I was trying my best not to blink against the harsh penlight that Carlisle was repeatedly flashing in my eyes when I heard my dad's cruiser abruptly pull up on the gravel outside the Cullen house. The slamming of the front door echoed through the house before I heard the heavy thundering footsteps of Charlie rushing up the stairs. The heavy twin doors to Carlisle's study were thrown open with a bang and Charlie stood there for half a second before striding across the Persian rug and pulling me into a binding hug.
The force of the hug pulled me off my perch on Carlisle's mahogany desk and I threw my arms around Charlie so I wouldn't stumble. Charlie pulled back, two large calloused hands on either side of my face, "I am so proud of you." He intoned gruffly.
A shocked laugh bubbled out of my throat, "What for, exactly? Killing a vampire? Or finally managing a partial transformation?"
Charlie's brown eyes glittered in amusement. "Both." Charlie studied my face for a moment longer before he dropped his hands and turned to Carlisle, "What's the diagnosis, doc?" He asked.
"Bella appears to be completely fine, save for the new scars on her arms. But they are already healing at a rapid rate." Carlisle reported diligently. I turned my head to give Edward an I told you so look. As soon as I had eaten breakfast, Edward had corralled me into his car and broken every traffic law in the book to get me to Forks in record time. "I do believe that Bella sustained a traumatic brain injury, but I can no longer find any evidence of it." Carlisle added, his voice gaining that learned sort of inflection, like that of a particularly invested scholar. At this, Edward returned my look of I told you so. As if his worries were now somehow warranted. I narrowed my eyes at him, I had never said that I wasn't injured, I knew I had been. I had just insisted that I was now fine and rushing me home to be checked out by his father was an overreaction.
Charlie nodded seriously, "What makes you say that?" He asked thoughtfully.
Carlisle beamed, pleased to be able to talk about his favourite subject: werewolves. "From what Bella has told me, as well as Alice and Rosalie's accounts Bella sustained serious damage to her Occipital Lobe as well as her Cerebellum. These areas of the brain are responsible for sight, and gross motor functions such as coordination and balance. This accounts for her blurred and spotty vision as well as her inability to have total control of her limbs." Carlisle was off and running. He had a remarkable talent for being able to flip a switch and turn into a stoic lecturer when the moment called for it. "I can not be entirely certain of the extent of the trauma, as it is no longer present. However it's safe to assume that if Bella had been human, she would have most likely never regained full function. It's remarkable really, your ability to heal wounds that would prove fatal to others."
"Gee, thanks." I droned.
Charlie chuckled with a shake of his head, "Thanks for checking her out, Carlisle." He heaved a sigh and ran a hand over his beard, "I wish I could stay and discuss this, we need to figure out what we are going to do about Seattle. If Riley Biers was turned, how many more of the missing people were also turned?" Charlie's eyes darkened, "Unfortunately, I am still the Chief of Police, and I have to go in to work." Charlie turned to face me again, "I want you to stay here at the Cullen's today, I will be back after work."
I wanted to argue that I was fine, and I didn't need any vampiric baby sitters. But as I looked at Charlie I realised just how worried he had been by my attack. He hid it well, but he couldn't hide it from me. Charlie had lost his entire family, his community, everyone he had ever known and loved, and then spent centuries on his own before he had me and together we found the Cullen's. His efforts to keep me safe and protected, encapsulated inside a vampire nest, weren't out of a sense of duty or his desire to protect his only child. No – I could see it in his eyes. It was fear. After everything Charlie had endured, he was terrified of being left alone again. Of becoming the sole survivor in an endless bloody war. Looking at him now, young face hidden behind a scrappy beard and too-long hair, I could see in his eyes that his worst fear was losing his family, just as he had found it again.
"Sure thing, Dad." I smiled warmly at him and he seemed relieved that I wasn't going to argue with him.
