Chapter 2 - The Airport

I received a shock when the call connected - because it was Charlie's voice I heard, but he wasn't talking to me. It sounded like some kind of scuffle over the phone was ensuing, and at the same time I heard Charlie's muffled voice: "Hey! Give me the - what the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Bella?" came a different frantic voice over the phone, very clearly now, and I realized this voice had been the winner of the scuffle for Charlie's cell phone. "Is that you?"

The hole in my chest instantly reduced in size, relief flooding through me. "Jacob?" A huge sob pushed up from my chest and I felt the tears return to my eyes. A sharp hiss emanated from close behind me, but I didn't look back to find the source. It might just as easily have been Alice, and I could only imagine what she was now showing Edward. Again, strangely, I didn't care. Actually, part of me hoped she was showing him what he had done.

The sound that came through the phone sounded like a whoosh of air had released itself from Jacob's lungs with great force. "Oh thank God!" His voice was trembling, I realized with some amazement. "You're alive! Bella, where the hell are you?"

"Bella! Jacob, give me the damn phone!" came Charlie's commanding voice, sounding far away as though through a tunnel, and I also heard another small scuffle. I could almost picture Jacob's super strong arm holding my dad away with no effort at all. Charlie didn't stand a chance. Absently, I wondered if he'd notice how hot Jacob's skin was or wonder why a 16-year-old boy could fight off a grown man onehanded.

"Jacob, can you come get me, please? I'm at the airport." The words surprised me, both in their content and the lost-little-girl quality to them. "Please?"

I hadn't planned on that course of action, but suddenly I latched onto the idea like a lifeline. Edward's walking away would surely be the end of me...unless Jacob was there when it happened. He had been the only respite from the hole in my heart for months; if he was there to hold me together when it happened, I might even survive Edward's disappearance. Suddenly, I was desperate for Jacob's presence.

I was vaguely aware of sudden harsh movement just a few steps behind me, and looked back to see Alice pushing her way in front of Edward to stop him, pushing him back. His teeth were bared, his lips pulled back in a snarl. Alice's lips moved silently, and I knew that she was telling him something too fast and low for me to hear. Probably something about not causing a scene. Strangely, I found that I didn't care. The sight of Edward and Alice brought pain. The sound of Jacob in my ear brought comfort. So I turned back to continue walking through the terminal and focused on the sound of Jacob's voice - escapism at its finest.

"That's what I'm doing right now, Bells." Jacob's voice was intense, more serious than I was used to. "I'm about to have to let you go, but we'll be there in less than 24 hours, okay? Just tell me exactly where you are so I can find you when we get there!"

Less than 24 hours? My brain wasn't working quickly enough to process this. It'd take Jacob 24 hours to get to Sea-Tac? I didn't understand why, but that was fine. Considering the way I'd treated him last, it was more than I deserved. I'd sleep in an airport chair waiting for him before I'd let Edward and Alice deliver me to Charlie. I had no intention of going anywhere with them...

Wait a minute...what did Jacob say?

We'll be there?

"No, Jacob, please don't bring Charlie. Come alone. Please, Jacob. I...I need you." I could hear the urgency in my voice, but Jacob couldn't possibly understand how crucial this point was. Charlie would insist on taking me home. I needed to go to La Push - my safe place, a place without one Edward memory.

At those words, I heard a ferocious growl and chanced a glance backward. Edward was still trailing a few steps behind me, but he looked...awful. Beautiful and awful at the same time, with Alice a step behind him grasping his arm, pulling ineffectually at him. With every step, he closed some of the small distance that Alice's interference had helped me gain from him. I felt a sudden pain radiating outward from the hole in my chest, and quickly picked up my pace and looked away.

Jacob's voice had dropped to almost a whisper. "I wish I could come get you alone, Bella, but Charlie bought my ticket and he's not going to let me get on this plane without him. He's not too happy with me right now. I told him that you're in Italy and you're in trouble, but I also said I wouldn't tell him anything else about how to find you there unless he took me with him." He snorted softly, and the next words were pure Jacob: "I hate it for you, Bells, but if you're mad at me for telling him then you're just going to have to get over it. Charlie's coming whether either of us like it or not."

