Chapter Twenty-Nine

I was glad I didn't have shoes on, because if I did, I probably would've broken my neck trying to get to Carlisle before he collapsed. I did skin my knees however when I slid across the rug to him and caught him in my arms. I slowly lowered him to the floor.

"I need my medical bag, brown, in my room, and someone needs to call 9-1-1 immediately," I said I quickly ripped off Carlisle's jacket and shirt.

"Carlisle," I called out as I gently slapped his face, "Carlisle can you hear me?"

He mumbled something, his eyes were open just somewhat glazed over and staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Carlisle, I need you to stay with me. An ambulance is coming but until then I'm going to try to help you," I said as I grabbed my bag from whoever was holding it and pulled my stethoscope out. I pressed it against his chest to hear a very faint, abnormal beating.

"Carlisle, has your chest been hurting you?" I asked as I dug through my bag.

"Yes," He said weakly.

"For how long?"

"Just…yesterday… today…" He mumbled, slurring slightly.

"Okay, good," I said as I pulled out the aspirin, "I'm going to place a little pill in your mouth. Do not swallow, chew it. Do you understand?"

"Yes…"

"Repeat what I just said back to me, so I know you understand."

"Oh for god sakes help him you idiot!" Mrs. Cullen screeched at me. "Give him the goddamn pill!"

"Carlisle repeat my directions back to me, what are you going to do?" I asked as I held the pill above his lips.

"Chew. Not swallow… chew."

"Good," I said as I put the pill in his mouth.

He chewed exactly three times before his head fell over to the side. I heard Esme cry out and saw her from peripheral vision drop to her knees beside him.

I opened his mouth to make sure the pill had dissolved. I only saw little bits of it, but that was just enough to help him.

I raised up on my knees and began chest compressions. On the fourth compression, Carlisle let out a sickening moan that was accompanied by an even sicker snap.

"Oh my god you're going to kill him!" Mrs. Cullen screeched at me.

"W-what's happened to him?" Esme cried softly.

"He's having a heart attack," I grunted, continuing to push down on his chest. "I need to do chest compressions to keep his heart going."

"Is he going to be alright?" Alice sobbed.

I was too out of breath to answer them anymore. My sweat was dripping from my nose and onto Carlisle's exposed skin. I wanted to fall over but I continued, pushing through the pain and tiredness I felt.

Finally, after what felt like forever, the EMT's arrived. One pushed me aside and continued compressions while the other hooked Carlisle up to various machines. I inhaled deeply before looking out at everyone.

"I need all of you to head over to the hospital now," I said before looking at Esme. "Ride in the ambulance with Carlisle."

A third EMT appeared with a clipboard, trying to ask his mother what happened. I walked to them and roughly shoved her aside, more because I was focused on my work rather than being a bitch.

"Hello, I'm Bella Swan I'm an RN." I said.

"Yeah, I remember you. From the jail," He said with a nod. "So you were the one that was working on him?"

"Yes," I nodded. "I walked in about twenty minutes ago, I noticed he was paler than usual, and he seemed a bit clammy. About… I guess eight minutes ago, he was holding his chest and then fell to the floor. He was conscious for a few moments before passing out. He did manage to chew a baby aspirin and he was able to respond to me."

The EMT nodded. "Got it. Thank you. We're going to take him to St. Joseph's."

"I'll be there," I said with a nod before looking over at Edward. "Are you okay to drive?"

I grabbed his arm and dragged him out of my apartment. I didn't grab anything, I just forced Edward out so he could drive us to the hospital. I figured he was somewhat in shock because he was completely silent the entire drive over. I just kept my hand on his knee, rubbing gently so he knew I was still here for him.

We were just a few minutes behind everyone else. We walked into the waiting room, expecting to see everyone but only Jasper was standing there, waiting.

"Finally," He said quietly to himself. "We swung a private waiting room. Everyone's in there already."

We quickly followed Jasper to the private waiting room where he immediately took a sobbing Alice into his arms. I realized then why he had been so impatient and somewhat short. He was eager to get back to Alice so he could console her.

Edward simply sat in a chair beside his weeping mother. He placed his arm around her back, rubbing her shoulder gently. I felt somewhat useless just standing there. There wasn't another chair beside Edward, so I just stood beside him, holding my hand out.

He looked down at my extended hand for a moment, as if confused, before taking it. I gave him a light squeeze. He looked up at me, let out a deep sigh, and gave me the best crooked smile he could manage. I smiled back, hoping it would ease him slightly.

Two Hours Later

Our various positions around the room had changed. Nurses had brought in more chairs to try and accommodate everyone. There weren't enough chairs, so I settled for sitting in Edward's lap. He offered and while I wanted to tease him a little, I had enough sense to know that now wasn't the time.

I had started dosing off against Edward's shoulder, but then the doctor walked into the room. I jumped to my feet, as did Edward.

"Is Mrs. Cullen here?" The doctor asked.

"That's me," Mrs. Cullen, not Esme, stood and walked to the doctor.

He looked back down at his chart. "You're Esme Cullen? The wife?"

"That's me. I'm his wife." Esme said as she stepped forward. I was surprised when Esme nudged Mrs. Cullen aside so she could speak with the doctor. "How is my husband?"

