Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, profit from this story and all creative rights to the characters belong to Richelle Mead.

The original content, ideas and intellectual property of this story are owned by Ms. Belikov. Please do not copy, reproduce, or translate without express written permission.

Previously on Cop an Attitude...

"You're so mean to me." Christian said, stuffing his mouth full of French fries. "There are nights when I think of some of the things you say to me. I'll just hold my pillow tight and cry myself to sleep."

"Oh, lord, yes." I chuckled. "I'm just a terrible, cruel human being. You must be terrified of me."

"It's true. I am."

I rolled my eyes and groaned when I felt my cell vibrate against my hip. "No more work." I whined around a mouthful of burger, looking at the small screen.

"Who is it?" Christian asked.

"I have no idea. Private number."

"Just ignore it."

"What if it's important?"

"It can wait until tomorrow. You're all mine tonight."

"I can't argue with that." I said, letting it go to voicemail.

"I have you trained so well." Christian gave a cocky smirk.

"Oh, shut your face." I socked him in the arm. "We all know I wear the pants in this relationship."

"Yeah, but who takes those pants off at the end of the day? I do. The man. I'm the boss. But I prefer to be called The Champ."

The phone buzzed with a new voice mail. Christian growled when I picked it up and held it close to my ear.

"What?" I snapped, listening. "It's only thirty-seven seconds long. I didn't answer the call, did I?"

He didn't look pleased but continued to keep eating.

The phone slipped out of my hand, clattering against the armrest. Everything seemed to stop for a moment as my brain tried to process the words. I wasn't even sure I was breathing.

"Lissa? Lissa? Lissa!" Christian demanded, shaking me softly. "What the hell was on that message? What the fuck is wrong? Tell me now. Answer me, Lissa."

"It was the doctor." I said, not really registering what was coming out of my mouth. "Rose is awake."

RPOV:

I opened my eyes and blinked slowly, trying to adjust my sight to the blinding room. Then some kind of alien light flashed right in my eyeball.

"Get the fuck out of here," I groaned, shielding my face. "It's too early for that shit."

"She looked so peaceful while asleep," An unfamiliar voice said, "Somehow, I didn't expect her to have such a potty mouth."

I blinked and squinted. It was a doctor with fuzzy white hair and kind blue eyes. He was holding a clipboard and flashlight. Ah ha. So that's what had temporarily rendered me sightless.

"What happened?" I said confusedly, looking around the white room.

Dimitri was standing there, staring at me like he had just seen a ghost. He didn't utter a word.

"Why am I in a hospital?" I asked. "You didn't beat me up did you, Comrade?"

A tear rolled down his cheek. He wiped it away quickly, as if ashamed that he was unable to keep control of his emotions.

"Oh, god. I was only teasing, Comrade. I didn't mean to make you upset—"

"It's not that." He chuckled, and I knew it was forced. "I can't believe you're awake."

"Okay…" I said slowly, feeling strange. My thoughts were blurry, hard to grasp, like I couldn't seem to wrap my fingers around and fully develop them. It felt as if my brain was still asleep.

"I'll let you two have a moment to get reacquainted." The doctor said, and excused himself.

I looked at Dimitri—really looked at him. His hair was longer than I had remembered. Even with his signature brown duster on, he seemed to be leaner than before, like he'd lost a significant amount of weight. Confusion flooded me. His eyes were so haunted, so full of pain and loss it made my heart ache.

"I'm not sure why…" I said, tongue heavy. "But for some reason, I feel like we've been apart for so long…like I haven't seen you in years. It's so strange."

"You're right," Dimitri said, getting choked up. I had never seen him so broken before. "It's been far too long. You're twenty years old now."

"Huh?" I was completely struck stupid. What was he talking about? This had to be a joke.

"You've been in a coma for the past eight months, Roza."

"Huh?" I laughed. "It's April Fools, right? Come on Comrade, stop playing with me. This isn't funny."

But then I looked into his eyes for a long moment, and when they didn't falter in the slightest, I knew he was dead serious. I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to accept the fact that so much time had been lost, but I had to hear the truth.

"What happened?" I forced myself to ask him. The words coming out of my mouth were like sandpaper on a sunburn. "Please tell me now. I need to know."

