Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended.

Beta'd by HollettLA.

HUGE thank you to CaraNo and her buddy! Mwah!

Offbeat

Chapter Thirteen: Rat Race Part Two

On our way back to the neighborhood, Central called us over to the house. Our CO—Vasquez—wanted to speak with me.

I rushed back, no questions asked, and I was fast to haul my ass into the captain's office.

As it turns out, he wanted to reprimand me for going off the grid. Honestly, it'd taken less than a half hour to bring Bella to my apartment. I wanted to make a comment about the powdered sugar on his shirt—the leftovers from the donut he'd been shoving down his throat—in lieu of helping his fellow officers find this scumbag.

But I didn't.

I also didn't need a shop-steward, someone from the PBA, as I wouldn't be written up.

Nevertheless, I wasted more time going to the precinct to speak to him than I did taking care of my girl.

Aggravated, I drove around my sector, and I'd asked Black to keep his own commentary to a minimum.

It was around ten p.m. when my partner finally opened his mouth. We'd been driving around, looking for this guy, and I was content to play Emmett's game—hang back while 78 Alpha answered all other calls. McCarty hates being paired with Whitlock for that reason. Jasper never ducks, always responds to dispatch, answering all calls. As senior officer, McCarty really can't say shit to Whitlock, even though he complains all the time.

"We gonna get dinner anytime soon? I'm starvin'," Black grumbled.

I had no idea why this felt personal, why I felt I needed to be the cop to get this fuck. "We're off in a few—you can eat then." We've yet to be asked to stay, and maybe I wouldn't be asked because of all the overtime I've already racked up.

But I have no problems volunteering. Especially since I'll still get paid, and this fucktard needed to be off the streets.

"Can you pull over? We'll park somewhere?" He opened his window all the way.

I nodded, thinking that a reasonable request. "Sure."

"Cullen…I-I'm sorry I wasn't faster before—"

I put my hand up to stop him. "Don't."

"No—"

"We've all lost someone—let a skell get by us. All right?" I quirked a brow. "No need to apologize."

"You seem upset," he whispered. "And I hate the tension…We're supposed to be partners, and…forget it." He left the car, walking toward the corner bodega. "You want something?"

I shook my head, content to listen to the radio—the white noise—as I tried to stay alert. "Coffee!" I'd changed my mind.

Black nodded, disappearing.

The tension he was speaking about is a me thing, as I can be standoffish. It has nothing to do with him. At the moment, I only have one objective in mind: catching this bastard.

"78 Beta, what's your sixty-one?" Central pinged us, wanting to know our status.

I rolled my eyes, thinking Vasquez was trying to keep tabs on me now. "Central, we're 10-98, on 97th and Third. Over." I told them we were resuming patrol.

"10-2—CO is requesting Officer Black on a rush." Vasquez wanted Jake. "We need a positive ID. Over."

"The rapist?" Excited, I jumped in my seat.

"10-4. Over."

I hopped out of the car. "Black!"

He poked his head out.

"We gotta go—now!" I hurried back to the RMP, and my partner was quick to reenter the car. As soon as he closed his door, I sped off.

Black jerked back with wide eyes. "Take it easy!"

I chuckled, stomping on the gas.

"I was just about to pay, too," he complained.

"You gotta ID that fuck." I rushed out, running the light when shit was clear.

"Whoa…What do you mean?"

I blew out a breath. "Everyone saw you go after him. You and whoever else were close enough, along with those women…you gotta pick him out of a lineup."

"I…I only saw the back of his head."

I slumped my shoulders.

"No, if I saw him again…" Black nodded.

When we arrived at the house, a few detectives accosted him, and I saw two of the victims from today. They sat in the lobby with other officers, and I wanted to call Bella—see how she was doing, but I didn't.

Since it was close to eleven, I just stood around—listening to Officer Sorenson regale others with his tale, how he caught the guy. Actually, the few who were on foot patrol were stopping anyone and everyone that fit the rapist's description.

