A/N PSA: Grab your tissue boxes.

End of Chapter 22

"I see the way you look at her, and I know your intentions with her are honorable. I see the way she looks at you, and I know it is you who she will turn to," he said putting his hand on my shoulder and looking me in the eye. "Take care of my girl, Edward. Take care of her while I can't."

"Yes, sir. I will," I promised. He nodded, patted me on the shoulder, and headed to his car.

I felt Bella's small arms slide around my waist, and I looked down into her eyes and smiled. That was the easiest promise I had ever made.

Chapter 23: Lightning Crashes (BPOV)

I lay in my bed staring up at my ceiling. The shadows cast by the tree outside of my window danced across my field of vision. It was a windy night in Forks, and the tree swayed in the breeze. It was as if the tree knew that I was unable to sleep, and it was trying to rock me into unconsciousness. I looked over at the clock, 2 am. Seven hours until Charlie's surgery.

The absence of snoring from the down the hallway told me that I was not the only one who was nervous about the day ahead of us. Charlie wasn't sleeping either. Suddenly, I had an urge that I hadn't felt since I was seven and I saw the Thriller video for the first time. I wanted my daddy. I grabbed my pillow, and scurried down the hallway, quietly opening my dad's door.

"Bella?" My dad's voice said hesitantly.

"Did I wake you?" I asked.

"No, baby, what is it?" He asked concerned.

"Can I come in?" I pleaded with sad eyes.

"Sure, sure," he said, pulling back the covers on the empty side of the bed.

I hurried into the room, tossing down my pillow, and snuggling into Charlie's side. He began stroking my hair in a slow pattern that indicated that he was lost in deep thought.

"Are you nervous?" I asked.

"Nervous? No," he answered. "Scared. Yes."

"What are you scared of?" I asked continuing to stare at the side of his t-shirt. He let out a long, slow exhale before he answered.

"I'm scared of never seeing you again," he choked out. "I'm scared that I won't see my baby girl graduate. I am scared some other man is going to walk you down the aisle and present you to your husband."

We were both crying silently, clutching to each other, both fearing there was no tomorrow. The thought that there was a chance that, by the end of the day, I might be half-orphaned ripped through my body. My crying broke into a sob, and Charlie pulled me close shushing me and stroking my hair. He let me get it all out, and then coughed a little, clearing out his throat.

"Don't think I am without hope," he said. "Dr. Cullen is one of the best around. I believe in him. The odds are in our favor, sweetie. You've done your research. We are going to remain positive on this. I am coming to realize that I have faith."

I continued to cry quietly, and Charlie continued to hold me close.

"I also believe, no matter what, that I will always be with you, Bella," he said.

I sucked in a breath and began crying harder. I sobbed, and clutched to my dad. He continued to sooth me, and the tears eventually gave way to sleep. It wasn't long before Charlie was nudging me awake, telling me it was time to get up and get ready. He let me go first into the shower. I went through the motions of washing my hair and my body, but my mind was blank. I was an empty space numb with fear.

I got dressed, dried my hair, and gathered up the things I was taking with me to the hospital: a couple of books, pad of paper, and pen. I threw in the charger for my phone, not knowing how long I would be there. Tossing the bag over my shoulder, I headed down to the kitchen. Charlie was waiting for me down there, and we gave each other tentative smiles. I loaded up my backpack with granola bars, an apple, and a bottle of water.

"Ready?" I asked.

"You haven't eaten breakfast," Charlie said pointing to the cabinet with the cereal.

"I'm not hungry," I mumbled.

"Bella," he said exacerbated.

"I can't, dad. My stomach is in knots. I'll grab something at the hospital later."

He sighed resignedly.

"Let's go then," he said pointing towards the door.

It was quiet during our ride to Port Angeles. Charlie had wanted to drive, so he sat with one hand casually on the wheel of my truck, and the other held my hand on the bench between us. I sat with my head pressed against the cool glass of the passenger window trying to take calming breaths, so I wouldn't break into a fit of crying again. Before I knew it, we were pulling into the visitor parking lot of Olympic Memorial Hospital.

Charlie grabbed his small bag from the back of the truck and tossed it over his shoulder, while I came around the truck to his side. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and walked up to the main entrance. We walked in and went to the left towards Admissions. Carlisle had told us that we needed to check in there first.

After we finished up the admissions work, we reported to the pre-operative nursing unit, where Charlie changed into a hospital gown. When I came back into the curtained area, Charlie was laying back in the bed still trying to stuff the sides of the gown firmly into the mattress, cursing cold breezes and sensitive areas. Charlie quit his grumbling when a nurse came in and reviewed his chart and confirmed that all our paperwork was in order.

