Brigid jolted awake with a gasp as pain shot through her from her stomach. As she went to touch it a hand stopped her.

"Easy liefje. You're badly injured but healing."

Turning her head, she recognized the voice.

"Tommy..."

He could see the mix of emotions playing in her brown eye's before settling on wariness and distrust.

"Where am I? How did I get here with you?"

"What do you remember Brigid?"

Her eye's widen.

"How do you know my name?"

"Roman."

"Roman?"

Then memories came rushing back.

*Matt and Nero wanting her to join them. Yet again. Roman coming to her aid. Nero appearing behind Roman. Her telling him to drop. Nero tripping and stabbing her. She never felt so cold...*

"Roman brought me here? Why?"

Aleister sighed softly.

"Because he knew I could help."

"Where is he?"

He looked at her sadly.

"I will not hurt you liefje."

"Not saying you would 'Tommy'."

He couldn't help but flinch slightly at the way she said that name as he cleared his throat.

"About what happened that night. I must apologize for what transpired. It was not my intent to upset you. I can be very sexual and the feel of you against me when we danced and when we talked was refreshing. I couldn't take my eye's off of you in case I blinked and you disappeared."

She quirked an eyebrow.

"You? Sexual? Never would have guessed."

He took a breath at the heavy sarcasm in her voice.

"I shouldn't have pushed for something like that. Not with you."

Brigid couldn't help but frown. His words didn't make much sense to her. As she took a deep breath she smelled his scent which seemed soothing to her as she breathed it in. She was tempted to nuzzle into his neck to breathe it in more.

Stiffening she was shocked at the thought.

*Get a grip woman! It must be the pain meds or whatever I was given.*

"What do you mean by not with me? That doesn't make much sense."

Aleister swallows hard debating how he could tell her. If now was the right time or not. His wolf pushed for him to tell her so they don't lose her. As he was about to say something he looked at the door trying not to growl.

"Roman's here."

Just then there was a knock on the door as Aleister got up to open it. Brigid was ecstatic to see her friend there but frowns slightly as she watched them softly talk to each other.

"Roman?"

Both men looked over at her.

His eye's held warmth as he looked at her while Aleister's held sadness before he turned to Roman and gave a nod before leaving the room.

Roman didn't shut the door as he went to her side to place a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"I'm so happy to see you awake Brigid. We were worried for you."

She could see the anguish in his eye's as he looked at her.

"Try not to scare us again like that okay?"

She his hand in hers as she felt tears build and spill free.

"I couldn't let you get stabbed Roman. You're like family to me. I wasn't going to see you get hurt. Not if I could help it. I just acted."

Gently he wiped her tears away.

"I know Brigid. You always do your best to look out for others."

He took a deep breath.

"Neither of us were prepared or thought they'd try anything like that."

He rested his forehead to hers closing his eye's.

"Now slow breaths Brigid. We don't want you getting to upset in case you hurt yourself unintentionally."

"Why did you bring me here Roman?"

He gave a soft huff.

"I was panicking when I saw the knife sticking out of you. My mind was racing on what to do. A part of me wanted to pull the knife out even though I shouldn't. I needed someone who knew just as much as I do about potions if not more so. That person was Aleister."

He took a deep breath.

"You know that he's a werewolf Brigid? As well as a practitioner?"

She frowns slightly at his words.

"I know. Ember told me a little wile ago. Why? What is it Roman?"

He ran a hand over his face before telling her.

"Baron was here keeping an eye on him because he had your mask you dropped as you left. Baron noticed that Aleister didn't go upstairs to join certain activities. He went to his den with your mask."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"A woman came in, tried to seduce him and failed. He overheard Aleister tell the woman that he found his mate and will no longer holding or participating in those kinds of activities any more."

"Bully for him. Does he want a cookie or something?"

Roman didn't say anything as she quickly put the pieces together.

Her eye's widen as everything clicked.

"Oh no, no, no...! No way in Hell, Hades and anything in between!"

She was about to pull the sheet back and finally realized that she was only wearing her underwear.

"Where are my clothes!"

Roman had the grace to blush as he cleared his throat.

"They had to be removed because of the blood on them."

She dropped her head back onto the pillow, took a deep breath and winced.

"Of course. Is there a chance you or someone can bring me a change of clothes?

He ran his hand through his hair.

"It'll have to be something loose fitting..."

"You could bring a couple of night shirts and clean underwear."

Roman couldn't help but blush before clearing his throat.

"I can get Ember or someone to bring you some."

She raised an eyebrow while trying not to smile.

"You know female items won't bite you know."

She tried not to grin as he shifted a little in discomfort before seeing the laughter in her eye's.

"That's not funny B. You're like a little sister to me. I don't want to handle your unmentionables."

Brigid couldn't help but laugh then wince in pain.

"Ow, ow, ow. That hurts to laugh."

He playfully glared at her.

"Well, quit laughing at my discomfort."

She had to bite her lip so she wouldn't laugh or giggle.

"You said unmentionables... Who really says that anymore?"

Roman couldn't help but grin slightly before leaning over and placing a kiss on her forehead again.

"In all seriousness B. I'm glad you're going to be alright..Please try not to do anything like that again."

She grabs his hand smiling softly.

"Roman, you know as well as I do that if it was you then I wouldn't be here. I'd be with the Hardy's."

"Either way it wouldn't be good for you Brigid."

He took a breath.

"You know that either way they just declared war."

Her gaze drops from his.

"I know Roman. I'm just worried for you and everyone else. No one asked for this."

He leaned over to take both her hands in his.

"Hey. Look at me."

Once she raised her gaze to his he could see the sadness, apprehension and guilt in her eye's.

"It's not your fault. Remember that. You told them time and time again no yet they still pushed. Now they tried to use force. They aren't in their right mind Brigid and you got hurt. They can't get away with it. You are under mine and my families protection."

"And mine."

They look towards the door to see Aleister there leaning against the door frame, arms folded over his chest.

Roman felt her stiffen slightly.

"Am I now? I don't remember asking for it."

"I offered freely."

Roman gently squeezed her hand.

She gave a soft huff.

"So, how long before I can go home?"

Aleister pushed away from the door frame, arms dropping as he went over and sat at the foot of the bed close to her while folding his hands in his lap.

"You lost quite a bit of blood and your body needs to replenish it. You have to take it easy for a couple of more days before trying to get out of bed."

She knew he was right as she still felt as weak as a kitten.

"Fine. That's understandable even though I don't like it I know I can't do anything until I'm better."

Taking a deep breath she winced slightly knowing she has to focus on getting better not focusing on the good looking man sitting by her feet.

Aleister didn't look at her as he seemed relieved by her words as he smiled slightly.

Roman sighed in relief as he patted her hands before standing.

"I'll get some of your clothes over to you tomorrow."

Brigid bit her lip.

"You mean some of my unmentionables?"

He shot her a look.

"Don't start..."

With that he tossed her a smile before leaving.