Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Blood And Steel

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 03:

Coronado California

Bella stood knee deep in the ocean she had wished to see the night before. Although it was still dark she felt it, every time a wave nearly crashed over her shoulders. Staring at the beach she saw her instructors/torturers ten feet away on the soft sand. The man named Webb was speaking to her. She did her best to listen while constantly trying to run in place with a ten pound bar over her head. The ten pounds was nothing. She could feel the blade. She knew where it was, inside a cabin fifty yards away, where she assumed Connolly and Winter slept. It gave her the strength she needed to hold the bar and run in place with ease.

What she had not been prepared for was the lack of balance, the shifting sands beneath her feet, the waves pounding her, water splashing in her ears, somehow making it into her mouth and leaving the acrid taste of salt water burning her throat.

Her instructors had not said a word. All three just stood there watching her.

She didn’t mind. She could do this all day. She would take the water and the cold. It didn’t matter that her clothes were soaked. Nothing mattered except getting through this. They had no idea how strong she was, how strong the blade made her…

Her thoughts were cut off when a wave knocked her to her knees and she fell face first into the water. Looking up, her long hair plastered to her face she saw the three men laughing at her.

“It’s been twenty minutes. What are you doing? Get your ass up and keep going. You are fucking Wonder Woman from what I hear. This shouldn’t be a problem for you.” Webb told her, smiling, while cringing inwardly. He hated every moment of this. He knew his attitude was outdated. He knew Winter had seen combat and been exposed to training similar to this. He still hated to do this to a woman. The fact that Connolly had laid this at his feet pissed him off even more. He had seen the glances Connolly had given her. It would only complicate things more. This situation was complicated enough.

Ty Gavin felt sorry for the ocean soaked girl. She may not realize it, but she was getting tired and this had only been twenty minutes. Ty had gone through this himself as well as Jack and Connolly. He knew the signs of those who wouldn’t make it. Those who arrived to live a dream and found out this wasn’t worth it. It pissed him off that he was having to do this to another person. But they all had their jobs to do. He wondered if this girl would hate him and Jack. Ty already hated Hawk so he wasn’t concerned about him.

Ty thought of his instructors. He hated those men.

At first.

Then they became sources of inspiration for him. He went from survival mode to warrior mode. He wanted to impress them. To show them he could not be broken.

He hoped she would forgive them when this was done.

Bella continued running in place. After what seemed like an eternity, she realized she could not stop her teeth from chattering. Although she was strong her lungs were giving out. Her energy was fading. She may be able to go toe to toe with a vampire but vampires didn’t need to breathe. She did.

The sand moved from under Bella’s feet three more times sending her tumbling to the grainy shifting mud below. She tried to lift herself and was surprised to see that she couldn’t. She reached out for her blade but although she felt it, it wasn’t giving her the strength she had before.

Falling back into the knee deep water, she felt a hand grabbing her under her arm pit. She was being dragged out by one of the instructors.

She rolled over on her back and tried to catch her breath, glad to be out of the cold water at least. Turning her head to the side she saw the smiling face of Jack Webb. The sun was coming up over the water and Bella noted the evil grin on his face.

“Listen Bella. I think this is a dumb idea. You may be strong but you aren’t in good enough shape to survive this. It’s been a couple hours and I know your legs are burning. You probably can’t feel your arms. You have almost drowned three or four times. This is stupid right? I mean what are the odds we are going to find ourselves in a battle with supernatural monsters that could last days and take us all to our physical breaking points. You don’t need this, do you?” Webb asked.

Bella said nothing, never breaking eye contact with the man.

“I’ve been an instructor here twice. Do you know that 60% of candidates drop out after this week? That’s with two weeks prep and years of military service and PT behind them. You were given a damn sword that gives you a hell of a punch and makes you fast but you are still only human. Only a girl. Just quit. All you have to do is say I quit at any time and I will get Connolly and your best friend out of their nice comfortable cabin and tell them we can’t do this. You can still fight. You will just have to stay behind us in battle. Sound good?”

Bella said nothing.

“You should know when I was an instructor here my drop out rate was around 80% both times. Say it Bella. Save us all time we don’t have. Say I quit and it’s all over. Aren’t you getting hungry? We can go have breakfast. I know this little spot that makes the best ham and cheese omelets. Wouldn’t coffee be good right now? No you prefer Jack Daniels in your cereal right? You could have a cigarette maybe. Say it.”

