Disclaimer: ALL THINGS TWILIGHT BELONG TO STEPHENIE MEYER.
A/N: Thank you to my lovely and awesome beta, Justine...you are amazing! Big thanks and love to 'The Girls' for your constant love and support!
Thank you to Betti Gefecht whose awesome banner inspired this story. Also, thank you to everyone that voted in the Pick-a Pic contest!
~XXXX~
BPOV
"Are you sure you'll be okay with him?" I ask Carlisle for the fourth time.
"Yes. I think Edward realizes I am no danger to him. You need some time away, can't be here for him every second."
I know Carlisle speaks the truth, but Edward is so needy and my presence seems to comfort him...I feel like I'm abandoning him.
"Really, Bella. We will be fine. Do what you need to do, take your time," Carlisle tells me, hugging me goodbye.
I take the hint and reluctantly wave to Edward, who is sitting happily on the couch, turning a baseball in his hands.
~xx~
"Bella! Is that you?"
"Of course it's me, Dad. Who else would it be?"
Charlie comes to the front door to greet me as I struggle with my backpack.
"I thought you still had a couple weeks left to your archeology program."
I cringe inwardly, hoping Charlie won't be too disappointed.
"I...umm...quit," I whisper.
To my surprise, Charlie chuckles. "Couldn't take the camping?"
"It wasn't the camping, Dad," I tell him.
Charlie looks at me with a furrowed brow, awaiting my response.
No point in delaying the inevitable.
I take a deep breath, hoping it will steady my nerves. "I found a man in a cave I was exploring. He is staying with Carlisle and I'm going to help care for him."
Charlie just stares at me like I've grown a second head.
"Dad?"
"What do you mean by found a man?"
Charlie is still looking at me like he is waiting for the punch line of a joke.
"I was out with my team and I went in to a cave and there was a man in there," I say.
"Bella, I think I'm missing something here. You say you found some strange man, and he is staying with Carlisle. My question is why? Why is he staying with Carlisle and why are you helping?"
Poor Charlie looks completely baffled, and I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm pulling his leg.
"He doesn't have anyone, Dad. He doesn't speak, he barely has any civilized skills...I think he is feral," I tell him quietly.
Charlie's face is serious as he speaks. "You should have called me. He could be dangerous."
"He isn't dangerous. He's sweet...and protective."
Charlie narrows his eyes. "What do mean he's protective?"
"Um…well, when I found him, I called Carlisle on the radio. He came to the cave and Edward tried to protect me from him – from Carlisle."
"You're calling him Edward?" Charlie questions. "Kind of a strange, old-fashioned name to pick."
"I didn't pick it. That's his name…he told me."
Charlie raises his eyebrows in surprise. "I thought you said he doesn't talk."
"He doesn't. I was saying names out loud and he reacted to Edward.
Charlie watches me intently, deep in thought. "So let me get this straight: you found this guy in a cave, and you plan to keep him at my best friend's house where you will take care of him?"
"Pretty much."
Charlie lets out a loud sigh. "You know I'm not happy about this, right?"
"I know, but I'm twenty, Dad. It's my choice. I'm kind of hoping you will help me."
Charlie looks as if I threw cold water on him – shocked.
"I don't think that is such a good idea, Bells. Why don't you just take him to a hospital or something? That will be a better place for him."
"No way. They would restrain him and study him. He would be frightened."
Another long sigh issues from Charlie's mouth. "What kind of help do you need?"
"Would you be willing to look through the missing persons cases and see if you can find anything that might give us a clue about Edward?"
"This is really important to you, isn't it?" Charlie asks.
"Yes. I really want to help him."
"Alright, I'll see what I can do," he tells me.
I'm so grateful, I throw my arms around Charlie, squeezing him tight.
"Thanks, Dad. You should come meet Edward sometime. I think you would like him."
Charlie responds with a grunt, so I drop the matter.
~xx~
After indulging in a long shower, I pack a bag with a few clothes and my favorite books, climb into my rusty old truck, and head back to Carlisle's.
~xx~
Growling meets my ears as soon as I walk in the front door. Carlisle is kneeling in the middle of the living room, talking to a chair in the corner of the room.
