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In The Rain.
Chapter 28.
Rose woke suddenly, the immense pressure on her bladder now impossible to ignore. She groaned as she climbed out of bed and rush blindly to the bathroom. Once she was done, she hurried back to her room, desperate to curl up beneath the covers some more. Her eyes landed on the alarm clock and she swore. 3:10 A.M, most certainly too god dammed early for anyone to be awake.
She crawled back beneath the covers and with a sigh her eyes drifted closed once more. She could've been asleep for minutes or hours, but again she woke suddenly. She was warm, far too warm. Jeez what time was it? Flinging the covers off of her far too heated body, she glanced at the clock beside her bed.
Holy shit. 8:45. She was going to be late. She must have slept through the alarm, because she certainly hadn't heard it this morning. Scampering out of bed, she rushed into the bathroom and was showered and had brushed her teeth in just 4 minutes, maybe 5.
Back in her bedroom she tried to dry herself off while finding something to wear. The task in itself was horrible, so much so that she almost tripped a couple times. Wet feet and tiles were a very bad combination. Giving up, cuss words flying unbidden out of her mouth, she pulled on black panties and bra and a black silk blouse and pencil skirt. To hell with makeup, she didn't even have time to do her dam hair or eat breakfast.
She drove like a bat out of hell to try to make it to work on time, but she didn't pull into guardian HQ's parking lot until 9:15. Dam had the traffic always been this bad or had someone unleashed a sudden increase in parents dropping children off at school? Rose didn't know. Something else suddenly occurred to her as she clambered out of her car. Shit. Was she supposed to bring Lissa in today? She couldn't remember. Had they even made arrangements for that after the spa?
She hurried over to the elevator and groaned when she had to wait a little longer than usual for the car to arrive. God, she hoped nothing was wrong with the elevator, she couldn't possibly be expected to walk up all those stairs from the underground parking garage. Luckily for her, the elevator did arrive, seemingly in perfect working order. Sighing she rushed in and quickly punched in her floor.
"Rose!" Shit. She turned her head so fast she could've gotten whiplash. There stood Lissa, a huge smile on her face.
"Oh thank god," Rose said. "I thought I was supposed to bring you in." Lissa stared at her weirdly for a few seconds and shook her head.
"Nah, I came with Christian. We picked up Dimitri along the way." Rose nodded and sighed. She grabbed Lissa's hand and lead her to the break room. She needed a hot chocolate, or better yet a dam coffee. She didn't usually see the appeal, not unless it was flavored and from Starbucks, but right now she'd take it if it meant she wouldn't feel so scattered.
"Did you eat?" Lissa asked her as she got her coffee. Rose shook her head and turned, not surprised to see Lissa's weird look.
"Is that a craving?" Lissa asked in a whisper even though they were the only ones there. Rose shook her head.
"It's a necessity if I'm to get through today." Lissa's 'I know the feeling' look made Rose smile.
"Come on, Rose. Let's get some food into you." Lissa said. Rose nodded.
"Food sounds like heaven actually," She said and took a sip of her drink. Then promptly spat it out in the nearest sink.
"Ewwwww…How the hell do you like it so much?" She asked Lissa who was rummaging through the fridge. Lissa looked up and grinned at the disgusted look on Rose's face and the way she was eying the cup in her hand as though it was the enemy.
"Um, because I don't take it black." Lissa informed getting out some bread an eggs. "Toast and eggs good?" Rose nodded, dumping the contents of her cup down the drain.
"Oh, so much better," Rose said with a sigh as she took a sip of her hot chocolate. Lissa giggled. "You want one?" Lissa shook her head and set a plate of toast and eggs in front of Rose.
"Thanks," Rose said around a mouthful. "Now tell me what I missed while I was gone."
…
Rose's phone buzzed and she glanced up, annoyed at being interrupted. She was certain there'd been something she'd missed in those reports, and now she had to stop to answer the phone, really? "What?" She snapped.
"Um, hi," Lissa said tentatively. Shit. Rose sighed.
"Sorry, Liss." She said. Lissa brushed off her apologies.
"It's fine," Lissa said. "We're all tense. Anyway, Dr. Piper just called." Warning bells went off in Rose's head. Dr. Piper was Lissa's obstetrician and Lissa had been happy to get Rose an appointment. Shit, had the doctor not been able to squeeze Rose in?
"She said her earliest appointment is lunch," Lissa said. "So, 10 minutes from now. Someone canceled and she'd be happy to fit you in."
"What?" Rose squeaked. "I can't make it there in 10 minutes, Liss." Lissa sighed.
