A Toxic Lullaby Chapter 39 - Dislocated, disconnected an, a twilight fanfic

Chapter 39 - Dislocated, disconnected and out of reach

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Hello, you have reached the personal voice inbox of B. Swan. I'm not available to take your call at the moment, but please leave your name, number and a brief message after the tone, and I'll call you back.

*beep*

Hi, Miss Swan, my name is Liz McMahon and I'm calling on behalf of Phil Dwyer. I'm supposed to give you the latest details regarding your travel itinerary. Can you please call me back on this number, as soon as possible? Thank you!

*beep*

Bella, loca. Clearwater here. Did you fall off the face of the earth or something? Did you at least check your e-mail before you fell? I've sent you a little something that I think you'll find interesting. Don't be a stranger, alright?!

*beep*

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"Luxated?"

Bella watched an agitated and very tense Edward, walk back and forth, between the couch and the window; away from her, towards her, away from her, towards her… It was good to see him alert and on his feet again, but his pacing was nauseating her.

It wasn't helping that her shoulder was throbbing with white hot pain and that her nostrils were assaulted withhe unsettling, metallic smell of blood…not helping at all… But faint she would not. Not when there were so many uncertainties… not when there was so much riding on her ability to stay calm and stress free…. Not when Edward looked like he was about to have a coronary.

His eyes were hugeand wild and he had been tugging at his hair so hard that Bella was sure he was going to tear out locks. "Luxated?" he repeated, stopping about halfway in his 'towards her' route, looking over at his father. "F*ck! That means dislocated, yes?"

"Yes, it means that the ball shaped bone of the upper arm has been knocked out of the socket it normally rests in," Dr. Cullen explained patiently, all the while keeping two fingers pressed to Bella's neck, checking her pulse. "It is typically caused by a sudden impact to the joint," he added, his eyes never leaving his watch.

"Figured that much," Bellamuttered trough pain-clenched teeth, braving a glance at her oddly angled shoulder. Yep, clearly dislocated, you didn't need to be a doctor to know that.

"What about her old wound? There is blood soaking through the bandage, clearly she must have torn it open again."

"Well, there is that too, but the pain she is experiencing right now is because of her shoulder," Carlisle said, removing his hand from her neck. "Your pulse is almost back to normal, Isabella. That's good. Having seen this sort of injury before, I'm surprised that you're managing so well. Many people pass out from shoulder dislocations."

"It's not the first time…. " Bella pushed her head back into the couch's throw pillows so that she was staring at the ceiling when she continued . " …once before….two years ago… same shoulder." She forced the words out, ignoring the burning sensation that followed whenever she moved.

"Then you know what needs to be done," Carlisle stated with a calm but serious expression and Bella nodded with a resigned grimace. Oh, she knew alright. This was going to be painful.

Edward followed their exchange with narrowed eyes. "What do you mean 'what-needs-to-be-done'? Don't you just pop it back in place? I mean, I realize it will hurt, but not as much as it would hurt if you left it untreated, right? Right?"

"I will try to reset it, yes, but it's not going to be easy. In fact, I'm going to need your help," his father replied. "Both of you," he added, directing the last part to Emmett, who up to that point had been standing silently in the doorway.

"Sure doc, whatever you need help with, just say the word."

"You can start by helping her up. She needs to be sitting on the edge of the cushions with her feet on the floor."

"Head up, feet down, I'm on it!" Emmett pushed away from the door frame and stepped further into the room. Edward, however, was faster and beat him to it. "Let me," he insisted, rushing to the couch.

"No, I've got this," Bella hurried to interject, as adamantly as she could. Moving around would undoubtedly hurt and she much preferred doing it on her own terms. When it looked like Edward was about to protest she added, "You could maybe help mer with the blanket instead. Wouldn't want it slipping..."

"I really think I should-…."

"NO," she shot him a death glare, until he threw hands up in a gesture of surrender. Then she moved….The minute she began scooting herself forward the pain intensified tenfold. She choked back a whimper and scooted some more. Then a little more, and a little more, until finally….. gravity took over, making her legs drop to the ground.

The edges of her vision blacked out for a second and she struggled a bit to breathe herself back to a state of composure. In through the nose, out through the mouth, in, out…

In the meantime Edward was quick to rearrange the fabric around her, just like she had known he would. It was almost comical, if ithadn't been such a worrisome situation. She could tell it bothered him that both his brother and his father had seen… uhm… a great deal of skin, when she had first been carried her inside the house. Silly boy, it was such an insignificant detail in the grand scheme of things. Sure, she would probably feel awkward about it later on, but for the time being everything was irrelevant, except the pain.

