Bella's New Beginning
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.
Seneca
Charlie's POV
Saturday, 19 June 2231
It was unseasonably hot in Los Angeles, and I was grateful I didn't work outdoors. The Razzmatazz returned to spacedock late last night and would undergo extensive repairs and system upgrades over the next three months, not that it matter to me. After debriefing from my last military diplomatic mission, I would no longer be her first officer.
Gripping the door handle, I opened it and walked into the dining hall. It was loud. Silverware scraped against metal trays as men and women of all colors, species, and nationalities ate and laughed together. I had missed this during my time in space. There was laughter aboard Razzmatazz but seeing friends and colleagues I hadn't seen in the last year was heartwarming.
A Drakoan with light pink skin glanced up and smiled at me as I neared. Her eyes were gray and her purplish red hair was in a thick braid down her back.
"Charlie," she called in a low-pitch squeal, reminiscent of a piglet.
I returned her smile. "Lillian," I said, sitting down across from her. "It's been a long time. How's the family?"
Lillian and I had attended the academy together. After graduating, she and I were assigned to the base in Scotland. At a party in Edinburgh, she had introduced me to one of her longtime friends, Renee McCullough. My heart clenched at the memories of the four months I spent with Renee. I had loved her and we had planned on marrying. Two days after I proposed, I had received reassignment orders and had to report immediately to Captain Reynolds of the Razzmatazz.
"Good. I can't wait to see them," Lillian answered. "The last time I saw you, you ditch me after I introduced you to Renee. I didn't see you again that night."
I rubbed the back of my neck. "Renee won my heart, Lillian, with her smile." Sniffing, I wiped the moisture out from under my eyes.
"Oh, Charlie," Lillian said, touching my arm. "I'm sorry. I know how much you loved Renee. It's too bad she didn't wait for you."
The whole crew of the Razzmatazz had been sent on a six month deep space mission. I hadn't been able to talk to Renee before leaving. I had talk to her mother, Annabella. She had promised to deliver Renee a message. Annabella had even talked me out of resigning my commission saying the future depended on my safe return. What she had been talking about was beyond me, and all my questions went unanswered. Anyway, due to a meteor shower, the ship's long-range sensors were damage. Instead of heading to the nearest star base for repairs, Captain Reynolds had forged on with our operation, believing the engineering crew would be able to fix the sensors. The mission had ended up taking three and a half years because of more meteor showers.
When I finally returned to Scotland, I had learned Renee married my best friend, Phil Dwyer. I was devastated, but then I was informed by Captain Reynolds that Star Command had declared the crew dead. Phil had done what I asked before departing. He had married Renee and they had a beautiful, three-year old daughter named Isabella. I fell in love with that little girl fast and when Renee had asked me to be Isabella's godfather I hadn't been able to say no.
I sighed, shaking myself free of the memories. "I'm fine. It's hard knowing Renee is gone. That reminds me, I need to call Isabella."
A hand came down on my shoulder. I looked over it and up at Admiral Reynolds. "Swan, I need to talk to you… alone," he said.
Admiral Reynolds was the first captain I served under in my long stay on the Razzmatazz. He had been promoted shortly after my second mission under his command. I had also been promoted to first officer after that mission. Reynolds was charming, bold, a born leader. He was guided by a core of human civility and awareness. He had a strong sense of duty and didn't let orders get in the way of what he knew was right. He was someone I admired and looked up to. I was confused as to why he wanted to talk to me instead of Captain Tatum, and the grim set to his mouth should have clued me in that something seriously wrong.
Nodding, I excused myself from the table.
"Is there a problem, Admiral?" I asked, once we were out in the hall. "I thought I would have a day of liberty before the debriefing began."
"The debriefing is still set for tomorrow." He sighed, not meeting my eye. "I thought it would be best if you heard the reason for this from me," he said, handing me a slip of paper and large vanilla envelope.
Looking down at the top sheet, I skimmed it.
"Emergency leave?" I asked, wracking my brain for a crew member with sick elderly parents, a pregnant wife, or sick child. No one came to mind. This type of information should really be going through Tatum. "For who?"
