EmPOV.
I was in absolute and utter shock. He was alive, ALIVE. What am I going to tell his mother? That doesn't matter right now; I have a job to do.
I lead the way into the waiting jet, directing the guys to strap the stretchers to the fitted bench that ran along the side of the fuselage. I moved across the cabin and pulled out the extensive medical kit, it included a defibrillator I needed to set it up incase I should need it. I hope that I wouldn't, but once the pads were fitted to Edward, it would auto shock should his heart beat require its assistance. Now that we were away from the chaos of Spetses and getting ready to head home in the relative calm of the jet, I was able to properly asses the more pressing injuries that Edward and Miss Swan had suffered. On the boat all I had managed to do was to get them as stable as possible with the limited supplies that I had. I had to Aspirate Edwards chest due to the gunshot wound causing a collapsed lung. I took the opportunity to intubate him and fix up oxygen; he needed all the help he could get right now. All in all they were both lucky to be alive. I took the time to fit an air cast to his arm and wrap his ribs. I'd sutured his knife wounds on the boat and his head wound had taken priority. I adjusted his drip and moved across to check on Miss Swan.
To say that we were shocked to find Edward alive was an understatement, but to find him with the young woman was something else. Her injuries were extensive, she appeared to have been severely tortured and I can only imagine what she had been through. After a thorough examination, I discovered her back covered in gauze, I removed it in order to see what it was hiding and was horrified at the wounds to her back. I can only guess that Edward had patched her up at some point as it was clean for the most part. I re-cleaned the wounds and redressed them with clean gauze. During my examination she'd drifted in and out of consciousness and suffered from a fever. I expected that she'd gotten an infection before they had escaped from wherever they had been. Her breathing was ragged and judging by the bandaging Edward had done I suspected that was down to broken ribs. I fixed a mask over her face and set an oxygen tank up beside her. I had Pete join me once we were settled on the flight and had him do 15 minute obs on her while I concentrated on Edward.
"Don't give her anything to drink Pete, just moisten her lips occasionally." I said while I re-dressed Edwards head.
I pulled a pen from my breast pocket and continued to take obs on Edward, temperature, pupil dilation, pulse, all the things they'd need to know when we landed at Andrews.
"Edward, cavalry come, safe now." Miss Swan mumbled in her sleep.
Pete looked at her then at me and shrugged before taking her temperature once more. Edward shifted slightly towards her on his stretcher. I placed my hand to his bicep and he stilled. Even unconscious he was trying to protect her.
About five hours into the flight we replaced their IV's, They should last till we land and get to Bethesda, I hope they had a Helo ready to transfer when we arrived as they needed more medical help than I could offer here. Pete continued to moisten Miss Swan’s lips, occasionally she'd flutter her eyes open, although they remained glassy and unfocussed for the most part. Her fever remained at a steady 104. We were treated to her occasional mutterings. Ranging from telling Edward not to talk, she'd take the beating, to telling him to be safe. My heart broke when I first heard that, she'd been beaten to within an inch of her life and yet she was selfless and thought of Edward before herself. That tiny, fragile young woman was one of the bravest people I had ever met.
Jasper joined us for a short while to get an update before he called in to General Garrett with a status update. I told him that they were stable for now, but if the Helo to get them to Bethesda wasn't there by the time we got back, they might not make it. Time was of the essence. He nodded in understanding and headed up front to make a call into Little Creek.
The rest of the guys had hunkered down and were either deep in conversation or sleeping. I wish I could sleep, but that could wait. If our roles were changed, I know Edward would do this for me. He'd saved my ass before and now it was my turn to return the favour by keeping him alive. I sat there watching him, writing his chart and going through the call I would need to make once I got him to the hospital back home. I'd broken his mothers’ heart when I told her he didn't make it from our mission to Port Angeles. Hell I'd broken my own. I watched the fire drain out of her eyes as I told her, her only son had made the ultimate sacrifice. What did this mean now? I felt like a liar, like I hadn't done enough to bring him home in the first place. Could we have found him that day?
Rage filled me as I thought of what had happened. I wanted to turn back the clock and insist on heading to Edward when he made the call to retreat instead of running for it. I want to track down the scum that did this to him, to them. I vowed not to rest until I found them, whether on my own or with the team behind me. One thing is for sure. I would not be forgiving and forgetting any time soon. Someone has to pay.
Before long the lights of DC appeared in the windows and the jet banked and began to descend.
"Not long buddy, you keep holding on okay." I said, tapping his shoulder.
