I do not own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.

CH. 16

BPOV

Taking in a shaky breath, I glanced in front of me. Emmett was laying still and I wasn't sure if he was still alive or not.

"Emmett's been shot," I told Jacob with a shaky voice.

Jacob leaned forward and felt for a pulse and did a quick exam.

"We've got another man down. He needs medical attention. Gun wound to the upper torso. Looks like the bullet went straight through. Pulse is weak, " he called into his radio. "Suspect has been shot but still is conscious."

"Another man down? Jacob, where are Edward and Jasper?" I started to panic.

He gave me a sympathetic look. "Jasper is fine. But Edward sustained some injuries. He's waiting for medical transport too. He's unconscious from a blow to the head," Jacob informed me.

Tears started to run down my face as I tried to hold it together.

"Is he going to be okay?"

Jacob frowned as he tried to help me to my feet. "I'm not a doctor, but his pulse was good. And he was calling for you and Masen, that has to be a good sign." He gave me some hope.

"Have you been hurt?"

I shook my head. The back of my head hurt, but that was it.

"Where's Masen and Alice?" Jacob questioned gently.

"They are in the panic room. I forgot Masen's nebulizer. I thought I had time to get it. He didn't have an attack when I left though." I picked it up off the floor. "I need to check on him and Alice. She is probably worried and if he woke up and had a panic attack he might need this." I started to shake. Jacob moved me out of the way so the EMTs could get to Emmett.

"Here, I'll go check on them. Leah," he called over a female officer. "Go with Bella so she can change. She shouldn't be alone right now. She needs to change before her son sees her covered in blood." He ordered and she nodded.

I looked down to notice I was drenched in Emmett's blood. I handed Jacob the nebulizer and nodded. The last thing Masen needed was to see me covered in blood. Thankfully someone was thinking with a levelheaded. I surveyed the room. There was a lot of blood and I felt lightheaded.

"Don't let Masen see any of this. Leave out the basement door or have him close his eyes tight," I pleaded before heading to the laundry room, I felt as if I was walking through a cloud. "I think I have something in here." Leah entered with me and closed the door for privacy I pulled off the dirty clothes and tossed it the trash. I grabbed a pair lounge pants and one of Edward's shirts.

"Here," Leah handed me a wet washcloth that she got wet in the laundry sink. "You have some blood on your face and arms." I washed up the best I could by rubbing my skin hard.

"It was a great shot by the way. Did your father teach you how to disarm that way?" she asked.

"What?" I was caught off guard by her question. "Uh...yeah, he taught me."

"Good. Maybe now he will pay behind bars for what he has done." Leah nodded. I'm sure she meant well, but I was feeling anxious to get back to my loved ones.

"Did I get it all?" I asked since there wasn't any mirror in here to check. She scrutinized my face before nodding.

I wanted to hurry to Masen now. I need to see for myself that he was still okay. I desperately needed to see Edward too, but I knew I would have to wait until I knew Masen was okay. I had no idea what I was going to say to him about his daddy being hurt.

I stepped out of the room and spotted Jasper as he entered the room.

"Jasper, are you alright?" I asked rushing over.

He glanced me over and gave me a sad smile. "I'm fine. Are you alright? I heard he got past us and into the house." He was looking at all the blood with a grimace. Only one other officer was in the room taking pictures.

"I just bumped my head. But I would be dead if Emmett didn't save me," I answered.

"Emmett is here." Jasper looked around. "Where is he?"

"He took a bullet for me. The last I saw the EMTs were working on him. He was still alive at the point though." Jasper's face grew grim. "Alec found him and Royce drugged him at some point…I'm not sure how. When Alec came after me, Emmett said he got away from Royce.

What happened to Edward is he alright? Jacob said something about a blow to the head." Tears welled in my eyes again.

"One of Alec's men threw a good size rock at his head when his back was turned as he took out one Alec's men. I couldn't help in time because I was holding my own person off. Alec had brought five men with him. I shot the guy I was fighting in the knees. I knew Edward took one person out and I took out one other that attacked him. One ran and I found one by their cars, looked like he got the shit kicked out of him, he must have been Royce."

