Thanks to PTB and my Twilighted validation beta, neveryoumind!

AddictedtoEdward and Ms. Ambrosia are the BEST. BETAS. EVER. They seriously keep me on track when I'm headed off to parts unknown. My thanks forever for the two of them.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Three Months Later - BPOV

"Jake!"

Silence.

"Jacob!"

"What. Do. You. Want. Now?" I heard him yell from the other room, breathing heavily.

"Did you see the box labeled 'Bella's Room'?"

The one I was looking for had my sheets in it and I wanted to make my bed. Since Jake had carried most of the boxes into my room, I figured he would probably know best where that particular box was.

Jake strode into my bedroom, glaring at me.

"Which box?" he asked, clenching his teeth. "This one?" He pointed to the one under the window. "Or maybe that one?"

His gaze and index finger moved to another one across the room, tipped over on its side. They both had "Bella's Room" written on them, as did most of the others scattered around my new bedroom.

I could feel a blush stain my cheeks. "Um...never mind."

Dr. Philips wasn't kidding when he said my memory might suffer due to the accident. Sometimes I felt like I had Swiss cheese for brains.

Jake's eyes narrowed and he did a quick about-face, storming out of the room without another word. I bit my lip, trying not to cringe. Alice and I were going to have a lot of making up to do with him.

Jake had offered to help us move into our new condo in Seattle, despite just returning from his honeymoon with Leah. Alice and I had spent the last two days ordering Jake and Emmett around, yelling when they put boxes in the wrong room and screaming if they even looked like they were going to hit the wall with a piece of furniture.

We could've used more help, but neither Charlie nor Carlisle could take the time off from the police department or the hospital to come out. Esme was arriving to help us settle in and decorate after all the heavy lifting was complete. Alice had tried to cajole Edward into helping as well, but his schedule was such that all he had been doing these days was working or sleeping. According to Emmett, it seemed to be more work than sleep. I was almost relieved I hadn't seen him. I still haven't gotten over that thing where I'm convinced the man can see into my soul. The longer I can put off those squirms I feel in my stomach when I'm around him, the better.

Jake and Emmett were currently in Alice's room, handling the bedroom set she'd had shipped in from New York. Since the moment they had loaded it off the truck, she'd been begging them to be careful; she was now in her room with them, watching their every move.

The last two days had been spent with me helping as much as I could – which wasn't much, since no one would let me lift anything weighing over two pounds. Emmett was as overprotective as Alice and Jake when it came to letting me do anything. I was actually surprised they hadn't just stuck me on the couch to watch them all work. It's possible the thought might have crossed Emmett's mind, but one of my best friends must've convinced him that if he tried it, I'd rip him a new one. Every once in a while I'd see him look at me, then the couch, and I could tell he thought I was overdoing it. I knew my limits though, and as much as I loved pushing them, I had no plans on doing something that was going to interrupt my physical recovery.

My body was continuing to heal, but I would still get twinges in my hip from time to time. I'd started physical therapy the week following my move to Forks and as I had hoped, I continued to make progress. There was more definition and tone to my body than ever before and could feel myself growing stronger every day. My physical therapist, Sarah, had made an appointment for me with a friend of hers here in Seattle and my therapy would begin again next week. I had been downgraded to once-a-week visits and I was proud of myself. My body was strengthening by the day.

At this particular moment, I knew I needed to rest and take a breather. Doing so on an unmade bed, though, didn't seem right. I was being silly and anal, but I also knew I'd feel better if there was some sense of order around me. Making my bed in my new apartment would help that sense of order. I just needed to find the right damn box!

I began searching through the mess in my room again, hoping I'd overlooked them the first time. I'd only made it half-way though when I heard a thump, a curse, and then Alice's scream.

I hit the door at a run, groaning as my hip protested at my quick movement. I wasn't paying attention to what was in front of me, only intent on getting to Alice and seeing what had happened.

Big mistake.

I would later swear that the damn box jumped out in front of me. After all, when a klutz like me enters a room, the nearby inanimate objects grin, knowing they have the perfect person to trip up. I was positive this box was no exception.

One minute I was walking on my own two feet, and the next I was flying through the air. "Crap" was the only word I got out before I thought I heard something snap and my head hit the wall hard. Then, everything went black.

I came to groggily, my hand reaching up to try and hold my brains in where I was sure they were leaking from my head. It could be the only explanation for the pain I was in.

Goddamn, this hurts!

Someone grabbed my hand and gently pulled it back to my side.

"Shhh...Bells, you're okay. We're on the way to the hospital."

I groaned, hearing Jake's voice.

Great.

