Hello, hello!

I wanted to thank everyone for their support on my last update. I know many of you were disappointed because of the hiatus. Unfortunately, life happens and we can't control the circumstances. I have said this in a few AN's but, I will say it again. I promise to finish my stories, it might not happen on your time frame but I promise every single one will be finished.

I am really hoping that I will be able to resume regular updates beginning next week. I will not make any promises but that is the goal. Thank you all for sticking with me, I know it is very frustrating when an author takes a long time to update. I hope you all had a wonderful week and those who received a sneak peek enjoyed it!

Here is chapter 33!

Chapter 33 Pavel POV

"Rose, sundown is getting close," I pleaded with her for what felt like the hundredth time. I knew she wanted to wait but I also knew she should head back. It had been hours. If Belikov hadn't emerged, I didn't think he was going too.

I watched as Rose stood in the same spot, staring at the cave entrance. I was debating about using brute force to get her back to the academy. Abe gave me one very clear job, keep Rose safe at whatever cost. We didn't know how many were in there, the moment the sun would set we would be swarmed. I couldn't risk that, I had already sent everyone back. The only person who hadn't been sent back was Rose and me.

My arms instinctively crossed over my chest. I looked at the sky and knew I had about twenty minutes before the sun started setting. I would then have about thirty minutes to get back to the academy. She wasn't going to leave willingly, the least I could do was wait until the last possible minute.

I looked back at Rose and my heart broke as I saw the tears sliding down her cheeks. I was thinking about what to say to her, to console her. This never got any easier, especially considering how she lost someone only a few months ago. Losing Belikov would be difficult on Rose and something she would struggle with for a long time. She was still struggling after the loss of her friend in Spokane. I looked at the ground trying to give Rose the illusion of privacy as the silent tears ran down her cheeks.

I heard a few thuds and looked up suddenly, Rose was running across the terrain heading straight for the cave. "Fuck," I said softly as I took off after her. Everyone said she was a loose cannon, I just had never seen it before. I hoped Belikov had the sense of mind to arm her before they came out here.

Rose was fast, faster than me. She probably had no more than a five-seconds head start but she beat me to the cave long enough for her to find Belikov. I had just entered the cave when I saw her crouched on the ground in front of him. They were about fifty feet away from me. A quick glance around noticed a few strigoi bodies littering the area. I'm sure there were more Strigoi further inside.

"Roza, go," he whispered to her. "They're coming, you have time. Go!"

"I'm not leaving you," she said to him. I could see another body on the ground as I approached them. Belikov had a wound on his neck and his left knee didn't look to be in place.

"Please Roza," he whispered to her. I could see that he had come to terms with his fate, he knew the possibilities better than anyone; but now that she was in front of him, he was struggling.

"Help me!" Rose exclaimed looking at me. She was standing now trying to get him up. I knew she wouldn't leave without him. So I did the only thing I could think of, I helped her get him up.

"Belikov," I began as I was able to take some of his weight once he was standing. "I know you are in pain, but run as best you can with me. Run through the pain, you only have to make it a few hundred yards. Rose, get the ATV started. I got him."

I saw Rose nodded and take off once again. Dimitri and I made a decent pace out of the cave. I heard him swear next to me when he was outside, noticing how late it was. The two of us still making our way toward Rose. I could hear a commotion behind us, I knew there were Strigoi in that cave, probably waiting to get near us. For once, time was on our side.

Dimitri got on the back of the ATV, and I was trying to figure out how to get both Rose and me also on it. I was trying to position Rose in a way to be behind Belikov so she could help support him when I heard the noise, a rumble coming from the direction of the academy.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw two more ATVs approaching us. Each with one Guardian attached. As they got closer I noticed Alto and Petrov were the two driving.

"We thought you might have broken down," Petrov explained after they parked. "I can take Rose, is there anyone else?"

"No, just us," I explained to her as I watched Rose climb on behind Alto. I wasn't surprised that Rose decided to climb on with Alto and not Petrov, there was obviously a lot of strain there. "We should get him back to the infirmary, he doesn't look good."

