A Matter of the Heart

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thank you for the kind reviews. Nikki

Part Five-An Intervention

When they arrived at the hospital they were surprised to see Sam already there, along with Paul and Jared. Jacob greeted them tiredly, not really comprehending why they were there. Bella felt as if something was up. Paul and Jared seemed a little edgy; although Sam wore his usual stoical expression she could detect a hint of worry in his eyes. Jacob seemed unaware of any of this. He was still emotionally exhausted from his breakdown the previous night. He held tightly onto Bella's hand as he towed her toward his father's room. Charlie stayed behind to have a quiet word with Sam, which only enhanced Bella's suspicions that something wasn't quite right. However she kept quiet. She was concerned that Jake couldn't take any more pressure.

Billy was awake and eating some cereal when they entered his room. He pulled a face and showed them his bowl of muesli. "They're insisting I eat this rabbit food." He complained irritably. "As if a red blooded man can survive on this?" He spooned some into his mouth and grimaced.

"It's good for you." Jacob flopped down into the only chair and tried to pull Bella onto his lap, but she avoided this happening by letting go of his hand and striding over to the small bedside cabinet so she could pour Billy some fresh orange juice. Jacob seemed hurt that she had turned away from him and his dark eyes followed her about the room as she averted her own and kept her attention on Billy.

"Drink this." Bella offered the glass of juice to Billy. "This will take the taste away." She took Billy's bowl and watched as he drained the glass.

"Thank you, Bella. You're a good girl." Billy smiled at her weakly before looking over at his son. "Could you do me a favour, Jake?" He asked.

Jake glanced up at him, finally tearing his eyes away from Bella. "Yeah, what do you need?" He sat up straighter in his chair, one hand running through his messy hair.

"I'm still hungry." Billy replied. "Go to the canteen and get your old man some real food, huh?" He gave the half empty bowl of muesli another disgusted glance before reaching out for his wallet and passing some money over to Jake.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Jake said dubiously as he took the money. "The nurses wouldn't have given you…"

"Come on, Jake." Billy wheedled. "You know what's good for me and what's not. You choose, anything, as long as it's not more muesli."

"Alright." Jake sighed, before leaving the room he locked eyes with Bella. "You are staying here, right?"

"Where else would I go?" Bella swallowed the lump in her throat as he held her gaze for a moment before reluctantly departing for the canteen

Bella didn't know what to do with herself now. She had no idea what was taking her father so long. She assumed he would be here by now. She felt uncomfortable under Billy's scrutinising gaze, especially as she knew what he and Charlie had discussed the day before. "I'm glad we're alone now, Bella." Billy's voice startled her. "Take a seat. I have something I need to say before Jake gets back."

Here it comes, Bella thought as she retreated to the only chair and perched on the edge nervously. She placed her hands in her lap in order to stop them shaking. "What is it?" She asked, although it was obvious what Billy was going to say, probably an echo of what Charlie had said that morning.

"You know I think of you as family, don't you?" Billy began. Bella's heart sunk, people only said that when they were about to tell you the opposite. "But I have to think of Jake's welfare." He cleared his throat before continuing. "I know you can see how fragile emotionally my son is right now."

Bella nodded.

"And it worries me. Jake was a mess when he received the invitation to your wedding. You weren't there that day. I had never seen him so angry and upset. It was like getting it in print brought it home to him that you were really out of his life for good." Billy sighed. He seemed to have difficulty in saying what he needed to. "You have to let Jake go, Bella." He looked directly at her as he spoke. "I know you think you are supporting him right now, but in reality you are just making things worse. You are marrying another and I presume you intend to go ahead with your plans?"

Bella flinched. He was referring to her change. Marrying into the Cullen family meant she was destined to become one of them at some point. She didn't know how to answer Billy. Her mind was a welter of confusion. What had been so certain only a few days ago, now seemed unthinkable? Something had shifted within her. She couldn't pinpoint when it had happened, but seeing Jake again after spending so many months without him had brought all her old feelings for him back to the forefront of her mind. Bella knew she had been suppressing them while he was gone, trying instead to focus on Edward and the wedding as a distraction for her unhappiness at the loss of her best friend.

Billy was still waiting for an answer. He could see the myriad of emotions crossing Bella's pretty face as she tried to find the best way to answer him. "Bella?" He prompted.

"I'm confused. I don't know what I feel or what I intend to do." Bella raised her brown eyes to his and begged for his understanding. "I am so conflicted. I care for Jake deeply…l…love him. But then there's Edward…" Her voice tailed off when she saw the lack of empathy on Billy's face.

"I am sorry but I need to be blunt here, Bella. My son's emotional wellbeing is at stake. I am asking you to stay away from Jake, for both of your sakes. This friendship or whatever it is between you is not healthy right now. Jake needs peace and order in his life. This back and forth with you is dragging him down. I know you think you are supporting him, but your actions are doing the opposite. On one hand you are giving him hope that you are changing your mind and on the other you are making him an emotional wreck because he is so damn terrified if he lets you out of his sight you are going to disappear and become his mortal enemy. That is no way for any man to live, and I won't have it." Billy stated harshly.

