Jake and I had an early morning love making session before he went off to work and then to run patrols with the pack and I went to the clinic. Ever since our trip we've barely been able to keep our hands off one another. Having Zeke for the weekend also stirred up some feelings for both of us. Jacob keeps mentioning starting our own pack soon. I keep reminding him that we're not married and I want to finish residency before we have babies, no matter how much I want them! I'm daydreaming about how we're going to spend our night while I chart.
I am enjoying a peaceful and relatively quiet early evening when Dr. Freedman comes rushing into the small office where I am doing my charting between patients. I can tell by the look on his face that something is wrong even before he speaks. The little hair he has on the top of his head is disheveled and he appears to be out of breath.
"Bella, there is an emergency down by the beach. Several people have been seriously injured, but I don't have any more details but we need to go now!" he says, hurriedly.
"What can I do to help? Where do you need me?" I ask, jumping up from my desk, leaving my charting sprawled and incomplete.
"Grab the emergency kit, and some blankets. I'll meet you in the van in 5 minutes." He says before rushing out of the room.
I grab our emergency go bag, a stack of silver blankets, and the portable emergency surgical kit just in case. I slam the passenger side door and Dr. Freedman and I speed off towards the beach in the clinic van that also doubles as a patient transport vehicle.
"Bella, I didn't want to tell you this earlier, but injured people are all part of the pack. Unfortunately, I don't have any names yet." he says quietly.
I don't have time to be filled with, panic or fear. We have work to do, but I know in the back of my mind I won't be able to completely focus until I see Jacob and I know that he is safe.
When we get to the beach there is a small crowd gathered where the beach meets the forest. I scan the crowd for Jake but can't find him. I see Emily and Leah consoling one another, separated from the rest of the group. Then I spot Billy and my dad, right in the thick of people. We rush with the supplies towards the growing crowd.
My years of medical training haven't prepared me for what I see. Four of the pack members lay on the cold sand, their bodies covered in blood, their skin shredded with eairy precision. I recognize the men instantly, Paul, Quil, Jerad and Seth, all people who I have grown close with over the last several months. Dr. Freedman and I get right to work. I start taking vitals on all four of them while he starts to apply bandages to some of their larger wounds.
All four men are amazingly still alive, but they have lost a lot of blood and will need more intensive care than we can provide on the beach. We prepare to transport them back to the clinic. If these were regular patients we would be transporting them to Port Angeles or Seattle but we can't risk that with the pack, their temperatures alone would send up red flags, not to mention how quickly they seem to heal.
I am about to ask the rest of the pack for help in moving the men, when I realize they aren't here. Leah seems to notice my confusion, she is the only shifter on the beach.
"The others are still searching the woods and patrolling." She says, softly.
"Searching the woods?" I ask.
"Bella, Jake is still missing." She says, placing a hand on my shoulder.
My vision begins to spin out of control as my world crumbles around me.
Jake's POV
Why can't I shift? If I could just get into wolf form then I could use pack mind to tell the guys where I am. I try to pull myself up but pain shoots through my body. Bella once told me pain is a good sign it means your chance of nerve damage is low, but at the moment I'm having trouble seeing the bright side of my excruciating circumstance.
I know I should be worried about the cold ones coming back, but I'm sure they're miles away by now. Sam and I took down their leader, but we didn't have time to start a fire before we were ambushed. They can't bite us like they do their prey, but still they used their teeth to shred our thick wolf coats, deep down to our skin. My shoulder is torn to shreds from where Jasper sunk his razor sharp fangs into my flesh. I try again to stand but nothing seems to be working. I know my shoulder is losing a lot of blood, my vision is getting hazy and for the first time since I shifted in high school, I'm cold.
I close my eyes and try to muster up the courage and energy to get up, but my eyelids are so heavy and having them closed is a peaceful falling asleep. Just as quickly as I was drifting off to sleep, my mind is awake again only this time it's not my emotions that are filling my thoughts. They are Bella's, she's hurt… no that's not it. She is in emotional pain. I need to find her to comfort her, I need to be with my imprint. She's on the beach, don't ask my how I know, I can just feel it.
