A/N…You guys are awesome with the reviews! Thank you! I'll let you get to it.

~oOo~

Chapter 11

BELLA

Hospitals always brought back memories of my mother. We were in and out of them for almost three years. It was the smell of disinfectants and iodine. There was a constant din of noise – beeping machines, talking nurses, different TVs on different channels, phones ringing, and bored children in waiting rooms. It was the heavy emotional feelings in every room – sadness, worry, heartbreak. Unless it was the maternity ward, there wasn't a lot of happiness in a hospital.

I leaned against the window of the waiting room, gazing out over the late evening. It didn't feel real that I'd only been at the police station a few hours ago. Exhaustion at having been up before the sun gave way to adrenaline when Edward found Dad in Common Ground. Now, everything seemed to be piling up on me.

I wanted to rage, to be strong for Dad, but at the moment, I was simply fighting tears. I swallowed thickly around the lump in my throat.

A cup of coffee appeared in front of me, and I took it, giving a glance over at Alice. She was having hot chocolate, and I smiled that it was covered in whipped cream and chocolate drizzled over the top.

"Don't judge me. I miss coffee," she huffed teasingly, rubbing that growing belly of hers.

"No judging," I muttered, going back to my view out the window. It was better than the view in the room.

There was a small family in the corner, watching TV with glazed eyes as their little girl was in surgery for an appendectomy. Apparently, it had burst at her brother's baseball practice after school. In the other corner was an elderly gentleman, who was waiting for his wife to come out of surgery, something to do with her heart. He looked utterly distraught over her.

The two officers Edward had sent with us were patiently standing by the door. They'd told us that they would be with us as long as they were needed. It seemed they liked Garrett because he was cool and funny, but they respected Edward. They said he was tough, but he always found a way to catch the bad guy. He'd earned that reputation when he was still in uniform, but it had been cemented when he'd been in Narcotics. No one even batted an eye when he asked to transfer to Homicide.

I had a feeling Edward's whole goal had been to make it to Homicide. Something about all those puzzles and mysteries he'd liked as a teen – according to Esme – seemed to prepare him for what he was doing now.

"Miss Swan?" I heard behind me, and I turned to see Dr. Cullen there, wearing a small smile.

"Just…Bella's fine," I told him, taking a seat when he gestured to one away from the others in the waiting room.

"Well, Bella, your father gave us a bit of a scare, because once they got in there to remove the spleen, they found a little more damage. He's stable now and in recovery," he said with the calmest and smoothest voice I'd ever heard a doctor use to explain they'd had the shit scared out of them by a patient.

I let out a quick breath. "So he's… He'll be okay?"

"We're keeping him in ICU for now to monitor him. He's very lucky that you got him here so quickly," Dr. Cullen said.

"That… That was all Edward. He found him first."

Dr. Cullen grinned, and his expression was like Esme's – he loved his nephew, was proud of him.

"Yes, he called me to make sure I met the ambulance…and you," he explained with an amused expression.

"Can we see him?" I asked.

Dr. Cullen smiled sadly. "As soon as we get him settled into his room, you can. Though he probably won't be responsive until the morning. I can call you with any changes."

"Well, we can't leave until Edward gets here," Alice piped up.

"Yeah, he asked us to stay until he got here," I explained softly.

His brow furrowed. "I see. Well, I'm about to take a break. Why don't we go down to the cafeteria for more than just coffee? My treat. We'll wait for Edward there."

I could see that he and Esme were perfectly matched. She was sunshine and laughter, and he was calm and caring. My mind tried to not go to Edward, but it did anyway. Whatever happened to that family – to Edward, specifically – I was glad he had two people who loved him, who obviously understood him, and they seemed to have the perfect personalities to counter his usually gruff demeanor.

I stood up, catching sight of the two police officers Edward had sent with us, but I faced Dr. Cullen. "I… I need… Can one of them stay outside my father's room?" I asked, and really, it was aimed at all of them.

"I got you, Miss Bella," the younger one said, stepping forward. "Eric will go with you guys. I'll stand post outside your dad's room."

"Thank you, Seth," I said softly.

Just in the few hours we'd been trapped in the hospital, Alice and I had talked with the two officers. Seth Clearwater was fresh out of the academy, and Eric Yorkie was up for promotion soon. He and Alice had hit it off because Eric's wife was expecting their second child, and he offered up experience and advice.

