ASL Chapter 3

Memories

Tanya POV:

Another three weeks passed before the doctors would even consider weaning Edward off the medication that was keeping him asleep. The swelling in his brain had gone down and they moved him from the ICU, but he still had the ventilator attached to him to help his breathing. Even after he woke up he was going to be in the hospital for a while and when they did finally allow him to come home, he was going to need a lot of help. Someone was going to need to stay with him and help him until all of his injuries healed.

Alice had long since been released from the hospital and preparing to go back to work in a few short weeks. The plan had been for me to watch Aiden along with Kara, but now Alice was looking into a daycare for the kids. She was trying to convince me that even she believed it was only a temporary solution, but I think we all knew that I was never going to watch her kids every day anytime soon. I rationalized it, as it was probably better that I didn't watch a newborn baby so soon after losing mine. I really don't think that I would be able to handle that well at all. A part of me was still so angry and bitter over it all.

They had started tapering off the medicine early this morning but they were not expecting Edward to wake up until at least tomorrow. At noon I went out to the waiting room to have lunch with Ethan. Rose and Emmett, who had both taken the day off work, had stopped by with something for us to eat. We were all tired of hospital food and Ethan had started throwing fits and refusing to eat it anymore. Carlisle told me he was about to throw the same fit. Even when he had to work at the hospital he avoided the cafeteria at all costs. My son had helped his Aunt Rose and Uncle Emmett make us lunch. We ended up with peanut butter with strawberry jam, strawberry milk, and a pudding cup in our lunch bags. He was so proud of his work, "Look mama, they put da fruit in da milk."

"Yes, they sure did, baby."

"I notta baby! Babies don't make lunch for mamas."

"No they don't. I guess you're becoming my big boy, aren't you?"

"Yip!" I watched my son finish his lunch and then take off to get his toys out of his bag and set up his little play area.

My parents and sister had been calling me daily for updates on Edward's condition. I knew they were also calling Esme and Carlisle to make sure that I really was taking care of myself. They all felt bad that they couldn't be here with me, but it just wasn't feasible. They lived so far away and they all had jobs and their own responsibilities to take care of. I knew that they would have been right by my side if they could.

I finished eating and was about to throw away our food wrappers when a nurse came running into the waiting room announcing Edward was waking up.

EPOV:

What the hell happened to me? I feel like a freight train has been parked on my body. Ohhh, God, my head hurts so badly. I just need to get some aspirin and some water, I'm sure that's what Eric told me to do last night when he handed me that first beer. Crap. This doesn't even feel like my bed. Oh God! I hope that I didn't do something completely stupid like go home with Jessica after the party. She was all over me last night, but I wasn't that drunk. Was I? No. I had to be home in my bed.

I tried to open my eyes, but I just couldn't do it. "He's waking up!" Mom? Why was Mom in my room? I noticed for the first time that there is something in my mouth and my arm felt so damn heavy. I just needed to get my damn eyes to cooperate with me and open so I could figure out what was going on. Finally! I think as they flutter open. It is so bright in here that it was hard for me to focus on anything. Everything was blurry but I was positive that my mom and dad were at my side. They look different; older somehow. As my vision clears, I notice that I am in a hospital. Oh crap! What did I do?

The tube in my mouth makes me panic and prevents me from talking and asking any questions. Before I know it there is a doctor standing before me instructing me to take a deep breath while he pulls the tube out of my mouth. I start choking and mom hands me a glass of water telling me to take a sip.

The doctor ushers my parents out of the room and does a quick examination on me. He then starts listing off all of my injuries and telling me how lucky I am to have lived through the accident.

"Did I hit anyone?" I had to ask. I had to know. I needed to know how much trouble I'm in. Mom and Dad were definitely going to take my car away from me for this. If there is a car left to take away. Man, I just got my license too. This is going to suck if I have to go back to Mom driving me to school and on dates. Who am I kidding… if I can't drive I will never get another date.

"No. You hit a guardrail, flipped over, and rolled down the embankment. That being said, you never should have been behind the wheel of your car in your condition. Next time call someone to get you, because next time you may not be so lucky."

