Back to the Start
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.
Sick
It was a lonely drive home. Bella rolled down the windows, letting the icy night air blow through the car, hoping it would help clear her head. She was feeling hot. Jared's date, Sandy, had refused Bella's offer of a ride home, calling her parents to pick her up instead.
"You can tell Jared I never want to see him again after ditching me like that." She complained to Bella, flouncing off in disgust to wait outside the movie theater.
Bella had the distinct feeling that Jared had a lucky escape there. Sandy reminded her very much of Jessica Stanley.
The road felt longer on the way back. Bella kept glancing uneasily at the traffic behind her, often glimpsing a car that looked very similar to Carlisle Cullen's black Mercedes. She considered pulling over on several occasions, but decided it was probably safer to keep driving.
Bella kept her eyes on the road ahead, trying to ignore the car tailing her. As she left the main highway, the traffic got scarcer. The Mercedes drew closer, following inches behind. She couldn't see who was behind the wheel because of the tinted windows, but had a sinking feeling it was probably Edward, forced to use his mentor's car now that the Volvo had been written off in the crash.
The black Mercedes followed her until she pulled to the curb outside her house. It didn't stop, and Bella refused to look up as it passed. She didn't want to give the driver- if it was indeed Edward- the satisfaction of acknowledgement.
Bella quickly climbed out of Jacob's car and ran inside the house, her heart racing at a hundred miles an hour.
"Movie over already?" Charlie asked in surprise when she came in. He was on the floor, just a foot from the TV, watching the game.
"I wasn't feeling too well so I came home early." Bella explained. She tried to keep her tone casual, but was too wound up and anxious to pull it off. The whole journey home had been unnerving. She wished she could confide in Charlie about the Mercedes following her home, but that would mean having to admit that Jacob had been forced to ditch her to go after Jared. And that was a whole other can of worms she didn't want to get into right now.
"You okay?" Charlie asked in concern.
"I feel fine now." Bella said shakily.
"You don't sound fine." Charlie pushed himself to his feet and came over and pressed his hand to her forehead. "You're burning up, Bells."
"I'm okay, honestly. It's probably one of those twenty-four hour stomach bugs." Bella escaped to the kitchen, leaning against the counter, her hand inches from the phone. She was dying to ring the Blacks to see if Jacob was home yet. However, she very much doubted it.
Charlie had followed her into the kitchen. "I'll make you some warm milk." He offered.
"Don't worry about me." Bella said again, touched by his concern, but wanting to be alone at the same time. "I'll go up to bed soon. You go and watch the end of the game."
"Are you sure?" Charlie asked one last time.
"I'm sure." Bella mustered up a tired smile.
"Alright then, kiddo. Call me if you need me." Charlie finally conceded as he left the kitchen with many a backward glance.
Bella sighed in relief as her fingers started drumming on the counter. She watched the clock as the minutes ticked by. Ten. Fifteen. Eighteen minutes. Giving in to her impatience, Bella picked up the phone and dialed.
It rang and rang. Maybe Billy was asleep. Maybe in her haste she had dialed wrong. She tried again.
On the eighth ring, just as she was about to hang up, Billy answered.
"Hello?" He asked. His voice was wary, like he was expecting bad news.
"Billy, it's me, Bella – did Jake make it home yet? He had to leave me at the movie theater…. Jared…he…."
"He's here." Billy cut in wearily. "They both are."
Bella felt miffed. If he was back already, why hadn't Jacob called? "I've been so worried. Are they both alright?"
"I'm sorry, Bella. Jake wanted to call, but Jared, well he's not in great physical shape." Billy sounded distant. Bella realized he must want to be with Jacob right now, not talking to her on the phone.
"Let me know if you need any help." She offered. "I could come down." She thought of Billy, stuck in his chair, and Jacob juggling with even more responsibility.
"No, no." Billy said quickly. "You know how chaotic it can be when a new wolf phases, Bella. Its safer for you to stay at home."
Bella felt sickened, knowing it would mean yet another long separation from Jacob. "Okay." She said, downcast.
"Jake will call you soon, okay." Billy promised. "Bye, Bella."
"Bye."
The line disconnected.
Well at least Jacob had made it home safely with Jared. Oddly, she didn't feel less worried. She trudged up the stairs, fretting. Maybe she would go down before work tomorrow to check on him. She could bring food. She knew how ravenous Jacob and Jared would be. Food was fuel to a wolf. It kept their metabolism strong. Billy couldn't refuse food. She knew to keep her distance. Maybe she would be able to see Jacob for a few minutes…hopefully.
