A/N: Thank you guys so very much for all your reviews! The response has been tremendous, and I feel blessed. You'll get answers to a lot of the questions you had so far, so I won't bother you with them in the A/N. ;) Now, on to chapter three!

Chapter Three

Bella's head was fuzzy, but nothing hurt as she slowly became aware once more. She wasn't sure where she was, although, from the sounds and smells, she guessed the hospital. From beside her, she heard whispering, and she strained to make out words. Unfortunately, between her head, which felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and because she was so tired that she couldn't move, she only caught a few words.

"...fine, son," one voice said.

"...so quiet," another responded. "Did...hurt...when I moved her?...waited because...stable...knew...could injure...more if..."

There was something so familiar about the second voice. She was having trouble remembering how she knew it.

"Edward, you did...you could do...have died if...hadn't."

Edward!

Bella wanted to see him, but when she tried to open her eyes, they wouldn't cooperate. She settled for calling his name. "Edward," she cried softly.

The whispering stopped, but before Bella could say anything else, she felt sleep pulling her under, and then she heard no more.

~oOo~

The next time Bella awoke, she was able to open her eyes, and she looked around, panicked, until she realized that she was indeed in the hospital. Her mom was asleep in a chair next to Bella's bed, her head tilted forward and a soft snore coming from her lips. When Bella shifted, pain shot through her chest, and she whimpered.

Her mom's head snapped up, her eyes wide, and she sighed, "Bella..."

"Hey, Mom," Bella said, and when her mom's eyes filled with tears, Bella couldn't stop her own from forming. All of the fear and sadness she'd felt since being trapped in the World Trade Center came pouring out as she began to sob, the pain in her chest and arm only adding to the tears.

"Oh, baby," her mom said, leaning over and cupping Bella's face, soothing away the tears as fast as they flowed. "I'm right here, sweetheart. You're safe now, I promise. You're going to be okay."

Bella continued crying, letting her mother's presence wrap around her like a hug.

"Sarah? Ashley?" she finally asked when she could think again.

Her mom frowned and shook her head. "I'm sorry, honey," she said softly.

Bella's tears started anew and shook her body so hard, all the pain came rushing in at once. "Hurts," she gasped, feeling unable to catch her breath.

"Hold on, Bella," her mother said urgently. "I'll call the doctor."

Bella tried to breathe, only able to draw shallow breaths, as her mom pressed the call button beside her bed to summon a nurse.

An older woman came bustling into the room with a syringe, and she smiled down at Bella as she injected it into the IV attached to Bella's arm. "That should help, sweetheart," she said softly, pushing a button on the monitor beside the bed. As the medicine started working, Bella began breathing easier, and the nurse nodded. "There now. That's better, isn't it?"

Bella couldn't answer as sleep pulled her under once more.

~oooOOOooo~

From outside her room and down the hall, Edward listened to Bella cry for her friends, his still heart aching at the pain she was feeling. He wanted to go to her, to hold her and comfort her...but he knew he couldn't.

She was going to be okay. That was the important part. Carlisle had assured him of two things. One, he'd done the right thing by waiting to move her. Too often, someone pinned under something heavy—whether it be a steel beam, concrete, or a vehicle—was moved before rescue was ready, which led to their death. Edward had made the right decision to wait, since Bella had been relatively stable. The second thing Carlisle had assured him was that the surgery had been a success: there should be no last effects of the punctured lung; the broken rib, arm, and leg would be back to normal as soon as the bones healed; and she could live a long, normal, comfortable life without her spleen.

But Edward knew the emotional damage would last much, much longer. And as much as he wished he could be there, he couldn't be. If he stayed, he would draw her into his world—and the vampire world was no place for a fifteen-year-old human child. No, he wouldn't be the one to ruin her life, which was going to be altered forever after the events of the past forty-eight hours anyway.

As soon as Bella's mother left the room to go to the cafeteria, Edward stole into her room one last time, wanting—needing—to say goodbye. As he edged up to the bed, Carlisle spoke in his head from where he was standing at the nurses' station outside the room.

Your sister called and asked that I leave you something in Bella's room, Edward.

Curious, Edward looked around, and his eyes fell on the thin black marker on the tray. Immediately, he knew just what Alice must have seen. Uncapping the marker, he moved around to the other side of the bed, where Bella's casted arm lay atop the blankets and a pillow that was helping to keep it stable. With a deep breath, he began to draw.

Five minutes later, he put the lid back on the marker and slid it into his pocket, satisfied by what he'd drawn. He could see Bella's mother's thoughts, and she was beginning to finish up her dinner. As much as it pained him, he knew the time had come to say goodbye.

Leaning down, Edward brushed a finger down Bella's pale cheek. "Goodbye, Little Bird." He bent and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, inhaling her scent, so strong and intense, even through the medicinal smells of the hospital, and closed his eyes, savoring the contact until she stirred beneath his lips.

"Edward," Bella murmured, and for a moment, he worried that she'd awoken.