XxXx
A few hours later, I found myself laying beside Edward on his daybed listening to a vinyl record of what Edward assured me was Pink Floyd's best album. Over the past few months Edward had stubbornly introduced me to his love of Rock Opera, from The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie to Bat out of Hell by Meatloaf, Edward was insistent that the Rock Operas of the 60's and 70's were the pinnacle of modern music. As I listened respectfully to Pink Floyd's The Wall, I wasn't entirely convinced. I mean, it was alright, good music for sure, but I didn't think Edwards obsession was entirely justified.
As the final song drifted to a close Edward shifted a little so he could see my face, "So, what did you think?" He asked eagerly.
I pulled myself upright and crossed my legs underneath me. I shrugged noncommittally, "It was alright."
Edward followed my lead and sat up beside me, "Alright?" He baulked, completely offended. "You are impossible to please." He bit out as he stood up and removed the record from the turntable and returned it to its casing before he slid it back into place on his wall of music.
"Oh hey now," I cooed teasingly as I stood up, "We both know that's not true." I raised my arms and wove my fingers together on the back of Edward's neck so I could pull him down for a kiss. I could feel him smirking against my lips as he returned my affections. I felt the vibrations of Edward's purring growl before I heard them, and I was pleasantly surprised when Edward made the move to deepen our kiss. Edward's tongue ghosted along my lips and I happily parted them to grant him entrance. I could feel Edward's large hands on my back, one between my shoulder blades and another on my lower back, and he pulled me closer to him, crushing me against his body with such exquisite pressure.
Edward pressed himself forward, forcing me to walk backwards until the back of my knees hit the daybed and we fell backwards in a fit of giggles and laughter. Edward chuckled down at me, his eyes a dark amber and his pupils blown wide, before he leaned down to continue our make-out session. I was completely shocked by Edward's rare display of passion, but I wasn't complaining. I had been trying to get Edward to push his self imposed boundaries for ages.
It wasn't until Edward's cool fingers brushed against the exposed skin on my side where my shirt had ridden up that I was hit with a bolt of panic. I tried to ignore it, play it off, but every time Edward touched me I was reminded of the touch of another. Suddenly the cold chest looming over me and pressing against mine wasn't Edwards, and it gave me no comfort only unbridled fear. The fingers touching me, slowly exploring their way up the side of my torso, weren't Edward's and they no longer felt like the tender caresses I knew them to be. Instead they felt like the harsh groping fingers of the vampire I had killed, the sharp tug and tear of fabric as he ripped open my jeans. We could have a little fun.
"No!" I gasped out. I pulled my face away from him, writhing and squirming to get out from underneath him. I gasped in another breath as I shoved hard against Edward's chest. To my absolute horror I saw as Edward's face morphed into one of startled shock as he went flying backwards. He crashed through the pane-glass window, and it shattered noisily as the shards of glass clattered onto the floor and the ground below. I sucked in a sharp breath as I rushed over to the shattered window, and looked down to see Edward had landed flat on his back, with glass scattered around him. I could feel the shards of glass pierce the soft flesh on the soles of my feet, but I barely even registered it as I stared down at Edward with burning remorse. The cuts on my feet healed almost instantly, and then I turned and rushed out of the room, running back over the glass and cutting my feet up again in my hurry to get downstairs.
As I raced down the hall I left a couple of sticky bloody footprints in my wake before the new cuts healed themselves. I didn't stop as I all but threw myself down the stairs in my haste to check on Edward. I scrambled through the house and barrelled past the stunned vampires in the living room as I bounded out the backdoor. Edward had just stood up and was dusting himself off, shaking his hair and clothes free from any glass.
"I'm so sorry." I wheezed, my heart was hammering in my chest and I was struggling to catch my breath. I could hear the others behind me stand up and come to see what the drama was, and soon Rosalie and Carlisle were standing on the back porch with me. "Are you okay?" I managed to whimper out.
Edward frowned at me in confusion, "Of course I am okay." Edward slowly walked over to me, "Are you?" He asked seriously.
