Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 6: Consuming Thoughts

Edward POV

I stepped into the kitchen groggily, still not completely awake from my rough night's sleep. It had been a restless night; I tossed and turned not able to rest my mind. The last time I looked at the clock, the glowing red lights read 2:13. I had groaned knowing today would be another hard day. Emmett's and my shift would start at 8:00am. Therefore, I would again be exhausted and running on caffeine. I rubbed the grime from my eyes, opening the cabinet that held the cereal. Being 6:45am, I didn't have the energy to cook anything substantial. I hadn't had the energy the past week.

My sleep had been interrupted; it had been filled with images and thoughts of the beautiful brunette from that bizarre accident two Saturdays ago, Bella. Her name was very fitting. Her hair fell free, stopping just passed her shoulder blades. The rich color matched the chocolate pools of her eyes. She had a heart-shaped face and was pale skinned. She stood around 5' 4'' and was petite. She possessed an understated beauty. She struck me as the type of person that did not even see herself as beautiful. I poured my cereal in a bowl and retrieved the milk from the fridge.

I found myself, in both sleep and while awake, thinking about her, wondering if she was okay, wondering if the doctors had found anything, wondering if she was thinking about me. She had captivated me from the moment she fell into my arms. I felt a small smile tug at my lips. I felt a pull towards her, a protectiveness about her. She had truly worried me when I took her initial vitals. If it had been someone else, I would have loaded her into the bus and taken her straight to a hospital. Her blood pressure was far too low. I knew what they would have done though, and because she intrigued me, I kept her at the scene to treat her. Emmett had noticed that something was up.

She was endearing from the moment she opened her mouth. She had been worried about us, thinking we were going to be hurt. The fear and concern was evident in her eyes. She had been two inches from what was sure to have been a critical accident, and all she could think about were others. Then her knees had buckled; luckily, I caught her before she fell. She felt warm in my arms, felt like she belonged there. I felt a shock of electricity any time we touched. I used any excuse I could to feel that spark again, holding her hand when she got the IV, caressing her forehead to sooth her, helping her sit up, anything really. Emmett had also noticed that.

"Hey, Eddie boy," I heard his cheery voice from behind me. "How's it hanging?"

"Again, stop calling me Eddie," I said between bites of my cereal, hating that he was a morning person. Even after living in the same house for nearly twenty years, the last eight in our own apartment, I wasn't used to it.

"Someone's in a bad mood. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed again?"

"Something like that." He knew the last two weeks had been very restless for me. I hadn't told him why, but he was smart, and I didn't doubt he had at least an inkling of the true reason. He had been questioning me relentless about her since the moment she was in her truck and driving away.

*****

Edward waved as Bella pulled in front of the accident to start her three-hour drive. He was kicking himself for not getting her number. He had been a coward. After what she said to Newton about the number staying in the report, he was sure she wanted nothing to do with him. She hadn't shown an interest in him, he didn't think.

"So," Emmett began, "she was nice."

"Yes she was," Edward answered.

"I was a little worried about her; still am."

"Me, too."

"I think there's something going on there."

"Me, too."

"I think she's cute, too."

"Beautiful." He had replied without thinking.

"I knew it! Come on man. I saw the way you were looking at her, touching her. You not only held her hand when I started the IV but rubbed her forehead too. I've never seen you that way with a patient."

"I don't know, Emmett. I really don't know."

"Did you get her number?" Edward grimaced.

"No. She told Newton she wanted it to stay in the report. She didn't seem to be interested. She probably won't even remember me in another twenty minutes."

"Don't be an idiot. I saw the way she looked at you. Plus, she said that about her number because it was Newton. Come on, you'd do the same thing."

"Well, it's too late now. Let's get back to the station."

*****

"Why are you so cheery this morning?" I asked as he poured himself a glass of orange juice and sat at the bar.

"I've already been to the gym to work out," he answered. "I'm pretty wired now."

"Shouldn't a workout tire you out?"

"For some people it does, but not for me. Maybe you should try it before bed."

