Being There

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thank you for all of the lovely reviews on the last chapter. Please be warned this one is very sad and angsty. I actually shed a tear when I was writing it. :(

Part Twenty Nine

Jacob left Bella to sleep and went to answer the door; Jessica and Quil had arrived back from the meeting with her mother. Quil looked concerned, Jessica wasn't herself at all, the usual glow that she had been wearing due to her pregnancy was missing. She looked tired and wan. "What happened?"

Quil helped Jessica into the house. "You tell him, Quil. I'm just going to lie down for a while." She hung her head and headed slowly up the stairs.

"Come into the kitchen. Bells is asleep in the other room I don't want to wake her up. We've had a nightmare of a day, Renee turned up." He told his friend.

Quil sighed and sat down on one of the kitchen chairs. "I hope it went better then Jessica's did. Her mother is awful, her grandmother tried to plead her case but she wouldn't listen. I tell ya her mother's boyfriend is a bastard. He's the reason behind her mom throwing her out."

"Jeez," Jacob felt sympathy for Bella's friend. "I thought dealing with Renee was hard but she came around in the end. What's going to happen now?"

Quil lowered his voice. "That wasn't the end of it."

"What do you mean?" Jacob asked curiously.

"Eric and his family turned up too. It seems that Jessica's mom decided to gather everyone together. It all kicked off when Eric's dad decided to announce just what he thought of Jess trapping his son, more or less called her a hussy. I couldn't have that, Jake." Quil's eyes blazed with anger at the memory. Jacob's eyes dropped to Quil's hands which were clenched into fists, he saw residual traces of redness along the knuckles even though they were fading fast due to his enhanced healing ability.

"What did you do?" He whispered.

Quil scowled. "I hit him, I think his nose is broken. It all kicked off then. I got hold of Jess and we left."

Jacob stared at him, he hadn't expected any of this. "I would have done the same but this Eric's dad could cause trouble for you Quil." He warned him.

A worried frown crossed Quil's face. "I know. But I would do it again for her."

"You really love her don't you?" Jacob surmised. "It's not just the imprint is it?"

Quil looked him square in the eyes. "Yes, I love her. I really do." He admitted as his eyes travelled toward the stairs where Jessica had disappeared only moments ago.

Jacob gazed at his friend with concern, wondering just how this was all going to pan out. He just hoped that Jessica would return Quil's affection, otherwise he didn't want to think how his friend was going to cope with the rejection.

XXXXXX

Bella opened her eyes groggily, she glanced up at her alarm clock to see it was two in the morning. She yawned and sat up in bed, automatically looking at Jessica who slept on the camp bed beside her. It was empty. A frown creased her forehead, Jessica was usually a heavy sleeper. She had been worried about her friend ever since Jacob had told her what had transpired at the meeting with Jessica's mother. She had been horrified to learn about the harsh words that Eric's father had said to her. She had tried to get Jess to open up about it, but she had remained mute, barely uttering a word all evening.

Bella climbed out of bed and padded silently out of her room. She checked the bathroom first but Jess wasn't in there. She then carefully ascended the stairs, as she reached the bottom step, Bella heard crying coming from the living room. She quickly turned on the hall light and ran into the room. Jessica was sprawled on the couch, her hands cradling her belly as she wept.

"Jess," Bella knelt by her side and cradled her head, wiping the tears from her cheeks. That's when she saw the blood.

XXXXXX

Jacob, followed closely by a distraught Quil, burst through the hospital doors. Memories of the previous time that he had been here when he thought Bella had lost their baby flooded through Jacob's mind. Quil was asking the night receptionist where Jessica was.

"Are you a relative?" The receptionist asked.

"I'm her boyfriend." Quil lied desperately. "Please where is she?"

"You're the father?" There was a hint of sympathy in the woman's eyes. Quil did not bother to correct her. "Follow the corridor right to the end, Miss Stanley is in the last but one cubicle."

"Thanks." He said quickly. With Jacob right by his side they dashed down the corridor until they reached the cubicle. The curtains were drawn around it, but they could hear talking. Quil carefully pulled the curtain to one side, his eyes went straight to Jessica, she looked so tiny and pale lying in the hospital bed. A drip was attached to her arm and she was hooked up to a heart monitor. Bella was sitting beside her holding her hand.

"Jess?" Quil said uncertainly, his usual brashness missing.

Jessica stared at him sadly. "The baby's gone. I lost him." She began to cry again. Bella began to put her arms around her friend, but Quil beat her to it. He sat by Jessica and gathered her in his arms, stroking the hair back from her head.

"Bells," Jacob called out to her. She raised her head and gazed at him, a tortured look on her face. "Come honey, let's give them some space." He held out his hand to her and she slid off of the bed and took it. With one last glance at her friend she followed Jacob out of the cubicle, making sure to draw the curtain after her as she left.

XXXXXX

They headed outside and walked slowly around the back of the hospital into the gardens. There was a chill in the air but with Jacob's arm around her she felt warm. They strolled in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. The moon was out overhead and for once there was minimal cloud cover.

