She's not broken, She's just a baby. (M&S&G)

[ROSE MERCER]

Fernando was praying. He sat, in an almost zen like trance, gripping his rosary, praying to God to save his niece. He did not blame Guillermo, though the boy sat next to him, the guilt apparent. He did not blame the young, frantic, woman who had hit his Rosa. He just wanted her to be safe.

Misa sniffled silently into Stefano's chest, having been close with Rose. Stefano tried soothing her gently, but was rendered unable to speak. Hiro paced anxiously, his eyes jumping at the sight of any Doctor that passed his way. They eyed Mallory, at first, with anger. But it melted away as her own worry had become apparent. Fernando muttered softly, his black eyes opening to see his nieces friends. "Ten fe, Guillermo. Rosa es fuerte."




The Green Woman who claimed to be a witch stared at Rose closely, her olivey lips spreading into a smile. "It's very simple, dear. I want to live in your body." Rose scowled slightly, unsure if she was being screwed with. "Well, you'll be there as well. Very much like you, I was in the wrong place, at the wrong time. I couldn't do my magic in time to save myself. But your peoples magic is very interesting. You're not quite dead yet. So, I can help, but like I said. Only if you help me."

"Why don't I just wait for my peoples magic to save me?" Rose said, before feeling a severe pain in her chest. She clutched at her sternum, which felt like it was being split in half.

"Well you could, except I'm not that great of a loser. If you deny me, all I have to do is work my magic and let them be done with you." Rose gasped at the pain she was feeling, her innards twisting. "Yes, it's uncomfortable. Don't be so dramatic."

"Piss off."

The woman sighed darkly, impatient with Rose's stubbornness. "Don't you want to return? See your family, your friends, your Guillermo-"

"He's not mine!"

"Stubborn til the end I see. You're Father must have messed you up something bad. But... alas. I know everything about you. Deny all you want, I know." The pain left Rose, as she breathed deeply. "Oh come, it wouldn't be so bad. I'm fairly easy to live with."

"What are you getting out of this?"

"Redemption." The woman said shortly. The pain returned, bringing Rose to her knees. "I won't hurt anyone who doesn't deserve it. And it will never be traced to you." The woman frowned as Rose lifted her middle finger, waving the bird at her promptly. The Green woman lifted her hand, a strange vortex appearing from it. It was beautiful, almost like a t.v. made of air.

Rose saw her friends, her Uncle, Guillermo. They looked so worried. Tears brimmed her eyes. Poor Mallory. How had she... A pink Mustang came into memory. Shit, it had been Mallory that hit her. Talk about a small world. And Guillermo... God, he must feel like he's cursed or something, with the string of shit happening to him. And Misa and Stefano, cuddling in their sadness. She had ratted them out. She was such a shitty friend. "Alright, you made your point. I'll do it." Rose said, unable to look any longer.

The woman's olive lips curled.



Doctor Bargwell entered the lobby, seeing Patient Rose Mercer's group waiting anxiously. He approached, with the the cold but formal familiarity Doctors were known for. "Mr. Armero? The eldest of the bunch looked up. "You're niece looks like she's going to be okay." A wave of relief hit the crowd. "We had a small snaffu for a moment in surgery. Her ribs had punctured her lung, but she ended up pulling through just fine."

"When are we being allowed to see her?" Fernando asked gently.

"Now, if you like. I can have Nurse Romera bring you right to her, though she is sleeping at the moment." Already people were on their feet, ready for a more physical proof that Rosa was alive.


Rose slept in discomfort, wired to various machines. Though in a morphine induced sleep, she could hear the constant beeping. It was irritating, but sort of comforting, as she knew it was her heart. Her face had suffered little damage, considering the accident, the left side of her face scrapped and bruise, with a small cut on the right. Her chest was bound with bandages from the surgery, a small red line appearing where the blood was soaking in. Besides a few bruises, her legs were unharmed.

