A/N: I'm glad you all are enjoying my little story and your reviews make my day. Seriously. Thanks for Reading/Reviewing. And to show you how much I care… *cackles maniacally* enjoy.

Every Feeling That I Get

Twilight by Thriving Ivory

You know I feel it in my bones

And I wear it on my skin

But there ain't no use in right or wrong

A heart must go where it belongs

When Jacob woke he was groggy for two seconds before panic hit him. He was in an unfamiliar place, in an unfamiliar room, on an unfamiliar bed, wearing unfamiliar clothes. He pulled the I.V. roughly from his arm and jumped up from the bed, immediately regretting it as he swayed unsteadily on his feet.

"Careful now," an unfamiliar voice mocked. "You've only eaten I.V. for the past week." Jacob focused on the speaker, his playful eyes dark with hunger. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, his dark hair was cropped close to his head and flattened against his skull, his neck was as big as his head.

A deep chuckle came from the doorway and Jacob turned towards the sound. Edward leaned casually against the doorframe watching Jacob amusedly. The sight of Edward sent Jacob's mind into a freefall. At once he remembered how he'd gotten there, the wounds he'd suffered. He remembered the clearing, the stand-off between wolf and vampire, his narrow escape. He lost the ability to breathe as the wind knocked out of him. Jacob's breath caught in his throat and his heart skipped a beat painfully. Finally he was where he was supposed to be, he was at Edward's side, and nothing else mattered. The sight of Edward made him want to cry, wounds he hadn't known he had healed because he no longer had to live without Edward.

"I thought you were going hunt―" The other man started but his words cut off as Jacob crossed the room and wrapped his arms around Edward's neck.

Jacob pressed himself against Edward, pulling Edward tightly against his body, and sighed contentedly. After so long Jacob had begun to think his pain would never go away, that unending, burning, torturous longing. But here he was with Edward, all of Edward, not just the ghost of his voice in Jacob's head. Jacob pressed his cheek down atop Edward's hair, breathing in the painful acrid scent Edward exuded. It burned the inside of Jacob's nose but he didn't care. It was a minor discomfort compared to what he'd already been through for Edward, compared to the pain of being away from Edward. Edward patted Jacob's back lightly, reluctantly, his whole body rigidly tense in Jacob's arms. Still, Jacob didn't feel compelled to let go, he only wanted to hold Edward tighter.

"You'll have to bathe forever to get rid of that scent," a high voice shrilled behind Edward. "If you bathe in sewage at least you'll smell better."

Jacob let go of Edward and allowed him to take a step backward. Suddenly all of the Cullens were there, staring at him. Carlisle stepped forward, a gentile smile on his handsome face, and peered at Jacob for several moments without speaking. Edward wrapped an arm around the pleasant one's waist and urged her closer, muttering something too low and too fast for even Jacob to hear. She smiled, stunningly, then drew in a deep breath and began humming the appeasing tune she'd hummed in the clearing for Jacob. Carlisle examined Jacob quickly, poking his ribs carefully, monitoring his range of movement by moving Jacob's arms, the chill from his skin seeping through Jacob's thin tee shirt.

"Everything seems well," Carlisle said cheerfully. "Your bones healed nicely, cleanly, even the… cuts." Carlisle's eyes flicked up to Jacob's shoulder, his eyes clouding with worry and concern.

Jacob reached up to touch his shoulder, the place where he'd been attacked by his own kind, and felt the faint outline of a scar. He slipped his fingers under the collar, tracing the rough edges of his scar with his fingertips, tracing the teeth marks. Since he'd become a wolf he hadn't gotten one scar, hadn't inflicted one scar, his wounds healed too fast to leave a lasting mark. How had he―

"You lost a lot of blood," Edward answered. "I ―we―"

"It was… tenuous for a while," Carlisle took over. "You weren't healing properly and none of the transfusions I gave you helped."

"Lucky you've got me then, huh?" Seth said slipping into the room. He bound casually over to the bed and hopped up on it, smiling broadly at Jacob. "Turns out that wolf blood has all the essential vitamins and minerals needed for a long and healthy life. Like Flintstone vitamins."

