Room of Vixen Lestrange (Regulus)

Vixen slept both on her own and from the effects of the vast array of healing potions the healers were giving her. Regulus had brought her to St. Mungo's and after taking a good look at her condition, he had been removed from the room to allow them to work on her. The prognosis for Vixen had been bleak: several broken ribs two of which had pierced one lung causing it to collapse, a dislocated shoulder, broken collar bone, broken jaw with the loss of one molar and near loss of another, a broken nose, and a near concussion. They had easily magically removed the mark the man had cut into her forehead as well as many of the broken bones, but much of the damage was going to have to heal on it's own thanks to her being at death's door when she arrived due to massive internal bleeding and blood loss.

The nurses made certain that Vixen wasn't laying flat in bed as that would make breathing much more difficult for her. Her torso was wrapped to help hold the ribs that couldn't be healed in place, allowing some comfort as well as stability for their healing process. On the side of her damaged lung, a small amount of red could be seen on the wrapping from where the fluid from her chest cavity had been removed to allow her lung to re-inflate. Vixen's face, while mostly healed, was still bruised enough to notice. Her jaw was easily repaired, but the bruising was not, same went for her nose.

Checking her over one last time before allowing her to rest, the nurse was pleased with how far she had come in such a short time. No longer flirting with death, Vixen was stable enough to let the nurses feel that she could be on her own to rest and recover. Exiting her room, the nurse spotted Regulus. With a soft smile she said, "You can go in now. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call. It's going to be while before she's top notch again." She nodded to him and placed a hand on his shoulder in comfort before heading down the hall to the nurse's station.

Regulus walked into the room without thinking twice, and sighed as he saw Vixen. She seemed so peaceful while resting, but he knew she was still in pain. Even if she was healing, she was in pain. He could only guess what the Shadows did to her. His fists clenched unknowingly, as rage overtook him. He kicked a fold-able chair that crashed against the wall and broke into pieces, before kneeling down and punching the floor. Getting up, his fist had blood in it, and the nurse was about to come in, "Don't you dare...this is my private time with her. Get the fuck out," he whispered, as the nurse quickly nodded and left. Picking up a rag, he cleaned the blood off his hand and used a bandage to cover the small scratches he had received. Walking up to Vixen, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. They're gonna pay...

Vixen, although resting, could still hear...some... In her mind she was reliving the beating she had just received. She heard the crashing tables as her body broke against them. Was it the tables? Stirring slightly, Vixen returned to what had happened to her. When she felt something touch her forehead, she swallowed softly and willed her eyes to open. Turning her head slightly, she spotted Regulus. "Reg.... You're....you're here...." she said weakly.

"Course I'm here, I couldn't leave you after what happened to you,"  he said, caressing her cheek carefully. "You feeling any better?" he asked.

Attempting a deep breath, Vixen's face winced hard with pain as her ribs protested the movement. She pushed her head into her pillow and bit her bottom lip as she waited for the wave of pain to pass before relaxing and opening her eyes that were glistening with painful tears that didn't fall. "Better....yes, in some degrees..." she managed with a small smile. Truthfully, the only things that were ailing her was her chest and if someone touched her face a little too forcefully.  "How did you.....know I was here?" Vixen asked reaching out to take his hand.

He smirked at her question, but the smirk quickly vanished and anger took over again, "I was the one who brought you here," he whispered, and leaned in to peck her lips.

Vixen's dark eyes widened at his answer as she lifted her head slightly off her pillow, lightly kissing him back. He brought her there.... "But.... how did you find me?" she asked confused. The last thing she remembered was seeing all the blood and falling into darkness. She didn't even know if there was more to her beating than what she recalled as she didn't know if the men left her then or later.

"A patronus found me and lead me to you," he responded, picking up a strand of her hair and placing it behind her ear, kissing her cheek afterwards. "If it wasn't for that, you'd probably be dead by now," he said, leaving out the fact the Patronus spoke to him and gave out its owner's identity. He also left out the fact there was a note waiting for him.

Vixen reached up and touched Regulus' cheek as he spoke of just how he found her. "I was at Death's door.... I felt it...." she whispered. "Thank you...." she said, as she pulled him in and gently kissed his cheek before kissing his lips tenderly. "I'm sorry you had to find me....that way... They were....relatives of Felix..." she said quietly, her eyes locking with his.

"The Shadows I believe," he said pulling a bench close to the bed and sitting down carefully, not to make more noise than what he already had done. People were trying to rest, "What happened?" he asked softly.

"I was at the pub with some housemates. Just....having a drink for Felix," Vixen started, her face growing somber. "These two men came in....and made everyone else leave. They wanted me to help them in....into the castle so they can talk to.....Jocelyn. They think she's in danger. When I refused....even after they tried to tell me that Felix would.....would want me to help, they did....they did--" Vixen told him with labored breaths, but was cut off by a fit of painful coughing, the force of which caused her still healing nose to begin to bleed.

Regulus quickly grabbed a towel, clearing the blood of her nose, and telling her to take small and deep breaths, "Beautiful, calm down. Be careful to not get agitated or anything like it. You're not in a condition to that. They've harmed you, and they'll pay. That I can promise you," he said, his voice filled with worry.

