A/N: Please be warned that tissues might be handy again for this chapter. I
ran as fast as I could to get to her, but it wasn't fast enough, the smell of leech, well other than Carlisle and the Cullen's everywhere in the hospital. The bleach smell burnt my nose as I walked towards the opening doors. But rather than being met with someone I could hurt, someone who was not meant to be here; I was met with the sight of Bella. Her face said it all as I watched her fall to the ground. She had to face the worst thing anyone could ever face on her own. I wasn't there for her when she needed me and as she sat there I felt her pain. Her love of her father was still shining bright in her eyes; but it was coupled with the pain and sorrow of losing her father.
"Seth..." she whispered as a single tear raced down her cheek.
I didn't need any invitation to reach her; I needed a fucking good beating for leaving her to face this alone. I didn't even notice my legs move as I raced over towards her crumpled frame on the side walk. She was like this broken child with nothing left to hold onto. It was only when she felt me closer to her that she looked up.
"He's gone Seth. I'm all alone." She mumbled as I held her close.
What could I say to her, how could I take this away from her? But most importantly how could I show her she wasn't alone here, not only did she have a pack of shape shifting natives, but she had a coven of 7 vampires that cared for her. She had people that were out there that weren't supernatural that would be there for her now and forever. But I couldn't say any of these things. It wouldn't help her right now. What she needed was to be held as she let go of her father.
We stood there for what felt like hours as people walked around us to enter the hospital to visit their friends and family. A few looked towards the two of us not knowing the pain she was feeling. How could they, she had barely survived her mother's death and now a few months later she had to say good bye to her father. It felt wrong; like something was out to get her, to feel the pain that many would crumble under.
"Seth can you take her home; back to rez?" Mrs Call asked when it started to get colder.
I nodded my head and scooped Bella up in my arms. I had only just lifted her when I felt something being put in my pocket, keys; the keys to Bella's truck. As she snuggled into my chest I took off towards the truck, not caring if there was traffic. The only thing that mattered right now was that Bella needed to sleep, rest after such a strong and painful day.
"We'll be at Sam's house." I called as I closed the door and headed for the driver's seat.
Mrs. Call just nodded her head as she turned towards the doors. How that woman had been able to keep it together was beyond me; but she was doing it for Bella I guess.
The drive was silent as I heard Bella's breathing level out, and her body relaxed. She had fallen asleep. It was good for her, but at the same time I felt that it wouldn't last long. There was no noise escaping her mouth, and if it wasn't for the fact I could hear her heart beat and the air rushing through her lungs I'd be seriously freaking out.
As we made it to the border I couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen now. I knew she would be staying at the Call residence, but what about everything else. Surely she wouldn't be left to make all the arrangements for the funeral. I know that my dad and Billy, as well as Old Quil would want to help anyway they could; let alone all the towns people and those on the reservation. Charlie had been a constant man in everyone's life. Hell he'd kept so much from our parent's and had been able to keep the secret that we were shape shifting teens, that there was a coven of mythical blood drinking beings merely miles away from the towns people he was to protect. Not that if one of us did something he'd be able to stop us; but it was the strong man we knew from before we all had changed that stopped our idiot behaviour affecting everyone else.
As we got closer I could hear all the talk from the rest of the pack sitting outside the small house that Sam had built once he had been given the land form the council. They were reliving the attack on the vamps that had been stalking Bella for the past week or so. Leah Emily with and Kim were in the kitchen cooking god knows what but it smelt amazing. You could hear Quil and Clair playing in the yard.
"Bella's truck?" Jake mumbled as he heard and saw the truck as we closed in on the group.
Each wolf and imprint stood at the door by the time we got to the house. Bella was still out cold, something I was glad for. It would have been even more painful for her to have to say it again. I walked around to the side of the truck to carry her, she weighed nothing. Her arms wrapped around me as I lifted her closer to my body.
"Seth what's Bella doing..." Sam asked as he made his way towards us.
I just shook my head and looked up. He saw it then and there. I watched as his head lowered and his breath hitched before he raised it back up.
"I was too late. She faced it on her own." I didn't care that my voice broke, or that I had tears falling. She was in pain and now her pain was mine.
I heard the sobs from the girls and knew that Leah had just told them what had happened. Each one of my pack brothers lowered their heads in pain. It was like Charlie was one of our own. As I walked closer to the small house the pack parted allowing us to pass.
"Seth; take her up to the spare room..." Sam called as I entered the house.
