Hey guys! I just updated Chapter One so if you haven't seen the update look it up before reading this chapter! I know I didn't mention Eddie at all and everything but I just wanted a small chapter to talk about Dimitri, Lissa, and Christian. I just wanted to show they are still there too. I just wanted to show kind of what has been going on since the Last Sacrifice... I promise there will be more action and Eddie coming up!


The next few hours I drifted in and out of consciousness. The headache seemed to get worse and worse as time went by. I couldn't seem to do anything about it. My doctor had given me something to help but it didn't. If anything I think it just made things worse. I couldn't even remember the doctor's name. She had told me numerous times throughout the day, but it seemed to slip from my thoughts. Sometime after the doctor came in for the latest checkup, someone entered the room. The doctor had decided to put me on sedatives for the pain, so I was starting to feel sleepy.

"Roza." The figured sighed with relief.

"My nurse returns." I said sleepily.

Dimitri. He looked as gorgeous as ever. His chin length brown hair was loose around his face. Surprisingly he was wearing a brown duster. Deep worry lines were etched into his face. They seemed to lessen while he studied me from the doorway. Dimitri walked into the room, and sat down in the chair Eddie sat in before. He scooted the chair closer to the head of the bed, when I realized that I couldn't move my head much to look at him.

"How do you feel?" He asked gently, taking my hand in his.

"Sleepy." I replied. He smiled at the comment.

"I see." His grin widened as he spoke the next words. "What about hungry?"

I groaned. "I wish they would allow me to eat." If I was able to move I would have stolen food from one of the other patients.

"Soon." He stated.

"Not fast enough." I sighed. "How long until I can leave here?"

"You think you are capable of leaving here in this condition?" My doctor asked walking into the room.

"What is my condition?"

"Your injuries are almost completely healed. You were quite lucky. I recommend staying here and taking it easy until you can move again. I would like to keep an eye on your stitches as well. I do not want to have you rip them and cause more damage." She continued to speak but I had stopped listening. My mind kept replaying, "You were quite lucky.", in my head.

"I can't stay here." I stated. I noticed her holding an IV tube and a needle. She was probably talking about something I should have been listening too. Especially since I hate needles. Tattoo needles were fine though.

"Did you not just here what I mentioned? It's not safe—" I had to cut her off before she continued.

"I understand the risks and everything. I just can't stay here. I know I would need to be careful but I am fine otherwise right? I mean, you said I am almost healed. I know I still have stitches and I would need to watch that too, but I have been shot and I didn't need to stay here then. So why now?" I felt Dimitri's hands tighten around mine, when I mentioned the shooting. I would not mention to her that I could barely move let alone walk.

"Your injuries then were minor compared to these." She began, but again I cut her off.

"Minor? I was shot. Very close to the heart I might add. Right now, I have soreness everywhere. Stitches, and bruises are not worth staying here for. I had broken bones. I had internal bleeding. I'm fine now. It's not like this is the first time I have been injured. Being a Dhampir, it kind of comes with the job description. I've been to the clinic back at St. Vladimir's more than I could count. Some were definitely worse injuries than others." I retorted, thinking back to Natalie and Victor.

"I agree with your statements. I just don't recommend it." She stated crisply. I knew I was frustrating her, but I had my reasons.

"Roza." Dimitri warned. I decided to push further because I knew I was pushing the right buttons.

"I agree with your statements. I just don't recommend it." I repeated her words, throwing them back at her. Her face hardened and her voice was flat and monotone when she spoke again.

"I'll get your release papers." I knew she only wanted me out now. I knew I was being immature but I just couldn't stay here. She retreated swiftly from the room, leaving me alone with Dimitri and his disapproving look.

"Why? Why Roza?" He murmured as he shook his head.

"You know how much I hate not being up and moving. Everything is sore. Everything hurts. But I would rather be in our room, rather than here. Plus I do not want to see any more needles or liquids. I need real food. I need to help Lissa. I need to figure out what happened that night at Lehigh. I need to guard Lissa. And I can't do any of that staying here." I rambled on as Dimitri listened quietly.

"I wish for once you would think about your own health and life before thinking about others." Dimitri sighed.

