Ch 26: Hospital

~ Bella's POV~

My world was a black vacuum.

As if time and everything ceased to exist.

And, despite how hard I tried, I couldn't seem to figure out where I was at.

If the beeping sound was anything to go on, I was pretty sure I had died and gone to hell.

Because that horrid, constant, aggravating beeping made me want to claw my own ears out.

It was driving me insane.

So much so, I forced myself through the blackness to shout at whoever had let their alarm go off for this long without thinking to stop it.

Only, as my eyes opened, and the blackness faded to light, confusion took the place of my annoyance.

As my vision cleared, I saw I was in a small room with green-grey walls. To my left was an odd machine that the beeping noise appeared to be coming from. A squiggly line was jumping up and down with the beep.

Wires ran from the machine to my arm, which I now saw was taped up with tubes.

"Am I in the hospital?" I wondered aloud, causing movement on my right.

I turned to see Edward's head was resting beside me on the bed, slumped over in his chair. He shifted again, lifting his head slowly, rubbing his face and blinking hard a few times.

The he turned to look at me.

His eyes looked away then quickly back again.

"You're awake." His mouth dropped open for a second then he leapt up, pressing a button, before coming immediately back to my side.

"How do you feel?" his eyes were watchful, expectant.

"Confused." I decided after a long moment. "What happened?"

"You don't remember?" his lips turned into a worried frown.

Remember?

And then it hit me all at once.

The crash.

I'd hit a tree.

I looked up at Edward horrified.

"My dad," panic was in my voice. He stuck out a hand, easing me back on the pillows.

"Charlie is fine."

He was fine?

He was fine.

I took a deep steadying breath, Edward wouldn't lie to me.

As I calmed down, I could see how badly Edward was affected, he almost looked like he wanted to cry.

"Are you okay?" I reached out to stroke his hand.

"God no. Don't ever scare me like this again." He whispered, leaning over the bed to kiss me.

His worry, and words, warmed my heart.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm here." I rubbed his back as he buried his head in the crook of my neck.

He shuddered, and when he pulled back, just the smallest sheen of tears were in his eyes.

"Bella. I'm so glad you're awake," Dr. Carlisle announced walking into the room. He gave Edward a pointed look, I'm assuming because he was almost in the bed with me.

He eased back into the chair beside the bed.

"Uhh, how long was I out for?" I looked to the window, it seemed about mid-day?

"Three days."

My head snapped back to him quickly.

Days?

Three of them?

"Oh."

No wonder Edward had been a mess. I turned to give him a caring look. No doubt he hadn't left my side this whole time.

He was gazing tenderly back at me.

It took me a long moment before I could look away back to Carlisle.

"Am I okay now?"

He came closer to the bed.

"Now that you're awake we need to do some more tests. But, as far as we can tell, there shouldn't be any permanent damage. Although your leg is going to take quite some time to heal."

My leg?

I looked down, realizing my left leg was in fact, in a cast.

"I've never broken a bone before." I pondered aloud.

A strange sort of choking sound came from my right. I looked up to see Edward was barely containing himself. He looked somewhere between a mix of wanting to rip the earth apart and tormented.

"Edward. Why don't you take a walk? I need to do some follow-up here."

He stiffened but nodded.

After a quick kiss, he left the room.

"He's a bit tightly wound right now. Seeing you like this has been really hard."

It made me feel bad. I didn't want him to be upset. But I guessed if the roles were reversed, I'd be upset if he was in the hospital.

With Edward out of the way, Carlisle administered a quick set of tests to gauge my motor function and memory. Everything seemed okay.

"All good there, just like I thought." He mumbled to himself making notes in chart he carried. "I do need to ask you some questions though."

I nodded my head.

"Can you remember the events leading up the crash?"

I nodded again.

"Umm, I had gone to pick up dad from his friend Billy's house. We were riding back, it was raining. A deer came out in the road, and I swerved too hard. I know the truck flipped and we hit a tree."

The memory was all there. Vividly in my mind.

I didn't want to remember.

"Dad got thrown from the car. He wasn't there when I came to." Tears formed in my eyes.

I felt so horrible. It was all my fault.

"He's okay right? Edward said he was, but-" I cut off as my voice broke. "Sorry."

"It's okay Bella. It was a traumatic experience. Your dad is fine. He's here in the hospital."

That didn't make me feel any better. I had gotten my own dad hospitalized.

"But he's hurt right? It's all my fault. I was yelling at him. And I got distracted. I should have been paying more attention to the road."

The sobs came and I couldn't help them.

Carlisle, bless him, set down the chart and wrapped me in his arms.

"It's all going to be okay. Let it out."

I cried longer than I would like to admit, before my nerves finally calmed down.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me." I felt so embarrassed for my outburst, but Carlisle was giving me a sympathetic smile.

