A/N: I do not own Twilight

Adjournment

Chapter 5: Family Time

"Hey, Earth to Edward, will you pay attention to me?" Alice demanded. The two had been sitting on the back porch of the Cullen home for the past half hour. They were waiting for Emmett and Rosalie to join them for a 'family' night. Although the Masen brothers were not blood related, they had all grown up together and Alice considered Edward to be her brother due to the fact that he had always looked out for her growing up. He liked playing big brother and protector to the pixie like young woman. "You're thinking about a girl aren't you?" She smirked at him.

"Sorry, Alice. I just can't seem to concentrate tonight. Maybe this is a bad idea. We should just reschedule for another night." He apologized. "And no. I'm not thinking about a girl." It was a small lie. He hadn't been thinking about a girl per say. He had been remembering a very vivid dream about a faceless woman. He thought she needed help but he couldn't seem to get to her. Edward hoped it wasn't a sign of things to come.

"No. We can't reschedule. You are going to be very busy at work for the next few months. We need tonight to relax and reconnect as family." She insisted.

"How do you know what's going on at work? I'm fairly certain that Carlisle doesn't come home and discuss agency business with you guys."

"You're right. Daddy doesn't discuss business with the family. However, I know somethings up and big things are going to happen." Alice promised.

Edward snorted, "You should take that act on the road Madame Fortune Teller. Charge a hundred dollars per sucker. 'I see something, something in your past. Someone whose name begins with an S or a C maybe. There was a trauma involving water, no wait. It was fire.' You could make a fortune."

"You weren't such an ass when we were kids. Jaded much, Edward?" She punched him on the shoulder.

"Maybe I was an ass and you chose to ignore that fact."

"No. You changed when she died, Edward. You used to be so fun, outgoing, like your brother. Now we have to put up with your broody self all the time. I miss the old you."

"I'm still me, Alice. That hasn't changed."

"You know what else I think? Please don't tell anyone else, okay?"

Edward noticed how hopeful she looked and he smiled. "Your secret is safe with me, little one."

"I think we are going to find her – my sister."

His head snapped up at that declaration. "What makes you think that? We don't know if she's even alive, Alice. Please don't get your hopes up."

"Edward, I've been having dreams about her my entire life. Usually she's alone, sad. Never with anyone that I know. Never with family. Lately the dreams have changed. I see her with family. I've seen her with everyone. With Rosie, with you."

Edward's first instinct was to laugh at the young woman sitting beside him but her earnest expression made him reconsider. "Alice, you know I would do anything to help this family get her back. Just, don't be disappointed if it doesn't happen. Twenty years is a long time. Please don't mention this to your mom. I don't think she could handle it."

Alice shook her head, "I wouldn't say anything to either of them at this point. I do realize how crazy this sounds." She then changed topics. "So, please don't bail on us tonight. Please. I miss hanging out with you guys."

"Wouldn't you rather be hanging out with your new man? You should call him over. Em and I would love to have a chat with this guy."

"He's working. You and Emmett stay the hell away from Jasper. He put up with enough crap from your Dad and mine last week." She gave her epic eye roll. "I really expected them to invite him to the gun range, like they have my past boyfriends."

"I think they realize they may need a new tact with this guy, Alice. The man is an army trained sniper. Does he know martial arts? Emmett and I could take him to the gym. You know, show him a few moves?" He smiled.

"I'm so glad the thought of beating up my boyfriend amuses you, jackass. I think maybe instead of going to a movie tonight we should go to the gym. Ladies against men. We could hand both of you your asses." Alice snarked.

"Hell Yeah!" Emmett yelled at the same time a "Hell no!" could clearly be heard from Rosalie.

"We are not going to the gym. We are going out tonight. Movie, then dinner. I'm dressing for a night on the town, not in sweats and a t-shirt." Rosalie was not going to be swayed from this one. "I'll be ready in half an hour. No changing our plans while I'm in the shower." She ordered and ran upstairs.

"Well damn, I think that would have been fun. Maybe next time?" Emmett asked as Rosalie left. "Sorry we're running late guys, Rosie was held up at work. Someone called in sick and they wanted her to stay. Fortunately, they got somebody at the last minute to come in. So, what have the two of you been talking about?"

"Nothing." Alice grumped.

"Don't be that way Mary Alice. We were just discussing ways to bond with her new boyfriend." Edward informed his brother.

"Remind me again why I wanted to hang out with you two tonight?" Alice demanded.

