No SM...yada yada...but, got to put it...

So, thankfully this chapter was being written as the last one was being edited. After all the reviews, we thought it pertinent to get this chapter out as soon as possible.

Don't worry, Rosalie's behavior will be explained! Just stick with us!

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EPOV

The chaos surrounding Rosalie's entrance into the room certainly caused an uproar. Reflecting back, I noticed Bella had been quite startled by her arrival, and I wondered if that was what had kick started, what turned out to be, one doozy of an anxiety attack.

I felt horrible for not noticing it right away. She was right beside me and I wasn't paying attention. By the time I saw it, the gasps she was taking were so loud that even Rosalie eventually stopped to watch. I tried so hard to get her attention, to yank her out of whatever thoughts were pulling her under…

I was grateful that she was here and not back on the studio lot with someone like 'Mike' to give her a hand. I could barely contain my shudders at the mere thought.

When her head lolled to the side, I freaked. It was like I couldn't breathe unless she was alright. I had my hands on her shoulders and started calling out and jostling her, praying she'd open those beautiful brown eyes. I'm pretty sure Carlisle was getting ready to pull out another one of his 'magical shots' for me if I didn't calm down, and fast. I was ready to jump in and start performing CPR if someone else didn't start doing something immediately.

I felt the pressure of Jasper's hand on my shoulder, calming me down almost instantaneously. He was so quiet; you'd forget he was in the room with you sometimes, but at moments like this… Jasper was truly a Godsend.

"Edward, back off and let Carlisle do what needs to be done." Jasper whispered in my ear. I listened to his words, the anxiety fading... well, at least I wasn't completely losing my mind with panic. He definitely had the ability to soothe the troubled soul.

Jasper stayed close by as I hovered over Carlisle, watching what he was doing. He had his handy pen light out again, checking to make sure that Bella's condition was not serious. With the events of the past…Crap, has it been less than twenty-four hours? Well, with everything that had already happened, I couldn't help but question how Carlisle would diagnose her.

I tried not second guessing, but everything I'd learned in medical school was swirling about in my head. This was insane! The rate of recurrence of her fainting spells was so frequent, I was certain there was another underlying condition we'd need to worry about. Maybe it was some sort of cardiac obstruction or a transient ischemic attack…Shit! She could be having little mini strokes as we speak!

I couldn't contain myself any longer. "Carlisle, maybe we should…"

He knew exactly where my mind was going. "Edward, she'll be fine." He didn't even turn away from her to address me.

"But I was thinking that…"

"Edward, you have to stop." His tone definitely stopped me in my tracks.

"But what if…"

"Edward, listen to me, because I'm only going to say this once…"

I waited with bated breath for the words of wisdom that only Carlisle could offer me.

"If it walks like a duck, and it talks like a duck…" He started, turning his head and cocking an eyebrow, waiting for me to finish his thought.

I couldn't contain my snort. "It's not aortic stenosis." I replied, rolling my eyes.

"Exactly."

I could hear him struggling to stifle his laughter as he straightened up, turning to look at me. "Look, Edward, I understand your concern. Truthfully, I'd hope there was another cause for all of this, but I don't think there is…" His smile faded ever so slightly. "True, she's a little underweight, most likely anaemic from the looks of her complexion, but we've already seen how violently she reacts to male contact. This attack started even before Rosalie entered the room. I was watching her, Edward. I could see the signs of the attack starting as soon as she noticed the clock. She never managed to calm down from it completely. It may have looked like she did for a few moments, yes, but she was always on edge…the more I see of her, the more I'm convinced that my initial diagnosis is correct. This has to be PTSD."

Alice's hand flew to her mouth in horror and she gasped, "What do we do?"

Realizing the futility of trying to keep any sort of secret at this point, Carlisle cleared his throat. "With cases this severe, to the point where she can barely function in society, she would require medicating, cognitive therapy, and maybe even institutionalization if it became too unmanageable."

I was at a loss. Institutionalization? "No."

"Edward, you need to take a step back and look at the whole picture."

"No!" I shouted. "YOU need to take a step back, Carlisle!" I shocked myself with the tone I was using now… with Carlisle.

Esme stepped towards Bella, putting a supportive hand on her shoulder, hoping that the pointless gesture was not lost on the lifeless girl on the couch. "Edward. Please calm down. This tension is benefitting no one."

