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JPOV

Sighing, I set the book I was reading in my lap, turning my head to look out the window. Night was falling and hidden lights strategically placed all around the grounds were beginning to illuminate the backyard. Still, there were areas that were left in shadows or complete darkness - much like Bella's past.

Bella. She'd been through a lot in her life, of that I was sure. How else could she have gotten the scars on her legs? And her reaction? She acted as if we were going to harm her any chance we got. What kind of monster had gotten to her?

I thought back to this afternoon and how things had played out after she'd fainted.

I watched Edward carry Bella out of the room, everyone falling into complete silence as he did so. None of us saying a word. Edward came back a few minutes later sans Bella and wearing a look that screamed for us to remain silent; so we did.

Rosalie, moments later, jumped out of her seat, walking towards the hall saying, "Well, I'm going to see if our 'Dame Bella' has chosen to take her curtain call for this performance."

Edward followed behind her, chasing after her. The rest of us remained quiet, listening to the raised voices down the hall. Thankfully they weren't loud enough for us to make out the words, so it was unlikely they would wake Bella.

"I don't understand why Rose is doing this," Alice commented sadly, moving to stand next to me. I shook my head. If I had an answer, I would give it to her.

Esme couldn't contain herself. "I saw what happened to Bella. Well, the results of what happened anyway. She isn't being dishonest about this. From what Rosalie has told us, what she went through, it's nowhere near what Bella has gone through. I'm not saying that Rosalie isn't entitled to her feelings…it just so…so… GAH! I just don't understand," Esme was near tears, sitting down on the couch in Bella's vacated seat and wringing her hands nervously.

Carlisle walked over to her, sitting down next to her, and pulled her into his arms. "I don't understand either, Honey. We'll just have to leave Rosalie be and help Bella for now. I need to get down to the hospital and pick her up some crutches. I was absolutely positive we had somehanging around. You'd think with three boys and all their shenanigans, we'd have held onto at least one pair!"

Emmett rubbed the back of his neck as he and I shared a quick glance between the two of us. We did, at one point, have a pair of crutches here at the house. However, they'dbeen confiscated by us three guys in some prank or another and in a covert effort to reclaim our weaponry, they had been destroyed. We'd never told Esme.

"I thought we did? Weren't they in the attic?" Esme spoke up, looking curiously at Carlisle.

"I looked up there, they aren't there," Carlisle mused, as Emmett and Edward, who'd returned just as Carlisle mentioned the crutches, made strategic exits from the living room.

I bent down and kissed Alice's neck before exiting after my brothers. Alice looked at me funky, "Where are you going?"

"Uh…the library," I supplied nervously, leaving. The prank may have been years ago, but Esme would still have our hides for it if she found out. The three of us were just heading upstairs when Alice walked out, looking at me pointedly.

"I thought you were off in the direction of the library. Which, last I checked, was downstairs, not upstairs," she stated.

"Uh, yea, I was," I stuttered, walking back down the stairs and in that direction until Alice's next words halted me mid-step.

"You three wouldn't, perchance, know where the crutches are, would you?"

"Well…" Emmett started.

"See…" Edward added.

"Crutches?" I asked, turning to look at her.

"Right," Alice sighed, spinning around to go back into the living room. "Esme's not going to be happy with you, you know."

"You aren't going to tell, are you?" Emmett squealed. For such a huge man, he was terrified of Esme.

"Why shouldn't I? Bella needs those crutches," Alice paused, looking over her shoulder at us.

Aw, crap! She had that look. You didn't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out what that crazy woman was plotting for us.

We exchanged a glance between the three of us, heaving a sigh before Edward bit the bullet and spoke up, "One shopping trip."

Alice raised a delicate eyebrow in his direction. "One shopping trip a person, and each person must go on the shopping trip of the others. So, that would be a total of, oh, three shopping trips."

Blackmailing Pixie. I suppressed a groan. I loved Alice dearly, I really did. But, I wasn't looking forward to shopping trips. Then again, it did get us out of trouble with Esme. I looked over at my brothers. Emmett was once again rubbing the back of his neck. Edward, in typical character, was pinching his nose between his thumb and forefinger.

"Take it or leave it," Alice taunted, taking a step in the direction of the living room.

"Fine!" we agreed, Edward and Emmett heading upstairs after and I to the library as Alice smirked in victory.

I was pulled from my thoughts as I heard Alice's high-pitched voice, "And, this is the library."

