Disclaimer: I am not in any way, shape, or form SM. She owns Twilight and all the glorious characters that go with it. I'm simply here to have fun with them.
Unlike the previous story, this is completely my own imagination. I've been putting this story off for a long time, but the idea keeps nagging me.
Hope You Enjoy The Story… If You Don't, Just Don't Review… Keep Reading Though!!
Chapter 1: Replacement
APOV
I look at the seemingly daunting stretch of rubber trail with hand rails flanking each side. I was supposed to walk this? No, no, no. I can feel my legs start to give way as my hands flail, reaching out for the handle bars, my arms supporting my entire body weight.
"Take your time, Alice. Take as long as you need," my therapist Dr. Carlisle Cullen tells me soothingly. I look at the other end of the stretch and see him standing there. His posture makes me think that I can do this, but when I look at his eyes, and see the apprehension in them, I know I might never learn to walk again.
Dr. Cullen is a very well known physical therapist. Along with the many other things in the hospital that he does, Dr. Cullen is most known for his rehabilitation successes. He's six foot two, with light blonde hair and striking gold brown eyes. His skin is on the paler side with not an imperfection to be seen on any visible surface. He is one of the kinder doctors here, "always found with his stethoscope and a compliment in each pocket", as many people say.
"Just a few steps, Alice, that's it," he says.
Now to most people, just a few steps would mean nothing, but that's not exactly the case for me. A few seconds ago, I was sitting in a wheelchair. A few weeks ago, I was bed ridden. And two months ago, I was hit by a car.
I take a deep breath and shake my head. "I-I can't do it Carlisle," I tell Dr. Cullen, who has reminded me from my first day that he is only known as Carlisle, and that Carlisle is what I should call him.
"Do you think you'd be able to do some water therapy?" He asks, walking easily up the runway to stand before me. He makes it look so easy! Why can't I walk like that?
"I don't know," I drop my gaze from Dr. Cullen's gold-brown eyes to his polished white shoes, their tops covered by the sea foam green scrub pants he wears.
"Would you like to try?" Despite the apprehension I'd seen in his eyes earlier, his voice seems to convince me that I could do it. He seems to believe in me more than I do myself.
"I would like to try, yes." I nod slightly, keeping my eyes downcast.
"Okay, I'll help you back into your wheelchair and then you can meet me down at the water therapy unit," Dr. Cullen steps by me, not too fast to ensure I don't lose my balance, and brings the wheelchair up behind me. I feel the seat against the back of my knees and know that if I fall back, I'll be sitting in it.
I lean back and place one hand on the arm rest. Dr. Cullen holds my other hand as I fall, not so gingerly, into the chair.
"I'll meet you down there?" I ask, maneuvering the chair to face him.
"Yes. Take your time, don't rush. I have three hours blocked off for you," he smiles and pats my wrist. "You will recover Alice. I see your determination, and that is a crucial step. You'll do fine." I watch as he walks out of the main therapy room and down to the water therapy unit.
I wheel myself out of the room and towards an elevator. The water therapy until is located on the ground floor, but the main therapy unit was on the second. And even though the hospital had ramps, I don't quite trust myself on them. I still don't trust my speed control, or my ability to stop before plowing into an unsuspecting doctor, nurse, or other wheelchair bound patient. So, I press the 'DOWN' button and wait for the elevator doors to open in front of me.
The silver metal doors part with a ding and I wheel myself into the elevator.
"Hello," a sweet, honey like voice says from next to me and I freeze. I look to my right and see a guy standing, well, leaning in the corner of the elevator. He's tall and has this unruly blonde mop of hair on his head that hangs just slightly into his eyes. His eyes are ice blue, but they aren't cold. They seem warm and inviting. His skin is pale and seemingly perfect, save for the few scars he has on his forearms. But that's not what keeps my attention on him. He's wearing the loose fitting, sea foam green scrubs of the doctors here. "I said, 'hello'," he repeats, and I snap my eyes to his.
My face flushes a deep shade of red as I notice the smirk playing on his lips. "Uh h-hi," I stutter, wishing I could just back out of the elevator without causing too much of a scene or raising his suspicion.
"What floor are you headed to?" He gestures with his hand towards the panel of floor numbers.
