I was surprised to feel consciousness. My whole body ached. When I opened my eyes I half expected to see mom or Jeremy sitting at my bedside but I woke in an unfamiliar place. When I sat up the room spun and I forced myself back down. Everything was muddled, my senses weren't working right but I wasn't going to wait around for someone to come along and tell me what was going on. I tried sitting up again and actually got to standing before everything spun again and I lost my balance collapsing to the floor with a loud thud. I closed my eyes and pressed my face to the cool, hardwood floor trying to straighten my head out again. I didn't even hear the footsteps approaching, only the door opening. I looked up at a pale face I thought I recognized but couldn't put it together in my head. His scent was vaguely familiar as well but nothing was connecting. He picked me up and put me back on the bed. Everything was still spinning so wildly that I had to close my eyes again.

"Where's Logan?" I whispered so softly I barely heard it.

"He's here. He's alright." The man had a velvety voice that gave me a warm feeling. "You're both safe now."

I was more confused. Who was this? I opened my eyes again but he was gone. I drifted away again. My eyes cracked open again when I heard my name being spoken over and over.

"Kat. Wake up." Logan pleaded. "Please wake up."

"Give her time. She's probably still feeling the effects of the morphine." The velvet voice spoke again.

"Kat?" I opened my eyes wider; Logan's face loomed in from of mine. "Hey."

I couldn't speak but gave him a weak smile.

"How you doin'?" He asked me, relieved. "Are you feeling OK?"

I closed my eyes again. It was like talking to him in my wolf form, he always knew what I meant.

"She's still in pain."

"I can give her more morphine. She'll be out again though."

"That's fine. She needs to sleep."

I was so glad Logan was my twin brother.

"I don't know why she's not healing faster. We're usually over this kind of stuff in a day or so." I could hear the worry in his voice as the warmth of the sedative flowed over me.

"There might be an infection. That's probably what's causing the fever. We should clean her up again, just in case." The mystery man said. "I'll ask my father to get some antibiotics from the hospital."

I drifted into darkness once more.

Spending time in the subconscious really wasn't something I minded all that much. It was like being underwater and not having to breathe. I was suspended in nothing, feeling nothing, seeing nothing. I wasn't worried or happy or angry. I was just there. Maybe it wasn't all I cracked it up to be.

When I resurfaced again I smelled something familiar close to me. A werewolf.

"Logan." I breathed, not opening my eyes.

"No." This voice was rich and sweet but soft.

I felt a hand sweep over my forehead. I blinked my eyes open slowly. The fuzziness of sleep cleared and I looked into the dark eyes of Jacob Black.

"Jacob."

He smiled, flashing his perfect white teeth. Even in my daze I melted.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him.

"Let me go get Carlisle." He lingered on my eyes for a moment before rushing out of the room only to return a few seconds later.

Edward Cullen stood over me, next to his father. Carlisle sat on the bed next to me, checking my eyes, pulse, and temperature.

"Why don't you sit up?" He said sliding a hand under me to help me lift myself.

Jacob came back to my side and put his hand behind me too as I pulled myself to a seated position. I was still a little dizzy but the room wasn't spinning like last time.

"How do you feel?" Carlisle asked.

"Fine." I said quietly, concentrating on the hot hand that now touched my shoulder. "Where am I?"

"The Cullen's." Jacob answered.

"Where's Logan?" fear almost choked me but then I remembered talking to him.

"He went to phase."

"You mean Change." I said.

He smiled. "Change."

Oh sweet heavens. He was as beautiful as he always had been. I felt like I was back three years ago; a sixteen year old girl pining over the wolf in the woods. It took me so long to get over that night.

"How long has it been?"

"Three days." Jacob answered me. "I got there as fast as I could."

I shook my head, leaning toward him. "I don't understand."

"I saw Paul at the store." He stared with a sigh. "I could smell you on him. I knew it was you cuz I could never forget. He wouldn't tell me anything so I went after Sam. He said you challenged him and he was going after you so no one else would bother them. But I told him what you really were, that you're not the same as us. I waited for him but he slipped past me. Paul told me he'd left with Jared to kill you and I went after them but when I got there you were already… you weren't moving."

I put my hand to his cheek and he refocused on my eyes. It was strange. I never felt this close to someone I barely knew. Suddenly, everything was focused around him.

"We should go." Edward said turning to his father.

"Katherine, you have some pretty deep wounds. I had to stitch some of them. Be careful moving around, you don't want them opening again. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." Carlisle said and walked out of the room behind Edward.

"This is strange." I said. "I never thought I'd see you again."

"I'm sorry it had to be like this."

"You saved my life… and my brother's."

"You need to talk to your brother. Edward says he's been plotting to kill us all when you're ready to fight again."

I laughed lightly. "That's Logan."

"He's your twin right?"

"Yeah."

