Rekindling What's Meant to Be

JacobxBella

Rated T

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the franchise, as it belongs to Steph Meyers

Rekindling What's Meant to Be

Chapter 10

Sam looked up from where he was seated next to the hospital bed that Leah lay upon when the room door opened. He smiled softly at seeing that it was Jacob that was coming to visit, but the smile soon fell away upon seeing who followed him into the room. What in the world was Bella Swan—no Cullen—doing here? Why was she back in Forks, and with Jacob? Masking his surprise, he greeted, "Jacob, hi. Bella, welcome back, I guess."

Bella gave Sam a small, nervous smile in greeting before turning to look at the figure lying still in the hospital bed. She couldn't believe that she was seeing Leah again. The woman was as beautiful as she remembered her and her hair longer too, but she also looked so fragile. Her tan skin now looked pale, she was thinner than she had ever seen her, and she seemed to have dark circles under her closed eyes. It was obvious Leah seemed to be in the stages of withering away and probably wouldn't even consider herself beautiful. But looking at how Sam was looking at Leah, it was obvious that he still believed her to be beautiful in her vegetative state and that he loved her unconditionally.

Jacob looked at Leah as well before asking, "Anything new?"

Sam shook his head and said, "No, nothing new. Her brain scans are fine, but the doctor said it's just a matter of waiting for her to wake up."

"But that's good, right?"

"Yeah, but he also told me to seriously consider pulling the plug on Leah. I can't do that, though; I can't give up on her."

Bella's heart clenched at Sam's words, hearing how genuine and heartfelt they were. He really was in love with Leah, and had never stopped loving her, even during his time with Emily. She still couldn't believe that Emily had been crazy enough to run her cousin over and put her in this state to keep Sam. But all it did was drive him back to Leah completely. She supposed love was as harmful as it was true.

Moving to stand next to Leah and observe her still face, the oxygen tube sticking out of her mouth to help her breathe, she felt tears fill her eyes. Leah wasn't supposed to be here in this hospital bed. She was supposed to be walking around full of life and being her usual moody self. She wanted to see her walking around and talking, not lying here letting the years pass by and her family worrying. Bella could only imagine how Sue was feeling with her daughter here. If it was Sarah, Bella didn't think her heart could take it. Sarah was the one good thing to happen to her in her sorry life and if something happened to her, she wouldn't be able to stand it. It was the whole reason she had stayed with Edward, but now she knew it was best she stay in Forks with Jacob and the others. Sarah was more protected here than she ever had been in Edward's presence.

Wiping her forming tears away Bella placed a hesitant hand on Leah's shoulder before whispering, "You're going to pull through, Leah; I just know it."

Jacob and Sam didn't say anything as they watched the brunette, both of them knowing this was a shock to her. The last she had seen of the former female Shifter, she had been alive and well. Now, though alive, she was lying still and had been for six years. Like Bella, they believed Leah would pull through and wake up out of her coma. Leah was stronger than she let herself be known to be, and they knew she was strong enough to wake up from her coma.

Bella and Jacob stayed a little longer and spoke with Sam, listening to him speak about how his job was going as—surprisingly—a middle school gym teacher. Bella thought the position fit him nicely, though she had to admit to herself she couldn't see Sam working with children. After a while Jacob and Bella made their leave, telling Sam they would come back another time. As they left the hospital Bella said softly, "It's so sad seeing Leah like that."

"Yeah, it is," Jacob agreed. "But I'm sure she's going to wake up soon."

"I hope so. She has Sue, Seth, and Sam waiting for her to open her eyes again. And…and I'd like for her to meet Sarah."

Wrapping an arm around her, Jacob pulled Bella into his side held her saying, "She will."

Bella smiled and looked up at Jacob, looking into his eyes to find the love he still carried for her being reflected in them. Looking down Bella tried to will away the sudden blush that had formed on her face and suggested they get back to La Push. Jacob nodded and walked with Bella to the elevator, smirking internally at the blush that had appeared on her face. He was still affected Bella the way she was still affecting him. But that didn't mean that she might still love him, though he hoped that she did. Right before they reached the elevators, a young nurse stepped up to them, though her attention was solely on Jacob. Bella could practically see the hearts in her eyes as she set her mouth in a flirtatious smile.

"Hey Jacob," the nurse said batting her lashes.

"Um, hello," Jacob said slowly.

The nurse giggled before saying, "You know, I was thinking that we'd look great together and was wondering if you wanted to go out sometime."

Jacob was a bit startled by the sudden invitation and went to decline politely. However, before he could Bella cut in and said, "He's busy."

Bella pursed her lips as she looked the nurse square in her face, the nurse scowling in return. Jutting her hip out the nurse said, "I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to Jacob."

"Maybe, but I'm talking to you. And you should be working rather than flirting with the hospital guests. Not to mention the drastic amounts of makeup you're wearing is a health hazard in a hospital setting."

