A/N: Hey guys! I just had to temporarily take the chapter down to fix a few details that I missed. It didn't take long, I'm not even sure any of you will even have noticed it was gone, but here's the fixed version. The revision is at the end for those of you who've read the chapter already.

So here's the chapter. I felt so bad about not updating for you guys, especially at such a tense part. I hope you are grateful because I totally blew off a World Civilizations Essay that's ten pages long for this. I can't say it wasn't fun because that would be a lie, but it wasn't very smart of me. I'm going to be away the next two weekends, but I'll work on it on paper, and then hopefully have something for you in three weeks.

So I better get a ton of reviews!

-Wish

Chapter 35: Race to Phoenix

The trip took around four hours. We got held up in the Strait of Juan de Fuca with patrol boats. When we returned back to the house in Forks, Esme was waiting for us. Rosalie was out, watching Charlie.

"We haven't heard anything more from Alice," Esme said as soon as we stepped through the door. I wrapped her up to my chest, breathing in her sweet smell. I was relieved to see her safe. Based on what she told us of the time since we'd left, the female hadn't done anything outside of looking around. She did travel out of the town briefly, but Esme and Rosalie were pretty sure she just went to hunt. Hunting in a small town like Forks would draw attention, and the female didn't seem one to want that.

"Have any of you found any sign of James?" I asked.

"No," Esme replied. "Just old trails from the last time he was here. Nothing fresh, and Victoria didn't seem to be communicating with him. I'm not sure if they planned for her to come back here before splitting up, or if she's doing this herself."

Edward let out a growl of frustration. "The longer this takes the less chance we have of finding him before he gets to Bella."

"We have to be careful, Edward," I urged him. "Bella is safe with Alice and Jasper. Alice would see him coming long before he got anywhere close to Bella. And Jasper is one of our best fighters, certainly our most experienced. Bella will be fine. We need to tread carefully if we are going to catch James."

Edward paced back and forth but I knew he understood my reasoning. He was smart and he could read my thoughts. He was just anxious to make Bella safe, like we all were.

"You're right. I'm sorry, Carlisle," Edward apologized.

"We'll find him," I reassured my son.

The cell phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and flicked it open. Alice's voice came through the line, low and fast.

"I had another vision of the second room except it was light this time. I started drawing it and Bella recognized it as her mother's house. And the first room, Bella recognized it as an old dance studio she went to as a kid. It's just around the corner from her old house."

I jumped up from my seat at the kitchen table. "Do you have a time period for the visions?"

"No," Alice replied. "What do you want me to do?"

I looked up at Edward. He was listening to the conversation in my mind and I could see the horror in his face. "We have to get her out of there," He said urgently.

"Alice listen," I spoke into the phone. "Edward, Emmett, and I are going to catch the first flight out of Seattle. We'll come and get Bella and we'll take her elsewhere to hide her. You and Jasper need to be careful. Keep alert and call us if you have any more visions. Have Jasper keep Bella calm. Use your discretion about what you tell her."

"Yes, Carlisle," Alice replied. I hung up and the house was a flurry of activity. Emmett was dumping his bag, Edward and Esme had flown up the stairs and I could hear rustling as they shoved extra clothes into bags. If things turned out messy, we couldn't be walking around with blood on our clothing. I grabbed a wad of cash from the kitchen box, enough to pay for the plane tickets. When I came back, Emmett and Edward had a bag and Esme was sending them off. She handed me a bag of my own and I shoved the phone, the passports, and the cash into it. Inside, she'd packed supplies from my doctor's bag. I thanked her before giving Esme a fleeting kiss.

"Come back soon," she told me.

"I promise," I replied before following Edward and Emmett out the door. They climbed into Edward's Volvo, Edward at the wheel and Emmett in the back seat. Edward only waited long enough for me to climb into the passenger's side before speeding back down the driveway and then out onto the highway.

"Where are we going to take her?" Emmett asked.

"I don't know," Edward replied. "Wherever the first flight out of Phoenix is going. Most likely out of the country."

"Emmett," I said, "You and I will stay with Alice and Jasper and hunt James in Phoenix. We know he's going to be at Bella's mother's house, and at the dance studio. We should be able to track him between the two places."

Edward braked as he caught the thoughts of a police officer on patrol, but accelerated again once he was out of the officer's sight. We arrived at the airport in Seattle within the hour. It was early, not even three in the morning. The airport wasn't busy, thankfully. I wasn't positive Edward or Emmett would've had the patience to deal with lines and slow-moving humans.

"Three tickets for the next flight to Phoenix," I told the woman behind the ticket counter. The woman typed on the keyboard, not seeming to catch on to the urgency of our situation.

"Our next flight is at five thirty," she said. "After that the next plane doesn't leave until eleven."

