Disclaimer:

I do NOT own the Twilight Universe. Wish I did.

Stephenie Meyer is the wicked woman who does!

Gotta love her!

Chap. 4

Beeping and Burning.

I was warm. I was comfy. I was...beeping? Slowly I opened my eyes and heard a male voice discussing something with a woman. As soon as I stopped seeing doubles, I noticed I was in a hospital bed. I closed my eyes and groaned. I heard the privacy screen squeak and opened my eyes. "Hello Maxi, I'm Doctor Cullen. Can you tell me why your here?" I focused on him, and heard my heart rate climb. He was gorgeous! He couldn't be no older than 30. His blond hair was combed back, and his honey eyes scanned over charts and then looked at me. He was...also had that flawless pale that Edward has. "Uh, I...I think I passed out?" He smiled, perfect teeth! My heart rate jumped again. He nodded.

"Yes, it seems that you were at a cookout then fainted."

No duh. I tried to sit up but he gently placed his hand on my shoulder, "I don't think that would be a good idea Ms. Brogan." I sighed in frustration. "Call me Max. So, aside from fainting, why else should I be here? I mean girls faint all the time right?" He looked serious. "Well, usually, but you have a few anomalies in your blood stream that worry us." I nodded. Great, I'm a freak. "Like what?" He pulled up a stool on rollers that sounded gritty. His face was level to mine. "Well, we have blood work thats being evaluated in a lab a few hours away, so we'd like to keep you here until the results get back here. When we get them in, I'll be more than happy to tell you." I nodded, he was so nice. When he stood, and walked past my feet to the other side of my bed where I had a I.V. Drip in my right hand.

"This is simply to keep you hydrated. You have a terrible fever. Mind telling me what has been going on with you lately?" I looked at him strangely. "Well, I have been having these strange episodes of sudden attacks of emotions, this strange burning sensation that starts in my chest then spreads to my limbs...um...then theres the muscle ticks then my body just locks up. I cant talk or anything." Carlise's eyes were studying my face. "Thats quite the variation of symptoms Max." I grinned, "your telling me." He unwrapped the stethoscope from around his neck and gestured to me. "Mind?" I shook my head and waited. He gently pushed the hospital gown down far enough to put the cold piece in the center of my chest. "Deep breaths." I sucked in a deep breath and let it out, then repeated.

Then quickly he backed off and wrapped the stethoscope back around his neck. "Well you sound clear. No wheezing or fluid. Aside from the fever you seem completely normal. But, I do have one comment." I raised my eye brows. "Your dreadfully pale, I mean you look like your ate up with something horrid." I shrugged. "Ya know doc, your a right fair shade of pale yourself." He smiled and shrugged. "Ha ha, I guess your right." I yawned. "Where's my Dad at?" He smiled, "Oh he's at home, its three something in the morning. I told him you were fine. So he said he'd be back as soon as the sun came up." I nodded and smiled at him. "I don't want to be nosy Doc, but is Edward your son?" His eyes lit up, in nothing other than pride. "Yes, do you know him?" Oh yeah...

"I have Science with him. He's my partner." Carlise nodded and smiled. "Well it really is a small town then." I giggled at his joke. "Well, I'm going to go check on the other patients. Ill be back soon. Try to rest okay?" I nodded and he waved and walked out. Strange, he doesn't seem to be old enough to father Edward. I looked over at my I.V. And noticed it had came out of my hand. I looked at my hand , but didn't see the spot where it was. Thats odd. I'm an easy bruiser. The slightest bump or poke gives me a horrible bruise. But I didn't see one mark. Just my pale, very pale, paler than usual skin. Uh-oh. I think I was supposed to have that. Where's that damn bed side assistance button...ah ha!

I pressed the big red square button that said Nurse. After about 10 minuets an pretty, but very tired looking red haired nurse came in. "Honey did you press the button?" No, I twiddled my thumbs and snapped them! "Yes mam, my I.V. came out." I held my hand up and she saw. "Oh. Okay honey, lemme get your doctor."

