Thank you all so much for reading, and a special thanks to all who reviewed. And to kallmecrazy for cleaning up my typos.

Bloodsuckers and vets

Where is she? What's going on?

It took a few seconds before I was able to take in the whole scenery before me. I was sprinting alongside with Embry; I'd nearly caught up with him. Everyone was here. Paul was running with the newcomers on our right, Sam and Jared sprinting down on our left, leaving Embry and me in the middle. We were surrounded by sweet, sickening stench. I almost felt like vomiting. Or coughing up a hairball, I dunno.

She's almost past the boarder, Sam urged to me. He seemed stunned like this just wasn't possible. One second it was all clear, and the next second there was reeking all over. It was like if she knew exactly how to get through.

She who?

Victoria, who else?

She was going for hit and run, Jared snarled. We managed to cut her off before she got too close.

Through his eyes I saw a flash of red hair. He was the one with the devilish eyesight.

Too close? I wondered. Too close to what?

It was Sam who replied. She was going headfirst to your house. She knew where Bella was.

I felt numb inside. This was getting too close to creepy. What if the leech came to see Bella at school or something? We couldn't guard her around there.

Ahh, why did you have to go get the pup? Leah was practically hissing with excitement. She felt shamelessly happy to be able to run out some agitation. He can't focus, he's in love. She spit the last word like it was something particularly repulsive.

He's faster than the rest of us, Embry growled. He was sprinting to keep up with me as it was, and he didn't like getting picked on by Leah.

Not faster than me. Leah jounced, easily pressing herself to run faster than the others.

I pressed my speed to match hers. In the lining of the trees in front of me, I saw a shimmer of red hair. Through my own eyes, this time. We're just as fast, I snarled at Leah. Okay, she was fast, I'd give her that, but she wasn't faster. And you're more of a pup than I am.

I'm older than you, she insisted.

Not in this form, you're not. You're only two weeks old. That equals pup.

Leah only snorted and replied by running even faster.

As we approached the leech in front of us, we spread out behind her so that we would be able to cut her off should she try to turn around. She did try a couple of times, but quickly found out that wouldn't do. We traced her all the way to the Olympic National Park, where she started to dance around by the edges.

She wants to get around to the ocean to get a safe escape, Sam figured. She's about to give up.

We all turned into full sprint simultaneously. I wanted to get her so bad. I wanted to tear her guts apart and dance around the camp fire.

I'll bring the matches, Leah agreed. To her, this wasn't as personal as too me. To her, any leech would do. Not that I'd object. Any leech was fine with me. But especially this leech. She was second on my leeches-I'd-like-to-put-on-fire list. It's not hard to guess who would be on top.

It didn't last long before Leah and I outran the others. We were both faster. The other guys gathered a safety line instead, in case the redhead would slip past us, while we raced after her. This was routine. I could see her in front of me now, blurring ahead. The stench from her hair hit me in the face making me gag. Beside me, Leah put all in and raced past me. She lunged, and for one second I was sure she had the leech. So was Leah, until the leech somehow slipped away, Leah falling out of course. She swore loudly inside her head as she got to her feet.

I kept my sprint up, inching closer. I will catch her. The leech took a sharp to the right, and in the movement she turned to look back over her shoulder. Her face was all pointy and full of sharp angles. Her blooded eyes met mine, and she smirked. I got this feeling she knew me. Us. Who I was, how we worked, what to do. Nothing she could have done right now could have pissed me off more than that little smirk. So when she turned back, I mustered up my last efforts and lunged at her.

I had her. I felt strays of her hair inside my mouth and bit down. She eased away just that moment and, mid air, I felt her ice cold hands against my neck.

I felt her teeth graze my shoulder.

Jacob! Simultaneous thoughts of dread and warnings ran through my head.

I heaved away from her, at the same time waving a paw towards her face. It missed her by inches. I hit the ground shoulder first, stumbling a little to get on my feet. I got to my feet and started a sprint to hunt her down, spitting out a mouthful of her hair as I ran, but she was already too far gone. There was no way we would be able to catch up on her.

Other than my shoulder, I felt fine. She couldn't have punctured my skin with her teeth, or else I wouldn't have been able to get up on my feet at all. Vamps were poisonous. And now she'd slipped away again. I ran after her a few kilometers anyway, on pure will. But pure will never caught anything.

Jacob, I heard Sam think. There's no point.

I knew there wasn't. We couldn't trace her forever. We would tire eventually and we also needed sleep and food. She didn't.

