You know what I find amusing? Is that all of you read these chapters and some hate it. Some love it. Some think I'm insane, Bella's insane, or IDK who else is insane. But it reminds me that you honestly can't make everyone happy. Like I said in one of the author notes before, I'm currently working on my first novel that I will publish, and my fear is of the haters. But haters in the publishing world are no different than this. You can't make everyone happy.

*This has nothing to do with the chapter below or even the reviews on the prior chapter - but as a whole.*


EPOV

I was worried about the guy I found in the park. He was young like me and when he was loaded into the ambulance to go to Bella, I felt his pain.

I knew what it felt like to wonder if you would make it or not.

He didn't look at that moment like he would make it.

I headed home, showered, and decided to head to the hospital. It had been a few hours since I left the park, so I was hopeful there would be some progress on the guy.

I jumped into the rental car and headed back to the hospital, back to Bella.

I stood outside her office and collected myself. I was concerned for the guy in the park, but I was more concerned about her.

Would the fact that I had sent her a patient be okay?

I knocked on the door of her office, but didn't wait for a reply before I let myself in.

Bella was pacing across the room. She looked disheveled. She looked upset and hurt and I wanted so badly to comfort her.

We talked; she told me how the guy was doing. She didn't tell me much, but enough to make me know that he was serious. I had faith in her being able to heal him. I just don't think she had the same faith.

I tried to encourage her with my words. I wanted to give her little pieces of encouragement but instead my body was drawn to her. I couldn't stop myself progressing toward her until we were touching.

Our bodies were flush and she was about to ask me what I was doing. I hated to answer her in fear I would lose my guts and stop, or she would push me away.

I pressed my lips lightly to hers, waiting for a reaction of any kind. Her hands moved around me from her sides and she pulled me even closer.

That was the reaction I hoped for.

I slowly moved my tongue out of my mouth and licked her lower lip. She moaned and opened her mouth to let my tongue into hers.

Our tongues danced together as our hands roamed the other's body.

Bella was all muscle in the right places and soft and supple where I wanted her to be. To grab hold of her and feel what she was hiding under her white coat was amazing.

I gripped her ass and dug the tips of my fingers into the soft flesh.

Bella moaned as she broke the kiss.

"I…we…can't…here," she panted.

"Well then where can we?" I asked.

"My place…later. Please."

I nodded, kissed her one more time, hating to let go, and left her office.

I needed to get ready to go to her place…


Fucker! I had just practically propositioned him. I invited him over after letting him feel me up…well not quite feel me up, but he did feel some part of me…and it felt good.

I knew it had been wrong, asking him over, but I wanted it even though I knew it was a bad idea.

I was his doctor still.

I checked on Mr. Smith before I left for the evening. He was stable and looking better. We still didn't know what was wrong with him, but the broad spectrum antibiotics we had him on were doing something positive.

I entrusted my team with Mr. Smith and I headed home…to meet Edward.

I showered, shaved, and dressed in anticipation for Edward to arrive. We didn't set a time so I wasn't sure when he would be here.

I applied a bit of make-up, then washed it off and reapplied it. I didn't know what to do. I was nervous and not acting like myself. At all.

I paced the living room, contemplating putting on a pair of heels. I was dressed in a black pencil skirt and a white button-up blouse.

It was similar to my normal office attire, but it was a bit less professional and a bit more night life. At least I thought it was. It had been a long time since I had a night life.

There was a soft knock at the door and I knew it was Edward. It had to be. The thought of heels went out the window with that knock.

I looked at myself in the mirror by my front door before taking a deep breath and opening the door for him.

His back was to me, almost if he was planning to make a run for it.

"Edward?"

He jumped almost as if he was shocked. "Sorry, I didn't hear the door open." You could tell he was nervous as he made his way into my condo. "Nice place you have here. Alice and I have an appointment tomorrow with the leasing agent."

"I'm sure Alice will like it here as well. The apartments are similar to the condos, just smaller."

Edward nodded his head and looked around. I wondered if he was second guessing this.

We stood in an awkward silence for a few minutes.

