Author's Note: Hello? Is there anyone still there? I guess happy new year, late?
I'm so sorry for the lack of updates. Honestly, life was kind of crazy. I bore you all with the details, but all I have to say is family sucks the life out of you sometimes and i certainly wouldn't have chosen some of the people in mine.. I've been feeling really down lately and honestly depressed. I'm hoping that I get back into writing and that I will be able to relieve some stress and hopefully get back to being me.
With all of the being said, I didn't mean to leave you all hanging with the cliff hanger. Honestly, this chapter has been mostly written for some time.
Enough with this note! Thank you to who ever is left reading. Also, thank you to all of the new people who have added the story to their favorite lists. Thank you to everyone who is taking the time out of your busy schedules to read my little story. It truly does mean the world to me. I truly appreciate each of you. Thank you.
-Lisa
Chapter Thirty Two
"How long does it take? Why won't they update us on anything? What the fuck is happening?" Edward asked pacing the waiting room. There was still no word on Bella and her condition. Bella was still in the operating room.
Carlisle sat in a chair in the corner. His elbows rested on his knees and his hands held his head. He spoke softly. "We don't know where she was shot. We don't know how much blood she has lost. We don't know anything but we do know that those doctors are doing their best to do what is right for her. We've both been there for not so good situations Edward and we still do our best."
Edward stopped pacing and leaned against the wall. He sank to his feet. He too rested his face with his hands. He knew Carlisle was referring to their profession as doctors. "But Carlisle we've been so lucky that we have never had situation where it's our loved ones in there."
"Bella's accident before, when Emily was born and," Carlisle paused not wanting to argue, but wanting to prove a point. "Um, Elizabeth," Carlisle murmured. Feeling foolish, Edward stood up and sat next to Carlisle as he began to speak again. "I know it isn't the same, but yeah, I've kind of been down this road before."
It occurred to Edward that Carlisle was quiet because he was comparing this experience to that of Elizabeth's. Edward knew that Carlisle feared that Bella's outcome would be the same as his late wife's. Edward changed his attitude. He calmed down. "Carlisle, you have to be positive. We don't even know what is going on with her."
Carlisle leaned back in the chair. He covered his face with his hands and looked at Edward. "It kind of seems like a pattern. I know you are hurting too and I'm sorry I'm not doing more for you. I'm sorry I can't be there for you right now. I'm, I'm a mess. Bella is in there somewhere and who knows what the hell is wrong with her. I just found out Charlotte has been lying to me for months and was considering sex with a boy who was brain washing her. I don't know what happened in my life. When did it get so out of control? I'm sure Alice's mom is very nice and all but my baby, my daughter with Bella is being watched by a stranger. I'm not sure where the hell my son is and I-I don't know!" Carlisle shouted as he punched the wall.
Edward hugged his friend. Both men were hurting and there wasn't anything that was going to take the pain away. They needed to know what was going on with their loved one. While worrying, it happened. Carlisle was the first to have tears run from his eyes. Edward wasn't far behind him. He shook as he hugged his friend.
"She's your sister, I should be a little more-"
"It doesn't matter Carlisle. We both love her. It doesn't matter. We just need to get through this and then it'll be better. We just need to know answers," Edward told him as he pulled away from Carlisle. "I just hate this fucking waiting game so much."
"I understand. I feel like a failure as a father. I should be with Charlotte at the police station, not Alice, although I am thankful that she went with Charlotte. I'm her father I should be there with her.
"I think Charlotte more than understands. It gives Alice something to do to help. I'm sure it's fine," Edward reassured Carlisle. Edward felt his phone vibrate and was surprised. The text was from Jasper.
I just got a call from a woman named Alice. She said she was your fiancée. She said Bella was in the hospital with gunshot wounds? What is happening? Tanya and I are on our way to Forks now. We have packed the baby and are on our way. See you in a few hours.
"Apparently Jasper is coming here. Alice texted him. The fun just keeps coming," Edward dryly stated. "He'll be here in a few hours. Maybe we'll have some answers by then."
Carlisle sat back down and looked out the window as Edward wrote a response to Jasper. It was only a few moments later the doctor entered the room. Carlisle rose to his feet. "Aro, what the hell is happening in there? How is Bella?"
Aro and Carlisle had been friends for many years. He felt fortunate that it was Aro on call that night in the ER. He would trust Aro with his own life.
The doctor grabbed a seat and pulled it over to the couch. Edward and Carlisle obediently sat down. "Well, the good news is we gave her a lot of blood. She had lost so much of it."
"Where was she shot?" Edward inquired.
"She was on the bottom of her spine, by her waist. It braised a vertebra and as far as we can tell, no permeant damage has been done. I did administer a sedation medication in which I will be slowly taking her off of. She hasn't moved on her own, which makes me nervous."
Carlisle sighed. "So basically we have nothing?"
"That isn't true Carlisle. She is going to be all right," Aro fired back. He knew his friend was just tired and anxious. "Her blood supply has been replenished. Her vitals are great. She's not in a coma and she didn't code at all. It's just whether or not her body can move-"
"Or walk! Jesus," Carlisle cried as he imagined the worse about Bella-not being able to walk.