"Edward, I'm not going to hurt you."
As soon as Carlisle finishes speaking, a spoon flies over the chair and lands in front of Carlisle.
I can't help the laugh that bursts out of me – the whole situation is comical.
"What's going on?"
"I tried to give him a check-up...he didn't take it well," Carlisle informs me.
I feel bad for having left. The poor guy was probably frightened.
I approach the chair slowly, saying Edward's name quietly.
Thankfully no more spoons fly out, and I'm able to approach the chair and peek over the top.
Edward is hunched in the corner, distress clear on his face, spoons clutched tightly in his hand.
"What are you doing back here?" I ask.
Edward looks up at me from under his eyelashes, a smile crossing his face.
I can't explain why, but it gives me the best feeling to see him smile like that, to know he trusts me.
I squeeze between the wall and chair to crouch down next to Edward.
He immediately grabs my hand and, in a gesture of unexpected affection, he takes the palm of my hand and begins to rub it on his cheek.
My heart clenches in my chest with a feeling that's a cross between stabbing pain and glowing warmth.
My conviction to help him cements even more. No matter what it takes, I will find his family. He deserves to have a life, to have friends...to have love.
"Bella, can you try and get him to come out? I really would like to finish his check-up," Carlisle interjects from his spot on the floor.
Reluctantly, I shake myself from the spell that Edward seems to have me under. "Yes, just give me a moment."
I pull my hand from Edward's face and take a firm hold on his hand. He's hesitant to come out from behind the chair, but after a few minutes and some words of encouragement, Edward finally comes out.
I turn my attention to Carlisle, Edward still gripping tightly to my hand.
"So what did you find during his first, albeit short, check-up?"
Carlisle rises from the floor, picking up several discarded spoons. "I was able to get his measurements – six foot, two inches; a hundred fifty-five pounds."
"Is that normal?" I ask.
"He's on the thin side, but it's nothing regular meals won't cure. He was doing great till I tried to draw his blood. That's when he took position behind the chair and started throwing spoons. He has good aim by the way." Carlisle gives Edward a sardonic grin.
Edward is playing with my fingers, poking at them with one of the spoons still clutched in his hand.
"What's the deal with the spoons?"
Carlisle lets out a low chuckle, "He got tired of the ball pretty fast. The spoons caught his attention when I was emptying the dishwasher. They made him happy, so I let him hold onto them."
"Do you really have to draw his blood now? Can it wait for another day?"
Carlisle sighs quietly. "Yeah, it can wait. I would like to talk to you about something. Do you have time?"
Edward and I settle ourselves on the couch, and Carlisle takes the chair Edward had been behind.
"I would like to bring someone over to meet Edward," Carlisle tells me.
"Who?"
"Tanya Denali. She is a psychiatrist and specializes in post traumatic stress," Carlisle informs me.
"Is that what you think is wrong with him?"
"I honestly don't know, but something happened to him, and Dr. Denali is more qualified than either of us to help him."
"Is she nice?" I ask.
"Of course she is. I know you and Edward have some sort of bond, but I care for him, too."
I feel my skin burn in embarrassment. I didn't mean to imply that Carlisle doesn't care; I just want to make sure Edward gets the help he needs.
I nod my consent, grateful Carlisle asked my opinion.
"Great! I'll go call her now and see when she is available."
I watch Carlisle leave before turning my attention back to Edward.
He is still running one of the spoons over my knuckles, seeming quite lost in watching the spoon bounce from finger to finger.
"Do you want to watch television?" Of course I know he won't answer, but it feels rude not to ask.
I grab the remote, pressing the power button and bringing the television to life.
As soon as noise from the TV interrupts the quiet of the living room, Edward's head snaps up, his eyes focusing on the forming images.
For a moment I'm worried he may be frightened and try to hide again, but he makes no sound or move to distance himself from the source of the voices.
He sits, transfixed, staring intently at the screen.
I start flipping the channels, from news to sports to soap operas. Edward has no reaction to the differing programs, he simply sits and watches.
I flip the channel once more, landing on a cartoon. Before I can register what's happening, Edward is off the couch and kneeling on the floor in front of the television, his giggles filling the room.