Are you okay? Embry urged. He replayed the scenario when the redhead lunged, her teeth grazing my fur. Then how I had heaved away, and how I'd hit the ground, hard. They'd seen it all through Leah's point of view. It looked worse through her eyes. It had looked like I'd got bitten.

I stretched my shoulders. She hadn't broken the skin, but I knew that if she'd had the opportunity she wouldn't have hesitated for one second. As I slowed down my running, I noticed my back was feeling a bit funny from the hard impact with the ground. It was almost like if I still could feel where her hands had pushed me down. I could smell my own blood, but not much. It would heal before I got home.

You sure? Quil was worried.

Sure. Let's get back. I muttered, irritable and grouchy that we didn't get her this time either.

We'll get her next time.

Yes. We will get her next time.

We ran back quickly, everyone too busy with their own thoughts no notice much else. As we reached La Push, a few of the others spread out to continue their patrols. It wasn't likely she would come back now, but best to not take the risk. I ran back home alongside with Embry, and we split up when we reached the forest edge behind my home. We gave each other quick goodbyes as he continued north; he was going home too.

I'd gotten the garage in view and was about to phase back when I heard the sound of running footsteps. I looked up, confused. There was no mistaking who it was. No one else could stumble that many times in such a short distance.

Bella appeared through the trees, her face pale and eyes wide. Her hair was windblown, and her chest was heaving after the short run from the house. She must have been outside on the porch looking after me, and then seen a movement when I arrived. Something stirred inside me when I saw her. She was here and she was safe and alive. That was all that mattered. That was the whole point to all this.

"Jacob," she whispered when she saw me, breathless. She stumbled over to me as fast as she could, almost tripping over a branch on the ground and her own feet. She stopped short only when she was standing straight in front of me. She stood there, staring up at my wolf form, trying to catch her breath.

"Jacob," she said again, still breathless. "You're okay. Are you okay?"

There was something about the look in her eyes that touched me. She was so honestly terrified and worried for me and my heart warmed all over for her. I rumbled a little as a response. I was okay now.

"Thank god," she whispered, and to my great surprise she stretched up and put her arms around my neck, pressing her cheek to my chest. She was hugging me. It felt...surprisingly good. A bit weird. No one had ever hugged me when I had four legs. I poked her shoulder with my snout to make her look up.

"Did you catch her?" she asked, leaning back so that she could look at me more closely.

I shook my head. Bella only nodded, and continued to study my face. I realized she'd never really seen me close up in this form before. She'd seen me, but only briefly. Not this close, not like this. She lifted her hand up to my face, stroking tentatively, touching my fur for the first time. I was thrilled that she could be so relaxed about this whole mess. Her fingers fluttered around and buried in my fur on my neck. I grinned at her and rumbled a little. Bella smiled back, before she drew a deep breath to settle herself. She took a step closer, and pressed her cheek to my chest again. I pretended to wave my tail like a dog. She giggled, before she sighed.

"I was so worried about you," she said, shaking her head. She moved back a little, so that she could see my face. She moved her eyes from my face and let her gaze wander over my shoulders, all the while dragging her hand across my neck. "And Billy was too. I was so sure something was..." She stopped short, drawing a deep breath of air. "Jake, you're bleeding!"

Huh? I tried to turn my head around so that I could see, but I didn't see anything. She was staring at the point where I'd had the hard impact with the ground. I felt fine. It must just have been a few bruises. Whatever it was, it must have healed by now.

Bella was horrified. Of course.

"What happened? What did she do? Did she do something to you?" Bella fretted. She went closer to my shoulder, trying to get a better look at it but afraid to touch. She was completely over herself. Come on, it wasn't that bad. "Does it hurt? You need to go to a doctor! Come, on Jacob, I'll get you to a doctor!"

And then she actually grabbed hold of my front leg and started pulling. When I didn't immediately follow, she just pulled harder. Or at least I think she did; I didn't feel much difference. But it looked like she was putting quite an effort into it.

"Come on!" she cried out, casting a worried look at my apparently bloodstained shoulder. I couldn't help but laugh at her. Did she expect to be able to drag me anywhere, least of all to the car? And let's say she got me all over there, and inside (even less likely), where would she take me? To the doctor? Or the vet? Err, hi. My...erm...dog's been in a fight. I could picture her stuttering explanation to why there was a wolf in the waiting room along with the cat and the goldfish.

At my laughter Bella spun around to look at me. She was getting annoyed and beside herself with worry.

"Jacob!"

I lowered my head and rolled my eyes at her.

