Thank you to Catharticone and RandomSugarRush for their beta help.
Disclaimer: These are not my characters, but the plot is mine. :)
*Thank you to everyone for the lovely reviews. There are a few new illustrations in my DA 'Thorns' gallery (links are on my profile page). And as promised, here is ch 34...
Thorns
Chapter Thirty-Four
I could hear a soft hush of something blowing, and there was a lot of random noise, as well as some rhythmic, beeping sounds coming from around me. The more I listened, the more irritated and agitated I became.
"Shhh," someone whispered. "You're alright, honey." I felt a soft touch on my hand and cheek.
I had been vaguely aware that someone was with me while I slept. For some reason, I could picture Carlisle's face hovering over me at one point, but it could very easily have been a dream. The voice I heard now was higher. And even though Carlisle was a khaki pants and sweater vest kind of guy, he was not feminine in any way.
It was a deep, murky half-sleep that I was under. I was aware of some things, but everything was dulled down. I would drift in and out of consciousness and sometimes there would be a light in my eyes or someone touching me, poking me, and squeezing my arm too tightly.
Fuck off, I wanted to scream at each interruption. I wanted to sleep, and there were people bugging me!
Everything hurt... I hadn't opened my eyes yet, but if it hurt this much now, then I didn't want to see what was causing that pain. My body ached in this strange muted way — I must have been in bad shape. I was nauseated, dizzy, and there was a heavy pressure constant in my chest with each breath I took. Though it was dark behind my closed eyelids, I thought that maybe I was spinning and that was the most unpleasant feeling.
My memory was foggy at first as I tried to think back to what had happened, but immediately I recalled the moment I had almost shot Royce.
I don't know what came over me, but I couldn't go through with shooting him — and it was not just because I was scared of the weapon. I was scared of being a killer. As terrible as Royce was, and even though I wanted him dead, I could not have killed him that way. So, I had thrown the gun out the window instead, and then tried to run away.
He had fallen still on the carpet in my bedroom, and I thought he had passed out. But a minute later — I had not made my way past Lily's dead body yet — he was behind me in the hallway. He chased me to the top of the staircase, and that's where I fell down. He got in a few more kicks, but I managed to push him off me one last time, and he went backwards tumbling down the stairs...
He never came back up.
Thank God he never got back up, because I couldn't seem to get up after that fall, either. I was spent and I had not been able to catch my breath — my lungs felt like they were on fire.
Emmett had been there... I think... and Carlisle, too! I was pretty sure I had not been dreaming that part. It had been too good to be true that they were with me, but I was sure that part I was not hallucinating. Even if I had been, it sure was a nice dream and it helped me to endure the pain.
Suddenly, I was aware of an itch on my face, and my body wanted to react...
I moaned as I made the motion with my hand to move, but it didn't want to cooperate — it was strapped down tightly. Shooting pain shot up into my shoulder, chest and back when I tried to use my arm.
I tried to speak, but I took too deep a breath first and it winded me, and I heard a whimper escape my lips instead and gave up.
"Oh, dear. No no... Don't try to move, sweetheart. Just relax," the soft feminine voice cooed anxiously near my ear. "Hold on. I will get a nurse. I'll be right back, darling."
My hand was left cold and I heard someone saying, "Yes, she's seems to be in pain. Are you sure? She moved her arm a bit — or she tried to — and then she appeared to be in some pain..."
The voices mumbled back and forth for a while, and I hated to be talked about like I was not in the room. I couldn't just lie there any longer. I made a very conscious effort to open my eyes and eventually my body allowed the action to take place.
The lights were dim, but it appeared to be daylight. There were a bunch of tiny dots floating dizzyingly around me in colourful swirls until eventually they grew calmer and positioned themselves on monitors and the buttons on the bed handrail that was in my line of view.
I really should have thought about a better first word to utter when I saw her leaning in so close to me, but all I could think of was the pain — a sharp jab on my thigh — and I moaned, "Fuck...off." That hurt!
"What was that?" this lady in pink asked me.
Had I mumbled?
"I said..." My voice was raw and scratchy, but the words were defiantly clear this time as I said them. "Fuck... Off."
"Oh, Rose!" Esme's face came into view over mine, her hair lit up by the light behind her head and she smiled at me like she was a mirage or something. "Hey, sweetie! How are you?" She used a very gentle tone, which I appreciated since my head felt like it was in a vice.
"Are— Are you... real?" I wanted to make sure I was not dead or something.
She puffed a soft, pleasing sigh and nodded. "Yes. I'm real, hon."
