STRUGGLES

Disclaimer: The Cullen's, 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.

However, Renee was sitting and talking with Bella while everyone else was away taking care of some business or getting a bite to eat when the urge to go to the bathroom hit and that was where Renee was sitting when a loud, piercing scream of sheer terror and pain suddenly broke the silence of the room.

CHAPTER 16: OH! SHIT!

The scream could be heard by everyone that was on that floor. Renee was quickly scrambling to get herself put back together while Carlisle and Edward were approaching Bella's room from the elevators. And like Renee they quickened their pace, but, no one could beat the officer that was stationed in the hallway. He was the one to open the door and found Bella sitting straight up in bed with the absolute look of terror showing on her face.

The officer made a move towards her which caught her attention and she observed Carlisle and a young man enter right behind the officer, but a noise off to her right of a door opening in a hurry caused her attention to shift in the direction to which she saw her mother rushing towards her.

Everyone, but, Carlisle, hesitated for a moment. He quickly side stepped the young police officer and made his way over to Bella just a few seconds before Renee had managed to get control of her movements and approached her daughter's side at a more measured pace. But, it was Carlisle that was speaking to her in a soft, soothing tone, trying to reassure her that everything was all right, that she didn't need to be afraid. Letting her know that she was under his care in the hospital. She reached out to him in jerky movements as tears were falling unaware by the patient, but, never saying a word, or, making eye contact with anyone for any small length of time which both Renee and Carlisle had noticed while wondering if it was through fear.

"Well, if you have things under control in here, Dr. Cullen, I'll return to my post and alert Det. Asher to the fact that Mrs. Harrison is now awake."

"Do that and at the same time I need for you two to step outside also while I examine my patient." And as he said that a nurse came rushing into the room before anyone could move out into the hallway. As she appeared Carlisle looked at her rather sternly before telling her, "Better late than never, I guess, but, what would you have done if you finally arrived to find that your patient had been in a severe distressed state physically, or, had died due to your inability to respond more rapidly?"

"Dr. Cullen, my apologies. But, I was-"

"I don't want to hear your excuses, Nurse Johnson, and, since you have decided to grace us with your presence you can now do your job by assisting me to examine my patient." Carlisle wasted no time reprimanding the nurse.

Nurse Johnson pursed her lips giving the impression that she was working very hard to restrain herself from making any remarks to the man that was her superior by the fact that he was a doctor. She did move forward from the doorway and continued on towards Bella and Carlisle as the other three occupants moved out into the hallway, closing the door behind them as they left.

While doctor and nurse were attending to Bella the officer that had been assigned to stand guard outside of Bella's door was reaching into his pocket to retrieve his cell phone so he could call Det. Asher to inform him that his charge had awakened. Edward stepped forwards in an effort to stop the officer from calling to report his client's changed condition. He wanted to have the time to be able to talk with Bella before the detective began his questioning he explained to the officer.

But, after Edward makes his request of the officer the guard replies, "I can't do that, sir, as I do have my orders and it was made very clear that I had no lead way as to interpreting the required actions. However, I will explain that you are in with your client talking with her and that it would appear that you're going to be in there for some time. That's about all I can do to help you."

"Well, I guess that will have to do. I can understand your position and definitely don't wish to cause you any problems with your superiors." Edward remarked to the police officer while reaching out to shake the officer's hand for the understanding and for helping to create a small delay as Edward had requested. "I thank you for your consideration."

So, with seeing that he wasn't going to have as much of a reprieve he had hoped for, Edward turned around to see Renee lingering near Bella's door waiting, rather impatiently it seems, for Carlisle and the nurse to finish their examination of her daughter. Renee is chomping at the bit to be able to get back in there and have a word with her daughter; she wanted to know what happened to bring Bella to this point and why she didn't say something before now by ask for help or to just simply leave the bastard.

