An Occasion

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-thank you to everyone who kindly reviewed the last chapter.

Part Seventeen-The Reluctant Nursemaid

Bella didn't think she would ever forget the first time she saw Jacob transform into a wolf. As Edward lunged at him, Jacob leapt forward, and with a sharp tearing sound he exploded out of the minimal clothing he was wearing. He literally burst out of his skin – shreds of black and white cloth blasting up into the air. It happened so quickly; Bella didn't even have time to blink.

One second it had been Jacob standing there, and then in his place it was a gigantic, russet brown wolf. The wolf was so enormous that she couldn't imagine its massive circumference somehow fitting inside Jacob. It was all so bizarre and so surreal that all she could do was stare as the wolf crouched low to defend himself against Edward's unprovoked attack.

Bella hunkered down to avoid getting in the way as Edward completely missed his first strike. The russet wolf quickly countered with a series of angry snarls, his iron jaws and sharp teeth clamping down on Edward's right arm. He shook his massive head, yanking Edward back and forth, shaking him like a rag doll. Edward fought back, using his free fist to smack the wolf repeatedly on the nose until he was forced to let go.

It was like watching a choreographed dance. Bella was completely mesmerised by the sight of the two whirling combatants as they sought to gain the upper hand. She was pleased to note that the ginormous russet wolf was as equally graceful in his movements as Edward. He easily whirled out of Edward's reach, his powerful jaws snapping and snarling dangerously. When his sharp teeth aimed for Edward's throat, he missed by a narrow margin, and ended up with a mouthful of his nemesis' hair instead. He choked on it, unintentionally ripping off a huge portion of Edward's prized hair in the process.

Bella quickly clamped a hand over her mouth as she tried to stem the tide of hysterical laughter that was threatening to burst free. She couldn't stop focusing on the massive bald patch on the back of Edward's head. The weak sun glinted on his exposed scalp as he moved forward to exact his revenge. He struck quickly, his form a blur as his fingers sank into the thick ruff of fur around the russet wolf's neck. He purposely ripped out a huge chunk and waved it in front of the russet wolf in a goading fashion, while the wolf let out a loud roar of pain and frustration.

The laughter died in Bella's throat when she heard this. There was no way she could tolerate the sound of Jacob in pain. It was time for the fight to end. Recklessly leaving her place of safety, she strode forward. "Stop this right now!" She bellowed.

It was hard to make herself heard above the roar of the fighting. It seemed like the russet wolf was gaining the upper hand- he was so much bigger than Edward, he completely dwarfed him, and Bella knew Edward wasn't really much of a fighter. He had been easily overpowered by James in the past. If it hadn't been for the quick intervention of his family, she was certain she wouldn't be breathing right now.

They were still so caught up in their petty fight, that they were completely ignoring Bella. She found herself getting more and more frustrated. She yelled for them to stop until she was hoarse. She jumped up and down to try and gain their attention. Nothing worked. They were like two kids in the school playground battling it out over a girl.

There was only one course of action left open to her. Bella rolled up her sleeves and marched forward, determined to physically get in the middle of them and force them to stop. It wasn't easy, they were moving so fast, tearing up the ground as they moved. She paused, assessing the best time to break through and dive in-between them. It was all in the timing.

Bella was about to make her move when Sam's loud, thunderous voice stopped her in her tracks. "Stay where you are, Bella." He ordered.

Sam's unexpected appearance distracted Edward. He swung around, his amber eyes widening when he realised that reinforcements had arrived. Sam was in his human form, but his companions were not. Edward was suddenly confronted by yet another pair of bristling wolves as they came to back up the russet one.

The unfortunate repercussions of Edward's quick movement were, as he spun to face the other wolves, his elbow unintentionally connected with the side of Bella's head. He hadn't realised she was standing so close to him. To another vampire it would have merely been a glancing blow, but to a human it was the equivalent of a knockout punch. Bella's eyes rolled in the back of her head and she collapsed to the ground in a heap.

Bella opened her eyes to the dimly lit room, though it was daytime no-one had opened the thick drapes. She squinted, dry mouth sticky with thick saliva and moaned before retreating under the duvet. She was suffering with the worst migraine she'd ever had. Her poor head was pounding and she felt nauseous. The aching in her skull ebbed and flowed like a cold tide, yet the pain was always there. She tried to burrow herself further under the duvet, only to groan when she felt another painful throb in her jaw. She tentatively reached up and gingerly touched the side of her face, only to find it swollen.

"Help!" She gulped, her words slurring as fresh pain powered up like a balloon under her cranium.

The duvet was slowly peeled back and Bella found herself confronted with the most beautiful face. Its owner was beautiful in an exotic way, like the midnight version of Rosalie. Instead of bright blonde hair, however, this version had hair as black as midnight. It was cut in a shiny bob, which only enhanced the perfect copper skin and eyelashes like feather dusters.

"You're very pretty." Bella slurred. Her head was spinning. She was beginning to wonder if she was hungover rather than suffering from a migraine. It would explain her hallucinogenic state perfectly.

The exotic beauty rolled her eyes impatiently. "SAM!" She hollered. "SHE'S AWAKE!"

Bella cringed at the girl's loud voice. She clutched the sides of her head, moaning pitifully, feeling the pressure mounting inside her skull.

"Lee, keep your voice down." Sam's deep baritone was barely above a whisper as he entered the room and peered sympathetically down at Bella. "The poor girl was knocked flat."

"That's her own fault. She was an idiot to get in-between a vampire and a wolf." The girl revealed as Leah said unfeelingly. "She should have known better."

Sam sighed. "Try and show some empathy, Lee."

"You're not the one who's been nursing this dumbass for the last twenty-four hours." Leah complained. "I've not only had to put up with her but Jake's sorry ass as well. That boy is a mess."

