Grayson Mudali (forevergrayson) wrote in light_of_may, @ 2010-03-11 15:35:00 |
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Entry tags: | 2009-07-06, grayson, saoirse |
You used to say you're just fine, but I still wonder all the time
Who: Grayson and Saoirse
When: Late afternoon/early evening (immediately after the Seer/Jez scene)
Where: Eventually, Saoirse's house
Saoirse managed to make it to the end of Jezebelle's street before she simply could not manage another step. She didn't have a car, she'd walked. This had been a bad idea. She should have taken a cab and had it wait. Because now? She was fucked.
The iron in Saoirse's system was really pulling a number on her. She was weak, disoriented, and having to summon every ounce of strength she had for each step. Her wound was not closing, she was bleeding, and if she attracted the cops? She was even more fucked. She stumbled behind a large tree and collapsed, hidden from the road. And then she heaved, vomiting blood on the ground. This is bad. She needed help.
Calling Neil was not even an option for Saoirse. Nic would have been - if it weren't for the fact that she knew that if he came near her, she'd quite possibly bite him. She was desperate for blood. Whoever she called, it had to be a vampire. Sagging heavily against the tree, Saoirse managed to get her phone out, and with a very heavy heart, she called her boss.
Grayson was in his condo at Cherryblossom Place, going over some of the last week's sales numbers for Heme. Likely, it was the type of thing that was best done at his office in the bar itself, but Grayson was the type to bring his work home with him from time to time, and this was no exception. With infinite amounts of time on his hands, he didn't really mind, and he would just bring them with him when he went back to Heme later in the evening. Classical music was playing in the background, soft, just enough to keep the place from seeming too quiet.
When his cell phone went off, vibrating against the glass top of his desk, Grayson looked up, brow furrowing. Usually, when someone called him now, it meant that something happened at the bar and he was needed right away. A quick check of the caller ID proved otherwise - it was Saoirse. It wasn't often that she called him, and Grayson had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He answered it on the second ring. "Seer? Is everything all right?"
Fuck, fuckity fuck fuck. Saoirse was pretty sure she'd rather chew on shards of silver than answer that question, seeing as the answer was an empathic and rather embarrassing 'no'. "Ah..." she croaked out, sighing and staring up at tree branches for a moment. "I'm in trouble. Um..." God, spilling this story was the very last thing she wanted to do, but with another stab of pain it all spilled out. "I got staked for the first time, with iron, which I'm allergic to, and I'm losing blood fast and I would have called someone else but I think if I come across a non-vamp right now I'll attack and I didn't know who to call." Fuck.
"What kind of trouble?" Grayson had already asked the question before Saoirse started explaining. She'd gotten staked? He could remember the first time he'd seen it happen to a member of their house - he'd been a human then, the sight no less terrifying now when he knew exactly how an Azraelan vampire would react to it. If she was allergic to iron, that meant she was likely fae-blooded; Grayson may have some of that in his apartment. As she spoke he was already moving, phone cradled between his head and shoulder as he grabbed the keys to his car. "Where are you?"
Grayson never wanted to see a member of his House in any sort of duress, and if he could help, he would. He'd want to know exactly how it was she'd ended up staked, with iron no less, but first, they had to get her healed up. The explanations could wait. They'd all been young once, and made such mistakes; he'd done it himself, when he'd first been turned. He'd rather she called him than go to anyone else, that much was true.
"Long story," Saoirse managed to mumble, feeling stupid all over again. Why had she thought that had been a good idea again? Or in any way not suicidal? "Bad run in with another vamp." Where was she? Excellent question. And she was in no shape to get up and get the answer to that. She flipped awareness to the third perspective again, and realized it was probably a good idea to stay in that awareness - just in case Jezebelle decided she wasn't feeling so merciful after all. She read the street signs off to him, and despite the major hit to her pride, she felt relief that he was on his way.
