A/N – sorry it's been soooooo long, but been super busy. Thanks everyone who has reviewed you guys are awesome and I'm sorry I haven't been able to get back to all your reviews, but you have to know how that I love ya all - I truly do! The reviews mean millions :) and they keep me writing even when I have no time to. Lol.

Next update will be after the weekend and you will get two posts next week. :)

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22/23. Dr. Carlisle Cullen

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BPOV

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I curled up into a ball as both my arms wrapped around my waist. I bit down hard on my lip to prevent the sob that was building from escaping. I lay that way only for a moment before I realized that I needed to get out of here. I was worried about what would happen if either Laurent or James decided to come back; I didn't know which one was worse. I also didn't want anyone else to find me like this.

I rolled over onto my knees and used my hands to push myself up slowly. I blinked quickly as the room swam around me as I tried unsuccessfully to clear my vision. I tried to stand upright but I found it was impossible as a sharp gasp of pain escaped my lips and it caused me to double over again. Instead of making my way out the same door as James and running the risk of bumping into him again, I walked bent slightly at the waist as I clutched at my sides, back up the hall to exit out the front.

Once I got outside I reached into my pocket for my phone but it was water logged and dead. DAMN IT, I cursed internally. In my other pocket was my keys and I clutched them in my hands as I made my way to my truck. I struggled with the lock as my hands shook with the cold and pain but finally I managed to let myself in. I lay down on the truck's bench seat curled up in a ball as I worked to calm myself down enough to drive. I pulled up my wet top slowly to check the damage and noticed the red welts that had already began to form, I poked at the tenderly and squeezed my eyes together at the resulting pain, hot wet tears made their way down my cheeks. I sat up slowly and checked my head wound in the mirror, it was pretty superficial and looked clean, I didn't think that I needed stitches.

I drove myself home, to change before I headed to the hospital, I had had enough injuries to know that my ribs weren't broken but head injuries weren't my forte, I was scared that I might have a concussion like James had said.

When I got home Charlie was there waiting for me in the kitchen, Jake's car wasn't in the drive so I knew him and Billy had already gone home.

"I've been worried shitless Bella, I called Jess but she said you had already left, she sounded scared…" he mumbled when I entered, and then he saw the cut above my head and flipped. "WHO DID THAT TO YOU?"

I waved my hand at him, brushing off his overreaction. "I fell Dad, like I usually do."

He sighed. "Jesus Bella, you need to watch where you're going," Charlie made his way over to me and held my chin with his thumb and forefinger, turning my head to inspect the cut above my eye; he dropped his hand when he realized it wasn't as bad as it looked. He quickly gave me a once over. "Why are you all wet?"

"Paddling Pool," I muttered. He rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Go and change and I'll take you to the hospital," he sighed again. "You could have a concussion." This was usual business for Charlie and I, whenever I went over to the Res I always came back with some sort of injury, usually caused by a motorcycle but Charlie didn't know that – Jake and I usually came up with some sort of cover story that he would always buy – like tripping and hitting my head on a hammer. Yeah, they were far fetched, but when you had a daughter that fought with gravity daily you learned to believe in ridiculous.

As I changed, I checked out the damage in my bedroom mirror. Yup the cut above my eye wasn't so bad, but the bruises from my fall and James's kick were awful. The bruise from his kick had left an imprint in my side that looked like the sole of his boot. I didn't know how I was going to explain that to the doctors but I hoped they wouldn't be able to see it the way I did. Maybe because I knew what James had done, I could see it and they wouldn't be able to. One could hope. I chucked on dark woolen sweater, a pair of ratty jeans and tied my still wet hair back in a messy ponytail. I quickly washed my face, removing dried blood from the cut and the rest of the mascara I had missed, and headed downstairs to meet Charlie. Walking down the stairs was a bit hard on the ribs but I successfully managed to hide the pain so Charlie wouldn't see – I didn't want to worry him, it was going to be hard enough to explain.

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I shifted uneasily from one foot to the other; the blinding white room was causing me to feel nauseous and really didn't help the pain I was feeling. I hated hospitals, not only were they a constant reminder of my inept ability to walk on a flat surface without injury, but they smelt clinical and felt cold. It also didn't help they I didn't want to be here, not when I had no idea what I was going to do. The hospital was basically empty at this time of night, which was a good thing because I didn't need people talking about the chief's daughter again.

