STRUGGLES

Disclaimer: The Cullens, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.

The awesome and talented dowlingnana searched out my errors and corrected them. She also makes the banners for each of my stories.

Edward snapped his head around rather sharply to look at his sister and then just laughed. But, once he settled down he did tell her the little bit that he knew about the case and that it involved a bit of a domestic violence issue.

"Then we'll solve the problem together and with our future ones along with the parents enjoy our visit." She said a bit perky while smiling at her sibling.

CHAPTER 5: ONLY TIME WILL TELL

Carlisle arrived at the hospital and went straight to the OR waiting room. Once he walked through the door he saw both Charlie and Jasper off in one corner waiting for an update as to Bella's condition. But, with the clearing of his throat Carlisle announced his presence while hoping not to startle the two men too much. Immediately Charlie and Jasper jerked their attention towards the door to see who had entered. With Charlie seeing that it was Carlisle he rose and moved forwards with his hand stretched outwards in greeting ready to shake hands with the newcomer.

"Carlisle, thanks for coming so quickly. I really appreciate it."

"Don't worry, Charlie, or, you, Jasper, I just wanted to take the time to let you know that I was here before going to checking with one of the OR staff and get ready to go into the OR to check on Bella.

"Edward is on his way and I'll be picking him up at the airport later this evening then we can start getting some answers to a lot of questions and be on the way to getting this issue resolved." Carlisle told his friend in the hopes of trying to reassure him. Without saying another word Carlisle did turn to leave only to turn back around to say one final thing, "Esme will be joining us later as she wants to be here to help in whatever way she can." And with that said he did left to get ready to enter the OR as Bella's personal doctor.

He made his way down to the nurse's station that was on the operating floor which was closes to the waiting room, identified himself and in no time he had been supplied with and changed into scrubs then led to the operating room where Bella was undergoing her surgery. As he walked in the nurse that had shown him where to go had also followed him in and had taken a place off to one side to inform the surgeon who had just entered the room. During this time she told them why Carlisle was there and Bella's doctor began to update him as to her condition while never missing a beat during her surgery as he continued to work on Bella.

"Dr. Cullen, your reputation precedes you, even though, you have moved to a small backwater town in Washington. I'm happy to welcome you, but, is it correct that you're my patient's personal physician?"

"That's correct. I've known the family for years and have treated Mrs. Harrison upon a number of occasions as she grew to womanhood. But, I'm concerned about what has happened to her this time. Would you mind giving me a report as to her injuries and an update as to what has and is being done; then I would appreciate knowing your opinion as to what the outcome is likely to be."

"I'd be happy to. She was stabbed in the abdomen in an upper movement which went through the larger intestines, pancreas and entered the lower stomach. The spleen was severely damaged to the point of near rupturing as well and that occurred as she fell, apparently striking something hard on the way down to the floor due to the internal bleeding.

"We've had to give her a blood transfusion before we could even begin to go in to repair the damage, but, the injuries have been bad enough that I couldn't wait and we've had to maintain the transfusion while doing the surgery.

"As you very well know that injuries should as this can go either way in less than a twenty four hour period, but, my team and I are doing everything we can to preserve her life."

"Is there anything I can do to assist or would you rather I stay to the sidelines?" Carlisle asked the head surgeon and waited for an answer before making the decision to move forwards or to retreat out of the room and go update Charlie and Jasper.

"No offense intended Dr. Cullen, but, at this point to delay even long enough to bring you into the team so you could help could make the difference of life or death to Mrs. Harrison."

"Understood and I understand your reasoning. So, I'll return to the waiting room and bring her family up to date. But, after this surgery and from the moment that she's taken to recovery, please, remember that as her personal doctor I have say over any and all treatments concerning her." And, with that reminder Carlisle left the operating room and went back to the waiting room where he quickly updated Charlie and Jasper as to Bella's injuries, what was being done to save her life and what was expected afterwards.

"So, you're telling me that the bastard might be able to accomplish in death what he wasn't able, or, rather, didn't dare, to do in life of killing my little girl?" Charlie questioned to no one in particular as he was about to lose it due to fear of losing his daughter. He had been fighting the rage that was continually building up in him, but, with this news he was near to losing control altogether. Charlie was slowly being consumed by bouts of fear, anger and guilt; fear for what the future might hold for Bella, anger at both Frank for what he did to Bella and at himself for not stepping in sooner to try to put a stop to it and the guilt he carried for turning a blind eye. "It's a good thing that monster is dead or I would be killing him myself." Were his final words before Jasper and Carlisle were able to get him to try to settle down a bit.

"Charlie, I understand your feelings, really I do, but, this isn't going to help Bella right now. You know this. You know as well as I do what is about to come at her once she begins to recover. So, for her sake you need to hold it together." Carlisle was quietly telling him. "I would feel the same way if it was my Alice instead of Bella, but, this is the moment that you are going to have to stay your strongest to be able to help Bella get through this. Just remember what Edward said to do until he can get here."

