Chapter 4

Cullen's pulse thundered as he ran up the cement steps. He reached the hallway and stared at the doors. Which one? He moved carefully, forcing is body to slow down as he leaned in to the first door. Nothing. The second, a TV. He pressed against the third door and heard a man's voice. Then the sound of flesh hitting flesh. Bingo.

Taking a deep breath, he backed away and then rammed into the door. It splintered and he burst through. It took only an instant for him to assess the situation.

Bella was standing in the one bedroom apartment. Her mouth was busted open. Her hair a ragged mess. But she was standing. The Davis and Johnson were before her, trapping her against the kitchen counter, a united front, he realized with a twist of his mouth. They apparently hadn't figured he would still be around after the incident in the hostel. Their mistake. He searched for the last piece of the puzzle. By the window he exhaled in relief. The kid looked fine siting in the playpen thing.

After he was in command of the situation, his mind flew rapidly.

They were still too close to Bella and he felt rage ignite while seeing her face.

"Gentlemen." Cullen straightened.

Johnson's weathered face tightened. "You again? What is it with you?"

Cullen shrugged lightly, stepping closer. "I suppose I just don't have the same stomach for watching a woman being beaten to death. Doesn't quite hit the spot, y'know?"

Davis rolled his head, cracking his neck. Cullen grinned inwardly. Prepping wouldn't make a difference.

"Weren't gonna kill her," Johnson assured him. "Just trying to get what we need."

"I agree," Cullen commented mildly. "From the looks of this place, if you hit her hard enough, then she'll give it up. Clearly she's just hiding it." His tone was light, but the words were hard hitting, sinking in his gut. What had he been thinking leaving her alone?

He purposely was not looking at Bella as he tried to draw them off of her. He couldn't afford to lose his focus.

Davis smiled. "You'd be amazed what a person can do with the right … encouragement." He rubbed at his ring and Cullen realized he was wiping blood off of it. Cullen tried to restrain a snarl of anger.

"Let's test that theory then?" Cullen suggested politely before launching himself at them. It was a flurry of movement as he first struck Johnson in a swift uppercut and then deflected most of Davis' blow. Johnson stumbled backward and Cullen registered a clanging sound. Sparing a glance, he saw Johnson lying unconscious on the floor and Bella holding a toaster.

The lack of attention cost him as Davis' fist smashed into his eye. It hurt like hell, but he'd faced worse. Much worse. So he recollected himself and swiftly slammed into Davis, barreling him into the wall. He knocked the man's head back, practically hearing the sound of Davis' brain hitting against his skull. He hopped it did permanent damage.

Without regard for anything other than erasing the feelings of fear, and panic he'd experienced running into the apartment building—thinking he might have been too late—Cullen released his violent emotions as he pounded into the man. Cullen's returning fists were the only thing holding the man against the wall.

"Cullen." The voice was small, and he turned, letting Davis slump to the floor. Her voice matched the horror glazed in her eyes. "That's enough."

He looked down calmly at his busted and bloodied hands.

"We need to leave." He watched her walk over and grab the kid. He muttered a curse as he saw the kid's wide eyes locked on him. He hadn't wanted the kid to see. But what had been his options?

Bella avoided his eyes as she picked up a duffel bag and two suitcases. "Will you help me? I'll only take what I need."

Cullen sighed and leaned down. "We'll have to hurry. The cops will be here soon."

A wry look passed her face as she opened a dresser drawer and dumped children's clothing in the suitcase. "We have a little time."

Clearly police intervention was a regular occurrence in this place. His frown deepened. "What do you want to take?"

She motioned to the bathroom. "Can you grab the medicine in the cabinet?" She shot a nervous look at the two prone figures.

"Don't worry," Cullen assured her gruffly, flexing his hands, "they'll be out for a while."

He was back in a flash, watching her open the last drawer and pull out a couple of tops, a pair of jeans, and underwear. He politely averted his gaze, trying not think about how the sight left him slightly aroused. Now was definitely not the time.

There wasn't a time, he corrected himself.

The kid was still staring at him. "Go trip?" She asked finally, cocking her head.

"Yeah," he tried to soften his tone. "You're going on a trip."

She laughed and he shook his head. That kid. Bouncing laughter didn't have any place in this situation, but he felt like they both would have been lost without it. Bella caught his eye.

"Thank you," she murmured suddenly, looking ashamed.

"It's nothing, let's just focus on getting out of here. What else?"

She sighed and looked around frantically. "Medicine, clothes, purse …" She grabbed the few picture frames she had and shoved them into her duffel along with a tiny chest and a worn photo album. She threw in some stuffed animals that had been loved for a long time by the looks of them and zipped shut the two small cases. The duffel was only half full.

