This was one of my earlier one-shots in Twilight. Looking back over it now, I think I enjoyed writing the AU in that fandom more than trying to keep it anywhere near canon-compliant. Pretty sure this one was late 2009 or early 2010. I liked it, it was a good story but I was never in love with it and I didn't fight too hard when I lost my motivation for it. It never even had a title, always just called BELLA in my files.

**BELLA**

"Have fun bowling tonight, Bells?"

The mere sound of my father's voice triggered an unpleasant sensation of "beyond pissed off" and I knew detonation was imminent.

"Hey, Charlie… why don't you turn off the fucking game. We need to talk."

My father's bulging eyes and slack jaw were almost funny, but I was too enraged to laugh at his "fish out of water" expression. He'd interfered in my life one time too many in the past year, and I was going to extract his word he wouldn't do so again or I'd be packing tonight. He regained his composure rather quickly, and was starting to look rather irate himself. I knew if he blew his top, the conversation would be over before it began. Not wanting that to happen, I held up my hand to forestall his outburst.

I took my jacket off and displayed my arms to him, showing him the marks that were obviously caused by huge hands that had wrapped violently around my biceps. I also pushed aside the collar of my sleeveless polo shirt to show a similar mark on my throat. I saw his initial shock turning to rage in his eyes, and I knew the conclusion he was coming to. So before he could even ask, I answered him.

"No, Charlie… Edward would never lay so much as a finger on me. Jacob Black, on the other hand, is sitting in the Port Angeles jail right now." I exhaled loudly, hoping that taking a deep breath and a second to compose myself would prevent me from completely losing it.

"So, here's the deal... You are going to swear to me that you will stop telling him where Edward and I are going, and stop encouraging him to break us up or I am moving out tonight. After Carlisle and Esme had to come get us and saw the condition we were in, they were more than happy to offer me their spare room until Edward and I leave for college."

"Bells, I didn't tell Jake where you were going tonight!"

"Riiiiiiiight," I cocked an eyebrow, not quite ready to believe him on that one. "Because you and Billy Black haven't been planning on a wedding between me and that psycho for the past 16 years already, have you? And you haven't told him in the past where I'd be so he could come and try to break up a date, have you? And you haven't asked him to swing by Rose's house to make sure I'm really there on girl's night, have you?"

I didn't give my befuddled father a chance to reply before I dashed up the stairs to grab a set of clean clothes and my necessities for in the morning. When I came back down to join him, Charlie finally seemed like he was pulling together enough coherency to defend himself.

"Now hold on just a minute, Isabella! Billy and I have never hidden the fact we hoped you two would end up together, but I wouldn't try to force you to be with Jake. As far as the rest of it, I stopped telling him where you were and who you were with last fall. The last straw for me was when he showed up at that football game drunk and looking to start a fight with Edward. I've NEVER sent Jake to the Hale's house to check up on you. That is going a little beyond being a "concerned friend" and heading towards "stalker". Why didn't you tell me he was showing up in places he shouldn't be?"

"Honestly? Because I thought you knew what he was doing. You made no secret of it the first few times you told him where I'd be and that you hoped he would be able to come between me and Edward."

"What happened tonight that you're all bruised up?"

I sighed and leaned against the doorway to the kitchen.

"Edward went to the bathroom and to get us some drinks between games, and as soon as he was out of sight Jake came in through the side door and grabbed me. He tried to pull me towards the door but I screamed and struggled, so he grabbed both of my arms and started shaking me. He was yelling at me, telling me enough was enough and demanding I break up with Edward. I told him even if I wasn't with Edward, I wouldn't be with him; that's when he grabbed my throat. Edward came back with the manager, who had already called the cops. Jake shoved me aside and tackled Edward, and slammed his head into the concrete floor; then he shoved the poor elderly alley manager to the ground before running out and getting caught by the cops in the parking lot vandalizing Edward's car. I was going to drive us over to Port Angeles General, but Jake had taken the time to slash all four of the Volvo's tires. He was working on the windows and lights when the police showed up. I called Carlisle and Esme and they came to get us. Esme dropped Edward and Carlisle at the hospital then brought me home so I could get my truck and head to the hospital myself."

Charlie was apparently in shock. He couldn't quit gaping at me as his mouth opened and closed wordlessly.

