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Chapter 4:

Grabbing her coat from the rack where it was kept everyday, Bella put it on and prepared to go out into the mid-November chill.

"Bella!" Edward called from behind her. His long strides quickly caught up to her smaller ones and he gently turned her around by her arm. It took a lot of self control to ignore the sparks shooting up her arm from his touch, but somehow she managed. He dropped her arm like it was burning him and ran his hand nervously through his hair. "Do you want me to stay with Melanie until you get home or do you want me to meet you at the hospital?"

"I think it would be best if you stay here with her, there's just too much for her to be exposed to at the hospital," Bella said slowly, carefully considering her words.

Nodding Edward voiced question after question, almost in a desperate attempt to keep her there a moment longer. Bella shook her head at the ridiculousness of her own thoughts, Edward was just asking questions that any responsible adult would ask. Had Melanie eaten yet? No, there was a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs in the fridge. What time was her bedtime? Eight o'clock, give or take a few minutes. And he could just put her into her pajamas, she didn't need a bath that night. Finally, with all of Edward's questions satisfied, Bella jogged out the front door towards her car.

She sped all the way to the hospital, something she had never before done. Bella Swan was a rule follower, she wasn't one to foolishly drive quickly, but this was a unique occasion; one that called for a bit of a road rage.

Arriving at the hospital, she quickly found a parking spot and pulled in. Pulling her coat tightly about her against the late autumn chill, she ran quickly to the hospital's entrance. After inquiring at a nurse's station, she was directed to the CCU where Mrs. Thompson had been sent once they were finished with her in the ER. Bella hurriedly found the floor the nurse had told her to and frantically looked about for someone else to tell her where to go.

A man in a white coat was striding down the hall and Bella raced over to him, pulling on his sleeve urgently to get his attention.

"Excuse me!" she pleaded repeatedly, trying to get his attention. Finally, he turned around and did a double take when he saw her. Bella had to admit that he was a handsome man, he was a Native American which was made obvious by his dark brown skin, warm brown eyes and shaggy black hair.

"Can I help you?" he asked, sounding a bit nervous.

"I hope so," Bella began. "My neighbor was admitted in this wing after her heart attack…and I was hoping to see her."

"I'm really sorry, miss," the doctor told her, looking genuinely upset. "But I'm afraid that only family can see the patients until visiting hours."

"You don't understand," Bella pleaded. "I'm the only family she has. She's been taking care of my daughter and me since the day we moved in, I just never realized it. Please doctor, you have to let me see her. I can't let her be alone in there."

"Alright," he agreed wearily. "But if anyone asks you're her daughter. Now what's her name?"

"Mrs. Thompson," Bella told him. "Thank you so much. I'm Bella Swan, by the way."

"Dr. Jacob Black, and I happen to be her doctor, if you wouldn't mind following me."

"Thank you!" Bella whispered emphatically as she scurried after his large, purposeful strides.

"Alright, Ms. Swan," Dr. Black announced once they stopped outside her room. "This is your mother's room, and I should warn you, she's not looking her best."

She gulped and followed him into her room. Mrs. Thompson looked very small and pale in the sterile room, hooked up to a bunch of beeping machines. But her face brightened when she saw Bella.

"How is Mellie Belly?" Mrs. Thompson asked weakly, but her bright eyes conveyed her worry for the girl. "I hope I didn't scare her too badly."

"Melanie is great, she's with a friend at home and happily playing," Bella reassured her friend, moving to sit beside her.

Mrs. Thompson, acting with a grandmotherly-like sense of pride began to brag about Melanie. "Melanie is Bella's daughter. Just six years old and a bright little girl she is. Why she just eats up any book I read to her! Looks like the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree!"

Dr. Blacks' eyes became a little puzzled, but he maintained a professional front. He asked Mrs. Thompson many questions, writing furiously on her chart before the woman fell into an exhausted slumber. Then he motioned Bella out into the hall.

"I don't mean to pry, Ms. Swan, but how old are you? There are programs available if you need any help raising your child," Dr. Black began, after updating Bella on her "mother's" health.

Bella laughed aloud. "Dr. Black, I appreciate the concern, but I am 24 years old and have only been caring for this girl for less than a year. I have a good job and live in a wonderful old house and send my daughter to the best school and daycare around. You can say that I have this all under control." Then, for some unknown reason, she left him with that information. She didn't tell him that Mel was her brother's child or about the "deal" she had worked out with Rosalie and their parents. She wanted someone to think that she was Melanie's real mother because she was proud of herself and her child for all that they had overcome.

Bella got herself a cup of coffee and returned to her neighbor's room. When the elderly woman awoke about two hours later, 9:30 at night, she pestered Bella into going home. She told the young woman that she had a child and a life to get home to and that they could both come in to see her the next day. Finally giving in, Bella gave the fragile cheek a kiss and walked out slowly, just in case Mrs. Thompson was to change her mind. But the woman was stubborn and rarely changed her mind, and this was no exception. She smiled and waved cheerily to Bella as she walked out the door and laughed to herself as she left.

Bella made her way out of the hospital feeling less frantic than she had when she had first entered. She made her way to her car with a sense of relief, Melanie was safe, Mrs. Thompson was healthy, and for once she wasn't going to return to a near empty house. She unlocked her car and settled into it, and placed her keys in the ignition.

The sounds the car made as she tried to start it were anything but happy. She angrily banged her hands against the steering wheel.

"Need some help?" an amused voice asked from outside her window causing Bella to jump in surprise.

I know...I'm mean! Sorry about the cliffy! Please review and I will update soon!