Hello everyone, here's the next installment. I'd like to thank everyone for all the support, reviews, alerts, favorites, PMs and enthusiasm towards my first experience here on fanfic. It's unbelievable and I'm loving every second of it :) I also wanted to let you know that if there was any confusion whatsoever with the last chapter (for instance, someone asked about Jane and Alec having to refuel…answer is no, they are meeting Demetri in Vancouver, Canada once they run out), anything at all that doesn't involve certain mysteries—Jeanine lol—just message me and I will gladly elaborate to the best of my ability. Even if it's concerning my little math thing lol I'm a math major so I won't even think twice before answering that haha (fyi that was just a little extra to explain my reasoning for the chopper and pickup). If you do not have an account and have a question, ask in a review and I will briefly answer it at the end of the next chapter (though I highly recommend you get an account, its free and makes things so much easier). Whoa, too long of an author's note, read, review, and enjoy!
I do not own any of Stephanie Meyer's work, solely the plot and some new characters in this story.
****************************Carlisle*********************************
"Tom? Tom can you hear me?" I asked tentatively. Jasper had found me on his way home, and no words were needed to see that Tom needed my immediate attention. He'd been unconscious for a worried amount of time and I was only barely getting a response from his fluttering eyelids.
"Oh dear, I hope he's alright," Esme worried beside me. I smiled at her receptively when she grabbed his hand and whispered more encouraging words to the poor boy. A heartbeat, about three quarters as fast as his normal rate, but very audibly beating. It was very fortunate Jasper had found him when he had and brought him to me, I could only imagine the state Oliver was in…he would need immediate attention within the next ten hours or so if he was as bad as Tom had been, otherwise…
"Carlisle!"
I turned my head abruptly at my eldest son's voice and my eyes widened.
Bella was in his arms, a defeated look in her downturned eyes, the corners of her lips pouted in somewhat of a scowl, but the most noticing aspect—
"What happened to her arm?" I asked incredulously.
"Put me down already," she muttered quietly, irritation evident behind her pain. Edward whispered a hurried 'you're hurt, you need to take it easy.'
He placed her gently on the sofa, and I noticed the crazed look in his face, lost and miserable beyond comprehension. I realized then that Bella and her arm were not the only problem in this picture…
"Where's Nessie?" asked Esme, voicing our parallel thoughts, the fear in her voice strained and unrelenting. One look at Edward, however, told us all we needed to know.
"Oh!" cried Esme, her eyes widening in panic. I could see my own panic mirrored in hers as our gaze locked.
"They got away," answered Bella in a small voice, her eyes lost in a pool of regret and shame. "It was my fault," she continued, her usual silky voice actually breaking, "I was so close—I saw her—and then—"
She leaped up as rage took over her golden eyes. "THEY GOT AWAY!"
Edward, looking just as tense and angry, suddenly softened, if only slightly. "Bella, sit down, you're injured, you shouldn't—"
Bella laughed bitterly. "This? This is nothing, Edward! If humans can put pieces of themselves back together, Carlisle can fix me too, so stop worrying about ME! NESSIE is the one in trouble! OUR DAUGHTER IS IN DANGER!"
Edward's eyes widened more, a look of momentary hurt, hurt that Bella could even suggest such a thing regarding his little girl. His eyes narrowed then, hurt turning into anger. "If you think that I'm not worried, or angry OUT OF MY MIND—"
"THEN STOP FUSSING OVER ME ALREADY! WE HAVE A MORE IMPORTANT ISSUE TO DEAL WITH—"
"SHE'S JUST AS MUCH MY DAUGHTER AS SHE IS YOURS! SO DON'T EVEN THINK I DON'T CARE! IT'S DRIVING ME INSANE! SO IF YOU COULD JUST—"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" I bellowed out. Both Edward and Bella turned to look at me, silent with the same narrowed, angry glares. Bella flopped down angrily onto the couch and turned away from her crazed husband. Edward simply took a deep breath and fixed his attention on a corner of the room.
"Now," I said slowly, knowing Edward already knew what was on my mind, "we all need to calm down and assess this intelligently. I know you're both upset, we all are, but fighting with each other is only going to make things worse."
Bella shifted uncomfortably and I noticed for the first time her torn arm wrapped by her side. "Bella, I think you should come over her so I can start reattaching your arm. The venom should make the process much quicker than with a human but it still needs to be done right away—"
Edward suddenly froze, his head turning towards the front door. "Carlisle, try to tend to Bella quickly," he said in one breath, "Jacob's on his way, he's unconscious."
**************************Nessie**************************************
I had never really been to Canada, and now here I was in Vancouver, our helicopter hidden somewhere within the forest, cooped up in the cabin with a very ill, sticky, bloody, and practically naked Oliver draped over my lap. Jane had 'graciously' given up her 'tarnished' robe for a makeshift cloth cover for Oliver. In any other circumstance I would have been really uncomfortable dressing my first boyfriend's naked body, but of course these were far from normal circumstances. I'd only used the necessary amount of the black cloak to cover his private areas; I began occupying my time with cleaning what blood I could from his stained face and body.
"Re…nes…mee…" he suddenly croaked. My eyes widened. He was conscious!
"Oliver!" I said excitedly. Jeanine, who was guarding me, glanced irritably at me. I lowered my voice to a mere whisper. "Oliver! It's so good to hear your voice, you have no idea—"
"Tommmm," he slurred out, his eyelids fluttering between closed and half-way open.
