"Stripped"
Chapter 12: Spiral Down
Slow deep breaths.
Put pressure on the wound.
Don't panic.
Stay awake.
They're…almost here.
Bella kept telling herself these things as she lay in front of the open door. She should have watched more carefully when she did the spell, she should have checked up on them more than she did; she should have done a lot of things.
Don't close your eyes.
She forced them back open and suddenly she could hear the sirens. She felt so weak, so tired; suddenly light flashed in her eyes.
"Bella," a voice called from far away.
To her she felt like she was under water and someone was talking to her.
"Bella," the voice said again.
She focused and saw Liz standing over her.
"Hold on," Liz said while moving Bella's hand and putting her own over the wound.
Bella winced at the pain, she licked her lips…her mouth was so dry.
"Liz," Bella whispered.
"Don't talk," Liz said before she looked at one of the officers, "Check the house."
"Liz," Bella said again, "It didn't work."
"Shhh." Liz said, "You're going to be okay."
"The spell to make them forget…it didn't work on him." Bella said.
Liz's eyes got wide, "Bella who did this?"
"I should have been more careful," Bella said before her eyes fluttered close.
"Bella no, open your eyes damn it," Liz said before Bella managed to open her eyes again, "Who did this?"
"He knows," Bella whispered, "He took the blood from Meredith, he planned for you to come. He doesn't want me to live because he knows I'll stop him."
"Who Bella?" Liz said.
"Don't let them heal me…don't let them." Bella said fading.
Bella couldn't hold on anymore and she passed out. The paramedics showed up and forced Liz to move.
"The intruder got in through an open window." The deputy said to Liz, "Robbery gone bad?"
"No," Liz said angrily, "A vendetta." Liz grabbed her phone and dialed Meredith, "Meredith we have problem."
"What's going on?" Meredith asked.
"An ambulance was dispatched, when was the call made?" Liz asked.
"About ten minutes ago," Meredith said, "What's going on?"
Liz stepped away from everyone, "Someone from the council remembers; they broke in and stabbed Bella."
"Oh my god," Meredith said while running to her office, "How bad is she?"
"Three stab wounds in the abdomen area; all major organs were hit I think. She says he's taken the blood and even if that's not true Meredith, there are tons of people outside." Liz replied.
Meredith stopped mid stride, "Get her here now."
Liz hung up, "We need to move her now, Dr. Fell is waiting."
"Okay," the male paramedic said, "Let's go 1…2…3."
The paramedics lifted her on the gurney and wheeled her out. Liz followed and saw that almost the entire neighborhood was looking at the scene.
"You son of a bitch," Liz said, under her breath.
The paramedics loaded her up and sped off.
"Liz!" Matt called while moving through the crowd, "Liz what's going on? Why are you covered in blood?"
"Where is everyone?" Liz asked.
"At the boarding house," Matt said, "Was that Bella?"
"Matt I need you to go to the hospital and watch out for her. Someone on the council knows." Liz said.
"What happened to Bella?" Matt asked, starting to get upset.
"She's been stabbed," Liz said and Matt started backing away while shaking his head, "Matt I need you to focus. I need you to watch out for her while I go get the others, okay, can you do that?"
"Yeah," Matt replied, still shaking.
"Officer James, take Matt to the hospital; he is to be as close to Bella as possible." Liz said.
"Should we notify her dad?" James asked.
"I'll do that." Liz said before she looked at Matt, "If anyone from the council tries to see her, other than Carol, don't let them."
Matt nodded before he hopped in the car with James and sped off.
"I want this person found, do you understand me." Liz said to the other officers and they nodded.
Liz quickly got into her car, turned on the sirens and headed for the boarding house.
.*.*.*.*.*.
"Two clean stab wounds to the abdomen and one right under the ribcage." The paramedic said while wheeling Bella into the emergency room where Meredith was waiting, "She's been in and out of consciousness."
"Bella," Meredith said while opening Bella's eyes before shining her flashlight. "Bella squeeze my hand if you can hear me."
Meredith felt a slight squeeze and smiled.
"That's good Bella just hold on okay, we are going to get you fixed up."
"Her pulse is weakening," the nurse said while holding her wrist.
"Trauma one now!" Meredith yelled and they started running.
.*.*.*.*.*.