Understanding dawned. They didn't know I was back. Jacob thought I was still in the airport in Italy. They planned to be there in 24 hours...

Holy crow. Charlie and Jacob were going to Italy.

For me.

Suddenly, a different kind of pain shot through me. Charlie couldn't afford two plane tickets to Italy. And Jacob...

A violent shudder shook my entire frame. Jacob's intent was painfully clear. If he'd tracked me down in Volterra, I had no doubt he'd have stormed the fortress - literally - tried to defend me against the Volturi, and almost certainly have died horribly in the process. The thought nearly destroyed me.

Jacob's voice pulled me out of my reverie. "Listen to me, Bella. Don't you dare leave that airport! Tell me where you are so I can find you when we land, and then don't move. I don't care if you have to sleep on the floor, just stay put."

"Jacob, no!" Desperation surged through me. "You can't go to Italy! I'm not in Italy - I'm at Sea-Tac!"

There was a brief pause, and then Jacob's voice rang out like an explosion.

"You're what?"

I couldn't have found the words to describe the amount of emotion in his voice if I had tried, but I couldn't decipher it - was he relieved, shocked, angry?

"I just got off a plane from Atlanta. I'm - Jacob?"

The call ended abruptly, letting me know it must have been anger, and the hole in my chest expanded. A glance behind me expanded it further, because I had half expected him to already be gone too. For the time being, Edward was still there when I looked for him, but I knew that wouldn't last. Now what was I going to do? Jacob had deserted me. I supposed I deserved it; now that he knew I was safely back in Washington, he wanted nothing more to do with me. I wasn't technically stranded - I knew Edward would drive me home out of a sense of chivalry. But that would only make things worse. And how would I survive Edward's inevitable departure without my Jacob? I could try calling Charlie back, but he was obviously with Jacob, so that'd have to wait. Uncertainly, my steps slowed as I tried to decide what to do.

A cab. I'd simply call a cab. I had packed every bit of cash I owned to bring with me to Italy, and of course hadn't used any of it since Alice and then Edward had been there to prevent my spending a dime. So I'd just get a cab. And the possibility existed that I might ask it to take me all the way to Phoenix. Or maybe further, somewhere where nobody knew me. It was better than the alternative. Charlie was going to be...unpleasant at best for a while.

But my relief at finally having a plan was short-lived. Because in the next moment, my feet pulled up short and the hole in my chest exploded.

There, waiting as inconspicuously as possible, only yards from where I had come to a halt, stood the rest of the Cullen clan.

After months of aching for all of them, the pain that shot through me almost doubled me over. It had never truly occurred to me before, but they had left me too. Abandoned me. Left me to die at the hands of Laurent and Victoria. Where had they been when I most needed them?

Esme - beautiful, motherly Esme - was making her way toward me with a look of pure love and gratitude on her face, arms extended and ready to embrace me.

I shrunk away from her as though she had slapped me, and her step faltered. Her arms dropped slightly, and her eyes flicked behind me toward Edward. She drew in a sharp breath at the look on his face, her eyes flying back to mine in painful understanding as her arms fell to her sides.

"Bella's not really into being touched right now," Alice volunteered in a wry tone, and I heard both sympathy and a hint of frustration in her voice.

The look on Esme's face made me want to fall into her arms and cry everything out onto her shoulder. So I wrapped my arms tightly around my midsection and took a step back instead, feeling the first tear betray me and slide down my cheek.

"Oh, Bella. Bella, sweetheart, we're so sorry..." One beautiful hand stretched out again, tentatively, to smooth my hair back; and again I shrank from her.

"No," I told her urgently, shaking my head back and forth frantically and backing away, equal parts horrified and angry. How could she act as though nothing had happened? As though she hadn't left me, this beautiful surrogate mother I had so quickly been willing to adopt as my own? The tears welled up in my eyes so thickly that I could barely see her. "No."