Tom.
There was no doubt in my mind that he'd been found, something about the way Jeanine assured his safety when we exited the cave…it was odd, as much as I hated her for what she'd done to my mother, I couldn't amiss the careful way in which she'd carried Tom on our way out, almost tenderly. Tom was, of course, unconscious at the time.
I frowned, my heart aching. Even if Tom was ok, there was still so much to worry about. How was I supposed to explain to Oliver everything that had happened since the cave? He was in too much pain as it was, miserable already from before, and—
"Isso 'kay," he smiled weakly at me, noticing my sudden hesitation and frozen stance. He had already somewhat glanced at our surroundings, noticing the dark, graceful figure of Jeanine nearby. He knew things were bad, that much I could tell, and I silently thanked him for not making me repeat the horrible events that had taken place two hours ago…
Tom, Oliver, both unconscious…
Killing the wild vampire…
Jane's inhumane torture…
Mom falling probably over a thousand feet…mommy I hope you're ok…
I thought of my family…daddy would be going insane right now what with my being gone and mom being so injured…I could picture Jasper frantically trying to assuage everyone's panic and sorrow, Alice by his side concentrating on what was to come…Esme and Carlisle would be attending to mom and Tom, of course, with Rosalie helping wherever she was needed most…Emmett would be calming things down in his own way, with jokes…I smiled wanly at the thought. Good old uncle Emmett…but then another person materialized that shattered any ounce of optimism left within my tired mind…
Jake.
Jake wouldn't even know I was gone, and even if they called him, it was already too late…
Oh Jake, if I could at least have seen you one last time…
I felt Oliver's shaking hand against my cheek as he caught an escaped tear. I lifted my own hand and held his against my face, stabilizing his weak arm and smiling down at him. It was a moment of complete understanding.
Everything withstanding, we weren't alone, not yet anyway. We had each other.
*****************************Jeanine*******************************
I watched as the two looked silently into each other's eyes, a look of complete understanding. It sickened me, and yet…for some unfathomable reason I thought of the other brother, the one she called Tom. I felt pity for the boy, at least the imprinted one was going to be saved…well, for awhile longer anyway, depending on what the council thought, but Tom might not have even been found, left to die in the woods alone…
Who cares, Jeanine, there's no reason to feel guilty now. What's done is done, and besides, he is nothing of yours, more reason to dismiss it all…
I sighed quietly. My past, my choices, they were never going to leave me, I could see that…probably the reason you're getting all stupid over a teenage werewolf…
"I'll take her from here, Jeanine," Alec's voice interrupted my thoughts. "You can go hunt if you'd like."
I nodded, eager to get away from the too-human couple before me. Just remember, it wasn't all your fault…
***************************Jacob********************************
I opened my eyes groggily, the demanding urge to cough beating any other sense or instinct. I sputtered, water spouting in spurts from my raw throat. My surroundings began to come into focus, the pale face of Carlisle Cullen hovering worriedly over me.
What happened? Where's Nessie? I demanded, only to realize more water coming out in place of words.
"Calm down, Jacob," Carlisle soothed, "you almost drowned and I'm trying to pump all the water out."
Drowned? Wolves don't drown! I angrily began to retort but again was attacked by a series of coughs.
"Dude, stop trying to talk already!" another voice commanded. Seth.
My eyes followed the sound of his voice, alarm still healthy in my nerves. But I need to know what happened!
"They got away," someone finally answered. Edward, of course. He approached me from opposite Carlisle, the most fatigued, miserable, and demented expression on his face. "We don't know where they've taken her, but I'm almost certain it's to Volterra."
Then what are we waiting for? I made to get up but quickly failed; my body felt horrible. Who saved me anyway?
At this thought Edward's lips twitched slightly, the bland look in his eyes coloring minutely. "Rosalie."
WHAT!
"And to answer your other question, we need to regroup first. Believe me, I want to go over there this instant, but Bella…" he faltered. I struggled to keep up, I was still shocked—and horrified—that of all the mythical creatures in Forks, Washington, Barbie had been my savior…
"Not just because of Bella," another voice chimed in. Alice came over to Edward's side. "We can't just show up in Volterra and start pointing fingers. I've already seen that the Volturi have no idea whatsoever about Jane and Alec's plan, so if we drop in with any insinuations it could just mean a possible risk for Nessie and Oliver, as well as our entire family."
"But Nessie," I managed to choke out, surprised with the tortured tone of my voice. This time it was Edward who answered.
"I know, Jacob. It's killing me too."
So this one's not much of a cliffhanger, right? I tried not to make it so, remember that a bunch of stuff is going to be falling in place and happening so the cliffhangers are inevitable—I'm not really evil you know lol. Anyway, I'll try to update again tomorrow so until then please review! Anything on your mind, let me know (related to the story of course lol). Also, I only have thirteen votes thus far on my poll, so if you haven't voted yet, please do so! Just click on my profile and the poll will be on the top. I have my Carlisle-Esme one-shot practically completed but I really need to add in Esme's eye color so please, please, PLEASE vote. I don't want to be mean and threaten lack of updates for lack of votes…I would never do that don't worry lol. By the way, did anyone catch Jeanine's mysterious thoughts? Interesting, no? Any guesses? Lol, review! Thanks.