Disclaimer: Still not mine, guys.

A/N: Another big thanks to all the reviewers out there. As always, it's always great to hear from you.

Again, this is pure angst. There's no fluff to be had here either, sorry. :o( Also, don't let the chapter title fool you too much... This is all Emmett's POV.

Enjoy!!

Chapter 15: Bringing Edward Back

EmPOV

Dammit, Edward. What the hell is going on? I drove up here pissed at Edward for not answering my calls to his room -or any of the thousand and one messages I left on his cell. Hell, I even sent him emails even though I knew he didn't have internet access out here. I just thought that maybe he was playing up the whole brooding musician thing and taking it too far.

It would only take seven hours to drive up here; I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone. Rosie and I haven't had any real quality alone time since our little girls came along. She's a good mom and she could use a break so, I figured I'd treat her to a nice three day weekend up here. When she had heard Edward was staying here last month her face lit up like Christmas and she got all excited. Apparently, this hotel was in some chic flick she saw as a girl and she was jealous Edward was staying here. I looked the place up online and made up my mind. Two birds. One stone. I pawned the girls off on The Grandmas and whisked my wife off to Michigan.

My wife thought my idea was brilliant since our little getaway could be, for the most part, written off as a business expense since my number one client/best friend had holed himself up in such a fabulous location. Rosie wouldn't even need to be there when I kicked Edward in the ass and told him to go home. I'd just ask for his room number when we checked in and go get Rose all settled in the room. Then, when she was off at the hotel salon getting a pedicure or massage or whatever it is women do at those places, I'd beat some sense into him. Simple.

That was the plan… right until the old bellhop, Jasper I think he said, overhears me ask the desk clerk about Edward. The old guy is surprised Edward is still in the hotel. He believed Edward had left because he hadn't seen him in weeks, even though he thought it odd that Edward hadn't said goodbye before he left. The desk clerk tells us that Edward checked in without any departure date and, as long as the credit card clears when they run it every few days, the hotel would have had no reason for concern so, they wouldn't have bothered their guest. There's a heavy ball of anxiety forming in my gut now. None of this sounds good. Rose takes my hand and squeezes it. When I look at her, it's plain to see that she's worried now, too. Jasper makes a quick call to housekeeping and then leads Rose and me to the elevators, filling us in along the way.

The old guy is telling me that no one has seen 'Mr. Masen' in days. Maybe weeks. He had seen him though, maybe a bit more than two weeks ago or so, wandering through the lobby from some History Hall place. He didn't look too good so the old guy tried to talk to him, to ask if he was alright or if there was anything he needed. He said that 'Mr. Masen' was always so friendly but that day he seemed very withdrawn. The grief on his face was apparent so Jasper thought maybe he had received some bad news. Edward didn't really answer him; he just excused himself and retreated back to his room. Shit, Edward. Please be OK, buddy. I wonder if something didn't happen to Edward's Mystery Girl.

I don't understand all this; he was fine back in Chicago. Maybe a little overworked but he was so successful he could cut back easily if he wanted to. Hell, he even sounded happy the last couple times we talked, excited even. He told me he was going to stay here for a while, that he was doing some 'research'. Research. Right, as if I'd believe that! What musician has to do research? It was a girl. I was sure of it. I could definitely hear it in his voice.

He sounded like me when I met my Rose.

As we step off the elevator, Jasper continues relaying what he knows, "The housekeeping staff said that he's in there. They say that he just refuses service so they don't bother him. The girl I talked to sounded worried, though. She said she was going to the manager at the end of her shift today and bring the situation to his attention." Jasper knocks as he fishes in his pocket for the key when we get to the door. I hold my breath. I'm probably squeezing Rosie's hand a bit too hard, too. I'm scared shitless about what is on the other side of that door. The hope I have that Edward is ignoring the world, blissfully tangled up in the sheets with Mystery Girl, fade fast when he doesn't answer the damn door.

After the click of the lock, Jasper holds the door open for us to enter the room. The damn thing looks stripped bare, like a prison cell. There is only an empty bed and a wingback chair over by the win… My breath leaves my body in a big whoosh. Edward. He is there. He's just sitting in the chair staring out the damned window. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Thank God.

"Edward, man, you scared the shit out of us! What the hell are you doing in here?" I ask as I stride over to the chair with Rose and Jasper trailing behind me. I'm probably a bit too loud but I'm so relieved that he's OK. When we get to the chair Rose gasps and pulls her hand free of mine to cover her mouth.

