AN: Well, here is the first chapter of my new story, Skyjacked, which I hope you will enjoy.

It's half written and I expect there to be around 27-30 chapters and it will post as usual once a week on a Saturday.

There are quite a few chapter until we reach the prologue, so let's move forward.

My thanks to bott SarcasticBimbo and MeteorOnAMoonlessNight for their wonderful services

Disclaimer: Edward still belongs to SM, but I live in hope


Skyjacked


Summary

When the unthinkable happens on the way to visit her brother, Bella finds herself in terrible danger. More than just the elements are against her and the others as they fight for survival on a deserted island. She finds not only safety in Edward, but also her soulmate. Will that be enough if they aren't rescued in time? Will danger continue to follow them?

skyjack

verb

1.

To commandeer an aircraft, usually at gunpoint during flight, forcing the pilot to fly somewhere other than to the scheduled destination


Chapter 1 - Running Away?

Bella

Looking out of the small window of the Boeing 777, all I could see was different shades of the same color. From the deep blue-green of the ocean far below us, the clear blue of the sky from horizon to horizon, to the deeper blue of the upper hemisphere far above. With no land in sight and nothing to break up the monotonous blues, we could have been suspended between the two, moving neither forward or back.

That was how much of my life had been since Jordan had broken my heart. He said it wasn't me, it was him. He said he still loved me, but it wasn't enough any more. He said I'd move on and find someone else. The trouble was, I didn't want anyone else, and I questioned why my love wasn't enough any longer. How could it 'be him' if he was leaving me?

My last contract had ended just before that awful conversation with Jordan and I'd been so devastated I couldn't even think of taking on another. The apartment we'd shared had been his; We'd never gotten around to adding my name to the tenancy. So here I was, at twenty-eight, no boyfriend, no home, and no job.

Immediately, I'd moved out into a local motel and in less than a week the bastard had moved in the tall, leggy, blonde bimbo I'd seen in his office the few times I'd managed to meet him downtown for lunch.

Horrified at how naive I'd been and thinking it was something lacking in me, I'd tucked my tail between my legs and run home to Port Angeles, leaving behind the life I had built in Chicago. Working as a senior nurse on the intensive care ward at Chicago Grace was the job I had loved the most. Unfortunately, the hospital had been going through a shake up so ever since I'd completed my training, the only positions on offer had been on short-term contracts. The week before that fateful day, they had finally offered me a long term position, but my mind just didn't want to grasp that we were over. Instead, I'd retreated to my family home to lick my wounds.

After nearly six months since then, Charlie and Renée had gotten sick of me moping around and staged an intervention. Cornering my in the kitchen on a Sunday morning, they'd tag-teamed me.

"Bella, honey," Mom cooed. "You can't go on this way. I know it's hard to move on from Jordan, but you still have a life to live." Taking the seat beside me, her arms cocooned me as they always had throughout my teenage years.

"You know we love having you here," Dad took over. "But it's time you decided what's next. Maybe you should get away for a while?"

Tears filled my eyes, but I wouldn't let them fall. Sniffing, I answered, "Get away and do what, exactly?" From the way they were both looking at me, I could tell they already had a plan.

"What?" I said suspiciously.

At that moment the phone rang. "Why don't you get that, love?" Mom rose from her seat, taking the plates and cups from the table to the sink to wash up.

Glaring at both of them while the phone continued to ring, I slowly reached out and hooked the receiver off the wall and put it to my ear.

"G'day, Bells." The loud voice of my brother boomed in my ear. "How are you?"

For the first time in a long while, a genuine smile formed. "Emmett," I almost squealed. "I'm good. All the better for hearing from you. How's Rose?"

"Hey, Bella. Good to hear you're okay." Rose's voice interrupted Emmett. "What's this I hear about that fucker, Jordan?"

I turned and looked at Charlie and Renée, who both looked guilty.

"Which one told you? What did they say?" I scowled even though neither Rose nor Emmett could see me.