While I had been taking care of Bella, the sketch composite had been completed and handed out.

I missed that.

That was probably when Vasquez noticed us missing.

I shook Officer Sorenson's hand, both grateful and relieved, although I hoped the right guy was in custody.

When I scoped Black entering the locker room, I followed after him. "How'd it go?" I asked.

He sighed. "I have a good feeling…I recognized him right away. It's not like they can tell me if it's really him or not?" Black chuckled, taking off his belt. "I heard the doc in the E.R before. There was semen present...It's open and shut. That dumb fuck'll be going back to prison...if that profiler was right about him just getting released." He sat on the bench, frowning. "If I caught him—"

"Let it go," I said as I opened my locker. "Let it go."

"Right."

After changing into my civvies and stuffing all my shit into my duffle, I approached Hale, wondering what was up with McCarty and Whitlock. She told me they took a last-minute call—an infamous bar fight.

That…two drunks duking it out on our beat was the only semblance of normalcy today had.

My whole tour consisted of speeding around—whether it was to patrol for the rapist or to care for Bella—and it seemed like the longest race ever...in a maze...and the walls were on fire, and there were huge grizzly bears at every turn wielding Tec-9s or some shit.

It was stressful, and it might be all over . . . God willing.

I was tired, fucking exhausted, and the silver lining?

My girl was at my apartment.

However, I didn't feel comfortable with her leaving until it was confirmed that the man we had in custody was the serial rapist from today.

"Take it easy," I told Black.

He turned to me. "You need a ride?"

Steps away from the bus stop, I thought about it.

"It's no trouble," he said.

"Okay," I agreed.

We hardly spoke, making no conversation as he drove toward my place in his old-ish Toyota.

"Are you…still looking for another apartment?" he asked.

"Yeah…sorry about that other spot. It sounded cool." The last place he approached me with was rented out from under him—before he could go back and inquire.

"I know we're not friends—"

"You find a nice place, lemme know." I shrugged. "It's cool. I got like…maybe two months before I need'a go." Even so, Emmett and Rose won't kick me out. They'll tolerate me until I find some place to live.

Black pulled up to the curb. "Today was . . ."

I patted his shoulder. "It was real." I left the car. "Thanks for the ride."

He saluted me and drove off.

The side of my mouth pulled up, and I shook my head, fast to enter my building.

Meeting Emmett at the academy, we built a rapport, we looked out for one another, and we'd just so happened to be looking for a place.

Being Jasper's partner and whatnot for so long, we grew close. It took a little while to get used to all of his singing, but he's a great guy.

At the end of the day, I don't…

I'm not very outgoing, nor do I ever speak about my life to my fellow officers.

I still looked at Black that way—not like he was my partner—like he was just another cop on my beat.

I'm not a prick either.

Tonight, I gave an inch.

That's enough.

Silver lining, I reminded myself, as I placed my key in the lock.

With a smile, I closed the door behind me to see Alice sitting on our couch. She turned to grin, but it wasn't her usual happy face. Something was wrong.

"Whitlock should be off soon…" I trailed off, my head whipping around for Bella. "Did she leave? Where…?" I walked toward the bedrooms.

"Edward!" Alice popped up, quick to grasp my bicep. "She's in your room."

"Oh." I nodded.

"Wait." Alice was nervous, staring up to me. "Just let Bella finish your room."

I laughed. "She's cleaning?" Feeling the need to stop her, I went for my room again.

"Edward—"

"What?" I turned to her cousin.

Alice huffed, her eyes falling to the floor. "After you left…well, ever since you gave me this." She grabbed my revolver from the coffee table. "When you told us about the rapist? Then she was worried about you going after the rapist…She was okay when you were around, but after you dropped us off and left, and she was out of her element..." She was skirting around something. "She's fine, though."

"O-kay." I took the gun from her.

"She needed something to do—something to occupy her mind. Even if you're here now…Edward, Bella has to finish." She bit her bottom lip.

