Being There
Disclaimer:all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-wow thank you all so much for the lovely reviews on the last chapter. It really made my day!
Nikki :)
Part Seventeen
Bella felt like she was underwater; she saw the Doctors mouth moving as he hurriedly explained something to her dad. Jacob's arms tightened around her and she was partially aware of the nurse looking at her with sympathy. Instead of looking at Jacob, her eyes were focused on Charlie; she noticed the vein along his jaw standing out as he clenched his teeth, his hand was resting on his hip near his gun belt. A popping sound in her ears made her feel dizzy. Had the doctor really just told her dad that she was pregnant? The blood rushed to her head and Bella fainted.
"Bella, Bella...can you hear me? It's Dr Stainton," Bella's eyes flickered open and she peered blearily up at the same doctor who had been speaking to her father earlier.
"What happened?" She asked; her tongue felt thick in her mouth.
"You fainted. I think hearing the news just overwhelmed your system. You'll be fine now, don't worry. Would you like to sit up?" Bella nodded and the doctor gently helped her into a sitting position.
"Thank you," Bella looked around. "Where's Jake and my dad?" She became anxious when she couldn't see them.
"It's okay. I just asked them to step outside for a moment so I could treat you. I must say that young man of yours had to be forced to leave your side. I thought your father was going to arrest him." The doctors joke fell flat as Bella looked at him in alarm.
The nurse tutted at the doctors stupidity. "Don't worry my dear," she interjected. "I'm sure everything is fine. Now I need to check you over. Make sure that you and baby are doing well."
"Baby?" Bella still couldn't take it in. However she allowed the nurse to take her blood pressure and check her vital signs. She stared straight ahead while all this was going on, her mind far away.
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Charlie strode in front of Jacob, his face grim. He headed out of the hospital doors and around to the private gardens at the back. Jacob followed him slowly, his head still spinning. Charlie had to force him to leave when Bella had fainted. The doctor and nurse had pleaded with him to let Bella go so that they could check her over. Their words had fallen on deaf ears at first, Jacob had clutched Bella to him begging her to wake up. It had been Charlie's harsh words that had pierced his panic and made him realise he was not helping. With many a backward glance he had left Bella and followed after her father.
They now stood opposite each other; Jacob towering above the man who had sired Bella. Despite their differences in height and build it was Charlie who exuded the most authority. The anger and bitter disappointment radiating from his eyes made Jacob feel every inch the sixteen year old boy he truly was underneath all the muscle mass.
"I trusted you, Jake. Out of everyone I trusted you to do right by my little girl," Charlie ran a hand through his greying hair. "You know what she has been through in the past year. When you came back into her life she was getting better, more like the girl she used to be. I thought that you had more respect for her then to...then to..." he ran out of words.
Jacob raised his head and glared back at Charlie. He resented the older man's implication that he hadn't done right by Bella. It was all bullshit. Here he was Charlie Swan; Chief of Police of Forks and he had no idea exactly what his own daughter had been through or suffered or how much Jacob loved and protected her on a daily basis. His anger stepped up a notch as his yearning to be back with Bella to support and comfort her overrode any desire to be polite.
"I love Bells. You have no idea how much; not even she does. I have done right by her in every way possible. Don't you dare accuse me of not having respect for her." He retorted.
Charlie's jaw clenched again as he matched Jacob's glare. "You are a sixteen year old boy who has no life experience at all."
"No life experience," Jacob yelled back at him. "I have had nothing but life experience. I lost my mom when I was ten. I have been taking care of my dad for years when he couldn't be bothered to monitor his own health after mom died. My sister's up and left at the first opportunity and left me alone to deal with the lot. You know me Charlie. You know what my life has been like. I'm sorry if you're all disappointed in me, but you know what? I don't care. All I'm worried about is Bella and our baby and before you stand there and tell me I'm not responsible to take care of them you're wrong...just so wrong."