Of course. Another vampire would explain it, and all Grayson did was click his tongue. Another question to be asked at a different time. "We'll talk about it after," he said. "I should be there shortly." With that, Grayson headed out, lucky that he had some fae-blood on hand that hopefully should start to help Saoirse out. He knew vaguely where she was, thanks to the street signs she'd given him, and he pulled over onto the side of the road once he arrived. The moment he stepped out of the car, he could smell the blood, like a trail leading to where Saoirse was.
Grayson found her behind a large tree, and in an instant it was likely a good thing he hadn't been there when she'd confronted this other vampire. He considered Saoirse to be a friend of his, and the idea of someone hurting her, at all, did not sit well with him. He kneeled next to her, laying a hand on her shoulder. "Seer," he murmured. "Let's get you out of here."
Saoirse couldn't help but wish she had the strength to dig a hole to hide in. Embarrassment was such a bitch. "That would be good," she agreed, nodding faintly. "Thanks for coming, Grayson." Also, fuck my life. She felt like such a noob vampire. She failed vampire 101. She failed in general. "And I'm sorry I'm bound to bleed all over your car," she added, cringing faintly. She'd just been impaled, and neither wound had closed yet. The day just kept getting better and better.
She was embarrassed and he could tell. Likely because he was her boss, and no one liked to call for help. Sometimes, though, it was necessary. Grayson would count this as one of those times. If he was being honest, they all failed vampire 101 at some point in their early years. It took time to get adjusted to this life. "Of course I came." He waved a hand at the thought of her blood in the car, "I'll have it cleaned. At the moment, my car should be the last of your worries." He knew that would happen and in the moment, Grayson didn't care. It had happened before, just not in a few years. Seeing as the wound hadn't closed, Grayson slid an arm around her shoulders and helped her to her feet. "Can you walk?"
Saoirse had to rely on Grayson's help getting up a lot more than she would have liked to admit to, and she blinked at the headrush standing caused. She felt disoriented and off balance, something she wasn't at all used to feeling any more. Even in third perspective, things looked wobbly. "I think so," she said anyway, because hey, she still had some pride. Precious little, actually, and she was hanging on to it, thanks. "Slowly."
"Then slowly it is." The moment Saoirse showed any sign of toppling over, Grayson had no qualms about lifting her up and carrying her back. Luckily he hadn't parked all that far away, and so therefore it wasn't a long struggle back to the vehicle. Wrapping an arm tighter around Saoirse, Grayson reached out to open the passenger side door so she could sit down. "I brought some fae-blood, to tide you over until we can get you back. It should help start to close that wound." The only thing he could think to help, in a situation like this, was Saoirse's own blood-type, which was exactly what he brought.
"You're a god," Saoirse murmured, smiling faintly as she sunk down in the passenger seat. She was also a little impressed with herself for actually managing to make it! Though she wouldn't have without Grayson's support. She wasted no time in draining the bag of blood, thinking to herself that she drained it faster than she had the first time she'd ever fed as a vampire. She blinked at the faint slooshy sound, and looked down at her wound to see a few little droplets had splashed out. Blink. Blink. Blink. "Well. That's... new." I'm actually leaking. "I can't figure out if that's hilarious or terrifying. Possibly both." But the blood tasted good, and it did make her feel better.
He kneeled in front of her, eyes on her face as he watched her drink it down. Grayson knew Saoirse still struggled with what she'd become, what they were, but in the moment, it didn't look like it. Taking the empty bag from her, Grayson looked down at the wound. "It looks better than it did, though," he murmured, brow furrowed. He wasn't sure how much blood she might need in order to heal, though he did have one more bag with him. Likely it was just time, something they'd been blessed with as vampires. "And I think both, terrifying and hilarious. Tomorrow, perhaps, it will be funnier than today." Right now, it was freaky, and he'd seen a lot in his years.
Saoirse looked up at Grayson and smiled softly. "You're probably right," she agreed. "I've had an allergic reaction as a vampire before. It'll take a few days to work out of my system. This isn't as bad as it was last time. I just didn't have the creeptastic hilarity of looking like a leaking jug. I suppose if it becomes too distracting I can shove some cotton balls in there or something." Even just having her ass handed to her, Seer still had a silly sense of humor. "Thanks for coming, Gray. Really."