"You don't remember?"

"You think if I did I would be asking you, Einstein?"

"There was an accident outside of the house we were investigating." Dimitri told me. "Ambrose shot you in the stomach and in the head at point blank range. The bullet was slowed by your arm when you held it up to protect yourself, and that's the only reason you are alive today."

I was completely drawing a blank here. No matter how hard I tried to remember anything of what Dimitri was saying it just wouldn't come back to me. My brain ached.

"Did Ambrose hurt you?" I asked, only caring about him. I didn't matter as far as I was concerned.

"No. I killed him." Dimitri said, raking his hand through his hair. When he lifted his arm, it partially showed his forearm, and I noticed something.

"What is that?" I demanded. "Take off your coat and come here now."

Dimitri listened. I grabbed his arm and flipped it over. His skin was covered in vicious scars and marks from stitches. They looked like lightning bolts crawling up his arm. My stomach churned violently. With shaking fingers, I ran my fingers along the smooth, ruined skin.

"What happened?" I asked, eyes watering.

"It doesn't matter." he said.

"Fucking answer me, Dimitri."

"I was attacked by the dog outside of the house. One of the men let the animal loose."

"Killer?"

"Yes."

I swallowed hard. "I'm so sorry."

Dimitri shrugged, staring down at me, like he still couldn't believe what he was seeing. "You're awake now. That's all I care about…" he said, a wondrous glint to his dark eyes. "You're a miracle."

"Did you find someone else while I was away?" When the question popped in my head, I instantly blurted it out. I didn't care about anything else as long as he was still mine.

Dimitri looked as if I had insulted him. "Of course not."

A wave of relief washed over me. "And you still love me, right?" I teased, my voice a mixture of laughter and crying.

"I never stopped loving you."

I jumped up and wrapped my arms around his neck, hugging him with everything I had in me.

"I missed you so fucking much," Dimitri murmured into my neck, his body melting against mine. He held me in his arms like he needed me as much as the air he breathed. "You have no idea. I've been so lost without you."

"I'm here now." I said, sobbing softly. "And I promise I will never leave you again."

"As if I would let you."

There was a small strangled sound. We turned to look towards the door. Lissa was standing there, pale as a ghost, mouth wide and silent.

"Hey Liss…Liss?" I murmured, chin quivering. "Lissa?"

She stared, eyes impossibly wide, like a deer caught in headlights.

"I think she's about to faint—Dimitri, she's swaying! Don't let her fall!"

With unnatural speed, Dimitri was over in a flash. He caught Lissa just as her body was about to smack against the cold, hard hospital floor.

Lissa came to about two minutes later. She then proceeded to stare at me again, and when I began talking to her, she fainted a second time. When she came to again several moments later, I instructed Dimitri to bring her over to me before she could pass out a third time.

Sometimes words weren't enough. Sometimes actions spoke louder than any voice ever could. So I did the only thing I knew would convince her that this was real—I hugged her. I embraced her like I had no other in my life.

"I knew you would come back to me." Lissa's voice shattered like glass. "You had to. There was no other way."

I closed my eyes and hugged my best friend even tighter.

"Did you ever hear me?" Lissa asked, feet tucked underneath her like a pretzel. She was at the edge of the hospital bed, near my feet. We'd been inseparable ever since I first saw her this morning. It was now midnight.

Dimitri was asleep in an awkward position in two chairs arranged beside me. It looked uncomfortable for a man so tall, but I needed him near me. Christian was sitting on the ground, back against the wall, also asleep.

This was my family—the thing I had longed for my entire life. I couldn't have been more proud in that moment.

"I used to talk to you every day for hours and hours…" Lissa continued. "I was always comforted by the thought that you could hear my voice and realize you weren't alone."

I thought hard and long, feeling exhausted from the effort. "I don't know." I said honestly. "I can't remember. At least not right now I can't."

"Maybe it'll come back to you later." Lissa nodded frantically, licking a strawberry yogurt wrapper. I had a feeling she was trying to assure herself and not me. "I'm just happy you're back."

