All The Things That Bleed (M.A. as Eggs/Jack/Sam)

[Brandy Berry]

The bathroom door had opened, and Sam had slipped inside without another thought. He was on the floor beside the tub, a comforting hand on the top of her head. Just him being close to her had eased her tear's and she gently moved her hands away from her face and back into the water.

That was when his hand reached for her chin, softly turning her face toward his. When she saw his own tears her brown hues had widened, the emotion in his eyes was tugging at her heart.

"I don't know what I'd have done if..."

He turned her head away from her, and she parted her lips to speak but she couldn't think of what to say.

"I never got a chance to tell you just how much you mean to me, and I almost lost that chance again. I can't let that happen."

Her tears were welting in her eyes again.

"I love you...I wasn't expecting it to happen. Wasn't looking for it. But what I found in you was something so beautiful, something so right. I'd be a fool to let it go."

They weren't tears of pain. Brandy had turned her body in the bathtub, suddenly forgetting about any pain she may of had, and reached her hand out for his face. Her hand was wet, and the water had dripped onto his leg, but it didn't seem to matter.

"You are my everything."

Why couldn't time of stopped right then? Just right at that moment as she looked at him with mutual understanding.. mutual feeling. The underside of her thumb had gently smoothed over his bottom lip and the look on her face said everything. She had felt that way about him for so long...

... and now, it was finally out in the open that he felt that way too.

"... I love you so much... hearing those words, from you.. can we just rewind them so I can hear them over and over again?"

Brandy took in a gentle breath and eased back into the warmth of the bathtub. With a thoughtful glance, she nodded toward the wrapped bar of soap just out of her reach.

"Do you mind? It's going to be kind of hard for me to get my back. I would say you could crawl right in behind me, but it would be a really tight squeeze..."

[Sam Merlotte]

It was a bittersweet moment. But one Sam wouldn't have traded for anything. Well, maybe a little bit of peace and quiet. But really, just pouring out his emotions the way he did, just brought them closer than they'd ever been. Near death experience has a funny way of clearing ones mind.

"... I love you so much... hearing those words, from you.. can we just rewind them so I can hear them over and over again?"

Sam gave her a smile, she needed to see it. Brandy eased herself back in the tub and motioned towards a bar of soap that was out of her reach.

"Do you mind? It's going to be kind of hard for me to get my back. I would say you could crawl right in behind me, but it would be a really tight squeeze..."

"As much as I'd love to, I need to stay dressed incase Summer arrives. I called her like you asked, but I only got her voicemail." he pulled a face. "But I can do that for you, just relax. Let me look after you, will ya." he leant over and kissed her head.

Sam dipped his hands in the water and lathered his hands with the soap. Gently he soaped her back, trying his absolute best not to cause her any discomfort. "Just yell at me if I hurt you."

[Brandy Berry]

As much as I'd love to, I need to stay dressed incase Summer arrives. I called her like you asked, but I only got her voicemail."

"She must be busy with pack stuff. I would like to get cleaned up before she comes, if she see's me like this she is going to track down Eggs and probably tear him apart without a second thought."

Brandy glanced at Sam, a soft smile on her face as she figured she probably should elaborate - she didn't want Sam to feel bad because he wasn't jumping to do the same thing.

"She wouldn't know the whole situation, that Maryann has control over him.. she wouldn't even stick around long enough to ask."

"But I can do that for you, just relax. Let me look after you, will ya."

Brandy couldn't help but to smile and blush at that. She really should just relax and let him look after her. She was always so focused on his well-being she didn't really give him a chance to focus on her's. She wanted to tell him that she loved him again the moment he leaned over and she felt his soft lips against her face.

"Just yell at me if I hurt you."

Brandy was leaning forward, looking off to the side as his hand gently moved around her back to clean her. Even there in that murky water she was having thoughts of the next time they would be able to hold each other in the bed again.

Geesh. And at a time like this. She couldn't help but to giggle at the thought.

