Carlisle:
With each step Edward took away the sadness in me grew deeper. We had shared so many experiences together and this was by far the worst. All my life I had believed in love, believed love could solve anything, but look what it had done. I had always tried to guide him through tough times before but there was no way I could help him through this. I knew, as Edward knew, the only way he could make it out of this was by finding is own inner strength.
My eyes turned away to meet my love's but I found her hiding behind her hands, something she always did when facing profound sadness. My fingers lock around her wrists so that I can tug them down to meet her gold orbs. She looked to me in an almost embarrassed state and it was then that I felt the low shivers beneath her skin. I didn't know who to feel more sorry for: my Esme or my Edward. I wrapped my arms around her tightly but I knew she couldn't completely crumble-not with our children watching.
I gaze deep into my darling's eyes and felt my heart breaking a bit more. I hated to see her in so much pain. Esme was a deep and caring person and felt strongly about each person in our family. To see her with so much sorrow truly troubles me. All I could think of was how I had found her, how I had saved her.
"Don't worry Es...," Emmett said in an attempt to console her, "He'll be back soon."
"Yes," Esme spoke in a tearful and shivering voice, "But look at the way he left. I can only imagine how he will return."
"He will be fine," I say in a calm voice as I rub her shoulders and push some hair from her eyes, "I believe in what he says. He made a promise to Bella and to us. He will come to terms with this. I know he can."
"Your right," she smiled briefly in an attempt to convince herself, "Edward will get over this obstacle. He is strong. He can get through this."
I press a kiss to her lips as an extra encouragement to her own words. She smiled weakly, still heart broken. Alice suddenly stood, "Carlisle, you have to get to work."
I look into Esme's crumbling eyes as I shake my head, "I'm not sure. Maybe I should stay."
"No, they need you...Don't worry," she smiles. But her smile is nothing close to the one that I loved. It was an artificial attempt to pacify me.
"What about you, Alice?" I question the nearly lifeless girl curled into Jasper's side, "How are you taking this?"
"I'm fine," she said with conviction. I looked to Jasper for conformation but in his eyes were a silent panic.
I glance to Emmett, "Take care of Rosalie..."
I let the other half of my sentence trail off. It was already understood that I meant his mother too. He nodded his head. I look to my love and see even more reasons to stay home but all she does is reassure me, "Go...I'm fine."
"Promise?" I double check. She gives me a small peck on the cheek and I know she will be alright.
...
As soon as I enter the hospital I am greeted by one of the nurses with a polite, "Good morning, Dr. Cullen."
"Good morning, Amy," I nod, taking the chart from her and seeing the name of my first patient, "When did he come in?"
"Ten minutes ago. He insisted you treat him. He's waiting in your office," Amy said, appearing uncomfortable. "He seems a little hostile...should I get security escourt you?"
"No," I say as I lower the chart, "I know this man. He wouldn't hurt me."
She gives me an incredulous look but I just smile and grab a muffin from the basket on the counter. I take a bite of the muffin and walk to my office as she calls, "Good luck!"
I walk in and make sure to lock the door before I turn around and extend my hand to my patient, "Jacob, it's always a pleasure."
Jacob shakes my hand, "Good morning, Dr. Cullen."
"Please, call me Carlisle," I say as I sit, "What brings you here? Take a seat."
"Afraid I can't," he sighs and for the first time I notice he kept his right arm from side and wore an open button up shirt with nothing underneath. I stand and walk to him.
"Tell me what happened, show me," I order. He pulls aside the flap of his shirt to expose a large burn reaching from just beneath his underarm and down to his hip. The sight of it was gruesome and I could smell a mixture of old and fresh blood filtering into the air, "How long have you had this?"
"Three and a half days," he answers, wincing wincing as I touch the edges lightly."It's not just me. All of us have it. And our legs...didn't heal right."
I glance down and can immediately see the diffrence," Who did this?"
"Vampires," the word leaves his mouth his a tone of disdain and uncertainty.
"Vampires did this to you?" I question, looking at the burn pointedly.
"Yeah...There were four but only three were actually fighting. A woman and two men. The one guy was fast, and not just vampire fast either. The other girl, she looked maybe fourteen or fifteen, and she was screaming for us to stop fighting. She knew our names and the names of the people we loved," he explained, his eyes showing conflict. "She was convincing me to help her stop the fight and was seriously upset about what was happening, like it was hurting her too. I was about to call it all off when...one of us ripped her boyfriend's arm off and..he did this to us."
I listened to everything he said as I inspected the burn and held my question until he was finished speaking, "Which direction did they head in?"
"I don't know, Doc," he huffs as he motions to the thing at his side, "I don't know if you noticed buy this thing hurts a lot."
The serious face I had wanted to keep cracked into a brief smile. I had forgotten how funny he could be. I stand to grab an ointment and begin applying it with a large stick with a cotton top, "Jacob, this does not look good. It may get infected if it isn't already. I'm going to need to look at everyone."
He takes a deep breath but nods his head, "Alright...when can you come?"
"After work. Six, maybe seven. We may need to rebreak those legs and put a splint," I add, taking another look at it.
He nods his head but he clenches his jaw, unable to meet my eye, "Okay...Do you..Does anyone..have any hard feelings?"
"We understand Bella's choice. I don't have any hard feelings all though I can't speak for the rest of my family. We don't hate you or anyone else for that matter. But you must understand: Bella was apart of our family too," I sigh, looking away myself.
"Yeah, uh, I get it," he glances up finally to meet my eyes, "I'm not keeping her from anyone, you know. I don't mind if she hangs out with you guys. I don't. And, uh, how is Edward?"
"He is...dealing. He knows he promised Bella what ever choice she made he would accept. All he wants is her happiness. But he has left to," I take in a little breath as the memory that is still fresh pops into my mind, "deal. He will return in one week."
"Oh," he nods, glancing away, "She misses you guys...Very much..."
"But she's happy," I finished for him, not needing to ask.
"Yeah, very," he brightens, adding a little smile. "So, we should be expecting you at my place...six or seven?"
"Yes," I nod." It was good seeing you, Jake."
"It was good seeing you too, Carlisle," his smile took up his entire face and I hoped right then he could share the smile with me and my family. He began to leave but paused and turned in my direction, "Oh and one more thing, Doc."
"Yes...?" I asked feeling a bit of curiosity.
"We're going to need doctor's notes," he gave a stern nod of his head, "Lot's of them."
"Of course," I chuckled. "Goodbye, Jacob."
He nodded once, "I'll see you later."
