Chapter 16: Therapeutic Christmas

Emmett's POV

"Holy shit!" I screamed.

Bella was lying on the bathroom floor in a pool of blood. She was drifting into unconsciousness.

I picked her up, threw a blanket onto her naked form, and rushed her to the hospital.

"What happened?" A doctor asked, after she was in a hospital room and had doctors working on her.

I explained how I found her on the floor, clutching a razor tightly in her hand. I explained her problems with cutting, desperately wanting her to get help now that it went this far.

Edward, Rose, and Shane all came to the hospital and waited for me.

"What happened?" Shane asked, his voice filled with love and concern.

Edward and Rosalie probably could guess, but I told them all anyway. "Bella has a problem with cutting herself. This time, she took it too far, and I found her covered in blood, new gashes and cuts all over her body."

"Oh, god…" Shane cried. I almost did, too.

About an hour and a half later, Alice and Jasper were there. They flew in from New York. We relayed the events to them, and they just waited with horror stricken faces, same as us.

Doctor Michaels came out and said solemnly, "Miss Swan might not make it. She lost so much blood, but we're trying to get as much pumped back into her as possible."

"She's dying?!" I exclaimed.

"Yes, but we're doing our best. She's out right now. We had to give her morphine to fix all of the lacerations up."

I just nodded, said "thanks", and buried my face into my hands. We waited for another hour, and the doctor came out with a smile on his face.

"She's okay. She'll wake up soon, but she can't leave just yet. We need to run some tests on her. We stitched her up, and she should be able to leave later, though." His smile faded. "Did anything happen to Miss Swan to make her do this to herself?"

Jasper answered. "About a year and a half ago, she was raped and almost beaten to death. Then, our mom and step dad died in a terrible car accident."

"Oh. I'm so sorry, Mister Swan," Doctor Michaels said softly.

Then, a nurse came out. "She's awake. Her family and, if she has one, her husband or boyfriend can come in." Jasper and Shane stood up, and without thinking, so did I. "State your relationships to Miss Swan," she demanded.

Jasper said, "I'm her older brother."

Shane replied, "I'm her boyfriend."

She looked at me expectantly. "I guess I'll sit down. I don't have any relationship to Miss Swan."

She nodded, and when they all went to her room, I cried.

I cried for me, for Bella, for us, and for everything that we can't be.

The nurse came back out with Jasper and Shane in tow. "She only wants to see an Emmett Hale."

I stood back up, smiling slightly, and practically ran to her. I saw her on the hospital bed, and I almost fainted from the sight. She had IVs hooked up to her, both blood and other unidentifiable liquids running into her. She looked healthy, though, when I looked at her face. I sat down in a chair and pulled it close to the bed.

"Thanks, Em…" she whispered, holding back tears. "For saving me, I mean."

"It's okay, baby," I sighed. "Don't get mad when I tell you this, but they're going to get you a therapist. I'm getting one, too. I don't want to see you like that ever again." I began to cry, and I laid my head down on the edge of the bed. "I love you too damn much."

She began to run her hand through my hair. "I love you, too. This is a bad time for asking, but can I come back with you to California?"

"What? Is that what you did this for? For attention? To make it to where I don't ever want to leave your side again?" I asked.

"No. I don't know why I did it, okay? I just needed to get it out of my system." Her voice kept getting louder.

"Get what out of your system, Bella?"

"Everything!" she yelled, then she lowered her voice. "Just don't worry about it. I'd rather stay here with Shane, and Edward, and Dartmouth anyway."

"Bella-"

She cut me off. "Don't. I'd rather not hear your desperate cries for forgiveness if you're just going to leave without me."

"You know that it's going to be damn near impossible to even have time for you. Let's just enjoy Christmas, alright? I can try to come back Spring Break."

"Try being the operative word," she mumbled.

The nurse and Doctor Michaels came in. "You can leave, Miss Swan. We ran tests and just got the results back. We'll unhook you, and you'll be free to go. Oh, and Mister Hale, do you mind keeping an eye on her?" he asked.

"No, I don't mind. Thank you, both of you, for being so helpful."

They nodded, and I left, so they could get all of the needles and tubes out of her. She came out thirty minutes later, dressed with a smile on her face. She ran straight to Shane and jumped into his arms.

"I love you so much. I'm sorry I scared you," she murmured.

"Just don't ever do it again. And your next appointment is the week after New Year's. January 9th. I'll take you to Burkenstoff's then. That's the therapy place. His name is Dr. Burkenstoff, too, and he's-"

"Stop rambling, and just kiss me already," Bella interrupted.

He smiled and kissed her long and lovingly. I had to look away.

"Well, we should all get going. We decided to come over to your place and hang out for awhile. We can't get a plane back until tomorrow, and we don't feel like driving," Alice said.

I walked over to Alice and whispered, "Can you keep an eye out for Bells? I don't think I can stay much longer. I plan on leaving right after Christmas. I just can't handle it."