“Go fuck yourself.” Bella gritted out between chattering teeth.

“That’s go fuck yourself Master Chief. Now roll over on your hands and knees. You are going to do push ups. Let’s see how strong you really are.”

Bella, furious, rolled over and began…

“Step back into the water. Do not stand. Use your hands and feet and crawl backward. I want you chin deep with the water. You can take a breath when you come up and breathe out under water.”

Bella did as she was told, inching back into the freezing water.

After one hundred pushups she could no longer feel her shoulders. Apparently her strength did have limits.

When she breathed out and realized she could no longer use her arms to lift herself back up she felt another hand under her. This one threw her over his massive shoulders and deposited her roughly on the beach. She knew it was Hawk.

“What’s wrong little girl? Can’t feel your arms anymore? 112 is impressive. I can do 200 and I don’t need a magic sword to do it.”

“Just steroids.” Bella whispered. Hawk leaned down and moved his face so close to Bella she could smell the coffee on his breath.

“Just steroids, sir. This body is a result of genetics and intense physical labor. What is your body a result of? Being a blood donor? Whiskey and cigarettes? I heard you tasted sweet. Is it just your blood?”

“Hawk back off. None of that shit. Swan you ready to quit yet? The sun is up and I’m ready to get some breakfast.” Webb told her.

“No Master Chief. I am not quitting.” Bella told him with determination she didn’t feel.

“Fine. Since your arms apparently are only strong for about ten minutes start doing sit ups. When we get back after breakfast you can stop. You know how to do a sit up right?”

“Yes Master Chief.”

“Good. Get to it. When you are ready for this bullshit to stop let me know.”

Bella began her sit ups. She was up to two hundred when she felt herself growing weaker. Gavin came out of a barrack eating a sandwich.

“Hey I noticed your sword wasn’t gleaming as brightly as my beautiful head. Winter and Connolly are taking it into town to get some metal polish.” Gavin said around the food in his mouth.

Bella panicked. He wasn’t lying. She could feel her sword getting farther away. She tried to reach for it but was too tired. Winter must be holding it.

That fucking bitch.

“I didn’t say to stop doing sit ups. Hell a little kid can do a sit up.” Ty told her sitting down and taking another bite. He then offered it to her.

“Want a bite? I can go make you one. Just put an end to this. I don’t like doing this to a woman, especially one as pretty as you.”

Bella said nothing to Ty, her anger returning. These guys were pigs. Male chauvinist pigs.

She began doing sit ups once more.

Ten minutes later her abdomen was screaming in pain. Webb came out.

“See that barrack?” he asked her pointing to the one he had just left, two hundred feet away.

“Inside is a loaf of bread and a glass of water. You have five minutes to eat and get your ass back out here. A second past five minutes and this is over.”

Bella sprinted. When she reached the inside she saw a black loaf of bread and a large glass of water.

She hesitated.

“It’s not moldy. It’s a Russian bread. Filled with carbohydrates. If you insist on continuing this, eat it. It tastes like paper.” Hawk said from a corner, where he sat with his feet kicked up on a table.

Bella began to stuff as much of the tasteless bread as she could into her mouth, keeping an eye on the clock. After three minutes she downed the glass of water and raced back outside where Webb stood next to Gavin.

“You really want to keep this up? It’s been eight hours now. I won’t let you sleep for the next 64 hours. You can’t take this Bella. Say it. Say I quit. I don’t want to do this anymore to you.” Webb told her softly.

“What would you like me to do next Master Chief?” she asked him.

“Fine. Connolly and your girlfriend brought your little blade back. Can you feel it?”

Bella realized she hadn’t even noticed. Her clothes were still wet, and her abdomen already hurting felt stuffed do to the bread in her stomach.

“We want to see how hard you can hit. Think you can show us?”

Bella grinned.

“I thought so. Hawk?”

Hawk pushed a metal sled up the beach. In front of the sled was a steel plate covered by a foam pad one might see in a gym.

“Go ahead. Start with a right jab. That’s a straight punch in case you didn’t know. I heard you don’t know shit about fighting. When you can knock this sled one hundred yards down the beach, turn it around and use your left to punch it back to us. Failure to do this means you quit. Take all the time you need, so long as you make it there and back in an hour.” Webb told her.