All of us quickly mounted the ATVs and took off toward the academy. We had probably about fifteen to twenty minutes. We could at least get a damn good head start and just make it to the wards before sunset. I could hear off in the distance that there was a commotion in the caves before we fully left. We could push the speed and get there soon.

APOV

I had waited in the lobby of the infirmary for a long time. Woods had waited with me for a few hours but I sent him back to get rest, he looked awful. I was able to persuade Dr. Oldenski to give me the information so I could contact Tanner's family. Considering I knew them and I thought any information would be better coming from me. I decided to wait to call Marg and Tanner's family until I knew something. It had been taking a while but I wanted an update. I figured if I didn't hear something in an hour, I would see if I could bully my way to get information.

Pavel had given me an update that a few students had run off to go Strigoi hunting and that Alberta had Rose and Dimitri helping track them. Apparently, Alberta thought that Rose's experience of running away would help her track them down. I had given Pavel specific instructions to make sure Rose came back alive, even if she wanted to stay and fight. It might have been selfish but my concern was for my daughter.

"Mr. Mazur," the doctor came up to me a little while later interrupting me from my thoughts. "Tanner has been moved to his room, would you like to see him?"

"Please," I stated standing up. I followed Dr. Oldenski back to the room Tanner would be staying in for the foreseeable future. "Would you mind going over with me what his injuries were and the treatment you administered?"

I listened as she outlined the injuries Tanner had sustained in the field and how she treated him as we walked toward his room. He had been injured badly, his treatment had been very extensive as would be his recovery. Tanner was a great Guardian, I would be sure he would get the proper rehab to recovery.

"Is he expected to make a full recovery with proper treatment and rehab?" I asked her as we stood outside the room. I could see into the room from the window facing the hallway. He was propped up on the bed, eyes closed. I could see some of the bruising on his arms and it made me worried.

"He's young and healthy, he has a long, long road ahead of him. But I expect him to make full recovery with proper rehab after he's released," she smiled at me. "The nurses will take vital signs regularly and I will be back to check on him in the next couple hours."

"Thank you," I told her before I walked into Tanner's room. I immediately took a seat in the chair by the bed. The first thing I did was call Marg, she should know Tanner was here.

"Mr. Mazur," Marg answered her phone. I had instructed everyone, not to informer her of what happened. She had been on the other side of the fight so I knew she didn't know. I didn't want to worry her until we knew what was happening.

"Marg, I have some bad news," I said softly not wanting to sugar coat but also wanting to deliver the news gently. I heard her take a deep breath.

"Is he alive?" Her voice coming over the phone stronger than I anticipated.

"Yes," I told her before outlining his injuries and his treatment. "He has a long road ahead of him, but he's expected to make a full recovery."

"Thank god," she whispered.

"I'm having Pavel give you some paid leave while he needs you," I explained to her. I could hear her appreciation before I gave her the details to call Tanner's family and after I gave her his room number. I expected she would be here within the hour.

After speaking with Marg, I had one of my other Guardians bring me a few things so I could work and a few of Tanner's things. I figured he would be here for some time and I wanted him to have his things.

It was nearing sundown when I was startled awake by a commotion in the infirmary. I had fallen asleep waiting for Tanner, though I knew from Dr. Oldenski that he wouldn't be awake for some time. Marg was asleep in one of the other chairs next to Tanner's bed.

I stood up stretching a little bit, I was getting too old to sleep in a chair. I heard some more frantic noises and I thought I heard Pavel's voice. Immediately on the alert because Pavel was supposed to be with Rose. I hoped she wasn't hurt. The noises continued as looked over Tanner making sure he was okay before I went to investigate the uproar that was happening.

The first thing I noticed was Dr. Oldenski speaking to Pavel and Rose, who looked ready to pounce. The second thing I noticed was that Rose's clothes were covered in blood.

