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jumped　to　his　feet；　his　face　paling　to　bone　white。　　He　leaned　forward　across　the　neatly　
organized　walnut　desk。　
Edward—you　didn't—　
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〃No；　no；　it's　not　that。〃　
He　took　deep　breath。　　Of　course　not。　　I'm　sorry　I　entertained　the　thought。　　Your　
eyes；　of　course；　I　should　have　known？　　He　noted　my　still…golden　eyes　with　relief。　
〃She's　hurt；　though；　Carlisle；　probably　not　seriously；　but—〃　
〃What　happened？〃　
〃A　stupid　car　accident。　　She　was　in　the　wrong　place　at　the　wrong　time。　　But　I　
couldn't　just　stand　there—let　it　crush　her—〃　
Start　over；　I　don't　understand。　　How　were　you　involved？　
〃A　van　skidded　across　the　ice；〃　I　whispered。　　I　stared　at　the　wall　behind　him　while　
I　spoke。　　Instead　of　a　throng　of　framed　diplomas；　he　had　one　simple　oil　painting—a　
favorite　of　his；　an　undiscovered　Hassam。　　〃She　was　in　the　way。　　Alice　saw　it　coming；　but　
there　wasn't　time　to　do　anything　but　really　run　across　the　lot　and　shove　her　out　of　the　
way。　　No　one　noticed？except　for　her。　　I　had　to　stop　the　van；　too；　but　again；　nobody　saw　
that？besides　her。　　I'm？I'm　sorry　Carlisle。　　I　didn't　mean　to　put　us　in　danger。〃　
He　circled　the　desk　and　put　his　hand　on　my　shoulder。　
You　did　the　right　thing。　　And　it　couldn't　have　been　easy　for　you。　　I'm　proud　of　you；　
Edward。　
I　could　look　him　in　the　eye　then。　　〃She　knows　there's　something？wrong　with　
me。〃　
〃That　doesn't　matter。　　If　we　have　to　leave；　we　leave。　　What　has　she　said？〃　
I　shook　my　head；　a　little　frustrated。　　〃Nothing　yet。〃　
Yet？　
〃She　agreed　to　my　version　of　events—but　she's　expecting　an　explanation。〃　
He　frowned；　pondering　this。　
〃She　hit　her　head—well；　I　did　that；〃　I　continued　quickly。　　〃I　knocked　her　to　the　
ground　fairly　hard。　　She　seems　fine；　but？　　I　don't　think　it　will　take　much　to　discredit　her　
account。〃　
I　felt　like　a　cad　just　saying　the　words。　
Carlisle　heard　the　distaste　in　my　voice。　　Perhaps　that　won't　be　necessary。　　Let's　
see　what　happens；　shall　we？　　It　sounds　like　I　have　a　patient　to　check　on。　
〃Please；〃　I　said。　　〃I'm　so　worried　that　I　hurt　her。〃　
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Carlisle's　expression　brightened。　　He　smoothed　his　fair　hair—just　a　few　shades　
lighter　than　his　golden　eyes—and　he　laughed。　
It's　been　an　interesting　day　for　you；　hasn't　it？　　In　his　mind；　I　could　see　the　irony；　
and　it　was　humorous；　at　least　to　him。　　Quite　the　reversal　of　roles。　　Somewhere　during　that　
short　thoughtless　second　when　I'd　sprinted　across　the　icy　lot；　I　had　transformed　from　
killer　to　protector。　
I　laughed　with　him；　remembering　how　sure　I'd　been　that　Bella　would　never　need　
protecting　from　anything　more　than　myself。　　There　was　an　edge　to　my　laugh　because；　van　
notwithstanding；　that　was　still　entirely　true。　
I　waited　alone　in　Carlisle's　office—one　of　the　longer　hours　I　had　ever　lived—listening　to　
the　hospital　full　of　thoughts。　
Tyler　Crowley；　the　van's　driver；　looked　to　be　hurt　worse　than　Bella；　and　the　
attention　shifted　to　him　while　she　waited　her　turn　to　be　X…rayed。　　Carlisle　kept　in　the　
background；　trusting　the　PA's　diagnosis　that　the　girl　was　only　slightly　injured。　　This　made　
me　anxious；　but　I　knew　he　was　right。　　One　glance　at　his　face　and　she　would　be　
immediately　reminded　of　me；　of　the　fact　that　there　was　something　not　right　about　my　
family；　and　that　might　set　her　talking。　
She　certainly　had　a　willing　enough　partner　to　converse　with。　　Tyler　was　consumed　
