Chapter 4: Feeling Protected

After staying a week with Charlie, Rosalie went back to Seattle. That next Saturday, she arrived at the auto shop to see Emmett leaning against the doorway. "Showing up today?" he asked.

"Sorry," she answered.

He saw that her eyes had dark circles. "You okay?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm fine, even if I wasn't I wouldn't be talking about it to you," she answered.

He held his hands up in the surrender position. "Sorry babe," he told her.

"Don't call me that!" she snapped.

"Alright fine, the guy in spot 3 has been waiting for about a half hour, how about starting on his car?" he asked.

"Fine," she answered.

Tying her hair back into a ponytail, she walked over to the car.

After what felt like forever, instead of going the four hours as agreed, she didn't stop until Emmett finally had to walk over to her. "Hey Rosalie right?" he asked.

"That would be my name," she answered.

"Well the shop's closing now," he told her.

Looking at the clock, she cursed under her breath. "I'm late," she muttered. Washing the grease off her hands, she looked at Emmett.

"Where's your car at?" he asked.

"Down at the end of the parking lot," she replied.

"I could walk you there if you'd like," he suggested.

"No thank you," she answered throwing one of the rags into the pile.

"Alright, see you tomorrow then," he told her.

She grabbed her keys off the hook and left the shop.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Rosalie walked over to her car when she realized she had left her purse inside the shop. "Dammit," she cursed.

"Hey girlie, trying to show us guys up at the shop?" a voice sneered.

Turning around, she let out a gasp to see three men there. "I made an agreement with the boss. I'm just trying to do my job, now if you let me by please I need to get my purse," she told them trying to bypass them. She stumbled when one shoved her back against her car.

"You're not going anywhere. A woman doing a man's job and actually thinking she does it better than us," the first one commented.

Rosalie glared at them. "Greg just leave her alone dude," the second person insisted.

"Stop being such a pansy Dave," Greg answered.

Rosalie really wished she had her purse, suddenly remembering that the pepper spray Charlie gave her was in the bottom. "Let me pass," she ordered trying once again to leave. Greg grabbed her around her waist. "Let go!" she snapped struggling.

"Ooh a feisty one I like that," he commented while the third person laughed.

"Let go! Let me go!" she hissed clawing at his hands.

"Hey Carl grab her legs we'll teach this bitch a lesson," he commented.

Rosalie went to scream when Greg covered her mouth. He pinned her arms down with his other arm while Carl grabbed her legs. She screamed behind his hand biting his hand. "Ah you bitch!" he snapped punching her in the cheek. Her world spun and they dropped her down on the ground. Greg grinned as he straddled her waist.

"No! No! Please don't," she sobbed trying to push him off her.

"Show you what women are only good for," he told her.

Carl pinned her arms down on the ground as Greg pushed Rosalie's shirt up. "NO!" she screamed. Before Greg could do anything else, someone grabbed him in a headlock, yanking him off Rosalie. Emmett threw Greg down on the ground. Just as the guy got off the ground trying to attack Emmett, the larger man raised his fist, nailing him in the jaw. He grabbed Carl by his arm, throwing him onto his back, knocking the wind out of him.

"Want to try again?" Emmett snapped angrily.

"You seriously are defending this job wrecking hoe?" Greg asked wiping the blood from his lip.

"She actually does work unlike you guys, get out, you can pick up your last paychecks tomorrow," he snapped.

He walked over to Rosalie, helping her up from the ground. "You okay?" he asked. She nodded sniffling.

"Yes, I'm fine," she answered.

Emmett checked her arms when she pulled her arms away. "I said I'm fine," she told him. Sighing, he walked over, picking up her purse that he had dropped on the ground when he saw the guys attacking her.

"You left this in my office," he told her.

Taking the purse from him, she sniffled wiping a stray tear from her face. "I'll see you tomorrow," he told her. Biting her lower lip, she looked up as he walked over to his truck.

"Emmett," she called.

He stopped looking at her as she walked over to him. "Thank you," she told him quietly. Emmett nodded.

"You're very welcome," he answered.

Climbing into his truck, he tried to start it up, but the engine wouldn't turn over. "Damn thing," he muttered hitting the steering wheel.

"I could give you a ride if you want, but I need to stop somewhere first," she informed.

Glancing over at her, he got out of his truck. "Sure," he answered, stuffing his keys in his pocket. They walked over to her car, climbing in. She started up her car, driving out of the parking lot.

As she drove, the car ride was extremely silent. "So…where do we have to stop?" he asked.

"I have to stop at my babysitter's house," she replied.

She let out a sigh as she turned another corner. "I'm extremely late and she's probably madder than hell now," she muttered.

"Well you had a reason," he commented.

