I Can be Your Hero

I Can Be Your Hero

I've watched over Jenn for so long now. I've watched her grow from a young child into a beautiful woman. I've helped her make decisions, like staying away from Johnny Hendrix in the 7th grade. And I've helped to keep her safe, like telling her not to get into the car with the drunk driver after prom. But even with all my powers, I can only stand on the sidelines and watch... and it's killing me.

I can't help it. I've fallen in love with her.

My recent reason for being had been dedicated to lovingly helping her. But this was beyond that. This was being *in* love.

Even now, I watched as her boyfriend beat her again, his hand striking her, making her fall on the bed. I don't know what her offense was, only that nothing she did could deserve this. He was an angry, evil man, powerful in stature and in presence, in charge of many bad people. I could tell that each and every strike that landed on her caused her pain, yet she tried not to cry, tried not to show him that it hurt her. It only angered him more, but she wouldn't let him win, she wouldn't let him break her.

I could see the blood trickle out the side of her mouth and onto her chin. Her beautiful, white dress was likely ruined by the blood stains. Feeling I had to intervene somehow, I tell her to leave him. I tell her that it's not worth it, he's not worth it any more. I can see the resolve in her eyes and feel that she knows what I'm talking about. She feels it, too. She hears me.

Maybe this time...

*****

The hotel maid always started her rounds early and I woke to her knocking on my door. I can't tell how late it is or how much sun there is with the drapes closed as they were. I rubbed my eyes, tired and sore as they were, and threw my legs over the side of the bed.

"Just a sec," I called out, walking towards the door with my eyes half closed. I opened the door and saw her standing there with her cart. I smiled weakly. "Can you come back in about 30 minutes? I'll just grab a shower and be gone."

"Sure," she says, exasperated. I knew she wanted to just finish up and go home, but I really needed to clean up.

"Thanks," I said to her back as she moved to the next room. I closed the door and headed straight for the bathroom, grabbing a quick shower and shave. I wiped a hand across the mirror, clearing the condensation, and studied my face and body. I looked tired and lost. I knew I had purpose but couldn't quite remember what it was. I knew I had a name, a place where I came from, a family. But... nothing came to mind. For some reason, I just couldn't remember anything about myself.

The token on my necklace glinted in the light, attracting my attention. It, at least, was familiar. It brought me comfort and made me think of... someone special. I could just barely see her face in my mind, but I knew I loved her with all my heart. I knew that I had to find her.

I came out of the bathroom and looked over the empty room. I had no luggage, yet I had a few clothes hanging up and some in the drawers. I wondered how I got here as I changed and slipped out the door. I grabbed a quick lunch at a nearby restaurant and sat surveying the city. There was a lot of hustle and bustle around me, and I walked the streets all day long, pondering my purpose, searching for it.

Night fell around me, yet I continued walking, the streetlights lighting my path. And then I heard it... the music... it called to me. It was from a nightclub just up the street. I walked to it, compelled by the incredible sounds, and moved inside. The floor was abuzz with dancers, moving, shaking, gyrating.

Then... there she was... and I knew I found who I was looking for!

She circled the floor, dancing with everyone around her, as if she owned it. Everyone gave her room to move, everyone was mesmerized by the sway of her hips, the swish of her dress. Her dance was magical and intoxicating. Without even thinking I moved to the floor, my own body gyrating to the heavy beat of the Latino song. I don't remember how I learned to dance, but by the reaction of the crowd, I was dancing wonderfully.

I moved towards her as she watched me, a seductive half-smile on her face. I was happy to please her and danced right up in front of her, swaying as she watched. Within seconds she swayed with me, matching the pattern and rhythm perfectly. I danced with her, moving close, twirling her around, and moving away yet again. Our hands touched, our bodies melded together as one as the music played all around us, drenching us with its beat.

I imagined us in bed together, naked, with me on top pushing into her slowly. We had such passion! Our bodies moved like the dance, but my cock drove deeper with every gyration. Our arms locked our bodies together in a passionate mating. Our moans were loud, punctuated by sharp breaths with each thrust of our hips. I pulled away from her, her legs unlatched as I circled my hands beneath them, pinning them to my chest. Using that as leverage, I thrust harder, driving against her body, smacking against her ass with my hips. She groaned in pleasure, watching me as I writhed and ground into her... dancing...

