CHAPTER TWENTY

(BPOV)

The drive to the station felt as if it took hours instead of just minutes and by the time we were parked, I wanted to be sick. Jacob had taken a tight hold on my hand the moment we climbed into my dads cruiser, his presence alone being enough to bring down my sense of panic a few notches. I didn't want to relive everything all over again and I hated the fact that Damien still had that kind of control over me... even from miles away.

"You ready?" Jacob whispered from beside me, his dark eyes sweeping over my face with a concerned look that told me he already knew my answer. "I'll be with you. The whole time. Promise."

"I don't know if I can do this." I softly admitted to him, as Charlie jumped out of the cruiser and strolled up to the entrance of the station.

"You're strong, honey. Stronger than you think. I know you can."

His confidence in my own ability astounded me and I was reminded for the hundredth time why it was I loved him so damn much. If there was ever such a thing as a soul mate, I knew I had mine next to me. We evened each other out and understood one another without much effort.

"What if-"

"I'll be here." He replied, reaching back for my hand again when he exited the car. I drew in a shaky breath and saw Charlie motion for us to get a move on while he held open the door.

Jacob wrapped an arm around my shoulders and I tucked myself in close to him, each step making my legs feel as if they were made of concrete.

"I don't know what I'd do without you..." I sighed, watching my weary footsteps on the ground below.

"Same." Jacob softly replied, his eyes narrowing some as an officer approached my father and spoke in a low tone to him.

I watched as Charlie straightened and nodded in response, his look more worrisome now than before as we entered the building.

"This way kiddo." He instructed, pointing toward the long hallway that led to his desk.

My heart started to race as we continued on behind him, the memories of Damien making my skin crawl and my stomach churn.

Charlie was quick to pull out a few chairs and request us both to take a seat. My eyes followed his movements when he whipped out a pen and reached in his drawer for a large stack of papers.

"I won't be the one conducting the interview. Officer McAvoy will be. He's worked here two years now. I'm not allowed to be near this case due to the conflict of personal interest. You being my daughter and all... tends to make things a bit tricky here."

I saw the new officer approach Charlie's desk with caution, his soft blue eyes and young face giving away his rookie status as he reached out a hand to Jacob first.

"I'm officer McAvoy. Nice to meet you."

Jacob stood up to full height and firmly shook his offered hand, the two of them having what appeared to be some sort of silent conversation as Charlie finished filling out the needed papers.

"I'm Jacob Black. This is Bella Swan."

Officer McAvoy soon extended his hand my way and I shook it, my eyes now glued to the shiny badge he wore.

"You two are in good hands. McAvoy is one of the best newbies we have around here. Ain't that right, kid?" Charlie huffed, sliding the stack of papers and pen his way.

"Yes Sir, Chief Swan."

Jacob and I followed him further down the hall, and I soon felt all the color leave my face, as officer McAvoy turned left and lead us into another small room. He casually plopped down the stack of papers and pen and offered us a beverage of our choice. We kindly declined.

"Let's get started. These things can take a while sometimes. The faster we get the report out the better."

Over the next hour, I answered what felt like a hundred different questions. All of them focused around Damien, his abusive manor toward me and when it all started. He asked me about his job, some of the details of it and where his popular hang outs were in New York. He asked me about his parents, where they were from and what business they did in the big city. As the questioning continued, my anxiety began to hit a new level.

"At any time did Damien touch you sexually without consent?"

I closed my eyes and felt Jacobs whole body go rigid beside me, his hand leaving mine as I stood from the seat and tried to drag air back into my lungs so I could formulate an answer.

"Yes."

"More than one time? What was the nature of it?"

I nodded and leaned against the wall for support as the vivid memories flooded through my mind, leaving me sick to my stomach and on the verge of tears.

"Would you classify this as forced? Did the action make you feel violated?"

I shuddered as the memory of the last night I had with Damien creeped back into my head.

His hardened hands on my skin... the tearing of my dress... his forceful grip on my hair...

"Miss Swan?" Officer McAvoy hedged, his eyes going to me again with expectancy. "Would you classify this as forced?"

Tears streamed down my face as I rose my head to meet his stare. The words leaving my mouth in a rushed mumble now.

"He raped me."

I pressed my back further into the wall and tried to remain standing on shaky legs, my vision blurred from the tears that wouldn't stop. My arms began to wrap themselves around my midsection, an instinctual response of mine in a vein and futile attempt to hold myself together. I felt my legs grow weaker as the images bombarded my mind all the more.

… The scream that wanted to leave me when Damien held me down and forced me to submit to him...

"How many times was the touching done without the giving of your consent?"

"I... I- I don't know... Too many for me to keep count of." I sobbed, the sound of my own voice sounding choked as I tried to stop the tears. Every question now bringing with it a fresh memory that hit me like a physical whip. I gasped as warm hands suddenly took hold of my arms.

Jacobs eyes were full of a torment I had never seen as he took hold of me and told Officer McAvoy that I needed a minute. The officer kindly complied and left us alone. He told us he would return in a few minutes and to take all the time I needed. When the door closed, I let out a cry that made me physically weak and clung to Jacob. In all of our running and trying to stay one step ahead of Damien, I hadn't ever stopped long enough to feel like this.

All the times he had slapped me... all the marks he had left … all the nights I had cried myself to sleep... all the times he had made me feel dirty...

Jacob tightened his arms around me as the weight of it all plowed into me like a speeding freight train. I buried my face in his chest and felt the warmth that enveloped me as my tears ran down my cheeks. He didn't say anything, or offer useless words of sympathy, because he knew there was nothing he could say that would ease this hurt for me. Instead, he pressed me to him and let me cry, placing a kiss into my hair as I took shelter in his embrace.

After a few more minutes, officer McAvoy returned and agreed with Jacob that we could regroup another day if needed. He handed the paperwork to Charlie as we passed him in the hall, my eyes red rimmed and my body feeling worn out from the afternoon. I let Jacob lead me outside, the cold air giving me a second wind as we left the station.

A/N: Hello my awesome readers. Thank you for sticking with me! Feel free to leave a review for this chapter and look for another update soon! Till Next Time...