He had a good point. I needed to start getting better sleep. I had people's lives in my hands. I couldn't afford to be working at anything below 100%. I would start tomorrow. Emmett and I worked the same shifts as the Fire Department, 24 hours on, 48 hours off. Therefore, I would get an hour workout in before heading to bed. I finished my cereal, cleaned the bowl, and headed towards my bedroom to get ready for the day.

I had decided in the past few days that I wanted to see her again. I looked over at the phoenix keychain that lay on my nightstand. It had fallen off her keys when she passed them to me. I don't even think she realized it came loose. I found it when I was checking the scene for anything Emmett and I may have misplaced throughout the ordeal. I had looked up the meaning of the bird when I got home. I wouldn't have guessed her to be the mythical type, but then again, I really didn't know her. I walked back into the living room after I showered and dressed to find Emmett on the phone.

"Sure," he said. "Of course…I know…I don't know what to do…Yes." I sat down on the couch with him and turned the news on. "Yep, he's here now. He sure took long enough getting ready." I scowled at him. "Okay. I love you too. Here he is." He passed the phone towards me.

"Hello?" I spoke. I assumed it was one of my parents. They're the only people that would call this early.

"Hello, sweetheart," my mom said sweetly on the phone. "How are you this morning?"

"I'm okay. Just a little tired. How have you been?"

"Good, good. I decided to expand the garden. I'm thinking about attempting to grow some lilies. I think it would be gorgeous."

"Anything you do would be gorgeous. You've got the green thumb. How is dad doing?"

"He's…" She was hesitant which peaked my worry. "He's sleeping right now. He's been staying up late for the past few days doing some research. He's stumped, and you know your father. It's eating at him."

"Who's sick? Are you okay?" My father was a practical man. He wouldn't exhaust himself unless it proved to be necessary. Emmett turned to me, concern in his eyes.

"I'm fine. It's a patient. Well, his favorite patient. She's sick, and he doesn't know why." It made sense then. A girl there had captured my parents' hearts from day one. She was always referred to as 'Brown Eyes' so dad could keep the doctor/patient confidentiality. The way they talked about her, I sometimes thought they would have adopted her if given the chance.

"Oh, I see. Is this why you thought about growing lilies? I know they're Brown Eyes' favorite flower." Emmett relaxed back into the couch. He snatched the remote from my hand and turned the channel to Cartoon Network.

"Well, I took some to her while she was in the hospital. She was there for five days. Normally she's in and out within a few hours, but something's really wrong. I'm worried about her. Your father said she's being as stubborn as usual. He thinks she might not take care of the burn or see her doctor like she should since she went back home."

"Maybe she will. Maybe she will surprise you both and do exactly as dad said. Give her a chance."

"You're right. I'm sorry; I just get so worried about her, and this time it's more serious than I've ever seen for her. She has friends, but she blocks them out of the parts of her life she thinks would be a burden to them. I think she might be leaning on herself for strength. You know that doesn't bode well."

"I know. Give her some time. It sounds like she has a lot to process."

"She does. I'm sorry, this isn't why I called. I wanted to see if you two could make it for a short visit soon. I miss my boys."

"I'm sure we can. How about we come up on Wednesday? We'll get off at 8 and can be there by lunch."

"That sounds wonderful. Is there anything in particular you want for lunch?"

"Em, Mom wants to know if there's something you want her to cook for lunch when we get there."

"Ohh, ohh, can we have spaghetti with her secret sauce?" He was bouncing on the couch. I sometimes wondered how he was older than me. "Oh, and Mom, Edward met a girl." I picked up a throw pillow and started hitting him in the head. Mom was a very perceptive lady. I had wanted to keep the subject of Bella quiet for a while. She would hear how enamored I was with Bella even if I tried to play it off. I wasn't ready to admit how much she had affected me.

"Edward," my mother said with a knowing voice. "Is this true?"

"Well, sort of," I conceded.

"How did you meet her?"

"On a call. She saved Emmett's and my lives actually. Someone wasn't paying attention to the accident we were attending to and didn't stop. He was going to run us over, and we didn't even know. She was held up by the accident, saw what was happening, and honked her horn to get our attention. We were able to get out of the way before he hit the car we were working on."

"Oh sweetheart, are you and Emmett okay?" I could hear the worry in her voice.

"Yes, we're fine, not even a scratch on us. There's no need to worry. When we come up in a few days you'll be able to see for yourself."

"If you're sure then; I'll let you two get to work. I can't wait to see you."

"You too. I love you."

"I love you, too. See you in a few days." I hung up and punched Emmett in the arm. Mom wouldn't let this go now.

"Let's leave for work. I need caffeine."

The next few days passed without much incident. We accompanied the fire trucks to two fires; one was a grease fire with no injuries and the other was an abandoned warehouse with no injuries. We responded to a distressed caller at a local park. The dispatcher said a young boy, maybe eight or nine-years-old, had been found unconscious by the pond dripping wet. He was breathing but not responding. When we arrived we found the boy to be pretending. It was a dare from his older brother. After a discussion with his mother and brother, we returned to the station.

I had offered to drive to Forks this morning, allowing Emmett to nap. I would have loved to have slept, but the driver controlled the radio. Emmett did not understand a sleeping person needs it to be quite. Therefore, I could drive and listen to music I enjoyed or let Emmett drive and have Van Halen or Led Zeppelin blaring in my ears. I chose the lesser of two evils. I had just finished one of my Beethoven CDs and was now listening to Debussy.

I pulled into Forks around 11:30 and called mom to let her know we were ten minutes away. The small sleepy town had always felt like home. We, Emmett and I, had never lived here, but where my parents were, home was. I pulled off into the well-hidden driveway and winded down the gravel road. Esme had found this mansion by accident while exploring the sleepy town. She had gotten lost, accidently turned down the drive hoping to find the highway, and come upon the house.

It was three-stories, the south facing wall all windows. She had fallen in love with it immediately. She visited a local real estate agent and walked away as the homeowner before the day was done. She spent the next two months working painstakingly on remodeling the long vacated house. Once livable, they moved in. Three months later, she declared the place done. She had enjoyed the remodeling process immensely; so much so that she decided to start doing it as a hobby. Now, eight years later, she was a highly sought after remodeler and interior designer.

"Em," I reached over and lightly shook his sleeping body, "we're here. It's time to wake up." Mom was standing on the porch waving enthusiastically at us. I waved back and pulled my beautiful silver Volvo to a stop beside the garage. "Wake up, man." I punched him in the arm which woke him with a jolt. I grabbed my bag from the back seat and stepped out, stretching my sore muscles.

"Hello, sweetheart. How was the drive?" my mother asked as she pulled me into a hug. I hugged her back, loving the warmth and comfort of the action.

"It wasn't too bad," I answered as I pulled away so she could hug Emmett who was just emerging from the car. "Emmett only snored for about an hour." He flipped me off behind mom's back while she laughed.

"Well, lunch is ready. I made spaghetti and garlic bread. Your father is at the hospital and will be home around eight." I slung my arm over her shoulder and we walked towards the front door. "He has a surgery later so that time is subjective. I figured you two could eat then lay down for a short nap. I want you to be able to sleep tonight so we can have all day tomorrow together. Does that sound like a plan?"

"That sounds great." I dropped my bag by the door before pulling her towards the kitchen. "So how is the garden?" Even after all the work she put forth on the house, the garden was always considered her pride and joy.

"Oh, it's wonderful. I have some lily seeds arriving tomorrow. I can't plant them yet, but that's okay. I really hope they take. I would like to give some to Brown Eyes the next time I see her." She sat the plates in front of us on the bar. Emmett dug in immediately with fervor. It had always been his favorite meal. "So, how have you two been? I haven't seen you in far too long."

"Mom, we just saw you two weeks ago," Emmett said with food in his mouth. She smacked the back of his head.

"Emmett McCarty Cullen! Do not talk with food in your mouth." I snickered as he pouted. "I know I saw you two weeks ago, but I missed you. I don't like being separated from my boys. I want to know how you are and what's going on in your life. I don't like being out of the loop. I was so scared when Edward told me about almost being run over. That happened over a week ago, and you two chose not to tell me. I am your mother and deserve to know what is going on in your life. Don't deprive me of that."

