A/N: Okay everyone, I suffered from stomach flu the day before I started to write this so I hope it flows all right.

I hope I don't give you character whiplash in this one. There is three different POV's so hang in there.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Twi related. Thanks.

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Chapter 8 Take Cover

∞Jacob∞

As I was standing in front of this woman who has been nearly beaten to death I couldn't help to feel completely guilty. What should I tell her, should I lie? Or should I be out with it and let her know that she has helped with every aspect of this situation. What would she think if I told her that I had been following her around the last six months watching every single move that she has taken? That we knew what was happening to her, but never stopped it.

"Jacob, we are not leaving Bella. So whatever you want to tell Bella, you are going to have tell all of us. Do you understand?" Edward stated while backing off and sitting next to Bella.

"I totally agree. Something doesn't smell right. Plus, Bella has already been through enough and as the Chief of Police I am going to get down to the bottom of this," Chief Swan said with urgency in his tone.

Reaching into my back pocket of my jeans I pulled out my wallet. "Chief Swan, Bella I am Special Agent Jacob Black I work undercover for the FBI. The FBI has been following you and the Newton's for the last six months," I hesitantly said while holding up my wallet revealing my badge.

"Wait…what? You have been following us. That means you knew all this time that these terrible things were happening and you did nothing. I…I can't believe this. I don't know…I can't…I can't even think about this. Bree, her family…and…and me we were all beaten. Oh no, I think I am going to be sick," she stated choking on her words.

Chief Swan stepped forward to try and comfort Bella and acting frustrated. "I was not aware the FBI had jurisdiction or was even investigating in Forks. What's going on?"

"Chief Swan, I understand your frustration, but since you are Bella's father we didn't want to put you in greater risk. Plus, this is a rather delicate matter," I said while trying not to give out confidential information.

Edward stood up while still holding Bella's hand and giving me an angry wide eyed look, "So you are just going to leave it at that. Can you not see what's in front of you, Black? Just look at her, you know what she has been through. And now we aren't even sure if the Newton's are still alive. We, most of all Bella deserves to know what's going on."

"Edward, the most I can do is have all of you go to FBI Headquarters in Seattle to debrief you on the situation. Once that is done we would have to put Bella, her entire family and you into protective custody. We were trying to avoid that at all cost. So it's your decision Bella; be left knowing what you already know or get all the information that you have been trying to obtain these last six months?" I stared at Bella with a questioning look hoping she would just leave things the way they are. What she said next was shocking.

Bella looked at everyone cautiously and cleared her throat, "Is there any way that…you could just debrief me and then put me in protective custody? Maybe I could help as well."

Edward whipped his head around and looked at Bella with disbelief, "What are talking about Bella? I can't let you do this on your own. I need to be there to help you; I can't leave your side. You don't know what you are talking about."

"Edward, it's not your decision," she spoke barely above a whisper. They just gazed at each other for a brief moment in silence.

Interrupting there quiet conversation I spoke up, "Well, I need to report to my Superior and then we will be in touch with you. Bella, I hope you feel better and I also hope you can think about your decision more by the time we contact you. Thanks." With that I quickly turned on my heels and left the hospital; wanting to get myself further from the guilt and not let myself get personally involved.

*******

∞Bella∞

Feeling absolutely sick to my stomach I tried to mull over everything that has happened within the last twenty four hours. I closed my eyes and tried to let my body relax in the uncomfortable hospital bed. So to my understanding I tried to comprehend that every action that I had done in the last six months I was being followed. Everything that happened to me the FBI knew about. I felt like a pawn in the most hated chess game. How could I put my family in danger especially now that I had Edward in my life? I was putting too many people in danger and I just couldn't have that, even if it meant that I possibly wouldn't see them anymore.

Lying there in deep thought I started to feel four pairs of eyes on me. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Edward, Carlisle, Charlie and Renee staring at me with compassionate yet questioning expressions.

"What?" I asked knowing that they understood I was trying to protect them.

"Bella, we know what you are trying to do? Don't think for one second more that we will let you leave us. We love you, you are special to us and can't live without you," Renee spoke with so much compassion and love.

"I understand that you all care for me, so just let me think about it some more and then I will let you know what my final decision is. You know I am really tired and all this has been a lot for me to take in so if you all wouldn't mind I'd like to go home and get some rest. Is that all right Edward, Carlisle?" I addressed both doctors hoping that they understood my need to leave.

Edward and Carlisle stared and then nodded at each other then Edward spoke up, "We think you are in sufficient health to go home, on one condition."

Raising my eyebrows and giving him a tight small smile I asked, "What condition?"