An allergic reaction. Perhaps Grayson had been lucky, in that none of the things that caused him trouble as a human had carried over to his vampire life. If the iron would take a few days to work out of her system, then Grayson would be sure to check in on Saoirse, to make sure she was doing all right. Likely she wouldn't want the extra attention, but it wasn't like he never saw her, with both of them spending a good amount of time at Heme. He chuckled, glad to see she still had a sense of humor about the whole thing. "At least now you'll have a story to tell everyone years from now. Embellished, of course, glossing over the details." Like why she'd gotten staked in the first place, Grayson still wanted to know that. Smiling at her, making note of how she called him Gray - something not many people in Scarlet Oak did, vampire or not - Grayson squeezed her hand before getting up and going around to the driver's side, climbing into the car himself. "Of course, Seer. You know you can call me with anything."
Saoirse did know that now, though it was something she was likely to struggle with. She hated to bother, and she hated to ask for help. And very likely, if there was any possibility of getting home herself, she would have tried. "Yeah, a great story to end with 'and you should have seen the other guy!'" Jezebelle, who had popped her nose back in place like it was nothing. Saoirse had been no match at all for her. What a stupid idea that had been. And yet, if she had it to do over again... she probably wouldn't have been able to stop herself. The anger hadn't faded, it had just retreated to the back of her mind for a time where her injuries weren't taking up her attention. She could be such a stubborn, stupid thing when she wanted to be.
"I don't suppose the 'other guy' ended up being impaled?" he asked, starting up the car. Saoirse didn't have to tell him the story now if she didn't want to, Grayson wasn't going to push. When she was a little more healed, when they were somewhere away from the place where he assumed she'd been injured. Like when the hunter had gotten into Heme - a situation Grayson did not like to think about - he didn't want anything to happen to anyone he cared about. As he started to drive, he glanced over at Saoirse. "The way I see it, we have one of two options. I can take you back to one of the House-owned properties, or I can take you back to my place. If you need more blood, I have plenty." He knew Saoirse hadn't wanted to call him, that she was embarrassed by the situation. There was no sense in letting everyone know what happened if she didn't want to tell anyone - as long as it wasn't a threat to the entire House, of course.
If Saoirse's body was still capable of it, she would have blushed. Easily. "Uhh... I broke her nose. But she snapped it back in place like it was nothing. I think the damage I did was equal to that of a papercut to her," she admitted. "She was able to..." Saoirse frowned as she tried to figure out the best way to describe Jezebelle's unexpected ability. "If she was in a shadow, even a faint one, she could teleport. Even in the third awareness, and being able to see when she appeared behind my back, she was able to completely overwhelm me. Not that I'm that much of a kickass fighter in the first place. An Irish background only gets you so far there," she went on, in lame attempts of a joke. At least it felt lame.
She turned her head to Grayson at his offer, honestly surprised at that level of generosity. As she saw it, Grayson was a good man. She'd liked him when she first met him. But in many ways, she was still adjusting to how, in most respects, the house really was like a family. By no means did Grayson have to do that for her, or even offer - but it was touching that he did. "That is unbelievably kind of you," she said, getting that out of the way first, "but I couldn't put you out like that. If this," she gestured at the wound in her chest, "is anything like the last reaction I had... I'm going to be out of commission for a few days. I might not even be able to make it to work tomorrow." This would probably be a good time to ask if sick days existed for vampires. "I really, really long for the good ole' human days where I could sleep it off if I felt icky right about now."
Grayson's brow furrowed as he thought. If Saoirse asked, he'd probably tell her he was just concentrating on the road. In reality, he was trying to think of what vampire families he knew that could blend into the shadows, like Saoirse said the other vampire did. It left even Azrael vampires at a distinct disadvantage, a feeling Grayson didn't like at all. Vampires in general already had enough enemies gunning for them, what with hunters, the anti-supernatural movement, all of it. The last thing he wanted to worry about were potential foes in the new place he called home. For now, he would file the information away, and look into it later. "We heal quickly, perhaps that is another that is a bonus granted by her House," Grayson mused, mostly to himself. "The healing, as well as the shadows. I would not take the fact that she bested you personally."
