Sorry that it took longer for this chapter! Only a really busy week to blame. Just couldn't get time to write. It drove me crazy! I actually felt guilty! How silly is that? So here it is FINALLY! Enjoy. And PLEASE REVIEW!

As always I don't own VA.

Previously in the Wild, Wild West

Mia looked frantic and Meredith had been crying. I run to them and ask the only question "What happened?"

Mia screamed, "Rose, Strigoi took Jill!"

Chapter 11 Waiting

"What?" I ask in a quiet angered voice. "How!" I say louder. "WHEN!" I shout before she even has a chance to answer. Mia and Meredith both flinch at the sound of my voice. Dimitri is next to me. He wraps a comforting arm around me. "Roza, calm down we need to get answers as quickly as possible. They are distraught let me see what I can get from them." He says in a calm voice pleading to me with his eyes to keep it together.

"Ok, I'm under control, go ahead, ask away." I say a little cold, gritting my teeth, but not meant towards him. He rubs my back and kisses my forehead in a comforting gesture. He stepped away and I could almost see him become the Sheriff. He spoke softly to Mia and Meredith "Why don't we go in the house and sit down, you girls can warm up and calm down." They nodded and climb down off their horses.

I tried to just stay calm but inside I was freaking out. Jill is like a baby sister to me. I have known her forever and I couldn't help but think about the last person that was taken by Strigoi only about a year ago.

Miss Sonya Karp was our school teacher. We only have a small one room school house which is really the little St. Vladimir church. She had been here teaching for about 3 years. She was a great teacher all of us loved her.

She was building a life here in our little town. She had a little blue cottage with a beautiful garden full of rose bushes and many other fragrant flowers. She had a green thumb it seemed she could make anything grow. The quaint little cottage stood next to a little pond of natural spring water and was walking distance from town.

Miss Sonya was very pretty with her pale alabaster skin and azure blue eyes. She had long dark auburn hair that she tied up in a smart looking bun when she was teaching. She had a beautiful spirit, but most of all she was in love with Makhail Tanner and he was head over heals for her. Makhail and Sonya had been courting for over a year and he had just proposed to her. She was happy, they were planning their wedding. I had never seen two people more in love.

I remember the day she disappeared rather well it was last fall and the new school year had just begun.

I was riding in to town in the mid morning. It must have been around 10 AM on a Monday. As I approached the school I saw the children outside playing. I had just graduated in the spring, but as a senior student I spent time assisting Miss Sonya with the younger children. Each of the older students was assigned to help teach a younger student. We had a schedule to keep to and I remember Miss Sonya was very strict about it. The children had scheduled break times also and I knew how she planned the day. So when I got closer to the school I decided to ask one of the older students what was happening. All the children were outside playing that never happened only before and after school.

Flashback

"Alex" I called to one of the seniors. He looked up and ran towards me. "What's going on why are all the students outside playing?"

"Miss Sonya didn't show up this morning. We waited in the class room for over an hour. We thought she was just running late." He said with a shrug.

"Have you told anyone or had someone go check if she is ok?" I asked concerned. Miss Sonya was never just simply late. She would even come in a blizzard for god sakes!

"No, we just thought she would show up, but when it had been more then an hour the seniors decided to let the kids play outside until she got here." He said proudly.

"Ok, I will go check on her. I will be back in a few minutes. Did she leave a lesson plan for you?" I said questioning him.

"I'm not sure, but I will go look while you are gone." He said hesitantly. I nodded and rode off in the direction of Miss Sonya's cottage.

When I got there it was very quiet, too quiet. I walked toward the front door and noticed it was ajar. I knocked on the door and called her name, but never got an answer. I pushed the door open and what I saw made me worry.

On the floor was a small bowl tipped on its side with blackberries spilling from it. The closest wooden chair was knocked over on its side too. I walked in a little further and then I saw the thing that made my blood run cold and my heart stop.

It was a simple little thing that shouldn't really cause anyone fear. Unless you know what it means. A single feather lay on the table. Intentionally placed so a person would see it. I reached for the feather with a shaky hand. I felt a tear slide from my eye and down my cheek. I stood there staring at it in disbelief completely shocked. I hung my head with the realization forming in my mind.

