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Sookie POV,

Suddenly the alarms went off everywhere, so loud my ears hurt. Without a word I was picked up and pushed inside a metal room hidden behind a panel in Eric's bedroom. He glared at me with fangs bared. "No matter what happens STAY HERE, in fact I'm locking you in."

It was like someone flipped a switch and Eric had become a vampire. He'd changed from gentle lover to Viking warrior in less than ten seconds. I understood but it was still jarring. I dressed in shock as he started tossing in bags he rushed around the room.

With vampiric speed he dressed in dark clothes. On his back was a machine gun and he had a silver sword in his hands. He told me the back pack was our supplies, some had his name, and some labeled kits, others simply said for "human needs". "Eric. I just got here – when did you pack all this stuff for us?"

He shrugged as he tossed in more bags, "Vampires had 'bug out' bags long before humans. Never knew when an angry mob would appear. I packed yours hours ago, it's a survival habit."

As the door slammed the noise went away. Ignoring my fear I looked around the rather large hidden room.

The room had a bookshelf, fridge, bed, sink and toilet.

"Do I want to know why his panic room has a toilet when he doesn't need one? The fact I'm thinking about that means I'm in shock." I thought quietly. I looked at the far wall and saw it had security screens.

I could see Eric moving toward the ground floor. He had the sword out moving quietly from room to room. Suddenly he was sailing thought the air into a wall as if weighing no more than a tissue. There was no sign of his attacker however; just Eric's crumpled body.

Stumbling to his feet he pressed his iPad, and the room was filled with a sheet of water but nothing became visible from the spray. I could see Eric's confusion and concern.

Eric turned as a stake from a broken piece of furniture sailed at him. He jumped in the air just as it reached his arm. Flipping backward he got behind it and cut it in half. He then flew up quickly to avoid three more stakes coming from him in different directions.

Pulling out the machine gun he sprayed the room, covering every surface but hit nothing. Quickly he was tossed off his feet yet again; flying face first into a tall cactus. "Fuck Pam and her Martha Stewart decorations" I saw him groan on the video scream.

Before he could recover he was hit in the back with a table pushing him to the ground again. A force picked him up and bounced him up and down on the ceiling like a rag doll. Eric tried to cradle his broken arm as he was thrown head first into the huge TV set, his legs hanging out.

A few seconds later I couldn't see him. He was moving so fast all I saw was a blur. He reappeared in a metal chain mail shirt and leggings. It looked like he stole it from a renaissance fair, "Well it's at least stake proof. However I think he'll need more than that to beat that thing."

He paused to hit a panel near the entrance. I watched a white mist cover the entire house as my air vent sealed shut. A new light appeared on my security screen blinking the words 'Poison Gas'. A cricket bat sailed into his back leg before could he could move fully out of the way. The creature's attacks seem to be coming harder and faster.

Eric was moving more slowly, his leg clearly badly damaged. Seeming to draw on years of discipline his body started moving quickly again. I watched the gas fill the house but it seemed to have no effect. Eric ducked as a piano slamming near his location confirmed the creature still lived. He suddenly blurred out of sight again racing toward the stairs.

I saw him hit another button on his iPad.

Within moments every room behind him shut as he blurred back to his bedroom. The additional doors that appeared from slots looked metal.

The monitors now said locked down. I watched the final steel door to his bedroom close. He then keyed in a code for a panel hidden in his dresser.

I saw the control panel behind me beep with a warning light declaring that the UV light security system was activated. I looked at the monitors but all the rooms were quiet. I swallowed my rising fear, "Well the attackers are not vampires nor are they human or they'd be dead."

Stopping outside the panic room door Eric placed his hand on a panel quickly keying in the code before rushing inside to join me. The panel hiding the room quickly slid in place.

When I saw him enter the safe room I couldn't hide my shock. His clothes were shredded and he looked like he'd been through a war. His body was broken and bloody.

He was cradling his broken arm and a few cracked ribs. He was dragging a backpack behind him slowly as he tried to walk on his damaged legs.

He dumped the pack near a wall. I could smell the human blood when he opened the bag. He stripped off of his bloody clothes and dumped them in the garbage. He quickly started removing the cactus spines from his body, dumping them in a cup beside him.

Once done he dumped the bloody spines inside the garbage bag along with the cup. Dragging his fractured leg he started washing away his blood in the sink. His red eyes looked defeated as he moved back to his chair sipping his blood bag noisily before grabbing another blood pack. His wounds were clearing up the faster he drank.

I stood up as if to hug him but he moved away from me, his angry eyes and feral growl freezing me in place, "SOOKIE STAY PUT." I sat back on the bed hugging myself.

He then grabbed four more bags of blood to drink while watching the monitors. After the fifth bag he put the chain mail back on top of his fresh clothing. His body was still quickly healing from the damage. His red eyes slowly faded back to light blue. However he made no move to come near me, totally focused on the blood packs.

