I do not own these characters. Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight and character names. All plot lines, characterizations, details, etc. belong to Justagirl1238. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without express written authorization from the author.

DaniaMCullen is my amazing beta! The brilliant AydenM pre-reads for me. These two ladies rock my world and I love them!

THIS STORY CONTAINS/MAY CONTAIN GRAPHIC SEXUAL CONTENT, ADULT LANGUAGE (courtesy of my trucker mouth), DRUG/ALCOHOL USE, ETC. IF YOU ARE NOT OF AGE TO READ SUCH MATERIAL, GO READ A FUZZY LITTLE APPROPRIATE STORY…THE SMUT WILL STILL BE THERE WHEN YOU ARE LEGAL.

BPOV

My mind is a blur as I head down the highway back to Forks. I am sure my mother thinks I've lost my mind…I packed up and was out the door so quickly I can't even recall if I actually kissed her goodbye.

This is my mother we are talking about though…it probably seems logical to her to run around like a chicken with its head cut off. She has made retreats like this one on many occasions.

Regardless, I will call her when I get home and apologize for my hasty exit, I tell myself.

I didn't explain to her what had happened. That is a conversation I will have with my father…with Edward…and with his parents, I assume.

On one hand, I am trying to come to terms with all that Kate told me. It still seems like something I'd watch on a soap opera.

On the other hand, I just want to get to Edward…rational thoughts be damned.

I probably should have called him before I left, but in my mind I am justified that this is not something I should tell him over the telephone. First off, he probably doesn't even want to talk to me. Who the hell would, after someone sleeps with you and then just disappears? I wouldn't blame him if he hates me right now…

I still believe that I did the right thing, given the circumstances…but I will do everything in my power to make it up to him.

I look at my watch and I am doing well on time. The radio in this beast leaves a little to be desired so I have my iPod playing on the seat next to me. I'm heading along the I-5 North just past Redding when the truck starts to make a funky sputtering noise.

What is that?

Immediately I start to panic. I would like to say I am one of those girls who can take care of herself in a crisis situation. Unfortunately, I can put the gas in the tank…I can check the windshield wiper fluid…and beyond that, I am pretty much useless when it comes to vehicle maintenance.

I pull into a rest stop…at least I think it's a rest stop? There are metal poles sticking out of the ground but there is no sign on top of them. There is a small building, parking spaces and in the distance I see a sign with a picture of a dog on it indicating the pet area.

By the time I come to a stop, my truck is gasping for air and I am fairly sure I hear Taps playing quietly in the background.

I get out and lift the hood. I am not sure why exactly, because I have no idea what it's supposed to look like under there…but that's what you always see people do on TV and in the movies… so the hood goes up and I look at it with my hands on my hips.

Smoke bellows out in a cloud.

That can't be good, can it?

I look from side to side…nobody.

I look back at the engine…motor? Whatever it's called, and do the only thing I can think of…

I cry.

"Please," I sob as I stroke the frame lovingly, "just get us home, okay? Then you can have a rest. We have a plan, remember?"

The trucks only response is to sputter at me mockingly and then go completely silent.

I rush around to the driver's side, climb in and attempt to start it back up.

Silence. Not even a clicky noise.

You have got to be kidding me.

I lay my head on the steering wheel and just sob for a moment. Why does this always happen to me?

Then I get the giggles.

I think back to all the times Edward made little comments about my trunk. I was always so defensive when he did that because damn it, it might be older than I am, but I have always loved my creaky, rusty old beast.

Finally, putting on my big girl panties, deciding that tears are going to get me no further in this situation than this truck is, I reach over and grab my purse, fishing my cell phone out.

So much for big girl...I start to cry again.

My cell started beeping at me about an hour ago. I wasn't able to plug it in because the lighter in the truck doesn't work. I figured I'd just call my dad collect from a payphone once I got closer to home.

Pay phone!

I grab my purse and throw my iPod and cell into it as I run towards the small building.

There has to be a payphone here, right?

When I reach the building there are doors on either side leading into the men's and women's restrooms. In the middle, between the two, are a soda machine and a garbage can. Where's the phone?

