Chapter VIII
New life
It is strange which stimuli take precedence for the senses that reawaken. Sounds, footsteps, and voices... I was not sure if I was still alive. I had no idea whether I was in the Volturi palace or hell. I realized I had a sore body, eyelids that would not open, and a mouth that could not say anything. Hearing was the only thing that worked, or was it just my perception? I was afraid that the sound of Leah's bones breaking would be the one to greet me. I concentrated my efforts on analyzing every sound that entered my mind.
Regular beeping, similar to a pulse.
Hospital?
Footsteps, voices: strangely, I could hear them in my head and could not get rid of them, as if my mind had been possessed by demons, which it could have been.
I used every ounce of my frail body to isolate the words I had heard.
"She had a lot of blood loss."
"Why wasn't anyone watching her?"
"We sent Seth to the Blacks too late. Bella was no longer there."
"There was nothing that could be done."
"Why, Leah?"
"Leah died because it was her will."
"We had no right to intervene."
"I had never seen such determination before. When I arrived at the clearing, Bella was unconscious, and Leah, in her human form, was attempting to pick her up."
"How did she manage to kill both of them?"
"She lost her mind. All she cared about was saving Bella. We all know the power of this feeling. It's an internal imperative; you can't fight it."
"Was Bella aware of it?"
"I don't think so. Only Jacob knew."
"How did she learn to hide her emotions so well from us?"
"Hatred and pain. Apparently, it acted as a shield."
"Who would have thought? Such a case has never been reported before."
"A woman has never before been a wolf. Leah is different from the very beginning."
"But a woman in… a woman?"
You see, imprinting is all about giving life. Leah gave Bella life again."
"Are Embry and Jacob going to survive this?"
"They lost less blood and should be healing more quickly than Leah did. They are in better shape than her."
"It would have been her turn too if she had not given that blood donation."
"Leah would not be able to handle such a loss again, and Bella would already be dead. She preferred to take a risk."
I felt myself drifting away as the voices faded. I lost consciousness again.
Leah was dying quietly in the next room, connected to a ventilator.
She would suffer broken bones, internal organ damage, and numerous lacerations. She could not breathe on her own, and her heart, which was being supported by machines, was beating very slowly.
The brain, however, was still functioning. Seth and her mother were by her side in the hospital. There were also Sam, Emily, Jared, Paul, and Quil. Jacob and Embry were severely injured during the fight and were left alone in the ward.
Wolves regenerate far more quickly than humans. When Leah arrived at the hospital, blood was no longer pouring from the ripped body, and other injuries were barely visible.
She was able to conceal her wounds due to her incredible self-control and inhuman pain resistance. Doctors were surprised that a patient who could stand on her own and was still capable of starting fights could have so many hidden hemorrhages and fractures. She was yelling in the emergency room for me to come in right away.
Because there was not enough blood suitable for me, she forced the doctors to take it from herself because she was a universal donor with group O. She was well aware that this reduced her chances of survival to the bare minimum. During my transfusion, she went unconscious. When the doctors realized how serious this fierce girl with Indian features' condition was, hell broke loose in the hospital.
Everything had been done to bring her back to life. The heart appeared to begin working again, albeit hesitantly. Sadly, Leah condemned herself to death and lost the wolf's ability to heal herself along with the blood. She gave most of her strength to me.
A terrifying heat engulfed my body, licking at me like a living flame. It kept me from thinking about or concentrating on anything other than the temperature of my skin. I wanted to drink, but I could not even whisper because my throat was so dry. I was not sure if I was moving my fingers or if it just seemed that way, so I made a desperate attempt to lift my eyelids.
My eyes had become so accustomed to the light that when I opened them, they burned and watered. I took in my surroundings. A hospital bed and an intensive care unit are white, sterile, and furnished with only the necessities. The equipment that monitors my heart drips hope into my veins for improvement. I was on my own. The closed blinds separated me from the corridor.
But I could hear his soft voice.
"I love you, Bells. I love your laughter and your crying. I love your no, and I love your yes. I also liked your "I am not sure." I like how you wrinkle your nose when the sun shines on you, how you have a cloudy expression on your face when I ask awkward questions, and how you get worried when I don't. It is true that there are moments when I drive you crazy, but that is just my nature—I am always craving release, intensity, and passion. We create tension. Please do not extinguish my spark."
I could not explain why I could hear him if he was not with me, so I went back to sleep.
Of course, I have no idea how long I was unconscious. When external stimuli irritated my consciousness once more, I heard the familiar snoring before I could open my eyelids again. Charlie. Dad. Was my room moved, then? I saw my father sleeping in an armchair near my bed. The room I was in now differed from the previous one, with less equipment and a chair for visitors.
