Chapter 16: Sucked back
"Miss Swan?"
"Hello doctor. What is going on?"
"I'm afraid I have some bad news. There was an accident. An animal came into town"
"Is my dad alright?"
"He was found near the police station"
"Is. My. Dad. Alright?"
"He's critical; I think you should come back Miss Swan. The sooner the better"
"I'm in Virginia, I can be in Forks in a couple of days"
"Sooner"
"I'll be there tomorrow"
"Good, that's good"
I hung up raising my head feeling Tyler's concern washing over me to find both Tyler and Stefan looking at me. I felt cold, as if some one had thrown a bucket full of icy water on me and I stumbled my way to them at the patio chairs and straddled Tyler pressing myself to him trying to get any warmth back.
"You're going home?"
"My dad, Stefan, he's.."
"I heard. There is a flight leaving 5pm from Richmond to Seattle arriving at 11am, if you leave now you can catch it"
Tyler answered something but I was dizzy. All I could see Charlie's face when I told him I had to leave Forks or I'd always be stuck there when I left for Phoenix trying to get away from James and the heartbroken but brave look he had on when he drove me to the airport to send me to Renee. He couldn't die.
Next thing I knew I was on Tyler's motorcycle as he weaved in and out of the traffic driving so fast that I couldn't think only feel. Loss, desperation, I was mourning dad already.
Tyler's fast reflexes carried us safely through traffic and a number of red lights, not once slowing down more than was absolutely necessary. Luckily our superior balance allowed Tyler to take corners with confidence and a great degree of tilt so that more than once I could feel the brush of the road against the denim of my jeans. We pulled into the airport's parking lot with only minutes to spare and broke into a semi human speed run to get tickets and to board the plane with no luggage whatsoever. The duration of the flight was spent thinking only of revenge. Find the animal or 'animal' that killed Charlie and kill it. Tyler kept me in his arms trying not to allow my murderous feelings affect him as well as one of us needed to keep their head clear. Landing we discovered that Stefan had alerted Lexi and she was waiting for us at the airport and after hugging her as strongly as I could she drove us to forks ignoring all the red lights she saw and compelling her way on the times we got busted for ignoring said red lights. I was never happier that Forks is under a constant cloud of rain.
The hospital was just outside the highway near the school and its parking lot was empty. We ran inside only to be stopped because apparently ICU has visiting hours and they just ended. Have you ever seen angry werewolves? I thought I had been angry in the past but now i could feel hate rolling off of me in waves and felt really close to snapping necks. Thankfully a slightly more level headed Lexi compelled the nurse to allow me in. I was handed a paper mask and passed the doors giving entrance to the ICU.
Charlie was the only person in.
He looked old, tired, gaunt. Where was the strong man I always knew? He looked sp small and insignificant and helpless lying on the hospital bed. A thin sheet was drawn up his torso. The smell of blood was strong in the room. My eyes followed each line of cable and tubing that linked him machines and drugs. Each a life line keeping him alive.
I watched the heart monitor, listening to it's delicate quiet beeps. If I calmed down and allowed myself to slow down I found I could hear my dad's faint heartbeat with my own super hearing. A quietly hopeful tune.
His skin was deathly pale even paler than mine. Each time one of the machines helped him breath the sheet he was covered with would shift giving the briefest of glimpses to one hell of a lot bandages that were covering his torso and upper arms, others from this attack and others being electrical burns from the repeated use of a defibrillator. My eyes moved to his peaceful face despite the darkened tone of the skin around his eyes. Taking baby steps I neared the bed and leaned against his side taking his hand in mine. He was freezing!
I heard the door slide open and turned to look at the doctor that came in. He was in his mid forties, balding and the nametag said .
"Hello miss swan"
"hello doctor, how is he?"
"lucky would be the word I'd use. I've never seen a person sustain this amount of wounds and hold on to be transported to the hospital, let alone make it through surgery"
"what's his prognosis?"
"Well the first 48 hours were the critical ones and he made it through only with a few downs. Like last night, it took us sometime to bring him back"
he motioned to the electrical burns I had seen earlier. Wait what?
"I'm sorry, did you say the first 48 hors passed? When did the attack happen?"
"Almost three days ago"
"why didn't anyone call me?"
"Mr. Black he'd call you but when you didn't call I thought I should call you as well"
"No one called me doctor. The first time I heard about my dad was when you called me yesterday. Did you catch the animal that did it?"
"You're gonna have to ask the guys at the station but as far as I know, the animal hasn't been caught."
"have any other attacks happen?"
"no"
"who found him?"
"Sam Uley, he's from the rez"
"I see. Doctor as the only blood relative of dad can I ask something?"
"what?"
"No one but me will visit him"
"what? why?"
"because time I checked animal attacks without any animals around are usually caused by the person that claims to have find the injured person."
