Chapter 3

Alice shoved her brother before Jacob got to him. "Run Edward! Get away now. He's crazed!"

Oh, Jacob was crazed alright. He was fucking insane with hatred bathed in vengeance. Edward Cullen had a date with destiny. His finale would be filled with suffering and torture. There had to be a way to make it last longer. All other kills had been swift and ferocious. Jacob would not let it end too quick and it still wouldn't compare to Bella's torment. That was the worst part of it, he had no idea how much she'd suffered.

The only thing that stopped him from pursuit was a beeping that filled the room. Carlisle turned on the monitor. Jacob turned around to watch what his ears already heard. He traced the bumpy line that echoed Bella's heartbeat. She was alive and that's where his focus remained. He didn't know how since her husband obviously tried to kill her over and over. She must have been so afraid and suffered through unspeakable pain. He couldn't even begin to imagine. He only wanted to make her suffering go away, but that wasn't going to be easy, and not the way Rose urged. No matter what was happening to her, he couldn't ask the pack to end Bells.

"Jacob. I apologize for the cover story. Edward didn't mean it. I believe him. In so many ways this is a tragic accident."

"You can't be serious. How are you all defending him? A graze of his teeth might be an accident. Look at her. He bit her deliberately again and again. Why didn't she die? Why is she still alive? How is she not? I mean, she isn't. No fucking way."

"I have no explanation and neither does Edward. That's why he thought a second bite would hasten the process. Well, he got carried away in his distress that much is obvious, but it was to help not hurt her further."

"Get out!"

"I need to monitor her."

"I said get out. You can monitor from the other side of the door. Your family has stolen the only woman I'll ever love from me. I want a few quiet minutes alone with her. You owe me that."

Carlisle nodded. "I'll be in the hall. Her pulse is thready and weak right now. I didn't tell Edward, but I'm afraid it could be tonight. I'm so very sorry."

Jacob hated to hear those words from the vamp doctor but he already knew. He'd listened to countless heartbeats since his transformation and this one was not right. In so many ways, hearing her heart again was like music, but knowing it could quit any time made it the saddest symphony Jacob could ever imagine.

If only. He should have tried harder, not let Sam or the others drag him away. Bella had doubt in her eyes when they danced. Jacob saw it. She'd married Cullen and still doubted breaking permanent ties with her best friend. They were always more than friends and she couldn't hide it. Bella couldn't hide from Jacob.

"Honey, I'm not sure if you can hear me, but it's just us now. They're all gone. I love you and I hope wherever you are that you're at peace." He feared Bella was in silent agony. Jacob tried to block out the mental images of her being bitten. Each bite must have felt like a burning hell. Bells was tortured. It was obvious, but he tried to convince himself she was no longer in pain. That would make this so much worse if she was trapped inside her body suffering with no way to voice that to the outside world. He tried to hold her hand, but she was so damn cold. He couldn't stand to feel her skin and Bells hated the cold. Strange since she claimed to love the frozen corpse.

The bed wasn't really big enough, but he was determined to try. Jacob climbed on one side. He gingerly lifted her and shifted Bella so he could wrap her in a warm embrace. "There sweetheart. Is that better? You always loved my body heat. Admit it." Jacob brushed her away and this time he saw the worst one over her collarbone. Something told him it was the first of many. Damn that fucker to hell. He would find him soon, but right now she needed him more. Bella needed to know she wasn't alone. He kept speaking soothing words to her, so she'd know how much she mattered. It was a shame how Bella always felt insignificant, but she mattered so much not only to Jacob, but to Charlie. He didn't know much about her mother, but she was important to Renee and to Phil. Angela was a good friend to her, even Mike, Jessica and their strange crew seemed to like her. The pack was let down by her decisions, but most of them didn't actually hate her. They felt bad how it all played out.

"You're loved, honey. I wish I could help. I feeling fucking useless."

Dr. Fang rudely interrupted their moment. Jacob started to push up, so he could make it clear once again he and Bella needed privacy. "No, don't get up. Stay. I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but notice." The doctor approached his monitor. "Look. Listen. Notice the change? Her pulse is stronger and steady. Would you mind if I checked her temperature and blood pressure?"

"Should I move out of the way?"

"No, I don't think so, it's just a theory, but I think your presence is helping."

For the first time since Jacob saw Bella lying there, he had a glimmer of hope. Carlisle busied himself checking machines, Bella's IV and other medical procedures. "The heat Jacob. It's working. Bella's almost back to an ideal body temperature. I tried everything, warm saline, heated blankets, the techniques used for hypothermia. This is encouraging. Can you stay a while?"

