Groggily I opened my eyes and bolted up. Where was I? I shook my head trying to clear it. What was the last thing you remember? Okay, I remember EJ and my Dad, I groaned and reached to touch my abused back. My hand touched cloth wrappings. I gasped as the rest of my memory flooded back. I turned around and saw EJ sleeping on the opulent bed next to where I had been sleeping. Well shit, now what do I do? How long was I out for? Fuck Dad is going to kill me. I looked around and quietly walked over to EJ's dresser and eased a drawer open, and grabbed a shirt and a pair of basketball shorts. Slowly, and quietly I dressed hoping not to wake him. He just turned over in sleep and mumbled something I didn't understand. The clothes were huge on me but what choice did I have? As quietly as I could I slid out the door and made my way toward the massive staircase. I made it to the bottom when the woman I remembered from before came walking toward me. "Hello Lillian, are you feeling better?" she asked her voice like wind chimes. I nodded, and took a step toward the door. I didn't want to be rude but I really couldn't risk pissing my dad off any more then I was sure I had. "I'm so happy you are feeling better." She smiled, she was stunning, her chocolate brown hair fell in thick waves to her waist and her eyes where a brilliant topaz, she was willowy and soft looking though she was slightly taller then me. "I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to introduce myself earlier, I'm Bella." She smiled and stuck out her hand for me to shake it, I did, but couldn't hide the shiver her frigid touch gave me.
"Thank you for all of your help, but I must be going. I really don't want to worry my parents." I said taking another step toward the door.
"Don't worry, we told them where you were." I looked toward the direction of this new voice, it was EJ's doppelgänger.
"You," I swallowed feeling sick this had gone from bad to worse "you told them?" I asked swaying; I reached out for the stair rail to steady myself.
"Yes, we had Sheriff Swan pay them a visit." He said wrapping his arm around Bella's waist. I sank down to the floor, this was worse then I had expected. Now not only was I guaranteed another beating, one that would make the one I just lived through look like a walk in the park. But now I'd be removed from my home and placed in foster care. I hadn't even been out for a year. My Mom had just gotten custody of me back, after swearing that we would not see Dad again. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Something cold lifted my face, I was looking into the doppelgänger's eyes. "Don't worry, you aren't going to go anywhere you don't want to." He said his sweet breath washing over me. I shook my head and tried to clear it. What did he mean not go anywhere? Once the cops got a look at me I'd be with child services faster then my dad could finish a bottle of brandy. Wait, how did he know I was worried about being taken away? I know I never told EJ anything, I have never told anyone. Did he do a background search? I guess the Sheriff could have.
"EJ, will be awake soon." Bella said "Would you like something to eat? And maybe some clothes that fit a little better?" she smiled and reached her hand out to mine. I took it and let her pull me up.
The kitchen was massive and all white a chef's dream. I sat down on the island, and watched as she started making a massive and impressive breakfast. "Thank you." I whispered not taking my eyes off my folded hands. "I…I'm sorry for any trouble I caused yesterday." My eyes flicked up to meet hers.
"Nothing that happened was your fault." She said and rested her hand atop mine. I barked a slightly hysterical laugh. "It's not." She gave my had a squeeze.
I looked up at her unsure. Her topaz eyes were open and warm. I shifted in my chair uncomfortable. I cleared my throat "Um, can I ask you something?" I asked my voice shaky.
"Sure." She said and patted my hand before turning back to her cooking.
"Who is that man? Your husband?" I hedged glancing at the large ring on her finger.
"Oh, that's Edward" she said her voice caressing his name "He is EJ's uncle."
I nodded "They look every… similar." I hedged.
"Yes," she sighed "good genes." She smiled and winked at me. My face burned. She placed a plate in front of me and piled it with fresh waffles, eggs, and bacon. "Dig in." she urged.
I started in on my food but stopped after a few bite. "Aren't you having any?" I asked.
"Oh, no most of the family is on a special diet." She smiled and chuckled. Weird I thought but shoved another bite of waffles in my mouth. I was ravenous.
I was on my second helping when EJ dashed into the room eyes wild until they landed on me. I blushed. He looked me up and down and smiled clearly liking my being in his clothes and my obvious lack of a bra a little too much. "Good Morning." He said coming up to me and kissing me, I froze, I was not used to PDA especially in front of family members. My eyes wide I looked at Bella who only seemed to have eyes for EJ. The love that rolled off of her was staggering, and a little uncomfortable. Wasn't she married to Edward? After a brief moment EJ pulled away flashing me a smile before grabbing a plate and filling it, clearly EJ was not on this special diet like the rest of his family. "How are you feeling." He asked looking glancing at my back.