"Take your time, Isabella," Carlisle advised, his voice momentarily muffled from pulling his sweater over his head and twirling it into a rope-like form. "When you feel you're ready for it, I want you to bend your elbow at a 90 degree angle. I'm going to try and loop this sweater around your arm."

She relaxed the muscles of her arm and gave a nod. Bending it wasn't too bad, but moving it away from her body hurt like nothing before. In fact she would have fallen over if Edward hadn't been there to steady her., because for a long second, there was nothing but white, searing waves of agony, before the world righted itself again.

"Emmett, come stand by my side. I want you to hold on to this, once I have it in position," Carlisle instructed, carefully sliding the makeshift sling all the way up until it was directly under her armpit.

"Got it," Emmett stepped around the couch, ready to take on the task he'd been assigned. "Okay sugar, how are we going to do this? Hard and fast, or long and slow?" he asked in a cheeky voice that was probably meant to distract her. Like that would work… ha!

"Don't mess with me, Em," she advised him, between gritted teeth. "I'll tell Rose you were leering at my tatas."

"Hey, now… They were right there. Where was I supposed to look? At the ceiling?!"

Edward let out a sound between a strangled cough and a growl, taking a step towards his brother. Emmett, on the other hand, grinned, and winked at her, looking completely unfazed.

"Alright, focus!" Carlisle hurried to intervene. "Isabella, I'm going to help you rotate your arm and shoulder first inward, towards your chest, and then outward away from your body. Hopefully that will be enough pop it back into place, but it will not be a comfortable experience, and you might have to repeat it-…"

"…several times. I know."

"Edward, your sole job is to keep her upright and Emmett, I want you to give her shoulder a gentle tug upwards on my signal. Alright, are you ready, Isabella?"

She nodded and held her breath; hastily vowing not to pass out, if for no other reason than it being awfully cliche and predictable.

"One…."

Though there was also an honest fear that if she fainted, Edward would be gone when she came to… along with the tiny life inside her womb…She'd never forgive herself if anything happened and wasn't strong enough to fight for them.

"Two…."

She squinted her eyes shut and braced herself the best she could. 'Don't pass out, don't pass out, please don't pass out!'

"….Three!"

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*beep*

This is Liz McMahon again. It's urgent that I speak with you, please call me back.

*beep*

Congratulations, Isabella Marie Swan Black! Your number has won $90,000.00 USD in the Mega Millions Lottery. To claim your prize send verification Number:CN-750623 to info , OR call 555-89-…."

*beep*

Isabella, it's Liz McMahon again. Mrs. Dwyer was kind enough to provide me with your personal e-mail address. I've sent you all the details needed for your flight tomorrow. If you have any questions don't hesitate to call.

*beep*

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"One…Two...Three!

Her entire body jerked as if she had been thrown into icy water.

Edward would never forget the keening wail of agony that escaped her lips. No matter how hurt and angered he was at her, hehated to see her like , the next sound that was heard was an audible shifting of bones as her shoulder moved back into its socket.

The pain seemed to subside almostinstantly.

She sagged against him and he caught her and gathered her in his arms, careful not to touch her shoulder. Her head rested on his chest and he could feel her shaky breaths slowly steady themselves, but her eyes were still closed and she remained unmoving.

Edward angled his face to look at his father for advice, but was interrupted when his mother came rushing into the room.

"I heard screaming. Is everything alright?" she asked, her voice a bit frantic. "Is there anything I can do? Should I try and call 911 again?"

"Isabella?" Carlisle inquired and Edward felt her nod her head against his chest. "You alright?" She nodded again and then they all saw her shift her injured shoulder ever so slightly so that she couldflex her arm and wiggle her fingers experimentally.

"It looks like we got it right on our first try," Carlisle concluded, giving his wife a reassuring smile. "We reset her shoulder. She'll be sore for a few days, but the hard part is done."

"Oh, I see," Esme said not sounding reassured at all.

"I'll need to check her pulse and blood pressure again and then, if the paramedics don't get here within the next five minutes or so, I will have to do something about her wound. I suspect she might need stitches this time."

"But.. but… she's in pain. Can't you give her something for her pain?"

