Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight.
A/N: This is still very much in brain dump mode and is pretty much unbeta'd, but I wanted to post something as it has been so LONG in between updates. Thanks to Swimom7 for talking me off the ledge, as this nearly got dumped and rewritten last night.
Anyone still out there? Ah well, if there is at least I'm not talking to myself!
SLCh22
"Anything?" Esme looked up as we returned home from another scouting run. I shook my head and watched her shoulders slump in disappointment.
"Faint traces here and there, but nothing fresh," Jasper clarified. "Any word from the others?"
"He and Rosalie are moving further out," Alice called in a distant voice. Jasper crossed to her side. Alice was participating in the conversation on a surface level, but her gaze was focussed ever inward.
I wasn't aware that I had been clenching my fists until Esme crossed the room to wrap an arm around my waist. I gave her a sidelong glance before returning my attention to Alice. My sister had barely moved over the last five hours. She had returned home from campus and curled up on one of the sofas, alternating between hugging a cushion or Jasper, whichever one appealed more at the time.
"She can't be gone," I muttered. "Not like this."
"We'll find her," Esme soothed.
"I know, they'll lead us to her," I nodded. "James isn't the type to take someone like Bella and then vanish. He'll want to gloat. He needs to make sure we can see that he's won."
"And has he?"
"Yes," I said simply as I looked first at Esme and then across at Alice and Jasper, "but only this round."
Jasper smile turned wolfish as my determination began to permeate the room.
"I was wondering when you were going to step up," he grinned, his teeth gleaming.
"I'm just getting started," I assured him.
"Are you sure that's who has her?" Esme frowned at this.
I hesitated for the barest instant. She had a point. The scents of James and the wolves had been intermingled at the rear of the store. Even with Jasper's advanced tracking skills we had only been able to follow them to the tree line at the edge of town before the breeze had dissipated the scent entirely.
"Whoever she's with, the others won't be far away," I admitted.
"All the more important that we get there first then," Jasper said.
He had a point. Disengaging myself from Esme with an apologetic smile I moved towards the door of the house. Jasper watched me with a narrowed gaze and then began to stand.
"No," I waved him back to his seat beside Alice. "I'll do this myself."
"You don't have to," he argued as he sat down, picking up on my determination.
"I know," I paused by the door and looked back at where my family sat watching me. Esme and Jasper both wore matching frowns of concern, but not Alice. She sat regarding me with quiet eyes that were at focussed on the present, and she looked satisfied.
"Go get our girl," she said in a quiet voice.
I nodded at her and then left the house. No more words were necessary. I went down the steps and paused in the front yard looking up at the night sky. The stars shone in their familiar constellations. There had been a time when I had resented their constancy, reminding me that I was alone in the dark, disappearing before the sun. Bella's appearance had blazing across my awareness like a comet and I had known then that nothing would ever be the same. Wherever she was, I hoped that she knew I wouldn't be far behind.
So.
Whoever had her would know I would be coming. They'd moving, trying to hide their scents as much as they could. Perhaps they'd be staying upwind. Turning my head this way and that I followed the breeze as it brushed across my face, checking its direction. The breeze was blowing from the north-west, leading up into the mountains. I turned to follow its source and ran.
o * o * o * o
I paused at the crest of another hill and stood surveying the landscape. The trees swayed in the wind but other than the occasional signs of animal passage there were no visible signs of life. Perhaps any other searcher would have given up by now or become overwhelmed with the scope of what they faced. Perhaps I could have succumbed as well if not for what I had found a moment ago.
Raising my hand again I studied what I carried pinched between thumb and forefinger and then sniffed them carefully. The hairs were unmistakably Bella's and I was ready to convince myself that they were still warm. It had been the familiar copper tang in the air that had drawn me to the area. There had been only the faintest trace of it but it had called to me like a clarion. I had stopped in my tracks, my tongue flickering out to taste the air and follow it to a nearby tree.
There.
A rusty smear against the tree bark and a few strands of hair had been all I could find, but it was enough.
Bella.
The blood was barely a few hours old but it told me what I needed to know. I knew who had her now.
I stood frowning in thought as I sifted through mental databanks, trying to pinpoint their destination. Whispered fireside stories, grudging admissions and stolen thoughts. I had them all, and they would lead me to her. My phone vibrated in my pocket and I retrieved the handset with a wry smile, knowing who it would be.
See you there. A.
