Rosalie and Alice lowered Bella's chilled body into a tub full of warm water as her clothes washed. Rosalie smiled every time Bella looked up at her, but soon gave it up. It was no time for false assurances. The cards were down and everyone knew where they'd screwed up.

"We should have told," Alice said, handing the soap to Rosalie. She wrapped it in a washcloth and began to gently wash Bella, who was still a little dazed. For a while Rosalie said nothing.

Then, "She didn't want us to. We promised."

"She wasn't thinking right. All of us were shocked. She was just scared of her dad finding out." Alice shook her head.

Rosalie looked at her for a moment, coming to a hard decision. "I'll try to convince her to tell her dad. Maybe it's not too late for them to be arrested."

"But by now there's no evidence. We don't even know if all three of them are still in Forks. Plus," Alice added with hesitation, staring at Bella sadly. "If they're arrested there might be a trial and Bella's strong, but that'd be hard for anyone. If she reacted like this over seeing just one of them..."

Rosalie pulled back her curls and tied them back swiftly, deep in thought.

"I could just track them. Like I did with Royce. It would be easy."

Alice shook her head. "Not like that. We can't."

Before Rosalie could argue, a knock came from the door. Alice got up, wiping off her sudsy hands on a towel on the way. She opened the door just a crack for privacy's sake. It was Jasper.

"Hello Alice," he said soothingly.

Alice smiled and stepped outside the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

"Carlisle wants to see Bella."

"Why?"

Jasper shrugged. "I'm sure he has his reasons."

Alice nodded, hand turning the door knob.

"Alice," he stopped her, moving closer. "Look, I know things weren't really going smoothly when I left for the trip. I'm sorry. But I think the break has helped."

"Oh," Alice said, surprised, forgetting that he and the others didn't know she was bisexual. "That's fine, Jasper." What else should she say? She tried to control her nervous thoughts. He smiled and used his gift to make her feel at ease. He moved closer and smiled as he kissed her softly.

"I missed you."

She blinked and hoped he didn't feel her panic. He left after a second though, promising they'd talk later. Alice swallowed but didn't concentrate on the exchange too much just yet. She hurried back into the bathroom and sat on the edge of the tub. To her relief, she found Bella washing her own hair.

"How are you feeling?" she asked in a rush, overwhelmed with relief. Bella gave a small smile and a shrug.

"Been better but I don't feel sick anymore at least."

Rosalie sighed in relief as well, helping Bella rinse out the shampoo. Alice helped support her as Rose wrapped a fluffy white towel around her, turning the gesture into an embrace. Bella wrapped her slender arms around her neck, letting Rosalie support her. Alice watched them, their deep bond so evident. It filled Alice with hope for herself, perhaps for Natalie and her. But she couldn't think about that now.

"Carlisle would like to see her when she's ready."

Rosalie nodded and took Bella to get dressed.

In her room, Rosalie shut the door and asked for the millionth time if she was okay. Bella dressed slowly but the color was definitely back in her face.

"You still haven't talked with Charlie since the fire have you?"

Bella looked up at her, disappointment imprinted on her expression. "I don't really know why I haven't..."

"You should. Also," Rosalie sat down on the bed, and Bella automatically sat on her lap. "You might want to think about telling him."

Bella shook her head fervently and pulled away, standing up. "Are you serious?"

"Bella," Rosalie soothed, walking to her and taking her hands. "It won't be easy but I think you need to. Wouldn't you feel better if they were locked up?"

"But I-he's-he wouldn't..." Bella looked at her desperately. "He'd be so angry...."

"At you? How? What did you do wrong?"

"I should have been more careful. I should have paid more attention and-"

"Don't even go there. You were tricked. Come on, you're smarter than that."

Rosalie made her look at her, jaw firm.

"Listen to me. We made a mistake not telling the police. Getting them expelled from school only gave us a false sense of security, but Bell, there's nothing stopping them from doing it to someone else."

Bella remembered seeing Natalie get out of the car Lucas was in and instantly began to cry. What if they'd hurt her? Alice would never talk to her again. Rosalie pulled her in by the waist and rubbed her back and her damp hair. She rocked her slowly, but didn't tell her it would be alright because at this point she really wasn't sure. The poor girl had been violated and lost her home in the span of a few weeks. Who was she to give false hope now?

"Come on, let's go talk to Carlisle."