Bella grumbled and crossed her arms over her chest. "Can you please phase back so I can get you to a doctor?"

Sure. Can you please look away? Not that I was the shy one, but guess who would get the blame if I suddenly started strolling around in front of her in my birth suit. Bella didn't move, but kept waiting for me to phase back. I imagined her foot would start tapping any minute now.

I sighed a little before I leaned down and pushed her shoulder with my snout.

"What?" she spread her arms out in a very Charlie-like movement. I pushed her shoulder again, spinning her around with the tip of my nose. Then I pointed her lightly in the back, pushing her away from me. I felt like such a dog; I never actually had to ever communicate with a human while in wolf form.

Bella turned to frown at me, before it dawned on her. "Oh," she said, a beautiful blush spreading all over her cheeks. "You need to... I'll just... go over there."

She stumbled her way back to the garage, her steps a little too fast. Her neck was crimson from her blush. I guess Bella wasn't completely unaffected about my nudity, then. A good sign. I smirked to myself as she disappeared behind the corner of the garage.

I phased, and pulled on the jeans I'd dropped to the ground earlier. Then I stretched around to take a closer look at my shoulder. Whatever it was, it had healed smoothly by now leaving only a few bloodstains and some dirt on my skin. Nothing to worry about. I'd known that.

Bella was there as soon as I rounded the corner of the garage. At first I thought she was giving me another hug, but really she was trying to push me around so that she could take a look at my shoulder.

"Does it hurt?" she fretted again, scrutinizing the supposed damage.

"Bella, it has already healed. It was nothing. Just a few bruises."

"What happened?" She walked around to face me, her face painted with worry, her frown enormous.

"I almost had her, but I fell. This is me tripping," I grinned at her. Compared to her, I never tripped. She looked dubious.

"Are you sure it doesn't hurt?"

"Yes."

"So you don't need a doctor?"

I laughed. "No, Bella I..."

I didn't really get to say anything else then, because her lips cut me off and she was kissing me frantically. I stood there, stunned, dumb like a donkey. It took me several long moments before I realized what was happening. I felt her arms around my shoulder, and she pressed herself to my numb body. When the feeling finally returned to my arms and I managed to put them around her waist, Bella pulled back to look at me.

"I was so worried," she whispered, dead serious.

If hunting down Victoria evoked these emotions in Bella, I almost never wanted to catch that leech. I could trace her around forever if I could get home to this.

My mouth crashed back down on hers, and for a moment we were back on her front porch yesterday. Her kisses were urgent and hungry, and my hands were tracing up and down her sides – but never further. I'd learned something at least. She kissed me deeply, like only she could, and I reeled in the feeling of it. I guessed I could get used to this pretty fast. It was almost addictive. I felt her back being pressed up against something solid and realized we'd stumbled over to the garage wall.

Her body was somehow pinned between me and the wall, and she was trying to press me even closer. I was all in. This was a very pleasant surprise, almost a little too pleasant. As if my hands had an agenda on their own, they pressed against her lower back, slipping her shirt upwards. Bella tensed a bit when she felt my warm fingers against her bare skin, but kept kissing me hungrily. Her teeth grazed my lower lip and my mind became an incoherent wreck. I could feel the lines and curves of her small frame as she clung to me, her body pressed to each and every line of mine. I slowly dragged my hands up her back. Our 'just friends' was long dead and buried. She shivered at the warmth and I shivered at the touch.

Far away, on the other side of the garage and then some, I heard the creaking from my dad's wheelchair. No, I thought. No. Not right now. Just then Bella shoved her tongue further into my mouth and dragged her hands through my hair, and I drowned back into Bella world.

"Bella?" I heard my dad call from the porch. He couldn't see us from there. His voice sounded worried and I remembered he didn't know I was home safely.

With great effort and reluctance I pulled back from her. Our lips disconnected and we ended up staring at another for a few seconds. Her lips were slightly red and her eyes clouded. She didn't look like she'd heard my dad at all, but kept staring at me, her chest heaving. It was physical pain not to lean back down and kiss her again.

I heard some more creaking. "Jacob?" My dad called my name this time, still worried, and I returned to the presence.

"Over here dad," I called back. "I'm okay." My voice sounded funny.

At my words, Bella seemed to wake up too. With a last look at her, I grabbed her hand before I made our way out to the front of the garage. We walked through the small path through the trees towards the house, and I was still holding her hand when we reached the front of the house.

