Chapter 15

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Alan realized he felt warm, very warm actually. That was strange last he remembered he was being attacked by the thorns and he was out in the snow. Was this death?
"Eric." Mumbling for him he moved his body closer together, he started to feel what seemed like blankets, many blankets. Slowly opening his eyes he saw he was in bed, Eric's bed.
"Eric…"
"Alan, I'm right here."
Moving his body he saw him sitting right next to the bed with his amazing smile on him.
"How are you feeling?"
"Warm, very warm."
"That's good to hear. Let's get some of these off you."
Helping pull some of the blankets off him they sat him up and didn't say anything for what seemed like hours.
"How did you find me?"
"You were late joining us, Ron knew you were up North so we want looking and wouldn't stop until we had you. What happened to you? Who attacked you? They will pay for what they did.
"It wasn't anyone."
"I figured it was a demon, low scumbag probably came up from behind and,"
"Eric. It wasn't anything please don't worry about it."
Both stopped, hearing a light knock at the bedroom door. Alan was lost by who it could be, they were at Eric's place and he was right here besides him. Was it Eric's girlfriend? He had been trying to avoid her for months so she wouldn't learn the truth. Hearing Eric let them in he braced himself.
"Alan you're up, that's good to see. You're looking better, much better actually. Can I get you something? Water maybe?"
"It's good to see you too Ronald, water, please, if you wouldn't mind."
"Sure thing." Walking away Alan stared at the now empty doorway knowing what was coming. He had to tell Eric the truth of what happened earlier, he knew that, yet.
"You're too strong to end up the way you were. So tell me what happened."
"I…I'm sick Eric. I have been for awhile now."
"Idiot. You should have told me or Will and taken it easy for awhile. How many times do I have to tell you to not take on so much when Will asks you too. Tell him no for once."
"It's not that simple Eric."
"Sure it is."
Ronald snuck back in to give Alan the glass of water he asked for before sneaking back out. Seeing them talking and hearing Eric becoming frustrated he figured it would be best to leave them alone.
"No it isn't. It's not what you think."
"I think you're over reacting. We barely get sick and when we do it's never anything too bad. Besides if you're sick I'll take care of you, you know that. I can get you better in no time."
Half smiling Alan held his knees, Eric sounded so sure of himself, so determined to get him better. He didn't want to crush that spirit.
"It's not what you think, I won't just get better Eric."
"Not possible and you know that. We're immortal we can't stay si,"
"I contracted the Thorns of Death, Eric! I'm not going to get better I'm going to die!" Looking out of the corner of his eye he noticed he surprised him, made him speechless. He didn't mean to snap but he couldn't take it anymore; he wanted him to know the truth. He wanted to feel as if everything was going to be okay even though he knew it wasn't.
"H…How is that possible? As far as we know no one has had it before."
"My fate I guess." Going to say something more he stopped realizing he wasn't in the mood to cry right now. "I got it after I was being haunted. Signs didn't show up right away but what I learned it was normal for that to happen."
"Haunted?" Thinking back it realized that this was all his fault then. If he had gotten to him sooner, stayed closer he could have stopped her from getting to him. He was the reason Alan was sick. "Alan. I…I am sorry. This, this is all because I failed you."
"What? No, no it's not I brought this on myself. I wasn't thinking and touched her when she was dying."
Getting off the seat he was in he moved to the bed to wrap his arms around him. Hold him close, apologize the best he could for what he did. He would do whatever he had to too save him. Alan didn't deserve to die because he had failed him as a friend.

Alan got out of bed to shower and change out of the baggy clothes Eric had placed on him. He could tell he was piecing everything together little by little, the books, the "secret" research, the marks on his arms that he saw had gotten worse since he last saw them when he tried to get him out of his wet clothes. The signs of what was going on yet not being able to put two and two together until now. He could tell Eric needed space to breathe and think and this would give him that space. It would give them both a little time. They had decided to keep Ronald in the dark about this for right now. He would have to tell him eventually and William at the very least but for now he wanted things to stay as they were. He would have to tell Eric why he wanted to though since he could already tell he wanted him to take it easy.

