A distant sound echoed in my ears: "Edward!"
Now I was hearing Carlisle's voice outside my mind. My head ached deeply, and I wondered dimly if I had suffered a concussion from James' blow to my face. It didn't matter. I didn't care what happened to me if I couldn't save Bella.
"Edward!"
Carlisle's voice was closer now. Lights winked in my peripheral vision, and I looked up blearily. Several bright spots of light cut through the darkness. I blinked again, and Carlisle's voice called my name once more. He was real; he had returned.
"Over here!" I cried. "Hurry!"
I grasped Bella's limp, cool hand in mine. "Please," I entreated, "please, Bella, hang on just a little longer."
To my utter astonishment, I felt her fingers curl around mine. I had to glance down to be certain I had not imagined it. I lifted her hand to kiss her knuckles.
"What the hell happened here?"
The new voice caught my attention. I looked up again to see Carlisle and two other men hastening toward us. One of the men was vaguely familiar, and as he drew nearer I saw his dark green jacket and remembered that he was the ranger we had met briefly. The other man was older, probably close to fifty, and he lagged slightly behind.
"Carlisle," I pleaded, "help Bella."
He sprinted the final few yards, dropping to his knees beside her.
"Closed tension pneumothorax," I explained succinctly. "I did a thorocostomy, but it didn't work. I only had one needle—"
Carlisle nodded, shrugging his pack from his shoulder. He reached for the stethoscope, quickly pressing it over Bella's chest.
"We need to try again," I said, then, my tone more frantic, I asked, "Did you bring more medical supplies? Do you have another syringe?"
Carlisle moved his hand to her neck, then he looked up at me. "We don't need it."
"No! You have to try again!" I began to reach for his pack. Surely he had more emergency equipment in there…
"Edward," Carlisle said, his tone firm, "stop." He placed his hand on my arm. "She's breathing now."
"She's—what? I didn't hear a rush of air—"
He smiled gently. "You did the procedure perfectly. There are breath sounds on both sides now."
"Oh God," I sighed. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
The ranger stood nearby, his eyes moving from us to the fire and back again. The other man reached us, panting heavily.
"Bella!" he gasped. He began to move toward her, but the ranger took his arm.
"Let the doc work," he cautioned.
I looked at the older man's face, recognizing the shape of his chin and the deep brown of his eyes. He had to be Bella's father.
"She'll be okay, Charlie," Carlisle said, glancing up briefly. He had pulled on gloves and was securing the syringe with surgical tape. "Edward did exactly what needed to be done."
Bella's father knelt by her head, gingerly touching her brow. Then he lifted his eyes to meet my gaze, his voice rough with emotion as he said, "Thank you, son."
I swallowed against the tightness in my throat and gave him a nod of acknowledgement. Then my attention returned to Carlisle. He had wrapped a cuff around Bella's arm and was checking her pressure.
"What can I do?" I asked him, desperate to continue helping in any way that I could.
Carlisle looked up at me. His expression was odd as he replied, "Just take it easy, Edward."
"I'm fine. I need to help—"
I felt a hand land on my shoulder. "The doc's got it under control," the ranger told me, squatting at my side.
"Thanks, Emmett," Carlisle murmured with a nod as he continued to assess and treat Bella.
"Can you tell me what happened here?" the ranger—Emmett—asked.
"James," I began hoarsely, my eyes flicking toward the firepit. "He brought her out here. He was planning—" I swallowed again and blinked back the stinging in my eyes.
"Yeah," Emmett replied softly, "we know that much. Bastard punctured the tires on the other teachers' cars so they wouldn't show up at the meeting point. That's how he got Bella out here alone with him. Once Chief Swan heard about that, he knew something was wrong. We've been trying to find Bella since yesterday morning. We were damn lucky Doc Cullen crossed our path last night. But getting back here and finding you two in the dark was rough. It was the light from the fire that showed us exactly where you were."
The irony of that was not lost on me. However, I was too drained, emotionally and physically, to do more than respond with "oh."
I had kept Bella's hand in mine. Suddenly I realized my hand was empty. I took a sharp breath, trying to clear the haziness from my mind. Everything felt muted; Emmett was still speaking, but his voice seemed distant. Anxiously I reached out for Bella's hand again, trying to see through the dim light.
Something firm closed around my shoulders. "It's okay. I've got you, buddy," Emmett's deep voice said.
He was holding me upright. I felt a cool touch at my wrist and blinked. I recognized Carlisle's hand as he pressed his fingers over my pulse point.
"I'm… all right," I stammered. "Take care of Bella."
Carlisle's face swam before me for a few moments, then my vision sharpened. "She's stable," he told me. "We'll get both of you out of here soon."
His fingers moved over my scalp and neck. I permitted his brief examination until he shone a penlight into my eyes. I wasn't the one who required his attention. I attempted to brush his hand away, but he persisted. The light shot a stab of pain through my skull, and my stomach churned uneasily.
