(Jacob’s POV)
I woke up because my dad was messing around. I looked at my alarm clock; it was 12:21am. I had no idea why he would wake up at this time of night but I decided to check up on him. I walked into the living room and saw he was looking for something, although I wasn’t sure if he knew what he was looking for.
“Dad? What are you doing up and dressed at this time of night?” I asked tiredly. He looked up at me from his wheelchair and I saw he was as pale as we could be with our skin tone. “Dad? You look like..” I started. “Bella is in the hospital!” he half shouted. My mouth dropped, feeling the most horrible thought creeping up to me.
“Charlie called me. He got a phone call from the Port Angeles Police Department, I guess because Bella put him in her phone under ICE.” Billy explained. “But how…” I started.
My dad seemed to know what I wanted to ask because he interrupted me, “Their neighbor heard the entire fight, but she was scared to go over there, until she saw Edward leave the house. Then she decided to check up on Bella and called the police when she…found her…” Billy concluded. My head started spinning and my mouth ran dry… What has he done to her? “So I promised to meet with Charlie, so I can keep him calm, otherwise he might go do something to that Edward that he can’t be doing as a chief of police.” Billy whispered. “Can I come, dad?” I carefully asked. Billy nodded, “Sure Jake, a big strong man like yourself is always welcome in these situations.”
I ran back into my bedroom, grabbed a pair of jeans and a shirt. Put them and my sneakers on and by the time that was done, it appeared my dad had found his car keys. He pulled himself behind the steering wheel as I folded the wheelchair and put it in the back seat. Then, when I got in he drove us to Port Angeles where Charlie was at the police station hearing from his colleagues what had happened.
When Billy and I arrived at the police station, where we were to meet with Charlie, we heard him yelling all the way down the hall. “So you’ve heard her being mistreated for years and you haven’t done anything? Dammit woman!” he shouted, followed by the sound of his fist banging onto the table really hard. We followed that sound, and as we approached a small office, Charlie was led outside by another officer, “That’s enough for you Sir. You should focus on your daughter, not play tough guy with the only witness in this case.” Charlie restored himself, wiping some tears from his cheeks. When he saw Billy and me standing there, he fell apart. “Please, take me to my little girl…” he whispered. And so we did. Not one of us spoke a word on our way over to the hospital.
We reported at the information desk and the lady there directed us to the floor and room where Bella was admitted. As we got closer to the room where we would find Bella, we started walking a bit slower, as if lead filled our shoes, afraid of how we would find her.
Billy and I stayed back at the hall as Charlie walked into the little room. We heard him cry and I wheeled Billy inside to check on them. What I saw there was awful. It looked like Bella was mistreated in the most terrible way, with cuts and bruises as far as my eyes could see. She had an oxygen mask on her face and she had an I.V. in her hand.
I put my hand on Charlie’s shoulder, as he carefully clamped his hand around her small hand. Then a nurse came in, “Oh, hello, I trust you are Miss Swan’s relatives?” Charlie nodded, “I’m her father…What happened to her? How is she?” The nurse urged Charlie and me to have a seat, so we sat around the bed, Charlie never letting go of Bella’s hand. “She’s seriously injured. Although there are no fractures, she has a lot of bruises. Her back is injured and she has a concussion. She has an oxygen mask to help her breathe easier , as I am sure she’ll need it,” she sighed, pointing at the marks on her neck, “He clearly tried to strangle her.” I clenched my teeth, “What about the I.V.?” She nodded, “We decided to give her some morphine to kill the pain.”
Then Bella softly stirred and the nurse retreated to give us some time alone with her.
(Bella’s POV)
I slowly woke up from what seemed to be the deepest sleep ever. I was so groggy, my entire head ached. I tried to open my eyes, but that even hurt. What was going on? “Bella?” I heard a familiar voice say. “Daddy?” I squeaked, trying to open my eyes. Gosh what happened to my voice? Or did I always sound so hoarse? I felt someone cling onto my hand so tightly, “Oh yes, yes baby I’m here!”
I carefully opened one eye blinking at the painfully bright light. There he was, my dad, looking at me with tears in his eyes. “Where am I?” I asked most confused. My dad patted my hand, “You’re in the hospital baby, but you’re going to be fine!” “Wh- why?” I managed to ask. I saw my dad put his head down, as I managed to open my other eye too. Then I noticed Billy and Jacob Black were there too. I tried to sit up and straighten myself a bit, but when I tried, a jolt of pain cut through me like a sharp knife. I hissed between my teeth, grabbed my back, and dropped back into the pillows. My dad had jumped from his seat, looking at me worried. And then it dawned on me, Edward put me here.