After getting doctor Gerardy to agree to my demand that no one but me would visit Charlie I left his room. Tyler and Lexi were still outside downing coffee like water.
"I guess you heard all that?"
"yep, you know Bella it's a little dangerous but I can give your dad my blood. It will help him heal"
"why would that be dangerous Lexi?"
"if he dies with it in his system he will become a..."
"shh. Be careful with your choice of words around here"
Lexi nodded and I pondered her offer. Did I have the right to choose for my father? The answer was ridiculously easy, hell yes!
"OK, you do that and can you stay here as a guard? If there is the tiniest bit of truth in the local reservation legends you won't be allowed to be on their land"
"Call me Costner baby"
"Did you just make a movie reference?"
"Thought it would help lift your girl's spirits"
In spite of me I chuckled.
"Will you be ok alone?"
"I wasn't born yesterday Bella"
"No I mean, are you hungry?"
"Oh no I ate before I met you, plus there is a vast supply in the back room"
she waggled her eyebrows so after I reminded her to stick to the blood in bags only, Tyler and i left heading to la push. I had a few choice words for Billy black. We got back in the stolen bright yellow car and I drove us to the Rez.
"are you ok?"
"no, not really"
"do you think that this rez fellow attacked your dad?"
"I don't know. I don't think so, I just think that the timing is ... I write to dad and get no answer while he's attacked by an imaginary animal and is found by a local guy from the rez while his best friend never informs me? The last time animal attacks happened was in May when three vampires passed through town eating people right and left, hunted me because they saw me with my ex and my ex's brothers killed their leader. End of story"
"Like back home"
"yep, no animal either just a pissed off Damon"
"So who's the attacker?"
"for everyone's sake I really hope its a passing vampire"
"always good for a chowing exercise"
"not for 3 more weeks"
"actually according to my father transforming every night is a matter of will. That's why I'm always so hungry and need to keep my feelings in check. He showed me how to keep in control of myself but transforming on the full moon is mandatory. Believe me, once a month is more than enough"
I chuckled and taking his hand in mine I gave it a squeeze and pulled outside the small red house I knew belonged to Billy Black. Taking a deep breath I got out of the car.
"Do you smell that?"
"uh huh"
I resisted the urge to cover my nose. Whatever it was needed a bath, fast! I knocked on the door. The door opened to reveal Billy's son, my childhood friend Jake. He smiled obviously happy to see me and gave me a bear hug causing Tyler to growl protectively.
"Hey Jake, this is my boyfriend, Tyler"
"Nice to meet you man"
"liwewise"
Was Tyler's clipped answer and I pushed Jake's arm from around my waist gently.
"is Billy here?"
"no, he's at Sam's, for some council business"
"tracking down the animal that attacked chalice?"
"I think so"
"Where does that Sam live?"
Tyler asked
"Not far away, about a hundred feet that way"
he pointed to the left and after thanking him and promising to catch up later Tyler and I were on our way. Sam's place really wasn't that far and we reached the cabin looking house soon. The stench was even stronger there. Exchanging a glance and Tyler knocked the door. A tall broad shouldered guy opened the door. He reeked!
"Sam I presume?"
"And you are?"
"Bella Swan, we need to talk about an ... animal"
he frowned and stood straighter. Rolling my eyes I mimicked his posture. Straight back, looking straight into his eyes not minding the full head of height difference between us. Sensing my need to settle this myself Tyler stood to the side ready to jump in if I needed any help.
"Where is Billy?"
He remained silent.
"Fine, just tell him he's not allowed near chief Swan and that I'm gonna tell the evening news about the local wolves. Imagine all the tourists this place is going to be filled with. Following you as you phase, cutting themselves hoping they'll meet a vampire and attracting them here causing all of you guys to phase again and again not letting you calm down for a moment. Just imagine how amazing that's gonna be"
Tyler said and turned, winked at me, took my hand and we slowly strolled away
"You're hot when you're bossy babe"
A low squeaky sound was heard and then
"Bella"
"You're so getting laid tonight"
I whispered in Tyler's ear and turned around to see Billy who had a resigned expression on his face
"I didn't know you were back Bella"
"The hospital called me. They were surprised to find out that I had no idea about my father's attack. Any reason you did not call me?"
the corner of his lip twitched slightly
"Didn't have your number"
"Dad has it. It's also in the letters I sent him, any idea why he didn't reply?"
Another hidden smirk
"noop, sorry"
"That's alright; he'll tell me himself when he wakes up tomorrow. Oh and just so you know you're not allowed in his room. MY father, my rules. I will deal with the 'animal' Billy since your little pets are useless."
His expression was shocked; I don't think anyone told him of before.
Little did I know I was going to be putting my money where my mouth was soon, very soon