Bella lashed out at the pad and was pleased to see it slide back nearly ten feet. She grinned. This would be easy.

75 yards down the beach the padded spot Bella had been punching had gone away. She began hitting other areas, lashing straight out with her right fist. At the end of the hundred yards the knuckles on her right fist were bloody, the soft pad was gone.

She used what strength she had left to turn the huge sled around. Preparing herself to strike the way Winter had taught her she unleashed with her left fist.

The sled moved a couple feet and stopped.

Bella struck harder. A couple yards.

Fifty six minutes into the exercise she collapsed at the finish line, blood covering her left knuckles as well.

“Those knuckles look bad. You know what is good for that?” Ty asked her.

“No sir.” Bella responded.

“Salt water. Disinfects everything. I think. Let’s give it a try. Back in the water for push ups.” Ty instructed.

Bella felt dread in her heart. She knew how bad her hands would sting. They were cramped and the idea of stretching her hands from the clenched fist positions they were in, frightened her.

Then she looked at the barracks where she knew Connolly was.

She would not quit in front of him. She would not quit in front of Winter. She had given Winter her word she would fight beside her.

Bella thought it would be easy. Get the sword and cut vampires to pieces. She was strong and fast. It should have been easy.

She was learning today that she was very wrong. Her lungs burned yet she stood and stretched out her cramped hands, managing not to cry out.

Webb walked over her, standing in the water. He didn’t have to tell her how deep to go this time.

An hour later he dragged her back to the beach.

“Do you know how to perform dive bombers Ms. Swan?”

“No Master Chief,” Bella whispered.

“Mr. Gavin would you demonstrate?”

Ty began performing the maneuver. To Bella it seemed simple. From a push up position with his legs spread it appeared he was simply trying to lean under something like a wire.

“Now back in the water, only where the water meets the sand. Get started.” Webb told her.

After Bella had completed fifty she hurt. She was using muscles she didn’t know she had. She could feel her strength ebbing. She knew her source of power was near but it didn’t matter. She had passed the limits of that power long ago.

An hour later she was carrying the bar over her head, running in place in the breaking surf. This time she fell more often.

Every time she got back to her feet. Webb tried to help her up once and Bella swung the bar at him. He jumped back just in time and laughed.

The three instructors began to run and she was told to keep up. Three miles in and her lungs were on fire. Webb ran backwards facing her. It wasn’t difficult. They had slowed the pace so as not to leave her behind.

“This is the slowes have ever ran Swan. Look kid, you did great today. You did GI Jane proud. But the sun is almost down, it’s time for dinner and you and I both know when you get more food in your stomach, you aren’t going to be able to continue. Let’s head back to the barracks and call it a day. We can have you back to your ranch in Wyoming by noon tomorrow. Let you sleep in. Maybe the cowboy down there can meditate with you or something. Make you feel better about quitting. You can get in touch with your spiritual side. You and Winter can continue to play with stick swords and if we need the two of you we will call you. Leave the monster fighting to the men who know how to fight. What do you say?”

“Fuck you Master Chief.” Bella told him quietly, trying to save her oxygen.

“Damn girl, if you had shown this much grit in high school maybe you wouldn’t have become a slave to a vampire. Too bad. I was wondering do you have any teeth marks on you besides the one on your wrist that vampire tore out of you? Or did Edward Cullen lick his bite marks clean so Daddy wouldn’t see them?”

At the mention of that name Bella became furious, exhaustion forgotten. She lashed out and hit Webb in the face.

Three miles from her blade, her strike did little to him. He brushed it off with a laugh.

“I guess he did lick them clean. Time to head back. Little soldier needs her food.”

Three miles back Bella collapsed in a chair by a fresh loaf of bread. This time a piece of ham was next to it.

“Eat up. You have twenty minutes.” Gavin told her. Bella nearly fell asleep after she ate half the loaf and chewed the ham until her sore teeth caused her to stop.

“Let’s go. Ready for your next assignment?” Webb asked her.

“Yes Master Chief.”

“Come with me.”

Bella expected to go outside. Instead she followed Webb into the next room. Inside was a small desk and a comfortable chair. Classical music played softly on the radio. He handed her sheet of paper and a pen.

