Two days after Bella left, Charlie got a phone call from Carlisle. Bella had fallen down the stairs of a hotel and was in the hospital. Dad was on the next flight out. I argued a lot about getting to go with him but I couldn't. Traveling with a busted foot wasn't an option. Esme and Emmett said they would stay with me until my father was able to get back. He agreed and left instantly. He didn't even bother with extra clothes.

I laid on the bed in the living room as Emmett sat on the couch nearby. I didn't want to talk. I was pissed. I just wanted to see Bella. I didn't care about all the bad blood between us. We are sisters and I need to know she's okay.

Emmett had gotten in late last night and showed up this morning to see me. I hadn't let him sit with me since he showed up but he refused to leave.

"What's going on Lot?" He asked.

"She got hurt," I said again.

"I'm sorry. I tried baby. I know she's important to you, but she walked into the trap he laid and we couldn't get there fast enough," Emmett said.

"I'm not mad at you," I said softly. "Edward should've protected her. Hell. I should've protected her." My voice softened as I ran my hand through Zeus's fur. He was curled up next to me on my hospital bed so I was petting him as I spoke. "I've spent my whole life protecting her and now this."

"Babe," Emmett said. I ignored him. I didn't want the speech about how I wasn't responsible for protecting her.

"Save it."

"No." His single word response had me freezing in a second. "Charlotte, I'm not going to let you sit here and do this to yourself. You've spent your whole life protecting Bella. You almost lost your foot protecting her from a fucking car accident. I understand that she's your sister but you need to understand that you aren't responsible for protecting her."

"Well we didn't have the glorious upbringing you've been accustomed to with the Cullens okay Emmett," I snapped. "We lived in a single parent home where we were managing the house by the age of 12. Mom is great if you're looking for a best friend. She's a shit mom and she took us twenty some odd hours away from our father. I've had to protect her because there's never been anyone else to do it."

"I know you don't like it but let Edward protect her now. Relieve yourself of that responsibility and focus on you again baby," Emmett said.

I took a deep breath. "I've trusted guys with her before and they have never protected her. Not like I can. Please, Emmett, either understand or leave me alone about it."

He fell silent. I heard some dishes clinking softly and remembered Esme's presence in the kitchen. Great, she just heard all of that.

I slid down my bed a little and curled up around Zeus. I laid there staring out the window for a long while. I was upset and I shouldn't have taken it out on Emmett. I knew that. I turned over to face him and he was sitting in the same exact position he'd been in when I turned my back to him. He literally turned into a statue when we argued. I don't know if it's some sort of way to keep himself in check and not accidentally hurt me or what.

"I'm sorry Em," I said softly.

"I understand why you're upset baby. I shouldn't have pushed back like that," he said.

"I know why you did. I know that Edward will protect my sister. It's just hard at times to accept that there's someone else who can," I said. Emmett nodded and Zeus got up and ran to the back door. He just stood up and went to open the door.

When the two returned, Emmett sat down with me and held me while Zeus laid down on the floor beside the bed.