CHAPTER 13 HURT
EDWARD
Edward sat on the couch tuning everything out. He was lost in thought about what was going to happen when Bella got over this. He wondered if he and she would still be together. He wondered if Rosalie was right and she would run because of what the mutt had done to her. He remembered how hard Rosalie took it when Emmett found out and how hard Emmett took the whole thing. What if Bella left him again? He didn't think he could live through that.
Another thought struck him suddenly. What if Sam and the pack could never find Jacob? Would Bella have to deal spend the rest of her life looking over her shoulder? She didn't deserve that. Not after everything he had already done to her. Edward would just have to keep right on protecting. But what would happen if Bella no longer wanted him to protect her? She couldn't handle Jacob on her own.
With that thought he got up and headed to the back door.
"Where are you going?" Emmett asked.
"I'm going to make sure the pup can't hurt her anymore." Edward answered.
"What makes you think you can find him?" Alice said. "Not even the pack could."
"I have to try! I can't just sit here like it's all right when he could be planning to take her back!" Edward yelled.
"Okay but what if Bella needs you when she wakes up?" Alice asked.
"I'll have my cell phone." he replied.
"Be careful." Esme said. Edward knew she knew there was no point in trying to stop him.
"I will." Edward answered and ran outside.
He ran for a couple hours trying to pick up Jacob's scent. No matter which direction he went, he couldn't find a trace of the dog anywhere.
"Damn you, Jacob Black!" he yelled as he gave up.
He punched the nearest tree and sent splinters flying everywhere. He continued to punch the other trees around him with a force he didn't know he had. He just let some of the rage he had been feeling in the last month go. When he calmed, there was a near clearing in the part of the forest. Wood chips littered the ground. A few uprooted trees lay on the ground.
Edward stood there admiring his handy work. He felt a little better. He would've felt even better if it was Jacob Black laying at his feet but he'd take what he could get. He phone started to vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out and Alice's number was flashing. He flipped it open.
"Hey Alice." he said.
"Any luck?" she asked.
"No, the damned mutt found a way to cloak his scent." Edward replied.
"Well, I just thought I'd let you know that Bella was awake." Alice said. "She's okay but she woke up screaming your name and crying. She refused to tell me why but I calmed her down. We're just talking, right now."
"Okay, I'll be there shortly." he replied and clicked the phone shut.
He shoved it back in his pocket and started to head home. The run home took a lot less time than the one to where he was. Of course, this time his only focus was on getting back home, instead of trying to catch a scent.
When he entered the house, he caught the end of Alice and Bella's conversation. From the sound of it, Bella had told Alice what had happened the day before. It killed him that Bella was nearly in tears. Bella looked up at him.
"Hey, how was your hunt?" Bella asked.
Edward looked at Alice.
"I figured you didn't want her to know you went after him."
Edward gave her a look that said thank you.
"Just fine." Edward answered Bella's question. "Have you had anything to eat, yet?"
"Yes." Bella answered.
"Don't worry, Edward. Esme, Rosalie, and I took care of her." Alice stated.
"Why don't you go change your clothes." Edward said to Bella. "So we can go see Carlisle. Then I want to take you home because I know Charlie probably misses you."
"Yeah." Bella replied getting up from the couch. "Besides, I hate to see what he's been eating this past week. Alice could you come with me. I don't think, Charlie will buy that I fell when he sees these." she indicated the bruises on her neck and wrists.
Edward had to fight another stab of anger as Alice followed Bella upstairs.
As annoying as Alice could be sometimes, Edward had to give her credit because it was her idea to buy some clothes for Bella to keep at their house. Just in case she had to stay again.
Edward waited about a half hour mulling over what he would do to Jacob if he ever found him. Breaking every bone in his body was Edward's favorite idea. When Bella and Alice came down, Bella was wearing a pair of light blue jeans and a dark blue short sleeved t-shirt. Alice had done such a good job on her bruises that Bella looked perfectly normal. She pulled her hair back into a low ponytail.
"Ready?" she asked.
Edward insisted on driving. Which Bella didn't seem to mind. The ride to the hospital was silent. Edward just figured Bella was lost in thought and didn't want to disturb her. He was slightly hurt by the fact that she stayed as close to her side of the truck as possible. Maybe he was right. Maybe she just needed that contact yesterday after everything that happened. Maybe she really didn't want to be with him anymore either. This thought hurt Edward so much that he forced himself to go back to thinking of ways to get back at Jacob.
He had wanted to bring up what had made her wake up this morning but didn't know how it would make her feel. He just continued to drive in silence.
Carlisle was waiting for them when they got to the hospital.
