*Disclaimer I own nothing recognizable, all those rights go to Stephenie Meyer. As all Song Rights go to the listed artist. I only own any original characters.

AN: I am posting two chapters today, since I didn't update last week. Plus this week I will be to busy to post due to my hockey schedule.

Chapter 3

Don't Leave Me Behind

I belong with you now

Oh please give into me

And stay forever

Oh don't leave me behind

Song-

Don't Leave Me Behind

By: We are the Fallen

The months passed achingly slow like they always do when you live your life by a routine and in the shadows of fear. It was now May; it had been almost five months since Christmas. In that time Sam started pushing Bella harder in her vocabulary and even started having her work on math problems from his text book. He was pleasantly shocked to come home today to find her sitting at the ratty kitchen table with her legs swinging wildly, her brow furrowed, her nose scrunched up as her two front teeth bit at her bottom lip as she stared intently down at his math book, which he had forgotten. There was a piece of paper off to the side and a pencil dangling in her right hand. As Sam stood over her, he felt such joy and pride fill every bit of his heart as he looked down onto the paper. It was hard to read due to her chicken scratch but he had taught her so translation for him was easy. To others it would almost appear that it was some alien language the answers were written in

"I do ight, Sammy?" her hopeful peridot eyes peered upward into his shiny brown ones.

"One hundred percent right," he smiled down at her before placing a kiss to her forehead causing her to giggle in delight. He turned slightly again and his eyes stared at the chicken scratch answers. In five short months he had taught her writing, better pronunciation of words and math skills. Was any of it perfect? No, she still struggled but had grown so much under his mentor-ship, unfortunately her mobility skills were still lacking. None the less he was happy at the progress. It might not be everything he hoped for but good things come to those who wait, he reminded himself.

"Hey, go get your shoes on."

"Ok, Sammy."

Bella quickly wiggled from her seat and as if on cue as soon as her feet hit the floor, she tripped over herself before regaining her balance and darting off to do as she was told. With a smile still in place, he placed the chicken scratch paper and chewed up yellow pencil in the open book to mark its place before closing it.

"Eady," that angelic voice catching his attention.

Never letting the smile fall from his lips, he walked over and took her frail hand in his and led her out to start their daily ritual for survival.

It wasn't long before they finished all that needed done. Bella was now sitting on their make shift bed happily looking at her hockey program and randomly pronouncing words she could understand.

Sam wanted to be able to smile at the sight and feel the pride he had felt earlier but like his smile that long ago faded, he realized what tomorrow would bring them. Tomorrow he would leave with his class for camp. He did not want to go and he didn't want to leave her alone. When he heard about it, he didn't worry much until he heard it was part of the school curriculum and it would count as their final science grade as they surveyed nature, collected and learned to catalog things. The only way out was a call to the school by the child's parent requesting them to be given an exam instead of going to camp. Sam knew that wasn't about to happen; he learned to forge his father's signature but he couldn't fake a phone call. Fear consumed him, he didn't know what to do. There was no way out of this that wouldn't cause suspicion, so it quickly became clear for the first time he would have to leave her alone overnight.

He remembered telling her about it two weeks ago; she stared at him confused before breaking down and insisting she could be a better sister if he didn't leave her. In her little mind he was leaving her for good and never coming back. Once she calmed down, he stressed over and over that he would be coming back. He would leave Wednesday and come back that Sunday, then he'd finish out the following week and they'd be together all summer.

He had spent a lot of time in the past two weeks preparing Bella to be without him for four days. He had resorted to doing things he wasn't proud of by stealing from the local markets. He needed supplies that would last, like cans of spam. He found a bucket that he filled up with water for drinking and took two rolls of toilet paper from the Chevron Station as well. She would have to use the over grown back yard and the thought made him cringe to think of his sister being reduced to the state of a household pet. Especially when adding eating out of cans, eating something that resembled dog food and drinking water from a bucket with only cupped hands to the mix. The only thing that gave an upgrade from being no higher than a household pet was the use of toilet paper. It wasn't the first time they had to use the yard but this was the first time that it would be her only place to relieve herself for four days.

