Chapter 4 - Turmoil
Carlisle:
I walked up the stairs toward my Cub's room. I heard Esme gather the others to leave giving us some privacy. I made my way down the hall to Seth's room. I will talk with him in his room until I hear the others leave.
"Seth, I'm coming in," I said opening Seth's door. Seth stood up and had tears running down his eyes.
"Dad…I'm sorry," Seth said still crying.
"Come here, my baby Cub," I said holding my arms out to him. Seth dove into my arms. I was happy since this was a bit of a breakthrough.
"I'll be just a minute, Emmett," I heard Billy say as Emmett must have carried him and his wheelchair up the stairs.
"It's okay, my Cubby, let it out," I said holding him while he cried in my arms.
"Dad…I…didn't want to…," Seth said but then stopped.
"Didn't want to what?" I asked hoping he would continue.
"Nothing," Seth said as he kept crying.
"Seth, my baby, tell me what is going on so I can help you," I said to my Cubby.
"No…I-I can't," Seth said.
"Why can't you?" I asked him pulling him away from me and holding his face in my hands.
"I-I…just can't, that's all," Seth said.
"Seth Cullen, there is nothing so serious, that you and I can't work out together. Now tell me what has been going on so I can help you," I coaxed him hoping this was a breakthrough.
"Da-addy," Seth said falling into to my arms and crying again.
"Oh Seth, please let me help you. Talk to me, my baby Cub," I said picking him up now and carrying him to his bed. I sat him in my lap and tried again. "Seth, please, tell me what is going on and who are those other kids involved in this," I asked him.
"Ready Emmett," I heard Billy call.
"Seth, come on, talk to me," I said again hoping he would.
"I-I can't. I just can't, I'm sorry Dad. I was bad and threw the rocks over the overpass at the cars and dented them. I'm ready for my punishment. You should use your belt on me, I-I deserve it," Seth said now climbing off my lap and standing in front of me awaiting his punishment.
What just happened? He was talking to me and now he wants me to belt him. I don't understand this boy. Why would he want me to belt him? I'm not doing that. One time I used my belt on Emmett when he kept shooting off firecrackers under Jasper's room and calling out "the Yankees are coming," to tease him about the Civil War. Did Emmett tell him this and is this where this is coming from? I have to put a stop to this.
"You do not tell me what punishment to give you, Seth. I will decide your punishment and I hardly ever use my belt. I don't need to. My hand does a good enough job, as you should know," I said to him.
"S-sorry Dad," Seth said.
"Son, please talk to me," I pleaded again with him.
Seth didn't say anything but walked to the door of his room and opened it. He turned to me and walked out the door. I got up and followed him. He made his way to my study and walked in. I was right behind him. He walked over to the couch and stood there. I closed my door and watched him. He put his hands behind his back and stood looking at me. I made my way over to the couch. He indicated with his hand that I should sit down. I sat on the couch wishing he would give in and talk. He moved to my right side.
"I'm ready for my spanking Dad," Seth said. "Oh wait." Seth said as he pulled his phone out.
"Why do you have your phone?" I asked him.
"Uh…I forgot it was in my pocket," Seth said looking a little nervous.
"Give it here," I said holding my hand out for it. He reluctantly handed it to me. I looked at it and it was on. I turned it off and closed it placing it next to me.
"Uh…no Dad…don't turn it off," Seth said.
"Why? Who are you going to be calling during a spanking?" I asked him.
"Uh…no one," Seth said.
"What is going on with you Seth?" I asked again. He just looked at me and wouldn't answer.
"Should I pull my pants down?" Seth asked.
"I'm not ready to spank you yet, but you're going to get it, mister. Why would you throw rocks at cars from the overpass? Do you know how dangerous that is? You could have caused a serious accident?" I said to him.
"I-I didn't think of that," Seth admitted.
"You could have caused someone to be seriously hurt or killed. Then you damaged people's cars. What if it had been my car driving under the overpass?" I asked him.
"Whoa, I know your car, Dad," Seth said.
"Do the other two kids you were with know my car?" I asked him.
"They do now, they saw it at school the other day when you had to come to talk about the desk," Seth explained.
"What are their names again?" I asked him.
"Je…uh…you don't know them, Dad," Seth quickly said.
"Why won't you tell me their names? Are they in the Pack?" I asked him.
"No, they're not in the Pack," Seth admitted.
"I think they are a bad influence on you. You stay away from those boys. No more after school projects with them, if there really is a project," I said to him.
