***A/N***

Here's another chapter. Might get one or two more out this week.

I hope you like it as much as I like Edward :)

S. Meyer owns all things Twilight.

Chapter 25- Ghosts

BPOV

The next day I was up bright and early. Mary came to help me take a shower after breakfast, and now I was packed and ready to go, I wanted out.

Yesterday I told Esme and Detective Cullen I was going to take the train home today, and they looked at me as if I'd just told them I was going to hop a shuttle to the moon.

"Absolutely not." Esme said. "You're not taking the train home from the hospital. Edward or I will drive you, I don't want to hear another word about it."

Detective Cullen was just as adamant.

"Miss Swan, really, I'm happy to drive you home. I'd like to make sure you get there safely."

A few stern, motherly looks from Esme, and I conceded.

" Ok, ok fine, I appreciate it, thank you."

Esme looked relieved when I gave in.

" Good, well that's settled, hopefully you'll change your mind about coming to stay with us too."

She was persistent, I'd give her that.

I was sitting on the edge of the bed, my bag next to me, waiting for them to arrive, when there was a knock on the door and Dr. Nelson came in.

"So, it's finally moving day is it?"

I smiled at him and his big red bow tie.

"Yep." I said as I brushed the hair out of my face. "As much as I love it here, I'm ready to get going."

He gave me a smile back and then stared down at his clipboard.

"Ok let's just go over where we are. We've got you set up for outpatient rehab for your arm, no lifting or driving for at least three weeks, you've stopped the pain medication, so alcohol in moderation is ok, and I see Mary got everything settled with your health insurance company... now that we know who you are, of course." He said, with a smirk.

"So, I think we're all set."

I looked at him as he continued to scan the forms and sign my discharge papers. "Dr. Nelson, I just want to thank you for everything you've done for me, I really appreciate it."

He glanced up. "It was my pleasure young lady. I'm happy to see you doing so well. You deserve it after what you've been through."

"And Dr. Nelson? I don't care what anyone says, your bedside manner kicks ass."

A huge smile spread over his face and he started chuckling. "I knew it! I knew they were all wrong! Wait until I tell my wife, she owes me a dinner."

He came over and placed his hand on mine. "Take care Miss Swan, don't let what happened to you, define you. You're a strong and resilient young woman. I can tell, I know these things."

He gave me a wink as he walked toward the door.

I looked at the clock, anxious to get going. Esme and Detective Cullen should be here soon. I laid back on the bed and closed my eyes for a little while until they arrived. Before I knew it, the door opened, and they both walked in, followed by Mary, who was pushing a wheel chair.

Esme spoke first.

"Are you ready to go dear? Edward's going to bring the car around once we head down stairs, and we'll finally get you out of here."

Mary wheeled the chair up to the bed. "Sorry honey, hospital procedure, you've got to go out in the chair."

"Not a problem Mary," I said, "you could wheel me out on a flatbed and I wouldn't care, I'm just ready to go home."

She helped settle me in the chair, and Detective Cullen looked at me as he grabbed my bag from the bed. "Ok, are we good? Is this all your stuff?"

I nodded at him and Mary started wheeling me out the door, Esme and Detective Cullen following behind.

Once we got to the nurses station, Mary leaned down.

"This is as far as I go, you know Carl, the orderly?...he'll wheel you down. Good luck to you honey, you're a strong girl, you're gonna be fine. Stop by sometime and let us know how you're doing, ok?"

I looked up at her and nodded my head. "Thank you Mary, for everything. I don't know if I could have gotten through it without you."

" It's just nice to see some color in your cheeks and a smile on your face, you're going to be just fine."

We rode the elevator down to the ground floor, and once the doors opened, Detective Cullen took off ahead. "I'm gonna go get the car, I'll meet you two out front."

Carl wheeled me out the large front doors, and the chilly air hit me immediately. I was wearing my sweatshirt, but probably needed something a little warmer. Just then, a shiny black car pulled up. I honestly don't know anything about cars, but that one looked nice.

Detective Cullen put on his hazards and hopped out , just as Carl was helping me out of the chair. As I stood, Carl took the chair and started wheeling it inside. "See ya Bella!"

"Bye Carl! Thanks again!" I hollered back.

Detective Cullen was helping Esme into the front seat, and once he had her situated and shut her door, he turned to me. "Don't move. I'm going to put your bag in the trunk, and then I'm coming back to get you."

I gave him a two fingered salute.

Once he slammed the trunk, and came back to me on the sidewalk, he took my arm and helped me to the car, opening the back door. I went to climb in, anxious to get out of the cold, but stopped in my tracks when I looked in the back.

He had the heater going, and there was a plush blanket and pillow laid out on the back seat. There was also a bottle of water sitting in the console. I looked over my shoulder at him, with a surprised expression on my face.

He was standing behind me, his hand on the top of the open door, and he looked down at the ground briefly. "I uh, just thought it might make it a little more comfortable for the drive home."

"Thank you." I said. "That was very thoughtful."

