Disclaimer: Everything twilight related belongs to Stephenie Meyer. I own the original content, ideas and intellectual property of this story. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 13

BPOV

I stared out the passenger window of Edward's car watching the scenery fly past, bringing me closer and closer to the hospital. It was cloudy, but there was no sign of rain, and it was clear from the increased number of people out walking that many were taking advantage of the weather. As I glimpsed them going about their day with such a degree of normalcy, I felt as if I were trapped on the outside looking in at the rest of the world, while everything in my world was standing on the very edge of a cliff on the verge of falling apart and into the darkness below. The only thing preventing the looming eternal darkness was Edward. He was my light in the dark. My glimmer of hope. My reason to fight.

I had to keep reminding myself of that reason as we got closer to the hospital and the rock of fear and dread in the pit of my stomach grew, requiring me to focus in order to breathe.

Edward had turned the radio on to a classical music station, probably in the hopes of soothing me. Unfortunately, it hadn't helped. The music finished, and the DJ's voice came on, stating that he hoped we were enjoying our Wednesday morning. Wednesday, I repeated in my head. That meant that it had only been just less than five days since I had realized that my best friend was a monster. I now viewed the world in a completely different way, and it felt like a lifetime ago instead of five days.

We pulled into a parking space in front of the hospital, and I froze in place, the rock in the pit of my stomach becoming so enormous that it felt as if it were keeping me rooted to the seat. What was I thinking? I couldn't do this. You have to. Be strong, I told myself. But I still couldn't move from my seat. I just stared down at my hands that were folded in my lap. I didn't even notice that Edward had gotten out of the car until he was opening my door and crouching down in front of me. "It'll be over soon, love. Just hang in there."

The tenderness in his voice was my undoing, and the words spilled out without a thought. "I'm scared," I whispered. Then I regretted it. I was so pathetic. I fumbled for the catch of my seatbelt, hoping to disguise the sudden moisture in my eyes, but the shaking of my hand had me struggling with even that simple task.

Edward's more much more capable hand reached over to release the catch before his arm drew me against his chest. "It'll be alright, little one," he murmured.

A strange choking sound came from my throat, and I swallowed hard, clutching him for a moment longer than I should before pulling away and forcing myself to step out of the car.

Edward took my hand in his, and I followed him to the entrance of Forks Community Hospital, gripping his hand tightly. Owing to the town's size, the hospital was not very large, which made it less intimidating.

On second thought, maybe not. As we made our way through the front entrance and toward the help desk, I suddenly felt like everyone was staring at me. Did they recognize me? In a town this size it wasn't extremely unlikely that people might recognize me, especially since I was the daughter of the police chief. I knew I looked terrible with the huge bruise across the side of my face. I gazed downward at my feet and unconsciously moved closer to Edward as he guided me to the end of the short line behind the front desk.

Once it was our turn, Edward stepped forward, and I heard a bored voice ask, "How may I help you?"

I looked up to see a middle-aged woman with short curly red hair sitting behind the counter. She was looking at Edward and didn't even appear to have noticed me, but as Edward spoke her gaze shifted toward me. "Dr. Forrest is expecting us for—"

"You must be Isabella Swan," she interrupted, the boredom in her voice now absent as she stared at me with what could only be pity.

I bit back my frustration. I didn't want or need her pity. I just wanted to be treated like everyone else. "Yes," I said, my tone almost sharp as I attempted to plaster on a fearless expression.

She analyzed me with a keen eye before addressing me again. "In cases like this we often call a crisis councilor to stay with you. Would you like me to call one for you?" she asked, her gaze flickering down to my hand that was gripping Edward's, and then upward again as she eyed him suspiciously.

"No, thank you," I answered quickly. The last thing I wanted was someone I didn't know trying to 'help' me.

She nodded before turning to type something into her computer and then said, "Unfortunately it'll be a fairly long wait before Dr. Forrest can see you." She looked over at me again. "But I understand that you're willing to report the assault, so perhaps I can call the police station, and they can come and speak with you while you wait."

The rock in my stomach expanded. I knew that there was no way that I would be able to avoid reporting to the police. Charlie would insist. I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself again, but the hospital smell of disinfectant hit me with potent force, and this time I didn't manage to keep my voice steady. "Y…Yes, okay." I felt Edward gently squeeze my hand and rub his thumb across the back of it in a soothing motion. I tried to focus on the feel of his touch instead of what I would soon have to do.

