Here you go, the wait due to the last chapter's cliff hanger is over! Thank you to everyone who reviewed! You guys are amazing and I appreciate all of your support =).

It was asked why Edward would leave Bella for even a minute in the last chapter. It was because he knew Charlie was there, and awake, and with a gun. He went as fast as he could, and figured she would be safe, given Charlie's presence...plus the gun. He knew Charlie would be on high alert, basically, and knew Jake wouldn't be as daring to try and fight Charlie.

This story is beta'd by Feenrai, my fantastic beta.

Chapter 13

He grabbed the hand that I had just swung at him, holding it rather gently by the wrist, as I felt a pain similar to the one I felt when James broke my leg.

I didn't want him to be touching me. I didn't want to be touched. Especially not by him.

So I began to struggle, and squirm, anything to try and get away, to put some distance between me and him.

"Bella!" a voice whispered urgently, strongly. "Bella, stop. Relax," they whispered, as I continued to struggle and fight, and finally managed to yank my arm from their grip.

But the odd thing was, it was not Jacob's voice. The voice was familiar, and soft, and the tone of anxiousness within it was easy to identify. Only one voice could be that smooth. That velvety.

"Open your eyes, Bella," I heard Edward's voice whisper in urgency, bordering on panic.

This confused me, because I thought my eyes were open. I was seeing Jacob. Right beside me in bed. But, deciding to listen to Edward's anxious, yet soothing tone, I attempted to open my eyes. What I saw made me gasp, and continue to pant for air.

Edward lay beside me, his body kept a safe distance from me, as he lay facing me. His eyes, if possible, became larger, and rounder as he stared at me with his furrowed brows.

As the feeling of ease slid over me, realizing that I had, in fact, dreamed Jacob's presence, I felt my muscles relax a miniscule amount. I tried to force myself to take deep breaths, the short gasps beginning to burn my lungs.

"You were having a nightmare," Edward confirmed for me. "May I please see your hand? I fear you may have broken it," he asked gently, as he watched me carefully, probably waiting for me to scream in terror.

I felt my eyebrows knit together, as I thought over his words. If I had dreamt Jacob's presence, then he wasn't really here. He didn't touch me again. Nobody had touched me, because I knew Edward surely wouldn't. So I didn't really punch Jacob: which meant I punched Edward.

"Oh God," I gasped, as the realization hit me. "You're okay, right?" I asked, only wanting to know he was all right, as it didn't dawn on me in my sleep induced confusion that my fist would not be able to harm him.

He laughed a short, bitter and sarcastic laugh. "Of course. Can I please see your hand, love?" he asked gently, his eyes now shining in concern.

I hesitantly held out my throbbing hand to him, waiting for the unwanted contact. I had been able to hold his hand, to have some form of contact with him, and I was grateful for that, though it wasn't without hesitation. But after that dream, I didn't want to be touched, even if it was Edward. I didn't want anyone's hands on me. Thankfully, he seemed to sense that as he tentatively took my hand in his, giving me a moment as I flinched back, then slowly bringing it closer to him to examine it and ghost his fingers across various bones.

"Bella, love, it looks as though you've broken your finger. We need to get you to Carlisle, so he can set it properly," he murmured, his voice completely anxious and tinged with sadness.

I froze, thinking of what that would mean. More touching. More prodding. More contact that I didn't want. And all due to my own stupidity for punching Edward in my sleep.

As I debated whether or not I could handle the unwanted contact from Carlisle's snow cold fingers, I looked down at my injured hand that was still held by Edward's, and gasped. Because there on my wrist, was the bracelet Jacob had given me, his wolf charm still attached, along with Edward's heart. I had forgotten I still had it on. I hadn't removed it since before what happened. I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed it before. But now that I had, it made my heart stop.

"Love? What's wrong?" Edward asked, his voice even more anxious.