I sigh…but I am so not going to cry again.

I look around and other than the highway there is nothing particularly close to me.

I look back to the building and notice a sign I hadn't seen previously.

Telephones located in Restrooms

Yes!

I go over and pull the handle to the women's restroom…locked.

Men's restroom…locked.

What exactly do I need to do to get a break? Was I a drug lord in a previous life or something?

There is one window up high next to each door. I can't really reach them at my height, but they are propped open with sticks, I assume to keep the empty rooms ventilated.

I am going in.

I pull the garbage can over to the women's door. It's pretty sturdy, it should hold me fine. I hook the strap of my purse over my head and crawl up on top of the can. It wobbles a little but I am so proud of myself that I manage to stay upright. I peek in the window…

Yep…it's a bathroom.

I see the phone on the wall next to the tampon dispenser and it appears to be in one piece. I have no idea if it works, but at this point it is my only option and I'm going for it.

There is another garbage can right next to the door on the inside. I will be able to stand on that once I pull myself through this window. It's a tight fit, but I'm small enough that I should make it.

I pull myself up and feel the can I'm on move slightly. I hold onto the window sill as I hook one leg over and pull myself up. The stick falls to the ground as I begin to pull myself through.

I have half of my body on both sides of the window and am reminded of those old "I Love Lucy" episodes my Grams watches when I suddenly lose my grip. I hold on, but begin to teeter before losing my hold and crashing to the floor inside the bathroom.

It feels like it's happening in slow motion. At first I think I'll be a little sore, but fine…and then I feel the piercing pain take hold of my ankle. This pain tells me that something is definitely not right.

I begin to cry again from the pain. I realize in my shocked state that I have indeed broken my ankle…and it hurts…like really bad.

I am writhing around on the floor, holding onto my leg. It hurts so bad I can barely catch a breath. I make the mistake of actually touching the ankle and I feel it just flop between my fingers. I have no control over it whatsoever.

Oh my god this hurts so bad!

After about five minutes of screaming, crying, panting and gritting my teeth I realize I am locked in a frigging rest stop bathroom. If that isn't bad enough, there is no sign on the road so the odds of anyone else coming along to help me is slim to none. I have to get to that damn phone.

I scoot forward, crying as I go, attempting to block out the pain in my ankle. It isn't working, but I keep moving.

Halfway there I feel like I am going to pass out. I have never felt such pain in all my life.

With all the will I have, I pull myself across the floor until I am right underneath the payphone. I try reaching up, but I am nowhere near actually touching the box, let alone the receiver.

I try to lift myself up and not only is it beyond painful, but I cannot bare weight on my foot to allow me to get into a standing position. I look around the phone for something to help me get up that wouldn't require the use of that leg at all.

I see nothing.

Through my tears I look around the restroom, in the far corner there is a mop propped against the wall.

Of course, I think to myself, continuing my panting.

I lay almost flat on the disgusting floor and pull myself inch by inch across it. I can feel grainy sand beneath my hands and try hard not to think about what I am touching.

I reach the mop and use the wall to slowly pull myself into a sitting position. Gripping the mop handle like a lifeline I continue pulling myself up.

When I finally get myself into a standing position I am crying so hard my whole body is shaking. I look down at my foot, which is dangling like a ragdoll's limb. The rest of my leg hurts too but it doesn't have the detached feeling of my foot.

I hop along the wall using it for support on one side and the mop on the other like a crutch until I reach the phone. My foot feels foreign, like it's not even part of my body.

Please, dear God, let the phone work.

I lift the receiver and take a deep breath before holding it to my ear.

It has a dial tone.

I cry more, a combination of both pain and joy.

I can't recall ever actually using a payphone in my life but there are directions on how to place a collect call along the side. I follow them to a tee and then announce my name when prompted.

I wait for my dad to answer.

Nothing.

What does that mean?

An automated voice comes on and tells me my party did not answer.

Fuck.

I try again, dialing my mother's number this time.

I can hear my mother's machine pick up and again the automated voice cuts in telling me my party doesn't answer.

Um…maybe my fucking "party's" are having a party!

