Chapter Forty Three
Charlie
Jake offered to drive me back to the Cullen house and I was shaken up enough to agree readily although I had no idea what I was going to say when I got there.
"You OK Charlie?"
"He would have killed me wouldn't he Jake?"
"Jasper? Without a doubt, that's why I got you out double quick. She is everything to him and he'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe and unharmed. No one gets a second chance especially at the moment."
"Why especially now?"
"While she was missing..."
"Yeah missing, that covers a multitude of sins, what happened Jake?"
"Edward snatched her from under their noses and it took some fancy footwork to get her back but in the mean time Jasper realised she was his mate and..."
"Mate? What the hell does that mean?"
"The same as wife only more intense I guess. Its hard to explain but she's his other half, the bit that makes him complete, like two halves of a whole and while she was missing it started to destroy him. She needs to be with him Charlie, that way they'll heal each other"
"She feels the same way?"
"Yeah, I think she does Charlie."
"God what a mess. I've got a daughter in love with a vampire who wants to rip my head off and a father who wants to do the same thing! I guess that counts as a crisis"
I heard Jake laugh,
"You could say that."
Bella
Once back in his room and relaxed I thought about what had just happened, Charlie came close to losing his life at Jaspers hand and I realized just how far Jasper would go to protect me. I felt his pain and weariness fading slowly but I knew he needed to feed. He was too weak to hunt but something had to be done to help him. Now I finally had him there was no way I was willing to lose him again. I called for Esme aware that she'd know if Emmett had left yet. She put her head round the door and smiled to see Jasper and I cuddled up on the recliner,
"What do you need Bella? Can I get you something to eat or drink?"
"Thanks Esme I'd love a coffee and a snack but I'm more worried about Jasper. Do you know if Emmett will be back soon?"
She smiled,
"It wont be long. He knows how important it is.."
Then she stopped, cocking her head to one side, the smile fading a little.
"Charlie" she mouthed putting a finger to her lips and going back downstairs.
I wondered what was coming next with my Dad. Jasper stiffened but I kissed his hair,
"Don't worry Jasper I'm here and I'm not leaving you."
He relaxed again and I smiled and stroked his hair with one hand while resting the other on his cheek,
"Rest"
I heard a contented sigh and felt the same way. We'd both tried to resist the pull of this and failed, we were meant to be together and we needed to stop fighting nature before it destroyed us both.
Carlisle
I waited outside for Charlie, hoping to stop any charge he might make for Bella but when he got out of the car he just looked weary. Jake nodded as he went past us and I sighed with relief.
"I'm very sorry Charlie that you had to learn all this in the way you did. But I promise you we are trying to keep Bella safe."
"Yeah, it seems she has a lot of people doing that, and I'm grateful. I need to apologise to you Carlisle for my rudeness but you'll agree it was a pretty tall tale to swallow."
"I'm just glad you know Charlie. It will make Bella's life much easier with you knowing. Can I ask how you feel about Bella and Jasper?"
He blew his cheeks out before replying,
"Its a difficult one Carlisle, but I guess if they both feel the same way then I don't have much option do I?"
I laughed,
"Not a lot, No. Come in, I'm sure Esme is making something for Jake and you are welcome to join him"
Charlie
I followed Carlisle into the kitchen where Jake was busy demolishing a huge pie, the smell was mouthwatering and I sat down beside him.
"Can I get you some Charlie?" Esme asked putting a mug of coffee in front of me,
"Thank you Esme, I'd like some if Jake hasn't eaten the lot."
She went to the oven and took out another, slicing it and putting two huge pieces on a plate which she handed to me. The others she put on another plate and handed to Rose,
"Take that up to Bella would you"
Rose went out and I looked up,
"How's Jasper doing? Will he be OK now he's back here?"
Jake looked at Carlisle then turned to me,
"Yes in a manner of speaking. Its a bit more complicated than that but in essence yes"
"More complicated? How could this story get more complicated? I'm struggling now. Is he going to be OK?"
"With Bella's help, yes Charlie."
"What does that mean? With Bella's help? What's she got to do with it. You're the doctor."
"Its not a doctor he needs. Its Bella's presence and blood of course"
"Her blood? I asked shortly
"Of course not Charlie. Animal blood which Emmett has gone to get"
"Where the hell will he get that? You can hardly pop into a store and ask for a few pints of cows blood!"
"True Charlie. So Emmett will have to do his own hunting"
"He's going to shoot something?"
"He won't need a gun Charlie, but essentially yes."
"Then what?"
"He'll bring it back for Jasper to drain"
"Drain? He's going to drink the blood directly from the animal?"
"Its the best way"
I was silenced by that, I couldn't wait to see Emmett turn up with a deer or a cow. I'd almost finished when I heard a commotion at the back door then sure enough Emmett appeared with a huge buck draped over his shoulders
"Sorry it took so long I has a job finding something big enough to help"
He stopped then, looking at me with horror.
"Its OK Emmett we've told Charlie so just go up"
"Now just wait a god-dam minute. You're taking that deer up for Jasper to drain and my daughter is in the room".
"She knows Charlie. It was her idea."
I shook my head,
"You're all crazy and she's as bad."
I watched as Emmett ran lightly up the stair,s the deer's head lolling over his shoulder. I really was in a horror fantasy!