Disclaimer: All things Twilight belong to the wonderful Stephenie Meyer and not to me… sigh.I also don't own Sleeping with the Enemy. The book belongs to Nancy Price and the movie belongs to Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation.

Sleeping with a Monster

Previously…

"Marie!" Carlisle and Esme gasped in unison, their voices hushed when I reached them. I'm sure neither one of them realized the full extent of the damage James and my marriage to him had inflicted on my body until this moment as I stood there, completely exposed for all to see.

"Marie is dead," I growled fiercely before my consciousness slipped away.


Chapter 5 – Three Days

Carlisle's POV

"Grab her!" I almost shouted as I saw Marie collapse. Quick as a flash my nephew Edward caught her and swung her up in his arms bridal style. Marie's head lolled back completely relaxed in her unconscious state. I reached up and gently tilted her head forward so it rested on Edward's chest.

"Here, put this around her," Esme said in a voice choked with emotion as she offered the blanket she had brought to warm Marie.

"Carlisle, I had no idea," she said as she started to cry softly. I spread the blanket over Marie and tucked it around her body in Edward's arms.

"I don't think anyone did, dear," I whispered as I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her to me in a comforting hug.

"Is she going to be okay?" Edward's voice was rough, probably from the swim. I'm glad I didn't have to worry about the effects of the cold water on Edward. I was satisfied that the wetsuit he had on had shielded him from the water.

"Edward!" I said sharply, suddenly annoyed with my nephew. "What were you thinking letting her swim the entire way? She was in no condition to do that. She's completely spent." I was angry. I had made it perfectly clear to my nephews, Edward and Emmett, they were to pick her up at the buoy and bring her ashore in the small fishing boat I had borrowed.

"Hold on! She was swimming so quietly we almost missed her as she past by the buoy. But she didn't stop; she just kept swimming," he shot back in a loud whisper, clearly annoyed at my anger.

"Why didn't you stop her?" I asked, anxious to see why a man as strong as Edward couldn't stop this little slip of a woman. However, before Edward could answer, Esme interrupted us.

"Boys! Stop your arguing and let's get Marie out of here before someone sees us or this whole attempt to fake her death will be wasted." I could tell by the demanding tone of her voice, that she was annoyed with both of us. We started to walk towards the car, when I noticed Edward hadn't moved. I turned back and looked at him.

"What do you mean, 'fake her death'?" Edward whispered in disbelief as he slowly started to follow me to the car. "I thought she was just leaving this guy – running away," he added. But I didn't answer him. I had promised Marie not divulge her story, but I knew Edward would press the issue.

"Carlisle, do you know where she put her bag?" Esme asked quickly, probably sensing my reluctance to answer Edward's question.

"It's on the side of the garage behind a bush," Edward suddenly answered when I hesitated. How did he know that? I looked at Edward with a questioning look on my face.

"I asked her where it was as we were walking towards the beach. She looked like she wouldn't last much longer and I figured we needed to know in case she passed out," he said evenly through his clenched teeth, his jaw tightened as his eyes narrowed. Was he mad that she was faking her death? I thought he would see the obvious need for the deception, when he saw the terrible condition of her body. Even I was shocked. I expected more out of Edward.

Esme rushed to the side of the garage and after a few moments emerged with an old duffle bag slung limply over her shoulder. I opened the back door of my Mercedes and Edward placed Marie still wrapping in the blanket in the backseat, laying her across the full length of the seat. He buckled her in by pulling the seat belt across her legs before wrapping the belt under her knees clicking the bucket in place. Esme slipped in the back seat on the other side and gently lifted Marie's head to rest on my sweet wife's lap. I gently closed Esme's door and walked over to Edward on the other side of the car as he closed the other door.

"Where's Emmett?" I said quickly before Edward could start questioning me further. We needed to get out of here fast.

"He took the boat back to the dock." Edward furrowed his brow as his face flooded with unanswered questions.

"First let's pickup Emmett and get Marie back to our home," I said placing a hand on Edward's shoulder. "Then I'll tell you what little I can about her, which isn't much. I've promised to keep her information confidential and I plan on honoring that promise, Edward," I offered as I walked around to the driver's side of my car before I opened the door and slipped inside.

Once Edward was in the car, I started the engine and turned on the heat. I wasn't that cold, but I didn't want to risk hypothermia with Marie. I wasn't sure if her body could recover from it on top of everything else. I was still concerned about the lump on the back of her head. We quickly reached Emmett as he pulled the boat up to the dock. Edward exited the car and hurried to help Emmett with the boat. Just as they were finishing up, I saw a thirty-foot sailboat pull-up to the dock a little too quickly. A tall blonde man jumped off the boat before the sailboat was secured. He was talking on a cell phone, obviously enraged as he shouted into the phone.

"What do you mean 15 minutes? She'll be dead by then, if she isn't already!" he roared in the phone. There was another man with dark hair with the angry blonde who had quickly secured the boat to the dock. The dark-haired man placed a comforting hand on the on shoulder of the blonde.