Her hands swirled above her head, around her body, and center of her breasts as her fingers teased her hardened nipples, pulling on them. She licked her lips, knowing she was turning me on with every move, every touch, everything that she did.

I released her legs and leaned down, kissing her hard, the passion overwhelming me. Our tongues lashed against each other, driving into the other's mouth, swirling and dueling.

I slid down beside her, turning her away from me and lifted her leg in the air. She turned her head and we merged into a kiss again as I slowly pushed into her from behind. God, she felt so good! Her pussy clenched on my cock, holding me, caressing me. And I never wanted it to end.

A strong hand suddenly grabbed my arm and shoulder, pulling me from her, bringing me back to reality.

"You need to take a hike," the burly bodyguard ordered, escorting me towards the door. "She's off limits."

"Carl! We're just dancing," I heard her protesting from behind us. But he wouldn't stop and easily shrugged her off. He pushed me out the front door and onto the sidewalk. "I don't want to see you here again."

*****

I lay in bed all night long, just thinking about her, just reliving our dance together. It felt so perfect, so right, and I was sure she felt it too.

Just the thought of her was driving me crazy with lust and I felt my body responding. I licked my lips as I let my hand wander down over my chest and abdomen and touched my hard shaft below. I shuddered thinking what it would feel like if she were touching me. I envisioned her kneeling beside me, watching every move of my hand as it stroked my length through my pants.

I closed my eyes, feeling lovely pleasure and brought my other hand down to help pull my pants down, leaving me naked. She'd lick her lips in desire as my hardness was revealed in its full glory, throbbing, all because of her. My hand stroked up and down it as I envisioned her hand on mine, helping me, guiding me, letting me know she loved to do that, too.

Oh how good it felt and I stroked the full length slowly. I envisioned her bending forward, letting just the tip of her tongue touch the head as I watched. A hiss escaped my lips as I stroked harder, grunting in time with each one. I'm getting so close now.

She hovered overhead, telling me how much she wanted to see me cum, how much she wanted to taste me. She can't seem to get enough of my cock, looking at it so longingly. My eyes scanned over her luscious body, loving every contour and every curve. I've watched her for so long, I've memorized her body. Now I want to know how to give it pleasure, how to make her shiver and moan with desire, like she's doing to me. How to make her scream in the throes of passion.

I feel the heat building up inside and envision her sliding a leg over my chest, facing towards my feet. The way she sat gave me an excellent view of her pussy and ass, sending me over the edge even faster. Her hand slid down and she stroked herself, matching my rhythm as I stroked. Then it happened and my orgasm washed over me, my cum spraying into the air and landing on my chest and abdomen again and again. God it felt so good! I imagined she was so hungry for it, that she moaned in delight as she watched it and then quickly moved to clean me up with her tongue.

Then my thoughts turned horribly wrong, seeing her crying, lying in a strange bed with bruises on her beautiful face and body. I grew furious when I saw the man walking away from her, his anger still apparent on his face. He didn't care that he hit her... he thought she deserved it... he thought he owned her like property. I vowed to stop him and make sure he never hurt her again.

I won't be leaving her side.

*****

It felt like such a long day as I waited for night to fall again. Thoughts of Jenn swirled in my mind and I couldn't help but want to be near her again. I hovered around the club all day long and when night finally fell I went inside to wait for her, knowing she'd be there again.

I was sitting at the end of the bar when Jenn finally entered with her burly bodyguard leading her. He moved to sit down while she immediately moved to the dance floor and began dancing. The crowd formed around her again, the same as last night. It was as if the entire bar was dancing with her as she rotated and moved so beautifully around the floor.

I was lost in awe of her and felt such a strong urge to join her. I glanced at the bodyguard and decided that I didn't care if he stopped me... Jenn would be mine. I slid off the stool and danced all the way onto the floor, spinning among the other patrons until I found her. Jenn's smile was so electric, making my body tingle with delight, and she swayed close beside me.

"I'm glad you came back," Jenn said, barely above the thumping of the music.