She was lucky. And she knew it.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

His fault.
All his fault.
He should never have come to tell her.
He could have waited until she got home.
He shouldn't have gotten trashed. That's what lead up to this.
God was punishing him.
And he deserved it.
Guillermo's face rested in his hands, determined not to cry again.
"Ten fe, Guillermo. Rosa es fuerte."
Fernando's deep voice said soothingly as he turned a rosary over and over in his fingers. He looked up at her uncle, overcome with guilt and horrific anger at himself.
He couldn't bring himself to speak.
"Mr. Armero?" A doctor entered into their time stopping bubble.
"You're niece looks like she's going to be okay."
A sigh of relief was simultaneously released.
"We had a small snaffu for a moment in surgery. Her ribs had punctured her lung, but she ended up pulling through just fine."
"When are we being allowed to see her?" Fernando asked gently.
"Now, if you like. I can have Nurse Romera bring you right to her, though she is sleeping at the moment."
Guillermo stood first, his eyes filled with worry. He waited, however, letting Fernando walk ahead of him.
What if Rose did not want him there? She had been running from him, after all.
His insides jumped uncomfortably, his heart sinking lower and lower with each thought.

[MALLORY TORRES]

She was severely hated by all of Rose's family members, but she was sorry. She hadn't, like, jumped the sidewalk, ran Rose over, then speed away. NO. Mallory had been going to visit Rose, express her love and friendship to Rose, when Rose just decided to run out into oncoming traffic and get herself hit. From the time she got to the hospital to that moment, Mallory had felt hate towards her from them. She felt alone and vulnerable. Hell, Dorothy was so freaked out by that last note they found that she had permanently shut herself out of Mallory's mind.

Finally, a doctor decided to grace them with some great news. Rose was better and they could see her. Mallory practically jumped up from her seat and she noticed Guil do the same. However, he allowed Rose's Uncle to go first. Dammit. Mallory wanted to comfort her friend. She deserved that much. "Mr. Armero," Mallory's voice was still cracked from the amounts of crying she had done, "could I see her first?" When the words left her mouth, the room grew silent and she felt eyes on her again. "It was my fault. I want to be the first to apologize. Please?" Mallory was literally pleading for this one thing. Never in her life had she begged for anything, but here she was...begging, like a child.

Her eyes flicked to Hiro, Stefano, and Misa, who all still stared at her. Each one wore the accusing look, yet each waited for Mr. Armero to speak.

[ROSE MERCER]

Guillermo was the first to rise, with Mallory a close second. "Mr. Armero, could I see her first? It was my fault. I want to be the first to apologize. Please?" Fernando, who was almost made out of pure empathy, felt for the girl.

He put his hand on her shoulder, smiling kindly. "I am thinking we can all go in at once. She is only sleeping now. It would be very good for Rosa, to see all of her friends waiting for her to wake. We are very happy if you wait with us, yes?" He looked over at the others, his eyes patriarchal, and they nodded in concession. "Do not worry, Cariña. No one is blaming you."

He lead them in, as the nurse guided, informing them of rules when Rose woke up. Calm voices, nothing to stress her out, gentleness with touching, inquire often at how she was feeling. So on, so forth.



Rose heard them coming, though she was in a place between being awake and sleeping. Apart of her wanted to sleep more. She was sore, achy, though the pain was dulled. She knew she should be in more. Thank God for drugs. But they would want to know she was okay. As they filed in, she kept her eyes closed, her lids feeling heavy. "Holy shit. She's all... hospitally.

"Hiro, shut up."

"Aye Cariña".

She opened her eyes slowly, pushing a smile out. "Gosh." She said in a weak voice, staring at the grim faces. "Who died?"

Rose had the tact of a Wolverine with Asburgers.

She sat up, gingerly, flinching a little, looking around at the faces. "Oh, God, I must look awful, with how you lot are-" She was itchy. Why was she itchy. Rose scratched her arm a bit, trying to keep her sleepy train of thought going. Feeling her face, it stung, as the scraps were forming into scabs. Shit, that better not scar. Hrm, sitting up might have been a bad idea. Rose sank back in her bed.

WHY WAS SHE SO ITCHY.