"We'll take it," I replied, laying the three passports open on the counter. The woman took her time to enter the information and double-check the pictures on the passports. Edward was practically vibrating with his impatience and irritation. Emmett wasn't much better off, gripping his pack's shoulder strap like he was about to rip it off his shoulder. I tried to caution them, calm them with thoughts and warning looks, but Edward seemed to tense to be listening and Emmett was never good at understanding silent communication.

"Here you go, sir," the woman said finally, handing back the three passports and tickets. I grabbed them and we hurried off towards the security checkpoint.

Airport security was typically a nightmare for us. Either the lines were incredibly long, or one of the humans began to feel suspicious of us and we got detained for extra security. The later was the case here and Emmett and Edward were both detained, Emmett because he seemed to be threatening the security personnel, and Edward because he seemed "anxious" as he went through, an almost sure-fire sign that that person was up to something.

To the security personnel's dismay, both my sons cleared and we walked off, both Emmett and Edward walking a little too fast for human speed.

"Emmett, Edward," I hissed, "You have to calm down. The plane is leaving at five thirty, it's only three. Rushing to the gate is not going to make it get here any faster. You're beginning to make the humans suspicious."

Edward and Emmett were getting odd looks thrown their way by the few humans that were at the airport at this early hour. While I couldn't read minds like Edward, I could tell that Emmett's and Edward's demeanors were making them nervous, possibly even scared.

Edward took a deep breath and rearranged his expression to exude calm, though I could see in his eyes that he was all but calm on the inside. Emmett was attempting to do the same, but failing miserably. Emmett wore his emotions on his sleeve. He always had.

We sat down at the gate, Edward sitting as still as a statue, Emmett fidgeting. It was a long two hours before the announcement came over the loudspeakers that the flight to Phoenix was going to be arriving in ten minutes. Emmett let out a sigh of relief at the announcement and began to fidget less. Edward didn't even seem to acknowledge the announcement; though I was sure he heard it.

The plane pulled up to the gate ten minutes later and Edward finally moved to get up and get in the short queue for the plane. The people getting off looked around blinking, though some gave us curious looks and hurried off. I sighed inwardly. All the years of perfecting the human façade had disintegrated. I called Alice from the line. She picked up quickly.

"Alice, we're about to board the plane. We'll get in around—"

"Nine forty-five," Alice said. "And I've got your flight number too. We'll have Bella with us when you get there."

"Good," I replied. "Have you seen anything else?"

"No."

"But you will call us if you do."

"Of course, Carlisle. Just get here quickly."

"We'll see you in Phoenix," I finished, hanging up.

We got on the plane and sat down in our seats in business class. Edward and Emmett sat in front of me, Edward in the aisle seat and Emmett at the window. I sat on the aisle side behind Edward. Next to me at the window, a balding, middle aged business man held his laptop on his lap and looked out the window longingly.

"I'm going to miss Seattle," he informed me, though I didn't ask. I nodded politely but didn't answer in hopes that the man would understand I didn't want to talk. He didn't get the hint though.

"So is Phoenix your final destination?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied simply.

"Nice city," the man commented. "Hot and sunny. I'm going through to Houston though. I have a job interview," he added.

"I wish you the best of luck then."

"Thanks."

The man stared out the window again. Emmett turned halfway around in his seat and raised his eyebrows at me. I scowled back and he faced forward again. Edward was sitting back in his seat, his head tilted against the headrest and his eyes closed. He looked like he was asleep, though Emmett and I both knew that couldn't be true. Edward was more than likely trying to make sure nobody disturbed him. Sure enough the flight attendant glanced down briefly to make sure his seat belt was secure (at least that's what I hope she was doing) and continued on without a word to either him or Emmett.

The man next to me pulled the window shade down as we began taxing out to the runway. Judging by the intensity of his heart and the beginnings of perspiration on his forehead, I could tell he didn't like flying. The doctor in me took pity on the man. He looked pale and I worried that he was going to pass out or throw up on this flight.

"Are you alright, sir?" I asked.

The man laughed anxiously. "I'm just not a great flyer," he replied. The sweat on his forehead was beginning to fall in drops. I could smell his fear as a putrid odor coming off his person.

"If you need any help," I offered, "I'm a doctor."

"I'll be okay Doc," the business man assured me.

The man gripped the armrests as we took off. His face began to take on more color, but I watched as it passed through "healthy" on to oxygen-deprived red. I began to worry about him as I watched his face darken.

"Breathe," I urged him. The man let out a desperate breath and then a few long breaths. I watched as his color returned to a better, pinkish complexion. As the plane ascended I monitored his heart rate and his breathing. As the plane began to level out, he seemed to calm a bit.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "It's the take-offs that are the worst," he admitted.

"It's okay," I reassured him.

The man took out a tissue and dabbed at his forehead taking deep, steady breaths. "You—probably have had to do that more then once—eh?"