"Yeah well, hopefully I have enough to pay her for the all day babysitting she did for me," she answered.

Her arms and cheek were starting to throb from the earlier attack, but she refused to show that she was in pain. Pulling up to a small one-story house, she got out of the car. "Just wait here," she told him.

"I have nowhere special to go," he answered.

Closing the door to her car, she walked up to the front door knocking. The door opened and the babysitter came out. "Rosalie what happened?" she gasped, the anger that was on her face dissipated when she saw the bruise on Rosalie's cheek.

"Long story, sorry for the wait Samantha," she answered.

"It's alright, she was an angel today," Samantha told her.

Rosalie smiled to see Maggie sleeping in her carrier. "Hey there sweetheart," she cooed at her baby. She reached into her purse. "Here I'll give you $50 for watching her for so long," she informed. Samantha nodded as she followed Rosalie out of the house.

Opening the back of the car, Rosalie put Maggie's carrier in the back. "Okay so same time tomorrow?" she asked.

"Rosalie I can't, I couldn't get out of my job at the store, and I really tried. I left you voicemail messages on your phone about it," Samantha replied.

Rosalie sighed, pushing her hair from her eyes. "Yeah this night just keeps getting better. That's fine Sam, I'll just find someone else to watch her," she assured her. Samantha nodded.

"I'm really sorry," the young girl put in.

Nodding in understanding, Rosalie hugged her gently before watching her run back inside. Closing her eyes, Rosalie got into the car, driving off again without glancing at Emmett.

After a few minutes, Rosalie sighed. "How do we get to your place?" she asked.

"She yours?" Emmett asked as he looked at the baby who was now wide-awake.

"Yes she's mine, where do I go to get to your house?" she asked.

"Turn left at these lights here," Emmett replied.

He turned around looking at Maggie. "Hey there," he told the baby smiling. Maggie gurgled kicking her feet. Emmett saw the rattle hanging above her carrier and gently shook the toy in front of the now giggling baby. "What's her name?" he asked.

"Maggie, now where?" she asked.

"Just keep driving straight for a couple of blocks," he replied not even glancing at the road.

"How do you know? You're not even looking," she commented.

"I have driven this way for the last four years. I think I know my way back to my own house like I know the back of my hand," he answered.

Maggie gurgled reaching for the rattle. "How old is she?" he asked.

"Three and a half months" she replied.

Emmett started making faces at the giggling baby. "Now where?" she asked.

"Just keep driving until the next stop sign then turn left, keep driving and then you'll see a two-story house with a gate in front of the house," he replied.

They pulled up to the house and Emmett climbed out of the car. "Where's your place?" he asked.

"On the other side of town," she replied with a sigh.

Glancing at the clock on her radio, he sighed. "How about you and Maggie just spend the night here? It's too late for you to go back home," he suggested.

"Thanks but no thanks, I doubt you'll have a baby crib in there," she commented.

"I can surprise you come on," he told her.

She gave him a quizzical look as she got out of the car, getting Maggie out of the backseat. Unlocking the door to the house, Emmett opened the door, letting her go in first. Turning on the light, Rosalie looked around. "Wow," she commented.

"Yep, nice place isn't it?" he asked, tossing his keys on the table.

"Still doesn't help with the crib factor. I'm not going to let my baby sleep in her carrier all night," she answered.

Emmett laughed as he walked upstairs. "My cousin on my dad's side came by to visit once!" he called from upstairs. Walking back down he had a bassinet in his hands. "Okay it's blue, but I don't think she'll notice," he quipped putting the bassinet in front of her. Rosalie stared in disbelief.

"You are full of surprises," she commented as she held Maggie.

She placed her daughter into the bassinet and the baby looked around curiously. "I can move you two into the guest room right there if you like," he suggested.

"You really, really don't have to…" she started.

"Rosalie, I want to," he told her interrupting her.

They noticed that they were standing close together, making him step back clearing his throat. "I'm going to get some cream to put on your bruises," he told her. She sat down on the couch, looking at the bruises on her arms.

Tears welled up in Rosalie's eyes as the same nightmares she had before were rushing through her mind. Emmett walked over, kneeling in front of her. "Alright…" he murmured.

"Bruise remedies?" she asked laughing a little.

"Doctor's son, you learn a few things," he replied smiling a little.

She blushed a little at his smile. "That should do it," he said with a smile.

"Thanks," she answered.

Emmett nodded. "Get some rest," he told her. He placed a t-shirt next to her.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

Rosalie smiled a little, watching him leave. She took the bassinet into the bedroom lying on the bed while looking at her sleeping daughter. Letting out a deep breath, closing her eyes as she fell into a restless, dreamless sleep.