Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters.

A/N: Thanks to katmom and Angelinia, who beta this story.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Recovery

Edward had run back to the hospital not long after Alice had joined him... he just couldn't stay away any longer and though Charlie was still there when he got back (looking worse than Edward had ever seen him) he was allowed to take a seat next to Bella. He gently took her hand again, the connection made him relax considerably, but not completely. He knew that the anxiety wouldn't leave him until she opened her eyes and he could see she was all right.

He stayed there the whole night, even after Charlie was taken home by Esme, making sure that he got there safely. Normally he would have been kicked out of the room, but there was a benefit to being the son of the head doctor, no one bothers you even when you're doing something that was against the rules. Not that it mattered anyway; he wouldn't have left Bella's side again for anything.

"All the teachers told me to inform you that you're not excused from any of the homework or exams that go on this week," Alice said him on Tuesday; it had been three days since the accident and Bella still hadn't woken up. He would have been worried, but heard from not only Carlisle, but also all the nurses (who didn't know that he could read their minds and therefore he knew that they were telling him the truth) that Bella was okay, she just needed to rest.

"I don't care about that," Edward said, there was no way he was going to leave Bella.

"I know," Alice said sitting next to Edward. "I just wanted to be here... and I figured that I might as well pass along the message."

Edward looked at her carefully then, why would she want to be here right now? And why was she so excited? He looked back at Bella, hoping it meant that she was going to wake up soon. He was right to hope that, for it seemed that almost at that precise moment Bella's eyelids started to move. It was slow, gradual work but she was definitely waking up. The millisecond after her eyes had opened he heard Alice leave the room, her thoughts telling him that she was giving him some time alone with his Bella.

O

Everything seemed to be moving slowly... it took a lot of effort to try to make sense about what was going on. It was dark, but she realized, after thinking about it for a long time, that it was because her eyes were closed. She would have opened them, but the lids were so heavy, as was the rest of her body. She tried to think about why that was and her mind flashed to a scene;

She had been driving home from Jacob's party, thinking about what she was going to do about her having to determine the relationship with him. Everything seemed so normal, but then she heard screeching tires and as she looked to the side of her everything around her became granular and surreal. Her heart accelerated as she saw the van come towards her... she remember thinking what the hell was Tyler thinking turning into her like this... there was nowhere for him to go... And then...

Nothing...

She didn't remember what happened after that. It had been horrible though, he was coming so fast... there was nothing she could do...

She heard a high pitched noise then, distracting her from trying to remember the accident... she was grateful, she didn't want to think about that. But what was the high pitch noise she wondered? When the lower, almost musical noise answered it, she felt her body relax some. Again her mind seemed to be working slower than normal, for it had taken her a while to realize the second noise was Edward's voice... what else would make her feel so at peace?

The peace didn't last though, as she thought about what he would be going through if she was in a car accident... and who knew how long she had just been lying here...

She opened her eyes then, slowly of course, they were still really heavy, but she wouldn't let Edward be anxious for a second longer than he had to be. As soon as her sight came into focus she knew she was right to fight off the weariness and open her eyes, for Edward's face looked so worried, and yet there was a lot of happiness there too.

"Bella," Edward whispered the word reverently and she felt her heart react to his voice.

She tried to respond to him but she couldn't seem to make her mouth work for the moment.

"Bella," Edward repeated, more worried this time. She watched as his panicked eyes seemed to look over every inch of her, as if worried something had gone wrong.

"I..." Bella trying harder to speak, but her throat was sore and she couldn't force the words out. Edward's eyes snapped to hers and she tried to portray that she was okay... that he need not panic about her. He seemed to relax a little as he continued to look into her eyes and she knew that he got her message.

"Do you want some water?" Edward asked softly, he had noticed her wince as she had tried to speak. She nodded her head and seconds later she had a glass of water in his hand. She wasn't sure where he got it from, but she didn't care as he raised the glass to her lips.

"Better?" Edward asked, his eyes never leaving hers, his hands now stroking her face softly.

"I think so," Bella said, her words still coming out rough, but she didn't care as she saw Edward's relieved smile at the sound of her voice.

"I've missed that," he said so lowly she wasn't sure she was supposed to hear him.

