Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Venom

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 31:

Charlie POV

My daughter was not happy.

“This is bullshit, Dad.” Bella glared. She was also glaring at Jake so I wasn’t alone. Lover boy was not in the clear.

“Bella I can’t let the guy meet him alone. He’s never dealt with one of them, face to face. I have. I can keep my cool if he panics.”

“He’s FBI. He’s supposed to be cool. Collected. You are my guide remember? You are supposed to stay in the background? Take care of other things so I don’t have to. Like getting this plane?”

“It is a nice plane, right?” I grinned, hoping to change the subject.

“There won’t be any fighting Bella. You were fine with this plan before.” Jake reasoned stupidly. He really needs to know her better before they start playing house. Course with her pregnant I guess it can’t be called playing anymore.

Still can’t get over being a grandfather. I hope it’s a boy.

Assuming I survive this.

“I’m not going to discuss this. I can’t do anything about it. You are too stubborn to not go. But you know what will happen to me if anything happens to you, Dad.”

She looked into my eyes and let me know with a look. Bella could not take much more loss.

“Nothing is going to happen to me Bella.”

I knew I couldn’t take losing her. If this worked we could have a break. It may scare the leeches of the world enough to go back into hiding. Maybe, just maybe we could have some peace. Rebuild La Push. Move back home.

I needed to get this done and get back to my little girl. The girl I have in my mind, let down her entire life. I wouldn’t let her down again.

Bella sat back and closed her eyes. Jake motioned to wrap an arm around her but looked at me first. I shook my head. Probably not the best time. He held her hand instead. Good. The boy could learn. He was already ahead of where I was on the curve. He may make it. He was also lucky Bella was not her mother. She was the other side of the coin to the extreme. She would give her life for a stranger.

That was why I was way happier than I should be about my 18 year old daughter being pregnant. She now had a stranger inside her that took precedence over everyone else. Even Jake. Even me. Even Old Quil.

I had seen her nearly die. I would have killed myself of she had. I was ready to die with her that day, when I saw her, until Chris pulled me out of the house.

I will never forget that conversation.

When I saw her on the floor, wearing only Jake’s shirt, covered in blood. Face misshapen, legs twisted limply. Barely able to take a breath because her torso had been so destroyed. I was ready to kill someone but I didn’t know who. I knew for certain, if she survived I would be taking her. Taking her away from even Jake. From all the bullshit. Let someone else fight wars. I would hide her. We would hide together. No way in hell was she doing that again.

Chris walked me outside into the forest behind Old Quil’s home. When I had gotten control of myself he spoke to me.

“You aren’t taking her anywhere. She wouldn’t let you, Charlie.”

“Go to hell Chris. You turned her into this. You nearly got her killed.” I walked towards him.

“She is a warrior. She made this decision. You haven’t been there for her in her entire life. Leaving her to raise your ex-wife. Don’t start getting protective now. This is the reality. Hell you did the world a favor. If you hadn’t left her on her own, she never would have been tough enough to do what she did today.”

He laughed as if he just told a humorous story and winked at me. I saw red.

I hit him in his jaw. He backed up but didn’t fall. I hit him again in his stomach. Damn it felt good to hear the wind rush out of his stomach. He finally fell back on his ass. I picked him up by his shirt and brought him to his feet. I hit him in the eye and threw him back to the ground.

“You fucking asshole! She is mine! You don’t know a damn thing about her or me or anything else! You can go to fucking hell!”

I jumped on top of him and began hitting him. I didn’t know what I was aiming for. I just swung.

Until he caught my arm and rolled me to the ground, landing on top of me. I figured he would hit me. Instead he just smiled.

“Gonna have to give me a minute of rest Chief. Can only take so many of those at once. You hit like a horse kicks. That’s a compliment if you was wonderin’.”

Blood was trickling from his mouth. His nose was bleeding. But he was smiling.

“Why aren’t you fighting back?” I asked.

“You got it together now?”

I thought about it and realized I wasn’t crying uncontrollably any longer.

“I… I guess.”

“Figure you just needed to get pissed off and let out some aggression. When my wife died the only time I wasn’t cryin was when I was fightin’. Seein’ someone you love more than life itself, get torn up and you can’t do a damn thing about it… makes you feel helpless. I didn’t want you hittin’ no wolves. I was gonna let Billy or Old Quil take the ass whuppin’ but when they phased well I was pretty much the only one you could take it out on without breakin’ your hand so..”

“So you pissed me off on purpose.” I realized.

