Chapter Thirty Two

Garrett

When Peter stopped the van I knew we'd reached the point at the border he wanted us to cross so leaving the others in the back with Charlie I went round to see what the situation was. We were close to a lake, I could smell the water and hear it lapping against a shore. Peter and Emmett stood leaning against the hood with a map spread out so I joined them.

"What's the plan now?"

"We have to get Charlie across, once over the other side we can get another van and I know a good place to hole up for a while."

The three of us walked through the dense undergrowth to look at the problem, the lake was wide and icy cold which wouldn't bother us but could be a problem for Charlies still transforming body.

"We can't swim him across Peter, he wont make it."

"OK any suggestions Garrett?"

"How about Em and I swim across, see if there's a boat on the far shore that we could borrow?

"OK but be quick, its too dangerous to hang around here for long, its used by smugglers some time so there is an irregular patrol boat, could be along any time"

Emmett and I stripped off and waded into the water, it was cold but that wasn't a problem for our bodies and although the current was strong we soon got to the other side and I was even more convinced Charlie wouldn't make it in the water.

Peter

I went round the back and stuck my head in the doors which were ajar,

"Everything OK Bella?"

She pushed it open wider to look at me,

"Yeah so far but Jazz isn't going to be much help he's having to take a lot of Charlies suffering. I'm scared we're going to lose him Peter."

I explained what Garrett and Emmett were doing which made her feel a bit more optimistic,

"What if there isn't one?"

"Then we improvise. It wont beat us."

We heard a splash and two figures appeared from the darkness, Garrett and Emmett still dressing as they came. It was only when I saw another male vampire undressed that I realized just how scarred my mate was. Garrett had a few battle scars but Emmett was unmarked and still I wouldn't give up my precious Jazz for either of them.

"No boats Peter and the patrol is just heading out from the opposite side. We heard them say they're going to do a circuit and they headed west so we need to move fast or risk exposure."

Peter scratched his head then suddenly pulled open the drivers door,

"Emmett give me a hand, pull the seat free of its brackets, we can lay Charlie on it, wrap some rope around him so he won't fall off and swim it across keeping him dry."

Emmett and he soon had the seat out along with some twisted metal and while I stood with Jasper who was by now frighteningly weak the others carried Charlie out and tied him to the seats throwing coats over to keep the chill wind off his fragile body. His heart rate had increased as it struggled against the venom and I was amazed we didn't see it trying to hammer its way out of his ribs.

"Right, Emmett, Garrett you carry the seat. Rose, you and Charlotte keep Charlie steady. I'll help Bella with The Major. Lets go and keep quiet, remember sound travels a long way over water."

"It does? How do you know that Peter?"

He rolled his eyes at Emmett,

"Fucked if I know, probably heard it on the discovery channel. Lets go."

We watched as the others waded back in the water, their clothes piled on top of Charlie, wet clothes if seen would raise suspicions so we'd all stripped off to our underwear. Holding the seat with one arm each Garrett and Emmett kept it above the water and swam slowly and carefully out onto the lake, Rose one side and Charlotte the other to ensure Charlie didn't slip off despite the rope we had used. Last came Peter, Jazz, and myself, we took an arm each and towed Jazz across while he continued to monitor Charlies pain levels. We could hear the patrol boat in the distance and kept the splashing to a minimum relieved to reach the other side without being discovered.

Peter

I knew we didn't have much time before the van was found although what they'd make of the missing seat and mangled metal I had no idea but I hoped it would have them scratching their collective heads for a while. As soon as we were all dressed again I sent Em and Rose to hunt while Char and I found a new set of wheels and Bella and Garrett would keep an eye on The Major and Charlie.

"Any problems Bella just holler, we wont be far away."

She nodded her thanks to Emmett before he and Rose disappeared in the undergrowth, we needed to keep our strength up and Char and I would hunt next before Charlie woke up. Once we knew he was safe I would insist The Major hunt because he was running on empty as it was and that made me nervous. I always relied on his presence and this being in command frankly frightened the shit out of me, I'd be glad when Charlie was awake, newborns I could cope with. I knew where I stood with newborns! I knew where there had been a scruffy and rough bar not too far from here where a truck wouldn't be missed for hours with luck. The patrons usually only piled out when the sun came up! I was in luck, it was still there and the lot had enough choice that one from a dark corner wouldn't be missed too quickly so I forced the door only to find the keys had been left in it. Switching the engine on I saw with relief it had half a tank of gas so we'd make it to the cabin I was aiming for without having to fill up. We drove without lights until we were back on the road then sped up to get back to the others.

Bella

I was glad of Garrett's company when the others had gone because frankly I was scared, for Charlie, but mostly for Jazz, I'd never seen him look so drained. The bruises under his eyes were a dark purple and made his eyes look sunken. He didn't move, just sat with a hand on Charlies arm and I could see shudders run under his pale skin as the pain shot from Charlies body and into his. I would never be able to repay him for this action. The thought of willingly going through that terrible torture again was more than I could take and without thinking I put my hand on Jaspers shoulder. He jumped and suddenly my body was racked with terrible pain, it was being channelled through Jazz and into me then Garrett pushed me away with his booted foot.

"Not a good idea Bella"

I looked back and Jazz was gasping as he tried to control the pain again after my stupid interruption then Garrett had his arms around me,

"You OK Bella? I should have seen that coming and stopped you."

"You knew?"

"Yeah I saw it once before with a young boy, only he died, the shock was too much for his heart."

"Will Jazz be able to get control again?"

"Yeah, never met a man quite so stubborn as The Major."