"I know, that's why you should really get going." Rose groaned. Dam it. She so did not need this right now, but then the thought of seeing her baby for the first time stirred up some excitement.
"Dam," She said to Lissa. "Wouldn't it have been cool if I'd told Dimitri yesterday? Then he could've come with me."
"I know, but I can come if you want," Lissa sounded hesitant and Rose rolled her eyes.
"Um, duh, of course you're coming, Liss." Rose hung up and grabbed her purse and keys.
"Dad, I'm taking lunch!" She called not stopping to push the door open.
"Bring us something on your way back, Kiz!" He called and she sighed. Pulling out her phone she started to type out a text to ask what he wanted. What she forgot to do was watch where she was going. And, of course, she walked right into a wall of muscle and warmth and her favorite smell in the world.
"Shit," She said. "Sorry, Dimitri." She chanced a look up at him, thinking she'd find anger or horror on his face, but all she found was amusement. His warm hands were on her shoulder, placed there to steady her, but dam if it didn't turn her brane to mush.
"Going somewhere?" He asked stepping back and taking his warmth with him.
"I-ah yeah." She stuttered, ready to tell him she was taking Lissa to a doctor's appointment but decided at the last second that lying to him was quite pointless. He'd find out soon enough. "I have a doctor's appointment."
"Oh?" He asked. "Everything ok?" Rose's heart flipped at the concern she saw swimming in his eyes, but she ignored it. He was just being nice. It was in his nature he couldn't help it.
"Yeah, just a checkup." Dimitri nodded and started to walk away.
"Laters, Roza." Well, that was new. Rose just managed a wave, but her heart was pounding, her mind running a thousand miles a minute. She had to tell him. She would tell him, today.
Whoa, you ok?" Lissa asked as she climbed into the passenger seat. Rose nodded.
"I just had a run in with Dimitri," She said, mind still reeling. Lissa raised an eyebrow, curious as always for details. Rose rolled her eyes and concentrated on starting the car and pulling out onto the road. She turned on the radio much to Lissa's annoyance and then proceeded to tell her what'd happened.
…
"This is your first pregnancy?" Rose nodded and the doctor wrote something down. "Alright and you're sure you're pregnant, right?"
"Yes, ma'am." Rose said, a little surprised she was so respectful when in reality she was a little annoyed. She'd taken a dozen pregnancy tests and had thrown up probably about a dozen times, too. Of course she was sure she was pregnant.
"Ok, this is going to be a little cold." Even with the doctor's warning, rose still flinched as the gel touched her stomach. Dr. Piper's kind eyes were sympathetic, but there was a bit of amusement shining in them, too. Rose could hardly hide her excitement as the doctor moved the wand around, but the moment her baby's heartbeat filled the room and it appeared on screen, there was no stopping the face splitting smile nor the tears that trickled down her cheeks.
"That's my baby," She whispered, and from beside her she saw Lissa's smile and nod. The doctor went on to point out parts of the baby, and Rose ate up her every word. She paid close attention to every detail for when she showed Dimitri later, but everything looked the same to her.
"Ok, here you go," The good Doctor said. have the nurse fill this out and take them as required. You are just 2 weeks along, but you can make your 10th week appointment with the receptionist." Rose nodded and turned to leave. "And Rose?" The doctor said. "Congratulations."
"Thank you," She said and followed Lissa out the office. If she'd been hesitant before, now she was certain. She had to tell Dimitri, and it had to happen today. No more delaying, look at where that had gotten her.
"Wow, you are so radiant, Rose." Lissa said as she handed her the prenatal vitamins. All Rose could do was smile, something which seemed permanently etched on her face now. She tossed Lissa the keys.
"You drive. I feel amazing, Liss." Lissa grinned.
"I can see that," She said. "So what are we picking up for your parents?" Rose groaned. She'd forgotten all about texting Abe when she'd run into Dimitri. Grabbing her phone again, she typed out a quick text to which he replied almost instantly.
"I don't know. He doesn't seem to know, either." Lissa giggled and drove. She didn't stop until she pulled up to a restaurant called subs and stuff.
"Will this do?" She asked. "The food here is really good." Rose nodded already unbuckling her seatbelt and climbing out of the car. She was starving and the fact that she could smell the deliciousness being created in there did not help matters.
…
"Jeez, Rosemarie," Her mother said as she entered the office. "Lunch is only an hour, you know." Rose rolled her eyes and placed the bags down in front of them.
"It's Rose, mom. You guys are going to love those sandwiches." She informed. "Are Joe and Amber still here?" Abe and Janine nodded at once, quickly undoing the wrappers on the sandwiches. Rose nodded and left them to enjoy their food.
