Approaching Normal

Chapter 16

Carlisle stopped me outside the room. "Bella, we stopped the medicine early this morning when I got in, he hasn't come out of it yet, but that's normal."

"How long are we looking at?" I questioned.

"Hopefully pretty quick, he was only out for two weeks to give his body time to heal. Thankfully he didn't have any brain trauma, just a slight concussion from the car accident." Carlisle assured me.

"Thank you. Can I go in now?"

"Yes, just buzz if you need anything. We're monitoring his vitals at the nurse's station too." Carlisle pointed to the screen.

Walking in, I sat in the chair next to his bed and grabbed his hand. Talking to him and telling him about the kids and our little one, let him know everything was okay with all of us and we were ready for him to come back to us. At lunch time, Esme brought me lunch and said she was staying with the kids tonight, she also brought me a change of clothes for bed and the morning. She kissed Edward's head and told him to hurry up, she missed those beautiful green eyes.

After she left, I pulled out the book I'd been reading to him and started reading, before I knew it Carlisle was coming in to say goodnight and reminding me to eat and get some sleep, assuring him I'd already ordered dinner to be delivered at 6pm and Esme had brought me plenty snacks.

"Okay, I'll be sleeping in my office tonight, so buzz the nurses if you need anything! They'll come get me if needed." Carlisle hugged me and squeezed Edward's hand.

After dinner I took a quick shower, I didn't want to miss a minute.

The nurse came in to check his vitals and make sure he was comfortable. I had her push the chair as close as possible to the bed and thanked her.

I got settled in, turned on the T.V. and held Edward's hand as I drifted off to sleep.

Sometime in the middle of the night I felt a weird sensation, barely coherent, I open my eyes to see Edwards eyes staring at me and he had a death grip on my hand. "Edward! Hold on, I'll get your dad."

Buzzing the nurse's station, I told them he'd woke up and to get Carlisle, a few minutes later a very rumpled Carlisle came running in. "He's awake?"

"Yes. I only turned on the light behind the bed, I didn't want to hurt his eyes."

"Good thinking, although I'm going to have to turn it on to exam him and take the tube out. Do you want the tube out Edward? Can you breathe okay?" Edward nodded slightly and Carlisle called in a nurse and had me sit in the chair.

Once the tube was removed, Carlisle checked Edward over and instructed me to feed him a few ice chips, telling Edward to wait a while before talking, he was calling to get some scans set up and for someone to help Edward sit up and check the strength in his legs, because Edward motioned he wanted to walk.

"Be patient. Edward you've been in a coma for two weeks. Your legs are going to be wobbly." Carlisle chastised and Edward rolled his eyes.

Finally, around 4am, the tests were done, and Carlisle told us the swelling was gone, his head would probably hurt on and off for the next few weeks, especially where a bullet grazed his head. Carlisle also let us know that all his bullet wounds were healing perfectly and of course some pain from those was to be expected if he tried to do too much. Edward had been shot in the right shoulder and left side of his chest. He was very lucky!

"My love." Edward rasped out.

"Edward, your throat." I chastised him.

"I'm a doctor, I know these things." He smiled his beautiful smile. "Climb up here." He patted his bed.

"Are you sure?"

Giving me the best smirk, he could manage, I gave in and climbed up, snuggling as best I could not to hurt him. "We've missed you." I kissed the underside of his jaw as he rubbed small circles on my stomach.

"Alice is dead Bella, they killed her. I thought I was dead too, I prayed to God that he let me live, I have a whole life in front of me." He was crying.

"And you lived. I'm sorry about Alice." I wiped his tears.

"I love you and I'm so happy I'm here." He leaned down and kissed me softly. We must have fallen asleep because we were woken up by Carlisle.

"That didn't take long." He chuckled.

"Dad, you know she's my life." Edward smiled.

"I know. Just be careful, don't rip any stitches, the physical therapist will be here soon to evaluate you." Carlisle informed Edward.

"I can move my legs, but they are a little sore." He winced.

"Well, you haven't really used them in two weeks, we've had the stimulation boots on you and the therapist came in everyday to massage your legs and bend them." Carlisle let Edward know all the tests he'd had, medications and treatments he'd had.

"What about girls? Have they been told?" Edward was deeply worried.

"Yes, I sat down and told all the kids what happened with Esme." I rubbed his hand softly.

"Good, I'm so glad they have you Bella." Edward smiled.

"And we're so glad we have you." I leaned down to kiss him.

After his physical therapy appointment, Carlisle let us know he'd be in for a few more days and then he'd be released to continue any treatments at home.

"Thank you, dad we appreciate that. You know I'm not a good patient." Edward laughed.

"Oh, I know." Carlisle chuckled and left us alone.

We snuggled back together, falling asleep again.

AN: Ok… I hope you enjoy… It's been awhile and I'm sorry… LIFE HAPPENS…

Hopefully I can keep this momentum and finish up my stories…

Thanks for being patient and thanks for reading!

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