"They supposed to let her die?"
"This isn't just about you. It's about all of us."
"Can I talk to you for a minute?"
~Doctor Carter Pharmacy on 34. ~
"What? How did you get over to me so fast?"
"Oh, standing right next to you, Bella."
"No, you were next to your car across the lot. "
"Oh, I wasn't. Yes, you were—only you. You got your head like you confused. "
"I know what I saw."
Edward was getting uncomfortably close to Bella. She tried to step back, but her back hit the wall.
What exactly was that? You. You stopped the van. You pushed it away with your hand.
"Well, nobody's going to believe you.
"I wouldn't say, sir. I would ask you to step away from my cousin."
Edward smirked and looked between Bella and this new girl who stood about 5 feet.
"I wasn't going to tell anybody. I need to know the truth. Can't you thank me and get over it?"
"Thank you. You're not going to let this go, are you?"
"No."
"Hope you enjoyed this disappointment in Return."
"Dear cousin at that fork is posed as a sleepy little town."
"Elsa, what are you doing here?"
"I thought I made that blindingly clear. My brother and I are moving; we are no longer the Queen's Guard. Ever since Her Majesty passed."
"OK, what I meant was, what are you doing in the hospital?"
"Oh, Carl was taking care of her bullet wound."
"He's been shot. How? Where? When what? I'm confused. Help. How bad is it?"
"Bella, do we need to explain how a gun works? Where? Libya, the left of September. How bad is this, uh, the throne room? You had it for a week before being treated, so it can't be that bad. But then again, that was the one taking care of his first aid whenever we could, between federal ceremonial purposes."
"Dear cousin, who was that uncomfortably close to you that wasn't behaving like a gentleman?"
"That was Edward Cullen."
"Cullen, Bella, are you certain his last name is Cullen?"
"Yes, this father's doctor, Carlisle Cullen."
Oh, dear God, I do hope I am wrong. For once, I hope I am wrong. A man guessing that's half the fun. The main question is who the mouse is and who the cat is.
"Elsa, just a quick question?"
Elsa turned back to Bella to give the sound of a yes. Bella always thought her 16-year-old cousin looked like a curious little kitten with her head tilted like that. But knowing, getting on her wrong side, she can be As fierce as a tiger.
"What the hell are you wearing? I think the 1800s called They want their dress back, cousin."
"I would gladly give him back this, uh, dress. I kind of like it, but they could keep the corset. And everything else that goes underneath it, it's uncomfortable. Would you recommend it? But if you could say I have my marriage as the fighter. We're not going to fight in the corset in this. Get up if need be."
"OK, but why are you dressed like you come from the Tour Dynasty or Queen Charlotte's Court?"
"Bella, this is what they wore back then. Because Her Majesty the Queen has passed. And me being the Queen's Guard, or OK, the Queen's Rangers, however you want to point out. I had to dress in a ceremonial outfit, and there wasn't a nice one for me. A female for a Queen's Ranger, Parliament, and the King. It would be best if I dressed traditionally, very traditionally. Luckily for me, the Queen has a taste for the Southern Bell dress, so we wore something from the Civil War. During the Victorian age, Victoria's rule about that time, So yeah. I look like I just came out of a freaking movie set. If you think that's not good, you should see Carlisle. He's wearing a kilt."
"A kilt? Isn't that a type of skirt?"
"In the simplest terms, yes. But it is a Carl had to go where it is all traditional. Right down to what's underneath."
"I'm afraid they asked that question, but. Did he have to wear a corset too?"
Elsa burst out laughing, trying hard not to bend over. It was difficult for her to breathe deeply and get that considerable laughter, so all she could do was chuckle and giggle.
"No, Isabelle, he's so lucky he had to go Commando underneath it."
"And he's here now. Getting a bullet wound checked."
"Yep. You Americans always tell people to wear clean underwear to the doctor. I wonder what you guys's mothers would say with no underwear."
"Oh, that has to be embarrassing for him."
"Oh please, this is Carlisle we're talking about. He has no shame. He prefers not to wear the restricting underwear if he can. You'd rather wear the kilt."
They continued to walk down the hallway until they got to a nurse's station.
"Excuse me. Can you tell me which room Carlisle Cullen is in? He's being treated for a gunshot wound."
"Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am, I didn't know Doctor Cullen got shot."
"Just to make sure we're clarified. I'm talking about the 16-year-old Carlisle. Is there a doctor here with that name as well?"
Before the nurse behind the desk could answer, another nurse entered the hallway. She overheard the conversation.
"Yes, there is. But um. The Carlisle is that you're talking about, he's being treated down here. He's not very happy. He's quite intelligent. He understood a lot of facts and stuff. The Doctor was Pointing at."
