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.

Edward had decided that he would wait until he received further news from his father as to what the hospital was going to do about Nurse Johnson before deciding definitely upon his course of action.

CHAPTER 18: FIRE THE BITCH

After Charlie had left to go deal with family, friends and the police and Carlisle had gone to speak with his friend, which happened to be Chief of Staff at the hospital, Edward returned to Bella's room. As he entered the room he sees a small figure sitting beside Bella's bed and seemed to be quietly talking, almost whispering, to the figure in the bed. Then drawing nearer, he saw that it was his sister, Alice.

She turns her head to look at her brother and sadly smiles at him before turning back to the woman that was lying, unmoving, in her bed. The closer Edward got to the two he noticed that Bella was staring off into space, not acknowledging anyone or thing that might be going on around her. It was then that he realized the extent of the damage that Nurse Johnson had done with her careless, spiteful words. He came to a standstill next to Alice, but, still hadn't spoken one word; he didn't know what to say or how to act at that moment in time.

"Edward, don't worry. It's going to take time, but, I've seen where all will be worthwhile in the end as long as you have given it time. The road for recovery is going to be bumpy just like getting her legal matters straightened out, but, you're not going to lose."

Edward tried to draw some measure of comfort from her words, but, he was still trying to work out why he was feeling the way he was personally about his new client, in spite of what Alice told him on the plane as they were coming to Seattle. But, even though, his thoughts were in such turmoil he still welcomed the reassurance that his sister was trying to offer him. And, more out of habit than for any other reason, Edward couldn't resist saying, "Alice, you don't know the outcome for sure."

She just looked at him as he finished saying this and then beckoned him to bend down towards her, which he did. Once his head was at her level she raised her hand as if to gently stroke his cheek, but, instead, reached further back and smacked the back of his head as she had seen Rosalie do to Emmett a time or two.

"Damn, Alice, what was that for?"

"Because you know better. How often has it been said in the family 'not to bet against me'?"

"That's beside the point. There's no way that you can foretell what will happen in this case."

"Do you honestly believe that? Didn't I tell you before we arrived here that you would be meeting your one and only?" She quietly asked those questions of her brother. Then she continued, "Stop and think about what you've been doing since the first moment you laid eyes on this woman. How much more you have poured of yourself into proving she's innocent of any possible charges that are being filed against her? How hard have you pushed yourself and everyone else to discover any facts that will work to her advantage to try to stop any action against her?

"But, most of all, Edward, how much pressure have you put upon yourself to get her cleared, not because of client/attorney relationship, but, because of how you truly feel about her, because of the pull your heart is really reaching out towards her?

"Answer those questions honestly, at least, to yourself even if you don't want to admit it to anyone else. However, don't forget that I, above everyone else that know you or had just met you, know you better than you know yourself most of the time." She told him and as she happened to look up to see that expression that was on his face at that moment she raised her hand and said, "Yeah, I know that there are times that I'm wrong about some things, but, again, not really, because it's only the small details that I miss at times." She finished her statement with a small smirk appearing as she watched her brother trying to find some sort of retort to make back to her, but, not being able to come up with one fast enough decided to keep his mouth shut. "Yeah, best stay quiet, if I was you." She remarked with a small chuckle before turning back to the woman laying in the bed.

Before Alice had a chance to begin talking quietly to Bella Harrison once more Edward broke the silence by asking, "What was it that you were telling her when I walked into the room?"

"That, my dear brother, is between her and me." She told him without turning to look at Edward once more and then with the silence stretching to a point of becoming tense between the two siblings she said, "But, I can tell you that it's nothing bad. In fact, I'm doing you a favor and from what I've read, it's suggested that someone should talk with people in a coma."

"But, Alice, she isn't in a coma."

"I know that, but, it's the same state as being in one, so, the same principle should apply. With that being the case, I'm talking to her. I'm introducing myself and letting her know that we're going to be very close and the best of friends in the future.

"Then I mentioned that I had stiffed neck brother and told her a little about you. I was letting her know that you were representing her and was working very hard to get the situation straightened out for her. But, don't worry, brother dear, I haven't mentioned to her as yet about your attraction towards her, or, about what I see your futures being together." All Edward did was smile down affectionately at his little sister and then looked at the beautiful woman that was suffering so much still at the hand of a very abusive individual that was no longer amongst the land of the living, but, whose reach is still just as strong as if he was.

XXXXXX

In another part of the hospital away from the board meeting concerning Nurse Johnson's behavior and away from Bella, Charlie was meeting with everyone else to let them know about what had happened. It didn't take long after he had completely relayed the details to everyone for Renee and Rosalie, both, going off like fireworks.

Renee, while could possibly react strongly to the news, will take her time to build up to what she might do, Charlie was sure about that, but, Rosalie was of a different nature and very quick to react in defense of family and friends. Her reaction isn't predictable, so, no one has time or a chance to prepare a defense of what she might decide to throw at the enemy in her opinion.

And as he knew she would, Rosalie did instantly react, as Charlie knew she would, by jumping up and moving towards the door. Fortunately, Charlie was standing nearer to the exit to slow her down, but, it took both Emmett and Jasper to hold the enraged woman back and to keep her in the room.

"Where is that damn bitch? I'm going to kick her ass all the way from heaven to hell for this. She should have known better than to talk to a patient that way. Who does she think she is? Why would she treat Bella like that?" Question after question was fired from Rosalie as she continued to struggle against the hold Emmett and Jasper had on her. But, what finally brought her to a halt in mid-struggle was the quiet weeping coming from Esme and Renee. She looked at the two older women, shrugged off the hold the two men had on her and went to kneel in front of them as she reached out gathering them into a supportive hug into her body.

Jasper looked at Charlie and asked, "What can we do? What is Edward going to do about all of this? Where does this leave us in proving that Bella didn't murder that bastard she was married to? Most of all how long does Carlisle think that Bella's condition will last and how can it be treated?" And, with each question he asked the sound of the gathering emotion he was feeling was becoming more and more apparent.

XXXXXX

The one person everyone seemed to have forgotten was the police guard sitting outside of Bella's hospital room door. This young man wasn't blind and there definitely was nothing wrong with his hearing in any way, but, he was torn in two different directions about what he should be doing at that moment; should he be calling Det. Asher to report the condition of Mrs. Harrison, or, should he be giving the family and friends the time to adjust to the emotional upset that had been caused by a very don't give a shit nurse.

The young man had observed her coming and going while hearing the whispers of the other nurses on duty as well as the other staff members about this woman's performance in doing her duty. She was only being a nurse because of the pay she was getting and that she was on the hunt to catch a doctor in whatever position she could that would bring her more acknowledgement and leverage, in her opinion, so she could lord it over everyone else, but, in the meantime she had no empathy towards the conditions her patients were experiencing. In other words, she didn't give a shit from what the officer and others could tell.

The one question that leaped into his mind was 'why hadn't anyone reported her for such behavior?'

XXXXXX

While Charlie was dealing with his family and family friends and the young police officer was busily wondering which line of action he should be following at the moment, the hospital board was still in session. All board members had taken the time to hear Alma Johnson's defense in its entirety before dismissing her from the room.

What would have surprised everyone else involved if they had known the board's reaction to everything was how swiftly a decision was reached.

In between the time Carlisle had left the Chief of Staff's office demanding a full hearing against Nurse Johnson and the time it took for Dr. James Maxwell to call the head of the hospital wanting an immediate meeting of the entire board, Maxwell took the time to do some checking up on Nurse Johnson quietly. He was dismayed by what he had been told by others on the staff that worked closely with Alma Johnson. Their answers to his question shocked him to the extent that he forgot to ask why no one had ever filed a complaint against her before now?

It was his report about what his quickly done investigation had revealed that sealed the fate of all involved and made what the decision should be crystal clear: it wasn't any argument about the decision.

A page was sent out for Carlisle and Nurse Johnson was asked to continue to wait until all parties were present for the resolution of the case. She was upset a bit, but, made sure that she hid the fact well. But, her wait was short as she saw Carlisle walking towards her in no time. And once he arrived, he knocked upon the door to the conference room to announce his arrival.

He and Alma Johnson were told to come in and to take a seat as they had one more person to wait upon. However, it didn't take long for a security officer to arrive, and it was upon his entrance that he gave a slight nod of his head before taking up a position beside the door.

It had been decided before the other three had entered that Dr. Maxwell, since he was the Chief of Staff of the hospital, would deliver the decision of the entire board. So, James Maxwell rose as he was pushing back his chair to take a standing position, took the time to look at Carlisle and Alma, cleared his throat and then began, "The board has reached a decision which was unanimous. It has been decided, Ms. Johnson, that after due consideration and an investigation conducted by me, that you are to be terminated immediately without reference. We will ensure that you will not be hired at another hospital anywhere that you might apply in the future." And as he was telling her the board's decision Alma jumped to her feet and was shouting that they couldn't do that.

The security guard walked over to her and laid his hand upon her shoulder, applied a small of amount of pressure in warning that she needed to resume her seat. And, once she was seated, Maxwell continued, "It is also further decided that due to the circumstances of your actions that led to endangering a patient in this hospital you are to have charges filed against you.

"Security has been ordered to detain you until the police arrive. That's all."

And, with that decision the guard proceeded to handcuff Ms. Johnson, take her by the arm and removed her from everyone's presence. Of course, she could be heard all the way to the elevators and even, then after the doors had closed and it began to descend to the security office.

James turned to his friend as well as the rest of the board to ask if Carlisle was satisfied with the board's decision and action. Carlisle didn't hesitate one moment in telling them yes and to thank them for taking such immediate action on behalf of his patient and all of the others that were under that woman's care.

A/N: So, the board didn't take just Carlisle's word about Alma Johnson, his friend had taken the time to gather some facts as well to try to confirm any of the charges that Carlisle had told him. This was done since it would take more than a guest doctor's word to get the board to act in a manner against an employee. What do you think Edward's, Charlie's and the rest of the family and friends' reactions are going to be to this news? Will they feel that it's enough?

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