I was sitting in the car with Sydney, as she told me about how Rose had talked to her about what she called my 'Zen Life Lessons,' when my phone rang yet again in my pocket. I had ignored it at first, not wanting to be rude. But, it was insistent, so I pulled it out,
"Sorry." I said to her and she nodded in understanding.
I looked at the caller I.D, and a small seed of worry buried itself inside my chest,
Guardian Sampson
My phone told me, Rose had been guarding some moroi girls this afternoon with him.
"Belikov." I said, opening it up.
Belikov, it's Sampson, listen…Rose has been hurt. We were ambushed a couple hours after we left Court. She was near guard and she took the worst of it.
The seed in my chest bloomed as worry built within me, "How bad is it?" I asked.
I don't know yet. From what I saw when I was behind her to when I was able to get to her wasn't great, but it wasn't deadly. She took a hit to her ribs when she jumped in front of Mia, and there's a semi-deep gash in the top of her thigh, and a pretty bad abrasion on her left temple. The Queen is away and won't be able to heal her, I thought I should let you know.
"Thank you, I'll be there soon." I said quietly, and hung up the phone, speeding up slightly.
"What is it?" Sydney asked from beside me.
"Rose's been hurt. She was out guarding some moroi and they were ambushed. I'm going to have to drop you off, and run, I'm sorry."
"No. Don't worry about it. I understand." She replied softly and I nodded, a small bubble of guilt was building within me. Rose was hurt, and I wasn't there. But, I also knew, Rose could take care of herself, and I couldn't be there all the time.
I dropped Sydney off quickly, and carefully pressed the speed limit to Court and the infirmary where Rose was.
"Rose Hathaway?" I asked, the receptionist, she nodded,
"They're treating her now, they're having some trouble." The nurse sighed. "She's stubborn."
I shook my head exasperated.
"Let me help." I replied, "I should be able to get her to cooperate."
The nurse nodded,
"Room #408, I'll let them know you're coming."
I nodded, "Thank you," then walked through the hallways quickly until I found her room.
Rose was standing facing the doctor, she looked toward me and her eyes brightened slightly. I immediately searched her body, and saw what someone else probably wouldn't. She was shifted slightly, sitting on the bed, so that she didn't have much weight on her left leg. Her arm was protecting her right ribs, the side of her head, and down the side of her cheek was coated lightly with dried blood.
I walked in and the doctor nodded to me.
"Hi." I spoke gently, running my fingers over her cheek, "What is this I hear about you refusing treatment?" I asked meeting her eyes.
She nodded sheepishly, "I'm fine."
"Mhm." I said, sarcastically.
The doctor walked to over to me and I looked over at him, he handed me a gown, and gave me a small smile,
"Good Luck." He said quietly, "If you get her to cooperate, just press that button."
I nodded and he left, I looked down to Rose. I put my hand on her shoulder and pressed her back into a laying position.
She groaned, "Dimitri, please don't do this. I hate doctors."
"I know." I replied, "Sorry, Roza."
"Nooo." She moaned, I reached forward and she covered the button of her jeans, so I simply moved her hands to her sides. I rest my hands on either side of her body and leaned over her, until my face was inches from hers,
"You know," I whispered, "They do make hospital beds with restraints."
Her eyes widened, "You wouldn't."
I could see the pain in her eyes though, so that furthered my choice, I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers, and she closed her eyes, and relaxed ever so slightly,
"I would." I said softly.
She didn't argue this time, and I pulled back for a few moments and unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans. I hooked my fingers on the inside of the denim, and pulled them down,
"Alright. Hold Still." I said, I wrapped my arm around the inside of her leg and slowly pulled her jeans away from the wound. I looked up, her face was blank, but I knew her well,
"Breathe Roza. I know it hurts, you don't need to hide it from me." It was almost done, I pulled the fabric away completely and she let out a strangled breath,
"Ow."
I played with the waistband of her panties with my fingers, and she shivered. I then, pushed up her shirt, I sighed in disdain when I saw the dark ugly bruise coming in on her ribs, I hoped she hadn't broken any. When I saw the bruise, I decided, I wasn't going to be pulling her arms over her head, I didn't want to cause any more damage, I looked in the cabinets for a moment, and found a pair of scissors. I walked back over to her, and she sighed,
"Damn…I liked this shirt."
I leaned down close to her again, until my lips were close to her ear,
"Personally, I think you look better without it."
She smiled when I pulled away, and I began to cut at her shirt,
"Okay…but something tells me, you wouldn't like it much if I walked around Court topless."
I shot her a possessive look and she smiled victoriously. "That's what I thought."
"Oh Roza." I sighed, and reached under her, her face contorted in pain for a moment,
"Sorry Sweetheart," I whispered, as I –gently as I could- unclasped her bra, she sighed as the pressure on her ribs lightened, I slid the straps from her arms, exposing her chest to me. I met her eyes and she smiled and I could see she was thinking what I was,
"That won't be happening until you can raise your arm over your head, understand me?"
She groaned, "Not fair, Comrade." I laughed at her distraught face.
"I bet I can make it happen before then." She challenged, meeting my eyes.
"Yeah? Good luck with that." I smiled down at her, and she nodded, and I could see the determination in her eyes, I laughed again.
"I don't know what I'm going to do with you." I replied, picking up the hospital gown, she went to stand, and I pressed her back into a lying position.
"Comrade, I can stand…" She said quietly.
"No, you can't, and you won't. End of discussion." I said, giving her a look, she gave in, closing her eyes, I could see how exhausted she was.
"You know…I'm not that hurt."
"Rose, you might have a broken rib, a concussion, and you might need stitches." I said, exasperated.
"It could be worse." She shrugged, and I could saw a look of sheer pain cross her face.
"That's what I thought." I replied, being careful as I dressed her, then pressed the button, the doctor was there in minutes, and, I was right on most aspects about her injuries. She had a concussion, and she needed stitches, luckily she only had two cracked ribs, none broken. He said she would need to be on bed rest, at least for the next 5 days.
"No w-" She began to protest.
I covered her mouth with my hand, "Thank you doctor." I replied. The doctor shook his head smiling, as Rose tried to talk through my hand.
As soon as he was gone, I pulled my hand away, "I won't stay in bed for five days." She said stubbornly.
"Yes. You will." I said, looking at her dangerously, daring her to challenge me.
"Not fair, Comrade." She said, "I can't fight you…right now."
"Exactly." I replied, smiling. I stripped myself of my duster and wrapped her in it, before picking her up, this time she didn't argue as I carried her out of the hospital to the car.
I was going to be keeping Rose in bed for five days…and knowing Rose, who could hardly sit still for more than an hour if she didn't have to…
I sighed…
This is going to be a long week.