Chapter Ten

Carlisle

I had no idea where Jasper planned on taking Bella, but although I believed she should have stayed in the hospital or at least close to medical resources, I knew he would look after her. It wasn't difficult to see that there was a connection between the two, one I had suspected when we lived in Forks but had never breathed a word of to anyone. I hoped he would be able to find out where Bella had been all this time and what had really happened to her since she disappeared more than two years ago.

He already had Jenks on the job but I thought it might be a struggle even for him. I didn't know the full extent of his contacts but he had surprised us before although how much of that was down to his fear of disappointing Jasper I really couldn't say.

I put together a kit with dressings and medication I thought Bella might need to last her a month. If it took longer to unravel this mystery then I could always obtain more but I hoped it wouldn't drag on too long, Bella was in no condition mentally to cope with long-term pressure.

Esme was more concerned about Jasper spiriting Bella away to a secret location than I was.

"I'm not sure we should let him take her away without knowing where they are going, Carlisle. What if something happens?"

I looked at her quite seriously,

"We have to make Bella safe from whoever was looking for her before we can try piecing her life back together and, my dear, if something does happen I'm quite sure Jasper will take care of it."

"You seem very sure of him considering he tried to kill Bella a couple of years ago. What if she cuts herself? Are you sure he can control himself any better now? You should have insisted he take me with them."

I smiled at her but she wasn't going to listen to anything I had to say but then Esme always worried about everyone, it was her maternal instinct kicking in. I thought perhaps she was also a little jealous, she had been Bella's constant companion since the girl arrived and now Jasper was taking her place.

Esme

I wasn't happy about this at all, it was extremely inconvenient but no matter what I said to Carlisle he just smiled at me like a fool. I explained that Bella had been through a dreadful ordeal and that personally, I was sure it would be safer all round if she stayed here with us. That three could protect Bella better than one but all to no avail so I changed tack.

"I know you trust Jasper and his ability to defend her against attack. It's Bella's mental fitness to make a decision which involves her leaving a place where she is being cared for after a dreadful head injury that worries me."

"I understand your concerns, Esme, really I do but I think Jasper is right, Bella will be safer away from here where she has already been attacked once. Besides, do you really think I would allow her to leave the hospital if I thought for one moment that I was putting her at medical risk? Surely you know me better than that, Esme?"

How could I argue with that?

I sat down behind Carlisle's desk drumming my fingers and thinking furiously, what should I do? When he finally left for the dispensary I made my decision and took out my cell phone dialing a familiar number and waiting impatiently for it to be answered which seemed a long while coming.

"Finally! I need you to do something for me. I want to know Jasper's whereabouts over the next few days but I do not want him to know he is being observed and don't call me, text if you have any urgent news. I'll be in touch soon."

As I put my phone away I felt better, at least now I would know where Bella was and made my way back to her room where Jasper had helped her by lacing up the pumps I had bought her and handed over a few other essentials I had brought in for her.

I could see Jasper was eager to get away and Carlisle had already handed over the supplies he had put together and was explaining the things they should keep an eye out for.

"If Bella starts suffering from severe headaches or blackouts, Jasper, you bring her straight back here or to the nearest hospital. If you feel strange, Bella, if there is any numbness or confusion, you seek medical help immediately and call me. Is that clear?"

They both nodded and I gave Bella a hug as expected of me and wished her well as if she was going on a romantic trip with Jasper instead of on the run from people intent on harming her. I wondered if Jasper had designs on the girl, I wouldn't have put it past him but Edward would be furious if he knew.

"Please let me know that you are OK, Bella, whenever you can."

She smiled,

"I will if I can and thank you, Esme, for all your kindness."

Jasper

We left immediately using the elevator that Carlisle had summoned ready. Bella moved slowly, she was pale and obviously in discomfort but she managed a smile and took my hand.

"You won't let go of me will you?"

I shook my head,

"No way. I'm glued to your side till we get where we're going.'"

She smiled then tensed as the elevator doors opened and she saw the reception area shrouded in gloom at this time of night.

"Come on, just a few steps and we're out of here."

I could feel her tremble with fear as she took her first step out of the elevator but she gritted her teeth and kept her eyes on the glass doors leading out to the parking lot. I'd left the car Carlisle had lent me in his parking spot as it was closest to the entrance noticing his Mercedes parked a few spaces away. I stood looking around alert for trouble as Bella climbed into the passenger seat with a few gasps of pain then, as soon as she was belted in, I joined her starting the engine and pulling rapidly out of the hospital grounds.

"We've got quite a drive so why don't you try to sleep."

At first, she refused, but once on the highway and a few miles from the hospital she relaxed a little and tried to make herself comfortable with her head against the side window.

"That doesn't look very comfortable. Would you like to lay down across the back seat? I can stop for a minute."

She shook her head,

"No, I don't want to stop, I feel safer while we are moving."

"OK, I can understand that but I doubt anyone is watching, it's too early for them to know the attempt failed. Here.."

I reached over into the back and retrieved my jacket.

"Roll that up, it'll give you a pillow for your head."

She took it with a shy smile of thanks and was soon dozing with her head comfortably cushioned against the cold hard window.

I glanced over from time to time still shocked by her appearance, she was so thin and deathly pale and her eyes were sunken in her face. Rage boiled up in me and I vowed revenge on the person or persons who had done this to her.

As she began to slump forward I reached over and guided her weight until she was leaning against my side with her head on my shoulder. She might have objected if she had known but she was exhausted and the sedative was still coursing through her body so she remained asleep.