"Of course, Emmy. I just hate you have to go so quickly. I've missed you so much these past few months. After this year, I'm transferring to a fashion design college in Los Angeles, and we'll be able to hang out."

She was the only one who could get away with calling me Emmy. Not even Rose dared to venture there; it was too dangerous for anyone, except Alice. She was more than a best friend, more than a sister. She was more than a lover, even. She was…my Alice. I loved her more than words could explain, but in a different way than I loved Bella.

"Well, there's always room for you in my big ass apartment," I smiled, and she did, too, but it faded.

"When we get back home, I need to talk to you…" she sighed.

"Of course, Ali."

We all got into our separate vehicles, except for Bella. She decided to ride with Shane instead of me.

We all began to walk inside, but Alice grabbed my arm and pulled me into my Jeep. "Emmett, something's wrong…"

"What is?" I asked.

"Jasper…I don't think I love him like I used to. I mean, I still do, but he's become someone else ever since Bella got here. I've tried to get over it, but I can't…It's too hard to overlook. I think I'm going to break up with him…" Her voice was breaking, and I could tell it was hard for her to say.

"Ali, baby…you've been with him since our freshman year." I tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

"I know, and I think it's time for a change. That's why I'm moving to California. I need to get away, and I know you'll be there to help me. Mommy and Daddy said that they wouldn't support me in my fashion career. They want me to go into the family business, but I don't want to be a rich snob working in some law firm." Tears were rolling down her cheeks.

I wiped them away and whispered, "Shh, don't cry. It's okay. I'll be in California waiting, alright?"

She nodded. "I love you, Emmy. Thank you…"

I hugged her as close as my Jeep would allow. "I love you, too, Al."

We walked inside and watched Cruel Intentions on their flat screen. It was freaking hilarious, but that might've been just me. All they talked about was screwing each other.

When the movie was over, we all went to bed. It was already one o'clock, but none of us were tired until then.

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The next day passed by in a blur. Most of us went out to perfect our gifts for each other. Jasper and Alice decided to stay until Christmas was over, same as me. I would miss Bella, and Alice, and Rose. I would miss everyone.

We would all go back to our separate colleges. Me at UCLA. Alice and Jasper at NYU. Rosalie at Yale. And Edward, Shane, and Bella at Dartmouth.

I hated that we would all be going our separate ways once again. Well, most of us, anyway.

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Christmas finally arrived, and we were all gathered around the table.

We had a huge feast cooked by Bella and Edward; they were the only two who could actually make food taste good.

When we were finished with our meal, we sat in a semi-circle around the tree. We handed our presents to everyone, one at a time.

From Rosalie, I got a brand new, state of the art football. It was better than the ones used in the NFL and looked terribly expensive.

From Edward and Shane, I got some CDs of my favorite bands and one mixed one that he made. Edward knew I also loved music.

From Jasper, I got an autograph from my favorite football player on his game winning ball.

From Alice, I got some new sweatshirts and hoodies. She even made some herself. I tried them on, and they all fit perfectly. She was an amazing designer.

And last, but not least, Bella. She got me a giant teddy bear, holding a football and wearing a jersey. On the back of the shirt, it said, "I'll always love my Teddy Bear." It almost made me cry, but I held it in.

I got Rosalie a poem book and a pair of new shoes. She said she wanted to get into poetry, and that she couldn't find the heels anywhere, so I had them special ordered. She also said that since she was studying drama, she ought to know some famous poems and such.

I got Edward some classical CDs, knowing that he was still into piano.

I got Shane a British novel. I knew it seemed prejudiced, but I had no idea what to get him. He smiled widely, though, saying he had no idea where he could find that particular book and was very appreciative.

I got Jasper a brand new, acoustic guitar. I knew he was majoring in music and that he needed a better one than he had, so I got him a top of the line one.

I got Alice a brand new sewing machine, also the best of it's kind. She was freaking out and excited. I was glad to see her out of the glum mood she was in the past two days she was here.

Finally, I got Bella a giant portrait of us. I took the frameless picture we had in our locker at school and took it to a painter. He made it look almost lifelike, as if you were really there in a world of water colors and oil paints - whichever he used. She looked as though she was about to breakdown, but she kept the tears back.

We watched A Christmas Carol and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, two favorites that might have been a little kid like, but we still loved. They were classics.

Alice, Jasper, and I had to leave at four that afternoon. It was amazing while it lasted.

Bella pulled me upstairs to talk before I left. "Please take me with you…"

I grimaced slightly. "I can't. Just stay here, and finish college. I'm going to visit on breaks. I will. I love you."

I kissed her and walked out the door, wishing more than anything that I could take her from her world of pain, but knowing that I couldn't. She would be ignored, completely forgotten in my football career. Okay, that was probably a lie, but it was chance I was willing to take.

However, I didn't know that would be the last time I saw Bella Swan in years.