The Moon, Ch. 13

**A/N:  Don’t kill the writer or she’ll no be writin’ no mo’…or something like that.**

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Eric moved Sookie off his lap onto the couch and gave Willa a look clearly indicating that she was to watch over the blonde telepath while he answered the door. En route he sniffed the air, and relaxed.

“Answering the door yourself these nights, are you,” taunted Dr. Ludwig after he opened the door.

Eric growled lightly. The esteemed Supe doctor had always rubbed him the wrong way.  Even though she wasn’t the only local Super doctor, she was the best in the lower half of the country, though, so he tolerated her.  Barely.  He was, however, surprised that she hadn’t popped directly into the apartment as would be her usual style, and his curiosity must have shown on his face.

“I heard what happened at Fangtasia – did you really think I was just going to pop right on in? I may be a doctor but even I ain’t that self-sacrificing. Now move and let me tend to my patient. I’ve got shit to do.”

With a barely concealed sneer he allowed her in and closed the door only a little more loudly than normal.

“I thought I smelled a pregnant fairy,” she muttered upon seeing Sookie sitting on the sofa with Willa now standing by her side.

When Eric saw the look on Sookie’s face, he suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to tell her that he had actually called Dr. Ludwig.

Oops…

Instantly he flashed across the room, and took her hands in his as he knelt before her.

“I called the doctor earlier but with all that has happened tonight, it slipped my mind to tell you. I only wanted…” He automatically expected her to act as she would have in the past – pissed off, but to his shock she withdrew one of her hands and patted his shoulder as she interrupted him.

“Shh, it’s ok, Eric. A check-up never hurts,” she reassured him with a sweet smile.

Ludwig dropped her medical bag nearby with a loud thump, then demanded, “”Why haven’t you been seeing me all along? Have you even been to a doctor?” Her disgruntled voice rose in anger and professional suspicion.  Fairies, even hybrids, were not the most logical thinkers.

“Oh, yeah, I’ve been seeing Dr. Banner. I just didn’t want to bother you since this wasn’t a Supe thing. ”  Sookie tried to keep her indignation out of her voice – of course she’d been seeing an OB/GYN regularly!

The good doctor sniffed loudly, then snorted. “Yeah, right…not a Supe thing.  Ok, missy, lose the vamper you’re wearing and let’s get started.”

Ludwig rolled her eyes, Willa successfully hid her grin, and Sookie only smiled when Eric begrudgingly moved back a whole two feet then stopped and glared.

After checking her vitals and such under the ever watchful eyes of both Eric and Willa, the doctor turned to face the vampire she swore was taller every time she saw him.

“I need to draw some blood. Are you going to go cave-vamp?” she glared at him, then turned to Willa, “And can you handle that?”

With an alacrity that warmed Eric’s heart, Willa volunteered to step out into the hall so as to avoid any temptation.

Eric, however, maintained his stance, arms folded, feet braced, and glared at the petite doctor.

Although Dr. Ludwig disliked the vampire species as a whole based on their attitudes and their obsession with her genetic cousins’ fairy-blood, she had to hand it to the Northman. She knew he could be the requisite stone cold vamp, but he had a good head on his shoulders, didn’t go throwing his weight around just to see where it fell, and he seemed to treat the people in his unlife a lot better than did most of his kind.

And, even though she hadn’t been introduced to the young vamp, by scent she could tell that the brunette was one of his progeny. Her willingness to vacate the premises just to avoid temptation was a strong mark in her favor.

The doctor huffed. She hated thinking pleasant thoughts about damn vampers.

In short order and while pretending there wasn’t a befanged 6’5″ Viking vampire glaring and quietly snarling at her every move, she had three vials of blood drawn from Sookie’s vein. She stepped out of the way just in time to avoid being trampled by said Viking who was now actively growling.

Even though he knew the doctor was drawing his Sookie’s blood for whatever health tests she had deemed necessary, Eric had a very hard time remaining still during the bloodletting.

It wasn’t that there was blood…it was that it was Sookie’s blood…

His every instinct screamed at him to rip the small doctor’s head off, grab his Sookie into his arms, and fly her to safety. His fangs ached and his hands tightened into claws, and try as he might, he had been unable to do more than tone down his warning snarls.

The instant Dr. Ludwig finished her task, he inserted himself between the doctor and Sookie, hovering over her prone body as she rested on the sofa. Immediately he placed his mouth on her vein and with his tongue removed the precious few drops that had escaped. When her skin was clean, he pricked his tongue with a fang and gladly healed the tiny wound.

“I don’t smell you in her blood, Northman. Why haven’t you or the other one healed these damn bruises yet?” She was truly surprised that the vampire hadn’t taken the first chance that came along to shove his blood down her throat. It would have healed those damn bruises fast enough, though.

Eyes slightly dilated from the taste and scent of Sookie’s blood, Eric rolled back on his heels a moment before shaking it off.

“Is it safe with…” he gestured to Sookie’s rounded abdomen.

“Of course it is; that’s why I asked.”

“You are positive it will not hurt the child?” Eric’s voice demanded that she be certain.

“A little vampire blood won’t be hurting that baby girl,” she said gruffly. She wasn’t accustomed to seeing evidence of real care or concern from vampires. Damn she was ready for a vacation.

As she performed the tests on the blood, Eric gently helped Sookie to sit up.

“If you feel a bit woozy, it’s probably because your blood pressure is up a little. It’s nothing to worry about yet, but I’ll send someone to check it again this time tomorrow. Lay off the salt and the salty foods, and limit the pork and ham products, too.  No olives.”

As Sookie made a face but nodded, Eric called forth the questions he had wanted to ask.

“Does she have to drink milk? It smells horrible. Also, is she safe to fly?”

“Actually,” she drawled out as one vial turned green and she gave Sookie an odd look, “I have something that would be better for her than milk. I’ll make sure it’s delivered tomorrow.”

The other two vials remained a deep red color, and apparently satisfied with her tests, she handed them over to Sookie.

“He can drink these or you can toss’em.  It’s your blood so it’s up to you.”

Her face slightly pensive, the doctor started putting her things back into her bag, and finally continued, “Ok, as you know, you’re right at nine months along now, and like I said, your blood pressure is up a bit, but we’ll keep a check on that. Feel free to eat eggs, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, onions, garlic, bok choy, kohlrabi, fish, chicken, and beef whenever you get the urge to, and you should start craving them more as time goes on. Drink milk as you want it, but definitely drink what I send you. All of it. And,” she said firmly as she gave Sookie a stern look, “it’s a damn good thing your vampire called me because with your heritage and the nature of this pregnancy, you’re not going to be having this baby for at least another three, possibly four, months. No flying. I’m outies.”

Dr. Ludwig popped away but Eric and Sookie barely noticed as they stared at each other in shock.

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**A/N:  (I am currently ducking…please send coffee.)   So…what did you think?**

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