Hey sorry it took so long to update, I've been crazy busy with work things and I got a promotion! Woo!
Okay first things first I wanted to address the way people have been calling Edward abusive, he isn't abusive! He's not going to lock her up and throw away the key! The character is having some trouble dealing with his emotions and doesn't know how he should feel. I have said previously Bella will get a backbone you just need to hold out on it. This story isn't finishing soon, it's barely beginning. Be patient and trust me it'll be worth it!
Back to the story, Edward has been sent to Carlisle's office and Bella and Carlisle are having some screen time. Enjoy
BPOV
Even with Carlisle reassuring me, I still felt nervous about what to think. I was starting to feel like I wasn't in control of my own emotions, something that I did not like.
I sat nervously in the wheelchair as I was being pushed around the hospital quickly. Carlisle obviously knew where he was going and when we got there I was shocked.
Everything was very nice! This was obviously a private room.
"Dr Cullen, you don't need to bring me here, I can go to a normal room" I began insisting. I had insurance but I'm not sure it would have covered the cost of a room like this.
"Nonsense dear, this ones on me" he insisted without even looking up. He was grabbing things from cupboards and laying everything out on a tray. I took the time to look around the room.
The walls were painted a soft blue colour and the lighting was warm apart from one wall lamp which exuded the clinical hue you would normally expect from a hospital. I wanted to feel guilty that I was taking up the time but the sheer overwhelmed feelings that were becoming me were too intense to comprehend anything else. A huge plasma television hovered on the wall adjacent to the bed and a free standing shelf was below it. I traced my eyes over the titles of films and was surprisingly impressed with the selections. It's no wonder people pay big money for these rooms, they really get their money's worth.
Carlisle soon walked over to where I sat in the chair and placed the tray on a table beside the bed.
"Put your arms on mine and hold tightly to my biceps, I'm going to try and keep you as upright as possible to prevent further pressure on your knees" I did as he said and although it still made me wince, it felt much better than when I'd tried to spring up from my desk earlier.
He walked me back until I was ready to sit on the bed, he gently helped me swing my legs over and then I was sitting perfectly. Comfortable and happy with the treatment I was being given.
"So, tell me the story" he smiled warmly at me and looked over my apparel. I blushed looking down at the shirt and began to relay the story of what happened. Including my apologies about Edward's briefcase and ensuring that I would pay to have it fixed.
"Blimey, you really have been through the works today haven't you, let's have a look at you then"
He reached to the tray and grabbed the scissors
"May I?" he asked, I nodded and watched as he carefully sliced through my stockings, the cool blade against my skin felt refreshing from the intensity I had been faced with all day.
"I must apologise again for my son, dear Bella" I smiled at his sincerity.
"It's okay Dr Cullen, he's my boss and like he said, I'm staff" I tried to put an end to it there otherwise I would continue to make a fool out of myself, asking a father why his son thinks it's acceptable to shout at a woman.
"You may listen to him all you want Bella, but you are more to him than staff. That's my son and I know it when I see it. I did ask him to bring you here but I saw you smiling together when you pulled up. And you are wearing the shirt. And please, call me Carlisle" he smiled
I listened carefully to everything he was saying. My heart soared at the prospect of being more than just staff with this man's son, but I knew in my heart of hearts that that would never happen.
"The shirt, what do you mean by that? It's just a gym shirt" I inquired perplexed
"You will need to ask my son I'm afraid if you want to history on the subject, but let me tell you this. Edward barely parts with his belongings. If his sister was caught in torrential rain and needed another shirt to prevent hypothermia? He would drive to the closest store to get one rather than take it off his own back, or in this case, reach for a gym bag" he confided tapping his nose to hint that it was a secret.
I sat in shock.
Why had Edward given me the shirt if it meant so much to him? I was desperate to find out the reason behind his actions and I wanted to sprint to Carlisle's office and shake the answer from him myself.
I was pulled away from my thoughts when I felt Carlisle finish the final snip and pull the ruined stockings over my knees.
I gasped at what I saw. My knees were swollen and a very strange colour.
"My, oh my, how are you not in excruciating pain right now? Poor girl, I'll get to work right away" Carlisle began probing at my knees. "Why didn't you think to come here sooner?" he begged an answer.
"I don't really like hospitals" I put it plainly
"May I ask why" he implored as he continued to grab things around the room to fix up my swellings. The moment I felt an ice pack rest on my knees I felt myself loosening up. Before I could stop myself I began explaining my life to the poor man.
"I was in a car accident when I was younger and it was a traumatic time for me. I had years of physiotherapy to learn how to walk properly again"
"Which would explain the intense scarring here" he pointed out just as plainly
I smiled at him and nodded.
"May I ask what happened?"