Slowly, Vixen's coughs subsidded, allowing her to take as normal of breaths as she could manage. Her mouth tasted of metal as the coughing stopped, likely due to the damage still healing in her chest. Wiping her lips gently with the back of her hand, she saw just why. A faint streak of red marred the back of her hand as she set it back down on the bed. Her dark, wet eyes were all appologies as she rested back against her pillows. As Regulus got her nose to stop bleeding she smiled weakly at him. "What are you going to do? They are powerful men, Regulus. I don't.....I don't want you to end up here, too," Vixen voiced softly.

"I'm not a fool, I'm not facing them alone. I'll speak with my brother about this...we may need to bring in dark old forces for this," he said with a chuckle. "Don't worry, I won't get hurt. It's impossible for them to get me. I know who they are now. They'll never be able to find me. Hogwarts is safe, I don't usually go to Hogsmeade, and my house is unplottable. I'm safe," he said, reassuring her.

"I hope.....I hope you're right....." Vixen said with a small sigh. That was the very last thing she wanted was for him to be in danger. But, going up against these two, even with his brother, Sirius, and whatever forces they were planning on bringing, she still worried for him. Taking his hand in hers, she stroked it with her thumb. "I wish I could face them with you," she all but growled.

"But you can't. That's what you gotta worry about, your health. Not my safety, okay beautiful? Promise me you will try not to worry about me," he said, holding her hand close to his lips, kissing it softly.

Raising her dark eyes to meet Regulus' face, Vixen contemplated what he was saying to her. Swallowing hard, she nodded, "I promise to try to not worry about you, handsome. What do you think Sirius will have in mind to....help fix this?" Vixen worried for Regulus even now, even after she promised to try not to. But, perhaps, knowing what all could come to pass might help. At least she would have an idea of what was happening. "Have they said how long.....I need to stay?" She anticipated that it was going to be a while, but she still want to hear.

Regulus nodded, kissing her hand a few more times, "Sirius will find something to do. Even if he has to speak with that darned Alastor Moody. They'll help." he said reassuring her once more. "They said one, two weeks at most. They said your chest wasn't looking that great, although I think otherwise," he joked with a chuckle.

Vixen nodded. Sirius knew people, there was no doubt about it, but to go to Moody, the Head Auror, it could possibly be that this little attack on her was going to form into something much bigger than simply that. "Why bring in the big guns, Regulus? You don't think this was......just a simple thing of 'we know......you knew Felix and we want your help'...... I didn't help so they did this, do you? You think it's bigger than that?" she asked as he kissed her hand.

His joke made her smile her coy smile. "Peeking at my chest are ye? Naughty boy......doing such things when the one you're.......peeking at can do little to fend for herself," Vixen teased back in a soft purr.

"It is bigger. Minister's bodyguard Avery and Philip Malfoy were attacked too. This wasn't only one occurrence. Something's gonna go down and we need to be ready," he warned, almost knowing was something was out of place. "Like you mind," Regulus said, answering to her last statement.

She had no idea that others were attacked, too. Hearing Regulus speak of it caused her worry to peek before she got a grip on it. He was smart and strong, so was his brother. "Just....be careful when the time comes.... I can't bear the thought of.....losing you," she whispered. It was all she could do, tell him to be careful. Worry would come later. "Maybe I do mind....Mr. Black...." Vixen teased, playfully, carefully, closing her open shirt over her bound chest. "But then again..... Maybe not..." she cooed to him.

"I'll be careful," he said, again only to reassure her. He wouldn't be careful at all, because when the time came, he'd go straight into battle without thinking twice. He'd face anyone even if the odds were against him. He kissed her, as outside the sun was setting down. It was getting late and it was time for him to go back to Hogwarts. He kissed her forehead one last time, "Outside there are two guards. Decided it was for the best to call them. If the Shadows strike, you'll at least have someone to protect you," he said with a wink, "Now it's time for me to go love."

Vixen kissed him in return as deeply as her broken body would allow. His words of two guards ouside caused her to glance at her door to see the shadows of two men, one on either side. Looking back at Regulus, she sighed lightly, managed a small smile, and nodded. "Thank you..... For them," she said tipping her head towards the door. Vixen reached up and touched his cheek before saying weakly, "I wish you could stay..... But, I know you can't.... I'll see you soon." Relaxing back, she began to feel her eyelids getting heavy as the drug-induced sleep began to creep back over her. As her eyes drifted closed, she forced them open again and focused on Regulus' face. "Reg...... Why? Even if this wasn't as big.....as it's proving to be.....Why go after them.....for me?" Vixen asked as her vision started to fog with sleep.

"Because I love you," he sighed, winking at her with a small smirk, before apparating away. It was the first time he had told her that, but she needed to know. It was the truth after all. He had fallen for her. Much harder than what he first expected.

Because I love you... Regulus' words struck Vixen as he winked and smirked before vanishing from her room. Her coy smile slowly spread across her face as her foggy mind registered what he just said. He hadn't ever told her that he loved her before. Their relationship was a secret, just friends to anyone who looked. But, something had changed... Turning to look out the window as the sun slowly set, Vixen whispered, "I love you, too." The last words she spoke before drifting off to sleep...