"Because we are so lovable." Emmett grinned widely. "So what movie guys? Action? Horror?"

"How about a foreign film. You can make up for being an ass the first part of the evening."

"Oh, come on, Edward. What the hell did you do to her? Alice, I will do anything. Please don't make me sit through one of those movies. I'll pay you. Buy you something. Shoes. Women love shoes. Pick out whatever you want. Please." Emmett begged Alice.

"Whatever I want?" She confirmed.

"Hell yes. Edward. Whatever she wants and you're paying half. Thanks for pissing her off."

"Is that how you keep my sister happy? You buy her shoes every time you make her angry?" Alice was curious.

"Well that and there's this thing she likes me to do -"

"No. No. No. I do not want details of the two of you and your sexcapades. Just no." Alice tried to stop him.

"Massage Alice. Really? See Edward. Women say we're pigs, but where does their mind go first? They are just as bad as we are."

"Maybe if I didn't know you so well, I wouldn't have automatically gone there. Did the two of you get together tonight and decide to be jerks before you came here?"

"Not really. No." Edward laughed.

They were interrupted from further discussion when someone rang the doorbell. Repeatedly. Alice huffed something about rude people giving you enough time to make it to the door before ringing again.

"Can you at least try to have a good time tonight. Rosalie had a really bad day at work. I'd like for my girl to have a good time tonight. Her-" Emmett's plea was interrupted by Alice's scream from the entry way. Both men raced to see what was wrong. When they arrived Edward and Emmett both pulled their weapons.

"Please. You have to help her. She's hurt really bad. I think she may be dying. Please. I have to see Cullen. Carlisle Cullen." There was a young man of no more than eighteen standing in the doorway covered in blood. "Please. You have to let me see him. She needs help."

"Who are you talking about?" Emmett demanded. Of course the brothers both recognized Jamison's son.

"My sister. He shot her. She's bleeding." The kid rambled.

"Why didn't you take her to the hospital?" Alice asked

"Who shot her?" Edward demanded.

"My father. Please." The kid was clearly about to lose it. "If I took her to the hospital, he would find us."

Edward put his gun away and instructed the kid to take him to the sister. "Alice, get Rose. We'll bring her into the house."

"Hey, Johnathan, right?" Edward confirmed. At the kid's nod he continued, "We will help you sister. You have to relax okay?"

Johnathan had parked on the street since the driveway was full. He pulled the passenger side open to reveal the young woman in question. She was bleeding profusely, covered from waist to thigh in her own blood.

"Angela, can you hear me?" Edward questioned as he checked her pulse. She was so pale she was almost translucent. He received no response from the girl. "How long ago did this happen?"

"About thirty minutes. I can't believe he did this." The kid was obviously in shock.

"Do you or your sister have cell phones on you?" Emmett demanded.

"I do. She doesn't." Jonathan confirmed.

"Give it to me and the keys to this car. Now." Emmett snapped. "Help Edward get her into the house. Did anyone follow you here?"

"I don't think so. I'm not sure." The kid stuttered.

"I'll take car of the car. Get inside quickly." Emmett instructed them. Edward scooped her from the seat of the car and headed back into the house. They met Alice and Rose in the hallway.

"Take her into Mom's office." Rosalie ran ahead of them to open the door. "Put her on the sofa. I don't really know how much I can do. We need Mom here."

"I will call her." Alice offered, going to the phone.

"No. I'll do it. I need your father as well." Edward took out his phone to make the call as he walked back into the hallway.

"Alice, I need you to apply pressure here." He heard Rosalie instruct as he dialed his boss.

"Edward, what's going on? I thought you and Emmett were going out with the girls tonight." Carlisle answered on the second ring.

"I have a situation at your home, sir. Johnathan Jamison came here tonight. He says Sebastian shot his sister and he came looking for you."

"Did he witness the shooting? Where is the daughter?" Carlisle sounded urgent.

"That's the thing. The kid brought her here. Rose is doing everything she can, but she's still a student. She needs a doctor. I don't know how long she's got. It looks pretty bad. I don't know if he witnessed anything, but I know he's scared to death that his sister will die and that their father will find them."

"Put Rosalie on the phone."

Edward walked back into the office to see Rosalie and Alice still trying to stop the bleeding. "Rose, your father wants you on the phone." He handed it off to her.

"As thankful as I am for all of the doctors and nurses in the world, I do not know how they deal with this every day." Alice looked a little pale herself. "I don't deal well with blood."

"Sorry Alice. We appreciate your help though." Edward thanked her.