I closed my eyes and saw him punch me in my face, before he dragged me up the stairs and threw me into a corner of the bedroom. He tried to rape me, but I gave him such a hard time he settled for trying to strangle me. I can’t breathe! I grabbed my throat, and started hyperventilating. I felt the wounds on my throat, where my nails had scratched my skin when I tried to peel his hands off my throat. I pushed the oxygen cap onto my mouth and nose more firmly, sucking the air into my lungs deeply. “I thought I was going to die…when he was trying to strangle me,” I whispered. I saw Jacob’s fist shake in anger. Charlie kissed my hand, “You’re not going back there, you’re coming home with me, and we’ll transfer your classes to Forks.”
I nodded closing my eyes, I was in too much pain to resist anything, and home didn’t sound so bad, after what happened to me. Charlie, Billy and Jacob left the room, giving me some rest. What about Edward? Will he be arrested and sent to jail for what he did? Did I have to testify? Would I be safe from him? I sank to sleep, reliving this horrible night over and over.
(Jacob’s POV)
I leaned against the wall outside Bella’s room. “So what’s the next step?” I gritted between my teeth. Charlie put his head down. “As an officer I cannot do anything; this happened outside my jurisdiction and I am too involved. But as her father I will do my best to keep her safe,” he vowed. And we all vowed that, for as long as it would be needed. We stayed the night in the hospital, sleeping on the benches outside Bella’s room.
I awoke the next morning to the sounds of nurses doing to their work in the hallway, handing out medications, breakfasts and helping people go to the bathroom. I stretched and sat up straight, when I saw a doctor coming over to us. I shook Charlie, waking him up, and then I shook Billy. Charlie woke up so fast, it almost seemed he was struck by lightning. The doctor nodded at us checking his chart, “Mr. Swan?” “Y-yes?” Charlie replied. The doctor cleared his throat, “I have evaluated your daughter and if you have a safe place for her to stay, she can be discharged this afternoon.” I felt my heart jump with joy. “There will have to be someone keeping an eye on her and helping her out as she continues to heal, and she’ll need to take some medication too,” he continued. I saw Charlie nod, tearing up. I bet the thought of bringing Bella back to Forks with him was overwhelming him. “She will need some counseling too, as she has been through some very traumatic experiences. I trust you will find a good counselor?” the doctor asked. “Of course we will doctor,” my father replied. Charlie nodded, “I will do anything to help my daughter!”
(Bella’s POV)
I woke up from the ruckus on the hospital’s hallway. I tried to open my eyes, but the bright light shining into my eyes hurt, so I slammed my eyes shut again. God I feel like I was hit by a truck or something. I heard a soft knock on the door and croaked a “Come in.” “Bella?” I heard my dad whisper. “Hmmmmm….” I barely managed to bring out. I felt his big, warm hand clutch mine carefully. “The doctor said it was ok for us to take you home this afternoon.” A jolt shot through my body and my eyes flew open; wide open. “Don’t worry, I mean my home, not your old home. You’re never going back there honey, never!” I shut my eyes and remembered everything my dad said to me yesterday. About moving back in with him, transferring my classes. But what about Edward? He’d go ballistic if I were to leave him.
Then I heard a nurse enter my room. “Morning miss Swan, I have some breakfast for you, and then you will be washed up and the doctor will come to check up on you before you will be discharged,” she said in the most friendly way. I groaned and I heard my dad thank her. “C’mon sweetheart, you have to try to eat something.” I opened my eyes looking at my dad’s worried face. He looked older than the last time we met. Worries must do that to a person, I guess. I sat up a bit as my dad fixed my pillows behind my back. Then I grabbed a slice of toast and had a go, but the crunching of the toast caused my head to ache so badly. I ended up eating some pudding and drinking a glass of orange juice.
When I was done, two nurses came into the room; one of them cleaning out the tray while the other started preparing a bowl of warm water to help me wash up. My dad kissed the side of my head. “I’ll be outside with Billy and Jacob waiting until you’re ready, sweetheart.” Jacob’s still here? Why was he still here? I nodded and tried to sit up straight as the nurse put the bowl of warm water, two wash cloths and a towel on the table beside the bed. “Will you be requiring some help miss? Or do you prefer to freshen yourself up?” the nurse carefully asked. “I’ll do it myself, thanks,” I whispered as I grabbed a washcloth and nodded at the nurse. “Very well miss, I’ll be at our desk, just use the button to call me when you’re ready, or if you need any help,” she said putting a pile of clean clothes on the bed within my reach.
I sighed as I started to wash my aching body. The warmth of the water felt pleasantly good to my sore skin. I closed my eyes and thought of going home to my dad’s. I loved living there… Why did I ever leave in the first place? Oh yeah, Edward insisted…
