyond belief. I didn't care that it was Eric's blood and not Godric's. In that moment, I just wanted it all to stop, no matter whose blood was being forced passed my lips and working a miracle.

My tongue flicked out, hesitantly tasting the blood I was sadly all too familiar with. It was still a wonder to me that vampire blood didn't taste at all like the disgusting coppery taste I was expecting. Instead, it tasted sweet on my tongue, like the most addicting candy you could possibly think of. The moment the first drop of blood passed over my tongue and down my throat, I could already feel it beginning to work its unbelievable magic. At just the smallest sliver of relief I gladly licked at the bloody wrist, my hands moving on their own to grasp his arm. A small grunt sounded from the Viking as I sucked on the wound, drinking what I could of his blood, the pain lessening with every gulp. I could feel the gash on my forehead stitching itself back together while the bones of my ankle popped back into place like noting had ever happened. The swelling of my knee decreased, the bruising disappearing altogether with my last few licks.

"I think that's enough." Eric gently tugged his wrist away, leaving me to stare down at my healed injuries in awe. I slowly moved my ankle from side to side, sighing in relief when it moved without hurting. I raised a hand to my forehead and was only met with drying blood and perfect skin. "You're as good as new, Teacup."

I nodded, mumbling a thank you as I pulled myself out of his arms. I felt embarrassed that I had cried all over him. I mean this was Eric we were talking about. He was never someone I ever expecting to just hold me as I broke down. He was the last person in the world I expected to give a damn.

"You should get some rest." He pushed himself off the bed, running his hand through his hair looking as awkward as I felt. "It's been a long night."

"I thought he would feel me suffering." I pulled my knees up to my chest, curling my arms around myself and into a tight ball. "I thought he would come."

Eric sighed loudly, mumbling under his breath before sitting back down on the bed. He stared across the room instead of at me, and I was glad as the tears were forming back in my eyes. How could it have been Eric that had cared enough to heal me and not the man that I loved? Why was it Eric sitting here comforting me and not Godric? How did that even make sense?

"He did feel your suffering."

"Then why isn't he here?" I peeked over my arm at the Viking. "Why isn't it him here instead of you?"

"It's complicated."

"No, it's really not." I shook my head while sniffing, trying to control the rising emotions. I didn't want to break down in front of Eric again. I never should have done it in the first place. I needed to try and pull myself together, even though it seemed impossible. "Maybe he doesn't care anymore..."

"Don't." Eric suddenly snapped, his expression hardening as he sent me a glare. "Don't you dare talk like that, teacup. I swear, if you just give up..."

"I'm not giving up." I defended. "I'm just...I feel defeated."

"Well then you pull yourself together and you keep trying."

"Easy for you to say."

His eyes narrowed. "You promised to fix my maker, Taylor. I expect you to follow through with that."

"I'm not giving up!" I exclaimed, my hands curling into fists. "I'm just trying to figure out what the hell more I can do. I proclaimed my love to him, I've nearly been kidnapped twice, and I've suffered through hell for the past few hours. And still, nothing. What else can I do, Eric? What more is there?"

"We'll figure something out." he insisted.

"We?" I raised an eyebrow.

"He is my maker."

I gave him a long hard look. "Why are you even here, Eric? You say you're doing this for Godric, then fine, heal me. But why put up with everything else? Why just sit there while I'm crying all over you? You're not that guy."

Eric cursed in another language, or at least I assumed he was cursing. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to know what he was saying or thinking. Except a part of me did. Because I wanted to know why he was here, why he seemed to care. If this had all just been for Godric, then he wouldn't have cared about comforting me. He would have healed me and left. He wouldn't have stayed. He wouldn't even be here right now. So then why was he? I just didn't understand it.

"It's nearly dawn, I need to go." He stated gruffly, pushing himself up to his feet. "Get some rest."

I sighed in annoyance. Of course he wouldn't stick around to talk about feelings. It was one thing to deal with them, but it was a whole other thing to talk about them. Eric Northman did not discuss silly human emotions.

"Fine." I muttered, my shoulders sagging. "Thank you I guess."

He didn't utter another word and instead waltzed over to the open window. I watched him out the corner of my eye, waiting for him to slip out of the room and into the lightening sky. I was surprised, just as I was earlier, when he stopped, gazing over his shoulder.

"I am doing this for my maker. Godric, he...he's my family, and I refuse to lose him. Nothing I say will change how he feels. He wants to meet the sun. He wants to end his existence. Only you are able to stop him, to give him a reason to live." I could tell he was feeling uncomfortable, but he continued anyways. "And if that means I have to deal with your ridiculous human tears, then I will. Just as long as you fix him."

"I can't promise anything."

"But you can try." His orbs met mine. "And I need you to try."

"I'm not about to give up on him." I assured him. "Just...tell him I really hate that he didn't come tonight."