"I'm sure you'll be getting a call soon to work your voodoo police magic and spring the psycho, so I'm gonna go to the hospital to deal with the detective and visit Edward, then I'm going home with Esme to keep her company tonight. She's just a little upset… what with her son being assaulted and all. I'm sure you understand."

I stepped into the kitchen to grab my keys and make a quick sandwich since Edward and I hadn't been able to make our dinner reservations. Charlie followed behind me, still slightly dazed.

"Bells, I swear to you… I did not tell him where you were going to be tonight. I have never sent him to the Hale's house to check up on you. Yes, last year I was hoping if Jake was persistent you'd give him a chance. But you made it clear who you were picking, and I was being honest when I said I quit encouraging him after that football game."

Charlie leaned against the counter and ran his hands against his face. He looked pretty upset and against my better judgment I felt myself softening a little. I wasn't willing to give him the power of knowing that though… he'd used "dad guilt" more than once to plead Jacob's case with me.

Charlie sighed, "I've actually told him to back off a few times since then. I know I haven't really given Edward much of a chance, but I don't think I would be different with any boy you dated, Bella. I just thought since I knew Jake so well I could trust him not to hurt you. Apparently I was wrong."

"Fine." My tone of voice indicated that it really wasn't fine, but I didn't want to fight at the moment. "I sort of believe you, but I'm going to the hospital and I'm still staying with Esme tonight. A detective from Port Angeles is supposed to be there soon to talk to both of us and get pictures of the injuries. I know you and Billy are close, and you've always treated Jake like your own son… but if you want me to stay here he is not allowed in this house again."

Charlie slumped at the shoulders, looking soul-weary. I knew exactly how big of a demand I was making, but I was making it anyways.

"Dad, I know this will cause issues between you and Billy, but Jacob has been verbally aggressive in the past, and tonight he got physical. I will not live here if he is going to be allowed access to this house. I will be pressing assault charges and filing for a restraining order. Edward will be doing the same, and since the car is in Carlisle's name he will be pressing charges for the damages Jacob caused."

"Of course he won't be allowed here anymore! Do you really think I'd pick my friendship with Billy over your safety?"

"I don't know, Charlie." I picked up my keys and gave him a pointed look before I walked away, still talking to him over my shoulder. "I guess I'll find out when Billy tries to have you talk me into dropping all the charges and not getting the restraining order."

I drove to the hospital still in a rage. I kinda wanted to believe Charlie, but he'd made his preference for Jacob too well known for me to be completely convinced.

I ran into Esme in the hallway and she told me the detective was already talking to Edward. I told her what Charlie had said, and that I had already informed him of the legal steps I would be taking. I was trying my best not to get teary, because that wasn't going to solve any problems, but the shock of the evening was wearing off and the anger and fear were converging on me.

"Bella," Esme was carefully looking everywhere but at me, "Do you believe your dad that he didn't tell Jacob where you would be tonight?"

"I really want to, but I'm not sure that I completely do. Even if he didn't tell Jacob, he probably mentioned to Billy that we would be out bowling tonight. That's as good as telling Jacob, because Billy has always acted proprietary towards me when it comes to his son. Charlie said he wouldn't have forced me to be with Jacob, but I sometimes get the feeling that Billy would force it if he could."

"I'm glad you noticed that, dear. Billy has made comments within Carlisle's hearing in the past several months about Edward taking you away from Jacob. I'm actually quite worried for your safety even if you're granted an order of protection against Jacob, because it won't include Billy and Billy doesn't seem … stable."

"Well it can be easily solved. Billy won't set foot anywhere his son isn't welcome, and Charlie swore he was no longer welcome at my house. I won't go to La Push, not even to the beach. Jacob doesn't go to our school and after that fight he started last year he isn't allowed on the property. We don't have any other friends in common that he can use against me."

"Promise me that you'll be extra careful anyways, dear. Let Mike walk you out to your truck after your shifts. If you're not with Edward make sure you have one of your other friends with you, preferably one of the boys. Please feel free to come home with Edward if your dad is working evening shifts so that you're not home alone at night. I just have a bad feeling and I want to know you'll be safe."

"I will be careful, Esme. I promise."

She smiled and patted my shoulder, "I know you will. I just worry about you like you're my own. I don't think I could have hand picked a better girl for Edward if I'd tried to."

Carlisle came walking down the hall towards us, and he had a small smile on his face which relieved my worries on the severity of Edward's injury. My face must've been displaying my every thought because Carlisle chuckled and reached over to ruffle my hair before hugging Esme.

