Chapter 6: 24 Hours in Forks
Hour 1
Life as they say will find a way, things have a strange way off coming back to bite them on the ass. It was a few weeks after Edward and Bella had broken up. The end of January turned out to be a very bad week for the Cullen's and pack. Harry was home when he got the phone call from Carlisle, he was physically shaking when he put the phone down after he promised to pass the news on to the pack and specifically Jacob and Billy.
Paul who had been watching him as he spoke on the phone, while he hovered over the pans on the stove. "Harry what happened?" Paul asked.
"That was Carlisle." Harry said sounding stunned by what he had just heard. Paul looked worried now. "You need to call Sam there has been a murder." Harry said to him Paul gaped at this.
"Why would this affect Sam? Is it Emily?" he demanded.
"No it isn't Emily." Harry said to him.
"Then who?" Paul asked worriedly. "One of the pack?" he asked.
"No, Bella and her father were murdered some time last night." Harry said to him. "They found the bodies a couple of hours ago. That was Carlisle telling me that it was a Vampire attack." Harry said to him. Though Paul had never been a close friend of Bella's he felt the loss, well he rather felt for Jacob and Billy. "Please tell Sam and meet me down at Jakes place." Harry said to him. "You need to take Matt to Emmett and Rosalie." Harry said to him.
"Like hell I will." Paul snapped.
"Paul, I don't want him at the house with Jacob and Billy. The sensible part of your brain is going to kick in any minute, when it does you will know that the Cullen's couldn't have and wouldn't have done this to Bella." Harry said to Paul nodded numbly. "I don't want to subject Matthew to that loss, not again." Harry told Paul who nodded his head. "Pack up some of his Wii games, they should keep him entertained." Harry said to Paul. "Ask Carlisle to come by with something to help Billy sleep tonight as well." Harry said to him.
"Can do." Paul said to him with a strained and weak smile.
Hptwhptw
2nd hour
When Harry pulled up outside Billy's place Sam's truck was already out front. He had driven as fast as the limit allowed him to, it seemed to take forever; Sam met him at the car as he climbed out of it. Harry tried to smile at the man but it didn't work, he felt like he had been responsible in some way for the girl's death. He didn't know her father from atom, but he had been the one to convince the Cullen's back off.
"Have you spoken to Jake or Billy yet?" Harry asked.
"Paul just told me to get here, he didn't tell me why." Sam said to Harry.
"Bella and Charlie Swan were murdered last night; Carlisle says it was Vampires that did it." Harry said to him Sam didn't know what to say to this. He was stunned, had they been responsible for this, had the decision Harry had made to talk her out of this was it their fault. "I keep thinking the same thing Sam." Harry said to him as they headed up to the house.
"Harry what is all this about?" Jacob asked.
"Harry." Billy prompted.
"Billy would you mind moving away from Jacob." Harry said to the man. "Humour me." Harry prompted when the man looked like he wasn't going to comply.
"Harry your scaring me, is it one of my sisters." Jacob asked.
"It is Bella." Harry said to him, Jacob stiffened. "Carlisle called me a little while ago, he was asked to attend the crime scene as the county coroner." Harry said to them. "It looks like Charlie and Bella were murdered last night by Vampires." Harry said. Jacob let out a great scream off pain as and anger. Before any of them realised there was a large wolf in the room. Harry stepped forward; Sam tried to stop him not sure how Jacob would react. "Its okay I've been where he is right now." Harry said to Sam softly as he crouched down to the wolf's eye level.
"How bad was it?" Billy asked his voice broken with emotion and pain.
"I didn't ask, I don't think it would be helpful right now." Harry said to him. "It was Vampires, so I am guessing it wasn't pretty." Harry said as he closed his arms around Jacob's furry neck. "Maybe I should shave your neck a bit Jake." Harry sad the wolf snorted. "Carlisle is going to come by in a little while, with something that is going to help you sleep tonight Billy." Harry said to him.
"No, Jake needs me." Billy snapped.