"I'm fine." I lied. The truth was my back was still hurt but it had dulled to a steady throb. If I were honest I'd say I was confused. I wasn't sure which parts of my memory were real and which I had imagined. EJ took my hand and turned me to face him his warm brown eyes boring into mine. "Really," I breathed, "I'm fine, just a little sore is all."
With out taking his eyes from mine he said "When will Carlisle be back."
"Soon, he just had to stop by the hospital for a few hours, but he'll be back." Bella said. Satisfied EJ turned and began to eat but never let go of my hand.
A few moments later Edward and Carlisle came in. "Hello, Lillian." Dr. Carlisle said. "How are you feeling?" he asked walking toward me.
"She said she's still sore." EJ said before I could say I was fine.
"Hmm, yes well I'd be happy to give you more morphine." He said
"No." I said quickly and perhaps a tad to loudly. I cleared my throat "No, really I don't think I need anything that strong." I said clarifying. The reality was I didn't want to pass out again.
The doctor nodded and held out his hand "At least take this." He said and handed me two small white pills. I looked up at him questioningly "It's Vicodin. It will help, but it isn't as strong as the morphine." I took the pills; everyone looked at me expectantly so I made a show of putting them in my mouth and taking a huge gulp of orange juice but tucked the pills beneath my tongue. Edward glanced at me, and raised an eyebrow at me, I gave him a tentative smile. He gave me a dubious look. I blushed and scooted into EJ. Something about Edward bugged me. I couldn't put my finger on it, it was like he knew to much about me and I knew absolutely nothing about him. "Lillian, I'm going to have to take a look at your back, just to make sure your wounds are not infected." Dr. Carlisle smiled. I nodded and EJ and I followed him up to his office.
The room was as I had remembered it so, I guess that part I hadn't imagined. I blanched remembering that at some point I had been standing here naked. Oh my god, his whole family saw me naked! Looking up at EJ I blushed and then remembered that I had woken up next to him and had been nearly naked, I only had on a pair of panties that I assumed belonged to someone in the house, Bella maybe? I shook my head. "Okay, Lillian?" shit, the Doctor had been talking to me, what did he say? I looked up at EJ and he smiled and nodded, so I just nodded and hopped whatever was about to happen wouldn't be to embarrassing.
The Doctor moved toward me and waited, I looked at him stupidly, "Your shirt Lillian, if you could lift it so I can check your wounds." He smiled patiently. I nodded and turned, but stopped, EJ was still in the room. I know its stupid but I didn't want him to see my topless, though he already had, but I wasn't all there mentally when that had happened and despite what some might think I was not used to displaying my naked body for others to see, I was after all still a virgin and had no immediate plans to change that.
"Umm, EJ?" I hedged "Do you mind?" I asked and nodded toward the door. He looked at me confused.
"I think Lillian would like some privacy." Dr. Carlisle added. I blushed and nodded.
EJ sill looked confused but nodded "I'll be right outside this door, okay Lil?" he said before kissing me swiftly on the lips, causing me to blush.
Once EJ was out of the room I sighed and took off my shirt, my back to the doctor. His cool fingers unwound the wrappings "Everything looks like its healing well." He said "Though this one seems to be infected," his fingers brushed across one of the lashes, I bit my lip to keep from screaming "I'm going to have to remove a few of the stiches so the wound can expel the infection, and I'll give you a shot of antibiotics." I nodded. "You, know you can take the Vicodin, it won't hurt you, and there is no need to be brave." He said conversationally. I stiffened, How did he know I didn't swallow them. "It may not seem like it but I have been a doctor for a long time." I wondered how long he could have possibly been a doctor he didn't look a day over 23. "I suppose I understand your trepidation." He reasoned, "This is a lot to take in, still I'd feel better if you took them." He went back to his work and we fell into a comfortable silence. I decided that if anything I could trust this man, something about him made me feel safe so I swallowed the pills that had still been underneath my tongue.
After I was safely rewrapped, I turned to thank him "Um Doctor Cullen?" I asked.
"Carlisle is fine." He corrected.
I nodded, "What," I sighed nervous to find out the truth "what did you say to my Dad?" I said in a rush
"Ah," he said cleaning up the dirty bandages "I believe Sheriff Swan simply told him that you would be with us for a time, and that if you were ever," he paused "injured the way you were again that he'd be arrested."
I nodded "My Mom?"
"I don't believe she was part of the conversation." He replied I nodded, she never was. "Do you wish to go back?" he asked.
I thought about that for a moment "I… I'm not sure." I said honestly, though I didn't know where I would go.
"Well, you have a home here, as long as you'd like." He smiled and patted my shoulder.
Nodding I said "Thank you." He smiled and turned to leave "Oh, Carlisle?" I asked, stopping him "I'm sorry about, um my behavior earlier." I blushed.
He chuckled "Think nothing of it, you were in shock, any of us would have been the same, or worse." He smiled and left.