Quietly I cross the room and sit cross-legged on the floor next to Edward. He is practically vibrating with excitement as he reaches for me, squeezing my hand hard and then pointing at the television.
"Is this something you have watched before?"
My question is met with silence, but the joy shining on Edward's face is the only answer I need.
"He seems to be enjoying himself." The suddenness of Carlisle's words give me a bit of a scare.
"Yeah...he is."
"I'm sure I still have some of Peter's toys around here. Edward might enjoy them."
"Oh, Carlisle, that's okay; I don't want to bring up painful memories for you."
"Somebody might as well enjoy them. Peter doesn't need them anymore." Carlisle's voice has dropped to a whisper, and I can see the tears glaze his eyes.
My heart breaks for Carlisle as I watch him silently leave the room. He is so different from the man I knew as a kid. He used to be so outgoing and full of life, not the quiet, reserved man he is now.
I still remember the day of his wife and son's funeral. It was clear to anyone there a part of him died right along with them. I heard him tell Charlie once that he blamed himself for their murder, that if he had been home instead of pulling a double shift at the hospital, then maybe they would still be alive. Charlie had told him it wouldn't have made a difference, they just would have killed him too.
The day of his family's funeral was the last day he ever stepped foot in a hospital.
~xx~
"Edward, do you want to come eat now?"
I gently placed my hand on his back as I spoke to him, so as not to startle him.
He didn't react to my touch or my voice, all his concentration was on the cartoon before him.
Edward was so enthralled with the television, I just let him keep watching while I made dinner.
I pick up the remote and turn the television off. Edward finally turns to look at me, confusion written on his face.
"Time for dinner, mister...let's go."
Edward stares at me, his expression blank.
Sighing, I gesture toward my mouth. "Food. Let's eat."
Still nothing.
I extend my hand to Edward. He takes it eagerly and, again, I'm amazed by how comfortable he is with me.
Edward is docile as I get him settled in his chair at the table.
Tonight's endeavor will be to teach Edward how to use a fork.
Before he has a chance to grab any of the Hamburger Helper I have set in front of him, I hold a fork out to him.
He looks back and forth between me and the utensil, his confusion evident.
I force the fork into his hand and grab one of my own. I wave my fork in front of his face to get his attention . Once I have it, I demonstrate how to stab the noodle and ground beef mixture and pop it into my mouth.
A smile crosses Edward's lips as he gleefully begins poking at his food.
He successfully gets his dinner scooped into his mouth, stopping to giggle between bites.
After an entertaining meal in which more food ends up on Edward's clothes than in his mouth, I bring Edward over to the kitchen sink to have him help me with the dishes. He isn't much help with the actual cleaning, but he is enjoying the bubbles.
~xx~
"Carlisle." I tap quietly on the door to his study.
There is no answer.
I tap a little louder. Still no answer.
I haven't seen him since he spoke of his son earlier today.
I take a chance and crack the door open. Carlisle is sleeping on the couch, an empty bottle of scotch on the floor. I cross the room to stand next to him, taking note of the photo he has clutched in his hand. I remember well the day it was taken, it was the last Christmas Carlisle spent with his family.
Taking the picture gently from his hand I survey the happy scene it portrays:
Carlisle and his wife, Irina, and their son, Peter, all smiling brightly as they stand in front of their Christmas tree.
Charlie took this picture of them right after he and I had arrived for Christmas dinner. We were always included in holidays at the Cullen house.
Irina was the closest thing I had to a mother, mine having died when I was a baby.
I miss both Irina and Peter deeply, but I can't even imagine the level of anguish that Carlisle must've experienced – and still feels now.
After placing the photograph on the desk and tucking a blanket around Carlisle, I pick up the empty bottle from the floor and quietly leave the room.
Upon returning to the living room, I see Edward is right where I left him - sitting on the floor, pushing the baseball around with a spoon.
"Edward."
He turns at the sound of my voice, a smile lighting his lips and eyes. My heart twists with unexpected pleasure at the sight of his beautiful smile.
I hold my hand out to Edward and again pleasure pulses through me when he takes it eagerly.
