I just wanted to mention the title of my last chapter, Train Wreck: Part 2

I got some good-hearted teasing that the first Train Wreck, chapter 14, wasn't accurate, because it didn't actually have a train wreck. So, here you go! The solution to the problem!

I hear as the train groans over the lip of the cliff. I hear the silence as it falls hundreds of feet the the icy depths of the valley. I hear the screams of the metal body settling onto the ground, until a vicious roar bursts from the cliff. Flames shoot upwards, creating a halo of light, surrounding the mountain.

Tears run down my cheeks, freezing before they can slip to my jaw. I strain to look upwards, my neck throbbing and sore. His sad eyes look back at me, and he holds me close.

"No," I murmur, as he gently rocks me.

"He's gone, Rose. He's gone."

Something snaps.

"Dimitri!" I scream, struggling against him. "Dimitri!"

I push Adrian away, scrambling up and out of his arms, kicking away his hands. I run as fast as I can towards the edge of the cliff, but I cannot seem to run fast enough. I collapse onto my knees.

"Dimitri!" I scream, sobbing into my hands. He's dead, gone. I've lost him. My whole body is numb, I can no longer feel the cold. It's over. It's all over.

"Please, no," I whisper, crawling the very edge. I can see the simmering flames below, see the twisted and broken metal body of the cars.

And hands.

Oh God.

"Dimitri!" I scream. About fifteen feet below me, on a ledge of rock, Dimitri is clinging with only his fingertips to the edge of the cliff.

"R-Roza," he groans. His whole body shakes, and he looks only minutes away from unconciousness.

"Dimitri! Adrian you have to help me!" I want to sob in relief, but I can't, not yet, not when his arms are shaking so badly, not when he is unable to get to safety by himself.

Dimitri is battered and bloody, a large, seeping gash on his forehead. He sways gently, looking like disoriented. "Roza, I can't hold on much longer," he moans. His voice is soft and distant.

"Shh," I soothe, my voice desperate. "It's alright. I'm coming. Don't let go. I'm coming. Adrian!"

"Rose-"

"He's down there!" I scream, my voice ragged and shaking. "I have to get down there!"

Adrian peers over the edge. His arms are closed around me, and he cradles me to his chest. "It's too dangerous! That ledge is far too narrow. It's a miracle he was able to grab onto it at all!"

"Ro-za!" His voice cracks, he doesn't have much time.

"Are you going to help me or not?" I snap at Adrian. "Because regardless, I'm going down there."

Adrian sighs running his fingers through his hair. We both kneel in the snow, clad in only pajamas. An odd sight, but we are alive. We breathe. We live.

But I cannot enjoy this freedom. Not yet.

Adrian stands shakily, and stumbles over to a hibernating tree. I can his legs are numb with cold, and he struggles against the leafless wood. Reaching up, he jerks a long branch off of it. It's not very thick, but it's long.

"This is the best I got. Be careful."

Without even a lingering look at Adrian's haunting eyes, I take one end, and he grabs the other, and I ease myself over the edge.

The full height of the cliff hits me, and I instantly feel nauseated. It's almost as if I can feel the distance underneath me, as if the wind contains the true depth of where I could fall. The wind swirls around me, fluttering my jacket, and I fight to see below me.

Adrian's feet are firmly planted on the ground, and he gently lowers me down, bending when the length of the branch doesn't seem to reach far enough.

But the branch only goes down about half the distance that I need to get Dimitri. "I have to drop!" I yell at Adrian.

"Rose, no! We'll-"

"I have to!" I scream, fear gripping at my insides, but courage driving my actions. "If I don't, he'll die."

With one, deep breath, I let go.

My stomach drops, and it feels as though I am falling thousands of feet. But when my feet hit the rocky ledge, and I fall to my knees, I welcome safety.

I am pressed against the rock wall, the cold wind and night air chilling my skin, but I burn with determination inside. The cold evaporates around me, and I don't feel anything. Anything but fear.

"Ro...za." Dimitri mumbles. "I can't- I can't..."

Spinning on the thin ledge, I lean down, grabbing the back of his shirt.

"Dimitri, honey, you gotta help me out, okay?" He nods robotically, but I'm not sure if he has even heard me.

