Author's note; Full disclosure; I'm fully aware that a great deal of creative licensing in the medical field has been taken in order to make the story work for what I have planned. Thanks, as always to my team for all that they do :) I'd be lost without them.

~MPOV~

It's past 5 o'clock. I've managed to do my rounds, checking in with my patients before my shift is officially over. Not that I'm going anywhere; I'm hanging around so I can be there when Charlie Swan finally sees his daughter.

It's been days since my first confrontation with Bella's father. I'm surprised he waited this long, but Bella asked for time, and Charlie gave it to her. From what she already told me, their relationship is difficult … broken, but he's followed her wishes to have some time to herself, though I know they have spoken several times on the phone.

And in the meantime, Charlie has been a busy man.

Dad tells me both he and his men have been scouring the streets, searching for information on whoever was behind what happened. So it seems he did have some fatherly responsibility, despite my initial animosity towards the man.

I wasn't rushing out to give Charlie Swan the father of the year award, but he was at least trying to be useful in the only way he knew - with violence and threats. He'd been ruthless in his hunt for those responsible for hurting his daughter, but so far, it's been to no avail. Nobody knew anything … or so they claimed.

However, there's no time to think about that, not when I hear footsteps approaching. Seeing Bella tense, I go over, hoping to put her at ease before Charlie enters the room. Offering her a smile, I squeeze her hand reassuringly before the door opens, and in walks Charlie Swan and another man I've not seen before.

The next few minutes can only be described as just plain weird. It's the most awkward and strange interaction I've ever witnessed between father and daughter. I can understand why Bella was nervous because Charlie Swan doesn't appear to possess a single loving or caring bone in his body.

"Bella!" His face is tight; his entire body is tense as he cautiously approaches the bed.

There's a beefcake of a man with him; incredibly tall; six foot three at a guess—possibly taller. And he's built, too, all muscles and bulk either from hours in the gym or drugs. Whatever the reason for his muscular physique, he's incredibly hostile. He sends me a hard look before he goes over to Bella. I can see the joy ... the sheer relief on his face when he sees she's okay. I feel a twinge of jealousy I've not experienced in a long time when he carefully … cautiously wraps his arms around Bella, hugging her; his happiness is clear.

"I'm glad you're okay." I can hear the relief in his voice.

Watching the two of them together, I can't help wondering who he is to her. Is there a history there? I can't be sure. Pushing that thought away, I turn my attention to Charlie, watching as he awkwardly takes hold of Bella's hand before giving her what appears to be a forced and incredibly uncomfortable hug. When he pulls back, he stands awkwardly by her bedside, like he doesn't know where to put himself.

"It's good to see you, Bella." He says stiffly.

The air is filled with tension. It's just plain awkward, and I can see Bella is incredibly uncomfortable too. So, that's when I step in to break the strange atmosphere in the room.

"As you know, Ms. Swan, I mean, Bella, has sustained substantial injuries. If you would like to take a seat, I will talk you through her injuries and her rehabilitation."

Charlie nods, offering me a gruff, "sure," before taking a seat next to the bed.

Bella sends me a small smile which pisses off the other guy. I hear him mutter something under his breath, but I ignore him, focusing instead on my patient and her father.

For the next fifteen minutes, I go over every aspect of Bella's condition. Charlie makes a few different facial expressions, but otherwise, there is nothing. No questions, no interaction … zero.

Beefcake asks one question. "When can she get outta here?"

I want to give him a terse answer, but I do the right thing and give him a firm timeframe, which does not make him happy.

When I'm finished, and silence takes over, Charlie is out of the chair, making his way to the door in a flash, with a small backward wave to his unsurprised daughter. Beefcake quickly follows.

When the door closes, Bella lets out a long sigh.

"Thank you for doing that, Masen. I really appreciate you being here. I'm sorry ... I know that was difficult," she apologizes when Charlie and Jake, as I later learn is his name, leave the room, satisfied Bella is receiving the best care available.

"I'm here for you, Bella... You know this."

"Well, I appreciate it all the same, but I won't take up any more of your time. When does your shift finish anyway?"

