Thank you all so much for your patience! Happy weekend y'all! Here is a treat for my Seth lovers out there! Yes ttcub, I put Seth in for you! I hope you enjoy it! Jessa I hope that you can stick with me. Nana...as always...your comments add a level of fun to my day! itsmereading! Love you girl and appreciate the work you do and our friendship! As always, SM owns everything. I just like to have some free time writing without my loving and adorable little ones. Enjoy! - Brier

Chapter 18

Seth

I get a text message from Paul. Things have not been going well for him. He is falling in love with Billy Black's Goddaughter. Well, daughter - however that works. I get to my Mom's where Billy and Jake are spending the night. Why is Jake not at Quil's? Maybe Joy could not handle the three hyperactive boys tonight. Billy is awake, I can hear him mumbling to himself.

"What's going on Chief? Everything okay?"

"Ever feel like something is going to go down and there is nothing we can do about it?" I have never seen Billy look this way.

"Yes, Paul had some visitors tonight. Apparently, there are rumors going around that Bella is less than pure, which pissed several of us off. There is someone at the house now, that is why I am here to make sure you are okay…" I stop talking as I hear gunshots. Shit.

"I will get my radio, stay here!" I shout.

I run to my car and get my radio. I call in offering my assistance and the dispatcher tells me to go there, all hands on deck. I ask if there is anything I should look for and what happened. It is said there was a shooting outside of a State Troopers house and a union rep and State Police Chief Randall Cameron are on the scene. I ask if there are casualties and there are two. My heart starts to beat faster and I ask if the homeowner was involved. Not that the dispatcher is aware of. Thank God and Taha Aki. I return to Billy and relay to him know what I know and he sends me away telling me to call him or Sue when I know anything. I say I will.

Jared and Sam are there when I get there and are pacing. Sam can't go in since he is not law enforcement and Jared can't because his father is involved. Paul and Bella are outside talking to different officers. I offer my assistance and I am told I can't help investigate since I know Paul and Bella well and was involved with the text from Paul. This sucks, I want to help. Jared, Sam and I are all questioned and when it is determined that we are involved only as much as the text we are free to go. I tell Sam and Jared that I am going back to my Mom's and let Billy know how it's going. Sam agrees and decides to go home, so much for baby making weekend. Jared stays until he talks to his Dad then goes back to work. I ask one of the officers present to tell Paul and Bella to call Billy when they are able to. I am careful to make it sound like it's her actual Dad. They say the message will get to them, I nod and leave.

When I get back to Mom's house it seems every light is on. I walk in the door and coffee is brewing and food is being made. Yeap, Mom is stressed.

"Good news, Paul and Bella are safe."

"Thank God and Taha Aki!" is said in a chorus.

"There are two victims but I wasn't told who. I told an officer to have them call here when they are able with updates. Bella can not catch a break, poor girl!" I put my hands in my face sighing.

"Bella is a strong girl. I have no doubt she will get through this. She has a huge support system and every time someone tried to bring her down, they go down instead! She will make our tribe proud. No, she IS making our tribe proud. Excuse me I should call the rest of the Council and let them know. Sam knows?" Billy asks.

"Sam was there and questioned by police. I wouldn't call him unless you want him there as a Council member," I reply.

"I will leave it up to Old Quil. Excuse me." Billy leaves the room and Jacob looks like he has been defeated.

"What's wrong Jake?" Mom asks him.

"I am worried about my sister. She has been through so much…" Jacob is interrupted by a knock on the door. I grab my gun and tell everyone to shhh. I go to the door turning the porch light on and look out the door to see Paul and Bella, with I the Chief of the State Police Cameron. Normally he would be Jared's Dad but I doubt he is here for a social call.

"Come in you two. Guess we don't have to worry about them Billy. If you need a meeting have everyone come here." I step aside and let Paul, Bella and Randall through.

"Billy, call a Council Meeting now, and get Old Quil here. Sam already is up to speed so unless you really want to bug him. We need to figure out why these things keep happening to our girl here! This is beyond words," Randall says in disgust.

