A/N: Normally I use the long break I have between classes on Wednesday to sit in the Starbucks in the school library and flesh out the next chapter. But this week I ended up skipping to spend the afternoon with my boyfriend getting his new tattoo. It was a blast. I forgot how much fun those places can be. The guys there were all really nice and funny and all they do all day is hang out and watch movies and draw. When I dropped art as my major after the Orlando animation internship fell through I wish I had known how much money could be made working in a tat parlor. Totally would have gotten certified when I left art school instead of bothering with FIU's crazy bureaucracy.

The bad part though, was we had a pop quiz that day. I told teach my car had broken down, which it did, just not that day, and she gave me a four page extra credit paper to make up the grade. I'm still not sure whether I came out ahead but I think it was worth it, the tat art is really tight and I met a lot of interesting people. Besides, given that I was a little hungover, I doubt I would've passed it even had I been there so I guess it's a wash.

Sorry that it took so long getting this out ): On the bright side, chapter 29 is also almost done, so that should be along shortly. I have a feeling that's the one everyone's waiting for anyway ;)


Jacob


Saturday Night

To reach the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, where Dad's room was, we had to pass through the Emergency Room waiting area. Which probably wouldn't have taken half as long to cross as it did if most of the population of LaPush wasn't standing in it making small talk because Billy's room only allowed a maximum of four visitors at a time. Almost as soon as we stepped into the room, Rach got picked off by some old ladies asking questions with big medical words like the Doc uses.

I wasn't about to stop for the old bags, Rach called out the room number to me as she disappeared from sight behind them all. She hadn't been kidding, at least half the tribe was there and everyone had brought him something. Baskets and boxes of candy were piled on every available surface, card envelopes of every color were stacked between the empty cans and water bottles that littered all the little tables and one chair, the rest of the seats were taken. The nurses were making loud beeping noises just to get the crowd to part enough to let them through. It was crazy, it reminded me of the chaos on Graduation Day, only this time Nessie wasn't waiting for me to come home to show her pictures and tell her all about it.

I think part of the reason this all feels so surreal is that she's not here to share it with. Or because without her here, it's almost impossible to care about anything else. A small very guilty part of me actually hopes I'm not a match because if I weren't I could just leave as soon as Dr. Evil said it was a no go.

And I don't give a shit and a half if it makes me a bad person, all these people asking me if I'm okay over and over, I can't walk two steps without someone coming up to me. Doesn't anybody have something better to do on a Saturday night than be all up in my way? Really not helping the whole wanting to hit things and break 'em mood that I'm in. Pretty much the exact opposite in fact.

Which is why Quil was on the receiving end of a pretty bad uppercut to the gut when he grabbed my shoulder. He tried to play it off, since no one saw it, but he stayed hunched over with one hand on his stomach and one on his knee, trying to get his breath back.

"Is he gonna hurl?" Brady laughed as he and Jared appeared out of the crowd. As they got closer I could see Kim was trailing behind Jared, practically plastered to his back, and looking more than a little scared. Guess someone did see after all.

"He'll live." I answered since Quil was still busy panting. Brady stepped forward, grabbing my hand and shook it once hard, launching into his handshake ritual; slap, slap, slap, tap, tap, slap, backhand slap, dap, dap, dap. The last dap is the real test, if you don't block quick, you get punched in the chest. Only Brady didn't even try that part this time. Ha, chickenshit.

I pop him one for good measure, lightly, didn't want to draw any more attention and attract anyone else over here. Just a little cuff because it's the whole point of the greeting, to catch the other guy slipping and nail him one. "Sup, guys," I nodded to Jared and his girl.

Jared nodded back but Kim was acting way shyer than she normally is at these big group things, practically burrowing into his side as she mumbled a tiny hello, visibly death-gripping his hand.

Casually as I could, I rubbed my chin to check if it was the right shape, I really couldn't tell anymore. It felt a little fuzzy but I hadn't shaved in a couple days either so who knows? Not really that big a deal right now anyway. I'm just about at the point where I say eff it, not even going to try and hide shit anymore. Having to be constantly concentrating on not shifting was just the cherry-shaped turd on top of the giant shit sundae that was my life right now.

If it weren't for the fact that I really can't afford to antagonize Doc into putting me in timeout again.

My first reaction when Quil's hand landed on my shoulder was to elbow him in the exact same spot I had just hit him. Lucky for him, he was quicker on the uptake and turned in time to side-step it. "Woah, easy, Jake. It's just me."

"Stress much, bro?" Brady jumped in. "We still on for brewskis on the beach? You look like you could use a few."

"Who else is here?"

"Everyone." Jared said as he pointed with his free hand to the vending machine area around the corner from the far wall. A few dark heads stuck out above the rest but they were facing away and there were too many other people in the room to pick out individual voices above the crowd from a distance. Trying to made it feel like the entire Rez was yelling in my ears.

"There's some things I gotta check first." I said vaguely as I started moving again. I needed to check in with Billy and find Doc, see if I can get any information out of him. Time to get this show on the road already.

"Jake, wait" Quil started following me as I walked by him careful not to touch me again.

"I've gotta see Billy and talk to Doc. You go round everybody up and I'll meet back up with you here. Just in case, I want to talk to whoever I can tonight." I didn't even stop, giving him his instructions over my shoulder as I pushed my way through all the people trying to get me to stop and talk and out the other end of the room.