Admiral Reynolds took me by the shoulders and his hazel eyes bore into my brown ones. "It's for you, Charlie."
"Me?" I stumbled backward as if I received a blow in the gut. "I talked to my parents this morning. They are in perfect health. I'm not married…"
He cut me off. "Charlie, the Grahams were murdered and, from what I have been told, Isabella found them."
My eyes widened and I stumbled backward another step, my right hand going to my chest as my heart stopped before it staring racing. It felt like a freight train was trying to break out of my chest. Dear God! I thought. I could only imagine the scene Isabella discovered.
"Wh-when did this happen?" I asked when I had regained some of my composure.
It had to be recent if a transmission wasn't sent.
Reynolds glanced down the hall before returning his attention to me. "Nearly a month ago," he admitted.
His pronouncement was like a slap to the face. "What!" I shouted, grabbing the front shirt. "Why wasn't a message sent to me?"
"Charlie, you were out of range, and I thought it best to wait until you returned. All you would have done was worry. I know for a fact Malcolm is with her."
Thank God someone's with her, I thought. "What else can you tell me? Is she in Scotland?" I asked.
"No," he answered. "She's still in the hospital in Spokane. That's all I know, Charlie. You need to go to her. A shuttle is on standby."
I rubbed my face. "Thanks, John," I said, turning and sprinting down the corridor and out of the building. I didn't stop running until I was in my temporary quarters where I grabbed my tattered green duffle bag and my toiletry bag.
When I arrived at the shuttle, the pilot and co-pilot were lazing about inside. They jumped up and saluted me when I boarded, even though I was in my civvies. I acknowledged them with a haphazard raise of my left hand which barely touched my forehead before stowing my duffle bag in the overhead bin.
"Fort Ride tower, Mozart is ready for takeoff," the pilot said into his headset. He fell silent, listening to the towers instructions. "Cleared for immediate takeoff, Mozart."
A few minutes later, we were at altitude. "Commander Swan, you are free to move about the cabin," the co-pilot said. "The galley is stocked, if you're hungry."
Eating was the furthest from my mind. Isabella well-being was the only thing I could think of and until I got answers, I wasn't doing anything else. I unstrapped myself before drawing out my cellphone to call Malcolm. Dialing his private number, I waited impatiently for him to answer.
"Charlie, finally," Malcolm said, answering.
Good, no preamble. "How's Isabella?" I asked.
"Not good. She appeared in Scotland right after it happened, not saying a word. When she disappeared after an hour, she still wasn't talking. Her silence continues," he replied.
I swallowed. Why hadn't she stayed in Scotland? "Do you know why?"
Malcolm exhaled a wary breath. "Charlie, I wish I could answer that question. The only thing I can guess is that she saw something, maybe the killer's face. As for the reason she didn't stay with me, there were people that knew she was in Spokane."
My eyes drifted to the window. All I could see was clouds and a blue sky. "Have you tried to get her to talk?" I asked.
"From the moment she arrived in Scotland. She was a trembling mess, Charlie. I tried again when I arrived at the hospital in Spokane, but Isabella freaked out the moment I touched her hand. The doctors haven't allowed me to go into her room since. They won't let me go in her room when she's asleep either," he said.
I was up and pacing the length of the cabin. "What can I do to help her?" I asked after several passes.
Malcolm was silent, and I waited a minute before pulling the phone away from my ear and looking at the display. The call was still connected. "Malcolm," I said.
He sighed. "Get her away from the idiotic doctors in charge of her care."
I was confused. Doctors were supposed to help their patients. "Aren't they helping her?"
"No, Charlie. They aren't. Isabella's in the psychiatric ward. All the doctors are doing is pumping her full of antidepressants."
Malcolm sounded pissed off, which was odd for him.
"The one and only staff psychiatrist tried once to get her to talk, and then wrote her off as a mental case beyond reaching. My pleas to have transferred to another facility or have a different doctor try go unheard."
I stopped mid-step, seeing red. Mental institutions, whether part of a hospital or not, were understaffed. It's been decades since one has denied a transfer. "Clearly you don't believe Isabella needs to be there."
