Chapter 4: Last Resort

A/N: For this chapter to make sense, Jacob and Bella have to be pretty good friends. I know that in the first book, Jacob really isn't that big of a character, but for this story to make sense, Jacob has to mean a lot to Bella (just as friends though, Jake isn't romantically interested in her). Oh, and Jake is a werewolf too. 'Kay. On with the story.

Bella Swan

Bella stood at the terminal waiting for her plane to be called. She stood with Charlie while she held back the tears. She had cried herself to sleep, thinking about hurting both her father and a man she hardly knew: Edward. Charlie held her carry-on bag as they waited together, all of Bella's other items already brought to where it needed to be.

Over the announcement, passengers for the flight Bella was leaving on were called. Bella pivoted slightly to stand in front of Charlie as she gave him a one-armed hug. "I'll call you as soon as I get into Mom's house, okay?"

"Take your time, Bells," Charlie mumbled into her hair. "Just be safe and don't break any more bones, all right?"

Bella pulled away with a smile on her face from Charlie's dry humor. "I'll try. I'm gonna miss you."

"Miss you already," Charlie said as he leaned forward and kissed Bella on the forehead, a rare display of emotion. He slung the bag over Bella's shoulder and watched as a tear slipped down her cheek and walked away. As she was about to disappear out of sight, she turned around and smiled weakly at her dad, a part of her life being left behind her.

She reached her seat slowly and was told that the stewardess had to take her crutches from her. Bella watched warily as her one means of balance and transportation while walking were taken up to the cabin of the plane. She sighed loudly and looked out the window, waiting for the plane to take off.

Bella hated to leave her father and friends behind. But she also hated Forks. It was such a mystery to her why she had stayed as long as she had. As much as the newly married couple disgusted her, Bella never would have endured such torture for that. Forks was a nightmare, which was why Renée had left all those years ago.

The usual announcements were called out; belts on when the light is flashing, no standing unless otherwise told not to, gas masks above, the whole bit. Bella listened with boredom, too anxious and wary to leave Washington.

Bella felt the slight jolt backwards as the plane started to move and she sighed with relief. Off to a place where it hardly ever rains.

Edward Cullen

Lonely.

That was really the only way to describe the way he was feeling. Edward could say that he was lovesick, heartbroken, depressed, and angry. But really lonely summed up all of his negative emotions. He just felt completely void of everything in his life.

Again, Bella had said the same things in her sleep as the night before. "I'm sorry, Edward." "I didn't mean to hurt you." But he still couldn't bring himself to think too deeply into the meaning of these statements. If he thought too much about them, it only hurt him more.

But now that he knew that Bella's plane had officially left, the pain he was feeling was indescribable. At one time he had wanted Bella to live her life without him. Edward had thought about leaving Bella so she could live a normal life without vampires and away from danger. But now that she was away from him, he only wanted her back.

The rest of his family had not returned yet from their long hunting trip. This fact only made him feel more alone in his immortal life. He was a killer by nature, destined to live forever alone. But once he had tasted family and love, he wasn't sure if he could go back to his rightful place. Edward wasn't sure of a lot of things these days.

Suddenly Edward had an idea. Normally he never would stoop this low, but he was desperate. And desperate times call for desperate measures. Maybe Jacob Black could help me get Bella back into Forks.

…Later That Night…

What are you doing here, Cullen? Jacob thought harshly as he approached the treaty line and saw Edward standing there with a grave expression on his face.

"Do you think you could phase to your human form so our conversation is not one sided?" Edward asked as politely as he could, his voice cracking from the pain he was holding in.

Jacob sat down slowly and cocked his large head at Edward. Jacob was curious as to the expression so plainly visible on Edward's face. What possibly could be wrong with him? What's this about?

"Please." Edward did not want to waste energy arguing with a werewolf or playing interpreter. He just wanted to get this embarrassing moment over with, the moment he would ask his enemy for a favor. A favor that would either mend his heart or shatter it even farther.

Jacob decided he didn't feel like bickering, so he quickly changed forms and pulled on his sweatpants. He stood ten feet away from Edward and folded his arms across his chest, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "What do you want?" Jacob barked. This was the last thing he wanted to be doing today.

"It's about Bella, Jacob," Edward got straight to the point. He didn't even try to hide the depression that was coloring his tone.

