A disclaimer: I don't own any characters from True Blood, just the ones I make up.

True Blood

Unexpected, Unconditional Love

Chapter 2: Denial

Eric's brows draw tight together as he watches Pam move through the crowd in Fangtasia toward him. His eyes examine every inch of her, scanning for anything abnormal. She still doesn't look well, and the sight of her withering form sounds every alarm within him, says that there is something seriously wrong with his progeny.

That said, he is sure that no one else has noticed the subtle changes in her yet. This could be because they aren't around her as often as he is or maybe because they simply aren't looking for them. He, however, can tell that her skin appears to be ever so slightly thinner; perhaps the word he's looking for is sallow.

They had argued for a long time about the fiasco that was Dr. Ludwig's visit. In truth, Pam almost had Eric convinced that Dr. Ludwig had lost her mind; but seeing her now, looking as she does, pulls at his still heart in a way he can't quite put into words; tells him that perhaps there may be some truth to Dr. Ludwig's diagnosis.

Eric's gaze hones in on Pam's face. Not only did her skin appear to be more translucent, it is shockingly pale, more than usual, and she moves as though she is exhausted. Her eyes, at least to her maker, are on the edge of appearing sunken in. Her bones jut and protrude in places that they previously hadn't. Is Pam thinner? Is it possible that Pam has gotten thinner? Could vampires even do that? Eric knows that it's not, that they couldn't, but the other option is far too terrifying to consider at the moment and not something that his progeny would accept.

While he can't help but feel grateful that no one around them has noticed the changes that he thinks he sees in Pam, he is not entirely sure that Pam has noticed them in herself. Maybe she has and she is simply refusing to acknowledge them.

There is also a very slight possibility, though he is not sure he would ever openly admit it, that his brain is making him see things that aren't actually there. A cruel trick of his mind because he is so utterly concerned for her well-being. She, on the other hand, doesn't outwardly appear to be half as concerned for her own wellbeing as he is when he tries to talk to her about it. She barely allows them to have a conversation, and the moment he tries to bring up his concerns she all but shuts down on him.

"What!?" Pam growls as she stops in front of Eric crossing her arms in irritation. "People are starting to notice you staring at me! I know I'm positively stunning Eric, but come on."

He blinks before his tunnel vision finally expands to encompass the entirety of the room. "Nothing."

Pam rolls her eyes, "Liar. I don't know what your deal is but you need to-"

"How are you feeling?" Eric interrupts in a low voice, and the concern laced through his tone is not lost on his progeny.

Pam sighs, "Eric, I feel fine…"

In truth Pam felt like, for the lack of a better word, death. A ravenous death, but death nonetheless. How can Pam tell her maker that she has hardly been drinking blood? That every time she tries to feed she gets violently ill? She also didn't want to add fuel to the insanity-filled diagnosis that Dr. Ludwig tried to spew to them.

Pam couldn't risk somehow getting Eric's hopes up because somehow Dr. Ludwig's idiotic diagnosis has crept its way into his head. She knows how desperately her maker still misses the children he had in his human life. All six of them.

Pam has yet to attempt to feed tonight because she doesn't want to puke again, and if she vomited blood all over the front of one of her favorite outfits, there would be no saving it. In fact, to her frustration, the smell of some of these humans as they start to perspire is actually beginning to make her nauseous. Their natural scent as they sweat grows to be so overpowering that Pam starts to gag.

She tries to subtly remove herself from the room and down into the basement, but this doesn't go unnoticed by Eric. Pam's insides churn as she closes her eyes and takes in deep, even breaths in an attempt to calm her stomach as the door clicks shut behind her.

She desperately tries to gain control of the impending reflex triggered by the nausea. This is not something she has had to be concerned with since she was turned. She supposed old habits, regardless of how long it's been since they were formed, died hard. How long had it been since she purposely tried to take a breath as she was now… it's so human, which is something she is not. She is not going to vomit wearing this fucking outfit, she will not risk ruining it. She grips the leather resting on her stomach in her fist as the nausea continues to roll over her with a relentless vengeance.

