Chapter 14

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Eric pulled Alan closer to him as they both laid in Alan's bed. The room was dark except for the full moon coming in through the windows; they hadn't bothered to light any candles when they came in earlier. Resting a hand on Alan's hips his fingers glided over his lover's smooth skin, he didn't remember ever feeling anything as soft. Rolling over to meet Eric's eyes Alan's face held a bright, always beautiful smile. God he was butter when Alan was so close. Moving his hand he stroked Eric's face, felt his goatee tickling his palm. His heart was racing knowing Eric was his, that these moments were real. They were the only thing that kept him grounded right now, kept him from hands down believing that this was a dream.
"I love you." The words seemed to dance off Alan's tongue. Feeling Eric move a little closer to kiss him he forced his emotions to control themselves.
"I love you too."
"Eric, can I ask you something?"
"Of course." Slowly kissing Alan's lips he made his way to his cheek, and then ear. Taking in each feeling he got from each part.
"What would you do if I died? If I didn't get a forever like we hope for and know?"
Eric pulled away and sat up at hearing such a thing. Why would Alan have a thought like that in his mind?
"Why would you ask something like that? You'll be fine. The nurses said it was nothing didn't they?" Taking Alan's hands he had him sit up and went to kiss his wrists finally seeing the marks on them.
"Alan, these look terrible. No wonder you've been in pain. Did they give something for that? I forgot if you told me that other day or not." The light may not have been in the best but he could see well enough.
"They did; an herbal remedy that I'm to add to my morning coffee or tea. But, could you please answer the question for me?"
"I don't know, I've never thought about it because I haven't had to. What brings this up?"
"I've just been thinking that's all."
"You've been reading too much, we have to get you out more and if you're worried about fighting you shouldn't. You've gotten much stronger these past few years."
"Maybe. Can I ask you something else?"
"Does it have to deal with death?" Joking he tried to get back the mood they just had between them. He didn't like hearing and/or seeing Alan so serious.

Shaking his head 'no' he moved a little closer. "What made me so special to end up with the great Eric Slingby?"
Joining in the playful mood he played with their hands.
"Just that, thinking I'm so great."
"Oh really?"
"Yes really." Leaning over he pinned Alan under him, both laughing. He could see the pink starting to form on his partners face, he hoped he never stopped making him blush.
"Come on be serious with me."
"It's as I've told you before, you're different then everyone else. From the first time I met you I knew you unlike the others. That you would be the one to make this eternal life worth something, to make it seem so bad."
"I bet you tell that to all the people you're with." Smiling up at Eric he stole a kiss.
"Just certain ones." Stealing his kiss back they stayed together an extra minute. All joking aside they both truly loved each other and wanted the other to always know that. When then separated both locked and became lost in the other's eyes. Their souls danced for the other to see.
"Can I ask you another question?"
"You are full of them tonight aren't you?" Going back to sitting he brought Alan up with him. Holding his hands he gently massaged his wrists once he was certain he wasn't hurting him. Every so often he was hit with a sharp pain but he managed to hide it from him.
"Do you think we moved to fast? I mean we hadn't even been together for an hour before we slept together."
"Having regrets?"
"No, not really. Maybe I'm just scared to mess this up."
"Well usually a date comes first. We can still do that you know. Go out, just us. Something nicer then a bar."
"What if we stayed in? Just had a nice dinner together?"
"That counts too. How about it, want me to cook dinner for us tomorrow? I'm off so I could go all out."
"I don't want you to go through all the trouble."
"What trouble? That's it then it's settled, my place tomorrow, come as soon as you get out of work."
Seeing he couldn't argue with him he agreed and rested his head on his shoulder. Eric was too good for him. Not when he was dying and may not get the chance to do the same for him. They stayed as they were a while longer before falling asleep for the night.