Edward cupped Carlisle's shoulder. "Hey, don't think that yet. We haves no idea what she is able to do until she wakes up. It could have been much worse Carlisle."
Ignoring Edward, Carlisle looked at Aro with anger. "How will she do the things she loves? How will she take care of Emily when I'm not home? How will she work? Will we have to move accommodate her now? Will I be able to make love to her again? She-she won't be able to walk down the aisle to me, will she?" Carlisle cried.
Both Edward and Aro shared a look of concern. Carlisle slummed down and slummed down and put his head in his hands. Aro pulled the chair closer to Carlisle.
"Carlisle, let's not go down that road yet. We don't know anything until she is fully awake. Take a couple deep breaths buddy. I'm not going to sit here and promise you that she will skip around and play softball tomorrow. She could very well be moving around as we speak. I don't know. I need to observe her. You need to calm down. I know what happened with Elizabeth, I remember. I remember you telling me about her car accident. I remember you telling me about Bella's accident too and how your little girl was born prematurely. Edward filled me in on what happened this afternoon and why Bella was hurt. I get it buddy, you are going through somethings, but, you have to calm down. I was going to suggest you see Bella however, you cannot see her in this state. It will just stress her out. If you want to go home, rest and-"
"I'm not going home Aro. I want to see Bella. I want to hold her hand when she wakes up. I want her to know that I am there for her," Carlisle tried to explain.
Aro reached out and placed his hand on Carlisle's shoulder. "Then you need to get your emotions in check. I will only allow you to see her if you are composed. Carlisle, I don't think you understand how much worse this could have been for her. A few centimeters either way and she wouldn't be with us. Worse case scenario is she can't walk. Middle of the line she'll need therapy. Best case scenario she'll just need to recover and need no physical therapy. She's not in danger of death. She is going to be around Carlisle, I promise. Just stay calm and positive and supportive."
Shaking his head, Carlisle looked at his old friend. "I'm sorry I lost it. I shouldn't have. I'm just scared."
"And that's normal. Just try to be positive," Aro paused as his pager went off. "I need to get going but promise me that you will be calm when you see your future missus."
"I promise Aro, thank you," Carlisle stated as he shook his hand. Within a few seconds Aro was gone.
Edward placed his hand on Carlisle's shoulders once again. "This is good news Carlisle. This is good. She should be in her own room soon and-"
Edward was interrupted by the door opening once again. Quietly Alice walked into the room with Charlotte behind her. Carlisle looked at both of them before he stared at his daughter. Tears flooded his eyes as he walked over to her. Charlotte tightly hugged her father.
"I'm so sorry daddy, I really am," she bawled as she squeezed her father. Carlisle wasn't ready to say a lot to her but he also held her a little closer. Charlotte spoke to her father. "How's Bella? Is she okay?"
"She will be. She might be paralyzed," Carlisle began. Charlotte looked horrified.
"Or not," Edward interjected as he held Alice who was also crying. "The doctor said Bella lost a lot of blood. She was sedated but should be coming out of it soon. He couldn't tell if she was paralyzed and won't know until she wakes up. Honestly he sounded doubtful. If the bullet went a little either way then it could have been a lot worse. We were going to head up to her room as soon as she is settled. I'm not sure how many of us they will let in."
"Well you both should go in with her," Alice said looking at Carlisle and then Edward. "We'll wait."
"Let's wait and see what happens," Carlisle began. "Edward and I are known here, maybe we can pull some strings."
"Isabella Swan's family?" A nurse asked opening the door.
"Here," Carlisle answer.
"Ms. Swan is settled in her room if you'd like to join her now."
This is the worse hang over ever. How am I going to take care Emily and make dinner tonight? Ugh, maybe Carlisle will just take the kids so I can sleep, Bella thought as she laid in bed. She tried to cover her eyes. Finally she opened her eyes and focused. She was surprised to see she wasn't in the safety of her own bed. After the fog and confusion settled, Bella remembered what had happened. She wasn't in her bed, she was at the hospital. She felt someone holding her hand. Bella looked to her right and saw Charlotte sitting and holding Bella's hand. Bella squeezed it back. She tried talking but her voice came out more as a whisper. "Charlotte?"
"Bella?" Charlotte asked as she began to cry. "Bella are you okay?"
Nodding her head, Bella replied. "I-I think so. Are you okay honey? What happened?"
"Yes, I'm okay." Charlotte said as a new round of tears fell. "I'm fine. You were shot, but you are going to be okay, I know you will." She paused as she cried harder. "You could have died saving me when I have been nothing but mean and rude and disrespectful to you. I did all of those mean things and you could be dead right now and it would have been my fault because I was listening to someone I shouldn't have listened to."
"Shhhh, Charlotte don't cry honey. Things are going to be okay, I think. Honey, it's okay. I love you and hate seeing you like this," Bella told Charlotte, which made her cry harder.
Charlotte shook her head. "You love me? After everything I put you through? You-you love me?"
