Chapter Fifty Four
Bella
I made such a fuss in the Clinic that they reluctantly let me go after three days. My leg still hurt but I was more worried about the pain in my chest which was getting steadily worse. I was afraid it would be picked up by the nursing staff and mean I was in there even longer. As soon as I got the OK Charlotte came to wheel me out to the car while Peter carried my crutches.
"Rose and Emmett went to hunt so it's just me and Peter I'm afraid"
"That's fine Charlotte. I'm just glad to be out of there. I hate Hospitals"
She smiled,
"We never would have guessed Bella."
"Where are we going?"
"To the Motel until the others get back, then I think the plan is to drive back to San Diego slowly if you're up to it"
It didn't feel right, leaving this area. If Jasper did make it then he was around here somewhere.
"I don't think I want to go back Charlotte"
"Why Bella?"
"It doesn't feel right"
"OK, Well we'll talk to the others when they get back."
I looked at her,
"What?"
"You didn't laugh or tell me not to be stupid"
"Why should I? If it feels wrong then it probably is. We never ignore feelings, they are very important in our world."
Rose
When we got back Bella was waiting, sitting on the couch with her leg up and drinking coffee,
"Well, a lady of leisure I see?"
She smiled at me,
"Enforced I'm afraid."
Emmett rubbed his hands together,
"So we ready to leave? I feel a road trip coming on"
Bella shook her head as I looked at Charlotte who shrugged,
"Bella doesn't think we should go back. It doesn't feel right."
"OK little Sis. What does feel right?"
She thought about this for a minute,
"I'm not sure and I know that's not much help but it doesn't feel right to just leave. I have to tell you something but I don't want to go back to that Clinic right?"
She looked at us in turn until we all nodded our agreement.
"I have a really bad pain in my chest and when I think of leaving, going back to San Diego it gets worse"
Peter looked at Emmett,
"Mating pull has to be. Looks like we've got a Major hunt on our hands"
Bella looked at him mystified so I broke in,
"You're feeling the pull towards Jasper, if its bad that means we're too far away. If it's getting worse and we aren't moving then he is, away from you. We need to find him, get you two together."
"So he is alive?"
"My guess would be yes. If he wasn't the pain would be driving you mad by now"
She touched her chest worried,
"Are you sure?"
"Until I see his rotting carcass, yes."
With Peters final sentence Emmett grabbed his lap top and pulled up a map.
Bella
Emmett came and sat beside me,
"Peter and I thought it might come to a search and rescue mission so we did a bit of digging. Your plane landed here"
He pointed to a red cross on the map,
"We know the Pilot didn't fly for longer than about fifteen minutes after decompression so the furthest out they could have fallen is this outer circle. Unfortunately the pilot had to leave his planned route. "
I looked at the huge area encompassed by the outer circle. He touched an inner circle,
"We don't think they fell this close and we can pretty well rule out any populated areas. Men falling out of the sky would have been all over the news so..."
He moved the cursor and a hatched area appeared as an overlay,
"We have about five main search areas unless you can help narrow it down. Do you have any idea how long before you set down he went out?"
I thought about this, it was all so jumbled up,
"I don't think it was long because the plane dropped really quickly and it wasn't long before we touched down."
"OK, so we'll concentrate on the inner areas first. There are three of them so we'll need to split up unless..."
I looked at him,
"What? Unless what?"
"Well if you feel up to it Peter and I thought we might try a drive through."
"A what?"
"Well drive through the centre of these areas. If you feel anything you tell us, it might help pinpoint his location more quickly"
"Then I'm fine. I have my pills just put me in the back of the truck and let's go"
Peter
I had to step in here,
"You go nowhere today, you just got out of the hospital. We set off first thing in the morning as long as you get a good nights sleep. In the meantime Rose and Charlotte will pick you up some food and clothes. Unless that is you intend spending all your time fighting off the flies in those old clothes"
She looked down at her cut off jeans and baggy sweater.
"OK But can we leave early?"
"As long as you sleep first or you'll be back in that Clinic and you may never get out again OK?"
She nodded her agreement so while the girls went shopping Emmett walked to the nearby subway to get her dinner and I sat guard, making sure she stayed put.
"Will it work Peter?"
"Never failed yet. I could find Char in the middle of the Amazon by the pull she exerts on me"
"Yes but you're mates, real mates."
"And what are you two? Pretend ones? I don't think so Bella. You and The Major belong together. We need to get you two in the same room pretty damn quick."
"Thank you Peter."
She leaned over to plant a kiss on my cheek,
"Hey I could get used to that"
"Find me a Major, you can have as many as you want"
"Now that's what I call motivation!"
Bella
When Emmett came in with a hot Sub the smell of melted cheese had my mouth watering and I started it straight away, not waiting for a plate while Emmett went to get a napkin and fork for the salad he'd got too.
"I love you"
I mumbled through a mouthful of roll. He laughed,
"You might want to wipe the grease off your chin before it soaks into your sweater"
I cursed trying to juggle everything when Peters hand came up and gently wiped the grease track away.
"You enjoy. We'll worry about the mess. I remember my first meal as a vampire. Blood everywhere. I bit into the guys artery and didn't suck. Man does blood go a long way under pressure"
Emmett looked at him horrified and his expression made me laugh which resulted in the bread going down the wrong way and me choking. That was bad enough but Peters attempt at the Heimlich manoeuvre almost crushed my ribs. We were all laughing fit to bust when the girls got back.
