DISCLAIMER: I do not own Les Mis!

Edited: 7/25

Marius sobbed over her body, his hot tears fell onto her face as he stroked her jaw with his thumb. He was in disbelief, how dare she leave him behind? The agony he felt was like a knife. He lost his best friend, as the thought settled in his mind his pain intensified, the knife twisting and turning further into his body. The blade was burned his chest, it was as if someone was continuously applying pressure on it. Pressing harder and harder with each passing second. How could she? Marius kept repeating in his head. She knows how much I'm going to miss her. Marius froze, between his sobs he heard something. Ever so slightly he heard inconsistent, soft, rapid breaths. She's alive. She could still be saved, hope nested inside his heart, but he had no time to loose. He compressed her gunshot with his shirt tighter.

"Somebody! I need help, I need someone to take her from here. She's badly wounded, somebody please help… She's my best friend." Marius called desperately to the clusters of students watching him. He looked frantically around for someone to volunteer. He met multiple gazes of people who either turned back or shook their heads. Leaving the barricade would be dangerous and none of these young men wanted to risk their lives any further.

"Please…" Marius said with tears in his eyes, he couldn't let her die.

Anger slipped over him, "Damn it! She's your friend too!" He yelled at them, spitting venom from his words, "She's dying, and one of you bastards better grow a pair or-"

"I'll take her."

Marius looked up, the slightly hung over Grantaire was starring down to him. "Oh, god, thank you." Marius said with a crackling voice from crying. A spell of relief cast over him, Grantaire may not be the most pure among them-by far-, but Marius knew he would take care of her. His dear, sweet friend.

"Call for a doctor the second you're safe." Marius instructed while placing her in Grantaire's arms.

"It's Eponine, right?"

"'Ponine, yes. Eponine." Marius breathed, "Take care of her, or I'll beat the shit out of you."

Grantaire nodded with a shocked expression, "Noted." He said, genuinely terrified by his dangerous tone. Marius brushed the wisps of hair out of Eponine's face and kissed her on the forehead. He looked at Grantaire and said "Go while it's still light. Grantaire, I can't thank you enough."

"She'll live." The doctor said examining the unconscious Eponine. Grantaire had gotten Eponine safely to his flat. It was in the poorer part of Paris, but to him he was lucky to have a cot to lay his head on. He had no furniture besides a small writing desk and a bed. It was dingy looking, but him being a poor university student didn't mind it much. Because he was in a money pinch he couldn't afford the best doctor. He scrapped together money he had saved up for rent and planned on selling some of the little items he owned, hoping Marius would help replenish his savings.

"What did you say happened again boy?" The doctors eyes squinted in suspicion.

"My sister, she tried to commit suicide. Poor thing." Grantaire made up the lie to draw thoughts of the revolution away from the old man.

"She's very fortunate, surprisingly nothing hit any of her vital organs. I managed to take all the shards of the bullet out. Rinse the wound everyday, wash the bandage and let it dry before each use." He said and then held out his hand. He wanted payment.

"Here." Grantaire said and gave him ten francs.

The doctor spat, "do you think that's enough for what I did? A decent man would pay me triple this, boy." he sneered.

"I'm sorry that's all I have for now. I'm-we're very poor, it's all I can afford for now without starving." He said with his hands in his pockets.

"Fine. But, remember my kindness, boy."

Grantaire accepted the conditions and saw the doctor off, thanking him.

Grantaire sat at the edge of his cot, the cushions sank down. Eponine would soon be waking up, though he wished she would stay peacefully resting longer. He knew that when she woke up it wouldn't be pleasant, the most excruciating pain would linger for weeks before it lessened. The only fix he knew for that was a drink, which was no problem for him. Grantaire sighed and pulled the thickest blanket he owned over Eponine's shoulders. That night he slept on the floor next to her.

The next few days became routine for him, he washed her wound and bandages then gingerly wrapped them back around her torso. Eponine seemed so deep in rest that he began to wonder how long it would take for her to rouse. Grantaire's stomach growled, he had spend his last francs on the doctor for Eponine and his stomach was hungry for more than water and bits of stale bread. He was going hungry for a girl be barely knew. Grantaire thought of the way Marius acted about her. Marius was in pieces because he thought this girl had died, I'm getting curiouser just daydreaming about what kind of person she is...He peered at her face, he thought she was quite a beauty.

A/N: I know, not the best first chapter (even after my slight editing), but read forth and enjoy! And I love reviews so, please review! :)