Chapter Ten

They allowed me a moment to look around the bedroom. A soft night light stood on the long dresser against the far wall, and I smiled a little at it. Curiously, I pulled open the door beside me. It was a closet, given all the clothes hanging on the bar inside.

"Those are yours." Esme told me, and I couldn't help being surprised.

"All of it?" I asked, looking up at the clothing. At least seven or eight pairs of shoes sat in a neat line on the floor of the closet. Three pairs of tennis shoes, others different.

"Sure is, honey." She smiled a little, "There's more in the dresser."

"There's more?" I couldn't stop asking questions, or hide my shock, "I've never had this many clothes."

"I heard." She replied sadly, watching me as I slowly pulled open one of the eight drawers to find it full of jeans. Different color denim, all without a hint of a hole in them. I closed the drawer quietly, opening another. Peering in curiously. I couldn't tell what this drawer was, so looking harder, I pawed through the fabric. Pajamas.

Looking around the room again, the window on the far right wall was open a little, allowing a comforting breeze into the room, fluttering the curtain over the window. Not a single hole in any of the walls, or stain on the flawless carpet.

Even the bed was something out of a magazine.

Instead of the cold metal bars that made up my headboard at home, this one was a soft wood color. Four poster, but not overwhelming. Matching footboard, with a soft aqua blue colored sheet and comforter set.

Touching the soft bed with my hand was a feeling I hadn't anticipated. It wasn't like the hotel rooms, or laying in Jack's bed, but this was mine. Somehow that made it even more comfortable.

Sitting down, it was almost painful how comfortable this was.

I sat there for a good while after Esme and Alice left. Just trying to adjust. This was so weird to me. The light was off, but the night-light kept me from worrying. Probably a last minute addition, but I appreciated it all the same. It illuminated the room just enough. It was perfect.

I wished so much I could explain this, but there was no explanation. Each one I thought of didn't explain it. Maybe this room reminded me of my room at home? Not even close. This room was nothing like the one I lived in at home.

The furniture was nice, not falling apart. It all matched, and the bed was soft. And big. There were real curtains over the window, instead of a plain bed sheet. It looked and felt like a real bedroom, instead of just some place to suffer. That was the difference.

Maybe I'd just seen a room like this before? Nope. Never. It was more than recognizing the way it looked. It was more than that. I felt like I'd been here. With how familiar this house, and these people were, I had to think.

They had to be the reason I woke up that morning hating the fact that I had. They had to be the reason I remembered this place, and the reason I felt so safe. There was no other explanation. It would take some getting used to, but I had to accept that.

I wasn't alone anymore.

I liked the idea that if I needed to, I could find everyone just up the hall, or upstairs during the night. It comforted me, knowing someone could be there when I needed them. Not passed out drunk, or only there to hurt me.

Jasper was right, though.

I didn't trust my own trust. If I learned to trust my own trust, it would be easier on me, I knew. I would try, because they deserved it. Maybe here, I would learn about my supposed gift. It'd proven itself, I guess, but it was hard to believe. I doubted that Alice would let me stay skeptical very much. With her having the same gift as I had.

There was so many confusing things about this. Things I had to get used to, but it was more than that as well. There was more to these people than I knew, but I couldn't figure it out.

I fell asleep early that night. Even in a brand new bed, I didn't wake up once. Even if I knew I should. I definitely wasn't used to having all this room. My bed at home was a twin sized bed. Hardly any room, but somehow, two people managed to fit in it at a time.

I refused to think about that as I woke up. Laying in bed, I chose to wake up slowly.

I was nervous today, but I knew that had more to do with the visit from Charlie later. I really didn't want to do this. I was scared, and I just knew talking to him would be a big mistake, but they had to call him. I knew enough to know that not calling him was a big mistake. Kidnapping and all that stuff. How would I go about telling him that I wanted to be kidnapped?

Esme slowly opened the door, and I looked to her from where I still lay. She gave me a smile, and I looked back down.

"I can't." I mumbled, "I can't talk to Charlie."

"Yes you can, honey." She walked in, sitting beside me on the bed, "I know you can. Carlisle will be there with you."

"Is he here?" I asked quietly, and she nodded.

"The only one we're waiting on is you." She told me, and I bit my lip, "Sweetheart, he knows how hard this is on you."

