For those who have asked, there's seven chapters left and an epilogue.

As usual, thanks to the BW crew for holding my hand through this process and to all of you for reading and reviewing!

Chapter 36. The Aftermath

It's a hectic few hours after Edward passes out.

He just dropped on the ground next to the ambulance. I had no idea James had actually stabbed him or that he was badly hurt. He didn't say anything. He didn't complain. He kept saying the blood he was covered with belonged to James. I think he didn't realize how hurt he was, until it was too late, until his body gave out.

I ride in the ambulance with him and hold his hand while the paramedics try to keep him stable. They throw terms around in Spanish, but I do catch that he has a pulse and I can see that he is breathing.

Once we arrive in the hospital, he's taken in quickly, which leaves me alone in the waiting area. I'm about to lose it when I see Emmett and Rosalie running toward me. My sobs and tears seep into Rose's shirt as she holds me tightly against her chest; she whispers in my ear that it's okay, that it's going to be okay.

She asks if I want to change and clean up. She says she brought me clothes. But I can't even think about that, not when in through the ER doors, a new set of paramedics arrive, one of them on top of the gurney, actively performing CPR.

My stomach drops when I realize it's Jake who they are bringing in, but I don't have time to process my emotions because just as fast as they arrive, they disappear through the swinging doors.

Emmett tells me that Jake was found on the beach, near emptied turtle nests, bound and beaten to a pulp. They must have brought him back there after they dropped us at the abandoned house. The way he was found, and where he was found, suggests the poachers were trying to send a clear message: Stop the patrols.

Since Jake is well known in town and his conservation efforts are appreciated by most, the waiting area and the outside of the hospital quickly turns into complete mayhem with local and foreign news channels. We don't let the commotion distract us. Instead, we all just sit and wait. We pray. We wipe the tears that fall down our cheeks. We drink coffee that tastes bitter, and then we wait some more.

Emmett and Rose are sitting next to me; Rose keeps her hand on my shoulder or somehow connected with me at all times. It's as if she wants to keep me grounded but also wants to reassure herself that I'm okay.

In front of us, Seth and Leah have their heads on each of Sue's shoulders, silent tears rolling down their cheeks, while she hums a prayer with her hands clasped over her lap.

The minutes turn into hours, and soon my tears dry on my cheeks.

When one of the doctors comes out, she only has news about Edward. She says he lost a large amount of blood but not enough to need a transfusion. They were able to stop the bleeding and he's stable and recovering. Luckily, his knife wounds didn't reach any major organs so he also avoided surgery.

With this revelation, I breathe a little easier and let Rose take me to the restrooms.

Rose wets paper towels and meticulously cleans my face, my arms and legs, which are covered in dirt, blood, and who knows what else. She's careful with the side of my face that's tender and swollen from where James hit me.

She helps me change out of my clothes, which I have been wearing since the night before, and collects my messy hair into a ponytail. Quiet tears fall down my face as I stare at the mirror, still in shock, almost numb, contemplating the aftermath of our kidnapping.

When we come back out, we learn that Jake has been taken into surgery, and that his condition is delicate. At least he's alive, and fighting, and—

"I called Charlie earlier," Rose says softly next to me, distracting me as we sit again.

"What?" I turn to her in disbelief.

"You can't keep this from him, Bella. I already feel bad enough that we didn't tell him about your near drowning. And now this happened and—"

"Did he freak out?"

"He actually sounded calm and collected," Rose says as if that's normal.

Calm and collected Charlie? That's ready-to-lose-his-shit Charlie. That's on-his-way-to-Costa-Rica Charlie. I don't say anything else to Rose because Edward's doctor reappears and says I can go see him.

~~o~~

I'm sitting in the chair next to Edward's bed, my head resting on the mattress. He was asleep when I came in. My eyes keep fluttering closed, the weight of the hours behind us heavy on my lids, but every time he stirs, I wait to see if he'll wake up.

I must doze off because next thing I know, he's rubbing his fingers on my hand.

"Bella?" His voice is a little hoarse, and he clears his throat.

"Hey…" I lift my head from the mattress, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

"Are you okay?" He shifts in the bed with a wince.

"Me?" I get up from the chair, inching closer to him.

"Mmmhmm?" He rests his head back and closes his eyes again.

