Chapter 26 — Sixty-three Hours

I am suffocated and lost when I have not the bright feeling of progression.

Margaret Fuller (Forbes Thought of the Day from August 9, 2014)

Bella's POV

Edward! I had to save him, or Jacob was going to kill him. I couldn't lose him. Pivoting, I headed back the way I came. Edward was at the foot of the stairs with Jacob running toward him, a knife gleaming in his hand. I automatically raised my hand and erected a wall a foot in front of Edward.

"No!" I shouted, bolting upright on the bed.

I was alone in Edward's bedroom in Forks and it was dark. How did I get back? What happened to Jacob? Was Edward okay? I couldn't remember.

"Edward," I hollered, scared. Surely someone would come and tell me if something happened to him. Closing my eyes, I felt tears fall. "Edward!"

The bed creaked as someone sat down and pulled me into their arms. "Sshh, love. I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere," Edward whispered.

My arms went around him, crushing him to me. I was probably hurting him, but I didn't care. He didn't seem to mind, and he tightened his arms around me.

"Is everything all right?" Carlisle asked in a sleepy voice.

I wasn't sure if he was in the room or standing just outside the door, but there was no way I was going to release Edward in order to find out, either.

"I … think so," Edward answered, and I felt the rumble of his voice against my cheek. "Love, Dad wants to check you over now that you're more alert. So, you're going to have to release me."

I shook my head. There was no way I was letting go until I was ready, even if I was cold.

"I'll stay right next to you," he whispered. "You can keep hold of my hand."

That was a good compromise, but I held on for a couple of heartbeats longer before moving away. My right hand drifted down his arm and captured his left, noticing for the first time that the bedroom light was now on.

I jumped when Carlisle took hold of my left wrist, and I had to take a deep breath in order to relax.

"Can you tell us what happened?" Carlisle asked, looking at his watch.

Looking down at the blanket, I swallowed. "I don't remember how I got back here," I said.

"Just tell us whatever you remember, love," Edward remarked, kissing my temple. "I'll fill in the holes."

After taking another deep breath, I told them what I remembered, starting right after Emmett left, to what Edward and I talked about, to Jacob appearing seconds after Edward disappeared, to me running. "My finger still hurts, and I'm dizzy," I said, finishing.

Carlisle examined my left index finger. "What did you cut yourself with?" he asked.

"My earring," I replied, inspecting my finger. It was red and inflamed. "Why?"

"It might be infected," Edward said, placing another kiss on my temple, lingering a few moments. "And you feel hot—a little too hot."

Carlisle had left the room for a minute and returned with a thermometer. "Let's get your temperature." He placed the probe inside my ear and pressed the button, and about a second later, it beeped twice. "One-hundred and three point two—not good."

"Should we take her to the hospital?" Edward asked.

"Not yet. We'll try to bring it down first."

Edward nodded.

"Cold," I whispered. "And the room is spinning."

"Lie back, love."

I did as Edward instructed, and he pulled the blanket up to my chin.

"I'll be right back," he said. "There are some things I need to get from the kitchen."

"Don't go," I said, rasping a little.

He looked away and sighed. "Bella, sleep," he commanded when he faced me again. He spoke in a low, hypnotic voice.

My eyes got heavy and heavier; I blinked twice and then nothing.

Edward's POV

Bella needed to sleep, and I needed to mix together some herbs and oils that would help reduce her fever, so compelling her was the only thing I could do. The fever that held her was dangerously high, and there was no knowing how long she had had it.

Emmett was in the hall when Dad and I left my room. "Is she okay?" he asked.

I continued my way downstairs, letting Dad answer. The sooner I mixed peppermint oil with olive oil and made some tea, the sooner I would be back by Bella's side.

Mom was in the kitchen when I entered. "Which tea do you want?" she asked.

"Chamomile," I replied, pulling a small bowl out of a cabinet. Making quick but precise measurements, I mixed the two oils together.

By the time I was done, Mom had the tea poured into a thermal cup. "Let's hope the fever goes down and not up."

"How do you know that she's sick?"

"It's a mother thing, Edward. The rainstorm this afternoon, running out of fear, and the excessive amount of magical energy Bella must have expended has to take a toll on the body," she replied.

With a shake of my head, I left the kitchen and proceeded up the stairs to my room. Emmett was sitting on the floor at the foot of the bed, like a faithful puppy, when I entered.