"I can't hold on," he mumbles.

"You need to climb up, okay? You've got to try and get your feet onto something."

With one great heave, I clamp onto his waist, trying desperately to pull him up. "Dimitri-"

I pull again, and he struggles to hold onto something, anything.

"I'm trying," he groans, as if I am about to reject him, to give up, to let him go. "I'm trying, Roza."

The gash on his forehead bleeds heavily now, not yet slowed by the cold. "Shh, I know you're trying. I know it's hard, I know you're tired. But I won't let you fall."

I grunt and rear back, and Dimitri manages to clumsily swing his leg over the side of the ledge. We both struggle helplessly, until he collapses onto the snowy rock, panting heavily. I pull his head into my lap, gently stroking his hair.

"Roza," he moans, delirious. "Don't leave. Stay with me."

"It's not over yet," I whisper softly. "We have to get back up there."

He shakes his head. "I can't. I can't, Rose."

"C'mon, get up," I say. "Don't go to sleep on me yet."

I pull him to his feet, half supporting his weight. "Adrian!" I call. "Adrian!"

I see his head appear over the edge. "Rose!"

He lowers the branch down, but it cannot possibly support both of our weight.

"Dimitri, you need to go first. Climb up the rock as high as you can."

He looks dizzy and disoriented, and the last thing I want is to send him climbing up the side of a mountain in his condition, but we have no other choice. "Roza, you can't reach it by yourself."

"But if you fall, then you'll die. I might be able to keep you from going off the edge. I'll figure it out, just go."

"Roza-"

"GO," I demand my emotions spiking. Dimitri slowly reaches up, shakily climbing several feet until he is aided by the branch. My heart soars as he is lifted over the edge. Now, Dimitri has at least a foot of height on me, and only has to climb about half the distance that I need to until he can grab onto the branch. And this is what worries me.

I begin to scale the side of the slippery, icy rock. A few feet is a lot when, at any moment, one slip could cause my death.

I am almost able to grab the branch, so close, but I cannot reach it. I strain upwards, but my foot hits packed snow, and it collapses under my weight. I scream, clutching onto the rocky edge.

"Roza!"

"Rose!"

But I manage to hold on, I manage to stay. I manage to live.

Carefully, so carefully, I slide my foot onto a secure rock, testing it gently before hoisting myself up. I snatch onto the branch, and both men quickly pull me onto the safety of the snow.

Adrian's arms instantly are around me, and Dimitri showers the back of my neck in lazy kisses, murmuring my name. I hug Adrian solidly before turning to embrace Dimitri. His hands travel along my spine, tracing patterns. He is swaying and could probably collapse at any moment.

"Adrian, we need to find a place to stay."

He nods, and we both slip one of Dimitri's arms around our shoulders, carrying his weight. Adrian grunts.

"How much does he weigh?" he asks, panting.

"Shut up," I say lightly, feeling Dimitri's sagging conciousness. "Dimitri, honey, you've got to hang on for us, okay? We're going to find a place where you can sleep."

He groans, stumbling. "Hurry," is all he can say, before his chin falls to his chest. We walk for what seems like miles, what seems like hours. We trudge through the snow, hiking upwards, until we find a road. A deserted road. But roads lead to towns, and what we need more than anything is help. "Rose, is that a house?"

"What? Where?" I cannot see anything through the swirling snow, and the dark night.

"Right there. On the top of the hill!"

"What hill?" I cry.

Adrian sighs. "Dhampir eyes."

"Shut up," I mutter once more, and we continue to walk. But sure enough, Adrian was right, and a small, two story house comes into view.

It seems to be the only building in sight, although I believe that I can see blurred lights in the distance. But Dimitri is fading fast.

Adrian knocks violently on the door, before an elderly man, who couldn't be any less than seventy, opens the door.

His eyes widen in shock, and he gently pushes the thick, wire-framed glasses further up his crooked nose. Running a hand over his balding head, he takes in the sight of us, and what a sight it must be.

A young woman and a man, broken and bruised, supporting a nearly unconcious giant, whose face is coated with blood. All three in their nightclothes.

"Please," Adrian begs. "We've been in an accident."

