I apologize for the delay in updating. With the holidays, life has been very hectic. But, without further ado...here's the next chapter!
Oh! And for those of you wondering why I put male(s) and not men, it is because male encompasses ALL men and boys of all ages. The entire gender.
We, unfortuantly for it would make shopping easier, own Twilight or any rights to it, nor are we Stephenie Meyer. If we were we wouldn't be worrying about cash flow.
BPOV
I woke slowly, trying to cling to the darkness that was residing in my mind. It was safe there. No one could hurt me. Snippets of information began filtering through my senses. I was lying on something soft, too soft to be my ratty old futon. The air was kissed with a mixture of floral and spice instead of the hint of decay that came wafting up through the old ventilation system to my apartment from the butcher shop below me. There was a throbbing pain in my right leg and my mouth was drier than a desert. Damn, I need some water. I thought as I struggled to swallow.
Voices murmured somewhere close by. They must be in a hallway, and they were only getting louder. Oh, please, what's going on?!
My eyes flew open quickly, to assess the situation. I wasn't at home, that much was already clear. And if I wasn't there, that left the question of where was I? Quickly sifting through my memories, I tried to figure out where exactly I was. I remembered leaving for lunch and Mike grabbing my wrist. Edward and the others coming to my rescue and the director telling me to take the rest of the day off. Alice convincing me to go to lunch with them. Returning to my apartment to freshen up. Then leaving the apartment. Falling through the stairs, then nothing.
The voices in the hall came closer, allowing me to just barely hear what they were saying. I squeezed my eyes closed and forced my breathing to steady, a trick I'd learned over the years. I had no desire for them to know I was awake yet. As long as I remained asleep, no one would hurt me. I'd be left alone. I clung to that thought like a life preserver. They were close enough that I was able to tell that they were male.
"Is she awake yet?" Edward.
"I could hear the door being opened. There was silence for a moment. I reminded myself to inhale slowly.
"No. Not yet, which is probably a blessing." Unknown. Oh god. Were they waiting for me to wake so they could torture me? Edward had been safe so far. Had he been lying to me? Was he biding his time?
"How's she doing?" Panic. Scared. Terrified. Take your pick. Exhale, Bella…you can do this.
"Stable. I was going to check on her." Why? Do you want to see if I'm awake so you can hear me scream?
I felt the blankets lifted off my right side and then a cool hand touching my skin. Males! Touching me! I gave up on pretending to sleep. Opening my eyes, I screamed, jumping off the bed. Ignoring the pain in my leg, I ran towards the nearest corner. Shaking, I squatted, hands and back pressed against the wall.
"Please! I swear, I didn't do anything! Don't hurt me! Please!" I whimpered. My leg collapsed under my weight, leaving me curled in an oddly shaped ball. I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed silently—frantically, for everything to go away.
"You weren't exaggerating, were you Edward?" The second voice asked softly. Softly? I forced my eyes open and looked towards the sound, seeing the ownder to be as tall as Edward with blonde hair and blue eyes. He wasn't muscular per say, but looked to be nicely toned.
"This is what she did just as I was trying to help her from the stairs." Edward's velvet voice washed over me and for the briefest second, I knew that everything would be okay.
Shit! I snapped back into the moment when I realized I risked being lulled into a false sense of safety. "Please, I swear, I was good! I didn't touch anything! Don't do anything to me!" I pleaded, lips quivering, tears streaking down my cheeks. Why did they always want to hurt me? Was my mere presence offensive? Edward took a couple of tentative steps towards me. I tried crawling into the wall, shaking with fear. Couldn't they leave me alone? I just wanted to be safe!
"Bella, love, you need to calm down and listen. Shhh…you're alright. Bella? Bella, do you remember what happened with Mike?" His voice was soft, soothing, luring.
I knew it to be a ploy of some sort, but I didn't want him to hurt me. I already hurt so much. I decided to play his game and nodded in reply.
"I asked to see your wrist, right?" Again I nodded. "I didn't hurt you then, did I?"
I shook my head, wondering if this was part of his plan…entice me with the promise of security and then snatch it all away.
He was still talking. Crap! I need to stay focused!
"When you fell through the stairs yesterday, your leg got cut up pretty bad. I know you're scared, but will you let us look at it? Let my father treat it again?"