“Yep. She is gonna be okay Charlie. I wouldn’t have brought you out here if she wasn’t. It’s frustrating and heartbreaking but she is alive. Soon she will be up. By tomorrow she will feel fine. We just got to wait her out.”

Chris rolled off me and laid on the ground beside me.

“I don’t know how I can do this Chris.” I admitted.

“Destiny Charlie. We all got one. Some have good ones and some have bad. We could run. We could hide. We could do everything in the world to convince Bella to quit. She killed Irkalla. Let others worry about vampires. I’m betting between me and Old Quil and you and Jake we can guilt that girl into never letting that armor flow over a part of her body again. But Charlie that ain’t her. You should be proud of that. That girl is your spittin’ image. You should be damn proud of that too.”

I looked at the tree tops and saw it started raining. I hadn’t noticed. It rained so damn much here why would I? I can’t blame Bella for not wanting to live here growing up. I should have followed her. Made sure she was taken care of.

“I didn’t have anything to do with how she turned out Chris.” I whispered sadly.

“That ain’t what she said. She told me all about you Charlie. That girl loves you something fierce. She wants your approval. She wants you to be proud of her. You know how much she admires you?”

That caught me by surprise.

“Admires me?”

“It killed her to have to say those things to you the night she had to run with Cullen from that tracker. She was so worried about you. She told me how it tore her up. Bella said living with you was the first time she felt like she lived in a home and not with a roommate. She was so scared she would never see you again and that would be the last thing she said to you. Like you, Bella don’t open up much, very easily anyway, but she wants to Charlie. She really wants to. You have to make the first step. She went through something traumatic today. She is gonna remember this day forever. She will have nightmares about it. I know you are tryin’ to be more open with her. Keep doin’ that. Don’t try to talk her out of what she needs to do. She wouldn’t be talked out of it any more than you would have if you were in her situation.”

I closed my eyes and felt my heart sink. He was right.

“What do I do?” I asked more to myself.

“She is gonna have nightmares. When she does she will wake up. Be there. Just like you were after Cullen left. But don’t leave once she goes back to sleep. Let her feel safe. She is gonna need as many safe moments as we can all give her Charlie. But you and Jake are the ones who make her feel safest.”

I took a deep breath and sat up. Chris sat up as well, rubbing his jaw.

“I’m sorry…” I started.

“Bullshit. You needed it. It’s why I pissed you off to begin with. I pissed you off on purpose.”

“Thanks Chris. You think when Bella wakes up we could keep this to ourselves?”

“Course Charlie.” Chris waived his hand in front of his face and the bleeding was gone.

“How did you do that? Can you heal yourself?”

“Nope. Gonna hurt like hell in the morning but I rode bulls. I’ve been hit harder. This is just a little glamour. Let’s get back. When Bella is up and better I’m gonna need to talk to you some more. About things to watch out for. We got time. Let’s go back so your daughter can see you when she gets up.”

Later that night I got pissed off again when he talked about Bella changing. I had still been upset but I kept it under control. Because when I needed to let go of anger, Chris was there. I had to be that for Bella now. I wouldn’t let her down.

“One time Bells. One time and I will stay back. I’m just going to get him there. That’s all. Sam will be following us. I promise.”

She gave me a small smile.

“If it comes down to you or Levoi, Dad… I like him, but remember, it’s okay to leave him to die.” she said quietly. Not quietly enough. I saw Levoi’s head pop up from the seat in front of us and the rest of the pack started to snicker. Soon they were howling in laughter. Bella winked at me. I guess Graham was the new guy. He could take a little teasing.

Glad I was wearing a blue shirt.

Bella POV

God I couldn’t wait for this to be over. This has been such a stressful day and it hasn’t even started really. The conversation with Jake, visiting the Spirit world, finding out about possibly another vampire with Irkalla’s power.

Or was it another vampire? Could that bitch have survived? I blew her apart. I burned her pieces. Maybe I missed one. But still I should have found it when I returned. It couldn’t have been very big.

It couldn’t have been very big. If she could survive because of something that small what would it take to kill her?

I closed my eyes and listened to the laughter of the guys and Leah. Hope Graham wasn’t too freaked out. I needed him calm. I was trusting him with my father. Still he seemed like the kind of guy who could take some ribbing.

I was pregnant. My thoughts drifted to the conversation with Leah this morning before we left.

“What’s going on Bella?”

“Relax Leah. Nothing bad.” I told her honestly.

“You pulled me away from the guys, when you returned from the Spirit world. Something is up.” Leah told me with a critical eye.

