Lost and Found
Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-thank you so much for the kind reviews!
Part Twenty Five-Stench
Sam turned to greet Charlie and Bella as they came inside the house. He had been worried about Bella seeing the therapist. He knew how anxious she was about going, and with all that had happened on her first day at school as well, it had just compounded her nerves. The smile slipped from his face when a sudden rush of vamp stench wafted his way. He staggered back and stared at Charlie and Bella in horror. He saw them looking back at him curiously as he tried to keep his rapid breathing under control. Bella looked a bit scared and this only heightened Sam's misery. It was bad enough that she was already wary around him but seeing him act so oddly just made it all worse. Thankfully Charlie noticed that something was clearly bothering Sam, he hurriedly helped Bella off with her coat and told her to go to her room.
"Why?" Bella complained as she glanced at Sam again. "I was going to watch television."
"Bella, just do as I say." Charlie barked at her. He could see Sam's arms trembling. He knew the signs by now. The boy was on the verge of shifting.
Bella pouted and threw her father a hurt look before she ran up the stairs. The sound of her bedroom door slamming echoed through the house and made both Charlie and Sam flinch.
"Easy now, Sam." Charlie held his arms out toward the taller boy and spoke to him like he would a wild animal. "What's wrong?"
"Please stay back." Sam choked out as another wave of vamp stench washed over him. He swallowed thickly as he tried to keep his wolf at bay. The smell was so strong it was making him feel nauseous.
"Sam?" Charlie questioned as he stepped back. "If you are having trouble controlling yourself then you should go. I can't have you like this with Bells in the house."
Sam tried to get himself together. He didn't want Bella to see him freaking out either. He was still upset that she had seen him act so strange and now Charlie had been forced to practically yell at her to leave the room because of him. Sam clutched the kitchen counter behind him as he inhaled sharply to try and calm himself down. "I can smell vampire, Charlie." He said darkly. "You reek of them."
"I… what?" Charlie said in alarm. He lifted his arm and sniffed his shirt. All he smelt was the deodorant he had used that morning mixed with perspiration. The therapist's office had been unusually hot and he had been sweating uncomfortably in his thick hunting shirt while he waited for Bella. "I can't smell anything."
"You won't be able to." Sam's jaw clenched as he gripped the counter top harder. "Bella smells of it too, but stronger. I thought you were going to the therapist's office."
"We did. We've just come straight from there." Charlie couldn't believe what he was hearing. This couldn't be true. They had crossed paths with a vampire? He tried to sort through his chaotic thoughts. There had been a few people in the waiting room, but none of them seemed out of the ordinary. Then there was the therapist himself, Jasper Hale…."Fucking hell!" Charlie swore as he put a hand over his mouth.
"Charlie." Sam saw comprehension dawning in the older man's eyes. "You know who it is, don't you?"
"It has to be her therapist, Jasper Hale. Oh my god….I put my little girl in danger. I didn't recognise the signs…but it's so obvious now. His hand was ice cold when I shook it and his abnormally white complexion. Sam, I just didn't think. I didn't make the connection. He just seemed so normal, so fucking polite and his eyes weren't red."
"He could be wearing contacts." Sam felt sick to his stomach. The thought of Bella being in the same room as that vile creature made him want to puke. This mixed with the sickening sickly sweet stench still pouring from Charlie only made it harder to control his wolf. He could feel himself shifting. "I need to go right now. But Charlie I'll be close. Take a shower and get Bella too as well. I need to summon the pack. We have to seek this cold one out and destroy it. It has overstepped the mark interacting with humans."
Charlie gulped as he watched the tremors running down Sam's arms. "Go." He urged him.
Sam quickly fled the house and ran as fast as he could for the trees. He made it just in time before he shifted and the wolf took over.
"Jasper!" Alice was on her feet in an instant. Carlisle and Esme stared at her in stunned silence as she flew up the spiral staircase in their lavish accommodation and disappeared to the palatial room she shared with her mate. She found him sitting at an ornate desk reading through case notes of some of his patients. He looked at her curiously as she quickly closed the bedroom door and leaned heavily against it.
"What is it, Alice?" Jasper rose swiftly to his feet and strode over to her. He gently put his hands on her tiny shoulders and used his gift to calm her down. He watched in satisfaction as her stiff posture relaxed. "Now that's better. Can you tell me what's bothering you?" He smiled at her encouragingly.
Alice's lips thinned as she glared at him. "Don't use that tone of voice with me. I am not one of your patients. I thought you weren't going to interfere with little Bella Swan again. You promised me."