Next, were taken to a pre-operative holding area where an anesthesiologist started an IV. Suddenly, the curtains pulled open, and a familiar smile greeted us both.

"How's my patient this morning?" Carlisle said.

"Ready to do this," Charlie answered reaching out to shake Carlisle's hand.

"And how is my third favorite girl?" Carlisle said squeezing my shoulder. I gave a forced laugh that spoke volumes.

"OK, time for my official doctor speech," Carlisle said crossing his arms over his chest and looking at Charlie and I. "Today we are doing a distal pancreatectomy, which is the removal of the end of the pancreas while leaving the pancreatic head attached. I am performing this laparoscopically. I will make four small incisions, and insert tube-like instruments through them. The abdomen will be filled with gas to help me view the abdominal cavity. A camera will be inserted through one of the tubes that will display images on a monitor in the operating room. Other instruments will be placed through the additional tubes. In this manner, I will be able to work inside your abdomen without making a larger incision.

To remove the pancreatic tail, blood vessels will be clamped and then cut, and the pancreas will be stapled and divided for removal. If the disease has affected the splenic artery or vein, the spleen will also be removed.

Any questions?"

I reached up and squeezed Charlie's hand.

"No," Charlie answered.

"Well, I better go start getting scrubbed up," Carlisle said. "Charlie, I'll see you when you wake up. Bella, it is time for you to step out, sweetheart."

I walked over to my dad, and clutched my arms around his neck, as silent tears streamed down my face.

"It's going to be fine, Bella. I will see you in a couple hours," Charlie said rubbing my back.

"I know," I choked out. "I love you, daddy."

"I love you, too, kid, so much,"

He pulled me tight, and then leaned back looking me in the face, and then kissed my cheek. I closed my eyes, and felt his tender kiss on my cheek accompanied by the scratch of his mustache. I smiled to myself. He pulled me back wiping my tears away with his thumbs.

"I'll see you in a bit, kid," he said his voice rough with emotion.

"Okay," I whispered.

A grey haired nurse stepped in then, and Carlisle turned to her and smiled.

"Bella, this is Nurse Karshner. She will show you where the waiting room is."

"Okay," I said again, being that was the only response I was capable of giving at the moment with out breaking down completely.

I followed the nurse out of the prep area, and was thankful that she didn't feel the need to fill the walk with conversation. She pointed to an open area at the end of the hallway, and I thanked her. As I turned the corner, hoping to find a spot in the corner I could curl up in and hide, I was greeted by six faces looking back at me. There stood all of the Cullens and the Hales. I sucked in a quick intake of air and started sobbing. I was wrapped in Edward's arms within a hairs breath.

"We're here, Bella. I love you, and we are here," Edward whispered in my ear, clutching my head to his chest.

"We all love you, Bella," I heard Esme's voice, and felt her hand on my back. "Charlie, too. We will be with you the whole time."

"Thank-you," I sobbed from Edward's shirt. "Thank-you."

Once I had controlled my crying, I sat down in-between Esme and Edward in mauve and green patterned chairs of the waiting room. Alice walked over and stood in front of me holding out a Starbucks cup and something wrapped in a napkin.

"Carmel Latte and bagel with cream cheese," she said with a soft smile.

"Thanks, Alice," I said as she handed me my favorite coffee, more tears sliding down my face. She winked and went back to sit next to Jasper, and I noticed she clutched his hand tightly as she did, burying her face in his shoulder. He reached up and stroked her arm, and shot me a smile and a wink. I took a sip of the coffee, and leaned against Edward's shoulder clutching the bagel to my chest.

The hours ticked by as we all waited together. Emmett had brought a deck of cards, and they talked me into a couple games of Euchre. I tried reading my book, but found that I couldn't focus on the pages. For the most part, I spent the passing hours in Edward's arms, as he alternated between gently tickling the length of my forearm with the tips of his fingers to gently stroking my hair while placing lingering kisses there.

A little after eleven o'clock, around the corner stepped Carlisle, pulling his scrub cap from his head. I clamped down on Edward's hand, and Esme's hand came up to hold on to my shoulder. Carlisle walked over and sat down and pulled a chair over to in front of me.

"I think we got it all, Bella," he said now smiling.

I heard everyone let out a collective sigh. We listened as Carlisle explained that the cancer cells were only in the part of the pancreas that he suspected. He didn't have to remove the spleen. He told me that Charlie was being taken to a post-operative unit where a nurse will monitor his progress, and that I could go back to see him in about an hour. I leapt then into his arms and hugged him tight.

"Thank-you, Carlisle."

