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An even bigger thanks to ceara1888 who has allowed me to adopt this story from her. I read it while she wrote it and hated to see her give it up. I only hope I don't disappoint with the way I go with it.
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WARNING: Nothing in this chapter, except my heart broke a little for Jasper and Charlie.
-O-
Charlie
"If you're nervous, she will be too."
I jumped, not realizing Jasper had walked up until he'd spoken. I'd been standing outside Bella's room for a while, waiting on Carlisle to come back with her release papers. She'd changed and was now just sitting on the end of her bed and I didn't know what to do.
"How do you know I'm nervous?" I asked, glancing over at him.
"Empath, remember," he said as he stopped beside me.
"Right," I muttered and nodded. We stood there silently for a few more minutes before I asked, "Is she nervous?"
"I don't know; she's the only one I can't feel," he said, and I could tell it bothered him, but I said nothing since now that I was focusing on Bella, I could tell for myself.
She was shaking slightly and kept crossing and uncrossing her arms. It was like she didn't know what to do with them. "I don't know how to help her," I said, worry taking over the nervousness I felt the longer I watched her.
"I don't think there is a definite, set in stone way to handle this situation, Charlie. She's going to have to see that she's safe before things will get better."
"I know, but I don't want her to be afraid of me either."
"That unfortunately, will happen. It's a product of what happened to her, but don't let it get to you."
"I won't," I said with a sigh and then chuckled when I thought about him giving me advice.
"What?" he asked.
"You look like you're in your twenties, but then you talk like you're in your fifties. It's weird."
"You'll get used to it," he said with his own chuckle. "It's the product of living so long and seeing too much."
"I suppose," I said with another sigh before I asked, "Have you talked to Edward or Alice or that lawyer person?"
"Edward called last night, still nothing definite, but they think they're getting close. And I called Jenks. All the paperwork is done and should arrive sometime tomorrow."
"Good." I said, knowing at least something was being taken care of.
"What about the fire?" he asked.
"Blamed on a faulty electrical outlet," I answered.
"She's good," he said, and all I could do was nod, already knowing the details.
Before either one of us could ask or say anything else, Carlisle walked up, pushing a wheelchair. "She can go home now," he said, stopping beside us.
I nodded and moved to the door. Glancing back, I found Jasper backing away.
"I guess I should go then," he said, looking like it killed him to say.
Carlisle and I both went to say something, but Jasper was turning away and disappearing down the hall before we could, his hands shoved in his pockets and his shoulders slumped.
"Will he be okay?" I asked because I'd come to like the kid/man/whatever.
"Yes, but it's hard for him," Carlisle answered. "When we find our mate, they're usually either already like us or their change is very soon after, so there isn't much waiting for them to feel the mating bond. With Bella being hurt, it's difficult for him to not do something. He wants to help her and be with her, but he also knows she needs space for now. So, it's a battle within himself to not give into his instincts which is to protect her anyway he can."
"And now that she's leaving here, he's having a problem with not being able to see her as much." I stated, realizing now why he left so quickly.
"Yes. Here he could see that she was okay and while he'll still know that, not being able to see it with his own eyes or even feel that she's okay is affecting him."
"Once we get her settled, and as long as she's okay with it, we can have him help Rosalie with tutoring her. See if that will help him too."
"Thanks, Charlie," Carlisle said before he clapped me on the back. "Let's get her out of here."
I nodded and finally pushed the door open. Bella didn't look up or speak at all as we got her in the wheelchair, in the car, and the entire drive to the house.
When we pulled into the driveway, I shut the car off and we sat there for a few minutes in silence before I said, "You're safe here, Bella."
She made no acknowledgment that she'd heard me, but I honestly didn't expect her to. Instead, of saying anything else I pushed the door open and climbed out, moving to the front of the car to wait. It took a second or two before she followed. She stayed back a couple steps as I led her inside and up to her new room.
As I pushed the door open I said, "I hope you like your room." I moved inside before I continued, "Emmett and Jasper helped me fix it up for you. Esme chose the paint color and design. You have your own bathroom too. It's right through that door with the glass and the other door is your closet." I told her, pointing toward the room as I went on, "Rosalie and Esme got you some clothes and they're all in there or in the drawers at your bed. They also got you some books, movies, and electronics. Rosalie said she'd help you figure out the ipod if you needed her too. If there is anything else you need or want, just let me know, okay?"
I turned around, wondering if she would answer. However, that wasn't going to happen. She was standing just inside the door, with her arms wrapped around herself, and tears streaming down her face.
Not thinking, I reached out and took a step toward her, but stopped immediately and dropped my hand when she flinched away, her back hitting the wall.
"I'm sorry," I said quickly. "If you don't like it we can change it."
She shook her head, but said nothing to let me know what to do. I was just about to call Esme for advice when the doorbell rang. I didn't say anything as I moved around her and rushed downstairs. I could see it was Jasper right away and pulled the door open.
"What's wrong?" he asked. "I can tell she's crying."
I didn't even question that and instead said, "I don't know. I was just showing her her room and telling her about the things in it and then when I turned around, she was crying. I don't know what to do."
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he said, "I'd only make things worse, so I'll call Rose and Esme. Maybe they can figure out what's wrong."
"Thank you," I said.
He nodded and pulled his phone from his pocket as I motioned him into the house. He followed behind me as I walked into the kitchen and as we sat down at the table he slid his phone back into his pocket.
"They're on their way," he said.
I nodded and dropped my head into my hands as we waited for Rosalie and Esme to get here. They arrived ten minutes later, Jasper getting up to let them in, and went straight upstairs.
