I was digging around in the SUV for the adrenalin shots to awaken Pudge, when Emmett finally dropped some coherent conversation on me. "Pita, those shots are for much larger animals and I don't exactly make sure the dosing is correct."

Of course, Emmett was usually drugging animals that would be dead in moments. I started panicking in my head when I overheard Edward, "Jazz meet us at Carlisle's office, he needs to attend to Sasha's dog."

I hopped in the backseat with Pudge on my lap. She was snoring softly. I sniffed her fur again and stroked her blond shaggy head. It was overwhelming to be touching her. I was endlessly homesick for my loved ones.

The dark interior of the plush SUV got even darker as Emmett pulled into the underground parking for the hospital.

Emmett grabbed a ticket from the dispenser, and the action struck me a horribly ordinary. In the middle of vampires and murders, we had to make sure to pay our parking fees.

Edward seemed deep in thought, which could not be good. Emmett pulled a duffle bag and a huge sweatshirt out of the trunk. I was standing next to the SUV holding my dog when Emmett tried to take her from me.

I growled and bared my teeth.

"Calm down, Cugo, we can't bring a dog into the hospital, so we will sneak her in."

I allowed Emmett to take her and he put her in the duffle bag so gently, you would think she was made of glass. It warmed my heart and I felt less like attacking him.

Edward absent-mindly helped me into Emmett's huge sweatshirt.

I am not cold and this thing is ugly.

"You look great in anything, but a human would be cold in a sundress in the hospital." Edward held me around my waist and headed for the elevator.

By the time we reached Carlisle's office, Jasper was already there. The doctor took the duffle bag carefully while Edward quickly cleaned off Carlisle's desk. Pudge was uncovered and given an injection by Carlisle. I could not help but notice the finesse and alarming difference in Emmett and Carlisle's technique.

Emmett looked at my accusing stare and guessed what I was thinking. He threw up his hands.

"Pita, they are about to die, do you think they care if the shot hurts?" Emmett shook his head

I shrugged. "Yes."

"You're annoying." He flopped in the nearby chair.

As soon as Pudge came around, Carlisle administered a second drug.

Carlisle addressed me like I was a concerned mother, "Sasha, I just gave Pudge a sedative, I would like to keep her here to monitor her."

I trusted Carlisle. We all waited in silence. Edward was nodding and shaking his head to various thoughts.

Finally, he turned toward me. "Sasha, I found some disturbing things in Rick's brain and I would like to discuss it with Carlisle and Jasper before presenting it to you. I do have good news. We have about a month before Rick can act against you or your family again."

How can you be so sure?

"You're going to have to trust me." He came to put his hands lightly on my face.

I trust you.

Edward kept his eyes on mine while addressing Emmett, "Emmett, can you take Sasha home please?"

"You got the dog?" Emmett asked Carlisle.

"Yes, I will bring Pudge back to Jean as soon as I get to observe her for a bit.

No. No. Edward, I want to keep her. Please.

He nodded once and gave me a gentle kiss.

"Carlisle, that dog has a malfunction and is not afraid of our kind. Do you think it would be possible for Sasha to keep her?" Edward had turned to face his father, but kept a hand touching my arm.

"Sure, I will bring her to the Penthouse then."

I didn't want to leave. I wanted to hear what Rick had stored in his decrepit brain.

"Please, let me work this out. I won't edit anything when I tell you. I promise." I blew a frustrated breathe into the air.

Fine. I will see you home.

"Be safe." I nodded at his final order. Emmett herded me out the door and down to the SUV.

He hopped into the driver's side and revved the engine to life. I just watched.

I didn't want to get in. The electric passenger side window rolled down.

"Get in, Pita." He narrowed his eyes trying to figure out what I was doing.

I wouldn't get in.

"Did you need a refresher course on opening doors?" He thought maybe I was playing a game. We always played games.

Emmett hopped out and came around the vehicle. "What the hell is happening here? Are you pulling some girly crap?"

"I want to go home." It came out of my heart.

"That's good, because that's where this bus is headed." He was looking more perplexed.

"No. Emmett, I want to go Home." I emphasized the important word.

"Hey, baby girl, you know that is not possible." Emmett spoke with a kindness I didn't know he possessed.

I stepped forward and took his massive hand in mine. "I want to just see them. I want to see Jean. Please, take me there." I looked into his reluctant face.

So close to him, Emmett smelled like my new home. I remembered the words of evil Rick "I know they are holding you against your will. I have seen the big one dragging you around by your neck. It is beastly"

I tried again, "Emmett, am I being kept safe or just being kept?"

I saw a multitude of emotions change his handsome face, until it settled on resignation.

"Get in, we won't have long until Alice sees what we are doing." He was headed around the SUV, it was rolling already as I slid into my tall seat.

Emmett speed through the city like he was on the way to dismantle a bomb. He kept rubbing his hand on his neck and leaning forward to look up at the tall buildings.

