Chapter Forty One

Bella

It was very quiet here, and the pain in my chest which up to a few moments ago still ached had suddenly melted away, at last it was over and I was at peace. I tried to remember the feel of his hand in mine and there it was, cool fingers touching mine, I grasped them firmly vowing never to let go. He was here with me and I was happy for the first time since I walked away. The pills had given me the sleep I desired, one where I could remember him vividly without pain and I smiled, heaven was a good place to be.

Jasper

I knelt beside the bed until the doctor came in to check on her, then I untangled our fingers and stepped back to give him room to work. We both looked up as the monitors went crazy and he looked at me confused. I took her hand again and they settled back down.

"She obviously senses that you are here and it settles her so I think you'd better stay Mr Lock".

I nodded, "I had no intention of leaving"

He caught my tone of voice and looked over to the nurse who shrugged and picked up the phone. A hand appeared over her shoulder and put it down firmly.

"I think we should all just back off and leave my friend with his sister don't you?"

I nodded my appreciation to Peter who stood against the door, arms folded as if he was there for the duration.

"I have patients to see" grumbled the doctor.

"OK then you can leave, but if anyone tries to come through that door other than you, I'll be very f upset". He looked at us nervously before nodding. Peter let him out and the nurse scurried after him.

"I guess we have about three minutes tops before the rent a cops turn up. What do you want to do Major?"

Peter

I passed her out of the window to him then turned back to the other guy who was standing in the corner watching us.

"Thanks for everything. You didn't see us leave and you have no idea who we are or where we've gone" "Well that's easy because I don't. Can I ask one question?"

I nodded as I rammed the chair under the door knob jamming it.

"He's not her brother is he?"

I shook my head, "No"

"Is he her boyfriend?"

"That's two questions" I snapped as I swung my legs out onto the ledge "But yeah. Something like that"

He nodded, "Good luck. Look after her, I think she needs it"

I nodded then jumped to the ground as I heard a crashing at the door.

I followed the Major through the night, getting as far away from the hospital as we could before stopping. "Good exit strategy but what do we do now?"

He looked at me cradling her body gently,

"A room Peter. Get a motel room, we need to get Bella inside out of the cold and into a warm bed"

I nodded, "Got you Major. Wait here."

I went looking for a motel not too far away and finding one I rented a room for three days to be on the safe side then went back for the others. I had to smile when I saw him. The Major was sitting under a tree away from any lights cradling Bella in his lap, his face buried in her hair, rocking her gently.

"Ah Major I've got us a billet. Might be a good idea to get her out of sight, off the streets."

He got up and followed me keeping to the shadows. Once in the room we got a really good look at her and I have to say she looked like shit.

"Fuck I've seen more meat on a spare rib. She's been starving herself".

Then looking at the black smudges under the Majors eyes I realized I couldn't remember the last time he'd hunted.

She didn't move as he laid her on the bed and covered her up then lay down beside her and pulled her close, stroking her face with such tenderness it hurt.

"I'm going to ring Char then hunt. I'll be back later".

He nodded without looking up and I left them together, and not before time I thought. When I told Char we'd found her she was beside herself but when I went on to say we'd broken her out of the hospital she wasn't so happy,

"Is she well enough?"

"Hey Char, he's got her in his arms all cuddled up like a baby. If she's going to be OK anywhere its in his arms. They've been apart too fucking long as it is. Anyway I'm going hunting now. Miss you, gorgeous".

I heard Char laugh,

"Miss you back, I'll let The Cullens know we found her."

"Fuck them, its their fault she went in the first place,."

She rang off and I knew she would talk to them anyway so I headed off to find some undesirables who wouldn't see the sun come up later.

Charlotte

I was so relieved they'd found Bella, I was getting worried for both of them. I knew Peter saw the Major as some indestructible GI Joe but I knew better, he was vulnerable inside just like the rest of us and he'd spent too long on his own. I rang Alice's number and she answered quickly.

"News Charlotte?"

"Yeah they found her"

"Is she OK?"

"Yes, but she swallowed a load of pills and wine first. She was in the ER when they got to her"

"I'm guessing she's not there any longer?"

"You'd be right"

"So will they be bringing her back?"

I didn't quite understand the question,

"Back to Forks? I doubt it"

"What about Charlie?"

"He already thinks she's dead, thanks to you."

"And you're not going to tell him otherwise?"

"Not for now. She's pretty sick. I think they'll lay low for a while, at least until she's feeling better."

"Oh OK. Do you want me to keep it from Carlisle and the others?"

"Yes Alice. Keep it to yourself for now"

She was unbelievable! What did she think? That Bella could just waltz back in to Forks as if nothing had happened after more than a year?

Peter

I thought Char was wrong to let Alice Cullen know but it wasn't worth trying to stop her. As long as Alice kept her mouth shut until we knew what Bella wanted to do. I didn't think she'd want to go home anyway but it was her decision to make, not ours. I thought she'd be glued to our Major if she felt the same way he did, and from the state of her I thought she did. Our Bella had a tough time of it being away from him and I guess I hadn't thought much about how he must have been feeling. He was a machine to me, I'd never thought of him as being in love, of yearning for the love of a woman. He was a soldier pure and simple, a killing machine who took his pleasure where he could, when he could but looking at him tonight with Bella I realized what a prick I'd been. He loved her, I'd never see him act so tenderly before, as if she were delicate glass.