Disclaimer: I own none of these awesome character's. It all belongs to Stephenie Meyer :)
A/N: Do you know how HARD it is to read and write something from a book onto a computer? Jeeeez.
Anywho... away we go...

Continued...

Broken Bells II

It was a long night. Possibly the longest night since Bella ran away a few months ago.

First, I called Renée, hoping to the heavens Bella was with her.

"Hello?" a male voice answered: Phil.

"Hello, Phil, is Renée there?" I asked urgently, skipping all pleasantries.

"Oh, hey, Charlie," he said in a friendly voice. "Yeah, she's here, just a sec."

I waited agitatedly as he passed the phone to Renée.

"Hello, Charlie," Renée said pleasantly.

"Renée, have you heard from Bella at all? Is she with you?" I asked in a rush.

She was silent for a moment. "No, what's wrong?" She demanded in a shrill voice.

I told her everything and her voice was shaking as she spoke. I promised her I would call her as soon as Bella was home. I hung up, deflated. I was hoping Bella might have gone to Renée, like she intended to the last time she left. But she hadn't.

I felt so useless, so lousy! No, I was useless and lousy. Bella had never done anything like this when she was living with her mother. There had never been any reason for Renée to call me and tell me about a scandal or anything. Bella had been living with her mother for all her life without a spot of trouble. Seven months living with me and she'd gone missing, twice.

I knew I could be overreacting. Maybe Bella and Edward had gone out with his family, as a farewell gesture. Maybe she'd gotten drunk and was sleeping at a friend's house, though I'd never seen her so much as tipsy.

But that note had said she'd be home soon. Soon was way gone. I couldn't get a hold of the Cullen's and they were not the irresponsible family type. I knew something was wrong.

I ordered up a search party together. I called Billy down at La Push, hoping desperately that maybe she was there? Just as long as she was somewhere, safe, I'd be ok. But I couldn't be ok at all until my daughter was home.

Billy hadn't seen Bella, but he promised me help instantly, despite the late hour. He said he'd send a group of boys from the reservation. I thanked him fervently and asked him to tell them to come straight to my house: we were starting the search from there.

A lot of people turned up at the house: officers from the station, the Newton's, paramedics from the hospital and three guys who stood out brightly from the pale crowd. I noticed the smooth brown skin, the dark, cropped hair: the boys Billy had sent from La Push. I wondered absently why their hair was so short: the men down at the reservation all had long hair but I brushed it off.

The big crowd converged around me. I pulled out the note again that Bella had left me.

"She should have been home ages ago, especially if she just went for a walk. I can't get through to the Cullen's"—the Quileute boys stiffened—"and apparently Carlisle quit yesterday."

"Edward Cullen went with her?" Sam asked in a deep voice. I noticed the way he said Edward's name stiffly.

"Yes, but I can't get a hold on any of the Cullens." I said, exasperated.

"None of our friends have heard from her since she left school." Mike Newton added worriedly.

"You saw her at school?" Sam asked. "How did she look?"

"Worried, I guess. She's been a little down since a few days ago,"

"What about the Cullen?" Sam asked in a dark voice.

Mike shrugged; a slight change in tone was noticeable when he spoke of Edward. "He was a little different too, I guess, I don't know." He mumbled something then, I was sure I heard the word 'freak' in it.

I tensed. "Who's willing to go out into the woods?"

"Charlie, are you sure she isn't with the Cullens?" Mr. Newton asked quickly. "Maybe she's with some other friends?"

"If they aren't picking up their phone, if Carlisle quit his job yesterday, if Bella was in school today and left me a note saying she'd be home soon, she's going into the woods, what the hell do you think?"

Silence fell, my growled words ringing in the air. Mr. Newton's cheeks flared red.

"Jared, Paul and I will go." Sam said surely. The two boys—men rather, nodded in firm agreement.

The officers from the station agreed to and soon we were on our way. A few people stayed behind in case Bella showed up. Everyone else took a different sector and soon we were all headed out into the woods.

I searched with my team, yelling at the top of my lungs. Where was she? Where was Bella? I hoped she was safe, please let her be safe.

Dread filled my mind at the thought of her leaving with the Cullen's. She wouldn't have done that, would she—could she? She'd left before, though. Who's to say she wouldn't? I could see how much she loved Edward, everyone could. But didn't she care a little for me? I thought we'd been getting on well… I thought she was happy. And she was, when she was with Edward. But… she couldn't have run away with them, could she? Surely, Carlisle and Esme wouldn't have allowed it? So why weren't they picking up their phone? Why couldn't anyone get a hold on them?

It had just gone two when the team said we had to head back. It was raining the ocean: we couldn't see a thing. We found our way back and met everyone by the house again. Tea was being passed around and some food, but how the heck could I try to eat anything at all when my daughter wasn't home? When my daughter was either lost in the woods or had run off with her boyfriend?

I rubbed my face hard, gulped down a glass of water for volume and hurried back into the house. I called the Cullens again but no one picked up. I cursed loudly and slammed the phone onto the receiver.

Breathing through my teeth, I went back outside. I don't think she would've left without saying goodbye. That wasn't like her. This disappearing act was completely out of character.