Then there was the biggest issue. Their father. Sam worried deeply that he would find the supplies he had acquired and go into a rage about him stealing or him hiding food from him. A mental snort filled his head; 'Yeah, like that man needed food'. He always fed himself and never once thought about the two small mouths at home. It wouldn't matter; he was selfish so he would take offense. He also worried what their father would say or throw at her while he was gone. He knew when he wasn't around, he would lay into Bella with verbal assaults and throw bottles at her. He walked in on it once and tried to get him to stop but when he wouldn't, Sam felt some sort of heat lick up his spine as he felt himself shake in rage. Some weird growl came from his throat that caused his father to stop his assault and turn his once rage filled eyes into ones filled with fear and shock. In an instant his father was out the door and didn't come home for a week.

After he walked out the door, Sam felt a cool shaky hand grab onto his hand, which stopped all the anger he felt and let him focus on his bleeding sister. Ever since that night, he had never felt that way again but his father would always watch him cautiously. He didn't know why those actions caused him to back off but he couldn't find it in himself to care, as long as it got their father to leave Bella alone.

As of right now their father hadn't been home in over two weeks, not like Sam cared. In fact he was thrilled, it gave him the time to hoard the things he needed for Bella and gave him hope that maybe he'd stay gone for the duration of his trip. But most of all stay gone for tomorrow, as it marked the day their mother died and that is a day he is in rare form. A blubbering apologetic mess one second as he calls out to her and the next second he is off the handle throwing things and breaking anything in his path. It was almost enough to make you feel bad for him. Almost.

Sam remembered his mother and his promise but her death wasn't something he really mourned. To him it was more about celebrating the birth of his baby sister, which he loved more than any toy in the world once he laid eyes on her. In his bag that laid packed was his most treasured possession, a picture of the day Bella was born. A sweet lady who had been checking in on their mother for months sat him down on the couch and placed a soft glowing Bella in his two year old chubby arms telling him to support her head. Sam peered down at the warm wiggly thing wrapped in pink; and his eyes popped open wide as a loving happy wide smile blessed his face as he looked down into those peridot eyes that sparkled up at him.

He never had seen such eyes and even at two they captivated him. In that moment he knew he loved her and would have done what his mother requested without having been asked. His new sister was a part of him and he was a part of her. Somehow he knew they wouldn't be like other siblings and in that moment something deep in him told him they'd do anything for each other, that they would always do what they thought was in the best interest of the other and would always have each other's back. He would do whatever it took to keep her safe. In that other worldly moment is when the sweet lady had taken the photo. He came across it right before they moved to LA, when he knocked over a box and the photo fluttered out. He was so shocked to see that moment captured and to see something he didn't see in that moment as he was to transfixed on her eyes; he missed Bella's first smile as she peered up at him happily. That was a special picture indeed and he always kept it close.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he reached into their closet and like Christmas pulled out a newspaper covered package. He made his way to their bed and placed it on her lap as he took a seat next to her, which caused Bella to turn and face him with a questioning look.

"Open it."

"Silly Sammy; orrow my earthday."

Sam could feel his heart constrict a bit at knowing that and knowing he wouldn't be there like every year before but managed a chuckle, "It's birthday, Bella."

She wrinkled her nose and huffed as she looked up at him, "At is what I ed, Sammy. Eeez."

"Yep, exactly what you said," he chuckled as he placated her a bit. He would normally correct her to help her with her speech but he couldn't get himself to do it. Not today at least. All this was going to be a rough test on them and he could let it slide today. "Bella, I know tomorrow is your birthday and you know I have to go away and I'm going to miss it."

"NO!" she shouted as she threw the gift to the ground as tears lined her eyes and fear filled her heart.

