Another Beginning

Chapter 31

The Consequences Of Hermione's Tripping Jinx

The family once again settled down, even if they were a little worried about the consequences of Isabella Maria Swan being arrested. In this day in age, logically Bella would be locked up for spouting nonsense like people being vampires. Jasper though they'd all agree was the most tense. It could be to do with how the others were feeling added to his own. He was the Empath of the family and felt everyone's emotions no matter how little the emotion was felt. Harry and Edward were settled again, Harry putting his new album proudly back in his trunk. They certainly were much better than his older pictures. He'd never seen a baby picture of him, the only one he'd had was around a few weeks before they were killed. He had been over a year old; these pictures were from the day he was born. One from when they were holding him, he was pretty sure it was the hospital wing. He now knew where his mum had given birth to him. There was still so much he didn't know about the. Despite having their portraits, it wasn't the same and he realized this and it hurt even more. The other pictures were placed back in the box Hermione had brought them in.

Carlisle and Esme were sitting watching a film, in the living room as they always did when Carlisle wasn't working. That was about to change, as his house phone rang unexpectedly. Esme of course, immediately got up to answer it; she noticed the number and knew it was the hospital.

"Hello?" said Esme into the mouth piece, knowing they'd ask to speak to Carlisle; the hospital certainly didn't call to speak to her.

"Hello Mrs. Cullen is Dr. Cullen in?" asked the receptionist sounding extremely flustered, as if she'd been running.

"Hold on," said Esme kindly, Carlisle was already on his feet, a curious frown crossing his perfectly pale features.

"Hello," said Carlisle after a few seconds as not to arouse suspicion.

"Ah, Carlisle, we need you in today if you can make it since you are the closest Doctor." said the Receptionist still sounding breathless.

"Emily calm down, of course I'll come in what's the emergency?" he asked, Esme immediately went for his bag and coat. Holding it out for when he would get off the phone and drive to work. Esme of course was worried about the person Carlisle would be working on, it was obviously an emergency.

"Possible spinal injuries and a concussion," said Emily.

"I'll be right in, who's the patient?" he asked as Esme helped him put his coat on.

"Isabella Swan." said Emily much to Carlisle's utter astonishment.

"I'll be right in," said Carlisle after getting over his shock. Giving Esme a brief kiss he left the house mentally promising to keep his son updated. Edward would hear and he wouldn't end up with a thousand missed calls on his cell phone.

Charlie Swan handed his duties over to his deputy, his daughter; no matter what she'd done wrong was his baby girl. She needed him right now, the anger and disappointment he'd felt at her actions had disappeared the second he stepped into his home. To see her lying there so pale and still had shocked him completely. More shocked than he had been when Bella had got hurt during her first year with him. Then again he had been informed once she was in hospital and was okay. Then again that hadn't stopped his worry, but he'd been too angry with the Cullen's and himself to be so scared. This he couldn't blame on himself or the Cullen's. Bella was clumsy she always had been even as a baby, and it had been cute for most part. Now it was beginning to get more life threatening each and every year.

He'd paced back and forth along the length of the waiting room a million times. He'd drank ten cups of coffee, waiting and praying for word about his daughter. It felt like years when in reality it was only two hours. He'd annoyed the receptionist beyond her limit if her glare was anything to go on.

He was quite literally petrified of what answers he might get, yet he wanted to know it was tearing him apart. He closed his eyes and stepped outside the hospital, scrolling through the numbers he had on his phone. Then he hit the dial button, and put the flip phone against his ear.

"Hello?" said the voice of his Ex-wife Renee; she had left him sick of such a small town. Charlie had stayed behind, but his heart had never truly mended. Not until Bella had called him and told him she was coming to stay. He finally after all those years had his daughter back, and to himself. Renee had re-married and he? He had never trusted another woman again.

"Renee Bella's in hospital again," he told her fighting to keep his voice steady.

"What did she do this time?" asked Renee exasperated.

And so Charlie explained everything that had happened that day.

"You were going to arrest our daughter?" shrieked Renee completely thrown by her Ex- husband's actions.

"She committed a crime, the Cullen's are pressing charges," said Charlie defensively.

"What?" she cried again this time louder. "Why is Edward allowing that what's been going on?"

"Hasn't Bella spoken to you lately?" asked Charlie confused now. His emotions were all over the place, extremely chaotic. "They aren't together anymore. It's why she destroyed his vanquish and broke into his home."

