Snap Decision

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-thank you for the kind reviews!

Chapter Fifteen

"I want to come with you when you meet with Carlisle." Bella insisted.

Jacob shook his head as his frustration began to build up again. They'd already had this argument, but Bella was stubbornly refusing to let it go. "It's not safe."

"That's ridiculous! You're going to be there and so is Sam. I'll be well protected." Bella argued. "I need to have my say, Jacob. I need to know why Carlisle is shielding Edward after everything he has done."

"We know why!" Jacob answered irritably. "Cullen is like a son to him. He probably doesn't want to accept the truth about him. You've seen how much he's indulged him in the past. I mean he uprooted the whole coven for his benefit when he left you for dead in the woods. He didn't care then, Bells. He certainly doesn't care now."

His harsh words were like a kick to the stomach. Bella gasped, turning away from him to hide how much he had hurt her. But Jacob knew. He was already wishing he could take it back. He was just so full of anger. Charlie had put in a formal complaint about how lightly Edward Cullen had got off the charges. He was pissed off that he had been granted bail so quickly, especially considering this was his second breach of the restraining order. In response to his complaint Bella had been hauled back to the station for almost three hours; they made her wait for two hours before there was anyone to talk to her. This enraged the police chief further as well as Jacob. By the time she was interviewed she had to run through everything again and again. The whole time Jacob's anger was building in waves. They were treating her like she was the suspect instead of the victim. His hand was a tight fist on his leg as he tried to keep his anger under control. Bella didn't need him kicking off, neither did Charlie. If he saw Edward Cullen in that moment, he was pretty sure he would kill him.

"I'm sorry, Bells." Jacob apologised after a moment. "I just don't want you to suffer any more than you already have. I'm worried that the bloodsucker will be there. I'm worried that he might try and get to you…. I don't think I'll be able to restrain myself."

Bella wiped away a stray tear and smiled at him in understanding. She wasn't immune to the fact that this whole episode had affected him as deeply as it had her. He was feeling what she was feeling, everything was enhanced by the imprint bond. He shared her sadness, her fears, all her lows and highs. She didn't want to pressure him when he was already stressed enough, but she needed to do this. She was sick of feeling so helpless. She wanted to take back control. Confronting Carlisle would help her to achieve that.

"I don't want to make things difficult for you, Jake. But I'm tired of being the victim. I need to do this. Please, I need your support." She pleaded.

Jacob couldn't resist her. Despite all his misgivings he felt himself wavering. "Sam would never agree."

"He will. Emily's working on him right now." Bella confessed.

"Bells!" Jacob shook his head in disbelief. "I never thought you could be so devious."

"Yes, you did." She replied as his face slowly relaxed into a smile.

Bella hadn't seen Carlisle properly since the night at the airport. She was shocked by the changes in him. He still looked handsomer than any movie star she had ever seen, but his skin seemed whiter than ever, he was tired looking, with circles under his eyes. Despite this he was dressed as impeccably as always, wearing a pair of loose tan pants, teamed with a pale blue shirt rolled up at the sleeves. He greeted her with a warm smile.

"It's lovely to see you, Bella. Its been too long." He held out his hand toward her, but she refused to take it. This seemed to confuse him, but he recovered quickly as he turned his attention to Jacob and Sam, greeting them in the same friendly manner. "Thank you for coming. Would you like to take a seat?"

"This isn't a social call." Sam said shortly. "And we'd prefer to stand."

"Of course." Carlisle murmured.

Bella looked around the huge white living room. She shivered, remembering the party they had thrown for her eighteenth. It had been held in this very room. It was just another painful memory in a long list of bad ones. She cast a glance toward Edward's grand piano, standing in pride of place in the centre of the room, the lid was open revealing the keys. That was odd. It made it seem as if someone had been interrupted by their unexpected arrival and left the room abruptly. Was Edward somewhere nearby? And where was the rest of the family? Why was Carlisle the only one to greet them?

Sam's voice faded in and out as he spoke to Carlisle, outlining in no uncertain terms why they were here. She barely heard Carlisle's response to Uley's accusations as she was too focused on trying to unravel the mystery as to why the others were not present. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Jacob tense. She had to admire his self-control. She had expected him to kick off as soon as they stepped through the door, but he had shown remarkable restraint. His tension communicated itself to Bella, and he turned, sensing that she was watching him. His lips drew up in an encouraging smile before settling back into his familiar stern expression. Of course, he was trying to remain calm for her sake. Bella felt a rush of tenderness wash over her, and she found herself drifting to his side and taking his hand. His warm fingers wrapped around hers, something that Carlisle was quick to notice.

"Bella, may I have a private talk with you?" He asked politely.

