A Little Bit Stronger
Author's Note: Thank you all that added this as their favorite story and to their alerts, I really appreciate your support on this project as I am really out of my element on this one. Anyway, on with the show.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything Twilight I just enjoy playing with the characters…especially Carlisle (although not a prominent part of this story)…what can I say? Peter Facinelli is a hottie.
Chapter 2
I woke up in a white room that smelled sterile and I knew immediately I was in a hospital. My wrists were bandaged up from my attempt to join Edward in the afterlife and I had Charlie's hand in mine. He was asleep in a chair to the left of me beside my bed. To the right, slept Jacob. I didn't know when or how Jake got there but I was happy he cared enough to come. My wrists stung and began to throb with pain and I knew that whatever pain medicine they gave me was wearing off so I hit the nurse's call button and waited for the nurse to come in. I took this time to relax. My wrist itched under the bracelet they gave me and that's when I glanced at the band around my arm. I saw the doctor's name and thought "Oh No, not him…Not now. I don't know if I can handle it.".
As if he heard my thoughts the gorgeous blonde doctor, and the love of my life's father and creator, came walking into the room carrying a chart. He said nothing as he checked my blood pressure and other vitals. I knew he wanted to say something but since I made it clear to Alice that I didn't want to speak to him he was being respectful by honoring my wishes.
"Carlisle?" I whispered as to not wake Charlie and Jake.
"Yes, Bella?" he said finally looking at me with his beautiful golden eyes.
"Why did you all leave me?" I whimpered out. I saw him take out a syringe and inject what I thought was more pain medicine into my IV and took a deep unnecessary breath before speaking.
"We left because we wanted to honor our son's wishes to let you have a normal human life." He spoke softly "I was against the idea from the start but Edward insisted. None of us every stopped thinking about you for a second. We even came back a few times to check on you, out of sight of course. None of us wanted nothing more than for you to be happy. I hope you forgive us, Bella. We truly are sorry for leaving you the way that we did."
Now I couldn't stay mad at Carlisle for long, he was probably the only one besides Alice and Ed….HIM….that I could trust, we were close before they left. "Carlisle, I forgive you all for leaving…I won't forget but I DO forgive you all. I missed you all so much. The reason I don't come around though isn't because of being mad or that I don't forgive you…it just brings up bad memories that I would rather repress." I whispered.
"I understand fully, Bella. But you know we are always here if and when you need us." He said "Now Bella, your father wants to have you institutionalized until you get better and I'm going to have to agree and recommend it as well."
"NO! NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT!" I screamed causing Charlie and Jacob to startle awake.
"Cullen, what did you do to her? I only agreed to let you continue treating her because you gave me your word that you wouldn't upset her further." Charlie snapped at Carlisle.
"No, Dad. It's not Carlisle…Dad, please don't send me away." I plead with Charlie "I promise nothing like this will happen again…I'll go to therapy…I'll go out with friends just PLEASE let me come home with you."
"Bells, when you did what you did you scared the hell out of me…I thought I had lost you forever and I may have if I hadn't of come in the kitchen when I did." Charlie said.
"I'm sorry, Dad! I am really sorry, please don't send me away." I said, tears streaming down my face.
"Charlie, if she agrees to attend therapy and at least attempt to interact with her friends, I would recommend her going home." Carlisle said.
"I don't know." Charlie said.
"I know a WONDERFUL psychiatrist from North Carolina that practices in Seattle by the name of Samantha Northman and she specializes in girls with unique cases such as Bella's" Carlisle said and I knew when he called my case unique that he was referring to my involvement with the supernatural and I assumed that this Samantha character was involved in the supernatural world as well. "I can give her a call and set up an appointment if you agree."
"Thank you, Carlisle, that would be great." Charlie said.
"Well then let me just sign these release papers and then you can be on your way. I will be by your house in a few days to check your stitches and see how you are healing." Carlisle told me.
"Thank you Carlisle." I said. A few minutes later the IV was taken out of my arm and Charlie and I went home. Jacob agreed to stay with me while Charlie was at work and I was grateful he was staying because having him around gave me less time to think about how shitty my life was at that time. I went up to my room and showered when we got home and headed straight to bed.