"But Dad, it's an assignment from school," Seth quickly made known.
"Then I will call your teacher and discuss it with him or her. What teacher is it?" I asked him.
"Uh…it's a…," Seth stuttered fumbling for words.
"There is no assignment is there?" I asked him.
"No sir," Seth said.
"You're grounded for a month. You come home or to the Lodge with Jake directly after school and no more hanging around with those 2 troublemakers, whoever they are," I scolded him.
"Dad…No! Come on, you can't stop me from being with my friends," Seth complained.
"They're not your friends! All they have done is get you in trouble and I'm about to show you how much trouble you're in, Young Man," I said to him. "You stay away from them, understood?"
"Da-ad," Seth still begged.
"Seth Cullen, you heard me," I said louder to him. He said nothing but just looked down at his feet. "Are you going to tell me their names?" I asked again. Seth just shook his head 'no'. I let out an exasperated sigh. "All right then, I'm going to hold you responsible for this act of violence to others property, namely their cars. You could have caused a serious accident or worse a death. Therefore, you're going to get a harder spanking at my full vampire strength. Get your pants down and stand over here," I said to him indicating my right side.
"No Dad, not that," Seth pleaded.
"Yes that! You asked for it and you won't name the others involved so you will bear the brunt of this. Plus, you and I will be paying Charlie Swan a visit and you will apologize in person to him for the hateful things you said to him. He will be your step-father and you will respect him as such or you and I are going to become well acquainted with this study," I said to him.
"I don't want to apologize to him. He thinks he's my dad. I'm still trying to make sure you are…uh…," Seth let slip out.
"What? What did you mean by that?" I asked him.
"No-nothing Dad, I'm r-ready," Seth said dropping his jeans.
"Oh no you don't, I want to know what you meant by that. What are you trying to make sure I am?" I asked him again.
"It's nothing, I-I want to g-get this over, and I-I deserve it," Seth said attempting to place himself over my lap. I grabbed him and stopped him.
"Just a minute, I want an answer Seth Cullen. What did you mean by that?" I asked looking him in the eye.
"Nothing, it's nothing…" Seth said trying to place himself over my lap again.
"Seth…talk to me son! What are you unsure of? Ask me, tell me," I pleaded with him.
"It's nothing…I-I was just babbling," Seth said. "Honest Dad, it's nothing."
"No it's not, it's very important to you. Why don't you talk to me about it," I asked again hoping I could break him. Seth just shook his head. "Seth, I love you my baby Cub, please let me help you," I pleaded with him again. Seth didn't answer, he just kept looking down. I was about spent at that point. I felt so deflated.
"Then you leave me no other choice, over my knee mister. You're going to get your butt blistered at vampire strength until I am satisfied you learned your lesson," I said as he put himself across my knee.
"Yes Dad…I'm ready," Seth said beginning to whimper.
I wanted to cry myself. Even if he would tell me all that is bothering him and who the other two other boys are, he still earned this punishment and I still have to deliver it. The old adage of 'this is going to hurt me more than you' is absolutely true in this case. I pulled him closer to my body and anchored him down on my lap with my left arm and raised my right hand up high. I knew this was going to be hard on both of us but his wolf skin can take this and he will feel it also. I landed the first "SMACK" and he yelped.
"OOWW, oww, oww!"
I let that one sink in and then raised my hand and brought it down again.
"OOUUCCHH!"
"Do you realize how dangerous that was to drop rocks onto cars, Young Man?" I then landed another "SMACK" to him.
"OOWW! Yes sir…I-I'm s-sorry," Seth howled.
"You could have caused an accident or someone could have been seriously hurt or killed by that nonsense," I said as I brought down 2 more vampire strength "SMACK…SMACK".
"OOww! Ouch! Da-ad it h-hurts," Seth sobbed.
"You bet it does, better to hurt your rump than hurt someone seriously by such a juvenile act," I said. I then landed another hard "SMACK".
"AAHH OOWW!" Seth cried.
I continued a slow, methodically paced spanking spacing out the vampire strength swats and making him aware of how dangerous this stunt was. Seth felt every smack I gave him and he deserved each one. I continued until I was satisfied that he learned this lesson. I then gave him 10 rapid vampire size swats on his sit spots. He was really howling at that. I let him settle down over my lap. When he got himself under control I addressed him again.