I opened my eyes, glaring at the bright light surrounding me. Jake was sitting next to me, holding my hand, a worried, yet amused, look in his eyes. There was a guy dressed in a blue uniform sitting next to him, holding a blood pressure cuff and rattling off something to a person somewhere behind my head. I looked beyond Jake and the guy and realized I was in an ambulance.

"You called a freaking ambulance?" I moaned, closing my eyes.

It was bad enough that I was such a klutz, but an ambulance usually wasn't needed for my mishaps. I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks and the humiliation bubble up in my stomach. There was also a rising sense of panic in my chest. The last time I'd been in an ambulance was after the accident in Jacksonville. I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.

"Emmett thought it would be best; we couldn't get you to wake up and we're not sure what happened to your ankle..."

Jake trailed off, looking down my body. The minute he said the words I could feel the agonizing pain in my left ankle and something about it felt...off. I tried to raise my head, but Jake and the paramedic pushed me back down.

"Just stay put, Ms. Swan."

Jake pushed my hair back out of my face and smiled gently. "Only you."

I would've rolled my eyes if it wouldn't have hurt so much. Instead, I just sighed and closed them. Jake started talking quietly to the paramedic next to me and I was grateful for his calming presence. It helped to keep me from freaking out. I couldn't concentrate enough to hear his exact words, but his tone allowed me to focus on something other than the pain I was feeling and the memories this ride to the hospital was evoking.

I must've passed out again, because I didn't remember arriving at the hospital. I wasn't sure how long I was out, but when I woke, I was in a hospital bed and still in a lot of pain, with both my head and ankle throbbing. Jake was standing next to me, holding my hand.

When he saw my eyes open, he squeezed my hand and said, "Thank God, you're awake. I'm going to go get a nurse."

Then he was gone and I felt the terror begin. I started to sweat and my heart felt like it was going to pound right out of my chest.

I don't want to me here. I don't want to be here. I don't want to be here!

I focused on the first thing I could, which was Alice's voice. I could hear her from somewhere beyond the curtain that was surrounding me.

"Get your ass down here!"

Pause.

"Honest to God, Edward, she's my best friend and I want you to be her doctor, not some moronic idiot who doesn't know which end of the syringe he should poke her with. The guy they stuck her with is freaking stupid and I won't let him treat her, so get your butt down here now!"

Focusing on Alice's voice helped calm my breathing for a moment – at least until she stopped yelling. When I could no longer hear her voice, I began pulling air into my lungs and my heart started galloping. I thought I heard a muttered curse and I opened my mouth to call for Alice when Jake returned. He pulled back the curtain and I could see Alice standing there, hands on her hips, glaring at Emmett, who was bent over at the waist, groaning.

Jake moved to the side of my bed. "Shorty's got a lot of power behind her punches. I tried to tell him..."

I looked at Jake in confusion, fear and pain. My breaths were becoming shallower and I was pretty sure I was hyperventilating. My body was trembling all over.

"Get...me...out...of...here."

Jake looked confused, and then realization dawned on his face.

"Alice!" She turned toward him and took one look at me before running away.

There was sweat pouring off my body and I was shivering. It felt as though I would vomit any minute. I couldn't focus, and it felt like a scream was about to rip from my throat at any moment. Memories came tumbling back, unwanted.

"She's bleeding internally. We got to get her the hell out of here."

"Bells, another driver hit the car head on. Phil...and...Renee...honey, they were killed instantly."

"You've been in a coma for the last two weeks."

"Bella, I can't do this anymore."

I couldn't seem to draw a breath into my lungs, and my body was screaming in pain, telling me to flee, to get as far away from here as I possibly could. My eyes were darting all over the place, trying to find an exit – a way out – but all I could see was Jake, holding his hands on my leg, trying to talk to me. I bucked my body, trying to throw his touch off of me, but he barely flinched and I shrieked from the pain in my ankle and the terror I was feeling.

Emmett came to the other side of my bed and put a hand on my shoulder. "Hang in there, Bella, you're fine. You're safe. We're not going to let anything happen to you." Emmett's voice was soothing and low.

"Come on, Bells, take a nice deep breath. Focus on me." Jake moved his right hand to my other shoulder. With his left, he began running his fingers up and down my left arm, trying to keep his eyes locked on mine. "We're right here. You're okay. Nice deep breaths."

I was too far-gone to focus on anything but trying to find a way out of this bed and as far away from the hospital as I could. I tried to sit up, but both Jake and Emmett kept their hands on my shoulders, holding me as gently as possible to the bed. This only increased my sense of panic. The same mantra kept playing in my head.

Get out. Get away. Get out. Get away. Out. Away. Out. Away. Outawayoutawayoutaway.