Dr. Cullen seemed to be putting some pieces together, but he didn't mention it. "I'll show you where his room is," he told Seth. "I'll be right back."

I sank back down in the chair, and Alice sat next to me, muttering, "Jesus H. Christ, is everyone Edward knows just fucking gorgeous?"

I laughed because I couldn't help it. Dr. Cullen was very handsome, Esme was a beautiful woman, and Emmett was all sorts of adorable.

"You should see his best friend," I whispered back. "She's this—"

"She?" Alice gaped, which made me chuckle a little.

"Yeah, she. Tanya. She's simply stunning."

Alice set her cup down, reaching up to tuck my hair back. "You really like him."

Smirking her way, I shrugged. "I don't know him. I only know what he's allowed me to know. I'm pretty sure life has already kicked the shit out of him, so…" I trailed off, shrugging again. "Despite our bickering? Yeah, I do. I don't know what to do about that either. Not with all of this…"

I circled a finger around but stood up when Dr. Cullen came back in, and behind him were Edward and Garrett. Both detectives looked worn out and a little on edge.

"Hey, how'd it go?" I asked them both.

"Oh, no… No, no, no…" Alice argued. "I need food, and Dr. Cullen here promised me dinner."

Edward grinned, looking to his uncle. "Did you?"

Dr. Cullen chuckled. "I did, indeed. Come on. We'll all go downstairs. I have a feeling everyone needs to share news."

"And you can't dangle food in front of the pregnant woman and not come through," I teased her, nudging her to follow the men.

Garrett laughed, nodding a little. "Katie's the same way."

Edward turned to Eric. "Where's Clearwater?"

"Outside Charlie's room," he answered, pointing my way. "She was smart enough to think of it."

Edward's head spun to face me, and I swallowed nervously. "I just… They could finish what they started, Edward. I didn't—"

"You're right, Bella." He looked to Eric again. "Go join him. I'll get you relieved soon."

Dr. Cullen told him what room, and Eric left us to join his partner. The five of us were pretty quiet as we made our way down the hall to the elevator. Once the elevator doors slid closed, Edward turned to his uncle.

"How's Charlie?"

Dr. Cullen looked to me for permission to share, and I waved him on, saying, "Yeah, you can tell him."

"Charlie made it through surgery," he started and then continued to explain how there had been more damage once they'd started operating, that they'd most likely keep him sedated until morning, and that he'd remain in the ICU for the time being.

Edward turned to Garrett. "That statement will have to wait. Call Banner, see if we can't go on what Charlie said before he passed out. If not, we'll wait until morning. And let him know I need an officer outside that room twenty-four-seven. Clearwater and Yorkie should've been off hours ago."

Garrett, who never seemed to take shit to heart, leaned to me. "He's so bossy," he hissed in my ear.

Alice giggled, and even Edward's uncle cracked a smile.

"He's fine." I waved Garrett away. "He saved my dad, so I don't care about bossy."

Garrett's gaze softened, and he nodded, stepping away when the elevator doors opened to the lobby. He put his phone to his ear, and Dr. Cullen led us all into the cafeteria.

"What'll it be, ladies?" he asked us.

"I'm… I'm not hungry," I muttered, aiming for a table in the corner of the big dining area.

I sat down, sipping the coffee I still had and glancing over at Edward when he slipped into the chair beside mine.

"You should eat something," he whispered, shaking his head. "Not to be bossy…"

Grinning, I met his gaze. "Maybe later. I didn't thank you for… Your uncle is amazing. His personality alone has probably kept me from losing it."

"Even if you did, he wouldn't take it personally," Edward replied, glancing my way with a small, sad smile.

"Experience?" I asked him.

Edward flinched a little, toying with his phone on the table. Just when I thought I'd overstepped with him, he finally nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, probably more times than I could count."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I have a lot of regrets in life, but I appreciate what they've done for me," he said so softly, and those green eyes of his were so dark, clouded by the sadness I caught all the time. "They're good people."

Alice and Dr. Cullen appeared at the table, and Alice set down a small sandwich in front of me. "You need something. I don't care if you only eat half."

I smirked, rolling my eyes up to Edward. "Your bossy level has nothing on Alice's."

Edward laughed. "Good to know."

Dr. Cullen chuckled at us all, and Garrett pulled up another chair, saying, "Okay, Banner wants to wait until morning. If Charlie can't answer or doesn't remember who the second attacker was, then we'll go on your word, Edward. He's sending relief to Yorkie and Clearwater up there, so he'll be guarded all night."