I forced my breathing to slow down by taking a single large breath and exhaling slowly. I took a step forward, intending on going down the steps to give Edward an apologetic hug, but hissed in pain as my foot connected with the ground. "Shit, fuck. Ow!" I groaned as I hopped to my other foot only for pain to shoot through that one as well, I stumbled down onto the ground and pulled my foot up at look at the blood stained sole. The cuts had healed, but I could see pieces of glass still lodged under there with fresh skin healed over top. "Fucking great." I grumbled at my foot. Thin white scars were splattered over my foot, and I could see bulges under the skin where the glass remained embedded in my flesh.
"What's wrong?" Edward asked as he rushed up the porch steps.
"I have glass in my foot, but the cuts have healed over them." I scowled at my foot as I spoke, trying to keep the whinging tone out of my voice.
"I'll get my bag," Carlisle announced and disappeared with a gush of wind.
"Come on, love." Edward murmured affectionately as he stooped down to scoop me into his arms. I put my arms around his neck as he carried me inside, "You just can't stop yourself from getting hurt, can you?" He muttered against my hair fondly.
I huffed out a breath but otherwise stayed silent as Edward deposited me on the dining room table.
"Not that I'm criticising," Rosalie perked up as she followed us inside, "But why, exactly, did you throw Edward through a window?"
"Yes, I was wondering the same thing." Edward mused, luckily I was saved from answering by Carlisle returning, leather doctor's bag in hand.
"Alright, scoot back and let me take a look." Carlisle smiled kindly. I did as I was told and moved backwards on the table so only my feet were hanging off the end, leaning back on my hands I watched as Carlisle started to pull equipment from his bag. He opened an alcohol wipe and cleaned the dried blood off my feet as he examined them. Carlisle prodded at the soles of my feet and I hissed and winced by did my best not to pull away from his touch. "I will have to make some incisions and then pull the glass out," Carlisle announced.
"Great, lets get this party started." I mumbled sarcastically and flopped back onto the hard table with a thump. I stared up at the ceiling, hoping to just focus on something other than my foot being sliced open. As I glanced around I noticed a familiar ceiling rose. Ah, so this was where I was treated just after James' attack. Good to know.
I could here the clattering of instruments and metal on metal as Carlisle got ready to work, "Alright Bella, I'm going to start now." He warned. I pulled in a deep breath and held it as I prepared myself for the pain. I felt the stinging burn as the scalpel sliced into the heel of my left foot, and just as quickly it was gone. "Damn," Carlisle muttered and I was so shocked to hear him swear that I sat up on my elbows to stare at him.
"What is it?" I asked and I looked at Edward and Rosalie to see that they were just as shocked by their father cursing as I was.
"The incision healed before I could extract the glass." Carlisle breathed excitedly.
I groaned in frustration, "Great!" I snapped sarcastically.
"What are you going to do, Carlisle?" Edward asked as he pulled a hand through his hair worryingly.
"I'm not sure." Carlisle mused, he was significantly less upset about the entire thing than I was. But then again, he wasn't the one with glass stuck in his foot. I bet that for him this was like Christmas come early, what with his fascination with werewolves and their healing abilities.
"I suppose that none of you has a silver knife handy?" I asked glancing around the room.
"No, afraid not." Carlisle replied with an amused sort of smile.
"Well, anyone have any bright ideas? I would really appreciate not having to live with shards of glass in my feet for the rest of my life." I droned.
"Well, the only other thing that impedes a werewolf's healing abilities is vampire venom." Carlisle stated plainly. It was hard to be irritated by his demeanour, the way he looked at my wounds like a new puzzle to solve. In a way it was strangely endearing. After over 300 years as a vampire, the thought of being able to study something new was such a novelty to Carlisle, and when I saw the excited glint in his eye I couldn't stay mad at him for treating me more like a test subject rather than his patient and daughter.
"So… what? One of you bite me and hope for the best?" I scowled doubtfully, I did not like the sound of that and from the distraught look on Edward's face, neither did he.
Carlisle seemed to think it over for a moment, his lips a thin line of concentration. "I don't believe that will be necessary." He mused, "Perhaps I could just coat the scalpel in my venom."
I nodded slowly in resignation as I lowered myself back down to stare at the ceiling rose, "Do whatcha gotta do, Doc."
