A/N Heeey guys, I'm sorry for the delay, but with Christmas coming it can only mean one thing...finals. So I've been studying and crying and crying some more. But I did finish this chapter and hope to get a couple more done these two weeks. I must warn you however that my computer is broken so I have to do this on my iPad, and things tend to glitch more on here when I do it on my phone/iPad, so if there's a whole lot of errors, which there probably is, I did what I could to fix as possible. But it is tough because it tends to make more mistakes instead of fixing them. Anyway enjoy.

Chapter 13

"Where were you this morning?" Edward asked the sweaty, pale, man in the chair across from him. I was watching through the double glass window, he was interrogating James Hunter, and I had to say his tough nut exterior broke as soon as he saw Edward. It really would have been funny had we not been in the middle of serious case.

"I - I- I was w-with my secretary, In my office. Y-you can ask her." James stammered.

"Yes but it just so happens that we're searching for a couple, and we only have your word, since nobody else happened to see you at the office." Edward stated, staring him down.

The door to my left opened and Emmett poke his head in, "Bells, Rose said the Biers are back. They just arrived in their home. Do you want me to take over for Ed?"

I turned to look at Edward straightening up in his seat. "No, I got it. Keep interrogating him, I'll talk to Victoria." I answered, he turned to look at me. "I got it." I reassured him.

His shoulders slumped the slightest, and I knew he wasn't going to fight me this time. We'll that was a miracle, I had very rarely gone out alone, he always insisted on accompanying me, either he really didn't trust me, or he really trusted in my failure.

I grabbed the file next to me and walked out with Em, "You know this can't end we'll, he's going to give you a full lecture." he said grinning down at me.

"And he knows I'll zone out 3 seconds in, so it's up to him if he wants to waste his time." I shrugged smiling. He laughed and after a quick good luck we split different ways. I quickly made it to my car and sped off. Within a few minutes I was parking across the street and knocking on the door.

A woman with flaming red hair opened the door, "Yes?"

"Mrs. Biers?" I asked and she nodded shyly, "Isabella Swan from the Seattle Police." I said flashing her my badge, "I'm here to ask you a few questions about the case." She looked at me terrified,"I - I already told everything I know to the authorities." She answered.

"I understand m'am, I just need you to identify a suspect for me, that's all." I smiled politely. She bit her lip and nodded, stepping aside for me to enter. I went in and laid down James' photo on the coffee table.

"Please have a seat." She said as she sat on the couch across from me, I sat on the edge of the reclining chair, she set down her drink and studied the picture. "Is this... The man? The man who kidnapped me?" She asked anxious.

"Thats what I need you to tell me m'am, do you recognize Him?" I asked politely, studying her. Her face contorted as she tried to think.

"I-I don't know, I never saw him. All I heard was his breathing and feet shuffling." She said her brow furrowing frustrated. "I-I just wish I could have done something." She cried quietly, "Maybe if I had let her go first, then - then..." She trailed off.

I tried to comfort her, "with all due respect m'am, had you let her go first, we don't know that she would have escaped, meaning both of you would have been trapped." I pushed the photo towards her, "So this man doesn't ring any bells?" I asked one last time.

"I...I" her hand jerked as she reached out for the photo, spilling water all over the table, with fast reflexes I swept the file and photo away from the spill and straightened the cup.

"I'm sorry." I apologized for the mess, although I hadn't technically done anything.

"its okay, let me just get some paper towels." She stood and headed to the kitchen. A couple seconds later she exited, "Excuse me we're out of towels, I'll be right back." She walked away down a hall. I fixed the shuffled papers, and looked around the room. Something against the front wall caught my attention, it was a small antique box. Wooden, with intricate spade designs carved into it. I had seen the design before, but I couldn't pinpoint where. It seemed very familiar, maybe my grandmother had one? No, I'd probably remember putting it away when I moved. Where had I seen it? I stood up to take a closer look at it, the longer I stared, the longer I felt I was missing something.

Then a picture flashed in my mind, in the crime scene, there was a large chest, the same as this one only a lot larger, and it was where the suspect had kept his "tools" for his job. I carefully lifted the lid, and peeked inside. There were cards, and pictures, but what really caught my eye...was the lilac pink nail with a white tip. "Oh my-" I whispered. I kept digging and I counted 10 nails. Meaning Victoria was in on the deal, she was the female partner! And Bree Tanner wasn't the only victim. I had to tell Edward, I took a step back and heard the distinct click of a gun.

