Collateral Damage

- THIRTY FIVE -

Rose's POV

"Good to see you awake," Dimitri said, as I glanced around. I was in a hospital with overwhelming white walls and a smell that reminded me of death and disinfectant.

"How long I was gone?" I asked, sitting up in the hospital bed.

"A few days." Dimitri said bluntly. Eventually he said, "What were you thinking? How would it have been if it was Kane that found you in the bath?"

"I don't need a lecture, Dimitri," I muttered, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed.

"What happened to you? You used to be a happy teenager that would do anything to protect the ones she loves and now you are an adult that what, wants to die?"

"I did die Dimitri, I died the moment I held my infant daughter in my arms and told myself the safest possible option is to give her away to a school where she could grow and develop without me. My heart shattered that day and whatever was left, Scott managed to piece it back together. He was the tape that held the shards together and now he is dead, and the tape has lost its stick. I have nothing to live for anymore."

"What do you mean you have nothing to live for? You have a child that is finally a part of your life again. You have friends that love you, and care for you. You have a mother and a father that only want the best for you. And you have..." he paused for a moment.

"I have what Dimitri?" I asked. I don't honestly have time for his speeches right now.

"You have me."

"What?" I said it in barely a whisper.

"Despite what you think, I do actually care about you Rose."

"I know." I said after the longest period of time in the history of dramatic pauses.

"I don't mean to lecture you. I understand that the last few weeks have been really hard for you but you have so much to live for," he said.

I looked at him and shook my head, "How am I supposed to live without him? He has been the most important thing in my life, he was my reason to live and now he is gone."

Dimitri dragged his chair towards the bed and scooped my hand up in his. My heart began to race at his contact, "You're a strong woman, Rose. You could get through anything." He smiled a smile that warmed my heart. It has been so long since he has looked at me like that. I feel like a teenager all over again. He can make my heart race by just looking at me.

Dimitri's POV

After sitting with Rose for a while, I told her that I was going to get some food. I left her with the nurse and began my pursuit down the hallway. I have always hated hospitals. The last few days have been absolutely testing.

I never thought I would ever find my Roza in that state. It makes my heart hurt that she felt like she had no other option.

I sat at the table in the cafeteria of the hospital and decided that it would be a good idea to let Rose have a few minutes to herself so I ate my food in peace. As I went to take the first bite of my burger, my phone began to ring. "Hello?" I said, rubbing at my eyes.

"Dimitri, its Lissa. I've been trying to reach you for the past few hours," Lissa's sing-song voice rang through the phone.

"Sorry princess, Rose woke up today, it's been hectic," I mumbled flicking the sleep from my eyes.

"Is she okay?"

"I honestly don't know, she seems okay but it's Rose. I haven't met anyone that can lie as good as her."

"I understand."

"She just looks so tired Liss, not physically tired, but kind of emotionally drained." I muttered.

"She has been a lot through the last few weeks, Dimitri. I would be surprised if it hadn't affected her at all."

"But suicide Lissa? I never knew that Rose would ever do something like that," I said.

"I know," was all she said.

"Anyway, how is Tilly?" I said, desperately wanting to change the topic.

"She's a bit shaken up, but she's glad she is out of field training, I don't think she will like the catch-up though."

I laughed, "That's good to hear."

"But in terms of finding out that you and Rose are her parents, I think that she isn't sure what to think. She's a bit confused by the whole situation."

"I think we all are except for Rose, she lived with it for sixteen years," I said.

"Yeah." Lissa said, her voice sad.

"Rose will be okay Lissa," I said more for my reassurance than hers.

"I hope you're right."