I forced my right hand to release the handful of denim I had unknowingly been clutching, running it up my leg until I felt the bandage. I couldn't risk letting Edward or the other man out of my sight, thus reconciling myself to be satisfied with a touch only.
Edward crouched down where he stood, putting us at eye level with one another and gestured to the blonde. "This is Carlisle. He's my father and a doctor. Will you let him look at your leg? He treated it yesterday."
What? He'd helped me? Like Edward had? He had a chance to hurt me and didn't? Lies. It had to be lies. No one ever helped me. He was a wolf in sheep's clothing just waiting to hurt me.
I heard more voices approaching the room from somewhere else in the house.
Biting my bottom lip, I glanced towards the open door, wondering if I could make it out without them catching me. When Carlisle took a step closer to me, I snapped. I willed my legs to work, then pushed up and bolted, knowing with certainty that my life depended on this one action. Pain shot through my leg like a knife, causing me to cry out and stumble. I felt more pain when my left leg slammed into a corner table as I fell. A wave of nausea washed over me as I struggled to keep it together. I just had to! They were going to hurt me! I had to get away! I didn't want to be hurt anymore!
They weren't to be trusted! I wasn't worth anything to be deserving of help. The pain in my left felt like I was on fire and as I stepped onto that foot it gave out. I cried as I fell towards the floor, Edward catching me before I hit. I screamed and started thrashing out, oblivious to everyone else rushing in.
"Bella! Please! Stop! I'm not going to hurt you!"
I didn't listen to his begging and kept trying to free myself from his grasp. He was going to hurt me! They only ever touched me to hurt me!
"Drama queen, aren't we?" I thought I heard Rosalie mutter under her breath, a distinct bit to her tone.
"Rose, you don't know what she's been through." Alice responded. I didn't hear Rose speak again.
"What is going on in here? Are you killing the poor girl?" A new voice asked. At her mention of killing, I froze and began trembling. What if they really were going to? No one would notice that I was gone! I didn't mean anything to anyone! I wouldn't be missed! What a pathetic life I'd led. The realization left me empty and I slumped forward in resignation.
"Finally." I heard Edward mutter before he swept me up into his arms. I started struggling again, trying to break free, but with less conviction this time. "Bella, if you don't stop, I'll end up dropping you and I don't want to do that."
I stopped moving and closed my eyes. I hurt already and the nausea still hadn't subsided. I didn't want to add to it. I really didn't.
If I hadn't known better, I would have sworn I was floating. I could barely feel the sway of Edward's steps as he made his way back to the bed I had been inhabiting only minutes before…though it could have been hours for the exhaustion I felt.
He reached the edge of the bed and, still graceful and careful, he managed to set us both on the bed with barely a jostle.
"Alice, will you bring me a brush please?" Edward asked, sitting down in the middle of the bed resting against the headboard. He finally set me down between his legs, close enough to wrap his arms around me, but not so close that we were touching.
I wondered how he couldn't notice the fear that had to be dripping off my body.
The new woman walked over and sat on the edge of the bed near me. "I'm Esme. I'm so sorry if my pitiful attempt at humor upset you. I truly meant you no harm. My husband, Carlisle, treated your leg."
I watched her wearily, not speaking. Truthfully, my legs burned and I was afraid that if I dared to open my mouth, I'd whimper or scream in pain. Fortunately Esme didn't look as if she expected a reply.
"Your leg is bleeding again, Bella. The stitches may have torn. Will you let Carlisle look at it? I'll sit here with you the entire time."
There was movement beside me. Alice appeared with brush in hand, eager to render any assistance necessary.
"Thanks Alice." Edward spoke softly to her as I decided to chance a glance down at my offending limbs. The white bandage on the lower right was red. I ran my finger alone the edge of the gauze. I'd never really been treated by a doctor. The few times I had had been for broken limbs only. I was so confused. They wanted to help? Did they want me to heal so they could reinjure me? I was getting a headache from my conflicting thoughts and emotions. They didn't seem to do anything like any of the others.
"Edward, maybe you should let me do that." Esme spoke. I blinked, looking up from my leg as Edward moved to sit in front of me and Esme sat behind me. I felt something gliding through my hair and turned partially to see Esme holding a brush poised to run it through again. Shock froze me. In all my years no one had shown me such a kindness. I'd longed for it as a child, but never received it. Yet, here she was brushing my hair. It felt oddly comforting.
