Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: We get to find out who is encroaching on Bella's life in this chapter. I want to put it out there that I have never been to medical school or but I do know some who have. If my terminology is inaccurate I apologize and ask you to just ignore it :-)

"There is more to marriage than just being in love, mom. You of all people should understand that. And I do love him. Maybe it isn't the all consuming love you feel with Phil but that doesn't make it any less real." I instantly regretted telling Renee about my plans for the future. She should not have asked if she did not want to hear the answer.

"Sweetie, I know you love him and that he's your best friend but you deserve the fairy tale complete with the happy ending." She was whining and her voice was giving me a headache. As I searched for some Advil I huffed out a response.

"I had that kind of love once and look where it got me. I ended up lost in the woods for twelve horrible hours and zombie-fied for several months. That is not an experience I want to open myself up for again." Ugh! My head was really starting to hurt.

"Isabella Swan, you cannot let one bad experience in high school dictate the rest of your life." She was really annoying me with her motherly attitude. Since when did she have any maternal instincts? I truly needed to get off the phone before I said anything I would later regret.

"Mom, I need to go make dinner. I'll call you in a few days, okay?" At least she had Phil to vent to after this. I had no one. Angela and Ben had been married three years and were practically unreachable as they traveled the globe helping others. I admired their humanitarian efforts but I really missed Angela. There was no way I could talk to Jake about this because he would just get upset that Renee was trying to talk me out of 'settling' and accepting his proposal. That certainly was not how I wanted to tell him about my decision either. I had to go lay down to get rid of this horrible ache in my head.

Heavy pounding woke me from my nap. Damn it, the light coming through my window made my head hurt even more. Wait, the sun was going down when I laid down so why is it still so bright out? More heavy pounding and I realized it was coming from my front door. My head was throbbing too painfully to move. If I got up I would most definitely need to rush to the bathroom. Not something I wanted to do. I groaned in agony in an effort to reduce the pain vocally. Another knock on my door and I was about ready to explode. Why was the person being so insistent? I moaned again and put my pillow over my head to block out the noise and the light, but it didn't help and I made it to bathroom just in time. I had never had a headache this bad before. My medical training kicked in and I started trying to diagnosis my symptoms. Likely, I just had a migraine, but my mind raced with all other possibilities no matter how minuscule they might be. One bad thing about studying medicine is that you know the worst possible scenarios for every malady.

Cool hands on my neck startled me. Without a word I was helped back to bed and a cool washcloth was placed over my eyes. I would have to remember to thank him when it didn't hurt too much to talk. I could hear the water dripping in the bathroom sink and I grimaced at the noise. My reaction must not have gone unnoticed because it stopped after just a moment. Reluctantly, I peeked at the clock on my bedside table. It read 8:20 but I knew from the light coming in from my window it was not night time. That meant I had slept through the evening and all night. I was now twenty minutes late reporting to the hospital. This was not a good way to start my third day there. A few minutes after lying down I was handed two pills and a glass of water. I took the pills without question and settled back into my bed. After about fifteen minutes the pain started to ease. I could still feel his weight on the side of my bed so I chanced asking the one question that mattered most to me in that moment.

"Did you come here to let me know I no longer have a job?" My voice was barely even a whisper but I knew that he would hear me.

"No, I was worried when you were not there and rushed over here to check on you." He spoke softly into my ear. His close proximity probably should have bothered me but I was just grateful for his presence. I was tired of feeling so alone.

"Thank you." I did not know what else to say.

"You do not have to thank me. The least I can do is take care of you now and hope that you will one day find a way to forgive me for allowing my family to dessert you all those years ago. For what it is worth, I am truly sorry for that." His sincerity was undeniable but I was still not ready to trust him again. "Are you feeling any better?"

"Yes, the pain is becoming bearable. I guess I really should get to work before I do get fired." I tried to lift my head but the rush of pain sent it right back to my pillow. "Or maybe I'll just stay here forever." I was complaining more because of the incapacitation than the pain. I hated feeling like I could not take care of myself and that feeling was compounded by the fact that someone was witnessing my weakness.

"I am the only one who has the authority to fire you and I have no such intentions. Your job is quite safe, I assure you. Please rest for a little while longer. I will step into the next room and check in at the hospital." He remained with me for the rest of the day and took heed of my every need.

"You're really starting to spoil me, Dr. Cullen." I laughed, trying to break a moment of tension after he brought me homemade chicken noodle soup. His hand accidently brushed my chest as he reached over to place the tray of food on my lap. That night I broached the subject of Gregory for what I hoped would be the last time.

"I hate to even bring this up but I worry about him hurting others. You don't have to tell me exactly what happened but I need assurance that he won't attack another woman." I searched his darkened eyes for answers and wondered how long it had been since he last hunted. I certainly did not need the added stress of worrying about whether or not I would become a midnight snack.

"Please let me assure you that Gregory will never take such liberties again. He is being closely monitored just in case, however, so there is no need for you to give him another thought." He patted my hand gently and I smiled tentatively back at him.

"Thank you." My curiosity demanded I get the details but I fought the urge to ask. Deep down, I knew I really did not want to know.

"Anything for you, Bella."

Two days later I was allowed to return to work but the questioning stares and gossip from the other residents was enough to make me wish I could disappear. If I had been anyone else, I would have been kicked out of the residency program. No one missed work during the first year and kept his or her job. It was just unheard of and the rumors as to why I was still there were running rampant. I heard all sorts of theories ranging from I was sleeping with the Chief Resident to I was related to a member of the Board. Part of me was ready to give up; I wanted to flea back home to Charlie and the comfort of Forks. But I was way too stubborn to run away. I was contemplating my options when I felt his presence behind me. I hated how aware I was of his presence.