She managed to get me out of bed, and walked me from the room.

I was afraid. Despite knowing how I didn't have to be, I was afraid of Charlie. The Police Chief that looked my way from the living room. I didn't know why I didn't have to be, but the moment I walked in, and he looked at me, I was at war with myself.

"I thought you said she was nine years old." He said, surprised as he looked to Carlisle. He was expecting a bigger kid, obviously.

"She is." Carlisle nodded, and Charlie looked back to me. I was momentarily distracted by a rather large yawn. Even with getting as much sleep as I had the night before, I was still tired. I really didn't want to do this. I hesitated as Esme tried to start forward.

Nobody was listening to me.

"You're alright, Leandra." Charlie told me, and that didn't help any. Despite that, however, I let Esme lead me closer. She led me to Carlisle's side, and as much as that comforted me, I couldn't keep holding her hand. She was obviously not allowed to stay. Probably to minimize distractions, but I wasn't sure. I was just convinced Charlie wanted to be cruel.

I sat quickly on the couch, curling into a ball.

Charlie sat in the chair adjacent to the couch, and immediately started on how they should have gone to him first. How they should have contacted the police there, instead of just bringing me back here.

"I didn't do anything wrong." Were my first words to him. I could only hold his gaze for a moment, "Neither did they." He sighed, lowering his brown eyes to the packet of paper in front of him.

"The law says-"

"Fuck the law." I interrupted him and he looked back up, shocked, "There are two kinds of people that break the law. The people who break the law to help someone else, and the people who break the law to hurt someone else. I would rather be with the first types of people, because I've seen what the second type of person can do to someone like me. So instead of getting mad at Carlisle for helping me, get mad at Jack for hurting me."

He was quiet for a second.

"I'm sorry." I finally said, "I didn't mean it."

"You're okay, Leandra." He assured me, "Just relax. I'm not here to get anyone in trouble that doesn't need to be." He was quiet, watching me as I watched my hands on my knees, "Can you tell me?" Carlisle slowly moved, sitting down in the other chair, the one closest to me.

"Is there any way to tell you, without getting him into trouble?" I asked after a moment.

"Why wouldn't you want to get him into trouble?" Charlie asked quietly.

"Because." I mumbled, but he waited, "Because I don't trust you to keep me alive." I glanced up, and could clearly see that he had no idea before just how bad it'd been. Nobody did. Carlisle didn't even fully know, so I knew whatever answer I gave Charlie would surprise Carlisle as well. Alice told me I had to tell Charlie everything. Everything was a lot.

"You don't need to worry about that." Charlie finally replied, "We'll find him, and we'll hold him for as long as we can."

"You mean you don't have him yet?" That was news to me.

"Well, no." He said, "We had to wait until today."

"You're not going to find him." My tone was matter-of-fact, and I knew it had every reason to be that way. I shook my head.

"Yes, we will-"

"No." I said, looking up, "You won't. He's had a head start, and he knows you'll be looking for him."

"How would he know?" Charlie asked, curious.

"I told him." I replied quietly, "I told him that if he tried to leave me there, I would tell everyone everything." I sighed, "I was trying to threaten him, but it didn't work. You can bet that he's long gone."

That didn't seem to phase him, but with the new crease in his brow, I knew that news concerned him.

"We'll just handle this today." He finally said, "Is that alright? It's just a few questions." Hesitantly, I nodded.

However, those just few questions were very, very difficult to answer.

The next hour, we were getting nowhere. Quickly. I either stayed silent through his questions, or I skirted around them. I didn't know how to be honest with someone I didn't trust.

I looked up as Esme stepped into the room, clearly feeling how tired I was.

"How is she doing?" She asked, and Charlie sighed.

"Not very well." He replied, "We've gotten nowhere."

"Might I suggest something?" Carlisle asked, glancing to me. I closed my eyes, resting my forehead on my drawn up knees. I was so tired. I didn't want this stranger knowing everything.

"Leandra." I must have snoozed off, as I looked up tiredly at Carlisle's calm voice, "Can you talk to me?" I nodded, sitting up straighter with a wince, "Can you tell me everything?"

I closed my eyes for a yawn.

"I just want to know all you can tell me about him." Carlisle explained quietly, "Everything you can think of." I was quiet for a second, "Remember how much you told me before?" I nodded a little, "I need more than that. Let's just go over that again, okay? But give me specific details."