As I moved to pick up my medical kit and prepare to stow away anything that was no longer needed, the sound I dreaded to hear filled the cabin. The alarm on the defibrillator went off. I pressed the charge button and the warning sounded.
"Charging, charging, stand back, stand back. Shocking."
I moved back to his side immediately, manually checking as the the machine ran its programme.
"Scanning, Scanning, preparing to administer shock."
I sat back from Edward once more.
"Charging, charging, stand back, stand back. Shocking."
I moved back again and continued to check for vitals.
"Scanning, scanning, pulse normal, standing by."
I blew out a gust of air as a bead of perspiration trailed down my face.
"Don't you do that to me again, you messy headed asshole." I growled at him.
While this was happening Pete had moved to Miss Swans side, she'd become agitated and was mumbling incoherently. "Edward, No, Edward Stay... be safe." He rubbed her arm trying to soothe her, but she continued to writhe and mumble until Edward was stable again. It was as if they were mentally clued in to each other. It was the strangest thing I'd ever seen.
Pete bent to take her final obs before we landed, there was no change in her fever, but her breathing had gradually worsened throughout the journey. Her body was wracked with tiny tremors, the fever burning the pain meds we had given her. I eyed Pete with concern; she was in a really bad way. He was jotting down notes on his clipboard when he dropped his pen suddenly.
"Shit!" he exclaimed moving to kneel at her side and checking her hands.
"What's wrong?" I called from beside Edward.
He moved back to her head, flicking his pen light across her pupils and re-adjusting the oxygen mask.
"Cyanosis." he said upping the oxygen intake.
"Shit!" I mumbled.
I looked up to see Jasper moving swiftly forward. "Please tell me they have a Helo waiting for us, they need hospitalisation or we're going to lose them." I said barely holding it together.
"The coastguard should be there and waiting for us Em." he responded touching my shoulder lightly.
"Pete, any change now you've upped O2?" I asked.
"A little but it's going to be close, I'm thinking she's suffered Acute Atelectasis from the beatings. She needs urgent treatment once we land or we'll lose her."
"I agree, be ready to move the moment we land." I said.
As we approached Andrews the Captain came over the comm, instructing us to put our belts on and prepare to land. I stowed the medical bags and fixed everything else to ensure it wouldn't come unhooked or slide away when we made the final approach, before tightening the belt over my lap in the jump seat beside Edwards head. Pete sat parallel to me beside Miss Swan, holding her hand and whispering soothing words to her. The jet bounced a little on landing but we soon rolled to a stop off to the side of the runway, the guys made a quick exit from the plane before a team of medics came through the hatch. I was thankful they had a helo ready and waiting. I insisted I accompany them, there was no way in hell I was leaving Edwards side until I know for sure that there's a Doctor there seeing to his wounds.
We transferred to a coastguard Seahawk and left the tarmac promptly heading for NNMC. I listened in on the cans to the control saying that there was a medical team waiting at the helipad. 15 minutes later we landed and they were immediately loaded up on gurneys and run to the ER. Shortly after Edward was rushed to the OR for surgery. Miss Swan soon went the same way.
I returned to the waiting area and sat down to catch my breath. The past 24 hours had been a roller coaster of emotion and I still wasn't sure if I was dreaming. I must've fallen asleep, as I was woken by a light touch to my shoulder and met with the tear filled blue eyes of my Rosie.
"Is it true? You found him?"
"Yeah, but he's in bad shape babe." I said with a sigh.
"But he's alive, you found him, alive?"
"Only just, I almost lost him on the flight home, scared the bejesus out of me. Bloody hell I need to call his parents."
"Jasper's already done it baby, he said to let you sleep some, said you earned it. They're coming in; they just don't know that it's for him."
"I guess it's not something you can say over the phone huh."
"What can't you say over the phone Emmett? Jasper called and said to come here, said that you were here. What's going on, are you okay?" Esme said from behind us.
I turned when I heard her, she looked so tired. She was wrapped protectively in Carlisle's embrace; they both looked like they hadn't slept in a long time. I sighed loudly before standing and moving to them.
"Maybe you should sit down. I have something I need to tell you."
"Emmett dear, are you okay?"
"Just a little tired, I'm fine, but... please sit down." I said.
"Okay Emmett," she replied taking a seat in one of the uncomfortable hard backed chairs. Carlisle sat beside her, his arm around her shoulder, in protection and comfort.
"Esme, Carlisle..."
"Yes?"
"We found him." I said, choking up. "We found him."
Esme's hands immediately went to her mouth as tears sprung in her eyes. "Edward..." she whispered with uncertainty.
