Chapter Nine

Edward

I heard and recognized Bella's screams from the other end of the corridor and cursed. I knew he would attack her given the opportunity, was I the only one with an ounce of sense? Leaving Rachel trailing in my wake I ran at full speed to her room only to see Jasper turn quickly from the bathroom door, as if afraid he might be caught in the act. Bella had managed to get in there and lock the door before he could get at her, smart girl, Bella.

"Get away Jasper. Leave her alone."

When he recognized me he straightened from his crouch,

"What the hell are you doing here?"

I couldn't believe his gall.

"Get away from that door, Jasper. Bella, it's OK it's me, Edward. You can come out now, no one will hurt you, he won't hurt you, I won't let him."

Jasper stared at me as if I'd lost my mind.

"What the hell are you talking about Edward? Are you mad?"

At that moment Rachel appeared looking mildly amused.

"What are you doing, Edward? Playing the white knight to your damsel in distress? Do you really think anyone would be stupid enough to kill the girl in her room in a busy hospital full of witnesses? You really are stupid sometimes."

She turned to Jasper then extending a beautifully manicured hand.

"Hello, we haven't been introduced, I'm Rachel, Edward's wife, and you must be Jasper, the black sheep of the family."

He merely stared at her hand, I could have told her he had no polish, no manners or gallantry but as I opened my mouth to speak we heard a small voice from behind the bathroom door.

Bella

When I heard the sounds of a scuffle outside I knew Jasper had come to save me and I slid down the door burying my head in my hands in a silent prayer of thanks. When I heard his voice I scooted away from the door and put my hand up to slide the bolt back, but hesitated when I heard another voice and then another, this one female from the tone of it.

"Bella, it's OK, you can unlock the door."

I still hesitated.

"Who's out there with you?"

I heard another voice, the one who called himself Edward. I recognized the name as one Esme had mentioned, it was her son, although I didn't recognize the voice itself.

"Bella, it's Edward. Do you remember me?"

"Go away. I'm not coming out until you go. Jasper, promise me you'll make him leave, please."

I heard Jasper tell the other man to get back outside and wait and then the door closed.

"It's only me in here now, Bella. Do you think you can open the door?"

I slid the bolt back with shaking fingers and opened the door just far enough to peer out. The room was empty except for Jasper standing in front of the other door so no one could get in.

He smiled reassuringly when he saw me and held his hand out to me.

"It's OK, Bella. You can come out now, we're alone, see."

I looked around then ran over to him and buried my face in his chest.

"They came for me, Jasper. I saw them."

He nodded,

"Yes, but they're gone now and they won't be coming back. Did you recognize either of them?"

I shook my head.

"No, but I never got a good look, I just screamed and ran to hide."

It took a few minutes for Bella to stop shaking but once she did she took a deep breath,

"Edward is Esme's son, isn't he? Why is he so interested in seeing me? And who was the woman I heard talking?"

He sighed.

"Edward was in your life a long time ago but I won't let him in if you don't want me to."

Jasper

I wasn't going to open that particular can of worms so I had avoided a full answer to Bella's question as I was actually thinking about the two men I had just killed. Who were they? What did they want? How had they found Bella? And, more importantly, how was I going to dispose of the bodies and keep Bella safe and ignorant of what I had just done?

Unfortunately, I needed to deal with Edward's presence first.

"I hate feeling like this, frightened of my own shadow, especially as I have no idea what or who I should be frightened of or why."

"It will come back to you in time. Carlisle says it's that bang on the head that's messed with your memory."

He also said that the drugs she had been taking could mean all this was a figment of her imagination but although until now I had nothing more than gut instinct to go on it was now certain that her fears were justified.

"I guess I should see him then but will you stay with me? I don't think I could face him alone."

She was so fragile and so scared, I just wanted to pick her up and run away with her, to keep her safe.

She looked at me,

"Will you sit with me?"

"Sure."

