Chapter 13 Victor

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.

Winona told Rose that they had finally sold the house in Deadwood and everything was in place for the family to move to Forks. Rose's father had got a job and she herself, had a few interviews lined up. When she could not talk back, Rose's father Victor had trouble talking to her on the phone, but once she had started to speak, he enthusiastically spoke to her every day. He told her lots of funny stories about the people in the bar where he worked.

Seth thought he sounded rather cool.

Seth was on his own more with Rose now, as Raven had gone home. Rose had improved so much; she didn't need extra people to be with her now. Seth stayed because he wanted to and because Rose wanted him to.

Her parents would be moving back and they could look after her now. They could also take her out of the hospital if everyone signed off on it, of course. She would still need a lot of therapy but it could be done out patient style.

The physical therapist told Seth that he had a gift for it and that he should consider doing it for a career. He told him about some of the courses that were available. He would need to go to university to be a full therapist. However, there was a two-year course for a physical therapist's assistant, if he would prefer that. Courses were also available on-line.

He sat in on some lectures to see if he could cope and he thought that he could.

Now he had a reason to study hard at school. Jake was so pleased.

Washington state uni was one of the best in the country for physical therapy courses. And it was not that far away as the course was based in Seattle.

The Hoburns rented a house in Forks. Victor had got a new job at one of the bars in town. It was not nearly as much money as he used to earn but they were fatalistic. Rose was getting better and that was their main priority now. The bar was excited to get a manager of his experience for the salary they could offer. Their son George would start at Forks high school.

Seth met Victor at the hospital. He reminded him of that big barrel-chested actor Brian Dennehy, but much younger of course. He was not Makah. He was nearly Seth's height, maybe 6ft 2 but was a much bigger man physically. They did the hard handshake man thing and Seth didn't blink. Victor grinned at him. Seth suspected Victor was quite capable of doing his own bouncing at the bar.

Rose was ecstatic to see her father and hugged him for a very long time.

Seth pretended he needs to go to the bathroom to give them some privacy.

"So you are Rose's Seth?" Victor asked.

Seth smiled at her, "Yes, I am," he agreed. 'Rose's Seth' it made him feel warm inside.

"I understand from the hospital that we owe you some thanks," he continued in his big gruff voice.

"Oh, it's okay. She needed some company and…" he couldn't continue. His throat felt hot and tightened up at the thought that he had caused the accident and she wouldn't have ever needed his 'help' if he hadn't hurt her in the first place. He prayed to whatever gods are listening that this man doesn't beat the pulp out of him if he ever finds out he caused the accident. That would hurt.

"Seth has been a huge help; he never let me skip anything. He makes me do all my exercises too." Rose squeezed his hand.

He squeezed her hand back and swallowed down the lump in his throat.

Weirdweather

Seth was watching Rose with something bordering on concern. She was almost having a fully-fledged panic attack. It had been brought on by the news that she could leave the hospital.

Seth had never thought that it would be an issue for her. He had thought she would be pleased to go home. He thought that was what it was all about; getting her well enough to go home.

"I thought that was what this is all about," he said. "Getting you well enough so that you can go home?"

"How will I cope?" she asked Then she just launched into a stream of questions. Her voice rising with each and sounding more panicked. "I know everyone here… they look after me… who is going to look after me?... I don't think I can be alone… I haven't been alone for weeks… what if I fall?... What if I hurt myself?"

She was winding herself up and Seth started looking from her to the storm gathering outside the window, to her and back again. She finally realised he was not giving her his full attention.

"Seth?" she asked tentatively.

"Man, check it out… that storm just literally blew up out of nowhere… I mean the sky was actually clear for once and then whammo…" he shook his head. "The weather around here is nuts."

She started trying to take deep breaths; she rubbed her hands up and down her thighs.

"Look Rose," he comforted her. "I know it's a big thing for you to leave the hospital. I understand that, but you aren't going anywhere too strange. You're going home to your family, Rose. They have literally moved states to be here with you and you have to take the next step and be with them. It is a different house and that is all; it's them… and you know them. And all your stuff will be there too."

She appeared to be doing her breathing exercises and trying to calm herself.

He continued when she didn't answer him.

"I will be around and I can always come and be with you whenever you want… the hospital is not going anywhere and we can come back and visit everyone if that would make you happy… would that make you happy? I mean we have to come back for your outpatient visits anyway... so it's not a big deal…"

He started glancing out the window again as the storm curiously receded. He looked at Rose and his faces furrowed in concentration. He started to think.

It was that particular instance that made Seth start to notice the link between Rose's moods and the weather. Especially the storms. He started to think back over when she had stress episodes and fits, and he tried to remember what the weather was like when she did.

He started to watch for it and he realised it was not just a coincidence.

He was not sure how to ask her about it, though. He had a vague recollection of Leah saying something about Rose having an appointment with the Makah tribal council to discuss something odd that had happened to her. She had never made it, of course.

FF_2154210_ - 25/03/2011 01:42:00 PM

FF_2154210_ - 31/08/2011 12:39:00 AM