Carlisle and Esme

2. A Memory

Chapter Two

"Carlisle?" Edward stood up as I entered the room. I placed Esme on the rug of our living room, joint kitchen. "Carlisle, what is this?"

"I didn't know what else to do..." I whispered. Edward placed his hand on my shoulder. I was knelt down beside the writhing Esme. She was screaming now.

"Show me." I quickly ran over my crystal clear memories of sixteen year old Esme...

*****

"Oh dear, oh dear. What's all this noise?" I pushed the curtain aside. On the gurney was a teenage girl. She looked so beautiful that it made me melt inside. And yet, she was crying. Her mother was on one side and her father on the other. The father got right up to me, blocking me from attending to his daughter.

"I want my daughter to have the finest health care." He demanded. He was trying to stare me down but I was a vampire. It was my natural urge to just stare HIM down.

"Your daughter is in the finest hospital with the finest health care and the finest staff. So if you would get out of my way so I can attend to your daughter." It was a command not a question and the father backed down immediately.

I moved to the girl's side and took her chart. I flipped on the light showing her x rays. Her leg bone was snapped clean in two.

"As you can see, it's clearly a break. Once the leg is put in plaster, she should heal just fine," I moved to her bed, looking down at the chart. "So... Esme... How do you feel?"

"It hurts..." She sobbed.

"We'll get you some morphine which will ease off the pain. Then we can cast the leg up. What colour do you want?" I smiled at her.

"Pink." She half smiled at me. Her eyes were wide like most people when they saw my vampiric beauty.

"Pink it is. I'll get that nurse to give you the correct dosage but shall we just check the rest of you?" She nodded. I flashed a torch in her eyes, got her to follow my finger and checked her various cuts and bruises. One cut over her eyebrow would need stitching but apart from that and her leg, she was fine.

I left and the nurse administered the morphine. I attended to other patients in the ER but my attention was on Esme. A chunk of my brain waited for her return. After all my patients, I had done some very big thinking. I didn't want to say goodbye to her just yet.

"Dr Cullen?" A receptionist looked up at me as I walked over to the desk.

"Esme Ann Platt. Sixteen year old female. Broken leg. She doesn't seem to be showing signs of severe concussion but I want her to be safe in a hospital in case anything does go wrong." I used the smouldering look and I saw when it took effect on the woman.

"Of...Of course, Dr Cullen." She went to a file and pushed the admittance form over to me. I signed it and pushed the form back.

"And if Miss Platt could have her own room? I believe her father will pay for this." The nurse nodded.

"I'll call over and get them to transfer her to Recovery Ward Two. Private Room one is available." I thanked the nurse and continued with my rounds.

At long last, I finished the rounds and went to Recovery Ward. Esme was there by herself. I smiled at her.

"You're still here?"

"Course I am," I looked at her leg, all cast up in pink plaster. "Very pretty. Pink suits you." She smiled.

"Does it?"

"Yes it does." I bowed and took her hand, kissing it. Her other hand had an IV in. She giggled.

"You're very handsome." A blush flooded her cheeks as she spoke. I smiled. She was so beautiful... So funny and intelligent. Mature for a sixteen year old.

"How did you get your leg broken then?" I asked her.

"I fell out of a tree." She blushed again. I couldn't help but laugh softly. Maybe not so mature.

We talked for ages until finally I was called away and she had to sleep. I went to see her in the morning when after she had her breakfast, she was discharged. I signed the papers for her discharge and helped her into her wheelchair. Every time we touched, I felt a pleasant electrical zing charge through my entire body. I'm sure she felt it too but we couldn't say a word in front of her parents. I watched her go, wondering if I would ever see her again.

******

"And did you?" I shook my head.

"Not until this moment..." I whispered.