Chapter 13

Disclaimer – I do not own SVM/TB characters or stories. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit is being made. I just want to play with the Viking!

Chapter 13

I knew that I couldn’t react to Pam in the way I would have liked. The scenario did not leave room for the human gift to shout ‘In your face!’, so I stayed quiet as I came and stood next to Russell giving him a small smile. I ignored her completely and set my focus on Eric.

Her fangs snapped down in what seemed to be irritation at my presence. I jumped a little at the sound and my eyes flicked to her mouth. How do they do that? It must be habit by now. I’ve got to get a set of those! She recovered quickly before breaking character. Her expression morphed into a sneer as she looked me over licking her lips.

“Oh goodie, Eric, look what Russell brought for us,” she purred.

I returned my attention to him and saw he was looking at me with a raised eyebrow. Russell had been watching his reaction, and then turned his focus to Pam speaking in a sympathetic tone.

“Oh, you poor dear, I didn’t bring you any toys. Allow me to alleviate any confusion. She is not for you. Now, put your fangs away and keep your hands off. I brought her as a gift for your Maker. A token of our long friendship in the hope that we may once again enjoy an evening of, what did you call it, Eric, debauchery?” Russell chuckled with amusement and clapped his hands.

“Thank you, but I have already eaten, Russell,” Eric said simultaneously consuming me with his eyes.

“Well, I haven’t,” complained Pam, who had not put her fangs away.

“That is enough,” Eric said, looking at her.

“Yes, that is quite enough, Buttercup. Why don’t you go amuse yourself and let the grownups talk,” Russell said, dismissing her.

Pam looked to Eric in disbelief, but when he did not acknowledge her and turned his gaze back to me, she spun on her heel and stalked to the bar, folding her arms over her chest as she turned to lean her back against it. Ha!

Keeping my face blank was proving to be quite difficult while returning Eric’s gaze. My body was trying to betray me as I felt my knees almost give way at the weight of his stare and my girly bits begin to tingle. I was again remembering his hands on me, caressing and massaging my stomach, gliding across the waistband of my pants. “Do you want this?”

What I wanted was to rub my thighs together to relieve some of my tension and desire, but I stood still waiting to see how the scene would play out. As I felt the moisture begin, I noticed a small smile appear on the corner of Eric’s mouth. “Do you want me?”

I couldn’t take it anymore, and I forced my eyes from his to look down at the floor. That’s appropriate for a human consort or whatever I was supposed to be, right? “Tell me what you want.” I couldn’t think of anything but the vampire from my dream. I was practically reliving it all in my mind as they talked amongst themselves. “Are you certain?”

“So, what do you think? Isn’t she perfect?” Russell queried, walking around me and fluffing my skirt while he showed me off to the Sheriff.

“She does appear quite…delectable, but as I said, I have already eaten and I do not keep human pets.” I noticed Pam smirk at his comment out of the corner of my eye.

“She is not here as a take-out meal, Eric. I have brought her for your entertainment,” Russell commented as if that was the most ridiculous thing Eric could have said, “Have a seat and I’ll show you.”

He turned his attention to the now pouting Pam.

“Ms. Ravenscroft, be a dear, and escort my lovely companion to the stage, would you?” Russell said with pride in his voice as if I was a prize, his Southern gentlemanly charm oozing with every word.

Pam didn’t move.

“You’re joking, right? What happened to keeping my hands off?” she quipped sarcastically.

Eric, who had turned to walk back to his throne, stopped and glared at her.

“Pamela,” he said sternly.

“Fine!” she said as she pushed herself off of the bar and walked toward us.

Eric continued onto the dais and took a seat to the right offering his throne to Russell. Meanwhile, Pam approached me with a very irritated look on her face. She reached out and grabbed my upper arm tightly. I tried to subtly loosen her hand, but her grip tightened more, and it hurt like hell! We started walking in the direction of the platform.

“You’re holding my arm too tight. That hurts!” I whispered.

She ignored me and continued walking. I attempted to slow down so I could pull my arm from her grasp, to no avail. She was practically pulling me along at a brisk rate. I dug my heels in as much as possible sliding along the floor, and then pulled back as hard as I could, but she still didn’t let go.

“Let me go! You’re hurting me!” I shouted at her pulling against her grip.

Then she let go.

It happened in a matter of seconds, but for me everything went into slow motion. Unable to stop my momentum, I stumbled back into a table knocking it over, a heel broke off of one of my shoes when I tried to gain footing, and some of the tulle from my skirt caught on the table leg and tore as I fell hard on my ass. All the while I was looking at her face. She looked as if she was smiling.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” I screamed at her. Tears were prickling at my eyes from the pain in my arm that hurt like a bitch! Let’s not even talk about the, yet again, ever present, humiliation and embarrassment.

