I DREAM OF RAINBOWS
Disclaimer: The Cullen's, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.
The awesome and talented dowlingnana searched out my errors and corrected them.
"Get out of my courtroom and don't let me see your face in here again. Case dismissed this time. You are free to go, Mr. Cullen, this time. You'll be taken back to the jail and will be released from there." With that said the judge brought down his gavel and dismissed the court.
CHAPTER 51: TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE
However, before anyone can leave the judge turns back to address Bella, "Ms. Swan, I'm not going to charge you with contempt this time, but if you ever come before this court again because of something you told your father and refuse to answer the court's questions, I won't be so understanding." He stated before turning to speak with Charlie.
"Sir, since you're standing next to Ms. Swan, I'm assuming you to be Charles Swan, the Chief of Police in Forks, Washington. It is with that assumption that I'm going to also give you a piece of advice.
"I'm a single father of a daughter that I've raised to adulthood, and she still tells me about many things in confidence. It's because of that that I do understand the stress that you were under about deciding the right thing to do.
"It's hard for a man to be in such a position to have to choose between his job and his obligation to his daughter. I don't think that I could have handled this whole situation any better than what you've done.
"However, Chief Swan, you have come close to overstepping the boundaries of what is allowable by law, for you to do you job and to maintain a close, working relationship with your daughter.
"This court is very much aware of what you've done even though it hasn't been discussed in this court. It is because of the fact that none of it has been entered into the record that I'm not making a ruling concerning such actions. So, you can consider yourself lucky.
"All I'm going to say is to give greater consideration to such actions in the future because you might not be so lucky as you've been this time.
"Now, all of you get the hell out of my court."
And, as the judge leaves, everyone else gets ready to walk out, including the bailiff getting ready to lead Edward back to his cell in preparation to be transported back to the jail so he can be processed for release. However, he has a puzzled expression while trying to understand several things at once.
He had listened as the judge had admonished the man, he knew to be Sean Winston, but the judge called him Charles Swan. Then Mr. Winston seemed to be fairly friendly with Isabella Swan and his parents. And, lastly, the judge had referred to Mr. Winston as Charles Swan, Chief of Police in a place called Forks, Washington.
He had the question of "what the hell is going on," running around in his mind as he was heading back to the jail to be released. Then the final question that crossed his mind was, "how the hell Isabella Swan had managed to contrive the mess he was in and then to get him out of it?"
To say that each thought led to another question was making him more confused as time passed. He didn't like being on the outside of a situation, or, being made the bunt of some kind of joke. He was beginning to think that for some reason Isabella Swan was manipulating him. And with that thought he started making plans about how he was going to get the answers that he needed.
XXXXXX
Bella and Charlie walked outside with Carlisle and Esme, each breathing a sigh of relief. It was over and done. Edward would be returning home and Bella would be able to move on with the business that needed to be handled to get the movie started and then finished.
"What are you going to do now that Edward has been released?" Bella asked of the older Cullen's.
"We're going over to the jail and wait for his release and then see about catching the first flight out of here back to L. A." Esme stated with relief. Then she added, "I'm thankful for all that you two have done to help bring this to the conclusion that has happened.
"I also plan to make sure that my son has learnt a lesson from all of this. Can't tell you how I'm going to make that happen at this moment, but I'll think of something."
Carlisle held out his hand to shake hands with Charlie and told him, "I can understand why you did what you did, and I only wished that it didn't have to come to this.
"And, Bella, both, Esme and I, appreciate the position that you've taken in this whole matter.
"So many misunderstandings happened to bring it to this outcome. However, there is something that we've learnt about that I must ask you to answer for us.
"Was Edward responsible for the accident that put you in the hospital?" As Carlisle asked his question, he could see the expression that passed across Bella's face and got the impression that she wasn't going to answer.
"Please, we do need to know the truth of your accident." Esme said before Carlisle could remark to the expression that they both had seen quickly crossing Bella's face.
"I really didn't want to go into all of that, but since you are insistent, I guess I have to. So, to answer your question, the answer is yes, but please understand that it isn't as straightforward as it might sound.
"Edward must have been backing out of a room at the same time as I was backing out of my agent's room after helping to get him settled. You see he and I had been out having dinner and then had been drinking a bit and Mark was a bit under the influence more than I was.
"As we bumped into each other, and I went flying forward I just happened to see his shocked reflection in the hallway mirror before hitting my head on the wall and blacking out.
"The next thing I knew I was in Mark's room, and he was having me taken to the hospital.
"I didn't really remember much until I happened to see Edward walking into my hospital room and that's when the memory of seeing him in the mirror returned.
