Chapter Eight

Carlisle

I went in to see Bella before going home, relieved to find that she had reacted so positively to Jasper's arrival even without the necessity of him using his gift. She was sleeping peacefully, and after hearing that he was to stay with her as he had promised, I had a word with the administrator. She was initially reluctant until I stretched the truth a little by telling her he was a private investigator I had hired as security for my patient until we could ascertain what exactly had happened to her.

"Very well Doctor Cullen, but I must insist he stays in the background and does not interfere with her treatment or the smooth running of my hospital."

I agreed although formidable as she was, I couldn't see her persuading Jasper to stay out of things if he felt unhappy at anything that was happening.

Esme

I had found a tiny apartment for Jasper, not the most salubrious but beggars couldn't be choosers and from what he said to Bella he wouldn't be spending any time there anyway. Besides, I wanted to be home in time to welcome Edward and Rachel back as it seemed I was no longer required at the hospital. It had been far too long since they had visited and it seemed ironic that it should be Bella who brought him home.

When they arrived I could feel that the atmosphere between them was frostier than usual and wondered if it had anything to do with Bella's reappearance in our lives. It didn't take long for the conversation to turn to her although I could see that Rachel would rather have told me about their travels and heard the family news. I tried to keep it brief, after all, there was very little I could tell them except that Bella had arrived in the ER after a serious road accident and Carlisle had recognized her. We had no idea where she had come from or what she had been doing since she vanished from home the night before her wedding.

"She was going to marry the dog boy? My God, no wonder she ran away, she must have come to her senses just in time."

"We think she was abducted, Edward, and from her condition, it would seem that she has been leading a very strange life since."

Rachel's ears pricked up at this, she loved a little gossip the juicer the better, and when I elaborated he looked aghast.

"She was working the streets? Bella?"

I shrugged.

"It's impossible to say with any certainty but from what I hear about the way she was dressed and other things.. it could be that she became involved in the sex trade."

"No wonder she doesn't want to remember or at least admit to it."

Edward scowled at Rachel's comment but she was oblivious. It was natural that she should prefer to think of Edward's ex-girlfriend in that light, women in love were so sensitive about their husband's old flames.

"There's also the fact that her father is dead, she doesn't remember anything at all and Carlisle doesn't want anyone telling her until she starts to remember on her own."

"And how long is that likely to be?"

"He has no idea, Edward, head injuries are very difficult to predict."

Rachel had gone very quiet now watching Edward's every reaction.

"I should go and see her, it might just jog her memory."

At this Rachel rolled her eyes.

"Edward, haven't you been listening to a word Esme said? Bella doesn't remember anything or anyone and as she freaks out every time a man walks into the room I doubt she would be pleased to see you."

"Seeing a familiar face might just do the trick and we were, however briefly, very close. Who is with her now? I mean you said you hadn't traced her mother yet but surely you haven't left her there all alone?"

"Probably the nursing staff Edward, it is their job after all."

"Actually, Rachel, Jasper's here, he's staying with her at the moment."

Edward's expression darkened,

"Him? Why Jasper? Don't you think that perhaps it was a mistake to introduce the one man she might remember attacking her back into her life?"

"Carlisle thought he might be able to use his gift to help her get over her fear so she can remember what happened."

Edward snorted.

"Really?"

"I thought she was terrified of men, what's so different about Jasper? I thought he was the big bad bogeyman, at least the way you tell it, Edward."

Edward

How could Carlisle be so monumentally stupid?

Esme interrupted me at this point reading my thoughts in my expression,

"Edward, unfortunately he's the only man, apart from Carlisle, that she hasn't freaked out on seeing. Your father thought Jasper might be able to keep her calm enough to remember what happened to her, and he agreed. I had nothing to do with it and frankly I agree with you both, Jasper is quite unsuitable to be looking after a fragile and vulnerable young woman but of course, Carlisle had his own ideas."

Esme was very sweet but she could be so naive and stupid sometimes and I was amazed that she had summed up the situation so correctly on this occasion.

"Well, what are we going to do about it? After all, he was the one who ruined everything in Forks. If you think about it he's probably at least partially responsible for the position Bella is in right now. She could have been safely in Forks and..."

I stopped there, finishing that statement with 'safe with me' would have been stupid and possibly suicidal and when I heard a grunt from Rachel I knew I had been just in the nick of time.

I pulled her into my arms and kissed her tenderly.

"I was only pointing out the facts to Esme, sweetheart. Jasper isn't a suitable companion for a traumatized girl as she says, he's an animal."

She looked at me with jealousy shining brightly in her eyes, a sure warning sign and one I would ignore at my peril.

"So, am I to take it that you're offering yourself as her bodyguard instead, Edward?"

I shook my head angrily.

"No, of course not, my place is with you. I was just pointing out the facts as I see them. Esme, we must convince Carlisle to find someone more suitable to look after Bella's mental health."

Esme folded her arms and looked me in the eye.

"How do you suggest we do that, Edward? Do you know what to say to Carlisle? Not to mention Jasper who has set himself up as Bella's champion. Do you happen to know someone who could help Bella with her emotional turmoil? I'd be interested to know if you do."

I looked at Rachel who stepped away shaking her head.

"Oh no, I'm not getting involved, Edward. She's nothing to do with me and I don't want to know."

Ignoring her I turned back to Esme.