With as god-awful as my week had been, I should have expected Sam to be in there, kissing Billy's ass. Even if I had, I doubt it would've made me want to bitchslap him any less. There's a spot, right above the chin, that is at just the right angle to make the head snap against the jaw hinge. Punching someone there causes the brain to bounce off the inside of the skull. Boom. Instant knock out. It's called 'the sweet spot.'

I wonder how hard you would have to hit it open-handed to trigger the same effect. I wonder how many times I'd end up smacking him in the face before I got it right and he dropped. Suddenly I didn't mind as much that he was here. Might as well get our talk out of the way now. Don't even have to step outside, there was a nice, roomy emergency stairwell right around the corner. We'd even have the privacy to do this the fun way.

I didn't bother trying to contain my smirk as I locked eyes with him and gave a short nod. Doc and Billy are my family. Which means this room is also mine, buddy, so you better recognize.

He got it right away. But instead he shook his head and excused himself, even patting my shoulder on the way out. He was really putting on quite a show for the old man. It made me hate the bastard all the more and I had to stop myself from shrugging it off when he touched me. He's lucky he didn't try to pat my head. If he'd touched my face I would have choked him out right there – put him to sleep and let him drop face-first into the fugly floor.

The time I snuck up on Quil and put him to sleep, I had made sure to let him down easy, laid him out on the ground as he fell so he wouldn't get any serious damage. I wouldn't bother doing that for Sam. Let him smack his head, just makes it even better in my opinion. Like dessert after a good meal.

Billy sounds happy but tired as all hell. "You came."

I shrugged uncomfortably, crossing my arms behind my back, trying not to look at all the stuff plugged into him like he's Doctor Horrible's latest experiment. "Dr. Cullen's running the tests right now. I just stopped by to say hi on my way to go see if he had the results yet."

"He's a good doctor." Billy nodded more to himself than me, "It's a shame about his granddaughter."

That perked my ears right up. I regretted not having hit Sam just now when he was leaving. He was right there, and I had wanted to. I should've.

"Don't worry." He sighed, "I know you and Charlie are upset but Cullen says he's sure that she'll be just fine."

I know he was trying to help but when he said that I felt like he'd shanked me, like dirty prison-style, bap, bap, bap! Three times to the gut then kept walking like it was all good. She was gone, probably because she wanted to get away from me, because of something I didn't even do, and here I was, unable to do anything about it. I hate feeling weak. I hate feeling guilty about letting her down. I hate everything. Everything.

"Jake? You alright, son?" He hesitated, "You know, I'm right here if you need to talk. Nothing go anywhere any time soon." And then he smiled. There he was, wired up like a stereo with surround sound and sub woofers, worrying about how I'm feeling when, not too long ago, I was wishing to not be a match so I could leave town tonight.

It was like getting punched in the gut right after having been stabbed there repeatedly, the anger rushed out and all I felt was sick. Who was I kidding? Eddie was going to be the one to ride to rescue and save the damsel in distress, just like always, because no matter how hard I try, shit never goes my way. Only this time I wasn't just losing some girl, it was The Girl. My girl. My Ness.

"No, Dad, I'm not alright. Pretty far from it, actually."

Billy was about to say something when Doc came strolling in all business, like he hadn't just sneak attacked me with a needle full of knock out drugs not too long ago. "There you are, Jacob, I've been looking for you. We need to talk."


Teaser: "Releasing my mouth but not my cheeks, she opened her eyes and pressed her forehead against mine, staring deeply into my eyes."

Lil, I'll be interested to see what you think of the next chap ;)

Medicat, one good turn deserves another :)

Kelly, thanx :)

Summer, YW :) The convo in chap 16 should answer your EXB question. As far as the other stuff goes, I'd comment but I don't want to give anything away ;)

WaK, Ness is a little inexperienced when it comes to guys and socializing in general. All she sees is that he has good manners. And that he's alive and full of blood. :)

Jess, Swarley's simply awesome :) He reminds me quite a bit of a high school friend I used to wingwoman for back when I was single. We were bros until one day I brought a girl over to his place to watch movies and he tried to ride the tricycle. Once I caught on what his game was, I took off and left them to ride the bicycle instead but it just got too weird between me and him after that. Shame cuz he was one of the funniest guys I ever knew.

my hubby, the second one made me lol XD Sorry it took so long.

Jutey, true that :)

Curious, lol :D

Kyzyl, I'm glad :) She's fun to write.

Claw, glad to have you aboard :)

Jenna, ironic angst is the best kind ;)

miztrez, if anything, she'd have bitten him ;)

Renata, it's meant to be read as a whole, I imagine it makes more sense that way. I'm interested to hear your thoughts on it :)

cracfic, in hospitals here they have little plastic cup things with foil lids half-full of apple juice. My Australian is unfortunately limited to epi-pens, aussie, aussie, aussie, and Crocodile Dundee. Though my sis has a good friend that she visited there not too long ago, came back with nice pictures of the Yarra and some cool animals. I'd like to go myself but that's a crazy long plane ride :)

OAT, lol! Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy fighting zombies? That's awesome XD

Silly, something smells fishy ;)

Gabby, :)

sonia, thanks for all the feedback :) I really hope you find this.

Jazza, hells yeah, hometown in the house. :D I'm glad you like those, not a lot of people even bother to read 'em.