This is something I wanted to write for almsot a week now, only I had no time. But I finally made it and I kinda like the way it turned out.

I just couldn´t get this What If question out of my head and I had to write down my own idea.

The part after the quote is an excerpt from the book. In the book, it is followed by Bella watching Jacob leave and you all know how the story continues then.....

I named the story after the song Pieces by the band Red. It is really an amazing song and you should listen to it. Also, this chapter´s title is a quote from the song. I´ll probably continue that.

Well now, I hope you enjoy this :-)

Thought I Could Do This On My Own

According to legend, one day a man was wandering in the desert when he met Fear and Plague. They said they were on their way to a large city where they were going to kill 10,000 people. The man asked Plague if he was going to do all the work. Plague smiled and said, "No, I'll only take care of a few hundred. I'll let my friend Fear do the rest.

Anon

„Yeah, Jake. I know that. And I already do count on you, probably more than you know."

The smile broke across his face the way the sunrise set the clouds on fire, and I wanted to cut my tongue out. I hadn't said one word that was a lie, but I should have lied. The truth was wrong, it would hurt him. I would let him down.

A strange look crossed his face. "I really think I'd better go home now," he said……… (New Moon, page 218)

--------------------------------------------------

He slowly started to pull himself out of our embrace and I felt how stiff his arms suddenly felt around me and the tremble which flow through his arms caused goose bumps to raise on my skin, the feeling very similar to the one of a cat's purring right next to your ear. Today it wasn't very pleasant.

"Wait, Jake," I said with worry clearly stated in my voice as I clutched Jacob's arms which he withdrew from my body. He felt so unnaturally warm that it made my own blood boil.

"Let me drive you home. You honestly don't seem to be in the right condition to drive."

Apart from his obvious discomfort, Jacob gave me a mock smile and rolled his eyes at me.

"Bella, don´t worry. It´s just a little fever probably. I'll be home safely," he said with a voice that clearly told me he was lying. It was so very different from how it usually sounded to my ears, calming and comforting, warm and soothing. Now it was hard and absurdly loud. Another wave of goose bumps erupted on my skin and I could not feel angry for him lying to me. Instead I wrapped my arms around his waist and pushed myself close to him again, resting my cheek on his chest.

"Bella," he whispered with question in his voice as he rested his hands on my back, holding me in place.

"Why are you lying? Just let me drive you home. Please. I really don´t think it´s reasonable to let you drive alone." My voice was muffled since my lips half rested on Jacob's chest, just like my flushed cheek, boiled by his insane body temperature.

For a few seconds there was silence and all I felt was the increasing tremble in Jacob's arms, vibrating around my body.

"Okay, Bells. Maybe you're even right. I feel so… out of… well… doesn't matter. Let's go," he said and finally loosened our embrace, taking my hand in his and pulling me towards the Rabbit. I stopped but Jacob continued working until he felt my stiff arm and turned to face me.

"What?"

"Do you want me to walk home after dropping you, Jake? We'll take the truck," I said and pointed towards my beloved truck.

"Oh, right. Sorry, I forgot about the… home journey," he said with a laughter that sounded more like the fake attention children give their grandparents once they are told the same story over and over again. This time I did not ask any further questions, knowing all too well that Jacob would not admit too much weakness in front of me.

I slipped my hand out of his and made my way to the truck, the force of opening the door almost knocking me off my feet. Only my hands clutching to the knob saved me from another embarrassing contact with the ground. Careful not to repeat such a almost-disaster, I climbed into the driver's seat and turned my head to see Jacob standing right where I had left him, his eyes focused on nothing, just staring into nothingness, his hands balled to fists, trembling now just as his arms did.

"Jake?"

I could almost see the way my voice hit him like a brick when his eyes twitched nervously and then focused on me, his lids blinking rapidly.

"Sorry, I'm coming," he said and walked around the truck to sit next to me, his pace slower than it usually was, but still, he hurried to climb into the car. From the corner of my eye I saw his fists resting on his thighs, the skin over his knuckles almost a touch of white, compared to the rest of his dark, russet skin.

I started the car and tried to concentrate on driving, doing my best to ignore Jacob sitting next to me, tense and covered in sweat. But with every metre we moved forward it became harder to not be aware of his presence. The heat of his skin was radiating through the car, causing a light film of sweat to erupt over my lips, his heavy breathing like a scream to my ears for it was the only thing I could hear apart from my own rapid, nervous heartbeat and the sounds of my old truck. I stuck out my tongue and carefully licked over the salty flesh above my mouth, the taste making my nose wrench in disgust.

My hands clutched to the steering wheel and I couldn't help comparing the pale white of my knuckles with the darker shade of Jacob's. As my eyes hit his lap, I saw how hard his legs were shaking now and the sweat made it hard for him to keep his hands formed to fists.

Focusing on the dark street again I told myself over and over that we would be at Jacob's house in only a few minutes from now. I knew he wouldn't feel better than but at least, I would not be alone with him anymore. Too much responsibly seemed to rest upon my shoulders at that moment and the undeniable fear in me made my own body shiver. Also, this seemed like something very different than a stomach flu. Rather like something more serious. When my curiosity won control over me and I allowed myself to eye Jacob's face from the corner of my eye for just a second, nausea threatened to overcome me. He was so pale, but at the same time his cheeks were flushed in a deep shade of red and sweat dropped from his nose and chin right into his lap, his jaw tight and his eyes fixed on the street without blinking.

Quickly I turned to face the street again, my hands tightening their grip on the steering wheel.

"Bella, pull over," Jacob's voice suddenly broke the silence and the sound of it didn't help to reassure me that it was just a stomach flu that had taken hold on him. His voice was not louder than a whisper. But the agonizing force with which he seemed to press it out of his lungs cut me deeper than the crystal shards back at my last, doomed birthday party. Somehow, Jacob's pain overshadowed my own, the clinging and ripping in my chest which used to tear me apart every time my mind dared to wander through my past was un present and like an oddly faint memory.

"Bella, pull over – now!"

I almost jumped off my seat as Jacob's now rough and threatening voice ordered me.

Without even really recognizing where we were, I pulled my truck over and stomped on the brake with all my strength. My torso was slotted forward and the immediately pushed back into the seat. A numb pain fizzled through my head as it hit the back of my seat and for a second, I lost eyesight. When it returned, I only had time enough to see Jacob moving fast next to me, unfastening his seatbelt and literally jumping out of the truck.

"Jake!" I yelled after him but he was already disappearing into the darkness of the nearby forest, his legs shaking and his motion unsteady and weak.

I desperately fumbled with my seatbelt until it was finally open, nervous sweat now erupting on my forehead.

"Come on," I mumbled as the car door on my side just wouldn't open. "Damn it!"

Careful not to break all my bones I climbed over the passenger seat and stumbled out of the car, loosing my balance in the process and dropping on my knees.

"Au!"

I felt my jeans drench around my knees and pulled myself up to a standing position as fast as possible without getting too dizzy. Eying the damage I could barely see anything in the dark and so I trusted that the slight stinging and the wet feeling meant that my jeans had not quite survived this little stunt, neither the skin on my knee. But all this was forgotten, when I started to move forward into the darkness, following Jacob between the high, dark and threatening trees, something inside me telling me to stay right were I was now and drive back home. But the last thing on my mind was to leave Jacob alone in the forest, obviously sick and without control over his body.

And so I stumbled over branches and leaves, careful not to fall down again, my pace quickening with every passing second.

So, tell me if you want me to continue this. I have some ideas on how this might turn out....