"James, they'll find her," the dark-haired man offered. 'James!' My mind screamed in recognition of Marie's husband's name. Emmett had already made his way to the car, but Edward was still on the dock, frozen in place watching James from a distance.

"Edward!" I hissed quietly, trying to get his attention, but he ignored me as his hands clenched into fists at his side. I motioned to Emmett to get Edward. I couldn't risk James seeing Marie in the car. Emmett quickly walked back down the dock.

"Hey, what are you doing? Let's go man," Emmett said to Edward in a low voice. When Edward didn't respond, Emmett pulled him, unwillingly, back to the car.

"Hurry! Edward what where you doing? We need to get out of her. I can't risk him seeing her in the car," I whispered looking at Edward. His face was a mask of fury. Emmett slid into the front seat, while Edward opened the back door and unbuckled Marie. He lifted her legs and slid in underneath her before he quickly closed the door. James and his companion were walking towards us and I could clearly make out James' shouting.

"She'd better be dead, because if they find her alive there will be hell to pay for putting me through this!" he shouted at his companion who physically cringed away from James in horror.

I slammed my foot down on the gas pedal. The sudden acceleration whipped everyone's heads into the backs of their seats in my effort to get Marie out of there before we were discovered by that monster.

***********

I was just closing the door to the guest room that housed a sleeping Marie, when Edward approached.

"Uncle Carlisle. We have to get back. Our flight leaves in a few hours," he said, but I could tell that wasn't the only thing he wanted to say. Edward and Emmett were the children Esme and I were unable to have. When Esme's sister and husband, Elizabeth and Edward Masen, Sr had died, Emmett and Edward were twelve and ten, respectively. Esme and I took them in, raised and loved them as our own.

"Edward, why don't we go talk in my study." I motioned for him to follow me down the hall. As we stepped in the room, I closed the door behind Edward before I turned to face him. "I suppose you have a few questions," I said simply as I waved him over to the chair across from my desk.

"Who is she? That man on the dock – was that her boyfriend? Her husband? What? Did he do that to her? What is she going to do? I could kill him. What kind of a sadistic monster would do that to someone? How do you know her? Why haven't the police done anything about this? How long has this been going on?" Edward's questions were coming fast – faster than I could or would answer. He wasn't even listening for answers at this point. I waited patiently until he was finished his tirade.

"Edward, I'm not allowed to say much. You know her name – Marie, although that isn't going to mean much because, as you know, she's faking her death and will most likely change her name. And before you ask, I don't know what her name will be," I said holding up my hand as Edward opened his mouth to say something.

"Look, I've promised to keep her story private. She does not want to continually explain her past when she's trying to create a new identity for herself. Suffice it to say, and I agree with her on this point, that faking her death was necessary to her continued survival. What she's going to do or where she's going after this is just as big a mystery to me as it is to you. She did indicate that she has some resources, and when she's feeling better, I will help her retrieve them." When I finished, I waited for Edward to say something.

"Who was the man on the dock?" Edward asked in a menacing tone. I was a little shocked to see Edward act this way about someone he didn't know. Maybe this over protectiveness was just a reaction to Marie's fragile physical condition.

"Is he the one that did that to her?" he asked his voice controlled.

"I believe so. I can't tell you what he in relation to Marie, but yes I believe he is the one who hurt her," I responded.

"You can't or you won't tell me!" Edward said raising his voice.

"Edward," I chastised. "Calm down. I made a promise and I am going to keep it." My voice was still full of warning. After Edward calmed himself, I decided it was time to get some answers from him.

"Why didn't you and Emmett stop her at the buoy?" I said leaning back in my chair as I folded my arms across my chest.

"Uncle Carlisle," Edward began and then he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. I almost chuckled at this mannerism that was so completely Edward.

"I don't think I could have stopped her even if I had tried. When Emmett and I realized that she was past the buoy, we caught up with her in the boat, but she didn't seem to be aware of us. I told him was going to get in the water and try to stop her and for him to follow us in the boat. I swam up along side her, but she didn't seem to notice. She was swimming like a woman possessed and I realized that she probably wouldn't stop even if I tackled her. I don't know Carlisle. It's as if she needed to do it – swim the entire way, as if she had something to prove. So I decided to swim with her to make sure nothing happened to her." Edward paused looking down at his hands before he continued.

"She's a very strong swimmer. She didn't slow down, in fact her pace kept increasing. By the time we reached the shore, I was starting to worry I would not be able to keep up with her," he said a little sheepishly.

"You know, I don't think she even knew I was there until I asked her where her bag was," Edward said, sounding like he was lost in thought. I could tell something was bothering him, but perhaps it was all his unanswered questions.

"So… How's the residency coming along?" I said, changing the subject, hoping to distract him from asking more questions I couldn't answer.

"Great," Edward said with a little smile as his mood lightened. "I really enjoy working at the hospital." We continued to talk about Edward's medical career and where he hoped to end up someday. However, all too soon, Edward noticed the time as he glanced at this watch.

"Time to go?" I asked.