"We get along really well; except the whole wanting to kill me part." He shrugged.

"Sounds familiar." I smiled but it faded quickly.

"What's wrong?"

"I have to talk to Logan. Can you get him for me?"

"Of course." Jacob said and stood to leave, "You'll be alright alone?"

I nodded and he left me. Another strange feeling; it was like I just sent my leg to fetch my brother.

"Kat." Logan sighed as he came through the door a few minutes later. He sat on the bed next to me and put his hand on my forehead. "You look better."

"I feel better." I said looking at Jacob as he too entered.

"They're vampires, here." Logan said quietly.

"I know." I said. "I've been here before, Logan."

"What? When?"

"Do you remember a few years ago? The last summer we were at Uncles Dennis'?"

"Yeah."

"This is why he sent us away." I said. "That day I disappeared; this is where I was."

"How did you even get here?"

"I followed him." I nodded to Jacob. "I was on a run and I caught his scent so I followed it."

"You didn't kill him?" Logan leaned in closer to me as if that would prevent Jacob from hearing.

"I had every intention." I laughed. "He's not the same as us. I don't have to worry about him coming after me for the same reasons the mutts do."

Logan looked over his shoulder at Jacob, then looked back at me.

"He's hardly ever away from you." He said at just a whisper. "I don't like it."

"Of course you don't; you're my big brother."

"Only by a few minutes."

"Don't worry about this Logan. I know these people, they just want to help."

He looked somewhat defeated but when I pushed him off the bed he smiled and stood up.

"They do have some pretty killer food here." He shrugged. "So you want me to get you something to eat?"

"You read my mind." I said.

"I'll be back."

Jacob moved from the doorway to let Logan pass through then came into the room, sitting in the bed close to me. I could feel the heat coming off of his body.

"You hardly leave?" I asked looking up at him.

"It was unnerving being away from you. Knowing you could wake up alone and how confused you'd be. I didn't want you to be scared."

I smiled and leaned into him, wrapping my arms over his bare back. He closed me in his own big arms. I inhaled his scent; it was natural, like fallen leaves, wet earth and a salty breeze all rolled into one. It was intoxicating. I found it hard to let go of him. I laughed at myself and Jacob loosened his grip on me.

"What?" He asked, looking down at me; his eyes warm and a crooked smile on his face.

I shook my head and slid away from him.

"You can tell me." His hand found mine.

"I don't know how I'm going to leave you again." It came out before I put a second thought into it.

Jacob smiled and lifted from the bed. He took the seat on the opposite side of the room, near the window. Logan walked in a moment later barring a platter piled high with food. I couldn't contain myself after having one bite; I ate like a pig. I noticed Jacob watching me a smile lifting his cheeks at times. I didn't care; I was too hungry to care. After having my fill I felt ten times better.

"You've got your color back." Carlisle noticed when he came back in to check on me. "You feel better?"

"Much." I nodded. "I'm gonna have to leave soon."

"Why?" Jacob seemed panicked.

"I have to go back to school." As much as I didn't want to leave him again I couldn't abandon my responsibilities. "But I'll come back."

"You need to rest." Carlisle pressed. "I don't want you to hurt yourself. You shouldn't Change yet, it might tear the stitches and open everything up again."

"If I don't Change… it'll force itself. I have to."

"How often?"

"I usually do it every few days," I said, "but I've gone as long as two weeks."

"That will be plenty of time. Can you give it a week?"

"Yeah, I guess." I said. "I have to get back to school, someone's bound to have noticed we're both gone."

"And we can't have people asking questions, y'know?" Logan said from the chair Jacob had previously occupied.

"We need to leave today." I said.

"I'll have Edward drive you." Carlisle said. "You'll be back in a couple of hours. It's the best we can do without risking you injuring yourself."

"Alright." I said standing. "If we leave now I can probably make it to my afternoon class."

"Wait. Did you hear him? You still need to rest. You can't go to class today." Jacob said.

"I have to. I've already missed one day. I'll fall behind if I don't go again." I said.

"As long as she's not doing anything strenuous I don't see what's wrong with sitting in a classroom."

"What if someone bumps into you? Or you trip?"

"Jake, I'm not a porcelain doll." I smiled up at him. "I promise I'll be fine. You don't have to worry about me."

He looked like he was going to say something but then decided against it and kept him mouth closed. I had to admit that Jacob worrying over me so much made me feel…loved. I had to keep reminding myself that I had responsibilities to uphold and I had to go back to school. I'd come back to see Jacob as soon as I could. Again, I had to push the thought of leaving to the back of my mind, otherwise I'd never make it into the car.

When Logan and I were ready to go we walked outside of the house to where Edward had pulled the car up. Jacob walked with me, ready to catch me if I suddenly fell over; which I think he was secretly hoping would happen (then I wouldn't be able to leave). I made it unscathed to the car. Jacob was fidgeting as I thanked everyone for everything they'd done… again.