That indicates that my condition is improving. Flashes of memories came back to me. The fight, the ambush, my escape, the attack, the agony, Leah... My heart rate was increasing as I regained my memory. The previous heat returned. I thought I would suffocate from nervousness as soon as I began to associate the facts with the conversation I overheard right after I awoke for the first time. I felt out of breath and like I was going to go insane or start screaming.
But I could not do anything; all I could do was keep my eyes open and think.
Leah imprinted on me. When did it occur? That is why Jacob was certain that nothing bad would happen to me at her hands. She warned me not out of hatred, but out of concern. She had a feeling something was going to happen. I can only imagine how she felt. Not only did she not accept her transformation and blame the wolf genes and the entire mechanism for the loss of Sam, but she also became a woman despite herself, driving the only member of the pack she tolerated to despair. Being able to objectively assess her ability to get herself into life-threatening situations, I must admit that her task was not easy.
It is like protecting someone who is actively seeking death. Her anxious glances as she waited for me to return after meeting Edward, her words about how she would not be a mother because she is infertile, but in a way she had become one - she gave me a new life. In the end, the dispersed puzzle pieces formed an exact image.
A familiar voice cut me off as I tried to piece everything together.
"I say to you, force, if there is one force in charge of this strange world! Give me a chance, please. It is impossible to predict how our story will end, so all I ask is that it not end prematurely. Allow me to touch her, look at her while she sleeps, apologize when she is angry, and listen to her apologies when I am angry. So little is needed. Only time. It is time to try, experience, and discover whether we, as a couple of calm old people, will make it through life together or whether a strange fate will separate us. I doubted; I wanted to give up, leave, and let go, and yet I won her love. I don't want much. I just pray for her to get well."
Jacob was alive, and I could hear his thoughts.
My stomach pushed up against my throat.
I didn't just hear HIS thoughts! Earlier, in the ICU room, I could hear the thoughts of the entire pack. They weren't at my bedside; they were probably in another part of the hospital, and yet I could repeat the entire conversation.
Leah provided me with more than just a HUMAN life.
The revelation I had caused my heart to race so fast that the equipment around me began to beep incessantly. Charlie awoke quickly and jumped into my bed, and two doctors and a nurse rushed into the room. Everyone was speechless when they saw my open eyes and my figure attempting to get up on its own on the bed. They began to examine my pulse, pupil reactions, and limb sensation.
"It is unbelievable," one of the doctors exclaimed.
"Welcome back, Miss Swan," the nurse said.
"You have a very high fever, which we will try to reduce pharmacologically and find the source of the infection, but otherwise your condition seems to be stable, " said the second doctor.
"Bells, thank God..." Tears rolled down my father's cheeks. It was the first time I saw him cry. If the memory went back to the moment of birth, it would be the second time. After all, I was born again for him.
He buried his face in my hands, afraid to embrace me so as not to offend my healing body.
"I was afraid you would not wake up from your coma, Bells." Your body began to respond to the treatment, but your brain appeared to be resistant to any stimulation."
He had no idea he was wrong; my mind was open to NEW stimuli, and it was consuming all of my energy.
I was given water to quench my thirst and moisten my cracked lips and dry throat. The first word I wanted to say was a croak, but I managed to whisper it with effort while looking into my father's eyes. "Sorry…"
"Bells, I know this is not the best time to talk about what happened, but swear to me that you will never, ever, ever go out with Jacob and his friends to see the wild again. These bears could have killed you all."
Bears? Apparently, Billy has already given his version of events.
"What about the others, Dad?"
"Leah Clearwater suffered the most. Poor Sue... First it was Harry, and now her daughter's fate is at stake... There's a curse hanging over this family."
"And the boys?"
"Jacob is lying in the next room, he is conscious, his condition is improving surprisingly quickly. It's incredible how strong the bodies of these kids are. He had three broken ribs, a shoulder and a leg, and now X-rays show that he can actually be discharged. And Embry is already chasing the guys down the hall in a wheelchair and hitting on the nurses. Everyone treats it as a miracle. Generally, only four of you are admitted to the ward, but the rest stay here practically 24 hours a day. The hospital staff frowns a bit, but on the other hand, it is known that people recover faster when they are surrounded by loved ones."
"How long have I been here?"
"One week, Bells. It's mid-July. Bells... Leah saved your life, you know?"
"I know…"
"Sam found her and you in a clearing near the Black house, called for help and took them to the hospital. I don't even want to think what would have happened if he hadn't arrived on time. Unless I was fishing with Billy, maybe I could donate blood for you myself. And yes… she…"
"Will Leah survive?"
