A/N: I don't doubt that you guys all hate me, because you've waited so long for this chapter. I made it extra long just for you guys, and I would've had it up earlier but my mom is a computer hog, and I have a hard time getting her to get off so I can get on.
Disclaimer: As you all probably know, I sadly am not Richelle Mead. If I was, then I'd send all you awesome readers early copies of the real Last Sacrifice. Richelle Mead owns the characters, and I do not. I only own my plot.
Chapter Eighteen: Act
I woke up the next morning, feeling groggy and disoriented.
What happened yesterday? I asked myself.
It all came back to me in a rush.
Blood. Pain. Crash. Crushed.
I screamed as the memories came flooding back to me.
I hadn't noticed Dimitri was next to me until he shot up.
"Roza! What's wrong?" he was panicking.
"Dimitri! Oh God, the crash . . . are you okay?" I asked.
He looked puzzled. "I'm fine, Roza. Why are you freaking out so bad?"
I stared at him. "How are you not? Where are we? What's going on?" the questions were rapidly flying out of my mouth.
"Shhh . . . it's okay. You probably don't remember much because we had to give you some Tylenol 3 for your leg. We're in a camper that Abe brought." he explained.
I sagged with relief. His arms encircled me, and I felt safe. I cried silently into his chest, although I didn't even know why I was crying.
I couldn't hold back any longer; I crushed my lips to his with such a burning intensity. I threw my entire self into that kiss, grateful we were okay. He responded eagerly, holding me tighter in his warm embrace.
We broke the kiss, and I found myself getting lost in the depths of his warm chocolate brown eyes. They were burning with love and passion.
After a few moments of our silent staring contest, Dimitri broke the silence.
"Come on, we should get dressed so we can get to the airport."
I was confused. "Why are we going to the airport?"
"We have to pick up Lissa, Christian and Eddie."
"Right. I forgot about that." I turned to stand up. When I tried, I cried out in pain and fell flat on my face for the second time in three days.
"Rose, are you okay?" Dimitri asked worriedly.
"Yeah, I forgot about my leg too." I smiled sheepishly.
Dimitri reached down to lift me up. "Oh Rose, what am I ever going to do with you?"
"I dunno, I guess I'm a handful. Literally." I smiled up at him, and he just chuckled at me.
He carried me outside of the camper, presumably to see Dad. The fresh air felt nice in my lungs.
Dimitri spotted Abe and walked towards him.
"Hey Rose, how are you feeling?" Abe asked.
"I freaked out a little because I didn't remember what happened at first, but then I remembered the crash but nothing else. Dimitri told me, so I'm fine now." I explained.
"Well I'm just happy to see you able to actually think clearly again. Those Tylenol certainly did a number on you." Abe smirked.
I grimaced. "What did I actually do?"
It was Dimitri who answered my question. "Well, when I picked you up to carry you to the car where our injuries were being treated, you we're going on about how you got a lift and you were special, then you started yelling 'Choo choo! All aboard the Dimitri Express!'" I blushed, and he continued. "When I took you to the camper, you were talking about a unicorn flying around the room and kept going on about how pretty it was." Wow. I guess those things really were strong . . .
I changed the subject. "How's Sydney?"
"She's fine, she was a little shaken up but she was really worried about you, Rose." Abe answered.
I exhaled with relief. I was glad that Sydney was okay, because I've come to regard her as an actual friend, no matter what she had to say about 'Evil Creatures of the Night'.
I sighed. "I guess we don't really need her anymore, since we know now that Victor has Lissa's sister . . ." then I remembered that Abe didn't know. I tensed myself for his reaction, but he wasn't surprised. I looked up to Dimitri for answers.
"I showed him the messages when you were being treated."
"Oh."
Abe spoke. "Now, we need to plan this very carefully."
"I know." I agreed. "Now we need to get going to the airport, right?"
Dimitri nodded. "Are you going to change your clothes or just go like that?" he asked.
I thought about it for a minute. I was pretty sure that I would have a hard time getting my pants off and putting another pair on, so I answered, "No, I'll just go like this. I really don't want to fight with my clothes right now. Do you guys want me to talk to Lissa and see when they're landing?"
Abe looked lost, but Dimitri nodded. "I'll explain later, dad." he nodded.
Hey Liss!
Hey Rose, how's the leg?