Alan opened his eyes hearing Eric asleep with his arms around him. Even asleep he could feel the love and compassion coming from him. Turning to face him his hand came up and gently touched his lovers face. Before he started crying he kissed him and pulled away to sit up. Using the moonlight he found his pants to leave the room. Making his way into the kitchen he poured himself a glass of water to help clear his mind only to have to fall from his hands. He couldn't even hug himself as it hurt too much. The pain hadn't been this bad before, he didn't know how to make it stop. He was scared, this was how it started and it would only get worse as it progressed through his body. Sinking to the floor he cried in his knees, he had to stop himself from holding any part of his body as it only made the pain worse. The more tears that fell the more he debated waking Eric and telling him what was going on. Making his way to his bedroom he stood behind Eric watching him sleep. He seemed so peaceful, so happy believing everything was alright. He didn't want to end that for him. Forcing his arms to wipe his eyes he waited until his hands felt a little better before crawling back to bed. Wrapping Eric's arms back around him he tried to fall back asleep.
"Hmmm."
Hearing Eric grumble he hoped he didn't wake him.
"Everything alright Alan?" Moving closer he rested his head just behind the others. Alan could feel his breath against his ear.
"Sorry to wake you. Just went to get a drink."
"Alright then. Night." Mumbling he tightened his grip around Alan's waist to hold him closer as he dozed back off.
"Good night." Unable to fall back asleep right away he focused on hearing Eric's breath, feeling his warmth, feeling how secure his arms around him. The thought of losing this one day brought tears back to his eyes though he refused to let them fall. He thought Eric was a heavy sleeper but he did just wake up to him getting back into bed so maybe not. He couldn't handle the thought of waking Eric with his tears.
"I love you Eric, no matter what happens. You make me so happy."
Allowing himself to see he was in love with his best friend and former mentor, had been the last thing he had ever done.

Eric woke up to see the bed empty; he wasn't too surprised by that. Alan was always up early, even on his days off. Smelling breakfast he got up and grabbed something to slip on until he showered. Remembering he was at Alan's and said person had work he got dressed completely in what he came over in last night with every thought of changing once he was at his own place. While Alan probably wouldn't have minded leaving him here he felt strange by the idea. They hadn't been dating long enough for that.
"Morning. "Finding Alan in front of the stove he moved beside him to help him out. Before he could vehemently object he pinned him. "You're hands will never heal if you always insist on using them."
"Fine, get down the plates from the cabinet." It was funny knowing where everything basically was from being here so many times before. Why had they waited so long to tell the other how they truly felt?

"No way. Alan I am not wearing these."
"That's the biggest size I own. I'm sorry. It's just for now though so it's fine."
"Give me back my pants."
"No. I won't let you put them on before I wash them. How bad are mind anyway?" Alan stood in the hallway outside of his bedroom waiting for Eric to change, since he had apparently been locked out, he accidently spilt something over him after breakfast and hoped he hadn't ruined them.
"Alan, give me back my pants!"
"No! I'm coming in." Opening the door he saw Eric standing in front of the mirror. They didn't look that bad on him. They…enhanced his legs and already nice looking backside. Okay so they were a little short but it wasn't that bad.
"Give me my pants."
"Oh they are fine you big baby. They'll get you home won't they. I'll wash these as soon as I can and get them back to you."
"I don't think I can sit." Trying to move he couldn't get over how tight they were on him, this had to be punishment for not leaving more clothes here.
"Then don't sit until your home. Now I have to go before I'm late. I don't care if you stay but you aren't putting these back on."
"Fine you win. Don't forget, my place after work."
With that settled they left Alan's house and went their separate ways.

If this was counted as a date then he loved it. Sure they had dinner together many times over the years but this time was different. The atmosphere Eric had created was unlike one he had ever experienced before.
"This was what you were hoping for, correct?"
"And so much more."
"Good."
Pulling Alan closer he felt him rest his head on his shoulder. It was amazing how easy he was to please. Such simple shows of affection seemed to set him off, make him so happy. Had he never felt such love before? How could anyone not love him he was amazing, incredible, perfect. He was glad their friends and coworkers didn't know about them, that they didn't show anywhere near this type of affection at work. It seemed to make these moments even better.

Eric was on assignment with Ronald for some strange reason. He was glad it was Ronald and not Grell but he wasn't crazy about Alan being alone. Since they started dating a few months ago he noticed he worried about him more than he had before and not really sure why. He would be happy when they met up for drinks later. Alan had agreed to join the two of them saying someone had to watch out for them. Things did tend to get a little crazy when Ronald joined them.
"Look at those clouds I hope it doesn't start to snow too badly. It will make tomorrow a mess."
Looking up at the sky he saw what Ronald was talking about. Hopefully it wouldn't start until much later. Wishing Alan was with him only grew, he had faith in him that all was going well but with a storm approaching he wanted him close.
"Oh hey, there they are." Pulling his eyes from the sky he saw the people they had to go after and they got to work.