I picked her up and sat her gently on the bed then took my place on the chair beside her and clasped her hand in mine. I looked at her and she nodded but her eyes still looked haunted.

"You can come in now, Edward," I said in a low voice, knowing he'd still hear me.

The door opened and he walked slowly in, less sure of himself than usual especially when Bella looked at him and stiffened.

"I know you. You hurt me."

Rachel who had hovered in the background looking bored suddenly turned to Edward as if waiting for his reply to this accusation while I turned my attention to Bella shocked by that same accusation.

"What? When? Is he one of them?"

She glanced at me realizing what her words had me thinking and shook her head.

"No, not one of them, but he hurt me. I remember."

Edward hung his head as if ashamed although I doubted her words would register for long.

"Yes, Bella, I did hurt you a long time ago and I'm very sorry."

He moved forward and her breathing speeded up,

"Stay back, Edward," I warned.

He took another step and she started to tremble while Rachel sighed impatiently.

"For God's sake, Edward, listen to him."

"One more step and I'll rip your fucking head off."

He stopped, surprised by the tone of my voice more than anything and backed up a few steps. Looking uncertain now.

"I'm sorry Bella. Perhaps I should go."

She stared at him with a determined look on her face.

"Yes Edward, I think you should and I don't think you should come back… ever".

"Ouch! That must have stung."

He looked hurt by Bella's words and annoyed by his wife's amusement then nodded and turned away but when he reached the door he looked back,

"I am sorry Bella, truly. If there is anything I can do…"

"There is actually, Edward."

He looked at me startled as if he'd forgotten I was there momentarily.

"I meant anything to help Bella."

Rachel pushed him aside and gazed at me,

Yes?"

"Clean out the closet down the hall."

She frowned then nodded as understanding finally dawned. I'd thought, why not use them to dispose of the bodies? After all, I could hardly leave Bella now she'd been discovered by whoever was hunting for her.

Rachel looked at me in amusement for a second then dragged Edward out of sight as Bella's tears started and she buried her face in my shoulder and sobbed.

Bella

I couldn't remember what had happened with Edward but I knew he had hurt me, I felt the ghost of a hole in my chest, a wound that he had caused and only when I was sure he'd gone did I have the courage to look up.

"Why do people want to hurt me, Jasper? Am I a bad person? I don't remember what I did but did I do something really bad?"

He put his arms around me and gave me a hug.

"No Bella, you aren't a bad person. Just a good person that bad things happen to."

I smiled at that but then reality hit once more.

"Jasper I'm scared. The two men who came in first, who were they? And how did they know where I was? "

He shook his head,

"I don't know Bella, but I'm sure as hell gonna find out."

There was a knock on the door and I froze but Jasper reassured me with a smile and called out for them to enter.

Carlisle appeared looking anxious.

"Could I have a quick word, Jasper? Bella, Esme is here. Would you mind if she sits with you for a few minutes while I speak to Jasper?"

I did mind but I was prepared to sit with Esme for a few minutes.

"You won't go far will you, Jasper?"

He shook his head,

"No, just down the corridor but I'll keep an eye on the door."

I nodded, biting my lip and clenching my fists to stop my hands from shaking uncontrollably even though it made my bad arm throb within its cast.

Jasper

"I'm sorry about Edward, Jasper. Esme did tell him to find me first but.."

I interrupted his flow of words.

"As usual he ignored everyone thinking he knew better. I see he's still the same arrogant ass hole as ever."

Even Carlisle had to smile at that.

"Yes, well. I guess he did come in useful. He and Rachel told me what had occurred. They are disposing of the two bodies in the closet but unfortunately, I have three members of nursing staff with a severe concussion and another with a knife wound care of those same two men and I need a cover story. I think maybe a break in, someone looking for drugs, it has been known to happen. The intruders were interrupted and after a knife fight they fled the scene."

I didn't bother to comment, I knew the injured staff would be looked after and anyway, my priority was Bella.