Dad looked overly relieved to see me, and I felt a sting of guilt that I hadn't gone to see him right away. He'd been worried too.

"How did it go?" he asked. "Did you catch her?"

I just shook my head and grimaced as I remembered. But we would catch that leech sometime. I'd catch her. Bella was standing silently beside me, breathless. I don't think my dad noticed.

Bella stayed for a few more hours. She sat on the other side of the couch from me, keeping a normal, polite, friendly, way-too-long distance. We didn't kiss again, or talk about it. Now and then I caught myself staring at her, and sometimes our eyes would meet. When it happened, she always looked quickly away, and a few times she tried to hide her blush without success. That blush was a lifesaver to me, because that showed she hadn't forgotten and wasn't completely unaffected. But she didn't mention the kiss we'd shared behind the garage, or anything else that had happened between us.

When we talked, it was about easy uncomplicated subjects that had nothing to do about us. We talked a bit about Victoria, and about Charlie, and Billy told us Charlie was trying to get hold of a two tickets to a Marines games next week. Bella acted like nothing out of the ordinary just happened, like we were just Jacob and Bella. Best friends. My ass. It might have something to do with my dad being around though, but I couldn't know for sure. Maybe it was because she wasn't sure about it. She had a tendency of tipping back and forth.

It was almost a week since Cullen called. Not that I was counting the days. Okay, I was. But the more time that past, the more likely it seemed that he wouldn't show up. If he'd wanted to be here, he'd been here by now. But the only vamp around these days was Victoria, and she was about to burn.

As it got darker outside, Bella stood up from her perch on the couch. She told Billy goodnight, and I followed her out on the front porch, closing the door behind us. She stood in front of me, fiddling with her jacket, avoiding my gaze. Her cheeks had turned slightly red again, and she was chewing on her bottom lip. She looked embarrassed. It was obvious she didn't know what to do or say. Was she thinking about the kiss we'd shared behind the garage? I knew I was.

"Bella," I said quietly. She looked up, and again she reminded me of a deer in the headlights. I lifted my hand to tuck some hair behind her ear, before I framed her face with both of my hands. Then I leaned down to her and pressed my lips lightly to hers. I wasn't sure if I was allowed to this, but I did it anyway. Her heart started racing, but I felt her relax against my hands. When I pulled back to look at her, her gaze shifted back and forth between my eyes. Then slowly a smile started to spread on her lips. A real, honest smile that made my heart jump.

I grinned back at her, and moved my hands from her face to wrap around her cold hand. "Come on. I'll drive you home."

We got into her truck, and I got the wreck started and then we rumbled out on the road. Bella was silent, staring out of her window. When I looked at her, I could see that she was smiling widely. It was a comfortable silence, only the radio buzzing silently in the back ground. I grinned absentmindedly as we reached the 110, my mind drifting off to a completely different place. I had one hand on the steering wheel, and the other still wrapped safely around hers. We didn't catch the leech today, but I was somehow feeling happier than ever. She'd kissed me again. Really kissed me. I couldn't stop grinning.

I woke up to the presence when I heard Bella giggle quietly beside me. I turned to look at her, and she was grinning from ear to ear. It took a few seconds before I realized I'd been humming quietly along with the radio. Ops.

"You think my singing is funny?" I asked her. My singing wasn't sound to the sore ear. I continued to hum, making my voice squeakier on purpose. Bella almost doubled over with amused laughter, clutching her stomach. When she finally managed to sit straight, she had to wipe her eyes with her sleeve.

"I don't think it's funny," she insisted, as the song on the radio faded and changed into another one. "I think your singing is extraordinary." Yeah, right.

I peered at her as she tried to sit up straight, and keep the laughter from her face. She was doing a poor job. Her self control wasn't the best. We sat in silence for a few seconds, and I turned my attention back to the road ahead. Then, very quietly (and deliberate this time) I started humming again, knowing it would make her laugh. True, the next second she was howling over with laughter. So much for self control, huh. I grinned at her. Man, I loved that girl.

We reached the outside of her house, and I parked on the side of the road. Charlie's cruiser was standing in the driveway, and he was probably waiting for her. We both got out of her truck, and I walked her up to the porch. I turned to her, and grabbed both her hands in mine.

"I don't know if I'll be able to see you tomorrow," I admitted, and her face fell a little; tomorrow was my time to patrol.

"Are you going to be out running all night too?" she wondered. The concerned frown was back.

"Nah, I don't think so," I smiled. "Just for a little while."

"Oh. Okay." Our eyes met, and her eyes turned uncertain. "I'll... err... see you later then."

