Edward

Esme came running in freaking out. When we were finally able to settle her down and figure out what was the matter, I freaked as well.

"Elizabeth is missing! I looked everywhere!" she shouted at me. I knew where she'd gone.

She'd gone to her mother's house. She was there with that crazy person on the loose.

Fuck!

"She's at Bella's."

Demetri grabbed his riffle and my father didn't stop him. We were discussing ways to extract Bella while leaving the mental patient alive, but now that Elizabeth was at risk as well, it was no longer an option.

Nobody messed with my baby.

We took positions outside of the house. I didn't know what to make of the scene.

A man with a bandaged head was playing checkers with Elizabeth. They both seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Bella walked in and handed the man a pill. It looked like he was about to protest but I could see the pleading in her eyes.

He looked at Elizabeth and said something with a smile as he popped the pill in his mouth.

Bella handed him a glass of water and smiled as he drank it down.

I notice her calm slip as he closed his eyes. Her worried eyes darted to Elizabeth and then she plastered on another smile.

That was enough for me. "Did you see that?" I asked Demetri and my father.

They both nodded yes, they had seen it.

Demetri lifted his rifle, making a red laser dot appear on the man's chest.

I saw Bella notice it and she quickly stepped in front of it.

What the hell was she doing?

I saw her turn and speak to Elizabeth.

My daughter got up and quickly headed in the direction of her bedroom and my heart raced.

Bella grabbed a hold of the man and kept herself in front of him.

"What the hell is she doing?" I whispered.

Demetri was up and moving around the house.

It looked like Bella was actually protecting the guy!

Bella

When I saw the little red dot I panicked.

I knew what it was. I wouldn't let them hurt Jamie again.

He needed help, not more pain.

I sent Elizabeth to her room for a nap and took Jamie to lie down. I was careful to stay in front of all the windows.

I even went so far as to hang my robe over the bedroom window. I just told Jamie that I slept better when it was darker.

He didn't care as long as I lay down with him. I held him in my arms and prayed that whoever was outside of the house stayed there.

I hoped that Elizabeth would go out there and tell them that he was my friend and I was trying to help him.

It was insane to put all the weight on my daughter to relay the message. I prayed she would get to safety.

Jamie would be out soon and Elizabeth just had to go to Edward and tell him what is going on.

I prayed that it was Edward outside my house and not my father. I knew my father would not stop and I wondered if Edward would as well.

I hoped that they saw me purposely block the shot.

I needed to make them understand that Jamie did not deserve to die. He just needed help.

Edward

It had been about twenty minutes since we first spotted them in the house.

I didn't know what the hell Bella was doing but she was making it hard for us to save her.

We heard the creak of a window and I wondered if it was Bella coming out with our daughter.

I was surprised when only Elizabeth emerged.

"What are you doing out here, Daddy?"

"I was looking for you. Why don't you head home and I'll get your mom."

Her eyes widened. "No, you can't, she's busy."

"What?"

"Her friend is sick, he needs her help so she's taking care of him. She said when she's done helping him she would come home."

My Bella was feeding her a story so she wouldn't worry.

I completely understood now. She didn't want me to kill the man in front of our daughter.

It would be traumatizing for Elizabeth to go through something like that and Bella was always one to try and protect her children.

"Okay, honey, why don't you go home with grandpa and I'll talk to your mommy about the next visit."

"NO! She's not visiting, she said she'll be coming home but she needed to help her friend first."

I nodded my head trying to comfort her, letting her know that I heard what she was saying.

I needed her out of the way so I could save my Love.

Thankfully, my father had overheard the conversation and took Elizabeth's hand and started leading her back to my house.

Once I saw they were safely through the trees I let Demetri know it was just Bella inside.

Bella

I held Jamie in my arms. I knew he could sense that there was something wrong because he seemed more agitated than usual when we lay down. I rubbed soothing circles on his back and he did finally drift off to sleep.

I glanced over at the nightstand that housed the gun.

I knew if I moved it, Jamie would be upset with me.

I also knew if someone attacked, that was what he would go for first.

The problem was, I didn't know if someone was coming or not.

I heard the creak of the front door.

I hoped it was just Elizabeth leaving but the heavy footsteps that followed let me know I was wrong.

I looked down at Jamie, trying to figure out how to protect him.

Whomever the idiot was sneaking into the house was not sneaking very well.

Jamie started to wake; I knew he heard the dumbass as well.

"Bella?" he woke.

Shit.

"Hey, Jamie, nap time isn't over yet, are you feeling okay?" I asked calmly.

"I thought I heard something, Bella. Did you hear something?"

I heard the floor in the hallway creak and Jamie was at the nightstand grabbing his gun.

