The Gift
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyers owns all Twilight and all of the Characters
Chapter 29: Haven't Left Her Side
EPOV:
"Son," I heard my dad say as I felt the ambulance come to a stop. "I need for you to let her hand go."
I didn't answer him, but instead looked up at him. I didn't want to let her go. I didn't want to cut my own life line.
"Edward," he said as the doors opened. "I need to get her into surgery to stop the bleeding."
"Please," I said as I let her hand go. "Please you have to save her."
"I will," he said as they pulled the stretcher from the ambulance and ran into the hospital.
I didn't move from the bench inside of the ambulance instead I sat there and cried. I prayed that they would be able to save her. I prayed that everything would be alright. I prayed that I would have my family back together. I don't know how much time passed until I heard someone smack the ambulance door.
"Edward," I heard Emmett say stepping up into the ambulance. "Come on you need to come inside with everyone else."
"You didn't see her," I said as he sat down beside me. I looked down at my shirt and saw her blood that had soaked its way into the cotton fibers. "She was so broken. I don't know if I will ever be able to erase the image of Tanya shooting her."
"You will," he said encouraging me. "Right now though there is a little girl in that waiting room. She wants to know where her mommy and daddy are."
"Okay," I said as I followed him out of the ambulance and into the hospital.
That was three weeks ago, and things are still unclear as ever. Dad was able to stop the bleeding, but because of her injuries they are keeping her sedated. I re-adjusted myself in the seat that was beside of her bed. I was not going to leave her side for any reason and I haven't since they put her in this room. Well except when everyone was fussing about my appearance, the fact that I wasn't eating, or when I needed those few special minutes with Carly. I looked over at her lying in the bed. She looked like an absolute angel with her hair swiped to one side of head. Alice insisted that she needed to look her best sedated or not.
"You look like hell," I heard Charlie say as he walked into her room carrying his coffee.
"Thanks," I answered him as he pulled up the other chair on the opposite side of the bed. "Are you ever going to tell me what Newton said?"
"No," he said taking a drink of his coffee. "I told you and the rest of the family when they brought her out of surgery. I can't say anything until she is awake and has given her statement."
"How was Carly," I asked knowing that I should probably go home. I haven't been there in a couple days, but I couldn't leave her. They stopped the sedation medication two days ago. I wasn't going anywhere until I saw her beautiful brown eyes open.
"She's okay," he said then laughing.
"What's so funny," I asked trying to forget when I had to tell her that Bella was going to have to stay here for a while.
"Daddy," she said running into my arms when I made my way into the waiting room. "Why are Alice and Rose crying?"
"Sweet girl," I said kissing her head. "They're just sad about what is happening right now."
"Daddy," she said placing her little hands on my face and looking straight into my eyes. "Why are you crying? Where's mommy?"
"Daddy's sad too," I answered her.
"Where's my mommy," she said a little louder.
"Mommy's hurt," I said without thinking. Just then the doors slammed up against the walls and Charlie walked in. "So Poppie's in there trying to make her feel better."
"Why," she said as the tears started to pool in her eyes. My mind drew a blank and Charlie could tell that as he headed over in my direction.
"Carly," Charlie said sitting down beside me and rubbing her back to help calm her. "You know how I go out and catch the bad guys."
"Yes," she said nodding her head.
"Well baby," he said taking a deep breath. "The bad guy got to mommy before daddy and I could get there."
"Edward," I heard dad say as he walked into the waiting room and saw everyone waiting.
"Carlisle," Charlie said standing up. "How is she?"
"They're still working on her," he said before looking down at Carly. "I can tell you this much. She is going to make it, but she is going to have a long road ahead of her. She will have to stay here for a while. In fact Dr. Crowley has agreed with me to leave her sedated for a while."
"Why," I spoke up quickly before anyone else.
"Her body has gone through a traumatic event," he started to say as he sat down beside me. "It needs time to heal properly and fight off any infection that might develop."
"I'm staying," Charlie and I said at the same time.
"I had already figured that out," dad said trying not to laugh."I have it set up that once she is out of recovery she will be placed in a private room."
"Thank you," Charlie said standing up and shaking dad's hand.
"Carly is more than welcome to stay with us," mom said coming over and picking her up from my lap. "Tell Sue that she and Leah are more than welcome as well."
"I will," Charlie responded getting up and kissing Carly on the head. "I think that Carly would love staying with you all."
"Sweet girl," I said as everyone else was getting there things together to leave. Mom had handed her back to me so that she could gather her things. "I need for you to go home with Grammy and everyone else."
"No," she said as the tears started to fall. "I want to stay here with you and mommy."
"You can't sweet girl," I said trying not to let my emotions run high."Mommy is sleeping and needs her rest."
"Please," she begged as the tears ran more down her cheeks.
"Carly," Rose said speaking up. "Why don't we go home and make cookies. That way when mommy comes home she will have plenty to eat."
"Okay," she said sniffling and reaching out for Emmett to get her.
"Love you," I said kissing her cheek before Emmett got her.
"Love you too, daddy," she said as he took her.
"Just thinking about all the cookies they have made," Charlie said bringing me back to reality.
"I know," I said agreeing with Charlie. "Have they finished filling the dining room up yet."
"Not yet," he said and we both started to laugh. "I don't know how many sugar coma's Emmett has been put in."
"You know Emmett," I managed to get out between laughs. "He won't let anything get between him and those cookies."
"Boy," he said getting serious all of a sudden. "How much sleep have you gotten lately?"
