Chapter 2
JPOV
A few nights later I come out of my room and hear Edward and Carlisle were talking about Isabella. Edward was mentioning that he doesn't think the chemical venom that they have used in other research will work on Isabella but thinks our natural venom will make her better. Our venom will change her cell make up. If we use the chemical venom it just shocks a temporary change in the blood stream and doesn't continually live in her system."
"It's okay, Edward. I agree we just need to find her. I got the approval back today to use her in the research study; but it might kill her to."
At this point, I interrupted and said, "If it might kill her, then let's just change her."
"Jasper, you know we can't just change her; James would have us in a war immediately before Isabella ever completed her change."
"But Carlisle, if we find her and use the venom, it could kill her like you just said. I think she is my mate and if she is my mate, then we can change her."
"Only if James or the Volturi court agree. How do you know she is your mate?"
"I think she is the reason I have been coming home every summer. I had decided this year would be the year to meet her," I said.
Emmett and Rose came busting in and say, "We got her; but!"
I was already at the door and said, "Let's go."
"Jazz, I'm so sorry." Rose said as she met me at the door. "We can't; she is in Brooklyn with her grandmother."
"Fuck!" and I slammed the door closed.
Flashback
Over three hundred years ago, as vampires started spreading around the United States, there was a turf war going on between human eating vampires and animal eating vampires. It was very territorial and very deadly to the humans in the area. Finally, after fifty years, the Volturi stepped in and divided the New York area. We, vegetarian vampires, were allowed in Manhattan, Bronx, and Staten Island. The human vampires were allowed on Brooklyn and Queens. There had been a few subsequent battles on and off over the last hundred years. Once again the Volturi set new rules even for our hunting pattern, as well. The regular vampires were only allowed to go after criminals on there islands. We each had weekly windows where we were allowed to do our hunting in different directions. Two weeks of the month, we had to go north and they had to go south and then the other half of the month, we switched.
For the most part this worked, but every once and in a while a nomad would come through and cause trouble. The human eating vampires would sometimes go after mild criminals and Carlisle would have to call up Volturi for backup and to settle them down.
Over the last ten years, James and his coven hadn't caused much trouble but enough that the Volturi were watching them. James, Laurent and Victoria thought we were the lesser vampires because of our diet and that we always called in the Volturi for backup.
End of Flashback
"Where are her parents?" Esme asked.
"They disappeared six months ago and that is why it took us so long to find her. It's like her parents just vanished. No credit cards, apartment rental, no banking, no unemployment checks, and no medical any more. We found Isabella when we started only looking for her. She has been in and out of the Brooklyn hospital ER three times in the last six months."
"Now what? She can't be doing very well if she has been in and out of the hospital," I asked.
Edward said, " Let me call Alice and see what she can tell us though it will be difficult since she doesn't know her."
"Yes, but she knows me. Maybe she can see us together eventually," I suggested.
We all hear Alice excited to hear from Edward, but Edward gets right down to business. He quickly tells Alice about Jasper and the girl, Isabella. Alice says, "All I see is a roller coaster ride in your emotions Jasper; I see some highs and good emotions, but then they plunge and bend like crazy. I'm sorry, Jasper."
I finally just say, "Thanks, Alice." Edward hangs up and then I ask, "When is Alice due back?"
"At Thanksgiving, her three years of service will be over then."
"Damn Volturi and their stupid rules."
Flashback
Alice and Edward were touring Italy three years ago. Edward was playing piano concerts all across Italy and Alice went along to shop. Alice got caught while out shopping in the sun and not having the necessary parts of her body covered so that no one could see her sparkling and would have been caught by a human had it not been for Jane. The Volturi served Alice with a punishment of three years of fortune telling for them though Edward was allowed visits every six months. They were using her skills to decide what humans had promise as newborns and what ones were better for meals.
End Flashback
EPOV
Two weeks later, I was at Lennox hospital working in the clinic and receives a call. "Hi. I am Leah, a nurse from The Brooklyn Hospital Center. I have done some reading on your research study and I think I might have patient for you."
"Okay tell me about the case. Sorry, I know you don't care about a patient's name; but Isabella Swan is a very sick young 17 year old who has SCID and could use some help with her immune system and t & b cells." Leah went on to talk about the study and what she had read about it. Your brother, Dr. Carlisle Cullen and your self are doing some really good work with your study and I thought she would be a good case for you."
I smiled internally and agreed. "Leah, I agree. I think she is a perfect test case. Thank you for sharing her name and a little about her as well. We do care about our patients as it sounds like you do. Please start the paperwork to get her transferred to Lennox Hill because we have the treatment and grant at our hospital. We will need Isabella here to monitor her."
"Dr. Cullen, sorry the city of Brooklyn will not allow her transfer to your hospital."
I quickly covered my surprise and asked, "I have heard of Isabella's case of SCID and I am wondering what happened to her grandmother? She has guardianship of her."
Leah said, "Really a sad case, her parents deserted her six months ago. Now her grandmother passed away last week and Isabella didn't find out until she left her bubble to find her because she hadn't had anything to eat for three days. Then she called 911 and fainted."
"Oh my god, that poor girl. What shape did she come in?" Edward asked.
"Really dehydrated and malnourshied. Low blood pressure, anemic. She is a mess. She is depressed now too. When she found out what happened to her grandmother she broke down even more. This study, I think, would really help her. She needs someone to care about her. I care; but I can only do so much. I can't help her 24/7. Dr. Warlock won't let me around her all the time."
