Arrested By You
by SparklingFae
All rights belong to SM, I just like to play with them. Major thanks to my beta NCChris. Please bear with me on my updates, end of semester for me and my beta both over the next 3 weeks approximately.
Bella POV
I could feel the tears as they slid down my cheeks while I looked down at Charlie. He was so frail and weak; this was not how I remembered my dad being. He had always been such a strong man. With a choked sob, I turned into Sam's chest, the only comfort available. My shoulders shook as I let the tears flow. It broke my heart to see my only family like that. I couldn't lose my dad, I just couldn't.
I finally calmed down enough to look back over at him. There were so many wires around him! Each rise and fall of his chest and hiss from the ventilator they had him on was like a knife piercing me straight through the heart. I was so overwhelmed that I barely noticed as Sam touched my shoulder and told me he would be by later to check on me. I nodded absently, still watching my dad.
I hesitantly approached Dad’s bedside and sat down beside him, my breath coming out in a small whimper.
"I don't know if you can hear me, Dad, but I am here. Sam did good by you. He came all the way from Seattle down to San Francisco and got me." My voice broke as I spoke and I swallowed before continuing on. "I came home, Dad. I came home just for you. I am here to stay. I am sorry I left you before. I had to. There were so many bad memories, but I've learned something while I was away. I learned that you can't run away from your problems even if they hurt. You taught me that, Dad, even if you don't even know you did. I love you. I know I never said it really, but I do."
I drew in a shuddering breath and lay my head down next to him as I sobbed; the tears ran like rivers down my face.
That’s how I was when Sam came back. I had long since stopped crying as I was emotionally worn out, but I was still there next to my dad. I had not moved except to get up and use the restroom. I had not even bothered to eat when offered lunch. I just wanted to be next to the man who had given me life. I said silent prayers in hopes that I was heard and he would get better quickly.
"Bella", Sam said as he walked over to stand behind me, his hand resting on my shoulder in a comforting gesture, "Let's go get you something to eat."
His voice was tender, but did not hold much room for discussion. I was nonplussed at his command, but I agreed and, after leaning over and carefully placing a kiss on Charlie's forehead, I followed Sam down to the cafeteria. Sam grabbed my hand and I felt comforted just by the small touch he offered. After such an emotional day, I was ready to go home and just crawl in bed.
Sam pulled me from my thoughts as he spoke. "I have been thinking…", he said, "I was wondering if you would like to come stay with me until your dad gets out of the hospital."
I stared in mute silence for a moment before I gathered my senses.
"Are you sure I wouldn't be in the way?" I asked, hesitant, but willing to admit to myself that the company would be welcome and I could get to know him. What I felt when I was near him was persistent and definitely had my interest piqued.
I realized he was still waiting for me to officially answer, so with a quiet intake of breath, I told him, "I would like that Sam."
I could see his relief and it made me relax and offer a tentative smile. I was quickly becoming entrenched back into the supernatural, but I was older and wiser now. I was not going to let it dominate my life like I had in the past. Whatever this was between us would be taken slowly. I needed it just as much as he did. I knew he was still struggling with the death of Emily and I could understand that. It took me nearly three years and the better half of my college experience to get over Edward and Jake.
I was pulled from my thoughts when Sam squeezed my hand, a questioning look on his face. "I'm okay, Sam. It's just been a long day."
My throat tightened as I spoke, thinking of Charlie lying upstairs with wires all around him, but I wasn't going to let myself breakdown right now. I knew I needed to eat; instead I nibbled and pushed my food around. Sam made light conversation, telling me tales of Charlie and Billy's infamous fishing endeavors. I listened, glad to have something take my mind off of the current issue. As I listened, I could see Billy just out of orneriness pushing my dad out of the boat when Charlie wasn't paying attention. It brought a smile to my lips and warmed my heart a little.
I needed to go speak to Billy, not just to make peace with the man who was like a second father to me, but to see if there was the possibility of a job that was right for what I had earned a degree in.
