Author's note; Thanks for all your thoughtful reviews. I love reading all your theories. Keep them coming.
And thanks as always, to my wonderful Beta, Fran, and pre-reader, Jill, who spare so much of their time making this readable :)
I've played around a little with this chapter, so any mistakes are my own!
Lineage
~BPOV~
The second the door opens, both Dora and Rosalie rush towards me. I barely have a moment to catch my breath before I'm swept into gentle hugs and whispered words of love and relief. The tears gather in my eyes when I think about how lucky I was - how close I very nearly came to never seeing either of them again.
Judging by their heartfelt words and the tears running out of their red, bloodshot eyes, I would say they feel the same way.
Reluctantly, the need to breathe forces a half to our reunion. When they release me, my body aches, but I'll take the discomfort for a moment with my family - my real family, that is.
"I'll leave you ladies to it," Masen calls from the doorway.
I had been so caught up in our reunion; I somehow forgot he was there. Masen isn't the type of guy you ignore or forget about. My tear-filled eyes meet his warm ones, and I send him a smile back, thanking him for both letting the girls visit me, but also for everything he's done for me since I was admitted to the hospital.
"Go easy on her, okay?" Masen's gaze homes in on my friends. "She's not long out of major surgery. You have ten minutes before I'm kicking you both out," he says with a smile, but I detect a hint of seriousness behind his teasing.
"Yes, doctor," They both agree, but it's not long before they turn their focus on me. The questions come quickly and fast. Their concern is obvious.
"We were so worried."
"Are you in a lot of pain?"
"What did the doctor tell you?"
"Slow down … slow down. One question at a time." They mean well, but I'm a little tired and a lot overwhelmed. It was barely a half-hour ago I was waking up from a horrific ordeal, an ordeal I can't fully remember. I'm still trying to get my head around the fact that I'm in the hospital, much less the reason behind me being here. It's scary… terrifying to have a total blank … a gap in my memories, but something tells me I'm not ready to deal with what happened. Right now, at least.
"How are you feeling? "Dora asks, her face tight and filled with concern. She looks exhausted; both do. I suspect Dr. Cullen was right; they had been here many nights while I was out of it.
"I don't know how I feel. I'm still trying to process everything, you know?"
"That's understandable. You've been through a terrible experience." Rose pauses cautiously before asking, "do you remember anything about what happened?"
"No ...not really. It's a little hazy right now." I grimace. I don't know why I blocked out what happened, but in a way, I'm relieved my recollection is a little foggy; at least for now.
"Dr. Cullen tells me I was shot ... and I fell ... lost consciousness," I tell them, rubbing my eyes as I feel a fresh wave of tiredness suddenly hit me.
"Do you know anything about what happened? Have the police spoken to either of you? Do they know who did this and why?"
Dora looks nervous.
"Please, just tell me," I beg.
"The house has been trashed, Bella," Rosalie says cautiously. "It looks like a robbery gone wrong, but the police are looking into it. As is Charlie."
"Oh, God. Is Maria okay? Was anyone hurt?" I worry.
"She's okay," Rosalie quickly reassures me. "Fortunately, she was visiting her family when the break-in happened."
Thank God for that. Our housekeeper, Maria, has worked for the family for years. I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to her.
"You don't have to think about that now. The most important thing is that you're awake and in the best possible place to get the treatment you need," Dora says before going into overdrive. The next ten minutes are filled with Dora fussing over me constantly; Did I need extra pillows? Was I comfortable? Did I want anything to eat - a drink? In the end, I must grab her hands to stop her from fussing over me, something I immediately regret when a searing pain shoots through my body at the movement. I winced, which only made Dora fuss more.
"We were so worried," she tells me.
"So, I hear. Dr. Cullen told me you were here from the beginning, but he couldn't tell you anything."
They both nod sheepishly.
And while her fussing was over the top, I was grateful and considered myself incredibly lucky to have someone so wonderful and caring in my life. Dora, or Athendora as she's known, came to work for the family shortly after Mom's funeral. I was only ten- years old when she passed away, and Charlie was in no fit state to take care of me. His resentment toward me was clear. He didn't want me, so he hired Dora. She was my nanny, but so much more. She was the one who taught me how to cook … who attended all the school plays and events my father either couldn't make or be bothered to attend.
