Holding Out For A Hero

I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong, he's gotta be fast,
and he's got to be fresh from the fight,
I need a hero,
I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light,
Hes got to be sure, and he's gotta be soon, and he's got to be larger than life.

-Ella Mae Bowen

Disclaimer: We do not own the Bondurant boys or any other characters used in the movie. We also do not own the rights to 'Holding out for a Hero' but it's a pretty song!

Chapter Eight: A Shift in Relationships

When I came to it was late afternoon. Mama and daddy were sitting on either side of the bed. As soon as I was fully awake they said I could go home. "What even happened?" I asked as they ushered me into the truck. I remembered the horrible sight of Forrest bleeding out and driving to the hospital but after that everything was blank.

"The nurses said you were in shock then you passed out" mama said as she fretted over me, rearranging my dress and such.

"I wanted to see Forrest" I said.

"You can tomorrow. He needs his rest too".

"He's gonna have one hell of a scar" daddy said.

I figured Forrest wouldn't mind. With them thinking they were immortal and such it would be proof that Forrest had lived through it.

That night Bertha came to see me. "It was awful" I said after recounting my story.

"I wonder who did it" she asked.

"Probably Charlie Rakes" I spat hating him even more.

"Do ya think Forrest is going to go after him?"

I felt a tightening in my stomach. "I hope not. I don't want to ever see someone hurt like that again".

The next morning after eating breakfast and assuring my parents I was feeling fine, I headed to the hospital to see Forrest.

Forrest was sleeping soundly as I pulled a chair up beside his bed. I gingerly placed my hand over top of his larger one and closed my eyes silently thanking the lord that Forrest was alive. When I opened them Forrest was looking at me.

"Hi" I said softly.

"Hi" his voice came out scratchy.

"Shhs don't say anything. You can't push yourself" I told him as his hand wrapped around mine causing me to blush.

"I'm…okay" he said.

"I'm glad".

"Jack told me…that people are saying I walked here" he smiled a bit. I guess no one knew that I had found him. I didn't want to put stress on him and make him feel bad if he found out that I was the one to see him like that and so I kept silent.

"Is that so?" I felt tears beginning to bubble up and slide down my cheeks.

Forrest frowned and with his other hand he reached up and brushed the tears off. "Don't cry" he said softly as I leaned into his touch.

Someone cleared their throat and we looked to the door to see Maggie standing there with a suitcase. "Oh hi" she said sadly.

"You going somewhere?" Forrest asked.

"Back to Chicago. I just came to say good-bye" she replied surprising both Forrest and I.

"Why?" I asked.

She just shrugged her thin shoulders. "Small town livings not what I thought it'd be".

"You don't have to leave. You can move to the station if you want" Forrest said.

I could see Maggie thinking it over. I wasn't actually too bothered by the idea of Maggie moving to the station. I had a feeling she was leaving because Forrest didn't feel the way she felt about him. This made me feel better about the situation. And Forrest would need somebody to help him when I couldn't be there as I had to watch the store sometimes.

"You wouldn't mind?" she asked her eyes on me when she asked this.

I shook my head; Forrest squeezed my hand as though he was giving me a silent sign that I had nothing to worry about.

"Can you stop over at the station and make sure Jack is staying out of trouble?" Forrest asked slowly once Maggie nodded her head and agreed to stay.

"Yes. I'll be back later to check on you okay?" I hesitated before leaning over and kissing him on his stubble cheek. He squeezed my hand one more time before I headed to the truck with Maggie in tow.

"He likes you" she said softly.

"What?" I asked.

"Forrest" she gave a heavy sigh. "I'm sure it's not a secret that I had feelings for him but he rebuked them. I wondered why but now I know. I came to see him last night. He was sleeping but when he woke up he asked me where you were. He wanted to see you not me" her eyes got a bit watery. "That's when I realized his heart belongs to you".

I got a fluttering in my stomach and I felt light-headed. "I've liked him ever since I was younger" I told her honestly.

"Well you're very lucky he has feelings for you. Forrest is a good man, he'll protect you, keep you safe" she said.

"I know" I opened the truck door. "Suppose you'll follow me to the station?"

"I'm going to stop by your daddy's shop and pick somethings up for supper" she replied before heading to her car. I watched her get in and pull away then I remembered her car being there that night and wondered where she was when Forrest was lying outside? I didn't dwell on it long. I reminded myself to ask her next time.

xoxo

When I pulled my truck up to the station I noticed Jack and Cricket were loading up the truck with moonshine.

"What are you two up too?" I asked them getting out of the truck.

Jack froze; obviously I had caught them doing something they weren't suppose too. "I'm taking responsibility" he replied.

"Don't be doing something stupid Jack Bondurant" I scolded him.

"I've got a buyer lined up for this stuff. We can make twice as much as what we're making" Jack said as he began loading the truck up again.

"You can get hurt or killed Jack! I can't stand it if another person I love gets hurt".

"Don't worry about me Val I know what I'm doing" he said.

"And does Forrest know what you're doing?" I asked crossing my arms.

