Chapter 21

Sam

I decided to take advantage of the time I had before the vampires got here and no doubt would take up all of Bella's time and attention. After finding out what room she was in from the front desk, which you think would have a little bit more security precaution, Jared and I made our way to the elevator and up to the fourth floor.

When we got there, Jared waited in a common lobby area and I went in to see Bella. The door was cracked open so I just walked in as I knocked on it lightly.

I wasn't expecting to see a man sat in a chair next to her hospital bed. He had dark brown hair and a thick brown mustache. I realized who he was when he looked up at me with familiar eyes. This must be Bella's father, Charlie.

He stood immediately, his hand flew to his hip as if to reach for a gun that wasn't there. I raised my hands a little to show him that he didn't need to be wary of me. I could understand why he was to begin with. I was a huge guy and I was walking into a hospital room where his daughter lied unconscious on the bed. I hadn't realized that she'd be asleep. But I guess that it was a pretty dumb assumption that she'd be awake since she was sick enough to be here in the first place.

"Who are you?" Charlie demanded, his voice rough. He stepped a bit more into the light, and now that I could see him better I could tell that he was stressed and there were signs that he hadn't been sleeping well. I figured it must be hard to have a kid in the hospital. He didn't look that old, so he must have had Bella pretty young.

"I'm Sam Uley, a friend of Bella's." I told him, honestly. I saw recognition cross his face.

"Oh, Billy Black has talked about you some. All good things. The old man seems to think highly of you. He gave me a small smile, some crows feet crinkled by his eyes as he did so. "I didn't know you and Bella were friends."

"It's fairly recent, since she moved back to the area." I explained to him. He just nodded and the room went silent for a moment. I was dying to be closer to Bella, but I didn't want to spook Charlie.

"Well anyways." He said as he cleared his voice and made a move to leave the room. "I'm Chief Swan. Uhem. Uh Charlie Swan, Bells' old man." He finished off with a sturdy hand shake and left the room. His little slip up had been on purpose. He'd wanted me to know he was not only a cop, but chief of police.

I made the few steps to get to Bella's bed and from outside I could hear that the vampires had finally made it and was both relieved and a bit impressed that they let me have some time with Bella first instead of just barging in.

I rested my hand on her soft cheek. It felt cool to me, but that wasn't really a clue as to if she had a fever or not. If she had been as warm as I was she wouldn't be just sick, she'd be dying.

I felt like something was drawing me towards her and I couldn't help myself. I left the softest of kisses on her forehead, my lips just barely brushing her skin. Somehow that was enough to have stirred her and when I leaned back she parted her beautiful lashes and opened her innocent, chocolate brown, doe eyes.

My heart was aching in my chest and I felt the need to be with her and protect her and I willed myself to just go ahead and imprint. The wolf inside me was whimpering and skittering closer to her. But it didn't happen.

I was filled with disappointment, but I hid it on my features because I was so damned happy to just see her, I didn't want her to think anything of it.

"Oh hiiii Sammmyy" she said in a drugged voice. I cringed at the pet name but I'd be damned it was cute as anything. Before I had a chance to say anything she'd reached up with her hands and pulled me a bit closer. She puckered up her lips and waited somewhat patiently. When I didn't kiss her right away she peaked open one eye to see what was taking so long.

I let out a quiet laugh and leaned in to give her a kiss. She'd never acted this young and adorable before, but I'm also fairly certain she'd never been on drugs around me before. What was they were giving her anyways?

"I missed you Mr." She said in her loopy voice. "HA! That's funny! Missed Mr. Misses."

She clearly wasn't operating on all cylinders and it was pretty hilarious. At least she was happy to see me. Drugged up or not, I took it as a good sign. I could hear as Rosalie started to get restless outside, so I gave Bella another chaste little kiss and made my way out the door to let Rosalie know it was her turn.

All eyes turned to me when I walked out. The brown eyes of Charlie, Blue eyes of a woman I didn't recognize, but could assume was Bella's mom, three pairs of vampire honey, and lastly the brown eyes of my brother, my pack mate. Jared and Jasper had been leaned together having a serious conversation while Emmet sat next to them, his broad shoulders sloped and his elbows resting on his knees. Rosalie just nodded at me and left to see Bella.

"Oh! Rossseeyy!" Bella's loopy voice came from the room as soon as female vampire entered. Emmett and Jasper just cracked up and I shook my head, imagining the scowl blondie probably had etched on her face.

I was also happy to have more proof that Bella and Rosalie really were friends. I was happy to know that I could at least trust that she wouldn't aim to hurt Bella in anyway.

"Let's head down and get some coffee now, Sam. We can have a nice chat." My thoughts were interrupted by Charlie. It was strange, here I was, a beast towering over him and he was unarmed, but he was one hell of an intimidating man when he wanted to be.

Author's Note:

We are finally making some progress! I'm glad they got to spend a little time together.

Thank you to everyone leaving reviews! I don't respond to them all because I don't want to give anything away and I am a total blabber mouth about my stories! Please, continue to share your opinions and guesses, I read them all and I enjoy them so much! It gives me loads of motivation and I hope you guys continue to enjoy my little story.

Happy Reading, as always :)

-Dahlia