"Jesus!" I say in a strangled cry. "Edward?" He's pale, too pale, and his eyes are sunken in with deep dark circles underneath. His lips are dry and chapped from obvious dehydration. "He looks like he hasn't eaten in weeks…" I whisper. He looks dead.

I stand in front of him but he looks right through me. Scared shitless all over again, I reach out two fingers and press them against the pulse point on his neck. Please God… "He's got a pulse," I announce. "It's too damn weak, but it's there."

I look up at Rose. My poor baby has both trembling hands pressed to her mouth and fat, silent tears are rolling down her perfect cheeks. I curse myself for bringing her here. She shouldn't have to see this. "Rosie? Baby?" I ask, trying to get her attention off of Edward.

"Oh, Em…" she whispers when she meets my gaze.

"Rose, honey, I need you to call 911 right away. Then, can you wait downstairs and meet the ambulance for me?" I implore her to be strong with my eyes.

With a sniffle she straightens her shoulders and she nods. I see her strength return and, like a flash, she turns and strides out the door with her cell phone in hand, dialing. That's my girl.

I then turn to Jasper. He's gone pale, though he looks nowhere near as bad as Edward. He's wringing his hands and seems a bit overwhelmed with emotion. I hear him mumbling that he should have noticed sooner, that Edward was such a good man, that he should have known something was wrong when he thought Edward had left without a goodbye. Edward can't be helped until the ambulance gets here, but Jasper… I'm starting to worry about the old guy now, too. He already looks like he's got one foot in his grave and right now he's putting a lot of stress on his ticker. I gotta snap him out of it, get his mind off the guilt, before we need two ambulances.

I don't know how long Edward has been in this chair but this can't be good for his weak circulation. The ambulance will be here in a minute anyway. I just feel we need to do something. "Jasper? What do you say you help me get him to the bed? Can you grab his legs?" I ask him gently then thank him as he moves to help me. I walk behind the chair and scoop my hands behind Edward, under his arms and then lace my fingers across his chest once I have him lifted to me. Jasper takes both his ankles and follows my lead as I head over to the bed. We lay him down gently and I stand back and take a good long look at him.

"Oh, buddy, what's happened to you?" I ask his still form. His face is an expressionless mask. I'm so used to his bright grass green eyes but these eyes… These are not his eyes, they are dull and lifeless, the color of pea soup. His clothes are funny, too. I don't mean that they are rumpled or that they smell from him sitting in them for God-only-know-how-many days. Somehow, they just look…off. There's more coppery stubble on his chin than I have ever seen and I've known him since before puberty. I should have come sooner. I shouldn't have waited so long to look for him. His eyes and cheeks look even more sunken in now that he is on his back as I can just make out the shallow rise and fall of his chest. He's lost weight. A lot of weight. A man this big should not have been so easy to carry. Why didn't you call me? The mask fades and Edward slowly smiles. It's a small smile, but I'll take what I can get.

"Edward?" I ask excitedly. "Can you hear me, buddy? You're gonna be OK now. Rose and me are here to take you home." I take his hand in both of mine and wait for him to look at me. "Hold on, man. Stay with me, OK? Just hold on, Edward." There's a brief flash of green fire in his eyes and, I swear, his smile gets just a bit bigger. Relief washes over me and I return his grin. Yes! He's gonna be alright.

"Mr. McCarty?" Jasper says in a hushed tone and I look over my shoulder to see him. "Sir? He's stopped breathing…"

"What…?" My head snaps back around to look at Edward. I watched and waited for the familiar rise and fall of his chest… but it doesn't come.

No…

A/N: Heart Fail, I know. Just wait and see what the next chapter brings before you send the flames, OK? :o) Did everyone like hearing from Emmett? I just love me some Emmett. ;o) This chapter was in the outline from EmPOV right from the get go. I almost pulled it out when we all decided I should write some sideshots and post it with those instead. I hope the change of POV didn't put too many of you off. :o) Lemme know what you think.

I am working hard on the BPOV for the sideshots. It's epic in comparison to these short little chapters and is taking a lot longer to complete. I WILL update on Wed night with the last chapter to CBTM whether or not the sideshot is finished. :o)

It's almost over now... One chapter to go. :sniff: