Sitting on the hard cream colored chairs outside the emergency double door entrance I impatiently tapped my foot as I continually glanced over at the reception desk for news on Conner. Over the past 2 hrs. since Conner was rushed inside I have been sitting here watching as the crowd around me thinned into nonexistence. I know these things take time but how much longer were they going to make me keep waiting. Getting to my feet I once more walked over to the reception desk where a young woman with golden blond hair neatly tied up in a bun sat typing on her computer. At my approach she glanced up. A look of frustration crossed her face when she saw it was only me again. I guess I had been bugging her quite a bit since I arrived.

“Princess. I know you are worried, but you continually coming up here every 5 minutes isn’t going to make it go any faster.” She sighed slightly exasperated. Nodding sadly I slowly headed back to my seat. I perked up the moment I heard the unmistakable squeak of the double doors opening to reveal a doctor in a white lab coat and blue scrubs leafing through his clipboard. Glancing at the many hopeful faces around him he peeked once more at his clipboard before breaking my heart.

“Roger!” Sighing in frustration I plopped back down in my chair my head resting against my right hand on the arm rest. When were they going to call Conner’s name. I wondered closing my eyes. I snapped them open again as I finally heard that magical word.

“Conner!” I leaped to my feet and raced over to the female doctor still scanning the waiting room. Her eyes immediately trained on me when she noticed my approach.

“Oh, princess. I didn’t expect to see you here.” She gasped recognition showing on her face.

“Is Conner ok.” I inquired ignoring her comment. Slightly flustered at being addressed by a princess she quickly scanned her notes.

“He is very fortunate. Any higher and that arrow would have done a lot more damage. As it stands right now he will be able to walk out of here in a few days.” She replied her professional attitude returning as she read off his condition.

“Can I see him.” She hesitated obviously conflicted on saying no to royalty. After a moment she sighed and nodded.

“Yes but only for 5 mins. He will be out of it for a while though so don’t expect much right now.” I nodded as I followed her down the hallway to room 201. I could feel the eyes boring into my back as one by one every nurse and doctor watched me pass. Obviously they were not used to seeing a princess walking down a hospital hallway. Which makes sense. As members of the royal family in need of medical attention are taken to a special hospital especially intended for the royal family. So as to avoid any crazy people that might decide to kidnap one of us for the money. Though only members of the royal family are allowed in that hospital. So Conner being a palace guard was instead taken to a local hospital that anyone can go to.

“Remember only 5 minutes. ” she repeated holding the door open for me. I nodded stepping inside. Though the moment I saw Conner lying on that white hospital bed I immediately rushed to his side. I heard the door close behind me as the doctor quickly retreated down the hallway. Seeing all those tubes and wires I couldn’t help but cry a little. Why would anyone want to hurt Conner. Sitting down in the chair by his bed I sadly gazed down at him a sense of helplessness washing over me.

“Sasha.” I sighed in relief as Conner’s eyes opened. Wiping away the tears gathering on my eyes I smiled down at him as he managed to turn his head enough to gaze up at me.

“Hey. How are you feeling. ” I gently inquired brushing away a strand of hair that had fallen into his face.

“Tired, and a little sore.” He replied in a raspy voice. I pursed my lips at his pitiful attempts at sugar coating the truth. Even though I could plainly see his hands shaking, and bunched up face from the pain threatening to devour him. I knew this was just his way of keeping his pride in tact so rolling my eyes I smiled and let him get away with it.

“Times up.” Glancing behind me I scowl at the female doctor now standing by the door waiting for me to leave. Sighing I nodded and got to my feet.

“I will come visit you again tomorrow. Try to get some rest.” He must really have been exhausted as instead of answering he closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep. Quietly so as not to wake him, I headed for the door. Seeing this the doctor quickly exited before me. Pausing one hand on the knob I glanced back at Conner’s still form frowning at the pain filled grimaces marring his sleeping face. Who would shoot an arrow at him, and why. Shaking myself I quickly exited and headed back to the limo waiting just outside the hospital entrance.

Normally the guards would have followed me inside but the hospital has a strict no weapons policy for anyone other than hospital security. Seeing as the guards are forbidden from removing their weapons while on the job I convinced them to wait by the entrance doors instead.

The moment the entrance doors opened they moved in. Within seconds I was surrounded by 15 different guards who immediately began escorted me to the waiting limo. The driver who was standing by the passenger door nodded at us as we approached. We were a few feet away when the driver opened the passenger door for me. The moment the door opened even an inch it happened. There was a loud boom followed by screaming and a cloud of smoke and flames as the limo exploded. All I could see was red as my vision was filled with the flames roaring straight toward me. Than nothing. Everything turned black as I was swallowed up by the darkness.

                                                                                    ----

I was encircled by a ring of fire. Everywhere I turned I was greeted by a wall of angry red flames blocking my escape. I coughed uncontrollably. The smoke encompassing me, extinguishing every last drop of air trying and failing to reach my lungs. Suffocating me where I lay. 

“Help. Somebody please help me.” I croaked unable to draw in enough air to amplify my voice enough to be heard. Dropping to my knees coughing I lifted my head trying to see above the wall of flames. My watery eyes widened in fear and shock as I saw the guards lying in a heap outside the ring of fire dead. I was alone. I could feel my strength leaving me as I laid down on the ground exhausted from lack of oxygen.