He'd stay forever if he needed to. "Um, sure. Like this? I was careful not to mess up anything."

Jacob caressed the back of his hand over Bella's forehead. Her cheeks even pinked up a bit. "Hey honey. I knew this extreme body temperature had a significance, now we know what it is. You feeling better? Please say something Bells."

She kept sleeping, but Jacob wouldn't be discouraged again. A few minutes with him made a difference and according to the leeches, she'd been on the decline for weeks. He needed to get her out of here, but maybe Dr. Fang was actually trying his best and it was a fact with all those scars, he could never take her to a regular doctor. Sue might be able to help some, but she worked for group of doctors and didn't have access to this type of equipment.

"Hey, um, Dr. Cullen. You know I have to call Sam and you can't leave. None of you can leave."

The doctor faked a sigh and nodded. "I was afraid of that. Edward's like a son to me and it was a mistake, I'm sure. I hope that you and alpha can discuss this matter with clear heads and not jump to conclusions."

Jacob's mind was jumping to all sorts of conclusions, most of which made his empty stomach lurch, but he kept his true feelings inside. He wasn't letting this go, but he also didn't want the doctor caring for Bella to get distracted. "Well, I'm sure it wasn't an accident and that you're damn gullible to believe it if that's the case, but right now, I'm staying next to Bells. You say it's helping so I'm staying put."

The tick was back within the hour. He obviously had a death wish. "Get away from my wife. Carlisle, what is the meaning of this? Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

"Edward, calm down. I asked him to stay."

"Honestly, you asked him to lay with my wife? This is highly inappropriate. You haven't seen inside his mind. I remember clearly the night in the tent."

"Oh, you mean when I kept Bells from freezing to death? Yeah, this is kinda similar only it's something far worse than the elements that got her in this condition."

"You fantasized about her."

The blonde she-vamp approached, "Shut up Edward! What's happening Carlisle? She seems different."

The doctor gave her an update while Edward made more accusations about other people's wrongdoings.

"It was you that betrayed the family by telling this dog some elaborate tale about what you think you know. My, my Rosalie. You missed your calling. You should've been an actress with those theatrics about ridding us of Jacob Black."

"Make no mistake. I know enough. She asked for help and now the dog knows. You can't escape from this Edward." She turned her attention back to Bella. "So the wolf heat is making a difference?"

"Yes. She's stabilized. I need a new blood sample to be more thorough, but perhaps I should wait until tomorrow. Give it more time."

"He is not staying here all night."

Jacob had enough. He did not want to leave Bella's side, but this wasn't going to work with the leech whining the entire time. His very presence anywhere in Bella's vicinity was unnerving. All Jacob's instincts told him the leech must be ripped apart immediately because of what he did to her. But it wasn't possible. She was more important than anything else at the moment. Carlisle wasn't convinced of Edward's guilt. A fight would erupt and that was detrimental to Bella's health. Jacob hated to admit it, but he needed Carlisle because he had no idea what she was up against.

Jacob stalked toward Edward. He couldn't knock his head off, but he put a scare into him. The pixie and her mate rushed inside the room to run interference.

"Stop this. Carlisle, this is our home. Make him leave... for good."

"Alice, everyone needs to calm down. Jacob's presence helps Bella. It isn't scientific, but there's something about her we have never fully comprehended and I can't mimic his supernatural warmth. Bella is all our priority, is she not?"

Jacob's eyes bore into the cold dead ones of the tiny tick. "You knew. You saw beforehand and you did nothing. Bella thought you were her friend. That makes you just as guilty as him. Don't expect me to forget either. A day of reckoning awaits anyone responsible for Bella's condition. Now I suggest everyone, but the doctor leave unless today is the day you seek your entrance into hell."

A few silent glances were exchanged between the coven. Everyone seemed to listen to Carlisle, and backed away, but let Jacob know they were a heartbeat away. Rose was the last to leave.

"What? Are you waiting around to see if I'm about to euthanize Bells?"

She shook her head. "I did not think... I guess I was wrong, but it seemed so hopeless."

"Yes, you were wrong and I was right. As long as she breathes and has a heartbeat, there's hope."

Before Jacob climbed back on the bed with Bells, he reached in his pocket and pulled out his phone.

"Seth?" He looked down to make sure he hit the right contact.

"Yeah, Jake, where are you? Quil's been looking for you."

"Where's Sam?"

"He's hanging curtains for Emily. Scratch that Emily corrected me, they're sheers."