Instantly, Eric and Russell were kneeling at one side of me with JP on the other.

“CUT!” the director called.

“Oh My God! What happened? Did you trip on something?” she asked, concern dripping from her voice. Her public face was back on as the caring, friendly, sweetheart she showed to everyone else as she, too, kneeled down on the floor near my feet.

“You know damn good and well what happened! I told you that you were gripping me too tight!”

“Jesus, Cricket, look at your arm!” JP exclaimed.

All eyes, including mine, went to my arm where a series of large bruises were surfacing in stripes. They were the exact shape of fingers, the same fingers that had practically been cutting off my circulation. There was even an indentation from the ring she was wearing. Oh fuck this!

“I must have grabbed you too tightly trying to catch you as you started to fall! I’m so sorry!” she said, looking contrite. She turned to the man sitting at the closest table next to us. “You saw it, didn’t you? I was trying to catch her,” she said in a calm voice.

“Yes, I saw it! You were trying to catch her!” he said excitedly.

“See, it was an accident! Oh, your arm, we should put something on that!” She said as if she was in shock by the damage her ‘help’ had caused.

I glared at her. Eric reached over to trace or maybe examine the marks on my arm, and I winced, pulling my arm away as I struggled to get up, my heel catching on the torn skirt. Maria-Star is going to shit a brick!

“I apologize if I hurt you,” Eric’s deep voice said quietly next to my ear.

“It’s OK. I know you didn’t mean to,” I said just as quietly, very close to his face.

Am I dreaming again? A sharp pain shot up my spine. Nope, not dreaming!

“Can you stand?”

“Uh huh. I think I might have bruised my tailbone, but I’m fine. It’s just very tender,” I winced again as I slid back onto my butt.

“Let me help you,” he gently pulled my legs over one at a time and removed my shoes, and then he moved around behind me.

JP and Russell each took one of my hands, while Eric supported my back and waist. Together they lifted me onto my feet and eased me into a chair as the medical personnel from the crew arrived to check me over. There was quite a crowd now. Everyone who had been either on the set or in the other room now seemed to be only a foot away from me hovering, whispering, and watching.

“Step back,” Eric said with authority looking over the crowd when he noticed by discomfort.

“Let’s take thirty, people!” shouted Alcee over the noise in the room.

The lookyloos left the room in search of food or to step outside for a smoke. Pam was still there off to the side. Eric was watching her. Sookie, Lafayette, Tara, and even Bill, who must have arrived after the filming began, had come in and stayed as the others left. They were standing together several feet away from us, watching as if they were ready to protect me from anything else that might happen.

“It wasn’t my fault!” Pam said defiantly.

“You should go and take your break,” Eric said stoically.

“I didn’t do anything wrong! I was trying to help her!”

Eric didn’t say anything else, he just continued to scowl at her until she finally turned and walked away. Russell and JP were still hovering over me.

“JP, this is Russell and Eric. Russell, Eric, this is my best friend JP. You should all go and take your breaks as well,” I said, addressing all of them, “Alcee said only thirty minutes and there’s less than that now. Get something to eat or drink. Oh, JP, can you find Pam and see if she’s OK, please?”

“What the hell, Cricket, she…?”

“Fuck that!” called Tara.

“He’s right, Cricket,” Sookie chimed in sweetly taking a few steps closer to place her hand on my shoulder.

“Yes, we should leave her be,” drawled Bill, sharing a look with Eric.

“I yelled at her in front of the entire cast and crew pretty vulgarly. I’m sure I probably embarrassed her. I was pissed, but now I feel guilty and I have to stay here for the moment. Could you do it, please, JP?”

“There is no need for concern, Miss Kerrigan. She is fine,” Eric said seriously.

“Still, I would like him to make sure,” I said, looking up at him. He looked down at me and sighed.

“Very well. Look outside to the benches across the street. She will more than likely be there. If not, you may check her trailer,” he said to JP.

JP turned and walked away with Russell. Sookie gave me a sympathetic smile and followed them. I saw them stop to greet Lafayette, Tara, and Bill. More than likely, they were telling them exactly what happened as they left the room, en masse, before JP and Russell ventured outside presumably to find Pam. Well, JP’s found another friend. I smiled. Eric moved a chair over to sit next to me.