I made myself stand quietly as I curled the hairs around my index finger and then clenched my hand into a fist so that I wouldn't lose them. If they had hurt her they would pay.
Mine.
o * o * o * o
I caught up with them four valleys away. Four long valleys of mountain and forest, but Bella's copper red traces blazed for me through the green. She was with the wolves; she had to be. It could have been the only situation where she felt safe enough to leave a blood trail.
The weather was beginning to turn again, the sky turning grey with clouds that promised rain if not snow in the next few days. Ordinarily it was of no consequence but this time I found myself looking up at the skies continually as I tracked. Bella hadn't been dressed for this type of weather. All she had set out to do was attend her classes, hand in her paper and then spend time with me. I frowned as I considered this. Alice had pressed her into taking a jacket but would she have been wearing it in the store? I hadn't stopped to look for it at the time. It hadn't seemed important but now it could make a big difference.
My stride faltered the breeze shifted slightly and the scent it carried hit me full in the face. It was a scent I was familiar with, but I had never experienced it in this level of concentration. Layer after layer of wolves, there had to be dozens of them, with a thick boundary marker of urine for good measure. It was all I could do not to gag as I instinctively recoiled from the fetid stench. That was their intention of course, and the fact that they had gone to such a concerted effort made me all the more certain they had what I sought.
The scent was a deterrent to be sure, but only if you had to breathe it in. I frowned in distaste as I carefully checked the air again and then paused my breathing and moved on, secure in my mission. I would find Bella, I would destroy anyone that even thought about hurting her would not have the chance to live long enough to regret it. The smell of wolves was stronger now. I followed the boundary scent with agonising slowness, constantly moving to stay upwind. The sky was growing dark and I growled as I saw a flicker of orange through the trees. I'd found them.
I stood carefully surveying the scene, noting the landscape and planning my next move. Just as I expected, my phone began to vibrate in my pocket seconds later.
On our way. Try not to do anything stupid. A.
My mind had been filled with the hunt, with the need to track down whoever had Bella. Now I was so close and all I could do was wait. Alice was right. All I wanted to do was charge into the fray, but it could well end up a suicidal gesture. It would certainly decimate the wolves' numbers before one of them got lucky and slowed me enough to get me to the ground. After that they would rip at my throat and tear me to pieces. It was something I accepted as fact simply because I knew it would do the same to them given half the chance.
I followed the line of the ridge, assessing the spot where I had seen the campfire. They must have been sure of themselves to light a fire, but given my surroundings were saturated with the stench of wolves I could only guess at their numbers. Another few sniffs and then I stood at what seemed to be the boundary line they had established and then crossed it without a moment's thought before launching myself into a nearby tree.
Crossing the intervening space towards the campfire through the tree canopy was a painstaking task. All I wanted to do was run roaring through the glade, knocking aside anyone and anything that stood in my way, but until I knew what state Bella was in I had to take my time. It was maddening.
As I got closer I began to pick out individual voices and thoughts. Interesting. The voices all seemed to meld and hum together like a kind of hive mind. They shared information amongst themselves; running updates on their boundary patrols, speculation about who might come, wondering if they would have the chance to kill a 'cold one' themselves. Buried amongst that was amused tolerance for the devotion one of them held for the woman they were now guarding.
Closing my eyes against the mental imagery did nothing to stop the influx of information. The way he behaved around her; standing closer than a friend would, the constant seemingly innocuous reasons to touch her, insisting they stay beside each other at all times. It was enough for the others to begin to speculate about the possibility of a mating imprint.
I wondered what Bella would have to say about that.
The boy – I couldn't think of him any other way – had taken care with their campsite. They were flush against a rocky outcrop in a position that would make it easy to defend if it came to that. Any attackers would have a long climb ahead of them if they chose to attack from the rear, and from where the camp was situated they would easily be able to spot anyone approaching.
As it was, I was concealed in the tree canopy over thirty feet away from where I could see Bella huddled by the fire with a steaming mug in her hands. There was nothing but open ground between us, and vampire speed aside there was still little chance for me to approach undetected. All I could do in the meantime was stay where I was to assess the situation.
And listen.
o * o * o * o
Bella looked mutinous. She cupped the mug in her hands gingerly and blew onto its contents, sending a cloud of steam into her face before she took a sip.
"There's going to be hell to pay when all this is over. You know that, right?"
"So long as you're still here, then that's a price I'm prepared to pay," Jacob countered in a calm down as he paced towards the fire to drop on some more wood. He stood watching the flames lick against the latest offering before sitting down on the rug beside Bella. He waited for a couple of heartbeats before carefully inching closer.
"I don't recall it being your decision to make," Bella countered. She took another sip and then to my immense satisfaction moved away from Jacob's side.
"It was," Jacob replied, frowning as he watched the space grow between himself and the woman at his side. Why can't she just accept that I love-
I choked back a growl, twitching as every muscle in my body screamed orders to launch myself towards them.
"When did you appoint yourself judge and jury?" Bella gave him a weary look as she discarded her drink, setting the mug down at her feet.
"When Charlie asked us to look out for you," Jacob replied, his jaw set in stubborn lines.
Don't I get some sort of say in this? You know that the others will be looking for me."
"The others. You mean them." Jacob glared at her, a shiver running over his body as he brought himself back under control with considerable effort.
"They love me," Bella said slowly as she stretched her hands out towards the flames for warmth. "Of course they'll be looking after me to make sure I'm safe."
"We can do that."
"So can they," Bella replied in a serene tone.
"Right, and look what happened; one of them," somehow Jacob managed to make the word sound like a massive insult, "tried to get to you in public."
"That's no fault of the Cullens," Bella insisted. "I was the one that wanted to work in the store. If you're going to start pointing the finger of blame then you need to start with me."
"I find that hard to believe," Jacob scoffed. "If they're protecting you so much then why they could let you out of their sight is beyond me."
"How long have you known me?" Bella was getting exasperated now. "Do you really think I'm about to let someone swaddle me in bubble wrap and be happy about it?" She reached out swatted his upper hard, hard enough for it to sting her hand more than it hurt him. "Ow!"
"Probably should've warned you about that," Jacob smirked, watching as Bella rubbed her hand to relieve the sting.
"Whatever." Bella sighed and began picking at a loose thread on the blanket that was draped around her shoulders. "I just want to go home."
"Without Charlie where's home for you now?" Jacob pressed. With me. Say you want to stay with me.
"Not here," Bella looked up briefly and then returned her attention to the blanket hem to avoid the sudden look of hurt that flashed across his face before he could school his expression. "And Forks isn't home anymore for me either."
"So where can you?"
"With them," Bella said simply.
"I don't agree. You need to be with your own kind," Jacob pleaded.
"If that's the argument you're putting forward then you've just had to drop out of the running."
Jacob looked stunned for a moment before his expression hardened.
"Jacob," Bella gave a sad smile. "I know you can't tell me, but I was at the tribal meeting for a reason wasn't I? All those legends told me what you're not able to."
The silence between them was broken only by a large piece of wood in the fire collapsing into embers. Bella looked away from Jacob's hurt expression to watch sparks from the fire whirl up into the night sky. They could have been statues but for Bella's hair fluttering around her face and the clenching and unclenching of Jacob's fists.
"You should still be your own kind," he went on doggedly.
"And what kind is that?" Bella sighed and sank back down onto the log. "I've gotta say Jacob for all your legends and prejudice the Cullens have been far more honest with me in all of this." Bella was rubbing her palms on her knees as she spoke and so didn't see Jacob's expression blanch.
"I wanted to. God, Bella, I wanted to tell you every single day."
"But you didn't," Bella replied evenly. "I'm not saying you didn't try," she went on when Jacob opened his mouth to protest. "Please try to understand that I love them."
"No," the word was a snarl as Jacob began to tremble. "We're your family. Charlie asked Sam to watch over you when you came here to study. He always said that we were your family if anything were to happen."
"Something has happened," Bella agreed, "more than Charlie or I could have ever imagined." She scrubbed at her face with her hands, pushing her hair off her face and staring into the fire for a long time.
"Bells," Jacob whispered, his expression anguished when she looked away from his plea for understanding.
"Don't make me chose because it'll be him. " Bella shook her head. "It'll always be him."
The breeze curled around my shoulders again and I absently shifted to follow it., but this time I was distracted as I calculated strategies. I saw movement in the forest before it stilled and a muzzle pointed to the sky to give a series of quick barks to his brothers nearby. I could have moved faster to say downwind, but I hadn't. Now they knew I was here and I was glad of it. I straightened up from where I had been crouching on the branch and regarded the figures in the clearing.