We were directed to the emergency department waiting area. It wasn't extremely crowded, but it was busy enough; just over half of the seats were filled. Edward and I managed to find two seats in the corner where no one was sitting directly beside us. Again, I could feel everyone's eyes on me, and I sank down into the padded chair with my arms hugging my stomach. After several minutes, I whispered to Edward, knowing that he would be able to hear their thoughts. "Everyone keeps staring at me. Do they recognize me?"

He leaned closer to me so that he could answer without anyone overhearing. "Most people aren't even paying any attention to us. The few that are staring, are staring at me." At my questioning look, he sighed. "They're suspicious that I'm abusive toward you."

My eyes widened. That explained the look the receptionist had given Edward. At that moment, I noticed that at the other end of the long hallway, a nurse was pointing two police officers in our direction. My heart rate sped up, and I felt my airways constrict as the panic set in. They were here already? No, no, no. I couldn't do this. I wasn't ready.

Edward's arm came around me. "Calm down, love. You don't need to tell them all the details," he whispered.

Yes. That's right. Calm down, Bella. Calm down, I chanted to myself. I wasn't reporting to the police hoping that they would be able to have Jacob arrested. I knew that that wouldn't be possible. I was only doing it to make Charlie happy and so that the hospital staff wouldn't have to try and push me into it. I didn't need to tell them all the details. The realization eased my panic, but my fear could not be eliminated, especially as the two officers drew nearer and I saw that one of them was a male. I found myself gripping Edward's shirt tightly. "D-don't leave me," I whispered.

"I'll stay as long as you want me to," he assured me.

"Isabella?"

I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. Knowing that wasn't an option, I forced myself to stand.

Edward stood as well. He placed his hand protectively on the small of my back, but then quickly pulled it away, and I thought I heard him whisper an apology. He took my hand instead, and I didn't really have time to think about his actions as we turned toward the officer that had spoken my name.

I didn't recognize her, for which I was grateful, though she would definitely know Charlie and that I was his daughter. She had shoulder length blonde hair and looked to be in her early to mid-thirties. She wore a business-like expression and had a no-nonsense air about her, but when her eyes fell on me, her expression softened.

Great, I thought sarcastically. Just what I needed; more pity. "Yes," I answered in what I hoped was a strong voice.

She glanced around, and then gestured for us to follow her. She led us into an unoccupied room, the other male officer trailing behind her. When we entered the room I glanced at him nervously. I didn't recognize him either. He looked young, most likely mid-twenties. He also appeared uninterested as he took a seat in one of the two available chairs and pulled out a notepad and paper. Edward and I sat on the empty bed while the female officer took the last remaining chair. She noticed me glancing over at the younger officer and said, "Don't mind him. You can just pretend he isn't here. He'll just be taking notes. Right, Jeremy?" He nodded, and she turned back to me and held out her hand. "I'm Cheryl," she said in a friendly voice. I could tell she was trying to ease my anxiety by appearing friendly and giving me her first name. It didn't really help, but, still, I couldn't refuse the handshake.

"Bella," I said while shaking her hand very briefly before pulling it away again and clasping my hands together in my lap.

"Okay, Bella. I was informed that you would like to report an act of sexual assault. Is this correct?" I nodded, and she continued. "First I would like to make sure you know that if you have been threatened by someone to keep something important a secret, or to lie, we will offer you protection. So don't be afraid to tell us the truth." Her gaze flickered to Edward. "Or to ask to speak with us alone."

When I saw the look she gave Edward, it hit me that once again he was being treated like the bad guy. I felt awful. I had already caused him enough trouble and now he had to put up with this as well? Not if I had any say in the matter.

I jerked to my feet suddenly, causing my battered body to painfully object, but I ignored it and glared at the offending officer in front of me. "Can't everyone stop thinking that Edward did this to me? ! He would never hurt or threaten me! And I want him to stay!" My hands were balled into fists at my side as I continued to glare, my eyes blazing.

Edward stood up and lightly touched my arm. "Bella, it's okay. You don't need to—"

"NO! It is not okay!" As my anger grew, a part of me knew that there was more fueling it than the initial trigger, but I didn't want to think about it. It was so much easier to hide my fear with rage. "JACOB BLACK did this to me!" I turned my flaming gaze to the officer taking notes. "DID YOU GET THAT?"

He just stared at me, frozen in shock.