"Yes, ma'am. Since you're feeling deprived, why don't you let Edward here tell you about Bella." I shot him a harsh look. He would never let this drop.

"Is Bella the girl that saved you two?" She pulled a bar stool around so she could sit facing us. Her face was alight like I had never seen. She was intently listening, and I could tell she would hang on ever detail.

"She is," I answered as I pushed the empty plate away. "What do you want to know?"

"Tell me about the accident. Did you have to treat her?"

I retold the story with as much detail as I could. She hung on every word. Her emotions were written on her face; I could tell when she was worried or touched. Her eyes shone as I told her about helping Bella with the IV, and she chuckled when I recalled the conversation she had with Newton and told her how Emmett and I both had to leave so he wouldn't see us laugh.

"So tell me more about Bella. What was she like?" She took Emmett's and my plate to the sink to wash them. Even though she had a dishwasher, she preferred to wash dishes by hand.

"She was very caring. She wanted to know how the people in the car were, how the driver of the truck was, how each of us were. She's shy. Ben came over to thank her, and she blushed. Actually, she blushed a lot."

"She's funny too, sarcastic," Emmett chimed in. "She was able to laugh at herself and keep the mood light. She didn't freak out like most patients would." Mom came back to sit in her chair.

"She was a spitfire, too. She got upset and Em and I for leaving while Newton was still there. We came back and she let us have it. Em laughed in her face because she was so adorable when trying to be mean." I smiled as I thought of her. I really needed to try to find her. My smile faded as I remembered why knowing all this about her was even possible.

"Edward, why do you look sad?" Mom asked.

"She's sick, has been for a while apparently. I'm worried about her."

"Me too," Emmett said. "She sounded almost like she's getting discouraged. That's never a good sign. She needs to make sure she's fighting whatever this is. I'm afraid she's giving up."

"I don't think she's giving up. I think she's starting to accept that she's sick instead of fighting against it."

"Well, make sure she fights," Mom stated with conviction. If only I could. Emmett chuckled.

"Yeah," he said. "That sounds like a good idea. Why don't you make sure she fights, Eddie?" I glared at him for the nickname and the dig at me. Esme looked at me curiously, and I sighed.

"I didn't get her number. I didn't get anything. I just let her slip through my fingers." She looked at me sympathetically.

"You'll find her. I'm sure of it." I smiled at her. She looked down and seemed as if there was something she wanted to say. Once she finally looked up I smiled at her in encouragement. "Sweetheart, are you okay with this?"

"What do mean?" From the corner of my mind I could see Emmett start to look uncomfortable in his seat, shifting from side to side.

"Well, you said she's sick; sick enough to be pretty discouraged. It sounds a lot like-"

"No! It's not like that."

"Sweetheart, I'm not saying it's going to turn out the same way. I'm not saying it's just like...her. I'm just saying it sounds familiar. You need to be careful. She may react the same as Tanya." I shook my head vehemently.

"No. She won't. I won't let her." She smiled sympathetically, her eyes softening. She came around the bar and placed a hand on my cheek.

"I know you won't, Sweetheart. Just be prepared for a fight." I closed my eyes a took a deep breath.

"Thanks, Mom."

"Why don't you two head up to bed? I'll come wake you when your father gets home, and we'll have dinner." We stood and kissed her cheek before heading upstairs to sleep. I was out by the time my head hit the pillow.

Edward was sitting in the station watching the nightly news before heading to bed. He still had twelve hours on his shift and wanted to get some sleep in case there was another call. He turned off the television and hit the lights before heading towards the bunkroom.

"Cullen," he turned to see the Chief calling after him. "Take the trash out back before heading to bed."

"Yes, sir," he answered. He turned back towards the kitchen. The trash was only half-full, but he wouldn't question the boss. He tied the bag and walked to the back of the station, donning his jacket before heading into the bitter cold. He tossed the bag into the dumpster then turned to finally go to bed. On the back porch, someone was occupying a seat that was empty when he first came out.

