a/n: No, don't worry, I have nothing to plug this time…just some thanks to those of you who took a chance on reading this and left me delicious red skittles. Strangely, a review high is not unlike a sugar high. It does, however, have the benefit of not sending me into a coma. And in gratitude, I've left red skittles for you in the form of an audible playlist so you don't have to guess at what random song I've chosen for the chapters.

Read on my friends. And thank sidekick55 for the beta'ing as she's lovely, and there would be a lot more unnecessary italicization if she left me to my own devices. Not to mention improper comma placement *gasp*.

Oh, and I suppose it's a little cliff like at the end of this one. You've been warned.


Ch – 2 The Very Thought of You

Rose had been away at the University of Seattle when she got news that her parents were killed in a car crash.

Unfortunately, their father's meager income as the Police Chief of Forks hadn't left much behind after funeral expenses and Rose, fresh out of college, had yet to find a job. She hadn't been back in Forks for more than a week before Royce began to make his move, establishing himself as a knight in shining armor.

To the outside observer it was all very sweet: a high school romance reignited by tragedy. It certainly sounded like a happy ending. To Alice, however, who was a little more perceptive than the average person, it was a skillful game played by a self-involved, appearance-driven snake.

Rose was neatly under his thumb just the way he had planned. Not only did he pay for Bella's care, but also Rosalie's life. Nothing was in her name anymore. Not the car she drove. Not the house they lived in. Not even the bank accounts.

Her self-respect had taken quite a beating when she had come to the realization that she didn't love Royce. But it was too late, she was trapped.

It was with that weight on her shoulders she led Angela down the hall to the final patient's room: Bella's.

Before they entered, Rose reviewed her chart. "Bella has dissociative personality disorder. So far, Dr. Whitlock has only been able to nail down one other personality. Obviously there's Bella, my sister. But there's also her alter-ego, Edward. Neither of them is particularly dangerous, although Edward does think he's a vampire…a vegetarian vampire no less. He says that he doesn't eat humans, only animals." she shook her head. "How Bella came up with that one, I'll never guess, but there it is."

"When was she diagnosed?" Angela asked.

"She's been here for about a year and a half, give or take. Though our parents suspected something was wrong when she was 17. Oh…and I should warn you. Edward thinks he can read minds. He can't of course, but sometimes he gets lucky."

Through the window in the door, Rose could see Bella looking out over the mountains. Sometimes she could tell from her posture who she would be walking in on, but today it was a mystery.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and walked in. "Good morning."

Bella turned around and smiled. "Hey, Rose."

Rose let out a sigh of relief, recognizing Bella's tone of voice. "How are you this morning?" she asked and went to hug her sister.

"Crazy as ever." Bella blushed.

Rose turned to Angela who was hovering just past the doorway. "Bella, this is Angela, our new nurse."

Bella awkwardly reached out her hand to shake Angela's. "Nice to meet you," she said, and pushed a lock of brown hair behind her ear.

Angela, still wary after her encounter with Esme, shook her hand but didn't say anything.

"So, no Edward today?" Rose had gotten used to asking about Edward as if he were an actual person rather than another facet of Bella's ego. She spent a little time with him, and aside from him being a tad melodramatic, Rose could think of worse personalities Bella could be sharing her headspace with.

"No," Bella replied somberly.

On very rare and very creepy occasions, Bella and Edward would interact. In fact, that was when Rose first realized Bella needed help; she had walked into Bella's room and found her sitting on her bed, having what appeared to be a full on conversation with herself. To make matters worse, Bella was always visibly happier when they "talked".

Rose smiled sympathetically and rubbed her back. "Well, it's just about lunch time. Do you want to join us, or would you rather stay here?"

"I'll come with you," Bella said.

The girls walked into the common room where Emmett and Mike were setting the patients up at tables before the food arrived. When Emmett spotted Bella with Rose and Angela, he made a beeline for them.

"Hey, little sister!" He grinned, and enveloped Bella in a hug. Emmett had known Bella all her life, and considered her family.

"Hey, Emmett." She smiled.

"Come to eat lunch with the crazies today, huh?" Emmett winked.

Bella laughed lightly and took an empty seat next to Carlisle.