"She looks kind of familiar. Have we met you guys before?" Alice asked Johnny who was standing in the corner, trying to keep himself together.

"I don't think so." He answered.

"But you and Emmett know both of them." Alice confirmed to Edward.

"More like we know of them." Edward frowned.

"Hey, we need to get them out of here and to the hospital. Mom says we should go to the back entrance. She can admit her under another name. Dad says to bring the brother with us. Where's Em?" Rosalie had finished her call.

"He's taking care of the vehicle they drove. We don't want it traced here. Let me get her loaded into my car. You are all coming with me. Let's move."

As Edward sped toward the hospital, Rosalie though about how grateful that her mother still had privileges there even though she was semi retired. In less time than Rose thought possible, they were pulled into the back entrance of the hospital loading the young woman onto a gurney that Esme had waiting. Rose followed her mother into a private trauma room while Carlisle took a minute to observe Johnathan. The kid looked terrified.

"Alice, would you please find Mr. Jamison something to drink. Something with sugar I think." Her father requested. "Meet us in Esme's office please." The small group made their way up to the sixth floor where Esme usually worked from.

"Please, have a seat." Carlisle offered the kid a chair. He slumped down into it like a marrionette whose strings had just been cut. "I hear you've had a rather tough night. Edward says you came looking for me specifically. Can you tell me why?"

The kid took several deep breaths and looked into Carlisle's eyes. "I've always tried to do as my father asked. You know?" Another deep breath. "I've never measured up to what he expected, but Angel is different. She's always excelled at whatever he asked. She's the golden child. Tonight, I heard them arguing in the kitchen. She never argues with him. Ever. So, I went to find out what was happening. I saw our mother laying on the ground. It looked like she was asleep, but I think she was dead." His voice cracked with the last word.

"And what were your sister and father arguing about, John?" Carlisle encouraged.

"I didn't hear everything. Angel asked him 'how can you do this to our family?' and he said something about our mother being a whore. He called Angela an ungrateful brat and said that she needed to get back to her room. She threatened to go to the police about something. Then, he pulled a gun on her. He shot her."

"What happened then. How did you get out?"

"He went downstairs. I assume to get Felix to help him get rid of both of them. I- I checked mom to see if she was alive, but she wasn't breathing. Angela was. So, I got her up. She was able help me get to the car. I didn't know where to go, but Masen said you were an honorable man. I knew I couldn't trust him to help her so, I came to you."

Edward's head snapped at that statement. "How did you know you couldn't trust Masen?"

"My father. He has been blackmailing Edward Masen Senior for years. Dad sent me to remind him about his last payment and to find out who would be taking over when Masen retired. Masen said Cullen was too honest to be corrupted like he was. Dad had me running background on you and your family. I remembered the address. So, can you? Help us?"

Edward's head was spinning with each word that came from the kid's mouth. He knew that Senior was hiding something but he never would have suspected that his father was in Jamison's pocket. It didn't make any sense for Senior to call for an all out war to bring Jamison down before he retired either. None of this made any sense.

"Why would he have a kid running background on a federal agent?" Alice questioned from her spot in the doorway where she had been leaning while the kid told his story. She crossed the room to hand John a soda.

"I'm – I'm kind of great with computers." Johnathan admitted. "Do you guys think she'll be okay? Angel looked really bad. How can a man just shoot his own daughter like it was nothing?" the kid was rambling again, trying to process everything that had happened to him this evening.

"Hey, Johnathan?" Rosalie poked her head into the room. "Your sister is going to need a transfusion. Do you know if you are the same blood type that she is?"

"I'm not sure."

"Would it be okay if we tested you to see?"

"Sure. I'll do whatever I need to do for her." John assured them.

"Can he come with me for a few minutes?" Rosalie questioned her father. "Don't worry. Emmett is in the hallway waiting to escort us."

"Go ahead. It's fine." Carlisle agreed and then turned to Edward. "Please let me figure out what's going on before you confront Ed."

"You heard the kid. My father has been in Jamison's pocket for God knows how long. He's corrupt. He needs to be arrested."

"Son, I know you feel betrayed. The man has been my mentor for two decades. Please know that this is hard for me as well. We need a plan put in place to protect those two kids and I need to do it without putting any of this into a report that will cross Senior's desk. You and Emmett will sit down with me and we will figure this out together. Understand?"

Edward was raging on the inside, but he knew Carlisle was right. "Fine. But when it comes time to throw is ass in jail. I get the privilege."