"Billy you need to sleep, Jake isn't going to be here and we both know that." Harry said to him. Jacob's wolves head bopped up and down at this.
"I could ground him." Sam said Jacob snarled at this idea. "Okay maybe not." Sam said. "Maybe we can pick up a trail." Sam said.
"Stop by the Cullen place, you could use their help. Extra strength and eyes right now would be good for all of you." Harry said to him. "Jake I like talking to you, but not in wolf form do me a favour go change back." Harry said to him Jacob exited the room quickly.
"Where are Paul and Matthew Harry?" Billy asked.
"Matthew should be with the Cullen's by now; Paul should be on his way down here as we speak." Harry said to Billy. "I did not think it wise for him to be around Jacob when I told him the news." Harry said to Billy. "Nor did I want to tell Jacob with Matthew present." Harry told him Billy nodded his understand Jacob came back into the room with a pair of sweats on. "Much better." Harry said to him Jacob smiled a little.
"I need to see her." Jacob said to Harry.
"You may want to see her Jacob, but if this was Vampires, we have no idea what was done to her and Charlie before she died. You need to wait until they are done with their bodies; after Carlisle says it's okay I will drive you down there myself." Harry said to Jacob who glared at him. "You don't want the last memory of seeing her face to be tarnished by what they did to her." Harry said to him. "Trust me I wish I didn't see what I see, every time I envision Cedric. It's not easy that I see him every day when I look at Matthew either." Harry said to Jacob.
"You have Matthew to remember him by, at least that is something." Jacob growled.
"You think that is much condolence to me, you think that doesn't make Matthew ask why his dad isn't here every birthday. The pain doesn't go away Jacob; the best you can hope for is that it will lessen with time. Think of the happy memories you have with Bella, that is what you will make this easier than before." Harry said to him. "They are all you have now, well besides your photos of her." Harry said to him.
Hptwhptw
9th hour
Harry was sat in the Black home Paul was sleeping with Matthew beside him. His strong arms surrounding them both, Harry who had been unable to find sleep tonight watched the quietly. It had been a long time since he had had to comfort someone, but he knew the feeling, first with Cedric when he and Cedric's parents had had to deal with so much. Then with Sirius, Remus had been a mess, he'd been so young but he had dealt with more than any of the people he knew maybe with the exception of Billy and Jacob and his sisters.
Harry heard a cough from the door way, he looked up and smiled at Seth, "No news?" Harry asked as he got up from his seat in the living room. Harry looked at where Seth was staring and laughed, "They have been doing that quite a bit recently." Harry said to him. "No need to get jealous though, Paul is just another father to him; he doesn't have eyes on your mate for anything else." Harry said to the boy who smiled briefly.
"No, no news, the trail is cold. We lost them by the ocean. They have called off the search for tonight, Jakes a mess." Seth said to him as they walked out onto the porch. The rain was coming down heavily, Harry smiled a little. He liked it when the weather was like this; it reminded him of Hogwarts, of the weather they got there all year round.
"We'll find them Seth; they will pay for the pain they have caused Jacob." Harry said to the boy.
"How can you be sure of that?" Seth asked Harry turned his eyes on the boy and smiled sadly.
"Because this isn't over yet." Harry told him Seth made a face. "Just before the second war started with Voldemort, it felt like this. There is a storm brewing and we are right in the middle of it." Harry said to Seth. "It doesn't matter whether it was the Vulturi or a rogue element. Because they know what is here now, they'll be back. They won't be able to resist." Harry said to him.
"Way to be pessimistic Harry." Sam said as he came around the side of the house. "But I agree with you." Sam said to him. "How is Billy?" he asked.
"He went to bed about an hour ago, before that he hadn't stopped crying." Harry said to him. "Jacob?" he asked.
"He is a mess; we left him at my house while we went hunting." Sam said. "He shifted and well it wasn't pretty. It was like a mental assault, his grief…" Sam started Harry nodded his understanding. "He wasn't too happy about it; I got Carlisle to give him something to help him sleep." Sam explained.
"I know how he feels only to well." Harry said to Sam.
