I do not own anything in the Twilight universe, I only wish I did.

It's The Thought That Counts

The only sound in the sterile white hospital room was the constant beep of the monitors hooked up to the little girl. The nurse on duty, came in to change the bag of saline. She checked her vitals, trying not to linger on the poor girls crushed in face. Twenty years on duty, she had learned to be detached, distant. The patients were never treated as personal. But she had never come across a miracle before. The girl should have died by now. She should have entered the hospital on a slab. But she didn't. And after a week, she still hung on, by a thread mind you, but still she hung on. The girl shouldn't have brain function. Her misshaped head, alone should have stopped that on contact, but she did. And she was all alone. They started calling her Doe. Everyone on the ward expected the bed to be vacant at any time. As the days wore on, she developed a reputation as a real fighter, and a miracle.

Now as she watched the monitors, her fears become reality. Her vitals were lowering, finally. It was painful to see her slipping. At least she won't be in pain anymore. What she didn't understand was that no one had claimed her. It had been a week and they were no closer discovering her identity. She blamed it on the records department. When she came in her contact paperwork was misplaced. No one knew who she was, just that her injuries resulted from a car accident in San Francisco. She was flown here for the pediatrics department. Her father was killed almost immediately after the impact. The poor thing. And now she would die alone.

Well not if she could help it. Even though her shift was ending soon, she knew she would stay. Not long after, one by one the other nurses on the floor, who periodically checked on Doe, dropped by and then stayed. They all realized, with a sinking feeling that her time was soon. The room was filled with compassion and camaraderie, as they united to be that girl's family at the end. They didn't have to wait long. The heart rate slowed, her organ functions stilled. The doctor came in to take the life support off. The newest nurse, not quite seasoned, broke down, as she held the little girl's cold hand. She took her last breath and then nothing....

Micah came to with a panicked frenzy. The vision was so real, he knew that it was of the near future. She hadn't died after all. He had to get to her. Thanks to the Volturi he held the power to heal her. He just had to slip out, without alerting the guard, or Marcus and Aro. A piece of cake. He needed a diversion. While he pondered on the problem, he passed by the throne room. Without conscious thought, he tuned into the conversation that was taking place.

" I tell you, something is taking place there. The sheer numbers alone are a force to be recognized. The alliance with the Cullens poses a threat that cannot be ignored. All of our information scouts have come to an untimely end. Aro, surely you can see, that the longer we wait, the greater danger of a power shift, not of our favor." Caius' impassioned speech caused Micah to pause. Maybe this was the diversion that he needed. He waited trying to find the appropriate angle.

"I am not so sure that it as much as a threat, as you believe. Carlisle, is a man of peace. He avoids confrontation, as much as you crave it. No, I do not see this future that you talk about." Aro's lack of concern had the other two frustrated to the point that they were in one accord. Marcus paced in front of his peers, aching to make a move, any move to ensure that their quality of life would not change.

" Aro, perhaps we have not shone you the true picture, with our dull descriptions. Perhaps if you personally venture with us you could see the magnitude of the situation." Marcus waited, as Aro thought of his proposal. Micah didn't like the sound of that at all. If he got a taste of Claire's abilities, he would not leave her. He would use her for his benefit. The idea of Aro's hands on her caused him to stride into the room, taking over the turn of conversation.

" I say Aro, you might want to rethink Caius' position on the matter. I have seen their numbers and their capabilities, and although I think that they are impressive, I think you need to concentrate on the coven instead of the dogs. I have looked inside the minds of several of them and they are protecting someone that should interest you. Someone who in the next couple of generations could change the course of our history forever. The balance that has taken you centuries to create, could end in the next 50 years." The first move done, Micah waited for the bait to be snatched up. It was easy to see into his mind and pluck out the thing that he feared the most. The minutes ticked by, and still he waited, not a single movement detecting his apprehension.

Aro waved off the concern, "Surely, the child that you must be referring to is but a watered down imitation of her parents, diluted by the human side. I do not foresee any true danger. Indeed the talented Alice has shone me a glimpse of her future and I see no need to worry." Aro moved to his seat, summarily dismissing him and his concern. However, Micah could sense his uneasiness. Aro's attempt to shield himself was ineffectual to him. He was more interested in what Micah had to say then he was trying to let on. Micah took a chance and waited as well before adding.