"I think we need to…" Edward trailed off, looking to his uncle. "How much of this do you want to hear? Because I've got to catch Bella up on this case."

"I think we can go with the whole doctor/patient confidentiality here," Dr. Cullen countered with smirk.

"I figured, but still…" He turned back to me, saying, "We found the drugs. We've pulled all the security footage. We've dusted Common Ground from front to back, but I'm hoping that the blood on the wall will give us a DNA hit. Your dad got at least one shot off before he collapsed."

Tears welled up at that last thing. Dad was a fighter, and even though he wasn't a cop anymore, he would've reacted as one. I wanted to hug him and shake the stuffing out of him at the same time.

"Here's the issue, though," Garrett added, holding up a finger. "Your dad saw his attackers, and since he's gonna make it, he is very much a threat. We need him guarded, and we need you two guarded. I'm about a gnat's ass away from tucking you away somewhere no one knows."

My gaze narrowed on him. "You mean, you want us to hide."

"We need to keep you safe, Bella," Edward stated. "There's a good chance that once the information about that heroin gets to James, he'll snap."

"But… But you're asking me to shut down my shop, my apartment…my whole life."

"You won't have a life if James gets his hands on you," Edward countered gruffly. "Their intention was to kill Charlie, Bella. Since he's going to make it, this will get really fucking ugly."

"What about Carmen and Eleazar? Mr. Saunders? Are you emptying Common Ground completely?"

"We could. We could probably get away with declaring it a crime scene and shut it all up," Garrett answered, grimacing a little. "I know it's a pain in the ass, Bella. I do. I get it. We can put you somewhere they don't know. Unless you know of a place you could—"

"No, I don't." I wrinkled my nose at my own rudeness for interrupting him. "Dad still owns the house in Forks, but Jake knows about it. Charlie rents it out." My gaze shot to Alice, and I realized she'd been quiet. "You have an opinion on any of this? They want to hide us away, Ali."

Edward and Garrett sighed softly, but they didn't say anything.

Alice's brow furrowed as she picked up a French fry, dragging it through ketchup. She shook her head, saying, "We're supposed to put everything on hold? I mean, I have doctor appointments, and I still need to find a place to live…a job. I can't stay with Charlie forever, especially when Jasper gets out. I just… I don't know."

Edward rubbed his face in frustration or anger, raking his hands through his hair and gripping it. "We just need time, ladies. Time to put an end to this. James is very smart, and he's supported by his employees. He's protected by his uncle in City Hall. This last attack on Common Ground, on Charlie, could've ended way worse."

"We need time to arrest Jacob Black…at least," Garrett added. "If I can get his idiot ass in an interrogation room, I might be able to get him to talk. We've got all this information, even a pattern that James has been hurting women for the last ten damn years, but nothing concrete enough to arrest that asshole."

I gritted my teeth, shaking my head, but before I could say anything, Dr. Cullen piped up.

"May I suggest something?" he asked softly, and despite that low tone, he commanded the attention of everyone at the table. "Alice and Bella could stay with Esme and me. I could monitor Alice's pregnancy until they're safe to go back to her regular doctor." He shrugged a little. "We don't share the same last name, and we're not in the city. It would be safe."

Edward shook his head slowly back and forth. "And if they figured it out? Or followed you or me?"

Dr. Cullen smiled sadly, tilting his head a little. "It's either my house…or yours."

"No." Edward's voice was terse, though I caught a hint of fear in there. "I told you to sell that shit, Uncle Carlisle. Or fucking burn it. I'll never… No."

Alice and I were essentially watching those two go back and forth like a tennis match. My exhaustion and the sudden realization that Edward still owned the home his parents had bought caused tears to well up. He rented from me even though he owned a house. He was so hurt or damaged or traumatized by something in that house that he wouldn't even set foot in it. He'd rather it burn than to live in it.

"Okay," I finally whispered, swiping at my face. "I'm too fucking tired to argue this shit. I can't let anything happen to Alice or the baby. I need Dad protected." I looked across the table. "Dr. Cullen, are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. And call me Carlisle, please."

Edward huffed, shaking his head, but when he caught sight of my tears, he sagged a little. "Okay, but we'll have to set up some precautions and rules."

I waved that away, muttering, "I'm sure. I'm going to guess Jasper's a target in KCC now, too."

Garrett sighed. "Yeah, probably. We'll work on that too." He sat forward, glancing between Alice and me. "Ladies, if we remove you, then we can focus on stopping all of them."

