Matters of the Heart
A Carlisle Cullen/OC Story
By: Katie Sheridan aka GerrysLittleMissSunshine08
Summary: Katie Sheridan has always lived a quiet, but never normal life in Indiana. Now when her boyfriend moves them to a small town in Forks, Washington when she meets a young, charismatic doctor who is still grieving the loss of his wife. When it comes to matters of the heart, can they both help one another with the love they need?
Disclaimer: I don't know or own Carlisle Cullen or any of the characters from the Twilight series; they all belong and are copyrighted to Stephenie Meyer. I do own all the fictional characters that you do not recognize even though some characters are based off of certain celebrities. Please do not steal or copy, although I could use the settlement money for school.
A/N: Thanks a big bunch to my 3 wonderful reviewers Inwepirate-elf (aka my amazing friend Kat!!), drcarlisleforever and CarsmeCarlislexEsme!!!! You all are amazing and for reviewing, you shall receive a trip to Forks where I shall accompany you and have tons of fun!!
Now a huge thanks goes to everyone who added me to their Favorite Stories (Aeglos3, Kat and Katherine Sparrow [by the way awesome name!]) and to their Story Alert list all 6 of you! (Kat, Dragon1974UK, brightcolors, drcarlisleforever, littleanjel and toshiba27!) So from me to you all, Thanks So Much!!!!! I've also had over 75 hits and that's wonderful, amazing even, and I really hate to complain, but 77 hits and only 3 reviews? Please do review when you read, it would mean so much to me. I will also read and review any of your stories as well! Thanks again to everyone who did and I'm sorry, I don't like to complain so I hope you enjoy this chapter and next chapter is when Katie and Carlisle will meet…yay!!!
Also this chapter has a bit of violence and physical abuse in it, so there's my warning and I will up the Rating of the story to M when it becomes more violent and yes I am afraid it will get worse before it gets better.
Anyways Happy Reading,
Katie
Chapter 1: A New Beginning
One Month Later
The door of an apartment became slowly unlocked and a woman peaked her head inside and began to look around the small apartment in downtown Forks, Washington.
"Are you going to stand there all day?" A gruff voice asked behind her and she practically jumped inside the apartment and opened the door wider for him.
Dr. Michael Jonson rolled his eyes as he dropped the luggage on the floor of the living room as he entered the apartment.
"It's about damn time you moved your fat ass Katie. You know you should probably start losing some more weight." He replied as she tried not to sigh out loud as she went down the stairs to retrieve more of their luggage from the moving truck trying not to let his words hurt her even more.
They had driven across the country from Indianapolis, Indiana to the small town of Forks, Washington and Michael had insisted that everything be unpacked this afternoon and evening so when they both started their new jobs at Forks Community Hospital the next day, that everything would be done when they arrived home that night. Katie was a Labor/Delivery nurse while Michael was just assigned the head of Neurology at Forks Community and both were eager to start especially Katie. She had heard nothing, but positive things about the hospital and the doctors including her mentor and boss, Dr. Erik Butler. She could not wait to become a member of the prestige Forks Community Hospital team.
A sting to her cheek snapped her out of her daze and she gasped to see her fiancé standing there with a look of disapproval on his face.
"Now what have I told you about daydreaming Katie?" Michael asked her with a raised eyebrow and she dropped her head to stare at the ground and whispered something.
"What was that you just said? I didn't quite catch that." He asked her pulling her chin up and staring into her green eyes.
"That I shouldn't daydream." She replied.
"That's right and why shouldn't you daydream?" he asked her speaking to her like she was a child.
"Because I am happy and daydreaming is only for people who are not happy and who are weak. I am only weak when it comes to you." She recited like she had a poem or song memorized.
Michael nodded approvingly as he handed her a box, "Very well my dear. Now start getting the furniture set up so I can watch ESPN." He replied and she nodded immediately as she began setting up the living room and quickly set up the plasma television and the digital cable box.
