I am so very sorry this took so long! Things for me have been a little crazy! Anyway, please bear with me my posting timing will get better once I figure out how to balance the crazy of my life right now! (jess)

This morning I am dropping Jennifer off dressed in my uniform. It's been a few years since I last wore one. Being a detective meant I spent a lot of time in suits, which is one thing I hated about my job.

Jennifer had been worrying a little about me going back to work. For an eight year old, she's pretty street smart. I really hate to think about how she got that way. She knew right away that I took what would be classed as a lower job in the police force, but for me, it all amounted to the same thing. I am getting the bad off the streets and behind bars.

But today, I saw the worry in her eyes again when she saw me dressed in my uniform.

"Jenny, look at me," I say as the bell rings.

She slowly lifts her head, but her eyes drop to my uniform again.

"This, Honey, is a part of me, I love this job," I tell her with a grin. "This is why I get to see you more often, and I get to work the streets, meaning the people of this fine town, I get to keep safe." I open my arms and she moves into them. "Wish me luck for my first day, Jenny."

She chuckles a little and moves back. "Good luck, Edward," she signs to me, and I wink at her.

The bell rings again and I stand up.

"You think I look good?" I ask waving my hand up and down "No wrinkles?"

This time I get a good chuckle from her as she looks me over. Her eyes meet mine and she gives me two thumbs up.

"Remember my mom is picking you up, and I'll see you at dinner?"

Jennifer nods, and we both turn when we hear her name getting called.

"You better get in, Honey," I say, and sign to her to have a good day.

She signs back to me and runs off, stopping when she gets to her teacher and walks into the school with her.

The station that I am a part of is in the middle of town, which is a fifteen minute drive from Jennifer's school. I get there, and report to Sargent Cooper's office.

"Edward Cullen?" he asks shaking my hand. "It's good to have you on board."

"I'm glad to be here," I reply giving him a smile, as he walks out of his door and beacons me to follow him.

"This is the locker room, you have number six," he says walking in. "This is your vest, you should have it on when you're out on the streets."

I nod at him and he hands me the key, and turns walking away. I grab the vest and lock the door before following him.

"Newton!" he yells just as I get up next to him. "This here is your new partner, Cullen. Cullen, this is Newton, he was born and raised in this town. He knows this place inside and out, as well as the teen kids. He built up a good relationship with them, and they feel able to come to him. Make sure you listen to his input." Both Newton and I nod. "You two get out on the streets. Cullen, you're driving, get to know the area," Cooper says walking off.

"Mike," Newton says sticking out his hand.

"Edward," I reply and he bobs his head, but tilts his head to side.

"Lets go."

I put the on vest as I walk behind him. "Rumor has it you're from this town?"

"I am," I tell him as we pick up our patrol car keys.

Mike just looks at me. "How old are you?"

"I'm twenty-six."

He nods in understanding. "I'm twenty-two, that must be the reason I don't remember you."

I chuckle a little. "I left about seven years ago, and have only been back a few times."

Mike just hums. The rest of the way to the car is quiet.

~HLG~

Mike and I drove around for a bit, but have been sitting outside the diner for the last ten or so minutes.

"Ben's here," Mike says.

I frown looking out the window to see some guy in a wife beater, sitting on the hood of a car smoking. His head is shaved, and he has tattoos all over both his arms.

"Who is he?" I ask hoping this is not the guy that Bella was meeting up with.

"Benjamin, Ben Darcy, he's twenty-four and a known drug dealer. He spent time on the inside last year for battery."

I let out a long breath, I can tell this guy is trouble.

"He's scum," Mike carries on.

I keep my eyes on him as a car pulls up and teens from the local high school jump out heading into the dinner.

"Bella! Ben's here."

My head whips around and I see Alice walking with Bella. As my eyes stay on them, I see Bella switch sides with Alice and slowly starts to walk in front of her.

"The brunette, is Isabella Swan a fucked up druggie. Swear to god I have arrested her so many fucking times."

I don't turn my head to Mike as he talks, but keep my eyes on Alice. As she nears Ben, he jumps down and smiles at her. He lifts his hand and touches Alice's face and my hand goes to my door, but I stop when Bella bats his hand away. I watch her as she points to the door of the diner, and Alice stomps her foot, but thankfully walks away.

"Looks like little Miss Bitch is having a falling out with her supplier," Mike chuckles and I glance at him.

I turn my head back to see Bella flip Ben off as she walks into the diner.

"How well do you know her?" I ask.

"Isabella?" I bob my head in conformation.

"She's only been around for two years. I have arrested her countless times, but being a minor she's been getting off scot free. But she turns eighteen on the 13th of this month! I can't wait to arrest her and wipe that smug grin she has off her face. She's one to watch out for. She has offered to get a cop off, if they in turn let her off. She's trouble, man. If I were you, I would get Alice away from her as fast as possible." Mike stops talking and lets out a sigh.

