Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, I do claim credit for my original characters and the Fey plot line I've developed.

AN: I don't want to say I'm getting back into the swing of things with posting but I am feeling a little more positive about the chapters I've planned. I've been reading a lot of random stories to get my creative juices flowing again and listening to A LOT of film soundtracks. I'm also going to attempt to start responding to reviewers, because I think it's important and I know I'm not good at it . ~ Hannah

AN2: This chapter is dialogue heavy, sorry.

GraceEllingson - Between Tristram and Marco, I'm confident you'll like this chapter - don't kill me tho :)

Chapter Thirty-Six – Broken Bones

Beep. Beep. Beep.

My eyes blinked open in time with the sound of the beeping. My eyes felt sore and heavy. The light was too bright. I was in a room somewhere and on a bed. My eyes closed again. Sleep called to me and I went willingly.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

When I woke up the second time, I felt more awake. My eyes opened without help. The sore feeling in them had gone and the pain of the bright lights evaporated. I tried to sit up but everything hurt. I whimpered and though it was quiet, it alerted someone in the room.

Bella's face filled my vision. She looked so scared and worried. Tears lined her eyes and began to fall. I wanted to comfort her and make sure she was safe but I couldn't find the strength to move.

"Shh," I settled on saying, though it came out raspier than I would have liked.

"Ella," she cried.

"What happened?"

"It was Tristram's fault," she spat.

"That doesn't help me."

"He stuck his foot out to trip you up. He says he did it as a joke but who would do that right in front of a set of steps. You lost your balance and fell face first down them. Ella, I was so scared, you weren't moving and there were cuts all over you."

"Am I alright?"

"You have a concussion and a lot of scrapes but Ella, you broke your foot."

"I what?"

"You landed on it funnily or something. The doctor tried explaining it but I wasn't listening. That's why you feel so groggy, they had to knock you unconscious to get the cast on your foot. I knew Tristram was bad news but no one believed me."

"Bella it's alright, I'm ok and I'm sure Tristram didn't intend for me to fall down those stairs. Where are the others?"

"They went home, I made them. Dad's coming, he should be here soon. He was really worried."

I groaned.

"What?"

"Edward's going to be pissed when he finds out."

"Why would he be pissed or find out?"

"Well I don't think Rose will be able to keep this a secret and they left to hunt down Laurent and keep me safe. Me getting a broken foot isn't exactly staying safe."

"I suppose that's true but I think they'll overlook that."

"Why?"

"Because you were injured. Ella, I never want to experience that again. Your body falling down those stairs was so horrific. I didn't know how to safe you or what to do. I've never seen you that broken before and I don't ever want to see you that way again."

"I'm sorry."

"You can't leave me Ella, we're two halves the same."

"I don't plan on leaving you Bella."

She sniffed a little till she got her emotions under control. She helped me sit up in my bed and handed me a glass of water with a straw in it so I could take a few sips.

"You know what would make this more fun?"

"What?" she asked.

"If Carlisle was still here. Of course, not at this hospital but it I was at Forks hospital at least I'd have Carlisle looking after me. I bet the doctor here is an old worry wart."

Bella snickered, "you got that right."

"When do I get to go home?"

"Well, Dad's not here yet but I guess sometime after that. Are you going to be able to continue at camp with your foot?"

"I won't be able to drive that's for sure. I guess we'll have to work something out."

Bella gripped my hand tightly from where it rested on the bed. I'd heard all she'd had to say and yet I could still see the fear and worry etched on her face. I couldn't get my head around what had happened. Tristram and I had always had a teasing friendship once it had been made clear that I wasn't interested in him romantically. I knew Bella didn't like him because she'd made it perfectly obvious but Adrian trusted Tristram. Nothing about his behaviour had made me think this was done on purpose. It was unfortunate and he was probably feeling very guilty but I didn't think Tristram had intended for me to fall down those stairs.

"Ella! Bella! Where are you girls?"

"In here Dad," said Bella.

Dad came running around the corner and skidded to a holt in the doorway of my hospital room. He looked like he'd aged a decade in the drive up here. Gaunt was his face and shaking were his hands.

"Hi Dad."

I'd meant my words to be reassuring but from the way Dad's eyes were tearing up, I'd severely missed the mark.

"Are you alright? What happened? I came as soon as Bella called me. Who do I need to kill?"

"I'm alright Dad, I tripped and fell down some stairs and you don't need to kill anyone."

Bella coughed but I glared at her.

"What did you trip over?"

"Not—"

"That's a lie, it wasn't nothing. Tristram tripped her!"

"Bella!"

"Who's this Tristram character?" asked Dad as his face turned an ugly shade of red and he looked like he was about to explode.

"Tristram is a friend of Adrian's, he's been visiting for the summer."

"He tripped you on purpose? Where is he? I'll kill him."

"Calm down Dad."

"I will not calm down when you could have died!"

"Please, Bella is blinded by her own dislike for Tristram. He didn't trip me on purpose, we were mucking about, pushing each other around and stuff. He probably thought it would be funny to trip me up but neither of us and I mean NEITHER of us saw those steps coming."