“Yes. But it wasn’t their business. Not what I have to tell you.” After Rebecca had called Leah a freak I tracked her down and talked to her for at least three hours. Actually she talked and I listened. She told me her fears. All of them. At the time I couldn’t do much more than tell her I was sure she had a great destiny and reassure her how special she was. Now I had more.

“Leah I spoke to Tahi Aka.”

Her eyes widened.

“Something bad is coming?”

“When isn’t it?” I asked her blandly. She at least laughed.

“Leah I asked him if you would be able to have children. He gave me his word that when you quit phasing you will have no problem having children.”

Leah said nothing.

“I’m sorry if I shouldn’t have asked…” I mumbled nervously, her silence unnerving me.

“No! It’s… just a lot to… I mean he gave his word?”

“Yes. And I give you my word, when you are ready to quit, you will be able to. Jake will not try to talk you out of it. I will do whatever I can to help you have the life you want.”

Tears were filling her eyes. I really didn’t want this to turn into one of those conversations but it was heading that way.

“Why?”

“Why? Because I want you to be happy Leah. All of you but especially you. You have been hit so hard by everything…”

“No I mean why did you ask? What made you think to ask that?”

I took a deep breath.

“I was told I was pregnant. By multiple supernatural sources.”

“Oh shit.” Leah whispered.

“Yep.”

She didn’t say anything but she did sit on the sofa. When she opened her mouth I was a bit surprised by the topic she chose to speak on.

“Do you remember that summer you stayed with Charlie when you were seven?”

I laughed a little at the memory. It was really the last summer I spent a full two months with Charlie and spent significant time in La Push.

“Yes. Rebecca, Rachel and me and you. We hung out all summer while our Dads fished. We terrorized Jake and Seth.”

I had forgotten how good a time we had.

“We kept playing Cowboys and Indians. You always wound up the prisoner.” Leah laughed.

“Go figure.” I rolled my eyes.

“We had so much fun though. I remember before you left to go back to Florida we camped out in Billy’s backyard. Just us girls. Do you remember? It was the first time we made you a member of the tribe.”

Almost like a light switch was flipped on, the memory of that night eleven years ago came rushing back.

“We all painted our faces and poked our thumbs. We became blood sisters.” I smiled at the thought and remembered nearly passing out from the smell of blood, even so slight.

“We promised the four of us would stick together, no matter what. Sisters for life.” Leah continued.

“Yeah we did.” I agreed.

“It didn’t work out that way, did it? Sarah died and Rebecca became so distant. Rachel was hurting but I think Becca took it hardest. She wanted to run from the moment she heard her mother died. Rachel pretty much withdrew. I stayed away because I didn’t know what to say, what to do.”

“I never really came back to La Push.” I added.

“You didn’t. But you never had a reason to. We let each other down. The four of us.”

“Now look at us. Eleven years later, look at what we are doing Leah. It still blows my mind. Did we ever have a chance?” I asked more to myself.

“Maybe not. But we can be there for each other now. We can fix this Bella. We need to. I want to.”

Leah Clearwater had definitely surprised me with that statement.

“You think we four should go camping again Leah?” I asked.

“Yes. When we get back. The four of us… we are going to fix this. We shared blood Bella. We are Pack. All four of us. It’s time we honored a promise made by ourselves when we were still innocent. I think we deserve that.”

“I would like that Leah.” I realized as I said it my voice cracked a little. “Leah how are you doing? With the Sam thing and…”

“Better.” She immediately replied. That was surprising.

“What changed?” I had to know. She hadn’t been staring at Sam or scowling at Emily. Not since the battle with Irkalla.

“After the big fight, when I could walk again, I walked to Sam’s the next morning. I wanted to make sure he was okay. I saw him kissing Emily on the front porch. I realized that even though we could have died, nothing changed. I had seen him kiss her a hundred times but this one hit me so hard. I ran to a spot I like to hide at deep in the woods. I must have been a mile in. Imagine my surprise to be snuck up on by a pale face. You sure you want to hear this?”

My heart stopped but I nodded.

“Chris walked out from behind a tree and said hello. I damn near phased I was so surprised. He asked what I was doing out here.”

“Tell me Leah.”

“I told him everything. I don’t know why. I wanted to tell him to fuck off but soon I realized I had told him my entire life story. He never said a word while I talked. I figured he was just nosey and would leave once he had gotten what he wanted to know. Instead he turns to me and asked if I would like to forget everything about Sam. He said he knew of a spell that could erase my memories of our relationship.

