DPOV

I couldn't believe we were doing this and that it was my idea.

Christian is always pushing me to be more outgoing since according to him the craziest thing I've ever done as an adult was turn in police report without writing my name on it.

I thought this trip would be good for Rose.

For a couple of days, she'd get away from her problems and I wanted her to feel good for once. She seemed happy whenever we had our little outings and I just wanted to see more of that. I wanted to be the reason she would smile and be happy.

I'm her caseworker.

Caseworkers want their case victims to be happy.

It's completely normal for caseworkers to run off with the girls in one of their cases for a few days without any feelings.

Great, now I was lying even to my self.

I couldn't like Rose. She was barely an adult her self and I was seven years older than her. It wouldn't be right. It would only confuse her more with everything else going on.

"Imagine if it was some dude hitting on your sister," Christian had said. He was waiting for Lissa at his apartment.

He called while Rose and I were packing.

"That's gross. I'm not feeling anything for her. I'm supposed to watch out for her."

"Yeah, 'watch out for her'. Not feel her up. She's only what, like a couple years older than Victoria?"

"Why are bugging me about Rose when Lissa is the same age and you're older than her?"

"Yeah but Lissa is ready and willing. That's different," he said sounding smug.

"That's gross. You know you have a thing for her the same way I do for-"

I cut my self off before the sentence could continue.

I felt like a teenage girl gushing about the some guy I liked.

"For Rose! I knew it. You're a terrible liar Dimitri."

"If that were true, my cover would have been blown and Abe would have killed me a long time ago."

"Speaking of, while the big Mob boss is out of town and our international police are keeping an eye on him, where do you plan on taking advantage of his daughter? Not that he'd care, I'm sure."

"I don't plan on taking advantage of her anywhere. We're just getting out of town for a while. It will be good for Rose. She's so tense and paranoid lately. She thinks someone's watching her. I think maybe Abe is paying someone to keep an eye on us," I told him zipping up my bag.

"I wouldn't put it past him. The dude is evil. Maybe it is good you guys leave. Lissa's going to spend then night so she should be safe. Be careful out there, D," he warned.

"You too, Chris."

"Oh and don't forget to use protection."

I rolled my eyes, hung up then, and headed out with Rose.

She moaned in her sleep, her head lulling to one side.

She fell asleep a while ago.

She trusted me a lot more than I'm sure she veer trusted anybody and she slept with less nightmares.

Abe went away a few weekends ago to deal with a deal in person and decided to leave me behind. I wasn't trusted enough to tag along on trips yet. Usually, when he did this, Jesse sent another agent to keep a watchful, distant eye on him since I could be spotted if I went and the entire case would be blown.

Those days when Abe went away and Jesse wasn't being so obsessive and persistent about this case, I had vacation time.

I talked Rose into staying in for once so she'd have a chance to get some sleep.

She was hesitant about sleeping at her father's house because she was always worried about Mikhail or Victor.

She thought they were always watching and following her.

"Just relax and try to get some sleep," I'd told her. She was fidgeting and pacing all night and couldn't seem to sit still. She was worried more and more her father would find out she was working with police and my cover would be blown.

"I keep telling you that you can stop this anytime you want to," I told her pulling the comforter around her.

"But you're so involved. I feel better being able to help too so I know that you're okay," she mumbled.

Her voice was small and she sounded so fragile.

"That's sweet Rose but in case you haven't noticed, I'm a pretty big guy."

"I've noticed," she said smiling.

I tried to ignore that and went on. "And I'm a trained police officer. I've seen and done things that you can't even imagine. I can take care of my self," I said smiling.

She rolled over, lying on her hands to face me, sitting beside the bed.

"That's what I usually say," she whispered, a smile on her full lips. "I'm just worried. Lissa is always making fun of me because she says I never show emotion or care about any one. I'm sure she'd be proud knowing how worried I am now." She chuckled without any humor in her voice.

I tucked the blanket tighter around her. It was getting even colder with the weather worsening but she was shuddering because she was scared.

"I promise. Everything will be okay. I never break a promise."

She stared at me for the longest of time, doubtful.

"Do you trust me, Rose?"

She nodded without a moment's hesitation.

"Then trust me when I say, that when this case ends, we'll both walk away from it safe and sound and all of this will be pushed behind us."

"Okay."

I tucked loose strands of hair behind her ear. I was always doing that trying to find excuses or reasons to touch her and she did it a lot her self but we never acknowledged it.

It wasn't in a creepy way.

Little moments where I'd push her hair back so I could see her face. She always head it pulled back but a few strands never seemed to stay in place and would blow across her face. Sometimes she'd brush against me or touch my hand or hug me.

I guess it was because of the feeling of security of having someone there and knowing that they wont leave you. I was reassuring her whenever we were alone together that she wasn't alone and that I wouldn't leave her.

We were close because we could be and taking full advantage of it.

She snuggled under the blankets and smiled at me before closing her eyes and falling asleep.

I looked over at her now, still sleeping dreamlessly, and then looked down at where our hands still touched.

I ran my thumb along the back of her smooth hand.

This probably wasn't helping.

I smiled and tightened my grip.

I was trying to convince my self it wasn't a good idea to flirt with Rose (yes I admit it I'm flirting) and holding her hand wasn't a good idea.

I couldn't seem to let go of it though.