Disclaimer: I do not own twilight, or the quotes from New Moon (and the partial quotes), although I do own this plot.
A/N: I would request that all readers forgive me for the delay in me updating A New Vampire. I completed this one as a present for my readers, a late Christmas present. Any reviews would be a birthday present for me!
Chapter 3 – Hanging On By A Thread
One week later...
Charlie POV
The incessant beeping felt like a nail being hammered into my aching skull. Hell is supposed to be full of fire and white hot pain not an endless irritating mobile phone-like beeping. I suppose an eternity of this would drive most people insane; a new form of torture. Somehow the noise reminded me of Bella, well not Bella but teenagers. Oh dear lord! Eternity, in hell, with some hormone-filled antsy adolescents! Kill me now, figuratively only though, being dead would make dying a challenge. Even living with Bella was hard at times despite her maturity; although mostly when she started going out with Edward Cullen and acting like a more normal teenager. I was sure going to miss Bella.
I wonder how she'll turn out; will she go to university or will she get a job straight away? Will she get married or stay single or move in with someone? Will she graduate before moving in with Renee...but she can't do that. Where is she going to live if Renee is gone? Phil? No, he's an okay person but they were never close. Billy? Maybe, it could be awkward but it could work. Deputy Marks? I had always trusted him and he is a good police officer. The only off note was his misplaced ambition. Ambition is normally a good thing but it had always worried me. I mean, if you want to achieve great things in life why live in a small town as a deputy? It never made sense to me but at least he has teenagers and knows how to handle them. I hate myself for not setting aside a home for Bella if Renee and I both died. Would she be sent to a foster placement? Well the adequacy of this would depend on the family. I wonder what Bella would choose if she had the choice.
I wonder what Renee would think about this. I wonder what she would choose for Bella. I would love for her to be alive to look after Bella, or more realistically give Bella someone alive to worry about and love. Realistically she could be alive and I could have been wrong about seeing her die, after car crashes are shocking and terrifying, but I'm trained for gun fights so I'm sure my margin of error is small. Well smaller for me than an untrained civilian. I miss Renee, despite the fact that we got divorced and she married someone else. I love her differently now.
My pain increased slowly gaining ground and puncturing me with its claws. I wish the blanket of blackness would take away the pain, even though it makes me drowsy. If I'm helpless I can't help Bella. Being helpless is incredibly frustrating. The pain is growing unbearable, too much to think. White-hot and overwhelming.
"Will it hurt him?" an angels voice sang. The angel was worried. Panicked. Fearful. Maybe the angel hates needles like Bells...
Abruptly my heart burst with joy. I was still alive! I could look after my Bella! I reached out to hug her but nothing moved. I felt nothing. Panic spread through me. Why couldn't I move? I have to be able to move. Am I paralysed? Am I dead? No I can't be Bella wouldn't be allowed to see my body if I was dead. My heart raced in fear as I tried to keep calm. I strained to hear what was being said
"Is it normal for his heart to do that? Is he ok? Is his heart..."
"It is perfectly normal. Don't worry Bella. Your dad is as tough as old boots. Do you want to be leave the room before I inject the morphine?" this came from an unfamiliar yet warm voice. A nurse by the sound of it, that means I'm in a hospital. I wished Dr. Cullen was here, not only for Bella's sake but I know he is an amazing doctor, the best Fork's has ever had. I strained to hear Bella's answer.
"I'll stay."
This surprised me. Bella hates needles. She hates hospitals, especially the annoying heart rate monitors. That was the beeping not teenagers to torture me in hell. That made things clearer, I was definitely not dead.
A small warm hand grasped mine tightly and I prepared myself for the pain of the injection. For some reason it wasn't the same sensation as it usually is, not as sharp. Numbness crept through my veins. Awareness faded from my hand and I could no longer feel Bella's hand. I made one last feeble attempt to move, to tighten my hand around Bella's, but the morphine fogged my brain before I could tell if my endeavour worked. I succumbed to the blackness, unwilling but unable to resist.
