Hello everyone! Welcome old and new readers and thank you everyone who took the time to write those lovely reviews I woke up to this morning, they were lovely to read, thank you all! :D Thank you to everyone who is adding to their faves as well, I love you all :) So here we go new chapter, I hope you like it and leave a review if you like, I love reading your thoughts so here we go :) xoxo

-Sailor

They dragged his body onto a gurney and raced him through the hospital doors, my hand clutching his. The noises and shouts of doctor's was just white noise in the background I drowned out as I kept my eyes on Forrest. His eyes opened slightly from time to time and heard the occasional exhale of breath.

"What happened deputy?" said the doctor as he wrapped the wound to try and stem the blood flow.

"Two guys, one grabbed his hands over the car and the other dragged a blade across his throat"

"Did you find him?"

"Yea…he wasn't there long; I was on the scene when it happened so he wasn't lying out in the cold"

"Ok, we gotta slow down the blood loss, then try and sew up the wound before he loses too much blood.

I ran alongside them until the nurse grabbed my hand and dragged me back as Forrest was pushed through a set of double doors.

"Deputy we can't let you go any further with him" said the little nurse. I could tell by her eyes that she was already sceptical about what I was doing here with him anyway.

"What? Why? No, you don't understand I have to go with him to make sure he's ok!"

"Deputy!" she said trying to calm me down.

"No! I have to go in with him! He needs…he needs me in there with him!" I gasped.

"We're doing all we can, the best thing you can do is go into the waiting room until we make him comfortable" she smiled meekly, obviously still wondering why I was so concerned.

I held my hand up to my forehead, shielding my eyes from view as tears streamed from them as I tried to calm my jumpy, nervous breath. I could feel her still standing in front of me and then I felt her hand reach up and rub my shoulder.

"Deputy…I know you're worried but I promise we're doing everything we can. And if it makes you feel any better…" she whispered leaning in closer "Forrest Bondurant is something of a legend. He has a tendency to evade death" she smiled again looking under my hand into my eyes.

"I have heard that" I laughed nervously.

"Here, sit down here and I promise I'll be out with any news I get"

"Thank you" I smiled as she sat me down in the chair.

"No problem it's my job" she smiled.

I pulled her arm back down a bit before she walked away. "And thank you for not asking…" I started but I wasn't sure how to finish it. Fortunately, she didn't make me.

"It's ok…you don't have to explain anything to anyone. It doesn't matter why you were there at the time, the thing that's important is that you were there and you most likely saved his life, that's all that matters"

That sentence sent a hollow feeling through my entire body. If only she knew.

"If he was out there any longer, it would have been a very different story. He's lucky you were there. Obviously his guardian angel was looking down on him and sent you to look after him" she smiled.

Then a doctor threw his head around the door, his coat covered in blood and called her. She squeezed my hand and smiled before running through the double doors where I saw a glimpse of Forrest's body lying on a bed with doctors and nurses running around, blood covering their uniforms. I can't believe I did this to Forrest.

A few hours later, the sun was beginning to creep up on Franklin. I was still sitting in the same seat waiting on news. I rested my head on my hands that were leaning on my knees. My eyes felt gritty and sore with lack of sleep but there was no way I could sleep until I found out about Forrest. A few nurses came up to me through the night telling me I should go home and get some rest but I couldn't leave him alone. It was only now I noticed the dark blood stains that were all over my clothes and my hands. It was 5am by the time the little nurse came back through the doors to me.

"Tell me he's ok" I whimpered, unable to read her face.

"He lost a lot of blood but we've managed to stop the blood flow and sewn up the wound. It's still early but I think I can say he'll be ok" she said in a quiet, timid voice.

I breathed in a huge sigh covering my face with my hands. I grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug, which was very unlike me, but she saved Forrest she deserved a hug.

"Thank you so much!"

"No problem" she whispered

"Can I see him?"

"Well…" she said glancing back at the doors. "They're moving him into a room…"

"Please. I need to see for myself that he's ok"

She sighed but then I saw her give in. "Ok come with me" she said walking back through the double doors.

A nurse was mopping the bloody floor making my stomach twitch. We walked down a long corridor and looked around a door to make sure there was no doctor in with him obviously. Then she looked back and waved me in.