“I want you to write your life story starting with when you arrived in Fork’s Washington. I want you to write down everything about Cullen. How he would watch you sleep. How you figured out what he was. Write down every single time you bared your neck for him to drink your blood. Make it romantic. I want it to be at least ten thousand words. Hell, give it a title. Call it something sweet and mysterious. Full Moon, or Vampire’s Kiss or Twilight or some crap like that. Make it something every little teenage girl wants to read and dream. Your romantic vampire who only wanted to protect you from the world while you shared your soul with him. While you let him drink your blood. He watched you sleep. Tell me how many hugs you got from his coven leader’s mate. How many clothes and makeover’s you got from the short vampire. Tell me how beautiful the fucking blonde is and how the big guy is so sweet. Write it all down. Or you can quit, lay your head on the desk and fall asleep. It’s up to you. See you in a couple hours.”

Bella sat, shocked at her assignment. Tears threatened to leak from her eyes but she would not show weakness in the event one of these assholes came back in.

Three hours later, Connolly walked in with Webb, Gavin, Winter and Hawk while Bella’s head was on the desk. She had passed out ten minutes before, the pen still in her hand. Under her face were sheets of written paper. Winter gently lifted her head and took the papers out.

“What did she write?” Connolly asked. Winter informed the group.

“I am going to cut off Webb’s dick and stuff it down Gavin’s mouth. I am going to cut off Hawk’s head and stick his mouth on Gavin’s dick. I am going to pull off all their balls and roast them on that fucking beach. I will kill them all.” Winter read.

“She just wrote that over and over again. Pretty much seems to be the theme.” she told the men, handing the sheets to Connolly.

“It does have a certain poetry to it.” Connolly admitted.

“At least it’s going to be your head suckin my dick, Hawk.” Ty commented.

“You would rather suck Webb’s dick? That what you are saying?” Hawk asked.

“I didn’t say that bitch… I just meant… man fuck you. You the one who likes prison.”

Hawk just chuckled.

“I can’t believe she survived today.” Winter said quietly, brushing Bella’s hair aside from her eyes. “There were a few times I nearly killed you all.”

“She will survive. I have no doubt. She has to do this Winter.” Jason told her.

“Look at her knuckles.” Winter pointed out.

“Let her sleep for thirty more minutes and then wake her.” Connolly ordered.

“I thought I was in charge?” Webb asked.

“Let her sleep for thirty more minutes. Now clear the barracks.”

Connolly walked out behind the rest. A large part of him wanted to return to her and kiss her at least on the forehead. He wouldn’t though. It wasn’t his place to. Not yet, he was surprised to find himself thinking.

“I’m sorry you have to go through this.” Jason said quietly and walked out. He had reports to go over. He and Winter had been studying everything the Government and Winter and Chris knew about vampires. But neither of their thoughts left Bella.

Winter walked outside conflicted. Her best friend, her only friend, was going through hell and it pissed her off. She wanted to be there with Bella. Bella was her partner. They would fight together.

But it wasn’t to be. Not for the immediate future. Chris told her this team was needed. He didn’t say why but she had placed her faith in the man even after Summer was killed. She never doubted him.

Walking down the beach, Winter took in the stars before joining Connolly again. She knew the look he gave Bella. She knew his mind was on her all day, try as he might to ignore her trials he was no more successful than she was.

Once she was away from the men Winter stared at the beach.

“Summer am I wrong for doing this? For bringing her into this?”

Nothing.

After Summer died Winter gained new abilities. Although she had never been a remote viewer before she could now see things rooms away. Still it felt like she was looking through someone else’s eyes. She also had been granted some form of telekinesis. Chris felt it was her gift. Winter knew better.

She could feel her sister’s spirit around her. Somehow Summer had stayed with her.

“Are you there? Please tell me. If you can pull fence posts out of the ground I know you can tell me. Talk to me. Please.” Winter begged. “I miss you.”

Nothing.

Then the sand moved.

A heart. A simple heart formed in the sand. Winter choked back a sob.

“I love you too. Thank you.”‘

Inside the barracks Bella woke to Gavin’s hand slamming the desk.

She looked around dazed. She had managed to stay up for as long as possible. She supposed she passed out.

“Vampire could have drained you girl. Passed out like that. Get your shit together. This may be some modified training but its still Seal training. You know how to swim?”

“Yeah. I mean yes sir.”

“Good. Not drowning is a start. Let’s go.”

