Read: I said on my update of Drinking in Hell that other updates would be coming in and so here is this one. This is dedicate to any new readers, I hope this story makes you laugh as much as it makes me laugh. Enjoy...

dOcToR

Kota pushed the horse, driving it faster and faster, not allowing the poor creature a break. We turned numerous corners getting ourselves thoroughly lost so we wouldn't be found. After ten minutes of pushing, I couldn't allow the abuse to go on any longer, "Kota; let the horse rest. I believe we're safe now."

He didn't say a word, but the horse finally came to a walk. I could feel its sides heaving from its run. I knew my father's horses were well run and the horse could have taken another ten minutes, but I felt sorry for the beast. It had saved us and this was how we repaid it, driving it to exhaustion.

"Kota, I think that we need to stop, you need to see someone about that."

Again Kota didn't talk; I was starting to get worried. Not about Kota, but about…the fact that if he died now I would have no clue what to do with his body. I should make a note to ask him sometime. Not now, that seemed rude-even for me.

I poked Kota on his shoulder until he finally glanced to the side so I could only see his profile, but I knew he was watching me; letting me know he was listening.

"Why wouldn't you say something, Prince Boy!" I was really getting frustrated now, was he mad at me; was that it? Was he upset with what I did in the cellar? Or how I couldn't calm myself enough to call a horse? I didn't really care why; I just wanted him to talk. He couldn't be fine.

Suddenly I was no longer on the horse, but standing on the ground. I furrowed my brow and looking around confused to find that Kota was next to a river, drinking from it. Did I black out or something?

I moved to the river and copied the horse and the man that continued to baffle me more and more. Two days, only two days and already we've been kidnapped, delayed from our destination and found ourselves lost in the middle of Sedro. I felt like a failure. How was it possible for so much to go wrong it such a short expanse of time?

A sharp pain alerted me of my stab wound, I had forgotten about it, but now my side was really starting to hurt. I glanced down to find the area of my dress that covered the wound was beginning to turn red. I turned back to Kota ready to tell him that I was hurt when I caught sight of his cleansed wound. I could tell it was a lot worse and deeper then mine. Keeping my mouth shut, I began thinking of ways that I could help Kota. I didn't have to think too hard because at that very moment Kota provided an answer.

"Lantana isn't far from here, a couple hours. If we hurry we can make it there before sunset. I have some money; we can stay at one on the inns. But I don't think I can go much longer with this cut. You'll have to get us there."

I snapped my attention to Kota; it was the first words he said since we escaped the bandits and I now I knew he had lost his mind. I had wanted to help, but I didn't think he was suicidal. But with those words he had to be.

"Are you crazy, Prince Boy? Me? Direct a horse? Something I don't know how to do because my parents don't trust me to make the most simplest of decisions?" I crossed my arms; I couldn't believe this. I had told them it would be a good skill to have in emergencies, but what did they say? 'Your husband will take care of it,' well, look who wasn't taking care of it now!

How wrong they were. Not only was this an emergency but my not fiancé was too injured to do anything. I hated when I was right and there was no one I could gloat to. Kota put his hand on my shoulder and forced me to look at him.

"Look, I don't get mad often-"

"Ha!" I laughed interrupting his claim; did he think I was an idiot? Did he honestly believe that he didn't get mad often? "Really? Are you sure about that? Because I could have sworn I've seen you get mad at least three times in the last two days."

"Compared to you, who've I've since get redder then a tomato at least ten times in the past two hours, I think I win. My point is you are starting to grate on my last nerve. You will do this because there is no other option. You will ride that horse because you have to and you will do it because I know that you want to prove to someone that you can. I won't tolerate your moaning anymore. Now, get on the horse!" Kota growled.

He was right, I might have seen him get peeved at the snooty comments I allow slip my tongue, but I've never seen him like this before. I saw something close to it when I 'accidently' stepped on his foot in the cellar, but he was able to get a hold of himself. When comparing the two of us, I was definitely the hothead though I wasn't about to say that out loud. I was not going to continue to supply the stereotype that all redheads were hotheads.

