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Inspirational Song: Lifehouse – By Your Side

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"Should we move her?"

"Where should we take her?"

"Bella can come to our house."

"I don't think so leech, why would we trust her with you?"

"Because he does."

"Brady wouldn't want her anywhere near your kind."

"You don't know that!" A voice shrieked.

I moved my head to the side, trying to get away from the yelling. My head was just throbbing.

"Bells? You up?"

Slowly, my eyes fluttered open to see Jacob and Esme. Alice was growling at Paul who looked like he was ready to shift at any moment.

"W-what happened?" I looked around for the large ashy-brown wolf I remember being on last, "Wh-where is Brady?" I tried to sit up, but Jake stopped me with his hand. I was thankful that he did, my head hurt worse when I moved. Carlisle dropped by my side to do a quick assessment of what hurt.

"Nothing appears to be broken." Carlisle said, taking my pulse like he would at the hospital. I knew he didn't have to do it that way, he was a vampire after all, but old habits died hard, "Bella, you might have a headache for a few hours, but you'll be alright."

"Where is Brady?" I asked again when he finished.

Carlisle looked to Jacob, and he looked back at him. Both the werewolf's and the vampire's eyes were dark.

I felt a choke start in my throat, "He...he isn't..."

"No, nothing like that Bella." Carlisle hurried to say. He turned to Jacob, silently questioning who should tell me.

"Damn it, just tell me then!" I snapped, momentarily forgetting the throb in my head and the slight pain in my wrist.

Carlisle pulled back. He hadn't ever heard me use that sort of language, but I wasn't even going to apologize until he told me what I wanted to know.

"Bella, what do you remember last?" Jake asked, moving to sit cross-legged on the ground.

I sat up, propping myself up by my elbows, and glared at him. I didn't want to be asked questions, I wanted mine answered, "We were running back to the meadow. Now, where is Brady?"

"Bella," Alice stepped forward, being careful with her words, "Brady is seriously hurt."

My head snapped towards her, "But he'll be alright, won't he?" I turned back to see even Paul dropped his face in defeat.

"He's a werewolf! He has to be alright!" I said, moving to get up despite everyone's protests.

"Embry and Quil took him home." Paul said, stepping forward, his eyes sad instead of harsh, "That ex-boyfriend of yours rammed him when he was running back with you."

A loud gasped escaped my throat before the tears started. I wrapped my arms around my stomach, trying to stay together.

If Edward leaving last year hurt, this was so much worse.

"C-can I...can I..." I couldn't get the words out. I fell back to the ground and pulled my knees up to my chin, just clinging to them, trying not to fall to pieces.

"Yeah, you can Bells." Jake brushed my bangs back before standing up.

"Do you want me to run her? It will be faster than if one you walks back with her." Carlisle said, trying to make the best out of a terrible situation.

Jake thought about it but gave a quick nod.

Carlisle had me in his arms a second later, "Don't worry Bella, I'll get you to Brady."

I clung to his shirt and just cried. Brady had to be alright, he just had to be.

And then the wind flew around me as Carlisle ran.

XxX

Brady twisted back and forth as the fever grew worse. His mother sat by him on the floor as she watched the Elder Quil Ateara look over her son.

"W-what...what happened?" She asked, struggling to hold the tears back.

"A cold one tackled him." The Elder explained, placing some blue paste over a deep gash in the boy's shoulder, "Some of his venom got inside and is causing a fever. A girl was with him at the time, but she is alright."

Ella Fuller waited till the Elder had finished before moving closer to her son, brushing his sweat-drenched bangs back, "Oh, Brady..."

"I'm sure that he will survive this, but it will take longer than usual for him to heal." He said, placing his herbs back into his old, black bag, "All you can do is pray."

Ella nodded without really hearing what he said. Her baby was broken and so was her heart.

"Brady..." She whispered, leaning her head against his. Her eyes fluttered closed. She couldn't stand to see the scratches and bruises across his shoulders and face. She couldn't stand to see the dislocated shoulder that the Elder had to push back into place, she could still hear the scream Brady had let out from the pain.

"Oh Brady, baby, please, wake up soon." She begged, the tears finally falling, "I can't lose you too."

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Carlisle stopped at the tree line, "Bella, are you going to be alright to walk over?"

I looked up to him and nodded. Carefully he helped me stand on my feet.

Leaning over he kissed my forehead, "You seem perfectly alright to me, but if your head starts hurting again call me right away, alright?" He gave a smile as his dark eyes looked into mine, "It will all be alright, Bella."

I worried my lip. If Brady was alright, then, yes, everything would be alright.

