A/N: FIRST…Thank you so very much for the outpouring of support for me regarding the review from that stupid bully. It truly has warmed my heart to find so much concern and support. SECOND…In the vein of trying to maintain positive vibes and fun in the story, I took down the nasty chapter content (the last one) and replaced it with a little thank you note for reading. I don't want that bully to get any more attention than I already gave them. THIRD…You couldn't dynamite my ass out of here, and I'll continue to post this story if I have to do it from an iron lung!

Thank you for the reviews on the fight and Charlie's POV of the break-up. This chapter we'll find out definitively why Bella made the choices she made regarding her relationship with Jacob. We still have a bit of ground to cover with the relationship between her and Sarge, but we're closer than you know, so haaaaaang on, baby.

SMeyer owns…I don't infringe…

Smiles, everyone. Let's go check on the patient.

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Chapter 9. Tender Loving Care

##

I woke up with someone groping the boys. When I opened my eyes, I saw Bella with her eyes closed as her hand moved under the sheet. I was in her bed, and she'd slept next to me the night before, which drove me crazy. Her groping of my danglers was leading to something she wasn't ready to deal with, I was sure.

I grabbed her hand. "What in hell are you doing, taking a walk down memory lane? You're about to make a mess all over these nice sheets," I told her honestly.

"Don't be so dramatic or I'll take away your pain pills. I'm checking to be sure there are no lumps. You're dad showed me how to check."

I sat up and looked at her. "Showed you?"

She giggled. "Okay, not showed me…told me. I've been there many times before, Sarge, so it's not like I'm violating you," she joked.

"Oh, baby, you're welcome to violate me anytime you want. So, Dr. Cullen, what's your diagnosis?" I asked as I pulled her into me and held her close.

"I think your nuts are in far better shape than your face. Why in hell did you let him beat the hell out of you? We both know you could have beaten him into a coma. You didn't have to do this, Edward," she told me as she rested her head on my chest the way I loved.

"I want you to be honest with me, and I've asked and you avoided it. Did. He. Hit. You?"

After a long silence, she finally exhaled and answered. "Yeah. Once. I threatened to shoot his ass because I still have the gun you bought me when we were at Ft. Bliss, and I registered it here. I didn't pull it on him or anything, but I told him if he ever touched me again, I'd shoot him.

"I was stupid, okay? I thought I could control the situation and offer Jared stability in his life which was sorely lacking, and I did for a while. I didn't do it for Jake. I did it for Jared because Edward, there's nobody who cares about that boy. He's the sweetest kid in the world, and he has nobody who looks out for him.

"I was trying to figure out how to make his situation better because I just can't stand it when a kid isn't being cared for, and Leah and Jake use him as a pawn against each other. I'd been trying to talk Jake's father into asking the Tribal Counsel to grant him custody because the reservation is a sovereign nation, not having to abide by the rules of the State. I promised Billy I'd help him take care of Jared because no child deserves to be treated the way that poor boy is treated, but he's wheelchair bound, and it would be tough for him," she told me, her voice full of emotion. I could see the tears in her eyes.

"In the beginning, I honestly thought Jake just needed someone to care about him and his son, and I did care, but later, I figured out Jake cared less about Jared than he did about anyone but himself, and I just couldn't let it go. That little boy needed someone to care about him."

"Come here, baby." I pulled her closer because she'd pulled away a little. The things she was saying weren't a surprise at all because I knew how Bella felt about children. If she saw a child in distress of any kind, she felt it was her responsibility to make it right. It was another thing I loved about her.

"Look, I know you…I know how you feel about kids, and how you'll do anything to rescue them, but maybe it's time to go to the Uleys. If they're so fucking worried about Jake and this shit that's gone down with him, maybe they can take the boy. If Black's father can't take care of him, maybe they can.

"I am going to press charges, Bella. Black's a loose-fucking-cannon, and I worry about what he'll do if he gets off without any punishment." I meant it, and I could see she knew it as her hand gently ran over my chest.

She also knew one more thing. We weren't done.

##

I stayed at Bella's for three days before I went back to my parents' home. After the first night I was at Bella's, she didn't sleep with me again, but I knew she checked on me at night. I could feel her kisses on my forehead and cheeks, though I didn't give it away because I didn't want it to stop.