Edward heard his mother verbalized the question that been nagging at the back of his mind; pain relief, muscle relaxers…herbs… there had to be something she could take to help ease the discomfort. He felt Bella shake her head in response and apparently his father was in agreeing.

"I could, but because of the circumstances, I'd like to wait until the paramedics get here."

"What circumstances?"Esme asked with a frown. "There is more, isn't it? Is it bad? Is that why you keep sending me away? Get us this, get us that!... Ice, towels, water… I'm not stupid, you know."

"Esme," Carlisle began. "You know I'm not allowed to divulge any information about my patients."

"Oh my god, so there IS more, then? Edward, please tell me what's going on!"

There was that frantic twinge in her voice again. Edward frowned. This was stupid. He saw no point in not telling her, it wasn't like she wouldn't find out once the paramedics arrived the thought had even fully formed, he heardhimself blurt out "Bella is pregnant, mum."

The room was silent for about ten seconds. Then hell broke loose….

"Another baby? You need to learn how to wrap it, bro!" Emmett, bellowed at the same time as Esme cried out, " . . ? . ?"

Edward ignored his brother because well… that's what he normally did when he was talking nonsense, but also because it sounded like his mother was on the verge of hysteria.

Turning, he sought his parents out with his eyes and found his mother standing right behind him peering down at them from above. Before he could locate his father though, Bella shifted in his arms, looking up at him with pained indignity written all over her pale was obviously not liking the way things were going. Touch luck! She should have thought of that sooner. She should have considered how her decisions would affect and possibly hurt others.

Now they had a distressed Esme going on and on about how the weak glass constructionwas all her fault and howmuch of it she could have prevented with a few different choices.

"Mum, Bella is going to be fine and this was not in any way your fault."

"I'm so sorry," his mother sighed deeply, shaking her head. "I brought all of this on."

"Mum, this wasn't your fault."

"Yes it was. I drew that building up myself. I picked the materials, the contractor, the…. the… I did everything myself. This is such a nightmare. If anything happens…I'd never…"

"Esme…" In three long strides, Carlisle had reached his wife and taken her in his arms.

"Wow, you control the weather, mum? Now, I'm impressed," Emmett joked, trying to ease some of the anxiety in the room. "The snow is hardly your fault."

"I really am fine," Bella, who'd kept quiet the whole time, finally spoke up. "It's the truth, Esme. I'm fine…we're fine." Her voice was hoarse, but the determination and resolve within was undeniably obvious. "Tell her Dr. Cullen," she insisted, slowly straightened herself until she was sitting in a more upright position. "You have my permission to tell the grandmother of our unborn child everything."

A choked sob was heard, then a quiet plead, "Please! Tell me everything!"

"I won't lie or sugarcoat it for you, Isabella," Carlisle warned.

"No, I know you wont, but you said that if there has been no bleeding or cramping, the likelihood is that everything will be fine.."

"Yes, but you've had two very dramatic incidents within a period of less than 48 hours. This is something that needs to be taken seriously and you will have to go to the hospital and be examined properly to find out the extent of your injuries."

"So, you don't really know one way or another yet?" Esme asked in small, hesitant voice

"They will most likely keep her under observation for a few days, but I think, and I stress the word THINK, that both Bella and the baby will be perfectly fine."

Just then a pitiful wail filled the air and Alice walked into the room with a whimpering, pyjama clad, little boy on her hip and her cell phone pressed to her ear. "I've got Jasper on the phone. He says he's been down to the main road and back. The road is clear."

Emmett reached to take the phone from her "Hey J, You haven't seen or heard anything? No flashing lights, no sirens?!" He shook his head indicating that Jaspers response had been a 'no'. "Hold on Jasper, I can't hear you. Alice, can we maybe do something about the weeping kiddo?"

"Sure…. I've got an idea, why don't you do something about it, while I finish my call!" Alice suggested, handing the crying toddler over to his uncle. "There you go, now give me back my phone."

Anthony clearly wasn't too happy about being passed around like a football and as a result the whimpering grew in disturbed Edward a great deal, though he couldn't quite explain , he stared at the boy... his son, realizing he had all but forgotten he even existed. He felt Bella push on his chest, indicating that she though he should be the one to comfort the boy, but he couldn't bring himself to move… at all.

"What do you say, dad? Should I tell Jasper to come back inside or do you want him to try and meet up with the ambulance."