A nurse came in behind them, looking a little surprised at the amount of people in the room. "You're up?" She had a terrible inflection that gave Rose the impression that she wasn't suppose to be awake yet. "You're itchy?"

"Nope, scratching for kicks."

The nurse ignored the sarcasm. "I'll tell your Doctor."

Rose smiled a little as she left, grinning at them all. "Seriously, guys. Just cheated death. Try and look a little pleased." Her Uncle chuckled a little, coming forward to kiss her on the head. "Better."

"Damn Baby, ain't you a hard ass." Stefano chuckled a little uneasy.

"Damn skippy." She looked over at the clock, seeing it at around eleven. "Hey, guys, come back tomorrow. Get some sleep, you look like shit." She yawned deeply, scratching her neck. "Seriously, I feel like a hundred bucks. Go, be merry."

"We'll be back tomorrow."

Rose looked at sweet Misa, guilt touching her for ratting her and Stefano out. "Definitely." Stefano and Hiro gave her a quick hug, Misa's being a bit firmer and less you-have-a-boyfriend-y. Which she didn't. They left, waving goodbye for too long, Rose patiently waving back.

Her Uncle looked from Guillermo to Mallory, then to Rose. "Yo ya vuelvo. Voy a tener que jugo." With that he got up, leaving the three staring at each other.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

He couldn't hear anyone. His mind muffled the sound of the voices, dazed.
They walked as a group to Rose's room and it took all he had not to fall to the floor in grief.
She was so broken, laying in a hospital bed, scratched and bandaged and hooked up to wires and tubes. He had never seen her so weak.
He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them again, watching with disbelief as Rose's eyes fluttered open.
"Gosh," her weak voice said, "Who died?"
He gave a chuckle which was half choked with a sob.
Rose sat up, flinching a little, looking around at them, a bit bewildered.
"Oh, God, I must look awful, with how you lot are-"
She laid back down after itching for a moment.
A nurse came in behind them, looking a little surprised at the amount of people in the room.
"You're up?" She seemed astounded.
"You're itchy?"
"Nope, scratching for kicks."
The nurse ignored the sarcasm. "I'll tell your Doctor."
Rose smiled a little as she left, grinning at them all. "Seriously, guys. Just cheated death. Try and look a little pleased."
Her Uncle chuckled a little, coming forward to kiss her on the head. "Better."
"Damn Baby, ain't you a hard ass." Stefano chuckled a little uneasy.
"Damn skippy. Hey, guys, come back tomorrow. Get some sleep, you look like shit. Seriously, I feel like a hundred bucks. Go, be merry."
She yawned, showing who was REALLY the one who required sleep.
"We'll be back tomorrow."
"Definitely."
They all exchanged hugs then waved goodbye to her as they left silently.
Her Uncle looked from Guillermo to Mallory, then to Rose. "Yo ya vuelvo. Voy a tener que jugo." With that he got up, leaving the three staring at each other.
Guillermo stumbled towards her bed in a haze. Part of him was afraid of getting too close. But he wanted to be near her.
His knees buckled and he kneeled on the floor, burying his face in his hands.
The guilt he felt would kill him.
"This is my fault. I'm sorry."

[MALLORY TORRES]

Mallory nodded at the answer. Only fair right? She waited until everyone was shuffled to Rose's room. Mallory stood in the back and had yet to look at Rose for fear that Rose would shun her and make her leave. Mallory listened to Rose's voice, which suggested she was hurt. Then Rose told everyone to go get some sleep, but her uncle look to Guil and Mallory.

After everyone cleared out, Mallory just stood and watched Guil and Rose. Rose, who was broken and hurt, and Guil, who felt guilty and sad, were like the two most compatible people. While Mallory was just the outcast burdened to look from the outside in at their world. She was the unwanted variable in the equation, the variable that caused the equation a bit of heartache. The lowly slut who slept with her friend's man.

She watched as Guil knelt quivering, and she couldn't help but to feel unwanted. Why not give them their time. Mallory wasn't needed, they only needed the other. Feeling the sting of tears in her eyes, Mallory turned her head away and wiped them quickly. She was the strong one, while Rose was the vulnerable one. More tears came. They came faster than she could wipe them away, so she just surrendered to her emotions and slumped to the floor.

