DAMNIT, WOMAN, I LOVE YOU

Disclaimer: The Cullens, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.

"Damnit, woman, I love you. Do you really think I would be stupid enough to try to prove to you that fact if I had had any sort of hand in her death?"

Bella just stands there staring beyond him as if he doesn't even exist. She ignores his plea for her attention. Her plan is working, but, at the same time is backfiring on her. But, she can't let anyone know that. She has proof that he was responsible for Marie's death and one way or another he was going to suffer and be held accountable. If the courts wouldn't do it then she would.

He reaches out to grab her by her arms and gives a little shake; just enough to try and get her to focus on him, to give him her undivided attention for a moment. Long enough to listen to what he has to say. But, she continues to look away, not interested in one word.

Slowly he releases her as he turns away. If she won't listen, then there was nothing more he could do at the moment. However, little does she realize that he is determined to fight for what they share together? It is not going to be allowed to die and she will not be allowed to just walk away. Tears form in his eyes as he turns away from her half way before uttering the words, "We aren't finished. I refuse to give up and will fight for what we have. You can try to ignore it and me all you want, but, that is all that will happen, you will only be allowed to try!" at which he completes his turn and walks away.

The couple had been unaware the all of the family had overheard their entire conversation until Edward got to the bottom of the stairs and saw all of them looking at him with sadness. They saw the hope that had been in his eyes die as the tears continued to silently fall down his face. But, the one thing each of them knew about Edward, he meant what he had said. He would fight for what he wanted and he wanted a life with Bella.

CHAPTER 28: TIME IS MARCHING ON

It had been two weeks since the confrontation between Edward and Bella. During that time each member of the Cullen family be it parent, sibling or sibling spouse, tried talking to Bella about that incident. But, they didn't get any further than asking to speak with her for a moment before Bella told each before any other word passed their mouth that she refused to discuss her personal business with any of them.

She made the transition from the newspaper to heading the script department with little to no problems whatsoever. The last week of her notice at the paper went by quickly and the last of her articles were flawless submitted on time. And, in between writing her last pieces she dealt with finding personnel for her department that were talented and had a sharp eye for a good story. Then in the evenings she was busily redecorating her new apartment as she wanted it. There weren't too many changes that she made, but, just enough to make it feeling like her place that would reflect her personality and give it a good homey, welcoming feel.

She hadn't had much of a chance yet to looking into getting another vehicle let alone give it much serious thought. Her working knowledge of good safe vehicles was limited, but, she was hopeful that some time with her father could help in that area. Some private time that was away from prying eyes and waging tongues. Somewhere that they could be themselves for awhile to interact as father and daughter that wouldn't blow his cover.

Charlie had started at the studio in his capacity as consultant for the making of the film. He was introduced around to the entire staff of all the departments that would be involved in the filming. And, true to his word, Edward wasn't the director of the film, but, he would be working closely with Isaac in case he needed any help adapting with the work. As there were likely to need some revisions done and everyone felt that Edward would of benefit in that area that it would help him to be able to make the revisions more workable the first go round.

It was during this time of working closely with Edward that Charlie got to know the young man and what he observed of the entire Cullen bunch he approved. He observed that Edward's eyes would follow Bella wherever she went. The deep feelings that shown in his eyes when she was anywhere near, although, his expression remain unemotional, but, Charlie being able to read a person from years of being a police officer did see the sadness that lurked in his attitude and the way he carried himself while she was close. It made Charlie more determined to speak to Bella about what was going on in her head and the way she was conducting her campaign against Edward. He wanted Bella to give him a fair chance of maybe proving himself innocent.

Marie's letter quickly flashed through Charlie's mind, raising some questions like it always seemed to do when he reminded the parts referring to Edward. The letter seemed to incriminate him as to have treated her differently than that of someone interested in marrying her. And, if he had those feelings towards Marie than how could he be so suddenly interested in Bella? No, there was more that hadn't been discovered as yet and he was going to get to the bottom of the mystery. To get those answers was going to require cooperation from Bella. She was going to have to change her tactics to a great extent and gather more information of the personal nature for him. That was the only way both of them could be fair and make an information decision about Edward's motive.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Hey, boss, that woman, Bella, doesn't live there anymore. All of her stuff has disappeared along with her car. For all of the information we have been able to get from her neighbors a moving company came in and packed everything and her car was sold. No one has any idea of where she has gone."

