Chapter Twenty Seven
Jasper
I heard Bella cry out and as I reached her side I smelled the blood but she didn't flinch away from me instead leaning into me, tears in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry Jasper but I've cut my foot. You go away and I'll try to stop it bleeding."
I shook my head and sat her in the car lifting her foot to unbandage it and inspect the cut. It wasn't deep but it was bleeding freely so I stripped off my shirt to wrap it up tightly and then swung her legs in the car.
"It's OK, I don't think it will need stitches"
She wasn't worried about her foot but the temptation and discomfort she was putting me through.
"I won't hurt you"
"I know that, but it must be hurting you"
I thought about that,
"The thirst isn't nearly as strong as it should be but the feeling of protectiveness of you is strong. I guess that means something but for now let's get back and see to your foot"
She shook her head,
"No, that's not fair on Peter or Char. She went through enough when Grace was born I don't want to put her through anything else. If you could just carry me back to the creek I'll wash it out and see if I can bandage it back up. It looks like your shirt is ruined though."
Looking up her eyes roved over my chest and I knew she could see the myriad of scars that covered my torso right up to the jaw line on one side. To a vampire it would scream danger, what did it tell Bella? She didn't flinch or cringe away as I picked her back up and walked to the creek.
"I'm not sure this water is safe to wash a cut in"
"After all that I've been through I'm not worried about a few germs"
That did it for me, I turned around and took her back to the car.
"Jasper what are you doing?"
"After all I've been through, if you think I'm risking even the slightest chance of you being sick think again. I'll drive into town, there's sure to be somewhere open I can get you bottled water, disinfectant, and a bandage."
She smiled at me and I saw a wistful look cross her face,
"What are you thinking?"
She started to shake her head then decided to answer anyway.
"I was just thinking how good it feels to matter this much to someone. I forgot how good it is."
Leaning over I kissed her again fleetingly,
"If you'll let me, I'd like to take care of you in all ways, you and Grace."
She nodded shyly then sat back and I could see she was cold and her foot hurt.
"Right ma'am, off to town."
"Don't forget to put your jacket on before you get out of the car, I don't want anyone else seeing you like that."
I chuckled,
"If you say so darlin'"
I drove slowly not wanting this evening to end but eventually we made town and I left her sitting in the car half asleep while I went to buy things for her foot. As I walked to the checkout I saw a pretty pink bear with a white bow and picked it up for Grace, it would be far better than my old horse. I also got Bella a small heart-shaped box of chocolates not knowing if she'd like them or not. Back at the car I had to wake her to tend to her foot. Under the car park lighting the cut didn't look too bad and it had almost stopped bleeding.
The ankle where I had taken off the dressing to strap it up with clean bandages was black and blue and swollen.
"Does it hurt much?"
She shook her head
"Not with the coolness from your hand on it"
"Sorry, I can't drive like that but maybe when we get back..."
I didn't finish the sentence and she smiled and shut her eyes as I drove back, stopping at the nearest bin to throw the bloodstained bandages and shirt away and realizing they hadn't caused my throat to burn that much. I craved her, not her blood but her very soul, I wanted Bella Swan body and mind to be mine and only mine but I needed patience, yet again.
Peter
I was worried when the Major carried Bella back in much later than I'd expected and she smiled
"You look like my dad when I was late home"
"Yeah well I feel responsible for you. Where the hell have you been and what happened? You went out under your own steam."
"I cut my foot"
He stopped pacing,
"Bella you know your going to be the death of us. You will insist on spilling your blood all over any vampire close enough. You got a death wish girl?"
"It was an accident"
"Yeah it always is. How did it happen?"
"I forgot about the empty soda bottle I left on the floor in the back of the car and I trod on it"
"What were you doing in the back of the car?"
She laughed,
"Nothing daddy I promise. I was putting the picnic blanket in there and trod on the bottle, it broke so Jasper drove into town to buy water and a first aid kit"
"You didn't get too tempted then?"
The Major shook his head with a smile.
"Good. Well be more careful next time. I take it there will be a next time? By the way your cell phone has been going crazy the last two hours."
Bella groaned and I threw the phone which she missed, no shock there! But The Major didn't, he handed it to her.
"Hows Grace?"
I smiled at him,
"Sound asleep, Charlotte's sitting with her"
"I thought she was asleep?"
"She is, Char just likes to watch her, women are weird that way"
"Excuse me, who spent the first hour watching her?"
Char came down stairs,
"That's different. I thought she might hear them go, wake and be upset"
"Sure Peter."
We heard Bella's gasp and turned to see her hand the phone to The Major.
"It's my dad, he's been shot. The hospital has been trying to get me. I have to go home, see him"
Jasper nodded,
"Char pack Bella's things and Graces I'll drive them up to the hospital in Port Angeles. book us in a hotel close by."
Char ran upstairs while I grabbed my cell and rang the hospital using the number he told me. Bella was sitting on the couch holding his hand and crying quietly. When I got through I gave the phone to her and left her with The Major while I went to get the broken glass out of the car.
Bella
I spoke to dads surgeon,
"It's not good Miss Swan. Your father was shot in the chest stopping a robbery at the Cullen house in Forks I understand"
"Why was he there? Its empty."
"No, I think there was someone there who rang the robbery in progress in. Your father found the front door forced and went in with another officer. He was shot as he went up the stairs, he lost a lot of blood and has a collapsed lung. The bullet broke several ribs too. He's been asking for you, his friend Harry Clearwater and his wife are with him."
"I'm on my way but it will be a few hours. Tell him please"
"I'm going in now, I'll pass the message on."
Jasper carried me out to the car as Char strapped Grace in her seat,
"I've put your stuff on the trunk. Ring and let us know how he is"
"We will and thanks for everything both of you."
I turned to watch as they disappeared into the night as we drove away. I slid across to take Jasper's hand needing his reassurance. Grace hadn't woken as Char carried her down and hopefully she wouldn't until we got to Port Angeles. Well Charlie was going to find out rather sooner than I intended but I wouldn't go without her, I needed her and Jasper close to me so I knew they were real, not smoke and mirrors.