Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Atonement

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 13:

BPOV

Garrett and I rode in a black sedan driven by a man who looked very serious. He didn’t smile. He didn’t talk. He just looked straight ahead. This didn’t seem to surprise Garrett so I was guess he was used to this.

I spent an hour trying to figure out what to wear to meet the President. Garrett decided on a pair of blue jeans he picked up from his closet floor, a Led Zepplin t shirt, black combat boots and a black leather jacket. He told me once I had met a dozen or so Presidents I would stop worrying about trying to impress them.

I hadn’t met a dozen Presidents. I hadn’t met any. I wanted to impress. I finally decided on a simple black skirt that went to my knees and a simple white blouse.

I looked out the window and didn’t see the White House. Instead we drove into a parking garage. I looked at Garrett confused, but he just patted my leg. Then he started rubbing my leg. So not the time. So distracting.

Damn I wanted more.

But I wanted to meet the President. Apparently we were meeting the President in a parking garage.

The car was driving towards a wall. The brick wall moved. Now we were in a tunnel.

Ten minutes later we were in another garage. This one was only one floor. From the sounds of traffic above us about one hundred yards away I had a feeling this was an underground garage.

“You know the way.” The driver said, speaking for the first time.

Garrett nodded and opened the door. He grabbed my hand and pulled me out. We walked to a solid steel door. Garrett punched in a number on a keypad by the handle and the door opened. We walked in and saw a guard. He didn’t seem surprised to see us. Behind the guard were two soldiers holding rifles. The guard motioned for us to raise our arms.

People didn’t talk much around here. Garrett raised his arms so I did as well. The guard ran a metal detector over us and then we walked through what looked like an X ray machine.

Cleared, I suppose, the soldiers let us go.

A small part of my brain realized that one of them smelled very, very good. Hold it down Bella. You just ate.

I downed three bags of blood before I came here. Didn’t want to take a chance on eating the President. That would probably get me evicted from my Pentagon apartment.

We made a few turns and entered an elevator that also had two soldiers standing by it. They also didn’t smile. I suppose working underground guarding an elevator all day wouldn’t make for an exciting time.

Garrett punched another security code in and we were going up. The door opened and I saw we were in the actual White House now. At least a part of the house. Looked like the back. I heard keyboards being clicked furiously up front, phones ringing, people talking and walking. It was 5 PM. Near the end of the regular workday but still the place was buzzing. A couple Secret Service guys were standing by a door. They saw us and one talked into a little microphone inside his jacket. I suppose he was quiet enough that a normal person would not hear.

“The freaky CIA guy is here. He has a hot chick with him.”

“Copy. They are expected. Let them in. Rattler is waiting.” The disembodied voice replied from his jacket.

“Rattler?” I whispered.

“President’s Secret Service Code name.” Garrett whispered back.

“Freaky CIA guy?” I whispered.

“They can go fuck themselves.” He whispered back.

Okay then.

The agents stepped aside and one opened the door and smiled at me. Garrett growled quietly. I think I was the only one who heard it.

We walked in and saw two agents inside the door. Holy shit I was in the Oval Office.

“Garrett welcome. And you must be Bella.”

The President of the United States stood up from behind his desk and walked around to us, sticking out his hand.

“Good to see you Mr. President.” Garett replied, taking his hand. He offered his hand to me and I shook it very gently.

“Gentleman if you will step outside?”

“Yes Mr. President.” The two Secret Service Agents walked outside without a second glance.

“Now that they are gone we can talk. How’s it been hanging Garrett? I hear you have had a few adventures lately.”

“Yes Dave. Quite a few adventures.” Garrett smiled.

Dave?

“Bella would you like to have a seat? I wanted to get to know you a bit.”

“Of course Mr. President.”

“None of that. When the stiffs are around we can go with formalities. When it is just us, call me Dave.”

“I’ll wait outside.” Garrett said. Surprising the hell out of me.

“Wait! Where are you…”

“I believe Dave wants to get to know you alone. I’ll be right outside.” Garrett smiled.

