I know I said last night but I was too lazy. Forgive me?

"I said drop it!" Bella exclaimed, as she bolted into the house, Edward hot on her heels.

"Bel…"

"I'm going to bed." She said, ignoring him.

He grabbed her arm as she walked past him.

"Don't shut me out." He said, his eyes pleading with her to make him understand.

"I… just can't." She said, shaking his hand off and retreating up the stairs.

She reached her room and shut her door quietly. She then proceeded to slide down the door with her head in her hands, trying to quiet her sobs. She was so confused. She didn't know which way was up. Should she try to be with Edward and enjoy what time they had left? Or should she just let him go and let him find someone else that could give him what he wanted, what he needed?

A quiet knock startled her.

"Bella?" Edward asked softly.

She bit her lip and closed her eyes tightly.

"Did I do something? My sister was only kidding. I don't expect to knock you up until much later." He teased weakly.

She choked back another sob.

"Please." He pleaded. He tried the knob and it turned easily in his hands.

Hmmm… she didn't lock him out. He pushed at the door and it hit something solid. He managed to squeeze his head in, only to find Bella curled up into a ball in front of the door. He eased in and crouched down in front of her. He extended his hand and brushed her hair back from her face, surprised to find her crying softly, her fist in her mouth to muffle the sounds.

"Bella." He breathed.

She refused to meet his eyes.

He scooped her up and carried her to the bed. He eased off her shoes and coat and covered her up with her down comforter. He kissed her forehead and started to leave.

"Stay." She whispered.

He looked back at her, knowing how much that had taken out of her to request. He simply smiled and kicked of his shoes and joined her.

"Bel…" He began.

"Please… just… please don't say anything." She pleaded.

He looked down at her, at her eyes… so green, so full of tears and at her face with the damp trails already etched there and nodded. He brought her closer to him and stroked her hair until her breathing evened out, knowing without a doubt, she was more damaged than anyone ever realized.

***TMAIA***

"Hey, so what attending am I torturing today?" Tanya came in, her voice bright and hopeful.

Bella winced at her loud voice. She had cried so much last night, that she felt hungover… only instead of alcohol it was with emotion.

"No one." She said with a curt voice.

"What? Why? Someone had to have fucked up over the weekend." Tanya complained.

"Things will change, starting now. I have been going about this all wrong. I want this hospital to be great and having a fellow reprimand an attending is exactly what got Seattle Pres in trouble to start with. I have been on a power trip and it stops now." Bella informed her.

Tanya blinked.

"So, fun time is over?" She asked morosely.

Bella had to smile at the crest fallen expression on her face.

"Fun time is over." She confirmed.

"You just sucked all the fun out of my day. Now it will blow." Tanya pouted.

"Oh, go blow Jake." Bella said.

Tanya stood up and walked out the door.

"Where the hell are you going?" Bella asked.

"To go blow Jake, seeing as you are no fun today."

Her cackling was heard through the closed door as she walked away.

"Bitch." Bella muttered.

She sighed and sorted through her paperwork, though thirty minutes into it, she realized she hadn't comprehended a damn thing.

"You look frustrated."

Bella looked up to find Jasper lounging in the doorway.

"Don't you knock?"

Jasper pounded on the door with his fist and raised an eyebrow.

"Smart ass." She muttered.

"That is the consensus around here." He smirked.

He sat down.

"Can I talk to you?" He asked.

"Isn't that what you are doing?" She asked.

"Now, who's the smart ass?" He asked. He paused then blurted out, "I think I want to change specialties."

Bella stopped fiddling with the papers on her desk and looked at him, her eyes squinted with suspicion.

"Quit fucking with me, Jasper. I'm not in the mood." She spat, but took a closer look at him.

"You're serious."

He nodded.

"Huh." She grunted. "To what though?"

He muttered something.

"What?"

"Gynecology!" He yelled.

Bella slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her giggle.

"I… um...I... was just bullshitting you the other night at the bar. You didn't have to take it seriously or anything."

Jasper sighed.

The truth is I have been thinking about it for a while. I hate Plastics. I thought it was so macho but it is bullshit. I am not helping anyone and Riley is a prick."

"Then what's the problem?" Bella asked. "Change. You did a OB/GYN rotation. Do a year and a half fellowship to make up the time." She suggested.

"I need a favor." Jasper said, his face unsure.

"What?"

"I need you to tell Riley and Mallory for me."

"My pleasure, Jasper." Bella said.

She let a smile flow across her face.

"Why are you smiling?"

"Oh, a chance to torture Not-So-Firecrotch is always a good time."

"Care to explain the nickname?" He asked.

"Use your imagination, Jasper."

"Oh…" Realization dawned in his eyes. "So you two?" He made a rude gesture with his hands.

"You are so disgusting." She retorted.

"Yeah, we covered that. But did you?"

"No! She showed up naked in Edward's bed and I surprised her."

Jasper hooted.

"That is a surprise I wouldn't mind coming across… two chicks, one naked, in the same room… together? Oh hell yeah."

She threw a pen at him and rolled her eyes.

"So you don't mind talking to them for me?" He asked.

"No. I don't mind. I will call a meeting with the department heads today."

Jasper stood up.

"Thanks Bella… for this." He said.

She smiled genuinely for the first time that day.

"You're welcome, Jasper. Now get ready to go look at crotches all day. And hey, just think, you will get paid to do it now." She grinned.

"Who said I wasn't getting paid before?" He taunted.

Bella burst out into laughter as he left. She was so thankful that she had someone like Jasper to make her forget how confusing her life was at the moment.

And so thankful she got to fuck with Lauren some more. She pushed down on her intercom.

"Jessica? Call a meeting."

So she is growing up. A little. She still has a little mischief in her.