"I didn't think she should be alone," he said, glancing up at me with sad eyes.

"Thanks." After setting the bowl and cup down, I sat on the bed and took Bella's temperature again. One-hundred and four. It went up in the time I was downstairs. "Please get me a couple of washcloths, Em," I requested, picking up the cup and removing the lid.

"Bella," I whispered, lifting her slightly and placing the rim to her lips. "Drink."

She shivered but swallowed the warm liquid. I was surprised when she drank it all, but pleased; I hadn't planned on forcing the tea down her throat.

I was massaging the infusion of oils on her temples when Emmett returned with Alice in tow.

"I know you are using a special mixture, but some cool water will help, too," Alice said.

I nodded. "I'm glad you here, Ali. Would you rub some on her chest?" I asked, accepting a damp cloth from Emmett.

Bella sighed as I placed the rag on her forehead.

Once Alice was done, she and Emmett left the room. "Shout if you need help," Alice said, shutting off the light.

I settled in bed next to Bella, holding her hand.

~~ L. C. ~~

An hour and a half later, Dad came back in. I was still awake.

"Her breathing is getting worse," I said, setting the thermometer down. "And her temperature hasn't gone down."

"All right. We have no choice but to take her to the hospital. She needs fluids and antibiotics, and even if I had the supplies, I wouldn't administer them here."

Silently, I gathered Bella up into my arms, making sure the blanket was securely around her. With Dad leading the way, we left the house.

It seemed like an eternity later, Dad pulled in front of the emergency room doors. "I'll be right in," he said.

"Call Malcolm, too. I don't have her insurance information—not that payment is an issue." I sighed, climbing out.

Eleazar Denali, Tanya's younger brother, was behind the counter when I walked in, and he immediately picked up the phone and requested a gurney be brought out. "Your dad called, Edward. Dr. Gerandy is on duty at the moment, and Dr. Banter will be taking over in forty-five minutes," he said as I placed Bella on the bed.

I nodded and followed the nurse back. "The doctor will be right in," she said as she started taking Bella's vitals. "Is she allergic to any medications?"

"Not that I'm aware of," I answered. "And she's not taking anything."

"What have you tried?" Dr. Gerandy asked from the doorway.

"Cool cloths, chamomile tea, and peppermint oil." He knew I preferred natural medicines over modern, as did Dad.

Dr. Gerandy said nothing for a long time as he began examining Bella. "Not good. Her lungs sound wet," he said, looking at me a moment before turning to the nurse. "Chest X-ray, CBC, electrocardiography, and start her on IV fluids and oxygen."

"What are you thinking, Gerandy?" Dad asked.

I hadn't noticed he was in the room.

"You know that it's best not to speculate, Carlisle, but I'm leaning toward bronchitis or pneumonia. We need to wait for the test results to be sure, though," he answered, walking out of the room with the nurse.

With my focus on Bella, I took hold of her hand and asked, "Would bringing her earlier have helped, Dad?"

He blew out a breath. "No. It was my decision to monitor at home and try to reduce the fever ourselves. You could have objected," he answered, taking a seat beside me.

A knock came on the door. "Registration," a young woman's voice said. "I just need to confirm some information. Patient's full name?"

"Isabella Marie Swan," Dad answered.

I wasn't aware he knew her middle name.

"Date of birth?" she asked.

"September 13, 1993," Dad replied.

"Address and phone?"

I answered this time, giving my information to her.

"Okay. Ms. Swan's grandfather has already called and updated the insurance information. He should be here soon," she said, placing an I.D. bracelet on Bella's left wrist.

The nurse was coming in as the registrar finished. She had a bag of saline and tubing.

"Let me help you," Dad said, taking the nasal catheter and hooking it up to the oxygen port.

I moved out the nurse's way and walked out of the room. Eleazar was coming toward me with Malcolm.

"Is something wrong, lad?" Malcolm asked.

"No. Too many people and not enough room." I filled him in with what I knew.

"More like you needed to get out of there," Eleazar commented with a laugh when I was finished.

If glares could kill, he would be dust from mine. "I want to be in there but thought it best to get out of the nurse's way," I said through clenched teeth.

"Edward?" Bella's weak thoughts came through our link.