"So there is one loose still?"

"We apprehend a person running from the property. So far, he is singing like a canary." Leah answered.

"Leah, the one named Royce King. He's Alec's boyfriend, but he is also married to a friend of ours, Rosalie. Alec mentioned that Royce kept drugging her against her will," I informed her. I wasn't entirely sure how involved Rose was in all this, but it sounded like she needed help.

"We will get someone on that and check on her. But she's safe from him now," Leah answered while filling out some notes.

"How do you know?" I asked not feeling reassured.

"He's dead," Leah said simply. "Though none of you should worry about it; it will be ruled most likely as self-defense since it was clear you were under attack. The same with the men Jasper and Edward killed and the other two wounded."

"What about me shooting Alec?" I asked.

"You disarmed him," Leah answered. "You were within your rights. If you had killed him it still would have been self-defense." She reassured me. "You two are free to go, but we need to get your statements for the record, so come to the station ASAP. The sooner you do, the sooner they can be put away." I nodded and started to head for the rec room. Someone touched my shoulder and I nearly jumped out of my skin.

"Sorry, it's just me." Jasper let go and gave me an apologetic look. "They aren't down there."

"What? Where are they?" I started feeling panicked again. Which seemed silly since Jasper was calm.

"They are in the rental car ready to go. Your son takes after his father. He's such a sound sleeper that he has slept through it all. I'm sure the headphones Alice bought helped." Jasper started to lead me out the back. "Put this on." He gave me a hooded sweatshirt that said Marines on it. I slipped it on and he reached out and covered my head.

"Just in case. Apparently not a lot of them know what you look like so we aren't going to give them a glimpse now. We are going to head to Alice's parents' house. They are still out of town so the house is empty. Jacob promised to have a police officer stationed outside the house tonight for our protection. We can't stay here."

"Okay. But what about the hospital, someone needs to go check on Edward and Emmett."

I looked around at the yard that was still full of police cars from Forks and Port Angeles. At least they have turned off their flashing lights by this point.

"I was going to stop in quickly and check in on them after I dropped you girls and Masen off and once security is in place," he answered leading the way to the car. I noticed he was still sweeping his eyes back and forth on guard.

"Can you drop me off at the hospital and then pick me up when they are settled?" I asked just before Jasper opened the back door.

"I don't think that is a good idea. If I don't keep you safe, Edward is going to kick my ass." Jasper seemed wary.

"Please, I need to see that he's okay with my own eyes. In a few hours Masen is going to be awake and I won't get another chance for a while. I still don't know what I'm going to say to Masen. I should be safe there. Won't the hospital security be on alert?"

Jasper groaned still not convinced. Alice rolled down her window and offered her advice.

"Let her, Jasper. She needs to do this. Once she knows Edward is going to be okay then she can relax and be in a better frame to tell Masen." She sided with me.

"Alright." Jasper conceded. "Just so you know, I had to call his parents. They are going to be on the next flight out here."

"Even more the reason I need to see him now. Once they are here, I doubt that they will let me see him. They probably blame me for all this." And they would be right. I thought silently.

"This is not your fault. Don't start to blame yourself for this." Jasper stopped my brooding. I nodded before slipping in the back. Masen was still snoring peacefully stretched out in the seat with the headphones over his ears. Jasper drove carefully to the hospital since Masen wasn't buckled.

Once we got to the hospital Jasper slowed to a stop.

"I'll be back in under an hour." He promised as I pulled the handle.

I nodded and stepped out of the car. Alice switched with me so that she was in the back with Masen.

LB

I approached the front desk in a brightly lit ER and waited until the receptionist looked up. She looked at me with tired eyes and not a bit friendly.

"May I help you?" she asked, sounding like she wanted to do the opposite.

"I was hoping you could tell me where I could find Edward Cullen. He was brought in a short bit ago."

"And you are?" she asked, not looking like she was about to help me at all.

"Bella Swan," I cleared my throat.

"Well, Bella, are you family?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No, ma'am, but…"

She cut me off. "Then I can't help you."

"You don't understand…" I started to cry.