Jasper sighed as he cupped her sweet face in the palms of his hands. He stroked her smooth skin lovingly. "Carlisle asked me, Alice. I couldn't say no."
"Well you are going to wish you had." Alice snapped.
Jasper became still as he stared into her angry eyes. "What do you mean?"
"Your career in this city is over."
"Why?" Jasper frowned as he studied his mate carefully. "Have you seen something?"
"Yes." Alice spat as she pushed his hands away from her face. "Charlie Swan now knows what you are. The vision was hazy, something is blocking it, but there was no mistaking his intent. You have to resign right now and we all have to clear out of here. It's too dangerous to stay. You should never have allowed Carlisle to persuade you, Jas. This has ruined everything."
"I don't believe this." Jasper cursed as he began to pace back and forth. His normally cool demeanour cracked showing the real man underneath the charming façade. He kicked out at an ornate lamp that stood beside the bed and sent it crashing into the wall opposite. "I was doing valuable work here. I should never have allowed myself to be persuaded." His nostrils flared and his eyes were wild as he began to curse Carlisle over and over.
"It's too late for regrets now." Alice retorted. She was still too livid herself to offer him any comfort. "The question is who will break the news to Esme that you and Carlisle went behind her back and ruined all her plans." She arched one perfectly manicured brow as she saw Jasper tense. "Well I can assure you it won't be me. Good luck, lover." Alice flounced out of the room in a fit of pique leaving Jasper to his dark thoughts.
The next morning when Charlie, along with Sam, Jacob and Embry arrived at the therapist's office they found the building locked down and with a rental sign out the front. Charlie peered inside the windows and saw that the inside had been ransacked. All the expensive furniture in reception had been removed and the huge space was empty. "He's gone." He ground out in frustration. "How the hell would he have known?"
"I don't know." Sam replied. "Still we'll check all around the building just to make sure." He signalled the others to begin scouting around the back.
Charlie stayed near the front entrance and stared at the building. He couldn't believe this was happening. Bella was safely in La Push with Sarah while the other members of the pack kept guard near the house. Jacob had been apoplectic when he found out that Bella had been around vampires. He had nearly fallen apart. As soon as Charlie arrived at his house with Bella, he had picked her up and squeezed the life out of her, discreetly checking at the same time that she wasn't injured. Poor Bella was utterly confused by his overreaction and had tried to pry out of him what was wrong. But Jacob had been ordered by Sam not to reveal anything to Bella, and to his frustration it had prevented him saying anything rational at all. Sarah had noticed her son's struggles and quickly intervened by calling Bella over to her.
Charlie had driven them to the therapist's office in the cruiser and all the way there Jacob had remained mute, his dark eyes closed as if he was trying to contain his wolf. Charlie had noted the tremors in his arms and the deep breaths he was taking. Jacob appeared unstable, as if he was going to shift at any moment. Charlie had exchanged worried looks with Sam. Finding out about Bella's near miss had shaken Jacob considerably and Charlie was beginning to regret allowing the kid along, but Jacob had been adamant that he wanted to be part of the team that drove the vampire out. Even though it shocked him to the core Charlie was secretly glad that Jasper Hale had disappeared of his own accord. With the state Jacob was in all hell could have broken loose.
"He's not here." Sam's voice startled Charlie. He would never get used to how silently the pack members could move. It was uncanny.
"We should try and track him." Jacob was seething. He kicked the front door violently as he vented his anger out on an inanimate object.
"Cool it, Jake." Sam ordered him.
"You need to chill, bro." Embry put his hand on Jacob's shoulder to try and keep him still.
"He could have hurt her." Jacob yelled as he shook off Embry's hand and got right in Sam's face. "He still could. I want to track him down."
"Jake, please just do as Sam says and take a breath." Charlie interjected. He was afraid Jacob was going to wolf out in the street. Luckily the office was down a side turning but they were beginning to attract curious stares from passers by now that Jacob was practically shouting. "We need to go."
"Go? No we need to find the bloodsucker." Jacob repeated stubbornly.
"Charlie's right. There is nothing we can do here." Sam stated calmly. Jacob emitted a low growl as he stared Sam down. It was in that moment that Charlie noticed how much taller Jacob had grown as he glared challengingly at his leader. Embry was looking between his pack brothers agitatedly. Like Charlie he had never witnessed a standoff like this before.
"You need to back off, Jacob." Sam shoved Jacob back a bit as he broke the staring contest and used an Alpha command to get the younger kid to retreat. Jacob's jaw clenched as he fought the order and it took all of Sam's willpower to force Jacob to comply.
"I won't forget this." Jacob snapped at Sam before he stalked off and headed back to the cruiser. Embry quickly followed after his brother to try and calm Jacob down.
