Wow so many reviews, thanks to my amazing beta texasbella for making my work readable..Is that even a word?

Well I am blown away by how many are sticking with me i was afraid of tackling a slash that still even at chapter 4 has had no Lemons.

EPOV

Lost?

Erm...yeah

I couldn't believe my luck; I knew it was early, I was hoping to catch him before he went into work.

Thoughts of talking to him again today had kept me calm...before the mugging, that is.

Do you think you could tell me your real name today Lost?

He was asking more personal questions, making my hands shake as my fingers ghosted the keys. Why did he want to know? Wasn't he supposed to just chat and say everything was fine, that things would work out blah blah blah blah …

Shaking myself and mentally chastising myself, I knew the doc wasn't like that. He didn't tell me everything would be peachy. He seemed to have a connection with me.

Edward

There I did it; he knew my name and a wave of comfort fell over me. Weird.

Hi Edward, thank you for telling me your name...how old are you?

More questions...

Why?

Why what, Edward?

Why does he want to know my name…how old I am, is he going to turn me in...can I trust anyone?

Why do you want to know my age, are you going to call the cops?

No Edward, if you really must know, I have to fill in boring ass paperwork for every person I talk to :)

Haha, he used a smiley, and I'd bet my last $20 that's it's the first time. Do you really use a smiley on a suicide chat line? I laughed softly, thinking of an old man crouching over mountains of paperwork; maybe I should give him a break.

Oh

I'm guessing you are using a library computer?

He was clever; he was piecing together parts I was unwilling to divulge.

Yeah

Edward?

Yeah

Have you eaten today?

Okay, kind of a stupid question...what am I supposed to answer? Then my teenage humour kicked in.

Yes, I had a can of strawberries for my breakfast, just to get me through to the filet mignon I was saving for lunch.

19?

Huh? Oh yes, he was clever, he's probably around teenagers a lot being a doc and he knows from my humour that I'm on the young side.

Try again

18?

Try again

Is he going to start going all parental on me when he realizes just how old I am?

17?

Dammit...what do I say?

Edward?

I sighed. I might as well come clean, if he tries anything, I can just disappear.

Yes, Doc I'm 17

Where did you sleep last night?

The park

Is that safe?

I'm still here...I sighed again.

I'm glad you're still here.

Why would he say that? He doesn't know me, I'm poison...I destroy life.

I'm not, a kid got mugged on the fort above me last night by some guys, he pissed himself and it ran through the wood near my feet, maybe I should have helped, maybe they'd have beaten me, save me the trouble of...

Edward, are you still thinking you should die, are you thinking of hurting yourself?

Thinking?

I looked down at the fresh scars. They had an angry red tinge to them that made them stand out from the older ones.

Edward, what did you do to yourself? You can tell me, I promise not to judge.

I'm not ready to answer that, I have to keep something to myself, besides he will see me as a coward. Mom and Dad always said I could tell them anything and look where that got me.

Edward, please I want to help you.

Why?

Because you're lost and scared and you shouldn't feel like this, being gay isn't a crime, it's just who you are.

I'm scared.

My hands were trembling now, and I could feel the moisture building up in my eyes. I'm so scared, I don't want to go back to the park, I don't want to be alone but I know it's what I deserve…I'm poison.

I know you are, please Edward, let me help you.

His words sounded so sincere, lulling me into a false sense of security but at that moment it was what I need.

Okay what do you want to know?

How long have you been on the streets Edward?

Okay, this is an easy one.

3 days

How have you been feeding yourself?

The hair on the back of my neck prickled. He thinks I'm stealing food. I was brought up better than that.

Well I've not been stealing if that's what you think?

I didn't think that. I'm sorry Edward.

S'okay I had some money saved up so I have been buying the spoilt stuff in convenience stores.

How are you feeling today?

Well if this isn't the dumbest question ever!

Peachy!

You said you had been thinking of hurting yourself, have you?

Not ready...

Please Edward, I want to help you.

Why?

What is it with him wanting to help me?

What's the point of accepting his help, only to be thrown away again or abandoned like a puppy after Christmas?

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my anxiety in check. Rubbing my face with my hands, I was about to take a leap of faith...when I heard a commotion in the library entrance.

