A Denali and a Swan

Pain

Darkness. Bangs. Booms. Bullets whizzing by and all of a sudden my best friend, Corporal Ashton Tate Steele, falls down yelling out for me. "Sergeant Swan!" He passes out as I get to him. I throw him over my shoulder and carry him out of there but get shot in the knee as I'm running. I stumble but keep going. We get behind some sand bags and I call for help. The sergeant major sends a Humvee our way. I get us in the Humvee and we take off. I realize not only was I shot in the knee but my left side and my left arm. Everything begins to look fuzzy and I pass out.
Beeping. Won't that damn beeping stop! I start moving and feel immense pain when I try bending my left knee. Blinking and rubbing my face I wake up and realize I am in a hospital. Everything flashes in my mind. "Ashton! Hey somebody! Anybody! I need to know Ashton is ok!" The nurse comes in. "Calm down Sergeant we'll take good care of you and your friend. Just let me get the doctor." She goes out and the doctor walks in. "Is Corporal Ashton Steele going to make it Doc?" "I'm Doctor Smith and Corporal Steele is across the hall recovering from a shot to the chest. It was touch and go but I believe he'll pull through. Now in your case, you had a grazed arm that is already beginning to heal and were shot in your left side which will take some time to heal. There's three stitches in your arm and four stitches in your side. Lots of rest and care for you. Unfortunately we had to operate on your left knee. You're quite lucky we didn't have to amputate your knee and leg. We had to completely replace your knee cap. Unfortunately you'll have to be medically discharged from the army. I'm sorry to inform you this news. I'll get the nurse to come give you more morphine for the pain and we will discuss physical therapy but first let me give you some time to take all this information in. Again I am sorry." The doctor leaves the room and I let the tears fall. Now what the hell am I going to do? Being in the military was my life! What to do now?
"Good grief! Thank God that was my last therapy session! It's just plain torture! I can't wait to get outta here and see my Mom, Phil, Dad and Bells again. Are you starting back up again soon Ash?" "I know it's been tough Swan but the Doc said you finished therapy the fastest  he's ever seen! Only 9 months of therapy and they're sending you home! I'm sure you're excited to see your family though! You haven't seen them in what? Two years? I'd be happy too. That is if I had a family to go home to. I'm glad I went back to the old grindstone last month! I was getting antsy not doing anything. Sorry for not coming to visit much lately. Brianne has been keeping me busy if you know what I mean!" Ash wiggles his eyes at me and I bust out laughing. "Glad you found someone to love brother." I tell him. He looks at me funny. I cock my head and ask him, "What's wrong bud?" "I wouldn't be here at all if you hadn't saved my ass that day. There's no way I can thank you enough for that. You ever need something you let me know. I'm forever in your debt." I hug him tightly. "You'd do the same for me brother. There's no way I was leaving your ass behind. Let's go get a drink and celebrate!" "What are we celebrating" He asks me. "For no more damn physical therapy and for love of course!" We laugh and are off looking for a good drink.
I limp my way off the plane. Man it's good to be back in Washington! Wonder where's Dad? Hmm...why's there a little pixie holding a sign with my name on it? "I'm Ember. And you are?" "Oh hello Ember! I'm Alice! I'm Edward's sister. Edward is Bella's fiancé. Charlie asked me to pick you up. He had an emergency at work. Something about a tip where a missing teen might be?" "Oh ok glad he got a tip. Glad to meet you Alice. Let's get going! I can't wait to see my lil sis!" Smiling from ear to ear I can't help but have flashbacks of the times spending with Bella. We are sisters which means of course we fought over what to watch on the tv and such but she is my baby sister and I'll protect her with everything in me. Like when I beat the snot out of of that boy that tried kissing her and wouldn't take no for an answer back when she was in 9th grade. Boy did Mom ever get mad at me. But nobody messes with my sis. Alice leads me to an expensive looking black Mercedes. "Nice ride" I say. Dad left me borrow his car to get you. It's nice but plain. I personally like the color yellow." Alice giggles. I throw my suitcase in the back and sit upfront with Alice and I barely get buckled when she takes off. Man she can fly! I hope we make it there in one piece! The whole way there Alice is playing 20 questions and asking me what's my favorite color, blue, and what my middle name is and such. After 20 questions she starts talking about clothes and how we need to go shopping sometime and wished we had time to in Seattle. Man this girl can talk! Thank goodness I see Dad's house ahead. Man! She made a three and half hour drive into a two hour drive! At least we made it in one piece. I get out and grab my suitcase and