Chapter Forty Eight

Charlie

The funeral was all arranged and we were due to fly out late tomorrow. When Bella came in from the Cullen's, he was with her. I shouldn't be surprised, he was always with her. He'd been very good helping with things and keeping an eye on Bella but I just couldn't take to the guy. There was something odd in his manner, as if he were a lot older than his years. I got the feeling I was talking to a wise old man at times. "Dad, the Cullen family will be at the funeral" Bella's words surprised me. "Oh?" Jasper turned those peculiar eyes on me, "They thought they ought to as Bella and I are...close" Yeah I thought, too close for my liking but there was nothing I could do about it. I'd made my feelings pretty clear but it was like water off a ducks back. "Are they flying out with us?" I thought I should ask.

Jasper shook his head, "No, my father has to work at the hospital tomorrow but they'll be there for the funeral. Esme wondered if there was anything she could do to help." I must have looked confused because Bella looked at me and sighed, Carlisle's wife Dad." I could never get used to this first name usage for parents, I guess I was just old-fashioned. "No but thank her for the offer. It's very kind of her. I suppose you're still coming with us?" I asked Jasper. He never seemed to notice my tone of voice, he just nodded. "Yes. My brother Emmett has volunteered to drive us to the airport. If that's OK with you of course?" What could I say? I just nodded and went back in to watch TV.

Bella

I was getting really annoyed with Charlie, his attitude to Jasper was getting more and more hostile, while Jazz had bent over backwards to be nice in return. "We're going out for an hour Dad. See you later." He grunted his assent and I dragged Jasper out to the car. "I'm sorry Jasper. I don't know what's got into him these last few days." He smiled and touched my cheek with his cool finger, "He's missing you already and I think he resents the time you spend with me." I rolled my eyes, "So I should spend every evening watching sport on TV with him?" He smiled, "As long as you spend the nights with me I can afford to be magnanimous" I stood on tiptoes to kiss his lips. "You can have all my nights. Now let's go Cowboy." He looked at me, "Just as my lady wishes, but where did you want to go?" I knew he wasn't going to like what was to come but it was necessary. "Back to your place please."

Jasper

I was slightly worried about the emotions coming from Bella but she asked me to take her to the house, so I drove while she looked out of the window, not speaking but holding my hand. When we got there Emmett was waiting on the porch and came down the steps at a run to pull her out of the car and in to a hug. "Bells, you're looking great." He looked at me and nodded, "Jazz. Peter and Charlotte are here so we're ready." I look confused and he put his hand to his mouth, "Whoops, sorry Bells."As we went in Bella took my hand, "I wanted to speak to everyone together before we leave for the funeral". I shrugged but wondered what was going on in that pretty head of hers. Peter nodded at my glance while Char came over to kiss me, "Glad to see you Major" she said smiling at me before turning to Bella.

"So you wanted a war council, the floor is yours". Everyone found a seat and looked expectantly at Bella."

"I know Carlisle will have told you about Renee. Edward threatened to kill everyone I love or even knew, if I didn't stay with him, and he's started on his list. He wont stop and too many people are involved for you to guard them all. We need to go on the offensive. I considered going to him, to save everyone else but I was talked out of it", she glanced at Carlisle.

"I'm going to tell you all something I didn't know until now". She gripped my hand tightly and I knew she was going to share what Carlisle had done. "When you found me in Vancouver I had no idea what, if anything, had happened to me once I was unconscious. Carlisle told me and he told Jasper, that Edward hadn't" she hesitated, then taking a deep breath continued, "raped me. But he lied. I know he thought he was doing it for a good reason but it was still a lie"

She smiled faintly at the collective snarls this admission brought forth. "I told Jasper the truth and now I'm telling the rest of you". Alice told me that I couldn't save everyone, in fact I couldn't even save Jasper unless I left him". I snarled and looked over at her.

She shrugged, "Well Bella did ask me so I had to tell her what I saw"

Bella stroked my face, "It's alright Jazz because I thought about what she said and what I asked her. I never asked what would happen if we laid a trap for him". She looked at Alice who bowed her head, "and she never suggested it. Which made me wonder...why didn't you suggest that Alice?"

Alice shrugged, "It never occurred to me Bella. I just followed your line of thinking".

"Yes Alice but what occurred to me as I sat thinking later, was how did you know where Edward was? Peter and Char had lost him and Emmett and Rose had no more luck, but you knew exactly where he was. How?"

She shifted uneasily, "I saw him" she said too quickly.

Bella shook her head, "I don't think so Alice. I think you changed allegiance. I think you've spoken to Edward and he's offered you something to get information about me. You want me to go to Edward. I think Edward has told you that Jasper still has feelings for you, and if I'm out of the way, then you could win him back. How he's fooled you into seeing that, I don't know. Maybe its true". I looked at Bella and she smiled "It doesn't really matter because well never be in a position to find out. But what I want you to do is send me to him".

Alice looked as shocked as I felt. "What?" She said in confusion.

"Edward will only keep in one place if he thinks I'm going to him and I'll never be safe, or all those others unless we get to him quickly. So I want you to tell me where he is, and tell him I'm coming. He can't read your thoughts over the phone so you should be able to fool him. When we know where he's going to be I'll go and the rest of you will follow. Once he sees me he'll be distracted, and hopefully we can stop it now". Alice looked around wildly and I saw in her face she was thinking of attacking Jasper to stop me. I couldn't stop her and she was moving before I could open my mouth, surprise might give her the edge. I turned to Jasper as she attacked, but she fell short. He picked her up by the throat and snarled in rage but Alice was looking around her. "Who did that?"

"What?" he snarled shaking her like a rag doll. She looked at us one by one. Then her eyes locked with mine.

"Its you" she breathed.

"What?" I said confused.

"You did it. You stopped me".

I laughed "Yeah Alice, did you see my Kung Fu move".

Jasper put her down but kept hold of her. "Alice you mis-stepped, happens to us all at some time".

She shook her head "No I felt something".

"You'll feel something in a minute" growled Peter coming to stand by Jasper.

I stopped them, "No we need her to contact Edward. Alice?"

She looked at me, lips thin, "OK, I have no choice do I?"

"Not really" I said offering her the cell phone Emmett had handed me. "Ring him".

She took it and dialed a number. Everyone was silent as they listened to her conversation.

"Edward I've got her away from Jasper. She thinks she has to go with you to save her father... "I know but they don't... Where are you? I'll send her on her way".

When she flipped the phone shut and handed it back I waited, "Well?"

"He's moved to the Holiday Inn, still in Port Angeles. He'll be waiting for you".

I nodded "Right, I go in first".

"No fucking way" said Peter at the same time Jasper and Carlisle growled a negative.

"Look, he's expecting me. If he sees me, he wont be looking for you. It gives an edge". Jasper was still shaking his head but I sighed. "Hey folks its my life we're talking about and I want that bastard to pay for what he did. So come on."

Will Edward be there? Will he know they are all on their way? Will Bella make the flight?Will Charlie take a shotgun to Jasper? Sorry folks but all the questions will be answered in Part Two, hopefully in a week or so.