" Ah, I see your error in your assessment. You do not have the factor that connects the two factions together. Apparently the dogs have a survival of the fittest gene in their DNA makeup. A matchmaker marker, if you will, that finds their perfect chance to produce the next generation of shifters. In a few generations they will be unbeatable." Again, he gave Aro a chance to digest the info, trying not to spoon feed him too fast.

" I do not see how this has to do with the child." Aro's hand raised and Micah paused. Could he shield himself sufficiently, while giving him only the information to lead him in the other direction. Lying was one of his talents, but Aro was one of the strongest opponents, that he has battled in the past. Very well. Desperate times called for desperate measures. He had no choice, not when his angel hung in the balance. He felt no qualms leading the halfbreed to the wolves, no pun intended, she was just a means to an end.

Micah briskly walked up to Aro, hand extended, and weaved a tale of a very power, woman-child that, once mated with the alpha would produce super vampire, shape shifters, that would put all of the other vampires into submission. He added, into his tapestry of subterfuge, the vast numbers that they produce at an accelerated rate, and he wove a picture of total destruction of the Volturi, with Carlisle in the throne room, in his very chair.

"Aro's breath hissed out of his clenched teeth, "And you saw this? This is of the future? This is inevitable?" Aro shuddered, one of his greatest fears, played out in his mind. Aro turned the vision over in his mind, did his old friend have hidden ambitions of power? Never did he show it. But maybe he was more clever than he thought. Micah latched on to the errant thoughts, more ammunition to use.

" In his thoughts, the leader of the coven, he laughed at you. He took great pleasure in your defeat, in the last battle you were in together. He has waited to build an army of his own. The wolf allies have pledged their allegiance to the hybrid. It's just a matter of time, before they meet you on your own soil. Micah leaned into the leader's ear and whispered, "If you wait for the battle, you will surely lose. But if you take the battle to them now, while their numbers are low, and you are guaranteed success." Then he stepped away, and purposely turned his back to Aro. He had sowed the seeds, now all he could do was wait to see if they took root.

Caius stepped forward, quick to add his agreement to the argument. "Aro, it is imperative that we act quickly. Our future depends upon swift action." Aro motioned for silence. He could not think with so many voices vying for his attention.

Marcus stood silently, in the distance. His attention on Micah, not on Aro. There was something odd in the man's demeanor. Something that he could not quite place his finger on. Something not tangible, just out of the fringe of his mind. Slowly, he tried to pick at the other man's defenses, to detect whatever it was, that he was hiding. Micah turned to him, inquiry in his eyes. Marcus smiled, and motioned for him to continue.

"It matters to me little, which way you choose. But please let me know if I am wasting my time here. I care not to help build a dying empire. Where is your razor edge, that is your reputation."

Aro appraised his fellow companions, one by one. There was no doubt that Caius was ready for battle, with his hands clenched at his sides, and his mouth set in steel. Marcus, was harder to read. His stance was leery, waiting, not helpful at all. And Micah. What agenda did he really have? His expression was unreadable.

" The situation calls for more investigation." At Caius' negative exclamation, Aro cut him off, "Easy friend, I will not charge into the battlefield, without information on the enemy. We need to know more before I slaughter old friends. I don't want to go on cloudy visions of the future. If she is as dangerous as you foresee, then it was unfortunate that we didn't take care of loose ends, in the past. But there is still time to rectify that. Jane and Alec should make ready for the journey, Demetri as well."

Marcus took a step forward to add himself, but Aro shook his head, "Not you my friend." Marcus opened his mouth to object,however Aro demanded his silence. "Micah, it would please me, that you would be included in this journey to America. You have been very beneficial to me on this matter." Micah mentally breathed a sigh of relief, now that the bait was taken and swallowed. He tipped his head in ascent and left the room to make ready for the journey.

When the room was clear, save for Aro and Marcus, the former waved to the other closer for an intimate discussion. " I don't trust the man, but if I ignore the vision it may be to my peril. I cannot afford the chance. Yes, he may have hidden agenda. That is your assignment. Find what he is hiding and bring it back to me." With that, he was dismissed.

"Sam was truly sadistic. Why else would he change the patrol shifts, to put me with the hangover gang," Drew thought, as his head pounded with each paw that hit the ground. "And I have never tasted a drink before,and I never will." His head hurt and his stomach threatened to revolt.