"Fuck," I whimpered as a sea of students swarmed towards the IT section, of all the libraries they had to come into this one.

I could see Tyler and his friend Jared walking towards me, my form tutor was talking to a group of giggling girls.

I logged off without another thought and disappeared behind the fiction section.

When I could hear only the dull sound of voices I slipped out. What was I going to do with the rest of my day?

I decided to sit and wait for the students to leave, their next lesson was in an hour and forty-five minutes, then I'd be able to go back in.

My stomach growled and although I'd just had the strawberries, I was hungry. Pulling out the rest of my bread, I noticed it was now beginning to mold.

I shrugged and plastered it with the last of my peanut butter which, too, had begun to spoil.

Taking small bites, I could feel my stomach heave as the smell of iron hit my senses; the peanut butter was definitely off. I lunged to the nearest bush and vomited, my strawberries making an appearance too, as I heaved until only bile was left.

Sobbing, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. I needed a breath mint.

The convenience store was only a block away from the library. I sifted through the spoilt goods, once more filling my arms with more unlabelled cans. These would last me longer and not spoil, turning towards the cash counter, I froze.

"Hello, Mrs Cullen, how are you this fine day?" the cashier said to the woman in front of him.

Stood not five foot away from me was my Momma. What the hell do I do?

"Great, thank you for asking," my mom said jovially.

Wait, what? It's only been three days since my father's death and she's fine?

I took an intake of breath,she was about to turn when I dropped everything and made a run for it.

I didn't stop until I was back outside the library, my eyes were streaming and I was shaking as I entered my sanctuary, my class had now gone and I made my way to the computers.

Carlisle?

Seeing as we were now on first name basis, I typed in his, it's an unusual name.

...

Where is he?

Doc?

My heart was now pounding in my chest and I felt faint as it occurred to me that he'd probably gone to work.

Hello?

Yes!

Doc?

Erm…no this is Alice, Carlisle has a day off today, can I help?

No, no, no…no one can help, I want to talk to him, to Carlisle.

No, I need him, I can't talk to anyone else.

I typed frantically; bile was beginning to rise again as my hands shook violently.

Oh sweetie, you can talk to anyone, we are all here to help.

I shook my head, chanting 'no' and a few people shushed me. I was going to throw up again.

I quickly logged off and dashed into the cool air, I was hungry and scared and I needed to get back to the park.

I have no idea how long it took me to get to my place, I don't remember one footstep I took.

I curled up into a ball, attempting to keep what little body heat I have in me. I was freezing yet my head felt as though it was on fire.

Maybe I'm sick?

Maybe tonight my prayers will be answered?

Maybe tonight I'll die!

"Edward?" I heard a faint male voice.

"Edward?"

Shit, maybe it's the cops. The shop owner could have called them thinking I had stolen something.

I reached into my duffle bag and fumbled round for my Swiss army knife, I couldn't find it.

"Lost?"

I stilled. Wait, what did he just call me? There is only one person who would call me that. Am I dreaming?

I moved from my hiding place under the fort to see a dark figure standing in front of me. I can't make out any features but the smell of burgers and fries hits my nose, and my stomach growls.

"Lost?"

"Doc?"

"Edward?"

"Doc?"

I realized I hadn't said anything else and chuckled. "Yeah, it's me."

"What are you doing here, how did you find me?"

"I came to get you."

"Get me?"

He's here for me...but why?

"Yeah, I want to take you away from this, take you somewhere you'll be safe."

I stepped forward and I could see his face a little better. He didn't look as old as I thought he was. His face had a pained expression and I knew he was waiting for me to make the first move. But I couldn't...I was warring with myself...do I really deserve to be saved?

"Trust me," he whispered, holding out a hand towards me.

And I did. I don't know why, but I took his hand and he suddenly pulled me into him, enveloping me in a scent of food and him and for a moment I am Lost!

"I found you," he sobbed into my hair.

"How?"

He pushed me back slightly as if assessing me for injuries, "It wasn't easy, but the old lady at the library said she had seen a young'un and for some reason I knew it was you."

"Why?"

He shook his head, "Not here, let's go eat somewhere. These burgers will taste like crap as they're nearly cold."