"What happened?" she asked, looking around the room. There were flowers and get well cards from all her friends and acquaintances. She must have been in here for at least a few days if they had time to get her something. She shuddered at the thought of Edward having to sit here worrying about her for any period of time. "How long..."

"It's been almost three days," he said, and she could see the pain in his eyes, though he was trying hard to hide it. "And you were in a car accident..." the way he said it caught her off guard a little, she didn't know why he sounded so bitter.

"I know," she said and took another slip of her water, trying to clear her throat more so she could talk without it hurting. "How bad was it...?" she felt she had to ask, though after she had she wished she hadn't, his face crumbled slightly and she could see the pain he was in.

"Bad..." Edward choked out, "I didn't know if you were going to be okay..."

"Alice couldn't see..." Bella started to ask as she tried to move her arms so she could comfort him but they were still so heavy and as she fought to move, they started to hurt. She looked down then and saw that she was wearing several casts, her left wrist seemed to be broken, her right leg as well; and there was a splint on her right hand holding her pinky and her ring finger together. That was all the injures that she could see, but she could feel more... she knew that at least one of her ribs were broken.

Edward stayed quiet as he watched her look over her injures, but she could feel his growing anxiety and looked up at him, trying to smile, but seeing that it didn't help.

"No... she couldn't see if you were okay... not at first," Edward answered her unfinished statement, and again it was clear he was putting all his efforts into not breaking down, not showing her the extent of his pain. "I was so afraid that I was going to lose you..."

"I'm so sorry, Edward," Bella groaned, she had wished that he would never have to experience that pain in reality, she was hoping that reading the book would have prevented her from ever getting hurt, but it seemed like that was too much to hope for. Was it realistic for her to believe that this would be the only pain they would have to suffer? The only hurdle they had to cross?

"It's not your fault, Bella," Edward sighed, again stroking her cheek, which automatically made her worries dull. He smiled, obviously happy that he could comfort her (and she felt a little annoyed that she wasn't physically capable of doing that for him right now). He looked away a second later, as he seemed unable to mask his bitterness any longer.

"It's not yours either," Bella said soothingly.

He let out a single chuckle to that, it sounded amused and humorless at the same time. He was only thinking about how easily she was able to read him.

"I know," Edward sighed, "but it doesn't stop me from wishing I could have been there."

"So do I... you know how much I hate hospitals and that would have kept me out of one," Bella said, trying to sound light, and glad that her voice was going back to normal.

"So that leaves me to blame Tyler," Edward said darkly.

"Edward?" Bella said worriedly, not liking the look in his eyes.

"Don't worry; I won't do anything to him even though he deserves a lot worse than the broken arm..." Edward grumbled, and there was a look in Edward's eyes that Bella didn't like. He seemed to notice her disapproval and added, "At least Charlie was able to get his driver's license taken away... that imbecile was driving drunk..." he couldn't keep the growl out of his voice as he said this, "though he claims that he saw a deer and that's why he swerved..."

"Is it true?" Bella asked Edward's voice seemed to portray his doubt.

"I wouldn't know seeing as I haven't gone anywhere near the boy," Edward said, and Bella shivered knowing that wouldn't be a good thing, and knowing that there was a part of Edward that really did want to go near him... "I, of course, have not left your side since I was able to be here. But according to Charlie's thoughts, it's doubtful."

"Oh," was all Bella had to say to that. She then tried to search for something to say that would make Edward feel better... she blurted out the first thing to come to her mind, "how's my truck?"

"Totaled," Edward winced and she groaned. That really wasn't the best subject to bring up if she wanted him to relax. "And I suppose I should tell you that I'm sorry about every bad thing I said about your truck..."

Bella looked at him confused.

"I think it probably saved your life," Edward said softly.

"I told you it was a good truck," Bella smiled at him and he couldn't help but return it.

"Yes, it was," Edward nodded his head. "But of course now we're going to have to come up with a replacement for you... something just as sturdy but preferably something that can go faster than sixty miles an hour."

"I'll let you deal with the details," Bella rolled her eyes.

"You're not going to put up a fight about me getting you a car?" Edward asked with over exaggerated shock.

"No... there's no point," Bella smiled at him. "Though I thought after this you would want to drive me everywhere."

"That's not a bad idea," he smiled at her.

