Warning: Chapter contains some bloody violence.
Carlisle caught Bella as she fainted, noting Charlie's furious expression at the young man in handcuffs.
"Moyle, is it?" said the chief. He walked over. The kid was dripping mud all over the place. He didn't answer. Charlie stared him down.
"Do you want me to bring Bella to my house?" Carlisle asked, cradling Bella in his arms easily. "She doesn't need a hospital."
Charlie could only nod, afraid that whatever he said would come out as a deafening roar. He had one of them.
"I'll take him," Charlie said to the cop, who nodded and left. By this time Keegan had spotted Bella and his eyes grew wide.
"Recognize her?" Charlie asked, an array of unpleasant emotions hitting him.
Carlisle looked worried, but left quickly.
"Can't say I do," Keegan lied. The kid was scared all right, but cocky all the same.
"I think I can help you out with that. Let's go," and he escorted him to his cell.
Carlisle thought Bella might wake up when the rain hit her, but it took a while. The movement from his running must have surprised her and unsettled her stomach, for she quickly turned her head to the side and vomited. Carlisle dodged the mess, but also stopped immediately.
"Can you hear me Bella?"
She coughed violently as he stooped low to the ground, kneeling with her shaking body in his arms.
"Car-"cough"lisle?" She was on the verge of passing out again.
"Yes, dear. You're alright. You just fainted."
"Did you see...?" She recoiled suddenly.
"What is it? Tell me where it hurts."
"Stomach... Did you see him?"
Carlisle looked at her sorrowfully.
"God-" she exhaled staring up at the trees, teeth clenched. "I've seen two of them in the same day. I feel like I'm losing my mind... I don't think I..." A dry heave wracked her.
"You need to let your body recover. Come on," he began to help her up.
"You don't understand," she said weakly, shaking her head adamantly. Thunder sounded in the distance. She was shivering, soaked to the bone. She moved from him, leaning on a tree. He waited for her to catch her breath. "Carlisle," her voice was chillingly calm. "I cannot do this anymore."
Her words sounded so final, so sure.
"You'll get through it. We're going to help you. I know it seems hard now but-"
"Try impossible. I can't sleep, can't go more than ten minutes without thinking about what happened. Their faces pop up over the most ridiculous things. Even the rain reminds me of them!" She stared up at the glistening leaves.
Carlisle stepped closer but didn't try to make her leave.
"I think..." he said slowly. "That what you're feeling is normal. Rosalie said she felt the same way for a while. But she made it. Just like you will. You're strong, Bella. Her and I can see it so clearly. I wish you could."
"But it'll never be strong enough." He didn't like the look she gave him then. "Not until I become like her. Like you." She seemed to regain some energy from her own words, moving quickly to him.
"Bella?"
She had hold of his arms, staring with a mix of fear and determination.
"Rose won't do it. You have to. Please, Carlisle. I can't live this way."
It took him a moment to fully understand what she wanted. He knew he shouldn't, but he felt anger.
"Do you realize what you're asking of me?"
She didn't. Of course she didn't. She was in pain. So much agony.
"This won't rid you of your problems. If anything it will add to them."
"When you found Rosalie she was about to die. You saved her, and she's the strongest person I've ever known-"
"Don't mistake strength for restraining ones emotions."
"I know her emotions. I know how she felt when she was attacked, what her thoughts were as she lay there bleeding and sobbing afterwards. And everything else."
"She never wanted this life. She never had a choice. You do. Let her have the choice she always wanted through you."
But she only shook her head. "No. I'm tired of fighting. I'm sick and tired of the nightmares. I can't run my whole life."
"You'll be running a lot longer than that if you're immortal."
He shouldn't have said it. Anger ripped across her face. She yanked herself away from her self inflicted bonds and marched off.
"Where are you going?" he called. He wasn't about to leave her alone in her state, so followed. She stopped about half a mile later, her sobs getting lost in the pounding rain. Not looking at him, she tore down a branch and used her foot to break it in half, steeping sharply on it. Before he knew what she was doing, she had the stick to her throat, sharp fragments of wet wood digging into her skin.
