Hope is a Four Letter Word - Complete

Chapter Thirteen

The light around her was almost blinding, and she was surrounded by a cacophony of sound. She was starting to panic. Had she made the decision too late? What if she was going to be stuck here; somewhere between living and dead? Trying not to surrender to her rising fear, Rose concentrated on her breathing, slowly taking stock of everything she could sense around her. Then, as suddenly as it had started, the roar in her ears and the blinding light was gone, in its place a silence punctuated by the sound of voices and movement a long way away, and a dull, steady glow beyond her eyelids. Eyes still closed, she focused on the hand clasping hers.

An involuntary whimper escaped her throat, her only concession to her growing alarm. She'd been sure in her decision when she'd made it, but now an appreciation of all the ramifications of this choice was overwhelming her. Her lips were dry and parched when she opened them.

"Comrade? Did I make it back?"

"Milaya!" Dimitri moaned. The sound of his voice an instant balm, she felt the side of the bed dip as he moved onto the mattress, pulling himself up hard against her. In that moment her fears were allayed. She'd once said she could do anything if she had his love, and she meant it. They weren't alone in the room; Dr. Olendzki and several staff were there, bearing silent witness to the scene playing out in front of them. For about two minutes there'd been pandemonium, the doctor announcing they were losing her. But it had all stopped as suddenly as it started, and now Rose was awake.

"Don't move, Roza. You're hooked up to machines," Dimitri mumbled, his lips finding hers and giving her gentle kisses before moving to kiss her all over her face. She could feel tears dropping against her skin, so despite his warning, she carefully lifted a hand to stroke the back of his neck - seeking to give him the gentle reassurance of her touch.

Her eyelids opened, long dark eyelashes fluttering against her cheeks. Dimitri pulled back slightly, so she could focus on his face.

"You came back," she whispered huskily, seeing relief, love, and hope in his eyes.

"So did you," he replied, giving her a joyful smile before kissing her again. "I love you, Rose. I'm sorry for everything. I'm back, and I'm not leaving you," he promised.

Her arms were weak, but he offered no resistance when she pulled him back to her. Stroking the side of his face tenderly, Rose smiled as Dimitri kissed her; stopping only to make fervent promises of love and constancy. Rose reciprocated with her own words of love and forgiveness for the man whose love had pulled her back from the abyss. After a few minutes of kisses and tender whispers, Dr. Olendzki cleared her throat, reminding Dimitri they weren't alone. Looking up sheepishly, he smiled at the doctor.

"Roza – Dr. Olendzki probably needs to examine you now. I'll be right outside – I'll let everyone know you're back," he declared adoringly, giving her a final chaste kiss.

"Don't let them too close," Rose requested nervously, meaning her family and friends. She could handle, no she needed Dimitri's reassuring presence; but she was unsure about everyone else, just yet.

"I'll open the door when she's ready to receive her visitors," Dr. Olendzki promised, shaking her head in amusement and almost pushing the elated young man out of the room. She laughed a moment later when she heard a very happy sounding Russian-accented voice over the PA summoning Guardians Petrov and Hathaway to the infirmary.

He was standing leaning impatiently against the wall outside Rose's room when Janine and Alberta came through the clinic doors, closely followed by Lissa, Christian, Adrian, and Eddie. Dimitri's joyous grin said it all, but Alberta wouldn't fully believe it until Dimitri announced, "She's conscious and talking. Dr. Olendzki is examining her now. She said she'd open the door as soon as Rose is ready to see anyone."