He inclined his head in her direction. "I know I don't have to, but still, the offer remains. Perhaps you'll stop by, let me know how you're doing. Should you feel up to it, that is." And if not? Grayson would probably check on her. He considered Saoirse to be a friend of his, rare for someone in his position, so his worry was sincere. "If you do come to work tomorrow, likely I'll just send you home again." Grayson looked over at her, soft smirk on his face, "Consider it an executive decision." Just because they could no longer sleep off their wounds, or their "icky" feelings, did not mean she needed to spend the day at the bar serving drinks to the locals who wandered it. Grayson could find someone to cover.
Saoirse let her head rest back on the headrest of the seat, still smiling softly at Grayson. His words on her opponent were of little comfort to a stubborn Irish girl who had just lost a fight, though she saw the truth in them despite that. She never should have gone over there without better researching the woman. Jezebelle could have killed her when she was staked. "Executive decision," she repeated, with a weak nod. "I like the sound of that. I guess it pays to have friends in high places." Like his friendship wasn't enough without that. Psh. "You know, by all rights, you could be tearing me a new one. Demanding the full story, answers - and a big, long lecture about getting myself into stupid situations. And I'd totally have it coming."
Of course Saoirse was upset she lost the fight, but the way Grayson saw it, she was still around to fight another day. He didn't want to see her do that, of course, but he knew the girl, and she was a stubborn one, Irish background or not. Perhaps she'd learn to pick her battles, or to go in better prepared. He gave her another soft smile, "It is with its benefits, yes. For the record, I'm not doing this as your boss, but as your friend." He turned back to the road for a second, eyes remembering the turns he needed to take to get Saoirse back to where she lived. "And yes, you will tell me what happened," he said, nonchalantly. He wasn't demanding, merely stating a fact. "I figured it was a conversation best had when you weren't bleeding out from being impaled with iron." He met her eyes. "And I'm hoping the consequences taught you the foolishness of your actions." The simple fact: You didn't get impaled. Ever. It left you in too compromising of a situation, allergic reaction she had aside.
Saoirse managed a soft laugh, and a little nod. "It did that," she confirmed. "I won't make that mistake twice." Though she didn't like the idea of abandoning this Jezebelle situation, she'd figure something out once she had healed. "It's easy to become blinded and feel invisible," she explained lightly. "Young vampire in a powerful house... I guess I needed the reality check." And she'd certainly got it. Loud and clear.
"I'm glad to hear that." And Grayson was. It wasn't to say he wouldn't come to her aid again, because he would, he would just rather he didn't have to. Not for a situation where she'd been hurt like this. "And we all do, when we're young. Any vampire who tells you otherwise is lying. I was no different." He remembered his own youth well enough, the first year spent trying to wean himself off the alcohol his system still craved, despite the fact that it wouldn't have the same effect for him now that his body was technically dead. Psychic blood, while it provided quite the trip, wasn't the same, and never would be.
"The fabulous and mysterious Grayson Mudali made mistakes?" Saoirse asked, clinging to her sense of humor. If she was amused, maybe she wouldn't be so focused on how fucking bad she hurt. "That's hard to believe. You know the staff has running debates and bets on who would win in a fight to the death: you, or Eric Northman." Along with who they'd rather bed, but that part was best kept to herself, probably.
He chuckled at the thought of his staff thinking about him in such a way. Like he could actually be infallible, that was amusing. Only a few of the people who worked for him really knew anything about him, and he was glad to say that Saoirse was starting to be one of them. "Fabulous and mysterious, I do like the sound of that," he chuckled. Grayson had no idea who this Eric Northman was, only that it was a TV reference of some kind, so he just cast a glance over in Saoirse's direction. Her wound still didn't look good, but he couldn't see anything dripping out from over here. "Between you and me? I'd like to think I could take him." Nothing cocky about his statement; he'd been a soldier once. Those skills were not easily forgotten.
Saoirse chuckled softy. "I'd bet on you," she agreed. "Sell tickets, too." Sure, Eric was a viking, but odds were good he'd be too distracted by onlooking dumb blondes or he'd start crying over Godric. Gray doubtlessly had the advantage. Side note, it was possible Saoirse watched too much TV. There hadn't been a lot else to do while she was in newborn-vampire hiding. God, she missed sleep.
Grayson let himself grin at that. Sure, it wasn't ever going to happen, but if this kind of thought kept Saoirse calm and distracted, at least for the moment, he was all for it. "I thank you in advance for the vote of confidence," he said, the steering wheel turning easily in his hands. They were getting close to where Saoirse lived, one of the House-owned properties in the area. The elders had offered one such place to him, when they decided to relocate him to Michigan, but Grayson liked that he could still have his own privacy in Cherryblossom Place, too.
Noting that they were close to home now, Saoirse offered another weak smile. "Thanks again," she said, her tone expressing how much she meant it. "I'll call tomorrow and let you know how I'm doing. And when I'm feeling better... I'll tell you everything. I promise." Honestly, she felt guilty for not telling him everything now. She just wasn't actually sure she was physically up to it at the present time. Oh, it would be so nice to be able to sleep.
"You are always welcome, Seer. I mean that." And Grayson did. He was not one to offer his loyalty lightly, and to her he had, regardless of the fact that they'd been sired to the same house. In truth, Grayson was fond of Saoirse, and he didn't wish to see any harm come to her - from another vampire or otherwise. So, when she promised to call him, and to tell him everything, Grayson just nodded. "I'll be waiting for your call." It didn't really matter when she called him, his cell was always in his pocket, and it would be nice to receive a call for something besides business for a change. Something good, worth picking up the phone for. Parking the car in front of the house, he asked, "Do you want me to help you inside?"
The answer to that question, of course, was an emphatic no. Saoirse did not want to have to be helped around like an invalid, and certainly not by someone whose opinion actually mattered to her. She smiled sheepishly at him as she shifted experimentally in her seat. Well, that was painful. "Want? Not so much. Need is sadly another matter completely." I am in the negative for cool points. Sigh.
Watching her shift was enough of an answer for him. A second later, the car was shut off and Grayson was moving, coming around to her side of the car and opening the door for her. No one could ever say the vampire wasn't a gentleman. "Perhaps we'll be lucky and no one else will be home?" He knew her pride was important to her, but Grayson was fully prepared to carry her if need be. That might well be the talk of their House for the next few days.
"Doubtful," Saoirse replied, but it was a nice thought. She managed to pull herself out of the car, but standing made her stomach lurch again. Suddenly, much more than Saoirse wanted sleep, she wanted a bathtub full of blood. And a straw. Yeah, that would be awesome. "This was not how I wanted to become talk of the town. I'm gonna get it when I go back to work. I might have to fashion some stakes of my own."
One of Grayson's arms went around her, holding her up as she swayed. "They'll know better than to discuss it when I'm around," he said, and that was the truth. Grayson was an approachable guy, and he was friendly with all of his staff, but he also ran a tight ship. There was no such thing as shenanigans around Grayson Mudali. "And maybe I'll help you make said stakes." He hoped it wouldn't come to that, though. Together they reached the front door and Grayson opened it, using his free hand to hold it so Saoirse could go through.
Saoirse had to laugh, though the sound was a bit weaker now that she was on her feet. "Friends in high places," she said again. "I'm cashing in all my perks at once, I guess." At least she didn't hear anyone milling about quite yet. She'd rather not face anyone until after she'd had more blood and cleaned herself up. Navi, she trusted enough to ask for help if she needed it. "I'm told I do intimidating stares well. I guess I'll find out if they work on vampires."
