Author's Note: I know how much everyone wanted me to hurry and update but I have ran into some problems. Number 1 being a serious case of the stomach flu, but I guess you don't want to here the information on that. Lol. There's just been a lot going on. I hope you like this one, I'm sorry if it sounds sort of crappy. I feel like this was kind of rushed. So....here it is!!

Disclaimer:I own nothing that has anyhting to do with Twilight.

24. Diagnosis

JPOV

It had been sixteen hours since I brought Cora to the hospital. When I heard her heart stop I immediately brought her to the E.R. They took her from my arms and rushed her into a room where they had a defibrillator to restart her heart. I wasn't allowed to see her but I could listen. After I heard them give the fifth shock her heart started to beat again. It wasn't very strong but I was thankful it was there.

She was now in the ICU where a constant beeping noise is made by the monitor that was attached to her. Every little beep filled me with hope just because it reminded me she was still alive. I had almost lost every ounce of hope I had left when her heart went silent. But here she was.

She was in critical condition. She could barely breath on her own because one of her ribs had punctured her left lung. They had already done surgery on everything else inside of her that was damaged. They corrected her misshapen bones, stopped the internal bleeding that was mostly located around her head, and stitched up and cleaned all of the deep wounds she had. The only thing the doctors worried about was her head. Her lung was already making progress, but they wasn't sure if the damage done to her head would heal. They only way they knew it would is if she regained consciousness. And right now, she still had her eyes closed.

I couldn't stand to look at her because the guilt I felt was too unbearable. She was covered with dark bruises. The only one that didn't look so bad is the one Logan gave her almost a week and a half ago. These new bruises weren't as bad as the image of all these machines she was hooked up to, knowing that is what was saving her life right now. She was wrapped in gauze where the deepest gashes resided. A lot of it covered most of her face. Her whole left arm was covered in a cast because not only was it broken but also her shoulder was too. It was all my fault.

I promised her and myself that I wouldn't let anything happen to her. I was supposed to protect her. But here she was. There wasn't supposed to be many visitors here, only two at a time. No one came in except me. They wanted to give me some time with her. I started to sob. It wouldn't have mattered if everyone I knew was in this room, I would have done it anyway. I couldn't keep from heaving in and out deep breathes as the tears ran quickly and heavily down my eyes.

All my fault...all my fault. I kept thinking. I wouldn't let go of her right hand, the one that wasn't damaged. I kept stroking it as if it would somehow make her feel better. I buried my face in the sheets that were beside her stomach and continued to cry.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." I repeated. I raised my head to looked through teary eyes at her face. I kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Please forgive me," I murmured, "I should have never let this happen to you."

I laid my face next to hers on her pillow, being careful not to jostle her. I let the tears spill over as I closed my eyes and prayed that she would open hers.

EPOV (Emily's)

I got a call from the hospital early yesterday morning. My heart throbbed with worry until I heard Sam's voice on the other line. He told me what had happened to Cora then informed me that the odds didn't look good for her. I refused to believe that as I made my way toward the hospital, not even taking the time to brush my hair. I threw it up in a ponytail and drove as fast as I could to the hospital that Carlisle Cullen worked at.

I didn't have a break down until I saw Sam's face. I knew that Cora was in very bad shape for Sam to have looked at me like that. He usually done a very good job at keeping a poker face. Now that it was gone I was truly scared.

I've done nothing but pace back and forth in front of the doors that led into the ICU when Cora got out of surgery. Everyone filled the waiting room with sorrowful expressions. Even the guys had a hard time putting it together to be strong for everyone else. They all loved Cora and felt Jacob's agony. Especially the guys who had imprints. Jared kept Kim wrapped in a hug, Paul wouldn't let go of Rachel's hand, Quil seemed to clutch tighter to Claire, and Sam didn't take his eyes off of me. He was whatever I needed him to be. If I cried he would offer his shoulder, if I grew tense he would run his hand along my face to soothe me, and sometimes he just pulled me into a hug and held me there.

I knew he was watching me right now. But I couldn't just sit by when Cora could be dying. I know that I should let Jacob have time but I couldn't stand it no longer. I had to see her.

"Sam." I said almost like a groan.

He came and took my hand. "You can see her now. I don't know if Jake will leave or not but you need your time with her to." He said staring at the ICU entrance. A tear fell from my face while I tried to hold back another break down.

"Shh, it's okay." Sam said running his hand along my cheek.

"You sound as if you expect her to die." I said my voice breaking slightly.

"She's a strong girl, there's a chance she'll pull through."

"But you don't think she will." I stated to sad to be angry with him.