"I am okay." I reach for his face and when my fingers graze his jaw, he opens his eyes back up. "Are you?"

He just hums his response, nodding.

"I'm so sorry…" My eyes water. "It could have been so much worse. I can't believe I was so stupid. I am so relieved that you're okay." I palm my forehead as I sigh, stepping away from him to collect myself.

"C'mere." He scoots to one side, hissing a little with each movement, making room for me on the bed.

I climb in gently, careful not to hurt him or get tangled in the lines that are connected to his arm. I feel him tense, holding his breath, but once my head is on his chest, we both exhale in relief.

"I love you." His words are barely a whisper. When I look up at him, his eyes are squinty and his smile is wide.

"Are you high?"

He laughs and then winces. "No…maybe?" He smiles again. "I think they gave me the good stuff."

I nuzzle my head back on his chest.

"It's still true though," he says. "I love you. And for a moment last night, I thought I would never get the chance to tell you that. So I'm doing it now."

My eyes drown with tears, making him blurry. "I love you too, Edward." I bring my lips to his, and his hand wraps on the back of my head. "I love you so much. I couldn't wait to say it to you. If something had happened to you, I—"

"Shhh…" He brings my head to his chest and kisses my forehead.

"I really am sorry," I say again, tears spilling from my eyes. "I'm stubborn, and reckless, and I went anyway. I just never thought it'd be that bad. I never thought they'd be capable of doing those things."

"What they did was unacceptable, Bella, inexcusable." His fingers run in my hair, with soft strokes that match his tone. "They had no right. It wasn't your fault."

"But I put myself there. And then dragged you into it."

"Because you're passionate..." I feel his chest move with his breathing. "And brave, and you see the good in people."

"Brave?" I look up at him and he brings his hand to my face. "I was so scared."

"Bella..." His thumb rubs over my cheek. "You traveled to a foreign country to save some animals because you believe they are worth saving. You believe you can make a difference. That you can make the world a better place. That's fucking admirable. And you don't just believe in it. You work your ass off for it, too. If that's not brave then I don't know what is."

"Maybe we just have different definitions of brave." I shrug, smiling a little, resting my head back on his chest.

"You are brave. And it scares the shit out of me."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay." His fingers thread in my hair, as he shushes me, kissing the top of my head. "We're okay."

We stay like this for a while—his fingers in my hair, his lips on my forehead, my hand on his chest, my tears on his hospital gown.

I think I doze off again, and when I feel him stirring, my lids are too heavy for my eyes. He's talking too, in Spanish, begging someone to let us sleep.

"Bella?" His voice is soft in my ear, his fingers grazing my arm. I groan, I think. I don't want to move. I just want to sleep and never leave his side.

Please, let us sleep.

"Bella?" His voice is louder now as he taps my shoulder.

I reluctantly open my eyes to find a nurse next to the bed.

"I'm sorry." I sit up with a jolt, rubbing my eyes and my face.

The nurse has a friendly smile but gestures with a hand for me to hop off his bed.

"She needs to check my stitches," Edward says, seeming slightly annoyed with the nurse. "But that hopefully means I can be out of here soon."

I look at him, still sleepy, still confused, and so, so, so tired.

"Go get some rest, Bella." His smile is soft, his gaze weary. "I promise to go get you as soon as I'm able."

"Yeah, no way." I roll my eyes at him. "Can I stay?" I look at the nurse, who stares blankly at me. "Puedo quedar, por favor?"

"No, no, no." She starts coming close to me, and with a hand on my back, escorts me out.

~~o~~

"I-sssssa-be-lla Sw-OO-aaan." I hear him before I see him, leaning over the receptionist's desk.

"Dad?" My tears are already flowing as I run to him. He turns from the desk, startled, but as soon as he sees me, he starts rushing to me as well.

"Bella." He sighs as he wraps his arms around me. "There you are, kiddo. I've been going crazy looking for you."

I just sob into his chest as he holds me together, tightening his grip and not letting me go.

"I came as fast as I could," he says against my head. "I want to kill the motherfuckers who did this to you."

I chuckle-sob against his chest, so glad that he's here.

"Rose said you're okay," he says, pulling back from me. "Is it true? Are you okay?"

I nod as he holds my face in both hands, wiping my tears with his thumbs and inspecting the side of my face. "We're leaving tomorrow night, okay? I'm taking you home."

