Impasse

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Home Again

Two weeks later and Bella was finally out of the hospital and living back home in Forks with Charlie. The first few days had proven to be a big adjustment for father and daughter. Because of the extent of her injuries, Bella needed help with washing and dressing. Having no female relatives close by or any friends (ones that she remembered) to call upon for help, Bella panicked she was going to have to rely on Charlie to assist her. The thought was untenable.

Thankfully Jacob's father, Billy, had taken it upon himself to sort out this very delicate but pressing problem. He approached Sue Clearwater, the wife of their very good friend Harry, for advice on Charlie's behalf. Sue, being a nurse, was a pragmatic person. She immediately set to work, offering her services and that of her daughter, Leah. She came over every morning before work to help Bella bathe and get dressed. If she couldn't come herself, Leah came over in her stead.

Bella found Sue easygoing and practical. The older woman was self-assured and caring, and very empathetic to Bella's needs. She made the transition from hospital to home run so smoothly that Bella was able to relax, her recuperation coming on in leaps and bounds.

Leah, on the other hand, was a whole different kettle of fish. Where Sue was kind and empathetic, her daughter was brusque and impatient to the point of rudeness. Bella was nearly in tears the first time that Leah took over from her mother. She tutted irritably every time Bella struggled or took too long doing something. It wasn't only her harsh manner that Bella found intimidating. It was her looks, too. Leah was beautiful in an exotic way. She had perfect copper skin and eyelashes like feather dusters they were so long, and being around 5'10" tall, she seemed to dwarf Bella's 5' 2" frame.

Bella complained to Jacob about Leah's bad attitude on one of his daily visits. He made a point of coming to see her every day after school. She looked forward to seeing him. His visits were the highlight of her day.

"She's so rude! She said that she had seen sloths move faster than I do. I'm like – "Hey, girl, I'm the one with the broken leg!""

Bella gestured frantically to her foot that was still securely encased in plaster.

Jacob tried to stifle a laugh. Bella looked too cute all riled up. Her cheeks were flushed champagne pink. The color infused skin dimpled with the blossoming grimace, her chocolate brown eyes reflecting the remembered indignation that the memory brought her.

"And then this morning she had the audacity to say I was eating my cornflakes too loudly – that the crunch, crunch noise was giving her an earache- she said I looked like a cow chewing its cud. I mean is she for real? Who says stuff like that? I mean she's constantly checking her phone in case her precious Sam calls. Ugh, she talks about him non-stop, its aggravating. She speaks as if he's like some god among men. He looked pretty average to me when she showed me the picture she had of him on her lock screen…."

Jacob couldn't keep it in any longer. Laughter erupted from him like ripples in a still pond after a stone has been thrown in. It radiated outwards through the room, interrupting Bella mid-rant. She stared at him in surprise, her mouth closing like a steel trap.

"I'm sorry, Bells." Jacob gasped between guffaws. He could feel the lack of breath throughout his body, forcing his lungs to work harder as they battled to draw in air. "I don't mean to laugh. I know its not funny, but - "

"But what?" Bella cut in irritably. "I don't find anything humorous about my situation at all." She sniffed indignantly. "And if you're just going to make a joke of it you can leave."

She looked so sulky and offended that it only made Jacob laugh harder. He couldn't help it. Even pouting like she was, to him she looked utterly adorable. The noise that burst forth from him was like a cross between a snort and a drunken cough, which only infuriated Bella further.

"I am glad that you find me so amusing, Jacob." Bella huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I don't – honestly, its not you. Its what you s…said."

Tears were forming in his eyes now, his gales of laughter getting louder and louder.

"Wow, you really are something. Here I am suffering the worst time of my life since I've moved to Forks – "

"You can't remember anything, so how would you know." Jacob interrupted breathlessly.

That stumped Bella. She stared at him, her expression half angry, half frustrated. She opened her mouth to issue a retort and then closed it again when she realized he was right. After another minute of resentful silence on her end, Jacob's laughter finally worked its way through the black cloud hanging over her head and lightened her mood. Despite her initial annoyance, she found herself laughing along with him.

"Idiot!"

"Sure, sure." Jacob agreed, sucking in a lungful of air as he tried to calm himself down.

Eventually their shared mirth died down, considering how stressed she had been feeling, Bella had to concede that Jacob's childish eruption of pure glee was the gift she didn't know she needed. She felt a lot calmer and more relaxed now.

"I guess I needed that." She confessed.

"Me, too." Jacob sat up straighter, wiping the tears of laughter from his cheeks. "Feeling better?"

"Yes."

"You shouldn't worry about Leah, you know." Jacob continued; his tone more serious now. "Its just her way. She doesn't mean anything by it. She's always been the type who lacks patience and doesn't suffer fools gladly. You should hear her when she rips Sam a new one."

"He must be either deaf or a very patient guy if Leah bosses him around like she did me." Bella snarked.