"Don't worry about it," I deflect, but Bella's not having any of it.

"Masen …"

"Fine," I sighed. "My shift finished at five, okay?"

She sends me an incredulous look.

"Oh my God! I would never have asked you to be here if I had known. You should have told me."

"That is exactly why I didn't tell you. It's fine … I was happy to stay."

Honestly, it was fine. Today, Lark is spending the day with my mom before she takes her to her martial arts class. I usually wait around at the hospital, anyway, so I could meet her when the class started and then go to dinner with the family afterward. Today is no different.

Or at least that's what I tell myself anyway. It has nothing to do with me wanting to be here for Bella should she need me.

On that note ...

"But I really should get going," I tell her begrudgingly. The more time we spend together, the harder it gets to leave.

"Hot date?" Bella replies, then looks down- she won't meet my eye, but I can see her cheeks turning pink.

Interesting ...

"Um … No. There's just somewhere I need to be," I say carefully.

I plan on telling Bella about Lark, but only when the time is right, and we can talk properly. There are many things we need to discuss. Unfortunately, there has not been time to sit and talk properly yet, but I intend to keep my promise. Bella has opened up to me, and she wants the same honesty in return. She has questions, which I will answer when the time is right. We have become friends; this is what friends do.

...

Watching my Birdie at martial arts makes my heart swell. God, she was the best thing that ever happened to me. To see this little peanut running and jumping and being so respectful to Shifu Mark just made me smile like a loon. And that little outfit with the belt … priceless.

We actually decided to try Bella's restaurant tonight. She told me there was a special menu just for kids, so I wanted to see what Lark thought. Also, I thought this might be a good time to introduce Mom and Lark to Rosalie and Dora. In some way, we were all connected now.

Entering il Cigno di Famiglia, I was instantly amazed. It was aesthetically pleasing from the minute you opened the door. The colors and the lighting were both soothing yet perfect.

We were seated by none other than Rose, who was over the moon to see us there and to meet Lark. My Birdie was taken with her right away. Rose was a stunning girl with flaxen-colored hair, which Lark seemed to zero in on.

The menu was eclectic, to say the least. It was in Italian, with English subtitles. There were obvious hints the owner and chef were professionally trained. Everything looked so good, and we had our work cut out for us to pick one thing. So, we didn't. We over-ordered, agreeing we'd take the leftovers home. Lark was delighted to have her own menu. She ordered Breast of Chicken Tenders served with chips or potatoes. It was called the Snow White. And for dessert, we all ordered the Tarpit. Yummy chocolate mousse with crushed cookies and gummy dinosaurs on top. Amazing and so delicious.

We all left stuffed and promising to be back soon.

...

... a few days later …

"Come on, Masen, I spilled my guts - now it's your turn," she insists. "How come you didn't join the family business?"

We're currently in Bella's room, organizing her transfer to another ward now that she is out of immediate danger. But instead of discussing this, Bella is grilling me, as she promised she would.

"You sure you want to hear it? I can guarantee it's nowhere as interesting as you think," I deflect, but I know it's inevitable because all Bella has to do is smile … look at me a certain way, and I'm putty in her hands.

It's impossible to tell her no.

Bella has such a sharp mind and a wicked sense of humor which makes her wonderful to be around. She is the opposite of every stereotypical mob boss's daughter who lived a life of privilege, which she admits she has been accustomed to.

She's pretty fucking incredible, actually.

It's been eight days since the shooting, five since she woke up, but she's so strong and determined to speed up her recovery through sheer hard work and persistence alone. I may not be her doctor anymore, but I keep an eye on her progress. Dr. Birdie, her newly appointed doctor, said she was persistent … strong-willed and needed to know how long it would be before she could walk, how long before she would be released from the hospital. For reasons I have yet to discover, Bella is desperate to get out of this place. I suspected it has something to do with her mother. Whatever the reason, she is one determined lady.

As head of the ER, I have a duty of care to all my patients, but it goes further with Bella. I can't explain the need I have to make sure she's okay. It's been this way all week; she's always at the forefront of my mind. At work, when I have a spare moment, I look for any excuse to visit her. Maybe it has to do with family loyalty?

