Disclaimer: All the Twilight stuff belongs to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing in her sandbox.

~oooOooo~

Chapter 9 Drag and Pull

Jasper POV

The mood hung so heavy in the house it was unbearable. It was all I could do to keep Edward just above suicidal and the rest of the family from going for each others throats in their stress and anxiety over being unable to find Bella. We all realized that if we did not succeed in finding Bella, we would loose Edward. We were trying to all support each other as a family but it was becoming more and more difficult. Every avenue lead to nothing, every road was a dead end. How could one little 18 year old girl manage to just disappear without a trace?

I had even paid a 'personal' visit to Mr. J Jenks in Seattle to discuss my displeasure with his lack of results and to encourage him to redouble his efforts. Hopefully his heart rate went back down a bit after I left and did not necessitate medical care. He would worry that I would not like the delay that would cause. I chuckled to myself at just how terrified the man was of me.

Carlisle and Esme had spent his entire two week leave from the hospital helping us search. Just opening the new hospital had great responsibilities and he had to get back to Highlands. Practicing medicine was important to Carlisle and Edward convinced not top jeopardize his position at the hospital, that the best thing for him to do was to go and flesh out our human alibis so that we all had a comfortable home to come to once we found her. There was nothing Carlisle could do here that we were not already doing.

~oooOooo~

Esme POV

"Son, I'm staying here with you."

I told Edward as I slipped my arm around his waist. He was standing, looking out over the river towards the sun setting and the colors dancing over the Olympic mountain range that bordered the sea. I mused about how similar he really was to his adopted father. Carlisle had the same look of worry darkening his beautiful face as he had looked out over our backyard at our home in Highlands before flying here to Forks to join in the search. They had been together for so many years, their habits and the small inflections in their voices and faces often mirrored each others.

"Mom, no. Dad needs you, you know he can't be without you."

Edward said softly as he turned to face me. I'm 109 years old mom, and I am just beginning to understand the bond you and dad share. I would never ask you to be apart. I never want you feeling any of the loneliness I feel, even briefly.

"I will not leave you, Edward. You can't be trusted to feed and care for yourself right now and you know it."

"Mom!"

"No, I mean it, son. I will not have you starve yourself again!"

"Mom, I promise I will hunt. Really, I will. You can check with Alice to make sure."

"Edward, do I have your word?"

"Mom . . ."

"No. I mean it. Your word you will feed at least once a week. Look me in the eye and swear it."

"Yes, mom. Once a week, at least. I Promise you, alright?" his eyes were adoring as he stared into mine, "I wouldn't be able to stand it if I knew I was the cause of you two being separated. I know how that feels and I just can't be the reason for any more pain. Please."

I studied my son for a few minutes. He was sincere, I was sure of that. Edward was not lying to me. Feeding just the few times I had gotten him out in the last two weeks had him thinking clearer and he was less easily distracted, almost back to the Edward I had known these 80 years . . . well, other than the obvious pain he was feeling without Bella.

"Come with me, Edward. Let's go find some dinner. I think we can talk the rest of the family into coming as well."

I was right and not only Carlisle, but Alice and Jasper and Emmet and Rosalie headed for the woods with us.

~oooOooo~

BPOV

I couldn't believe it! Though Jake was furious with me, Dale and his pit crew chief were ecstatic . . . something about riding better than any of them . . . but they couldn't be talking about me. I could not even walk on level ground without tripping over my feet! This was insane!

Ha! I laughed at the very idea of me racing. They must have been just kidding me, but at least I didn't get Jake fired. I thought I was in real trouble when they all came barreling down the track towards me. I braced myself for their wrath and screams only to be met by yells of excitement and congratulations, Dale actually lifting me up by my waist and spinning me around! I wasn't dreaming. Dale actually wanted me to ride the number one bike at our next race . . . Phoenix.

Phoenix.

That held so many memories for me, both good and bad. Overwhelmingly good though, surprisingly enough! I had spent most of my life in Phoenix, only moving to Forks a couple of years ago to live with my dad. Mom lived in a small house on the edge of the desert that I had grown to love. I was a sun worshiper, that's for sure. Though you would never know it from my pale, alabaster skin, I adored to spend hours drinking in the suns rays and the heat.

Though I had spent 18 years there full of memories and adventures, my few days there with 'him' were where my mind went. 'He' had come for me, 'he' had saved me. I had opened my eyes from the floor of the ballet studio where the crazed vampire had thrown me to see my angel there to rescue me.

My angel.

I truly thought 'he' was mine back then. A year ago . . . just a year had seen me loose everything. 'He' was gone. 'He' said he didn't love me, that I wasn't meant to be in 'his' world. 'He' didn't want me and left without me that horrible day in the woods.

