Disclaimer: The Cullens, 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. She also makes the banners for each of my stories.

As Frank realized what she was doing he made a leap for her and the knife buried itself deep into Bella's side. As he pulled it out and was making a swipe for her face Bella, still having a hold of the gun, fired and the bullet hit him in the throat.

Quickly pushing his convulsing body off of her she dropped the gun and ran to the phone dialing the one person that was always the truly trusted rock of her life.

CHAPTER 2: PROBLEMS?

"Help!" Was all Bella was able to manage before passing out due to the loss of blood from her stab wound. She was still unconscious when sirens could be heard from a distance, but, getting closer by the minute to stop in front of her home. The EMT's and police pounded and then burst through the front door when no answer was received after repeated tries.

They quickly combed through the downstairs and then the upstairs to find two persons badly injured in the master bedroom upstairs. The scene that greeted them seemed to speak for itself or so they thought at the time. Bella was at the foot of the bed with a cell phone in her hand where she had made the call for help with a stab wound, but, Frank was on one side of the bed with a wound to the throat. The gun was laying off to one side while a kitchen knife was still clutched in his hand.

Frank was declared dead at the scene due to no pulse was found and he seemed to have bled out in a matter of moments as the shot had severed his jugular vein. But, Bella, though the stab wound was deep and still bleeding, was clinging to life, although, barely. With her wound she had almost bled out as had the man.

The police quickly surveyed the crime scene and made certain deductions as to what had occurred while the medical team took care of the living and the coroner's office took care of the dead. Both the gun and the knife had been bagged as evidence, photos were taken of the entire scene before either man or woman could be removed, surfaces dusted for fingerprints, windows and doors checked for any forced entry, even though, everything suggested a domestic dispute, they had to make sure of their case and finally neighbors were questioned as to what they might know or had heard of the incident.

It was at the moment that Bella was being wheeled out to the ambulance that Jasper arrived in a frantic state of worry due to the phone call he had received. Bella had managed to call her dad, but, he was too far away to be able to come to her aid immediately, however, he had called one of his friends on the Seattle Police force to alert him to a problem at his daughter's home.

Once that alert had been taken care of Charlie had been questioned by his friend as to what he believed could have led to the possible current situation. It was then that Chief Swan's suspicions as to what he believed was happening between his daughter and her husband was reported. And, while this discussion was taking place help was on the way to Bella's while Charlie was heading out to his car while still on the phone with his friend to start his journey to Seattle from Forks, Washington; a trip that was between three to four hours long depending on the speed it was driven.

Charlie having knowledge of how a domestic violence dispute could go knew before he left Forks a necessary stop was in order. He had to make sure that his daughter was protected in any eventuality, so, he went to his old friend's home. He noticed no lights on as he approached the home and knew he should have called before arriving, but, with all that was happening in Seattle he just didn't think about it. So, he quickly got out of the cruiser and walked up the steps of the wide porch that covered the entire front of the three story, full windowed home of his friend and began pounded on the front door. He needed to talk with Carlisle quickly so he could get on the road to his Bella and he wouldn't be stopping to have this discussion if not for the fact that it was extremely important for Bella's benefit.

While all of these thoughts and a great many others were passing swiftly through Charlie's mind of what all he needed to do to insure that Bella was going to be safe, he was unaware of the front door being answered by a very dishevelish looking individual with sleep weary eyes and hair sticking up all over his head. It was as a disgruntle voice spoke that Charlie quickly snapped his attention back to where he was and why he was there.

"What the hell, Charlie, do you realize the time?" Carlisle grumbled, but, still opened the front door wider while stepping to one side to invited his friend in.

"Carlisle, rest assured that I wouldn't be up and disturbing you or anyone else at this time of the night if it wasn't absolutely necessary." But, before either man could say or question the other further a quickly indrawn breath could their attention and jerked their heads towards the woman that was just coming down the staircase.

"Charlie, has something happened to one of our children? Are you here because something's wrong with them and -"

"Slow down, Esme, it isn't about your kids that I'm here; it's about my child."

"What? How does this visit concern Bella and what can we do to help?" Was the immediate response from both Carlisle and Esme.

It was then that Charlie asked, "Do you remember my mentioning what I suspected was happening to Bella? And that it was my belief that her husband was abusing her?" And, Charlie paused before continuing, but, both his friend and his wife nodded yes to his questions. "Well, I think that Bella has been on the receiving end again tonight and has been seriously injured. I'm not sure of the circumstances as yet, but, I received a distress call from her that only said help just before I heard something heavy fall and nothing else was said on the phone.

