| FIFTEEN |
SUCK THE PAIN AWAY

          Eric felt her fear and panic. He intended to go to her but as soon as it came it was gone. It was gone because she had passed out from the pain.

         But Bill and Jessica had heard her scream and alerted Sookie to it. Bill commanded Jessica to stay before he and Sookie both went and found Eira. Sookie placed a hand over her mouth at the deep claw marks she saw on her back, "Oh my god. Bill, help her."

           "Blood won't help. She's been poisoned," Bill said as he noticed the foaming at her mouth before lifting her up. "But we need to take her to Eric."

           Sookie nodded. She hurried after him to load her into her car before they drove off.

           _____

        Eric immediately smelt her scent when Bill brought her inside. He was in front of the younger vampire in an instant, "What happened?"

       "She was attacked," Bill explained. "I think she's been poisoned."

        "Pam," Eric called and it was the first time he even looked at her in two weeks. "Call Dr. Ludwig."

          _____

            Fangtasia was cleared out and Eira was laid upon a futon. The short doctor was inspecting her while Eric paced. Sookie and Bill sat close by.

           "What attacked her?" Eric asked Bill.

           "I don't know," Bill replied. "I only heard her scream and then we found her like that."

            "Pam. Chow," he called. "Go search the area."

             "Can't," Pam said before smirking. "I'm wearing my favorite pumps."

            "You will not disobey me," Eric turned to her quickly in anger as he gave her a cold stare.

         "Yes, Eric," Pam stared sadly before disappearing with Chow.

          When the doctor touched the claw marks on her back, she woke up with a scream. Sookie reacted before Eric did and crouched down in front of her as she grabbed her hand, "Eira, it's okay. There's a doctor taking of you."

          "I can't move," Eira cried as she couldn't feel her limbs. "Am I dying?"

           "Yes," Dr. Ludwig stated.

           "No, she can't die," Eric commanded.

           "Eric?" Eira questioned. She hadn't seen him. Her face was turned to the other side.

           "I'm here," Eric spoke softly as he stared at Eira before looking at the doctor. "Can you save her?"

          "Well, we don't have a lot of choices, she's been poisoned. You ever heard of Komodo dragons? Their mouths are teeming with bacteria. After one has bitten you, it will track you for hours, days, just waiting for the toxins to slowly eat away at your nervous system till you're good and helpless. Then it will devour you alive," Ludwig explained. "This poison is similar but way more efficient. I think I've seen it before but it's hard to tell without testing, and we don't have that kind of time. Give us some privacy. I need to remove her clothing."

        Sookie smiled at Eira, "We'll be just outside, okay?"

        Eira smiled painfully back before they all left the room. It wasn't long before the doctor was digging her fingers into the claw marks to get something out. She couldn't help but scream again and Eric vamp sped back into the room.

         "You're supposed to be healing her, not hurting her," Eric glared.

          "I am, vampire, unless you'd like to try."

           "Eric, make her stop," Eira pleaded. "Please, make her stop."

           Eric clenched his jaw before he crouched down in front of her, "It won't hurt for long. I promise."

           Her face was contorted in pain and her mind had enough. She ended up passing out again as the doctor dug around so deeply to pull out a claw from her back.

           ______

               By the time the short doctor was done, she was barely awake. Her eyes blinked tiredly as she laid there feeling like life itself had left her. But she started to become more aware of Eric who hadn't left her and she now noticed his fingers were caressing her cheek.

     "You can give her blood now. The poison is gone and her body should accept it," Dr. Ludwig explained before leaving. "I'll expect my payment by the end of the week."

         Eric only merely nodded before he lifted Eira's head up. He bit into his wrist before holding it towards her lips as he said softly, "You have to drink."

           She sluggishly moved her head forward slightly. She pressed her lips to his wrist before she began to suck up the blood from the two bite wounds. She was surprised to find that it was so sweet. She'd never drank so much of his blood before. She'd only ever had a drop of his blood just so Eric would know where she was and if she was in danger.

       The more she drank, the more she became aware. She noticed how Eric had cut his hair and how his eyes seemed so brilliant. When Eric pulled his wrist away, she smiled hazily, "You have pretty eyes."

        "Do I?" he formed a small smirk as he set her head gently back down. She nodded tiredly as Eric stroked her head which lulled her back into sleep.

         _____

       Pam and Chow had gotten back and reported the scent was animal but that they didn't recognize it. It was now daylight though.

       Sookie insisted that she wait with Eira until she awoke. Since it was daylight, Bill used the coffin that Longshadow used to have. Eric wanted to stay with Eira but he didn't want to raise suspicion with Bill about daylight not affecting him so he slept as well.

It was hours until Eira awoke again just before nighttime. Once she did, Sookie gave her a bear hug, "Thank God you're okay. How do you feel?"

"I feel fine actually," she said in surprise. She barely remembered what occurred when the doctor healed her because the pain made her delirious.

"After the doctor healed you, Eric gave you his blood," Sookie explained. "He didn't leave your side actually."

"Oh," she stated in surprise once again. She didn't expect him to do that. After all, he didn't really care about her.

"But what attacked you?" Sookie asked. "Bill and Jessica heard you scream but we didn't see it."

"It was bull-like," Eira tried to recall. "But it was dark so it was hard to tell exactly."

"A bull," Eric joined them as the sun had gone down. "Interesting."

Eric stared at her as Bill joined them as well. Eira was only wearing this red Fangtasia shirt and she felt self-conscious so she crossed her arms.

"Are you alright?" Eric asked.

She nodded stiffly under his gaze before Sookie grabbed her, "Well, since she's healed, we'll be leaving now."

"Not just yet. No," Eric disagreed. "You and I have business we need to discuss, Ms. Stackhouse."

"Like what?" Sookie crossed her arms.

While they talked, Eira had her eyes glued to Eric. She felt impossibly connected to him. She wondered if it was the blood talking or if it was the two weeks she spent away from him. She felt like it was both.

"Like the fact you agreed to work for me whenever I wanted," Eric said. "And I have a job for you. In Dallas. The Sheriff of Area Nine is missing and he needs to be found."

"Dallas?" Bill stated. "She's not going to Dallas."

"Your human agreed to this," Eric argued.

Sookie rolled her eyes, "Fine. But if I'm going to Dallas, I want ten thousand dollars...and Bill is coming with me."

"Done. You leave tomorrow," Eric agreed quickly before looking at Eira. "Since there is a new creature that apparently wants to kill you and everyone that can possibly protect you will be in Dallas, I think it's wise if you come as well."

"Absolutely not," Sookie denied. "You probably just want to manipulate her back..."

"I'll go," Eira interrupted. He made a point and it was what was safest for her.

Eric grinned slightly in relief, "Good."

Sookie rolled her eyes and grabbed her hand before pulling Eira with her to the door, "We're leaving."

Eira willingly followed her out the door. She couldn't help but look back and she found him still staring at her. She pulled her hand out of Sookie's as she stopped, "Wait."

She walked back to Eric before she spoke nervously, "I know you probably didn't care about healing me but...thank you."

Her words felt like a knife to his chest. For her to think he didn't care about her romantically was one thing but for her to think he didn't even care if she stayed alive was another.

"Just because you're not mine doesn't mean I won't protect you," Eric uttered.

She blinked in surprise before nodding but she didn't really understand as she walked away and left with Sookie and Bill. Eric and his words left her in a world of confusion. Because why would he want to protect the blood bag that was no longer even his to have?