Impasse
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.
Aftermath
"Daddy?" Bella's voice sounded strange to her own ears. She was suddenly a toddler again – so very young and vulnerable.
There was a shifting underneath her, followed by the familiar comforting smell of her father's sheriff jacket. Charlie staggered under her weight as he carried her carefully down the stairs.
He walked slowly, struggling. Bella wished she had the energy to tell him to put her down and let her walk, but she couldn't find the will to speak. She felt so lethargic.
Eventually Charlie managed to get her through the living room doorway and onto the couch.
"Daddy, I don't feel so good." Bella said feebly as she fell back against the cushions.
"It's going to be alright, kiddo. Dr. Gerandy is here to see you." Charlie said gruffly. "He'll give you some kind of tonic and you'll feel much better."
"Bella?" A new voice asked.
Bella looked up blearily at the gray-haired man leaning over her. She stared at him blankly, not recognizing him at all.
"I'm Dr. Gerandy." The gray-haired man explained. "Are you hurt, Bella?"
It took Bella a minute to think that through. She was confused, disorientated. And hot! So damn hot!
Dr. Gerandy was waiting. One grizzled eyebrow rose, and the wrinkles on his forehead deepened.
"I'm not hurt." Bella mumbled. The words were true enough for what he'd asked.
The doctor's warm hand touched her forehead, and his fingers pressed against the inside of her wrist. Bella watched his lips dully as he counted to himself, his eyes on his watch.
"What happened to you?" He asked casually.
Bella froze under his hands, tasting panic in the back of her throat.
"Charlie said Edward Cullen brought you home. Did you hurt yourself…. or did he hurt you?" He prodded cautiously. "You can tell us, Bella. There is no judgement here."
Charlie leaned in closer to hear her answer.
"Edward." She whispered, her tongue darting out to moisten her dry lips. "He – he – is not who he says he is."
The doctor nodded, thoughtful, his fingers probing gently under the glands under her jaw.
Charlie's face hardened behind him.
"What do you mean by that, kiddo?"
Bella swallowed thickly, struggling to form words around the lump that had formed in her throat. "He's a f-fraud."
"Fraud?" Charlie questioned. "What….?"
"Hush, Charlie, I think Bella is a little delirious." Dr. Gerandy interrupted. "Do you feel tired?" This question was directed to Bella.
Bella nodded and closed her eyes obediently.
"Her temperature is quite high. She is definitely running a fever." She heard the doctor mutter to Charlie after a moment. "I wouldn't take too much notice of what she's saying. We all know that all of Dr. Cullen's children are respectful and – "
"Do we?" Charlie cut in harshly. "Are you forgetting about Bella's accident?"
"That was all explained. You said so yourself at the time." Dr. Gerandy was beginning to sound a little harassed.
"I said no such thing!"
"Look, Charlie, I wouldn't advise you to make too big a deal out of this. Remember that Carlisle Cullen has done a lot for this community. Not only is he an exemplary physician, he has donated large sums of money to several important charities. Bella is just suffering with the usual types of illnesses that all teenagers get at this time of year. It was good of Edward to bring her home from school when she fell ill, don't you think? Perhaps we should be thanking him."
Bella heard Charlie mutter something unintelligible under his breath.
"Just let her sleep it off." Dr. Gerandy continued. "I'll come and check on her tomorrow."
"Fine." Charlie agreed in the same curt tone.
There was a creaking sound as they both pushed off the couch to get to their feet.
Bella drifted in and out of alertness. She heard Charlie make several phone calls, but none of what he said registered. Then a little while later she heard the springs in his recliner groan as he settled himself in for the night to watch over her.
However, a few minutes later, the phone rang and disturbed the fragile peace.
Charlie moaned as he struggled to his feet again, and then he rushed, stumbling, to the kitchen. Bella pulled her head deeper under the blankets, not wanting to listen.
"Yeah." Charlie said, and yawned. "Oh, hi, Billy."
There were a few minutes of silence as he listened to what Billy had to say.