"Not another step." Answered a deep voice. I slowly turned to face Reilly Biers, pointing a gun at me. I put my hands in the air, "Easy, please put the weapon down." I asked calmly. Victoria walked in and stopped mid step.

"What's going on?" She asked confused and alarmed. Maybe she wasn't in on this, maybe it was her psychotic husband.

"I found her snooping through our things babe." He answered without looking back.

"Oh no." She grinned, sending shivers down my spine. "If she escapes they'll separate us." She whispered in his ear. He grinned, "We can't have that." He shook his head. "Take off your belt." He said pointing the gun at my waist. I slowly obliged.

"Please you don't have to do this." I pleaded.

"Oh but we do. Otherwise our work will have been for nothing." She answered.

"Why," I asked. "Why did you do it?"

"A marriage is a hard thing to maintain, not including all the outside factors working against us. All those women, flirting with Reilly, thinking they could take him away from me. He's a very attractive and powerful man, and they all look at him with a glow of hope in their eyes, as if he'd pay attention to them. We did what we had to do to keep our marriage." She explained smiling at me.

"Then why the show of the escapee and the traumatic experience?" I asked as I handed my belt to her.

"the escape was the best part, the glow of hope they had with Reilly was in them again, the hope to be free, only this time they were looking at me with that hope, and when they were so close but failed, that hope disappears replaced with fear. And that's the last look they'll have." She rattled on, as she turned me around and tied my hands together, I could attack her now and free myself, but there's still Reilly with the gun. My life was close to its end.

"We have to do what we have to do." She whispered in my ear.

"I agree." I heard a familiar voice respond, and the sound of a gun firing. Victoria screamed and I turned to look at a dead Reilly on the floor, Edward pointing a gun at Victoria, and Emmett and Jasper rushing in behind, guns out. Emmett rushed to free my hands, and Victoria sunk to the floor screaming and crying.

I smiled slightly in relief, walking to Edward as Jasper hand cuffed Victoria. "How did you know? I took my earpiece out in the car and forgot to put it back in." I asked.

"After inspecting the flower shop girl, we found one of Victorias hairs on her clothes, the only way it could have gotten there was if she had contact with her. After a quick investigation, it turns out these two never went to the psychologists, we put two plus two together and knew we had to get to you before this happened." He explained. "Are you okay?" He asked concerned, I smiled and nodded.

he put an arm around my shoulder and we walked to his car. "Are you okay Bella?" Jasper asked when we got outside.

"Yeah thanks." I answered. "How bad is Alice." I asked knowingly.

"I can't hear out of my right ear anymore from all the shouting to "hurry up before it's too late! " and "why would she do this to me!?"" he flinched and chuckled, "There goes another one." He explained.

Emmett strode up to us and squeezed the air out of me. "You are so grounded missy." He frowned Crossing his arms. I laughed shaking my head.

"Oh yeah and theres this one too." Jasper added nodding his head at the huge teddy bear.

"Never mind me, wait till Rose sees you. She freaked out thinking it was her fault we couldn't reach you." My eyes widened. Oh crap, Rose was not someone you'd want to get angry.

"See this is what happens when you don't bring me along." Edward added smirking. I rolled my eyes and sighed. There was no way I was going to live this down.

...

I stared at a shocked Victoria across from me. "Where are the other bodies?" Edward asked her standing behind me.

she smiled slightly, staring at the table, "What does it matter? They're dead." She answered. I stared at the crazy nut, what had happened that could have left her like this?

"Who left you Victoria? Who abandoned you?" I asked quietly. Her eyes whipped to me and we had a silent staring contest.

"Everyone left me." She whispered. Tears streaming down her face, Edward and I gathered our things and we left her to her escorts.

We entered our office, me walking behind Edward trying to protect myself. "Isabella Swan come out from behind him!" Rose shouted.

"Is she holding a weapon?" I asked Edward.

"No it's clear, but I don't think she needs one." He chuckled.

Sheepishly, I stepped out from behind him. Alice leaped at me and embraced me in a tight hug. "Don't you ever do that to us again!" She shouted in my ear. I flinched and nodded. When she let go I turned to Rose.

"If you ever go anywhere without your ear piece again, I swear I will kill you! Understood?" She shouted with her arms crossed. I nodded furiously with wide eyes and she hugged me.

"So, now that this is all settled, let's talk christmas. What are your plans Bella?"

I sighed and rolled my eyes, only Alice would. "As fun as last years shebang was, I really would like something quieter. So I talked to Charlie about having a nice dinner in his house in Forks. To get away from the big city and stuff." I shrugged, sitting down at the big table.

"Awwww, but this is only our second Christmas with you, you cant separate us on such a big day." She pouted.

"I think a dinner away from all the noise and where very little people know you sounds nice, like a get away." Edward said taking a seat next to me.

"We'll then why don't we have a small Christmas dinner too?" Rose asked. "It'd be different from the huge agency dinner, this way it's more personal. And people actually spend time with their families." She suggested.

"I like it," I agreed nodding. "And if you really want to, we can have our dinner at our place." I suggested. "It gives me a chance to do some of the cooking, and be the giver for once instead of receiving."

"Woah, woah, hold on a second." Emmett interjected. "Mom always does Christmas dinner and dessert. We can't not eat her food."

"Are you saying you don't think I can cook?" I asked mocked offended.

"No, no, I've had your lasagna remember? But it's simply tradition." He defended.

"We'll this year were having it at my place, so everything is changing a little bit." I pointed out.

"Fine, but can we bring the gravy and dessert?" He asked.

"No, I'm hosting. I get to cook the food." i argued.

"Gravy and 3 desserts." He bargained. "Or I take my business elsewhere." He added.

"No you're not so make a deal with her." Alice shouted at him, he turned to me expectantly.

"One dessert." I countered.

"Four desserts, and the mashed potatoes."

"The mashed potatoes."

"And four desserts."

"Nope."

"Five desserts!" He shouted exasperated.

"The gravy." I answered calmly.

"Three desserts and I'll eat all the vegetables!" He shouted.

"Deal!" I shouted, jumping up and shaking his hand. I pulled out my phone and called Esme, "Esme it's done, he has agreed to eating all his vegetables or he gets no dessert. I have witnesses." I said into the microphone.

"Perfect, I'll start the shopping now." She answered brightly, and hung up. He stared at me confused, "What do you really think, Esme could just sit around and do nothing? This was her idea, I simply offered the place." I shrugged smugly.

"It was a trap!" He shouted, shocked.

"No of course not, it was a deal." I argued.

"But-"

"Let it go Em." Rose said laughing.

"Fine." He huffed.

"Now," I said standing up. "I don't know about you, but I could use a drink." I walked into my office and grabbed my stuff.

"Umm bells, you're only 17." Jasper stated.

"Not to mention the fact that you can't drink." Rose pointed out.

"I may be only 17, but people think I'm an FBI agent so age doesn't affect me, and I never said I was talking about alcohol, I'm getting me some hot chocolate and cookies, it's cold out and snowing." I said pointing out the window. I put my coat on, and wrapped my scarf around my neck.

"Oh well, I could use some cookies after todays events, so I'm in." Edward said standing.

"YOU need the cookies?" I asked incredulous.

"Well yeah, it's exhausting telling you I'm right all the time." He smirked at me. I stuck my tongue out at him and grabbed my cell off the table.

"We'll catch up with you, there's somethings we have to wrap up, before calling it quits." Alice answered grabbing a few files. "Do you need any help?" I asked.

"No we got it, you go and relax." She said waving me off. I shrugged and followed Edward out the door.

We stepped into the elevator, I pressed the button and as the doors started closing, Jacob slid in just in the tight opening. "Hey Bells, nice to see you're okay." He said hugging me. I hugged him back and laughed.

"Who said I'm okay? I could be dying right now because you squeezed my injury from the gun shot I received." I winced to emphasize my point.

"Because bad news travels faster than good, had you been injured we'd all have heard by now." He explained.

"Yeah, well I have an excellent team who has my back." I smiled at Edward. Jacob's eyes momoved to Edward as if he had just noticed Edward was with us.

"Cullen." He acknowledged.

"Black." Edward gave a curt nod. I looked back and forth between the two.

"Woah, take it down a notch guys. Too much love in one room." I fanned myself exaggeratedly. Why couldn't they just play nice?

Jake looked back at me, nobody spoke or moved. The descent was made in silence until Jake got off on the 5th floor. "Why can't you make the first move?" I asked Edward.

"Because I've done nothing wrong, if he wants to amend things, he can step up." He answered.

I rolled my eyes, "And they say women are complicated."

"Well YOU are." He responded. I looked at him and he flashed me his crooked smile. I frowned at him and he laughed. "You are, I never know what you're thinking." He defended. The fact that he couldn't read my mind was a thing in my favor, sometimes I'd catch myself staring at him and admiring his gifts to mankind. I couldn't help it! Sure he annoyed the heck out of me, and I worked with him, but I was after all only human.

"That doesn't mean I'm complicated. You just need to step up your game." I shrugged with a smile tugging at my lips.

"Well how about whenever I take you out, I never know if you like it because you get this look," he tried imitating my face and looked like he was mid sneeze, "that's complicated to read."

"That's because you never ask me out!" I defended, "You just walk into my apartment and tell me to get ready. That face you failed to make, is one of annoyance. Its like the day of my test, I have no say in anything, you just toss me over your shoulder and off we go." I exclaimed.

"Well whenever I ask someone out, its usually the objective. You're not my objective Bella, you're my friend." He defended himself.

I laughed, "I'd hate to see how you treat your girlfriend."

He chuckled, "Alright, I'll try it your way." He said leaning against the wall, "Would like to accompany me tomorrow for dinner?" He asked staring me in the eyes.

I laughed quietly, it must be killing him. "Do I have a choice?"

He smirked, "Isn't that the whole point of me ASKING? So you DO have a choice?" He retorted. I laughed crossing my arms.

"Yes, I would." I answered trying to stop smiling.

"Good cause technically speaking you didn't have a choice." He said smiling at me. I sighed deeply and rolled my eyes at him. Whatever.

...

"That's a big cookie." I commented on the huge chocolate chip cookie Edward set down in front of me.

"And the best," he added.

I took a chunk off and bit it, I closed my eyes and savored it. "Holy..." Was all I could utter.

Edward chuckled and I smiled, without opening my eyes, I reached for my hot chocolate. However, instead of grabbing my cup, I accidently grabbed something softer, and humanier, my eyes shot open and I was holding Edward's hand.

"Well Bella, I must say, you kind of caught me by surprise, but I'm flattered." He said smirking at me. I dropped his hand with a frown.

"As if you'd be so lucky." I mumbled dropping his hand, blood rushing to my face.

"Come on Bella, don't be shy. You don't have to hide your love, we both know how you feel." He winked at me, making me blush even further.

"I thought you couldn't read my mind?" I questioned.

"Actions speak louder than words." He argued playfully.

"So if I punched you...?"

"You'd be declaring your eternal love for me." He interrupted.

"Meaning, that if I kissed you...?"

"You'd be declaring yourself my mortal enemy." He confirmed. "Its okay, I can take the heart break." He sighed, puckering his lips.

"You're an idiot." I laughed.

"Why you gotta treat me like that babe?" He pouted.

"Because I'm the only one that can." I shrugged, taking a drink from my hot chocolate.

"And why I let you do that, I haven't the slightest clue." He frowned his head.

"Its cause you wuuuv me." I taunted.

"I do not, you have cooties." He wrinkled his nose.

"In that case, yoink!" I said snatching his brownie from his plate.

"Hey my brownie." He protested reaching to take it back.

"No, no, no, I touched it and I have cooties meaning you can't eat it." I argued slapping his hand away. He frowned and huffed.

"You my dear, are one of a kind." He chuckled.

"Think about that the next time you critize me." I quirked an eyebrow at him.

"I would never critize you." He looked at me innocently. I rolled my eyes and looked to the counter where all the goodies were displayed. A woman passed through my peripheral vision on her way out the door, I quickly turned around to watch her coat disappear from the view of the window.

"What?" Edward asked concerned.

"Nothing, she just looked familiar." I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts.

"Oh. Perhaps you've seen her passing on the street?" He suggested.

"Yeah maybe." I nodded.

"Hey can I ask you a question?" He said in a serious tone. I quirked an eyebrow and before I could reply he added, "Not including that one."

I sighed disappointed and nodded.

"When you were being tied and were close to a certain death, what went through your mind?" He asked carefully.

I blinked at him taking it in, "Quite honestly i was thinking something among the lines of "How in the heck did these two meet? The Looney bin?" While at the same time trying to think of a way to back kick her into him, and dive behind the couch while somehow untying myself." I explained. He chuckled and shook his head, "So no thoughts of regrets, or possible futures? No last minute good byes you wish you'd done?" He asked.

"Well, no. My dad and you guys were my motivation. I had to find a way to come back to you guys so that I could be able to say everything I want to say, instead of simply wishing. Because if you think about it, if I regretted the things I could have done, isn't that like giving up on them?" I asked him, tracing the top of my mug with my pinky.

"I guess you're right." He answered softly."Of course I am, this is me were talking about." I answered laughing. I looked at him and he was shaking his head. "What's all this questioning last minute decisions and death about? You fight death daily." I asked confused.

"It's two different things fighting death and facing death." He stated, "plus I've never lost a soldier before, I'd hate for my first to be you."

"I'd hate to leave without first figuring you out." I mumbled, taking a sip of my hot chocolate pensively.

"You think you're up to the job?" He questioned.

"I figure I've got a bigger chance." I answered.

He nodded, "Sometimes I wonder why, what makes you so special." He mumbled quietly.

I always pondered the same thing about him, and we both had to ask ourselves the same question, "Do you care?" I looked at him, trying to read his expression. But there was nothing to read.

"I shouldn't." He stated at an almost inaudible volume.

That made two of us. I took another bite of my cookie and he sipped his coffee, there was something missing in our complicated equation, a factor we couldn't figure out. "I'll be right back," I stood and went over to the counter. I bought him another brownie and a box of pastries for myself, for when I wanted some later. I turned around and found someone else in my seat; Tanya. I frowned and wanted to storm over, instead I took a deep breath and set the plate in front him. "Here you go, hello Tanya." I said through gritted teeth.

"Oh hello Bella, I didn't know you were here." She smiled widely at me. Of course she didn't, it's not like she stalked Edward.

"Yes we'll not for long, I'm heading home. It's been a long day." I stated grabbing my coat from behind her and putting it on.

"I'll take you home." Edward offered standing.

"You wouldn't leave me alone, would you Eddie?" Tanya pouted.

"Yeah, don't worry about me, I'll be fine." I said motioning for him to sit back down.

"How will you get home? I brought you here?" He persisted.

"She can grab a cab." Tanya offered.

"See there you go." I agreed putting on my scarf.

"Bye Bella." She smiled.

"Bye." I uttered grabbing my box.

He looked at me desperately, I chuckled softly and shook my head. I hugged him, "You can't enjoy heaven without experiencing hell first." I whispered in his ear. He sighed. I let go and pecked his cheek. "Happy Holidays." I said to both and walked away. My vacation finally started and all I wanted to do was sleep and watch tv. You know livin' life. On my way out, I bumped into jake.

"Hey what are you doin' so lonely? I thought you were with Edward?" He asked.

"I thought so too until I lost him to Tanya." I explained. He chuckled and looked down.

"We'll care to join me for 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas?' I can order pizza." He offered.

"Depends, what kind of pizza?" I questioned. He laughed, "Peperroni, stuffed crust." He answered.

"Sure what the hell, I've got dessert." I answered holding up, my box of goodies.

He held out his elbow to me, "Shall we?"

I looped my arm through his, "We shall." He guided us to his place, and I felt like a normal teen once again, spending time with her friend.

Thats the last happy memory I had.

"Divisions one and two report to the conference hall immediately." Carlisle's voice projected from my voicemail. It was the morning of the first day of my vacation, and I was being called into office. I groaned and rubbed my sleepy face. "We are on top priority, everybody must be present within 15 minutes."

I yawned and stretched my arms above my head, I crawled out of bed and stepped out into the living room. My front door swung open, in stepped a half awake Edward in gray sweats and a black CSIS t-shirt. "I planned on not doing anything for a whole week, and can't even sleep in five minutes." He said handing me a cup of coffee.

"Cheers to ruined lazy plans." I said raising my cup, he clinked his against mine and we both took a sip. "Well one things for sure, my plans of not wearing any pants is still in tact, so let's go." I said looking down at my blue sweats and tank top.

He motioned to the door with his cup and off we went. We got into his car and I grabbed one of his hoodies from the back seat, tossing him the other one.

We walked into the conference room and sat next to Emmett and Jasper. "Any idea what's going on?" Edward asked Jasper.

"Not the slightest clue, but its got to be something bad if they called division one AND two in." He answered. People kept coming in, each asking the same question, why the hell were we not in our beds?! When we started getting restless (and by that I meant started to wake up) Carlisle, Charlie, and Esme walked in.

"We are on high alert, I'm afraid we won't be celebrating Christmas this year, or anything else for a while." Esme started off in a sympathetic tone.

"Listen up everybody!" Charlie commanded loudly, everybody snapped awake, "we have asked all of you to be here, because we need you to collaborate with one another, it is absolutely necessary that you all do at your best, you will need all the help you can get."

Carlisle threw a file on to the table, it slid in front of Edward. He reached out and opened it, "The Donovan Clan." He breathed and the entire room gasped.

Carlisle nodded, "And this time its personal."

A/N Tada. That was a weak tada cause like I said, not easy to work wwith this. Thank you for your patience, let me know what you think, and happy holidays. Hopefully I'll have something ready later this week.