“Garrett…” I did not want to be alone with the leader of the free world…

“Relax Bella. You aren’t an intern and there haven’t been any cigars in the White House in years.” The President laughed.

“I can’t…”

“I trust you Bella. So does Dave. I’ll be right outside.” Garrett kissed me gently on the lips and walked outside.

I realized I was completely alone with the President.

Dave.

“So uh… nice house?”

“Have a seat Bella. Let’s play a game. I will tell you what I know about you and you can tell me what you know about me. Why don’t you go first?”

Okay.

“President David Rodriguez, former Congressman from Texas. You joined the Navy out of high school. Navy Seal for four years, served in the first Iraq War, went to the University of Texas, majored in philosophy, Baylor Law School after that. Worked in Houston Texas as an assistant District Attorney. You ran for District Attorney in Houston and won. Four years later you ran for Congress and won. You were elected President last year.”

“Very good. Garrett gave you a pretty good briefing of my history.”

“Actually Garrett didn’t tell me anything. I read it on your Wikipedia page before I left.” I admitted.

He laughed. I guess that was okay.

“What else did my Wikipedia page say?”

“Your wife died during your campaign. A brain aneurism. You are a single father of a 16 year old girl. I was sorry to read that.” I told him honestly.

“Thank you.” The smile left his face. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought that up. Maybe he wanted me too.

“Now it’s my turn. Isabella Swan. Great student. Not many extra curricular activities in Phoenix. Moved your junior year to Forks Washington to live with your father so your mother could travel with her new husband. You lived there not quite a year before you went missing. You are still missing and presumed dead. Your parents didn’t take it well. I understand Garrett has taken care of that. That’s good. I need my people in the right state of mind. All things, especially personal concerns need to be taken care of so your mind can be completely on the mission.

You became involved with Edward Cullen, a member of an animal feeding coven of vampires. You were attacked by a wandering vampire and Edward and his family killed the vampire. You sustained injuries but stayed with him. He left along with his family. The vampire that was killed had a girlfriend who took revenge by turning you into a vampire and leaving you alone, even going so far as to arrange a man to visit you after you awoke. You killed people your fist year. I understand that is common. Honestly I don’t know how you stopped. The way Garrett describes the lust for blood… well let’s just say I haven’t been able to quit cigars. So my hats off to you.”

“I killed 38 people.” I told him bluntly.

“Yes. A rather small number. Had you stayed in a city you would have killed many more. Instead you hid in the woods trying to stay away. You then decided to go to the Pentagon to let us know about vampires and offer yourself up to be experimented on to determine how we might kill vampires. I find this strange. Only one other has ever done this. Ty. You felt guilt. Most vampires continue killing. Become better at hiding the bodies of their prey. You decided you would rather die than hurt someone else. That is why I am so impressed with you. Why I trust you without even knowing you.”

“Thank you sir.” I really didn’t know what to say.

“Let’s see. What else do I know about you? You like to read classics. Mostly Victorian literature. You bite your bottom lip when nervous or embarrassed. You have a friend who is a shape shifter. You helped rescue trapped sailors in a damaged submarine and didn’t eat them even though there was blood all around. You saved a Seal by holding a bleeding artery. You also jumped in front of a demon to try to save a man who you had never met. Not only that but you killed the demon.

What else? You prefer casual dress. You are obsessive about your training. And you have recently became involved with Garrett. Of course that was confirmed by the kiss he just gave you which was not a gesture of affection between co workers.”

“How do you know all this about me? Did Garrett tell you?”

“No. Actually Garrett is pretty tight lipped about you. I can see now why. He is in love with you. I have only known Garrett a year but never seen him smile. That was a first. I am glad. Like I said, I like my people happy.”

“So…”

“Ty and Father Francis.”

“Ty?”

“Yes. You will learn that if you don’t tell Ty to keep something to himself he is going to talk about it. To me at least. And Garrett. Francis also. Ty likes to talk. He talks to your parents often without saying anything to you about it, doesn’t he?”

I nodded.

“Ty talks to you? Does Garrett know?”

“Of course. I watched Ty play ball in College. Amazing athlete. It broke my heart when he disappeared. Imagine my surprise when he shows back up as a vampire. Hell imagine my surprise period to learn about vampires. The secrets you learn as President, Bella, are amazing. Witches, vampires, werewolves, demons, shape shifters. I learned all this in my first week while trying to organize my staff. Area 52 blew my mind.”

“Area 52? I thought it was Area 51?”

“Exactly.” He winked. Have to remember to ask Garrett about that.

“So Ty told you all this?”

“And Francis. He was also a Seal. Served with me before discharging and becoming a priest. He is one of my best friends. Since he knew about Garrett there was really no need to keep him in the dark about anything else. I trust the man with my life. He took a bullet for me once.”

“Wow.”

“Yes.”

“So why did you want to see me? Just to get to know me? It seems you know a lot about me already.”

“No actually I need a favor.”

Okay.

“Of course.”

“My daughter Danielle. She likes to be called Dani. She is scheduled to take a class trip to Italy. I want you to be her security. Of course the Secret Service will be there. But if you have read any of the files on vampire covens I am sure you are aware of the Volturi.”

“Yes sir…”

“The class plans to tour near Volterra. Not in it but some of the castles around the city. I don’t like the idea of my girl being near those monsters. I also don’t want her to miss out. I am sure nothing will happen. I doubt the coven obsessed with secrecy that they have not realized doesn’t exist, would want nothing to do with an entourage of Americans protected by the Secret Service. But she is my daughter. She is the most important person in the world to me. I simply want you to accompany her. You will be under the guise of a Secret Service agent. But I will instruct the Secret Service that your job is to stay with her at all times. The two of you are near the same age. I figured she may like you. Be more at ease. It’s either this or she can’t go. I understand that you have a power that negates others powers. Should you run into the Volturi you will be able to keep our little intelligence secret to yourself. Apparently the leader can see every thought a person has ever had. I don’t believe it will work on you.”

“Mr Pres… Dave. I don’t think I am the right person. I am still a new vampire. I don’t want to take the chance of being around humans any more than I have to, especially children.”

“I trust you. I asked Francis if I could trust you with my daughter’s life. He told me quite simply you would die before you allowed any harm to come to her.”

“She could cut herself. I know I handled blood in Bosnia and at the bottom of the ocean but this is your daughter. I can’t take that chance.”

At this point, the President of the United States took a pocket knife out of his right pant’s pocket, opened it up and sliced his thumb.

I waited for the smell to hit me, while thinking of the headlines tomorrow. President drained of blood in Oval office.

The scent hit me.

It wasn’t bad. I didn’t feel venom pooling in my mouth. It wasn’t bad at all.

“I just fed before I came here.” I explained.

“So stay fed. You got this.” He smiled.

I wanted to call the President of the United States a stupid fucking idiot.

“That was very careless.” I settled for.

“I am not afraid of taking chances. Francis says you are good to go, you are good to go. Yes or no Bella Swan? Is my daughter going to Italy or am I going to have to be the bad guy?”

Damn it.

“I guess you get to break the good news to her. When do we leave?” I asked.

“Two days. Thank you very much. I feel much better now.”

“You feel better about a vampire going on a trip with your daughter?” I asked raising an eyebrow.

“No, I feel better about you going on a trip with my daughter.” He hit a button on the couch arm that I didn’t see.

Garrett walked in. Dave explained what I would be doing.

“She is not going without me.” He said quickly.

“Why? You don’t trust her?” Dave asked smiling.

I was curious as well.

“No, I trust her with my life. But I don’t want her or Ty for that matter going within a hundred miles of the Volturi without backup. You know what they are capable of.”

“Garrett normally I would have no problem. But today we have another issue. One that will require your attention and possibly Ty’s.”

Garrett sat down next to me.

“I’m listening.”

