Carlisle's POV

I couldn't believe it. I had just seen Jacob carry Bella's shivering and fragile body into the house. She was incredibly pale. When she appeared motionless, I assumed the worst, but the thought quickly vanished when she turned her head to me. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy, trails of dried tears visible. She turned away after a new trail formed.

Charlie had called me, and spoke frantically as soon as I answered. He said that Bella had been missing for a couple of hours, and Jacob's friend had just found her in an awful condition.

"Please Dr. Cullen, can you make sure that Bella's alright?"

My pulse quickened, and I quickly replied, "I'll be there as soon as possible. Don't worry."

He thanked me and hung up, but not before whispering to himself, "What could've happened?"

I knew. I knew perfectly well what did happen.

Edward really did leave Bella. He left all of us.

I grabbed my coat and bag, and flew out the door.

After Jacob carried her to her room I was allowed in. I checked her up and down, doing the things I would usually do when I had a patient.

"She seems fine. Physically, I mean. Though, she might be coming onto a fever. She must've been outside for hours."

Both Charlie and Jacob, who stood at the doorway, sighed.

Charlie rubbed his chin. "Alright well, I'll get more blankets and something to eat for her. She needs her rest, so, I guess we should deal with other things tomorrow. Hopefully Bells would want to talk about it by then." He rubbed sleep from his eyes and turned around. "Jacob, thanks for being here. And make sure you thank your friend for finding her, as well."

The wolf patted him on the back, "No problem, Mr. Swan." He then walked over to Bella, and kissed her head.

He whispered, "Please feel better, Bella," and then waved a goodbye to all of us.

Charlie turned to me. "Thank you again, Dr. Cullen. If it's not any trouble, could you come back tomorrow?"

"Anything for Bella and yourself, Mr. Swan. I'll be back around 3."

He nodded. I thought he would leave the room. I needed a few minutes alone with Bella.

Instead he lead me away saying, "You can see yourself out." After I passed him, he suddenly asked, "By the way, how did you get here so quickly?"

Damn. I didn't even think about that. I'd waste time using my car, so I just ran. Bella was my only priority at that moment. I got to the Swan residence in about a single-digit minute, but I live miles away. What could I say?

"Oh, well, I was already in the neighborhood, Chief. I visit patients' homes from time to time. To make sure they're doing okay."

Charlie seemed to understand, but I couldn't read his face as much because he was so exhausted.

I chuckled lightly, "Mr. Swan, after you've made Bella comfortable, you should go to bed. You're overworked." I didn't blame him, so I patted him on the shoulder and left.

He shared my laugh. "Right right, yeah. Oh, and uh, it's 'Charlie' to ya. Got it?"

I nodded, "Then it's 'Carlisle' to you. Take care," and I bid him farewell.

I had to talk to Bella. "But why?" I asked myself. "Just to confirm that Edward really did leave? To remind Bella of why she's feeling broken and miserable?"

My conscious replied, "Or because you just feel like it. Because you deeply care about Bella. You want to be there for her, to calm her, soothe her, and hold her close to you..."

I quickly shook my head after that thought. Hold her close to me? Did I really just think that?

I convinced myself, "I probably overlooked something. I'll go back and check on her for a few minutes."

So here I am, outside the house and listening. Waiting for Bella's dad to bring the blankets and soup then leave the room. I hear his feet shuffle out and the bedroom door close. I hear some more shuffling, but it's only Bella tossing and turning in her sleep. Or maybe she wasn't asleep. Without thinking, I flew up to her bedroom window. Thank goodness the window wasn't latched from inside.

Thank goodness? I thought. That's not a good thing. People could just climb in willy-nilly. People like myself. I quickly climbed into the room. "So help me God," I whispered, realizing how wrong this looked.

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