"That you go home under the supervision of a doctor," Edward firmly said, but pulling his mouth into a half smile.

I couldn't help this invitation to crack a joke. "I am not sure if your dad would be comfortable enough on my parents couch, but he's welcome if he wants to," I chuckled.

Apparently everyone liked my joke because they laughed.

"Very funny Bella and you're lucky that I love hearing that laugh of yours," Edward said teasing me back.

*******

Edward's car sat idling in his driveway while I just stared at his huge house thinking that you could fit three of my parent's houses into his. He had ran inside to gather some personal items up before we headed back to my house. Looking over at the clock in the car it was now three am and surprisingly I was far from being tired.

My thoughts turned to my relationship with Edward. I had just met him six days ago, but it seemed as though we had known each other for years. He was completely enamored by wanting to be by my side to help me through this mess that I can't help feel that I got myself into.

After Edward climbed back into his car and pulled out of the driveway I leaned my head back onto the headrest and just stared at him. We sat in silence and on occasion he would capture my face in his emerald green eyes while looking back and forth between me and the road.

Finally arriving at my house we got out of the car and he pulled his bag from the backseat. The porch light was still on, assuming my parent's left it on for us, and we entered the house.

I watched Edward as he took in the plain appearance of my house. While raising his eyebrows and gesturing his hand over to the couch he said, "Well, the couch looks comfy. Do you have a spare blanket and pillow?"

Feeling a little embarrassed and nervous I knew I had to ask, "Well, um…..I was wondering if….you would sleep…in my bed…with me? I mean you don't really have to, if you don't want to. I do have an extra pillow and blanket that you could borrow. It's just that…I…think…I mean…I feel…too scared to sleep…by myself."

He quickly held his finger up to my mouth to shut up my babbling. "If that is what you want then that is what you'll get, anything for my sweetheart."

Smiling briefly at him, I took his hand and led him up to my room. I expressed to Edward that I needed to have a shower because I was still wearing my dirt covered clothes, he took off my bandages from my head. Excusing me from my room Edward climbed in my bed.

Scared at what my appearance revealed I avoided looking into the bathroom mirrors letting the steam from the shower cover them. While I was showering I tried my best to wash my hair without irritating my cuts. After my shower I pulled on one of my white tank tops and gray yoga pants; then made my way to my room. Upon arriving to my room I noticed that Edward had changed into dark blue pajama pants and was wearing a white t-shirt that clung to his body showing his firm muscles; while he rested on top of the covers.

I pulled my eyes away from his chest and noticed that he was watching me with a wide entertained smile. He sat up from the bed, leaned over the side and pulled his doctors bag onto the bed.

"Why don't I take care of your head and then you need to get some sleep."

"Okay," I responded seeing that I was a little embarrassed that he caught me checking him out and then climbed on the bed crossing my legs.

He looked into my eyes and started bandaging up my forehead. After he was done he brushed my damp hair from my shoulder while leaving his hand firmly there.

"Do you know how heavenly you smell?" he said while leaning in and sniffing my hair.

He moved his hand to the back of my neck and pulled his head away gazing at my face. I smiled nervously at his close proximity and at the fact that we were in my bed. He just sat there staring at me as if he knew what I was thinking and not wanting to make me feel awkward.

Reaching up I took my hand and placed it on the back of his neck; pulled myself up onto my knees as I pulled him closer to me, our lips were barely touching, then I kissed him. This wasn't any old chaste kiss. Our lips moved with each other with a sudden urgency to feel one another's need to be closer. My head started to spin, so I quickly pulled away and put my forehead against his, but then sat straight up forgetting that it was injured.

"Owww," I flinched and held my hand to my head.

Edward moved his hand from my neck and placed his arm around my waist pulling me down to lie on the bed. "Are you all right, sweetheart? First of all you need to remember to breathe when I kiss you and second I need to remember that I am still your doctor and you need to get some rest."

With my hand still on my head I giggled. "I guess I should follow doctor's orders, Dr. Cullen."

Placing my head softly on his chest he wrapped his arm around my waist then kissed me on top of my head. Exhaustion finally set in and I was taken over by a dreamless sleep.

******

Peeking through the slits and lashes of my eyes I noticed that the room was quite bright. I tried opening my eyes wider, but all I could feel was the throbbing of my head. Propping myself up onto my elbows I felt a surge of pain throughout my body settling on my stomach making my eyes pop open. My tank top had maneuvered its way up just below my breasts. I gasped loudly when I discovered the black and blue bruises that covered my abdomen; apparently that had been the source of my attacker's knee.