"Me too." I squeezed her hand and smiled. There was a soft knock at the door. The doctor entered the room trailed by two female nurses.

"How are you feeling, Rosemarie?" he asked, smiling kindly.

"You know, for being in a coma for nearly a year, you'd think I'd be well rested." I yawned. "I'm so frickin' tired I can barely keep my eyes open."

The doctor chuckled as he scribbled on his clipboard. "We need to run a few tests, Rosemarie, just to make sure you're up and working properly. Then we'll get you out of here as soon as possible. I know how much you probably miss home."

I looked at Dimitri and Lissa, and smiled. "You have no idea."

"I really should find an apartment before I start packing," I laughed, filling an empty box with clothes.

"Why?" Dimitri questioned, expression peculiar.

"Because that's generally how it goes," I said.

It had been nearly three weeks since I'd been released from the hospital. I was overwhelming happy to be home and return to my normal life once again. Upon hearing the news of Lissa's engagement, I had been ecstatic and so happy for her. While I still felt that way towards the lovebirds, I decided it was time to move on to another chapter of my life and respect Lissa and Christian's privacy by letting them have this apartment all to their selves.

"Isn't it obvious?" he said. "You're moving in with me."

"I actually already have an arrangement with another Russian hunk." I teased. "I just lied so it wouldn't hurt your feelings. Thanks for the offer, though."

"Hmmm. I see." Dimitri said, lips twitching. "Tell me more about this man you've sporadically decided to live with."

"Well, first and foremost, he's damn sexy. Insanely tall. Long dark hair. Big arms and chest. Plus he has a huge—"

"I think I've got a pretty good idea of him." He gave me a brilliant smile, showing perfect white teeth. He backed me against the wall and pressed his body against mine, pinning me there. He put his fists on either side of my head, caging me with his arms. "You're just a little devil, aren't you."

"For you, yes." I bit my lip. Those dark eyes tracked the movement. He leaned down and captured my mouth. The kiss only lasted a second, but I was left breathless.

"Do you really want me to live with you?" I asked, hating myself for sounding shy and unsure.

"I won't have it any other way."

"Oh," I mumbled, grabbing his face and kissing him forcefully. I pushed him back down on the bed and straddled him, taking complete control of the situation. "You are so getting lucky tonight."

"You can't force me to do anything," I told Dimitri. "I'm not going."

"Want to bet?" He said, crossing his arms.

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. "What are you going to do?"

"If you won't come willingly, I will drag your ass out of here kicking and screaming."

"I don't believe you." I challenged him.

Dimitri's eyes glinted, and a split second later, he came after me.

"Fine! Fine!" I held up my hands in surrender, stopping him. "I'll go to physical therapy. Okay? Sheesh! Happy now?"

He grinned. "More than you know."

On our drive there, I thought back to everything that had happened in the past month. Since I had come out of my coma, I had discovered my body and mind weren't the same as they once were. I had some mild difficulties with moving and speech caused by the part of my brain the bullet had grazed.

I didn't have a problem with walking or other simple movements similar to that. It was running and climbing stairs and anything that required my body to move too fast or carry to much weight that I had difficulties with—which turned out to be a huge problem considering my profession. I hadn't been back to work at all, and being in a coma for nearly a year didn't exactly keep you in tiptop shape. All of the hard work, sweat, and blood I had put into the academy was completely wasted.

At times, all of this seemed like a bad dream. Sometimes all I hoped for was to wake up and go back to the way my life was before the shooting. Just erase that dark chapter of my life and make everything better. That way I could bring Tasha back, take away Dimitri's scars, and reclaim the time that had been stolen from me.

I also had minor speech problems, which I was mostly fine with because it rarely reared its ugly head. I discovered only when I became really stressed or frustrated during a situation do I have difficulties pronouncing certain words and ultimately communicating the way I need to.

It was so hard at times like these when I knew I had no other choice but to attend therapy if I wanted to better myself. I had to come to terms with the new difficulties that were now apart of me, and accept myself for the way I was because there was nothing that would change it.

"Are you okay?"

Dimitri's deep voice brought me out of my thoughts.

"Fine." I nodded. He didn't look convinced.

"We are here." he said, grabbing my hand. "Ready?"

