Author's Note: So I apologize for the wait. I was super busy for the past week but hopefully things will pick up again now I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Bella's POV:
I may have been a nurse but when my daughter was sick enough to need a hospital visit all of my training flew out of my mind. I couldn't explain it except for the pure unadultered fear growing in the pit of my stomach.
I parked the car on the side of the hospital near the emergency entrance and didn't even bother turning it off. I knew Jasper would take care of it before meeting me inside.
I grabbed Charlotte from her car seat and ran through the sliding automatic doors hoping to find someone I recognized manning the desk.
Charlotte winced and buried her face closer to my shoulder as the fluorescent lights hit her face.
A young man I didn't recognize, wearing superman scrubs, was sitting behind the welcome desk flipping through some charts. As soon as he saw me he stood.
"Is Carlisle Cullen on call tonight?" I asked quickly unsure of my friend's schedule.
"He is," He nodded "You're little one doesn't look very good. Why don't we get her in a room and I'll get Dr. Cullen for you?"
I nodded and sat in the chair provided for parents.
"What's her name? When did she start getting sick?" He asked pulling out a few new forms to fill out.
"Charlotte Whitlock. She came in saying she didn't feel good about an hour and a half ago and she has a fever of 103," I listed off rocking my daughter slowly in my arms.
Jasper came up behind me with Cole sleeping in his arms as the nurse asked a few more questions.
He clasped my shoulder gently as I answered every question.
The young man took Charlotte's temperature again and then stood to lead us into one of the small procedure rooms to wait to be seen.
I climbed onto the examination table and laid back so that Charlotte was nestled against my side, whimpering softly.
Jasper settled into one of the chairs and shifted our still sleeping son.
"I'll send Doctor Cullen in as soon as I can," The young nurse said as he exited the room shutting the door carefully behind him.
"Darlin'" Jasper drawled calmly "It'll all be alright."
His voice was reassuring but at the same time I couldn't help but feel that he didn't fully understand the situation because he couldn't remember our previous trips here.
I nodded but didn't say anything. Charlotte whimpered and buried her face closer to my chest and I ran my fingers calmly through her hair.
J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B
Carlisle came bursting into the room, looking worried, about ten minutes later.
"I came as soon as I heard the name," He said and I sat up.
"Char, honey, Uncle Carlisle is here," I murmured softly to her as I sat her in my lap.
"No, go way" She grumbled trying to twist away in my arms.
"Charlotte," Carlisle reached out and she uncharacteristically shied away from him "Can I just take a listen to your chest?"
She opened her eyes slightly and looked up at me pitifully. I nodded encouragingly at her and she sat up with a huff.
"Daddy?" Charlotte asked plaintively.
"I'm here sugar," Jasper said in his soft, calm drawl and I felt Charlotte's body relax a little bit.
Carlisle did a quick examination of her and then called in Angela who happened to be working tonight.
"I think she's coming down with Strep throat so we're going to give her an IV drip of fluids to combat any dehydration brought on by the fever and the first dose of antibiotics." Carlisle explained as Angela started to prepare the IV line.
"So we can take her home after this?" I asked laying my daughter down on the bed so I could stand and stretch.
Carlisle nodded and gave a small smile. Jasper suddenly stood and strode over to me placing Cole gently in my arms.
"Darlin' why don't you go wait outside," He suggested "I'll stay in here with Charlotte. I remember how much you hate watching her have the IV's put in."
I was stunned but thankful at the suggestion and nodded following Carlisle out of my daughter's room.
"Here's the prescription you guys will need to pick up," Carlisle said handing me the small slip of paper "She'll be alright Bella."
I blushed and thanked him quietly and walked further down the hall gently rocking Cole in my arms. I couldn't stand to hear Charlotte scream or cry. It made my heart feel like it was going to break into a million little pieces.
Jasper's POV:
"Daddy!" Charlotte screamed as Angela tried to hold her hand still so she could get the IV in.