"The ground floor," I answer simply, still trying to get rid of the dark blush tainting my cheeks.
"So am I, the button's already pressed," he sends me a dazzling smile, his lips parted perfectly over two rows of straight, white teeth.
I look towards the floor buttons and see that the ground floor is already lit up. Of course… I try to maneuver my chair so that I'm facing towards the door and not sitting horizontally between the guy and the door. But, seeing as how an elevator has very limited space anyway and there is another person standing in it, it's easier said than done.
When the elevator doors open on the ground floor, I still haven't managed to turn around enough to get out and head straight down to the water therapy unit.
"Screw it," I mumble, trying to turn and not hit the guy in the shins with the wheels of my chair.
"Need some help?" He releases a low chuckle and I can't help but feel humiliated more.
"Yes," I sigh, crossing my arms over my chest and huffing, deciding to just let whoever is in charge of my screwed up life to go ahead and play their sick little game.
I feel his hands slightly brush against my shoulder blades, probably on accident, as he grips the handle bars on the back of my chair. He turns me around so easily, I can't help but think he's done this a million times before. And if he's a doctor, like his clothes suggest, he probably has. Once I'm faced in the right direction, I put my hands on the wheels.
"Thanks," I rush, and with that, I'm out of the elevator and down the hall faster than I've ever been before.
I reach the door to the water therapy unit and push it open, the smell of chlorine assaulting my nose immediately, burning a trail to my lungs. I crinkle my nose and roll into the room and find Dr. Cullen standing by the smallish pool they use for water therapy.
"Hello, Alice," Dr. Cullen greets, striding over to stand next to me. "If you head into the women's changing room, Esme will help you get into your suit. I'll be waiting out here. Take your time." He pats my wrist and I wheel myself down to the other end of the room and into the locker room.
As soon as I enter, I am greeted by Esme. "Hello, dear. How are you today?" Esme is a very motherly person and she's been great support to me. Esme is Dr. Cullen's wife. She's worked at the hospital with him for forever, and it's actually how they met. They are two of the kindest people on the face of the Earth.
Esme is five foot six inches with caramel colored hair that surrounds a beautiful heart shaped face. Her eyes are very similar in color to the doctors, the golden brown being both comforting and very expressive. Esme has a light shade of skin too. Hers is also blemish free, except for the few beauty marks she has. And the first time I met them I wondered where the world was producing these beautiful people.
"As well as I can be, Esme," I try to laugh, and she gives me a sad smile.
"It will all get better, Alice. It will, I promise you. Carlisle is a great therapist. If anyone can teach you to walk again, it's him." Esme continues trying to soothe me as she prepares me for the water therapy. She keeps talking about how much improvement I've made, and how soon I'll be able to get out of the wheelchair if I keep it up. "You're all set, Alice."
I thank Esme, and then start rolling myself back towards the pool. The full body waterproof suit I wear for Aquatic Therapy is such an eyesore. The black and navy blue colors of the suit contrast way too sharply with my pale skin. I roll my chair over to where Carlisle is bent over the edge of the pool.
"Carlisle?" Dr. Cullen straightens up, and shakes the small thermometer in his hand.
"Just checking the water temperature. It's a comfortable ninety-two degrees Fahrenheit," he explains. "Are you ready?"
"I think so." I nod, but Dr. Cullen is looking towards the wall. The wall he's looking at is made of all glass; I know this even though I'm not looking at it. I've been here enough to have this placed memorized. I watch as his eyes trail an unseen object. I hear the door open and Carlisle smiles.
"Welcome, Dr. Hale. It's nice for you to drop in." I turn in my seat to get a look at this 'Dr. Hale', who I've never met before. But when I turn and make eye contact with Dr. Hale, I realize I have met him before. The tousled blonde hair, fair skin, and ice blue eyes. He's the elevator guy.
"Carlisle," he greets simply, extending his hand for a brief handshake.
"I was just getting ready to work with Miss Brandon on some Aquatic Therapy," Dr. Cullen says, and I blush, again. Dr. Hale looks over at me, the same dazzling smile he flashed me in the elevator once again graces his God like face. UGH! I must stop thinking about him like this.