Angela left to help the cook, Laurent, distribute trays of food. This meant that Rose and Emmett were now standing alone together. Again, both of their minds on exactly the same thought as they looked into each other's eyes.

"For the love of all that's holy, Emmett, would you please control your imagination?" The voice came from Bella, but was in a startlingly different tone.

Edward had decided to come for lunch.

"I truly do not want to see Rosalie in that light," Bella-turned-Edward continued.

Emmett's mouth curled up into a smile. "He's good." Emmett winked at Rose, tapping his temple indicating Edward's mind reading abilities.

Emmett continued with his eyes still on Rose. "Sorry, I can't help myself." Then he turned to Edward. "So, I'm guessing that unless Laurent has decided to serve up some mountain lion, you're probably not hungry?"

Edward looked at Emmett and rolled his eyes. "No. Thank you." He looked at the tray Angela had placed in front of him. "I think I can do without macaroni and cheese with…what is that?" He poked at the squishy hot dog chunks with a spork. "Cut up hot dogs?" Edward's face filled with disgust at the "human" food.

Bella and Edward shared the same body, but they did not share the same facial expressions. Bella tended to look serene and at ease; although, that could have been a result of the multiple pills she was required to take. Edward on the other hand, looked like he was walking around trying to pinch a marble between his butt cheeks while contemplating the national debt.

"Edward, you should eat something. Bella hasn't eaten since last night and she needs her strength," Rose reasoned.

"I doubt even Bella would eat this." But with a sigh, he took a bite. Rose and Emmett both had to hold back laughter as the look on his face began to resemble a baby preparing to spew.

"This is worse than eating squirrels, filthy vermin." Edward continued to grumble as he ate.

Billy decided to send his hot dog chunks rolling on the floor in order to properly honor them with a "hunt," so Emmett left Rose with the agitated Edward. As Billy held his spork in the air like a javelin, ready to strike, Dr. Whitlock walked into the room. In passing, he accidently crushed one of the wild "dogs".

Billy's eyes grew wide and his mouth pulled down in anger. Emmett sensing an imminent attack, grabbed the back of his wheel chair. Dr. Whitlock continued on absently, only looking down in curiosity at the feeling of something squish under his shoe.

He pulled Rose into the far corner of the room and began speaking quietly. "I just got off the phone with Washington State Mental Hospital in Tacoma. We're about to get a patient transfer. He's somewhat high security, and he should be arriving tomorrow."

"What makes him high security?" Rose asked.

"You don't want to know." A dark look passed over his face. "I already spoke with Emmett and informed him that he'll be the primary orderly handling him. I do not want you or any of the other nurses to go into his room without Emmett."

"Alright. But if he's such a threat, why are they sending him here? Aren't they better equipped to handle patients like that?"

"They've had to send multiple patients out to other care facilities because they're so full. Puyallup had to take on three high security patients, and James Witherdale is the best of the worst. We're lucky we didn't end up with any of them." Dr. Whitlock shook his head and smiled apologetically before leaving the room.

As Rose walked Edward back to Bella's room, her mind was pre-occupied with all of the potentially awful things their new patient had done. She tried not to focus on the truly heinous crimes, but she couldn't help being a little afraid for Bella's safety.

Rose changed out of her scrubs into a denim pencil skirt and cream sweater at the end of her shift, and then went to see if Bella had come around. When she found that Edward was reading quietly, still not replaced by her sister, she decided to head out.

She nearly made it to her car when Alice came skipping up next to her. "I think we should go do happy hour at The Lodge," she proclaimed.

"And I think I have work tomorrow."

"So do I, Ms. Anti-Social. Come on. Please? I have a feeling Dr. Whitlock might be there tonight." Alice looked up at Rose with her best puppy dog expression.

Rose sighed. When Alice made plans to do something, she was ruthless. "Fine, but I'm not staying out all night. And I'll drive myself."

"Excellent. I'll meet you there in fifteen." Alice skipped off to her car.

Rose climbed into her Mercedes and called Royce on his cell phone to leave a voice mail, saying she would be home no later than ten.