"Tell him to park by the crossroad and keep the headlights turned on. We can't afford to have them miss the turn."

"What's the hold up? I don't get it! These people should know where the chief of surgery of their hospital lives." Emmett grumbled, bouncing Anthony up and down like a yo-yo. This seemed to placate the boy, but only for a moment, because unfortunately the movements caused him drop his precious stuffed tiger bear on the floor. There was no stopping the water works after that.

"Edward," Bella grabbed his jaw, forcing him to look at her. "If you don't go to him, I will."

Now, that was a ridiculous thing to say. Even sitting up, she was still limp against his side, more or less relying on him to stay upright. There was no way she was going anywhere. Yet he couldn't risk her trying. She should be lying down, why wasn't she lying down?

Apparently he had said the last part out loud, because Anthony was responding to the sound of his voice, clawing at his uncle's arms to be set down on the floor.

"Ed-Edward," Bella said his name again, only this time with the added affect of stuttering.

He felt worry felt worry pool in the bottom of his stomach and gnaw hungrily at his she about to faint? Was it the blood loss? Her blood pressure? Her shoulder?… or was it the baby?

"Dad, can you…?" he heard himself say, not sure what exactly he was asking for. Carlisle seemed to be reading him like an open book though, because within minutes Bella had been maneuvered from a sitting to a lying position on the couch, leaving Edward free to get Anthony and bring him to her side.

Little fists grasped the neck of his shirt as the boy latched onto him so tightly it felt as though every bit of air had been squeezed out of his lungs. Anthony was needy and clingy, but for good reasons. The boy had been taken from everything he knew only to be thrown into a world where everything was foreign and new. Edward could tell the boy needed him for comfort, yet, right then and there, all he could think was how he needed air and also 'where the fuck was that fucking ambulance, goddammit!' Because seriously it felt like it had been hours since they had first made the call for help.

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Hi Bells, it's Phil. Wanted to make sure you didn't lose track of time. It's 8:15 at the at the private air terminal. Renee is eager to speak with you. Hope to see you soon."

*Beep*

Clearwater here again. Please call me immediately, no matter the time. It's urgent that I speak with you.

*Beep*

"…."

*Beep*

It's Phil again. They can only hold the plane for another 20 minutes. You need to get to the terminal STAT.

*Beep*

Isabella Marie Swan, congratulation, you delayed a whole fucking plane with your tardiness!

Don't bother coming home. I'll deal with you when I get back from Europe.

*beep*

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Now that the pain in her shoulder had lessened considerably, Bella noticed a few things she had missed before.

Edward had nasty a bump at the side of his forehead. Come morning, he'd probably have a shiner rivaling the one Anthony had been sporting a while back.

There were also cuts and scratches all over his legs. His jeans were torn on so many places, it was a wonder it held together at all. And there was blood… not a lot, but some of the cuts were deep enough to warrant concern. Edward, however, appeared to be completely oblivious to it all.

Thankfully, his father seemed to be on top of the situation though, because he ordered Esme to get him some more ice and then he steered Edward to take a seat on the couch.

It was a large piece of furniture, yet Edward ended up sitting on the armrest that was next to Bella's head. He was so close, in fact, that Anthony, who was perched on his lap, had his tiny, naked feet resting on either side of her face. It didn't escape Bella that this might be the last time in a long, long while, that she actually had both her boys within reaching distance.

Was she even allowed to call the little one hers? a small voice in the back of her mind questioned. It was a fair question. She had been so close to having it all… and now… now, Edward might never find it in his hear to forgive her. It stung, but it also helped her to keep her focus. And she needed to stay focused, she needed to keep her breathing light and even.

As if on cue, Carlisle appeared in her line of vision. "I'm going to check your pulse and blood pressure again. Just relax," he informed her, smiling reassuringly.

"Okay," she croaked. The tightness of her throat made her voice sounds strange and gritty. Why was talking such a struggle? There was so much left she needed to say.

Bella felt the now familiar pressure of a BP cuff being slipped over her hand and up her arm. Anthony made a soft, distressed sound, but thankfully someone, Alice, bless her heart, was there distracting him with his beloved stuffed toy.

"Alice?"

"I'm right here, Bella."

"Can you…" she coughed."….get me my phone?"

"Sure, of course. I can do that," Alice, assured her. "Dad, she sound's like she's having trouble breathing."

"She has breathed in a lot of dust and such, that's why her voice is rough." Carlisle watched the indicator needle on the gauge in his hand as he gently released the air from the bag.