"No and we don't need to bug him. Trust me he'll be happy when he sees the profit we've made".

"I don't think this is a good idea".

"You never think my ideas are good" Jack grinned at me. However when he saw the expression on my face he came over and placed his hands on my shoulders. "Just trust me Val. We're going to be fine".

I sighed. "Just make sure you both get home in one piece" I told him and Cricket.

If only I had known that was going to set everything in motion.

A few days later Forrest had come home. Just as he promised Jack and Cricket had come home safe and even made one hell of a profit which Jack presented to Forrest who was mighty pissed that Jack had gone behind his back.

"Here" Jack handed Forrest a piece of paper which Forrest refused to take still pissed.

"What is it?" he asked as I stood on the porch watching the brothers.

"It's two names of the men who did this to you from Floyd Banner" Jack said.

"Floyd Banner?" Forrest asked. "You running around with guys like Floyd Banner now?"

Jack rolled his eyes and placed the piece of paper on Forrest's' shoulder.

"What's that?" he asked.

"An address, you'll find those guys who did that to you. They use to work for Charlie Rakes" Jack replied indicating the bandage around Forrest's neck.

Forrest didn't say anything as Jack headed inside the house.

Forrest just took it and stuffed it into his shirt pocket as my stomach tightened. I wanted Forrest to stay far away from trouble, especially if Charlie Rakes had something to do with it.

He ignored me as I gave him a stern look and instead kept his eyes focused ahead as he sipped his coffee. I gave up and headed inside where Jack was showing Maggie something.

"What's that?" I asked taking a seat at the table Jack was sitting at.

"A camera, I bought it for Bertha" he replied. "Smile!" he took a picture of me.

"Things are getting pretty serious you two huh?" I asked.

"Guess so. I'm seeing her this afternoon" he smiled as he fiddled with the new toy.

"Didn't that cost a lot?"

Jack shrugged. "I can afford it".

"Well aren't you Mr. Successful" I teased him lightly pulling on the new fancy suit he was wearing.

"Hey watch it!" he swatted me playfully. "I better get going. Keep an eye on him" he said indicating Forrest sitting outside in his rocking chair.

"I'll keep two on him" I smirked.

Jack tipped his hat and hurried outside ignoring his older brother. I watched Jack go hoping he wouldn't let the success and the money get to his head.

Xoxo

It was after supper when Howard came home. Forrest asked to talk to him in the back leaving Maggie and I to clear up the dishes. "I wonder what they're talking about" she said.

"I hope it's not about that address Jack gave Forrest today" I replied.

"Address?"

"Apparently those guys who attacked Forrest use to work for that Charlie Rakes. Jack got the address from Floyd Banner".

I could feel Maggie tense up "he'd do best to stay clear of the likes of them" she spat.

That's when I remembered her car was here the night of the attack. "Say Maggie, your car was here that night. Where were you?"

"How'd you know that?" she asked raising a manicured brow.

I lowered my voice. "I was the one that found Forrest".

"They said he walked to the hospital" she said.

"Trust me, he was in no condition to walk. So where were you?" I prodded.

"I…I don't want to talk about it" that's when I noticed she absent-mindly pulled up her dress higher on her shoulders however when she moved the material I caught a glimpse of a yellow and green bruise.

"Oh god Maggie" I gasped as realization dawned. "You ran into them. They hurt you too"

"Please I don't want to talk about it" she said as tears filled her eyes.

I wasn't able to say anything else as Forrest and Howard trooped out of the back room. I could tell by the way his jaw was set and the fire in his eyes that Forrest was going after them tonight.

"Forrest" my voice came out in a whisper as anger and fright took hold of me.

His smoldering blue eyes held my gaze. "Come" he said.

I stepped forward and he took my hand pulling me outside on the porch.

"Don't give me that look" he said softly as tears began to form.

"Please don't go. I don't want them to hurt you again" I begged as I felt wetness on my cheeks from the tears spilling out.

Forrest wiped my cheek gently and smirked. "They ain't going to hurt me again. They got lucky the first time is all" he replied cockily.

"Forrest now's not the time to think you're immortal" I said slightly angry that he could be so cool in this situation.

"Don't worry about me. Just be here when I get back" he was running his finger down my cheek causing my legs to turn to jelly.

"Forrest-"

"-Shss" and he leaned in and captured my lips in a smouldering kiss. His hand came to the back of my head and he deepened the kiss. I reached up and gripped the front of his shirt kissing him fiercely. I didn't want to admit it, but I was kissing him as though this was the last time I'd see him.

When we pulled apart it felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest as I gasped for breath. "I want more of that when I get back" he said cheekily as Howard stepped out.

"You two done?" he grinned as I stood there blushing.

"For now. Let's go".

I watched them get in the car and drive away as I prayed with all my heart that they'd return safe and sound.

Maggie and I took solace in each other's company that night as we waited for the man we loved to return safely.

Sorry it's taken awhile to get this out but with the holidays and returning back to work I couldn't find the time to tweak it and post it but it's up now. Once again we'd like to thank all those who continue to read and review!