Confused, I chuckled again. "They caught the guy—might have caught the guy." I didn't know what to say.

"It's done," she said. "She just has to finish cleaning your room—getting things in order. Don't be surprised when the whole room is rearranged." Alice was still frowning, now palming her stomach. "She started with the kitchen. I hope Rosalie won't be too upset."

"The kitchen's McCarty's thing." I furrowed my brow, turning for the hall again.

"Edward." Alice accosted me.

"What's the deal with that—that OCD shit? Is that…?" I didn't even know if I was asking the correct questions. "What happens if I stop her from cleaning?"

"It's just her process—how she handles things, but if you stop her, I mean, she might have to deal with her emotions?" she asked me, or that's what it sounded like.

I rolled my eyes. "I didn't bring her here to tidy up the place—fuck that."

"Um…" She stepped in front of me, stopping me once more. "You know Bella's…weird."

"She's not," I said.

Alice raised a brow. "Edward, come on…I know you noticed something when you first met her. Maybe you don't see it now…you know? There's…something off about my cousin."

I disagreed. "Look—"

"I know Bella…I know her. She's going to freak out if you stop her—she'll have a full-blown anxiety attack. That's what happens when there's nothing to occupy her mind. I know it happened that day at the zoo…and she told me you were great with her. But, if that happens again…and it'll be much worse this time—" Alice had tears in her eyes "—you'll break up with her, and I have no idea how she'll be after that."

Aggravated again, I massaged my forehead. "What are you talking about?"

All I knew for sure was that Bella was a few feet from me—less than ten and behind a door—and I wanted no distance between us. I wanted to be with my girl.

"When she was around two years old, Bella was diagnosed with Aspergers, but…" she'd brought her voice down "—it was kind of a misdiagnosis."

"Bella had, what?" I shook my head.

Alice walked farther away from the back hall, taking me with her. "She only presented with a few of the main signs, but then over the years…she got better, mainstreamed. When her mother moved from Washington to Arizona, she didn't even put Bella in a special school. Bella was able to catch up to her peers; meanwhile, she was ten times smarter than kids her own age," she laughed. "But…she's still…albeit slightly…on the spectrum."

Alice grabbed my hand. "She's totally normal." She scoffed the last word. "What the fuck is normal anyway? But you get what I'm saying—she's not different. She understands sarcasm, and she can look people in the eyes now…They say she's very, very, very high-functioning."

"What?" I still didn't understand. "What spectrum?"

"Autism," she whispered. "But she's not autistic." She blew out a breath. "I'm not making a lot of sense." Alice palmed her face. "She's normal with a few quirks. That's what we call it. She can obviously have relationships, interact…well, sort of. I'm sure you remember how she was when you first met her. Then she grew to be comfortable around you. Edward, when she's with you…my God, she's so much better than she's ever been."

"Autism?" I didn't know much about it at all, although I knew it was some sort of mental impairment.

"No…she's not autistic. Geez. Don't tell Bella I said that. She'll . . ." Alice gulped. "She's got a few quirks. The doctor who'd diagnosed her…I mean, when she was a kid she was just delayed." She nodded, smiling. "But she caught up, went to regular school. We don't treat her any different, except for Charlie. He's obviously overprotective, but there was no talking Bella out of coming here—to New York." She rambled. "You know Bella. She's flirty and funny, and she can be outgoing…but...only when it comes to you."

With a sense of longing, I stared at my bedroom door. "We all have…issues, quirks." I had no idea how to reply.

"Exactly!" Alice was bubbly again. "You understand?"

"Yeah," I whispered.

She pointed to the TV and sat back down on the couch. "I made some popcorn." She showed me the bowl. "I was about to watch a movie—"

"I'm good." Without another word, I opened my bedroom door.

I heard Alice rushing to follow after me, but I'd paused in the doorway.

My bed was on the opposite side of the room. My dresser was where my bed used to be. Bella fixed the sheet I was using as a curtain, and she was currently sitting on the floor with my piles of sheet music.