I smelt the sharp smell of alcohol as Carlisle cleaned off the scalpel, and then my morbid curiosity got the better of me. I glanced up just in time to see Carlisle place the blade of the scalpel in his mouth, I felt myself go pale as I quickly turned my attention back to the ceiling. I felt the cool metal of the scalpel against the heel of my left foot, and then Carlisle pressed the blade down.
"FUCKING HELL!" I roared and immediately jerked away from the explosive burning sensation.
"Bella, you have to stay still." Carlisle admonished as if I were a misbehaving child.
"Fuck you!" I spat furiously, as I pulled myself down the table and away from the scalpel wielding vampire. "I'd like to see how you handle it!"
Carlisle didn't rise to the obvious jab, "Edward, could you please hold her leg steady?"
Edward gave a stern and determined nod and placed two cold hands on my left leg, he glanced over at me, "I'm sorry, love. Just try and breathe through it."
"I'm sorry, he says. Just try and breathe through it, he says." I mocked sarcastically as I thumped back down, in anticipation for the blinding agony I was about to experience I gripped the sides of the table. My grip was so tight I could feel the wood start to splinter and I heard it groan in protest under my touch.
Another set of cold hands pried mine away from the table and I looked up to see Rosalie holding my hand affectionately, "Esme wont be happy with you if you destroy her furniture." She warned playfully.
"Ready, Bella?" Carlisle asked kindly.
"No." I spat out bitterly. I knew this was my own fault, I was the one who broke the window and then ran over broken glass. Twice. But it was therapeutic to take out my anger on someone else, especially if that someone was the one who was currently cutting into me. I clenched my jaw and held Rosalie's hand tightly, I felt Edward press down on my leg with more force just before I felt Carlisle cut into me again. Pain unlike any I had ever experienced erupted from the wound, as if someone had injected molten magma into my veins where Carlisle held his blade.
"It's working." Carlisle sighed in relief and I felt a tugging sensation before I heard the clink of glass hitting a metal bowl. I didn't even really feel the glass being removed, everything was engulfed by the burning sensation. Another slice, and another explosion of pain rocked through my foot and jolted up my leg. I couldn't stop the keening wail that escaped through my clenched teeth as Carlisle sliced into my foot for the third time. My universe narrowed down to a single smouldering point, the only thing I could perceive was the horribly intense burning in my foot and leg as Carlisle worked. A small part of my mind recognised the horrible whimpering cries were coming from me, and that I was desperately trying to free myself from Edward's grasp as he held my leg still while Carlisle cut my foot for a fourth time. "Finished." Carlisle soothed warmly. I felt his pour some alcohol over the cuts to clean them, and for the life of me it felt so good that I moaned. The sting of the alcohol felt like ice on a burning wound as it washed away a small amount of the venom in the cuts.
"Bella?" Edward rasped,
I returned to my mind and looked at Edward, his expression pained and his eyes glistening with tears he couldn't shed. I forced a smile, "I'm good. I'm fine." I mumbled.
"What on earth is happening here?" A startled voice gasped and I turned my head to see Esme coming into the room with Alice close behind. Esme's caramel hair was windblown, a few leaves stuck in her curls, and her bright yellow eyes told me she had just finished hunting. She was looking over the state of her dining room in dismay. I couldn't blame her, we made quite the scene, what with me being held down on her dining table by her son as her husband carved my foot up like a slab of meat.
"Got some glass stuck in my foot." I murmured tiredly.
"Where are the boys?" Rosalie asked and as the pain in my left foot continued to recede I noticed that she was gently carding her hand through my hair.
"Jasper caught the scent of a bear, so they ran off to track it down." Alice responded, "They should be back in an hour or so."
"There's not as much glass in your right foot, are you ready to begin?" Carlisle asked kindly.
"No." I whined, "But I guess I don't have a choice." I sighed.
"Is there anything we can do?" Esme fretted.
"No, dear. We have it under control." Carlisle assured her and I felt Edward press his hands to my right shin a moment before Carlisle sliced into my foot. I arched off the table and clenched my teeth against the scream that threatened to escape my throat, and as I felt Carlisle root around in my foot for the shards of glass I released the breath I had been holding in pained pants. "Last one." Carlisle promised me. This cut was longer, it felt as if it went down the entire length of my heel.