He held the door open while I climbed in, and I took a minute to position myself with the blanket and pillow. He leaned himself in to tuck the blanket around my legs, and gave me an expectant look to see if I was settled. I gave him a thumbs up and a smile. He smiled back, and closed the door with a 'thunk' before jogging back around to the drivers side.

Before I knew it, we were pulling up to Homewood Suite Apartments. They weren't much, but at least they were familiar, and it wasn't the hospital.

Esme got out and waited for us by the curb, while Detective Cullen came around and opened the door, reaching for my hand. "Ok, take it easy, put one foot out first and lean on me ok?"

I placed my hand in his as I climbed out of the car, and held his arm as I took a few steps.

"I'm ok, really, I'm good." He didn't look convinced, but he let me go, albeit a little reluctantly.

Once we got up to my apartment, I walked inside and looked around. It felt like I hadn't been here in a year rather than only a week. Everything was how I left it, or at least how I thought I left it.

The two of them followed me inside, and Detective Cullen placed my bag on the table in the kitchen while Esme looked around. "What about food dear? Can I run to the market for you and get you anything?"

I didn't want either of them going to any more trouble than they had already.

"No, thank you though, I've got enough in the cabinets and the freezer to hold me over until I can get there. I'll go in a few days to get fresh produce and whatever else I need."

I could tell it took some restraint on her part not to push me about it.

Detective Cullen was standing in the living room, and I saw him leaning over, looking at the photo of me and Charlie from my graduation. I had taken it from the mantle at Charlie's house in a spur of the moment decision before I left for Chicago.

He turned around to face us but didn't say anything about the picture.

I looked at the two of them.

"Thank you again, both of you, for the ride home, and for making sure I wasn't alone. It means a lot to me. I'm ok though, really, I am. You guys go back to work, you've spent enough time babysitting me. I'm just going to make something to eat and probably go to bed."

Esme was looking around the room, worry written on her face. "Bella, are you sure you won't reconsider and stay with us? I just don't know about you staying here by yourself, especially with your arm, and no matter how many times you say they're fine, I know your knees are bothering you. You also don't have a phone to call anyone if you need help."

She had a point about the phone, but I was going to remedy that tomorrow. I tried to give her my most confident sounding voice.

"I'll be fine, I'm getting a phone tomorrow, I can make it without one for one night, really. You two get going, I'm sure you have things you need to do today."

I could tell she still didn't like it, but she didn't fight me on it. She let out a sigh, and came over to give me a hug. "Once you get the phone, you call me and let me know if you need anything, Ok? Promise?"

I hugged her back. "I will, I promise."

She pulled away from the embrace and turned to Detective Cullen. "Ok, dear, I'm ready, would you drop me at the bookstore? Carlisle will pick me up later tonight."

He nodded his head and started walking toward us. "Miss Swan, are you sure there's nothing else we can do for you before we go? Do you want to use my phone again to call or text anyone?"

I shook my head. "No, I'll reach out to everyone later this week, but thank you."

He was lingering, seemingly wanting to say something else, and I gave him a questioning look. He glanced at the kitchen table. "I left my card on the table. If you need to get in touch with me, call me, anytime. If you remember anything, no matter how insignificant it might seem, just reach out, Ok?"

I nodded my head as I walked them to the door. "I will, thank you again. Esme, I'll call you tomorrow."

When I closed the door behind them, I turned and looked around the uninviting, nondescript apartment. No, it wasn't home, but it wasn't the hospital either, and that felt pretty good.

I looked through the cabinets to see what I had to eat, and pulled out a can of soup and some crackers.

I heated it up, and brought it over to the table in front of the couch. I turned on the TV, pulled up Friends, and ate the entire bowl along with half a sleeve of crackers.

When I finished, I stretched out on the couch, and laid my head on the pillow, pulling a blanket down from the back and tucking it around myself. I watched a little more TV, and soon felt my eyes get heavy. I drifted off pretty quickly, the faint sounds of, 'How you doin?'...coming from the TV.

~ !~

I woke up with a start. I was on the couch, and it took me a minute to remember where I was. Right, Homewood Suites. I looked around the room. It was dark outside, the only light coming from the glow of the TV, and I wondered how long I had been sleeping.

I looked over at the stove. Seven o'clock.

I sat up and reached to turn on the lamp next to the couch, and blinked a few times to get used to the light. I stood up and brought my soup bowl to the sink and rinsed it, not bothering to wash it. I was still tired, even after that long nap, and I just wanted to crawl into bed and go right back to sleep.

Tomorrow was going to be a busy day. There was a lot I wanted to accomplish. My top priority was getting a new phone, but I also wanted to go online and cancel my credit cards, and try to get a duplicate of my drivers license.

I was also anxious to look around the apartment to see if I could find the key. Maybe I would get lucky and find I hadn't left it in my wallet after all.

I wasn't sure if I would get all of those tasks done in one day, but I was going to try.

I went to the bathroom, peed, and brushed my teeth, still not fully awake from my nap. As I shut off the bathroom light, and went to make my way to the bedroom, I thought I heard a noise.

I stood just outside the bathroom door and listened.

There it was again, it was a faint, tapping noise.

