As always Stephanie owns 'em, I'm just playing.
Our call seemed to last forever, the suspect that fled from a routine traffic stop and barricaded himself inside a nearby house ended up having an active warrant for homicide out of California. After hours with the hostage negotiator our team finally made entry and a couple of flash bangs later we had him in custody. It was almost five a.m. and I had yet to be able to contact Bella. I was hoping she wasn't upset with how long it had taken or that I was going to have to postpone our talk even longer because I was dead on my feet.
I was equal parts excited and nervous about coming home to Bella, no matter the context of her being there. I had stayed clear of relationships for several years but the two I did have after Tanya didn't leave me with the best experience. Women seemed to love the idea of being with a police officer, the security, the status within our own community, the danger but in my experience their expectations and reality are vastly different. The danger they once found exhilarating and exciting becomes draining and exhausting. The hours burn out the strongest of couples, the missed dinners, rescheduled holidays, and late night call outs never seem as glamorous when they actually occur. Bella seemed fine with me having to leave the game so abruptly at the time but would she still feel the same after waiting for hours to hear from me as she watched my child?
"You want me to wait and see if Bells wants a ride home?" Emmett asked, no doubt noticing my hesitancy as he pulled up in front of my house.
"No I will just let her take my car if she wants to head home and I can pick it up later if I need to." I took a deep breath and forced myself to grow a pair and open the car door. Breaching a barricaded building with an armed suspect inside was no big deal hours earlier, I could handle opening my front door.
"Sounds good, I'll check in with you later. Get some rest." He waved as he pulled away and I made my way to my front door, pulling my keys out of my tactical pants just as the front door opened and revealed a sleepy Bella. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun, her makeup missing and she was wearing one of my old academy shirts and a pair of my boxers. I'd never seen her look more beautiful. She gave me a quick kiss on the lips as she shut the door behind me, the amount of ease in which she did making my heart beat a little faster. It felt like I'd come home to this scene a thousand times before and I was doing my best to not react to her nonchalance.
"Sorry it took so long." I sighed, settling myself on the stool Bella had gently led me to as she began doing something on the other side of the kitchen.
"No need to apologize, you have no control over emergent situations. I'm glad you are home safe, Maddie and I were fine last night. I hope you don't mind that I stole some of your clothes to sleep in though?" She smiled sheepishly as she pulled a plate out of the microwave and placed it in front of me. Giving me the opportunity to pull her onto my lap as I wrapped my arms around her and buried my face in her neck.
"Mmm I don't mind at all, they look so much better on you." I murmured, kissing her neck softly as she ran her fingers through the hair on the nape of my neck. Which was possibly my new favorite thing in the world.
"All right Casanova, eat some food and then let's get you into bed I'm sure you're exhausted."
"You cooked?" I perked up instantly, she may have filled my freezer the last time she was over but nothing compared to a hot meal from this woman.
"Yes," she laughed, kissing me softly before sliding off my lap. "Nothing crazy, just something light for you to eat before you get some rest. Now eat." She pushed the plate of chicken and vegetables toward me as she pulled a water out of the fridge for me as well. I loved seeing her so at home in my kitchen, and if I was being honest I loved her being here when I came home like this in the middle of the night, or morning. This was the first time in my entire police career that I had someone take care of me like this after a callout other and I was loving it.
"Thank you for this," I waved a hand over my plate in between bites as Bella settled on the stool next to me, laying her head on my shoulder as I ate. I loved how affectionate she was being since we kissed, I wasn't sure what to expect, especially after being called out and I was near ecstatic despite the lack of sleep. "And for staying with Maddie, I'm sure you weren't expecting us to be gone all night."
"You don't need to thank me, you know I love hanging out with Maddie and I'm a cop too Edward, I'm well aware of how long these calls can take. We finished the game and then came back here and cooked dinner and watched movies. Nothing crazy I promise, I crashed on the couch and woke up just before you walked in. I promise I don't mind at all and I'm more than happy to hang with her anytime you need." I nodded, swallowing my last bite of chicken before giving her a quick kiss. Loving that I could be open and kiss her when I wanted to now.
"You're dead on your feet Edward, go get some rest. I'll hang with Maddie until you get up then I'll head home okay?"
"You're sure?" I hated to ask her to do anything more but I loved the thought of her sticking around longer and I knew Maddie would love to have her at the house while I slept.
"Shut up and go to bed, I'll probably go for a run in a bit then Maddie and I can make breakfast or something. You don't worry about it and sleep as long as you need, I don't have any plans today I don't go in until tonight." I smiled and gave her another kiss before heading off to my bedroom, falling asleep before I ever made it under the covers. I felt like I had just fallen asleep when I woke up with a start, hearing Maddie screaming for me from the front of the house. I grabbed my gun off my night stand and took off running to find Maddie sobbing in the living room.
"Maddie are you okay?" She just nodded yes and pointed toward the picture window on the front of the house, I followed her gaze and caught sight of Bella on the front lawn with an irate Tanya pinned beneath her. Bella's knee was firmly planted in the middle of her back with one hand holding her wrist to her lower back and one placed confidently on her sidearm while she spoke on the phone.
"Shit!" I swore as I wrenched the door open and ran to Bella's side.
"Yes ma'am, she's currently detained and appears to be under the influence." Bella spoke calmly, pausing to listen to whatever what being said to her on the other side of the phone. "A no contact order, and it's been served? Thank you Jennie, Officer Cullen is on scene with me now so make sure the units know we are code four. Call my cell if you need me before they get here, I don't have my radio with me." Bella let the phone drop from her shoulder, finally making eye contact with me.