Charlie was taken aback by Jacob's impassioned speech. Every word that he had said hit home and he regretted throwing his age and life experience at him. Jacob was right he had been through more than most people in a lifetime. Charlie's shoulders slumped and he felt his anger slip away. He had been throwing all the blame onto the boy because he was an easy target when really Bella was just as culpable. "Why did you not take precautions, Jake?" He asked in the end.
"I'm sorry. I know we should have done and we did after the first time," he didn't reveal that there had been another occasion when they had let their passion get the better of them, but Charlie didn't need to know that. "I love Bells, Charlie. She loves me. I know I'm only sixteen but we were already planning a future. I can and will take care of her and our baby."
Charlie sighed. "I know that you're intentions are good, Jake. I don't doubt your sincerity but bringing up a child is expensive. What about college? Both of you have no proper jobs. I know better than anyone what can happen to a relationship when a baby comes along. I don't want to see you and Bells having to go through what I did. Renee couldn't stand living in a small town and Bella is..."
"What are you saying, Charlie?" Jacob said bitterly.
"I'm just saying that living on the reservation may not be what Bella needs in the long term and you are tied to La Push, Jake. I know this hurts to hear but all this needs to be thought through." Charlie stated, pulling no punches.
Jacob felt like his heart was breaking in his chest. He swallowed his sarcastic retort down. He needed to see Bells. Her father's words had scared him. "I think we should head back."
"Yeah, we'll talk more later," Charlie said tiredly. He followed behind Jacob as he strode quickly back to the hospital.
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Bella was relieved to see Jacob return. She held out her arms to him and he immediately engulfed her in a hug. Charlie hovered in the background awkwardly.
"Well I've checked Bella over and she seems to be in good health apart from her fractured wrist."The doctor informed them. "I have given her some vitamin pills to take. She needs rest for a few days but other than that she can carry on as normal. I have referred her to the maternity clinic who will take over her care from here."
"Thanks doctor," Charlie said quietly. "Can we take her home now?"
"Of course, follow me Chief Swan and we can get you to sign the release forms." The doctor led the way out of the cubicle, Charlie following behind. Jacob and Bella were finally alone.
"You gave me quite a scare, Bells," Jacob said huskily as he kissed the top of her head.
Bella rested her head on his chest and listened to his heart beating. "I'm so sorry, Jake. I've ruined everything." She mumbled tearfully.
"No you haven't," Jacob protested. He pulled away from her and lifted her chin so that she had to look at him. "We're having a baby, Bells. A baby, we're gonna be a family. You are happy right?"
Bella stared at him, her lower lip quivering. "Are you?" She checked.
A sunny grin lit up Jacob's face as he leaned down and kissed her gently on the mouth. "Yes. I love you, honey. It may be earlier than we planned but I'm happy."
Bella felt the lead weight that had been constricting her chest ease. He wasn't going to leave her after all. "I love you too." She whispered, closing her eyes in relief as she lay her head back on his chest.
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Charlie drove them both back to Forks in the police cruiser. He had said no more about his worries to either of them, he felt they had all been through the ringer enough for one day. He parked up and left to open up the house while Jacob lifted Bella out of the car and carried her inside. He placed her gently on the couch and then sat next to her, holding her close in his arms. She curled up gratefully against his warmth and finally found sleep after a stressful day.
Jacob sat watching her sleep; he loved the feel of her in his arms and he couldn't help placing a hand protectively over her flat stomach. Their baby was inside there, a link to them both, a sign of their love for each other. As much as he tried Jacob couldn't push Charlie's words from his mind. He couldn't bear the thought that Bella would get tired of life on the reservation and leave to escape to the wider world like her mom had. She was his whole world and it would break him if he ever lost her. "Stay with me, Bells. I love you. Just stay with me." He whispered brokenly.