"You have a library?" Bella inquired softly. They had to be close to the door if I could hear her.

"Well, it doubles as Carlisle's officealso, but, yea," Alice told her, opening the door. I saw Bella hopping in on the brand new aluminum crutches Carlisle had procured for her, looking in awe around her. I figured she was taking in the opulence of the room.

Esme had done it in a typical English library. The walls were painted a deep green. In the dying light of twilight you could barely see the rich color for the darkness of the walnut bookcases lining the walls. Instead of one desk tucked into the corner, Carlisle had two… his and one for anyone who felt a need. Carlisle encouraged all of us to seek out knowledge, and wanted to ensure that we had a place to do so. I closed my eyes and remembered some of the more involved movie roles Alice would research while sitting at that second desk. The tiffany lamp casting its beautiful diffused light making Alice glow… God, that woman is so glorious…

They had stopped behind one of the large, overstuffed dark leather armchairs that Esme insisted on scattering through the room, because 'a library can provide brain candy as much as it can provide intellectual nourishment, and I sure as heck am not reading my gothic romances while sitting at a stuffy desk!' I refrained from snickering out loud at the memory.

Bella was leaning onto the back the back of one of the more prominent chairs, trying to relieve some of the weight her tiny arms were supporting. Her eyes were tired but alight, trying to take in the sheer mass of volumes of poetry, philosophy, fiction, medical journals and such. Heck, I think that Carlisle might have held onto my secret stash of Batman comics from when I was a kid and burrowed them away somewhere within the shelves. I couldn't keep from smiling at the memory of my secret childhood superhero fantasies… and one of the reasons for the crutches in the first place.

I was excited to see how almost comfortable she seemed to be in the presence of all this leather and paper. Her hand left her crutch handle—hesitantly, and moved toward one of the shorter freestanding shelves in the middle of the room. She was almost reverent as she near worshipped the smooth surface and all its holdings.

Sensing her increased ease, Alice left her side,

"Do you like to read?" Alice asked, dancing over to me. She took the book from my hands and placed it on the table next to me before snuggling down into my lap.

Bella looked at where Alice had been standing and, seeing that she wasn't there anymore, franticly scanned around for her, visibly freezing in place when she saw me, the fear rolling off her in waves. I stayed still, waiting for her to provide me some sort of cue. I wouldn't allow myself to be the catalyst for another attack.

Alice saw my hesitation, cocking her head to the side and speaking quietly, "It's alright, Bella. He's not going to do anything to you."

Bella didn't take her eyes off me as Alice spoke and didn't respond either. I stood up cautiously, picking up Alice in my arms at the same time, and setting her back in the chair afterwards. Alice looked at me nervously. I shook my head at her, praying that she'd remain silent. I didn't want to risk Bella being startled by anything right now.

Walking over to a smaller bookcase near Carlisle's desk, where Esme kept most of her books. I ran my fingers over the spines, glancing at Bella out of the corner of my eye, trying to figure out what she would like to read. Not finding anything, I walked across the room, taking a route far from where Bella stood, feeling her gaze on me the entire time. Hmmm…she had an injured leg and wouldn't be moving around much. With that thought in mind, I pulled Gone With the Wind from the shelves.

Slowly, as if I were approaching a wounded doe, which was probably accurate in this case, I made my way to the table not far from where Bella was standing.

I put the book down, looking at her as I backed away. "If you'd like something to read, since you're probably not going to be moving around much, I picked a long book."

Her eyes shifted between the book and me before she hopped over to it and lightly ran her finger over it. As she spoke, her voice was quiet and timid. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Alice stood and made her way over to Bella, picking up the book. "Do you want to read it?"

"Yes, please." I strained to hear her whisper.

I smiled at her answer, resuming my seat; pleased she'd liked my choice. "When you've finished that one, let me know and I'll bring you another one."

Biting her lip, she looked at the ground for a moment, as if she were debating something within herself. "Okay."

Alice, perhaps sensing that Bella was reaching the limit of her newfound bare tolerance of all things 'man' piped up, "Bella, we need to get you a snack! Are you ready to go check out the kitchen?"

"Um, sure." She mumbled.

Alice clapped her hands together and grinned. "Well then… let's get this show on the road!"

Bella cast one last look around the room, like she was trying to memorize it. She straightened herself up and went to turn away. She paused, looking like she was having some sort of internal dialogue. I thought, for sure, that she'd leave the room as fast as those crutches would carry her, but she stayed still for a moment longer. I could only watch. She closed her eyes, drew in a breath and, in the lowest of voices, said, "Thanks."

