A/N: Another emotional chapter ahead guys. This was actually very emotional to write, I teared up a few times when I read it back. In the last chapter, Jasper collapsed because he couldn't handle Bella's strong emotions along with Edward's bloodlust. Bella is not in danger from Jasper in this story, he is will actually be a balm for her.
In this chapter, we will get some of the aftermath of the accident. Again, multiple POVs which seemed necessary for the inner workings of the story.
Thanks to all the awesome readers for all the encouragement and wonderful thought provoking comments! I enjoy chatting with all of you very much.
OK, strap in kiddies...
**Thanks and gratitude to my beta Jess (jkane180) for her super fast beta skills! Mwah!
Previously…
"I don't know about that, Alice. Edward didn't know me at all. I knew it was probably going to be that way but part of me hoped that deep down he would just know. Instead, he just wants me dead." Her sobbing grew louder and more aggrieved.
Suddenly Jasper fell back against the wall, and the cocoon of calm left me. My eyes flew to his, and found them glazed over, his face a mask of torment. Grabbing his head in his hands, he sank to the floor.
Without his calming influence, Bella's scent washed over me, and a low grow issued from my throat. Before I could stop myself, I flung the door open and entered the room.
Chapter 9
~Sanguinary Aftermath~
~*Alice's POV*~
I didn't see Edward coming because it was a split-second decision. The door slammed open, and then he was there, insanity gleaming in his coal black eyes. There was no reasoning with him at this point, and I didn't have time for visions, just action. Leaping to the foot of Bella's bed, I let out a feral growl.
EDWARD, STOP RIGHT NOW! DON'T COME ANY CLOSER! I'M WARNING YOU!
Upon hearing my thoughts, he growled ferociously in return, and I could see that he was looking for an easy way around me. Knowing that I was no match for Edward physically, I would have to find some way to delay him long enough for him to see reason—or for someone else to come to my aid. Letting him near Bella was not an option—it would not end well—that much I could see.
"Get...out...of...my...way," he whispered dangerously.
"Never! You'll have to go through me, Edward, because I WILL NOT step aside and allow you to destroy everything. There's a lot you don't know yet—get a hold of yourself!" I snarled.
Edward circled to my left slowly, and I adjusted my stance. I filled my head with a vision of what would happen if he killed Bella—the same vision Bella herself had seen—Edward on his knees, broken, and Carlisle begging him to stay.
His face twisted as I shot it at him full blast, but it only slowed him down slightly. Snarls of warning continued to build in his chest, and I knew it was only a matter of time before he tried to come at me.
Bella whimpered behind me. For some reason, the sound of it seemed to penetrate Edward's trance, and a more humane look came into his eyes. He looked almost concerned, as though wondering why she was afraid.
"Edward, can't you see you're scaring her? Please just leave the room," I begged.
"NO!" he roared, moving in for the kill.
EDWARD, NO, NO, NO!
He reached out and tossed me out of his way like a rag doll. Before I hit the wall, I was already propelling myself back towards the bed, knowing I would be too late.
"No, you don't, bro," came a deep voice. Emmett. Thank God. I had called him just before Jasper and I found Edward sitting in the hallway. There had been no specific vision, just a strong feeling of foreboding, and I had a feeling we might be in need of Emmett's brute strength. Edward was no match for his brawn.
Emmett had Edward's arms pinned behind his back. Struggling hard, leaning his body towards Bella, Edward snapped his teeth. Bella's eyes grew large, her breathing coming in short gasps, heart rate spiking dangerously high.
"Look at what you're doing; THINK about what you're doing. There was nobody there to stop me when I came across my singer." Deep regret was evident in Emmett's voice. "She's a person with a family and people that love her. She's NOT just a piece of meat," Emmett whispered gently in Edward's ear, not condemning, just supporting.
With an anguished cry, Edward dropped to his knees, head hanging in shame. "I...I...want her. God help me...I want...her," he said desperately, struggling against Emmett's hold, but not as aggressively as before.
Hurrying over to Bella, I opened my arms, and Bella hugged me tight, sobbing like she'd lost her best friend. "What's wrong with me that he hates me so much? Why does he want me dead?" Bella whispered.