"Who were they? And more to the point how did they know Bella was here?"

I shook my head,

"No idea and I didn't have time to question them but one thing is obvious, Bella's not safe here anymore, Carlisle."

He nodded gravely.

"I realize that but what do you intend doing? I could find a private clinic that would take her, she isn't well enough to be discharged from medical care."

Thinking quickly I flipped out my phone,

"Give me a minute. I'll be in as soon as I make a couple of calls. We should be OK for a few hours. No one is going to try anything else until they discover their kidnap or murder team has gone awol."

When I put my phone away some minutes later, satisfied I'd done all I could, for now, I returned to Bella's room just in time to hear her exchange with Carlisle.

"Bella, you need to rest, your pulse is way too fast and your heart is pounding. You're going to make yourself sick if you don't calm down."

"I know that Doctor but it's not easy when someone is trying to kill you."

Please, my dear, take these, they're just a mild sedative to calm you."

Did she know more than she was saying or did she just assume that the men who had come for her meant to end her life?

I walked quickly to where she sat hugging her pillow and looking more haggard but even more beautiful than before if that were indeed possible and sat down on the edge of her bed.

"Bella, do you trust me?"

She looked at me and nodded,

"Yes."

I smiled, "Thank you," and glanced at Carlisle.

"I want to take Bella away from here, somewhere safe."

He looked concerned.

"I already told you, Bella needs medical attention for at least another week or ten days, she's recovering from a near-fatal accident, Jasper."

I shook my head.

"Not an option any longer, Carlisle. They found her here and they'll be back. She needs to be moved and moved quickly to somewhere safe where they can't find her."

I knew he wasn't happy but Bella's safety was my only concern.

I turned to her,

"Bella, I want to take you away from here and I don't want to tell anyone where we're going. Is that acceptable to you?"

She hardly hesitated at all before nodded, screwing up the pillow she was still clutching to her chest like a shield.

Esme turned to me looking angry and anxious.

"This is ridiculous, you can't just spirit a sick woman away. Where are you going, Jasper? I think we ought to know. After all, you know you can trust us."

"No Esme, not even you or Carlisle, it's better that way and Bella will be safe with me. Or don't you trust me?"

She hesitated then waved away my question.

"Don't be ridiculous, of course, I trust you, Jasper. That's not the point. Bella needs a woman around, you can't cater to all her needs. I think you should allow me to go with you, or a nurse. Carlisle can arrange a private nurse to accompany you."

I shook my head, she may or may not trust me but I didn't trust anyone, not even her!

Carlisle seeing no one was going to persuade me to change my mind headed for the door.

"I'll get some medication and dressings for you to take with you. How long do I have?"

I looked at my watch,

"Half an hour, max."

He nodded and went out taking Esme with him much against her inclination and I sat on the edge of Bella's bed.

"Bella, I'm not going to lie to you. You are in danger and I want to protect you as best I can. That means taking you somewhere secluded, just you and me. If you don't trust me or you'd just rather not go, then tell me now. I won't leave you and I'll do my best to keep you safe here in the hospital, but it's not ideal. I will promise you that I will never do anything that you don't want me to do, whatever it is. If you say no to anything I'll respect that. Are you sure that you trust me enough to go with me?"

When she nodded we both knew that by agreeing she was quite literally putting her life in my hands.

"What about the two men who were here earlier? What happened to them?"

"Let's just say they won't be bothering you again, ever."

I wondered if she would accept that answer or ask for details and if she did whether I would tell her the truth. Thankfully, after looking into my face keenly for a few moments she just nodded and settled back against the pillows closing her eyes.

"It would be good if you could rest until we leave. Taking a journey in your condition isn't ideal and I wouldn't ask it of you if I didn't think it was necessary."

"I know."

Her words were soft and drowsy and within seconds she was asleep, exhausted by fear and the sedative Carlisle had administered.