"Thanks, Carlisle." I said. He gave a smile and a nod.

Carefully, I made my way out of the woods and towards the house. I grimaced at the thought of how I must look creeping out of the woods, covered in dirt and leaves.

I pushed myself until I was at the door, forgetting about everything except the fact that Brady needed me, and I wasn't going to let him down.

The knock sounded extremely loud on the door. Looking around the street it seemed as if everything was in mourning.

I bit my lip, hoping beyond hope that this wasn't a bad omen.

"Coming!" I heard Mrs. Fuller call from the other side.

The door opened before I could come up with a good excuse.

"Bella?" Mrs. Fuller's amber eyes lit up in surprise, "Not that it isn't nice to see you, dear, but what are you doing here?" She smiled genuinely as she opened the door, gesturing for me to come.

I pulled my jacket off before answering her, "I heard about Brady and I...I just wanted to check on him." It wasn't a total lie.

Mrs. Fuller bit down on her lip, trying to keep the tears away.

I froze when I saw Brady laying still on the couch.

"Is-is he going to...to be..." I couldn't get the words out, biting down on my own lips I turned away as the tears started.

"Quil Ateara says he should." She said, moving to sit on the floor beside her son's head.

"Senior, right?" I asked, coming to sit next to her. Neither of our eyes left Brady's face. Sweat had drenched his bangs and pasted them against his forehead. His usual beautiful coppery skin was pale as the fever took hold.

Mrs. Fuller nodded as she gently brushed her son's hair back, "Bella, would you mind going to get a cold cloth from the kitchen?" Never once did her eyes stray from his face.

I nodded and got up, not wanting to leave Brady's side but knowing I needed to not just for Brady but for his mom.

I stumbled around the kitchen looking for what I needed. Soon I found a cloth and drenched it in cold water.

"D-do you want to try and get some sleep? I'll stay with him." I offered as I handed her the cloth. I was already pretty sure what her answer would be.

Just like I had suspected, she shook her head, "I can't sleep when my baby is laying down here."

I nodded and started towards the stairs, "I'll go get us some pillows and blankets." I had no idea what was upstairs or even which room would be hers but I wanted to help her in any way I could. That's what Brady would have wanted.

The stairs wound around like a tower's case but finally I came to the second story.

There were three rooms on each side. I bit down on my lip and opened the first on my left.

I sighed when I saw it was just the restroom and when the other two turned out to be an office space and a guest room.

Turning around, I looked to the rooms that were left. I shrugged and chanced one of the handles.

I walked in because it was a bedroom, but I couldn't tell if it was Brady's mom's room or his.

My best guess was that it was Brady's. I walked further in, my arms crossed over my chest, as I looked around.

There were posters of famous art pieces pinned up, though one was of the band Lifehouse.

An old desk stood in the corner with a dark blue Jansport backpack on it. I walked over and turned the small lamp on so I could see better.

Papers were scattered across the desk, some of them homework and others of them doodles.

I smiled down as I shifted through them, then my eyes came to rest on a particular one.

My eyes studied it as I moved the other papers off it.

"It's...it's me." I stared down at awe. If it wasn't such a beautiful girl then I would have sworn I was looking into a mirror.

I carefully placed it back on the desk as I continued to look around. The room was actually pretty small but surprisingly clean for a thirteen-year-old's. The only other pieces of furniture in the room were a small dresser and his bed.

My hand gently touched the hand-crafted quilt on his bed as I moved to look out the window. The woods were right there but you could look over them to the beach. Stars sparkled on the horizon creating a beautiful scene worthy of a painting.

I sighed and headed back to the door, turning the light off as I walked out. Quietly, I closed the door behind me.

The next room was a bedroom which I guessed was Brady's mom's. I grabbed the blanket and pillow off Mrs. Fuller's bed and headed back downstairs. She smiled a thank you as she took them.

I walked over to my jacket and pulled my phone out, my head starting to hurt.

It gave a half ring before Carlisle picked up, "Bella, are you alright? Is your head hurting?"

I smiled, biting down on my lip, "I...I...can you come back?" Ignoring my pain and looking to Brady.

"Bella, what are you talking about?" Carlisle said in a panic, "Are you hurt?"

"Can you come look at Brady? Please?" I asked, the tears starting.

"Bella, Sam wouldn't—"

"I need him to be alright." I wiped my eyes as I turned to look out the window, "Please, Carlisle?"

Silence.

"I'll call Sam and be right over." He said and then hung up.

I closed my phone and tossed it back into my coat's pocket. When I turned to look at Brady's mom I sighed, she was curled up on the floor by his head, fast asleep.