"Did you call Charlie?" Jacob asked after a while.

"He was out on a call. I left a message with his deputy." Bella snuggled closer to him; her dad was at work covering the night shift.

"I'm sorry you had to deal with this alone, Bells. I wish I had been there." Jacob said guiltily.

"How were you to know, Jake? You needed to check in on your dad and then you had another patrol shift. I never expected this to happen. Jess was glowing, she had no morning sickness, nothing. It's just not fair." Bella felt overwhelmed with sadness. Her hand went to her protruding stomach and she caressed it gently.

"What did the doctor say?" Jacob kissed the top of her head as they continued to walk.

"He said it was just one of those things. It's not uncommon for a first pregnancy to end in miscarriage." Bella told him sadly. "But I blame her mom and Eric's dad. She was fine until they ganged up on her. What sort of people are they?"

"Have you called her mom?"

"Jess didn't want me to. She just wanted Quil."

"Are you alright, Bells?" Jacob stopped walking and turned her around in his arms so that he could see her expression.

Tears sprang out of Bella's eyes as she looked up at him. "Not really." She confessed. "Can you just hold me?"

"Come here honey." Jacob wrapped his arms around Bella and held her tight. He felt her tremble as she began to cry; releasing the pent up emotions she had to hide because she needed to be strong for her friend.

XXXXXX

Quil and Jacob sat on one of the benches situated near the hospital entrance. It was now eight o'clock in the morning. Charlie had turned up once he returned to the station and got the news. He was now inside the hospital with Bella and Jess. The latter had no health insurance and he was trying to negotiate with the admin staff. He had called Jessica's mom and been shocked by her blasé attitude. She had more or less told him it was for the best. Needless to say the conversation hadn't gone well. Jessica's grandmother was on her way down.

"You were amazing Quil." Jacob took a sip of his lukewarm coffee.

Quil leaned forward, his elbows on his knees as he stared sightlessly in front of him. "No I wasn't. This is my fault."

"How is this your fault?" Jacob demanded.

"If I hadn't kicked off at the meeting and hit that Eric dude's dad then maybe she wouldn't have been so stressed." He confessed.

"Quil you were just looking out for her. Bells told me the first person she asked for was you. That says everything. You have been nothing but supportive. There is no way you are to blame for anything so get that idea out of your head." Jacob said firmly.

Quil sighed as he ran a hand through his thick, black hair. "Maybe. I don't know."

A taxi drew up not too far from them, an old lady with pure white hair and leaning heavily on a stick struggled out of the back of the cab. "That's Jess' grandmother." Quil quickly got up and went over to assist her.

"Ah Quil, I'm so glad you're here. Where is she?" The old lady asked him.

"Inside. Come on I'll show you." Jessica's grandmother leaned gratefully on his arm as Quil escorted her inside. Jacob watched them go, at least Jess had one member of her family who was concerned about her.

XXXXXX

The doctors wanted to keep Jessica in overnight for observation. Quil and her grandmother stayed with her while Charlie, Jacob and Bella returned home. Bella was exhausted and went to bed immediately. She bid her dad and Jacob goodnight before retiring to her room. Charlie went into the kitchen and took a beer out of the fridge; popped open the can and took a long drink. Jacob had to make do with water.

"I need to talk to you about Quil, Jake." Charlie gestured for Jacob to take a seat.

"What's wrong?" Jacob asked as he sat down.

"I didn't want to say anything at the hospital but Eric Yorkie's father made a complaint against Quil. He wants to press charges." Charlie said tiredly.

"Shit...sorry." Jacob quickly apologised.

"No son, shit is the right word." Charlie agreed. "I am going to have to interview him and Jess. I need to speak to his parents too."

"I can't believe this is happening. Is there nothing you can do?" Jacob begged him.

"My hands are tied as far as the law is concerned but I will try my best to persuade him to drop the charges. The poor girl has lost the baby, there must be a human heart in that man's body somewhere. Although after dealing with Jessica's mother..." Charlie shook his head in despair, having no words to describe the woman.

They sat in silence for a while as they both brooded over what had happened. The air was heavy with sadness. Eventually Charlie stood up. "I'm shattered son. I might head off to bed now."

Jacob fiddled with his glass as he worked up the courage to ask Charlie if he could stay, but he was surprised by the older man's intuitiveness. "Go and be with her, Jake. I know that Bells needs you right now." He nodded toward the stairs.

"Thank you." Jacob said gratefully. Charlie just sighed and left the room, his eyelids already drooping.

Jacob followed him up the stairs a few moments later and immediately went into Bella's room. She was fast asleep, her chest rising and falling slowly as she breathed. He lay down carefully beside her and she instinctively nestled back into his warmth. He was saddened to see the wet patches on her pillow where she had obviously been crying. "I love you, Bells." He whispered, kissing the top of her head as he put an arm across her protectively as he vainly sought sleep.

A/N-sighs. Thanks for reading!