"That's one of the things we have in common." I smirked.

"It is. It's also one of the many things I love about you." Dimitri stated meeting my gaze. His look made chills run down my spine. Nothing seemed to let me get used to those powerful eyes. "I just want my Roza to stay safe in the process."

"I will try." I grinned. I could only hope that he took it jokingly. I didn't want him to hear the true meaning. But like always he was able to understand and guess my thoughts. He leaned over and brushed his lips across the skin on my forehead lightly.

"That's all I could hope for." Dimitri murmured in my ear before sitting back in his chair. He took my hand in his once more. We remained quiet for a few moments, staring at each other, before something caught his eye and he glanced at the door.

"Rose!" My head whipped around so fast, I didn't even register the pain. I didn't even know I could move my head that fast on a normal day, let alone on a day like today. Lissa stood in the doorway wide-eyed for a moment, before running over to me. Christian was following close behind. Guardians now lined the walls in the hallway just outside my door and two stood inside the edge of the door.

"Hey, Liss." I croaked. The universe has a sick sense of humor. Of all the times for my voice to crack it would be in front of my spirit-wielding best friend.

"You're up! Eddie said so, but I didn't believe it! Not until I saw you! I would have been here sooner but I was at a conference!" Lissa babbled wrapping her arms around me.

"Yeah, and I am getting released today." I stated happily.

"What? They are allowing you back out into the world? Is there something wrong with the world, that they would let Rose Hathaway loose?" Christian smirked.

"Funny. I was kind of thinking the same thing about you." I grinned.

"Are you okay? I mean I could heal you if you need it. Just a little. I mean just so you could move—" Lissa started to say but I cut her off.

"Liss, you are not going to use your magic on me. Regardless of how simple it is. That's all this is now, simple. I am fine. I just want to leave so I don't stay here. I doubt they will let me guard you this soon, anyways. I don't have my full strength yet." I comforted.

"Or any strength." Christian muttered. Which I ignored when the doctor came back in.

"Here are you papers. Complete and sign them. Then you may leave Miss Hathaway." The doctor said handing me the papers. She bowed formally to Lissa before hurrying out the door.

"I still can't get used to that." Lissa mumbled.

"No guardian title? Wow. You must have really pissed her off." Christian smirked at the comment.

"Rose." Lissa groaned. "You couldn't just leave her alone? You know she is only trying to help. And she is the best doctor here. I made sure." She rubbed her hand on her forehead.

"Sorry Liss. You know I hate hospitals." I sighed. " Let's just help me get out of here. Okay, question one." I said looking over the papers.

Trying to leave the hospital was harder than I thought. I actually figured they would want me out quickly. My doctor was coincidentally with another patient and the desk clerk didn't believe I was allowed to leave. She was clearly not fond of working in the medical field and had no experience in it. I probably knew more about first aid than she did. The only thing that got me out of there was Lissa's influence.

Most of the next week I spent time either following Lissa to meetings or staying in my room. Any real guarding situations I had to sit out of. They allowed me into the meetings that involved the guardian age laws and the enforcement of guardians into the field. I was glad that there were enough members of the council that didn't want to do either, but I had a feeling that wasn't going to stop the enforcers.

"I don't think I can hold them off much longer." Lissa stated walking back with me to our housing. "I mean I just don't see how we can keep them quiet much longer. Their group is widening as the Moroi are becoming more frantic. I just don't see how we can hold them off without the numbers."

"I know you'll do the right thing, Liss." I did. I believed she could handle this. If anyone could, she would be able to. Guardians flanked us all around, for protection, but I felt like we couldn't talk in private.

"I don't see how you have so much faith in me. I keep screwing up." She sighed.

"I know you can handle this. You have better judgment then most of the Moroi. You know how to talk to them, you know how to connect with them on levels, no one even knows about. I trust your judgment. I believe in you." I comforted.

"I agree with Rose." Christian said catching up with us. "This, as you know, is something I just don't do." He was walking on Lissa's left and took her hand as they walked. "You can do this."

I could tell Lissa was still uncertain but I could tell she trusted Christian. She trusted me. I wish I could still read her emotions but I felt she was satisfied with our encouragement. I just hoped that it would stay that way.