Just a thought I had whilst looking through my story files. What happens to Dimitri once he's brought Rose and co. back from Spokane. I might add other little scenes between him and other characters if you like this one, not as a story just another scene but first of all I'd like to know what you all think. So read on and Review! Loves ~Fury

When we got back to the lodge I walked Rose back to her room with Janine and Vasilisa. After that Alberta called me to the room that was used as the base of operations. It was the first time in days that the room had been still and empty giving it the ominous feel operations rooms always have after the event has been resolved. The table in the middle still had maps over it and there were still pictures on the walls. There was only a lamp on but it was more than enough to see by even though it cast deep shadows everywhere. Alberta, tired but relieved, was sat slouched in one of the chairs at the table. I closed the door behind me and she looked round.

"Guardian Belikov, take a seat." She sat up and put both of her hands on the table.

I sat down knowing what was coming. I kept my hands under the table and didn't look directly at her as she began.

"Tell me exactly why you told Rose about Spokane." She began.

"Treating her like an adult challenges her behaviour. It also builds trust which is good for her because she thinks people don't trust her after she took the princess away." I explained confidently.

"Can you blame us?" Alberta asked with colour in her voice. "What she did was inexcusable. She should have known better!"

"Rose's past actions," I said defensively, "aren't in question here."

"No, yours are." She replied sagely. I hadn't been talked to like this since I was at St. Basil's. I didn't blame her for this – in her eyes I'd made an elementary mistake but I'd do exactly the same if I had a chance to go back. I think. Rose needed to be challenged but if the results of her ensuing actions meant death and destruction… was it really worth it?

"Belikov," she began. "I understand your thinking but it was still a mistake. You realise this kind of thing is seriously punishable." She arched an eyebrow at me and looked me in the eye. "I don't care what you think, what you did was wrong."

"She needs to be trusted more, she'll never grow otherwise." I said hotly.

"At the expense of her sanity?" she shot back just as savagely making me flinch. Again I saw Rose in that house barely clinging onto her self, the feral look in her eyes when she contemplated killing us too, her shaking in my arms and her later tears.

"But I didn't tell Mason." I said quietly needing to defend myself even though I wasn't the one hurting. I felt guilty for it but I couldn't recall the words.

"No you didn't." she sighed. "Nor did you irrationally go after him. True you couldn't foresee this but there are some things, no matter how much we trust her, that she should not be told."

"What's going to happen to her?" it would be just too generous if Rose got let off. True Mason's actions had been his own but the way the system would see it was that she'd told him making it her fault and I'd told her making me even more responsible but still I half expected her to get a punishment.

"Nothing. She's learnt her lesson and lost a friend. If anything she'll go down as a hero." I snorted disgusted. There were no heroics in what she'd just done. Not many people would see it like that but I knew her. She hadn't gone looking for an adventure or the recognition. She just did what she had to. "She'll get time to recover. They all will. Don't let her train until she is better."

"I won't. I'll talk to her and help her get through this."

"Good. As for you." She said pointedly. I sat there and gulped knowing my punishment was going to be harsh. I deserved no less. My palms began sweating. "You're not getting punished either."

My head snapped back up in disbelief. This had to be wrong surely. Surely they had to have misread my involvement in all this. I was supposed to get the harshest punishment of all. I wanted to get punished or have my chances of being Vasilisa's guardian slashed. I deserved that much for what I had done to Rose and what had subsequently been allowed to happen to Mason. All of them would get better but it would take time. All of them apart from Mason. He'd never walk this world again.

"You've seen the effect of your actions. People you are responsible for were put in danger and are suffering which is punishment enough. Look around." She said. "Really take a good look around this room."

I did. My hands were resting on maps that detailed the immediate area and the places that had been searched by guardians hoping to find the missing students. The one on the top near Alberta was of Spokane and the house where they had been found was marked out in angry red pen. Mobile phones and a land line were scattered over everything on the table. There was even a coffee mug where Alberta had been sat.

I was sat in the chair where Ellen Kirova had been sat in a panic. Janine hadn't been much better off but had composed herself better and stood at the head of the table. On the wall opposite where I was now sat were pictures of Mia, Eddie, Christian, Rose and Mason for the guardians who didn't know what they looked like. We'd questioned Vasilisa on the couch in the corner where left over bits of food and mugs sat on the table next to it.

Fear and determination were still evident in the air. We'd all been a buzz of activity and that adrenalin had filled the air. The only calm place had been where Janine slept on the same sofa were the Princess had been questioned. Now though the air was still and the emotions were slowly bleeding out becoming as relieved as we all were.

Disappointment surrounded Alberta even though she was just as relieved as me. She looked sad too, a little angry still. When I'd first told her that I'd told Rose about Spokane she'd almost flipped and shouted at me but had known it wasn't the time. Now that it was all resolved and her anger had subsided brought down by the tragedy she simply looked at me with her sad gray eyes.

"Your fault, Dimitri." she stood up and walked out the room without sparing any of my feelings.

Please R&R!

Vampire Academy and all it's characters belong to Richelle Mead... and I am incredibly jealous that I didn't think of it first.