"He's not awake right now, but if he does wake don't let him talk"

I nodded and stepped in before turning around and saw her smile timidly at me before closing the door. He lay in the bed breathing slowly with his hands folded over his stomach. His face was sickly pale as opposed to his usual tanned glow. A thick bandage was wrapped around his neck that was stained light pink around the cut. I knelt down beside him, my hand resting on his.

"Forrest…I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen. I know you probably can't hear me but you need to know I never set out to hurt you. In fact…" I whispered looking up, to make sure his eyes were still closed. "When I arrived here, I didn't think I'd end up feeling like this about anyone here but there's something different about you Forrest" I smiled rubbing his hand. "You know I live in an apartment block surrounded by people in one of the biggest, most populated cities in the country but it's still so lonely. It doesn't bother me that much normally, I have a demanding job that keeps me busy most of the day and don't get me wrong, I love it but at night…at night it can really hit you hard, coming home to an empty, cold apartment. And then I came here…and met you. I tried to suppress everything and focus on the task at hand but I just couldn't. You just grinded me down Forest…I always got a warm, homely feeling when I came to see you in your bar, in your home and felt drawn to it, it was always what I wanted in my life, that feeling of just family and home…then I found when I watched you at night…I don't know, life didn't seem as lonely. It was like I could be part of that homely feeling with you. I lay in bed at night imagining your body next to mine, your strong arms holding me to your chest. The added heat from your body with the stifling heat from Franklin causing me to sweat but it didn't bother me, it was worth it having you beside me…your breath on my neck, the low mumble you always do reverberating against my eardrum giving me goose bumps first thing in the morning. I know that sounds ridiculous and I probably shouldn't be telling you any of this…"

His eye twitched slightly before the door creaked, opening behind me.

"Deputy…his brothers are here" I suddenly heard the nurse whisper. "Do you want to talk to them or…?"

"No…are they right outside?"

"No, I kept them in the waiting room until you were finished; give you a chance to get out if you wanted"

"Ok…just give me two more minutes"

"No problem" she smiled.

She closed over the door again and I turned back to Forrest. I clutched his hand harder before straightening back up. I rubbed my hand through his hair as a tear rolled down my face and dropped onto his blanket. I ran my hand over his forehead before kissing it lightly. His creased skin was hot and clammy against my lips and I didn't want to leave him. But I had to. I rested my lips on his forehead again but pulled myself away. I let go of his hand and headed for the door. The nurse was standing outside and directed me to the exit. I passed the waiting room window and saw the two Bondurant boys sitting there looking distraught. I walked past fast hoping they didn't see me and walked out to my car. Of course they were distraught, look what I did to their brother. I felt myself go numb as I walked outside. I sat in my car and just cried.

I got to the station at about 6.30, still in the same blood stained clothes and found my men already there. The conversation died as soon as I walked in. Shock appeared on all their faces seeing me covered in blood.

"Deputy…" one gasped.

"Where are those scumbags?" I hissed.

"Who?"

"Those scumbags from last night"

"Deputy what happened?" said John.

"They came back after I ordered them to return here"

"And they attacked you?"

"No, they came back and slit Forrest's throat" I said trying not covey the emotion that was trying to bubble over the surface.

"Is he ok?"

"Well it's still early but they think he'll be ok, eventually"

"You…you brought him to the hospital?" Henry asked his voice veiled with shock and suspicion.

"Well…I had to! I couldn't just leave him there could I? It's a little something called common courtesy!" I snapped.

They all looked around at each other so I changed the subject. The last thing I needed was them suspecting something.

"I've gotten no sleep so I'm gonna take the day off" I said my voice cracking with tiredness.

"I think that's best deputy…would you like me to walk you to your hotel?"

"No John…I'll see you all tomorrow" I said turning and heading out into the morning sun.

I threw my blood stained clothes into the corner of the room to wash later before I took a bath and went to bed.

I awoke with a fright, jumping up from my mattress, a film of sweat covering my body. The nights events were haunting my dreams, I saw Forrest lying in a pool of his own blood while the snow covered him but I couldn't get to him this time. I was running but getting nowhere. I bolted out of bed, throwing my legs over the sheet. The panic in my stomach settled realising it was just a dream and I checked the time. It was mid-afternoon. I could go and see Forrest couldn't I? Hopefully his brothers were gone by now. I quickly got dressed and walked out into the warm winter afternoon sun before sitting in my car. When I got to the hospital I raced in and peered in the window to see if there was someone with him. He was on his own so I stepped in. He didn't look like he was awake so I stood beside him placing my hand over his again. His face had gotten some colour back but not a lot.

