Chapter Twenty One

Bella

After telling me everything he felt I needed to know right now, which was enough to leave my brain reeling, Jasper left to pick up some food for Leah and me, making sure he left her deeply asleep.

"She shouldn't wake before I get back and hopefully Carlisle will be here soon. I'll call in at the garage and check on your repair while I'm out."

It wasn't until he had gone that it suddenly occurred to me to question how he knew about my car, I certainly hadn't mentioned it, there was too much going through my head to think of such mundane things as broken down automobiles. Maybe it was something to do with his vampire gifts, after all, he had told me that the things he had already explained were only a small part of the secrets I should know about him.

While he was out I grabbed a quick shower and changed then sponged the worst of the dirt from Leah's body careful to avoid her leg which to me was looking worse than ever. The swelling had stopped growing but the bruising had continued to spread both up her hip and down to the knee. The flesh looked red and angry around the wound and I began to feel really worried. Her forehead was even hotter than usual and she began to toss restlessly in her sleep.

It was a relief when heard Jasper pull up outside and I flew to the door just in time to see Carlisle step out of the passenger side. I ran to him babbling wildly in my relief and he took my arm gently to calm me.

"Bella, it's good to see you but let's take a few deep breaths and calm down. Let me see what's going on before we start worrying too much. I brought all the things I thought I might need."

He lifted the large leather bag he carried in one hand and I nodded falling into a worried silence as he disappeared inside to see Leah.

Meanwhile, Jasper put an arm around me,

"Try not to worry too much Bella, Carlisle is very good at his job."

"How did he get here so quickly? I thought we'd be waiting till morning at least."

"I told you he chartered a private plane as it was an emergency and was lucky enough to get a quick take off. When he rang to tell me he would be landing I decided to wait and bring him straight back. I'm sorry I left you alone with Leah so long, it must have been frightening but I made sure she was going to be out for a while. She didn't wake did she?"

"No, but she was getting restless. I'm very grateful to you and Carlisle especially as Leah is...I'm not sure quite what to call her, your enemy? I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to her, she was trying to save me when she got injured."

I felt my head swim, I'd gotten up too quickly forgetting my own lumps and bumps and almost fell into Jasper's arms.

"You know Bella, I did think maybe once you knew what I was that I'd never feel you in my arms again. I wondered if it was something I had done that made you run."

I tipped my head to look up into his face and suddenly our lips met, there was no need for words and I relaxed into him, feeling at home at last. We stayed like this for a few minutes but then guilt at leaving Leah alone with Carlisle prodded me and breaking free of Jaspers embrace I took his hand and we went back into the room.

Carlisle looked over,

"Are you OK Bella?"

I wasn't going to nod again, I'd learned my lesson so I just pointed at my friend who, I was relieved to see, remained unconscious as Carlisle moved her leg to see the extent of the damage.

"Leah needs you much more than me Carlisle."

He acknowledged the truth of that, then turned his attention to Jasper,

"I'm going to need your help son. As I feared the bone has begun to knit and it's in the wrong place. If we don't reset it Leah will find it difficult to walk later, it might also affect her ability to run as a wolf. Bella, it might be best if you were to leave the room for a few minutes, this isn't going to be pleasant."

"No, I'll stay, but I promise not to get in the way. I'll lay on the other bed and close my eyes, I'm feeling a little sick myself actually."

Although I squeezed my eyes tightly shut I couldn't do the same for my ears and the sickening crack as they broke Leah's leg to reset it made me feel even more sick. If she had screamed I don't know if I could have stopped myself from throwing up then and there but she was silent, Jasper keeping her deeply unconscious so she didn't feel a thing.

A few minutes silence followed and then I jumped as I felt a cool hand on my cheek and opened my eyes to see Jasper leaning over me.

"It's all over Bella, you can join us again now, let Carlisle check you over Leah is really worried about you, I can feel her concern and I insist."

I wanted to demur but I could see I would have no choice so I sat quietly while Carlisle checked my vitals and examined the bruised side of my head. When he was finished he smiled,

"I think you'll live Bella although it was a nasty blow you took."

I put my hand up tentatively,

"I guess having a thick head is useful sometimes. Thank you for coming Carlisle, to look after Leah, I know you two aren't exactly friends and I appreciate what you did."

"Bella, Leah and I are not exactly enemies either, although our kind is always at war with each other. As far as I am concerned she is just another patient and my oath as a doctor ensures I try to heal all who come to me sick or injured. I'm not sure how happy she will be when she realizes who her doctor was, though."

He was probably right but we had told her before Jasper put her to sleep and I didn't imagine for a moment she would have forgotten despite the pain. I would do my best to explain that he had come to help her and she should be grateful.

As I ate the food Jasper had brought back with him, suddenly remembering I hadn't eaten since the picnic earlier he explained how they had known where we were and then asked what Leah's plans were.

"I don't think she really had any as such, we were just driving around until something came to her."

He explained what Darius had overheard in the conversation between Leah's father and the leader of the guardians.

"You mean she isn't the only female guardian? That there is somewhere she can go and not be an oddity? That will make her feel less of a freak?"

"Hopefully yes but I think she should speak to her parents and find out about the offer that way, knowing we can listen in to their communications won't make her any better disposed to us."

That was true, it would only turn her more firmly against the Cullens so it was up to me to persuade her to speak to Harry and Sue but I had no illusions that it would be easy.

Leah woke soon after that and I was wary of bringing the subject up just yet. She was already uneasy being in the presence of Carlisle and Jasper and I knew that despite having been treated by the former she still didn't trust them. Carlisle left soon afterwards understanding that his presence was only making the situation tenser but warned Leah he would be back to check on her later and when Jasper joined him, promising to be back in a little while, Leah finally began to relax. Carlisle had given her an injection of strong pain medication and I could tell the drug was making her dozy but I understood I needed to persuade her to speak to her parents sooner rather than later.

As soon as I broached the subject I could see I hadn't been diplomatic enough, she misunderstood my motive and her face darkened.

"I see, now the Cullens are here you want shot of me. I guess I should have known where your loyalties lay. Well, don't worry Bella, you don't have to nursemaid me. You go home with your boyfriend and his leech father, I can manage perfectly well on my own."

Her words annoyed me, I'd done nothing to deserve such treatment and I'm afraid my temper got the better of me.

"Hey, I came here of my own free will, leaving everyone behind because we are friends and you needed me, but if you think so little of me then yeah, maybe we should part company. I never suggested you went back to Forks, just for you to talk to your parents because I'm pretty sure they'll be worried sick about you but you do what you want. I'm tired and my head hurts, I'm going to take a nap."

I lay down on my bed turned my back on her and closed my eyes, far too wound up now to sleep but Leah didn't know that and would hopefully leave me alone and think about what I said.

She was silent for a while and I wondered if the medication had sent her back to sleep then I heard quiet sobs and knew she hadn't meant to hurt me. Between the pain and her inbuilt hostility to the Cullens she had lashed out at the only person remaining with no idea what effect her words might have on me. Then I heard a groan of pain and turned just enough to see her stretching to reach the telephone which was just out of reach on the bedside locker. Without saying a word I got up and handed it to her.

"I'll be outside. Just give me a shout when you're finished."

I didn't wait for a reply but walked out of the room closing the door firmly behind me.