Why was she so useless? Why did everyone's lives have to be burdened by her own? Had she not been nice to Rose, this wouldn't have happened. Had she just ignored Guil like the other guys, then this wouldn't have happened. Had her parents just gave Mallory away, then everyone else would be happier.

Mallory wiped her eyes and ran her hand through her hair before she stood up. She might have looked like a looney, but she didn't give a damn. "I have your hospital bill covered and I got my parents to throw in a little extra." Mallory stated with her voice going hoarse. "I am sorry that this...that you became my friend." Mallory fought back the tears. "So, Imma leave you too alone," She sniffed, "for good." She finished as she turned heel to the door. No more Mallory. No more Trouble.

[ROSE MERCER]

Rose stared at her two best friends, who honestly looked scared of her. She put on a tough smile, only for it to fall as Guillermo stumbled to her, falling on his knees. "This is my fault. I'm sorry." What the fuck. Rose stared at him in mild disbelief, not sure what to say. Not that she had the time too, as Mallory joined in on the guilt fest.

"I have your hospital bill covered and I got my parents to throw in a little extra. I am sorry that this...that you became my friend. So, Imma leave you too alone, for good." With that, Mallory left, leaving Rose momentarily speechless.

Momentarily.

Grabbing her phone from the end table, she decided to deal with Mallory first, as she was the one in the most immediate state of leaving.

"Bitch, git ur cute ass back here an gimme a hug. If u leave 4ever then who will be my shoe bestie? No 1 wants u 2 leave, so git back here. No argument allowed."

Yeah, that looked good. She pushed send, putting the phone on her pillow as she sat up, her legs hanging off the bed. She reached forward, ignoring the pain in her torso, and grabbed Guillermo's chin. "Stop that." Her voice was commanding, but gentle. Not that she could really speak above gentle at the moment. She wiped away his tears, wondering if the wires and tubes were freaking him out. "Because you and Mallory are bringing me down. I'm on cloud nine. I got HIT by a car and I lived." Her voice was earnest, despite it's weak state. "Look at me, past the scrapes. I'm alive, and I'm fine. And if my best friends can't be happy that I'm totally okay, then I'm just going start hugging people. TO DEATH." She laughed gently, tugging him upwards.

Her eyes were strong, despite how weak she felt. "I'm only going to say this once: We're not fighting. I'm not mad. It's done. I'm alive. This? Just a flesh wound. So quit being such a Danny Downer, and sit down, because no one is allowed to be sad around me right now. It is illegal to be sad in this room." She couldn't sit up anymore, it hurt too bad, so she inched back to her pillow and laid back down, patting the bed next to her, inviting him to sit.

She didn't mention the 'I love you' thing. And it wasn't by accident. Like she said, there was going to be no fighting in this room.

Instead she curled up, giving him a tired smile. "You going to stay tonight?" The drama made her itching cease momentarily, but it returned quickly.

A man, who she assumed to be her Doctor walked in, seeming to wonder if this was a good time. "Miss Mercer."

"Doc, you've seen my insides. Call me Rose."

He chuckled uneasily, walking in. "How are you feeling?"

"Swell."

"Don't be tough. I need to know." He chuckled, look at the statuses of her machines.

"Alright... Kinda feel like I got hit by a car, then drugged up to wazoo." The Doctor gave her an impatient smile, so she sighed, relenting. "Tender. Kind of hurts to move. Itchy as all get out." She took Guillermo's hand, as if to remind her that sadness was not allowed in here.

"The itching is from the morphine. You must have some tough hide though, if your still feeling pain. I think I have something to help, though you'll feel a little lucid." She gave him a thumbs up, while he went to fetch a nurse. They returned, with a needle that made her tense up momentarily. Of course, that hurt. They added something to her I.V., and she instantly relaxing that he wasn't sticking that thing in her. It took seconds for her to feel it, making her body limp out slightly.