"Miss Brandon," Dr. Hale nods his head slightly. "It's nice to be on a name basis, isn't it?" He keeps his smile and I can't help but avert my gaze.
"So you two know each other?" Dr. Cullen asks, his hand rubbing the slight stubble along his jaw.
"Not real well, I'm sorry to admit. But we did get a small introduction on the elevator ride down here." Dr. Hale explains to Dr. Cullen, but all I'm thinking about is his choice of words. 'Not real well'? He's 'sorry to admit'? What was that supposed to mean?
"Well, I hate to break up this, but we do need to get to work on some therapy," Dr. Cullen jokes. Dr. Hale nods and walks over to one of the padded folding chairs lining the wall beside the pool. I turn my face back to Dr. Cullen, my cheeks heated with embarrassment and my eyes heated with anger. He's letting Dr. Hale sit in on my session! That has to be against doctor/patient confidentiality. Doesn't it?
While I try to think of a way to get rid of my audience, I vaguely hear Dr. Cullen call for Esme to come and help me out of my chair. Before I know it, though, I'm lifted up, and not by Dr. Cullen or Esme. It is neither of them, their arms, or anything about them that I've become comfortable with. I'm pressed against a solid chest with strong arms clutching me as I'm walked into the water. Strong arms with scars on them.
I want to scream. I want to kick. I want to bite him even. How dare he just pick me up?
"Relax, Miss Brandon," he whispers in my ear, "you're so tense, just relax." I try and look over his shoulder to see if Dr. Cullen left, or if he actually gave his consent for this to happen. Dr. Cullen and Esme are sitting on the folding chairs talking, as if what is happening right now isn't at all wrong.
"CARLISLE!" I scream, my voice echoing off of the walls in the room. He looks over and waves. He waves!
"Dr. Hale is going to work with you on your therapy today, Alice," Dr. Cullen says, as if it's totally normal to just relinquish me to another person.
"Relax, Alice," Dr. Hale whispers, my name coming off of his lips in a way I've never heard before. "Are you ready?"
"Not in the slightest. Please, put me down!" I half scream, half beg, and Dr. Hale places me in the water.
"Float on your back, Alice." He commands, and I do, because this is how Dr. Cullen always started my routine out. Because I'm used to it. I float until I feel the familiar pool foams under my arms. "You can stop floating now, Alice."
I do, letting one arm rest on each of the pool foams while my feet up to my mid-chest submerge. When I look at Dr. Hale, I notice that he's wearing the scrub pants, but he's totally discarded the scrub shirt. His bare chest stops me from breathing. It's breath-takingly beautiful. His muscles are very outlined and defined, like Michelangelo's DAVID. His abs, a six pack, are even and toned to perfection. His shoulders are broad, but not too broad. His pectorals are sticking, and there's a perfectly outlined V-shaped pelvic bone that's covered by the warm water of the pool.
"Alice?" Dr. Hale's voice pulls me out of my one tracked mind state and I blush a new shade of crimson when my eyes meet his. He's got that same arrogant smirk on his face as he did in the elevator. The first time he caught me staring. But, let's be honest, how could you not stare at this man? He practically oozes sexiness like it comes out of every pore on his skin.
"I-I'm sorry," I avert my gaze and look down through the translucent water of the pool at my toes.
"It's okay. Now, water therapy?" I can hear the low chuckle he lets escape and I nod. "Good. Can you move your legs back and forth? Can you kick them?" I shake my head. Even in the water it hurt.
"Not a lot. It hurts really badly when I move them even the slightest bit." I admit, feeling inadequate.
"It will hurt plenty the first couple of times, but once you get some mobility back, it won't feel as bad." He says. I notice then that he's standing straight, without treading water or using pool foams. Granted, we are in only five feet of water, but for my age, I'm short.
"Trust me, Dr. Hale, I know what pain is. My hips and pelvis are about seventy percent titanium now. Not to mention the numerous pins in them too," I say, half joking, half not. My hips and pelvis are most certainly not all bone and muscle anymore, but it's not as horrible as it seems.
"It's Jasper, Alice." Dr. Hale says. Hmm, Jasper Hale.
