Now back to Bella. I hope you enjoy it.
Anything twilight-related belongs to Stephanie Meyer.
Chapter. 5
After my second day of school, the pain had gotten so bad that dad threatened to take me to the hospital so I relented and took some painkillers before school. They didn't help much and so we were on our way to the hospital by Saturday morning. I was acutely aware of how useless this would be to my situation. They couldn't help me. At least now I could kill two birds with one stone. We had waited long enough so that my appointment with Dr. Cullen could be used for my father to voice his concerns. Even if he didn't believe me maybe the Doctor could convince him to let it go.
It was a dreary morning. The humidity was so high it only took minutes for your hair to look as if you'd stuck your finger into a socket. The curls I had inherited from dad only showed in such weather. I would have to get used to the ever-present rain. But that was not something I dwelled on for long. Besides the involuntary hairstyle change and danger of falling on my ass, the rain gave the air a fresh clean feeling. Like I could breathe more easily. Dad ushered me out of the clean air into the hospital with a hand on my back. Trying to inconspicuously guide me. just to be on the safe side so I wouldn't fall on the wet floor. The familiar scent of disinfectant invaded my senses once we stepped through the sliding doors. Dad told me to take a seat in the waiting room while he went to the counter to sign us in.
The waiting room was oddly empty. But when I considered the small population, it wasn't exactly surprising. I took off my jacket and placed it over my lap. There was a woman with a young boy sitting opposite me. He had one of his feet up on her knee only clad in a towel wrapped around it a cool pack sticking out from under it. He rested his head on her shoulder while she ran her fingers through his hair in a motherly gesture. While the woman wore a concerned look on her face the boy appeared to be more bored than anything. He kept tugging on his long sleeves looking around for something to catch his attention. His eyes moved to me and stayed on the cane leaning against my chair. He scrunched up his face in an adorably curious look. Turning to his mother for guidance he asked:
"Mommy? Am I getting something like that lady to walk?" The mother looked around to find what her son was talking about. Taking me in and giving me an apologizing smile she turned back to him.
"No, you'll maybe get some crutches. Because you can't stand on your foot. It would hurt too much." She explained. Her son nodded in understanding but still looked at my cane. Contrary to popular belief I've come to quite like my cane. Not only did it give me the freedom a wheelchair couldn't provide but it made me able to use my healthy leg. The months sat in the wheelchair had taken their toll on both of my legs. So I was grateful for my trusted companion. Even if it made me look like a grandma and my walking was far from graceful. At least I could walk.
When dad came back he motioned me to follow him. He took my jacket and greeted the mother of the boy. It seems that she was a woman by the name of Mrs. Erickson. The exam room was a far cry from the waiting area. The white walls were replaced by a light blue comfortable chair sitting in the corner near the door and begging me to take a seat. Knowing I would have to move there anyway once the doctor arrived I hobbled my way over to the examination table. Hoisting myself upon it. Why were they always so freaking high? My feet dangling in the air I leaned my back against the wall.
"Dr. Cullen is great. You'll like him." Dad filled the stretching silence. He had taken the enviable chair, looking like he was in his living room watching a baseball game. The only thing missing was his beer. I nodded acknowledging his statement. I'd met a couple of types of doctors over the last year. The ones that treat you like an object or a problem they have to figure out and fix. Those usually barely acknowledged me. Then the happy-go-lucky ones. Those are tiring. I'm always struggling to keep up with their enthusiasm and end up exhausted. And last but not least the calm and assuring ones. Explaining with patience but not belittling me. Especially because I was still considered a child back then because I was still a few months shy of being eighteen. But over the months I had learned so much about my conditions that I sometimes got frustrated when someone tried to act as though I had no clue what was going on.
We didn't have to wait long. To my surprise, it was a doctor that came in and not a nurse. A tall blond man with a kind smile who didn't look a day over thirty walked in and greeted dad with a friendly hello charlie. He then came over to me holding out his hand.
"Hello, you must be Bella. I'm Dr. Carlisle Cullen. I'll be treating you for the foreseeable future. How are you today?" He sat down on a rolling stool taking out a few things from a cabinet.
"I'm ok. Just some pain because of the strain from walking so much." Dad scowled at my off-handed explanation. Dr. Cullen mhmed and moved over to me. I put my sleeve up so he could put the tourniquet. around my arm. Disinfecting the crease of my elbow he inserted the needle expertly without any difficulty. In my experience, a lot of doctors had lost their feeling for the simple things and the nurses doing God knows how many blood samples a day had much more practice. Most of the time they didn't even try to do it themselves. They just grabbed the next nurse they saw and told them to do it. But Dr. Cullen wasn't rusty. He found a vein on the first try and I probably wouldn't even have a bruise. After he put a bandaid on the puncture site he focused back on me.
"How bad on a scale?" He asked.
"Five?" I replied. He frowned.
"Are you taking any pain medication?"
"Yes, but they don't really work." I admitted. He nodded.
"That's understandable. You've been under a constant pain medication regimen. I would guess the effect has gotten smaller." He seemed to contemplate for a while. "Let's look at the leg first and then see if we can find a better solution." I nodded, standing up so I could take off my pants. It didn't bother me anymore to undress at command. After a while, you get used to the medical professionals seeing you in your underwear. Staying on my feet while holding on to the table behind me I watched Dr. Cullen move around my left side.
"May I?" I appreciated him asking for permission first.
"Go ahead." While he tested the strength and mobility of my leg my dad had his face fixed on the floor. I had to smile at his uneasiness. Dr. Cullen asked me about everything. My routine, my exercises the amount of walking I did in a day, etc. It took quite a while and when he was finished and I had redressed he gave me an apologizing look. Oh no.
