Chapter Twenty Three
Charlie
I got in to find Bella unconscious on the floor, bleeding from a scalp wound. It looked like she'd been assaulted and knocked against the stove. I rang 911 and, frightened to move her, just sank down at her side to make sure she was still breathing. It was laboured but my little girl was still with us. When the Paramedics arrived they checked her over before turning to me, "Looks like a punctured lung and possibly ruptured spleen. She hit herself pretty hard when she fell. Looks like a fractured radius too. I'd say she was hit with something really hard. Knocked her clean across the room. I would ask if you called the police but I guess I don't need to Chief". As they lifted her up I saw there was more blood than I had thought. "I'll catch you up at the hospital in a few minutes. I just need to organise for the house to be checked out".
I got to the hospital shortly after Bella and waited impatiently for the doctor to finish his examination. When he came out I saw it wasn't Dr Cullen who I'd been expecting. "Hello Chief Swan I'm Dr Hill" he offered me his hand to shake. "I'm standing in for Dr Cullen, he's away teaching a course. Your daughter has been subjected to a violent attack" When he saw my face he hastened to reassure me. "No sexual attack I'm glad to say but she was hit with an iron bar or something like that, which knocked her across the room. In hitting the stove or counter she bruised her left kidney, and she has a few broken ribs one of which punctured a lung. I've re-inflated it and set her arm. She's a very lucky girl. Any harder and she might have broken her back, as it is she's bruised her spine. I thought it best to keep her unconscious just for a day to give us a chance to watch out for any hidden injuries. I'll be sending her for a full body MRI in a few minutes just to make sure, would you like to see her first?" I followed him into the ER to see my little girl laying pale, still, and still bloody and I vowed to get the son of a bitch who'd done this. I went over and kissed her gently on the cheek. "I'll be back later Doctor, any change you let me know". He nodded, busy with paper work, and I left.
When I got back to the house the deputies had all come in to help, for which I was grateful. "We found some fingerprints on the counter top opposite where she was found. Big hands. "You keep at it, and thanks" I said gratefully, they nodded and got back to work. Eddy got in the cruiser with me and showed me a bead bracelet they'd found on the kitchen floor, and my heart turned to ice. I recognised it and the last time I'd seen it had been on Jake's wrist. Had Jacob done this to my little girl? "Eddy you come with me" He looked at me, "You know who did it don't you?" he asked and I nodded. "We need to go to the Reservation but I'm not speaking to their police until I've spoken to Jacob". He looked at me, "Isn't that against protocol?" he asked. I turned to look at him, "Shit yes, but if he did it protocol goes out the window. That's my baby laying in the hospital. If you want out I'll stop". He shook his head, "No I was there when she came back and made you the happiest man in Forks. I'll hold him while you beat the shit out of him" he offered. I smiled "Appreciate it Eddy but I want to talk to him".
When we pulled up, Billy was waiting out the front in his wheelchair. I got out, "Is he here?" Billy shook his head, "He came home in a state got changed and left without telling me anything. What's he done Charlie? And why you and not the Reservation police?" He looked very concerned. "Billy, your son put my daughter in the hospital". Billy looked shocked, "Jake attacked Bella?" he gasped. I nodded "Just so a you know, when I find him it will mean big trouble. You tell him to get his ass back here Billy. You and me go back a long way but Bella's family". Billy nodded, "I'll give him the message if I hear from him and I'm sorry Charlie. You know how much Bella means to me too". I nodded "OK Billy" He gestured to the cabin, "You want to check inside?" I shook my head, "No Billy, you wouldn't lie to me". We drove off and Billy sat there watching us. I saw Sam head over to him as we drove out of sight.