Not too bad. I can deal with it until we pick you up.
That's good.
So, how much longer until you land? We need to know when to leave.
I think the stewardess said twenty minutes or something like that.
Okay . . . OMG I just thought of something funny to do!
What?
Okay, so you know what I look like, but Christian and Eddie don't.
Your point?
I should totally go up to them and act like a complete stranger and see what their reactions to me are!
OMG that's gonna be soooooo funny! Oh and, I uh, have something to tell you. You're not gonna be happy about it either.
What is it?
Adrian came with us.
WHAT! THERE'S ONLY ONE GUARDIAN THERE WITH THREE MOROI! THIS IS RIDICULOUS!
Rose! Calm yourself down! Don't worry, we'll be fine with you, Dimitri and Abe's Guardians. Plus Christian can keep us safe.
STILL! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE LISSA! WHY DID YOU LET HIM COME?
Because he wouldn't stop bugging us until we agreed to let him. You know how persistant and annoying he can be.
I know . . . I'm just angry. Anyways, I gotta go. We'll head for the airport now and see you when we get there.
Okay. Bye Rosie!
Bye Vasilisa!
I turned back to Dimitri and Abe, who were giving me weird looks. "Lissa said the plane is landing in about twenty minutes. Oh and Adrian tagged along. Isn't that great?"
Dimitri swore under his breath in Russian. "Do they have any idea how stupid they are?" he asked angrily.
"I don't know, but we have to be ready to meet them so let's go."
Dimitri nodded and Abe led us to a car that we could use. It was a van, and I didn't bother to find out what kind. All I noticed was that it was black and shiny. Probably the newest version available, knowing Abe.
Dimitri gingerly set me down in the passenger side, and then walked over to the driver's side. Before we drove away, Abe handed me some crutches and I sent him a grateful look. At least now Dimitri wouldn't have to carry me everywhere. Dimitri started the car, and we drove off towards the airport for the second time in two days.
I was really happy to be able to see Lissa again, but I was worried. What if something happens to her? I asked myself. I'd never be able to live with myself knowing she got hurt because she came here to heal me. And Adrian, stupid, care-free Adrian. He was like my brother. If anything happened to him, I don't know what I would do. Sparky too.
Those thoughts were spiraling around in my head the whole ten minutes it took to get to the airport. Dimitri didn't try talking to me, or maybe he had but I hadn't noticed because I'd been too caught up in my own thoughts to notice anything else.
Dimitri helped me to get out of the car, holding me up until I properly positioned my crutches. I didn't even want to look at my leg; I knew it would be horrible.
You'd think that with all the injuries that I've sustained in my life that I would've used crutches before, but I hadn't. They were annoying, difficult to maneuver, and on more than one occasion, Dimitri had to stop me from falling on my face. Again.
We sat down in the airport for the next ten minutes, waiting for my friends. I told him about my plan with Christian and Eddie, and he laughed.
"What do you think they'll do when they realize that it's me?" I asked.
He shrugged. "I don't know, but if you want I'll hide and film it with your phone."
"Ooooh! Good idea! You are so devious! I like it." I pulled his face down to mine and kissed him. God I love him so much.
"I love you, my Roza." he whispered.
I giggled before whispering, "I love you too, my Comrade."
He chuckled and held me tight. I sighed.
"I'm gonna ask Liss what's going on, 'kay?"
"Okay."
Hey Liss. What's going on?
We've landed, and now they're getting all the carry-ons out of the compartments. We should be out in a few minutes.
Okay, man it's gonna be soo funny to see how Christian and Eddie react to me! Adrian already knows what I look like now, because he dream-walked me last night.
That sucks, it would've been funny to see his reaction too . . .
I know. Whatever, though. At least things are patched up between us now.
YAY WE'RE LEAVING THE PLANE!
OMG I'M SOOO EXCITED TO SEE YOU AGAIN!
I KNOW!
See you in a few minutes!
Okay Rose!
"They're leaving the plane, so go hide. Here take my phone." I told Dimitri.
"Okay, I'll be filming!" He kissed me softly before walking away.
I grabbed my stupid crutches and waited by the gate.
When I saw them walk through, I wanted nothing more then to run and hug them as tight as I could. Lissa felt the same, but she was playing it cool. I casually strolled-well hobbled, actually-over to them and introduced myself.