"What?" I step away from him, and he drops his hands. "No. Dad, no."

He backtracks as he sees the anguish in my face. "I figured you'd want to get the hell out of here."

"No, I still have two weeks," I say, panicking. "I need those two weeks, Dad." I can't even begin to think about leaving now.

"Okay, okay." He reaches for my face again, hugging me to him. "We'll talk about it. Don't worry about that now."

~~o~~

Charlie is in and out of the waiting room, fending for himself in his limited Spanish. He brings us coffee and makes inappropriate jokes with Emmett, and I am so happy he's here. When he sits next to me, my head ends up on his shoulder, and I tell him everything. About Edward. About the near drowning and how he saved me. I tell him about the kidnapping, and how Edward rescued me.

Charlie stays mostly quiet as I let it all out. He doesn't judge or admonish me. I know he must be angry about me keeping the drowning from him, about putting myself in unnecessary danger, but he doesn't say it, even when I apologize for all of it.

My hands shake as I tell him that we then went back in and James returned. A shudder runs through me at the memory of using my pen against James, and my tears return when I tell him Edward almost got killed because of me.

"Wait a second…" Charlie finally speaks. "You went back in, after he rescued you?" He inches away from me, as if to take a good look at my face.

"We had to find Jacob…" My voice is small, the severity of what happened catching up with me.

"Bella…" Charlie scowls and starts immediately palming his pockets like he wants a smoke.

"We didn't know where Jacob was. He could have been there, badly hurt. I don't know."

"You don't go back in, Christ! Not without a phone, unarmed... That's for trained personnel, Bella!"

"I had my pen."

"For self-defense, Bella. Self-defense." He springs to his feet and paces in front of me, taking deep breaths to calm down. "Not to go back in there in a fu…" He stops himself, dragging the syllable out and looking around at all the people that surround us before lowering his voice. "Rescue mission."

"I'm sorry," I say, wrapping my arms around myself, quiet tears spilling from my eyes. I guess it was stupid to stay behind with Edward, to go searching for Jacob, but who knows how long the police would have taken to get there? Jacob could have been there, hurt, moments from death. What if we had left and he was there the whole time, with barely a pulse, like they found him on the beach?

"Jesus, kiddo…" Charlie huffs, dropping back on the seat next to me, wrapping his arm around me again. "I knew your big heart would get you in trouble one day. I'm proud of you, but, fuck...you need to be more careful."

~~o~~

When Jake's doctor finally comes out, he lets us know that Jake is out of surgery, in a coma. His injuries were substantial, but the surgery to correct his internal bleeding had been successful. His brain is swollen though, and he needs time to recover. The doctor says we just need to wait and see and that it will take a while. As in days. That brings a bit of hope that is followed by a new wave of tears and prayers.

Things slow down. People filter out. Sue takes Leah and Seth home. No one will see Jake tonight.

Emmett and Rose head out too, after I insist, leaving me with Charlie. I am not leaving without Edward, and Charlie is not leaving without me.

It's been a couple hours when I finally see Edward gingerly walking to us, in his bloodied clothes, his hat shadowing his face, and a white paper bag in his hand; I shoot up from my chair and Charlie stands up behind me.

"Hey, can you be nice?" I turn to Charlie with a warning. "He's...important."

"He saved my daughter's life." Charlie scoffs next to me. "At least three times that I know of." He brings a hand to my face with a soft smile. "He risked his life for you. I'm ready to buy the guy a beer, or a new van, or something."

I sigh in relief, and then I turn away from Charlie and rush to Edward before he can make it to us. My arms instinctively wrap around his neck and he lets out a soft breath. "You're okay," I say against his face.

He hums against my cheek, his arms enveloping me, before he straightens up with a groan. When I look up at him, his face is composed and his lips stretch into a soft smile.

"So, my dad is here." I get it out in the open at once.

"Oh?"

"Do you want to meet him?"

Edward looks over my shoulder and swallows loudly. "Sure," he says shakily.

"You don't have to," I say, my lips stretching involuntarily.

"He's right there, Bella." Edward takes his hat off and runs a nervous hand in his hair, before stuffing it back in it. "I'm not just going to walk past him, am I?"

"He wants to meet you too," I say, and Edward's eyes are finally on me.

