It took Ivy nearly an hour to find a doctor willing to treat me, even though the coven had officially removed my shunning. Most witches still did not want to be seen around a known black witch and demon contractor. Ivy had finally started calm down after finding me collapsed in heap on our kitchen floor and rushed my semi-conscious ass to the nearest hospital, her eyes were starting to return to their natural brown now that a doctor was checking over my battered and bruised body. The doctor poked and prodded me for a few moments before declaring that I should be admitted and have a few tests done.

I hated hospitals they brought back too many bad memories both from my illness as a child and more recent injures such as having my aura taken by a baby banshee. My attempts to protest came out as a breath mumbles.

"Shh, Rachel. You're safe." soothed the raven haired living vampire stroking my cheek affectionately. Normally I would be angry at her for the intimate contacted but it seemed to calm me and make me feel safe. Damn pheromones I thought as unconsciousness finally claimed me.

Ivy's angry voice woke me; I opened my eyes and started to get up to investigate when I noticed that I had been strapped to a hospital bed with soft restraints. I pulled against them panicking but they did not budge so I concentrated on listening to the argument outside my door.

"She's dangerous! I had to restrain her for the safety of the patients on this floor!" a male voice yelled. I winced at the assumption that I would hurt other patients in hospital like a savage monster.

"You will remove them, cookie or I'll rip them off myself." replied Ivy in her "I am sex walking" voice. Shit this was bad, last time I heard her pull that voice it had nearly got Glenn and I killed after I had sprung his involvement in a case on her.

"No! I will not have her loose in my hospital" said the male voice filled with scorn.

I pulled on the restraints again with more effort this time; someone had to stop ivy from ripping the man's throat out, someone needed to calm Ivy down before she did something that would make her hate herself later. "Damn hospitals" I swore under my breath before pain bloomed up my arms forcing a strangled scream out of me. Ivy was at my side in a second pushing gently me down into the bed.

"Rachel you need to stay still, don't move" said Ivy concern evident in her voice. Her brown eye watched me for a moment as If deciding if I should be trust to listen before she removed her hands from my shoulders.

"Rachel what happened? I found you in a broken heap on the floor. Who did this to you?"

"Weres" I croaked "at least four they jumped the moment I got home" I tried to sit up slightly so I could check myself over but Ivy's restraining hands held me in place.

"I said stay still Rachel, you're in pretty bad shape" scolded Ivy before removing her hands again.

Annoyed at being babied I started to sit up again but stopped when Ivy glared at me, her eye were nearly black, she was pissed either at me for ignoring her warning or at the doctors treatment of me so I made the wise decision not to push her, not now anyway. I lay back and took in my surroundings instead and noticed that I had four pain amulet dangling from my neck, shit now wonder Ivy was pissed I must be barely functional if I could feel enough pain to cause me to scream with those round my neck. All the energy seemed to seep out of me and I drifted back to black.

This time when I woke up it was because of the pain running through my entire body, I had to grit my teeth to stop another cry from passing my lips. I glanced down, the pain amulets where still there but they must be running out of juice or the pain had somehow gotten worse, tears pricked my eyes as I fought to stay in control. A hand reached out to wipe them away and I turned to see Ivy's face marred with worry.

"It going to fine, I called a nurse they'll be here soon to help you with the pain" said Ivy as she stroked my face. I tried to reach out and touch her sad face but the restrains stopped me, I glared baneful at them wishing the piece of silver on my wrist was gone so I could use my magic to get rid of them. Seeing me glare at the restrains, Ivy gave me a sad smile before saying "I tried to get them to remove them, I even ripped the last pair off but the bastard of a doctor said he would refuse to treat you if you were not restrained, I am sorry"

"Not your fault" I panted, why did Ivy always have to blame herself for every bad thing that happened to me whether she caused it or not.

"I should have been there. I should have left Jenks there when I went on my run" she said my roommate's voice devoid of emotion.

"NO! It's not your fault! " I shouted at her. I hated it when she hurt; god knows I caused my fair share of pain, I had strung her along for years before she decide to finally move on but not before planting a mind blowing kiss that was still haunting my dreams. I loved Ivy but not the way she wanted me to.

"Hello again " I jumped at the voice and wincing in pain, the voice belonged to a short blonde haired woman in her late 20's, the nurse I assumed. "Good, she's finally woken up; I will let the doctor know. Sorry about earlier he forgets sometimes how protective a vampire's instincts can make them when their shadows are hurt. "

"I am not. She's not uh I mean I am not her shadow, we're friends" The nurse nodded along as I breathlessly stammered an explanation but her knowing smile made me think It was wasted.

" It's nothing to be ashamed off. Now how bad is the pain?"

"I hurt a bit but I have had worse" I rasped regretting my words when Ivy stiffened next to me and her hand dropped from my face no doubt remember the many times I had nearly died.

The nurse frowned "The pain amulets should have removed any discomfort until the doctor puts you in a caste" The nurse leaned over, lifting the amulets to inspect them before her mouth dropped open and she looked at me with sympathy.

"That man, that cruel stupid man" she ranted catching Ivy and I by surprise "Only one of the amulets is invoked" she explained when she noticed my and Ivy confused looks.

"I am so sorry; you must be in a lot of pain" She pulled out a finger stick and invoked the rest of the amulets, I sighed in relief as the pain faded away.

"Thanks" I giggled lack of pain making me giddy.

"Don't worry about it" The blonde said as she left.

With her gone I turned to Ivy not in least bit shocked to see that her eyes were completely black with rage. Turn take the bastard.

"Ivy?" I called hoping to snap her out of it. "Ivy!"

"What" she snapped, she sighed "Sorry dear heart, what is it?"

My heart beat faster at the use of her loving nickname for me, I had not heard her call me that since she told me she was moving on and I was confused by how much I missed her using it. Ivy must misunderstood my confusion because she said apologised again.

"Don't do anything stupid Ivy, he's just scared" I said able to talk normal now I was no longer fighting not to cry. She stared into my eyes a moment before her returned to normal and she relaxed.

"You are too understanding Rachel, he hurt you caused you to feel unnecessary pain because some fooling prejudice"

"Ivy I know but if you hurt him I'll be the one blamed and then things will get ever worse"

"Fine but I he does anything else"

"Where's Jenks, I am surprised he is not here laughing at me?" I joked hoping to move things to a lighter subject. Ivy chuckled slightly and I smiled at the lovely sound, letting myself relax as the tension disappeared from the air.

"The pixy went to the hospital gift shop after they said you would be ok; he looked like a kid in a candy store when he saw that they had a joke charms section so watch out" warned Ivy.

"Oh" was all I said because a breathtaking smile had spread across her face and I had distracted me, not in the oh god she's hot way but in the great she looks happy now way. I couldn't be in love with her, she was my best friend and roommate someone I cared about, who I would die for in a heartbeat, she was my home and I used her as my rock my fixed point that made my world make sense maybe I was her pheromone making me react. Shit that sound flimsy even to me, I was injured so was unattractive to her instincts in all but there need to protect, could I be...

"Rachel, stop" warned Ivy having no doubt smelt my arousal.

"Sorry Tired, I was daydreaming" I lied

"Get some sleep Rachel; I will wake you when the doctor comes to put on your castes"

"Ok" I closed my eyes "Ivy?"

"Yes dear heart?"

"Thanks for staying with me" I said meaning it.

"Its fine but would it too much to ask for you not to scare me like that again"

"I'll try" I heard her sigh yet again

"Ivy?"

"Yes Rachel"

"Don't bite the doctor" I said smiling sleepily

"Go to sleep Rachel"