"Good for you kid," Embry thought back, not sure if the pain he felt was just his own or part of the pack mind. If it was just his own, he would never touch Southern Comfort again. It didn't help anyway, the comfort he wanted was Leah's arms. And her lips, and her....

"Please, don't start again, remember Drew just a kid. And frankly I'm sick of hearing about Leah that way. It's like your talking about my sister or something, gross." Paul said, the disgust turning his stomach as much as the whiskey.

" Well, she is my sister, so STOP ALREADY!!!" Seth's blare an electrical shock, that went through the pack mind, causing them to lose their gate, and a couple of them to stumble.

"Can you guys just keep your mind on the game. The leeches are coming out of the woodwork. I mean we've had company almost every night this week. Something big is brewing. And I don't think its because Forks has become the Vampire Capital of the world." His thoughts turned to Quil, whose mind was totally void of thought. Jake would have thought that it was impossible, but he saw Quil beside him, heard his paws stab the earth beside him. But he heard nothing from him in the pack mind, not even the pain he should be feeling. It was creepy and raised the hairs on the back of his neck.

"Jake do you think that you could put in a good word in for me to Rachel. She loves you man and she listens to what you say. She still won't talk to me. It's driving me crazy. I need her. I miss her..."

" AHHH, I'm blind man!! Stop thinking about my sister that way. Sam needs to outlaw patrols with sibling imprints. I can't take this anymore. Quil, my friend please think of something, anything. I know that you've got a clean mind."

Quil's silence turned into accusation, "What is that supposed to mean. Because I never got my chance with Claire, you think it's ok to rub it in my face. Well let me tell you something. It's not over! Everyone is in mourning for Claire. Everyone has given up. But I haven't. She is not dead. She's not! And I don't need you to tell me that she is!" The others in the pack froze, not sure what Quil was capable at that moment.

Afraid that he might set him off again, Jake tried to reason with him, "Quil, I didn't mean it that way. I love you and Claire, and I will help you find her. As long as you don't give up, I won't." The other pack members chimed in with their affirmatives. Then they heard Drew's excitement.

"Guys, I've found a fresh trail. This one's mine!" The others picked up the pace. Paul was partnered with Drew, who got ahead of him, when the conversation got violent. Now, he turned back and tried to catch up. Seth and Embry crossed paths with Paul, Seth freezing,when he recognized the familiar scent.

"Drew no!! Don't attack!" But it was too late. By the time that reached the rock outcropping, Drew was pinned underneath the vampire, his whimpers were cut off by the strong talons that were digging into the young wolf's neck. When the others found the scene, they each took a defensive stance. Seth and Jake inched forward. They phased and approached the vampire.

"Jasper, you don't want to do that. He's just a kid. He still is not familiar with your scent." Jacob's tone light and non threatening. Seth eased up closer.

" Think of Alice, she wouldn't want you to do something that you would regret later. And you would regret putting that little boy in that much pain." Jasper looked into the pup's eyes and released him. Paul and Embry dragged the kicking wolf away and held him in place. Quil stepped forward, the memory of Jasper's influence made his legs shake. Against all instinct he phased and stood before his mortal enemy. Both had mirror images of torment and pain in their eyes. Quil's gaze darted to Alice, who was propped up against a rock formation that resembled a large chair. Her deep crimson eyes seemed to be observing the scene with detachment. But it was just an illusion. Her eyes were not focused and her presence was empty.

Jasper's stance was still defensive, and his body adjusted to Quil's look behind him. " Have you heard from Claire?" The question startled the pack, the tone sane and genuinely concerned. Quil shook his head no and asked, knowing the answer already, " And Alice, has she shone any sign of coming out of it?" Jasper shook his head negative. "I am truly sorry about this Jasper, if I had known..." Jasper cut him off from stating a bold face lie. "Yes you would." And Jasper was right. If there was a chance of finding Claire, he would do anything, even endangering Alice. It was that simple. And he also knew that, if Jasper were in his shoes, he would do the exact same thing. It was that simple.

The two stood in front of each other. The same thoughts forming in their minds. Even though they did not forgive the other, there was an understanding. As the pack made their way back into the forest, to resume their patrol, Quil slowly backed away, and once in the trees,watched as Jasper picked up Alice and cradled her to his chest. Through the breeze, that tickled his fur, he heard the deep baritone, that was Jasper's voice, sing a lullaby into the silent girl's ear.

I managed to get a little writing in while cruising the parks at Disney. I hope you like it.