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Chapter 2: Daddy's Girl

1 month later

The darkness surrounding Isabella pulled away from her, each time it would fade away, pain would creep along its edges, and muffled sounds would greet her briefly.

Awareness filtered though the gauze covering her eyes, along with the new found sense of self, pain also made it self known.

Voices whispered, words muffled, Isabella strained to hear their meanings, to come back to the world. As awareness sharpened her world came in to focus.

She immediately panicked when she realized that air was being forced in to her lungs. She tried unsuccessfully to remove the foreign object from her throat and mouth. Her hands immediately tried to reach the tube but couldn't because they were strapped to the bed.

Realizing this, she started making moaning panicked sounds, until large warm hands cupped her cheeks, stroking them softly. She hears her name and the familiar cadence which had chased away many nightmares when she was younger.

"Bella baby, it's Daddy, I'm here, baby." He spoke softly in to her ear, his thick moustache brushing against her ear, "there's a tube in your throat, don't fight it baby. It's helping you to breathe."

He continued his soft soothing sounds, "your eyes are covered in gauze, sweetie." He stroked her cheeks. "Your arms are also covered; your leg is in traction."

Charlie pressed the call button above the hospital bed. "She's awake" he told the voice in the wall, "I think she needs some pain medication."

"I'll send someone down."

"Thank You" Charlie continued to calm his daughter down, he continued to stroke her cheeks, "Bella, hold on, we'll make the pain go away. Renee would be here" He stopped taking a deep breath, for a brief moment he was about to tell her where she was. "Your mother stepped out for a while." He finished quietly.

The nurse came in, she smiled at Charlie, and he nodded his head, "Bells? The nurse is here she's going to give you some medicine." Bella made a sound of distaste she shook her head slightly. Charlie noted that even through all that she's been through she still hated needles.

With a half laugh, "Baby you'll feel better in a second. We'll get through this Bella. Just keep fighting." He said softly.

Charlie nodded at the nurse, she then injected the drug in to her IV port and Charlie watched while his only daughter relaxes as the painkillers pulled her under again.

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