Carlisle POV

I was checking on one of my patients when I noticed Dr. Webber and Dr. Bailey rushing down the hallway. I examined a few of the machines, said goodbye to the patient and then I went out into the hall. A few of Dr. Bailey's interns were hurrying down the hall after them. I called out to one of them.

"Excuse me, Dr. Stevens, but what has happened?" I asked the usually bubbly girl.

"Um, there has been an accident, Dr. Cullen. A bus crashed and the victims are being brought here," she told me in a rushed tone. Then she raced off down the hall, trying to catch up with the other interns.

I checked my pager. Nothing. It was unusual that I wasn't paged. It must have been a rather large accident with a lot of victims. They would need all of the Attendings, wouldn't they? I decided even if I hadn't been paged I could still lend a hand and with that I walked down to the receiving bay.

When I arrived I found that all of the Attendings were there as well as a few Residents. I grabbed a gown and a pair of gloves and put them. I could hear Dr. Webber and Dr. Shepherd's conversation from where I was with my enhanced senses.

I became suspicious when Dr. Webber said, "Make sure Carlisle isn't involved," so I walked over to where they were standing.

"Ah, Dr. Cullen! I don't think we will need your help on this case," said Dr. Webber, looking rather nervous.

Just then, the first ambulance pulled up. A girl no older than six was pulled out with a gash on her forehead. The sweet aroma of blood filled my nose but I ignored the burn as I had for so many years previous.

So it was a school bus that crashed! I hope that none of the poor children were hurt too badly!

The gurney was surrounded by Doctors and taken into the E.R.

"Carlisle, can you please check on my post-op patients. I may be a while," said Dr. Webber in a desperate attempt to get me away. I wondered why the chief didn't want me on this case as I turned away.

Before I had taken two steps the ambulance that had just pulled up, opened the doors and I recognized a familiar floral scent. Bella!

I turned around and I saw my sweet daughter lying on a gurney covered in blood. I gasped and saw Richard cringe in my peripheral vision.

"Carlisle," he started, but I was already rushing over to the gurney and grabbing Bella's small, pale hand, struggling to keep a human pace. I walked alongside the gurney as the paramedics pushed it towards the doors.

Bella's eyes flickered open at the recognition of my cold hand. Her eyes found me and she smiled feebly.

"Hi, Daddy," she said weakly.

"Bella, my child, I wasn't supposed to see until after I got home," I said, struggling to keep it together and not break down sobbing.

"Surprise!" she said, managing a weak smile.

I looked down her small body and saw cuts, scratches and bruises decorating her pale skin. Her head was in a bandage but what worried me the most was the shard of metal protruding from her abdomen.

We were almost inside when I felt a hand grab my shoulder to stop me. I could of pushed it off easily but I stood and watched as they wheeled Bella inside. Only when I could no longer see her did I turn to see who had stopped me.

I was faced with Dr. Shepherd.

"We will take care of her, Carlisle," said Dr. Shepherd, trying to reassure me. "Why don't you call Esme," he said gently. I nodded and watched as he went to assist with the ambulance that had just pulled up.

I walked slowly inside, trying to perceive why it must always be Bella that was hurt. Sweet, innocent, shy, little Bella.

We had adopted Bella when she was two years old. The whole family had grown to love her and would do anything to protect her. She was now fourteen and went to Seattle Presbyterian College.

No one could have picked her up from school today because the other children were on a compulsory school camp and Esme had some errands to run so she had to catch the bus home today. Why was it today of all days that the bus had to crash?

I walked to my office slowly. I was listening acutely to Bella's heartbeat as I grabbed the phone and dialled the number I knew so well.

Esme picked up on the second ring.

"Carlisle! Is she all right? How badly is she hurt? Alice called two minutes ago and told me. I'm on my way to pick the children up from camp early. I'll be there in less than an hour!" she all but shouted at me.

"I don't know how she is. Richard made me leave but I'm sure Bella will pull through. She's always been so stubborn." I got a small but stiff giggle at the last part. "I love you Esme and I'll see you soon," I said and hung up the phone.

I sat down on the floor, leaning against my desk and cradled my head in my hands. I could still hear Bella's heartbeat. It was weak but steady. From what I could gather from the other doctors' conversations, Bella was going to need emergency surgery.

I knew that Dr. Bailey and Dr. Webber were some of the best surgeons in the world and this isn't nearly as bad as the worst thing they have successfully dealt with but, hey, that's what I get for being a parent.

My beautiful daughter had grown into a lovely young woman and her brothers had their hands full keeping hormonal teenage boys away from Bella.

Bella had always been accident-prone. She had broken her arm when she was six and then her collarbone the year after. She was always tripping over thin air and falling over.

She was a sweet, clumsy child with the gentlest nature. Bella had the entire family wrapped around her finger.

I sighed and went to go and check on the post-op patients to distract myself. It was going to be a long next couple of hours.

Bella POV

Beep…beep…beep…beep…beep…

Aggghh! Stupid alarm clock! Besides, Alice usually turned it off before it even started and then jumped on my bed to wake me up anyway. Why hasn't Alice turned it off? Well, I guess this is better than falling on the floor every morning.

I tried to open my eyes only to find that they were as heavy as lead. I sighed and a cold, marble hand squeezed mine.

I was more successful this time and my eyes fluttered open. I was met with pools of striking gold.

I blinked again and everything came into focus. The pools of gold were a pair of eyes that belonged to my father. He smiled gently and squeezed my hand again. This was weird! Dad hadn't woken me up since I was six.

I looked around and realised that my bedroom walls were not white and that I had an uncomfortable tube taped under my nose. Dammit! I was in the hospital again. And my stomach felt like someone had dipped me in a pool of acid!

"What happened this time?" I asked my father.

"The school bus crashed, dear, and you were impaled by a shard of metal," he told me, patting my hand, which had a needle taped to it.

"Yeah, that sounds about right."

Dad just chuckled. I sighed and glanced around the room.

"Is Mum here?" I asked him.