I noticed the sun that had pressed Edward against me had hid its guilty face. The clouds were thicker and looked deep grey.

Emmett parked the SUV around the block from the Trump Place building. He grabbed his hat from the gearshift it was dangling on and tossed it to me. "Hide your hair."

He yanked open the passenger door, grabbed my arm and dragged me over to the service door. I looked around to see where he had brought me. We were in apparently trying to break into the building across the street from my human apartment. Emmett would let me see Jean, but just from a distance. I could take that.

We heard some rustling behind the service door.

"Don't slap me," was all the warning Emmett gave me before he went to second base on me and seemed to be attempting third with his other hand.

I got out a shocked, "Sto" but my "p" got swallowed in Emmett's aggressive kiss.

I saw a small man wrestling some garbage bags out of the corner of my eye.

He took in the sight of Emmett groping me and muttered, "Stupid kids" before heading to the dumpster.

Emmett's hand left my thigh and shot out to catch the door. He was pushing me through the bottom floor of the unfamiliar building.

We darted into an elevator, and as the door closed, Emmett pointed to the panel of number buttons. I pushed fifteen, figuring it might correspond with the floors on my building. As soon as the doors sealed closed, my hand was headed for Emmett's face. He caught my wrist and waggled his eyebrows at me, "I said no slapping."

"That isn't like calling 'dibs' or 'shotgun'. You grab boob, you'll pay the price." I feigned punching him with my other hand and kneed him between the legs instead.

"Son of a Bitch!" Emmett released me to grab his situation.

"You couldn't think of anything else to do? Edward's going to rip you balls off," I was stalking around the small space of the elevator as it ascended.

Emmett was still hunched over, "Rosalie is going to rip yours off."

He has a point there. Emmett put one hand on the metal interior of our electric chariot and glared at me.

"I needed whoever came out of the door to go on their merry way. Nothing makes people more uncomfortable than witnessing a good fondling." He was able to stand all the way up.

"You could have just growled at him." I was feeling a little bad for kneeing him so hard.

"Then, the guy would have run back in the building." He shook his head at my lack of foresight.

The elevator dinged and the doors slid open.

He motioned for me to go ahead of him, I took the bait and headed out the door.

I heard the air whooshing just an instant before I felt the smack to the back of my head.

"You're an ass." I rubbed the now throbbing part of my skull. We were in what seemed an activities and amenities floor. It was deserted, the occupants of the building obviously out earning the rent.

I pointed to the door that I thought might give us a glimpse into my human apartment. It was the entrance to the workout room. I was expecting a fancy vampire trick, when Emmett simply kicked in the door.

He motioned to me again and I shook my head. He could go first.

He refused. We wound up going through at the same moment, slapping each other silly the whole time.

"Enough!" Emmett stepped away and I straightened my baggy sweatshirt. "We do not have time for your childish games. Do this now before I regret it more then I already do."

Hearing Emmett be so sensible put a little shame into me. I was acting like a jerk. I walked over to the window. The stationary bikes were lined up like soldiers with a nice view of the outdoors. My apartment was easily visible. Come to think of it, so was my bedroom.

Emmett put it all together. "These windows here are tinted. You had no idea they were looking into your apartment." His voice had raised an octave with delight. "Hope you had your blinds closed when you were changing."

When he saw the apprehension on my face he busted out laughing.

I started throwing weights at him, which he caught easily while cackling at my embarrassment.

I glanced back at my old place and saw my sister trudging in her front door.

I got quiet when I saw her desolate face. I walked to the window and put my hands on it. It was the closest I could get to hugging her.

I felt Emmett standing soundlessly behind me.

Jean had an armful of flyers with Pudge's picture on them.

Of course she is looking for Pudge. She had no idea the dog was fine.

"Emmett." I could think of nothing else to say.

He pulled me into a very brotherly hug. I kept my eyes on Jean, but his arms helped me feel less alone.

The ringing phone sent my sister springing for the handset.

"Hello!" Her anxiousness had me hoping it wasn't a telemarketer. Jean would rip them a new asshole.

Despite my great hearing, the voice on the headset was not audible.

"No, Mom, no word on Sasha. Pudge took off at the dog park after a squirrel. I am looking for them both now." Her anguish was torture.

"I'm right here. Jean. I'm right here." I whispered into Emmett' massive chest. My voice was thick with tears that my venom evaporated.

Emmett pulled me away. "Stay right here. Promise." He was serious.

"I promise." I was perplexed as he ran from the room.

I watched my sister listen to my mother cry. I knew why Edward had kept me away. This was worse then wondering. Knowing my family's pain and seeing it with my own eyes just made the deep wound deeper.

Emmett was behind me again.

He spoke into the top of my head. "Call her, tell her you're alive."

"Whhhaat?" I faced him.

"Quickly, we have almost no time now. Be vague, don't let on what has happened to you. Do it now, or your choice will be made for you." He was holding out quite possibly the oldest cell phone I had ever seen.