I nodded, looking to Edward. "I just… I'd like to see Charlie before we do this. And I want… Can I… What about Sid?"

Edward's eyes warmed completely, but he glanced to his uncle. "Okay, so are you and Aunt Esme allergic to cats?"

Carlisle shook his head. "You bring whatever you wish, Bella."

~oOo~

EDWARD

"She's fucking exhausted, Edward," Alice whispered as we both stood outside Charlie's room.

I couldn't keep my eyes off Bella. She was talking softly to her father while holding his hand. Charlie was connected to more equipment than I could even understand. There were constant beeps and hisses and whatever else those machines did.

"I know. We'll get you guys settled soon," I muttered, turning my head when Alice tsked at me.

"No. That's not what I fucking mean," she snapped at me in a low voice, tugging me away from the door. "You don't fucking know. She's never not been there for me – for any of us, Edward. She worries more about others than herself, but it's tearing at her." Tears welled up in Alice's blue eyes, and she shook her head. "The sad part is…we can't live without her, because no one else in our lives loves us like her. She's my best friend, and she treats me more like family than my own blood. She's taken care of everyone she's ever known, and she'll probably never stop, but…"

"I see it, Alice. I've watched it," I admitted when she paused to sniffle a little.

Alice nodded, swiping at her tears. "If you… I'm not talking to Detective Masen. I'm talking to the guy who lives in 3B. If you hurt her, I'll fucking kill you. I see how you look at her. And she wants so badly… She likes you, Edward, but if you're just going to drag her along like Jake… She deserves better."

"I know she does," I said, rubbing my face in frustration and worry, because she wasn't saying anything that I hadn't considered myself.

"Life has exhausted her. We have exhausted her because we need her. And the only person who doesn't take from her is lying in that hospital bed. You seem determined to keep us safe, but she needs someone who will take care of her. And with all of this happening, whether it's Maria's or Jasper's fault… I don't want to see her hurt again."

"I'm not Jake. I'm a lot of things, Alice… I say shit before thinking, but I…" I trailed off, my eyes finding Bella still at her father's bedside. "I don't use people. In fact, I have a really difficult time letting people in, even when they offer help, so… I hear what you're saying."

Alice blinked up at me, studying my face. I didn't know what the hell she was looking for, but she had to have found it, because she nodded a little.

"Good," she muttered as we glared at each other.

"Hey, what's going on?" Bella asked, glancing between us.

"Nothing," Alice and I both muttered.

"You ready?" I asked her.

She nodded, staying quiet all the way out of the hospital and the whole ride back to Common Ground. She said nothing, and honestly, I had to glance over at her to see if she'd fallen asleep.

There were two officers posted outside and a patrol car making rounds. Garrett had already gone home to Kate because I was personally going to drive the girls to my aunt and uncle's home. I'd watch for anyone following.

The next time Bella spoke was to Alice at Charlie's door.

"Pack a bag, Ali. I don't know for how long…" She trailed off, glancing up at me.

"I'm not sure, but if you need anything, I'll make sure you get it," I vowed to them both. "Or I'll come here for it."

Both girls seemed to accept that, and Alice disappeared into Charlie's apartment. I followed Bella up to hers. She left the door open for me, and I clicked it closed behind me. She went about her apartment to get things ready for Sid first – carrier, litterbox and litter, food and bowls.

I took a seat at the table, the same table where she'd taken care of my busted face, and Sid popped up in front of me.

"Hello, Sid," I murmured, running a hand over his head and down his back, only to end with a scratch beneath his chin. I couldn't stop the smile when he leaned in and bumped his head against my face.

However, we both jumped when slamming noises and curses came from the bedroom.

"Bella?" I called softly, getting up from the table.

My heart broke at the sight of her bedroom. Drawers were opened or askew, her bag was open on the bed, but it was the sight of her on the floor with her back against the bed that broke me. She was in tears, but they were angry and harsh.

I bent down and scooped her up to at least get her off the floor. Setting her gently on the bed, I knelt in front of her.

"I'm so…pissed," she barely said aloud. "I want to fucking break something."

I glanced around, finding a plain white coffee cup on her nightstand. It was empty and perfect.

Handing it to her, I said, "Right there." I pointed toward the small section of wall between her closet and her bathroom. "Do it. I'll clean it up while you finish packing. I remember where the broom is."

