A/N: Ninety reviews! Woot! I am extremely excited about that. Hey, here's a thought: How about we shoot for a hundred this time? If you read this chapter, please, please, please review. It is greatly appreciated, and, as I have often said before, it makes it so much easier to update. The chapter title for this is just random… (Okay, maybe not THAT random. ; )

Part Twenty-One

Dazzling Me Frequently

Edward turned to face the direction in which I was looking, mouth agape, as Quil and Embry sauntered carelessly to a lunch table. He let out a low, ferocious growl that made Jessica jump. "What are they doing here?" Angela though aloud.

"I wish I knew the answer to that," I said offhandedly. "They're so… obvious. It's like they don't expect us to go back to the police… Like…"

"Like they're in control of the police," Edward finished the thought.

"Yeah… Like they… Oh, no," I whispered, the blood draining from my face.

"Bella, what is it?" Edward asked worriedly.

"They must have… Edward, they have Charlie!" I began to panic. What could they do with him? I was sure he knew nothing about Jacob, but if they had been to his house… they would have filled him in for sure! So the reason he hadn't called… It must have been true. My heartbeat accelerated dangerously, as I leapt up from the table. "I've got to go. Edward, I'll be back… I need to go check on Charlie…"

"And how are you planning on getting there?" he asked pointedly. Drat! I had conveniently forgotten the fact that he had been offering to drive me to school ever since I had been staying with the Cullens.

"Fine," I said. He looked relieved that I'd given up without a fight. As if! "Give me your keys."

He looked dumbfounded. "No way, Bella."

"Right," I muttered sarcastically. "Wouldn't wanna hurt the Volvo."

"Bella, I couldn't care less about my car," he said. "I'm only worried about you. And, considering the recent… situations, I am not, under any circumstances, going to let you out of my sight."

"Come on, then," I mumbled. "We've got to hurry."

"Don't worry, we'll take your trays as soon as we're finished," Angela offered when she saw my eyes avert to the half-empty plates of food.

"Thanks, guys," I said, "We owe you big time!"

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"Dad?" I shouted, pulling the key out of the lock as Edward and I stepped into the eerily quiet house. "Dad, where are you? Ow!"

"What is it?" Edward whispered, grabbing my hand.

"I stepped on my toe," I admitted sheepishly.

"Mmm, M-mm!" a distinct, mumbling sound could be heard.

"Dad?"

"Charlie?"

"M-mm! M-mmmm!" What was he saying? And a better question was: Where on Earth was he?

"It sounds like he's calling us," Edward noted. "It's like… 'Bella, Edward!'"

I nodded. "But where is it coming from?" Suddenly, it hit me. "The bedroom!"

Edward and I took the stairs two at a time. "Dad!" I shouted, and the mumbling could be heard again, this time much closer. I struggled, pulling on the unmoving doorknob with all of the strength I could muster.

"Bella, calm down!" Edward begged, pulling me away gently.

He squared his shoulders, bound forward, and knocked the door clean off its hinges. I gasped. "Bella!" Charlie breathed as Edward quickly worked at the ropes the tied him to the chair. "Bella, Edward, I'm so glad you're here. Those boys… I thought I recognized him… They said they were looking for you, honey! Oh, Edward, how can I thank you for taking care of my little girl?"

"No thanks needed," he said, undoing the final knot. Charlie jumped up, wringing his hands nervously.

"Are you… Are you safe, Honey? Do you want to go back to Phoenix?"

I considered it. No, of course I didn't want to go back to Phoenix. How could I, when Edward was still here? I shook me head.

"No, Dad. I'm fine. Quil and Embry and Jacob would follow anyway. Besides, I've never felt so safe in my life," I almost-smiled, glancing at Edward. He was almost smiling too. "You, on the other hand, are not safe."

"You're right, I know," Charlie agreed. "But I'm not worried about me. You take care of you, Bells. I'll lay low for a while. Thank you for saving me, and, again, for taking such great care of my baby girl."

"My pleasure." Now it was Edward's turn to grin. I wished for him to kiss me; I could not stand to go this long without feeling his lips on mine, but Charlie would immediately withdraw his choice and make me go back to Mom and Phil.

"I love you, Dad," I said finally, embracing him, a single tear running down my ruddy face.

"I love you, too, Bella," he whispered. "I'll be seeing you."

A/N: Again, thank you guys so, so, SO much for the wonderful reviews. Ten for this chapter, pretty please, so I can have one hundreeeedddd! I love you guys,

C.J.