I could feel myself begin to hyperventilate as I yanked my hand from Edward's, as I fought to try and rip the bracelet from my wrist. I needed it off. I needed it off of my wrist. Now. It was from Jacob. It was his. It was from him. It was a symbol of friendship, or love. Friendly love. But mostly, it was a reminder of him. I needed it off.

I fought, and yanked and pulled, trying to pry it from my wrist. I was vaguely aware that my wrist was becoming sore and red, but I didn't care. I just needed it off. I needed Jacob off of me. Every part of him.

"Bella!" Edward nearly shouted, but low enough to not wake Charlie, as he was both alarmed and stunned at my erratic behavior. "You're going to hurt yourself! Stop!"

"Please!" I begged as I still tugged at it, wondering why it wouldn't just break. "Just get it off! Please! I won't even complain if you get me a new bracelet to put the heart on, just please! Please get it off!" I begged, as tears began to fall as I gasped for air.

"Bella, stop. Calm down, love. It's okay. Just be still, and I will get it off, okay?" he asked, in his most soothing tone.

I attempted to take several large breaths, and finally managed to stop my frantic movements as I held my trembling wrist out for Edward to finally remove the bracelet.

Once it was finally off, I staggered back, wanting to be far away from it, from the reminder of Jacob: of what he used to mean to me, of what he did to me. I needed air. I was still gasping slightly, and I just needed air.

I opened my window, gulping in the cool fresh air, as I fought to control my trembling limbs.

"Bella?" Edward called hesitantly. "Do you want me to put it away somewhere?" he asked softly.

I turned away from the window, leaving it open in hopes of the cool air soothing my beyond frayed nerves.

"Please just get rid of it," I whispered, not meeting his eyes, and not wanting to see that bracelet which held so many emotions. "But not the heart," I told him quickly, my eyes shooting up to meet his. "Never your heart," I murmured, realizing that despite everything going on, and despite everything Jacob had done, I had never been more sure of my love for Edward. He was still my rock, my own personal angel, of sorts. I wanted and needed him by my side, and I would never want to dispose of his heart after he's given it to me. Not his un-beating, beautiful heart, or the sparkling one that hung from my bracelet.

Edward's mouth ghosted into a slight smile, before his face became serious again. "Will you allow me to take you to Carlisle? Though since...I can't carry you to run there, and my car is no longer here," he paused, thinking. "We would have to take your truck, and hope it doesn't wake Charlie, because I'm unwilling to leave you alone to get my car and come back. And I can see in your eyes that you would never agree to that, either," he read me like an open book as he explained our predicament.

"Okay," I shuddered as I thought of Carlisle fixing my hand. I checked my alarm clock, seeing it was nearly 4am. "I'll leave Charlie a note, in case he does wake up."

He nodded in approval, pulling his cell phone out, I assumed to call Carlisle. So I went and quickly scribbled a note, explaining to Charlie that I woke up and fell out of bed, injuring my hand so I went to see Dr. Cullen.

After going downstairs and placing it on the kitchen table, Edward and I left, climbing into my old truck and both wincing as it roared to life.

The drive was silent, and despite my heavy lids, I refused to sleep, not knowing what dreams would come with it.

Faster than I imagined my truck was capable of, we got to the Cullen's. Edward quickly came around to open my door.

As we entered the house, Carlisle came to greet us and told us to go on up to the same room we had been in before. The memory of it caused an involuntary shudder to roll through me, but I followed behind Carlisle, anyway, with Edward right behind me.

When we got in the room, I wordlessly sat upon the same exam table, my entire body rigid with tension and anticipation of what un-pleasantries were to come. I watched cautiously as Carlisle approached me, with Edward by my side.

Edward held his hand out, in offering to me, knowing this would be difficult. I stared at it a moment, and decided to try. I needed comfort. I needed something - anything to get through this, and what a part of me wanted most was to be able to be held in Edward's arms like before this all happened. But now, that idea caused me nothing but panic and fear, making me almost want to scream. I wanted the comfort and familiarity of how things were before. So I decided to try. To try and place my hand in his, to see if I would be soothed by his touch, or recoil from it.

