A/N: Okay, so I didn't get quite as many reviews on the last chapter as I was shooting for, but that's fine. At least three or four people like where this story is going… So, I got my Twilight tickets? Did you? I am like, dead excited. All I have to say is the movie better be as good as my precious series! Haha. Chapter title borrowed from Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown's "No Air".

Part Twenty-Two

I Walked, I Ran, I Jumped, I Flew

"It was great of Charlie to just let you stay with us like that," Edward said, hands grasping the steering wheel, his eyes on the road stretching in front of us. "He has started to let- Bella, what is it?" His eyes strayed from the road, looking, instead, at my trembling hands.

"I-I-I don't know, E-Edward!" I sobbed, my heart beating uncharacteristically fast by now. "I… my heart… and I can't… I'm shaking!"

"I can see that, Baby," he said, obviously struggling to stay calm. "Do you need me to pull over? Are you sick?"

I shook my head; tear after tear rolling onto my pale face. "I need… hospital… Take me to the hospital!" I ordered, almost completely inaudible. Fortunately, Edward was incredibly good at reading my mind, and, ironically, my lips.

"On my way, Bells!" He sped up significantly, which was not particularly good, seeing as the speedometer was already ticking past seventy.

"Edward! Slow down!" I warned, but I had spoken only a fraction of a second too late.

A bright light flashed behind us, and Edward pulled over, cursing under his breath. "Sir, do you realize that you were going over forty miles over the limit?" the officer asked, as soon as Edward had his window down. My heartbeat accelerated, if that was even possible. I was hyperventilating.

"I had no idea, Officer," he said hurriedly. "But-"

"I'm going to have to give you a ticket," he continued. I sobbed, pressing my hand to my pulsating heart. This did not go unnoticed by Edward. The policemen, however, conveniently missed it.

"That's fine, Officer!" Edward blurted. "But I've got to go!"

"I'm going to need to see your license and registration first, please." He stuck out a large, clammy hand, in which Edward placed his papers, sighing deeply in frustration.

"Are you gonna make it, love?" he asked, all of the color drained from his face. "Because if you need to go now, I'll leave now. They have to understand. You come first. Please help me here, Bella!"

"I… it's… they… you… we…" I tried, but I was crying too hard. My head began to spin, and I gripped the leather seat. I struggled greatly to fill my lungs with air, my blood pumping faster than I'd even imagined possible. I coughed.

Edward grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly. I tried to tell him I loved him… Or that I needed him… or anything. But I could not speak. I inhaled with tremendous effort, a sharp pain stinging my lungs. I let out a bloodcurdling scream.

"Oh, that is it," Edward mumbled, slamming his foot down hard on the gas pedal. I screamed again, but this time out of pure instinct. His hand found mine again as we sped away from the police officer. "Stay with me, Bella."

I nodded hysterically, gripping his hand with such force that I felt sure I'd break it. I breathed in and out once more; this time bracing myself for the sharp pain that I knew was inevitable. "Edward," I whispered, my voice cracking. "It… it hurts."

He was also nodding. "What hurts, sweetheart?"

"It all does," I admitted, pressing his cool hand to my burning cheeks. He flinched, but left his hand where it was, rubbing circles on my skin with his thumb.

"It's at least one o' five," he told me. I covered his gently moving hand with my own, trying to refrain from panicking. I had been told it only made situations like this more complicated. No, I would relax. Edward was with me. And soon, I would be in the safe, capable hands of the hospital doctors.

Oh, that was definitely not good. "Edward?" I spoke again.

"Yes, love?" he soothed. My head pounded.

"I can't… brea-"

My head hit the airbag in front of me as I took my last breath before blacking out.

TNEBDTNEBDTNEBDTNEBDTNEBDTNEBDTNEBDTNEBDTNEBDTNEBDTNEB

"Bella, can you hear me?" I awoke, drowsily, to the sound of that angelic voice, beckoning me back into consciousness.

"E-Edward?" I reached out, and he quickly took my hand.

"I'm here, Bella. I need you to talk to me some more," he begged, and he sounded close to tears. "Please, Bella?"

"I… can't," I cried, defeated.

"Yes, you can," he replied, his voice firm but calming at once. "You can do it, love. Do you feel alright?"

I did my best to nod reassuringly, but, apparently, Edward was not convinced. "Fine." My throat felt dry.

"Water, sweetheart?" he asked, passing me a thin paper cup. I lifted it to my mouth, drinking slowly. "What hurts?"

"Nothing much," I said, this time much louder. "I just needed water." I laughed quietly.

He stared at me, unblinking, for a moment. "Bella, don't scare me like that," he finally whispered. "What happened? I was worried to death."

"I don't know, Edward," I mumbled, the humor disappearing from my voice entirely.

"Well, Bella, it looks like you were very lucky," Dr. Collins said, bursting through the door.

"Some people would knock," Edward muttered, refusing to let go of my hand. I silently thanked him for this.

Either Dr. Collins did not hear him, or he pretended not to. "A few more minutes and you could have… well…"

Edward tensed beside me. I put on a brave face. "Well then it's a good thing we got here when we did, isn't it?"

He nodded. "A very good thing."

"So… what is it, Doctor?" Edward asked curiously.

"What is what?" he replied innocently, staring at my exposed leg. I shifted uncomfortably, and, at this, Edward pulled the sheet over it.

"Well, you came bursting in here like the building was on fire," he said pointedly, not bothering to hide the annoyance in his voice. "So what did you have to say?"

"Ahh, yes," he said, as if he'd just remembered something important. "We've run a couple of tests, and I think we've figured out what's wrong with Bella…"

A/N: Oooh, major cliffy! So REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! I'll update this chapter at one hundred reviews. Please, guys, if you have even a second, stop and review. I would really appreciate it. Also, if you have any ideas, let me know. I've already figured out the "mysterious illness", but other than that, I'm fair game. I love you guys buckets,

C.J.

P.S: This is officially the longest chapter in this story so far. How bout them apples?