"Just ignore them. They'll forget all about it in a couple of days." His intuitiveness was impressive.

"How can you be so sure?" I was extremely doubtful that this would all blow over so quickly. The other residents were watching my every move and interaction. They wanted to find out whether or not befriending me would entitle them the same special treatment. I loathed the idea of anyone thinking I did not earn my position or that I was given anything. I worked hard and I wanted the respect I deserved. Maybe I should request a transfer to another hospital.

"I have a way of knowing these things." He winked at me before walking away. I knew what way he was alluding to but I refused to consider the ramifications of his words.

The rest of the day flew by in a foggy haze and I was heading to the bus stop after work, ready to start a nice relaxing weekend. Next week, would begin the hell that is the life of a resident physician. There would be no such thing as regular hours, sleeping for eight hour stretches, or breaks. We would be thrown into the deep end to sink or swim and battle for the chance to prove ourselves worthy to be called doctor. Even though we were technically doctors already – we had our PhD's and had practiced medicine as interns – in the eyes of the hospital staff and patients we were still students. Attendings tested us at every available opportunity and relished in pointing out our mistakes. We gave them a sense of superiority and they never missed a chance to put us in our place. They were the experts, we were the novices. Nothing happened without a licensed physician's approval. We did all the work and they got all the glory. Dr. Cullen was the only exception. The residents flocked to him for his patience and abundant knowledge.

In a month I would start my surgical rotation. That was not exactly something I was looking forward to but I was anxious to show myself that I could handle the sight and smell of blood as long as I focused on the life I was helping. The thought of saving someone's son, brother, father, daughter, sister, mother, and friend was what enabled me to get past my squeamish tendencies. Jacob had taught me to concentrate on the person rather than on the things that repulsed me. I really needed to call him and let him know how my first week had gone. He was most undoubtedly upset that I had not called him already. It was the thought of telling him the identity of my attending physician that prevented me from doing so. He might ask and I would not lie to him – I could not lie to him. He knew me too well for me to get away with it. I would have to tell him and deal with the repercussions. An angry Jacob was terrifying even if he was hundreds of miles away. Maybe that call could wait until tomorrow.

The sound of a car horn pulled me from my reverie. I looked up at a black Mercedes with darkly tinted windows. The passenger door opened and I hopped in quickly hoping no one noticed who was driving. The last thing I needed was more rumors staring myself going around the hospital. Carlisle noticed my distress and assured me he checked the vicinity before stopping. His attentions were really starting to bother me. He had yet to mention any other family member and that was odd for him. Carlisle adored his family and I kept expecting him to tell me all the reasons Edward deserved my forgiveness. I assumed he would mention them if and when he thought I was ready to discuss them. But, his next words made me even more curious about his intentions.

"Do you mind if we make a stop at my place before I take you home?" He almost seemed nervous. I wondered if he was trying to force his family on me. That, however, did not feel like something Carlisle would do and he had never given me any reason not to trust him so I nodded. A few minutes later we pulled into a parking garage for a large building and I could not hide my confusion. The thought of the Cullens living in a condo was a difficult one to wrap my mind around.

He was out of the car and opening the passenger door within seconds. He smiled broadly as he helped me out of the car and led me to the elevator. This was so surreal. During the time Edward and I had dated I thought of Carlisle as family. Even though he portrayed the father figure I never really saw him as filling that role for me. He just looked too young. The feelings that were coursing through me now were hard to decipher as they jumped all over the place. Mostly, I was befuddled. I had no idea what he thought of me after all these years. I was pretty sure that he was the reason I was assigned to Northwest but his motivations for doing something like that were beyond my comprehension. The elevator dinged and we stepped out onto the top floor.

"The penthouse, of course, I should have guessed as much." I watched as he opened the door and ushered me into the most beautiful apartment I had ever seen. Mine was nice but had nothing on this one. The entryway opened up to a large room lined with floor to ceiling windows all across the back. Everything was so open. From the front of the condo I could see through the living room to the kitchen and dining area. "It's beautiful." I whispered in a state of awe.

"I'm glad you like it." He smiled a beautiful wide smile and I felt my knees shake a little. I looked around for any evidence of the other members of his family but this was all Carlisle. "Allow me to give you a tour?"

I nodded before he led me through the rooms I could already see then off to the right. Behind a large ornate wooden door was his study. It was set up much like the one in Forks. I practically drooled over all the books he had resting on tall book shelves that took up two of the walls. This room also had a wall of windows with a view of the Olympic Mountains. Next, we walked into room that was to the left of the kitchen. I stopped short when I realized he was showing me his bedroom. Well, I supposed it could still be called a bedroom even though he never slept and the room did not contain a bed. I thought back to the house they had before and remembered that the rooms of all except Edward had contained beds. This brought me back to wondering where the rest of the Cullen family was living. Obviously, it was not here.

"Um, Carlisle?"

"Yes, Bella?"

"Where is the rest of your family?" I suddenly had to know.

"Well, Alice and Jasper are off in Brazil somewhere and Emmett and Rose are living in a small town between here and Forks. We tend to separate a little every few years. This has been one of the longest stretches we have gone living apart but the kids keep in touch, especially Alice." He left out the two I was most curious about. I was hesitant to ask and he must have read my expression well because he continued after a few moments. "Edward and I have not spoken in over six years although he does contact Alice from time to time so I have indirect knowledge of how he is doing. Esme is a discussion for another time. It is getting late and I should get you home. You must be getting hungry." He placed his hand on my lower back as we walked toward the door. I gasped at the shock that passed through his touch into my body.

End Notes: Please let me know what you think about Carlisle's presence and where you think this story is going.

Thanks for reading!