Izzy felt like she was trapped in a demented funhouse from hell. Everything was spinning and the walls were closing in. The hallway separating her from Edward stretched on for miles. Each step spawned new doors and linoleum tiles with lines that wiggled like snakes.
"You think he's in here? The doors mocked as she raced past. "How cute."
Edward's first death nearly broke Izzy. The possibility of losing him a second time must have severed the last thread tethering her to sanity. They'd have to lock her up in a padded room where she'd spend the rest of her days ranting about golden eyes and fangs. No one would believe people once camped out all night for a chance to hear her band play.
"Bella!" Edward shouted.
Edward? Could it be?
Izzy skidded to stop in front of Edward's hospital room. Despite everything she'd done to get there, she found herself frozen in the doorway. Her overwhelmed brain was having a hard time processing what was going on. Edward was alternating between hyperventilating and screaming for Bella. Emmett was being wrestled to the ground by a security guard while a nurse cowered in the corner. The only one seemingly unbothered was Jasper who was still laying under Edward's bed with a blank look on his face.
Edward locked eyes with Izzy. "Bella!" He tried to get out of bed, but his legs didn't seem to want to cooperate. "I'm sorry! Please come back to me!"
Izzy could spend twelve hours cleaning pens and still have the energy to play a sold-out show. Why was it that the eight feet separating her from Edward seemed like an impossible journey?
"Let me go!" Emmett growled.
"Not a chance," The guard replied, pinning Emmett to the floor.
"Enough!" Alice snapped.
Despite her small size, Alice had always been a force to be reckoned with. She could enter a room and strike fear into men twice her size with nothing more than a well-timed glare. Izzy was glad to see her years on the runway hadn't changed that about her.
"You!" she exclaimed, pointing at the security guard kneeling on Emmett's back. "Get off of him!"
The guard's head snapped up. "Are you..her?"
"Yes, Alice said. "I'm Alice Brandon. "Now get off my friend before you hurt him!"
Much to Izzy's surprise, the guard didn't listen. "I don't think that's a good idea. He could harm you or someone else."
It was then that Izzy noticed his necklace. It was a leather cord with a hand-carved wolf charm, one of many purchased by fans of the Wolves. Fame had cost Izzy her privacy, reputation, and on occasion her safety. However, there were perks to being a celebrity. Speeding resulted in a warning rather than a ticket and drinks were always on the house. Maybe it was time for Emmett to enjoy some of those perks.
Izzy cleared her throat. The guard's eyes widened when he saw her leaning against the door frame.
"Are you...Izzy Swan?"
Izzy nodded.
"Izzy freaking Swan in nowhere Alaska," The guard exclaimed, easing up enough for Emmett to wiggle free. "The guys are never going to be this!"
He left the room with an ear-to-ear grin on his face. While Izzy was glad to have gotten Emmett out of trouble, she knew there would be a cost. The guard would tell his friends and they would tell their friends. Before long, the whole world would know where she was and who she was with.
Emmett snickered. "Never mess with pixies and swans."
"You're not getting off scot-free, Emmett." Alice snapped. "Apologize for whatever you did and get back to bed!"
Emmett sighed and sat down in one of the plastic chairs lining the wall. "Do I have to?"
Alice crossed her arms and glared at him.
"I'm sorry for threatening to drink your blood." He smiled at the nurse exposing his fangs. "These babies are just for show and they'll stay that way unless you try to hurt my brothers and sisters."
Izzy's guilt increased tenfold. Why was Emmett still willing to fight for her when she'd been so quick to give up on him? She didn't deserve the title sister.
Satisfied with Emmett, Alice turned her attention to the nurse. "Edward is bleeding. Get up and do your job."
Bleeding? Izzy did a double-take. How could she not have noticed the blood streaming down Edward's arm?
Making sure to give Emmett and Alice a wide berth, the nurse got up and started tending to Edward.
He... He pulled out his IV," The nurse whispered. "I need bandages."
"Then go get them," Alice said, sitting down next to Emmett. "I won't stop you."
The nurse darted past Izzy to retrieve a cart full of medical supplies. Edward didn't flinch when she wiped the blood away and rebandaged his arm. Instead, he kept his eyes on Izzy who hadn't gotten a single step closer to him.
"I'll need to restart your IV," the nurse said to Edward. "It may sting a bit."
She froze when Emmett leaned forward in his chair.
Alice placed a hand on his knee to stop him from getting up. "Stay here. She won't hurt him." She made eye contact with Izzy. "For goodness sake, Izzy. Come hold Edward's hand!"
Edward had held her hand during dozens of blood draws and bandage changes. It was far past time for her to return the favor. Izzy took a deep breath and crossed the room. She offered Edward her hand and with what she hoped was a reassuring smile. Edward squeezed Izzy's fingers until they went white while the nurse carefully started a new IV.
"Bring a spare bed in here then you can go," Alice said when the nurse was done.
The nurse wasted no time fleeing the room.
Edward dug his jagged nails into Izzy's hand. "Please don't go again. I need you."
"I'm not going anywhere," Izzy said.
Edward barely loosened his grip. He wasn't willing to chance Izzy changing her mind
With the room finally under control, Alice turned her attention to Jasper. "Hello Jasper," she said, crouching down next to him. "I'm Alice. Do you remember me?"
Jasper stared at Alice. His lips parted but no sound came out. He put his thumb in his mouth and started sucking with a vacant look in his eyes.
If Alice was bothered by the sight of a twenty-year-old man sucking his thumb, she didn't say anything.
The nurse returned with a spare bed. She positioned it next to Edward's and left the room without acknowledging any of them.
"Jazz," Alice said. "The nurse brought you a bed. I bet it's a lot more comfortable than the floor."
Jasper poked his head out and stared at the bed. He looked like he was considering abandoning his hiding spot when Esme entered the room. Jasper retreated back under the bed and curled up in a ball.
"I'm sorry," Esme said, tears streaming down her face. "I took a wrong turn and ended up in the morgue." she gently stroked Edward's swollen face. "My poor, poor, babies. I'm so sorry that I didn't protect you."
"It wasn't your fault," Emmett said, standing up to hug his mother "We're back together now. That's all that matters."
Edward squeezed Izzy's hand. Izzy squeezed back. She didn't know what the future would hold or what demons lurked in the past, but the Cullen brothers were back. That was all that mattered. They'd figure everything else out one step at a time.
A pair of police officers entered the room. "My name is Officer Hawk and this is my partner Officer Sparks. We have some questions for Jasper, Emmett, and Edward."