"It has to be good for something, right?" Grayson tried to play fair at all times, and not play favorites, but he wouldn't lie - he did have a bit of a soft spot for Saoirse. "And, if my opinion should matter to you, I would hate to be the one who feels the need to cross you, vampire or otherwise. I've no doubt that you'll make them pay." Including the one who'd done this to her. Grayson had half a mind to find out who this woman was himself, or at least find out something about her House - but at the same time, he doubted Saoirse would want him messing in her affairs, even in an attempt to help.
Grayson probably would have been correct in that assumption. While Saoirse would have been very, very tempted to get others in her house involved, she knew she could not do so without possibly endangering them, and probably just making the situation a lot worse. "That does count for a lot," she replied though, at least pleased that he thought so. Or cared enough to placate her. With the day she'd had, she'd gladly take either. Beggars could not be choosers.
He gave her a small smile, looking over the entrance to the house. Grayson hoped his opinion mattered because they were friends, and not because he was her boss. "So, I've never had an opportunity to ask you before this," he asked, guiding her towards the stairs, "but which room is yours?" He'd been here before, of course, enough to know the layout of the house, but Grayson didn't know which vampire had claimed which room.
"I... claimed the attic," Saoirse answered. "And why yes, I am kicking myself for that right now." It seemed like a good idea at the time! When she was thinking more about not bothering people with her music, and not 'hey, I might have to drag my half-dead, impaled ass up there someday!' Hindsight was a bitch. "I wish I could take my body with me when I astral project."
The attic? They had a bit of a trip ahead of them, it seemed. Grayson started up the stairs, still holding on to Saoirse, wondering how she'd fare. "Then to the attic it is," he said, knowing she'd get there one way or another, either by walking or if he had to do most of the work for her. "And I agree. Maybe then it would be easier to master." Likely it would just be harder, but Grayson was not the best at astral projection to begin with, so he didn't try often.
"It's still kind of tricky," Saoirse agreed, trying to keep herself talking. If she was talking about something else, once again, maybe she'd be thinking less about how she wanted to plunk down right on the stairs. "And if I manage to do it right, I can't be seen yet. I think a dog sensed me once though, coz he started barking like mad. Dreamwalking I'm good with. First time I flipped awareness I fell over. And there was a lot of walking into walls." And Hermione Granger oh God, is that what my hair looks like from the back? moments.
"I don't think I managed to get someone to see me for the first... ten years of trying? I remember my sire telling me I struggled with it more than most of us." Which, of course, had not been reassuring to the young vampire at all, not at the time, and certainly not when he remembered that conversation now, many years later. "I've always had better luck with dreamwalking. The flip awareness is always disorienting, but you do get used to that." He resisted to urge to chuckle at the idea of walking into walls, because they all did that. Instead he concentrated on the steps they were taking, one after the other.
It was hard to imagine Grayson struggling with anything, honestly. "I like flipping," she went on, trying not to count the steps. "It comes in handy at work. I see everything that's going on, I never keep anybody waiting..." And if some hunter came in, she saw the attack at her back coming. Not thinking about that.
Every step they took was one more step towards her room. Though she couldn't sleep, she could definitely rest, and take care of herself that way, and get some more blood in her system. What little Grayson had brought with him wouldn't be enough, and he knew that. "I've never doubted your bartending skills, Seer," he said, "and I say that not as your boss, but your friend. Though you seem so much happier when you get to perform on stage." He looked forward to those nights, truth be told, to see an entirely different side of her. The talking seemed to be helping, so Grayson stuck with that, keep her mind focused on something besides the stairs, besides the impaling.
Once again, his words resonated strongly with Saoirse, and she smiled her thanks. "I am," she admitted. "Hopefully I'll be better by Friday." She loved her job, and the people she worked with (both undead and otherwise), and she loved school - but performing was always the highlight of her week. That first performance after being in hiding so long had felt like her first breath in a year. "I'm really glad I ended up here. You're easily the best boss I've ever had, and one hell of a friend."