Again, I leaned down to kiss her simply because I couldn't help not to. She stretched up to meet me halfway, and I felt her hands encircle my neck even before mine had been able to reach for her. Her lips were so soft against mine and I never wanted to leave. When she pulled back she was smiling up at me, her eyes warm. It was all very simple and sweet, but still there was more to it somehow.

"Be careful," she whispered.

"Sure, sure. Don't worry." We would cover this place tonight. No redhead would come close.

With a last look I walked past her and headed towards the forest behind her house. I turned to smile at her, and then heard her walk up on the porch and lock herself in. I grinned to myself as I reached the edge. I realized I was no longer counting kisses. Simply because I'd lost count.

It was the best patrol I'd had in a long time. It was one reason to this, and one reason only. No Leah. It was perhaps mean to say so, but oh how true. She had finally been able to phase back. The day after Victoria's hit and run, she'd managed to calm herself down completely. Believe it or not. And then there had been a slight pop, as she realized what she was doing, and then there was no more Leah inside the pack brain. She hadn't been here all day, and I was most thankful. All right, she could be nice, when she wanted to. She just didn't want to very often.

Seth had phased back to, a few hours later. It wouldn't last long though. They would be back soon enough. Newcomers were kind of edgy. Just a little insult and bam; wolf in the bedroom.

It was Friday, and I'd been out running with Quil and Embry ever since school finished. Paul was there too, and he was bored.

Will you cool it, please? He dragged, referring to Quil's inner monologue about the redhead. Quil had been going non stop about catching her ever since she showed her ugly face two days ago.

Why do you keep calling her redhead? Quil chattered, ignoring Paul completely.

I don't, I thought. Bloodsucker, leech. You choose.

I don't even know if he heard me. About redheads...do you think the Cullens will show up or what? He asked for the fifth time. And he wasn't worried, oh no, he was thrilled. He wanted to chase more vamps.

Don't know, I said for the hundredth time. Hope not.

I don't think he's gonna like you much, Quil grinned.

I barked and laughed once. I didn't expect him to.

Quil continued. I mean, he managed to lose Bella to a dog. That's about reason enough for him to...

Quil's thoughts were interrupted by another presence.

Damn, she moaned. Oh joy. Leah was back. She'd been annoyed when her cell phone wouldn't work and she couldn't find her power adapter. That's all it took. Wolf in the bedroom, indeed.

Come on, it wasn't that important! She screamed to herself. I want to go back!

Chill, Quil thought. We can't be that bad company.

Leah didn't reply.

Just calm down, I tried to tell her. You should be able to get back soon.

Eager to get me out of her, are we?

No, I just meant that... You said yourself that... I started stuttering before I realized this was a hopeless case. I gave up. Never mind. I'm out of here.

I don't even bother to ask you where you're going. Leah's thoughts were sour.

I cut her off and phased back. She was right anyway. Maybe Bella was home.

I got inside, and after rummaging around in the fridge for a moment I picked up the phone and dialed her number. She should be home from work by now. She answered on the fourth ring, and she sounded out of air.

"Hello?"

"Hey Bells. It's Jacob."

"Oh hi." I could almost hear the smile stretch over her face across the line.

"I was just checking to see if you're home. Can I come over?"

"Yeah, sure." She was still sounding breathless.

"Bells, what are you doing? Have you been out running or something?" I sniggered a bit. Bella out running. Disaster on two legs. Everyone hide.

"Yes and no," she answered.

"Huh?" Very confusing answer.

She elaborated. "You see, I was on my way to answer the phone, but then my sock got caught up in one of the floorboards up in my room. It's loose, I think. I'm going to have to take a look at it. Anyways, I fell and when I got up I had to run to get the phone, and I almost fell down the stairs too."

I sniggered a little. "Why am I not surprised?"

Bella just smacked her tongue impatiently. "Are you coming or not?"

"I'm coming, I'm coming," I hurried. "I'll take a look at that floorboard. If it's loose, it's a miracle you haven't stepped on one side and have the other side hit you in the face already."

"I can do it myself," she insisted. "We do have a hammer somewhere I think. I'll go see if I can find some nails too."

Uh oh. Bella with a hammer. Madman with a gun. Just as dangerous.

"Just wait for me, okay?" I hurried to say. "I'll be there in ten minutes."

I hung up and almost ran over to my car. If Bella was starting to wave around with hammers, it would only be seconds before she tripped and poked herself in the eye.

A.N: Uh oh...

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