Hi again. Sorry I missed review replies/teasers. I went back to work this week and couldn't tell you which way is up at this point. But you don't want to hear me complaining! ;) Thanks to my ladies and thanks for reading!

Blind Ambition – Chapter Nine

"It smells like something died in here," Jasper noted as he closed the door behind him and made his way to the living room. He found Edward there; face-down on the couch, still in the same clothes he had been in the day before.

"Just my hopes and dreams," Edward muttered into the leather couch cushion.

Jasper bit back a laugh and sat at the end of the couch, pushing Edward's feet out of the way. He noticed his friend winced at the movement, but bit his tongue. Now wasn't the time to lecture him about his week of missed physical therapy appointments…or how he really should get his pathetic ass off the couch.

"I brought you coffee," Jasper told him. "Just the way you like it."

Edward sat up as Jasper handed him the warm paper cup. He sipped cautiously and then tipped his head toward his friend.

"There's whiskey in this," Edward said, holding back a little cough.

Jasper shrugged and nudged Edward with his shoulder. "Fine, it's just the way I like it, then."

"You're a good man." Edward laughed and sipped his coffee, a little shudder running through him. "I'm sorry I'm being such a piece of shit," he said after a moment.

"Look, I get it, Edward, but you've still got a life to live. And if it has to be without her…then so be it."

"I know, I know." Edward placed the cup down and leaned back against the couch, rubbing a hand over his tired face.

It had been a week since he'd last heard from Bella. She'd come back the next day to get the rest of her things while he'd moped around Alice and Jasper's, and he hadn't spoken to her since their brief phone call that day. Part of him was happy to finally understand why she had been acting so strange. It was like the ending of a book that was neither happy nor sad: It just ended, and everyone was supposed to go on with their lives. Only Edward didn't quite know how to go on without her just yet.

No, they hadn't exactly been happy the last few weeks, but they'd had a routine, a comfortable one, and now…now Edward had nothing.

"Oh, and…your mom is on her way over," Jasper muttered into his coffee cup, ending Edward's silent pity party.

"You called my mother?"

"No, noooooo. Alice called your mother. I had the common decency to come and tell you that she did." Jasper defended himself thoroughly, but Edward groaned.

"How long until she gets here?"

"Long enough for a shower, I'd wager."

Edward nodded, levered himself off the table, and aimed a pat at Jasper's shoulder. He missed, accidentally brushing his hand against Jasper's face, and chuckled quietly.

"Sorry," Edward muttered as he slowly maneuvered himself to his bathroom sans crutches.

"I'll just clean up around here so she isn't completely appalled!" Jasper yelled after him.

Half an hour later Edward was standing in the middle of his closet, wearing a pair of jeans with his wet hair dripping onto his bare shoulders. He reached out to grab a shirt, but brought his hand back empty.

"Hey, they're here-" Jasper cut off at the look on Edward's face. "What's up?"

Edward shrugged and turned toward Jasper's voice.

"I…I don't know where my shirts are. She moved stuff, I think and…" He trailed off, helpless.

Jasper pushed forward, feeling angry for his friend. "Here's a t-shirt," Jasper said quietly. "I'll get this organized for you and-"

"No, I'll get Mom to do it," Edward replied while the pulled the shirt on and ran a hand through his wet hair. "You should get to the store. I'll be fine."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Thanks, man. I appreciate it," he said quietly.

"I know." Jasper patted his friend's shoulder and left him alone in the closet. Edward could hear his mother and sister coming closer, so he picked up his discarded towel and scrubbed it over his head quickly.

"There you are!" his mother, Esme, cried. Edward could almost see her standing in the doorway of the closet, hands on her hips and her caramel hair swaying back and forth as she shook her head at his situation. "My sweet boy," she whispered and pulled him into a hug.

Alice sniffled behind his mother and Edward rolled his eyes, forgetting he wasn't wearing his sunglasses.

"I'm emotional, dammit!" she whispered loudly. "Blame your future niece or nephew."

"I didn't mean it," he laughed. "I'm glad you're both here. I need help."

"Well, I never thought I'd hear you say those words," Alice muttered, making them all laugh.

"There's a first time for everything, little sister."

xXx

"Mom, you don't have to stay. There's a little coffee shop down the street, why don't you go there," Edward sighed, swaying back and forth a little on his crutches and trying not to glare at his mother.

"Don't you tell me what to do, Edward Anthony. I came here to take care of you and I will stay here as long as I please!"

"Seriously, Mom? This isn't a game- oh," he grumbled and turned. "Hey, Dr. Clearwater."

"I'll never get used to that," Leah greeted him. He mentally kicked himself for knowing she was smiling and probably shaking her head at him. "I'm Leah Clearwater," she said, and Edward heard her move to his side to greet his mother.

"Esme Cullen. It's so lovely to meet you; I've heard so much about you."

"All good, I hope," Leah teased. Edward gave her a non-committal shrug, so she shoved his shoulder. "Okay, this guy's been out of for a few days, so I need to whip him back into shape. Feel free to hang out here."

"Thank you, sweetheart," his mother answered. Edward was sure she shot one last glare at him before walking away, her heels clicking on the tile floor.

"Let's go. No more playing hooky for you," Leah said as she carefully removed the crutches from his hands.

"Slave-driver," Edward muttered, and she giggled softly. He followed the sound of Leah's feet to their usual spot, and sat with Leah at his feet, like she was waiting for him to tell her a story.

Truth: he'd love to tell Leah all about what was going on in his life. Everyone he'd talked to in the past week had coddled him or tried to make him feel better. Edward would have appreciated Leah's honesty.

Her fingers moved over his calves. "What have you been doing, lying around all week?" she asked. He made a noise in the back of his throat, and Leah felt her face heat up at the sound of it. It was a simple noise, a groan of sorts, but it made her mind wander…and made her very grateful that he couldn't see her at the moment.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that."

"Your sister just said you hadn't been feeling well. I was worried," Leah admitted quietly.

Edward felt an urge of affection toward his doctor, and then felt absolutely ridiculous for it. He'd been single for a hardly a week, and she probably didn't mean anything by the comment.

"I'm fine," Edward said curtly, angry at himself for his moment of weakness. It was like the moment when Bella had told him she was pregnant. That little glimmer of hope that he recognized as the same. Maybe it was just him feeling desperate for some sort of non-familial affection.

"Yeah, right," Leah whispered, and he could practically see her roll her eyes. She took a seat next to him on the bench and nudged him with her shoulder. "I minored in psychology, you know."

"Don't quit your day job, Doc," Edward teased with a small smile.

"Fine. You don't have to tell me. Hey, do you think your mom would like to come help me -"

"Please don't," he groaned and buried his face in his hands. "It's just…I've been wallowing because Bella and I split up last week."

"Oh," Leah said softly. "I'm so sorry."

"Yeah. Yeah, thanks," he replied just as quietly. "Turns out all my senses have been a little off because I didn't realize that she'd been cheating on me for two months," Edward explained further without any hesitation: it felt get to get it off his chest.

Leah was quiet for a long moment before she burst out laughing. Edward turned to her stunned.

"She's an idiot!" she cried.

"What?" Edward asked, shocked.

"I'm sorry, Edward, but that girl is an idiot. She doesn't- it's her loss. That's all I can say on the matter. It's her loss," she finished lamely and tuned to him, feeling flustered at her own outburst.

Edward smiled, just the corner of his mouth turning up, and he found himself wishing more than ever that he could see her. Not just the shape and shadow of her- all of her. He wanted to see the person who had, with a little clichéd phrase, turned his whole week around.