“Please help me.” I whispered to no one in particular. The flames were inches away from me when I bolted upright trembling from head to foot safe and sound in a hospital bed.

“It was only a dream.” I sighed sinking back against the fluffy white pillows.

“You know I would have been just fine. You didn’t have to join me here.” I heard someone nearby laugh. Glancing to my left I see Conner sitting up in his own hospital bed watching me. An amused smile on his face.

“Conner what are you doing here. I thought only royals were allowed in this hospital.” I asked confused. Throwing the blankets off his legs he slowly got up from the bed, and wandered over to my side. Sitting down on the edge of my bed he looked down at me a gentle smile on his face.

“We aren’t in the royal hospital. After the explosion you were in such bad shape, and since the royal hospital is an hr. away they decided to just treat you here. Especially since all the guards protecting you that day were killed in the explosion. They had planned on later moving you to the royal hospital later, but after seeing the extent of your injuries they decided it would be best to just leave you here.” He replied calmly.

“Ok but why are we in the same hospital room. Don’t they normally separate the men from the women?”

“Yes. That’s usually the case but seeing as you are a princess they wanted to give you your own room but all the solo rooms were taken. So not wanting to have the princess share a room with a stranger who could potentially harm her. They decided to just put you in here.” I didn’t know what to say to that so I chose instead to plead the 5th. After a few minutes of awkward silence I noticed the sky outside the window was black.

“What time is it? How long was I out?” I asked scanning the walls for a clock.

“Its almost midnight. You have been unconscious for 2 days now.” My mouth fell open. 2 days? How could I have been out for that long? I had so many questions but I decided to start with the biggest one I had.

“Why are you still awake than? Aren’t you tired?” He blushed a little at this.

“Well after I heard what happened and saw you all beat up unconscious on that bed I became too scared to sleep. I was afraid who ever set that bomb for you, and shot an arrow at me would show up while I was asleep, and attack you.”

“So you’ve been awake this entire time watching the door for an intruder?” I asked shocked. Now that he mentions it he did have more bags under his eyes than the last time I saw him. He awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. Chuckling nervously as he nodded.

“Conner don’t forget you are hurt too. You also need your sleep.” I pointed out. He opened his mouth to reply when the door suddenly flew open as a nurse came rushing in.

“Princess I saw on the alert that you had awoken. How...” she paused as she took in the scene in front of her. Conner sitting on the edge of my bed where I lay unfazed. I could see the storm brewing before I heard it as her face went from a snow white complexion, to beat red in a matter of seconds.

“MR. RODRIGUEZ! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING. GET OFF HER BED THIS INSTANT AND BACK TO YOUR OWN!” She shouted marching over to him, grabbing the scuff of his collar, and dragging him back to his own bed which she forcefully, yet still gently, pushed him onto. Conner sitting on the edge of his bed gazed up at her a guilty look on his face as she stood towering over him hands on her hips.

“Now stay there. Do not let me see you out of that bed bothering the princess again or I will borrow handcuffs from the security guard and cuff you to the bed!” She threatened. Conner ducked his head regretfully. As though he were a small child who was just caught stealing a cookie from the cookie jar. The nurse cast one final glare his way before turning and trotting her way back to me. As she approached her glare disappeared. Replaced instead with a sickeningly sweet smile.

“How are you feeling Princess? Does anything hurt.” She questioned checking my vitals.

“Actually my arms and legs are starting to hurt some from the flames.” I replied showing her my irritated skin.

“Ok I will add some more morphine to your IV I will be right back.” She soothed heading toward the door.

“Um can you also bring something to help with the pain in my chest.” Conner asked pointing to the spot where he had been shot. She didn’t even acknowledge that she heard him as she cast a fleeting glare back at him before rushing from the room.

“Well that was odd.” I thought to myself. As I sat there staring at the place she just disappeared from a thought came to mind.

“Wait did you say all the guards had died.” I turned toward him as I remembered his words from earlier. He grimaced at me before glancing once at the door and walking back over to me to sit on the edge of my bed again.

“Yes. When the hospital staff heard the explosion they apparently came running, but most of them had been killed immediately after the blast. A few survived long enough to be rushed inside but they also latter died. The doctors were not even sure if you would make it. They even told your family to plan for a funeral. Needless to say they didn’t want to leave your side but the doctor insisted since they were just making it harder for him to check your vitals by constantly surrounding you.” I was speechless. All of them dead. How was I still alive. Why was I still alive. I couldn’t help but feel slightly responsible since the explosion was meant for me not them. Conner guessing my thoughts quickly shut them down.

“Sasha it’s not your fault. It’s the attackers fault. Not yours. You couldn’t have known that limo was rigged to explode. If you had I am certain you would have stopped them from getting too close.”

“But their dead because someone was trying to kill me not them. They shouldn’t have had to die like that, and their poor families. I should have been the one to die not them.” I cried tears falling down my face. Conner instead of answering placed a comforting hand on mine. It was at this moment the nurse from before decided to make a reappearance medicine in hand. She took one look at my tear stained face and his hand on top of mine and completely lost it. Needless to say by the next day Conner was handcuffed to the bed, only being let out to go to the bathroom. At least she brought medicine for his chest pain.