Suddenly I felt Edward's warm hand on my stomach and I regretfully snapped my head in his direction; then fell back onto the bed squeezing my eyes shut feeling the room spinning uncontrollably.

"Oh, I feel like death."

"You look far from death, sweetheart," Edward said trying to comfort me, but it did not work.

"Why don't I go make you some breakfast and then you need to take some medicine," he ordered while jumping out of bed.

"Ya, that might be a good idea because I don't think I can move right now," I agreed pulling the crook of my elbow over my eyes.

Edward snickered, "Okay, I will be back. Don't move." I just let out a small snort in agreement.

Hearing footsteps coming from the stairs I turned and looked at the door; it had at least been only five minutes since he was gone. He stepped into the room holding an abundantly filled tray of food and closed the door with his foot as I looked at him in amazement.

"So among all your talents is one of them magic?" I asked while slowly sitting up.

"Actually, I do know a few magic tricks, but this is not one of them. When I went into the kitchen your mom was extremely busy fixing all of your favorites."

"Um, that sounds like Renee," I sighed.

Placing the tray of food on the bed Edward sat down next to me. "How are you feeling?"

"My head is still throbbing, but I think I am too hungry to care."

We both devoured the coffee cake*, scrambled eggs and strawberries; then set the tray aside. Taking our cups of hot cocoa we sat back up against the headboard feeling content. Edward pulled some Motrin from his doctor's bag and gave me 800mg worth.

Climbing out of bed I looked at the clock; it was now two o'clock in the afternoon. "Wow, we slept along time. I bet you have better things to do then hang out here and babysit me."

"I wouldn't call it babysitting, maybe more like, playing doctor," he said while looking up at me through his eyelashes. Even though I would have jumped back into bed with him at that moment; my bladder was calling.

"I'll be back, nature calls," I said while thumbing my way to the bathroom. "Don't go anywhere." I yelled back.

When I entered the bathroom I made the biggest mistake; I looked in the mirror and squealed, "What the hell?" My face exposed the most unsightly image. The cut of my forehead was only a half an inch in length, but a large purple bruise covered the span of my forehead. The blow from my steering wheel not only affected my forehead, but also gave me black eyes and a swollen nose.

Not even a half a second later, Edward barged into the bathroom standing next to me taking in my appearance in the mirror.

"Why didn't you tell me I looked so hideous?" I said while covering my face with my hands.

Edward placed his hands on my hips and turned my body to face him; then removed my hands from my face. "You do not look hideous. By the way, I have seen you in worse shape than this."

"You have?"

"Yes, after the ambulance brought you in from Newton's Outfitter's."

"Oh I see," I said as I looked down at my feet.

"Why don't you take care of what you need to in here and then we will talk about it when you're done," he said while lifting my chin and glancing around the bathroom.

*******

∞Edward∞

Waiting for Bella to return from the bathroom I couldn't help, but feel miserable. It was now four o'clock in the afternoon and I had to be to the hospital at six to start my shift. I was mourning over the fact that I would have to leave Bella and didn't want to tell her.

As she walked back into the bedroom I intently watched her; she was the strongest woman I have ever known. Her body was so tiny and I was in so much awe that no matter how fragile she seemed to be she had taken a lot more abuse than I could have imagined anyone else could endure. She was also wonderfully stunning; her chestnut wavy hair cascaded down her back and stood out upon her white tank top, which showed off the curves of her body. The yoga pants she wore brought to my attention just how long her legs were. All I could do was raise my eyebrows, pull my mouth into a tight smile and check her out over and over again.

"So, Dr. Cullen, do you like what you see?" she interrupted obviously noticing me gawking at her as she placed her hands on her hips.

I shook my head and closed my eyes trying to bring myself back from teenage boy thoughts. "More than you know, Ms. Swan. You have always taken my breath away since the first time I met you."

"Well, it's only been six days. That feeling soon will pass," she teased while climbing onto the bed then sitting in my lap wrapping her arms around my neck.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but Ms. Swan I have been captivated by your presence since the first time you came to be my patient," I corrected while wrapping my arms around her waist.

"Dr. Cullen, that's a little disturbing because I was in a coma."

"I can see why you think that, but there was something about you that drew me to you and I couldn't leave you alone. Do you realize that after my shifts I would come and sit in your room just watching you? I wished everyday that you would wake up so you could look at me with those beautiful brown eyes and that I could hear your voice. I even sat and read to you every day."

"So I had a stalker while I was in a coma, that's a first," she laughed. "Well, what did you read to me?"

Grabbing tighter around her waist I leaned over the bed and pulled out her copy of Wuthering Heights and then handed it to her. She took the book, stared at it then at me and smacked me in the arm with it, making me jump by her reaction.