"Forrest…" I called.

This time he stirred slightly and his eyes opened.

"Hmm"

I felt something jump inside me hearing him mumble and I immediately whipped my hand off his. His eyes opened and glanced at mine and his brow furrowed.

"Forrest, don't speak…I'm not gonna stay long I just wanted to see how you were doing that's all"

"Hmm"

"Well…I'll see you" I said turning to leave. Thank God he was awake, that at least put my mind at ease.

"Deputy…" I heard him croak lowly. I turned back wondering if he had actually said it or it was just in my head.

"Looks like someone beat you to it" he said pointing to his neck.

But then his eyes closed with pain.

"No Forrest, I…"

But I couldn't finish that sentence. I knew anything I said after it would be a lie.

"Bye Forrest" I said walking out, tripping over my own nervous feet. I ran into Jack just as I turned the corner out of his room.

"What are you doin' here?"

"Just wanted to see how Forrest was doing"

"Why would you care about that?" he hissed.

"It's an awful thing that happened" I said looking down at my feet.

"Yea it is and he don't need you hangin' around stressin' him out more"

"Sorry Jack" I said pushing past him and marching out the door.

I didn't go back to see Forrest, I figured it was best not to, but I did go to the nurse for regular updates. It was another few weeks before Forrest would be allowed to go home, so we kept an eye on the others. Jack I noticed was beginning to get very antsy. We monitored a few meetings he had with Cricket and I think they were planning on starting up by themselves so I kept a car on them. He went to see Forrest regularly, and then visited his new girlfriend a lot.

An officer burst in through the door one afternoon telling me Jack was spotted loading something from Forrest's secret shed onto a pickup and heading towards the county line.

"Well go follow him then!" I ordered. I stood up from my desk and pointed to three officers to accompany him. "You, you and you go with him! Hurry, catch him before he gets across the county line!"

"Yes boss!" they all said in unison before piling into a car outside.

So Jack was planning on taking over while Forrest was laid up in bed. I wonder how Forrest was gonna like that.

We all waited with bated breath for the officers to return with Jack in cuffs and a whole truck of his liquor. Unfortunately, quite soon after they left they returned.

"What happened?"

"We thought we had them…but Jack really knows how to drive that vehicle"

"So what you're telling me is you lost him?"

They both nodded and I felt my temper bubbling over.

"I can't believe you let him get across, who are they meeting? Does anybody know?!"

But they all stayed silent.

"Fine…get back to work" I said stepping out of the office.

I lit a cigarette and decided to go for a walk. I found myself walking down towards the Bondurant's place. I don't know why, but soon I was standing facing his house as Forrest sat on his porch sipping his tea like nothing had happened. The only way you'd know is the huge scar that graced his neck with X stitches all across it, and his face that was still quite pale.

"Mr Bondurant"

"Yes deputy?" he croaked.

"How are you?" I said walking up the steps to him.

He cleared his throat but just stared at me as if I didn't say anything at all. I hate when he does that.

"I still can't believe you survived it"

"Well I did…so it gives you a chance to try" he coughed.

"Forrest listen…it was my guys that did that to you. I'd rather tell you and explain rather than you hearing it from someone else and getting it wrong" I started staring awkwardly around at anything except his fierce stare. "But I didn't want to work with them, they were scum from the city…and I told them, made it very clear there was to be absolutely no violence used. That's not how I operate but…" I said feeling myself starting to choke up.

"So, this was your doing?" he said pointing to his neck.

"Yes but Forrest you have to understand…I didn't mean for this to happen"

"So first off, you beat my brother to a pulp…then you try and kill me. Jesus deputy, you're really goin' all out aren't you?"

I could hear his voice straining slightly.

"No Forrest…you don't understand…"

"I do" he said cutting me off.

"You don't. I didn't mean for them to do this…once I found out I…"

"Once someone whispered it to you while you sat in your big office, what…what did you do deputy? Tell me"

"No Forrest…I was there" I whispered looking into his stare. "I was there when it happened…I saw it"

"So you stood by and watched it happen?"

I saw a slight flicker in his eyes and he took a deep breath in before I could say anything. He sat looking out beyond him, taking a sip of his tea and pulling his cardigan around him and I got a crushing feeling inside me.

"Florence…" he sighed shaking his head from side to side. His tone killed me.