Then he went on to tell me about the plan for rehabilitation and physical therapy and that the physical therapist would come in soon to meet me and get started. My parents came back in after that along with some blonde woman I had never seen before. I wanted to ask who she was, but I was getting tired again and let my eyes drift shut again.

It didn't feel like a long time had passed before I heard voices again. I opened my eyes to see that blonde woman was still in the room with my parents. I knew she wasn't family. She was quite pretty but not really my type. It suddenly dawned on me who she must be, and damn, if she was the physical therapist maybe this wasn't going to be so bad. She noticed that I was awake and started walking towards me with a big smile on her face.

"Are you the physical therapist?" I asked just to be sure. She stopped fast in her tracks and looked behind her. Who did she think that I was talking to? "What's your name?" I asked trying to get her attention. She looked over at my parents with a look of shock and fear that matched theirs when she realized that I was talking to her.

"Edward, quit playing around. That's not funny." Mom admonished.

"Who's playing around? I was trying to be polite and introduce myself to her." I grumbled.

"You don't recognize her?" Dad asked stunned.

"No. Should I? I take it you're not the therapist then, so, what, are you a cousin I've never met or something?" With that, she burst into tears and ran out of the room with my mom chasing after her. Ok. Maybe therapy with that woman wouldn't be that much fun after all.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset her." I apologized and dad said to just lie back and relax. Then I heard him call for the neurologist. Ten minutes later another woman walked in the door wearing a white lab coat and I knew that she wasn't the therapist, this must another doctor.

"Hello Edward, I am Dr. Snow. I need to ask you a few questions. Can you tell me what is the last thing you remember?"

"I went to a party at my friend Eric's house last night. I know that I'm not supposed to, but I had a few beers."

She nodded and made a note on her clipboard. "Can you tell me the date, including the year, and how old you are?"

That is a weird thing to ask. "Sure, it's October 15th, 1997. I'm 16. Am I going to jail for driving drunk? I know you guys are never going to let me drive again are you?"

"We can worry about that later", Dad said looking at the doctor. Then the two turned and left the room. Mom, sat down in the chair by my side. "I'm so sorry mom. I knew better than to drive like that. I won't do it again. I promise."

"It's ok, Edward. We all make mistakes. We'll talk about it later, ok?" I nodded. I looked out into the hall and watched Dad and the doctor talking to that blonde. I decided to close my eyes again, all the while wondering what the big deal about that woman was. I was desperately trying to figure out who she was. Dad had his hand on her shoulder and was obviously consoling her, so she had to be someone important to the family.

I was still pondering the blonde woman when I heard the door open again. I opened my eyes and saw the hottest woman I had ever laid eyes on. She had this long brown hair that fell over her shoulders and down her chest in a way that really drew your eyes right to her boobs. And they were great looking boobs too.

"Hello, I'm Bella Swan, your rehabilitation therapist. You must be Edward." I just nodded stupidly, totally unable to speak. I was sure I could play that off since my throat was still fricken sore from that tube thing they had jammed down my throat.

"My job is not just to get you up and walking again but to help you with all stages of your recovery, including occupational therapy with the memory issues that you seem to be having. We want to make sure your recovery is thorough." I nodded again. I had no idea what she meant about memory issues, unless it had to due with that blonde who was still hovering around the door. She told mom that Dad wanted to talk to her in the hall and she wanted to start with me right away, so mom kissed me on the forehead before walking out the door. Bella informed me that since I'd been in a coma for three weeks all my muscles were going to be weak. And they were, but damn it if I wasn't going to try my hardest to get out of this bed and soon.

TPOV:

I felt like I was going to throw up as I turned toward the door praying that someone had silently entered the room. I knew he was looking right at me but there was no way that he could be talking to me, asking me who I was. My heart sank when I turned around realizing it was me that Edward was talking to. He didn't know who I was. He seemed to remember his parents though, and as the tears hit, I fled the room. As I hit the waiting room, Emmett caught me and held me.

"Tanya, what the hell's wrong! I thought he woke up!"