"Oh, no, Bella! It's not that at all. Sometimes vampires will come across a human whose blood smells much better than all the rest—blood that 'sings' to us. He's acting purely on instinct; it's nothing personal," I tried to explain.
"Nothing personal, huh?" Anger was evident in Bella's voice now. "You want to kill me? You want to have to live with the guilt and be responsible for the destruction of your family? Spend the rest of your days in a self-imposed seclusion? I live at 22 Cherry Blossom Lane. Bring it on, buddy!"
Edward's head snapped up, and his gaze met Bella's, surprise evident in his eyes, his mouth hanging open.
"You're going to catch flies, Edward," she quipped, eyes blazing.
Edward's mouth closed with a snap, jaw clenching. His eyes looking less wild; he was clearly intrigued by this human girl who was faced with death and had the guts to yell in a vampire's face, inviting him to her house. If the situation wasn't so serious, I might have laughed. As it was, Emmett looked amused, a twinkle in his eye.
Jasper leaned in the doorway, letting out a breath of relief. "Everyone okay?" A feeling of calm enveloped everyone in the room.
"What is that?" Bella looked confused as Jasper's wave of calm hit her.
"Jasper is an empath, honey. He can feel what others are feeling, and he can also project feelings upon others," I explained, brushing her hair back from her brow.
"Thank you, Jasper."
"You're welcome, Miss Bella. I'm so sorry I let the beast loose." He glared at Edward.
Now that Jasper's calming influence was in the room, Edward was much calmer and looked repentant.
"Bella," Edward began in a soft voice. Her eyes flew to meet his at the sound of her name. "I'm so sorry. I've never experienced anything like this; I don't even know what to say. Please...forgive me."
"Can you promise me that you'll never try to kill me again? Can you honestly say that if Jasper took your security blanket away you wouldn't leap for my throat?"
Edward closed his eyes, a pained look on his face, and whispered, "No, I can't."
Bella blinked back tears, a tremor shaking her body. "Thank you."
"Thank you?" Edward looked confused.
"For being honest," she sighed, covering her face with her hands. Looking up at Emmett, she said, "I'm sorry, I don't know your name."
"Emmett. Nice to meet you, Bella. I wish it was under...difference circumstances."
"Emmett, can you do me a favor? Please get him out of my room. I was just in a car accident, and I don't even know if my friends are alive or not. I really can't deal with any more drama right now. If he wants to kill me, it will have to wait until a later date." Bella laid her head back against the pillow, closing her eyes.
"Bella, please - " Edward began, but she held her hand up to stop him.
"I. Have. Had. Enough. Just leave." A tear leaked out the corner of her eye.
There was a soft knock on the door, and we all looked over to see Carlisle. "Hello, Bella, I'm Dr. Carlisle Cullen. Your father just arrived and is very anxious to see you. May I send him in?"
"Yes, of course, Dr. Cullen. What about my friends that were in the van? How are they?"
"Surprisingly, most of them had minor injuries. The driver—I apologize that I don't know her name—had to be airlifted to a Seattle hospital. She's in critical condition."
Bella drew in a sharp breath. "Angela! Will she be okay?"
Carlisle came over and took Bella's hand. "Angela had a severe head trauma, Bella. They aren't sure if she's going to make it. I'm so sorry."
Bella let out a keening wail. "No, no, no. Why am I okay? I was sitting right up front with her!"
"There's no explaining the way things happen sometimes. There's one other thing…"
"Yes?"
"Lauren Mallory didn't make it."
Bella gasped, crying harder, slapping a hand over her mouth. "What happened to her?"
"Apparently, she was the only passenger that wasn't wearing a seat belt. The van was hit by multiple cars, and she was thrown all around inside. I'm so sorry."
Carlisle cocked his head to the side, obviously hearing the same commotion the rest of us in the room—besides Bella—heard. Chief Swan was tired of waiting...he wanted to see his daughter NOW.
"Bella, your father has waited long enough. We can talk later if you'd like."
Turning to Emmett, Carlisle hissed so low that Bella couldn't hear, "Get Edward home and keep an eye on him. We'll talk later."
Nodding, Emmett steered Edward toward the door. Edward pulled back, turning towards Bella, all signs of bloodlust gone from his eyes. "Bella, I'm so sorry about your friends...and that I...made this day worse for you."