Then I felt the impression of something pricking me on my arm. A few minutes later, the feeling of terror was buried, and I was feeling very foggy, almost drunk.

"Jaaaak..."

Saying Jake's name was hard.

I could sense confusion and panic around me before I heard someone say, "It's a side effect of the sedative. She'll be fine."

Emmett leaned over me and he reminded me of a giant teddy bear.

"Emmy...Teddy..." I giggled, and tried to focus on Emmett's face, which looked at little shocked.

I heard Alice's tinkling laugh and Jake gave a chuckle that sounded more like a barking cough.

"I'll go call Charlie and tell him what happened." Emmett stepped back from my bed and Alice took his place.

I closed my eyes, still floating from the effects of the medication. Somewhere deep down, I was still freaking out, but the sedative kept the feeling well below the surface. For the moment, I was calm enough to relax and let the medication drag me underneath a nice, quiet cloak of darkness.

I woke up when I heard a new voice. I was surprised to recognize it instantly.

It would be difficult to forget the velvet-lined tones of Edward Cullen, even when I hadn't heard them in years.

"Have you lost your damn mind?"

I opened my eyes and saw Alice's brother standing at the end of my bed, looking extremely tired. He was glaring at Alice.

"Edward – " Alice had her "don't be mad at me" face on.

"Save it. I'm here and I'm probably going to get my ass kicked for it. You owe me big time, little one."

He grabbed the chart off the end of my bed and looked it over. His hair was sticking up all over the place; it actually looked like he just rolled out of bed. There were dark circles under his eyes and his scrubs were wrinkled and stained with something I really hoped was coffee.

For the first time since he arrived, he looked at me. I was still pretty out of it so I didn't recognize all the emotions that crossed his face, but there were a few I thought I recognized. Surprise, pleasure, concern...and then it went blank.

Dr. Cullen had officially arrived.

"Bella, how are you?"

He moved to my bed, looking at my ankle when he asked the question, not looking at my face. He touched it gently and I jumped. His eyes met mine.

"Does that hurt?"

It hadn't actually; I jumped when I felt his hands graze my skin. His fingers were a bit cold and as he moved them to different places along my ankle, a tingling sensation remained. His touch was gentle; somewhere in the cloudiness of my brain there was the thought that I didn't want him to stop touching me.

Edward didn't wait for my answer, but continued with his examination.

"Can you wiggle your toes?"

I did, and I saw him give a slight nod.

He moved up to my head, shining a light into my eyes and having me follow his finger. He gently probed at the top of my head and I winced. Our eyes met and I could see the apology in his. I felt him move a piece of my hair away from my forehead, as he continued to look into my eyes. His were a deep, piercing green and were swirling with emotions. I wondered what he was thinking and why I felt the need to reach up and touch his cheek. My hand began to move when Emmett cleared his throat. Edward stepped back.

"Bella, it looks like your ankle is sprained and you have a concussion. I'm going to order some x-rays so we can rule out a break, just to be on the safe side. I don't think you need a CAT scan; it just seems to be a mild concussion. I'm going to keep you overnight –"

"I...I can't stay here."

My words were slightly muddled and came out in whisper. I was thankful that the sedatives were still working, but underneath the fuzzy feeling was the same sense of terror I had felt earlier. I took a deep breath, willing myself to stay calm and focus on the point I needed to get across to the doctor in front of me.

Unless they knocked me out, there was no way I was staying here.

Edward's eyebrows came together in confusion.

"Bella, it would be best –"

"I'm. Not. Staying."

My words were clear, concise and at a normal volume for the first time since my arrival.

"Edward, can I talk to you for a minute?" Alice took her brother's hand and pulled him away from my bed.

I turned to look at Jake, ready to plead with him. It was unnecessary. "We'll get you out of here tonight, I promise. Alice and I won't make you stay."

This was why he was my best friend. He knew what I needed before I had to voice it.

Alice returned with Edward. He looked unhappy with whatever his sister had said to him.

"Bella, although it's against my better judgment, I've agreed that Alice and Jacob can take you back to the apartment tonight. You'll have to sign an AMA wavier stating that you're leaving against medical advice..." he trailed off, almost as if he was hoping that if I knew I had to sign a piece of paper, I might change my mind about staying overnight. My body began trembling again.

Fat chance.

Edward continued, "I'm going to have the nurse give you some pain medication now, which should help any discomfort you're having. After the x-rays are done, I'll have someone –"

He broke off when Alice growled behind him. Edward just rolled his eyes and continued. "I'll wrap your ankle. We should have you out of here in under an hour. Sound okay to you?"

