My Hero

Chapter Twenty

Carlisle's POV

I didn't move from Bella's side once during the night in which she was unconscious. I was partly afraid that, if I left her, something bad would happen, like it usually seemed to do. I also feared of what was happening to her child; she was a mere six months old and I had begun to contemplate the fact that it had a very low chance of survival.

I held her hand tight and watched her sleeping peacefully. Her head was bandaged up, as well as her leg, which I had been working on a few hours ago. I had no idea of the time that was passing; I just longed for Bella to wake so that I could be in her wonderful presence again. I wanted to know that she wasn't suffering.

I stared ahead into space, thinking to myself, when suddenly Alice and Edward pointed towards the ward and stood in the doorway. Alice looked at me worriedly before glancing at Bella and frowning sadly.

"Oh my gosh... Carlisle, what happened?" she asked, walking in to the room, reluctantly followed by Edward.

I looked up towards her exhaustedly. "She fell, like you said. But... but now there's a risk that her child isn't going to survive."

They both looked towards me grimly and Edward sat beside me. "How is Bella? She doesn't look too good."

I looked solemnly towards her. "I think she'll be fine," I sighed. "She luckily only suffered a broken leg and a head wound."

Alice sighed, also taking a seat. "I suppose it could have been a whole lot worse."

I nodded fractionally, staring ahead; I didn't really have the energy to do anything else. There was a long silence, in which I could only hear Bella's deep breathing and her slow heartbeat. It was oddly soothing. Edward suddenly spoke, startling me slightly.

"Have you contacted her partner?" he asked. "Wouldn't he want to know?"

I sighed. "I very much doubt it. He hardly ever takes any interest in her." I shook my head. "He puzzles me... he's so lucky, yet he never does anything for her. She deserves more than him."

I saw Alice narrowing her eyes and she suddenly spoke. "He's going to make his way over here later tonight... he just decided."

I frowned. "You mean he knows about this? I thought he was away from the house when it happened?"

My confusion was interrupted by a doctor walking into the room. She looked towards Alice and Edward in disapproval, then at myself.

"Dr Cullen, I'm sure you're aware of how many visitors are permitted at one time," she grumbled and I sighed in exasperation. Alice and Edward both stood up, heading towards the door.

"We'd better go anyway," Edward told me. "Everyone will be wanting to know what's going on. Emmett's being annoyingly curious. See you later and please call us if there are any updates, if you can."

I nodded after them and watched as they disappeared around the corridor, deep in conversation.

"Anyway, Dr Cullen," the doctor continued, and she sat down beside me. I hated the look on her face and immediately feared the worse. "I understand that you are very close to Miss Swan..."

"Yes," I replied shakily. "She's... she's a great friend of mine."

She nodded somewhat sadly and I hung my head, closing my eyes.

"The child..." I breathed. "She didn't make it, did she?"

I heard the doctor exhale heavily before replying. "No. I'm very sorry." She paused for a long time before adding, "It didn't really stand a chance under the circumstances, but I'm so very sorry."

I slowly opened my tired eyes and looked towards her.

"Thank you for informing me," I murmured, staring towards Bella who looked so peaceful. What would happen to her if she knew the horrible truth? It would break her fragile heart...

The doctor left the room without replying and I placed my head in my hands, running my fingers into my hair. It was truly heartbreaking thinking back to earlier today; it seemed like a lifetime ago, but we had had such a fantastic time together. I had given her the baby names book... It had practically no use now and it was just so cruel that it was hard to comprehend.

Why had something like this happened to Bella, of all people? She was a decent, no, brilliant hard working person, who only had other people's best interests at heart. She was a beautiful, wonderful being, and now her world was going to be shattered.

My body lurched with dread as I noticed Bella stirring, and I feared the worst. I was going to have to tell her.

I took a deep breath and saw her eyes fix drowsily on mine.

Bella's POV

I could feel myself being dragged into consciousness; I was dazed and disorientated, everything seemed a little blurry around the edges, and I had no idea whatsoever where I was... although the familiar smell around me was mildly comforting.

There was a strangely numb feeling in my body, and my leg and head felt tight, as though something was wrapped around them.

I slowly opened my eyes again and everything around me was fuzzy. After a few blinks, though, my surroundings came clear and I could see Carlisle sitting beside me with an oddly grim look on his face. I slowly raised myself with my arms and saw him dart towards me, placing his hands on my shoulders.

"Don't try to get up, Bella," he warned. "You need to rest yourself."

I slumped back against my pillow, confused now as to exactly why I was in the hospital. I frowned in concentration as Carlisle stood by my side, looking at me intently and patiently. I hated the look that was in his eyes, despised it. It was if he was waiting for me to realise something, something that I wouldn't really want to know.

Then it all hit me in a horrible, manic rush. Fighting with Mark. Falling down the stairs. Everything going black.

The baby.

Oh God, my baby.