"Bella Swan, it's been a long time that I have seen you in my ER." Dr. Gerandy greeted me with a clipboard in his hand. He and Dr. Cullen often put me back together after minor incidents that brought me to the ER from my clumsiness. He was also the doctor that informed me that Charlie didn't make it.

"Hi, doctor," I greeted him politely.

"Are you here for Edward?" he asked kindly.

"She's not family." The receptionist spoke up before I could.

"Not yet, from what I hear. I talked Dr. Cullen a few minutes ago. He explained the situation, and that Bella here is Edward's fiancée and could make decisions on his care." I was a bit shocked by this information and that Carlisle would say that to anybody when it was untrue.

"I don't see a ring," The receptionist challenged as she stared at my left hand that was twisting the sleeve on the sweatshirt.

"I don't see how that is your business," Dr. Gerandy answered sounding annoyed.

The receptionist huffed then went back to her computer.

"This way, Bella, and I can show you to his room." Dr. Gerandy gestured with an outstretched arm.

"How is he, doctor?" I asked.

"He's in a coma right now."

I sucked in a sharp breath.

"He received a blow to the back of the head causing him to be unconscious. Right now there is some swelling," He started to explain.

"How serious is it? Are there any, what's the name for it…clots? When will the swelling go down? When will he wake up?" I started shooting off questions.

"Deep breath. He had a head CT. There are no hematomas present. We are going to be closely monitoring him in hopes the swelling in the brain goes down rather than increases. If it increases we may have to operate. When his swelling goes down, he should regain consciousness." He calmed me down.

"Can I see him?" I asked.

He nodded and waved someone over.

"Emmett McCarty was brought in too. He doesn't have any family. Can you tell me anything about him?"

He paused and took a deep breath.

"I can't give too many details. He is in surgery right now to repair some damage the bullet did. He's still in critical condition. Dr. Cullen has been listed as his emergency contact so he will be briefed more when he gets here."

"Thank you," I responded with a heavy heart. I felt horrible. If Emmett died it would be my fault.

"Hey, Bella, did you need a minute?" I looked up to see an old friend from high school.

"Angela? I didn't know you were here," I asked in surprise.

"Ben and I wanted to me near our families. We are going to be married next month." She smiled shyly.

"Congratulations." She blushed looking slightly embarrassed.

"Thanks. I'm so sorry about what happened. I can bring you to Edward." She suggested.

"Please," I followed her down the hallway to a room. She went in, but I paused in the doorway. There were so many machines that it overwhelming.

"It's not as bad as it looks. He's breathing on his own and his heart rate is good. His coma is the way to allow the body to heal." Angela smiled encouragingly.

"I'll still feel better when he is awake," I said truthfully as I stepped in the room and sat in the chair.

"It can be as early as tomorrow. However, swelling can increase over the next couple of days. We will take good care of him." She held out something towards me. "We took his personal affects off him. I thought you might want to hold on to this."

I looked into the envelope to see his dog tags. I pulled them out and slipped them on over my head. I kissed the tags before letting them hang.

"Can I get you anything?" Angela offered.

"No, but Jasper will be here soon. I need to get back before Masen wakes up. I don't know how I'm going to tell him his daddy is in the hospital." I reached for his hand then pulled back, unsure if it was okay to touch him.

"You can hold his hand. Just watch out for the wires. He might be able to hear you too. So go ahead and talk to him," Angela encouraged. "If you think Masen is up to it, a visit from him might cheer Edward up too."

"I don't know, he's only three." I hesitated.

Angela looked nervous about something she opened her mouth then shut it quickly.

"He's Edward's." I guessed what she was about to ask. Angela blushed to the roots of her hair.

"I never believed the rumors. I heard them, second or even I guess third hand while I was at college. When I visited home, you were gone and seemed everyone to believe in them. I didn't know how to find you, especially since Charlie was already gone. I'm sorry you lost him," she explained looking apologetic and I believed her. Angela never cared much for gossip while we were in school.

"Thank you." I gave her a small smile and then took Edward's hand in mine. It laid limp and I desperately wanted him to squeeze my hand back.

"Use the buzzer if you need anything." She left the room.