"We were coming home early from a vacation because my parents were fighting, my mother wasn't concentrating on the road and the car swerved and well I don't remember much after that. Apart from looking down in a hospital room and seeing the horrific state of my knees. They were completely torn apart but that could be my naïve eyes re-telling the story. Everything healed with time but I received quite substantial nerve damage which the doctors told me would never improve and then of course the news that my parents were divorcing" word vomit kept tumbling onto the bed.
I felt so comfortable around Edward's father and it shocked me, compared to Edward, his father was the nicest person on earth. Edward really didn't seem related to him at all.
"This would explain why you're not crying right now!" He looked at me wide eyed and I giggled, thankful that he hadn't pitied me for the loss of my parent's relationship.
"I think so!"
"I know I'm stating the obvious" he smiled and chuckled along with me.
"I feel the pain and it hurts to walk but it feels numb too"
"Thank you for telling me, you do realise this brings up a complication for us!" he looked serious for a few beats until he smiled again, "no more Edward bossing you around at work, however will he cope! You'll be off for a while with this injury!" he chuckled
"Thank the lord" I hazarded a light hearted remark back, hoping Edward wasn't outside the door ready to fire my ass.
"That's my girl" he complimented back.
Did I mention how much I love Edward's father?
EPOV
I paced my father's office, fuming.
Everything was going fine. She was wearing the shirt; check. She was happy; check. She said thank you; check. We were hitting it off FINALLY; check. Then my father went and rubbed her shoulder. The overwhelming jealousy that flourished through my body soared into my heart and anger projected itself almost instantaneously.
I had gone from perhaps one of the biggest accomplishments of my life; being happy that a girl was wearing my shirt, to calling her 'staff' in the next sentence.
I didn't mean it of course I didn't. I mean she is staff! But she is also deliciously stubborn and beautiful and so heart breaking-ly thoughtful.
To think that my father is touching her legs right now when I should be the only person touching her! Well... I mean no, I don't have those rights or anything, and I don't even want her. I don't!
Oh GOD DAMNIT
Why did I give her that damn shirt, now it's just going to remind me of her!? Would that be such a bad thing? Who knows! Who knows why she took the shirt in the first place anyway!?
To cover her dignity obviously! She doesn't want you or your shirt; she just didn't want to be half naked! This was your fault to begin with; if you had just left her alone she would have been fine! I can't leave her alone god damnit. Why can't I leave her alone?!
I continued to pace and began worrying about what would happen after her treatment. Would I take her home? Would she want me to take her home? I could just ask my father to take her home and have it done with. I wanted her to be in my car with me again before the day was through. I needed to apologise for calling her staff, I shouldn't have done that. She is more than staff, I don't know how or why or what the hell I am thinking but she is so much more than staff! I felt comfortable laughing with her. I haven't laughed with anyone in a long time.
Being away from my family made me a shell of a man I know that and I'm just as ashamed as I should be. I don't contact my mother often because she is always desperate to set me up with someone that her friends' friends know!
Seeing my father made me both relaxed and agitated at the same time. Of course his job comes first, but I at least wanted some attention. Why can't anything just be simple?!
I sat down at his desk exacerbated by the whole ordeal, spinning slightly on his chair I eyed her tattered bag that I had thrown on the desk the moment I walked into his office. Pausing on the chair I dragged it myself forward using my feet and grabbed the bag without a second thought.
Files, files, files, more files, diary, planner, files, files, letters, letters, photograph, files
Wait…
She had more photographs?
I grabbed for the soft thick paper and pulled it out gently, this photo equally blew my mind.
It was her eyes that hit me first. A pair of shining blue eyes was boring into my soul and I felt as if I couldn't look away. This photo was of a little black haired girl with beautiful waves shaping her full and adorable face. She was wearing a beautiful yellow summer dress and tiny beautiful shiny 'Mary Jane's'. A floppy daisy was positioned in her hair. Her cheeks were rosy and her lips parted, small white teeth poking out from under her top lip.
This photograph was stunning; the girl was in the same sort of area as the other photo I had seen. I began connecting the dots. Bella must be a photographer of some sorts. She was a fantastic one at that. I rifled through the bag to see if I could find anything else, to my surprise there was one more. One of the black haired girl in the photo I already had, she was cradling the little black hair girl tightly. It was clear from their smiles and hair that they were mother and daughter. I was stunned into silence as I viewed this thing in my hands.
I had always dreamt of being a father when I was younger. I wanted to have the joy of looking after my children while my wife nursed our newest born. I wanted the picket fence and the cute dog that guarded our babies with its life.
I hadn't wanted those things in a long time however. As soon as Vicky got her paws on my mind she made the whole idea of a happily ever after laughable. She would constantly berate me for gushing over a new born baby being shown on the television and tell me to grow up. I listened to her of course I did I wanted someone. I thought I wanted her. I thought she was the one. I couldn't have been more wrong.
Maybe there was more to Bella than met the eyes. Maybe she wasn't just like everyone else. Holding these photos in my hand began to open my mind. I wanted to know what she was thinking when she took these photos. I wanted to share that with her.