Poor Doc, he has to come right back in here. Within a half an hour Cr. Cullen was walking in, smiling. "Pam told me your I.V. came out?" I nodded. "Yeah, I didn't pull it out or anything. Went to look at my hand and...no I.V." He gave me a quizzical look as he held up my hand. "Well, I'll be right back with a new I.V." He rushed out of the room and was back within minuets. "Okay Max, lets get you hooked back up here." He said as he uncapped the sterile needle. I cringed, watched in sick humor as he went to slide the needle into my vein. But thats when the weirdest thing happened...it wouldn't puncture my skin. He laughed to himself as he tried again, I could tell he was trying to use some force. Withing seconds of him pushing and my skin not giving, the needle broke into.

Neither one of us spoke. Quietly, he straitened up, and sat down beside me. I for one, was freaked out. I could clearly hear my heart rate climbing. Carlise was once again looking me dead in the eyes. "Max...is there anything else you'd like to tell me?" I shook my head. "Not anything off the top of my head." I ended in a squeak. What the hell is wrong with me? First all that weird stuff with my body, now you cant poke a needle in me? He rubbed his hand over his face and pinched his nose. "Well, I honestly don't know what to say Ms. Brogan." I knew my eyes were the size watermelons. He was trying to think of something to tell me. For some reason, he had this look in his eyes like he knew something. He abruptly stood up, and pulled a cellphone out. "Excuse me for a second Max."

I went to protest, I didn't want anyone else to know this! Suddenly the image of government scientists in Haz-Mat suits popped into mind. "Please, don't call the government!" Before he dialed, he shot me a look. "I would never!" I sighed and closed my eyes and rested my head back on my pillow. I was panicking. I hard my heart rate skyrocket. I couldn't hear what he was saying, but I knew it wasn't something good. I began breathing hard. Suddenly that familiar burning started. I groaned, no! I clinched my fists against the side of the bed, I my muscles started twitching causing my legs to shake and my jaw to shut tight. I never noticed Carlise standing beside me, unhooking all the machines. "Max! Breath! Breath!" I heard him, but didn't. My body was too occupied with the pain rippling through my body.

I opened my eyes finally to look at him and he looked as if he'd been trying C.P.R. I suddenly realized my heart rate had stopped. I blinked and he looked at me as if he couldn't believe it. I let out a shaky gasp as the burning got worse and my heart started pumping again. Suddenly out of no where, there Edward was. On my other side, checking me over. "What happened?" Carlise looked at him. "I have no clue. Her heart just stopped and she looked at me as if nothing was wrong." Edward's face turned to mine, worry written all over it. "Hey Max, whats going on with you?" I could feel the sweat on the back of my neck. "I-I-I don't know Cullen. I'm burning, my muscles are contracting. It hurts!" I felt a tear leak out of my eyes as my chest rose up off the table.

"Ah!" I yelled, Edward wrapped his hands around my face. Slowly blackness began enclosing my vision. "Take her to the house Edward, strap her down. I'm not sure what brought this on, but she's not normal...least not anymore." I tensed in a pair of hard, cold arms but blacked out. I was in a place of comfort. It was warm. I could hear a stream trickling. I opened my eyes and I was in the middle of a forest. I could smell the the dirt, the flowers, everything. I stood up, well, I thought I stood up. But I could feel dirt beneath my hands and feet. I looked down at my hands to see they was white, and furry. WHAT THE HELL!! I felt my heart racing again, suddenly everything went wrong. I went to run, but my feet were planted firmly to the ground. I heard something approaching from behind me. It was breathing hard, with reckless steps.

I heard branches and twigs breaking. Something was going to kill me, I could feel it. All my senses were flooded, my nose burned. "Found you..." A voice threatened. Right when I felt two cold hands grab me, I shot up awake. Darkness filled my vision. It was dark. I could smell everything in the room. I smelt the paint on the walls, the dust floating in the air, and something stunk. I went to rub my eyes but I was tied down. "What the hell?" I said as I strained my arms, but to no avail. "Hello!!" I yelled, within seconds the light turned on and Edward Cullen was staring at me from the doorway. He looked different. His eyes were more detailed, his skin paler, I could hear his breathing. That faint whoosh sound as the air filled, and left his lungs. I strained my ears, but I heard no heartbeat.

