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Disclaimer: Nobody is mine. They all belong to Stephanie
The Story of Us: Chapter 21
Jacob's POV
Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew there were people around, but I couldn't truly register them. I cradled Nessie in my arms and listened tried to listen for anything that might indicate what was wrong. Her breathing was regular and her heartbeat, her beautiful heartbeat, seemed fine. I glanced at the clock and realized that barely a minute had passed since the last time I had checked it. I had seen her faint, which was scary enough in its own right, but the look of anguish on her face before it went blank was haunting me. Before anyone else could react I had scooped her up and was running back toward my house. I could vaguely remember hearing Quil trying to reassure Claire that Nessie would be okay. When I had reached the house I had called Carlisle and he was on his way. Charlie, Billy, Sue, and several members of the pack had made their way up to the house. I focused long enough to tell them Carlise was coming, and he would probably be bringing Bella and Edward. None of my brothers, not even Paul, offered even a hint of distaste.
"Jacob," I heard Nessie moan, which caused the entire room to jump.
My heart skipped a beat as I saw her long eyelashes begin to flutter.
"Ness," I choked out. "I'm right here, honey."
She mumbled something that I thought vaguely sounded like "Leah", but I couldn't be sure. I couldn't imagine why she would be calling for Leah.
"What was that?" I asked softly as I brushed the hair from her face.
She looked as though she would say something, but she stopped herself. She snuggled back into my chest and sighed.
"Nope, I think I'll just dream for a little while," she murmured.
I felt a flash of relief. She seemed to, physically at least, be just fine. The relief swiftly turned back to distress, however, as the image of her pained face floated back into my mind.
"Nessie, what happened?" I asked, shaking her slightly.
Her brown eyes flashed open with realization. "Oh!" She exclaimed as she shot up. "What happened?"
I reached out and grabbed her hand, trying to calm her down. I pulled her back down to the couch and looked her over for a moment.
"You fainted," I told her.
"Gave us quite a scare," Charlie said. I had forgotten we had an audience.
She looked confused for a moment, but her expression quickly shifted to one of sadness.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I didn't mean to scare everyone. I ruined everything."
Sue was on her before I could speak. "Renesmee Cullen you did no such thing. We're just glad that you are okay. I won't have you blaming yourself for anything."
If her voice didn't hold so much authority the sight of Sue Clearwater with her hand on her hip would have been comical. I could tell that Nessie was surprised, but I'd known Sue my whole life so I was used to it.
"It's getting a little crowded in here," Sam said. "I think some of us should get going. Jake has company coming. Let's go check on the bonfire."
I nodded to him appreciatively as I watched my brothers file out. After they had gone Billy, Charlie, and Sue remained at the kitchen table. Nessie looked at me with guilt ridden eyes.
"They really don't have to leave," she said. "I'm fine."
"Look," I tried to reason with her. "Carlisle, Edward, and Bella are on their way."
She started to protest, but I shushed her quickly. "They are coming. You passed out Nessie and I want to know why."
She looked extremely uncomfortable and the urge to know what was going on inside of her head was driving me insane.
"I probably just had too much excitement," she attempted a weak smile. "Big day."
"Ugh," I groaned at her. "You really are your mother's daughter. You are an even worse liar than she is."
She didn't say anything so I pressed on. "You know you can tell me anything," I whispered.
She nodded her head, but her eyes wouldn't meet mine.
"Renesmee, if you feel like you can't tell me then maybe you could show me," I suggested, but she shook her head.
I let the topic drop, for the moment, when I heard the car pull up. I didn't hear the car doors slam, but in an instant the three vampires I had been expecting were standing in the middle of the living room. Bella looked absolutely petrified while Edward attempted to maintain a calm demeanor, which he didn't quite pull off. Carlisle, however, seemed quite collected.
"She's awake," he beamed. "That's good."
"Sweetheart!" Bella exclaimed as she rushed to our side. "I was so worried. What happened?"
I saw her cheeks betray the slightest hint of pink before she answered.
"It was nothing," Nessie said, trying the same line on Bella that she had tried on me. "I think I'm just tired from all of the excitement."
I didn't believe her for an instant. My eyes reflexively shifted to Edward to see if my suspicions would be confirmed. Instead he stood there staring at his wife and daughter with a look of confusion. Carlisle came over and began to give her a quick exam to make sure her responses were okay. I continued to watch Edward as the expression shifted from confusion to total bewilderment.
"Bella," Edward called to his wife. "May I speak to you for a moment?"
Bella gave Nessie a quick peck on the forehead before she stepped out the front door with Edward. I shot a quick glance back at Nessie.
"I'll be right back," I told her as I headed toward the door.
She merely nodded her head without looking at me. My initial instinct was to ask what was wrong, but there was something going on with Edward and I fully intended to find out what it was. I could hear Bella and Edward's hushed whispers as I stepped out the door.
"I don't understand," Edward said frustrated. "If it wasn't you then what was it?"
Without warning he turned in my direction. "What happened, Jake?"
I looked at him in surprise for a moment before I answered. "I don't know. One minute she was fine and the next she was unconscious. You probably know more than I do."
