AN: You are hearby warned: This story is a femslash Bella/Alice story. If you do not like such stories do not read it. This chapter is rated T but some future chapters will be rated M.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer, who would throttle me for what I have done to them.

A Lingering Touch

The visions won't quit replaying, taunting me, torturing me, constantly reminding me of how I failed her. I should have known, I should have realized that it was not James who's mind had changed but Bella. The way Bella hid from me while talking with her mom, the shallow, empty, fearful voice she had spoken in when she hung up. These all should have alerted me to the fact that something was dreadfully wrong with Bella.

What type of best friend misses clues as big as those. Some psychic I've turned out to be. I thought her incapable of lying; I assumed precisely as she had wanted me to, that she was simply scared. What normal person wouldn't be scared to have a psychotic blood thirsty vampire chasing them cross country for the sole purpose of murder. But no, not my Bella. Bella chooses instead to offer herself up, hand herself over, sacrifice herself for an implied, false, hostage. Bella chooses love over life; now she fights for her own. Edward connected the dots. Edward got there on time. Edward saved her life. All I could do was sit and watch holding her hand. I have never felt so useless in my very long life.

Bella, dear, sweet, soft, trusting, loving, precious Bella lays before me now in a medically induced coma, pale and broken barely clinging to life. Two seconds, that's all it would have taken. Two seconds longer and Bella would be no more. If Edward had arrived two seconds later Bella would not be lying in this bed in the ICU. Bella would be lying cold and unresponsive in the morgue, never again to laugh her enchanting laugh, never again to complain as I dressed her and did her hair forcing her to be the beautiful sensual young woman she is, never again to take my hand as she leads me where she wants us to go. Losing her would have been my fault. Taking her hand in mine I will her to come back to us quickly; I will her to hear me, to feel me here with her. Leaning in I whisper in her ear, my lips just touching the soft skin of her earlobe.

"I'm so sorry Bella. I'm so sorry I didn't see." I inhale the fragrance of her hair, the strawberry scent lacking after days of not being washed properly. The scent of her dried blood lingers calling to the beast in me, but is overridden by the shame caused by knowing her blood would have never been spilled had I just paid attention. I inhale deeply again letting her scent lash against my heart punishing myself for my carelessness.

"Please come back to me Bella. I love you, I don't want to loose you. Please come back." I whisper once again pulling back to look at her beautiful face peaceful in its unnatural stillness. I slowly bring my lips to graze lightly against the bandage covering the large gash on her head once again breathing in the smell of her injury as a punishment for my oversight. Lowering my head I raise her wrist to my mouth kissing the gauze wrapping over the bite James inflicted upon her, then each of her fingers on that hand. With each kiss silently willing her to get better and reprimanding myself for letting her put herself in danger.

"Never again Bella, you will never get hurt again because of me. I promise." Lifting my head from her hand I carefully lay it on her stomach never releasing my fingers, letting them lay intertwined with hers. Her hair has fallen forward covering one eye, hiding half of her face from my view. I reach out lovingly and push her silken hair out of her face tucking it behind her perfectly shaped ear letting my fingers graze lightly over the skin of her ear and neck as I bring my hand back. So perfect, how can any human be so perfect and yet be so unaware of how amazing she is.

The need to touch her, to feel her body heat, to know she is still alive is overwhelming. I hesitantly reach toward her again laying my hand against her neck feeling the blood pulse just beneath the smooth ivory skin. My hand slides forward caressing her neck and collarbone. Her soft skin is smooth over her delicate collar bone, so soft and delicate yet she is so strong. She is braver than any member of our family. She fearlessly marched toward death knowing she could not win.

My gaze intent upon her stunning face, even while unconscious and covered in bandages her beauty is undeniable. Her eyes flutter the smallest amount as if dreaming, the blood flowing so rhythmically through her veins increases its pace, the coloring in her cheeks deepens to a pale pink. My breath catches as I watch her face flush at my touch. Even in her state of unconsciousness she blushes; what causes me to falter though is the knowledge that she is blushing at my touch. Does she know it's me; or is she dreaming it's Edward touching her like this.