Where is everyone?

I think about calling one of my friends, but all of my numbers are programmed into my phone and I haven't actually had to dial in forever.

I am in so much pain and standing up has only intensified it because the blood is now rushing to the aid of my injured limb.

I decide to call Edward. Whether he hates me or not, I know him…he will help me.

With shaky fingers, I dial.

The same annoying voice speaks, but I can hear Edward's voicemail in the background.

Hey – this is Edward. Leave me a message and I'll get back to you."

The sound of his voice hurts. He sounds so happy and…

My leg reminds me of the matter at hand. There is a new throbbing sensation happening now that makes me just want to cut the leg off completely.

I refocus and dial the only other number I know by heart.

"Hello?"

I take a steadying breath, trying to make my predicament sound less serious then it actually is...

"Jake? It's Bella…I need your help."

Four hours later I am in a hospital bed hooked up to a very impressive drip. I am feeling no pain and my leg is wrapped and surrounded in a huge brace.

Shasta Regional Hospital has been very kind to me, I think as I sigh and peek around through hooded eyes.

Upon receiving my call, Jake had immediately called an ambulance to come and get me. As appreciative as I was and am…it was still a little embarrassing to find myself carted out of an abandoned bathroom with my mop securely in my hand. The paramedic had tried to take it away, but for whatever reason, I clung to it like it was family.

I was scanned and x-rayed almost immediately and the doctors told me I actually managed to break my Fibula and fracture my ankle. I am scheduled for surgery the day after tomorrow and my understanding is I will have two pins in my leg and will be in a cast for the next few months.

Jake called my hospital room about twenty minutes ago to tell me where he was en- route. He had called my dad right after summoning the ambulance, explained what happened and was now on his way to see me.

My dad was understandably frantic at first. However, he was on duty…and after the doctors assured him I was resting comfortably, he agreed to stay in Forks until he was relieved, rather than call an off-duty officer in. Those guys worked long shifts as it was and I told my dad that since I wasn't going anywhere at the moment and I felt no pain, he shouldn't pull one of them from their families. At first he argued with me, telling me he should be with me, but he finally caved. He said he was going to sleep for a little bit when his shift was over and would leave very early in the morning.

I slip in and out of consciousness over the next few hours, the drugs they are pumping into me keep me pretty groggy.

I dreamt of Edward Cullen.

I want to see him, to speak with him so badly. Unfortunately, in my condition, I am not going anywhere. The doctors say that after my surgery, I will remain in the hospital for the next several days. Normally, I would have been allowed to go home to recuperate within hours of the surgery, but since Forks is about eleven hours away, they don't feel I should be in a car that long.

Waking up in the middle of the night, I sense that someone is watching me. I am right….

Jacob is sitting in a chair at the side of my bed. He looks so tired.

"Jake, you look exhausted," I comment as I rub at my eyes, trying to see him clearly with only the dim lights behind my bed.

He laughs. "I could say the same to you, clumsy girl! This little adventure is even more than I expected from you!"

I roll my eyes. He is right, I am clumsy but this is beyond. I fell through a fucking window into a filthy abandoned bathroom.

We talk for a few minutes. I explain to him exactly what had happened at the rest stop. I do not get into the Kate and Tanya stuff…I don't have the energy. At some point I pass out again because the next thing I know the sunlight is shining in through the large window.

Jake isn't in my room and I almost convince myself that I dreamt him being here but when he comes barreling into the room with a donut sticking out of his mouth and a paper cup in his hand, I realize he had in fact spent the night in my room.

"Morning beautiful!" he chirps as he makes his way to the bed sitting down in the chair. "How are you feeling?"

I think about his question for a moment, assessing my pain level. The drugs are still working and I feel nothing from my hip down.

"I'm…I think I'm good."

He just laughs and shakes his head, continuing to chomp on his donut.

I am still not capable of actual conversation, my mouth is dry and I just want to sleep…so I do.

When I wake up again I hear Jake talking to someone.

"No…she's good. She'll be hobbling around for a while, but all things considered, she's pretty lucky that's all the damage she did. If she'd have hit her head in the fall…" he trails off.