"Seth, shut the fuck up. I don't care about all that shit, get Sam on the phone."

"Hold on. He says five more minutes. They're almost straight."

Jacob shook the thought of Sam on a short leash of Emily's. Jacob raised his voice so the kid would know how serious he was, "The Cullens are back! Bella's here and she's sick. Tell him that and then see if he fucks me around five more minutes."

It didn't take twenty minutes for the entire pack to surround the Cullen's house. Rose and Emmett were attempting to cover the giant hole in the wall when Jacob pushed his way out again.

Quil spoke first, "It's true. Is that Bella's heartbeat I hear?"

"Yes."

Sam's face hardened. "Explain yourself Jacob. You shouldn't have hidden this from me."

"I hid nothing. I came here to keep Charlie away and have been trying to sort out the fuckery ever since. I thought my best friend was about to die in my arms, so excuse me for taking a few hours before I could call." Jacob yelled to Carlisle to join them.

He came outside apologizing. "I apologize for evading the treaty rules. I assure you it wasn't intentional. Jacob is correct. Bella's life hung in the balance."

"What's wrong with her? This is not the plan you laid out to me before she married. You weren't coming back and she..."

Sam's voice trailed off when he stared at Jacob. "Plans change, Sam. The doc doesn't know what's wrong yet. She's sick, very sick and my arrival has helped stabilize her so I'm going to be staying here a little while until she wakes up."

"You mean she's so sick she is unconscious? Let me see her."

"NO!"

Jacob glanced at Carlisle. "Actually, he's right. She is fragile at the moment. We wouldn't want to undo the slight progress she recently experienced. I must insist Bella's visitors be kept to only Jacob Black for now."

"You told her father?"

"No, it's too soon."

"Why not tell him and move her to a regular hospital? You're not telling me everything."

Jacob asked Carlisle to go back inside to check on Bella. He worried about her being alone.

He approached his brothers. "Look, I will explain more later. Bella gets so cold without me. I can't be gone more than a few minutes. It's the leech. He's lying to me and he was trying to hide Bella's illness. Sam, you have to set up watch. No one can leave here until we figure this out. As soon as I can make a run with Bells, I will and then I'll alert Charlie."

"Of course, we'll monitor the Cullens, but you need to tell me everything."

"Can't you see how fucking stressed out I am? Give me a break. A few days. You know where we'll be. Quil, tell my father, please. Grab me some extra clothes and stuff from home. Also, Lahote. Get me some fucking food."

"Sure Jake, got any money on you?"

"No, I don't and I wouldn't give it to you if I did. You owe me a month's worth of groceries as it is. So scram. Knock on the wall and I'll come out. I'm starving and I'm not about to eat any of their food."

"They seriously have food in there? Creepy. I wonder what it is?"

"No idea, but are we cool? All of us? Bella stayed human. That's what's important, and she's back and it's all our duty to protect her. Right, Sam?"

Sam nodded, but the stern look he gave Jacob meant he wasn't happy the way Jacob called the shots.

Jacob felt relaxed for the first time in a month, maybe longer when he curled against Bella again. Sam was suspicious, but he promised to have a meeting and arranged protection while monitoring the Cullens. Carlisle interrupted his partial bliss as Jacob took time to really breath her in again.

"You didn't tell them."

"No, Sam would've overreacted. He isn't the most reasonable."

"I understand, but he listens to you. In a way, you have influence over all of them, even the alpha. Fascinating."

Jacob ignored Carlisle's implication. "Look, I get it. You're doctoring Bells, but can we have some privacy? I'm pretty sure I can fall asleep for a while, but not if you're lurking around me. She's better, right?"

"Yes, all her vital signs are now normal."

"Good and tomorrow you'll check her blood. Hopefully, that will show improvements as well."

"Yes. I need to speak to my family, so I can step out for now."

Jacob lifted his head to ask one more important question. "Um, one more thing. I need to know and nothing was made clear earlier. Why didn't? I mean, why is Bells?"

"Human."

"Yeah, have you ever heard of something like this? You've been around for centuries, right?"

"Indeed I have and no, this is an impossibility."

"Then why?"

"I can't answer that. Bella's different. Edward still believes."

"Believes what?" Jacob hardly cared what that fucker believed, but he still wanted to know anything that pertained to Bella.

"He thinks the venom is dormant and the change will come soon."

Jacob swallowed the lump in his throat. He couldn't bear the thought of that. "And you? Do you believe that too?"

