October 3rd, 2022
9:29 AM

"Dad..." Beau covered his face with his free hand, embarrassed. His father had been laying into Tyler hard. The boy looked like he was tearing up. He felt so bad. "I'm fine, okay. It doesn't even hurt anymore,"

"You are not fine. Your hand is sprained," Charlie huffed, a little thrown by Beau finally saying, father. Charlie joined Tyler's parents in glaring down at him. He extended his hand out. "Wallet," Charlie said, and Tyler struggled with pulling it out of his pocket. The Sheriff had snatched the wallet away from the boy, grabbed the Driver's License, and tossed it back into Tyler's lap. Charlie took the knife out of his pocket, and Beau gasped as Tyler sighed, thinking he deserved his Driver's License destroyed.

"Daddy, stop," Beau hopped off the bed quickly and stopped his father from cutting the ID in half. He went to hand it to Tyler, but the father of the reckless driver intercepted it.

"I am so sorry about this, Sheriff Charlie, Beau... This is Tyler's final straw. He will not get his license back until he completes a safe driver's course... and will not get behind the wheel until he pays off both Beau and his hospital bills, along with saving up for a new truck," Mr. Crowley explained. "Isn't that right, Tyler?"

"Yes sir," Tyler nodded, "Beau, I am-"

"I know, you don't have to say it anymore, Ty... just be safe next time," Beau was tired of Tyler saying sorry, so Beau hugged him to get him to shut up. He had said it about 50 times since they had been at the hospital. Charlie placed a hand on Beau's shoulder, thinking he was so sweet and forgiving. Before he continued to lay into him, Beau grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him out of the room. "Charlie... I mean, I know I was almost seriously hurt, but you almost made him cry,"

"Beau, I wouldn't know what to do with myself if anything ever happened to you," Charlie showed his son how worried he was. Beau and Charlie were never close, partly to do with Renee and then Beau. When he grew up enough to say he didn't want to go to Forks during the summers when he was 8. When Beau asked to come to live with his father, it was out of guilt. He was stopping his mom from traveling the world with her new husband. Things had been awkward, but Charlie had shown that he loved Beau by buying the truck and keeping his room in its original state.

He had never seen his father so upset. He had tears in his eyes. Beau gaped his mouth open, surprised... He had been hurt before but never reacted to this, not even by his mom. When he was in the hospital with pneumonia a couple of years ago, Charlie and Renee would be in the room with Beau, but not together because they were so volatile. Charlie would sit and awkwardly distract himself while watching Beau and show his emotions later. Renee held in her emotions because she had to be a single mom. If she cried, then Beau would worry.

Charlie went to hug his son, but it was more of an air hug because he didn't want to hurt him. Beau rolled his eyes and hugged his father, "My wrist is sprained, Dad. I am not in a full body cast," he said, allowing his father to squeeze him. "Okay... I can still have the wind knocked out of me, though," Beau patted Charlie on the back because he was being squeezed so tight.

"Sorry, Buddy," He said, trying to hide his tear and sniffling not to scare off Beau. Like father, like son, Charlie would always get freaked out by emotions. "Did you drive her? Do you want me to drop you off at the house?" he asked.

He pointed over to Edward, peeking around the corner down the hallway. When he was spotted, he quickly stepped away, almost like it would stop Beau and Charlie from thinking he wasn't eavesdropping. Charlie knew Edward was here but thought he had been with his father. Sometimes Edward would shadow his father on less serious cases. "What is it?" He asked. Charlie looked confused.

"I'm sorry... I don't want to say anything offensive," Charlie said, and Beau raised his eyebrows. "I am just confused... I thought you weren't talking to him anymore; I know you have a crush on him, and times like these will stir up feelings-" Charlie rambled, further confusing his son. "What I am trying to say is if Edward doesn't give attention to you all the time, then you should pay him any attention,"

"Thank you... but it wasn't like that," Beau scratched his hand through his hair, "He kind of saved me," He said, and Charlie looked shocked. Edward said nothing about saving Beau. He just said he was trying to get the father or his staff to see Beau faster.

"Saved you?"

"I don't know... it happened so fast, he pulled me out of the way," Beau told him. He winced when he heard his father's radio go off. "Do you need to go?"

"No, I'm good," Charlie lied, and Beau caught it. When Charlie lied, he showed his dimples and raised an eyebrow.

"I am okay, Dad, I promise," Beau chuckled. His father smiled when he called him Dad again. "Edward will drive us back to school after I am okayed to go. "I am okay. Please go," Beau hugged him when his radio went off again. Charlie and Beau entered into a staring contest, but Charlie always lost meaning he would give in.

"Edward," Charlie said, and Beau's smirk fell agape. He glared at his father and shook his head. Edward popped out of the corner again like he was in trouble, "Come here, Son,"

"Hello, Sir..."

"Thank you for saving my son," Charlie held out his hand, and Edward shook it, "Beau and I would like it if you would come over to Dinner someday this week so we can show our appreciation," He said, and Beau blushed. Edward didn't know what to say. Charlie was correct about Edward being hot and cold with Beau.

"I will have to run it by my father, but I would love that, Sheriff Swan," Edward beamed a smile at the man, "It looks like you are needed. I will keep Beau safe... as difficult as that is," he said making Charlie laugh, Beau was quite clumsy.

"Tell me when you are headed back to school, then when you are headed home," Charlie said, ruffling Beau's hair before picking up his radio and rushing out to the car.

"Are you okay?" Edward asked.

"Yeah, my wrist Is just sprained, see," Beau said, showing his left hand in a splint. It was so minor that they could have gotten the splint from Walmart. Beau flinched a little when he felt cold slender fingers hold up his forearm. Edward looked upset. The splint on his wrist might as well have been a cast in his eyes. "Tyler is way worse... he has whiplash and a concussion."

"I'm sorry..."

"What?" Beau asked, confused, "Dude, you saved my life, and you are worried about my hand being sprained?"

"I should have been there sooner," Edward whispered to himself. They were brought back to reality when they headed to step out of the way of a couple of nurses. Beau brought his hand close to his chest, cradling it with his non-injured hand.

"How did you get to me so fast?" Beau asked.

"Hmm?" He asked, still guilty about letting Beau get hurt.

"You were near the school's entrance... I was in the further part of the parking lot," Beau explained, "How did you get to me so fast... how did you stop Tyler's truck with your hand."

"Adrenaline..." Edward said. The family had come up with an excuse while he was back in x-rays. Edward tried to use his charm by tugging some of Beau's shoulder-length wavy black hair behind his ear. Before meeting Beau, he had never met a meeker yet confident person. He was only human, so Edward's charm worked, but he shook his head to stay focused. "Have you ever heard of the things people have done when there is an adrenaline rush? A mother in Chicago pushed a car off her kid after a pileup-" Edward went on. Times like these are why he didn't talk much to Beau... his face was blank, and he couldn't tap into his mind.

"Okay..." Beau said, not believing Edward; he had a feeling that he wouldn't tell him the truth anyway.

"Let's get you back in the room. You should rest," Edward decided, but Beau stopped him, and he raised his eyebrow inquisitively.

"I don't want to go back in there... Tyler will continue to apologize. I am fine."

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