Can't Stand To See You Cry (Jacob)

Chapter 27

"Dammit!"

"Dude, don't get so mad. You're doing great," Emmett encouraged.

"Oh come on," Jacob growled. "I can't walk ten steps without getting exhausted. This is hopeless."

"Maybe you should give it a rest for today," Carlisle suggested gently.

Jacob sucked in a deep breath and forced himself to take five more steps before he collapsed into a chair.

Emmett had moved the large table in the medical library and brought some exercise equipment down from their gym, so Jacob could start his physical therapy. "I know you're determined, Jacob. But you don't want to set yourself back or worse yet, get reinjured," Carlisle warned.

Jacob ignored his advice, already pulling his weary body up to try again. "I gotta get stronger...no offense," he huffed, almost out of breath, "but I can't wait to get outta of here."

"Yeah," Emmett chuckled, "because you and Renesmee wanna..."

"Emmett!" Esme scolded as she suddenly appeared in the doorway.

Emmett just chuckled as Jacob scowled, and pushed himself to make five more steps. He panted heavily, grimacing through the pain of his atrophied muscles. He had never worked out just to get bigger muscles. He had always bulked up easily, without any real effort at all. Jacob thought about all the nights he did pull ups endlessly, never getting tired. How he longed to be that strong again.

Jacob groaned as he stumbled forward, Emmett catching him easily in his grasp. "Easy there..."

Jacob twisted away from Emmett, determined to steady himself on his own. "I can do it," he insisted.

When Jacob turned and tripped on his own feet, Esme rushed to his side. "Are you okay?"

He was now flat on his back and staring at the ceiling. "I'm fine,'' he grumbled. "I just need a minute."

"Come on," Emmett replied, offering Jacob a hand.

"I don't need your help...I don't need anyone's help. Just leave me here," he spat through gritted teeth.

Esme gave Jacob a pained look as she stood. "Let's leave him be," she told Emmett. "You yell for us if you need anything, Jacob," Esme shot him one more sad glance and left the room with Carlisle and Emmett.

Jacob squeezed his eyes shut tightly and balled up his fists. He pounded them against the floor in frustration. He hated this. All of it. He could barely do anything for himself.

He tried to steady his breathing as he thought about her, his Nessie. He imagined her walking toward him, hair bouncing as she stepped, dark auburn waves with ruby flecks glinting in the morning sun. Her eyes were beautiful and bright, warm pools of burnt sienna that changed to emerald when she gazed at him.

Her hips swung slightly with each step she made, her body moving fluidly as her clothes clung to her curvy figure. He smiled widely when he pictured her in her workout clothes, molding perfectly to her shape and revealing her bare stomach and shoulders. Her toned muscles pulsed ever so slightly under the thin fabric as she neared him.

Suddenly his image of her changed at the sight of him, crumpled on the floor. Her expression would mirror Esme's, nothing but pity. He visibly cringed at the idea of her finding him this way. He pounded the floor once more, determined to get up on his own.

Jacob started by resting on his elbows, surveying the room. His stomach muscles burned and he grimaced. It was taking all his strength just to pull up into a sitting position. He panted heavily, his body became covered in a sweaty sheen. His side was aching heavily now, but he tried to breathe through the pain. He was set on doing this alone.
........
Renesmee sighed. Her family had convinced her to go hunt with them while Jacob started his physical therapy with Emmett. They practically had to drag her out of his arms and she would've refused but Jacob had insisted too. She knew he probably didn't want her to see him in pain like that.