Snap Decision

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-thank you for the kind reviews!

Chapter Fourteen

Jacob could feel the rage boiling up inside him; if Edward had hurt one hair on her head, he was going to kill him this time. There was no way he was letting this go, not again. He needed to back the fuck away from Bella because this was beyond crazy.

Sam could sense that Jacob's anger was blinding him to the seriousness of the situation. He needed to regain control and focus, for Bella's sake, if not for his own. Sam hated doing it, but he issued an Alpha command on Jacob, forcing him to calm down and concentrate. He could feel Jacob straining to try and resist the order, but Sam continued to exert his power over him until Jacob bent to his will.

"Think of Bella." He stated calmly. "She's been through enough without seeing you attack Edward Cullen in a blind rage."

Jacob knew deep down that Sam was right, but it still didn't stop him resenting his Alpha. "I need to get up there."

"We'll go together. But first we call the cops." Sam phased back before Jacob had a chance to question his decision.

Bella woke up from her stupor to find Edward leaning over her. His face softened as soon as he saw her eyes open. He sighed and brushed his hand across her face lightly, wiping her stray tears away. "I don't understand what happened there." He murmured thoughtfully. "You can't keep doing things like that. What's the matter with you? I told you I love you and I won't hurt you again, but you won't forgive me. How many times do I need to say sorry?" He asked softly, bending his head and kissing her cheek gently. Bile rose in her throat at the feel of his lips against her skin.

"You need to leave." Bella whispered hoarsely. She knew she couldn't mention Jacob. Edward seemed to just snap at the mention of his name so she couldn't risk him going crazy again. She hoped Jacob would be there soon. His voice had vanished from her head, no matter how many times she screamed his name in her mind he didn't answer.

Edward's hand traced the side of her leg as he pressed his body harder against hers. His nose ran up the side of her jaw, inhaling deeply. "You smell so good. I've missed your smell."

Bella grimaced as she turned her head away from him. Her breathing escalated but Edward took this for a sign of desire rather than fear. He shook his head and kissed the side of her neck. "I need to use the bathroom." She said weakly.

"Ah, just another human foible you won't have to worry about anymore." Edward laughed indulgently as he gripped her hand and helped her to rise. "And don't worry about the wardrobe or any of your things. I can give you better and more."

Bella closed her eyes and let him lead her to the bathroom. Once inside she shut the door, flicking the lock. Not that a puny lock would keep him out if he really wanted to get in. But at least it would give her an extra few seconds as she tried to escape. She went straight to the bathroom window and yanked on the handle. To her relief it wasn't locked. She pushed on it and tried to lever herself up to the sill. It was difficult. The window was small, she wondered if she was going to even fit.

Edward was talking on the other side of the door, seeming to be oblivious to her desperate attempts to get away from him. "You know you really need to cancel the restraining order, Bella. Then there would be nothing in our way and we could move on."

Does he really think its just the restraining order in our way? Bella thought as she tried to wedge herself through the tight gap. Wow, just wow! He was deluded, crazy!

Bella gulped and floundered when she struggled to get through the small gap. What was she supposed to do to turn this situation around? What do you say when you didn't want to upset a sociopath? "You can't keep doing this, Edward."

He almost growled in response to that statement and Bella realised she had screwed up again. "Are you nearly finished in there?" He demanded.

"Nearly." Bella gave up on trying to squeeze her body through the window. It was just too small. Despair washed over her as she tried to figure out what to do next. Why couldn't she hear Jacob in her head like she had before? Where was he? Was he no longer phased? Is that why she couldn't communicate with him? She needed to borrow his wolf strength again. It was unbelievable that Edward wasn't questioning her sudden rush of adrenaline which had allowed her to throw him off, but he seemed to have brushed it aside as if it meant nothing. He really was deluded.

Edward rapped on the door again sharply with his knuckles. "Bella?" He called; the handle went down as he tried to open it.

Bella knew she couldn't delay any longer. He would only break the lock and come in anyway. Her fingers trembled as she got ready to flip the lock open, when suddenly she heard Edward mutter an oath on the other side of the door. Seconds later this was followed by the sound of voices…one was instantly recognisable as Sam Uley's and the other…

"Jake!" She cried.

He was here! She was safe!

Bella sagged against the door, crying tears of relief.

Bella sat curled up on the sofa, pressed into Jacob's side. She was shaking, but not with cold. They had just returned from the police station where she'd had to make a formal statement about Edward. She had stuck as close to the truth as possible, but there was still a lot she had to leave out. She couldn't shake the memory of his lips and hands on her body. She wanted to scrub her skin clean to wash away any lasting traces of him.

Jacob's arms tightened around her when he felt her shiver. "It's alright now." He whispered soothingly.

Jacob and Sam had restrained Edward until the police arrived ten minutes after they did. It was only then he was grateful for Sam's Alpha order. If Uley hadn't had the foresight to issue it, Jacob knew he would have killed the bloodsucker with his bare hands. Edward Cullen was formally arrested, again. Not by Charlie-he was too closely involved-but by one of his colleagues.

Right now, the police chief was pacing up and down the front room, his jaw and eyes tight with tension as they all waited for news. It seemed an age before the phone rang and he hastened to answer it. Five minutes later there was the sound of the phone being ripped out of its socket and smashing against the wall as Charlie lost control. Bella jumped in alarm, while Jacob and Sam exchanged a dubious glance. By the police chief's reaction, the news wasn't good. So much for relying on the law for protection!

Charlie came storming back into the room a few moments later, more in control now, but the frustration clear on his face. "They've let the little shit out on bail." He practically growled.

"Why would they do that?" Jacob demanded, getting angry again. He heard Bella emit a quiet sob and forced himself to calm down and focus his attention on her. Her welfare was all that mattered now.

"Because he didn't actually hurt or threaten Bella, the case won't be dealt with quickly. They've let him out on bail until he goes to court in about a month's time." Charlie continued brusquely.

"And what will happen to him when he does." It was Sam who spoke this time. His face was calm but there was an underlying edge to his tone which showed differently.

Charlie swallowed thickly and looked at Bella bleakly. She looked back at him with tears in her eyes. "The most likely punishment he will get is a fine, or the most would be community service."

"That's bullshit!" Jacob cussed. "He broke in here and… "

"Jake!" Sam said warningly before he let his tongue run away with him in front of Charlie.

"I'm not happy about this, either." Charlie snapped.

Jacob fell silent but his dark eyes sparked with fury. He knew going to the police was futile, but he had least hoped that Cullen would get a harsher punishment than that. He raged silently as he tried to keep his true feelings away from Bella. Edward was a loose cannon. Jacob understood what Sam was trying to do when he called the police. Any more bad press against Edward Cullen would give the pack more leverage to force the coven to leave Forks. The bloodsucker had not only broken the law but the treaty, too. This was serious. There was no way that Carlisle Cullen could defend his son this time.

A/N-thanks for reading!