"Does he know?" Edward frowns, his eyes darting back to Charlie. "That I left you unprotected? That I couldn't—"

"I'm going to stop you right there. He knows what happened. But he knows it wasn't your fault. He's very appreciative of you."

"Is he armed?" Edward asks, swallowing again, and I chuckle.

"Are you listening to me?" I clasp both hands on his face until he looks at me. "He's going to love you."

I hold his hand as we walk to my father. Edward's fingers tighten around mine before he lets go of my hand to remove his hat as we stand in front of Charlie.

"Dad," I start, unable to contain my smile as I see the way Charlie is looking at Edward. "This is Edward. Edward, this is my dad, Charlie."

"Chief Swan, it's a pleasure to meet you, sir." Edward shakes my dad's hand as Charlie smiles.

"Please, call me Charlie." Dad grabs Edward's hand, quickly shaking it, before pulling him in for a hug. "Thank you, son."

~~o~~

It's already dark by the time we leave the hospital. We take a taxi and drop Charlie off at his hotel, which is walking distance from Tortuga Beach and not far from my cabin, where the taxi leaves us afterward.

Edward is quiet and looks uncomfortable as we walk to my front door. I take the first step of the porch so I can be at his eye level.

"Are you okay?"

He drops his forehead onto mine and wraps his hands on my waist, pulling me to him. He only exhales and softly nods. I know he must be exhausted and possibly in pain.

"Stay with me," I whisper with my eyes closed.

"You sure?"

"It's either that, or I'm coming with you. I think we might be more comfortable here, and we won't have to climb those rocks to your van with your injuries."

"Bella, it's just some stitches." He pulls away to look at me. "I'm fine."

"Can you stay with me, please?"

"Okay."

~~o~~

Rose doesn't even ask questions when I tell her Edward is staying with me tonight. She and Emmett had passed out on her bed as they waited for me. They quietly leave to Emmett's room and we are finally alone.

Edward sits on my bed with a little grimace, looking as exhausted as I feel. He drops his hat on my nightstand and runs a hand over his hair and then rubs his eyes.

I think about just crashing with him, but I feel gross, filthy still. I look at him, his clothes still covered in dry blood.

I walk closer to him as he looks up, and even in his shattered state, he smiles at me.

"I think I need to wash last night off my body," I whisper, standing in front of him.

Edward's face sobers slightly, a gloom in his eyes. The idea of stepping away from him, even for a quick shower, quickly becomes overwhelming, so I move between his legs and run my hands on his shoulders.

"Would you join me?" I ask, and I don't know why, but my voice breaks.

"Of course." He looks worried but gets up right away and holds my hand as we make it to the bathroom. We take each other's clothes off in silence. Neither of us daring to speak.

When he hisses as I lift his shirt, I pause, looking at the bandage covering his stitches.

"Are you supposed to get this wet?" My fingers graze around the edges of the gauze.

"She said not to submerge it for twenty-four hours." He shrugs, looking at me, all traces of pain gone from his face. "It's a waterproof bandage. It'll be fine." His thumbs caress my cheeks, his eyes glaring a bit at what is probably a bruised cheekbone.

I start the shower and check the temperature while Edward gets rid of his shorts.

The water falls over me, as Edward brushes my hair back. He doesn't complain about the temperature, even though I know it's probably too hot for him. He's used to the un-heated hose in his van, and he's complained before about the scalding-hot temperature I shower with.

I grab my loofah, pour some body wash on it, and start rubbing it on his chest, then his neck and down his arms. I circle him and move behind him, washing away the dry blood from his body. He breathes out roughly and closes his eyes, bracing a hand for support against the tile. Water runs in rivulets from his hair onto his face as I move back into the shower stream in front of him.

I rub the loofah down my arms next, when I notice the stains that still clutter my skin. Clear handprints, fingers that left their filth on me, as they grabbed and tossed and manhandled me.

Suds run down my arms but the stains remain. I wonder if it's grease or what, and why it won't come off, and I rub the loofah on me harder and harder, again and again.

"Easy, Bella." Edward takes the loofah from me, running his fingers on my forearms. "They're bruises." His voice is soft, so soft, it contrasts the loudness of my sobs.

He holds my head to his chest as I break down. Letting the water pour over us until it runs cold. Until my tears stop and my legs give out. Until he carries me out of the shower.

~~o~~