Chapter 16.

I open my eyes, still deep in sleep confusion. Before I can move, I feel his fingers, running on my hair, behind my ear. That's when I realize I'm on his chest and I have no idea how I got here. I take a purposeful, deep breath and his fingers still. Once he is aware that I am awake, his hand is off my hair at once, and his body tenses under me.

I lift my head, rubbing my eyes. When I find his, he gives me a timid smile. I slowly sit up and look around, the room is bright now, the TV still on. My eyes find him again, he looks so tired.

"Have you slept at all?"

He shakes his head.

"Why don't you rest for a bit."

"We leave in an hour..." He stretches his arms over his head, cracking his back and exhales.

"Edward..."

He gets up from the couch with a grunt, grabbing his leg. "I just have to get through today..." he says. "If I snooze during the day, I won't get any sleep tonight."

He takes another step and wobbles, his face suddenly scrunching in pain. He reaches for one of the chairs, his hand tightly gripping onto the wooden frame as he tries to take a deep breath.

"Hey," I come close to him but stop when he bangs his hand on the chair once, twice.

"Shit!"

"What is it?"

"I'm sorry," he says through his teeth.

"For what?" I ask, clearly at a loss as to what he could be possibly sorry for. For all I know, only Edward would dare to apologize for being in pain…

"Cursing..." he explains.

Of course… I smile, running a hand down his arm. "Please, don't worry about that... Are you okay?"

His eyes are tightly closed as he shakes his head.

My smile falters at his admission — Edward is never not okay. This is bad. "Is it always like this the day after a game?" My hand moves up and down his arm as my brain struggles to grasp the magnitude of the situation.

"No," he chokes out.

"Didn't you take something?"

"Yes..." He takes a deep breath, trying to collect himself. "It did not work." He's not able to stand upright anymore, and as he bends over, hands gripping the chair, he hides his face in his arms to muffle a groan.

Unsure on how to help him, and unable to stand watching him like this, I rush to Emmett's room.

I'm on my knees in the bed, next to Emmett who is half covered by the sheets. "Em..." I shake him softly. "Emmett, wake up."

"Ten more minutes, please," he moans, still asleep.

"Em, it's Edward..."

"What's wrong?" With only one eye open, he turns to face me.

"I don't know. He's in a lot of pain. I think you should call the medical staff."

Emmett is alert instantly, and he hops off the bed. "Aw fuck!" He grabs his head in his hands, probably already regretting everything he drank last night.

"I'll get you some water," I say as he searches for his pants on the floor.

Out in the living room, Edward is still bent at the waist, holding on to the chair.

Emmett comes out of the bedroom, his cellphone on his ear, and he's already talking with the doctor. I hand him the water bottle and rush back to Edward.

He's moaning and groaning and cursing through his teeth.

"Edward..." I say softly, rubbing his back with my hand. "The doctor is on his way."

"He'll be right up," Emmett adds.

"Would it help to lay down on the couch?" I ask, keeping my hand on his back, trying to help. He is panting from the pain and sweating through his shirt. As he doesn't say anything, I look up to Emmett for some guidance.

My eyes are watering in desperation, and Emmett stares at me, frowning.

"Emmett?!"

He snaps right out of it thankfully, and rushes closer to us. He grabs Edward's arm, closing it over his neck, while securing him from underneath and helping him to the couch.

Once he's on his back, Edward exhales in relief. I stay close to him, kneeling next to the couch. He covers his eyes with his hand, and my stomach sinks as I see a tear run down his cheek to his ear.

When there's a knock on the door, I look up at Emmett, whose eyes flicker from me, to Edward, to my hand on Edward's shoulder, to me again. As he doesn't move, I jump from the floor and rush to the door, letting Dr. Braun in.

"Alright, what happened?" Braun asks, approaching Edward, and sitting on the coffee table.

Edward takes a few deep breaths, and clears his throat. "I don't know..." His voice is hoarse from the exertion. "When I got up from the couch, I felt a snap and it kind of locked in place, I can't move my leg. It hasn't stopped hurting since."

"Did you take the Toradol?" Braun asks.

"At six in the morning."

The doctor looks at his watch and sighs. "Do you want a shot then? We're going to have to scan as soon as we get to Dortmund, Edward."