"How did you hear about that?" He sounded surprised.
Another beat of silence.
"Sam Uley, huh?" Charlie still didn't sound convinced. "Bells is okay, just exhausted and a bit feverish. I called Dr. Gerandy just to give me peace of mind. He just seems to think it's the usual illnesses that kids get at this time of year."
More silence as he listened to Billy's reply.
"Yes, it was the Cullen boy who brought her home from school. Why do you ask?"
Suddenly, there was an edge to his voice – irritation…. or anger.
"Hell, Billy, of course I'm suspicious. Although Gerandy tried to make light of it, which didn't surprise me. He gets on well with Carlisle – won't hear a bad word about him or his family."
A short pause followed.
"Yes, I know I said the same not that long ago- that was before my daughter ended up in the ER with a broken leg and amnesia." Charlie snapped. "If you're just ringing to tell me I told you so, then you can stick it, Billy Black."
Another short pause.
"I know, I know you wouldn't do that!" Charlie admitted grudgingly after listening to Billy's answer. "Bells was saying such strange things – a lot of it was incoherent – but she said that Edward Cullen isn't who he says he is, that's he a fraud. What do you think she means by that?"
The pause was longer this time as he listened carefully to Billy's answer.
"I don't know, Billy. Gerandy was insistent that I just let the matter drop, but I don't agree. I'm going to do a little digging on the Cullen family and see what turns up."
More silence.
"You want to send Jake up? What now?" Charlie sounded surprised. "It's late, Billy. It can wait until the morning."
Bella's ears perked up when she heard him mention Jacob. He continued to insist that it was too late and that Jacob could call around tomorrow if she was feeling better, until she eventually interrupted his tirade with a weak plea for Jacob to come over.
"Bells, you're not well." Charlie debated, hesitating.
"Please, Dad, please. I want to see him. I need to." Bella sobbed.
"Okay, kiddo, calm yourself down." Charlie finally agreed, getting more flustered at the sight of the tears welling in her eyes. "Go on then, Billy, send your boy up. But he can't stay long."
Another short pause.
"Yeah, I'll talk to you later." Charlie mumbled, before hanging up.
He was still mumbling incoherently under his breath when he shuffled back to the living room.
"Are you sure you're feeling up to seeing Jacob tonight?" He asked, hurrying to Bella's side.
"Yes." Bella whispered faintly.
The burning pain that had started in her right wrist had now taken hold all over her body. It felt like it was even affecting a portion of her brain, the part that dealt with coherent thoughts. It was as if some invisible flame was being held against her skin, her emotions seesawing from outright fear to trepidation as she waited for Jacob's arrival.
She didn't have to wait long.
Not five minutes after Charlie had ended the call to Billy, Jacob rushed through the back door, bypassed a shocked Charlie, and hastened to Bella's side. He knelt next to the couch and took her limp hand in his.
"Oh, honey, are you okay?"
"I am now." Bella murmured, tears of relief rolling down her hot cheeks. "I'm so sorry, Jake. I really am."
"Hush, none of that matters now." Jacob said soothingly.
Charlie eyed Jacob's half naked form doubtfully. "How did you get here so fast, kid? Please tell me you weren't speeding? And surely you could have taken a moment to put your shirt on!" He admonished him.
Jacob seemed a little dazed. He took a steadying breath and looked up at Charlie. "Oh, yeah, I'm sorry. I was just so worried about Bella. I'll remember next time."
Charlie shook his head in disbelief. "You can borrow one of mine." He offered reluctantly. He strolled out of the living room with many a backward glance, muttering something about 'teenagers.'
When he was out of sight Jacob returned his attention to Bella, his face shifting from hopelessness to blazing intensity in a second. He gazed fiercely into Bella's eyes, and his voice was fast and eager as he spoke, his breath as hot as his skin. It matched the fever burning through Bella.
"You feel almost as hot as me." He remarked worriedly. "Can you tell me what happened, Bella? The blonde-haired leech intercepted Sam while he was patrolling and told him that you needed me."