"What's that?" Bella had responded to the sounds the others were making.
"Someone's here," Jacob replied in a flat voice. Cullen.
"About time," Bella muttered under her breath as she got to her feet. The blanket slid from her shoulders and puddle at her feet. "Edward," she called out in a clear voice.
I raised an eyebrow at her confident tone.
"It might not be him," Jacob said in a sullen tone as he moved to stand as if to shield her from unseen foes.
"Oh for fu-," Bella checked herself and then gave him an ineffectual shove. "Move Jake. I've had enough of this bullshit." When her shoving failed she took a step backwards, almost tripping over the log she had been sitting on earlier before saving herself with a flailing of arms and another muffled curse.
"That's my Bella, always the klutz," Jacob chuckled as he turned to make sure she was okay.
"I'm not your Bella, and I'm only a klutz when things get in my way," Bella retorted as she jerked herself out of Jacob's reach. Moving away she took a few steps away from the clearing and squinted into the near dark. "Edward?"
"It could be the others," Jacob cautioned.
"It's him," Bella replied, not taking her attention away from her scan of the forest.
"How can you tell?" Impossible. The scent markers are him for sure but how can she possibly know?
"The pack sound different, those calls were about recognition instead of a hunt," Bella replied.
I blinked. Perhaps Carlisle's theories were more accurate than we had all realised.
"You don't have to go with him," Jacob reached for Bella again but she stopped him with a look. "We did what we thought was best."
"Oh really. Hauling me off campus and into the forest with no way for me to let my friends know I was okay, no warm clothing and a handful of camping supplies. Yeah, real good."
"The others were going to bring supplies," Jacob tried to explain.
"Uh-huh, like my phone? Do you have any idea how worried my friends will be? Angela must be worried sick, not to mention the store. Hell, by now they've probably called the authorities." Bella sagged a little at this. "Jacob, I just want to get out of here."
Even though they only stood a few feet apart Bella now seemed further away from Jacob than ever. I could see this, but apparently he couldn't.
"This could be home," Jacob began and then went on when Bella gave him a wry smile. "Not here," he gestured at the makeshift camp, "back at the Res. With me."
"Maybe once it could have been," Bella agreed, "but not anymore. Not now."
"I don't get it Bells, how has he blinded you so much? People are dying and yet you still want to run back to him. Why you'd want such a cold-blooded-,"
"Enough," Bella's voice was sharp. "I've heard enough, there's nothing you can say that will change my mind. I want to go home. How many more times do I have to say it?"
They stared at each other, seemingly at an impasse until Jacob's shoulders slumped in apparent defeat. He ran a hand through his hair and took a careful step towards her.
"Fine," he said in a weary voice. "But if you won't listen maybe you'll pay some attention if I show you. Seems I've got nothing to lose anyway."
Bella frowned as he stepped closer still and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Wha-," she began to say before Jacob stopped her with a kiss.
I was about to launch myself from where I stood when I registered Bella's reaction. Jacob was clutching her to him as he tried to take the kiss deeper. His thoughts were exultant that at last he had her where he wanted her. What he failed to register though was Bella's response. She had struggled at first and then made herself go limp and passive.
The branch I was clutching turned to dust in my hands.
Jacob stepped back and took a deep breath, rubbing his thumbs on her upper arms where he held her in what he thought was a comforting grasp. Bella blinked at him slowly once, twice and then gave him a fleeting smile as she shook her head.
"Bells?" Jacob ducked his head to look her in the eye, and so was perfectly lined up for her right hook when she pulled back her arm and punched him as hard as she could. Her fist met his jaw with a sickening crunch of bone and I was one the ground and running towards her before the fact could register.
"Bella!" I wrapped my arms around her and stepped back, effectively dragging her away from Jacob as he reached towards her.
"Shit," Bella whispered. "Ow." Her face was white with pain.
Jacob was watching Bella with a combination of shock and bemusement. She hit me, can't believe she hit me where did he come from bloodsucker just a few more minutes and she would've-
"Enough," I spat, ready to kill him where he stood. His mental babble became a muffled roar as he called to the pack. I heard them respond and their calls grew louder as they approached. We didn't have much time.