"Rose I know you are worried about him, but he needs his rest," Dr. Oldenski was explaining to my daughter. "Plus I need to check you too!"

"But he needs me! Please!" She begged the doctor. "I know he will be calmer with me there."

Before Oldenski could protest, I made my presence known. "What is going on here?" I asked moving towards them.

"Dimitri was hurt! I want to see him, be with him," Rose explained to me. "But she won't let me and she wants to check me out."

"Is any of that yours?" I asked her pointing to the blood on her clothes.

She shook her head immediately, "I'm fine! I promise I got them by surprise."

I could tell there was more to the story about Dr. Oldenski not wanting Rose to see Belikov. I assumed he probably was worse than Rose thought. I needed to make her leave the infirmary so Belikov could get the care he needs before giving Rose bad news.

"Why don't you go to your room, shower and change?" I suggested as I thought of the best way to make her listen. "Belikov will worry if you show up in his room covered in blood. Go put yourself together and by the time you are done I'm sure he will be all settled in for you to see him."

I could see her going over my words in her head. She knew I was right but she didn't want to admit it. Rose was fighting my logic knowing that I was right but also wanting to stand her ground, it made me wonder how much she had been fighting. I knew the moment she agreed with me because her shoulders sagged and Rose looked at the ground. Belikov would freak if he saw her covered in blood, especially when he knew it was probably his.

"Okay," she nodded softly.

"Jackson," Pavel commanded to the group of my Guardians off to the side. Jackson immediately came over. "Take Rose to her room and be sure no one bothers her."

"Be the perfect gentleman or you will answer to me," I said to Jackson. I knew he thought Rose was attractive and he made comments about it to his friends. I didn't think he would try anything, he wasn't stupid, but I thought it best to send the warning.

"Yes, sir," he said to me. I watched as he deferred to Rose, the two of them exiting the infirmary. The moment they were outside the infirmary I turned toward the doctor. "How bad is it?"

"He's lost a lot of blood, I'm assuming he was bitten. I'm trying to learn if he just sprained his knee or dislocated it, he has some extreme bruise and I'm checking for internal injuries as well. That was just an initial overview before Rosemarie got here. Though now that he's not running on adrenaline I'm sure he's feeling a lot more pain and we will be able to locate more," Dr. Oldenski explained to me. "I know she wants to be here but I need at least a couple hours to make sure I have located everything."

"Well, I'm hoping she will take the opportunity to clean up a little so that should give some time," I said thoughtfully. I watched her nod before heading back to take a look at Belikov. I turned to look at Pavel seeing him take a seat in one of the chairs in the waiting area. I silently went to join him. The two of us sat next to each other in silence for a few moments. We had been friends for so long that we didn't need to say anything to each other.

"She's impulsive but talented," Pavel spoke suddenly breaking the silence.

"What do you mean?" I knew he was talking about Rose but I had only heard about her impulsive reactions, I had never seen them.

"She ran in after him, he was the only one left and she ran in after him," he shook his head. "I don't know what she saw in there, she was in there before me. But I know there were bodies littering the ground when I found them."

I wasn't surprised that Rose ran after Belikov. The way she looked at him lead me to believe that she would do almost anything for him. I was assured that he looked at her the exact same way. It was obvious they both idolized each other, but not in an obsessed way, more than they saw the best in each other constantly. I could tell that they both brought out the best in each other and always wanted the other to be the best version of themselves.

"Do you think she helped? Made kills?" I asked him.

"I don't know, I wouldn't be surprised if she did," he shook his head softly. "She moved fast, almost as fast as him. If she chooses to be a Guardian she would be as good as her mother, maybe better."

"She is one of a kind. So you don't know what happened in the cave, and Belikov is currently under inspection. Who would know?" I asked him. I was curious as to what happened when Rose ran after Belikov, I'm sure Pavel was as well. Rose was good and impulsive, but maybe she was exactly what the Guardian world needed.

"It was only the two of them," Pavel explained. He looked wrecked. He had been up for more than twenty-four hours. Not to mention, he helped battle and organize the initial attack.