I placed my hands on my hips and stuck my nose in the air, "Fine, I will, but not because you said any of that stuff, but because I want to. And if you ever," I stuck my finger in his face, "tell me to do something again, believe me when I say I will do the exactly opposite. I don't listen to commands; I go out of my way to ignore them!"

I stocked over to the horse and pulled it away from the water. It had been done a minute ago and was just cooling its legs off in the stream. It followed me and I putted my foot on the stirrup. I heaved myself halfway up and temporarily got stuck-again. Afraid that Kota would give me another 'boost', I grabbed the knot of the saddle and hoisted myself up. I liked it in front, it was different. Kota chuckled and hopped up without even putting his foot in the stirrup.

"You're too small, one day your massive ego going to cause you to topple over and I wouldn't be there to pick you up."

I sneered to the air ahead of me, not being used to Kota being behind me, I turned and gave him the look again, "And why, my dear prince would I want you to be there when I'm supposed to be getting married in the next month?"

"Whoever said it would take a month to out weight you?" Kota supplied. I rolled my eyes and kicked the horse into motion. I had never ridden a horse; to say it went smoothly would be a lie.

"Pull it to the left! The left! Your other left!"

"I have two of them?" I asked panicked as the horse barely missed another person, I could sense that all this tension was bad for Kota and I wondered if it would really be so bad for him to lead the horse. It was a smart animal, couldn't it lead itself? My side wasn't helping matters any either. Kota didn't know that my side was compromised and his left hand continued to rub over it, I didn't want Kota to worry about me so I kept my pain hidden by focusing all my energy on the horse.

I managed to calm the horse back into a trot, but I was ruffled and I could tell that Kota was too.

"Maybe it wasn't the best idea to let you drive."

I couldn't tell if Kota was joking or if he was being serious, but his voice sounded tired and weak. I could tell he was getting worse, but it was his words that strengthened my resolve. How dare he insult me like that! I could do this, I knew I could and I would prove it to him. I made no sound just continued directing the horse. Night fell soundlessly, and if it hadn't been for Kota slipped his arms around my waist causing the bandage to jolt across my wound and laying his head on my shoulder I don't think I would have notice. He was so odd, the big lummox. Did he think that he was really going to get me? Why didn't he save his life and time and go on back to the sliver spoon he had left at home? Why was he even here in the first place? I would think there would be a ton of girls waiting at his feet to have his ring on their finger.

He did have a nice build, beautiful dark red curls, incredibly tall and his eyes…What am I doing? Am I honestly thinking about Kota as a good looking guy? He was the enemy, the do not-will not touch! I couldn't like him, he was the whole reason I was here. But in the same respect I should be thankful; he was the whole reason why I was here. Without his cooperation with the plan my mother cooked up, I would still be sitting in my tower pining over the loss of my best friend.

Oh, my god! Straightening up with my revelation, I haven't thought about Stephanie in over a day-what an accomplishment. But wasn't it? I thought about everything that happened and smiled, it seemed like what happened with me and Steph happened ages ago. I didn't even feel mad-okay I did still felt mad-I mean come on, she had been my best friend and not even a kidnapping could make me forget that the wound was still fresh. But I guess on some level I had forgiven her, I wasn't about to run back to her and ask to be her real friend or something. But I didn't fly into a blind rage like I did the first time-that was something.

I turned to Kota, making sure I hadn't woken him up with my rash movements. Noticing his shut eyes, my glaze drifted down to his injury and something caught my eye.

I couldn't tell what it was in the dark, but I was sure that it wasn't good. He was curled at the stomach, his hand resting in the same spot it had the whole trip-the place he had clutch when he had dropped me when running from the kidnappers. I knew it was serious. His red hair was flopping in his face and he looked more peaceful in his sleep then he did awake. But the circles around his eyes bothered me. I didn't know how much sleep Kota had the night I blacked out or how much he had when the kidnappers knocked him out, but I was sure it wasn't anywhere close to enough.