Good, she thought, that now he was settled that she could put and arrange the apartment the way she wanted it without him breathing down her neck. She wasn't always this obedient. In fact, she was the one in her family that gave her family headaches. That was until she graduated with high school and went to work full-time for a retail store and soon she realized that she was sick of being a cashier and did not want to be stuck in a minimum-wage job the rest of her life. So with the encouragement of her older brother Kyle and her younger sister, Kathleen, but went by Kat, she went back to school, received good grades and graduated from college back in Indianapolis with honors and a Nursing degree with a concentration in obstetric care. There at the hospital where she interned, she met Michael who was in the last year of his residency and they have been together ever since. And no matter what anyone else told her, yes she was sick of the abuse, but he never was like this when they first began dating. Plus her parents loved Michael and had their hearts set on Katie marrying him and being a stay at home mom when she had children and not have to worry about anything else for the rest of her adult life.
Katie and Kat had that pressure from their parents, but always rebelled against it. That's why after all those years; the two sisters were as close as ever. Katie now in Forks, Kat in New York City as a Broadway singer starring as Christine in the Phantom of the Opera show.
She then shook her head once again interrupting her thoughts smiling at the thought of starting her new job tomorrow.
The Next Day
Katie and Michael both walked into the entrance of the large building that was Forks Community Hospital in the center of downtown Forks. They both walked up to the front receptionist and she glanced up from the computer and smiled at them.
"Hello there, how can I help you?" she asked and Michael smiled at her widely winking at her playfully as Katie only rolled her eyes.
"Hi there…Ashley. I am Dr. Michael Jonson here on my first day of the head of Neurology."
Ashley then blushed and then turned to Katie who only shook her head, "And can I help you with anything ma'am?" She asked.
"Yes I am here for my first day at work too. I'm Katie Sheridan, the new Labor/Delivery nurse, is Dr. Butler here?"
Ashley then nodded and called someone on the phone as Michael and Katie turned around to look around at the lobby.
"Now Katie, let me remind you of the rules at the workplace. No romantic crap and be professional. Except if I think you are doing your job horrible. I will ask your supervisor to give me weekly reports and if you mess up horribly, then you will regret it. Got it?"
"Oh please Michael, you are not my babysitter. Just do your job and I will do mine." She retorted back and he glared at her before a voice was heard down the hallway and into the lobby entered a tall, thin man with black hair with spots of gray in them and sparkling green eyes.
"Hi you must be the two new team members. Welcome to FCH, I'm Dr. Erik Butler, the head obstetrician here. Are you my new slave?" He asked staring at Katie who raised both eyebrows and began to laugh.
"Yes I suppose I am, it's so wonderful to meet you Dr. Butler. I'm Katie Sheridan and this is my fiancé Dr. Michael Jonson. He's in charge of the Neurology unit." She replied introducing them and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Michael looking not happy. Uh oh, he could get over it for now, but she knew when they got home, she would get a lashing. She only hoped he didn't use the whip again.
Erik smiled at them both and held out his hand to shake them, first for Katie, but Michael reached over and took it before Katie could place her hand in his.
"Charmed I am sure. Now can you point me in the direction of the Neurology unit? I would like to get started and not waste any time. And Dr. Butler, please feel free to let me know how Katie's progress is every week or day if you would like. I just wish for her to do her best work here and not humiliate me…I mean her." Michael stated at a very surprised Erik.
"I am positive that, that won't be necessary Michael. I am sure that Katie is a great nurse and everyone who worked for her at Methodist back in Indianapolis, had nothing, but positive things to say about her. Now to get to Neurology, it's on the 4th floor next to Radiology. Now if you excuse me, quoting yourself, let's not waste another minute so I can get Katie introduced to the rest of the team. Nice to meet you Michael." Erik replied.
"It's Dr. Jonson actually and have a good day to both of you. Please let me know in either case." Michael replied going down the opposite hallway towards the elevators while Erik made a face behind his back and Katie found it difficult to keep a straight face.
"Well…that was very interesting. Anyways, ready to begin your first day?" Erik asked her curiously and she nodded her head excitedly.
