Upon entering the hospital room, the three teenagers gasped at the sight before them. Maddie, beaten and bruised, was lay on the bed with the thin sheet covering her body. From what they could see, she was covered in cuts, bruises, gashes, dries and fresh blood - and that was only her neck, face, arms, and shoulders!! Her hair was a mess as the mixture of blood covered it!! "Maddie?" Carlisle spoke softly as he stood next to the teenager's bed; the girl heard the man's voice as she hummed out before slowly opening her eyes - her blood shot eyes. She looked over at the doctor before her eyes caught sight of her school friends; it was a surprise to see the young beaten girl attempt to smile as she greeted the four. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice extremely strained and weak; Renesmee walked over and gently embraced her friend who attempted to return it - it still earned a hiss of pain to come from the injured teenager. Renesmee immediately pulled away as she apologised, only for Maddie to give another tired smile "don't worry" she attempted to reassure "it's fine" that was debatably; Jasper stepped in "it's not fine Maddie" he frowned. This earned a sigh from the girl as she knew he was right "I know Jasper" she admitted "it's just....easier to say". Carlisle explained how he needed to check his patients injuries and wounds "do you want them to wait outside whilst I do?" he asked; the fifteen year old shook her head "they'll find out eventually....might as well be now" was all she said before turning to her friends "but feel free to leave if you want...I know it looks rather grim". Neither of the four made a move for the door, the youngest moved out of the way and stood by her aunt and uncles. Carefully, the doctor helped Maddie to sit up which, by the sounds that she was coming out with, was extremely painful; the girl was already exhausted just by sitting up and hanging her legs over the edge of her bed. Quickly, Alice rushed to her young friend's side and held her hand "quick as hard as you need" was all she said; Maddie normally wouldn't have taken such an offer but dear god, the pain was getting worse!!

Lifting her gown up so that her back could be seen but it still covered her front, Carlisle pinned it up - the teenager had a pair of shorts on underneath. Once the gown was secured, he removed the bandage blanket which earned even more groans of pain. That was when they saw them - her cut up back was terrible!! It was bloody and torn up, bruising already covering where the skin wasn't ripped up. All wide eyes stared at wounds as Jasper instantly recognised them "are those...from a whip?!" he asked in horror as he covered his nose after his girlfriend and niece gasped out; Carlisle sighed as he nodded whilst he examined them "Maddie says that they're from...from a belt that her attacker had". The fifteen-year-old herself remained silent upon the matter. "They're okay but it seems one of the cuts is in the early stages of an infection" the doctor stated, earning an irritated groan as Maddie knew what was to come next "I'm going to have to clean it, alright Maddie?" she took a deep breath and lowered her head "just...please get it over with" she pleaded, her voice breaking at the end of her request. Gently, Alice and her 'father' helped the young teenager to lie back down but this time, on her front which didn't help her badly kicked stomach and broken ribs; Carlisle put on some thin rubber gloves before grabbing the things he needed - it was quite like the day before when he had cleaned her split lip. "I'm serious though, you guys can leave if you want" Maddie stated to her friends who were still watching; Emmitt shook his head "we'll be fine Maddie" he reassured "we want to stay with you". It earned a sigh, but Maddie said nothing more on the matter. Once again, Alice took her friends hand after the teenager had stuffed her mouth with some of her blanket to bite down on. "Ready?" the doctor asked, earning an extremely hesitant nod which really didn't help with her throbbing head. The pain began and for the first time in a long time, Maddie wished for death to just consume her without delay. She was surprised she hadn't broken Alice's hand with how hard her grip was; it was also a good call to put some of her blanket into her mouth as she screamed into it.

Emmitt embraced his niece who buried her face into his chest; he covered her ears with his arm. Jasper remained focused on the injured girl, staring at her back as he used his own special power to ease as much pain as he could. It took a long and painful ten minutes for Carlisle to squeeze and clean all of the puss out from the wound "I just have to finish cleaning it and then wrap your back" he informed "then we're done, I promise" he attempted to reassure; Alice ran her fingers through her young friend's hair as she tried to comfort her "you're doing so well Maddie" she whispered. As soon as Carlisle said "all done" after finishing the job, Maddie let out a breath that she didn't realise she was holding in. "Can....can one of you take a picture of my back please?" she asked, sounding out of breath "I want to see it" she added; Jasper pulled out his phone to do as asked and showed the fifteen-year-old her terrible injuries. "Christ" she mumbled out "they're going to scar" she sighed; Carlisle and Alice helped lie the patient back down onto her back "get some rest Maddie, I'll come check on you later" the doctor reassured. Nodding, Maddie looked over towards her school friends "I guess I'll see you guys later" she smiled weakly "say hi to the others for me" Renesmee and Alice carefully embraced their friend while Emmitt took her hand in his own, giving it a gentle. He told her to focus on getting better and they would visit again soon. Jasper, on the other hand, sent the teenager a small smile as he kept his distance; he didn't trust himself to go any closer to her. And with that, the doctor led his family out of the room and towards the exit of the ward "who could do something like that?!" Alice asked, her voice full of emotion "and to a kid?!" Carlisle wrapped an arm around his 'daughter's' shoulder "I don't know, but the police will find out who and lock the scumbag up" he reassured "also, my shift ends at eight tonight so I'm just gonna stay here with Maddie, keep an eye on her" he explained; the four nodded before saying goodbye to the man who returned to his work.