Taking a breath, Bella realized the pain medication she didn't realize she was on was wearing off. "Of course I love you. I've loved you since I first met you you silly girl. I want to be your friend Charlotte. I never tried replacing your mom and-"
"Maybe I need a mom," Charlotte blurted out as she calmed down. She took her free hand and wiped her tears.
How much medication do they have me on? Did I hear her right? Bella thought to herself. "Charlotte, I'm so tired and I just woke up. I don't know what is going on with me. I don't know what you just said.
Sniffling, Charlotte began to explain herself. "I've been so admit about you not replacing my mom and trying to take over. The more you showed me and told me you love me, the more I pushed you away and look at what happened. You could be gone and then what? I don't think dad would survive another person he loves dying. You would have been gone and it would have been my fault. You helped me by telling me nicely your opinions on how I should dress and you always made time for me, even if I was rude and mean to you. I know you love me and you were just trying to be my friend, someone who loves me. I don't think I need a friend, I think I need a mom. My mom is obviously gone and not here but you love us. You have always loved Peter and me. You always have tried to do nothing but show us that you care and love us. Peter was right. Peter was actually right. I was just too blind to see it."
"Charlotte, are you asking me if you can call me-"
"My mom? Yes I am," She said as she cried again. "I think I need one."
Bella tried quickly to sit up but was in too much pain. "Come here," she whispered as Charlotte came close to share a hug. "I would love for nothing more for you to call me mom. I feel truly blessed. Thank you Charlotte."
"No, thank you mom," Charlotte said.
"Bella?" Carlisle asked surprised.
Nodding her head, she offered Carlisle a weak smile as Charlotte cried in her arms.
"What-what is going on?" Carlisle asked leaning down to kiss Bella. "I was afraid I would never do that again."
"He's a bit of a pessimist," another voice told her.
Bella looked away from the child in her arms and her fiancée holding her hand to looked at the door. She gasped. "Jasper?"
Nodding, he walked closer to Bella and cried. Bella echoed his emotions. "It must have been bad if you guys called Jasper. Was I dying?"
"No, you never do anything dramatic," Edward added. "No, you were never in danger of that. How are you?"
"I'm actually a little overwhelmed now, but in a good way," Bella honestly told her family.
"Can you move your legs?" Carlisle inquired.
Bella wiggled her toes, moved her feet and bent her knees. "Yes I can. Why?"
A new round of tears found their way to Carlisle's eyes. "We were worried that you would be paralyzed but if you can move that's good baby, that's really good."
"I'm going to be okay though right?"
"Yes you are. Yes you are. Everything is going to be fine now," Carlisle promised.
"Bella?" Esme's voice rang into the room as the door opened. Ed was step being Esme. Esme ran towards Bella. She hugged Bella. Ed grabbed her hand and kissed her cheek as Esme asked her, "Honey, are you okay?"
After catching Esme and Ed up on the happenings and developments, the family began to converse. Charlotte let go of Bella and sat up. Carlisle helped Bella sit up and sat next to her. He draped his arm around her protectively. Alice soon entered with Peter and Tanya and little Renee joined them too. Bella wanted to see Emily however she was still at Alice's mom's house. Carlisle promised he would get Emily the next day and bring her to see Bella. His concern was to have Bella rest.
All too soon Bella's room emptied with promises of seeing her again the following day. Charlotte was hesitant about leaving Bella. Bella promised to see her in just a few hours. As everyone left, Carlisle stayed behind.
"You should go and get some sleep. You promised to bring Em tomorrow. I want to see our baby," Bella smiled.
Carlisle took his spot next to her once again and leaned in and kissed her. "You really think I'm going to leave you? I thought I lost you Bella. You should have seen the blood on Charlotte's shirt. It was yours. There was so much of it. I was going crazy not knowing what was going on with you. Literally, you can ask Edward tomorrow. I love you Isabella. With that being said, I'm getting a cot and sleeping with you tonight. If I don't bring Em I'm sure Alice or Edward will bring her. You my love will not be getting rid of me. The nurse is going to let me borrow some scrubs and I'm going to lay with you. I may not be able to hold you but I can touch you and hold your hands. For now, I don't care about anything but you. I'm taking time off of work and going to get you settled when you go home. Do you feel comfortable going back home? To where this nightmare began?"
Bella reached for Carlisle's hands and kissed them. "I love that you are so concerned and wordy when you are emotional. The house, well, do you want to know what I think?"
"Of course."
"I think it is our home. We fell in love in that house. We are raising our family there. The kids have all of their memories of Elizabeth there. I don't want some punk ass kids to rob us of those, the important things in our lives. If we move they win Carlisle. We can redecorate and change things around but I don't want to leave that place," Bella explained.
Carlisle leaned and kissed Bella. "I love you so much. We'll make some changes." Carlisle watched as Bella yawned. "You sleep now and we'll talk more tomorrow." Once more Carlisle sat next to Bella and met her lips with his. Tears flooded his eyes as she feel asleep. "I'm so happy you are safe and healthy. I love you."