EPOV
I was woken up by a small hand pulling on my lower arm. I cracked one eye open to look at the alarm clock.
3.30am! What on earth?!
"Edward?" she whispered, pulling on my arm again. And then I felt it. The searing heat coming off that little
hand was impossible. I rolled over to face her.
"What's wrong love?" I said, rubbing her hip.
"I..I don't feel very well Edward." She looked at me tiredly.
I bought my free hand upto her forehead and gasped. "Oh baby, you're burning up"
"Mmm," was all the response I got apart from her fixing my hand to her forehead by clamping her own on top of mine.
I went to get up but she whimpered in response. "No. Stay. Please." she begged.
"I'll be right back Bella. I'm just going to get you some water."
"Hmm okay," her grip on my arm loosened.
I got up and groped my way through the apartment looking for the kitchen light switch. Bella and I had only just
moved in to our new place a few weeks earlier and I was not yet totally accustomed to making my way around it in
total darkness. Just as I flicked the lights on, I heard a mad rush of feet down the wooden hallway. Guessing it
was Bella making her way to the bathroom I rushed in behind her and found her leaning over the toilet throwing up
what looked like a whole day's worth of meals. With one hand I held her hair from her face and wrapped the other
round her waist to keep her from toppling over.
"Get out Edward," she groaned while leaning back into me.
I half smiled at her, knowing she wished I hadn't seen that. "Not going anywhere," I said in her ear as I rubbed
my cheek on hers soothingly. "You okay now? Want to go back to bed"
She nodded. "I want to wash my face though"
"It's okay," I said, helping her stand. "I'll bring a cloth in for you"
Scooping her up and taking her back down to the bedroom I noticed how much lighter than usual she was and wondered
just how long she hadn't been feeling so flash. She was almost alseep by the time I set her down so I fetched the
cloth and gently washed her face for her before climbing in bed beside her and pulling her close.
I woke up later that morning to find Bella asleep next to me shivering like hell. The doctor in me took over instantly.
I shook her gently. "Bella baby, time to get up." She stirred slightly but curled herself up more. I wrapped her up in
the duvet and scooped her up to take her to the couch while I called my father at the hospital but as I did it, she
screamed out in pain and thrashed until I set her back down.
"Oh god, Bella. What's wrong? Tell me what's wrong honey. I'll make it go away." I knealt down by her face and kissed her
forehead while wiping the tears on her cheeks with my thumbs.
"Mmm, no. I'm, n-no, I'm o-okay. S'nothin baby" she mumbled back while rolling back onto her side. She failed to hide the
grimace as she did though.
"You're not fooling the doctor sweetie. What's hurting?" I kissed her nose, knowing she wouldn't be able to deny me.
"I just cut my leg last week when I fell over on the porch" she weakly tried to push away my hands which were already
at her pants.
"You didn't tell me you fell over on the porch." I accused.
"I'm fine Edward," she sighed, her eyelids fluttering and betraying her.
"Humour me, love." I gently pushed her hips up and pulled her pajama bottoms down. What I saw was not something I was prepared for. "Oh fuck."
All I could do was scramble for my phone. This was serious. Carlisle picked up after a few rings.
"Hi son, what are you doing up? Your shift isn't for hours"
"Dad. It's Bella"
"What's wrong with her Edward? Can't you handle it at home"
I spoke so fast, the doctor in me had disappeared, and the worried fiance taken over.
"Edward, all I got out of that was purple, leg, sick and infected. Calm down, bring her in"
I took a deep breath, glancing over at Bella sleeping on the couch, breathing rapidly. "I'll be there in ten dad."
I grabbed my keys, and carefully went about picking Bella up off the couch without hurting or waking her. As I placed her in the front seat she looked up at me sleepily. "Where we goin'?" she murmerred. I wiped her hair off of her now hot forehead. "Just to see dad baby."
"Mm'kay."
My typical Cullen-type driving got me to the hospital quickly and I had her out of the car and into the my second home -
the ER - before she'd even woken. Dad was waiting for me and he frowned on seeing Bella in my arms, weakly gripping onto the front
of the button down I'd thrown on this morning. I followed him through to a room and set her down on a bed, trying gently to
pry her fingers off my shirt.
"What's wrong with her Edward"
"She was sick last night, had a fever and was throwing up. I thought she had a bug or something. I haven't seen her all week
for more than a few minutes. But god dad, I think she's on the way to Septicemia." I pulled up the pair of my shorts I'd
put on her before we'd left. "Look."
Most of the back of her thigh was purple and blue and a large festering gash about three inches long went across the back of her leg. It was most definately the source of her sickness. Carlisle hurried out the room and returned with another doctor and two nurses. I sat watching helplessly while they hooked her up to an IV and various other things. After about half an hour and myself having checked everything twice to make sure I was happy, Carlisle called me out of the room. I shot him a pained look, telling him I didn't want to leave her.
"She's sleeping Edward. You know she won't wake up for awhile"
Sighing, I got up and followed him out.
It was silent for a few moments before my father spoke.
"Jesus, Edward. How did you miss this"
I ran my hand through my hair and finally met my fathers worried gaze. "I don't know Dad," I whispered. "I don't know." I slumped against
the wall. "God, I just...I don't know. It's been such a long week and when I get home she's asleep. And shit dad I know it's not a good
excuse. I'm a doctor and I can't even look after the woman I love for christs sake!"
Dad just looked at me sympathetically. "I know Edward. It's not your fault. And look, I really didn't want to interfere but your mother
said she went around to your place on Monday after Bella didn't show up for lunch and she found her asleep on her books at the kitchen table. I think
she's struggling Edward, she's run down and she told Esme she doesn't want to worry you cause you've got so much going on here." He gestured around with
his hands.
I walked over and looked at her through the window, sleeping peacefully."I knew she hadn't been sleeping well, but I didn't know it was that bad."
Carlisle came over and put his hand on my shoulder. "She'll be alright son. Do you want me to get a nurse to come in and dress that leg for her or
do you want to do to it"
"No no, it's okay dad. I'll do it. Could you get me the supplies"
"Sure. I called your mother too. She's going to run by your place and get some clothes for you. I figured you'd be staying with her for the night"
"Thanks dad."
"No problem." He patted me on the back. "I'll be right back with the supplies."
Twenty minutes later I was finishing the dressing on Bella's leg when she started mumbling in her sleep. "Stay mon amour. Je am froid"
I smiled at her nickname for me and her signature mixed french and english sleeptalk. I placed the tray of supplies on the bench nearest me and
gently hopped up next to her on the bed. She curled into me, subconciously grabbing a fistful of my shirt and murmurred again. "Stay. Stay. Stay."
she whispered incoherently into my chest. I kissed her forehead and tucked her head under my chin and whispered into her hair. "I'm right here
angel. Right here."