"Cedric right, Paul when he shifted… he didn't want to." Sam said.
"He told me what your pack telepathy does for privacy." Harry said to Sam with a smile. "Don't worry about it, its not like it was something Paul could do anything to prevent it. You could read about the whole thing in the papers, I know it got international attention, when people learned that Cedric and I were engaged. Well a certain reporter decided to make a sensational headline out of it." Harry said to Sam.
"Paul has a lot to live up to." Sam said.
"His doing just fine, he doesn't need to live up to Cedric. He is a wonderful boyfriend and a very good father." Harry said to Sam. Who tried to hide his shock at this last bit of news? "You hadn't worked it out, Paul sees Matthew as his, and I guess the imprinting on a guy who has a child means that you accept the responsibility that comes with that." Harry explained.
"You guys have been getting very close." Sam said to him.
"You ever noticed that his flat doesn't look lived in?" Harry asked him.
"He moved in already?" Seth asked.
"He moved in about a fortnight ago guys." Harry told them. "Jes you know a guy and yet you don't see that he hasn't renewed the lease on the flat he lives in." Harry said shaking his head. "I'll come by and pick up Jake in the morning Sam; you guys should go and get some sleep." Harry said to them.
"Harry you should to." Seth said to him Harry smiled weakly.
"Sleep won't come easily for me tonight." Harry said to him. "There are some hard choices to make in the coming days gentlemen, ones that weigh heavily on my chest this night." Harry said as he walked back towards the house.
Hptwhptw
16th hour
Harry was sadly surprised to find out that Jacob was in as bad a way, as Sam had suggested he was when he and Seth had visited the house the night before. Harry was driving Jacob to the funeral home, where Bella and Charlie had been moved, the silence in the car was often interrupted by dry sobs coming from Jacob. As much as he had never imprinted on Bella, he had been in love with the girl in question.
That and Charlie had been like an uncle to Jacob through out his life, he had been there for him when his mother Sarah had died and Billy had been unable to comfort his own son due to the grief he was consumed by.
Harry pulled them into the parking lot by the funeral home which was surprisingly quiet, almost too quiet for Harry. He couldn't believe that there could be such a normal day, not when everything around him seemed to be collapsing. Harry had pulled in climbed out of the car and locked it again, before realising that Jacob was not out of the car and staring at him wide eyed.
"Uh yeah sorry about that." Harry said to him as he unlocked the car again. Jacob quickly climbed out of the car, shutting the door behind him so Harry could lock it again. "I just assumed that you would be out off the car already." Harry said to him Jacob laughed but it didn't really reach his eyes. "Are you ready?" Harry asked him. "When you see her its going to make this as real as it can possibly be." Harry said to Jacob.
"It's already real." Jacob said to him.
"You haven't seen her yet." Harry said to him. "I asked Jasper to join us here." Harry said to him.
"Why the hell would you do that?" Jacob asked.
"Because you may need him to stay in control." Harry said to the boy as they were met outside the funeral home by Carlisle and Jasper.
Jasper groaned at the onslaught of both new comers emotions; Harry had been trying to safe guard his own emotions. Not wishing to overwhelm Jasper, apparently he hadn't done as good a job as thought. Jasper looked unusually pale even by his own standards; he didn't think it possible for a Vampire to get any more pale than they were.
The walk to that room was all too painful for Harry, who was lost in his own thoughts and grief. Jasper had to admit that he had never guessed that the events of the past two days would have this effect on Harry. Though as an after thought he realised it should have crossed his mind that it would.
"I want to go in there alone." Jacob said as they came to the door in question.
"We are out here if you need us." Harry said to him. "We are here if you need us." Harry said the meaning very different to his first statement. Harry said placing his hand on Jacob's arm as he couldn't quite reach the boys shoulder. "We are all here for you." Harry told him Jacob nodded his understanding before stepping into the room.
"This is going to be bad." Jasper said softly.
"It gets worse before it gets better." Harry told him.
"You would know." Jasper said to him.