As soon as my unscathed hand touched his, I recoiled, pulling it back close to my body. I shook my head in his direction in a silent apology, my eyes pleading for him to understand.

He gave me a comforting and understanding smile before he spoke. "I'll be right here beside you, Bella."

I tried to smile gratefully at him, but again, I think it was more of a slight grimace.

"All right, Bella," Carlisle spoke, snapping my attention to him, and I held out my painful hand.

He grasped it gently, carefully examining it. I fought the urge to yank it back, to shudder from the touch. I tried to remain as stiff as possible, trying to keep myself locked in place, as to not let the panic take over. I just thanked the stars that the only thing needing to be examined today was my hand.

"Edward was right. You do have a fissure in your knuckle. If you promise to keep it on, I can fit you with a brace instead of a cast," Carlisle spoke softly, and released his grip on my hand.

I nodded quickly in agreement, not wanting a cast.

I shut my eyes, trying to think of only Edward. My happy place. To think of anything but the touches to my hand, and Carlisle fitting a brace to it. Edward in the sun, sparkling. Our first day in the meadow together.

"All done," Carlisle said, breaking me out of my thoughts, with an accomplished, faint smile on his face. "Just take some pain medication if the pain becomes too much," he advised.

"Thank you," I tried to smile again, unsure of whether or not it worked.

As I went to hop down from the table, the muscles in my legs still aching from what happened, Carlisle's voiced made me stop.

"Please be careful, Bella. I would hate for anything else to happen to you," he told me sincerely, his eyes holding nothing but pure compassion.

I nodded once, my lips twitching into a barely there smile at his concern for me.

"I'll try," I whispered, as Edward and I exited the room.

"Are you okay?" Edward murmured, studying my face closely. I nodded, and after staring at me for another minute, he told me he just needed to grab a change of clothes.

After he came back, and we were making our way to the door, Alice's voice suddenly filtered through the room.

"I'll have it there right on time!" she chimed, though I couldn't see her within the house. I shot Edward a questioning glance, and he gave a tense smile before telling me that he was going to ask Alice to drive his car near my house, but out of sight. That way, he would only need to leave for a minute, just to get in his car and show up. He would be close enough by that should anything happen in that minute, he would hear it and be able to be there within seconds.

Thankfully, Charlie was still asleep when we got back. The note lay undisturbed, so I took it, quickly crumpling it and throwing it in the garbage.

When we got back up to my room, Edward eyed me cautiously. "Do you want to try to go back to sleep?"

I quickly shook my head, not even wanting to consider that option. I would much rather feel exhausted, then to have those dreams forced upon me. I had no control over my dreams. I didn't know what nightmares they would bring. That's what scared me.

Edward frowned, and I knew he was worried. He knew I barely got any sleep.

"At least come lay down. You don't need to sleep. At least just rest," he tried to plead. And still, I couldn't say no to him. Not after everything he's done for me. I knew he was only concerned.

I crawled into bed and laid on my side, pulling the blanket up to my chin as I snuggled into its softness.

"Lay with me, please?" It was my turn to plead. If he needed me to lay here to feel better, then I wanted him right here with me, just like always. It was what I needed to feel better.

He hesitantly climbed into the bed, as he lay on his side facing me, again making sure to keep a safe distance between us as to make sure there was no contact.

I felt his eyes on me the whole time. Any other time, I would have just blushed. But now, it made me uncomfortable. Because he was gorgeous, and pure, despite his beliefs about his soul. But me, I was now tainted and dirty. I didn't want him to see that -- to see me. The new me, the way I had become. He shouldn't have to look at me like that. So I continued to avert my eyes, only peeking up at him on occasion.

I didn't know how long we had been laying there, in the silence where sleep never came, before Edward quickly whispered that Charlie was coming. By the time I blinked, Edward was gone.