"Jasper? Are we going by first names now?" I ask teasingly. I want to go by first names, in fact the thought made me giddy, but I didn't know if he was just putting me on or not.
"Well, you and Carlisle seem to be pretty comfortable with the whole first name thing," he stops and looks quickly over his shoulder. "Maybe we should try to do some water therapy moves, that way they can at least think I'm doing my job."
"Okay," I let the water completely relax me, like Dr. Cullen had told me to do the few times before. I let my right leg be lifted by the water. My hip seizes, and I try to put my leg back down, but Jasper's got my foot clutched in his hand. "Jasper, it hurts!" I cry out and he shushes me.
"Relax, okay? I know it hurts. Just think about something else." It's then I notice that Jasper is massaging my foot, his hands expertly rubbing under the arch of my foot and over the top of it, too. His hands are firm, yet soft, strong, yet gentle. This is something Dr. Cullen never did. I feel myself start to focus more on the pleasure of the foot rub than the pain of my hip and thigh being pulled in a different direction. I let my eyes drift closed, allowing my body to float on the water. He continues to massage my foot.
"Mmm, Jasper, that feels so good," I let a soft moan escape my lips and I immediately open my eyes. Shoot! I just moaned! I look at Jasper, his eyes a tad darker, his hands still rubbing my foot, and the smirk on his face.
"Do you feel any pain?" Jasper asks and I shake my head.
"No. It feels as if I've been doing this for forever," I say, feeling his hands work their way behind my foot towards my ankle. They glide swiftly up my calf; he gives a light squeeze and releases my foot. My hip and pelvis crack in protest, but I don't feel any pain.
"Good. A few more of these and you should have some mobility back. At the very least, you'll be able to raise your leg a few inches." He picks up my left foot, massaging it the exact same way he did with my right one. A few more of these and I'll never let you stop. At the very least, at least I'll have a nice massage. I let my mind wonder as Jasper continues his work.
He rubs my feet for a few more minutes before he decides to stop. I feel the water around me raise and lower in small little waves.
"Did Carlisle ever do that?" I hear his honey like voice in my ear and my eyes fly back open, my heart racing a mile a minute.
"W-what?" I stumble, my heart racing, breathing faltering, everything breaking down around me.
"Did Dr. Carlisle Cullen ever give you a foot rub for therapy?" He repeats again, his voice enunciating every word in the sentence.
"No," I say, though I don't know why I'm still blushing. Dr. Cullen is married and I have no emotional attachment towards him whatsoever.
"Good. I'm glad." He pauses before speaking again, his lips so close to my ear that I can practically feel their silky texture against it, "Did you enjoy it, Alice?" I shudder involuntarily and I hear that low chuckle again. He noticed.
"Yes." My statement is simple, but with the way my heart is racing, the way my breath is getting harder and harder to come by, I'm afraid to try and say anything else.
"Good. I plan on doing it some more." He pulls away from me and comes to stand in front of me. "Ready to get out?" How long were we in the pool? I check my fingers, my hands. They are pruney. We've been in here for at least an hour. I look over towards the chairs Dr. Cullen and Esme were sitting in earlier, to find that they are both still there, talking.
"Uh, yeah." I nod and try to make my way over to the wall of the pool.
"Silly girl. Alice, stop," Jasper wraps his arms around my waist, stopping me from my pathetic 'swim'. "I brought you in here; I'm going to take you out." He pulls me back against his solid, rock hard chest, and fixes his arms so that I'm sitting bridal style in them. He walks me out of the water and up onto the concrete surface of the pool room, back to my chair.
"Dr. Hale, she can go into the locker room! I'm going to help her get changed," Esme calls and instead of me being put pack into the comfort of my chair, I'm carried by Jasper into the locker room. The women's locker room.
"Jasper! You shouldn't be in here!" I screech as he sets me down on a bench.
"Alice, I'm a doctor. So even though I'm going to let Esme come and take care of you, there's not a lot I haven't seen." He smiles and turns to leave the room, just as Esme enters. She flashes him one of her knowing smiles and he in turn, gives her his dazzling one.
"So, Alice dear, did you enjoy your therapy session?" Her knowing smile spread eagle across her face, her eyes twinkling with mischief that I thought only my friends could use on me.