...

Turns out, the tiny place is a Bed and Breakfast, and we request a room together. One pull out couch, one bed, and a few extra blankets.

The man offers two rooms, but we vow to stay together, at least for the night.

We both instantly decide that Dimitri gets the bed, but it's a struggle to decide who gets the couch. Adrian uses his charming ladies first, to try and persuade me to take it, although I insist that I get the floor, as I am the Guardian, and was used to sleeping on a rock-hard mattress in prison, anyways.

Being as stubborn as I am, I end up getting the floor.

Unfortunately, I wake in the early hours of the morning, when Adrian is already snoring lightly, and the sun has barely risen. My veins are pumping heavily, I've dreamed of the wreck. I fill up a foot-bath plastic tub with warm water and gather several handfulls of linens, quickly exiting the bathroom.

To my surprise, Dimitri is already awake, watching me.

"Good morning," I whisper, and slip past Adrian. Setting the bucket on the side table, I gently sit at Dimitri's bedside.

"How are you feeling?" I ask softly, stroking the matted hair from his face.

He smiles. "Like I got hit by a train."

I let out a dry laugh. "That's not funny," I scold playfully. "What hurts?"

Dimitri, never one to complain just smiles again. "My back. My head. My arms."

His face is caked in dried blood, a thick red mask, his arms covered in scratches and cuts. I dip one cloth in the warm water, and gently dab at his face. We sit in silence, the fireplace and the rising sun our only source of light.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, afraid to meet his gaze. "That I let go of your hand. I was trying so hard..."

He gently cups my jaw, tilting my face into the light. "Shh. You should not have come after me. You should have left me. Thank you."

I smile. He could have scolded me, could have acted superiour, but no, he was gentle and appreciative. He was Dimitri.

"I would never have left you," I whisper. "I would never have abandoned you."

"Like I abandoned you?"

I flinch, turning my attention back to the task at hand. "I'd rather not discuss that now."

He sighs, and shifts uncomfortably. "Does your back hurt?" I ask, once I firmly press a bandage to his clean face. He winces and nods, taking my hand and allowing me to help him turn. I lift his torn and dirty t-shirt. An enormous bruise had formed from his right hip, all the way to his left shoulder.

I press two fingers along his spine, rubbing ever-so-gently down, around the bruise. He winces and squeezes my free hand, and I immediately remove my hand.

"How are your arms?"

He groans. "I can't even lift them."

I smile. "I can run a bath for you, if you want. It might help with the stiffness."

Dimitri shakes his head. "No, I don't think I could even get myself out of it. Thank you, though."

I gently tear away his t-shirt, careful not to jar anything, and gently clean his chest of blood or any other dirt.

"I'm going to go into town, today. It's only like a five minute walk. I'll get us some clothing, I can call Abe."

He nods. "Okay, I'll-"

"No," I whisper. "You're staying here and resting. God knows you could use it after falling off of a cliff."

He chuckles softly. "I fell fifteen feet, Rose."

"And slammed your forehead onto a rock. I think you could use a day in bed."

He smiles and burrows further into the bed. "I appreciate you two giving me the bed, by the way, but I'm fine now. You can get a room of your own."

I grab a towel off of the bedside table and dip it in the water, gently rubbing Dimitri's hair clean. Exhaustion still played on his every feature, and I wasn't sure if he would be able to stand long enough to take a shower. So I ridded his hair of dirt and blood with the damp towel.

"I know your alright, you have no idea how thankful I truly am for that, but I just want to make sure you're taken care of."

Dimitri shifts to the side, supporting his head his his palm, his elbow resting on the pillow. "I am taken care of. Believe me, you've spoiled me. You don't know how many times while being a Guardian that I've just layed in bed, covered in dirt and unable to clean and dress my wounds because I'm alone and just don't have the energy."

Sympathy wells within me, although I know that's definately not what Dimitri was trying to inspire. He sighs and smiles. "Roza, don't give me that look. I don't mind being alone. Every Guardian has to face it sometime."

I give him a sad smile. "I know, it's just sad, that's all. Sad that that's the life that so many people have to live. And I would hardly call this being spoiled."