"I hope my friend's brother does not smell, culture, or menology. We both graduated from Oxford University in England. Top of our class in the medical field And the scientists? Were the two doctors that made the artificial blood. It's in this current testing phase in America and the rest of the world, but it's showing great promise."
"Oh. Oh my God. I'm so excited to meet you guys. I knew I recognized you from somewhere. I studied a lot of science and medical journals. Your artificial blood is said to be revolutionary. The Queen of England. Scotland's Sweden. Norway has nominated you and your brother for the Nobel Peace Prize. The Surgeon General has also done the same thing. They said you made official blood that. The body has no idea that it's artificial. It's better than a normal human, but blood."
"Right, our tests have shown that. It is like that. It's freshly made as God intended it. We tried to make it seem like a brand-new virgin blood."
"With a few of our heads of doctors. Can they contact you guys and see if we can pull some strings to get some of that? Here? Try that out here. We're such a small hospital that we don't get priority of the law of the blood. We'll have to send it to transfusion people, too. To Port Angeles or Seattle, and we're not sure if they're they will make it if we could have some of that here."
"Would save lives, I understand that. But your FDA has to prove it first. It's in the clinical trials until it can be approved. There's nothing more we can do. We can't rush the trials; I don't want to. So you must understand it has to wait. We did everything we could; now, we must wait for the test to come out with hope and a prayer. By the end of the month, we should hear if it's a. It's been accepted worldwide, including here in the United States. I know it's accepted in England. And the rest of the UK is now accepting it. Hurricane Japan, as well. There's not much more I can do. The tests are slow. But they are worth it. They will come out that everything will work in our favor. You have to hope and pray. That they run a little faster."
"Wow. Are you and your brother looking forward to the Nobel Peace Prize?"
"A. Honestly, after the 10th one, Not really. We don't need the money; we tend to donate it. Somewhere that needs it, we'll have to find out where that will be. I thought about your guys's school systems here, but. Not looking forward to your curriculum? We'll see how everything works."
"You guys donate the money? That's over $10 million."
"Each. Yeah, we both get $10 million. But honestly, we don't want it. We didn't come up with this medical stuff just for the money. If it's money we're after, we got plenty of our own. Inherited money that's been passed down through the centuries. Trust me. No one has that much money."
The nurses and Bella looked at them. Elsa, like she grew her third head. They are not comprehending or understanding. I genuinely understand the amount of money that could be thrown away. It's unreasonable. But they don't know that the Cullens donate millions of dollars regularly to different charities worldwide. They have more than enough money to buy out governments. Fun. They would be a whole government if they wanted to. Hills, England, that churned to them most of the time. To build their ass out In times of crisis. For the last 85 years, Cullens has been Bailing out countries. They are stockpiling the money, hiding the accurate amount they have. So, no one truly knows the amount beside them, and they play it close to their chest. The Vampiric Cullens. I thought they had money to blow in, to burn—the only other one in the world. There's just as rich as the twins. He goes by the name of the God of War, And no one goes against him. He will get used to somebody talking back to the Angel Death when he says to say something. She doesn't take shit from anyone. The Angel of Death might come off as a sweet, gentle young lady. But given her wrong side, she'll show you how cold as death can indeed be.
Bella and Elsa were led into a room where her brother was at. Listening to the idiotic Dr. trying to tell him. That he was going to need surgery.
"I don't want to second your opinion. Doctor. I don't think anything critical has been pierced besides the shoulder blade, and there's nothing but time can heal that. I want to see my X-rays and ultrasounds if you have them. We're about a CT scan. I can give my opinion here and now, Or my twin sister."
"Young man, I'm one of the best doctors here in the hospital. There's only one that comes up above me. He went home already. But you could talk to him in the morning. Right now, I suggest you relax and stay in bed. That is quite serious. Wound on your shoulder."
"It's not serious when I've been having it for over a week. I've been walking around with it this long. We would be a heavy ass casket was nine other people. Before me, my duty. Without complaint."
"Young man, I understand you want. Second pair. But all that will have to wait until morning. The doctor can give it. That's higher up than me, that's better educated than me. Went home for the day. You'll be on schedule at 8:00 in the morning. You'll have to wait until then. In the meantime, Chief Swan will be in here to get your statement over the gunshot wound."
"First of all, who the hell is Chief Swan? Usually like Constable or Scotland Yard? Second, why do I need to state how I got this shot? What does it matter to you? You don't need to know the how or the why. Just know it's there and how to treat it. Which I'm questioning you about."
"I understand this might be your first gunshot wound, and you might not have been through this before."