"I'll still be paying this Tristram chap a visit."

"Whatever makes you happy Dad, now can you please sign the release papers so we can leave? I hate hospitals."

"You never hated them before," he replied.

"That's because Dr Cullen isn't here anymore," said Bella.

I was going to kill her! That's the second time she's dobbed me in with Dad in the last half an hour. Clearly she didn't want to live a long and happy life.

Dad smiled but it was a strained and forced smile before he left to sign the papers. I rounded on Bella, or rather I turned to glare at her for I couldn't do much else stuck in a hospital bed.

"What is your problem?"

"What?"

"First you dob Tristram in with your own stupid assumptions and then you dob me in? Are you just wanting to annoy me?"

"I'm sorry for caring about you," she muttered.

"Oi, don't get bitter with me Bella. I get that I scared you, I scared myself but this attitude with Tristram has got to stop."

"What about the Cullen's?"

"What about them?"

"I know I haven't mentioned it before but how can you just act like nothing has happened. They left remember? Then Rose and Emmett come waltzing back into town and you don't bat an eyelid."

"We talked about this Bella. I have no secrets with you and I told you all about why they left. No I don't like it but I wouldn't try to control them anymore than I would try and control you. Would I be ecstatic if they all returned? Yes. Would I be super pissed with Edward for all he's put me through? Also, yes. We're twins Bella but we are two different people and we react differently. I will do what I feel right when it comes to the Cullen's just like you will do what it right when it comes to Adrian."

"I still don't like it and I want to protect you."

"I know you do and I want to protect you also but that doesn't mean I'm going to wrap you in bubble wrap and lock you in a tower where no harm can befall you. Getting hurt sucks balls but without the hurt we get stuck in one place without movement. Hurt balances out the good and if I have to suffer it to get my happy ending then I'm going to survive the best I can because I'm a fighter."

"When did you get so smart?"

"Didn't you know? I stole the majority of your brain cells when we shared space in the womb."

"Weirdo."

"We're two halves the same so if I'm a weirdo then you much be a bigger one."

"If you weren't injured right now I'd hit you."

"Ouch Bella, didn't know you could be so violent."

"You girls ready to go?" asked Dad.

He'd returned and from the genuine smile on his face he must have been there a while.

I nodded, "Bella help me up please."

"You know they had to cut up your leggings to tend to your foot," she said.

"I wondered why my knee was cold," I replied looking down at my left leg and seeing my pale knee showing for all the world to see.

"Don't I get crutches?"

"They're in the car," said Dad.

I nodded and lent heavily on Bella as she helped me hobble out of the room and the hospital and into the back of Dad's police cruiser.

I think it was the first time that Bella wasn't embarrassed by being in Dad's cruiser. Lord knows she hated every other time she'd had to have been in it. I guess she never got over the fact that Dad was the Chief of Police. She was crazy like that, getting embarrassed over the stupidest of things.

"Bella, you better look after Ella for us. I've got to head back to the station after this, some hunters have reported strange occurrences that need to be checked out."

"You're not staying?" I asked.

"Sorry Ella, I would if I could. Now that I know you're alright I feel better about leaving you but you better stay safe. I don't think my heart could take it if you landed in the hospital once more."

"Could you take me to the Cullen's then?"

"Are you sure Ella?"

"Yeah. It's not fair to make Bella look after me when she could enjoy the rest of her weekend. Besides, Rose makes the best food when she's looking after me."

"It's alright Ella, I don't mind looking after you."

"I know Bella but someone has to tell the others how I survived and although I know it was an accident, I really don't want to see Tristram right now. I'm guessing that him and the others will be waiting at our house to find out what happened."

"I guess you're right," replied Bella.

"He'll be waiting at our house?! That's it, Ella I'm dropping you at the Cullen's while Bella and I have some choice words with the friends you keep."

"Daad! Go easy on Tristram."

Dad drove up the Cullen's driveway and as close to their front door as he could get. I had assumed they would already be out and waiting for me but the front door remained closed. Dad got out to get my crutches and helped me out of the car and to the Cullen's door.

"Call me if you need anything ok? If you're going to stay overnight here, then let me know."

I nodded and waved as Dad got back in the car and began driving away. I ignored the frown Bella sent me from the passenger side of the car because sometimes Bella's mood swings were just too much to deal with.

I knocked and waited for someone to answer. I would have just opened the door and walked in myself but I wasn't sure I could manage that with my limited balance right now.

The door opened to reveal the happy face of Rose. Well, the happy face that quickly morphed into the angry face of Rose.

"What the hell happened?!"

"Hello to you too Rose, aren't you going to help me in?"

"Emmett, get down here. Ella needs your help."

Emmett appeared in a flash at the door, his once joyful face also turned into a frown as he took in my sorry state. I'd expected him to help me walk into the house, I hadn't expected him to pick me up in his arms and carry me inside.

I sat comfortably on the sofa, or rather I would have been comfortable had I not had both Cullen's glaring at me.

Jeez, I came here for comfort, not to feel anxious and alone.

"So, how's it going?" I asked and even I knew that was the wrong thing to say.

Rose growled loud enough for me to hear and I winced against the sound. My delicate head wasn't taking too kindly to loud noises right now.

"Maybe I should get Bella to pick me up…"

"You're not going anywhere till you tell us what happened."

Wasn't like I could make a quick exit anyway.

"Bella and I went to the Silver Ray Theme Park with our friends. I was joking around with Tristram, we were trying to prank each other. He stuck his foot out to trip me but neither of us noticed the stairs and I fell down them…"

"TRISTRAM!"

I gulped in the face of Rose's anger. I looked to Emmett for help but he seemed just as murderous.

"It was an accident."

"I need to get ingredients to make cookies," said Rose abruptly.

She was gone in a blink of my eye, urm ok…

"She's gone to find Tristram hasn't she?"

Emmett nodded.

I sighed dramatically. This just wasn't my day but at least it would get Bella off my back for a while. She'd hardly want to go on any more adventures considering how this one ended. I relaxed against the sofa, with Emmett here I felt so safe and secure. I closed my eyes and succumbed to sleep.

When I woke, it was dark out, I rolled over to find myself on a bed and no longer in the sitting room. Rose was sitting on a chair to my left and her eyes honed in on me as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

"What time is it?"

"A little after three am. Go back to sleep Ella."

"Kay…"

When I woke for the second time it was to the cloudy sky of Sunday morning. I stretched my arms above my head and winced as my body cracked and ached from my fall the day before. The good thing was that my head no longer felt like it was being picked at with an axe. I had a long hot shower before dressing in clothes that Rose had left out for me.

Rose seemed less angry when I got downstairs. She'd made pancakes for breakfast so I figured you couldn't make pancakes when angry. I didn't want to ask her what she did – if anything – to Tristram because I didn't want to poke the bear. So, I just sat in silence as I ate my food.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked as she cleared away the plate.

"Sure."

"You don't have to say yes mind you because you do have a life of your own but I can't drive myself to and from camp now with my foot and Dad won't be able to with his job, so I wondered if you would like to?"

She stared at me doing her impression of a statue and I didn't know whether that meant yes or no.

"Oh, you know what it doesn't matter. I can always get the bus or train. Or maybe I can phone the camp and they'll make arrangements for me…"

"Why not Bella?"

"I thought about it but I didn't want to put that pressure on her shoulders, not to mention how obsessively protective she'd become."

"Ok."

"Ok you'll drive me?"

She nodded, "we'll make up for lost time."

"You haven't lost anything Rose."

"Yes we have. Even if I didn't agree with Edward or want to move away in the first place, I did. In doing so I lost out on so much with you, even if you don't see it."

"It's alright Rose," I replied thought I could see the guilt in her eyes and realised my words hadn't assured her.

As promised Rose dropped me off as camp on Monday morning and promised to pick me up at five unless I messaged her earlier. I was still getting used to walking around with crutches but had at least managed to find my balance again. I was cursing those steps to the high heavens and the fact that I'd managed to channel some of Bella and fallen them. Why couldn't I have just tripped and fallen, stopping before I landed at the bottom? Rather, why hadn't Tristram or I see the stairs in the first place? Why had no one warned us about them?

With Ifs and Buts rolling around my mind like a hurricane it was no wonder that I was caught by surprise when someone clenched their hand around my upper arm with considerable force. I winced against the pain and tried to remove it only for the hand to squeeze harder. I came to a halt and looked up at my…attacker.

"What the fuck are you doing Marco, let me go."

"What happened to your foot?"

"It got broken, now let me go."

He loosened his grip and I felt my heart relax slightly until he placed his other hand on my other arm. I glared viciously at him, from this point all I could do was try and hit him with a crutch.

"Seriously Marco, get off me."

"Who did this to you? Tell me now!"

I should have been repulsed by how he was behaving and I was but I also felt that familiar shiver of lust wrack through my body.

"It was an accident. I've already had Bella, my Dad and my friend's chew over this. I don't need you going all macho as well."

He sneered, "you let yourself get hurt then. How pathetic, clearly you can't look after yourself with or without your boyfriend."

"Marco, I'm really getting sick of your behaviour."

His grip on me wasn't so painful anymore but still too strong for me to get out of. He pulled me towards him, and I realised I didn't like being this close to him.

"Hmm, I don't think you are getting sick of me…I think you rather like me."

"I…rather…like…you."

The words came out of my mouth like sweet syrup.

"You want to spend more time with me."

"I…want…to…spend…more…time…with…you."

He smiled, it was…sweet. I wanted to see more of it. I was so glad Marco and I were friend's. Maybe we could be more than friends…

"Ella, hey, what happened to your foot, are you alright?" Sophie called.

What just happened? What was I thinking about? I can't remember.

"Hey Sophie, I just tripped and fell, the usual."

"Urh Marco? I think you can let go of Ella now."

I had only just realised he was holding me and his hands felt like burning lava upon my skin. It was a relief when he left go. Marco was so creepy.

"You're so weird Marco."

"You guys aren't going to start fighting, again are you?" asked Sophie.

"Nah. I can only fight with Marco so long before I want to push him off a cliff and our project would suffer if he was dead."