Jacob.
No, no, no, no, no …"Alice, How long do we have?" Edward demanded, his voice still tense; Carlisle's soothing words had not helped.
"Another five minutes. And Bella will open her eyes in 37 seconds."
"Bella, honey?" This was Esme's soft, comforting voice.
"Can you hear me? You're safe now dear."
The first thing out of my mouth; "Jacob is okay?"
"Yes," Edward promised, an underlying tension in his voice.
"I need to see him." I insisted, my voice embarrassingly weak.
Edward looked as if he was about to protest then looked at Alice, his shoulders slumping somewhat resignedly. He nodded, not looking me in the face, and then he lifted me in his arms with that effortless grace of his.
"His life is not in any danger." Carlisle said with a slight smile. "He was healing at an incredible rate, though his injuries were excessive enough that it will still be a few days before he is back to normal, even if the rate of repair holds steady. As soon as we're done here, I will do what I can to help him. Sam is trying to get him to phase back to his human form. It will make treating him easier."
I nodded, of course this made sense, Carlisle wouldn't know how to treat a wolf.
After the drama with Bree and the Volturi …
I faced Edward with a resolution in my eyes that I hadn't quite expected. I didn't want to hurt him; he was after all still my first and only love. Nothing could ever take his place; he was tied to me in an inexplicable way no one else could ever be to me. He would always be a piece of me, but somewhere along the way, I don't know when, my heart had changed, I had changed. It was a strange feeling, a light, almost effervescent feeling I got. I knew that although I would probably crush his spirit, and bring both of us more pain, for once I felt like I was making the correct decision.
And something in his eyes told me he knew. They were sad, heavy, and it hurt me to look at them but I stayed strong knowing that any little pain I had was probably tiny in comparison to his.
He nodded his head slightly, bringing me under his harm and crushing my body to his in one last embrace. I felt his ice cold lips brush my forehead tenderly then trail down my cheek to my lips.
"Just this last time," he murmured against my lips and I nodded my permission knowing I needed it too, no matter that it was my choice.
We moved together for what felt like forever and then we slowly released each other, that part of me that always belonged to him ripping off from me. Without hesitating I took off the wristband I always wore, one Rene had given before I left for Forks, and took his hand, slipping it around his wrist. I looked back at him one last time, while everyone else looked on in confusion.
"I'll never forget you Edward, you'll always be my angel. My Adonis. The one who opened my eyes to the world and gave me the most breathtaking experiences of my life. You'll always be here," I drew his hand to my chest resting over my heart. And kissed his cheek, allowing my lips to linger against his cool porcelain skin. And then I was gone. I ran out of the forest like a bat outta' hell.
I jumped in my beloved truck and gunned it, well, gunned it as far as I knew it would go without dying. I felt so much adrenaline in my system as I speeded over to Charlie's and peeled up the driveway with a shrill squeak of my tires.
I scrambled out the truck tripping over my legs and feet and fell through the door.
"Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!"
"What? What is it Bells?" Charlie ran out of the living room looking at me with worry.
"Are you alr-,"
"Have you seen Jake?"
"Yeah, I just saw him with those kids; guess you heard about the accident. Boy, you shoulda' heard the mouth on that kid-,"
"Where were they going?"
"Back to Billy's I guess."
I whirled around running out the door.
"I'll be back in time to cook dinner Charlie, don't worry!"
I was in too much of a hurry to see my dad smile slowly and shake his head before calmly backing into the house and shutting the door.
I squealed into Billy's drive way in a similar fashion as what I did earlier with my own. I jumped out of the car and burst out towards the door.
Embry and Quil who were sitting outside the door both jumped up into defensive position. They blocked the door.
"Is he in there?" I asked frantically, panting, out of breath.
They glanced at each other, as if trying to figure out what to say. They didn't need too, not three seconds later did a livid curse echo from the back of the house.
"Son of a bitch!"
I rushed past them, knowing if they had really wanted to stop me they would have done it already.
I hurried towards Jacob's room and stopped inches before his door. Then I softly pushed it open and stepped inside.
Sam was bent over Jacob and Billy was in the opposite corner of the room watching on with a tight expression.
"Jacob," I breathed, tears coming to my eyes.
He was wrapped up in gauze, a cast on half of his body, only his head and his good arm could move freely. His head turned toward me, and his eyes were cloudy with pain. Sam looked at me for a second, trying to interpret my expression and I tried my best to tell him with my eyes I was here for good. He stepped back to the side and I walked slowly to the edge of Jacob's bed.
I kneeled by his side and rested my hands ever so gently on the bed.
I lifted my hands and stroked his hair away from his brow.
"Hi, Jake."
He stared at me for a long while, his eyes unreadable and dark, then opened his mouth and croaked out; "Hi Bells." His voice was dry raspy, and I turned to Sam, "Would you go get a bowl of cold water and a wash rag, please?"
Sam hesitated and looked to Billy, Billy nodded and Sam left the room, his steps sounding like thundering bear steps in the tiny house.
"How're you doing?"
He laughed weakly, then winced. "I'm great Bells, never been better."
"Right," I blushed, stooping my head. "Stupid question." Sam returned with a bowl and a washrag and I took them with a grateful smile, which he studied intently. I set the bowl beside my knees on the floor then dipped the washrag in the cool water, wringing it out before slowly, gently, lovingly patting against Jacob's face and brow. He sighed at the coolness, his eyes fluttering closed. I dipped the washrag in the bowl again, then slid it gently across his lips, coaxing him to open his mouth and let the water flow down it.
He blinked his eyes open again, and stared at me as he sucked the moisture from the cloth. I smiled at him softly before leaning closing and grazing my lips against his cheek. I then proceeded to bathe his face and neck with the cool cloth once more before standing up, bowl in hand.
I looked to Billy and Sam, "Have any of ya'll eaten today?"
They shook their heads negative. I called in Quil and Embry and when they entered their expressions unsure, I asked them the same and received the same answer.
"Alright," I kneeled in front of Jake again so I was eye level, "are you hungry?" he nodded with what little space his injuries allowed him.
"Ok, then," I rose again. "Do you mind if I use your kitchen Billy?"
He shook his head wordlessly, and I stepped out the bedroom returning the bowl to the counted and rummaging trough the fridge. Luckily between the fridge, the freezer, and the pantry I was able to scrounge up enough food that I estimated could feed 4 werewolves, even if one was injured. My hands momentarily froze at thought and then I shook myself. Jacob was going to be just fine, he had too. For me.