"Aye, Charlie. I don't," he remarked.
"If she's strapped to her bed, there will be hell to pay," I said, venomously.
"She's not. She is free to move about the ward as she pleases. Had they strapped her to a bed, I would have called the consulate for assistance in getting her out of the hospital and into a private facility in Scotland," Malcolm said. "As it is, she's asleep most of the time I'm there."
"It's probably the drugs," I remarked. "Besides getting her better doctors, what else can I do?"
Malcolm fell silent again for a moment before sighing.
Oh, boy! His request couldn't be good.
"Take her in."
The corners of my mouth turned up a little. "That's my plan, Malcolm. You know I've wanted to get off the starship since she turned thirteen. Before leaving on the last mission, I learned my transfer was granted but wouldn't be in effective until my return. So, in two weeks, I'll be overseeing Rookie training in Forks, Washington with the rank of Captain."
Malcolm laughed, but his mirth was short lived.
"A change of scenery will hopefully do her some good," he remarked.
Malcolm and I talked a few more minutes before I ended the call. An hour had passed. Consulting with the pilot, I learned we were at the halfway point and should be in Spokane in about hour and a half.
Sitting down again, I started making a list of doctors and counselors who might be able to help. Daniela White was on top of my list. She was a good friend, and I was pretty sure she was stationed in Forks. Picking up my cell, I dialed the general switchboard number and asked to be connected with Counselor Daniela White.
"Daniela White," she answered.
"Hey, Daniela. It's Charlie," I said a bit nervous.
I heard some tapping of keys. "I heard you were back. What's up?" she asked.
Quickly, I filled her in on what happened and about Isabella finding the Grahams.
"Oh, Charlie, of course I'll help," she said. "You said she's in a Spokane hospital."
"Yes. Deaconess. I have to get her out of there," I replied before telling her what Malcolm told me. "I may need your assistance in getting her released."
"If her grandfather is on board, it should be easy. I do have to warn you, Charlie, it will take time for me to establish a rapport with her. So don't except Isabella to start talking the moment she's under my care," Daniela said.
I rubbed the back of my neck. "As long as she is in a safe and loving environment, I don't care how long it takes."
Daniela laughed. "Keep telling yourself that, Charlie. I'll meet you at the hospital in an hour and a half."
"Thanks, Daniela," I said, hanging up. A little weight had been lifted off my shoulders with her on my side.
Opening the folder Admiral Reynolds had given me, I was confronted with the scene Isabella had walked in on. The pictures were, to say the least, gut-clenching. Matthew, a silver skinned, blue haired Drakoan, was lying in a pool of purple blood. Danielle ice blue eyes were staring blankly up and her white shirt and blonde hair were stained red. Taking a deep breath, I examined each picture in hopes of finding something the investigators might have missed, making notes. Setting the pictures aside, I read the report. Everything I jotted down was in it. The last item in the folder was a sealed envelope with a message on it.
Charlie,
I strongly advise you not to open and look at the pictures within. They are of Isabella and how she looked shortly after being found. Knowing you like I do, I know you will ignore my advice. Call me if you need to talk.
John Reynolds
John knew me so well.
Taking a deep breath, I ripped envelope open, slipping the contents into my hands. The white backs were facing me. Flipping the stack over, I was confronted with the lifeless eyes of Isabella as she lay on the stretcher. Had I not been told she was alive by John and Malcolm, I would have believed she was dead. Dropping the pictures, I closed my eyes as a rattling sob left me.
BELLA'S POV
My life changed. Period. There was no other way to put it. From the moment I walked into the house, I knew my life as I knew it was over. A home invasion was in progress. I couldn't remember much more than that, though my guardian mother, Danielle, yelled for me to run. What happened afterward, what I did was a blank. Daniela White, a counselor with Star Command and the one of the few people who didn't constantly question me about that day, said it was common after a traumatic event to not remember. I think she called it dissociative amnesia. All I heard was amnesia and didn't pay attention when she explained what might be causing my memory loss. Not that I didn't want to know, it was just I didn't want to think about the cause.