"If it helps, I really hate it that he didn't either." there was the rarest hint of a smile on his lips before suddenly, a gust of wind blew through the room and the vampire was gone.

I sighed as I leaned back against the mound of pillows, my eyes rising to the ceiling and I made a silent prayer. I could only hope that one of these nights, I would be able to get through to Godric. Because I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to. And I knew, with a sinking feeling, exactly the path Godric would take if I didn't.

"Is she..."

"She's healed." Eric frowned, running his long fingers through his hair as he stared across his living room to where his maker was entering. "Though she would have appreciated if it had been your blood healing her and not mine."

Godric sighed, ducking his head as he sat in a chair across from his progeny. "You know why I couldn't."

"No, I honestly don't." Eric shook his head, feeling his agitation rise. He had felt it the moment he entered that bedroom Taylor was convulsing in. He couldn't understand why his maker was being so stubborn. The woman he loved had gone through hell in a matter of a week and still, he sat there as if she was still hundreds of miles away, her life not in danger, her love meaning absolutely nothing. It frustrated Eric. It made him want to rip something, or someone, apart. He wanted to take his maker by the shoulders and shake him until an ounce of common sense seeped into that thick skull of his. Because Eric knew that eventually, Taylor was going to give up, and he wouldn't even be able to blame her. One person could only take so much, and Eric had seen tonight with his own eyes that Taylor was at her breaking point.

"How many times must we discuss this?" Godric gazed at the flickering flames in the fireplace. "I brought her this pain. If it hadn't of been for me, her life would not be in danger. The further she is from me, the safer she'll be."

"That's ridiculous!" Eric rolled his eyes, is hands curling into fists. "You're my maker, and I will follow you to the end of the earth; but you are a complete imbecile at times."

Godric's head snapped towards Eric, a mask hiding the emotions Eric could feel bubbling inside of him. "Eric..."

"She loves you. Even I can see that. I may not have approved of her before. I may have wanted nothing more for this to happen. But I can see what this is doing to you. I can see what it's doing to her."

"She's in danger because of me."

"She chose this!" Eric argued. "She chose this life. She could have left at any time. She could have run a long time ago. But she never did. Because she love you. And you're too blind to see that none of this is your fault."

"The fellowship..."

"Are after her no matter where she is. They nearly kidnapped her in Ohio, and would have if I hadn't of gotten there in time." Eric tried to reason with his maker. "It doesn't matter if she's across the county; she's still going to be in danger. You can push her away all you like, but the fellowship will still be out for her blood."

"Because she was involved with me in the first place."

"And that was her choice all along!" Eric abruptly stood, his fangs threatening to descend. "She chose what she wanted, and it was you. She suffered through hell tonight because she wanted you to swoop in and fix everything. And instead, you sent me. I'm tired of this. I'm tired of being the one to get her hopes up."

Godric tilted his head to the side, his eyebrows furrowing. "You sound like you care."

"I don't care." His fangs did extend this time. "I could care less about her. But you, you I do care about. And if she's the only one that can fix you, then so be it."

"I'm not some broken toy, Eric. You can't simply fix me."

"I can try."

Godric sighed, shaking his head as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I love her. I will always love her. But it's better this way. I'm nothing but a monster, that was more than evident tonight. I'm a danger to her. I've only brought her pain. I refuse to bring her anymore."

"You're an idiot to believe that not being with her won't cause her any more pain. She's in agony right now..."

"You healed her."

Eric shook his head, in complete disbelief by his maker. How could a two thousand year old vampire, the wisest of their kind, be so completely blind? "I may have healed her physical injuries, but she'll forever be in pain until you come to your senses and just allow yourself to be happy. And she's your happiness."

"I cannot..."

"You're going to lose her, Godric. She's either going to fall into the hands of the Fellowship or she's going to give up hope. I'm just not sure which will happen first." Eric grunted, feeling his anger swelling inside of him. He tried to control his rising emotions, knowing that they didn't need his snapping after the night they had. But he was just so frustrated that he was close to ripping apart the living room with his own bare hands. "And honestly, I'm not even sure you deserve her."

Godric stared up at him, that mask still weighing heavily over his face. Eric attempted to prod at the wall his maker had built between them, effectively shutting off their thousand year old bond. But Godric was a master at shoving his emotions into a tightly concealed box and locking it securely into the back of his mind where no man, or vampire, could ever reach.

"You better snap out of this...whatever this is, and soon." Eric sent Godric one last glare before shaking his head and turning towards the door. "Because she may not be around for when you do."

He didn't even wait for his maker to respond and instead, stormed out of the room. He had never prayed as a human. He could have cared less about the gods, both old and new, and he hadn't started to care once he had been turned. But on that night, he did pray to whoever might have been listening. He prayed that his maker would come to his senses. Because he could feel the girl at the other end of this complicated bond they shared and he knew she was breaking at the seam. If Godric didn't realize just how wrong he was and soon, he may not have a second chance.