Summary: Waking up in a hospital is scary. Finding out you're there because someone tried to kill you is scarier. Not remembering is scariest. All Bella knows is that someone with green eyes saved her, and she needs to find that someone. AU/AH
Recap: Bella spends an emotional day making new friends and being spirited out of her room for a jaunt in the garden. Upon returning, she has a visitor who ends up getting tazed by John.
A/N: FMLA is the Family and Medical Leave Act, it protects employees from being fired should they have a family or medical emergency.
Disclaimer: If I owned Twilight, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction.
Panic Switch
Chapter 3
"I'm really sorry Bella." I waved off John's apology, keeping an eye on the man lying in my bed. Rosalie scoffed.
"It's his own fault, if he had just waited five more minutes, his alibi would've come through."
"Rose…" Dr. Hale's voice threatened.
"What, he's always doing stuff like this. Shoot first, talk late." She mocked and I nodded absently. It was true; he was always doing dumb things like this… The man's face scrunched up.
"He's waking up!" I said in an excited whisper. Dr. Hale and Rosalie ceased their quiet argument to watch. The man blinked open his eyes, looking around. He groaned and I giggled. His eyes met mine.
"Bella Baloney?" He slurred.
"Hey Emmie." Rosalie laughed under her breath; I shot her a dirty look.
"What the hell happened?" Emmett asked, his eyes rolling around to look at the people in the room. Confusion marred his face.
"You're in the hospital, Em." I said. He was so out of it, it worried me.
"Did I fall through the roof again? 'Cause it feels like some asshole ran over me. And then backed up and did it again and then—" I started laughing and reached over to ruffle his dark curly hair. His face was blank for a moment.
"Wait… the hospital?!" Emmett seemed to have finally realized what was going on. He tried to sit up. "Jones and Kowalski, they were talking about some Swan girl in the hospital." His eyes glazed over as he remembered. Then he was looking at me, eyes wide. "Bella, what happened? Why were they talking about you at the department?"
"I—"
"Holy shit Bella, what happened to you? Is your wrist broken again?! And your hair!" Emmett's face kept getting redder and redder with each word. I placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him.
"Emmett. Down boy. I'm fine." He looked suspicious for a moment, then relief flooded his face.
"Geez, talk about a bad case of big-brotheritis" Dr. Hale muttered. Alice smacked him.
"That's because I am her big brother!" Emmett growled at him. Everyone looked confused.
"McCarty was our mother's maiden name," I explained quietly. "When he applied to the academy, we decided it would be easier with a name other than Swan." Alice gave me a questioning look. Not right now, I willed her to let it drop. She nodded ever so slightly before turning her attention to Emmett.
"So Emmett, you're a detective? You work with Rosalie?" She asked with a sly look.
"Sure do," he said with a grin, "'Cept she does her damnedest to make sure we don't." He laughed and I could've sworn Rosalie blushed a little.
"Really? I've never heard anything about you before, Emmett. Why's that Rose?" Dr. Hale asked with an amused look. She sputtered and blushed.
"That's because he's an idiot who never stops to think things through. That's why he's in the position he's in now!"
"Aww Rosey, I didn't know you liked me being horizontal." Emmett grinned broadly.
"Don't. Call. Me. Rosey." She spat, furious.
"So Emmett," Mrs. Weber finally spoke up, breaking the tension. "How did you end up coming here in the first place?" Emmett looked generally surprised by the question.
"Well, it had been a few days since I'd heard from Bella here, which usually meant she had managed to trip and end up in the hospital or something." I glared at him but he only shrugged. "So as I was getting ready to leave work and check on her, I heard Jones and Kowalski mention the name 'Swan' in the break room. I got the information from them and came here. After that it's a little fuzzy."
"You better not have threatened them," Rosalie growled.
"I swear I didn't!" He said, holding his hands in the air. " But could someone please explain why I'm in a hospital bed?" John looked uncomfortable.
"Well, you came to the room and demanded entrance, but when we didn't let you in, you got a little angry. So…"
"So he tazered you." Rosalie finished. "Not that I blame him."
"I'm really sorry Detective McCarty. I was just trying to protect Bella." John apologized. Emmett was quiet for a moment.
"Cool!" He suddenly exclaimed with a huge grin. "I always wondered what that would feel like!" I covered my face, trying to hide my embarrassment as Emmett started to say in a high voice: 'Don't taze me bro, don't taze me!' over and over.
