STRUGGLES

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. She also makes the banners for each of my stories.

"Make no mistake, things are going to get a hell of a lot worst before we can make them better. Your daughter will be charged with murder and we all are going to have to prove that she was defending herself.

"I'm just surprised that she hasn't already been charged." Edward finished explaining and speaking to Renee as well as the others gathered.

CHAPTER 13: DISASTER IS ON THE WAY

Time seemed to have dragged in its passing, but, at the same time it seemed to have flown on supersonic wings as everyone stayed busy gathering information and working to put all of the pieces of the puzzle together. However, all of the work didn't stop anyone from going to the hospital at different times to be with Bella. It was decided that she wasn't going to be left alone at any time, night or day.

However, when the third day had come and gone with Renee sitting and talking to Bella, even though Bella was unconscious, Det. Asher came into the room with a police officer standing behind him. He saw Renee sitting there with her attention turned in his direction upon his entrance. After inquiring as to who she was and Renee had identified herself the detective introduced himself and then processed to inform her as to the reason of why he was there, "Ma'am, uh – Mrs. Dwyer, I'm sorry to inform you that I'm here to place a police officer outside of your daughter's room at all times. Once she has regained consciousness and I can finally get her statement all evidence is pointing to her being arrested for first degree murder of her husband.

"You might want to inform her attorney, but, I'm pretty sure he's aware of where things are headed due to all of the activity of his coming and going at the station." He informed Renee with a voice full of what seemed to be regret for what he was having to tell a member of his suspect's family, but, the words of his statements rang full of confidence that he was sure of what he was saying and planning to do. But, after a few moments spent in Renee's company with her staring at him like he had sprouted an extra head he started to grow a bit nervous and uneasy, so, he quickly excused himself and exited the room without giving her a chance to say anything in Bella's defense.

At first Renee was stunned by the stupidity of what the detective had told her, but, once she had managed to begin to recover enough to realize he had made a hasty retreat from the room, in her opinion, leaving her standing there beside her daughter wondering how an individual could be such an idiot as to believe that her Bella was anything other than a victim of that bastard of a man she had married.

She didn't hesitate once she had fully regained her composure to get on the phone to call Charlie and tell him all that had been said. Of course, Charlie reminded her that it wasn't anything different than what he, and then Edward, had already told her to expect. That it was normal procedures under the current circumstances and that was why he had asked Carlisle to get a hold of Edward from the very beginning when he was first informed about the incident. "We're lucky that Carlisle was ready to act as swiftly as he did in getting a hold of Edward and getting him here as quickly as he did." Charlie reminded her as gently as he could, considering he was talking with her over the phone. Next, he concluded saying, "Renee, stay with Bella while I get a hold of Carlisle and Edward. I'll have them there as quickly as I can."

She hung up and was turning to take the seat next to Bella once more when her attention was caught once again more due to another person other than the nursing staff entering the door. She saw that it was Rosalie and was quick to inform Bella's friend about what had occurred only moments before.

"Well, that explains the police officer stationed outside the door." Rosalie said as she turned to look back over her shoulder in the direction that she had just come from.

Renee explained that she had called Charlie who was going to get a hold of Carlisle and Edward to let them know what had happened. "Although I don't know what good that's going to do?" Renee questioned with some puzzlement sounding in the tone of her voice.

"First, Charlie's calling Carlisle since he is registered as Bella's doctor and second, Edward since he is Bella's attorney.

"You know, Renee, that in the beginning I was a bit uncertain about Edward handling Bella's defense, but, I've since changed my mind. I think that he's going to do an excellent job. He seems to know what's needed to work towards to getting her cleared of all charges." Rosalie didn't hesitate to inform Renee. "We just have to give Edward all of the help that we can so he'll be able to clear Bella. If we give him our full co-operation, then Bella will be free in more ways than one.

"If you remember Edward did warn all of us several times that times were likely to get worse before ever getting better. So, what's happening now is something that has been expected just like we were told by Carlisle, Edward and Charlie. All three of them have been through similar situations like this in the past in their different capacity of work.

"Why, even Emmett reassured me that what Edward had told us before your arrival was the truth. Now, let's sit down and spend our time talking with Bella to let her know that she isn't alone and has a hell of a lot to live for."

After Rosalie had concluded all that she had to say she did exactly as she had suggested that both Renee and she do, sit down and talk to Bella in the hopes that the young unconscious woman could hear and understand what she was being told.