Bella POV
My heart stopped beating. Charlie moved. Just a twitch but he moved. The nurse shared a shocked glance with me. Charlie hasn't moved since I first set eyes on him a whole week ago. He must be more aware. He was healing. The nurse confirmed this before leaving me with Charlie. Alone to think.
"Please hurry up and get well dad. I miss you." I whispered reaching out to hold his hand. Jake had just called me telling me that he was coming to take me home, it was gone five o' clock. I leaned in closer. "If I stay with Billy any longer I might have to punch Jake. He's like a puppy, he never leaves me alone. It's hard to be unhappy with him around. He's like my own personal sunshine. The doctor says you'll be out of your coma really soon." I paused to breathe slowly. In and out. In and out. "Thank you for trying to bringing Renee to me. Please don't die Charlie. I can't live without you and Renee. I hope you can hear me. I love you daddy." I sniffed trying not to cry.
"I do leave you alone! And I know you love staying with me and Billy. My cooking is just amazing and you know it." shouted an outraged Jacob.
I chuckled, unable to contain myself. This was why I liked Jacob so much he could change my mood with a few well chosen words.
"Can I stay overnight? The nurses said it was okay."
"Why are you asking my permission I'm younger than you?" he asked confused.
"No I meant that I'm staying here tonight so tell your dad I'll seen him in the morning." I said smiling.
"Yes ma'am," he said saluting and turning back to leave.
"Hey Jake?" I shouted
"Yes?" he sang back to me running back towards me.
I paused unsure exactly what to say. "Thank you for looking after me so well."
"You do take a lot of looking after." He replied wisely. I hit him on the back of his head. He looked outraged and hugged me lifting me off the ground. I started to hit him playfully, he was starting to get more muscular and hitting that hard would hurt. He collapsed, laughing, into the chair, still holding me. For once I actually felt safe.
Charlie POV
I was going to kill Billy's son as soon as I woke up. How dare he hug Bella? She was laughing she must really like him and he seemed to return this. I was not having this. No one is going out with my daughter until I know they'll look after her. A red haze filled me as I tried not to imagine hurting Jacob. That pleasure should be savoured not rushed. Just as my plans for Edward would be completed, if I could find him.
He left not long after. Thank god. From the sound of it Bella was fast asleep; although I could hear footsteps enter the room, too quietly for a nurse. The person cursed under their breath as they poked around my machines, too deeply to be female. I was suspicious, my police instincts kicking in. I tried to move but I couldn't. The person stepped away from my machines and seemed to give up. I relaxed.
A pillow was suddenly pressed hard against my face. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I heard a voice saying, "Goodbye Charlie, it has been a pleasure knowing you." I know at that moment I was going to die.
As one light and set of senses faded, another brightened. I whispered pointlessly that I loved Bella. I faced the fact that I was never going to see her again.
? POV
I was so close to her but I couldn't touch her. Charlie was gone and as soon as she woke her world would collapse. I kissed her forehead softly and left as quietly as possible. More than one thing had been achieved by Charlie's death. I could almost taste the fruits I had reaped this night. I left the hospital ghostlike and untouchable. Finally my goal was within my grasp
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A/N: "Hanging on by a thread" is by a band called The Letter Black, and I chose to name chapter three after it as it fit and is an awesome song.
I am extremely sorry for not updating sooner but life took over. I was looking up details for this chapter and out of interest for American laws on age of majority (age of majority – when a person legally reaching adulthood) and adoption, but I learned some really strange things about the age of majority in some countries, for examples when the ages are different for females and males or where adulthood is achieved by marriage, which most likely make sense to people who know these countries well but seemed slightly bizarre to me at first.
Anyway, as far as I could find out, people over the age of majority (18) can still receive foster care of some kind if orphaned or in care, if in education, school or college. But I could be wrong and feel free to tell me so.
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