Chapter 11

"You did it, Bells! Come on, you'll be fine. It's over now!" Jacob grinned at me, pulling my hand like a child.

It had been six weeks since my jump, and I was going to have an examination which would confirm that I could stop taking the meds. But going into the hospital itself reminded me of the last time I had been there- the episode with James and Edward's promises.

The six weeks while I healed had been excruciatingly painful and often I took a little more meds than needed so I could just be so stoned I would sleep it off, trying to skip the haling phase. My lungs heaved against my bruised periosteum every time I breathed, causing intense pain. Not to mention that the pain shortened my breath so I was constantly panting and gave me less oxygen so I kept having dizzy spells. And the meds were making me moody when I wasn't sleepy. So I kept snapping and getting impatient with my body and annoyed with myself for bringing it on.

And I hadn't heard his voice for weeks.

"Bella?" Jacob asked, staring at me. I nodded, and looked around to see if Charlie was coming. He was still getting out his car.

Jacob and Charlie had been so patient with me through the last two months. I knew I didn't deserve it, not at all, and I didn't see why they coped with my mood swings. Sam had tried to get me out again, I think he even threatened Jacob. He even came to speak to Charlie… that was one horrible evening.

I was upstairs, trying to cope with the hole Edward had left in my chest that was making my ribs hurt even more and my injury, which was stopping me breathing. I was trying to stop myself having another panic attack- I'd had one a few days prior.

Someone knocked on the door, and I heard Charlie answer it. It was a deep male voice, but it wasn't Billy or Jacob. Jacob would have come straight up to me anyway, whoever this was had gone into the lounge to talk to Charlie.

Holding my chest together I had stumbled across to the stair landing and I slid down the wall to the floor as I heard what Sam was saying.

"the panic attacks are just another sign, Chief Swan. She should have special treatment to stop these side-effects. Her mental condition can only get worse now."

"What condition could that be?" Charlie's voice had a deeper edge of what I hope was anger.

"The problems she's had since that… boyfriend left. Her condition could have been worse than you ever imagined. I, and several people I've spoken to, think she should… seek serious medical help… elsewhere."

"What? What's brought this on? She's been grieving for a boyfriend, a serious boyfriend who left without any warning. Of course she's hurting, but so does every woman!"

"I know, Charlie. But it was more serious for Bella. It's been like a coma for months now, and this injury had made things worse. I fear for her health."

"So do I, but she's getting better, Sam! And you have your boy Jacob to thank for a lot of that, I think. And he's really sweet on her! It'll break his heart if Bella leaves. Don't you care for his feelings?"

"Jacob is suffering too. From Bella's mood swings, and… her emotional state."

"And what do you mean by that? Jacob has been brilliant with my girl's condition!" Charlie growled.

"I'm afraid on how it is affecting Jacob, not Bella. I don't think Bella's condition is an asset to the people around her. I don't like how it is affecting my… friends."

"You can't banish my daughter, Sam. This is ridiculous! Her condition is improving, I don't agree with you on how it affecting Jacob and she doesn't even live in your town!" Charlie was trying not to shout, but his voice was cracking.

"Your daughter should not be here, Chief Swan."

"Get out. Get out of my house." Charlie had growled. I heard the door slam.

Sam had tried to ban Jacob from seeing me, which he had ignored and I knew there had been some kind of fight there, for which I felt guilty about. I hated being the one responsible for fights, especially with Jacob. It was like I was a curse on the people around me. Maybe Sam was right. He had told me not to come back into La Push, but Jacob had forced me a couple of weeks later.

People had stared at me hostilely and no one spoke to me- not even Billy. That was the lowest blow. Billy stopped talking to me. I had not told Charlie about it- he relied on Billy's friendship too much, especially after Harry's death.

But Jake still stayed with me, refused to abandon me, even when everyone else he knew was shunning me. I hadn't seen Emily since the time I jumped. I owed him so much.

So I looked at Jacob and walked beside him to the hospital, squinting because the sun was right behind his head.

"Wait up a second, Bells!" Charlie ran up behind us. I didn't actually know why Charlie thought he had to come, he should have been working.

We waited for about five minutes in the waiting room until they called my name. Jake and I got up.

"Wait a moment, Jacob. Bella can go on her own." Jake and I looked at each other, confused.

"Uh, is that all right, Bells?" Jake asked.

"That's fine…" I shrugged, very confused.

The doctor examined my rib and questioned me about the pain and the effects of the meds. He said I was fine to come off the medication now that the pain was practically gone- only a whisper when I was panting or something.

When I went back into the waiting room, Jacob told me Charlie had gone back to work. It was a Sunday so we had the day to ourselves. We had planned to go to the field where we had learned to drive the motorcycles.

Jake and I sat against an oak at the side of the field. It was a cold day as usual, but I could feel the heat radiating off Jacob and shifted closer to him.

"So what did Charlie want?" I whispered, not sure why I was being quiet.

"He wanted to know how I felt about… looking after you. Especially with Sam acting so damn irrational. He wanted to know how I felt about you." Jacob murmured, looking me in the eyes.

"And you said?"