"Don't you ever do anything like that again, Young Man, or this spanking will seem like a pat," I warned him. Another thing, you will never be disrespectful to Charlie again, or I will deal with you right in front of him. I then gave him 6 more hard smacks slowly and evenly on both sides of his bottom and sit spots.
"I won't…I-I promise…Dad…I won't…" Seth cried to me.
"You better not," I said. "Now stand up and pull your pants up," I ordered him.
Seth stood up and did as I said and was sniveling all the while. When he had finished he stood there rubbing the soreness I had just imparted on him. I then addressed him again.
"You look at me, Young Man. Don't you ever do that again. I want this behavior to stop as of now and I want no more of these ridiculous stunts you are pulling with those other two boys. If you do this or any other stunt again, as much as I hate to do it, I'm taking the strap to you. Do you understand me?" I asked him.
"Y-yes s-ssirr," Seth sobbed out.
"Come here Seth," I said holding my arms out to him. He shook his head 'no' to me and backed up.
"No, I-I don't deserve y-your comfort," Seth said as he turned and ran to his room.
I was stunned and perplexed. He didn't deserve my comfort? What is going on with this boy? I decided to follow him. I didn't care what he wanted, I was going to hold my baby Cub whether he liked it or not. I made my way to his room. He had the door closed which I opened and walked in. He was lying face down on his bed sobbing.
"Seth, my baby Cub," I said walking to his bed and picking him up. He twisted away from me and began shouting out.
"No! I don't deserve your comfort. I'm a terrible son…you must hate me," Seth cried.
I ignored his cries and lifted him in my arms and laid on the bed with him in my lap. He tried to get away from me but I wasn't letting him go.
"No you don't. You listen to me, you're my son and I love you more than you will ever know. You deserve everything from me and you are not a terrible son. You have lost your way a little because of other's influences but you are not terrible and I could never, ever hate you. Don't you ever let me hear you say that again or I'll really give you a spanking," I said holding him tight. Seth latched onto me and collapsed into my arms and cried his heart out.
"Seth, my Cub…tell me what it is…please son," I said holding him and kissing his forehead.
We stayed like that until Seth fell asleep in my arms. I just laid there with him and held him. I couldn't let him go. I had called Esme and told them they could come back and she came to Seth's room. She sat down next to me.
"Carlisle, let him sleep now," Esme said kissing our Cubby on the cheek.
"I can't let him go yet, Esme. I just need to hold him," I said to her.
"All right my love, come to me when you feel you can put him down," Esme said kissing me.
I held my Cubby for a little while longer before laying him down in his bed. I covered him and kissed him. I then pulled his desk chair out and sat and watched him for a while longer. I can't make this child talk to me and he almost slipped up about the kids he's been hanging with, but caught himself. I just can't leave his side yet with the way he broke down in my arms.
Two hours later, Esme came back in and slipped her arms around my neck like last time. She kissed my face and whispered in my ear.
"Carlisle, come on, let him sleep. He will be alright," Esme said trying to coax me away.
"I just would like to sit here some more, dear. Please humor me and let me stay," I said to her.
"Okay, but don't make this a habit," Esme warned. Too late, it has already become one.
The Next Morning:
I walked down the stairs dressed and ready to go to the hospital. My wife greeted me and kissed my face. Jake and Leah were eating breakfast and I could hear Seth making his way down the steps. Billy was also in the kitchen. Emmett must have carried him down earlier.
"Carlisle, did you finally let Seth sleep," Esme asked.
"He was sleeping the whole time. I laid him in his bed but I just couldn't leave him. I just sat there watching him sleep," I said.
"What? Smack the kid! He deserves it for the way he's been acting. You'd keep my butt a permanent shade of red if I did those things," Jake complained.
"Then I suggest you don't follow in your brother's footsteps," I said to Jake.
"Seriously Dad, you need to set Seth straight with his behavior. I got it for sneaking out with David and Seth has done worse than I ever did," Leah joined in.
"Seth was punished last night," I said.
"Here's the little juvenile now! Welcome to breakfast, have a seat on this nice hard stool," Jake said patting the stool.
"Shut up Jake," Seth said.
"Oh! He talked again! Write it down," Jake said.
"Jacob," Billy said.
"What? They kid's out of control," Jake said.
"Mind your own business," Seth said to Jake.
"You are my business," Jake said back to him.
"Okay, enough. Seth, I will pick you up after school today and then we are going to see Charlie and you will apologize to him," I said to Seth.
"I don't want to," Seth said. "He thinks he's my dad."
"You are apologizing and he will be your step-father so get used to it," I said to him.
"I'll never get used to it and he'll never be my step-father, godfather, or any kind of father," Seth said back to me.
"I'm not too keen on that idea either. Can't he just be our mom's husband," Leah said.
"Hey, what's so bad about my dad?" Bella said coming in and joining in.
"Nothing, he's great. We just don't want to consider him our father. We have Dad and that's who we consider our father," Leah said.
"My dad is as good as…well…he's a dad," Bella said.
"See, you even think of Dad as more of your dad than your real dad," Seth said.
"What?" Jake asked Seth.
"Well, you know what I mean," Seth said to Bella.
"I don't even know what you said," Jake said to Seth.
"Well, my dad never got to be a real dad. Dad here, even though he's not our real dad, he's a real Dad with all of his experience over the years being a Dad," Bella explained.
"Say what? What language are you people talking?" Jake said. "Too early in the morning to try to decipher that…that…man…come on Seth, let's get to school where it's sane," Jake said to Seth.
I just shook my head. I know what they were trying to say. Billy was laughing quietly to himself. He couldn't help but smile.
"They are trying to say Charlie doesn't have the years of experience Carlisle has at being a father, even though Carlisle is not your biological father, and even though Charlie is Bella's biological father, Carlisle is more of a 'father' than Charlie is," Billy explained.
"Now that I understand," Jake said. "Whew! Thought I was losing it," Jake said wiping his forehead.
"Oh you done lost it," Bella said to Jake.
"I'll see you after school, Seth," I said to him as I walked out to my car.
"Yeah, come on, we'll be late," Jake said to Seth.
"See you later," Leah said heading out to class also.
At The Reservation School:
Seth:
Pulling up at school, Jake turned the car off and we both got out. I grabbed my books and so did Jake.
"Boy, you better be here when Dad picks you up tonight," Jake said to me.
"Don't worry, I'll be here," I said to him.
"What's with you these days? You've always loved being with Dad and why are you giving him such a hard time and doing all these stupid pranks," Jake asked.
"I'm not giving him a hard time. It just happened," I said.
"Well, knock it off. You got Dad all worried about you," Jake said.
"You think he really is worried about me?" I asked him.
"Of course he is. What's gotten into you, knock it off will ya?" Jake said. "You've never been in this much trouble, ever! You better stop it or you're never going to sit," Jake said. "Don't forget about being here after school to meet Dad."
"I won't. I don't want to apologize to Charlie," I moaned.
"Well you better do it or Dad will really lay into you. You did insult the guy, you know," Jake reminded me.
"I have to get going, see you later," I said as I walked off.
I had to cut it short since I saw the twins waiting for me around the corner of the building. I didn't want Jake to see who I was meeting or talking to or that would not be good. I'm sure they will be upset when I tell them I can't be around them anymore or see them after school.
"Hey Cullen, can you sit?" Jeb asked laughing.
"Not very well," I said.
"Your daddy put you over his knee again last night?" Braden asked.
"Yeah, I really got it too," I said sullenly.
"So where was the phone call so we could hear it," Jeb asked.
"Dad found my phone and made me give it to him and turned it off," I explained.
"Yeah, likely story. You just don't want us to hear you get your tail whacked off. So, since you didn't call us, show us your butt and let us see if it's even red," Braden said.
"I'm not pulling my pants down out here," I said to them.
"Let's go in the boys room then," Jeb said as he turned me to the door.
"By the way, my Dad said I'm not allowed to hang around with you anymore and no more after school projects either," I informed them.
"What? Did you tell him who we are? Nice work, Cullen, you big snitch," Jeb said shoving me forward.
"Hey, I didn't say who you were. He asked and I changed the subject. I just can't hang around with you guys anymore. By the way, thanks for ditching me and letting me take all the blame for the rock throwing," I said shoving Jeb back. He fell back since I forgot as a wolf I'm stronger.
"Hey, not so hard. You didn't think we would stay and get blamed did you? This is all on you, Cullen, to test your daddy's so-called love for you," Braden said to me.
"Okay Cullen, we'll keep the door closed in the lavatory, now show us how red you are," Jeb said.
I reluctantly dropped my pants and bent over revealing my still red bottom. You could see a couple of Dad's hand prints welted yet from last night, but it was already fading to a pinkish color. It still hurt like the dickens though.
"Oooooo, wow! Your Daddy sure made you red. Wow, a welted handprint. I'm taking a picture of that," Jeb said getting his phone out and snapping a picture.