I wasn't exactly hungry, so I grabbed a to-go box as I murmured to Sam, "You ready to go?"
He nodded and I finished putting my food in the box, before pausing and looking up at him.
"Let me go speak to Charlie's nurse then I will be ready."
I think he did it unconsciously, but it felt good to have his hand resting on the small of my back as we headed back upstairs to ICU.
The nurse reassured me over Charlie's care and, before I knew it, Sam had pulled up to Charlie's place.
"Figured you might want to grab some of your things," he stated in his rough baritone.
I could feel a small blush color my cheeks as I gave a nod and slipped out of the truck. Just his voice alone was enough to make my breath want to hitch. This man, Sam Uley, was everything a man should be and then some. I quickly gathered some clothes and my bathroom items and headed back out to his truck.
"I'm ready," I said with a soft smile.
He cranked the truck again and we were on the way to La Push. When we pulled up to Sam's house, I was surprised at how quaint and homey looking it was.
He looked a little nervous as he stammered out, "Emily…she did all this…"
He looked away and I knew he was struggling. I placed my hand on his arm, patting it gently and walked towards the door, intending to allow him some space, instead I was pulled into a warm, muscled chest, his arms wound around me in a fierce hug. I was surprised, but I hugged him back, the emotion of the day rising and tears began to spill out of my eyes all over again. He just held me, offering me comfort and I doing the same for him as I cried. After what felt like an hour, but I am sure as only minutes, we both managed to get ourselves together.
He gave me a slight smile and I wiped my eyes, whispering in a raspy tone. "It's been a long day, Sam. I think the both of us could use some sleep.”
He nodded and with a kiss to his cheek, I started into the house, calling over my shoulder, "Show me to the guest bedroom, please?"
I could feel his eyes on me and it made my inner goddess preen some. He came up behind me, his hand resting against my back, and ushered me toward the guest room.
"Thank you, Sam," I tiredly spoke, my eyes sweeping the room.
I was glad to be here and dead on my feet practically. After telling him goodnight, I rushed through my nightly routine and was out like a light the moment my head hit the pillow.
Bella POV
I could feel the tears as they slid down my cheeks while I looked down at Charlie. He was so frail and weak; this was not how I remembered my dad being. He had always been such a strong man. With a choked sob, I turned into Sam's chest, the only comfort available. My shoulders shook as I let the tears flow. It broke my heart to see my only family like that. I couldn't lose my dad, I just couldn't.
I finally calmed down enough to look back over at him. There were so many wires around him! Each rise and fall of his chest and hiss from the ventilator they had him on was like a knife piercing me straight through the heart. I was so overwhelmed that I barely noticed as Sam touched my shoulder and told me he would be by later to check on me. I nodded absently, still watching my dad.
I hesitantly approached Dad’s bedside and sat down beside him, my breath coming out in a small whimper.
"I don't know if you can hear me, Dad, but I am here. Sam did good by you. He came all the way from Seattle down to San Francisco and got me." My voice broke as I spoke and I swallowed before continuing on. "I came home, Dad. I came home just for you. I am here to stay. I am sorry I left you before. I had to. There were so many bad memories, but I've learned something while I was away. I learned that you can't run away from your problems even if they hurt. You taught me that, Dad, even if you don't even know you did. I love you. I know I never said it really, but I do."
I drew in a shuddering breath and lay my head down next to him as I sobbed; the tears ran like rivers down my face.
That’s how I was when Sam came back. I had long since stopped crying as I was emotionally worn out, but I was still there next to my dad. I had not moved except to get up and use the restroom. I had not even bothered to eat when offered lunch. I just wanted to be next to the man who had given me life. I said silent prayers in hopes that I was heard and he would get better quickly.
"Bella", Sam said as he walked over to stand behind me, his hand resting on my shoulder in a comforting gesture, "Let's go get you something to eat."