Inexplicably, she giggled, suddenly feeling a little loosy goosey. And as she thought of that, it occurred to her that she was Chicken Little, not Loosy Goosey. Which made her giggle a little more. "Doc. That... is some legit... shit." She got out, her mind bubbling a little. Suddenly, she looked at Guillermo, a little excited through her sleepiness. "Hey! I rhymed!"

The Doctor chuckled, adding a note to her chart. "Happy to help, Miss Mer- hem. Rose." He gave Guillermo a nod, before exiting, as Mallory entered.

"Mal! Mally. Mal-low-ree." She said, testing out the variations. "Hey there, chickaboo, get in here. And none of that I've-seen-you-naked-tension. It is not allowed! This is... hehehe... a room of happy- GOSH I really don't feel anything anymore. That really is some awesome shit. I wonder what that was..."

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

Rose stared at him in confusion, then Mallory spoke.
"I have your hospital bill covered and I got my parents to throw in a little extra. I am sorry that this...that you became my friend. So, Imma leave you too alone, for good."
Mallory walked out and Rose seized her phone, texting madly.
She sat up, her legs hanging off the bed. She reached forward and grabbed Guillermo's chin.
"Stop that." Her voice was commanding, but gentle.
She wiped away his tears,
"Because you and Mallory are bringing me down. I'm on cloud nine. I got HIT by a car and I lived. Look at me, past the scrapes. I'm alive, and I'm fine. And if my best friends can't be happy that I'm totally okay, then I'm just going start hugging people. TO DEATH."
She laughed gently, tugging him upwards.
He looked into her blue eyes. The ones he thought would never open again. They were determined.
"I'm only going to say this once: We're not fighting. I'm not mad. It's done. I'm alive. This? Just a flesh wound. So quit being such a Danny Downer, and sit down, because no one is allowed to be sad around me right now. It is illegal to be sad in this room."
His own laugh was mingled with a sob of relief
She inched back to her pillow and laid back down, patting the bed next to her, inviting him to sit.
He sat beside her, careful not to tread on any of the tubes.
She curled up, giving him a tired smile.
"You going to stay tonight?"
He smiled softly at her, his heart breaking a little more. How could she even want him there?
"Only if you want me to, Cariña."
Her doctor pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Miss Mercer."
"Doc, you've seen my insides. Call me Rose."
He chuckled uneasily, walking in. "How are you feeling?"
"Swell."
"Don't be tough. I need to know." He chuckled, look at the statuses of her machines.
"Alright... Kinda feel like I got hit by a car, then drugged up to wazoo." The Doctor gave her an impatient smile, so she sighed, relenting. "Tender. Kind of hurts to move. Itchy as all get out." She took Guillermo's hand, as if to remind her that sadness was not allowed in here.
"The itching is from the morphine. You must have some tough hide though, if your still feeling pain. I think I have something to help, though you'll feel a little lucid."
She gave him a thumbs up, and Guillermo smiled at her blasé attitude. The doctor returned with a nurse. They added something to her I.V. It took seconds for her to feel it, making her body limp out slightly.
Rose suddenly began giggling and Guillermo shot the doctor a skeptical look.
"Doc. That... is some legit... shit."
Suddenly, she looked at Guillermo, sounding a little excited.
"Hey! I rhymed!"
She looked so pleased with herself that he merely grinned.
"Yes you did. Good job."
The Doctor chuckled, adding a note to her chart.
"Happy to help, Miss Mer- hem. Rose."
Mallory came back in, hanging near the doorway.
Rose's reaction was instant.
"Mal! Mally. Mal-low-ree. Hey there, chickaboo, get in here. And none of that I've-seen-you-naked-tension. It is not allowed! This is... hehehe... a room of happy- GOSH I really don't feel anything anymore. That really is some awesome shit. I wonder what that was..."
Guillermo chuckled then waved Mallory forward, unlacing his finger's from Rose's and moving aside to let the friends have their moment.
He and Mallory had to be feeling the same guilt. He wanted to hug Mallory, to comfort her a little. It wasn't her fault at all. How do you prepare for someone running out onto the road?
Instead, he just moved back and leaned against the wall.

