Letters To A Stranger
by Momma2fan
Chapter 17
The flight was unbearable. He was a last minute passenger on a military transport. He had taken off at six a.m. and they would be landing in Hawaii for fuel before continuing on to their destination. He couldn't wait to land, he was hot, tired and grumpy. It felt like he’d been on this plane for days and all he wanted was a shower, some hot food and bed.
Carlisle had been summoned to Germany at Edward's request. As a physician he would be able to assess his son's injuries and then give Esme and Bella the word on how he was. As worried as he was for his son, he was almost more so about his daughter-in-law. The pregnancy had been touch and go ever since Edward had gone missing.
Emmett had pulled a lot of strings to get Carlisle on this flight and he was only too happy to have a son who was well connected in the military. He knew he wanted to get Edward home by Christmas but he was unsure of the extent of his injuries. He only hoped he could get him home for the birth of his son.
After what felt like days the plane touched down in Germany. Carlisle was met at the gate by an officer who immediately took him to see Edward. Carlisle was unprepared for the sight that greeted him. Edward was extremely pale and thin. His cheeks were hollow and he had dark rings under his eyes. What struck him harder was the sweat running down his brow and the sheer terror on his son's face.
"Edward? Son?" Carlisle placed his things at Edward's feet.
"Dad?" Edward whispered.
Carlisle turned and looked around. He saw no signs of a doctor, but he did see a nurse. One nurse with forty full beds, he could only conclude there was an emergency of some sort. "Excuse me, nurse?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Where is the doctor? I would like to speak to him about my son."
"I'm sorry, sir. The doctor is in surgery. May I help you?"
Carlisle ran his hand through his hair. "Where is my son's chart?"
"I'll get that for you. I'm sorry, Sir, but we are overflowing right now since the bombing." The nurse walked around the corner and a minute later came back with Edward's chart. She handed it to Carlisle and then went back to her patient.
Carlisle opened the chart and looked at its meager contents. From what he was reading, Edward had spiked a fever several days ago and it had been steadily rising. Carlisle turned again and summoned the nurse over. "Where can I find medical supplies? I’m going to start caring for my son, I’m also going to put a call through and get clearance so I can begin helping with your overload of patients."
She pointed out all the supply areas to Carlisle and then asked him if he needed her assistance.
"What can I do to help?"
"What is your name, Dear?"
"Jane."
"Well, Jane, you seem to have your hand's full, please let me help you. I’m going to get some vitals on my son and then try and draw his fever down. Once I have administered some meds to him, I’ll help you with the rest of your patients, alright?"
"Are you a doctor? I mean obviously you are, but..."
"I am and I promise I’m going to help you." Carlisle headed over to the supply stations and loaded up a cart of supplies before heading back over to Edward. While he was checking his vitals, he put a call through to the American Embassy and then to his wife.
"Carlisle? Is everything alright?" Esme asked, her voice laced with concern.
"Where is Bella, dear?" Carlisle asked, as he took Edward's temperature.
"She's sleeping. Carlisle, you're scaring me."
"Sweetheart, I think I am going to be here for quite a while. The hospital here is overrun thanks to the bombing and it seems as if there isn’t enough staff for what the patients need. They have forty beds, all full. I haven't seen a doctor since I arrived because they are all treating the more critical patients and I've only seen one nurse. Sweetheart, Edward is not well. I need you to try and keep Bella in the dark about this as much as possible. He has a very high fever, but I’m going to start him on some medication and then see what I can do to help here. Edward will be my priority until he is well enough to travel, but I don't know how long that will be. It's not good, Es."
"Carlisle, you take care of my baby and bring him home. Call us when you can and I’ll try to protect Bella and the baby, but, honey, she really needs to hear his voice."
"I'll see, Esme. I love you."
"Love you, too."
Esme walked through the kitchen and into the living room. She sat on the couch and put her head in her hands. How was she going to keep this from Bella?
"Esme? Is everything okay?" Bella asked as she waddled into the living room. She had less than seven weeks left and was feeling huge.
"Of course, Sweetheart. Sit down, let me get you a cup of tea." Esme rose and quickly went into the kitchen, trying to think of what she was going to say.