The four family members left the hospital and returned to the Jeep where they hopped in; Emmitt drove as they all remained silent. Alice finally turned to her niece and asked if she was alright "I'm fine" Renesmee reassured with a shrugged "I just....I hope Maddie is too" she sighed out they all did. As soon as they arrived home, they entered the house where Esme, Rosalie and the young girl's parents greeted them, only to receive complete and utter silence as their reply "guys?" Esme spoke with concern laced within their voice; Renesmee approached her parents and didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around them - it earned an immediate return as they all felt their worry levels increase. "It was horrible!!" the young girl cried out as she pressed her face into her father's chest. As they each took a seat within the living room, the need-to-know questions began "how was Maddie?" Esme asked as her motherly side began to really show more than usual, quickly followed by Bella who was wondering about their favourite doctor "and where's Carlisle?" she asked: Alice, with very much hesitation, began her explanation of everything that they had been told and seen at the hospital when they were with their injured friend - from what she said to how she looked to what Carlisle had to do. Jasper even showed them the photo he had taken of the teenager's back. "Oh my god!!" Rosalie covered her mouth in horror "poor Maddie" her boyfriend pulled her into a tight embrace before he explained that Carlisle had a late shift but would also be staying at the hospital most of the night to stay with and keep an eye on Maddie. Nodding in understanding, Esme told the three vampires to go change and hunt before she left for the kitchen in order to prepare her granddaughter some dinner; neither of them had to be told twice and were running out the door within seconds. As Renesmee began to eat her food, her grandmother sat with her "are you okay sweetie?" she asked "it had to be hard seeing your friend like that" she sympathised with the girl; Renesmee agreed with a nod "it was...Maddie was in so much pain" she stated "Jasper used his power to calm her and take some of the pain away....but if he didn't or wasn't there....god knows how much pain she would have been in".

Depressing and silent hours passed by before Renesmee told everyone good night, followed by many hugs; Edward and Bella - like every night - joined their daughter and stayed with her for the night. That was the only normal and usual thing to happen as the two teenage boys stayed away from the Xbox, as well as Rosalie and Alice who didn't organise outfits for everyone. Instead, Emmitt entered the gym and took all his sadness for Maddie and anger for whoever beat her out on a multiple of punching bags...and the walls. Jasper sat on the sofa sketching in his drawing pad whilst Alice cuddled up to him. And Rosalie found her place within their own little library where she had collected all the books and looked up things on the internet that might help them understand how she, as well as her family, could help a beaten child and/or teenager. And Esme remained in the kitchen where she looked up different baking recipes and made them - cookies, cupcakes, a cheesecake, pastries and more. And they were all for Maddie for when she's released from hospital; she also planned to take some for her tomorrow as she was determined to visit the young girl. The woman also found a get well soon card stashed away in her card box and wrote in it. She even had everyone else sign it, though she decided to wait for waking time for Renesmee and her parents.

'Dear Maddie.
Hope you feel better soon - as well as enjoy the baked good I made you. And that the police find whoever did this to you. Don't forget you are welcome at the Cullen/Hale household whenever you want.
Love, Esme, and family'.

Before any of them knew it, morning had eventually come around. Yet when it was time to get up and ready for school, they were all confused when Renesmee wasn't with her parents as they made their way downstairs. "Where's Nessie?" Emmitt asked with a raised brow; Bella sighed as she explained that her daughter hadn't had a wink of sleep the entire night up until around about an hour ago. "She was too worried about Maddie to sleep" Edward continued "so we decided we're gonna let her have the day off school". Upon hearing this, Esme picked up her phone from the kitchen table and dialled the school's number - she had an idea "hello, this is Esme Cullen" she began talking to the receptionist "I just wanted to call and inform you that Renesmee, Bella, Edward, Emmitt and Alice Cullen, as well as Jasper and Rosalie Hale, won't be attending school today" she stated; this earned a multiple of confused looks and raised brows as they all wondered what she was doing exactly by letting them all have the day off - they wouldn't complain of course. The receptionist asked why as she had to put the reasoning for their absence on the school's system "the head teacher will know and understand why....thank you...bye" and with that, she hung up. "There" the woman pushed her phone into her jean pocket as she smiled at her handy work "you all have the day off" this only confused them all more; Rosalie decided to take it upon herself to ask the wondering question "not that I'm complaining...but why?". Sighing, Esme explained how they were all friends with Maddie and that they would all be like Renesmee - exhausted due to the lack of sleep "if it weren't for you all being vampires and not having the actually possibility to sleep" she had a valid point - like always. Since they had the entire day to themselves, Edward and Bella decided to spend the next few hours in the man's music whilst the other two couples chose to pick a movie and snuggle up on the sofas. Esme, however, changed into her hunting clothes and left for her daily drink. By the time it was twelve O clock, she had returned and cleaned up; her husband surprised them all by finally returning home.

