Okay, I tried editing this, but I'm really freaking tired. If I missed anything, I apologize.

Chapter 13 - Blocking Guilt and Fear

Saturday 1:22am EST

EPOV

Miraculously, I had actually managed to doze off at the dining room table. I couldn't say it was very restful, however. Behind my eyelids were images of my son in pain, of the worst happening and finding nothing but a small body. I could see Bella sacrificing herself for Anthony. It was definitely something she would do.

I was well aware of the fact that the lives of the two people I loved most in the world were on the line. It would be so easy to lose one or both of them. I wasn't sure I could survive it if anything happened to them.

I was suddenly roused by Bella's small hand shaking my shoulder. I knew Bella wouldn't wake me unless it was important. I rubbed at my face to make sure I was fully awake and noticed that Caius was in the room.

"Do we know anything?" I asked.

Caius nodded. "We have Aro's location. He's got himself a place out in the bayou. We're getting satellite images now, but it looks like he is definitely there."

I felt a bit of relief. Odds were that wherever Aro was, Anthony was. At the very least we would be able to extract the necessary information from him. I felt that rage rise in me again as I briefly imagined being the one to get that information.

I was jerked out of my brief, violent daydream when I heard Bella's apprehensive voice. "What else is there, Sir?"

I looked over at Caius again. He definitely looked like there was more to share, and the news wasn't good.

"Who?" Bella asked.

Caius scratched at his eyebrow. I recognized it as a short delaying tactic to gather himself. His voice still came out slightly rough. "Marcus Hale."

The name didn't ring any immediate bells, but there was something there that was familiar I just couldn't place it. Marcus Hale. Marcus Hale. Marcus. Marcus. Hale…wait a minute. Hale. I knew that name.

It suddenly slammed into me when Bella fell back into her chair and dropped her head in to her hands. I just barely heard her whisper, but it was enough. "Oh god, Rose."

Rose. Rosalie. Rosalie Hale. Shit.

I put my hand on Bella's shoulder as I looked over to Caius for an explanation. He seemed to pick up on it and knew exactly what questions were on my mind.

"Marcus Hale owns Hale Pharmaceuticals. One of his branches is the cover for the main USTSC office in New Orleans. He doesn't have unlimited access, but he is generally kept in the loop about things. He's also Rosalie's father," Marcus clarified.

Bella lifted her head up and whipped at the tears running down her cheeks. "That must be the real reason they didn't kill her in the Congo. It had nothing to do with ransom, they just didn't want to lose there connection. How's Rose holding up?"

Caius shook his head slightly. "Not so good. When I talked to McCarty he said they had to literally drag her from the interrogation room. When Jane Angelis told her she went ape shit and starting beating the hell out of her. It took four of them to get her out. She hasn't said a word since."

I felt the hand that wasn't on Bella's shoulder curl into a fist against my leg. For starters, I hated traitors. They were definitely one of the lowest forms of shit. But to do this to one's own child, there wasn't even a word for the particular brand of human vermin that Marcus Hale was.

Bella sucked in a deep breath and then rose from her seat with an air of dignity and strength I couldn't help but admire.

"So what's the game plan?" she asked.

Caius looked at Bella for moment before he spoke. "Eleazar and Charlie will be here shortly with the detailed intelligence. Charlie and myself will be leaving immediately to New Orleans to apprehend Marcus. You two will stay here with Eleazar and draw up battle plans. The team will be you two along with Brandon, Black, Davis, and Whitlock. Then, you have a flight to New Orleans at 0700. You will arrive in New Orleans just before nine. Since we have no idea how far USTSC was infiltrated, do not go there. Marcus never had access to your addresses so go to your house. Rest up and get your minds right. Brandon and Whitlock will arrived at your house along with Black and Davis with your gear by 2100. Get suited up and Eleazar and myself will be there at 2130 to brief you. Roll out time will be at 2200. Any questions?"

"No, Sir," we said simultaneously.

"Good," he replied. "Now get to work."

New Orleans, LA

Bella's apartment

Saturday, 9:52am CST

The second we walked in the door, Bella dropped her small duffle right in the entry way and dropped onto the overstuffed tan couch with her eyes closed.

She looked utterly exhausted. Even with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, it was still obviously a mass of tangles. Her skin looked paler than usual with the dark circles under her eyes and she was dressed in Tanya's sweat shirt and jeans that fit her poorly. The platinum and amethyst Tiffany earrings still in her ears looked almost comical out of place.

Still, she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I allowed looking at her to give me a sense of peace. I knew that in order to be successful tonight, I needed to rest and rejuvenate. It wouldn't do Anthony any good if I was too exhausted to do my job. In order to rest I needed to push my anger and worry back and Bella was the only thing that could help me do that.

