So... since you all were freaking out last chapter, and since my pain pill has kicked in... here ya go.
Finding the way back Chapter 14
RosaliePOV
When I walked out of the pharmacy, I noticed Edward's car door open and saw that something was lying on the ground. I looked around to make sure no one was around, then ran over to the car. As I got closer to the car, I was horrified by what I saw. On the ground a few feet from the Volvo was a body.
It was Edward.
I ran over to him and dropped my bags to the ground. "Edward?" I carefully rolled him onto his back. His face was covered in blood, eyes were closed, and he was unconscious. I reached for my purse and pulled out my cell phone, my hands shaking as I did so. I dialed 911 and begged for an ambulance. The operator told me at least twice to quit screaming because she couldn't understand me. Thankfully, she understood that I was freaking out and not some crazy person and stayed on the line until the ambulance arrived.
"Miss, are you hurt?" one of the EMT's asked, concerned.
"No, I'm fine," I replied, my voice shaky.
"Are you sure? You have some blood on you."
"It's not mine. Is my brother going to be alright?"
"We need to get him to the hospital. Do you want to ride with us?"
"Yes, thank you."
I sat in a seat in the ambulance and watched as the EMT worked on him. An IV was started, gauze was applied to a few bleeding wounds, and an oxygen mask was put on his face. Edward didn't flinch or wake up the entire time.
This has to be bad. Why isn't he waking up?
When we arrived at the hospital, Edward was immediately taken back to be worked on, while I stayed outside to use my cell phone. I called Emmett and told him what had happened. He assured me he would wake Mom and Dad and get down here as soon as they could. I walked back inside the hospital and waited. The waiting room had a television on, but I couldn't tell you what was playing. There were a few nurses chatting at the desk, but I couldn't tell you what they were talking about. I wrapped my arms around myself and realized I was still shaking. I needed Emmett. I needed him to tell me everything would be alright. It seemed like forever before I heard his voice.
"Rosie!" Emmett called as he burst through the doors. I shot up from my chair and practically ran to him. Once Emmett's arms were around me, I lost it. Seeing Edward completely helpless and hurt as bad as he was scared me. "Shh. Calm down, beautiful."
"I'm sorry. I was just so scared," I replied through my sobs.
"Rose, you need to tell us what happened," Mom said as she handed me some water.
"I don't know. I went into the pharmacy to get some stuff for Emmett and Bella and when I came back out, he was on the ground."
"Was he by himself? Was anyone around?" Jasper asked.
"I didn't see anyone in the parking lot. Is he going to be okay?"
"I hope so," Mom said. "Your father went right in to check on him."
"He didn't move, Emmett. The entire time they were working on him in the ambulance, he never moved. It's bad, isn't it?"
"We'll have to wait and see. Are you sure you're not hurt at all?" Emmett asked as we walked to a row of chairs.
"No, I'm fine."
I crawled onto Emmett's lap and laid my head on his shoulder as his strong arms enfolded me. It felt good to know I was safe and that Edward was in good hands. Just his touch calmed me enough to realize that Dad would make sure Edward would get the care he needed.
A few hours later, Dad emerged from the back. He was in his scrubs, looking like he had just finished a surgery. I immediately jumped from Emmett's lap.
"How is he?" I asked.
"I think he's going to be okay," Dad said. "He had some internal bleeding which we fixed, some broken bones, and a concussion, but I think he'll be fine."
"Can we see him?" Mom asked.
"In about an hour. He's still in recovery. Has anyone seen Charlie? Is he here?"
"He was, but was called back to the station," Bella said.
"Oh. Well here, maybe you can tell us about this. It was found next to Edward's body," Carlisle said as he handed Bella what looked to be a photo. She took a quick look and let it slip from her fingers before she fell to the floor. Carlisle rushed to her side and yelled for a nurse. I picked up the photo. It was of a little girl, maybe a year or so old, with dark brown hair and a big smile. On the bottom of the photo was a written message:
See you soon.
"Who is this?" I asked.
Mom took the picture from my hands. "She looks like Bella."
"What?" I asked, shocked.
"Look at the similarities," Mom said again. "She has Bella's eyes and smile."
"How could anyone leave their child behind like that?" Emmett asked.
"I'm sure there's an explanation," Mom said.
"She has a daughter, now? You have got to be kidding me," Alice said with disgust in her voice.
"Alice, not now," Carlisle said. I watched as a nurse handed him smelling salts and waived it under Bella's nose. A few seconds later, she woke. "Are you alright?"
"What happened?" she asked.
"You fainted."
"Yes, just had to take the attention off of my brother and on to you," Alice said.
