Reviews: Thank you all and thanks and welcome to new fan Alice Cullen629
Disclaimer: I'm pretty sure Emmett's linen about vampire slumber parties being "the epitome of safety-conscious behaviour" is from Eclipse somewhere. So shoot me. The rest of it is not mine either
Chapter Twenty Nine: TornCarlisle:
Jasper, Emmett and I have finally convinced Edward to join us on our weekend hunting trip – a reserve in North Carolina has a mountain lion problem, so I figured we should take care of that for them. Despite an abundance of his favourite food, and of course no shortage of protection for Bella back home, Edward seems angry about leaving her. I think it has something to do with Jacob Black. I often wonder if it is jealousy, but Edward denies it. It is difficult to tell if he is lying because none of us had any competition when it came to our partners. Bella was stuck in the middle of a love triangle with a vampire and a werewolf, and none of the three were showing any signs of walking away.
"Will you cut it out?" Edward snapped. "I feel like you're narrating my life."
"Maybe if you just figured out what was really going on between them, you could handle it better. It's not like Jacob's about to hurt Bella."
"He probably won't mean it, but that doesn't mean it won't happen. So I got Alice and Esme to organise with Charlie for Bella to stay with the girls for the weekend."
"Geez, give the girl some leash, bro," Emmett scoffed. Edward glared, and Emmett cringed away. "No pun intended."
"I have to agree, Edward," Jasper pointed out. "You are going a bit far with this – although, Alice will enjoy herself."
"I just want to keep her safe."
"Yes, because a vampire slumber party is the epitome of safety conscious behaviour," Emmett remarked, fighting to keep a straight face.
"We're here," I informed them, pulling up. "Try not to scare the food away."
Laughing and elbowing each other, Jasper and Emmett disappeared into the trees.
"Carlisle, I don't know what to do," Edward admitted. "Bella and Jacob are so close…I don't want to tear them apart. It's as though he's become a part of her – Bella makes some really stupid choices of friends."
"The wolves are people too, I suppose. As much as we are, at least. Perhaps moreso, in a way," I told him. "But the fact remains, it is an ancient rivalry between our species. Even Bella can't break two thousand years of cold war." I shook my head, and Edward followed me into the trees.
"'The wolves are people too?'" he quoted in a hushed voice, shocked and outraged.
Human, I mean. The species. But also…did anyone tell you that the wolf symbolises maternity and loyalty?
"Yeah, and vampires symbolise death and destruction, but look at us now!"
Preying on mountain lions?
"That's not my point. I'm just saying…things aren't always what they seem."
So don't let Jacob be what he seems. I'm sure he cares for Bella very much. Try and learn a bit about him. I'm sure Bella would be happy to introduce you.
"And I'm sure Emmett would be happy to lock us both in a room and see who comes out alive, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea."
"You're being very sarcastic tonight, Edward," I pointed out. "But trust me. Try. It'll work out for the best. Bella can't take sides in this. It's up to us and them."
"Bella can't take sides in this until after graduation," Edward reminded me.
"She'll say yes to you," I assured him. "She's not going to pick me if you've given her a chance. We have longer than that."
"Oh so now you're on my side." Edward raised an eyebrow.
"No, I'm on my side," I insisted. "You'd die without her; she'd die without you, so make sure neither of you leave and it keeps both of you alive."
Edward was glaring at me.
"What do you mean she'd die without me?" he demanded. "I thought it was recreational – stupid, but recreational. She was sad, yes, but she was snapping out of it!"
"No she wasn't. Even with Jacob…" I sighed and shook my head. "Bella got lost after you left, and Dr Gerandy was assigned to her. She was almost catatonic."
"I know the story," Edward growled.
"She had nightmares, Edward. Charlie had to take sleeping pills because he was up every night. It couldn't drag on. Something had to happen. And it did, and you both nearly died for it, and I am going to make sure that never happens again. Even if it means changing Bella."
"What about the treaty? If you bite her, the wolves have an automatic death warrant for you."
"I know that."
"And this is fine with you?" he asked dryly.
"I've been there before, Edward," I said. In fact, I was still on several hit lists. I just happened to be lucky enough to have more friends than I did enemies. "Besides, they're not going to bother chasing us up. They'll be glad we're gone." Or, they could start a war, and we would be in some serious trouble. I quickly started reciting the Canon of Medicine in Arabic so Edward wouldn't hear that thought. He raised an eyebrow at me.