The next few days were full days and Jacob kept me busy, I was grateful he did. I got calls from Jessica and Angela checking on me and even came over a few times. I was grateful to have their support in all this as well, I was afraid they may turn their back on me when they found out what I had done. Jessica, Angela and Jacob were the only friends that were truly there for me when the Cullens left and with the exception of a few of the pack members from La Push, Billy, Sue (Harry Clearwater's widow and my father's girlfriend) and Carlisle.
I found that I truly enjoyed Carlisle's visits, every time he came around to check on me I felt myself warming back up to him and getting a little stronger everyday. He and I talked about everything under the sun. He helped me to cope with Edward's death and truly accept it. I was grateful to have his wisdom in his time of need. The rest of the Cullens came by one but it was too hard for me so they never came back. It was nothing against them but it just didn't feel right anymore.
After a couple of weeks of healing Carlisle took my stitches out and made me an appointment with his friend in Seattle, Samantha. The way Carlisle spoke of her, I knew I was going to like her.
My first appointment with Samantha was a bit nerve wracking but once I started opening up to her I knew that she would be able to help me. Samantha was a young woman, around 25 or 26, 5'3, kind of a light reddish brown colored hair, blue eyes and a very sweet person. I only wondered how she knew about the supernatural world because of the fact the she was human. At one session I asked her about my observations.
"Samantha, do you mind me asking how you know so much about the supernatural world?" I asked.
"Because I am a part of it." She said straight out.
"How? Y-you're human." I said.
"Only part human. My mother is a witch and my father is actually a vampire royal. Maybe you've heard of him, Marcus Volturi? She asked and I nodded "I am the only human they allow to marry a vampire, like my husband Eric, and I am the only hybrid to mother 2 beautiful little girls named Summer and Cheyenne."
"WOW!" I said.
"Yeah, I know a lot about the supernatural. Just like I know that your friend, Jacob, is not a true werewolf, he is only a shape shifter." she said.
"What's the difference?" I asked.
"A true werewolf never comes out unless there is a full moon and they aren't generally BORN as a werewolf the way the shape shifters are." Samantha said, that made a bit of sense. "So, we've been seeing each other for about a month now, I have some homework for you this time around."
"Homework? Like school?" I asked.
"Well, sort of." she said "I would like you to call up your friends Jessica and Angela, since you said they are the only female friends you have that have actually supported you the entire time since the Cullens left and Edward's death."
"OK" I said, I was finally able to hear about and talk about Edward now without breaking down or going into a depression.
"Call them up and you all go out for a girl's night." Samantha said.
"OK!" I said.
"Well, times up for today. You are doing much better, Bella. I am proud of you." she said.
"Thank you Samantha, I had a great coach." I said with a smile. I was actually able to smile now, and not a forced one either…an actual genuine smile.
"Until next time, Bella." Samantha said "It's always a pleasure."
"Thank you, Samantha, for everything." I said and then I left. I went home and started my homework. I called Angela first.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Hey Angela, do you want to go out tomorrow night for a girls night?" I asked.
"Sure, you deserve a night out. Let's do it, you going to call Jess?" she asked.
"I was calling her next." I said "Maybe it'll help me more…Samantha's been GREAT!"
"I can tell, a month ago you wouldn't have even been CONSIDERING going out." Angela said "I'm proud of you, Bella."
"Thank you Angela." I said "I'll see you tomorrow. We can all meet here and figure out a plan of attack."
"Sounds like fun, see you then." she said and we hung up. I called Jessica next.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Hey girl, I got an assignment from Samantha today." I said.
"Really? What is it?" she asked.
"To have a girls night with you and Angela. You in?" I asked.
"I am SO in…you deserve it, I think it'll help a lot!" Jessica said.
"Me too" I said.
"So, what's the plan?" she asked.
"We're meeting here and coming up with one." I said.
"OK, sounds like fun…sleep over after?" Jessica asked.
"Yeah, that would be cool too." I said.
"OK, I'll see you tomorrow then." Jessica said "Oh and Bella?"
"Yeah, Jess?" I said.
"Thank you for trying…I am proud of how far you have come." she said.
"Thank you, Jessica." I said and we hung up. The girls were meeting me here and we were going to think of what to do. Maybe tomorrow night would help me.
