Disclaimer: I do not own anything Twilight related I just like playing with the characters. Also, while I did do a little bit of research about the medical terms used in this story I make no claim to know what I am doing with them! I am just using them for my story. I don't know how the foster system works in great detail but in this story it works my way. No complaints! Thanks for reading- Enjoy
It was 5 in the morning when Carlisle finally came into the waiting room and I hadn't moved from my spot on Jasper's lap until I saw Carlisle's tired face in the waiting room entrance. I practically leapt up, racing forward.
Carlisle swept me into a tight hug and said "We've done all we can do for now and now the only thing left to do is wait to see how she recovers. We have her in a medically induced coma so that her heart has a chance to recover without any extra stress and we'll pull her out of it in a few days."
"When can I see her?" I asked quietly pulling away to look at Carlisle.
"Not until she is out of recovery and into intensive care," Carlisle said gently "And I talked to Eleazer and the others and we've agreed to give you some paid time off. You need it after everything that has happened lately."
"Time off?" I questioned and felt Jasper wrap his arms around my waist. I think he was nervous that I was going to freak or faint.
"Family leave," Carlisle explained.
"Is Charlotte going to need more surgery?" Jasper asked from above me.
"Hopefully not until she is 4 or 5 however I won't make any guarantees." Carlisle responded glancing between us.
"Were there any complications?" I asked nervously.
"It went by as smoothly as could be expected," Carlisle sighed. "I'll send Kate to get you when Charlotte is out of recovery which I expect will be in a couple of hours but Bella you need to remember she will be back on a ventilator and will probably look very frail for a while."
"You better call your family," Jasper said when I looked back at him "They'll be expecting your call."
"Thanks Carlisle for everything," I said wiggling out of Jasper's arms and grabbing my phone from the diaper bag I carried in lieu of a purse since Charlotte came home with me.
"I'll see you this afternoon Bella," Carlisle gave me a warm smile and left Jasper and I alone once again.
"See Bells she's ok," Jasper smiled broadly at me.
I gave him a weak smile and dialed Emmett's cell number.
Rosalie answered and the first thing out of her mouth was "Bella, how's our niece doing? Is Jasper there?"
"Char is in recovery. She's on a ventilator but Carlisle said the surgery went well." I explained and while I spoke Jasper sat down beside me and clasped my free hand in between his. "Thanks for calling Jasper, he's here and he hasn't left my side since he got here."
"We left as soon as you called and we'll be there tomorrow night." Rose said "Emmett talked to Charlie about an hour ago and he was heading up then. He'll be there in the morning."
"Rose, thank you for being so great." I whispered softly.
"Hun you're my sister and Charlotte is my niece we're getting through this as a family." She said gently.
"Drive safe Rose," I said quietly "We'll see you later."
"See ya Bell!" Rose said louder "Love ya." And with that she hung up.
"Bella, do you think you'll be ok long enough for me to go down to the cafeteria and grab some coffee for us?" Jasper asked squeezing my hand lightly.
"Make mine a hot chocolate." I said trying my best to sound upbeat for him.
"Your wish is my command," Jasper joked doing an over the top bow as he stood in front of me and making me giggle.
J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B
Three hours of more hand wringing and pacing later Kate and my father both arrived in the waiting room within minutes of one another. Charlie had just sat down beside me when Kate burst in.
"You can come see her now Bella!" She said excitedly and then frowned "Only two of you can go in at a time though."
"Charlie you go in with Bella," Jasper nodded at my dad as we all stood.
I looked desperately between the two of them. I did want my dad to come with me but at the same time there was no way I would've gotten through last night without Jasper by my side, he had been everything I needed to get through the worry and panic.
"No Jasper," Charlie said giving me a smile "It's time someone else held her hand for awhile- I've been there for her, her whole life and while I will always be there when she needs me I think she needs you right now more."
I think that if I had been more in my right mind I probably would have blushed furiously and been upset with my father for making assumptions about Jasper's and my relationship but right now I just wanted to see Charlotte.
Jasper reached for my hand and I allowed him to take it and together we followed Kate to the intensive care unit that Charlotte was in.
I felt Jasper tense as we walked past a few beds with very ill children and came to stand beside a crib with Charlotte in it.
She looked even smaller than she had the night I saw her in the incubator for the first time because this was a full size crib. She still looked a little blue around her lips and was extremely pale otherwise. She was wearing only a diaper and had white gauze wrapped around her chest.
IV tubes were attached to her head and feet making me shudder anxiously. She wore both the heart monitor and pulse oximeter and ventilator tubing was attached to her face. The ventilator made constant whooshing sounds as it pumped oxygen into Charlotte's body, her chest rising and falling in unison with the machines noises.
"She's so small," Jasper commented reaching out to take one of her hands his words punctuated by the beeping of the machines "And cold."
"Her extremities are colder because her circulation isn't very good," I explained not peeling my eyes from her. It sent an odd feeling through me watching Jasper touch her and hear the awe and wonderment in his voice. I could tell he was already caring for her.
