I know I said I'd post this almost straight away but I've had a giant lack of inspiration. Just so you don't get con fused wherever you see * before someone speaking it'll be telepathic communication. If it's ** then it's the wolves.
Chapter Three: Developments.
Jacob's point of view.
When Bella pulled back the sheet I almost didn't want to look. I wasn't sure I could handle seeing my dad & Charlie, or what was supposed to be left of them. But we were all surprised to see that what would have been bodies not long ago, were now nothing more than ashes. I looked over to se Edward & Carlisle doing that weird vampire thing. Carlisle wasn't talking but it didn't matter since Edward was reading his mind. Obviously, whatever they were thinking was too upsetting to share out loud. As we stood there a slight breeze blew through & I thought I could smell a faint icy smell. I mean, sure I could smell the lingering smoky smell but my wolfy senses were kicking in & there was unfamiliar icy smell. I was about to say something when the mind reader beat me to it.
"I smelt it too. Since it's not familiar, maybe you should take some of the pack & check out the area, just in case." I opened my mouth to protest. He smirked ever so slightly & shook his head.
"Maybe not, but if it is someone dangerous, we should be prepared immediately. How about Emmett & Jasper go with you. I know you want to stay here but if we find anything I'll let you know immediately." knowing he was right, I headed outside. I informed the others quickly & Sam agreed with Edward's idea.
"Leah, you & Jared stay here so Edward can communicate with us. Seth, go & round up Colin & Brady & head for the beach. Do not engage if you come across anything but let us know & we'll back you up. Jake, you take Quil & Embry & check the forest. I'll go with Emmett & Jasper & check Forks." I didn't want to leave but I knew they were right. I glanced over at Bella. She was staring at the remains of my house. The look on her face was all too familiar. I walked over to Nessie & held her hand. She "told" me everything was going to be ok.
*Stay safe.* she "said".
'I will. I promise.' I thought.
I followed Quil & Embry into the forest behind what used to be my house, taking off my clothes as I ran. I didn't even need to try to phase. The emotions racing through my body did it for me.
**Jake, man, that had to be your fastest phase ever!**
**Stay focused Embry. Take the left flank, Quil, right flank. I'll go down the middle** I thought.
**Right sorry. But seriously very, very quick.**
**Embry, focus!** I 'yelled' **watch where you're going!** I added as he narrowly avoided hitting a tree.
After we checked the forest we headed back to La Push.
**Jake you guys need to get back here. There's news on Billy & Charlie.** Sam's 'voice' sounded strained. We hurried back to what remained of my house. The fire chief was waiting with Sam, Bella, Edward, Carlisle & the rest of the group.
"Jacob. I've just received word from the hospital. Billy was out fishing with Charlie this morning when the explosion happened. They were heading home along the river when the shock wave from the blast knocked them into the river. Both seem to have hit their heads & blacked out but Charlie came to in time to pull Billy out of the river. Both of them are in a stable condition at the hospital."
I sank to my knees with relief & I heard Bella do the same. Nessie started patting my shoulder & I realised I was crying.
"I can take you to the hospital to see him if you'd like." Carlisle offered. I nodded & we headed for the cars. I looked back at the house & I noticed Bella still hadn't moved. Edward was whispering something in her ear. Emmett had driven the jeep back & switched it for Carlisle's car while Carlisle had been attending to the boys.
When we got to the hospital the nurses let us through as soon as they saw Carlisle. Dad & Charlie had been placed in the same room.
When we walked in I felt my legs buckle underneath me. Emmett must have noticed because he grabbed the nearest chair & placed it underneath me. Seeing my father in the hospital bed reminded me of the accident that had put him in his wheelchair. That same accident had killed my mother. Suddenly I felt arms around me. I looked up to see my sister Racheal crying as she hugged me. She rubbed her hand through my hair & I realised I was crying yet again.
"I'm just so glad neither of you were in the house when it happened." Racheal sobbed.
"Me too. I just hope Dad wakes up soon." I agreed.
Just then Edward & Bella walked in. When Bella saw Charlie lying in the hospital bed she had the exact same reaction I had had moments earlier. Edward moved her towards the other chair in the room just as she started to lose her feet from under her.
I racked my brain & couldn't come up with a single time in the whole time I'd known Charlie, that I'd ever seen him injured before. Bella gently moved the chair over beside Charlie's bed. She reached up & gently stroked his face. I know that if she could have cried she would have. As it was her body was shaking as though she was crying.
