Chapter Twenty Five

Bella

The hands that started to examine me were warm and I wondered if Carlisle were off duty or just hadn't heard who had just been brought in. I could hear murmurs and feel cold metal and warm water on me then groaned in pain as I was lifted onto another stretcher,

"Bella, we're taking you down for a scan, there's nothing to be scared of and I promise it wont hurt. You just relax and if there's no injury to your neck we can take the collar off then, I know its uncomfortable. Your dad is waiting outside with your boyfriend and they'll be able to see you once we get you checked out."

Boyfriend? I was confused then I realized Jake had got to the hospital and seeing him with Charlie they had assumed,

"Not my boyfriend...just a friend, Jake."

My mouth was dry and the words struggled to get out.

"OK honey, sorry about the misunderstanding. Here we go"

I watched the lights flash above me as they wheeled the stretcher along the corridors and prayed I would see Carlisle soon.

Carlisle

When Jasper and I reached the hospital he wanted to go rushing in but I stopped him,

"If Charlie is in there he might be angry to see you turn up and he's worried enough as it is. Stay in the car until I find out what's going on. As soon as its possible I'll get you in to see her."

He wasn't at all happy but he understood why and nodded leaning back in his seat and closing his eyes. I went into the hospital the back way and grabbed my white coat and stethoscope so it looked as if I were on duty. I could alter the rota later, for now I wanted to see Bella. I checked with the ER and found she'd gone down for a scan so I walked through and took her notes from the duty doctors desk and flicked through them. It sounded serious, I was just glad she hadn't suffered any head trauma. Peering through the swing doors I saw Charlie and Jacob Black waiting and was glad that I'd persuaded Jasper to wait outside.

When Bella came back I stopped Doctor Gray who was going in to see her the scan results in his hand.

"What's the news?

He looked at me in relief,

"Carlisle, I thought you were off duty. I'm glad to see you though, we've just had an admission and its pretty serious. Do you know Chief Swan from Forks? It's his daughter"

"Yes, my son and daughter are in the same year at school. What happened?"

"She tripped and fell down the stairs. It's not as bad as it could have been. She's been quite lucky really not to have broken her neck."

"So what are her injuries?"

"Mainly to her left side, badly bruised arm, badly swollen ankle, some heavy bruising to her ribs, all to be expected I guess but there's a spinal contusion. She needs an operation to decompress the spinal cord but I'm not happy about doing it myself."

"No problem, I've done it before. Get her through to the theatre while I scrub up."

I went into Bella's room very quickly and leaned over the bed,

"Don't worry Bella I'll look after you"

She smiled and sighed in relief,

"Thank god Carlisle. Don't let Charlie send me to Jacksonville"

"I wont don't worry. I'll be operating on you soon and you'll be fine."

As I went to scrub up I rang Jasper too.

"I'm operating on Bella but try not to worry. She'll be fine I'm sure."

His voice was tortured,

"Save her Carlisle."

"She's not going to die but if I don't operate she might be paralysed. I'll let you know as soon as I'm out of theatre."

Charlie

The wait seemed endless before Dr Gray came to speak to me,

"Shall we go into my room, its more private"

I nodded, not sure if this meant bad news.

"Charlie, we're very lucky this evening. Bella needed an emergency operation, there was bruising to the spinal column and without the operation she could be permanently paralysed. As I say she's lucky, its not an operation I feel very happy about performing but Dr Cullen was here and he is more than competent. She's in theatre now and with luck she will escape her accident with no permanent injuries or disability."

"Dr Cullen? Carlisle you mean?"

"Yes, we're very fortunate to have him in such a small hospital when he could easily get a position at one of the large teaching institutions."

"So you know about him? Where he came from?"

"Oh yes, he was working in a hospital in Anchorage when this position came up and luckily his wife Esme wanted a change of environment. He came very highly recommended."

"Really"

Someone had been lying, either Carlisle or, and I had to say more likely, Harry and Billy. I would do my own investigating as soon as I knew Bella was going to be OK. I put off ringing Renee until we knew the outcome of the operation, she'd be furious but at least she wouldn't be hanging on for the news like I was.

I went back out to see Jake toe to toe with Jasper Hale and it looked as if a fight were on the cards so I hurried over and put myself between them.

"OK, lets cool down. What's going on?"

"We told you about him, what he'd done. I don't want him anywhere near Bella."

"Well now Jake, that isn't really your decision to make is it? Jasper, I hear your father is operating on Bella."

"Yes Chief Swan. He contacted me and I was worried."

"Worried? That's a laugh."

"Jake, shut up or leave."

I turned back to Jasper,

"I guess I have to be thankful your father was here tonight. I'm sorry about what I said earlier, I think I may have been misled"

I turned back to Jake

"You can tell Harry and your father that I'll be making my own enquiries and if I find they lied to me there is going to be big trouble."

"He's dangerous Charlie. Don't let him near Bella."

"Jake go home."

I was too tired and worried to argue with him and scowling at Jasper he shoved past him and out the doors.

"Sit down Jasper"

We sat down together and I could see by his face he was genuinely worried about Bella, he cared a lot.

"So you want to date my daughter?"

"Yes"

He was obviously a man of few words.

"What about if your father can't stop her becoming paralysed?"

"It makes no difference to the way I feel about her"

"You sure about that Jasper? Only either way she's going to need help and support. I don't want you upsetting her by leaving when it gets tough."

"I could promise you I won't but it means little, promises get broken all the time. All I can say is ask Bella when she comes round. If she doesn't want me around then I'll go, but if she does I'd like to have your blessing to date her, even if that means visiting the hospital all day."