I still don't own twilight; please excuse me while I go cry over that.

Impatience

Chapter three: painful memory

(Quil's POV)

I tried to decide what I was going to do. Sam always said to stay calm, and come up with a game plan. So far, the calm part was shot to hell, so that left me with plan. Who would know how to fix this? Is there any way to fix this? It can't be too late to save her, it can't be.

What would I do if I couldn't help her? Would I be able to deal with Claire being… I couldn't even finish the thought. All I knew that if I could get her help, I may not have to make that choice. I was halfway back to the house when Claire let out another deafening scream. Please Claire, stop crying! I'll find a way to fix this!

"Quil! Stop" Jacob called from behind me "No one at the house will know how to help her!"

"Well what do you want me to do, Jake?" I yelled; my voice hoarse, my hands and arms shaking violently.

"Put her down." I set Claire on the ground propped up by a tree, praying Jacob knew what he was doing.

(Jacob's POV)

I'd never seen Quil in so much pain, and I was terrified of what would happen if I was already too late. Quil knelt down in front on Claire, holding her face in his hands, tears streaming down both their faces.

A memory of the time I had spent so long trying to forget resurfaced in my mind. "James bit me. Edward saved me…he sucked the venom out –you know, like with a rattlesnake." I shook my head, to make the haunting voice stop.

"Quil, move out of my way I know what we need to do." Quil took a step back hesitantly. I knelt beside Claire, and gently lifted her broken arm. Thankfully, the venom hadn't spread too far yet, and I was able to get it all out quickly. I moved out of the way so Quil could pick up Claire again and bring her back to the house.

(Claire's POV)

I strained to open my eyes, which were immediately assaulted with a blindingly bright light. I made a quiet groaning sound, reminding me of my little cousins when they woke up from a nap. I knew right away where I was; my aunt Emily's spare bedroom. I tried to remember what exactly had happened, but my memory was hazy, and all I could remember clearly was the pain. I strained to sit up in the bed, made all the more difficult by the cardboard arm splint. I saw Quil asleep in the overstuffed navy blue chair in the corner of the room, worry lines etched on his forehead, even in sleep. Asleep on the couch across the room was Embry, who looked ridiculous sprawled out over the couch on his stomach, snoring loudly. Very loudly. How could Quil sleep through that? It worried me that they were both asleep, it made me wonder exactly how long I had been lying here. I felt bad waking them up, but I needed to know exactly what had happened.

I cleared my throat, hoping that would be enough to wake at least one of them. It was, and both of them looked up at once. Ok, how was it that they could sleep through the freight train that was Embry sleeping, and yet that could wake them?

"Claire! You're awake." Quil smiled, the pained look not quite leaving his eyes. He came to sit on the bed beside me. He laid the back of his hand on my forehead, and tucked some stray hair behind my ear. I couldn't hide my smile as I looked up at him, and seeing his face I almost completely forgot why I had woken him in the first place.

"What happened?" I oh-so-eloquently asked, looking from Quil to Embry and back again. Embry shifted, looking uncomfortable. He turned to speak to Quil.

"Um, well, if you got this, I'll just go join the others outside." He said, and with a glance back at me, he left the room.

"Claire, how much do you remember?" Quil asked me. Thinking about it triggered parts of what had happened yesterday. Or was it this morning?

"Um, not much. I remember going outside and…Oh god, Quil!" I sat up quickly to hug him, recalling too late that my arm wasn't in much shape for it. Quil put a hand on my shoulder and gently pushed me back on to the bed, confused by my reaction. "I can't…I…I've known those legends since I was five, but I never thought for a second that…oh Quil! I'm so…" I've never been amazing with words, but I don't think I've ever had this much trouble. Quil smiled, amused at the difficulty I was having; he leaned in to give me a kiss on the check. I really hope he couldn't hear my heart rate jump there. "But, then what happened? Now matter how hard I try, I can't remember anything. This is so frustrating!" I grumbled angrily. Quil laughed at me, which was a nice change from the troubled look that it replaced.

"Claire, after I told you what I am, something out of the forest attacked you. Do you remember the cold ones from the old legends? The vampires?" he spat the last word.

"So you're saying I was attacked by a vampire?" I asked incredulously. This was most definitely the strangest days of my entire life. "But, why?"

"Sam thinks came here because it caught our scent while it was hunting, and when it came here he saw you and…" he was too upset to finish his sentence. I hated seeing Quil this upset. I rubbed my cheek against his arm, sadly all I was able to do. He smiled and leaned in to kiss me again on the cheek. I really can't wait till I can take this stupid splint off!