Chapter 28—Dedicated

Headaches were, hands down, not fun and, as a result, Carlisle ended up admitting me. In the time that it took for him to retrieve Edward from the waiting room, my headache had come back full force. I started vomiting, violently. It was horrible; the worse the pain had become, the weaker I felt, and I couldn't keep any nourishment down.

Despite my protests Mom stayed by my side. Even Edward was also there during visiting hours, though Mom tried to kicked him out early yesterday.

"I'm not leaving," Edward whispered through clenched teeth. "So stop motioning toward the door."

"Bella needs to rest and so do you." Mom whispered back. "Hear me out. I know you want to stay with her for as long as allowed, and I don't fault you for that. It's just… hmmm, how to say this... I'm worried about you."

"There's no need," Edward whispered in reply.

"Here's an idea. Both of you leave," I said, moaning.

"I agree with Bella," Carlisle said.

I noticed him standing at the end of my bed as I cracked my eyelids.

"She does need her rest, and there is no reason for either of you to be here." Carlisle glanced at his watch. "Besides, visiting hours are nearly over."

Carlisle's tone was firm and authoritative. The way he thrust his finger toward the door was intimidating even to me, and I wasn't the one he was sending from the room.

"I'll call you both after a few hours."

Edward leaned over and kissed my forehead. "I love you," he whispered.

I winced, the nearest of his voice making my head pound. "Love you, too."

Mom said nothing. She did give my hand a gentle squeeze before following Edward and Carlisle out. A nurse entered less than five minutes later. "How am I supposed to rest if you or another nurse interrupts my sleep?" I complained.

"Dr. Cullen has been talking to your neurologist, and they both want to try Axert."

"What is that?" I asked.

"An abortive drug," she answered.

I swallowed hard. "I'd like to speak with Dr. Cullen before you give it to me."

She gave me an appraising look. "All right. I go get him."

The door opened before the nurse reached it, and Carlisle walked in.

"I was just coming to get you. Ms. Swan has some questions."

"Okay. Give us a few minutes."

I waited until the nurse left the room. "What is Axert?" I asked, hoping Carlisle would give me a better explanation.

"It is a drug that constricts the blood vessels surrounding the brain, reducing serotonin levels."

I tried to process this information, but the throbbing was making it hard.

"Let's see if I can explain it in simpler terms. If you want to stop the flow of water from a hose, you squeeze it."

I nodded. That made sense.

"Do you think I should take the medicine?"

"Yes."

"Do you know if I was given it ten years ago?"

"It wasn't available until 2001," Carlisle answered.

"Okay. Let's try it."

He picked up the cup I hadn't notice the nurse left and handed it to me. I took a sip of the water Mom had poured for me before she and Edward were kicked out.

"It might make you sleepy."

I snorted. "I need to rest, right?"

He chuckled. "Yes."

Hours later I woke, and the pain was gone—well, almost. There was still a dull ache, and when the nurse came in to take my vitals, I asked if I could have more pain medicine. She told me that she would have to check the orders.

Carlisle came in with her once she returned.

"What is your pain level?" he asked, shining a light into my eyes.

I didn't even flinch. "One," I answered.

"Really?" he asked, placing the pen light back into his lab jacket pocket.

"Yes. I'm just feeling an annoying thump."

He took my chart from the nurse and made a note. "It seems I was right about what had taken hold of you."

"You have a diagnosis?"

"Yes. You suffered from a Status Migrainosus."

"Huh?"

"A migraine that lasts longer than 72 hours," he translated.

I smiled. "When can I leave?"

"Possibly this afternoon or tomorrow morning."

When I went to protest about being here another day, he held up his hand.

"I want to keep you here to ensure that the migraine doesn't come back. I have written an order for another pill to be dispensed. If after three hours the dull ache is all that is present, I'll release you."

I huffed but understood. Carlisle was being cautious and didn't want me to relapse. "Can I have some company?"

"Alice will be here in a half hour… and without your mother or Edward."

Again, I let my annoyance be known by crossing my arms over my chest and sticking out my lip. Sure, it was childish, but it was how I was feeling and far better than speaking.

Carlisle peered down at me. "Your mom wouldn't let Edward come without her and vice versa. Alice was a compromise they both accepted."

"Could I put my mom on some sort of no admittance list?" I inquired with a laugh. I wouldn't really, but Edward was the one I wanted to see.

Alice arrived with an armful and a half of—gifts? She had a bunch of balloons and stuffed animals to add to what I'd already received. My room looked more like a gift shop with all that and the countless flowers. Where was she everything?

"Tell me that Edward didn't ask you to bring those?" I asked as Alice released the balloons. Luckily a sinker was tied to the strings, and the balloons bobbed in front of the sink.

"No, I refused to bring the flowers he went into the woods to pick. These gifts arrived when I did. I volunteered to bring them in."