I hadn't seen her in my dreams though. I was confused. "Where's... Car-lisle?"
"Carlisle was here with you all through the night and this morning, but we switched so he could shower and take a nap. Would you rather he came and sat with you? He wouldn't mind. I'll get him! Should I call-"
"No," I stopped her. I panted a few times to catch my breath. Man, I was in rough shape. I tried to say more, but only, "...you'll do," came out of my mouth. I couldn't seem to find the strength for more.
Her forehead crinkled and she hushed me. "Shhh, darling... just rest then. I will stay right here."
I didn't want to make her feel unwelcome — because I was so blessed she had forgiven me for the way I had left at the end of the summer — but I had to ask one more thing...
"Em?"
"You really ought to be resting, Rosalie," the fat lady in pink added her two cents where it was not needed. I despised her already. She had this smart-ass look on her face like she was scolding me.
I was about to tell her to shove it, but Esme intervened and told me, "Emmett is in the waiting room. He is thinking of you and sends all his love. He is not allowed in here — only parents are... When you're feeling a bit better they will allow him in to visit you."
That sounded like a load of horse crap to me, but that was too many words to say so I grimaced and grunted irritably.
"I know, hon. I know. Soon, okay? You just try to rest now."
"The morphine should be kicking in," the pink marshmallow lady said.
"I will tell Emmett you were thinking of him. He will be so pleased to hear you're awake now," Esme reassured me with a kind, shaky smile.
I almost smiled back. I wanted to tell Emmett I loved him, just in case this was a dream and it was my last chance to tell him how happy he made me. I felt warm and safe at the thought of seeing him again.
A strange weightlessness came over me and I grew sleepy again. The room began to get smaller and swirl around Esme as my eyes drooped. She kept running her hand through my hair and whispering to me that I should "rest." I closed my eyes to appease her. I felt her fingers on my face and they brushed over my forehead and settle on my head. It felt soothing... I had missed her lovey-dovey ways. Her closeness put me at ease, and I let sleep take me.
Something tight squeezed my arm, and I was suddenly aware of my surroundings again. This time, when I heard the soft humming noise and the squeeze on my arm, I grumbled to myself and a sharp pain pierced my chest when I took too deep a breath. I gasped slightly and tried to calm myself.
I managed to open my eyes a bit and saw Carlisle was with me now. He was sitting on a chair next to me with his head resting on the edge of the bed awkwardly. His eyes were closed, and his hand was on mine. I debated if I should wake him or not. The more I thought about not moving, the more I wanted to move — just to be sure I still could...
My one hand was all taped up with an IV in it and something clipped to my index finger, but I could move all my fingers so I was pleased. I didn't mess around too much, but I did find the source of my annoyance... It was a pressure cuff wrapped snugly around that same arm. It would have to go!
I wiggled a few fingers under Carlisle's large hand, and he woke up almost immediately and lifted his head. He blinked a few times before he seemed to fully wake up. His complexion was a bit chalky and he had dark grey circles under his eyes. It was the worst I had ever seen him. His eyes sparkled intensely blue in contrast to how bloodshot they were, but they were still so very kind looking as they gazed back at me.
"Jesus... " I croaked at him. "You look awful."
His seriousness faded, and he smiled widely at that statement. He ran a hand through is unkempt hair and nodded, not making any excuses for his appearance.
"Esme told me you were doing better," he chuckled. I looked at him quizzically. "I heard you were giving Vicky a hard time and though I can't say I approve of your language choices, I was pleased to know you are still as feisty as ever."
Again, I had no fucking idea what he was talking about. I would have shrugged but my body was so heavy it didn't want to work that hard.
"Vicky was the nurse overseeing your medications last night... "
"That bitch hurt me!" I grumbled defensively. He chuckled again and didn't even seem upset with me for swearing. He overlooked it completely and kissed the top of my head with a soft smuck sound.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, looking me over quickly and then glancing over his shoulder at a monitor with some numbers and lines flashing over it. It only took him a moment to read it and then he was smiling at me once again. "Are you in any pain right now?"
"No... not... right now," I breathed carefully as I thought about how I was feeling. My nose itched and I reached up to find there was some thin, plastic tubing taped to my face and two little prongs were blowing something into my nostrils. I grimaced with disgust and contemplated ripping it away.
"It's just some oxygen," Carlisle explained, touching my hand and moving it from my face. "You will have to be on it for a few more days as your body heals." He didn't tell me why.
"Can you take this one off?" I asked him, looking down at the cuff on my arm and then back at his sorrowful face. He shook his head.