Carlisle came to stand beside his wife, his eyes filled with the same compassion I remembered. "Bella, I know you don't understand."

He flinched at the look of pure betrayal in my eyes as I turned my gaze to him. "You're right," I told him, more coldly than I had thought possible. "I don't."

Slowly, painfully, my eyes took in the rest of the faces behind them. Rosalie, looking much more miserable than usual - probably at the thought of having me inflicted on her once again. At least I was going to make her happy for once. Emmett was there too, looking hurt and confused. I actually felt a small pang for him. Even in my hurt and anger, I couldn't believe Emmett responsible for any of this. If there was one Cullen's shoulder I'd actually consider crying into right then, it was his. And then finally there was Jasper, a look of deep understanding and empathy written all over his face, mingled with guilt. Jasper understood. Of course he did. But he had still left with the rest of them. His understanding of my pain only made his betrayal worse as far as I was concerned.

Pointedly, I ignored all of their waved and murmured greetings and refocused on Edward's 'parents.'

Putting his arm around his wife and glancing briefly over my shoulder at Edward, Carlisle focused back on me with a small, sad smile and a graceful nod. "I suppose we deserve that. But it was never any of our intention to hurt you, Bella. Will you at least allow us to drive you home? Let us try to explain?" Again, he glanced over my shoulder at his first son, his eyes filled with a curious mixture of irritation and understanding mingled with relief and sympathy. "Or give Edward a chance to explain?"

Without question, I knew that this man - out of duty and obligation if nothing else - wouldn't just leave me there alone and stranded. Unlike his son had in the forest. But I still wanted to hear nothing he had to say. Where had his explanations been when I was slowly dying from the numbness? Where had his compassion been then?

"No," I told him stiffly. "I can take care of myself. I've gotten pretty good at that. I'm calling for a cab."

Apparently, that was more than Edward could stand. I suddenly understood that he had only been so restrained up to this point because he fully believed he'd get a chance to have a captive audience on the ride back to Forks so he could plead his case and spin more beautiful lies.

"No," growled his achingly familiar voice; and more quickly than he should have moved in front of so many witnesses, Edward was directly by my side and slightly behind me, blocking my path away from Carlisle. He held his clenched fists closely at his sides, testimony to just how hard he was struggling not to simply reach out and grab me. Alice appeared beside him just as quickly and placed a restraining hand on his arm, and I saw Jasper and Emmett each take a step forward as well. The tone of Edward's voice emphasized just how close he was to losing control; he looked like...well, a vampire. "I'm at least seeing you home, Bella. You're not taking a cab that far by yourself in your condition."

I clenched my teeth. It would be so easy to simply let Edward's protectiveness convince me that he loved me; but I could never make that mistake again. This was simple duty, chivalry on his part...nothing more.

And I wanted no part of it.

I hadn't wanted to have this discussion in front of his family, but my hand had now been forced. Steeling myself, I drew a deep breath and fixed my eyes on his forehead. I couldn't quite look into his eyes.

"I don't believe that's your decision, Edward. I'm no longer your responsibility. What does it matter to you anyway?" It would have been more impressive if I could have snapped it at him, but it came out with no force at all. I just sounded flat, weary...dead.

Edward staggered back a step like I had physically struck him.

"Bella," he began carefully, but fear had taken over his eyes. "What are you saying?" I could see his fists unclenching and reclenching at his side, and knew he was losing the battle not to grab me. I needed to make this swift.

But could I do this? My eyes dropped to a point in the middle of his chest.

"I'm saying that you're free to return to your distractions. I'm fine. I'm glad that I was able to stop you in time, but you don't owe me anything because of it. You're under no obligation to stay here any longer, so please don't make this harder for me." My voice grew stronger, tinged with a hint of bitterness. "You're going to leave again eventually, so just leave. Get it over with."

"Oh, Bella..." This voice came from Esme, I realized quickly.

Edward had hold of me by my waist so fast that it almost made me dizzy, and it was easy to see that his control was stretched to its limit - if he gripped me any harder, I was afraid he'd hurt me. He leaned down, trying desperately to make me meet his eyes, but I refused. When he put his face directly in my line of vision, I simply closed my eyes. I was half tempted to put my hands over my ears, too.