It sickened him to see how little she actually had. Wrapping Jilly up, coat and all, in a huge colorful quilt, she picked up the duffel. Cullen grabbed the cases.

"Ready?" he watched her cautiously as she turned and surveyed the apartment. She was clearly emotional. He hoped she didn't cry and tightened his grip on the suitcase. He hated it when women cried.

"Ready," she tossed him a wobbly smile. He was relieved when it held. He opened the door and looked out for a long moment before nodding. Motioning for her to follow him, he stepped out and realized that she wasn't behind him.

Cullen turned back, giving her a look.

She was standing in the doorway. "I just forgot," she motioned above her.

What, the spare key? He thought it was strange, but obliged and reached up, running a hand on the runner above the door. He brushed metal, but it wasn't a key.

He pulled it down, handing it to her. "A penny?" He questioned.

She zipped it in her purse pocket and hurried past him. He had to race to catch up to her. Stupid. He was pretty sure Johnson and Davis had been it this time, but you could never know.

They were almost to the stairs when the first apartment door opened and an elderly man's head popped out.

"Okay Isabella?" The man questioned, concern creating more wrinkles in his face.

"We're fine Mr. Hamilton."

He looked down at the bags. "Going on a trip?"

Bella smiled softly and she could feel his eyes on her lip and face. "Take care."

"You too," Mr. Hamilton watched with worried eyes as they left down the stairwell.

Outside, Edward threw the stuff in the car and then jumped into the driver's seat, slamming the door.

What in the hell was he going to do? He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, trying to drain his turbulent thoughts.

Sirens grew louder in the background.

"Cullen," Bella's voice urged. "Cullen, we have to go."

Snapping out of it, he put the Land Rover in drive and shot off. He glanced at Bella holding Jilly and knew at least what he was going to do first. He hit the interstate and got off on the exit for the first suburb. Bella looked at him questioningly, but didn't say anything. Jilly's chatter was a soothing background and whenever she would ask something he knew, he would absently supply the answer.

He pulled into the Walmart parking lot and turned to her. "This is going to be in and out, but first," he reached and pulled her hair out of the ponytail (what remained of it) an wiped away at the tear tracks on her face.

All the while during his motions, he didn't believe Bella breathed once. He tried not to concentrate on how good she smelled like Johnson's Baby soap, or like flowers. Focus. He couldn't pay attention to how soft her skin felt either.

He stared down at her swollen arm and looked at her split lip and blackening eye. He gingerly touched his own. Well, he thought grimly, there was no helping for that.

She followed him in through the sliding doors and felt the warmth hit them like a blanket.

"What are you doing?" She questioned him softly.

"Hell if I know," he muttered, shooting her a look. He really would like to know. He wasn't the guy who flew without a plan. He was known as the setter. He set everything out and then set it in motion. So what was he going to do?

"I meant," she added with a sharper frustrated tone, "what are we getting here?" She watched his determined stride. He didn't bother getting a cart.

He forced himself to slow down as she struggled to take two steps for his one.

He felt the stares from the college kids in their pajamas as they made their way past frozen foods. He checked his watch, seeing his bloody knuckles again. Hell.

They just needed to hurry this up. He pulled his coat sleeves down over his hands as much as possible. It was one in the morning and they were lucky there weren't more people around. He headed to the baby area and went right to the car seats. He stopped in the tucked away isle and turned to Bella.

"Pick one out." He motioned to the row. She blinked.

"Cullen, those are really expensive, I—"

"My Visa will survive, just pick out a good one," he commented gruffly. If the kid was going to ride in his car, then it would damn well be safe.

She didn't protest and he figured it was because she knew he was right and because it was for the kid. He watched her examine them cautiously, balancing the kid. With a sigh, he pulled the purple writhing mass away from her. She looked nervous but let him take her.

The kid looked at him with gray eyes. It looked like a doll almost. "Getting fhings?" She asked, boring into his eyes. That stare …

"Yep," he answered shortly and bounced her. His hands felt too big. He tried to hold her lightly, but she just kept squirming.

"Down, down, down," she chanted, trying to get down.

"Whoa," he held her, refusing to let her go. "You can't get down yet."

"Down," she pouted. Her bottom lip stuck out and it looked like he was in for a big one.

"Hey, hey," he tried to sooth awkwardly, "going on a trip, remember?"

"Trip?" The pout miraculously disappeared. He felt Bella's eyes on him before she quickly pulled down a seat, wincing at her hand.

He held out the kid. "Here, trade." They switched and he grasped the car seat. They went into the women's clothing section and Bella balked as he set the seat down.

"Cullen," she issued warningly. He ignored her warning and browsed a coat rack. He eyed her briefly. Her face burned.

"What? A medium? I don't know …" He held up a gray coat.

"Cullen, I don't need anything," she stressed.