We felt such an instant connection, rotating and touching. I leaned in to whisper in her ear, knowing that my time here was short.

"I want you," I say, only as loud as I need. "I want you by my side... forever."

She leaned back and stopped dancing, looking deep into my eyes as they bore into her soul. She could see the truth. She could feel it. She'd never felt such love before, such passion and desire that I had for her and it nearly overwhelmed her.

"Oh my God," she whispered and fell forward to hug me tightly, crying. "But you don't know the man I'm with... he's..."

"I know him. And I'll protect you from him from now on. He won't hurt you any longer."

"Hey you!" yelled the bodyguard again, grabbing me by the collar of my shirt. He pulled us apart and dragged me off the floor, the staring patrons powerless to help me. "I told you not to come back." He dragged me through a storage door and back into the alley behind the bar, throwing me up against the wall. He was so big, so strong that I was helpless to stop him. He removed his jacket as I turned around and stood, knowing just what was coming.

The first shot was an uppercut to the stomach and sent me reeling, unable to catch my breath. The pain was nearly unbearable. I didn't know what pain even was before that moment, and I wasn't sure I ever wanted to experience it again. Three or four more shots landed to my face and body moments later, putting me face down on the ground. He spat on my back and walked back to the door, calmly gathering his jacket.

"Next time I won't be so nice," he growled, and headed back into the bar, leaving me to scrape myself off the pavement and make my way back to the hotel. My body hurt and I was barely able to move as I stumbled in the doorway and moved to the bed. I fell onto it, glad when the sudden pain subsided into a dull, thudding pain all over my body once again.

My hands moved over my body, feeling the cracked rib and the bruises. Oh God, how I prayed I wouldn't have to endure that ever again. I grabbed the small angel token hanging from the chain around my neck. It brought me comfort and healing... at least in spirit. I knew my task was just beginning, I knew it was going to be so difficult.

I wondered if I had the strength to complete it.

*****

As night fell on the third night, I limped down the street, moving towards the dance club again, resolve on my face. This was too important for my pain to stop me. I would have to learn to deal with it. I moved inside with a group of party-goers, and easily slipped past the bodyguard, moving swiftly to the dance floor where Jenn was dancing.

I entered the floor, swaying my hips as best I could. When Jenn saw me, the grave look of concern almost broke my heart. She rushed to me, holding me in her arms, asking me again and again if I was ok and telling me that she was so sorry. I smiled at her concern for me, her obvious declaration of love washed over me and relieved my pain.

"Are you ready?" I whispered in her ear. "Tonight?"

I felt her shake in fear. "Yes... but... there's something you need to know," Jenn hesitantly replied.

"We have all the time in the world," I smiled, pulling away slightly to take a good look into her eyes again, feeling her soul surge with happiness. I started swaying to the music, moving Jenn off the dance floor, towards the door.

"Well, well, well... look who we have here," Carl snickered, suddenly blocking our exit. I pulled Jenn behind me defensively.

"We're leaving," I said, trying to sound confident and strong.

Carl just laughed. "You're going to the morgue is what you're doing." He reached out and grabbed my shirt again, pulling me towards the back door. I looked at Jenn, telling her to get ready now.

I limply let him lead me out the door again, not knowing how I was going to stop his brutal assault on me this time. I wondered if I would truly die.

One hand held my shirt, holding me upright as the other slammed into my stomach again, the searing pain wracking my body. I spat up blood, some spattering onto the front of his suit jacket and he pushed me to the ground in disgust. I lay in a heap, feeling the searing pain in my abdomen, as I watched him remove his jacket, hang it on a nearby rod that was protruding from the wall, and then walk back to me.

He reached down and grabbed my shirt again, hauling me to my feet. He cocked a hand back to hit me, in the face this time, and I reached out reflexively, grabbing the sides of his head. I felt his body recoil suddenly, but, more importantly, I felt his soul recoil in fear.

"Feel it, Carl. Feel all the pain you've inflicted in the name of evil." I felt his soul lurch as his brain processed all of the wrongs he had committed in his life, all of the pain he'd inflicted on others. His eyes opened wide with fear and revulsion and he lost his grip on me. But I didn't release him.

