Disclaimer: I do not own Hart of Dixie

Told you I'd update quickly :) This one is a long one and is a kind of climax, it reaches the end of my previous plan, but there's already a plan brewing for the next chapters, but it might take a few days.

8. Showdown

Wade was walking around town, doing nothing, when he saw a car drive by that he didn't recognize. He looked closer and tried to get a look at the driver. It was a man, with dark hair and stubble, like he hadn't shaved in a week. He had a hard look, he was clearly not a man to mess with. He glanced at Wade, his eyes dark and cold, and Wade felt a shiver down his spine. His stomach suddenly dropped. What if that was the man that Hannah was talking to on the phone last night?

Wade had started walking quickly back home when he stopped. What was he doing? Last night he'd decided that this was too much for him, and now, now he was sure of it. He couldn't do anything against this guy. No, he'd just carry on with his day. There was nothing he could do.

Zoe woke up, soaked in sweat. She'd been tossing and turning, haunted with nightmares when she'd finally managed to fall asleep. Now the light of day was finally here. She sat up in her bed. It was Sunday. Normally that was the only morning of the week she didn't wake up early for a morning run, but now she was contemplating going for a run. She was already all sweaty and the endorphin would help clear her head. She decided to go for it, got up and got dressed and then headed out the door.

Her run had really helped clear her head and as she stepped out of the shower she felt hopeful that today would be the day that Hannah would finally be out of their lives.

"Good morning" she said cheerfully as she stepped into the kitchen.

"Well, aren't you chipper this morning, must've had a nice time with Jonah last night?" Harley asked teasingly.

"I got him out of calling you to demand you'd come home when we went to bed" Pauline said smiling.

"Yeah, thanks for that, but it would've been alright, Jonah and I actually broke up last night" Zoe said as she sat down and started throwing things onto her plate.

"Sweetheart, I'm so sorry" Harley said and ran his hand over Zoe's shoulder.

"It's fine, dad. I spent last night crying about it, but I'm over it now"

"Alright, honey, if you say so" Harley said and shared a look with Pauline that clearly meant they did not believe her. Zoe decided not to fight them on this.

"So, what are you two doing today?" Zoe asked, changing the subject.

"Oh, we were thinking of driving up to Mobile. There's this art show that Pauline has been dying to see. Do you want to tag along?"

"Oh, no, you guys go have fun. I have some homework to catch up on and then maybe I'll go meet up with Claire or Trina"

"You do that, you deserve to have some fun" Pauline said, smiling softly at her. Man, how long would this pity thing last?.

Zoe finished her breakfast and then said goodbye to her dad and Pauline. When they were gone she headed for the Sheriff's office.

"What do you mean there's nothing you can do?" she asked frustrated.

"Miss Hart, I'm sorry, but you should've called last night. We can't go around town looking for a spooky looking dark haired man" the Sheriff said patiently.

"Fine" she said and stormed out. She knew she was being unreasonable. She got home and went into her room. As she was waiting for her computer to start she had a thought. She hadn't seen Hannah this morning and her dad hadn't mentioned her.

She went into the guest room. The bed was unmade and the closet door was open. She looked inside and saw that her bag was gone. She went and opened the nightstand drawer. Harley's copy of Pride and Prejudice was still there, but the note was gone. So it looked like Hannah had packed up and left. She was glad, but her stomach was uneasy. Something must've happened last night that got Hannah raffled enough to pack up and leave. Maybe she saw the mystery man. Zoe's unease turned into anger. Hannah clearly knew this man was trouble and she just left, without even a warning to her or Harley. She stormed out and decided to go to the practice, maybe she'd left a note there.

She'd torn the place apart and nothing, there was no note or anything. She'd just up and left like that. Zoe didn't know why she was so angry, she'd been wanting Hannah to leave since she first laid eyes on her, but Harley and Brick didn't deserve this. She grabbed a pen and paper and started making a fake goodbye note, but then stopped. No, she wasn't doing this, it was just plain stupid. She stood up and looked around. The place was a mess, it was like a hurricane had gone through it. She sighed and started cleaning up.

It had taken her two hours to clean up the mess she'd made. When she finally finished and got home she remembered she'd turned on the computer. She was starting to make her way up to her bedroom when there was a frantic knock on the door.