I heard a faint knock on my door, before Charlie cautiously poked his head in. I turned to look in his direction, as his eyes landed on mine before I quickly looked away.

"It's time to wake up, Bells. Then we can head on over to the station when you're ready," he told me, as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. He stepped into the room more fully before he spoke again. "I know you don't want to give a statement, but Bells, it's for the best, honey. It's one of the best ways to help protect you," he sighed. "I won't let Jake do anything else to hurt you. I'll be there when you give your statement. Call Edward and have him come along, if you want," he told me softly.

"Thanks, Dad," I mumbled. I did appreciate his words, and the gesture of him telling me to call Edward to come with. I wouldn't have been able to do it without Edward either way, though I already knew he was coming, one way or the other. But as much as Charlie's words touched me, I still mentally balked at the idea of going to the station and having to report it -- to have to tell more people. I sighed in defeat, before throwing the blanket off of me so I could get up and hopefully get this over with, despite the anxiety it caused me.

"It'll all be okay, Bells. I promise," Charlie tried to comfort me, his voice suddenly a little hoarse. I appreciated his effort, but I knew it would never be okay. I would never be okay.

With that, Charlie left my room, only for Edward to emerge from my closet.

He encouraged me to go shower and get ready, and that he would be here in my room, waiting for me.

I grabbed my bag of toiletries and some fresh clothes, and made my way into the shower. I turned on only the cold water, not wanting even an ounce of heat. Again, I scrubbed my skin until the point of pain, and when I was done, I was shivering from the cold. The only bonus was that the freezing water had managed to wake me up from the tired haze I had been in.

I tried to keep my now alert mind off of what I was about to do. If I thought about it, I knew I would freak out and try to refuse to go. But I also knew that wouldn't do any good. So I continued to think of Edward--only Edward.

After quickly getting dressed, using a larger sweater in hopes of the sleeve covering more of my braced hand, and finishing my morning routine, all the while avoiding looking at myself in the mirror, I went back to my room. Edward sat there on my bed, not having moved an inch, just as promised. My heart swelled that he had actually stayed, that he wasn't going to leave.

"Bella, love...why don't you go downstairs and have some breakfast? Charlie just finished making some eggs. I'm just going to get my car, and will be back in a minute. I will hear you if anything happens. But I also know that Charlie has his gun on him just to be more cautious." Upon seeing my frown, he continued to speak. "I'll only be a minute. Time me," he tried to smile my favorite crooked smile at me, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Okay," I whispered, already feeling on edge as I walked downstairs.

"Morning," Charlie greeted me when I walked into the kitchen. "Breakfast?" he asked, cocking his head towards the already made food on the stove.

I pursed my lips before nodding, knowing that it would make both Charlie and Edward feel better if I did...even if I didn't end up eating any of it. At my confirmation, Charlie got up to fix me a plate. But as the seconds ticked by, I became more jittery and anxious: both for Edward getting his car, and because of what I had to do today. My leg was bouncing under the table, but I quickly stopped as I winced, my legs still sore.

There was a knock on the door, which caused me to jump. I knew it must be Edward, because it had now been almost a minute. But as I got up to answer the door, I started to wonder if it was someone else. If maybe Jacob had come here, and it was really him on the other side of the door.

I could feel my heart rate picking up, but it quickly regulated as I heard Edward's voice on the other side of the door.

"Bella, it's okay, it's just me," he said, just loud enough for me to hear him through the door.

I flung it open to reveal Edward, wearing fresh clothes, and his now ever present facial expression: anxiousness.

After one almost break down, lots of fear, followed by lots of nerves, and multiple pep talks, I was finally getting out of the car to go into the station. Charlie walked in front of me, leading the way, while Edward walked beside me, far enough away to give me my needed distance, but still close enough to let me know he was there.

As we went inside, Charlie went to speak to another cop, as I took nervous glances around the station, and at Edward. He seemed completely stiff and rigid, his body too still. He was staring at me with nothing but concern and love in his eyes.