"WRITE IT DOWN!" I thundered. Then I realized that I hadn't officially said what it was that Jacob had done. "He…r-raped me." There was a note of incredulity in my voice as I spoke the words for the first time, as if a part of me hadn't realized the truth of those words until voicing them aloud.

I suddenly felt horribly defeated, like I had somehow sealed my fate, and I swayed unsteadily on my feet. Edward's arms came around me, and I collapsed into him. He ended up supporting almost all my weight as he guided me back to sit on the bed. When I was seated again, I pulled away from him, ashamed. I knew I had overreacted with my outburst.

Cheryl…no, I couldn't call her that. It was too friendly. I wished she had told me her last name. Officer Cheryl spoke to me. "It's okay, hun. We believe you. We just needed to be sure." I forced myself to look at her, then I nodded. At my nod, she continued. "When was it that Jacob raped you?" she asked.

My hands were clasped together in my lap so tightly that my knuckles were turning white. Here come the questions, I thought with dread. Stay calm, I told myself. This wasn't even a difficult question. "Last Friday night," I answered.

"Tell me, Bella. What was your relationship with Jacob? Was he your boyfriend?"

"No, never," I answered quickly. "He…he was my best friend," I finished quietly.

She nodded before moving on. "Now you said the assault occurred on Friday, but where and at what time?"

I squeezed my hands together even more tightly and looked down. "I…um…went to see him at his house at around seven."

"And what happened when you got there?"

I suddenly felt sick to my stomach, and my hands became clammy. "I…already t-told you…what h-happened," I choked out. The last thing I wanted to do was think back to that day.

"Yes, but can you tell me a bit more information, hun?"

No, no. I didn't need to answer. I didn't have to tell them details. But her questions forced me to remember anyway, and I felt my eyes sting as I tried to hold back my tears. I had to be strong for Edward. I hated being so pathetic, but I realized that I wanted nothing more than to be in the one place that I always felt safe. Edward seemed to read my mind, and his arms came around me.

"For example, what events led to the assault?"

I heard the question, but before it could even register in my mind, Edward's body became rigid and he released his hold on me.

"What the hell kind of question is that?" he demanded with a hiss, springing to his feet. He towered over her, yet she didn't budge from her seat.

Her tone was calm, but I could detect hostility in her voice. "We need to know h—"

"That's enough! No more questions! Can't you see she can't take anymore?"

For a second she looked like she was going to argue, but then she thought better of it and sighed. "I suppose we have enough information to file a report. But the more information we have, the stronger her case against him. So when she's ready to tell us more, give us a call." She turned to me. "It was nice meeting you, Bella. I'm sorry it wasn't on better terms." She then left the room with the younger officer following behind her.

Edward turned back to face me, and I glimpsed the anger blazing in his eyes before they locked onto me and his expression softened.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

He closed the distance between us, dropping down beside me. "You don't need to apologize for anything, Bella."

He sounded so sincere that I could almost believe him. I felt myself gravitate toward him, and my head found his shoulder. He stroked my hair, and I closed my eyes, focusing on his touch.

Unfortunately, it couldn't last. "We need to go back and wait in the waiting room," he reminded me gently.

My stomach clenched again in fear and dread when I remembered that the worst of the trip to the hospital was still yet to come: the examination.

EPOV

I was still fuming at the officer's blatant lack of regard for how such a question might be viewed by a victim. What events led to the assault? Christ! A question like that would make Bella feel as if what had happened was her fault. It would make her think that she had done something to cause it. Clearly, they had no idea what they were doing, and I wondered why in hell Charlie hadn't sent someone more capable.

When the two officers finally left the room, my gaze fell to Bella again, my anger slipping away as I took in the paleness of her features.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Once again I was frustrated by her words. "You don't need to apologize for anything, Bella," I said firmly as I settled down beside her. I didn't reach out to comfort her this time, waiting instead to see if she would initiate the contact.

Tentatively, she leaned her head against my shoulder.

Well, it was definitely a start. I ran my fingers over her hair in response, trying to enjoy the moment of calm before the storm.

At the thought of the upcoming examination, I found myself inhaling an unsteady breath, fear crawling up from within me. What would the doctor find? Would it be serious? Would Bella suffer from a PTSD episode? Would she be rendered into a dissociative state again? Would she want me to stay with her? I was extremely worried about how Bella would handle the exam. But I had forgotten another very important question: would I be able to handle it?