Beside You

"MARC!" I screamed nearly at the top of my lungs and kept pushing at Theo's shoulder. My eyes watered from the pain as he stood on top of my foot with all his weight.

"What's wrong?!" Marc's panicked voice came from right next to me and I luckily didn't have to say anything, before he realized what was going on and shoved Theo off. I fell into his chest, while he cursed at the horse. With one movement he scooped me up bridal style and brought me outside the box, where Matt and his Mom met us, having heard my pained cry.

"What happened?" Mrs Jason asked worriedly as I clung to my brother's neck.

"The fucker stood on her foot," Marc said angrily and tried to set me down on the bench they had near the front. When I didn't let go of him, he sat down with me on his lap.

"Matt, go get some ice and bandages," Mrs Jason ordered and Matt ran off, pale as sheet. "Which foot, Madison?"

"The right one," I choked out, still hiding in Marc's neck. It hurt so damn much I barely could take it, Marc was taking my excessive squeezing of his arm quite well luckily.

"I have to get the boot off, I'm sorry." Mrs Jason gave me a sympathetic look.

Matt returned with a bucket full of anything his mother might need to tend to my foot. He gave my shoulder a soft squeeze, which I would have liked to give him a thankful smile for, but I was too busy gritting my teeth at the excruciating pain of his mother pulling off my rubber boot. A few tears spilled over my cheeks as I tried to resist the urge to let out a scream and instead whimpered into my brother's neck.

The next minute was the most painful one I could remember thus far as Mrs Jason prodded at my foot to make sure it wasn't broken. It was already so badly swollen and hurt so much that despite me being able to move my toes, she wasn't sure it wasn't broken after all. Matt wrapped a first aid cooling bandage around my foot that would have to last me to the next ER.

"Go to my car, turn on the heat and slide the passenger seat as far back as you can," Marc told Matt handing him his car keys. Matt ran off and Marc followed slowly, still carrying me in his arms.

"We have the parade tomorrow," I remembered suddenly.

"Don't worry about it, Maddie, we'll take care of it," Mrs Jason quickly assured me.

"But I have to be in it! No one else practiced the special part for the entrance," I cried, big, fat tears rolling down my cheeks from the pain, the shock and now the panic that the traditional December 26th parade would suck because of me.

The Jasons had started it a couple of years back as a way for the kids to showcase their talents and what they'd learned. Every year it involved a piece that showed off all the different heritages we had in the riders and the horses and this year we'd put it as the entrance, everybody riding into the hall with a flag.

"I'll take care of it, Maddie, it'll all work out. You worry about your foot now, okay?" She gave me a warm smile as Marc carefully set me into the passenger seat of his car and buckled me in. When he leaned down to kiss my forehead, I could see the worry in his brown eyes and how he felt the pain with me.

It took a couple of hours at the ER, apparently Christmas is a pretty busy time for hospitals. People hurt themselves preparing the food, putting up the tree and lights or doing God-knows-what. After what felt like an eternity of waiting, we finally were brought to see a doctor and then it took another eternity for me to get my foot x-rayed which, by the way, hurt like hell because the stupid guy kept moving and twisting my foot in really painful ways.

In the end the x-rays showed that nothing was broken, ‘just’ some extensive bruising in the tissue, so the doc bandaged my foot back up, gave me some pain medication and sent me home with strict orders to not only not walk on my foot for a couple of days until I could bear the pain of standing on it (which was impossible right now), but also not to ride until my next appointment. In 2 weeks.

"What'd he say?" Marc asked worriedly, when Mom and I came out of the examination room. Mom and Dad had come down to the hospital immediately, when Marc called them to tell them what happened. Eric almost came, too, but we were able to convince him to stay home, it wasn't like I was getting admitted.

"No riding for two weeks," Mom said quietly, trying not to upset me any further, but I doubted you could do that. I really wanted to smack something, hard preferably, and the next joke made at my expense by my brothers would earn one of them a nasty bruise, that was sure. I was pissed off and it showed on my thunderous face.

"What about the parade?" Marc eyed me carefully as I stood there awkwardly, resting my weight on my good foot and the crutches they'd given me. Crutches! Ugh!

Mom shrugged and looked at Dad for help, but he didn't know either.

"I'm going to be in that parade," I told them firmly. "I don't care how, but I'm going to be in it."