With that one word, she quickly left the room, Alice following behind her book in hand.

Well, that went rather nicely.

EmPOV

Edward and I sat in my room playing Xbox. We were on strict orders to not play in the media room for fear of disturbing Bella. Poor girl was as skittish as a colt.

"Dude, I'm thirsty. You want anything?" I asked Edward.

"Yea. I'll come with."

After pausing the game, we raced downstairs and towards the kitchen. Esme was standing at the sink with her back away from us. She'd never see my incredible tactical maneuver—my one sure-fire way to ensure my ultimate victory. Oh yes, at the last minute I shoved Edward out of my way.

"I win! Eat my dust!" I yelled, spinning around to look at my brother, but he wasn't looking at me as he ran past. Turning, I saw him catch Bella before she fell to the ground, scooping her up in his arms. Her crutches clattered to the floor. I hadn't even noticed she was here.

"Emmett, what have I told you about running in the house?" Esme turned and demanded as I looked at the floor, feeling guilty for scaring Bella. "I'm sorry."

"Bella, are you okay?" Alice's voice registered in my ears and I looked up to see Edward still holding Bella, carrying her over to a kitchen chair.

He set her down gently, kneeling in front of her. I walked over and as I got closer, I could see her shaking. In Edward's haste to catch her, her shirt had ridden up some and just as Edward reached out to pull it down, Alice screeched.

"Oh my god! What happened to you?" Alice demanded, shoving Edward out of the way to examine the criss-cross of scars on Bella's stomach. Bella blanched, pulling her shirt down and shaking her head violently.

"Alice, Edward, Emmett, why don't you go…" Esme started, hurrying over to Bella. "Oh, just go. Leave the room. Bella, dear, are you alright?"

She knelt in front of Bella, as Alice and Edward moved out of the way. Bella looked terrified. She was holding her arms crossed around her middle and tears were making their way down her cheeks. Esme turned her head, and seeing us still standing there, ordered, "I told you to leave the room!"

Honest to goodness… Esme told us to leave, and every fiber of my being wanted to turn tail and run faster than a bat outta hell, but I couldn't move from my spot. None of us could.

Edward and Alice were still close enough that Bella knew she was being watched, and I wondered if she'd have calmed down by now if Eddie-boy would just back off and give her a little space. The look on his face told me that he wasn't going anywhere.

"Bella," Esme smoothed her hair and spoke softly, "You need to calm down. Can you do that with me?"

Bella's breathing quickened as she looked up and caught sight of her witnesses.

"Bella, please? Just watch me and we'll get through this…breathe in with me, Bella…deep breaths, hon. C'mon." Esme was firm. She took hold of Bella's face and tried to force her to focus.

Bella's gasps were coming quicker and sounded almost painful. She shook her head, trying to escape from Esme's grip. "They s-s-s-saw…" She choked out. "They k-k-k-keep l-l-looking at them!"

Was she freaking out because of the scars?

Her panic was still escalating. Her eyes were wild, like she was trying to find some way to escape all of this. She was losing it, and fast.

I started flashing on Dad's words. Bella was way too cool to be stuck in some institution. Shit! She let me play chauffeur to her with a damned wheelbarrow. This girl was meant to be a Cullen! She was just a little late coming to the party! Besides, there was no way she'd be able to make it in one of those places. Just the thought of it was pissing me off. I couldn't help myself. All I could think was, "C'mon, Bells… you can do it." I chanced a quick glace over to the others and I knew they were doing the exact same thing.

"Edward!" Esme barked out his name.

"Yeah, mom?"

"You need to go find your father now! Tell him to bring his bag!"

"NO!" I raised my hand and gestured for him to stop. It was a completely knee jerk reaction, and I hadn't meant to shout, but the idea of her being knocked out again was really starting to freak me out.

Esme's eyes broke away from Bella for just a moment as she tried to gauge my reaction. "Emmett… not helping." She mumbled through clenched teeth. Edward hadn't moved from his spot, waiting to see how this played out.

"Aw, hell!" For just a minute I considered walking out. This was total bullshit. Just because things were a little rough they were going to do this!

Then I had an idea…

"Eddie, over there…now." I motioned for Edward to step behind Esme. I followed behind and took a quick second to position us so Bella could easily see both of us.