Bella shivered in a combination of shock and pain as she moved closer in my embrace. Tucking her ace beneath my chin, her warm breath feathered against my skin. The forest around us erupted as the wolf pack charged to where we stood. Jacob stepped back a pace and stood watching us, shivering as he tried to control his change. The wolves stopped a few feet away, pacing back and forth in a restless semi-circle. Pivoting slightly I tried to turn Bella towards the campfire where she would at least have her back to the rock face. I was confident the wolves would not hurt her, but I knew that I was another matter entirely.
"You can save yourself a world of pain and just leave now," Jacob suggested.
"Funny, I was about to say the same to you," I countered offering up a mirthless grin.
Jacob's expression twisted and the growls around us increased in volume.
"Enough posturing," Bella managed, which got our attention. She swayed slightly where she stood cradling her broken hand protectively to her chest. Looking at each of us in turn she walked to my side, reaching out with her good hand to take my own, aligning herself and facing the pack in silent challenge. "I don't care what you thought you were doing for my own good, but you need to listen to me now. You're going to let us go, and I don't want to hear another word about it."
"But-," Jacob began to protest.
"Not another word." This time Bella was the one growling.
I took my attention off Jacob in time to see one of the wolves cock his head in puzzlement at the fierceness in Bella's voice. It seemed she had everyone's attention. Now she looked at the other wolves in turn.
"You're all going to let us go."
A wolf snorted at this and one of the younger ones gave a soft, anxious whine.
"Bella," I whispered.
"You really think I'm going to let you go with him?" Jacob was trembling harder now.
Edward. I looked up at the call and gave a quiet smile.
"You're going to let us go with them," I replied for the both of us, nodding toward the tree line as Jasper and Emmett stepped out and into view. Their appearance ratcheted up the tension amongst the pack and yet I felt Bella sigh with quiet relief.
"Edward," her voice sounded strained, "get me out of here."
"Gladly," I scooped her up into my arms and walked towards my family.
"Bella," Jacob called after us. I wanted to keep walking but a careful nudge from Bella had me pausing and turning with considerable reluctance. "I wanted to keep you safe from them. From him."
He meant both of us: James and I.
"I know," Bella nodded, "but it's my life and I get a say in things too." She rested her head on my shoulder as if exhausted from the simple conversation, and so I turned without another word and walked away.
Jasper and Emmett both stood tense as they watched me approach.
"Are they going to try anything?" Jasper jerked his chin towards the pack that had started to follow us at a careful distance.
"Think of them as an honour guard," I muttered as I reached them.
"Some guard," Bella said under her breath. I was walking as carefully as I could so that she wasn't jostled any further.
"What's wrong with your hand?" Emmett leaned towards Bella but made no move to inspect her. No doubt he could tell that I wouldn't tolerate anyone else touching her but myself until I got her home to Carlisle.
"Broke it," she said succinctly, "and believe me when I say it hurts like a motherfu-,"
"She punched Jacob," I broke in over the top of her. Bloodlust notwithstanding, my prim and proper values could still assert themselves when the occasion called for it.
Emmett looked impressed. "You punched the wolf?"
"He wasn't a wolf at the time," Bella explained, somehow contriving to curl further into my chest in a curious mixture of pride and embarrassment.
"Go girl," Emmett whistled. If she's that fiery now she's gonna make one hell of a newborn.
"Can we please get out of here?" Jasper asked in a plaintive tone that trembled under his emotional strain. I looked at his pinched expression and nodded once. The combination of my protectiveness, Jacob's thwarted lust and the pack's rage he needed to get away from there as quickly as possible.
"Rosalie and Alice are further back checking the trail," Emmett explained as we broke into a careful run.
"I know, she's given the all-clear," I replied. "Are you okay?" I asked Bella who had given a quiet groan at the increased movement.
"Nothing a boatload of ibuprofen or a good scotch can't fix," Bella said. "Take me home."
"Gladly," I replied and increased my speed.
o * o * o * o
Bella had said very little on the way out of the forest. Alice had peppered me with directions until we had made our way through two valleys to where Alice and Rosalie were waiting for us with the car. As soon as we were away from the wolves Alice had been able to track our progress and act accordingly. Carlisle had already been informed and was waiting for us at the hospital.
"You've really made a habit of this over the years," Carlisle commented as he inspected the cast that had been fitted to Bella's wrist.
"Not for much longer," Bella replied after a brief pause. She blinked up at me slowly before returning her attention to Carlisle's job at hand. Carlisle's relief at seeing Bella safe combined with his distress at seeing her in considerable pain had made him a little more generous with the painkillers than usual.