"I don't know. Her fate is in God's hands. She's not getting worse, which is probably good news considering her internal injuries. Do you know how many surgeries this girl has had?"
My father told me everything that happened to me while I was unconscious. He, the quietest person I know, literally kept his mouth shut, and you could see relief gradually replace stress. My thoughts wandered to the next room, knowing all the facts from the pack's conversations.
"Jake?" I didn't know if the fact that I could hear him meant that I could be heard.
"Jake?"
"Jake!"
"Bells?"
He heard!
"Bells? How…"
"Sorry," a third voice added.
"Leah?" we both exclaimed in our heads.
"Yeah, it is me, you jerks." I live as if anyone cares. I am surprised... Back to the topic: I had no idea it would end this way, but I did not have much of a choice. Oh, and before you start suspecting me of being in love with Bella: whether or not I have an imprint on her, it is imperative that her life be protected. And that's it! Or even that much... "Your safety, Bella, is the most important thing to me, so be careful, Black," she laughed. "And, in general, do not be sorry that I did not make a big deal out of it, but it was the straw that broke the camel's back." And yet more proof that nothing is normal for me. Well, that's it. Here comes this concerned doctor who looks like Chase from the TV series. It's time to open your eyes, let the boy breathe, and start writing his doctorate about the miraculous healing of the native woman."
"Leah?"
"Don't waste your time trying, Bells. First she announces herself and then, without waiting for a comment, she "turns off", we don't even know if she hears. Leah is an individual."
"I realized in time. Jake, what's going to happen now?"
"I am not sure." I'm glad you're alive; I guess we all owe a debt to a merciful fate."
"For Leah."
"I think so."
"I love you, Bells."
"I know, I heard what you were thinking."
"Did you?"
"You are my spark; you ignite previously unseen emotions. You rekindled my desire to live when it had faded. What else can I call you if not a spark?"
"Bells, close your eyes and concentrate."
"Hmm?"
"Shh, I would like to try something."
I listened to Jacob. I closed my eyes, relaxed my body, tried not to think about anything, and then... I was naked in his hot arms, and he held his hand under my buttocks, kissed my neck, and ran his tongue along the line of my veins. I felt dizzy.
The monitor next to my bed beeped, completely removing me from the situation.
The nurse entered, approached me, manually checked my pulse, and asked if I was feeling well.
"Perfect," I murmured groggily, my face flushed.
"Hmm… It seems that our equipment is failing," she said as she left.
"Jake! What are you doing?! "I almost got a blood pressure shot directly into my ass."
"Thanks! Now focus for a moment."
"Hmm?"
"I would like to try it as well."
My thoughts returned to our first evening together. I encircled the image and completely immersed myself in it. In my head, I ran my hands over his sweat-damp back and buttocks, pressing him against me to get more of him inside me.
The sight of the nurse running to the next room jolted me awake from my slumber.
Ha! The hospital equipment does not function properly not only in my room.
"Minx," he said after a while.
"More, more," yelled Paul, Quil, and Embry, their voices choking with laughter.
Is it always supposed to be this way? No intimacy?
"Hey! Get out of our bed!" Jake shouted at them, amused.
"Uh, You always ruin everything," Embry groaned.
Our conversation was cut short by Charlie's return, who called my mother from the corridor to inform her that I had awoken. Sam and Emily accompanied him into the room.
"Bella," mom sighed with relief.
"She booked a ticket for tomorrow because she wants to personally check on you." Charlie explained sitting next to me in a chair.
"But," I began.
"Bells, you know Renee, she did not even bother to listen to what I had to say," Charlie responded with a smile.
"It's good to see you, Bella; you gave us a scare," Emily interjected.
"Ok, kids, I'll leave you alone; apparently someone destroyed a cast iron fence in our neighborhood. By the way, I am not sure how you could possibly ruin something that strong. I'm going to check what happened."
Charlie kissed the top of my head and walked away with the brisk step of a man who had just had a stone removed from his heart.
Emily sat on the edge of my hospital bed as the door closed.
"Is it true that you hear..."
"Yeah… And I have a constant fever."
"An event of this magnitude has never been recorded in the tribe's history."
Sam stated it thoughtfully. "I believe that if you have Leah's blood but not her genes, you will not undergo a complete transformation," he added.
Hearing these words made me feel relieved.
"But if... we would have serious issues." Because you do not live in La Push, we cannot guarantee that you will always have someone with you who can tame the wildness that awakens fresh after the transformation. Additionally, as we already know, imprinting is a part of it as well, and this in turn..."