"Sorry, sweetie. Your blood pressure needs to be monitored regularly. Once some of the swelling is gone in your back and abdomen, then you won't have to have it on all the time."
"It keeps waking me up," I complained with a pout.
"I know... I'm sorry. It's just for a while longer, sweetie. You're doing so well. Dr. Green is weaning you slowly off the high dose of morphine you have been on, but if you're in pain you need to tell us right away so we can up the dosage." Carlisle shifted closer and took my hand again. "Are you sure you're not hurting anywhere? Would you like me to call a nurse or your doctor?"
"Um..." I hummed. My head was still kind of fuzzy. I looked down at my right arm, all strapped up in a sling and propped on a low pillow and wondered if it was broken or something. I had forgotten what we were talking about.
"Do you have any pain in your shoulder?" Carlisle asked me, rubbing his thumb back and forth over my hand, but he didn't move my arm at all.
"Not really," I admitted, "My side hurts the most... when I breathe."
He nodded, his forehead knit tightly with a few creases that normally were not there. He sighed and told me, "You have several rib fractures on your right side. And..." He paused for a moment and studied my face carefully. "I don't want to frighten you, dear... Perhaps I should get your-"
"Tell me," I insisted. "Please. I want to know how bad it is." And I would rather hear it from Carlisle than a stranger. He took a deep inhale and offered me a soft smile of comfort before he continued.
It was rather upsetting to hear what had happened, but I did my best not to panic. I found out why it was so hard to take deep breaths and why my arm was in a sling. It was not so bad. Some bruises, broken ribs, and a dislocated shoulder. All I could think about was whether or not I would be disfigured — which is shallow of me perhaps, but important.
The most horrible part was the fact I had a tube inside my chest that couldn't come out for a few more days. I was not pleased to hear the details, but Carlisle assured me that it would hardly leave a scar. I was also worried about my arm, but he told me that after some physical therapy I should regain full use of it. He told me it could have been a lot worse, and under the circumstances I had been lucky I had not been injured more severely.
Apparently, I was showing great improvement already and he was genuinely happy to say that I wouldn't have to stay in the PICU for much longer. "Dr. Green will be coming by in a while to check on you, and if he is pleased with how you're doing he wants to sign for a room transfer."
I asked about Emmett and he gave me the same answer as Esme — that Emmett had not left the hospital since I had arrived, but he was not allowed to see me yet. He told me that it was a critical care setting and only parents were allowed in to see their children. He almost sounded proud when he told me that, because there he was, standing in as my father when there was no way that it was legal.
"The whole family is here, darling. We're staying at the hotel across the street. Esme and I have been taking turns sitting with you," he whispered. "The kids send their love, of course, and wish they could be here with you too. Emmett especially..."
"Tell them..."
Who was I kidding? I was terrible at sentimental stuff. Carlisle seemed to understand why I had hesitated.
"I will let them know you were awake, alert, and thinking about them too," he replied with a slight grin.
"M 'kay," was all I managed to say to that, but the stupid monitor beside my bed flashed some numbers at us and Carlisle noticed the change. He made sure I was not in too much pain and he adamantly insisted that I get some more rest. I tried to roll my eyes, but it hurt my head too much.
"Try to sleep, dear. Your body needs it," he cooed. "Alice is determined that by evening you will be allowed visitors, and Emmett has taken this to be a fact. You don't want to be the one prove Alice wrong, do you?"
He laughed softly. Perhaps he was teasing, but he sounded partially serious, too.
My lips managed a faint smile, but it hurt so it didn't last long. I felt a bit better now, knowing that I was doing okay and that Emmett was very close nearby and I would see him soon. I was nice to know the whole family was here. I couldn't sleep, but my eyes were tired and I closed them and accepted Carlisle's hand on mine as he took his place by my bedside again.
Later that evening, like Alice had predicted, I was moved to my own room out of the PICU and into the children's ward.
Dr. Green was brief with his visit. He looked over some papers and said the same things Carlisle had told me — only in a blunter, more unfeeling manner. The poor dude was probably bitter because he was around the same age as Carlisle and not anywhere near as handsome or as intelligent. It was painfully obvious who all the nurses were swooning over. I wondered if Esme noticed — or even cared. Carlisle didn't seem to be aware of the attention at all!
Dr. Green was nowhere near as compassionate as Carlisle either… His movements were too quick and he offered no apologies when his touch hurt me. I managed to keep all my curse words to myself, but I didn't like Dr. Green. Well, until he told me that I was ready to move to a private room and that my family would be able to visit me finally. That was good news.
