Name: Barely Breathing
Rating: T
Summary: Bella is running a high fever and is sent to stay in the hospital for at least a week but should an illness be the only thing to worry about? Something dangerous sets Bella in its sight and won't give up till he's eaten.
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from Twilight; although I did get this idea from a fanfic I read I am by no means copying it.
I might be sick; actually I knew I was sick. Ever since I walked out of the gym doors it felt like the floors had been balancing on a ball and were going tipsy-turvy screwing up my already bad sense of balance. Edward had practically carried me to his car and now was helping me up the stairs after I stopped mid way to sit down. I was in denial of this sick feeling that I had, assuring him I could walk up the stairs just fine, but now I was sweating and the stairs looked like they were jumping up and down, like something you see in a fun house.
My stomach lurched even as he scooped me up ever so lightly, cradling me like a child or a damsel in distress, which actually kind of worked now since I was in distress. I closed my eyes feeling motion sickness as he walked a slow human pace as to not upset my stomach anymore, our walk was silent since Edward wasn't the one to stomp his feet on the hollow stairs like Charlie.
I felt my head hit the pillow as he carefully laid me down; I automatically grabbed my comforter pulling it up to my chin as my teeth chattered. All muscles in my body seemed to finally relax as I lay completely still looking up at Edward who was standing over me, worry plastered on his face.
"Are you alright?" he murmured as he sat himself down on the edge of my bed, his torso turned to me as he rest a hand on my cheek which only made me shiver. He took it away immediately resting it on my pillow instead, he leaned over looking at the sweat I knew was probably settling itself by my hairline, I hated getting sick it was like an endless battle in my body. I would feel queasy, I would feel faint, I would even feel hot one minute and cold the next it was ridiculous.
"I-I-I'm fine" I managed to get out, my teeth felt like glass as they slammed together, God was it just me or did my room feel like an ice bucket?
I turned my head towards my door as I heard the front one slam shut downstairs and Charlie's heavy feet shuffling against the floor.
"I-I-I n-n-need s-something t-to drink" I spat out as I squeezed my eyes shut trying to stop the pounding headache which seemed to be located in my brain.
"I'll be right back" he said, I felt him stand up as the mattress moved
"No I need to get up" I said, my hand shot out reaching his arm before he could go any further but as the achy feeling reached my already tender muscles I groaned.
"Bella you need to stay in bed" he said shaking off my hand
"No I just need to let Charlie know that I'm sick at least" He looked at me for a second, indecision in his eyes but with a deep sigh he walked back to my side. I sat up best I could but needed held standing up.
I used his arm for support as my shaky legs stood up on the cold, hard floor. I started to shiver again knowing Edward's cold skin wasn't helping matters at all but I ignored it because as of now I was completely dependent of him even if it was to only cross my room. My mouth felt dry and my head got worse as I took slow steady steps trying not to move too fast afraid I would get sick. Edward didn't seem bothered by my sloth-like movement I think it just annoyed him more at the fact that he couldn't just carry me instead but I was weak enough I didn't need another reason to feel weaker.
I stopped in the middle of my room feeling like I was reaching a breaking point, I started to see little spots coat my vision as the room spun wildly out of control, my stomach heaved up in to my throat making me feel like I was on a roller coaster. I closed my eyes as tightly as I could, hoping it would help my situation but it didn't.
I suddenly felt like I was having one of those outer-body experiences. One minute I was trying to choke down my stomach the next I was in the corner of my room looking over at myself as Edward caught me in his arms, my head bobbing back lifeless, I had passed out and now I was witnessing it with my own two eyes.
"Bella" Edward said anxiously as he placed a hand on the back of my neck probably afraid it would snap, I looked like a body of gooey clay as I lay limp in his arms. He picked me up in the same way he did when he was carrying me up the stairs, he walked faster now but just fast enough for it to still be considered 'normal'. My 'spirit' (I guess you could call it that) followed them and I felt like I was on an acid trip but with my screwed up mind I was probably just dreaming this all up in my head, trying to role play how it would really act out if I was awake.
We reached the bottom of the stairs and Charlie jumped up immediately form his place on the couch, the springs squeaking as he did so.
"What happened?" he asked as he ran over to us, even though it was just a short distance from the couch to the stairs. Surprisingly he didn't sound mad at all, I would have figured that he would blame it all on Edward like he usually did.
"She fainted" Edward said as Charlie picked up my head trying to see if I would wake up.
"Get her to the car" he said before rushing in to the kitchen to grab his keys. I followed Edward and I out to the front groaning as I watched him make his way over to the cruiser, God couldn't he just take my truck or something but then I shrugged probably figuring Charlie would turn on his siren lights to get to the hospital quicker. I was surprised at myself -as Edward sat in the back showing no effort as he kept me in his arms the whole time he sat down- that I hadn't woken up yet but then again Edward was very good at keeping my body completely still, the only thing moving were my arms as the hung at my side.
I smiled when I saw Edward kiss me on the cheek worry creasing his forehead, he probably thought his kiss would wake me up, I thought so too, maybe I was sicker than I thought. My subconscious self hopped in the front seat unseen as Charlie ran outside and down to the car.
"Is she awake yet?" he called back through the glass divider before turning on the car.
"Not yet" Edward said watching as my head moved itself for a second but then fell back down on his shoulder. The ride over to the hospital was quiet, the only thing filling that void of silence was the cruiser's accelerating engine as Charlie sped past the slow drivers.
Hospital signs started to appear here and there on the side of the road as we neared our destination, I still hadn't even opened my eyes. I did mumbled a few times only stopping when Edward would run a cool hand down my cheek, comforting me like a child. I felt my subconscious body slam against the driver's side door as Charlie took a sharp turn in to the parking lot stopping right in front of an ambulance that was already sitting outside the Emergency room.
Charlie got out first running over to the side of the car that Edward was sitting on opening the door for him to carry me out, my face was paler than usual even on this cloudy day. Edward kept up with Charlie's pace as they walked me through the sliding glass doors, my hands swinging back and forth again as Edward walked.
Charlie ran up to the desk but Edward stayed behind still holding me ever so gently, I saw a few heads turn my way as even sicker patients waited there turn in line
"Oh my goodness" I heard the receptionist gasp as she stood up from her seat seeing me, for a second it looked like she thought I was dead but then I mumbled again and she calmed down.
"Carlisle" Edward said making me jerk my head behind me, he was right on cue as he set down the clipboard he was carrying on the receptionists desk
"She fainted" Charlie said watching as Carlisle opened one of my eyelids shining a light in it. He nodded quickly clicking off the light, shoving it in to his pocket
"Marie" he said calling over to a young female nurse, I felt a wave of jealousy wash over me as I stood next to Edward watching as she eyed him with interest, then I looked down at myself still unconscious.
"Yes Dr. Cullen?" I cringed at the way her voice sounded out those words, she was pure plastic.
"Bring Ms. Swan down to 103 and hook an IV up right away"
Uh-Oh needles, I choked as I followed all of them down the hall and towards my room.
Edward set me down immediately as Marie started to hook up the IV, lucky for me Edward had connections so I got a private room with a view of, well you guessed it…trees. I had to turn away as Marie stuck the needle in to my hand only turning back when I felt a pull. It was like my body was acting as a magnet pulling my subconscious self back in to my body, I knew the IV was working as my eyes fluttered open.