The thought was so tempting Bella. I wasn’t sure though. I asked him what he would do.”

“What did he say?”

“He asked me if I forgot about my feelings for Sam how would I be able to appreciate how much better I would feel when the one I was meant to be with comes along. I told him that I doubted anyone would ever want me. So he says in that slow drawl of his,

‘Leah, you are too damn beautiful, too damn strong and have too much heart for the Spirits of the world to have not made someone perfect for you. But love doesn’t happen on a time table. It’s out there. It will hit you when you least expect it. When it does you will wonder what you were so upset about this Sam guy for. When your soul mate finds you, he is going to be just as special. You two will complete each other. This thing you had with Sam was good. Didn’t end good, but it taught you a lot. Instead of me doin’ a spell to help you forget, why don’t you try taken those memories of what was good and keepin’ them. That way you will know your soul mate because he is going to make good seem like crap. You are gonna want more than good. You’re gonna get it girl. You deserve it. On that you have my word.’

Then he got up and walked away.”

I sat the rest of the day and eventually realized he was right. So I focus on the good but I don’t want Sam anymore. I want more.”

I couldn’t see her through the tears in my eyes but I could hear her smile.

“Thank you for that Leah.” I stood up and she pulled me into her arms.

“I swear to you Bella. I will never let a damn leech harm your child. I will be by your side.”

After that conversation Claire had one more surprise for me as I walked out to the car.

“Bella!”

I turned and saw my munchkin climbing down from her uncle Quil’s arms. She had something in her hand. I froze when she got closer and I realized what it was.

“Claire?” I asked on one knee.

“You forgot your hat.”

I was already wearing the black felt hat Chris had given me a month before I returned to Forks.

“My hat is on my head silly.” I tried to laugh but my eyes were on the hat in her hand.

“Nope. This is your hat.”

She handed me Chris’s white felt hat. He had many but I loved that one on him. It was a bit dirty but he had kept it clean for the most part.

“Claire that’s not my hat. That belongs to…”

“It’s your hat and you know it. I know it. I want to play with the one on your head. I won’t mess it up. I promise. You can have it back when you come home.”

She took the hat from my head and put Chris’s white hat on me.

“See? Good guys wear white. Even a three year old knows that Bella.” Our hats nearly both came off when she gave me a hug and told me to hurry back.

So now I was sitting with Chris’s hat in my lap, Jake holding my hand and my family laughing around me, waiting to land so I could kill another damn vampire. This time though I had to be careful. I had more than just me and my loved ones to worry about. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the timing. But I knew I was already in love with this tiny pod in my belly.

Narrator POV

Walter Thompson was intrigued. Two FBI agents had requested a meeting with him. Him, not the Congressman. Thompson had been a political king maker for nearly three hundred years. For the past hundred he had been out of the game, growing bored with human affairs. Before they had been toys. Building blocks in his own private city. Soon he grew tired though of the petty games, deception, bickering, and stupidity.

He looked to them as sheep to the slaughter then. Until he met Irkalla and realized what true power was. She convinced him to get his congressman elected. She said she wanted human leadership weak. His man was very weak. No backbone. Would do as he was told. He would help calm the populace under Walter’s instructions. Despite the lack of a backbone, Congressman Wright had charisma. People looked at him with respect. Young, rich, good looking.

He would convince the humans to go into camps willingly. No suicides. No fruitless counteracts that would reduce the available blood. Once the President was dead, Irkalla would put this idiot in charge of the humans. He would do as he was told.

But Irkalla was gone. Burke was gone. He had no idea what to do. Perhaps the FBI would give him the answers he sought.

His secretary announced the arrival of agents Levoi and Swan. The two men walked inside, seeming very relaxed. Levoi flinched at his cold skin when they shook hands but Swan simply smiled as if he hadn’t noticed.

“Thank you for seeing us Mr. Thompson, especially on short notice. Unfortunately time is of the essence.” Levoi started.

“Anything I can do to help the FBI, Agent.”

“Sir I am about to speak to you about something that is not only top secret but might be hard to believe.” Levoi said.

“I of course will be discreet.” Did the FBI find out about Irkalla?

“Have you seen the video of what happened to the Casper airport?” Swan asked.

“Yes.” Thompson barely paid it mind. It was obvious trickery. He wasn’t sure how but he had fought werewolves in the past. They did not suddenly explode into wolf form and were not as large as that one was. Some magician had been playing a trick.

“What did you think of it?” Swan asked.