Bella's POV
I give myself 10 seconds to panic about Jacob and then I have to get back to work. 10… 9… 8… 7… 6… Bang! My mind is filled with thoughts that are not my own. I can see the embankment, I can feel his pain, he is cold.
"Leah! I know where he is!" I shout. Pulling myself from the ground, not bothering to brush the sand from my scrubs.
"What? How?" she asks.
"I don't know, but it is almost as if I am looking through his eyes. It must be something to do with the imprint. But enough explaining. We have to go find him, he'd hurt and I don't know how much longer he has. Leah, he's cold."
"We will get to him faster if I'm in wolf form. Hop on!" she says before quickly shifting into her stunning wolf.
I cling to Leah for dear life as we race through the thick La Push forest. We get to the spot where my vision was but there is no sign of him. I slid down from Leah's back onto the soft ground. Just then I hear a soft groan. Jacob is laying in a pool of blood, just off the path under some greenery. Seconds after spotting him the remaining pack members bound into the clearing. I instantly go back into doctor mode.
"Leah and Collin, you two go back to the beach and help Dr. Freedman get the other guys back to the clinic. Embry and Sam I need you guys to help me with Jake." I order.
After Leah and Collin dash off I pull out the few medical supplies I brought with me and get to work prepping Jake for transport. His shoulder is by far his worst injury so I start by packing that with my remaining gauze. His moans of pain are almost too much for me to bare but I know I have to push through. I keep talking to him even though I know he isn't truly hearing me. When I am happy with his shoulder bandages I turn to Sam and Embry.
"Sam, can we ride on your back?"
"Of course Bella, whatever you need to help Jake."
Embry helps me up onto Sam's large back before placing Jacob into my arms. Then he joins us in human form to assist in holding Jake. Sam runs at full pace back to the beach. When we arrive, the wolves are loading Paul into the van, as the most stable he is the last to go to the clinic. The other three are already back at the office and I'm sure Dr. Freedman is already working on them. Rather than waiting for the van to come back Sam continues onto the clinic, even though he risks exposing himself to the rest of the reservation. Thankfully we don't see anyone else.
We have one trauma room on the reservation, and three other patient rooms. When we get to the clinic Quil is in the trauma room, Seth is in room #1, Jered is in #2, Paul is on a gurney in the hallway and room #3 is waiting for Jake. As much as I want to sit at Jake's bedside I know I am needed elsewhere. He is in good hands with Billy and Charlie and the dressing I placed in the woods is holding well and hasn't saturated with blood yet. I give him a kiss on the head and then get to work.
Before I go to work on Jered, Seth and Paul, I set the rest of the pack up for blood donation. We don't have a blood bank on the reservation nor do we have blood type and cross abilities but after reviewing their files I learn that all of the pack members have O-. I also make the executive decision to only give wolves blood from other shifter. Sue our MA is keeping watch over our donors as I rush off to help the injured.
Dr. Freedman is diligently working on Quil, so I head into room #1 to see Seth, I am surprised to find him conscious but just barely. I explain to him that I am going to stitch up his lacerations and then perform a physical to check on the rest of him. I inject him with our strongest pain medication although I doubt it will help as his high body temp will burn it off faster than his body can use it. After cleaning his extensive wounds I get to suturing. I've placed 45 stitches and I not even done with his arm. 212 sutures later I am done with Seth. I cover the sutures with ointment and sterile bandages before moving onto the rest of my exam. His pupils are reactive, his heart and lungs sound healthy and all of his joints are intact. I give him a second dose of pain medication and a blanket, for now the best thing he can do is get some rest. When the blood for donation is ready he will get a transfusion to make up for the blood he lost.
On my way to see Jered, Sue stops me to let me know that all of the donations are complete. I instruct her to start Seth on the donation from Leah, as they are siblings the chance of rejection is even lower.
"And Sue, when you're done with Seth can you start Jacob, Quil and Jered on blood as well?" I ask.