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. We never said this was my first gunshot wound. I'm just trying to figure out who Chief Swan is and why. He wants to know how I got it. What the heck is he? What is his job title besides Chief Swan? You see the chief of the local tribe that lives here. Or one of them. I don't know how many tribes are here."
"Chief Swan is our police chief. Wait a minute. What do you mean this isn't your first gunshot wound? Young man, you're only 16. How many gunshot wounds have you had before?"
"Oh, let's see one. To. That was a little too close 3. 4. Shoulder grace. Do you count that?"
"Have you had five gunshot wounds before?"
"5-6 Who keeps count? Why is that like a badge of honor here? Because I know it is in England. The ladies just like to know that you have Battle wounds."
"England, You're not from America?"
"No, Doctor, I thought. My accent would be a big giveaway. I was wrong. Not the first time. I'm usually wrong when it comes to my sister. She's usually smarter than me. But strangers? I've never been wrong about reading them. I'm not from here if you couldn't tell by my accent now; I want a different doctor who knows what they're doing."
"Don't worry, young man, I'll gladly. Hand you over to him. I'm worried that you might be a danger to this town. I will find Chief Swan of that."
"Oh boy, who would have thought? Getting shot in the line of duty means I'm a danger, Woo. Everyone lock up your daughters. They're dangerous. A young boy is here."
"Does his own laughing matter, young man?"
"I never said it was. I just think you're a bloody idiot. No. Why don't you do us both a favor and spare us from your idiocy and piss off."
The doctor quickly turned around, frustrating us, Carlisle. He used to his colleagues and children being more respectful towards him and everyone he thinks this is. You adoptee. It's going to be a danger to everyone around him. Little does the town know. There are two families with the same last name. And. Technically, they're related, but they have only been sub. The bloodline has only been separated from each other for 300 years. The doctor sees Bella and Elsa standing in the doorway. Both try hard not to laugh.
"Oh, Miss Swan. Um, miss, I'm not sure who you are. Um. Visitors are not allowed here right now. I think right now he's a little bit of a danger."
"Yeah, I'm very dangerous to my twin sister and cousin. Woohoo. Watch out, guys. The monsters here. The wounded monster. I might buy off your heads or drink your blood. Who knows? I haven't decided yet."
"Young man, you're disrespectful."
"And you're a bloody idiot that has no respect for himself or anyone else. I think we agree on that one. No. Get out here before I figure out how to get rid of your license."
Doctor Smith storms out of the room, pissing as hell at the young Cullen."
"Sister cousin is so glad for you to visit me in this. God has forsaken the room—my goodness. I'm worried about the doctors and the nurses and where they all got their licenses. Did they get their license from Cracker Jack boxes the other Marines had on the front lines or those popcorn boxes? Or gum they used to have. They have the little toys. Because I didn't realize medicine was a game, but he's treating it like it is, and it's frustrating me to no end."
"I could see that, brother, but please try to be nice to the doctors here. We don't want to destroy their confidence quite yet."
"Also, they're going to have confidence first in competence before I can make them incompetent. That bloody doctor that just walked through here. I don't even think the wanker was a doctor in the first place. He doesn't look like he has gotten up in years. He wants to take it out on me."
Before anything can be even said, I am furious. Charlie Swan comes walking through the room, About to chew out a young man that they think is the doctor's adopted child.
"Carl, what the hell are you doing in the hospital bed?"
"Lay here. Uncle, why? Well, I'm not completely leafy; I'm sitting up. Yeah, pretty gown."
"OK, Smart ass. Why are you in the bed? Or Barracuda should. Why are you in the hospital being treated? And why? I just got told to come down here and take a statement for a shotgun wound?"
"I think the better question is, how can the doctor not know the difference between a shotgun wound and an M16? Wound. I think the confidence is that we should ask about that."
"OK, better the question. How did you get him an M16 shotgun wound?"
"How I stand in front of the bullet, that's how. Come on, uncle, you look like you're scattered in the yard. Don't you know how guns work? How do we need to explain mechanics? I almost thought we didn't need to explain the mechanics like that, but is it like the birds and the bees? We must explain that one, too. Is that why you didn't make another cousin?"
"I thought England doesn't have those types of guns."
"Yes, we do. In the military."
"Then why were you on the military base? Was it to get high?"
"Well, I did have the practice of jumping out of a plane and helicopter a few times. Is that the way you're talking about the drill and high? Because that is awesome. You're never going to beat it. There's such a rush, and it is so natural that you should try it sometime. It's better than fishing all the time. God, the peace that would drive me bloody mad."
Isabella and Elsa were laughing away on the side of the bed.
"OK, you two laugh it up. Seriously, how in the world did you get shot?"