Mom sighed and opened her mouth to protest, but Dad shook his head at her. "Okay, if you want to be in it, we'll find a way," he told me with a small smile. I gave him a thankful nod and started to hobble down the hallway towards the entrance.

I'd taken maybe two steps until suddenly I was literally swept off my feet, finding myself once again in Marc's arms bridal style. Mom grabbed my crutches for me and Marc gave me a grin, before he sped down the hallway, a giggling me in his arms, while a couple of nurses and Mom yelled at him for running in the hospital.

I went back with Marc in his car again and Mom and Dad in theirs. It was so obvious that everyone was going to make a big affair out of this, when I saw Eric's and Jared's cars parked in front of the house, when we got back. Marc smirked at my eye-roll, but didn't say anything, fortunate for him.

Eric and Jared shot to their feet the moment I set my foot into the living room and they watched me hobble from the door to the couch with wide eyes.

"Foot's still on me, so stop staring," I grumbled at them, falling into a seat.

"What about tomorrow?" Eric asked, looking at our parents, while Jared sat down next to me and tried to give me a lopsided smile that probably was supposed to be encouraging. The dark look I gave my oldest brother answered his question and I more saw than heard him sigh.

"Is it broken?" Jared wanted to know.

"Am I wearing a cast?" I rolled my eyes at him. "No, it's not. If it was, the doctor would be dead. He said I can't ride until in 2 weeks, when we have the next appointment."

"He didn't say you'd be allowed to ride after that, Madison," Mom felt the need to point out, but I only huffed.

"He's insane. That's like telling Sidney to stop playing because he broke a nail or shit," I complained.

"Madison, language," Mom sighed, while my brothers and Dad laughed.

"Nice analogy there, Madd," Eric nodded approvingly. "I talked to Jordan earlier, by the way, he wanted to know if you liked his gift."

I stared at my highly bandaged foot and didn't say anything. Jordan and his overly obvious lack of communication with me was pretty much the last thing Eric should have mentioned at that moment. Jordan talked to our parents regularly and tried keeping tabs with the other guys best he could, but I hadn't talked to him personally since a couple of months, maybe three or so. He always told somebody to tell me something, but he barely talked directly to me. It was just so like him to not even take a couple of minutes on Christmas Day to at least wish me a Merry Christmas and ask about the gifts personally. I'd been tempted not to send him anything this year, but then I'd seen a Cd I knew he'd like and just like that I'd changed my mind.

"How about some Mentalist?" Jared suggested breaking the awkward silence. I nodded quickly and he jumped up to put the Dvd in and to get some snacks. Mom got busy helping me elevate my foot, Eric left to go home, Marc disappeared into his room and Dad somewhere else.

A couple of minutes later found me snuggled under Jared's arm with a bowl of gummy bears in my lap, a bowl of salty popcorn in his and Patrick Jane on the TV, successfully distracting me and taking my mind off for a while.

"It's too early," Jared complained in a whisper, his head lying on the kitchen table, while I made a bowl of Lucky Charms. I gave him a sympathetic look, for two reasons. A) I didn't feel much better and b) I knew it sucked being the one with the short straw. To give Mom and Dad a day where they didn't have to get up before the crack of dawn because of their children, my brothers had drawn straws to determine who had to get up early with me to bring me down to the barn for the parade preparations. Jared got lucky.

"Want some?" I offered, but he only hummed a half-assed response. "I'm sorry, I should have asked somebody to come get me."

Jared sighed deeply and opened his eyes to look at me. "It's okay, I'm just tired, 's all."

"Want me to make some sandwiches for later?" That got a tired grin out of him and so I hobbled around the kitchen for a few minutes, after I finished my breakfast. Jared jumped to help me, but after I almost beat him down with my crutch, he sat down and took a quick powernap for a couple of minutes.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Jared eyed Lady skeptically. I was leaning against his side, resting on my left foot, while we watched Matt and Mrs Jason set her up with a side saddle.

"She won't need her right foot as much, so it should. Main point is that she stays on there," Matt commented over his shoulder, running his hands over Lady's neck gently. "But they've tried it before, so it should work. I just don't know about the rear up."

"What rear up?" I gave Matt a warning look, as Jared grew suspicious. "Madison?"

I rolled my eyes and hobbled over to Lady, who now was ready. "Nothing, Jare."

