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.

"You're going to have to tell me what facts you're talking about once you can get me a copy of that file, but, in the meantime, I've been able to discover some information about our Alma Johnson. Did either of you know who she might be related to?"

CHAPTER 22: QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS AND MORE QUESTIONS

Both Edward and Charlie looked at Emmett with questioning looks and at the same time you could see the two men preparing themselves for another unexpected shock. So, with a deeper indrawn breath that was released very slowly, Charlie asked simply, "Who?"

Emmett was enjoying, to some extent, his moment of attention, then he answered with one word the same as Charlie had asked with one word, "Harrison."

"Do what? You mean to tell me that the nurse that was taking care of Bella is none other than a relative to the Harrison family?

"You're crazy. Are you positive that your information is correct?" Charlie asked in a state of shock, but, yet his tone carried a demand for reassurance that what he had just heard was said in error. For if Emmett was correct then how the hell did that bit of information slip through the cracks until now? It created a situation that had far reaching consequences. Then, another thought passed through Charlie's mind of how they might be able to use this information for Bella's defense.

The only person that had remained silent up to that point was Edward. Both Emmett and Charlie looked over at the attorney with raised brow as if they were questioning his silence. But, what they didn't realize was that Edward's mind was busy working out how he could put the information Emmett had uttered to good use and when would be the perfect time to use it.

As his attention came back to his current surroundings and the other two men that were still seated next to and across from him, he quickly explains that he was trying to figure out a way that Emmett's information could be of benefit for his client. "But, ask no questions at the moment because I haven't been able to solidify a plan as yet." He told them.

So, with that said the three men moved back to discussing what Jason Jenkins had delivered into their hands. And, it was decided that instead of just Emmett receiving a copy of the file, Charlie would also. He had the ways and the means of running some checks that no one else had, but, a law enforcement officer, could do. And, Charlie was determined to use every means at his disposal to clear his daughter.

Of course, there was no way that he would abuse his position by going any further than what he could and he definitely wasn't going to ask that of anyone else that was involved in helping him or Bella. However, it wasn't beneath his dignity to ask for a favor or two. And, he definitely would be asking for some debts to be paid for help rendered. Charlie was very much aware that things had to be done legally so it all would hold up in a court of law in case this went as far as a court hearing.

After three more refills of coffee and a waitress that seemed to be getting annoyed with the three not ordering anything other than coffee, Charlie, Edward and Emmett decided that it was time to get back to work. Edward was going to have copies made for the other two a little later, but, Charlie told him to give the file over. Charlie explained that he had more time and he knew that Edward was going back to the hospital to sit a bit longer with Bella before settling back down to work and reviewing all of the facts that had thus far been gathered.

There was also a trip to the District Attorney's office planned, but, Edward wanted to take a closer look at everything that was in the file Jenkins had brought to them before making a move in that direction. Also, he was wanting to see all of the information that Emmett had found concerning the relationship between Alma Johnson and the Harrisons. Once that was done then it was time to file some writs in court on Bella's behalf.

Charlie was right about one thing, Edward was indeed heading back to the hospital, but, it wasn't to just sit with Bella. He had some questions he wanted to ask the Head of Nursing. With the information Emmett imparted, it was time to see if anyone at the hospital had any idea of the relationship that existed between the nurse chosen to help take carry of Bella and the patient's family connections. Next, the question that kept floating around in his thoughts was his need to know if Alma Johnson was chosen to take care of Bella for any particular reason, or, was it just a chance rotation that Bella's room happened to fall within the section that had been assigned as being part of her duty area.

XXXXXX

Alice had been sitting beside Bella's bedside relieving her brother and taking his place so Bella wasn't alone so he could attend the meeting that Charlie had requested, but, she didn't mind since it gave her some alone time with what she knew was going to be her future sister in law. It didn't bother her that Edward was being stubborn and slow to come to realize the place that Bella had taken a hold and now resides in his heart. She had seen him come to the realization that she was important to him, but, he still hadn't fully accepted the future that she had told him about.

But, sitting with Bella she was able to quietly talk to Bella and tell her about all of the members of her future family. And, at times she would mention the different activities of Bella's family and friends, telling her how hard everyone was working to make things better. It was Alice's hopes that by doing this Bella was paying attention and understanding that she wasn't alone so she wasn't fighting by herself; that she was loved by so many people, people that has known her for a long time and by people that are just taking up their place in her life for a lifetime that is to come that have also come to love her.

Alice truly believed that by talking to Bella, and trying to keep her up to date as to what was going on and about all of the effect that was being made to help her, that it might help Bella to want to return to the present and to want to take up a life that will move her forward. It was for this reason that Alice persevered by keeping up a constant flow of conversation, in spite of the fact that it was only one sided and the person lying in bed wasn't showing any signs of responding to hearing what was being said.