A loud cough brought me out of my reverie.
"Snooping around in a lady's bag is very out of character for you Son" my father's voice amused yet serious beckoned me to snap my head up and look at him and trying not to be too embarrassed.
"I wasn't snooping" I shoved the pictures bag into the bag and pushed it away from me. My wall was slowly building itself back up again.
"I won't tell if you won't" he put his hands up in defence.
"Where is she?"
"Oh no you're concerned?" he asked narrowing his eyes, causing me to do the same thing.
He was my father why was he treated her better?!
"She's my employee" I reassured
"She's wearing your college shirt!" he threw the wild card straight in my face
"She needed something to cover herself up!" I didn't let my façade slip
"So give her the blanket in your trunk!"
"Don't be ridiculous, the shirt was right there!" I protested, I would never throw a blanket at Bella
"Nice try son, but I'm not buying it. You're not in the playground anymore kid, you can't pull a girls hair to get her to like you!"
"I'm not pulling anything!" I looked at him in shock. He thought this was a kid's game!?
"You're pulling the wool over your own eyes Edward, you know it."
I sighed, tired of him always telling me to let people in. I knew I would eventually have to otherwise I'd become a cat lady figure. But he knew how hard it was for me. It's like he doesn't even remember what happened sometimes.
"Where is Bella?" I asked trying to avoid the subject
"She's in her private room, I put a movie on for her and she's resting, until we've had our little chat"
"I don't want a little chat! Now does she want me to take her home or does she want the great seducer!"
My father was about to speak when he paused, only before erupting with laughter and shaking his head.
"That's it! That's why you were so strict with her! I was nice to her! Oh Edward Anthony green is not your colour!"
"Leave me alone dad!" I got up, grabbing the satchel on the way and moved to pass him in the doorway.
He was still laughing as I passed him
"Room 24b Edward! Call me about that drink!"
"Sure thing old man" I shouted back at him, still annoyed about his outburst.
I was NOT jealous!
Why would I be jealous?!
I managed to calm my breathing by the time I reached her room. Knocking softly I peered my head through to see her. She was sitting comfortably with her knees wrapped tightly in bandages. A fresh new pair of crutched rested against the wall beside her. She looked perfect.
Her smile dropped as she saw me however. A swiping pain shot through my chest as I interpreted her glare in the only way recognisable.
"Hi boss" she said bluntly
I entered the room sighing and sidled up next to her.
"I'm sorry for snapping"
The room was silent for a long while before I looked up to see her eyes looking back at me, stunned.
"What?" I asked
"You… you're apologising?!" she seemed dumbfounded
"Yes, I am capable you know"
"Now that's more like it" she retorted.
I sighed and lowered my head
"Its fine Sir, I'm staff, and I know that"
Her quiet voice broke my heart.
"You're not staff Bella"
"You're firing me?!" she exclaimed quicker than I speeding bullet
I looked up at her with utter bewilderment.
"No of course I'm not firing you!"
"Oh, sorry" she chuckled, relaxing back. "I'll wash this shirt tonight and return it to you tomorrow"
"Tomorrow you're not working Bella"
"Oh yeah, well Monday morning!"
"You're taking a week off Bella"
"I can't lose that money Sir!"
I thought about it carefully but it didn't take long to process. I trusted her not to make too many mistakes
"If you're not opposed to the idea, you can work from home I suppose. Bed rest and all that" I sounded so awkward I just wanted to jump out of the window.
"If it's okay with you, I'd rather do some form of work"
"Then it's settled"
Once again silence filled the room.
After a long time of listening to the film in the background she began rambling
"So falling on my dumb ass caused a Patella fracture on my right knee cap, my left ones just bruised. I should be back to work next week or so"
"A fracture like that makes you incapable to walk for 6-8 weeks Bella, you'll be working from home for half of that and I'll ensure a room is set for you to work in privately for the other duration, given the fact I haven't exactly made today the easiest day for you. And don't talk about yourself like that"
She looked stunned at me
"I'm sure I'll be fine Sir I can-"
"I'm sure you won't, so that's all there is to say"
I eyed up the professional casting on her knee and noticed my father's specialist bandage knot rounding off over her knees to allay for easier movement when it did come around to moving the leg. I smiled at the care my father gave to his patients.
"So am I all set to go home?" she interrupted when the air became thick again
"Yeah, let me help you?" I reached forward for her crutched but she made no attempt to move.
"Isn't your father taking me home?" those 6 words crushed my feelings all over again and I could feel the wall beginning to rise up despite my desires to keep it down as much as possible.
"If you would rather then I'll get him for you" I put the crutched back and moved to leave
"No, I didn't mean I wanted him to, I was just assuming you had better things to do"
I looked back at her. She was clutching the bottom of my old shirt in her elegant fingers and it made my emotions soar. I looked into her frightened timid eyes and knew this wasn't going to be an easy road.
But it was a road that I needed to traverse.
So what do you think?! Please review!