I wasn't sure I liked where the changes were taking me. Whether I did or not, I was moving in with my godfather, Charlie Swan. It wasn't like I didn't know and love Charlie, and I knew I would eventually move in with him. However, it was supposed to be when I turned seventeen—per my mother's, Renee's, will. There was some condition about Charlie being willing and able... heck, I didn't understand all the legal mumbo jumbo. My mom and my dad, Phil Dwyer, died when I was three, not that I remember much about them other than what I was told in stories. Anyway, I didn't begrudge Charlie for not taking me in after their death, and was eventually place with two wonderful Star Command teachers—Matthew and Danielle Graham.
Like I said, I wasn't mad at Charlie, and I understood he would have taken me in after my parents died, but his job had him stationed in the far reaches of space. Plus, a starship was no place for a toddler of three. Oh, I should mention Charlie, like Daniela, was a Star Command officer and, at the time, he had been serving on the starship Razzmatazz. His duty assignment recently changed, making my move possible. After my parent's death, he couldn't up and leave, not that anybody, including me, would have asked him to give up a job he loved. So, he arranged for me to be assigned guardians, and I came to love Danielle and Matthew as much as I did my parents and Charlie.
Like I mentioned, Charlie's duty assignment changed and he was transferred to the base in the small town of Forks, Washington. My research showed that the population of Forks was about four thousand, whereas Spokane, where I used to live, was over two hundred thousand. I sighed, leaning my head back so I was looking at the ceiling of the hub.
There was one good thing about moving. When I did make friends, I wouldn't have to explain my last name—Swan. My Spokane friends didn't understand why I didn't have my father's name. All I knew was Swan was my last name and that it wasn't my mother's maiden name, McCullough. I never thought to question it either, figuring there was a reason and I would one day be told.
I have digressed some. I didn't have many friends in Spokane, and the few I had, walked on eggshells when they were finally allowed to visit me in the hospital. They were unsure of what to say, even my best friend, Samantha, didn't know how to act but they all tried.
It was Samantha and her mom who took me to the shuttle landing area at Fort Albertus. They waited with me until the pilot was finished with all the exterior checks.
"You'll make friends in no time," Samantha said, hugging me after the pilot motioned for me to board.
I could have boarded when I arrived, but I decided spending what little time was left before I departure Spokane for a final time with Samantha was better. The bad thing was she and I didn't talk; we just sat there in silence.
"And we can talk on the phone or Skype all the time. Plus, I'm sure Charlie will let me visit and vice versa."
I held back my sarcastic retort, walking out the door and toward the shuttlecraft... alone. The likelihood of Samantha and I remaining friends was slim, even with technology advancing daily. And the thought of making new friends didn't frighten me. What did have me anxious was moving away from the only home I've known for nearly thirteen years. To top it all off, I was afraid that I would forget Danielle and Matthew. Like I said, death wasn't unfamiliar to me. After the death of my parents and bouncing between aunts and uncles for three months, Charlie decided that I needed something more permanent—a home. My aunts and uncles loved me, but they couldn't handle me—not that I was a problem child, but they were afraid of me for some reason. That was when I first realized I was different from other children my age.
Looking out the shuttlecraft window, I willed the tears not to fall at the memory of my guardians. Danielle and Matthew were wonderful and so giving. They even rearranged our vacation departure, so I could spend some time with Samantha.
"Come on, Bella," Samantha called. "We're going to be late."
She was so thrilled to be seeing the latest James Bond movie. I could care less about the movie.
"Sammie,"—my nickname for her escaping pass my lips—"it's not like we're going to miss anything!"
We were not really running late, and we always made it on time.
"We'll just miss a few of the previews."
I shook my head, not wanting to remember what little I did about the day Daniella and Matthew were killed. It was hard enough leaving Spokane without the memories. Putting my ear buds in, I turned on my iPod and pulled out my copy of Romeo and Julie, losing myself as I listened to the story unfold and followed along, not thinking about my best friend or where I was going.