"Sorry," Bella said.
"Don't be. Think you can stand up?"
"Yeah."
I noticed how Dad slipped the photo into his coat pocket as he helped Bella up. I wanted to ask her about it, if she was really a mother, and how she could have just left her behind, but realized now wasn't the right time to ask her such questions.
A short while later, we were sitting in Edward's room. He was hooked up to all different kinds of monitors and had wires and tubes coming out of him. Mom was brushing the hair out of his eyes and softly talking to him. Emmett held me tightly against him. A short time later, Charlie arrived again.
"How's he doing?" Charlie asked.
"Stable. Any leads?" Dad asked.
"We looked at the parking lot surveillance tape, and it shows the attack, but we can't get a clear picture of their faces. Do you happen to have his clothes? I need them for evidence."
"Of course."
"I want you to know I've assigned my top detectives on this case, Carlisle. We'll find whoever did this."
"There's something else, Charlie."
"What?"
"The EMT's found this next to Edward's body in the parking lot," Dad said as he pulled the photo from his pocket and handed it to Charlie. Charlie's forehead creased and I noticed his hands shake before he looked at Bella. Her head was hung, like she was ashamed.
"Let me know when he wakes up will you? I'll need to talk to him," Charlie said as he slipped the photo into his pocket.
"Of course."
"Bella, you coming with me or staying?"
"I'll go with you."
"Good," Alice said under her breath. She was really starting to get on my last nerve.
CarlislePOV
After giving Charlie Edward's clothes, I sent my family home knowing that Edward probably wouldn't wake until later in the day. Esme insisted on staying and slept in the chair next to his bed. Since I was already at the hospital, I decided to check on some patients, and then found myself back in Edward's room. I was thankful that Edward's injuries were not life threatening and that he would be able to heal from them, yet I was angry that this happened. From the bruising on Edward's hands, I could tell he put up a fight. He never was one to go down easy. However, at some point during the attack, he was incapacitated and was beaten. My guess is someone was standing behind him, holding his arms back. I secretly hoped he got a few good punches in before he was knocked unconscious.
After checking on a few patients later that morning, I wandered back into Edward's room where I noticed he was waking up.
"Where am I?" he whispered.
"The hospital."
"Rose. Where's Rose?" he asked frantically.
"She's at home with everyone else. Are you in any pain?"
"No."
"Do you remember anything?"
Edward took a deep breath before answering. "They came out of no where and pulled me out of the car. They wouldn't stop kicking and hitting and punching me. I was afraid that Rosalie would come out and that they would start on her."
"Did you recognize any of them?"
"No. But I swore I heard someone say Ian's name. I just kept begging for them to stop and praying Rose wouldn't come out."
"Well you're safe now. Charlie's going to need to talk to you soon."
Early that evening, everyone had arrived and were waiting outside of Edward's room, as Charlie and a few other officers were talking to him about his attack. Behind me I heard the elevator ding and saw Alice and Jasper arrive.
"What is she doing here?" Alice said as she approached.
"Alice, Bella's just as concerned about Edward as we are," Esme said.
"She should be. It's her damn fault he's in there!" Alice shouted.
"Alice. That's enough," I said. "We don't know why Edward was attacked."
"Well it is! Before she came back, everything was fine. Everyone knows Edward wouldn't hurt anyone. Now she comes back and look what's happened! Because of her and her issues, Edward suffered. She shouldn't be here. She shouldn't be putting her problems on all of us, and I for one am done holding my tongue," she replied, her voice dripping with hatred. Her face was red from shouting and her eyes were dark.
"Alice," I said again, "no one is blaming anyone here, so stop with the accusations."
"I'm sorry, Alice," Bella said softly.
"Save it. Why don't you do everyone a favor and just leave? I know I'm not the only one who's tired of playing the 'Pity Bella' game. It's so tiring! As if your past wasn't enough, now we find out you have a love child. Good Lord."
"Alice!"
"I do have a child, Alice."
"Do you even know who the father is?" she snapped.
"No. I don't. I don't even know where she is."
"That's a little dramatic, don't you think?"
"Alice," Esme said.
"I didn't even know she was alive until I saw the photo."
"Then how do you know that she's yours?"
"I don't. But I have to believe it. I'm sorry if you don't like me, if I'm not the old Bella. But I've been through hell and back. I'm sorry that Edward had to get hurt because we're friends. I never wanted any of you to get hurt because of me. I don't know what I've done to make you this angry with me. We used to be best friends and now you won't give me the time of day. I just don't understand."