Billy
"Sam you need to get Jake out of here now". Sam looked at me "Why what's he done? and why are the Forks police here?" "Bella's in the hospital and Jake is responsible" I explained. "What?" He was shocked. "He must have lost it Sam. He has to get out of here now. Send him away before Charlie comes back". Sam nodded and put his hand on my shoulder, "I'm sorry Billy. I'll do what I can for Jake but he can't come back. You know that?" I nodded, "Just get him away safely, for his Mama's sake" I pleaded. "I'll send Emily to you" he said over his shoulder as he walked away.
Charlie
We rode in silence, "Did you believe him Chief?" Eddy asked. I looked back and shrugged, "I don't think Billy would protect Jake if he attacked Bella. When we get back I want you to contact the Quileute police and ask them to make enquiries. I'm going to the hospital and I've got to contact her mum". I ran my fingers through my hair, that was going to be a nice conversation! I dropped Eddy off and carried on to the hospital. The receptionist told me she was still in MRI so I steeled myself and rang Renee's number. When she answered I told her what had happened and she immediately started crying. After the tears came the accusations, then the threats. When she'd finished and Phil came on the phone I finally had a rational conversation. He promised to put Renee on the next flight he could get and let me know so I could pick her up. He couldn't come because he had training camp organised. Great, I was stuck with her on my own!
When Bella was finally back and in her own bed I got to see her. She had stitches in her head and a drip in her arm, not as bad as it could have been I supposed, but bad enough. I sat down beside her wearily and took her hand. "Its Dad Bell's. I'm so sorry I didn't do more to protect you honey. Your Mum's on her way and I guess she'll be wanting to take you home with her. Maybe that's for the best but I will find Jake and he will pay for what he did. I slumped back in the chair and dozed, still holding her limp hand in mine.
Bella
I smelled hospital before I was properly awake, but I couldn't remember why I was here. What had I done? Did I fall? My head ached and it hurt to breathe. I tried moving my toes and the pain in my back warned me it wasn't a good move. I heard movement and a cough, the aftershave gave it away, my Dad was here. Then I heard Renee and groaned, was it so bad that he'd called Mum. I felt a hand on my face and her voice, "Bella honey can you hear me? Bella?" I knew she wouldn't stop until I opened my eyes from bitter experience so I did, blinking in the bright fluorescent light over head. I saw Renee and Charlie standing side by side and in the corner sat Billy. It was then I remembered what had happened. Jake had thrown me against the stove and I hurt my back and my head.
I put a shaking hand up and felt the stitches in my head. Oh good! More to add to my collection. Charlie leaned forward. "Do you remember what happened Bella?" I tried to nod but it hurt too much, so I croaked a "Yes" instead. "Can you tell me?" I took a few careful but still painful breaths. "Jake and I had an argument and he pushed me. He'd gone by the time I hit the stove. I don't think he meant to hurt me, just push me away". Charlie nodded, "OK, but it's still assault and he'll have to pay for it. He could have killed you Bella". I knew he was right but I knew equally well that Jake hadn't meant it. The days went by so slowly in hospital. I'd been here a week and if I didn't get out soon I'd be climbing the walls. All my injuries were healing, I could breath easier and my head wasn't spinning. Renee had tried to persuade me to go home with her but I'd refused so often that in the end Charlie put his foot down.
She'd gone back yesterday and I'd promised to ring as soon as I got home. Angela and Mike had visited and kept me up to date with the goings on at school. The Cullens had been away with their parents and weren't due back until the following week. That was all I was interested in. I needed to speak to Emmett or Rose. "If I'm not back at school when they get back will you ask them to visit?" Jessica shook her head, "No I couldn't" but Angie promised. Dr Hill wanted to keep me in a few more days so I got Dad to pick up some school work for me to do, I was getting desperate. When DR Hill came in one evening it was to say goodbye, he was leaving as Dr Cullen would be back the next day. Good, I'd be able to get word to Emmett that way. I couldn't sleep that night, but I refused a sleeping pill. I didn't want to miss his rounds.
I just wanted to say something regarding a review I received for this story. I rate my stories M so they can contain violence and sex. I do not condone violence in any situation in real life, but this is fiction and as such I use writers licence.