When she said nothing more, he stood and, with a pang in his chest, left the room, fleeing from the hospital without a backward glance.

~oooOOOooo~

When Bella woke again, her mother wasn't in the room, but a doctor in a white coat was standing beside the bed, looking at the monitor, which was beeping softly. He was young, very handsome, with very unique eyes—some sort of golden color that reminded her of something, although she couldn't remember what.

"Oh good, you're awake," he said in a calm, friendly voice. "My name is Dr. Cullen. I treated you when you first came in...Bella, right? I was told you like to be called Bella, rather than Isabella."

Bella nodded. "Yeah, Bella," she croaked, clearing her dry throat. "Water?"

Dr. Cullen held up a finger and walked over to the other side of the room. He was back in moments and reached up, placing a flat stick-like object against her lips. "This should help," he said. "We'll see how your lungs are doing before giving you a glass of water, okay?"

Bella sucked on the sponge and let the thin trickle of water wet her dry lips, mouth, and tongue. When she felt like she could speak again, she asked, "Where's my mom?"

He smiled and took the sponge when she held it out. "She ran down to get some coffee and something to eat. She should be back anytime. Your dad is with her. He arrived at the hospital a few minutes ago."

Afraid of the answer, but needing to know, Bella asked, "Wh-What's wrong with me? Am I gonna be okay?"

Dr. Cullen smiled. "You're going to be just fine, Bella. You have a broken rib, which punctured your lung—"

Bella began to breathe heavier, and Dr. Cullen reached out and laid a cool hand on her right arm.

"Breathe, Bella," he soothed. "You're all right now. When you got to the hospital, you were immediately rush into surgery. I repaired your lung, and it should heal just fine. I'm afraid you ruptured your spleen, as well, so it had to be removed." He held up a hand before she could panic. "It's serious, but you're an otherwise healthy young woman, so as long as you take antibiotics when needed and get vaccinated against a few things you wouldn't normally need to get medicine for, you should be just fine. Okay?"

Bella nodded, feeling oddly calmed by his comforting nature and words. "That's why my chest and stomach hurt?"

Dr. Cullen nodded. "You also broke both bones in your left arm—your mom told us you're right handed, so that's good, isn't it?" He smiled. "We set the breaks during surgery and put it in a cast. You also fractured your ankle, so there is a cast on it. It wasn't a full break, so you won't need the cast on nearly as long for it."

Bella glanced down and looked at the cast on her ankle and then up to her arm, and when she saw what was drawn on her arm, she startled.

A beautiful pair of wings—angels wings—curved around a little bird. Little Bird...

"Where is he?" she asked the doctor. "Where's Edward?"

The doctor barely reacted, but she saw it when he froze for a moment before saying calmly, "I'm not sure whom you mean."

Bella gestured to her arm. "He drew this. He was here. I heard him talking—to you! I heard him talking to you earlier, after I woke up the first time."

"The TV was on," the doctor said smoothly. "I'm sure that's what you heard."

"He was with me before I was rescued," Bella argued.

Still calm, Dr. Cullen said, "Bella, you were alone when you were rescued."

"No," she said, shaking her head. "He helped me get out from under the wreckage, I swear. He moved the beam from my legs and the concrete from my stomach. I saw him!"

Just then, her parents entered the room.

"Bella, you're awake!"

Bella accepted her mother's hug, but before she could say anything more to the doctor, he was gone.

"Bells, it's good to see you, kiddo." Charlie, her dad, bent down to hug her awkwardly, ending with a pat on her shoulder.

"Hi, Daddy. You didn't have to come... I'm okay."

"Of course I had to come. It took me a while to get into the city because of security, but..." He patted his badge, which was attached to his belt, and smiled.

"When do you have to go home?"

He shook his head and pulled up the two guest chairs, sitting in one after her mom sat in the other. "I'm here until you're sick of me, kid."

She smiled. "'Kay."

~oOo~

Over the next week, Bella continued to ask everyone she saw about Edward, her guardian angel. No one knew whom she meant. She'd told them all over and over again that he'd rescued her, that he'd moved the beam off her legs and the concrete off her belly, only to be told that a fireman had been the one to rescue her and there'd been no beam or concrete on her.

"It's just your mind playing tricks on you, sweetie," her mom and dad had assured her several times. "That happens during a trauma. Your mind dreamed him up to keep you company while you waited for someone to find you."

"How do you explain this?" Bella had asked, shoving her arm toward her mother. "He called me Little Bird, and I said he was my angel."

Her mother's explanation that a nurse must have heard her say it—"You know you talk in your sleep, Isabella," she'd said—and then drawn it... Bella just knew that was wrong. It had been Edward. He'd been here, and she didn't know where he'd gone. She wanted him to come back. Her heart already missed him, like there was an ache in her chest that didn't have anything to do with her broken rib or any of her other physical injuries.

"Bella?" Her mom poked her head into Bella's room, interrupting her thoughts, and smiled. "Oh good, you're awake. I have someone here who would like to officially meet you, sweetie."

Bella gasped and reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear. "Edward?" she asked, looking hopefully at the door.