"Carlisle, please," I said, my voice unsteady, "Bella needs you."
Our eyes met. In his gaze I saw both appraisal and empathy. He offered me a gentle smile, moving my hand to rest over Bella's wrist. I could feel her pulse. It wasn't as strong or steady as I would have liked, but it had improved considerably since I had last checked it. The soft, light flutter beneath my fingers comforted me enough for Carlisle to continue assessing me.
As he carefully secured a brace around my knee, he told me, "Emmett has called for help. We'll get you and Bella up to the main trail, and they'll meet us within the hour."
I nodded. "She's developed pneumonia," I informed him unnecessarily. "What's her current condition?" I trusted that he would be honest with me.
He had placed an oxygen mask over Bella's nose and mouth; a small portable canister lay beside her. She remained pale, but her color had improved marginally.
"Pulse and respiration are steady, BP's better," he reported. "I've given her Augmentin; it's all I have available at the moment, but it should help. We'll get her started on Clindamycin as soon we get to the hospital." He reached for the medical pack and rummaged about for a few moments. "What do you want for pain?" he asked, then quickly added, "You need something, Edward."
The concern I saw in his face stopped whatever protests I might have made. I didn't want to lose the shreds of focus I still possessed, but I understood that the next few hours would be challenging for me physically. I realized that I had been in shock since I ascertained that Bella's lung had collapsed; my body's reaction had numbed my pain. Now it was returning. My knee felt as though it were on fire, and the places James had struck me were extremely tender.
Caressing Bella's hand lightly with my fingers, I replied, "Whatever you think is best."
I didn't ask what he injected me with. Both my pain and my perception began to dull. I was helped up, my arm slung over Carlisle's shoulder. Emmett and Chief Swan carried Bella on a litter. The ranger's size and strength, and the chief's paternal love, ensured that both would have unfailing grips.
In retrospect, it would be difficult to say which was the more arduous process: Getting the litter up from the ravine or hauling me up the rock wall. But in the end we stood at the top, the litter readjusted between the two men, and my arm secured over Carlisle's shoulders again. We moved along, Carlisle supporting a great deal of my weight, for some time.
I kept my focus on Bella's still form as she lay in the litter. The pain meds Carlisle had administered kept her in a doze. I missed seeing her beautiful eyes, but I felt grateful that she would not experience any significant discomfort during our trek back to the mail trail.
We stopped several times so that Carlisle could check Bella's condition. I wasn't certain how long we walked, but finally we emerged from the trees onto a narrow trail. I heard voices ahead, and soon we saw the rescue crew.
The next stretch of time was something of a blur. Bella was placed in the back of the ranger's vehicle, while I was helped into the rear seat. Chief Swan was next to me, anxiously turned around, while Emmett sat in the front with the other two rangers. Carlisle hunched beside Bella, monitoring her as the Jeep negotiated the rough terrain.
An ambulance met us when we reached the road, and Bella and I were loaded into the back with Carlisle continuing to tend to her. Emmett told Bella's father that he would take him to the hospital. The paramedics fussed over me minimally. I rebuffed most of their attempts, insisting they focus on Bella.
When we arrived at the hospital, I was somewhat surprised to find a relatively small building. This was not a major trauma center.
"Where are we?" I asked.
One of the paramedics replied, "Forks Community Hospital."
Carlisle sensed my concern. "It's the closest hospital. I assisted with a search and rescue victim here. They have everything Bella needs."
"You'll stay with her?" I asked.
"Of course."
As Bella was taken inside, a nurse came out with a wheelchair for me. I paid little attention to her actions as she efficiently got me in the chair, but when she spoke to me, I looked up at her.
"My husband told me you might need a lift," she said.
She was an extremely striking woman, with long blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her tone was business-like, her demeanor professional, but I could see compassion in her eyes.
"Your husband?" I repeated, feeling as though I had missed something. My mind was still foggy.
"Emmett—Ranger McCarty," she explained with a smile that softened her features. "He called me to let me know what happened and that you and Chief Swan's daughter were being brought in."
"Oh."
"Let's get you inside and comfortable."
I nodded mechanically. "Thanks."
She wheeled me through the doors to the ER and toward an exam room. I wanted to be with Bella, to watch as she was treated so that I would know what was happening to her.
"I'm okay," I said. "I need to know how Bella is."
The nurse paused, moving around to stand in front of me. "She's in good hands. Dr. Gerandy knows what he's doing, and Dr. Cullen is one of the best trauma physicians I've ever seen. He worked on a search and rescue victim here about a year ago. They're taking good care of your friend."
I nodded. I understood this intellectually, but it was still difficult to remain separated from Bella.
The nurse placed her hand upon my arm. "It's tough, isn't it, when we know what should be happening but aren't in there to observe or help."