"Bella, can you see us?" It was a stupid question, but I needed to know she was paying attention.

She nodded as she forced in another breath.

I looked her straight in the eye. "Look at us." I turned and looked at Edward, glancing at his stomach, hoping he'd get what I was trying to do.

Bella's eyes widened.

"Bella, just look. Esme will keep you safe. Remember?"

Esme looked nervous as she caught my eye. I gave her a firm nod of reassurance.

Bella tried to nod again, throwing a fearful glance toward Esme. I wasn't really sure how much longer she'd be able to stay conscious. She was already so pale. I hoped she was getting this.

Simultaneously, Edward and I raised our shirts. Truthfully, if this were any other time, I'd be flexing my guns and showing off all my hard work. After all, this was definitely a physique to be appreciated by the masses. We just needed her to breathe—fast!

"Honey, look… we have them, too."

Alice gasped when she realized what we were doing and immediately took up a position beside me, hiking her skirt up higher to reveal the jagged three inch scar she had on her thigh. Edward was busy contorting himself to show the intricate spider web-like lines he wielded on his side. I looked at her, straight on, placing my open hand on my chest so I could point out the thin, white reminder of the surgery that saved my life after the… accident… all those years ago.

"See? Do you see what they're showing you? You're not alone. You have nothing to worry about. No one has judged you for what they saw." Esme whispered, encouragingly. She had twisted herself around in order to see confirm the final effect. I'm pretty sure I saw a gleam of something positive in her eye.

Damn, I hope so or I'm in some big kahuna shit for that 'no' back there! I'd have to cross my fingers and hope for some luck a little later.

"Boys, put your shirts back on." Esme stated simply. We all straightened ourselves up.

Bella's chest was heaving, but I could see that the breaths she was taking were being pulled deeper and deeper into her lungs.

"Good girl, Bella." Esme was cooing. "I knew you could do it." She was combing through Bella's hair with her fingers, trying to ease away the last of the tension and pulling her into a loose hug. Bella's eyes were closing and she finally starting to come down from her attack.

Damn straight! I pumped my fist in the air in triumph.

Bella, already the color of ash, suddenly paled further. She threw her hand over her mouth and gasped, "Oh no!" She somehow managed to find the strength to pull herself from Esme's arms and throw herself toward the sink, thankfully only a few feet away from her.

"Sweetheart! What's wrong?!" Esme rushed up behind her, arriving just in time for Bella to start retching violently into the basin. Esme quickly scooped her hair from around her face and patted at her back.

We could hear Bella muttering, "So sorry… so, so sorry," between heaves. She was apologizing for being sick?! Esme, of course, wouldn't listen to that for a second.

"Isabella Swan," Shit! Esme was pulling out her 'mom voice'. "I will have none of that!" Her tone was stern, but you couldn't mistake the affection behind the chastisement. "Do you know what you just did?"

Her stomach finally emptied, Bella shook her head—defeated.

"Bella! Do you understand that every other time we've witnessed one of your attacks, you've ended up on the floor, unconscious? Look at where you are right now?"

Bella wouldn't even lift her head.

"Bella, you are still standing on your own two feet. I'll admit that I had my doubts at first, sweetheart, but guess what?" Esme leaned closer as she made her final point. "Bella Swan, you beat this one."

Bella raised her face from the sink, closing her eyes. We could all see the hint of a smile on her face. "Hmmm." She hummed to herself. She was obviously lost in some thought. "Interesting."

It was quiet for another moment. Bella opened her eyes, looking rather embarrassed. "Oh, the mess!" She was staring in horror at the contents of the sink and paled again. "I'll clean this up right now! I'm so sorry…shit, I'm so disgusting!" If she didn't stop herself, she'd start this all over again—and I know I sure as hell didn't want that. She started looking for something to wipe up the mess.

I couldn't believe my ears when I heard the words come out of my own mouth! "I'll take care of it, Bells." What the fuck am I saying?! Damn! Too late to back out now. Shit! I sighed and kept going. "You don't need to worry about it. I've got it, little sister."

"NO!" She almost shrieked. "You can't, I've got to…"

"You've got to go lie down." Esme interrupted calmly.

"Yup." I grinned. "What Esme said. I meant it…I've got it, now go lie down before Esme goes all maternal on your ass."

