So I was bored babysitting and I thought "Hey, I can write!" I still feel bad for making everyone wait so long for the last one...anyway. Hope you enjoy!

-Kira

When I arrived back at the office, I found a package waiting for me on my desk. It was just a plain brown box, but didn't have a return address.

"Do you know who sent this?" I called out to Adrian, who was passing my desk at that moment.

"No, who?" Dumbass.

"I don't know. If I did I wouldn't be asking you, now would I?"

He smirked, "No need to get snippy Little Agent. Just simply trying to lighten the mood."

I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to the mysterious box. I wonder what this could be… I grabbed some scissors and cut the tape neatly down the middle. When I opened the box, I felt dizzy. I faintly recognized my own scream as the world turned black.

I opened my eyes to a bight, sterile looking room. Where am I? I asked myself as I looked around. To my left there was a heart monitor and an IV. Ah. I'm in a hospital…but why? And then the memories came flooding back to me.

A mysterious box.

Adrian standing next to me.

Opening said box.

Seeing a human head- a real head- in the box.

Passing out.

I looked around the room once more and was startled to find a large man with shoulder length brown hair sitting in the corner silently snoring. How had I not noticed him before?

"Dimitri?" I croaked.

His read shot up instantly and he was by my side holding my hand in an instant. "Roza? Are you ok? I was so worried…" He trailed off, staring into space. Probably thinking about Viktoria again.

"I'm fine…I think. I honestly don't know what happened. All I remember is seeing a bloody severed head in a box and then waking up here." I frowned. "Wait-what's a Roza?"

His warm chuckle brought shivers to my hospital gown clad body. "It's your name in Russian." I smiled. No, more like beamed. "I'm glad to hear you are OK, you've been out for a couple days and people were starting to worry- mainly me."

As sick as it sounds, I'm glad he was worried for me. "Have you been here this whole time?"

"Yes." That simple one worded answer made my heart flutter…which of course he was able to tell courtesy of the heart rate monitor.

"Thanks, you really didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to." He smiled. Just then, Lissa decided it would be the best time to come rushing in.

"OhmygodRoseyou'reawakeI''tyoueverdothattomeagain!" She exhaled in one breath.

"Woah. Liss. Calm down. I fainted, not have a seizure." She glared at me and pursed her lips.

"Just fainted. Just fainted? JUST FAINTED? You were passed out in a mini-coma for 2 and a half days! Why would I be calm about that? And on TOP of that, there's a severed head in the morgue now, waiting to be identified! He struck again, Rose! How are you calm?"

Uh…good question. Probably because of Dimitri. I smiled to myself. "You know Liss, worrying to much will cause wrinkles."
She gasped and moved her hand to her forehead. "How dare you give me wrinkles!" We both looked at each other and then burst out laughing. Dimitri looked between us, confused with one eyebrow raised. Damn! I wish I could do that…maybe he could teach me, just another excuse to see my Russian god.

"Did I miss something?" He asked in that sexy accent of his.

"No…"Lissa and I said at the same time, then we both started laughing again. I thought back to the day 10 years ago at St. Vladimir's.

It was a sunny day at St. Vlad's and Lissa and I had taken the opportunity of skipping class and enjoying it. As we were walking through the lush Montana forests surrounding the school, Lissa spoke up.

"Let's play truth or dare, without the dares of course." She looked thoughtful.

"So truth or…truth?" I asked.

"Yes! Exactly. Let's play truth or truth. Me first! Ok, um…what did you think of me when you first saw me?" I smiled.

"That's easy, I immediately felt drawn to protect you and thought you were the nicest 5 year old I had ever met."

She giggled. "I knew you would be my best friend from the moment I saw you."

"Ok, my turn. What is your biggest fear?"

She frowned. "Dying in a car crash like my family." We both shuddered at the memories of the twisted metal, surrounding us like a hot blanket.

"It's ok Liss. I'll never let that happen." Of course I had no way to back that up, but I felt the need to protect her; and if saying that protected her from bad thoughts, then so be it.

She gave me a ghost of a smile before asking, "What about you?"

"You dying." And it was true. If she died and I wasn't there to protect her, I don't know what I would do.

"Don't worry, I don't plan on letting that happen anytime soon." We both looked at each other before cracking up.

"Ok, ok." She said while trying to stop her laughter. "Next question; what are you least looking forward to about growing old?"

"Getting grey hair. I can't imagine my life without my dark luscious locks!" I gasped in fake horror. Lissa laughed her ass off before responding.

"Getting wrinkles. I don't want to be one of those flabby old ladies who are under the impression that wearing a bikini is a good idea." We both laughed until the security guard patrolling the grounds saw us and told us to go back to class.

Ever since the, we had been teasing each other every chance we got about growing old. Dimitri just shook his head and chuckled at our silliness. As I was getting caught up on what had happened in the past 2 and a half days, I suddenly remembered something Lissa had said earlier.

"Liss, you said the head was in the morgue waiting to be identified, right?"

She looked uncomfortable. "Yes, but I don't think you should-"

"I have to go!" I stood up abruptly, pulling the IV and other needles out of my skin.

"Rose I don't think-"

"Screw that! I need to go find myself a murderer!"