"Thank you," she whispered, eyes closed, as tears continued streaming down her face.
Emmett, Edward and Carlisle left quietly. Jasper came to stand by my side, rubbing my shoulders.
"Bella, do you want me to stay with you?" I asked.
"Could you, Alice?" She looked at me desperately, as though I was throwing her a lifeline.
"Of course, honey. As long as you need me." I rubbed gentle circles on her back.
"Bella, may I help you feel better?" Jasper offered.
"Yes, please," she nodded.
Jasper sent a wave of calm and sleepiness over Bella, and she leaned back against the pillows, barely awake.
Charlie Swan entered the room, looking worried. "Bells! My God, are you okay?"
"Yeah, Dad, I'm fine. No life threatening injuries. Some broken bones, my neck was kind of mangled, but I'm going to be fine."
"Thank God! Oh, Bella, I was so scared when I heard my little girl was hurt. What happened?"
"Dad, I really don't want to go into it right now. Lauren didn't make it." Her voice hitched, more tears flowing. Jasper sent her another wave of calm.
"I'm so sorry, Bells."
"Angela! You have to find out about Angela for me! She was airlifted to a Seattle hospital with a head trauma, and they don't know - " her voice broke, and she was unable to finish.
"Hi, Chief Swan. I'm Alice, and this is Jasper. We're friends of Bella's. What Bella is trying to say is they don't know if Angela is going to make it. Carlisle didn't know anything more than that."
Charlie nodded to us. "Nice to meet you both. Carlisle Cullen? You know him?"
"He's my uncle."
"Ah, Carlisle's a great man. I'll try to find out about Angela for you, sweetheart, don't worry."
Charlie leaned over to hug Bella tightly, and it was clear how much they loved each other. After saying goodbye, he left the room to find out about Angela.
"Can you and Jasper stay with me for a while?" Bella asked in a frightened voice.
"You're afraid of what you're going to find out about Angela aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Of course we'll stay! Jasper can help even things out for you. Try not to worry too much, Bella. I don't see any more really bad news coming your way tonight."
"Thanks, Alice, Jasper. It really means a lot to me."
~*Jacob's POV*~
When I left Bella's party, my mind was reeling. I had just imprinted on Bella's best friend, and I had no idea what I was going to do now. Sam answered his cell on the first ring.
"Sam, I need to talk to you."
"Did you find something out at the party, Jacob?"
"Yes, but not what you might be expecting. I-I imprinted on Bella's best friend," I blurted out.
"You WHAT?! Are you sure?"
"No doubt in my mind. Was there any doubt in yours when it happened?"
"No," he answered softly.
"What am I going to do now?"
"Live with it, just like the rest of us have."
"But isn't there any way - "
"No, Jake. Imprinting is forever. Did she feel it too?"
"Yes, I think so," I smiled, remembering how she reacted to me.
"So why would you want to change anything?"
"Bella—I don't know how she'll react. I don't want to lose her friendship."
"I know, man, I know. I'll help you get through this however I can."
"Thanks, Sam."
"That's what I'm here for, brother. Will I see you later?"
"Sure thing. I'm going to take a drive and think for a while."
After I hung up, I drove around aimlessly. I liked driving; it helped me to think and work through things. I realized that I couldn't help that I imprinted on Angela, and I knew she was feeling something, too. I hated the look on her face when she realized who I was though. How was I supposed to hurt Bella like that? I also knew that trying to stay away from your imprint was like trying to stop the sun from rising. I sighed deeply.
Accepting that I wouldn't be able to come to any more conclusions tonight, I decided to head home and hang out with the guys. They were the only ones who could understand me now.
Putting my thoughts aside, I turned on the radio and started singing along. There was moderate traffic on the highway. Drumming my fingers on the steering wheel, my mood started to improve as I neared Forks.
Suddenly, a nightmare scene from a movie played out ahead of me. A tractor trailer lost control, skidding across three lanes. Several cars piled into each other—and the truck—metal twisting, car parts flying, glass shattering. Lucky for me, I was far enough back that I could stop.
After calling 9-1-1, I jumped out of my car, running into the fray to see if I could help. The cars seemed to create a macabre sculpture of twisted metal. I was pretty sure there were some fatalities—I just hoped it wasn't many.