"Yes, but he's in a bad way, he's got extensive injuries and he's in surgery right now. But he's here and he's alive, I don't know how, but he is."
"But... I don't understand, you said..."
"I know, and I wish I could take it back, I feel like I've done you a disservice, I feel like I've dishonoured my friend. If you never speak to me again, I'll understand, I deserve it." I said, not even caring about the tears running down my face.
"Emmet McCarty, don't you dare blame yourself young man. Yes there was a mistake, but right now I don't care, because you have done the best thing in the world for me, you've bought home my boy." She said springing from her husband’s arms and hugging me tightly. "I will be indebted to you for the rest of my life for this. Thank you."
"Yes ma'am." I replied, squeezing her a bit tighter.
She sat back in my embrace, and raised her hand to my face, wiping the tears from my cheeks. I smiled a tearful toothy grin and released her, as Carlisle stood from his seat and pulled me into his arms.
"Thank you son. Just... Thank you."
I nodded in acknowledgement; there was nothing else to say.
We returned to our seats and settled in to wait. As the hours went the rest of the guys from the team joined us. I doubt the waiting room had ever been this busy before, there were more bodies strewn about the hard chairs and leaning against walls than there was space to hold them. News had spread fast back at Little Creek, the base jungle drums were beating out a steady tempo, and one of the lost was home.
Midmorning the room went quiet and a tall middle aged man with dark brown curly hair and deep familiar penetrating brown eyes entered the waiting room. His moustache twitching at the number of people gathered. Beside him stood Phil Dwyer the D/O from Mclean. His eyes landed on everyone in the room before turning back to D/O Dwyer.
"These are the men who found her Chief..." he started, only for the brown haired man to lift his hand to stop him.
"Why are they still here?" he asked his voice gruff and strained.
"One of their team was found with her; both were in serious need of medical assistance. Would you like me to go see if we can see her yet?"
"Oh, ugh, yeah, that would be good, um, I'll ugh wait here?" he replied, his hand rubbing nervously on the back of his neck, his eyes shifting around the room.
The D/O nodded and strode off to the reception area to no doubt find out what was going on with Miss Swan. The Man stood there looking lost, not really comfortable being in the gaze of our already large group. Alice was the one to break the tension.
"You're her father, I'd know those eyes anywhere." she said.
It took him a moment to register who had spoken, before looking down at Edwards’ petite sister. I glimmer of smile tugged at his lips, his moustache flickered.
"Chief... ugh I mean Charlie Swan, and you are?" he said offering her a hand.
"Alice, I only met Bella once, but I can see her in your eyes Charlie." she replied.
"Oh um, hmmm, this is all sort of a shock to me." he answered gruffly, it seemed he was a man of few words. He stood stoic, looking anything but comfortable in the packed waiting room.
"She's the bravest person I know." I said, punching a hole in the silence that had descended.
Everyone looked at me; I shrugged under their gaze looking up at Miss Swan's father. He looked at me with a mixture of shock, bewilderment, awe and eagerness I assume for me to elaborate.
"What I mean, sir, is that she's been through a lot, I can only imagine what she'd endured before we found her, found them. She never gave up sir. She never gave up." I said scrubbing my hair with my nails, trying to soothe my nerves.
His eyes glazed with unshed tears, I wouldn't say anything, he had every right to choke up knowing his daughter was back and safe. He nodded his thanks to me; he didn't need to say anything. The D/O came back minutes later informing him that she was in recovery and would soon be moved to a room. He let out a sigh of relief and his shoulders and whole demeanour seemed to slump as if the cause of tension was working its way out of him. As they moved to head to see her, he turned looking back at me.
"Your guy? He going to be okay?" he asked.
"We hope so sir, he's pretty roughed up." I replied.
"Hmmm." he muttered under his breath before approaching me. "Son?"
"Yes sir?"
"What's your name?"
"McCarty sir, Emmett." I replied.
"Okay Emmett, you let me know how your guy, ugh..."
"Edward sir."
"You let me know how Edward gets on, anyone that puts themselves out for my family, is family to me, he saved my little girl. I owe him." he murmured patting my shoulder and thrusting a card into my hand, before turning and joining the D/O and heading off down a corridor.
I huffed a breath out and slumped back in my chair, before looking down at the card in my hand. It was a simple business card. Charlie Swan, Chief of Police, Forks WA. and a series of phone numbers.
"You did a good thing baby." Rosie whispered in my ear.
"Yeah, they're good people. Good people don't deserve to suffer this kind of fuckery." I murmured back.