I saw my sister crying as she held the two others in her arms. Tears running down their faces as they saw Bella in my arms. Emily looked torn as to what to do, she being the alpha's mate and all that was to come with it, yet she was lost. I understood; I don't think anyone would be able to help me right now. Sure Sam had faced the worst thing when coming close to losing his imprint, but it seemed that Bella and the angel inside her were broken.
As I laid her down on the bed, she held tight to my neck, like her hands were fused together. "Shh, I'm just going to let you get comfortable Bella. I'm not going anywhere." I cooed, and I knew that if this were any other time I'd be getting the calls about handing my man card over, but not now. Honestly I sort of wished that they would; not as a sign of disrespect to Bella or Charlie, but because it would mean that we'd get past this eventually.
We sat there for what felt like hours, her arms wrapped around my shoulders. We heard the noises coming from downstairs as Billy, my parents and Rich; and finally Sophie entered the house. The small conversations of what was going to happen now with Charlie's funeral and Bella's safety had started. It was like they wanted to keep moving but stand still at the same time. The only thing that was certain was that Bella would be moving in with the Call's and for the mean time so would I. If it meant that I'd be close to Bella then I was all for it. She needed me at the moment and I'd be damned sure that I was there for her.
I heard her heart beat speed up before she began to stir in my arms. But it was another 5 minutes before she opened her eyes and looked up at me. Her eyes said it all; she was lost.
"It wasn't a dream was it Seth?" her voice was soft and I knew that if they didn't have abnormally sensitive hearing that none of the others down stairs would be holding their breath for what was coming next.
"I'm sorry Bella..." the words hadn't left my mouth before the tears started to fall.
When I woke up I knew it really did happen, not because I was in some strange room curled up in Seth's arms, or that I could remember every excruciating detail of those final moments. But because I felt like I had lost a piece of me. The last remaining string that had held me to my family had broken away and there was nothing I could do to fix it. Blessedly I didn't dream while I was asleep, but at the same time it was twice as painful to wake up from sweet oblivion to know that I'd have to face it all.
"Sophie and everyone's downstairs when you're ready to head down." He whispered in my hair but I couldn't say anything.
We sat there for a few minutes before I finally nodded. I couldn't hide from everything. It's not what dad would have wanted. He'd want me to do this right. To get things done before it was too late.
Slowly we made our way down stairs, but while I had the strength to walk down towards everyone; I just couldn't look at them and see the pain and pity in their eyes. He led me towards a small seat where he pulled me onto his lap. Here I was safe; here the pain wasn't so bad. It was like he shared my pain but did it without complaint. Something I was grateful for.
"Bella, would you like something to drink?" a soft voice asked from across the room. As I looked up I saw the face of Emily trying to smile yet hold back the tears that had ran down her face. It was then that I looked around the room only to be met with similar expressions. Sophie was held by her son as silent tears fell down her face.
"Thanks Emily; that'll be great." I croaked. I didn't even recognise my own voice.
Quickly she stepped out of the room, where I knew she would be crying since she didn't want to do so in front of me. The little orphaned girl. I watched as Sam hovered near the door frame, not sure where to go. "Go on Sam." I whispered not wanting to strain my voice again. He nodded at me before he too turned and walked out of the room. You could hear the moment that he found Emily as her silent cries were no longer silent.
I closed my eyes to the pain I saw in the room, the pain I felt in my heart that I was sure was echoed in the hearts surrounding me. I could picture my dad without all the medical equipment connected to him, a smile on his face; the pain no longer a constant companion to his beating heart. I just hoped that he was okay with me following his wishes. Of him sitting on the old recliner that smelt like it needed a bath badly watching a game on the TV; or him in his work uniform. But with very image I saw behind my eyes he was smiling back at me.
When I opened my eyes, it was a little darker than a few minutes ago, or maybe it was just because I was just pushing my pain onto my thoughts. Either way I knew there was so much to do. I thanked Emily as she handed me the cup of tea. It truly is amazing how much a simple thing like a cup of tea could change things in a room full of mourners. Slowly people began to talk in little groups, about my dad and all the different things he did with the people here. And as they talked I listened to the different memories that they each had with him. I didn't feel cheated that they got to have so many things with him while I lived with my mother; I was happy. He was loved not just by me but by his friends; like he had a second family here.
"What are you smiling about?" Seth asked as Paul was talking about the time my dad had threatened to arrest him for driving around with a car full of drunk idiots from a part he had been at.
"You all loved him just as much as I did, like he was family. I'm glad he had you all." I spoke softly as I continued to listen to the conversations about my dad's seemingly endless patience with the younger generation.