"Just before you arrived, I came across Isabella and Alice trespassing. I know your parents and they're cool, and I knew Alice is a good girl, so I let her off with a warning, but the next cop may not care who she is."

I pull at my hair feeling even more worried about what this girl is leading Alice to. Ben gets in his car and drives off.

"Should we see what he's up to?" Mike asks and I nod looking back at the diner to see Alice sitting at the window with Bella.

I take my eyes off them and start to follow Ben.

~HLAG~

I have just completed my third day on, and now have three days off. Next week it will be four on, four off working twelve hours each day. Then, the following week goes back to three on, three off twelve hour shifts.

My shifts this week have only been six hours, to give me time to get everything settled. But in my three days I have made a few arrests, thankfully I have yet to come across Bella doing anything. Most of my co-workers have told me it is only a matter of time, and they are surprised she been able to stay out of trouble this long.

Ben, however, has been around town, where we have yet to catch him in the act of any wrong doings. It's clear he is up to no good, and not the guy I would like my sister to be hanging around with.

I finished work early today as this evening is Jennifer's first meeting with her new therapist. Where I know that I can't be with her each week, I wanted to be with her this first time.

"Jennifer Cullen," a soft spoken voice says.

I look at the woman that's in her late thirties. She has light brown hair that's up in a bun. She has glasses on the bottom of her noise. I stand up along with Jennifer and we walk into the woman's office.

We take a seat on the sofa and the woman sits across from us.

"Hi Jennifer, Edward, I am Tia," she says with a larger smile. "I think today we should just get to know each other, how does that sound?"

Jennifer gives her the thumbs up and I bob my head.

"Okay, I'll start," Tia says. "I am thirty-nine, and have been doing this job for fourteen years now. I have eight children that rage from five to twenty."

Jennifer gasps with wide eyes. "That's a lot of kids," she signs stopping Tia's talking.

Tia chuckles as she bobs her head. "Yes, three are mine biologically, the other ones I have adopted, but no matter how they came to be, they are all my children. I enjoy reading books, real books, I hate reading on those devices," she says shaking her head making both Jennifer and I chuckle. "Now. why don't you tell me about you, Edward?" she asks and right away I start running my fingers through my hair.

There is just something about therapist that makes me uneasy.

"I am Edward, twenty-six, and adopted Jenny three months ago, but she's been living with me for just over eight months. I was a detective then and now I'm a Police corporal. Hobbies, well... I enjoy being out in my convertible, horse back riding, reading... that's me," I say looking at Tia to see if I have said enough.

"What about you, Jenny?"

Jennifer starts to sign slowly. "I'm Jenny," she starts with and Tia smiles at her. "I'm eight and live with Edward, and go to school." Jennifer stops and bites her lip.

"Have you made any friends, yet?" Tia asks and Jennifer bobs her head.

"I have one friend here," Jennifer signs as she smiles happily.

"Can you tell me about her?" Tia asks

"Her name is Bella, and she is cool."

I frown when Jennifer says Bella's name. Tia gives me a worried look before moving on, talking to Jennifer.

"Who's Bella?" Tia asks as Jennifer colors.

"She a friend of my sister, a trouble maker," I say letting out a sigh.

Tia just hums. "I need you to start gently coaching Jennifer into talking." I feel my face pale as I look at her.

"Edward, I didn't say force her, just try to gently hint that she's okay to talk that nothing bad will happen."

I nod in understanding as I rub my face.

"How are things between you both, have you disciplined her yet?"

I shake my head. "What? No? She's a great girl, really well behaved. She doesn't give me any problems, well not in that way."

"That's not a normal father/daughter relationship, Edward. I know through reading the reports you seem to be keeping things very light, like you're trying to be the cool, hip friend."

I swallow knowing I'm, in a way, still doing that.

"She needs a parent. I'm not saying you're doing wrong, because clearly she seems to be a lot happier. What I am saying is that you need to bring the father side of yourself out. You can still have fun, take her out, but let it be as father and daughter, not two friends."

"Are you sure she wants me as a father? I see her as my daughter, in every way, but I don't want to push her into seeing me as what I want, it has to be what she wants. Then there's the fact her dad was a low life asshole."

"Edward, just do things gently. All I am saying is that it's time to move up a step and take that leap of faith."

I bob my head at Tia.

"I would like to see Jennifer once a week, and both of you together monthly. I know with your shifts that we need to change the day of the week you come in, but for the most part, we'll keep to Fridays." Tia writes in her notebook as she talks to me.

"Sounds good," I agree.

"I would like us to have some commutation every other week. It could be my email, phone, or even face to face."

I frown at her as Jennifer's last therapists never asked to speak to me. "I thought you couldn't tell me what she says?"

Tia bobs her head as she talks. "That's right, but I want to talk to you to see how things are going for you."

"Okay..." I say sounding as unsure as I feel.

"Jennifer, I'll see you next week."

Jennifer and I walk out and I let out a breath as we walk to the car. I am worried about what Tia suggested. I know I need to try, not just for Jennifer's sake, but for my own.