Carlisle reorganized some papers and files on his desk, brooding over the situation at hand. In his mind there was only one undeniable fact: he hadn't stepped up. He thought Bella just needed some time, that she'd eventually want to tell her father, but he'd been terribly wrong. He knew the law. People couldn't just choose to obey it when it was convenient. He thought he'd been helping Bella by not reporting, but in the long run he'd made things much worse. True, everyone else promised to keep the secret, but he'd always been the one to give the final word. He should have seen this coming.

When Rosalie accompanied Bella into his office, he smiled and asked them to sit.

"I trust you're feeling better?" he addressed Bella.

"Much better, thank you." Bella took Rosalie's hand, silently thanking her.

"Today was a big shock," he said sympathetically. He made sure Bella saw the concern in his eyes before moving on.

"I've spoken with your father," he told them.

Rosalie and Bella exchanged looks. Bella's was fearful, Rose's was surprised.

"Without asking her?"

Carlisle folded his hands on the desk. "Bella, did you know that I'm also a psychologist?"

Bella shook her head, eyes still wide.

"I've treated dozens of patients struggling with trauma. War veterans, victims of car accidents, lost loved ones, and few similar to your own case. I asked your father if he approved of me treating you."

"What did he say?" Bella asked.

"Didn't he ask what you'd be treating her for?" Rose demanded.

Calmly, "As far as Chief Swan knows it's for the incident with the fire. And yes, he approved. But Bella I would strongly suggest you talking with him about the rest. In fact, I'm afraid you no longer have a choice."

Rosalie looked at him questioningly, agitated.

"I'm sorry, but we broke the law. It's my job as a doctor to report abuse. I waited in hopes you might... but of course you were in no state to be expected to do so."

"You intend to have them arrested?" Rosalie asked.

"Of course."

"But there's no proof left."

"Emmet was there," Bella reminded them meekly.

"And," Carlisle stood, crossing over to the large filing cabinet. He pulled open a drawer and his fingers flicked soundlessly through the bulky folders. He withdrew one and went back to the desk, setting it down in front of them. Rosalie nearly ripped off the cover to find several Ziplock bags and a few pages of notes. In the bags were various fibers and hairs, and Q-tips with fluids on their tips.

"I'd forgotten all about this," Rose confessed, turning to Bella. "Before you woke up that day Carlisle collected this off of you. I must have just been too distracted..."

But Bella barley heard her. She looked from the evidence to Carlisle, feeling numb.

"Does this mean I'll have to testify?"

Carlisle put back the file and closed the drawer. He leaned against it, arms crossed. "Nothing's for certain yet, but it is a possibility, yes."

Bella's shoulders slumped and Rosalie frowned. "She can't do that."

"It's not up to me, Rose. If it were you know I wouldn't put her through that. But I do know some successful lawyers from Seattle who I could contact. They'll be able to help."

"When I saw Lucas today I-" she took a deep breath. "For a while it felt like it was happening all over again. Like I was there."

"Flashbacks are common in these cases. Seeing him would definitely be a trigger. Can you think of anything else that causes them for you?"

Bella thought for a moment. "Well, when I'm with Rosalie and Alice and all of you I'm usually fine. Before my truck was ruined in the fire I had trouble driving it because that's... that's where they..." Carlisle nodded to show he understood. Bella looked unsteadily down at the floor.

"If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to talk about it with you some more. I can help."

Rosalie had been weighing their options and her busy thoughts and had come to a conclusion. "You should," she told her. "Carlisle's helped the whole family with things before. I think it's a good idea."

"And of course it's completely confidential. Whatever you tell me wouldn't leave this room. The therapy doesn't even have to be with myself specifically. I know a good many doctors who are just as capable as I-"

"No," Bella said swiftly. "I'd like you to do it. It's just... you already know everything."

He nodded. "I understand. Would tomorrow be a good place to start? I was planning on alerting the authorities today."

"Today?" Bella said in a panic.

"The more we wait the more chances they have to move, to hide. That's the last thing we want."

Rosalie went to Bella's chair and hugged her, resting her chin on he shoulder. Bella embraced her too, taking a deep breath. "It's time, baby," she whispered.

"I guess I'll call my dad then."

Shaking, world suspended over the abyss her chaotic life had become, Bella picked up the phone and dialed.

A/N: I'm glad I got to update so soon. :)

Poor Bella, and Rose too. It's one thing to go through something so profound, but much worse to watch it happen to a loved one and not be able to do a thing about it. But at least she'll finally be talking to a professional.

Also some tension between Jasper and Alice, yes? Hmm. Where shall I take that?

Thanks as always! Please review! ^^