"You know you are too." He whispered in my ear as I snuggled into his chest a little more. For a 17 year old guy Seth seemed to be one of the more mature ones.
As the day went on phone calls came in from everywhere on the reservation to extend so many wishes of condolences. I was amazed that people knew that he had passed so soon, and that they knew where to find me. In all honesty I had no clue how it happened. But with each call, and each message I felt a little lighter. The pain may not have gone away, but I might not have been alone after all.
It wasn't until Sophie started to get ready to leave that I realised I would have to go home to that empty house. I knew I would have to do it eventually, but I couldn't do it yet. Almost like she knew what was going through my head Sophie walked over and took my hand, smiling as she pulled me towards the front of the house. "Come on Bella, let's get you some rest. We can go through everything tomorrow." she murmured as we made our way; Seth following behind me. Silently we piled into my truck, I giggled as I realized that both Embroy and Seth barely fit in the actual cab.
The drive to Sophie's house took under 5 minutes until we had pulled up in a small driveway. We were met with a sweet looking two story pale blue house. If it wasn't for the colour of the outside I would have said it was exactly like dad's place. As we all got out of the car I realized that the porch light was on, like it was welcoming us back.
"A room is already for you upstairs Bella; Seth knows the way." Sophie said as she opened the door. She was so much like a level headed version of my mom that I could see why the two of them had gotten on so well while she had lived here. Following as Seth pulled me up the stairs towards the back room I sighed. Thinking about my mom right now hurt a little more than it had a few days ago. I missed her more than anything right now; if it wasn't for Seth and Sophie; I couldn't be sure if I would make it through all this. I climbed onto the bed not even bothering to turn on the light, and curled up in Seth's side once more. Hopefully he didn't mind that I had taken refuge in his side. But since he didn't say anything I could only see that he was fine with it.
I hadn't even realised I had fallen asleep, but when I looked outside the little window the sky was tinted a soft pink. A new say had dawned; one where Charlie wasn't in it. Heading for the door I heard the slightly raised voices of Seth and who I could only resume was Embroy. I didn't want to interrupt their conversation but I really needed to use the bathroom.
"Carlisle said none of them recognised the scent; he got that close to her. This James guy isn't like the Cullen's." Seth argued as he shook slightly in the hall. They both turned as they heard the door open.
"Sorry to interrupt; but where's the bathroom?" my voice was groggy with sleep still lingering.
While Embroy pointed down the hall, Seth came over and wrapped me in his arms. Like he needed to know I was safe or something. After a minute and a little tap on his arms later he let me go so I could wash my face and everything else. After I cleaned up I made my way downstairs where everyone seemed to be waiting on me. What they were all doing up so early was beyond me but I wasn't going to question it. I had barely made it to the lounge before a cup of coffee was handed to me by Sophie with a soft smile. At least her being awake so early could be explained by her work in the hospital.
"How are you sweetie?" she asked as she took her seat one more. Her face showed nothing but sincerity behind her words.
"Not sure. Better then yesterday, but worse than when mom and Phil... Is that a bad thing?" I replied not lifting my eyes from the coffee in my hands. I felt the seat dip as Seth sat beside me. I didn't need to look to know it was him; I just knew.
"Not bad Bella. You were able to mourn for Renee and Phil, but it's still fresh. With Charlie passing so soon afterwards, it's to be expected." She was so patient, but she wasn't like she was handling me with kid proof gloves. "I know it's sudden but we need to start the preparations for Charlie's funeral. I'll be there all the way though it with you." I looked up and smiled. There was no way I was going to handle this on my own I realised now more than ever. I was just grateful that Sophie was willing to be by my side through it all.
A/N: Hey guys and gals. Short delay with the uploading of this chapter, sorry but as I've said many of times before I try to do my best with getting at least one chapter up a week, but it's not a solid thing. I write when the mood hits, and won't update until I'm happy with what I give to you all. I have been trying to update this for the last two days (20th of this month Australia time) but for some ungodly reason the story just hadn't been updated.
Okay so I've entered a competition on this site called Behind The Lyrics Comp. Go check it out, as I don't know if I can actually tell you which one is my entry I won't give you my name but it does have it in the actual chapter. There's a link to it from my profile to check it out. Voting ends 22nd of this month so you don't have a lot of time if you want to vote for any of the stories.
Well I'm off to go and write the EPOV for Prom Night Trouble if you follow it through my blog. I've been busy trying to wrap my head around Christian Morality and ethical standings in the middle ages... yeah it's strange what they link into psychology classes at university.
Until next time
Dee