"Hey, delete that," I said to him.
"Nothing doing, I'm keeping it. Since you never call us so we can hear your punishment or your dad yell at you, we have some proof at least that you got whacked. Now, since you can't hang around after school with us anymore, we have to come up with one humdinger that will really test his love and care for you. I bet you find out how he really feels about adopting a troublemaker into his fancy household. We'll have to come up with a good one and we'll let you know," Jeb said.
"No, I'm done with you and your stunts. I'm not pushing it anymore with my Dad," I said to them.
"Afraid to push the limits I see, well, just remember what I just took a picture of. If you don't do what we say, I'll turn this into the authorities and tell them your dad whips you and this is the result and you came to us for help," Jeb threatened me.
"You can't do that. No one would believe you anyway. Now give me that phone," I said reaching for it.
Jeb and Braden took off out of the bathroom and said they would be in touch. This is just great. Now I have to do what they say or they will turn Dad in for spanking me. Why did I have to be so stupid and show them my sore butt? I can't let them do that. That would ruin Dad's reputation here as the doctor and we would have to move. Or they would move, Dad wouldn't keep me after ruining his name in Forks. I'm sunk, now I have to do what they say or I'll lose Dad and my whole family. Then I'd have to live with mom and Charlie. I wish I would have never met those two.
School was almost over and I hadn't seen neither Jeb nor Braden all day. After my last class I went to the parking lot and waited for Dad. Right after I got there, Dad pulled up and I got in. I was running over and over in my mind how to tell Dad what happened today, but I was afraid he would be mad. I decided to just let it go and hope for the best. All too soon we arrived at the Forks Police Station.
Carlisle:
"All right, Young Man, I want you to go in there with me and apologize to Charlie for your disrespect to him last evening. You will also apologize for throwing rocks from the overpass and tell him you will never do it again, which you will not. Is that clear?" I put to my son.
"Yes Dad," Seth replied.
"Come on, let's get this over with," I said to him.
We both got out of the car and made our way into the Police Station. Charlie was busy taking a phone call and we waited until he hung up. He spied us and made his way over to us.
"Hello Carlisle, Seth. I hope this is a social call," Charlie said looking at Seth.
"Charlie, Seth has something to say to you. Seth," I said coaxing him.
"Charlie, I'm sorry for smarting off to you last night. It was rude and disrespectful of me and I'm really sorry. It won't happen again. I'm also sorry for the rock throwing," Seth said.
"Well, thank you Seth. I appreciate that. Please don't do anything like that again. So far there have been no calls reporting damage that they want paid for," Charlie announced to us.
"Well if there are, let me know Charlie," I said to him.
"I will Carlisle, thank you," Charlie said.
"Dad, can we go now," Seth asked me.
"Yes, thanks again Charlie," I said to him.
"See you over at the Lodge tomorrow night," Charlie said to us.
"Let's go home," I said to Seth.
We got home and the wolf children all had dinner. After that they went to do their homework and got ready for bed. Seth was still quiet and didn't have much to offer during dinner. After he went to bed and everyone else had settled in for the night, I again went to his room to watch him sleep. I was still perplexed by my Cub's behavior. He was so sincere and sweet with Charlie at the station and last night he was a vicious, sarcastic teenager acting out.
The following nights I also went to Seth's room and watched him sleep. We had worked on the Lodge and he was with me, but he is still quiet and offers nothing. He was also very jumpy these last few days. I'm not sure what that is about either. As I was sitting there, I heard someone come in the room. I turned to look to see who it was, it was Billy.
"Carlisle, you come in here every night and watch that boy sleep. Have you learned anything yet?" Billy asked.
"No, unfortunately not," I said.
"What do you think you will garner from watching him sleep?" Billy asked.
"I don't know, it's just comforting to see him asleep and hopefully at peace," I said.
"That boy is going through a turmoil, but watching him sleep will not give you the answer, my brother. All you need to do is love him and let him know you will always be here for him. The answers will come to you Carlisle, when Seth is ready to reveal them. Sitting here each night, will not solve the problem," Billy said.
"Makes me feel better, though," I said to him.
"Go to your wife, you need comfort too. You are not the cause of this turmoil that has Seth at odds with himself. Take a break, my friend," Billy said grabbing my arm.
"You're right, thanks Billy," I said getting up and kissing my Cub goodnight. I walked out next to Billy with my hand on his shoulder.
Seth turned over and silently sobbed into his pillow…
To Be Continued…
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