Ebb and Flow (Twilight x Reader)

Chapter 16

Carlisle was the only one who stayed calm. Centuries of experience in the emergency room were evident in his quiet, authoritative voice.

"Emmett, Rose, get Jasper outside."

Unsmiling for once, Emmett nodded. "Come on, Jasper."

Jasper struggled against Emmett's unbreakable grasp, twisting around, reaching toward his brother with his bared teeth, his eyes still past reason.

Bella was beside me, dress torn and hair mussed from when she'd fallen. I put an arm out in front of her as Jasper snapped his teeth.

"Edward," Carlisle said, "get Bella out, too."

"I can't."

Bella and I turned towards the corner of the room furthest from us, where Edward was pressed against the wall, a hand over his nose and mouth. I hadn't even realized when he'd moved. He was shaking his head. His body seemed to be trembling, barely restrained.

Carlisle turned to where Jasper was being wrangled. "Emmett, Rose," he commanded, more urgency evident in his voice.

Rosalie stepped in front of Jasper— keeping a careful distance from his teeth—and helped Emmett wrestle him through the glass door that Esme held open, one hand pressed over her mouth and nose.

Esme's heart-shaped face was ashamed. "I'm so sorry, Y/n," she cried as she followed the others into the yard.

The moment Bella's path was free, she darted over to where Edward was. Within a blink, he had picked her up and carried her outside.

Carlisle knelt beside me, leaning close to examine my arm. I could feel the shock frozen on my face, and I tried to compose it.

"Here, Carlisle," Alice said, handing him a towel.

He shook his head. "Too much glass in the wound." He reached over and ripped a long, thin scrap from the bottom of the white tablecloth. He twisted it around my arm above the elbow to form a tourniquet. My ears were ringing.

"Y/n," Carlisle said softly. "Do you want me to drive you to the hospital, or would you like me to take care of it here?"

"Here, please," I said. If he took me to the hospital, there would be no way to keep this from Dad.

"I'll get your bag," Alice said.

"I'll take you to the kitchen." Carlisle lifted me effortlessly after a command for me to keep the pressure steady on my arm.

Alice was there. Carlisle's black bag was already on the table, a small but brilliant desk light plugged into the wall. Carlisle sat me gently into a chair, then pulled up another. He went to work at once.

I winced as Carlisle did something to my arm that stung.

"You alright?" Alice asked.

"Fine," I muttered.

A numb, dead feeling was spreading through my arm. Though it erased the sting, it reminded me of the gash, and I watched Carlisle's face carefully to distract me from what his hands were doing. His hair gleamed gold in the bright light as he bent over my arm.

I could feel the faint stirrings of unease in the pit of my stomach, but soon there was no pain, just a gentle tugging sensation that I tried to ignore.

If she hadn't been in my line of sight, I wouldn't have noticed Alice give up and steal out of the room. With a tiny, apologetic smile on her lips, she disappeared through the kitchen doorway.

"I'm sorry I ruined the party," I said.

"It's not your fault," Carlisle comforted me. "Besides, it was Bella's blood who set Jasper off."