Pam's nostrils flare as they continue to be accosted by the fowl scent of human perspiration, that only grows stronger with every one of her abnormal inhalations. She can feel the little content that resides in her stomach rising from its pits.

She wills herself to fight harder to contain the blood sitting in her throat. She is determined to keep it down. She will not fail! She will not fail... She failed...badly.

The dark red blood trails down her chin and pools across the floor in a projectile pattern at her feet. More rises up into her throat gagging her. No matter how much Pam wills it she can't stop her body from heaving and rejecting the contents of her stomach.

"Pam?" the sound of Eric's voice causes Pam to freeze. He can't be here. He can't see her like this. If he does he will only grow more concerned about her and she can't let that happen.

"Damn it," Pam curses under her breath but Eric clearly heard her. She can't stop her body from heaving again as she tries to swallow the blood pooling in her throat. "I'm fine, Eric."

She hears the door close behind him as she heaves again and blood fills her mouth, "Go away."

The blood fills the gaps between her teeth as it splatters across the floor.

"Not a chance." Eric says with a matter-of-fact tone as he brushes the blood-soaked blonde strands of hair from Pam's face. Her eyes slowly rise to meet his as she hopelessly tries to hide her fear.

His tone grows softer, "You're sick. There is no way in hell I am going to leave you alone and just go away."

Blood tears spill over Pam's lashes as she leans into Eric's touch. "My outfit is ruined and let's not even talk about how unsalvageable my shoes are."

Eric can't stop the laugh that escapes his lips, "You're vomiting blood, and the only thing you're worried about is what you're wearing."

Pam sniffles, "I'm a vampire, what else could I possibly vomit?"

Eric lets out another tight laugh and presses his lips gently to Pam's forehead. Eric's lips tingle as the synapses in his brain sends more alarms coursing through his veins. Pam feels clammy. How can she feel clammy? Is her body getting warmer? That's not possible! What is happening to her?

That's when he notices Pam's breath against his skin. Is she breathing? Why is she breathing? He swallows his panic. The last thing he needs to do is alarm Pam anymore than she probably already was.

"We will get through this," Eric says as reassuringly as possible. "I promise."

"You can't make that promise to me, Eric," Pam states slowly as she wipes the blood off her face with the back of her hand.

"I can, Pam." Eric says sternly, in spite of the fear churning in the pit of his stomach.

When his eyes meet hers again she speaks gently, " Eric, whatever this thing is, a new form of Hep V or whatever it may be... It's progressing. We have to prepare for the possibility that it just might kill me."

That did it. Something inside Eric splintered and scattered across the floor at his feet. Before he can stop himself he grips Pam's upper-arms harder than he means to.

His voice drops dangerously, warningly low. "It's not going to kill you Pam!" He grinds his teeth as he pulls her body against his and he holds her tightly, "I will not allow it. I do not give you permission to die! Do you understand me! As your maker I forbid it! I am not going to let you die! Not like this, not right now! Do you understand me, Pamela?!"

Pam can do nothing but encircle her arms around his waist in an attempt to comfort him. "Yes, Eric. I understand."

Eric will be damned before he lets anything happen to his progeny. He may not have been able to save his human family, their screams forever branded in his brain. He will not allow any form of this type of fate to befall Pam. He will protect her, with everything he has. Even if that means he has to die to do it!

He can't imagine his life without her in it. He refuses to even try. His world without Pam in some form is unacceptable. Whether Pam liked it or not Eric was going to call Dr. Ludwig to see if perhaps she had any idea on what he can possibly do to help keep his progeny alive, or rather undead. Better yet he would go to see her in person! She was going to answer all of Eric's questions whether she wanted to or not. He would not be giving her a choice.

Here is chapter 2 everyone! I hope you enjoyed it! I am working on chapters for my other stories as well so no worries they are coming. I would like to think my beta WrathOfMacy for all of her hard work on this chapter! Until Next Time! Please review and have a great day!