backpack. "Thank you Alice. I'll see you around soon?" I ask. She laughs, "Silly I'm not going anywhere! You have to try on the suit I got you to wear to the wedding!" She grabs the suit I assumed was her fathers and follows me to the house. I get the spare key from under the mat and unlock the door. You'd think the chief of police would have a better hiding place for his spare key I laugh to myself. We get inside and a wave of nostalgia hits me. Everything looks the same. Pictures of bells and I from when we were kids all over the walls. Same old couch and recliner. A new flatscreen tv sits on the entertainment center though that's cool. I lead Alice upstairs to the attic to my room. She hands me the suit. "I'll be downstairs waiting to see how it looks!" She smiles at me and I nod and shut the door after she leaves. I put the suit on and look in my mirror. Not too bad. Fits perfect actually. Wonder how she knew my size?
I make my way downstairs and she turns around and claps her hands! "Men and women alike won't want to keep their hands off you Ember! You look beyond handsome!" I blush and thank her. "Men can keep their hands off though" I chuckle. She giggles, "I'll see you later. Bells is about to come in and I want to give you both time together." Just as she says that Bella opens the door. "Alice what are you doing he- EMBER? I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE HERE! OH MY GOSH!" She runs and jumps on me squeezing the life out of me. I stumble a bit trying not to trip with Bella in my arms. A man walks in as we hug and smiles at us. "I've missed you so much." Bells mumbles in my shoulder. "I've missed you too! So much." Bells lets me go and steps towards the man I'm assuming to be Edward. He kind of laughs giving me a funny look and says "Hello my name's Edward. I'm Bella's fiancé. It's so good to finally meet you. Though Bella hasn't said much about you, she has spoke highly of you. She missed you deeply and didn't like talking about you. It hurt too much too." Well shit. Now I feel like an ass for staying away for so long. I don't know what to say. It gets kind of awkward but Alice saves the day. "You must come over for supper tomorrow and meet the family. "Thank you Alice. I'll be sure to come. Just let me know the time and if I should bring anything." "Why not come at 5 to meet everyone and then we'll eat at 6? Bella can bring you over. And just bring yourself and Bella. I'll see you tomorrow then! Bye bye now!" She waves and skips out the door. Such a pixie. Edward snickers. It's as if he can read my mind or something. Weird. That's not possible. Edward looks at me funny. "I'll be going. I'll let you both have some family time." And goes to leave. "If it's really family time then I guess you should stick around Eddy boy since you're going to be family. No matter how much Dad disagrees with that sentence. I chuckle. "Oh and Eddy I'd like to inform you if you hurt Bells like Dad told me you did ever again I'll be there to kick your ass. Just a bit of a warning." Bells gives me a look and smacks my arm. I grin and plop on Dads recliner. "Sit down and we'll talk. How'd you meet? Was it love at first sight? Tell me all about it." I watch both of them as they sit together. If he moves she moves. So in sync. Edward tells me all about how Bella and Edward began as friends then a couple. How he loves her blah blah blah. He'd never hurt her intentionally. Blah blah blah. Edwards very long winded isn't he? Why do I get this feeling around him? Like he's trouble. I don't trust him. But that may be because he's already hurt Bella before. Who's to say he won't do it again? "Tell me a bit about yourself Edward." He goes on to tell me he's into music. Plays the piano. Likes classical music. Ok, I try not to laugh at that. A teenage boy in this era likes classical music. What a nerd. Edward gives me this exasperated look like he knows what I just said to myself. I swear he can read my mind. That's not possible though. He's just weird. Yea. Just weird. "I myself like like country and rock music. Classical music always put me to sleep. But that's cool you can play the piano." Bella rolls her eyes and says, "We can't all bang our heads to rock music sis." We all laugh as Dad walks in with a pizza. My stomach gurgles as I smell that delicious smell. "Good to see you Dad! I jump up and give him a hug after he puts the pizza on the table. Dad holds me for a while. "Thank God you came home." Dad pats my back and let's me go trying to discreetly wipe away the tear in his eye. Bella and Edward walk in the kitchen. "I'll be going home now. See you tomorrow Ember. Bye Bella love." Edward says his goodbyes and leaves. I grab us all plates and we have dinner together. "Man it's so good to be back! I've missed you both so much!" "We missed you too Em! So glad you're home safe now." Bella tells me. I kiss her forehead and pat dads back. I have serious jet lag and am ready for bed. I'll see you all in the morning. I say and go off to my room. Man I'm whooped.

This is my first story/fanfic. So bare with me please.