Chapter 8 Tough decisions

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 and the Makah that, of course, belong to them. I pay my respects to their gods.

Thanks to BanSidhe for betaing.

AN: I know it is kind of sad to force Seth to grow up, but he is not the youngest wolf in the pack anymore. It made sense to me that he would deal with emotional issues in a physical way by working out more and that has a physical effect on him.

Seth tried harder with his schoolwork; he handed in his assignments… they were not up to his usual standard, but they were done. Jake couldn't complain. Anything more than a pass was a waste of effort in his mind now.

It had been three weeks since the accident and one day as he walked into her room, Rose watched him. Her eyes followed him as he walked to the bed.

He was so ecstatic he kissed her on the forehead.

He crowed, "I saw that look; you watched me walk in the door. I am so proud of you," he told her.

He found one of those baby lamps that projected shapes onto the walls as they rotated. She watched the stars go around the room.

The nurses realised that he could lift her very easily. They started to let him hold her while they make the bed. He had her effortlessly tucked into his chest one day as Nurse Debra stripped the bed. She had the clean sheets there ready, but an alarm sounded somewhere and she ran out of the room.

She shouted that she will be back as she went.

Seth settled himself into the armchair with Rose on his lap. He was so happy. He could have put her down and tried to make the bed himself, but he was happier to sit with her. He whispered to her. It felt more intimate with her held against him. He told her he wanted her to wake up completely. He wanted to hear her voice. He wanted to hold her hand properly. To go for a walk together.

He can't resist. He kissed the side of her head and stroked her hair. It occurred to him that it was the side she hit on the window. He told her he was kissing it better.

Debra didn't make it back for a while. She explained it was an emergency.

Seth told her not to worry, he and Rose were fine.

"I bet you could carry me," she flirted with him after she had made the bed and she watched him lift Rose effortlessly back into it. "Come on," she teased, "show me and Rose your six pack." She leaned back against the side of the bed next to Rose and watched him expectantly.

Seth dutifully took his t-shirt off for them both. Rose blinked quickly. Debra put her hand over her heart. "Good gracious boy, if that isn't enough to bring her out of a coma; I do not know what is. Would you consider posing for a hospital charity calendar? You could be all twelve months. Seth in the snow; Seth in the Fall…"

"There's plenty more of this out on the rez," he told her with a laugh. "I am almost the runt of the litter."

Debra looked flabbergasted at that revelation.

The truth was that Seth just didn't see himself anymore; he didn't realise how much he had changed physically with his workouts.

Tough decisions

His wolf hearing allows him to hear if her mother or Raven was coming to visit. He usually just ran. Sometimes he can't avoid them, but he doesn't like to be in the room with them.

It was his guilt; he knew it was. But knowing what it was didn't help him deal with it.

He and Winona had settled into an easy exchange of news about Rose. The communication book worked well to allow that, without actually taking to each other. And they texted each other. They justified that seeing Rose separately gave her more overall stimulation time. It worked for them both.

Winona had some tough decisions to make. She can't stay in Forks. She had a husband and another child. She had a job; that she was close to losing. If she hadn't already lost it. It was not possible for her employer to keep her on the books and pay a casual to cover her and to do it for a long time. It might be better if she could give them a date that she will return, but everything rested on when Rose woke up properly. No one wanted to say 'if' Rose woke up properly.

Winona told Raven and Seth all of this one day in the corridor outside Rose's room. She didn't want to worry Rose by discussing it in her room where she could overhear. Her husband managed a bar in Deadwood; it was a big tourist town and he was good at what he does.

Raven said she will help as long as she was able to. Seth agreed. Winona cried.

Seth felt guiltier.

Winona said, "I have to talk to my husband about what we are going to do. I have to leave Rose here. She is well looked after here. She has made some improvements. Moving her may be an issue for her and I have no idea what the hospital is like in Deadwood. And besides we just can't afford to move her. The cost of a medical evacuation is ridiculous."

"I don't want to live in Neah Bay; it is almost impossible to run a business there and it is a dry reservation. No alcohol allowed. All we know is how to run a bar."

"What about Forks," suggested Seth.

She looked at him.

"It has a couple of bars, but they are not well run; owner operated. If you could come in with references to back you, they might give you a chance."

"You never know until you ask," said Raven, "we could go check it out after this. Go ask around. Test the water. Might give you some more options."

Winona got up to talk to Rose. Once she could blink and move her eyes, they started trying to use flash cards. Sometimes she could look at the 'yes' or 'no' card to indicate her answer. Not all the time, but it was another huge step.

"Rose, I have to go back to Deadwood. Will you be okay here with Seth and Raven?"

Answer: yes

Seth's heart leapt at that.

"I love you."

Answer: yes. Guess that counted for an 'I love you too'.

Raven was watching him. "Bars huh," she snorted. "How old are you again Seth?"

"Seventeen, nearly eighteen," he blustered. He knew the drinking age was 21 in Washington State so being eighteen would make no difference at all but he tried to make himself as old as possible.

Raven humphed at him.

Winona left for Deadwood. She phoned Seth and the hospital for regular updates. So much for his big plan to avoid contact with Winona. He had to talk to her at least once a day now.

Winona filled Seth in on their family news. She told him they were moving but it will take some time to sell their house, arrange the move, find somewhere in Forks to rent and let their son, George finish the school year. Her husband Victor may have to stay with him if the house was sold quickly so that he could finish the school year and Winona could come back to Forks. Or maybe the other way around, they will have to see what happens.

Seth phoned Winona every day when he visited Rose and held the phone next to Rose's ear so that Winona could tell her all the news herself. Rose watched him as her mother's voice prattled away in her ears. She looked sad sometimes after the calls.

He had become so attuned to her moods that he knew when she was sad, too.

FF_2154210_ - 16/03/2011 01:18:00 PM

FF_2154210_ - 30/08/2011 10:07:00 PM