Chapter Sixty Eight

Carlisle

When I got Peter's call I sent Emmett on ahead and collected my bag, not that I thought I was going to need it if Jay had taken his advice. I just prayed that Bella would live, if not Jasper would be devastated not to mention he would no longer be able to function and fool Caius. He might even arrange his own death at the Volturi brothers hand. All we could do was hope and pray until we saw for ourselves which in the event wasn't too long.

As I passed her room I called to Alice but she was already downstairs her eyes wide with shock.

"Carlisle I saw Jay bite Bella. What's going on? I don't understand... he would never hurt her."

I explained Peter's call and saw her relax,

"Oh, poor Bella, shall I come with you? Jay must be terrified, he was so strong to bite Bella without draining her."

I had to smile at her pride in her mates actions,

"No, you wait here we won't be long."

I had only gone about a mile when I saw Jay carrying Bella followed by Emmett. He must have acted immediately and run for all he was worth. I decided to wait until we got indoors to check on Bella but the very fact he had brought her here told me he had done all he could to save her.

Once inside he stood there dripping water and blood onto the tiled hall floor but didn't seem to notice. He only had eyes for Alice who had been waiting when he walked in. She smiled at him reassuringly and then looked at Bella.

We could tell from the moans that she was in pain but was it from her injuries or from Jays venom?

"I bit her Alice, but only because Peter told me to."

He turned to me then, shock and guilt on his face,

" I've no idea if I did enough. It was hard, I wanted to drink her blood but I kept thinking of The Major. Did I do enough?"

"Put her down and we'll see."

He laid her down gently on the couch in the lounge and stood back so I could get a good look at her.

For a human she was terribly battered and the blood frothing at her mouth told me Jay had not acted a moment too soon. Bella's lungs had been damaged and she was drowning in her own blood. I checked the site where Jay had bitten her noting it was colder than the surrounding tissues although not by much.

"How long did you bite for?"

"I don't know, a minute, maybe less I guess. Why?"

"I just wanted to check now go upstairs with Alice and get cleaned up. There should be something of mine that will fit you. The scent of blood is just making everyone uncomfortable."

I waited as Alice took his hand reassuring him that he'd done the right thing and led him gently up the stairs then turned to Rose and Esme.

"He's done enough, she'll survive but it would be best if you could get her cleaned up and into bed. I have a feeling as she starts to heal we might hear more from her. For now her injuries are preventing any screaming."

Esme picked her up tenderly and Rose followed them up to the master bath where I knew they would tend to Bella. In the meantime I had better speak to Peter and let him know the situation.

Peter

As soon as I put the phone down I had the others on my back wanting to know what had happened and why I told him to change her.

"You know The Major is going to be pissed at you Peter."

"Yeah Hunter? Well being pissed at me beats mourning his mate so shut the fuck up. I did what I thought was for the best, at least she'll still be alive."

"He's a virtual newborn Peter, you have no idea if he has the self control, to change a human."

"Well Darius. lets just hope I'm right. Next time you can give the advice and I'll fucking whine now get off my case."

Like Darius I knew the dangers of telling him to change her but we had no other alternative and I wasn't having Bella die on my watch, no sirree! Besides I thought he had enough of The Major in him to manage that.

The biggest problem was going to be The Major himself, he'd be sick with worry cos sure as hell he'd know something had happened. Could I carry on with my mate injured or possibly dead as far as I knew? Nope, but The Major was made of sterner stuff so he'd carry on, the thing was we had to get word to him that she was going to be OK as soon as we heard.

We discussed it and decided to move our operation closer to The Major, that way if we did get a chance to we could reassure him. Edward was going with us and Jay would remain at the Cullens until he was needed, at least they'd have one decent fighter there just in case. Personally I couldn't wait to get started, all this fucking about just pissed me off but I understood we needed to know what that slimy little fucker Caius had planned before we moved in to stop him.

Carlisle

As soon as the girls had Bella cleaned up I went to examine her while Jay told them the same story I'd just heard, glad it had been a pure accident and nothing more sinister. I had put off speaking to Aro until I heard something concrete but if nothing came from Jasper soon I would be forced to take a chance and contact him without any clear evidence. For now though I was more interested in my patient. She was beginning to moan loudly now and toss her broken body about on the bed. Jay's venom would cure the physical injuries and in three days time the pain would be over permanently.

I wondered how Jasper would take it being Jay who had bitten her. Usually it was the mate who did the transformation but it hadn't been possible in this case. All we could do was to look after her and help her through the first few weeks or months until he came back.

Bella was not acting quite as a human becoming a vampire did, she was in distress yes but she wasn't screaming and her movements while erratic weren't exactly those of a human in torment. I had always thought there was something a little different about Bella Swan and it seems I was right. She was going to be a very unusual vampire and I for one couldn't wait for her to wake. After assuring myself that everything was progressing as expected I rang Peter again.

He told me they were moving out and that Jay should stay put until needed. I think he was more worried about having eyes he felt he could trust on The Major's mate than anything and I knew it wouldn't please Jay but I agreed to tell him.

"Shes gonna be OK though?"

"Yes Peter she is."

"Thank fuck for that. I was sweating he might not be able to resist her blood. I didn't fancy my chances explaining that one to The Major I can tell you."

"You took the gamble and it paid off. It was that or lose her Peter, you had no alternative."

"Yeah well tell that to the others, they think I'm crazy."

"Well truth be told you are."

"True but I don't want them telling me about it Cullen. Anyway, when she wakes up tell her I'm glad I did it."

"I will, when she wakes."

"Yeah you might have your hands full there, Bella isn't exactly the sweet little kitten you think she is."

"Oh I've had first hand experience of that particular cat's claws Peter I assure you."

Peter

I told everyone there was no need to worry, Bella was going to be fine.

"You were lucky there Peter. It could have gone badly wrong. Jay could have killed her."

"Nah, he knew he'd have me to answer to if he did, besides how could he look The Major in the eye and tell him he snacked on his mate? I think he's more like his namesake than anyone realizes. Anyway now I sorted out that little crisis I guess we should hustle."

I didn't tell anyone but I had been petrified Jay might do just that, kill Bella, but it was the only way to save her and I had to save her or lose my best friend.