Troubleshoot
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.
Jacob's Plan
Bella had been a tight bundle of nerves ever since Edward had left to go and confront Jacob. She wanted to believe that he meant what he said, that he was only going to talk to her friend, not to start a fight. However, she knew how prickly and tense things got between the love rivals whenever they were in close proximity to each other. She trusted that Edward would be able to keep his temper in check, but would Jacob?
She perched on the end of her bed, twisting the silver bracelet with the wolf charm that Jacob had gifted her. Her fingers moved over the smooth wood of the charm, making her admire the exquisite workmanship all over again. Jacob was truly talented. Not only was he a skilled mechanic, but a gifted craftsman as well.
As she continued to marvel at the wolf charm that rested snugly in the palm of her hand, her eyes glimpsed the brilliant heart-shaped crystal that Edward had given her in juxtaposition to Jacob's wolf charm. It was cut in a million facets, so that even in the subdued lighting from her bedside lamp, it sparkled. It was beautiful certainly, but lacked the warmth of Jacob's gift, which had a much more personal element to it. She loved that it had been made by his own hands, whereas Edward's diamond had been inherited from his mother's vast jewelry collection, which somehow made it much less meaningful.
Just as the thought entered her head, Edward himself appeared, as if she had conjured him up from her own mind. Bella gazed up at him, quickly concealing the silver bracelet back under the sleeve of her dressing gown.
"Ah, you were admiring the diamond?" Edward asked, his tense face relaxing as he spoke. His mistaken assumption just compounded Bella's guilt. She nodded quickly, making his smile widen. "I inherited so many baubles like this from my mother. I would give you more…. if you'd let me?"
Bella smiled ruefully. "Maybe one day."
Edward's smile wavered. "I thought it was a good representation." He continued "Its hard and cold." He laughed deprecatingly. "And it throws rainbows in the sunlight."
"You forgot the most important similarity." Bella murmured, feeling a sense of déjà vu. Hadn't they had this conversation before? "Its beautiful."
"My heart is just as silent." Edward mused. "And it, too, is yours." He paused, his gaze turning mournful. "For however long you want it."
Bella's eyes flashed to his warily. "What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing." Edward's mouth relaxed into his familiar crooked smile.
"Edward, is there something you're not telling me? Did you find Jacob?" Bella's brow creased with worry, and her fingers instantly reached for the wolf charm dangling from her wrist, something Edward picked up on at once.
"I did find him. We talked." He shrugged. "That is all."
"That's it?" Bella's tone was disbelieving.
"Yes, that's essentially it." Edward repeated. "You have nothing to worry about, my love."
"You're not mad?"
"Not at all."
Bella quickly stood up and leaned into him in her relief, ducking her head under his arm and cuddling into his side. It probably felt like snuggling with Michaelangelo's David, except that the perfect marble creature wrapped his arms around her to pull her closer.
"I'm glad you're back." She whispered.
"I'm glad to be back." Edward whispered back to her, resting his cheek on top of her hair, his eyes closing in sadness.
Bella reached for her phone automatically upon awakening. She was alone again; Edward having already left in the early hours of the morning to go hunting. She dialed Jacob's number, hoping he wasn't out running with his friends. Luck was with her – Jacob was the one to answer.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Jake, its me."
"Hi, Bella." Jacob replied, sounding cautious. "What's up? I wasn't expecting to hear from you so soon."
"Nothing's up. I thought I would just check in with you…to make sure you're okay." Bella hated the wobble in her voice. Jeez, she was such a bad liar.
"We didn't fight, Bella." Jacob answered sardonically, seeing through her at once.
"So, what happened?" Bella asked, giving in.
"Didn't your leech tell you?"
"Jacob!" Bella snapped, getting impatient. "You started this whole thing with your insane offer. Tell me what you talked about."
It was silent for a minute until Jacob muttered stupid bloodsucker under his breath.
"Stop calling Edward names." Bella was getting irater by the minute. "He has been so mature about the whole thing, whereas you – "
"Oh, save it, Bells." Jacob cut in irritably. "We talked about you mostly. The usual. We didn't fight. Then he went his way and I went mine. There is nothing more to be said."
"Okay." Bella was relieved. Edward hadn't been hiding the truth from her after all. "Its good that you both managed to have a civil conversation without coming to blows. I call that progress."
"Is the bloodsucker with you right now?"
Bella scowled. "I told you not to call him that. And no, he isn't. He had some business to take care of."
"Yeah, we all know what that means."
"Jake, please, behave. I'll hang up otherwise." Bella threatened.
"Don't do that." Jacob's tone softened. "I'm sorry I'm being such a grouch. Being around Lahote will do that to you."