"Your blood pressure is elevated, but not dangerously so." He nodded his approval. "I'm going to get you another blanket. You look cold." With that, he got up and disappeared.

She heard him talking to Esme, instructing her to go boil some milk and then he was telling Emmett and Alice to check on the rest of the family. Carlisle was clearing the room. Was it a good or a bad sign that the one person with medical training was ushering everyone else out of the room. Was it to give them privacy, or were there other reasons? The whisper in the back of her mind was back, unnerving and dark.

Anthony was fussing again and Edward was shifting him around. Bella almost got the impression that he too was about to get up and leave the room. A terrible, crushing loneliness weighed down on her. 'You better get used to it' the nagging voice in her head taunted, but then a gentle nudge from within her belly reminded her that there was still hope; a very, very small but real chance of everything being alright.

Then she felt another nudge, stronger this time, almost painfully strong. She must have flinched or moved or something, because Edward's face was suddenly looming over her.

"What is it, Swan?"

She didn't answer him straight away, her good arm finding its way under the blanket, feeling for wet spots between her tights and on the cushion she was resting on. She was relieved to find none.

"Bella, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm being silly. It's just… I'm just…."

"Oh…" he said, as if he understood perfectly. "Waiting for the other shoe to drop. I know the feeling." And it really seemed as though he did understand, because he pushed her hair out of her face and leaned down to peck her forehead. "Don't worry until you have a reason to worry."

"Not worried…about myself…. Never worried about myself…. Don't go….please….don't leave!"

On the word 'leave' two things happen simultaneously; one, the sound of an approaching car cut through the silence and two, Emmett came barging into the room, confirming that the ambulance had finally arrived.

After that, everything seemed to move very quickly. Before Bella could quite process what was happening she was being lifted onto a stretcher and carried out to the waiting ambulance.

There was a brief pause when they reached the vehicle and she tried to sit up, but Edward was there pushing her down. " Hey, hey, take it easy, Swan!"

"Where is Alice?" She had seen both Esme and Carlisle flash by in the periphery of her vision, but no Alice. "I can't leave without speaking to Alice"

"Is it your phone? Alice, hand me her phone!"

"No," Bella protested. "I want her to keep it… for now… It's important."

"Fine, I'm sure she'll guard it with her life, just stay calm a little while longer."

One of the paramedics tried to put an oxygen mask over her face, but she brushed it aside. "One more thing…" she rushed to get the words out. "The letter….Al, the letter."

"What letter?" Edward asked.

"What letter?" Alice parroted, appearing next to her brother.

"The envelope… in your…. purse."

"Those silly predictions we made? Forget it Bella. It was childish of me to eve-…."

"Open it, read it, follow the interactions. Promise me… and remember the phone."

"Alright, alright, I promise!"

"Sorry folks, it's time to leave. We've only got room for one extra person in the ambulance. Who's going with her?"

A few moments of tense, quiet deliberation followed. Strange, what was there to deliberate?

"I will..:"

"Anthony is going to need someone…"

"Carlisle, maybe you should…"

"…no I said, I will…."

Bella only heard half of what was being said around her, it left her feeling detached somehow, like her opinion didn't matter. Shouldn't she be the one to have the final word on the matter? Edward, it had to be Edward. Surely, Dr. Cullen must come to the same conclusion. The sooner Edward got the medical attention he clearly needed, the sooner he could be back with Anthony. She tried to speak but the oxygen mask got in the way and she did not have the strength to move it.

And then the stretcher was moving again and she found herself being lifted into the ambulance. She fought against the hands that tried to keep her still.

"Relax! You're not getting rid of me that easy."

Edward. She couldn't see him, but the voice came in loud and clear.

"I'm not done with you just yet. You'll be sick of me before you can shake me."

The last thing that registered before she drifted off, was the sound of Edward climbing inside the vehicle. He was still with her, still there, not gone…

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*Beep*

Agent Swan, Jenks here. As your boss, I urge you to report your status and location immediately. Anything that can get the Dwyer's off my back would be much appreciated, thank you!

*Beep*

Uhm… I think the shit just hit the fan, Swan. Your mother called the chief man's house…. after office hours… while he was at the airport picking up his in-laws… his wife took the call. It didn't go over well. Where are you? I'm getting worried. I can't be your WINGMAN if you are not around for me to WING.

*Beep*

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