Chapter 2: JACOB

Bella was staring out the window again. I was wondering what was going on in that little mind of hers. I was wishing for her to remember the care free, fun, safe…oh yes, safe days she had spent with me at Charlie's house or on my Res. If she was, then she would have to know that her decision to date a blood sucker was wrong, wrong, wrong. She had to realize it now…she was running for her life. Could this be the life she had chosen? Did she really think there would be anything more than being in constant danger? What was she thinking…she was human for God's sake and he was a vampire. I couldn't be the only one that knew it.

Bella had told me miles back, when she was actually talking, that I had been on Charlie's list and thanks to him, I was going to make every minute count. I would let her think things thru and not disturb her but later I would plant my seed…Um, I mean I would plant a seed, wait for it to take root and she would leave him.

Her phone rang.

Since I had given the phone number to my father, I wondered if it was him with any news from La Push. Quill had been sick and after disappearing for weeks, was now hanging with Sam. I was worried that this seemed to upset Seth and I realized sometime during day two when Bella was sleeping in the back seat, that I would be in that same state if not for the unexpected "favor" asked of me by Cullen. A favor assumes you are doing something for someone but it was he who gave me this gift; time alone with Bella.

No such luck…it was Edward. He didn't call often but when he did, she would sit and listen, and listen, and listen. To what I had no idea. My hearing was becoming heightened, probably because of the situation we were in and it told me not a word was spoken. Each time he called, I felt that Bella took a step back in realizing that Edward was all wrong for her. It must be some sort of vampire got-a-hold-on-you hypnotic thing.

"But I still miss you" Bella whined into the phone and I grunted. This may be harder than I thought.

"Jacob" Boy that came out curt! I reached for the phone so he could give me the latest bit of news; news I wouldn't tell Bella. I wanted to tell her the frightening stuff, to help my cause, but he would only tell me the progress he had made.

"Jacob, first…thank you again for what you are doing. If you only knew how much this means to me, you would know how much I will owe you."

I grunted.

"We are only an hour or so behind you and we should have James some time tonight. "

I grunted again.

"I have not heard from Emmett, so Victoria is still out there but if we get James, I will take Bella home. There are too many of us for Victoria to be a threat. I would like you to travel east towards New York but I don't think it will last long enough for you to reach it.

I wanted to say 'one of you is too many' but anything other than yes, no, or grunts would have Bella asking me what was going on. I knew she would be safe with me and although James was close, there was something more frightening than him, it was the thought that Edward was that close. I needed more time alone with Bell… for Bella, I corrected myself again…more time for her to think about the dangers of being with him. Yes, I needed more time…I pushed the gas pedal down.

"Jacob, can you hear me?"

Damn, he was still on the phone.

"Bella seemed distraught, do you think she's OK?"

"Yes." These one word answers were easy.

"I'll call if there is anything new." I let the silence fall after he said that and gave myself a quick look towards Bella. She was watching me talk to him with her hand half raised in the air, palm up, questing for the phone; impatiently waiting for me to finish and hand the phone back to her.

"It's late. Does she look like she could sleep?" Damn he was obviously not done yet and now wanted to talk to her again.

"Yes" I responded and snapped the phone closed ending the call. I didn't give him…or…her, the chance to ask.

Bella dropped her hand and started to pout. Her lower lip became fuller and slid over her upper. Boy, that did things to me!

She did look tired. I put the phone in the cup holder between us and raised my arm to place my hand on the back of her neck. I gently pulled her down to my leg and she used my thigh as a pillow like she had the last several nights. She came willingly knowing the warmth of my body would keep any chill away from her while she slept.

I preferred this much more than the first nights in which she had climbed over the front seat and had curled up in the back but so much less than the almost night we rented a room. I had needed rest myself but received none when she had curled up beside me on the bed. How lucky was I that the clerk asked me whether I needed one or two beds while Bella was busy at the vending machines? How unlucky was I to receive a call later that night from Edward, that he wanted us moving again? I'd swear he'd made it up.

My thoughts quickly came back to my present Bella when she placed her left hand under her cheek and her right hand was on my knee. I placed my hand on her upper arm and used a light rubbing motion as I pushed the sleeve of her T-shirt higher to revel her shoulder. I loved her shoulders.

"Sleep Bella"

She closed her eyes after a deep sigh.