A part of me hates Charlie for effectively handing over parental duties to a virtual stranger at the time but hiring Dora turned out to be one of the few good things he has done for me in the last thirteen years.
Not wanting to think about my father right now, I focus on the ladies with me now. We're talking about my initial diagnosis when I first notice Rosalie is a little distracted. When she glances down at her phone for the third time in as many minutes, I begin to worry. Watching her carefully, she cuts off the call, but I can guarantee it's only a matter of time before they try again.
"Rose, I'm okay … really. Answer the phone. Who is it that is so desperate to speak to you, anyway?" I ask.
She shakes her head, mumbling something under her breath I can hear, before looking back at me with a frazzled expression. "It's Tori."
Oh, okay, that explains it. Right now, Rosalie and her sister are speaking, but it takes very little for their relationship to turn sour.
"She's freaking out." Rose, she says, casting a glance at Dora.
"Why what happened?"
"After I found out you were on your way to the hospital, I couldn't get in contact with Rose … I didn't know if she'd been hurt too. I had no choice but to call her." Dora explains.
"… And then, she freaked out ... She's okay now, she just won't leave me alone." Rose shrugs, and I offer her a small smile.
"Crazy situations bring families together," Dora offers.
"And this certainly falls under that category. I can't imagine how terrified she would have been."
"Tell me about it. She's not stopped ringing the last few days, making sure I'm okay." Rosalie admits.
I smile to cover my own anguish.
I wish my father cared as much as Rosalie's sister …
…
True to his word, Dr. Cullen came back exactly ten minutes later.
"Just ten more minutes, please, Dr. Cullen?" Dora pleaded, turning those big brown eyes on him. I have a feeling she's been working on him over the last few days judging by the reluctant smile on his handsome face and his reply.
"You can have five, no more," he conceded, sending her that crooked smile I was growing fond of. I would have been sad, maybe even jealous of their playful banter, if it weren't for the wink he sent my way on his way out the door.
Talk about swoony; my doctor is something else. Something Dora and Rosalie point out.
"You're so lucky," Dora says as soon as we're alone.
"How do you figure that?" I slur, the drugs making me confused; my brain felt muddled … fuzzy. I had barely been awake for close to an hour, but I suddenly felt exhausted.
"Dr. Cullen is a very handsome man," Dora says, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
"You're so lucky you end up with the hot doctor. Perhaps it's fate's way of paying you back for all those losers you dated in the past." Rose pipes up.
"Yeah, just my luck to meet my dream guy. I just needed to get shot to meet him," I tease, then immediately regret it when pain shoots through my side, and I see the guilty look on Rosalie's face. I know my best friend well enough to read the ludicrous … downright ridiculous thoughts running through her head.
"Hey Rose, come over here a minute," I say, patting the space beside me.
Coming over to join me, she sits on the edge of the bed. I take her hands in mine and put her straight on a few things.
"I don't want you blaming yourself or feeling guilty, okay? What happened is not your fault."
"I should have never left you alone. I should have been there." She says, close to tears.
"No, Rose! I don't want to hear you say anything like that. I'm glad you weren't there. You could have been hurt too. So don't torture yourself with what-ifs. Neither of us should have experienced it, but shit happens."
"How can you be so calm about this?"
"I almost died, Rose. It's given me a new outlook. As soon as I'm back on my feet, I'm living my life to the fullest; no regrets."
"How the hell did you know that was what I was thinking anyway? You didn't come back to life a telepath, did you?" she jokes.
"Ha-ha! Good one, but no. We've been friends for so long there's very little I don't know about you." I say smugly.
"Same goes for you too," she hits back.
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't think I didn't catch you making all gooey eyes at Dr. Cullen," She smirks.
"Behave."
"Play coy all you like; we both saw it. Didn't we, Dora?" Rosalie looks triumphant - so pleased with herself. Dora's eyes light up too.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of. That man's got a nice, firm …"
"Okay, ladies. Your time's up!"