Sam sighed loudly as he ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, "Yes, Bella. We talked about this; I have to go, it's for school," he paused as he pulled her back down beside him and her tear streaked face towards him. "Bella, please, this is just something I need to do for me," he said as stoic as possible. He did not know or understand his poor choice of words he had chosen in his pain and frustration would come to haunt him.

Bella continued to cry; she could understand to a degree why this was happening but something didn't feel right. There was a foreboding hanging in her soul and it scared her because she knew it meant things were going to change. She could feel something being placed in her lap again, which caused her to focus and see the black and white wrapping that took residence there.

"Good thing it's not breakable," Sam chuckled as he motioned for her to open it.

With tears still flowing, she ripped away the paper to reveal a knitted black material. "Hockey hat," she said as she looked up with a sad smile.

"Yep, to go with your jersey. I know it's a winter hat but it will come in handy this winter," he said as he leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Happy birthday, Bella" he whispered before placing another kiss atop her head as he fought back his own tears.

They sat in silence for what seemed forever, each feeling so much pain and hurt; but what could be done? He knew of nothing that he could do other than suck it up and get through it. He knew she could do it as they were Uleys. Their father might not be much when it came to that name but to him, he and Bella brought it the honor the name deserved.

After this they wouldn't be separated again because next year she'd be going to the same camp. At this moment he was glad he managed to skip last year's schooling because he was able to be with Bella full time; even if it left him a grade behind. It took the neighbor mentioning how his children never attended school before his father made the effort, but still avoiding Bella's enrollment, Sam guessed the last thing he wanted the school to see was a girl that screamed abuse. Sam wondered sometimes what motivation did his father have in keeping them when he obviously could care less about them. Pushing away a useless thought, he pulled himself together and walked over to the closet and opened the door.

"Bella," but no response. Sighing he continued, "All your food and water are hidden in here, make sure you eat every day, okay? I'll know if you don't. Since I won't be able to take you to the station to use the bathroom to wash, you will have to wait until I get home. You will have to use the yard for every body function; that's why I took the toilet paper and it's in here too. Also your clean clothes are where they always are, so remember to change at least twice while I'm gone. Now do you remember everything I told you and all the rules and what you're supposed to do?" but his question went without a response.

He looked back and his heart shattered as he wrestled down a sob. He took in the dejected looking girl whose eyes were focused solely on the hat in her hands. Sam crouched down in front of her and took the hat from her tiny hands and placed it on her head. Forcing a smile onto his lips, he lifted Bella's chin forcing her eyes to meet his,

"Black looks good on you," he chuckled. "Bella, I know you don't like this but I need to know you heard me, and that you understand everything I said. Most of all the rules," his voice now stern in his desperate attempt to make sure she understood where everything was and that she would be okay. Her response was an affirmative nod. "NO, BELLA! NOT GOOD ENOUGH," he yelled, quickly regretting his tone as she flinched.

"Food, ater, oilet paper in cubby, potty in ard, change two imes, ollow rules, no eve house and no open oor to stranger and ock," she sniffled out. "I eepy ow, Sammy."

A small bit of relief filled him knowing she understood what needed to be done, Sam felt the hot burn of tears again but fought them back. She needed him to be strong and stoic not the blubbering mess of weakness that he really was. "Yeah, sleep sounds good," quickly he made his way into position behind her and wrapped his arms around her extra tight. Her arms wrapped around her Kings' program; it was kind of funny how she was his teddy and that ratty booklet was hers. He remembered asking why she loved it so much and simply put, it was 'best day, no sad or bad just her and Sammy.' He knew then that booklet was her way of always remembering a light in the darkness and by holding onto it at night, it would shine that light and hope even into her nightmares. Kind of like how he felt about her. Because every milestone was the light in the darkness for him.

"Wuv you, Sammy," cut through his thoughts.

But Sam said nothing as he bit the inside of his cheek in fear that a gut wrenching sob would otherwise leave his mouth if he even tried to respond as his mind raced, 'OH GOD, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS?'

First Update for today. Please review, no flames though.