AN: For a while now I had been thinking about what Jacob did to Bella... I wanted to write my version on the "After", but for a while it escaped me. Finally, I found the voice of my story, so hopefully you enjoy this short.
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Carefully cradling my injured hand to my shoulder I didn't know how long I had been walking. What I did know was I wasn't getting in Jacob's car with him. I thought he was my friend so much so I ignored Edward's warnings about him. My whole arm throbbed in pain with every step I took. When I reached where Edward had dropped me off I was in tears as I pulled out the little silver phone Edward had given me out. I could barely see as I picked the first number knowing who it was.
"Bella?" came Carlisle's voice at the other end of the phone after only one ring.
"Please... come get.. me," I begged him as I choked on the words.
"Where are you?" Carlisle asked as worry colored the tone of his voice.
"Where.. Edward... dropped... me off," I managed to get out between sobs.
"I'll be there soon," Carlisle promised me softly before hanging up.
True to his word it was no more than minutes before I saw Carlisle's car coming up to me. Within seconds Carlisle was at my side looking very worried.
"Broken," I sobbed as he wrapped an arm gently around me.
"Can you move your fingers," Carlisle asked as he guided me towards the car.
Trying as hard as I could my fingers wouldn't move...
"No," I shook my head slightly as Carlisle helped me into his car shutting the door.
Instantly Carlisle was in the driver's seat pulling out headed back towards town.
"I know you don't like it, but I have to take you to the hospital. You need x-rays and maybe a cast as well," Carlisle said as he kept his eyes on the road.
I knew he wanted to asked what had happened, but I was in so much pain I couldn't answer him in the moment. The physical and emotional pain made it hard to think straight. Why hadn't I just listen to Edward? Never again would I question Edward when it came to people's intentions because I had learned my lesson.
"Bella? Bella," Again came Carlisle's voice cutting through as I realized that we were at the hospital, and Carlisle was holding my door open for me to get out.
With Carlisle's help, I got out of the car, and he escorted me into the hospital knowing where he was going. Forks was so small that when we reached x-rays Carlisle walked right in with me. A nurse helped me with getting ready and then taking the x-rays when it came time. Close by, Carlisle stood looking over me as everything was going on. Unable to control anything else I worked on breathing because there was nothing else for me to do.
"We're all done," the nurse said sweetly with a warm smile.
Then she helped me up taking me back to change into my clothes.
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Inside an exam room, I waited for Carlisle as he looked over my x-rays. I just knew in my gut that my wrist had to be broken because I didn't know how yet I knew it was broken but it was. When Carlisle came in he took a seat on one of the rolling stools. Slowly he rolled over to me taking my injured hand using his hand as an ice pack relieving some of the pain.
"What happened?" Carlisle asked with kindness and worry.
"I hauled off and hit Jacob," I said after swallowing hard.
"What happened?" Carlisle questioned knowing there was more.
"I didn't want him to... Please," I teared up as I spoke.
"Baby girl, what did he do," Carlisle whispered almost.
"He kissed me... I fought him off the best I could, but I wasn't strong enough to get him off. After he finished I hit him as hard as I could," It all came out in a rush before I could think too much.
"That's my girl," Carlisle said with pride in his voice.
That surprised me when Carlisle said that...
"How bad is it?" I asked as my wrist wasn't nearly as painful now.
"You broke your wrist pretty good, so you need a cast for at least 5wks or so," Carlisle answered me honestly.
At this, I wrinkled my nose knowing that this meant a shot... One thing I hated a lot was shots or rather needles because it was basically the same thing.
"Do we have to," I groaned knowing the answer.
"It's a local pain reliever, so you won't feel it at all. I'm sure you're wrist is numb by now," Carlisle assumed correctly so.
"Okay," I shut my eyes tight waiting for the prick.
"Done," Carlisle said a second later causing me to open my eyes.
"Really," I questioned as I hadn't felt a thing.
"Cast color," Carlisle asked softly as he eyed me.
"Blue," I blushed a little cause it was Edward's favorite color on me.
Within minutes Carlisle had the cast fitted around my bottom half of my arm to keep immobile.
"That wasn't so bad... Was it?" Carlisle asked with a smile.
"Not at all," I shook my head a little.
"Good," Carlisle replied as he kissed the top of my head.
"I guess I need to go to Charlie's and tell him what happened with," I trailed off at the end not wanting to say his name again.
"I'm going to call home... We both don't want Edward there if he shows up," Carlisle said almost reading my thoughts.
A part of me wanted Edward to clean that mutts clock, but the other part of me knew it wasn't a good idea either.
"I'd rather you be there with me," I agreed with him; not wanting any more drama.
"Don't worry about a thing. I'm more than happy to drive you," Carlisle promised as he reached out his hand cupping my cheek gingerly.
"Thanks for being there for me today... Having someone you can count on means everything," I whispered almost as I tried to find the right words to thank him.
"You will always have me," Carlisle said before excusing himself to make his call.