And, truth be told, at the same time, Alice would get a bit frustrated for several reasons, however, she refused to be discouraged by the lack of response. She firmly believed that Bella could hear her and that she would respond when the time was right and she truly felt safe once more. To Alice that was the key, the key to unlocking Bella's mind, Bella needed to know and to feel that she was really safe. Safe from harm and being wrongly accused, to feel safe from her past and the horror that she lived through during that time in her life. It wasn't going to happen overnight and Alice recognized that fact, but, that is why she was doing what she was doing.

It wasn't known by Alice's family, but, Alice had been doing a lot of reading since coming with Edward to help with this case and to meet her true love, her soul mate, Bella's cousin and business partner, Jasper Whitlock. That reading had to do with the mind, how it does, will and has reacted with other cases to the different types of trauma. And, in the book it was clearly stated, 'it is believed that a person in a coma or a mental retreat from reality can still hear what is said'. The only difference between coma and mental retreat is one is in a sleep pattern and the other is behind a mental wall that had been built for protection.

However, the coma and the mental retreat both are for the same purpose: to give the body and the mind a chance to heal. To give both a chance to get to a place that reality can be faced and dealt with once more.

So, Alice continued with her steady flow of words, reaching out to the person that was now her brother's everything: his future and her best friend.

XXXXXX

Charlie managed to return to the penthouse suite where most of the two families were staying and went straight into the one room that was being used as an office. It was there that he made two copies of the file that Jason Jenkins had given to them earlier. One copy was for him, one for Emmett and the originals of the file presented would be Edward's.

Charlie planned to take the time, in private, to really study the contents of the file before making any moves. He needed to be able to decide what was the necessary information that would be needed to help clear Bella and that meant that he needed to ask the right people that would be able to gather what was needed.

So, as soon as he had the copies made and correlated for the other two men, Charlie went to his room and opened his copy. He knew that as he was making his plans that Emmett and Edward would be doing the same to attack this problem from their individual perspective.

XXXXXX

After the meeting had broken up, Emmett decided that he needed to be alone to try and get the fast pace changes clear in his mind. Just when he thought that he had everything worked out, something new was tossed into the mix and everything seemed to shift back to square one once more. It felt like he was on a rollercoaster that was fast becoming out of control. Somehow, it was on a loop without a stopping point for things to catch up with each other.

He had to get to that file and study it, not just glance at everything as he only had time to do as it had been passed around, but, to really study its contents thoroughly. There had to be some damn way to make all of the facts fit properly in this damn puzzle, but, at the moment there wasn't any light showing at the end of a tunnel. In fact, it looked as if there wasn't an end to the tunnel, even.

His steps slowly led him back to the penthouse suite where all were housed for whatever purpose and he looked to see if Charlie was in sight. But, wasn't able to see him, however, he did discover an envelope with his name on it in the makeshift office they had set up. So, finding some place quiet he began to slowly go through all of the facts the file contained.

XXXXXX

As he made his way back to the hospital, Edward's thoughts were racing from question to question. He was trying to make sense out of what he had quickly seen in the file without having been able to truly study it. But, he was also thinking about what questions he would need to ask the Head of Nurses once he was able to speak with her.

The fact that Emmett had discovered that Alma Johnson was related to the Harrisons put a whole new light on things. However, at the same time new questions were raised as how she had been able to be so close to Bella and why. It was his hope that some light could be shed by receiving the answers to some of his questions.

Of course, the fact also remained that he needed to urgently pay a visit to the D. A.'s office and start asking some serious questions there and demand answers to those questions. It was very apparent that information had been withheld from him that was necessary to defending his client against the charges that were piling up against her.

Also, more questions traveled through his mind as to how he should handle the lack of certain facts being investigated by the police. How could any police department allow its detectives to be so damn sloppy as what Asher has been?

But, before going in search of the Head Nurse, Edward did stop by Bella's room for a moment. He quietly opened the door and closed it. He didn't want to disturb anyone that might be in the room with Bella. So, once he was in the room he stood by the door and watched his sister interact with his client.

The steady flow of conversation, even though, it was only one sided, didn't seem to have any effect upon Alice. She continued chattering along as if it was an everyday occurrence. He smiled and then stepped forward to see Alice's head whip around rather quickly in his direction since she had caught his movement in the corner of her eye.

He motioned for her to continue as he moved closer to Bella. Once he was standing next to her he reached out to take her hand. Bending low he whispered in her ear, "Things are always darkest before the dawn, but, it will turn out okay in the end. I promised you and I will keep my word, pretty lady." And, it was as he spoke those final words that Edward received the shock of his life; he felt a small pressure or squeeze, he wasn't sure what to call it, on his hand.

A/N: Each of the trio are going to use the file to go off in their own directions to gather what facts they can to help Bella. Then as Edward finishes whispering in Bella's ear he feels a small squeeze on his hand. What could that mean? Did he imagine it?

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