Brian sighed as he stood in the doorway, staring at the sleeping form on the bed. He didn't want to be doing this. He didn't want to leave her, to send her off away from everything she knew, away from him. But he didn't have much of a choice. This undercover job would help ensure his future in the department, help him to create a better life for her. Stepping into the room, he dropped a kiss onto her forehead before smoothing the blankets back into place. He just hoped that she would forgive him for the decision he was about to make.
Closing the bedroom door behind him, he made his way to the family room and collapsed onto the couch. He played with the phone in his hand for a minute before flipping it open. Dialing the number for his sergeant, he prayed that he was making the right decision.
"I'm in."
Racing Twilight
Charlie Swan stared around the little office that was now his. When he had left Forks 15 years ago in an effort to make his now ex-wife happy, he never dreamed that he would end up coming back. Or that he would end up as the Chief of Police. Being here again, felt like coming home. He could never regret his time spent in California, but something about this rainy little town fulfilled him in a way that the sunny beaches of California never did. Glancing at the picture on his desk, he felt his first pang of regret.
When he moved back to Forks two years ago, he had come back without the two people he had considered his kids. He had tried to get Brian and Bella to join him, to leave behind the sadness and pain of Barstow, but it didn't end up happening. Brian had just been starting his career on the force, and there hadn't been room for a rookie in Fork's small department. He still managed to call every week, but it wasn't the same as seeing them. Maybe now that he was chief, he could convince Brian to transfer up here. Bella was about to start high school, and Forks High was much better than any of the public schools near Barstow.
With a sigh, he closed the door of his new office and made his way through the small building to his car. Nodding to the dispatcher on duty, he gave a wave to Jenkins and Rowle, the two deputies on shift. He had the next two days off, perhaps he could convince Billy to go fishing, catch up on the last few years. He'd done his best to stay in touch with the friends that he'd left behind, but it wasn't the same as having a face-to-face conversation.
Considering his weekend plans, Charlie almost missed the ringing of his cell phone. Glancing at the number on the small screen, a grin split his face as he picked up.
"Brian! I was just thinking about you!"
"Hey Charlie. Hope this isn't a bad time."
"It's never a bad time for you kid. What's up?"
"Well, I need a favor. It's about Bella…"
Racing Twilight
Ending the call, Brian took a deep breath. Talking to Charlie had gone better than he thought it would. Charlie Swan had been Brian's training officer when he first started with the LAPD. But more than that, Charlie had looked out for Bella and Brian since Brian was young.
Brian had first met Charlie Swan when he was 10 and Bella was one. Their mom's most recent boyfriend had gotten drunk and become violent. Charlie had been one of the officers to come and arrest the man. While his partner had taken the man to lock-up for the night, Charlie had taken Brian and Bella to the hospital to see their mom. He had sat with them long after his shift had ended, buying Brian food and helping to take care of Bella. Even after it was all over, Charlie had kept coming by, bringing clean diapers for Bella, and food and toys for Brian.
When Brian had been arrested four years later for stealing food for Bella, it had been Charlie who made the charges disappear. And whenever things had become too rough at home, and going to Roman's hadn't been an option, Charlie would let Bella and Brian sleep at his place, as tiny as it was. Charlie was the one who went to the back-to-school nights, and ensured that Brian and Bella got their yearly doctor's visits. He had done everything he could to take care of the two kids, even trying to get custody of them a few times, not that it ever worked.
When their mom had moved them out to Arizona, chasing after her latest fling, Charlie had kept in touch, calling every week, sending money for food and gifts for the holidays and birthdays. He had even gone so far as to contact his ex-wife, Renee, who was living in Tucson, asking her to keep an eye on the two of them. Brian was thankful for that. Renee had been the one to take in Bella after their mom died and Brian sent to juvie. Charlie had even helped pay for the two of them to move back to California, when a job with the LAPD had come up.
Charlie had made it possible for Brian to join the police force four years ago. He had gone toe to toe with the brass who had doubts about a kid with a juvie record becoming a cop. Brian knew that Charlie himself had harbored doubts about Brian becoming a cop, but he had supported him all the way. Just like he was now.
With the undercover assignment that Brian was about to undertake, he needed to find someone who could take care of Bella. The department may claim that Brian would be able to be home to take care of his little sister every night, and that there would be no risk to her, but he wasn't going to take that chance. He had heard too many horror stories about undercover cases going wrong to risk his little sister's safety. And while everything had worked out on the past couple of cases he had worked, something about this one felt different. Now, thanks to Charlie he wouldn't have to worry about Bella's safety during this case.
Depending on what Bella said, she would either be going to live with Charlie in Forks, Washington for a few months, or with Renee back in Tucson. Brian didn't like the idea of his little sister being so far away, but there was no one else he trusted to watch out for her during this time. He would have loved to have taken her to Roman in Barstow, but the man just got out of prison, and he still wasn't talking to him. Besides, Barstow was a little too close to LA to be completely safe.
Happy that everything was coming together, Brian considered how to break the news to Bella. He knew that his little sister would not be happy about any of this, but he hoped that she wouldn't hate him too much. After all, it would only be for a couple of months, right?
