Another update. Is there going to be a character death, or am i just teasing y'all? And where have all my readers gone? There's a sudden lack of reviews and readers, so there won't be another update until i get more than one!

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The Dragon and the Rose

Chapter Twenty One

Can you hear the violins?

Tegan ran and she ran and she ran until she got to Rhys house. All she could think about was his panicked, hoarse voice crackling down the phone and the grunts and cries in the background and tears were running down her cheeks and her heart was hammering in her chest and she was so scared.

Scared at what she'd find when she'd get there.

Scared incase she'd be planning funerals for the next couple of weeks.

The front door was open when she got there. Tegan approached, fists balled. Stepping inside, she took a deep breath and moved into the hallway.

And then into the living room. Rhys was laid on his back, unrecognizable. His face was a mess; covered in blood and bruised, cut and swollen.

She clamped a hand over her mouth. The coffee table was on its side, one of the legs beside her brother's head. The stereo was in pieces, smashed glass all over the floor. 'Rhys?' she breathed, stepping forward. He didn't move. Was he-?

'He's alive,' said a voice behind her. Tegan spun to see Pete, blood dripping steadily down his face. He was leaning against the wall, a pained expression on his face; he looked just a battered, but at least he was conscious.

Tegan fell towards him and Pete pulled her into his chest, wheezing. They could hear sirens getting closer as she cupped his face.

'What happened?' she asked, tears filling her eyes once more. Pete shook his head, confusion in his eyes.

'I 'ave no idea. Your fucking brother's going to 'ave to answer that one.'

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'Mr Gruffudd is awake now,' said the doctor, a smile on his lips. 'Surprisingly, he didn't sustain that much internal damage. He may be slightly confused and delirious and he's going to be on crutches for a while. I'd like to keep him in for a couple of days, but other than that…' He trailed off, nodding and walking off to check on the other patients. Tegan got to her feet and moved into the room. Rhys was sat up, propped against the pillow. One leg was on top of the blanket in a cast. His face still looked bad.

She made her way towards him, slapping him hard around the head. ''O , 'ch idiot! Felallaistgwnahonata? Dybiaisdarfuasech! Dybiais , baechfarw!'

'Ah, my head! Watch it!' he croaked. Then, she gave him a tight hug. 'My chest! Watch it!' His sister pulled away, wiping tears from her eyes.

'You idiot,' she said again, in English this time. 'I thought you were dead. Jesus Christ… We could have helped you! Why did you keep a thing like this a secret?'

'I didn't want you to get hurt,' he replied, wincing as he shifted.

'What about Pete? He… what if something had happened to him? He got hurt helping you!'

'I didn't ask him too,' Rhys hissed, angered. 'I was alright on my own. I could have handled it.'

'Handled it?' she scoffed. 'Look at you! You selfish…' she trailed off when the door opened, Lucy and Pete coming in.

'They said Pete's okay to go,' Lucy said, before looking at Rhys. 'I could kill you right now,' she growled, stepping forward. Pete put out a hand to stop her.

'Don't…' he muttered. 'He's not worth it.'

'You make me sick,' she spat. Rhys just stared at her. Shaking her brother off, Lucy turned and walked out.

'How's the hand?' Rhys asked, cheery voice false.

'Sore,' Pete replied bluntly, looking down at his cast hand. 'The leg?'

'Sore.'

'Good. You just can't stay out of trouble can you?' Pete growled. Rhys shrugged, but didn't say a word. Shaking his head, Pete reached out and took Tegan's hand. 'We need to talk.' Leading her out the private room, they sat down, Pete staring at his hands.

'What is it, Pete?' Tegan asked, fearing the worst.

'I know it's hardly romantic,' he began with a nervous laugh, putting his hand in his pocket and pulling out a blue velvet box. It was broken and partly hanging off its hinge. 'From the fight,' he explained. 'Must 'ave got broken.'

Tegan laughed, pulling it open. 'Will you marry me?' She beamed, pulling it out and slipping it onto her finger.

'Yes,' she said, feeling light headed. Pete grinned, kissing her softly. She pulled away. 'Can I ask you something?'

'Yeah,' he replied, frowning slightly.

'Why were you at Rhys'?'

'I was going to ask him what he thought about me marrying you,' the blonde laughed, scratching the back of his neck. 'I guess that plan backfired.' Tegan smiled, draping her arms around his neck.

'I love you.'

'I love you too, babe.' There was a chorus of voices down the other end of the corridor and they looked up to see the rest of the gang coming down towards them.

'You look terrible,' gasped Libby when she reached them, tilting his face towards the light. 'That'll hurt in the morning.'

'You're telling me.'

'Where's Rhys? Is he worse?' asked Ned.

'Fuck Rhys; where's Dave?' Swill demanded. The group glanced around, before Lucy pointed back at the reception desk.

'He's over there.' Dave was leaning against the desk, chatting to one of the nurses; she was young, hair pulled into a ponytail.

'Hey, Davey Poo!' Swill yelled in a girlie voice. 'Could you bring my underwear around today? You know; the frilly ones you like?' The others laughed as the nurse looked at him, then uncomfortably back at Dave, before hurrying away.

Dave stuck up his fingers in annoyance, as Swill blew him a kiss.

'You love me really Davey!'

'C'mon,' laughed Libby. 'Let's see how Rhys is.'

Tegan smiled, getting to her feet.

'Me and Tegan 'ave a bit of news too, but we'll tell you when we go in,' Pete said, following them inside the private ward.

'Oooh, I bet she's up the duff.'

'Libby!'

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Just teasing y'all! I'm gay like that xD Remember to review!