I don't hear anyone respond and realize he must be on the telephone.

"Yeah, I'll see you when I get home."

I look over to him as he stuffs his cell phone back in his jacket pocket.

"Hey," I say in a scratchy voice, "who was that?"

He gives me a small smile.

"How are you feeling, beautiful?" he asks and I am aware he doesn't answer the question. I don't push for an answer though. I am too tired.

"Is my dad here?"

"No. I talked to him a little while ago. He should be here in about three hours, give or take."

"Hmmm…"

"Do you need anything…water?"

"Yes," I nod my head slowly, "I would love some water."

Jake gets up and fills a cup from the pink pitcher. He looks so tired and it occurs to me that he must be, he drove hours to get to me and has sat in this room pretty much since, from what I can tell.

"Jacob?"

"Hmmm?" he says walking to me with the cup, dropping a straw in it and handing it to me.

"Thank you…Thank you so much for saving me."

He chuckles, but looks embarrassed.

"I think you are being a little dramatic, beautiful."

I shake my head. "No…No, you did. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't answered the phone and…well, you didn't need to drive all the way here. I just…thank you."

He purses his lips into a small smile and leans forward giving me a small kiss on the forehead. "Anytime."

Over the next three and a half hours Jake and I talk some, but mostly I sleep. The nurse decreases the drip in my IV and I can feel a bit more than I did before. It's not pain exactly, just a little uncomfortable. She says it will make me feel less groggy, but if I start to feel pain I should let them know and they will up the dose a little more.

"You doin' okay?" Jake asks as he rubs my arm, I nod and smile slightly.

"So…what happened? You didn't tell me you were driving back already."

"I…I needed…" I'm not really sure what to tell him. I want to tell him everything about my conversation with Kate, but for whatever reason, I feel like Edward should hear it before Jacob does. "It was just time to come home."

Jake and I watch television for a while. Really bad reality shows have us laughing out loud.

"Seriously? What is that girl doing with him?" I snort and try not to laugh too hard as it makes my body hurt.

"Some girls just don't see it when a guy isn't good for them," he laughs back, but there is hidden meaning there. I try to ignore it, keeping the mood light.

"But okay…I understand she got pregnant, shit happens but why is the mother letting him live there? He's obviously an ass."

We are watching 16 and Pregnant. It's a marathon that has been on for almost two hours now.

Jake starts to answer me when the door opens.

"Bells…" my father says as he makes his way to the bed with a pained look on his face. "How are you feeling?"

According to Jake, my father called several times while driving to Redding, but I was asleep every time so we haven't actually spoken since last night.

"I'm good, dad. Sore…but good," I try to reassure him.

The doctor comes in and explains everything again to my father. My surgery is tomorrow morning, everything is expected to go well. He reminds us that there are always risks with surgery and says something about a growth plate. Most of it goes over my head in my current state. The doctor informs both my father and I that I will need to take it easy while I heal. I will be able to move about on crutches, but I should prop it on a chair while at school and try to keep it elevated as much as possible when home.

Once the doctor leaves, my father addresses Jacob.

"Son, I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you did. Thank you."

Jake looks uncomfortable and embarrassed again, but nods and plays with his hands.

"I brought Embry with me," my father says as he motions with his head towards the door. "Your dad thought you might like some company for the trip home. I had him wait in the lobby…wasn't sure if Bells would be up to more company."

At some point Embry comes in and says hello. I don't know him very well, only having seen him occasionally when Jacob and I hung out last spring. Eventually they agree that he will drive while Jake gets some sleep and then he'll drive the rest of the way.

Jacob gives me another small kiss on the forehead as they prepare to leave.

"Try to relax, beautiful," he says with a grin, "Don't fall out of the bed and break the other leg."

I laugh and roll my eyes.

"You know me…it's a good thing there are guard rails."

My father walks them out and I have my first few minutes alone since all of this happened. Well…coherent anyway.

I think of Edward again and how much I want to talk to him. My phone is obviously still dead and the charger is back in the truck. I could call him collect or break down and ask my dad to let me call him on his cell phone, but I decide to wait. It's late now and I have my surgery in the morning.