Poor Bella, she is just shaking in Paul's arms and is pale- oh so pale. That is saying a lot since she is normally really sallow. Paul looks almost defeated, like he let her down- which he didn't.

"Can someone message Jasper and Emmett for me and tell them what happened? They should know what is going on in case the police visit them. Mike Newton and Tyler Crowley as well, please?" Bella barely whispers. "I need to go to the…."

God, it breaks everyone's heart to see her like this. She doesn't deserve this. Paul lets go of her and helps her to her feet. She leaves and goes toward the bathroom, barely making it before she cries. We need to get this behind her.

"What can we do to get this investigation done Chief?" Paul looks like he could kill someone. Frankly, so could I.

"Unfortunately, now that we are all involved there is little we can do. Aro said something earlier, it keeps coming back to me. Who is Lauren?" Paul looks like he could like he could turn into a wolf if the old legions were true. Taha Aki let it not be for our sake!

"Lauren was at the house and tried to hurt Bella yesterday. She is why my house is a crime scene, or was. Why you ask?" Paul is speechless as Billy talks.

"Aro said her name while he was dying. He shot someone. It looked like they knew each other." I think that all of us growled. Don't let us wolf out Taha Aki!

"Well, I guess I need to see what Lauren and Aro had to do with each other. I am hoping to find nothing!" Randall said.

"I am highly doubtful you will find nothing Chief. It's a gut feeling," Paul growls. I think it is a good thing that the legends aren't true. Paul would have turned into a wolf by now if they were. Hell, half of La Push might have turned wolf! Thank Taha Aki for small favors!

"Hey, is there any way that I could have a blanket please? I'm cold," Bella asks from the doorway into the kitchen. .

"Sure, let me get you one. You want a soft and fluffy one?" Seeing her like this makes me understand Paul more. Why he would do anything to make her smile. I get up to get a blanket and she freezes as I try to pass her. Paul sees this and slowly gets up and calms her down. This breaks my heart and I could kill whoever is responsible for this. With Paul holding her bridal style, I go get the softest fluffiest and warmest blanket we have in my closet, clean and wrapped in a bag to remain fresh. Paul and Bella are on the couch, Paul still holding her bridal style. I bring her the blanket and cover her with it. Paul mouths thank you to me and she is asleep in what seems like seconds. He looks torn with wanting her to sleep and wanting to go talk to those in the kitchen.

"Mom, where is everyone sleeping? Bella is asleep and I think she should get a bed," I ask.

"Have her take Leah's old room. She should be comfy enough there," She sighs.

I show Paul to Leah's old room and help him get her in bed. We watch her for a few minutes. My heart is breaking for this woman who has been through so much.

"You now understand Seth, about my feelings for her. I would do anything to protect her. I would die for her without a thought. She deserves all that is good in this world, which I am not. All I think about is making her feel better, making her safe and happy- loving her. She is nowhere near ready for loving me and that is okay. She will when the time is right. Until then, I will do whatever I can to protect her!" Paul says quietly with a growl.

"Let's go see what everyone is talking about in the kitchen and try to not wake her up. We will get through this brother," I pull a reluctant Paul from Bella's sleeping room. We walked into the kitchen where it is eerily quiet. This can't be good.

"What's going on? Bella is asleep." Paul and I walk in and Randall looks like he seen a ghost staring at his phone.

"Paul, I can't tell you. I need you on point. Looking at the faces in this room I can't say what I know. You, Jared and Seth are off this case. I hate to do this cause you made the most progress for us, but at this point the DA would have a hard time with any evidence you find and the defense could say that you planted it. We need to get these people and give them as little as possible to over turn this. You both understand right?" Randall looks defeated.

"Chief, I agree 100%. After the incident at my house I can't be involved. As much as it kills me. I. Just. Can't. I only hope she understands," Paul is looking down into his hands.