Bella sighed. "Alice," she started, never looking away from the sink. "I'm really tired now. Could you please help me find my way back to my room?" She swayed a little as she stood there, struggling to stay on her feet. At least we knew this was exhaustion, though. It didn't make it any easier to stand there and watch her body slowly succumb to the extreme fatigue.

"You betcha'!" Alice jumped to and rushed to collect the crutches on the floor by the kitchen entry. She came back to Bella by the sink and put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

It was great watching Bella being flanked by Esme and Alice. They literally had her back, and I think she really liked it.

She staggered a little as she pulled the crutches under her arms and Eddie and I rushed toward her to catch her before she ended up a big ol' heap of broken Bella. Thank goodness her back was still to us. She managed to catch herself and we could back off before she could notice and have another freak out episode. Thank goodness for small favors.

A throat cleared. "Is everything alright in here?"

The new voice startled us from our observations. Carlisle was standing at the kitchen entry, with an empty glass in hand. I can only imagine how this looked to him.

"Oh," Esme straightened up. "Yes, dear. Everything is fine. Bella just…umm…has a bit of a sour stomach."

I didn't mean to snort…REALLY! Eddie and Alice were quick with the look that told me to pull my shit together and stop now…or I'd be knee deep in it. I started to cough and hoped that Carlisle would buy the act.

Carlisle just looked at me like I'd sprouted a second head. Nothing new there!

He stepped toward her, slowly. "Bella, are you feeling unwell?" Carlisle was obviously concerned.

She turned toward him, tentatively. Her eyes widened and she nodded, and then somehow found her voice. "Yes, but I'm sure I'll be better if I can make it to bed." She was trembling. "I just need to sleep. It's been a long day."

I'm pretty certain that had been the most she'd spoken to any of us and I couldn't help but feel proud of the fact. She really was awesome in that 'my whole world is crumbling around me and I'm scared shitless' sort of way. I was grinning so big my face hurt.

"Well, the antibiotics you're taking can sometimes irritate your stomach, especially if you take them on an empty stomach." He looked down at her kindly. "Bella, please feel free to help yourself to anything in our home. You are our guest and are welcome to anything we have."

Bella was looking very fish-like, her mouth opening and closing but making no sound.

Carlisle chuckled. "Bella, would you like to make a grocery list with some of your favorites? That way we have a guarantee you'll have something in this house that you're willing to eat…" his voice trailed off when he saw the look on her face.

"I'm fine with anything, thank you." She looked so confused.

"Well, think about it. You can change your mind at anytime. Just let any of us know and we'll gladly pass it along to the appropriate staff." He smiled kindly at her

She lowered her head and looked to the floor. "Thank you, again."

The room was awkwardly silent. Alice, being Alice, couldn't stand it and put an end to it. "Well, c'mon, Bella. I have the cutest pajama set for you to wear tonight."

Bella nodded in acknowledgement and started toward the door.

She stopped just before the room's threshold, Alice waiting patiently in the hallway. We might have heard a "Goodnight," but none of us was completely sure.

All I knew for certain was that Bella needed a healthy dose of Emmett McCarty Cullen style Big Brother Lovin'…then all would be right with the world.

RPOV

None of them saw me. They were too busy with her again; feeding into her lies and playing right into her manipulative hands.

I left the quiet of the hallway after witnessing the latest incarnation of a Cullen intervention; shirts off, skirts hiked—showing off their battle scars like they're fucking blue ribbons they'd won at a fair!

All I'd wanted was a fucking glass of wine.

Well, enough is enough.

I pulled out my address book and reached for my phone.

I dialed without hesitation. It only rang once before a voice answered on the other side.

"Victoria Langdon Investigations."

"I need to speak with Ms. Langdon, please."

"I'm sorry, she's away from the office for the evening. May I direct your call to one of our associate investigators?"

"No. Just leave Victoria a message… mark it urgent. Tell her Rosalie Hale called. Let her know that if she can call be back within the hour, she'll have a chance to expose a fraud and make her agency known nationwide… press conferences, court appearances…you name it. This is going to be big!"

I could hear the receptionist typing madly.

"Yes, ma'am, I'll have that message forwarded to her directly. Can I help you with anything else?"

"No. That's all. Just remind her that I am not a patient woman, and she now has," I looked to my watch. "Fifty-eight minutes to call me back or I take my business to someone else."

"Very good. Thank you, and have a good evening, Ms. Hale."

"Goodbye." I hung up the phone.

I knew my evening would improve markedly, once I got things rolling…and that bitch out of my house—for good.

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