"Em…" I moaned. He became very quiet. I pulled my hands away from my face to look at him. He was staring at me with an expression I couldn't place. He broke our gaze, turning to look at Dr. Hale and the others.
"Now that it's been established that I'm not a threat," there was a strange quality to his voice, "may I speak to my sister… alone?" Without a word the four shuffled out of the room, glancing worriedly at me over their shoulders. When the door finally closed, Emmett looked at me. He looked tortured, anxious, and very angry.
"Isabella, what the hell is going on?" Emmett's voice was low, but it shook with emotion. I stared at my hands, unable to find words to adequately explain.
"I don't know Emmett." I said finally.
"What do you mean you don't know? You look like hell!" He snapped.
"I mean I don't know Em! I can't remember!" I shot back. I felt so frustrated and defeated, hot tears ran tracks down my cheeks. With a groan, Emmett swung himself out of bed and knelt next to my wheelchair. I opened my mouth to protest, but his arms were already wrapped around me, holding me gently. He pressed his forehead against mine softly like he used to do when we were kids.
"Shh, Bells…" He murmured. "Just tell me what you know."
"I woke up yesterday, they said I was out for three days, I was brought in…" My whisper trailed off, I choked back a sob as the tears continued to flow. I hated crying in front of people, but Emmett was my brother, he would know it if I tried to hide my tears.
"You were brought in?" His voice was tentative, but I could hear the quiet fury behind his words. I nodded against his head.
"They said someone found me by my apartment. That I was beaten. That it happened at my apartment—" I sobbed softly for a moment before continuing, "They said it was someone I know." Emmett was quiet, thinking.
"Is that why I needed an alibi?" I nodded again. "I'm going to kill whoever did this to you." His voice was so serious; it scared me. My eyes snapped open. Emmett's hand was inching towards where his gun was usually holstered. I was grateful he wasn't armed today.
"Emmett, no." I sobered up and grabbed his hand. "You can't. I don't even know who it was. Besides if you go after them, you'll lose your badge. Promise me you won't do anything stupid." I said vehemently. He sighed, conflicted.
"I promise I won't. But Bella, I'm going to help with the investigation and when you get out of here, you're moving in with me."
"But—"
"Isabella Marie." My mouth shut automatically when he used his 'parental' voice. Emmett stood up and gave me a stern look. "Now I'm going to go talk to your doctor and Rosalie. And while I'm doing that you, young lady, are going to get some rest." He scooped me out of the wheelchair and deposited me back in the bed. I glared at him.
"I'm not tired, Em," I grumbled. Emmett ignored me, pulling off my shoes and tossing them in the corner. He pulled the blankets up to my chin and flashed me a grin.
"Don't fight me Bells. I've got your power of attorney." I glowered at him, his grin broadened. "I love you squirt."
"I love you too, you big brute." I mumbled and with a kiss on my head, he left. I wanted to stay up and refuse to sleep just to spite him. But the day's excitement was starting to catch up to me and my eyelids began drooping involuntarily. I tried to resist the urge to sleep at first. If you sleep now, you'll have more energy to yell at him later, that annoying part of mind quipped. I sighed, knowing it was true, and succumbed to my exhaustion.
***
I've always talked in my sleep. Ever since I was a child, my subconscious had been more talkative than my conscious self. I learned at a young age to avoid sleepovers, what I said in my sleep was usually embarrassing, and it's hard to apologize for something you don't remember saying in the first place.
It was something I had inherited from Renee and I hated it. But when I woke from my Emmett-induced nap, I was hopeful. Even if my conscious refused to remember my attack, my subconscious would. And it was a talker. Emmett was sitting in a chair by my bed. I looked at him, searching his eyes for the answer I needed.
"Bella…" He shook his head and I sighed, squeezing my eyes shut in frustration.
"Did I say anything useful?" I asked, sighing again.
"Bells, you didn't say anything while you were asleep." My eyes snapped open, meeting his with a look of shock and horror. I always spoke in my sleep. It was a given. I didn't even know what it meant if I didn't…
"Hey squirt, it's okay. You were probably just really tired. Too tired to say anything." Emmett soothed, giving my and a squeeze. I looked at him like he had just lost his mind. He knew from years of sharing a bedroom that my talking was directly proportional to how tired I was. He wouldn't meet my eyes, darting his hand out to hit the 'call nurse' button. Mrs. Weber bustled in almost instantly.