"Hey," I said.

"Edward just wanted to say hello." Alice stepped in front of me.

Bella nodded, making her body rock as she kept her back to us. "Hello."

I grinned, crouching down at her side to place my hand on hers. "You can stop."

Bella ignored me, continuing her task.

"Edward…" Alice pulled on my shoulder. "Come on. Leave her be."

I shrugged her off, my gaze never leaving Bella. "Hey…" I placed her hair behind her ear.

Bella moved away from my touch. "I can't—"

"You can stop," I said, my hand holding hers.

"No." She jerked away once more.

I looked back to Alice, and she shook her head no.

My eyes found Bella again. "Bella, hey…" I wanted her attention.

When she continued to ignore me, my stomach knotted up, worry and anxiety flowing through me.

Thinking Bella could be sick—that her odd mannerisms were more than quirks—fucking scared me.

"Look at me." I kneeled in front of her, gently placing my hand on her shoulder. "Bella, stop this—" I snatched the sheet music away from her.

She still wouldn't meet my gaze, her fingers now vigorously tapping against the floor. "He doesn't understand. He doesn't understand," she said twice.

"No," Alice answered her.

"Hey…" I carefully palmed Bella's cheek. "We caught the guy. He can't hurt you—there's no way he can. That's—that's why you can stop." I thought that's what she needed to hear, that'd make it better. "I understand. That's why you can stop." I leaned forward, my nose touching hers.

"I'm not crazy—I know what you're thinking." Tears welled up in her eyes that were focused on my shoulder. "I know."

"I'm not thinking anything." I enveloped her in a tight bear hug, looking back to her cousin, who seemed just as worried. Alice's eyes were wide, and I knew it was because we'd gone off script—I had. I'd thrown a wrench in whatever ways Bella is used to coping with shit.

Truth be told, I didn't know what was up or down. I know nothing of spectrums, what Alice prattled on about.

I didn't know anything, but Bella's behavior in the moment was scaring me.

She needed to stop.

"You're okay." I kissed her hair, and I expected Bella to cry, do something, but she didn't do anything. She just let me hold her, although she was stiff in my embrace.

"Please, Edward," Alice whispered behind me. "Just let her..."

At a loss, my shoulders slumped; I backed away a foot or two, and looked helplessly to Bella.

Automatically, almost like a robot, she continued sorting the sheet music, gathering the pages into a neat pile.

And as the seconds ticked by, it was easy to tell she was calming down further.

That, in and of itself, was a relief to me.

Once she was done, she nodded to herself, and I couldn't stand the distance anymore.

I hugged her again, noting that she was slightly less rigid now. But not completely at ease.

"I can go home now." She went to push me away. "You want me to leave. It's okay—"

"No!" I nearly shouted. "I want you here with me…because—" There were plenty of reasons why I wanted—no, I needed her here, and now I was also stuck. I didn't know what to do. "Only leave if you wanna." I rocked us, hugging her tightly.

"I'm not crazy." Her voice was emotional, and I pulled back to see the tearstains on her cheeks.

"I know that," I whispered, gazing into those eyes. They weren't focused on my own, but . . . "We should try to get some sleep. I bet you're tired. You know?"

Between her studying and worrying about rapists, and it was late, I hoped that with some cuddling and sleep that Bella would wake up and be the usual Bella that I know.

"I have to blow my nose." Bella left me, faster to leave the room.

I chased after her, but then she closed the bathroom door.

"Wow...she's never calmed down so quickly before. Once, I barged in on her when she was close to having an attack, and she started screaming and clawing at herself," Alice said.

My eyes widened; hearing that broke my heart.

"Um..." She grimaced, pushing her hair back. "I only said that so you'd know how bad it can get. It's no big deal, letting her finish whatever task. You know? Millions of people have anxiety disorders, and hers is only secondary to...I mean, it's because of..." Alice just stopped talking.