I took a seat in the recliner to wait for Carlisle.

"Bella? Bella?"

My eyes fluttered open to see the perfection of the vampire's face. I brushed my hair back before looking to the clock.

I really needed to stop falling asleep and passing out without any recollection of it.

"Carlise?" I asked in a hoarse voice.

He smiled, "Yes."

My muscles stretched as I sat up, a yawn escaping, "H-how is he?" I bit on my lip as I turned to look at Brady.

Carlisle smiled, "He's going to be just fine. The venom didn't affect him enough to do any real damage, and the paste the Elder made helped a lot. He should be fully recovered by mid-afternoon I'd say."

I smiled, folding my hands together in front of my mouth.

"I still can't believe Edward would do something like this." Carlisle said, more to himself then to me.

"Neither can I." I rubbed my eyes with my hands before standing up.

"I am so sorry, Bella." Carlisle said, looking to me with somber eyes.

"It isn't your fault, Carlisle. But thank you for coming to look at Brady, I know you're risking a lot."

He just shrugged, "Not more than I would risk for any other member of my family."

The tears budded in the corner of my eyes, I pulled him into a hug, "Thank you for being a second Dad." I whispered, knowing he'd be able to hear me.

He hugged me back, his hand cradling my head, "Thank you for being another daughter."

"B-Bella?"

I pulled back when I heard Brady's broken voice. I turned back to Carlisle who closed his eyes with a smile, "Call me later today and tell me how he, and you, are doing."

He rushed out without another word.

"Thank you, Carlisle." I whispered, knowing he would hear me, "I'm here." I turned to Brady and knelt by his side.

"W-who was h-here?" He said in a strained voice. Brady tried to sit up, but my hand held him back.

"Brady, you need to rest. It was just Dr. Cullen." I said, gently pushing him to lay back down.

His amber eyes widened in horror, "Please say Sam doesn't know...if he did—"

I smiled, "He asked Sam's permission first. So no harm, no foul." I reached up and brushed his bangs back, "You need to rest."

"Are you alright Bella?" He asked as I pulled the blanket from the back of the couch and draped it across his long legs.

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?" I asked, turning to him with curious eyes.

"You were the one that got thrown off." Brady sat up, wincing as he grabbed his side. I tried to get him to lay back down, but he refused with his brilliant smile, "I'm fine, really."

I nodded and sat down by his feet, not knowing what else to do.

"Do you not remember it, Bella?" Brady asked, looking at me with his head tilted.

I closed my eyes, trying to remember back but I just couldn't. With a sad shake of my head, he sighed.

"Well, it wasn't my proudest moment..." He said, sitting all the way up.

XxX

Brady ran at full speed, trying to get Bella back to the meadow as fast as he could.

Something was going to happen. And that something wasn't good.

He pushed himself to run faster, knowing if he just got her to the meadow then everything would be alright. She would be safest with the Cullens and the pack.

He chided himself, wishing that he was older and better trained in fighting. He couldn't even protect his own imprint, and the thought crushed him.

Bella.

The girl never seemed to leave his thoughts for a second these days. And everything seemed to remind him of her. Even his drawings were of her now, and it had been just two days. Not that Brady cared; he was in love with the most beautiful girl God had ever created and she considered him a friend.

She cared about him. A lot. Bella had told him that herself just a few moments ago.

Of course, she hadn't used the word love but cared about was good enough for the young wolf. He didn't need her to love him as long as he could always be a part of her life.

She had almost thanked him for being the one to show her the path to be herself.

He would never forget that, that his imprinting on the beauty had helped her discover who she was.

Brady knew that he loved her with his whole heart. Perfect selfless love was what Sam had called it. Sam was proud and Jared, like a very small piece of Sam, was jealous. Paul was finally starting to see the significances of imprinting and Jacob was happy.

But he didn't really care what anyone thought or what he felt even, she cared about him and that was better than anything in the world.

She had been about to say something before Sam's howl had cut her off, Brady played through a few ideas of what it could have been. All of them seeming more like a daydream as he thought through them.

And that was when the first hit came.

Brady skidded across the rocky ground and Bella was thrown against a large bolder, knocked out cold.

Shaking his head, Brady looked around, trying to figure out what had happened. Instinctively his eyes went to Bella. He got up and started towards her only to be rammed again, flying into an old tree and cracking it in half. His side ached as he faced his opponent.

"Stay away from her dog!" The vampire gnashed his teeth, crouching in front of Brady's imprint. Brady got back up, letting loose his own snarl as he fell into a defense position.

Don't hurt her, he yelled in his thoughts.