I felt the goodness surge through my arms and into his body, into his soul, cleansing him.

When I finally released him, he recoiled towards the far wall, away from me, and huddled on the ground drawing his legs into his chest. I looked on him with pity before moving back to the door into the club.

Jenn were just coming out, surprised to see me still standing there, practically unharmed.

"What happened?" she asked, scanning my body.

"I'll tell you later... come with me." I grabbed her hand and pulled her and we ran to Carl's car nearby, jumping in and starting it.

And drove to safety.

*****

"What did you do to Carl?" Jenn asked just minutes up the road.

"I.... I don't know..."

The streetlights flashed by, one after another, the lights flashing in the car and across her face.

"I've never seen him look so scared before...." Jenn looked worried, as if she didn't know if she could trust me any more.

"I wish I could tell you what happened. I just.... I don't know. But I know he's not hurt," I reassured her. It wasn't as if he meant a lot to Jenn. In fact he was fairly abusive to her as well, just not physically. She was just a nice person, always concerned for the well-being of others.

But the fact that I didn't know what happened haunted me the entire drive. There were so many questions swirling around in my head. I didn't know who I was or where I came from. I didn't have any personal items to even start to piece things together. Just the necklace. And then to be able to feel into his soul like I did, to feel the evil that was in him and to help cleanse it. It was the strangest feeling I'd ever had.

My hand found the angel necklace and let it twist around my fingers, giving me peace. I knew that I was on my quest... I knew that this was what I was meant to do... and knew that I still had a long way to go.

We drove all night long, finally stopping at a small motel just off the highway at about 6am. We registered and checked in under a false name that Jenn made up on the spot. The old man behind the counter barely even batted an eye at us, not caring at all when Jenn gave him some cash. He lifted a key off the board behind the counter and handed it to us.

"Check out will be tomorrow at 11:00... If you want to eat, there's a diner just up the road on the left with some good food."

"Thanks," I mumbled, feeling pretty tired and sore. We walked down to the room, with Jenn helping me, and pushed inside. It was fairly small, with just two beds, a small dresser, and a TV. I looked the place over quickly as Jenn lay back on the bed, taking off her shoes.

"I guess this will do," I said coming back out from the bathroom. Jenn was laying on the bed, curled into a ball, sound asleep. I smiled, watching her, feeling my love for her overwhelm me again. Slowly I moved up onto the bed beside her and wrapped my arms around her, holding her tight. She snuggled into me, almost reflexively, knowing that she was indeed safe.

I kissed her head and stroked her hair, letting my fingers comb through it. I felt her heart beating, felt her breathing softly and deeply.

It felt like everything was in place.

I woke up, feeling Jenn's soft kisses on my face. I hugged her tighter and opened my eyes. She was looking at me, one hand stroking my face, pushing the stray hairs away, and kissing me. She wasn't exactly smiling, but I could tell she was happy. She just seemed... conflicted.

I licked my lips invitingly, and Jenn leaned down and kissed me softly. Her gentleness and passion were so incredibly erotic. She pushed me onto my back and kicked a leg over me, sitting on my lower abdomen, then leaned down to kiss me again. My hands stroked her back and sides, feeling her soft, curvy body beneath her clothes as her lips pressed hard into mine. Her mouth opened and our tongues touched, sliding against each other.

I heard her moans and whimpers, driving me wild. I grabbed the bottom of her dress and lifted it up. Jenn took the hint and pulled it up and off, tossing it aside. Her breasts were lovingly cradled inside her white bra and my fingertips traced lines over the thin material. She sat there, watching me, watching my hands stroke and tease her body. I felt her hard nipples poking from beneath and swirled my fingertips over them.

Jenn reached back and unfastened her bra, pulling it off, exposing herself to me. I sat, stunned, just watching her beauty. I couldn't believe how excited she made me, how completely I loved her. Slowly and hesitatingly I reached up and caressed them. At first, just barely touching her with my fingertips, then slowly moving my entire hand onto her, massaging and squeezing her entire breast, pinching and rolling her nipples between my fingers.

"God, you're so sexy," I said softly, as if the comment itself was just pulled from me, uncontrolled.