"What about Bella? Is she all right? What happened to her?" Jacob babbled. Sure, Bella hadn't called him in a few weeks, but he just figured she was busy with her bloodsucker or school and such. He never imagined something could have happened to her.

"She's fine now," Edward quickly shrugged this off. Edward was past Bella's latest near-death experience. He was more concerned with the fact that she wasn't here.

"Now?" Jacob quickly butt in, cutting Edward off with whatever he was about to say.

"Yes. She was injured in a vampire attack," Edward rushed over the words, hoping Jacob would allow the subject to drop. "But that's not what I wanted to speak with you about."

"A vampire attack?! WHAT?" Jacob fumed, his face getting hot and his whole body shaking viciously.

Edward sighed, knowing there was no way around this topic of discussion. "Yes, there was a tracker after her and we had to protect her. She went to Phoenix with Alice and Jasper but snuck away from them, thinking James – the tracker – had her mother. Bella was tricked and he broke her leg, a few ribs, cracked her skull, and bit her wrist. But she's doing better now."

"So…so Bella's a…a vampire," Jacob whispered the words, letting his words be carried by the wind over to Edward.

"No!" Edward spoke the word with great emphasis. "I sucked the venom back out of her bloodstream. Other than her injuries, she is an extremely healthy human."

"Oh," Jacob physically saw the relief drip from his forehead. Thank God Bella isn't a filthy leach.

"Yes, I agree," Edward answered Jacob's thoughts, which only made Jacob scowl at him. "Now may I say what I came to say?"

"Oh, sure," Jacob said after a moment. He almost forgot that there was a reason for this unpleasant encounter.

Edward ran his fingers through his hair and exhaled loudly. "Well, from the attack, Bella lost her recent memory – amnesia Carlisle said it was."

Jacob stood across from Edward and blinked in confusion. He wasn't able to form any words to voice his misunderstanding, therefore he thought, And this affects me how?

Edward swallowed over the lump that had risen in his throat and said, "Bella is in Jacksonville now."

"So she's visiting her mom. What's so bad about that? It may even help her memory come back. I still don't see how this has anything to do with me," Jacob said. Why did this guy have to be so confusing and tell Jacob everything about his girlfriend?

"She's not visiting," Edward whispered, the lump getting larger with each passing second. This was harder than he initially thought it would be.

Jacob's brows pulled together as he slowly processed each word Edward had whispered. Jacob could tell that the words pained Edward to speak, leaving behind a deeper meaning. It took Jake a long minute to understand what Edward was implying. "You mean…you mean, she moved there?" he sputtered, the words spilling from his mouth incoherently.

"Yes," Edward choked back a sob.

They stood in silence for a long while, both unable to form words. Edward was too distraught to speak further for the moment and Jacob too caught off guard to be able to formulate coherent sentences. Finally Jacob thought, What is there for me to do? If she's already moved, then how can I help with anything?

Edward rubbed his jaw and spoke quickly, "Perhaps if you call her? She may remember you, but she may not. But if you try and talk to her, get her back to Forks. It's hard to breathe without her here."

"She doesn't remember you?" Jacob replied incredulously. Was that even possible?

"Correct." The affirmation ached Edward to make.

But you two were so much in love. She was crazy about you, Jacob thought. Even though he could care less about this particular vampire, it was strange to see him in so much pain. Jacob thought it would be better if he thought the words instead of spoke them, hopefully inflicting less damage on Edward's cracking heart.

"I know. I wish it weren't the truth. But it is unfortunately." Can't he just say he'll help me and leave me to sulk on my own? Edward asked emotionally to himself.

It took Jacob a long time to come up with his answer. But finally he said, "I'll try and give her a call. I'll have to call Charlie for the current number and then call her. Maybe I'll do that later tonight. I still have my patrol to do for the evening. I can't promise I'll do it tonight though."

"But your acceptance is more than enough for me," Edward sighed. He was banking everything on this one flimsy attempt to bring back his love. He couldn't really say his heart was breaking since it was in Florida – with Bella forever. "Thank you, Jacob."

"Sure, sure," Jacob replied slowly as he turned to phase back.

…The Next Day…

Bella Swan

"Bella, honey," Renée's voice called up the stairs.

Bella was in the middle of unpacking her suitcases with a heavy heart. She arrived in Florida the day before and it only made her attitude worse; it was raining when her plane landed. At first she just saw it as bad luck. But as the day progressed and the rain grew harder, she took it as a sign that she wasn't supposed to be in Florida.