"You've made up your mind then," he murmured as his gaze flicked sideways to where I stood beside Bella's char.
"You think I had any say in it?" I asked. It was true. No matter how many arguments I had presented Bella had countered every one of them.
"You realise I'm still in the room, right?" Bella said, wincing and rolling her shoulder to try and release some of the stiffness in the joint when Carlisle released her.
"Always," I looked down at her and smiled as I ran my hand up her arm to cup the nape of her neck. "Let's get you home for some rest."
"I like the sound of that," Bella sighed. Her eyes were growing heavy and she allowed me to pick her up in my arms without any protest; a sure sign that she wasn't feeling 100%.
Carlisle accompanied me to the exit, exchanging pleasantries and reassurances about Bella's wellbeing from various hospital workers that had seen me arrive with her. It seemed on this occasion the girlfriend was getting nearly as much as attention as the son, even if their sympathy was a means to an end as their questions made me slow down enough to smile and respond.
"Leave the poor nurses alone," Bella nuzzled at my neck, "dazzling all those people isn't playing fair."
"They started it," I said in an undertone, and if I had to duck my head to rub my head against her hair as I spoke then that was a bonus.
"Whatever, just take me home to bed," Bella shifted in my arms and grimaced at the cast.
"As you wish."
Esme and Alice been all fluttering concern and reassurance as soon as we had arrived home from the hospital. Bella had wanted to clean up first but Esme had insisted on feeding her. Too her credit, Bella had stood her ground but had succumbed to a hot chocolate while Alice arranged a plastic bag to keep the cast dry in the shower. Even Rosalie had stood at a discrete distance – the wolf stench was all the more oppressive indoors – and offered to help.
The level of female concern in the house was too much for Emmett, who had simply removed himself from the situation on the pretext of patrolling the house. For all that the mood was loving, Jasper had removed himself from the house in a gesture of solidarity with his brother.
"You're not coming?" Emmett had paused at the doorway.
"Can't," I shrugged.
"Won't," Jasper corrected with a gentle smile.
I had offered nothing more than a nod before returning my gaze to the trio of women in the couch. Bella had nearly finished her warm drink and was showing distinct signs of wear.
She's had another painkiller, Edward. I give her an hour before she falls asleep.
"All done?" Esme took the empty cup. "Perhaps now you're ready to have a shower and get some sleep."
"Sounds wonderful," Bella sighed.
"Good. You smell terrible," Rosalie observed from the other sofa where she had been skimming through a magazine.
Bella had flushed a deep red at this.
"Rose," Esme began in a censoring tone.
"No, she's right," Bella waved Esme off with her good hand. "The sooner I'm cleaned up the better." She stood up with only a slight wobble and gave a self-conscious laugh. "I'm just not sure how I'll manage it."
"I'll help," Alice bounced to her feet and started to herd Bella towards the stairs. "We'll have you freshened up in no time."
A short while later I was standing at my bedroom window gazing outside, trying not to listen to the noises emanating from the bathroom. Muffled curses flavoured with considerable embarrassment on Bella's part set the tone for the first few minutes. Thankfully Alice's unflappable demeanour and a few judicious comments improved Bella's mood.
"You think this is bad?" Alice was saying now as she turned off the shower. "Edward's in the next room trying to think clean, wholesome thoughts and you're in here nekkid."
"Butt nekkid," Bella agreed, her voice burred with fatigue.
"Uh-uh," Alice paused, obviously picking up on Bella's possible futures. "You hold that line of thought right there, missy. You're doped up to the eyeballs with a broken hand, and he's … well, he's Edward."
"You're no fun."
Even through closed doors I could 'see' Bella's pout.
Nearly done in here Edward. I know you'll behave yourself, but I can't say the same for our girl here. She's kinda fun when she's buzzed.
The rustling of towels and clothing was interminable but at last the two women appeared, Alice escorting Bella as she was incapable of walking unaided.
"Relax Alice, I think I've got it from here," Bella reassured her. She was still pale, and I found myself missing the flush of colour that often stained her cheeks when we were in my room.
"Then I'll leave you to it," Alice gave me a significant look and then left the room.
"Am I missing something?" Bella asked after a moment's pause.
"Not at all," I assured her.
"Right," Bella gave a dubious nod and then stood apparently deep in thought.
"What's wrong?" I paced towards her and guided her to the bed.
"I'm forgetting something. Everything's fuzzy," Bella admitted.