“Thank you. I feel terrible for screaming at her. I don’t know what happened. Maybe I was wrong and she did try to catch me. I think she may have accidentally pinched a nerve or something in my arm when we were walking. That must be why it hurt so badly. I’m sure she wouldn’t have done it on purpose. Besides, it doesn’t matter now. What’s done is done. Hey, you should go take your break, too,” I said to him.

“It does matter. You are injured. I will stay here if you do not mind,” he replied politely.

“I don’t, but they’re probably going to be looking at my backside pretty soon, so…,” I started blushing and he laughed.

“I will go if you would be more comfortable,” he said smiling.

“You can stay if you want, just…don’t look, please?”

The medics had been moving my arm around, taking my blood pressure, and pushing on different areas of my back and neck. I was told to stand and walk, and when I winced, limping slightly, they led me over to the other side of the room out of sight of the doorway. I couldn’t remove my dress so, as I knew they would, they lifted up my skirt to examine my lower back above my panty line. I was glad to not be wearing stockings.

I looked up at Eric and he turned away with a smirk on his face. Well, that’s two nights and two times I have been humiliated in front of him. Now I’m bent over a table with my ass up in the air! I heard someone start to enter the room and Eric took a step toward the door shaking his head at them. I thought I heard what sounded like a growl. No one else came in after that. At some point, he had stepped to the doorway, but I couldn’t see who he was talking to from my position.

~~~

When the examination was finished, he returned, but stayed facing the doorway. I righted my skirt and told him it was all right to turn around. I sat down in the closest chair.

The medics agreed that I indeed may have bruised or possibly cracked my tailbone. I was told to call my doctor in the morning, if it didn’t feel better, and make an appointment to have an x-ray taken. I should limit my walking until the soreness started to subside. There was nothing they could do about it, so they advised me to keep ice on both my behind and my arm. I was given a few tablets of something for the pain. They wrapped one of those automatic ice packs, the kind that freezes when you crack it, around my arm and gave me another one to sit on before they left.

I was sure it had been longer than half an hour, but I looked around and no one had returned yet. I was grateful not to have an audience, but also slightly nervous that it was just the two of us. My mind was already starting to fill with thoughts of my dream fantasy again when I looked at him. I had to remind myself that it was all in my head and he had no knowledge of the intimacy I was feeling toward him. Keep it together! He doesn’t know!

Eric had pulled another chair over and was seated next to me. He adjusted the ice pack on my arm a few times when it began to slide down off of the bruised areas.

“You should take the tablets that the doctors gave to you,” he said and stood.

“I think you’re right. My butt really hurts,” I said without thinking.

He smirked at me and left the room. That was embarrassing! I may as well have said ‘I carried a watermelon.’ I giggle-snorted.

He returned with a bottle of water and opened it. Then he took the medicine bottle, shook out two pills, and handed them to me. I swallowed them taking a long drink of water. It suddenly occurred to me that I didn’t hear any noise.

“Where is everyone?”

“They have canceled the rest of the filming for tonight,” he said.

“Damn, this is my fault! That’s twice they’ve had to adjust something because of me. I should just quit the show. I’m bad luck,” I said dejectedly.

“I do not think you should quit. It is not your fault this happened, just as last night was not your fault.”

“Really? I’m the klutz that tripped over my own feet, crashed a table, broke my shoe, and ruined my dress.”

“We both know that is not what happened.”

“Honestly, I don’t think I know anything anymore,” I moved and winced at the pain.

“The tablets will help shortly.”

“Did everyone leave?”

“They had no reason to stay, the filming is done for the night,” he reminded me.

“I know, but they just picked up and left?”

“Yes. Do you want to go home?”

“Not yet. I just want to sit here for a little while. You don’t have to sit with me. I’m fine.”

“I would prefer to stay and be certain of that.”

“It’s so quiet. Seriously, no one’s hanging out at all?”

“No.”

“I guess they went to change. Shoot! Dan’s going to be so disappointed. He was really looking forward to a big night tonight. What time is it?”

“I spoke to him and he understands. It is not yet ten o’clock.”

“Good. I’m not supposed to sing until midnight.”

“You are not performing tonight. It will be rescheduled when you are feeling better.”

“Well, that just sucks. Not only did I ruin the scene tonight and the set and my costume, but I also ruined a big night that people were looking forward to. I heard they even rearranged the filming to end early and start late for it. I’m such a clumsy idiot. Is it too late to call them back? I can go home and rest for a couple of hours and still return by midnight. I live fairly close,” I said guiltily.

“I know.”

“What did you say?” The painkillers were starting to kick in and I was feeling a little lightheaded.

“I said I know you think this was your fault.”

“Well, it is. I’m the one who fell and messed everything up.”

“No. The fault is mine.”

“That’s ridiculous. You weren’t anywhere near me. How did you possibly come to that conclusion?”

“I did not think things through. I did not take into account all the factors. I did not see this as a possible outcome and now you are injured,” he quietly said, but he seemed to be thinking out loud more than speaking to me.

“I’ll heal. I was hurt, yes, but my pride is hurt worse than anything.”