"Edward go grab a pair of cuffs please?" I was torn between doing what she asked and staying by her side to protect her when Maddie made the decision for me. Yelling my name from the doorway as she threw a pair of handcuffs toward me, not moving from her place in the house. I handed them to Bella and watched in disbelief as she slapped the cuff on Tanya's wrist before reaching up to secure her other hand.
"Tanya I'm going to let you up, and then we are going to go walk over to that curb and you're going to sit your ass down until the patrol car arrives. Do not struggle and so help me don't even look at Maddie, I will not hesitate to shoot you. Do you understand?" Bella stated darkly, her voice never wavering as she threatened my ex and slowly stood up with Tanya in tow. Shaking her head at me when I attempted to help, my rage was barely contained as I ran through the reasons Bella had to detain Tanya in the first place.
"It's better if you don't touch her Edward, I wouldn't put it past her to try and pin some excessive force shit on you because of your history and she does not get to be the victim right now." Bella ground out, forcing Tanya down on to the curb in front of my house as she glanced back at Maddie, her eyes softening as soon as they landed on her.
"Go check on Maddie, I've got this handled. Patrol will be here any minute. Tell her I'm not upset with her, I yelled at her to get in the house and I think it scared her. I just wanted to protect her." Bella looked up at me, her cop façade slipping momentarily as she fought back the tears.
"I'll be right there." I nodded at the house, "If she gives you any problems." Bella snorted humorlessly, her poker face firmly in place once again, all traces of tears gone.
"If she gives me any more problems I will just shoot her and deal with the I.A. investigation, she will not take one step closer to Maddie."
I hesitated, seeing how serious she was and worried she might actually shoot Tanya, but turned back toward Maddie when she urged me toward the house again. I slid my handgun into the back of my pants as Maddie practically fell into my arms sobbing into my chest.
"Shhh baby, it's okay. She can't hurt you anymore. Shhhh it's okay she'll be gone soon. Did she hurt you Maz?" I clenched my eyes shut, praying with everything I had that she hadn't laid a hand on her. My eyes snapping open when Maddie pulled away from me.
"She ripped my shirt." Maddie stuttered, turning to show me the side of her tank top that was ripped almost from hem to hem. "She told Bella that I was damaged goods," Maddie hiccuped, "and that she should walk away now." I pulled Maddie back into a hug when another sob broke through, trying so hard to stay strong. "Bella and I were running and we decided to race the last block, I beat her back to the yard and she was here. She wanted me to go with her and when I said no she started dragging me by my shirt. I yelled for Bella and the next thing I knew she was on the ground and Bella was on top of her and she started saying she hated me and I ruined her life and took you away from her. She told Bella not to waste her time on me, and Bella yelled for me to get inside the house. I didn't know what to do so I just yelled for you."
"Shhh," I soothed, trying to keep my anger at Tanya at bay so Maddie didn't bear the brunt of it. "You did everything right sweetheart. Bella's not mad at you she just wanted to keep you safe. I'm so sorry Maz, so fucking sorry." I was near tears just as the patrol car pulled up and Maddie and I watched as Bella leaned Tanya up against it to pat her down. She pulled out a small baggie of what looked like drugs before handing it to the officers that exited the car. I watched as she read Tanya her rights and placed her in the back of the patrol car. The officer shaking her hand before getting back in the car with Tanya as Bella and the second officer made their way toward us.
"Maddie," Bella said gently, "you okay?" Her eyes were filled with concern as she watched Maddie take a deep breath before nodding in response.
"Officer Miller is going to need your shirt as evidence and if you have any scratches from her he needs to photograph them. Is that okay?" I had said the same words hundreds of times to victims of assaults and domestics over the years but hearing those words said to Maddie was about to be my undoing.
"I don't have any scratches, Bella got her off of me before she could hurt me." Maddie told Officer Miller, "I'll go change and bring this back?" Maddie asked quietly, still not making eye contact with Bella as she addressed the patrol officer.
"That is perfect, thank you Miss Cullen." Maddie offered a weak smile in return before disappearing inside the house to change.
"Is she okay?" Bella asked as soon as Maddie was out of ear shot, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Yeah, physically she is fine. She said you got there right when Tanya ripped her shirt. She's shaken up but she will be okay." I sighed, "Tanya?" I asked, nodding to the patrol car sitting in front of my house.
"Felony violation of a no contact order, possession of methamphetamine, assault of a minor, attempted kidnapping, and resisting arrest. She's seems to be coming down from a pretty good high, she's going to have a rough time of it while she detoxes. I'm sorry you guys had to experience this but I'm glad it wasn't worse." He smiled weakly as Maddie appeared, handing him the torn tank top and seemingly even more on edge than before.
"Thank you Miss Cullen, Officer Swan just bring the statements by when you come into work tonight and we'll get all of the paperwork in line."
"Of course, thank you Officer Miller I appreciate all of your help." Bella said earnestly, shaking his hand before he gave me a quick nod and headed back to his patrol car leaving the three of us on the doorstep as they pulled away and headed for the jail.
"Let's go inside?" I asked, ushering Maddie and Bella into the living room as I headed toward the kitchen to get some water for the three of us. I walked back in and handing them each a water bottle, watching Bella struggle to open it, her hands shaking uncontrollably before I gently took it from her and removed the cap. She offered me a weak smile as I handed it back and guided her to the nearest chair. I could imagine what kind of adrenaline high she was coming down from dealing with Tanya. Maddie was the first to speak, her voice bitter and angry as she addressed Bella for the first time since I woke up to this nightmare.
"You saw everything didn't you?" She spat
Thank you for all of the wonderful feedback! I love hearing from you guys and cannot believe the positive response this has gotten so far. It means the world to me. Up next we'll get Maddie's story...and then we can let the Tanya hate begin :)