The doorbell rang and she went to answer it. "Alice, come on in. You don't have to ring the bell, you’re family, you’re welcome anytime. Bella's in the living room. Would you like some tea?"
"Thanks, but only if you guys are having some." Alice said as she shrugged out of her coat.
"Go on in. I'll be there in a moment."
Alice went into the living room and found her sister-in-law and best friend lounging on the couch. "Hey, preggers, how’re you feeling?"
"Like I'm going to give birth to Emmett. I’m huge, Ali. How am I ever going to push this kid out?"
Alice laughed. "If he's too big just tell them to do a C-section."
"No. I want to have natural childbirth. No drugs and no scalpels."
"Oh, Bella, honey, you’re going to want drugs. Childbirth is not easy," Esme commented as she came back in with a tray of tea and cookies.
"Let me help you, Esme." Alice jumped up.
"Where's my brother? I thought he didn't have to go in today."
Alice looked up from her cup, "He was called in. Something about a soldier who needs a little one-on-one training. I didn't understand."
"Have you heard from Carlisle yet Esme? He should be in Germany by now."
"He called. Bella, he told me that Edward was very sick, but that we shouldn't worry because he is getting excellent care."
Bella nodded, "I hope I get to hear from him soon. So...who wants to put my big butt in the car and take me to finish my Christmas shopping?"
"Let's all go. I'll call Rosalie and see if she wants to meet us for dinner." Esme jumped up and Alice helped Bella off the couch and into her room to get her clothes changed.
Several hours later, Bella was seated on a bench waiting for Esme to pull the car around. She had finally gotten everything. They had even made a trip into a baby store and cooed over all the clothes.
"Bella?" Rosalie tried to get her attention.
"What's up, Rose?"
"I want to throw you a baby shower. Have you and Edward decided on a name yet?"
"No. I haven't spoken to him for a while, Rosie. Why would you need to know his name to throw me a shower?" Bella wondered.
"To put on the cake, silly." Rose giggled.
"Oh, well, I haven't talked to Edward and I’m not going to name this baby without him."
Esme showed up with the car and everyone loaded the bags and Bella. Once she was situated and everyone was in, they drove home. As soon as the bags were unloaded, Bella went to bed and was asleep before her head hit the pillow.
~~LTaS~~
Edward was fighting to break the surface of the fever. Carlisle had been administering antibiotics for several days yet his fever was still raging. He was trying to treat both the infection in Edward's leg and the inferno in the rest of his body.
"Jane? Would you mind getting me some fresh water and a clean rag?"
"Certainly, Dr. Cullen." Carlisle had been granted clearance and had pitched in where needed. He had helped sew up superficial lacerations that should have been done in the field. He had helped assist in a surgery to amputate a young man's leg that was full of gangrene. The guy was lucky to be alive.
Jane came back with the lukewarm water and a clean cloth and offered them to Carlisle. He immediately poured a small amount of rubbing alcohol in the water and wet the rag. He wiped Edward's brow and neck with it before refreshing the cloth.
Edward moaned as the cool liquid touched his overheated flesh. He moved his head and slowly opened his eyes, his gaze landing on his father. "Dad?" He rasped.
"Don't try to talk, son. You need to save your strength."
"Bella?"
"Bella is fine, she’s with your mother. She's waiting for you to get better so you can come home to her." Carlisle made another pass with the cloth.
"Baby?"
"He's fine and still safe inside his mother. He's waiting for you, too. Sleep, son."
"So thirsty," Edward's eyes pleaded with his father.
"I'll see if I can get you some ice chips. Try not to move, I'll be right back." Carlisle moved to the small kitchen and filled a paper cup with some ice and quickly returned to his son. He rubbed the ice along Edward's lips and watched as he snaked his tongue out to lick it up. He did this several times until Edward drifted off to sleep. Carlisle checked his temperature again and was relieved to find that it had gone down, only one degree down, but that was promising. He sighed and told Jane he was going to try and get some sleep. He told her to go get some rest too. He knew they would both be back again in the morning. He hoped Edward would continue to improve overnight.
Across the ocean a woman dreamed of her husband and baby. All safe and together.
