Lee saw Bella pass out. "Bella!" he screamed. Everyone popped their head up and Kayce went running. He looked bewildered as he saw her passed out. He immediately went into training mode."Dad get the chopper,Lee help me look for wounds." They rolled Bella over and he saw the belts wrapped around her leg along with a bandana. Kayce removed the bandana and saw the shotgun hole. "Holy shit, she made it all the way home with that? She's a fucking champ." Lee said. Tate walked outside, noticing what happened and screamed Bella's name."Dad you have to save her! She saved me! We're best friends, please save her!" Tate yelled."Monica take Tate! He doesn't need to see this shit! Dad where's the chopper?" Kayce screamed."One minute out, I called the hospital they know she's comin'." Lee yelled, "Kayce, she ain't breathin'." Kayce put his head to her chest,"Fuck, baby don't you die on me. Not like this, not before I got you back." Kayce was doing compressions and CPR as Lee got the stretcher from the chopper. Lee brought it over as Kayce continued. Once loaded, Kayce refused to leave the helicopter so they had to take him too.
After 8 hours in surgery and 9 pints of blood, they rolled Bella to the ICU. Everyone was at the hospital waiting for news. Kayce and Lee were covered in her blood as the doctors walked through the OR doors. The doctors came out and told everyone what was happening, they had her in a medically induced coma to help with the stress her body was under. They would wean her off in a few days if she was still alive. Kayce didn't leave her side.
Six days later.
The doctors kicked everyone out of the room. Kayce was angry they didn't have answers to why she wasn't awake so they made everyone leave the room for a breather. Bella opened her eyes and immediately grabbed her leg, feeling immense pain. Where the fuck am I? What day is it? Where is Tate? Did I actually get him home? Right after she thought that, She heard Tate begging to come see me."Tate!" Bella croaked out unable to speak. I need to get up and see him. I pulled the IV and the monitors off, and flung my legs over the side of the bed. I stood up and felt immediate pain, but I had to see him. I started walking out to the hallway. About 20 feet away, everyone was huddled in a circle. I grabbed a water off the nurses station, chugging it down."Tate?" I yelled as I had to bend down to shove the pain down. Everyone ripped around, Tate came out of the huddle and ran to me, "Bella!"he cried. He ran straight to me as I picked him up, immediately regretting it as my leg was on fire. I held Tate close and backed up to the wall slowly sliding down it. "Ah fuck fuck fuck." I cried in pain. Tate giggled, "You said a bunch of bad words, you owe me $3 for the swear jar." I kissed the side of his head, "Tate I'll give you everything in my bank account baby. I'm so glad you're okay."I said. Tate kissed my cheek, "Of course I'm okay! You saved me! Because we're best friends." he said happily. "Yeah buddy, we're best friends. Forever." I said as a tear slid down my cheek, That's when I saw Monica and Kayce watching me."Oh my god, I'm sorry is this okay?" I said looking between the both of them. Monica cried out, "Of course, he's basically part yours now." as she shed a tear. Kaycés eyes were red and he's crying."Hey Lee, can you help me out?" I said asking for help up and back to my bed. "Yeah baby, I got ya." Lee said but Kayce came over and picked me up, bringing me back to my bed. Lee looked at me and smiled, "I'll get the doctor then."
The doctor came in and told me I had lost too much blood, almost half my body's volume but after they repaired my leg and gave me 9 transfusions, three of which were Kayce's blood because they didn't have anymore to give me, they were confident I was okay. They said I could go home in 3 days but I couldn't go home alone and had to be with someone for the next 6 weeks, no working either. As soon as he mentioned a rehab so I wouldn't be alone, Kayce spoke up "She's coming home with me. Tate and I will take care of her." When I tried to object he said "You saved my son, I owe you my life. I'm taking care of you, that's that." Monica and John said they'd also help, while Lee and Jaime made sexual comments and I burst out laughing.
"Isabell, can I speak to you alone please?" Monica asked softly. I smiled and nodded, as everyone left the room and shut the door. She grabbed my hand and said,"thank you for
everything. Thank you for saving Tate, thank you for loving him." I whispered back,"Thank you for letting me love him, he's so amazing and so special. I'd do anything for him.But there's no need to thank me for anything." She smiled, tears falling,"But I owe you everything. I also wanted to make sure you know that Lee and Kayce saved you, Kayce did CPR for over 20 minutes until you got here. He never left your side in all 6 days you were here. I think you know how in love with you he's always been, including during our marriage don't think I didn't know he missed you. I'm sorry I took him from you or that Tate did. I think deep down you still love him, so l hope you'll give him another chance." I stared at Monica for a moment, thinking of how hard it must have been being married but not in love."Monica, I'm so sorry you felt like you weren't his first choice, but you were. I was never angry you two got together,
We had broken up temporarily. I was just hurt he didn't want me to help him and that he didn't want me anymore. Those feelings are long gone, I realized when Tate went missing that
If all of that didn't happen Tate wouldn't be here. And Tate deserves to be here. He deserves to
Have his parents, whether together or separately to love him. That happened for a reason, Tate Was meant to bring the sunshine into your life, bring Kayce back from war, and bring John and Kayce back together. l also think Tate was meant to bring me back to the Dutton's. After Kayce broke my heart, I promised myself I'd never let the love I felt for someone consume me again, I'd never love a man more than I loved myself. But Tate changed that for me. Love is painful in good and bad ways. We've been working on a friendship but I love him Monica. I'm so in love with him I can't breathe again and I'm terrified." As I finished talking, I heard sniffling outside the door and realized it wasn't completely closed. Monica smiled and opened the door, revealing a crying Kayce. Monica looked at me with a sparkle in her eyes and nodded towards Kayce. I nodded back and moved over on my bed,"Come here." I said softly to Kayce, who walked over and hugged me getting into my bed quickly snuggling into me and kissing the top of my head. "Hey Monica, can you let everyone know Kayce needs some time with me and they can all go home?" she smiled and nodded, closing the door.
Kayce cried for a good half hour, we didn't talk,we just stayed as is. My head on his chest-listening to his heartbeat calm down. When it was finally calm, I whispered,"Thank you for saving me. Monica told me what you did, and you haven't left." I looked up at him, Kayce staring back at me. He reached his arm around my jaw, bringing my face to his, kissing me gently. "Don't ever thank me for that, I couldn't live knowing you weren't still here with me.
You saved my son, I owe you my life. Not that you haven't always been my life. I'm so sorry l hurt you so badly, but thank you for seeing why I had to try to make it work. Thank you for loving my son, he loves you so much. He only tells people stories about you and him, how his
best friend is the best lawyer in the country and they better be good or he'll turn you on 'em." Kayce laughed and then sighed,"I'm so glad you're okay." he whispered and kissed my forehead."I love you Bella. I've always been in love with you, I will always be in love with you.
Let me prove it to you. Don't be scared to love me because I'll never do anything to hurt you again." he whispered to me softly. I didn't say anything, I just leaned up and kissed him again- snuggling back into him and falling asleep.