"My mom met Jack six years ago." I started, and he nodded, letting me know that's what he meant, "About. I don't remember exactly how long ago, but I know he's hit me since I've known him. Jack's always hated me. He'd always tell me that he had to. He'd always say how much I deserved it, because I just kept fucking up. After awhile, it was just easier to believe him than to keep wondering what I did."

"Go on." Carlisle urged when I went silent. He slowly sat up straighter, and I knew both he and Charlie were listening to my every word.

"They always say that grown-ups shouldn't hit kids." I mumbled, "So I knew that wasn't the way it was supposed to be. What they don't tell you, is how someone like me is supposed to stop it. Not when I'm so small, and not when there's nothing anyone can do."

I paused, knowing they wouldn't urge me again.

"I'm not stupid." I murmured, "I don't care how many times Jack's told me that I am. This isn't easy for me, and even though he says so, I'm not forgetting what he told me would happen if I told. I'm not supposed to be talking about it, and I know I shouldn't be saying anything."

"What did he tell you would happen, Leandra?" Charlie asked this time, and I glanced to him. No matter how much I wished, I couldn't pretend he wasn't here. He seemed particularly interested in that answer, so I sighed.

Here went nothing.

I took a breath, "He caught a rabbit one day. Out in the woods, when I was four. I remember it, because he let me pet it." I kept my eyes down, "He let me hold it, and I remember how soft its fur was, and I remember how scared it was. I couldn't blame it, because I always felt the same way when Jack caught me."

They waited, listening.

"He told me that to prove his point, because I was so stupid, the rabbit had to die. I told him no, that he didn't have to do that." I kept my eyes down, "I didn't want the rabbit to die because I was so stupid. He could show me another way."

They were both silent now, and I didn't dare look at either of them.

"So he killed it. Right in front of me. He made me keep holding it while he took a knife, and he stabbed it in the side of its neck."

Nobody said a word, listening to me as I paused.

"I tried to tell him that he didn't need to do that, but he made me watch it. He made me watch it die. He made me hold it while it died, so I could see up close what happened." I took another breath, realizing my voice had gone quiet, "Saying how he'd do the same thing to me if I ever told anyone. How at any time, I could be that rabbit. Saying how I should thank him. Every second I kept breathing was another second I should be grateful."

I was quieter now. For a little longer.

"So." I sighed almost silently, "This isn't easy."

While sitting there, gathering my thoughts, I looked up at Carlisle. If I wasn't sure before, I suddenly was now. He would protect me. There was something about him that made him so much different than anyone else. Carlisle was different. I couldn't remember what exactly it was, but he was different.

He gave me a nod, and that was all I needed.

"He hits me." I finally spoke up again, "He beats me. Every day, for some reason he makes up. He'll tell me to do something, and when I get done doing it, he'll tell me he told me to do the opposite. He makes up reasons." I glanced over when he moved. He was writing on the third page of that packet of papers he held before.

"When you say he beats you..?" Charlie prompted quietly, looking back up. I stood up, and without missing a beat, lifted my shirt over my back. I stayed standing for a few minutes, letting him view my entire back. I let my shirt drop, and sat back down.

"It was worse before." I mumbled, "I'm always bruised. I almost never see my skin without something wrong with it. He uses stuff, like belts and stuff to hit me with because he found out he can do too much damage with his hands. I'm just too small."

I paused, glancing up to see Charlie's horrified gaze.

"What all does he use, Leandra?" Charlie asked quietly.

"Belts, ropes, boards." I shrugged a little, "Whatever he can find." I knew he needed more, so I sighed, thinking harder, "Rocks, and stuff like that, but he prefers his belt. I think because it makes a certain sound."

I was quiet for a second.

"Um.." I hesitated, "He yells, but that's not really bad, is it?" I looked to Charlie, "The things he yells at me, though, is easy to remember. Especially when he's really mad, because he really means the things he yells at me."

He stayed quiet, and I watched him write that down as well.

"He doesn't feed me, unless it's to get me to behave, or to get me to do what he wants." I mumbled, "That's probably why I'm so small." I sniffled, hesitating, "He locks me in my room. Days at a time." I paused, my hands curled up in front of me, between my folded up knees and my stomach, "There's so much he does."