We settled into a comfortable silence, hours passed, with various people coming and going, coffee being passed around, muttered conversations and casual stretches. Eventually a Surgeon appeared from a corridor to the side of the ER. He glanced around the room nervously.
"Cullen family?"
A cacophony of Yes's went around the room. He blanched in response.
"Ugh immediate family?"
"Here." Carlisle said pulling Esme up to his side. She looked at the surgeon a mixture of hope and fear crossing her features. We all held our breath at what he might say.
"Mr Cullen, Mrs Cullen, perhaps we should talk..."
"You can say whatever you have to say here, these men are as much family as we are." Esme interrupted.
"Oh um, okay?" he replied stiffly.
"You were saying Doctor?" Carlisle started.
"Your son has some pretty extensive injuries, but with the treatment he'd received in the field and that which he received once arriving here, he's in a much better state for us to be sure that he'll make a full recovery. He's currently in recovery and will be moved to a room shortly, you'll be able to see him once we have him settled. We repaired the punctured lung and set his broken arm. He's a lucky man, had he been found later, I doubt I would be offering this outcome now." The surgeon stated calmly.
Esme sagged against Carlisle, the look of relief evident on her face. The look was mimicked in every face around the room, as we all took in the news the surgeon had given us.
"Thank you." Carlisle said, shaking his hand.
"He's got a lot to get through and way to go, but his chances are better. I'll have someone let you know when you can see him." he said before heading back the way he came.
Carlisle turned and hugged Esme, they melted together like they were trying to climb inside each other. The toll of what they had been through finally settling over them and the emotions all clamouring to get out at once. In the corner Alice and Jasper sat wound around each other, wrapped in their own bubble, murmurs rattled around the guys assembled and I settled in next to Rose and pulled her in close. Exhaustion finally clawing its way through my body. I sagged where I sat and for the first time in what felt like a long time, I felt like I could relax and let sleep take me.
*****
"Let him sleep Alice, the guys been awake for over 52 hours he needs the rest."
"He'll be angry if he misses his chance..."
I popped an eye open, the fuzzy image of Alice leaning over me assaulted my vision.
"I'll be angry if I miss my chance at what?" I mumbled sleepily.
"Oh Emmett you're awake."
"So it seems." I muttered.
"Edwards been moved to a room, mom and dad are in with him now, they're only letting family in, but they want you to come in when you're awake."
"Where? What room?"
"213, it's along the hall and on the right." she replied.
I scrubbed my face with my hands before standing and walking to the bathroom, splashing my face with cold water to wake myself up. I looked at the tired looking figure in the mirror over the wash basin, damn I look a mess. I was still in the gross looking civvies I'd dressed in on the return from Spetses. I should've had Rosie bring me something clean. A shower might be good too. I huffed; my appearance really didn't matter when it came down to it.
"What's stopping me?" I groaned at myself.
I shouldn't be afraid of what I might see, I'd already seen Edward at his worst, and surely he would look somewhat better, well cleaned up at least. I cast one last glance in the mirror.
"You need to grow a pair." I said to the figure that stared back.
I chuckled at the absurdity of it before heading out of the bathroom and down the hall to Edwards’ room. I don't know what I expected to see. I didn't have any doubts that he'd be out still, so I took a deep breath and knocked the door, poking my head around the jam as I slid it open.
"Come in Emmett, don't stand out there son. You're welcome in here." Carlisle said from a seat beside the bed.
"Ugh thank you sir." I murmured, not raising my eyes to look to the top of the hospital bed that dominated my line of sight.
"It looks worse than it is; he's breathing because of what you did. I'll be thankful for that for the rest of my life." he said.
I finally entered the room, closing the door quietly behind me; it was painted in calming sage, but smelt sterile, like disinfectant and surgical cleaner. The linens on the bed were a light mint green. The bed was surrounded by monitors and various medical apparatus. A heart monitor beeped a steady tempo above Edwards head, tubes and wires were attached to his mouth and another in his chest, I guess to drain out his chest cavity. Edwards crazy ass hair was covered by a large bandage, he lay unmoving, his chest raising and lowering in unison with a ventilator. His arm was set in a large blue cast his upper body crisscrossed with bandages.
"The surgeon says the next few days are critical, but they have hope. That's down to you Emmett."
I looked at my best friend, my brother from another mother I used to joke. If the doctors had hope then I could have hope too. I stepped to his side, patting his shoulder lightly.
I leant down to his ear. "Keep fighting you messy headed asshole, or I swear to God I'll bring you back and kill you myself."
