The rest of the trek home, the tune of Coming up for Air by some band Bella liked played on a continual loop and it didn't even seem to bother the rest of them, as solemn as we all were. When we were close enough to our own homes, we split up and headed our separate ways. Seth had Leah, brushing his side against hers in support the whole way home.
"Get some rest. Leah, Seth, if you need anything at all, don't hesitate to let us know." I told them. "You all did great work tonight. All of you."
When I shifted human, I saw how badly I looked, caked in dried blood down my arms and neck, a large purple bruise on my side from the broken ribs. They were still knitting together slowly and it aches like a bitch to walk. I didn't want to scare Bella though so I used the hose on the side of the house to quickly wash the blood off of myself. The temperature of my body created steam as my skin dried quickly. When I walked inside, my eyes were immediately drawn to my girl, sleeping sitting up on the couch with a blanket around her and a remote in her hand. She is beautiful and peaceful and I closed the door carefully so as not to wake her. Unfortunately, the click of the door jerked her awake and she spun to see who was behind her.
Bella's eyes widened as her gaze roamed my body and she stood slowly, clicking off the television before dropping the remote onto the couch and approaching me as I grimaced at the look of tears in her eyes.
"I'm okay." I whispered as she touched the bruise with the gentlest of touches.
"You're hurt." Her voice cracked as she continued to assess my body for damage. She walked around me as she looked for more evidence and I stood still, letting her check me over. Her fingers swept through the back strands of my hair and I could feel the dried blood I'd missed flake onto my back.
Her breath hitched and I smelled the salt from her tears.
"I'm okay, Red." I said softly, turning to meet her gaze and wrap her in my embrace.
She tentatively wrapped her arms around my lower waist, careful of the mottled bruise.
"Let's go to bed." Slipping my hand in hers as I pulled her toward the bedroom.