It seemed as if time had come to a complete stand still as the three men waited for further word concerning Bella Harrison. The early hours of the night moved into morning which brought the arrival of Esme Cullen. She had taken the time to collect everything that Bella might need during her stay in the hospital, plus, bringing food for the men that had forgotten to eat or even realize they might be feeling any hunger pains.

Finally, Bella's surgeon appears in the doorway and looks around to locate Carlisle and Bella's family. He moves forward and introduces himself once he's close enough to them. "I'm Dr. Henderson and I did the surgery on Isabella Harrison and she is in recovery. Dr. Cullen she is now officially your patient once more, but, I will still be in charge of any surgical procedures that might become necessary." He informs Carlisle then turns to Charlie and asked, "Are you related to my patient?"

"Yes, I'm her father, Charles Swan, and this is her cousin, Jasper Whitlock." Charlie made the introductions and then noticed that Dr. Henderson was glancing in Esme's direction at the same time as did Carlisle.

But, before he could respond Carlisle quickly introduced his wife, "Dr. Henderson I'd like to introduce my wife, Esme Cullen." And no one missed the look of surprise and then the slight disappointed that appeared on the good doctor's face before telling Esme that he was pleased to meet her and that he was well aware of the outstanding reputation her husband held in the medical community.

Then he inquired about any other family members that might be visiting to which Charlie turned a slight shade of pink before going absolutely pale white. He hadn't taken the time to call Renee to tell her about Bella, but, at the same time he didn't really know how to tell her. Charlie was never very comfortable or very good with handling tears or a hysterical woman. And, he knew that once that call was made he would be met with both coming from one woman.

"Well, it was nice meeting all of you and wish it could have been under better circumstances. I'm sure Dr. Cullen has explained everything to you along with the fact that the next twenty four hours are the most crucial."

And with that statement Charlie turns immediately to Carlisle for an explanation. "Charlie, at this point with the type of injuries she suffered it is a touch and go situation. She will have to be closely watched for any signs of a relapse or a deterioration in her condition. If there are any signs then immediate action will need to be taken to try to find what is causing the problem and hopefully see if it can be repaired.

"That is why Bella will be moved from recovery once she shows signs of regaining consciousness to ICU where they will be monitoring her progress.

"But, right now, since there's nothing else that can be done, you need to make the one call that you've been avoiding: call Renee."

So, with a heavy sigh Charlie walked over to another section of the waiting room as he was pulling his phone from his pocket and hit speed dial to call Renee. The quiet conversation that followed from the little bit that could be overheard by the group on the other side of the waiting room everyone was aware that the conversation between Bella's parents wasn't going too well.

During that time Carlisle excused himself so he could get check on Bella and be able to give some kind of news as to what her current condition was to Charlie and Jasper. He left Esme in the waiting room with Jasper as they waited for Charlie to rejoin them.

Once Carlisle saw Bella and looked over her chart as to what condition she was in along with reading over what had been done he made the decision that she was to be kept in a medically induced coma for the time being until he felt that it she would be able to handle any pain. It would give her body a chance to get over all of the shock it had endured during the last several hours of abuse and surgery. That was when he signed the orders for her to be moved to ICU until such time as she would be able to be moved to a more private room.

As the staff made preparation for the move Carlisle returned to the waiting room to explain what actions he had ordered on Bella's behalf and the reasoning for doing so. As he entered the waiting room he found that a couple more people had joined Charlie, Jasper and Esme, but, no one was aware as yet that he had returned. He overhear one of the newcomers explain that he needed to speak with Mrs. Harrison as soon as she was awake.

That was when Carlisle spoke up and explained the situation and the fact that she was going to be kept in an induced coma for the next several days, at least, to try to help the healing process. And, as he finished speaking Charlie picked up with, "And, even then, she won't be speaking with anyone unless her attorney is present."

"It's good that she has an attorney because this type of situation can go either way depending upon the facts that are uncovered during the investigation."

"Det. Asher, I'm very much aware of these things since I'm the Police Chief in Forks. I've had to handle my fair share of domestic violence cases and know very well how they are handled." Charlie quickly informed the detective. No more was said after that except for goodbyes and a request to be informed when Mrs. Harrison was going to be awake and able to speak with him.

After the police left Carlisle informed both Charlie and Jasper of what was happening with Bella and the decisions he made concerning her wellbeing. It was at that point he had a quick glance at the overhead clock and realized that he needed to be heading to the airport to pick up Edward and Alice.

A/N: Well, Carlisle didn't hesitate to take charge of Bella's case just as Charlie didn't hesitate to inform the police detective a thing or two. Now, we have Edward and Alice about to meet with Carlisle and see how things go from there. What is going to be Edward's reaction to hearing all of the facts so far known about Bella's case and when he first sees her? How will Alice react to meeting Bella's cousin?

Thanks for reading the story and hope you will enjoy it. Your reviews, ideas and comments are always welcomed.