Summary- Bella's biggest accident to date leaves her paralyzed and her unique mind leaves doctors baffled as to whether or not her brain is functioning properly. Renee is unable to handle the situation so Charlie takes on the challenge. Bella finally arrives at Forks and Edward notices there's something more to this girl than a wheel chair and an amazing scent. It seems he can only hear her thoughts as she would speak them.

Not Quite Sleeping

By: Crossing the Bridge

Betaed By: Diamond Raider

Prologue:

"What do you mean 'not sure'?!" I was certain the phone had melded with the side of my head, yet I could feel my grasp on the handle loosening as Renee began to explain once more that the doctors simply couldn't tell if Bella was mentally stable. The accident had left her partially paralyzed it seemed; they knew that much, but the machines that were used to monitor brain activity couldn't provide any other information. They just simply didn't work, 'It's the oddest thing.' the medical staff had said.

Renee had only managed to get around to calling me today, two days later. Of course she wouldn't think to call Bella's father and let him know that our clumsy, accident prone baby's last accident had been near fatal. Oh no, she'd call Phil, who was on another away baseball trip, and tell him. I suppose I couldn't blame her too much though; she's still hysterical, even today.

After she reached through my initial shock and anger she started doing what she'd always done when life got rough: shifting the mess onto someone else. She couldn't handle it she cried, she had just told Phil that she'd be able to travel with him she whined, she couldn't stand to see Bella in such a sorry, 'un-Bella' like way she sobbed. My daughter had always been the one to keep things running smoothly in their Phoenix household, this I knew. And so, I completely agreed with the first of the statements. I also offered a solution.

"Why don't you send Bella up here? I haven't seen her in a while and I'm sure the quiet town will do her some good." Renee pounced on the idea.

"Bella would love to come see you!" Which meant that she would love Bella to come see me. No matter how much she loved her daughter, she and I both knew she was incapable of providing the care Bella would now need.

"Can you put her doctor on the phone, Renee?" I asked. I would need more information if our now paralyzed and possibly mentally-handicapped daughter were to come live with me.

"I'll see…they can be so hard to get a hold of." Apparently she was right because when the doctor answered thirty-five minutes later he sounded flustered and the entire conversation was rushed.

"Yes?" was the curt greeting.

"Yes, I believe you've been treating my daughter, Bella Swan. She's going to be coming to live with me in Washington state soon and I wanted to know what you could tell me about her condition."

"Let's see…Swan, Swan, I remember. Bella's unable to move her body for the most part, some small twitches her and there, but nothing more. This does, however, show potential for some recovery with physical therapy. Her mind is another story. We honestly aren't sure that she's completely aware of her surroundings. She responded to her name and things moved across her line of sight at first, but that seems to have diminished. With more therapy she may be able to communicate again one day. Mental and physical stimulus are a must if there is any hope of recovery." At least she's not dead I thought to myself.

"We have a great doctor here. He should be able to help me with any kind of therapy."

"Good, good." the man replied distractedly and then Renee's voice replaced his.
We talked about when she would be able to drive Bella up and that I would take care of the wheel chair. I wouldn't see Bella for a month, until she was ready to be driven such a distance, but Renee promised to keep me updated on her condition. Those updates would come few and far between as I had expected and Bella's only improvements would be the fading of the bruises. As the month passed, long and slow, I made sure the entire town knew that my daughter was coming and talked to Dr. Cullen. He, unsurprisingly, said he would be happy to help in any way possible. He's such a kind and generous man, really loves his profession and it's one that suits him.

The day had finally come for Bella to arrive. Just in time for school the next day, even though it had been in session for a little more than a week. I had taken off from work to meet with her and her mother in Seattle. I packed the new wheel chair up in the cruiser and went to meet Renee at which ever hotel she had chosen; I'd have to find where I had written down the name and address.
When I arrived I waited in a short line to ask the receptionist which room the girls where in. I had left the chair in the car and decided to take the stairs for some reason I can't recall, maybe it was to prolong having to see my daughter in the "un-Bella like way" she's in, as Renee had put it.
Room 206, I knocked lightly and the door flung open as if Renee had been waiting directly behind.

"She's in the bedroom…" she intoned softly, so unlike her usual boisterous self, but we padded into the room quietly. There was Bella, lying on the bed, eyes open and focused intently on the wall in front of the bed. Her hair was pulled back into a braid, so I could clearly see the bruises and scratches that vanished into her hairline. My little girl…

"Hey, Bells." I spoke lightly, trying to pretend in my mind the occasion for our get-together were different. She blinked and her eyes flickered in my direction, but seemed to be pulled back to where they were before, like she was unable to hold them in that position. It was unnerving, seeing her body so frigidly still. I moved in front of her so she could see me more easily. I didn't know what else to say, to someone who couldn't respond.

"I have all of her clothes and other things in the other room" Renee spoke up.

"Oh, good. Let's take those bags down. We'll be right back up Bella." I said to the both of them.

"Yes, yes." and Renee scurried out of the room while I followed. She had packed two bags for Bella, one standard-sized suitcase of clothes and toiletries and one duffle bag for Bella's favorite books and other miscellaneous things.

"She's always been a minimalist, hasn't she?" I stated. Renee 'hmm-ed' in response. The duffle bag was the weightiest of the pair, so I carried it. We took the elevator this time. At the cruiser, I unlocked the side-doors.

"They'll have to go back here; the wheelchair is in the trunk."

"Why'd you bring the wheelchair?" She asked curiously

"I honestly don't remember." I said with a scratch of the head. "Maybe I wanted you to see it or something." I gave her a half smile and she smiled back.

"It's very nice Charlie. I think Bella will love it."

"I hope so, but I wish she didn't need it at all."

"We all do."

"Let's go get her." I said effectively cutting of the depressing talk. We didn't need anymore of that.

Bella was, dishearteningly, still right where we had left her.

"Hey again Bells. I'm gonna take you down to the cruiser now." She made no sign that she had heard me, but I scooped her up anyways, knowing I wouldn't receive one. I stumbled ever so slightly under her weight. Not that she was heavy but, I wasn't as young as I used to be and neither was she. Renee took no notice and opened the door to the hallway. Down in the elevator and through the lobby again, to the car. I wondered why Renee had gotten a second story room and how she had gotten Bella up there. I spied a pair of folded wheel chairs in a niche to the side of the lobby though and knew that must be the answer.

We situated Bella in the passenger seat and gave the appropriate goodbyes.
The ride back to Forks wasn't a short one so I talked to Bella a little. I told her about my job and the high school she would be attending, but this really only filled the space of about ten minutes. I'm not much of a talker to begin with, so I turned the radio to some oldies station and hummed along.

I flopped on the couch. Ah, 'Home sweet home'! It was 10:00 and I had just put Bella to bed. It was weird, tucking my teenage daughter in as if she were two. She had a long day ahead of her tomorrow though, so hopefully she would rest. Renee told me that Bella used to talk in her sleep about friends, family, weather, etc. before the accident. I wish I could hear what she thinks about the situation we're in now. Well, I'd turn in after the game, too. I had to get up early to get Bella ready for her first day at Forks High.

'Go bears.' I sighed out. It didn't really matter.