"Is it because of her heart?" He asked trailing a finger along her face.
I nodded and explained that the defect allowed blood to flow backwards and therefore her body wasn't getting enough oxygenated blood.
"What happens if this doesn't help?" He asked the question I always dreaded answering.
"She may have to go for a transplant."
"Oh," Was all Jasper said.
"I just hope it never comes to that because that would mean someone else would lose their child to save her." I admitted "But I need her. She's my world Jasper."
"I know Bella," He whispered turning to hug me again. "I can tell how much you love her."
J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B
Jasper and Charlie took turns sitting with me and when Rosalie and Emmett arrived they joined in with the 'shifts' as Kate had called it before going home to sleep after her 12 hour shift.
I didn't move from my spot in a chair next to the bed over the next two days. I just sat and stared at her, willing her body to heal.
I nodded off a couple of times only to awake with a start after 10 or 15 minutes and I ate very little having lost my appetite completely due to worry.
It was the end of visitors hours on the second day when Jasper came in looking worried and yet determined.
"Bella," He started and I looked up at him "You're coming with me now."
"I can't leave her," I insisted "I need to be here when she wakes up."
"Bella, Carlisle told you this morning he won't be taking her out of the coma until tomorrow night. You have been here almost the whole time and you need to go home and sleep and eat." Jasper said cajolingly as he ran his hand up and down my arm.
It almost felt like an electric spark every time his hand touched my skin and suddenly I realized how exhausted I really was.
Before I could even argue he swooped me into his arms, carrying me out of the unit and past Emmett and Rose who took our place with a wave.
"Where's Charlie?" I asked my voice slightly hoarse.
"I sent him to my place to get some sleep." He shrugged.
We were quiet all the way to the parking lot and all the way back to my apartment.
"Are we going to be back in time?" I questioned as I gave him my keys to open the door.
"Bella I wouldn't keep you from watching her wake up. If anything changes we will be back to the hospital as fast as humanly possible."
"Jazz what if something happens while we're here?"
"Stop being so pessimistic," Jasper chastised "Now you go get in the shower and I'll figure out something to eat and then I think it'll be your bedtime." His eyes held the familiar spark of playfulness and I just nodded.
The hot water from the shower felt amazing on my tense muscles and I let my mind wander. Unfortunately it wandered right to the handsome man in my kitchen singing as he cooked something. Part of me desperately wished that he felt for me the same way I did for him.
I wished his eyes would rove over me with desire and that he would take me to bed with him making us both feel amazing. I wished he would look at Charlotte as though she was his, as if she was someone he had to protect and love and nurture until she became an independent young woman who no longer needed her parents at every turn and most of all I wish he looked at me with love.
But at the same time I didn't want him to ever think less of me so I'd keep my thoughts, desires and dreams to myself.
I toweled myself off and headed to my bedroom but stopped short when I hit the nursery door.
The floor was still littered with packaging and the oximeter was hanging haphazardly off the change table. Getting a tighter grip on the towel I was wrapped in I strode into the room picking up things as I went.
I slipped the oximeter and thermometer back into their normal stations in the change table drawers and gave the room a once over.
I didn't want to be in here without Charlotte, without knowing that she was going to be coming in here again with me. I was so scared of losing her that it almost left me paralyzed when she needed me most.
I reached into her crib and picked out the sock monkey that my dad had gotten her the first time he came up to meet her and held it close to me. Inhaling deeply I could still smell her scent, her sweet, innocent baby scent.
That was all it took for the flood gates to finally open after almost 48 hours of trying to keep it together I collapsed in a sobbing pile on the floor.
That is where Jasper found me a few minutes later and silently he came over and just cradled me into his arms. I felt safe here, like nothing could really go wrong.
He let me cry for a few more minutes until I was just sniffling and then he happened to notice my state of undress.
He let me go and I realized that I had probably made him very uncomfortable and muttered my apologies.
"Bella, it's alright," he laughed slightly standing and pulling me into another hug. He kissed the top of my head carefully and said "I just think you may be more comfortable in pjs than a towel while we sit and eat." Then in a teasing tone he added "And far less distracting for me."
J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B
10 minutes and a change of clothes later I was settled on my sofa with Jasper chilling out in the rocker just across from me watching Alias episodes while eating pork chops and mashed potatoes.
It was just friendly silence and that's all I needed it to be. It was pleasant and reassuring and safe. I don't know how long after eating I managed to stay awake because the next thing I know I'm having blankets tucked around me in my dark bedroom and find I am holding tightly onto Charlotte's sock monkey.
Half asleep I asked the shadowy form backlit from a small light in the hallway "Stay with me?" I patted the bed behind me as I asked.
"Always," was the breathy response I got and the bed sank with his added weight and I was asleep again.
Author's Note: I was thinking of doing this whole story in Bella's POV but I will do Jasper's POV if people want me to. Thanks for reading and reviewing.