"What if I imprinted myself on someone other than Jacob?" The information stunned me. I didn't want to hurt Jacob again.
Emily said in a whisper, "We do not even want to think about it.
"No, there is little chance that you will fully turn into a wolf. Bells, keep in mind that wolf characteristics only appear when vampires are around. We are still recovering from the fight, which has led to heightened telepathy, though this usually goes away. Body temperature also decreases." Sam explained briefly.
It was all because of the Volturi. For a brief moment, I thought of visiting the noble court again.
"Do not even think about it," Leah hissed in my head.
"Well, from now on, I have limited opportunities to carry out risky ventures."
"Let us not worry too much, Bells. Telepathy might be the only wolf trait you have picked up, but it is not too bad because it does not always occur."
Suddenly, from the room next door, we heard a raised female voice.
"Mr. Black! Where are you going? You have to lie down!"
"But why?"
"Your recently put together bones will move!"
"Well, now that everything has healed, I am sorry, but I miss my girlfriend." Sister, you must move those lovely curves of yours, or I will have to do it myself." He gave her a seductive smile.
"Oh Lord, some of them are falling out of wheelchairs, and others are sprinting down the hallways in search of a girl. I can't understand these young people today," added the nurse in a resigned voice.
"Hi, Bells." He leaned on the door frame, most likely out of necessity due to the difficulty of maneuvering the large plaster.
He might be a good fit for the local emergency room's model program. In loose hospital pants that fit his muscular belly probably only due to the owner's pious wishes, hair sticking out in all directions, a bare torso half hidden under a bandage, and with his tribal tattoo taking up most of his powerful arm, he looked like the sexiest man in human history..
"I shaved! Appreciate it!" he winked at me, as if commenting on my thoughts.
Emily got up, came over, gave him a hug, and said that while grinning.
"Jake, it's good to see you upright."
Then she walked away, knowingly glancing at Sam. He understood her and followed her.
We were alone.
He tried to get the visitors' chair as close to my bed as he could and asked, "How do you feel?"
"Surprisingly good, as if they were giving me some magical wound healing accelerator along with the medicines."
"It's Leah's blood that does that."
"I am happy she is getting better."
"Me too. Do you know that I was the only one out of all of us who didn't doubt that she would get over it?"
"But you doubted me."
It was too much luck for one man, Bells, and all I could think of when you told me how you felt the day before the fight was that I would wake up soon, alone, fighting for you, and as usual, not even knowing if this fight makes any sense at all. I was up against a vampire before, but now it was fate against me. Bells, I was scared as hell."
"Have I already told you that I love you?"
"You did, but not very clearly, in some way. Will you repeat that?"
"I love…"
"You know what matters most?" His smile was mischievous. He looked like a boy going on his first date, with his eyes full of sparkles and laughter. This sight touched me.
"A mole on your shoulder blade. and a tiny scar in the form of a maple leaf on your elbow." He teased me. "And a fragrant, silky spot in the bend of the neck, just above the collarbone... Two beautiful indentations on the border between your back and the butt…"
He leaned in closer, his head back on the chair, closed his eyes, licked his lips, and said in a sensual tone. "What I like best is when you are as smooth as pure silk, as hot as the sun-warmed inside of a shell, and taste like..."
The monitor screamed horribly.
"I am going to kill you, Jake!"
With a grumble, the nurse hurried into the room, saw her favorite patient sprawled on a chair in a semi-reclining position, checked my pulse with one hand, and showed him the door with the other.
"He has just gotten back on his feet and is already moving through the hallways. To bed, Mr. Black, YOURS this time!"
With a gracious chuckle, Jake got up and walked gingerly towards the door.
He whispered in the doorway, "I will see you later, babe," and smiled knowingly behind the nurse's back at me.
I thought the monitor might scream once more.
After receiving an injection in my buttocks to lower my blood pressure, I slept for the remainder of the day.
I felt amazing when I woke up—even stronger, eager to try getting out of bed, and filled with anticipation for my mother's visit today.
Charlie arrived early—shortly after breakfast—and gave me a kiss, pleased with how quickly and easily the treatment was progressing. Several interns escorted the young, green-eyed doctor Leah had mentioned as they entered the room during a round.
"Miss Swan, you look blooming," he complimented me. "Let's see how the wounds heal." He added.
"OK," I said, smiling. My father, not wanting to embarrass me, started to leave, but I stopped him with a hand gesture.
"Stay, dad, it'll probably take a while."