"Oh.. I wouldn't worry about hurting me. Considering all I can think about is making love to you again, I would say everything is all good"

[Sam Merlotte]

"She must be busy with pack stuff. I would like to get cleaned up before she comes, if she see's me like this she is going to track down Eggs and probably tear him apart without a second thought."

Sam gave Brandy a sidelong glance. But she wasn't finished speaking yet, so he said nothing and let her continue.

"She wouldn't know the whole situation, that Maryann has control over him.. she wouldn't even stick around long enough to ask."

Sam nodded. "Well, I'd sure like to help her do just that." Sam pulled his hand away from her back. He knew if he kept it where it was, he would hurt her unintentionally. "I owe him at least one for hurting you."

The dark thoughts loomed in Sam's head. He meant every word, he's shift into a frickin' polar bear and crush his skull in.

"Oh.. I wouldn't worry about hurting me. Considering all I can think about is making love to you again, I would say everything is all good"

Now that brought the cheer back to Sam. It would be sometime before they could be intimate. Would she still really want to be intimate with him after ingesting Jack's blood? Sam cursed himself for thinking too much and not enjoying the moment.

"We'll have our moment again. When all this madness has stopped,"

[Brandy Berry]

"Well, I'd sure like to help her do just that."

Brandy could only imagine, she knew that Sam would of been there if he could. She didn't know why he wasn't exactly, but she knew it was probably Maryann's doing. Part of Brandy was glad Sam wasn't there - it might of been worse if she saw Eggs do to Sam what he had done to her.

And then Jack. She had almost forgot about Jack. She was alive, in this tub, because of Jack. His blood was in her veins and she was staring at the dripping faucet when Sam continued to talk.

"We'll have our moment again. When all this madness has stopped,"

"Your thinking about Jack, aren't you?"

Brandy was fiddling with her fingers in the water, easing back as Sam shifted his focus to other parts of her body that needed cleaning. She didn't bother taking over the job, it felt good to have his hands on her.

"I had no choice. I would of.. no, I was dying. But I'll find a way, to break the connection. I promise I will find a way, so that you will want to make love again and not be worried I am thinking of Jack."

[Sam Merlotte]

"Your thinking about Jack, aren't you?"

"No." Sam lied and looked away, the guilt was too much for him to carry. "Okay, I was." he sighed. He knew it wasn't her fault. It was Maryann and Eggs and even though Eggs was under Maryann's control he still hurt Brandy and that was unforgiveable.

"I had no choice. I would of.. no, I was dying. But I'll find a way, to break the connection. I promise I will find a way, so that you will want to make love again and not be worried I am thinking of Jack."

Sam sat with his back leaning against the bathroom wall. He gave her a look of reassurance. "I know you will. I trust you, I know it's not your fault. Even if it sticks in my craw, I'll get past it for you."

[Brandy Berry]

"No."

He was looking away so she couldn't give him the 'I know your lying' look.

"Okay, I was."

Brandy knew it was only natural, it was kind of a big deal.. for her to take Jack's blood. She may of been a witch but she was still human - but hopefully her reassurance that she would find a way to release herself from Jack would be enough for Sam.

I know you will. I trust you, I know it's not your fault. Even if it sticks in my craw, I'll get past it for you."

"I'll give my mother a call tomorrow morning. She will know what I should do."

The thought of calling her mother found a lump in Brandy's throat.. she hadn't called her parents once since she had arrived in Bon Temps. Her parents were probably disappointed, but at least.. they would always be her parents.

"Do you think Summer will be here soon? I can't wait to feel my own clothes on my skin again.. does that seem weird?"

[Sam Merlotte]

"I'll give my mother a call tomorrow morning. She will know what I should do."

Like Sam, Brandy hadn't really spoken much of her parents. Though they must be on at least friendly terms, Sam couldn't say the same. He nodded to her, Brandy knew the best thing to do in a situation like this, however unique it was.

"Do you think Summer will be here soon? I can't wait to feel my own clothes on my skin again.. does that seem weird?"

"I don't know. Want, I can call her again. See if she got my message?" he put a hand out towards her. "Nothing weird about wanting to wear your own clothes babe."