"Hi." He would recognize that voice anywhere. A bright smile lit his face as he jogged towards her. Bella looked beautiful with the porch light creating a glow from behind her.

"Hello, beautiful," he said as he pulled her up into a hug. She wrapped her arms around his neck and giggled as he spun her around. He sat her back on her feet and gave her a soft, sweet kiss before grabbing a hand and pulling her towards the door.

"No, baby. I don't want to keep you from going to sleep. I know you've still got a while on your shift tonight, and the roads aren't in the best condition. I wouldn't be surprised if you get called out for an accident." She pushed a bag into his hand that was sitting beside the chair. "I just wanted to bring you this. I was bored and decided to do some baking. There are some chocolate chip cookies and a slice of red velvet cake. I figured you could share with your brother. Next time I'll make enough for the shift."

"You didn't have to do that, but thank you. I'll think about sharing, but I'm not promising anything." She smiled sweetly at him causing his heart to stutter. He pulled her into a hug, rubbing his hands up and down her back trying to keep her warm.

"I better go. Please get some sleep, and be careful if you get called out tonight."

"I'll be safe; I promise. Please call me when you get home. As you said, the roads aren't in the best condition. I want to know you're safe, too." She hugged him tighter and breathed in his comforting scent.

"I will. Call me tomorrow after you've slept, and I'll cook you dinner. Does that sound good?" She looked up at his breathtaking crooked smile. He kissed her nose, red from the biting cold.

"That sounds wonderful. Now, go home, and call me when you get in." He leaned down to kiss her, but heard his mom's voice.

"Sweetheart," she said. "Your father is home. Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes." He groaned at being woken from the wonderful dream.

"Okay, Mom," he said. "I'll be down soon."

She left the room, and I rolled over onto my back, blowing out a long breath. The dreams were great. They were warm and sweet. They only caused me to long for her more. I wanted to get to know her, to see if the dreams I had fit with the person. I mentally kicked myself again for not asking for her number. Seattle was a large city; the chances of finding her were slim to none, but that wouldn't stop me from trying. I rolled out of bed and headed down towards the dining room.

"Hello, Son," my dad said as he clapped a hand on my shoulder as I hit the landing of the first floor. "Did you sleep well?"

"I did," I answered. "How was your shift; how was the surgery?"

"Boring, which is always a good thing. I saw a boy with a bee sting, a little girl who fell off the jungle gym, and a man who broke his ankle at work. The surgery was postponed until Friday. He had a few things to do before he would be 'kept captive in the hospital' as he said." He chuckled lightly. "I spent a few hours doing some research."

"Boys," Esme called from dining room. "Dinner's going to get cold."

"Let's go before we get in trouble. We'll talk more there." I followed him into the dining room, taking my seat across from Emmett, his plate already full and waiting.

"How did the research go, honey?" We had been eating in silence for about five minutes.

"It was informative but not very helpful. I tried every test I could, I sent her panels and films to the Mayo Clinic and John Hopkins, and I've been looking into rare diseases and disorders. I still don't have any answers."

"Is this about Brown Eyes?" I asked. Carlisle looked at me skeptically. "Mom mentioned it in passing. Do you know if she's been following your instructions?"

"I've been consulting with Dr. Denali at Mason Medical. By the way Emmett, he has some research for you to pick up when you get a chance. Anyway, he has agreed to take over her case. She's been attending her daily appointments to get the burn redressed. She's still taking her medication, too. Dr. Denali says he doesn't like what he is seeing in her though; she's starting to show signs of giving up. She needs answers, and I can't give them to her."

"That sounds like Bella," Emmett said. "They could be twins." Carlisle started coughing.

"Dad, are you okay?" I asked. I stood and walked to him placing a hand on his back. He held up his hand, motioning for me to give him a moment. He finally calmed down and took a drink of his water. I returned to my seat, keeping an eye on him.

"I'm sorry," he said. "The food went down the wrong pipe. So, who is this Bella?" He looked curiously at Esme. She gasped. I looked to her. They were both acting strangely.