"Oh, is Paul still hanging around the house?" Bella asked sympathetically.
"Like a bad smell." Jacob sighed. "I could use a distraction to tell you the truth."
"Is that your none too subtle hint that you want me to provide that distraction?" Bella teased, forgetting all about her former annoyance with him.
"Hey, I can be subtle!" Jacob retorted playfully.
"Jake, subtlety isn't in your forte." Bella laughed.
Jacob winced, the word bringing his conversation with Edward to the forefront of his mind. Cullen had told him to be subtle, and here Bella was telling him it was impossible. Not a great start.
"Well, it's good to know you can have a life when he's gone. I thought he might lock you away in his coffin or something."
"I don't think that's even remotely funny." Bella sniffed.
"I was just kidding around, Bella. Why are you being so sensitive suddenly?"
"I don't know." Bella said, peeved. "Maybe its this whole having a baby thing you suggested that has got me all on edge."
Jacob winced again. "Yeah, Bells, honey, about that…"
"Not now, Jake." Bella interrupted before he could continue. "Do you want me to come over or not?"
"Yes, honey, I do." Jacob responded hastily, his husky tones making Bella melt.
"Then I'll come." She said simply.
And just like that they were Jake and Bells again.
As Jacob put down the phone, he heard Paul braying like a mule in the other room. Rachel sat on the old couch beside him, gazing up at him adoringly. Ugh, it was enough to make a guy sick. They were watching some sort of bawdy comedy on the TV-something that Rachel would have protested at in the past-it seemed the imprint had given her a personality transplant along with everything else.
"Jake."
Jacob tensed at the sound of his father's voice. Billy had been trying to pin him down since the day before, after Paul blabbed to Rachel, Rachel of course had blabbed to their father about the whole baby daddy thing he had proposed to Bella. There were no secrets in the Black house. He thought about breaking Paul's nose again, but decided the fall out wasn't worth it. He had other more important things to focus on.
"We need to talk, son." Billy tried again.
Jacob swung around, realizing he had forgotten his father was even there, so preoccupied he had become over Bella's imminent arrival. "I don't have time now. I have to get ready." He said as an excuse.
"For what?" Billy demanded. "You can't keep avoiding this conversation, Jake."
"Its none of your business, Dad. Its between me and Bella."
"You're my son. That makes it my business." Billy replied, his weatherbeaten face looking all concerned.
Jacob hated it when his father used that line. It didn't wash with him anymore. Not when he treated Rachel so differently. She could get away with anything, while he couldn't? It was unfair. He was the one who had stayed. Rachel had run from the res as soon as she got her scholarship, only ever making the odd phone call home here and there to check they were still alive and functioning. Rebecca, his other sister, was no better. His twin sisters definitely had the selfish gene in common. Just because Rachel was an imprint that suddenly meant she deserved special treatment? Not in Jacob's book.
"I'm heading out."
"Where?"
"To meet Bella." Jacob was already heading for the door.
"Jake! Jake!" Billy yelled after him in frustration.
It was too late; Jacob was already gone.
As Jacob fled outside, he blocked out the sound of his father's yells by concentrating on other sounds, like the wind in the trees. It wasn't the same, not through human ears. There were a million voices in the wind that he couldn't hear in this body.
But, still, his human ears were sensitive enough. He could hear past the trees, to the road, the sound of the cars coming around the last bend where you could finally see the beach-the vista of the islands and the rocks and the big blue ocean stretching to the horizon. The La Push cops liked to hang out right around there. Tourists never noticed the reduced speed limit sign on the other side of the road.
Jacob could hear the voices outside the souvenir shop on the beach. He could hear the cowbell clanging as the door opened and closed. He could hear Embry's mom at the cash register, printing out a receipt.
He could hear the tide raking across the beach rocks. He could hear the kids squeal as the icy water rushed in too fast for them to get out of the way. He could hear the moms complain about the wet clothes…and he imagined Bella in their role, getting irritated with their kid, fussing over it the same way the moms on the beach were fussing over theirs.
And the image was suddenly ruined when he heard the burst of Paul's donkey laugh coming from the house. Jacob grimaced, moving further away from the front door, knowing it would be too tempting to go back inside and hit him again. Rachel would be pissed and he wasn't in the mood to deal with his sulky sister.
Jacob ended up on the beach, pacing down the shore, his hands shoved in his pockets. Nobody looked at him twice when he went through the dirt lot by First Beach. That was one nice thing about summer-no one cared if you wore nothing but shorts.
In the distance he heard a familiar voice. It was Quil. He was on the south end of the crescent, avoiding the bigger part of the tourist crowd. He kept up a constant stream of warnings.
"Keep out of the water, Claire. C'mon. No, don't. Oh! Nice, kid. Seriously, do you want Emily to yell at me? I'm not bringing you back to the beach again if you don't – Oh yeah? Don't – ugh! You think that's funny, do you? Hah! Who's laughing now, huh?"
When Jacob spotted them Quil had the giggling toddler by the ankle. Claire had a bucket in her hand, and her jeans were drenched. Quil had a huge wet mark down the front of his t-shirt.
"Five bucks to the baby girl." Jacob quipped as he drew near.
"Hey, Jake."
Claire squealed and threw her bucket at Quil's knees. "Down, down!"
Quil set her carefully on her feet and she ran to Jacob. She wrapped her arms around his leg.
"Unca Jay!"
"How's it going, Claire?"
Claire giggled. "Qwil aaaaawl wet now."
"I can see that. Where's your mama?"
"Gone, gone, gone." Claire sang. "Cwaire pway wid Qwil aaaawl day. Cwaire nebber gowin home." She let go of Jacob's leg and ran to Quil. He scooped her up and slung her onto his shoulders.
"Sounds like somebody has hit the terrible twos."
"Three's actually." Quil corrected. "You missed the party. Princess theme. She made me wear a crown, and then Emily suggested they all try her new play makeup on me."
"Wow, I'm really sorry I missed that, dude." Jacob drawled sarcastically.
Quil smirked slyly. "Maybe it's a shame you did miss it. I mean it would have given you a little insight into what you're letting yourself in for if Bella does agree to your crazy little plan."
Jacob scowled in annoyance. "You're such a patsy."
Quil shrugged. "Claire had a great time. That's all that mattered."
Jacob rolled his eyes. It was hard being around imprinted people. No matter what stage they were in – about to tie the knot like Sam and Emily or just a much-abused nanny like Quil- the peace and certainty they always radiated was downright sickening.
"I know what you're thinking, Jake. And you're wrong." Quil said suddenly.
Jacob frowned. "What am I thinking?"
"You think I'm a fool. Tied to a toddler's whims for the rest of my life. It isn't like that. At least not for me."
Jacob glanced at his friend curiously. It wasn't often Quil brought up his shocking imprint with Claire. When it had first happened, it had stunned the pack, many fearful the same might happen to them. However, over time the fear had lessened. They all had an insight into Quil's mind. His feelings were totally innocent, those of a protective older brother, genuinely wanting the best for Claire's welfare.
"I've had a lot of time to think about why I imprinted on Claire." Quil continued, his expression turning thoughtful.
"And?" Jacob urged.
"Its not like with Sam and Emily." Quil admitted. "Claire keeps me grounded. I don't see myself ending up with her romantically when she's all grown. She will remain a much loved, sometimes annoying, little sister to me." He smiled ruefully. "I know I can be an idiot. That I play the fool too much. I think she came into my life to ground me, to make me take life more seriously, you know? Having her to focus on, to take care of, it's made me grow up, mature."
Jacob could do nothing but nod in agreement. What his friend said make perfect sense.
Claire squealed on Quil's shoulders and pointed at the ground. "Pity wock, Qwil! For me! For me!"
"Which one, kiddo? The red one?"
"No wed!"
Quil dropped to his knees- Claire screamed and pulled his hair like horse's reigns.
"This blue one?"
"No, no, no…" The little girl sang, thrilled with her new game.
Jacob, watching them, thought the weird part was how much fun Quil was having. He didn't have the face that so many of the tourist dads and moms were wearing-the when is naptime? He really was the most perfect, most indulgent, big brother imaginable.
An idea suddenly began to form in Jacob's mind. Cullen had told him to use his brains and be subtle. Well, here was the perfect opportunity to show Bella how much fun being around a kid could be. He grinned, hunkering down next to Quil.
"I need to ask a favor, Quil."
Quil looked at him expectantly. "What can I do for you, man?"
"Let Bella and me spend the day with you and Claire."
Quil burst out into laughter. "As much as I dote on the little terror, Claire can be a bit spoiled. Do you want to take the risk? She might put Bella off?"
"Or she might show Bella what she is going to miss out on. I think the risk is worth it." Jacob decided.
"Its your funeral." Quil shrugged. "Go ahead. Spend the day with us. I don't mind. I could use the help."
"Cool." Jacob said, pushing himself back onto his feet. "I'll go and meet Bella and bring her here."
"Okay, see you soon." Quil said, shaking his head at the absurdity of it all as he watched his friend dash eagerly back the way he had come.
A/N-thanks for reading!
