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.

She took one look at Edward, smiled a little and then regained her comatose state once more. It was at that point that Edward realized that Charlie had let go of the police officer.

Edward reached for his phone and dialed Capt. Jenkins's number to bring him up to date as to the current happening at the hospital. And, Carlisle takes the opportunity to examine his patient once more. What he found was reassuring to him, but, he was hesitant about telling anyone else while the police guard was in the room.

CHAPTER 28: STEPS FOR COMING TOGETHER

It was a wonder that all of the noise from everyone in the room, each person trying to talk over the others, didn't disturb the patient. Bella had assumed her original position of a comatose state, so, nothing was getting through to her. That is nothing, but, one thing: a beautiful green-eyed stranger with a voice that was as smooth as silk and softly spoken like velvet. That voice conveyed so much, and it reached to the very heart, the very center of Bella's soul, giving her such reassurance of love and safety. It sounded so full of confidence and command. It was all of this that she was unconsciously responding to.

Carlisle had rapidly reached his limit in no time due to all of the raised voices in the room that was busily shouting back and forth; each wanted to be heard over what someone else had to say. He walked over to the nurses and gave them instructions to go call security for him. He intended to ask everyone to take their loudness to another place since his patient needed to have peace and quiet for the benefit of her recovery. "I've instructed the nurses to call security in case you all might need the encouragement to move."

The noise came to an abrupt halt as everyone turned to look at Carlisle. He didn't hesitate to return their stare. "I meant what I said. Bella needs the silence at the moment, not all of the loud discussions concerning who had been here and the reason why. All this racket will do is help keep her in a constant state of stress and that will hinder her recovery."

But, it was as security opened the door that everyone snapped into motion as they realized that Carlisle was being serious about all of them leaving Bella's room. But, it was as they did begin clearing out that Carlisle halted Edward, "Son, I need for you, Charlie and Emmett to stay." This request caught everyone, once more, by surprise, but, only for a moment. So, without further ado all except for the three men that Carlisle had named, left Bella's room and headed for the waiting room not far from down the hallway to continue the heated discussion that had been interrupted by Carlisle abrupt dismissal of them all.

As the last person left and closed the door behind the last one leaving, Carlisle turned to talk with Edward, Charlie and Emmett. Edward had moved to the foot of Bella's bed to stand next to Charlie. Emmett was standing near the door and Carlisle was standing nearest to Emmett. As the silence in the room felt as if it was about to become awkward, Carlisle motioned for the other three to come nearer to him.

"I wanted to speak with you three quietly to alert you as to Bella's current situation." Right after making that statement he noticed the look of panic on their faces and hastened to reassure them that she was fine. "But, what I do want to tell you is that if we can keep the stress factor away from her a bit longer, while trying to clear her of all charges, she will continue to respond to treatment."

"I think you need to speak a bit more plainly. What treatment are you referring to?"

"Charlie, it isn't hard for you to realize that most of Bella's problem right now isn't just her physical wounds, but, mental as well. Her physical condition is improving at a remarkable rate, but, her mental state is what is more of a concern and I'm worried about it. If she doesn't snap out of her comatose state and remain conscious of her surroundings, then we'll need to get someone to attend to that side of her recovery instead of me just consulting with the hospital's Head of Psychiatry. To get him more involved, with Bella being his patient, is a step that I am hoping to avoid as it would mean to moving her into a place that is better equipped to deal with that side of things"

Looking at each of the three men, Carlisle realized the stress his words had caused the others. It wasn't what he had meant to do, but, he knew they needed to know the truth of the situation. "I'm not meaning to cause any of you more distress, but, you need to accept the current facts, so we can really help Bella to have a complete recovery.

"Also, with each of you knowing the truth of her condition will help to pass along the information to the others without creating a big deal out of everything. But, they will be able to help with what needs to be done when they are with Bella: to continue talking with her.

"Now, to switch from the doom and gloom, I noticed that Bella, although, she did return to her prior comatose state, that it didn't seem to be as deep as it has been. She was quietly responding to Edward's voice and his presence. I believe that if you, Edward, can continue to keep that closeness going with Bella then she could decide to return to reality instead of retreating completely within herself once more.

"Mind you, I'm not that well versed in the area of the human mind since it isn't my field of expertise, but, I do think that I'm correct in my assumption. In fact, I'm so confident in my belief that I have been, as I said, consulting the head of psychiatry here at the hospital just to make sure that I'm heading in the right direction."

Charlie and Emmett looked at Carlisle with a sense of renewed hope and looked at Edward with an expression full of questions. They couldn't understand fully why Carlisle was making the statement about Bella responding more to Edward than to those who have been closer to her. But, it was Emmett that couldn't resist asking, "Hey, Doc, why do you think Edward is more able to reach her than anyone of us? I mean, we know her better and he has just met her."

"Emmett don't worry so much about it. It's something I've noticed, but, never really gave it much consideration until now. I believe it's one of those things like you and Rosalie; remember how you two connected immediately?" Charlie was the one that responded to Emmett's remarks and his query.

"Yeah, I remember, but, Chief, she and I actually met to where Bella hasn't even met Edward. When he first got here she was heavily sedated; then when she did come around that Alma person caused her to go into her current state. So, how can Bella have made a connection of sorts with him?"

"Really, Emmett, how many times has Edward sat, like the rest of us, mind you, talking to Bella as he held her hand? It could have been the sound of his voice along with his quiet, reassuring tone, more than the words he spoke, that reached out to her. Also, it could be the way he tenderly holds her hand, stroking it in an absentmindedly way that helped to create the connection. There is no way to fully explain it, but, I've seen for myself, how even unconscious, Bella seems to respond to him." Charlie tells Emmett and during this conversation Carlisle listened in full agreement with all that Charlie had said.

So, with that explanation delivered, Carlisle turned once more to his son and said, "That is why I would like for you to step up your efforts, Edward, in spending time talking with Bella. Maybe, she might decide to return to reality because of it."

"Sure, Dad, but, I still have a lot of work to do to get my client cleared also. You haven't forgotten about that being the original reason why I was called to Seattle, have you?" Edward agrees to Carlisle's request and then reminds him of why he had come to Seattle in the first place.

"Edward, I appreciate the dedication you're showing about clearing my daughter of the charges she could be facing, but, to my knowledge she hasn't been officially charged as yet; only threats have been made that charges are pending and near being filed against her. In fact, she hasn't even given a statement as to what happened that night between her and Frank. So-"

Edward didn't allow Charlie to finish what he was saying when he interrupted, "Charlie, I understand what all you're about to say or explain, but, I do believe in finishing each case that I take. Isabella Harrison is my client and I have a duty towards her to make sure she receives the best defense that I can possibly give her."

"Edward, I definitely understand that, but, you do have Emmett and myself to do the investigative side of things. We are more than qualified to do the job as I think has been proven more than once.

"And, I believe it is more of your job to assemble the facts into the order that will be needed to protect Bella." And, as Charlie said that he saw that Edward was going to interrupt him once more, sensing that he was about to protest what Charlie was saying. So, Charlie held up his hand to forestall anything that Edward might be about to utter. "Look, Edward, I do understand that you want to be involved in the investigative side of things, but, at the moment, your dad is saying that you are needed in a different area of helping to take care of Bella.

"I can't say that I fully understand, but, knowing Carlisle like I do, I know that he has sound reasoning without questioning the 'why' of what he wants done. I advise you to do the same. The results might surprise the hell out of us all." After Charlie had finished speaking, all the young man did was shake his head as he glanced from one man to another, including his father.

"Very well, I can't say that I'm fully comfortable withdrawing to the sidelines, but, it seems that I've been out voted on this." Edward agreed as in the same agreement he was letting his protest of the situation be known. However, he couldn't resist adding, "So, since I've become redundant, in a manner of speaking, I do definitely want to be useful where I can." And, with that said he did look over at the bed where Bella was lying, and added, "I, too, want to see her getting better, so, we can truly get to know one another better for more personal reasons that I'm not ready to discuss with anyone right now." He finished speaking in an almost whispered tone.

Of course, that last statement did catch the attention of the other three men as they watched Edward look at Bella with a tender look on his face, but, the look also carried a look of desire and hunger. It wasn't anything any of the three wanted to question too closely at the moment. They felt the time wasn't right, but, each of them remembered Alice making reference to a vision she had told them about shortly after arriving in Seattle about Edward and her finding their future here.

"Okay, Carlisle, why did you want to talk to us about all of this away from the others?"

"That's easily answered; I didn't think it would be of any benefit to have to deal with a lot of unnecessary questions at that time. There's enough going on that we don't need the women getting any more upset than they already are.

"True, they have been of great help, but, still I felt they would react more emotionally than what we could handle right now considering what happened earlier today with the unexpected nurse." Carlisle explains with a bit of a painful expression flashing across his features before disappearing.

"You do know that we all are going to be paying for them being left out of the loop and put into second place once they find out about it. Right?"

That last bit brought Edward's attention back to the other three and he saw the three of them nod their head's in agreement to Charlie's statement. Then he let his mind slip back to Bella and all that he wanted to say to her.

XXXXXX

Norma quickly changed clothes and got rid of the nurse's uniform. She made sure that nothing was being left behind that could be traced back to her. However, she had made a very big mistake this time; the young officer that was outside of Bella's room was the same one that had been there the first time she had entered Bella's room.

She never stopped to think that if he managed to see a picture of her that he would be able to identify her. Then she would have a lot of explaining to do.

No, she knew that this would be the last visit to taunt her sister-in-law as it was now time to lay low. All loose ends had been tied up; Alma taken care of and Bella facing charges for killing Frank. She just had to keep away from Bella's investigative team until she could collect Frank's insurance money after Bella was charged with murder. Then she would be able to claim Bella's half of the restaurant. In her opinion, life was looking good and nothing had been left to chance to tie her to a damn thing.

XXXXXX

Edward was alone now as he sat by Bella's bedside. As he has done in the past, he was holding her hand and making slow, soothing circular motions on the back of her hand and then flips her hand over so he could do the same on her wrist. Then ever so often he would bend down as he raised her hand to meet with his lips as he tenderly placed small kisses upon the back of her hand and then he turns it to place the same kisses upon her wrist.

"Pretty girl, I really wish that you would decide to join us again and trust us to see you through all of this. No one, especially me, is going to allow anyone to hurt you anymore.

"I feel a connection to you, one that I can't explain, on a very personal level. This is something that I've never experienced before with anyone, client or otherwise, to such a depth as I do with you on any level, especially on this deep of a personal level.

"Baby, please give me a sign that you hear me and let me know that I'm reaching you, that you understand me. One like you did once before now." Edward pleaded as the first private tears began to fall and drop by drop landing upon her hand.

After the third drop fell and was felt by Bella she slowly opened her eyes to look at Edward.

A/N: Observations and information passed along to others. This has led to decisions being made in how things should move forward to help Bella on both fronts: recovery and clearing her of murder suspicions. Not everyone is happy about it, but, what is, is what is. How do you think the others are going to react when they find out what Carlisle had wanted to talk to Edward, Emmett and Charlie about? Was Carlisle correct about how he wants to handle Bella's mental recovery? What do you think of Bella's reaction to Edward?

Thanks for reading and looking forward to your reviews and thoughts.