Charlie's POV
I glanced at the clock – half past eleven. Isabella should be on her way and would be arriving in the next half hour. I have never been so nervous in my life. Not to mention, I haven't hugged her since she turned fifteen and I always made time for her when I was on leave. However, a mission took me into deep space, and my scheduled vacation was canceled two days before her sixteenth birthday.
When I arrived back three weeks ago, I learned she had witnessed the murder of her guardians and was in the hospital. Before I was even debriefed, emergency leave was granted, and I rushed to Spokane—to Isabella.
It took about a week more and the help of Daniela White to convince Isabella's doctors and therapists into releasing Isabella into her care. Of course, the doctors needed to wean Isabella off all medications first and said it would take a week, maybe longer. In the meantime, Daniela had started working with her, and their first meeting didn't go so well. I had watched through the mirror but couldn't hear what Daniela said. Isabella shrunk away from Daniela. It made my heart break. Of course, Daniela worked her magic and Isabella began to trust her.
By the end of my emergency leave, Isabella was opening up some, like I hoped she would, but she hadn't asked to see me. Daniela had stayed and had called me every night with progress reports, but she didn't tell me what she and Isabella talked about, which was fine as long as Isabella was talking about something.
My eyes landed on a thick envelope on my desk—Isabella's transcripts. Straight A student. National Honors Society member. I wasn't surprised. The transcripts had arrived two days ago. I had planned on swinging by Forks High School to enroll her, but it was Daniela's recommendation that Isabella be home schooled until the spring semester. That was one hell of a phone conversation.
"Why? She's opening up, isn't she?" I asked.
"Yes, but that's not the point, Charlie. What she witnessed torments her. Anxiety medicine can only help her so much, and I refuse to prescribe them to her when other coping methods are working. The stress of moving to a strange, new town and adjusting to living with you will be hard enough but she'll manage. If you and I force her to go to school and she hears someone talking about a murder scene in a movie, she could close-in on herself again," Daniela said.
"Fine," I said, a little too harshly. Renee hadn't wanted Isabella going to a Star Command school, but these weren't normal circumstances. I sighed, running a rough hand down my face. "I'll make the necessary arrangements for tutors."
Before my final mission, I had come to a decision and had requested to be reassigned to a base on Earth. The whole crew of the Razzmatazz knew my desire to have Isabella move in with me, so they didn't resent my decision. My request was granted, and Forks, Washington was where I was transferred. I would be training the new security graduates from the academy. It would be my job to give them real-world knowledge. Although, I would still have to make short trips to the nearby space station from time to time.
My eyes strayed to the clock again. Ten minutes had passed. I stood and started pacing my office, wondering for the hundredth time since I found out about the murders what exactly had Isabella witness. She still wasn't talking about it and told the doctors, therapist, and even Daniela that she couldn't remember anything.
When I reached my desk, I turned and saw Daniela leaning in the doorway. She had arrived late last night and was going to go with me to meet Isabella.
"Nervous?" she asked.
"Does it show?" I replied with a little laugh. "How was she when you left?"
"Unchanged and asking for you," she said.
I quirked an eyebrow up in question.
"It's true, Charlie. She was asking why you hadn't visited."
My chin fell to my chest as my gaze dropped to the floor. I should have demanded on seeing Isabella. "What did you tell her?"
"The truth. That you had rushed to the hospital only to be told you couldn't see her. She didn't handle that very well, screaming at the two-way mirror. She even threw a pillow at it."
"I bet the doctors liked her tantrum," I said, laughing.
"No, they didn't. Although, there wasn't much they could do, with her being under my care. I had already given them a piece of my mind about not letting you try."
Again, I laughed, imagining the faces of the doctors as Daniela told them off.
"I wish I had done that. What do you suggest I do?" I asked, grabbing the small gift bag from my desk.
Daniela gave me a gentle smile. "All you can do is let her know you're there for her."
We walk out and headed to the arrival lounge, arriving as the shuttle doors opened. A minute or so went by before Isabella exited. Even from this distance, I could see the sadness in her eyes and the gaunt draw of her face. "She's still not eating, huh?" I asked. Daniela didn't answer, not that I expected one.