"Hannah, I know you're in there, open up!" It was a rough man's voice.

Zoe froze. He was here. She didn't know what to do. Call the Sheriff, yes, that was the right thing to do. Now where was the phone? Her brain wasn't working.

There was another loud pounding on the door. Zoe decided maybe she should answer. She walked slowly to the door and grabbed the handle. She opened the door a little, the gap was only big enough to peek through.

"Hannah is not here, can I help you?" Zoe asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

The man didn't answer, he just pushed the door with so much force that Zoe was knocked down. He burst into the house yelling for Hannah.

"I told you, she's not here" Zoe shouted at him. She regretted it the minute the man turned his head and looked at her, his eyes glaring with fury. Oh, god, he's going to kill me, Zoe thought.

Wade slammed the front door behind him. He'd had a horrible day. His conscience had been nagging him all day. Yes, he was being a coward, but what could he do? He couldn't go to the Sheriff, they'd laugh him out of there. "Hey, Sheriff, I overheard a suspicious phonecall last night and think that a bad man coming to town, and this morning I saw a suspicious man driving through town". It was just plain ridiculous. But he needed to do something. What if the man went looking for Hannah? Dr. Wilkes wouldn't be able to stand up to him and he might hurt him. The old man didn't deserve that, he was one of the nicest men Wade had met. And he was finally happy with that new girlfriend of his. And of course, if he'd go over there he'd probably find Zoe there too. She was so tiny, he'd toss her around like a pillow. And god knows what else he might do. Wade realized he'd been clenching his fists and pacing the hallway. Stop it. Like you said, it's not like you could do anything. Man, I need some air, Wade thought and went out the door he'd come in through just a few minutes earlier. As he opened the door he saw the man from earlier walk up Dr. Wilkes' driveway and he looked pissed. Wade's stomach tightened. He watched as he pounded the door. He noticed that the driveway was empty. Maybe they'd all gone away for the day. He felt his stomach unclench a bit at the thought, but his ripple of hope came crashing down when he heard Zoe's voice answer the door. He saw the man barge in, clearly shoving Zoe easily out of the way. Wade didn't think, he just ran out the door, jumped over the fence that separated the two houses, and ran in through the open front door just as he saw the man pick Zoe up by grabbing her shirt by the neck. He again didn't think and flung himself on the man, throwing him onto the ground. The man was so shocked, he lost his grip on Zoe, but he was quick to gather his thoughts and now turned towards Wade.

"Zoe, call the Sheriff!" Wade shouted at her.

Zoe, who had been laying on the ground, frozen, stumbled to her feet and frantically looked for the phone.

Meanwhile, the man had gotten to his feet and was holding Wade with a tide grip around his neck.

"What do you think you're doing, punk?" he said to Wade, his voice dripping with threat and anger.

"Oh, thank God, this is Zoe Hart, I need help, a man came bursting into my house and attacked my and Wade" Wade heard Zoe say into the phone. Thank God. The man wouldn't be able to kill him in the short time that it took the Sheriff to get from the station to here, right? Or maybe he could. Wade was having real trouble breathing as the man's grip tightened.

"Let go of him, he hasn't done anything to you" Zoe shouted at the man.

"You know, you're really starting to get on my nerves, little girl" the man said, throwing Wade into the wall and turning his attentions to Zoe. He got to her in two steps and he slapped her so hard that she flew to the ground, hitting her head on the coffee table on her way down, almost knocking her unconscious. The man got down on his knees, grabbed her by the neck and pulled her up.

"What, nothing to say now?" he said as he pushed her hard down to the floor again.

Wade tried to get up from the ground, but his head was spinning so hard he could barely see. The man was on top of Zoe, who seemed to be almost unconscious, holding her down by the neck with one hand, the other hand under her skirt. Why couldn't she have chosen her stupid shorts today? Just when Wade had almost gotten himself up, he lost his balance and came crumbling down again. He felt himself slipping out into unconsciousness when he heard someone burst in the door. The Sheriff, thank God, he thought and let go into the darkness.

Wade opened his eyes and blinked at the bright light. He tried to sit up but a hand stopped him and forced him back down.

"No, boy, the pretty nurse says you gotta stay down"

"Earl?" Wade asked confused

"Yeah, it's me son"

"Where am I?" he asked, still blinking his eyes and trying to focus.