"Do they know who did this yet?" Paul asked quietly.
"There were a couple of boys playing with fireworks near the house. Preliminary reports suggest that one of the fire crackers went rogue & hit the gas main which blew up the house. But the fire inspector is still examining the house so he might end up finding something else that clears the boys." Sam told him. As he stopped a doctor walked in. He handed two charts to Carlisle quietly spoke in his ear for a moment, then left the room.
"What's the verdict?" I asked not surprised to hear my voice was hoarse.
"Billy seems to have a contusion on his spine that is worrying the doctors. He may have hit his back when he fell into the water. They're going to keep an eye on it & see what happens. Other than that he's fine. Charlie has a few minor cuts on his head nothing that a few stiches can't fix. But he also has a broken leg that is broken in more than one place & unfortunately we won't be able to set it until he wakes. If we try setting it while he's unconscious we run the risk of setting it without it being in the right place. Meaning his leg would heal but it would be healed out of place & would give him pain for the rest of his life. Don't worry Bella, Jacob, we'll take the best care of both of them." Just as he spoke there was a groan & we turned to see Dad opening his eyes. Just as Carlisle moved towards him to check how he was, there was another groan & Charlie opened his eyes. He moved his hand slowly & tried to remove the tube that was down his throat. Carlisle gently stopped his hand.
"Chief Swan, you are in the hospital. I will remove the tube for you but I'm going to need you to cough for me. It will make it easier for the tube to come out." Charlie did what Carlisle asked him & the tube came out quickly. Carlisle placed it on a tray nearby & pressed a button for the nurse. She came in & helped Carlisle with the preliminary checks to make sure that Charlie was coherent.
I noticed that Racheal had fallen asleep lying over our dad's feet. Suddenly dad tried to sit up. In doing so he moved his feet, waking Racheal.
"Dad. Oh my gosh I'm so glad you're ok. Paul & I hurried back from Port Angeles when Sam called. I was so worried."
"Racheal?" he croaked. "I'm glad you're safe too. Where's Jake?"
"I'm here dad. You've been hurt but Carlisle says you're going to be fine. The house is ruined though."
"Charlie?"
"I'm here." Came the answer from behind me. Charlie's voice was just as hoarse as dad's.
"Now we're just going to take you two for some brain scans. You both received some very hard knocks to your heads so we just want to make sure there's no lasting damage." Carlisle said as the nurses prepped them for CT scans.
"It might be easier if everyone waits here. It won't take long." He added as Bella, Racheal & I stood up to follow them. We looked at each other then sat back down.
Just then Sam's phone vibrated.
"It's the fire chief. I'll be back soon." He said as he walked out of the room to take the call. The room was quiet as we waited for Dad & Charlie to return.
When Sam came back into the room his face was ashen.
"What's wrong?" Racheal asked.
"They found what caused the explosion." He replied in a whisper.
"And?" Racheal, Paul & I said in unison.
"It doesn't make sense. There's no reason why..." he trailed off.
"Edward, read his mind he's not making any sense." Edward acquiesced but as he read whatever Sam had been told, his face went even whiter than I thought possible.
"What is it Edward? What's happened?" Bella asked.
"It doesn't make any sense."
Just then Carlisle returned with Charlie & Dad.
"What's wrong?" Carlisle asked seeing Edward's face. Before he could give a straight answer, a machine started beeping next to Charlie. We looked over to see Charlie convulsing on the bed. Carlisle reached over & hit the button for the nurse. He grabbed a syringe full of a clear liquid & after inserting the needle into the IV, he pushed the plunger in injecting the liquid into Charlie's IV. He looked up at the monitor straight after to see the BP drop dangerously low.
"Nurse, would you please escort everyone out of the room? And place Mr Black in the room next door."
"I'm not leaving the room." Bella was sitting in the chair in a defensive position.
"Bella, it will be easier for me to help Charlie if you wait in the corridor, or in the next room with Jacob's father."
"Doctor Cullen, should I grab the crash cart just in case?" just as the nurse said this the machine started beeping rapidly indicating that Charlie was going into cardiac arrest.
"Bella I need you to wait outside NOW! Charge to 200. Clear!"
The last thing I saw before I walked into my dad's room was Bella being led outside by Edward. I was about to sit down beside Racheal when I suddenly felt strange. Before I knew what was happening the world went black...