"You nervous?" Alice asked me as I sat across from her in a cozy little diner a few blocks away from the asylum. I stared at the smoke of my steaming coffee intensely, is if it held the answer to that question.

"No," I replied a little too quickly. Alice picked up on my lie easily.

"What are you nervous about?" She said with a smile. I took a sip of my coffee, looking around. There were a few other people in the diner, and I had the feeling it didn't get much business. I could tell I would be becoming a regular here though. Dad always said I was a magnet for strange things.

"I don't want to hurt Edward or Carlisle," I admitted, not making eye contact with her. I didn't want to make a false move and send Edward into another episode. I didn't think I could bear seeing that tortured look on his eyes again. Yet, I couldn't stand to let Carlisle down either. He was so adamant that this would work, and if it didn't, then that would almost seal his nephew's fate as a permanent resident at the asylum. It was a lose-lose situation and I was in the middle of it.

Alice simply shrugged and shot me a thousand-watt smile "Well, you never know! Miracles happen, Bella. Maybe Edward's close to a breakthrough, and this is just what he needs. A fresh face, as you said Carlisle said."

"I guess," I agreed with a sigh, but couldn't help but still feel doubtful. We finished our breakfasts and made our way through the streets to the asylum. Alice and I parted where she went to go do filing work. I went into Carlisles office. He was standing up looking out the window.

"Ah, Bella!" He said with a smile when he heard my arrival. "Come along, I'll tell you what you need to know as we talk there." We both stepped out of his office and walked through the halls. Carlisle began talking a million miles a minute "He will mostly not be all there, so he won't be talkative. In case he is in …this relality, don't make any sudden movements or gestures. Stay as far opposite as you can from him, and don't, I repeat, don't, don't get too close to him. Either way, he'll react bad to loud noises," I nodded, trying to take in everything that I could. Butterflies fluttered around my stomach and mingled with the coffee there.

We got to his room and I stopped, looking in. Edward was sitting on the floor, legs stretched out, staring into space. His fingers were doing that twiddling thing again, and I watched him move his fingers almost methodically. "Don't be nervous." A voice said. I jumped and spun around to see who it was.

Standing before me was a tall, blonde man in an orderlies' uniform. There were various scars spreading up his arms and even one or two on his neck. It must've been from the patients, they could get violent if riled up too much, as I'd seen the other day. He held his hand out to me to shake, and spoke with a slight southern drawl "My names Jasper Whitlock, ma'am. I'll be watching out here in case things get a little too….crazy." He smiled and winked at me. His calmness about the situation made me feel a little calmer, and I took comfort in the fact that both Jasper and Carlisle would be watching in case I did something wrong. I blinked and looked into the room, thinking this was too weird. It felt like I was being briefed to go into space. I was forgetting that this was just a person. Edward was still a person, and I needed to show him that I wouldn't harm him.

"I can do this." I breathed, and looked up at the two before slowly opening the door and stepping in.

"Edward?" I asked softly, looking at him. He didn't move, his stare remained constant, the only movement in his face was a blink every few seconds. "Edward…come on…can you hear me?" I said softly, shyly. I got no response, so I slowly sat down, not talking.

I waited. He would come out of his trance, soon enough. Instead I watched him. I studied the panels in his face, the bronze-ish tint of his eyes. I watched his fingers and they moved so methodically on the hard linoleum. Curiosity as to why was burning in me. After a while though, it stopped, and he just sat there, staring up at nothing. I tried calling his name every now and then, but he didn't even budge.

I was starting to get tired myself. I wasn't sure how long it had been since I'd first went in there, but I knew it had to be at least a couple of hours. I should've brought a watch. My eyes started drooping and I felt my thoughts begin to cloud from the drowsiness.

"What are you doing in here?" My eyes shot open. It was Edward. He was sitting up, staring at me, eyes wide and whole body rigid. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" His voice became more frantic and he stood, very much in this world now and very scared.

"Edward, my name is-"

"Get out." He ordered, his whole body beginning to tremble with fear.

"Edward, please. You don't understa-"

"Get out!" He cried, tears coming to his eyes "Get out get out get out!" I cried out and clenched his hair in his hands tightly, his knuckled going white.

"Edward, I'm only trying to help." And then I was so foolish as to take a few steps forewords, forgetting who he was and the severity of the situation.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" He cried out, backing away from me and into the farthest wall, sliding down and hugging his knees, putting burying his face in his arms and crying softly. I gasped and instantly backed away, then feeling strong hands on my shoulder. I whipped around to see Carlisle, much to my relief.

"Go outside." He said simply. He and Jasper moved into the room as I moved out. Jasper held Edward down as Carlisle sedated him. He moaned loudly and grew limp. Carlisle picked the now very fragile looking Edward and placed him in bed.

Once they were both out, I looked to Carlisle "I'm sorry, I didn't know…"

"Bella, no apologies are needed. I expected something similar would happen. But that doesn't mean we should give up hope. We'll try again, yes?" He smiled at me, though I saw sadness in his eyes. I nodded, feeling tired all over again.

"Well, it's already 4, why don't you go on home, you're done for the day." Carlisle smiled.

"Oh, thank you!" I said, surprised at how well he was taking what just happened. I guess he really had expected it.

"I'll see you Monday, Bella." He bode me farewell and was off towards his office.

"He's sad, but he's still hopeful." Jasper remarked, and I jumped, realizing he was standing right next to me.

"How do you know?" I asked, turning to him.

But Jasper just smiled and winked at me "I just know."