"Hello, I'm Jenni." I extended my hand and used a fake voice.
Christian and Eddie had really weird looks on their faces, but Lissa and Adrian kept their faces neutral.
"I'm Lissa, this is Adrian, Christian and Eddie." Lissa said, trying to keep a straight face.
"It's nice to meet you, Lissa, Christian, Adrian and Eddie." I said warmly. In my head I could hear Lissa's silent laughter. I didn't know how much longer I could keep it up.
Hey Lissa, mind if I do something really funny? She saw in my head what I wanted to do.
Go right ahead! Don't worry, I won't be mad.
Thanks Lissa!
I walked up and stood right in front of Sparky. "Hey, Christian, is it?" he nodded, and I continued. "You are sooooo cute!" the look on his face was priceless! Saying the words made me want to throw up. It's not that he wasn't cute, but for one I have a hot Russian boyfriend and he's Lissa's boyfriend.
Lissa couldn't hold back her laughter when she saw Christian's face turn red. "Okay, let's let them off the hook." she said.
I spoke with my normal voice again. "Wow you guys are soooooo gullible!"
"Rose?" Eddie asked.
"The one and only, Edster!"
Christian mumbled something that sounded a lot like "I hate you."
I walked up to him and hugged him. "So you hate me, do ya Sparky?"
He sighed. "No, but you're really annoying, did you know that?"
"Aw, Sparky, I'm hurt. I might have to get my Russian after you!" as if on cue, Dimitri came out from behind a pillar and handed me back my phone, wrapping his arms around me from behind.
"Sorry Rose!" Christian apologized quickly. I just laughed at him.
Dimitri greeted them all. "Hello, everyone. I'm surprised that you didn't know that it was Rose from the crutches!"
"I know. I feel really stupid." Eddie admitted.
I reached out a hand to put on his shoulder. "Oh Eddie, don't feel stupid. I don't even look the same at all, so I didn't expect you guys to know me. Lissa only knew because I showed her a picture in my head and Adrian dream-walked me last night." Dimitri tensed at that last statement. I just shook my head at him and kissed him.
"Aww! You two are absolutely adorable!" Lissa sqealed.
"Call me adorable again and Sparky gets it." I fake threatened her.
Adrian spoke for the first time today. "Okay, stop with the threats and stuff, can we seriously just get out of this airport?"
"Not before I get a hug from each of you!" I replied.
Lissa stepped forward first and gave me a huge bear hug.
"Lissa . . . Can't . . . Breathe . . ." I managed to say. Wow, she's gotten stronger.
"Hey! Don't hog Rose!" Christian teased.
"Oh Sparky, come here and give me another hug!" God, I really was going soft . . .
He stepped forward and gave me a little hug, but I wasn't having any of that. I squeezed him hard, then released him. He was panting from lack of air.
"Come here Eddie!" I ordered. He complied, and gave me a tight hug.
"We've missed you, Rose." he said.
"I've missed you guys too."
"Hey little dhampir, where's my hug?"
"Come here." I muttered. He'd get a hug, then a special treat.
He looked happy and hugged me. I hugged him back, then pulled away and slapped him across the face.
"What was that for?" he asked, clutching his face.
"That was for coming, stupid ass! You should've stayed behind the damn wards!" Everyone burst out laughing at my words.
"I was worried about you, little dhampir. By the way, you look horrible." Dimitri growled at him when he said that.
"Roza does not look horrible, she's always beautiful!" he spat.
"Whoa Comrade, calm down. I always disregard what he says, so you have nothing to worry about. Now, can we leave? I hate these stupid damn crutches!"
"Okay, but do you want me to carry you? I don't mind." Dimitri replied.
I thought about it. "Yeah, that would be nice. I can't walk very good with these things, so I look like an idiot."
He took my crutches and handed them to Eddie, then he gently picked me up, bridal style, so he wouldn't hurt my leg.
When we reached the car, he set me down gently in the passenger seat again.
"Thanks Comrade, now lets go."
He nodded in agreement, and we headed back.
Aww, who else thinks Dimitri is a sweetie?
Review, and I will get the next chapter up as fast as I possibly can.
Bear with me, I am only 13 and with high school, friends and a computer hogging mother, I'm doing my best because you guys really are awesome :)