Fan Fiction ❯ Everything You Want ❯ Forget Me Not ( Chapter 25 )

Everything You Want

Chapter 25:

Forget Me Not

 

 

“Life is eternal; and love is immortal; and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight…”

 

 

 

`Never, baby. I'll never leave you…'

 

`It's so quiet, why is it so quiet? What…'

 

`Cole…'

 

`No'

 

`No'

 

`No'

 

`NO!'

 

“NO!”

 

Sound came roaring to back to life in her ears as Bella launched herself from the spot she had been standing in the grass to where Cole lay sprawled at an odd angle on the pavement.

 

Sobbing as she tripped and stumbled her way to his side, Bella flung herself down beside him and gasped as she saw the angry purple bruises already forming along the right side of his face. His eyes were closed and there was dirt smudged on his forehead. Reaching out one trembling hand to wipe the stain away, Bella was startled from her shock induced daze by a panicked voice behind her.

 

“Oh my God, is he ok? I didn't even see him, I-“

 

Bella let out an almost predatory growl as the anxious man about her age started to approach the spot where Cole was lying. “Stay the hell away from him! Go call an ambulance!” Already threadbare patience snapping as the man hesitated; Bella shot up and screamed, “NOW! GO NOW!”

 

Nodding, the man turned and ran toward town as Bella took a deep breath in order to calm herself. Dropping back down beside Cole, Bella smoothed his hair back from his face. Her heart almost stopped as his eyes began to flutter open.

 

“… Wha'…?”

 

Stilling his attempts to move, Bella cupped his cheek and whispered, “Shhhh, it's alright. Everything's going to be fine. You had an accident, but don't worry because an ambulance will be here soon and then you'll be fine. Everything will be fine-“

 

Cracked lips forming a smile, Cole murmured, “You're babbling, Bell.”

 

Bella choked out a half laugh, half sob as she wiped at the tears streaming from her eyes. “It's your fault. I swear you do this crap for attention, don't-“

 

Her gentle teasing was cut off by a weak cough from Cole along with a groan of pain. Lowering his hand from his mouth, Bella saw spots of blood splattered on his palm. Breath catching in her throat, Bella's frightened eyes widened as she tried to push herself to her feet only to be stopped by a cold hand on her arm.

 

“Cole, I need to go get help, you-“

 

Cole shook his head feebly and whispered, “Don't leave me, Bell. I don't think I have much time left and I… I'm scared.”

 

Those words alone were enough to stop her. `Cole? Cole was afraid? But Cole's not scared of anything. This is the boy who stayed up all night so the monsters didn't get me. He's fearless. Why is he scared? Unless… No.”

 

“No! Cole you're going to fine! Don't say things like that. Please don't. I… You promised! You promised you'd never leave me! I can't do this without you! Please don't leave me! Cole!”

 

The hand on her arm tightened a little, tugging her down to lay beside the steadily weakening boy at her side. Sobbing loudly, tears flowing freely down her cheeks, Bella stretched out beside his quivering form, pillowing her head on his shoulder, chin titled so she could see his oddly calm emerald green orbs. The position was so natural, so normal; it was almost like they were in bed together, sleeping.

 

“As much as I'd like to, Bell,” he murmured softly, interrupted by a hacking cough. Wiping at his mouth, Cole took a deep breath and continued, “I don't think I'm going to be able to keep that promise.”

 

Bella let out a muffled sob and lifted her head.

 

“Shhhh,” he soothed, placing a finger over the lips that had parted to argue with him, “Just listen, ok? You're so much stronger than you used to be, so much stronger than I could ever hope to be. That's why I know that you're going to be alright. Alright without me.”

 

“No, I need you, Cole. I-“

 

“No, you don't, Bella. Not anymore. Now, I'm the one who needs you.” Tucking a strand of her silky blond hair behind her ear, Cole sighed and shivered a little.

 

“I'm so cold, Bell… So cold…”

 

`He needs me. Cole needs me…' Pulling herself together, Bella sat up and pulled him gently up onto her lap, taking care not to jostle him too much. Her arms rocked him, something she remembered her mom doing when she was scared.

 

“I'll keep you warm, baby,” she murmured as she leaned down to press a soft kiss to his cold mouth.

 

A weak smile playing upon his lips, Cole murmured, “I love you, Bella. Forever.”

 

“Forever, Cole. I love you, too.”

 

Small smile still lifting the corners of his mouth, Bella watched in dull horror as the light and life slowly flickered out of the bright green eyes she'd known since childhood. Eyes that had watched out for her, made sure she was safe. Eyes that always held a special glow just for her. She felt, as she continued to hold and rock him, his breathing beginning to slow, to fade away… and then, with one last shuddering breath…

 

He was gone. Her best friend, her love, her protector, her light… was gone. In a matter of minutes her entire world had crumbled at her feet, left her alone, sitting in the middle of the street, clutching the broken body of the only person who'd ever been able to complete her. To make her whole.

 

With a keening, heart-wrenching wail, Bella buried her face in his neck, breathing in his comforting, familiar scent. Sobbing uncontrollably, she pulled him tightly against her shaking body.

 

So lost in her grief, Bella didn't even notice the crowd that had formed around the scene of the accident. Gasps of horror and shouts for help went unheard as Bella lost herself in a sea of tears.