Once the worst damage was repaired he turned back to my frightened eyes. His blue eyes were now full of sorrow and guilt as he looked at me.

Sitting on the bed he reached over pulling me gently close to him. He kissed my hair breathing in its fresh scent.

"Sookie you don't know how badly I wanted to hug you when I returned. However it wasn't safe for me to touch you until I had fed enough to start the healing process."

I smiled at him kissing his cheek,

"Eric you just got the crap kicked out of you. I don't expect you to be boyfriend of the year after that. I trust you, you gave your word you'd never hurt me. I know you meant it, I saw it in your eyes. I swear I'm not afraid of you."

Eric shook his head,

"I said I'd never hurt you if it's in my power to avoid it. Staying away from you until I fed, allowed me to keep that promise. I was badly damaged; I could've attack you for blood. A vampire's first instinct is survival at any cost. Without a Maker's control or a stronger vampire's restraint no human's during is safe during blood lust. I'd rather upset then harm you."

He continued knowing he had my full attention.

"I was in full blood lust when I entered the room. My Master taught me that during blood lust our human emotions shuts down and our survival senses take over. No human is safe when we're like that. I needed to feed before touching you. Do you understand?"

I could see the fear and worry in his face. Pulling him close I kissed his lips softly,

"I understand and thank you for protecting me Eric. I know sometimes you have to do things without explain first due to being a vampire, just promise you'll explain when it's safe to do so."

Smiling in relief he kissed me hungrily, responding to the comforting feel of my lips. After a few minutes he pulled back and smiled at me,

"You have my word, and thank you Sookie. I needed that. I promise to teach you everything I know about the world I live in so you'll understand me better and you'll be safer."

I looked at the monitors, "Do you know whats downstairs Eric is? I can't see anything."

He sighed in frustration,

"No, and I've never seen anything like it. I barely got back alive."

Eric stared at me intently. "Sookie, I'll never lie to you. We're in trouble. I can't fight what I can't see and protect you at the same time. They destroyed my communications grid I can't call for help. However I contacted my Maker via our bond and he's on the way."

They stayed that way for three more hours watching the house for signs of movement. Turning to ask him a question I saw blood pooling in his ear,

"Eric your ear is starting to bleed."

Eric looked at me sadly, "Its daylight that's why they attacked. If I don't sleep I'll keep bleeding until I weaken into Final Death. My Maker has gone to ground; I must sleep if I'm to help him when he arrives. We're on our own until nightfall. I'm so sorry for this."

He looked at the sword, too heavy for me to hold, and then glanced at the machine gun.

"Sookie have you ever used a gun before? I can give you a quick lesson if you need one."

I took the gun from him and quickly loaded the next clip,

"I'm from the south so hell yeah I know how to use a gun. I'm a dead shot, so if they're killable with these bullets then they're toast."

Eric grinned at me in admiration,

"OK Xena, just try not to put a hole in me when you shoot. They are wooded bullets coated in silver filled with gunpowder. Don't waste the ammo on warning shots. Shoot to kill. They're trying to kill us so zero fucks given about a trial."

He gave me lessons in how to use the custom gun until he was sure I understood. We watched on the screen as the house's main door was constantly battered. We saw it shake but not an attacker. Eric remained upright clutching his sword but his bleeding was getting worse.

"Eric trying to stay awake to protect me won't work. Please head to bed, you can't help anyone if you're just getting weaker."

Eric nodded reluctantly, before looking for a towel to wipe the blood from his face.

"Wait Eric, I have an idea."

I reached into my bag for my small medical kit. I wiped the blood covering his face. Once his face was clean I pushed cotton balls in his ears and nose to catch the bleeds. I tried to ignore the fact that Eric's face was now looked funny as hell.

He glared at me but let me work,

"I don't want to ruin your lovely sheets." I said doing my best to keep a straight face. He finally laughed seeing himself in the mirror.

Eric grinned pulling me close, "Part of me wonders if you're enjoying sending me to rest looking like Bozo the clown. You're amazing Sookie, simply one of a kind."

I gave him a cheeky grin,

"I must say Eric if this is our first date I don't know what the hell you have planned for our second. Should I pack combat boots next time or a camouflage suit?"

Eric kiss my palm, his eyes shining, "Oh Miss Stackhouse why spoil a good surprise, you will just have to wait and see."

We knew nothing had changed, we were still in danger but we both knew panicking wouldn't make it better. We hugged each other quietly as sleep drifted over Eric's eyes.

I held him as the sun pulled him to rest. I kissed his cheeks when his eyes finally closed. As the quiet of the room settled in I did my best to remain calm. "It'll be OK Eric, just sleep my Viking. Your Maker is coming; we just need to hold on until nightfall."

Eric rested in my arms, dead to the world as the downstairs main door continued to be battered. He only had me to protect him, holding the gun in my hands staring at the monitors. I was so tired but I forced my red eyes to stay awake. I needed to stay awake for both of us.