"You are in the hospital, son"

"Hospital? Why..." All the recent events came rushing back. "Zoe?"

"She's fine, and you are fine. You're both fine, apart from concussions and bruises" Earl said.

Wade relaxed and took in his surroundings. He was lying in a hospital bed, Earl sitting in a chair beside his bed. There were flowers on the nightstand and a get well soon card.

He opened his mouth but closed it again. He wasn't sure what he was going to ask, where to begin.

"When the Sheriff came, he, with the aid of a couple of his officers, arrested the man that attacked you. His name is Jack Hunter, he's wanted in five different states for all sorts of crimes, from petty thefts to rape and murder. He's been transported up to Montana, where he's facing murder charges. The Sheriff wouldn't tell me too much, but apparently he'd met the young girl that was working for the docs up in Pennsylvania. Her real name is Jessica Bowler, and she'd had some terrible things happen to her that drove her into the wrong crowd, where she met Jack and they fell in love, or so she said. But when she found out she was pregnant she ran away from him, she didn't want to bring a child into that mess. She managed to stay on the run for almost a year, had the baby and gave it up for adoption, but Jack caught up with her in Louisiana 'cause he'd found out about the baby. Apparently he got furious when he found out she'd given it up and said he'd kill her for robbing him of his child. She managed to escape again, and thought she'd managed to shake him when she came here, but she thought wrong. When he called her on Saturday night she freaked and ran away again, but then returned as she felt she needed to at least leave a note for Harley and Brick, but it was too late. But at least she could give us the whole story"

Earl finished his story and Wade just sat there, taking it all in.

"You said Saturday night, not last night, what day is it?"

"It's Monday evening, you've slept through all last night and most of today"

"And it's a good thing, he needed the rest" the nurse said as she walked in. "Are you feeling alright, sweetheart?" she asked Wade as she came over.

"Yeah, just a headache"

"Well, that much was expected. You look fine, the doctor will just have to have one last examination and then you should be free to go" she said smiling.

"Great. I don't like hospitals" he said with a shrug. The last time he'd been in a hospital had been when his mother was sick.

The nurse just smiled at him and went out the door.

"You should try and rest a little bit before the doc comes to check you up" Earl said and gave Wade a light pat on the knee. "I'm gonna go try and find some coffee"

Wade watched his father walk out the door and then closed his eyes.

It was late when Harley finally pulled his car into the driveway. He got out and made his way to Zoe's door, helping her out of the car.

"Dad, it's alright, I just had a concussion" Zoe said, even though she liked her dad fussing. It was nice.

"I am never leaving your side ever again" Harley said as they made their way to the front door.

"Dad, common, it's not like it would've made a difference if you were here"

"Yes it would. That man wouldn't have showed up like that if there'd been a car in the driveway"

"Dad, this is not your fault, ok?" Zoe said sternly. "I love you, but it's just to much if I have to try and be strong for you too" she said a little milder.

"Oh, sweetheart" was all that Harley said as he grabbed Zoe in a bear hug and he couldn't hold back the tears.

"I don't know what I would've done if..." he couldn't finish his sentence, he just tightened his grip on Zoe.

"I know, dad" Zoe said, also crying, burying herself in her father's embrace.

Pauline came down the stairs.

"Zoe, darling, I've drawn you up a nice, hot bath with some relaxing oils, why don't you go upstairs and get a little soak? And while you're in there I'll cook something up for you to eat and then you can just head up and go to sleep. How does that sound?"

"That sounds fantastic. Thank you, Pauline"

"Oh, honey, of course" Pauline said as she went in for a hug.

Zoe hugged her back tightly, before slipping out and heading upstairs.

Zoe awoke the next morning, feeling rested and cheerful, but then she sat up in the bed and it all came back to her. She turned around in her bed and looked out the window. Wade's room was empty. Wade. He'd come to her rescue. If he wouldn't have come she'd probably be dead. She didn't know how to repay him. She felt so grateful, but it was mixed with some other feelings she couldn't quite identify. She thought that he'd probably feel sorry for her and think she was some weak girl that couldn't defend herself and that made her a little bit sad. She thought back to last Saturday and that moment they'd shared by the pond. That seemed like ages ago. She remembered how she'd wanted him to kiss her, he'd probably not want to do that anymore. Why was it making her sad? She couldn't have feelings for Wade. Before, it had been ridiculous because he didn't feel the same way and he was a player, an even worse one that Jonah, and she wasn't that much of a fool that she thought she could change Wade Kinsella. But now, now it was impossible. No boy would ever look at her again. She was a broken woman. Weak. Defenseless. Pathetic. Her thoughts were interrupted by a light knock on the door.

