Rosabella was almost done in the infirmary, putting down her clipboard and preparing to take off her coat when none other than Eddie walked in, his left hand holding his right arm, face contorted with pain.

"God, what happened to you?" She gasped as she helped him into an upholstered chair, immediately disinfected her hands, and put on a new pair of gloves.


Eddie let out a dry laugh. "I guess Phoenix wanted to say hello. We ran into one of our southern counties."

Rosabella sighed in frustration but went to work, cleaned the wound, then removed the thread and needle.

"I'll put some numbing cream on the area. You won't feel that bad of a stitch." She had just explained, nonetheless seeing him flinch as she worked in the fine thread and carefully closed the wound.


It was quiet for a moment, Eddie watching her face closer as she diligently did her duty, hoping to minimize his pain as much as possible.

Clearing his throat, Eddie licked his lips. "So... you and Charles, huh." He leaned toward her.


Rosabella was silent and speechless continuing her work.

"I know you can tell me, instead of making it seem like our flirtatious glances over the dinner table were in my head."

For a split second, Rosabella stopped what she was doing and looked up at him.

"It's in your head, Eddie."

"Oh, so you like him? Really?"

She sighed again and continued her work on his arm, trying to keep her emotions in check so she wouldn't accidentally push the needle too deep into his arm.

"It's none of your business."

"Uhm, maybe if..."

"Enough, Eddie."

The two were suddenly startled when Charles casually walked in, hands in pockets, but not jacket on, thus revealing the holster and gun he was wearing over his shirt.

Rosabella had to take a deep breath at the surge of attraction she felt for the guy. Why does he have to look so sexy?

"What are you following her now?" Eddie almost barked at the second-in-command, his displeasure evident as he stretched the arm Rosabella was trying to sew up.

Charles ignored his comment and focused his gaze on Rosabella. "Rosabella. Finish what you're doing. Eddie has somewhere to stay."

Eddie fixed Charles with a gaze that was met with the most annoyed expression, making him even more agitated.

Charles stood there until Rosabella finally grabbed the tip of the thread with a pair of medical scissors and bandaged the area, watching Eddie leave, muttering an insult under her breath.

"Damn boy." He hissed as he turned the corner and left Rosabella and Charles in the infirmary.

"Are you ok?" Charles leaned against one of the white walls, watching her as she gathered up used tools and utensils.

"I can take care of myself, you know."

He sighed. "Uh, I know. It was for my own good. He pissed me off."

Rosabella frowned at him but didn't press the subject further, letting him lead her out of the room back to her own room, where she'd spent the last two nights alone because Charles was out on a mission.

Charles was about to lie down on the bed when he had removed the holster when a pack of pills on the bedside table caught his eye.

Picking them up, he quickly read the label and shot her a curious look when he understood that they were sleeping pills.

"Rosabella."

Rosabella rolled her eyes as she lay on her side, after taking off her shirt and jeans, now with nothing but a simple gray camisole top and matching men's shorts.

"I haven't taken any. Don't worry, I won't start recklessly self-medicating."

Of course, he trusted her words. But he still felt worried that the incident had disturbed her sleep enough to require medication.

Exhaling, he joined her, sliding down the bed as they both just stared at the ceiling, just enjoying the peace and quiet.

"I heard Fanny and Michel talking. She said you told her you were going to stay."

Rosabella shrugged. "She'd better know the real reason."

"But will you?"

"What will I do?"

"Leave? Without her? If possible, I mean?"

Turning her head, Rosabella saw Charles's eyes piercing her, searching for something she wasn't quite sure about.

"I've told you this before..."

He was silent then. Just silently holding her gaze with his eyes said so much it was hard for her to decipher.

For a moment, Rosabella felt almost regretful that she had just said those words, wondering if she really felt the same way.

Did she really want to leave the house? Or has she actually found a new home in the past few months? In all this mess, she hasn't allowed herself to really question herself anymore.

Rosabella was almost afraid of what the answer might actually be. In any case, that's a moot point anyway, isn't it?

Archibald is dead, she's trapped, and on top of that, she's told Fanny she'll stay, too. What else was there to the above? That is until Charles continues to talk...

"Perhaps I can handle this for you."

"What?"

"It takes careful planning and time, but it's not impossible."

She stared at him. Is he serious?

"But I think..." He reached out and stroked the side of her face as she shifted to the side to better face him. "If staying here makes you so unhappy. I'll look into it."

Rosabella's heart skipped a beat. However, she doesn't know if it has something to do with him giving her this chance or because he said it in such a strange way.

If staying here makes you unhappy like this... Does he want her to be happy? Does he care about her that much?

"Promise?" She whispered while her eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

Charles gulped but nodded anyway. "I promise, I'll do my best to help you leave."

The intensity of their eye contact was so strong that Rosabella forced her to look away, rolling back onto the bed as she exhaled a deep breath, trying to calm her pounding heart.