Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here is chapter twenty-three of 'Into the Shadows.' This chapter features some Edward/Bella. I plan to jump ahead several days or several weeks in the next few chapters. Stay tuned for chapter twenty-four.
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Chapter 23: Visit Ends/First Nightmare
Charlie, Edward, Bella, and Karen waited for Bruce to come out of the bathroom twenty minutes later. Edward stood close to Bella. Charlie and Karen were in front of the second bed. They hoped Bernard and Walter's questioning the Stanleys and the Webers was going well. Flushing caught their attention, followed by Bruce opening the door. He approached the group as he adjusted his waistband and his shirt. Karen shook her head in disbelief.
"Why do you have to take so long in the bathroom, Bruce?" Karen wondered.
"I can't help it when I realize I need to be in there longer than I expected," Bruce replied.
"That's what you always say," Karen grumbled with a roll of her eyes.
"Hey, you take a lot longer doing your makeup and hair in our bathroom," Bruce retorted.
"What's wrong with wanting to look very nice?" Karen asked.
Bruce scoffed. "There's nothing wrong with that. Still, you should not need to take so long."
"Okay. I'll try not to take so long doing my makeup and hair as long as you try not to take so long using the bathroom," Karen said.
"I'll try, but there are no guarantees. Is that clear?" Bruce asked while raising an eyebrow.
Karen nodded. "Sure."
The couple shook hands. Karen went into the bathroom as she clicked her tongue. Charlie, Edward, Bella, and Bruce heard her start singing Bryan Adams's Here I Am off-key.
"Does she always sing when she goes to the bathroom?" Bella wondered.
"Yes, she does," Bruce answered and rolled his eyes. "Sometimes, I have to go into our basement because she sings so loud."
"At least she's not singing loud enough for everyone on this floor to hear," Charlie said in relief. "She does not deny she has a bad singing voice either."
"Lauren is the worst singer I've ever heard. She sounds like nails and a rake being dragged down a chalkboard at the same time," Bella mumbled and pointed her finger into her mouth. She made a gagging sound as if she were going to vomit. "It's nuts."
"Yep," Bruce agreed. "However, she is in deep denial over it."
"When I was at the market buying a loaf of bread two days ago, I overheard her telling her mother she was considering trying out for American Idol," Bella said.
"No way," Edward said, his jaw dropping to the floor.
"I am not kidding, Edward," Bella said truthfully.
"Someone needs to knock some sense into that girl," Bruce said fiercely and formed a fist to press it to his cheek.
"Unfortunately, I don't think it'd do any good," Bella said regretfully.
"It was a nice thought," Bruce commented.
Just then, the other door opened with a slight squeak. Walter, Bernard, Ian, Melissa, Jessica, Robert, Kayla, and Angela walked in. They stopped before the front of the bed.
"How did the questioning go, detectives?" Bella asked.
"It went well. I find it interesting Mike and Jessica's relationship didn't have any problems in it other than they were unsure if they wanted it to continue at a few points. There is usually something in a rapist's past relationships that lends a clue to his crime," Walter answered.
Bella cupped her chin in her hand in thought. "Hmm."
"The detectives told us about Mike's parents dealing with him sneaking out of their house a number of times and wondering if he raped girls on some of his outings. It shocked us," Jessica said, tensing somewhat.
Angela became very angry. "That bastard needs to be found before he hurts another girl."
Everyone voiced his or her agreement. Karen's singing ceased completely. Flushing sounded, followed by her opening the door. She went to Bruce's side and folded her hands in front of her. He narrowed his eyes at her.
"I wish you'd stop singing so much," Bruce growled irritatingly.
"Hey, I can't help it if I like to sing. It relieves stress," Karen retorted with a furrowed brow.
"It's ironic to hear that when you cause me stress with it," Bruce commented.
She threw up her hands. "Okay. I won't do it as much."