"Hello there Bella, feeling more rested and awake? I looked from Emmett to Mrs. Weber. She had the same closed off look in her eyes as him.
They're keeping something from me.
At first, I was scared. What could be so horrible that they wouldn't tell me? Then anger burned in me, how could they keep something from me? How could they lie to my face? It was bad enough I couldn't remember, now I was being treated like a child.
"I want to be alone." I half-mumbled, half-spat at the two. I was lying through my teeth, I didn't want to be alone, but I certainly didn't want them there if they weren't going to tell me the truth. I turned away, tears stinging my eyes. They didn't argue, didn't say anything, just left. As soon as the door clicked, I let the tears of betrayal flow. I pulled my knees up, laid my forehead on them and sobbed. I felt so alone.
"Bella." I gasped, pulling my head up. Alice was sitting in the chair next to me, looking at her hands. Tears blurred my visionagain. Not her too. "Bella," she repeated. I glared at her.
"What?" I seethed.
"What do you want to know?" She was looking at me now. Alice's eyes were clear and unguarded; honest. I must have looked shocked because she gave me a small smile and tapped the side of her head.
That's right, she's a psychiatrist. I felt a little foolish. Alice didn't say anything more but handed me a tissue that I scrubbed my eyes with roughly. When I looked back at her, her expression hadn't changed. I took a steadying breath, trying to figure out how I would ask my question. I sighed and settled on being blunt.
"What aren't they telling me?" I asked. Alice paused, probably trying to figure out what to say as well.
"You were screaming and crying in your sleep." She said it so simply, so plainly, I was shocked. We sat there without saying anything for a moment. Then Alice's mask broke. She had the same tortured look that Emmett had. "It was awful. We wanted to sedate you, but Emmett wouldn't let us. He said you wouldn't want it, incase you said a name. He said you wouldn't remember anything when you woke up, but it was so hard…" Her words trailed off, head bowed, fat tears plopping on her clasped hands.
I reached my arms out to wrap around her, ignoring the pain that shot through me, and hugged her tightly. We were crying, holding each other and rocking back and forth. I don't know how long it was, it could have been just minutes or several hours, but eventually our sobs subsided. As we pulled away, I tried to wipe the remaining tears from my eyes. Alice handed me another tissue, taking one for herself. We looked at each other and burst into giggles. Alice's eyes were red and swollen, her hair was a mess, and her nose was running a little. I'm sure I looked even worse.
"Bella, I need you to know something," Alice's voice was soft and a little raspy. I nodded. "I don't usually do this."
"What," I croaked, "you don't normally have major sob sessions with your patients? Are you just PMS-ing or something?" I gave a choked laugh and she smiled at me.
"No, … and probably," Alice laughed. "What I mean is… you're not a patient to me. Bella, you're my friend. You're special. So when you're in pain, I'm in pain." Tears welled up in my eyes again.
"Are you trying to make me cry, Alice?" She laughed.
"God no, I don't think I could handle much more crying in one day. I feel like I'm pregnant."
"Yeah, I know. My emotions have been all over the place. It's like some sort of horrible hormonal rollercoaster."
"I should've warned you about that. Your emotions are going to be all over the place for the next few weeks. It's a result of the trauma and shock. When you start to remember things, you're emotions will be a little crazy too." I was quiet. "Bella? Are you alright?"
"Alice… I'm not sure I will remember." I murmured, she cocked her head to the side.
"Why do you say that?"
"I talk in my sleep. I always have. But this last time… I didn't say anything. What if that means my subconscious can't remember?" Alice frowned, and thought for a moment.
"It's certainly possible, but I doubt it." She paused. "You may not have said anything but you did react. Your mind remembers something. The question is whether or not you will consciously be able to handle those memories. In cases such as yours, that inability is what likely causes the memory loss." I sad there, mulling it over. It made sense, but at the same time, it freaked me out.
"I'm not sure I want to remember though," I admitted. "I know if I do, it will help catch the guy, or girl, or whatever." I waved my hand in dismissal. "But what if I can't handle them, the memories?" Alice nodded.
"Part of you doesn't want to know, wants to hide from the pain. There's also another part of you that needs to know, needs an answer, needs a reason for you to stop looking over your shoulder continually. It torments you…" She trailed off. Her mind was somewhere else.
"You've been through this?" I asked. She shook her head, her eyes meeting mine again.