"Why're you here?" Jacob asked darkly.

"He saved your life," Carlisle said, "he's very brave."

'He's here to make sure I go back,' Jacob thought.

"He left them," Edward said. "He saw what they did to you and he left."

Seth looked down at his hands in his lap. "I know why they did it, I know Sam just wanted to save you, save us, but he went too far." A moment of silence stretched for a beat before Seth jumped off the bed, smiling broadly at Jacob. "Leah's outside."

"What?" Jacob balked.

"She joined us a day after Seth," Carlisle said.

Jacob tried to clear his head, make their conversation make some sort of sense, but he couldn't. The harder he tried the foggier his head got. He was so tired, so worn out, all he could think of was crawling back into the massive bed behind him and sinking back into sleep.

"He needs to rest," Edward told them.

'Always in my head,' Jacob thought. 'I can never have anything that's just mine.' Edward glowered at him as the others began to leave the room. He grabbed the pleasant one by the arm as she turned to leave and stared into her eyes. She smiled at him, beamed actually, and chuckled then took a seat on the bed as Jacob climbed in.

"You're gonna stay?" Jacob asked.

"If you don't mind," she said sweetly. Jacob shrugged. He didn't mind, she was nice, and pretty, and kind, and as she started humming Jacob could feel his eyelids begin to droop.

Edward didn't leave with the others, instead he watched Jacob from the doorway, as if afraid that Jacob's wolf instincts would get the better of him and he'd attack the pleasant woman. Jacob rolled his eyes and allowed them to sag closed as the nice one hummed.

"Go hunt, Edward," she said as she took a breath between chords. "The others won't wait for you forever. Don't worry; we will all be here when you get back." Jacob rolled his eyes behind his closed lids, like he would hurt the nice vampire.

"Esme―" Edward began.

"Go," Esme said firmly, "everything's fine. Esme began humming again, her sweet voice filling the large room. Jacob cracked his eye open to peer at her and she smiled at him, he smiled back unable to resist. She reminded him of his own mother, of the few memories he still had of her. Esme was caring and nurturing, she hummed to him, like his mother used to when he was a boy, and the tune she hummed was so close to his mothers. The love and compassion she seemed to pour into a room astounded him, even if she weren't a vampire. As she hummed to him Jacob allowed his memories to flood back to him. He remembered lying across his mother's lap as she hummed, her long, thin fingers stroking his hair, and a feeling of peace would envelope him.

Jacob's eyes snapped open when he felt cold fingertips brush hesitantly over his hairline. Edward's face loomed over him, a pained expression on his face. Again he ran his fingers over Jacob's hair, allowing his fingertips to slip into Jacob's soft hair, his expression guarded; fighting some urge he kept well hidden. Edward continued, tentatively brushing Jacob's hair with his fingers and Esme sighed.

"You're meant to be hunting," Esme sighed.

"He likes it when you stroke his hair," Edward said. He let Jacob's hair slip through his fingertips before he sprang up from the bed and out the door. 'I like it when you stroke my hair.' Jacob thought. Esme continued to hum to him, taking over where Edward had left off, running her fingers through Jacob's hair. Jacob wanted to stay awake, to get up and leave the Cullen's house, but before he could stop himself his eyes closed and succumbed to sleep.

When next he woke it was dark outside, coating the entire room in gray and black though it didn't impair his vision. He could see Bella, wrapped in a blanket, snuggled against Edward's chest on his lap. Edward's eyes met Jacob's as he woke and, as easy as though he were lifting a rag doll, Edward picked Bella up and set her on the chair without waking her. Edward watched her sleep for a moment, his eyes searching her slumbering face, before turning to face Jacob.

"She refused to leave," Edward explained. "She was angry that she wasn't here the first time you woke up and she wanted to be here when you did again." Jacob nodded; it was a very Bella-like thing to do. He wondered what lie she'd given Charlie that allowed her to spend the night at her boyfriend's house. "Slumber party with Alice, again, third one this month. He thinks it's just the girls in the house. He thinks Carlisle, Emmett, Jasper, and I are in Portland visiting friends." Edward answered easily. Jacob frowned and nodded. It struck him how easily Edward answered questions that hadn't technically been posed to him.

"Sorry," Edward added. "I know you don't like it when I'm in your head."

Jacob shrugged. "I don't mind so much." Jacob was surprised at the truth behind his answer. A week ago all he'd wanted was a small space for him to hide his private thoughts and now he was completely content to share everything he thought with Edward. Jacob looked up at Edward, staring into his warm golden eyes, and a wide smile broke across his face. "I made it," Jacob breathed. "I made it back to you, I―"

"You shouldn't have done that," Edward interrupted, grumbling sourly. "You could have died, they were so angry with you ―you don't belong here. You should go home."

It stung, like a slap in the face, if you covered your hand in acid. It stung and spread and burned. It spread through his lungs, searing and scolding him, making his heart race unnaturally until it ached inside of him. Go home, he said. And where would Jacob go? His home was with Edward now; he wouldn't go back, even if he could. Being separated was torture. Jacob would sit at the edge of the property if Edward wouldn't allow him to stay, he'd follow Edward wherever he went, be there for him anytime he was needed. There was no way Edward could keep him away.

Edward growled and turned away from Jacob. He went to the window and stared out; there was no moon to illuminate his face that night. 'If he wants me to leave I will,' Jacob decided 'I'll do anything he wants me to.' Jacob watched Edward closely, waiting for a sign; a reaction to Jacob's thoughts, some movement to let Jacob know what to do but none came. Edward turned back to Bella; he stroked her hair gently and smiled to himself. It hurt Jacob. It was such a tiny, innocent gesture but it cut him to the bone and he wasn't entirely sure why. Imprinting didn't mean he was in love with Edward, not like that, not romantically at least. He could be Edward's best friend, his confidant, like a brother to him. He didn't have to be jealous of Bella, he didn't have to be hurt by every touch they shared, every time their eyes met, every silent declaration of love and devotion. He didn't have to be crushed because Edward was hers, always, forever, and would never be his. He could be a friend so why wasn't he? Why did he feel this need for Edward?

"Bella gave you some of her blood," Edward said idly still watching Bella sleep. "Carlisle declined and declined but she was persistent. When we were running low he finally gave in. I think she just wanted it to be permanent, you and her, together forever."

"Blood cells die," Jacob mumbled. He tried to peel his eyes away from Edward's face, the light in his eyes as he watched Bella sleep was burning a hole in Jacob's retinas, like staring into the sun. Edward chuckled, a sound that wasn't altogether unpleasant in Jacob's opinion.

"True," Edward said, "but I think she was thinking a little more romantically. Still, her blood flows through your veins; a part of you is her. It… overwhelmed me the first time I smelt it. Like taking a drink of water only to find out it's rubbing alcohol."

'That's how he thinks of me,' Jacob thought dismally. 'Bella is a refreshing glass of water and I'm rubbing alcohol.'

Edward sighed and turned to face Jacob, his face an impassive mask of stone. "You need to go back to La Push," Edward said. "We made a deal with your pack; you get well, we send you back. We intend to honor that deal."

"What if they don't let me come back?" Jacob asked, worry tinting his voice. What if they chained him up in La Push and never let him out, what if he was never allowed to see Edward again?

For a second something unreadable crossed Edward's face but before Jacob could even begin to decipher it, it was gone. "It's for the best," Edward said through clenched teeth. "You don't belong here."

The words still stung, still burned to his very core, but Jacob didn't argue with him. There was no way he'd allow the others to lock him up again, no way he would leave Edward so completely, but he could pretend for Edward's sake. Bella stirred and her eyes fluttered open. She looked around for Edward, saw Jacob sitting up, and jumped up from the chair. Edward kept her from falling as she couldn't get unwrapped from her blanket while trying to race across the room. Edward helped peel the blanket off of her and she flew into Jacob's waiting arms. Jacob held her close, breathed in the fresh scent of her hair, threading his fingers in its smooth texture, then pushed her away. Jacob held her at arm's length, not quite sure why he'd felt the sudden urge to break away from her when he was relishing in the tiny warmth of her body. Bella understood immediately and she turned to glare at Edward.