Eleazar was saying something, and I didn't give a damn what it was and turned, reentering the room.

The nurse and Dad were struggling with Bella, who was thrashing on the bed.

"Let me," I said, putting a hand on Dad's shoulder. "It's okay, love. I'm here with you. We're at the hospital. Relax."

~~ L. C. ~~

All the test were done, and Malcolm and I were waiting for the test results. Dad had gone out into the waiting room when the rest of the family arrived, and he hadn't returned.

The silence was starting to get to me. Dr. Banter had come in forty minutes ago and administered IV prednisone and acetaminophen. Bella's fever was slowly going down.

"The X-ray reading is still pending," Dr. Banter said. "Everything else looks good."

How long does it take to read an X-ray?

A moan resounded from the bed. Bella's eyes fluttered open; they were glazed. "Edward?" she rasped, coughing.

"Right here, love," I replied, leaning forward to reassure her. "Remember you're in the hospital."

She nodded, though she didn't look convinced.

"How are you feeling, lassie?" Malcolm asked.

Bella coughed again. "Lousy."

Malcolm laughed. "And that's understandable."

I was glad he could see the humor in the situation.

"Ah, Ms. Swan, you're awake," Dr. Banter said, making his presence known.

"The X-ray?" I asked.

"Confirms pneumonia."

"Get these cuffs the fuck off me."

I stiffened as I recognized the voice, and Bella paled.

"Jacob!" Bella exclaimed, and the heart monitor started beeping wildly.

I was frozen where I sat, and Dr. Banter and Malcolm were doing their best to calm her down.

"Warlock," she said through are link.

Warlock? "When can we leave?" I asked.

"Are you crazy?" Dr. Banter asked from his position on the left side of the bed. "She's in no condition to be released yet. Her fever is still too high, and now this."

If she was staying, then Emmett needed to be outside her door, and I would be placing a protection spell on the room. "Fine, but I want security alerted and my brother outside the door."

"Why?" Dr. Banter asked as the heart monitored slowed.

"Not in here," I answered. "I'll be right back."

Walking out the door, I waited for Banter to join me. "Jacob Black is a patient in the ER, correct?"

"I can't confirm that."

I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. "I know he is. And he kidnapped Bella. You either alert security and continue treating her, or I leave with her against medical advice."

"Nurse, alert security that the FBI has brought in an arrested suspect," Dr. Banter ordered.

"Wise decision." I moved toward the waiting room.

Mom noticed me first. "Edward?"

"She's fine. The fever is starting to break, but she has pneumonia. That's not the reason I came out."

"It's not?" Rosalie said. "I don't understand. Didn't you want us to know?"

I sighed. "Jacob's here."

Emmett jumped to his feet. "What!" he roared, pulling out his phone.

"He's a patient, Em," I said. "I want you back there with us, and security has been notified."

I didn't think he heard me, since he continued to walk away.

"Send him back," I said.

Three hours later, I was carrying Bella back up to my room. Her fever had finally lowered enough—one-hundred and one—that Dr. Banter felt it was safe to release her.

Emmett had called me out into the hallway once he found out why Jacob was in the ER. What he told me had me worried.

"Your compulsion didn't work, Edward. He told his lawyer and my former partner that you punched him after I had placed him under arrest. He's also denying that he kidnapped Bella."

"What? That's absurd," I said.

"I know, bro. What's even more twisted is that Jacob told Eric that Bella had been living with him up until a month ago when he broke up with her and kicked her out."

I paced the hall, furious. "Does Eric believe him?"

"Nah. Embry Call, the guy that was shot in the bar, flipped two days ago. He's cut a deal with the state for a lighter sentence. He's telling a different story, one that matches Bella's. They just can't back it up."

I felt like hitting a brick wall. "And they don't have enough for a warrant, right?"

Emmett nodded. "Eric fears that Jacob will be released if he doesn't come up with anything in the next seventy-two hours—well, sixty-six hours now."

"What about James? Do you think he would be willing to help?" I asked, desperation showing in my voice.

He puffed out his cheeks and blew out a breath. "I don't know, Edward. I suggested it to Eric, and he's going to talk with James."

I emitted a long, deep, audible breath as I settled in bed next to Bella. The clock was slowly counting down—sixty-three hours. She had to be somewhere else before the clock hit zero. Where would she be safe?

A/N: Thoughts?