Chapter 4

BPOV

I slept that night really well for the first time in a long while. I finally started to wake up the next day. I was very disorientated when I woke up. I started to try and sit up so that I could get out of bed; but my whole body ached and I felt like I was moving in slow motion. As I focused my eyes around the room, I wasn't really sure where I was at. My eyes didn't really want to stay open either.

Jasper was there at the side of my bed instantly with me. His hand touched mine and I jumped pulling away. "Bella, it's me, Jasper. Relax," and he told me what was going on. He also gently took my hand back in his and said, "It's okay; you are safe. No one is going to hurt you ever again."

"Jasper, oh yeah, so tired and you startled me."

"It's okay; I understand. Just rest; I will be here and I will continue to talk to you to help you fight the last of the anesthesia out of your system."

So every time I tried to let me sleepiness take over, Jasper told me to fight it some more that everything would be okay. I was safe here at Lennox and it was okay to be awake. I need to know how you are feeling, Darlin'. After two hours, I was awake and sitting up in bed thanks to Jasper's help.

Edward came in and said, "Look? Who is awake and how are you feeling? You know we gave you your first shot last night."

"Actually, for the first time in a long while, I am hungry and not so tired."

"That is a good sign. What would you like for breakfast?"

"Really, I get a choice."

"Yes, you can. I think I can convince the kitchen to make you anything you want."

"Pancakes?"

"Sure," and Edward called the kitchen. Soon, a young lady came in carrying a covered tray. Jasper went into the buffer zone built into my room and got the food.

The lady waved at me as she left and said, "Enjoy."

"Wow," I said timidly. "Someone actually acknowledged me."

"Why wouldn't people acknowledge you?" Edward asked.

"Because Dr. Warlock wouldn't allow anyone to get to close to me or stay with me," then I started in on my pancakes. They tasted so good with syrup and butter on them. I felt better; unfortunately, I could only eat one my pancakes plus some fruit.

"Bella, you can eat more," Jasper said.

"I am full; I'm sorry," and I started crying.

Edward said, "Shh, don't cry Bella. Just eat what you can. Maybe with every meal, take just one more bite." With that Edward handed me the box of tissues and said, "You do realize; you are under weight and malnourished."

"Yes, I had an idea. James…. Never mind."

"What?" Jasper said. "You have to tell us. You can trust us and we will help you."

"James always said I was better off with simple small meals. Most of my meals consisted of toast and juice, a sandwich for lunch with carrots and bland chicken for dinner."

"Darlin' " Jasper said. "That is about to change, you will get three good meals a day and snacks. Edward and I will make sure of it and if we slip once, your mother, Esme will make sure you are eating better."

"Well, once in a while, Leah would bring me snacks and treats. She would sneak them past James and his two nurses."

After lunch and talking to Jasper for a while, he said, "Are you ready to leave your protective bubble?"

"What? Are you crazy? I have never really left my bubble unless I was being taken to the hospital."

"No, Bella, I am not crazy. We are going to step outside your room for 10 minutes and then we will come back. I will check your lungs, blood pressure and do a few other tests that involve drawing blood; but that part will now be easy with your magical catheter in. And guess what; we will do it again later today before you go to sleep tonight."

"With just you?"

"Yes, I think I can handle you; but I think Edward will be back for tonight's walk."

"Fine."

We left my room and headed down the hallways of the hospital. I wasn't allowed in any of the visitor waiting areas yet. But it felt good to be up and walk around; however, by the time, we made it back to the room. I climbed up on the bed really tired. I tried to cuddle down for a nap.

Jasper interrupted that process and said, "Tell me about how you are feeling and how the walk felt?"

"The walk was wonderful; I haven't walked that far all at one time since I was five years old. You can imagine walking in circles in a 10 foot by 10 foot bedroom that never changes gets really boring. As our ten minutes of walking was almost over, my adrenaline started wearing off and I now I am really tired."

"Okay. Are you out of breath though?"

"No. Just tired."

"Alright, Bella. Let me check all your vitals and get two small vials of blood and then I will let you take a nap."