The flight was unbearable. He was a last minute passenger on a military transport. He had taken off at six a.m. and they would be landing in Hawaii for fuel before continuing on to their destination. He couldn't wait to land, he was hot, tired and grumpy. It felt like he’d been on this plane for days and all he wanted was a shower, some hot food and bed.
Carlisle had been summoned to Germany at Edward's request. As a physician he would be able to assess his son's injuries and then give Esme and Bella the word on how he was. As worried as he was for his son, he was almost more so about his daughter-in-law. The pregnancy had been touch and go ever since Edward had gone missing.
Emmett had pulled a lot of strings to get Carlisle on this flight and he was only too happy to have a son who was well connected in the military. He knew he wanted to get Edward home by Christmas but he was unsure of the extent of his injuries. He only hoped he could get him home for the birth of his son.
After what felt like days the plane touched down in Germany. Carlisle was met at the gate by an officer who immediately took him to see Edward. Carlisle was unprepared for the sight that greeted him. Edward was extremely pale and thin. His cheeks were hollow and he had dark rings under his eyes. What struck him harder was the sweat running down his brow and the sheer terror on his son's face.
"Edward? Son?" Carlisle placed his things at Edward's feet.
"Dad?" Edward whispered.
Carlisle turned and looked around. He saw no signs of a doctor, but he did see a nurse. One nurse with forty full beds, he could only conclude there was an emergency of some sort. "Excuse me, nurse?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Where is the doctor? I would like to speak to him about my son."
"I'm sorry, sir. The doctor is in surgery. May I help you?"
Carlisle ran his hand through his hair. "Where is my son's chart?"
"I'll get that for you. I'm sorry, Sir, but we are overflowing right now since the bombing." The nurse walked around the corner and a minute later came back with Edward's chart. She handed it to Carlisle and then went back to her patient.
Carlisle opened the chart and looked at its meager contents. From what he was reading, Edward had spiked a fever several days ago and it had been steadily rising. Carlisle turned again and summoned the nurse over. "Where can I find medical supplies? I’m going to start caring for my son, I’m also going to put a call through and get clearance so I can begin helping with your overload of patients."
She pointed out all the supply areas to Carlisle and then asked him if he needed her assistance.
"What can I do to help?"
"What is your name, Dear?"
"Jane."
"Well, Jane, you seem to have your hand's full, please let me help you. I’m going to get some vitals on my son and then try and draw his fever down. Once I have administered some meds to him, I’ll help you with the rest of your patients, alright?"
"Are you a doctor? I mean obviously you are, but..."
"I am and I promise I’m going to help you." Carlisle headed over to the supply stations and loaded up a cart of supplies before heading back over to Edward. While he was checking his vitals, he put a call through to the American Embassy and then to his wife.
"Carlisle? Is everything alright?" Esme asked, her voice laced with concern.
"Where is Bella, dear?" Carlisle asked, as he took Edward's temperature.
"She's sleeping. Carlisle, you're scaring me."
"Sweetheart, I think I am going to be here for quite a while. The hospital here is overrun thanks to the bombing and it seems as if there isn’t enough staff for what the patients need. They have forty beds, all full. I haven't seen a doctor since I arrived because they are all treating the more critical patients and I've only seen one nurse. Sweetheart, Edward is not well. I need you to try and keep Bella in the dark about this as much as possible. He has a very high fever, but I’m going to start him on some medication and then see what I can do to help here. Edward will be my priority until he is well enough to travel, but I don't know how long that will be. It's not good, Es."
"Carlisle, you take care of my baby and bring him home. Call us when you can and I’ll try to protect Bella and the baby, but, honey, she really needs to hear his voice."
"I'll see, Esme. I love you."
"Love you, too."
Esme walked through the kitchen and into the living room. She sat on the couch and put her head in her hands. How was she going to keep this from Bella?
"Esme? Is everything okay?" Bella asked as she waddled into the living room. She had less than seven weeks left and was feeling huge.
"Of course, Sweetheart. Sit down, let me get you a cup of tea." Esme rose and quickly went into the kitchen, trying to think of what she was going to say.
