Edward's POV -
Adrienne asks me for a minute outside. I reluctantly go with her.
"You didn't turn him," she states.
"No. I didn't."
"Why?"
"I haven't talked to him about it. But I know him. He doesn't want it. Not now."
"I think you're right. I'm proud of ya kid."
"Shut up."
"No, you did good. He wouldn't want to be turned. Not unless he was given the choice."
"It's hard to see him like this though."
"I know."
"I kinda wish I turned him. But I can't. He'll hate me."
"Edward. He'll be fine. He's Rory. And his doctor is Dr Dad Cullen, medical practitioner for longer than even I've been alive."
"I know. I know. It's just.."
"Hey Edward. Listen to me. He'll live. Worst comes to worst, we bite him. But we'll do everything else first. And he will live. Isabella's gone. We can get a great lawyer, and we will win. And she will go to jail. She won't hurt him again."
I smile, "I know she won't. And I know he'll be fine and he'll wake up. But he doesn't smell completely right. And he looks dead. And I can't do anything to help."
"Be there for him. When he wakes up. When he's recovering. Just be there."
"You know I will be."
"You better, or I'll hunt you down and rip you apart limb by limp, shove things down your throat you definitely don't want down there, gouge your eyes out and leave you like that for a month, before setting you on fire." She smiles at the end of the line, pats my back and walks back inside. I follow her.
It takes two weeks. Two weeks of Charlie and I sitting there every day, watching and waiting, before he wakes up. It's just blinking. Blinking, before his eyes open.
"Rory!" Charlie exclaims in relief. We smile and I kiss the hand I'm holding. His eyes dart between us. He looks confused.
"Rory, love, you're in the hospital."
He opens his mouth and tries to form words. Failing, he tries again, but still nothing comes out.
"Hey kid, it's fine. You were in a coma for two weeks. Dr Cullen will come back and explain more. Better than me."
He moves his head forwards a little, then back, a clear attemt at a nod. Five minutes later, Carlisle comes back.
"Hello Rory. I believe your father has already told you this, but you have been in a coma for two weeks. It was stroke induced, which was caused by high blood pressure. We have been giving you medication for this. I know it is scary, but you have to trust us. There may be some side affects of the stroke which we will treat. Don't push yourself. We will get various therapists for you soon and run some tests on you, but for now I'll leave you with your family. "
He nods at us before leaving.
Rory uses a finger on the hand I'm holding to start tapping my hand. He stops and Addy laughs, before saying, "I know. Genetic high blood pressure's a bitch."
He taps my hand again. Addy seemingly answers with, "Oh please. You really don't think I would immediately pick up on Morse code? The real question is how do you know it?" Then it makes sense. The tapping, where I recognise it from. It's quiet, barely audible to human ears. But it's the same sound I hear across my house when Klaus and Addy are talking to each other. Another word is tapped out.
"You were a boy scout? And you retained that information."
This was answered by a few taps.
"Do you want to translate?" I ask.
"Do I have too?"
"Please."
"Fine. We were talking about how he can do Morse code. Happy?"
I roll my eyes. More words are tapped on my hand.
"He says, hey dad."
"Hey kiddo. You gave us a scare."
"He wants to know if you've slept."
"A little. I was worried about you."
"Don't be. I'm fine. See."
"I see you covered in various wires and used to be on a ventilator. Totally fine."
"He's tired and wants to go to sleep. If we could be a little quiet it would be appreciated."
We nod, and Rory closes his eyes.