"That is all I'm able to tell you. Edward didn't deliberately hurt me, but he didn't take the time to completely render help either." Bella completed answering the Cullen's question and waited to see what they might have to say or ask next.
A few moments passed before any further comments were made and it was Carlisle that spoke. "Thanks for letting us know. The only information we had in regards to what had happened was the little that LAPD had told us when they were investigating the situation.
"Then what Alice and Rosalie had told us that they believed that Edward had had something to do with your accident. And, I believe Alice had had a conversation with you where more information had become available, however, it still left a lot unanswered.
"Now, we know the full story and can understand more of what is going on. Thanks for not making an issue of it one way or another and just letting us have the truth."
"I agree with my husband. Thank you, Ms. Swan for everything, and to you also Charlie for all that you've done." Esme told Bella and Charlie as she gave them a hug each.
And feeling slightly uncomfortable due to the way the Cullen's were treating him after all that had happened to their son, Charlie decided that he needed to introduce them to Sean Winston. "Before you go there is one more thing that you do need to know."
The couple paused and looked between Bella and Charlie, waiting as if bracing themselves for something more terrible to fall into their laps. And, with seeing their reaction to his statement Charlie told them that it wasn't anything bad and explained his interactions with Edward as Sean Winston. Of course, this information took the couple by complete surprise.
"Are you telling us that you're the one that visited with Edward in L. A. and then was the person that had gotten him his attorney? Why? Why would you do all of that and then confess it to us at this time? Why haven't you told Edward; surely, he has the right to know?
"Well, maybe not. He wouldn't be too understanding." Carlisle said as he gave that last question second thought.
Three pair of eyes turn to look at Charlie Swan as they waited for his answers.
"I've explained my actions of why I felt I had to do what I did as my duty and for the protection of my daughter. However, the more Bella told me about how much this could and was likely to cause her problems that could have been avoided if I had taken the time to investigate things further on my own, I felt that that was what I needed to do.
"So, I made the trip to L. A. to talk with your son but doubted that he would have been very forthcoming if I talked with him as myself. That is why I approached him as Sean Winston which was a persona that I used years ago when I had to do some undercover work.
"After listening to his side of things, I realized how I misunderstood certain things and offered my help to get things straightened out.
"That really is all there was behind my rendering aid to your son, except that I had to do something to repair the harm I had done to my daughter's trust in her old man. And my actions could have harmed Bella's working relationship with your company. I couldn't allow that."
Both Carlisle and Esme let Charlie know that although they didn't quite know what to say about his latest confession, they felt no animosity towards him because of his choices or decisions. "You're probably right about how Edward would have reacted if you had approached him as yourself."
However, both Charlie and Bella were surprised by what Esme had to ask and then suggested. "Charlie, would you mind picking Edward up from the jail and bringing him to meet us at the hotel?
"At that time, you will have your chance to tell Edward your true name and why you did what you did since the judge had more or less let the cat out of the bag before Edward had been led out of the courtroom. He had such a confused expression on his face. And, knowing my son like I do, he is going to overthink this situation and draw some wrong conclusions. That could really lead to more problems that I would like to stop ahead of time if it can be done.
"You seem to have greater influence over him than his parents at the moment, so I would like to use that advantage to try to get my son's priorities headed in the right direction once again."
"Well, that is the least I can do while trying to make this right for everyone concerned." Charlie told Esme and Carlisle. Then he looked at Bella and suggested that she go on home as he would take a cab over to the jail and would catch up with her later.
XXXXXX
It took some time for Edward to be released after returning from his hearing. He had a surprise waiting for him as he walked out expecting to meet his parents. Instead, he spied Sean Winston or whoever the hell he was waiting but no sign of his parents.
Charlie saw Edward pause before walking over to him and he rose out of his seat to greet the young man.
"Who the hell are you?" Edward didn't hesitate to ask rather rudely as he came within a few steps of Charlie with an angry expression on his face and hands clenched into fists.
"Son, why don't we get out of here and go someplace quiet so we can talk. After that I'll gladly take you to your parents and we'll part ways.
"Also, before you ask anything else, I want you to know that your parents are fully aware of the circumstances and are the ones that asked me to talk with you."
With that being said, Edward simply nodded and left with Charlie to go wherever Charlie chose so he could get his questions answered.
A/N: Edward's hearing is over; Bella was let off with a verbal slap of the hand and Charlie even received a lecture of sorts by the judge. Charlie's confession to Carlisle and Esme came as a surprise, however, Esme saw that what Charlie had pulled might have an advantage to it. Now, Charlie and Edward are heading for a quiet spot to have a much needed discussion. What is going to be Edward's reaction to all that Charlie has to tell him?
Thanks for reading and looking forward to hearing from you.