The nurse unbuttoned my hospital gown, revealing my back, which was covered in dressings, my neck, and finally my shoulder. I watched my father's eyes bulge as the doctor smacked appreciatively at the progress of the healing.
He finally choked out, his gaze fixed on my arm.
"Isabela, when did you get that tattoo?"
The monitor that was attached to my heart began to howl.
I do not even remember what I said to Charlie because the sudden increase in my heart rate, as usual, caused quite a commotion, but I know my father will not give up so easily, and we will have another conversation about it. And I have no idea what I am going to tell him.
It was difficult for me to conceal my own surprise at the time because I had always assumed that a tattoo was something that was applied to the skin, not just something that appeared on it.
I waited for Jacob to hobble over to me while Charlie went to work on his promise to visit later that night.
He offered to help me get into the wheelchair as soon as he arrived, giving me the opportunity to take some time to explore the hospital and change up my routine. We went straight to Leah's room.
She sat on the bed, still hooked up to two drips and a monitor like mine, and gave the pack members a bored look. Seth sat on her bed, cheerfully swinging his legs and carefully studying the Cosmopolitan he would brought from the waiting room.
"I like it here. Being with someone other than you is invigorating for me. Despite missing the forest. I'll sign out at my own damn request, and I'll catch up at home."
I heard as I walked into the room. I greeted her with a nod, not wanting to interrupt her.
The boys received the news with a mildly enthusiastic "great" murmur.
"Come on? Aren't you happy?" Leah smirked ironically and smacked her brother on the back.
"You're sitting on my IV line, you asshat!"
"I don't have fleas!" He objected.
"Then who was scratching in the forest?"
"It was thistle that got stuck in my fur. Not fleas."
"Yeah, and I am the Queen of England."
She quickly returned her attention to Jacob.
"What are you laughing at? It's better not to think about whether you want to become a daddy without even being of age. Nature gave you broad shoulders and a mind the size of a pine nut, you passionate idiot. Maybe a pill?" She turned to me.
I looked like I wanted to run away. She looked at me menacingly.
"You start college in a few weeks, right? Who will push the stroller during the session? Aunt Leah?"
"Respect, sister, you can do it! And you're as subtle as embroidery made with a pickaxe," Seth commented happily.
"Shut up, Seth! Now, everyone get out. I have to negotiate the discharge with the attending physician."
And, as usual, she was the first to finish the discussion without giving us a chance to thank her for saving our lives.
We returned to my room, slightly unsettled by Leah's remarks.
"Bells… "I guess I really am an idiot." Jake said as he sat on my bed, his head buried in his hands in shame.
"Yeah, me too. You know, I have been so surprised by the last dozen or so days that I never once considered the possibility that we might unintentionally become parents. Considering my luck with complications, I suppose I should be grateful that I am not pregnant yet." I admitted it honestly.
"So you're not…?" He exhaled deeply.
"No, this is a prerequisite test before beginning treatment. By now, I would have been informed."
"I am not saying I could not imagine a swarm of group kids running around our shared house, but now would not be the best time. I guess Leah's right, we need to think about this before we go back to sex, and believe me, I can not wait to..." he began.
"I know…"
We exchanged silent glances for a moment. I was embarrassed by Leah's words. I felt like an unconscious piece of shit and an idiot with no imagination.
"Bells, Leah also reminded me, with her usual timing, that you were leaving for college..."
"Please do not ruin my mood right now, Jake."
"Bells, this is an important subject, damn, I have only been with you a short time and you are already supposed to leave. I don't accept this."
"There are other options, Jake."
"What do you mean? Will you stay in Forks and work at a diner, pretending that this is the career you have always wanted? You need to study, no doubt about it!"
"Jake, we'll think of something. You don't think I'll disappear, do you? Anyway, please, let's not talk about it now. "You know, Leah could be a team-building event animator," I remarked.
"Yes, in hell!" he laughed loudly.
The nurse interrupted Leah's talent analysis with an impatient voice from the hallway.
"I'll beat that bastard's ass. Where is he again? They are making fun of me. One of them wanders around; no wonder the female staff goes crazy. They are worse than the plague!"
"Look how much she misses me," he chuckled as he pointed to the corridor. "I am coming, honey," he said, blowing me a kiss.
He turned to face me as he walked away.
"Bells, protection or not, the first thing I'm going to do when we get home is remember in detail how beautiful your naked body is."
Just as my mother was waiting to enter the room, he leaped on top of her at that precise moment.
Disasters do not come when we would like them to.
"Mommy!" I exclaimed, sounding both happy to see her and embarrassed at the same time.