Jenn smiled softly, her hands moving up beneath her breasts, cradling them. Slowly she lowered herself to me, guiding her nipple onto my lips. My tongue slithered out and around her nipple, making it wet and hard. Jenn moaned, loving how my tongue felt and moved about. My lips locked on the hardened nub and I sucked harder, until it popped from my mouth.

Then she moved the other one to my waiting mouth and I lovingly attended to it. She watched with half-lidded eyes, moaning softly, as I licked and sucked on her breasts. I loved watching her face as her eroticism and passion took hold of her.

Jenn shivered when she finally lifted up and away from me. Her nipples were very hard and my saliva shined in the afternoon light. She stood up on the bed and removed her panties, tossing them aside, then knelt beside me on the bed. She gently unfastened my pants, pulling them off while paying attention to my pains.

When I was naked, she straddled me again, her pussy hovering just over my hardness. She reached down and held me, as she ground her pussy against me, driving me crazy. She was so hot and wet, and her juices quickly coated me. I was only able to watch her, loving everything she did to me.

When I was so very hard, Jenn moved slightly and pushed my cock up inside her. She slowly settled down onto me, pushing me deeper and deeper inside her pussy. Her hips rocked up and back, sliding me in and out of her as she fucked me. I did my best to push up into her, but due to my injuries I couldn't move far.

She moved faster and harder, panting, obviously her excitement building to a peak. Her hands grabbed my wrists and held them tightly over my head as she leaned down, her body slamming into me harder and faster. Her breasts swayed above me and I reached up with my mouth, trying to capture one. It took several tries, but when I did, she stopped rocking, her body going rigid as her orgasm washed over her. I could feel her pussy clenching my cock, again and again, trying to milk it dry.

Within moments she was moving again, fucking me again.

Even after I came, we couldn't stop.... she couldn't stop.... Even when she got tired and laid down on me, kissing me and holding me tightly, our bodies still moved in unison, sliding my hardness in and out of her.

It wasn't until the sun nearly set again that we stopped and, exhausted, lay back on the bed. I quickly found myself falling asleep with Jenn in my arms, holding her tightly against me.

*****

I woke just a few hours later, my arms no longer holding her. I looked around the room and Jenn was gone. At first I figured she might be in the bathroom, or she might have gone to the machine for a cola... but, frankly, I knew better. She was going back. I just didn't know why.

I went to the door and looked out the front window. As I expected, the car was gone. I held the angel necklace for solace, knowing that I would have a hard time finding her again. I looked at the hastily written note in my hand that Jenn had laid on the small table beside the door.

I'm sorry, but I have to go back. There's something I need to get.

It's been eating at my conscience and I can't live with myself

any more. Please forgive me. If you can, meet me at the dance club.

I love you.

I didn't know what she needed to go back for, but it must have been important. I had to trust her. I walked to the front desk, feeling the ache in my ribs, but knowing I couldn't wait.

"How can I get back to the city," I asked the old man.

"You can catch a bus over at the diner. One should leave there around ten tomorrow morning."

I walked back to the room, dejected, wondering if I could... if I should... go through with this. Was love really worth this heartache? Would love run from you? Or would it trust you to help?

But I just knew, Jenn could run but she couldn't escape my love.

I lay back, trying to sleep, trying to prepare myself for the morning. But I couldn't. I watched the sun finally rise high enough again to finally peek through the blinds and glanced at the clock. I got up and left, dropping the key off at the front desk, and made the long, painful walk to the diner up the street.

The bus ride was long and quiet. The whole time I was thinking about Jenn, wondering why she had left, wondering if it was because of me, wondering it she was going back to... him... for some reason. I gripped the angel necklace tightly, feeling the warmth of it calm and relax me. There was love there, I knew it. I just needed to understand.

I also knew that my task was coming to an end. I didn't know how this was going to play out, but I knew my role was so very important that it scared me.

I got off the bus and made my way back to the club, walking painfully slow. It was dark by the time I got there and knew Jenn was inside waiting for me. I walked in and found her sitting at the bar. She smiled briefly when she saw me, then looked down in painful guilt. I moved up to her and stood in front of her stool. She was crying softly, tears running down her face as they had been for a long time now, and it broke my heart.