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I was glad for whatever was in that shot on the ride to Charlie's because the pain was hardly even there in my wrist or arm for the most part. More than anything I was hoping that he wasn't there when Carlisle and I got to the house to tell Charlie what happened to me. Honestly, I really didn't want to speak those words ever again; I didn't want to ever see him for the rest of my life ever again either. As Carlisle turned the corner there was that rabbit in Charlie's driveway, and there was Charlie and him in the driveway laughing with one another at ease.
"Just breathe," Carlisle whispered as he parked and killed the engine.
At a human pace, Carlisle got out going around opening the door for me.
"Bells," came Charlie's voice as Carlisle helped me out of the car.
"I want him gone," I spoke up as I shot daggers at him as he stood behind Charlie.
"Hey, it was just a misunderstanding," Charlie started to defend the mutt.
"Sexual assault isn't a misunderstanding," Carlisle almost growled at Charlie.
"Hey," Charlie started to speak.
"That thug there held your daughter against her will and forced himself on her knowing that wasn't what she wanted. How can you defend that kind of act as a father and not just an officer of the law but it's chief of police," Carlisle stood protectively with his arms around me.
"Don't tell me how to be a father or how to do my job at any rate," Charlie bored holes into Carlisle.
"He wouldn't have to if you and Renee bother to be parents. You don't just pop out a kid, and tell the kid well there you go," I found my voice in all of this finally.
"You're grounded," Charlie shouted at me.
"No! Bella, you can come home with me right now," Carlisle said as he looked to me.
"I'm going home to my real family," I said looking at Charlie.
"See," Charlie said smugly.
"That isn't you," I shook my head before watching his face fall.
"I'm your father," Charlie spat at me.
"I'm eighteen," I replied leaning into Carlisle's embrace.
Charlie's face went through a wide range of colors from red to a dark purple as he looked like he was about to explode.
"Bella, do you want to get anything before we go? I can have Jasper or Emmett come back for your things," Carlisle asked looking to see what I wanted.
"Please take me home," I whispered looking up at Carlisle.
"Hey you can't take her," Jacob spoke up as he grabbed Carlisle's arm.
"Keep your place, dog," Carlisle shook him off easily before opening the door for me.
"This isn't the end," Jacob snapped as Carlisle helped me back into the car.
"You have no idea," Carlisle replied with an edge to his tone before he shut my door.
Not trusting Charlie or him I reached out my good hand locking my door to protect myself.
"Bella, don't do this," Charlie yelled at me as Carlisle went around getting in the driver's side.
Quickly Carlisle started up the car pulling away from the house heading towards home. Again I broke down in tears, but this time it was a relief.
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When we reached home Esme was the first one out to open the door after Carlisle unlocked it. Gingerly she helped me out of the car and kissed my forehead before leading me into the house. As we entered the living room my eyes met Rosalie's from across the room. For the first time, there wasn't this hatred reflected in her eyes... It was a little weird to not see that when it came to Rosalie.
"My baby," Esme mumbled as she led me over to the couch.
"I'm," I started to say as we sat down.
"Don't lie," Carlisle warned me as he came into the room.
"It's not that bad now... The shot is wearing off a bit," I sighed as Esme wrapped her arms around me.
"Let me know when you need pain meds. Just Tylenol... I promise no more shots," Carlisle came sitting on the other side of
me.
"Okay," I nodded slightly as I was good with taking Tylenol.
Everyone was looking at me... I knew they knew what had happened with the mutt, but they didn't know about what happened at Charlie's apart from Edward.
"Let Edward take her up to rest in our room," Carlisle looked to Esme as he spoke.
I knew more was being said than the words Carlisle was saying to Esme.
"Rest," Esme commanded as she reluctantly let go of me.
Instantly Edward was in front of me offering me his hand, and I took his hand getting up from my spot between Carlisle and Esme.
"Jasper," I whispered not ready for him to make it feel better just yet.
Jasper knew that I wanted him to knock it off no matter how well-intentioned he was. As Edward and I made it to the stairs he swept me up into his arms bridal style. His eyes locked with mine as he walked up the stairs; he was looking for very clear permission from me.
"It's okay," I said looking him in the eye.
"I love you," Edward whispered almost as he kissed my lips gently.
"I'm so sorry," I apologized with tears in my eyes.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," Edward shook his head slightly.
"I only want you forever and always," I said as laid my head against his chest.
"Forever and always," Edward agreed as he entered Carlisle's and Esme's room.
With great care, Edward took me over to the bed laying me down, and he sat on the edge of the bed next to me brushing a strain of hair from my face.
"Hold me," I asked wanting the safety that it brought to feel his arms around me.
"Alright," Edward agreed crawling in next to me and slipping his arms around me with care.
"How long are the stares going to last," I questioned knowing he would know better than anyone.
"Most of them will try to avoid it now, but Jasper and Emmett might need a little time. Their little sister was hurt badly in more than one way. I might need some time too," Edward replied as he held me close to him.
"I guess it's the price you pay for having people love you," I reasoned aloud liking that they really cared about me.