"So this is what it is like from this side of the bed. I'm not liking it too much," I mumbled.

I woke up, looking up at an unfamiliar ceiling. "Where am I?" I moaned, my head was killing me.

"You're at the hospital. Your dad is talking to mine. Would you like me to get them?" I turned my head to see Edward sitting in a chair next to the bed. It looked like he had run his hands through his hair several times. The relief was evident in his eyes.

"Why am I here?" I tried to sit up, but it made my head hurt worst.

"Rest, baby. You don't remember?" he asked.

I frowned as I tried to remember.

"I remember the blood lab in Bio. The smell of all that blood made me dizzy and then I'm not sure." I bit my lip.

"You passed out. It happened so quick, I tried to catch you before you hit the floor. In the process, I might have caused you to hit your head on the table behind us. I'm so sorry." He was beating himself up over it.

"It's okay, it was an accident. I'm the one who passed out from a little blood." I reached for his hand. He took my hand and kissed it.

"I was so worried that I really hurt you, especially when you wouldn't wake up. Please don't scare me like this ever again."

"So now it's your turn. Wake up soon. You have a little boy who needs his daddy. I need you too. You promised not to leave, so fight this. Wake up. I love you so much." I kissed his forehead.

LB

It was early evening the next day when I was able to make it back to the hospital. The whole day had been long. Masen didn't take it well, to say the least, that Edward wasn't there when he woke up. He threw one of the biggest tantrums to date. Bless Alice and Jasper's hearts that they hung in there with me dealing with a screaming child. He calmed down slightly after Jasper got permission from Jacob to retrieve E.J. from the house. I gave him his father's dog tags to wear, minus the ring. Alice found some of her old scrapbooks that had pictures of Edward in them. Jasper told him stories about the trouble they used to get into when they were kids and actually got him giggling. He finally passed out after I was able to get some dinner into him.

Alice waved me off when I felt guilty of leaving him with her to go back. She promised that she would be fine and would call me if he woke up. Jasper drove me to the hospital and planned on checking in on Emmett while I checked in on Edward.

I approached the door to his room and stopped in the doorway. On either side of the bed were two people I didn't long to see, but I shouldn't have been surprised. They both looked up when I entered.

"Sorry," I mumbled and stepped back out fast.

"Bella, hold on," Carlisle called from behind me.

I stopped just outside the door with my back turned. When a hand touched my shoulder, I jumped out of my skin.

"I'm sorry," Carlisle apologized quickly. "I should've known better."

I nodded and hugged myself.

"You don't have to leave. You can go in and see him. We aren't going to stop you." He offered.

When I didn't respond, he sighed heavily.

"I owe you an apology, Bella. We should never have turned our backs on you," he apologized again. He seemed older and more tired from what I remembered, but he seemed sincere too.

"You didn't do anything," I answered.

Which was the truth. It was only Esme that confronted me. I never saw Carlisle before they left.

"Perhaps that is the problem. I should have stepped up and done something. I should've realized there was a good possibility that the baby could've been Edward's." He grimaced.

"How is he? I wanted to come earlier, but Masen didn't take a nap. He's taking this very hard. He only fell asleep a little bit ago," I asked changing the subject.

"The swelling is down. In fact, almost back to normal. It is reasonable to suspect he will wake up probably by sometime tomorrow." I let out a big breath.

"That's good." I nodded. "And Emmett?" The smile fell a little from Carlisle's face.

"His situation is still touch and go. The bullet punctured one of his lungs before exiting his body. They were able to repair it, but he's still on a ventilator to help him. He's in a medically induced coma to help his body to heal right now."

I nodded and glanced back at the door to Edward's room.

"Go on. She won't stop you." He encouraged me. "I'm going to check on Emmett and get us something from the cafeteria. Would you like anything?" I shook my head. He walked down the hall and disappeared around a corner.

I tentatively took a step back through the door. Esme glanced up but didn't say anything. Her eyes looked sad and exhausted. She watched as I slowly made my way to the bed on the opposite her. I sat on the edge of the seat and took Edward's hand in mine.

We sat in silence for a while until she finally spoke.

