Edward was running through the trees of the forest just behind his house, Emmet was not far behind him. They had just finished their hunt. It was very successful. Edward was very content and had fed enough to be able to stay by Bella's side for the next month if he had to. There was no chance that he would be leaving his now fiance alone again.
Carlisle had promised that he would not miss anything, that Bella would remain asleep while he was away. Even though that gave him comfort, he could not help but wish in some way that she would wake up, as this would mean her condition is getting better.
He rounded the corner and came into the clearing behind the house. The same clearing that Alice was planning on holding his and Bella's wedding in a few months. Edward paused for a moment. He thought about how beautiful Bella will look when she is walking down the aisle, he thought of the surprise honeymoon that he was planning in secret with Alice and Carlisle, how Bella's face will look when she sets sight on Isle Esme.
"Dude, you alright?" Emmett said waving a hand in front of Edward's face, breaking Edward out of his thoughts.
"She is going to look beautiful," Alice's soft voice came from behind them. "But I will not let you see my thoughts or it will ruin the day for you." She teased.
"You still see her future?" Edward said, almost dramatically.
Alice rolled her eyes, "Of course. She was in an accident Edward, that's all. She isn't going to die."
"That's what you said before, but the mutt decided to come into her room and change the future again didn't he!?" Edward said, almost accusingly.
"I am telling you now, she will be ok."
Edward calmed down a little, his shoulders relaxed and he sat down on a mossy rock.
"Sorry..." he mumbled hanging his head in his hands.
Alice crouched down to him looking into her brother's eyes, her own looking sad "I know... I just find it hard to consider the mortality of one of our family members. It honestly would be easier if you just let her become one of us." She smirked.
Edward grew tense again his jaw becoming rigid.
Emmett broke the silence, "I vote one for that. I hate that my little sister is so breakable."
"I know... I know..." Alice sighed before Edward had a chance to say anything. "It would be taking her soul away."
Edward nodded slowly. "I love her, and I want to keep her safe."
"I know, we all do too," Emmett gestured towards the house. "Carlisle is working tirelessly, he will make her better."
"And I have no idea how I will be able to repay him," Edward said standing up again.
"You know he doesn't expect you to, he does it for himself just as much as you, he loves her, just like all of us," Edward, Emmet and Alice swung around to the sight of Esme who was standing in the open living room doorway, obviously listening into the conversation.
Edward smiled at her and took her hand in his, squeezing it slightly.
"I best be back to the hospital. Has Carlisle called and given any news."
"Nothing," Esme said, a small disappointed look on her face.
Emmett pouted walking inside, "I want to go see my little sister and make her feel better."
Emmett's reaction caused Alice to give Edward a meaningful look, Edward's mouth broke into a small smile as a result.
"I will give you a call as soon as she is able to have some visitors," Edward promised as he grabbed the keys for his black Volvo, walking towards the garage. In the car Edward placed the keys into the ignition and paused for a moment, considering something. He considered what Esme had said, there was no news about Bella. Surely he could risk being away from the hospital for another hour, there was something he desperately needed to do. He started the engine, revving the car, foot hovering dangerously over the gas pedal. He was going to see Jacob.
"No!" Alice called, jumping inside the car and pulling the key out of the ignition. "I can't let you do that Edward. I could care less about you wanting to rip that dogs head off but you would be ruining everything that Carlisle has made of us by going over that treaty line. Not to mention laying your hands on a pack member."
Edward was shocked. Alice's words had some sense to them, but he was taken aback at the ferocity they were delivered in. He stared straight out the front of the windscreen in utter bewilderment, before, finally, sighing. She obviously saw his future.
"You're right," he whispered. "As much as I want to punish that... that..." his hands gripped the steering wheel ever so tightly.
"It's ok. I know how you feel. But, this isn't the right way to do it." Alice said, placing her hand on his own, helping him loosen his grip.
"Bella is where you need to be right now," she said, playfully popping his nose with her index finger.
Silently, Edward started the engine again with Alice's permission as she handed the keys back. He revved the engine and within minutes was parking outside the front of the hospital in Carlisle's reserved spot, there are many benefits to Carlisle being a doctor here, Edward mused running inside.