"Not much," I answered him honestly. It's the truth I'm only getting about three hours of sleep a night. It's not the best sleep in the world in these chairs to start with, but they make do. "I'm afraid that if I fall asleep then I will miss her waking up."
"Try to sleep," he said getting up and walking towards the window. "If anything happens I'll wake you up."
"Thanks," I said leaning my head over to the side of the chair. I closed my eyes and let the darkness consume me.
CHPOV
That boy was I all I could think about. He was head over heels in love my little girl. Like me he hasn't left her side. Of course I couldn't stay as much as I liked due to work, but I was here almost every day. Edward on the other hand never left unless Esme got onto to him or when he needed time with Carly. He looked like shit. His hair was a mess and he hadn't shaved in a few days. He hasn't slept in I don't know long, and has lost some weight. Carlisle and Esme were nice enough to let Sue and I stay with them in the guest room. The Cullen's house was closer to the hospital and the station. So it made things a little bit easier for me. I was looking out the window when I heard something coming from their direction.
"Bells," I said when I looked over to the bed and saw her eyes open.
"Dad," she was able to whisper out. I could feel the tears starting to form in my eyes seeing that she was awake. I know that I was supposed to wake Edward, but he needed to rest. I wanted to have this little time with just the two of us. I know that I was probably being selfish, but this was my little girl.
"Don't talk," I said walking over and sitting on the bed beside her. I took her hand into my hand and held on for dear life. "It's so good to see those brown eyes open again. You scared me half to death."
"How long," she managed to whisper out.
"Almost three weeks," I told her letting go of her hand. "They had to keep you sedated so that some of your wounds could heal properly."
"How bad," she said looking up at the ceiling. When her eyes went up to the ceiling I could see the wheels starting to turn in her head. Of course I knew what she was thinking. She was thinking about Carly.
"I know what you are thinking Isabella," I said bringing her back to reality. "Carly is perfectly fine. She has enjoyed spending time with her aunts, uncles, Esme, and Carlisle. Don't worry about her honey. Right now we are more worried about you and getting you better."
"How bad," she said once again trying to get me back to the original question she had asked.
"You were shot twice," I told her as she looked over towards the window. I couldn't lie to my little girl about her injuries. "When you were brought in you were dehydrated, had some cuts, and bleeding nonstop. They didn't waste any time and took you straight to surgery at Carlisle's orders."
"Dad," she whimpered out trying not to cry.
"Everything is going to be okay," I said kissing the top of her head. When I sat back down on the bed I looked over at Edward and then back to her. "That boy loves you, honey."
"No," she whispered trying to fight back the tears. I knew what she was thinking. She was going back to what happened on the beach. She was thinking about him going over to Tanya. She didn't know that he was trying to stop her. "Mr. Cullen is in love with his wife Tanya."
"Sweetheart," I said taking my hand and wiping the tears that fell down her face. "That boy hasn't left your side since I arrested Tanya at the beach. He was the one who figured out where they took you. He was trying to save you before she shot you, but was too late by the time he reached you."
"No," she said shaking my head. "It's not true dad."
"Bells," I said trying not to be loud and grabbing the call button for the nurse. I hated having to do this but she needed to calm down. "Calm down sweetheart."
"Ms. Swan," the nurse said walking in with a syringe. "Chief I'm sorry that I have to do this."
"It's alright," I told the nurse as I stood up and walked back towards the window. I knew that this was the best thing for her.
"Ms. Swan," the nurse said putting the syringe into a port in her IV. "This is going to make you sleepy okay."
"Please don't," she whispered to the nurse.
As her eyes started to close I saw Edward lean over towards her and whispered something into her ear.
EPOV
I hadn't been asleep for too long when I heard voices. Was I dreaming? Then I realized that I wasn't dreaming at all. I could hear her voice. I could hear my love's voice. It was only a whisper, but still yet it was her voice. I wanted to open my eyes and give her a kiss. I didn't do that. Instead I just sat with my eyes closed and listened. I listened to Charlie tell her about her injuries. Then I heard her say 'Mr. Cullen', and that broke my heart. It felt as if someone had a knife and jammed it into my heart. I toned things out until I heard a new voice come into the room. I recognized that voice. It was her nurse that I had gotten to know somewhat. I knew that her name was Sue Cope and she has been a nurse for over twenty years. She has four grown children and three grandchildren that she loves dearly. As she left the room I could feel her squeeze my shoulder to let me that it was clear. I opened my eyes and saw her eyes start to close.
"Bella love," I said pleading to her as I whispered in her ear. "Please love you can't leave Carly. You can't leave me. Please Bella I love you more than anything. Please don't leave me again."
When her eyes were closed I placed a kiss on her forehead. I sat back down and ran my fingers through my hair. What was I going to do? How was I going to convince her that she was the one I wanted? How was I going convince her that she and Carly were family and that I wanted them and only them?
"You have your work cut out," Charlie said coming back to his seat. "It isn't going to help with you looking like shit."
"I know," I answered him knowing that he was right.
"She'll understand," he went on to say taking another drink. "Give her some time to get all the details and she will forgive you."
"I hope you're right," I answered him trying to hide any sign of hope.
"Trust me," he said looking over at her. "She is just like me and all my stubborn ways."
"I won't disagree with you on that," I said trying not to laugh this time.
"Go home," he told me. "Go get some real sleep, clean up, and spend time with your baby. You'll want to look your best for her tomorrow when she is fully awake."
"Okay," I said getting up and walking towards the door.
"Edward," he said before I made it into the hallway. "Keep hoping for the best. If it's meant to be it will happen."
I didn't say anything else as I headed down the hallway and towards my car.