Bella walked outside shocked to see it was still dark. Hawk and Webb were waiting in an inflatable boat with an outboard engine. They were both wearing shorts and Hawaiian shirts. Bella shook herself out of her haze, thinking she must be hallucinating. A look at Ty, and she just noticed he was dressed the same.

She said nothing as she and Ty reached the boat. She said nothing as Webb guided the craft out into the ocean. The motion of the boat crashing over the waves made Bella want to puke but she held it in. As the sun rose the boat stopped. Bell had no idea how far she was away from shore but she could no longer see it. She also knew her Katana was very far away.

Webb tossed her a life jacket.

“Put it on.”

Bell did as told. Once it was secure Hawk picked her up from behind and tossed her in the water. When she surfaced she caught her breath and looked at the men in the boat. Gavin was drinking a cup of coffee. The other two had a beer in their hands.

“Good news today. No pushups, or sit ups. No punching things until your knuckles bleed. Today you are out for a leisurely swim. The jacket will make sure you don’t drown. We are going to float beside you enjoying the day while you swim back to shore. At any time if you want to quit say it. We can let all the nasty things you wrote that you are going to do to us be water under the bridge. We can share a beer and relax all the way to the beach. It’s about six miles away. The closer you get to your toy the easier it should be for you, right?” Webb asked.

Bella said nothing.

“Take as many breaks as you like. If you see a shark let us know and one of us will shoot it. You can float here all day if you want and relax. I plan to work on my tan. Only two ways you are getting back to that beach. Quit or swim. Have fun.”

Bella spent the next ten hours in the water. At times she was reduced to kicking. At times she used one arm to pull herself along and then switched to the other. When she felt a current taking her off course the boat would gently nudge her back but never pull her in.

She let the waves carry her when she at last, saw dry land.

Hitting solid ground her legs collapsed under her.

“Ready to quit Bella? You done proved enough. I lost a hundred bucks already, thinking you wouldn’t have made it this far. Come on. Just quit.” Ty told her in a friendly voice.

Bella reached out with her mind and felt the blade near. She found the strength to stand on shaky legs.

“What is next sir?”

“Damn bitch, you just don’t know when to quit do you?”

“The little girl wants to know what’s next, Gavin. Let’s show her. Time for some learning Bella. I realize you probably had other things on your mind in high school and you were too busy running for your life to go to college but Connolly and Drake seem to think you are smart. Let’s see how smart you are.” Webb told her.

Bella found herself back in the room she had been the night before. A loaf of bread was placed in front of her and another chunk of ham. She ate until she felt she would burst, knowing this was a bad idea. She was given a bathroom break and walked slowly back to the desk. She noticed this time a large bucket was over the desk attached to a rope. The rope led to Hawk’s hand who stood next to Webb by a screen with a Power Point presentation on it.

“Listen up. We are going to go over the history of the Samurai, fighting styles and development of the Katana. There will be a test when this is done. Pay attention. Take as many notes as you can and use them on the test.

Bella concentrated on making her aching hand close around the pen in front of her.

She tried to keep up. She took as many notes as she could. It didn’t matter.

When she dozed off, Hawk titled the bucket with the rope in his hand and she was covered in cold water, ruining her notes and causing her to scream in shock. The bucket was replaced and used twice more.

There was no test.

Daybreak came and Bella yearned for sleep. She thought she was beginning to see things. She had at most an hour or two of sleep in the last 48. She thought it had been 48. She really had no way of telling time anymore. Bella was pretty sure this was the second or third sunrise she had seen. Her body was pain. She thought she saw her mother on the beach more than once. She was waving goodbye to Bella, just as she had done when Bella passed through the airport gate to step onto the flight that would take her to Forks.

Once again she was in the water with that damn bar over her head, running in place. After two hours she did sprints, one hundred yards and back with thirty second breaks. At the end of two hours she was barely walking, arms over her head, hands behind her head, trying to suck in as much oxygen as possible.

Once again she was taken out into the water. This time her assignment was simple. When the boat sped by, she was to grab onto Hawk’s arm and pull herself out of the water and into the boat.

Bella failed to complete this the first seven times. On her eighth try she was successful. Hawk gave her a nod, respect for her on his face for the first time.

For the first time since she arrived, Bella felt a bit of pride.

When she returned she cringed. A steel bar had been planted into the ground, approximately 6 inches in diameter. A thin pad surrounded it.

