Chapter 10

I was going to die.

Suddenly my heart and lungs were shoved so hard I thought death had finally decided to claim me. It forced my mouth open again and- instead of losing air and feeling saltwater wash into my system, I felt it splutter out from the depths of my lungs, making me retch.

I realised my body was not being tossed in every direction any more, and I could no longer feel tough cold walls punching and pushing me- neither the solid bar that had pulled my waist. A much lighter (but a lot colder) force was whistling around me. Then I realised what it was.

Wind. I had got out- I was alive, I had to be! Another goblet of seawater hurled itself from the back of my throat in time with another heave at my chest. Someone was pounding down on my chest to get the water out. Who? The same person who must have taken me from the sea in the first place. And I realised what the bar around my waist was- someone's arm. I only knew a few people that strong- I could barely let myself hope. Only a va-

Finally I managed to gulp air into my lungs as the last of the salty water was tossed out of my mouth. Air had never tasted so good. I pumped it in, almost hyperventilating, relishing the feeling of breathing again. I heard a gasp of relief.

"Bella!" I finally registered the voice talking to me, saying my name. It wasn't the velvet one of a few minutes- or was it hours?- ago. It was Jacob. Of course it was. I was pulled into his strong warm arms and he held me- a little too tight- close to his ribs. My ear was pressed against his warm, wet chest and I could hear his heart pounding behind it.

When he finally let me go, I opened my eyes, to stare into his wide brown ones.

"What happened, Bella?" He asked. I looked down, unable to explain the terrible helplessness I had felt on my own for those few seconds that caused me to take the nearest release, any release, that would stop the pain.

I took a breath, meaning to explain to him, to wipe away the hurting in his eyes. But I couldn't think of anything to say which would explain the pain I had felt that had made me jump. I couldn't put it into words. And I knew it would only hurt him more if I told him. Jacob seemed to be reading my eyes. Then he nodded.

"It's OK, you don't have to explain, Bells. I'll get you back to Sam's- he's the closest- and dry you off. You're going to die of hyperthermia if we don't sort you out quickly." He picked me up and ran me to my truck, and started speeding down the bumpy track. Before I knew it I was out of the car again, being taken into a warm room.

"Emily!" Jake called. I heard someone coming down the stairs as I was laid on a couch. "She's freezing, we need blankets and towels. I didn't have any on the beach because I saw her falling before I could get them there. And I think I… I think I may have broken a rib. I heard something crack." That might explain the stabbing feeling in my chest that was beginning to take me over. "I think we need a doctor. Can you call one, then call Sam and Charlie?" Jacob asked. I heard Emily hurry out the door, and Jacob tucking me up in lots of blankets.

"I'm already here, Jacob. What happened?" I heard Sam. Then he came into my line of vision, trying to scrutinise the part of me that was visible, not tucked under mountains of blankets. His face was critical and… somehow hostile.

"She… fell when I had left for a few minutes to put the clothes and blankets on the beach. I saw and caught her as she fell into the sea, but didn't manage to put the blankets on the beach and she swallowed a lot of water before I got her out. I think I might have broke-"

"I heard." Yes, there was some hostility there. "She sure manages to land a lot of trouble."

"She is right here, Sam." Jacob voiced my thoughts.

"I know." He replied shortly. "I need to talk to you, Jacob."

"Now? We need a doctor here, I have to check she's all right Sam!" Jake cried exasperated.

"Yes, now." Sam sounded cold and harsh. "Emily will take care of Bella."

From what I could see and hear in my limited position, Jake gritted his teeth and stormed out. I couldn't hear Sam leave, but I felt the tension escape out of the room with him. I was shaking. I couldn't remember if I'd been shaking since when I came out the water, or if it was for fear of what Sam was going to say. But despite my body being freezing, my brain felt really hot, as if it was overheating. And a creeping pain was carving it's way into my head, and my ears were ringing. I was feeling really ill. My mouth was dry and salty, my throat sore from heaving and my stomach was tense and painful. My rib hurt every time I breathed and I struggled to fill my lungs with oxygen.

I must have fallen unconscious because next thing I knew all the covers had gone and an unfamiliar pair of hands were assessing me, checking my temperature, and my shirt was up and he was feeling my rib.

