Shaky Ground Teaser

Jasper wriggled his way into the lounge. “Holy shit,” he breathed. “She’s alive?”

“Yeah, but we need to get these lockers off her leg,” Edward said. “Jake also needs medical attention.”

“I’m not leaving,” Jake said stubbornly. “I can help.”

Edward blew out a breath and looked at the little boy. “Okay, Jake. I want you to stay next to Bella. Hold her hand and watch her chest. I want you to count how many breaths she’s taking, okay?” Jake nodded.

“Smart, Edward. You’ve got him monitoring her respiration,” Jasper whispered as they moved to the lockers.

“He’s attached to her and he wouldn’t go,” Edward whispered back. “We need Emmett. This is a three-person job. Two people to lift and one person to pull her out.”

“Ask and ye shall receive,” Emmett said, pushing his way through the door.

“How many breaths, Jake?” Edward asked.

“Fifty-seven,” he answered.

“Start over from zero, bud,” Edward smiled as Emmett and Jasper worked around Bella. He nodded, counting quietly. After discussing it with Emmett and Jasper, they’d lift the lockers and Edward would pull her out. Edward asked for another number and it was lower, but roughly the same amount of time. “We need to hurry.”

Emmett and Jasper scrambled to the lockers and braced themselves. “On three,” Emmett said. “One, two, THREE!”

They lifted the lockers and Edward slid his arms under Bella’s, dragging her out. While they continued to push the lockers out of the way to get Jake and Bella out of the lounge, Edward did an examination. “Is she okay? Will she be okay, Dr. Edward?” Jake asked, taking her hand and tears falling from his eyes.

“I hope so,” Edward answered. “Keep counting, Jake. This is important.”

“Kay.”

Edward took her pulse and it was rapid, thready. She was cold to the touch and her skin was clammy. The fact she was unconscious indicated she was in shock. Looking down to her leg, he saw that it was her left leg that was damaged. Her right leg was bruised, but nowhere near as mangled as her left. She had an open fracture. Removing his belt, he checked to see if she was bleeding and she was. He made a tourniquet. “How many breaths?”

“A hundred,” Jake whispered. “Is that bad?”

Taking out his stethoscope, he listened to her breathing. She was panting and there were crackles. “We’ve got to get her out of here,” Edward said, brushing his fingers along her cheek. As he said that, some national guardsman came in with a backboard. Dr. Volturi was with them. “Sir, she needs a surgeon.”

“I know, Edward,” he replied, giving him a sympathetic smile. “That’s why I’ve got a helicopter on its way. You’re the flight physician.”

“How did …?” Edward asked.

“A phone call from your father,” Dr. Volturi said. “The landlines still functioned.”

They loaded Bella up onto the backboard. Edward picked up Jake and they scrambled out of the lounge. When they were outside, in the makeshift ER, Edward saw how pale Bella was. Alice jumped into gear and put in an IV. Rose did a cursory check of her leg, but couldn’t do anything without an x-ray. Jake stayed next to Bella, his hand clinging to hers. The rapid thumping of helicopter blades made them jump. Edward watched as they prepared her for departure.

“Dr. Edward? Are you going with her?” Jake asked.

“I am, bud,” Edward replied, his hair blowing wildly with the arriving chopper.

“Can I come with you?” he sobbed, throwing his arms around Edward. He felt for the boy and wanted to protect him, just like Bella had obviously done. “Please?”