I opened my arms and wrapped them tightly around her, burying my face in her hair as her own hands firmly encircled me. Her soft crying turned into wracking sobs, the pain that she felt pouring out of her. This was something beyond she and me, something that was tearing at her soul. I could only stand and wait, holding her, comforting her, telling her that no matter what it was, I'd solve it.

"He..." Jenn broke down, barely able to continue. "He... has my son," she whispered through her tears.

*****

"I know you need help getting your son back. Let me help you," I whispered in her ear as I sat in the motel-room chair with Jenn in my lap. She leaned down into me, pressing into me, pressing my face into her chest. She shivered with my offer, holding me tighter, wondering if I really knew what I was getting into.

She pulled back, her hands cradling my face, and leaned forward to kiss me. Our lips molded together perfectly, our tongues slid between, tasting the other.

"I love you," she whispered, closing her eyes, resting her forehead against mine.

"I think I've always loved you," I said back, surprising her since we just met only a few days ago.

My hands moved to Jenn's sides and lifted her away from me as my mouth descended to her bare, hardened nipples. She watched intently as my lips lightly encased one and kissed it tenderly before lightly sucking on it. My tongue circled it slowly and gently, the hard nub exciting me.

Jenn's hips moved up and back, sliding her bare pussy against my cock, it's length growing quickly. She felt so hot, so wet, exciting me.

"I love tasting you," I whispered, again assaulting her nipples as she watched, her hands cradling my head. I felt her body shiver with need and desire. Her hand dropped to my lap, moving my erection against her sodden flesh.

"I love fucking you," she whispered back, giggling. She pushed me inside her, her pussy easily enveloping my cock, her hips pressing down to embed me as deeply as possible. My hands hold her tightly as her hips rocked forward and back, fucking me. Our noses were inches apart as we stared at the other, watching our expressions change, watching our emotions grow stronger.

The minutes ticked by, our excitement growing stronger and stronger until I just couldn't take any more. I felt uncontrollable urges, less of love, less of passion, and more of pure animal lust. I needed her. Badly.

Despite the pain, I picked Jenn up and moved us to the bed, laying her down onto it so that I was never dislodged from her wonderful sex. She bent her knees and put them into my chest and I slowly slid in and out of her, moving through the entire length of my cock so that she felt every inch. Her eyes opened in marvel as the slow, deep thrusts made her feel much more full than she'd ever felt before.

I hovered over her, clenching my ass, and buried myself deeply inside her again and again. My animal urges took over again and I closed my eyes as I thrust into her harder and faster, my hips slamming into her ass with a grunt. I didn't know if it was my grunt or hers, but it was a brief thought before I slammed into her yet again.

"Fuck," she gasped, not believing how good it felt.

I don't remember loving anyone else, so I wonder how I know what I'm doing. It just feels... right. After a dozen thrust, Jenn was moaning with each one, her body quivering with desire. I laid my weight on her knees, and grabbed behind her head so my entire body held her tightly in place as I began thrusting wildly, grunting and groaning as the pleasure soared through me.

I heard a roar in my head and knew my orgasm was so close, but I wanted this to last forever. With all the strength I could muster, I stopped and slid into her, long and slow once again. Jenn's eyes opened wide in surprise and shock. She needed to cum and I was teasing her, keeping it from her.

"Oh my god," Jenn moaned loudly. "That feels so fucking good."

I looked into her eyes, deep into her soul and felt so much love for her. Jenn's breathing had almost recovered when I started thrusting hard into her once again, making her body shiver and shake. Our bodies slammed together again and again. I adjusted my timing so as to have no rhythm or rhyme to my thrusts... just when it felt right, surprising her every time. And just when she wondered if she could take any more, I unleashed a flurry of thrusts, unleashing such animal lust at her. We grunted loudly and screamed as we both came hard. I felt my entire body overheat and sprayed a torrent of cream inside her.

We slept in each others arms for the next few hours, trying to recoup our energy. I awoke with Jenn on the phone, talking to her ex-boyfriend, Jason, arranging to get her son back.

"I didn't steal any money and you know it, you bastard," she hissed into the phone.

