A/N: This is me new story, not as funny or light-hearted as Belonging and it deals with some really tough themes. Not for those with a weak constitution.

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BPOV

They are walking away now, laughing drunkenly.

I hurt. All over.

They all hurt me. They took turns in hurting me, laughing as they did so.

Why am I on the floor? Why is there blood?

I feel so weak. My face is pressed to the cold, damp pavement. I shiver. I almost give in to my exhaustion and pain when footsteps break into my awareness. They pass the end of the little alley I am lying in. They don't see me lying here, stripped of my dignity and self-esteem.

A car engine interrupts me again. Headlights flash. I watch as the car stops. This car is familiar, but I don't have the energy to search my far-distant memory. The driver's-side door opens and a dark figure steps out. I dimly recognize the graceful male walk, quickening impossibly to reach me. He speaks. 'Bella, oh my God, hang on, I'll get you to Carlisle.' It sounds distant, like he's down a tunnel. I slip into unconsciousness.

EPOV

She's lost so much blood.

She's broken. My girl, so clumsy and unlucky, would just happen to come across the scum of the earth in Port Angeles.

Why didn't I follow her like I thought I should? She would be safe now, with me.

She would be whole. Still happy and secure. I carry her to my car, unable to definitely say where her injuries are. I put her in the passenger seat, strap her listless body in and drive as fast as possible to Forks Hospital, worrying every second that because of my incompetence, my reason for living might die. I pick her up as soon as I've parallel- parked somewhere illegal and I fly out of the car to find Carlisle. I smell him out, aware of the urgency. I grow more panicked as the path to my father leads further and further around the hospital. Then I find him. His panicked thoughts precede me as he smells me and Bella's blood. I realise that I haven't breathed since I found her. I'm glad. Carlisle reaches me and asks 'What happened?' His face turns horrified. 'Edward, you didn't...' I realise what he is implying and shake my head. He apologises mentally, and gets her to a free room to assess the damage. She regains consciousness as his pale fingers probe lightly over her body. He touches the left side of her ribcage and a piercing scream breaks the tense silence. Her eyes wheel around the room as she breathes heavily with distress. The lovely brown eyes lock on to mine and I see straight to their depths, so full of pain. I step across the room to take her hand and Carlisle's voice cuts across me. 'Edward, we don't know the mental damage. That may not be wise.' I see what he is implying at the same time Bella looks at him to see who spoke. She whimpers in terror at the male figure. Carlisle steps back, aghast. He reaches into his bag for morphine and inserts the syringe into the vein at her elbow. She falls limp and he continues his assessment, the horror in his thoughts escalating into anger and disbelief. He tells me verbally the extent of her injuries. The horror in his golden eyes is still very much in evidence. ' Five broken ribs, minor cranial fracture, broken leg, dislocated shoulder and God knows how much psychological damage. And internal bleeding.' I hiss and clench my fists. I was going to find the scumbags responsible and make them suffer horrifically. Hell, I was even going to invite Rosalie. Carlisle interrupted me again. 'I'm so sorry, Edward. I'm going to call Charlie.'

I sat down on the nearest chair in Bella's room and waited for Carlisle.

He came back, picked her up and left the room, with firm orders for me to wait here while her treated Bella. I picked up my cellphone and dialled Rosalie's number with grim determination.