"Bella don't!"
Her expression distorted as the red line appeared, blood instantly rushing down her front. She dropped her weapon, hands clutching her sliced skin. The shocking smell instantly hit him, though he was used to it from his years in the hospital. It was still difficult, but bearable if he was careful. He caught her before she hit the forest floor, in obvious pain.
"Please..." she begged him. "Please, Carlisle." She coughed violently and more blood appeared, moving down her chin. He was about to lift her, to start running for the house when she pulled his head down, making sure his mouth was right at the incision. He flinched and gave a short growl of indignation before flying from her, gasping and at the same time plugging his nose. It took him several minutes to recover, scrubbing the blood from his face as best he could. When he looked back, she was unconscious.
"You are not going to do this!" Scooping her up swiftly, he began to sprint. He didn't get far before his cell phone rang. It was nice of Charlie to not search him before imprisoning him, though he didn't think of it at the time. Supporting Bella with one arm as he ran full out, he answered.
"Carlisle!"
"Alice? Where are you? Meet me at the house right away." Alice left to talk to Natalie as soon as Rose and her had gotten Bella cleaned up from earlier and had no idea of his arrest or anything else that had happened.
"No, I can't. Listen, something happened."
Her voice was cutting in and out. Damn this rain. He could almost see the house now. It worried him how much blood Bella was losing.
"Can you meet me on the bridge?"
"No. I-"
"Please Carlisle... I'm scared. I think I might..."
He could hear the panic in her voice.
"Alice? What is it?" He jogged up the drive and up the steps. Rose peered down from her window but took Bella from his arms in the next second. Her face held pure terror then rage, confusion. She smelled the blood on his face.
"...You didn't..." Her voice was deathly flat.
"Of course not." He moved her inside, pointing to a blanket while he went for his bag. Rosalie held her breath, trying not to panic as she wrapped the soaked and profusely bleeding girl in several blankets and held her on the couch.
"Carlisle?"
"I'm on my way, Alice. Just stay calm. I'll be right there."
"What happened?" Rosalie was verging on hysterics.
He took a deep breath, unwrapped a bandage, and quickly told her. Alice heard too. Both girls were clearly shocked. Rosalie pulled her closer, applying pressure to the wound, picking out several splinters.
"Listen, Rose. She needs stitches. The cut didn't hit any arteries and isn't too deep, but I don't want to take any chances. She'll probably need some blood too. Alice?"
"...I'm here." her voice was just above a whisper.
"Can Rose help you? I need to be here for Bella... Alice?"
It took a moment for her to respond, but finally she agreed.
"I can't leave her," Rosalie protested.
"Alice needs you too. Only you can't help Bella. I'll take care of her."
"I know but-"
"Rose, please," Alice would have been bawling if her body was able. Rosalie was only torn for a moment, but, with a frustrated growl, took the phone from Carlisle and shot out the door.
"Where are you?" she barked.
"The bridge."
"Near the supermarket?"
"Yes. Just by the parking lot."
Rosalie stopped in her tracks.
"...Isn't that where...?"
"Yes."
Rosalie had to regain her wits but continued running.
Alice told her about visiting Natalie, the fight, how Lucas and Keegan had blocked their escape, the chase after and Keegan's arrest. She'd hunted down Lucas and Natalie, nearly ripped apart the car just to get him out. She said she was afraid she'd killed him, he wasn't even moving. Natalie was scared as hell, but agreed to stay by the car.
"I see you, I'm coming," Rosalie said hurriedly as she sprinted off of the street into the parking lot and onto the bridge. The smell of blood instantly choked her, making her stagger. There was so much. Alice still had the phone to her ear, hunched over the bridge railing. Rosalie wanted to go to her, to comfort her, but she'd already spotted him. Lank, seemingly lifeless, her girlfriend's attacker lay crumpled at her feet where all this turmoil had started.
A/N: Drama is fun to write. Thank you for reading. Let me know what you think/theories/questions/etc. :)