But then, I'm not alone in my fascination with Isabella Swan. She is so fucking nice to everyone. She speaks to them with class … and ease. Zero snootiness or anger despite the considerable pain I know she is still in, though she tries to hide it from me.

The nurses all love her and the male ones … well, they keep finding excuses to be around her - to check if there is anything she needed ... anything she wanted. Fucking obvious. They couldn't have been more blatant if they tried.

I saw right through them. However, I can't blame them because Bella is fucking gorgeous. Not even the lingering bruises could disguise her natural beauty.

But it isn't just her looks that I'm drawn to. She has a fun, warm nature that borders on flirtatious, but maybe that is wishful thinking on my part. I'm so far removed from the dating scene that when a beautiful woman came on to me, I'd probably miss all the signs. I'm so out of practice.

Has it really been over six months since I last went on a date?

… Even longer since I had sex.

Jesus!

No wonder I'm fighting my attraction to Bella.

Shame she's a fellow mob boss's daughter. A relationship with Bella is something I couldn't afford to entertain. Even if I think she's gorgeous ... even if she's everything I look for in a woman.

"I'm not dropping this Masen." Bella's stern voice cuts into my musing.

"It's a long boring story. Are you sure you want me to send you to sleep?" Secretly I love teasing her; she gets this look … this fiercely determined fire in her eyes I can't resist trying to draw from her.

"Hey, we've got time … I'm not going anywhere. Please, Masen, don't make me beg." How can I say no when she looks at me so eagerly? The only other girl who has me wrapped around her little finger is three feet tall, has dimples, and a toothy grin.

I'm fucked.

"You're not gonna let it drop, are you?"

"Nope, so you may as well just tell me." Her smile is triumphant- she knows she has me. I can't even find it in me to be annoyed when she looks so happy. She's beautiful when she smiles, which thankfully seems to be in abundance lately.

"Relentless," I mutter under my breath as I take the seat beside her; I may as well make myself comfortable. This could take a while. Thankfully, I dropped by to see Bella when I was on a break, but I'd rather spend time with her than paying for nasty coffee from the shop around the corner.

"What do you want to know?"

"Anything … everything. Start with what got you here ... at the hospital instead of a life of crime."

Coming from anyone else, such a sentence would be absurd, but Bella gets it; she's lived life as part of the family, so it feels natural … easy opening up to her.

"I love my family, but the culture of the business never appealed to me. From an early age, I knew a life of crime and violence wasn't for me."

"How so?" She knows there is more to it, and I explain my reasoning.

"I was twelve when I saw my first taste of family life. There was an incident. My uncle Marcus got hurt; quite badly. The family doctor managed to save him, but the incident stayed with me, you know? I saw my uncle fighting for his life, and from that moment on, I knew I wanted to be the one saving lives."

"I think it's wonderful, Masen. You're a good man," Bella says, squeezing my hand. "Do you ever think about what it would have been like if you had been part of the family … their activities?"

"Perhaps …" I pause, taking a moment to gather my thoughts. I can't say it's never crossed my mind. "I could never be the person my father or my brother needed me to be. That's not me, Bella. I don't want to be the person with the gun."

"Day in, day out, I see the damage it does to lose a wife … a child … husband … even the innocent bystander who was minding their own business and got drawn into something out of their control. I didn't want any part in that, and for the most part, the family has always respected my decision. It's the reason I became a doctor; to have my own career ... my own life … my own path, you know?"

"I know what you mean," Bella says understandingly.

"You do?"

"Hello! I own a restaurant ... I write cookbooks for kids. All those things I did on my own - albeit with some of the money my mom left me. I refused to take a penny from my dad because I don't want anything I've built for myself to come back to him."

"That's exactly how I feel," I reply, relieved she understands where I'm coming from.

"I've done everything I can to keep out of it as much as I can, but there are times I can't escape who my family is, and there are occasions I have to use my skills for certain things ... for certain people..."