"In case you've forgotten, I've lived with you for the better part of 16 years now, Madison Grace. Nothing is never nothing," Jared pointed out, his tiredness making him petulant. I ignored him and let Matt help me mount Lady.

"I'll lead her around a little, so you can find your balance," Matt offered, which I gladly accepted.

"Jared, you can nap in the car, if you want," I told him softly. "Or you could just come back with everybody later..."

"I'll be in the car," he shrugged and walked off. I should've known he wouldn't leave, after all he was here to keep an eye on me, not just to drop me off.

"He's tired, huh?" Matt smiled slightly, while he easily led Lady around outside. People around us were busy and I was sure they could have used his two helping hands somewhere, but I really appreciated he took the time to do this. "Does it hurt?"

"I barely slept," I answered honestly. "But don't tell him that. Dad's the only one that understands I still want to do this, they all think I'm crazy."

"You are," Matt grinned at me mischievously and I couldn't help but smile back at him, feeling my cheeks flush a little and my stomach flutter.

Matt looked a lot like his Mom, he had her dark hair, the tan skin tone and the gorgeous smile from her. His green eyes he had from his Dad and also his considerate, bubbly personality. I was well aware I wasn't the only one with a crush on Matt, I could feel the looks burning in my back from nearly every direction right now, but I also knew that Matt was much too nice and oblivious to know this or notice it.

"Blame it on my brothers," I tried to play it off. "A girl can only do so much with four hockey-crazy older brothers."

Matt laughed and I grinned. "Agreed. Are they coming later?"

"Jordan's in Pittsburgh, but everyone else is coming," I nodded proudly. "Even my grandparents, although Grandpa's terrified of horses."

Matt nodded and rubbed Lady's nose, eyes and attention now on the horse. Her eyes twirled and twisted attentively, as he spoke to her quietly running his hand up and down her neck. His eyes flashed up to me for a moment, he gave me a small smile and then focused back on Lady.

She seemed a little nervous, so I was thankful he was trying to calm her down, because I was busy enough trying not to strain my right leg so much, while trying to find my balance with the side saddle. I closed my eyes and focused solely on Lady's walking rhythm, shutting everything else out.

"You should arch your back a little more, it'll give you more stance," Matt said quietly and I snapped out of my quiet moment. No idea how long that moment had been, but I was sure it was a couple of minutes at least. "We'll go behind the house and you can try faster." I nodded and picked up the rains, when he let go of them.

Going faster was definitely more painful and I could feel every little movement and shake in my foot as we tried a faster trot. Matt could read it on my face, because he shook his head at me, telling me to stop.

"You shouldn't do it, if it hurts too much, Maddie," he said worriedly, grabbing a hold of her head-collar.

"I'll be fine," I replied through slightly gritted teeth. "It's not long."

He gave me a long, hard look, but I didn't waver. "What about the rear up?"

"I'll try." I turned Lady around and made her do a small lap just slowly, before I pulled on the reins and shifted my weight like Mrs Jason had taught me. Lady easily reacted, shifting her weight to her hind legs while throwing up her forelegs up with momentum. I stayed in the saddle just barely and when she came down, I could feel the impact distinctly in my throbbing foot. But I hadn't fallen off and I'd just try to ignore the pain for the time being.

"It looked good, Maddie, but you shouldn't do it, if it hurts too much," Mr Jason joined us. "Matt, they need you in the barn," he told his son, switching places with him.

"Hi, Mr Jason," I greeted him, trying to breathe away the pain.

"My wife had a wonderful idea this morning," he told me with a grin.

All riders were lined up outside the big hall and the chit-chattering only grew quiet, making place for some last minute nervousness and excitement, when the music started after Matt's father, who was working the show host thing again (and brilliantly so), announced the beginning of the parade.

Every rider and horse was represented and each of them got their moment of glory, riding the full circle in the hall and then lining up in the middle. As more and more of them rode inside the hall from where we were all lined up outside the hall, out of vision from the audience, I could feel my heart beating hard and fast in my chest. We were representing our home country, the lucky one with the jackpot piece of paper.

I guided Lady a couple of dozen yards away from the hall, knowing that I needed some distance to gain the speed for my 'glorious' entrance. The music was some classical piece that Mrs Jason had picked, but I'd listened to it enough times to know the exact spot where I needed to start into the hall. (If you want, you can listen into Michael W. Smith’s “Freedom”, which served as the song I had in mind while writing this.)