Now she exited her new room – a room that was smaller than her room back in Forks – and stuck her head around the corner after she heard her mother calling her. She wasn't even aware that Renée had come back from being with Phil. "Yeah?"

"Telephone," Renée called back excitedly.

"Thanks," Bella called back to inform Renée that she got the information. Bella turned back around and went into her room to pick up the cordless phone that was on the bedside table. "Dad?" she asked into the phone. She really wasn't expected anyone else to call her.

"Uh, no," a deep, masculine voice answered her. "It's Jacob…Jacob Black, from La Push." Jacob's voice was shaky and unsteady; he was nervous about this call.

"I'm sorry, who?" Bella asked in confusion. Great, more mysteries that my brain won't let me remember, Bella huffed in annoyance. She figured coming to Jacksonville would end her amnesia troubles, but apparently they kept following her.

"You don't remember me?" Jacob asked hoarsely. He knew this phone call was going to be awkward and hard to make, but he made a promise to Edward that he would try to get Bella to come back. Funny that he would be making promises to vampires in order to get his best friend to come back to Washington.

Bella thought and thought and fresh sweat dewed on her forehead but nothing came. The wall that her mind had put up was impenetrable and it was getting on Bella's last nerve. Will I ever get my memory back? Or be left in the dark for the rest of my life? "Should I remember you?"

"I'd think so," Jacob muttered to himself. "We were practically best friends once you moved to Forks. My dad is Billy Black if that helps anything…"

"That name sounds familiar," Bella recalled vaguely, memories from her many trips to Forks before she moved there fluttering behind her closed eyelids. "I think I know him from before I moved there. He's friend's with Charlie, isn't he?"

"Right," Jacob said enthusiastically, happy she at least remembered his dad. "I'm his son, Jacob."

"Well, yeah, you said he was your dad," Bella said as she sat down on her bare mattress. She wasn't even sure if she wanted to put her sheets on the bed. It would just mean that this move was somewhat final. Maybe that's why she hadn't put any of her clothes in the dresser yet…

"Right," Jacob said, feeling like an idiot. "So, you moved to Florida without saying bye to me?" This fact actually did upset him, even though he portrayed it as a joke. They had been close friends – even best friends – and she didn't even say goodbye. Most likely because she couldn't remember him, but it was still a painful truth.

Bella opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. She repeated this motion for a full minute, gaping stupidly and coming up with no words. Finally she just said, "I don't remember you."

"I know, I know. It was a joke," Jacob chuckled to hide his pain. Wonder how the leach must feel then? He asked himself, then shook his head quickly when he realized he was sympathizing for his enemy.

"Sorry," Bella mumbled sadly into the phone. His voice was warm and friendly and he seemed like a nice enough person. Apparently they had been best friends. First she couldn't remember the god-like Edward, and now this friendly Jacob. Why did she have to forget all the nice people?

"Sure, sure," Jacob said gruffly, not bothering to hide his remorse at this point.

As Jacob said those somewhat familiar two words, a spark went off in Bella's head. She knew Jacob! She couldn't remember everything about him or how they met or anything she had done with or said to him, but she remembered knowing him. "I remember knowing you."

"Really?" Jacob's eyes widened in disbelief. Why had she suddenly remembered him? "Why now?"

"It was what you said," she answered him, a smile tugging at her lips. Ha, I'm starting to break you down, Bella laughed at the wall that she was slowly cracking. She could almost see the light pouring in from the other side of it – metaphorically that is.

"What did I say?" Jacob asked quickly, trying to remember what he has said to her.

"Sure, sure," she mimicked him, lowering her voice to try to sound like him as well. She laughed at her poor imitation of this man that she vaguely remembered. "It's weird. It's kinda like this guy I know – Edward. He was in my hospital room when I woke up and I still can't remember how I know him or anything about him. But I know that I should know him. Like this feeling inside me saying I need to figure it out or I'll lose this huge part of me. Crazy isn't it?" Did she really just say all that to someone she barely remembered?

Jacob was ecstatic; she remembered him. But then she sort of knew Edward too? Not completely remembered him, but knew she had to remember him or part of her was lost? He had underestimated the love Bella had for Edward. It ran much deeper than he initially thought. "That's not weird. Sounds like he was really important to you."

"Yeah," Bella sighed, coming down from her cloud of euphoria to think about Edward. "I really don't know though. I wish I could remember. It's killing me not knowing."