"What—" I felt like the dumbest fucker on the planet since I had no knowledge of what she was talking about.

Alice nudged my arm. "I bet when she leaves the bathroom, she'll be the Bella from earlier—at least well on her way to the one you know. She just…has her own way of dealing. She's fine," she sighed, going into the living room. "She trusts you, Edward." Alice smiled at me again, but it was placating? Encouraging? "I've never seen my cousin so comfortable with someone who…wasn't family, and she says your mom made her feel safe, too—comfortable. Trust is very important to her," she giggled. "It should be important to us all . . . Don't treat her any different, and don't pretend that all didn't happen in there. You can talk about it." She gestured to my bedroom. "I should call Jazzy—see what he's doing."

I looked at my watch, and I couldn't believe it was only going on midnight. Between hitching a ride and getting off before shift ended . . . meanwhile, that whole ordeal with talking to Alice and then Bella . . . it felt longer than that.

"Don't treat her any differently," Alice said again as an afterthought.

"No…I wouldn't." I stood in the hall, waiting for Bella.

To be honest, if all Bella does when she gets upset is clean…? I mean, I've seen some crazy bitch fits over the years—between my mother and Kate, and even my nieces. Bella's never done any of that. She doesn't cry or bitch me out, like other women in my life do. Bella's strong, an amazing person.

The only time I'd seen her sob was when I was drunk that one night, which seemed like a lifetime ago—the night I snuck into her bed. When I couldn't get over what I'd done, mortified, Bella admitted that . . .

She saw that I was angry and drunk, and she started to cry to calm me down.

Bella's a fucking genius, too. I have no idea how she knew that would work, but it did.

"We all have issues, like you said."

I nodded, whipping around when Bella opened the bathroom door.

She lingered in there, and I could tell she was afraid, so I stepped forward.

"I was scared before, too," I explained, not wanting her to feel ashamed or whatever.

"I know," she whispered. "You never think about stuff like that. You never think anything like that can ever happen to you…until it does. No one is immune to the messed up things in this world." Bella licked her lips, her eyes finally meeting mine.

"You're right." I smiled because my girl's . . . always right.

"But we can't dwell on those things. If we do, life won't be worth living." She came toward me. "And you have to leave work stuff on the beat." She stared up at me. "You can't save everyone. You need to know that."

I nodded, bending low to nip those lips. "I missed you."

She grinned, reaching to hold my cheek. "You need to shave."

I laughed, agreeing.

"I missed you, too," she said.

Not wanting to tiptoe around anymore, I pulled her into my arms again—reveling in her touch, her body pressed to mine.

In my mind, Bella was perfect, perfect for me, someone who actually understood me.

"Stay here tonight. You don't have school tomorrow." I kissed down her neck.

Bella whimpered a good whimper, tilting her head. "Alice—"

"She can stay, too, but I bet Jazz comes to get her. You trust me, right?"

"I do." Her short response made me smile.

"You'll be cool without Alice for the night...if she decides to leave."

"I don't need Alice for anything. I was just worried about her." She huffed a breath, not looking at me again. "I'm perfectly capable—"

I turned her chin back to me. "Baby..." I peppered her cheek with kisses, and she giggled. "You can do anything—you're capable of doing anything." I shrugged. "But I hope you stay."

"I'm sorry. I'm used to people judging and—"

"I'm not people. I'm your boyfriend." I crashed my lips to hers, and Bella became overzealous—her body molding to mine. "Please, stay."

"All right," she agreed.

Thank you for reading.

Please leave me your thoughts.

Some terms you might not be familiar with:

CO - Commanding Officer

RMP - Their squad car

Civvies - Civilian clothes/regular clothes, as officers get changed into their uniforms at the precinct.

And when I say, "go back to the house" that means the precinct.

Codes:

10-61 - status/which assignment, basically inquiring as to what they're doing.

10-98 - on patrol but available to take a call/assignment

10-2 - return to the precinct

10-4 - acknowledgement/agreement