Of course, those are the questions that not just Renee wanted answered, but, so did her Dad, her cousin and her friends, especially, her attorney, Edward Anthony Cullen. Edward knew that if he had the answers to those questions then he would be able to free his client of what she was facing now and stop what the future of the current dangers that were threatening her would hold. The answers to those questions would lead him in the right direction to begin to find the evidence needed to show that she had to have been acting in self-defense.

It seemed like the two waited forever before the door opened and Nurse Johnson quickly left, but, as she cleared the doorway Carlisle was seen to be standing still beside Bella's bed while Bella is lying back down with her back turned towards her doctor.

Renee nearly knocked Edward down as she began moving back into the room while making a beeline straight towards her daughter. But, just before she manages to reach her goal Carlisle quickly moves into her path causing the woman to halt her charge forwards. Renee moves to step around Carlisle, but, as she does Carlisle matches her movements which still halts her from reaching Bella. "Damn, Carlisle, stop, I want to see my daughter and to talk with her."

"So, Renee, you're right, but, I can't let you do that. I need for you to leave and to not come back until I tell you that you can." He quietly, but, firmly informs the older woman.

"I have a right to be with my daughter."

"Yes, you do, but, only when she is in a condition to tolerate visitors. Right now she is too stressed out to be able to handle too much questioning or discussions of any details that you or anyone else might want to know." He told Renee. And during the whole time he had been talking with the woman Carlisle had been looking directly at his son as well who is displaying a complete look of puzzlement. Carlisle makes a small movement of his head no and then a nod downwards towards Renee who was standing in front of him displaying the appearance that she was weighing Carlisle's words.

The two movements of his head indicated to Edward that he wasn't able to talk too freely at the moment due to the person standing between them. And, with that Edward knew that his father would explain further once Renee had relented her intentions and left for a while.

Before any of the three could make a move or utter another word Charlie, Jasper, and the rest of the families and friends showed up at the door. It was Charlie that came in first as he stepped around Edward being in the entrance to the room. And, as he entered he commented in an elated voice, "I understand that Bella is awake, but, had a rather abrupt coming around." At that point he looks over towards the bed and sees for himself that Bella's position had changed. She was no longer lying on her back, but, was turned on her side facing the wall away from the door.

The others that had crowded around the doorway waiting for their turn to coming in the room glanced in the same direction as Charlie had and observed the same as he had. Carlisle held his hands up to stop anyone from coming any further into the room as he said, "I'm sorry, but, none of you can come in here right now. My patient is too stressed at the moment to be able to handle any kind of conversation or questioning by any of you."

"But, time is of the essence." Emmett said before anyone else could voice an opinion or comment.

"I realize that, but, I'm going to have to tell all of you to do the same as I just informed Renee; you're going to have to leave and wait until I tell you that you can visit with Bella."

"But, that isn't going to help-". Each person present all said at once. That is everyone, but, Edward. He knew that something was going on with his client and that once they could be alone his father would fill him in on the situation, but, until then he would just have to be patient.

The one thing that Edward was very much aware of was that the little time the police officer in the hallway had bought for him was swiftly slipping away and he was going to be pushed to keep his client quiet until he was able to speak with her. The police interrogations were going to be ruthless and unmerciful when it came to the handling of Isabella Harrison. It was something that Edward wanted to prepare her for and to let her know that he was representing her at the request of her family and friends. And, to also let her know that everyone was working hard to gather all of the information and evidence, what could be found without her input, to clear her of any possible charges.

And, in that regard Emmett had been of immeasurable help when it came to gathering information, but, the biggest sticking point, besides the questioning of Bella, was being able to get to Norma Harrison. She was proving to be a problem and very elusive. When the request to speak with her was first issued she refused outright. Then Edward went to see her personally to talk with her about her statements, but, she wasn't at home. Since then her place had been staked out, but, she hasn't returned and no one seemed to know where she was, or, at least, they weren't saying. It was all extremely frustrating.