Carlisle thanked Dr. Green for me. Then he and some nurses began to unhook wires from monitors to prepare me for the room switch. It was a very tedious, boring process and I was not the most patient person in the universe. I didn't see why we could not just rip off half the things that I was plugged into. There were too many of them— and their purpose was not entirely clear to me.
Carlisle told to save my energy and put away my pout. This time around my sarcasm was displayed with a proper roll of my eyes.
However, he was right... I was exhausted by the time they finally wheeled the bed down the hallway.
Emmett was the first one in there to greet me. They had to stop the bed because he was so desperate to hold my hand. And then he insisted on walking along beside me the whole way there, not taking no for an answer.
He kept apologizing for not being with me sooner, and he would not stop rambling in his adorably idiotic fashion as people worked around his huge body to get me situated in my new bed. One nurse was pretty decent about Emmett being there, but the other was giving him the stink eye as she injected something into my IV line. Carlisle patted him on the back and told him not to wear me out too much, that I was still weak and needed to stay calm and rest.
"I'm fine, Carlisle."
Before Carlisle could say anything Emmett went on another long ramble.
"You're fine? You're really okay? Oh, I was so worried, Rose. You have no idea how messed up I've been for the last few days. I never stop thinking about you, but this was the worst — not knowing. Dad and Mom kept telling me you were getting better, but I needed to see you and tell you-" Emmett stopped and then straightened up a bit, looking at Carlisle.
"Alright, I can take an obvious hint when I see one," Carlisle laughed. "I need to call your mother anyway to tell her what room you are in. I'll be back in a bit."
"Thanks dad," Emmett replied.
Carlisle left to give us some privacy and Emmett hovered over me. He was a bit scared to touch me, but I told him not to worry — just to be gentle, and he experimented with that. He kissed my nose about ten times in a minute, smiling like a goof each time. "It's the only place not bruised," he told me in a shy murmur. "And it's just such a pretty nose, I can't stop kissing it."
"You're insane," I whispered blissfully, loving every tiny kiss he gave me.
No matter how much I nagged at him to stop fretting and to have a seat, he would not let go of my hand. And he was only holding on to a few of my fingers because he was scared to touch the IV.
"No way, babe! I'm not leaving your side ever again."
"Thank you," I told him with a sigh.
"For what?" he questioned me.
"For coming to my rescue," I answered him. "You're my hero, Em."
"Well, actually," he said sheepishly, "I don't know how much you remember, and I am not supposed to make you talk about it yet, but Dad was the hero. He kept me calm and made sure you were okay. He was with you the whole way to the hospital and talked to all your doctors to make sure they would take the best care of you... I'm not a hero, Rose. He is."
"I called you and you came." My eyes burned with tears. "I remember Carlisle helping me, and I won't ever forget it, but I remember you too — holding my hand and reminding me over and over that you love me. That's what saved me."
He kissed my nose again. "I will always come when you call, Rose. Just call my name... and I'll be there."
"Isn't that a song?" I giggled, losing the seriousness of the topic suddenly. I grin widely up at him. "Fuck! I feel good!" I told him. I felt so happy and in love.
"Uh..." He hummed with an amused expression. I gave him the best glare I could, but it was surely the most pitiful… He snorted with laughter and kissed my fingers this time. He was beaming at me like he was enjoying this way too much.
That stink-eyed nurse drugged me — I could tell! If I was not so fucking content I would bitch about her slipping it to me without a warning. It was great to be so cheerful over mundane things — not a care in the world. I could focus on what really mattered…
"This must be what it's like to be Alice!" I blurted out.
"Maybe!" Emmett replied sweetly. "Uh... Did anyone tell you about-"
"Kiss me again," I ordered boldly, the corners of my lips curling up in a grin. This was kind of fun!
He kissed my nose again... and then again. He stopped and looked a bit more serious. I pouted at him to mock, but he had something to tell me, I guess so I tried to behave and listen.
"Uh, did mom or dad tell you about Alice?" He asked cautiously.
"What about her?"
"She's the one who told us you were in danger, Rose. I mean, I had a feeling when I had not heard from you that night, but Alice is the one who made Dad and me come to you — before you even made that call to me. She thought— Well, I won't tell you the long version, but..." he told me somberly. "I thought you should know that she is the one who sent us to you. She knew you would call and you would need us so we were already on the way to you when you called me."
I didn't quite know what to say to that. Alice was certainly a strange little creature, but this was a bit freaky.
"I've never seen her so upset over a nightmare before," Emmett explained further. "She really believes she saw what happened to you. From her account of the events and what the police have found in evidence, she is right on the marker so far — it is so weird. She's literally made herself sick over it."