"It think it's better than the thought of having to drive a tank around town," she smiled as Edward chuckled, it was so nice to see laughter in his eyes, though it was still guarded... still pained.

"Everyone was worried about you," he sighed. "Me most of all, of course..."

"Just tell me that you didn't think about leaving me," she said. "That your mind didn't even once think that I would be better off without you..."

He shook his head at her, "it never crossed my mind."

"Good," she said, she was reading his expression closely. "How bad was it... for you?"

"You almost died," he said not bothering to hide his feelings for her, she wanted to see them, and he needed to show them. "It was the longest ten hours of my life... each minute seemed to carry on in an agonizingly slow pace... wondering if I would even get to see you again."

She sighed, she wanted to know what he had been thinking during the time but she was also afraid... She decided not to ask him, if he wanted to tell her he would.

"I... there is something that I don't want to talk about, but I need you to know," he said in an agonized voice that had Bella wishing again that she could move her arms, wishing that she could comfort him.

"What is it, Edward?" she asked softly.

"I don't want to believe that you'll ever be hurt again," he said, his voice was now emotionless... or at least he was struggling to keep it that way, "but I didn't think you would ever get hurt in the first place. It was foolish for us to believe that we could prevent all the danger..."

"Edward," she said softly, he was starting to ramble, not a good sign, it meant that he was really worried about what he had to say to her.

He took a deep breath and then said, "If you were ever hurt so badly in the future... and I assure you that I will do everything I can to make sure that will never happen..." he said this part fiercely and she believed him completely. However, his tone when he started speaking again was sorrowful, his eyes were showing a pain that she couldn't understand, "Would you want us to change you...?"

"Of course," she answered immediately and without thinking. How could he even ask that? She needed to live, she knew that Edward be devastated if she didn't. What would make...? She didn't even finish thinking that thought for she realized what she would be missing at the same time he said...

"Knowing you couldn't have Renesmee?"

Bella's eyes started to water, she didn't want to think of that. To think that because she was hurt that she wouldn't be able to have a child... her Renesmee. She didn't want to think how hard that would be on Edward... their family. Still, she couldn't let him lose both her and their unborn child in the same stroke. It would be a sorrow they would have to live with for eternity, but she would choose that rather than leaving Edward alone.

"Yes," she said tearfully, and Edward sighed. "Was there a chance of that happening?"

"Not really," he said, softly. "Carlisle had just made the choice to fix your heart first... to make sure that it would keep beating no matter what else might have happened... It made me think..."

"I'm so sorry," she said with tears falling down her check.

"Shh... it's okay," he said soothingly, wiping the tear away. "I should have waited... you didn't need to deal with this right now..."

"No... it's better to get this over with now," she sighed. "So is there anything else you need to tell me?"

"Hm... let's see," he said. "Well, I had to cross the boundary line to La Push to get to you..."

"Edward," she groaned, she would hate to be the reason they started a fight.

"Don't worry, nothing happened," he said soothingly. "Sam seemed to understand how I was feeling... I don't think he would ever be able to hold this against me."

"That's good at least," she sighed.

"Jacob showed up here... of course," he said and she looked at him with a raised eyebrow, for he shouldn't be almost angry about that.

Edward smiled at her, the ease of which she seemed to read him made him happy... the fact that she was awake and able to do that too filled him with joy. It made everything else, even the Jacob issue, seem easier to deal with.

"He phased when he learned that you were hurt..." he started to explain, "It was odd to hear that he had actually believed that it was partly his fault because you came down to see him and I wasn't allowed to be there..."

"Oh... it was his birthday," she groaned. "Poor Jacob..."

They were silent for a little while after that but Edward started explaining again, "Anyway, he couldn't phase back to himself at first, because he was so worried about you. He was afraid that he was going to lose his best friend and something more..." Bella flinched at those words.

"Oh great," she sighed, it looked like she wasn't going to be able to see Jacob much anymore if he was thinking like that.

"But they were separate... different from one another," he continued to say. "I think he's going to figure out what we're keeping from him."

"Even better," she mumbled.

"You would rather not speak to your friend than tell him what's really going on?" he questioned.

"You would rather we tell him?" she asked in return, surprised.

"He's suffering because he knows that you're not an ordinary girl to him, that you mean more to him than what he knows is right." he said thoughtfully. "He's struggling to find a reason for it and he's terrified that if he keeps feeling this way you won't want to see him anymore."