"Mother FUCKER!" I cried out as the venom coated blade burnt into my flesh.
"There." Carlisle said hastily and I felt the cool sting of the alcohol wash away some of the venom. "All finished. You did very well." Carlisle soothed as he wiped the sole of my foot with a damp cloth. I felt him loosely wrap both my feet in some bandages, "Edward, why don't you take Bella up to the guest room to have a lay down. With the venom in the wounds they will take an hour or so to heal completely."
"Venom? Carlisle what are you talking about?" Esme fussed worryingly,
"It was the only way to keep the incisions open long enough to retrieve the glass." Carlisle replied.
"Up you get." Edward murmured affectionately as he picked me up off the table. I mumbled a weak thank you to Carlisle as Edward carried me out of the room and up the stairs. I nestled myself as close to Edward as I could get, taking comfort from his warm earthy scent. Edward deposited me carefully on the big queen size bed and I held fast to his shirt so he was forced to lay down with me.
"Don't go." I mumbled against his chest as I pressed against him and took another calming breath.
"I'm not going anywhere." Edward promised tenderly. "Bella, are you going to tell me why you threw me out of a window?" He asked cautiously. I stiffened at his question, I didn't really want to get into it. I didn't want to tell him that the feel of his fingers inching their way closer to my breasts made the image of a stranger's flash in my mind. I didn't want to see the look on his face when I admitted just how panic stricken I became when I felt his chest against mine, hard and heaving in desire as it pressed down on top of me. Our physical relationship was so fragile, what with Edward so caught up with his antiquated notions of propriety, and now that he had finally started to take the initiative in moving things along I was afraid that my confession would shatter our relationship the same way I had shattered the window in his bedroom. I felt Edward's fingertips caress down my spine, "Please, love. Tell me what you are thinking." Edward begged.
I hunkered down closer to him, if I was going to tell him I wouldn't be able to look him in the eye when I did. "The vampire who attacked me," I began meekly, and I toyed with the hem of his shirt to distract myself, "After he… threw me into the wall and I hit my head I couldn't move. And-"My throat tightened and I swallowed around the lump in my throat as I struggled to continue in a stuttering voice "He tried to – he was on top of me and he said – he wanted – he tore at my jeans and, and he- he tried." I bit my lip harshly to stop my blubbering,
"Bella…." Edward growled my name and the sound made me whimper pathetically as I pressed my entire body against him, ignoring the way the soles of my feet burned at the movement. "Did he…?" It was like Edward couldn't bring himself to say the word.
"No!" I exclaimed loudly, shaking my head furiously against his chest. "No." I repeated softly. "I took his head off before he got that far." I promised.
"Good." Edward growled as he pulled me closer against him.
"It's just… when we were making out," I whispered, "The way you were on top of me, your hands and- and your chest pressed against me… it all just came flooding back and I panicked."
"I am so sorry, my love." Edward crooned apologetically.
I shook my head and pulled away just enough so I could tilt my head back to look at him, "You didn't know." I consoled, "I didn't tell you."
Edward looked back at me, a sad soft smile on his lips. "Why didn't you?"
I reached up and ran my fingertips down the side of his face, "Partly because I didn't want to worry you." I admitted, "But also because I didn't think it was a big deal. I didn't realise how much it had affected me."
"Oh, Bella." Edward sighed, "Never keep things from me because you are concerned about worrying me. You are my mate, and I love you. I will do everything in my power to keep you safe and happy, but I can not do that if you keep things from me." Edward spoke lovingly as he ran his fingers through my hair, stopping briefly to cup my face.
"Okay, deal." I mumbled tiredly as I nuzzled back down against his chest. It was almost lunch time, but after everything I was surprisingly tired. A short nap would do wonders. The burning in my feet had calmed down into a much more bearable stinging sensation, and soon I was happily drifting off to sleep in Edward's arms.
A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter.