Again this is not mine!

Chapter 2: When Bella met Edward

EPOV

I shot out of bed, gasping for breath and clutching my chest. My dream was so vivid and it felt almost like it was a vision of the future. A future I would normally be thrilled about but it left me hurting and feeling so alone. I dreamt I got the job at Johns Hopkins and I never saw Bella again. I left town, wanting so badly to say good-bye to someone I've never even been introduced to. What is this girl doing to me?

The pain in my chest just became stronger throughout my dream. It started when I received the phone call from Johns Hopkins and I accepted the offer. Then as I packed and loaded my car, the pain worsened. It was almost unbearable as I drove out of town and that was when I woke up.

I looked over at the clock and saw it was 8 am. I had slept for almost twelve hours. Maybe that was why I had that crazy dream. I'm used to running on less than five hours of sleep. I decided to get up and take a shower and just shake this pain in my chest. My heart was still beating hard against my ribs and I was beginning to think there was something wrong with me.

I went downstairs and joined mom in the kitchen. It was kind of nice living at home, especially when she made me pancakes for breakfast.

"Thanks mom." I sat down and dug in but I noticed her giving me weird looks. I just brushed it off and asked about her day.

"Well first this morning I'm going to the hospital to check on Bella. I know she won't accept it but I'm going to see if I can help her get settled at home. Oh, that reminds me I need to call Charlie and find out where her crutches are stashed so I can bring them to her." Wait a sec, she has her own crutches. Why? Has my Bella been hurt before? Whoa, my Bella, I haven't even been introduced to her. Mom had already picked up her phone and was calling Chief Swan. Maybe I could tag along if the crutches are stored somewhere out of reach. I can't have my mom straining to get them. Yea, that's a good excuse.

"Hi Charlie, its Esme. Carlisle told me what happened. Has she woken up yet?" I prayed that she was awake and that I didn't miss anything with her scan. I couldn't live with myself if I missed something.

Mom laughed and said "Well that's good. It sounds like she's back to her normal self. Where are her crutches at home? Maybe I can bring them by the hospital and Carlisle can talk them out of forcing her in the wheelchair, you know how she hates that." Again this made me wonder how much time she's spent in a hospital.

"Above the garage, okay. I'll bring Edward with me and he can do all of the heavy lifting." Thank you mom! "We'll be by soon, bye."

She hung the phone and looked at me apologetically, "I hope you don't mind helping me get her crutches. She absolutely hates the wheelchair and I want to make this as easy on her as I can."

"It's not a problem at all, mom. I take it she's woken up?" I tried to seem nonchalant but I felt anxious as hell.

"Yes, Charlie said the first thing out of her mouth was 'Not again.' That poor girl almost puts in more hours at the hospital than your father." She was smiling fondly like she was remembering something.

"Does she get into a lot of accidents?" I was really worried about her. I didn't want my Bella hurting. Damn it, there I got again with my Bella.

"Bella is very clumsy. She always falling or cutting herself. When she and Alice were in high school, somehow your sister talked her into do the Powder Puff football and poor Bella fell and it looked like everyone on the field tackled her but they were all from her team. She somehow managed to pull them all down on top of her. She broke her wrist that time, poor child. Carlisle has stitched her up more times than he can count. We renamed the first aid kit to the "Bella Box" since she was the only one to use it." I could tell mom really loved this girl. Again I wondered how she was such a big part of my family and I didn't even know it.

I drove the Volvo and mom directed me to Chief Swan's house. I've know Chief Swan my whole life but I never knew him as well as Emmett did so I didn't know where his house was. Emmett was always getting into trouble, especially on the weekends so the chief started bringing Emmett fishing with him so he wouldn't get any calls. They actually became really close. I was too busy making sure my grades were perfect so I could get into the college and med school I wanted. During the summers and on holidays, I volunteered at the hospital with dad. I never really partied or did sports except for baseball and cross country.

We pulled up to a white two story house in the heart of town. There was a small detached garage and I knew it was our destination but mom headed for the front door. I saw her pick up a rock and take a key from it and open the front door. Once she had the door opened she handed me the key.