The drive into town was particularly beautiful that evening. The fog had yet to make an appearance, and the warm glow of the setting sun cast spotlights through the trees on the road ahead. Rose could see large, menacing clouds on the horizon above the Indian Reservation and knew that the nice weather wouldn't last.

The Lodge was the nicest restaurant in the area, but hardly more than a glorified diner with a bar and a makeshift dance floor. On weeknights they had good drink and appetizer specials that drew in the locals.

Rose spotted Alice's car parked out in back of the restaurant so she went inside to find her. After passing the hostess, she felt an increasingly familiar, mixture of annoyance and excitement. In the booth, sitting across from Alice, was Emmett. Rose couldn't help but get the feeling that she had been set up.

Fortunately, Alice had also invited Angela, Mike and Eric. Unfortunately, she had strategically placed them in between Emmett and herself, meaning that the only vacant seat was next to her brother since she had claimed the opposite end of the booth. Rose continued on, shooting daggers at Alice with her eyes. Alice, having noticed Rose's entrance, smiled innocently with an air of victory hovering around her. No doubt pleased with her master planning.

"Rose, you made it!" she exclaimed.

Gauging the look on Emmett's face, she hadn't told him either.

Rose sat next to Emmett, taking care not to sit too close. He was by no means a small man, and he took up a good portion of the space, leaving only a small gap between her body and his. A small gap that she was all too aware of.

This isn't at all awkward, Rose thought.

Mike and Eric were focused on Angela, who looked like a deer in headlights. They were trying to pry her life story from her, one inane question at a time.

"Did you move here with your boyfriend?" Eric asked.

Angela blushed and shook her head with a tiny smile. Rose would have sworn that no one could rival Bella in shyness, but Angela brought a whole new meaning to "socially awkward." It was almost too painful to watch.

"So, Alice," Rose began an attempt to save Angela from having to answer another round of questions. She felt a wave of electrifying tingles circulate through her body as Emmett turned slightly towards her, their knees brushing against each other under the table.

Rose, who was more composed than most, momentarily lost her train of thought as her heart did a little river dance in her chest. Regaining her composure, she continued. "What made you think Dr. Whitlock was coming here tonight of all nights, when he's never come to happy hour at The Lodge before?"

"Because I asked him," Alice stated matter-of-factly, as if Rose should have guessed.

"Right on!" Eric cheered, giving Alice a high-five. "It's about time the good doc got laid!"

The table groaned in unison, and Alice smacked him on the back of the head.

"Dude," Emmett said. "Don't talk about my sister like that."

Rose rolled her eyes and slid out of the booth. "Alice, Angela and I are going to have a sidebar. While we're gone, try not to set evolution even further back. You've nearly hit caveman status, Yorkie. "

Rose led the girls over to the jukebox and began flipping through the outdated music. The owner, Ben Cheney, had just purchased the restaurant from the original owners a few months back and hadn't had time to update the records. While most of the townies complained about the random mix of jazz and classic rock, Rose appreciated the quirky variety.

"First of all," Rose began as she popped a quarter into the jukebox. "Why in the hell is Emmett here, Alice?"

"I don't know what you're trying to insinuate." Alice said, though she knew very well what Rose was insinuating. "I couldn't very well tell him he couldn't come. I invited all the staff. I wasn't going to not invite Emmett just because you don't like him. He would feel left out."

Rose turned around to face Alice. "You know it's not that I don't like him, Alice."

"Really? You certainly could have fooled me." Alice was having trouble not smiling now. "How do you feel about him?"

Angela, smarter than Rose had given her credit for, knew where this conversation was going and interrupted. "So are you and Dr. Whitlock…together?" she asked.

Rose shot her a look of gratitude. She had picked probably the only subject that could distract Alice from garnering the information she wanted.

"Oh, no. Well, not yet anyways." Alice replied.

Rose explained. "Alice has had a crush on Dr. Whitlock since she first set eyes on him, and has been working up to asking him out for the last six months."

"I told you I was waiting for the right time."

"Really? And what made you decide that today was the right time?" Rose asked.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't decide these things. I just know them. And speaking of the right time…" Alice's attention was focused on the entrance where Dr. Whitlock had just walked in. "Sidebar over," she declared, and bounced away to greet him.