The vampire gave a dark laugh, "As if I ever would. She's mine."

She's her own, she doesn't belong to anyone, Brady countered.

"She is my mate!" He stepped closer to her.

Brady stepped forward, a deep growl building, Get away from her.

The vampire looked up; his eyes dark and menacing. Howls sounded off in the distance, but Brady ignored them, focusing complete on the threat before him.

We're on our way. That was Jacob.

Don't kill him yet, I want a piece! An angry Paul hollered.

Brady kept darting his eyes to his imprint, he could hear her breathing, but it was faint.

You're going to kill her, the young wolf said, She needs help.

"I would never hurt her, dog." Edward hissed, "Unlike you!"

I would never hurt Bella, and I would never leave her, Brady's eyes narrowed.

Instantly Edward charged at him, tackling him to the ground.

The wolf's shoulder pulled from its socket, and the boy yelped in pain. With teeth bared, Edward growled. His nails dug into the warm flesh, and he pulled. Venom dripped from his mouth, hitting the open cuts on the wolf's chest and shoulder.

Hold on, Brady! Sam called, pushing himself. He didn't need to yell at the other wolves to run faster, they were already going as fast as they could.

Unconsciousness started to take over, but flashes of Bella played in the wolf's thoughts, willing him to fight, and the vampire grew even angrier.

Edward was just about to make his final move when Brady flipped them, his teeth bared at the edge of his neck. The vampire struggled but couldn't break free.

He had provoked the wolf and threatened his imprint. Instinct was taking over. He would die.

Brady leaned down, ready for the kill, but stopped. The vampire snapped his teeth, trying to reach the wolf.

The wolf just scowled, his chest still rumbling, I won't kill you. I won't hurt her that way.

Just then the pack broke through the trees, surrounding the vampire and pup.

The Cullens appeared a moment later. Brady let up and instantly two others from the coven grabbed the one that Bella had once loved and held him back.

That was when the fire set in.

Brady let out a yell as the wolf's bones shifted back to fit the boy's body. The fire of the venom consumed him, burning through his veins.

He saw flashes of Sam picking him up and running to his house.

His mother crying and asking what happened.

Elder Quil Ateara looking at his wounds.

What he really remembered was calling out Bella's name, or at least he thought he was calling out her name, just to have no one reply.

And that hurt worse than the fever.

XxX

I just stared out the window as he spoke, my thoughts lost even to me. I shouldn't have expected Brady to hold anything back from me, he wasn't Edward or Jacob. But, at the same time, I wasn't used to being told the truth.

"Bella?" Brady asked carefully.

Shaking my head, I looked to him, "A-are you alright?"

Brady sat up, crossing his legs as he looked at me, "Yeah, are you?"

I nodded, biting my lower lip. For some reason, a very stupid question came to mind, "When is your birthday?"

Brady gave me an odd look but humored me, "November 23, 1992. Yours?"

"September 13, 1987." I replied instantly, for once not worrying about how old I was.

"Why do you ask?" Brady said, pulling the blanket off his legs and resting it over mine. He took care as he spread it out, the smile never leaving his face.

I smiled at the gesture, "Does it sound weird to say it just popped into my head?"

Brady looked up at me with his brilliant smile, the beautiful copper tone returning to his face, "That is where some of my best questions come from."

A blush spread across my face.

"You should get some sleep." Brady said, taking his pillow and offered it to me.

I shook my head, "You need it more than I do." I pulled the blanket off and handed it back to him, moving to the only free place left on the floor.

"Really, Bella," Brady sighed, offering me the blanket, "I'm fine." He winced as he moved, "Fit as a fiddle."

"Yeah right, Brady." I smiled and settled in on the floor, "I'm good down here."

"At least take the pillow?" Brady offered. I accepted the pillow and closed my eyes, hoping that would be that.

I heard Brady rustling a bit and smiled, thinking I had won.

Oh, how wrong I was.

I felt his warmth as he placed the blanket on me. I knew he had laid down beside me, but he hadn't wrap himself around me like Jacob would've, or slightly touched my hand like Edward would have. He just kept to himself.

I sighed, mentally chastising myself, I really needed to stop comparing them.

I rolled over to see Brady laying on his back, his eyes closed and his hands on his stomach. I did like how much he respected my space, but at the same time I wished he had taken the plunge and wrapped a protective arm around me.

"You think you're so smart." I muttered, slightly sore at my lost.

He opened one eye to look at me, giving a closed-mouth smile, before closing it again.

I huffed and settled back down. Knowing it was a lost cause.

But, at the same time, being comforted by the fact that he was just by my side.

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