"Yes, he's fine, Miss Worrywart. He's displaying mild confusion, but no loss of cognitive ability. He didn't remember Jacob slamming his head into the ground, but he did remember being tackled. How about you? You've got a bit of a knot on your head too…"

I reached up, feeling the goose egg that was forming. "I fell when Jacob shoved me aside. I knocked my head on the ball return machine, but I don't think I hit it hard enough to do any damage."

Carlisle grabbed his penlight and flashed it at my eyes. I was old hat at being checked for concussions due to my inherent klutziness, so I dutifully moved my eyes back and forth, up and down so that Carlisle could check the reactions of my pupils.

"I don't think you have a concussion, sweetie, but I'll give you a script for a few 800mg Tylenol. That will keep your head from hurting. In fact, I'll run down to the hospital pharmacy and have it filled for you while you talk to the police, OK?"

I nodded and Carlisle walked down the hallway. A few moments later, we heard a door opening farther down the hall, and a familiar man came towards us. I groaned, not believing that after the shit I had already dealt with tonight that fate had one more epic "Fuck You" planned for me.

His black hair was shorter and dusted liberally with gray, but his copper skin and brown eyes hadn't changed a bit since I'd last seen him. "Hello, Harry. I'm guessing you're our Detective?"

He nodded and I cursed loudly, earning a reproving look from Esme. Before she could mom me to death about my lack of manners, I made the introductions.

"Esme, this is Harry Clearwater. He is a Quileute and last I knew him, he was best friends with Billy Black. I'm sure you understand why I'm less than pleased to see him here."

She gasped and her eyes narrowed on him, "Isn't this some sort of conflict of interest, Detective Clearwater?"

He nodded gravely to her, "Yes ma'am. I wasn't aware that Bella was the female victim when I came out here. Charlie and I go all the way back to Academy. After I spoke with your son and he told me who his girlfriend was, I called my partner to come handle this case. He should be here soon."

I tilted my head to the side and eyed Harry warily, "How soon will you be letting the psycho out? I'm sure Billy's already called you and started raving about tribal loyalties so it shouldn't be long."

A sadness passed over his features before he slowly shook his head.

"Things are different than the last time I saw you, Bella. The tribe was OK with me being a cop here in Forks, but when I jumped at the chance for the PA job while you were in Arizona, the council went ballistic. I was moving, taking the daughter and grandchildren of an Elder off of Tribal Lands. We're no longer members of the tribe. When Sue refused to divorce me and stay, they removed all of our names from the tribal records."

I was dumbfounded, "Why didn't Charlie say anything? I know you guys still go fishing and stuff…"

He chuckled, "I'm sure Charlie never even thought to mention it to you. You weren't close to Leah, and Seth was only a baby when Renee took you and left. Charlie and I don't talk about it because he's still friends with Billy and I am a forbidden topic in La Push."

His eyes shifted past Esme's shoulder and he smiled. We both turned to see who had caught his attention, and I gasped as my Biology teacher walked up to Harry. Well, it was my biology teacher, but not really. His eyes were slightly different without his reading glasses, and I'd never seen him in anything but his lab coat and khakis. Seeing him in a suit and tie was almost unreal…

"Mr. Banner?"

He looked at me and amusement crinkled his eyes, "I'm guessing you're a student at Forks High? I'm John Banner, Jason is my twin brother. Anytime I'm in Forks I get all kinds of questions about mitosis and whatever else he's teaching. I sucked at science so I don't answer your classmates. I think poor Jay may have gotten an undeserved bad rep for being standoffish with you kids because of me."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I don't believe he's ever mentioned a brother, but it makes sense now. Are you our new detective?"

He nodded and looked to Harry with a quirked brow.

"Sorry I had to call you out tonight, John. The female vic is Charlie Swan's daughter. I'm too close personally. Come with me and I'll introduce you to the male vic. I don't know him or his parents personally, so his official statement to me should be fine for you."

Harry led Detective Banner back towards Edward's room just as Carlisle came back around the corner from the pharmacy. He gave us a puzzled look, "Wasn't that your Biology teacher?"

Esme and I both broke into hysterical giggles while Carlisle stood there with an indulgent smile on his face. It was pretty clear he thought we were both insane and he was just humoring us until we snapped out of it.