I had not realized there were so many spelling errors in the first chapter until I read it over after I had published it. I'm sorry for that, I do know that my O key doesn't like to work sometimes. I have to press harder down on it. I also noticed that my writing seemed a bit stiff. I haven't written in over two years. Military life and just life in general gets to you after awhile, but I hope to breath a bit more life into this chapter. Also thank you for my one follow and the seven of you who decided to read a very badly written first chapter (in my opinion). I hope it wasn't too bad to not garner a few reviews. I do hope this one is better as well. I welcome any type of reviews good or bad, I don't mind.

I do not own Lawless or any of the characters except my OC.

My foot tapped heavily against the tiled floors as I tried to concentrate on my paperwork, but no matter how hard I tried my mind kept wandering. Wandering to the voice that plagued my mind for years. The voice that had told me he remembers everything. What could he have meant by that? Could he have meant the fact that I had walked away from him after my mother had told me I couldn't marry him because he wasn't good enough for me? Little did my mother know was that we were already married. Married that summer in a town over so no one would know. He had even bought me a ring that I had never worn. Still haven't. I was whisked away and sent to school early. My mother had said that my community service and shadowing of doctors at the local hospital wasn't enough for someone like me. I understood that she felt like my life would amount to nothing with Forrest and my talents would be squandered by the normal life of a wife.

That's how her life had ended up. She was an aspiring writer, but that life was given up when she fell for my father. She didn't want to see it happen to me and in a way I'm grateful she did because I am where I had wanted to be in my career. I studied hard and advanced, but I've always remembered that ring in my jewelry box. It was his mothers. I remember seeing it on her finger at the Hospital before she died. Forrest had said that his father had saved up for years to buy the small ruby engagement ring. It was a simple band that had two small rubies around the center larger ruby. None of the stones were big, but beautiful and when that ring was slipped on my finger as a symbol of our joining at that courthouse my heart had soared. It was short lived though. I had to hide it from my mother once I gotten home and then I never put it on again. Forrest even had his fathers wedding band. I didn't see it on his finger.

"Ida, stop daydreaming and finish that paperwork. I'd like it on my desk by five," Dr. Rodgers bellowed and I nodded blushing deeply when everyone looked up at me. I thought I was hidden in the back corner, but I guess not.

I finished the paper work on my patients as needed and was headed to clock out when my friend Delia stopped me.

"Ida, are you alright?" She asked her red lips pulled into a tight smile as she walked next to me.

I rubbed the back of my neck feeling sweat and a few loose curls,"Yes, why do you say that?" I asked punching my card.

She frowned," I saw the youngest Bondurant boy come in earlier,"

I held the door open for her glad to be out of the hospital and away from the stench of medicine,"Yes, what point are you trying to make, Delia?"

"Just be careful. Those Bondurant Boys are bad news, I just don't want to see you get hurt,"

"Hurt? Why would I get hurt? All I did was treat the poor boy. It's not like I'm helping them run their business or something, Delia!" Anger had risen out of me so quickly that the shocked look on Delia's face mimicked my own once the words had bubbled out,"I'm so sorry-,"

"No, I get it. I was just looking out for you, Ida. Have a nice night," She turned on her heel and walked towards her car.

I sighed and kicked a rock,"Way to go, Ida,"

The drive home was quick and I was so glad to get out of my uniform. The nurse shoes always made my heels hurt. It was late now around six so I decided to dress for bed and make dinner. My apartment was nice and my lifestyle of never being in it seeing as it was so bare. I had furniture and whatnot, but it was always so clean and dusty at the same time. I didn't even have many photos. I had paintings...I glanced over at the clock and sighed. It'll be a late dinner today it seemed.

Mashed potatoes, chicken and broccoli was served for one forty five minutes later. I ate in silence listening to the clock tick away as I tried to keep my mind on the article I was reading. I was having no such luck because Forrest's voice kept creeping in. I wonder if he still thinks of me. Of course he does or he wouldn't have tried to kiss you, he wouldn't have said what he had said either. But he's known for years that I've worked at the Hospital. He saw me when I first got back. But he never came to see me or even tried to seek me out, but neither did I. I frowned and stood up from the table, done with my plate of cold food. I tossed it away and left the kitchen, turning the light out as I did. My room was cool from the summer breeze slipping through my cracked window. I slipped out my slippers and slid under my cool sheets. They tickled my bare legs and arms as I settled into bed. My mother had bought me this silk short and camisole set for Christmas last year. They were my favorite. The pale blue matched my robe perfectly. I needed to go to sleep or I'd regret it in the morning. The more I stayed awake the better chance I had of thoughts of Forrest. Hopefully sleep would help.

Sleep did not help. I bolted upright panting at the nightmare I just had. The night was still outside my window. No crickets were chirping, there was no wind. I reached over and tuned my lamp on my eyes frantically looking for my clock on my dresser as they adjusted. 12:45. I bolted out of bed and pulled on socks, grabbed a long cardigan and shoved shoes on my feet. Before I knew it I was out my door and speeding to the Station. I had had the worst nightmare in my life. Forrest had invited me over and everything was fine until he had told me all the horrible things he thought of me over the years. It was horrible. He had told me that because of me he would never love again and he wouldn't love me. He said I didn't fight for us. That I didn't try to stay. I wasn't even sure what I was doing right now, driving to Blackwater Station like I was going t make up for the last ten years. Like what I was going to say was even going to matter after all this time. What happened earlier could have just been a symptom of lust of seeing me so close. Yes, that's what it was. It wasn't anything else, Ida. I slowed down halfway up the road to the Station.

