(authors notes: It has been a while…my apologies)

CHAPTER 51

I was a little nervous walking into Bella's office building. Of course, this time I was actually walking inside the building. It felt like the last time I was here was years ago, and not just weeks. I couldn't stop my smile thinking about Bella. I took a deep breath and opened the door to her office. I was still smiling when a dark-haired woman with an olive complexion looked up from her computer screen and smiled. "Hello, you must be Mr. Cullen, my name is Gianna" she said and stood up to greet me. She had a terrific smile and couldn't be much older than Bella, or myself, and it was easy to hear the light Italian accent. I moved over towards her desk and extended my hand, "It's nice to meet you Gianna, It appears that Dr. Swan told you about me" I laughed. I watched a small blush reach up her cheeks, and I knew that was a yes. "What part of Italy are you from" I asked smiling as I knew a little Italian having been rotated through there a couple of times? She blushed a little and then said, "Volterra, but I am sure you haven't heard of it" she said. "Cert oche ne ho senito parlare, e vicino a Firenze corretto" I replied in Italian. Her smile was brilliant, "Yes, yes, it is close to Florence, and your Italian is very good for an American" she laughed. "Thank you, I spent a little time in Italy over the years and one of my team leaders was Italian". "Really what was his name perhaps I know his family" she asked. I swallowed hard when the image of Marcus's soot covered face came to my mind and I felt the blood drain from my face. "Um, it, it his name is Marcus, Marcus Volturi". "Oh, it sounds familiar, but I do not think I know them, are you alright? "Why don't you have a seat, and I will let Victoria know you are here", she said, and I watched her hand reach for the phone. I took a deep breath feeling uneasy and then her words clicked in my brain. "Pardon me Gianna, but I think that there is a mistake, I should be meeting with Dr. Swan", it was then that the door behind me opened, and I turned to see a tall woman step out into the reception area. I was confused but I played along, "You must be Dr. Givens, it is a pleasure to meet you" I said extending my hand in greeting. She smiled a wicked smile at me. She was pretty for a redhead, with wild curls everywhere, ultra-pale skin with a smattering of freckles under her eyes and across her nose. But there was something slightly off about her. Her smile reminded me of a viper not a psychiatrist, but she had saved my Bella, hell she was her damn boss, so I would continue to be polite.

"Why aren't you just every bit the gentleman Bella said you were" she laughed and took my hand. Her voice was strange for the body it came out of. Picture Bernadette's voice from the tv show the big bang theory, coming out of a 6-foot-tall stripper who stole her mother's black pant suit. Her hand lingered in my own and I felt heat climb up my neck, a little embarrassed in front of two people I did not know. "Come with me Edward, let's talk" she said leaving no room for discussion and turned to go into her office. I gave Gianna a look and she just smiled at me, so I turned and followed her into her office which was set up in a warm open setting. There was a large brown leather couch up against the wall, and some matching chairs next to a desk in the corner. "Would you prefer the couch or a chair Edward? I know you are still having physical issues" she said as she stepped over to her desk and grabbed a notebook. There it was again, the familiar tone in her speech, and the way she said physical issues almost felt accusatory. How much had Bella shared with this person? "The couch would be just fine, thank you" I said, and she gave me that strange smile again. "Good choice, stretch out those long legs of yours", she said pulling a chair over towards the couch. I took my seat setting my cane down, something was off here, I felt off kilter and uncomfortable. "Excuse me Dr. Givens", I started but she cut me off. "You can call me Victoria" she smiled and opened her notebook. "Alright, Victoria, I thought I was going to meet Dr. Swan today" and again she cut me off, "Well plans change Edward". "I explained to our Dr. Swan, that it wouldn't be prudent to allow one of my doctors to continue practicing with a patient that she had entered into a relationship with, now would it. Especially one in which not only the patient but the doctor has such a long and troubled history with". She had finished with that smile again and i felt a flash of anger rush through my veins, but I was able to clamp down on it.

I swallowed down my emotions determined to make a good impression, "I can understand that, after all this is your practice, and Dr. Swan is your employee". She gave me a tight smirk, "Well that is very understanding of you Edward, though I sense there is an issue you are covering up". This was becoming quite clear that Victoria was attempting to push me. "You are correct Victoria, my concern is why was I left out of the loop in this decision, a common courtesy would be to advise all the interested parties would it not, so that we could establish a basis of trust…right doctor"? Again, that wicked smile came out and she flipped the notebook open. "Handsome and smart, Bella was quite correct in describing you Edward, but I am afraid you will have to forgive her on this one. You see Bella is more than just an employee to me Edward. She is a friend, a colleague, and an investment. I am sure in your time back Bella has explained how we met, and how we forged this relationship. I nodded, "Bella and I have discussed her time in rehab, how you were her doctor, and she even told me about Jane, and how she found her calling. She told me how you helped her with her schooling and that you were not only a friend but a mentor".