“Your arm says differently…as does your coccyx.”

I started giggling. My giggling turned to laughter and soon I was belly laughing. I was starting to feel fuzzy. The pills were working pretty fast.

“What is so amusing?”

“Coccyx!”

He looked at me funny, cocking his head to the side, and finally smiled. I continued laughing, that is, until I grimaced from a shooting pain.

“That chair cannot be comfortable for you.”

“No, it isn’t.”

He leaned over and picked me up as if I weighed nothing and carried me to the throne. It was cushioned and surprisingly soft. He sat down next to me.

“Is this better?”

“Oh, that’s much better. I can understand why you like to sit here, but oh! I think I’m wet!” I started giggling again. I was feeling quite loopy.

He looked at the chair I had just vacated and saw the flattened ice pack on the seat. He smiled.

“No, you did not soil anything. The condensation from the ice has assisted in that area.”

“Oh, thank God. I thought I might have wet my panties! Actually, I guess I did, indirectly. Whoops! Maybe I should just take them off!” I giggled ridiculously. Everything was funny and I was getting slap happy.

“Perhaps.”

“I can’t, you perv, I don’t have any dry ones!” I said affronted, but then I snorted and laughed harder.

“That is unfortunate.”

“Maria-Star is going to be very unhappy that I destroyed this dress. It was so pretty. I should go and change before I make it worse.”

“It is only a dress. She can repair it or throw it away. Under the circumstances, I think she will understand.”

Then it struck me, “Wait, you are still in your costume! Can I see your fangs before you go and take them out? I saw Pam’s earlier. She really doesn’t like me, does she? I can’t figure out why. She’s so nice to everyone else. May I?” I asked, tapping his chin. I was trying to focus, but my mind was wandering.

He paused for a moment looking at me before he clicked them down.

“Well, open your mouth so I can see!” I ordered as if he had no choice but to listen to me.

He did as I asked and opened his mouth wide so I could look inside.

“How do you drop them down? Is there a button? Are they comfortable? Do you use your tongue? They’re genius, I can’t even see it,” Of course, my vision was getting blurry, so I couldn’t really see clearly anyway. He touched whatever mechanism they had and they slid back up into his mouth.

“You are most definitely not going home to sleep only to return in two hours. It would not be good for you. You need rest. The medication is already affecting you.”

“Did JP leave, too?” I wasn’t sure if I wanted him to say yes or no.

“Yes, I believe he left with Russell and the others.”

“Damn, he drove here tonight. Maybe he left his keys for me?”

“You are not driving either. I will take you home and help you inside.”

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

“Why would I not?”

“Because you’re…well, you’re you,” I was becoming groggy.

He looked at me as if I had insulted him and sat back slightly.

“Do you think I am thoughtless, Miss Kerrigan?” he asked pointedly.

“No! I didn’t mean it in a bad way. God, no! I didn’t mean that. I think you’re amazing…I only meant you don’t know me and you’re always being so nice…” I tried to sober and I knew my speech was starting to slur. My eyes were fluttering, but as hard as I tried, I couldn’t help it.

I yawned and leaned over onto his shoulder resting my forehead there, finally letting my eyes close all the way. He reached over and picked me up again allowing my head to slide onto his chest while he moved to sit on the throne placing me on his lap sideways with my legs hanging over the arm

“You believe me to be nice?” he questioned.

“Yeah, you said I’m not insignificant and I don’t understand why you said that and you think I’m an interesting creature and I’m not sure what that means or why you said that either and I made you late and I like the way you speak. You smell like sheets and I dreamt about you…”

“Is that so?” he chuckled.

He put his arms around me and stroked my hair. I continued to babble on and he let me, saying “really”, “mhmm” and “oh” in all the right places while I continued talking.

“Mhmm, but I shouldn’t have because…because you don’t belong to me and I almost did to you, but that was a dream and I know who is yours, but she doesn’t and I’m not sure if you do, but I do, and I want to help you…but you’re a badass vampire who probably doesn’t want help…and your voice is on my phone and you knew my name. He said we could be friends, but I didn’t believe him and your eyes are so…like waves…” I was speaking uncontrollably and incoherently, yet I couldn’t stop myself.

“Tell me. Who is it that you know is mine?” he asked with a smile in his voice.

“Sookie, of course…” I murmured matter-of-factly.

I yawned again, snuggling closer while bringing my left hand up to hold onto the front of his shirt as I settled in.

“You really believe me to be Eric Northman, don’t you?” he asked, sounding amused.

“I don’t know…do you think they would let me have a pair of fangs to keep? Workman’s comp could cover the cost,” I giggled softly, “I want to feel them…can I touch yours?”

I heard the unmistakable clicking sound again. He reached down and pulled my hand from his shirt up to his mouth and gently ran my fingers down his fangs. He made a soft, almost imperceptible, unrecognizable sound. Was he laughing or purring?

“…so cool…” I mumbled, bringing my hand back down to hold onto his shirt.

“You are quite entertaining. It is a shame you will not remember this. Though, I am sure you would be embarrassed with what you are telling me,” he commented quietly and put away his fangs.

“Do you believe that vampires could be real?” I whispered.

I felt his laughter rumble through his chest. I was very content, comfortable, and I didn’t hurt anymore. He held me; let me drift in and out of sleep, cradling me like a child on his lap. Yes, I was definitely out of it.