As I walked around the mass of metal, I saw something that made my heart stop—Bella! She was part way out of the vehicle she was in, the windshield was completely gone, and her upper body was draped across what used to be the hood. There was a lot of blood, and as I raced over to her, I could see it was from her neck—the skin there looking like it had been shredded up.
"Bella! Can you hear me? Bella!" I yelled. No response.
The front of the van was melded with part of the tractor trailer at an impossible angle. There was barely enough room for Bella's body...a few more inches and...I couldn't think about it. She appeared to be breathing steadily. I had to walk all the way around the mass of twisted metal to get to the driver's side. When I got there, my heart plummeted, and started pounding rapidly. Angela. There was so much blood! I could see part of her skull showing on one side where the skin had peeled back. The blood was flowing copiously, and she was unconscious. All reason left me, and I fell to my knees, sobbing. I couldn't lose her! I just found her!
"Oh, God. Angela. No, baby, no."
I could hear voices calling weakly from the back of the van and a few of the surrounding cars.
"Help is on the way! Everybody just hold on!" I yelled out.
Getting up, I stepped closer to Angela. Part of the frame seemed to be fused with her skull; there was barely room for her slight body. I got closer still, afraid to find out but needing to know if she was still alive. Something inside me said yes—told me that if my imprint left this earth I would just know it. Some blood was coming out her nose, and an air bubble formed, then another. She WAS breathing!
The police and paramedics arrived then and started assessing the injuries. They called in the fire department, letting them know there would be need to cut open several cars.
"Sir? You're going to have to leave the area," a paramedic addressed me.
"I - please. The girl I love is right there."
"I'm very sorry, sir. Let us do our job, so we can help these people. Having you in the way is only going to delay things. We'll do our very best; I can promise you that."
"Okay , thanks." I turned to walk away, but I didn't intend to go too far.
"Sir!" he called out to me.
"Yes?"
"Your girl...she's seriously hurt. The hospital in Forks isn't equipped to deal with her injuries. I'm calling in a medivac from Seattle. If you want to head over to the hospital, you can meet us there."
"What about my other friend on the passenger side?"
"She's going to be fine. She has some fractures, and her neck is all cut up, but no life threatening injuries. A few more inches...let's just say she was very lucky."
"Hey, man, thank you so much."
I hurried to my car and headed over to the hospital. All I could think about was Angela and the contrast between how beautiful she looked earlier tonight and how broken and bloody she was now. A moment can change everything. A moment changed my perception when I imprinted, and a moment of tragedy put her in that twisted hunk of metal with her skull exposed. A sob tore from my throat. She just had to make it!
At that moment, I decided that I didn't care what it took, but I would not spend another day without Angela. If she woke up—when she woke up—I was going to tell her of my feelings. I hoped Bella would understand and still be my friend, but there was nothing I would allow to stand between me and my beloved. Nothing.
I called Sam so he would know where I was and what was happening. He agreed to head over to the hospital in Forks to check on Bella.
"I'm so sorry, Jacob—this has been a rough night for you." Sam sounded sympathetic.
"Thanks. I'm at the hospital now; I'm going in to see if I can find out anything about Angela. Call me if anything new comes up."
Approaching the triage desk, I inquired about Angela.
"Are you a relative, sir?" The nurse peered at me over her glasses; she looked like a stickler for rules. She was NOT keeping me out.
"She's my fiancé." A sob hitched in my throat.
"Okay, sir, family waiting rooms are through that door to your left, up the hall, and to the right. A doctor will be out as soon as anything is known."
"Okay. Do you—do you know anything at all?"
"I'm sorry, no. She's in surgery right now. It might be several hours before there's word. If you want to go get something to eat, you have time. Leave me your name and cell number in case one of the doctors comes out."
"Are any of the other family members here?"
"No, you're the only one since Reverend Weber is out of the country. We haven't had any luck reaching him, but his sister is flying out from Florida."
"Thank you so much."
I found the waiting room, which was large, with multiple sections, and two televisions. There was an alcove with vending machines and a counter set up with coffee and tea; the hospital was well-equipped to handle a large volume of people. I was relieved to find that there were only a few people in the waiting room. I went into one of the areas that was empty, happy to have the place to myself.