"Excuse me?"

"Did I stutter, Miss Thing? And you're just trying to buy yourself some time for a comeback. Don't worry, I'll wait."

Jacob wasn't sure what to do while watching the face off between the two women. Not only him, but their little back and forth had caught the attention of a few others. Bella stared at the nurse with an unwavering gaze, silently daring her to say or do more. She didn't like this broad and knew for a fact that Jacob would never go for the likes of her. The nurse glared at Bella for a while longer before huffing and reaching into her shirt and pulling a small piece of paper with her number on it out of her bra. She handed it to Jacob with another flirtatious smile.

"Call me when you drop this chick and want to have a good time," the nurse said.

Bella snatched the paper from Jacob's hand and ripped it to shreds before throwing it at the nurse's feet, irritation the most present emotion on her face. "He's not going to call you, you desperate hoe! What would he want with someone like you that wears the amount of makeup a clown wears? Not to mention he has a kid that I'm sure you don't want anything to do with. So why don't you go back to work before I report you for negligence of your job?" Bella grabbed Jacob's hand and marched to the elevator. "Let's go see our daughter, Jake. I'm done talking to insignificant people."

Jacob stared at the brunette in awe and disbelief as he allowed Bella to pull him onto the elevator, completely ignoring the shocked bystanders and completely offended nurse. When the elevator doors and began to descend Jacob said, "Bells?"

She didn't respond right off before saying softly, "I should have stayed out of that, I'm sorry."

Bella was avoiding eye contact with him—the embarrassment about what she had done catching up with her—and Jacob thought that was fine. She needed time to completely process the show she had just put on. But that didn't explain why she would have completely objected to him being asked out on a date, considering she herself made it known she had no intention of rekindling what they once had. Deciding to press the issue he asked, "Why didn't you? Would it have been so bad if I had said 'yes' and accepted her number?"

"Jake, I don't want to talk about it."

"Tell me why, Bella."

"No."

"Bella-"

The elevator bell chimed and the doors opened, Bella hurrying out of it and out of the hospital. Jacob's long legs overpowered her and he caught up with and stopped her, grabbing her arm to stop her. He expected Bella to resist his hold, but she didn't. Stepping in front of her he said, "Bella, tell me what made you do that."

Looking to the side Bella bit her lower lip as she struggled to answer. She didn't want to tell Jacob that it had happened because she had suddenly gotten jealous; it would make her seem pathetic. And she knew she had no right to be jealous when she was keeping Jacob at arm's length, but she couldn't help it. Not to mention her heart was pounding in her chest. Did this…was she…no. She couldn't be falling for Jacob again, could she?

Before Bella could ponder the thought more, her new cell phone rang and she pulled it out of her pocket, seeing that it was Sarah calling. Answering it she held the device to her ear and said, "Hey sweetie."

"Hey mom," Sarah greeted in return. "Are you and daddy on you guys' way back to La Push?"

"Yes, we're on our way back. Have you been good? You're not giving Angela and Embry a hard time, are you?"

"No mom. Embry took me on a ride with his bike. He even let me ride it by myself."

"He what? Embry did what?"

"Nothing! See you when you get here!"

Sarah quickly ended the call, causing Bella to look at her cell phone with a look that could only be described as motherly annoyance. A snicker caught her attention and she glared at Jacob as he chuckled to himself, having heard what his daughter said. Walking over to Jacob's car she said, "She gets it from your side of the family."

They climbed into Jacob's car and buckled up as Jacob laughed. Starting the car he said, "That's her adventurous side. The reckless side comes from you."

Bella sighed and looked out of the window, ignoring Jacob's continued laughing. She knew he was just being playful with calling her reckless, but it was also true and her recklessness had caused a lot of heartache that she didn't want to remember. Leaning her head back against the head rest, Bella closed her to rest them and essentially rest her mind from the events of the day.

A warm hand took hold of hers causing Bella to look down to see Jacob was holding it. Looking at him she saw him looking at her with a soft look in his eyes. Giving her hand a gentle squeeze, he said, "I still want to talk about what happened, but I'll wait until you're ready."

The brunette stared at Jacob as he pulled out of the parking lot of the hospital and headed towards La Push. She was quiet for ten minutes before saying softly, "I got jealous."

Jacob smiled at the admission but didn't say anything in return. Instead he continued to hold Bella's hand all the way back to La Push. As they crossed over the border onto the Reservation Jacob said, "Thanks Bells."

"For what?" Bella asked in confusion.

"For saving me from being asked out. I don't want to date right now, not unless it's you."

Bella gasped softly and her face burned red before she bent her head to hide behind her hair. Why did Jacob have to say that? It had sent her heart racing in her chest again. She needed to talk to someone about this. She needed some advice. And who better to give it than Angela? As they drove to the Call house, Bella prepared herself to talk with her friend. If anyone could give her real, honest advice, it was Angela.