I wake up to a nurse nudging me lightly.

"Bella? It's time to prep you for surgery, sweetie," she says as she smiles down at me.

I vaguely remember someone drawing on my leg with a sharpie or something and my dad holding my hand. I remember lights overhead as my bed moves down the hall.

"Bells?"

I swallow hard a couple of times and squeeze my eyes, trying to open them.

"Well, look it there…she lives!" my father teases as I attempt to focus.

"Hey daddy," I respond in a scratchy voice.

The doctor comes in to see how I am doing and tells me everything went well in surgery. Aside from setting off a metal detector or two and having some sensitivity to cold with the pins, I should make a full recovery.

I sleep most of the day, that little drip is apparently packing again and is my best friend at the moment.

The day after surgery is pretty much the same. I am awake periodically, but something about laying in a bed, hooked up to meds, makes me embrace sleep more than I ever have.

Six days since my accident and we are finally going back to Forks. My leg is in a huge cast that goes up above my knee. Only my little toes peek out. I chose blue from the wide variety of colors offered. I currently have another brace type thing over top of the cast that is hooked up to a cooler full of ice water. It circulates over my leg, numbing it and preventing me from feeling much pain. I am told I should keep this on the whole ride home and then every couple of hours for the next few days. I also have a prescription for something…I can't remember what it's called but I know its pain medication.

My dad and an orderly set me up in the back seat of the cruiser with a stack of pillows, a blanket and a pile of magazines. I have to laugh when I look at them. You can tell a man who has no idea what his teenage daughter reads purchased these. There is a Reader's Digest, a Country Living, and several Teen Bop magazines.

The ride home is pretty quiet. My dad is listening to some God-awful talk radio and I am reading about the most welcoming ways to stage a room. Apparently the position of your coffee table says a great deal about you as a person.

I start to talk with my dad about the Tanya situation twice, but both times I back out of it before telling him anything. He looks so tired and he's driving the car, I'm in the backseat…not exactly the most ideal place to have a conversation as serious as this.

When we finally arrive home, I am in serious pain….

My leg hurts so bad and although I try to pretend it's not so bad, the tears are silently falling down my cheeks.

"Jesus Christ, Bells…" my father says as he leans in the door, "are you okay?"

I nod and bite my lip.

"I'm okay…just sore, I think."

"Why didn't you say anything, damn it," he says, shaking his head.

He gets me up to my bed and loads me up with Vicodin. He refills the ice in the cooler and props my leg on pillows. Even in this excruciating pain, I am still in awe of my father. He is not the kind of man that shows emotion easily, but when I need him, he is always the caretaker I need. My mother loves me, of that I have no doubts, but it is different with her, she doesn't have much of a maternal side and while my father acts like the proper Forks Police Chief, he is a softy inside.

I find myself sleeping a lot. Every time I start to feel alert the fatigue hits me again. My dad says the doctors told him this is normal. I am small and had a major surgery, he said everyone's body heals differently and even though I want to be fine, I just need to take this time to rest.

After being home for a few days I start to feel like myself. I am not taking the pain medication anymore, but I use the ice machine a couple times a day. I am able to get up and out now, which is a plus. My father moves me downstairs and set me up on the couch so I don't have to navigate the stairs and I am finally able to take a real shower. I do have to wrap my leg up so as not to get it wet, but the warm water feels amazing.

"I'm off, Bells," my dad says as he reaches for his keys and peeks into the living room. "If you need anything, just call the station. Jake called…he's going to stop over and check on you later so…"

"Dad, I'm fine," I laugh and roll my eyes. "I feel so much better today, honestly. Jake doesn't need to run all the way over here."

"He seemed to want to so…I just feel better knowing he'll be hanging out with you."

I don't argue with him, I like seeing Jake and I haven't felt up to calling anyone until today.

"Dad?"

"Yeah," he says, opening the door but leaning back so he can see me.

"Will you be home early?"

"It shouldn't be a long night. I should be home around six."

"Okay…" I trail off.

He walks back into the living room. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah," I nod, "I just…I really need to talk to you about something and…I've put it off too long already."