Rose and Angela headed back to the table. "Nice to see you out in the real world Dr. Whitlock," Rose said.

"Please call me Jasper. And thanks. I needed a break."

Alice didn't waste a second. As soon as the niceties were out of the way, she dove straight into monopolizing Jasper's attention. Mike and Eric dragged Angela to the dance floor before she even sat down, forcing her to dance between them to Journey. For the third time that day, Rose and Emmett were left together, as good as alone, as the party had broken off into an awkward triple date. Rose wondered at the strange forces that were bringing this sequence of events about.

"So…" Emmett turned his body towards Rose and placed his arm on top of the booth behind her head. His smile was a large as the Cheshire cat, and he would have looked equally mischievous if it weren't for those mind-numbingly adorable dimples.

It was difficult keeping her sense about her with this sort of proximity. In her mind she was shoving him back against the end of the booth, straddling him in a way that was incredibly inappropriate for the public. In reality she sat still, carefully regulating her breath in attempts to control her pulse.

"So…?" she prompted.

As Emmett seemed to be considering what he was about to say, her thoughts became a complicated mixture of: concern over what topic Emmett was so hesitant to broach, her delusional fantasy induced by out of control hormones, and berating herself because she was a taken woman.

"About this morning…" He hesitated again, testing the water.

Rose arched an eyebrow casually, but her body tensed. Their almost-kiss was very fresh on her mind. "What about it?"

"I want to say I'm sorry – "

"Good," Rose interrupted, on the offense.

"….but I'm not."

Her breath caught in her throat. Rose was tired; tired from work, tired from holding back her feelings, but most of all, tired of lying to herself. There was enough weighing against her, what with her marrying Royce for financial stability rather than love.

"I'm nearly married, Emmett," she said quietly, her emotional wall crumbling around her. The words burned her heart and literally hurt to say, but by being honest, she felt she at least had some self-respect.

"I know. But you don't have to be…"

"I can't. I just…I can't do this. It's too much." Rose looked imploringly into his eyes. "There's just too much Emmett, too much to lose. I have to take care of Bella. She's all I have, and I'm all she has."

Silence filled the space between them for a long moment before Emmett spoke again. "She's not all you have," he said with more sincerity than Rose knew any one person was capable of.

Such a simple statement. And it nearly broke Rose completely.

Mike and Eric had chosen that moment to drag Angela back to the table, interrupting the now palpable silence between Rose and Emmett. Alice and Jasper were too deep in conversation to notice and Rose, looking for an excuse to break away, stood up to let them in.

"Rose?" Angela asked. "Would you come with me to get a drink?"

Rose was grateful for Angela's perceptive nature and agreed.

"That's twice tonight you've saved me. Thanks," Rose said once they were at the bar.

Angela smiled. "You saved me from Mike and Eric. I figured I owed you one."

"The idiot twins can be a lot to handle," Rose admitted, laughing stiffly. "They don't know how close they've come to finding themselves locked in a padded cell in straight jackets."

Angela and Rose were smiling when Ben came up to take their drink order. Rose was used to all attention being on her, so she noticed it when Ben smiled goofily at Angela, ignoring her completely.

"What can I get for you?" he asked, looking directly at Angela.

"Rose?" Angela asked.

"Actually, I think I'm going to head home," Rose said. She had the feeling that Angela would be able to handle herself for the rest of the night.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow, right?"

"Of course," Angela responded, surprised that it was even a question.

"Have a nice night." Rose gave Angela a brief hug, pleased that there may be hope for Angela yet.

As she gathered her things from the now empty booth, Billie Holiday played. It was Rose's favorite song, "The Very Thought of You." She knew without looking that Emmett would be standing by the juke box, watching her back as she left, and as much as she wanted to turn around, she left The Lodge without saying goodbye.

The tree-lined street back to her house was quiet, most people settling in for the night. It was barely past 8pm, nearly two hours before she told Royce she was going to be home. Rose pulled into the driveway behind his car, noticing that the lights in the house were on, but dimmed, and although it was muffled, she could hear music.

As she walked through the front door into the living room, she gasped and dropped her purse. The contents spilled out onto the floor.


End a/n: Play my favorite song on the juke box.