I sleep for what feels like days. But the blissful fog lifts, and I slowly come back to my own body, and the clean hotel room.

Dimitri sits in a small armchair, leaning to the side, dark circles under his eyes. He slowly blinks, and catches my gaze.

"You're awake," he mumbles. I nod.

"Have you not slept? All night?" By his appearance, the answer is clear.

Shaking his head, Dimitri replies gruffly, "We both know you would have left."

I smile. He knows me so well. "I'm going to go take a shower. Go to sleep, Dimitri."

But, once again he shakes his head. I sigh, giving up, and grab some things from my bag before disappearing into the bathroom. I take a long, hot shower, letting the water scrub away any remainders of my old, disgusting motel, and the touch of those sick Moroi in the alley.

But when I dress and slip out of the bathroom, Dimitri is slumped on the floor beside the bathroom door, still sitting up, fast asleep. I had known he wasn't sleeping well, every since he had changed back from strigoi, but this was ridiculous.

I kneel beside him, my one hand slipping to the side of his jaw, lifting his head. His eyes flutter open, but he is still incredibly groggy. "Rose?" he mumbles.

"Dimitri, you need to sleep," I say softly.

"No... I'm..."

He trails off and stumbles to his feet. He lurches, and I instantly catch him. Gently, I lead him to the other bed, letting him lay down, his eyes drooping.

"No," he mutters. "I'm supposed to bring you back."

The air about him is almost...childlike. I push him down as he tries to rise. Stubborn as a child. In this moment, he reminds me so much of Paul.

"Dimitri, I promise I won't leave. Just sleep, okay?"

He gives me an exhausted nod and drifts off to sleep.

I settle into the armchair, picking up Dimitri's lame western novel, and begin to read.

...

A hear a soft moan, and he shifts around in bed.

With a gasp, Dimitri jerks upright.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I ask, gently, setting down his novel, which, although I'll never admit it, was actually pretty good.

He seems to just notice me, and jumps out of bed. "You didn't leave," he says, shocked.

I shake my head. "I promised I wouldn't."

He eyes me curiously. "Yes, but I still can't believe you didn't leave."

"Are you calling me a liar?" I excuse, trying to sound serious, or scolding.

Dimitri gives me one last look before turning away. "No," he says simply. "But I have something for you."

I sit down, cross-legged on the bed. He walks to the closet, where, of course, his duster has been hung up neatly. Reaching into the pocket, he pulls out a plastic credit card, and hands it to me.

I stare at the card in my hands. "Dimitri-"

"Take it. It's linked to my account. I got it while you were asleep."

"What? What are you talking about? I can't accept this-"

He sighs, and sits down next to me. "Rose, I know that you don't want to be here. I know you don't want to go home, that you don't want to be anywhere near me, after what I've done to you. But if, or when, you do escape, I don't want you to end up living in a place like that motel, or unable to eat. Or..."

I give him a sad smile. "Or end up as a bloodwhore?" I interrupt. He looks down at his hands.

"I want you to be safe. I don't ever want to worry about you they way I already have. I know I don't have much to give you, I just... I want you to be taken care of."

To my shock, I instantly throw my arms around him. "Thank you."

He freezes, but ends up wrapping his arms around my waist, burying his face into my hair. I don't want to run away, I realize.

Before it got awkward, I pulled away. "So, when are you dragging me back to Court?" I ask, pulling up humor as my only defense against emotion.

Dimitri sighs. "I guess I should call. When I left, they expected storms over the next few days. Did you bring a heavier jacket?" he asks, and when I shake my head, says, "Of course not. Never remembers a coat. I suppose we'll have to get you one?"

I shake my head. "No, really, I'm..."

But Dimitri won't hear it, and insists that we go and get me a jacket before the weather turns too cold.

Luckily, just as we walk out of the small store and into the streets, the first flakes of snow begin to fall. I pull on my new jacket, once again, promising Dimitri that I will pay him back. And, once again, he waves me off.

But even as we walk down the street, Dimitri stays close to me, not letting me stray far, as if I would bolt at any second.

But, as I had come to realize, I felt safe with Dimitri in this strange city, and I wanted to stick by his side.

"Have you visited your family, yet?" I ask, trying to sound casual.

He sighs. "No. I'm not ready for that yet."

I flick my eyes towards him. "You didn't even phone to say you were alive," I state. "If you would have seen Olena's face... It was like her whole world was brighter, like she was happy for the first time in a long time. Just by hearing your voice."

He glances momentarily at his watch. "We should get back to the hotel. I'm expecting a call."

Grabbing his sleeve, I pull him around. "Oh no you don't. Talk to me, Dimitri. You know your family would have immediately gotten on a plane just to see you."

"But I didn't want them to see me. A failure as a Guardian, someone associated with strigoi. I did horrible things. I don't deserve their sympathy."

I don't know if Dimitri has ever opened up to me like this. I feel so horrible to see him like this. Before I can register what I am doing, I wrap my arms around him.

"You're a good man, Dimitri. No matter what you think, no matter what you want to believe."

I feel him stiffen in my arms. He pulls away, his voice thick and his accent heavy. "We should go back to the hotel."

I sigh, and all I can do is follow.

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