A train had fallen on me. That was the only way to describe what I was feeling now. There was heavy pressure over my entire body, particularly around my chest and sides, both of which were stinging badly. My legs and arms were stiff and sore. Whatever I had experienced after Edward's accidental attack on me, this was ten times worse. My throat was on fire, both inside and out. I swallowed dry.

"Thank God you're awake."

My eyes flew open. I was in darkness, and Edward was sitting beside me on my bed, looking very distressed. I felt his cool hand on my cheek, which soothed the burning, a little.

"Thirsty," I croaked, wincing as the words stung at my throat.

In a matter of two seconds, he had vanished, only to reappear with a full glass of water. With his help, I drank it all. When I was satisfied, I studied his face, and he looked thirstier than I was. His eyes were coal black, and the purple shadows under his eyes were prominent.

I swallowed and spoke in a raspy voice. "How long…has it been?"

"Four days," he answered grimly.

I blinked. "You haven't hunted—"

"In a little over two weeks," he replied. "But that doesn't matter. All that matters is that you're alive."

"Are you alright?" I panted, reaching out to touch the place where his chest had been torn into.

"Shh," he told me, catching my hand gently and planting a kiss there. "I'm fine. Go back to sleep."

I shook my head. "I'm…not tired."

He sighed, carefully laying my hand down by my side again, but never letting go. "I suppose you won't sleep until I explain some things."

I shook my head, and he took it as a confirmation.

"Where's Jacob?" I whispered, because speaking aloud hurt my throat too much.

"He's alright. He's still healing, but he's back home. He's been checking on you quite often."

"How…how long have you been here?"

"I carried you back home after…the attack," he said, wincing slightly at the memory, "and I've stayed with you until now."

"Oh, Edward…you need to hunt. Surely you're thirsty?"

He shrugged. "Like I said, it doesn't matter."

I sighed, shallowly, because anything deeper would hurt my chest. "Your chest."

"I healed a lot faster than you," he told me, "but you received the worse of the attacks. The red-haired male is dead, and we burned the rest of them."

"The others?"

"Well enough. Carlisle was attacked forcefully enough to do some decent damage, but he's alright now."

I nodded very slightly. "And…Charlie?"

"Furious."

I sighed. I knew that one was coming.

"When he saw what happened to you," Edward told me, "he swore that you would be grounded until you were thirty-one. And…"

"What?" I prompted him, though I dreaded to know what big trouble I was in.

"He…said that you were forbidden from seeing the others anymore."

Anger flared inside my chest. This was not anyone's fault but my own; if I had been more careful, Charlie would have had no reason to see that I'd even left the house.

I winced again; my anger had caused me to start panting, which fired up another wave of pain.

"Bella," Edward said exasperatedly, "please try to calm down. I really don't want to lose you."

His voice scared me. I'd never heard him sound so…hopeless.

"I'm right here," I told him quietly, stroking his hand reassuringly. "You won't lose me."

"None of this would have happened if I hadn't gotten that volatile redhead off you sooner."

"Edward," I sighed, "you're being ridiculous. This isn't your fault."

He didn't argue further, but I could tell that I hadn't convinced him. I tugged on his hand, so he leaned over and I gave him a gentle kiss. By the way he responded, it was apparent that he wanted to go further, but was afraid of hurting me. So he pulled back, sighed, and kissed my hand again.

"I think you should sleep now," he said, gently but full of authority. Giving up, I sighed and closed my eyes.

I felt a light pressure as he lay down beside me, humming, and it sounded like he was trying to calm himself down as much as me. Very carefully, so as not to spark another wave of pain, I shifted closer to him, and fell into a deep sleep.