I looked out to the trees. The Quileute boys hadn't come out of the woods yet. I hoped they were making progress: they seemed so sure of themselves. They hadn't even stopped searching either, despite the rain.

I wanted to go back into the woods, the rain was easing up. I got my torch back and headed back up the lawn, ignoring the protests of others that I should wait, or eat or rest.

I first saw Paul and Jared—I didn't know which was which: they both looked alike—come out. They slinked out of the woods, looking as though they belonged there. They came over silently, speedily, and then I saw what I'd been desperately looking for.

"I've got her!" Sam called in a booming voice.

My heart breathed with relief.

I ran forward to Sam and my stomach sank. The search party rushed forwards with me. Bella was in Sam's arms. Her eyes were open but they stared blankly at Sam's chest.

"Is she injured?" One of the La Push boys asked.

"No, I don't think she's hurt," I heard Sam say. All I could focus on was Bella. "She just keeps saying 'He's gone.'"

The pit of my stomach tightened. Did she mean Edward?

I reached them then and my arms ached to hold my daughter.

"Bella, honey, are you all right?" My voice cracked.

"Charlie?" she said in an unusually small voice.

"I'm right here, baby." I promised her, frightened by the empty look on her face.

Where was Edward?

I reached out and took her from Sam's arms. I could tell he was unsure about me taking her but I didn't care. I'd wear the weight of the world on my shoulders for my daughter.

"Maybe I should hold on to her," Sam said, concerned as I buckled slightly.

"I've got her," I said a little breathlessly.

Bella seemed to inch closer into me. I walked slowly with her, slightly staggering. I would have given her back to Sam but to have her in my arms after she'd been lost was the best relief I had. I hugged her close; she was shivering.

"We're almost home now, honey," I mumbled every so often. I didn't know what else to say. Her eyes were closed, her pale face expressionless.

People walked behind us, talking worriedly. Sam got the front door for us, one arm extended in case I couldn't make it. I staggered through and got to the couch, laying her gently down.

"Dad, I'm all wet," Bella objected limply. There was no animation in her voice at all.

"That doesn't matter." I said. What mattered was that she was here, with me. But what had happened to her?

"Charlie, have you got some blankets?" Sam asked me quietly.

"Blankets are in the cupboard at the top of the stairs." I told him, turning back to Bella.

Dr. Gerandy came forward. "Bella?" he asked slowly, not wanting to scare her.

"Doctor Gerandy?" she mumbled uncertainly as he leaned over her.

"That's right, dear," he said in a friendly voice. "Are you hurt, Bella?"

I tensed, waiting for her answer.

She didn't speak for a few moments. She looked as though she were confused, dazed.

"Charlie," Sam whispered, holding a few quilts out to me.

"Thanks," I mumbled, taking the thick quilts from him. I spread one over Bella: she didn't seem to notice.

Dr. Gerandy checked her forehead and pulse, counting seconds on his watch.

"What happened to you?" he asked casually, like he was asking for the weather.

Bella seemed to freeze.

I tensed again, desperately waiting for her answer. I'd never seen her look so lost, so weary.

"Did you get lost in the woods?" he asked gently.

I could hear the others had gone silent, listening in.

I leaned closer to Bella, knowing she was uncomfortable with her audience.

"Yes, I got lost." She whispered.

I pulled back a bit as Dr. Gerandy continued checking over her. Anger bubbled inside me. He'd left her in the woods. When I got my hands on Edward…

"Do you feel tired?" Dr. Gerandy asked Bella.

She nodded and closed her eyes. She did look tired but there was another emotion there, and I thought I recognised it from somewhere but I couldn't name where I'd seen it.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with her," Dr. Gerandy told me quietly, "Just exhaustion. Let her sleep it off, and I'll come and check on her tomorrow." He checked his watch. "Well, later today actually."

We got away from the couch.

"Is it true?" I whispered, still finding it hard to believe. "Did they leave?" I knew he'd know who I was referring to.

"Doctor Cullen asked us not to say anything," he replied uncomfortably. "The offer was very sudden; they had to choose immediately. Carlisle didn't want to make a big production out of leaving."

"A little warning might have been nice," I muttered angrily. I glanced back at Bella. Even with her eyes closed she looked… lost, in pain.

"Yes, well, in this situation, some warning might have been called for." Dr. Gerandy agreed uncomfortably, glancing at Bella too.

I saw Bella lift the quilt over her head. I started packing up the search party.

"Sam, can I have a word before you go?" I asked.

"Sure, Charlie,"

We stepped outside the house, Paul and Jared flanking him.

"How exactly did you find Bella?" I asked.

"She was lying on the forest floor." He told me hesitantly.

"On the floor," I repeated slowly.

"She must have tripped," he said.

"So why didn't she get back up?" I wondered quietly.

Sam had no answer.

"Did you see anyone else? Any sign of a struggle?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No, Bella was alone. She was very deep in the woods. It really looks like she got lost."

"Right, well thank you, boys. I owe you, big time." I held out my hand to Sam.

"It was no problem," Sam shook my hand, followed by Paul and Jared.

I hurried back into the house, flexing my fingers slightly. The boys had feverishly hot, strong hands.