"Maybe she's psychic?" I rationalized with a thoughtful grin. It didn't even sound all that crazy.
I had not heard the nurse come back in, but her soft laughter alerted me to her next to my bed. "Sounds like someone is enjoying the pain meds and is feeling a lot better," she sang.
"Make her leave, Em," I whispered a bit too loudly. "She's bothering me."
"Alright, alright," she said with a condescending tone of amusement. She touched a few more buttons on the IV stand next to my bed. "I will be only a push button away if you need anything, Rosalie."
"Thank you," Emmett told her as she slipped out the door.
"Was I too rude?" I asked him.
"Uh, no, babe," He lied.
"Hmmm," I hummed blissfully. I loved it when he was on my side — even when I was being ridiculous.
"God, you are so beautiful," he told me sweetly. "I love you so much, Rose. I would not know what I'd do without you." He was never one for being subtle. "I just want to kiss you all over and never stop!" He was trembling a bit, holding back, as his lips pecked my nose and then he got courageous and kissed my forehead too.
The thought of kissing him was a lovely one. I had no idea what my appearance was like right now, but I was sore and my face hurt so I must have been hideous to look at. The fact he still could think about making out with me made me love him even more.
"I love you, Em," I sighed contently, feeling so good that I forgot again that I had to be careful with my breathing. He caught my wince and backed away with his hands open and apart.
"Sorry. Sorry," he apologized. "You okay? You need me to get the nurse? Do you want Dad? Maybe I should get Dad?"
I sucked in my breath and shook my head. The moment of sharp pain in my side had passed. I exhaled slowly. "I'm fine."
There was a light knock on the door and then it opened. Esme and Carlisle entered, Esme a bit hesitant, but Carlisle had his arm around her and eased her in gently.
"Hey," she whispered. She looked tired without much makeup on, but she was still such a lovely sight to see. Her dimples were present as she smiled pleasantly at me and she came closer. "Hi, honey. How are you doing?" Her eyes were glossed over with tears.
"Good."
"She's been talking smack to the nurses again," Emmett told on me with a grin. "Scared that last one away without even a swear word this time."
Carlisle chuckled and Esme cooed over me even deeper.
"Oh? I hope you've been cooperating, darling," Esme chastised mildly, combing her fingers through my hair. "We want you to heal up and come home to us as soon as you're well enough."
"Home?" I asked. I had been so out of it I had not really thought a lot about what was going to happen to me now. I knew, though I didn't dare say it out loud, that Lily was dead. I pushed the thought from my mind and sighed shakily.
"We have some good news," Carlsile said, stepping forward to put his hand over Esme's which was holding mine already. His pause made me anxious, but the smile burst from his lips told me everything was okay. "We spoke to Clara... Everything is in order for you to come home with us when you're released from the hospital. She wanted me to pass on her well wishes to you and said to tell you that she will be in to visit you in a couple of days."
"Really?"
I had been hoping for this for months — for something to happen that would send me back to the Cullens forever. It was tragic what happened, and I was scared to face that truth, but I was going home!
"Really," Esme replied with a soft nod. "You're our girl, Rose. We're sorry for the way everything worked out — that you were hurt — but we are so thrilled we can take you home again. We love you so much, darling." I could tell she was a bit upset, probably about Lily and Royce, but I was too selfish to think about anything but myself at this time.
With the morphine and whatever else that they were pumping into me to ease my troubles... I was in a hazy blur of my own happiness at the thought of going to live with the Cullens indefinitely. I almost wondered if this scene was some mirage I was staring into. It hardly seemed real for life to get any better than this.
Esme was crying happily beside me and Carlisle was trying to keep himself together and console her. Emmett was beaming like a kid at Christmas time...
"I love you too," I told them.
The pressure built inside my chest again… It was a good kind of pain — and had absolutely nothing to do with my injuries.
To Be Continued…
How was that for growth? What moment stood out most prominently to you? Do you think Rosalie's heart will grow thrice it's normal size now that she has gotten her family back? ;)
Coming up Next- It's three weeks later, Rose is home, and there is about to be a Christmas miracle (maybe more than one)...
Thank you for reading!
The next chapter will mark the end of "Thorns." It will be posted on Monday, Nov 1st.
*Reminder- A new illustration has been posted in my DeviantArt Gallery (links on my profile) of Esme and Rosalie to accompany this chapter if you are interested in taking a peek. :) And-It is not a scene written in, but there is a drawing of Bella and Edward sitting in the hallway, outside of Rosalie's hospital room too. ;) Tell me what you think is going on in that scene. I would love to hear your thoughts. :)