"Yeah, I've got to get back to the hospital. Besides, I'm sure Emmett is anxious to get back home to Rose. I'm glad we were able to able to come, even if it was for a short visit," Edward said with a smile.

"Hey, before I forget. I have a colleague who's daughter is looking for a place in your area. Do you still have those rental properties?" I asked, hoping he didn't figure out I was talking about Marie.

"I have two, and I'm living in one. The other is still occupied, but the lease is up in three or four months and my renters are not staying. When did she need the place?" Edward asked completely unaware.

"I think that will work out. I'll let her know and see if that works for her. I'll call you sometime next week and let you know. Don't rent it out from under me," I said with a laugh. I wanted Marie to take the rental, that way I could keep an eye one her through Edward, without either of them knowing. I would just feel better about it.

"I guess I'll go find Aunt Esme and say my good-byes." Edward stretched as he stood up to leave.

"Edward, I appreciate your willingness to come down here and help me with this without question," I said sincerely.

"Uncle Carlisle, you know I would do anything for you. You and Aunt Esme have done so much for Emmett and I already. It was the least we could do." Edward smiled as he embraced me good-bye.

"You know you don't owe us anything. You're family; nothing is more important," I returned as we left the study. "Now, where's that pretty aunt of yours?" I said with a wink.

**********

Marie's POV

I was surrounded my nothing but black water as it closed over my head. I was unable to scream or move. I just drifted, no sound, no light, no warmth, no coldness - nothing. At times, my body felt like it was being pressed further into the blackness. My arms and legs wouldn't work; they felt incredibly heavy, immobilized by an invisible force.

I don't now how long I continued in this mysterious place – I was trapped. However, eventually things started to change. Occasionally a flash of light or a brief sound would break through the darkness and jolt my senses. These flashes started to increase in frequency and length. After a while, I recognize I was not in water, but a bed in an unfamiliar room. Unfortunately, I was too weak and tired to look around. All I cared about right now was sleep and didn't really care where I was, as long as I could sleep.

The first time I woke for any length of time, I opened my eyes and looked around the room. I lifted my arm to move my hair off my forehead, but something tugged at my skin. I looked down to my arm to discover an IV line taped to the skin of my forearm. I felt something running across my check and lifted my other hand to discover what it was. I found an oxygen tube running just under my nose. My simple exploration left me exhausted as I fell into another dreamless sleep.

I had lost all track of time, but the next time I woke up, I was not alone. I peaked over at the chair next to my bed to discover a woman reading a book. I vaguely recognized her. How do I know her? As the fog of sleep lifted from my brain, I realized it was Esme. I tried to say her name, but the only thing that came out of my mouth was a croak. Her head shot up at the sound and she smiled, a look of immense relief covered her lovely features.

"Marie! Oh, dear! I'm so glad you're finally awake," she said in a whisper.

"How are you feeling? Is there anything I can get you?" Her hands a flutter as if she didn't quit know what to do. I tried to offer her a friendly smile to calm her, but my facial muscles were slow to react.

"Water," I said in a raspy whisper. My throat felt like paste covered sandpaper.

"Of course dear," she said with a smile as she picked up a cup with a straw. With one hand, she lifted my head while bringing the straw to my lips with the other. I pulled the water up the straw and into my mouth. As I swallowed, the water ran in rivulets down my throat, releasing my constricted throat to expand wherever the water touched. I pulled more water in to completely release my throat from the grasp of the tightness that seemed to hold it. I leaned my head back to indicate I'd had enough water for now.

"Esme," I said my voice barely above a whisper. "Where am I? What happened?" My mind was a confused fog.

"You are in my home," she offered with a warm smile. "As far as what happened… what do you remember?" She eyed me cautiously. I racked my brain for the answer to that question. Dinner. Laurent. James. Sailing. Swimming. Swimming! I gasp as my memory started to flood my mind with images of my harrowing experience.

"Am I dead yet?" I asked anxiously. Esme hesitated, probably wondering if I meant literally or figuratively. She must have decided I was talking figuratively because she let out a little chuckle.

"They called off the search this morning." I frowned at the thought of the authorities calling the search off after one night. It didn't make sense to give up so soon. Of course, rational thought took over as I recognized that I must have been out longer than one night.

"Esme? What day is it?" I whispered a little confused.

"It's Wednesday, dear," she said with a wry smile.

"Wednesday!" I squeaked. "I've been out for…" My mind was sluggish and wouldn't do the mental math. Luckily, Esme was quicker than I was at the moment.

"Three days," she finished for me.

A/N: That was one of the FEW alternate POV's I have planned for this story. And now here's a shout-out to Bunnybabi for figuring out that this story is based on the Julia Roberts movie "Sleeping with the Enemy". I wondered when someone would figure it out! XD Of course from this point on it is 'loosely' based on the movie, because I get to make these characters bend to MY will! Muaaahahahaha!

(evil laugh) Ooooo, I'm getting a little light headed from all this power. ;P

Okay, now I'll try to get something out for tomorrow, but I'm not making any promises. I have family in town and will be tied up with them. But I'll try. Thanks for reading and reviewing! - SavageWoman