Disclaimer: Not mine
A/N: Hello again! I bring you chapter two of the most pathetic Bella ever. Really, I'm not kidding, she is pitiful! Updating schedule is still weekly on Saturdays. Expect things to stay dark for a while, but I have method to my madness.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to review. They are still in my inbox waiting for me to get my ass in gear and reply!
My other story, 'Silent Auction', is nearly complete. The final chapter will post tomorrow and then an epi will follow next Sunday. Go check it out if you like vamps and fighting and a Bella with no barrier between her brain and her mouth.
Dalloway5906 is my beta extraordinaire and her story 'Bittersweet' is rocking my world. I am 14 chapters ahead of y'all and let me tell you, her Emmett is unbelievably hot!
Alice was frantic as she relayed the past few minutes to her father. Carlisle Cullen was a wonderful physician and Forks Community Hospital was lucky to have someone like him on staff. Carlisle was already getting into his car after answering the tearful call from his daughter. She was not able to give him much information about Edward's injuries, only that he was silently sobbing in the passenger seat as he clutched his hand to his chest. Thousands of thoughts were going through Carlisle's head as he worried about what could possibly be wrong with his son. What scared him the most was that it had been nearly 20 years since he had witnessed his son cry.
Alice pulled into the hospital parking lot at the same time as her father. When Edward made no move to get out of the car, she flagged Carlisle down and together they were able to get him inside. They were immediately escorted into a private trauma room and Carlisle went into doctor mode. He made Alice go out and call her mother, since he had been unable to explain his abrupt departure without turning her into a blubbering mess. While Alice stared out the window as she spoke calmly to her mother, Bella Swan came unnoticed into the waiting room. The recognizable white cane was held tightly in her hands. She wanted to return it to its owner and make sure he was alright before she got herself checked out. It was still incredibly painful to take a deep breath and she had started to notice a faint clicking noise when her ribcage expanded.
Bella followed the hum of activity to a small room located in the furthest corner of the emergency room. As usual, her presence was not noticed as she blended into the scenery, too plain to garner anyone's attention. She stood quietly outside of the room as she watched a tall blond doctor talk quietly to Edward. He was still holding his hand against him, as if the pain was so extreme he was unable to release it. Bella's eyes filled with tears as she realized she had done that. The doctor spoke softly to Edward, trying to get him to explain what had happened. Tears were trailing down his face as he finally acknowledged the doctor's presence and started speaking.
"I could see Dad. When she touched me, I could see her face." He whispered, as if worried that by saying it out loud would make him sound crazy.
Bella's gasp broke the silence and her grip on the cane faltered as it clattered to the tile floor. The doctor's head snapped up to her and she flushed scarlet as she realized she had been caught eavesdropping on a private conversation. She tried to spin around quickly to leave, but her feet got tangled in the fallen cane and she went down hard on her injured side. Her cry of pain echoed in the empty hallway and tears sprang into her eyes. The doctor was next to her before she was able to right herself and she looked apologetically into his eyes.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered.
"Were you the girl who collided with my son?" Carlisle asked, wondering how much the girl had heard of his son's confession.
"Yes, I'm sorry about that as well. Is he… will he be alright?" Bella breathed, trying not to expand her ribcage any more than she had too, the pain was excruciating after her most recent collision with the floor.
Carlisle glanced back at his son sitting calmly on the exam table. He knew Edward would be able to hear everything they said.
"I think he will be just fine. How about we take you into the room here and we can check you out as well." Carlisle said as he grabbed her under her arms and gently pulled her to her feet. As always, when someone touched her body, Bella was completely mortified. After escorting Bella into the room, he encouraged Edward to climb off of the table and sit in the chair next to the table. Ignoring Bella's complaints that she could sit in the chair, Edward hopped down and sat in the chair, still keeping his hand protected. Carlisle was still concerned as to why Edward would not release his hand, but he had nothing to worry about. Edward was just afraid if he let anyone else touch his hand, whatever magic the girl had would be lost forever.
Carlisle stepped into the hall to order a chest x-ray for Bella and Edward took the opportunity to inquire about her injuries.
"Are you ok? Is it your rib?" He queried, knowing already that she most likely had a fractured rib from the way she was panting shallowly.
"Please don't ask about me. I'm the one who caused all of this. I deserve whatever I get. Are you ok?" She asked, petrified that he was keeping his injuries from his father, the doctor.
His face lit up and her breath exploded out of her chest at the sight of him. He was radiant, like a child gazing at the gifts under the Christmas tree. He was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Her heart clenched tightly in her chest as she witnessed his vacant eyes filling with tears again. She jumped down off the table, pain radiating through her chest as her feet hit the floor hard, and kneeled down at his side. She cautiously placed her hand on his covered knee and leaned toward him.
"Does something hurt? Is there anything I can do to help you? Do you want me to get someone?" She rattled off quickly, petrified that she had done something to cause him more pain.