"Understand this: my brother was nearly killed because of you. I hate you. I hate you! You and I will never be friends again," she shouted as she started to close the distance between her and Bella. Thankfully Jasper grabbed Alice by the arm and pulled her back. "If you hurt him again in any way, shape, or form, you'll answer to me. And I'm pretty sure it'll be worse than whatever beating you got there. Now start the water works and run away so that everyone can follow and feel sorry for poor, helpless Bella."
"Alice, calm down," Jasper said.
Just then, Charlie walked out of Edward's room. "We're all done."
"Thanks Charlie," I said.
"Will you please tell Edward that I'm sorry?" Bella asked before joining Charlie at the elevator.
Alice shoved past me as I walked into Edward's room. He was sitting up and taking a drink of water, no doubt his throat hurting from all the talking.
"Where's Bella? I thought I heard her," Edward said, his voice scratchy.
"She left," Rosalie said.
"Why?"
"Alice said some rather inappropriate and unkind things. She left with Charlie," I said.
"Why do you have to be so mean, Alice?" Emmett asked.
"I'm just tired of her drama. Look at what it's done!" Alice said as she pointed to Edward.
"Alice, it's not her fault. She wasn't standing there telling them what to do," Edward said.
"It doesn't matter. You got hurt because of her. I doubt you'll be seeing her any time soon."
"Get out!" Edward yelled.
"What?"
"Get out of my room! I can't believe you'd do that. You disappoint me. You may not like her, but I do. A lot."
"She's a waste of time and you could do so much better."
"She's not a waste of time, Alice. Now get out."
"Calm down, son," I said as Alice stormed out.
"Can you call Charlie and ask if she's okay, please? I don't want her to think I feel the same as Alice."
"Of course. Just rest. You'll be able to go home soon."
"You don't blame her...do you?" Edward asked, hesitantly.
"Of course not. But, for the time being, maybe you two need to spend a little time apart."
"Dad, I have to leave for Seattle as soon as I get out of here. I just need to tell her that I don't blame her. She needs to see that none of this was her fault. Please."
"Alright. If all goes well you'll be out on Wednesday, and I'd like for you to stay at the house for a week just to make sure you're healing and can handle the ride back to campus. I'll bring your laptop from home tonight when I start my shift."
BellaPOV
I made it all the way home and into my room before I allowed the tears to come. I crawled under the covers in my bed and curled into a ball. Alice words were so hurtful, but true. I had to believe the attack on Edward was a direct message to me from Ian and Keith. It had to be. I knew this was all too good to be true. I also knew that since Ian was back with Keith, that something would happen. That thought frightened the hell out of me. I couldn't let anything happen to Edward, Esme or Dad. If it came down to me or them, I'd give myself back to Keith to keep them safe. But I also didn't want to leave all of this behind. I didn't want to give up my new life after fighting so hard to get it. Dr. Hartford said I deserved to be happy, to be loved. And I was. I didn't want to let that go.
"Bella," Charlie said as he sat on my bed. I didn't answer him, but pulled my legs tighter to me. "You're not going to shut me out. Talk to me."
"Not right now."
"Yes right now," he said pulling the covers off of me. "We'll find whoever did this to him."
"But what if you don't? Alice already hates me and this just adds to it. She blames me, and you know what? She's right. I shouldn't have gotten close with Edward. I should have just stayed away from everyone."
"Including me?"
"No. But I'm afraid you'll get hurt because of me too," I said as I rolled over and laid my head in his lap.
"I can handle myself, you know that. Nothing is going to happen to either one of us, I promise you. You don't know how happy I've been since you've come back to me. I thought I had lost everything. I thank God everyday that he brought you back to me. I know it hasn't been easy for you, and I know that you wish you could just push it all away and go back to the girl you used to be. But you've never been the type of girl who could be rushed. Even when Renee was in labor with you. The doctors wanted to go in and take you, but Renee convinced them to just wait an extra hour. Sure enough you came in your own time. And I have to believe that in time you'll be able to put this all behind you. I also believe that whatever is between you and Edward is a good thing. He's brought a smile to your face even on your worst days."
"What about Esme and Carlisle? They've done so much and I repay them by getting Edward hurt? How can I even begin to apologize for that?"
"Don't worry about that now, okay? Things will work out in the end. It's just the waiting that's the longest part."
"Mom used to say that," I said quietly.
"Yeah, well, it's true." Charlie was quite for a little while, just running his hand through my hair and letting me hold on to him as tightly as I could before speaking again. "Bella, will you tell me...about the baby?"
"I...I can't, Dad. It's too painful."
"Well you know you can talk to me, right? About anything."
"I know. I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, Sweet Pea."