Chapter 15 the great wall of pillows
Disclaimer: the characters and all recognisable situations belong to Stephenie Meyer- this is a work of fan fiction, except for the legends and histories of the Quileute which, of course, belong to them. I pay my respects to their gods.
Thanks to BanSidhe for betaing.
Bella brought his breakfast to him. "Charles said he will drop in on his way to the medical centre. How do you feel?"
"Sore all over." He chewed at his lip. "Is Leah still around?"
"No, she went in to work. Barely said a word." Bella looked at him perceptively. "What did you do?" She seated herself on the edge of the bed with her leg tucked under her; she balanced his plate on her leg.
"It's more what I didn't do, I think." He sighed. "I kind of admitted I wanted to fuck her under the influence of the medication."
"Kind of… And…?"
"But then I wouldn't admit it later when she asked me about it."
"Ouch." Bella frowned. "She asked?"
"Sort of… but I tried to turn it into a joke about fucking Seth. I panicked," he admitted. "What do I do?"
"Jacob Black! Are you asking me for dating advice?"
"Yeah… I'm desperate." He grinned at her. "I just thought you might think more like a girl."
"Leah doesn't think like normal girls."
"Aint that the truth." He chewed on some toast. "Actually I think that is half the problem. She would like to…" he reached for his coffee, "be a normal girl that is."
They sat there for a while.
"If I push her she will freak and run away again; she is so fragile right now. Maybe the last thing she needs right now is me." Jake sounded torn.
"No," argued Bella, "you are exactly what you both need right now." She shook her head. "All I can suggest is go gently Jake." She brushed her hand through his hair. "You can do that, but keep at her; don't let her squirm out of this one." She chuckled. "I know from personal experience that you can be pretty damn persistent when you want to be."
He smiled, "Yeah, I sure can."
"Why didn't you ask Paul for dating advice?" she queried.
"Honestly? His dating advice works for him; but generally not so well for anyone else."
Bella looked confused.
"Quil tried it once; and only once and for Quil that is saying something."
"Okay, I'll bite. Please explain."
"Paul told him if he wanted to check out a girl's rack he should just look down the front of her shirt. So Quil tried it, got beat down and came back to complain to Paul. I swear to god, he goes over there and does exactly what Quil just did and she melts all over him."
Bella just laughed. "He does that to me all the time," she giggled, "but he somehow makes it seductive."
"Who? What?" from Paul as he came into the room. He looked at them both.
"You," Bella explained. "You look down my shirt all the time."
Paul looked nonplussed, "Yes I do, so?"
"I couldn't do that to Leah could I?" Jake asked.
"Hell no; she'd take your head off."
"See!" said Jake.
"No, that is not a valid argument because I couldn't do it to her, either," argued Paul.
"Can I do it to Bella?" asked Jake eagerly.
Bella laughed and held her arms over her chest protectively. "No one is looking down my shirt," she stated.
"Am I interrupting something?" asked Charles.
They all laughed and then Jake whined, "Don't make me laugh. It hurts."
Charles was very pleased with Jake's progress. He unwrapped his ribs. He broke down the supporting frame but wrapped the leg securely with a brace inside the bandage. At least Jake could be helped to the bathroom now. He made him promise to stay in bed for another twelve hours if he could. Every minute he spent off that leg allowed it to get stronger. His arm was unbound and declared healed. Embry and Quil dropped in so they and Paul spent the afternoon lying on the bed playing cards with Jake to celebrate.
The wolf therapy healing worked as an argument there, too. But Bella spat it when they expected her to bring them all food, though. She pointed out that there was only one invalid and three completely able bodied wolves. They tried to argue that moving on the bed jostled Jake and caused him pain. Leah saved the day by coming home from work with a stack of pizzas and a case of beer. Bella stormed off to work in the kitchen.
After eating her fill, Leah settled herself into the armchair and watched the boys play cards. They were in a 500 phase at the moment and swore they couldn't deal her in as it would mess up the teams. She read her police procedure manual and watched them interact. Quil always bid too high and relied on getting the cards in the kitty to bail him out.
It occurred to her that being forced to stay in the vicinity of La Push as wolves had one positive advantage; it would also save their friendships. Usually people grew older, went away to college, got married, often to people they met at college and never stayed in touch with their childhood friends. But because these guys were all pack brothers, they would be together until a more final ending. Until death would they part.
Jake kept glancing at her and she was trying to do her best to ignore him. She didn't feel up to going back to her home, so she had nowhere else to go. Maybe she should sleep on the lounge tonight.
"Who's patrolling?" she asked.
"Sam has filled in and he and Jared are out tonight, until Jake is back on four feet," Embry answered.
"Any sign of the vamp that bit the hiker?"
"Last night we picked up signs of one leaving that area. Unless it was a young vamp themselves and they liked the look of that guy, they do that don't they?" from Quil.
"Do what?" Leah asked.
"They kind of imprint like us," argued Quil, "you know, they pick a mate for life or death; shit what do you call it? Until the flat line stops?" he paused, "Well at least the Cullens did."
Paul spoke, "We were all so distracted by Jake being injured, and we didn't check the area for any more."
"Yeah," Jake agreed, "Freaking amateur hour guys. That shit will get you killed."
They all looked chastised.
With the change in atmosphere, Embry and Quil said their farewells and headed home. Paul helped Jake into the bathroom so that he could wash up.
"I am so going to enjoy a shower when all this comes off," he waved at his injured leg.
Leah grabbed some clothes and took her turn in the bathroom. She stared at herself in the mirror and sucked in a big breath before she left the room.
Jake was reading a car magazine. She chuckled at the thought that they almost looked like some old married couple. If her hair was in rollers and her face covered with cold cream, they would be the sitcom TV couple. He hadn't left her much room in the bed.
"Shove over, Petal," she told him.
He gave her a look.
"Should I build a wall of pillows down the centre of the bed or can you keep your hands to yourself?" she asked.
He snorted and reached for his phone. She had no idea what he was doing until he held it out for her. She leaned forward and saw a photo of her. She appeared to be lying on top of Jake's back.
"Omigod… am I naked? Was that when I was out?"
"Yep." He sounded smug.
"Who took it?"
"Paul." He watched her. "Bella thought it was sweet. Paul thought it was hilarious."
She frowned. "He hasn't said anything… I mean, you know Paul, I would have assumed he would take every opportunity to tease me about it…" she trailed off.
She stood there, uncertain of what to do. She picked up a pillow. "I'll sleep on the lounge."
"Leah, don't be silly. You can sleep here. I'll keep my hands to myself," he promised.
She snorted. "Clearly it's not you I have to worry about."
"Please Leah," he begged, "it does help with the healing and… it feels good to sleep with another pack person… you must have noticed that…."
"When have you…?" she shook her head, "I do not want to know."
"Don't leap to conclusions, Embry and Quil crash on the lounge with me all the time. I suspect we all stick together because it feels good. What does Paul call it? A puppy pile?"
"Sure, sure," she said, "those guys are just too lazy to go home. Although I can see how the puppy analogy fits; especially when Embry eats too much and he gets that little fat tummy."
Jake chuckled and patted the bed next to him, "C'mere, Cupcake." He grinned at her.
"Watch it Black!" she snarled at him. But she got into the bed.
FF_2154210_ - 29/11/2010 12:09:00 PM