Chapter 36

Bella

"Edward," I gasped, clutching his arm frantically. "That was Jacob. What happened to him?"

Edward grasped my hand firmly, and his eyes became slightly unfocused and his body completely still as he concentrated on finding Jacob's thoughts.

Alarm rushed through me as he abruptly let go of my hand, crying out in pain and sinking to his knees. He was holding his chest tightly and struggling to breathe, which made absolutely no sense. He didn't need to breathe. That could only mean one thing. He was feeling Jacob's pain.

"Edward! What is it?"

At the sound of my desperate shriek, the others came running over to us and everything was confusion as they all talked at once, demanding to know what was wrong with Edward.

"It's…I'm okay. It's not me, it's Jacob. I can feel what he's feeling right now…he's in…extraordinary pain…" Edward gasped. He lowered his head and held it in both hands, and was silent for a few minutes, except for the sound of his harsh breathing. Everyone stood around, anxiously waiting to find out what had happened to Jacob.

Edward slowly got his feet, stumbling a little, his face paler than usual. He was still struggling to breathe normally. I was frightened and confused, needing to know if Jacob was going to be alright, but also wanting desperately to get to my daughter.

"Sam is with him," Edward finally said slowly, his voice barely louder than a whisper. "He and the other wolves are trying to help him. They're about three miles into the forest." He searched my face, clearly seeing the anxiety there, and his eyes bore into mine, trying to determine what it was I wanted him to do. He finally made the decision for me.

"Bella love, why don't you go to Renesmee and I'll go check on Jacob. I'll join you as soon as possible."

Relief flooded through me, along with a stab of guilt. I hated to send him off when we were so close to being reunited with our daughter, but I couldn't stand the thought of Jacob out there in pain, and possibly in grave danger.

"Edward, thank you. I know how much you want to get to Nessie, but you're the only person here besides Carlisle with any medical training…."

"Say no more, love. I won't be long." He kissed me briefly, then turned and sprinted into the trees. I quickly surveyed the scene around me before going into the monastery. Everyone had gone back to what they were doing, Alice and Jasper tending to the massive fire, while the others gathered various body parts and added them to the blaze. None of the enemy group was anywhere in sight. They had all either succumbed to the fight, or had disappeared. Something began to niggle at my mind, a vague gnawing that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Something that should be obvious. Something that I had noticed earlier during the fight, but was now slipping away from me like wisps of smoke on a light breeze….

I shook my head and tried to shrug off the nagging feeling. It would come to me later. I couldn't worry about it right now. I had to go see my daughter. Ximena, who still hovered over Nahuel, pointed the way down the ancient stone steps to the left of the huge double doors, and gave me the directions to the cell where Nessie had been held. Not that I needed it. I knew she was only trying to be helpful, but I was already catching a faint drift of my daughter's scent, wafting up to me from the black stairwell.

I gave her shoulder a light squeeze and started down the stairs.

Before I could take more than two steps, I ran into Carlisle. He was cradling Nessie in his arms, his face paler than usual, his black eyes tight with anxiety. Esme was right behind him, one hand on his shoulder, the other resting lightly against my daughter's cheek. My body staggered under the weight of the different emotions that coursed through me as I took in the sight of her. It had only been days since I'd seen her last, but it felt like years. Overwhelming elation at seeing her sweet face, stabbing fear over her condition, and raging fury at what had been done to her, at all she'd been put through, warred inside me until I thought I would burst. I reached out to touch her hair lightly, afraid to touch her anywhere else without knowing the extent of her injuries. She was obviously unconscious, head lolling across Carlisle's arm, arms resting limply across her chest. Her clothes were torn and bloodied, her skin too white and streaked with dirt and blood. Her breathing was ragged, and it frightened me. There was a look of unrest on her face, as if she were in the grip of some terrible nightmare. She moaned softly, her lips parting slightly, and I hurried to soother her.

"Shhh," I whispered in her ear. "It's alright now sweetheart. Momma's here." My voice broke on a tearless sob as I reverted back to what she used to call me when she was a baby.