I watch as he gently rubs his eyes. "You know, I wouldn't even be alive if you hadn't kept me from leaving the room, on the train, when I was mad at you," I mention softly.

He shakes his head. "Yes, Dimitri, you know it's true. I would have stayed out all night. And then the train would have crashed, and I would have been all alone and would have no idea what to do."

He shrugs. "And I would have passed out and fallen off of the side of the cliff if you hadn't come to rescue me. Call it even, then?"

Sighing, I nod, and lay down beside him, resting my temple on his shoulder. He doesn't stiffen at all, just rests his head on the crown of mine.

"I should probably get going if I'm going to the store."

"Mmm. They've probably just opened. You have all day."

I smile. "Yes, but I've trecked through the snow in these pajama pants, and now they're soaking wet. I'm cold."

I meant it lightly, but Dimitri frowns. "Then should you really be going out into the snow? I-"

"Shut up! I'm fine!" I laugh. "Leave me alone!"

Adrian groans. "Both of you shut up! I'm trying to sleep!"

Laughing, I get up from the warm bed, grabbing my jacket and sliding into my slippers, the only articles of clothing I managed to grab on my rush out of the train. With a quick goodbye, I slip out of hte door.

The sun warms me, although my slightly damp pajama bottoms send shivers throughout my body. I trudge through the snow, my breath curling from my lips.

There is only one store in the tiny town, and I buy t-shirts and sweatpants, in the smallest and largest sizes. But the longer I stay out, the more and more I begin to feel... vurnerable. Like I am exposed, begging to be attacked. The feeling grows stronger and stronger, until I practically run back to the B and B, just wanting to be safe and warm inside.

How odd, that after months in a prison cell, after months of longing for freedom, all that I wanted was to curl up into bed with Dimitri.

The two men welcome me back. Adrian is about to get another room, and Dimitri still lays in bed, looking quite comfortable, but still exhausted.

I help him out of bed, handing him a clean pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt, and he disappears into the bathroom. Adrian has already gone downstairs, leaving Dimitri and I alone.

But when he emerges from the bathroom, I try to repress any sympathy, or attraction, that might show on my face.

His chest remains bare, too sore to put the t-shirt on. He is still fit and muscular, but bruises and cuts litter his chest. I help him back into bed, and he asks me sweetly to put more wood into the fireplace, which I do.

"Adrian told me to stop being so lazy and do it myself," he laughs. "If I would have been able to get out of bed without assistance, I would have hit him."

Even though the frosty weather outside is much colder, the room's temperature begins to lower dramatically, and I can start to feel the chill.

I smile to myself, promising Dimitri that I'd be back, and slip out of the room. There is a small kitchen downstairs, and I help myself to the kettle and the tub of hot chocolate mix. I read the directions carefully, then double the amount of powder that is 'recommended.' Dimitri liked it better this way, anyways.

I make three cups of hot chocolate, and balance them all, bringing them back up to our room.

Adrian sits on the couch, his feet propped up on the coffee table. They both look up when I walk in.

"Hot chocolate!" I chirp, handing one to each of the men. "It's doubled," I tell Dimitri, who smiles broadly before taking a sip.

"Rose, we have a bit of a problem."

"Adrian, a problem is trying to find a way out of a train wreck. I'm sure we can handle this."

He rolls his eyes, nursing the mug in his hands. "The place is small. They only have two rooms, this one and one other. Someone's going to have to share."

I shrug. "I'll sleep on the couch. Dimitri is too sore to get out of bed by himself, anyways."

Although he doesn't seem thrilled, Adrian nods and grabs his portion of clothing, before disappearing down the hall.

"Rose," Dimitri murmurs. "Maybe this isn't the best idea. To be sharing a room-"

"Good God, Dimitri. I'm not going to jump you. You made it perfectly clear that nothing is ever going to happen between us. I can accept that. I'm just taking care of you."

His mouth snaps shut, from a position that looked like he was about to say something, but changed his mind.

"O- okay."

Smiling, I make up the couch, tucking in the sheets before flopping down onto it.

"Did you call Abe?"

The smile beads and slides off of my face. "Shit."

Thank you for your amazing reviews for the last chapter! They were excellent! You have no idea how much I appreciate them!