On Wednesday, I climbed out of her bed, packed up my shit, and went to my parents' house while she was at school. I left her a note.

Bella,

Thank you for taking care of me. You didn't have to do it, but you've always taken care of me, haven't you?

I love you, as I've told you so many times. Nothing has changed. But, you deserve to live your life the way in which you choose, so I'll wait to hear from you regarding how you want things to go. I won't pressure you, babe. I owe you more than that.

Just so you know, I'll be moving from Mom and Dad's soon. My crap from Kentucky is going to be delivered, and I'll be busy working at the house every day. I plan to go to JC's game on Friday night in PA, so if you want a ride, call me.

Thank you again, Nurse Cullen.

Love,

Sarge

I tented it on the counter and locked the door before I walked out to my Tahoe, seeing her Tahoe and her Explorer both missing from the driveway. I wasn't sure what she'd decided to do about the car because conversation between us had been pretty generic, and I knew she was unsure about our relationship, along with a lot of other shit, so I kept it to topics related to her job and our kids.

A week later, I was sitting in my parents' kitchen with Charlie and Sam Uley. Jacob Black was out on bail, and I really prayed Bella hadn't paid it because of his kid.

"So, Master Sergeant Cullen, can I get your accounting of what happened that day?" Sam Uley asked.

I smirked. "I gave my statement to Chief Swan. I'm confused about why this is an issue for the police department on the reservation," I told him.

He was out for my head as much as Jacob Black because I'd gotten Uley's wife fired from her job at the hospital due to her inappropriate behavior. She called my wife a whore. That shit wouldn't go unchecked.

Sam looked at Charlie who shrugged. "I'm as confused as Edward. This didn't happen on the reservation, and I told you to call the Washington State Police, or even the Clallam County Sheriff's Office to take over if you thought we weren't being fair. Jacob resisted arrest, so aside from the assault and battery charges Edward's brought, I've got my own charges against him. There's also the destruction of city property because he kicked out the window in a FPD squad car." I didn't know about that, but I hoped they heaped on as much shit as possible.

"Charlie, you and I have always got along, and I know Mrs. Cullen is your daughter, but Jacob isn't one to fly off the handle like this. He's going to file charges against FPD and you, personally, for excessive force. I can't make sense of it," Sam Uley stated.

"EXCESSIVE FORCE? I pepper sprayed that idiot. Excessive force would have been pistol whipping him, but I held onto my temper and took the path of least resistance. You tell that little shit to file his fucking charges. I'm ready for him," Charlie balked, clearly pissed.

"Look, I understand it, but you have to understand, this just isn't like Jacob. He's a good guy, and he doesn't do shit like this," Uley stated again. I was pissed.

"Oh, he hit my wife, and you refuse to acknowledge it. Also, there's something going on with his son, Jared. Bella said the kid isn't being cared for properly. Maybe instead of trying to nail my ass to the cross, you oughta be looking into the way your cousin-in-law and Black take care of their son. If you really wanna make something right, step in and take that kid away from those two imbeciles.

"I also demand Black have blood drawn because he beat me with his bare hands, and blood was exchanged. As the victim, I should know if I have hepatitis or something similar to look forward to," I stated.

Charlie looked at me and smirked. I'd already shared my theory regarding steroids with him, and the fact the man had hit me should be enough for me to demand to know the status of his health.

"That's going to be something to take up with the Prosecutor's office, but Edward has every right to ask," Charlie stated.

"Blood work? Seriously?" Sam Uley snapped.

"I had a physical before I deployed last year. My results were clean. If Black has anything that's communicable, I should be told about it," I responded as I sipped my mother's coffee.

Sam shook his head and grabbed his paperwork, bundling everything up to leave. He turned to me. "You could have easily fought him off and ended it with one hit. Why didn't you fight back?"

I chuckled. "Because I'm going to bury that cheating, abusive bastard. He hit my wife, and she can't prove it, so I'll take care of it. Advise him to get a lawyer. After this is over, I'm going to come after him with a civil suit. He took advantage of Bella, and I'll take him for everything he has. Please, make sure to tell him," I stated as I walked him out.

After I slammed the door, I walked back to the kitchen. Thankfully, my nuts were okay and I wasn't limping anymore. My face had healed enough that I only had a little bruising around my left eye, and my nose was on the mend. I sat down and sipped my coffee, looking at Charlie for answers because Bella wasn't exactly talking to me about anything substantive.

