Chapter 12:

I erupt in a violent fit of coughing once I feel a cool hand caress my cheek and I sit straight up. After what feels like I coughed up my entire right lung, I manage to take in my surroundings. I'm sitting on the bed where Eric and I were cuddling on the way to Georgia, except this time I'm only in my underwear and we are both awake, at least now I am.

"You should drink some water, lover." Eric says after a few moments, sitting up in bed and offering a bottle of water.

"Oh…No…Eric, please…tell me… you didn't…do the whole… 'unconscious girls…can't say…no'…thing." I wheeze out and take the bottle from him.

"Still have your wits about you, I see. That's a good sign, lover."

"What's not…a good sign…is that…I'm only in my bra… and panties… It doesn't…look like you…have a lot…of clothes on…either…" I take another sip of water before trying to climb out of bed before being stopped by Eric.

"Where are you going, Zoe?"

"To get…my inhaler…I have…Reactive Airway…Smoke causes…a bad…reaction…"

"Is it in your bag?" he asks, pulling me back under the covers, and I nod. He climbs out of bed and I see the only article of clothing the tall, blonde, and handsome vampire is wearing is red silky boxers, causing me to go through another round of coughs as he quickly returns to the bed and gently lays my bag in my lap. I scrounge through my bag until I find the tiny yellow contraption and shake it.

"Shit." I wheeze.

"What?" Eric asks quickly.

"It's…empty." I cough some more and Eric rubs my back with his hand, causing me to shiver.

"You can have some of my blood, lover." He offers once the coughing subsides and I shake my head violently.

"No…thanks…I'll be…fine…I will see…if Ryan can…take me to…my apartment tomorrow…so I can… get my nebulizer… And I… will go to…the doctor…once we are…in Bon Temps."

"Or we can save the hassle and you can drink my blood and I assist you to your apartment tonight to get the things you need."

I just shake my head again and cough, "No."

"I think you would be more sensible if your brain was getting an adequate oxygen supply."

I give him a death stare and cough out "Foff."

"Foff?"

"Combination…of fuck…and off…Foff."

"Cute," he deadpans, "Now, please, stop being stubborn and drink."

"No."

"You're acting like a child."

"Don't…care…not…drinking…" I say as I lie back down and turn my back to him. I can feel his brilliant blue eyes looking me over as he sighs in exasperation.

"Why do you hate me?" He says after a few moments, snuggling up close to me as he wraps his long arm across my torso.

"I…don't"

"Then why are you trying to kill me?"

"The…fuck...are you talking… about?" I crane my neck to give him an incredulous look.

"You're driving me insane, it's slowly killing me." His eyes soften as he brings lips to my cheek.

"Not…intentionally… And you're…already dead."

"You're killing my spirit." I suppress a giggle causing me to cough again. "You are an evil little girl." I can hear the smile in his voice and I shrug nonchalantly.

"So…I take it…that everything… went okay…" I say after a few moments of silence.

"Yes; Lorena is dead, and the Georgia Vampires were actually not in town because of the zombie invasion."

"Cool. Bill and Sookie… asleep?"

"Yes, in the other bedroom. They were both worried about you. We were all worried about you. They are also curious on how Lorena dropped the stake. I told them you could explain that better than I could," I nod to the information given and start to feel sleepy and I try to fight it. "It's okay, lover, you can sleep." With that statement being made, I let the exhaustion overcome me.

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"Zoey, you need to wake up now." I hear Eric say softly and I slowly open my eyes. His face is inches from mine. "We're here, and as much as I like to see you wearing barely anything, I need to put clothes back on you." He climbs out of bed and grabs some clothes from the nightstand.

"Why'd you…take them off…in the first…place?" I ask sitting up. "And…where are my… clothes?" I ask as I take the black Fangtasia shirt from Eric's hand and slip it over my head.

"They reeked of smoke and now that I know of your condition, I didn't want to worsen what was already pretty bad."

"Thanks." I cough out and slip the black track pants over my lower extremities from under the covers.

"You're welcome." He scoops me up into his arms before I can climb out of bed.

"I'm quite…capable…of walking" I wheeze in protest.

"You are still getting winded when you speak; so no, I don't think you are capable of walking."

"Point… taken." I sigh.

"Good girl." He smirks and I given him a look. We are out of the bus and in the parking garage in an instant.

"Zoey, are you feeling better?" Sookie says as she runs up to me.

Still having trouble breathing. I didn't realize my inhaler was empty. Eric offered me his blood, but I chose not to drink it.

Poor thing…I will take you to the doctor once we are back in Bon Temps.

Thanks. I think with a smile, which she returns as Bill walks to her side.

"You must…be Bill."

"Yes, and you must be Zoey. Thank you for aiding Sookie in rescuing me." He says sincerely with a charming southern accent.

"No…problem."

"I will pay for any medical bills you have for your breathing."

"Not…necessary…Thank you…though."

"Because I'm paying them." Eric chimes in casually.

"No…I'm paying them…myself." I say as sternly as I can muster.

"She's very stubborn," he says to Bill and I give him a look. "Stop undressing me with your eyes, lover." I gasp and cough in horror as blood heats my cheeks.

"Be careful," I here Neyky says as she approaches the group, "she can actually do that." I then shoot her a look of horror. "I'm kidding, Z. Let's get inside and get you guys cleaned up."

What'd she mean? Sookie thinks to me as we all climb in the elevator.

Its part of that long story I have to tell you. Can it wait till later?

Of course.

Once the elevator doors opened, the twins, Ryan and Stan came into view, waiting patiently for us.

"Zoey, I thought I told you to call me once you were back on the bus."

"She couldn't. She passed out." Eric says to my brother and walks off the elevator and sets me down on the couch.

"What? What happened?"

"There was a fire and she inhaled some smoke."

"Did she use her inhaler to pacify her breathing for the time being?"

"Empty," I wheeze and Ryan gives me an urgent look.

"We need to get you to a hospital."

"Where?" I cough and Ryan stands in silence. "I'm going to be fine."

"Remember when mom had to rush you to the hospital because you inhaled a little smoke when we went to go see a movie and you ended up getting Bronchitis?" I nod. "Well, if you inhaled enough to make you pass out, don't you think you need to see a doctor immediately?"

"No…I was…under a lot…of stress… at the time… My immune system…was weak."

"That's bull shit, Zoey, and you know it!" He yells and I wince from the loudness of it. After a few moments of silence he says, "We need to go get your machine at least."

"Or she can have some of my blood," Eric chimes in, "then go get her machine."

"Eric…no…" I begin, but I am cut off by Ryan.

"Why didn't you do this earlier?"

"She wouldn't let me. She's very stubborn." Ryan just gives him his 'what the fuck?' face and Eric isn't happy about it.

"Well, she has no choice now. Do it."

"Like…Hell…I don't… I already had… his blood once…That's probably…why I'm…not worse off."

Ryan huffs in exasperation and finally says "I don't care, you can't wait till you get back to Bon Temps." Then he looks to Eric, "I don't care if you have to hold her mouth open, just make sure it's done." Eric simply nods, picks me up and takes me into the room from before.

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A/N: Hi everybody! So that's chapter 12. I hope you like it :D