"Nice to finally meet you Chief Swan," Carlisle's voice was soft and velvety and reminded me immediately of Edward. Both were gorgeous and charming and their mere touch could send your heart racing just as I was about to find out. I could see all the nurses staring at him dreamily and I would have chuckled had I not been doing the same thing.

"Likewise," Charlie responded. Charlie and Carlisle shook hands quickly before Carlisle turned to face me dazzling me with his smile.

How is it possible that he has two teenage kids when he looks so young?

"You must be Bella," he said, placing a light hand on my shoulder. Yup, there goes my heart.

"Yes," I squeaked. Damn, damn, damnity, damn! The first time I meet Edward's father and I make a fool of myself.

See how you thought of him as Edward's father not Alice's?

Shut up.

I'm just saying…

Shut up!

"I've heard a lot about you," he smiled at me. I must have looked at him confused. "Small town," he explained. "And Alice has been talking."

"Oh." I wasn't supposed to sound disappointed, but some part of me wanted him to say it was Edward who had talked about me. That part I knew was the selfish part, I had done nothing but push Edward away but I still hoped that he felt something towards me.

"Now let me take a look at that eye," he smiled, leading me into his examining room. Carlisle went around his business, cleaning the cut, putting gauze and butterfly stitches over it – at least they weren't real stitches. I am going to look so cool, I thought sarcastically. Him and Charlie were bantering about some recent sport results and seemed to be getting along really well. Except when Carlisle scolded Charlie for not bringing me in last week when I was 'attacked', apparently my injury could have been serious and we were lucky that it wasn't – I saw Charlie mentally kicking himself and I felt sorry for him. He had already berated himself enough over the incident, and it made me feel beyond guilty. Nonetheless they got on like a house on fire and it made me smile as they joked with one another.

That's got to be a plus, good in laws, my subconscious chuckled. I just sighed. I must have hit my head really hard.

"There," Carlisle said once he had finished mending me. "You were pretty lucky Bella, but you should really watch were you are going." Charlie chuckled at his words.

"That's a little easier said than done," Charlie scoffed. I turned to glare at him, I didn't like people making jokes at my expense, even though I should have been used to it by now. Charlie looked at me sheepishly and then closed his mouth.

I turned back to face Carlisle who I noticed was fighting back a smile; I could feel my cheeks warm with embarrassment. He quickly wrote out a prescription for some pain medication and told Charlie that he had to wake me up every couple of hours or so because although he thought it was unlikely that I had a concussion he wanted to be on the safe side.

I really liked Carlisle; he was sweet and caring but very professional. Between both his and Charlie's mere presence I managed to keep the deep depression that was threatening to drown me and cut me into a million pieces at bay. It was easy to feel giddy and at ease around the both of them when they kept cracking jokes even if it was at my expense. I didn't want to think about what had happened, just yet. I couldn't allow myself to feel self pity or to wallow in the guilt that consumed me knowing that I would try to keep the truth from everyone again. I needed my head about me so I could speak to Mike and Jess; I needed to sort them out first, I had to get through one more day of school and then I could hole myself up in my room for the weekend.

"Any other injuries?" Carlisle asked once he had done explaining to Charlie how much medication I should take and how often. I hesitated for a second or so staring at Carlisle and decided that I better be honest. I was starting to wonder if my earlier assessment of whether they were broken or not was wrong, they were throbbing.

"I…um…my ribs," I said. Charlie looked at me curiously, probably wondering why I hadn't mentioned it to him. "I hit them as I fell," I added. Carlisle nodded and then reached over to lift up my woolen jersey; I quickly grabbed his hands, stopping him. I didn't want Charlie to see the mess that was under there and I was kind of hoping that he wouldn't be in the room when Carlisle examined me.

"Um…" I looked at Charlie who suddenly looked embarrassed. He wasn't good with half naked women or their undergarments, especially when it came to his own daughter. That's why I did all the washing, underwear freaked him out.

"Uh…I'll just step outside," he mumbled, turning a shade of red. A sense of relief washed over me as I turned back to Carlisle and let go of his hands. He motioned to me if he could lift it up and I nodded.

He slowly lifted my shirt and kept looking back at me, obviously sensing my discomfort at having his warms hands on me. He didn't say anything when he saw the bruises at first. Instead he went about feeling around my ribs and asking me where it hurt. At one stage I grimaced at the pain and he apologized, for which I responded that it was ok. He grabbed a bandage and proceeded to wrap it around my ribs nice and tight, it was a little uncomfortable.