[Brandy Berry]

"I don't know. Want, I can call her again. See if she got my message?"

Brandy thought about it and then nodded, the sooner she could see Summer again the better. The thing was, because she had experienced near-death she wanted to see Summer again.

"Nothing weird about wanting to wear your own clothes babe."

"It's not about wearing my own clothes.. its about not wearing those clothes again"

At that mention she nudged her head toward the bloody and torn clothes still sitting in a heap on the floor.

"Can you do me a favor once Summer get's here and just burn them? I don't even want to touch them again - too many bad memories"

[Sam Merlotte]

"It's not about wearing my own clothes.. its about not wearing those clothes again"

Brandy motioned to the crumpled heap of bloodstained clothes. Sam could understand that. Bad memories.

"Can you do me a favor once Summer get's here and just burn them? I don't even want to touch them again - too many bad memories"

Sam sussed it right and he could understand the severity of cutting that particular tie. Keeping clothes you were almost beaten to death in, can't be a particularly pleasant experience.
"I'll get a bag to put them in, I don't think the motel would appreciate a fire in there building. But I'll get rid of them for you."

Sam picked the bundle of clothes up and turned to Brandy. "I'll bad these and call Summer, wont be long." he leant down and gave her a gentle kiss.

[Brandy Berry]

"I'll get a bag to put them in, I don't think the motel would appreciate a fire in there building. But I'll get rid of them for you."

Burn them, throw them in the garbage - she didn't really care. As long as he got rid of them. It was a pity in a way, she had really liked that pink shirt and now she wouldn't be able to look at pink the same way again.

Well, at least not that shade. Oh hell, who was she kidding? She loved pink! She watched him with a soft smile as he picked up the clothes for her and soon was at her side again.

"I'll bag these and call Summer, wont be long."

"Thank you hun"

She took in a gentle breath when he left the bathroom, she wasn't stuck in the bathtub if she didn't want to be but she still didn't feel clean enough. Probably from sitting in the filthy water.

With a thought she unplugged the bathtub with her toe and struggled to her feet. Sam had done a good job of cleaning her up pretty good, but she threw the shower on anyway so she could shampoo the dirt and blood out of her hair.

She was going to get it cut when all of this was over. It was time to stop being so trusting, getting beaten to near death had opened her eyes to the ways of the world.

A lot.

Once her shower was done she eased her way out of the bathtub and reached for a clean towel, but not before checking herself out in the mirror. Her face was covered in bruises, she had a black eye and her cheeks were a little swollen. But, you could actually see who she was now.

For some reason it was her face that Egg's had hit the most. She didn't quite understand that one. Jack's blood had done wonders for healing her major wounds. Her arm must of been broken when he had first found her, and her ribs must of been cracked pretty bad, but now they felt just a little bruised and her arm was only a little sore.

So this was what vampire blood did to a human being. No wonder people were so awe-struck by vampires. No wonder that party where those crazy people were trying to get her to take V seemed not so much.. unbelievable anymore. She could understand their reason's now, she was just glad she wasn't like them.

With a final thought Brandy finally left the bathroom, taking a seat on the edge of the bed as she flipped through the channels on the television set. Suddenly she wondered, out of the blue, if there were any cooking shows on right now.

[Sam Merlotte]

Sam picked up Brandy's phone and checked. There was a text message from Summer. Good, she got the voicemail Sam thought, relieved. Now to open it and read it.

What the f**k is going on? Why are you at some craphole motel? SH*T! I'll be there as soon as I can -Summ-

Sam closed the message down and would tell Brandy as soon as he got rid of those clothes. He looked around and there was a large waist paper basket stuck in a grimy corner of there room. Inside was a white bin liner and he took it out and put Brandy's clothes inside and tied it tightly. It was a squeeze to get them all into a smallish holder, but it worked and that was all that mattered.

He opened the motel door cautiously, looking out to his left and to his right and back again. This whole ordeal was making him so da*n paranoid. With no-one around, Sam looked around for a good place to dispose of Brandy's old clothes. He sighed and ran his fingers through his halo of dirty blonde hair.