"Seriously, you're complaining that they're cold when I haven't eaten in hours?" I scoffed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

I held my hand up to stop him. "Don't worry Doc, it's cool."

He handed me the burgers and though I was starving, he's right, they do taste like crap. I turned up my nose as I tried to chew them down with a dry mouth and he laughed.

"Crap?"

I chuckled and nodded. "Crap." I threw them in the nearest trash can and walked beside him. As we were leaving the park I heard a voice call out to me.

"Hey kid, make sure he pays you first."

And I froze. Is this what he wants to save me for, so he can...have me?

Carlisle immediately caught on and his face became pained again, his eyebrows knitting together.

"I promise you, Edward, I will never touch you like that." His voice was dark; like he was completely devastated I would think that of him.

And I felt as guilty as hell. "I'm sorry," I whispered.

"It's okay, you don't really know me." I saw a smile form on his lips.

"Where are we going?"

He turned to look at me again. "I want to take you to my home, Edward. I have more than enough room, its safe there and you will be fed and then maybe we can work on helping you?"

I shrugged. If he's good, then I'm saved. If he's really a jerk, then I get what I deserve, it's a win-win for me.

I nodded then fell into step with him. We ate at a diner, well, I inhaled my food as he smiles and picks at his.

"I'm sorry, I usually have very good table manners," I mumbled, chewing on my third helping of hot apple pie.

"No need to apologize Edward, like I said before, I've been where you are."

His eyes looked distant, and I don't push. But one day I will ask him for his story just as I know he is going to ask for mine.

He led me to his car and he's quiet, thoughtful.

The silence was comforting, and along with the heat from the car and the fullness of my stomach, I was soon doing the slow blink. I turned to him and smiled. He was actually very handsome, dark hair that stood on end a little and deep brown eyes, my thoughts were interrupted as he glanced from the road for a second and smiled back.

Maybe I do deserve to be saved...

CPOV

I took the time to really look at Edward as he inhaled his food, sat across from me in the diner. He was pale and had dark circles round his eyes.

The old lady was right, his hair was the epitome of Autumn and his eyes, even though they had lost their spark, were an amazing shade of green.

"I'm sorry, I usually have very good table manners," he mumbled, chewing on his third helping of hot apple pie.

"No need to apologize Edward, like I said before, I've been where you are." I smiled as he licked the ice cream off his spoon.

We walked to my car, I couldn't believe someone would still do this nowadays, surely people were not as narrow minded as when I came out?

He smiled at me as we drove home, I could see his eyes growing heavy as he started to slow blink and before we were even half way home, he was asleep, his head turned towards the window.

His sleep became restless as we neared home. I could see small beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. Grasping the steering wheel with one hand, I slowly placed my free hand on his head, he was burning up.

Pulling into my driveway, I tried to rouse him. He was shivering now and I went into doctor mode.

"Edward...Edward, wake up son."

I gently shook his shoulder, but he didn't respond.

"Edward, son? Please, I must get you into the house."

Still no response. He was mumbling now and I feared he might start fitting if his temperature wasn't lowered soon.

Climbing out and opening the passenger door, I carried him bridal style to the house. Fumbling with the locks, I tossed my keys down as I carried him through the front door and to my guest room.

Placing him on the bed, I considered stripping him down, and then decide against it. He really wouldn't want to wake knowing he had been stripped by a virtual stranger, doctor or not.

I checked his temperature and it's high. I couldn't give him anything as I know nothing about him medically, any allergies or treatment he may already be on. So I opt for a tepid compress that I laid on his head.

I left him for a moment to shower and change into my sweats before I grabbed a spare blanket from the linen closet and settled down in the armchair facing the bed.

My eyes became heavy as I warmed up under the blanket.

I woke suddenly when I attempted to turn over and nearly fell from the chair. Glancing at my watch, I did a double take.

I had slept for nearly ten hours. I couldn't believe it, that's the longest sleep I have had in years.

Stretching out my legs I notice him, he's tucked up into a ball. Sometime during the night he must have woken because his hoodie and jeans were on the floor. His chest rose and fell slowly, his mouth forming a little O.

That was when my life changed, that was when I knew nothing would ever be the same again.