I shook my head to clear it, realizing that I was in Phoenix again for a reason. I had a race to win, and racing was dangerous. I would get to see 'him'. Every time I got on that bike and roared down the track risking my life I would see and hear 'him' saying, "stop, don't do this. You promised", and it would be worth it. It would be enough, it had to be . . . it was all I had.

My first ride down the track in Louisiana had been a wild hair on my part, a desperate attempt to see 'him' again. Martin had sent me to get the bike from the trailer and bring it into the shop for him to work on, neither he nor I knew I would end up taking it for a fast ride down the drag strip! It was a last minute decision just to do something to see 'him'. The race they had me compete in the next day had gotten me my vision as well, and it had gotten them the trophy. We were all pleased, but for very different reasons.

The guys had been teaching me all month how to ride, how to feel the bike, judge the gear shifts, square the weight. I would never describe what I was feeling as confidence, but I was excited to race the bike because of the visions I had. They knew nothing of this, of course, Dale and Jake. They would never have let me on the bike if they knew how crazy I really was! Jake was beside himself with worry over the idea anyway, even though he bragged on my mad skills as a rider because he was the one who had taught me back on the trails and beach in La Push.

The morning of the race flowed smoothly, everything clicking into order as Marvin and Jake prepared the bike in the garage. I flashed my pass as I went to join them. Security was tight here at the track, something about the guard having seen some girl in the restricted area last evening after we all left, and some equipment missing. It was immaterial to me, just an annoyance like all the other events happening around me that didn't involve 'him'. Jake was the exception to this. Jake was my lifeline, my best friend. The hole in my chest didn;t seem to burn as badly and I seemed less empty when I was with him, which is why I sought him out this morning.

"You ready for this, Bells?" Jake asked as he stared at me.

"Ready as ever. All good, right?"

"Alright then, if you're sure. I have confidence in you, Bells, you can do this! You are amazing, chica!" Jake said as he bent and kissed my head. "Your leathers are in the dressing room waiting on you. Time to suit up! I'll be on the track with the bike waiting for ya!"

I won!

I won EVERY race!

EVERY RACE!

More important to me, I saw 'him' several times before I hit the quarter mile, every race.

As I sat atop Jakes' shoulders headed into the winners circle for the finale of the event, I was as happy as I had been since 'he' left. Maybe I could do this.

~oooOooo~

Emmett POV

April had come and gone, and May was halfway over. Nothing. We had no more idea of where Bella was now than we had when we first arrived back here to Forks. Edward had been true to his word, hunting at least once a week, and had returned to some shadow at least of his former self. His mind was once again sharp. When we were not actively involved in something to do with Bella, we would distract ourselves and alleviate some tension by playing video games, at lest the guys. We even got Edward to play a time or two!

"Dude, I so creamed you in Call of Duty!"

"You so lost at Grand Theft Auto! I know you're still embarrassed over that showing," Jasper chided, "I can FEEL your emotions, remember! No use lying about it!"

Alice chuckled and leaned in to kiss my temple.

"Fine!" I said, turning off the video on the TV, the news flashing on in the background.

As I hurled one of the remotes at Jasper, I heard the anchor on TV talking about the Screaming Eagle Harley Drag Races that had been held in Phoenix. They showed some clips of the little girl we had seen winning the race. She was apparently something of a mystery, as she would only allow them to recognize her as Rider#1.

"Guys, listen to this, that little girl is really tearing up the tracks! She is the favorite to win in Atlanta the beginning of next month! Hey, that track is less than 2 hours from the house in Highlands! Why don't we all go and see the race and check in on Carlisle and Esme!"

"I'm not leaving till Bella is found, Emmett," Edward said with a frown.

"I'm not suggesting we quit anything, Edward, just change the scenery around us while we continue to search and we could move some vehicles to Highlands while we are at it. When we do find her, we won't be living here, right? We will need things to be in Highlands."

"He's right. I can monitor our Internet contacts and tracking devices from wherever we are, and I believe Rose can do the same with the credit card and licensing checks, right Rose?"

"As long as I have Internet, I'm good," responded Rose as she flipped through her magazine, one leg thrown haphazardly over the arm of the recliner she occupied.

Alice went blank for a moment - Jasper scooted closer to her and gently rubbed circles on her back to sooth her as she took in the vision she was having. She abruptly focused on Edward.

"I still can't see her, but I see something. Something vague and in leather sitting on someones shoulders, its fuzzy and I don't understand it. There seems to be a lot of screaming and yelling, like there is a crowd there but it's so foggy I can't tell. . ."

"That's good news, Alice," Edward had a small spark in his eye for the first time since last fall, "This is the first time you even thought you caught a glimmer of Bella in the three months we've been here, other than seeing that she wouldn't be here when I first arrived!"

"It's settled then, we go to the race!" I exclaimed as I jumped to my feet.