"Where is Jake?" Sam asked as he glanced around the room.

"I kicked him out. He was getting on my nerves. I didn't sign on to be his babysitter." Leah rolled her eyes again when Bella emitted a pitiful whimper. "Here we go again." She mumbled under her breath. She leaned down and glared at Bella's sickly complexion. "Are you thirsty? Hungry?"

"Yes." Bella whispered.

"Well, which is it?" Leah demanded impatiently.

"Water." Bella pleaded.

"Alright." Leah grabbed the full pitcher resting on the bedside cabinet and without preamble she dumped the entire lot over Bella's head.

"LEE! WHAT THE HELL!" Sam yelled as Bella quickly came to life, coughing and spluttering frantically. He glared at his girlfriend, swiftly grabbing a towel and trying to dab Bella down with it. "What were you thinking? She could have a serious head injury."

"Mom said she was fine. She checked her over when she first arrived. I've been monitoring her for hours." Leah said dismissively. "And it woke her up properly, didn't it? She couldn't have been that bad by the way she shot up just then. She looks like a malingerer. Probably milking it just to gain sympathy because she knows she screwed up."

Even though Bella's head was still pounding and she wanted to puke, she mustered up enough venom to fire back at the other girl. "You witch! I am not milking it." She hated that her voice still sounded so pitiful. She cleared her throat and tried to speak again, but the nausea caught up with her and she ended up being sick instead.

In the shower the water came as a soothing cascade, as if she was cocooned within arms that flow and hug so gently. The water continued to come down, warm and steady, awakening her skin in all the right ways, easing all the invisible aches and pains.

Bella stayed in the shower for a long while, taking time for herself, to recentre and feel her calmness return. When she stepped out, she found fresh clothes waiting for her – probably spare ones of Leah's – and a warm, soft towel to dry herself off with. She took her time doing this as well, in a deliberate attempt to avoid having to interact with her reluctant nurse again. She was grateful to Leah for taking care of her, but that didn't mean that she didn't want to slap the older girl. Malingerer indeed?

After drying herself carefully, Bella cleared the mist off the Clearwater's bathroom mirror and stared at her reflection. It was her first glimpse of the injury that had been inflicted on her face. Against her ghostly pale skin, she saw the great purple welt that covered almost all of her left cheek. Her left eye was slightly bloodshot from the impact of Edwards elbow on her face. It was just sheer luck he hadn't fractured her cheek bone. She touched the edge of the purple bruise gingerly, wondering how many weeks it would take to fade. She could only imagine what Charlie would have to say about her latest injury and what excuse she was going to have to come up with this time so soon after the last one.

A sharp knock on the bathroom door pulled Bella out of her introspection. "Thanks for using all the hot water." Leah's sarcastic voice filtered through the closed door. "There's food and drink downstairs when you're ready."

Bella gritted her teeth, immediately regretting it when pain shot through her face. "Thank you." She answered grudgingly. "I'll be out in a minute."

"Whatever." Leah replied, uncaring. "I've done my bit. You're lover boy's problem now. Sam and I are going out for a while. You won't be disturbed because my mom's still at work at the hospital and Seth's out with his friends. Just make sure you and Jake don't wreck the place while I'm gone."

"I'll try." Bella muttered as she turned her back on her reflection and began to get dressed.

As soon as she stepped into the Clearwater's kitchen, she found Jacob sitting at the long table, looking the picture of misery. As soon as he saw her, he stood up and caught her in a vice-like bear hug.

"I'm sorry, Bella, honey." He whispered; his voice frantic in her ear. "Please forgive me. I don't think I can bear it if you don't. I've messed up so bad. I never meant for any of this to happen, but I – "

"Can't – breathe- Jake" Bella gasped.

"Oh, shit!" Jacob quickly released her, but took both of her hands in his. His dark eyes examined her face and he winced. "Does it hurt? Of course, it hurts. I'm so dumb. I stayed by your side the whole time you were out of it, until Leah kicked me out. She's awful, isn't she?" He rambled guiltily.

"She has the worst bedside manner I've encountered. Is her mom really a nurse?" Bella asked thickly.

"Yeah." Jacob let go of her hand and gingerly touched the side of her face that was swollen. His touch was gentle and soft, but Bella still couldn't help wincing when his warm fingertips connected with her damaged skin. "I'm so sorry, Bella. This is all my fault."

"Its not your fault." Bella said tiredly, pushing his hand away from her face. "It's Edward's. He was the one who attacked you. All you were doing was defending yourself."

"But you got hurt…."

"I got myself hurt. Leah was right. I was stupid to get in-between you." Bella sighed heavily. "I've got to stop acting so rashly. It was just when I thought you were hurt, I had to act…."

"You got in-between us because you thought I was hurt?" Jacob asked quietly, his eyes shining with some indecipherable emotion. "You were that worried about me?"

"Duh!" Bella studied his face, watching the relief pulse through him.

"You really, honestly don't mind that I morph into a giant dog?"

"Is that why you've been avoiding me this whole time?" Bella demanded instead of answering his question.

"I was…. you know….it was… and I didn't know….and…I…."

Bella reached up and squeezed his mouth shut. "Stop talking, Jacob."

"k'."

Bella dropped her hand back to her side and glanced at the kitchen table toward the food Leah had laid out. It looked like three-quarters of it had been eaten already. She side-eyed Jacob in annoyance. "Really, Jacob? You couldn't wait for me?"

"I always eat when I'm anxious. You know that." Jacob gave her an apologetic smile. "Can you forgive me?" He pleaded.

"I'll think about it." Bella sniffed indignantly as she sailed past him and helped herself to the leftovers.

A/N-thanks for reading!