 

`If I just keep a hold of him, he can't leave me. I just have to keep holding him. I won't be alone if I just keep holding him…'

 

 

 

 

 

“What the hell is up with all this damn traffic?” Robert huffed impatiently as he glanced over the singing woman beside him, craning his neck in attempt to see into the side street near the park where the source of the traffic seemed to be.

 

“Build me up! Buttercup, baby just to let me down, and mess me around. Then- what was that, Demetri?” Lacey paused in mid verse to flash a grin at her currently very frustrated male companion.

 

“Must you call me that, Lacey? Robert really isn't that dull.”

 

Lacey snorted and choked back a laugh.

 

Robert scowled and resumed his attempt to see through the line of cars blocking his view of, he was assuming, the accident causing this insane traffic jam.

 

“We are never going to make it to dinner the way this is going,” he mumbled as Lacey squeezed one of the hands presently gripping the car's steering wheel. Locking his hazel eyes with her sapphire ones, Robert sighed and let his frustration melt away with a soft smile.

 

“Don't sweat the small stuff, Rob. If we don't make it, is it really that big of a deal? We'll just go somewhere else, ok?”

 

Nodding his agreement, Robert sat back in his seat and entwined his fingers with Lacey's as she rested her head on his shoulder. Ignoring the stab of guilt that always came with being this close to her, Robert enjoyed the warmth of the woman at his side as his eyes continued to search for the reason why traffic was at a standstill.

 

Letting his thoughts drift, a content smile spread upon his face as he absentmindedly stroked the top of Lacey's head. Although he knew that guilt would probably always creep at the edges of his happiness, Robert was determined not to let the emotion cloud the new feelings he was beginning to feel for the beautiful creature at his side.

 

She made life a little bit brighter with her brilliant, toothy grins and sunny personality. How could he be sad with someone as perpetually happy as her to cheer him up? In his heart he knew that Kathy would want him to go on, never forgetting what that'd had together, but letting go of the bitterness and grief that had been lurking in his heart since she'd gone away.

 

Armed with this knowledge, Robert had found himself through learning to love again. While the love he had for Lacey was different then the love he'd shared with his wife, it was still strong enough to break down all his walls, leaving him feeling vulnerable and exposed. No longer was he cold and indifferent; the ice had melted. With her love, Robert felt warm again.

 

Suddenly, the crowd broke up a little and Robert caught a glimpse of a familiar blond head hunched over something lying on the road. Squinting a little, Robert sat up and unbuckled his seat belt.

 

Lifting her head, Lacey looked up curiously. “What is it?”

 

“Bella? Is that Bella over there?”

 

Following his eyes, Lacey gasped as she caught sight of the crouching figure. “Oh my God, I think it is.”

 

Climbing quickly out of the car, Robert and Lacey made their way through the sea of stopped cars until they reached the large crowd of people blocking their view once again. Pushing past the bystanders, they could hear the sounds of hysterical sobbing and Bella screaming something that sounded like “Don't touch him! He can't leave me!”

 

Robert was unprepared for the sight that befell his shocked eyes as Bella came into his line of vision. Pale hair disheveled and tangled, she sat in the middle of the street crying, rocking back and forth, cradling… `Dear Lord, is that… Cole?!'

 

“Let me through! That's my daughter! Bella!” Robert shouted as he shoved at the police officers attempting to keep the crowd at bay.

 

One of the officers turned to him with a grave expression on his face. “You're the girl's father?”

 

Robert nodded.

 

“She won't let anyone near her, and she refuses to let the paramedics take the boy. Every time someone gets too close, she screams at them to `get away.' We're afraid she might hurt herself.”

 

“How is the boy, is he ok?” Robert inquired apprehensively as he observed how motionless Cole was in Bella's arms.

 

The officer shook his head and shrugged. “No one knows… But, from the looks of it, not good.”

 

“Can I… I need to get closer.”

 

Moving aside, the officer motioned for Robert to step past, but put a hand up to stop Lacey when she tried to follow. “I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait here.”

 

Not wanting to make a scene, Lacey nodded, stepped back, and watched as Robert cautiously approached the hysterical girl.

 

“Bella? It's daddy. Look at me.”

 

Hearing someone so close to her, but not registering the voice, Bella's head snapped up. “Get away! He's not dead! You can't take him away from me!” she cried as pulled Cole's still form closer to her body protectively.

 

Robert choked back his tears at seeing his daughter in such obvious agony, clutching the lifeless body of the boy he'd watched grow up. “Oh, baby, I'm so sorry.” The words sounded inadequate even to his own ears, but what could he say? There was nothing he could do to soothe her, to take away her pain. He knew that all too well.

 

Dropping to his knees, Robert pulled her resisting form into his arms as she struggled, screaming at him to let her go. They sat there, Bella sobbing, Robert murmuring soothing words in her ear as the crowd continued to watch the heartbreaking scene unfolding before them in awe.

 

“He's cold, daddy. He said he was cold. I…I have to keep him warm. Please don't let them take him from me,” Bella whispered brokenly as she stroked Cole's pale, bruised cheek.

 

“No one's taking him anywhere, ok? Shhhh…”

 

Just before Bella passed out, Robert heard her mumbling softly, “I have to protect him… Protect him from the monsters…”

 

 

 

 

TBC… (Quote used above credited to R.W. Raymond)