Lady reacted immediately, when I gave her the signs to start running and we made it perfectly to canter into the hall just after Mr Jason said and now, ladies and gentlemen, representing our home country, Madison Staal!. There was no time for me to look around for reactions, but I knew without looking the look on my oldest brother's face.

Of course I had chosen to represent Canada (the lucky paper let me pick whatever country I wanted) and while all the others were dressed in some fancy competition attire or matched their flag, I'd asked to be allowed to wear the Team Canada Olympic jersey, complete with a #12 and STAAL on the back.

Lady and I stormed into the hall, my flag hidden at my side. We ran an 8 figure around the two-part line up of the other riders and reached the middle of it perfectly in time with the climax. Lady reared, I yanked up the Canadian flag and she even neighed. We came down, took our place in the middle of the line up and all of us basked in the applause that the audience gave us.

My cheeks started to hurt almost immediately from the wideness of my grin and I didn't even feel my ankle throb there was so much adrenaline in my body. My eyes glided over the crowd, trying to make out my family, and my smile widened even a bit more, when I found them. They were all going crazy, Marc just punching Eric's shoulder, no doubt giving him shit about the Canada jersey I had on and it made my chest swell to know they were proud of me.

When Mrs Jason gave us the sign, the line slowly shuffled out of the hall again. I waved at anybody I knew and threw a beaming grin at my family, when I passed them. I couldn't keep myself from winking at Eric, when I caught his eye. The answering grin on his face was almost as wide as mine.

"That was insane, Maddie!" Abby gushed, meeting me outside. "I mean, the jersey takes the cake already, but that rear up... Jesus Christ! I think you gave your Mom a legit heart attack!"

I laughed and handed the reins off to her. I let out a deep breath and slowly I could feel my foot start to throb again. "Did you see their faces?"

"They couldn't have been more proud of you, Maddie," she grinned at me and held up her fist, so I could bump mine against hers. "I think Eric seriously owes you now." Mischief took over her face. "Maybe we can tear up Raleigh in the near future..."

"Sounds like a plan," I nodded, always up to any kind of fun and riot my best friend could come up with. I gritted my teeth together, when the pain in my foot came back with a vengeance. Abby noticed immediately and made quick work to bring me and my horse to the boxes.

"I'll help." Matt was there before even we were. He pushed my foot out of the stirrup and told me to just glide down carefully, he'd catch me. Abby gave me wide eyes and a grin, when I glanced at her. I took a deep breath to brace me for the pain and slowly glided out of the saddle.

Matt's strong arms were there immediately, assisting and holding me. Instead of just holding me at the hips, like I was used to when somebody helped me off a horse, he put his arms behind my knees and the small of my back, catching me bridal style, when I let go of the saddle horn. I gulped, my cheeks burning and somehow managed not to die instantly.

He gave me that same grin from earlier, the one that always made me swoon and I could do nothing more than to return it with a smile of my own, albeit a weak one. He carefully set me back to my feet, keeping his arm around my back to help me balance myself. Rendered completely speechless I could only shake and nod my head, when he asked about my foot and how much it hurt.

This was seriously the closest I had ever been to him and any part of me he touched burned and tingled. The butterflies in my stomach made me feel like I was going to throw up in the very near future and I could barely think straight. When I struggled with my balance after Abby led Lady away to take care of her and I thus lost my other 'shoulder to lean on', Matt's second arm immediately looped around me, keeping me steady.

If this had been a movie, I'd been yelling and squealing at my TV screen, that I was sure of. Suddenly I understood what everybody was going on about, about feeling safe and sound in somebody's arms, because I felt the same.

"Alright, careful," Matt said quietly, smiling slightly. "Where'd you leave your crutches?"

I stared at him for a few moments, before I realized he'd asked me a question. "Uhm, Jared has them, I think," I answered vaguely and swallowed again. How was it possible to smell this good, when you had been working with horses all morning?

"I'll go get them for you, you stay here," he told me immediately and helped me over to the wall, where there was a bale of hay I could sit on. "I'll be right back," he promised. And then he kissed my cheek.

My cheeks burned once more in the matter of five minutes and I barely knew my name anymore with all these feelings swelling up in me.

"Oh my God," I whispered, touching my cheek where he had kissed it. Was I dreaming?