"I think you will be," he assured her. "I suppose it would depend on how fast the iron works its way out of your system." With enough blood, he figured it would take a few days, and they had some time before Friday rolled around. "And thank you, for the compliment. Though, at the moment, I'd much rather you see me as a friend." Hell, he considered Saoirse to be close enough to him to call him Gray, and that said something. As a boss he could be demanding, a quality Grayson was not unaware of, but he was happy to see he was doing a good job, at least in her eyes. They reached the top of the stairs, and he pushed open the door to the room at the end.
"I can do that," Saoirse agreed, unnecessarily breathing a sigh of relief once they reached the attic door. Behind it was another, shorter, curved staircase, which opened directly into the attic. Her attic, her space, the closest thing to a place she'd honestly considered hers since she had been turned. It was very Seer-like, with sheet music, sketches, and paints everywhere - not to mention a wall of books and a small museum of CDs. She had a bed purely because she liked to stretch out and read, and right now, she was damn glad for it. Most importantly (at the moment), there was a mini-fridge next to her bed. Hey, vampire or not, might as well still live like a college student. "Have I told you that you're a god yet in the past five minutes?" Saoirse asked, sagging down onto her bed, not caring one lick if she covered it in her blood.
Letting her collapse onto the bed, Grayson took a moment to take in the room. It was how he imagined, unsurprised at the CD collection or the sketches on the walls. The fact that she had a bed in here didn't surprise him - Grayson had one too, in his condo, a good place to settle in and read and look over papers. It was comfortable, and it made the place feel more like a home, rather than just where he spent some of his time. "Once or twice," he said, kneeling next to her for a second, "and I appreciate the good thoughts. Can I get you anything?" Maybe her mini-fridge held a bit of blood in it; likely she'd need more than what Grayson had on him when he picked her up.
Saoirse smiled at Grayson, even managed to reach over and squeeze his hand. "You've done more than enough. I can't even begin to tell you how thankful I am. If a human had come along before you..." Saoirse closed her eyes at the thought. She knew what she would have done. Quite possibly the same her maker had. "I would never have been able to forgive myself. It would have destroyed me." She was managing to put the pieces back together after the first time she had been shattered. She did not think she would be capable of doing it again.
He squeezed her hand back, barely noticing the cold temperature of her skin, especially since his own hands were cold as well. "Don't think along those lines," he said. "Nothing bad happened, and you're in no danger of hurting anyone here. As soon as the iron's out of your system, you'll be good as new." Or as good as vampires got, same difference. Grayson too was glad she hadn't stumbled across a human, because the results would not have been good -for the human, or for Saoirse's psyche. He had no desire to see her shattered, though he hadn't been around to see her in her first few months of this life. "You will let me know, if you need anything?"
"I'd fear the consequences if I didn't," Saoirse answered, smirking faintly. "I'll be fine here. Lots of blood, lots of rest." And lots of pain and boredom, but that went without saying. "Don't worry about me. I'm tougher than I look." And that was coming from a pierced, tattooed, highly Irish vampire. That had to count for something, right?
Grayson smiled down at Saoirse, leaning in place a chaste kiss on her cheek. "I'll be waiting to hear from you." And he was - when she was better, she was going to tell him exactly why she'd gotten staked in the first place. Getting up, Grayson would have checked the time on his phone, only to remember that it would just tell him that it was 12:04. "I should be heading back, make sure Heme hasn't gone to pot without both of us there."
If Saoirse didn't know any better, she would have sworn the warm and fuzzies were fighting desperately to make an appearance despite the general searing pain of her body. Huh. She smiled up at Grayson and nodded. "Go on. Keep the bitches in line. Save some for me, though," she winked. "I'll be back before you know it."
That earned her a geniuine laugh. "Will do, Seer." With a nod of his head, Grayson headed on out, making sure the door to her room was closed behind him. He had no doubt that, in a few days' time, Saoirse would tell him exactly what had happened to her, and if it was something the House needed to worry about. Until then, perhaps he'd keep an eye out himself, and make sure trouble didn't find its way to back to her.