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.

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 tell them yes and to thank them for taking such immediate action on behave of his patient and all of the others that were under that woman's care.

CHAPTER 19: WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?

For two days now Bella had remained in the traumatic state that she had retreated due to the words of disclosure spoken by Nurse Alma Johnson. And, it was during this time that several things had taken place; most of them on personal levels concerning family and friends.

Carlisle, along with Charlie, was busy trying to explain Bella's condition and that everything was being done to get her the best treatment possible. However, Carlisle did explain that his patient's current condition was something that was outside his realm of medicine and he had asked the best psychiatrist he knew to come and aid in Bella's treatment.

Renee, Rosalie, Emmett, Angela and Ben were in a stunned state still because of what had happened with Bella and the carelessness due to an incompetent nurse. They were constantly demanding answers from Carlisle, from Charlie and from Edward since he was Bella's attorney. They also were demanding even more strongly, answers to their question of what else they could or should be doing to help Bella.

In-between times that Charlie and Edward were trying to answer questions about what all could be done by everyone to help Bella's case, the two men were going individually, and at times together, going to the police department to see if there had been any new information that might have been added to the case file. Charlie did take the time to introduce Edward to his friend that worked in the Internal Affairs department while they were at the station on one of those days and the offer was made to help, on the quiet side, Charlie to clear his daughter.

The questions were asked regarding any background information Charlie might have concerning Bella's marriage and all that had been suspected was given as a starting point. And, Edward mentioned that it would be nice if someone could keep him informed if the whereabouts of Norma Harrison was discovered. It didn't take long for Charlie's friend, Jason Jenkins, to assure the two men that he would keep an eye out for any information and that he would do some investigating on his own as well and to keep them informed. Edward did let Capt. Jenkins know that Emmett McCarty, who was also a private investigator, was working on the case just in case the two men bumped into each other.

Everyone was still spending time with Bella, each one of them started following Alice's example of talking to Bella while they were there. Edward and Alice had been talking about her doing that around the others later in the day of the first day that Bella had retreated into the mental state that she now resided.

Of course, at first she was asked by the others why and Alice explained once more just like she had with her brother about the information she had found concerning comas and talking to those patients. She explained that in a way Bella was in the same state, so, she thought the same treatment would apply.

XXXXXX

After Alma Johnson had been escorted from the boardroom in handcuffs by security to await the arrival of the police, she had continued cussing, throwing insults and slurs to and about anyone or anything she could think of as time passed.

The fact that the hospital was taking the action that they were and then was even filing charges against her was ridiculous in her mind. How could they do this to her? She was hard working and did her job, even to the point of telling the patients the truth about themselves or their conditions; things the doctors refused to tell them to their faces, but, Alma felt that the patients had a right to know exactly what the situation was concerning their case and health, so, she didn't hesitate to tell them.

After she had been properly arrested and taken down to the precinct and booked into the system. Due to all of the information that had been turned over to the investigating officer the charges against her were endangerment of individuals and two charges of attempted murder since it seems that one other patient had had an adverse reaction that had been life threatening like the one Bella had suffered.

She was informed that a deeper investigation would be done and that she had best hire a good attorney. And, after being locked into a cell and sitting there for several hours, she was interviewed by a detective which turned out to be none other than Det. Asher. Of course, by this time he had received a call from the guard outside of Bella's door and was given the information of what had happened, so, Asher took charge of the case since it had a connection to the one he was already working in regards to Mrs. Harrison.

After the booking was completed, the interview with Det. Asher over, Alma was allowed to make a phone call before being taken back to the inmate population. The embarrassment of what all she had to endure during that process just helped to enrage her even further.

It seemed that everyone was against her since her cousin had told her during the call that she wouldn't be able to help get Alma out until tomorrow or the next day. At that time, she would have a chance to get her bond lowered after going before the judge.

Once she was back in her cell, Alma made the call back to her cousin once more to try to talk her into getting her out that night. She demanded, "Look, Norma, I made sure that I was assigned to your sister's-in-law case so I could keep you informed of what was going on. You owe me, now get me the hell out of here!" She demanded without realizing that the volume of her voice was steadily rising and drawing the attention of the other women that was in the main area where all of the prisoners gathered.

Something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention which caused her to notice that her conversation was drawing unwanted attention, especially, from those that were the closest to her. It was then that she lowered her voice once more as she continued talking, or, nearly begging her cousin to get her out.

"Look, Alma, I will be getting you out, but, I have to be careful at the moment because everything financially rests on the future outcome of this case. The first thing that needs to be done is to get you an attorney because due to your financial status they won't appoint you an attorney that would do anything for you.

"And, before you say anything, no, we can't use our current attorney because he isn't a criminal attorney. Of course, you'll have to be prepared to pay for a good lawyer, but, you'll stand a better chance. The time that it's going to take to get one in place for you is going to take a little bit of time.

"So, you need to stop your whining and give me the time. Also, a good attorney can get your bond lower which will make it easier to be able to afford your bond. Right now it's too high for me to be able to do much about it with the ready cash that I have on hand."

"Okay, but, Norma, do you think anyone has discovered that you were there the night that Frank was killed?"

"Shut your damn mouth! No, no one knows anything about that except you and they're going with what I've told them."

"Don't worry, I'm not telling anyone. You can count on me; we have too much to lose if anyone knew that you were there."

"Alma, get the hell off the phone. I'm going to have to go check on things at the hospital since you aren't there any longer. I'm working on getting you out, so, just sit tight and have some patience."

"Okay. I mean, it's not like I have any choice at the moment." Was Alma's sarcastic ending of the conversation.

XXXXXX

Capt. Jenkins didn't waste any time after Charlie and Edward had left to have a copy of the case file concerning the murder of Frank Harrison sent to him. He quickly looked over all the evidence that had been collected at the scene and the statement that had been given by Norma Harrison, sister to the late Frank Harrison, where she described the behind scenes of the couple's married life. It seemed that, according to the sister, the wife was a complete hellion and very abusive towards her husband. Norma Harrison talked about how Mrs. Harrison refused to allow her husband to have anything to do with the wife's business and would lord it over her husband how he would never have a say so about her finances.

In fact, according to the sister, Mrs. Harrison refused to contribute any sort of financial aid towards household expenses and Mr. Harrison was forced to cover all of the bills for the family. And, when asked how she had knowledge about this situation, Norma Harrison stated that at times she had been present when the topic had been discussed and at other times her brother would visit with her where he was very upset because of how Isabella was behaving.

In that statement as well, Norma Harrison had stated that several times her brother had visited her with bruises showing on his face, neck, hands and at times, that he would be moving very slowly because of bruising to his ribs that would stretch across his stomach. Then went on to state that at times that he would be wearing board shorts she would see the hint of bruises from higher up on his thighs.

When asked why her brother didn't leave the marriage Norma Harrison said that Isabella threatened him personally that a member of his family would be endangered if he tried to leave her and promised to make his future a living hell if he left; that she would make sure that he would have no future as she would have him locked up for abuse.

Capt. Jenkins finished reading that statement and sat back in amazement. He questioned, mentally, how Isabella Swan Harrison could be such a person when her father was of a total different person in nature. He did admit to himself that the statement gave him a feeling 'of something not being quite right about it.'

Next, he read the report from the coroner's office and what he read there also caused an uneasy gut feeling. He questioned how it had been possible for the man to have been able to stab his wife after he had been shot twice in the neck?

XXXXX

No one was in sight as she stepped off of the elevator on the floor that Bella was assigned. Keeping a sharp eye out for anyone that might make a sudden appearance, she continued on down quickly towards the room that was her target. Once there she wasted no time stepping inside and knew that her disguise was a good one since the guard didn't question her.

Once inside she did notice that a young woman she hadn't seen associating with Bella and Frank before, was sitting and talking with the patient. So, without hesitation she walked over to the side where all of the machines attached were to the unconscious woman lying in the bed so she would appear as if checking on the status of the readouts. As she was doing this she did tell the woman that she would need to step out for a few moments while the nurse was taking a closer look at the wounds.

So, Alice stepped out without the least bit suspecting that anything was amiss to the nurse in with Bella.

Now, alone with Bella, the nurse bent down close to her ear and began to whisper, "Bitch you'll pay for the trouble you have caused my family. I'll get everything that you denied Frank and you'll be the one to pay for his death."

With that said the nurse turned and left the room without looking back, nodded to the guard and the young woman that was waiting to reenter the patient's room and continued to walk down the hallway until she was out of sight.

Now, it's time to take care of Alma, so, her mouth will remain silent.

And, as the fake nurse disappeared the nurse assigned to Bella entered her room to check on her patient's progress.

XXXXXX

Edward was silently sitting beside the bed looking at the unconscious beauty that was lying in front of him. He reached out to take her hand and began to gently rub small circles. There was no reaction that could be noticed by another, but, the action did help the person, to a certain extent, that was doing the rubbing.

After a few minutes he leaned down to speak quietly to her and said, "I know that right now things don't look worth a damn, but, please, pretty lady, don't give up.

"I made you a promise and somehow, someway, I will fulfill that promise. It would help if you could come back and give me the firsthand details of what happened that night, but, regardless, I will win out for you and you shall be free and at peace with hope for the future. Trust me about that, please.

"I can't explain it, but, you have won my heart; somehow you have won my heart without speaking a word, without a look in my direction, or, without acknowledging me in any way, but, all it took was one look from me seeing you and I was hooked. And, now, I need you; I even need you so I can work and even breathe. I need you to live for me; for us and for our future." And as he whispered those last few words the tears that he was fighting to hold in could be heard in his voice and in the words he spoke.

XXXXXX

The voice and the touch that had come to mean peace and safety to Bella was there with her, even though, she wasn't able to respond back. With anyone else near her, she didn't connect as she did with this one person. And, she knew it was someone that she wasn't familiar with.

A/N: What the hell is Norma up to? Will Alice say anything to anyone about what happened with the two nurses? What did Capt. Jenkins see in the file that made him uneasy?

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