I gave him a slight nod. The trembling subsided a bit; at least I had a time frame as to when I could escape this hell.

He marched away from my side and I saw him conversing with a nurse. Edward seemed annoyed, but I couldn't figure out why my refusal to stay in the hospital would bother him so much. I'm sure I'm not the first, nor would I be the last, patient to refuse a hospital stay.

The nurse came over then and gave me a shot of the pain medication that Edward had prescribed.

When she was gone, I glanced up and saw Jake and Alice, standing next to each other, exchanging a look.

"What?"

Alice gave me a too-big grin and replied, "Nothing, sweetie. Are you okay? Do you need anything?"

I took a minute to assess my body and realized my ankle and head no longer hurt, but I still wanted to flee. My body was taut and I knew if either Jake or Alice gave me an opening I'd be headed for the first exit, X-ray and ankle wrap be damned.

Telling Jake and Alice that though would probably result in Alice sitting on me for the next hour, so I thought it better to just lie.

"No, I'm alright." I paused and then asked her something that had been in the back of my mind since I saw it happen. "Al, why was Emmett bending over and groaning earlier?"

Alice huffed at my question and Jake swung an arm up and put it around her shoulders. The gesture caused her to grin at him, laying her head against his side.

"My idiot brother dropped my headboard, and scratched the damn thing. He also put a dent in the floor, which is why I screamed. If I hadn't screamed, I'm sure you wouldn't have come to investigate what the hell was going on and you wouldn't have tripped over the damn box that the idiot left sitting in the hallway. So this whole thing is his damn fault and I figured the least he deserved was a punch in the gut."

She smiled smugly.

"You...you hit Emmett?"

I couldn't wrap my head around the image of small little Alice punching her big bear of a brother in the stomach.

She nodded and Jake just kept on grinning.

"But it's Emmett..."

"The ass should've listened to Jake when Jake told him not to piss me off. I think he forgot Jake taught us how to throw a punch back in high school. Moron." She rolled her eyes.

Alice, my champion.

Someone arrived with a wheelchair to take me to get my X-ray and after some whispering and pointing between Alice and Jake, Alice came with me. Jake mumbled something about finding Emmett. I had a feeling they were afraid to leave me alone.

My best friends knew me too well.

The trip down to X-ray was uneventful, with Alice chatting the entire way. They had to take me into the room where the actual X-ray machine was held without Alice, but thankfully, the sedative was still working enough that I could control my outward anxiety. It also helped that the technician was at least six foot seven and out-weighed me by 100 lbs. I wouldn't put it past Alice to tell him to sit on me to keep me here.

Alice was waiting right at the door when they wheeled me out, grabbing my hand and telling me she had talked to Esme. She was driving out first thing in the morning to come stay with us for a few days.

"Al, she's not supposed to be here until Friday, and that's five days away. I don't think she needs to rearrange her schedule because of my klutzy ways."

Alice just smiled and changed the subject. "So, I was thinking that there's this table at Pier One that would look great in the entryway. I saved a picture of it on my laptop; remind me to show you when we get home."

We arrived back to my designated spot in the E.R., where Jake and Emmett were waiting for us.

"Bella, I talked to Charlie. He told me to tell you to call him the minute you get home. He was going to drive out here tonight, but I told him that we had things under control and to wait until he talked to you. I figured you had enough baby-sitters without adding your Dad to the mix."

I gave Emmett a grateful smile.

"Thanks, Em."

"Emmett, I'm shocked at your perceptiveness. Where the hell did it come from?" Alice winked at Emmett, and he smirked back at her.

Their brother returned then, still looking annoyed. His demeanor was off-putting and I instinctively moved my body closer to Jake, who glanced at me, puzzled.

"Guys, can you give me some room to work here?" he practically growled at Alice and Emmett.

Alice pointed to the door that lead to the E.R.'s waiting room and said, "Bella, I'll be right over there, okay?"

I nodded and she and Emmett left. I reached my hand up, without looking at Jake, who took it and squeezed it.

Edward watched our exchange and his face settled into a frown. "Jacob, Bella will be fine with me. You can join Emmett and Alice in the waiting room."

"I want him to stay."

I was clinging to Jake's hand and felt panicked with the thought of him leaving like Alice did. I was almost done with this nightmare and even drugged, there was no way I was going to make it through the rest of it without one of my best friends by my side.

Edward didn't say anything for a moment and then he nodded before getting to work on wrapping my ankle. "You should stay off this for at least the next twenty-four hours, although forty-eight would probably be better, considering your body... is still recovering."

He paused for a moment, taking his eyes off my ankle and meeting my gaze. Something seemed to spark in the air between us, but he quickly looked back at my ankle before I could put a name to it. His face settled into a scowl.