Sam pulled me into a hug and kissed the side of my face. "Emily, I don't know what to expect. But I have to believe that she will pull through, for all of our sake's not just hers." He pulled back to look down at my face. He wrapped his huge arms around my waist and pulled me into him. "Besides, she's got something to fight for now doesn't she." He smiled.

"I guess your right." I thanked God for what Sam said. If Cora loved Jacob as much as I love Sam then I knew that she would be fighting with everything in her. Even if it was just so she could see his face.

I gave him a quick kiss and turned to the doors. I heard him say, "I'll be right here."

"I know." I told him.

The ICU was not as horrific as what I had imagined. For some reason I kept picturing a torture chamber rather than a section of the hospital. There were small rooms lined beside each other. The walls were glass with curtains blocking my view. The patients here were in such a bad shape doctors felt they needed more privacy than usual. I remembered what it was like for me when that accident with Sam happened. I looked so horrible I wish that I could disappear even when Sam kept telling me that I looked beautiful. My hand reflectively went to the scars across my face.

I hadn't been able to see Cora yet. I hoped that I could stay strong for Jacob he certainly didn't need someone else to support. I went to the counter that was in the center of the ICU.

"Do you need something sweetie?" An older woman with gray hair that was dressed in blue scrubs asked.

"Um, yes. I need..." I began to ask which room was Cora in but I got distracted from a noise that sounded as if someone were sobbing. I looked around the room and finally spotted where it was coming from. From the corner of an uncovered glass room I could see Jacob's back rising and falling unsteadily. He was leaning over something with his face covered by his hands.

"Ma'am?" the nurse asked me quietly but I ignored her and walked bravely toward the room.

I kept my head down until I made it into the room then looked up. I saw Cora's still body that looked as if she had been beaten by a baseball bat. You could still tell it was her though. But the thing that broke my heart the most was Jacob. I don't know why but my heart broke just by looking at him. It reminded me of what Sam must have been like when I was in the same position as Cora.

I suddenly became very afraid. I knew how bad it would hurt me if I lost her now. She was like my own little sister that I had been raising for all this time. Then there was Jacob. If I were to lose Cora, than I would lose Jacob to.

With tears in my eyes I went to stand over Cora. Jacob never even noted my existence and for that I was grateful. I ran one hand over the top of her head not knowing what else to do. Finally I just pulled up a chair beside of Jacob and sobbed right along with him.

JPOV

Emily had been here for almost three hours now. I knew when she had come in but I didn't bother to acknowledge her. I decided to just give her a little time alone by not saying anything. I wouldn't have left Cora so it was the least that I could do. Not only that but I was to far gone in my grief to move from my spot.

Now we were both watching Cora. The doctor had already come to check on her. I remembered coldly what he said, "She's not getting worse but she isn't any better either."

I felt like saying, "Gee thanks for the help doc."

I wondered where Carlisle would be. I thought he still worked here. If he did, I figured he would check Cora out. Did Bella know about all this yet? Maybe if someone could tell her then Carlisle would help Cora.

"Emily?" I asked my voice rough. There was a little surprise in Emily's eyes. This was the first time I had spoken to her since she came in. I didn't know what she expected to find but by the look on her face made me rhink it wasn't good.

"Jacob?" she replied with red rimmed eyes.

"Someone need to call Bella and let her know what happened," Emily nodded her head, "Does Carlisle still work here?"

"Yes. I'm not sure whether he is working right now or not. Do you think he could help her?" she asked with a tone of hope.

"I'm not sure. But I would feel better if he was the one who checked up on her." I looked upon Cora's sleeping face and squeezed her hand.

Emily sat in silence before deciding to get up. "I'll have Sam call Bella. I'm going to look for Carlisle myself." She said. She bent over Cora and kissed the top of her head.

"I'll be back." She said looking at Cora.

Before Emily could walk out of the room I grabbed her shoulders and turned her around into me, giving her a hug. "Thank you Em." I said sincerely.

"Oh Jacob." she sobbed. "Don't you dare give up on her. You have to believe she'll come back."

"What other choice do I have?" I said as I stared behind Emily to the only person who could make me whole.

I need you.

Still JPOV

"Dr. Cullen." I greeted him as I sighed in relief.

"How are you doing Jacob?" He asked truly concerned. I couldn't find the words that would describe how I felt right then. Over whelming grief and heart break, I thought, wouldn't cut it. The only thing that I could do was shrug.

Carlisle gave me a tight smile. "That bad huh?"

"That's the least of my worries doc."

He nodded and started to check the machines around Cora. I grimaced thinking that he wasn't doing any better than the other doctors that came in here and right back out, giving me the same answer every time. Sorry , nothings really changed. We'll come back later.