"What, no, hold on . . . ," Edward stammered.

"He's right Edward," Alice insisted, "whatever I'm seeing, it could be at a race, just as easily as anywhere else. We should go. We can get a couple of the cars across country and visit mom and dad at the same time."

"Road Trip!" yelled Emmett.

"No way in hell I am riding in a car across country, stopping to see the small town sights - Worlds Largest Ball Of Twine in Nebraska - I don't think so," Rose scoffed disgustedly, "I'll fly down and meet you guys the morning of the race. It should take you, what, three days to drive it if you stop and hunt?"

"Yes! Stop and hunt! Grizzlies in the Rockies in Colorado are still in bad moods from hibernating! Prime hunting time!"

I almost growled with enthusiasm as everyone laughed at me, Alice going so far as to fall off the sofa and roll across the living room floor cackling and holding her stomach! Of her eyes could water, they would have been as hard as she was laughing.

~oooOooo~

APOV

We decided that Jasper and I would take my Porsche while Emmett and Edward would drive Edward's Volvo. Edward was reluctant to go in the first place, but the idea of being in a car for three days smelling Bellas' lingering scent made the idea bearable for him. Things that reminded him of her didn't drop him to his knees now like they did when he was trying to stay away from her, they only strengthened his resolve to find her and seemed to make him miss her even more.

I kept telling him of my feeling that this would be really important for us to do, though I did not know why! What I told no one and hid from Edward was the intensity of feeling I got from the vision. It seemed as though it was a matter of life and death, that Bella was in danger of some sort. God, I wish we knew where she was so that we could go to her!

I went to see Charlie again just before we left to see if he had heard anything at all from her.

"She called," Alice. When Charlie said that, I screamed mentally for Edward to stay in the car out front. I had heard him nearly rip the handle off the door as he first heard Charlie's news. I knew he was listening, but his presence would not get Charlie talking.

"She left a voice message, just saying that she was alright and that she needed to be there for Jacob and that she was sorry if she was worrying me."

"I told that Jenks fella, the private eye that you hired, this morning when he called. He wanted a copy of the message and I just got back from having two copies made. I thought you would want one", he said as he handed me the small tape off the kitchen table. "I gave him permission to access my phone records, Alice, I hope it helps."

"I hope so too, Charlie," I said as I took the small tape and turned to walk toward the front door.

"Alice."

"Yes," I said and turned to face him.

"I want you to understand how much I appreciate the lengths you are going to to help find her. I can only imagine, that fella Jenks said he had three of his men full time on only this case only. That must be costing you some big bucks," he scuffed his shoe on the floor and with his hands in his pockets looked up and me and said, "I have to ask, is this your doings, or . . . Edwards?"

"If you're asking who is footing the bill, Charlie, that would be Edward," Charlie's face started to turn red and he looked as though he was going to protest but I continued, "but it doesn't matter. If he wasn't, the rest of us would and we are all - even Carlisle and Esme - actively involved in the search. This isn't about money, Charlie, and it isn't about stepping on toes or pride and if you feel that we have done something to offend you, I'm sorry. We just have to find her. Edward won't survive without her, much like she wasn't surviving without him, Charlie. You know I'm right - deep down, you know it. You've seen it."

"I guess that's so. They're just so young, Alice, too young to be this serious! He's the one that did this to her, Alice. He left her! Why the hell did he leave her if he loves her?"

"That's a question you'ill have to ask him, Charlie. We're headed off for a few days to track down a lead in Georgia, but we will let you know if we find anything. Here's my number, I would appreciate knowing if you hear anything from her, too. Thank you for the tape," I said over my shoulder as I headed out the door.

Edward was about break the steering wheel, he was gripping it so hard, his eyes staring at the R8 still sitting in the driveway. I said nothing, but handed him the tape. He held it as if it was gold, and I knew he and Emmett would be hearing it a lot on the way to Georgia.

All the goodbyes were said to Rose. Her flight didn't leave for 2 days and I think she was looking forward to a little down time with peace and quiet while we were all gone. She had serviced and tuned all the vehicles, including her BMW that would be the only car remaining at the house for the time being.

The trip was uneventful, Emmett could not have entertained us more as he took down three grizzlies in one night of hunting, playing with each and trying to rile them up. It was hysterical for Jasper and I to watch! Edward even managed two mountain lions which, along with Bellas' voice on the tape, put him in the best mood we had seen this year. We were all encouraged. Bella was alive, she had called just days before.

Using the phone records from Charlie's, we had tracked down the pay phone that Bella had used to call. We stopped at the rest area in Georgia that the call had been made from. It was a lone phone booth with no security hired to watch the rest area, and no one to have sen her make the call. Edward spent several hours in the phone booth and the surrounding area, tracking exactly where she had gotten out of a vehicle and where she had gone. She had gotten water at the fountain just outside the ladies rest room and been in the rest room s well as the telephone booth. To be in this rest area, she was headed East into Atlanta. I kept getting sparks, glimmers of things, and I hoped it was that our proximity to her had increased, allowing the strength of my visions to grow. A small glint of hope sometimes flashed across Edwards face, but only briefly. We all hoped.