Now time to face the awkwardness of getting Edward ready for bed.
I pray that Carlisle covered the basics of using the toilet with him, because I'm not sure I can handle covering that.
I walk Edward to the bathroom and allow him to go in alone, closing the door behind him. Thankfully he doesn't seem to need me at all, so I just wait I'm the hall while he does his thing.
I guide Edward to the guest room after he exits the bathroom, feeling anxious about having to get him ready for bed.
I get Edward to sit down on the edge of the bed, motioning for him to raise his arms by raising mine first. He mimics my movements and, with butterflies in my stomach, I pull his shirt over his head with ease, though I have a considerably more difficult time keeping my eyes off his body.
Last time I saw him without a shirt, he was dirty and scared. Sitting here now, calm and relaxed, his skin a healthy peach tint, my mouth feels suddenly dry.
I allow my gaze to travel down his torso, over the fine hair that covers his chest, down along the contours of his stomach.
My fingers seem to have a mind of their own as they move to lightly touch the skin of Edward's chest, pressing into the nest of hair.
I can't help the sigh that escapes my lips at the feel of his skin under my fingertips.
I'm brought to reality when Edward once again mimics my movements, his hand reaching out to me, settling over my left breast. I feel as though an electric charge is running through my body, humming and pulsing with life for just a moment before burning guilt sinks into me.
I take a step back from him, color flushing my face. His face only shows confusion, causing me further disgust with myself.
Pushing aside my own discomfort, I quickly help Edward into some sweat pants and a t-shirt, keeping my eyes on the floor.
Carlisle had sedated Edward yesterday, making putting him to bed easy. With Carlisle now out cold, I have little choice but to try some other method to get Edward to fall asleep.
I pull back the blankets and motion for Edward to climb in. He just sits watching me, making no move to lie down.
Sighing loudly, I quickly lay my head on the pillow, curling into a tight ball for a moment, then hopping back up to make space for Edward to lie down.
He stretches his hand out slowly, laying it on the pillow, pushing his palm into the softness several times. He turns his gaze to me, flashing me a small smile before he scoots up the bed, settling his head on the pillow.
I help him get his feet under the blankets and pull the covers up to his shoulders.
"Goodnight, Edward."
As I turn to go I feel his fingers close around my hand, a whimper coming from him.
I turn to look at him, distress evident on his face, his grip tightening on my hand. I take a seat on the bed next to him, leaning back against the headboard. I'll stay till he falls asleep.
Edward lays his head in my lap, sighing contentedly as he does.
Again I'm amazed by how comfortable he is with me in such a short time.
I push my fingers through his hair, humming softly, my brain focusing on the past two days. So much has happened… It's a bit overwhelming.
It amazes me that Edward even survived out there alone at all; the desert is such a harsh environment.
I glance down at Edward's face to see his shining green eyes gazing back at me. Sleep is heavy in his eyes, but they still spark, watching me intently. I can't help the smile that crosses my lips as we watch each other. Something about him just calls out to me and I feel the strongest need to care for him, to protect him.
I wish I could explain why I feel this way. It makes no sense.
I find this man in a cave, he doesn't speak, he has no history that we know of yet, and I'm completely taken with him.
I want to know everything about him; where he came from, how he came to be in that cave, how long he was there.
I brush my hand through Edward's hair several more times, letting the silky strands slip easily between my fingers and watch as his eyelids flutter shut.
I wait till his breathing is deep and even before pressing my palm to his cheek, feeling the stubble that's beginning to form along his jaw.
I reflect on the moment we shared earlier - my brain tells me that touching him like that was wrong. Clearly, his emotional age is not equivalent with his physical age.
My heart, however, has different ideas... It can't help but be drawn to him.
I slide his head gently from my lap and kneel on the floor next to his bed. He is so beautiful and peaceful as he sleeps.
I lean forward and press my lips softly to his forehead. "Goodnight, Edward."
~XXXX~
A/N: Thank you for reading, please review and let me know what you think.
Pictures pertaining to this chapter can be found on my blog at:opalaline-purpletulip(dot)blogspot(dot)com