I'd called her a few times and when we talked, it was about stupid shit. She wasn't going to talk to me about anything important, so once again, I backed away. It was eating me alive, but I had to hope she was thinking. I had to hope she was thinking about us.

"I have a feeling Black is going to jump bail," Charlie stated as he sipped his coffee.

"Honestly, I hope he does. I really don't want to have to take the beloved football coach to court, but I will. If he leaves town, I won't be unhappy, but if he's stupid enough to stick around, I'll be right there in court. How's your daughter?" I asked.

He sighed. "I don't know. I went by the house yesterday after she got home from school. I'm not sure what's going on with her. She asked about you, and when I told her she should ask you about you, she said, 'Dad, I doubt I'm the person Edward wants to hear from. If it wasn't for my stupidity, he and JC wouldn't…' What the hell does that mean?" he asked.

I looked at the clock and saw it was just about Bella's free period, and she and I needed to talk. "Well, I'm gonna go to school and talk to her. She's been avoiding me, and hell, I'm done with it," I told him.

He nodded and rose to leave. "Look, if Black doesn't jump, are you sure you're willing to follow through? There's a lot of talk around town that you couldn't hold your own against him. He's being built up as a really tough guy, having pretty much beaten the hell out of you. I understand why you did what you did, and I'm proud of you, but I can't say this won't look bad for you," Charlie stated.

"Charlie, is this your subtle way of telling me the locals think I'm a coward because I didn't fight back?" I asked.

He heaved a heavy sigh. "There's been some talk around town, and I've ignored it. It seems odd to people that a man who was in the Army for twenty years wouldn't defend himself."

"I don't give a shit what the people of this town think about me, Charlie. I did what I did because of what he did to Bella. She wouldn't want anyone knowing she was duped by that prick, so I'll take it. My shoulders are broad. I'll be fine," I told him.

He nodded and left the house, and I followed after him, stopping at the diner to get my bacon cheeseburger and fries and Bella's Cobb salad. I showed up at her classroom just as the bell rang and the students filed out.

"Sarge, what are you doing here?" she asked with a surprised smile.

"Well, you've been avoiding me, so I brought you lunch to see if we could have a discussion. You can have my bacon cheeseburger or the Cobb. Lady's choice," I told her as I plopped the bag on her desk.

"You look well. How's the house going?" she asked.

JC and I had been working at the house when we had time, and it was coming along. We were painting and fixing shit, and I thought we were doing well with building a better relationship. He talked about how excited he was to commit to a university. I was trying to sway him to Notre Dame, but he thought he wanted to stay nearby, and, really, I was glad to hear it for all of our sakes.

"I don't want to talk about the house, Bella. How are you?"

"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" she asked as she pulled the food from the bag and handed me my cheeseburger.

I didn't open it because she clearly wasn't fine. "What's wrong?" I asked.

She sighed. "Has JC talked to you about the shit he's going through?"

I pushed my box away because I thought Jasper and I had talked about everything. "We've talked a lot. What particular shit are you talking about?"

"He's getting harassed because you didn't fight back, and Jacob has been fired because of his arrest. The team…his friends…it's awful, Edward."

"Wait. Because I let a bully beat the shit out of me, my son is getting harassed?" I asked, not understanding it at all.

"I've been called to the office three times since it happened. JC's being called names, and he's getting into fights because you didn't fight back and everyone in the school is challenging him, and they're all making fun of him. Hell, Emmett's gotten into trouble because he's dating the town coward's daughter."

So, because I didn't beat Jacob Black into a bloody pulp at the side of the road, my son was dealing with the repercussions?

"Tell me what you want me to do, Bella. You and I both know I could have killed him if I'd have wanted, but I did what I thought you'd want. I took the beating and pressed charges because you couldn't. I won't back down on it. I'm at a loss how you want me to proceed.

"I'll gladly go to the reservation and beat him to an inch of his life, but that wasn't the point. The point was you didn't press charges when he hit you, so I made him hit me so I could. I don't know what to do," I told her frantically.

Just then, her door opened and JC and Emmett walked in. Jasper's nose was bleeding, and Emmett was holding a roll of toilet paper under it. "What happened?" Bella asked as she wheeled her chair over and Emmett shoved Jasper into it.