Bella sucked in a startled breath, surprised that Rosalie had taken the risk of tracking down one of the pack on her behalf to let them know she was in trouble. She could only imagine what it must have cost her. A grudging respect for Rosalie made itself felt in her heart. She owed her one.
Blinking twice, trying to clear her head, she tried to tell Jacob in halting sentences about what had happened. She was just so very tired.
Sensing her struggle, Jacob took her face in his enormous, too warm hands and held it just a few inches from his. He stared into her eyes, trying to communicate everything he was feeling without words.
"Now can you understand why I put off telling you the truth now?" He said huskily. "I was worried about this exact outcome. And it seems I was right."
"I've been an idiot." Bella sobbed wretchedly. "I should never have pushed you away. I am so sorry."
"Its okay, honey." Jacob pressed his forehead to hers and closed his eyes. After a minute he opened them again and leaned back. He took her hand in his and caressed her palm gently with his thumb. "You know I don't know whether to thank Blondie or kill her for dumping all of this on you. I'd question her motives, but the fact that she hunted down Sam and told him what she'd done makes me think she has your best interests at heart, unlike Cullen."
Bella inhaled deeply, struggling. "I've been fighting it, Jacob. My subconscious has been trying to force me to remember, I was just too traumatised to confront it. That's what all the nightmares were about."
"And you remember everything now?" Jacob asked cautiously.
Bella shook her head. "Only fragments. A lot of it doesn't make any sense."
"And what about Cullen? Do you remember anything about your relationship with him?" Jacob spoke as if he had something lodged in his throat.
"No." Bella shook her head again. "Nothing, really. All I feel when I'm around him is the usual fear."
"That's a normal human reaction." Jacob emitted a sigh of relief as he let go of her hand and gathered her close.
Bella nodded mutely as she pressed her cheek against his bare chest. Closing her eyes she breathed him in. Jacob smelled like the forest after a rainstorm – clean and fresh. Natural. Safe. He kissed her forehead and she sagged against him in relief.
Their brief intimacy was shattered when Charlie reappeared carrying one of his old hunting shirts. He had been having difficulty finding something that would fit Jacob because he was so darn big. He cleared his throat loudly to announce his arrival, causing them to separate immediately.
"Here." He said gruffly, flinging the thick, red plaid shirt at Jacob. "Put this on."
"Thanks, Charlie." Jacob replied reluctantly as he shrugged it on. The buttons strained at the material as he attempted to fasten them. One actually pinged off, causing Charlie to roll his eyes.
"It's getting late, kid. Maybe you should head on home so Bella can get some rest."
Bella's head and stomach began to churn at the thought of Jacob leaving. She was too frightened to sleep. She knew that as soon as she closed her eyes, the terrifying images of James' attack would begin to haunt her. She didn't think she would be able to cope without Jacob there to comfort her and make her feel safe.
Jacob must have seen the change of colour on her face as he stood, pulling Charlie to one side, having a hurried whispered conversation with the older man out of earshot of Bella.
Charlie frowned, glancing over at his daughter once or twice, before resuming listening to Jacob. This carried on for so long that Bella felt her teeth clench together with tension. Eventually she noticed Charlie's shoulders sag as he gave in and agreed to let Jacob stay over until the morning.
"No talking. Just sleep." Charlie stated firmly. "Bella needs to rest. I'll be just upstairs – call me if you need anything."
"Will do." Jacob promised earnestly.
With a heavy sigh, Charlie lumbered over to Bella, and bent down to drop a kiss on her forehead. "Get some sleep, kiddo." He said gently. "Jake says he'll stay overnight and keep you company, okay."
Bella nodded mutely.
"Alright, then." Charlie stood back up, groaning as he stretched his lower back muscles. "You'll have to make do with the recliner, kid." He said to Jacob.
"I don't mind." Jacob said, barely sparing Charlie's favourite chair a glance. He had no intention of using it anyway.
"Well, goodnight." Charlie said awkwardly as he finally took his leave and left the two of them alone.
A/N-thanks for reading!