"So what do we do about Klaus?" Caroline asked.
"Well we can't kill him," Stefan said.
Damon came running down the stairs.
"Where are you going?" Elena asked.
"To talk to Bella," Damon said, "Thank you."
Elena smiled and nodded while everyone looked confused.
Damon opened the door and saw Liz standing there.
"Mom?" Caroline said surprised, "What are you doing here?"
"I need you all to sit down," Liz said while walking in; her hands in her jacket pocket.
They all went into the living room and sat down and Liz took a deep breath.
"Someone on the council still knows." Liz said.
"But Bella did that spell," Bonnie said confused.
"It didn't work on someone," Liz said while holding back tears, "He did something tonight and it's bad."
Elena took a breath and then froze.
"Liz," Elena said, "Why do I smell Bella's blood?"
Everyone froze and Liz took her hands out her pockets which had traces of blood on them before she opened her jacket to reveal her blood-soaked shirt.
"No," Bonnie said while shaking her head, "She's okay right…Meredith gave her blood right."
"He took the blood," Liz said.
"Then we give her ours," Caroline said getting up.
Liz grabbed her daughter, "The entire neighborhood watched Bella get wheeled out, covered in blood. By now the entire town knows she was attacked."
"How bad is she?" Damon asked while shaking.
"Three stab wounds to her torso; he knew what he was doing. She's at the hospital now and Matt is with her. Meredith is working the best she can." Liz replied.
"Fuck it," Damon said before he headed for the door.
"Damon you can't heal her," Liz said, stopping him. "She said not to. Now Meredith is the best trauma doctor we have…she will not lose Bella."
"I'm not willing to take a chance Liz," Damon said.
Liz pulled out her gun, "I don't want to vervain you Damon but I will. Bella said no in order to protect all of you. If you go in there now, everyone is at risk."
"Damon she's right," Stefan said.
"What would you do if it was Elena?" Damon snapped, "Oh wait I forgot, you let her die last time. Excuse me Stefan, but I'm not letting Bella die."
"Stop it all of you," Jeremy said, stepping in, "IF Bella said not to heal her then we don't at least not right off the bat. We wait and see if she pulls through, if she starts to…we go in and one of you heal her and then we get the hell out of town."
"I'm with Jeremy," Tyler said, "Bella's strong; she can make it through this."
"You can't be serious." Damon said shocked and angry.
"Trust Damon," Elena said, "Bella knows the risks and we have to trust her."
"Damon she was still coherent when I saw her and that was thirty minutes after I found her." Liz explained. "She's going to be okay."
Damon's jaw clenched, "The moment she goes under."
"You go in," Elena said, reassuring him.
They left the house and headed for the hospital.
.*.*.*.*.*.
"Any word on Bella Swan?" Matt asked.
"Son I know you're worried about your friend, but she's only been in there for twenty minutes, just sit down. There's nothing you can do." The nurse said kindly, "Doctor Fell is doing everything she can."
Matt plopped down in his chair and laid his head back.
"Reverend what are you doing here?" the nurse said, making Matt's eyes pop open.
"How is Bella Swan? One of the neighbors called me." The reverend replied.
"No word yet she's only been in there for about twenty minutes." The nurse replied.
"How bad is it?" The reverend asked.
"You know I can't give that type of information out," The nurse said.
"Please Helen," The reverend replied.
"Well," The nurse started.
"Hey," Matt said, interrupting the conversation, "Can I get an aspirin or something?"
"Of course Matt," Helen replied before she walked away.
"How are you holding up Matt?" The Reverend asked, "I heard from the neighbors that it didn't look good."
"She'll be okay," Matt said.
"Matt, stab wounds to three major organs is not good." The reverend replied.
"How do you know that, when the only people who do know it are the hospital, Liz, and Meredith? I didn't even know that." Matt said tensely.
"Cat's out of the bag now," The reverend replied sighing.
Matt pushed the Reverend up against the wall.
"You bastard." Matt said, through gritted teeth.
"I'm doing this town a favor or have you forgotten your sister was killed by Damon?" the Reverend snapped.
"You aren't judge, jury and executioner." Matt snapped back.
"She's not going to make it off the table." The Reverend replied while smirking.
Matt slammed the Reverend against the wall again and started to punch him repeatedly until security pulled him off.
"The boy is in distress," the Reverend said while wiping blood from his face.
"What's going on here?" Liz asked while walking in.
"He did it," Matt yelled while struggling against the security, "He stabbed Bella."
"The boy's upset Liz," The reverend said.
"He knew how bad her injuries were. Three stab wounds to major organs." Matt argued.
"No one knew that except myself and the medical team," Liz said as she pulled her gun out, "Hands above your head."
"Sheriff, be reasonable." The Reverend said while standing up.
"I said put your hands on your head." Liz replied angrily.
.*.*.*.*.*.
"Pulse ox is 75 percent, heart rate is dropping," The nurse said.
"I've almost closed up the wound." Meredith replied, "Just hang on Bella."
Suddenly the machine started beeping and everyone started scrambling.
"She's crashing," the nurse said.
"Get the crash cart," Meredith ordered.
"The batteries are dead," another nurse said.
"Damn it," Meredith growled, "We got to move her."
"Where?" the nurse asked.
"The nurse's station; there's a spare cart in the supply room, only personnel have access to it." Meredith explained.
"I'll go get it," someone said.
"There's no time," Meredith said while putting up the bed rails, "By then we could lose her, let's move."
.*.*.*.*.*.
"You're making a mistake Sheriff," Reverend Young replied.
"On your knees," Liz yelled.
Damon tried to move towards him but Tyler and Stefan held him back.
"You can't Damon…not here," Stefan replied.
"But," Damon growled.
"Later," Stefan said.
Damon looked at his brother and saw that he too wanted revenge for this.
"Everyone move out of the way!" A nurse yelled while running in and towards the locked door.
"Stefan," Elena said while turning away.
Suddenly Meredith and some other nurses burst through the double doors between Liz and Reverend Young.
Everyone froze once they saw Bella lying on the gurney covered in blood.
"She's in Vtech," the nurse yelled.
Meredith quickly ripped Bella's tank.
"Charging," another nurse yelled while bringing the cart over.
"Bella," Caroline said as she grabbed for Bella's hand.
"Get her back," Meredith yelled and rubbed the shock paddles together, "Clear,"
Meredith shocked Bella but she was still in Vtech.
"Charge to 325…Clear," Meredith said before she shocked her again.
"Pulse ox is dropping down to 65." A nurse said.
"Give me a shot of Epi," Meredith said.
"No change," the nurse said after it was administered.
"Charge 340," Meredith said, "Clear."
The group watched in horror as Bella's pulse dropped lower. Damon was still restrained by Stefan and Tyler, watching as the blood kept coming out of Bella's wounds and when she was shocked, her entire body jolted.
Caroline and Matt were holding Elena back, not letting her look and trying to get her out of the door because the blood was too much for her.
Bonnie was clutching to Jeremy as she sank to the floor while crying in utter shock.
Reverend Young disappeared as everyone watched in horror but his words rang in Damon's ears.
"One down just a few to go." He said as he left.
"365," Meredith yelled, "Clear."
Beep….beep….beep…beep.
"She's stabilizing," the nurse said.
"Get me six bags of O-neg and let's move her to surgery." Meredith said while pushing her back the way they came.
"Is she going to be okay?" Damon yelled as he followed the medical team immediately after Stefan and Tyler let him go.
"I'm sorry Damon but you can't go back there," Helen said, stopping him.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Five hours later and they were still sitting in the waiting room with no word from anyone. Finally a very tired Meredith walked into the waiting room and motioned them to go into one of the private family waiting rooms. She closed the door and leaned against it.
"She lost a lot of blood but we were able to repair the damage but she's not out of the clear yet. We're going to keep her in Critical care unit until she's fully stabilized." Meredith explained.
"Why isn't she out of the clear yet?" Elena asked.
"She's in a coma," Meredith said seriously.
"I'm going to kill him," Matt said after punching a hole in the wall.
"Get in line," Damon growled.
"Who did this?" Meredith asked.
"Reverend Young," Liz replied, "He's gone now. I'm going to have two of my officers outside her door at all times. She'll never to be alone."
"We'll help keep watch," Caroline added.
"What about her Dad?" Jeremy asked. "Charlie needs to know."
"I've called him; he's on his way here." Liz replied.
"I want to see her," Damon said.
"You can't heal her Damon," Meredith said while stepping in front of him. "The nurses are watching her like a hawk. If any weird thing happens, we all get screwed. She wouldn't want you to put everyone's lives on the line for hers."
.*.*.*.*.*.
The next few days were touch and go with Bella. She had gone into Vtech three times and at one point they finally had to break down and put her on a breathing machine. Charlie arrived and he never left her side. He kept asking questions like how could Reverend Young do this but no one had any answers. He sat in the room by her bed, never leaving; finally Liz came in and forced him to go eat. Damon came in his place and he sat next to her bed, hunched over as he ran his hand over his face.
"You can't leave me," he whispered. "You can't die, do you understand me? Not until you kick my ass. I deserve it, I know I do." He moved closer and started running his hand through her hair, "I am so sorry for compelling you; I know it was wrong but I was selfish and scared. I was scared of losing you because I felt like I crossed the boundaries."
Damon stood up and walked over to the window, "I've been doing a lot of thinking…I know that's a dangerous thing but I think this time it's a good thing. Most of it has been about you, me…us. I don't know what I would do without you Bella so please don't leave us." He walked back over and bent down next to her ear, "I need to tell you something…you need to know it so please, don't go."
"Damon," Jeremy said while walking in before he paused in shock, "Bella."
.*.*.*.*.*.
Darkness…that's what surrounded her and she liked it. There was nothing but silence and peace around her. She felt like she could finally rest and let go.
"Clear," Meredith's voice said from far away.
Quickly Bella was pulled from the darkness and thrust into the harsh light. Suddenly she was in a hospital room and when she looked to her right she saw her Dad.
"Dad?" she said confused, "What are you doing here?"
No answer.
"Dad," Bella said and when she moved closer to him, she froze, "Well this is great."
Bella saw herself or at least her body lying in a bed; she was hooked up to monitors and a ventilator.
"What to do now?" Bella said while sitting on the ledge near the window.
She watched people come in and out of her room for days; no one ever saw her there. Damon would mainly just stand outside her room; she tried a few times to throw something at him but she was too weak. When Charlie slept she would whisper to him, telling him he needed to go home, to take a shower and to eat but he never heard her.
Finally Liz was able to convince him to leave and Damon came in his place. He sat down and started talking.
"You can't leave me," he whispered. "You can't die, do you understand me? Not until you kick my ass. I deserve it, I know I do." He moved closer to her before he started running his hand through her hair, "I am so sorry for compelling you; I know it was wrong but I was selfish and scared. I was scared of losing you because I felt like I crossed the boundaries."
"Oh believe me when I am back in my body I am going to kick your ass. You violated me once again. I mean do you just not ever think? Maybe I wanted you to kiss me. Maybe I've wanted you to kiss me for a while. Maybe that Christmas when you did was the best Christmas I ever had but I am never going to tell you that because you did what you did." Bella replied angrily even though she knew he couldn't hear her.
Damon stood up and walked over to the window.
"I've been doing a lot of thinking…I know that's a dangerous thing but I think this time it's a good thing. Most of it has been about you, me…us. I don't know what I would do without you Bella so please don't leave us." He said.
"Don't you think for one minute your little sad softened blue eyed look is going to change my mind," Bella said; her voice cracking.
He walked back over and leaned down next to her.
"I need to tell you something…you need to know it so please, don't go." He whispered.
"Damon," Jeremy said while walking in before he froze, looking directly in Bella's direction, "Bella." He said slowly.
"You can see me?" Bella asked, shocked.
"Well yeah," Jeremy replied.
"What's going on?" Damon asked confused.
"Bella; she's standing right next to you," Jeremy said. "Where have you been?"
"Here," Bella said, "At least for a few days. Wait how can you see me?"
"She's here?" Damon asked while turning to where Jeremy said she was, "Bella."
"I died remember; I've got this sixth sense thing going on." Jeremy replied. "Why can I see you?"
"Well technically I am sort of dead in a way. I mean I'm not breathing on my own right?" Bella said.
"Well yeah hence the ventilator; you have gone into cardiac arrest about 5 different times." Jeremy replied.
"Okay we gotta go," Bella said while walking away from Damon.
"Go where?" Jeremy asked.
"To make sure Reverend Young doesn't screw anything else up." Bella replied.
"Jeremy I need to talk to her," Damon said while grabbing Jeremy's arm.
"Tell him to go to hell," Bella said angrily.
"Uh…maybe later." Jeremy said.
Jeremy followed Bella and Damon followed Jeremy.
"Where are we going?" Jeremy asked.
"To my house," Bella replied.
"We'll take my car," Damon said.
"You're not invited." Bella snapped.
"I don't think she wants you to go with us." Jeremy said.
"Bella stop being childish and let me help," Damon said while looking around the parking lot.
"I don't need or want your help," Bella replied.
"Bella come on just let him help." Jeremy said.
"Fine," Bella said reluctantly.
.*.*.*.*.*.
They arrived at her house; Jeremy removed the tape and walked in but he froze at the sight of her blood still on the floor.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Bella said while walking through him and into the house, "It's a lot of blood."
"I can't come in," Damon said at the door.
"Oh that sucks for you," Bella said, "Over here Jeremy."
"What am I looking for?" Jeremy asked.
"Underneath the floorboard; take it to Bonnie," Bella said before she started to feel weak.
"Bella what's happening?" Jeremy asked worried, "You're fading."
"Bella," Damon said while trying to get in the house. "Invite me in. I have to talk to you."
"Take it to Bonnie, she'll know what to do." Bella said before she disappeared.
"Where is she?" Damon asked.
"She's gone," Jeremy said before he started pulling up the floorboard.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Bella was back in the darkness, "Great." She said.
"You know you really pissed some people off," a sweet voice said as they came out from the shadows.
"Miss Shelia," Bella said with a smile.
"Hi honey," Shelia said while coming forward before hugging her, "You got yourself into a bit of a mess."
"I didn't have any other choice," Bella said, "I couldn't let Tyler be trapped."
"I know and we agree with you," Shelia replied.
"We?" Bella asked confused.
"You always did have a big heart," An elderly woman's voice said.
"Grams," Bella said; her chest tightening.
"Hello my dear," she replied as she hugged Bella.
"Where are we?" Bella asked.
"The In-between," Shelia replied, "All witches come here; you gave Klaus his body back yet every action has a consequence."
"That consequence being Reverend Young remembering," Grams replied.
"I couldn't lose him like I did Anna," Bella said.
"We know," Grams said, "But many witches aren't happy."
"They can kiss my ass," Bella replied sternly.
"There's that Irish blood coming out," Shelia said, "Honey most of your lineage is proud that you can look past what someone is and see who they are but some aren't too happy."
"So what?" Bella asked, "I don't answer to them; the only person I answer to is my own conscience."
"That's why you are so powerful," Grams said, "But you have to watch your power. Klaus knows what you're capable of now; he wants you."
"He won't get me." Bella said.
"He'll try," Shelia said seriously. "You will have to stop him; I'm not worried though, you always find a way."
"I will," Bella said.
"Okay now that the big-bad is dealt with, what is this thing going on between you and Damon?" Shelia asked.
"Shelia," Grams said while looking at her.
"What?" Shelia replied, "Don't tell me you don't see it."
"Nothing," Bella replied.
"It's not nothing Bella," Grams said gently. "Time's up. Trust your heart Bella in everything."
Suddenly Grams and Shelia disappeared and a white light surrounded her.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Slowly Bella opened her heavy eyelids and looked around. She saw Charlie lying in a chair; his head on her bed. She tried to lift her hand but it was so heavy.
"Charlie," Carol said while coming in before she stopped, "Bella." She said.
Bella tried to talk but realized she couldn't.
"Charlie," Carol said while shaking him.
"What?" he said, waking up with a grunt before he sat up, "Bells."
"Meredith!" Carol called while running to the door.
A/N: Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Things are about to get pretty heavy in Mystic Falls lots of trials so I hope you all are buckled up for the ride. I'm really sorry I've been absent just school caught up to me, but the good news is I graduate in 2 week then I'm free for a while!
Thank you to my wonderful beta Dark~Supernatural~Angel without her this story would probably be all over the place .
Shout out to Bambi's Beloveds the amazing facebook group I am a part of. Come over and join us on the dark side it's a lot of fun.
Review they get you teasers and I love hearing your thoughts!