~~~

“Miss Kerrigan?”

“Mmm?”

“You know if I was a vampire, I could heal you.”

“Yeah, too bad…” I mumbled and drifted off.

~~~

“Miss Kerrigan?”

“Hmm?”

“It is time to wake up. Are you ready to go home?”

“No, thank you,” I snuggled deeper into his chest.

“That is fine, but I should take you soon.”

“Soon,” I repeated. I felt him chuckle softly again.

“I wanted to hear you sing,” he whispered after a moment.

“Now?” I whispered back.

“I wanted you to sing to me again, that is why…”

I interrupted whatever he was going to say when I started humming a song that reminded me of him. Then I leaned back into the crook of his arm so I could look at him and opened my eyes as much as I could. He was looking back at me and I began to sing quietly to him, but meaningfully. I sang slowly, making the song sound like a ballad. My eyes opened wider and they locked with his as the words began to flow out of me conveying my feelings.

You must’ve hit me, when I wasn’t looking

Woke up dizzy, I can’t remember nothing

Oh oh, but those sweet blue eyes

I’m seeing flashbacks dancing in my mind

The way you kiss me, as sweet as summertime

And I, I don’t stand a chance

Oh, ’cause boy I was ruined the second

you walked in the room

The way you touch me, boy you send me flying

The way you move me is electrifying

Oh oh, rushing through my veins

I try to fight it, but I’m powerless

I’m no match for what I’m up against

But I, I keep giving in

And I don’t have a prayer

but honey I don’t even care

Feels like you come and put a spell on me

You shook my world apart and suddenly

I’m helpless, reckless,

so baby I lost my mind

And tonight, your love is hypnotizing

Hypnotizing

Your love is hypnotizing

Hypnotizing

We continued to look at each other for a long moment. His eyes were unreadable and I smiled. He smiled back at me, and then pulled me closer to him hugging me gently. My eyes closed again as I rested my head back onto my new favorite snuggle spot.

“Thank you,” he said, kissing the top of my head, resting his cheek there.

“You’re welcome,” I said sleepily.

“Miss Kerrigan? We should go now.”

“You don’t have to keep calling me that. You can call me Cricket,” I mumbled into his chest.

“When did you obtain that moniker?”

“…’sa long story…” I murmured.

“I prefer your given name. May I call you Chelsea?”

“Mhmm, but no one does,” I slurred.

“Then I would be the only one, yes?”

“Yeah,” I muttered.

“Good.”

Wait! What? I fell completely asleep before I could say anything else. It’s too bad I wouldn’t remember this in the morning.

~~~

Aurelia Gliwiski as Chelsea ‘Cricket’ Kerrigan

Alexander Skarsgård as Eric Northman

Ewan McGregor as Russell Edgington

Kristin Bauer van Straten as Pam Ravenscroft

Sean Hayes as JP

Nelsan Ellis as Lafayette

Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse

Rutina Wesley as Tara

Stephen Moyer as Bill

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A/N: A huge thank you to MsBuffy for editing this chapter. I don’t think I could do it without you, my friend! Thank you to Gyllene for creating the beautiful banner for this story! I love it! To all of you who are reading this, you guys are the best! Don’t forget to review! I love hearing what you think! Thanks for reading! 🙂

Special thanks to songwriters Cary Barlowe, Steve Robson & Caitlyn Elizabeth Smith for the use of ‘Hypnotizing’.