"Isabella Swan, listen to me. I'm not going to leave you again - not now, not ever. I don't even think I can." He was still trying to get me to look at him, but I just stared at the ground. He made a pained sound that stabbed at my heart despite my coldness. "Please, Bella, don't ask me to do that. Leaving you is the one thing I can't do again."

"I don't believe you," I whispered, a tear slipping out of my eye and running down my cheek. If anything, he stepped closer, his mouth opening to protest. I pushed him away, but it was pointless. He didn't budge. "I don't believe you, Edward. Please let me go."

"No! Bella, please...I can't." He sounded strangled. His hands came up to frame my face, cupping my cheeks tenderly in his cold hands as he whispered urgently. "What can I do to make you believe me? Name it. I'll do anything, Bella. Anything."

Why did he want so badly to convince me of a lie? Did he want to break me again? Suddenly angry, I let instinct take over. I couldn't bear this. How could he not see that? My arms flew up to knock his hands away, but it was like trying to knock down a brick wall with a spaghetti noodle. He never moved.

"Edward, dammit, let go of me!" I screamed none too quietly, drawing some attention.

Carlisle took a step closer. "Son." His voice was gentle and commanding at the same time. "Let her go."

He didn't of his own accord, but he did at least finally let me knock his hands away and back several steps away from him. Momentarily empowered, my resolve returned. "I'm going home now. Alone."

"Bella, I love you," Edward told me desperately, tears in his voice even if they could never flow from his eyes. "I always have. I never stopped."

I knew I should just turn and walk away, right out to the front of the airport and hail a cab. I tried to ignore the fact that Edward's hands still reached out to me, that his eyes implored me not to do this. I couldn't do it. Suddenly, my traitorous mind could picture me throwing myself into his widespread arms and begging him to never leave again. This much anger wasn't natural for me, and it was exhausting. I knew Edward saw it in my eyes as I weakened. Relief flooded his beautiful face, and I took a step forward toward him, knowing that I was walking right into more danger than my heart could take. This was emotional suicide, because when he left after this I would be doomed.

Danger. A danger that I couldn't resist anymore.

But just before I made contact, I heard the very last voice I had expected to hear, ringing out across the airport.

"Bella!"

I recognized that voice and instantly gravitated toward it.

One thought flooded my mind...

Safety. A safety that I couldn't turn down anymore.

I spun to see the most welcome sight I could imagine: Jacob was all the way down the long corridor opposite the terminal, running at full tilt toward me, barely cognizant of the much smaller people who littered the long hallway. He knocked several of them out of the way with no apology.

I didn't know how he could possibly be here so fast from La Push, less than five minutes after I hung up with him, and I didn't care. Jacob represented safety from the pain, and he was there. The strength returned to my wearied legs as I took off running in his direction.

"Jake!"

He covered three times the ground that I did in the following few seconds, and I was probably only 25 feet from Edward when I slammed into Jake's chest with enough force to knock the wind out of me. I couldn't have cared less. He grabbed me before I could bounce off, and suddenly I was wrapped up in warm, safe Jacob. I threw my arms around him and held on for all I was worth, realizing at some point that my feet weren't even on the ground - not even close. His arms were like steel bands - hot steel bands - crushing me to him, and one hand was tangling in my hair in an impatient bid to get me even closer. I obliged him, burying my head in his shoulder. "Jake," I managed to sob, and he pulled me even tighter, his breath coming in shallow, panicked gasps somewhere near my ear, hot on my skin.

"Easy, Bella, it's okay. You're all right now. I've got ya." His voice was so unsteady I wasn't sure who he was trying to convince - me or himself.

I felt his head lift from where he had buried it in my hair, and knew he was looking over my head at the Cullens, keeping a watchful eye on them. I just wanted to forget them for the moment, and Jake was the only one who had ever come close to making that a possibility; so I squeezed my eyes shut and focused on his unique woodsy scent.

"Jesus, Bella, don't you ever do anything like this again," he was murmuring in my ear, and I realized he was shaking from head to toe as a stream of words poured across his lips. "I mean it, Bella. Next time I'm not coming after you." He was lying, and we both knew it. "I spent the last three days thinking you were dead and trying to figure out how the hell to get to Italy so I could bring you home anyway. I was going to sell the Rabbit but it wasn't gonna be enough. When I started seriously thinking about what bank to rob, I finally just gave up and told Charlie where you were and then blackmailed him into bringing me along. And Sam's probably going to kill me."

I winced against his shoulder. Even if I was already dead, Jacob had been determined to bring me home. It was a morbid thought, but one that clearly illustrated what he'd been through...and what he'd been willing to do for me. "I'm sorry, Jake," I whispered into his neck, planting a grateful kiss there before I even realized what I was doing; and I'd have had to actually be dead not to feel the shudder that wracked his huge body and the way goosebumps broke out on his skin.

He let my feet back down to the ground but never broke the embrace, his arms still wrapped tight around me as he now leaned over me. If it weren't for his arms holding me up, his weight would have pushed me to the ground. "You're forgiven, Bella." I was so close I could feel it when his jaw clenched, and I knew he was staring at Edward. "But if you think I'm ever letting you go back near him again without one hell of a fight, you've lost your damn mind."

Before I could even tell him it was a moot point anyway - that Edward had no intention of staying - I heard a vicious snarl from behind me and Jacob suddenly tensed as he stared over my head. With no warning he spun us around, putting me behind him as he adopted a clearly defensive posture between me and the Cullens.

It wasn't easy to see around Jacob. One of his arms extended behind him and pressed against my waist, doing his level best to keep me directly behind him. When I finally was able to poke my head around far enough to see, what I saw almost made me pass out.

At least 10 feet closer than he'd been before, each of Edward's arms was now being held by one of his brothers. I could see even from a distance that Jasper was trying to work his magic and infuse him with calm. I could also see it wasn't working. Carlisle stood with his back to us in front of Edward, pushing him back. The three of them seemed to be having a difficult time holding him. Esme watched me sadly while Alice stood at Jasper's side trying desperately to help calm Edward. I couldn't hear what she was saying to him. Rosalie simply stared at the ground, looking like she felt a little...guilty.

Jake had relaxed considerably at the sight of Edward being restrained, so I could only imagine what he had seen before the other Cullens grabbed Edward. Had Edward intended to go after Jacob? Why? Or had he intended to finally give in to his pull for my blood? Would Edward kill me? I still didn't believe that, but I hadn't believed he could leave me like he did either.

I had buried my face in Jake's back to keep from watching, but he suddenly spun around to face me, effortlessly turning us both sideways where he could keep one eye on me and one on Edward. Gripping my arms, he pulled me far enough away from his chest to look at me, studying the tear tracks on my face and the way I trembled. His eyes turned impossibly blacker. "Bella." His entire body shook as those coal-black eyes raked up and down me. "Did he hurt you?"

Jake's voice was deadly, and I understood what he was asking - and why. He was just looking for a reason. I needed to get him out of the airport, quickly. A werewolf versus vampire fight in the middle of Sea-Tac would be a little difficult to explain.

"No! Jake, please...just get me out of here. I want to go home with you."

Jacob hesitated, glancing over his shoulder in the direction he had come; and for a split second, I believed he was actually considering sneaking me out of the airport and doing exactly that.

But he was a second too late; because his traveling companion - the one that he had left standing at the gate for their flight to Italy when he realized I was in the same airport and took off at a dead sprint to find me - had finally caught up to him.

"Bella!"

Crap. Charlie. Rounding the corner, dragging what was probably both his and Jacob's bags. Right into the same space as both Edward and Jacob. And me, of course.

This wasn't good.

But it could be worse...at least they hadn't actually got on the plane. Charlie doesn't even like to leave the zip code. He really would have killed us all if he'd flown to Italy for nothing.

TO BE CONTINUED...