"Yeah I would." Harry said his eyes returning to the closed blinds of the room that contained Jacob and Bella's body. "Sorry I know you're here for Jacob." Harry said to him. "And he may not be thankful for it right now but he will be." Harry told Jasper. "How is Edward holding up?" Harry asked.
"His angry, not at you or Sam or Paul. His just angry right now, if we'd been there to protect them…" Jasper started.
"They would have probably died anyway Jasper. You can't be with someone twenty four hours a day, not even when you are a Vampire." Harry said to the man. "You would have let your guard down for an hour and this would have happened." Harry said to him. "And Alice she must be beating herself up right about now." Harry asked.
"You'd be right about that." Jasper said to him. "She hasn't stopped sobbing since we found out." Jasper said.
They were there for a couple of hours, when Jacob emerged from the room he was still crying Harry wrapped his arm around the mans waist and helped guide him out of the funeral home, he didn't say a word to Jacob except to open the door to the car for him. He knew that Jacob would speak when he was ready; there was no point in prompting him right now.
Hptwhptw
24th hour
Harry tucked Matthew into his bed before exiting the room, Jacob was down the hall he wanted to be far away from the reservation right now. Billy was staying on the ground floor, he had no idea how long they planned to stay. Not that it really mattered he would put them up for as long as they wanted to stay, they had the space for them.
The funeral would be on the following Monday, there was a large number of people wishing to attend the funeral. Harry had enough dealing with two grieving grown men, trying to be of some comfort to Jacob was no easy feat. While Billy had the elders of his tribe, Jake had the pack but for some reason that wasn't comforting to him right now.
"Sleep tight baby boy." Harry said to him quietly.
"Is Uncle Jake going to be okay?" Matthew asked.
"He is going to be just fine, his friends and family are going to make sure of that." Harry said to Matthew. "Now sleep tight." Harry told him Matthew nodded as Harry bent down kissing his forehead. "I'll see you in the morning." Harry said as he turned on the night light as he left he turned of the main light.
Harry walked into the kitchen to find Jacob necking a bottle off Jack Daniels, Harry walked over slapping the back of his head as he took the bottle from Jacob. Paul was laughing at the look on his friends face.
"You stay here you play by my rules Jacob." Harry said to him. "One off which until you are off age, you do not drink in my house." Harry said to Jacob who gulped. "I catch you drinking my JD; I will give your ass the kicking it deserves. And gross you were drinking directly from the bottle." Harry growled at the man angrily.
"Sorry." Jacob said blushing shame in his voice. Harry walked over to Paul then slapped him about the head causing Jacob to laugh.
"That is for letting him drink out of the damn bottle." Harry said to Paul.
"I'm not diseased." Jacob said.
"No but you are looking to drown in your sorrows and that never ends well." Harry said to him. "I know that from experience by the way." Harry said to him with a smile on his face. "It doesn't feel like it right now Jacob, but it becomes easier to live with, you just need to give it some time. It won't happen tomorrow, it won't happen even in a week from now. That said it will." Harry said to him. "You will know when the time comes." Harry told him placing his hand to Jacob's chest. "You will know right here." Harry said to him.
"How can you say that?" Jacob said.
"Because I love Paul, after Cedric I knew I would never love another person the way I did Cedric. I would never be intimate with another person." Harry said to him. "And I can tell you that Paul is amazing in bed." Harry said that drew a laugh from Jacob and a splutter from Paul. "There it is that's the Jacob I have been waiting to see all day." Harry said with a smile.
AUTHORS NOTE: Well here is chapter 6 of this story, now I promised that I would write a chapter for life is a roller coaster. The issue here and I need your help with this guys if you have read that story. Whether you would like me to finish it as it is or rewrite it, and add the bits I missed first time out. Be brutal and be honest, if your rude about it I have an ignore button and I am not afraid to use it.
Now some addressed the issue of Bella and the Vulturi, and I had planned on her living in this story. The more I thought about it however the more I came to the conclusion that they would kill her eventually. That said I am not saying this is the case that she died at their hands in this chapter. Now someone did pick out another little cross over I did in chapter 5.