"Where did you go to get this, 1990?" I was still in shock over his simple idea.

"Wiseass, do it now." I dialed my own phone number and watched as Jean hit the flash button for call waiting.

"Hello?" She was hopeful for news of Pudge.

"Jean, it's me Sasha. I am alive and I have Pudge, she is fine. I can't tell you what has happened to me, but I am safe." I added my prayer out loud "Believe me."

Jean was always so practical. She got right to the point. "Tell me what got you through the nights as a kid."

I smiled at the fight we had a million times. "You did. When I was scared of my ghosts, you would let me sleep in your room and I would bring every single stuffed animal I had and make a giant nest for myself in your bed. And you always let me. You never turned me away." I watched as Jean's beautiful face registered relief. Tears of joy wet her cheeks.

"I believe you." She took a steadying breath. "Sasha do you need help?"

"Jean, I am working on keeping you and Mom and Dad safe, but you must be very careful. I have friends where I am. I may not ever to be able to see you again. But I love you. Tell Mom and Dad I love them so much." Emmett slid the phone from my grasp and crumpled it into a pile of metal ashes.

I watched as my sister excitedly clicked the phone back to my mother's line. The news was delivered.

Hope. I gave them hope.

"Emmett, I can't thank you enough." I hugged him again. He patted my back sweetly.

"Edward." Emmett threw the greeting onto my hair.

"Ladies." I looked at a very irritated Edward.

Emmett took the blame, "Hey, bro this was my idea."

Edward was speaking to Emmett but looking into my eyes, "I was here before she made the call."

Emmett gave Edward a nod and headed for the door.

As an afterthought he stopped right next to Edward. "Dude, I'm sorry I felt up your girl. She is a good kisser and has a nice rack." Emmett held up his fist.

Edward concentrated on both of our minds, I could feel the comfort trickling in. I pictured the incident from start to end.

Edward met the fist with his own. Forgiveness.

Emmett left without turning around.

Edward gave me a sweet smile. "You do know you are free to leave. We are not keeping you."

Oh. I am being dismissed. The Cullens are done with me.

"Absolutely not. I heard your question to Emmett about being kept. I truly hope you know the answer to that question." He was talking careful steps towards me, his hands held in a non-confrontational way.

I could only go if you made me leave. When my heart is close to yours, I ,here I could not find the right words, so I filled my mind with images, swirly, perfect warmth, with Edward at the center.

"Sasha," with may name I found myself in his arms. I looked up at his flawless face and he was distressed.

"What if your feelings are not as authentic as your think? What if, because you perceive me as a captor, these feelings are misplaced loyalty?" He was voicing a great fear.

"Stockholm Syndrome?" I spoke out loud in my surprise. "I wrote a paper on that in college. I can say with absolute certainty, my feelings for you are original and unprovoked." Edward's eyes became hooded with intent. I lifted my face happily to his.

"Keep your eyes open," He said it into my lips, so I watched him as he kissed me.

I was ready to make good use of the weight bench when Edward broke my passion. "The Police are on the elevator, so right now might not be the best time."

The look on his face told me I could convince him that an audience of armed men would be just fine.

Let's get out of here.

Edward put his arm around my shoulders. We started walking the hallway like we were taking a casual stroll, as five officers rushed past us to the workout room.

Edward held open the stairwell door for me. Then, out of sight, we were full speed vampires to the bottom floor door.

We were heading out the same door Emmett and I had sneaked in, when Edward whispered, "We have company." He pulled me against him, "Kiss me."

For the second time that day I was happy to grant his wish. He kept chuckling.

I was curious until I saw the same man that had spotted Emmett and I, watching me and Edward smooching.

You sneaky man. You set me up.

Edward made an elaborate show of grabbing my thigh just like Emmett had.

The human man cleared his throat, "Um, does she take cash for that?"

I was shaking my head, ready to laugh, when Edward's hand shot out and grabbed the man by his throat.

Edward was threatening the man's life and yet still casually leaning against the wall with me against him.

"Apologize to the lady." His voice was made of pure swashbuckling sexiness.

Damn. Where is that weight bench?

The doomed man wet his pants. Edward released his iron grip and let the man fall to the ground, "Good enough."

Edward held the exit door open for me.

I winked at Edward and gave the man a stage whisper "Not just cash, I take credit cards too!"

Edward swatted me on the bottom as we made our way out of the building. A superb Ferrari was waiting for us at the curb. Edward held the door as he admonished me, "That poor man will probably spend the rest of his life looking for the hooker that takes credit cards because of you."

I settled into the seat that cradled me like a lover.

As Edward started up the Enzo, I felt the thrill of the loud motor go through me. I would love to see him drive this.

Edward winked back at me, took off his jacket to reveal a dark t-shirt. His right arm had a leather cuff. "Hang on, gorgeous. I think a little speed is just what you need."

I tried to pay attention, but as he pulled away from the curb, I could not stop staring at his flexing forearm as he changed gears.