"Of course Dr. Bella!"
"Thank you Sue! I don't know what we would do without you! It means so much to me that you're helping even though Seth is one of the injured."
"This is what Seth would want me to be doing, and I know he is in the best hands with Dr. Freedman and yourself."
I pull her into a hug before rushing off.
Jered is in nearly the same boat as Seth, except his wounds are across his back rather than his chest. I get right to work following the same process that I did with Seth. Clean, suture, cover, then a physical. I am halfway through my suturing when Sue comes in with blood. Almost instantly Jered's color improves and his skin regains it's 108 degree feel. When I am done with the suturing and physical I cover him with a blanket and let in a few visitors.
Dr. Freedman is in Jake's room when I pass by. I want to go in and see what's going on but I know he is in good hands. When I get to Paul he has already received a good amount of blood and is already improving. His lacerations were far more superficial than the rest and some of them are starting to close on their own. I make a mental note to ask Billy about that part of the shifting gene. Now that I am done with everyone else, I take a deep breath and go to Jacob's room.
The sutures across his back exemplify Dr. Freedman's impeccable suturing. Jake's shoulder is open when I arrive. Thankfully Jake has been given a strong dose of pain medication and is currently asleep.
"Bella, I'm so glad you're here. How are the other guys?" Dr. Freedman asks?
"They're all doing well. Sue has given everyone blood, knowing the pack they will be back to normal in just a couple days. How is Jacob?" I ask.
"For the most part he is good, his back will heal nicely and he doesn't have any other deficits. My only concern is his shoulder. It is not just a simple suturing job, he really needs a surgeon."
"We can't send him to the city! They will know someone is different about him. It will risk exposing the pack." I say hastily.
"I know, I know, I have one thought but it's crazy and will require approval from the elders." He says quietly.
"What is it? I'll do anything that will save him." I say, grabbing a hold of Jake's now warm hand.
"We could call Carlisle Cullen, he is the only other doctor who knows about our world."
My mind is spinning and I want to protest but I know he is right. Carlisle is the only one who can perform the surgery Jake needs and keep our secret.
"He can't come on the reservation." I whisper.
"I know, that's why we need permission from the elders. I will call an emergency meeting."
I slump into the chair next to Jacob's bed and rest my head on part of his back that is free from injury. No part of me wants to see Carlisle Cullen but I meant it when I said I would do anything for Jake and if seeing Dr. Cullen will help Jacob then I will do it.
Half and hour later Dr. Freedman, Billy, and the other elders enter Jake's room. Dr. Freedman and I explain the predicament, and why we need other provider as Jake's injury are out of our scope of practice. Dr. Freedman explains why Dr. Cullen is our best option regardless of his supernatural status. After several moments of quiet deliberation the elders agree to let Dr. Cullen perform Jake's operations, as long as it takes place on the reservation and we are both there to supervise. Dr. Freedman will call Carlisle and see what his earliest availability is, while the elders draft a temporary treaty revision. The room is quiet again, just Jacob and I. The pain medication is wearing off and he is waking up.
"Bells, is that you?" he groans quietly.
"Yeah Jake, I'm here honey" I say, reaching for him. "Don't move your shoulder love, it's not quite patched up yet.
"Bells, you found me. I could feel you."
"I know Jake, I could feel you too. It was like I could see what you were seeing."
"It's because you're my imprint… my mate." He says, flashing me a little wink. Even when he's in pain he is still a little flirt.
"Dr. Cullen is going to come and fix your shoulder," I say quietly. I'm not sure what his reaction to this news is going to be.
"The leech is going to be working on me? No way!" he says, trying to push himself up to sitting with his one good arm.
