Turmoil [Emmett Cullen] (3)

[23 - Battle Scars]

Back on the battlefield, everyone stood together in the clearing and heaved a sigh of relief, temporarily distracting me from what just happened.

Emmett started laughing and pumped the air with his fist, still juiced up with the excitement of the battle. The release of tension crackled in the air.

I was not prepared for the beaming smile on his face as he picked me up and kissed me passionately.

Jasper was rubbing absently at his left forearm.

"Jasper, are you all right?" I asked.

He nodded, "The venom stings."

"You were bitten?" I asked, horrified.

"He was trying to be everywhere at once," Alice said. "Trying to make sure I had nothing to do. Overprotective fool," she grimaced.

After a few minutes, Carlisle touched Esme's face and said, "I must attend to Jacob."

"Yes, we need to go." He kissed her gently on the forehead.

I was too willing to come back home. After these last couple months, we could finally put the threats behind us, at least for the time being.

Edward went up to Carlisle's office to pack up his supplies to treat Jacob. Meanwhile, Carlisle called Billy Black to ask for permission to cross the border. I didn't anticipate Billy saying no. Since Jacob couldn't go to a normal hospital, Carlisle was the only option.

"Bella, your father is still at Billy's," Carlisle said.

"Maybe you should stay here with Alice until Charlie goes home," Edward suggested, since Charlie was under the impression Bella had gone to Olympia for a shopping trip. "Then I'll come and get you."

"No! I have to see him!" she insisted.

"Edward is right, Bella," Carlisle said gently. "I'm going to give Jacob a large sedative so I can reset his bones. It won't be pleasant."

Tears welled in her eyes as the realisation dawned on her.

She nodded reluctantly, "Please call me when Charlie leaves."

Then Carlisle and Edward left to go to the reservation. Fortunately, Alice had a myriad of activities to pass the time. The rest of us went to living room.

"How much did it hurt?" I asked Jasper as I eyed the new bite mark on his forearm.

"I've had worse." Jasper smiled a little ruefully.

"You know, you two make a really good team," he then said to Emmett and I. "Remember that guy in the black hoodie? El, you knocked him down and before he even hit the ground, Emmett tore his head off." Jasper was grinning now.

I allowed myself to be happy for that moment, it was a good manoeuvre.

Esme flicked on the TV to the news. To no surprise, the reporter was commenting on the recent surge in bodies found. People whose lives were over, whose families were in mourning. People who had parents and children and friends and jobs and hopes and plans and memories and futures. Everything was taken away from them. And for what? Victoria's own personal vendetta against Bella? Against our family?

When I couldn't take listening to the reporter rattle off statistics about the death toll any more, Emmett and I went upstairs to our room to change.

"I like your hair like this." Emmett smiled softly as I removed my hair ties. Alice braided my hair close to my head. That way a newborn couldn't grab it.