Chapter Text
The drive to Forks from Portland was silent. The last week had exhausted any possible conversation topics you could’ve had with Charlie. It wasn’t like you had years to catch up on, your parents had driven the three of you down to Forks to visit your uncle often enough. To be honest with yourself, even if some undiscussed tidbit had crossed your mind you were too exhausted from the funeral to put any effort into chatting. You were glad Charlie didn't seem to mind the quiet.
The whole thing had been an unbearable affair. You barely had a week to mourn the loss of your parents before the ceremony. That was the worst part, your entire life had fallen apart in what felt like seconds. In reality it had been two whole months between their deaths and the funeral. The same accident that had killed them had left you in a coma, leaving Charlie to plan the funeral by himself. It wasn't like he could simply take time off from being the police chief in Forks. The funeral wasn't supposed to be for another month, but then you had woken up. The doctors in Portland were shocked. Most thought you wouldn't wake up at all, much less so soon. Charlie hadn’t been prepared to be named your guardian, he could barely handle traveling to and from Portland to plan the funeral. He took a week off, finished organizing the funeral, helped you pack, and now here you were.
Charlie was the first to break the silence, “When we get there, we’ll get all your stuff inside, then you’ve got an appointment at the hospital with the doctor. Just a check-up to see how you're doing after all the.. Stuff”. Your gaze shifted away from the wet greenery outside to reply “Okay.” He didn't seem particularly surprised by the lackluster response, “Look, I know its… hard and its been a lot of stuff real fast, but Forks won't be so bad, okay?” You nodded at him, too drained to utter a word.
You never had a particular disdain for Forks, you had even enjoyed escaping the city every once and while, but small town gossip didn't seem like something you were up to handle right now. During your occasional trips to Forks with your parents you hadn’t really made friends. You had hung out with your cousin, Bella, and some of her friends on the reservation during the summer, but you had never really got to know any of them. Complete and utter lack of friendship aside, there was the absolute lack of anything you were remotely interested in. The closest book and electronics stores were an hour away in Port Angeles, and again, it wasn't like you had any friends to kill your time with.
For Charlie’s sake you would give Forks a chance. You could always make friends. God just the thought of socializing, laughing, sharing stories, doing normal friend activities seemed impossible. You would have to get over it, and fast considering your freshman year at Forks High School would begin the very next day.
—
You had finally arrived in Forks three and a half hours later. Charlie had insisted on carrying your few meager boxes of clothes and possessions into the house himself. You had fought him on that one, two months had been enough healing for you. By the time he finally relented all the boxes had been carried upstairs, to what would be your room.
Now you were sitting in a small hospital room, the bright white lights burning your eyes and creating a headache. Charlie had checked you in with the receptionist at the hospital, but had been called back to the police station. The receptionist had been kind enough not to attempt small talk while you waited for her to let you know the doctor was ready. It hadn’t taken her long.
You heard a knock on the door, breaking you out of your thoughts, immediately followed by a tall blonde man entering the room “Hello, I’m Dr. Cullen,” he looked down at the clipboard in his hands “It looks like you were in a pretty serious accident. The chief has told me you're recovering well, look here.” He held up a finger, using a light to look at your eyes as they followed his hand.
“Alright, that looks good. We’ll do a few more quick tests, hold out your hands” He slipped a ring off his finger and dropped it into a pocket of his white coat. “Alright you’re going to push against my hands as hard as you can. Go.” Your hands pressed against his, not only meeting resistance but also immense cold. The cold hands of doctors was something you had become accustomed to over the past week, but he had the rest beat in terms of icicle like digits. “That’s good. Nothing to indicate any neurological concerns. You’ll feel yourself gaining strength back over the next few weeks as your body recovers from being comatose,” Dr. Cullen slipped his ring back on as he flipped through pages on the clipboard. “Did you have any particular concerns with your recovery?” He looked up from the board to make eye contact and in that moment you were struck with just how handsome the doctor was. You had been so focused on his hands before that you had failed to notice his golden eyes, his handsome face which could easily have made him a movie star, his muscular yet lean frame.
“No, uhm just questions about antidepressants,” you finally responded after what seemed like a moment too long.
“It's natural to feel some post traumatic stress after an accident of this nature, and given the circumstances medication could be a reasonable next step. But I feel it is too soon to take such a large step,” Dr. Cullen gave you a comforting expression as he began to make his way towards the door “I’ll have the chief schedule you a follow up, we’ll ensure your recovery physically and otherwise Ms. Swan.”
The doctor held the door open as he guided you back to the waiting area where Charlie was already waiting.
“Everything good Doc?” Charlie stood up as soon as the door had opened. You made your way out to the police cruiser waiting outside while the doctor filled Charlie in on the status of your recovery. You doubted you could tolerate another second under the blinding lights of the hospital.
—
Charlie hadn't said anything about the antidepressants on the drive home. You doubted he wouldn't bring it up if Dr. Cullen had told him. Charlie may have been just as awkward as you, but he wasn't negligent. At least that conversation could be avoided for now, hopefully forever if Dr. Cullen was right.
Arriving back home was met with pure exhaustion, all you wanted to do was sleep. You felt grimey from being stuck in the car for a majority of the day, your stomach was protesting at the lack of food and water, but all you wanted to was sleep. For a minimum of twelve hours. Preferable sixteen if your body would let you, just long enough that Charlie might let you skip the first day of school.
Charlie had ordered a pizza, while you were at your appointment. You doubted he kept much real food in the house given his job. All the same you gave into your stomach and scarfed a few slices down. You bid Charlie an awkward good night and passed out in a bed that was never yours.