My hands flew to my stomach and I realised that it was noticeably flatter than before. Panic seeped through my veins and I glanced at Carlisle, feeling all the life drain out of me as the look in his eyes registered in my mind. He seemed sorrowful, full of sympathy and-

No... No.

"C-Carlisle," I whispered, barely able to control my voice which was shaky violently. "Please... please tell me my b-baby's okay... tell me she's okay. Please."

He looked at me wordlessly, staying completely still and I tried to contain my sickness.

"Carlisle?" I repeated, and he suddenly grabbed my hand, looking at me sadly. He slowly shook his head and it felt like everything had crashed around me. There was a pain in my chest, a horrible heavy pain that I feared would never go away.

"No..." I breathed through my uncontrollable sobs. "Please... no..."

"I'm sorry, Bella," he said in a quiet voice. "She... she didn't make it."

I couldn't breathe... I sat there, feeling my chest tighten with pain. My poor baby... my poor, poor baby. She was just six months old; how was that fair? How did things like this happen? I'd never done anything wrong to deserve something like this...

I continued staring ahead, unable to move. I could feel my eyes beginning to prickle and sting, and it wasn't long before I was briefly aware of the tears trailing down my cheeks. The room suddenly filled with a horrific sound, and I realised with a pang of dismay that it was coming from me; my painful, unstoppable sobs. I closed my eyes and hung my head, only to find it soon resting on Carlisle's shoulder as he gently wrapped his arms around, trying his hardest to comfort me. My body shook against him and I felt his cold hands rubbing my back in soothing circles. He muttered apologies in my ear, but I just tried to focus on not crumbling into pieces in front of him.

The time passed by in immeasurable chunks and I relaxed into Carlisle's arms eventually, too tired to cry anymore. I felt completely drained, like I was completely empty and hollow on the inside. It was true; I actually was emptier than I had been just a day ago, and the thought made me sob all over again.

My emotions were scattered and I couldn't focus on one thought for longer than a few seconds. My mind was racing, thinking of all the people who would be effected. Mum and Dad... they were both so excited about becoming grandparents. Mark... he was oddly happy about becoming a father, even though what he had done caused me to hate him.

Carlisle continued to keep his tight grip on me and it was only when the hospital door slammed open that we jumped apart. My heart hammered as I realised that it was Mark; I felt a sudden fear mixed with anger. He was the cause of my baby's death and I resented him for that.

I hoped he went to Hell, if there was one.

Carlisle immediately stood up to protect me, and it was only when Mark took a look at me that he seemed to realise what had happened.

"Don't tell me you've lost the baby?" he said, piercing me with his horrific eyes. I cowered against the bed unable to speak. It was Carlisle who did.

"Yes, I'm sorry," he told Mark and, after giving me a resentful stare, he lunged towards me, only to be blocked by Carlisle who was forcing him out of the room. I gasped as he pushed past Carlisle and stood by my bedside.

"You stupid bitch," he sneered. "You can never do anything right! You lost our baby!"

He stormed out of the room, kicking chairs out of his way in the waiting room. I shivered and felt a fresh wave of tears pooling in my tired eyes. He actually wanted to have a child, and now that it wasn't happening... Despite it being his fault, it wouldn't withhold his terrifying anger.

I sobbed again and Carlisle quickly joined my side, taking my hand.

"Bella, Bella, it's not your fault," he soothed, but he didn't really understand.

"He... he... he's gonna k-kill me," I stammered, crying uncontrollably.

"Bella, he's just shocked, he needed to find someone to blame."

I just shook my head, truly terrified. The look Mark had given me... I'd seen it before, everytime he was incredibly mad at me. This was probably the worst thing I had ever done, though, and it made me sick.

"Bella, he'll forgive you," Carlisle insisted, and I looked at him. Was it time he knew the real truth? Perhaps it would save my life...

But if Mark knew that Carlisle knew... he'd kill both of us.

I shuddered and took a deep breath. It was Mark's fault that the baby had died, and he'd caused me so much suffering over the years. It was about time somebody knew; I had every confidence that Carlisle could protect me, but would he really need such a burden?

Yet, it would feel like such a weight off my shoulders by telling him. I knew it was selfish, but wouldn't it help me? I'd been through a trauma and- and-

I had to.

"No, Carlisle," I started, taking a deep breath. "You... you don't understand..." I continued, a decision firm in my mind. I wiped away some of my tears and looked him right in the eyes. "He seriously will kill me."

Carlisle looked confused now and incredibly wary; he waited for my explanation.

"C-Carlisle," I exhaled shakily. "I... I need to tell you something."

He waited in silence and I stared at my lap. This was going to be difficult, incredibly awfully difficult, but it was something I just had to do.

I had to.

But that didn't make forming the words any easier. It took several attempts of opening and closing my aching mouth to actually get the words out.

"It... it was M-Mark who pushed me down the stairs." I paused and breathed; that was the first bit over. After a quick glance at Carlisle, I took in his horrified look and struggled to continue. "He... he abuses me."