The two ladies had only been visiting with Bella for about twenty or maybe thirty minutes when three men came into the room. Of course, there was only supposed to have been one, no more than two, at a time, but, since Carlisle was there as Bella's doctor he didn't count as a visitor at that particular moment. However, since the two women were there and Carlisle had come in accompanied by Charlie and Edward then the rules were in jeopardy of being badly bent.

Rosalie excused herself and was getting up to leave when Carlisle waved her back down into her seat. "Don't worry about leaving since we're getting ready to transfer Bella down to a private room. She has stabilized enough to be able to be removed from ICU." With that being said he set about checking Bella's vitals while waiting for the nurse to arrive to help get Bella ready to be moved.

Charlie and Edward stayed quiet and remained in the background while Carlisle was busy with what he needed to do. However, Renee began to speak only to have Charlie motion for her to remain silent for the moment. So, she rose out of her chair the same as Rosalie to get out of the way for Bella to be gotten ready.

The officer from outside had heard the commotion and understood from what he had also overheard about his charge being moved so he made a call to his superior to inform them of the fact and to receive further instructions. It didn't take long for him to be told to stay with Mrs. Harrison no matter where she was taken. That it would mean the loss of his job, until relieved, was to ensure that their suspect didn't get a way.

XXXXX

All she could see was nothing but what appeared to be smoke or clouds, she wasn't sure which it was. There wasn't any moisture that she could feel as she reached out to test it so she could try to determine what it was that was hiding any scenery from her; something to give her an idea of what was happening or where she was.

While she was trying to get her bearings and be able to decide what to do, in spite of the fact that the fog was blinding, she kept hearing voices that seemed to come from a great distance. During this time, she kept trying to open her eyes and at the same time, to call out to the owners of the voices; she wanted to get some answers as to what happened to Frank, to her and where they were.

She wondered if her call to her father had brought about the help that was needed to get both Frank and herself some help, but, at the same time she wondered how she was going to be able to explain things to her father to keep him from going off the deep end. There was no way that she could let Charlie know what was going on because Frank would arrange for an accident to happen to her father the same as he had done to her mother; an accident that almost killed her. He warns her every chance that he gets about what would happen to her parents or her friends if she should try to leave him or let anyone know what went on behind the closed door of their home.

The voices would fade and Bella's mind would start drifting while seeking something firm to hang on to, even if it was nothing more than a concrete thought of what she could be absolutely sure of. And, then after a bit the voices would come back again, but, no matter how much the voices came and went Bella was beginning to notice that some of the voices were very unfamiliar to her. She tried to concentrate on the voices so she might be able to get some idea of who these people were and why they were bothering her.

Time had no meaning to Bella while everything was hidden from her and she was left drifting with no direction to hang onto. At times, in the beginning, she was sure that she had been able to look down upon what appeared to be her body as if she had been separated from her body, but, after a while that sensation just went away leaving her with nothing except for the feeling of blindness and drifting as if she and her body was floating.

At times as she had looked down upon what she had assumed was her own body she saw a lot of people surrounding her, but, she wasn't able to identify the place where they all were or who they were. Upon a second time that had happened she was once more surrounded by a group of people, but, they all had their faces hidden so she hadn't been able to identify any of them, but, the location did appear to be a hospital of sorts. It was during this time that it seemed like two or three times she had looked down upon this group working on the body before all of that activity seemed to cease totally.

But, on and off through all of this the voices kept coming and going; voices she thought she recognized and voices that she was sure she had never heard before. However, there was one unknown voice that as she heard it she felt peace and had a sense of being safe. The compassion she heard in this voice, although, she couldn't make out what was being said, seemed to wrap her in the loving warmth of velvet and spoke with such love and care.

The coming and going of the voices she got used to along with a voice every so often that was gruff and regimental in tone, but, suddenly she felt her body been jostled like it was being moved. The movement seemed to go on what felt like forever to her and then it stopped as abruptly as it had started.

During all of what seemed to be tossing back and forth voices, sounds and smells were overpowering and Bella thought that it was a hospital surrounding, but, wasn't quite sure if she was right. However, the voices that she had identified as being hers only, but, was absent during the jerky movement of her, started once more, but, one particular voice was missing; the one that she needed to hear the most that would reassure her that all was okay and she was still loved and safe from harm.

A/N: We now know more of what the police are planning to do and we know that Edward has been working on gathering all of the facts. In fact, everyone has been working hard to get things that were needed for Edward to protect Bella. We have also heard from Bella and heard her impressions of things. Whose voice is the one she feels comfort and security? Whose voice is it that she is missing now since the move?

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