"Rachel can subdue anyone, she could help Bella and I know she would if I asked her".

Rachel burst out laughing.

"Edward, the idea is to calm the girl not subdue her, what is the matter with you? If Bella wants Jasper, leave her alone."

Esme who quite obviously disagreed with everything Rachel had said turned to me.

"Why don't you visit and see if you can sort something different out? Just remember to contact Carlisle when you get to the hospital so he can introduce you to Bella."

I nodded, finally a sensible suggestion.

"Yes, yes I will. Come along, Rachel, it will be good for Bella to have a woman with her under the circumstances while I see if there is another solution to Bella's dilemma."

I could see Rachel wasn't happy but she followed me out grudgingly as I had known she would. My wife was too jealous to let me go alone when my destination was an ex-girlfriend.

We borrowed Esme's car for the trip to the hospital and I insisted on driving to keep my mind off Rachel's thoughts which were not comfortable for me at all. We had barely turned the corner from the house when she started,

"Just remind me why we are going to see this girl."

Trying hard to keep my temper and say nothing that might make the situation worse I glanced over at her with a smile.

"Please Rachel, there's no need for such hostility, I care about Bella like she was a good friend that's all."

"A good friend? I thought it was far more than that at one time since you told me so little about her."

I blinked, unaware that I had kept anything back about my time in Forks although I guess I had only mentioned Bella in passing.

"Admittedly she was important to me at one time but not any longer, I just want to make sure she's safe with my 'brother'."

"I'm curious to meet this brother of yours, someone else I've heard a lot about although you seem more reticent about him than you are about Bella Swan. It's difficult to get a reliable take on him. Alice has nothing good to say about Jasper, Rosalie is neutral, Emmett likes him and you? I think you detest him, care to enlighten me?"

"I have nothing to add and before you jump down my throat the reason I'm not his greatest fan has nothing to do with the fact that he attacked Bella when we lived in Forks."

I thought I'd cut her off quite successfully until she changed her line of attack.

"I'm sure Carlisle wouldn't have involved him if he didn't think it would be safe. Besides, what can you do? We are due to fly to Hong Kong in three days and I've got shopping to do before then."

Why were women so obsessed with shopping? I ached to ask her but decided it would be unwise to antagonize her further right now.

"Rachel, just this one visit and then I'm all yours. The fate of my ex is of little interest to me but it would look odd if I ignored her situation even if I haven't seen her since I walked out on her in Forks more than two years ago."

Obviously feeling she had made her point she settled back in her seat,

"Let's just be clear about one thing Edward, I don't want you getting involved with your ex, nor do I want to become involved in her sordid little human life, remember that."

I nodded, eager to see the subject closed as quickly as possible,

"OK Rachel, I just want to satisfy my curiosity, see what's happened to her, then it's off to Hong Kong. I know you've been looking forward to the trip and I promise I won't spoil it for you."

I hated it when Rachel put her foot down, but I guess I could see her point of view. Bella was my ex and I wouldn't have wanted to spend time with any of her ex-boyfriends. It would be a quick in and out, I didn't relish spending time with Jasper anyway. It was his fault Bella and I split up and I sometimes wondered what would have happened if Alice hadn't arranged that damn party. Bella had gotten under my skin in a way no other woman ever had, not even Rachel.

When we got to the hospital I decided to skip finding Carlisle beforehand, in a place this size it could take forever. We'd just make our way to Bella's room and pop in quickly, he didn't even have to know we'd been until I spoke to him about his involvement of Jasper but Rachel was dragging her feet and in the end I became impatient.

"If you don't want to go with me just say so, you can always wait in the car."

She shook her head stubbornly.

"Oh no, I can't wait to meet the Saintly Bella Swan."

I hated her sarcasm but I kept my mouth shut to avoid a blazing row in the quiet, dimly lit, hospital corridor.

Bella

Jasper had gone to make a quick phone call although he promised he wouldn't be further than the end of the corridor but I was still alone and I hated it. I was frightened that they would come for me, even though I still didn't know who they were. I only felt safe when I could see Jasper because I knew he would keep his word and protect me.

I tried to look at one of the magazines Esme had left for me but I couldn't concentrate and as the door opened I heaved a sigh of relief, he was back at last.

When I looked up though, the figure in the doorway was the wrong shape and height and when I heard my name whispered in an unfamiliar voice I knew they had found me. I screamed although my voice was still weak and ran to the bathroom intending to lock myself in and then I heard another voice, there were two of them! I continued to scream as I flung my weight against the door to stop them opening it praying Jasper would hear me and come running.

Jasper

I heard Bella scream and ran back to her room seeing two figures enter as I turned the corner. Cursing I came up behind them and grabbed the larger of the two around the neck. The other one turned on hearing his companion's choking cough and I slammed my fist into the center of his face. Bella's screams were cutting me in two and I didn't have time to be diplomatic so I wrenched their necks breaking them instantly, and threw the two bodies in a storage closet before racing into Bella's room. She had been quick enough to lock herself in the bathroom and with a sigh of relief, I slid down the door to sit against it and talk to her, reassuring her she was safe.

"Bella, it's me, Jasper. You're safe now, I got rid of them. Can you open the door for me, Bella?"

I swung my head around as I heard more sounds in the corridor and stood up ready to act if it was anyone other than a nurse alerted by Bella's screams.