"I see. During all of this detecting job did you happen to discover why she was moving? Did it, oh, I don't know, perhaps, have anything to do with the mess that you left behind you when you broke into her apartment? You two misfits had better find her, and quickly, if you want to keep breathing the same air as I am. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"

"Uh – uh—uh, yes, sir. Immediately, sir. "

Right about that time the phone rang and was answered where a report of the drugs having to have been developed successful to the contacts at the studio. Well, at least, one thing was going right.

The buyers for the guns were due in in the next couple of days and everything was nearing completion for delivery. And, his human shipment was due to be shipped by the end of next week. About that time another drug shipment is due for delivery as well.

Things were starting to get a little complicated and somehow near the borderline of going out of control with only a small slip up. If no one was careful. The stuff that Marie Swan had stolen needed to be recovered and the feeling of running out of time was slowly creeping up his spine. This Bella woman had to be found so that everything could be gotten back and then she needed to be disposed of, but, in a different method than Marie, but, still just as permanent.

Someone always has someone else that they have to give an accounting, but, the persons he has to account to is one nasty piece of work when crossed. If it came to his attention that the operations here were close to being exposed then no force in heaven, hell or on earth would be able to stop the storm that would engulf them all.

XXXXXXXXXX

Charlie had other things that needed to be investigated besides Bella and Edward's screwed up feelings for one another and his daughter's determination to destroy the man, the case he was working undercover to bring about the downfall of the criminal element that was behind it and bringing to justice the ones responsible for Marie's death, working out the riddle of where Marie hid the evidence she had collected and at the same time protecting Bella from whoever is after her in connection to Marie involving her indirectly in this case. He had to find out who was the mole, the informant, the dirty agent that brings dishonor to all upstanding, honest dealing law enforcement officers throughout the whole legal system.

Time has to be taken to come to rational conclusions as to whom he can trust and to whom he can't. There is going to have to be someone that he can go to for help when the time comes. After he had given the whole thing more consideration, Charlie decided that he would call an old friend that he knew he could trust. Someone that had help save his ass more times than he could count. That is a call he would put forth the first chance he got.

Right now he was sitting in one a rehearsal run through of the script. Notes are being made by the director and by Edward Cullen who seemed to be acting as an advisor to him. He was learning that show business wasn't as glamorize as everyone seems to think it is. Charlie had no idea how he was going to make these script changes before tomorrow. Somehow Bella was going to have to help him. He needed to get word to her as quickly as he could without blowing his cover.

After being involved for the last two weeks this was the first time script changes had been discussed, but, Charlie had been around each of the crew members enough by now to have a feel for each and to see how they interacted with each other and with outsiders. He had his eye on a couple of men that work with cameras and the lighting. One was Martin Thomas, a cameraman, and the other was Sydney Haroldson, a lighting expert. Both men behaved as if they had something to hide, but, Charlie had seen a couple of men not involved on the filming hanging around from time to time. All four men would disappear from time to time for only two of them to reappear to pick up where they had left off as if nothing unusual had happened. It definitely alerted Charlie to keep a close eye on them, their associates and their happenings.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Bella felt her phone vibrate so checked to see who was sending her a text message. She smiled as she saw what her father had sent to her. so, without hesitation she responded back with an affirmative and got ready to leave the office to meet with him at the pier as they had before when she had given him Marie's letter. She still had the key since that was what Charlie had wanted.

She was enjoying her new job and Esme Cullen seemed happy with her work. Bella knew that she was going to have a late night doing rewrites for him to hand in tomorrow. So far she had managed to avoid Edward after their confrontation two weeks ago, but, she knew that she was going to have to get him to make another play for her attention so she could play with his emotions and get them involved towards her even more. That was going to take some thought, but, she would get it done.

A/N: Charlie seems to have his priorities in order as well to have located a couple of individuals to keep a close watch on. Does he have the right people pegged? Who is Charlie going to get to help? Who is the big boss? Where has Marie hidden her things? And, to what does the key belong? Will Bella figure it out? How will she get Edward to make another move towards her?

I hope you enjoy this story as much as all of you seemed to have done with my others. The reviews, alerts and favorites have been overwhelming. I thank you. But, if you are going to alert in some manner, then please take the time to review with your thoughts, opinions or suggestions.

Please take the time to review and I will be more than happy to reply.