A/N: Some of you were maybe thrown by the rehab hospital. I just want to clear up that we haven't really established what Edward does for a living yet. At this point, Bella knows... but we don't. I'm sorry if the "bit by bit" reveals are hard to follow, but this is what we know so far: Edward is a former child star and had a small comeback as an actor after college before he OD'd. He returned to Forks a year or so after getting out of inpatient rehab in L.A. and (we don't really know this, but I'll throw it out there) continued with occupational therapy and counseling on an outpatient basis in Washington. He volunteers, both with a community organization that provides hot meals for the homeless, and also at a nearby rehabilitation hospital. Maybe he got started with that sort of thing as part of a court order in L.A., maybe not? I don't know the exact details myself just yet, only that he does it and he enjoys it. Oh, yes, and he helps out at his mother's bookstore a couple days a week and writes screenplays on the side.

And that's what we know. ;-)

Quick warning: This chapter deals with some potentially sensitive stuff. If you've ever had a loved one injured in a severe accident or a stroke, maybe just read with caution. ((Hugs))

Colors...

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"No red? You don't like the red?" she asks.

Her only answer is a grunt and pursed lips. During the last hour, she's learned that's a no and removes the small jar of red paint from in front of her companion.

Across the table from them, Edward smiles and winks at her. She smiles back and reaches for the green paint with a questioning gaze. He nods in the affirmative and she tries again.

"How about this one, Randy? What do you think of green?"

She lifts the jar up where the young man can see it. Randy gives her faint smile this time and reaches for his paint brush, tapping it on the table in the exact spot he wants Bella to put the paint. She complies and holds the jar steady while he dips his brush in and then slowly, methodically, moves it to the large sheet of paper in front of him.

Randy, like a few of the long term patients at the rehab hospital, has lasting effects of a traumatic brain injury. His was the result of a motorcycle accident; at nineteen years old, he left a party after two beers and a joint and never made it home. Having suffered a fractured skull and a broken neck, he wasn't expected to live past the first twenty-four hours... but he did.

While he no longer has the ability to speak, and will spend the rest of his life confined to a wheelchair, he's not completely disabled or brain damaged. He understands much of the world around him, but lacks the ability to communicate effectively. He has partial use of his arms and a few fingers, but cannot move his legs or hold his head up for long periods of time.

His hobbies help him cope and interact with others. Painting is a favorite. Edward tells her he somehow never tires of it.

Bella watches as the green Randy chose swirls together with blue and grey. It's an abstract image, if she remembers anything about art, but there's something soothing about the way the colors mix together and she can see how therapeutic this is for him.

Edward's laugh catches her attention and she looks up. He's sitting with another patient, Daniel, and helping the snarky older man with his attempt at artwork.

Daniel ended up here after an "out of the blue" stroke. He'd been an apparently fit and healthy forty year-old, but had undiagnosed atherosclerosis; otherwise known as clogging of the veins. He's not going to be here forever, by any means, but he's still regaining fine motor control and the use of his right leg. As he's single though, and lacks a decent support system nearby, he'll be here a little longer than some patients recovering from stroke.

That doesn't seem to have dampened his spirits, however.

"Seriously, Danny," Edward laughs again. "You need to paint some clothes on her. This is a family place."

"The hell it is. You see any families around here?" the man grouses playfully.

"A few. Besides, it's the day after Christmas, the celebration of the birth of baby Jesus. Give us a break, okay?"

Bella tries to hide her surprised laughter, but fails. Edward glances up at her and rolls his eyes at his companion's antics. The two men go back and forth like this for a while until Daniel drops his paintbrush and decides to give up on his pin-up girl.

"How 'bout we try a flower or a cactus this time?" Edward asks, handing the brush back.

"Nah, man. I think I'll go hit Becky up for a game of chess. Role me over?"

Edward shakes his head amusedly and rises from the table. He looks at Bella and indicates he'll be right back as he unlocks the brake on Daniel's wheelchair.

"Take it easy, Edward's girl. It was nice to meet you."

She's not surprised by Daniel's teasing after listening to him interact with Edward, but she feels her cheeks heat a little just the same.

"Thank you, Daniel. Nice to meet you, too."

When they're gone, Randy gets her attention back and silently asks for more paint. The jar has slipped beyond his reach, so Bella slides it back towards him. She compliments his work and spends the next few minutes conversing with him the same way Edward had done when they first arrived and he introduced her.

She's surprised when Randy eventually stops what he's doing and hands her a paintbrush.

"What? You want me to paint, too?"

A low chuckle behind her startles her.

"I think he likes you."

She turns her head in surprise, both at Edward's proximity and the fact she didn't notice him sneaking up on her. "Why do say that?" she asks.

He smiles. "He doesn't share his supplies with just anybody. Do you Randy?"

Randy gives a decidedly strong grunt and rocks his head back and forth once.

"See? That's his version of 'hell no.' "

Bella laughs and reaches for her own sheet of paper and some purple paint. Edward goes for the red and Daniel's half-naked pin-up girl.

~(~)~

More soon. There's a little drama coming up too, but nothing horrid.