She didn't respond to my voice, and I looked into Carlisle's face anxiously.

"Bella, I'm taking her out of here. I'm going to try to find a clinic or hospital somewhere nearby," he said quietly, then hesitated while he thought how to say what came next. "Nessie has lost an enormous amount of blood, and she has been unconscious far too long. I need to get her somewhere where I have access to the proper medical equipment. She's going to need a blood transfusion." His face was grim as held my gaze, willing me to understand the implications of what he was saying.

I took deep breath, nodded, and carefully ran my hand across Nessie's forehead. I gasped in shock at how cold she felt. Her skin normally felt blazing hot to me, but now it was almost as cold as Edward's skin had felt to me when I was human.

The fear spiked within me, and I knew that if human blood still ran through my veins, I'd be dizzy and nearly unconscious myself.

Nessie's life was hanging by a thread, balancing precariously on a narrow precipice.

We were running out of time.

Miraculously, Carlisle managed to find a small clinic only ten miles from the abandoned monastery. It was on the edge of a small village, and completely deserted at this hour of the morning. Dawn had not yet begun to paint the sky with it's soft array of pastel colors, for which I was grateful. I didn't want to have to think about the possibility of being discovered by the humans that ran this place. We needed privacy and time for what Carlisle was trying to accomplish. Of course, we also needed a donor. Neither I nor any of my family had blood to offer Nessie, although I would have gladly given every drop I had to save her life. Ximena and Nahuel, who was limping slightly but otherwise seemed none the worse for wear, had followed us to the clinic, as well as Jasper, Alice, Rose, and Emmett. The others had stayed behind to finish cleaning up the mess of the battle. They were going to meet back up with us at the plane after we had taken care of Nessie.

Everyone was fully aware of the dire situation that lay before us. We all knew that either Ximena or Nahuel was going to have to volunteer as a donor, as they were the only ones in our company that had any blood to offer. We discussed this idea both rapidly and briefly, while Carlisle searched the entire clinic for the necessary equipment.

"I would be honored to give my blood to Renesmee," Nahuel said, stepping forward and already rolling up the sleeve of his shirt. I barely registered his words, staring down at the narrow bed my daughter rested on, focusing through a haze of panic at the grayish hue of her skin, her ragged breathing, and the fact that she'd started to tremble violently. She was going into shock. I murmured soothingly to her in her ear, while Alice and Rosalie hovered over her, each of them patting her and stroking her lovingly.

"Wait a minute," Emmett said, in a harsh, low voice, placing one of his massive hands on Nahuel's chest, stopping him abruptly in mid-stride. "Dude, aren't you venomous? I don't think it's a good idea for Carlisle to put your blood in Nessie's body. We have no idea how she'd react to that."

His words cut through my panicky haze like a knife. I had completely forgotten that Nahuel was venomous. I shuddered slightly at the thought that I'd come so close to allowing him to donate his blood to Nessie.

Nahuel frowned, then nodded his head. "You're right. We don't know what kind of effect that would have on her. We shouldn't take that kind of risk." He bowed his head, but not before I saw the flare of disappointment in his eyes.

"Well," Ximena said shakily. "I guess that leaves me." She swallowed, an audible clicking noise coming from her throat. "I've never done this before, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to help her." She walked over to stand beside Nessie, looking down at her with mixed emotions on her face. Fear, sympathy, anxiety. Carlisle came back into the room at that moment, holding several lengths of plastic tubing, some needles, and other medical paraphernalia that I couldn't immediately identify.

"Unfortunately, there is more for us to worry about than who will be Nessie's donor," he said, having heard our conversation. "Nessie's blood type is O negative, and that means that she can only accept blood from another type O. Do you happen to know what your blood type is?" He directed the question at Ximena.

She shook her head and said in a regretful tone, "No, I'm sorry, I don't know what it is. I've never felt the need to find out."