"This will open the door to the garage. I'm going to pick up some clothes for Bella to wear home. I know Alice probably picked her something fashionable but Bella would much prefer sweats." Sounds like my kind of girl, wanting to be comfortable rather than worrying about what others would think.

I unlocked the door to the garage and went inside. There were a lot of boxes in the middle and a ton of fishing gear. The boxes had feminine writing labeling what was inside. I'm guessing these are from her old apartment in… I don't even know where she moved from. I'm going to guess Seattle since Alice moved back from there but I wasn't sure. I really needed to learn more about Bella.

I looked up in the rafters and found the crutches. It was low enough I just had to stretch and they came down. They looked fairly new which again worried me about how much time she spent in the hospital. Mom said she was clumsy but how bad could it really be?

I locked up the garage and was walking to the front of the house when mom came out with a small bag. I was tempted to go into the house and see where Bella grew up but I would rather her show me than sneak around. I want to hear the story behind every picture and knick knack.

I took the bag from mom and opened her door. She raised me to be a gentleman and would kick my ass if I wasn't. Hell hath no fury than… my mother. I put the bag and crutches in the backseat of my car and got in. We were headed to the hospital in no time.

BPOV

When I woke up, I noticed I was not in my room at home. Nor was I in my bed. This bed was uncomfortable and had rails. The walls were white and there was this annoying beeping noise. Oh no, I know what that means. What the hell happened this time? All I could think was "not again."

I heard my dad chuckling from the chair beside my bed. He looked like he slept here and could really use an actual bed. "Yes again, but this wasn't you fault nor was it a clumsy episode." Opps, I must have said that out loud.

He chuckled again, "Yes you said it out loud and apparently your brain to mouth filter isn't working. Maybe Carlisle can fix that?"

Just then I heard Carlisle's voice come from the doorway, "Am I being requested?" He came over and stood beside my bed and looked down at me. "How are you feeling this morning, Bella?"

"Honestly, like I got hit by a truck. What happened and what's broke?" I hadn't had a chance to check my body over for injuries yet.

"Well you did get hit but not by a truck. You were t-boned on the driver's side by a car. You have a nasty cut on the side of your head that needed stitches and your left ankle is broken. You didn't even get a concussion from this one though." As he was talking I started to remember what happened. I remembered the light turning green and entering the intersection, then hearing the horn and seeing a car. Then I remembered the blood and must have passed out.

Dad's phone rang and he spoke quickly with someone while Carlisle checked my chart. "When can I get out of here?" I didn't want to stay any longer than I had to.

"I'll release you this morning. We just wanted to wait for you to wake up. You know the drill about your cast and I'll prescribe some painkillers. I want you to only take half a pill though, since you have a low tolerance to meds." I nodded at Carlisle. I've had enough injuries to know not to get my cast wet and never take a full dose of meds unless I want to pass out for the 24 hours.

I was getting kind of hungry so I asked dad to run to the cafeteria for me. I practically begged him for a coffee. I never drank coffee until I started college. Between the late nights and early mornings, coffee and energy drinks became my best friends.

I was waiting for dad to return when I heard my favorite booming voice. "Belly Boo Boo, did you decide you wanted a welcome back party and thought the hospital was the best place?"

"You know me Em. I had to make sure they knew I was back." I smiled and reached for a hug from my favorite teddy bear. I've known Emmett for as long as I've known Alice. He was done with college by the time I moved here and he and Rose had just gotten married and opened their shop. Emmett was a big guy with muscles on top of muscles and could be very scary looking until he smiles with cute dimples. He looked out for Alice and me and protected me like I was his little sister. He truly was the big brother I never had. He and my dad were close too. Apparently he was quite the trouble maker growing up and dad started making him go fishing with him on weekends. They still go every now and then.

Rose was with him and she asked how I was. I was hoping she looked at my car since she also owned the one tow truck in Forks. When I asked about my baby, she grimaced. "Bella, I really tried to find a way but sweetie, there's no bringing the Black Widow back. When I saw your car, I was so worried that you didn't make it. It was nasty. I've already dealt with the insurance company though and you should get a check soon and we'll get you set up."

I was so sad my car was dead but grateful she took care of calling the insurance company. I still don't know the details of the accident but I was not to blame. I was still down in the dumps when Esme came in. She smiled her motherly smile and kissed my forehead. "How are you sweetheart?"