"Hell no!" Jacob answered before she had a chance to.

"Jake." Sam gave him a warning look which caused Jacob to scowl.

Bella squeezed his fingers before sucking in a deep breath to steady her nerves. "Where are the others?" She said in response to his question.

"Others?" Carlisle looked slightly uncomfortable. "Oh, I just thought it would make you feel more at ease if it was just me."

Bella gave him a basilisk like stare. He was lying. "You haven't told them about Edward." She guessed in disbelief. "Esme…Rosalie…they don't know what he's done."

Sam and Jacob exchanged a stunned glance. "Is this true?" Sam demanded harshly. "Have you kept the truth from the rest of the coven?"

"It would only upset them." Carlisle hastened to add. "And…"

"And you know how angry they would be if they knew that Edward had assaulted me!" Bella raged. "Especially Rosalie. Esme would be disgusted, too. I bet even Jasper and Emmet would tear him a new one if they knew. Why are you defending him?"

Carlisle's expression turned pained. "Bella, please, I understand you are upset with Edward, but I would urge you to moderate your language. He has been trying to atone for his mistakes. I know he would never hurt you. He worships the ground you walk on. And you know that. And I have been trying to shield my family from the worst of it. You need to know that your actions have not only deeply hurt Edward, but all of those who love you, including me. You are part of our family, Bella. You know how dangerous it is for us to receive negative attention like this. I can't believe you would let if go this far. You had to know I would defend Edward vigorously against these…. exaggerated claims of yours."

Jacob lost control then. His anger matched Bella's. They were like twin suns, burning with righteous indignation, angered that Carlisle refused to take the blinders off regarding his favourite's sickening behaviour. Before Sam could intervene, Jacob had Carlisle hauled up against the wall; his eyes narrowed with hate.

"That twisted bastard broke into the house-Bella was assaulted, and groped. He touched her against her will, repeatedly, while she was telling him to stop. How you stand there and defend him just goes to show that you are either a delusional piece of shit or have no moral compass at all when it comes to golden boy."

For good measure, Jacob slammed Carlisle against the wall a couple of times-fully knowing that the only damage was to the plaster-but it gave him a small sense of satisfaction that he'd got his point across. As he passed Sam, he expected his Alpha to give him a reproving look, but was relieved to find the exact opposite.

"Edward Cullen has not only broken the law but the treaty as well. You know the consequences. You leave now or you force us to make you. I don't think either of us wants a fight." Sam stated coolly. "There is no negotiation over this."

Carlisle rubbed his jaw with his fingers, his brow was furrowed in contemplation. Sam's words had given him no room to manoeuvre. His golden-brown eyes flicked to Bella, his expression turning grave. "I have read the statement you gave to the police, Bella. I am well aware of what you are accusing Edward of. Again, I reiterate, there are two sides to every story. And I believe my son. I feel sorry for you. I really do. You have become so tangled up in your web of lies that I think you have almost come to believe them."

Bella gasped in dismay at his words. Jacob went on the attack again, but this time Sam was quicker to intervene. "This is not the way." He warned Jacob before turning his cold stare onto Carlisle. "You have forty-eight hours to pack up your life and get out of here." His face and voice were as cold as the vamp doctor's icy skin.

"I cannot and will not abide by your terms." Carlisle replied as he levelled his gaze with Sam's. "With Victoria still hunting I cannot in good conscience leave the battle in your untrained hands. Despite the animosity that exists between us right now, I will continue to do the honourable thing and stay until she is vanquished." His eyes left Sam's and travelled to Bella's. "I sincerely hope you will come to see that all of Edward's actions have been borne out of deep love and adoration for you. You know deep down he never broke the law or the treaty." He sighed heavily. "However, I will make sure that he keeps his distance until the ill will you seem to have toward him is resolved. As Alexander Pope once said-to err is human, to forgive divine. I forgive you and he will, too."

Bella felt sick. She actually threw up in her mouth a little at Carlisle's words. Jacob's arms wrapped around her, holding her together like he always did. She could feel the fine tremors in his body as he fought not to phase and rip the vamp doctor's head off. Carlisle had essentially accused her of being a liar, inferring that she was making things up because she was pissed at Edward, and accusing him of all these things to exact some kind of cruel punishment. She wished in that moment that she had never got in the car with Alice and flown to Italy to save him. She should have let him rot in his own personal hell. And that is exactly what she said to Carlisle. "I should have left him to die!" She spat angrily.

Carlisle faltered at her harsh comment, his eyes darkened and he looked pained. "I think you should leave now." He murmured.

"You will be the ones leaving." Sam reminded him again sternly. "You have two days, Dr, Cullen. Two days."

A/N-thanks for reading!