"Just…be careful, okay?" he warned. "Now come on, let's hunt already."
.o.o.o.
After a while, I left Edward to his own devices and went off to find Jasper, who was wandering by the river with thoughtful golden eyes.
"Edward's very torn about this," he mused, effortlessly stretching his conversation with himself to include me. "He's worried about Bella, of course, but also about you. What'll happen if you bite her. Not just the wolves, either, but with your faith and your soul. And, in a twisted way, he's worried about Bella's wolf, because he knows hurting him means hurting her. But he's angry at the same time. I don't think I've ever seen him so conflicted."
"I know; we were talking about it just now. Do you remember love being this hard?"
"No," he replied.
"Neither," I agreed. "Not that Esme had experienced much love in her life to begin with – hopelessness that drives one to suicide is not that hard to improve on."
Jasper laughed warmly.
"It's more than that," he explained. "You offer her everything she ever dreamed of and more, and you don't even realise it. It works the same way with her for you. It's like you don't even know you're made for each other."
"Believe me, I know," I assured him. "Edward, though…he has to work so hard for Bella. It was never fair on either of them, and now Jacob Black is involved and Bella's right in the middle of it."
"Trust Bella," Jasper sighed.
"Trust Bella," I agreed.
"So, changing Bella…are you sure you're doing the right thing? With the treaty so fragile at the moment, it's an enormous risk."
"I know, but it's worth it. There won't be a war, if Jacob has any say in it. Bella will side with us, and he won't go against her."
"He's not the Alpha. He's not in charge. Jacob doesn't get to make the decisions, Carlisle: there are no mates-rates here. You designed half the treaty; you need to know its laws. Friendship with Aro might be a help in the vampire world, but the werewolves won't go for it. You're making a big decision based entirely on your feelings about Jacob Black."
"I still don't think they'll fight. Besides, it's either them or the Volturi we've got to deal with." Jasper and I simultaneously flinched: stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"Does Bella know anything about this?" he asked after a moment. "About the treaty; what happens if we break it?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Good. But Carlisle? Be careful."
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" I wondered.
"Because it's very valuable advice," Jasper replied gravely. "There's a lot to consider, Carlisle: Victoria, the werewolves, the Volturi, Bella's change, the treaty, and this convoluted love story Edward's wound himself up in. It's hard to keep track of a hundred armies at once."
"I'm not following."
"You're a very passionate man, and that's not a bad thing, but you cannot get too involved in any of this. You're just as torn as Edward. You want to help him, but helping him means endangering the rest of us. You're struggling to balance everything, because you spend so much time focusing on each individual battle that the bigger fight escapes you."
"So, what, I'm a General now?" I frowned. Clearly I was missing the point.
"Yes, exactly," Jasper said. "This is bigger than Edward, Bella and Victoria. Bigger than anything we've faced before. This is a war, Carlisle. Not conventional, I know, but just as dangerous. You're our General and we're your troops, and we live and die by your decisions. Right now, you're walking on thin ice, and we're all right behind you. If you can find your balance fast, we'll pull through, but otherwise..."
I nodded, shaken, as it all sunk in. I was in charge, and I had to act soon before one of our many deadlines crept up on us. Jasper was right. This was bigger than Edward, Bella and Victoria. Bigger than anything we'd faced before.
"What's up?" Emmett wondered, jogging over to us, followed by Edward. He was looking between Jasper and I, who were both wearing matching grave expressions now.
"Nothing," we replied as one, turning back towards the car. Edward must have heard most of the conversation, but he said nothing to Emmett.
On the car trip home, Emmett told stories of his most entertaining catches, and Edward entertained us with mind games, and our moods were all lightened. In my head, though, an argument formed itself, becoming more and more complex with each step.
If you bite her, the wolves have an automatic death warrant for you…she's not going to pick me if you've given her a chance… you're walking on thin ice…find your balance fast...This is a war...We live and die by your decisions. Live and die, live and die, live and die.
Over and over, the weekend's events hunting Victoria played over in my head. Esme disappearing from my side, the two of them tumbling down the bank until Victoria got to her feet, one muscle contraction away from destroying her prey. Esme was determined not to let it happen again, and that determination meant that she was another fire cracker on my extensive list - what if, one day, she took off after Victoria and never came back?
"Carlisle?" Edward wondered. "Do you want me to drive?"
"No, I'm fine," I said with a smile, pushing the thoughts away and paying attention to the road in front of me. Edward was not convinced, but he let the matter rest.