Alek was no fool. 

He'd been brought up in the roughest parts of town. He knew street fights very well. His fists were constantly being thrown since he was a child. Alek knew how to fight dirty to save his life. In addition to that, he'd taken on some military-level expertise.

Though on the other hand, Cas was the more formally trained one. Perhaps in other skillsets less than fighting, but certainly more disciplined. At least by a few years. Cas had had his fair share in skirmishes. He'd fought in many different ways but was severely disadvantaged by many hours of torture and a hastily-treated gunshot wound. 

And Alek used those to his advantage. Two shots went off as two guns went flying in different ways. Alek's henchmen moved quickly, dropping to the ground and making movements towards Vlad and I. Vlad fired off two warning shots and then hit one of the men in the arm. He cried out, dropping back into cover. I was drawn behind a cabinet for defence. 

I couldn't keep my eyes off of Cas and Alek. It developed into a brutal brawl. Cas managed to get two punches in before Alek threw him back. Alek moved around the bench, leaping onto Cas. He hit him across the face; once either way. I gasped at the thunk of it all. 

I began looking around me. Vlad was out of bullets but was still pretending that his had some. The henchmen were moving closer. A crack and a thunk. I bit down a wail. I did not mourn Cas only a few moments ago for him to die again before my eyes. 

I scrabbled around. Looking to the body that we'd stepped over earlier. In it's limp grasp was a handgun. I shuffled forward, seizing the weapon with one hand. I turned to the brawl. The henchmen moving in the background. 

The gun was cool in my grip. Knowing what I was holding, sent arcs of anxiety running up my arms. I pulled back the slider. It jumped back into place with a jolt heavier than what I was used to. I gritted my chattering teeth. My hair falling in my eyes. I aimed. My heart was practically leaping out of my chest. I was on my knees, leaning forwards, my hands trembling. I breathed out, aiming. 

Lightly pull the trigger, I remembered. I aimed, Alek's open chest in my sights. He was about to go for another hit, his fist raised in bloody vengeance. 

I paused. Looking to his face. The face I'd grown up with since childhood. The face I'd spent hours confessing to. The face that I'd loved very closely for many long years.

I can't do it! I realised, I breathed out.

The gun jerked in my grasp. Hitting him square in the chest.

Alek was sent flying back. The force at such close range sending him sprawling back. I gasped, the gun dropping in my grip. I couldn't tear my eyes away from his sprawled body. It was almost inhuman. His head was twisted, his arms splayed. 

I realised what I'd done.

"Let me take that," Vlad murmured, I didn't move. Instead, he gently took the weapon from my trembling hands. He hoisted me up from the ground, moving over to Cas. The whole time, he kept the gun trained on the henchmen. 

My shock broke, and I looked to my husband. I shuffled over to Cas. "Cas," I begged, cradling his head, "Cas please," He stirred, his face bruised and bloody. 

"Is he okay?" Vlad's words were tinged with urgency. 

"He's awake," I managed. I glared at the shadowy figures that surrounded us. 

"We just want him," One of them motioned towards Alek's limp body. 

Vlad paused for a moment, "Take a few steps back. Only one," The shadows melted back. Slowly, one of them fully moved forwards into the light. Their face had been covered by a scarf and they wore a beanie. I looked up to the emerging figure. I was surprised by what I saw, looking into his eyes. The figure was barely a man. Still likely in college. 

So this is what an Insurgent looked like, I thought to myself.

They stepped forwards. Leanly, almost like a cat ready to devour it's prey. Then it pounced. In a fluid movement, he lifted Alek up my the armpits and carried him to the group. There was a bit of a commotion as they faded into the background.

I looked to Vlad, Cas stirring in my lap, "What happens next?" 

"I don't, know," Vlad's words were low. Apprehensive. Who really knew what happened next? There's been a brief moment of intermission as both leaders from either side were unconscious. The Insurgents outnumbered us easily four to one. Though they didn't seem too keen to start a fight. Perhaps they knew that they would at least have to approach Vlad. 

Vlad, with his grimy, blood-slicked face. He seemed like he was straight out of an apocalypse movie. He was ready to fight. A fight that the Insurgents didn't seem to want to be involved in.

Cas groaned, his words slurring and his eyes struggling to open.

"You... okay?" He managed, I let out a silent sigh of relief. 

"Now that you're here," I whispered, touching my forehead to his, "I am very okay,"

"Did I tell you that you're beautiful?" He mumbled.

"Surely not like this," I chuckled, wiping some of the blood off of his face with the edge of my cape. 

"You're stunning," He mumbled.

"Thank you," My voice was a whisper. 