There was silence for a few seconds on the other end of the phone. "I'm sure they didn't mean anything by it, Bella." Rose was the first to speak. "When Renée said you were living at home again, naturally we wanted to know why you'd left a job I knew you loved."

I sighed, knowing they'd always had my best interests at heart. "It's okay, guys." I nodded at my parents to let them know there was nothing to forgive. "Jordan broke up with me, telling me the usual 'it isn't you, it's me' shit, and before I could even decide what to do next, he'd moved that blonde bimbo he worked with into the home we'd shared. I just couldn't stay and risk seeing the two of them, especially when Angela called and told me she's clearly pregnant." My voice caught at that statement. "I didn't even know it was an issue. We'd never even talked about children. I know in my heart I wasn't ready, but at least he could have had the decency to broach the subject. I feel like such a fool for believing in him."

Emmett growled from the other side of the world. "I'd like to change his ability to father any more children and kick his ass to Timbuktu."

I giggled at that, which in turn started Rose off, and before I knew it we were laughing like hyenas. Even Emmett ended up laughing along with us.

"Anyway, Bella, one of the reasons we called was to run something by you." Rose brought the conversation back to the reason for their call.

"I … well, Emmett and I, thought you'd like to come visit with us."

I was about to interrupt to say I couldn't possibly travel halfway around the world for a short visit, when Rose continued. "Before you say anything, Bella, let me finish. I could do with some help with my rounds and I thought you might like to spend six months or a year following around a flying doctor."

"There must be others more suited to that kind of job than me, Rose," I protested. "And what about a license to practice?"

"I've thought about it, Bella. I'd rather not do this with a stranger, not to mention how difficult it would be to coordinate it with someone who might live five-hundred miles away. Usually, it's close neighbors or members of the same family that work together; I'd love it if you'd consider working with me, and it would be good experience for you. You don't need a license at first, as you'd only be following me, and not practicing." Her voice was full of enthusiasm, and I felt myself being dragged in.

"Come on, Bells. It's a fantastic idea, and we've not seen each other for almost three years now," Emmett cajoled. "If you really liked it, you could stay." His voice pleaded.

"I don't know, Emmett. What about a visa to work? What about Mom and Dad?"

"Don't let that stop you, Bella." Both Charlie and Renée spoke at the same time.

"If it's what you want, love," Mom continued, "don't let us hold you back."

"I've already checked Bella and you won't need anything more than a visitor visa because you won't be paid, and you can get one online. If you don't like it, Bella, you can always just fly back," Rose added. "You can get an open ticket."

"Okay, you guys, give me a few days to think it over. I do have an offer from Seattle General, but I need a bit of time to weigh up the pros and cons before I decide. Can you do that?"

"Of course." It was Rose who confirmed they'd wait to hear from me. Within minutes we'd said our goodbyes and I was left facing my parents in the kitchen.

"Well, what do you think, Bella? Is it something you'd like to do?" Dad took a seat beside me. "All we want is for you to be happy, and if visiting Rose and Emmett does that, then we'll support you one hundred percent."

"We have some money saved," Mom chimed in. "And before you say you couldn't, you can. We want you to. Your Dad and I have talked about this and we want nothing more than your happiness."

"I have some savings," I said, stopping as the reason for that stabbed at me again. "Those were for Jordan and I to buy a house together." Shaking off the bitter thoughts, I continued. "But I know the job with Rose isn't a paid one, so I'd need money to live on for a while, I can't expect them to pay my way. If I did decide to stay, there's also the cost of getting a license to consider, too." I stopped, trying to get my head around the possibilities. Could I do this? It was a world away from our parents, but Emmett had done it, and loved the life he now led.

Mom stood to make more coffee, breaking the silence in the room.

"I really do need to get away, maybe this is what I need to break this depression forced on me by that scumbag." I mused.

I stood and headed for the door, intending to get out in the fresh air to think more clearly. "Hold the coffee for me please, Mom. I'm going for a walk."

Kissing each of them on the cheek, I grabbed my jacket from the peg inside the front door and headed out along the road toward my favorite place in the world. My meadow.

Breaking through the forest into the perfect circle formed by a ring of trees, my senses filled with the smell of the wild flowers growing in amongst the grass, the warmth of the sun, and the sound of the trickle of water from the small stream that bisected the arc on the north edge. I had discovered this place when I was a moody teenager, coming here after rows with parents about boyfriends and curfews and altercations with my overprotective older brother. Homework seemed easier when it was completed here, too.

Placing my jacket down over the faintly damp grass I lay back on it, closing my eyes and both seeing the red of the sun through my eyelids and feeling the warmth of its rays on my face. The stressful feelings of the last few months fell away as my mind emptied of all my recent problems. This always happened here and today was not unusual, my feelings of inadequacy about Jordan and the worries about my future drifting away as I relaxed.

After an hour or so of my almost-meditation, I allowed my mind to return to the invitation from Rose. It sounded like a perfect solution, if I was honest with myself. It would be a totally new experience, I'd be busy every day, which would stop me from thinking about Jordan and that fucked up situation, and I'd get to see Emmett and Rose. As for the cons, I'd have no income for as long as I stayed, Mom and Dad would lose part of their savings, though they'd not offered them lightly, and I'd miss them both.

With a clearer mind, I returned home to a note telling me that they'd gone out to dinner and I'd probably see them tomorrow. I was almost glad, as this would give me time to go over my finances to make sure I had enough saved to pay my way for however long I stayed and to check on flights and the cost of a new license if I decided to stay.

"Looks like I've made up my mind," I mused to myself as I powered down my laptop. "Australia, here I come."

With a smile on my face, I headed for the shower and bed, knowing that a good night's sleep would solidify my decision. All of a sudden, I found myself looking forward to the future instead of dreading it.

Heading downstairs to the kitchen the following day, I found Mom finishing her coffee. Dad had already left for work, but as it was the summer break, she wouldn't be at work for another three or four weeks.

"Morning, love." She smiled at me. My decision must have shown on my face because, while I fixed my usual pop-tart and coffee breakfast, she launched straight into a conversation about my plans.

"Have you looked at your finances, Bella? How much do you need from us? When are you planning on heading out?"

Groaning a little inside at her enthusiasm, I took my breakfast to the table and sat opposite her.

"I've looked at flight prices and the best deals are in open tickets as Rose suggested. Even if I decided to stay, it's likely I'll come back and visit before I make any permanent decision and two single tickets are half as much again. I'm grateful for the money offer, Mom, but I insist on paying it back, wherever I end up."

As I took a breath, she squealed, leaping up and smothering me with hugs and kisses. "I knew you'd go. You'll have a great time. And I know you'll miss us, but your Dad and I have talked about making a visit for a couple of months next summer, so it won't be too long until we see each other again."

"Okay, okay," I laughed. "I get it, you're excited." As she sat again, I continued. "I have enough saved to pay my way for anything up to a year and if …" I held up my hand as she went to speak, "if I decide on a permanent life over there, I've almost enough to get my Australian nursing license. So all I'd want to borrow from you is the money for the flight."

"That's perfect, Bella. Are you sure that's all you need?"

"It's fine, Mom. I promise, if I need more, I'll ask, okay?"

"Yes, that's good. Why don't we go shopping for more appropriate clothes? You'll need shorts and tops, you know how hot it can be. And some nice dresses, too."

"Mom," I protested. "They live in the middle of nowhere. Why would I need dresses?"

"You never know who you might meet, Bella. Take my word for it, they'll come in handy."

With that, she quickly washed the remaining dishes and left them to drain before heading upstairs to get changed. It was never worth arguing with her, so I headed upstairs for a quick shower, too. Forty minutes later we were on our way to Seattle, and despite my dislike of shopping in general, I found that with my decision made, I was actually happy.

** Skyjacked **