Esme smiled and whispered, "Face front so I can continue. I'm not going to hurt you."
Dumbfounded, I did as told and looked at Edward before glancing at Carlisle. No one else was in the room. When did everyone else leave? The sensation of Esme's strokes through my hair soothed my ragged emotions and I whispered, "My legs hurt."
I looked at my lap, not daring to look at any of them. I watched in shock as a large set of hands grabbed mine and looked up to see Edward holding them. I tugged gently and he immediately let go. I held my hands out again and he took them once more. I repeated the process two or three more times and each time he let go. I'd seen some of the littler kids in some of my foster homes playing games like this…they drop the keys to the floor, someone picks them up…they drop the keys to the floor, someone picks them up…I wondered when Edward would stop playing the game.
As if reading my thoughts, he answered me. "Bella, no matter how many times you do this, I will always let go." He chuckled taking my hands in his once more. I left them there.
The strokes of the hairbrush slowed to a stop. Esme shifted so that her leg was crossed behind my back and out of the way before returning to playing with my hair. She leaned towards my ear and whispered, "I promise you're safe."
I couldn't understand why she had made the statement until I looked up and saw him. There I was, letting my guard down again! Idiot!
He looked uncomfortable as he spoke to me. He cleared his throat. "Bella, I'm Carlisle Cullen. I'm a doctor and just want to help you. I don't want to hurt you, so will you please let me know if anything I do causes any pain? That way I can stop."
He…he was asking me to let him know if he hurt me? He wanted to let him know when I hurt so he could stop. I blinked, unsure of what do to. My body told me to go run screaming. All of this was a lie. Hide. Save yourself. But, something in me started hoping…hoping that someone in this world was finally telling me the truth.
"She'll let you know, Dad. Right, Bella?" Edward squeezed my hands gently and leaned forward. I stiffened slightly before nodding. I watched as Carlisle unwound the bandage revealing a long jagged cut along my right calf.
"You suffered some scrapes and bruises to your left leg, and I think I'll have to check it again after that fall, but this is the worst injury." Carlisle informed me as he finished peeling away the bandage.
I was bleeding again, but I'd bled so much over my life that blood did not bother me. Carlisle pulled some more gauze out of a black medical bag next to him and worked on getting the bleeding to stop. I could see where it had first been stitched and they were ripped about halfway down. He'd definitely have to re-stitch my leg.
I watched as Carlisle re-cleaned my wound, keeping up a running commentary about what he was doing. I chuckled to myself. There'd be no way he'd sneak anything by me this time.
APOV
I stood in the doorway watching Esme brush Bella's hair and Edward holding her hands, wondering what he'd done to get her to allow him to be that close. She'd shied away from him before. Whatever they'd done, I was pleased she was at least allowing Dad to treat her leg. I couldn't help but smile at the sight.
"She's just doing it for attention, you know." Rosalie commented quietly from behind me. I turned to face her, incredulous! I grabbed her hand and dragged her into the living room before speaking again.
"Why do you say that, Rosalie?" I asked, exasperated, as we sat down side by side on the couch.
"All you have to do is watch her and see she's acting. She didn't go through what we did! She can't know and understand! It's all an act." Rosalie's voice was hard, cutting.
I sighed with frustration, looking towards the hallway. "We can't assume, Rose. You, of all people, should know that! What if she really did go through something?"
"She didn't."
"And what if you're wrong?" I faced Rose again, my lips in a firm line.
"I'm not." Her tone left no room for argument.
Sighing, I pulled my phone out of my pocket as it started ringing. "Alice Brandon."
"Ms. Brandon. A pleasure to speak with you."
"How are you, Mr. Jenks?"
"Doing well. Thank you for asking. I was able to get a hold of some information for you. It's not much, though."
"Anything is better than nothing."
"Very well then. Her name is Isabella Marie Swan. Her mother died in childbirth and there was no record of a father in any of the paperwork I could access. She was immediately put into state's care after birth."
"What else? Any other family? Adoption?"
"Her state file is, of course, sealed and it will take some time to open it. I didn't find any adoption filings."
