I'm so glad I got this out before the weekend.
As always, all reviews, fav's, followers…thank you so much. To guest reviews, I do read each and every one and I wish I could respond to say thank you, so please, know that they are all welcomed.
Let's find out the extent of Bella's injuries…
B POV
"A what?" I asked Dr. Banner, looking around to see whether I was the only daft one, but everyone else was frowning as well.
"A transverse process fracture," Dr. Banner repeated slowly. "It's quite an uncommon fracture. It occurs from extreme rotation or lateral bend, which is in line with what you told me about being thrown against the rock."
"But what does that mean in the long run?" Jake piped up before anyone else. We'd managed to get his doctor to release him to my room for a while too.
"Bella will make a full recovery…" But before Dr. Banner can even carry on there are relieved murmurs and he waits a while for them to die down before continuing.
"…if she sticks to my recovery plan, which we all know is going to be really hard for our stubborn girl here," he says as he looks pointedly at me with a knowing smile, which has everyone laughing and me grumbling.
"The injury should take about four to six weeks to heal. You can go home provided that you promise me you'll stay in bed for a few days at least. I don't want you sitting up for long periods, it causes quite a lot of stress on the lower back, even more than walking or standing. I'll give you pain medication and for the next two days, you can apply an ice pack to your lower back every four hours or so for twenty minutes. No lifting anything. I'll come around in two days to check on you, we can take it from there and start with short walks around the garden, etc. If the pain is too much, let me know. We can arrange a back brace to reduce the pain by limiting motion at the fracture site."
I nod and close my eyes for a few moments as his words flood my conscious thoughts. No permanent damage. I'm going to be okay. I let that sink in for a bit before opening my eyes again and meeting the smiles and happy tears of everyone around me. I know their relief mirrors my own. I try to stifle a yawn but it comes out anyway.
"I think we should let Bella get some rest," Edward suggests.
"I think that's a good idea. I'll get the necessary paperwork in order so Bella can be discharged tomorrow morning after a last check up," Dr. Banner says and excuses himself.
Sam, Paul and Embry comes over to say goodbye and I hold onto Sam's hand when he pulls up, looking at all three of them.
"Thank you," I whisper through tears. "You risked your lives to come after me. I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything," Sam says softly as he wipes at the tears on my face with his free hand. "Don't think we don't know you would have been in there first for any one of us. It goes both ways."
I nod and they leave as Jake and Leah walks over. She takes hold of my hand.
"Thank you for bringing him back safely."
"You forget he brought me back," I giggle.
"But you found him Bella. You risked your life for him. He might not be here at all if you hadn't gone in. So again, thank you."
"I'd never let anything happen to Jake if I could help it," I say with a smile. "Besides, what would I do without this big oaf back on campus? Who'd feed me?"
Jake laughs heartily. "So you saved me for my cooking skills?" he asks.
"Yeah well, that and the fact that I can't live without you," I grumble and he leans over ruffling my hair as he usually does.
"Right back at you," he says as they leave.
"Okay, well, we should get going too, Emmett," Rose says as she gets up from the chair next to my bed. "Maybe we could move some things around at home so it's more comfortable for Bella?"
He nods and I bite my lip for a few seconds before speaking.
"Ummm, I'm not coming home," I say softly. Edward looks at me in surprise. Shit, I hadn't even discussed this with him. What if he doesn't want me there?
"What do you mean you're not coming home?" Emmett says, confused as hell.
My eyes are still locked with Edward's and I have no idea what he's thinking. I'm just about to say I was only kidding when he speaks first, still looking down at me.
"Because she's coming home with me." There is no hesitation in his voice, none at all. I think he sees the concern leave my face because he gives me that one sided smile I love so much as he strokes my hair. He wants me there just as much as I want to be there.
"That's not happening," Emmett says as he starts walking closer to my bed. Jasper grabs his arm from behind but he shrugs him off.
Edward looks up to my brother who is now right in front of him. It has always amazed me how both Edward and Jasper do not cower under that terrifying glare of his.
"It's not your decision Emmett," he says seriously. "If that's where Bella wants to be, that's where I'm taking her."
Emmett's face is flushed with anger.
"Emmett," Edward says as he continues to keep eye contact with my brother. "I'm sorry you don't agree with this, but we're going to do it regardless. I've lived by your rules since we starting dating because you're my best friend and Bella's brother and because she was still in school. But she's in university now and she has the right to make her own decisions. I learnt that the hard way," he says and my brother flinches slightly at his last words, reminding him how they all very nearly lost me.
"We love each other, you know this. And you damn well know that I plan on spending the rest of my life with her. We nearly lost each other; once at my hand and last night again. Don't force her to choose between what makes her happy and what you want…please."
"He's right Emmett," Jasper says as he walks around and stands next to Edward.
"She's like a sister to you and you're siding with him on this?" Emmett asks but before Jasper can answer both Alice and Rose come to stand by Edward as well.
"She's like a sister to all of us. Don't belittle our feelings for Bella because we are choosing to agree with her and Edward," Alice says angrily as she takes my hand in hers. "Hasn't there been enough fighting? We just got her back Emmett, don't make us lose her again."
He's having a hard time with this; I can see the torn look in his eyes. He knew this was going to happen sometime or another, it was inevitable. But I can see he's just having a hard time letting go. He's been my father, my brother, my best friend all rolled into one since Charlie died. Rose sees this too and the tenderness on her face as she looks at my brother takes my breath away. She walks over to him, placing her hand on his cheek and he looks at her.
"You'll never lose her, Emmett," Rose says softly. "But it's time to let her go. She'll always be your little sister, but it's time for you to accept that she's also a woman. Don't make her feel guilty for wanting to live her life."
I watch his face closely and see the instant where he decides that she's right because his frown disappears and he gazes at her with adoration as he always does.
"You're right," he agrees softly. Then he looks at the rest of us. "Do you guys mind if I have some time with my sister alone please? Jasper, can you give Rosalie a lift home?"
He nods and they take that as their cue to leave as Rosalie softly kisses his cheek before following Alice and Jasper.
"I'm going to go have a shower. I'll swing by Rosalie and get you some clothes and toiletries. I'm sure you're dying for a bath," Edward says as he leans over and kisses my forehead.
"Thanks."
Edward nods goodbye to Emmett and closes the door behind him.
I'm nervous. I don't know what to expect. I don't want to fight with Emmett, not after everything that's happened.
But one thing I do know…if I have to fight to be with Edward, I'll do it.
Don't get upset with Emmett just yet…have a little faith…
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