Her expression was gentle, and at my look of minor confusion she added, "Emmett told me you just graduated from med school."
"Yeah."
"You stayed with Miss Swan while Dr. Cullen went for help. That must have been frightening."
I swallowed. "Terrifying," I admitted. "When I realized she had a pneumothorax… I didn't know if I'd done the procedure correctly…"
She squeezed my arm softly. "I'll get a status update in a few minutes. Let me get you settled first, okay?"
"All right," I acquiesced.
She stood. "I'm Rosalie."
"Edward," I replied. "Masen," I added, knowing she'd need my surname name at some point for charting. My brain was less foggy now.
"Dr. Masen," she said with a nod and a half-smile.
She wheeled the chair into the exam room and helped me up onto the table, adjusting it to a comfortable angle and placing a pillow behind my back. She carefully slid another pillow under my injured knee to provide some elevation.
She wasn't particularly garrulous, which I appreciated. I hadn't been prone to small talk for many years, with the exception of the time I'd spent with Bella. With her, chatting about the most mundane things felt important and exciting.
Rosalie left to find out how Bella was doing. The wait for her return felt interminable. When she entered the room again, she told me that Bella was stable enough to be taken to X-Ray.
"You did well, Dr. Masen," she said, her expression and tone sincere.
I was taken for films next. Carlisle was still with Bella, but he had asked Rosalie to arrange for several x-rays of my knee. By the time she returned me to the exam room, my level of pain had increased significantly. I was still reluctant to dull my senses to any significant degree, but I accepted the dose of Tylenol #3 that she offered me. Rosalie seemed to understand my reticence, which I appreciated. She was a very good nurse.
The codeine started to work fairly quickly, and despite my desire to remain alert, I began to doze. I was in that odd, almost phantasmagorical state when Carlisle's voice roused me.
I sat upright quickly, gasping slightly at the little wave of pain this action brought. "Bella?" I asked immediately, blinking at my friend.
"Easy, Edward." He placed a steadying hand upon my shoulder. "She's doing well. Two ribs are fractured, but her lung function is improving. There aren't any other fractures. She's on IV Clindamycin and supplemental oxygen. Temp is 100.2, but I think we'll see that coming down soon. We've got her on fluids, as well, to help keep her comfortable."
"Did she need a chest tube?" I asked hoarsely.
He reached for a cup of water on the bedside cart and handed it to me. "No. The needle decompression was all that was required. That was good work, Edward."
I took a few sips of the water. Relief was slowly seeping through me. "Thank you for taking care of her," I finally said.
He gave me a curious look. Then a knowing smile flickered across his lips. "You're welcome. Now, tell me how you're feeling."
I shrugged. "Okay."
"How's your pain?"
"Not too bad. Did you get the knee films back?"
He nodded, gesturing toward the light board on the wall. "I'll send these to Eleazer to get his opinion, and I still want to get an MRI at some point, but you've definitely torn your ACL. Eleazer will want to see you when you get back to Seattle, so you can discuss treatment options. For now, though, you need some rest—and a couple of sutures." He gestured toward my right eyebrow.
I sat patiently while he numbed the area then irrigated the wound. I knew his suture technique was unparalleled, so I was glad he was the one to work on me. When he'd finished, he checked my eyes again and tested my reflexes. I knew he was concerned I'd sustained a concussion, but I felt certain now that I hadn't. He agreed with me once he'd completed his evaluation.
He also insisted that I remove my shirt so he could see what had caused me to wince when I sat up. I told him briefly about my struggles with James, and his brow furrowed when he saw my chest. I looked down to find ugly bruises forming over my ribcage and shoulder.
Carlisle's hands were infinitely gentle as he felt over my ribs and clavicle. I appreciated the care with which he examined me.
"I don't feel any fractures," he reported. "Any pain with breathing?"
"Not really."
He arched an eyebrow and reached for a stethoscope. Once he'd listened to my lungs, he seemed less dubious about my assessment.
He sank down on the stool beside me, running a hand through his hair. Now that the crisis had passed, I could see how exhausted he looked. He had been hiking throughout the previous day and the entire night as he searched for the ranger station then guided Emmett and Chief Swan back to our campsite.
"You should rest," I told him. "You been up for over 24 hours."
"I could offer you the same advice," he replied with a wry smile.
"I slept for a few hours last night; you didn't."
He gave a nod of acquiescence. "Rose will get you settled in a room shortly. I'll check on Bella again then catch a nap in the lounge."
"Let me know how she is?"
"Of course."
Less than thirty minutes later I was resting in a private room, my heart and mind easier after the update Carlisle had brought me. Bella remained stable and appeared comfortable, and Dr. Gerandy and Rosalie were keeping a close eye on her. I had yet to meet Dr. Gerandy, but I knew that Bella was in excellent hands with the nurse.
I slept and dreamt of Bella.
To be continued…