(Disclaimer: I don't own anything from anything I may reference: may that be a TV show, a movie, a book, a song, anything. I only own my OC's and my ideas.)

Pain

(Tess POV)

I regained consciousness, gasping for breath my upper body in excruciating pain. My ribs felt like they were stabbing my insides.

I noticed I was outside Jacob's house, lying on a quilt, surrounded by the Quileutes.

Leah was sitting next to me, staring at the door, a severely worried look on her face.

She noticed that I was conscious and started talking. "Jacob's ribs are all broken... His sped-up healing started... They weren't correctly placed, so... the doc is breaking them again..."

"Wh – " I started to say something, but there was a sudden shoot of pain running up my right side as both Jacob and I screamed.

Bella pulled up in her truck and jumped out, speed walking up to where Billy and Sue were.

"Is – Are they alright?" She stuttered.

"I think that Doc – " Leah was cut off by Carlisle as he walked out of the house.

"Bella." He nodded his greetings to her, "Tessa, he's been asking for you."

"Leah," I groaned, "Help me?"

"I gotcha..." She said, pulling me up by my arms. The pain in my side was almost unbearable, but since it wasn't mine, it wasn't affected by me walking or getting up. Leah helped me all the way into Jacob's room.

He was laying there, on his bed, bandages wrapped around most of his upper body.

Leah quickly pulled a chair over and sat me down right next to him.

"Tess..." He groaned as Leah left the room, "I heard you scream..."

"Yeah?" I tried to chuckle, but the pain was too much.

He smiled for a second, but then frowned. "I almost phased... Doctor Cullen would've been too close, I would've broken the treaty..."

I frowned and sighed.

"I'm sorry..." He said.

"For what?"

"For putting you through this pain..."

"Pfft... Don't be... If anyone should be sorry," I sighed, "It should be me."

"Why?" He furrowed his brow.

"Because, I... forced you to go... You got hurt because of me."

"What? You didn't force me, forcing would've meant you ordered me to... Neither of us need to be sorry."

"What? Why not?"

"I feel bad because you're in pain, and I feel like I caused it, and you feel bad because I'm in pain, and you feel like you caused it."

I smiled weakly. Even when he was in intense pain, when he could barely move, he was still worried about me – still trying to take away all the pain.

"You need to go home, though... Charlie'll get worried if you don't get home soon."

"No, I don't want – "

"I think I've heard this somewhere before..."

"But – "

"No. Your dad's gone through enough with Bella..."

I sighed, tears welling up in my eyes.

"You can still visit me every day..."

"No," Billy said, rolling into the room, "You have to be separated during his recovery; Doctor's orders."

"But – " But he'd rolled away.

"Babe – urgh!" Jacob had started to reach out his hand, but retracted it as pain surged through our arms. He groaned as he continued, "You have to go... I'll be fine within the next week... It'll only be a little while..."

I sighed and, cupping his face in my hands, kissed him.

We stared, painfully, at eachother for a moment before I turned and walked out.

"Tess?" Jake called.

"What?" I replied, not turning so he couldn't see the tears rolling down my cheeks.

"I love you."

I paused and took a deep breath before answering.

"I love you, too."

. . .

It was Thursday, the 22nd. Four days after the accident. I was internally freezing, and I didn't know why. But, whenever I was without Jake, I got gradually colder every hour.

I was doing my homework in my room. Charlie was out, still working, and Bella was out on a date with Edward, probably planning their wedding, so I had the house to myself.

I had made some brownies and some rolls, just because. I was seriously stressing over Jake, and Emily said it helped her when she was worried about Sam.

I had just finished doing math when I heard a knock at the front door.

I closed my book and set it down on the floor, with the rest of them, and got up quickly to see who it was.

I brushed my shirt with my hands while I walked through the kitchen and opened the door.

I gasped. It was Jacob.

He was standing there, a huge grin on his face.

I felt my eyes widen and then wrinkle as I broke out in a huge smile.

I stood there for a moment before leaping forward and hugging him, tight as I could.

All the cold I had felt before slowly started melting away...

After a moment, I dragged him inside and kissed him.

I had missed him so. Much.

A/N: A much shorter-than-normal chapter, but I'd already gone through one chapter and a bit of the way into another.

But, I don't know about you guys, but I'm loving this fanfic. Not just because I made it, but because I've always wanted a fanfic like this: Where both Edward and Jacob get partners, instead of fighting over one.

Anyways, please leave a review, I really enjoy them, so... yeah! Hope you enjoyed!