"Not me. Rose." I was surprised, Rosalie seemed so strong. "That was how we met actually. I was still in school, but she was assigned to me as a patient because we were close in age."
"What happened?"
"You'll have to ask her about that," Alice frowned, then smiled. "Don't worry though, Rosalie likes you." She glanced at her watch. "Actually, I need to get going. I'm sorry that I have to run out on you."
"Got a hot date?" I said cheekily. She blushed and I laughed. "Who is it? Jasper?" I was joking but Alice looked embarrassed. She nodded.
"I've been in love with him ever since I started working here earlier this year. But the silly man can't seem to see all my subtle hints!" She gave an exasperated sigh. I thought back to the limited time I had seen the two together. Once I thought about it, Alice had been sending him signals: the way she angled her body towards his, the way she looked at him when he spoke, the way her eyes sparkled when he said her name… She was right. I laughed at how obtuse he was.
"Wow, he really brings a whole new meaning to dumb blonde."
"I know." Alice sighed. "And yet he's so smart… and nice… and handsome—"
"Don't you need to be leaving?" I interrupted. Her eyes widened.
"Got to go, sorry! Bye Bella!" Alice yelled as she ran out the door, I chuckled. That girl is head over heels. My heart hurt a little thinking about it. I wanted my own Prince Charming; no matter how clueless he might me. Alice was lucky…
The door opened and a blonde head popped in. I opened my mouth to make a joke that he was going to be late, but it wasn't Jasper—it was Rosalie.
"Hi Rosalie," I called. The uncertainty disappeared from her face and a smile took its place.
"May I come in?" She asked with a hint of humor.
"Of course."
"Great." She said, pushing the door open with her hip, tray in one hand, and a stack of files tucked under the other. As she hastened over to my side, a few files began to slip off the top. I grabbed the tray, allowing her to catch the runaways with her fee hand. "Thanks."
"No problem. Is this for me?" I asked, gesturing to the tray now sitting on the table in front of me.
"Yeah. I managed to get some from the cafeteria before Emmett eats it all." I raised an eyebrow and grabbed the sandwich, taking a bite. "Apparently," she sighed, "the cafeteria ladies have developed a little crush on him. They keep giving him free food. Then he thanks him by giving them kisses on the cheek and flirting." Rosalie rolled her eyes at his antics and I choked a little from laughter. She panicked a little and started to pound my back soundly. I coughed, wincing.
"Ow!" She pulled her hand away quickly.
"Sorry, the guys at the department have this inability to chew while eating…" She muttered, looking embarrassed. I took a sip of juice and smiled at her.
"It's alright, I grew up with Emmett." She looked horrified for a moment, then we both laughed.
"That must have been an experience."
"It still is…" I paused and glanced at the stack of files that were now on the floor next to Rosalie's chair. "So what's in the files?"
"Oh," she looked surprised, then followed my gaze to the stack. "Oh! This," she put the stack on her lap, "is your life."
"My life?" I asked, incredulous. The stack was a good half a foot high.
"Mmhmm. This is everything the department has on you. Of course, some of this is from your family, especially your father." I flinched at the topic of Charlie. She must have noticed because she paused, giving me a deep look. But then her face became neutral again. "My team is currently running down a few leads but I figured you and I could go through these, see if we can jog your memory a little." She smiled. I tried to squash the butterflies of fear in my stomach, smiling back. I needed to do this.
"Alright," Rosalie said, picking a file from the top, "Let's get started."
We started to go through them, reliving my life. She seemed to pick up my reluctance to talk about Renee or Charlie and stepped tactfully around the subject of their deaths. She was a little surprised when she glanced over a file on Emmett's life.
"Emmett served two tours?" I nodded, surprised she didn't know. She did work with him after all.
"Yeah, in Afghanistan."
"Marine Lance Corporal, silver star, honorable discharge. Impressive." I smiled at her amazed expression. I nodded with a smile.
"After his discharge he went to the academy. It's in his blood, I guess."
"Like father like son." She murmured. I ignored the little stab of pain. "Well, he's definitely in the clear. Even without an alibi, I seriously doubt a former marine with this many recommendations could do it anyway." I was relieved that Emmett wasn't a suspect anymore.
"Now, let's see… You got your undergrad in English literature at Portland State and now you're at U Dub getting your masters?"
"Yes," I blushed, "I just finished my first year."
