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So sorry for the delay in getting this chapter to you. I hope it's worth the wait.

Summary: Bella feels like she has settled for the ordinary in her life. Her best friend Alice tries to help her broaden her horizons. Will it work?

Chapter 25

Edward's POV

Days passed. Charlie healed. Bella and I got to know each other under his watchful eye at the safe house. The limited clues we had led no where. We were at a loss which was a shock to everyone involved. The three of us were rarely unable to solve a case but apparently the perpetrator in this situation was truly a ghost.

My father kept a close eye on Jane through his contacts but so far she was behaving in her new institution. She made no effort to try to contact me. It was like she was even content to just be where she was. I had to say that this puzzled me. She was so adamant to get out of the last place and get to me yet now she was just following the rules and staying put.

When it became obvious that Charlie was back to full health, I knew that he wasn't going to stay at the house for much longer. Although he enjoyed Sue's company, it was quite obvious he was chomping at the bit to get back to work. I was anticipating a huge argument from Bella regarding this turn of events. I knew she was going to be upset and scared for him.

The way it was looking from the evidence, my brothers and I agreed that Charlie was definitely not the target in whatever the perpetrator had been up to. He was just in the wrong place in the wrong time. He had obviously been at the house for a reason but we'd been unable to determine what that was.

I pulled into the garage of the safe house and as I approached the door into the kitchen, I could hear raised voices. A very unhappy Bella was yelling while a very calm Charlie was replying.

"You are not going home yet! We don't know why he hurt you! Dammit Dad, for once stop trying to be a hero!"

"Bella, you're being unreasonable. I've been here for weeks. There's been no sign of the perp in Forks and the leads that the boys followed have dried up. I can't put my life on hold, sweetheart. I need to get back to it."

As I opened the door and walked through, I could hear the sob Bella was trying to hold back. "I can't lose you dad!"

I walked through the doorway as Charlie brought her into his arms, "Bella, you aren't going to lose me until I'm old and grey if I have anything to say about it but, honey, we can't predict the future, we just have to live our lives and let the chips fall where they may."

I stepped closer and put my hand on her back in what I hoped was a comforting way. "Bella, I won't let anything happen to your dad. Sue has actually volunteered to go to Forks with your dad and keep an eye on things just in case that guy comes back again."

Sue walked in the room just as I spoke. "Yes. I have. I'll make sure nothing happens to him, Bella." She smiled at Charlie as she spoke who in turn smiled at her. Something was going on between those two.

Bella seemed to sag with relief against me as she realized that her father wouldn't be alone. Whether the perpetrator came back or not, we'd have all the bases covered. In Forks and in Seattle.

It was decided that Charlie and Sue would head back to Forks the following weekend and Bella would stay at her apartment again. Emmett had beefed up security in the apartment and co-ordinated with the owner of the building to put in some extra security measures for the rest of the building as well. It's amazing what people are willing to allow to be installed when everything was free. Her apartment building was more secure than the FBI building was. No point in having money if we couldn't make sure the people we cared about were safe and secure.

Jasper had done the same with Alice's place. She resisted at first but he can be very persuasive when it's necessary. Both girls balked at having body guards though, no matter what arguments we tried. We decided the only way we could guarantee their safety was to spend as much time with them as possible. There were only two places I knew where Bella would be completely safe: the office and her apartment.

My father was keeping in touch with Jane's new hospital. Everything seemed to be going well with her. No one had visited her so far, even her parents were staying away for a while at her new Doctor's request.

I knew that as soon as Charlie was back home and Bella was less worried about him, I'd have to fess up to what had taken me away that weekend. I wasn't sure how Bella would take what I told her but I had to believe that she would understand. Jane was not a well woman and I always felt it was the responsible thing to do to make sure she was someplace where she couldn't harm herself or someone else. My parents had raised me to show concern for others which was one of the reasons we went into the field of security. We wanted to make sure others were safe against the evil that lurked in the world.

Charlie agreed to stay at the safe house until the following weekend. Sue let her family know that she was going to stay with a "friend" in Forks, knowing full well that they knew what she was really going to be doing. Arrangements were made for someone else to take care of the house while Sue was away and Bella made plans to return to work after her father left for home.