"Come in" Zoe said.

"Hey, sweetie, how did you sleep" Pauline asked as she came in.

"Very well" Zoe said. "Honestly, I slept very well" she added when she saw the disbelief on Pauline's face.

"Alright, that's good then" Pauline said smiling, still not entierly convinced. "Your father had to go into work, he feels awful, but there was some big accident at cheer-leading practice this morning leaving nearly all the girls somewhat damaged and Dr. Breeland just couldn't deal with it all on his own. He said that he'll be home as soon as he can, and he asked if you'd call him when you woke up"

Zoe gave a little laugh. It didn't surprise her that her dad went into his protective mode. "I'll call him" she said smiling.

"Alright, then you should come down and have a little breakfast. Or I could bring it to you if you want?"

"No, I'll come down, it's fine Pauline"

"Alright" she said with a smile and left the room.

Wade sat at his hideout. Or should he say their hideout. It was weird, he'd been thinking about her all the time since he'd woken up in the hospital. He'd wanted to go see her right then and there, but it probably wouldn't have been a good idea, she needed time to recover. Then he'd been discharged and gone home. His dad had been really nice at the hospital, but when they came home it was like he couldn't handle it anymore and he'd gone straight for a drink. Jesse had been acting weird, really quiet and not knowing what to do. Wade had decided he'd make it a little easier for him and had gone up to his room, but he hadn't gone to bed just yet. He'd stared out his window, waiting, until finally he saw Dr. Wilkes' car pull up. He'd watched as Dr. Wilkes had helped Zoe inside, he'd watched the house, waiting until he saw the light turn on in her room and she walked in with Dr. Wilkes and his girlfriend on her heels. His heart had ached when he saw the concern and love in their eyes. It made him think of his mom, how he wished she could be here to look at him with such love and concern. He'd continued watching until they left and she turned off the light.

It had been hard to drag himself from the window. He just wanted to continue staring, looking over her, protecting her. He thought about what would've happened if he wouldn't have come in earlier. He quickly dismissed that thought and tried to get some sleep.

He was surprised at how easily he'd fallen asleep, and that he'd slept soundly through the remainder of the night. When he woke he looked over, her light was still out, but he could see her lying in her bed, sleeping peacefully. When he'd gone downstairs he'd found his dad lying on the sofa, drunk out of his mind and a letter on the kitchen table. It was from Jesse.

Wade

I'm sorry, but I can't stay any longer. Got a call from school, said they'd take my spot if I didn't get there straight away, sorry to leave you like this, take care of yourself.

J.

It had made him sick. He hadn't gotten a call. He just couldn't handle it when things got rough. Wade got mad and went outside to the only place where he could find peace. And here he was, sitting on the bank, watching a snail make his way up the fallen log.

"I thought I would find you here"

He heard her voice coming from behind. He turned around and watched as she sat down next to him.

"I just wanted to say thank you. I don't want to think about what would've happened if you wouldn't have come"

"No need, did what anyone would've" he said, maybe a little to coldly. He was just trying so hard to sound casual, but all he wanted to do was hold her close and comfort her.

"No, not everyone" Zoe said, a little taken aback by her coldness, but then again that just proved her theory. She was spoiled goods now, nobody would ever want her again.

Wade didn't know what to say. She looked so sad, but still she was beautiful. He couldn't believe that he hadn't noticed it before. Sure, he'd noticed her body, she was hot, but he'd never seen how beautiful she was, her big brown eyes and full, sexy lips. No, what was he thinking. She'd just been through a major ordeal, she didn't need him making the moves on her.

They continued sitting in silence for a bit until Zoe couldn't take it anymore, she saw how he tried to move a little away from her and didn't even look at her.

"I better get back, I just told Pauline I was going for a quick walk, wouldn't want her to worry" she said as she stood up and walked away, wiping away a tear that had escaped her eyes.

Wade was left sitting there, staring after her, and he continued staring into the woods long after she'd gone.