When he got back, Brandy was sitting on the bed, casually flicking through the channels on the less than impressive tv. But it was still something to help take there minds off the madness.

"Anything good on?"

[Brandy Berry]

"Anything good on?"

"Not really. I think next door is trying to pick up some free cable porn, I flicked through one channel and I think I saw a boob"

Was she kidding or was she serious? It was hard to tell with Brandy sometimes. She was considering ordering some pizza even though she wasn't that hungry but she seemed satisfied to leave the channel on Family Guy.

With Family Guy in the background Brandy had eased off the edge of the bed and moved around so that she could crawl under the covers. Maybe if she stayed under the covers when Summer arrived then Summer would only have to stare at her bruised face and not her bruised body.

She was still at a loss as to what she should tell Summer upon her arrival.

"Do you think the whole 'I fell down some stairs' routine would work? I'm not really the greatest liar.."

Sam would of known by now that Brandy was honest - almost to a fault. Especially when it came to him, she had no problem telling people that yes, she f*cked Sam Merlotte and she enjoyed every moment of it. Just thinking about it was getting her heart racing again and she was tempted to tell him to join her underneath the covers.

Oh right. Sex right now, or even in the next couple days was way too painful to even think about. She forced herself to stare at the television - it was getting hard to concentrate on anything else!

"I know this is going to sound really weird, but do me a favor over the next couple days and keep all your clothes on. My body will probably thank me later. And no tight pairs of blue jean's either.. and no.. sexy plaid shirts.. sh!t, I might as well just make you wear my clothes"

[Sam Merlotte]

"Not really. I think next door is trying to pick up some free cable porn, I flicked through one channel and I think I saw a boob"

Sam gave a small smile and closed the door gently behind him. It was nice to see some of her humour, she may still not be 100% but she was alive and that was something to be happy about. He watched as she crawled under the covers and got herself as comfy as one could get when healing from a near death beating.

"Do you think the whole 'I fell down some stairs' routine would work? I'm not really the greatest liar.."

Sam shook his head. "Somehow I don't think Summer would buy that at all. You have to tell her the truth. If you really don't want her to get pyhsically involved, we can talk her round I'm sure. She won't go against something you want."

Sam was about to tell her about Summer's text, when Brandy looked over at him. "I know this is going to sound really weird, but do me a favor over the next couple days and keep all your clothes on. My body will probably thank me later. And no tight pairs of blue jean's either.. and no.. sexy plaid shirts.. sh!t, I might as well just make you wear my clothes"

For the first time in a long time, Sam wasn't even thinking about anything sexual with Brandy. He just wanted to hold her and make her feel safe. Plus the idea of some vampire knowing she was feeling a certain way, was a little off putting,

"I'll dress in a potato sack, just for you." he grinned, trying to keep the mood light and humourous. Then he realised he still hadn't said about Summer. So he sat on the bed, next to Brandy and looked over to her.
"Summer's on her way, she sent a text." Sam handed Brandy her phone so she could see it herself. "I don't know how quickly she'll get here at."

[Brandy Berry]

"Somehow I don't think Summer would buy that at all. You have to tell her the truth. If you really don't want her to get pyhsically involved, we can talk her round I'm sure. She won't go against something you want."


Brandy nodded, remembering what Summer had put herself through against Derek. Not exactly something Brandy wanted Summer to go through again.. even though Brandy was sure Summer could take on Eggs - he was just a human, after all. Still, it was just better in the end to be honest with Summer.


"I'll dress in a potato sack, just for you."

Brandy laughed at that, but part of her would still want to be with him even if he was in a potato sack. He climbed up on the bed and sat beside her, and she had scooted over to him so that she could rest her head against his shoulder.

This was why she pouted when he handed her her phone, she looked at the message and leaned the other way so she could place her phone on the bed side table. Moving her body gave her a chance to rest her head back on his shoulder, her slender digits had reached for his hand so that she could hold onto it tightly.


"I don't know how quickly she'll get here at."

"It's alright, you can hold me for a little while until she shows up. I promise I won't try and feel you up"