Number eleven: Blood.

Pairing: Gavner Purl/Liz Carr.

Disclaimer: See chapter one.

...

"Liz?"

Liz Carr yawned and looked up at her Vampire lover: Gavner Purl had come to visit for a while, staying for a few days before he had to leave for the Vampire Council. At the moment they were stretched out on Liz's living room floor, a warm fire burning, keeping them warm against the winter night. She was lying calmly in Gavner's strong arms, her head resting on his broad chest, listening to his breathing, "Yes?" She moved her head slightly so that she could better see his scarred face.

"I don't want to leave you." His eyes were distant and his voice slightly strained.

Liz sat up, pulling a blanket around her shoulders for more warmth, "What do you mean?" Her voice was calm, the voice she used when talking to patients at the hospital. Gavner also sat up, leaning back against the sofa with a sigh: she noted with a hint of worry that his face wasn't happy, like it usually was.

"It's just..." Gavner started, stopped, and then started again, "I hate leaving you. It wouldn't be so bad if it were only for a few weeks, but I'm away from you for months, years even." He sighed again and looked her straight in the eye, "I know we've already discussed this, and I know where you stand on it..."

"On what? Gavner, please tell me." Liz coaxed, taking his large hands in her own smaller ones.

"It would be easier if you were a Vampire..." Gavner muttered and Liz instantly froze, her hands dropping away from his, "Liz, please I kno-"

"I don't want to be a Vampire." Liz hissed.

Gavner nodded and tried to take her hands back, but she swiped them away before he could get a good hold on them, "I just meant that seeing each other would be easier."

Liz stood up suddenly, "I don't care what you meant! You know I don't want to be a bloody Vampire, why bring it up again?" Her voice shook with emotion: this was a conversation they had had before, and Liz had made it perfectly clear that she never ever wanted to be blooded, "I thought you accepted that." She added sadly, casting her gaze down on Gavner.

"I do accept that, Liz. It's just...I'd get to see you more, and being a Vampire isn't that bad."

She snorted, "Oh really. And you're a shining example of how easy Vampire life is." She waved a hand at his face, indicating at his many scars.

"I'd protect you..." Gavner mumbled, his expression one of hurt.

Liz stared down at him angrily for a minute, but then sighed and crouched down in front of him, "I know you would. But I couldn't..." She shivered, "I couldn't drink blood to survive."

"You get used to it." Gavner defended unhelpfully.

"Gavner, I don't want to get used to it." She took his hands again, "I love you more than anything, and I would do anything for you, but this is just...this is asking too much." Their gazes locked, "I'm sorry."

"So am I."

Silence fell over them. The fire crackled in the background, reminding them that though they felt it, they weren't alone in the world. It was Gavner who eventually pulled his hands away from hers and asked quietly, "What happens now?"

Liz shrugged, "I think...I think I need to be alone for a while. Think things over."

"Right." Gavner stood, trying and failing to mask his sadness, "I'll go then." He left her in the living room, stomping upstairs and she could hear him collecting the few belongings he had. Liz went to stand by the front door, determined not to break down in front of him. He emerged at the foot of the stairs a few minutes later, and Liz noticed that his eyes were watery. Snatching his coat off of the hook, Gavner said, "I'll see you around then."

"I love you." Liz blurted out, desperate to let him know that she did love him, that she wasn't sending him away because her love for him had vanished.

"I know." Gavner answered as he opened the door onto the night, "And that's what makes it so painful." He left, shutting the door behind him.

Liz thought about his words for a while before returning to the fire and curling up on the sofa, just waiting for the tears to come.

...

A/N: I'm sorry it's so short, and I'm sorry that it had nothing to do with 'Blood', but it's got the word done so I'm okay with it :P Review with your thoughts please! :)