The sound of my own anger was still echoing in my head. I tried suppressing it and clinging to the words that Esme had spoken. This really wasn't doing anyone any good. I went within myself. I had to. Pull it together, Edward. Bella doesn't need this kind of shit. She needs calm… cool… collected… I can do that.

I pulled in a deep breath, closing my eyes and exhaling. I twisted and craned my neck, trying to release the stress that had decided to settle there. It barely helped, just barely.

I drew in one more breath before opening my eyes to address Carlisle again. "You're right." I finally moved from my spot on the floor, where I had been paralyzed from the onset of this newest nightmare. I positioned myself in front of Carlisle, leaning over Bella. "You're sure that she's just fainted again, right?"

Carlisle nodded stiffly.

"Fine. I'm taking her to her room and letting her rest a little more comfortably. We'll figure out what we need to do when she's awake. Until that happens, this entire conversation is moot." With that, I lifted Bella delicately from what had become her swooning chair and, slowly walking out of the room, ignoring the looks of shock and sadness on the faces of my family.

BPOV

Quiet.

I knew I shouldn't expect the sounds of the saw blade from the butcher shop below. I could recall the conversation, the arguing, the panic… I knew that I was homeless now, but…

Strangely, there was nothing to observe around me. No male cum

nursemaid. No quiet whispering in the hallway. No water running in the next room. I could barely pick up the hum of the air conditioner blowing through the vent by my bedside. There was only—quiet.

I couldn't bring myself to open my eyes, in case I was mistaken. I needed to savour this. I was alone; honest to goodness alone for the first time since this all began.

Bliss.

I knew it wouldn't last for long, so I wiggled myself a little further into the luxurious comforter that was spread across the bed and decided to drag this precious reprieve out for as long as possible.

I knew that I was getting close to falling asleep when I heard them in the hallway. Their words were growing louder, but not like before. At least it isn't all of them. I fought the urge to groan, knowing that any audible sound would have one, if not all of them, running into the room at the drop of a hat. I knew I couldn't deal with that again.

This was one of those moments where I needed to listen…not react.

RPOV

We all sat, waiting; waiting for some sign of life from the room down the hall. We all seemed to be afraid to speak…or maybe it was just me. When Edward returned sans Bella, he had this look on his face that basically screamed 'don't'… so we didn't. Even Carlisle chose to stay silent for the time being.

I will admit that Bella's latest performance was pretty amazing. It was understated, but poignant. I could almost hear her thought process as I watched. Alright, no one's looking, time to really bring it… She brought it, alright.

I've seen actresses make themselves cry. Heck, I could do it if I was motivated enough.—or at least if the camera close up really required me to bring on the water works, but to actually make yourself pass out! Wow. I figured that was the point of the breathing exercise she had performed… simply incredible. If Oscars were given out for being totally over the top, she'd win—hands down. I couldn't even look away once she had really gotten started.

I couldn't take the silence anymore. Jumping up out of my seat, I went towards the hall. "Well, I'm going to see if our 'Dame Bella' has chosen to take her curtain call for this performance." I announced.

I should have kept my mouth closed, because Edward was hot on my tail. Wonderful. Just what I wanted… company.

"Rosalie, you should leave her alone." He hissed. "She's had enough excitement for today.

I ignored him and kept moving. The room wasn't too much farther. I could feel the sneer stretching across my face. I guess Edward noticed it too.

"Rosalie, please, I'm begging you." He sounded pathetic.

Wow, it hadn't taken him long to switch tactics. Bad cop… loser cop. Cute.

"What do you want, Edward?" I couldn't keep the snide tone from my voice.

"It's not what I want, Rosalie. It's what I need. I need you to give her a chance. Please?"

I could feel him put his hand on my shoulder, trying to stop me. I had to give him credit, he was tenacious. It was, however, unfortunate for him that I possessed the same trait. "No."

"Rosalie, now is not the time to be stubborn and dig your heels in. She needs our help!"

I couldn't respond for a moment. We were right outside of her room and I was losing patience with his antics. I had things to do. I whirled around, looking him in the eye, his hand falling away. "Look, Edward, I get that you want to tap some of that, but I'm not going to allow some fraud to come into our house and make MY sanctuary into some kind of a joke!"

Edward was silent.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go and check on our guest."

His hand moved back to my shoulder, tightening ever so slightly.

"I'd highly recommend that you get your hand off of me before I do something I won't regret." I'm certain I snarled the words.

He was calm. "Rosalie, why are you doing this?"