Once I knew she was settled my thoughts returned to her story. Bella had disappeared from a nightclub on the eve of her wedding to Jacob Black, a huge mistake but none of my business, only to reappear two years later abused, dressed as a hooker, and pumped full of illegal substances. An accident had resulted in a head injury among others which had wiped her memory, or was that a result of the drugs? Maybe we would never know. She was terrified of something or someone she couldn't remember, someone who had made an attempt on her life earlier tonight in a busy hospital or maybe the men had orders to snatch her. Either way, she had determined enemies but who were they? Did this have anything to do with the upcoming wedding? It seemed unlikely. Was it something to do with her father? Some criminal he had put away? More plausible except that as far as I could ascertain Charlie had never received any ransom demand or threats, and why would someone from his past continue to take an interest in Bella more than a year after his death? I had a head full of questions and no answers, at least not yet but I was determined to change that.

We had a long way to go but I didn't want to stop too often so I drove as fast as I could on the near-empty roads making good time so when Bella finally did wake again, around dawn, I was happy to stop so she could freshen up and get something to eat. She had blushed when she saw the position she had been sleeping in but I tried to ease her thoughts.

"You were slipping down so I thought it best that you leaned this way so I could catch you if you did. I assure you that I had no ulterior motives."

She smiled wearily,

"I know, Jasper, I'm just..sensitive I guess. Anyway, thank you for your kindness."

We walked together to the restaurant which was almost empty this time of the morning and I declined a booth in the window, preferring to be out of sight from the road.

Although Bella had said she was hungry she actually ate very little before pushing her plate away.

"Lost your appetite? Or are you feeling unwell?"

I was remembering Carlisle's instructions to keep an eye on her.

She shook her head.

"I'd just like to get moving again. Nothing can catch me while I keep moving."

That was fine by me so I took her arm, throwing money on the table to cover the meal and a generous tip, and we left but not before I scanned the parking lot and surroundings for anyone who might have appeared interested in us.

Once we were back on the road again she glanced at me self consciously and I lifted my arm.

"Make yourself comfortable."

She thanked me quietly and leaned against me once more putting her head cautiously on my shoulder and closing her eyes. Bella was frightened of the physical contact but craved it all the same and I determined not to do anything that might cause her to feel uncomfortable or draw away from me. Right now I was her only solid ground in a morass of quicksand and she needed me to hold onto.

The poor girl was exhausted from fear, pain, and delayed shock from the night's attack and I glanced down at her with a sigh. I wondered how I'd ended up as protection detail for Edward's ex-girlfriend, a girl they all thought I had tried to kill last time I saw a girl who looked to me for a safe haven. I shook my head imagining Peter's reaction if he could see us now. 'What the fuck have you gotten yourself into now, Major?'

When Bella next woke I had pulled over to the side of the road and was finishing a call I needed to make. She sat up from where I had settled her, across the front seats and looked around fearfully.

"Is there a problem? Where are we?"

She sounded terrified again.

"No Bella. I'm just making sure our hideaway will be ready when we get there."

Without thinking I flipped my phone shut and put it in my jacket pocket feeling Bella's fear rising steadily.

"Who were you talking to?"

"My friend Charlotte, she's stocking up on supplies for us."

The tension in her body faded a little on hearing this.

"Charlotte? Is she your girlfriend?"

I laughed,

"No, she's married to my friend Peter. Is something bothering you, Bella?"

She nodded.

"I'm sorry, I just got nervous thinking of you talking to someone on the phone. I guess I'm scared it might be the people looking for me even though I know that's crazy. I sound like a lunatic, don't I?"

I smiled at her reassuringly and took the phone back out of my pocket handing it over to her.

"There you go, you hold on to it. If I need it I'll ask you for it. Is that better?"

She nodded, looking embarrassed, but pushed it deep into her pocket and zipped the pocket up securely.

"Yes, thank you. I'm sorry, I can't help these feelings, they just overwhelm me."

"I told you before, Bella. Anything you don't like you must tell me. OK?"

She nodded and patted the pocket to make sure my phone was still safely in there while I started the engine and pulled back out into the flow of traffic.

It was clear I was going to have to be very careful with Bella, she had so many fears, most of which I was not yet aware of. We'd take it slowly, one step at a time, because whatever had happened to her had left deep scars, mental as well as physical. She may never be the same young girl I had known before but I was determined she wouldn't spend the rest of her life running scared of her own shadow.

We were getting close to our destination now but I knew Bella needed another stop so I pulled over at a small café and waited by the car watching for anyone taking an interest in us while she used the restroom then we went in and had coffee. Bella refused a meal but she did have three cups of coffee to wash down some painkillers and antibiotics that Carlisle had packed for her.

"Do you think they're following us? I saw you watching the cars and the people in here as I came out of the restroom."

"No, I don't think they will have expected to fail last night so we have a window of opportunity to spirit you away somewhere with no paper trail. I'm just cautious."

"You babysat me once before, didn't you? You and.. no, it won't come, but I'm right aren't I?"

I nodded,

"You are, and maybe one day you'll remember it all. For now though, we should hit the road, the sooner I get you out of sight the happier I'll feel. The fewer people who see you the better."

"Is that why you chose this place to stop?"

She looked around, commenting that we were the only customers.

"Let's just say the fewer people that see you the better until we work out what's going on, An unknown enemy is always more dangerous because you have to assume everyone is the enemy until they prove otherwise."

She nodded,

"I guess that's true, well shall we go? To be honest I won't be sorry to get out of that car permanently, my body aches and I'd die for a warm soft bed."

"I'll see what I can do, not much further now."

She leaned back in her seat and gazed out of the window but I doubted she saw the countryside we were passing through, I thought she was miles away. Back in that hotel room in Phoenix? Or struggling to remember the more recent past? I had no way of knowing but I hoped whatever she remembered it didn't scare her to death.