"Oh, I, um," she stuttered. "I forgot to turn the oven off. I'll be right back." She stood and bustled to the kitchen. She was back quickly. "Go ahead, Edward. Tell him about your Bella." My Bella? My Bella. I liked the sound of that. I would love to make her my Bella. Stop it! You don't even know her. You don't even know how to get a hold of her. I shook my head to clear it before recounting what I told Esme to Carlisle.

He listened attentively, a gleam in his eye I had never seen before. I made sure to include things this time I had left out with Esme. I told him about her blood pressure, and, as expected, he informed us we should have taken her straight to the hospital. Emmett stood by my decision to treat her on-site which I was thankful for. I told him of my fears that she was downplaying her illness to not burden others, how she was trying to stay strong without relying on others. He, like Esme, had said to be there for her and help her. I told him about not getting any contact information.

"Well, Edward," he said. "Perhaps all will work out. I know Seattle is big, but if it's meant to be, you'll find her."

"I hope it's meant to be then." He smiled at me encouragingly.

"You sound like you're in a Nicholas Sparks novel," Emmett said. "Gag me now."

"One day you're going to find a beautiful woman that stuns you," Esme said to Emmett. "She'll hit you like a ton of bricks, and you'll be no better off. I hope she makes you work for it. You need something to level you out." Carlisle and I chuckled at the scene. I loved when my twenty six-year-old brother was put in his place. It needed to happen more often.

The rest of the dinner conversation revolved around the trivial every day happenings in our life. Esme hung onto every word. I realized as I watched her eyes light up that we didn't see her as much as we should. She had been the best mom I could have ever asked for. She loved us and every aspect of our life. The least we could do for her was to visit more often. I would make it a point to try and see her at least once a week.

After dinner I went into the living room and over to the piano. My hand skimmed over the instrument reverently. It was a magical thing. I sat and began to play the piece I had composed for Esme some years ago. Playing always brought a sort of peace over me. As long as my fingers glided over those ivory and onyx keys, there was no strife or struggle or conflict in my life. It was the piano and me. I could feel the tension leave my shoulders slowly and the past few days' events faded into darkness. I felt a calmness settle, an understanding that all would indeed be okay. As the composition came to a close, I smoothly transitioned into Clair de Lune. I felt Emse rest a hand on my shoulder.

"It's so beautiful, Edward," she whispered. "Thank you for playing. You know how much I love to hear it." I looked up to see her eyes closed, a small smile playing on her face as she swayed in time to the tune.

We retreated to our bedrooms soon after I closed the song. Even though I had slept a good part of the day, I felt exhausted. The past two weeks had been rough on my body, not getting the amount of sleep I needed. After I slept, I woke to Esme cooking breakfast. Carlisle had the day off so we spent it as a family. We watched a movie, talked, played games, talked, helped Carlisle with his research, and talked. Esme couldn't hear enough about our lives recently. All too soon, Thursday afternoon arrived and we had to go back to Seattle.

"Oh, please drive safe," Esme said, her voice full of emotion as she tried to hold back the tears. No matter how many times we made this trip and no matter how old we were, she still got emotional at our departure.

"I will," Emmett said. "I'm a perfect driver. Eddie here is the one you have to worry about."

"Call me when you get in. I want to know you made it okay."

"We will Mom. I promise. How about you and dad come visit us next week some time? We would love the company."

"That's a wonderful idea. I'll talk with your father." She hugged us again for the third time. I threw my bag in the back along with Emmett's as we got into the car. I rolled the window down when Emmett started my Volvo. "Bye boys."

"Bye Mom. Take care. I'll call you in a few hours. I love you."

"Love you too, sweetheart." She waved as we pulled out of sight. I rested my head against the headrest praying Emmett would leave the music low enough to allow me to sleep.

AN: I hope my first attempt at EPOV was a success. His mind is not the easiest to be in. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Was Edward's dream too cheesy? What's up with Tanya? Review and I will send you a sneak peek at the next chapter.

I'm still leaving the poll up for a while on my profile so please vote if you haven't already.

I promise Edward and Bella will be reunited. You are welcome to guess how they will, but I don't think you can. None of my friends have yet. ;)