Chapter 10

Dean searched the hospital for the room Hope was in, eventually finding it. As he entered, he saw she was still sedated. The doctors told him that she was going to be okay, but that she had a few broken ribs, a busted lip and a few cuts and bruises. Right now, what she needed was rest, so the doctors had sedated her so she could rest. He found a chair and pulled it close to the bed so he could hold her hand.

-''Hi, Smiles. I don't know if you can hear me, but there's something I need to tell you and I don't know if I can say it with you awake. I'm sorry. I broke my promise. I should've been there. I should've protected you. I'm so sorry. If only I had stay at the diner with you, this wouldn't have happen. I'm sorry.'' – Dean cried as he was saying these words. He felt responsible for what had happen. He broke his promise.

Dean fell asleep on the chair, only awaken by the nurses and doctors who would come to check on Hope's condition. The day had turned into night and into day again by the time Hope came out of her sedated sleep. Looking around to get her bearings, she saw Dean sleeping on a chair a bit too small for him. She couldn't help but smile at the sight. She closed her eyes, thinking of what had happened earlier. Mark threatening her out of the diner, the punch to her side, the slap, the punches to her stomach, the beating in her house, Dean appearing from the kitchen, the fight that ensued, the gun sliding through the floor, her struggle to get to the gun and then to get to her feet, Mark on top of Dean beating him up, the gunshot and the sight of him flopping on top of Dean. Just now she was realizing that she had killed him. She had never shot anyone, but it was a matter of life and death. It's was either her and Dean or Mark and she would do it again in a heartbeat if that meant that Dean would live. As she open her eyes, she saw Dean looking at her with a worried face and tears in his eyes.

-''Hi, Smiles.'' – he was the first to talk.

-''Hi.'' – her voice sounded rough. Maybe it was because her throat was dry but she sounded different. – ''How long have I been out?''

-''Since we got to the hospital, yesterday. How you're feeling?'' – he asked, cautiously.

-''Sored, like a truck ran me over. Other than that, peachy.'' – she gave him a tired smile and stretch her hand towards him. She wanted to touch him, make sure that he was really there.

-''You scared me, Smiles. You certainly took your time to wake up.'' – he grabbed her hand, a tear escaping his eyes.

-''Sorry, but I was dreaming of you. That's why I didn't wake up earlier.'' – he smiled at her answer, kissing her as he smiled.

-''Why dream when I'm right here and not going anywhere?''

-''You sure? Not running for the hills yet?'' – she gave him that smile he fell in love with. That's when he knew that he wasn't going anywhere.

In that moment, Dean renewed his promise to her. He was always going to be there for her. He was never going to leave her alone again. He was going to protect her no matter what, no matter the cost. He loved her with everything he had and everything he was. She was his whole world and he couldn't even imagine being without her. She had faith and hope in him. That's all that matter. He loved her and she loved him.

Hope knew in that instant that she could stop running. She could settle in that small town and actually feel safe. She had the man she loved by her side and nothing was gonna change that. She was free. She knew that life could be cruel, but right at that second life looked pretty good to her. She loved him and he loved her.