My heart quickened, the lower end of my back had been feeling kind of cold. I just thought it was because the top of Kota's body was pressed onto my shoulders so there was a draft, but then a scarier thought entered my mind. What if he was bleeding? What if he had been bleeding this whole time and hadn't told me? And being stupid I've been trotting the horse the whole time. At the river I had seen him cleanse the wound so I hadn't seen any blood. Was he hiding his blood from me like I was hiding my wound from him? What was I supposed to do?

Wait, Kota said we could have made it to Lantana before sunset, but the sun had disappeared over two hours ago. It's still lit up the sky, but the darkness was filling the sky at an alarming speed and I didn't know how much longer I would be on this road.

I had been afraid of not knowing the way so when Kota put his head down I shook him awake telling him he was the one that knew the route and had to stay awake. He assured me that if I followed the road we were on and had been on close to forty five minutes I would come upon a town. However there hadn't been anything so far. I was more fearful now, what if I didn't find the town and Kota bled to death?

Who would show me the way out of this place, I could barely ride a horse without him. I wasn't really even doing that now. Like I said before the horse was a smart creature it followed the road without much help. It didn't need me telling it what to do.

My fear slowly turned into desperation and before I knew it I had the horse into a gallop flying down the road, it went on like this for what felt like forever, but probably was only ten minutes. I wasn't as concerned about the horse's pace; I knew the animal would be fine. But when I saw lights, I pushed the horse into a sprint. Looking back at Kota, his eyes were still closed, I don't know what was normal for a person in pain to feel or not feel, but I took it as a bad sign that he didn't wake up to the jerkiness of the horse. I ran straight into town and didn't know what to do next. I didn't know this place, Kota did. I didn't know it I should ask someone-if I could find someone to ask-or search for a sign.

Sighing and unable to make a decision, I did the one thing I could; I went hysterical. It wouldn't be the first time a woman did. I didn't care, at this point all I wanted was Kota looked after and maybe some food and a bed. But first Kota.

"Help! Help! My…My-" I growled, they wouldn't do anything for a friend. Damn! "My husband was stabbed, please! Someone help me! My husband!" I wailed until I saw a couple of lights come on and a woman stuck her head out the window.

"Would you keep it down, some people are trying to have a romantical evening here." Her accent was odd and I never heard a woman speak so coarse, but for some reason I liked her. Probably because she reminded me of myself, she didn't hide behind some fan or friendly words, she did what she wanted.

"I apologize, can you tell me where a doctor is. Please, my husband's been stabbed."

The woman pursed her lips and draw her shawl closer to her body, "I can tell you where's the doctor ain't, he ain't here. Go away."

She was about to close her window and I yelled, "Please, we're having a baby. I can't lose him. Please just tell me where the doctor is, I won't bother you again."

The woman looked annoyed, but at the same time at thought. She nodded her head. "Go down this street, you'll see a blue mail boxie thing-turn there. The doc's house it three down on the right. Number 872, he's no kind man. Don't like noisy women to disturb him much, but ifs you want to tangle with him, then so be it!" The window slammed shut and even though the woman was awfully rude, I didn't mind.

I liked her, she had helped me and that was all that mattered. All that mattered was that I get Kota to a doctor.

I rode to the woman's directions, it took me less then two minutes to find the place, it took me a minute longer to find the house because the number the woman give me didn't coordinate with how many houses she said to go. I didn't know which one I should trust, or if the woman had just giving me false directions, I didn't care. I went to the number first praying it would be the doctor and if not the people inside could tell me where one might be.

I led the horse as close to the house as I could and then knocked on the door. No one answered, no light turned on. I sighed and started screaming again.

"Please, help me! Help me! Doctor, help! My husband has been stabbed! My husband was stabbed!" I screamed as loud as I dared, a light turned on inside the front hallway and then the door was opened. There before me stood an old man that didn't look very happy to see me.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Growled the man, he had glasses at the tip of his nose and there was white stray hairs sticking out from every hole he possessed on his face. An aged smell waffled out of the old man's home and for a second I was comforted by the familiarity of the scent. He was wearing a white undershirt and long slacks with suspenders holding his pants to his shoulders. I wanted to laugh at the man's get up and if Kota hadn't was in trouble I would have.