I could see the building now. It was dark so dark. They all must be sleeping. I've come all this way I might as well go and do what I came to do. I drove the rest of the way up to the station and parked next to Forrest's beat up car. He's had that since we were kids. I left the car on and shivered at the cold air as I made my way up to the door. I hadn't realized how cold it was. my adrenaline was pumping earlier. It was quiet and dark.

I knocked,"Forrest?" I listened intently and still couldn't hear anything. No shuffling of someone coming towards the door or Forrest's low grumble. I stood there for a few more moments and decided this was a bad idea all together. None of them were even here. I turned away from the door and quickly walked to my car. It was colder than I had initially thought. I sat in my seat and leaned my head against the steering wheel, cursing myself for driving all the way out here. Sighing, I backed out and drove home.

The next morning work was a bit crazy. There was a line of kids outside the doors and security guards and doctors were shooing them away. After I had put my coat and purse in my cubby and clocked in I made my way to Delia's desk. She was busy scribbling down notes.

"Delia, I wanted to apologize for the way I had acted last night," I said.

She looked up at me her blue eyes shining,"Did you hear?" She questioned. She was excited about something.

"Hear what?" I asked looking around, hell everybody was so excited ,"Did you hear what I had said? I'm apologizing,"

"Yeah, yeah, I forgot about what was even said. It don't matter now. You really haven't heard yet?" She asked standing up quickly from her seat. She took me by the elbow and led me to the back towards the private rooms while she spoke,"You know it was freezing last night?"

The memory of my little detour made me shiver and I nodded,"Yes, it seems like Summer is coming to an end. I really should have started that garden-,"

"Never mind about your garden, Ida. They say that the cold is what saved his life. Stopped the blood flow or something like that, but I've never seen a man survive an injury like that! Especially on how they all said he got here. He walked here! All five miles. Old Man Webber could have sworn he saw him last night too," She spoke so fast I almost didn't catch anything. We stopped at the double doors leading to the private rooms.

"Delia, I'm so lost on what's going on. Why am I here? I have things to do," I said.

"Not until you see it for yourself," She said opening the door, she gestured for me to go ahead.

"Aren't you coming?"

"I was here when they brought him in, go on,"

Him? Was it some gangster that was riddled with bullet holes and somehow survived? I walked down the hall confused as hell. Nurses were whispering to each other and Doctors were doing the same.

"His neck was clean off!"

"How did he walk here?"

"It's impossible how he survived,"

"The rumors must be true,"

I kept walking my heart beating hard against my chest as I began to feel hot. I had a horrible feeling in my gut as I neared the back room. It was the only door closed and as I neared it opened and Dr. Rodgers came out and I caught a glimpse of Jack and Howard, only the back of their heads, why would thy be here? I must be seeing things.

"Oh, good of you to join this crazy fiasco we call morning shift, Nurse Ida," He greeted me. I kept looking over his shoulder at the cracked door. He noticed my anticipation and smiled," I don't know how he did it, but he made it here for treatment with his neck almost clean off," He stepped aside,"Go on, he's your patient now. Nothing too tedious he's out of the woods now. His dressing will need changing in a few hours. He's sedated so he'll be asleep for the next few hours. He should sleep for most of the day actually. Come see after your shift so we can discuss. This is a great learning opportunity, Nurse Ida," Dr Rodgers explained and walked away.

I stared at the door almost scared to open it. No one had told me who this was,"Wait, is anyone going to tell who my patient is?" I sighed and ran my hand through my curly brown hair annoyed at how the morning was going. I guess I'll find out who it is on his chart. I turned the knob and ca,e face to face with Howard and Jack. I guess I wasn't mistaken when I thought I had saw the back of their heads. The look on their faces made my stomach drop. The room gt heavy as my eyes searched Howard's, but he just shook his head. Then I looked to Jack whose eyes were filled with unshed tears and his face was red. He was trying to be strong, but...why...? My eyes slowly traveled the room. It was as if I wouldn't let myself look at who was in the bed. Who was hooked up to the machines. I knew who it was. Howard and Jack didn't just cry over anybody.

My eyes finally landed on the all too familiar face. Paler now and glistening with sweat. A bandage covered his neck entirely, blood soaked through and I choked on a sob. I hadn't even realized I was crying.

"Forrest,"

Please let me know if this was better. I feel like it was. I welcome any type of reviews :) Thank you and have a great night. I might have some flashbacks in the next chapter explaining their relationship more. I was going to have her find him when she had went to the Station, but I thought that was too cliched. I liked her finding out this way better. It seemed a bit more believable and a bit more emotional then her finding him and taking him to the Hospital. I didn't want her to take Maggie's spot since I think that was a turning point for Maggie and Forrest's relationship that is going to affect Ida later on. I'll also describe Ida's appearance in the next chapter.

Toodle loo, sweet readers!