"Thank you."

After he checked all my vitals, Jasper helped me lay down on the bed. He put on a second pair of sterile gloves and took two small vials of blood from my catheter. When he was done and the catheter was closed off again, he saw a small smile on my face. Jasper asked, "Was that so bad?"

"I hate to say it; but I would let you suck my blood that way all the time if it was that simple," and I was truly smiling.

"Darlin', I don't think you need to be offering me or anyone else to suck your blood. Plus no one would want your wimpy blood right now. However, I am glad that it was so much easier on you than at Brooklyn. Now lay back down and he was lowering my bed all the way flat. You take your nap and I will see you later."

Edward came and checked on me that evening just before dinner. "How is our patient?" Edward asked both of us.

"Good. I took a nap after my first walk."

"Plus I think Bella is really from Italy; she ate a whole kid's bowl of spaghetti with a meatball. Then this afternoon, she had a fruit cup and ate all of it. I think Emily really likes her because she had half the fruit cup filled with strawberries and someone likes those."

"Good are you ready to go for another walk around the floor?" Edward asked.

"Yes." The three of us went on our walk together that night. I had to admit I had a crush on Edward. He was cute more boyish to Jasper's handsomeness, comforting and soothing soul. Edward checked me out that night and Jasper logged all the information. I had dinner and this time Jasper told me to save a little bit of room because Esme was bringing me a treat.

We were watching Glee when Esme came in and said, "I like Glee, too."

On the next commercial break, Esme slid a small plate of brownies onto my hospital tray. I looked at her and asked, "You made me brownies."

"Isn't that what mother's are suppose to do?"

"I don't know. My mother always gave me hostess cupcakes."

"Please enjoy, Bella."

It was delicious and then we all finished watching Glee. Edward got paged about 10 minutes before the end and left. As Esme went to leave, I said, "Thank you for the brownies, watching Glee with me and visiting."

"You're welcome, but I think Jasper is about to shoe me out of here so that you can get a good night's sleep. I will see you tomorrow."

"Good night, Esme."

Jasper came over to me and pulled up my covers. "Good night, Darlin'. I will see you in the morning."

"Okay, but Jasper will you please stay until I fall asleep."

"No worries, roll over and close your eyes. I will be here or Edward."

The next day I ventured out again always with Jasper with me. He always checked me out when we returned. The second night once Jasper finished my tests. I had to put on an O2 mask and got in a wheelchair to go have an x-ray to check my lungs looking for any infections showing up.

I said, "Hi, Esme," as she came in. I thought to myself model perfect again.

"Hi, Bella. I brought you a fresh fruit tart and two more people that would like to meet you. Is that okay?"

"I guess," and Rose came in first. I remembered her from the Brooklyn Hospital. She was the attorney representing Carlisle and Esme.

Esme said, "This is Rose, my daughter."

"Hi, Rose, you are beautiful. Are you a model?"

"Currently, no; but I have been. Thank you."

Then a very loud voice came booming into the room in his protective gear, "Hi, Bella."

I cowered on the bed as he got closer and I realized how big he is. His shoulders were at least six inches wider and Jasper and twice as many muscles. Rose hit him and said, "Behave and quit scaring Bella. Bella, this is my husband, Emmett. He is loud, obnoxious and big. But its okay, I promise, I won't let him hurt you."

Emmett stood back and reached his arm out to me. I took it and he gently shook it. "Sorry Bella; I didn't mean to scare you."

I pulled up to my fruit tart and said, "Thank you, Esme. Sweet crust, hidden chocolate and fruit; the perfect combination." We all sat and talked. They stayed for an hour and then I laid down to go to sleep because I was tired from my earlier walk.

On the first weekend, I watched movies with the two boys. I would alternate between leaning on one of the two boys but I always tried to lean in a little closer to Edward. Something about him pulled me in. Edward and I would discuss music when we were together, whereas Jasper and I talked about everything else including our mutual love of history. Jasper particularly loved the Civil War and we had multiple discussions that would circle back to the battles of the Civil War.