"Do you need to be checked?" I asked him as I looked across at him. "I should have asked earlier, you're always the one to avoid it."

"I'm fine," he shook his head at me. "I didn't get hurt, just tired and hungry."

"I'll call one of the others to get you some dinner," I told him already pulling out my phone to message another Guardian. Pavel and I had a much more personal relationship than most Guardian and charge partners. I wasn't royal so I wasn't raised with the concept of how to treat Guardians the way most Moroi do. It probably helped that I was also raised with dhampirs in the nearby community.

"Thanks," he said to me. I watched as he leaned his head back against the wall behind him, he closed his eyes almost instantly. "You know, when I was allocated you all those years ago, I thought you would be worse than a Royal. How wrong I was," he chuckled softly.

I smirked as I thought about that. Pavel had been with me for so long now it was hard to think about a time he wasn't my Guardian. He was my brother in every aspect except blood. He knew me better than anyone and I knew more about him than anyone else. I remember when he was allocated to me as well. To think that twenty-something odd years later we would be sitting in an academy infirmary waiting to hear about my daughter's older lover.

DPOV

I knew I was in the infirmary, I just wasn't sure how I got here. I could smell the antiseptic and that almost too clean smell. My body ached, my head hurt and my memories were fuzzy. I couldn't remember what had happened. I opened my eyes and immediately shut them, the light was too bright and my vision was slightly blurry. The longer I was awake, the easier it was to learn where my body hurt.

I could feel an aching on my neck and my right knee was in a lot of pain. I could feel other parts of my body hurting but those initial two were where the majority of the pain was coming from. My throat felt dry and uncomfortable, I cleared my throat softly.

"Comrade?" A soft voice came from next to me. My mind was still foggy and I was trying to place everything that was happening around me. The voice triggered something inside me, but I couldn't place it just yet. The pain and whatever drugs were running through my system were making me foggy.

I cleared my throat again and then I felt something at my lips. I opened my mouth and felt what I assumed was a straw. I sucked and was immediately granted the relief of cold water running down my throat. I drank the water that was offered for a few minutes, drinking until the cup was empty. The straw was removed and I tried opening my eyes again.

"Dimitri," the voice said quietly again. I opened my eyes fully and was able to recognize that I was indeed in the infirmary. At St Vladimir's, I realized. I turned my head slowly to where the voice had been coming from.

I took in the long dark hair, the ends were curling and it looked slightly damp. The slightly tanned skin and dark soulful eyes filled with worry. Eyes that were framed with long, dark lashes. Dark pink lips that were turned down softly with worry. A slight color on her cheeks showed me she had either been running or she was a little wind blow from cold weather. God, she looked beautiful.

Roza.

"Do you need me to get the doctor?" She asked me softly.

"No," I croaked out. My throat still raw it seemed. "What time is it?"

"Late or early," she shrugged. "Depends on how you look at it. You've been out for hours, pretty much since you got to the infirmary."

"Are you okay?" I asked her as the events leading up to my stay in the infirmary came flooding back to me. The events were blurry and a little out of order but I was able to put enough information together to remember that we had been in the caves. Rose came running in after me, I was sure I was gonna die.

I had been on my way out when I had been ambushed. I had battled with the blond Strigoi for a long time. He had hit my leg, the force probably dislocated my knee. I remember falling against the cave wall with the hit. The Strigoi covering me with his body, I had a vague memory of being bitten. I remember thinking I was gonna die and then he was ripped off of me.

"I'm okay," she said. "I ambushed them, there were two others at the entrance. They didn't expect anyone else to come inside. And I was able to get him off of you."

"You made three more kills?" I asked her softly as I processed through the information. I vaguely remembered a commotion happening as I was being drained, but I had the endorphins from the Strigoi running through my system.

"Yeah, feels weird," Roza said quietly. "Anyway, then Pavel came and helped you run back to the ATV. Stan and Alberta came to join us because it was getting close to sundown. I rode back with Stan and you and Pavel came straight to the infirmary. Apparently, you passed out on the ride back."