Strigoi had taken Miss Sonya.

I rode as fast as I could to the ranch to get Makhail. When I told him what I had found I watched in utter sadness as Makhail, the strongest man I have ever known, fell to pieces. He literally crumpled to the floor on his knees, screaming the word 'no' beating his fist on the ground.

He was devastated. It was one of the most painful things I have ever witnessed. Even when he came back to find the Dragomir family murdered by Strigoi, I can honestly say this was worse. I could see in his eyes that his heart had been shattered. It was like his soul had been taken by the devil himself.

I knelt down next to him trying to give comfort to a man that was broken. In all of my life I have only seen that look one other time. It was the look that haunted Lissa's beautiful face after her family died.

It made me so angry in that moment. I wanted to go kill every Strigoi with my bare hands. But the need to comfort him won out. I started saying the only thing that gave me hope "We will find her Makhail. We will get her back" I said with conviction in my voice. He just laid there in a heap sobbing his heart out.

I don't know how long we sat there, but when he pulled himself together he stood up. He straightened his back and squared his shoulders. He looked me directly in the eyes and said "I will find her even if it's the last thing I ever do!" He turned and walked away.

With that I rode into town and told the children to go home and tell there parents what has happened. News spread fast. Within hours there was a search party. Makhail has never stopped his search.

End Flashback

I was brought out of my memory with Dimitri's soft sweet voice.

"Mia, do you think that you can tell me exactly what happened. I need as much detail you can tell me so we can get Jill back." He said in a soothing voice.

Mia's face was so distraught. The tears were still streaming down her face and you could see the streaks of all the previous tears. Her eyes were bloodshot red and her bottom lip and chin was quivering. In a shaky croaking voice she said "I'll try." She sort of looked off in the distance as if she was seeing it being replayed. Her eyes glazed over, she squinted like she was trying to see it better and she took in a long slow shaky breath.

I listened carefully as she began to tell her story.

"Meredith, Jill and I were riding out to Flathead Lake for a dinner picnic. Jill was in the lead, I was second and Meredith was last. Jill had gotten ahead of us by a few hundred feet. As she rode into the trees all of a sudden there were Strigoi everywhere. They came out of nowhere!" She said with a strangled high pitched voice. Her emotions were teetering on the edge of losing it.

She swallowed hard and shook herself so she could continue. " Mer and I were far enough back we could see it all happening. We stopped and I watched horrified while one of them grabbed Jill right off her horse. She screamed and fought but they held her. The last thing I heard was her screaming at us to go, get out of there." Tears slipped down her face at the memory. She looked down at her shaking hands and took a few breaths before continuing again.

"They….. They started to come toward us. I remember screaming at Meredith "Go! DON"T STOP FOR ANYTHING!" We whipped the horses around and took off riding as fast as we could. They were gaining on us, but I remembered that I brought a gun just incase of trouble. I was thinking the Dashkov's not Strigoi!" she said incredulously shaking her head in disbelief.

"I…. I kept riding hard as I fumbled with the gun and shot behind me. I didn't hit anything I don't think, but they must have decided to give up when I started shooting. When I turned again to look back one of my reins slipped from my grip. We were riding at full speed! I was trying to figure out how I was going to stop or turn or anything with only one rein in my hand. I felt the panic in my throat and knew that I had to reach the rein. I was so scared, my heard was pounding so hard. My hands were all sweaty. I was leaning down reaching as far as I could when I slipped and almost fell. I was struggling to hold on and Meredith was trying to help me. I grabbed the saddle horn with one hand just in time. Hanging from the side of the horse with one foot in a stirrup and one hand on the saddle horn I flung myself forward stretching my arm as far as I could. Finally I was so relieved I got the rein, but then I realized I had to get back in the saddle. I shoved with my leg using every ounce of my strength that I had left and hoisted myself back up. I was terrified, but somehow I had managed to get back up." She paused for a moment to close her eyes and shake off the fear before she told the end of her story.

"By the time all of that happened I looked around to find that we were over by the bison range. Meredith had managed to get in front of Babydoll and slow her down some by keeping the horses at the same pace. But we kept going as fast as we could to get into town." She looked up at Dimitri. "When we got there we tried to find you, but no one knew anything. After searching and asking for a while we decided the next best person to tell was Rose and Makhail. Then I remembered about the missing horses and we rode straight here." She finished with a little sob.

