Chapter 4: Healing

(Melinda POV)

That night, I laid in my bed, sobbing my eyes out, thinking of the crushing guilt I had. I knew I shouldn't have taken advantage of Carlisle by kissing him. It was a kiss I should have never taken from him but somehow I couldn't stop the grief and guilt welling up in me. I made up my mind to call in sick for the next day because I just couldn't face Carlisle. After crying so much, I closed my sore eyes and tried to drift to sleep. Honestly, I felt sick to my stomach because of my guilt.

Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, I heard a knock on my door so I stood up, put a robe on, and stumbled to the door. What surprised me was that Carlisle was at the door with an apologetic look on his face. My tears began to fall quicker at the sight of him and bowed my head shamefully. I felt guilt and grief well up as much as my tears did but I didn't want any sympathy or comfort from him.

"What do you want, Carlisle?" I asked dully, looking down at my bare feet. "More importantly, how did you find my apartment? Are you stalking me?" I hastily wiped my tears away to look back up at him.

"No," he said, grinning softly, "I'm not a stalker. I found your apartment by your resume and I decided to come here to personally apologize for what transpired in my office. May I ask why you're crying?" He pointed to my wet cheeks.

"I was watching Titanic and that movie always makes me cry," I lied, saving myself from further embarrassment. "I'm sorry for kissing you, Dr. Cullen. I don't know what came over me but I'm not here for a relationship. I just want to do my job, nothing more."

"Call me Carlisle, Melinda," he said kindly, touching my chin with his thumb and forefinger. "We're not at work. You can call me Carlisle. It's not a capital offense." His light hearted teasing made me feel a little better but I still felt guilty for taking advantage of him.

"Carlisle," I said quietly so I wouldn't wake the neighbors, "why are you being so kind to me?"

I felt him wrap his arms around my waist and he pulled me into his cold chest. Since I was so stressed and tired, the hug felt like a glass of warm milk so I rested my head against his chest and began to drift off to sleep. My arms, which twined his waist, felt all loose and useless and I just let myself fall asleep. Sure, it was awkward but I was just so tired and Carlisle was so cozy, believe it or not. Before I could think another thought, I let sleep catch my in it's current.

(Carlisle POV)

I would have laughed out loud at seeing Melinda fall asleep against me but that would only wake her up. Instead of acting on hormones like most men would, I merely gathered her in my arms and carried her inside. Once I found her room, I placed her under the covers of her warm bed and stroked her hair before turning to leave. Before I turned to walk out of her room, I looked back at her and saw her sleeping peacefully.

"I love you," I whispered and then I finally left the apartment before I could do further damage but I did leave her a gift.

…

Early that morning, I went to work like I usually did but saw no signs of Melinda. It seemed she was hiding from me but I had to make sure she wasn't sick so I inquired Jackie about it. She told me that Melinda called in sick that day and sounded like she was weary and tearful. I didn't like it one bit; I didn't want Melinda to be afraid of me though she should have been and I knew I hurt her badly.

"Jackie," I whispered to the nurse, "could you cover for me for a few minutes? I'm going to see if Melinda is all right." I gave her a desperate, pleading look that would have made even the hardest person give in.

"Of course, doctor," said Jackie, nodding her head. "Tell me if she's getting to feeling better soon because we need her."

"I will," I promised before I rushed out (in the most human way possible) to my car.

As soon as I sat down in the seat, I started the ignition and drove as fast as I could to Melinda's apartment. If she was truly sick then I'd have to check up on her because I was a doctor and I loved her. I whipped out my cell phone and dialed her number faster than any human could because I had to make sure she was okay.

She answered on the third ring. "Hello," her voice sounded tired and croaky. I could tell she just woke up from a nap or something.

"Hello, Melinda," I said gently, "how are you feeling, love? You sound awful, no offense." I added that quickly so she wouldn't take that the wrong way.

I heard her laugh a hoarse, quiet laugh and my spirit soared. "I'm fine, Dr. Cu-I mean, Carlisle," she whispered. "I just caught a bug this morning and I can't really drive to work. I'd rather speak to you in person than talking on the phone." She sounded like she wanted to go back to sleep but I just had to make sure she was okay.

"I'm almost at your apartment," I assured her gently. "Just wait a few minutes and I'll be there to check on you. Hold on tight, okay, love?"

"Okay," she whispered inaudibly. "See you then." I heard her sigh wearily so I decided to end the conversation.

"See you then," I replied, hanging the phone up so I could park.

