Okay, I am going to anger quite a few of my wonderful readers, but personally I think this is the best chapter of this fic.

And no worries---the story is FAR from over.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Carlisle's eyebrow lifted, while Alice took a step back from the gurney; Edward did nothing but protect Bella.

"You made this quite easy for me, ole' chap," Patrick said maliciously.

He hadn't called Carlisle ole' chap since the time they spent together in London in the early 1800's.

"I had a conversation with Aro a while back. He told me you were in Forks and I was working on wrapping up a few details. I never thought you'd actually ask me to come to you. Made it a little easier on me."

"Patrick, tell me what the hell is going on," Carlisle demanded.

He did not answer. Instead, he traced the fingernail of his forefinger along the vein on House's neck, wearing a smile of euphoric expectation.

In the next instant, Alice was a foot away from Patrick's back, her hands up towards his neck.

"Alice, NO!" Carlisle screamed.

She stopped instantaneously, just an inch from touching the nape of his neck.

"Touch him and you die," Carlisle said, surrendering reluctantly to Patrick. "His skin is porous; his venom is only deadly to our kind."

Alice backed off and stood against the wall helplessly.

"Very impressive. You've got your little family well trained. See, my friend, I've had a career change recently."

"He's a tracker," Edward said behind clinched teeth.

"Patrick, this isn't you."

"Oh, yes it is."

Carlisle shook his head. "You're holding a grudge from two hundred years ago?!"

"It's not a grudge. You ruined my plan."

"My god, Patrick! Your plan was genocide. I thought—you're back on human blood," Carlisle said matter of fact.

He nodded and smiled wickedly. "First, though, I think I need some energy," he said as he looked at House.

"Patrick, we need to talk about this," Carlisle said as he took a step closer to him.

"The time for that—"

Patrick stopped speaking because he heard movement behind him. Turning, he saw Alice a split second before she jumped in the air and kicked him away from the gurney. He whirled around and landed gracefully on his feet.

"Nice kick, there little girl," he said sardonically. "You need to do much better than that, I'm afraid."

All eyes followed Patrick as he approached House and pulled his head towards him.

Edward, let Bella loose Carlisle thought.

"Are you insane?!"

Patrick chuckled. Knowing Edward's ability, he assumed they were communicating. He bared his teeth and bent down . . .

Don't argue with me! DO it, damn it!

The vampire's teeth punctured House's skin; the venom immediately began to course through his bloodstream. He grunted loudly and his body jerked before he collapsed back down on the gurney.

By that time, Bella sped to Patrick, clasped her hands securely around his neck, her forefingers under his chin and pulled back. Gurgling an evil chuckle, he pulled forward then flung his head back again. His head made impact with her forehead and she went flying back, smashed into the tiled walls, shattering several before jumping to her feet again in a crouched, pouncing position.

Edward was so full of rage at what Patrick had done to Bella that he went after him, with Alice close behind. They were able to subdue Patrick while Carlisle plunged a syringe into his neck. He screamed in pain, flailed his body around the room before falling to his knees.

"Bella," Carlisle said calmly, flashing his eyes towards Patrick.

She looked at Edward for approval. He nodded then Bella went after Patrick. In ten seconds flat, he lay on the floor shred to pieces. Everyone stood around Bella in amazement at her ability, including Bella. Edward had his arms wrapped around her waist, for her body was shaking incredibly hard.

"I counted on Bella being strong enough to resist his venom," Carlisle said.

"Carlisle?! How could you put Bella in danger like that?" Edward asked angrily.

Bella tilted her head back and looked into his eyes. "Edward, you've rescued me more than once. It feels good to return the favor."

"What did you give him?" Alice asked.

"Bleach. I was hoping it would temporarily incapacitate him to give us time. Well done, Bella. Now, Edward, this is what we've got to do . . ."

~~ * ~~

Early the next morning, Dr. James Wilson opened his apartment door and picked up the morning paper. Sitting at the dining room table eating bacon and eggs, he reached the local news section. He immediately began to choke on the bite of food as he read further into the article.

'Princeton County Police Department: Two firefighters were injured just before 2:00 a.m. this morning while battling a four-alarm fire at the Berkshire Apartments on Baker Street. The fire raged for two hours before firefighters could get a handle on the situation, but it caused extensive damage to the unit.

While it displaced three families, Dr. Gregory John House, aged 50, did not make it out of his apartment . . .'

Wilson ran to the kitchen sink and regurgitated the breakfast he had just eaten.