I sat in my car longer than I usually did after work. Today was a hard day. Emotionally, it was a hard day.

One of the kids finally felt comfortable enough to talk about what happened at home before they were removed by protective services, and it was hard. It was hard to listen to a fourteen-year-old talk about the trauma and abuse they endure for years.

I scrubbed my hands over my face before huffing and got out of the car, shouldering my bag as I went to the door. At least I'm not going home to an empty house tonight, I thought to myself as I unlocked the door.

But I was surprised to walk into the house to something that smelled delicious. I set my bag down and took my coat and boots off, shuffling down the hall towards the kitchen.

"Hey," I said with a smile as I came into the kitchen, spotting Dimitri at the stove with a pot.

"Hi," he said as he turned to look at me but frowned. "Are you okay?"

He could still read me like an open book. "Yeah. Just a really hard day at work."

"Want to talk about it?" he asked, setting the spoon he was using to stir the pot down on a paper towel.

"I don't know, it's a touchy subject."

"I think I'm well versed on touchy subjects. But if you don't feel up to it, that's fine," he said, leaning back against the counter behind him.

I nodded but looked at the stockpot on the stove. "What are you making?"

"Potato soup."

I smiled and sat down at the island. "It smells good. Did you get up to anything today?"

Dimitri shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck. "Sort of. Went to the mall and got some clothes, but I didn't have much when I left. And I discovered just how much I like the video game you were playing."

I snickered and smiled at him. "Really? The man from Russia liked the post-apocalyptic game set in Moscow. Why am I not surprised?"

"Hey, I have only played video games a handful of times in my life. I think I spent at least four hours on that one," he retorted, but I was happy to see the beginnings of a smile on his face. It could be so hard for Dhampir to be happy once the realization that they have left everything they know behind.

"Well, as long as you didn't save over my file, I don't care how much time you spend playing it while you're here," I said, "how long until that is done? It smells so good and I'm starving!"

"It's almost done," he said with a smirk.

I nodded at him and stood up, letting him know that I was going to get changed. I changed quickly and skipped back out to the kitchen. Dimitri set a bowl on the island in front of me with a few pieces of buttered bread. I said my thanks before tasting it and then seasoning. We both ate quietly, but from the grunts of enjoyment I was making, I could see Dimitri smirk beside me every once in a while.

"God. You need to teach me how to cook. I can't cook like this!" I groaned.

"I'm sure I can show you a few tips," he said with a laugh. I smirked at him but put a little more soup in my bowl, drinking it up greedily. I couldn't get over how good it was.

"Can I ask you something kind of personal?" I asked Dimitri after we had cleaned up from dinner and got comfortable on the couch. We had agreed to watch a movie together, one that I had already seen but he hadn't so I was okay with pretending that I hadn't.

Dimitri's brows furrowed but he nodded.

"One of the kids said something to me today, confided in me, and I don't know how to respond."

"Okay."

"She went through something like you and your sisters. She had an abusive father, but her mother was an addict and wasn't there to help her or defend her. What do I say to her so she knows that she didn't deserve this? What can I tell her so she knows that she didn't bring this upon herself?" I asked him honestly, knowing that the subject may be tough, but he was the only person I could ask who would understand.

Dimitri's expression was indescribable as he thought of a response. Maybe the question didn't bother him as much as I thought it did?

"There isn't a lot you can tell a kid who's been through that when they already believe that what's happened to them was something they brought upon themselves. It takes time to break free of that mentality. It's the same for domestic abuse victims. A lot of the time they believe that what has happened is something they've caused, that they deserve the punishment. The best thing you can do is to try and instill in them that they are not the cause of the problem. They did nothing wrong," Dimitri explained after a few minutes, across his finger under his lip as he spoke.

The way he spoke was not exactly robotic, but it was as if he was trying to shield himself from the memories it brought up.

"I thought that maybe if she spoke to someone that understood it would help, but you can't expect a kid to talk to another kid. Not when they are in as fragile of a state as they are now. Some days I'm surprised they can get out of bed. I know that if I were in their place, I wouldn't want to get out of bed," I said wearily, biting on the corner of my nail.

It made me sick to think of what these kids had gone through.

"If the leaders of the home are okay with it, maybe I could speak to them? You know, survivor to survivor?" Dimitri offered.

Survivor to survivor. I hadn't thought of it like that. He was a survivor, the kids were all survivors.

"I think that might help. You aren't a councillor, so they may actually talk to you," I said with an appreciative smile. Dimitri nodded and returned the smile, and it was like I was right back to being seventeen again. The smile was familiar and safe, all things considered.

"So. What do you want to do?" I asked after clearing my throat, wanting to steer away from the emotions I was starting to feel creep up.

"I'm not really sure. I don't know what my options are," he said glumly.

"Well, you're smart, and we can get you the necessary documents. You obviously have a background in Mixed Martial Arts, and defence training. You went to college, right? With Ivan?"

"Yeah. Ivan went for statistics and did a few classes on finance."

"Did you pick up any of it? Is it something that you would want to do?" I asked, toying with the Afghan in my lap. I don't know if he would notice the handiwork, but it was a gift from his mother.

"I did, I actually really like the classes. I was good enough at it that I made sure Ivan had a good enough grade to graduate."

"Wait, you participated in those classes right? Finished school and graduated with him?"

"Yeah. I was a near guard. Bachelor's degree," Dimitri said with a slight nod.

"Well you can do a lot with that!" I exclaimed and reached for my phone. "You could do so much! You could do work with software, you could even do Actuary. People pay big bucks for those jobs."

"Actuary?"

"Risk Analyst. Banks and insurance companies use them all the time! I think Abe knows a few people and if you wanted to do that, we could help you get in the foot in the door somewhere," I said with a smile. It would be a good job for him if it was something he'd want to do, plus he wouldn't need to worry about money. He would have a stable, secure job that would provide for him and he wouldn't need to be concerned about supporting his family back in Russia.