Bella shrank back from his verbal onslaught. She had never seen Billy so fierce. Normally he was such a laid back character, but seeing his son pushed to the edge emotionally had taken its toll on him. Tears began to pool in her eyes, and her heart raced in her chest. She knew part of what he said was right, but he wasn't in her head or Jake's. No one had any idea of how they both felt or how they both suffered. The thought of saying goodbye to Jake permanently made her feel ill. Her face turned white and she felt as if she was going to be sick. It had nearly destroyed her the first time she had turned away from him, the day after the newborn battle when he had been lying broken in his bed, and she had to tell him there was no chance for them. She had left his house an emotional basket case, crying as if her heart would shatter into a million pieces. Edward had been witness to her despair and even he had questioned the validity of her decision, but she had been adamant it was for the best…that was until now.

"I can't, I don't know if I can." Bella choked out, her tears finally leaking from her eyes and rolling down her cheeks. "I need him."

Billy felt guilt as he watched her cry, but he wouldn't allow himself to be swayed by her tears. He had to stay strong. "If you really care about Jake's welfare and if you love him as you say you do, then let him go so he can move on. Please Bella; it is the fair thing to do."

Bella gave up all pretence of being in control. Nausea welled up in her gut and she ran for the en-suite bathroom and threw up.

Jake came back from the canteen with a few healthy food snacks. There hadn't been a lot of choice and he had just bought what he could. He found Sam, Jared and Paul now standing outside his father's room. As he approached he could hear Bella sobbing and Charlie's concerned voice as he tried to console her. What the hell had happened while he was gone? Had his father…he didn't finish the thought, he dropped the food on the floor and sprinted for the room, but before he could get through the door, Sam and the others blocked his path.

"What the fuck, Sam?" Jake raged at his Alpha, he tried to shove past him, but Paul and Jared caught hold of his arms and pulled him back. "Let go of me." He roared as he tried to fight them.

"Jake, calm down." The timbre of Sam's voice changed as he issued an Alpha command on his pack brother.

Jake's shoulders slumped and he became still as he shot Sam a resentful glance. It was tearing him up hearing Bella cry. His dad was speaking now which meant he was okay. Why was Bella in such a state? "Let me go inside the room." He said coolly.

"No Jake." Sam didn't flinch as Jake glared at him darkly. He crossed his arms defensively across his chest.

"Why not?" Jake spat, he was getting tired of Sam's cryptic answers. Whatever his Alpha was planning he didn't give a shit. He just wanted to get into the room to see Bella. Her sobbing had quietened and he could hear Charlie telling her it was for the best. What did he mean by that? A chill ran down his spine and his heart constricted in his chest. Adrenaline surged through him as he tore his arms out of his brother's hold and shoved Sam to one side. Sam may be Alpha, but Jake was taller and stronger.

"Jacob stop." Sam ordered. His command was a little late. Jake had already entered the room. His eyes were riveted on Bella, who was sitting in the only chair in the room shaking. Sam, Paul and Jared came into the room too and surrounded him defensively.

"Bella." Jacob held out his hand to her, but she didn't take it. Her eyes darted to her father and then to Billy, before finally returning to him. "What is going on?" He tried to keep control, but his emotions were on a knife edge, and his wolf was clawing to get out. A big part of him wanted to flee and let his wolf take over, he wouldn't have to feel then, he wouldn't have to live through what he sensed was coming.

Bella was frozen and couldn't speak. Her mouth refused to open and form the words of rejection. She stared at Jake helplessly, her eyes shimmering under the bright lights with pain and fear. Charlie hunkered down by his daughter's side and put his arms around her. Bella leaned into him heavily.

"I need to take Bells home now." Charlie couldn't bear to see her struggle anymore. He hadn't been completely happy about this intervention, and as far as he was concerned it had all gone completely wrong. In his mind it should have been done in private, but for some bizarre reason Billy had insisted that he wanted Sam and the others there. Charlie had no idea about Jake's wolf side, and how dangerous he could be, especially at the moment.

"Why now?" Jake demanded. He glanced at his father; Billy had a resolute expression on his face. He didn't back away from his son's angry glare.

"It is better this way, Jake." Billy said gently. "You and Bella need time apart. I feel…we all feel," he corrected himself. "That because of what has gone on recently that you both are not in a good place to be around each other right now. Please understand we only say this because we care and worry about you both."

Jake tore his eyes away from Billy's and returned his attention back to Bella. "You agreed to this?" He asked her. His whole demeanour screamed hurt and betrayal.

Bella pushed her father's arms away from her and stood up. She felt on the verge of collapse. She hated everyone looking at her; she hated being the cause of Jake's pain yet again. She hated herself and she wanted to run. Whenever her emotions got the better of her, Bella would give into her flight instinct, and that is what she did now. She fled the room, her vision blurry with tears. Jake shot everyone in the room a defiant stare as he began to chase after her, until Sam stopped him with one more command.

"Stay right where you are Jake."

Jake skidded to a halt, his whole body shaking. He turned his head to stare at Sam, his eyes were coal black and full of anger. "You have no power over me." He muttered so only his brothers could hear. With those parting words he left.

A/N-thanks for reading!