"I'm here baby," I said calmly. While Carlisle had been examining Charlotte I had had a flashback of Bella breaking down into tears while Charlotte was having an IV inserted and I sent my wife out of the room with our son because I couldn't stand watching her get upset on top of Charlotte. "Can you sit still for daddy?"
She nodded and sniffled and I squeezed the hand that Angela wasn't working on tightly.
"Just look at me baby," I soothed and brushed her damp blonde hair back.
"Hurt daddy!" She cried as Angela quickly put the IV line in.
"All done gorgeous," Angela said as she began to set up the pole. "And because you were so good you can pick a lollipop."
Charlotte's face brightened as Angela dug into her scrubs pocket and pulled out three lollipops- a cherry one, an orange one and a grape one.
Charlotte instantly grabbed the cherry one and handed it to me "Wayter daddy?"
I nodded "Okay, will you be okay for a minute?" I asked carefully "I'm going to go and get mommy."
Charlotte nodded and I left quickly. I found Bella just down the hall from Char's room, holding our son and tearing up.
"Bells," I hurried up to her and kissed her softly "Char's okay."
"I hate seeing her sick," Bella said fiercely "I wish I could make her healthy."
"Bella I hate seeing her sick just as much as you and it's not fair that her immune system sucks but she's going to get better and be back to being our beautiful, energetic, sweet little girl." I ran my hand along the top of her leg and she warranted me a smile.
By the time we got back into the room Charlotte was fast asleep so I simply covered her tiny body with a warm blanket we had grabbed on the walk back and sat down in a chair next to Bells.
J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B
It was eight in the morning by the time Charlotte was released and Bella drove us back home. I decided to let her catch some shut eye with Charlotte who was thoroughly drained from our hospital adventure and stay up with Cole who had slept the whole time and was now wide awake.
"Dada pay!" Cole shrieked in a loud giggle as he dragged two cars across the carpet of our living room.
"Coming buddy," I smiled. My daughter may be sick but I was still very happy with the way our family was. I just wanted to remember everything to do with them.
I sat next to him and he shoved a car into my hands and gave me a grin.
As I watched him play I was dragged into another flash back.
Flash back:
My ten month old son's giggles echoed off the living room walls and I couldn't help but laugh right alongside him.
We were sitting in the living room watching a Winnie the Pooh video Charlotte had gotten from Sue and Charlie last time they visited and Tigger was currently bouncing wildly across the screen.
"Cowe shush!" Charlotte said putting her tiny finger against her lip as she hugged her Eeyore doll closer with the other arm. "Daddy!"
I scooped her into my lap and hugged her close "He's just a baby," I explained "He'll fall asleep soon."
Present:
"Alright my goofy boy," I chuckled and tickled his side "Let's go get some breakfast."
I hefted him up and carried him to the kitchen. I hadn't spent much time in this room since I'd been shot but I would have to overcome any fears pretty quickly if I was going to move on with my life.
I put Cole carefully into his high chair and set about trying to find the stuff needed to make some scrambled eggs and oatmeal.
I was reaching out to grab a pot from the cupboard when I had another flash.
Flash:
I was reaching across the stove to grab the pot of soup when the doorbell rang. I turned the element off and motioned for Peter and Charlotte to stay where they were.
Something didn't feel right and I didn't want them following me to the door.
Bella and Rose were out at the gym with Cole and Brooke and we weren't expecting anybody over so I glanced through the peep hole.
I recognized the person behind the door as they started banging wildly and quickly made my way to the kitchen.
"Peter you need to take Charlotte and hide," I whispered quietly as the front door's lock gave way and the door slammed against the wall.
He looked at me concerned "Okay." I watched him reach out to take her hand and I spun around to face the intruder.
"What do you want?" I called.
"You know what I want." The familiar voice called out angrily. They were waving a gun around and I placed myself firmly between them and the two children I loved so much.
"Well you can't have her." I said sternly and tried to think of a way to get out of this without anyone being hurt.
Present:
The big bang of a gunshot in my memory broke me out of my stupor and I shook my head to clear the cobwebs.
I couldn't make out the faces of the individual in my memory but I knew I recognized them.