Honey (Book 1)

Chapter 31

Charlie's POV 

The consistent patter of movement on the tiled floor as doctors and nurses race around. The sound of laughter, of sobs, shouting. The repetitive and various beeping, it all fills my ears overwhelmingly until they just go silent, a ringing taking place as I collapse into the nearest chair. 

There are hands on my shoulders, people talking and crying around me but my heart stutters in my chest as my hand covers my mouth and my eyes pool with tears. 

In all my years of being a cop, it always broke my heart to hear of young people getting hurt, of dying before they even got to live. Reckless driving on slippery, winding roads. But to get the call and then coming to the scene to recognize the car, has always been my fear. 

The bodies had already been taken away but the mangled and torn Jeep, still steaming from the put out flames, remained. 

I raced to the hospital, all my fears coming alive when I got there. 

Bella. 

My sweet baby girl is somewhere in this hospital, fighting for her life. Her girlfriend and the bigger Cullen, just gone. 

"Charlie," Someone shakes my shoulder hard enough for me to look up. Running my hand under my nose and over my eyes. "Would you like to go back?" 

Carlisle. He's still working. He's working to save my daughter despite the fact that two of his children have died. 

Billy and Jacob, Harry and Sue, hell, half of the reservation is in the hospital waiting room. All waiting, tense and nervous. 

I look at Billy, he pats my back and I can't help but think back on his wife. Died in a crash similarly. I falter, mouth opening and closing before nodding, getting up on unsteady legs. Carlisle steadies me and we make our way down the halls in silence. 

I can't help but to stare. 

He stands shoulders stiff and head bowed. Walking evenly, slowly down the hall. His hand closed tight around a pen, clicking it every now and then. I notice now, the torment on his face and I can't help but reach up and pat his back. 

"Chief," He pulls us to a stop, outside a door. "I feel I should warn you, as a parent. Seeing your child like this wont be easy. But know, as a doctor, I won't stop until I make sure I've done everything I can to help her."  His voice cracks on the word parent and I can't help but flinch. 

Clearing my throat, I can't get myself to speak so I just nod.

He opens the door slowly, and the rhythmic sound of pumps and beeping fills my ears. The scent of sterilization and medicine burns my nose. My boots make a thump on the tile as Carlisle's shoes clack. 

My eyes well up and blur at the sight of her. Paler, she's all black and blue, hooked up to so many machines. A cast around her arm and a leg, braced at the middle. Bandaged and pumped full of drugs to keep her peaceful and alive. 

I choke on a sob, stumbling to the glass that divides her from me. "She is in too critical of a condition, right now. It's," Carlisle clears his throat. "I'm not sure, she can make it through the night." He goes on to explain her injuries and what they're doing for her but I zone out after that. 

My hand comes to grip the railing under the window, knuckles white. 

"I just got her back," I mutter brokenly and Carlisle cuts off abruptly. 

"We're doing everything that we can, Charlie. I assure you, there is nothing I want more than for her to be okay again. My," His voice goes gruff and low, so unlike I've ever heard or seen from him that I turn my head to stare. "My children love her, very much. She became apart of my family and I will treat her as if she were my own, doing anything that may help her. She helped bring us together, unlike we ever were and- I'm so sorry Charlie. This should've never happened."