The night that passed felt like one of the longest Carlisle had experienced in over 100 years. Bella's temperature kept spiking and Carlisle was working tirelessly to control it. He was happy that Bella was sleeping through the night, her vitals, although weak, were steady.
Charlie had gone home a few hours ago, Carlisle had convinced him he needed sleep and assured him that he would call if there was the slightest change. Carlisle chuckled to himself as he recalled the moment, he had to use his doctor voice on Charlie. Although, he understood, there was a certain way that anxious parents acted... it was completely normal.
Edward on the other hand was worse than Charlie. He was in a constant state of agitation, listening to the smallest change in Bella's breathing and insisting that Carlisle check to make sure she was ok. Each time Carlisle would sigh to himself, at least Edward wasn't focusing his attention on Jacob.
It was 9 am, Carlisle was just finishing checking Bella's oxygen supply when he heard movement by the door. He smiled as Esme walked in. Her face, much like Carlisle's had been all night was creased with worry as she set her eyes on Bella's fragile form.
"Morning love," Carlisle said, walking over and giving her a kiss.
"How is she?" Esme whispered as she reached out and stroked the back of her hand on Bella's.
"She has been stable most of the night, which has been a very good sign. But..." Carlisle paused, a glimpse of fear and worry moving over his face, "she is not out of the woods quite yet."
"I can see how this troubles you... I know you are doing the best you can, she is being given the best care possible. You will help her pull through. I know it." Esme reached out and gave Carlisle a small kiss on the lips. His face softened.
"Thank you," Edward's voice came from the other side of the room, "I have been so caught up in making sure Bella was ok I haven't mentioned how thankful I am for you, Carlisle."
Carlisle nodded towards Edward in appreciation, a small smile creeping across his face.
Esme turned to Edward. "The others are asking about coming to see her... do you think it is a good idea?" Her face turned to Carlisle, finishing the question with him.
He thought for a moment. "It would be best to wait until she is fully awake so I can check her mental state before introducing other visitors."
Esme nodded. "Please let us know how she is when she wakes up?" She gave Carlisle one last kiss on the lips and left the room.
Carlisle looked back towards Edward, he looked broken, like nothing in the world could make him happy until Bella was well again. Carlisle understood, he remembered back to a time when Edward himself had been faced against mortality.
Carlisle was brought out of his musing by the sounds of harsh ragged breathing and a small cough. He looked towards Bella's bed as her eyes fluttered open and she took a quick laboured breath. Carlisle rushed over to her side.
"Morning Bella... how are you feeling?" he said with a small encouraging smile as her eyes met his and moved into Edward.
"Ed-ward," she whispered, her eyes found Edwards and locked onto him, she gave him a small smile as he took her hand in his own.
"My love," Edward's voice wavered a bit, sounding almost as if he may cry. "Please let Carlisle know how you are feeling. Are you in pain? Is there anything we can get you?"
Bella swallowed slowly, "It hurts... to breath."
Carlisle walked over and sat on the side of the bed. "I know Bella, and I am sorry, you have some very severe breaks on your ribs. Do you mind if I have a look and see how your bruising is going?"
Bella nodded slowly. Carlisle noticed her face go considerably paler as he did.
"Are you feeling nauseous?" he said with a slight crease in his brow.
"Mmm," Bella has her eyes closed noticeably trying to make it go away.
"Just sit still, it should pass on its own," Carlisle said as he reached toward her hospital gown and pulled it up to show her rib cage. The bruising looked much meaner than it did the night before, consisting of dark purple, green and yellow colours, he heard Edwards gasp behind him.
"Yes, this is as I expected," Carlisle said turning towards Edward. "Bruises will always look much worse before they get better, it is a very normal healing process."
Edward reached forward and stroke Bella's hair, "Love, would you like anything to eat?"
Bella who's eyes had remained continuously closed lurched forward and heaved, clapping a hand to her mouth. Carlisle rushed over and placed a pan under her mouth, removing Bella's hand with his own and helped her be said again. Edward noticed the creased of worry on Carlisle's face slowly subside after Bella has finished. He was fascinated that his father was so dedicated to making sure Bella was ok, the care he took with ensuring she was given the best and most comfortable care was truly something Edward thought he would never be able to repay.
Carlisle looked up and met Edwards eyes with a slightly amused expression, "I don't think breakfast is on the cards this morning."
At the second mention of food Bella heaved into the pan again and Carlise's expression turned back to one of worry as he turned to Bella, holding the pan closer to her mouth and rubbed circles around her back. He looked towards the side of the bed and pressed the nurse call button. Seconds later a nurse walked into the room, instantly taking on a compassionate pitied expression.
"Poor love," the nurse said, looking towards Bella being sick. "How can I help Doctor Cullen?"
"Would you be so kind as to get some more medication to help with Bella's nausea, and we will also need to begin hydrating her intravenously, I don't think she will be able to ingest anything in her current state," Carlisle said.
The nurse nodded and left the room. Just as the door was closing shut behind her, Carlisle noticed a hand stop the door from completely closing and began to pull it open again. A wave of anxiety washed over Carlisle as he watched Jacob enter the room wearing his hosp;ital down and pulling an IV live with him.
Edward immediately stood up growling.
"Son..." Carlisle warned turning back to Bella assisting her with being sick a third time.
Jacob's eyes grew wide as he turned from Edward to Bella, watching Bella be sick.
"I think it might be best if you have and go back to your ward Jacob," Carlisle said as he took a tissue and wiped the side of Bella's mouth.
"I just wanted to see if she was alright," Jacob said stumbling backwards slightly.
Next thing Carlisle knew Edward was in Jacob's face.
"Get out of here dog! Now you have seen first-hand what you have done to her, I hope you feel the pain. The pain I have felt the last few hours as I have sat here hoping... hoping that she would be ok again!" Edward was yelling by the end of his sentence.
Bella's heart rate was considerably elevated and she began panting, she moved quickly to look up at the commotion in the room. "J-Jacob..." Bella whispered through gritted teeth, her ribs were obviously causing her pain.
"I-" she cried out in pain. All colour in Carlisle's face went as he heard what happened next. One helpful part of being a vampire and doctor came from his ability to hear things that humans could not. Carlisle heard as Bella's broken rib punctured her lung.
Bella's cried of pain were excruciating to hear, troubling Carlisle greatly as he leapt into action.
"Her rib just punctured her lung," Carlisle said to Edward quickly, "I need to get her an X-ray to see exactly how bad the puncture is".
As Carlisle was unhooking the wheels of Bella's bed her screams hit an all-time high, fading as she fell unconscious again.