Charlie was just about to enter the room when he heard Jacob whisper those words. Hearing the boy sound so forlorn and devastated reminded him of when Renee had left and taken Bella with her. He regretted ever saying those words to Jake, just seeing him with Bella convinced him just how much he loved his daughter. It was written in his every look and action. It reminded him of how he had been, begging Renee to reconsider and stay. Charlie retreated to the kitchen and got a beer out of the fridge; old memories plunging him back into the past.
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Bella eventually woke up, the sleep had done her a lot of good. She felt much more rested and at peace now that the threat of Victoria was gone. She glanced up at Jacob, he had fallen asleep, one of his hands resting protectively over her stomach. Bella placed her hand over his and stroked the warm skin along the back of his hand. As she touched him he jerked awake, a panicked look on his face.
"Jake, are you alright?" She asked worriedly.
Jacob blinked a couple of times before he gave her a gentle smile. "Hey you. How are you feeling?"
Bella studied him carefully. She could tell that something was off with him. His smile didn't reach his eyes. A sinking feeling hit her. "Maybe I should be asking you that?"
"Huh?"
Bella sat up straighter and took his hand away from her stomach. He stared at her in bewilderment. "Jake, tell me the truth. I know that you're hiding something."
"I'm not," he protested.
"I know you. I can tell something is wrong. Talk to me," Bella demanded getting irate.
"You need to keep calm, honey. The baby," he tried to deflect her questions but she wasn't having it.
"Jake, the one thing I always hated when I was with Edward was that he lied to me. Don't you do that. Be honest with me, please. Don't I deserve that?" She begged him, tears beginning to spill out of her eyes.
"Oh Bells. I'm sorry," he hugged her tightly to him. "I'm just scared that's all. I'm scared that one day you'll get fed up of being tied to living on the res with me and leave."
Bella stared at him in shock. "Jake, what put that idea in your head? We have a lot to sort out and discuss but I'd never just up and leave."
Jacob hung his head. "Just something your dad said." He mumbled.
"What did he say?" Bella demanded.
Jacob sighed. "He was talking about Renee not wanting to be tied to Forks. He thought that you would come to feel the same being stuck on the res with me."
Bella was outraged. How dare her dad insinuate she was like Renee in any way? And how dare Jake for believing it? "I can't understand how you could even think that? I thought you knew me." She snapped.
"Bells I'm sorry. I was just feeling insecure." Jacob tried to hug her but she pushed his hands away.
She got up from the couch and stormed out of the living room and into the kitchen. Jacob quickly followed her. They both drew to a halt when they caught sight of Charlie. His head was resting on the table, surrounded by several empty cans. A soft snore escaped his lips. To one side was an abandoned photo album containing old pictures of Renee, Bella and Charlie just after she was born. Jacob picked the album up and showed Bella. She took it from him and glanced through the photo's; she could see the proud smile etched on her dad's lips as he posed with his new wife and baby daughter but when she looked at Renee, she could see a distance in her expression. Her smile looked forced.
Bella left the kitchen and went back into the living room. She sat down on her dad's recliner and looked at Jacob as he knelt in front of her. "It must have been hell for him when she just upped and left. I never thought any of that through before. I can see why he mentioned it to you. Jake I am nothing like Renee. All I've ever wanted is a family, a man who loved me for myself and a home. My mom is restless, always seeking some new adventure. She thinks she wants something then changes her mind when she gets it. She has never truly been happy, even with Phil. I can see she is waiting for the day he leaves her. Getting pregnant is a shock but I love you and you love me, that's more than most couples can say, whatever their age. The rest can take care of itself."
Jacob smiled up her and she could see it was a genuine one this time; it lit up his beautiful brown eyes. She held his face between her hands and leaned down to kiss him on the lips. "Feel better now?" She asked playfully.
"Much better," Jacob declared happily. He captured her lips again with his and they kissed passionately as if sealing a promise.
A/N-Up next we will get to see Billy and the pack's reaction to the news. What did you think of Charlie's reaction? Let me know! Nikki