It took a bit longer to finally get everyone to leave and to have the patience to wait until Carlisle told them it would be okay for Bella to have visitors. And, since he was informing them that Bella was too stressed at the moment they were aware that time was needed for Carlisle and the medical staff to be able to get her more stabilized.

Edward acted as if he was leaving with everyone else without realizing that Charlie was doing the same damn thing. Each man wanted some answers as to what was the truth about Bella's situation. So, as they all went down in the elevator together and got outside of the hospital Edward made an excuse to head out to checking into something having to do with the case. But, before he could get too far Charlie called out for him to halt and wait a moment. Once Charlie reached Edward he informed the young man that he wanted a word about how Bella's case was progressing. That left the rest of the group to head back to their shared headquarters to rest and consider how long it might be before they could talk with or visit with Bella.

"Charlie, what is it that you wanted to know, or, rather, tell me?" Edward asked.

"Cut the crap, young man. You were going back up to talk with your father the same as I'm planning to do." Charlie told Edward as he indicated that Edward should lead the way back in. Unfortunately, while this short discussion was taking place neither man saw Det. Asher arrive.

"Charlie, I can understand why you're so well respected in the law enforcement arena. You are indeed one sharp individual." Edward remarked with a bit of a chuckle as the two men turned and headed back inside ready to find out why Carlisle had been so insistent that Bella have no visitors.

As the elevator doors dinged open on Bella's floor the two men noticed the officer that had been standing guard out of Bella's room was busy talking with Det. Asher and Carlisle was standing in a blocking position in the doorway of Bella's room.

"Dr. Cullen, you really need to move to one side and allow us access to Mrs. Harrison before I'm forced to arrest you for obstruction of justice."

"And, I'm telling you that while, yes, Mrs. Harrison has awakened she still isn't in a stable condition emotionally or mentally for any sort of questioning that you'll be doing at the present time. It is my responsibility to safe guard her health until such time that she's able to withstand the round of questioning that you will be putting her through.

"And, besides that fact she is allowed to have her attorney present during any questioning that you might wish to conduct. But, at the moment I'm not even allowing him to talk with his client in regards to what happened for the same reason that I'm still denying you."

"Okay, but, understand this, Dr. Cullen, you aren't going to be able to shield her too much longer from what has to take place. Because like I told you before, chances are that charges are going to be filed against Mrs. Harrison, but, it would be a lot better for her if she had a chance to talk with me first." And with that said the detective left as Carlisle saw Edward and Charlie standing out of the way, but, close enough to hear what all was going on.

As the detective passed the two men he saw that Edward was standing there and recognized Charlie as well, but, never said a word to the two. But, both men saw Carlisle nod his head in the direction of the waiting room across the hallway and then he disappeared back into Bella's room.

After a while Carlisle walked over to the waiting room and closed the door quietly behind himself. Carlisle had arranged for a nurse to be with Bella at all times and he needed to inform Charlie of this fact. She had her orders that no one was permitted to see or talk with his patient unless it was cleared through him first.

"What the hell is going on, Dad?" Edward was the first to ask.

"We have a big problem." Carlisle answered as he rubbed his hand down the length of his face. That statement captured both Edward's and Charlie's total attention. The look Carlisle received said it all, 'What?"

"It seems that earlier when Bella awoke so abruptly it was due to some emotional disturbance she had suffered just before awakening. But, as the nurse came in right behind me to check on her due to the scream Bella had let out the nurse made a comment that had a bad affect upon Bella."

"What was the comment? And how did it affect her condition?" Charlie demanded.

"She made the statement, 'Now, that you're awake the police will be talking to you about the murder charge their planning to file against you'. Bella looked from her to me and froze. Her expression went completely blank and she began staring off into space looking at nothing in particular.

"Bella's mind has withdrawn from the world and retreated to a place that holds her suspended in her own world. That's all I can tell you."

A/N: Okay, the situation has just gone from bad to worse. What is going to happen when everyone else finds out Bella's condition? What is Edward going to do? Trouble just keeps growing.

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