Dimitri sat there for a minute as he thought over he story then he started asking questions. "How far down Flathead trail were you?"

"About 3 miles.' Mia replied.

"Can you give me a landmark?"

Now Meredith spoke for the first time. "We were on the edge of Flathead forest about a mile from the lake." She said with a raspy dull voice.

Dimitri look at me questioning me with his eyes. I nodded to answer his silent question that I knew what Meredith had meant.

"What time did all this happen?" he asked either girl.

"About 5 PM" they said together.

"Ok, thank you, Mia and Meredith we will head into town shortly and round up a search party." He said soothingly.

I looked at Dimitri "Makhail needs to come with us he has a lot of experience at this and he knows the land, he can really help us a lot." I said in a low voice.

"Ok Roza, go get him tell him what's happened and bring anyone else that is willing to help search."

"I will be right back." I said giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. I ran as fast as I could to the bunk house. I found Makhail heading for bed. I told him what happened quickly and he threw his clothes back on and grabbed two other people on our way out. Pavel was one and then Simon. I knew Simon was a tracker, but I didn't know why he gotten Pavel. We ran back to the house to talk to Dimirti.

Makhail, Dimitri, Pavel and Simon all talked for a few minutes. I watched form the sitting room as they had an intense conversation. Dimitri had a serious look on his face as he listened very closely to what the men were discussing. I know what Makhail was telling him even though I was in the other room. I know because I have helped Makhail search for Sonya. He knows how to find Strigoi. He has figured to track them, that's why Simon came in handy. He knows everything there is to know about it.

As I was thinking things through the men must have finished their conversation. The next thing I knew Dimitri was standing in front of me. I hadn't even realized it until he touched my cheek and I looked up into his beautiful brown eyes full of concern. He seemed to be searching my eyes for something. "You ok?" he asked quietly.

I let out a long slow sigh and looked back down. I really didn't know what to say to that. Jill is family to me. I know what happens to girls that are taken by Strigoi. They make them into slaves. It made me feel sick to think of what will happen to her. I just shook my head.

Dimitri wrapped his arms around me and held me for a minute. "Roza, let's take the girls and go back to town and meet with the people that Makhail said he'd bring, he wants to meet me at your Saloon in about and hour." I nodded and started to pull away. Before I got very far though he tightened his grip around me for a moment he whispered my name and I looked up into his sad eyes. He leaned down to give me a soft kiss which I gave back and held for just a moment. He gave me a squeeze and then let me go.

I went to Mia and Meredith and told them that we were going. They got up in a daze and followed me and Dimitri out the door. When we got outside we found our horses ready and waiting. We were all silent going through the motions in our own world of thoughts. I looked up to Dimitri and he gave me a reassuring small smile and a look that said hang in there. I gave him a nod and said "let's go" we rode into town.

The Saloon was all quiet when we got there. Still in silence everyone took a seat to wait for Makhail.

"Rose, can we talk for a minute?" Dimitri asked softly from beside me. "Sure" I took his hand and walked to the back room.

"Roza, I know you're worried, but we will find her." He said pulling me into a hug. "But I need you to do something for me." I looked up into his face wondering what he's thinking. "I need you to stay here with the girls." I started to protest, but before I could even get a word out he said "their really upset and I need you to take care of them. I know you don't want to, but could you do this for me please." He said with a worried look at me.

"Makhail said he knows what to do, he said he's putting together a raid team. He will be meeting me here in just a few minutes. Roza, he knows how to do this, please just stay here for me, please." He said beseechingly.

He knew he had me when I signed in resignation and he pulled me into a tight hug. "Thank you" was all he said and we just stood there wrapped in each others arms. We heard commotion out in the Saloon so we walked back out hand in hand knowing it was probably Makhail.

As I stepped into the room my eyes went straight to Mason. His eyes were locked on Dimitri and me. A look of hurt crossed his face when he looked at our hands together. I reluctantly let go of Dimitri's hand as pain stabbed my heart knowing I am hurting Mason. I know how much he loves me.