"Bella, I-"

I shook my head. I knew where this was going. "Edward," I said cutting him off, "I was wrong this afternoon asking you over. I understand if you don't want-"

But then it was hit turn to cut me off. "No, no, that's not it. I was just," he paused and took a deep breath, "going to ask if you wanted to get dinner or something? Maybe get to know one another instead…"

His words trailed off, so I finished his sentence for him. "Instead of just on a physical level?"

"Yeah, something like that. Don't get me wrong, I think you are beautiful and smart and I have no issue with, uh being physical, I just don't want to rush into this."

"I get it. It's understandable and as it is, I would hate to be the reason for one of the Cullen men to be an adulterer." I worried that my comment would upset him, but he laughed.

"That is not something I'm worried about." He laughed again. "Tanya is in no way, shape, or form my wife. The quickie divorce I was able to get because she tried to kill me will be finalized in a few more weeks. Then I will be a free man."

He gave me a smile that made me slightly weak in the knees before again reminding me of dinner.

He took my hand once I got those forgotten heels and we left in pursuit of food.


BPOV

Since Edward was new to the Chicagoland area, he entrusted me to tell him where the good places where to eat.

Granted we were mildly over dressed, but I wanted to take him to get something you could only find in Chicago.

Pizza. Deep dish more cheese than crust pizza.

We walked, hand in hand into Connie's Pizzeria. We had to drive a bit to get there, but it was beyond worth it.

We talked casually about life. Edward filled me in on what he did back in New York. He was a not very successful day trader, so he wasn't really tied to the location. Other than it having been where he grew up, and where his family was, nothing tied him to New York.

Internally, I was dancing around like a little kid. Knowing that if things, whatever these things were with Edward worked out, relocating may be an option for him.

I didn't want to mention it to Edward, at least not yet. I worried I would scare him away before I even had him.

Dinner was lovely as Edward dug into the pizza. He laughed when I started to pick up a fork and a knife to cut my pizza. After he nearly had a lap full of sauce and cheese, he followed suit.

"You can only pick it up with your hands when it is cold or you have eaten at least half the slice," I told him as I wiped the remaining sauce from his chin.

"Guess that's what I get for laughing at you."

"Sorry, but Chicago pizza is nothing like New York pizza."

He smiled. "I'm beginning to think there are a lot of good things in Chicago."

I blushed as I realized he was staring at me with that comment.

"That there are, that there are," I mumbled as I attempted to hide my blush.


We ended the evening at my place, where we talked. We talked about everything and nothing. He told me a little bit about Tanya's trial. That she was pleading insanity, but that she told him in a spousal meeting that she is far from insane, but doesn't think she would make it long term in prison. She wanted to spend her time in a nice hospital. Since the communication was while they were still married, with no attorneys, he is still working to see if he can testify to her comments.

As strained as the whole process was making Edward, he still had a smile on his face.

Before he left, he thanked me for the evening, for agreeing to share it with him, and for saving him so he was able to share it, and hopefully many more.

He placed a kiss to my cheek, and my flesh heated. We stood awkwardly in the entry of my condo. I knew I wanted more, even if it was just a kiss. But I also knew he wanted to take it slowly.

"Edward, you are welcome."

He smiled and I wasn't sure if he could tell I was hesitating to kiss him, or what, but he wrapped his arms around me and gave me a hug. He pulled back just as his tongue came out and moistened his lips.

My mouth opened slightly and I bit on my lower lip, a horrible nervous habit.

Edward smiled and moved closer to me, releasing my lip from my teeth with his lips.

The kiss was sweet, not fueled by worries and insecurities. It was perfect and it made me want him even more.


EPOV

Bella was amazing! I was on cloud nine and ten as I drove back to the hotel.

Who would have known that pizza and talking could be so fulfilling. I realized after my evening how jaded I had been when I was with Tanya. She and I had been forced. There was no comfort together. When you don't know there is anything different than what you have, you don't realize how fucked up you are.

Being with Bella made me realize how imperfect I was with Tanya. How toxic we were before she caused me to literally be toxic.

Even realizing all of my mistakes and the pain I suffered to reach where I now am, I still was happier than I had been in a really long time.

I walked into the room, figuring Alice would be asleep, but was shocked to find her standing in the hall, hands on her hips.

"If I didn't know better, I would think my big brother got some."