Edward made it back to Bella's room. The first thing he noticed was the application of a nasal oxygen supply to Bella that had not been there before and Carlisle. He was sitting on the bed next to Bella, slowly stroking her hair. His expression was compassionate and calm, his thoughts; worried but confident.
Carlisle turned towards Edward in the doorway, smiling.
"She's back on oxygen?" Edward asked, a tone of panic in his voice.
"Yes. She was having a little trouble breathing before, and this should make her feel more comfortable."
"She was awake?" Edward said sounding disappointed. He was disappointed. Very disappointed in himself for even leaving the room and not being there for his Bella.
"Only for a few minutes about three hours ago. She is exhausted." Carlisle mentioned, eyeing her monitors next to the bed, as he frequently did. His brows furrowed a little, "Her temperature is rising a little again, I am going to need to keep an eye on that. I gave her some more pain medication. I expect she should feel better when she next wakes up. However, I do expect some nausea due to the dosage and contents we have given her." Carlisle eyed the pan and towel he already set up next to the bed in case it was needed.
Edward nodded slightly, moving to sit on the other side of the bed and stroke her hair just as Carlisle was doing.
Bella grumbled, turning her head slightly towards Edward, she deliriously whispered his name and a rather embarrassing remark about how she loved Edwards bare chest.
Edward cleared his throat, slightly uncomfortable.
Carlisle was polite, looking around the room pretending not to hear, busying himself with taking down notes on Bella's chart.
"Carlisle," Edward murmured.
Carlisle looked towards Bella and noticed that her eyes were open again, he smiled warmly.
She coughed, and to the shock of both Carlisle and Edward, she began being sick again.
Carlisle pulled the soiled blankets away from her thighs so they wouldn't transfer anything onto her and held the bucket up to her face. He reached his hand into the bucket Bella had buried her head in and quickly unhooked the oxygen supply from her nose so it did not get covered. He wiped his hand on the towel, patting her on the knee.
"Tha-nks, Carlisle s-sorry," Bella spluttered trying to breathe in deeply.
Noticing her struggle Carlisle reapplied the nasal oxygen supply after giving it a quick rinse off.
"Please don't be sorry Bella," Carlisle said kindly. "That's what I am here to do. Make you feel as comfortable as possible. Unfortunately, I was expecting this nausea. It shouldn't last more than a few hours and we can put you on a different medication. It is just until your incision heals from your operation."
Bella groaned, "A few hours?" she said, dry heaving as Carlisle helped her slowly lean back on her pillow.
Carlisle left the room for a moment to flush the contents of the pan down the toilet and returned, placing it gently on the table for his own quick and easy access.
"We are going to change your blanket, okay, Bella?" Carlisle said eyeing the one she was sick on before.
"Okay," she said, wincing as she tried to move her legs.
"Let me," Carlisle said as he lifted Bella's left up off the bed slowly while Edward pulled the blanket out from underneath and slide a clean new one under her.
"While I have you like this Bella I am going to remove your catheter, you do not need it anymore and we will be able to help you if you require the use of the bathroom," he said with a comforting smile.
Bella nodded her head.
Carlisle thought to himself that Bella's interactions were promising. This was the longest amount of time she had been awake and spoken in a few days. He noticed as Edward caught onto his thoughts and smiled at the discovery.
Like the first time, Carlisle silently asked Bella for permission to work on her lower half, Bella nodded in acceptance.
She made a gasping sound as the catheter was removed and reached out for Edward's hand.
"All done," Carlisle said, covering her up with her gown and taking the remains in the container away. Bella dry heaved again.
"Would you like some ice to suck on? It can sometimes help with nausea." Carlisle offered.
"No," Bella whispered, "I think I would like to get some more sleep... If my stomach will calm down enough."
"Of course, I will be right here if you need anything," Carlisle said as he walked over to the chair in the side of the room and began reading a book. He was well aware that Edward and Bella were having a quiet mumbled conversation, but he was too polite to listen in.
There were two instances in the next hour where Bella was sick again, and when it happened Carlisle would drop his book and run to the side of the bed, holding the pan under Bella's head. Each time Bella's fevered eyes would look appreciatively into Carlisles.
Finally, just as the sun began setting, Bella was back in a deep sleep.