"Like when you saved me? You help your family and the relatives of other families, too?"

"You would be the first. Usually, it's just my own family I help," I admit.

"So why me? What made you decide to help me?" Bella looks so hopeful I want to tell her it was more than just an obligation that made me help her … determined to save her, but she's my patient, and I'm her doctor. I'm getting too close already. I need to back off. I'm already in too deep.

"Charlie begged my father to help. He knew I was a doctor."

"He knew you were the best, you mean?"

"You said that, not me." I smile when her hand rests on my arm.

"Just take the compliment and keep talking. I know you've led an interesting life, Mase. Tell me about Doctors Without Borders?" Bella asks, surprising me.

"How do you know about that?" I'm alert, questioning what else she knows, but Bella looks unashamedly smug.

"Before I found out who you were, I did some digging, and it's a good job I did because you are useless … anyone would think I'm pulling out your teeth!"

"Sneaky." I try to look outraged, but I fail miserably, and I open up to Bella about my time in med school and in this hospital before moving on to tell her about the work I did with Borders.

"After I graduated med school, I knew the ER was where I wanted to be; in the heart of the action … making those life and death decisions. I worked hard … I put in long hours … late nights … the exhaustion. But that's all I'd ever known. And after several years in the ER, I needed a fresh challenge. That's when I joined Doctors Without Borders. The hospital was supportive when I needed to leave. There haven't been as many of those trips lately, but I try to help where I can; whether it be by providing funds, supplies, anything I can to help."

"What was it like ... out there?" Bella asks cautiously.

"Harrowing ... incredible … life-changing. It was on one of the trips … to South Korea which led me to my daughter, Lark," I say, watching Bella carefully. She doesn't seem too shocked - perhaps she already knew; I mean, she did look into me?

"What a beautiful name ..." Bella comments. I can see she has many questions but doesn't want to press me for answers.

"Her mother chose it," I explain, slightly smiling when I think of the tie … forever connecting her to her mother.

"Is she … are you and her mother still together?" Bella seems to prepare herself for my answer.

"No, her mother passed away shortly after Lark's birth. We were never together, Bella. I was her doctor. I tried to save her ... " I pause, closing my eyes as the memories come back to me. "Lark isn't my biological daughter; I adopted her not long after her birth. Her mother asked me to take her to America."

"Oh ... wow, that's ..."

Before Bella can finish her sentence, the door swings open, and I glance across to find Jess standing in the doorway.

"Masen, I'm sorry to interrupt you when you're on your break, but Dr. Gerrandy is in the OR, and we have an emergency coming. Can you step in?" Jess asks. She's usually so calm, but today she looks frantic. I can see she needs help, and I don't hesitate.

"Of course." I'm on my feet, heading for the door before I've spoken.

"We'll talk later, okay?" I tell Bella because I don't want her to think we're done here.

However, duty calls and all.

"That's okay; you go save lives. I'll see you later," she sends me a smile before I rush out of the door to face the next crisis.

As we make our way down the corridor to the front entrance, Jess smiles knowingly.

"What?" I ask, wondering what the hell she finds so damn funny.

She shakes her head ...

"Seriously, what are you smirking at?"

"Nothing, just laughing at you," she smirks, then turns serious. "She's lovely, Masen."

"Yes, she is. Why are you telling me that, though?"

"Just saying," she winks.

"Pretty girl, too."

"I hadn't noticed."

"Sure, you haven't."

"I haven't!"

"It's not often you're so vested in a patient once they leave the ER. It seems Bella is warming the heart of the reclusive Dr. Cullen," she pokes me in the ribs while a huge smile spreads over her face.

I laugh off her claims, but what Jess said struck a chord. She's right; Bella is wonderful, and I can't deny the attraction to her. But she's technically still my patient - at least until I sign her over to a different department.

Regardless of this, I know it makes more sense for me to back off ... keep my distance. I'm getting too attached - it's hard not to.

Yet, the following day and each of the subsequent ones that follow, I make any excuse to see Bella. There's no doubting or denying I feel protective of her.

… That's all it is, right?

See you next week!