I took a deep breath. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Therapy wasn't as bad as I had suspected. My therapist was a kind, southern belle redheaded lady named Darlene with a sassy attitude that I adored. I'd found myself smiling and laughing often despite the awful situation. She reminded me of my mother before she had begun abusing drugs.

But even considering all of that, I still wasn't the biggest fan of physical therapy. I treasured my independence and hated having to put it away for anything. Everyone needs help at some point...even super heroes, Darlene had told me, It'll get better, darling. It always does.

The only thing I needed to do now was keep reminding myself of that.

I was folding laundry when I heard a knock at the door.

"It's unlocked." I yelled. "Unless you're a burglar. Then fuck off."

"Hey, Rose," Lissa said, popping down on the bed.

"Hey, Liss," I said, matching socks. "Aren't you on shift?"

"Lunch break," she held up a bag of Carl's Jr. "I'm surprised you didn't smell me coming from a mile away. Want some?"

"Sure. Just let me finish putting the rest of this laundry away."

"I need to talk to you." Lissa said seriously.

"Okay, weirdo..." I said strangely. "Go eat at the table. I'll be there in two seconds."

When I got downstairs, food was arranged accordingly. I dropped down in the chair across from Lissa and bit into my burger.

"Why aren't you eating?" I asked around a mouthful when I noticed she hadn't touched her food. "Is there something wrong?"

"Just not very hungry is all." Lissa said, fidgeting with her straw. She was looking down, avoiding my eyes.

"Why are you acting so nervous?"

She took a deep breath, expression flooded with dread. "There's something you need to know."

"Oh, god. You've been sleeping with Dimitri."

"What? NO! Are you crazy? Ew."

"Oh thank god." I breathed in relief. "You had me worried there for a second. Tell me already, Liss."

"When you were in a coma..." she paused, looking at me with eyes that had suddenly gone mad.

"Yes."

"We all prayed that you would come out of it. But none of us were sure, not even the doctors. They said it could be years and years." Lissa set her drink down, fingers shaking. "And after so long of you showing no improvement or giving me any signs that you could hear me, I gave up. I gave up on you, Rose."

I listened, feeling a painful lump form at the sight of her breaking down because of me. I hated seeing my best friend in any kind of pain. It simply tore me apart.

"I didn't think I'd ever talk to you like this again." she continued, wiping the wetness from her cheeks. "I told the doctor to end your life support. I wanted it to be done. I wanted all of my pain and feeling of emptiness to be gone."

My heart sunk like an anchor in my chest. I closed my eyes and let the tears fall freely.

"If it wasn't for Dimitri, you likely wouldn't be here today. He saved your life." Her voice was hysterical now. She dropped down in front of me and grabbed my hands, begging for my forgiveness. "I wanted to end your life, Rose. I nearly killed you."

"No." I barely managed to say. "No. Do not say that."

"But it's the truth." Lissa shot back. "Dimitri saved your life. I was going to end it-"

"Get out." I whispered. "Get out of my house right now."

Lissa was shocked and speechless. I startled her when I suddenly stood up, causing her to jump.

The pain in my heart was enormous because of what she'd just confessed. It literally felt like there was a gaping hole in my chest.

"What?" Lissa said.

"I want you out. It makes me sick to see you right now."

"Do you think you can ever forgive me?" she sobbed, crying harder.

"I don't know. I don't think so." I told her. "All I know is that if our places were changed, I would never have even considered what you did, let alone give the doctor the green light. Goddamn it, Lissa. I would have waited my whole fucking life for you. Fuck wanting it to be over and needing closure, you selfish fucking bitch. I can't believe you would betray me like this."

By the time I was done speaking, I realized that I was yelling at the top of my lungs. Lissa flinched.

"I'm so sorry." she was hysterical by now. "Please...just let me talk to you more. I don't want to leave. I need you right now Rose-"

"Get the fuck out." I looked into those glossy jade-green eyes. "As far as I'm concerned, you're dead to me Lissa Dragomir."

I slammed the door in her face, locked it, and pressed my back against it. I cried out and slid down to the ground, wishing I could take back what Lissa told me and forget about the whole thing.