"Any thoughts on a thesis yet?" I shook my head. Rosalie nodded in understanding.
"And you work at… La Granada Bakery and Café?"
"Mmhmm…" I responded absently, then gasped. "Oh shit! Work!" Rosalie laughed at my panic.
"Don't worry. Once we got your name, we informed your boss what was going on. They can't fire you; you're protected by the FMLA." I sighed in relief, collapsing back into the bed.
"Thank god. I can barely afford my rent as is and I'll be busy with school in the fall…" She gave me a look. "What?"
"Bella, Emmett told me he wants you to move in with him, and I think that's a good idea. Your apartment isn't exactly on the safe side of town."
"I can take care of myself." I said with a frown.
"I know you can, Bella." Rosalie placated, taking my hand. "But the next few months are going to be hard. It helps to have someone there, if only to check in every night." I wanted to argue, but I recalled she was speaking from experience.
"Can I ask you something?" I asked shyly.
"Sure, shoot."
"Alice said that you had gone through something like this…" Rosalie took a sharp breath. "I'm sorry, you don't have to tell me anything. I just need to know what I'm supposed to do now." I frowned in frustration, "Where do I go from here?" She nodded absently.
"It's going to be hard. You won't realize how hard right away, it just sneaks up and hits you one day. You'll want to hide. You'll be angry and frustrated. You'll lash out at people then feel terrible for it later. Sometimes you'll feel sorry for yourself, and wonder 'why did this happen to me?'" Rosalie's eyes were far away as she spoke. "It'll hurt to be around people a lot of times. You'll be scared… and you won't trust yourself. But most of all, you'll feel alone." Her eyes met mine again.
"Bella, it's important that you don't isolate yourself. Hiding won't make the feelings go away. Which is why I think you should move in Emmett. For a moment, I sat and thought about her words. They sounded familiar, I had heard them somewhere before…
"They said something similar when Charlie died." I whispered, remembering a conversation from years before.
"Yes, dealing with trauma is very similar to grief. It's just something different that you're grieving for. You've lost your sense of security."
"Will it ever come back?" I asked softly, "Will I ever feel safe again?"
"How do you feel right now? Bella, are you afraid?" I shook my head. "Exactly, but if you were here alone, like when you first woke up, you would be." I nodded, understanding. "It will go back and forth for a long time, but one day, yes, you will feel safe again. But it will never be the same." There was a short rap on the door before Dr. Hale stepped into the room.
"Oh you're still here Rose. I'll come back in a few."
"No, that's alright. I need to get back to the department anyways." Rosalie responded, before giving me a concerned look. "Is that alright Bella? Do you have any more questions?"
"No, you go ahead. I'm just fine." I said with a smile. She smiled back and gathered up her files.
"I'll talk to you later then!" She said, going out the door with a small wave. Dr. Hale stepped through before the door could shut.
"Hello Bella, it's good to see you with a smile on your face." He said with a grin.
"Rosalie is very nice."
"Glad to see a blonde with a gun didn't scare you." I laughed. "I know the first time she came home armed, I got in my car and ran."
"Do you live together then?"
"I used to, while I was in school, she's my sister after all."
"Oh," I said, feeling quite stupid for not making the connection earlier.
"It's alright." He chuckled. "Usually they don't let us work together, but since you're a special case, a few strings were pulled." He said absently while looking over my charts.
"Special case?"
"Alice didn't tell you?" I shook my head. He came over and took a hold of my bad ankle. He pressed on a few spots, "Does this hurt?" I shook my head. "Good. We can take this wrap off now. But I want you to stay of your feet for another day." He marked something on the chart.
"Alice didn't ell me what?" I prodded.
"Oh, right." He was looking at the other cuts and bruises on my legs. "Edward was the one who brought you in. His father, Carlisle, is the dean of medicine and he had us put on the case." I was thoughtful for a moment.
"Does that make you the best doctor in the hospital?" I asked with a sly grin.
"Hardly," he drawled. "But my residency was in the trauma ward—giving me the most experience out of the doctors he trusts. Apart from Edward himself."
"Then why isn't Edward my doctor?"
"What? Don't you like me?" He joked with a wink, I blushed. "To be honest," he continued with a sigh, "Edward doesn't take trauma patients anymore. He's a baby man now." There was something odd about how he said 'anymore'. Dr. Hale looked tense; I changed the subject.