with　guilt　over　the　fact　that　he　had　almost　killed　her；　and　he　couldn't　seem　to　shut　up　
about　it。　　I　could　see　her　expression　through　his　eyes；　and　it　was　clear　that　she　wished　he　
would　stop。　　How　did　he　not　see　that？　
There　was　a　tense　moment　for　me　when　Tyler　asked　her　how　she'd　gotten　out　of　
the　way。　
I　waited；　not　breathing；　as　she　hesitated。　
〃Um。。。〃　he　heard　her　say。　　Then　she　paused　for　so　long　that　Tyler　wondered　if　his　
question　had　confused　her。　　Finally；　she　went　on。　　〃Edward　pulled　me　out　of　the　way。〃　
I　exhaled。　　And　then　my　breathing　accelerated。　　I'd　never　heard　her　speak　my　
name　before。　　I　like　the　way　it　sounded—even　just　hearing　it　through　Tyler's　thoughts。　　I　
wanted　to　hear　it　for　myself？　
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〃Edward　Cullen；〃　she　said；　when　Tyler　didn't　realize　who　she　meant。　　I　found　
myself　at　the　door；　my　hand　on　the　knob。　　The　desire　to　see　her　was　growing　stronger。　　I　
had　to　remind　myself　of　the　need　for　caution。　
〃He　was　standing　next　to　me。〃　
〃Cullen？〃　　Huh。　　That's　weird。　　〃I　didn't　see　him。〃　　I　could　have　sworn？　〃Wow；　
it　was　all　so　fast；　I　guess。　　Is　he　okay？〃　
〃I　think　so。　　He's　here　somewhere；　but　they　didn't　make　him　use　a　stretcher。〃　
I　saw　the　thoughtful　look　on　her　face；　the　suspicious　tightening　of　her　eyes；　but　
these　little　changes　in　her　expression　were　lost　on　Tyler。　
She's　pretty；　he　was　thinking；　almost　in　surprise。　　Even　all　messed　up。　　Not　my　
usual　type；　still？　　I　should　take　her　out。　　Make　up　for　today？　
I　was　out　in　the　hall；　then；　halfway　to　the　emergency　room；　without　thinking　for　
one　second　about　what　I　was　doing。　　Luckily；　the　nurse　entered　the　room　before　I　could—　
it　was　Bella's　turn　for　X…rays。　　I　leaned　against　the　wall　in　a　dark　nook　just　around　the　
corner；　and　tried　to　get　a　grip　on　myself　while　she　was　wheeled　away。　
It　didn't　matter　that　Tyler　thought　she　was　pretty。　　Anyone　would　notice　that。　
There　was　no　reason　for　me　to　feel？how　did　I　feel？　　Annoyed？　　Or　was　angry　closer　to　
the　truth？　　That　made　no　sense　at　all。　
I　stayed　where　I　was　for　as　long　as　I　could；　but　impatience　got　the　best　of　me　and　I　
took　a　back　way　around　to　the　radiology　room。　　She'd　already　been　moved　back　to　the　
ER；　but　I　was　able　to　take　a　peek　at　her　x…rays　while　the　nurse's　back　was　turned。　
I　felt　calmer　when　I　had。　　Her　head　was　fine。　　I　hadn't　hurt　her；　not　really。　
Carlisle　caught　me　there。　
You　look　better；　he　commented。　
I　just　looked　straight　ahead。　　We　weren't　alone；　the　halls　full　of　orderlies　and　
visitors。　
Ah；　yes。　　He　stuck　her　x…rays　to　the　lightboard；　but　I　didn't　need　a　second　look。　　I　
see。　　She's　absolutely　fine。　　Well　done；　Edward。　
The　sound　of　my　father's　approval　created　a　mixed　reaction　in　me。　　I　would　have　
been　pleased；　except　that　I　knew　that　he　would　not　approve　of　what　I　was　going　to　do　
now。　　At　least；　he　would　not　approve　if　he　knew　my　real　motivations？　
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〃I　think　I'm　going　to　go　talk　to　her—before　she　sees　you；〃　I　murmured　under　my　
breath。　　〃Act　natural；　like　nothing　happened。　　Smooth　it　over。〃　　All　acceptable　reasons。　
Carlisle　nodded　absently；　still　looking　over　the　x…rays。　　〃Good　idea。　　Hmm。〃　
I　looked　to　see　what　had　his　interest。　
Look　at　all　the　healed　contusions！　　How　many　times　did　her　mother　drop　her？　
Carlisle　laughed　to　himself　at　his　joke。　
〃I'm　beginning　to　think　the　girl　just　has　really　bad　luck。　　Always　in　the　wrong　