"Uncle, I thought, we've been through this. I stepped in front of the bullet. I was in front of the bullet when it went bang. It would be best if you didn't try that. That's a very wrong thing to do. It was not my finest moment, but I guess you could say it was when I tried to push the guy originally out of the way, so I caught the bullet. It's just like the bouquet for a bridesmaid. I caught the blue. Does that mean I'm the next one to get married?"
"Yeah, it means your next one again is grave. You happen to be lucky six different times."
"Just this means six fellows love me enough to leave me a permanent mark."
"OK, let's try this again. Where did you get shot at?"
"I thought the doctor told you. Is he dying? Confident. Didn't he tell you? It was on my shoulder. I don't have a function in my left arm besides going. I can move my hand. Up and down from the elbow."
"Where was the place you got shot at? Not on your body. Where was the location?"
"Oh, Libya. What did you say? So, in the first place, Uncle, we spared this whole embarrassment for you and me. Come on. I'm not high yet. They didn't give me the good stuff. He refuses to give me the good stuff. He thinks I'm a bad kid. I don't know why he ever thought that. I'm only answering his questions with my normal charming self. It's not my fault he's incompetent."
"What the hell were you doing in Libya?"
"Gang shot."
"Elsa, were you there too?"
"I was. I saw him get shot, and I was getting shot at two just to be known. If the bullet is all we caught, that's fine."
"Why were you in Libya, and why were you getting shot at?"
"Unfortunately, uncle, we cannot tell you it is top secret. One of those, if we told you, we have to kill you. But we like Bella way too much. We don't want to kill her. We'll tell you later, though."
"Is this gonna have to be something that's done in private?"
"No, I thought we were quite clear. It's top secret. It's top secret. Secret spy stuff. Do you know that M6? CIA Come on. It's one of those things, uncle; if we told you, we have to kill you and get rid of the body. But that is OK. We will tell you later when Bella is not around. We like her."
"OK. Maybe you could explain to me why you were in Libya?"
"We told you we can't. Oh, we could say it was all over the news about. The thirteen Americans and the two British people were stuck in Libya for 13 hours, and he was shot. They threw some other Hillary address like a missile. Did not catch that, though. Maybe next time. I've never caught a missile. I've caught way too many bullets."
"You want to catch a missile?"
"Sure, why not? It sounds fun."
"OK, I'm gonna ask for a psych evaluation on you too."
"No need. We already had one more before we left England. When we came to the United States, We went through. Over 48 hours of both having Psych evaluations, We are clear to be sane. Sorry if we disappoint."
"All right, Bella, we probably should get home. Carl, Stay in bed. Rest. Doctor Smith said he'd tell his colleague to come and talk to you in the morning. Elsa, Do you have a ride home?"
"No, I don't have a ride home. The Marines dropped us off. I think a few of them probably stuck around. I'll find them. Does anyone have a crayon? I could shake the bag like treats like for Kitty?"
"All right, let's go drive you home. Or Bella can drive you home."
It didn't take long, and Bella and Elsa were on the way home. Given instructions on how to get to their house, going down a similar path is. But in this case, where did the fork enroll instead of the course bearing off one way going down the driveway? You go left, you go to the. Edwards Place. You go right. You go to Elsas and Carls's home.
"Wow. Is this your place?"
"Yeah, we had a built-in the past year. We needed a queen of the divine. It was only a matter of time. So, this part of the land was sold, and we bought it before somebody named it. I forget who. I don't care. We bought it out. And we had one the homes from Scotland torn down and brought down."
"Wow, it's stunning. Oh, thanks. You had to modernize it a little bit, but. Yeah, we had the whole thing done. Has the traditional drive? Pull in for a Scottish courtyard that has the Scottish Gate. We wanted to make you feel a little bit like home."
"Oh, this place rains, so you probably want to keep an umbrella around at all times."
"Oh, just like home. That sounds fun. All right. Thank you, Bella. I'll see you tomorrow sometime."
"Elsa, wait. How are you going to get to the hospital tomorrow?"
"Oh, we're having a few Land Rovers delivered tomorrow. I should be able to get to the hospital from there."
"Oh, That's nice. Do you have food and stuff here?"
"Yeah, they should have stocked it up by now."
Bella waved at her cousin through the rearview mirror as she drove away. It was an excellent long turnaround, set up like an old carriage deal, so they could quickly turn around. Little does anyone know a particular Southern soldier. I was sitting in the tree watching the whole thing transpire.
He thought the little young girl in black. It is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen in his tired existence. Jasper wanted to get to know the young girl who had just walked into the house. He knew the pool he felt was coming from her and felt better when she was nearby.
(It looks like I found my mate.)
As Jasper thought to himself. He started to make plans to get to know her even more.