"Is it broken?" I heard Emily say, and I opened my eyes to see her standing over me, as was the grey-haired doctor. Jake wasn't back yet.

"No, it's not. But she's bruised her periosteum, which is the outside of the bone. It's going to be painful every time she breathes and will take about six weeks to heal." He hadn't noticed I was awake. Emily did though.

"How much does it hurt, Bella?" I took a breath to answer her, and that answered for me. I winced in pain as my lungs swelled to graze my lower right ribs.

"Jake?" I managed to gasp.

"He hasn't come back yet. I spoke to Sam and he said Jacob will be back in the next 24 hours." Emily said quietly. The doctor lowered my shirt and Emily put a blanket back on top of me. I noted I wasn't shaking with cold any more.

"You're going to be in serious pain for the next few weeks, Bella. I'm going to prescribe you co-dydramol and ibuprofen for the pain. I'll give the prescription to Emily if you don't mind because you should probably stay bed bound for the next few days." I nodded weakly. I was getting really impatient for him to get out so I could find out what on earth was going on between Jake and Sam. I shut my eyes, hoping he'd be gone by the time I opened them.

I heard him leave but couldn't find it in me to open my eyes again. Until I felt a very warm hand on my shoulder. They snapped open.

"Hi," I saw Jake kneeling next to the sofa. I grinned and greeted him in return sheepishly.

"Sorry 'bout all this, Jake." He nodded and I saw something flash in his eyes. "What?" I asked.

"Sam. He's furious about this," he waved his hand towards me, "and Victoria and her appearance keeps making our young boys make the change. Changing lives that don't have to be changed. He wants you to leave, he wants me to make you move." I saw the regret in his eyes as he told me.

I had expected as much. It was time for me to leave Forks- I was attracting too much trouble, as usual. But I had no idea what to do.

If I went back to Phoenix, back to my mother, I would leave Jake. And I would not survive that mentally. And I would bring Victoria with me. On my mother. And even if there wasn't Victoria, there was likely to be some mythical creature that would follow me. With my luck. I sighed. I didn't want to keep bringing trouble on the La Push pack, or Jake, or Charlie. But neither could I bring it upon Renee and Phil. What on earth could I do? I was a walking disaster, attracting trouble to everyone I loved with every step.

"But I won't let him order you to leave. You don't live in La Push. And Victoria isn't your fault. Though he thinks it is because of the Cullens." I shuddered at the name. "And I won't leave you. Even if you left here, I'd follow." I gasped.

"Jake-"

"No, I would. I wouldn't be able to help it. I can't leave you. Especially in this condition…" He laughed softly.

So now I had a new problem. I couldn't let Jake lay his life out for me, promise to follow me. It was a mistake I had made and was having to pay hell for. Why he felt that way I really didn't know.

"Jake… don't you get yourself in this mess too. Please." I pleaded, but I saw the resolve in his eyes before he spoke.

"It's too late Bella. I'm in love with you." He had his gaze on mine, scrutinizing my reaction.

Déjà vu banged through my aching head, and my eyes filled with tears before my brain recognised the emotion. Jake loved me. Was in love with me. And I loved Jake.

But I had loved Edward, and he had loved me. Would Jake change his mind too? I couldn't trust in his emotions for me, but I didn't feel so out of place with Jake. It was like he was the course marked out for me, my relationship with him was so natural.

He was what my life should have been without Edward.

But Edward had been in my life, so it screwed me up. But Jake was still there- could I let myself ruin his life because of what Edward had done to me? Or would backing away ruin his life more?

My mind seemed to have already made the decision- I enjoyed being with Jake too much, I relied on him too much to push him away. And if our relationship had to develop to keep him- so be it.

I leaned forward, and Jacob recognised my action and bent down.

And the kiss felt so right, so sweet and genuine. And though it's cliché- human.

Thanks for my reviews! Sorry I was late with the last update- I'd thought I'd posted it. Something wrong with the computer I reckon... but ANYWAY hope u enjoyed this jacob/bella lovers. how many of my readers are team jacob btw? are there any team edward reading this? looollz