"Carlisle," I whispered. "She needs blood. She's going into shock, I think. What would happen if we took the chance of Ximena giving her blood, without her being a type O?"

"It could be very dangerous for Nessie," he answered quietly. "In her weakened condition, any adverse effects could possibly be accelerated. It's a strong possibility that she could….."

He trailed off, jaw clenched against some strong emotion. He didn't need to say any more than that, and I didn't respond. I knew what he was driving at. If Nessie's body had a bad reaction to Ximena's blood….she could possibly die.

"But haven't there been emergency cases in which doctors have done blood transfusions without knowing either parties' blood types?" Jasper inquired.

Carlisle hesitated a moment. "Yes," he admitted, "but do any of us want to take such a chance with Nessie's life?"

I looked around the room at the faces of my family. No, I could tell that none of us wanted to take such a risk. But Nessie needed blood desperately. She would die if she didn't get it. And she could possibly die if she had a bad reaction to Ximena's blood.

"Isn't there another option?" Rosalie snapped, glaring over her shoulder in Carlisle's direction.

"I could try to find a hospital, break in, and get some bags of O negative to bring back here. But I have no idea how long that would take. And we don't have much time…."

"Bella?" Carlisle turned to me and searched my face, trying to figure out what it was I wanted him to do. How I wished Edward were here with me. I didn't know if I could make this decision alone. But really, what other choice did I have? I couldn't just stand here while my daughter slipped away in front of me. Carlisle was right, we didn't have time to go out and hunt up the right type of blood. And Ximena was right here. I could feel the resolve hardening in me, and had just opened my mouth to tell him to go ahead and get Ximena ready, when a choked whisper came from the direction of the doorway.

"Doc, you don't need to go anywhere, or use Ximena's blood," the voice croaked.

I snapped my head around to see Jacob half slumped in the doorway, with Edward and Sam on either side of him, arms around him and supporting most of his weight. He looked horrible, bloodied, bruised, and broken, but he wore an expression of grim determination, a fierce half smile on his cracked lips.

"I have type O blood. Use me."

"Jacob!" I exclaimed, wanting to rush over to him to see if he was ok, but not willing to leave Nessie's side.

"I'm ok, Bells. Stop worrying about me," he whispered, reading my thoughts as usual.

"Jacob, I don't know if you're in any condition-"

"Look, Doc, we don't have time to debate. Nessie needs blood, I have the right type, and I'm standing here willing to give it. It doesn't matter what happens to me. I don't care. She needs my blood. She needs me."

The rush of relief and gratitude I felt was almost painful. Edward and Sam helped Jacob over to a leather chair, the kind that sat on wheels and could be adjusted to lay almost all the way back.

"Jacob, as a doctor, I feel it is my duty to inform you of the risks of being a blood donor. Even a healthy person can experience mild side effects, and with the way you look right now, and without me even knowing the extent of your injuries-"

"Save it Doc," Jake cut him off again, raising his right hand weakly, palm facing out. "I don't care about the risks. Nessie doesn't have time for this. 'Sides, this chair is really comfortable, and I could use a little…rest.. right now. I'm beat. No… pun intended." His words were halting, his voice beginning to falter. He tried to chuckle, but it came out sounding more like a choking noise. His breath hitched strangely, and he gasped, doubling over in his chair. He clutched weakly at his left side.

"Jacob, let Carlisle examine you. It won't take a minute," I pleaded with him, my eyes flashing to Nessie every half second. Edward had flown to her side as soon as Jacob was settled. His hand lay gently across her cheek, and he was murmuring to her in a low voice. He glanced at Carlisle, desperation burning in his eyes.

Carlisle caught his look and merely nodded, and got busy with the preparations. He rapidly worked through the tangle of plastic tubing and soon had Nessie and Jake hooked up to each other with a complicated system of needles, tubing, and surgical tape. Jake lay back and stared at Renesmee as if she were the only person in the world, worry and fear making his eyes glisten with wetness and his deep brow furrow. After a while though, his eyes drifted closed and he and Nessie both lay still, breathing steadily. I could see a perceptible difference in the color of her skin almost immediately, ash turning to rose, and her heart rate slowly evened out again, thrumming rapidly and steadily, which was normal for her. Relief flooded through me again. She was going to be alright. I was sure of it. And soon, she would be in my arms again, and her beautiful smile would be the most welcome sight in my world.

