Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight (only my copies).
CH. 10-Serves Him Right
Edward's POV
Charlie was none too gentle as he shoved me into the back of the car. He got in the driver's seat and put on his seatbelt. He looked in his rearview mirror as he turned the key in the ignition and a smug smile spread across his face. I glowered back. How could he do this to his daughter? I could understand why he would want to do this to me, but not Bella. And I had just gotten her back! It felt so right to have her in my arms, and she had just been ripped away from me.
I turned around to look out the back window at her for as long as I could. I needed to burn her image into my memory for we would be apart again for who knows how long. I told her that I would be back soon, but after hearing Charlie's thoughts, I wasn't so sure. What was wrong with him? He wanted me gone, that much was easy to tell, but the ways he had planned to do it were horrible. He would go to any lengths to achieve his goal. He would subsequently be killing his daughter if he killed me, I knew that much from personal experience. If our roles had been reversed, I couldn't go on knowing she was gone forever, unable to return.
Her words drifted back into my mind as I stared at her beautiful face. I am home! Hearing her say that made my dead heart flutter. She thought of my home as her home. That meant more to me than anything I owned—or ever would own. There was nothing in the universe more precious than those words being spoken from her lips. What's mine is yours…hmm, not a bad idea. I couldn't wait to go home to her.
Charlie drove like a crazed madman, though I guess that's what he was. When he hauled me out of the car and into the station, his deputy's mouth dropped open, and his thoughts ran wild. He's a Cullen! They've never been in any kind of trouble before! I wonder what he did… "Get me booking papers," Charlie ordered of him. "And I want the Seattle Chief of Police on the phone. I need to get him into a high-security prison. I also want to speak to the DA's office to talk about a punishment for Mr. Cullen, here." Death! Death! Death! I almost laughed at the absurdity of it all. "Oh, and get a lawyer here for him." He jerked his thumb in my direction and then stuffed me into the one holding cell Forks Police Station had. He swung the door shut and locked it making sure to arrogantly show who had the key and was in power. I could easily crush the iron bars and break out, but that would cause more problems than it would fix. I dejectedly sank to the floor leaning my back against the brick wall. I closed my eyes and thought of the glorious moments Bella and I had recently shared. I could almost smell her scent as if she were standing right next to me…
The lock on the door clicked and I looked up to see a frantic Bella staring in at me. I jumped up and dashed to the door. It swung open and my Bella rushed in. She threw herself at me, and I was happy to return the favor. I buried my nose in her hair. "Oh, Edward! I'm so sorry!"
I laughed without humor. "You have nothing to be sorry for, my love."
"But you're in jail, and my warped father threw you in here because of me! It's all my fault!" She started to cry, and I wiped away her tears.
"Bella, you can't blame yourself for every misfortune we have. This is not your fault in the slightest. Please don't think it is." She sniffled. I pulled her chin up and stared lovingly into her eyes. "I love you, Bella. Never doubt that."
"I won't. I promise." She looked down again, and I nudged her eyes back up to meet mine.
"Forever," I whispered. I would change her, if that's what she still wants after all that I've put her through. I had gone through what it's like to be without her, and I didn't much care for it—at all. I couldn't lose her. I wasn't going to be the one to bring it up, but the option was there. She seemed to understand the meaning behind my promise, because her eyes filled with even more love than before if that were possible.
"Forever," she agreed. I reached down and kissed her, sealing our unspoken pledge with a kiss. I pulled away and rested my chin on top of her head. I still held her close, not wanting to ever let her go, but that time soon came when Charlie walked in and dragged her away from me. I snarled at him due to the aggressive way he handled my Bella.
"Isabella, you are never to see him again, do you understand me?" He held the top of her arms in his hands and shook her. "I don't want to see you here again. Now go home. Do you hear me?!" He shook her again to emphasize his point. She looked frightened. I stepped in, now. No one treated my angel like that.
I grabbed his wrist forcefully and he took the hint. He let her go. She rubbed the tops of her arms in an attempt to soothe the pain. My eyes flared with rage and he seemed slightly scared. A good dose of fear would do him some good. "Don't. Touch. Her."
"Assaulting an officer, now, too. You'd better watch yourself, Cullen." His voice was shaky. He shoved me back in the cell and locked the door. Bella was clearly outraged.
"You can't tell me who I can and cannot see, Charlie! I'm a legal adult and can do what I want!"
"You live in my house, therefore you will obey my rules!"
"I've told you already, Charlie, I will never step foot in that house again!"
"You will if I call your mother and she takes you there!"
"You can't do that!"
"I can do whatever the hell I want!"
"I'm afraid I'll have to disagree with you on that." This was a new, yet very familiar, voice.
"Carlisle!" Bella threw herself into my father's arms. He embraced her protectively.
"Hello, Bella. It's nice to see you again."
"Dr. Cullen," Charlie acknowledged him, slightly inclining his head.
Carlisle got right down to business. "On what grounds do you have my son in custody?"
"He kidnapped my daughter, and when he left her, he almost killed her, and he speeds all the time, I just know it, and indecent exposure for when he inappropriately kissed my daughter right in front of me and assault on an officer for what happened just now."
"We've been through this already, Charlie. Jasper took me from the hospital after I asked him to. Edward didn't put me in that hospital bed. Even if you had any proof, speeding isn't punishable with jail time. Indecent exposure—that's a bunch of crap, and—"
"You were hurting her. I took the minimal necessary action to make you release her."
"I see," Carlisle said, deep in thought. "If that's all, we'll be going now." He gestured to the locked cell door.
"Not a chance!"
"You have nothing to hold him on."
"Well, by law, I've got 24 hours to hold him, and that's exactly what I'm going to do!"(A/N: I'm not sure on this, but I think it's true.)
"He's innocent, Charlie! Why bother?!"
"Because I'll find something to hold him on if it's the last thing I do!"
She glared at him. "My things will be gone before you get home." If it weren't for the current circumstances, I'd be overjoyed at the fact that Bella was moving in with me, but… Who am I kidding? I'm happy she's moving in even if I am locked in a jail cell being kept away from her.
"You're not moving out, Bella!"
"You wanna bet?"
"Your mother will be here any time to take you with her. You don't stand a chance."
"Go get in my car, Bella," Carlisle said in a low voice. "I'll be right out." He handed her the keys and she headed outside throwing one last glare over her shoulder at Charlie.
"You can't do that!" Charlie yelled.
"Well, it looks like I just did." Edward, do you need to hunt?
I shook my head a fraction of an inch. It was nothing too unmanageable, though I would need to hunt before I spent an excessive amount of time with Bella. Good. That simplifies things. I'll keep her safe. He turned and walked out the door of the police station.
I glowered at Charlie. He looked like a fish out of water, not paying even the slightest bit of attention to me. He kept opening and closing his mouth, his eyes transfixed on the door Carlisle had just stormed out of. Serves him right.
A/N: I hope you liked it; I did. Can we go for ten reviews? I got nine for the last chapter and would really like to make double-digits.