And then the Hail Mary (even though I am not a Catholic), arrived. 

The front door was kicked in with incredible efficiency. A canister rolled in. The sound of gas. The Insurgents scattered. Several shouts from tough-sounding men. The thunder of boots. 

"Get down low," Vlad murmured, placing a hand on my shoulder, he looked up, "I need three medics!" 

"Three medics!" Came the shout. I clenched my eyes shut, leaning protectively over Cas. 

"It's okay now," Vlad murmured, looking to me, "it's going to be okay now," 

Vlad directed the medics to Cas and I. 

"Miss, are you okay?" One of the medics looked to me.

"No," I mumbled, dazed.

Distantly, I could hear Vlad giving instructions and diagnostics. It seemed that Alek had painstakingly recounted all that had been inflicted to me as another knife for Cas. A light shone across my eye, blurring my vision. I could hear the doctor speaking to me. I could reply in all the ways that they wanted me to. But it all filtered in one ear and out the other. 

All I could do was look to Cas. He slowly woke up. I could see the flashes of lights outside.

"I can stand," Cas mumbled, blood leaking down his lip, "I can stand,"

"Your Royal Highness, I-," The medic started. Cas turned to me, the same, delirious, dazed look on his face as I. 

"I have a date with my wife,"

I smiled at the sentiment. I'd been torn to shreds. My wedding dress covered in blood, snot, dirt, sweat and tears. My cape was wrapped around me awkwardly. My hair almost fully out. So had Cas.

"I need some fresh air," It was an attempt at an announcement, but I could see his energy fading. 

"Let's go," I managed to stand. The doctors around us, hovering with open hands.

Cas and I made it. A staggering to the doorway like a drunken couple. We made out out. There had to be almost twenty cars; three ambulances cars, four police cruisers, six Specialised Forces vehicles, two firefighter trucks and an array of private transport cars. 

"Your highness," One of the senior-looking Protection Officers came up to us. He looked familiar and I tried to place where I'd seen him, "this isn't the best place, we need to get you to the-,"

"We'll take one of the cars," Cas nodded to the usual, royal protection vehicles.

"Your highness. I must highly advise against it. We need to get the both of you to a hospital,"

"Is my family okay?" Cas rasped.

"You're family is perfectly fine," The officer nodded, "it's just you,"

"Swell," Cas mumbled, he turned to me, "want to go on a date?"

"Where would we go?" I asked blearily.

"Get some coffee. I'll ask you some questions, we'll just hang out,"

"Cas we've both been shot," I could barely muster the energy to pretend to be annoyed. 

"It'll probably be our last time for a little while," Cas pointed out. 

I considered that.

"Burbank?" 

"Sounds fantastic," Cas kissed my forehead, a passionate press.

From the slightest distance, I could hear the click of a shutter. Sure, the skin on my back chilled. But I couldn't bring myself to care anymore. There were much more deadlier things in life than just photographers and paps. 

We made our was down the stairs and onto the sectioned off street. Much to the protest of almost everyone present, Cas made his way to one of the royal cars. He opened the door for me. 

"Thank you kind sir," I mumbled, sliding inside. My back was aching with fire. 

"The pleasure is all mine, madam," Cas grinned, his lip split in several places.

It took a bit of negotiation. Including possible threats of a royal order, before Cas managed to convince our driver to make a quick stop. The Insurgency property was simply twenty minutes away from the centre of town and directly en route to the nearest, proper hospital. 

As we drove, the sun began to rise, etching streaks of colour across Ardeena.

Cas hissed at a bump in the road.

"I don't care if I'm dying," Cas ground out, doubling over in pain as a new wave hit. I had an eye raised at him, "I want a drink for me and my wife,"

I shook my head, "This was your idea, remember?"

"And it's a fantastic one," Cas gave me a goofy smile as we pulled up outside of Burbank. Four cop cruisers and two more Protection Officer vehicles pulled up on either side. Another two police motorbikes pulled up. An ambulance hung on the other side of the road. 

"Quite a convoy," I mumbled as Cas helped me out of the car. He winced as he walked, doing his best to hide the seeping bullet wound. 

I ordered for us. The shop assistant looking rather shocked. The cafe was empty, what an appearance. 

The two of us took our drinks. I had my chai and Cas had his. No caffeine was allowed until we were thoroughly checked. My eyes were drooping, and I rested my head on his shoulder, looking at the early morning cars passing by.

"How are you feeling?" Cas looked to me smiling.

A long list of complaints bubbled to the surface. But I bit them down, "I'm happy where I am,"

"And where's that?" 

"With you,"