Carlisle informed us that it would take several hours for the process to be complete, and we talked quietly while we waited. Jasper hid by the front door to the clinic, waiting in the shadows, watching out for anybody that might come along. Thankfully, no one did. Carlisle had sent Alice out to find some food for Jacob and Nessie, for them to eat and try to regain some strength after the transfusion was complete. She was back in no time, carrying two white aromatic boxes, the smell of cooked steak and vegetables wafting into the room ahead of her.

"It's the best I could find," she chirped, shrugging her tiny shoulders and setting the boxes on a nearby counter.

"I'm sure it will be fine Alice," Edward assured her without taking his eyes from Nessie. He sat beside her bed, holding her fragile looking hands in his own. Alice sighed impatiently, tapping her toe. I knew that she couldn't stand not knowing exactly when Nessie would awaken. "How much longer is this going to take, Carlisle?"

"It won't be much longer."

He and Esme were working over Jacob. Esme was carefully cleaning the dirt and blood from his skin, and Carlisle was doing his best to tend to the visible wounds, taping and bandaging where he could around Jacob's awkward sitting position. He had probed Jacob's ribcage gently while he slept, and found several breaks and fractures. There wasn't much he could do about those until Jake woke up.

Rose and I had tended to Nessie, gently wiping the streaks of dirt and blood from her face and hair, whispering words of love and encouragement all the while.

Now all we could do was sit back and wait. It was maddening. I wanted so badly for Nessie to open her eyes and see me there, to know for sure that she was finally safe and back with those that loved her the most. Another hour passed, and my thoughts turned toward a daydream of our happy reunion. The room had fallen into a quiet lull. Everyone seemed to be lost to their own thoughts, just sitting quietly and waiting as patiently as they could.

How quickly things can change.

Almost absentmindedly, I drifted slowly over to stand between Nessie and Jacob, in between his chair and her bed. No sooner had I gotten there, Carlisle abruptly jerked his head in Jacob's direction. Puzzled for only a fraction of a second, I heard what he must have heard almost at exactly the same moment. Something was wrong with Jacob's heartbeat. It had been steady for most of the time he'd been here, but now it faltered in it's rhythm, stuttering out a few rapid beats, then remaining still and silent for what seemed like a frighteningly long time. I studied his lank form carefully, taking in his unhealthy looking ghastly pallor. The color had drained from him until he was almost as white as me. His breathing suddenly became louder, more ragged. His body jerked spasmodically, and Edward dashed to his side to make sure the tubes that connected his right arm with Nessie's left remained intact. I stared in utter horror as Carlisle flitted to Jacob's other side, grabbing a stethoscope and placing it over Jake's heart, working over him frantically. No one had to say a word. I knew what was happening.

Without warning, dim human memories of Jacob rose to the surface of my mind, images bursting forth from the recesses of my subconscious, streaking faster than lightning behind my eyes: flashes of the two of us sitting in his makeshift garage at Billy's, laughing and drinking warm sodas; flashes of First Beach, of our bleached driftwood log, the waves crashing to the shore, Jacob's brilliant smile lighting up my whole world, brighter than the sun that hung in the sky above us; the wind whipping through my hair as I sped down a dirt path through the gray-green trees of the forest on my old motorcycle, Jacob's sure hands helping me up when I'd fallen. His husky voice filled my mind, a comforting and familiar counterpoint to all the times we had shared, both good and bad: all the talks we'd had, the laughs, the anger, the pain, the love, the deep bond of kindred spirits. Best friends. And now, my best friend was rapidly slipping away before my eyes, and there was nothing I could do to help him. Absolutely nothing at all.

Jacob was dying.