The doorbell rang and she went to answer it. "Alice, come on in. You don't have to ring the bell, you’re family, you’re welcome anytime. Bella's in the living room. Would you like some tea?"
"Thanks, but only if you guys are having some." Alice said as she shrugged out of her coat.
"Go on in. I'll be there in a moment."
Alice went into the living room and found her sister-in-law and best friend lounging on the couch. "Hey, preggers, how’re you feeling?"
"Like I'm going to give birth to Emmett. I’m huge, Ali. How am I ever going to push this kid out?"
Alice laughed. "If he's too big just tell them to do a C-section."
"No. I want to have natural childbirth. No drugs and no scalpels."
"Oh, Bella, honey, you’re going to want drugs. Childbirth is not easy," Esme commented as she came back in with a tray of tea and cookies.
"Let me help you, Esme." Alice jumped up.
"Where's my brother? I thought he didn't have to go in today."
Alice looked up from her cup, "He was called in. Something about a soldier who needs a little one-on-one training. I didn't understand."
"Have you heard from Carlisle yet Esme? He should be in Germany by now."
"He called. Bella, he told me that Edward was very sick, but that we shouldn't worry because he is getting excellent care."
Bella nodded, "I hope I get to hear from him soon. So...who wants to put my big butt in the car and take me to finish my Christmas shopping?"
"Let's all go. I'll call Rosalie and see if she wants to meet us for dinner." Esme jumped up and Alice helped Bella off the couch and into her room to get her clothes changed.
Several hours later, Bella was seated on a bench waiting for Esme to pull the car around. She had finally gotten everything. They had even made a trip into a baby store and cooed over all the clothes.
"Bella?" Rosalie tried to get her attention.
"What's up, Rose?"
"I want to throw you a baby shower. Have you and Edward decided on a name yet?"
"No. I haven't spoken to him for a while, Rosie. Why would you need to know his name to throw me a shower?" Bella wondered.
"To put on the cake, silly." Rose giggled.
"Oh, well, I haven't talked to Edward and I’m not going to name this baby without him."
Esme showed up with the car and everyone loaded the bags and Bella. Once she was situated and everyone was in, they drove home. As soon as the bags were unloaded, Bella went to bed and was asleep before her head hit the pillow.
~~LTaS~~
Edward was fighting to break the surface of the fever. Carlisle had been administering antibiotics for several days yet his fever was still raging. He was trying to treat both the infection in Edward's leg and the inferno in the rest of his body.
"Jane? Would you mind getting me some fresh water and a clean rag?"
"Certainly, Dr. Cullen." Carlisle had been granted clearance and had pitched in where needed. He had helped sew up superficial lacerations that should have been done in the field. He had helped assist in a surgery to amputate a young man's leg that was full of gangrene. The guy was lucky to be alive.
Jane came back with the lukewarm water and a clean cloth and offered them to Carlisle. He immediately poured a small amount of rubbing alcohol in the water and wet the rag. He wiped Edward's brow and neck with it before refreshing the cloth.
Edward moaned as the cool liquid touched his overheated flesh. He moved his head and slowly opened his eyes, his gaze landing on his father. "Dad?" He rasped.
"Don't try to talk, son. You need to save your strength."
"Bella?"
"Bella is fine, she’s with your mother. She's waiting for you to get better so you can come home to her." Carlisle made another pass with the cloth.
"Baby?"
"He's fine and still safe inside his mother. He's waiting for you, too. Sleep, son."
"So thirsty," Edward's eyes pleaded with his father.
"I'll see if I can get you some ice chips. Try not to move, I'll be right back." Carlisle moved to the small kitchen and filled a paper cup with some ice and quickly returned to his son. He rubbed the ice along Edward's lips and watched as he snaked his tongue out to lick it up. He did this several times until Edward drifted off to sleep. Carlisle checked his temperature again and was relieved to find that it had gone down, only one degree down, but that was promising. He sighed and told Jane he was going to try and get some sleep. He told her to go get some rest too. He knew they would both be back again in the morning. He hoped Edward would continue to improve overnight.
Across the ocean a woman dreamed of her husband and baby. All safe and together.