place　at　the　wrong　time。〃　
Forks　is　certainly　the　wrong　place　for　her；　with　you　here。　
I　flinched。　
Go　ahead。　　Smooth　things　over。　　　I'll　join　you　momentarily。　
I　walked　away　quickly；　feeling　guilty。　　Perhaps　I　was　too　good　a　liar；　if　I　could　
fool　Carlisle。　
When　I　got　to　the　ER；　Tyler　was　mumbling　under　his　breath；　still　apologizing。　
The　girl　was　trying　to　escape　his　remorse　by　pretending　to　sleep。　　Her　eyes　were　closed；　
but　her　breathing　was　not　even；　and　now　and　then　her　fingers　would　twitch　impatiently。　
I　stared　at　her　face　for　a　long　moment。　　This　was　the　last　time　I　would　see　her。　
That　fact　triggered　an　acute　aching　in　my　chest。　　Was　it　because　I　hated　to　leave　any　
puzzle　unsolved？　　That　did　not　seem　like　enough　of　an　explanation。　
Finally；　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　moved　into　view。　
When　Tyler　saw　me；　he　started　to　speak；　but　I　put　one　finger　to　my　lips。　
〃Is　she　sleeping？〃　I　murmured。　
Bella's　eyes　snapped　open　and　focused　on　my　face。　They　widened　momentarily；　
and　then　narrowed　in　anger　or　suspicion。　　I　remembered　that　I　had　a　role　to　play；　so　I　
smiled　at　her　as　if　nothing　unusual　had　happened　this　morning—besides　a　blow　to　her　
head　and　a　bit　of　imagination　run　wild。　
〃Hey；　Edward；〃　Tyler　said。　　〃I'm　really　sorry—〃　
I　raised　one　hand　to　halt　his　apology。　　〃No　blood；　no　foul；〃　I　said　wryly。　　Without　
thinking；　I　smiled　too　widely　at　my　private　joke。　
It　was　amazingly　easy　to　ignore　Tyler；　lying　no　more　than　four　feet　from　me；　
covered　in　fresh　blood。　　I'd　never　understood　how　Carlisle　was　able　to　do　that—ignore　
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the　blood　of　his　patients　in　order　to　treat　them。　　Wouldn't　the　constant　temptation　be　so　
distracting；　so　dangerous？？　　But；　now？　I　could　see　how；　if　you　were　focusing　on　
something　else　hard　enough；　the　temptation　was　be　nothing　at　all。　
Even　fresh　and　exposed；　Tyler's　blood　had　nothing　on　Bella's。　
I　kept　my　distance　from　her；　seating　myself　on　the　foot　of　Tyler's　mattress。　
〃So；　what's　the　verdict？〃　I　asked　her。　
Her　lower　lip　pushed　out　a　little。　　〃There's　nothing　wrong　with　me　at　all；　but　they　
won't　let　me　go。　　How　come　you　aren't　strapped　to　a　gurney　like　the　rest　of　us？〃　
Her　impatience　made　me　smile　again。　
I　could　hear　Carlisle　in　the　hall　now。　
〃It's　all　about　who　you　know；〃　I　said　lightly。　　〃But　don't　worry；　I　came　to　spring　
you。〃　
I　watched　her　reaction　carefully　as　my　father　entered　the　room。　　Her　eyes　widened　
and　her　mouth　actually　fell　open　in　surprise。　　I　groaned　internally。　　Yes；　she'd　certainly　
noticed　the　resemblance。　
〃So；　Miss　Swan；　how　are　you　feeling？〃　Carlisle　asked。　　He　had　a　wonderfully　
soothing　beside　manner　that　put　most　patients　at　ease　within　moments。　　I　couldn't　tell　
how　it　affected　Bella。　
〃I'm　fine；〃　she　said　quietly。　
Carlisle　clipped　her　X…rays　to　the　lightboard　by　the　bed。　　〃Your　X…rays　look　good。　
Does　your　head　hurt？　　Edward　said　you　hit　it　pretty　hard。〃　
She　sighed；　and　said；　〃I'm　fine；〃　again；　but　this　time　impatience　leaked　into　her　
voice。　　Then　she　glowered　once　in　my　direction。　
Carlisle　stepped　closer　to　her　and　ran　his　fingers　gently　over　her　scalp　until　he　
found　the　bump　under　her　hair。　
I　was　caught　off　guard　by　the　wave　of　emotion　that　crashed　over　me。　
I　had　seen　Carlisle　work　with　humans　a　thousand　times。　　Years　ago；　I　had　even　
assisted　him　informally—though　only　in　situations　where　blood　was