"I'm okay. Rose told me the Black Widow is gone and I have a stupid cast but I'm okay." I know I was pouting but damn it, I loved that car.

"Sweetie, think of it this way, you're making more money now so you can get that WRX you wanted. As for the cast, at least you'll be out of it before school starts." And just like that she made me feel better.

I just then noticed someone else in the room. He was talking with Emmett and Rose and was absolutely gorgeous. I was so thankful Carlisle turned off the heart monitor earlier because mine was going crazy for this man. He was tall, almost as tall as Emmett but he wasn't as big as Emmett. He was muscular but in a lean way, like a runner's body. His hair was crazy, sticking up in all directions but my God it was sexy. It was a strange color also, like a reddish brown. His face was gorgeous and his smile and his smile was panty dropping worthy. All I could imagine was what it would be like to kiss those lips and run my hands through his hair. What is wrong with me? I don't even know his name.

Emmett must have noticed me staring and decided to introduce us, "Jelly Belly, this is my little bro Edward, Edward this is little sis, Bella." He smiled at me and my panties got wet. He shook my hand and I felt a tingle run up my arm. I'm guessing he felt it too because his eyes got wide but he shook it off.

"Hello Bella, it's so nice to meet you formally. I'm glad to see you're awake." I must have looked confused because he continued. "I was the ER doctor who treated you yesterday. I was pretty worried when you wouldn't wake up but dad assured me it was just your aversion to blood."

My face flamed up then. Of course, this devastatingly handsome man, saw me passed out and bloody. "Well thank you so much for taking care of me. You would think with how many accidents I've had, I would get used to it."

When I mentioned my accidents, he got a worried look on his face and was about to say something when my dad came in with my coffee and a bagel.

"Here ya go Bells. Sorry it took me so long. I called the station and they reminded of the training seminar in Seattle tomorrow. I tried to get out of it but I couldn't. It's going to last two weeks. Do you think you'll be ok by yourself?"

I was about to tell dad I'd be fine when Esme spoke, "Bella you shouldn't be by yourself. Why don't you come stay with us? You'll have two doctors in the house to take care of you and I've missed you so much. It'll be nice to catch up with you."

I opened my mouth to tell her no thank you and that I didn't want to impose when she gave me her "mom look" and I knew there was no getting out of this. Besides, I loved spending time with Esme and it would also give us a chance to find my new house. "I would love to, Esme. Thank you so much."

Then I heard the two words I dreaded the most "SLUMBER PARTY!" Alice was here. "Oh my God, this is going to be so much fun. We'll have pajama parties and watch all the girly movies Jazz tried to throw out. Rose you have to come over too. We can do pedicures and manicures; oh it's going to be so much fun!" She was squealing and jumping up and down.

Emmett grabbed her shoulders and forced her to stay still. "Calm down pixie, before I find dad to give you a tranquilizer." She finally calmed down and we started making plans. Alice was going to stay with her parents while I was there to "help with my recovery." Yea right, she just wanted to play Bella Barbie while I was immobile and couldn't run from her. Dad was going to take me home and help me get my things then drop me off at the Cullen house on his way to Seattle.

EPOV

I still couldn't believe Bella was going to be living with us for the next two weeks. I was both excited and fearful at the same time. I wanted so desperately to get to know her better. I wanted to know everything, her likes and dislikes, pet peeves, nicknames, future dreams and if I was included in those. She was in mine. That worried me and made me question if I should really get to know her and become more involved. My future used to have a clear cut path, work at Johns Hopkins and become a reputable ER doctor. I wanted to be known throughout the field as a doctor who used cutting edge technology to save lives. But how did Bella fit into that. There is no way she'd want to move across the country to be with someone who worked long hours and was never home. I couldn't take her away from her friends and family and shove her in a new city where she is completely alone.

The pain in my chest I woke up with was returning. I had to let her go and distance myself from her. I wasn't good enough for her and could never be a good husband. She deserved someone who came home at a decent hour to enjoy dinner with his family. Someone who wouldn't be pulled away during holidays and never missed a Christmas. Someone who went to every baseball game and dance recital. I felt like curling up into a ball and sobbing. A future I never even dreamt of having was slipping away from me.