"Well, when you point it out like that," she said looking down. "I didn't realize I was hurting him..."

"I don't think you really were, not before the accident," he said truthfully. "Jacob didn't have any reason to explore these feeling before and now... when he came to visit you I heard this line of questioning in his head, though he tried not to think of it much."

"I suppose I will have to tell him then," she sighed.

"You don't seem too upset about that," he noted.

"Part of me sort of wants him to know... it's hard keeping something like this from someone you're close to," she shrugged and then winced at the soreness in her shoulders.

"You look tired, you should get some rest," he said.

"I've been asleep for three days," she pointed out but he just smiled at her and started humming her lullaby. Though she didn't fall asleep right away, preferring to stare into Edward's eyes for as long as she could, they didn't really talk much after that.

O

Bella stayed in the hospital for another week, which now that she was conscious she really didn't like. It wasn't so bad though, because Edward was by her side the entire time. She had a stream of visitors coming and going during that time, which only made her wish that she could go home quicker. She even tried to ask if she could have stayed at the Cullens' house as a patient there, but Alice had seen that Charlie wouldn't like that idea one bit so she had to suffer in the hospital.

Surprisingly, Emmett had come to visit her a lot. Actually it wasn't that surprising because he seemed to have found the perfect way to get to his brother and there was nothing either of them could do about it with the way things where. Somehow it had gotten around to the Cullens that she was curious about how her power worked and if she could learn to project her shield when she was still human. None of them were sure how she could go about trying to do that because they didn't have a power that would hurt anyone. There was nothing she could shield them from, no danger, so she wouldn't feel either the need or the fury she needed to make it project properly.

"Bella, I just had a brilliant idea," Emmett said, coming into the private room that she had now. Edward was sitting in the seat next to her and his face quickly fell as he heard his brother's thoughts.

"Okay?" Bella said confused as to why Emmett was there.

"You know how we've all been thinking about your shield right?" Emmett asked the biggest grin on his face and now Bella felt wary too.

"Yeah..." she said slowly, for there was nothing else to say.

"And we thought that you couldn't even try to practice this because there wasn't anyone that you would need to protect... and that you couldn't be mad enough to make it work!" Emmett said excitedly.

"Just get to the point!" Bella grumbled.

"Well, I'm here to volunteer my service," Emmett beamed. "I can think of things that will make Eddie boy cringe and I can be so annoying to you that you'll be wishing to kick me out..."

"Emmett..." Bella groaned.

"See... it's already working," Emmett chuckled. "And if you look at Edward... you can see that my thoughts can really get to him easily..."

Bella did look at Edward, who was pinching the bridge of his nose, looking more annoyed than pained, but it was clear he really didn't like what his brother was thinking about.

"Emmett, I don't think..." Bella started to say.

"I'm not leaving, Bella, so you might as well practice," Emmett smirked at her before sitting down in a chair that was on the opposite side of the bed from Edward. Of course Emmett didn't really need to sit down nor did Edward for that matter) but if a nurse came in to check on her she would be suspicious as to why he was still standing after being there for so long.

So, naturally Emmett came to visit Bella and torture Edward a lot after that, and of course she did try to save Edward from his obvious torture, but it didn't work at all. Bella wondered after the third time that Emmett showed up why Edward even bothered putting up with it, why he didn't just tell Carlisle that Emmett was coming here and making sure that he didn't come back.

"He's worried about you, Bella," Edward sighed, "he's never really had someone that could be hurt like this, none of us have, but he has really come to see you as a little sister and he wants to be close to you..."

"Oh," Bella said, blushing slightly.

"Of course, he enjoys torturing me too," Edward grumbled this time. "He finds that to be a very entertaining way to pass his time here."

"I really wish he wouldn't do that," Bella sighed. "Especially since it's clearly not working... I'm not shielding you at all... I hate how pained you look sometimes."

"I know," Edward smiled at her. "But I really don't mind. Well, that's a lie, I do mind. It's just... I do like the idea of you working on this; you never know if it would be of use to us... and it probably would help you a lot when you turn... you'll have some practice under your belt then."

"Okay," Bella sighed. "As long as you don't mind being the guinea pig, then I can work on this."

"Thanks Bella," Edward smiled at her.