"We were just hugging," Bella chastised Edward. "You need to control yourself, Edward. He'll do what you want when you want it, even if you don't express it. Don't deny me my friend because you're jealous. He's not going to steal me away from you, he knows that would hurt you and he wouldn't hurt you." Bella smiled at him, stuck out her tongue, and turned back to Jacob. "I talked to Seth. He said that's the way it is with the others. It's like they anticipate what their, er, what the other person needs and does it."

"You're loving this," Jacob grumbled. Bella beamed and jumped up to sit on the bed beside him.

"I'm selfish, I know, but I'm glad you won't leave. I like having both of you around, I like that you'll be friends now. No more conflict."

'No more conflict,' Jacob thought glumly. 'Sure, sure, except for the nagging urge to be alone with Edward, to be the only one with Edward. To possess every inch of Edward and his heart, and never share him with anyone. Except for that our lives are perfect now.'

Jacob smiled halfheartedly for her benefit and nodded. All she could see was that Jacob wouldn't be in love with her. She could have him as a brother figure and have her romance with Edward. She didn't see that Jacob was changing, that the way Jacob felt had changed, changed so fast. She talked easily, filling the room with her voice, talking about school, work, her home life, anything to keep the silence from descending. She didn't notice, what seemed so obvious, how Jacob had changed already. She didn't notice how Jacob leaned away from her, unable to bring himself to sit upright because somewhere inside Edward he wanted Jacob to stay away from her. She didn't notice how he stole frequent glances at Edward, how he winced when Bella gestured Edward over. How it hurt to see how easily Edward wrapped himself around her, stared at her face, his fingers brushing over her skin.

She told Jacob about the tenuous truce with the rest of the pack, how she'd been playing moderator as an impartial third party. She moved from the Cullen's to the Quileute pack passing messages. She reduced her role to nothing more than a carrier pigeon but Jacob knew the truth, knew the danger in what she did, and wished she wouldn't put herself in such danger. She remarked at how great Seth was, and admitted that she still didn't know why Leah had come down. Occasionally she'd stop, take a deep breath, waiting for Jacob to pick up the conversation, before she'd plod on. It was more than Jacob had ever heard her speak to once, almost like she was afraid to let silence descend.

Finally, when she took a long enough breath, Edward stood and stole the conversation. "Perhaps Jacob would like to eat something."

"Oh," Bella said, "o'course." Bella jumped off the bed, took Edward's hand, and moved towards the door but Edward didn't follow her. Bella looked back at him questioningly.

"I need a minute to talk with Jacob," Edward said. Bella scowled at him. "Don't worry," Edward laughed, "I'll behave."

Bella thought it over quickly then nodded, pecked Edward on the cheek, and left the room. Edward stared after her for a long moment. Jacob wondered if he was debating the wisdom in sending Bella away. Edward turned to face Jacob, a sly smile on his face, and came to sit beside Jacob. Suddenly the atmosphere in the room changed and Jacob was sure it was all because of him. As soon as Edward sat down their proximity nearly drove him wild. The air was electric, the tension tantamount. Jacob's blood felt like lava in his veins, his muscles burning to move, to cross the small distance between himself and Edward, to hold Edward's body against his. He needed to be closer to Edward, so much closer. His muscles twitched with the desire, his heart raced, he could practically see the heat radiating from his body. Edward seemed made of stone, immovable, impassive, his cold hard exterior giving nothing away. If he felt a change in the room, the change in Jacob, he didn't show it. Only when Jacob's resolve began to crumble, and he began to lean towards Edward infinitesimally, did Edward respond. Edward jumped to his feet and clear across the room.

"This is why you can't stay," Edward hissed. "The things I hear in your head… I can't hear them day in and day out."

"I thought you weren't going to listen to my thoughts anymore," Jacob said.