"He's neither. He comes across as quite aloof, actually." Jacob said thoughtfully. He suddenly broke out into a wide grin. "And you're right, he is pretty average."

Bella smiled back at him. She felt so comfortable around him in a way she had never been with anyone else in her life before. Jacob was simply a perpetually happy person, and he carried that happiness with him. Like an earthbound sun, whenever someone was in his gravitational pull, Jacob warmed them. It was natural, a part of who he was. No wonder she was so eager to see him every day.

Just as she was thinking this, his next question brought her back to reality with a crashing bump.

"Have you heard from Cullen since you got back?"

Bella sighed, feeling the familiar tension coil inside her stomach whenever the subject of Edward was brought up. "Several times, but Charlie has kept him away. One time he brought his sister with him – Alice I think her name was. She offered to come over in the mornings to help me get ready, but Charlie gave her short shrift and told her he had already made the necessary arrangements."

"He's not good at getting the message, is he?" Jacob frowned. "He sounds like a butt head. I think you're well rid."

"I just don't remember anything about him and the little I do know makes me uncomfortable. I don't know what I was thinking going out with him." Bella's expression turned troubled. "I start therapy soon. Sue Clearwater recommended this trauma therapist. He is meant to have more experience and training in trauma and uses certain techniques and strategies that help people like me overcome their challenges and heal from the effects of what happened."

"That's good, isn't it?" Jacob coaxed gently. "I know you were worried about remembering, but it will probably happen whether you want it to or not. At least this way it will be in a safe and controlled environment. And this guy can give you some coping strategies for when it happens."

"Maybe…" Bella murmured; she didn't sound convinced. "I made Charlie promise not to make me go, though, not until I'm fully healed from my injuries."

"You know best." Jacob didn't push it. It was obvious how ambivalent she was feeling about the whole therapy thing. He was regretting bringing up the subject of Cullen, mentioning his name had certainly brought the mood down. Although, Jacob had to admit he was secretly pleased that Bella was showing no signs of being enamored with her former boyfriend again. Even Billy was relieved that the relationship was over, for different reasons.

Taking advantage of the lull in the conversation, Jacob looked around the front room, hoping to find some inspiration to change the subject. He wanted to distract Bella from her dark thoughts about Edward Cullen and her growing anxiety about the therapy looming on the horizon. His eyes landed on a vaseful of flowers. Their once beautiful petals were curling at the edges which showed they must be at least a couple of weeks old. They were quite pretty, like miniature sunflowers. It was a shame they were dying off already, their stalks were limp, the whole arrangement looking tired. Jacob didn't remember seeing them on his previous visits. Maybe they had been moved from another room.

"They're nice." He said to Bella.

Bella wrinkled her nose a little, as if the flowers transitory beauty offended her in some way. Jacob regarded her curiously, wondering why such a beautiful gift would bother her.

"Don't you like flowers?"

"It depends who they're from." Bella answered cryptically.

"Oh, Bells, tell me they're not from Cullen?" Jacob questioned in disbelief.

"You got it in one." Bella sighed again. "He sends a new bunch every day – each bouquet more extravagant than the next. These were the first ones he sent me. I rather liked them, until I realized who they were from. Sue put them in a vase in my room but once I found out he sent them, I made Charlie move them down here. The others I make sure he turns away."

"Jeez, he really doesn't give up, does he?"

"I feel like he's stalking me at this point. I know its ridiculous. Its only flowers…but…he just makes me feel so uneasy. He hasn't really done anything; I can't really put it into words." Bella shifted awkwardly, her anxious gaze darting around the room as if she expected Edward Cullen to leap out at her from the shadows. "I know its silly." She continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "But its like I can feel him watching me, listening to every word I say. I turn around sometimes in my room, expecting to catch a glimpse of him. I never do, of course. I know it's just my overactive imagination." She laughed nervously. "Jeez, you must think I'm insane."

"I don't." Jacob said, his expression all seriousness. "Have you told Charlie how you feel?"

Bella shrugged. "He's got enough to deal with. I don't want to freak him out anymore than I already have. Its nothing. I'm just letting my silly fears mess with my head. Its hard when you've got entire months' worth of memories missing. I want to remember and then I don't." She paused, biting down on her lower lip pensively.

"Hey, Bells, I get it." Jacob said as he reached for her hands. He cradled them both in his own gently, giving her the reassurance she so badly needed. "Just remember you're not alone. We're all here for you. You should trust Charlie with the truth, he might surprise you by how understanding he is."

Bella felt comforted by his warm touch and his soothing voice. He always knew how to make her feel better. "Thanks, Jake. I know I keep saying it, but I don't know what I would do without you."

"You can count on me, Bella. I promise I will always be here for you." Jacob squeezed her hands as he gifted her with another one of his sunny smiles.

A/N-thanks for reading!