"A few several attempts to get her to answer I hung up and called an associate of mine that's on the SPD and told him of my suspicions and he immediately dispatched a unit out to check on things. I haven't heard back from him as yet as to what was found, but, that's not important at this moment as I'm heading to Seattle once I've finished talking with you.

"I did call Jasper to alert him as to what could be happening and he quickly assured me that he would get over there as soon as he got dressed."

"But, Charlie, that doesn't tell us how we can help. Do you want me to come with you to check Bella over and act as he personal doctor?" Carlisle asked as both he and Esme were puzzled as to what their friend did want of them.

Charlie closed his eyes as he felt a coldness creep into his heart, a coldness that was nothing more than sheer fear of what might have happened to Bella to force her to call him with her one word request. With great effort Charlie got himself back under control before continuing, "That would be great if you could do that once I've found out more of what has happened, but, at the moment I'm here for a different reason.

"Your son, Edward, is coming home for some much needed family time from Chicago and you know as well as I do, Carlisle, how things can and do go in regards to domestic violent cases." At which Carlisle nodded as his friend continued once more, "So, I would like for you to get a hold of Edward and arrange for him to represent my Bella if the need should arise." It was then that both Carlisle and Esme became aware of what Charlie's worst fears might be.

There wasn't anything else that needed to be said as Carlisle quickly told Charlie not to worry, "Bella will have the best attorney possible with Edward representing her for whatever purpose he's needed. I'll make the call to him to bring him out here ahead of time so he can be here by tomorrow night. Go to Bella and we'll handle things from this end and then I'll be on my way as well. Just let me know where to meet you." Carlisle told his friend.

After everyone parted and not wanting to waste time Charlie was in his cruiser once more and had the siren blaring while he tore up the highway heading to his beloved daughter's side. Although, Charlie Swan, Chief of Police in Forks, disapproved of people breaking the law by speeding as that could lead to more serious results this was the one time he wasn't even considering the situation as he had the pedal to the metal and was flying low, as the sayings go, all the way to Seattle to be with Bella.

XXXXXX

Jasper was trying to get his questions answered, or, at least, to be directed to the person in charge so he could get some answers as to what had happened, but, everyone kept telling him to stay out of the way. It was then after it happened for the third time and still no one taking the time to talk with him, only assuming that he was a bystander, that he lost his cool. "I'm here to find out what has happened to my cousin." He yelled to no one in particular at the top of his voice.

His shout got the attention of everyone, but, did get the desired results as Det. Asher finished his conversation with the coroner and made his way over to Jasper. As he approached he held out his hand towards Jasper and introduced himself, Det. Jonathan Asher, and asked Jasper to identify himself to which Jasper did and the two men shook hands. He explained who he was, how he was related to Bella and that he rushed over after received a call from her father.

"Well, Mr. Whitlock, there isn't much that I can tell you at the moment, but, you might want to go to Mercy General to be with your cousin as she's in a bad stage. Also, you might want to alert her attorney as well as it's very possible that she's going to need him in the near future."

"What are you talking about?"

"Sorry, but, at the moment I'm not at liberty to voice any opinion, but, I can give you the advice about the attorney. It might not be necessary, but, it's always good to be prepared just in case, if you know what I mean." With that said Jasper started to turn away so he could go on to the hospital to check on Bella. But, at the last moment Det. Asher asked, "Do you happen to know if Mr. Harrison had any living relatives so we can notify them of his death?" Jasper just stood looking at the detective as if he had two heads before answering and telling him about Frank having a sister.

He walked over to the book laying close to the phone and opened the book to the information the detective had asked for to show him the necessary information. With that done Jasper walked out the front door, going straight to his car so he can go on to the hospital. He knew that he needed to call Charlie, but, he thought he might need to wait until he could more information about Bella's condition. To say that he was scared for his cousin would be an understatement after the way Det. Asher had said that her attorney needed to be contacted.

'Attorney? What kind of attorney? Why would the detective advise getting an attorney?" Question after question kept running through his mind as he drove to the hospital.

A/N: Whoa! Bella needing an attorney? Why? After all it was self-defense and the evidence points to that, right? Is Charlie making the right decisions due to his experience? Has Det. Asher given good advice to Jasper?

Thanks for reading the new story and hope you will enjoy it. Your reviews, ideas and comments are always welcomed.