"TJ Crowley kissed Alice. He walked into the lunch room, picked her up and kissed her. Erica Scott told JC, and he hunted Crowley down and hit him. I broke it up and brought him in here. The principal is going to be looking for us because Mr. Molina saw it. I think he needs to go get checked out," Emmett reported.

When I decided to take a more passive approach regarding Jacob Black, I had no idea my son would bear the brunt of my actions. I seriously didn't give a shit if the whole town thought I was a coward, but I hated the fact Jasper's peers thought he was. I knew my son, and he didn't back down from anyone.

"It's my fault for not doing what I should have done, so I'll take him to the hospital. Babe, will you sign him out at the office?" I asked as I stood from the desk I'd taken in her classroom.

She pulled out tissues and handed them to JC. "Don't give this any play. I can promise you, in a year, this shit won't matter." She looked at me and smiled. I knew she was reminding me of things I'd said to her when we were going through hell way back when, and I winked at her.

"Come on. Grandpa can set it and you'll be fine, trust me," I told him as I touched the bump on my own nose.

I took him to the ER and called Dad who did exactly as I'd said. JC had to wear a face guard he didn't like when he played, but at the end of the day, he'd taken up for Alice when she'd been accosted by some jackass.

The apple…well, it didn't fall far.

##

As predicted, Jacob Black jumped bail. From what we could figure out, he'd gone back to Canada with his son and Leah after Sam Uley started poking around at the state of things regarding Black's son, Jared. Bella said she felt like a fool for everything Black had done, but I told her it wasn't worth it. Black made the decision to use her and then beat the hell out of me when his plan came to light, and well, he'd shown his true colors in the end. I didn't push anything with her regarding the fact I was right, but I was right about him.

The football team, well, they were flourishing under the guidance of Felix Franklin. He was the assistant coach who'd stepped up, and we were all a bit skeptical because he was the science teacher, but apparently, Black had been holding him back.

We found out Felix had played football for USC, but he didn't broadcast it. He had the strategy down, and the Spartans benefitted from it. I was glad it worked out that way because if the season would have sucked, the whole fucking town would have blamed me. I had, after all, been the person to make Jacob Black leave town.

Things at school got better for JC because he was having a really good season, and the fighting had stopped, thank God. I wasn't sure his beating the crap out of TJ Crowley, whose father Bella and I had gone to school with, hadn't scared the shit out of the other boys at school, but he said no one gave him any trouble, and I was glad to hear it.

There was a knock on the front door of my rental house, which was a relief because the movers were late after I had to head them off for another week due to all the drama in our lives. Instead of my things being dropped off first, they were being dropped off last. I opened the door and saw JC, Emmett, and Alice standing there with bright smiles on their faces. "Hey, gang. What's up?" I asked. It was eight o'clock on a Saturday morning, and I knew JC didn't roll his ass out of bed before noon on Saturdays when he had to go to work.

"We all have to work at noon, but we wanted to come by and help you with your stuff. They're not here yet?" Alice asked as the three of them came inside, Emmett with a donut hanging out of his mouth, unsurprisingly.

"Well, they were supposed to be here at seven, so I really don't have anything you can do yet. I cleaned yesterday, so that's done," I explained just as the large truck rolled up in front of my house.

"You three are lucky you don't have to go in until noon. I'll be right back," I told them. I walked out and talked to the driver and his helper, and then we proceeded to unload my shit. It was all crap, really, but it was what I'd accumulated after the divorce. When I left Washington to go to Kentucky, I left everything with Bella, opting to live on base in a furnished place for a while.

When I got sick of that, I found a small apartment and picked up some cheap furniture here and there, but I had the necessities…a bedroom set, table and chairs, couch, chair, end tables and coffee table. I had a shelving unit that doubled as an entertainment center and a book shelf. I had some kitchen stuff so I could feed myself, but that was about as much as I needed.

By ten-thirty we had everything off the truck, and I'd paid the movers, giving them a tip for keeping my shit on the truck for another week until I was ready for it. I went back inside to see Alice barking orders as she looked at the labels on the side of the boxes regarding contents. She had JC and Emmett fetching and carrying like no one I'd ever seen. She reminded me of Bella.

"So, Miss Brandon, where would you like me, ma'am?" I asked with a big smile.