"Ice your ankle for that long as well, and then start using moist heat on it. You can put some weight on it, but don't over do it. Alice told me you still have your crutches, so use those while it heals."

He patted my leg gently and stood up. He was no longer scowling but he looked uncomfortable.

"Jacob has your prescriptions – I gave you Tylenol with codeine for the pain, but don't take it until tomorrow as it will interact badly with the sedative you were given. I also prescribed some Vistaril for your... anxiety. Do not take this or the Tylenol together, but I wanted you to have them, just in case. Do you have any questions?"

I shook my head. The more he talked, the longer I sat here. I wanted out, now.

"Okay. Everything I just told you is in your discharge papers if questions do happen to come up later. If something isn't answered with your paperwork, just have Alice call me. "

He spoke hurriedly, as if he suddenly had somewhere he had to be at that moment. He moved to the small table next to my bed and taking out his pen, signed my discharge papers. When he was done, he handed them to me, brushing my fingers with his own. My fingers tingled and I fought the urge to reach out and touch him.

What the heck? They've given me way too much medication.

"I hope you feel better soon, Bella."

With that, Edward turned and walked away.

Jake helped me move to the edge of the bed as a nurse came over with the wheelchair. Alice was at our sides within minutes of her brother's departure, giving Jake her car keys so he could move the car right up to the entrance doors.

Alice explained that Emmett had called his girlfriend to come and pick him up, once it was clear I was going to be okay. He had tried to convince Alice to go with him, but she remained steadfast in her refusal to be further than a few feet from me.

The nurse wheeled me out to the car, giving me the same instructions Edward had along the way. Jake stopped, getting out of Alice's bright yellow Porsche, to pick me up and set me in the front seat.

I was feeling knocked off my butt on pain medication and the still-remaining effects of the sedative. Alice slid into the back seat, leaning forward so she and Jake decide what to order for dinner, since we didn't have any groceries at the moment. I just dozed, trying very hard not to think about where I had just spent the last three hours.

When we arrived home, Jake carried me inside, one arm under my knees and the other around my back. He deposited me carefully on the couch and went to go help Alice make my bed and set my room up for the night.

My mind was racing. Being in the hospital had brought back memories that I had spent months burying and I wasn't about to let them come to the surface again.

The night after my outburst with Alice had been horrific and it was one I didn't think I could physically survive if I had to go through it again. The next day I had been wiped out, both emotionally and physically drained. It took me days to recover from it and I had decided that I would forget everything I had remembered about the accident and my time in the hospital – all of it – and move on with my life like I'd planned. Focusing completely on my physical recovery made ignoring my emotional pain easier.

As time went on, I was able to tuck it away almost completely. Being back at the hospital today, though, brought all those memories back with a vengeance.

I had to forget them.

I would forget them.

Despite what anyone thought – what anyone told me – remembering everything hurt much more than pushing it down and away ever could.

The medication could help, but it wasn't something I wanted to rely on for more than a night or two. Having an addiction to prescription pills was the last thing I needed and I was bound and determined to forget everything through physical exhaustion and sheer will.

Alice came out and stood behind the couch, looking down at me. "Honey, Jake and I made your bed. Do you want to stay out here or go in there?"

"I'm exhausted. I just want to go to bed."

I gave her what I hoped was a convincing smile, and moved to stand up.

"Sit your butt down, missy!"

She pointed a finger at me and then yelled for Jake. "Jake, can you carry Bella to the bathroom?"

I could feel the blush rise on my face. Closest friend or not, that would just be mortifying.

"Alice, just give me my crutches. I can make it to the bathroom and my bedroom alone."

She shook her head. "Jake's here and you're blitzed out on meds. This will be easier, trust me." Her voice told me I wasn't going to win any argument with her.

Jake came out of my room and picked me up without a word, dropping me off in the bathroom and leaving me alone to take care of the necessities. Alice had left a t-shirt and a pair of yoga pants on the bathroom counter and I changed as easily as I could without putting any weight on my ankle. I was sweating from the effort and called Jake weakly to come and get me.

He entered, taking one look at me and shaking his head. "What are we going to do with you?"

I didn't think he expected an answer, so I didn't give him one as I laid my head down on his shoulder. I was deposited in my bed moments later, Alice waiting to pull the covers up and over me.

"Just call if you need anything, okay, sweetie?"

She pushed back my hair from my forehead, much like Edward had done earlier that afternoon. Jake leaned down and gave me a kiss on the forehead and then they both left, talking quietly as they headed up the hallway to order dinner.

I rolled to my side and shut my eyes, falling into a deep, medicated sleep.