Coming out of Eric's bedroom he heard Eric and Ronald talking in the living room. Going to join them he stopped just outside the doorway.
"So are you and Alan a thing now?"
"Yea, we are, have been for awhile."
"I thought so. You both seemed different. But Alan, he seems to be happier, more willing to let go."
"We are keeping it a secret for obvious reasons, so if you wouldn't mind."
"No problem here."
At that Alan walked in to sit with them on the couch. He was feeling well and even the thorns seemed at bay. He hoped Eric could see that, that while he was sick he wasn't unable to live. He wasn't at that point yet. They sat around by the fire happy to not have to be out in the snow until tomorrow. Hearing Alan's stomach growling Eric got up to make some dinner for them. It was close to ten at night but they all skipped eating to keep an eye on Alan and make sure he was alright.
"Thanks for helping me, Ronald and for keeping an eye on Eric."
"Someone needs to watch out for you both."
Smiling he got Alan to smile too while they watched the fire and Eric to give the okay to enter the kitchen.

Alan sat at work happy to hear that as of right now only Grell was on collections today. The death count was slightly higher due to the weather but William was pissed at him for something and was trying to punish him. With any luck he wouldn't get called to help out and would leave on time with Eric. He wanted to talk to him too. They might have yesterday but Eric had Ronald stay the night and they didn't want him to possibly overhear anything.. He already figured Eric wanted to try and convince him to take it easy since he didn't want him to go to work today and just rest at his place. He also couldn't wait to get out of here because neither of them slept well last night. He personally fell asleep quick enough even though he had been out for hours but his mind didn't, and Eric. Eric tossed and turned all night probably processing the new information he learned. One of the reasons he didn't want to tell him, so he wouldn't worry too much about it. He could only hope this wasn't the start of a daily occurrence. That was one of the last things he wanted for both of them. Seeing the clock turn five, and William not already here telling them that they had overtime he got up to punch out and get out of here. On a normal day he wouldn't have minded staying but after everything that went on yesterday he desired his bed.
"Ready to get out of here?" Eric met him at his desk seeing if he was good to go. He was tired of paperwork for the day. If he had to fill out one more column he was going to lose it.
"I am. Yours or mine?"
"Yours I guess."
Gathering his things he put on his coat making sure he would stay as warm as possible during the walk.

It was strange for them to be walking in silence usually they talked about something, anything. Alan was enjoying the beauty of the untouched snow around them though. Snow, so pure, innocent, it turned anything it touched into a beautiful picture, how he loved it so. Eric looked over at Alan, how he seemed in a trance over what was around them. Going to ask if he was alright he stopped seeing the smile on his face. He was in a trance due to his happiness of the moment; he would not ruin it for him. Alan's love for the simple things only enhanced what he loved about him. He got this look in his eyes, this look a child had when seeing something for the first time with pure, innocent, eyes.
"Sort of reminds me of our first mission does it not?"
Seeing the confused look cross Alan's face as he looked at him he wrapped his arm around his shoulders.
"We were in the field, where the Erica's were blooming. The wind starting blowing causing the petals to sore around. You said it reminded you of snow."
Thinking back the memory came back and the confusion left his face to be replaced with a smile.
"I said it looked like it was snowing, not that it was snow."
"I know that."
Laughing Eric dropped his weapon into the white powder and pulled it up causing it to fly around them both.
"Eric!"
Shielding his face with one hand Alan used the other to do the same.
"No fair your blade is larger."
"What are you five?"
"On now you've done it."
Alan ran from Eric as he chased him throwing snow at each other until they made it to his place. So much for staying warm, both were covered in snow, most of which was in their hair. Shaking it off Alan went to light the fireplace and start to warm the house up. Eric grabbed towels for them to dry off their hair. Seeing Alan as happy as he was, as playful as he had just been made last night seem like a dream. That what he said about being sick had just been a nightmare from seeing him frozen in the snow. That had to be it, nothing but a dream, a fear induced nightmare. No way was his best friend, his lover, dying from an incurable disease.
"Eric. Eric did you hear me? Hey are you alright?"
Snapping from his thoughts he saw Alan looking at him with concern all over his face.
"What were you saying?"
"Are you okay? You spaced out just now; worse than I have ever seen you do. I asked if you were hungry and if stew was okay."
"Yea, sorry, fine, I'm fine, that sounds fine."
"…Okay then. You can help me if you want to." Keeping an eye on him he slowly made his way to the kitchen. Taking Alan up on his offer he joined him and helped the best he could.

