Troubleshoot

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Rumor Mill

"I don't think there is anything physically wrong with her." Charlie confided to Billy over the phone. "Just exhausted. I'm letting her sleep it off."

There was a short silence as he listened to Billy's reply.

Bella strained to hear what was being said from her position on the sofa. She had been feigning sleep for the last hour while Charlie checked on her.

"It is true." Charlie whispered, keeping his voice as low as possible. "They've all left. Just as abruptly as the last time."

There was another pause in the conversation.

"I don't know too much." Charlie said as he answered Billy's question. "Apparently the offer was very sudden, they had to choose immediately. According to my sources, Carlisle Cullen didn't want to make a big production of it. He wanted their leaving to remain as discreet as possible…considering the gossip that's going to follow because of the cancelled wedding."

Bella didn't want to listen anymore. She felt around for the edge of the quilt that Charlie had thoughtfully laid on top of her, and pulled it over her ear.

She drifted out of alertness. She heard Charlie go back and forth to the phone. As he had predicted the gossip was spreading fast. Forks was a tiny town. Everyone knew everyone else. Something as eventful as the Cullens leaving again under a cloud was bound to curate interest. Add in the news of the cancelled wedding, it was enough to push the rumor mill into overdrive.

"Its none of your business, Mrs. Newton." Charlie raised his voice in irritation. "I have nothing further to add. Good day to you." He slammed down the phone in disgust.

Minutes later it rang again.

"I know as much as you do, Mrs. Stanley." Charlie said sarcastically to Jessica's gossip mongering mother. "I can't stand here talking. I'm busy. Goodbye."

As soon as he put the receiver down in its cradle, the phone went off again. Frustrated, Charlie yanked the wire out of the wall, silencing it immediately.

"If they want me at the station, they can call my cell." He muttered under his breath.

Bella heard the springs in the armchair groan as Charlie settled himself in for the night.

A few minutes later, his cell rang.

"Oh, for fu – " The rest of his curse was lost as he angrily answered the call. "What is it, Mark?" He demanded, talking to his deputy. "This better be an emergency, otherwise I'll make your life a living hell." He got up out of the armchair as he spoke, striding off into the kitchen.

Bella pulled her head deeper into the blankets, trying to drown out her father's voice has he berated his poor deputy. It seemed Mark's mother had been chewing his ear off, eager for her son to use his position to try and wrangle some information out of the police chief.

Eventually Charlie came back into the living room, muttering incoherently under his breath.

Bella sighed, giving up on trying to find any semblance of peace. She pulled the blanket down and peeked up at her father. "What's wrong?" She asked.

Charlie hurried to her side.

"I'm sorry I woke you, kiddo."

"You didn't." Bella lied. "What's going on?"

"Its nothing," Charlie assured her. "Just the usual old biddies spreading malicious gossip. Its nothing for you to worry about. I can handle it."

Bella groaned. She had expected that people would be curious once they found out about the cancelled wedding, but not on this scale. The rumors had circulated as soon as it was learned that the Cullens had hightailed it out of Forks again. She supposed it had provoked so much interest because the wedding had been advertised as such a big production.

Everyone had a vested interest in what had made a couple of teenagers decide to get married so young in the first place. It couldn't be for love. What did kids their age know about that? No, there had to be a more insidious reason. Bella had to be pregnant. That was the first rumor that had been spread. Others, more equally bizarre and ridiculous, had soon followed when it was proved that was not the case.

And now it was all over. Just like that. Edward Cullen had ditched Bella Swan for a second time and left in a great hurry. It was all very odd. Very sinister. The people of Forks decided they deserved to know why. So, the mudslinging had begun.

"They'll get bored eventually, Bells."

Bella stared at him listlessly. "You don't really believe that?"

"It will." Charlie stroked her hair comfortingly. "Soon something else will attract their attention and they'll forget all their ridiculous notions."

"You think?"

"I know." Charlie said with certainty. "I've been through this before, Bells. The same thing happened when your mom upped and left suddenly without a word. The gossip mongers had a field day with that one."

"Oh, Dad!" Bella exclaimed in sympathy. She had never for one moment thought about what Charlie must have endured when Renee left him. To be the subject of small-town gossip once was bad enough. Now she was putting him through it all over again, but on a grander scale. "I'm so sorry. I never meant for all this to happen."

Charlie gazed down at her affectionately. "You don't need to apologize, kiddo. You did the right thing by calling it off. It was a brave thing to do. I'm proud of you."

"I don't feel brave." Bella admitted in a small voice. Agony ripped through her at the memory of Edward's devastated face when she told him it was over.

"Well, you are." Charlie insisted. "Who cares what a few blabber mouths have to say? Their lives must be so boring and empty they have nothing else to think about, so they latch onto others' lives, just to make themselves feel superior for a while."

Bella felt a surge of affection for him. He was such a good father. He loved and cared for her so much. Not for the first time she wished that she had forged a closer relationship with him when she was younger. It had been difficult because of the vast distance and the short spells of time she had with him during the holidays. She was glad that they were making up for it now, though. She didn't know how she would have coped without his unwavering support.

"Thanks, Dad." She whispered, reaching for his hand.

"You're welcome, kiddo." Charlie said, breaking into a smile.


Give us a break! Leah's voice screamed in Jacob's mind.

You're just jealous. Jacob shot back at her.

Sam immediately intervened before things could escalate. He always did when it involved Leah. I'm not jealous, and I am as tired of hearing it as the others. Enough now, Jacob.

Its hard not to think of her.

Try.

What a ridiculous notion? How could he not think of Bella? She was beautiful. She had the loveliest smile. Which had been directed at him as soon as he took her in his arms and comforted her, when he learned that she had finally ditched Cullen on her own terms. He was so proud of her. Pleased that she had come to the realization on her own that the leech was no good for her. He could hear the gentle cadence of her voice confiding in him about it, feel the silkiness of her hair as she rested her head against his bare chest, smell the strawberry shampoo in the shiny brunette strands, taste the salt on her skin as he gently kissed away the lone tear that dribbled down her cheek. What's more, he made her happy. Whole. Something no one else could do. She had told him that over and over. He was hopeful, that once she had the appropriate amount of time to grieve, with patience and understanding, their relationship would finally move in a more romantic direction.

Don't count on it. Leah's sneer broke through Jacob's happy thoughts. Just because she broke up with the leech doesn't automatically guarantee that she will choose your sorry ass.

Jacob swung around and bristled in her direction. Why do you have to be such a bitter harpy?

Then Paul had to chime in, making the situation worse. If he's going to think about the leech lover, he could at least think of something much more interesting than how she smells. He cackled, projecting images of Bella in various stages of undress at Jacob.

Jacob turned away from Leah in a fury, jumping on the silver grey wolf and biting down on his neck. Soon they were fighting in earnest. They were snapping and tearing at each other, their sharp teeth flashing toward each other's throats. The russet wolf, visibly bigger and stronger than the silver grey, soon gained the upper hand. He soon had the grey wolf pinned down under his gigantic paws, snarling viciously.

Then came Sam's stern admonition. Stop this! We have more important things to concentrate on. Just because the main threat is gone, doesn't mean we should be complacent.

I've had enough of this. Jacob decided. I'm not patrolling with this idiot anymore. Its bad enough that's he taken over my house. I refuse to put up with him here as well.

Ooh, someone's feathers have been ruffled. Leah jeered.

Jacob growled once in her direction before loping off. Sam didn't bother to call him back, knowing that it was easier to give him time to cool off. He ordered the others to gather, silencing any further protests with a gagging order.

A/N-thanks for reading!