"Why would Alice be the one to tell me?" I asked. He motioned me to lay back and pulled the bottom of my shirt up to look at my abdomen. He began pressing gently.
"That's because Edward's her brother." Jasper said casually. I gasped. "Where did it hurt?" he asked worriedly but I shook my head.
"Nothing hurts, but…" I paused so that he was looking at me. "Is everyone in this hospital related?" I asked, biting my lip. He laughed.
"No, of course not. It's really a coincidence. Though in your case, we were asked for specifically." I thought this over; glad I wasn't in some strange soap opera hospital. "Okay, I need you to sit up so I can listen to your lungs." I sat up and he placed his stethoscope on the right side of my chest.
"Big breath Bella." I nodded. I knew the drill. I took a deep breath, wincing in pain as my lungs filled. "Hurts?" I nodded again. "Your lung seems to be healing very well otherwise. I'm surprised it doesn't hurt more." He smiled.
"You seem to be mending quickly. Your ribs look good and your lungs sounds great. The stitches should be ready to take out in another week, and you'll be ready for discharge in a few days." I grinned, excited at the idea of getting out of there.
"But Bella," he added sternly, "I want you resting until, no more wild adventures okay? No matter what Alice says."
"I can't go out in the garden?" I asked sadly.
"You can go out, but I want someone else to go with you as well. Caroline, Rosalie, or myself preferably." I nodded. "Alice seems to be very excited about you and I don't her to get carried away."
"She's a doctor too." I reminded him.
"She has a doctorate, not the same thing."
"I heard that Jasper Whitlock Hale!" Alice was standing in the doorway, hands on her hips. "I had to go to med school too and you know that." She growled.
"Actually, the doctorate program was around long before modern medical doctors were. So technically, Alice is more of a doctor than you." I quipped. Alice clapped her hands in glee while Jasper looked like a kicked puppy.
"She's never going to let that one go." He whined in a whisper.
"Sorry." I whispered back, genuinely feeling sorry for him.
"Hey! Quit with all that whispering you two." Alice huffed, striding over. She ripped my chart out of Jasper's hands with a scowl. "Don't you have some other patients to check on?" She asked with a 'get the hell out of here' look. Jasper sighed dramatically, raising his hands in defeat.
"I guess I'll see you later then Bella. And remember, no adventures." He said. Alice stuck her tongue out at him, but he just shook his head and walked out, shoulders slumped. "Drama queen." She muttered, glancing at the chart. "You're going to be released in three days!" She squealed. I winced at the high pitch.
"I thought he was going to keep you here another week or two." Her face soured, and I worried for Jasper's safety.
"So, how was your 'date'?" I asked tentatively. Alice's face suddenly lit up, I sighed in relief, then her face turned stormy. I was suddenly very nervous.
"It was terrible!" She groaned, flopping in a chair. We went to this nice restaurant and he asked for a private table. I thought he was being romantic, but he thought we were going to talk about you!" She hung her head with a sigh. I couldn't help a giggle.
"He didn't notice you're reaction?" I asked.
"He thought I was upset and worried about you!" She grimaced, "Not that I'm not," she added quickly, I laughed and nodded. "I so frustrated by the time our food came that he had it boxed, thinking I would feel better if I was back here."
It was so sad; I had to feel bad for her.
"I mean, it's not like you're in serious danger here. John's at your door with a tazer he's not afraid to use, Rosalie was here and she holds her department's record in the shooting range, and then there's your crazy military brother who could probably kill a man with his thumb!"
"They did teach him how to do that in the marines." I quipped.
"Exactly!" Alice was practically raving now. "Jasper is usually super attuned to people's feelings, but with me it's like he's out in left field!"
"Poor Jasper," I laughed. "You'll just have to tell him, straight to his face." She groaned.
"I have! And you know what he thought?!" I shook my head. "He thought I meant fraternally and told me that he loved me too. That I was, I quote, 'the best sister a guy could have.'"
"Oh wow," I paused to think for a moment. "Maybe you weren't wearing the right thing." Alice looked at me in confusion.
"Well," I continued, "if you were wearing something slinky and scandalous, something he couldn't possibly misunderstand you in…"
Alice's face was blank for a moment, and then she broke into a dazzling smile.
"Perfect!" She exclaimed with a certain devious glint in her eyes. "And when you get discharged, you're going shopping with me to find the perfect dress!" She got a far off look in her eyes, "And we'll have to stop at Fredrick's, of course, for some new lingerie—"
"Woah, woah, woah!" I said, holding up my hands. "I don't do shopping, especially not for that stuff." I said quickly, a bright blush covering my cheeks. Alice looked crestfallen.
