unconsciousness would be an undesirable outcome

[self_composed]

On Sunday, Bella drives to the movie theater with Angela in tow, and her car breaks on the way home from Angela's house. She calls a tow truck, and calls her dad, and she goes home in the cop car and her station wagon goes on vacation to the mechanic.

On Monday, Charlie drives Bella to school.

As she's been discharged from the car and Charlie pulls away, a van driven by a panicking teenager screams out of nowhere towards Bella.

Making wishes is easy.

It is not automatic. It is not instantaneous.

The van creams Bella, good and proper.

Comments

[edgeofyourseat]

"You did," he admits. "And I did. Twice."

[self_composed]

Aww.

Footsteps approach. Bella lies down and plays injured.

"Visiting hours are over in twenty minutes, fair warning," says the nurse who sticks her head in.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Okay," says Alice, just to make her go away.

[self_composed]

The nurse closes the door. Bella opens her eyes.

"Charlie'll be here before then," she says. And "Do you want me to try explaining to him why I call you 'Alice'?"

[edgeofyourseat]

"...I dunno," he says. "What'll happen if you do?"

[self_composed]

"Probably? He'll shrug, say he's going to call you by your legal name but we can do what we want, and then mutter to himself about my weird friends."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Fuck me," says Alice, rolling his eyes. "Think we can bargain him down to Laney?"

[self_composed]

"Yeah, I can tell him that's what Hilary calls you."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Great, okay. Bring it."

[self_composed]

Charlie arrives before any more doctors or nurses do. Bella waves energetically and he winces, then gradually relaxes into an expression of openmouthed astonishment as she gets up and wanders in a circle around the room. "Can I go home?" she asks.

"Well," says Charlie. "You can walk. Seem lucid. Suppose so."

He eyes Alice suspiciously but doesn't say anything.

[edgeofyourseat]

Alice... sits. Quietly. With his notebook closed.

[self_composed]

"Dad, you've probably heard about Laney from Hilary," Bella says, helpfully pointing. "He's my friend."

"Mm-hm," says Charlie. "She's mentioned him."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Hi," says Alice.

[self_composed]

"I call him Alice, though," she adds, sticking out her tongue at Alice like this is a teasing nickname she invented for him.

Charlie hmphs. "Well," he says. "I'll go see about checking you out of here, Bells."

[edgeofyourseat]

Alice grins at her.

[self_composed]

Charlie leaves them be to go annoy some doctors and borrow a wheelchair.

"There," says Bella. "I have a swell dad."

[edgeofyourseat]

"...I really want to hug you," says Alice. "Can I hug you?"

[self_composed]

"Yes," Bella says, holding out her arms.

[edgeofyourseat]

He wraps his arms around her and leans his head on her shoulder.

"I love you," he murmurs, and lets go.

[self_composed]

Bella hugs back until he releases, and then she ruffles his hair.

Charlie apparently didn't take long to convince the doctors that the chief of police is within his legal rights to take his daughter home. He comes in with a wheelchair.

[edgeofyourseat]

Alice is still beaming at Bella.

[self_composed]

Bella transfers herself to the wheelchair, and makes a careful expression of resigned discomfort. "Shall we?"

[edgeofyourseat]

"Guess so," says Alice.

[self_composed]

Charlie wheels Bella to the elevator. "Is your friend coming with us, Bells?" he asks.

"If that's okay with you, and if he wants to," Bella says serenely.

Charlie glances over his shoulder at Alice.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Yes please!" says Alice.