Chapter 36:

Bella POV:

This waiting is killing me! Emily kept trying to get me to eat something. She told me to think of the baby. Think of the baby! Think of the baby! Yes, I know . . . I'm always thinking of the baby. I loved this baby. Why did everyone think they had to tell me what to do? It was so infuriating! I finally ate an apple just to get everyone to leave me alone. I was sitting on the porch swing just finishing it when Seth came into the yard. It was dark, but I could just make out that he had phased back to human form and he had someone with him. I threw the apple core out into the yard and ran off of the porch to meet him.

"Seth! Who is with you?" I shouted as I ran to him.

"Evan!" he shouted back.

I reached him and said, "What? Where's Leah? Wasn't she with him?"

He shook his head as we walked toward the house. "They are still looking for her. Bella, Jake sent me here with Evan. He said that you were to talk to him and listen to his story. Jake also told me to tell you that he trusts him. And you need to call Edward. They are going to take Leah to Italy," he finished. I could see the pain in his eyes as he said the last part.

I helped him get Evan into the house and down onto the couch. He didn't look good. "Emily! Can you bring a glass of water? And maybe some pain medicine of some sort?" Then I said to Evan, "Evan! Look at me. Tell me, where are you hurt?" I could see he had a black eye, and some other scrapes and bruises. At least there were no bite marks.

"My arm. I think it might be broken," he said softly.

Seth took it gently and felt around. Evan gasped and winced. "It's broken. I'll make a splint for it until we can get him to the hospital." He got up to look for some materials to make a splint. Emily walked over and handed Evan a glass of water and a couple of aspirin. He took them and swallowed.

"Thank you," he said.

"Now, Jacob says that I am to listen to your story. So, start talking," I said.

Evan told us his story. As he talked, Seth made a splint out of breaking a yard stick in two, and tying the pieces on either side of Evan's arm to keep it in place. Then Emily fashioned a sling out of an old sheet for him to put his arm in. After he finished his story, he smiled at them and said, "Thank you."

I knew Seth was having a tough time. He told me that he wanted to be a doctor, and he was doing his best to help Evan, even though I knew he wanted to beat the shit out of him at the same time. When he finished with Evan's arm, he sat there quietly. I didn't think he was liking the idea of Leah imprinting on this guy. We really didn't know much about him.

I looked around and tried to decide who should take Evan to the hospital. "Kim? Rachel? Can you guys take Evan to the ER to have his arm cast?"

Kim walked over and said, "Sure, Bella. Come on, I'll help you up, Evan."

Evan stood up and looked down at me and Seth. "I want you both to know that I am telling the truth. I love Leah with all my heart. I am so sorry that I couldn't protect her."

I stood up and put my hand on his good arm. "I know, Evan. I believe you. I am going to call Edward. He and Carlisle are still in Italy. They will find her. Go and get your arm fixed up, OK? I'll call Kim if I hear anything." He nodded and walked out the door with Kim and Rachel.

I took out the phone and called Edward. "Bella? Have you found her?" he answered.

"No, not yet. But here's what we do know." I filled him in on what Evan told me. "We have no idea if they have left the area. None of the pack have reported back yet. As soon as we hear, I will call again. Just be ready, OK? I don't know what you and Carlisle can do, but I know you will think of something."

"We will do everything we can, Bella. I hope you believe that," Edward said.

"Of course I do. Will you call Alice please? I know she can't see the werewolves, but she might see something that will help," I suggested.

"Yes, I will. I will talk to you soon." He hung up.

Jacob, where are you? Please find Leah and come home to me!

Jacob POV:

I opened my eyes slowly and saw a white, tiled ceiling. Bright fluorescent lights blinded me for a second and I blinked until my eyes adjusted. I was in a small room of some sort, everything white. I knew I was lying on my back, on some sort of metal table. My arms and legs were restrained with metal bands. I couldn't move anything but my head. I looked over to my right, and I saw someone else lying on a table. Leah! "Leah? Are you OK? Are you awake?" I asked quietly.

"Hmm? What? Ow, fuck, my head!" Leah said slowly.

"It's Jake. Are you hurt?" I asked.

"Just have a bump on my head I think. I can't move." She turned her head to look at me. "Jake? Where are we?" she asked.

"I think we are in Italy. Aro had some fucking leeches grab us and bring us here."

"What are they going to do to us? How are we going to get out of here?" she asked hurriedly.

"Leah, don't worry. Bella will call Edward. He and Carlisle are here," I told her. I wanted her to stay calm. "Leah? I talked to Evan."

"Is he OK? They didn't hurt him too bad, did they? They didn't bite hi . . ."

"No!" I interjected. "No, they didn't change him. He got lucky. I think he might have a broken arm, but that's all. I told Seth to take him back to Bella and have her listen to his story. Why didn't you tell anyone, Leah? About imprinting?"