"Do you realize that I looked everywhere for this book? I thought I was going crazy and all this time you had it. How did you get it?"

I playfully rubbed my arm pretending that she had hurt me with the book. "First of all that's not a way to treat your favorite book," she glared at me with shock. "Secondly I may stalk woman in comas, but I would never reduce myself to burglary." I laughed throwing my head back and put my arms up in surrender.

She must have caught onto my flirtatious teasing because all of a sudden she started tickling me under my arm pits; this was one of my weaknesses. My body fell to the bed and I struggled to get her to stop, but she wouldn't budge. By now I was laughing and thrashing around.

"So, Dr. Cullen, are you going to tell me how you got this book?" she said laughing while she continued relentlessly, tickling me.

"Okay, okay I give….just stop….please," I choked out still laughing. "Your mom brought it to me and said it was your favorite book and that you would love to know that someone was reading it to you."

Supposedly feeling satisfied with my answer she stopped the tickling fest. "That's so sweet, Edward," she whispered, leaning down and kissing me softly then quickly sat up.

We sat there in silence for a few minutes passively gazing at each other. I guess now would be a good time to let her know that I had a shift at the hospital tonight.

"Bella, I have a shift at the hospital tonight at six. I don't want to go, but kind of have to."

She glanced at me with a frown, "Before you go can we talk about something that has been on my mind?"

"Sure, you know you can talk to me about anything, but I believe I know what you want to talk about. So go ahead, talk," I stated gesturing my hand for her to begin.

"This relationship that I believe we are starting shouldn't go any farther." She looked down at her hands and continued not wanting to look me in the eyes. "I mean, after I am debriefed they are going to put me in protective custody and we will be forced to lead separate lives."

I was totally taken aback because I thought her decision was not finalized. "I thought you were going to think about this longer or at least until the FBI contacted you."

Still not looking at me she answered, "What other choice do I have, Edward? I don't want the people I love to get hurt because of the choices I have made."

"Look at me, please." She turned her head slowly at hesitantly looked into my eyes. "Why can't you just leave it alone and let the FBI handle?"

Oops! Her eyes tightened, oh no, she was mad. Throwing her hands up in the air, then gesturing her hands to her wounds she cried, "This is why I can't leave it alone. The FBI didn't care what happened to me. Who's to say they care about the Newton's? They could be dead. I might as well be dead."

Realizing my mistake I quickly pulled her body into mine and hugged her as tight as I could without hurting her injuries. She sobbed heavily into my chest as I stroked her silky hair.

"I can't give up, I just can't Edward."

"I know… I know that just wouldn't be my Bella, to give up. I'm sorry that was very selfish of me. Can you just wait at least until they call; maybe we can figure out another way to handle all this, okay?" While still sobbing uncontrollably she nodded.

The thought of not having her in my life was too hard for me to bear; my heart felt like it was being ripped out of my chest. I pulled her closer to me and enveloped the scent of her as to brand it into my memory.

Abruptly Bella ripped away from my arms. Her face went pale as she sprang from the bed; grabbing her garbage can and irrepressibly throwing up. As quickly as she had left the bed I was by her side holding her hair back.

"Are you okay? Maybe I should take you in with me, so we can examine you, maybe take some CT scans or…"

"Edward, it's not that," she sat down and grabbed some tissues from her night stand and wiped her mouth as I gazed at her in confusion. "Do you remember that waitress at Café' Garden yesterday?"

"Yes, I remember the irritating, nosy waitress, why?"

"She had red curly hair, right?"

"I believe so, where are you going with this, Bella."

She grabbed the garbage can again and quickly threw up. "I think she is the same woman that I told you about… the woman in the basement at Outfitter's, the same woman that beat the Newton's and I," she paused, "They have been watching me… I mean us. That means everyone I love is and has been in danger."

"Okay, Bella, slow down. Are you sure it's the same woman?"

"Yes, I can say that I am ninety-nine percent sure it is. The way she looked at us, those eyes, I won't ever forget the hatred and pain I saw in them as she beat us. "

I reached for her hand and pulled it to my lips wishing I could take her pain away. Before long we were interrupted by her cell phone ringing. She cautiously drew it to her ear.

"Hello, yes this is Bella Swan…..sure…that should work for me….no I'll take myself…all right…you too…bye." She turned her phone off, set it on her night stand and softly gazed at me.

"Um, that was Special Agent Black….they want me to go to FBI Headquarters on Wednesday."

If you leave a review you will get a teaser from Chapter 9.

Coffee Cake- a really yummy recipe from my mother in law. Check out my profile for the recipe.