Charlie came up to us, telling us to follow him and Officer Reed. As we did as told, I looked around the room quickly, not wanting anyone to know why I was there. I didn't want that kind of attention. I didn't want the looks of pity.

Officer Reed opened the door to a small, but relatively empty room. It mostly just consisted of a table, with four chairs.

"Have a seat, please," Officer Reed motioned to the chairs.

As I approached the chairs, with Edward still right beside me, and Charlie across from me, I froze. My eyes were glued to the steel chair, and I couldn't figure out if I wanted to sit, or simply bolt out the door. Edward's hand appeared in my line of vision as I continued to look at the chair. He was holding his hand out to me in offering -- in comfort.

I hated it. The idea of being touched. The idea of not being able to touch Edward the way I always used to. But I needed it. The comfort, the strength. I needed him. Fear and flinching be damned, because I needed him, otherwise I would be running out of the door. His hand would keep me grounded. Keep me strong, just like it had when I had to tell Charlie. At least I hoped it would.

So with an extremely shaky and unwilling hand, I slowly put mine in Edward's. I wanted to flinch back, but I locked every single muscle I could, trying to stop myself. I shut my eyes, and breathed in deeply. I kept repeating two things over and over in my mind. It's just Edward. It's just Edward. He won't hurt you.

I fought not to panic at the contact, and silently took my seat. I whimpered shakily, and had a death grip on Edward's hand as Officer Reed took out an audio recorder.

"This is just to record your statement, Ms. Swan," he told me, having noticed my reaction. I breathed in shakily, my breathing already becoming a bit more shallow. The officer began to list my name, the date, and other case information. I tuned him out, not wanting to hear the details of it. I wasn't sure I could handle it.

"Okay, Ms. Swan. You say that Jacob Black raped you, correct?" Reed question. I nodded, before realizing I needed to verbalize all my answers, which only made me more nervous and fidgety, and didn't calm my breathing any.

"Yes," I stated, trying to take deep breaths.

"When did this happen?" he asked.

"Three days ago," I whispered, my eyes focusing on the table top, not wanting to make eye contact with anyone as I continued to try and inhale air into my lungs.

"Where were you at the time?"

"His house. In La Push," I trembled, just picturing the house in my mind. I could feel my whole body begin to shake slightly.

"Can you tell me what happened, Ms. Swan?"

I choked back a sob, not wanting to break down. I could still feel the tears welling within my eyes, though. This was the part I was dreading. The part I feared the most. Now I would have to tell them everything that happened.

So with tears streaming down my face as I shook, and my breathing erratic, I started at the beginning from the time that Edward dropped me off.

I managed to get to the part where Jacob woke up before the sob I had been holding back finally erupted. Edward tightened his grip on my hand, as his thumb began to rub continuous circles on my hand. I tried to concentrate on the movement, on the continuous rhythm of it, despite the fact that it was touching my skin. I tried to time my breathing to his movements. Two circles -- inhale. Two circles -- exhale.

"It's okay, Bells. Take your time," Charlie spoke for the first time. His voice was soft, kind, caring. It was what I needed to force myself to continue. The two most important men in my life being here with me, supporting me, even though I was nothing but a broken, dirty mess.

I continue to tell them what happened, the recorder continuing to document my every word, my every sob and sniffle.

Every time I got to a more difficult part, or clammed up, Edward would squeeze my hand a little tighter, while his thumb never stopped its continuous soothing motion.

I stopped multiple times, my eyes stinging too badly with tears, my throat feeling as though it was sealed shut, and my mouth completely dry. My lungs burned with each and every shaky breath I fought to take.

"I -- I just remember...everything going black. I guess -- I guess I must have passed out," I whimpered as my body continued to shake, and shame continued to engulf me. "The next thing I remember," I sobbed, "is waking up in his car. He...he put my clothes back on me," my voice cracked. "And when..." I trailed off, realizing I hadn't told this part to Edward, or my Dad.