Webb showed her how to perform a side kick with her right leg, striking the bar with her shin bone.

She kicked for the next two hours until she felt she could not take the pain anymore. She kicked for thirty minutes after that.

Then she switched legs. Barely able to stand on her right leg, she stumbled four times, ass hitting the ground.

She was tired, she ached. Every fiber in her body wanted to quit.

But her mind would not allow it. She also noted that the guys were no longer trying to talk her into quitting. Every time she fell, she heard three voices yelling at her to get up. To keep kicking. To break the fucking bar.

Bella at some point found herself limping back into the barracks. Webb was waiting for her.

“Started to see things yet?”

“Yes Master Chief.” Bella told him.

“I saw cartoons running beside me. Daffy Duck at one point. What have you seen?” Jack asked.

“My mother.” Bella admitted.

“Do you miss her?”

“Yes. Very much.” Bella told him. It had been over two years since she had spoken to her mother, fearful that any contact would make her a target.

“What is the square root of pi?” Webb asked.

Bella was shocked for a moment. She knew this, but she couldn’t remember.

“I… I don’t know Master Chief.”

“What is the capitol of Arizona?”

“Uh…”

“Uh?”

“I don’t know.”

“You have to keep your head. You have to keep your focus no matter how tired you may be. No matter how much you hurt you must keep your head about you. You will feel pain. The body heals. Pain is temporary. The one thing that will not go, that cannot go is your mind. Do you understand?”

“Yes Master Chief.”

“Think before every answer. These are simple. They will get harder. What is four plus four?”

“Eight.”

The questioning continued. It continued until daybreak.

Gavin came in and told Bella it was time to move. He took her to a rope course. The ropes were over mud and stretched at least 25 yards.

“Get under those ropes and get to the other side. Keep your ass down.” Gavin instructed her.

Bella dropped to the ground and began crawling. After a few yards, gunfire broke out. Bella planted herself in the slimy, smelly mud and froze.

She looked up and saw Hawk firing a rifle over the ropes. He was smiling.

Bella couldn’t move. He was going to kill her. She felt paralyzing fear.

“Keep moving. The sooner we get there the sooner we can kick his ass.”

Bella turned her head in shock. Tyrone Gavin was in the mud next to her.

“What are you waiting for? Let’s go.” Ty ordered and began crawling through the mud. His movement caused Bella to begin to move.

“This is ridiculous. Vampires don’t use guns.” Bella pointed out.

“They might when they get a load of what we can do. Besides you hang out with Connolly enough its only a matter of time until someone is shooting at you. We ain’t just fighting vampires Bella. Keep your ass down and crawl.”

“Those aren’t live rounds are they?” Bella asked crawling along side Ty, mouth swallowing mud. The mud was in her nose and eyes as well. She stopped several times to clean her eyes until she realize her hands were just making the mud thicker on her face.

A bullet struck next to Gavin’s cheek. He looked at Hawk, obviously angry.

“Connolly ain’t the only one who can kick your ass bitch!” Ty yelled.

“Just proving to the little girl that these are live rounds. Keep that fine ass down Swan.”

“Where did you find this guy sir?”

“Prison.” Ty answered bluntly.

“Great.” Bella whispered.

Once she reached the end of the ropes she was told by Webb to go back through the ropes. This time Bella knew what to expect. She could almost feel the bullets flying over her head.

Webb crawled beside her through the muck.

“Why are you doing this? Doing this with me? I thought I had to do this by myself.”

“You do. But we are a team. A family. Family crawls through mud for each other. Cut the chatter. More mud gets in your mouth. Memorize the sounds. That’s an AK 47. He is about to start firing an M4. Learn the sounds. Learn the danger and for God’s sake keep your ass and head down. Connolly found this guy in prison.”

After the mud bath, Bella once again went into the ocean. This time she was running in place and made to lift the bar up and down.

She was taken to a pull up station. She had yet to do these and found her back muscles were sorely lacking. The sun rose and fell. Bella had lost complete track of time. She went through a barrage of sit ups, pull ups, push ups in the water. Her clothes were grimy and she was chafed in places she did not want to think about.

Then she was running. She ate without thinking. She no longer felt the pain. It was constant and did no good to think about.

At some point she followed Webb into the barracks. She didn’t realize these were different barracks until she saw the bed.

It had to be a trick.

“What are we doing now sir?”