“The demon that attacked Francis. Francis suspected the Governor of New York was the target. The governor of New York was scheduled to speak at the UN two days after he was supposed to have been at confession.”

“So?”

“You’re not stupid Garrett. Don’t pretend to be just because you don’t want Bella running off without you.”

Garrett POV

Fucker.

“So he wanted to be Governor of New York. You believe he wanted to go to the UN. Why?”

“Terrorist attack. No one is going to look closely at the keynote speaker.”

‘Demons don’t care about politics.” I replied.

“One does. And this demon that attacked our friend, was seen in his human guise walking out of Bernard Stone’s office building six times in the past three months.”

Fuck.

“Stone huh?” I mentioned casually.

Dave nodded.

“How do you know what he looked like as a human?” Bella asked.

“Security cameras in the Church. I took them before we left.” I responded.

“Who is Bernard Stone?” She asked.

Dave answered.

“Bernard Stone is a billionaire industrialist who also sells weapons to terrorists. Mostly Islamic groups. He is also believed to be a demon. We haven’t made a move on him because one, we aren’t positive and two he is a high profile person.”

“So what has changed? You going to let me kill him?” I asked. I had wanted him for a while. Like all demons he thrived on chaos. However this demon was smart. He thought long term.

“What has changed is this man.”

He handed me a picture from a file on his desk. Damn it.

“The CIA can’t figure out who he is. But you know, don’t you?”

This was disturbing.

Amun.

“Yes. Amun, an Egyptian vampire. He has no interest in human affairs. His coven keeps to themselves.”

“That picture was taken as he was leaving Stone’s international headquarters in London. He obviously has some interest.”

“Vampires don’t work with demons. Most vampires don’t even know about demons or any other supernatural creature not on four legs.” I argued.

“Then why is he visiting Stone? We need to know. You know the CIA can’t find out. They can’t get involved in vampire affairs. They can’t know about it. The fallout would be too great. Best if it is kept among ourselves and our little community. You can find the connection. You can act if there is a terrorist plot. Find out if Amun had anything to do with it. Find out if Stone had anything to do with it. Find out who wants to hurt our country and kill them all.”

Shit.

“Please?”

Damn it. He said please.

“Do it Garrett. I’ll be okay. I promise.” Bella whispered.

I had to trust her. But the Volturi…

“Let Ty go with you. I don’t need him just for information gathering.” I tried. Dave countered.

“Garrett, Ty can’t pass for a Secret Service agent. I can pass off Bella as a young agent. A member of the CIA or FBI there at my request. She is young but she could pass for beautiful woman in her early twenties. Passing off a 6’5 former famous basketball player who hadn’t disappeared that long ago would not be easy. Let her go. She can handle herself.”

“Easy for you to say.” I mumbled.

“I’m trusting my daughter to her.”

Shit. I looked at Bella. She was looking at me with… I couldn’t read her look. I think she was curious. Curious whether I trusted her. She wouldn’t be angry if I didn’t. But she would remember. She would feel less than she was.

“Fine. Just be careful Bella. Avoid all contact with other vampires. If you see any take Dani and go. Do not talk to them. Get away. They are dangerous.”

“It will be fine Garrett. They aren’t even going in the city. Just near it. No way they would come near us with so many federal officers.” She reached over and grabbed my hand. It would be fine. I suppose I never really had anything to lose. Now I did and it scared the hell out of me.

“Good. It is settled. I will rest easy knowing my country and my daughter are safe with my country’s strongest assets looking after both. Now who wants a tour of the White House delivered by Potus himself?”

“I do.” Bella smiled.

“Excellent. I can introduce you to Dani. She is up in her room… hopefully. Let’s go.”

While Bella walked with Dave followed by his two shadows I called Ty.

“What it be? Dave gonna let me hook a honey up in the Lincoln Bedroom or what?”

“Ty I need you to focus the satellites on Egypt. I want the Egyptian coven watched. Every single move they make. Especially the leader Amun. I want to know where he goes, what he is doing, who he is seeing. Find their cell phones and hack into the towers. See if you can find an internet port and break in.”