"Everyone else okay?" I asked her as I remembered the events she was describing. The moment the strigoi was off of me and Rose was in front of me, I fought through the endorphins. I understood how she was able to fight all those months ago when Lissa had fed off of her. The adrenaline pumping through my system was unbelievable and I was able to get here safely. I was lucky, so lucky.

"Yeah, though I think the junior students are going to be in a lot of trouble," she said chuckling. "Probably going to be on lockdown for the rest of the year too."

"Guardian Belikov," a voice greeted from the doorway suddenly before I could respond to my girlfriend. I turned to find Dr. Oldenski standing in the doorway. "How are you feeling? I hope Rosemarie is letting you rest."

"I'm okay," I told the doctor. I tried to hide my grimace of pain as I shifted on the bed. "Rose was just catching me up on everything that has happened."

"I see the painkillers have worn off," the doctor commented as she moved toward me. "I'm gonna do a quick exam and then I'll explain what we did. Along with what your recovery will look like."

I answered all the doctor's questions as she examined my body in addition to looking over the machines I was hooked up to. I finally understood why Rose thought the noises of the machines were so annoying. Before it was reassurance for me that she was okay. But today for me it was just loud and obnoxious.

"So Guardian Belikov, you lost a lot of blood from being bitten," Dr. Oldenski began. "We were able to give you a transfusion and while you will feel lethargic for a couple days we expect you to make a full recovery from the blood loss. In addition, you dislocated your right knee. We were able to readjust it but you will have to be off your feet for some time. A couple weeks at least, you will also need to have some physical therapy."

"A couple weeks?" I asked quietly. I didn't realize I spoke the words out loud until I felt Rose squeeze my hand. During the time the doctor was explaining my injuries, she had taken a hold of it. I'm glad she did.

"At least two weeks, it will all be based off how fast you heal," she explained to me. "We also checked for internal injuries. You had extensive bruising on your torso and when we checked we found that your appendix was largely inflamed. We removed it and you had no other internal injuries."

"I had surgery," I said softly coming to terms with everything that had happened. It was a lot to take in for really only being awake for half an hour.

"Yes," Rose answered me quietly. "But, you are expected to make a full recovery. And if you want, I can talk to Lissa."

"No," I shook my head quickly. My neck aching at the movement. I did not want Rose to talk to Lissa. She was still so upset with her. "I'll be fine."

Dr. Oldenski went over a few more things before leaving the room. I would have to stay in the infirmary for a few days at least.

"You aren't going to say anything about me coming back for you?" Rose asked me after a few minutes.

I chuckled softly. In truth, as her mentor, I was a little upset. You were trained to not go back for other Guardians. I personally thought it was ridiculous. I think more lives would be saved if we had a "no man left behind" policy. But it wasn't up to me. As her boyfriend, I was very grateful and just thankful we both got lucky this time. I was so grateful that I had more days with her. I was thankful that her training kicked in and we were able to get back to the academy safely. But more importantly, I wasn't going to say anything because she knew she got lucky. She knew the risks but she made the decision to do it anyway.

"No, you knew the risks going in," I explained. "You also know we got lucky. I don't think I need to give you a Zen life lesson."

"I was so scared," Roza told me. Her eyes began filling with tears. "I didn't know if I would ever see you again. My last thought before running in after you was that when you kissed me it felt different. You kissed me like you are saying goodbye."

My hand reached out to cup her face. I brushed back some of her hair that had fallen forward. I could see the tears threatening to fall down her face. I felt her pain as I listened to what she told me. And it broke my heart, but I didn't know how to tell her that the reason she thought I was kissing her like I was saying goodbye was that I was saying goodbye.

Our last kiss was a goodbye.

Thank you all again for sticking with me! I so appreciate it! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Yes, Dimitri is alive! But that doesn't mean that it will be smooth sailing just yet :P

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