A/N: Again, thanks for all of the fabulous reviews. They're truly humbling. The chapter title for this part is borrowed from my absolute favorite song/band EVER. Listen to it. Now. Haha. ((It's Paramore))

Nineteen

For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic

BELLA

I opened my eyes a fraction of the way before I noticed that two people were arguing in front of me. Edward and Carlisle.

"You've got to keep him away, Carlisle," Edward was pleading.

"You know I'll do what I can, Edward," Carlisle promised, grabbing his lab coat and shuffling out of the crowded cubicle.

"What are you talking about, Edward?" I asked. He jumped.

"Nothing, love," he replied. "Erm… how much did you hear?"

"All of it," I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. "Now tell me what's going on."

"Mike's woken up," he finally answered my question, averting his bitter gaze. "I told Carlisle that keeping him here was a stupid idea."

"He-he's awake?" I said, unable to hide the fear in my voice. Edward didn't answer. He just looked at me painfully, his eyes glistening. I knew he hoped there was something else he could do.

"This is all my fault," he muttered.

"I think we already had this discussion, Mr. Cullen," I reminded him. "And Carlisle told you, too." He gasped. "Yes, Edward, I heard. About Mike, about me, about the… the… bruises and him… beating... me."

"I'm so sorry, Bells," he whispered, his face paler than usual. "I… we didn't…"

"I know."

"I can't even begin to understand," he admitted. "I told Carlisle that I had, but the only… umm… bruises that I've ever seen are the ones…" He trailed off, lifting my arm and caressing the purplish marks that were scattered along its surface gently.

"Would you like to see the extent of my injuries, then, Doctor?" What was I saying? I couldn't. It would hurt him too much. But even though he didn't say it, I knew what he was thinking. How was it fair that Carlisle, his foster father, got to see what had happened to me and he, my own soul mate, did not.

He closed his eyes tightly, and I knew he was listening into the next room. "Mike won't be up for about an hour. He's taking it slow," he told me, avoiding the subject.

"Edward," I said, cupping his face in my hands. "It's okay." He nodded solemnly.

"All right then."

"Well, you've obviously noticed the, er, more visible ones," I began. "Like… under my eyes."

He nodded again, a pained expression coloring his features. I lowered the neckline and revealed the darker, larger bruises on my neck. He winced. "These are more recent," I explained.

"What did he do? I mean… how…?"

"Can you handle the truth?" I teased lightly. He nodded once again, not getting my joke. "He tried to choke me."

He coughed, surprised, and pulled me into his arms. "I'm so sorry," he mumbled over and over again.

"Ow, Edward, my back." I slid away from him, instantly missing the feeling of his arms around my hot body. "Which brings us to the last set of damage."

"You don't have to," he said.

"No, but I want to," I assured him. I turned my back to him and covered my legs with the crisp, cotton sheet. He sat down at the foot of the bed, directly behind me. Discreetly, I lifted the awful, green hospital gown to reveal what I knew were huge, yellowing bruises. He stroked them agonizingly with the tips of his fingers. And then I let it fall back.

"Oh, Bella," was all he could say.

"That was from all of the times he pushed me down the stairs, or into the stair rail," I relived. What was I doing? Did I want to kill Edward with all of these melancholy stories?

"Let's go," he said firmly, once I'd turned back to face him.

"What do you mean?" I wondered.

"Mike's changed his mind. He knows now that he can fight me off if he applies all of his strength. But I know something he doesn't know: he won't be able to apply all of his strength with your scent distracting him. I won't let him get near you again. We need to go," he ordered.

"But where will we go?" I asked. He must have overlooked some important details in his impromptu plan.

"Back to my house first. We'll get you a change of clothes, but you can't get dressed there; that's the first place he'll look."

"Right. So where will I change?"

"I'll take you somewhere in Canada… a convenient store of something," he rambled.

"CANADA?" I shouted.

"Shh, don't yell, love! You'll give us away."

"You're joking, right? I can't move to CANADA!" I said, only a bit softer.

"Not move there," he corrected. "Just stay in a hotel until Emmett calls and tells me that Mike has killed himself or that another clan has decided that he's just too dangerous and exposes him to the light. Then the Volturi will kill him. Worst scenario, I'll come back and kill him myself, but you are not coming this time."

Before I had time to protest, he had my bag packed and had lifted me into his arms effortlessly. "What about my IV?" I reminded him.

"Oh. Right."

"Just rip it out," I commanded, closing my eyes and waiting for the pain to set in.

"You're not serious," Edward said. I opened my eyes to see that he hadn't moved even an inch closer to the pole.

"Fine. Then I'll do it," I resolved, yanking the needle out of my wrist.

"Are you insane?"

"Probably a little," I admitted sheepishly, resisting the urge to rub my sore, bleeding arm. He ran to the Medical Supplies cabinet and removed a role of bandage, which he expertly wrapped around my arm and fastened tightly.

"Now let's get out of here,"

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

EDWARD

"Going somewhere, Eddie?" A sneer behind us. I'd know that voice anywhere. I gritted my teeth.

"Get behind me, Bella," I said.

She whimpered softly, but stepped out of my arms and obeyed. She stood behind me at an angle, and, without looking, I pulled her straight into my back. "Stay close."

"Mmmhmm," she mumbled, her voice and body shaking with fear. But she obliged, clinging to my gray T-shirt for dear life.

"It's going to be all right," I promised her quietly, and then turned back to him.

"I really appreciate these new abilities that your brother has provided me with," he said, moving closer to Bella and me with each word. "And Carlisle's great, too. He just stepped out of the room when I asked for some water. Just like that." He snapped his fingers for effect.

"What was he thinking?" I garbled.

"I'm not sure," Mike agreed, lunging for Bella now that he was close enough. I blocked his path smoothly, making a break for the door.

Mike chuckled and grabbed Bella's wrist. He yanked her forward with so much force that she fell on her knees in front of him.

"Now that looks about right, Miss Swan," he laughed. I growled. Bella whimpered again, trying feebly to stand up and run. He was, of course, too fast. Before she could think, he had her cornered, his arms locking her against the wall. Ugh. I wanted to play. But I can't resist. Have to bite her. Her blood… it smells so good.

I grimaced. "No," I seethed, backhanding him. Bella collapsed into me. "Come on, love. We have to go now."

She didn't protest, just jumped back into my arms. I was ready to run to Antarctica if that's what it took.

"BELLA!"

A/N: Cliff hanger? Maybe? Yeah, I think it's a cliffy. Lol. So if you want the next chapter as fast as this one, you have to review as much as you did for the last one. That was like, amazing. Really, it made my day. So how about you get the next chapter in… six reviews? Yeah, that's about right. Hope you liked it!

C.J.