With wide, shocked eyes, she gasped and looked at Jacob. She inspected him from head to toe, and since he displayed his attractive body in a controlled negligee, even with the bandages, she smiled and said nothing. "Interesting young man."
"This is Jacob Black, Mom. Friend."
With all the dignity of a knight, Jake took my mother's hand and kissed it, amused by the whole thing and gazing intently into her eyes.
"I dreamed of meeting the angel to whom I owe Bella."
I thought I was going to boil. Mom stood with her mouth half open, unable to respond to the compliment, and Jake bowed gallantly.
"Please excuse me, ladies, the nurse has announced that she is coming to visit." I have to go."
He gave us a killer smile and limped briskly to his room, relieved to be free. Who would have thought that he spent several days in intensive care?
"Bella," Mom said softly. "Dear God, what is really going on in your life?"
"I know I am nothing but trouble."
"Sometimes I think it is only my fault that I am not there for you when you need me. You are probably often on your own and..."
"I am a big girl now, Mom."
"Exactly, and you also have an interesting, big friend," she said, her face puzzled.
I swallowed.
"Mom, I've known Jake since childhood. I can't rationally explain how it happened that we…"
"The privileges of youth, don't explain yourself. However, I'm a little surprised because when you introduced Edward I thought it was something serious, but…"
"Mom, it is a long story, and I do not want to go over it again." Jake... he's an extremely determined person. You don't know him yet, but believe me, if he sets his mind to something, he will achieve it. I am living proof of that. "I think what I like best about him is his stubbornness."
Mom smiled as she reflected on her thoughts. She was probably thinking about her own love complications, which I am sure she had plenty of.
"A new boy in your life surprises me less than where we meet, Bells. Is it normal for you to visit the hospital so frequently? Is it typical teenager behavior to get mauled by bears on an Indian reservation?"
So Charlie was eager to keep my mother up to date.
"Bella, you've always had a tendency to get into trouble, but can you explain to me why you can't go to the cinema, read books and take walks like other young people? Do you have to jump off a cliff, interact with wildlife, and get a large tattoo? Honey, understand, Charlie and I are both afraid to answer the phone, expecting more and more interesting information."
"Mom." I couldn't say anything wiser, because the truth was out of the question.
"Baby, just be a little more respectful of your life." That is something I have heard a lot lately. "You only have one! And your Jake... Hmmm... I hope he is as intelligent as he is charming. And... equally reasonable..." she said, referring to a sentence she had overheard.
My face flushed.
"Mom…"
"You are of age, and I hope you are conscious as well."
"Ok, I won't talk to you about flowers and bees; don't worry," she laughed, and my heart dropped.
"I love you, mom, you know?"
"And you know that if something happened to you, I wouldn't survive it?"
We hugged each other tight.
We spent the next few hours talking about my childhood and our time together.
Renee had an early flight the next morning, so we had to say our goodbyes.
Charlie came over right after her, so I was not alone for long.
"Bells, you are looking better and better," he said cheerfully.
"And I'm feeling better and better! How's work going?" I asked as usual.
"I was about to ask you a question. Do you remember the story of this ruined fence on our street? It turns out that the damage was done on the same day that you were in the forest. The neighbors did not see much, and all they heard was a bang, as if something had crashed into the gate, but that was not the most interesting thing. Someone noticed Edward Cullen's car nearby. Has he contacted you?"
"No," I said, lying.
"Hmm... We're still trying to find out what happened, because the dents in the fence are not the size of a car, so it probably wasn't a collision."
I was starting to understand the meaning of my dad's words. Edward, as he promised, stayed to guard my house, so there were even more attackers sent by the Volturi. Since his car was seen and then he disappeared, it looks like he was able to successfully take down the guards. I'm relieved.
"Bells, there is one more thing. You know, I've been thinking about these last few weeks and hmm... I'd rather you spend more time at home and less time on the reservation. This probably isn't a safe place for you. That cliff jump, the motorbike ride, and now the bears... I think some quiet time in Forks would be good for you."
A cold chill ran through me.
"Dad, I think there's something you should know."
"What is it, kiddo?" he asked.
"Me and Jacob…"
"I know, you're friends. But I guess a little breather never hurt anyone, right?"
"Yeah… I mean, not really, because…"
And at that moment, as if out of anger, the ward sister burst in, dragging Quil by one arm and Jared by the other, and gasped in an angry voice.
"I hope you're not hiding this Black guy in your room? I caught these two, but I don't have the third hand, and…"
"What happened?" Charlie asked in a menacing voice.
"They ate, I don't know how else to describe it, all the lollipops from the children's emergency room," she shouted in an accusatory tone, like a prosecutor at the trial of a serial killer. At that moment, Jake, happy with the whole action, leaned out from behind her and said in a stage whisper.