"Well how're you gonna remember all the way across the country, Bells?" Jacob asked, subtly hinting for her to come back to Forks.

Bella sat on her bed, puzzled. How was she going to remember all the way in Florida? "That's a good point, Jake," Bella mumbled as she sunk her face in her hand, feeling remorseful and stupid. Why did I come to Jacksonville?

Edward Cullen

"She did? She remembered you? How?" Edward babbled once Jacob came close enough that he could read his thoughts.

Jacob walked into view in his human form and approached in a slow stride. "Something I said triggered the memory. She doesn't really remember anything about me, she just knows she knows me." Jacob shoved his hands deep into his pockets as he tried to look natural rather than disgusted by the smell. Why does he look like the smell doesn't affect him? Jacob asked curiously of himself.

"I don't really think about the smell. I just think of a colleague," Edward answered nonchalantly as if Jacob had voiced the question instead of thought it. "So her memory can come back if something triggers it," Edward said thoughtfully. There were so many possibilities at this point. Only she had to be back to Forks for those to happen.

"She remembers you too," Jacob said. For some bizarre reason, he hated to see Edward in pain. Jacob was in pain seeing as his best friend had moved across the country. He could only imagine how much pain Edward was in for losing the love of his…well, existence.

"What?!" Edward's eyes bulged out of their sockets.

"Well, sort of…" Jacob corrected himself, trailing off at the end.

"What do you mean?" Edward asked cautiously, trying to read into Jacob's thoughts. Only Jacob was blocking his mind quite easily from him at the moment. Why is everyone getting so good at that? he asked inwardly, frustrated with himself.

Jacob took one hand out of his pocket and ran it through his slightly shaggy hair. "She said that she couldn't remember knowing you and stuff like that. But she did say she knows she should remember you. She said she had this feeling inside her saying she needs to figure it out or a huge part of her will be lost. She really loves you, man, even if she can't really remember."

Edward was quiet for a long while after that, trying to process the meaning to the words and then believe them. "She'll lose a part of herself?" he asked quietly after what seemed like forever. His voice was quiet and hoarse as he spoke, still unable to believe the words completely.

"That's what she said," Jacob answered quickly.

"She remembers…sort of…" Edward couldn't even form proper sentences; he was babbling incoherently, even to his own ears. "Is she coming back?" he asked, his voice getting even lower than before.

"Uh…no," Jacob admitted. "I wasn't that lucky."

"Oh," Edward said, his shoulders hunching over and his breath becoming ragged from fear of never seeing Bella again.

"But I suggested that she come back. You know, so she can figure out why she should remember you," Jacob quickly informed him. "She said it was a good point. She didn't even sound like she was happy there. It's possible she could come back. Don't lose hope, Edward."

Edward looked up at Jacob with pleading eyes. This was everything he wanted, everything he had hoped for since Bella confirmed that she was moving to Florida. All he wanted was for her to come back so he could see her again. If Florida weren't so sunny he would have followed her there. "Thank you, Jacob."

"No problem," Jacob replied sincerely. "It really weird, but I hate to see you in so much pain. It's sickening to see you so…well, sick."

Edward chuckled at this sudden change of emotions. "I would like to be able to think of you as a friend, Jacob Black."

"I'll have to think about that, Edward," Jacob honestly said. As much as he was beginning to like Edward, it still was hard to get past the fact that Edward was a vampire, the enemy to him.

"That's quite fair enough," Edward nodded his head earnestly. "Thank you for your efforts of helping me. I'll let you get back to whatever it is I am keeping you from."

"Thanks," Jacob muttered and even dared to stick his hand out to shake Edward's hand.

Edward was taken by surprise by this gesture; he hadn't seen Jacob thinking about it in his mind. Maybe I'm losing my gift since I lost Bella, Edward thought. After a long second Edward took hold of Jacob's burning hot hand and shook it firmly. "You're a good man, Jacob."

"Don't get all soft on me now, Cullen," Jacob teased back as he tightened his grip to boast about his strength and then let go of the freezing cold stone of a hand. "See you later, I'm sure."

"Until another time," Edward called out to a retreating werewolf who had already phased in one swift motion.

There is hope for Bella and I after all…

A/N: So, again thanks to Elwen of Lorien. You're like my hero of reviews. Please, review for me. I'm sad I've only have one review for the last two chapters. So if you could make a girl happy. Please? Thanks. Hope you enjoyed it.