"Do I need to repeat myself?"

"No, Rosalie, I hear what you're saying—but why are you really doing this?"

I opened my mouth to answer, finding myself at a loss for words.

"Shit, Rosalie. I saw you when you came home for the first time. I SAW YOU! If you are really going to do what I think you are going to do, then I need you to do something first."

Edward paused, giving me a chance to throw in my snotty remark. I had nothing.

He took my silence as permission to continue. "I need you to sit back and remember. You need to remember what you felt when you walked through those doors. I need you to remember how terrified you were of us when you got here… how you hid in closets and refused to sleep anywhere unless Alice was there with you. Then, Rosalie, when you are done with all of that, I need you to remember how good it felt to know that you were finally safe."

My eyes brimmed with tears I refused to shed. "It's not the same, Edward."

"Fine, let it be different, I don't really care." His voice was trembling now. "I only care that she has the same chance to heal as everyone one of us did when we came into this family."

I couldn't speak. I couldn't—anything.

We stared at each other for a few seconds and then I had to do it. I looked away. I couldn't stand to see the pleading look on his face. I did the only thing I could do…

I walked away.

BPOV

Oh, my…

I was afraid to move. I could hear Rosalie's stilettos clacking on the marble tiles outside my door and I knew that confrontation was over.

But where was Edward?

The question barely had time to fade in my mind before I heard the soft padding of feet on the carpet.

"Bella?" Edward whispered.

I said nothing. My eyes stayed closed as I forced myself to keep breathing steadily… in and out, in and out…I was so grateful he couldn't hear my heart pounding in my chest.

"Bella. I know you can't really hear me, but I want you to know something…"

Inhale… exhale… inhale… exhale…

"We don't know you… who you are, where you've been… well, we don't know much of anything right now. It frustrates the hell out of me that you're such a stranger to us… to me… when all I want for you to be happy, Bella. I want you to be happy here, with us…" He was struggling to get the words out.

I just need to bide my time. Inhale… exhale… inhale… exhale…

"Bella, I want you to feel safe… all the time…"

SAFE? Oh, no… inhale… exhale…inhale…

"Oh, Bella, there's so much we could all share with you… to help you… to make you stronger. Please. You just need to let us in."

My mind and body were in conflict. I was willing my eyes to stay closed. He couldn't know I was awake, but his silken voice was calling to me. He was compelling me to listen and obey… but I couldn't allow it. Remember. Listen, don't react.

The room was suddenly quiet again. Had he left?

I felt the bed shifting and I knew that Edward was closer to me than I'd liked. My body stiffened. Please don't hurt me, please don't hurt me… I kept repeating my mantra in my head.

"Bella?"

I could feel his warm breath on my cheek. It was all around me. I was trapped and trying to convince myself again that he was sincere.

"I promise I'll never hurt you."

His long, soft fingers trailed from my jaw up towards my cheek. He paused, turning his wrist and checking my forehead for any signs of fever. I could swear I heard him breathe a sigh of relief as he felt the coolness of my skin.

"Sweet dreams, Bella… for me?"

After a moment, the bed shifted again, the same footfalls treading towards the door and then the sound of leather soles clacking against the marble tile told me that my other guest had departed.

I waited for a few minutes, listening for anything that could interrupt my contemplation.

Nothing.

I forced my eyes open, staring at the empty doorway, shaking my head in disbelief.

Did I really just hear what I thought?

My mind was at war within itself. I was safe… I was in danger… I was cared for… I was despised…

The dichotomy in my head was causing physical pain, the headache that I'd had earlier in the day creeping back into its little hiding spot at the base of my skull.

What was I to do?

The situation I was finding myself in seemed to have no solution. Do I stay or do I go? Was I expected to believe all of these people merely because they said to?

I forced the conflicted thoughts from my head and focussed more on my breathing. I could feel my heart rate starting to return to normal and the pain in my head starting to dissipate a little…mmm…I feel so much better when I can just let it go…

With nothing more to really distract me, I brought my hand up to my face, tracing the path that Edward's fingers had followed so delicately only a few minutes earlier. I wondered if there would ever be a day when…

I couldn't continue with the thought. It was too much and too soon. I only hoped that one day…

cum (preposition)

cum [kum]

with

together with, along with, in combination with, or functioning as (informal)

- He lives and works in an apartment cum office.

Reference: Encarta Dictionary: English (North America)

It's all the perverts out there that made the spelling taboo ;)!