He took the kid out of her arms and thrust the coat at her. "Try it on." He tone was firm and brooked no argument. That tone had gotten a lot of results for him in the past. And even though she stared mulishly at him for a moment, she took the coat and slipped it on. It would do.

Taking it off, she handed it to him.

"I really think—" she broke off as he handed her back the kid. "Cullen—"

"We're getting it. You need a coat." He spoke shortly. It was too ridiculous to argue further. She fell quiet and followed him into the medical aisle. He observed the shelf quickly and selected a wrist brace. He picked that up and shuffled the things in his arms, holding onto the car seat box, the coat, and the brace.

"Let's go."

They walked to the registers and Bella caught the kid's hand as she reached out to grab one of those animal pillow things.

"Pretty," she crooned.

"Jilly, no." Bella said, slightly exasperated. "I have to take her to the bathroom really quick. I'll meet you when you're done."

Edward wasn't used to children's bathroom breaks. He was still coming out of the whole going to the bathroom was a "privilege and not a right," mind frame.

"Okay, I'll be right outside." He stepped into the line, but she hesitated.

"Okay, and Cullen?" He quirked a look at her. "Thanks, for everything. I really appreciate this."

He watched her walk away. Turning around, he looked through the animal pillows and found the most girly one there. It was a pink and purple horse—sort of—and he placed the items on the belt. At the last minute, he threw a couple of candy bars on the belt too. He ignored the cashier's wide eyes at his swollen eye and hands and paid swiftly for the items. He took the box and bag and waited outside the bathroom until Bella emerged.

She'd fixed her hair even more and looked a little better. But nothing was going to hide the black eye, swollen cheekbone, or busted lip. He wished he had murdered Davis looking over her again.

He pulled the tags off of the coat and held the kid while she pulled it on wordlessly. He felt a strange satisfaction when the left the store knowing that she was warm. It was what anyone would feel, he assured himself.

Bella and the kid sat in the car while he struggled to hook up the seat in the snow. She tossed him directions, though he was dubious of the helpfulness—but she tried. Bella had less experience with car seats than he did it seemed. A city girl through and through.

Finally, Bella jumped out and carefully buckled the kid in. Cullen set the other bag down and handed her the brace. "Put it on," he mumbled and shut the back door carefully and hopped in the driver's seat. Realizing he'd forgotten, he reached back and dug in the bag, grabbing the pillow thing. He handed it to the kid, who squealed in delight.

"Unicorn!"

Bella looked at him. "You didn't have to …"

He shrugged and pulled out of the parking lot. "I didn't say I did."

He was starving and looking at Bella, he figured she had to be too. He hadn't seen her eat anything other than a sandwich in between jobs and with all of the stress …. She needed to eat. It was almost two now and when he saw the golden arches he pulled in.

"What do you want?" He asked after telling the voice box to give them a minute.

"Get the kid's meal, chicken nuggets, sprite." She added as an afterthought, "girl toy." He looked back and could see the kid had perked up at the sound of toy.

"What about you?"

"I'm fine." Now she was just being petulant. He didn't understand why she had to be difficult and couldn't just let him help her.

"What do you want? Because I'm getting you something."

She bit her lip and he felt his body respond. Stop it, he warned himself.

"Just get me a fish sandwich, no tartar sauce."

He turned and rolled down the window again. "Yeah, I'm going to need the kids chicken nugget happy meal, girl toy with a sprite. And two large fries. And two fish sandwiches, one no tartar. And give me a large chocolate milkshake too."

"Cullen …" She sighed as he pulled around, paid, and grabbed the bags. He pulled off to the side of the parking lot and handed the kid the happy meal. More squeals. He decided the noise was kind of pleasant actually. Then he handed her the milkshake and took out his fries and sandwich.

"We all need a treat tonight," he said grimly and crunched on a fry. He ate his quickly and pulled out back onto the interstate. The kid was happily crunching through her "fry guys" and Bella was sucking down the milkshake like no one's business. A warm feeling settled in his gut. It had felt good to take care of them. To make them happy. To protect them.

But he needed to keep in mind that they weren't his. They were being hunted now and his actions could be all the difference. Besides … he started to lie to himself, but realized it was futile. He cared about them and for as long as he could, he would take care of them. But when it was time, he added darkly, he would let them go. He might be good for them now, but he wouldn't be good for them forever.

"Where are we headed?" Bella asked, putting down the drink in the cup holder.

Cullen watched as exit signs flashed by them. "Somewhere safe."

With the windshield wipers beating softly against the snow in the dark night, they disappeared from Boston.

A/N: Whew! This was a long one. But it was really fun to write an I hope you enjoyed reading it! Reviews are highly encouraged, they definitely motivate me in lots of good ways, so feel free to leave a comment telling me what you thought! Thanks for reading!