"We've stabilized him," As soon as he said those words, there was a sigh of relief that everyone had been holding in.

"Thank god," Esme sighed. "What happened to him?"

"Mr. Cullen suffered from a mild heart-attack. It is not as severe as it could've been, but there will definitely need to be changes in his life in order to prevent it from happening again."

"Of course, we will do anything to help him."

"Excellent. I will be finding you a booklet that goes over everything that needs to be changed. It includes diet, stress management, medication, and early warning signs of heart attacks. I'm also including the number to one of the best cardiologists in New York. I highly recommend scheduling regular checkups with him."

Esme nodded. "Thank you so much for saving him."

"Well, whoever worked on him when he first collapsed really helped us out. The EMT's informed us that by the time they had reached the apartment, his heartbeat was steady which helped them transport him. A lot of times, patients who have heart attacks have a very short window where the attack damages the brain and causes other issues, but having someone get him on a very steady rhythm truly saved his life and his body."

"That would be her," Edward said as he wrapped his arm around me and guided me forward. I blushed slightly.

The doctor smiled at me. "Do you work in the medical field?"

"I'm an RN."

"Well you did an amazing job, nurse," He took a step towards me and chuckled. "I'm sure you know we measure a CPR job done well by the amount of broken ribs."

I chuckled now, "Yeah, I know. I felt one or two break. What was my record?"

"I don't know how, but you managed to break seven ribs," He then laughed, "We honestly thought it was a two-hundred-pound man had performed CPR. I'm impressed. You can't weigh no more than one-thirty."

I smiled, "I put everything I had into it. I think I've sprained my wrists," I held my slightly swollen wrists out, I'd probably need to ice them later, but I was fine right now.

He nodded, "Well, you did great. You should be very proud of yourself. And if you're ever looking to for a place in the ER, we'd be happy to have you."

I blushed. "Thanks."

"May we see him now?" Esme asked.

"Yes, that's fine. But please keep it to just four of his closest family members and brief. He really needs to rest now."

"Thank you," Esme said as she grabbed her jacket.

"I'm coming to," Mrs. Cullen said.

"Edward, Alice, let's go see your father," Esme said. "Bella I want you to come."

"What?" Mrs. Cullen squawked. "I am his mother—,"

"You can see him tomorrow," Esme snapped harshly. "I want his children in there, and the person that saved his life, so he knows."

"Esme—," Mrs. Cullen started, her face turning angry red.

"Don't try me right now Renata," Esme spit out viciously, "I mean it. Do not test your luck. I am not in the mood for your bullshit."

A cold chill ran down my spine at the same time a loud cheer rang off in my head. I also felt a bit awkward as well, and I couldn't help but turn away. I was also too afraid to tell Esme that I could see him at another time.

As Esme started walking, the three of us followed. Edward, his hand still in mine, lead me to Carlisle's room.

It was dim and quiet, aside from the sound of the beeping heart monitor. Carlisle was attached to many medical devices and was sitting up against the pillows. He actually didn't look so bad for a guy that just had a heart attack.

He smiled very gently and held his arms out for Esme. She hesitated and looked at the machinery he was connected to.

"It's okay, Esme," I said gently as I moved to Carlisle's bedside and gently moved the cords aside. "You can't unplug anything. And he's not attached to anything that's keeping him alive, it's just monitors. I'll hold it aside for you if you want to sit by him."

Esme took a gentle seat beside him and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm so glad you're okay."

He placed his arm around her, "I wasn't going to leave you so soon."

With her lips and nose still pressed gently against his cheek, she inhaled deeply. She grabbed his hand and gave it a light squeeze.

"I'm sorry if I scared all of you," Carlisle said.

Edward let out a soft chuckled. "Yeah, thanks old man."

Carlisle shook his head, "Alley-cat it's okay."

Alice let out a little sob and covered her face with her hands. Edward wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"I'm alright Alice. It wasn't anything major. I'm fine."

"Carlisle, Bella was the one who saved your life," Esme said. "If she hadn't been there, the doctor said it could've been much, much worse."

Carlisle looked over at me. "Thank you Bella. I owe you big time."

I waved my hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it."

"No, I am being very serious. Anything you ask for, it's yours. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."

"I'm just glad you're alright."

"Because of you," He said, "I'm alright because of you. The doctors told me that whoever gave me CPR is the reason there isn't any long-term damage. And the reason I'm not dead. I owe you. Anything you want. Anytime you need it."

I blushed. "Thank you."

"Knock, knock," the nurse whispered as she walked in, "I'm so sorry to interrupt, but it's time for your medication Mr. Cullen."

"I guess that means visiting time is over." Carlisle sighed, "All of you go home and rest." He turned his head and kissed Esme on the cheek. "Get some rest. I am fine."

Alice walked over to kiss Carlisle on the cheek. He pulled her close and whispered something into her ear that caused her to sniffle a bit and nod. Edward then walked over and leaned down to hug his father; Carlisle gave him a gentle kiss on the top of his head before grabbing Edward's hand.

"Take care of things."

"You have my word." Edward nodded.

Carlisle smiled gently at him. "Good boy. If you need anything call me."

"No, Edward, your father must rest," Esme said. "Have Emmett help you."

"It will be fine. I can handle everything." Edward said.