Finally, I let the tears come. I cried for Bella, for Angela, and for myself—for my lost innocence—being forced into becoming a werewolf because of those leeches. If they hadn't come, I could have been living a normal life. It wasn't that bad; I did enjoy some aspects of what I was, but sometimes I really just wanted to be a man. A man without secrets, rules and others to answer to.
~*Bella's POV*~
When Charlie came back into the room, I knew it wasn't great news. His face looked pinched, and he couldn't meet my eyes. Alice's hand tightened on mine, and Jasper—who was sitting in the chair in the corner—sent a wave of calm over me. I could really get used to having them around.
"Dad? What is it?" I whispered.
"Lauren. So hard to tell her folks, God." Charlie scrubbed his big hands over his face, swiping a few tears away. "Tyler, Eric, Jessica—all minor injuries. Some fractures, but nothing serious. Angela was airlifted to Seattle, and she's in surgery right now. It might be several hours before we know anything."
Sensing that he was holding back, icicles of fear poked into my heart. "There's more."
"Bells, she has a severe head trauma, and they just don't know yet. It didn't look good—they weren't sure she was going to make it to the hospital—but she did. Now it's a matter of finishing the surgery, reducing the brain swelling, and hoping Angela's still all there."
"Brain damage you mean," I said flatly.
"Maybe, yes."
"Oh, God, her parents are out of the country at a mission! It's difficult to reach them; there are no phones out there. Who's going to be there for Angela?"
"Well, Reverend Weber's sister is flying out from Florida, and the nurse said that Angela's fiancé was there. I didn't even know she was dating anyone."
Fiancé? I saw a flash of Jacob and Angela. Understanding dawned as I realized that the hospital would never tell him anything if he didn't say he was her fiancé. So Jacob was feeling whatever was between him and Angela, too. Somehow he must have heard what happened and rushed over there. I was so thankful that someone was there for her.
"Dad! Can I have your cell for a minute?"
"Bells, you were just in an accident- "
"Phone. Now. And I'll need some privacy please." I held out my hand.
Charlie reluctantly handed me his cell and left the room, Alice and Jasper got up to leave as well.
"Bella, we'll be back in a little while. Take it easy, and don't stress yourself, okay?" Alice leaned in to hug me. "We won't be far," she whispered so only I could hear.
"Thanks."
When I was alone, I dialed Jacob's cell.
"Hello?"
"Jake!"
"Bella? Are you okay?" He sounded anxious.
"Yes, I'm fine. Since when are you and Angela engaged? Were you going to share that with me?" There was humor apparent in my voice.
"God, Bella, I had to lie or - "
"I know, Jake, it's okay. I just want to say something, and I want you to listen."
"Bells - "
"Stop, Jake, let me talk. I know there is something going on between you and Angela."
"But - "
"And I'm FINE with it."
"Wait—what?" Confusion.
"Before we left the party Angela and I talked about you. She felt something happening between you, and I sensed it, too. She was worried how that would make me feel, and I gave her my blessing." There was silence on the line.
"Jacob?"
"Bells, you're the most wonderful friend anyone ever had—I don't deserve a friend like you. I really don't know what happened with Angela, it was the strangest thing..."
"Oh, you don't have to explain to me about strange, believe me. Sometimes fate happens, and you shouldn't ignore that. I could feel the pull between the two of you, and she felt it, too, Jake."
"Thank you. I haven't heard anything yet...I'm so scared,Bella." There was a muffled sob from Jacob.
"I know; Charlie told me. That's how I knew you were there."
"I checked on you, and the paramedics told me you would be okay. I'm sorry, I just had to come - "
"No explaining, please. I'm so glad you're there with her; she has no one else right now. I wish I could be there, but if I can't, I'm so glad it's you. Please keep me updated, okay?"
"I will. Love you!"
"Love you too, Jake."
Alone for the first time in a while, I closed my eyes and sighed. So much had happened to me in such a short time. My mind wandered to Edward and the feral look in his eyes as he struggled to take my life. His eyes looked like two pieces of coal, none of the golden, butterscotch in evidence. When he left my room though, the golden color of his eyes had started to seep back in, and I surmised that hunger for my blood caused the darkness.