All Bella's plans came to naught when she woke up early the next morning- her clock said four thirty – and sprinted to the bathroom. Charlie found her there half an hour later, lying on the floor, her cheek pressed to the cold edge of the bathtub.
He looked down at her for a long moment and sighed. "Oh, Bella, honey. You should have woken me. Stomach flu?"
"Yes." Bella moaned.
"You need anything?" He asked.
"Call the Newtons for me, please." Bella instructed hoarsely. "Tell them that I can't make it in today. Tell them that I'm sorry."
"Sure, no problem." Charlie assured her, bending down to give her a sympathy pat on the shoulder.
Bella spent the rest of the day on the bathroom floor, sleeping for a few hours with her head resting on a crumpled-up towel. Charlie claimed he had to work, but she suspected that he just wanted access to a bathroom. He left a jug of water and an empty glass beside her to keep her hydrated.
Charlie woke her up when he got back home. She could see that it was dark in her room – after nightfall. She heard his heavy clump on the stairs as he came up to check on her.
"Still alive?"
"Sort of." Bella groaned.
"Do you want anything?"
"No thanks."
Charlie hesitated, clearly feeling out of his element. He started to reach out to her, but thought better of it. He knew how independent she could be. She wouldn't accept his help. Sighing, he turned away and went back to the kitchen.
Bella heard the phone ringing a few minutes later. Charlie spoke to someone in a low voice for a moment, and then hung up.
"That was Jake." He called up the stairs. "I told him that you were sick and that it was probably for the best that he didn't come over. It took a lot of persuasion, but he finally agreed. He'll call again tomorrow."
Bella felt tears well in her eyes. She had missed Jacob. Again. She longed for his warm arms, his happy smile, his solid, reassuring presence. The thought made the tears fall. She was feeling very sorry for herself.
Bella fell asleep on the towel again, but when she woke up, she was in her bed and it was light outside her window. She didn't remember moving; Charlie must have carried her to her room- he'd also put the jug of water on her bedside table. It made Bella realize how parched she was. Sitting up very carefully to avoid jostling her aching stomach, she poured the water into the empty glass and quickly chugged it down.
Afterward she got out of bed slowly, trying not to trigger the nausea again. She felt weak, and her mouth tasted horrible, but her stomach wasn't heaving, thankfully. She looked at the clock to check the time. It had been a twenty-four-hour bug, just like she suspected.
Standing up on shaky legs, Bella made her way unsteadily out of her room, only making it as far as the doorway. She held onto the frame, head hanging, body shaking.
"Bells, what the hell are you doing out of bed?"
Jacob's concerned voice came out of nowhere, startling Bella so much that she tumbled out of the doorway, collapsing into his outstretched arms. She clung to him, her breath coming in ragged gasps as he clasped her securely in his arms and carried her back to the bed.
Bella looked over at Jacob, curled up on the kitchen chair he'd carried upstairs to sit on. He was so big he made it look like children's furniture. Bella felt completely wiped out. The worst of the sickness had passed, but she was still a mess. Her hair was bedraggled, her eyes red around the edges. But despite feeling like shit, she was happy. Jacob was here, in the room with her, taking care of her. She had learned he was the one who had carried her into her room and put her to bed after Charlie left early for work.
"I feel guilty for monopolizing your time like this." Bella said for the umpteenth time. "What about Jared?"
"The others are picking up the slack. Embry and Sam are taking good care of Jared." Jacob reassured her again, wearing a warm smile. "Everything's fine. You're my number one priority right now."
Bella returned his smile with relief. He was always taking care of others. "At least you can't catch this. You don't know how lucky you are never getting sick."
"I am lucky, but not so much because I can't get sick anymore." Jacob came over to her, sitting beside her on the bed and dropping a soft kiss on the lips. "I'm lucky because you love me."
What could she say to that?
Bella reached for Jacob's hand as she settled back against her heaped-up pillows, closing her eyes in bliss when she felt his other hand gently stroking her hair. His touch was like heaven, his skillful fingers massaging her scalp, chasing the pain away. Soon, thanks to Jacob's gentle ministrations, she drifted off into a peaceful slumber.
A/N-thanks for reading!