"It was nice to see you again, Katherine." Esme said giving me a light hug. "Will we be seeing you again soon?"

I think she already knew that answer. "Most likely." I nodded.

"We'll have to stock up the fridge." Emmett commented, I shot him a humored scowl.

"Ready?" Edward asked with is keys in hand.

"Yeah." Both Logan and I said.

I looked at Jacob who was standing at the back of the car.

"Why don't you ride in front, Logan?" Edward said opening the passenger door, Logan climbed in. Edward raised his eyebrows at Jacob and gave him a slight nod.

"Katie can I talk to you?" Jacob said as the vampires went inside.

"Katie?"

"Is that alright?" He asked.

"No one's ever called me that." I shrugged. "I'm always open to new ideas I guess."

"Good. I'll see you tonight then?"

"What?" I wasn't sure what I'd missed in the conversation.

"I just have to tell my pack and I'll come down and stay with you tonight."

"Jake." I shook my head. "What are you talking about?"

"You said yourself that you don't have to worry about me hurting you. What if some "mutt" comes along? You're injured and can't defend yourself. I won't run the risk of losing you."

I didn't even think of that.

"Jake…" This is going a little fast but I like it. "What time will you come?"

He looked relieved as a smiled spread across his face. "I might be there before you."

"OK." I nodded. "I'll see you."

I wanted to kiss him. It seemed like the thing to do. Like I was going to be meeting my boyfriend for dinner after he went home to shower after work. But he wasn't my boyfriend and we were meeting because I could potentially be killed if there was no one to protect me. Not the same at all. I merely shifted uncomfortably and headed to the back door. Jacob got there before me and opened it. I slid inside sending him a smile. I sank into the seat feeling relieved that I would be seeing him again so soon.

I fell asleep in the first fifteen minutes. Guess I really did need to rest. When Logan woke me up as we were arriving in Sequim. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and stretched to wake myself up. I still felt the aches in my body. Logan gave Edward the directions to the common and we all got out of the car.

"How are you feeling?"

"Great." I lied. I didn't need someone else telling me I shouldn't go to class.

"I wouldn't tell you not to go to class." He smiled.

Oh yeah. "Sorry. I just don't think it's as bad as everyone is making it out to be." I said.

"The only reason we worried so much was because your brother told us your kind usually heal quickly. He certainly did."

"But you said that I was a lot worse than him." I pointed out.

"You were." He nodded. "Plus we had no idea how to treat you."

"Well, thank you for everything Edward." I said.

"Won't we be seeing you again?"

You already know you will. I smiled and looked sideways at Logan.

"I'm sure we'll run into each other." I said.

"You're welcome to our home any time." Edward offered. "Same for you Logan."

They shook hands and Edward turned back to his car, got in a drove away. I looked in the sky at the sun. It was about two in the afternoon. My class was scheduled for three; I'd made it. I went to my dorm and took a shower, careful to be gentle around the stitched areas. When I walked from the communal bathroom in my bathrobe I ran into my neighbor.

"Ooh! Where have you been?" She asked accusingly.

"Uh." I furrowed my brow. I didn't really have to answer that.

"I'm so glad that I found you. There's this guy looking for you. Katherine. He is drop dead gorgeous. Are you dating? You have to introduce me to him."

"Uh. Where is he?" I asked started toward my room again.

"I think he went to Logan's dorm. Honestly, I didn't even hear him; all my attention was focused on his body." She laughed. "Where did you meet him?"

"Hiking." I said quickly and walked into my room.

"Oh. You'll have to bring me next time you go hiking." She laughed.

I closed my door and threw my bathrobe on my bed. Jacob caught it.

"What are you doing?" I asked quickly and quietly. "How did you even get in here?"

"The door was unlocked." He shrugged. "You're really not shy at all are you?"

"You'll get used to it." I said.

"I didn't say that I mind." He smirked.

"You're a perv." I smiled and pulled my clothes on. "I think you should probably stay in here."

"You can't go alone."

"Jake it'll be fine. It's on campus; a mutt wouldn't come up and kill me in broad daylight on a campus filled with college students."

"But he could come up and kidnap you easily. Just stick a gun in your back and tell you where to go."

"Werewolves don't use human weapons, not respectable ones at least." I said heading for the door, Jacob was behind me in seconds. "What are you going to do? Sit next to me in class?"

"I'll wait outside the door." He shrugged.

I smiled and opened the door. He walked along side me. Most of the girls we passed either melted at the sight of him or sent him flirtatious looks. He slipped his hand into mine and entwined his fingers with mine. Wow. Wouldn't a normal guy put some distance between us with all these college chicks ogling him? He just wanted to be closer to me and I found that I wanted to be closer to him. Strange