Overwhelming love, and the desire to show my love to her, grips me creating an uneasy feeling in my core. Nervously I lean toward her placing my cold hard cheek carefully against hers, breathing in her breath, feeling the heat of her blush against my face. A low moan escapes my lips as I close my eyes relishing in the feeling of Bella, breathing her breath in and letting it fill me as if I would die without it. I place my hand on her other cheek as a feeling of completeness and utter content fills me. Moving my head slightly to the side I let my lips glance upon hers, letting my bottom lip drag along hers breathing through my mouth to taste the sweet essence of her breath. Never have I felt so right. This, Bella, feels like home.

I sit for a long while holding Bella's warm face between my hands looking around the drab room. White sterile walls lit by the unnatural flickering fluorescent lighting. A small useless window looks to the north into a covered courtyard, its industrial vertical blinds yellowing from age. The spotless white linoleum flooring reflecting the glare from the overhead lights harshly. Bella's monitors beep continually moderating the flow of her I.V., checking her blood pressure, oxygen level, and heart rate and occasionally loudly printing out a status report. This is not what I want Bella to see when she wakes up. I know ICU rules will restrict me from redecorating much but there are a few things I can ge`t to make Bella's re-entry into the land of the living nicer.

A slight haze covers my sight, still transparent but pulling me away fast as a buzzing begins ever so softly in my ears. I close my eyes letting the coming vision take me out of this room for only a moment. Edward sits in the padded blue plastic chair, his head bowed into the fold of his arms as his hands hold Bella's uninjured hand delicately. His shoulders heave with his dry sobs as he whispers inaudible apologies. Bella's eyes flicker open several times before glancing around the room with a look of confusion. Responding to her increase in heart rate Edward looks up, forcing a smile to replace his look of anguish. "Bella." He sighs gently running his fingers through her hair, straightening the knotted mess as well as he can . Bella tries smiling up at him, but cringes in pain at the simple movement. Guilt floods Edward's face dismissing the fragile smile. "Oh Bella, I'm so sorry."

Bella's eyes close ever so slightly as she stares at Edward. "No, it was my choice. I'm sorry. I should have never ran off. Please forgive me." She asks, her voice scratchy and quiet from days of disuse.

"Silly Bella" Edward chuckles although his mirth does not reach his eyes. Bella glances around the room once more painfully raising an eyebrow slightly as she takes in the light blue sheer material flowing around the room, taking in the small delicately embroidered silver floral pattern. A small antique porcelain desk lamp sits on her bedside table coordinating with the fabric and casting a warm light through the room. A row of get well cards are opened and resting up on the ledge of a small window.

"What's" Bella stops speaking and slowly extends her small unbandaged hand around the room in question.

Edward smiles once more. "Alice." He laughs lightly. "She thought you would like this better than a plain hospital room." A wistful expression graces Bella's face as she brings her fingers to rest lightly against her lips pausing for a moment to look around the room. "You just have to love Alice."

As the vision closes I glance around the room. Yes, I definitely need to redecorate. The door creaks as Edward enters the room and walks to Bella's side dejectedly. "It's going to be okay Edward. She'll be waking up in a few hours." I whisper.

Edward simply nods his head and turns back to stare at Bella. "I'll be back in a little while, I'm going to go get something to brighten up the room for when she wakes up." I tell him sweeping in to place a sisterly kiss on his cheek. "It's all going to be okay."

I close the door behind me listening for a moment to Edward's quiet apologies and sobs.

Hey guys, this is my first ever fan fic; I'm a little nervous about what you all are going to think so please please please let me know what you like or what I need to work on. My big sister read it for me before I posted it, but she's the one that told me the blue and yellow striped rhino that I painted in fifth grade looked just like real, so yah, she's not a reliable judge. ***PLEASE*** sad puppy eyes.