He turned his face down to where she was gazing up at him, his green eyes sparkling amidst the tears. He cautiously brought his injured hand towards her, stopping just short of making contact with her skin. Carlisle chose that moment to come back in the room, stopping suddenly when he witnessed what was happening with his son and this mysterious girl.
"May I touch you?" Edward whispered. Bella nodded, but blushed fiercely as she realized he would not be able to see it.
"Yes." She breathed as his smile widened and he gently placed his fingers against her cheek.
The same tingles that shot down her spine when he touched her at the track ran wildly from the place where his skin met hers. Her deep brown eyes were wide as she watched him carefully. His fingertips ran delicately along the curve of her jaw before he ended at her chin and moved his hand so he could cradle her face in his wide palm. He blinked suddenly and then his startled green eyes met her brown ones.
"Hello Bella." He whispered as fresh tears spilled from his eyes.
"You can see me?" She cried, unconsciously leaning back and breaking their contact. He blinked wildly and his face fell as he was enveloped back into darkness. Realizing what she had done, she lunged forward and grabbed hold of his hand, dropping it again when he let out a cry of pain. Carlisle jumped forward and gently cradled Edward's hand in his own as he sat on a stool.
"What is it Edward?" He asked, barley sparing a glance at the grief stricken girl perched at the edge of the exam table.
"I think it might be a metacarpal." He breathed. "Did you see Dad? Did you see?"
"I saw Edward. Why don't we get this x-rayed and then we can take care of the young lady as well." Carlisle said, trying to get things moving so he could spend a moment speaking to an associate from psychiatry. He worried that the stress had finally gotten to Edward.
"One minute please. Bella, can I try it again?" Edward pleaded, still trying to stem the tide of tears.
Bella sat motionless, her chest tight with unshed tears and her own pain. She looked from green pleading eyes to bright blue disbelieving eyes. The green eyes won out and she leaned forward so Edward could make contact with her face again, not wanting to risk hurting him again.
Edward reached his hand up again, reveling in the softness of Bella's skin before placing his palm flat against the exposed skin of her throat. His eyes flew open wide as the rods and cones of his retina were bombarded with light. He looked again to Bella's angelic but pained face first and then swung his eyes to his father, who he had not seen in more than a decade.
His father's once platinum blond hair had moved towards gray and there were many more lines etched upon his face. He looked tired, and Edward's chest grew tight thinking of how much his father had been through over the past few years. Carlisle looked into the face of his much loved and admired youngest son, expecting to see the same vague blankness reflected back from Edward's eyes. Carlisle damn near fell of his stool as he looked into the obviously alert, bright green eyes of his son.
"Son, can you….can you see me?" Carlisle asked as he pulled a pen light from his shirt pocket.
"Isn't it amazing?" Edward said.
Carlisle asked Edward to follow the path of the light as he moved it back and forth, amazed that Edward's eyes mimicked the path exactly. His hand was still caressing the girl's throat, and Carlisle wondered what kind of magic the girl possessed. Tears filled his eyes as he looked at his son and realized that, at least for the moment, he was really looking at his son.
"Can you get Alice in here? You don't mind, do you Bella?" Edward asked as he all but vibrated in the chair.
"No Edward, it is fine. You do whatever you need to do." Bella answered, her breaths still coming in pants as she tried not to over exert her ribcage.
Carlisle slowly made his way out to the waiting room to try and find his daughter, unable to stop from shaking his head in wonder. Edward took the time to document his surroundings. When he saw a mirror attached to the far wall, his eyes grew wide.
"Bella, do you think you could come over to the mirror with me? I have not seen myself since I was a boy." He asked quietly, sounding embarrassed that he would be so vain.
Bella slowly stood, careful not to jostle herself or Edward as they walked over towards the mirror. Bella made sure to stay out of the reflective glass, not wanting to ruin Edward's experience by having to see her in the mirror as well. Edward gasped as he looked upon the face of a man. His last memories of himself were of him in a dress shirt and tie, his unmanageable hair pointing in every direction as he stood waiting for his piano recital to start. Before him was a man with a strong wide, unshaven jaw. His hair was still pointing in all directions, but with his new powerful bone structure, instead of it looking messy, it looked rugged. His eyes strayed to the reflection of the girl standing next to him.
He had seen his fair share of girls and women before he lost his sight, but this girl trumped them all. Her hair was long and messy, tied back from her face in a tail that reached half way down her back. Her skin was porcelain smooth and softly glowing. Mocha brown eyes gazed wildly back at him through the mirror and she blushed beautifully as she realized he was looking at her. Her body was full with curves and hollows everywhere it should. He was glad to see that she was not stick thin like most of the models he remembered seeing in his older brother's stash of dirty magazines.
He was pulled from his perusal of Bella by the reemergence of his father, pulling behind him a pink headed, rainbow covered munchkin. As her face peered around his father, he quickly realized that he was looking at his twin sister Alice.