"He…(sob)…doesn't…(sob)…know…(sob)…me…" I got out. The room suddenly silenced except for my sobs. I never thought, even with a head injury, that he'd forget. That he wouldn't remember me. Oh my God! If he doesn't remember me, then would he remember Ethan? "This can't be happening."

After a few minutes, I was finally able to calm down and stop crying. I looked up to find Ethan gone. I started to jump up but Emmett held onto me, "Rose took him to the bathroom and down to the gift shop." I nodded and took some more deep breathes in the hopes of calming down enough to deal with this newest little set-back. I stepped back from Emmett, assuring him that I would be fine, and turned back towards Edwards's room. I found Carlisle, the neurologist, and a brunette woman standing outside the room having a quiet discussion.

"Tanya this is Bella Swan, she's the best physical therapist we have. I feel that Edward is suffering from amnesia. Right now, he thinks it is 1997 and that he's only 16." And I cried harder. Carlisle put his hand on my shoulder and held me close, offering the only comfort he could to me. I was his daughter and his heart broke for what I was enduring now.

"Does that mean he won't remember Ethan either?" I asked.

"No. He thinks that he was driving drunk after leaving a party that he attended with a friend. But I want to try something to try to jog his memory." Bella spoke up. "I am going to head in there to introduce myself and start my work. We want his sisters to come in one at a time. To let him see that they are not teenagers anymore so we can acclimate him before we put a mirror in front of him and tell him that he's lost thirteen years of his life. Now about your son—"

"He can't go in there. I won't let him get hurt when his daddy doesn't know him," I protested.

"Of course not. I wasn't even going to suggest that. I was going to ask if you could bring some photo albums up here for Edward. Bring everything; wedding, the baby, anything you have from the two of you dating. And videos, too, if you have them. "

"This is only temporary right? He will remember us?"

"Tanya, we are going to try hard to get him to remember," Dr. Snow spoke up. "But you need to prepare yourself for the possibility that this may be permanent."

I just nodded and told everyone that I was going home for the photo albums. Carlisle offered to drive me, but what I needed right now was some time to myself to think. What if he never remembered Ethan and me? What was I supposed to do?

EPOV:

I became really confused when Bella had another strange blonde woman came into my room. This one did look a little familiar though. She almost resembled my sister Rose. But that was impossible because Rose was only like nine-years-old. This was a grown woman, who was also wearing a wedding band.

"Who are you?"

"Who do you think she is, Edward?" Bella asked me.

"I don't know. I wouldn't be asking if I knew. Just like with that other blonde woman who was here earlier. Why bring these people in here if you won't tell me who they are?" Were they trying to make me think that I was going crazy?

"I think that's enough right now." Bella told the new blonde. She nodded and left the room and then Bella stood up, walked over to the foot of my bed, and grabbed my foot. "We are going to start simply and small. You can't really walk yet with those casts on so we will have to work up to that." Bella talked and joked with me and asked me questions about myself. She was going to be a lot of fun to be around.

A little while later, another woman popped her head in. Now she really looked like my sister Alice. It was at that point that I started to panic. An older version of Alice, a woman who very well could be an older version of Rose, and Mom and Dad had looked so much older. Oh God! I'd heard stories about people being in comas for years. I started to attempt to get out of bed but Bella kept trying to hold me down while screaming for someone to help her. This big burly guy ran in along with a nurse. Bella and this guy held me down against my struggles and pleading with them that I just needed some answers while the nurse injected something into my IV. The last thing I remembered hearing as I closed my eyes was the guy asking, "Little Bella Swan? Is that really you?"

A/N:

Did anyone see that coming? I am not a physical therapist and I am making it up as I go so I do apologize if I do anything that no therapist would suggest. Let's just call it poetic license.

I am posting now because we are expecting a foot of snow overnight and I can't guarantee that I will have power or internet tomorrow. Thanks to Sweetpea123 for betaing this for me. She is getting chapter 4 tonight so I should be able to update again next weekend. Possibly on Friday because Saturday will be busy.

Reviews will get a teaser of Chapter 4. Which I will tell you has an Emmett POV!