"There is nothing I can say that will be good enough to make up for what I said to you in the market or how I treated you. What I did was deplorable and you didn't deserve any of it," she started softly. "Perhaps as a mother you may understand where I was coming from, even if you can't forgive me. The day before Edward left, he came home looking completely heartbroken and he wouldn't talk about it. When you didn't show up to see him off, I suspected something was wrong. When I saw you in town, you looked depressed and sad too, and when I tried to approach you, you seemed to avoid me.

Then rumors started around town, and I didn't want to believe them. I went to your house and saw this boy getting into a car across the street. He saw me and approached me himself. He told me that I was wasting my time, that the baby was his, not Edward's. He proceeded to pull out an ultrasound and shoved it in my face." She paused.

I finally glanced at her feeling confused and upset.

"He told you that…How did he get an ultrasound? I didn't even meet him until after you guys left," my whisper was harsh.

"I don't have the answers to that, but your name was on it. I figured if he had one that it meant the rumors were true. I saw red, I thought my baby had been hurt and betrayed. I felt hurt and betrayed and when I ran into you, I unleashed it all on to you. I should have let you explain, but instead I felt I needed to protect and stand up for my son." Tears traveled down her face, she looked very distraught. "I am truly sorry. So very sorry, Bella."

"If I thought more rationally then perhaps we could have been there for you and the baby. Then you wouldn't have felt the need to turn to someone like him. We would've helped you with the baby while Edward was gone and neither of you would've gotten hurt."

"He never hurt Masen," I informed her.

"But he hurt you and that's not right either." She smiled sadly.

"You're wrong though." I met her eyes, she frowned in response.

"The more that I'm learning, I am realizing Alec targeted me for a while. He killed Charlie and he probably would've killed you and Carlisle too. I wrote to Edward and somehow he managed to get the letters returned to me with 'return to sender' from his base." I paused I was sure he found out that I was pregnant from Rose, but I wasn't how. Was it willingly or coerced.

"I do understand what's it's like to want to protect your child." How many times had I protected Masen, only to get the shit beaten out of me? But, yet, I would do it again and again.

I could also see that it was more than just the rumors. Alec pretty much waved it in her face that the rumor was true. I would've done the same as her if it had happened to Masen.

"But it still doesn't make what happen hurt any less. I won't stop you from being in Masen's life because I know Edward would want you to be. However, I can't say if I'll ever be able to forgive you completely, but I don't want there to be any animosity between us for Masen's sake. You're the only grandparents he has left and I want him to have a happy family, not one like I had with Renée."

"That is more than I could've hoped for." She looked down at my hand. She spotted the ring I placed back on my finger. "Does this mean you and Edward have worked things out?"

"I think we are working on it, but it is going to be a slow process. First, he needs to wake up." I reached forward to brush his hair back. "Please, wake up soon. You have a little boy who misses you, so much. He's not the only one." I squeezed his hand. I swear I felt him squeeze weakly back.

A/N: So Edward did get hurt. He was attacked from behind. But he's going to be okay. Emmett's life is still in critical condition. Alec brought five men with him and was in the middle of the night that is how he got by them.

I know many of you want Bella to kill him, but he needs to be alive for the time being. You'll see why.

Now you know there was more to it than Esme just believing in the rumors. Alec handed her what she thought was proof.

To be clear Bella can understand why Esme did it without forgiven her. Sure she could be vindictive and keep Masen away out of spite, but that doesn't make things right either.

Thank You All For Your Reviews!

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Preview Alert

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Preview:

"Which one of you is my patient?" he teased. I was glad he didn't lecture that Masen was lying with me.

"My daddy is." Masen lifted his head and looked at the doctor warily.

"I see. Can you do me a favor and go sit with your mom for a minute so that I can check him out?" He asked with a smile. Masen nodded and slipped back to Bella.

"Daddy has a frog in his throat and he said an elephant sat on his head," Masen explained the other adults laughed lightly.

"Well, that's not good." Dr. Gerandy chuckled. "Let's check that out. What did you do to get all these animals to attack you?" He joked as he held up a pen light. I followed it with my eyes as directed.

(I figured you may need a smile)