"You want to talk now?" he says and sits on the arm of the chair.

I shake my head, this conversation will take more then the few minutes he can spare right now. "We can talk when you get home, okay?"

Jake arrives at about noon, he's his smiling, carefree self today and it's refreshing.

"Chicken or tomato?" he hollers from the kitchen.

"What?"

"Soup…chicken or tomato?"

"Oh," I say as I climb off the couch and make my way to the kitchen. "Chicken noodle, definitely."

"What are you doing in here?" he reprimands me, "Get back on the couch."

"Jake, I'm fine. The doctor says it's important for me to get up and move around. Let me help you."

"Nope…you can circle the kitchen and get your exercise if you want, but I am cooking this meal woman."

I roll my eyes and laugh, wandering around the room. It feels good to move.

"You heading outside to hunt next?" I tease him.

I grab some crackers from the cupboard and toss them on the table, look out the window…

"We should eat in the backyard. It's so nice out today. God, can you believe summer is almost over?"

Jake and I have our little chicken soup picnic on the back porch. I like talking with him, we've become pretty close since last spring, mainly because of our talks while I was in Phoenix. I still don't have romantic feelings for him but he hasn't brought anything up either, so I am hopeful a long friendship is in our future.

I start to feel preoccupied, I have been thinking about Edward a lot today now that my head is clear. I need to talk to him, need to let him know what happened.

I can't do it with Jacob here.

"I'm starting to feel a little tired," I tell him and that's the truth. I haven't moved around this much in a while.

"Sure," he says with a smile, standing, "let me get you settled back on the couch."

We make our way back inside, me hobbling along on my crutches, and Jake takes the dishes to the kitchen.

"I'm just going to stop by the bathroom…" I tell him as I make my way down the hall.

"Need any help?" he teases.

"I think I'm good there perv," I laugh, glancing at my mop leaning against the closet door. I don't know why I brought it home, I just wanted it.

As I pass the hall table I see a stack of mail. I pause to finger through it quickly with my one available hand, as I lean on my crutch for support. There's a letter from a body shop in Redding, I hadn't even asked about my truck yet. It now occurs to me…my dad must have had them tow it to their shop?

My breath catches when I see a long white envelope. It's to me…and it's from Edward.

"You okay, Bells?" Jake says as he rounds the corner.

I quickly stuff the envelope under my shirt and turn to him.

"Yeah…Yeah, I'm good. Just looking through the mail," I smile.

"You should probably get some rest, you're looking a little worn out," he says as he steadies me and starts to walk me to the living room. I still need to use the bathroom, but now all I can think of is that envelope burning against my skin.

When did Edward write to me? What does it say? Does he miss me as much as I miss him? Does he hate me?

"Jake…why don't you go ahead and head home for a while. I'm going to sleep and there's no sense in you sitting here. I'll call you when I wake up, okay?"

He looks unsure, but nods his head.

"Just don't forget to call me. If Charlie's not back yet, I'll come over and make you my award winning chili for dinner."

I laugh.

A few moments later I sit alone in my living room staring at the envelope in my shaky hands.

This is so silly, I tell myself as I tear it open. Whatever it says, we'll be alright. I have to believe that.

Dear Bella,

A/N: So, there you go – Bella has been MIA due to an accident. And before anyone jumps all over her for not calling Edward afterwards or telling Charlie right away, I just want to say that everyone reacts differently to medication and stress. I have had major surgery twice and I was so hopped up on Demerol and morphine in the hospital and was sent home with Vicodin. I was in such a fog that I remember knowing there were things I should respond to but I couldn't wrap my head around what they were for days.

Secondly, I was so thrilled to find out I had won a Sparkleteers Rare Gem Award for Best Tearjerker. How awesome is that? Thank you so much to those of you that voted. I was so excited you'd have thought Rob delivered the news personally!

As always...thank you so much for reading, reviewing and recommending. I read every review and take all of your thoughts and comments to heart.

Reviews get you teasers for the next chapter (Unless you have your PMs on block)

You can find me on twitter at justagirl1237 – come play!