Author's Chapter Notes:
Disclaimer: Don't own the world, just play in it. All hail Empress SM.
BPOV
"Edward?" My hand was tucked into cool fingers and they tightened ever so slightly when I spoke. My voice was still croaky and my legs hurt like hell, but I pried my eyes open and looked into the beautiful amber eyes of my love. He leaned in and kissed me tenderly.
"Hello, beautiful. Do you need your pain button?" He asked gently.
"Yes, please," I whispered. He put the button in my hand and I pressed the button before I spoke again. "Are you supposed to be here? What time is it?"
"I've got a pass. Your mom was in here for a few minutes, but you were still asleep. She'll be back in the morning," he said with a smile. I looked into his eyes, letting him dazzle me for a few minutes, before another question occurred to me.
"So, I'll still be here in the morning?" I asked curiously. Edward sighed softly.
"We still don't have a good plan. Jacob is still hanging around. Between his new imprint, news that Victoria is in Seattle and their belief that we'd be stupid enough to bite you in the hospital, he's decided to hang around indefinitely. Which means Alice can't see a bloody thing." He sounded frustrated. I put my hand on his arm.
"You didn't get a chance to talk with them?"
"Oh, we talked to them alright. They are willing to help us keep an eye out for Victoria and crew, even to the point of running patrols in Seattle, but they wouldn't discuss your change today. They want to delay that conversation as long as they can," he said, a low growl rumbling under his words. I pressed my palm to his chest and felt the vibrations. Despite his obvious ire, the feeling was comforting.
"So what are we gonna do?" I asked hoarsely. He reached up and ran a hand through his wild auburn hair. Then he leaned back down towards me.
"Carlisle is going to keep calling Billy until he agrees to another meeting. One way or another, you'll be out of here by Wednesday. I promise," he said softly, his mouth next to my ear. Then he kissed a path of gentle kisses from my ear and along my jaw. I wanted nothing more than to relax and enjoy the attention, but I hurt so much it distracted me from the desire I usually felt at his touch. That's not to say the kisses didn't make me feel better. Just not enough that I could forget why I was here.
"Maybe I can talk to Jacob. He knows how much pain I'm in and he knows I want to be with you forever. He's still my friend and he owes me. If it wasn't for me being in here, he might never have found his imprint," I said quietly once his mouth lifted from my skin. He was silent for a moment so I looked up at him. He looked thoughtful.
"I don't know if it would do any good, but it might be worth a try. His main focus right now is Carrie Patterson, but he does still care about you. He is the true alpha so his permission would be enough. He has the right to make that decision," he said cautiously. I smiled slightly and nodded.
"Would you tell him I want to talk to him, then?" I asked. Edward nodded, but he still looked reluctant. I reached up and touched his cheek. "What's wrong? Surely you can't object to me talking with him, now that he's imprinted."
"Bella, I'll admit that some of my objections to your relationship with Jacob were fueled by jealousy and even envy. But just because he doesn't fancy himself in love with you anymore doesn't mean I can feel comfortable with you having a werewolf for a best friend. He came this close," he said harshly, holding his thumb and forefinger so close together there was barely space between them, "to phasing when he realised you were engaged to me."
I shuddered, Emily's face flashing through my mind at the thought. I pushed the image away, but I couldn't help but think what a disaster Jacob phasing in my hospital room could have been. Even if he hadn't hurt me, Carrie had come into my room at that exact moment and he would have exposed his supernatural nature to her. Granted Jacob would probably reveal his nature to Carrie sooner or later, but that might have been too much for the girl to handle. I sighed.
"Maybe that conversation can be over the phone, then?" I croaked the question and Edward had a spoon full of ice chips hovering at my lips so fast I didn't register the motion. I accepted the spoon gratefully and sucked on the ice. He leaned in again to caress my cheek and I allowed him to dazzle me for a few moments. Anything to lessen the burning fire and deep ache in my legs, hips and lower stomach.
"It would ease my mind, but I think he will insist on seeing you again anyway," Edward finally said with a sigh of resignation. Then he grinned wryly. "Especially if Carrie happens to be working tomorrow. No doubt he will use any excuse to be close to her."
"I'm so glad he's found someone. I just hope she can handle being with him. They are two completely differently people and he has some pretty intense secrets," I said worriedly. Edward stroked my neck gently and smiled.
"From what I can read of Carrie, she's seem like a compassionate, honest person. I think she has recently gone through something very sad, but she isn't letting it affect her job. She loves helping people. As for Jacob, his goal in life is to make her happy and keep her safe. Few women can resist a man who truly puts them first in all things. Hopefully she isn't one of the exceptions," he told me. Then he spooned me another bite of icechips just as my night nurse came in to check my IV and vital signs.
"Visiting hours are over now, young man. I'm afraid you'll have to leave," she said gently, looking slightly nervous. I blinked and glanced back up at Edward. He was glowering at her. It wasn't his scariest glare, but it came close. I reached up and touched his cheek. His expression softened and he looked at me again. He leaned down and kissed the corner of my mouth before sliding his lips against my ear.
"I'll be back as soon as I can, love." And then he pulled away and left the room without looking back. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the door for the longest time but once I did, I was shocked to realize I was weeping. I reached up to wipe the tears away and the nurse bent over me with a kind smile.
"Is the pain too much, dear? I think you're already at max dosage on the pain meds but I could order something to help you sleep if you'd like."
I was torn between needing something to help the pain and needing to be awake when Edward returned. Without his presence to distract me from the pain, however, I wasn't sure I could stand being alone for hours. The only possible distraction I had was the TV and that was a poor substitute for Edward. I realized, too, that he would want me to try to sleep. It would help ease his worry about my pain.
"Please?" I asked hoarsely. The nurse nodded and left my room, promising to be back soon with something. She surprised me, returning in less than five minutes with a syringe for my IV. I found myself drifting off to sleep despite the pain I was in, grateful for the escape.
I woke some time later to the feel of a cool hand on my face. I tried to fight off the fog of medication to focus on the face hovering over me.
"Edward?" I asked in a soft whisper. The hand on my face slid under my chin and I registered the small, slender fingers. I managed to bring the face above me into better focus and saw the pale curve of feminine features and a fall of hair. In the dim light of the room, I couldn't tell who it was and my groggy mind made a terrible leap. Victoria was in Seattle and I wasn't expecting any vampire in my room but Edward. I cried out and jerked away from the hand on my face. Pain sheared through my body and I sobbed.
"Bella, shhh, it's Esme," said the woman, her voice soft and full of distress. I recognized her voice easily and fought through the pain and the haze of medication to clutch at her hand. She stroked my cheek with her other hand then as I caught my breath.
"Is something wrong?" I croaked. Not that I didn't think Esme would be concerned enough to visit me, but I just didn't see her breaking the rules to come see me. Her fingers hesitated on my face, not long but enough that I noticed. Before she had a chance to answer my question, her head turned and I heard her growl. Esme never growled. She let go of my hand and stood with her back to my bed, facing the door. I cowered back into the mattress, somehow managing to ignore the pain in my legs as adrenaline shot through my body and fear churned in my stomach. Something was very, very wrong.
Chapter End Notes:
And so it begins...