"Just the major things, Leandra." Charlie urged, and I shut up for a moment, "That's all I'm looking for specifically right now."

"A-And, uh.." I could barely make my voice work. Charlie waited, and I knew he wouldn't rush me. I had to say it, "Uh.. He.."

This was harder than I thought it'd be. Every time I'd try to speak, to say a word, it'd get stuck, and I'd give up for a second. I'd give up, but then I'd remember that I couldn't give up, and I had to tell him.

The truth was, what Jack did to me at night was so much worse than beating me. It hurt me, and it hurt me in a different way than the beatings did. I didn't know how it was possible, but by doing what he did, he could hurt me both physically and emotionally. Both at once, and by managing to hurt me both of those ways at once, it hurt me mentally as well. Beating me was only physical, but this. This was so much worse.

By admitting what he did to me, I would be admitting how ashamed I was. By admitting what he did, I just knew Charlie would turn around and blame me. Or laugh.

The longer I stayed quiet, the more pressure I felt, and eventually, it was too hard. I started to cry. I couldn't do it. I couldn't admit to Charlie what else he did, because by doing that, I'd be admitting my own guilt for not stopping it. I'd be admitting how weak I was, how stupid I was. I couldn't do that.

"You have what you need, right?" I sobbed, looking over at Charlie, "That's it."

"Leandra, he needs to know everything." Carlisle told me, and I looked to him, biting my lip.

"I can't." I mumbled, shaking my head, "I can't say it."

"Take your time." Charlie assured me, and I looked to him again, "Nobody's rushing you, honey. If you need a break, take one. I've got all afternoon." I sniffled, nodding. I appreciated his patience. More than he knew. I took a breath, letting back out in a sob.

"Charlie, a moment?" Carlisle stood, and I watched after him as he led Charlie from the room. I sobbed there on the couch for just a few seconds. Looking around me. Nobody else was in the room, so I saw my opening.

I stood up with a deep sniffle, heading quickly for the side door. I slipped out, closing the door quietly behind myself. Jumping off the last two steps, I landed on the gravel and headed straight for the trees.

"Running away?" Jasper's call from the front of the house had me jump, stopping and spinning to look his direction. I waited, unsure how to respond. Would he be mad?

He sighed, stepping off the porch to head my direction.

I didn't say anything, waiting for him to tell me how much trouble I was in.

"You shouldn't run, Leandra." He told me once he reached my side, "I know how scared you are, but the longer you put this off, the harder it'll be on you." I took a shaky, emotional breath, "I know."

"No, you don't." I mumbled, looking down. To my surprise, he laughed. I looked back up, confused now. How was that funny?

"You keep underestimating us." He pointed out. He didn't argue with me, though. He sighed, looking around, "I suppose there's no point in trying to force you to tell him everything, but let me tell you this. The more you tell Charlie, the less chance you have of seeing Jack again."

"Or I could just run away." I added quietly, "I'll figure out how to live on my own."

"No, you won't." He replied calmly, "You don't want to do that."

"How am I supposed to tell him?" I asked, looking up at him, "I don't even get it myself. He'll blame me."

"The same way you told us." He answered, "The same way you told Carlisle. Charlie isn't here to blame you, Leandra. He's here to help you. Just the same way that we are." His voice was so calm, quiet in the way he told me these things. It was odd. As if his confidence was giving me a bit of confidence. That didn't ease my fear any, though.

"But I don't know that." I countered quietly, "I don't know him."

"You don't know us." He reminded me.

"I do." I corrected, "B-But.." I whined, turning to pace. I didn't know how to explain it.

"You're doubting yourself." He pointed out, "Don't."

"How can I not?" I asked, "I don't have all the trust in the world to just give to someone like him."

"Someone like him?" Jasper asked, frowning a little. I was afraid for a moment, remembering when I'd let that same phrase slip to Jack. For a moment, I feared I'd made him mad, but after a moment of only studying me, he didn't seem angry.

A tense, quiet moment passed as I glanced up at him. Until understanding came to his eyes, "You don't trust him because he's male."

I looked down, sliding my hands into my pockets to keep them warm. Shivering in both the cold morning and the intimidation I felt from Charlie inside. I didn't like him, but I knew he wasn't bad. That was a very confusing feeling. I didn't like Charlie because he wanted me to tell him things. Things I never told anyone, and it went against everything I'd ever learned to tell him now.

