Although her breathing was still too abnormal for my liking, it was improving by the minute and I needed to discuss with her what was to happen next.
It took her a few moments for her to open her eyes for me but when she seemed to be focused, I began. "You are underweight for your height and I am concerned that you seem quite sick right now. The IV fluids will only help the dehydration for so long and we really need to try and get some solid food into you if your body has been deprived for eight days. Your body temperature is worrying low – one that should have you in hospital – but I am willing to make compromises. Are you struggling with anything you'd like to talk about?"
She sat there for the longest time. Her jaw locked hard in an act of stubbornness. She flickered her gaze from Esme to I as though she were debating whether to talk. Just as I was about to talk again, she reached up for the fourth time to try and pull off the oxygen mask. Emmett, once again, pulled back her small hand and disproved.
"I want to talk." She grumbled, managing to pull it off and hold it in her lap. The minute the oxygen stopped flowing, her chest wheezed again, and she had to focus on her breathing through parted lips before she was able to continue. "I don't need…help...with…struggling."
"What about food, dear?" Esme asked, kindly. She didn't want to scare Rosalie.
Rosalie swallowed thickly and I was unable to determine whether it was due to her difficulty to breathe or her nervousness.
"I just don't like it." Any human wouldn't have been able to understand her words, but they were clear as day to all the vampires in the room.
"Why?" Emmett asked suddenly, shifting the small human on his lap in perplexed curiosity. "Food is…good?" He suggested; trying to hide his grimace. None of us did favour human food.
Rosalie shrugged softly, the wheezing growing increasingly alarming. "Mom…she taught me…that food…made you fat."
Esme narrowed her motherly eyes and shot me a look of complete loss. Of course, Esme wouldn't understand why anyone would discourage their children from a mechanism installed in the human body in order to survive.
"Rosalie," I cautioned calmly; reaching over to lightly lift the mask back over her face. "Take your time, sweetheart. Just focus on your breathing."
"Are you…calling mom?" Rosalie gasped out through the mask although I'd chided her to be quiet.
"I'll need to inform one of your parents eventually, Rosalie. But for now, I'm just focused on making sure you are stable. I do not like your breathing now." I admitted tenderly, trying to reassure her that everything would be alright.
She flinched in Emmett's arms; clearly not satisfied with my reassurance. Her heaving increased drastically; her oxygen levels began dropping by the second. Her face visibly paled; the cyanosis of her lips, nose and fingernails becoming more prominent.
Emmett gently secured his arms over her hands in an attempt to still her feeble moments. "Rosie, it's absolutely fine. Rose, breathe."
"Here," I reached my arms out towards Emmett so that he would shift Rosalie into my arms. "Give her here, Emmett. I'll lie her down."
"Carlisle." Emmett protested. He was reluctant to let her out of his arms; out of his comfort. He had grown quite attached to the small human.
"I won't hurt her, Emmett. I promise." At peace with my words, he gently handed Rosalie over and I laid her flat on the bed.
"Emmett, come over here. Set up the monitors. I want an oxygen saturation probe. Put it on her toe; I don't want her pulling it. Set up the ECG monitor and make sure the capnograph is working correctly. I need to make sure we haven't missed anything." As I put my trust Emmett's medical training, I carefully put my focus onto the small human lying in front of me.
Her veiny, lilac eyelids were closed again, her skin was ashen with sweat and a rasping noise was growing increasingly louder as she struggled for breath. I gently lifted her chin with my index finger and removed the mask. "Rosalie? Rose? Can you hear me, sweetheart? You're perfectly safe. I promise. Just focus on your breathing. Esme's right here with me. So is Emmett. We're going to make sure you're okay."
Parting her lips with my finger, I shone my penlight down her throat to look for any obstruction. Not finding any, I sighed in frustration. I reached behind me, pulling a venturi mask off the shelf to gently apply it over her blue lips. I gripped the mask in between my index and middle fingers, keeping a firm touch on her chin to make sure the oxygen supply reached her mouth and nose. "Don't fight me, Rosalie. I'm just helping you take a couple of breaths. You're going to be okay."
Esme rubbed soothing circles lovingly on her hand as I guided her breathing. Esme was so welcoming to everyone; perfect as a mother figure; no doubt wonderful for our coven.
A few minutes later, the breathing episode settled, and Rosalie curled over on her side to rest. I placed a small pillow under her head and gently ran my cool hand down her cheek in comfort. They were hot to the touch and red; purple veins showing through in patches. Her lips had turned a pale pink now; a colour I was satisfied with. Her eyelids – still violet and veiny – were gently closed, but her breathing was somewhat stable. She was shaking; her small body convulsing in tremors that seemed too big for her frail body to handle.
"Well done, Emmett. Your performance during a medical emergency was wonderful. I'm proud, son." I told him as he moved to sit down beside the bed.
"Thank you." He nodded once. "I'm just…going to stay with her for a bit. Get her to fall asleep."
I smiled before closing the door softly behind me.