"Jake! Lay down! Dr. Cullen is our only option, Dr. Freedman and I don't have the surgical skills and any other doctor would freak out about your temperature. This is the only way we can fix your shoulder and keep the pack a secret." I say
He seems pacified with my explanation and doesn't complain when I give him another does of pain medication. Billy comes back to let us know that Dr. Cullen will be here at 10pm tonight. There is lots to do before then, when I know that Jake is comfortably back to sleep I get to work. Quil has been moved out of the trauma room as Seth, Jered and Paul are feeling well enough to go home. The three of them have strict instructions to come back tonight if they need anything and to come back first thing in the morning for follow ups.
Dr. Freedman and I begin turning the trauma room into a makeshift operating room. I start by sterilizing everything in sight, including the floor, while Dr. Freedman sets up extra lights. We prepare sterile drapes for the table and get our surgical tools ready, although Dr. Cullen has generously offered to bring his as well. At 9:45 Billy, Dr. Freedman and the Elders will meet Carlisle at the edge of the Reservation for him to sign the temporary treaty and then they will all come to the clinic. Jake is stable but Carlisle thought that doing the surgery this evening would prevent any snooping from the Forks hospital.
At 8pm, I go and sit with Jacob. I start him on antibiotics, fluids and another bag of blood. Thankfully all of the unharmed pack members were more than happy to donate and some of them may even be able to do another partial or full donation in a couple of days if we need it.
I wait with Jake, my heart is pounding. I'm not sure if it's because I'm worried about the man I love laying in front of me, having to see Dr. Cullen or both. I can't seem to focus on anything at the moment but Jacobs soft breathing helps to ground me. Just then there is a soft knock at the door. I stand and the two doctors enter.
"Bella, how lovely to see you again. It's unfortunate that it is under such circumstances," Dr. Cullen says kindly.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice, you don't know how much it means to us that you were willing to do this." I say in response. My composer is on the verge of breaking but I hold myself together for Jacob.
"I'm happy to do it. You understand as well as anyone the things we must do to protect one another and our secrets," He says.
After the pleasantries and getting Carlisle up to speed on Jacobs condition, we wheel Jake into the trauma room turned operating room. For the surgery I will be in charge of his anesthesia. We will be using TIA but I am keeping an airway kit close by just in case. I press a kiss to his lips and then push his first dose of anesthesia. Dr. Cullen eyes this interaction but doesn't say a word. I realize now that he probably doesn't know about my relationship with the man who is about to be under his knife.
The surgery is going smoothly, I've been monitoring Jake's vitals and anesthesia throughout and he is remaining stable. Dr. Cullen is working diligently and Dr. Freedman is acting as his first assist. The two men are chatting casually when Carlisle turns to me.
"Bella, when did you decide to go into medicine?" he asks.
"It was during my 3rd year of college, I kept changing my mind but at the end of the day it always came back to medicine," I say.
"I'm so glad you made that choice. I am sure you are an amazing doctor, the people of La Push are lucky to have you," He says genuinely.
"Yes we are, Bella has been an amazing addition to our team. In March we will have her permentalty!" Dr. Freeman says excitedly.
"Congratulations Bella, if you would ever like more surgical training I'd be happy to set something up for you in Forks, I'm sure the reservation could benefit from a surgically trained physician." He says.
"Thank you Dr. Cullen, I would really appreciate that."
"Bella, call me Carlisle, we've known each other long enough." He says softly.
With that, Carlisle places the final stitch into Jacobs shoulder. I slowly wean him off of the anesthetic and up his pain medication, but I switch him to something that shouldn't make him too drowsy. I push Jake into room #1 while the other two doctors clean up the makeshift operating room. He blinks several times, still clearly under the holds of the medication.
"Bells" he mutters.
"I'm right here love" I say holding him close.
"Bells…" he trails off, the medication he is on his strong it may be close to an hour before he is really awake.
"Bells…" he tries again.
"It's okay, baby I'm with you, I'm not going anywhere" I whisper to him.
"Bells… marry me?" he mumbles before sleep takes a hold of him again.
AN: This is the longest chapter yet! I thought about splitting it up but I really wanted to keep the flow going. Let me know what you think about Carlisle coming back? Did Jake just propose?! Will he remember when he wakes up? As always I love knowing what you think! XOXO