"Anything else? There's got to be more than just that."
"She's worked at the studio for the last four years, part-time."
"Part time? She was supposed to work an eight hour shift yesterday?"
"Her employment records list her as part-time. No emergency contact, either."
Well, if she were only part-time, that would explain why she didn't want to leave work yesterday. If she wasn't full-time then she was losing pay by not being there. I bit my bottom lip for a moment thinking about this new little tidbit of news. "Did you find out any other information?"
"No."
"How long to get access to her state file?"
"I'm not sure. It's sealed and in order for me to access it, I'm going to need Ms. Swan's permission or call in some very serious favors."
"I'll work on getting that consent for you. Thanks so much, Mr. Jenks."
With another sigh, I hung up the phone and started rubbing my temples. I could feel a headache coming on. Rose couldn't stand the silence and demanded, "Well?"
"Her mother is dead and her father unknown. She was given into state care, but her file's sealed."
"She's acting. A girl like her would get all the best homes. Moms clamor over the sweet and innocent ones."
"Rose…please…we don't know that. We don't know anything about her." I pleaded, as Jasper walked into the room.
"Alice?" he asked softly, walking over to me and lifting me up before sitting down in my spot, me on his lap. I closed my eyes and I hummed content to be in the arms of the man I love. My bliss was soon interrupted.
"Bella is sleeping again." Carlisle announced coming into the room, Edward, Emmet, and Esme following behind him.
"Alice? You look down. What's wrong?" Esme came over and kissed my cheek before sitting down on the loveseat next to Carlisle.
"I heard from Mr. Jenks. Bella is, for all intensive purposes, an orphan. She was given into state care at birth, but her file's sealed so he wasn't able to tell me anymore on that. There's no emergency contact on her employment record and she's only part-time."
"I wondered why she was so eager to go back to work yesterday." Jasper mused. "No work, no pay."
"What are we going to do?" I asked, looking around at each of my family members. No answers were forthcoming.
"I say we send her home, end of story." Rosalie huffed, getting up and leaving the room.
Everyone's eyes followed her as she exited.
"Do you think I should follow her?" Emmett asked the room, unsure of his next action.
"No, give her some time to think. This must be hard on her." Esme said sadly, still staring after her daughter.
I could only shake my head as I replied. "She thinks that Bella's acting and hasn't really suffered. That this is all just an act." I informed her, then noticed a look shared between her and Carlisle. A look that said there was something going on and Rosalie most likely was wrong.
"Carlisle? Is there something you're not telling us?" I couldn't keep myself from asking.
"Alice," He dragged his fingers through his hair and continued, "You know that there are things in this world that I can't answer…even if I wanted to and even if it would benefit someone..." I could see the conflicting emotions in his eyes. It was obvious that Carlisle knew something and it was killing him not to share.
"Well, I'm not a doctor and I'm not bound by some oath to keep my mouth shut." Jasper suddenly spoke up. "Someone should have spoken up on her behalf a long time ago…"
Jasper's act of bravado was immediately shut down by Carlisle's stare. "Jasper, you were called into that room to help, not start some personal crusade to rescue a damsel in distress. You will say nothing." His words were sharp and left no room for interpretation.
"Yes, sir." Jasper mumbled looking away.
Edward looked both anguished and furious as he watched the scene play out. Carlisle saw his expression and knew he felt the same way as Jasper.
"Alright, everyone take a deep breath. We need to calm down and figure this out." Carlisle started pacing.
Edward interrupted and decided to take control of the conversation. "I think it's safe to say that Bella has some 'issues' that require addressing immediately. Medically, she's in no condition to be in that apartment. We know that she can't maneuver the stairs, even once they've been repaired…if they bother to repair them at all!"
Everyone nodded in agreement, but Emmett, who had been surprisingly quiet decided to add his two cents with a bit of flourish. "Well, I think we should head on down to that landlord's place and crack some heads!" He cracked his knuckles and popped his neck to help get the point across.
I cringed. "Emmett, that's disgusting!" I had to say it. That was just revolting.
His laugh boomed through the house in response and with it, the tension in the room dissolved. The buffoon had a way about him and we all loved him for it. With that healthy distraction out of the way, we were finally able to get down to business and put a plan in place.
Now we just needed Bella to agree…and Rose to…something?