"Bound to be, Carlisle's got you on some strong medication." Unable to help myself I reached up to smooth her hair off her forehead. Bella gave a sleepy hum and leaned into my touch before she gave a violent start.
"The store!"
"Alice has already called," I explained, encouraging her to get into bed. She unthinkingly put some pressure on her wrist as she made to crawl across the mattress, pulling back with a quiet hiss.
"What did she tell them?" Bella allowed me to help her into bed, and I took my time arranging the pillows around her just so before I spoke.
"She said there had been a family emergency, that there hadn't been time for you to let them know."
"I suppose technically you weren't lying," Bella grunted as she made herself comfortable.
"They were relieved to hear that you were alright." I sat beside her on the bed stroked her hair, raising my arm when she pushed at me until she could curl up against my side.
"I'll go see them tomorrow," Bella settled her heavy wrist and nuzzled against my neck with a yawn.
The room was silent for a long moment.
"Okay, spill," Bella said eventually.
"What?"
"I can't read your mind, but I can practically hear the thoughts turning over. What's wrong?" Bella yawned again. It was clear she was exhausted but she wasn't going to settle until she had her answers.
"James," I admitted. "Emmett thinks we should go on the offensive, kill him before he can get to us again. Jasper thinks so too."
"And you? What do you think?"
"I don't know," I admitted, "but you won't be safe until he's gone. I know that much."
"Perhaps once I'm changed he'll back off," Bella mused. She was drawing on my shirtfront with drowsy fingers.
"Perhaps," I agreed, and then blinked at the easy way with which she had said it. "There's no going back for you is there?"
"Nope," Bella propped her chin on my chest and blinked at me slowly. "How about you?"
"I'm getting there," I assured her, willing myself to stay still as Bella wriggled against me and insinuated ne of her legs between my own. It seemed to be a habit of hers; to twine herself around me as much as she could before going to sleep. It seemed that having lost me once she had no intentions of letting me go again.
"So you'll do it?" Bella's eyelids were drooping more now. The longer she stayed in contact with me the quicker she lost the heat from her hot shower. I pulled the coverlet up over her shoulders and tried to tuck it between us to protect her from my lukewarm body.
"Yes," the admission was soft but Bella's answering smile made it worthwhile, "but not for the reason you think."
"How many reasons are there?" Bella ducked her head to smother a yawn against my shirt.
"Two," I replied as I lifted a hand to card my fingers through her hair.
"Will you tell me what they are?"
"When the time is right, yes," I nodded. "You should sleep now."
"Soon," she agreed. The room was silent for a few more heartbeats and then Bella shifted again, wriggling until her face was level with my own. We stared at each other for a long moment before her head dipped lower for a kiss. The drugs in her system were slowing her down more now. "I just keep thinking there's something I've missed."
"There's plenty of time," I soothed, "get some rest."
Bella made a soft sound and kissed me again, open-mouthed and somewhat graceless in her inebriated state, but no less sweet.
"Plenty of time for you, I'm the one on the clock," Bella pointed out. Her hand paused on my chest long enough for me to think she had fallen asleep, before it twitched and started moving again.
I watched the pulse leaping on the side of her neck and considered her warmth. I couldn't imagine her any other way and yet these moments were numbered. It didn't have to be that way but the nomads had changed everything.
"You're thinking about him again," Bella observed. "Stop it."
"I can't help it."
"How long are you going to live looking over your shoulder? You've spent decades watching and worrying about what might have been or what you could've done better."
"It's different for us," I whispered, willing her to comprehend the magnitude of what she was prepared to undertake. "When you're a vampire the past doesn't just catch up with you. It can haunt you until the end of days."
"But no matter what your talents are you still can't stop time," Bella leaned forward to kiss me again, her lips warm against my own. "The world only spins forward."
My eyes closed as she nestled against me and subsided into sleep at last. I watched and envied as she retreated from the world for a few precious hours. She was right. The world would spin forward and soon she would be awake again, asserting her independence and terrifying lack of awareness about the type of threat James was posing to her existence.
In the meantime, all we could do was watch and wait.
It was only a matter of time before James made his move, and I could only hope that we would be ready.
Writer's block is when your imaginary friends stop talking to you. It's been very quiet lately … sorry folks. The remaining chapters (maybe 2 left) have been mapped out, so it's back to business. Just give me about 2 weeks to write the next one. Deal?