(This fanfic is about the film The Patriot, but for this fanfic to work I have changed a few facts. Firstly, Colonel William Tavington does not die. Secondly, Ben Martin does. Thirdly, and this is the largest difference, the Americans do not win the way and so their country remains in England's clutches of control. So, if you're going to read this fanfic bear in mind these three facts. Now, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. It's not very good though as unfortunately the plot is mine.

Also I do not own The Patriot or the characters within it, just so y'all know.)

(Also, I'm not a doctor so I don't know much about first aid, so I haven't really used any medical jargon. I also don't know if plaster was invented/discovered yet, but for the sake of this chapter, it is. Enjoy….)

Chapter Ten

Tavington knocked quietly on Susan's door. Dark rings were under his eyes.

"Miss Martin?" he whispered, wondering is she was awake or not.

Behind the door Susan had a heavy, glass paperweight in her hand. Ready to strike. Ready to kill. Her hand ventured forward, shaking slightly. She gripped the handle and swiftly turned it. She pulled open the door to reveal a shocked Tavington. She let out a primal shriek and brought her arm down.

The glass ball made contact with his skull. There was a sickening crunch. He began to bleed from the injury. His eyes closed.

Susan dropped the glass ball and screamed. The ball smashed on impact with the floor.

She'd killed him. She'd wanted to. But deep down, she hadn't meant to. Grievous injury maybe, but murder. No. Why had she planned to do this? Now she was as bad as him. She got down on her knees and held Tavington in her arms, wailing and crying.

"Doctor." She heard a voice croak. She looked down, her eyes blurred with tears. He was alive. She'd broken his skull but he was alive.

"Help!" She began screaming immediately. "A doctor, I need a doctor! He's dying! Please help!"

She heard the rush of footsteps. The butler entered and swooned at the sight. The men with him were shocked. One man turned and ran. He returned within thirty seconds, another man with him. This man came forward, carrying a briefcase.

"You're one lucky lady. I've been here since this morning, checking up on one of the maids. If she hadn't been ill, you'd have had no doctor around." He explained to Susan. The doctor looked at the injury and bit his lip. He checked Tavington's heartbeat. "It's weak. I need to help him now."

The butler had left the room during this and returned now with some water in a bowl and several towels. The doctor began working to save Tavington's life. One of the soldiers took Susan's arm and took her out of the room. If Tavington hadn't lost consciousness moments before he would have asked her to stay and hold his hand, but unfortunately he had lost consciousness. The doctor saw this as a good sign. It meant he'd feel no pain as the doctor cleaned the wound and put plaster over it to try and set the fracture in his skull.

Susan was shaking as she left the room, held up by the soldier who worked for Tavington.

"It's alright Miss. The colonel is a strong man. He'll make it through. He's suffered worse." The soldier told her.

"But it's my fault." Susan groaned. "I did it. I'm a terrible person."

"No. You had good reason to. We all know who you are, what he did to your family. You had a right for revenge. Hopefully though, you'll see he's not that bad a man." The soldier said. Susan scoffed. "Alright. Maybe he is. But hopefully, you'll forgive him. Forgiveness is harder than revenge, but it's more important."

Susan wiped her eyes and looked at the soldier. She'd calmed her breathing now.

"You're right. I should forgive him. His crimes are numerous and evil….but God would want me to forgive him. If he lives through this," Susan shuddered "then I will forgive him. And hope he forgives me."

"He will." The soldier put an arm around Susan and squeezed comfortingly. He opened the door to an unused bedroom. He walked her over to the bed and lay her down. "You've been under a lot of stress these past few minutes. You'd best sleep. I'll wake you when I hear news."

Susan smiled and thanked him before turning on her side, wrapping the blanket around herself and falling asleep.