I couldn't hear anything at all and was startled when Esme suddenly appeared back down in the kitchen.
"Sorry," she whispered. "You'll get used to it."
I laughed out a breath and shook my head before I asked, "Is she okay?"
"She's as well as can be expected. She does like her room through."
"She said that?" I asked.
"No, but when Rose asked if she wanted anything changed she shook her head no. And she kept looking at stuff. I think she's just a little overwhelmed."
"Okay, I'm just afraid I'm going to do something wrong. That I'm going to scare her or make her hate me," I said, voicing what I've thought about since I found out she was my daughter and what had been done to her.
"Just be patient and give her space. Let her come to you and eventually she will heal. It won't be overnight or even in the next month or two or three, but it will happen."
"I'm proof of that," Rosalie said, also just materializing in the kitchen and scaring the shit out of me.
"You all have to stop doing that," I said, making the three of them laugh quietly.
When they stopped, Rosalie said, "She's going to shower and then lie down. I told her I'd be back tomorrow to start on the school work she's missed and get her caught up."
"Thank you," I said.
"You're welcome, Charlie," Rosalie said with a smile before she left through the back door.
I looked over at Esme when she said, "I'm going to go too, but if you need us again don't hesitate to call."
"I won't," I said, knowing that I would need both of those women a lot.
"And she'll probably be hungry soon. Umm...don't take this the wrong way, but do you know how to cook?"
I laughed. "A little. I was going to make grilled cheese and tomato soup tonight."
"That will be good," Esme said with a smile. "I'll cook some dinner up for you tomorrow and have Rose bring it over when she comes."
"Thank you."
"No thanks needed, Charlie. We'll do whatever we can for both of you," she said with a small smile before patting me on the arm and leaving the way Rosalie had.
I turned back to Jasper as he stood from the table. "I guess I'll go back to my post too. Just say my name if you need something."
"Alright," I said, starting to not like that he would be outside in the rain. "Do you need something, like a tent or umbrella?"
"I'm good," he answered before leaving the same way the women had.
I heard the shower start up a few seconds later and went into the living room. As I sat down in my chair I thought about everything and hoped like hell I could be the father she never had.
-O-
Jasper
I'd worn a short trail in the forest floor with my pacing. I'd also cracked a couple of trees to the point that they were now in danger of falling with a good strong wind.
I couldn't help it though. In the four days Bella had been home, I hadn't been able to see her once. She didn't come down to the kitchen or living room and I refused to sneak up and peek in her bedroom window like a freak stalker.
She wasn't sleeping either and that just added to my worry. The only bright side was that she was using some of the things in her room. The first day, after going through some of her homework, Rose had helped her figure out her ipod and I could hear the music from it. It was slightly muffled, so I knew she was using headphones. I could also hear the turning of pages, meaning she was looking at the books as well.
However, she'd yet to use the TV or watch any of the movies. I couldn't help, but feel a little down about that since they were the things I'd chosen to get her. And I will admit to being a little jealous of Rose for being able to come and talk to her.
It was wrong of me, but I couldn't seem to stop it from welling up when Rose walked in the front door. I quickly squashed it every time I felt it, but I couldn't deny that it happened.
I was just like Charlie in not knowing what to do and it was killing me. I was supposed to be there and be the one she turned to, and I wasn't entirely convinced I would ever get the chance.
"You suck at keeping your emotions from flowing out when you're preoccupied."
I growled lowly and spun around to find Rose leaning against a tree staring at me.
"Sorry," she said, holding her hands up.
"No," I said with a sigh. "I'm sorry. You're helping, and I need to remember that."
"You're forgiven and I'm here to help you now."
"How?"
"She needs a History tutor."
It took me a few seconds to realize what she was saying, and as much as I wanted to be able to see and talk to Bella I didn't know if my presence would be a good idea.
"I don't know, Rose."
"Look, I can help her with it just as easy as I can Math or Science, but you need this too. If you go much longer without interaction with her, Charlie is going to have to come up with an explanation on why this area looks like a tornado came through it. He's got enough things going on to not worry about that too, so we have to do something. And since you don't seem to be going back to school, there is still a project that needs to get done. Mr. Watson is an ass and said she still had to do it even if she was sick and her partner was a dropout."
I growled lowly again at her words, contemplating all the ways I could kill Mr. Watson and make it look like an accident.
My emotions must have gotten away from me again because Rose laughed and said, "Reign in those thoughts, so we can work out what to do with tutoring. I think the best thing is for you to come with me tomorrow. You can stay downstairs and I'll talk to her about the project before mentioning you being there to help her with it. I also think it's best that we don't tell her you aren't going to school anymore."
"Do you think it will work or that she'll say yes?"
"I think it's the best option we have to keep you sane right now."
I thought about it for only a few moments, but really I would agree to anything right now.
"Alright," I said finally.
"Good, now go hunt and shower so you don't look like a complete mess tomorrow. I'll stay here until you get back and then I'll bring you a change of clothes in the morning."
"Thanks, Rose." I said, sending her my gratitude and love as well.
"You're welcome," She said with a smile. "Now go."
I nodded and then turned, taking off deeper into the trees. As I hunted I only had one thought that ran on a loop in my head, I would get to see Bella tomorrow.
-O-
Well, how was it? I was nervous doing it in Charlie's Pov since he's not a big talker, but then I got to thinking this is fanfic and I can make him a little OOC, so now I'm kinda okay with how it turned out. Let me know what you think.
Up next: Jasper and Bella are finally in the same room when she's awake and Charlie makes her feel a little bit safer.