"See, Edward," Esme said as Izzy wheeled Emmett into the room. "Bella is okay. She just went to find Emmett. If you wait a few more minutes, Nurse Julie will come with Jasper."

Izzy was far from okay, but she didn't correct Esme. Her second emotional breakdown would have to wait. As she had dozens of times before, Izzy shoved the emotional turmoil deep down into her stomach and focused on what was important.

Izzy parked Emmett next to Esme who greeted him warmly. Putting on a brave face, Izzy went to Edward's side and touched his arm with a single finger. In sharp contest to Jacob who felt like an open flame, Edward's skin was cold as ice.

"You're sure?" Edward asked

"Yes," Bella replied.

How many times would she have to tell him before he believed her? Edward was making a big deal out of nothing. It wasn't like he had a nose-picking habit or wandering hands like Mike Newton.

"It will feel like you're holding hands with a corpse," Edward said. "You're sure it won't bother you?"

"Of course," Bella said. "It's not your fault you have Raynaud's syndrome."

Hot, cold, rough, smooth, it didn't matter. She just wanted to hold his hand without a quarter inch of fabric getting in the way.

"Okay," Edward said as he took off his gloves. "Here goes nothing."

He took a deep breath and intertwined his fingers through Bella's. Bella shuttered as a tingle ran down her spine. It was like diving into a cool swimming pool on a hot summer day.

"I'm sorry," Edward whispered, pulling his hand away from hers. Edward reached for his gloves with a pained expression on his face.

"No," Bella said, grabbing his hand. "I just wasn't expecting that. For it to feel so good."

Edward sluggishly turned his head to look at Izzy. "You came back," he smiled and closed his eyes. "You've never done that before."

Izzy searched for the perfect thing to say. She needed a statement that reassured him things were going to be alright while acknowledging everything he'd been through. Before Izzy could craft her perfect statement, Emmett broke the silence in a typical Emmett fashion.

"You look like death warmed over," Emmett said to Edward as he finished off the last of Izzy's fries.

"Emmett!" Esme hissed.

Thankfully, Edward didn't appear to have heard Emmett. He was fast asleep snoring like a trucker.

Emmett snickered. "He sounds like a train."

In spite of the seriousness of the situation, the corner of Izzy's mouth twitched. She never thought she'd find anyone who snored worse than Jacob.

"The nurse had to up his morphine drip," Esme explained. "He was in a bit of pain. He'll be drowsy until it wears off."

The smile vanished from Izzy's face. She hoped her sudden departure hadn't added to Edward's discomfort.

Nurse Julie entered the room with Jasper in a wheelchair. Izzy suppressed a gasp. It didn't make any sense. Other than a sling on his arm, he looked fine. His face was recently shaved he didn't look like he'd been missing meals like his brothers. While she was glad Jasper was alright, she wanted to know why he'd been spared while Edward and Emmett were being tortured.

"Jasper!" Esme exclaimed, leaping out of her chair.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you!" Nurse Julie cautioned.

Esme either didn't hear her or didn't care. She wrapped her arms around her son with tears streaming down her face. Jasper started hyperventilating and struggled to get free.

"Jasper, honey," Esme said, close to tears. "It's me. Your mom. I'm not going to hurt you."

Jasper continued to struggle, but Esme wouldn't release him.

Izzy was on her feet in a flash. "Esme, let him go!"

She'd trained enough dogs to know things were about to go south.

Jasper snarled and bared his teeth. Like Edward and Emmett, his teeth were sharpened to points.

"But he's my son!" Esme cried. "I let him go once and look what happened!"

With nurse Julie's help Izzy pried Esme off Jasper. Freed from his mother's grasp, Jasper shot out of the wheelchair and dove under Edward's bed.

Izzy heard a heart-breaking whimper. While she understood Esme was excited to see Jasper, she should have known better than to corner him. The poor guy must have felt like he was being kidnapped all over again. Izzy heard a second whimper. This time, she realized it wasn't coming from under the bed.

"Bella," Emmett said, pointing to the receipt. "What do these numbers mean?"

Izzy took a second before responding. Esme hadn't been the only one to make a mistake.

Nurse Julie looked over Emmett's shoulder then glared at Izzy when she realized Emmett was pointing to the date.

"That's the date," Izzy said.

He should have found that information out from a qualified therapist, not a fast-food receipt.

Emmett took a shaky breath. That's the year? 2024?"

Izzy nodded.

"So it's been over five years then?"

"Yes.

"l"I thought it had been two, maybe two and a half years max." Emmett forced a laugh. I'm going to have a lot of TV to catch up on."

Maybe McDonald's hadn't been the ideal first meal. Emmett looked like he was going to throw up.

"I think I'm going to be sick," Emmett said

Before nurse Julie could grab a bucket, Emmett leaned over and released his dinner. Izzy was prepared for the chewed-up fries, but she wasn't expecting to see a smear of crimson covering the floor. Blood. Emmett just threw up blood.