“That fine ass bitch Tia in that coven right? And the guy who does the freaky shit with the land?”

“Yeah.”

“You gonna tell me why?”

“I will when we get back.”

“All right.”

“And Ty? Get the blue prints for Bernard Stone’s New York and London office buildings. We need plans to get into both undetected.”

“Bernard? Dave given us the green light?” Ty tried to hide his excitement but he wanted Stone as much as I did.

“Maybe. Depends on what we find. Look for links between Stone and Amun. Business dealings, common associates, whatever you can find.”

“A demon and a vampire working together?”

“Yeah. I know it sounds strange but weirder things have happened. I have to go now. Dave said Bella and I could have the Lincoln Bedroom tonight.”

“Fuck that bullshit! You know how many damn honeys I could have done in that room already? Humans and vamps man. You finally get laid after a couple of centuries and you gonna christen the LB? Bullshit!”

I couldn’t hold in my laughter.

“You bullshittin man. I knew Dave wasn’t gonna let you pump shortie in the LB.”

“See you soon Ty. You have work to do.”

I ended the call. Up ahead Dave was walking with Bella on his arm. We arrived upstairs. He showed her his bed room and then walked to Dani’s room. I hope Bella could handle Dani. She could be… a challenge.

Dave knocked on the door. The music blaring from her room became louder.

Dave opened the door. I followed. He walked over and turned off the stereo.

“Come in Dad. Turn the music down so we can talk.” Dani said sarcastically. I am not sure I ever heard her say anything that wasn’t sarcastic come to think of it.

“Dani. How is your night?”

“Lovely. I have the prettiest prison cell of any 16 year old I know.”

“Glad you like it dear. What did I do wrong today?”

Dani didn’t respond. I heard she had been a sweet girl before. But then her mother died and she became the President’s daughter. Quite a bit of a change for a girl who was 15 and would be going through many changes as a young woman without the added life changes. Since that time she has been difficult. She has snuck out of the White House six times causing chaos for the Secret Service and Washington DC law enforcement. Dave tried to let her go out more but the requirement that Secret Service accompany her angered her greatly. She preferred to escape on her own.

“Nothing Dad. How did the world do today? Blow anything up?”

“No but I still have a few hours. I want you to meet someone. This is Bella.”

“Bella? Another damn jailer?”

“Yes. But not Secret Service. She is to be your personal bodyguard in Italy?”

“Just her? No Secret Service?” Dani’s eyes just lit up.

“No Dani. The Secret Service will be with you and your class. Bella’s job is to stick to you. She will be with you every step of the way.”

“Are you serious?” Dani did not look happy.

“I’ve never been to Italy either. I’m looking forward to it Dani.” Bella offered.

“How old are you?”

Old enough. I thought to myself. I really wanted to get her back home and in bed.

“I’m 22.” Bella said.

“22? You are giving me a 22 year old bodyguard?”

“Yes. Bella is highly trained. She is also very good at noticing if someone tries to sneak away. So behave.”

Bella glanced at me with worry. Yeah…

“Fine.” Dave bent down and kissed Dani on her cheek. To her credit she let him. She did love him. She just had so much anger in her.

The three of us walked out and Dave walked us to the underground level.

“So I guess I will see you in two days Bella. I will have a car pick you up from the Pentagon. You can come here and you and Dani can become metaphorically attached at the hip.”

“Great…” Bella said with a fake smile.

“I have a feeling you two will get along very well. Thank you again. Garrett? Please keep me apprised of what is going on. And could you at least call me before you kill any billionaires?”

“No promises Dave.”

I knew a couple things. Amun coming out of his desert hole to meet Stone meant something was up. I knew that regardless I was going to take this opportunity to kill Stone. This needed to happen. If Amun was involved I would be taking care of him and possibly his coven. I also knew that I had two days before Bella left for Italy. Ty could handle recon. I planned to spend every moment I had, inside her.

Bella.

Then it would be time to take care of business.