"It was therapy, Esme," I play stupidly, and she shrugs, helping me out of the wet suit and back into my normal clothes.
"Looked a little different then what Carlisle usually does. It was different wasn't it?" She dries my short hair off using a towel before running a brush through it.
"I mean, I guess, but it was still just therapy." She finishes with my hair and leans down next to me.
"And I'm guessing the blush on your cheeks means nothing?" Her voice is so full of curiosity; I'm actually starting to wonder if she knows or if she is really asking.
"I'm always flushed after therapy. The warm water does that to me." My explanation is bad, and she and I are both very aware of that.
"Okay, Alice," she sighs, giving up with the questions. "Carlisle has something he wishes to discuss with you back out in the main room, so if you would come back with me?" She does an open palm hand sweep towards the door and I nod.
Esme pushes me out of the locker room and over towards where Dr. Cullen and Jasper are standing, deep in what seems to be a very important conversation. Normally I hate being pushed around in my wheel chair like some kind of incapable patient, but Esme is so nice and I know she never judges, so I feel less self conscious around her. She stops next to Dr. Cullen and turns me so that I'm facing him.
"I have some things to tell you, Alice, and I want you to listen and let me explain, okay?" Dr. Cullen starts and I nod, having absolutely no idea as to where this conversation was headed. "The board has requested we get another physical therapist, thus, Dr. Jasper Hale has arrived from a very well trained facility in Houston, Texas."
"That's great, Carlisle," I say, glancing sideways at Jasper. It's really great! "But what does this have to do with me?"
"Well, Dr. Hale is going to be tracked by both the medical board here in Washington and the medical board back in Houston. To keep some kind of record of progress on Dr. Hale, they are going to need to see him actually work." Dr. Cullen looks at me, his eyes expressing concern and anxiety.
"I still don't see what this has to do with me, Carlisle," I say, glancing from him, to Esme, to Jasper. What is going on? "Please stop beating around the bush and tell me?"
"I am transferring you over into the medical care and guidance of Dr. Hale," Dr. Cullen says. My heart stops, my mind freezes, only able to repeat that last sentence. He's transferring me… He's transferring me… He's transferring me…
"W-why?!" My voice is shrill and cracking as I look up at Dr. Cullen. "Why me?" I can feel hot tears prick and sting my eyes.
"I want Dr. Hale to receive good reviews. I think he's worked hard to get where he is and I wouldn't want to be the reason his status drops, now would I? You agree with me, don't you Alice?" Dr. Cullen asks, his posture gone from confidence to worry in a matter of seconds. For a second I don't care how hard Jasper's worked. For a second I don't give a crap if he had one of the best rags to riches story ever. For those seconds, all I can think about is how much I hope whoever's controlling my fate likes their roll of the dice.
"Yes, Carlisle," I force my words past the tight lump in my throat, not agreeing with him in the slightest. "I still don't understand why you picked me when there are a whole slew of other physical therapy patients."
"Alice, I want to ensure Dr. Hale gets good reviews, and to get good reviews, he has to have a patient he can actually work with, one that he can use in his reports and prove he is doing the work of a top therapist. Alice, do you understand why now?" Dr. Cullen asks me. I nod, averting my gaze to my lap.
"So, basically I'm a project," I ask, the tears threatening to spill over and cascade down my cheeks.
"No, honey, you're not a project!" Esme bends down next to me, hugging my small frame to her. "Carlisle isn't doing a great job of explaining things is he?" She brushed a few strands of hair behind my ears, her warm, soft hands comforting me.
"Not really," I admit in a whisper to her, raising my eyes to meet hers. She smiles and looks back up at Carlisle.
"Stop damaging the poor girl anymore. She's been through enough already; do you really have to transfer her? Can't you find someone else?" He takes one look at me, his eyes taking in my flushed cheeks, watery eyes, and all in all horrible appearance.
"In order for Dr. Hale to get good reviews, he must have a good patient. You should think of this as a compliment, Alice. You are probably my best patient and that is exactly the reason I am transferring you." Dr. Cullen explains and a thought hits me.
"You picked me on purpose, so that Dr. Hale could get good reviews?" I ask, my eyes narrowed into menacing slits.