"I've received E-mails, nothing about her breaking up with Edward!" she explained hurt that her daughter hadn't confided in her. That she had lied in her E-mails that everything was fine. "What happened is she okay?" she was pretty she was fine, otherwise Charlie would sound even more upset.

"She fell down the stairs again, she was unconscious when I got there, the Doctors are still seeing to her." said Charlie.

"Okay I'll be on the first plane out, keep me posted." said Renee.

"I will," said Charlie, flipping the phone closed, before taking in another deep breath before heading back in. He passed people smiling in sympathy without really seeing them. Sitting down for the first time in the waiting area. His back and feet were killing him, he felt defeated, despite how his daughter was, and he was indeed going to have to arrest her. It was tearing him up inside, he felt like the worst father in the world.

He sat hunched over, his hands clutching at his hair as his mind span with the possibilities.

"Charlie?"

Charlie jumped out of his skin, he hadn't heard anyone approaching. He looked up to see Carlisle standing there. Very solemn and he had sympathy written across his face. He hadn't seen so many of the same looks since his wife had left him years ago. The consequences of living in such a small town, everyone knew everybody and everything.

"How is she?" croaked Charlie, his emotions bleeding through, his police training completely thrown out of the window. Then again it always did when it came to family.

Charlie's mind when black when Carlisle began speaking, using long words and talking about a myriad of tests they needed to do. Giving him more riddles than answers, it was how doctors were. Especially when things didn't look good, and Charlie was just desperate to be told what was what.

"Stop." said Charlie standing up "Is my daughter going to be okay?"

"We need to do more tests to find out," said Carlisle sadly.

"What kinds of tests and on what? What's wrong with her? Damn it Carlisle just tell me!" cried Charlie his entire body almost shaking with frustration.

"We think she's suffered a major cervical spine injury in her fall," said Carlisle giving it to him straight.

"Cervical? Neck injury? How bad?" swallowed Charlie looking very pale and sick.

"It's not certain but we think its either Quadriplegia or Paraplegia," said Carlisle his amber eyes filled with sadness. He might have been angry with Bella, at her actions regarding his son; it didn't mean he stopped caring. She had been like a daughter to him for three years. She had brought his son out of his shell, made him live again. It hadn't worked out, never would have. She was his singer not his mate, and Edward had been gay, without even realizing it of course. Still the tests he'd done weren't good to say the least. She had severe spinal injuries, injuries they had little of no hope of healing.

Charlie fell back onto the seat his eyes closed as numbing horror overtook him. His daughter had a good chance of ending up in a wheelchair for life. She was too young for this, the tears threatened to fall.

"I need you to sign this, to give us permission to operate, there's a chance we might be able to help." said Carlisle.

Charlie grabbed the clipboard; it certainly couldn't get any worse at this point. If there was any hope of her getting better, he had to take it. He signed it and gave it back to Carlisle.

"I'll be back when I have more information," said Carlisle "I am sorry Charlie." with that he left.

Renee got a taxi from the airport straight to the hospital, going straight to Charlie he hadn't text'd or called once since the first call. She was terrified it was really bad news she couldn't think for any other reason Charlie would neglect to tell her. She grabbed her bag from the trunk and ran inside. Making her way to the emergency waiting room, she found Charlie sitting on the chair, his uniform still on looking depressed.

"Charlie!" said Renee making her ex jump his eyes were red, making Renee's heart lurch now Charlie wasn't a man to cry. He hadn't even cried the night she'd left and taken Bella with her.

"Renee," said Charlie sighing in what might have been relief.

"What's happening?" she asked dropping her bag she sat down next to him.

"It's bad Renee, she might be paralyzed, they don't know how badly yet, the doctor is doing the best he can." choked Charlie his red rimmed eyes watering even more.

Renee paled, it didn't sound good at all, "How long do we have to wait for answers?" she managed to get out, her own eyes tearing up.

"As long as it takes," he said sadly. "Where's Phil?"

"He's working, I called and told him, but left immediately," said Renee.

"Do you want a coffee?" asked Charlie, he needed to get up, walk anything other than just sit here.

"Yes," said Renee grabbing her purse, but before she could give him anything he was already away.

if you dont need permission to operate in the USA then i apologize! so whats it to be for isabella swan? totally paralyized or just from the waist down? will she have forgotten years of her life with the concussion including the cullens? or would you rather see her beg edward to turn her - so she can walk again? get better? or will hermione admit what she done and realize bella isnt immune to magic? that they could obliviate her? or will severus help with a potion? he crated during his spying days? R&R PLEASE!