Chapter Forty Five
Alice
Jake was livid when I got back to the house
"That fucker's trying to keep me away from Bella. I told Charlotte if he doesn't get back to me were going down there anyway"
"I'm not sure threats are the best way to proceed Jake. He does have a point you know, we did start all this"
"Don't you start too. Are you coming with me or not?"
I wound my arms around his waist and lifted up on tiptoes to kiss him,
"We're a team remember? Have you heard anything yet?"
"No, but I don't expect to. He's an arrogant son of a bitch at the best of times"
"No, he's just very confident in his own decisions"
"Yeah well, it's about time someone knocked him down a peg or two".
"Jake I wouldn't start threatening him"
"Why? You think I'm frightened of him?"
"No but I am"
He looked at me and smiled,
"Hey babe I'll look after you., If you're that scared how about we take your big brother with us?"
"Emmett and Rose aren't speaking to me".
"No but Emmett wont miss a chance of a fight".
"No true but I'm not sure Rose will be happy at the thought of her husband fighting Jasper"
"Well lets find out"
He dragged me into the lounge where Rose and Emmett sat watching a game on TV. They glared at us and turned back to the big screen
"Em you on for a fight?
That got his attention
"I'm always on for a fight, who with? You?"
"No I've got a better opponent for you"
"Really, OK who?"
Rose grabbed his arm and hissed in his ear but he shrugged her off
"You know about Bella?"
"Yeah you really did a number on us there"
I" know but she's in Montana and I wanted to see she was OK but the Major is putting a block on it so we're going down anyway".
"Let me get this straight" said Rose, tossing her hair
"You want my husband to start a fight with the legendary Major? Are you nuts?"
Emmett glared at her then turned back to Jake
"I don't know Jake, why won't he let you see her?"
"He reckons she needs time to recover".
"And you think that's unreasonable dog?" Rose spat
"Why don't you go paint your nails blondie. I was talking to the driver not the engine".
Rose got up furious
"You really are a moron Jacob Black. Nobody in their right mind picks a fight with the Major. It's like playing Russian Roulette with all but one of the chambers loaded".
"So you're scared of him, you stay here"
"Anyone with at least one working brain cell is frightened of him. Rein the mongrel in before he gets the shit kicked out of him"
She stormed up the stairs and Emmett rose to follow her,
"Sorry Dude but she's right. He's one scary mother fucker and I like my limbs to stay attached. If I were you I'd give it a few days and ring again".
When the phone rang again I snatched it before Jake could, and answered
"Charlotte Hi. What did the major say?"
"Not a lot Alice. I don't think he liked being threatened by Jake"
"I think perhaps Jake didn't put his request in quite the right way".
"However he put it, the answer is the same"
"And that is?"
"No"
"Just no?"
"That's right. The Major isn't letting anyone near Bella until she's good and ready"
"And who will be deciding that Charlotte"
"Until she's able to say what she wants, him".
Jake tried to grab the phone from my hand but I danced out of his way
"I think we might be headed down anyway"
"Well a word to the wise, stay away from Bella"
"Thanks for the advice, I'll certainly think about it"
Were going down there, Jake wasn't going to be put off,
"How about I ask Carlisle to come with us? He's a diplomat, after all".
"You want to talk Jasper to death?"
"No I just think it might be a better way than crashing in with all guns blazing. He's protecting Bella after all".
"OK if you want, but we leave first thing with or without him".
Carlisle
I wasn't sure I'd have any more luck than Jake or Alice at persuading Jasper to let us see Bella and I could see his point of view but I decided to try ringing before we left. I got through to Charlotte and decided to see how the land lay.
"Hello Charlotte this is Carlisle Cullen"
"Hello Carlisle and how can I help you?"
"Jake and Alice approached me about Bella and I wondered if perhaps Jasper would agree to talk to me?"
"I can try Carlisle but I wouldn't get your hopes up too high"
"But you will ask him?"
"Yes I will and I'll get back to you as soon as I can"
"Thank you"
I turned to Jake,
"Well we wait and see now".
He snorted,
"And what makes you think he'll talk to you when he wouldn't talk to me?"
"Sometimes it not what you say so much as how you say it".
"Yeah well, we'll see".
Jasper
Bella was sitting up in bed sipping a glass of milk slowly, still very dozy but holding my hand tightly. Peter sat in the chair by the TV watching her.
"Bella, you decide to die again give us some warning will you, only I want to be well away from the Major when he finds out next time"
I glared at him but he totally ignored me, busy looking at her. She handed me the empty glass with thanks and wiped the milk that had collected on her upper lip.
"I'm so sorry, both of you"
I pulled her close
"Ignore him Bella"
"No he's right. I should have thought about you, not just go along blindly with Alice's plan, I just panicked."
"You did what you were told was best for everyone, but Alice should have known what it would do to you"
She put her hand up to touch my cheek and I pressed it against my face with mine
"No. I was thinking of you and what it did to you"
She looked into my eyes,
"When did you last hunt?"
"It doesn't matter. It's not important. Getting you well and keeping you safe is what matters."
She shook her head then groaned,
"Remind me not to do that it, makes me feel sick. You just don't get it do you Jasper, I don't care about me, I'm not important, my only concern ever was you. You need to hunt, Peter will stay with me wont you?"
I had to smile at Peters face,
"You happy to stay with me?"
She nodded,
"Of course, you see I know if you decided to have me for lunch then Jasper would have you for a snack". Peter burst out laughing.
"You know something Bella, you're growing on me. Sure I'll stay with you if you like."