She looked a little shocked at how much I seemed to know but continued, "Well I am proud to say yes to all those things Edward. And therefore, I wanted a one on one with you alone. I hope you will not take this the wrong way, but Bella has come a long way. She has fought her way back from the brink of self-destruction, to which you were a centralized character, Edward. "Excuse me" I said offended at the accusation she was lumping onto me. "It is perfectly reasonable to have my worries about our Dr. Swan, when you pop back up in her life. The object of her psychosis for so long, and poof, she takes off for a couple of weeks, when she has never so much as missed a day of work. These are red flags in my world Edward, and I am making sure your intentions, and yourself are honorable. That years of self-improvement are not flung out the window on a simple high school crush. That this isn't some form of nightingale syndrome. I do not know you Edward, but I know of you, and with that she flipped the pages in her black notebook, as I swallowed down the rage that rumbled in my chest at this little ambush.

"Edward Anthony Masen Cullen, born Chicago Illinois, adopted by Esme and Carlisle Cullen. Two adopted brothers and sisters. Reached the rank of Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corp, recently honorably discharged due to wounds sustained in the Kumar province of Afghanistan, where you lost your longtime friend Ben Chaney. She finished reading and looked up to meet my stare. My pulse was pounding in my veins, and she had the nerve to smile at me. "Do you know what I see here Edward" she began but I had had enough of this. "You see what you want to see Dr. Givens but let me elaborate on your preconceived notions. You see abandonment issues that have been exacerbated by the fact that I recently found and met my long dead mother, who let me go at the tender age of two years old, and by a certain doctor who contributed to those issues years ago. I have trust issues as well because of the lies that I was told by my adopted parents, and a certain doctor in your employ. This was reinforced by another doctor in this practice who is utilizing a very thin vale of being a medical professional, when she really just wanted to meet me and see if I was a complete looser. Yes, I have been let go by the Marine corp, after having a helicopter blown out from under my ass, killing my best friend whose body I pulled from that burning wreckage along with two more of my brothers in arms. This caused serious damage to my body, having my back split open, my side set on fire, and a large piece of a rotor blade thrown through this leg" I said rubbing my left thigh.

"Edward…" she started but I cut her off. "I am not finished Dr. Givens, I let you speak, and I would appreciate my chance at rebuttal". "This investment you speak of so cavalierly, is my entire world. Someone I have loved more deeply than you could possibly fathom. Someone I would gladly give my life for. But you are correct, you do not know me, and from what I can gather, Bella has spoken a lot about me to you and your staff. I leaned forward to stare into her eyes, "But I have pulled that girl from the jaws of death, ignored my injuries and pain to save her from being raped and beaten in your very parking lot. And in return, I have been beaten, broken, and left destroyed by that girl. And I have gladly accepted it all. Our reconnection has been a rough one, but each step has brought us closer, and closer together. Mending something that I once thought could never be fixed, and it is all because of her brilliance and beauty. Because we swore that we would always be honest with one another from now on. We agreed that our future together must be paved in honesty and forgiveness. In fact, until I met you, there has not been one ounce of deception, which is one of the reasons why I am upset. The other reason rests solely on your shoulders doctor. While your concern Is admirable, your tact leaves much to be desired, and this discussion of the woman I love as an investment, or some object with a diminishing return is infuriating to me. The flippant way you describe our connection as a psychosis just shows me how unprepared or uninformed you are about the situation. "Forgive me for this if I am wrong, but we seem to be making snap judgements today" I continued. "I do not see a ring on your finger doctor, nor are there any photos of loved ones or family on your desk or the walls". Her eyes drifted over to the desk. My educated guess is that you have never been in love before, or maybe you have and it didn't turn out so well, so perhaps your own personal feelings are clouding your vision" I said sitting back but continued my assault. Her eyes had hardened slightly, and that coy smile faded, "It doesn't feel good when someone trivializes your life does it doctor, and the only reason I am still sitting here is due to the love that I have for Bella Swan" I said and pointed towards the door. I leaned forward again and dropped my voice. "She loves you Victoria, the way she speaks about you, it's with such reverence. And because she holds you in the highest regards means that you are important to me". "But, due to your deceit, this game you chose to play, well, you do not have my trust or my respect" I finished.