“A neat trick. A magician that picked a very bad place to perform an illusion.” Thompson told them. Is this what the discussion was about?

“Mr. Thompson I assure you, it was no trick. We have the person in custody. I can guarantee you, this young lady can turn into a very large wolf very quickly. We have her under constant sedation.” Levoi said firmly.

This was a game changer. Could this creature have gotten to Irkalla? Surely not. Irkalla was too powerful. By vampire standards her strength was off the charts. If this animal was sedated, it would be too weak to defeat Irkalla.

“We believe there are more of them. We are positive that this group of werewolves for lack of a better word, are responsible for the mass killings that have been occurring around the world the last six months.” Swan told him.

“I…” Thompson was not often caught off guard. This could be a blessing. If Irkalla was gone, these threats could take the fall. Vampires could regroup. Under his leadership. The plan could still stay in place.

“I realize it is a lot to take in. You should also know that we are certain there are more and a great number in Colorado.” Swan said quietly.

That would not be good.

“I see. What can I do for you to help Agent?”

“We want to make the public aware of this threat. We are hoping Congressman Wright would address the public.” Levoi answered.

“I believe the Congressman would be glad to do this.” Thompson answered immediately.

“We want to hold a press conference outside. A wooded area. We don’t want the citizens of Colorado afraid of the woods.”

“Uhm…” Thompson certainly would not be going into the woods. He remembered his last fight in Siberia with werewolves. He nearly didn’t survive.

“I don’t know…”

“Mr. Thompson I can certainly appreciate your concern for your boss but I promise you the location we have chosen is nowhere the present location of the wolves roaming the wilds of Colorado. He will be completely protected. We actually were wondering if you would accompany us there. We want your opinion on the effectiveness of the location. You are much more skilled at reading the public pulse Mr. Thompson. If you would come with us we could have you back in an hour. Perhaps go over what all we have learned about these beasts?”

Charlie was impressed with Graham. Throwing the promise of information to the leech would help draw him in. Charlie could tell the monster did not want to be anywhere near the woods. He would be proven correct in his concerns.

“I… I have a meeting… I suppose it can be rescheduled. This obviously takes precedence.”

Twenty minutes later Thompson was in the back of a government sedan. He had worn his hat and gloves, explaining that he had a skin condition. Neither Agent seemed surprised. The silence was ominous so he decided to make small talk with the cattle.

“Agent Levoi I don’t believe I have ever seen an agent dressed casually.”

“We didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention by dressing like typical FBI employees.” Levoi responded.

“Well I love your sweater. Such a lovely shade of blue.”

Thompson could not see Charlie roll his eyes. Graham practically forced his way into Charlie’s bag to find another shirt before they left.

“Thank you. We will be here soon.”

They drove in silence for a few more minutes before pulling off to an unpaved side road. A quick journey over a bumpy road and the car pulled into a stop. Thompson was confused. A car pulled up behind them. Agents Swan and Levoi stepped out of the car and walked to the car that had just pulled in. Instead of getting inside they leaned against the hood. The driver of the second car stepped out and approached Thompson.

“I’m confused. We are going to have a press conference here? This is unacceptable. Who are you?”

Thompson was very, very nervous. The man before him was large. He smelt like a wet… dog.

“I would run now if I were you leech.” Sam sneered at the vampire.

Walter stepped back and Sam exploded. Suddenly where a large man had stood, a large black snarling beast was in his place, inches from Walter’s face.

Walter debated fighting for a half second. Then he ran into the woods. Turning he saw that three other beasts had joined the black one. They were gaining. He tried to turn but one would always cut him off.

In his panic he never realized he was being herded.

Breaking into a clearing before a mountain he stopped at the sight before him.

More wolves. But that was not what made him stop.

In front of the mountain, hovering at least forty feet off the ground was a woman. A woman in silver armor with large wings behind her.

“What is this?” was the last question, Walter Thomson ever uttered. He saw her raise her hand. The armored hand glowed blue. A flash of light and he felt his body explode.

Walter looked at the sky. He could not talk. He could not move. His head was no longer attached to his body. He felt his body parts moving but could not reach them.

A man dressed in black combat gear holding a camera was standing over him. Walter hissed.

Jake, dressed now, walked up to the camera man.

“Did you get it Jared?”

“Yep. Got him running out of the woods. Got him stopping. Got him being blown into pieces by teen mom from hell. Got his crystal body parts rolling around on the ground.”

Jake nodded. He glanced at Bella and saw she was on the ground now.

“Good job everybody. Burn the head and call it a wrap.”