"I wasn't really sure, at first. I asked Jared about what it felt like for him when he imprinted on Kim. I was just so shocked, you know? I never saw this guy before. Then, all of a sudden, I couldn't think of anything or anyone else! It was so freaky, Jake. It scared me."

"I wish you would have come to me. I would have helped you," I said.

"Yeah right, you were busy with the wedding, and then after, with Bella. I didn't want to bother you. I just told him yesterday. I don't know how they found out about us, Jake. The only person I told was Evan."

Oh, God. She doesn't know? She doesn't know that Evan was working for Aro? Do I tell her?

"Leah, I have to . . ." I was cut off as someone came into the room. I looked to my left and I saw an older guy with a bunch of wild gray hair, wearing a white coat. He wore his glasses perched on the end of his nose, and he pushed in a small cart with a bunch of medical supplies on it.

"Ahhh, I see you're avake." He spoke with a heavy accent. Sounded German, maybe? "I vill be taking some blood now." He wrapped a rubber tube around my arm and turned to pick up a syringe.

"What the hell are doing to us? I think we have a right to know," I said through clenched teeth. God I hate needles!

He jabbed the syringe into my arm and it began filling with my blood. He ignored my question, and pulled the filled tube off to put an empty one on. It filled, and he put a third one on. Finally, he looked at me. "I vill not hurt you. I just need to gather specimens."

He pulled the rubber tube from my arm then pulled the syringe out. He put a piece of gauze over the injection site and taped it in place. They he walked over to Leah and did the same to her. When he was finished, he took his cart and went back through the door and closed it behind him.

"Jake?" Leah called, her voice shaking. "I am so fucking scared right now."

"Yeah, me, too."

Bella POV:

It was getting really late. Seth had been back for three hours already, and still no pack. I was pacing the front porch, back and forth, back and forth. Seth was sitting on the steps, his head in his hands. "How am I going to tell my mom, Bella?" he asked quietly.

I stopped my pacing and went to sit with him on the steps. I put my arm around him. "I don't know, Seth. Let's just wait and see what happens first, OK? No need to worry her right now."

He nodded. Just then, Kim's car pulled in. She and Rachel got out. The back door opened and Evan climbed out, and I noticed a bright blue cast on his arm.

"The doctor in the ER said to tell whoever put the splint on my arm, that they did a great job. So, thanks, Seth," Evan said quietly. "It's broken, but it was a clean break, so it should heal in about 4 or 5 weeks."

Seth stayed quiet. Emily had come out and she walked over to Evan. "Come on in and sit down." She guided him inside. Kim and Rachel followed her.

"I hate that guy," Seth said under his breath.

I smiled. "You're supposed to. He's dating your sister. Now you know why Jake hates Paul," I said.

He looked at me and smiled. "Yeah, I guess. But everybody hates Paul."

I laughed and leaned over and bumped him. We sat there quiet for a minute then Seth jumped up and looked out toward the woods. Sam, Paul, Jared, Quil and Embry came walking toward us. No Leah. Oh God, no. I stood up and walked over to stand by Seth. I scanned them looking for Jake. Where is he? Maybe he has Leah? I kept looking as they drew closer.

Sam walked up to me and put his hands on my shoulders. Oh God. Something's wrong. I could tell by the look in his eyes he had something to tell me that he didn't want to say."Where is he, Sam? Where's Jake?"

I started shaking as Sam struggled to speak. Embry walked behind me and put his arms around me like Jake did when he protected me from the Volturi. "Oh God . . . he's not dead. Please tell me he's not dead," I begged, shaking my head back and forth.

Sam shook his head and finally said, "He's not dead, Bella. Bella! Listen to me," he shouted to get my attention. "They took him, Bella. They took him and Leah. We tried to track them down, but they were too far ahead of us. They took them to an airport and put them on a private plane. They are on their way to Italy. We need to call Carlisle, NOW. Do you understand?"

I leaned against Embry. Now I knew why he was there. I would have fallen had he not been there to hold me up. He held me as I cried. I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket, my hands shaking so badly I could barely hold on to it. Sam reached over and took it from me.

Quil was standing with Seth. He had his arm around his shoulder. Seth had tears rolling down his cheeks, but he wouldn't move or say a word.

Embry moved over to sit me down on the porch steps. He sat down with me and kept his arm around me. "Bella. Jake is my brother. Please tell me that the Cullens can help us find them? Please, just tell me that," he begged.

I looked over at him and sniffed to try and stop the tears. "They will do everything they can. I trust them, Em. I know they will."

Sam dialed the phone. "Carlisle, this is Sam. They took them. They have Leah and Jake. We need your help, man," his voice broke on that last word. He listened then said, "We tracked them to an airport where they had a small private plane. It left before we got there. About an hour ago. OK. Thanks." He hung up.

