Chapter 13: A Nightmare

Rosalie hadn't slept since she received the phone call from Esme and Carlisle that Emmett was in the hospital. Pulling up to the hospital, Rosalie jumped out of her car and ran inside. "Mama!" Maggie called to her mother, her little arms wide open.

"What happened?" Rosalie asked, lifting Maggie up into her arms.

"Emmett was found beaten in the parking lot of his garage," Carlisle replied.

"Is he okay? Seriously is he okay?" she asked terrified.

"We don't know anything yet," Carlisle replied.

Rosalie sat down with Maggie in her arms. The toddler, who wasn't understanding at all with everything that was going on, was pulling on Rosalie's necklace. "Daddy's going to be okay sweetheart," she cooed softly to her daughter. Kissing her forehead gently, she stroked her daughter's hair with tears in her eyes. "He has to be okay," she whispered sniffling. As she rocked her daughter close to her chest.

The hours ticked by, Rosalie was just rocking Maggie while whispering loving words into her daughter's ear. "Dr. Cullen are you here?" the doctor called out walking in.

"Yes," Carlisle replied as the whole family stood up.

"Is he okay?" Rosalie asked.

The doctor looked at the young woman. "Are you his wife?" he asked.

"Fiancé," Rosalie replied.

"I can only speak to the family of the patient," the doctor informed.

Carlisle pulled Rosalie close to him and Esme before she could walk away. "She is family, what's going on Jared?" Carlisle asked frustrated.

"Emmett is in critical condition," he informed slowly.

Esme swallowed hard, letting out a shaky breath. "What injuries has he sustained?" he asked.

"Lots of head trauma, a few broken ribs, his right scapula is shattered, and he has had at least eight stitches," Jared replied.

Rosalie almost dropped her daughter at his words. "Head trauma? What kind of head trauma?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"He has a skull fracture in the back of his head and according to the CAT scans, he has bruising on the brain," the doctor explained.

"How massive is the concussion Jared?" Carlisle asked.

"It's a pretty bad concussion, the fact he is now unconscious already has me worried," Jared replied as he showed Carlisle Emmett's scans.

Carlisle held the scans to the light when he felt sick to his stomach. Handing the scan back to Jared. "Carlisle…" Esme said softly.

"What does this mean?" Rosalie asked.

"It means Emmett needs to wake up soon if there's a chance for him to live," Edward replied, frustrated that the doctor was just beating around the bush.

Bella quickly took Maggie into her arms when Rosalie's grip on her child began to loosen. "Are you saying he could die?" she asked.

"The possibility is greater while he remains unconscious," Jared replied.

"I want to see him," Rosalie said immediately.

"Usually we only allow the parents to see the patient, you know this Carlisle as the rules," Jared told him.

"You will let me see him!" Rosalie snapped moving to lunge at the doctor when Carlisle grabbed a hold of her.

Carlisle looked at the man before him. "Jared, lead her to Emmett's room. Esme and I will see him in awhile," he informed. Rosalie thanked him before he let her go and the doctor led her to Emmett's room.

Once the doctor led him into the room, Rosalie felt her whole world crumble. He was almost unrecognizable. He had stitches under is left eye and above his right eye. Stitches along the right side of his jaw. His face was all black and blue as well as all sorts of machines and IV's hooked up to him. Standing by his bed, she reached out, holding his large hand between her smaller hands. "Emmett, can you hear me?" she asked softly. Only the sound of his heart monitor beeping was her answer. "Emmett, it was Royce wasn't it? Royce was the one who did this to you?" she asked.

At the sound of Royce's name, she looked to see his heart monitor speed up. Knowing that he could hear her and that Royce's name gave her a reaction were all the answers she needed. Letting out a sob, she rested her forehead against his hand. "I'm so sorry, Emmett, I'm so sorry this is all my fault," she sobbed. She rested her forehead against his shoulder crying softly. "He did this to you because of me, it's because I ran away," she sobbed. Letting out a shaky breath, she shook her head slowly. "No more," she murmured.

Swallowing hard, Rosalie let his hand go. "I'm not going to let Royce kill you because of me," she told him. Looking at her ring for a brief second, she looked back at Emmett before she leaned forward, kissing his forehead. "I love you, I love you so much that it's killing me that Royce did this to you. I hate that two years later I can't escape him," she murmured. She kissed his lips, sniffling softly. There was a sudden pressure against her hand, making her look down to see Emmett squeezing her hand gently. "I'm here baby, I'm here," she whispered, kissing his knuckles. She kissed his wrist while resting her cheek against his knuckles. "I'm here, I promise I'll never leave you just as you promised never to leave me," she answered. Rosalie kissed his wrist, closing her eyes as she began to cry softly.

The hours passed and Rosalie hardly ever left Emmett's side. At one point, Esme walked into the hospital room to find Rosalie asleep with her head beside Emmett. "Carlisle…" she whispered gently. Sighing, Carlisle walked over and lifted the young woman up into his arms. Carrying her over to the couch he had her lie down before placing a blanket over her. "What do we do Carlisle?" she asked sniffling.

"We be the parents and watch over them," Carlisle replied, sounding a little defeated that he couldn't do anything for his son.

Esme put her head in her hands crying softly. Carlisle hugged her tight, kissing the top of her head as he did everything he could to comfort her without falling apart himself.