AN HOUR LATER...
Carlisle stuck the x-ray pictures on the light board.
"As you can see there is no damge to the ribs at all." he told them.
"Are you sure?" Bella asked confused.
"Yes." Carlisle replied. "Why?"
"Well, I probably should've mentioned last night but there was a lot in my head." Bella replied. "But I could've sworn I felt and heard something crack or break."
Carlisle furrowed his brow for a minute and then his thoughts took off. The were running very fast and Edward couldn't proccess anything that was coming from them.
"Bella," Edward finally said. "Can I have a word with Carlisle, please?"
Bella looked up at both men. The confusion was apparent on her face but she nodded and stepped out of the room.
"Okay, explain to me what you are thinking." he whispered. "Because I can't follow."
"First of all, this is just my speculation. I need to have a word with Sam to be sure I'm right. I didn't tell anyone last week because I didn't think Bella needed the added stress. But the thing is, she was healing faster than any rape victim that I have ever seen. And know with the ribs. I should've checked her out when she first came yesterday. Now there's only one way I can be sure."
"Carlisle, slow down. What exactly do you think is going on?" Edward said still unable to follow where Carlisle was going.
"I think she may be pregnant with Jacob's child." Carlisle said.
Edward was dumbfounded for a moment then he said,
"Is that even possible?"
"You knew that werewolves could reproduce." Carlisle answered.
"No, I mean, is it possible for the baby to be healing her?" Edward clarified.
"I want to examine her again and talk to Sam before I can confirm." Carlisle stated. "I don't want to mention any of this to her or do a test until I can be sure. She doesn't need anymore to worry about, especially if it's something else entirely."
Edward nodded.
"I'll go get her." Carlisle said and stepped outside.
Edward stood there for a minute. Bella might be pregnant with the mutt's baby. He prayed that she wasn't for her own sake. When Carlisle came back in with a bewildered looking Bella, Edward stepped outside.
Edward waited trying not to think about the situation. He had to keep telling himself that it was just Carlisle speculating. The didn't know for sure if she really was or not. He didn't have to start worrying about it until after Carlisle talked to Sam.
Carlisle stepped outside a little while later to allow Bella to change.
"Well?" Edward prompted.
"Not a single bit of evidence that any damage was done." Carlisle replied.
"That what I was afraid of." Edward said.
"I'll go see Sam tonight." Carlisle said. "How are things with the two of you, though?"
"I don't know. She was distant this morning." Edward replied.
"She's probably confused right now." Carlisle said."Give her a few days to sort through her emotions then talk to her."
Edward nodded as Bella opened the door and stepped out.
"Are you ready to go home?" Edward asked. Bella nodded.
The ride back to Bella's house was just as quiet as the ride to the hospital. Once again, Bella stayed as close to her side as possible. It hurt Edward to know that she didn't want to be close to him. Edward had to remind himself of what Carlisle said to keep from saying something.
"Do you want me to stay until Charlie comes home?" Edward asked as the pulled in front of Bella's house.
"No, I'll be okay." Bella answered. Edward noticed the almost forced coldness in her voice. That confused and hurt him at the same time.
"Alright." he said knowing he wasn't going to win the fight.
He took the keys out of the ignition and handed them to her. They both got out.
"Thanks for everything." she told him. This time he heard real sadness in her voice. It felt like this was a goodbye.
"Anytime." he replied. She headed toward the door and he ran to the forest.
When he heard her slam the door shut, he ran back. He stood on the edge of the woods outside her house for the rest of the day and well into the night. He watched as Charlie came home and wondered vaguely what Bella would say about where she's been the past week. Around midnight, someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to see Alice and Jasper standing there.
"Carlisle, needs to talk to you." Alice said. "Jazz and I will keep an eye on her until you get back."
"Thanks." Edward said and he ran toward the house. He prayed that Carlisle had good news for him.
(Please forgive the break. I didn't want to reveal too much in the conversation that Edward had with Carlisle because I want it to come out in their conversation with Bella.)
THE NEXT DAY...
The family was assembled in the dining room. Alice and Jasper were sitting on one side of the table. Jasper hads his arm around Alice's shoulder and she had her head on his. Emmett and Rosalie stood in their corner. Rosalie was standing in front of Emmett and he had his arms around her waist. Carlisle was at the head of the table with Esme behind him. She had both her hands on his shoulders. Edward was sitting opposite Jasper with Bella next to him.
Bella was still acting distant. Edward had the feeling she was forcing herself to. He had no idea why but she wouldn't talk to him about. Everytime he said something in reagards to their relationship, she would change the subject.
