Twilight is not mine.

Sorry for the delay, I'm sick as a dog! Hope this gets to you. And to all the new readers, thanks for favoring and reading, hope you feel the need to review. And for the people still with me, Thanks!

Now enjoy!

Chapter 44

The light streamed strongly from the open curtains, the wind coming from the open window was moving them from side to side in a little dance. I was lying on my stomach and my whole body ached.

I could feel the blood caked on my lips and down my nose. My left eye was swollen shut. The ache in my ribs made it hard for me to breath.

I tried to move but soft hands on my nude back stopped me. Her quiet voce in my ear relaxed me. –"Don't move too fast, or you'll hurt yourself"- she whispered kindly.

The ringing in my head was making this seam like a dream as I slowly rolled over.

I heard rustling of fabric and then felt a cold cloth on my forehead and I closed my eyes in relief.

It was Marie, taking care of me. She was on the bed beside me, when I open my eye.

Her face was a mask of worry and I could feel hesitation in her touch.

She cleaned me careful of my injuries, she handed me two small pills and a cool glass of water to wash them down, she applied ointment to my bruises and some bandages to cuts –I was lucky that none where too deep to get stitches, all through this she never spoke, all she did was hum a little.

When she was about finished she looked into my eyes for several minutes, it seamed like there was a hidden emotion inside her soft dark pools, I could have guessed that it was more pity than anything else, I was pitiful, I had practically barged myself into this situation thinking only with love in my eyes… OK maybe there was lust there too, since I had kissed Marie passionately with out her consent. I felt foolish now, seeing her here next to me, she must have been send by Vivian, or maybe Marie just felt sorry for me.

Either way she was here and it made me hopeful.

She stroked my hair, and I closed my eyes to rest, she touched my face and carefully leaned over and kissed my forehead several times. I felt her shift in the bed as she got up. I heard the soft click of the door and I let sleep take me again, wishful that the pain wouldn't came back again.

A woke with a start as I felt the dirt on in my nose, I could feel it thick on my face and body, caking on my still tender sweat-damp flesh and on some of the exposed injuries.

The wind had picked up announcing the end of summer and the arrival of autumn.

I felt the chill on my body and shifted carefully to stand and get to the window, but before I knew it, Marie walked bristly to the window and closed it carefully and drew the drapes shut, she then moved to my side, she carefully shifted the covers over me, and turned to the other side of the room, away from my view.

She came back shortly to my side with a small pile of clean fresh-smelling clothes, my clothes, which she washed. I felt embarest that she did my laundry, that after I practically assaulted her with my over-eager behavior she was still taking care of me, still looking over me and handing me clothes for me to wear. I sat up carefully, but she put soft pressure to my shoulder for me not to sit up all the way.

She unfolded a green undershirt and proceeded to dress me in it.

I smiled up at her and stroked her soft hand as she completely covers my torso with the cloth. I felt her shift a little away from me. So I took my hand away from her.

Still a little confused and dizzy from the pain, I lied back and rested and I watched as Marie cleaned the room.

She picked up my boots and places them near the bed, she quietly moved around as if floating, picking up all my things and placing them back in my bag. When she was finished I watched as she broad out a new pair of jeans, a black sweater and long coat.

I felt the dread.

I know what she is telling me.

I must leave.

I must leave her.

I close my eyes and think. I can't leave her here. But she is responsible for the little boy. But since Ivan beat me up for thinking I was moving in on his territory with Vivian, I have to go.

He'll kill me if I stay. I think….

Wait…

He could have killed me; he didn't have any intension on stopping, not before…..

Marie…

Surprise... there will be another one today!