"Rosie!" Emmett yelled as he grabbed his wife by the waist and swung her around.

"Put me down you big oaf!"

Rose indignantly snarled at him, as only Rose could. A smile crossed her face in spite of herself. Her flight had been on time and she hopped into the back seat of the Volvo, as did Emmett, when we met her plane at the airport.

"Race Time!" shouted Emmett! He was really, genuinely psyched up about seeing this race. Apparently he and Rose were quite taken with the little girl that was fast becoming famous in racing circuits.

I was on cloud nine from having Bella's voice in my ear from the tape and having smelled her at the rest area. She had been there not a week ago and it was all I could do to not get my hopes up.

I put on a good face as we entered the track, my siblings looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the race. Carlisle had an emergency at the hospital and would not be coming down, but we'd see him tomorrow at the Highlands house and mom. God, I loved that woman. She had pulled me out of the state I was in the meadow and convinced me that there was hope, that I should fight. She had cared for me and forced food down my throat and the promise that I would hunt, as only a mother could. I needed to be a better son to her and I would make a point of it in the future. The future, I was actually beginning to think of a future for me. My hopes of finding Bella alive had grown and I only hoped she had not moved on and no longer wanted me. It would be fair, of course, but I hoped she still felt about me the way I felt about her. I know she loved me before I left.

I appeared to watch the races, clapped and yelled in all the appropriate spots and smiled for my siblings. They deserved a fun day - they deserved so much more. More from me and I needed to give it to them. Alice smiled at me knowing I was a fake but thinking me for it anyway.

I kept getting whiffs of what smelled vaguely like Bella, I couldn't be certain if it was my mind playing tricks and remembering vividly the smell from the rest area or if I was inventing it - but it was driving me mad. I just couldn't trust my instincts, not feeding for so long at times had left me unsure as to what was real and what was just imagined.

The girl they had come to see had won every race and the last race was just about to start.

"Emmett, just NO!" Rosalie said as she smacked his shoulder, "You are so not getting a bike like that!"

"But Rosie," Emmett pleaded, "I'm indestructible, remember, and the top fueling nitrous oxide makes it go bad ass fast! Back me up here, Edward!"

Edward looked over at him with a smirk and said, "You're kidding yourself if you think there's ever a chance she'll let you have one," as he tapped his temple with a knowing look.

"Damn!" exclaimed Emmett, realizing Edward would have read her mind and seen that there was no chance she would give in.

Stopping on the back lot, just at the end of the drag strip to chat, Edward admitted it had been a good trip so far, "Thanks, guys, for dragging me out. I'm happy to spend some time with all of you, I know I've been difficult. I appreciate you being there for me and helping me find her more than you know . . . really, thanks."

I kissed him on the cheek, my arm around him and said, "It's alright brother, we love you."

His knees seemed to give way as strong emotions took over. As I grabbed him around the waist to help support him, our attention turned to the track. A mass of helmet, leather, steel and rubber tumbled past to the end of the track. It was just one jumbled mess, the result of high speed gone terribly wrong. As the mass bounced off the fencing and came to rest on the dirt, pieces still rolling away and clattering to a halt, a familiar smell hit us. The smell of the human at the bottom of all the disruption my family had endured the last year. She had to be close, the smell was overpowering - then it hit, the smell of blood, fresh blood.

"Bella! Oh God, she's in the wreck!" I yelled, but Edward was already gone, flying back to the track. "Stop him! Her Blood!"

All four of us raced to catch him, knowing that her blood "sang" to him, that he could barely resist killing her when she was just in a room with him. We happened to be somewhat hidden behind a short wall when we caught her scent just after we heard the crash. Edward had always been faster than any of us and he was driven past all limits. This was Bella we were talking about. Her safety was at the forefront of our thoughts but, with her blood flowing freely, we feared not only for her safety, but that he would expose us all in front of thousands of people at the racetrack by draining her in front of them.

The bike seemed to be moving again, it hurled up and away from the body on the ground. We reached her less than 30 seconds behind him, but he was already kneeling over her. When I saw him look up at me with blood on his lips, my heart sank! Oh God! Were we too late!

I screamed, my hands flying to cover my face. He knelt with his body hovering over the small broken form, his hands pressing her to the ground. His arms, his face . . . Edward was covered in blood . . . her blood. He raised his face away from her to look at me, eyes black, menacing, wilder than I had ever seen and blood covering his lips.

"Edward, what have you done!"

~oooOooo~