Chapter Eighteen: Hospital

Carlisle's POV

I drove as fast as I dared to the hospital. Bella had really scared me when she suddenly collapsed. I couldn't be sure why that had happened and I wouldn't be until I got her to the hospital. I had to run tests to determine the cause of her current state. We finally got to the hospital and I swung around to the emergency entrance.

"Alice, park the car. Edward and I will take care of Bella." I told her as I got out of the car. I went around, opened the back door and pulled my unconscious daughter from the car. Edward was right on my heels as I ran at human speed through the hospital doors.

"Dr. Cullen?" the woman at the desk called after us.

"Not now, Janet. I have to get Bella into special care." I yelled back at her. Normally, I wouldn't be so callous but it was no ordinary human I was rushing to save. This was Bella, my newest and already very much loved daughter.

I took Bella to a private operating room and started examining her. First, I took a few vials of her blood and sent it to the lab. Her vitals were low so I hooked her up to an IV drip. Edward paced behind me the entire time I worked. He abruptly stopped pacing just before I finished my examination.

"Bella will be awake in a minute. Carlisle, will you step outside so I can have a moment alone with Bella?" Edward requested. I understood why he wanted to be alone with her when she woke up. Obviously, Edward's proposal did not go over as he had planned. I couldn't help but feel bad for my son. He asked the woman he loves more than his own life to marry his and not for the first time to marry him. She finally accepts his proposal and the next thing he knows, she faints and has to be rushed to the hospital. My poor son.

"Of course, son. The others are probably waiting for an update and I need to go to the Lab." I told him.

"Yes they are. Don't worry about me, dad. Just worry about Bella. She's the one who needs you to take care of her. Thank you very much for keeping her alive." Edward both answered my words and my thoughts.

"She is my daughter. I love her and would do anything in my power to save her life. I'll leave you two alone now." I patted Edward's shoulder and left the room.

The others were waiting outside the door looking anxious and expectant. They were all so worried about Bella. Esme looked like she would be crying if she could. My sweet wife was the most loving, caring person I had ever met. She loves Bella almost as most as Edward does but in a different way. If Esme and I were able to have a daughter of our own, I would want her to be exactly like Bella and so would Esme.

"How is she, dear?" Esme asked me in a pained voice. I went to wrap my arms around her, to comfort her.

"Don't worry, honey. Bella will be just fine. She will have to be put on bed rest for a few days and some vitamin supplements. Give Edward a few minutes alone with her before you go in. Our daughter has already regained some of her color. Bella will live through this, I have no doubt about that." I reassured my wife.

Esme looked relieved as she smiled at me. She frowned in the next second but I didn't have long to wonder why.

"We have a small problem, Carlisle. Charlie called to check up on Bella while we were headed here. None of us could manage to lie well enough under the stress. He suspects something. He knows that something is wrong." She looked worried again.

I sighed. "Is he still at his house?"

"I think so." Esme said at the same time Alice said: "he will be there when you call."

I nodded. Alice's visions were so reliable and a useful tool. She made life so much easier.

I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Charlie's number.

"Hello Charlie. I'm afraid I have some bad news to tell you about Bella. Can you come to the hospital now?"