The man in question interrupts before Dora can finish, which is probably good because I don't even want to think where she was going with that sentence. Don't let her 'butter wouldn't melt' exterior fool you; Dora has a dirty mind and is a terrible flirt.
My cheeks heat, Dora laughs, and Rose looks like the cat that got the cream. Dr. Cullen looks plain confused as the two of them leave the room smiling, cackling like two witches. When they both wink on their way out, I somehow resist the urge to stick my tongue out at them.
Dr. Cullen walks towards me; he picks up a clipboard at the foot of my bed before he goes over to the machine. What he's looking at, I'm not sure, but he takes more notes.
"Is that really necessary?" I ask.
"Just being extra thorough."
He takes my temperature, and when he takes some readings from the ECG, I hope there isn't an increase in activity the closer he gets. Damn Rosalie and Dora for making me feel superconscious and awkward around him. He's hot - there's no denying that. Shoot me for being attracted to my hot doctor. I snicker to myself at my own joke.
"Something funny?" He asks.
"Nope," I say, blushing.
"Okay then. In that case, if there's nothing else, I'll be back to check on your progress in the morning and discuss your recovery plans. You should try and get some sleep. In the meantime, is there anything I can get you before I go?" He thoughtfully offers.
"No, I'm good," I say, then curse myself. What a stupid thing to say. "And thanks again for everything you did ... for saving my life," I finally say, what I meant to say … what I should have said since I opened my eyes although I think I said it before.
"Just doing my job."
He pauses, and we just look at each other.
But suddenly, the moment, if you can even call it that, is broken when I hear raised voices down the corridor, one I would recognize anywhere and one that fills me with dread.
Charlie ...
Perhaps an hour ago, I would have been relieved, even happy to see my father's face. Right now, I'm exhausted, and my eyes are about to close. I'm not strong enough physically or mentally to deal with Charlie right now.
"What's wrong?" Masen asks, looking concerned.
"That's my dad," I explain, shuddering at the thought of another confrontation with him.
"You want me to get rid of him," He offers, reading my thoughts.
"Yes, please. I'm not ready to see him yet." I don't care how desperate or pathetic I sound. "Can you tell him I'm sleeping or something … anything. I don't care what you have to tell him." I plead.
"I'll take care of it," Masen reassures me. He squeezes my hand and sends me a small smile before he turns and leaves the room. Then he is gone.
~MPOV~
What am I getting myself into? Why was I determined to interfere in Bella's family?
I should have stayed out of it. I should have kept my mouth shut, but one look at the forlorn expression on Bella's face, and I knew I would do whatever it takes to keep Charlie Swan away from his daughter— for tonight at least.
In all fairness, I didn't blame her for shutting him out. Not once in the days Bella was unconscious have I had the pleasure of discussing her treatment with her father. Charlie dropped by a couple of times, both occasions when I was off shift. But by all accounts, he didn't stay long, and he didn't seek more than a brief update on Bella's condition.
Fucking disgraceful.
What a sorry excuse of a man and father. Now, here he is shouting and causing a scene in my hospital. I don't fucking think so.
How did he even know she was awake? Neither Rosalie nor Dora seemed fond of Bella's father, so I doubted they would rush to give him an update on her condition. Maybe one of the nurses had contacted him? It's then I remember I texted my dad to tell him Bella was awake, and I guess the news had reached her dad.
Damn it! I could see Bella was visibly distressed, and I hated to be the cause. The only way to fix this is to do whatever it takes to get Charlie Swan to back the fuck off.
Stepping out into the corridor, both Charlie and my dad are waiting for me. Charlie is a tall man with strong, distinctive features; his eyebrows are pulled together, his face is tense, and his cold, hard eyes glare at me.
"Perhaps it's best we take this conversation to my office," I suggest, but Charlie is having none of it.
"No, I'm not moving until I see my daughter. Carlisle tells me she's awake."
I send my dad a sharp look before turning my attention to Charlie.
"I'm afraid that's not possible at this time. Bella just woke up, and she's very tired, not to mention overwhelmed. Why not come back in the morning when she's had a chance to rest." I suggest.