"You're kidding me! I don't have that kind of money... how do you expect me to...?" Jenn was shaking now, scared that none of this was going to work out.

"Hello!.... Jason?..." she yelled into the phone. He had obviously hung up on her.

"What'd he say?" I asked, sitting up, pushing the pillow behind me for support.

"He said he wants a hundred grand... he's says that's how much I stole from him. But I didn't steal a god-damned cent from him and he knows it. Where the hell am I going to get that kind of money?"

I reached out and held her hand to reassure her. "We'll just have to do what we can and hope it's enough."

Jason had told her to meet him out in the desert at 4:00pm, so we knew we had to get moving. We got dressed and rushed to the nearest bank, withdrawing whatever amount we could from her account... a measly five thousand. It definitely wasn't going to go far with Jason, but we had no choice. We pushed the money into a suitcase and jumped into the car.

Fear was on both of our faces as we drove out into the dusty plain. Jenn directed me on the right roads until we finally reached our destination, out in the middle of nowhere. I saw a car and then saw him, unmistakably Jason, sitting on the hood with another man beside him.

I pulled the car up a short distance away from them and got out. Jenn opened the door and started to get out, but I urged her to stay in the car. I fumbled in the back seat, grabbed the suitcase, and closed the door. I circled around the back of the car and smiled down at her through the open window when I reached the passenger side.

"It's going to be ok," I said, bending down and kissing her. She looked utterly scared, scared for me... and scared for herself. She knew just how evil and cruel Jason was.

"Please be careful," she whispered.

I turned and walked the short distance to where Jason and the other man stood.

"And you are?" Jason asked me.

"A friend."

"And where's...?"

"She's in the car and has no need to see you."

"Well, ok... friend... do you have my money?"

"Do you have the boy?"

Jason smiled and ticked his head towards the car. Through the windows I could see a young boy playing. I shivered, wondering if I was in over my head. I lifted the suitcase, indicating the money was inside, and stepped forward to hand it to him. Jenn suddenly ran past me, bolting up to Jason.

"Please, Jason, just let Tommy go... please," she begged, her hands holding his arms. He looked down at Jenn, disinterested and unmoved and grabbed her arms. He threw her aside like a rag doll, to his guard, who grabbed her and held her to him.

"Doll, if you give me what I ask for, I don't give a fuck about the boy," Jason spat. He turned back towards me and extended his hand for the case. We were mere feet apart when I handed it to him. He was a large man, definitely with a lot of power. I finally realized he didn't get this position based on his talent with money.

One hand held the case level while the other opened the latch and separated the top and bottom. He peered inside for a moment, looked at Jenn, then back at me.

"You're joking, right? This is just a couple grand."

"You know I don't have that kind of money, Jason," Jenn yelled. "Please! Just let me have my son." Jenn was crying, begging.

Jason shut the case and laid it on the ground. "You're a friend, eh?" he asked moving closer to me. He put his hand on my shoulder, making me shiver in fear, although I tried not to show it. "You might want to rethink this... friendship," he said, abruptly thrusting his knee up into my abdomen, making me double over. I was coughing, trying to catch my breath, trying not to faint.

"Did that hurt," he laughed, standing over me, then thrust a punch into my face sending me stumbling backwards, finally falling into the dirt.

Jenn was screaming loudly, "Stop! Please for God's sake, stop it, Jason!" The guard held her with a tight grip, one that she couldn't break. All she could do was watch Jason beat me, praying that he would have mercy.

I tried to stand and he kicked me in the stomach again and again, sending me back down into the dirt. I held my body tightly, feeling the wracking pain inside only get worse and worse.

Jason grabbed a small club from the hood of his car and came back over to me.

"You should've minded your own business, you piece of shit. Maybe then you would've lived longer." He swung low and struck me on the side of the head and I spun around in the dirt, landing face first into it. The searing pain forced me to close my eyes and I felt the blood running down the side of my face.

I couldn't hear Jenn's yelling... I couldn't hear his degrading remarks about either of us. I only heard the blood rushing through my veins, the pounding in my head. And I heard a soft whisper telling me that I could do this. I turned to my back, feeling the life leaving my body. I knew I wouldn't last much longer.