"This is natural. You had a bad accident, and you've been unconscious. If you weren't overwhelmed, I'd be surprised."

I nodded, knowing that he was right.

"I have to tell you though, the reason your dad is still here, isn't accident related."

That got my attention.

"He's in the psyche ward."

What?

"What? Why?"

What the hell happened?

"After we got you two back to the hospital, Charlie woke up. He had only just passed out and all his wounds were superficial. But when he saw you, he freaked out."

"Why would he freak out?"

Carlisle grimaced.

"Bella, sweetie, your face took a hefty beating in the crash. Even now you still have a lot of swelling and bruising."

I did?

When I thought about it, my face did feel a little tight.

Now I wanted to know how bad it was.

"If I give you a mirror will you freak out?" Carlisle asked worriedly. I shook my head no, but I really wasn't sure.

He handed me a small hand mirror.

Timidly I flipped it over, and barely kept myself from gasping in horror. No wonder dad freaked out.

The whole left side of my face was a deep purple color. Green and yellow edges spread across my nose to the other side. A large bandage was also taped across the side of my head. I vaguely remembered the blood I'd seen before passing out.

I really did look horrible.

I handed back the mirror, knowing I was not going to be able to unsee that for a while.

"Good news is, the bruising will heal sooner than you think. Eating might be a little painful, until the spots around your jaw heals, so we'll keep you on soft foods diet."

"Okay." I took a steadying breath. "Wait, about my dad. You said he freaked? I mean I get it, but why would that get him thrown in the psyche ward?"

He gave me a sad look, and I didn't like wherever this was going.

"He was still very drunk when he woke up. Seeing you like that, he thought he was responsible." I was sure a look of shock was on my face.

"No. He would never do that." I was shaking my head. Disbelieving.

"I believe you Bella. Charlie wasn't in a good state of mind at the time. He blamed himself."

My stomach lurched. I could tell from the look in his eyes, that dad had done something stupid.

"What'd he do?"

"I'm sorry Bella. He tried to hurt himself. He really though he was the reason for your hospitalization."

My blood ran cold. I didn't want to know how he tried to hurt himself. I really didn't.

"Is he okay now?" my lips trembled, but I had a feeling I knew the answer.

"He's better. Once he was sedated, and the alcohol wore off, he remembered the accident. He still blames himself for it and he's going through withdrawal treatment right now. It's difficult, but he's also taken you being unconscious the past few days very hard."

I felt like my entire world was crashing down.

"I know this all seems very hard right now Bella, but this is the best possible thing for him. He's getting treatment for his alcoholism, and having to come to terms with a lot of things."

I nodded dumbly, because what else could I say?

"You should rest for a little bit. We'll do some more scans in a little while. I can send Edward back in for the meantime if you want?"

I hated how much I needed him, but right now I wanted nothing more.

"Please."

It wasn't a minute later that he came rushing back in. One look at my face and he was at my side.

"I'm sorry. I don't even know why I'm so upset." I sniffed, my eyes tear laden.

He hugged me as tightly as he could without hurting my many bruises.

"You have every reason to be upset." His voice was as affected as mine.

I found a twisted sort of comfort in that he was crying too.

I reached up to wipe away his tears.

"Thank you for being here. I- I really don't know what I'd do without you E."

He kissed my palm, and then my good cheek, and then my lips.

"I'll always be here for you. I promise." He whispered against me.

And I believed him.

…

The next week in the hospital was a mixture of crucial and horrible. I understood I needed to be monitored. I just hated the constant hustle and bustle. Sleeping only happened in random increments.

The hospital was a surprisingly noisy place.

But I was getting released today. Thanks to the generosity of Edward's parents, I had somewhere to stay. No one thought it would be wise to send me back to my house alone. Luckily, Carlisle and Esme had been as adamant as Edward that I come live with them for a while.

I was stunned.

I thought if nothing else, this whole debacle would make them want me as far away as possible from their son. But I was wrong. If anything, it made them want me to be around more.

Esme had been visiting me along with Edward. Well actually, she stayed with me while forcing Edward to go home for a shower, sleep, and change of clothes. He really hated to leave my side.

I was glad she came though. She was so kind and gentle. And to be honest, everything I remembered her being a long time ago.

"Okay dear, take it easy," she scolded me as I moved too quickly out of the car.

"Just call me speedy," I joked, glad to be out of the hospital. The sun on my face felt amazing, even in the late autumn air.

"I swear to God Bella, if you hurt yourself, I'm taking your right back to the hospital," Edward warned coming to stand behind me.

I looked up at him over my shoulder, and his eyes softened.

"I miss the sun."

He stroked my unbruised cheek and then, with a wicked gleam in his eyes, he scooped me up bridal style.

The action caught me off guard.

"Edward! Be careful!" Esme shouted as he took off toward the house. We both laughed as he crossed the distance with ease.

"You're gonna get in trouble," I tapped his nose.

