Chapter Forty One

Charlie

I knew Carlisle knew more than he was telling me and was explaining just that when I heard Bella's voice on the stairs outside. I glared at Carlisle in accusation and strode over throwing the door open to see Bella and Esme standing together on the first landing.

"So you are here young lady. Do you have any idea how worried I've been about you? Where the hell have you been and why haven't you contacted me?"

Bella stood red faced but not looking at me, she was gazing up the second flight of stairs with concern.

"Isabella I'm talking to you."

She looked back at me,

"I'm sorry Dad but things have been crazy recently. I can't talk now I have to go"

She started up the second flight of stairs but I caught her by the arm,

"You aren't going anywhere until I find out what's been going on. So I suggest you get in here and explain."

I pushed her into the study and Carlisle followed us in, shutting the door again. I looked at him,

"Well you obviously knew she was here. What's the story? Did one of your boys get her into some kind of trouble?"

Carlisle sighed heavily and looked at Bella as if asking her a silent question, I watched and saw her shrug.

Carlisle

I couldn't see how we could avoid telling Charlie what was going on or at least a part of the story so with Bella's shrug I pulled a chair out,

"Please Charlie sit down and I will try to explain. No one has been getting Bella into trouble, we've all been trying to keep her out of it but not with much success I'm afraid."

"You better explain to me Carlisle or I'll be arresting the whole lot of you. Then you can explain it all to a judge."

"That won't help anyone Charlie"

"The hell it wont. I'll feel a whole lot better for starters Dr Cullen"

Bella stood by the door biting her lip in frustration.

"Please Dad I need to go upstairs."

"You stay where you are young lady until I know what's going on."

Charlie

They must think I was an idiot coming out with a story like this, vampires and secret diaries and as for dragging poor Renee's name into it all along with Billy and Harry well that was the last straw. I stood up so abruptly that the chair crashed to the floor behind me.

"If you think I'm buying any of this Carlisle then you're are crazier than whatever it is you're really doing here and I can tell you that my daughter's involvement stops now. Bella you are coming with me and I forbid you to come here again. You stay away from the Cullens."

Bella looked at me horrified,

"I can't go Dad I'm needed here."

"You'll do as you're told young lady and we're going straight to the Reservation to have this out with Billy and Harry. Then perhaps you'll see what's really going on. They've got you believing this shit."

I turned suddenly to the doctor,

"Have you been drugging my girl? Is that why she won't leave? If I find any sign of drugs in her system you're all going to jail."

Bella was struggling to get free of me,

"Dad let go please. They're telling the truth and I have to stay."

I gripped her more firmly and dragged her from the study to the top of the stairs. As I tried to pull her down she screamed out,

"No."

I heard a shout from downstairs and a terrible snarling from above. I glanced quickly down and saw Jake running towards the stairs from the kitchen, his eyes wide with fear then sensed someone behind me. I whirled and what I saw shook me rigid. Standing on the second landing was Jasper Hale, but not the boy I'd met at the house. This was a creature from a nightmare, his hair was wild and tangled, his face contorted with rage and pain. He stood crouched over as if ready to spring when Bella spoke,

"Jasper. I'm fine, really. You go back to your room and I'll be there in a moment. I'm not hurt and I'm not going anywhere I promise you."

His eyes were blazing with hatred until he looked at her when it dimmed little but he wasn't going anywhere, that much was obvious.

Jake

I knew it would only take one more word or action by Charlie to send Jasper over the edge and I doubted any of us could save Bella's father then, so I did the only thing I could think of. I grabbed Charlie round the waist and pulled him down the stairs at a run, straight through the front door, bursting it open. Throwing him into his cruiser I drove off as fast as possible. Once out of sight of the house I slowed and looked over at Charlie who sat white faced. He looked over at me,

"What the hell just happened Jake? Why the hell did you leave Bella back there with those crazies."

"Charlie. She's the safest one in that house at the moment trust me. She's the only one who can talk Jasper down."

"He's a madman! He'll kill her"

I laughed loudly,

"No Charlie. He would have killed you and he might kill any of the Cullen's but he sure as hell wont hurt Bella."

"And how the hell do you know that Jake?"

"Because he loves her."

"He what? Turn this car round Jake right now. I need to get my daughter out of there."

"Can't do that Charlie until you've spoken to Billy."

Bella

Jasper stood shaking with rage as Jake took Charlie to safety then Carlisle went to approach him and he tensed ready to launch himself at anyone who moved.

"Don't Carlisle. Back away and tell the others to do the same before someone gets hurt."

"What about you Bella?"

"Jasper wont hurt me"

I looked up at him and smiled,

"You wont hurt me Jasper I know that."

Carlisle backed into his study and murmured for the others to back off too. Esme looked concerned but he cut off her protests.

"Just do it, please."

When we were alone I sank down to sit on the stairs and looked up at him, holding out my hand,

"Jasper, you want to come and sit with me, we're alone now, or shall I come back up? You choose."

I could see his muscles quivering as he tried to control his anger then he straightened slightly and moved back a half step.

"OK I'll come up to you."

I took a very slow step watching him all the time, our eyes locking. His chest heaved and he grimaced in pain. Deciding he needed me more than caution I straightened and walked up the stairs quite deliberately keeping eye contact and talking quietly to him,

"I know you were protecting me Jazz but the danger has gone now. You can relax"

I held out my hand and he broke eye contact to look at it, bringing his own up slowly to touch it. Once we were touching he calmed almost immediately, almost falling into my arms. I helped him back to his room and settled us in the recliner holding him tight and kissing his hair, trying to soothe him as only I could.