1943 – Carlisle

¤o0o¤ ¤o0o¤ ¤o0o¤

I walked down the street to run a last errand for Esmé. My mind was occupied with the situation with Edward. It was too risky to keep hiding him in our house since the Germans already kept a close watch on us because of Emmett. Plus, Dr. Schnee kept pushing for an invitation for dinner at our house. I didn't expect him or his wife to find Edward in our attic, but if they brought Lola, things would be risky. She was a nosy little child.

He needed a safer place to stay and heal.

Deep in thought I bumped into someone. The person stumbled and turned around. It was Williams son, Jacob.

"Sorry." I apologized.

"That's all right Doc. You okay?", Jacob asked with a friendly smile.

"Yes. I'm all right. I have too many thoughts swimming around in that head of mine. I wasn't watching were I was going."

"That's okay. Say 'hi' to Esmé and Alice for me. And, uh… well… I'm really sorry about Emmett." Jacob averted his eyes. "No word from him, still?"

I shook my head and swallowed thickly. It was well over a year now, that they took him away.

"Yes. Well, take care Jacob." I nodded and was about to continue my stride, when I suddenly remembered the last conversation I had with Emmett.

…Have you seen Jacob around town? …

…Jacob?…

…He's a really good friend of mine…helped me out…

Realisation dawned on me. Could he have meant…?

I turned around and called him. "Jacob!" The boy turned around when he heard his name. He waited for me to catch up with him.

"What's going on?" He asked frowning.

"Do you have a few minutes?" I asked him.

"Uh, yes, why?"

"Come on, take a walk with me." With a hand on his shoulder I steered him into one of the less busy streets.

"What's going on Dr. Cullen?"

"Tell me something." I started. "You and Emmett are friends, right?"

Jacob nodded slowly.

"Since… since you helped him out with some stuff?"

"Doc…"

"No, no, don't worry. I just brought it up, because I might uh… need some help too."

Jacob stopped walking and studied me for a moment. I glanced around, making sure that no one was watching us. You never knew these days.

"Depends." Jacob said, drawing my attention back to him. "I don't do that stuff often anymore." That confirmed my suspicions that he had some kind of ties to the resistance.

"Too dangerous?" I asked.

He nodded. "I might be able to help you, it just really depends on what you need from me."

I stepped closer, glancing around as I did so. Nobody seemed to be listening in.

"American pilot. Wounded. He needs a place to heal and then cross over to England." I said with a lowered voice.

"How bad is he?"

"Broken arm, broken collarbone, open leg wound. He's been at my house now for two weeks and a couple of days. The leg wound is healing well. The rest is healing okay, but not good enough to travel yet."

Jacob nodded. "I might be able to help."

"How?"

"I can't tell you exactly, but I can get him somewhere else, where he can stay for a little while. When he's ready I'll take him over the border to a connection. After that it's out of my hands."

"How safe is it?"

"It's never safe. But so far, we haven't been caught on the act, so technically they have nothing on us."

"Technically, maybe…" I muttered, thinking about Emmett.

Jacob seemed to realise what he said and mumbled an apology.

I shook my head and told him not to worry.

"So, where and when shall we meet?"

"The sooner, the better. Tonight, at the Golden Oak at 7:30. Sam will meet you, I will join you at 7:50 and leave with him at 8:15."

At home, I kissed Esme in our kitchen and then made my way upstairs.

"Edward?" I called for him as I entered the room.

"Dr. Cullen." He responded. He tried to sit up, but I motioned for him to stay horizontal.

"Edward, I have something to tell you. And I apologize in advance, but I don't see another solution at the moment." I told him as I came to sit next to him.

"What's going on?" Concern overtook his expression and he sat up anyway.

"I'm really sorry, but I can't let you stay here much longer. Because of my sons ties, my family is being watched. And it's getting suspicious that we suddenly barely let any visitors in our house. If someone even suggests the idea that we're offering protection to someone, it will mean death to all of us. I can't do that to my family, I can't do that to you."

Edward nodded slowly. He understood.

"What's the plan? Is there a plan?"

"Yes. I have spoken to Jacob, a boy from town. He knows a place where you can stay safely to heal. He will help you across the border. From there you will be guided by other connections and cross over to England."

"Okay." Edward nodded. "When do I leave?"

"Tonight."

Edward raised his eyebrows in surprise. "So soon?"

"That's why I apologized. I'm sorry, I'd really like to offer more help, but the sooner the better."

Edward shook his head. "It's okay, Dr. Cullen. I'm just sure glad as hell that it was you who found me beside the road. Excuse me the language."

"I'll just pretend that I didn't understand that part." I chuckled. "And you're welcome. I'll help you down when dinner is ready. Now rest some more. You'll be needing some energy tonight."

With that I left the room. I crossed path with Alice on the stairs, who was on her way up to see Edward.

"Alice, better let him rest, girl. Come down stairs with me."

"That's okay, Dr. Cullen. Come up here Alice." I heard Edward call.

Alice grinned at me, gave me a kiss on the cheek, and skipped up the stairs.

She'd grown fond of Edward. My suspicion was that she missed having her older brother around. Edward filled that void a little.

Later that evening, Edward and I prepared to go out. He didn't have many belongings, so Esme packed him an extra shirt, and made him a couple of sandwiches for the next day. She hugged him like he was one of her own. Alice stood there quietly, a tear slipping down her cheek. Edward gave her a peck on the cheek and told her not to worry. That he'd be alright.

We made our way to the Golden Oak. There weren't too many people on the street, so we tried to move fast.

Sam was waiting for us in a far corner of the bar. We slid in the booth across him. He nodded at me in greeting and then turned to Edward.

"Do not talk and whatever you do, do not say a word in English. When someone talks to you, act drunk." Sam said in a low voice.

Edward nodded that he understood. Sam then turned to the waitress and called out for beers. With a sassy wink to Edward she dropped them at our table. When Jacob arrived we were down to our second round of drinks, and after he left with Edward, we downed a third. It went against all my instincts to send the boy away when he was still wounded, but I knew I didn't have another choice.

Later that night, when I had returned home, I climbed the stairs up to the bedroom, and joined Esmé under the covers. I took her into my arms and pulled her close to me.

"I locked everything up downstairs." I whispered in her hair.

"Not the backdoor, right? He might come home tonight…" She whispered back against my chest. The same thing she whispered every night.

"No sweetheart, not the backdoor."