He did seem truly repentant about trying to kill me later on. Remembering my dream of him, how conflicted he was, and how he'd warned me not to cross paths with him...just made me more curious than ever about Edward. Thinking of how I gave him my address, and invited him to come kill me, almost made me laugh out loud. Almost. There wasn't much that was funny right now.
There was a knock on the door, and Sam Uley poked his head in.
"Sam, hey!"
"Bella, how are you?"
"Considering...pretty well." I smiled.
"Jacob couldn't be here, he - "
Not wanting Sam to make up a story, I spared him, "He's with Angela; I know."
Surprise flickered over his face as he came further into the room. Suddenly he stiffened and whipped his head around, sniffing.
"Anyone else here?" he asked cautiously.
"Not right now; my friends stepped out so I could talk to Jake on the phone. Everything okay, Sam?"
"Yeah, sure, Bella. So you...spoke to Jake?" he asked carefully.
"Yes, and I'm fine with him being with Angela. I'm happy he's there for her—she's going to need him."
"So, how are you?"
"Oh, I'm okay—broken leg, cracked pelvis, my neck got cut up–but I got off easy considering," I smiled wryly.
The door opened suddenly, Alice and Jasper entered quickly, looking around cautiously. When they spotted Sam they both hissed. Sam backed up a few feet with nowhere to go, and his body seemed to tremble oddly.
"Hey, Alice, Jasper! This is my friend, Sam." I tried to head off any confrontation even though I had no idea what was happening.
"You know them, Bella?" Sam asked carefully.
"Yes, they're my friends. Just like you are, Sam," I replied evenly.
Alice and Jasper relaxed visibly. A blanket of calm swept over the room, and Sam's body stopped shaking, although he still stood stiffly, looking very uncomfortable.
"Perhaps we should come back later?" Alice asked kindly.
"No, that's okay. I was just leaving," Sam stated tersely. "Bella, take care of yourself. Let us know if you need anything, okay?"
"Thank you for coming, Sam. I appreciate it."
Sam inched his way around Alice and Jasper, as though he didn't want to get too close for some reason, and nodded to them as he slipped out the door.
"What was that all about?" I asked, confused. They looked at each other meaningfully.
"Nothing to worry over," Alice soothed, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Wait. Don't do that to me. I want to know what that was," I insisted.
"THAT was a werewolf, darlin'," Jasper spoke quietly.
"Excuse me?" My eyes widened.
"Jasper! Do you really think now is the time?" Alice chided.
"Bella seems like a strong gal. Anyway, I get the feeling Sam won't be the only one coming around, and things could get a bit...tense."
"Tell me, please." I looked between them expectantly.
"Well, vampires and werewolves are natural enemies. Our family has a treaty with the Quileute wolfpack because we don't...uh...harm humans," Alice explained.
"So you're telling me that Sam can turn into a...wolf?"
"Exactly."
I gasped, remembering my dream of the wolf. "Oh!"
"What is it, Bella?"
"I dreamed about a huge wolf in a clearing. I was petting him, when suddenly he took a protective stance in front of me. The next thing I knew, Edward was warning him to get away from me, and when he didn't—Edward flung him across the clearing like he was a stuffed animal."
"Interesting and not far from the truth, probably," Jasper laughed. "Alice tells me you have precognitive dreams and visions, Bella."
"Yes, I do. I saw Edward coming, that's for sure. I also started communicating with Alice, in my dreams, and then while awake. This has all been quite an eye-opener for me. I've always had this 'gift'—if you want to call it that—but never quite like this."
"Oh, Bella, not to worry. We're going to fix everything; I promise," Alice said sincerely.
Just then, Charlie stuck his head in the room. "Alice, Jasper," he nodded. "Can I have a moment alone with Bella?"
"Sure thing."
As they left the room, Charlie scrubbed his hands over his face. It was a giveaway habit he had for when there was something difficult he was dealing with, and I was immediately on alert.
"Dad?" I asked with trepidation.
"Bells, I just talked to Angela's surgeon. She made it through surgery, and they got the swelling down in her brain."
"Oh, thank God! So she's awake? Is she talking?" I asked excitedly.
"Afraid not. See, Angela is in a coma, and they aren't sure if-if she'll ever wake up."
A/N: Whew! Emotional chapter huh? Thoughts? Opinions?