"Thank you, Leah, if you have any luck getting Brooklyn to agree to transfer her. Call me. I will try to figure something out from here."
"Thank you, Dr Cullen. She has been through enough. I am going to give you my personal cell phone; so that, if you have any luck, you can always reach me."
Once I hang up on from the phone call, I send a text to the entire family. Family meeting at home at 2am when I get home regarding Isabella.
We all meet in our living room at 2 am. It is really a good thing that we don't need sleep as Vampires. I replayed the whole conversation back to the family.
Esme said, "Carlisle and I will invite Isabella into our home as our foster child. Thank God, we always keep our license active for being foster parents."
Flashback
Every five years or so, our family has helped a patient at the hospital out as a foster child to make their final days easier. We truly have helped the less fortunate. This would be the first time we actually bring someone in that one of us may be in love with. In the past, it has always been a troubled sick teen in a situation that Cullen's money and the Whitlock's money helps out. They all have passed away, but we always cared for them and made them comfortable. No, we have never changed any of them that was never our intention when we started this. I know what you are thinking how do we keep it from them that we are vampires? Time, a lot of practice and their need for so much medical care helped us keep our secret. We can keep them isolated in their room or at the hospital. Carlisle and I are normally the only two around with the foster children. The rest of the family just show up once in a while for visits.
End Flashback
JPOV
So this time my heart is exploding because I think this is my mate we are trying to bring into the house. I was going to be a mess emotionally until Carlisle and Esme got her here.
"Jasper," Carlisle said. "Son, you do realize that even once we get her she will be at the hospital while we test the venom on her system. Remember it may not work."
"I know. I want to be with her at the hospital. What can I do?"
Edward said, "That is easy. You can be the medical assistant in charge of her case."
"Perfect. You and Carlisle can teach me what I need to know."
"Of course, we will."
Carlisle then speaks up and says, "Jasper, I am assuming you are okay with this."
"Of course. What can I do to help?"
"Since I believe this is going to work and we will have Isabella here sooner than later. Help Esme get a room ready for her. You guys should probably convert two rooms. One if we need to still keep her in a bubble and another if she can be out of the bubble. Rose and Emmett call Brooklyn child protective services tomorrow and start the process that we will take her as our foster child. Be sure they know that because of the study, her medical costs will be covered."
"We will have everything ready and call her case worker at 9 am," Rose said. Emmett and Rose hack into the Brooklyn computers to get to Isabella's files and information. By 7 am, they were just waiting for 9am to come so that we could call her case worker. After Emmett sends over all the case information and referrals on Esme and Carlisle, Brooklyn eagerly agrees 48 hours later so that the city is off the financial burden quickly.
BPOV
Leah, one of Isabella's nurses, comes in her protective gear and says, "Bella, I am here to help you get your traveling suit on. We are transferring you to Lennox Hill to be part of a research study to help your SCID. It is a brother pair of doctor's and their names are Carlisle and Edward Cullen. They will take really good care of you."
"Okay? Are you sure? They know how really sick I am."
"Yes, Bella. I am; this is exactly what you need. I think this study will help you tremendously. Also Dr. Carlisle Cullen and his wife Esme Cullen are going to be your foster parents for right now. You will have to stay at the hospital while being treated though. I have talked to both of them. They have promised me; they will come and visit you often."
Very slowly and with a lot of care and stops for breaks because I tire so easily right now, I get my suit on. Leah helped me pack what few clothes I had to take with me. Leah was the only nurse at the hospital I really liked. Besides actually caring for me, she would sneak me things that James said wasn't good for me from food to regular medicine. She was also the one that called Lennox about getting me transferred. There were two other nurses I saw a lot of and I hated them. They were Victoria and Laurent; they were barely tolerable and did very little for me. They really enjoyed taking blood from me.
Two hours later, I still hadn't left for Lennox. I was very uncomfortable and warm sitting in my suit in my room. Finally, Dr. James Warlock came in and excused Leah. Once the door was closed behind her, Dr James said, "I am so sorry, Isabella. You will be staying here. It is too dangerous to move you right now. Your counts are all way down again."
I laid down and just started crying, "I should know better than to get my hopes up. One more time I am being disappointed."
"Come on, Bella. No more self loathing. Let's sit up and I'll help you get your suit off. Then if you are still loathing yourself; you can go back to bed and be more comfortable." Dr. Warlock helps me get out of my bed and out of my suit. He was nowhere as careful and gentle at helping me get out of the suit as Leah had been. As James went to leave he said, "Bella, I will take care of you. I promise; I will make you strong again."
"Excuse me, Dr. Warlock, I have never been strong. I have always been dependant on others because of this damn disease and I cause everyone I love to leave me and I killed my grandmother. Please, excuse me. I would like to be alone."
"I'm sorry, Bella. I will leave you alone; but I will make you better and stronger, I promise. Just give me some time." Then he left.
Leah came back in with a chocolate sundae for me about an hour later and said, "I am so sorry. But I will promise you this, I will help you get to Lennox to be part of that study. You are strong little one and I will do everything to get you stronger."
I tried to smile at Leah; but I did enjoy my sundae. Leah was the only person besides my parents and grandmother that ever cared about me.
A/N - HI everyone you know the drill. Please leave me some love in the form of reviews. I am slowly working on editing this and filling in the missing pieces.