"Where's your bathroom?" I asked.

Without opening her eyes, Bella pointed straight in front of her to the doorway that was on the far side of the room and then cocked her finger to the left. She dropped her hand back down to her side leaving me to figure that the bathroom was through the door and to the left.

I dropped my own bag against the living room wall before walking through the indicated door. It was Bella's bedroom.

She had it tastefully decorated in shades of blue. The room was even illuminated with a soft bluish light that emanated from the large aquarium that took up most of the wall to my right.

I let my gaze linger on the king size, wrought iron bed draped in blue and silver. I could imagine laying Bella across those sheets and how that rich colors would look against her beautiful pale skin.

On the left wall were two doors. One was a standard white interior door that I assumed was the bathroom and the other was a double set of French doors that where covered with sheer curtains. I peeked out the glass doors and saw that they led out to a small private courtyard.

Before Bella came in to see me peeking around her bedroom, I went into the bathroom and ran water into the large claw foot tub. I remembered Bella saying when she was younger that she always wanted one. I could see why. The thing was huge and deep as fuck.

I rummaged around under her sink until I came up with a bottle of freesia bubble bath. I poured it in and mixed the water around with my hand to make it all good and bubbly.

Once the tub was full, I put her shower caddy in easy reach of the tub and went back out into the living room for Bella. She had fallen asleep in the exact position I had left her in.

I sat next to her and brushed a stray lock of hair off her face. "Bella, love, wake up. I fixed you a bath."

Bella's eyes fluttered open halfway and she gave me a sleepy smile. "Really?"

I nodded before I scooped her up in my arms and carried her into the bedroom. She gave a slight squeak of surprise before she wrapped her arms around my neck. Once in the bathroom, I set her on her feet and turned to leave.

"Aren't you going to join me?" she asked.

I turned to look at her with a questioning look.

"You need a bath too," she reasoned. "It's just a bath. As much as I would like to do more, we are just too exhausted and now is definitely not the time. I just want to take a bath and sleep. And if you're willing, I would like very much to sleep in your arms."

"I'd like that too," I replied honestly.

I stepped back into the bathroom and undressed. Bella had only gotten as far as her shoes and sweatshirt when I eased myself into the tub. While I sat, I looked up at Bella. She quickly glanced down at her feet and blushed slightly. I thought it was cute that this strong, confident woman could still blush at the sight of me naked. I just hoped she liked what she saw.

Bella finished undressing and stepped into the tub. I couldn't help running my gaze over her sleekly toned body as she settled into the tub before me.

When Bella leaned back against my chest, I didn't even try to hide the erection that was rubbing against her lower back. I heard her slight intake of breath, but there was no other reaction other than that. We really were just too damn tired and this most definitely was not the time.

I felt a wave of guilt run through me. My son was being held hostage and I was sitting in a bath tub having fantasies about fucking Bella. What the hell was wrong with me?

Bella seemed to sense my anguish because she turned around to look at me. She put her hand on my face so she could look me in the eye.

"Edward, don't feel guilty about this. I know what your doing. There is nothing you can do at the moment and you need to rest so you can perform your best when the time comes. You can't rest if you're thinking about Anthony, so you need a distraction. I don't mind being that distraction. So calm down, let's finish our bath and get some sleep."

I nodded and pushed back my guilt. She was right and I knew it. I had just been telling myself the same thing just a little while ago.

We finished our bath in silence and curled up together naked in Bella's bed. She fell asleep immediately while I laid there. I watched Bella's face in the wavering light for a while before I let the sounds of her soft snore and the bubbling of the fish tank lull me into a deep dreamless sleep.

9:54pm CST

We were all sitting around Bella's dining room table. The plan was set. It was a good plan and for the first time in twenty four hours, I felt real hope.

I looked around at the black clad people around the table until I settled on Bella. The look on her face was one that I recognized, but not one that I had ever thought I would see on her. It was raw determination laced with the adrenaline of a fast approaching mission. I found it a little hard to believe I was going into the field with her. But I had seen her abilities and I knew she was not the same girl that I left in the meadow. She was strong, confident and all the more beautiful for it. With her at my side, I could accomplish anything.

Caius and Eleazar sat at either end of the table. We had just finished briefing and we were ready.

Caius clapped his hands together once. "Alright, let's bring everyone home. Move out."

Next week will be pretty action pack and rather violent. Just a warning.

I ask that you please review. I have been getting very few reviews and it makes me sad. I have more alerts for this than reviews for the entire story.