"Go on, honey," Charlie said encouragingly, which caused me to look up at him for the first time since being in this room. His face was bright red, and his eyes were tense, but also filled with an underlying anger. His hands were balled into fists on top of the table as he stared at me, hoping I would be able to continue the story.

I quickly shifted my gaze away, and it fell on mine and Edward's entwined hands. Many times throughout the story, I had wanted to pull away, to flinch from the contact. Many times I did flinch, but I also continued to hold his hand with a death grip the entire time. He was practically my life line at this point. The only thing keeping me remotely sane.

I looked up at him as well, for the time since being in here. He sat as still as stone, forcing himself to breath in order to not draw attention to himself. His eyes were also tense, his expression anguished. His lips were forced into a tight line, and his jaw was locked.

I quickly looked down at my lap, to focus on my bandaged hand.

"He asked me," I whispered, "'that was great, wasn't it? I'm happy I got to be your first'," I recited word for teary word. I blushed at having to reveal that information, and began to shake more violently as another sob escaped. His words were forever seared into my mind. I would never be able to forget them, as much as I tried. And each time I thought of them, a shudder rolled through my body.

"Wh -- When I managed to get...to get out of the car," I stuttered, "I heard him yell 'Bye Bells! We should do that again sometime!'" I whispered through another sob, my shaking intensifying as I gasped for more sufficient air.

I shrieked, jumping back when a fist came crashing down on the table, their body trembling as well. But theirs was due to anger. Charlie had hit the table, his expression almost murderous.

"I'm sorry, Bells. I didn't mean to scare you," he instantly apologized when he seen my reaction, his voice soft, instead of angry.

Edward's hand tightened around mine again, and again, the rhythm of his thumb never stopped. "Shh, it's okay, Bella. It's okay," he whispered to me frantically. I didn't quite understand why, until I realized that I was practically hyperventilating. "Deep breaths, love," he tried to instruct me, and when that didn't work, he began to take the deep breaths himself as he stared me in the eye, hoping I would try to match my breathing to his own.

"A -- are we -- are we done?" I gasped, needing this to be over. Needing to be out of here. I couldn't take any more.

"Of course, honey," Charlie told me, as he began to talk hurriedly in a hushed whisper to Officer Reed.

"Air. Please. I need air," I continued to gasp, my free hand coming up to claw at my throat.

Edward said something to Charlie before he led me just outside the station, his hand still encasing mine.

"Breathe, Bella. Deep breaths. It's okay, love. It's okay. You're safe. I won't let him hurt you again," he murmured, and still, his thumb continued to try and soothe me.

I wished I was still normal enough to allow him to put his arms around me, to just hold me. But I couldn't do that. I was too messed up. Too broken and disgusting. I couldn't even let my fiancée hold me. That thought just made me sob harder, as I realized just how much what Jacob had done continued to make my life fall apart. Everything I knew was different now. I was different now.

"Bella, look at me!" Edward said urgently, as I didn't seem to be calming down any. I hesitantly met his eyes with my own, only to see worry in his eyes. "Breathe in," he told me, as he breathed in himself to show me. "Breathe out," he instructed as I continued to watch him. I managed to focus on him long enough to managed to get my breathing to regulate.

I continued to stare at him, and into his extremely anxious eyes. But suddenly, he froze, his face going blank and his body becoming as still as a statue.

I crinkled my eyebrows together, not understanding what was wrong. Edward's head suddenly whipped to the side, towards the parking lot of the station. I slowly turned my head to follow his gaze, only to see one thing that froze me in terror, and made my breathing become erratic again.

Jacob Black.

Another big cliffy! I know, I'm mean. And yep, I made it so that she still broke her finger, like in the book. Except this time..she didn't technically hit Jake.

Next chapter...Finally, they come face to face with Jacob. What's going to happen, and how will everyone react? How will Bella react? And how come Jacob is going to look a little...different?

Please review, and let me know what you thought, and to let me know that you're still interested!