Finally he lent back in his chair allowing me to lower my jersey; he turned around and starting making notes on a clipboard.

"Well they're not broken," he said turning to look me in the eye. "But do you want to tell me how you really got those bruises?"

"I uh…fell," I stuttered.

"Bella," he spoke sternly. I probably should have thought through an explanation before I got here. I didn't have an answer for him and he was the first to break the silence. "You know that I have to report and suspected cases of abuse to child welfare?" he asked.

"P-pardon?" I stammered. I wasn't sure what he was getting at…child abuse? He couldn't seriously believe that Charlie had done this to me…could he?

"Bella, did Charlie do this to you?" His words were like another kick to the ribs. There was no way; no way at all that my father would ever hurt me. Charlie was the biggest softy he wouldn't ever raise his hand against me, not even when I was a child. Charlie always shied away from smacking, and the discipline was left up to Renee. I knew he cared a lot about me and there was no way he would ever hurt me, physically or otherwise.

"N-no," I stuttered, shaking my head. "He would never…" Carlisle looked at me with same look Edward had given me earlier today. He didn't believe me. I had to convince him that it wasn't my father, but that meant I had to give him answers, answers I didn't want to give anyone.

We started at each other for awhile and just as he opened his mouth to speak, I interrupted.

"Someone else did this," I blurted out. I couldn't handle him thinking badly of Charlie. That took priority over my urge to shut my mouth and tell him nothing as I had with everyone else. Carlisle closed his mouth and looked at me thoughtfully, searching my face for something, probably a hint as to whether I was telling the truth or not. Whatever it was he must have found it because he relaxed a little.

"Who Bella?" he asked softly placing his hand on mine. I shook my head and swallowed loudly before I found the courage to speak.

"It doesn't matter now," I muttered quietly.

"Bella if someone is hurting you it does matter," Carlisle argued. I shook my head, causing him to frown.

"It won't happen again," I whispered.

"How can you be sure?"

"We aren't together anymore," I explained. I knew I had told him too much, but there was no going back now, it was obvious that he was going to push the matter until I told him who hurt me. I couldn't help but think that maybe I hadn't entirely eased his concern that it could be Charlie.

"Your boyfriend did this to you?" He sounded appalled.

"Yes," I answered looking at the ground uncomfortably. "Ex," I added quickly when his brow pinched together much the same as Edwards did when something bothered him and his eyes narrowed.

"Are you going to lay charges?" My head snapped up and I felt my eyes go wide as I stared at him.

"N-No," I choked, and then panic entered my voice. "You aren't going to say anything are you? It would break Charlie's heart…please I don't want him to know," I begged, my words running together in a rush, when he looked at me doubtfully.

"Doctor-patient confidentiality, Bella," he said sounding worried. "But I think you should at least think about it Bella."

"I will." I nodded, lying to him. He looked at me doubtfully again and sighed knowing there was nothing he could do, if I didn't want to press charges neither he or the police would be able to do anything. I stood up from the examining table ready to leave.

"Bella…" he started, stopping me in my tracks. "You are old enough to make your own decisions, and because it's not a guardian who is hurting you I am not obligated by law to report this to the police…unless you want me to," he continued, confirming what I already believed.

"But," he added. "I think that you should seriously consider reporting him Bella, it's not ok what he did to you…do you understand that?"

"Yes," I nodded meekly.

"And it's not your fault…no matter what you said or did," he continued.

I nodded again sitting back down on the table, suddenly feeling queasy at his words. I wasn't so sure that I wasn't at least partly to blame for what had happened to me.

"If you ever need to talk, I am here, and there are plenty of other people you can talk to." He placed his hand gently on my knee in an act of reassurance. And truthfully, despite what I had just admitted to him, I felt better, almost as though sharing my secret had relieved some of the pressure and the pain that had been building up.

"Thank you Dr. Cullen…that means a lot." I smiled up at him gratefully. He smiled back and reached across his desk grabbing a box of tissues and handed them to me, I hadn't realized I had been crying. I dried my eyes quickly and stood up to leave. He stood with me and walked me to the door, stopping with his hand on the handle.