Alan didn't like the looks of this. It was starting to snow and he still had work to do. Snow, while beautiful, always slowed him down while he was working. And it couldn't just be snowing, oh no, it had to be strong winds and snowing. He couldn't wait to finish up here and meet up with Eric. Drinking or not as long as they were together and he was warm he was happy. Running across a field to get to his next target faster he halted against his will. His arms suddenly became inflamed and it felt as if they were being pierced. Dropping his weapon from being unable to hold it any longer he tried his best to hold himself together. He was having an attack from the thorns. He needed to relax this would pass soon, it had only happened a couple of months ago after work and it only lasted a minute or so, he would be fine. Feeling pain in his toes and moving up his legs panic rushed through him. There was no way it had spread this quickly could it? Was he going to die here? Unable to stand any longer he fell to his knees only to be forced off them as well and laid in the field. Tears flooded his eyes knowing he was completely alone. He was going to die, alone, in the human world. The snow would probably cover him soon meaning no one would know he was here.
"E…Eric." He couldn't breathe; his body was shaking, from either the weather or the thorns. He wasn't sure but it didn't make much difference now anyway. As the pain intensified he could feel his mind losing consciousness, this was really the end for him. Why? Why now? Feeling himself slipping further into the darkness he tried to pull up any memory of his time with Eric. If he was going to die he wanted his last thoughts to be of the one he loved.

Eric stood in front of the bar with Ronald waiting for Alan to show up. While he was usually the first to arrive anywhere it wouldn't surprise him if work held him up.
"Damn it's cold out here. Why don't we wait for Alan inside? He knows we were meeting here right?"
"He does, but I want to wait for him here. Go save us seats."
"Will do." Rubbing his hands together Ronald went inside to get them spots at the bar while Eric waited. Seeing the snow beginning to stick he couldn't calm this horrible feeling he had. It didn't help that he wasn't sure where Alan had been assigned today. Crossing his arms to help himself stay warm he waited to hopefully see Alan come running up.
"Eric, you've been here for forty-five minutes. Wait for him inside the bar man." Ronald stepped back outside to see the snow had picked up speed. "The weather is probably holding him up. And who knows maybe he went back home. Who knows if the North was hit harder since the storm came from that direction."
"I'm going to look for him. He should have been here by now. The weather might be slowing him down but he would have used someone's field phone, or any phone to let us know."
"I'll go with you then."
"No stay here."
"Forget it; the North is a large area to cover alone. I overheard Will give him assignments covering most of it. He could be anywhere."
"Fine, come on then." Taking off they headed for the standard starting point of that area before deciding how to split up and tell the other if and when they found him.

Eric jumped from house to house in search of Alan. He had to be around here. Making a note to kill Will the next time he saw him for giving him such a large area to cover he jumped down from where he was to search the field in front of him. He could see Ronald doing the same. It was also the best way to see the whole area around them. They all used it as a shortcut as it was the quickest way to get across it. Seeing something jutting from the ground Eric ran towards it, it looked like a stick. That was strange there were no trees around here. Getting closer he noticed it looked like the handle to Alan's death scythe.
"Alan!" Dropping to his knees he felt his blood drain from his body seeing Alan partially buried under the snow. "Alan, Alan wake up!" Pulling him to his chest he held him tightly trying to warm him up. He was as pale as the snow and his lips were blue. He couldn't be dead, he refused to believe it. What could have done this to him? And was it still nearby waiting to make a feast on his body? Ronald ran over to them hearing Eric shouting something from across the field.
"Oh God, Alan! Is he breathing?" Checking for a pulse he found a faint one and short forced breaths coming from him. They had to get him out of here and quickly. Eric quickly took off his jacket and wrapped it around Alan's shoulders while Ronald checked him out. Making sure it would stay on him he took Alan back in his arms. They had to get him indoors, somewhere preferably by a fire.
"We can take him to my place Eric."
"Mine is closer I just need help getting him there."
"Of course."
Getting to their feet they took off not wasting any time. Holding him tighter they ran to his house to get him out of his freezing clothes and in warmer ones. Once arriving at his place he put him in the first warm things he could find for him and wrapped his bed covers around him and had Ronald get more from his closet to put around him. Sitting next to him in bed he refused to let him go until he stopped shaking as harshly as he was.
"Come on Alan, open your eyes for me. Don't let me have been too late."

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Not sure when I'll start chapter 15 but I hope for it to be soon. Thanks for all the reviews they really are great. Love them and love you all.
~Femalefighter~