Chapter Eleven

Peter

I walked out and caught the doctor before he went off duty.

"I'll be paying Bella's medical bills so no problem with anything she needs. I'd like her moved to a private room with a dedicated nurse until she's fully awake. A room with provision for someone to stay with her, either her boyfriend or my wife. We'll be contacting her parents in a few minutes."

"Oh good only the police were asking for contact details and Billy from the bar wasn't able to tell them much."

I nodded going over to the Cop I'd seen talking to Billy.

"I understand you want some details about Bella Swan."

We went into a side room and I gave our address as the contact then promised to ring her parents straight away.

"She's estranged from them but I'll ring her father up north."

The cop didn't seem too worried, he'd got enough for his report and that's all he seemed to care about.

"What about the guy who did this?"

"We don't have any witnesses until Miss Swan wakes up to give us some details"

"What about the guy from the bar, Billy?"

"He was too far away for a positive Id."

"But you know it was Tad Nelson?"

"We will be talking to Mr Nelson but without a positive Id there's little we can do."

He went off and I wondered if he was on the Nelson payroll.

As I walked outside to call Bella's father a guy walked up,

"You with Bella Swan?"

"I know her, why?"

"If you know what's good for you, you'll tell her to forget what happened. It was a mistake, but sometimes people make mistakes, sometimes they make the same mistake again."

"Are you threatening her?"

"No, just telling it like it is"

"And you are?"

"A friend"

"Oh right, a friend. Well you tell Tad to make sure his business is all settled real quick."

"Is that a threat?"

"Nope that's a cast iron fucking promise."

He looked at me trying to out stare me but he was a mere beginner and soon went slouching off to get in a car with three other guys. As they passed me I got the you're dead salute but just laughed. It wouldn't even be a work out taking the four of them.

Taking out my cell phone I rang Forks Police Department and asked for Chief Swan. I was put on hold for a few minutes then a voice came on asking my business with the Chief.

"Tell him it's about his daughter Bella."

He was on the line in seconds,

"Who is this?"

"My name is Peter Whitlock and I'm a friend of your daughters. She's been involved in an incident and she's in hospital."

"What happened?"

"She was attacked outside the bar where she works by a customer who wanted a little too much personal interaction. She wasn't raped but she was beaten up. Her boyfriend is with her at the moment. I'll give you her doctor's name so you can check up on her."

"Did she ask you to ring me?"

"No she's still under the anaesthetic and she has a broken jaw but we thought you'd want to know."

"Have you told her mother?"

"No"

"Then don't. She'll go crazy. Are you staying at the hospital?"

"Her boyfriend Jasper is. He's paying for a private room for her."

"OK tell him I'll be there as soon as I can arrange things here. Thank you for ringing me Peter."

"Its OK, I'd want to know if it were my daughter."

"Do you have one?"

"No, my wife and I have no children."

"Oh sorry. I'll see you at the hospital?"

"I'll be in and out but Jasper will be there."

"Has he been with Bella long, this Jasper?"

"On and off you could say but I'll leave it to them to tell you the rest."

When I went in to Bella's room it was very peaceful, she lay sleeping with her hand in The Majors and his head on her pillow beside her badly bruised left side.

"You OK Major?"

He nodded but didn't move,

"I rang her father at the Police Station, I thought he ought to know"

He nodded again.

"I told him you were Bella's boyfriend, it seemed the best explanation for now. He's coming down as soon as he can get a flight. I'm going home to fill Char in. If you need us ring, otherwise I'll be back tomorrow."

Bella

I kept drifting in and out, hearing voices then silence and at first I hurt, every inch of me was screaming a different pitch through the morphine but then I felt a cold hand in mine and the pain was soaked up like a sponge and taken away, I felt it leaving my body and I struggled to open my eyes but it was just too hard. Then I heard my dads name but Peters voice. Was it Peters cold hand in mine? I didn't think so somehow, then I felt a weight on the pillow beside me and smelled a vaguely familiar scent. I tried to take a deep breath but that was way too painful so I kept them shallow but I knew who sat beside me, who was taking my pain away and I wanted him to stay so much that I tried to speak only to find I couldn't move my jaw. I managed a strangled whisper "Stay Jasper" and I knew he heard because he squeezed my hand very gently,

"I will Bella. No one will hurt you again, I promise."

His last word tailed off as I went under again but I knew he would be there when I woke up next and that was enough.

Charlie

I soon arranged cover and spoke to Bella's doctor before I flew down, he told me much the same that Peter Whitlock had but in more detail including the fact her bills were being paid by the Whitlocks and her boyfriend Jasper Whitlock was with her constantly. I wasn't sure I liked this, after all where was he when she was attacked? I'd have a few questions for him when I arrived.

When I landed I was surprised to see a guy standing with a card proclaiming Chief Swan held up and went over.

"Hi Chief Swan I'm Peter Whitlock. I thought you might appreciate a lift to the hospital"

"I need to arrange a hotel first"

"No need. We'd be only too happy if you stayed at our place. It's only a twenty-minute drive to the hospital from there and you can use our car whenever you like"

I was a little awkward but he seemed genuine enough so I agreed and he drove me straight to the hospital.

"Third floor, room 12. I'll see you up there when I find somewhere to park."

Still feeling shell shocked by everything I went up to Bella's room and knocked gently on the door. It was opened by a familiar face and I stepped back slightly shocked,

"Jasper Cullen? Sorry Hale isn't it?"

"Yes Chief, you remember me".

"I've got a good memory for faces son. You are Bella's boyfriend? For how long?"

"A while, but we lost touch for part of that time, my fault not hers. We'd only just got back together when this happened."

"I heard she was working at a bar?"

"Yes but I didn't know that. I was under the impression she was working at the Feed Store. I wouldn't have let her work at the bar if I'd known"

"Son there's one thing you should know about Bella by now. No one stops her doing anything if she's decided."

He smiled a little ruefully.

"I was getting that message."

I went past him to Bella's side. She was asleep and she looked terrible,

"What did he hit her with? A Mac truck?"

"His fists and feet it seems but he wont be getting away with it"

"What do the Police say?"

"There are no credible witnesses except the guy who worked with her and they say he was too far away to make a confident Id. They're waiting to speak to Bella but the doctor says it will be a while before she can communicate properly."

I nodded and took the seat at her side touching her hand with mine. She pulled back sharply and her hand hunted round the covers until it found Jaspers who had come the other side and reached over to her. Once she had his hand she relaxed again.

"So where are the rest of the Cullens?"

"No idea, I left the family a long time ago Chief."

"And where are you living?"

"With my friends Peter and Charlotte"

"Do you work?"

"I freelance as a travel writer and I break horses."

"Really? Well I guess it pays the bills. Talking about which, are you paying for Bella's medical care or are your friends?"

"They are for now but I will be paying them back. I'm liquidating some stocks and shares for that purpose".

"Stocks and shares? Aren't you a bit young to be into that?"

"I was left some money by my parents and invested it."

"What were your plans for you and Bella?"

"I was waiting for her to decide that when this happened so I guess I'll be waiting a little longer."