I walk toward the group and looked at each person, Abe, Mark, Eddie, Mason, Makhail, Pavel, Simon, and Isaiah. A weird flash of fear ran through me when I saw Isaiah, then I remembered my real feeling dream. I walked straight to Mason and gave him a hug. He was startled at first and hesitant, but then he wrapped his arms around me. "What's wrong?" he whispered in my ear. I just shook my head and squeezed him tight. When I let go I stepped back and he gave me a confused look. I just said "I'll explain later." Loud enough that everyone pretty much heard me. Dimitri gave me a curious look when I met his eyes. I just gave him a small quick shake of my head to tell him not now.

Makhail started to explain to everyone what has happened and what the plan was. It was dark, but that will work to their advantage. They can see the glow of campfires from a long distance and it will keep them invisible under the cover of the darkness. They discussed things for about a half an hour and then they were standing up to leave. I gave Mason a big hug again and said "be careful please, don't be reckless, and watch your back." He furrowed his eyebrows at me but said, "don't worry Rosie I will be fine." … "Ok" I said as the worry shot through me again.

I gave Abe, Eddie and Makhail hugs and asked them to be careful and bring her back. They all nodded and walked away. I saved Dimitri for last I didn't care anymore that people could see what was going on between us. I went to him and wrapped my arms around him he didn't even hesitate to do the same. I squeezed him tight and then I brought my hands to his face tilting it to face me. I looked into his eyes for a moment and then kissed him on the lips. "I love you" I whispered against his soft lips before kissing him one more time a little harder. He pulled me into another hug and whispered in my ear "I love you too Roza." My heart beat accelerated at those beautiful words. I said "be careful, come back to me please." In his ear and he replied "I will. I promise." I nodded and unwillingly let him go.

I noticed everyone had seen our little exchange, but no one said anything. When I looked at Mason he just looked sad. I wanted to tell him I was sorry for hurting him, but now was not the time they had to go. I tried to catch his eye, but he didn't or wouldn't look at me. I just sighed and looked back to Dimitri. He gave me a sad smile and a nod. I gave the jester back. He turned Shadow and rode off, everyone following him and Makhail.

Now the waiting begins. I was already worried sick and I could still see them as they reached the end of town. Sighing heavily, my shoulders slouching, I went back in side to wait with the girls. I told them to come upstairs with me. I dug out extra blankets and pillows and gave one to each of the girls. We all curled up in silence on my bed letting sleep take us over.

I had only slept for a short time when my eyes snapped open. I thought I had heard something so I got up and ran to the window. But nothing was there. I got a small cushy arm chair from the corner of the room and drug it over to the window. Curled up with my blanket and pillow in front of the window I sat staring off into the thick darkness wishing I knew what was going on and hoping they get back soon.

After a while I found myself drifting off to sleep again. The next thing I know light is coming through the window. I can feel warmth of the sun shining on my skin. It feels really good on my face. I open my eyes with a squint because of the brightness. I look around me and then I realize where I am and what I was waiting for, a quick glance to my bed I see Mia and Meredith still asleep. My heart sinks at the thought of Jill. My worry for all of them returned in a flood of emotion. I had a hard time keeping the tears at bay. I could feel the sting in my eyes and a lump rising in my throat. I closed my eyes taking a deep breath and ran my hand through my hair just trying to find my calm.

I got up and started moving around trying to be quiet. While I got dressed my stomach grumbled loudly, if I didn't know better I would say there is a hungry monster living in there! This made me smile because all I could picture was this fuzzy orange monster saying "ME HUNGRY!" I giggled at the image that formed in my mind.

I tried to remember the last time I ate. Mia and Mer will be starving hungry too. Mia had said they were going to Flathead Lake for a picnic and the Strigoi attack happened before they got there so they never got to eat. Come to think of it, the last time I had anything was mid day yesterday while I was searching for the horses. Sitting on the hillside overlooking the valley. Wow, no wonder I'm so hungry. Ok Mr. Hungry just hold your horses, I giggled at my new nickname for my stomach.

I decided to let the girls sleep and go make breakfast. I was in the process of making the pancakes when Meredith came down the narrow stairs. She hadn't said much last night and she was looking mighty rough this morning. I gave her a small smile and a "good morning" She just gave me a sad smile back and climb up on a stool by my counter.