After they ate they went to sit together in front of the fire. Alan moved as close as he could to rest his head on Eric. He was a little worried about him; he had seemed to be acting strange since they got here. It wasn't like him to stay silent, especially when something was bothering him.
"Alan. You're really sick aren't you?"
"I am."
"So I hadn't been dreaming that conversation up."
"You were not." So he had been deep in thought all night. Snuggling closer to him he made sure that while the conversation last night was real he knew he was still here with him now and this moment was real as well.
"I won't let you go that easily. I'm going to get you through this."
"There is no cure."
"I'll find one. No matter what it takes I won't let you die." Lifting Alan's head he looked into his eyes as he spoke the truth. Alan would beat this and they would get the forever everyone else had.
"And what will happen to you if you don't."
"Not gonna happen."
"Eric." Pulling away he sat away from him. While hearing his determination and hope made his heart skip beats they needed to think logically about this. He needed to know that Eric would be okay when he died, that he would take care of himself and live on.
"You're not going to die."
"But I will! While believing I won't is great and all it's not the way to live. It's also the same reason I refuse to lay in bed all day and wait for the thorns to kill me. I want to live the rest of my life doing what I love, spending it with who I love. Not daydreaming of what could be or of what I'm losing. That isn't any way to spend the rest of my days here."
Standing he moved to the window folding his arms close to his chest and looked out over the snow covered scene. Tears fell from his eyes hearing his own words, really coming to terms with his pending death. Eric stood to pull Alan towards him; wrapping his arms around him he could feel his tears soaking his shirt. He hated this, he hated knowing he made Alan cry, he swore years ago he would never do that to him.
"I didn't mean to make you upset Alan. I'm sorry."
"I just…I just want us to stay as we were. I don't want to lose you. I don't…don't…I don't want to lose what we have because of this stupid disease. I don't want to be alone again during this."
"Hey, hey, hey, don't say that. I'm here, I'm always going to be here. Nothing between us will ever change because of this. I can promise you that Alan."
His head pulled away from Eric's chest and with tears still falling he wrapped his arms around Eric's neck pulling his head a little lower so their lips could touch. Even though he could taste Alan's salty tears through their lips it only added to the passion they shared for each other. Alan couldn't explain what it felt like to feel Eric being a rock for him. The one thing, the one person he could hold onto while everything around him changed. He could die tomorrow for all he knew but it wouldn't change the fact the Eric was here and holding onto him with both hands. He never had someone like that before in his life. He wouldn't pull apart even as his tears turned into hiccupped sobs, he didn't want to let him go, ever, even if he was stuck in bed unable to move.

Running his hands through Eric's hair he held fistfuls yet managing to not hurt him. Together they somehow made it to the couch where he stayed over Eric as they made out. Staying close to the other, allowing their feelings for the other to soar around and through them. Feeling Eric's strong hands on his back holding him, pulling him closer, only made the fire burn brighter. Neither wanted or needed to take this further than what it was. Their feelings were true and reaching the other.
"God I love you." Eric mumbled in a moment of gathering breathe.
"I love you too. More than anything else in the world." At those words Alan realized how true that was. He had never loved anyone as much as he loved Eric, not even his mother even though he took care of her for years. He had never been this happy before in his life then he did right now. Knowing someone would always be there for him as he would always be there for the other.

As things started to settle back down they went back to watching the fire until Eric noticed Alan fell asleep resting on him.
"Alan you're too much." Carefully getting up he moved Alan to the bedroom. Sliding beside him he wrapped his arms around him and held him close while they slept. He had been serious before, about not letting Alan die. He wasn't going to give his life up so easily. He would find a cure no matter what. They would stay together the way they both wanted. He didn't want to answer him when he asked about what would happen to him. He would lose it, Alan was his everything, his light in this dark, lonely life and if he lost him then he would have nothing. To Alan he didn't want to be alone anymore, to him Alan was his light and he didn't want to be in the dark anymore. It was suffocating in the void and he never wanted to go back there now feeling what it was like to live in the light. To breathe in deep wonderful breathes of life. There had to be something that could cure him, if there were books on the disease history mentioned but yet held no record of ever claiming anyone then there had to be a cure of some sort.

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Okay didn't get where I wanted to in this chapter but at least I got to Eric learning the truth. Hoping to start the next chapter soon but I'm thinking I won't be able to until Thursday. Love the reviews and I love everyone reading this story. I truly makes my day.
~Femalefighter~