A/N Wow, this story is getting a better response than I thought it would. I don't often write action-y things like chapter one, so I was a little unsure about posting it. I'm so happy everyone's enjoying it! Or at least adding it to their favorites.

Anyway, I am by no means knowledgeable about medical things. If it seems like I'm making them act worse than their injuries call for and it bothers anyone, let me know. A note on the seal: there was one part of the manga when Chrno apparently opened it himself (I don't mean in San Francisco, I'm talking about when Larajie/Raleigh took Azmaria from the lake). Anyway, it didn't really seem to bother Chrno (though Rosette wasn't happy) and I wondered at that.

I'm rambling. Wait, is it rambling if you're really addressing something? meh, I guess I just like to type. I should really stop. Have fun reading!

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Chrno woke slowly, gradually becoming aware of the painful state his body was in. There wasn't an inch of him that didn't hurt. Dazed, he lay unmoving, his eyes staring up at the lightening sky. Few coherent thoughts filtered through his hazy mind, most of them confused. Why did he hurt so badly? Where had Rosette gone? Did she get that worm demon? Where was she?

Struggling to raise himself, he hissed in pain. He glanced down at himself, noting vaguely that he had done some heavy bleeding during the night, and his leg was lying at an odd angle. His clothes were badly torn as well.

"That's...when did that happen?" he glanced around, taking in his surroundings. The old abandoned house was in worse shape than it had been the night before, several gaping holes were now punched through its side. A nearby tree had been uprooted, and the ground all around them had been stirred up. Rosette lay crumpled in the dirt a little way away.

Chrno froze in horror.

Rosette lay on her face, one arm draped over the back of her head. The blue of her habit was marred by large, dark stains.

"Ro...Rosette!" he panicked, trying to climb to his feet and go to her. His leg buckled painfully beneath him and he collapsed, clutching at his wounded side. With a wince he fingered the jagged edge showing through a tear in his coat, a vague memory of his broken ammunition box coming to his mind. This mission had definitely not gone well.

Groaning, the demon began crawling toward his contractor, his movements becoming shakier as he went. A sudden weakness overtook him, but he ignored it, instead reaching out to touch her blood-stained clothes.

"Rosette?" he called softly, almost afraid to turn her over. He couldn't hear the pocketwatch...

Hesitantly he grasped her shoulder, looking away as he gently flipped her over. If she were dead...he wasn't sure he could handle seeing her like that. Not yet. Still turned away, he bent over her, cocking a pointed ear close to her chest.

Ticktickticktickticktick...

Chrno's head spun to face Rosette, and he nearly sobbed in relief as her eyes fluttered slightly, a flash of blue trying to focus on his face. "Wurzit..." she mumbled thickly. Chrno smoothed her bangs from her face, his eyes scanning her body for outward injuries. She had a nasty gash on her forehead, and it had bled down one side of her face. He couldn't see her middle, though that's where most of the blood seemed to be coming from.

"I don't know." he said absently, answering the question she'd been trying to get out. "It's gone, I guess. I'm surprised it didn't eat us..." Rosette mumbled again, her eyes sliding closed. "Rosette, listen to me!" gently, he took her face in his hands, focusing her attention on himself. "We need to get out of here. If that thing shows up again..." he trailed off, his mind racing. How could they get out of there? He would have gladly carried her back, as far as they were from the Order, had they not been so beaten up. Granted, he was a little better, due to the astral energy slowly seeping through the seal his contractor carried. Already his head had cleared a little and he was not shaking anymore. He could only imagine how bad off he'd been before.

His thoughts returned to the problem at hand, getting back to the convent. If he carried her, it would be hard on both of them. He was willing to risk himself, but judging from the general look of her, being moved would be hard on Rosette. Chrno looked down at her, her face cold between his palms. She was pale, a thin film of sweat beading upon her brow. He felt himself start to panic a little, and it occurred to him that he couldn't really tell the full extent of her injuries by just looking at her. Something could be very, very wrong. What if she were bleeding internally or her back was broken? He bent over her, holding her against himself, trying desperately to calm himself and just think for a moment.

