Chapter 11
I couldn't really tell you what happened but somehow I knew I was alive because of the amount of pain I felt. I also realized that I was being moved. I woke up for a minute and the world was fuzzy and spinning. I saw what looked like lights above me and could hear people speaking in urgent tones. Only one voice registered thought it was Dimitri "hold on Roza don't let go. Fight this damn it fight" he yelled. I couldn't speak. I couldn't move Just to open my eyes felt like a huge work out. I finally couldn't hold it any longer and passed back out.
I woke up again and was in a hospital room. I felt a little better but still in a lot of pain. I was certain that I had some broken ribs. What had happened to me? I began looking around that room and saw Dimitri asleep in a chair next to me. He looked so tired. I began to assess my injuries, my neck was stiff but fine my ribs hurt bad and my left leg felt broken. I also had a serious pain in my lower abdomin. That jarred me oh my god where is the baby. I was still out of it when I first woke that I hadn't noticed my stomach was much flatter than normal. Where is it where is the baby. I started to get frantic and woke Dimitri. "Where is it Where is my baby?" I shouted. Dimitri came over and grabbed my hands that were clawing my stomach. "Stop Rose she is fine, don't worry she is just in the nursery." Dimitri said trying to calm me. "She? it was a girl" I said beginning to cry. "Yes she is a beautiful baby girl. She is perfect Roza. Small but that was because it was still early. They had to take her you were losing so much blood and she was becoming distressed." He said in a hurry.
I felt stunned then remembered the Strigoi on the street. "Inna, what happened with her she was there she did this" I said frantic. "She is gone Rose. I was coming behind you when I saw the crash. She was trying to pull you out of the car when I staked her. I can't believe she found us here. I'm so sorry she did Roza I am so sorry." he said sounding so guilty. "It's not your fault Dimitri I am ok and you saved me." I tried to reassure him I didn't understand how he could blame himself. "It is my fault Rose. After you stabbed me on the bridge well I needed new people and I changed her" he said horror in his face. "Dimitri that was not you and you could not have known that she would come looking for us." I said hoping that he would not go back to the self loathing that he had finally gotten out of. "Can I see her?" I asked hoping for a subject change
"Of course let me go get someone to bring her." he said with an adoring smile. I was so nervous I was going to meet my daughter. The little person that I carried for almost nine months. I began thinking about all the things we didn't have yet. We didn't have a crib or car seat. I had a few unisex outfits and blankets but we were not ready for this.
I heard Dimitri ask the nurse outside to bring the baby, and told her that I was awake. The nurse walked into the room and she was a stunning blonde women. She looked no older than me "hello my name is Heather and I will be your nurse for the night. How is your pain level, I could give you something to make you more comfortable." she said with a sweet smile. I didn't really think much about the pain I mean it was there but I had long since learned to ignore and push through that. "I am ok. I just want to see my daughter please" I said trying to sound convincing that I was not in pain. "How about this I will go get the baby then after I bring her by I order some pain meds to help you relax and recover better" she said clearly seeing through my im ok story. "Ok that will be ok thank you" I still felt a little out of it. Heather fluffed my pillows and helped to sit me up a little further, thought that cause more pain in my ribs and lower stomach. I also began to realize that my head was really sore. Suddenly pain medication didnt sound like such a bad thing.
"Did you give her a name?" i asked Dimitri as the nurse left. "No I had thought of one but didn't want to give her one until you woke up." he said with a smile. "Well what was the name you thought of?" i finally asked "Well I know it sounds cliche but I thought of mixing our moms names together and came up with Jalena, Of course it is just a thought if you don't like it thats ok. " he said fast. I played the name in my head it was ok it was not really my favorite thought. I could see the look on his face though he really liked name. I realized that it was a good name. I finally smiled and said "its perfect I love it" His whole face beamed with pride I knew that it was worth conceding this one thing to see the happiness it brought him. it felt like an eternity but then the nurse came with a little rolling cart. I couldn't believe it. In the little cart all bundled in a pink blanket was my little girl. I had never been one to believe in love at first sight but in that moment I knew that I loved that baby and that I would never let anything happen to her. Dimitri reached over and picked her up. I noticed there was a small tube in her nose. "is she ok what is that?" I asked feeling a little concerned. "She is perfect Roza she was just a little early and needed a little extra help learning to breath." he said in a reassuring tone. He handed her to me and then placed a tiny box that must have been dispensing the oxygen next to her. She felt so light in my arms and was so beautiful. "Hi Jalena I am your mommy. I promise that as long as I live that I will always protect you" I said softly. I heard the sound of a chair moving and Dimitri was sitting next to me. The look on his face as he looked at the both of us was of absolute adoration. I knew in that moment that it didn't matter about my age. If he asked me to marry him I would say yes.