I walked over to the window and looked outside. The wind had picked up, and I could see the trees blowing. It looked like a storm was coming.

I pulled down the blinds, and turned off the light next to the couch. As I began walking to the bedroom, I heard it again, louder this time, and I felt my heart start to beat a little faster.

Calm down, you're fine. It's just a storm.

I continued to make my way to the bedroom, when suddenly something loud crashed outside. It took me by surprise, and I jumped a little and let out a yelp.

My breathing started to pick up, and I could hear the blood rushing in my ears. I took a few deep breaths.

Something just blew over in the wind, that's all, that's all it was.

I almost made it to the bedroom, when I heard footsteps in the hallway outside. I couldn't tell if they were close or far away, but I froze and listened.

Before I could figure out where they were coming from, I heard someone start to pound loudly on a door in the hall. It wasn't my door, but it was close.

My anxiety kicked up a notch and my heart started to race again, as a lick of fear ran up my body, and

I felt a thin sheen of perspiration break out on my forehead.

As the pounding continued, my breathing started coming in short bursts as the panic threatened to overwhelm me. I went to the kitchen, grabbed a butcher knife from the block on the counter, and began to back into the living room. I slid down the wall in the corner of the room clutching it to my chest.

What if it was him? Dolan. What if he knew where I lived? What if he came back to rape me? Oh my God.

My thoughts started to race as I spiraled down the rabbit hole of fear and panic.

No. It's not him. He doesn't know where you live, he doesn't. Your license has your Washington address on it, not this one. Calm down, Detective Cullen said he's at least one or two whole states away, you're fine, it's just someone else who lives in the building.

I heard voices in the hall, but couldn't make them out, it sounded like two men arguing. I heard a few slamming doors and banging again, and then it went quiet. I was shaking, and could feel silent tears roll down my cheeks.

I should have gone to Esme's, I should have listened to her. Why didn't I go with her? She was right, I didn't even have a phone to call anyone.

My senses were in overdrive and I stayed hyper alert as I tried to listen for more sounds.

When I didn't hear anything for a few minutes, I started to bring myself up from the floor and slowly walked to the kitchen. I took a few shaky breaths, and placed the knife on the table while I tried to calm down.

And then I heard something again, a light knocking. This time, it was on my door. My eyes went wide, and my hand flew to my mouth, clamping over it so no sound would escape.

Someone knocked again, a little louder this time.

I grabbed the knife from the table and clutched it tightly, as I looked around to see if I could find anything else in the room I could use as a weapon. I started backing up toward the bedroom, thinking maybe I could lock myself in there.

The knocking became a little more insistent, and I screamed, much louder than the yelp I let out earlier.

My entire body started to shake and I couldn't breathe, and then...then I heard a voice I recognized.

"Miss Swan? Miss Swan are you alright? I heard you scream, Miss Swan?" Now they weren't just knocking, they were pounding on the door.

"Miss Swan, it's Detective Cullen! Are you alright? Can you hear me? Can you get to the door?"

By that point I had completely broken down and was sobbing. I threw the knife on the table, where it fell with a clatter, and I rushed to the door. I grabbed the chain and tried to pull it off , but my hands were shaking too much, and I couldn't do it.

Detective Cullen stopped banging on the door and I heard him say loudly, "Miss Swan, can you open the door? If you can't, I''ll break it down, just stand away from it."

I finally got the chain off, twisted the deadbolt, and pulled it open with all my might.

He was standing there, wild eyed, gun drawn and raised up with two hands, almost pointing directly at my head. When he saw me, he lowered the gun immediately, and his eyes quickly scanned the room behind me. He was just about to speak, when I literally launched myself at him, not even caring about my arm.

He stumbled back a step, and let out a small grunt, as I plowed into him. He brought both arms around me, one of them still holding the gun, as I held onto him for dear life and sobbed into his neck.

I heard him say in a panicked voice, "Are you alright? Are you hurt? Are you hurt anywhere?"

He was trying to remove my arm from around his neck so he could look at me.

I didn't want to let go, but eventually loosened my death grip, and started to lower my arm from around his neck, while sucking in air between sobs.

"What happened? Jesus Christ, what happened? Are you ok? Is there anyone in there?"

I shook my head 'no', my crying starting to subside a bit.

He pulled back from me a little, and I watched as he reached behind him to put the gun in the waistband of his pants. He brought both hands up and placed them on either side of my face, his eyes alternating between it and the interior of the apartment. He finally settled his gaze on my face, and looked directly into my eyes.

"What happened?"

I looked up at him with watery eyes, not even knowing where to start.

He looked me over once, removed his hands from my face, and without saying anything, reached down and picked me up. I leaned my head against his chest and fisted his shirt, still sniffling, as he walked us into the apartment and shut the door behind him with his foot.

My crying tapered off, and I wiped some of the moisture from my face with my hand, as he walked over to the couch and sat down. He leaned back into the cushions, bringing me with him.

He let me finish wiping my face and then looked into my eyes, and said softly,

"Tell me what happened."

****A/N*****

I don't think Bella has dealt with her trauma. I think she should have gone to Esme's :)

See you soon! As always, let me know what you think!