“A shower is around the corner. There will be fresh clothes laying on the bed when you are done. You will have privacy. Take a shower. You smell horrible. I can’t remember the last time you went to the head but you have been eating and drinking. Do you remember?”

Bella tried to shrug her shoulders but they hurt too much.

“Go. Take care of yourself, and lie in bed. Sleep. You are going to need it.”

“What’s the catch?” Bella asked, not even bothering any longer with titles.

“No catch. Congratulations. You survived Hell Week. You took everything we threw at you. How do you feel?”

“I don’t feel anything.” Bella told him truthfully. Physically she felt nothing. Mentally and emotionally she was exhausted.

“Good answer. When you wake you will begin the next evolution.” Webb informed her.

Bella ran to the shower before he could change his mind. Within twenty minutes she walked out and saw no one around.

Wrapped in a towel she dressed as best she could and fell into a deep sleep.

She slept for the next sixteen hours. It was the first sleep she had in a long time in which no nightmares woke her. No dreams at all.

While Bella went to sleep, Webb walked into Connolly’s cabin where he and Winter waited with Hawk and Gavin.

“Good job…”

Webb hit Connolly before he could finish the sentence.

Connolly did not fall but instead rubbed his jaw.

“I guess I deserved that.” Jason commented.

“I won’t ever do that again.” Jack told him.

“I’ll never ask you too.” Jason told him.

“It was bullshit. I saw how you looked at her. Is this going to be a problem?”

“No.” Connolly replied.

“What about you?” he asked, turning to Winter.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” she asked, instantly defensive.

“You know what the hell I’m talking about. I’ll be damned if I am on any team with a fucking love triangle going on. Especially when the object of affection isn’t gay. You are and I noticed how you stayed out of it. Is this going to be a problem?” Webb asked.

“No.” Winter told him. “I know what and who she is. She is my best friend. That’s it.”

“I couldn’t break her but I took her down as much as possible. She can’t fight for shit and her endurance sucked but she is a survivor and she has grit. That’s enough for me to go to war with her. Now it’s your job, Jason. Can you teach her what she needs to know? Without holding back?”

“I give you my word Jack. We will have her ready, no matter what anyone feels about it.”

“I’m trusting you man.” Jack told him.

“You’ve trusted me before. Have I ever let you down?” Jason asked.

“No but she is different.” Jack pointed out. “I never saw you look at anyone the way you looked at her and I have seen you look at a helluva lot of women.”

“I know. I can handle it.”

“You better. A lot is riding on this. From everything I’ve read, this is bigger than anything any of us have faced except Winter here.”

“I know.”

“You got the rest of the team assembled?”

“They are at our base overseeing its completion and testing the weapons. Trust me Jack. I know what I am doing.”

“I trust you. Who wants a beer and some hot dogs? I feel like grilling.” Jack said, discussion over.

The four men and Winter walked outside.

Bella awoke to the sight of Jason Connolly smiling down at her. She smiled back before she caught herself.

She tried to sit up and instantly hurt, the soreness causing her to grimace.

Winter walked in and reached out to her. In her hands was something she had longed to see. Her katana in a black cloth scabbard of some sort. She took it in her hand and felt complete.

“I get to keep it?” Bella half asked and half begged.

“It’s yours isn’t it” Jason asked, grinning. “It’s time you came with me.”

“What am I going to be doing?” Bella asked, almost afraid of the answer. Knowing he was near gave her strength last week for some reason. She didn’t want to fail now in front of him.

“We are going on a hike. Strap that sword on and the backpack next to your cot over your blade and come with me. It’s time you learned everything I know.”

“You are going to teach me to use this?” Bella asked looking at her katana.

“I am going to teach you to use every weapon I can think of and you will be able to use everyone in a deadly fashion. I’m going to teach you everything I you will be ready. I make only one promise. You do what I say when I say it and show the same level of commitment you did this past week and you will never be a victim again.”

Bella nodded her head. She was ready. It was time to stop hiding.

“What do I call you? Sir? Master Chief? Admiral?”

“You can call me Jason, Bella. Now get that pack on. We have a lot of work to do and not much time to do it.”

Bella watched him and Winter leave. Winter gave her a smile but said nothing.

Bella knew he didn’t lie.

She would never be a victim again. She had went through hell and survived. Not Edward Cullen or the Volturi would ever hurt her again. She would make sure of that herself.