"I don't know about the shot..." Edward's words come out in a rush. "I already had one yesterday and..."

"You won't be able to travel like this," Braun interrupts.

My head swims with the words being thrown at me, drugs, shots, how much pain has he been in?

Edward groans, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Dammit!"

"Okay, let's take him to the bedroom," Braun instructs Emmett, and they both help Edward up and to the bedroom. His eyes are shut tight the whole time.

Emmett comes out of Edward's bedroom, scratching his side. "I think he's getting the shot," he says as I approach him. "He'll be fine." He pats a hand on my shoulder awkwardly. "I need to shower."

It's only until he says it that I realize he's still in just his boxers, and that I'm wearing my dress from last night.

"Yeah, me too," I say, wiping some tears from my cheeks. He avoids my eyes and remains quiet. "I'll go get ready at Alice's room. I'll meet you guys downstairs?"

"Yeah. We leave in an hour."

It doesn't take a genius to realize there's something up with Emmett. My mind, however, has no room for that now, so with an "Okay" I leave.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

I sit in the lobby of the hotel, Alice on one side, my bag on the other. A few of the guys and the staff are downstairs already, most of them with shades covering their eyes. I'm sure none of them got any sleep last night.

There are cameras everywhere.

But where is he?

I bite my nails, and I wait.

Where is he?

I am close to heading upstairs, to their room, when out of the elevator they come. Emmett and Edward, side by side, in their matching team three-piece suits. Emmett does not have the cardigan on, just the shirt, the loose tie, and the jacket. His hair disheveled, face scruffy, and his Wayfarers on.

Edward instead has the jacket folded over one arm, and his perfectly done tie just peeking from under the neck of the cardigan.

Edward walks out of the elevator and into the lobby. Walking slowly but not limping. He's clean-shaven. His hair is perfectly gelled in place, and despite the shadows under his eyes, he looks sharp.

Better than sharp.

His eyes connect with me briefly, and when he throws me a small smile, I breathe out in relief. He's okay — he seems okay.

They are quickly swarmed by press and staff and everyone organizing us to get out of here.

When Emmett finds his way to me, he carries our tickets and badges. He's quiet, pensive, the whole way to the airport, and he doesn't address me until we take our seats on the first row of the plane.

"Bella?"

"Yeah?" I can't hide the relief in my voice for having him finally break the dreaded silence.

"I just wanted to apologize for last night. I have the feeling I behaved like an ass."

"You were a bit out of control, yes."

"I'm sorry." He sounds genuinely apologetic, ashamed even.

"It's okay. We kept you out of trouble." I try for a casual tone and a matching smile.

"Right..." He looks down, taking a deep breath. "I just..." He looks back up. "I want you to know that I can be your friend. I meant what I said. I want you in my life, okay?"

His eyebrows are scrunched in the middle, and even though his eyes are covered by his sunglasses, his expression seems pained.

"Hey," I reach for his hand. "I'm here, okay. You won't get rid of me so easily." I try jokingly but he barely smiles. "Are you okay?"

He nods, looking out the window, and lets go of my hand.

As the plane starts filling up, I wonder what else is bothering him. Has he finally realized we're just not meant to be a couple? I love Emmett with all my heart, I want everything that is good to happen to him, but he's not the man for me.

I'm not the one for him.

I really hope we can stay friends, even as we move on, to other people.

I wonder how jealous I would be when he gets a new girl.

That train of thought dies as Edward walks onto the plane, and like magnets our eyes find each other's instantly. My heart skips a beat as his laugh lines brighten his face. He walks by me, shaking his head slightly, leaving behind a trail of his perfume.

God, I am so screwed.

As the plane takes off, it starts quieting down. Given how mostly everyone stayed up last night, it doesn't take long for them to pass out. Even Emmett, is already softly snoring next to me.

I make it out of my seat, in an attempt to use the restroom. It's all an excuse, though. I just need to make sure Edward is okay.

I find him towards the back of the plane, the window seat next to him empty. There's a book in lap, his hand with a finger marking a page. His head has drooped to one side. His eyes closed.

He is sleeping.

His face seems peaceful, relaxed, which gives me hope that he is not in pain at this moment.

Am I staring? I think I might be.

I'll walk away soon enough, I just need to reassure myself... he's okay.

I take a deep breath and get ready to get back to my seat, when he opens his eyes.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to-" I whisper.

"You didn't." He smiles, shifting in his seat. He places his book on the armrest.

"Please, go back to sleep. I'm so sorry." I turn around to escape but his hand closes around my wrist.

"I wasn't sleeping. Where are you going?"

"Back to my seat."

"Oh... right... sorry." He releases my wrist, and I sigh.

I turn around again, but stop myself with a hand on the seat in front of Edward. When I face him again, he's looking right at me... with that smile, the one that feels like it has my name written all over it. I need a deep breath before I can ask. "Are you okay?"

He nods, scooting up in his seat, shifting his leg to the side. He eyes the seat next to him, and I realize he's made room for me to join him.

I glance around me for a second, everyone seems fast asleep. Not that it matters. I can just sit with Edward for a while, right? It's not weird. It shouldn't be. Is it weird?

I lower myself in the seat next to the window; my lip attacked by my teeth in anxiety. What the hell am I doing?

"Would you stop worrying about me?" He starts, his body shifting slightly in my direction.

"Not possible." I eye him sincerely. "Would you stop hiding things from me?"

"Was the pathetic display earlier today not enough for you?"

"What you're going through is heroic, not pathetic, okay?"

"I'm fiiine." He breathes out heavily, stretching the syllable in annoyance.

"Stop." I try to muster some kind of authority with my voice, but unfortunately, the way he's staring at me, with that light in his eyes, is turning my insides into putty.

"I'm fine right now, I swear." With a look at my face and my exasperated sigh, he chuckles. "Don't get mad."

"I'm not mad. I had never seen you like that. It was so scary!"

"I'm sorry you had to see that."

"Why didn't you go to bed?" I ask. "Sitting on that couch, all night... surely didn't help." He stays quiet while his eyes bore into mine. "I told you I wouldn't take your bed," I continue. "Why didn't you go lay down?"

"Hey, I stayed on that couch willingly," he says with a shrug, an almost too casual shrug.

"Why?"

"You really want me to spell it out?" He counters. "I wanted to stay there..." He pauses, looking down. "...with you."

My mouth hangs open, whatever comeback I had planned, dead in my tongue.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that," he backtracks.

I sigh, deciding we probably shouldn't get into that right now. Not in the closed confines of this plane, not with his whole team surrounding us, not with Emmett, albeit asleep, only a few rows in front of us.

"So..." he says, rubbing his hands over his thighs, both of us desperate for a change of subject. "When do you go back to Munich?"

"Tonight, on the 6 pm train."

"What will you do all day?"

"I'll wait at the station. It's okay, I have my computer, I can catch up on work."

"I could-"

"No."

"What?!" His lips stretch while he tries to contain a smile and pretend to be in shock.

"Whatever you were going to offer… No. You have rehabilitation, and an MRI scan, right? Then you need to go home and rest."

"Geez..." He smiles. "Okay." He takes a deep breath before he continues. "Listen, about what you said last night-"

The words die in his throat as a sleepy Seth gets up from the seat in front of us. Seth never looks our way, but it still serves as a reminder of where I am sitting and where I should be. When my eyes find Edward's, I can see his thoughts have wandered down the same direction as mine.

"I should get going." I say and I notice how his jaw clenches infinitely. If I wasn't so obsessed with staring at his face I might have even missed it. "Are you sure you are okay?"

"Yes." He says bluntly.

"Okay," I say, getting up from the seat. I squeeze between his legs and the back of Seth's seat. "I'm glad you're feeling better."

His eyes follow mine, a taint of sadness in them, but he recovers quickly, and nods at me.

Emmett is still asleep as I sit next to him again. I try to read; try to sleep to no avail. The hour left on the flight drags, and as much effort as I put into it, I cannot get Edward's gaze out of my head. The way he looks at me, the way he smiles at me, what I feel when his fingers brush over my skin.

How could this happen now? He's been there, right there, for so long, and except for the first time we met, it feels like he's made an effort to keep his distance from me. Like a switch, he turned off whatever connection we had, and became Emmett's 'I-keep-to-myself' friend.

Now he is very much here and I don't ever want him to go away.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~