"How do you feel?" He asked, as he walked up to my bed and the stench got stronger. My nose started to itch. "A little tied down at the moment, and yourself?" He smiled and reached to push my hair out of my face. Thats when the smell was right in front of my face, I flinched. He went ahead and tucked the hair behind my ears. "I'm sorry, I'll undo them as long as you don't go wild dog on me." I huffed. "I might Cullen, but I must say you smell something horrible!" He froze and sighed. "Just what I thought." As he undid the hooks and I sat up, he leaned against the wall. "You know whats going on?" I shook my head, "I'm clueless. Though I think you do, maybe?" He shrugged. "Depends." I nodded, damn...I can't get a break! It got quiet. I was thinking of too many things, thats when he spoke up, no more than a whisper.

"Does your mind always run so fast?" I looked up at him. "How can you tell? Does my face give that much away?" He didn't respond for a moment. "Not really, once Carlise gets here, we'll have a lot to talk about." I nodded. My bladder suddenly screamed at me! "Oo! I got to pee!" I stated as he opened the door for me and ushered me to a rest room. After I was done I walked out, smiling. "ah, much better thank you. So, where are we exactly?" He gestured around the huge hall. "Cullen Mansion." I sighed, figures! Then reality hit me. DAD! "Oh my god! Where's my Dad at Does he know I'm here? What about my Papaw...?" He cut me off, "Yes they know. You Dad thinks your very sick and that we have you under quarantine here." I sighed with relief. "Oh good." "You hungry?" I went to protest before my stomach growled. "I'll take that as a yes then."

With quiet steps he ushered me into a up to date kitchen that had everything stainless steel. "What would you like to eat?" I shrugged. "Don't matter, I'm not picky." He pointed to a small kitchen table and I sat down. For the first time today, I realized how handsome he was. He had on a white button up shirt, that the sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and the top five buttons here undone. You could see his chest when he bent over, and the muscles over his stomach. I swallowed, hard. I then wondered how I looked. I ran my fingers through my slightly dirty hair. I cringed. Oh great! I noticed I was in a pair of sweat pants and a teeshirt that was way too big. Obvious guy clothes. "So, where did I get the clothes?" He pulled out a frying pan and three eggs, along with cheese and ham. "Me." I could feel myself blushing.

"Thank you, then." He looked back at me and smiled. God, he was so gorgeous when he smiled. "An omelet sound good?" I licked my lips, "Definitely." It was quiet aside from the sizzling of the eggs. I was curious how I got into my clothes. "So, how did I get into these?" He looked back at me then went back to the eggs. "I put them on you while you were asleep." My heart began racing and he chuckled. "What?" I choked out He smiled and looked back at me. "Don't think on it too much. I'm a gentleman, I looked away. I promise." Something in my head told me he wasn't lying. "Okay." It might have been his eyes. But something about Edward Cullen had me snagged. I couldn't help but smile to myself. After about 5 more minuets he slid a plate of omelet and a glass of orange juice in front of me. "Dig in." I took a lung full and it smelled terrific.

I dug my fork into the yellow fluff. I stuck a bite in my mouth. "Oh my god! This is so good. Chef Cullen!" I teased as he leaned on his elbows and watched me eat. I didn't care, the man did just fix me food. Occasionally our eyes would meet and I'd blush. I couldn't help but think how this guy has made a complete 180, character wise. He was staring at his hands, so I took it on myself to appraise his face again. His hair was the same, unruly and gorgeous. His pale face set in a thoughtful sight frown, eyes blinking occasionally. His hands were like Jacobs, very masculine. He had long delicate, but firm looking fingers. He's got to play some kind of instrument. He's the perfect candidate. Smart, quiet usually, unnaturally sensitive to whats going on. Okay, too quiet. "So, what now?" He looked up to me and took his gaze off his hands. Edward took a pause before speaking. "I really don't know. I do know that your not nearly as dumb as you act. So, I'm sure you realize your not normal by any standards correct?" I grinned. Your too right. "Right again Cullen." He took my plate because I was done, and put it in the dish water.

Theres chapter 4 you guys! Hope you enjoyed it.

If I'm a little off at portraying Edward, I apologize.

Hes so damn hard to write! But it's fun!

So Thanks for reading and Please Review!

Love, Illy