I watched, tears in my eyes, as his thin body was loaded onto the stretcher. He couldn't breathe, couldn't move, the pain was unbearable. I was gripping his had, though he couldn't grip back. His dull eyes followed my movements, I knew, and I tried to avoid his - I couldn't meet his haunting gaze.

Rushed to get to the infirmary, I am crammed into the back of the ambulance beside the stretcher, though the hospital is only a short walk, let alone drive.

And I hold Dimitri's hand.

He's hooked up to some pretty heavy painkillers, perhaps he doesn't even know who I am, anymore, but I still keep a tight clasp on his pale, shaking hand. I won't let go.

Slowly, his eyes crack open, taking him a visible amount of effort, and his opens his mouth. No sound is produced, but poor Dimitri tries once more, finally able to croak out his words.

"Ro..."

I shake my head and squeeze his hand, running the pad of my thumb over his skin. "Hey, it's alright. We don't have to talk now, Dimitri. We'll talk later."

He clears his throat once, twice more. "Ro...za. There mi...might not... be...a..." he sighs loudly, trying to take in breath, despite his failing body. "...later."

Pulled from the ambulance, I desperately try to keep up with the fast-moving stretcher, the paramedics crying out for assistance.

I grab onto his hand, tightly, my jaw set, my voice firm.

"I will not let you die."

And he's ripped away from me.

I stand, broken, in the hall of the infirmary, my body trembling, my mind frozen.

Watching.

And slowly, I set off, off to find the only person who can help me.

~xXx~

"I have to talk to the Queen. Now."

"Ms. Hathaway," the girl sighs irritably. "The Queen is unable to see at this time. Please, leave your name and contact infor-"

"It's Guardian Hathaway," I growl. "And I know that at this time, she's having her lunch. So I suggest you let me in. Please."

"Her Highness Queen Vasilisa is currently-"

"Rose?"

We both turn to face the woman in the doorway. The Queen herself, looking regel as ever, is staring at me as if I've lost it.

"Lissa! I need to talk to you! Please." I'm panting, having sprinted across Court, and must look as though I've lost it. Perhaps that explains her concerned expression.

"Of course, Rose!"

I shoot the young woman at the front desk a glare, and proceed into Lissa's office, my whole body trembling.

Wasting no time, I blurt, "It's Dimitri!" as soon as the door closes.

"W...What? Is he okay?"

"No," I croak, tears building in my eyes again. "No, he's not okay. And I'm not going to stand by and let him get sicker and sicker. So I need your help."

Lissa blinks, her lashes suddenly moist with tears, and stutters, trying to regain her words. "But... I can't help him, Rose, I can't heal him."

"I'm not talking about healing, Liss, I'm talking about compulsion." Even I can tell that I am half-hysterical, and possibly delusional. But then, I'm too hysterical and delusional to actually care.

"Rose...? Compulsion?"

"He needs blood, Liss, but he hates the taste. You need to compel him to like the taste of blood! Please!"

Lissa pinches the bridge of her nose, shaking her head, and eases herself into the enormous wing-backed chair behind her elegant desk. "Rose, do you know how much energy that would take? How much power that would consume, to change the way his body functions?"

I nearly sob with desperation, getting before her, kneeling at her side, pleading. "How much? Liss, it would only be one round of compulsion! He could-"

"But it's not!" she says calmly. "Rose, I'd have to be there every time he took blood. Blood tastes different for everyone, and everyone's blood tastes different."

I blink, utterly confuse.

"It's like back in high school, when I compelled Jesse to see spiders, or snakes, or whatever. The energy it took nearly drove you mad, Rose. Imagine if I had tried to compel every person there. That's what it would be like. I'd have to compel Dimitri to stand the taste of all of these different types of blood, all of these people. One compulsion wouldn't be so bad, but do that every few days, whenever he gets a new feeder?"

She shakes her head again, looking sympathetic.

"Besides," she explains, "they're careful about their feeders, here, they replace the 'seasoned' ones. Odds are, Dimitri will have a different feeders almost every time he feeds. There is no possible way I can use that kind of compulsion. I can't just compel him every six months or so, Rose, just to barely keep him alive. His body could go into shock, it would do more damage than good. I'm afraid it's an all or nothing matter."

"What if I got a private feeder? Just for Dimitri?"

"He only needs to feed, what? Once a week or so? Feeders are addicted, they need the rush every day, Rose. No feeder will stick around that long. Besides, Dimitri doesn't produce endorphins, he's a dhampir. Who would willingly get bitten, without a drug rush, without even painkillers?"

Every suggestion, every idea, crumbles before my eyes. It's hopeless. Completely and utterly hopeless. I want to scream, to sob, but what I want most is Dimitri, is for him to be okay, to live.

"Me," I whisper. "I would! Compel him to drink my blood, Liss! I don't care about a drug rush, I just want to help him. Besides, giving blood once a week will still keep me fully-functioning. Please, Lissa!"

Her eyes are tear filled, watching me beneath her thick lashes as I pace desperately.

"Rose, really, you're a respected Guardian. What if someone found out? What would people say?"

"They'd say, good God, Dimitri has made a miraculous recovery, and will live a long and happy life. I don't give a shit if people have a problem with it, Liss, I'll do anything for him."

"Rose-"

But I'm through with arguements, through with excuses. If Lissa won't do this, I would go to Adrian and risk countless jokes and a lifetime of light-hearted teasing. He may not love me anymore, not in the way that he used to, but he would still do just about anything for me, little to no questions asked.

"I did not drop out of high school, risk my life, risk my soul, just to give up on him now. If you won't do this, I'll find someone who will."

And with that, I head for the door, only inches from the door knob when she calls out. "Okay! Alright, Rose, but he won't be happy about it."

I smile.

"He doesn't really have a choice. He owes me."

~xXx~

Oh no! Their getting shorter and shorter! *cries*

Well, thank you all for your wonderful reviews! I love to hear from you!