Everytime he tried to touch her she would pull away. He wished she would let him touch her. He knew after this conversation, she would need some kind of comfort.
"I want you all to know that this isn't really a meeting for the whole family. I mostly needed to talk to Bella about something but I know she's going to need our support afterwards. I also figure this way, she won't have to talk about it, if she isn't ready." Carlisle explained.
Edward wanted to grab Bella's hand as he saw her staring at Carlisle in confusion. He knew she would just shrug it off.
"Bella," Carlisle continued. "I didn't say anything before becasue I didn't want to stress you out but you were healing from the rape faster than normal. And when I checked you yesterday, you didn't show any lingering signs of being raped."
"I don't understand." Bella shook her head.
"When you said you thought that he had broke a couple ribs, it was a major possibility." Carlisle continued. Bella still looked confused as ever.
"What are you saying?" she asked.
"I'm saying that I need to do a pregnancy test on you in a couple weeks." Carlisle said.
Edward watched as Bella continued to stare at Carlisle confused. He watched as she slowly pulled the pieces together.
"Is that even possible?" she asked after minute.
"I talked to Sam last night just to be sure. He said that it's not something that happens often but if the baby is strong enough it is. And looking at Jacob's ancestry, I said it is possible. You and the baby, if there is one, are connected and for the nine months he or she is in there, you will have the powers." Carlisle explained. "Now, I'm not saying you'll phase or anything but if you're hurt, you will heal. You may have a problem controling your anger as well."
Bella just shook her head.
"I can't. I can't." she said. She looked about to break down.
Edward couldn't help it. He got out of his chair and wrapped his arms around her. To his surprise she didn't flinch away. She broke down in his arms. Edward swore in that moment that Jacob Black would pay for everything he had done to his precious Bella.
"Edward," Carlisle said. "Take her home. She needs to let it sink in. Bella," Edward felt Bella lift her head to look at Carlisle. "Tomorrow, we'll discuss the options, okay."
Bella nodded. Edward helped her walk to her truck. She was still sobbing pretty hard. She clung to him the entire drive home, crying into his shoulder. When he pulled up to the house, he wrapped his arms around her and let her cry until she calmed.
"Do you want me to meet you upstairs?" he asked.
She just nodded into his shirt. Edward released her and she got out of the truck. He waited outside and made sure she got in safely. Then he went into her bedroom through the window. He heard her telling Charlie that she was going to go to bed. He sat down in the rocking chair and waited for her to come in.
When the door opened and she stepped in, Edward opened his arms. She closed the door and curled up in them.
"Do you know what you're going to do?" Edward asked.
"I'm going to keep him. He's as much mine as he is Jacob's so I can't give him up. And it's not his fault so I won't kill him." Bella replied. "I just don't know what I'm gonna tell Charlie."
"Wait, a few weeks and tell him, the baby's mine." Edward suggested.
"I can't ask that of you." she replied.
"You're not. I'm volunteering." he replied.
"No." Bella said.
"Why not?" Her words broke his heart. Why didn't she want him doing this?
"Because it's just too much." Bella said. "There's so many reason why you can't. Mostly because I don't think I can be with you again."
Her words cut into his heart like a knife.
"What do you mean?" he asked unable to keep the hurt out of his voice.
"I just can't okay. Can't we leave it at that."
Tears were pouring down her face as she said the words. He couldn't believe the words that she was saying. It looked like sying them was hurting her as much as hearing them was hurting him. She pulled herself out of his arms.
"I don't believe you." he said standing up.
"Look, Edward. Don't make this any harder on yourself. Just go, please."
"Bella, please." He reached out to her but she pulled back.
"Go."
Edward gave her one last hurt look before jumping out of the window. He run to the forest and beat up a few more trees before collapsing to the ground and wishing he could cry.
A/N: Okay, so you have a long chapter but I have some things to say. First of all, I'm not sure I'm going to keep it going this way. I want you guys to let me know if you think it veered down the stupid path. Also, I realized about halfway through the chapter that I went in the wrong order this time. I promise you will understand Bella's sudden change in her feelings and why she pulled away in the next chapter. I want to apologize if the chapter did turn bad. I only got like three hours of sleep and didn't get to plan it out a work like I usually do so I'm sorry. Finally, I'm not sure the whole baby thing would work the way I said. I'm basing it off of other supernatural pregnancy that I've seen on T.V. and in books. Like I said, I'm not sure if I'm going to keep the plot going this way. I want input on whether or not you guys think its turning stupid. So free cookies and maybe a new plot for those who review. Thank you and I hope you like.