"How exactly do you know Abe?" Dimitri asked with a worried tone. "You don't owe him a favour do you? He didn't get you caught up in a contract?"

I smirked at his worried expression before it set in that he didn't know our relationship. My smirk turned into laughter.

"I think it's him who owes me many favours. I mean, he did miss out on eighteen years of my life. If I asked him to rob a bank, he'd probably do it just to make me happy," I said through my laughter.

Dimitri looked at me like I had three heads. "I'm confused."

I managed to stifle my laughter. "Comrade. He's my dad, that's why he was following me around in Russia. He was trying to convince me to go back to St. Vladimir's. He's also how I got home. I called an alchemist friend that was working with him, and he got a plane to bring me home," I explained.

Dimitri was quiet as he processed what I said. I was starting to get concerned when he didn't say anything, instead, covering his face with his hands and sunk down on the couch with a groan.

"What?"

"I'm a dead man," Dimitri groaned from under his hands.

"Why?"

Dimitri pulled his hands away and looked at me levelly. "Really Rose? You're going to ask why? I hurt you. And I don't mean emotionally when I was restored, I mean I hurt, repeatedly when I was a Strigoi," he exclaimed, his expression sinking.

I rested my hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. "Hey, don't freak out. Abe doesn't hold that against you. You aren't a dead man," I soothed.

"I don't want to owe him any more favours," he says.

"You won't owe him a favour. I'm the one who's running the program, he just helps me. I'm the boss," I said, trying to make him feel better.

Dimitri seemed to get a little distraught over this so I scooted closer to him. "Hey, hey, it's okay. Really, Dimitri, take a deep breath. And what did you mean by owing him more favours?"

Dimitri was coming down from getting worked up, but I was concerned about him going into a full-blown panic attack.

"When I kicked my father out, I was scared that he was going to come around again when I was at school. Zmey was in town around the same time and…"

"You asked him to help you," I finished for him, putting it together for myself. I had learned early on that Abe was more mobster than a businessman. He would do things for people, for money or for the opportunity to get something out of them.

Some of those deals I witnessed, and some were down right scary. But knowing that Dimitri owed a favour to my dad was a little worrisome for me. I didn't want that to cause an issue.

"Please don't stress about it," I said kindly, "Please. Just worry about getting your life set up."

Dimitri seemed to still be agitated but I smiled at him. "Really. Don't worry about any of that. I'll take care of it," I said gently.

Dimitri nodded but still didn't seem thrilled.

"So. What do you think? How about we start job hunting tomorrow?"

Dimitri nodded. "It'd be best. I don't want to have to impose on you longer than necessary," Dimitri said with a slight sigh, reaching forward on the couch to get his mug.

I shook my head gently as I looked at him. "You aren't imposing. You can stay as long as you like."

A week of job hunting on his own lead to him quietly asking me for an extra nudge. He wanted to do it without my help, but when he couldn't find anything that was in the field he was hoping for, he let me help.

I made it clear to the old man too that this wasn't to be considered a favour, and that the favour he held over Dimitri was to be discarded. Abe smirked at me when I told him I wanted it gone, but he nodded and dramatically agreed to it.

I was happy that I could help him. In a way, I felt I owed it to him. He had taught me so much and did so much for me while I was at the Academy. He was the tough love I needed, the kindness with guidance, the friend who understood the struggle I was going through, and the love I didn't realize I needed.

Now I could return the favour, I could help him when he needed someone in his corner. And now the day was here where Dimitri went for an interview with corporate office with a local bank.

I smirked and reached up to smooth out the shoulders of his shirt. He looked dashing really. I was happy that he found dress clothes as quickly as he did. I knew Abe was good, but I didn't expect him to pull through in a week. All it took was a few batting lashing to make the old man melt into a puddle of Dad.

"I think that you should just forgo the tie," I said as I leaned around his shoulder to look at him in the mirror. "Keep the jacket, but don't wear a tie. It looks stuffy."

Dimitri raised a brow at me as he loosened the tie and tossed it on the counter. It still didn't look right.

"Turn around," I said as I turned him to face me. He smirked at me and I unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt and adjusted the collar and then his jacket.

"Okay. Now you should wear your hair back too. It'll make you look more smart," I said with a smile.

"More smart?"

"Shut up," I grumbled. "But let me know when you're done, and I'll come and get you."

Dimitri nodded before shrugging on his duster. I smiled up at him and gave him encouraging words as we got in the car, and I plied him with helpful tips as I drove. I knew that it may have been useless, given that this wasn't the first interview he had had, but I was equally as excited for him.

"I really appreciate all of this, Roza. You're letting me live in your house and helping me get a job. It means a lot," he said. I smiled at him and nodded my head.

"Of course. I'm glad to help," I said softly. Dimitri nodded and took a deep breath, looking over the folder he brought with him quickly. It contained his degree, his resume, and a few other documents he thought would be useful during the interview.

Dimitri looked up at me again before he put his hand on the door handle.

"Wait!" I said, leaning forward and wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Good luck, Comrade! You're going to do great!" I whispered in his ear before pulling back with a smile.

Hello hello!

I am back with another installment!

I just wanted to let you all know that I will be posting Getting Out While You Can as its own independent story going forward with the same title. I also plan on doing the same for Are You Going To Push Me. Both of these ideas have started to grow and I can't justify either of them in a few short chapters. I want to watch them flourish and grow. Both stories may be rewritten, so be sure to reread them if you choose to continue.

Also, a big thank you to Scotty1994 for taking a look over this chapter. I was practically banging my head against the wall over this chapter.

Much love to all of you!