[MALLORY TORRES]

Mallory's heels clicked against the cold linoleum of the hospital flooring. She stood perfectly, yet her eyes were rimmed an ugly red color and her mascara had ran slightly. No one said anything, or spared her the sideways glance because who wanted to show HER attention when there were people dying. Someone like Ro...
*All my life, I've been good but now
I'm thinking 'What the hell?!'
All I want is to mess around.*
Mallory's phone practically screamed in the hospital while her finger was pressed onto the down arrow of the elevator. Mallory's cheeks grew flushed as she silenced her phone and check the screen. It was a text from Rose, that was demanding a hug, which made Mallory smile.

Turning heel, Mallory ran as fast as her heeled feet could take her until she got to Rose's room. She watched the Doctor give Rose some drug before Rose finally noticed her. When Rose spoke, Mallory smiled so hard it hurt her cheeks. "That's the good stuff that they hide from the public." Mallory added as she made her way to Rose's bed and glanced at Guil. He seemed relaxed, almost at ease. She spared him a smile before turning her attention back to Rose. "Move over, slut." she teased as she crawled onto Rose's bed. She laid on her side with her head on her hands and just watched Rose. "Sorry." Mallory whispered to Rose.

Mallory allowed her right hand to wrap around Rose's chest and snuggled her face into Rose's neck before she felt tears again. Dammit! She hated to be like this, but she'd never almost lost someone that she cared dearly about. Mallory laughed a little at her sadness before turning on her back and staring at the roof. "I guess I forgive you Guil." Mallory said still looking at the roof, but smiling a little.

[SETH FOXWORTH]

Seth bounced in the cab, his heart pounding loudly in his ears as it's driving zoomed in what was possibly the slowest trip of his life. Seriously, could he go any slower? Rose was in the hospital! ROSE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL DYING! And it was ALL Guillermo's fault. Seth didn't care that Hiro had assured him that she was lively considering the circumstances, or the fact that Stefano had remarked that it wasn't like Guillermo pushed her into the car, that it had been an accident. NO! NO! NO! None of it mattered! Rose was hurt, and it was Guillermo's fault.

When they finally got to the hospital, Seth threw some indistinct bills at the driver before bolting away, through the doors. A nurse caught him, and pointed him in the direction of the room that he needed to be in. Bursting through the doors, he saw a girl laying next to Rose, as Guillermo stood in the corner.... smiling. Seth kept in the anger, his eyes falling on Rose.

Tubes... Machines... Bandages... her face. Her beautiful face! He tried to stop his lip from trembling as he entered the room, gazing at her cautiously. He approached the side of the bed a stranger was not laying on, trying to encourage words to come out of his mouth. "H-hey Chicken Little. Is the sky falling?" Seth lowered, wanting to hug her, but afraid that he'd hurt her further.

So he took her hand and brought it to his face, squeezing his eyes shut. She looked happy, but how could she? She almost died! She looked so weak and fragile, a way that Seth had never seen her before. She looked broken.

And then Seth remembered who was to blame.

His eyes snapped open, staring at Guillermo. It was an even more intense hatred than he had felt when he first met his rival. "Hey man. Mind if we talk outside?" Seth indicated the hallway, before looking at Rose. "Roommate stuff. It will only take a second." God, he just wanted to hold her. Try and make it better. But the bed was invaded, the room was full. So Seth kissed her on the forehead, nodding a hello at the stranger, and entered the corridor, not sure what he was going to do.

All he knew was he couldn't do it in front of Rose.

[ROSE MERCER]

Mallory's reaction was as Rose expected, even in her sleepy-drugged state. Guillermo moved to give the girls room, earning a thankful smile from Rose, glad to see they were smiling. Much better than the heavy guilt that was in here before. Much better. "Move over, slut."

Rose giggled, scooting as far as her wires and tubes would let her. "Aiight, Skank."

The girls cuddled for a moment, as Rose heard Mallory apologize, before Mallory turned on her back. "I guess I forgive you Guil."