I winked, smiled, and tossed my jacket on the chair next to Alice.

"Good thing you know better, little sister."

"What? You got laid, Edward? What about Tanya?" Eric said laughing from the couch. I hadn't seen him there before.

"No, not quite, and Tanya means nothing to me anymore, dude. She tried to kill me, remember? Anyways, I thought you were going home?"

"I changed my flight. I head out in about an hour."

"Oh, okay."

Eric turned back to the TV and I headed to my room. We had a pretty nice suite. It was two rooms with a sitting area, which was where Eric had been staying.

I walked into my room and I found the two customary chocolates on my pillow that the maid left.

I was still pretty full from dinner with Bella, but these chocolates were to die for. I would have to see if there was somewhere I could order them, so I could still indulge after we left the hotel.

I unwrapped the chocolate and popped it in my mouth before changing out of the clothes from dinner and pulling on some pajama bottoms. I ate the second piece while I washed my face, with a smile still plastered on it.

I brushed my teeth and climbed into bed after calling to a good night Alice and Eric.

I closed my eyes and let my thoughts drift to Bella. Bella and all of her perfection.

BPOV

I was woken by my personal cell phone ringing. I looked at the clock. It was three in the morning and whoever it was had ruined a perfect dream that featured Edward.

When I looked at the caller ID and saw it was Edward, all was forgiven.

"Hey, ready to make my dreams come true?" I asked sleepily into the phone.

"Bella! Bella!" This wasn't Edward. It was Alice and she was frantic.

"Alice? What is it?"

"It's Edward. I called an ambulance. He's unresponsive."

I jumped up out of bed and pulled on the first clothes I saw, which were also the clothes we wore on our date.

"Is the ambulance there yet?"

"No…wait, they just got here." I heard Alice talking to the EMT, directing them to where Edward was.

"Alice!" I yelled into the phone.

"Yeah? Oh, Bella, I'm so scared."

"Alice, let me talk to the paramedic, okay?"

She handed the phone to the paramedic. I got a quick response.

"I need an ETA to Lake Forest."

"We will be there in five."

"Okay, I'm Doctor Swan, I will meet you there. Let the sister know." I slammed my phone shut as I ran out of my house half-dressed and in my slippers. I needed to get to Edward.


I flew to the hospital as fast as I could. I lived about ten minutes away in traffic, so I was hopeful I would get there before the ambulance.

On my way there, I ran every red I could without causing an accident. I also called Victoria to get Tyler and Angela back to the hospital.

I parked in valet parking and threw my keys to the security guard.

"Park it, please?" I waved my badge at him and he complied.

I ran into the ER just as Edward was being wheeled in.

"Bella!" Alice yelled as she ran toward me. "I don't know what happened. He went to bed and I went in there to check on him. I just had this feeling and this was how I found him."

"Okay, let me work and I will keep you posted."

She nodded as tears flowed down her face.

"It will be okay, Alice. I care about him, too." I mentally kicked myself for telling her that, because I didn't know that it would be okay and she didn't need to know my feelings.

I looked at Edward, they were giving him oxygen and his body was flushed and shaking, yet he was unconscious. His lips were blue and his skin was red. Like bright fucking red.

I got his vitals from the ER nurse and told them to get an IV into every vein and pump him with saline.

They looked at me like I was insane. "He needs fluids and he needs them now. Also, get me charcoal," I yelled at the ER staff.

Edward had just been with me a few hours ago. Whatever was causing him to be sick, with the same but accelerated symptoms as last time, had to have been ingested since he left me.

I drew blood and handed it off to Tyler as he walked into the ER. "Run this for belladonna."

"Seriously?"

"Yes! Do it! And rush it!"

I must have had a look in my eye that said I meant business, because Tyler took off quicker than I had ever seen before.

I hoped once Edward was given the charcoal, he would wake up.

I sat next to his bed as the nurse was starting his eighth IV into his left foot.

"Come back to me, Edward. Please."

I closed my eyes and let a tear slide down my cheek.

I walked alongside the bed as an orderly moved Edward to a room on my floor. I held onto his hand the best I could. I didn't want to let go of him.

Angela and Victoria pumped Edward's stomach just as he was hooked up to his second round of IV bags.

