Time frame: Years after "From Dead to Worse"

This is a companion piece following "Family", "Bowling for Vampires" and "Leather Underwear" Please read the end of Family or you will be extremely confused.

Disclaimer: I don't have any claim on any characters in the Sookie Universe. Please don't sue me. The other characters are my own creation and just wanted to play with them for a while.

A/N: I am glad some of you have caught on who my surprise cameo was in the last chapter. Rest assured Miles will be resurfacing soon.

During the course of writing the last couple of chapters an idea hit me that I thought would be really fun. I am not sure about the permanence or the scope of what I have in store for our merry band. I'll see how things pan out. For nothing else, it will give me a giggle while it lasts.

Enjoy.

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Chapter 18

Bill was sitting next to me, legs outstretched, on the hospital bed. He had one arm around my shoulder while the other held the book open. I laid my head against him, my hand snaked around his back resting on his hip while he read to me. There were no questions, no sadness, no play by play of recent events. There was only Bill's voice, cool and steady, against my ear.

It was heavenly.

My ears perked up as I heard several sets of footfalls in the distance. I sat up and looked at Bill who instantly paused in his reading.

"Did you just hear that?" I asked. "Somebody's coming."

"Yes, I heard them." He frowned. "Your senses are extremely heightened. Has this happened before?"

I shook my head slowly. "Maybe it's just a fluke, Bill." I offered.

"Perhaps."

He got off the bed and sat back in the chair just as Eric, Sookie, Pam and Cole entered the room. Cole ran to me first, taking me in his arms.

"Ally, I was so worried..." I smiled and returned his hug. As I inhaled, I smelled something different about him. It was still him but something else was there. I opened my eyes to see Pam watching me keenly.

"I didn't mean to worry you Cole." He pulled back and sat on the edge of the bed. "You know how I hate boredom, so I figured what the hey, a coma sounds like fun." I grinned as he rolled his eyes and shook his head at me.

"How've you been?"

"Okay. I've been okay. I've missed you though." he said, giving me an uneasy smile.

"That's...good." I looked from him to Pam and back. Suddenly, comprehension hit me as I realized the other scent. It was all over him.

Pam.

I squeezed his hand to get his attention. "How long?"

He looked at me, pain in his eyes. "How did you...two weeks...it just happened, Ally...I'm sorry." I nodded slowly. I heard Bill's chair move as he stood up behind me. I could practically feel his anger.

"Would you all mind leaving me and Cole alone for just a moment?" I asked.

They all filed out with Pam giving Cole one last glance before walking out and closing the door behind her.

The idea of privacy was merely an illusion. The wall that divided my room from the nurse's station was made of glass, plus three of the four individuals outside would certainly be able to hear me. I took a deep breath and pretended that it was just me and him as I tried to come up with something to say.

A part of me was hurt at being replaced so quickly. A part of me was relieved.

"You must think I'm a terrible person. I am. I am a terrible person."

"I would never think that of you Cole."

"What now? I don't want to lose you from my life."

I looked into his eyes. "Does she make you happy?"

"Yes, she does. I never thought that I could care for anyone else...yes, she makes me happy."

"Then I am happy for you."

"Oh Ally." Relief washes over him as he hugs me.

"We belong on two different paths you and I. I didn't want to admit it to myself but it's true. It became true the moment I met Bill and fell in love with him. You've made your choice and so have I."

"So we're okay?"

"Yes, we're okay. I'm happy for you and I hope you'll be happy for me."

"I am." Then kissing me on my cheek he said, "Thank you, Ally."

I waved everyone back in.

Cole got up and stood next to Pam. After a few minutes, they bade me farewell and I smiled as I watched them go, hand in hand, out the door.

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Sookie and I chatted, while Eric sat in one of the chairs. He was noticeably quiet.

I turned to look at Bill. He nods and stands up.

"Eric? Do you mind if Sookie accompanies me to the cafeteria? I would like to get something for Ally to eat and I'm not sure what would be appropriate."

Not waiting for Eric's response she replies, "Sure Bill. I'll be happy to."

We all sighed a little in exasperation. Sookie still refuses to abide by vampire protocol sometimes. I suspect it is mainly to drive Eric nuts, since she doesn't seem to act this way in mixed company. It's quite funny actually.

As soon as they leave, I scooted over and patted the spot next to me for Eric to sit.

When he finally did he took my hand. I lay back on my pillow so that I could look him in the face. He is after all, unbelievably tall.

"Why did you do it, Ally? Why did you risk your life to save mine?"

I waved him in closer and he leaned in. After a palpable pause a whispered, "Job security."

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. Then he leaned back and laughed heartily. Giving me one of his signature smirks he said. "Well, you've pretty much guaranteed yourself a raise."

"Whew!" I said wiping my forehead with the back of my hand. "At least I have a whole year to think of something before my next review..."

He gives me a hug and smiles.

"Eric?"

He quirks an eyebrow.

"Next time someone is trying to heal you, could you please let them? I've never had to heal anyone so stubborn."

"Never?" he chuckled.

"No. You are pretty much one of a kind there. I literally had to open myself up entirely in order to do it. Not really a recommended tactic, you know."

My iv tube somehow got caught in the side rail. I was trying to lower it so that I could pull it out, when the rail snapped off entirely. Both Eric and I looked at the 3 foot piece of stainless steel now in my hands.

"Uh, oh."

"I take it this is not normal for you?"

"Super strength, no. Not part of the package. Neither is super hearing nor the super sense of smell." I said looking at him. "That's more in your domain, not mine."

He frowned. "I admit I have been feeling a little strange lately myself."

"Strange like how?"

"Just different."

I thought silently for a moment.

Promise me you'll both practice? Wait a minute... both?

"Eric, I'm going to ask you to do something. Do it exactly the way I tell you to do it, okay?"

He nodded slowly.

"See the flowers sitting there on the counter?"

"Yes, I see them."

"I want you to focus on them and then pick a spot where you would like them to be."

"Okay."

"Now that you know where it is and you know where you want it to go, release it. Let the flowers go to the path you just chose for it."

The vase shook for a second and stilled. Eric narrowed his eyes and then it shot across the room and shattered against the far wall.

We both looked at each other.

"Oh boy..."

TBC Heeheehee- more coming up...