"Not if I give her puppy dog eyes." he countered.

"I don't know. I think she likes me better than you," I teased, but his face turned contemplative.

He turned, with me still in his arms, to see Esme walk through the door.

"Who do you like more? Me or Bella?"

She stopped short and laughed at the question.

"If you have to ask, you already know the answer."

I giggled.

"Told ya." He glowered at me playfully and narrowed his eyes.

"It's only because she always wanted a little girl."

"And here I thought she already had one."

His mouth dropped open, and Esme's laugh could be heard tinkling through the kitchen.

"Oh that was so uncalled for."

As payback, he started tickling me, making me squeal.

"Okay children!" Esme called with an exasperated tone, but there was still humor there. "I expect you to be good while I'm out getting groceries. Bella, if he gets out of hand, just smack him."

I laughed loudly as Esme left the house.

"So what now?" I asked innocently

But Edward was shaking his head.

"Oh no. You are far too banged up for me to bang you."

"Is that so?" I rose a single brow.

"You know, it's not nearly as effective when half your face is purple and green."

Crap. He had a point.

"Okay, fine. Can you take me upstairs? I could really use a hot bath." Which was not an exaggeration.

His smile was soft, and he kissed me gently before carrying me upstairs.

"Here, mom bought you a robe, I'm assuming for this reason. Put it on while I run your bath." He kissed to top of my head and walked into his bathroom leaving me on the bed.

I tried to make quick work of my clothes. I really did.

I managed to get all the top layers off with no problem. But with a cast on, I was having difficulties with the lower things.

Edward walked back in, catching me in a compromising angle trying to wrestle off my pants and underwear.

"Jeeze-us Bella. Do you want to kill me?" he groaned, making me giggle.

"This was purely unintentional." I gave the offending articles another useless tug. "Help?"

He groaned again, but came to my side.

His hands were warm as they grasped my legs. Heat pooled between my thighs as he freed me from my bottoms.

When I looked up, I could tell he was equally as affected.

"Fuck it."

The words sent a hot chill down my spine, and I gasped as Edward's head dove straight between my legs.

His tongue found my hot wet center in seconds.

"Oh God," I cried out at the contact.

"Fuck Bella. How are you already this wet?" his voice was strained, but I couldn't answer because he took my breath away when he plunged two fingers inside me.

I panted, throwing my head back while he coated his digits in the evidence of my arousal. And I moaned when his tongue danced around my clit, while his fingers pushed in and out.

The combination was too much. I came in seconds, clenching his hand and face between my legs.

"Fuck that was hot," he commented.

"My turn" I reached for him, surprised when he pulled away shaking his head.

"Nuh uh. Your jaw is still healing."

Fine. I like other stuff better.

So I slid back on the bed a little opening my legs to him. His eyes darkened, but he was shaking his head again.

What the hell?

"What the hell Edward?"

"Bella, you know I want you. But you're still healing. I don't want to risk hurting you or making it worse." His gentle words to the sting out of the rejection.

"But this isn't fair. I want to pleasure you too." I pouted making him laugh.

I used his distraction as a chance to stroke him on the outside of his pants. He moaned loudly, giving me an evil look.

"Please, let me?" I rubbed again as I asked. He gritted his teeth, but I knew he was a goner.

Not waiting for him to answer or change his mind, I pushed him back on the bed, and freed him from his pants.

I began with long slow strokes, careful not to pull too hard. I could tell from the way his jaw tightened that he liked it.

As he grew wetter, I spread his moisture down his length and began to pump harder. I kept my pace even, long hard strokes from tip to base. He was shaking in minutes. As he grew close, I massaged his balls in my free hand. He must have liked it quite a bit, because it tipped him right over the edge.

I smiled, watching his chest rise and fall rapidly, glad that I was able to give back.

"Thank you, for letting me help." I told him as he sat up, hoping he wouldn't be too mad at me for going against his initial wishes.

"I should be thanking you. I've been tense for a week."

I laughed, glad that he wasn't upset.

"Bath time?"

He gave me a surprised look.

"Want me to join you?"

I nodded.

"You can help wash all those hard to reach places. I mean I don't know how I'd do it otherwise, with a cast and all." I batted innocent eyes at him.

He shook his head at my silliness.

"Anything for you."

The bath was wonderful, and we managed not to fool around… much.

When we were both all clean, he laid me down in his bed wrapped in new pajamas Esme had bought me. I wondered if she like having someone to dote on.

"Sleepy?"

My eyes had been drifting closed.

"Mmhmm." I snuggled back against him. I think I heard a chuckle.

"Get some rest love." He whispered against my hair.

I smiled at his words. I wondered if he knew he called me love? I'd tease him about it later.

But for now. I just really needed a nap.

AN: Another one down! I just love Esme. She was always such an understated character. Hope you liked this chapter.