Carlisle embraced and kissed his wife and the 'kids' all gathered within the living room. "You let them all have the day off?" he questioned earning a nod; Esme explained how Renesmee had received no sleep the night before "so I decided to just call for them all". It was a good call. As the couple joined their family in the living room, Renesmee made her way down the stairs to do the same, though there was no doubt that she was still exhausted. "I spoke to Maddie's social worker" Carlisle began "to tell her the extent of her injuries" he then began to list the painful injuries to his family "three broken ribs and four cracked ribs which are from her being kicked in her mid-section, as well as from another recent attack, cuts on her arms, legs, shoulders and face from a sharp object, cuts on her back from the belt which was used as a whip, she's covered from head to toe in bruises and gashes from all sorts, carpet burn from being dragged along the floor, her head was cracked open from it being smashed down upon something hard, she has a concussion from the whole thing but thankfully there's no internal bleeding, her wrist was sprained as she had landed on it strangely after being shoved to the floor and her beaten face that she already had is much worse" he finally finished. All eyes were wide, as well as some were watery "oh my god" Alice gasped; Carlisle, to their dismay, spoke up once again "and after her attacker had finished his brutal attack, he finished it off by rubbing salt into her bleeding wounds". They all felt sick from what they were learning "who the hell would do that to a fifteen-year-old kid?!" Jasper exclaimed, horrified by the information as he remembered an experience which indeed involved an open wound and salt; that shit hurt!! Sighing, the doctor opened his mouth once more "well I guess the good news is that Maddie gave both a statement and a name to the police and to her social worker... knew who had attacked her...as well as all the other times" he mumbled the last part of his statement but none of them missed it.

Esme repeated his words as a question "all the other times?" followed by Bella - she asked who the young girl's attacker was. The man rubbed a hand down his face as he took a deep breath "her guardian...John Smith was the one who attacked her" he finally revealed "turns out he's been harming and abusing Maddie for nearly as long as he's had her in his care....he had fostered her when she was ten years old" he informed; all eyes were even more wider than before. Emmitt, very much like everyone else, felled his fury begin to boil over "that disgusting son of a-" he wasn't allowed to finish his sentence as Esme exclaimed his name, warning him to keep control of himself and his language. "Her social worker said that Maddie will have to return to the orphanage she was fostered from as John was arrested and will be locked up for his crimes for a long time" he explained "but....the orphanage is back in her hometown...which is Arizona". Feeling her heart drop, Renesmee spoke up "but Maddie would have to leave Forks!!" she exclaimed as tears filled her eyes; her mother embraced the girl as she tried to comfort her "I know, sweetie, but...they have no one to take Maddie in" she tried to explain "as soon as she's released from hospital, they'll pack her things up and drive her back". All fell silent until, to their complete and utter surprise, Jasper sat forward on the sofa and suggested something that none of them ever thought he would "what if....you and Esme foster Maddie yourselves?" all eyes shot wide once more as they wondered if they had heard the blonde man right "that way she'd be able to stay in Forks". Yup, he really had suggested that. While Renesmee, Bella, Alice, and Emmitt were immediately on board with the idea, Rosalie and Edward were highly against it; the eldest couple remained silent as they listened to what was being said, as well as to think about it. "Are you crazy?!" Rosalie asked, "have you forgotten what we are?!" she couldn't believe that it was even an option; her boyfriend chipped in as he put his bottle of blood down "as long as we make sure that none of us are every extremely thirsty, we should be fine".

Shaking his head, Edward decided to be the next to talk as he asked if they were to tell Maddie about their secret "if so, what is she tells everyone about us?" he questioned; his wife rolled her eyes as she folded her arms "like anyone would believe her anyway". Turning to the silent couple, the 'kids' all waited for them to talk as it was apparent they were in deep thought "I think...it's a good idea" Esme smiled "but you two are right, it could be risky so we'd have to be even more careful than usual" her husband agreed, though he still seemed to be deep in thought. Renesmee, her voice full of hope, asked if her words meant that they would foster her friend; the shared a look which was unsure before the couple both smiled "I...I guess we will" Carlisle grinned. A multiple of grins could be seen, as well as cheers could be heard - minus Edward and Rosalie who sat, watching them all disapprovingly. "Oh come on you two" Jasper rolled his eyes at them "we took Bella in when she was human" Edward rose a brow at the reminder "but she didn't live with us full time and she was my girlfriend" he had a point; the blonde haired vampire sighed "and you're telling me that with all we know about Maddie, it isn't a good enough reason to have her move in?" he asked. He had him there!! "Maddie is the first human since Bella that we all somewhat like and get along with" he remained "Renesmee's first human friend, the first human Emmitt had openly spoke to, the first human that I've ever spoken to without any of you around" the points he was making were extremely strong and were enough to earn a sigh from both Edward and Rosalie. They had lost this one. They wanted to help Maddie; they really did...but the risks were just far too high with the solution that they had chosen.

Auther's Note: just wanted to add that I don't know how a doctor would treat a wound or an infection. So, to any doctors, nurses, medical students, or anyone who does know the medical stuff that I mentioned within this chapter, my apologies. I tried my best.