The pocketwatch bumped against his chest.

Maybe...

Hesitation pulled at him, and he buried his face against her neck, reluctant to acknowledge the metal barrier between them. He could easily heal her, at least enough to ensure that she would be alright to be moved. But...how much would that take from her? A day? A week? He had no idea how it would measure out. Granted, the last time he had opened the seal, he'd healed her just a little and set up a barrier, but...he'd not had time to consider it then.

Did he really have time to now? He didn't know...and it frightened him.

"Rosette?" she didn't answer, but her shallow breath wafted through the hair at the top of his head. It was reassuring, in a way. Hesitantly, Chrno pulled away from her, letting his fingers run along the chain that hung from her neck. He carefully took the watch into both hands, peering into its face. There were years there. With a certain sense of self-loathing, he pulled at it, and the seal snapped open with a sharp click.

Astral energy flowed into him, beautifully empowering in its purity. He pushed it away, accepting just enough that he felt his legion become active as his leg began to mend itself. Putting all of his concentration into the action, he firmly planted his hands against Rosette's chest, determined to redirect that energy into her. Slowly, her body began to regenerate, the wound on her head sealing itself. She curled in on herself, clutching the wound on her stomach. He watched her worriedly, wondering how long he should let it continue. Only a moment passed before Chrno pulled away from her, a momentary surge of Astral energy washing over him before he snapped the pocketwatch closed, restoring the seal.

The energy cut off almost instantly, leaving him cold, but not as drained as he'd been. He bent over Rosette again, calling her name softly. She groaned in response. It was good enough, for the time being. Shakily, Chrno stood, testing the feel of his weight on his leg. It supported him this time, albeit painfully. Carefully, he pulled Rosette up, taking a moment to situate her draped over his back. It wasn't the easiest way to carry her, given the height difference. He winced as he moved, the added weight sending a flash of pain through his leg at each step. His side he couldn't seem to feel anymore. A blessing, perhaps, as Rosette's leg bumped it constantly as he walked.

The going became easier once he gained the road, the level ground easing the jostling of his burden. In the distance something glowed faintly through the night, a streetlight perhaps. He sighed, wincing as he hitched her a little higher on his back.

"It's been a long time since I've carried you, Rosette..." he said, as the exorcist mumbled unintelligibly. Chrno felt himself smile faintly, a little lost in his thoughts. "I think the circumstances are a little better this time around, though..." Joshua came to his mind, and that terrible night years before. He hated that it took something going wrong like this for him to get to hold her. He wouldn't dare even try otherwise. There was always something to stop him.

A chuckle escaped him as he turned to give her a reassuring smile. Her chin was propped on his shoulder. "You're going to kill me for all of this, aren't you?" it would be just like her. He could work himself to exhaustion for Rosette, and have nothing to show for it but a knot on the head. Not that he minded, of course. Once in a while she would give him a show of gratitude, telling him that she knew what he did for her and that she loved him for it. He was like a brother to Rosette. After Joshua had been taken she had clung to him, and it was that more than any contract that made them what they were. They were all that each other had, and they were inseparable.

Yet somehow, being a brother to her wasn't enough for Chrno anymore.

Rosette shifted uncomfortably against him, saying something he couldn't quite understand. Probably, it was along the lines of "You deserve it, you idiot." He looked at her again. Blearily she opened her eyes to look at him. For a moment she seemed confused. It soon passed, however, and a contented look passed over her face as she closed her eyes again.

"Chrno..." the demon frowned. It was hard to see her like that: hurting but comforted by his presence. It was hard because he felt partially responsible. If he hadn't been hurt he could have protected her...

Holding her legs a little tighter to his sides, he picked up his pace. "I'll take care of you, Rosette. Don't worry, you're going to be okay..."