Shortly thereafter, his blood test came back positive for Belladonna.

My heart broke into a million and one pieces. I was hopeful the test would have come back negative. But it seemed someone still wanted him dead.


Hours passed...and there was still no change. It was unknown who poisoned him this time. Jake and the detectives he brought in to help were stumped.

There was question that someone paid the hotel staff to poison him, but he hadn't eaten anything other than dinner with me as far as Alice knew.

I cried in the bathroom where no one else could see me. I was ashamed that I was letting my emotions show.

He was still unresponsive. He still had brain activity and that was what I was holding on to. I held on to the fact that I knew he would come back to me. He had to come back to me.

Damn it, Edward!

Hours turned into days

Carlisle was called after the second day, when we realized he wasn't coming back to us easy. He and Esme planned to head back to Chicago as soon as they could.

Esme had left as soon as they'd gotten home and was currently on a cruise. Carlisle was deep in his own forgotten patients back at home.

Alice told them both where they could shove it that day. She was upset and I didn't blame her.

After the third day, Edward was officially deemed in a coma. There was still good brain activity, so Alice and I held on to that.

…and days into a week.

I was no longer his attending physician. I couldn't maintain professionalism what so ever, so I let my team take over.

They still consulted me, but Tyler was calling the shots. I was too close to Edward. I was emotionally vested in him. My tears were proof of that.

Alice held one hand and I held the other. We both kept vigil at his bed side.

His blood was now clean of toxins, we'd managed to flush them all out, but the damage had been done.

Ten days since we had our first date, and the doctor in me was starting to wonder if it would be our last.

Jake came in daily to check on me and Alice, as well as Edward. They had searched the hotel room and were able to locate how Edward had been poisoned.

The hotel supplied chocolates on your pillow. The wrappers that held the two on Edward's bed were covered with Belladonna.

They thought that maybe the candies had been injected with the poison. The hotel staff was all questioned and some were polygraphed, but nothing came back to put Jake any closer to a suspect.

Day eleven was when Carlisle and Esme finally showed up. They came in separately and sat in the room at a distance.

Alice was pissed and that girl had a fire in her eye that even scared me.

The following morning, when coming back from the bathroom, Carlisle caught me and pulled me into an empty room.

"I thought you had Edward fixed. What happened?"

"Carlisle, I don't know. I saw him the night before. He was fine."

"You were with him?"

I rolled my eyes. "Did you think the bedside vigil was just because I suddenly felt my patients were cured by my attendance?"

"Izzy, it's not that. I'm just shocked."

"Yeah, well be shocked away, and I did have your son cured. He was poisoned again. The first time he came in, he had been drugged in small amounts. His body was able to metabolize and flush out a lot of the poison before he was given the next dose.

"This time, he ingested a high dose in a very short amount of time. The toxin rushed his system and in an attempt to save him, his body shut down. He's been toxin free for days…I don't know why he isn't waking back up." My lip started to shake and I could feel the tightness in my throat. A new set of tears threatened to start falling.

"Izzy," Carlisle said with compassion as he held his arms out to me.

I ignored the past hate I felt for Carlisle as I let myself fall into him. He held me as I sobbed into his chest.

"Why won't he wake up?" I asked as a new wave of tears broke through.

"I don't know, Izzy. I wish I did." His grasp on me tightened.

Carlisle held me while we both let our emotions get the best of us.

By the time we got back to Edward's room, Alice had left Edward's bed side and Esme and taken her spot.

"Where is Ali?" Carlisle asked Esme.

She didn't acknowledge Carlisle at all. She turned, looked at me and smiled. "Alice went to shower. She will be back soon. How are you, Bella?"

"As good as can be expected, Esme."

Carlisle huffed and walked back across the room to take a seat.

I wanted to yell at the both of them, but I knew it wouldn't solve a thing. Instead, I took a seat on the stool next to Edward's bed. I held tight to his hand and laid my head next to his chest.

"Please come back to me, Edward. Please," I whispered, as the tears again began to fall.


This takes us to 36 of the orig 54 chaps and where I will leave you for this evening. I've been horrible sick, but want to try and return to work tomorrow. I should be able to get the final ones up tomorrow. At least I'll try. It will depend on how much my body wants to give after working all day.