Her mother frowned, shaking her head, and stood back.

Following her dad into the room was a young guy, maybe ten years older than Bella herself, with dark blond hair and a tentative smile. He was wearing a faded pair of jeans and an FDNY T-shirt, holding a small stuffed animal—a pink bear with the words Get Well Soon embroidered on the stomach. He stepped up to the bed and said, "Bella? I'm Franco Salvatore."

"Nice to meet you," Bella murmured, accepting the bear when he held it out.

"Mr. Salvatore is the man who saved you," her mother chimed in.

Bella wanted to protest, to say that Edward had saved her, but she knew it would fall on deaf ears. Instead, she said, "Thank you," squeezing the bear close and wishing it were Edward's hand she were clutching.

He stood there awkwardly for a minute as Bella gazed into her lap, wishing they would all leave her alone. Finally, he said, "Your mom said you're healing well. I'm glad to hear it. I'll get out of your hair now, but I just wanted to say that I'm glad we found you in time."

Bella nodded. "Thanks. Me, too."

After another moment, he turned and spoke quietly to her mother.

"I'm going to walk Mr. Salvatore out, Bella," her mom said, and then they turned and left the room, leaving Bella alone with Charlie and the bear.

~oooOOOooo~

Edward had been in Alaska for three weeks when Carlisle called him to tell him that Bella had been released from the hospital. His father hadn't remained at the hospital in New York City that whole time. In fact, he'd left the day after Edward, but instead of going to Denali as Edward had, Carlisle had gone back to Rochester. He'd asked the head nurse to call him when Bella was released, as he would be thinking of the girl he'd helped save after the terrorist attack. She had, and once Carlisle had gotten word, he'd called Edward.

For eighty-three years, Edward had been alone as a vampire. It hadn't bothered or hurt him nearly as much as the previous three weeks had. He felt like his unbeating heart had been ripped from his chest and stomped on. He'd never felt as empty as he did now, alone, without his mate. He had known he wouldn't be able to handle being around his family. Not while he was feeling the way he was. So he'd traveled to Alaska, to visit the other vampires he, Carlisle, and the others considered family. He still had to contend with Carmen and Eleazar, as well as the newly mated Kate and Garrett, but there was so much empty wilderness around their home in Denali that he could go days without seeing or hearing anyone, human or vampire.

Until Tanya, one of the unmated sisters, decided to intrude on his private space, like now.

"Edward," she said as sank gracefully into the snow beside him.

Tanya and her sisters, Irina and Kate, were all blond, all gorgeous, and all smart, interesting women. The three of them had been vampires for nearly a thousand years. They were thought to be the originals behind the myth of the succubus. They were friendly and loved to flirt, and all had tried many times to become Edward's first. Irina and Kate had long since given up, but not Tanya.

Eleazar said your little human was back home, she said in her mind. She smiled, although to him, it wasn't a happy one—more like a little snarky and sarcastic. Her next thoughts confirmed that. Now you can go on with your life. Loosen up and have some fun without worrying about the human child, right?

When he didn't say anything, she set her hand onto his thigh, squeezing before sliding her hand up until Edward put his on top and moved hers away.

C'mon, Edward. Surely a little fun in the snow will help take your mind off things.

"Tanya," Edward sighed, tugging at his hair. "You're a beautiful woman, but I'll say it again: I'm not going to sleep with you. She may not know it, but she's my mate and she owns my heart. I can't..." He huffed. "I just can't."

You're going to be alone the rest of your existence if you feel like that. You know that, right?

Edward hesitated and then nodded.

Tanya sighed. All right. You know where I am if you change your mind...and I won't stop trying, just so you know.

"I know," he murmured with a small smile and shake of his head.

She got to her feet in one smooth motion and squeezed his shoulder before leaving him to his peaceful quiet.

A/N: Okay, so Bella's alive and she didn't have to be changed. (Did you really think I'd kill her or change her into a vampire at not even fifteen years old?) I warned most of you in review replies that this Edward is VERY canon for a while, and part of that is leaving. I will say now that you should buckle up, because it'll be a bumpy road for a bit, and both of them will tug at your heart strings. ;)

Now, in case you didn't get it from this chapter, here's the answer to the big question so many of you had from chapter two: He left her where she was for that long for two reasons: 1) he didn't want to risk injuring her further while she was doing okay. Yes, she could have been injured further when rescuers got to her, but then she would be minutes away from the emergency response team and the hospital. Until it became immediate, he didn't want to risk it (you'll actually read that here in the chapter, but I wanted to explain it a little more in-depth here), and 2) There was a part of him that didn't want to take the chance of exposing himself (*laugh*) to Bella and any rescuers who might have seen him. That was secondary, though.

Okay, so, Bella's on the mend, Edward has left not only Bella, but the family. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that and where you think it'll go next. ;) Leave me a message, and I promise to get back to you!

And be sure to check out drotuno's Masen Manor if you haven't already. It's fantastic!

I'll see you next Wednesday! – Jen