"Oh my God! Oh my God, Edward, can you see me?" She screeched incredulously.
He shook his head exaggeratedly as he reached his free, but injured arm out to his sister. She fit perfectly against him and as she buried her face in his side, she burst into tears.
"What have you done to yourself? You are hiding behind all of these colors and not letting yourself show through." He whispered in her ear. Her cries escalated as she absorbed his words and realized that with just one look, he had nailed down exactly why she dressed the way she did.
"I'm sorry Edward." She breathed between sobbing breaths. Bella tucked her chin to her chest, embarrassed to be witnessing such an emotional moment between siblings. It was obvious to her how close Edward and Alice were, and it made her chest hurt to realize that no one care about her that way.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. You just need to be who you are." He responded as he reached up and wiped her tears from her cheek. His grimace of pain did not go unnoticed by his father and Carlisle was quick to insist that Edward get his hand checked out.
"I am sure the young lady would like to find out what is going on with her as well." Carlisle said as Edward and Alice's attention was drawn to Bella's huddled figure.
"Yes, of course, please forgive me Bella." Edward said reluctantly as he realized he would have to release his hold on her. His hand slid slowly from her skin and his eyes clouded over as his sight was taken from him.
"I'm sorry Edward." Bella whispered as she reached out and wrapped her hand around his wrist, making sure to steer clear of his hand. He blinked as his vision returned and he smiled gratefully at her. Bella's cheeks burnt red as she realized how long it had been since anyone had graced her with a smile. Her father barely spared her a glance and she spent all of her free time attached to her laptop as she searched for a job. There was no one in her life to appreciate her.
"Well Bella, if you want to come with me, we will get you checked out." Carlisle said, anxious to get Dr. Gerandy in here to take a look at Edward's hand. He knew his son had not yet considered what would happen if he was unable to play his piano.
Bella released Edward's arm, turning quickly so she would not have to see his expression fall as he was thrust back into darkness. She wanted nothing more than to be able to get checked out and return home so she could resume her boring life. A large figure suddenly blocked the doorway, nearly colliding with Bella in his rush to enter the room. Bella tipped her head up to look at the giant man in her path. She was surprised to find that it was Emmett Cullen. Of course, she realized, if Dr. Cullen was Edward's father than Emmett was surely his brother. She wondered if she had gone to school with Alice as well, but realized that she had not paid attention to anyone who was not ridiculing her. Alice Cullen did not seem the type to make fun of others.
Emmett barely spared her a glance as his eyes zeroed in on his brother and sister, still entwined in an embrace.
"Is it true?" He whispered, never tearing his gaze from his siblings.
"It seems that by some miracle, Edward is able to see." Carlisle responded, as he gently wrapped his arm around Bella's shoulder, intent on getting her to the x-ray suite so she could get examined.
"Wait Dad, let Edward see Emmett." Alice chirped as she extricated herself from Edward's arms and lunged for Bella. Carlisle released the girl reluctantly, hating that she was being used only as a means to an end. She was still flushed red, most likely embarrassed. Alice pulled her back to Edward and thrust Bella into Edward's arms. But Edward was unprepared for Bella and she rammed against him hard, pulling a pained cry from her lips. Tears burned in her eyes as she pushed herself from Edward's chest and quickly grabbed his wrist.
As much as Edward wanted to see his brother, his first concerns were of Bella. He looked down, seeing only the top of her head, but was able to make out the rivers of moisture that were trailing down her pink hued cheeks.
"I'm so sorry." He whispered against the softness of her hair. She gently nodded and sniffled quietly. Reassured that Bella was ok, he looked up.. and up.. and up into the face of his older brother.
"Emmett, you are huge!" He exclaimed, completely shocked at the size of his brother. When he had last seen him, Emmett had been a gangly pre-teen. Now Emmett had grown into a monster of a man. His shoulders were broad and thickly muscled under his crisp dress shirt. His tie was loosened around his solid neck and Edward was surprised to see his clear blue eyes rimmed red with unshed tears.
"Edward, man is it good to see you." Emmett said, his voice cracking with emotion. The men embraced as carefully as they could with Bella in the way.
"Ok now, I really need to get Bella to x-ray and Dr. Gerandy will be here in a moment to take a look at your hand Edward." Carlisle said, after clearing his throat of the lump of emotions lodged there.
Bella released Edward's hand and walked quickly from the room, only breathing again when she was safely in the hallway. She looked into the tired face of Dr. Cullen, still not believing that the past few hours had really happened.
"I'm not sure what is happening here Bella, but I want you to know I refuse to let my family take advantage of you." Dr. Cullen said, his voice serious.
Bella had no idea what he meant. She was sure that once she was check out, she would return to her infinitely boring and unfulfilling life. She had not thought about the fact that Edward would want to be around her as much as possible so he would be able to see the world through his own eyes. She was not used to being needed, she only wished she was needed for herself and not for what she could do for him.
A/N: You like? Or hate? Let me know!