"If I'm right and you guys do love them," Rose said from the doorway. "We're going there the next time we do a gathering, ok? By the way, we're due for one." With that she turned and walked off, stopping off by the tech lab to find Joe and Amber. Thankfully, they were there with Jill, Andre, Lissa and Christian. And to Rose's annoyance, they were going through files. Well, everyone but Christian. He had his arms wrapped around Lissa who was practically sitting in his lap.
"Oh god, not you guys too," She groaned. They both looked up in confusion.
"Did you find anything?" She asked eying the stacks of files with disgust. They shook their heads.
"This literally is like trying to find a needle in a haystack," Joe grumbled. "Utterly and completely impossible."
"Ditto," Rose said pulling up a chair. "Did you guys even have lunch yet?" They all looked around at each other and as one shook their heads seeming somewhat surprised.
"Good god, go eat." Rose demanded. "Liss and I can take over here until you guys get back if you want." They all nodded, seeming more than a little relieved.
At some point, they were joined by Mason, Eddie, Dimitri, Victoria, Abe and Janine. No one spoke, everyone tensed and more than a little stressed and frustrated by the lack of results. This was just ridiculous. It made no sense. All of the files basically said the same thing, and nothing had happened since Michel Aldridge's untimely death. Had she been the one they were after?
Rose sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. Perhaps they had already been given a clue. It was in the video; she'd just been too occupied with other things to voice her concern. Not only that, but she hadn't thought there was need for secrecy when she and Dimitri had brought Mia in so Lissa could tend to her wounds. Hell, she'd even protected the girl from Dimitri's wrath. Perhaps she'd been naïve in her assumption of her.
"Jesus Christ," Amber suddenly snapped. "Not only is this ridiculous, but very pointless and an absolute waste of everyone's time. We are getting nowhere!" Everyone agreed. Dimitri met Rose's eyes across the table, his eyes questioning and searching. Rose knew Dimitri had recognized her, too, she'd just thought he would've done something by now.
"What is it with you 2?" Abe said. "You got something to say, say it."
"We recognized someone from the video," Rose blurted. "Run it again Jill and I'll show you." Jill nodded, eagerly typing commands, no doubt just as happy as everyone else to get somewhere.
…
"Hey, Dimitri," Rose called later that evening. She was standing in the doorway to his office, watching in fascination as he packed up his desk. Dam the man was beautiful, there was no denying that fact.
"What's up, Rose?" He asked, dumping some Styrofoam cups into a bag. Dam, how many coffees had he had today?
"I-um." She hesitated and Dimitri froze in his work, turning to look at her.
"What is it, Roza?" Hearing his nickname for her filled her with a sense of calm. Hell, she nearly blurted it out right then and there, tempted to pull out the sonogram and start waving it madly.
"Well, I have to talk to you, so I was wondering if you'd um," Dam why the hell couldn't she just say what she needed to say?
"You were wondering?" He prompted, his face deadly serious.
"I was wondering if you'd like to meet up for dinner. You can come to my place or I could go to yours. Or we'll go to a restaurant, anything you want." She was rambling, she knew it and yet she couldn't stop talking. "Please Dimitri it's really important."
"Yeah?" He asked. "Can't you talk to your boyfriend about it?" He spat the word boyfriend with so much venum Rose felt like he'd physically hit her. Playful Dimitri from earlier had disappeared now that they were alone and had been replaced by cold distant Dimitri.
"No." Rose said simply. "Please, Dimitri. I know you don't trust me and I don't blame you, but I really, really need to tell you this."
"So tell me." He barked. Rose shook her head.
"Not here." Shit. If he was reacting this badly about dinner, what the hell would he do when he found out why she wanted to have dinner with him in the first place? Rose closed her eyes briefly and ran her fingers through her hair.
"Ok, fine. But I get to pick the restaurant." She nodded, anything to make him come. "Ok, I'll text you the location later." Rose nodded once more and headed out of his office and out to the parking lot where Lissa and Christian were waiting by Lissa's beatle. Lissa's eyes were wide in question, but Rose only rolled her eyes and mouthed later. Climbing into her car, she waited for Dimitri to pull out with Lissa and Christian and followed a safe distance behind them, her entire body alive with excitement.
Ooooo! You guys! This is it! How do we think he's going to react? What do you guys want to see happen? Let me know, you guys! Also, we know now that Mia really was the person in the video even though most of you guessed it was her, so what now? What's the next step?
Review lovelies and Dimitri'll take you out to dinner…;)
XXX
Roza
