A/N-I don't own Twilight (big surprise there, huh?) ...anyway hope you enjoy this chapter, I'm winding down the story as I've got another one busting to come out...I've just got the prologue and have no idea where it will lead but who knows...the more reviews the faster I write...can't wait to hear what you think good, bad, or mixed...oh yeah, and PS I did research on the Bald Eagle stuff so its accurate :) Enjoy!

EPOV

I came home irritated again and threw my books to the floor. The others trod in behind me but said nothing. Carlisle, home for once, sat on the couch, the television set on a public access channel which happened to be showing a dull documentary about the American Bald Eagle. He watched little television but when he did it was usually something educational like this, as Carlisle was always interested in gaining more knowledge on just about any subject available. I had even once caught him watching a documentary called "The truth about Vampires, revealed" Emmett had a field day with that one.

I turned my head in disgust at the thought of sitting through another boring film. School was bad enough but to come home and see that was more than I could bear, especially today. I made my way to the families rarely used dining table where Esme was drawing out another set of renovation plans for the sister's home in Alaska.

She must have sensed my frustration because she turned to me putting down her pencil.

"Edward what's wrong?" she asked in the motherly way that always made me feel as though she had all the answers.

"Bella still won't see me" I sighed. " I mean I don't really blame her after I went all psycho vampire while we were at the school, but its been three days and she won't even answer the phone. Charlie says she's sick but I know he's covering for her; she won't even come to school. I think I'm losing my mind." I groaned and wrapped my hands around my head.

The documentary narrator continued in his monotone voice, "Nearly half of the world's 70,000 bald eagles live in Alaska in part due to the amount of salmon". Carlisle sat enthralled and now he had company, Emmett and Jasper had joined him on the couch.

"Edward, I don't mean to pry" Esme continued softly over the announcer. "but has Bella ever discussed any of the things that happened to her while you were away?" she sounded worried.

"No, should she?" I asked "I mean I just thought perhaps she wouldn't want to talk to me about what happened. It's something she wanted to keep private."

Esme frowned. "Edward, honey, whether she wants to talk about this is unimportant; she needs to talk to someone. It isn't healthy to keep these things bottled up. You need to make her talk to you, show her you are there to help her cope."

"But she seems fine" I laughed awkwardly. "Well at least until she started ignoring me."

"Yes, well Edward dear, I told everyone I was fine after I lost my child and I ended up trying to kill myself. Let me ask you this, Is she sleeping well? Is she eating? How are her grades?"

I thought about what Esme said. Lately Bella's grades had been slipping terribly, she never seemed to sleep more than a few hours at a time, and what little I saw her eat was barely enough to sustain a bird."

"Your right" I said laying my head on the table " Why can I not see these things?" I asked.

"Love is blind, Edward but now that you see them it isn't to late. Do something about it before she does something foolish like I did" and with that she kissed my head and went back to her plans.

It was those words, "before she does something foolish" that kept repeating in my head that brought the flashback of Jacob Black and I at the hospital.

"So what are we going to do about this Mike guy, just sit around and let him get away with this" he asked angrily.

"No, but I made a promise to Bella and I won't break it, I'll try to find away around it though"

"You know I don't like you but I think you should know, that she was messed up after you left, I mean really messed up. It was little things, at first, like tearing the stereo from her truck and getting a motorcycle but when she hooked up with that Mike guy I thought she was getting better, and than one day I was patrolling the beach, looking for the red-head when I saw her throw herself off a cliff. I thought I was going to have a heart attack it scared me so bad. She went under and never came back up; if I hadn't been there she would have drowned. When I asked her about it, she just blew it off saying she was cliff-diving for fun. I believed her at the time because we did lots of crazy, stupid stuff in those days, but now that I look back, knowing what I know, I wonder if she wasn't trying to end it all."

I didn't know what to say I just stood there looking at Jacob, not realizing what he was telling me.

"I wanted you to know, bloodsucker, because you need to be aware of how bad you left her. I tried to pick up the pieces but she wouldn't let me, so you're going to have to deal with the aftermath, but if you're not up to it I'll be more than happy to take your place. "I'm not giving up, you don't deserve her, and I'm going to do everything in my power to make her love me"

"Jacob" I said trying to keep my feelings well hidden "I appreciate you letting me know and I owe you for taking care of Bella while I was away. I know she's important to you as well, but I've been given a second chance and this time I won't make the same mistakes again.

But I had in every way...Bella's silent signs for help had been unnoticed by me as I tried to seek justice against Mike. I had to speak with her, had to let her know I would be there to help her even if she wasn't willing to admit she needed assistance.

"At one time" the narrator's voice blared again interrupting my thoughts. "Bald meant white, not hairless"

My head snapped up from the table.

"What did he just say?" I asked suddenly interested in the dull film, Carlisle looked at me as if I had gone mad."

"Well Edward, I'm glad you were paying attention, this is very interesting. The narrator just pointed out that the bald eagle was named not for its actual baldness we know today, but for its white capped head."

"That's what I thought he said" I grinned jumping up from the table, disturbing Esme's drawing. "I'm sorry Esme." I said happily, "I've got to go see someone, but I'll be home soon."

"Alright Edward, just be careful" she said concerned at my whirlwind of emotions.

"Emmett, Jasper" I yelled on my way out the door. "I'll be in touch so don't make plans."

"Ok Eddie" Emmett said excitedly "Are you sending us on a another stakeout?"

"Not exactly, Emmett, not exactly" I laughed.

The white non-descriptive van arrived in the alley behind the Port Angeles warehouses at exactly eight o'clock. The streetlights were dim but dark enough to let us remain unnoticed. I was hoping this wouldn't take too long, as I still wanted to see Bella this evening.

Jacob, Sam and the rest of the pack slowly descended from the vehicle.

"Did you bring it?" I asked, afraid that perhaps something had gone wrong.

"Sure did" Jacob smiled..."Boys"

Emmett, Jasper and I couldn't help the wide grins on our faces as two of Jacob's "brothers" threw a terrified, blindfolded Mike Newton onto the asphalt in front of us.

"You guys remember our agreement, correct." I asked just to make sure we were on the same page.

"Yep, you get'em first and break his bones, than after you leave we get to finish him off" he smiled.

Mike just lay there pleading for his life; we all ignored him.

"So" Jacob continued "let the fun begin." he laughed

"Not just yet" I waved my hand

"Why, what the heck are you waiting for?" he asked disappointed.

"Because we promised and as I said before I won't break a promise" I answered.

"Will you do the honors please?" I pointed to Jasper

"My pleasure" he drawled, pulling a small black item from his coat pocket.

I couldn't help feeling a sweet satisfaction when I heard the steady buzzing sound that filled the air.