I smiled, trying to reassure the man. Honestly I hadn't, but that was because most plane rides I sat next to Esme or one of the others, and they didn't need to breathe. In fact, I sometimes had to tell them not to breathe. Such close proximity to humans could be dangerous. "Let's just say it wasn't my first experience," I told him.

The man smiled back. "I hope you don't mind if I keep the shade down."

"Not at all," I replied. I had been worried earlier that he would want the shade up. Above the clouds, the sun was able to shine in unchecked. I would've had to most worry as we approached Phoenix and been cautious to not let the sun touch my skin. But this man's fear of flying had taken care of that predicament for me.

He chattered nervously the whole flight. I knew it was more for his nerves, rather than because he genuinely wanted to talk to me, but I answered him all the same. He asked what I as travelling to Phoenix for, I replied it was family purposes. He asked about Emmett and Edward, I told him they were my adopted sons and he marveled at my parenting skills at my age.

"I've got only a thirteen-year old daughter and I feel out of my league. You must be completely blown away with two teenage boys!"

"Actually, my wife and I have three boys and two girls, all in high school. One of the girls we adopted, and then the other boy and girl are my wife's niece and nephew."

The man's eyes went wide. "May the Lord be with you," he replied. "You need him more than I do."

A soft bell rang over the speakers and then crackling. "This is your captain speaking. We are preparing to make our descent into the Phoenix Area. It looks like we will get in approximately ten minutes early. Ground conditions in Phoenix, sunny and 89°F going up to 95°F today. It looks like we'll be landing in Terminal four. On behalf of the Southwest crew, we'd like to thank you for flying with us and hope you keep us in mind for your future travels."

The speaker clicked off and I looked forward to Edward and Emmett. Edward's eyes had snapped open. He was wide awake and ready to dash off the plane as soon as we reached the gate.

The plane touched down with a slight bump and the man next to me breathed a sigh of relief. Edward had already disconnected his seat belt. Emmett was the only things still holding him in his seat.

Edward, I warned mentally. He ignored me.

Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, looking at the number. It was Alice.

"Alice?" I answered.

"She's gone." It was Jasper on the phone, not Alice.

"Who?" I asked.

"Bella. I don't know if she left on her own or if someone grabbed her, but she's gone. She was really nervous before."

Edward stiffened in front of me and Emmett spun around in his seat.

"We're on the ground, we're just taxing to the gate," I told him. "Meet us at the terminal and we'll go after them. Has Alice seen anything else?"

"That's why I'm the one calling," Jasper replied. "She's been seeing things since Bella left. A lot of Bella in a taxi, and a lot of the dance studio."

"Then that's where we'll look for her," I concluded. "We'll be there soon."

I hung up and the man next to me chuckled nervously. "Family matters?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied tersely. I didn't have time to talk to this man anymore. We all needed to get off this plane, before it was too late.

When the plane finally pulled into the terminal, Edward dashed out the door, followed right by Emmett. I was quickly on their heels. We ran way too fast, up the ramp into the terminal. Then Emmett and I followed Edward as he weaved through the crowds, making his way beyond security, to where Alice and Jasper would be waiting. When we exited, Alice and Jasper were at us in an instant.

"What happened?" Edward growled.

"Edward it's not their faults," I said sternly.

"No, it is," Jasper corrected, his head dropping. "I didn't pay close enough attention. I didn't realize the bathroom had two exits and entrances. I'm sorry Edward."

"Do you know where she's going?" Edward asked.

"Her mothers' house," Alice answered. "She's quite decided."

Edward didn't wait for the rest of us. He whipped around and sprinted towards the parking lot, full vampire speed. The rest of us followed at a more human pace. Thankfully, nobody seemed to notice Edward, though they all noticed Jasper, Alice, Emmett, and I barreling over other passengers and their families to go after Edward.

We finally made it through the exit of the airport, but Edward was nowhere to be found.

"Jasper, where is the house?" I asked.

"I traced the number Bella called," Jasper said. "It's not far from the dance studio. I'll drive." We hurried to where Jasper had parked my Mercedes (I was relieved to see nothing had happened to it) and piled in the car, Jasper at the wheel, me in the passenger's seat, and Emmett and Alice in the backseat. Jasper took off, negotiating the airport traffic at speeds only possible for a vampire.

Getting out on the highway, he gunned the engine to over 100 mph and we shot off, racing towards Bella's mother's house, and hopefully, Edward and Bella.

A/N: Hey sorry for this extra Author's Note but I just wanted to put a question out there to the readers. I've been writing this story for a little while now and i've gotten so many great reviews, i feel really good about it. But the end of "Twilight" is coming up and i just want to put this out there.

Should I end Rising Sun with the events of Twilight, or should i continue on through Breaking Dawn?

Please answer me through the poll on my profile rather then writing a bunch of reviews or PMs with answers like "Yes" and "No". It's a lot easier to figure things out through the poll.

Thanks so much!

-Wish