…

As soon as I pulled into the parking lot, I immediately ran up the stairs to her apartment and opened her door. Apparently she kept it unlocked for me, which made my job easier. Once I entered her apartment, I walked quickly to her room and saw her in bed. What I saw stopped me in my tracks: Her face was pale and sweaty, her hair was all stringy and sweaty, and she looked weak and helpless—a little bit like how Edward looked when I first saw him in Chicago during the Spanish Influenza. Her eyes remained closed like she didn't know I was there but her head rolled towards me a bit.

"Oh, love," I breathed, ignoring how her scent made me feel. I took her hand in mine and stroked her hair with my free one.

"Hi, Carlisle," she whispered, opening her tired eyes. "I feel sick…" As soon as those words came out of her mouth, she pressed a Kleenex to her nose and began sneezing violently.

I rubbed her back and stroked her hair in a loving manner to comfort her. What made me feel a little better was knowing she didn't get sick from me because vampires can't get sick. If she got sick from me, I would feel so incredibly guilty because I loved her too much to inflict that on her. Once she stopped sneezing she looked up at me with such an innocent expression that I just wanted to hold her but I knew she wanted her distance.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" I asked gently, giving a soft look. "Do you want any soup, a back massage, what?" I rested my hand on hers but she pulled away a bit like she didn't want me touching her.

Granted, that was expected because she didn't trust me but I trusted her.

"I'm fine," she said quietly, "but can you just sit here with me until I fall asleep and sing a lullaby, please? That would be nice."

Being a doctor, I knew a pillow stacked on the other would help open air passages so I lifted her upper torso up slowly, placed a pillow on top of the other, and then placed her back down as gently as I could. As requested, I wracked through my brain to think of a lullaby to sing to her and when I stared at her, I knew the perfect one.

"I set out on a narrow way,

Many years ago,

Hoping I would find true love,

Along the broken road.

But I got lost a time or two,

Wiped my brow kept pushing through,

I couldn't see how every sign,

Led me straight to you.

Every long lost dream,

Led me to where you are,

Others who broke my heart,

They were like northern stars,

Pointing me on my way,

Into your loving arms.

This much I know is true,

That God blessed the broken road,

That led me straight to you…"

Since I was a vampire, I knew my voice was comforting and gentle when I broke out into song—all vampires were. Alice could hit notes that didn't even exist in the world and Rosalie sounded a bit like Sharon from the band Within Temptations. Edward was good at singing too because I heard him when he sang Renesseme to sleep. Bella sounded like the lead singer from Evanescence. I didn't know what Jasper or Emmett sounded like because they didn't sing much when I was near them.

When I finished the song, I saw that Melinda was fast asleep so I bent down and kissed her gently on the lips before I lay down next to her and held her tightly. Of course she didn't know because she was asleep but somehow I think she sensed me because she snuggled into me and resumed sleeping. I stroked her stringy hair and pressed a kiss to her brow, watching the sky darken.

(Melinda POV)

When I awoke, I felt myself being held in a gentle embrace and to my surprise I saw Carlisle next to me. I didn't know why he was in my bed, let alone my apartment, but somehow I felt safer with him there. I tried to sit up but my head ached so badly that I had to lie back down and take a few deep breaths. Carlisle looked at me and gave me a gentle smile that caused my cheeks to heat up; I must have been more ill than I thought.

"Good evening, sleeping beauty," he said gently, stroking my disgusting hair.

"More sleeping than beauty," I commented dryly, knowing I looked like the bride of Frankenstein.

"Oh, stop it, Melinda," he said tenderly, "you look beautiful even if your hair looks like a haystack." I could tell he was teasing me but it hurt to laugh because my ribs hurt.

"Gee, thanks," I replied sarcastically. "Are you done flattering me?" I gave him a tired smile and sank back on my pillows.

"No, not yet," he said casually, wiping some sweat away from my cheek with a chilly hand. "You are so beautiful and don't deny it." His expression was serious yet affectionate and it made my cheeks heat up more. How embarrassing.

"Thank you, Carl…" I was broken off by his lips pressing to mine. It was totally different than yesterday because he was more tender and gentle than before but I liked it. I knew I shouldn't have been kissing him because that's how germs spread.

I shook my head rapidly to escape the kiss and when I did I said, "Stop, Carlisle. I don't want to get you sick."

He chuckled at my worries and shook his head carelessly. "Don't worry, Melinda," he said. "I don't get sick." With that, he slammed his lips back on mine and started kissing me again.

As we kissed, he crawled atop of my body and held me to him gently. Before I could try and do more, he backed off of me but still held me in a hug. Right now, I felt at peace like I was supposed to be there. I was in heaven and Carlisle was my angel; that much I knew.

A/N: As promised, it's longer than the last one! Hope you like! We'll meet the Cullen family in the next one! Stay tuned! Read and review!