"Bella, I don't want to see you in here again for this reason. Please promise me that for your sake and your fathers, that even if you don't report this boy, you will stay away from him, that you will stay safe." His face was scrunched up and the corners of his mouth were turned down. His genuine concern for me caused the tears to spill again, he was being so undeservingly kind to me, and reminded me so much of his son.

"I promise," I said, wiping the tears from my eyes again with the sleeve of my shirt.

"Good," he smiled but it didn't quiet reach his eyes; he placed his hand on my shoulder squeezing it gently. He opened the door and steered me from the room and towards Charlie.

I was worried that when I saw Charlie that I was going to cave. That he was going to see right through me and Carlisle, and that Carlisle would tell him what had happened. But to my relief Charlie just smiled and shook Carlisle's hand, offering to take him out fishing sometime.

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It ended up that I wasn't able to go to school the next day because the pain medication Carlisle had given me made me extremely drowsy and that made walking even more of an impossibility for me. That was fine with me. I didn't need everyone looking at me funny all day and I didn't need another confrontation with Edward. I had no idea what to say to him, after we nearly kissed, after I lied to him and I was scared that maybe Carlisle had told him the truth.

Instead I spent the day reading my old ratty novels and doing less perilous things such as putting the wash on and getting out the food for tea. I tried to get a hold of both Mike and Jess, but Mike didn't answer his phone when I called or any of my texts I sent. Jess's mother told me Jess had already left Forks and hadn't taken her phone with her because she needed to get away from everything. This left me feeling apprehensive, I needed to make sure she was okay. I hadn't even had the chance to properly say goodbye after I stormed out of her place on a mission yesterday. I hadn't wanted to think about it or what had happened after.

Later in the afternoon I received a couple of texts from Rose and Alice asking if I was okay and what had happened. Luckily I had spent the morning drying out my phone with a hairdryer so it would work again. I quickly explained to them that my feet had gotten the better of me and I had tripped again. Immediately they let it drop which meant Carlisle had kept his word but they insisted that I get better because Tyler Crowley was having a party on Saturday night that I couldn't miss, they also added that James wouldn't be attending which lead me to believe that he had spread the word that we weren't together anymore. Probably saying that he had broken up with me, which I knew would be the case given what he had said to me last night.

'It's not over until I say it is, bitch.'

The really weird thing was that I hadn't even allowed myself to think about what James had done yesterday. It was as if it hadn't happened. I would have thought it as a dream if I still didn't have the nice tight bandages wrapped around my torso to remind me. It was funny how after talking to Carlisle I didn't feel the urge to cry about it, it was like I was over it. I didn't care. Sure it was a bad experience, but I was tired of dwelling on those sorts of moments in my life. It wasn't worth it, he wasn't worth it. I wasn't going to allow him to get to me like this anymore. I was going to forget about it and him in the process.

'It's not over until I say it is, bitch.'

Even though I wasn't thinking about what had happened and I had told myself I was technically 'over it'. I was probably lying to myself just a bit, because those words continued to play over and over whenever I had a spare moment to let my mind wander. The words were as clear as the time he had said them and every time I heard them they brought me to my knees and I would find myself beginning to hyperventilate. No I wasn't over it, but I wasn't going to show him that. I was going to act as if he hadn't fazed me, it was going to be tough but I owed it to myself. I had to be strong.

I thought about what Carlisle said and I decided that I wasn't going to report him. I didn't want to drag it out in front of everyone. I didn't want to be the talk of the town and I didn't need a million people coming up to me and asking if I was okay making me reply what that stupid response of "I'm fine," when really I wasn't. He was not going to see me down and I wasn't going to show I was afraid. But I was going to keep my promise, I would keep away from him, I won't put myself back in that situation.

Jess was gone, I wasn't speaking to Jake and I had no idea what was up with Mike I needed to relax and have fun with the girls, so when Alice and Rose wouldn't take no for an answer in regards to Tyler's 'wicked party' I gave in and decided to go out and have fun with them.

I was going to go back to being the old happy fun Bella, the person I used to be before James.

I was going to have fun again...I was going to move past this.

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So next chapter B and E share a kiss or maybe two lol, and then Edward finds out about James….

So what I want to know is…

1/ Who do you think will initiate the kiss?

2/ How do you think they will feel about it later?

3/ How do you think Eddie will react to what James did?

Please review :) - because its my birthday and I want review presents - hehehehe :)