"I thought I could help you place the furniture so it looks a little homier," she offered, shyly.

"Okay. Tell me what you want, where," I told her. She began directing me with placement of the couch, bookshelf/entertainment center, and the rest of the furniture in the living room. She was making a list of things I should get to add to the 'ambiance', her word not mine, to my new digs. I just smiled and nodded my head.

At eleven-fifteen, she had everything the way she wanted it, and the three of them gathered their stuff to leave. I offered to pay them, but none of them would take the money, so I told them I'd take them out to dinner the next time Rose came home.

"When can we get me a bed?" JC asked.

"I'll call your sister and find out when she's coming home again…"

"This coming weekend. Its Homecoming and she's coming to go with me to the dance," Emmett piped up.

"Wow, where's the time gone? I can't believe it's almost the middle of October. Okay, then we'll go on Sunday before Rose goes back to school. We'll follow her to PA and hit up a furniture store there, and then she can head back to school and you and I can come home," I offered. He nodded and headed for the door.

"Mr. C, Bella's gonna chaperone the dance. I'm on the committee, and she volunteered. She's allowed to bring a date, you know," Alice told me with a wink and a little dance I didn't understand.

I thought for a minute, remembering Homecoming our senior year. We went to the dance for an hour because I was in the Homecoming Court. After the coronation of king and queen, which I didn't get, thank God, we left and went to my parents' house. They went out to dinner with a group of friends, so we had the house to ourselves until Bella's curfew. We weren't having sex yet, but we found some very creative ways to pass the time. A damn fine blow job for the conquering hero and Homecoming prince was much better than going to a stupid after party at Mike Newton's house. Of course, I reciprocated with a very thorough tongue lashing. I was a generous, horny guy.

"That's good to know, Alice. Thanks guys for helping out. JC, Grandma wants us to come for dinner tomorrow night. You and Alice free? Emmett, you're welcome to come as well," I offered.

"Thanks, Mr. C, but I'm takin' my dad out to dinner for his birthday. He wants to talk to me, probably about the girlfriend he thinks I don't know about. Maybe another time? Your mom's a good cook, just like Mrs. C," he explained.

"Sure, Em. Anytime. Have a good day at work, everybody," I told them as I walked them out. Just as they were about to walk out, Alice turned to look at me.

"Sergeant Cullen, you're still officially in the Army, right?"

"Yeah, why?" I had no idea how JC could follow her thought process. The girl was all over the place.

"Well, the committee has been looking for military people for the honor guard before the game. It was going to be just the guys from the VFW, but if you've got your dress blues, I'd love it if you'd join them. I mean, it's JC's senior year, and I know he'd love it if you did it," she suggested.

I kind of him-hawed around for a minute before I answered. "Honey, I'm honored you asked, but the VFW might not want me to participate. Those old-timers like the limelight when they can get it," I told her with a smile.

"I'll square it. I know JC would love to have a picture of you and him together at the game. You're both embarking on big changes, and it would be a nice memory," she pushed. Damn, she is a lot like Bella. No wonder JC loves her so much.

"You talk to the VFW, and if they agree, I'll do it. Thanks for asking, Alice. Now go before you talk me into paying for your college," I teased. She actually hugged me and skipped off to Bella's Explorer parked behind my Tahoe. I was surprised Bella was letting JC drive it, but maybe the memories associated with it weren't ones she wanted to hang onto anymore? I hoped I was wrong, but our lack of communication of late led me to believe I might be right.

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E/N: So, we know why Bella did what she did. Edward's moving out of his parents' house. Thoughts?

Two quick things I want to clarify…someone asked why Bella all of a sudden wanted to have another baby. In the chapter 3, she mentioned she wanted another baby with Edward before they divorced, but she couldn't raise three on her own while he was in service. It was when she was explaining she wanted another baby with Black "because he was there," so it wasn't out of the blue.

Second, why doesn't Edward want to get the Army involved in this issue with Black, and wouldn't Black get in more trouble? Edward's just weeks from retirement, and he doesn't want to go through the red tape of an investigation in the event it would postpone his retirement. Also, Jake's a civilian, so he wouldn't get in trouble with the Army. He'd still have to go through the regular criminal process.

Okay? I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks for reading.

Till tomorrow…xoxo