"We missed this extraordinary sweetness of you dear sister. She cared so little about us today…"
"Oh, I'll take care of you, Black!" She turned to grab him with both hands, at the same time letting go of the boys, who immediately took advantage of their freedom and gave up, laughing uproariously. Jacob dodged neatly and his sister gasped for air instead, then he turned and shouted over his shoulder, amused by the whole situation.
"Will there be a needle in the buttock?"
"I'll get you both, and the head doctor will definitely agree to your request to be strapped to the bed."
"What a real babe your sister is. I like it!"
I looked at my dad and tried not to laugh, not knowing whether he would be outraged or amused by this scene, but he cracked up first, and as soon as the voices in the hall stopped, he roared with laughter.
"Bells, I think I understand what attracts you to them. They have so much life in them!"
Unaware, Charlie had just repeated one of my first thoughts after spending some time with the pack. They had so much life in them…
"Well, it's getting late, they'll soon start chasing me from the unit," he added, smiling.
He got up from the chair, kissed me as usual on the top of my head, stroked my cheek and as he was leaving.
"Have you thanked Leah yet? It's a miracle she recovered!"
"I tried, dad. There's always someone there, and I wanted to talk to her alone."
"Do it, honey. As soon as possible."
And he left.
I got up early, planning to fulfill my promise to Charlie. Wrapped in a robe and wearing hospital slippers, I slipped straight into Leah's room, ready to wake her up.
She didn't sleep.
She looked at me with surprise.
"What are you doing here Swan?"
"I I wanted to talk to you."
"I've been popular lately," she smiled wryly.
"Leah, you saved my life…"
"Yeah. But if you had listened to me, you would have saved some of our energy, wouldn't it?"
"I don't know what words I would have to use to apologize to you."
"Stop it, I don't like tearful texts."
"I came to say thank you."
She didn't say anything, so I decided my time was up and headed for the door to leave.
"Bella... Do you know that you are bonded to me?" she suddenly said.
I turned to face her.
"I will never leave you. I will be there for you not because I want to, but because I have to."
At that moment, Seth entered the room.
"Get out!" We screamed at the same time.
"Sabbath," he groaned and retreated from the room. But apparently curiosity got the better of him, because after a while he came back with an innocent face.
"Shall I bring you something to drink?"
"Out!" Leah showed him the door.
"Oh come on, stop it, I was trying to be chivalrous."
"Yes, you really have a lot from a knight. A tight head, for example."
Seth looked offended and retreated into the corridor without a word.
"Leah, I kept thinking about it… How did you find me?" I returned to the conversation.
"Bella, I just FELT that you would ignore all warnings and show up in this forest after all. I tried not to move too far away and lure the attackers to me rather than chase them myself. I disobeyed Sam's orders, which clearly stated that we should face the enemy as far from home as possible. I didn't have to really bait them because you did it. When they attacked you, I knew how little time was left before the venom reached your heart. There were only two options: kill them as quickly as possible, even at the risk of mortal injury and try to suck out the venom in human form, or watch you turn into the creature I was called to kill. Do you understand the complexity of the situation?"
"When I held you in my arms, I felt you getting weaker. I don't usually do this, but there, in that clearing, I prayed to God. I didn't care whether the venom I was trying to spit out had any effect on me or not. Probably if it got into the bloodstream... but we were both lucky. And…" she added, "don't thank me. This is what imprinting is all about. No matter how much you get on my nerves, and I admit that you break all records, I will still protect you."
"But if you really want to feel obligated to me, I have a request: try not to get into trouble, right? Now I'm relatively calm because I assume that even if you get tangled in the hoses of your own drip and start choking, someone will be able to save you, but after leaving the hospital I don't feel like following you step by step. Damn imprinting," she added grimly. "Although, you know what, there is one advantage in all this: you started to absorb me so much with your stupid actions that I forgot about my own harm caused by impressing Sam. Besides, now I know what it's like, and that I can only really be angry at nature, and that won't change anything. I don't wish anyone to lose a loved one once and then worry about the life of another, in their own irrational way the most dear one. Bella! When I found out that you were planning to voluntarily transform into a vampire, I thought I was going to explode. It was like an electric shock for me. I literally went crazy with rage. I guess only Jacob could match me in his reaction to your decision."
"Leah, do you remember our party?"
"Dance?"
"Were you deliberately teasing me?"
"The ends justify the means. I knew you felt something, but you didn't even want to name it. Jealousy is sometimes a catalyst. I was right, and luckily Jake knew how to play it. You were the one who connected us together for a long time! I'll admit it, I had a lot of fun back then. And just so you know what beautiful memories he presented to me."
The sight of Leah sensually tilting her head and closing her eyelids crept into my subconscious, as if in some erotic trance. So that's when…
"So I was right." I laughed.
"Jake's problem is that he can't quite be discreet in his thoughts about you. But as you've probably noticed, the telepathy stopped. Now it takes a lot of effort to make contact. Previously, it took effort to switch off from this constant broadcast. I know something about it."
"Leah, you're special, you know that?"
"Extremely mean? Malicious? Extremely cold, as everyone tells me?"
"And exceptionally pretty," we heard from a doctor with green eyes who entered the room.
Leah looked surprised.
"Oh, hello, dear doctor. Will you still insist on not letting me out of the hospital?"
"I would love to leave you here forever, but I'm afraid I don't have any arguments. There is no doubt that your condition is improving. Let's just see how the stitches heal. Can I?"
"I'm leaving," I said and started to leave so as not to disturb the examination. However, if I had stayed, I would have seen smiling green eyes staring at Leah and gentle male hands unwinding the bandages. And then I would hear a lot of compliments about the beautifully healing wounds...
I returned to the room, swallowed the prescribed dose of medicine, begged one of the nurses to help me wash my hair, changed into fresh pajamas and waited for my beloved, because I felt he would show up soon.
And I wasn't wrong. He rushed into the room, or rather, his leg, free from the plaster, appeared first, followed by the rest of his body, shouting, "Yes, I'll do it."
"I'm free! Fuck, being a pain in the ass of the local sister has its perks. She understood that she would not get rid of me in any other way than by writing me off. I'm leaving after my rounds, Bells."
I felt sad.
"How so? What about me?"
"Well, probably not yet, but you can talk to the doctor. Besides, I won't leave you here to the mercy of all these horny interns. They keep their paws to themselves. I'll come back as soon as I check what's going on at home and change into some more civilized clothes. Apparently they brought me in Sam's pants…"
"You do not exaggerate? I guess you're horny yourself and you're mainly thinking about what to do with your paws," I smiled.
"Without a doubt! And that gives me an idea…"
"Shhh... you better not say anything out loud, because knowing your timing, Charlie or half of your family will come over soon. It was enough for me to feel ashamed in front of my mother."
"I'm sorry, Bells. In fact, I got into a bit of a hurry. By the way, your mother is adorable!"
"I know," I replied proudly. "Okay, Jake, sit here. I know you're showing off your lack of a cast, but I want to enjoy you before you go home."
"Hmm… enjoy? Should I close the blinds and barricade the door?"
"Asshole."
"So you don't miss me that much? Is looking and talking enough for you?"
He sat down on the bed, brushed the still damp hair from my cheek and kissed me very gently on the lips. Ever since I opened my eyes, he had been irritating me with his sight, warmth and smell, and now I really wanted nothing more than to "enjoy him" in his ways.
"Jake, really, Charlie's coming soon…"
"To arrest me?" he whispered straight into my ear, warming it with his breath and giving me goosebumps all over my body. "Will he take a police baton… and… handcuffs? Will he be thrown into the dungeons? Such a wicked person? Who wants him... to deprave an innocent... child? – he whispered, pausing briefly to touch his lips to the neck below.
"Jake… have mercy…" A butterfly raged in my lower abdomen.
"I want to hear purring, moaning and even a bit of screaming… Just tell me where and when…"
"Jake!" I felt his jokes and gentle caresses, which left me very unsatisfied, making me feel hot, and the center of this warmth was exactly between my thighs.
"Bells, you're blushing… Can I check if your heartbeat is okay?" And without waiting for an answer, he put his hand under my pajama blouse, straight on my bare chest.
"Jake, damn it!"
"Oh… actually, it's like a slight arrhythmia…"
I pushed his hand away just in time because, as usual, the nurse came in at the most inopportune moment and, examining the scene she saw (and she only saw the end), screamed.
"Mr. Black! Specialization as a cardiologist is obtained after graduation. And I don't really know what you could study!"
"The sweet nature of hot medical staff. I would love to study... at night," he replied, looking her in the eye with an innocent expression.
"Taking off the cast and being discharged from the hospital won't motivate you to leave?!"
"Even if I leave, I will come back. Without a sister, life seems bland," he smiled broadly.
"Go home! And let the girl rest!"
He stood up and walked to the door. As he left, however, he did not refrain from saying the last word.
"If only sister would let me tire her out first…"
"Out!" he heard in return.