I have taken liberties with her Army length of service so don't be offended. It's just fiction. I don't think they let you pick your length of service even if you are medical personnel. I am trying to update sooner; so be patient with me. I have a lot going on in my life. Blessings to you all.
Kelliwelli
36 More days…
Chapter 2
"You did what?" Charlie said as he stood up from behind his desk.
Uh-oh this isn't going like I expected at all.
"You heard me dad. I joined the Army. I want to serve dad. I thought you would be proud." I said as I stared into his eyes.
"Bella it isn't that I'm not proud of you honey. But why would you join the Army? You graduated from nursing school, and have worked so hard in the ER these last 2 years and have your whole life ahead of you."
"Dad I still do. It's not like full-time Army; they need nurses to fill in. The Army has hospitals and bases all over the world. It is kind of exciting."
"Bella what if they send you to some place dangerous?"
"They won't dad; I bet the most dangerous place I will have to go is Texas." I say to try to make him laugh.
"That isn't funny Bella. I am being serious."
"I know dad, but it will be okay. Now I do have to go through a compressed version of boot-camp, so don't freak-out."
"Why do you have to do that?"
"Well let's say for some off the wall chance that some of us did get shipped off temporarily to a "hot spot", we do need to learn to handle a M-16 or whatever they use."
"What-ever they use!" Charlie shouted.
"Bella, you don't even know what they use and you think that you are ready to handle shooting one?"
"No dad, that's why they teach you,."
"Why in the hell didn't you talk to me first be you decided to do something like this?" He asked as he sat back down behind his desk.
"Because dad, you would have tried to talk me out of it. I know what I am doing. Everything will be okay. I promise." I said as I walked around to his side of the desk.
"Bella everyday some parent, spouse or loved one thinks that very same thing as they wake up only to have their heart ripped out…do not do that to me." He immediately grabbed me and hugged me.
"I won't daddy, I promise. I won't." Don't cry Bella I kept telling myself.
"So when do you leave for this boot-camp?" He asked.
"Well I was sworn in this morning so I am just waiting for a phone call but it will probably be a few months from now. So I need to go to the hospital and tell Carlisle."
"Don't worry about dinner Bella I have the late shift tonight."
"Okay dad good because I need to go tell Alice and Jessica, so it might take a girl's night to calm them down. Talk to you tomorrow."
I hugged him goodbye and left for the hospital. Dr. Carlisle Cullen has been a great boss, mentor and friend. I have known him for a while now not just because he was Alice's dad but he is also Chief of Staff so he pretty much runs the hospital. The Cullen's moved here a few years ago. Dr. Cullen and his wife, Esme are the best example of what a perfect marriage is supposed to look like. They have three children and I have only met two. Alice of course. A spunky spit-fire that has pretty much been my best friend from day one of us meeting. Emmett is their eldest son and he is the high school football coach here in Forks and probably one of the funniest people ever. And then there is Edward their middle son but is away at medical school but is rumored to be coming here when he is finished.
I walked into Starbucks to buy me some liquid courage or espresso for right now before I talked to Dr. Cullen. As I walked into the hospital and made the trek to his office I realized I didn't rehearse what I was going to say.
Knock-Knock
"Come in"
I slowly opened the door and saw Dr. Cullen sitting behind his desk
working on charts and Esme sitting on the couch reading a book.
"Oh I didn't mean to interrupt you guys. I can come back." I said.
"Don't be silly Bella, come in." Dr. Cullen said.
I walked in and closed the door behind.
"I have some news, and actually Esme I am glad you are here as well." I said.
"Oh really." Esme said as she turned to look at Dr. Cullen.
"Is everything okay Bella." She said as she reached my hand.
"Oh yes sorry. I made a life changing decision and I hope that you will support me." I could feel the tears start to slid down my cheeks.
"Tell us Izzy, we will support you." Carlisle said as he stood behind Esme.
I took a deep breath to try and gain some strength and control. Why was I having such a hard time telling them?
"After graduating nursing school I knew I wanted more and since I gained some experience. I realized that I loved to be in the mix of helping people when it counted the most. I guess that makes me an adrenalin junky." I looked up at Carlisle.
"Most of us in the ER are Bella, what are you telling us?" Carlisle said.
"Well, I …oh boy." I got up and took a few steps from them and turned my back to them.
"Bella honey, now you are scaring me. It isn't like you have volunteered from some scary mission so go and tell us young lady."
You know how they say silence can be so loud. I'm not sure how long the silence lasted between us.
"Isabella. What did you do?" Esme said.
"I joined the Army…but not the full Army." I was quick to point out just as I did for Charlie.
"The nurses need a break in some areas and I think the experience would be great for me. And I really want to do it." All of a sudden I felt two very strong motherly arms around me.
"No Isabella, you are not going to Afghanistan. I forbid it." She cried.
"Esme, nobody said anything about going to Afghanistan." Carlisle said as he tried to pry his wife off of me.
"Look it won't be for very long and I go through a boot-camp of sorts, I have more trauma training than most of them, I would be of use to them if they needed a trauma nurse. And if I could help them for only a few weeks that's a few weeks I could say I got to serve my country that most never get to do. Everything will be fine, I promise."
"Young lady if one hair on your head is harmed I will kill you myself." She said as she grabbed me again and hugged me hard.
"So is this your way of turning in your two week notice?" Carlisle said.
"Oh no, they don't even know where or when I will be needed. And I still need to go through all of the gun training." I immediately felt Esme whip her head to me.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN GUN TRAINING?" She screamed.
"Esme, calm down. Everybody that wears an Army uniform has to know how to use a weapon. What if we are attacked at the hospital base? Nobody will get to the patients without going through a few soldiers first."
"So be honest Izzy, where do you think they will send you? Did you have a choice? Carlisle asked.
"Yes I did have a choice? Not sure I should tell you though; where they need the most help is not where you will approve. The number one place is in Kandahar is where the nurses need help but they weren't too sure about sending a volunteer there, so if I had to guess they will send me to Baghram. But you guys I would prefer Charlie not know until later. Okay?"
"Well okay then." Esme said as she came towards me and kissed my forehead.
"Now go to work. Don't forget our son will be coming to work soon so we need to have the ER up and running smoothly. I want to retire someday." He said as he walked me to the door.
