Been out of commission for a while and I still don't own Twilight or any of its characters. I just write about the interesting stuff in the background to enhance Ms. Meyer's already fabulous tale.

Thanks to: Whattheforks, TeamJacobManiac, SecondMoon and StarReader for hanging in there as my backup gurlz in my swan song of woe when my computer crashed.

Hey, if you want to read some other Carlisle angst one-shots check out: Insideyourdream24's Mistake: A MidBreaking Dawn Tale and An Evening to Remember. I thought they were pretty good and it shows that we both agree that Carlisle has some power and strength behind that cool, calm persona.

Chapter 15 - The Falling From Grace

Esme POV

"No! No, no, no, no! Please Carlisle, don't leave me again," Esme pleaded showing definite panic in her eyes. "Please come with us. Don't. Please! Carlisle this is not like you my love. Please, Carlisle."

"Jacob, Please put me down let me go back to him. I…you don't understand. I thought he was dead. I can't leave him again. What if something happens, I couldn't bear it if it did. Please put me down. Let me go back to him," I begged tirelessly as Jacob carried me away as Carlisle's ordered.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. C. I saw the look the Doc had on his face. He didn't want you to see him like that. And to be quite frank, I don't want that look ever turned on me. He'll be fine. I don't have to be Alice to see that. Victor is the one who is in trouble there," I consoled her.

She sobbed, "I am so scared, Jacob. I just got him back. He didn't even kiss me Jacob. Please, Jacob I can't loose him again. I need to go back to see him, to make sure he's okay. Oh God, Jacob. Are you listening to me? PLEASE!" I screamed at him to no avail.

"Please!"

Jacob POV

My heart broke as I listened to Esme's pleas to go back and be with her husband. But there was no way I was getting into that kind of trouble. I knew she was hurt and scared, but I also knew Carlisle would have my hide if I didn't get her to safety and away from the situation right now. I ran with her sobbing and shaking all the way back to the manor. Her sobbing had turned into wails by the time I got close enough for Edward to hear our thoughts.

"Mom!" Edward barreled toward me and took Esme from my arms, cradling her to his chest.

She was too upset to speak so she just looked at Edward and told him everything with her thoughts. He grimaced and then growled through what I deemed were the worse parts of the story as he read her thoughts.

He looked at me and I shared what I had witnessed with my own thoughts so he could piece everything together to get the full story. Jasper and Alice came over and Edward gently handed his sobbing mother over to his brother. Jasper sent out waves of calm to soothe her and Alice kissed her mom's forehead. Then she looked at Edward. They seemed to be communicating with each other but they didn't say anything.

"Let's get her inside," Alice prompted Jasper.

Edward POV

Alice and I had one of our silent conversations.

"Edward, I just saw daddy and he needs your help. I saw you helping him out of the cavern; because he is so sad. He feels like he let Esme down; like he failed her and cannot make himself leave. He is beating himself up. Go help him. You, out of all of us would understand how he feels."

"Alice, is he hurt?"

"No, he is broken, sad and angry," she replied in her mind.

"And Edward…he just killed Victor. He is ashamed of himself and how he lost control. He doesn't know how to face Esme or us now. He thinks we will be shocked at his behavior and disappointed in him," she continued.

"Ridiculous, if anything we are upset that we did not get to do it," I retorted silently.

"Go, help him. Bring him back to us," she pleaded putting on her 'little girl wants her daddy' pout.

I nodded slightly and took off in the direction Jacob had come from. I played Alice's vision over again in my head. I saw my father badly beaten down by his own rage and anguish because of what happened to Esme. I saw his shame of what he did and how he lost control; his humiliation at his loss of restraint and having to face Esme and us in the aftermath of all this turmoil.

I wanted to get to him and help him. He need not fear any disappointment from us. As many times as we have made mistakes and let him down in one way or another, this didn't even come close. But I knew Carlisle better than any of us and I knew he needed me more than anything. I was the first vampire he created, his longest companion, his son.

I reached the caverns in no time with my vampire speed opened up at full throttle. When I entered the caverns, I immediately found and followed Jacob's scent which led me further into the cavern. I knew my father was somewhere in the back of the maze of tunnels.

I smelled smoke and followed the burning vampire smell. I knew it was not Carlisle because even with the burning, it smelled nothing like him. I recognized hints of Victor in the smell to my relief and then I turned another corner and saw my father.

NEVER in all my 110 years have I seen my father in this state of disarray. His clothes were dirty, tattered and torn all over. They reeked of dirt and blood. I could see silver fading lines indicating several injuries on his arm, his leg and it looked like his ribs had sustained injuries also. His golden hair was matted and soiled with various sources of mud and blood and whatever else he may have picked up in these caves.

He was slumped over sitting on the cavern floor with his head in his hands. I wondered if he had been crying but knew that was not possible, or was it? I walked up to him as he looked forlornly at me and I grabbed him in a fierce hug.

"Esme…hurt… son…I… Edward…What…?" He tried to communicate with me but his thoughts were sporadic at best.

We didn't say a word, just held each other as we needed to do. We were once again the original two, there for each other to hold onto in times like this, when one (although usually it was me) felt too upset for words.

"D…Dad," I stammered, unsure of how to get him moving. Then I said the one thing I knew would work, "Esme needs you to come back with me. She misses you so much. Come on, Dad. It's over. We need to go now."

"How is Esme, son? I didn't even acknowledge her. I just sent her away. She must have been frantic. She must hate me by now. I hate myself just thinking about it," he moaned.

"I…I just didn't want her to see me loose control like that. I am afraid I would have frightened her, but now I think I hurt her even more by rejecting her and on top of that I took another's life."

"Carlisle, Dad," I pleaded, "you need to come and explain this to her. She is waiting for you. Come on."

"As much as I have chastised you kids for fighting and violence, how can I possibly face everyone when I have just broken every rule I have given you. What kind of credibility can I have now?"

"Nobody is going to judge you, Carlisle. You are our father, our mentor, and the reason our family exists. Nothing has changed that for any of us," I told him. "We love you no matter what."

"But Edward…" he paused not sure what point to argue.

"No buts, Carlisle," I interrupted. "How many times have you forgiven us our transgressions and encouraged us to go on with our lives. What makes you think we would not give you the same respect? Would you deserve any less than you would give us?"

"Oh Son…" and he grabbed me in a fierce hug and once again held me wordlessly as we both contemplated our conversation.

"Let's get back to our family," he said with the reverence and the grace one would expect from a man with his strength and wisdom.

"Yeah and let's get you cleaned up. Alice will be dressing you for a year if she saw you like this," We both shuddered at that thought.

"Knowing my little Alice, she probably already has," he teased halfheartedly. At least he was making an attempt at humor.

"Perhaps, but seeing you like this in a vision and seeing it in real life is definitely two different things," I responded. He was coming back to us. Everything was going to be fine.

I'm baaack! Sorry it took me so long to update. You know that is not usually my style. Unfortunately, with all the viruses and colds going around, my laptop decided to catch one of its own; sent me into serious technology withdrawal.

Thanks to all my faithful readers and my new readers having a chance to discover my story, for hanging in there; I hope you still think this story is worth it. Thanks to my special Beta Gurl - Totteacher who probably thought her master pupil dropped off the planet. Hey, LadyBDB, kudos for your high fives (or would that be swift kicks) to get me back on track.

Now to keep me uplifted and energized, so I can write more and update soon, I need everyone to Read and Review; even it is just a one-liner (furionknight-tee hee). Go ahead, tell me what you love.