"You're welcome, sweetheart," he said hugging me tight, and then sitting straight. "Why don't you all go get some lunch at the Café, and Charlie should be well enough for a visitor by then."

Everyone got up then, stretching backs and legs. Everyone hugged me, and then his family embraced Carlisle. I saw the tenderness pass between Esme and Carlisle. You could see her pride in her husband in her eyes. Next Alice jumped up into his arms, and he spun her about like a little girl, for she would always be that to him. All daughters are. Finally, he and Edward gave each other that fierce, but brief man hug. Then they took each other's hand like they were shaking, except they just stood still with Edward passing a look of utter thanks to his father. Carlisle just gave a slight nod, and patted Edward on the back. He waved to us all, and kissed Esme on the cheek before heading back to work.

The conversation at lunch was more animated than it had been all morning. With the weight of uncertainty lifted, the eggshells had been removed from underfoot. Still, I couldn't help but continue to eye the clock. Edward noticed, and smiled at me and mouthed, "Soon". I smiled at him, and went back to eating my sandwich.

After lunch, Esme, Alice, Emmett, Jasper, and Rosalie decided to head home. Edward would stay with me until after I saw Charlie, and then would drive with me back to Forks when I was ready. We exchanged hugs, and Esme said that she would keep some dinner warm for us. As we waved good-bye, Edward took my hand and we slowly made our way back to the waiting area.

True to his word, Carlisle had sent a nurse to find me about an hour after he had come to talk to us. I left my bag with Edward, who assured me that he would not be bored as he waved his iPhone at me. I gave him and quick kiss and told him I loved him before heading back with the nurse.

The ICU was very quiet other than the clicks of a keyboard from the nurses station, and the various beeps and whooshing from the medical equipment attached to the patients in their care. The nurse led me back to room five, and when she pointed in the door, I froze. There was my personal superman, my protector with tubes and wires coming out from everywhere. He looked so frail and helpless, and still. Suddenly, I felt very small and insecure about the future.

"Go on in, honey," the nurse encouraged me. "He's doing great."

I smiled at her, and walked into the room. I went over and stood by the bed looking down at my dad. He looked a little pale, but other than that, he seemed to be the same as when I left him this morning. He wasn't intubated, and only had an oxygen mask on, so that had to be a good sign, right? I slid the plastic chair next to his bed over, and sat down at his side.

I don't know how long I sat there just looking at him, but eventually, I reached up and tentatively slid my hand under his outstretched palm on the side of the bed. I relaxed when I was met with warmth. Part of me was afraid that his touch would be cold and corpse like. Some of the tension relaxed out of my shoulders as I realized that Charlie had made it through surgery. The hardest part was behind us.

I sat there just holding Charlie's hand until I heard someone stop outside the doorway.

"Carlisle," I breathed out in a whisper.

"Hey, Bella," he said softly, walking over while reviewing Charlie's chart. He inspected the incision sites, and checked a few readouts on the various machines. When he was done, he gestured for me to join him outside of the room.

"Everything looks good," he said. "We are going to try to keep him under sleep sedation for the rest of the night, so why don't you and Edward head home. I will call if there is any changes."

"I don't know," I said looking back into the room with Charlie.

"Bella, honey, you are dead on your feet. Charlie isn't going to be alert for the rest of today, so you should go home and get some rest. You can come back and spend all day here tomorrow, if you wish. Please."

"Okay," I agreed.

Carlisle walked with me back out to the waiting room, where we found Edward reading one of the books from my bag. He jumped up when he saw us, and was immediately at my side.

"You two be safe driving back," Carlisle said, hugging us both.

"We will," we said in unison and grinned at each other.

"Also," Carlisle said turning to Edward, "your mother left me a message saying she made her black raspberry pie. PLEASE, save one piece from your brother for your old man."

"Sure thing, dad," Edward said smiling. "Ready?"

"Yeah," I agreed. "Thank-you again, Carlisle. For everything."

"It's my pleasure, Bella," he said smiling, and then walking away.

I didn't realize how tired I was until Edward and I started walking to the car. I wavered at one point, and Edward wrapped his arm around me, pulling me tight to his side. I leaned in, and let him support me, and let my eyes drift closed a bit. Edward opened the passenger door, and helped me into the truck.

"Thank-you, Edward," I mumbled.

"Always, Bella," he said softly.

"I love you," I breathed out my eyes sinking closed.

"I love you, too, baby. Sleep now," he said tucking my legs into the truck, and shutting the door.

He then got in, started her up, and cranked the heat. The last thing I remembered before drifting off to sleep was pulling out of the parking lot and onto the streets of Port Angeles.

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