"I can see this will be a problem." Jasper finally said when I did nothing to deny it, "Leandra, not everyone is out to hurt you."

"I know that." I mumbled, glancing up, "I know you won't. I know Emmett won't. I know the others won't, but I don't know Charlie won't. I hate him."

"Think about it this way." He suggested, "Do you think Carlisle would let him hurt you?" He had a strong point there. He knew it.

"No." I finally replied, shaking my head, "He wouldn't." I bit my lip, "But I'm still afraid. He's going to blame me for what Jack did, and I don't want that. No matter how I think about it, it won't come out right. There's no right way to say it."

"All you have to do, is tell the truth." He replied, "Don't worry about whether or not Charlie is going to believe you, or blame you. It's not his job to blame you. All he's asking for is the truth. That's all." I glanced over at the porch, spotting Carlisle and Charlie standing there. Watching us just feet away. Both able to hear us talking. I whimpered, looking up at Jasper again.

"I can't." My tears stung my eyes once more, and I knew he saw it, given the way his expression softened ever-so-slightly.

"Why?" He asked patiently, "Why can't you? If you know he's not going to blame you, and if you know you won't be the one in trouble for this, why can't you just tell him everything?"

"Because it'll make it real." I answered shakily, "Whenever it happened, I did everything I could to pretend it was just a bad dream. I did everything I could to just forget everything he made me do. Telling Charlie would just ruin all that. It would ruin everything."

"What all did he do?" Jasper asked and I gasped a sob. No longer hesitant with him.

"E-Everything." I mumbled incredulously, "At night, he'd come in. I-It was like.. Like he didn't like seeing me, because it was always in the dark. Always when I couldn't see." I paused, but this time, only to take a breath, "He always made me do stuff to him, and just lay still for him. If I fought, he hit me until I stopped fighting, so I couldn't just not do it. I didn't want to, but.." I sniffled, looking down, "I had to."

"When did it first start?" Jasper asked, and I started to catch on. It was easier answering him than it would have been to answer Charlie, so I went along with it.

"Officially?" I sniffled, "About three years ago. That's when.. It happened first."

"You were six?" He asked, and I nodded.

There was a silence in the yard that squeezed me, made it harder to breathe. I vaguely saw Jasper glance to the porch, but I didn't look up. With the breeze, though, came a sort of comfort. It brought fresh air, rustling the trees across the yard. It made it easier to breathe, to calm down. I took a breath, sighing it out.

"Unofficially?" Jasper asked, quieter now.

"Since I met him." I mumbled in reply without missing a beat this time, "It used to be just him getting me use to it, I guess. I didn't know what that was, or what he was doing. It had never really hurt before, just bugged me. Until three years ago. Now it hurts all the time."

He was quiet now, and I didn't interrupt that. I took a breath, calming down even further. There was one thing I had to stress.

"I didn't want to." I mumbled, "I didn't mean to."

"Nobody is blaming you." Jasper assured me, "Nobody." I sniffled, and I nodded. I knew he wasn't lying to me, given the way Charlie looked at me. His gaze wasn't angry, or sickened. Not at me.

Charlie cleared his throat, and looked to Carlisle. Nodding as he turned to go back inside. Bringing his papers with him. I watched after them, reaching up and clearing my hair from my face. I hoped he wouldn't ask me to be any more specific than that. I hoped I wouldn't have to repeat anything I'd just said. Not ever.

I looked up at Jasper, noticing how he looked back down at me. His expression torn into sadness and anger. I wasn't scared, though. I found I trusted Jasper as much as I trusted Carlisle.

"Am I really going to stay here?" I asked quietly, and without a word, he nodded. I sighed, "That's hard to believe."

"Why is that?" He asked.

"Because." I shrugged, "That might bother you." He didn't reply at first.

"Why would it bother me?" He finally asked, curious.

"I don't know." I mumbled, "Just a feeling I get."

I glanced upwards, looking at the clouds as they started spitting rain. I sighed, looking back to the house.

"I don't want to go back in there."

"You're almost done with him." He assured me, "Charlie just has a few more questions, and he'll leave you alone. Then comes the next step."

"Will you come too?" I asked curiously, and he seemed to debate for a moment.

"Sure." He finally said, "Come on." I turned with him, heading back for the house.

"What comes next?" I had to ask, "After Charlie is done asking me things?"

"Your day isn't quite over with, Leandra." Jasper told me, opening the door for me. I waited for him to explain as I stepped inside passed him, "Next, comes the examination."

"What's that?" I had to ask, nervous again.

"That's where you're looked over." He answered, "To make sure you're okay, and to take evidence."

"I don't have any evidence." I replied instantly, "Can I just skip that part?"

"It won't hurt." He assured me, "It would make everyone feel a lot better, and certainly make your case against Jack much stronger. You want it stronger, don't you?"

"I guess so." I admitted, biting my lip.

"A stronger case is a good thing, Leandra." He told me, and I sighed.

"It won't hurt?" I asked quietly, and he shook his head. It was too easy to believe Jasper. Impossible not to.

"It won't." He replied confidently, and I nodded, sighing again.

"Leandra." Charlie called once he spotted me inside, "I just have a few more things to ask you." I slowly sat, my eyes on him, "Can you tell me anything about your father? Your mother?"

"My mom left, a few days ago." I answered quietly, bitterly, "I doubt she wants to come back."

"Do you know where she might be?" He asked, "Her name?"

I shifted uncomfortably on the couch, "Do I have to answer you?" He seemed confused, "I don't want her to know I'm okay. I want her to suffer."

"Leandra." Carlisle murmured in quiet correction. I looked down.

"Why should she get the peace-of-mind to know I'm alright, when she left me in the first place?" I asked in return, "She could have taken me with her. I hope she thinks I'm dead."

"What about your father?" Charlie prompted, and I shook my head.

"He left me too." I replied, "He didn't want me either."

"Leandra-"

"Fuck him." I murmured bitterly, "I hate him."

I was being uncooperative. I was tired, and hurting, and thankfully, Charlie seemed to understand that. He sighed, nodding as he closed the folder in front of him. It wouldn't be that hard for him to figure it out on his own.

"Alright, Leandra." Charlie told me, "That's it, I suppose." I had a permanent pout on my face, and I hated everything at that moment. If Charlie tried making me live with either of those people, I'd just run away.

"I'll meet you at the hospital." Charlie sighed, standing, "I'd prefer taking in the evidence at once." Carlisle nodded, standing as well.

I laid to the side, tiredly rubbing my eyes and sighing. This was too hard.

"Leandra." Carlisle prompted after a moment, and I glanced up at him, "Come on." He gestured that I get up, but I didn't. Instead I just closed my eyes, turning my face into the couch.

My uncooperative mood tripled three fold, somehow knowing I really didn't want to go through this. Yet again, I started to cry. I was so tired. So scared, and still in so much pain. It was all I could do to keep my sobs silent, and just sniffle quietly.

"Leandra?" I looked over at Carlisle's voice now beside the couch, meeting his eyes as he now kneeled, "Can you listen for a moment?" His expression and tone was kind, not annoyed in the slightest like I worried. He was patient, which was new to me. I nodded silently.

"I understand how hard this is on you." He told me, "We all do. Nobody's forgetting that. All we're asking is to just be brave for just a little while longer. I know how scared you are. Believe me, I can see it. The last thing I'd ever want to do is make that worse. I promise you. There is nowhere safer for you than here, or with me. Can you do that? Be brave for only a little while longer?" That's right. He was a doctor, so he could be there with me. I'd forgotten about that part.

"I can try." I finally mumbled.

I got dressed, and I had to leave the house with Carlisle. I couldn't help feeling nervous, as part of me knew this wasn't going to be easy. I knew it was going to be hard on me, but I had to try to be brave. I told Carlisle I would, and going back on it now was wrong.

I let him take my hand, glancing up at him. We stepped into the hospital, and I almost resisted, hating the way I grew even more nervous. I had to tell myself what I knew. It'd be okay.

It only took just over an hour, but by the time that hour had passed, I was three times as tired. Blood was taken, and my bruises were accounted for. Every single one, and being honest from the start only got me one more exam I didn't particularly care for. The nurse did that one, though, but it didn't make it any easier.