Jason bent over me, looking with pride at the damage he'd done to me. With a last effort, I reached up with both hands to grab the sides of his head. It was more reflexive than anything else, but I remembered what had happened to Carl and had hoped to make it happen again, here. I needed to survive this.

"What, you fucker? You trying to kiss me or something?" he laughed hitting my arms with the club, rendering them nearly useless. I fell back into the dirt, defeated.

"You brought this piece of shit ass-wipe along thinking he'd help you?" he laughed at Jenn.

"Please stop Jason.... please," she begged again and again.

"Jeffrey, take her back to the hotel so she can think about this some more. If you want to see Tommy, you know what you have to do. Oh, and babe, no more heroes. I have far too much fun killing them."

Jeffrey pulled Jenn away, pushing her into the passenger seat of the car. He walked around the car and slid into the driver's side, starting the engine. I watched her staring out the window at me, crying, sorry that she'd put me in this position. Worried that she was responsible for my death.

I cried too... because I'd failed her.

*****

Jenn sat in the bed, her back against the wall, her legs held tightly to her chest. She was so scared, so lost. She just knew that I was dead and that she'd most likely never see her son again. It was already close to sunset, many hours after we met Jason, with no word yet. Tears had run down her face for hours, but wouldn't fall any more. She was numb.

She realized that in order to see her son, she'd have to go back to Jason, endure his abuse. And she knew it would be far worse, now... now that he knew he had so much leverage over her. She felt so tired, so defeated, so lost, and she fell asleep. It was a fitful sleep with haunting nightmares plaguing her and she woke up a couple hours later with a start. Jenn's clothes were soaked with sweat and the rumpled covers indicated she tossed and turned the whole time.

A knock at the door startled her. It wasn't loud, but it was definitely there. Shaking, Jenn stood and moved to the door. A voice on the other side seemed to be calling to her, but she couldn't understand it. She opened the door, hesitatingly, and was so surprised by the sight that greeted her.

"Mommy!!" Tommy yelled, rushing forward and grabbing around Jenn's waist.

Jenn stood, stunned, barely able to comprehend what was happening. Running on auto-pilot, she dropped to her knees and snatched her boy into a huge hug, holding him tightly against her as she cried large tears of joy.

"Oh my god..." she mumbled, her thoughts jumbled. "What...? How did you...?" She had so many questions and all of them fought to be answered at once.

"He brought me..." Tommy said happily, pointing out into the parking lot.

Jenn looked out, standing, pulling Tommy up with her, and walked out the door. She saw me leaning against a car in the faint light. I was bent and twisted, obviously beaten up pretty bad. She started walking towards me, gaining speed with every step and just before she got to me, I fell to the ground in a heap.

She set Tommy down and knelt beside me, her hands moving over my body, looking over my wounds. She could feel the broken bones and blood rolling down my skin.

"How...?" she asked, sobbing.

"Wait..." I said weakly. I lifted my hands and put them around her hand, cradling it, then pulled it back to my chest. Jenn felt something slide into her palm, felt me shudder as it was passed to her and my hands released hers. "I told you I'd be your hero..." I smiled.

She was crying profusely now, her vision blurred by the large tears. "No!" she wailed, knowing the inevitable was happening.

I coughed, blood oozing out the side of my mouth, and then smiled. "Don't worry. I won't leave you. I'll never leave you."

She opened her hand and saw the angel necklace inside, the metal warm against her skin. Her head fell, her body jerked as the large sobs came at last.

"Wow! Look at his wings mommy! They're so big!" Tommy gasped seconds later, obviously excited.

Jenn shook her head, completely confused by what Tommy was saying, then opened her eyes and looked at him. Her little boy was smiling, his face lit up in absolute wonder and awe. Then he looked down and she followed his gaze. But I was gone.

Suddenly Jenn stood, looking around, knowing that I couldn't have moved far. But I was no where in sight. She felt Tommy's hand slide into her's and felt the pendant.

"Don't cry mommy. He told me he's going back home now, so he can watch over us again. He said he'll always be there for us."

I smiled down at Jenn, full of love, knowing that she was safe at last. My thoughts turned to the time we spent together, the love we shared. And I knew it was all worth it.