She handed me the cards. The balloons and animals were from president of the university. He wished me a speedy recovery.

"The lights are on, and you're watching TV," she said in awe.

"They don't bother me right now and neither does sound."

"That's great! When is Dad going to spring you? Does Edward know?"

"I'm hoping today," I replied. "But it could be tomorrow. And, no, Edward doesn't. I haven't committed his number to memory, and my mom took my cell."

Alice handed me her phone and then walked over the windowsill to rearrange the stuffed animals.

I turned the cell over and over in my hands. Mom had taken my phone for a reason, so I could rest. True, I was still tired and would probably sleep for days once I was out of this hospital bed, but the need to talk to Edward was an overwhelming need.

"Go ahead and call him."

"Are you sure he's awake?" I asked.

Alice turned and placed her hands on her hips. "Yes. Edward hasn't been sleeping well. I've never seen him so worried about anything like he is about you."

Once again, I turned the cell over in my hands, trying to decide. Would I add to his distress if I called?

I held the phone out to Alice, my decision made. I wasn't going to call.

"He would call you if your roles were reversed," she said, not taking the phone. "He's sped dial four."

Edward answered on the second ring. "How is she?"

A smile spread across my face when I heard his voice. Alice was right; he was fretting. He'd hidden it well whenever he visited, but he couldn't hide how he was feeling at the moment.

"Wanting your arms around me," I answered.

"Bella!" he said surprised. "How are you doing?"

Should I tell him?

"Better. I woke without the severe headache."

"Yeah, Carlisle called and told your parents after Alice left. He still won't let anyone but Alice visit."

He sounded sad that he couldn't be with me.

"There's a small chance I'll be released this afternoon."

A huge yawn greeted that statement. "That's good to hear."

Hating what I was about to do, I said, "Get some sleep, Edward. Hopefully, I'll see you later. Love you."

"Love… you… too," he said between yawns.

"Sleep," I ordered and then hung up.

Alice and I were laughing at Monsters, Inc., when Carlisle entered. He glanced at the TV and chuckled. Mike Wazowski had just sprayed himself in the eye with disinfectant because Boo sneezed.

"The nurse has informed me that you still have the dull ache."

I nodded. "Is that good?"

"Very."

I beamed, hoping that meant I was being sprung.

"I've drawn up the release papers." He showed me the clipboard. "Since you're over eighteen, you can sign."

My grin got bigger as I signed.

"Despite your mom's protests, Edward is on his way to pick you up."

My smile was huge, and my cheeks were hurting. Carlisle handed me a bag.

"Esme dropped this off when she and your mom stopped by an hour and a half ago. I refused to let either visit you."

"Thank you."

"Here's a script for Axert. Take it when you start getting a headache or sound and light start bothering you."

A half hour later, I was sitting outside in a wheelchair with a box in my lap filled with the stuffed animals and flowers. Alice had taken the balloons with her when she left five minutes earlier. Edward pulled up in my parents' car. Getting out, he rushed around the car.

The nurse stowed the box in the backseat as Edward gathered me up into his arms, hugging me tight to him.

I hugged him just as tight. "I've missed you," I whispered.

"I've missed you, too," he whispered back right before he kissed me. "We're going to Port Angeles for lunch. Your parents, Alice, and Esme are meeting us."

We drove in silence for twenty minutes, the radio wasn't even on. Edward held my hand, rubbing circles on my palm.

"Have you spoken to Alice yet?" I asked.

"No. She hasn't been pestering me either."

"Can I know what Seth told you?"

"When the agents searched the Stanley house, they found..." He sighed. "…evidence concerning the death threat my parents received."

"Oh!" I didn't know what to say.

"Everything was in Lauren's room, but the agency knows she couldn't have made the threats. She was too young. Her parents were questioned and knew nothing of my parents other than the fact my father inherited Masen Industries."

"Masen Industries?"

Edward released my hand and ran his through his hair. "A multi-million dollar textile company," he explained. "It's being held in trust, by your parents, until I'm twenty-one."

My eyes closed. I knew Edward had money, but I thought it was because of Carlisle and Esme's wealth—not his parents.

"Bella?"

Blowing out a breath, I opened my eyes and pivoted my head to take in Edward's profile. "How are you handling knowing the case was reopened?"

His brow furrowed. I guessed he hadn't expected that question.

"I'm fine and hoping the new information leads to an arrest and conviction."

He took hold of my hand again.

"I like this."

He lifted my hand up, and I saw his monogram still vibrant on my ring finger.

I blushed. "Then Rosalie won't have to redo my nails."

A/N: As a reminder, Edward is twenty, and Bella is a year younger.

For more information on Axert, see ; various sources was used to diagnosis Bellas's migraines.

Thanks to shelikesthesound for editing this chapter.