"But I need you Bella! I need your help!" She gave me puppy eyes.
"Wouldn't Rosalie be better?" I asked, biting my lip.
"He's her brother! She won't be able to give me unbiased advice." I hesitated, on the edge of giving in. "Please Bella, I need you."
"Okay." I squeaked, unable to endure her pleading any longer. Alice squealed in delight and for the second time that day, I winced. Somewhere out there, a dog just went deaf.
"This is going to be great! I can't wait! We'll have to get you a dress so we can double. Maybe a nice blue, he does like that color—" She gushed, off in her own little world.
"He being… Edward?" I asked, dryly.
"Of course." She prattled on, "He'd like a darker blue rather than a lighter—" Alice abruptly stopped. "Who told you?"
"Jasper."
"That man, I swear." She muttered, scowling at an imaginary Jasper.
"Alice, were you ever going to tell me?" I asked softly. She looked back at me quickly.
"I'm sorry Bella," she apologized, seeing my expression.
I hadn't really thought about whoever had saved me until Jasper had said something. But now, I wanted to know the person who saved me. A part of me wondered if Edward was the owner of those vivid green eyes. The eyes that had made me feel so safe…
"Bella?" Alice asked, touching my hand. Her worried eyes met mine. " I'm really sorry, I was hoping I could introduce you to him after you got discharged but…"
"It's alright, Alice." I said, squeezing her hand with a wry smile. "I should just be grateful you didn't bring him to see me in this awful state."
"You look beautiful." I scoffed.
"Don't flatter me. I look like hell, I know that." Alice frowned as she looked me over with a glance. I unconsciously lifted a hand to my hair in embarrassment. My hair! My eyes watered. I had been growing out my hair since I was old enough to take care of it myself. Renee had had long hair. I used to look at pictures of her and wish my hair were as beautiful. A few days ago, it had been longer than hers had; now it was patchy and tattered. My hair, Renee's hair, was gone.
"Oh Bella…" Alice said, wrapping her thin arms around me.
"It's just hair." I said bitterly.
"It was a part of you, a part of your identity," she said. "But you need to think of this as an opportunity to start over again; to be a new, stronger version of Bella." I nodded, rubbing my tears away.
"God I hate being so emotional." I muttered. Alice laughed.
"Actually, you're very calm. Most of my patients would be screaming at me right now, then laughing hysterically, then crying their eyes out—all in the space of about a minute. You've known about everything for what? Two days? Moreover, not only are you in control of your emotions, you're listening and talking to others. That's huge." She smiled at me. Suddenly, an alarm went off, scaring me.
"Shoot," she said, fishing her blackberry out of her pocket. "It's late and I have some early appointments tomorrow. I'm sorry Bella…" I waved her off.
"I'm fine," I said. "You need to get your work done. Besides, all this excitement has worn me out." Alice frowned, seeming to have just remembered something.
"Oh!" She reached into her leather bag, "I have a present from Emmett!" I grimaced, remembering the 'surprises' he had given me when we were kids.
"Aha!" She pulled something out and handed it to me. "He grabbed this from his place earlier today." In my hands was my childhood copy of Pride and Prejudice. I had read it so many times it was falling apart. I ran a hand over the faded cover reverently.
"He said to tell you that he's sorry he can't stay with you tonight, but I quote, 'Darcy can keep you warm.'" I laughed.
"Thank you Alice, I really appreciate it." She smiled and stood up.
"Oh, and one more thing," she gave me a kiss on the forehead. "That's from him too." We laughed and I thanked her again. Alice bid me a goodnight and was out the door.
And then it was quiet. I shivered at the sudden emptiness of the room, doubt creeping into my mind.
They're not coming back…
NO! I thought angrily, squashing my fears down. I glanced down at the book in my hands and smiled at my old friend. I cracked the book open, carefully holding the loose pages in. Tonight I wouldn't be alone.
Tonight I would be visiting the halls of Pemberley.
A/N: Oh my. I'm so sorry this took so long! Please forgive me!
Was anyone surprised that it was Emmett? I know I had a lot of fun writing some of the exchanges, the "Bella Baloney"/ "Emmie" line and the "Horizontal" line were my favorites. Any favorites?