Shit shit shit! I tried to think fast.

"It's probably just Elizabeth, honey; I should go check on her."

I made to move off the bed but he grabbed my arm.

"No, Bella, I'll keep you safe," he said sternly cocking his gun.

"Jamie," I whispered strongly and stepped in front of him. "You need to put that gun away now; you're going to scare Elizabeth if you go out there with that."

He looked back at me torn, not sure what to do.

"I want you to be safe, Bella. What if someone is here to hurt you? I don't want anyone to hurt you, Bella," he pleaded.

"What if I take the gun? Can you uncock it?" I asked hoping he would give it to me.

He seemed unsure and did something to it. "This is the safety, my Bella; you'll have to turn it off before you can use it." He sounded worried.

"Jamie, it's just Elizabeth, there's nothing to worry about."

Just as he handed me the gun, the door creaked open a crack.

I knew who it was immediately. I saw a flash of bronze hair and thanked God it was him because any other color and I wouldn't have been able to lie.

"See, it's just Elizabeth. Now go lay down and I'll take care of her and then come back."

He nodded his head okay and climbed back on the bed.

I slipped into the hallway and when I shut the door I was immediately wrapped in Edward's arms

. I felt his tears on my neck. He must have been really worried. I wished he would have stayed away. I didn't know if I had it in me to push him away again.

His perfect scent enveloped me and I wanted to just stay there for a while.

I felt him lift me off the floor and start walking down the hall.

"Step softly," I whispered. He nodded in understanding.

When we reached the front door, I asked him to put me down. He did but kept his arms around me as he reached for the door knob.

"Edward, I have to stay."

His eyes snapped to my face. "No, I won't allow it. You're not safe here with that man."

"Jamie won't hurt me," I lied.

"Bella, I know he hurt you already. You didn't hang up your phone; I had to listen to..." He sucked in a breath. "I will not let him hurt you again."

"Edward, I can handle him. He's my friend, we grew up together and he needs my help."

"No, Bella, they have professionals for that."

"I know but I can't get him to one unless he's medicated now can I? Just give me time, Edward. One more week and then I'll be able to reason with him."

"It's not safe, Bella, I heard what you were discussing. I know he has a gun."

I pulled the gun out from where it was tucked in the back of my jeans. "Here, take it and then he won't have one."

"Bella, please, I'll make sure he gets the best care."

"I'm sure you will and I appreciate your help but he isn't ready for that yet, Edward. He needs to want help and wherever he decides to go needs to be close to me."

Edward looked at me confused.

"He needs to stay as close to me as possible, Edward, or he won't stay and get help. I need to be able to visit with him."

"Who is this guy?"

"He's my friend and I'm not leaving him."

"Bella?" I heard Jamie's voice from behind me. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, Jamie, Edward was just leaving. I was letting him know that I wanted him to stay away so I could have time alone with you."

Edward's eyes were darting back and forth between Jamie and me, and then a sudden realization dawned on him. I could see when it hit him and jumped between him and Jamie.

"That's the bastard that shot me! Bella, what the fuck is going on?" he shouted.

My back was up against Jamie hoping that I was making him feel safe enough so he wouldn't lash out. He gripped me tightly.

"Edward, you need to leave now," I said as calmly as possible. I needed to keep Jamie calm.

"No, there's no way in hell I'm leaving you with this psycho!" he retorted.

"Edward," I said firmly, "You're going to create more problems if you don't leave NOW!" I said calmly and stroked Jamie's arm that was holding me to soothe him.

I heard the floor creak behind us and saw a man out of the corner of my eye.

I quickly shoved Jamie back against the wall and stood in front of him.

I heard him start crying and he hugged me tighter, burying his face in my neck.

"I'm scared, Bella," he whispered.

"I know, Jamie, but I won't let them hurt you, I promise." I reached up and cradled his head into my neck with my hand. "Edward, you and your buddy need to leave now and please don't come back unless I request it."

"Would he even let you request it?" Edward snapped.

I rolled my eyes. "Edward, please, just get out." Jamie was openly sobbing into my neck and I was trying to soothe him.

"It's my house and I want you out!" I said calmly but firmly. The other man seemed to be looking to Edward for orders.

"You need to call me, Bella, and explain everything to me. I mean it," he said and started backing toward the door.

I nodded yes agreeing and I withheld my gasp as the man followed after him.

As he left I saw the riffle strapped to his back. They were planning on killing Jamie.

As soon as the front door shut behind them, Jamie collapsed on me bawling. We sank to the ground and I rocked him as he cried.

With this much trauma, I knew he would have nightmares tonight.

Damn it, Edward!