Charlie's face turns from annoyed to flat-out furious. His eyes are wide open and bulging out in anger. My dad looks shocked; his mouth hangs open in disbelief, but my patient's wish comes first - ahead of her father.
Regardless of who that father is.
"Masen, please …" Dad starts to say, but he's interrupted.
"Masen? You're Carlisle's son, correct?" Charlie's eyes narrow.
"That's right."
"Step aside." He bellows.
"No."
"You can't stop me. I demand to see my daughter!"
"Forget it," I say, stepping further in front of the door because I wouldn't put it past him to force his way in.
"You're not going in there, Mr. Swan. Your daughter is not up for visitors right now, and I won't have you going in there upsetting her."
"Carlisle, get your boy out of the way now." Charlie snarls, stepping in my face, trying to intimidate me.
"No."
Charlie looked temporarily dumbfounded, probably because he isn't used to people telling him no. Dad looks like he doesn't know what to think or how to talk me down, which he won't. Charlie's not going in there; I made Bella a promise - one I intend to keep.
"I won't tell you again," Charlie says through gritted teeth.
"And I won't tell you again either," I stand tall. I refuse to cower to this man— this bully. "Bella has made her feelings very clear. She doesn't want to see you, so I suggest you respect her wishes and do the decent thing ... the smart thing, and leave. You're not going in there today, so back off."
"Are you gonna stop me? Who the hell do you think you are?" He barks. My dad has to step in to hold Charlie back.
"I'm the head of ER, so you can either leave now, or I'm calling security to escort you out of the building."
A brief standoff occurs, then, with a curse, Charlie turns and marches down the corridor. He's straight on his phone, talking in a harsh voice. Dad looks at me with an expression that reads, what the fuck?
"Now, shall we go to my office?" I say, mindful of causing any more of a scene because it's obvious from his expression this conversation is far from over.
I'm right ...
"What the hell was that, Mase?" Dad admonishes me when we are in my office.
"Bella doesn't want to see him, and he should respect that," I reply defensively before turning the question on him. "I thought you had this under control? You swore to me you'd keep me out of it; instead, you walk in here with Charlie Swan!"
"No … Listen to me, son ... you need to calm down."
"I'll calm down when you keep him away from Bella and me."
"Masen, be reasonable; he's her father!"
"Father!" I shout before lowering my voice. "Where was he when she was brought in? Where has he been while Bella was lying in bed unconscious for the last three days?"
"Charlie cares; he just struggles to show it..."
Damn right he does.
"Do you have any idea how hard it was to tell Bella he wasn't here when she woke up, that he didn't care enough to come to sit with her for more than a few minutes from what I've heard!"
If I weren't so angry, Dad's horrified expression would almost be comical.
"You told her that?"
"Of course, I didn't. I'm not a fucking idiot. I lied. I didn't outright tell her he wasn't here, but she's smart enough to know he wasn't." I yell, losing my temper again when an image of the heartbroken look on Bella's face flashes before my eyes.
"Masen, it's not as you think; Charlie is hardly father of the year material, but he's not all bad. He's been relentlessly trying to find whoever did this to his daughter; it's how he's coped."
"It's not all about him, Dad. I don't want to hear any more about Charlie Swan."
Dad's eyes narrow. "Why are you acting like this?"
"You heard me; she doesn't want to see him."
"Is that all it is?"
"Yes, what else would it be? If Alice was in Bella's place, what would you have done? And if my daughter …"
"Okay, I can see your point; we're different people. But I hope you're not getting attached to your patient because you don't want to get on the wrong side of Charlie Swan, and you have already sufficiently pissed him off. We don't need any unnecessary complications," Dad warns.
"There won't be," I assure him, but deep down, I know I'm already in trouble. I'm protective of Bella, and I don't care who I offend … what I need to do… who I need to challenge. I will do whatever it takes to keep Bella happy, even if that means going against her father.
Author's note: Masen is in deep, but has he gone too far? Can he hold his own against Charlie? Find out next week…
In other exciting news, wasn't expecting that - one of my stories was nominated for the top ten stories completed in August, so thank you so much to whoever nominated me. You made me so happy. XX