She sniffled and snorted in a way that shouldn't have been adorable but fuck me, it was. She turned that cup over in her hands, finally meeting my gaze. She quickly pulled it back and released it with a fair amount of heat behind it. Honestly, it was the most satisfying sound of breaking ceramic I'd ever heard.

"That…felt good."

"Yeah, I know."

"Experience?"

I nodded, covering her nervous hands. "Yes."

Her eyes locked on mine. "You promised we'd talk. And all I get is…yes?"

"At one in the morning when I need to get you to a safe place? Yes, Bella. I'm not avoiding anything, and I'm not hiding anything. Did I wreck an entire China cabinet once in anger and grief? Yes. That's how I knew how satisfying that would be."

"Sorry."

"Don't be sorry," I said through a sigh. "I'm about to set you down in my family's home. My past, me, everything is probably going to come flying at you faster than I can tell you shit."

"I'd rather hear it from you."

"You will, but not at this time of night when we need to get you out of this place."

"Are you staying with us?" she asked in a whisper.

"Maybe. Off and on. Nights that Uncle Carlisle works, I'll probably stay. Or I'll have Emmett stay. I won't just drop you off and go, Bella."

"Should I bring my gun?"

My eyebrow shot up. "You… You can fire a weapon?"

"Have you really met Charlie?"

I held my hands up in surrender. "Where is it?"

I shifted back when she went to her nightstand's bottom drawer. She pulled out a case, handing it to me. Inside was a fine weapon – 9mm and an extra magazine. The piece had been fired, but it was also cleaned and ready to go.

"We'll ditch the case," I told her, handing her weapon back. "Take it, keep it safe, and keep it close."

She set it on the bed by her bag, sitting back down in front of me. "Will you tell me one thing?"

I nodded, searching her eyes that wouldn't quite meet mine.

"Is… Am I alone in this…this thing between us? Because sometimes…" She trailed off when I covered her hands again.

I shook my head. "No." She started to get up again, and I held on to her hands to keep her there. "Are you breaking up with me again?"

She huffed a laugh, and it built into full-on giggles, and I loved that sound.

When the laughter softened, I said, "I'm trying to fight it, but I'm failing. The more I see you, talk to you, the more I realize just how amazing you are, but on that same line of thinking, I know I can't bullshit you. You have the right to know what you're getting involved with – if that's what we choose. I'm not… I'm an asshole, and I keep people back, Bella. But you deserve honesty."

"Just tell me this… What happened to you as a boy and your parents, that's what made you this way?"

Swallowing nervously, I nodded. "Yes."

She reached up to cup my face in both hands. "Did they hurt you?"

"Not in the way you're thinking. But…"

"It still hurts," she finished for me, nodding when I did. "Okay. I'm here when you're ready."

"Okay," I whispered, and she was too honest, too close, and too beautiful, even with red-rimmed eyes from tears and exhaustion. "Bella… I want… We should…"

"Yeah," she breathed softly.

I was just done. So fucking done. I leaned in, tentatively pressing my lips to hers.

A kiss shouldn't mean so much, but it did. It seemed to change everything in the room. The atmosphere went from frustration and anger and stress, to heat and lust and taste. Every argument we'd ever had built up, transforming into something else completely when my lips met hers.

Her fingers slipped into my hair at the same time I reached up to cup the back of her neck in order to turn her head. I shifted up a little, and her mouth opened to mine. The taste of her made me want more, made me groan in need as I sucked on her bottom lip a little before pulling back.

Bella kept my face in her hands as she pressed her forehead to mine. We both seemed to need a second to catch our breath. Sid suddenly squirmed his way between us with a hum. Bella chuckled, opening her eyes to mine. I sighed, smiling a bit at the whole thing and standing up in front of her.

I pressed a kiss to the middle of her forehead. "Pack, Bella. I'll clean up," I whispered against her skin.

She stood up, and I went to the kitchen where the broom and dustpan were, thinking this was now dangerously fucking personal. I needed to stop James, but I'd kill someone over the girl now tucking her cat into his carrier. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. And at the moment, I wasn't sure I cared.

~oOo~

A/N… I updated early because I had the time tonight instead of in the morning. It was just easier on me.

Lots of you were worried about Charlie. He made it through surgery. There will be more on him in upcoming chapters. And our poor detective is fighting a losing battle. ;)

Okay, both When Angels Fall and Common Ground will update on their usual days next week. So until then… Mooches, Deb ;)