Every time I looked at Carlisle, I tried so hard to remember why I trusted him so much. It was the oddest thing, and I couldn't help wonder whether or not my sanity could be trusted, but I couldn't help it. I needed the answer to that so much, I couldn't just let it go.

I sat there while Charlie and Carlisle had a few last minute words with each other.

"Your sure about this, Dr. Cullen?" Charlie asked, and I looked up, "Taking in a kid like her isn't going to be easy."

A kid like her? A kid like me? The way he said that bugged me.

"I'm quite positive." Carlisle replied, "I think we've got it handled." Charlie sighed.

"Well, alright. If you're sure." He said, "Just fill out that paperwork, and it should be accepted. I'll give them a heads up that you're applying for her, so there's no confusion."

"Thank you." Carlisle gave him a nod, "It's appreciated."

I stayed seated stiffly as Charlie sighed, turning to me.

"You're not going to find him." I murmured as he kneeled in front of me, "I'm telling you that right now."

"Don't you worry about that." He replied, "Let us focus on that, and you just focus on getting better."

"I'm not sick." I corrected with a frown, and he chuckled.

"I mean feeling better." He said, and I sighed. I still didn't get the difference, but I nodded. He gave me another smile and stood up. I watched after him as he walked away. Shaking his head a little.

I was taken home, and allowed to have some lunch, but I couldn't eat much. Still too upset to want to, but I was assured that was it. I could be left alone now. At least, about Jack.

There were more pressing issues now, and that was about what I remembered so far.

"I don't." I answered Alice, staring down at my plate of food, "I can't yet." I looked to her, "Why does it matter so much? I mean, I remember that you guys can be trusted, right? Isn't that enough?"

"We just want to be careful." She replied quietly, "I think you know more than you even realize." I was quiet for a moment, "Tell me again. What all do you remember?"

"I woke up." I told her, "And I know there was so much more to it, but all I could remember, was the way I felt, and.." I paused, looking back down, "Well, the color of your eyes." She was quiet so I frowned, thinking harder, "I remember.. I remember here, but.. I remember being older." She perked up a little, smiling slightly.

"That's new."

"I don't actually remember it, but I remember being surprised when I woke up." I replied, glancing to Esme as she listened in as well, "And trouble." I looked back down, studying my hands on the counter, "I remember.." I paused, thinking hard, "There was so much. It's hard to think about."

"Is there any way you can maybe choose what to remember?" She asked, "Maybe instead of the most recent things first, try remembering further back."

"I haven't tried that yet." I admitted, glancing to her. I fell quiet for a minute or two, until I spoke up again, "Josh." I looked to her surprised, "He was there, too. And Zack."

"Where?" She asked, "And who?"

"Josh and Zack." I replied, "Jack's nephews. I remember them. From my dream, I think. Not as much as I remember you, but they're there. It's pretty mixed up. Maybe that's why I can't remember." I paused, "And the one with red eyes."

"Hold on." Alice said, and I looked to her, "Who?"

"I don't know." I answered, "I haven't seen him yet, but I remember his eyes the most. He's the only one I actually remember any part of what he looks like. I don't like him."

"I wonder why that is." Esme murmured thoughtfully, "You don't remember anything else about him yet?" I shook my head.

"I'm sure it's nothing." Alice told me thoughtfully, and it went quiet for a second.

"Can I have a cigarette?" I asked, gaining her attention again.

"Definitely not." She replied, calmly but incredulously. I looked down, shrugging a little.

"Just thought I'd ask." I mumbled, scooting a leaf of lettuce around the plate with my fork. Resting the side of my face against my fist, I kept my eyes down.

"Leandra, I don't think you realize just how bad those are for you." Alice spoke again, and again, I shrugged.

"Jack let me." I replied.

"He very obviously didn't care about your welfare." She countered, "Things are going to be much different from now on."

"It already is." I mumbled, "I'm allowed to eat here. I'm allowed to sleep, and I haven't been hit yet."

"You never will be." Esme told me before Alice could reply. I smiled a little at her, looking back down.

"What if I really mess up?"

"Even then." She replied, "There's nothing you can do to earn treatment like that."

"Do you promise?" I asked quietly, hesitantly hopeful.

"I promise you, sweetheart." She answered immediately, "Nothing. The only thing you can expect here is kindness." I smiled a little at that word, "Patience, and understanding. You have my word on that."

After lunch, I was allowed to sit in the living room with Jasper and Emmett while Alice and Esme worked on getting the room up the hall more suited to having someone living in there. I wasn't sure what that meant, but they thought it was necessary.

I didn't make it that far. Right there in the chair, curled up and watching some stupid TV movie, I didn't even realize I was falling asleep.

"The shorty's growing on me." I woke slightly a bit later to Emmett's quiet voice, "Doesn't seem so bad to have her needing to stay."

"Emmett, human children are a big responsibility." Jasper's reply was quieter, "Especially human children with her sort of past. I don't think you fully realize just what she's been through." The word he used confused me. Human children, versus the easier single word 'children'.

"That was then, this is now." Emmett replied, and his tone took on more admiration, "Look at her. Isn't she cute?" I frowned a little, adjusting how I laid, "I've always wanted a kid around."

"A past like hers isn't one easily recovered from." Jasper countered, "She's going to have problems."

"We all have problems." Emmett said in return, "She'll feel right at home here. You'll see."

"I'm just giving you a heads up here, Emmett. She's not going to have the same reactions a normal child would." Jasper sighed, "She's going to be more sensitive to different things. It's going to take work to get her through it. You can't play with her the way you could a normal child, you can't tell her things the way you could a normal child. It's going to be tough learning what not to do or say around her."

"I don't care." Emmett responded quickly, "I'll take care of her, then. Since you're so scared."

"I'm not scared." Jasper sighed, "I'm only concerned, and you should be too." Their bantering back and forth was really starting to bug me.

"I'm more than ready for that sort of responsibility." Esme's voice beside me had me opening my eyes. Rolling over a little, and looking up at her. I hadn't even heard her come into the room. She smiled down at me, "Your room is ready, if you'd like to take a nap where nobody's talking."

She tossed a disapproving glance toward Emmett, offering her hand. I couldn't help it. I yawned and nodded. I let her help me to my feet. Sitting up, and scooting to the edge of the chair, I used her help to stand and followed her from the room.

Esme smoothed my hair back softly as I laid back down in the same bed I woke up in this morning, closed my eyes. Comforting me greatly. With a soft sigh, I fell asleep almost instantly.

Waking up, I was disoriented at first. Pushing myself up with one arm, I looked around myself, dazed. What had woken me up? I didn't remember dreaming, but I felt like I always felt when Jack was around. The near panic, the fear. A sound still echoing in my mind, but I didn't know what sound it was. I was alone in my room.

Sniffling, I climbed out of bed, leaving the room to the smell of dinner cooking. I went into the kitchen, catching Esme's attention, as well as Carlisle's standing there as I rounded the counter and hugged Esme.

"They won't find him." I mumbled as she returned the embrace, surprised.

"Who?" She asked quietly.

"Jack." I replied, "They're not going to find him." I trembled as I stood there, my arms wrapped around her. Just holding on.

They couldn't find him. If they couldn't find him, they couldn't keep me safe.

"I knew this was a bad idea." I whimpered, just loud enough for them to hear.

"No, honey." Esme murmured. Carlisle sighed, "They'll find him. He just wasn't where they looked. That's all it is."

"He's going to come for me." I mumbled, looking up at her, "I'm going to be that bunny."

"No, you're not." Carlisle spoke up this time, "I won't let that happen."

"I'm so scared." I admitted, looking up at him now, "I don't want to die yet."

"And you won't." He told me, and though I started to cry, I couldn't help trying to believe him. I trembled where I stood, looking around me.

"I don't want him to hurt you, either." I mumbled, looking back up at him, "He will."

"I'd love to see him try." I looked back at Emmett's voice, "He's not getting anywhere near you while I'm around, shorty."

My tears finally started to fall. Esme embraced me tighter, which I returned. Unable to help it. I really didn't want to die yet, but I also really didn't want them to get hurt trying to protect me. I cried into Esme's side, shaking my head.

What had I done?

A/N: If there are any mistakes in this one, I apologize. I've been pretty distracted lately.
THANK YOU to those that reviewed last chapter! YAY!
I'm quite aware that the site was down for majority of yesterday, so no worries about that.
Anddd... YAY! A normal length chapter! Lol
Next chapter we'll be moving on. You may recognize some points, but I'll do my best to fit them in.
Until Eleven, my friends. (: