At 30 000 Feet

Part III

Author: Mrs. Ronald Weasley

Rating: PG-13 or T

Pairing/s: Edward/Bella/Carlisle

Category: Drama/Angst

Spoilers: None

Warnings: None

Summary: Because at 30 000 feet, when the one you love is dying, you'd do anything to save her, right?

A/N: I'm in pain from my minor car accident last night, so I thought I'd stay home from work and write this for you guys. Thanks to captjackspeanut for the naked!Edward idea. Hope you all enjoy!

No sooner had the words left my mouth, did the panic break out. Passengers got up from their seats and, frightened, either moved further up or through the curtain and into coach.

"I'm sorry, sir," I turned at the sound of a flight attendant's voice. Edward moved past me to kneel at Bella's side, his hand on her forehead. "We just passed the half way mark fifteen minutes ago. There's no turning around." She was young and pretty, I read the name on her tag: Ashley.

"Ashley," I said, using the most appealing voice I could manage, "my daughter is very sick. She needs-"

"She spoke with the pilot, Carlisle," Edward said quietly, "there's not enough fuel. We'd never make it."

I sighed as a feeling of extremely disconcerting unease filled me. My eyes fell closed as I glanced apologetically at Edward, I'm sorry.

Edward's expression hardened and he shook his head slowly. He was telling me not to give up, not to lose faith, but hadn't it already gone? With a plane full of human passengers, with no medical equipment or medications, what hope did I have left of saving the one human who held a place in my cold heart that no one else ever had? I didn't.

"Is she going to be okay?" Ashley interrupted my thoughts. I looked up at her and found her frightened eyes fixed on Bella.

"I don't know," I whispered.

"You're a doctor right?" she asked, and glanced at Edward. "That's what he said."

"I am," I replied, "but there's little I can do for her."

"Then she's-"

"No," Edward's voice was sharp; I could see the girl flinch just slightly. "My father and I will do everything in our power to make sure she survives this flight." Edward's golden gaze was piercing when it met mine.

I don't know why it struck me then, but I suddenly knew how to get Bella's temperature down. A small smile stretched across my lips and Edward frowned at me. Think about it Edward, I thought, what's the fastest and easiest way to get a patient's fever down when it's extremely high?

"An ice bath," Edward muttered, only loud enough so I could hear. Yes. "But where are we going to get an ice bath?"

Normally I would've laughed at his cluelessness, Edward was smart, but sometimes I wonder how exactly his brain operates. We won't. "Ashley, is it possible to clear these passengers out of first class? I can help Bella, but I need some privacy."

She frowned at me, much the same as Edward had. "Um, I suppose. Is it contagious? Is that why you need them gone? So that they don't catch it?"

"I don't know if it's contagious, I don't know what she has. But it's more than possible."

The flight attendant didn't even have to ask, the remaining passengers ran from their seats, and into the next cabin. "Should I inform the pilot that you've quarantined first class?" she asked.

"No," I said, moving over to Bella, "however I was wondering if you could grant me access to your facilities, I'm going to need some supplies, and it's best if we keep as many people out of this area as possible."

She nodded, biting her lip, "of course." She shared a worried glance with Edward before turning and moving back through the curtain.

I worked quickly, removing Bella's clothes. Edward stood behind me, frozen. "Take off your clothes Edward," I ordered.