He sighed in relief. "Thank you. Just don't forget to not take so long doing your hair and makeup."
Karen mumbled inaudible words while looking away. Angela walked over to Bella and seated herself beside her. She moved her hand over hers in a gentle manner.
"So, when are you going to go back to work for the Newtons?" Angela asked.
"I don't know," Bella admitted nervously and looked down. "I dread people talking about me once they learn I was Mike's victim."
"If I overhear anyone talk bad about you, I'll give them a tongue lashing they'll never forget," Angela declared. "If someone insults my friends, they insult me."
Jessica formed a prideful look on her face. "Me too."
"Thanks," Bella said, letting out a small sniffle. She received a pat on the hand from Angela and Bruce and Karen went to her side. "Thank you so much."
"Take as much time off as you need, Bella," Bruce said comfortingly.
"Bruce and I will be ready for when you return," Karen said sweetly.
"Okay," Bella responded. "Tell everyone I said hi on Monday."
Bruce winked at her. "We will."
Bella held out her hand. Bruce took it into his and gave it a gentle squeeze. He patted the back of it with his other one lightly. She yawned and smacked her lips. He released his hold on her as Angela rose to her feet.
"I guess you're ready for bed, aren't you?" Bruce wondered.
"Yes, I am," Bella answered and rubbed her eyes.
"I am feeling tired myself," Charlie said with a yawn. "It's been a crazy night."
"You said it, Charlie," Kayla agreed.
"We'll see you later, Bella. Good night," Ian said in a quiet manner.
"Good night," Bella replied.
Charlie went over to kiss his daughter on top of her head. He, the Stanleys, the Webers, the Newtons, and the detectives headed for the door. He stopped in his tracks as the rest of the group went out. He looked over his shoulder at Edward.
"Are you coming, Edward?" Charlie wondered.
"I'm going to stay with Bella," Edward said and glanced down at his girlfriend.
Bella showed surprised as she looked up at her boyfriend. "Really, Edward?"
"Yeah. I think my presence will make you feel a little more comfortable," Edward replied.
"I'd like that," Bella whispered and choked back a sob.
Charlie nodded. "All right. I'll tell the receptionist what you are doing."
Edward gave a thumbs-up to the police chief. He and Bella watched him leave. He approached her and sat beside her on the bed. She felt tears coming to her eyes. She wiped them away, though a stray one fell down her cheek.
"You don't know how much I appreciate you staying with me, Edward," Bella whispered, her body trembling.
"I can see that. I will tell you this right now. No matter what happens, I will never leave you," Edward said lovingly. She leaned forward to hug him. He responded by wrapping his arms around her carefully. He kissed her temple while rocking her back and forth. "I'll be there whenever you need me."
She sniffled. "I love you so much, Edward."
He inhaled her sweet scent. "I love you too, Bella."
Edward released Bella hold on her and pushed her back gently. He watched her close her eyes. He turned off the light and got out his cellphone. He searched through his contacts until he found his home phone number that happened to be 999-0098. He listened to two rings before a click came. He proceeded to tell Carlisle about his plans.
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Edward looked out the window at the moon through the blinds in early morning. He saw a great-horned owl come into view. He listened to its hoots as it headed for a tree located in the middle of the parking lot. It landed on a branch near its top. Another one joined it. They turned their heads completely around.
He sighed heavily as he closed the blinds. He wished his girlfriend didn't have to be in the hospital on such a beautiful night. He once read more crimes occurred during the full moon than they did during any other phase, but he didn't believe it was responsible for what Mike did to her at all. He closed the curtains with a soft sigh.
He tensed when heard a moan. He peered over his shoulder to see her writhing on the bed in throes of a nightmare. Her legs thrashed about, kicking the sheet aside and pushing the hem of her gown up around her thighs. Her hands went above her head. He rushed to her and sat beside her on the bed. He started shaking her gently. Her head tossed from left to right. She let out another moan.
"Bella, wake up. It's only a nightmare," he said softly.
"Stop it, Mike! Stop!" she cried, her hands gripping the pillowcase very tightly.
Edward shook her harder. "Bella, wake up. It's me, Edward."
Bella whimpered very loudly. "Mike, please. Don't do this."
Edward pulled Bella into a sitting position and turned her head toward him. He slapped her cheek three times. Her eyes snapped open, but they had a blank expression on them. He knew her nightmare was fooling her into thinking it was reality. She felt its memories come flooding back. She shook her head rapidly and stared him in the eye. She burst into tears and threw her arms around him. He hugged her, shushing softly.
"It's all right. I'm here," Edward whispered soothingly.
"Oh, god. It felt so real, Edward," Bella responded, closing her eyes.
"I know," Edward said and pushed her back to look at her.
"I'm sorry," Bella apologized guiltily as she opened her eyes. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't be," Edward said sympathetically. "I can't blame you for having a nightmare after what happened."
Edward hugged Bella once more. He whispered inaudible yet soothing words to her. He felt her relax in his arms. Just then, the door opened. The couple looked toward it to see a nurse peeking in.
"Is everything okay? I heard shouting," the nurse said in concern.
"Everything's okay, ma'am. It was just a nightmare," Edward replied calmly.
"All right. I was just checking," the nurse commented. "Make sure she gets plenty of sleep."
"I will. Thank you," Edward answered. "Thank you."
The nurse winked at him and closed the door. He and Bella listened to her departing footfalls before looking at each other.
"I think that nurse likes you," Bella said, leaning back.
"Don't worry. I'd turn her down flat if she asked me out on a date," Edward assured.
"Thank God," Bella whispered in a relieved voice. "I can't stand women who look at you like they deserve you more than I do."
Edward smiled and leaned forward to kiss Bella on her forehead. He pulled back and took her hand into his. He rubbed the back of it with his thumb so lightly that it seemed he wasn't even touching it.
"Did you ever have nightmares when you were human?" she asked with much curiosity.
"I had them a lot when I was a kid," he admitted. "Mom told me they could not hurt me because they were pictures in my head."
"Mom said the same thing to me. She once told me she had a nightmare of doing exercise naked in the middle of a gym," Bella commented.
"That sounds really crazy," Edward said while pushing her hair away from her eyes.
"It sure does," Bella said, giving a shrug. "I had a nightmare of going to school in my pajamas once."
"In an episode of Sister Sister, Tia and Tamera had a shared nightmare where they were asked by their principal why they kept going to school in their pajamas after they failed their SATs. It is amazing how much life imitates art," Edward pointed out.
"I know," Bella agreed. "Some people fall into periods where they sleepwalk."
"I heard sleepwalking is caused by not getting enough. Mental illness can play a factor into it as well," Edward said truthfully.
"There have been weird things done during periods of sleepwalking," Bella commented with raised eyebrows.
"Believe me," Edward said and cleared his throat. "You do not want to know what they are."
She let out a long yawn and rubbed her eyes. He cupped her chin in his hand, tilting his head a bit.
"You think you'll be able to sleep now?" Edward asked.
"Mm-hmm. There's one thing I want," Bella answered.
"Which is?" Edward wondered and furrowed his brow.
She pressed her lips together. "Would you lay beside me?"
He gave her a loving look. "Of course."
Bella scooted over enough to allow Edward to lay on his back. She snuggled up to him and laid her head on his chest. She laid her arm across it and sighed in much content at feeling his arms go around her. She closed her eyes, falling asleep quickly. He rubbed her arm so lightly that it seemed he was not even touching her.
He listened to her soft breathing. He hoped she wouldn't have another nightmare, but he was prepared to help her if she did. He knew he needed to act as if he were sleeping, so the doctors and nurses who looked into the room wouldn't become suspicious. He closed his eyes and pretended to fall into a deep sleep.