"In a sense, yes, I suppose." He responds quickly.
"Isn't that like cheating?" I ask, my voice full of nothing short of apprehension and anger. But they just laugh. All three of them, Dr. Cullen, Esme, and Jasper burst into laughter at my statement.
"Well, I suppose to some people it would be considered cheating, yes. But for this specific purpose, I think we can find a less strong term, don't you?" Dr. Cullen asks.
"Like what?" My voice is confused as I try to think of another, nicer, way to say cheating.
"How about using resources to our advantage?" Jasper says, his gaze locked on me. So I go from being a project to a resource?
"Well, I must agree with Dr. Hale," Dr. Cullen says, his usually ever-present smile once again gracing his face.
"If you don't mind, I think I'd like to head back to my room now," I say. Esme gets up from her crouched position at my side. She moves to stand behind me and just as she get ready to turn me and push me out of the room and back towards the elevator, Jasper interrupts.
"Please, allow me," I can feel the exchange of their hands on the bars as Jasper's lightly brush my shoulders again.
I say a quick good bye to a smiling Carlisle and a beaming Esme as Jasper wheels me out and back to the elevator we arrived in.
"I can take it from here, thanks," I say, reaching to put my hands on the still wheels. But Jasper doesn't let go, he presses the 'UP' button and waits for the elevator with me.
"You must tell me, Alice. Are you disappointed that Dr. Cullen transferred you into my care?" Jasper asks, his voice full of concern.
I wanted to say, "Disappointed isn't the right word to sum up all of my emotions right now. Confused, a little. Upset, yes. Angry, not exactly. Disappointed just isn't the right word." But, because my mind and mouth seem to lose their very important communication skills when he's around, I end up saying, "Definitely not disappointed."
"I think this could end up working out very well for the both of us, don't you?" His arrogant smirk is back on his face. I nod and the elevator doors open with a rattle. Thank God. I wheel myself in immediately, not giving him time to do it for me.
He follows behind me, giving me enough room to turn around though, so that I am facing the doors. A quick exit.
"What floor?" He asks, gesturing with his hand to the floor panel once again.
"Four," my reply is simple and quick. Probably a lot more clipped than I intended for it to come out. I watch as his long, slender fingers lightly graze the buttons before pressing the number 4.
"Ah, the private rooms," Jasper's voice is low and quite, almost a mumble. "Fancy, aren't they?" He asks, turning his attention back to me, his blue eyes shining with a certain sparkle that I cannot place. And, I don't know with which I am more taken aback by. The way he said 'private rooms', or the fact that he used 'fancy' in a sentence. I've never heard a guy use that word in a sentence.
"Well, uh, my parents wanted a private room. When my friends come to visit, we tend to get quite loud, and they didn't want me disturbing the other patients." I explain, for no reason at all. What business does he have knowing about my private life, or why I had a private room? What business is it of his?
The elevator doors close and we start our ascend after what seems like an eternity.
"I see," he comments lightly, and I find myself praying for the elevator ride to hurry up. Floor 1... Come on! Come on! The doors open. I groan. On the other side of the door stands a man and a small boy, pink balloons in one hand and a small pink teddy bear in another.
"I have a baby sister!" He says excitedly. His cute round face a chubby cheeks make me smile.
"Congratulations," Jasper offers and the man smiles, patting the top of the boy's head.
"He's been telling everyone that. I'm sorry, but I think we'll just wait for the next elevator. This one seems pretty full." Of course you will… Of course it does… I groan inwardly. Jasper waves slightly before pressing the 'doors close' button.
Floor 2... Floor 3...
"Are you okay?" Jasper asks, his attention once again reassigned to me.
"Yeah, why?" I ask, confused at his question and another emotion in his eyes.
"You groaned, I was just wondering if you were in pain or anything…" He trails off and I shake my head. Floor 4…
"Nope! All better! Bye!" The doors open and I hastily leave the confines of the elevator. I wheel out of it and down the hospital hallway at a speed that could probably rival any wheelchair athlete.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Alice!" I hear Jasper call after me.
I turn the corner and head down the other hallway towards my room. Maybe I was becoming claustrophobic, but I knew I never wanted to ride in an elevator again.
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Aly