She closed her book and placed her hands over it taking a deep breath, "thank you Edward, for your honesty, and your clarity. I must apologize for my tact, but you have dispelled any worries that I held. Please do not be mad at Bella, you see when she told me you would be coming in today, I arranged for this switch up so I could ambush you". I deliberately switched up a first time consult with her for one of my patients. And I must admit that it was my plan to push you, to upset you. To cut through all of the bullshit and get right down to it. I needed to know who and what Bella was getting involved with, to find your true feelings and temperament by pushing as hard as I could as fast as I could". She smiled that coy smile again and I could feel the fire in my veins. I had not gone through literal hell on earth only to have to deal with this psychotic psychiatrist. "I must say Edward, that you certainly surprised me. Someone with your history, shows an incredible amount of strength and composure. And I would like to tell you firsthand, that I am incredibly thankful that you were there that night to protect Bella. It may not seem like it to you right now, but Bella means a great deal to me, and on a personal note I am glad you two are together, she finished.

This was insane I thought to myself, this was my life and Bella's life, and she was playing games. Out of everything she just spat at me, the only part I somewhat believed was the last part. "So let me get this straight" I said leaning forward to level her with a stare. "You thought the best way to get to know me, was to piss me off and see how I reacted"? She nodded, "Isn't that how you trained for the Marines, a trial by fire"? I couldn't stop the insane laugh that bubbled from my lips and I shook my head. I grabbed my cane and struggled to rise from the couch. For a moment Victoria looked confused as I extended my hand, "It has been a real pleasure meeting you Dr. Givens". She frowned, "Edward you are upset, and it's perfectly natural to feel that way, again I apologize", but I cut her off. "I understand Doc, you were just looking out for Bella, and I commend you for that, If I was in your position I would feel just as protective. But this is not basic training for me, and I will not play games when it comes to Bella. She means more to me than you could possibly imagine, and we have been through too much together for games. I was nervous coming here to be honest, meeting someone that Bella holds in such high regard. I was excited to see Bella, and to meet you, since without your help, I don't know what could have happened to her. And I admit seeing her face light up, and the passion she has for this work, I know in my heart it is what she is meant to do. Seeing that light makes me love her even more. But our time here is done, I said motioning between us. I would have been completely open and honest with you, if you had been with me. Because I have had enough trials by fire in my life, and I mean literal fire doctor. And you not only ambushed and betrayed me, but you betrayed Bella's trust, and I cannot, no I will not tolerate that.

I turned to leave, and her hand shot out and gently landed on my forearm. "I am very sorry Edward, for the subterfuge and my tactics, but again I need you to know. Thank you, thank you for taking care of Bella. I hope that one day you will give me another chance. I simply nodded, "maybe one day, but you need to make this right with Dr. Swan". With that I opened the door a little more forcefully than I meant to, and I saw Gianna jump at the sound. My back had started to throb in my anger, and my left leg shook under my weight when I stepped out into the waiting room. "It was nice meeting you Gianna" I said smiling and moving towards the door. She stood up quickly, "Uhm, same to you Edward, uhm Dr. Swan, I mean Bella is almost finished with her consult, I could ring her, if you wanted to say goodbye". It was obvious that she was surprised to see me leaving. I turned back to face her and could now see Victoria standing in her doorway. "Thank you very much for the offer, but I am afraid that would be very unprofessional, please let her know that she can call me later" I said with a smile and with that I left the office.

Here I was again I thought as I stepped into the elevator. I was angry, I was pissed, and I had every right to be. What the hell type of game was that bullshit? I get it, she was looking out for Bella, right? She was Bella's boss and friend. She had helped the woman I loved with her drug addiction. She had been there for her at her lowest points and were had I been. On the other side of the world, wallowing in my own self pity and body count. The elevator dinged and the doors opened. This time I stepped out into the parking garage it was empty. Memories of the last time flashed in my mind, of those two assholes assaulting my Bella. Every step I took towards my car filled me with more and more anger. I wanted to destroy something, and for the first time in a long time, I wished that there was an enemy that I could attack, destroy, or kill. That thought gave me pause, Jesus what was wrong with me. Victoria's voice echoed in my head. Sickeningly sweet, "you are a part of her psychosis, the nightingale syndrome, some high school crush" she had said. I slapped down on the roof of my car and screamed, "Fuck"! the sound echoed throughout the large semi empty parking lot. I climbed into the car, revd the engine and sped off…