Rose giggled again, her head swimming. "Saint Mallory pardons you Good Sir. As is Saint like." The joke really made no sense, but it amused Rose greatly, her smile wide. God, she wished this scab on her face would go away. It made it difficult to celebrate her not deadness with her friends.

From the door, Rose heard a cautious and frightened voice. "H-hey Chicken Little. Is the sky falling?"

She didn't have to sit up, to know who it was. So she smiled at the ceiling, as if checking. "Dunno, Foxy Loxy, you tell me." As he approached, she looked at him carefully. He had been frantic, most certainly. Seth had never dealt with stress well. As he put her hand on his cheek, as if making sure she were real, she spoke softly. "FoxnLox, I'm fine. Really."

He gave no indication of hearing her, before his eyes opened and rested on Guillermo. "Hey man. Mind if we talk outside?" Rose looked confusedly around, wondering if she had fallen asleep and missed something. Seth gave her a short explanation and kissed her on the forhead. "Roommate stuff. It will only take a second." And then he was out the door.

Rose pouted momentarily, looking at Guillermo. He had just relaxed, after all. If Seth ruined her feelgood moment on Guillermo buying imitation pledge, she was going to strike someone. "It sounds important, and it's not like your not staying the night anyway." She shrugged, relaxing into her pillow.

She looked over at Mallory, poking her face. "Ugh. It should be illegal to be that pretty. You mean mean thing you." Rose did not mean to think allowed, but decided not to bother hiding it. This was as good as time as any to be honest. And she could always blame the drugs if she said anything too out there.

Thank God for drugs.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"Move over, slut."
Guillermo smiled, shaking his head as Rose giggled whimsically, scooting to let Mallory onto the bed.
"Aiight, Skank."
The two held each other momentarily. Guillermo assumed they were apologizing and comforting one another simultaneously.
"I guess I forgive you Guil."
Mallory looked a bit sheepish and Guillermo reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it briefly.
"Thanks, Mallory."
Rose giggled again, her head swimming. "Saint Mallory pardons you Good Sir. As is Saint like."
His heart was tearing as Rose gave a huge bright smile. Maybe she should be on drugs all the time..
"H-hey Chicken Little. Is the sky falling?"
Seth stood in the doorway, looking devastated.
"Dunno, Foxy Loxy, you tell me."
He approached, he cautiously, as if afraid to scare her.
Seth lifted her hand to rest on his cheek, looking to be near tears. Guillermo looked away, guilt and jealousy filling him, creating a swooping mass of confusion.
He hear Rose's tender voice, "FoxnLox, I'm fine. Really."
"Hey man. Mind if we talk outside?"
Guillermo turned to Seth, puzzled. He looked urgent.
Seth gave Rose a short explanation and kissed her on the forhead. "Roommate stuff. It will only take a second." And then he was out the door."
He glanced at Rose, as if to see if she would be alright without him.
"It sounds important, and it's not like your not staying the night anyway."
As he walked out the door after Seth, he heard Rose say to Mallory, "Ugh. It should be illegal to be that pretty. You mean mean thing you."
He chuckled lightly.

[MALLORY TORRES]

Mallory wasn't expecting Guil to thank her, but he showed it by squeezing her hand. He was still as warm as ever, and she just smiled with a nod. Then Rose spoke, and Mallory giggled slightly at Rose's smile that was bigger than ever. Drug-induced Rose NEEDED to be filmed because she's never believe these things came from her mouth.

Mallory noticed a guy voice, which was unfamiliar to her, and when he walked in her looked...devastated. He held a certain appeal, like the way that Guil appealed to her, except this guy looked the part. Mallory just watched Rose and the guy share their little..whatever that was, before the guy looked alarmed. She quirked a brow at the guy's reaction and words. Mallory's eyes narrowed as she watched the boys disappear into the hallway.

She was about to speak when Rose poked her and told her that she was 'illegally pretty.' Mallory put a smile on her face before turning to Rose, "You are gorgeous yourself." Mallory said before tucking a strand of hair behind Rose's ear. "Rose, I don't think that Seth is going to talk to Guil a bout 'Roomate Stuff.' I am the queen of bullshit and that had it written ALL over it." Mallory said before looked at the closed door again.

[SETH FOXWORTH]

You could cut Seth's anger with a butter knife. As soon as the men were out of the line of sight of the women, Seth grabbed Guillermo's shirt, and pulled him to the near by bathroom. A skinny male nurse looked at the, slightly surprised, as Seth glared at him. Deciding it was best not to get involved, he scooted out as fast as he could without breaking into a run, and Seth's snarling face caught Guillermo's eyes.

Seth bounced on his feet, his adrenalin pumping through his body, trying to figure out exactly what he wanted to say. But he was beyond words. Well, that was a start. Quick as a puma, Seth swung a punch square in Guillermo's face, ignoring the pain his hand was in as he pinned him to the wall. "You fuck!" He growled, angered to the point that he couldn't even yell. Not that he would have, as he had no interest in getting kicked out.

"Let me make myself clear, Guillermo. Hiro fucking told me what happened, and had it not been for you, she would have been safe." Deep down Seth knew it wasn't Guillermo's fault. Deep down he actually liked the guy. But he needed someone to blame, and since he wasn't about to punch that pretty girl sitting with Rose, he was the best outlet. "Fuck you, standing there next to her like nothing happened! Like she didn't almost die? Fuck you! If you ever lead up to her getting hurt again... I swear... I'll-" Seth threw another punch, though this time he aimed it to the wall behind Guillermo's head. Little bits of blood seeped slowly out of his knuckles. "I'll kill you-" His voice was a deadly whisper, and he hoped with every fiber of his being that Guillermo was taking him serious. "I don't mean I'll fucking kick your ass, or mangle you. I will stab you in your fucking throat, bury a hole, and throw dirt on your fucking worthless body while you take your last breathe." With that, he released Guillermo forcefully, shaking his hand out.

When had he started crying? Not a sob, thankfully, just a couple trickles running down his face. Still, he wasn't quite sure when it had started, but it didn't seem to matter. He started cold water in the sink, shaking his sore hand thoughtfully, his breathing slowing down. He couldn't look at Guillermo. He didn't want to see him contrite, didn't want to see him angry. So he kept his vision focused on his hand, wiping the specks of blood off on his shirt. "What did she say? When you told her you..." He couldn't finish his own sentence, because the answer frightened him too much.

[ROSE MERCER]

The boys left, as Rose watched sadly. "You are gorgeous yourself."

Rose giggled, pointing to the scraped part of her face, with no trace of embarrassment. "I look like a fucking Batman villain."

Mallory's voice turned to one of observational concern, indicating the boys. "Rose, I don't think that Seth is going to talk to Guil a bout 'Roomate Stuff.' I am the queen of bullshit and that had it written ALL over it."

Rose's heavy mind considered this. What else could they be talking about? "Probably not. Seth's probably just getting updated on what all happened." Not realizing at that very moment, Guillermo was getting socked in the face, she gave Mallory a sage like smile. "They're both so good to me... Probably just didn't want to make me uncomfortable."

Rose shifted a little, resting her face sleepily on Mallory's shoulder. "Guillermo said that he... well you know... loved me." Rose said, quietly, wrapping a lock of Mallory's brown hair around her finger. "That's why he's blaming himself. I took off cause I couldn't keep talking about it." Rose shrugged and yawned, though her voice was a little sad. "He didn't mean it... his Dad just died and his sister vanished like poof. And they had a weird relationship... he feels guilty and needs something to love. You see it on Dr. Phil all the time." Yes, Rose was certain he was just sad. "It's all too weird. So I'm just going to ignore it I think, til things get back to normal."

Yes, this was a sound plan. In her drugged state, Rose didn't connect that Mallory was one of the first to accuse Guillermo and Rose of having something more than a friendship. She just laid her head sleepily on her friends shoulder. "I hope I didn't ding up your pretty car. I can buff it out, when they let me out of here. Free of charge."