Carlisle went from the machines and started placing his hand on Cora's chest and neck. Then he leaned down almost as if he were smelling of her. I couldn't help but glare. I didn't like him touching her like that, it seemed to...intimate.

Carlisle caught my reaction. "I'm just checking to see if anything new is happening." He said distracted as he leaned in again and inhaled.

"Is there anything new happening?" I asked getting my hopes up way to much.

"I'm not sure. There's something..." he trailed, "I can't put my finger on it."

"Is it bad." I choked out.

"Like I said, I'm not sure." Carlisle leaned away from Cora and looked at her with an odd expression. "I have seen many people in the position she is in right now. All of their injuries were very similar even though how they got them were different. Some were involved in a car crash, some fell from great heights, and like in Cora's case, were brutally tortured to the point of long-term unconsciousness. Most never made it out of it."

"What are you saying?" I asked anxiously. I didn't like what I was hearing.

"What I'm saying is that with Cora, there's something different going on. For unknown reasons her body is healing abnormally fast, well only the minor injuries. Look at her bruises. Notice the difference?" He implied.

I looked at Cora's face. The once dark black bruise was now a light purple. I also looked at her arm, it was also a light purple and was getting smaller. I continued to scan her arm to make sure I wasn't imagining anything.

"This is good though, right? I mean, how could this be bad?" I asked perplexed.

Carlisle exhaled loudly, his eyebrows pulled together in concentration. "She is healing but whatever it is making her heal so rapidly is also slowing her heart. Do you notice it?"

I concentrated not only on the heart monitor but also the actual thump of her heart. Carlisle was right, it was slower. I watched him study Cora.

"You know what it is don't you?" I questioned.

Carlisle ran a hand over his face. "I believe so. I wasn't positive at first, but now I'm pretty sure what the problem is."

"Tell me." I told him impatient. The guy was really messing with what little nerves I had left.

Carlisle leaned in toward Cora again for the third time and inhaled like he had before. He then looked at me with a wary expression.

"It's vampire venom." He stated.

"How? I got to him before he could bite her. It couldn't possibly be vampire venom." I said nervously. What I was saying made perfect sense but Carlisle still looked determined.

"She has a lot of open wounds. While we are hunting," Carlisle began then decided to shut the door so no one would here our conversation, "the venom we produce pools up in our mouths. This way we can easily take down our prey. Before we take that first bite even more venom flows."

He looked at me as if I should have already figured out what he was trying to say. "Not comprehending." I said agitated.

"Before the vampire tried to bite Cora it would have been possible if some of the venom fell from the vampire's mouth and into a break in Cora's skin." He explained.

I shook my head in denial. "If it were vampire venom I would have been able to smell it."

"In your human form? Jacob, even I had a hard time detecting the scent but it it is certainly there."

I unwrapped my hand that was around Cora's and stood up. Anger was building up inside me. I was already shaking.

"What are you saying? That she gets to become a vampire now? Is that it?" I snapped trying to keep myself from shouting.

"No, I have never encountered something like this before. You have got to realize that in the current condition she is in, well, anything can happen."

I balled my hands into fists while my vision became blurry.

"You need to calm down Jacob. You are not helping anything." He said with both of his hands up. I was so furious and I couldn't understand why. I wasn't angry with Carlisle but something had set me off. I forced myself to drag in a deep breath then collapsed back into my chair."

"Sorry." I said feeling defeated.

Carlisle's cold hand lightly touched my shoulder. "I promise, I'm going to do everything I can." Carlisle promised. I nodded unable to speak. "I'll leave you now, it seems as if you have a visitor." He said kindly.

I had a lot to take in right now. It was to much to even think about. So what if I would sit here the entire night and try to think of some solution to this new problem. There was nothing I could do.

"Jacob?" said a small voice behind me. I knew that voice and it seemed as if some of my burden's were lifted. I twisted in my seat to see my best friend.

"Bella." I merely choked. The calm expression on Bella's face changed into a grimace. She walked quickly toward me and wrapped me in a cold hug. I didn't care if she was a vampire or not, I was glad she was here.

"Jake, I hate seeing you like this." she said sadly as she patted my back.

"I don't know what to do Bella. Carlisle said..." I began to fill her in on this new adaption of my recent horror but she cut me off.

"I heard everything." she said looking at Cora. "I do hope she is going to be okay. My sun has been shining a little brighter because of her." she said with a smile trying to lighten the mood. Nothing could lighten the mood I was in right now.

"I can't live without her Bells." I said simply.

Bella looked down. "Now is not the time to give up yet Jake. Carlisle will fix it." she said reassuringly, avoiding the subject.

Cora looked so lifeless, so helpless. There has to be something I can do.

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