"Is he often like this?" Charlie asked Sam in concern. He could see the confrontation had shaken Sam, even though he was trying his best to hide it.
"Sometimes he can be confrontational, but nothing like that." Sam replied.
"I know he adores my daughter and he's still so young. Perhaps it was a bit much for him." Charlie ran a hand through his hair as he looked up at Sam's face.
"I care too." Sam pointed out in a hurt tone thinking that Charlie was implying that Bella didn't mean as much to him as she did to Jacob.
"I know you do. That's not what I'm saying. It's just that Jake has always had a special connection with Bells, that's all." Charlie tried to smooth things over. "Come on there's nothing more we can do here, we should go."
Sam just nodded stiffly. He led the way back to the cruiser with a worried Charlie trailing behind.
Sarah had kept Bella occupied by teaching her some new recipes. She knew that Charlie's cooking left a lot to be desired and that Bella had picked up some baking skills of her own in the time she was away, so it seemed a good idea to while away the time by showing the young girl some alternatives to the meals she already knew how to make. The twins were out with Harry and Sue's daughter, Leah Clearwater, which meant that she could give Bella all of her attention.
"I'm sorry that your first day at school didn't go too well." Sarah gave Bella an empathetic smile as they worked side by side.
Bella stiffened as she stopped stirring the sauce she had just poured into the pan and glanced at Sarah. "I never meant to just take off like that." She whispered.
"Oh, I know, sweetie." Sarah hurried to reassure her. "I wasn't having a go. I just want to let you know it will get better. I promise. Once you've settled in and made a few friends then you'll forget all about the first day blues." She reached out and smoothed Bella's hair back from her face.
"I'm not very good at making friends." Bella replied doubtfully. "Girls don't seem to like me."
"Rach and Becca do." Sarah replied.
Bella looked askance at Sarah in surprise. She really didn't know her daughters that well. Rebecca was just horrible, Rachel wasn't too bad, she at least seemed to have a conscience but her twin had none at all. Bella let it pass. "Of course, I just meant girls my age. It's hard being in classes with kids younger than me."
"I know, but give it time, Bella. You'll soon make new friends." Sarah assured her.
The front door burst open and the twins plus Leah Clearwater bundled into the house. The three of them were huddled together, whispering. Sarah greeted them all happily and told them to help themselves to some of the cookies she and Bella had baked earlier. The twins descended on them immediately but Leah Clearwater held back. She was looking at Bella with a calculating expression. Bella felt her traitorous skin flush under the older girl's scrutiny. Leah Clearwater was a beauty. Her long, shoulder length black hair fell in a shiny wave around her shoulders. Her dark brown eyes were framed with the longest lashes Bella had ever seen. She was taller than the twins and had the build of a track runner. Bella had never felt so envious in her life.
"Can I have a word, Bella?" Leah asked as she wandered over to join her.
Bella felt her envy kick up a notch at the way Leah walked. How did she get her hips to move so fluidly and she was so graceful in her movements. Bella felt like a clumsy heifer compared to Leah. "Okay." She mumbled. She had no idea why Leah would want to talk to her; she had never shown an inclination to before on the rare occasions they had interacted.
Leah glanced behind her to make sure the twins weren't listening. They were talking to their mother, whining about something. When Leah was satisfied that she wouldn't be overheard she leaned closer to Bella and began to talk quietly. "Sam lives with you, right?"
"Yes." Bella replied warily.
"You are so lucky." A wistful look crossed Leah's attractive face as she spoke about Sam. It was clear to Bella that she had a crush on him. "I was wondering could you invite me over one night while he's there. I mean I keep trying to get his attention at school, but it's hard because he's always surrounded by Rach and Becca's brother and some other dudes. I don't want to look desperate but if you say you invited me over then I can catch him alone if you know what I mean." Leah laughed and winked conspiratorially at Bella.
"Um…okay." Bella was too stunned to do anything but agree. At least if Sam decided to date Leah he wouldn't be at the house so much.
"Cool." Leah smiled at her happily. "Thanks, Bella." She sauntered back to the twins and began to eat some of the cookies.
Bella stared after her in bemusement. Had that really just happened? Maybe if this favour she did Leah went well she might consider being her friend too. That would be a kick up the butt to Rebecca as she was a big admirer of Leah, having her as a friend gave her special status at school because Leah Clearwater was considered part of the cool crowd. Bella saw Rebecca stare at her irritably as she noticed Leah give her a thumbs up as a thank you. This made Bella smile. She turned back to stirring the sauce feeling in a more positive mood.
A/N-thanks for reading!