He paused for a moment before shaking his head. "No," he admitted. "I know exactly what you know and that's it. That's what Bella and I were discussing."
"You can't hear her thoughts," I said, more of a statement than a question. My mind raced to what I'd heard when I had stepped outside "And Bella isn't shielding her."
Edward shook his head again. "I don't understand it at all. Her thoughts are usually so potent to me."
"We need to discuss this with Carlisle," Bella told him. "Maybe he can offer some insight."
Edward nodded, but it was clear that his mind was at ease. He looked back up to me, pleading in his eyes.
"I know you're worried, but please try and think Jacob," he practically begged.
I closed my eyes and tried to put myself back on the beach at the bonfire. Claire had taken Nessie to the other side of the fire and it had looked as though they were examining rocks the multihued rocks on the beach. Nothing seemed strange at all. Everyone was having a good time and then Leah had joined the party. I had barely greeted her when I saw Nessie collapse with that anguished look, and I heard Claire's frightened cry.
Edward shook his head again. "The one time I really need to be in her head," he grumbled.
"She appears to be just fine," Carlisle announced as he came out on to the porch. "Her responses are all normal, for her at least."
"Where is she?" Bella asked.
"She's saying goodnight to Billy, Charlie, and Sue," he told her. "She'll be out in a minute."
Edward reacted without hesitation.
"I can't hear her, Carlisle." Edward said, his voice tinged with worry. "It's like what I experience with Bella, but Bella isn't shielding her."
Carlisle was lost in thought for a moment. "Interesting," he breathed.
"Interesting?" I spat, sounding harsher than I'd meant to.
He looked at me kindly and I immediately felt a pang of guilt.
"Try not to worry Jacob," he reassured me. "Renesmee is a unique creature, even among the ones like her. Perhaps this is a natural progression of her abilities."
I wasn't quite sure that I followed him completely, but Renesmee's appearance put an end to the conversation. Without thinking I began to follow them to the car, but Nessie spoke up.
"You don't have to leave," she said, still refusing to look at me. "I don't want to ruin this party for you. It's been a long time since you've seen your family and friends."
I started to argue with her, but she stopped me as she finally looked up. Her face wasn't quite the same as it had been before, but I could still see the anguish in her eyes.
"Please," she whispered. "I want you to stay."
I felt a pang in my heart that I had never known. She was hurting and I wanted to help her, but apparently my help was the last thing she wanted. I nodded numbly, helpless to refuse her request. I must have looked more hurt than I'd realized because she quickly added.
"I want you to have fun," she attempted a smile. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Sure, sure," I said as I gave her a quick hug.
As she started to climb into the backseat she shot me a quick glance.
"Please tell Leah I said 'hello'" she said.
I nodded to her and watched in bitter agony as the four of them drove off. I stood rooted where I stood until I saw the tail lights disappear.
XOXOXOX
"I've been expecting you," Edward said from the shadows of the Cullen house.
"Are you still shut out of her head?" I asked, not bothering with pleasantries.
He stepped forward into the light. I could tell by the sullen look on his face that there hadn't been any progress on that front.
"Carlisle doesn't think that anything is wrong with her," he told me. "Like he said before, he thinks that this is probably just her abilities growing. He's incredibly fascinated by it all. He wonders if Nessie's gift for communication isn't the result of her true gift. When she was younger she needed an effective way to communicate so she was able to show us exactly what she thought, needed, or wanted. Her mind needed no guard as a child. He thinks that it is likely something triggered her mind to go into a self protection mode that took on a sort of mental shield like Bella's."
"What do you think could have triggered it?" I asked curiously.
He shook his head and sighed. "I'm not sure," he admitted. "I don't think that I can know without her telling me or allowing me to see her thoughts."
I looked up at him, but the answer came out before the question.
"Yes," he told me. "She was so tired when we got home that she merely showed Bella an image of her bed."
I nodded, trying to process everything. Edward pulled me back from my thoughts.
"Jacob," he began. "You know how Bella and I have felt about putting off telling Renesmee the truth about imprinting. I know you plan to tell her soon and I've already discussed it with Bella. As much as I hate to admit it, you're right. She still seems like a little girl to me, but she clearly needs to know the situation. All that I ask is for you to make the rules clear to her. She needs to know that nothing about the relationship between the two of you has changed."
"Nothing has changed," I said a little defensively.
"I know that, Jacob," he reassured me. "She's strong willed like her mother, though. You are going to have to be the grown up. You have to be responsible," he hesitated. "And about the Bella thing. Just use your best judgment. You don't want to overload the poor girl. Apparently, she already has a lot on her mind."
"Yeah," I said in agreement. I couldn't even bring myself to imagine that horrifying conversation.
"I certainly don't envy you," Edward said, his voice sympathetic. "I'll see you tomorrow, Jacob."
Without another word he disappeared into the house as I was left to my thoughts. My mind was working on overload. What had triggered Nessie's blackout? Why did her mind feel the need to protect itself all of a sudden? How was I going to explain imprinting in a way that she would understand, without leading her on and hurting her? How would I explain my past with Bella? I definitely had some tough days ahead.