"Sir, I'm sorry to disturb you at such a late hour, but-"

"You better have a good reason for getting my wife mad at me. I don't got all day."

I was stunned, these people were very direct. I liked the woman, but I couldn't tell if I liked the man as much. With the woman it had seemed liberating that she wasn't trying to be kind and gentle and delicate-all that stupid stuff they taught us to be in damsel school. But when the man talked to me it was as if he was doing it to be mean. Men talked to me as if I were worthless all the time, so it wasn't as easy to swallow as a woman talking to me like that.

"Please, sir, my husband has been stabbed. I've been told a doctor lives here."

The man rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, "Then it seems you've been misinformed, the doctor lives across the way. On the right." With that the door was closed and I don't think any sort of noise would get it to open back up again. But that was alright. I didn't need a grumpy old man, I needed a doctor.

I hurried across the street, not concerning myself with getting back on the horse. I just ran up to the door and knocked loud, hoping I wouldn't have to make a nescience of myself again.

The light flickered on and another man opened the door. This one was younger, healthier looking. He was wearing a long button up shirt with black slacks covering his legs. He had green eyes and hair the color of the night sky, his body was well built and if I hadn't been so worried or tired or hungry I might have noticed the bad feeling that crept into my stomach the moment he opened the door.

"Are you a doctor?" I felt panicked; I didn't know if I had time to go somewhere else, I really needed a doctor now. His green eyes scanned me quickly and his deep voice was like a beautiful melody, "Yes."

I jumped in the air, happy that I had finally found who I was looking for.

"Please, you have to help my husband. He was stabbed. I don't know how long he's been out, maybe around two hours, but he didn't get much sleep last night so I didn't want to wake him. Can you help him, please?"

The man rubbed his chin and then nodded his head. I felt like hugging him, but I didn't I ran down the porch to retrieve Kota. The man followed me, probably assuming I was going to wait until he was there to get Kota down. I didn't, I laced my arm around Kota's waist as best I could with my short height and tugged him down. I would have toppled over-Kota weight a ton-but the man had caught Kota's extra weigh and helped me get him inside.

"In this room, I don't want to jostle him too much." We bought Kota into the man's living room and sat him down on the couch. I worried my hands not knowing what to do.

The man must have caught me in the act because he offered, "Miss, how 'bout you take your horse round back to the barn? I'll go get my supplies and met you back here."

I nodded my head and hurried to do so the doctor suggested. After attending to the horse; who I had finally named Yella, I returned inside to find the man studying Kota closely. I perched on the chair closest to the couch Kota was laying on trying hard not to be a bother, but I think I was getting on the man's nerves because he finally turned to be and said, "Madam, your husband is perfectly fine in my care. He's exhausted, probably from the journey he endured while in this condition. But once I close up this wound that is all he will need; sleep. So go and get some yourself. There's a bed turned down, down the hall second door on your left."

The man turned back to Kota and continued to study the wound as if it was a fascinating bug he had discovered. I didn't know if I should play up the act as Kota's wife so he wouldn't get suspicious, but I don't think the man would have cared. My aching side was all that was on my mind now. I hoped that the doctor was right, all I would need is some sleep. Though I had a feeling that the wound was a lot worse then I was giving it credit. I should have probably told the doctor about it, but I wanted him to concentrate on Kota, not me. So I followed the doctor's orders.

I said it to Kota today that I didn't follow commands, but sometimes when it's something I completely agree on I do it. I walked to the room that had been assigned to me and closed the door. I didn't look around the room and I didn't care to. I knew it was dangerous, that this was all very dangerous, but I didn't have much of a choice. Kota might have be in critical condition and I was too tired to really think this through.

This is what happens when you trust me with something, it always goes wrong. Before my brain could function any longer, I flopped down on the bed. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.