Chapter 5

Father-Daughter Moment

Jacob drove to the Newton's store as fast as he could, he must have been going almost a hundred miles per hour, if not more; my mind was preoccupied. Even with his driving, I still had plenty of time to reflect on all of the moments that I ever had with my father. Strangely, I couldn't help but to be grateful that he had stayed in Forks after Renee left him, taking me with her; after all, if all of my human life events hadn't happened the way it did, I might have never met Edward.

I suddenly heard Jacob's concerned voice. "Bella, I can see Charlie's cruiser."

We were only a block away when he said that. All I could do was hope that we weren't too late to save Charlie. I kept repeating Alice's words in my head. "Don't panic".

Jacob slammed on the brakes right in front of the Newton's store. It was now around three in the morning and the streets were empty. All of the shops around the Newton's store also closed down early, so there was no one in sight.

Jacob and I both ran towards the store, when we heard two gun shots. Jacob made sure I was behind him the whole time. Like I was the one who needed protection?! One of the windows was broken and so, Jacob made his way in.

Two men on the back of the store saw Jacob and ran towards the back door.

"Bella, you take care of Charlie. Call 911 if there is time to save him!"

And just like that, Jacob phased into his wolf form and went after the robbers, leaving me alone to decide Charlie's fate.

I glanced around the store. I immediately saw one of Charlie's men, David Harris. He had been shot on the leg, a flesh wound, but seemed that he hit his head on the way down. I checked on him really fast, while looking around to find Charlie. I was no doctor but it seemed like he was just unconscious. It only took me a few seconds to check on him, still looking around for Charlie, I suddenly felt thirsty. There was now a scent in the room that was getting stronger by the second.

I followed the scent… and there he was.

Charlie was on the floor, in the back room, where the Newton's kept their paperwork and the safe. He had been shot on the right side of his chest and he was losing a lot of blood. I heard him whisper my name.

"I am here dad. You will be fine".

He was in and out of consciousness. Jacob was still not back, and I was definitely not a doctor. How would I know if he could be saved if I called 911? Then I started to panic. Would Jacob void the treaty if I made the decision without him being here? The cell phone Alice had given me started to ring. It was Alice.

"Bella, I had another vision. Where is Jacob?"

"He went after the robbers."

"Ohh" She sounded like she got some clarification on having the vision, which would not had happened if Jacob was here.

"Bella, you need to do it. He is losing too much blood! I saw Charlie in my vision as one of us. It will be fine."

I took a deep breath. Not that I needed air, but just force of habit. I hung up the phone and opened the box that I was holding. I took the syringe out, which contained the venon that would make Charlie one of us. Charlie was unconscious, and I notice his heart beat was irregular.

I took another deep breath, holding the syringe in what I thought was the right way to do it, but my hands just froze in place… I couldn't… I was not strong enough and Charlie was going to die because of that.

Jacob was still not back, I ignored Alice's visions, convincing myself that they were subjective, and I reached for the cell phone. I felt as if I wanted to cry, but there were no tears. I still attached to my human life in so many ways…

I started to dial 911, hoping for the best, noticing that Charlie's heartbeats were becoming more and more irregular, when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I felt his breath on the back of my neck, as he smoothly spoke.

"I am here now Bella, everything will be fine my love. Give me the syringe."

I felt safe. I turned around and handed the syringe to Edward. He then, passed it on to Carlisle, who was standing right behind him.

Carlisle gazed at me, as to ask for confirmation of what I wanted.

I nodded.

Edward had his arm around my waist, walking me to the far end of the room. Carlisle walked towards Charlie.

Jacob suddenly walked back inside. He seemed glad that Carlisle was there, Jacob trusted Carlisle's judgment. He came towards Edward and I and stood in front of me. Edward thanked him and that is when I realized Jacob was standing in front of me so I wouldn't have to watch Carlisle and Charlie.

I held on to Edward as tight as I could, with my face against his chest to make sure I did not see anything.

I held Edward even tighter when I heard Charlie screaming. I couldn't stand to see him in pain, but there was nothing we could do at this time, only wait the 3 days it would take for the transformation.

Carlisle quickly walked to David Harris, giving him some medical care.

"Will he be okay?" Edward asked before I could.

"Yes, he hit his head pretty hard, but he will be fine."

Carlisle picked Charlie up of the floor and started to give us all directions, confident and calm, as usual.

"Edward, you and Bella take Charlie straight to the house. Jacob will stay with me and help clean up and get the cover story for Charlie. When you get to the house, have Esme call in to report the robbery and call 911. That should give Jacob and me enough time to do what we need to."

Carlisle then walked Charlie to the car… Charlie was still screaming in pain.

Edward could read the agony in my eyes, as I realized that we never warned Charlie about the pain. We always assumed that the morphine would help with it. I just hoped that Jasper would be at the house and try to ease some of the pain.