"The transformation into our kind takes roughly three days. I can see variables occurring but over three weeks time, no. There's no way. She can't be turned. I've done samples: blood, urine, tissue, nail and hair samples. Not one trace of venom remains in her body. It's like it can't penetrate her system. It vanishes. I have no answer as to why. The first bite from James seemed to have been having the effect before Edward removed it, but I can't say this time because I wasn't there."

"You mean for the repeated biting?"

"Jacob. He panicked."

"So he says no bites affected her?"

"I should let you have your rest."

"Tell me. Was she in pain? Did he at least admit that?"

"A vampire bite is painful. From what I gathered that part was consistent. It's hard for Edward to discuss it. He's very distraught."

"I'm sure it is hard to recount trying to kill a person you claimed to love. Explain her condition then. Was there blood loss?"

Carlisle turned around to avoid Jacob's line of questioning again.

"He was drinking her blood, wasn't he?"

"Blood is spilled when a victim is bitten. I don't mean Bella is a victim, it's all so unfortunate."

"Bella is a victim. She is the worst case of an abused wife you've ever seen, isn't she?"

"I didn't say that. I know my son. He has excellent control. He saved her from the hunter, James, and he has protected her since her arrival and subsequent affiliation with our family."

"Answer the damn question then. Why in your medical opinion is Bella like this? You said the venom evaporated. That means it isn't present to cause her symptoms. What is happening to her?"

"I have only one theory, but Edward thinks it's preposterous."

"Well, I've never given a single fuck what he thinks. Tell me your theory. Maybe I can help if I have a better understanding."

"The mind is a powerful thing. I believe there is life and death within the human psyche."

"And..."

"There is no other medical explanation. I've searched for every disease, bacteria, virus, or infection known to man. Bella has none of them. That has led me to the conclusion, it's her doing."

"I'm not following."

"Bella is willing herself to death. It's horrible and I don't understand why, but she's been killing herself slowly Jacob. She had a mental breakdown and this is her chosen method of suicide. Perhaps, her decision to leave her life and family became an overwhelming burden."

Jacob barely slept off and on next to Bella. Paul finally came through for once and brought Jacob two double cheeseburgers, fries and an extra large chocolate shake. He double checked who was on patrol for the night and accepted a call from Billy. He was sick with worry, but Rachel promised to calm him down and take care of him. Billy was forced to lie and make up a story to Charlie who'd asked all day if Jacob found anything. The guys were on alert to watch out for him in case the chief took it upon himself to investigate.

He heard Rose and Edward in a heated argument outside the door once. She was doing her job keeping him away. Carlisle was in and out checking on Bella, but he turned out the lights for the night and promised Jacob he would leave them alone so he could research medical journals in his office directly above the room they were in.

Ever since the theory was given to him, he'd barely been able to think of anything else. Dr. Fang had to be wrong. Bella wouldn't do that. Was it even possible? Recurring memories plagued him. Jacob eavesdropped on conversations between Charlie and his father when Bella was in her depressed stage. It was before they really spent time together. Charlie called her a shell of a human being once. She did take sorrow to the next level, but this? The leech hurt her, that was the explanation, but if what Carlisle was saying was true? He couldn't find an underlying illness, so why had her condition stayed this dire?

Jacob wrapped his arm around her a little tighter. He kissed her forehead. "I'm still here, Bells. I need you to know that. I'm not leaving. Take as long as you need, but there's no danger. I love you. Please get better. You have to." He wanted to take it all away, Bella's pain whether it be physical or mental. He wanted to listen to her and make her smile like he did a long time ago. Jacob wanted to believe they could get back there. He was a dumb kid when she came to him with the bikes and he made a difference. He knew so much more now so he should be even better, but he was feeling pretty helpless despite her recent changes.

Jacob continued to stroke her thick hair, telling her encouraging things, and recounting special secrets between them hoping it jogged her mind. That's when he felt the dampness against his face. Jacob lifted up to see. Tears streamed down both of Bella's cheeks. She was crying silent tears. She made no other movements or noises, but the tears flowed freely. Jacob traced each one that fell for several minutes. Deep inside her shell, Bella was broken. Maybe Carlisle was onto to something, but why? Jacob's heart ached because there was only one explanation. Something horrible and traumatic had occurred. Bella lost all hope. First priority was to give her a reason to come back to him, and the second task was to find out exactly what forced her into this dark descent. He had an idea, but the truth at the moment was almost too much for Jacob to bear, so he rested his head against hers and gave himself over to sleep. Reality was not where he wanted to be for the next few hours. He only wanted to imagine a simpler time when Bella was almost his.

~Thanks for reading.

I'm depressed for these two broken souls. Anyone else?