Emily had come out onto the porch and walked straight over to Sam to put her arms around him. He wrapped his arms around her and put his head down and held on for dear life.

Rachel walked out onto the porch and said, "What is it? What's happening?" I stood up and turned to her as Paul jogged over to the porch. She knew as soon as she saw my face. "Jake! Where is he? Someone tell me right now where the fuck my brother is." Paul reached her and put his arms around her.

"They took him and Leah," I got out. Embry was now standing beside me, holding me up again. "They are on their way to Italy."

"We can't leave here to go get them. We can't fucking do anything!" Embry cried. "I HATE THIS!"

I turned to him and took his face in my hands. "Embry, listen to me. Now we have to trust Edward and Carlisle, OK? Trust them."

"Trust fucking bloodsuckers," he muttered. "God, this is so messed up." Finally he nodded. I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. I knew he was hurting as much as I was. I left him and went to Sam. "Sam, I need my phone. I want to call Edward." He looked at me warily. "Give it to me, Sam." He held it out and I took it.

I dialed the number. "Bella! Are you alright?" Edward answered on the first ring.

"No, I'm not. They took him, Edward. They took Jacob," I said evenly into the phone. I took my hand and wiped my face. I needed to stop bawling and figure out a way to help.

"I know, Bella. Carlisle just told me. We will find them. I promise you, Bella. I will find Jacob and bring him back to you."

How did this happen? Jacob and Edward hated each other. But now, Edward was my only hope to finding Jacob. "Where is Alice, Edward? I need her now. Tell her I am coming to the house to see her. And call me as soon as you know what you are going to do, OK?"

"I will, Bella." He hung up.

I walked toward the truck. Embry and Seth came running after me. "Bella! Where are you going?" Embry said as he caught me by the arm.

"I'm going to see Alice. She can get me to Italy."

"Bella, are you fucking serious? You can't go . . . Jake would kill me if I let anything happen to you," he said.

I smiled at that and kissed him, this time right on the mouth. "You're probably right, but I'm still going."

"Bella, come on. Don't go," Seth begged.

"Seth, I love you. You are the little brother I always wanted." I put my arms around him and hugged him tight then pulled back to add, "But I have to go. I have to find him."

"Wait! I'm going with you," I turned and saw Evan jogging toward me. "I need to go, Bella. It's my fault this happened. I have to go. I have to find her."

He was right. It was his fault. Before I knew what I was doing, I slammed my fist into his chin. His head reeled back and he stumbled into Seth, who caught him. Ow! That hurt my hand. Didn't I learn anything when I slugged Jake? I shook my hand and the pain roared through it.

"Bella!" Seth cried out. Then he smiled and said, "Nice fucking shot!"

I laughed as Embry checked my hand to make sure it wasn't broken. "Seth's right. Damn, remind me never to piss you off."

"Is it broken?" I asked Embry.

"Naw, you're fine."

"OK, Evan. I feel better. Let's go."

"Please be careful," Embry said to me as he grabbed my arm. I nodded and he added, "And bring him home."

"I will. I promise."

I drove like a mad woman to the Cullen house. Alice knew I was coming, so she met us in the driveway. "Bella!" she cried as she caught me in a hug. "I'm so sorry. Who's this? Wait, this is Evan . . . and he's here with you?"

I nodded. "Yes. Long story. I'll tell it to you on the way to Italy. Let's get going!" I said hurriedly.

I had stopped at home and quickly grabbed my passport, credit card and packed a change of clothes into a backpack. Evan had his passport on him and his wallet. I wasn't giving him a chance to get anything else.

"Italy? Bella, not only would Jacob kill me, but so would Edward. Bella you have to think of the . . ."

"Baby, I know!" I finished for her. "I am so damned sick and tired of everyone saying that! What kind of monster do you think I am? Of course I am thinking of the baby. I love this baby! But this baby needs its father. I need its father. Alice, I can't live without Jake. I'm going with or without you."

She looked at me and saw my determination. Or as Jake would say, my stubbornness. She shook her head and smiled then said, "Let me grab my things."

An hour later, we were on a private jet headed to Italy. It's amazing what Alice and a lot of Cullen money can do. Emmett and Jasper had insisted on coming, too. Jasper, of course, would not allow Alice out of his sight, and Emmett didn't want to miss a good fight. Rosalie and Esme decided to stay and help the pack in any way they could.

I didn't want Charlie to worry about me, so I decided to call him in the morning and tell him that a friend of Billy's had loaned Jake and I a little cabin in the mountains for a belated honeymoon. We would be out of touch for awhile, but I would call him when we returned. I knew that Rachel would tell Billy what was going on. He would help keep up the ruse. Yet another lie I had to tell my dad.

I finally relaxed in the seat and tried hard to sleep for awhile. I was going to have be stronger than I had ever been to accomplish what I was setting out to do.