He smiled and led her down the hallway towards the opposite elevators.
"There's the cafeteria over there, and there is the Emergency Room and some offices. Bathrooms are on your left, stairs to your right and gift shop is right there. Now I will warn you, there are times that the Labor/Delivery unit nurses will not have a lot of work to do or if we are slow, then we do assist in different areas of hospital and even if different areas around the Forks area. I also make some house calls since I am one of the three obstetricians/gynecologists here in town. So what area would you prefer to also work in?"
"The Emergency Room…anything else would be fine. I just ask not to send me to Neurology. Michael and I can not work together. We can live together and be engaged, but not work together. He takes his work very seriously." She replied as the elevator doors opened.
He nodded in understanding as he pressed the 2nd floor button.
"Labor/Delivery and Maternity Ward is all on the second floor. ICU is on the third floor. Everything else including offices are on the fourth and fifth floors. And you know what is down below. And good, none of my other nurses like to go to the ER. They find it too intimidating. You will assist them whenever they call for you. I'll let the three doctors down there know. They are the three doctors that you will be with down there, Dr. Snow, Dr. Bloom and Dr. Cullen. All three are men, but all are very friendly and helpful especially Carlisle…Dr. Cullen. Now let's get you introduced to the three important other women in this area. Don't let them intimidate you or anything because they all are very outgoing. First there is our cool receptionist, Alexis, but we all call her Lexa. She saves our butts a lot."
"Damn straight I do Butler! Now where is our fresh meat?" Alexis Robbins asked curiously sticking up her head of bright red and orange hair.
"Lexa chill out! This is Katie Sheridan our new nurse since the others are too lazy and slow to work!" Erik yelled towards the nurse's station and two other women retorted remarks back towards the doctor.
"Whatever Erik!" they both exclaimed as they stood up and smiled brightly at Katie who smiled back feeling more relaxed than ever.
"Hi there Katie! I'm Susannah and this is my loser friend…"
"The amazing cool redhead Lacey! It's so nice to have another woman in here with us!" Lacey Hayden replied as Susannah Evans nodded her head in response.
"Oh wonderful more estrogen." Erik mumbled as Katie began laughing.
"That's your own fault Butler, you hired her." Susannah replied pulling Katie close to her.
He rolled his eyes and grabbed a chart, "Sure whatever, now show Katie the ropes around here and please don't scare her off. She has also offered to go to the ER if she is called. So introduce her to the guys down there, especially Adam, Will or Carlisle if they are here."
The two nurses cheered and hugged Katie tightly, "You definitely need to meet Carlisle and Will. They are awesome, Adam's boring." Lacey replied as Katie only laughed just nodding her head in response.
"That's not a bad idea; she does need to meet Carlisle more than anyone else down there. I know Carlisle's off today so introduce her to Adam and Will and be nice to them."
"Damn Carlisle's off today? Too bad, I like looking at him." Susannah sighed in content.
"Yeah he looks like a supermodel or Brad Pitt instead of a doctor." Lexa commented while also typing on the computer.
"Are you kidding me Lex? Carlisle is hotter than Brad Pitt!" Susannah pointed out pulling her brown hair into a ponytail.
"Ladies cut it out; Katie does not need to know how dreamy Carlisle is. Just introduce her down there and I'll meet you all downstairs for lunch at our normal time. Katie if they scare you let me know and I shall fire them." Erik replied with a laugh as the girls shouted their protests and while Lacey stayed behind to help Erik, Susannah led Katie down the stair way and straight into the Emergency Room.
"Now we have 5 different rooms and of course the big room with about 10 separate areas with curtains and stuff. You are working the day and afternoon shift right?" Susannah asked curiously and Katie nodded.
"Okay then you will mostly be working with Carlisle and Will. Adam comes in around six in the evening. Carlisle leaves around eight and Will leaves around four or five since he comes in at seven in the morning."