"Coffee?" I asked and she nodded. I poured her a cup and gave it to her. She accepted it with a quiet "thanks" I made her a plate of pancakes and placed it in front of her. She put the butter and syrup on, but after the first bite she seemed to lose interest and just pushed the food around her plate.

I made my plate and sat down next to her. I tried a few times to make small talk, but Meredith just wasn't in the mood. I ate most of my food in silence until I just couldn't take the absents of sound any longer. "Its going to be ok, Mer, they're going to find her and bring her back to us. I can feel it." I said as confidently as I could.

She looked to me with huge tears in her big glossy green eyes, her chin and her bottom lip quivered. She was trying so hard to be strong, but she just couldn't hold it back anymore. Her tears flooded her face as she wept she said "I shouldn't have left her! I should have done something to save her. We just took off! I left her…..I left her! She sobbed over and over again.

I wrapped my arms around her and held her while she cried her eyes out. She shook as her body was racked with grief and guilt. I tried to console her muttering soothing words and rubbing her back, but all I could do was let her cry it out. I knew what she was feeling. I may not have been there, but I still feel the pain. Struggling to keep my own tears in check I pull her to me in a tight embrace. We sat there holding each other for quite a while. I heard the sound of footsteps and looked up.

Mia came down the narrow stair about the time Meredith finally started to calm down. She looked a little better then Meredith. She paused for a second when she saw her, she could tell that Meredith had been crying really hard just by one look. Her eyes and nose were very red and had a tear stained face. She looked at her with a worried and sad expression.

I could tell that she had a rough night too. I offered Mia some coffee and pancakes as she sat down with us. She was a little more talkative then Mer, she said "yes, please." I placed the plate of freshly made hot pancakes in front of her and she said a more enthusiastic "thank you!" and proceeded to clean her plate.

After we cleaned up breakfast I felt lost. I felt like I just didn't know what to do with myself. I am not used to being left behind on anything. My mind drifted to the words Dimitri said to me. "I need you to stay here with the girls." I think Dimitri and I will be having a little talk when he gets back. About how I am a very capable woman and I have been keeping up with the men in my life for quiet some time. There is no reason what so ever that he should feel that because I am a girl I need to be kept safe!

I could feel myself getting a little worked up about this and I was getting mad enough to bite someone's head off. But after thinking about it again I decided it really wasn't that important. At least not right now. Jill was the important thing. I would still talk to him, but I'm not going to start a fight over something when I know he was just really worried.

I felt a little pang of happiness at the thought of Dimitri being that worried about my safety. But that little pang turned into worry when I looked at the clock on the mantle. Time was flying by and still nothing. I looked at the door hoping I would see Dimitri walk in. But to my dismay it was someone else.

Word had spread around town quickly this morning about Jill being taken by Strigoi. The towns' people were starting to gather at the Saloon. Everyone came to me asking questions wondering what happened, when and where. At first I explained it to a few people and then I realized that I will repeat this story a hundred times today so I told people to have a seat and I will tell everyone the story all at once. They obliged.

The Saloon filled rather quickly. I waited for just a short time, and it seemed like almost everyone was here. I went to the stage and whistled loudly to get everyone's attention. "Ok ladies and gentlemen I will tell you what took place last night." I told them the whole story. Mia and Meredith just sat there looking heartbroken at the memory. Meredith finally could take it any more and abruptly got up and walked out the door. I saw Mia look to the door with a very worried expression. I saw the decision in her eyes just before she stood and marched out the door after Meredith.

I was fielding questions from people wanting more detail when Mia ran back in to the Saloon with a wild look. "ROSE!" she screamed "THERE BACK!"

I practically flew off that stage my heart instantly racing and pushed my way though the crowd to get out of the Saloon. People were flooding out trying to see if the rescuers had found Jill. It was a struggle to get through, but finally I broke past the barrier. The sight before me was unbelievable. I stood there frozen in shock I heard people screaming for Doc Olenski. The world seemed to go in slow motion. What the hell happened!

Ok sorry to leave it cliffy but I gotta keep you wanting more! If you want it soon you need to REVIEW. I thought I wouldn't do this but I won't post again until I see at least 15 reviews. SO REVIEW!