"You're not going to like this but it's necessary to help your leg adjust to the amount of activity it has to endure. It was practically thrown into the deep end and now it has to learn how to swim so it doesn't drown." He emplored looking at me intently. I knew I wouldn't like what he said next. "I think you should divide the time between the cane and a wheelchair." I must have come off horrified at his suggestion because he immediately clarified.
"Only at home would be enough I think. If it's still too painful we will think of something else." I tried to keep the defeated look off of my face. All that hard work to get away from the dependency on that thing and now I had to go back. I saw the progress I had made diminishing before my eyes as I pictured the stupid two-wheel sitting in dads closet.
"It's only temporary. We'll work together to get you back on your feet full time, ok?" An encouraging smile on his face.
"Now. On to other things. How are the hearing aids working for you?" Before I could answer there was a knock on the door.
"Excuse me. Yes?" Dr. Cullen called. The door opened to a now-familiar head of copper hair. He was looking down at a clipboard mumbling something unintelligible.
"Mr. Cullen is there something you need? I'm with a patient." At Dr. Cullen's words, he lifted his head, eyes bulging as they looked around the room and found me sitting on the examination table. I was so perplexed at seeing him that it took a second to register what Dr. Cullen had said. When it clicked I'm sure my eyes became equally as large. Without taking into account the attractiveness, the only outward sign of their relation was the identical shade of emerald green eyes. I hadn't noticed that before.
"Ms. Swan, this is Edward Cullen he volunteers on Saturdays so you might see him a lot. Do you mind if he stays to observe?" He had brought his attention back to me. I swallowed considering my options of getting out of this awkward situation with my dignity intact.
"Of course, I don't mind." It was only partly a lie. I didn't mind so much the watch full eyes. At least I was dressed again. It was the possibility of future meetings and the uncomfortable history classes this could create. Dr. Cullen nodded seemingly grateful I hadn't taken the learning opportunity from his son. Edward had gotten his expression under control in the time it took for me to answer his dad.
"Ok, well Edward take a seat and let's move on to the regimen I want you to follow. Take the next few days a little easy on the mobility exercises and just concentrate on the stretches. The movement your leg gets from all the walking should be enough and it should lessen the strain and subsequently the pain." I nodded letting him continue. "Your visits with your physiotherapist were weekly if I'm correct?" I bobbed my head again. "I want to continue seeing you weekly. You are off the muscle relaxants since January?"
"Yes, well waning of since around Christmas. I took the last at the beginning of January." I clarified.
"That's good. Because when your leg has come accustomed to all the new exercises want you to focus on strengthening your muscles. You'll have a tough road ahead but considering what you've already accomplished I have no doubt you can do it." He gave me a proud and encouraging smile then put down his notes and turned his chair towards me.
"Do you have any questions or concerns? Something I can do to make this easier?" To my horror, my eyes stung and I had to fight the urge to let the tears fall. This was so not the time.
"Actually, there is something. All the walking kind of irritates the scar. The seam of the pants is right on it. I tried looser-fitting pants but had the same problem." I tried not to look at the boy sitting next to his dad and instead concentrated on Dr. Cullen who had to think for a second.
"Hm, are you using any special cream to treat the scars?" I scowled.
"No. No one mentioned any before. But I didn't have any problems until now." Now I was a little concerned. Had I done something wrong in taking care of myself? My troubled mind didn't go unnoticed. "Don't worry. I'll subscribe you some Mederna. Just apply it twice a day and try to lose the pants at home to reduce friction." He smiled mischievously and I could hear my dad trying to conceal a laugh. I went scarlet. Great. And Edward was still here. Kill me now.
Dr. Cullen gave me my prescription and send me on my way. I avoided Edward's face on my slow way out. My dad shook Carlisle's hand and to my horror started talking about planning a fishing trip now that the weather was getting warmer. I stood awkwardly in the doorway waiting for him to finish so we could go. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Edward standing up and walking over to me. He cleared his throat his hand racking havoc in his silky hair.
"I just wanted to apologize for crashing your appointment like that. I should have just excused myself when I saw you. I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable again." He looked a little green.
"It's ok. I'm used to the extra eyes." I tried to sound as casual as I could manage standing on my now aching keg. I leaned back against the doorframe.
"So you're volunteering?" I asked wanting to divert him. He looked up from staring at his feet.
"Yeah, my dad thought it would be good practice. I always wanted to be a doctor like him." His smile was sad.
"Wanted, as in you don't want to anymore?" He looked surprised at my question.
"Yeah, I'm mean no! I still want to be like my dad. He's a great man but not a doctor, no." He seemed a little sheepish at his admission. He didn't need to be. I admired my dad just as much as he appeared to admire his.
"So, what do you want to do now?" I asked noticing his eyes glazing over for a second before he shook his head, his ears going just a tinge red.
"I... Well, I... I don't really know yet. What about you?" His last words came out with so much force it almost sounded like an accusation. Of what I didn't know.
"I don't know either. Still figuring out my options." I said. He opened his mouth to say something else but my dad interrupted him before he could.
"Edward." He simply said. Standing next to me he put a hand on my shoulder.
"Are you ready Bells?" He still had his eyes on Edward who went a little green again. "Yes, I was waiting for you to finish setting up your date." Carlisle who stood behind my dad laughed clapping my dad on the shoulder. "Charlie, you better get home before that starts a rumor we'll have to deal with for months." My dad blanched at the thought and nodded strongly.
"We'll better go." He said. I just grinned at him. Happy to have distracted him from Edward.
"I'll see you Monday, Bella." Edward called after us. I twisted my head giving him a small smile and was rewarded with a blinding crooked one.
"Nice try with the date thing but you better tell me what's going on with that boy." Charlie's whispered inquiry pulled me away from the charming sight of Edward's smile and brought me back to my dad's questioning gaze.
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