His voice was tender, but did not hold much room for discussion. I was nonplussed at his command, but I agreed and, after leaning over and carefully placing a kiss on Charlie's forehead, I followed Sam down to the cafeteria. Sam grabbed my hand and I felt comforted just by the small touch he offered. After such an emotional day, I was ready to go home and just crawl in bed.
Sam pulled me from my thoughts as he spoke. "I have been thinking…", he said, "I was wondering if you would like to come stay with me until your dad gets out of the hospital."
I stared in mute silence for a moment before I gathered my senses.
"Are you sure I wouldn't be in the way?" I asked, hesitant, but willing to admit to myself that the company would be welcome and I could get to know him. What I felt when I was near him was persistent and definitely had my interest piqued.
I realized he was still waiting for me to officially answer, so with a quiet intake of breath, I told him, "I would like that Sam."
I could see his relief and it made me relax and offer a tentative smile. I was quickly becoming entrenched back into the supernatural, but I was older and wiser now. I was not going to let it dominate my life like I had in the past. Whatever this was between us would be taken slowly. I needed it just as much as he did. I knew he was still struggling with the death of Emily and I could understand that. It took me nearly three years and the better half of my college experience to get over Edward and Jake.
I was pulled from my thoughts when Sam squeezed my hand, a questioning look on his face. "I'm okay, Sam. It's just been a long day."
My throat tightened as I spoke, thinking of Charlie lying upstairs with wires all around him, but I wasn't going to let myself breakdown right now. I knew I needed to eat; instead I nibbled and pushed my food around. Sam made light conversation, telling me tales of Charlie and Billy's infamous fishing endeavors. I listened, glad to have something take my mind off of the current issue. As I listened, I could see Billy just out of orneriness pushing my dad out of the boat when Charlie wasn't paying attention. It brought a smile to my lips and warmed my heart a little.
I needed to go speak to Billy, not just to make peace with the man who was like a second father to me, but to see if there was the possibility of a job that was right for what I had earned a degree in.
I wasn't exactly hungry, so I grabbed a to-go box as I murmured to Sam, "You ready to go?"
He nodded and I finished putting my food in the box, before pausing and looking up at him.
"Let me go speak to Charlie's nurse then I will be ready."
I think he did it unconsciously, but it felt good to have his hand resting on the small of my back as we headed back upstairs to ICU.
The nurse reassured me over Charlie's care and, before I knew it, Sam had pulled up to Charlie's place.
"Figured you might want to grab some of your things," he stated in his rough baritone.
I could feel a small blush color my cheeks as I gave a nod and slipped out of the truck. Just his voice alone was enough to make my breath want to hitch. This man, Sam Uley, was everything a man should be and then some. I quickly gathered some clothes and my bathroom items and headed back out to his truck.
"I'm ready," I said with a soft smile.
He cranked the truck again and we were on the way to La Push. When we pulled up to Sam's house, I was surprised at how quaint and homey looking it was.
He looked a little nervous as he stammered out, "Emily…she did all this…"
He looked away and I knew he was struggling. I placed my hand on his arm, patting it gently and walked towards the door, intending to allow him some space, instead I was pulled into a warm, muscled chest, his arms wound around me in a fierce hug. I was surprised, but I hugged him back, the emotion of the day rising and tears began to spill out of my eyes all over again. He just held me, offering me comfort and I doing the same for him as I cried. After what felt like an hour, but I am sure as only minutes, we both managed to get ourselves together.
He gave me a slight smile and I wiped my eyes, whispering in a raspy tone. "It's been a long day, Sam. I think the both of us could use some sleep.”
He nodded and with a kiss to his cheek, I started into the house, calling over my shoulder, "Show me to the guest bedroom, please?"
I could feel his eyes on me and it made my inner goddess preen some. He came up behind me, his hand resting against my back, and ushered me toward the guest room.
"Thank you, Sam," I tiredly spoke, my eyes sweeping the room.
I was glad to be here and dead on my feet practically. After telling him goodnight, I rushed through my nightly routine and was out like a light the moment my head hit the pillow.