Soo…. Chapter 11. And still so few reviews. Sigh. And only two more chapters to go.
Jacob
Two weeks remained for us to locate my beloved before everything was lost. The search was proving difficult. We had reached Canada two and a half weeks ago and had yet to turn up anything fruitful. It was taking longer than we planned. There were only three tribes remaining, and my hopes along with everyone else's were growing dim.
We had only found six more packs besides the Shasta pack that had seen Edward and his new traveling companion. The longest they had stayed was three days, unlike my vampire's weeklong visit with Talah's pack. This meant that they were camping more and avoiding interaction with others.
While I was happy that Edward was not travelling alone and had not only a protector but a friend with him, it made things for us much more difficult. Before we were sure to have found him with one of the packs as he would have needed their protection from Alice's visions, but with this Kita, he had twenty-four seven protection and could go where ever they pleased in order to avoid detection.
I sighed, placing my face in my hands as I slumped forwards. "Jacob?" Jasper asked hesitantly. I looked up, giving him a soft smile that felt forced. "Don't give up yet." He murmured, leaning against my side and rubbing soothing circles on my back.
"We've only two weeks left." I reminded him, chocking slightly as negative emotions swirled in my chest, making breathing near impossible as it constricted tightly. "He could be anywhere."
"We'll find him." My other vampire said softly, forcing my chin up so I would look into his amber eyes. "Don't give up on him yet."
I jerked away and looked down. I hadn't completely given up yet, I would never give up on Edward. But my faith had long run thin. Jasper and Seth were the only two who still surged forward with the same sureness as when we first started out. I wanted to share in their faith, but the loss had pulled tight on my heart strings, weighing me down. Jasper was right, if Edward died I would follow very soon, and it had nothing to do with the imprint. I couldn't fathom a life without him.
I nodded softly, taking Jasper's hand in my own and squeezing gently. He squeezed back in assurance. He smiled sweetly and I sighed, forcing another one of my own. It was then that I hear it. Faint, but I heard it clearly. A voice I had never heard before but somehow knew…
'Jacob…'
Edward
I winced and I sat on the ground slowly. My stomach contracted again and I sighed, fighting the tears that came so often these days. Kita and his wolf were sitting in front of me, the former checking over my vitals and conferring with Talik.
"I'm afraid they are still false contractions." He smiled softly, squeezing my hand in support. "Though, you knew this."
I nodded numbly. Kita had said I would have the baby two days early. I still had just under two weeks to go. The false contractions had started three days ago though and were wearing me thin.
I was torn. The pain of both the contractions and imprint were slowly driving me insane and I just wanted my little baby to hurry up and come. But, the sooner the baby came, the sooner I would perish. I did not want to die, though I was resigned to it. Still Kita tried to convince me of this foolishness but I refused to listen. Jacob would not understand at first, but after a time he would thank me.
"You are aware that we will have to cut the baby out?" he asked softly, holding my gaze.
I nodded. "Yes."
"If you prefer, we can find another pack and have someone else do this-"
"No." I cut him off. "I want you to do this Kita. I trust you with this. No one else." I murmured, a few tears slipping down my cheeks. "I don't think I can make it to another pack." I admitted softly, smiling bitterly.
He smiled kindly and moved to my side, holding me closely. "If you decided on that path you would have been able to." He said softly, stroking my hair as another contraction wracked my body. "We only have one last day until we reach our destination. I have been constructing a sort of saddle. You will ride tomorrow."
I agreed silently with a small nod. "You know you should allow me to bring them here." He sighed softly. I sighed, looking into his soft eyes. "I know, I know. You can't." he murmured, brushing a hand over my cheek.
I cried silently as he held me and rocked me slowly back and forth until I drifted into a dark sleep.
Jasper
I watched Jacob closely as his face contorted into pain and surprise. "Jake?"
"Shh." He said softly, his eyes glazing over. "Did you hear that?"
I shook my head, not sure of what it was he was referring to. Mr. and Mrs. Cullen glanced at us worriedly but I just shook my head again.
"Someone said my name." he whispered, such conviction in his voice.
"Who Jake? Edward?" I tilted my head, holding his hands in mine. Could it be possibly that we were close enough he could once again hear him through the connection?
"No." he frowned, pain marring his beautiful face once again. "Someone else. I don't know who, I've never heard this voice before, but, I know them, somehow."
I smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from his eyes. "Jacob, baby I don't-"
"I heard it." He glared, such determination in his voice. I sighed, and squeezed his hands.
"If you think you heard it, I'm sure you did." I murmured, wrapping my arms around him. He gasped loudly again and I pulled back, searching for pain. His eyes were glassy and clouded. Before I could utter a cry of surprise the doctor stopped the car suddenly, making Jake and I jerk from the sheer force.
"What's going on?" I asked, looking in front to find out why we had stopped so suddenly.
"Emmett stopped short. I have no idea why." Esme said, unbuckling quickly. The doctor followed and looked over his shoulder at me. "Stay with him while we see what's going on."
"Is he okay?" I asked, returning my gaze to Jacob's blank gaze.
"I don't know…"
Emmett
"Do you think we'll find him Al?" I asked as I drove down the empty highway.
"I don't know, Em." She sighed, pulling at her hair. "I want to believe we will but, what are the chances we'll run into him at this point?"
I frowned, agreeing with her silently. I reached to turn on the radio but paused when I heard her sharp gasp. "Al?" I asked, looking at her. She was frozen, with a slightly pained look on her pale face. At first I assumed it was another vision, but when she didn't snap out of it I knew something was wrong.
"Shit!" I growled, slamming on the brakes. I heard Carlisle brake suddenly behind me but couldn't be bothered to look. "Alice?"
"What's going on?" Seth asked, having jerked awake when I slammed on the brakes. I had completely forgotten he was even in the car he was such a quiet sleeper.
"Something's wrong with Alice." I growled, kicking my door open and climbing out to meet Carlisle and Esme.
"What in heavens is going on?" Esme exclaimed, trying to glance around my burly form. "Is something wrong?"
"Alice is all frozen up." I groaned.
"A vision?"
"I don't think so. She's not snapping out of it. And her eyes look different."
"Just like Jacob!" Esme cried, covering her mouth.
"Jacob? What's wrong with Jacob?" Seth demanded, coming to stand by my side.
"Just a few moments ago, before Emmett stopped so suddenly, Jacob froze up. His gaze is clouded and empty. I've no idea what it going on." Carlisle frowned, glancing back at the other car. Rose was parked behind him but hadn't bothered to get out.
There was a dull thud from inside the car and I jumped, turning quickly to find out what was wrong. "Alice?" I asked, sticking my head inside the door I found her slumped against the door frame, eyes closed tightly.
"Carlisle!" another voice called out. Jasper ran to our sides in a panic looking ready to cry. "It's Jacob! He just-just fell over! He won't wake up!"
And that brings an end to yet another chapter! Only two left, and maaaaybe that epilogue. Depends... Review!