"Okay, which one is which again?" Katie asked and Susannah pointed to a doctor with curly brown hair pulled back into a ponytail walking towards them.
"That's Will…also known as Dr. Bloom. Adam who is Dr. Snow has brown hair and blue eyes and he's a bit short. Carlisle, who is Dr. Cullen, has blonde hair and brown eyes. He's tall, you can not miss Carlisle trust me. Hey Will!" She called over to him.
"I couldn't quite hear you Susannah; you need to yell louder next time." He called back to her and walked towards them.
"Oh shut it, this is Katie Sheridan, she'll be helping you when you guys need it. Katie, this is Dr. Will Bloom." She replied as Katie and Will smiled at one other slightly and shook hands.
"Nice to meet you finally, Erik's so excited to have some more help. We have heard a lot about you Katie." Will replied.
Katie raised an eyebrow, "All good things I hope?"
Will laughed and nodded as he was handed another folder, "Oh yeah tons of good things. Well I must be going, nice to meet you Katie and I am sure we will be calling for you soon. Just keep an eye out for your name being called over the intercom." He replied winking at her while walking away down the hallway.
"So let's you introduced more around here and then it will be time to have lunch with the gang and whoever decides to join us. Will joins us sometimes and even Carlisle does too although he never eats anything. I can't wait for you to meet Carlisle; you will definitely think he is attractive like we all do."
"Well I do not know that for sure especially since my fiancé works here and would not like me thinking like that." Katie replied.
Susannah raised an eyebrow, "Who is your fiancé?" she asked as she picked up Katie's left hand and stared at her ring.
"Dr. Michael Jonson. He's new like me. He works in the Neurology unit."
"Ah I see, well here is Bret, Helen and some other nurses and orderlies you will see around here." Susannah replied as the two women continued to walk around the hospital and talk about everything and to everyone.
Soon enough the clock struck Noon and the two women walked into the cafeteria and saw Erik, Lexa, Lacey and Will sitting down at a table.
Lacey waved her hand wildly at them as they grabbed their food and sat down with them.
"So how do you like FCH so far Katie?" Will asked her curiously.
"Great, I absolutely love it here. I have never had so much fun at a job before." Katie replied with a smile.
"That's great and just to let you know if Erik scares you off, then you can always work for us full-time." Will offered to her with a laugh as Erik scowled and threw a piece of his roll at him.
"Get your own Katie Will!" Erik replied as everyone laughed including Katie who couldn't believe how much she had fit in ever since arriving three hours prior. She honestly felt like she had known these people for her own life.
"I can't wait for you to meet Carlisle and Adam Katie; they are excited to meet you." Lexa commented.
"Really? Everyone keeps telling me that I especially need to meet Carlisle."
"You and Carlisle would get along great. He's an amazing doctor, does everything from ER care to being a coroner, things like that. I don't think there is anything he hasn't done yet." Lacey replied.
"You know he's not a Greek god or anything." Erik pointed out with a smirk as everyone else began to talk while Katie couldn't help, but think about this Carlisle Cullen that everyone wanted her to meet. What was so special about him and why would they get along so great?
She would have to wait to answer that question tomorrow as she then joined back in the conversation with her new friends and co-workers.
Okay here are a few reminders since my beta recommended I use since I introduced tons of people in here. Here is a short recap.
FCH-Forks Community Hospital
Labor/Delivery People: Erik, Lexa, Lacey and Susannah
ER: Will and Adam, she will meet Carlisle next time
And last, but not least, Katie and Michael. Yes there will be physical and emotional abuse in this story and for the chapters that they occur in, I will post a warning and move the rating up. Michael will be one of the people who uses emotional abuse alot more than physical which is why Katie is stronger around him in public. I know alot about abuse, I've researched it and have been through it myself. But no need to get into that right now for it happened a wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy long time ago.
I just change the date from six months to one month (edited on 3/9/09) because I have Bella in the story and realized that I messed up. So oops lol.
Like I said before, please read and review!!
Next Chapter: Katie meets Carlisle...yay!!
Katie