BELLA'S POV
I felt the shuttle start its descent and fear washed over me. What if I didn't like it here? What if Charlie didn't like living with me and decided to send me away? Where would I go? I could possibly go to Scotland and live with Grandfather, but what kind of life would that be—sheltered, that's what. I have to try and make this work. Luckily it was Friday, and I would have today and the weekend to settle in before I was to meet with the officers who would be homeschooling me until I was ready to enroll at the local high school.
I heard the soft thud as we came to a rest on the ground. Once given the all clear, I gathered my two bags—the rest of my belongings were already shipped—and exited the shuttle. The weather was dreary, rainy. Great, the weather matches my mood. I can get use to this, I think. Looking around, I saw Charlie and Daniela at the window, waiting for me. Okay, Bella, let's get this over with. Planting a slight smile on my face, I slowly made my way to them.
The moment I saw Charlie, I wanted to drop my bags and run to him. The whole time I was in the hospital, he was the one I wished was there. It was strange but true. I knew Grandfather was there, but the doctors wouldn't let him come into my room after what happened when Grandfather took hold of my hand. I had screamed. Grandfather had let go of my hand right away and backed away. And, like I already said, the doctors kicked him out and wouldn't let him come back in the room.
I didn't drop my bags but continued walking. Stopping in front of Charlie, I set my bags on the floor.
"Isabella," Charlie said, gathering me into a hug.
Surprisingly, I didn't flinch at the contact, but rather melted into his embrace and wrapped my arms around his waist. Charlie rested his cheek on my head as I held on to him. I didn't let go of him for the longest time.
"Welcome home. Here, I got this for you," he said, once I released him and handed me a small bag.
When I looked up at him, he had a smile on his face.
Not trusting my voice, I gave him a slight smile back. Opening the bag, I found two small boxes. The first I opened contained was a standard issue Star Command combadge. It was slightly different from the one Charlie and Daniela wore. I didn't question this, knowing that dependents of officers were giving plain brushed gold ones to wear. I placed it on my collar. Opening the second box, I was greeted by the sight of a necklace. It was a beautiful glass pendant with purple flecks on a simple silver chain. It touched me that Charlie remembered purple was my favorite color. I had a little trouble putting it on and was grateful when Charlie took it from me, helping me.
Once Charlie was done, I turned and smiled again.
"I'll show you to our quarters," Charlie said.
The silence was uncomfortable, but I was trying to commit all the turns to memory; there were too many. A map would be handy until I got use to the base.
"Bella," Daniela said, drawing my attention to her. "I know we don't have a session today, but I'm here if you want to talk and so is Charlie."
"I know," I whispered, finding my voice as we came to a stop outside a door.
I listened as Charlie explained how my combadge was programmed to open the door. He stepped aside and allowed me to go in ahead of him. I was a little leery, not trusting the door would slide open, but when I stepped forward, the door slid silently on its track, revealing the front room.
Charlie showed me around the apartment. "And this is your bedroom," he said, opening the door revealing a room that was a bigger than my room in Spokane.
The room was a soft purple and the bed was made with an ombre comforter with stripes of aqua, white and purple. The pillows had matching pillow cases. A black rug with white polka dots on it was on the floor near the bed. I could see white wicker baskets under the bed. There was also a white nightstand with a silver tree with twenty branches. A few familiar necklaces hung on it.
"I started unpacking some boxes last night," Charlie said, motioning toward the other side of the room where a white dresser sat on the wall.
On the adjoining wall was a window. An oversized gray chair and a white bookcase filled with my books. Everything looked new, minus the necklaces on the tree. I couldn't believe Charlie had created this room for me, or that he was spot on with my tastes.
"I'll be out front if you need me," he said.
"Okay," I answered, turning to face him; it was all I could manage in the way of words, but I wrapped my arms around him, giving him a big hug.
He looked a little disappointed when I pulled away after a brief hug but happy at the same time.
"All right, let me know if you need help with anything."
He left, and I started to unpack some of the boxes in the room, searching for the pictures of my parents, my grandmother, and guardians. I missed them so much. Clutching the framed images once I found them, I fell to the bed as the tears fall.