DISCLAIMER: You know as well as I know that I do not own Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse etc.
It's your reviews that encourage me to continue this story, so thanks to all of you who have cared enough to do so.
Also to answer one of your questions about the previous chapter, the blood that Bella smelt was because of the IV Carlisle was putting into Charlie.
Waking up was always my favorite part of fainting. The ground felt like a million feather filled pillows and I was oddly comfortable. For a moment I had forgotten this day even existed, I thought I was just waking up.
"Bella?" A beautiful voice echoed in the distance. It sounded like I was inside a tunnel, a long dark dead end tunnel.
"Bella?" The velvet voice called again, louder yet. It was Edward, I didn't need to be conscious to recognize it.
I knew I was waking up when I suddenly became aware of the hardwood floor beneath me, and the pillows had disappeared. There was an ache in my back which I could only assume was because of the fall. Finally I realized his hands on my face, and I woke with a start.
"I thought that might help, throwing water on your face seemed a little rude" The infamous crooked smile flashed across his face, I could tell he found the thought very amusing. I gave into the smile before I could think of a witty comeback. My head was spinning.
"Charlie?" I whispered, when I felt confident enough to form a coherent sentence. Edward cringed.
"Carlisle kept him alive long enough to drive him to the hospital, but I haven't heard anything since."
"How long has it been?" I wasn't really sure if I wanted to know.
"Just over twenty minutes" Edward's face twisted in agony as he saw the tears leaking out of my eyes. "I'll get my car".
I just nodded, the lump in my throat preventing any form of speech.
He drove fast and for once I couldn't complain, for once I was grateful for his driving. The trip to the hospital was faster than in any ambulance and I now understood why it had been Carlisle to drive Charlie to the hospital. As soon as I walked in the doors I wish I hadn't, the smell was utterly repulsing and I held back a gag. It wasn't the blood, it was the sanitation. The clean smell filled the entire hospital, it smelt of bleach and witch hazel. I was suddenly reminded of my first time riding a bike and the knee injury which had accompanied it. I remembered the brown plastic bottle my mother had poured on to my gash, and the foaming bubbles that erupted from it.
"It's just witch hazel sweetie", I remembered her hysterically sweet voice. "It's cleaning your cut."
I hate that smell, almost as much as I hated the smell of blood. I was too preoccupied in my own thoughts to notice I was moving, under the guiding hand of Edward, carefully steering me away from any trolleys, counters, wheelchairs or IV's that lined the hallways.
Finally I felt a light breeze hit my face as Edward opened the door to Charlie's room. The room was painted a light yellow and I was instantly reminded of our kitchen cupboards. There was a bathroom, which was painted an ocean blue. A television, sitting on a moveable stand. Finally there was a bed, and only one bed. The thought dawned on me, Charlie had his own room. They were planning on keeping him a while.
"Don't worry about the room Bella, it's been paid for. I know Charlie likes his privacy." It was Alice who spoke now, her angelic voice awakening me from another trance like state. She rushed to my side at an unbelievable speed and kissed my cheek, her lips were so cold they burned my skin. I forced back the tears that were swimming along the rims of my eyes. Suddenly Alice's head snapped back and she wrinkled her nose.
"O great" She said in a tone I could only imagine to be sarcasm. "Bella, I think it's better if Edward and I wait outside".
"I think I'll stay Alice" Edward replied sourly, I looked up and realized his eyes were black.
"Thought so, Jasper's waiting for me anyways. I'll be back soon Bella!" How Alice maintained such a positive outlook during such situations was a mystery to me, although I suppose I should take it as a good sign.
"He's going to be fine Bella, Alice has seen it. As long as he keeps up the fight, he'll make a full recovery, mind you it's not going to happen quickly. I felt elated. Charlie was going to make a full recovery. I didn't care how long it took. If I had to spoon feed him his meals for an entire year I would do it, just so long as he was healthy. A smile escaped my lips breaking my frown, the sensation shocked me. It felt like forever since I'd smiled.
"Edward how come Alice left?" I asked, I really did miss her presence.
"Werewolves, Alice has a bit more of a temper than you think. She doesn't enjoy their company much." Edward answered me simply.
"Werewolves?" I asked, making sure to accent the plural.
"Werewolf" Edward rolled his dark eyes as he corrected himself. "Jacob"
"Why wouldn't he come to see Charlie?" I asked. Why else would Jake be here.
"He had full intentions to, he was outside that door about two minutes ago", Edward turned around and gestured his pale hand towards the door. "He saw us in here and left, he's really more sensitive about this than I thought. He kept thinking about how he was afraid to run into you again, incase it lead to more goodbyes. I believe he's reached his emotional peak Bella."
If I didn't know better, if I didn't know about the hatred that brewed between the vampires and the werewolves I could have believed that Edward's voice indeed sounded sympathetic. But I knew better.
Alice entered the room. The breeze from the door wafted her sweet scent into the room, it smelt like twelve bouquets of wildflowers.
"They smell like dirt" Alice whined with a disgusted look on her face. "They really do. Like old compost mixed with dirt after a good rain, it's utterly repulsive." I couldn't help but laugh, I'd always found the smelling situation rather amusing. Truth be told, the werewolves smelt just fine to me. Like rich mahogany wood and bonfire, it was a comforting smell.
"Where's Jasper?" I asked her, as I realized his absence.
"Hunting, which by the way Edward you really need to" Alice commanded.
"Yes mom" Edward mocked, a slight smile on his face. "I'm just going to take Bella back first, clearly she needs to rest. I couldn't refused. I'd been watching Charlie all night. Every slight flutter of his eye had made me jump, which Edward found quite amusing.
I could feel that my eyes were sunken in and I could barely keep them open once we were in the car. By the time I opened them, I was in his bed and his lips were on my forehead.
"Have a nice rest did you?" He asked me sweetly, dazzling me with his scent. I noticed his eyes were light butterscotch.
"How long have I been asleep?
"Only three hours, I just got back from hunting. Carlisle's said Charlie hasn't woken up yet, but Alice says within the next two days. She also says not to worry, he's much stronger than you think he is".
"It's not that I don't think he's strong, he is Chief Swan after all. It's just I've never felt the need to care for someone as much as this. Seeing your own father on the ground like that, well I assume you know what it's like." I stopped talking, this was not something he would want to discuss.
"Ah yes. Human memories fade, but that one I will never forget for the rest of my existence" He replied, no trace of sadness in his voice.
I closed my eyes and I realized I was still very tired.
"Sleep love, because tomorrow I will drive you to the hospital bright and early." He whispered in my ear, and I couldn't help but smile as his cool breath tickled my earlobe.
"Thank you." I managed to mumble. "I love you" I whispered before drifting off to sleep. He nuzzled himself into my hair and inhaled powerfully before responding.
"I love you too".