"I understand. As a lifelong friend of Paul's it doesn't look right. Just please keep us informed and try to arrange that Paul, Jared and I can go to the trial and protect Bella when needed," I agree.

"Billy, what is happening with Bella and school? I would hate for her to miss too much. Is there truth to her homeschooling?" Randall asks.

"I think it would be good for her. I offered it to her and Jake. Embry and Quil might join in. They both want to graduate early to take classes for being an auto mechanic. Jake is thinking about doing that as well. They want to open a shop here in La Push. I fully support that. We are working with the school and we should know by next week. We are also getting the information on which schools we maybe able to take the boys to while they are home schooling. Bella might take a class too. She's thinking about it. Doubt hard. Understandably so," Billy says.

This is too much. I have been involved fully for a few hours. I can't imagine for months, or years. My head hurts. I get up and get myself some water.

"Anyone want a drink?" I look towards the table. "I am not getting you a beer Paul. I can tell you will drink too excessively tonight."

"Fine. Hard liquor then smartass!" Nobody really says anything. Paul's phone rings and he ignores it.

"Aren't you going to get it Paul?" Mom asks with concern. Paul hands his phone to her.

"Paul's phone this is Sue Clearwater...Hello Emmett….Yes she is here with Paul...Billy and Jake are here too….My son and State Police Chief Cameron is here too….No she is sleeping so it is okay she ignored you…..Yeah….If she is up to it later I will have her call you….You want to talk to Paul….Let me see if I can find him...He left the room...You're welcome…." Mom mutes the phone and asks if he wants to talk to Emmett. He rolls his eyes and takes the phone.

"Hey Emmett…..yes she is here and yes she is sleeping. She is alright...well as alright as she can be...right….Yes she was at my house this time when it happened….No she is not going to your house tonight...She is surrounded by cops now….We will talk to her about it tomorrow and if she wants to see you she will call you...Emmett please don't….I can't….ITS NOT MY FAULT ASSHOLE! DON'T TELL ME THAT I AM KILLING HER! YOU ARE THE ONE WHO WATCHED HER GET BEAT AND DID NOTHING! RIGHT I AM THE FUCKING PROBLEM! HOW CAN YOU LOVE SOMEONE AND LET THEM BE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP LIKE THAT? I need to go….if she wants to talk to you she will call you….NO don't call her! I never received any letter from the station...Whatever...Bye…"

Paul slams his phone and takes off running. I grab it for him and follow him to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. Too late running out at this time in the am is stupid. I heard him to the woods behind my house and find my old work out area. That has a tree we use to beat up on.

"Paul, if you need to hit something have at it. Your phone is in your pocket. Call me when you are ready to come back if you get lost." He starts to yell and scream hit and kick the old tree. I leave.

When I get back to the house, Bella is scared and awake sitting on Jakes's lap. Jake is trying to calm her down. Mom is making her tea. Shit, we didn't think this through.

"Paul went for a walk, Bells. He's not leaving you. He just needs a few minutes to himself and knew you were safe with your little brother. Let it out sweetheart," Jake is playing with her hair trying to calm her.

"Did Emmett call? Is that why Paul left? I heard him yelling, it scared me," Bella says in a whisper.

"Yes he did. They did fight. If you want we can get your phone for you." Jake looks at me and I go get her phone giving it to her. "Thanks Seth."

"Yeap. Nobody in La Push can work on this. Bella gets everyone under her spell quickly." Randy says under his breath. "Me included"

I laugh. I shouldn't but I have to.

Bella thanks Mom for the tea taking small sips. She calms down some but is still on edge. She looks out the window and breathes.

I text Paul that she woke up and is worried about him to come back. If he doesn't call me in five minutes I will call him unless she gets worse.

I hear a knock on the door and I take out my gun to answer it. It's Paul and I let him in. He runs to Bella and Jake. He picks her up and holds her while she cries. Randy has his tape recorder out just in case. Hoping he said something to her about that but not pushing it. She just cries, and everyone's heart is broken.