Troubleshoot

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Ultimatum

As Bella lay there, she had a feeling more time was passing than she realized. She couldn't remember how long she had been walking. She had been in a daze the whole time. Had night fallen already? Surely not. But it was so dark. So murky. There should have been at least some little chinks of light filtering down through the canopy of the trees to find the ground. The storm clouds must be blocking out everything.

Slowly, with great effort, Bella managed to push herself into a sitting position. She felt the rough bark of the tree scrape her back as she leaned against it for support. She was such an idiot. Why hadn't she noticed she had wandered off the beaten path? She had no idea where she was. Or how deep into the forest she had gone. It was so hard to see with no light. The shadowy trees looked menacing. Her fingernails dug into the mossy ground beside her. She shivered, trying to keep the mounting anxiety under control.

That was when the rain started to pelt down in a concentrated rhythm. The wind picked up as if it had been restrained for time out of mind and it was determined to outrun any chaser. Panicked, Bella hugged her knees to her chest. Resting her chin on them, she stared ahead with wide, frightened eyes. This was all too reminiscent of the time she had gotten lost in the woods near her house the day Edward had broken up with her. She had done the exact same thing then, wandered off, not thinking, not keeping a check on where she was headed.

Now here she was. Lost and alone. With only the shelter of the black, hostile trees for company.

Things remained bleak for a long time before she heard him calling.

Jacob was shouting her name. It was muted, muffled by the wet growth that surrounded her. Dazed, confused, weak with anxiety and fear, it took Bella a long time before she was able to summon up the strength to answer.

"Here! Jake, I'm here." She called faintly.

It was the rain that bothered her the most. It was so cold. She unwrapped her arms from around her legs to cover her face.

It was then she heard Jacob calling her name again. It seemed further away to Bella this time. How was that possible? Jacob was an excellent tracker. She had no idea that the heavy rain had washed away all traces of her scent as well as the indents of her footprints in the hard, muddy ground.

Bella tried to breathe deeply to calm her nerves. She needed to shout. To inject more power into her voice. She called out again, but all that came out was a hoarse whisper. The rain continued, and she could feel the water pooling near her feet. She was trying to gather the strength to call out again, when out of nowhere a tall, shadowy figure stepped out of the gloom.

"Bella."

The voice was deep and familiar and so beloved.

Bella stared up – impossibly high it seemed – at the handsome face that she could now see above her. Jacob's face. She was vaguely aware that he looked a hundred feet tall because she was still huddled against the side of the tree on the ground.

"Jacob?" She croaked.

"Yes, it's me, Bella, honey. I'm here."

"I'm so sorry, Jake." Bella sobbed. "I got lost."

"Don't worry about that now. Let's get you out of here."

Jacob's deep, reassuring tones were like auditory caramel to Bella's ears. She whimpered, reaching out to him as he hunkered down beside her.

"Are you hurt?"

Bella shook her head. Jacob's dark eyes appraised her for a second, and then in one quick and supple motion, he pulled her up from the ground and into his arms. Bella curled up against him in relief, seeking his warmth, as he loped swiftly through the forest.

It didn't seem like any time at all before they burst out of the trees. Jacob slowed suddenly, calling out to someone. Bella glanced up, seeing Embry running toward them in the distance.

"I've got her, Em." Jacob called out in a booming voice.

"Is she okay?" Embry asked in concern as he drew up by Jacob's side. "Is she hurt?"

"I don't think so." Jacob replied quickly. "I'm going to get her inside. She's soaked. Thanks for all your help. I owe you one."

"Anytime, Jake." Embry smiled down at Bella. "I hope you feel better soon." He said to her directly.

"Thanks." Bella mumbled.

Embry nodded at Jacob, before taking off again, leaving the two of them alone.

"Oh, thank God, you found her. Bella, are you alright?"

It took Bella a moment to register that the voice belonged to Billy – distorted, as it was now, with worry.

"Billy?" Her voice sounded strange and small.

"Yes, its me, Bella. Do you need anything? Is there anything I can do?"

There was shifting sensation under her as Jacob gently lay her down on the couch. The sudden loss of his warmth made her cry out. She clung to him, not wanting to let go.

"I'm here, honey." Jacob assured her. "But you're all wet. I need to get you a change of clothes."

"I'm fine." Bella objected feebly. "Don't leave me."

"You stay with her, Jake." Billy offered. "I'll get them. I'll fetch some blankets too."

"Fine." There was a bitter edge to Jacob's tone as he answered.

Bella heard Billy emit a soft sigh, before the squeal of the rubber tires of his wheelchair on the wooden flooring indicated his leaving.

"Bella." Jacob said in a low voice. "Can you tell me what happened?"

It took a minute for Bella to think this through. She was confused, the memory of why she had entered the forest fading from her mind. "I got lost."

Jacob's eyes were troubled as he examined her face. "I know that, honey. You didn't hit your head when you fell, did you? I'm worried you may have concussion or something."

"Did I fall?" Bella murmured in bewilderment.

"I found you huddled against the base of a tree, Bells." Jacob explained. "The palms of your hands are scraped up, which is indicative of a fall of some kind." He checked her over again, looking for signs of a head wound. "I can't see any blood matted in your hair or anything. Just dirt and leaves. It looks like you probably fell forward onto your hands and knees. You've got mud patches on your jeans."

"I think I tripped." Bella thought hard, trying to remember. "It was so dark. So cold."

Jacob's warm hand touched her forehead lightly. "You don't seem to be running a fever or anything." He murmured.

"How would you be able to tell?" Bella gazed up at him groggily, a half-smile on her face. "Hot as you are."

"Well, your sense of humors coming back. I guess that's a good sign."

Billy returned with a change of clothes and some thick, woolen blankets. "Will these do?" He asked Jacob.

"Yes." Jacob replied curtly.

Bella raised her head from where it was resting on Jacob's lap. The air was so brittle, it could snap. Billy had a look of remorse on his face as he gazed pleadingly at his son. Jacob ignored him, draping one of the blankets over Bella, and tucking it in around her.

"What's going on?" Bella asked.

"Nothing for you to worry about." Jacob's smile didn't quite reach his eyes as he looked down at her.

"I will worry." Bella struggled to rise. Now she was warm again, she was regaining some of her strength. "Is this about me?"

Jacob glanced at his father in annoyance when Billy nodded. "Couldn't you just let her rest for five minutes?"

"No. I need to say this." Billy insisted. He wheeled his chair closer to the couch. "Bella, I must apologize. I think you took what I said earlier out of context."

"This is your apology?" Jacob snapped. "It sounds like you're trying to weasel out of taking the blame."

"Jake!" Bella cautioned.

"No, Bells, this has to be said." Jacob continued, his tone harsh and unforgiving. "This has been going on long enough. I will have my say."

Billy's expression turned wary. "Jake, I hardly think now is an appropriate time. Whatever you have to say can wait. We have Bella to think about."

"Don't use Bella as an excuse." Jacob retorted. "Its funny how you have no trouble telling her what you think, but when it comes to your own daughter and that ass Lahote, you seem to lose your nerve."

"Please don't bring your sister into this." Billy begged. "The situation is delicate. And you need to learn to accept Paul. He is part of this family now that he and your sister are together."

"Just because they are imprinted, doesn't mean that automatically gives them some sort of special status."

Jacob would not be put off. The anger and frustration had been building in him for a long time. This was his home and he had practically been driven out of it, all because his father refused to stand up to the couple's selfish and abhorrent behavior.

"You need to set some ground rules. Tell Rachel and Paul that they can't just do what they like, when they like. Tell them that they need to start contributing financially, that they can't just raid the cupboards and help themselves to everything. We can't afford it. Your disability check only goes so far. The money I make from cash in hand jobs fixing up people's cars is not enough to make up the short fall."

"Jake, its not that easy – "

"Oh, stop with the excuses, Dad!" Jacob exploded, losing his temper completely. "Stop being scared to confront Rachel just because you think she might leave again. If she does, then that's on her. You seem to forget I'm the one who stayed. She left. Just like Rebecca. You can't keep hiding out at the Clearwaters. You either tell Rachel and Paul how it is, or I leave. The choice is yours."

Bella lay frozen on the couch, not sure what to do. She had never seen Jacob so angry. Not with Billy anyway. They had always been so close. Should she intervene or not? She waited it out, deciding ultimately that Jacob needed to get this off his chest. She couldn't help but be in complete agreement with him. Billy was being cowardly by not confronting Rachel over her selfish behavior. She was taking her family for granted. It wasn't fair on Jacob. Billy needed to man up and face up to his daughter.

Billy's face was ashen. "You don't mean that, son." He whispered.

"I do." Jacob stated firmly. "Either you make some changes around here or I'm gone."

A/N-thanks for reading!