"I said I'd stick with you if the whole world abandoned you. You can't get rid of me." I laughed softly but my eyes had filled with emotion. I looked back up at Jacob, and he looked so genuine and loving. He bent down and brushed his lips against mine. I responded more enthusiastically than normal, with the emotions stirring inside me.

We stayed like that until the stars started to darken and we drove back to eat with Charlie. Jacob rarely ate with us because of Billy.

Charlie chatted to Jacob about the day and the problems he'd had with a certain car driver or something. Jacob looked at Charlie occasionally and responded a few times, but his eyes were locked on me, my eyes, my face, my hands. He seemed to just be watching me, for no reason. I felt myself blushing.

Occasionally Charlie said something that was unintentionally suggestive and Jacob and I burst out laughing together. And occasionally we were both looking at Charlie and then looked at each other at exactly the same moment to share a smile. Then Charlie started talking about the news.

"What was that, Dad?" I asked.

"There's been ten deaths now, I said." Charlie replied.

"What? Where?" I hadn't heard of anything new on the news

"Haven't you been listening? In Seattle. They're all mysterious and the police are at a loss. It's been over the past week or so, as well. Its been-"

"Do they think it's the same person?"

"Well, yeah 'cause the bodies are all found in weird places with an unknown cause of death, and all the disappearances are really curious too."

I looked at Jacob uncertainly. "I hope they find the murderer soon." Jacob said.

I had forgotten all about it when I was saying goodbye to Jake at the door, when Charlie had gone to watch television and left me with clearing up.

"Well, see you tomorrow then." I leaned up for a kiss, which Jacob obliged willingly. Then he broke off and held my shoulders in his hands, blowing his hot breath on my face.

"Bella, be careful, all right?" He whispered.

"What? Do you mean Victoria?" I asked.

"I don't know… but these killings in Seattle… they sound very mysterious. The pack is all wondering if it's a vampire. It could be the female but she hasn't been feeding like this before so we don't see why she should now." He stroked my face gently with his finger, then turned away.

At school the next day I sat next to Angela at lunch as usual. I noticed Ben was sitting across from her rather than beside her, for once. I asked her about it when we left for registration.

"You and Ben OK?" I asked.

"Sure," Angela replied. I looked at her eyes, which were looking away from me. She turned and saw my scrutiny.

"Well, I think our parents talked to each other and thought we were getting too serious. Our parents are both giving us grief and I think the tension at home is rubbing off between us. That's all."

"I'm sorry." I said.

"What about you and Jacob?"

"It's going fine. He's so… he's brilliant. He's sticking by me through all that's happening at the moment."

"Are you having family trouble too?" Angela asked.

"Yeah, I guess we are." I replied. Angela sighed.

"Would you mind going out to Port Angeles or something- to just relax, just us girls? I'd love an excuse just to forget the things going on at the moment." Angela looked at the floor shyly.

"Sure, Angela! I'd love to. When do you wanna go?" I asked, not averse at all to the thought of a girls night.

"Um… Thursday? After school? Do you want to go in the truck or my Golf?"

"Not sure if my truck could make it," I laughed.

"All right then, Thursday, my Golf." Angela got out her diary to write it in and I smiled at her organisation.

Jake was waiting for me at home after school and we watched television for a while, then he sat and chatted to me while I made dinner. Charlie phoned to say he was late because of work so I served dinner early for me and Jacob. I had made three times what I usually did to accommodate his huge appetite. This reminded me of Emily, which brought a pang of sadness while I was eating. Jacob seemed to sense this even though I said nothing, and his huge hand came down lightly on my own pale one. I turned my hand and threaded my fingers through with his. They fit like puzzle pieces and I smiled at them.

His hands were so beautiful, rough and large but somehow the way they touched mine was always so delicate and caring. I looked up to find his eyes boring into mine, with a fond smile lighting up his face. I used my other hand to stroke the planes of his cheekbones and spread my fingers into his short hair, and he shut his eyes and sighed. I smiled too and pulled his face towards mine with the hand in his black hair.

He didn't open his eyes, but responded to my lip's touch well enough and I grinned into him. He let go of my hand and cupped my face in his two hands, then drew me away from him so he could study my face. I relaxed into his palms and looked at his deep dark eyes.

"I love you." He whispered, I shut my eyes sadly.

"Please don't say that." I didn't see his response. Then his phone rang, ruining the moment, and he released my face so he could get it. As usual, it was Sam. Telling him to go out on patrol. Jacob looked at me apologetically and I shrugged. It was something I had to deal with if I was seeing a werewolf.

Charlie got back later, and I was huddled on a chair reading Wuthering Heights. I immediately got up so I could warm up his dinner for him. Unexpectedly, he came and sat down in the kitchen and talked to me. He looked like he'd had a hard day.

"You all right, Dad?" I asked. He grimaced slightly.

"You wanna talk about it?"

"S'alright Bells. Just don't… Don't go into Seattle, OK? Promise me." I blinked, then remembered the stuff on the news.

"Sure."

Then I served him dinner and he didn't say any more about it.

Hehe! wot dyu think will happen now? I know some of you were annoyed with Sam, but it keeps the action going. seems lots of you are team jacob :P (curiously enough i'm not, but that might have affected the story). put a bit more bella/jacob fluff for u guys coz that mite get more limited now... :P