"Be reasonable," Edward grumbled. "How do I not hear you? I just try not to respond or react." Jacob nodded, feeling ashamed at his lack of ability to control himself. "You shouldn't be here," Edward said almost pleadingly. "I don't ―I don't want you here. I want you to go back to La Push, back to your family."

Jacob tried not to think of the pain as it spread through his body, he saw Edward flinch away from his tortured thoughts. It was wrong, being apart was wrong, why didn't Edward feel that? The pain only got worse while Jacob was away. Jacob could stay, he could melt into the background, he could be an obedient pet, he could watch over Edward and Bella. He could stay, he'd behave―

"This isn't about you," Edward interjected quietly. Jacob barely heard him, his mind so focused on his pain, his desire to stay.

'I'll stay out of the way,' Jacob pleaded. 'I'll play nice. I'll fetch your slippers, I'll sleep at your feet. Don't send me away, don't―'

"Stop it," Edward growled.

'―make me leave you. I can't live without you, not again, never again. Please―'

Edward growled, low and guttural, and moved, so fast Jacob could barely register it even with his heightened senses, until he was in Jacob's face. His hand rested on Jacob's cheek lightly, his cold thumb caressing small circles on Jacob's cheek as he gazed down at Jacob. The gentle, caring expression on Edward's face made Jacob's breath catch in his throat. Slowly, far too slow compared to Edward's previous speed, Edward leaned down and pressed his lips lightly to Jacob's. Jacob's heart stalled then revved unnaturally fast until the sound of his frantic heartbeat was the only think he could hear as it thrummed in his ears. Edward moved his lips against Jacob's, leaning closer and pressing his body to Jacob's, threading his hands up into Jacob's hair. Jacob responded, catching Edward's lower lip between his own, and wrapping his arms around Edward's back. Gradually Edward broke their kiss, a feat Jacob was sure he couldn't have accomplished, but didn't let go of Jacob.

"This is not about you," Edward whispered. "You can't stay because I can't be trusted around you." Edward clenched his hands in Jacob's short hair. "I can't ―my family… Bella― I can't hurt them."

Edward stared into Jacob's eyes until a noise on the stairs caught his attention. In a flash Edward moved across the room and lounged casually in the chair. Jacob was not so quick to react and when Bella walked in he still wore a shocked expression as he gaped at Edward. Bella carried a large tray full of food; Jacob wondered how she'd made it up the stairs with it without tripping and spilling it. She threw an angry glare in Edward's direction, who smiled easily in faux innocence. Bella placed the tray on the bed beside Jacob and slid up on the other side of it.

"I didn't know what you wanted but I remembered that you like to eat," Bella said trying to explain the over flowing tray.

Jacob looked over the tray, finally able to tear his eyes from Edward. It didn't seem possible that she could have gotten that much food ready in such a short time. Fried chicken, steak, pizza, baked potatoes, things that needed far more time than she had to make.

"Esme has been cooking for days," Edward explained. "She is… eager to make you feel at home here."

Jacob took in Edward's words, taking on new meaning in light of his new information. He reassessed Edward's every gesture, they all seemed different now. Now, more than before, Jacob wanted to be alone with Edward, to have him explain everything. To figure out what exactly was going on.

"Thank her for me," Jacob said hollowly, "but I should be getting back. I need to go home." Jacob felt a tight constriction in his heart as he spoke the words. He felt a deep longing to remain but he forced it away. Edward nodded his agreement, his jaw clenched tightly.

"Eat before you leave at least," Bella begged.

Absentmindedly Jacob picked up a piece of chicken from the plate and tore off a bite. He ate on autopilot, his thoughts far away. Somehow, as inexplicable as it seemed, Edward felt at least a tiny bit for Jacob like Jacob felt for him. This knowledge changed the filter of light he used to view the world and Jacob found himself thinking back, going over everything that had happened since he'd imprinted. Jacob went over Edward's every reaction in his mind from his new perspective, drawing new conclusions, watching as Edward nodded his approval in a minuscule way when Jacob got something right.

Edward was right; Jacob had to leave.