I was pretty sure that what bothered Bella the most was being away from Charlie but he was adamant that she was not going to come with him. He was going back to work and she wasn't going to sit around the precinct with him or at the house. She practically begged him to let her come back to Forks with him instead of Sue but between the three of us, we finally convinced her that it was best all around that Sue was with him instead.

The week passed quickly and the time for Charlie and Sue to leave was upon us before we knew it. Bella said a tearful good-bye before getting into my car for the trip back to her apartment. Charlie got into Sue's SUV and we all headed out. Bella sat looking out the window and I reached over to gently take her hand in mine.

"Sue won't let anything happen to him, Bella. She's one of the best that I've ever worked with. The only reason she isn't still in the field full time is because she wanted to spend more time with her kids. He's safe."

I heard a small sniffle and saw the tear stains on her cheeks as she turned towards me, gripping my hand firmly. "I know. I'm just going to miss him. I didn't realize how much I really missed spending time with him until this happened."

"He understands. Life sometimes gets away from us once we move away from home. I'm sure the times you and Alice have spent with him mean a lot to him."

She smiled for the first time that day. "Yes, he loves Alice like she's his own daughter and I've always felt she was like a sister. She didn't have the best childhood. He's been there for her in the darkest points of that time and even though we lost touch for a few years, it was like no time had gone by when we re-met in Seattle."

"She is someone very special. I think her and Jasper will be great together. He seems to have a very calming affect on her.

"Well, I can only say that I'm happy that you two re-connected or I might never have met you."

"Oh, I'm pretty sure we'd have met eventually, Mr Anthony Masen" She replied laughing.

"Oh?" I said, questionly.

She laughed again. "I fell in love with your music. I'd have eventually have had to come and see one of your shows. Whether Alice had asked me to come or not, I'd have been to one of them one day."

I smiled, pleased that she had felt a connection with my music as deeply as she had. It made me feel good to know that my music touched people, and her especially.

"So." I started to say.

"Yes?"

"Are you going into the office tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Dad made me promise I'd go back to work and not sit around the apartment worrying about him. He's determined that both our lives get back to normal as soon as possible."

"Alright. Do you want me to give you a lift? I'll be heading in in the morning as well."

"That sounds good. I hate driving in the city and I don't think I'd be comfortable taking the bus. Just give me a call when you're heading my way and I'll be downstairs."

"Will do. Would you be interested in having lunch together? I'd like to explain what happened that weekend I had to go out of town unexpectedly."

I could see the curiosity and caution in her eyes as she looked over at me. "Sure. We could do lunch. You know, you don't really owe me anything but if you want to explain, I'll listen."

"Thanks Bella. I want you to know what happened but I don't think today is a day to do that. You've been through enough today." I gave her hand a squeeze as I pulled the car over in front of her building. "Do you want me to come up?"

"No. It's fine. I think I'm just going to chill for the rest of the day, check in with my Dad and then have an early night."

I nodded. "Alright. I'm heading to the office for a few minutes and then heading home myself. I'll see you in the morning then."

She leaned across the the seat and kissed my cheek, then blushed as she realized what she'd done. I loved to see her blush.

"Goodnight." She almost whispered as she opened the door of the car. I sat and watched until she was inside the building then headed to the office. I just wanted one more look over the files. I was sure we were missing something and it felt like it was just at the tip of my fingertips waiting to be discovered.

I spent about an hour going over the papers and gave up. Realizing that with the amount of time that Emmett and Jasper had spent going over all the information they'd gathered, it would be doubtful that I'd find something that they'd missed, I put everything away and headed home.

The house was quiet. Still. I moved from window to window making sure everything was secure and then headed upstairs to my music room. I felt restless and my mind was reeling. I had the beginnings of a song running around my head and it felt like I just had to get it written down before it was lost.

The rest of the night passed swiftly and before I knew it my antique grandfather clock was ringing in midnight. If I wanted to be at all functional at the office in the morning, I'd definitely have to get myself to bed.

My dreams were filled with everything Bella and I awoke refreshed and ready to face the day. I only hoped that Bella would understand about Jane and not be too upset about my reasons for leaving with my father that weekend.

This story is not beta'd. Please forgive any errors.

Please let me know what you think

Posted on 2013-03-29

Words: 2,111