Need You Now
Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.
A/N-thank you for the kind reviews!
Part Three
Jacob opened his eyes up to a world full of pain. He gasped with the intensity of it; his whole body shuddering with the effort of keeping still. "Bells." He slurred as he tried to raise his heavy head. "Where are you?"
"Jake."
"Dad?" Jacob blinked to clear his blurred vision.
"Try and stay calm, son." Billy replied huskily. "The painkillers will kick in soon."
Jacob didn't comprehend what his father was saying. His eyes searched his small room for Bella. He couldn't see her. Panic set in and he tried to move, but his broken body wouldn't let him.
"Jake, please." Billy pleaded. "Stay still."
"Where's Bella?" Jacob's head fell back on the heaped up pillows. "Where?"
A pained expression crossed Billy's face which he quickly hid. "Rest easy, son." He leaned forward in his chair to stroke Jacob's fevered brow. His skin was caked in sweat. "It will be over soon."
But Jacob couldn't rest easy. "I need her." His mouth fell slack as the strong drugs kicked in again. Billy's face was fading in front of him. "Please, dad-"
"Hush now."
Jacob felt cool fingers caress his hot cheek. Bella's voice was like balm to his frightened soul. "I thought you'd gone." He mumbled.
"I'm right here." Bella whispered. He felt her soft lips brush against his forehead as his eyelids drooped. "Sleep now, sweetheart."
With her soothing voice murmuring sweet nothings in his ear, Jacob fell back into the past.
The snow was turning to sleet as it poured from the sky. The heavens were obscured by the dark clouds rolling in, carrying more bad weather in their wake. This was proving to be a blizzard of epic proportions. Bella was huddled against Jacob's hot body, his strong arms wrapped protectively around her as he shielded her from the worst of its effects. Edward and Seth were battling to erect the tent. The wind drove the sleet into their eyes, saturating the ground, and making it near impossible to drive the stakes into the wet earth to hold the tent steady.
"We need to find some other shelter, Bells." Jacob whispered to Bella. She was like a quaking leaf in his arms. Even though he was trying his best to protect her from the worst of the violent weather, there were still some parts of her body that were exposed.
"Edward will have the camp set up soon." Bella's teeth clattered as a particularly strong gust of wind hit her in the face when she raised her head to speak. She gasped, tucking her head in Jacob's chest as she tried to catch her breath.
"There is no chance in hell that the tent will stay up in this storm. The wind is too strong. It will be blown away with you in it. I warned him it was pointless. But the bloodsucker wouldn't listen." Jacob cradled the back of Bella's head in his warm hand and stroked her wet hair. She had lost her woollen hat somewhere on the journey to their new campsite. "You can't tell me that the little pixie didn't predict this."
"Alice's visions are subjective." Bella forced the words out through frozen lips. "She sees things-things that might happen, things that are coming. The future isn't set in stone. Things change."
"You are kidding me." Jacob was astonished at this piece of information. No one had ever mentioned this before. It was like it had been kept hidden from him and his pack purposely. He was incredulous that they has all been relying on Alice's guidance when what she was seeing could change at the drop of a hat.
Bella felt the renewed tension in his body. She gulped, swallowing down her rising panic. "Alice knows what she is doing."
"You sound like you're trying to convince yourself." Jacob said bitterly. He twisted his head and tried to peer through the driving snow. Edward had finally managed to stake down one side of the tent, but the other was flapping wildly in the wind. "We need a change of plan."
"What?" Bella squealed in surprise when Jacob suddenly scooped her up into his arms. He pulled her against him, doing his best to shelter her with his body. "Jake, what are you doing?"
"I'm keeping you safe." Jacob promised her before hailing Seth. "We're moving." The young shifter let go of his side of the tent at the sound of Jacob's voice, causing it to swing wildly in the wind, before enveloping Edward and knocking him to the ground. Jacob got a vindictive pleasure in seeing his nemesis knocked on his ass.
"Where are we going to go?" Bella didn't notice Edward fall. She couldn't see through the gloom and the driving sleet. "If we make the wrong decision-"
"I'm done relying on unpredictable visions, Bells." Jacob interjected sharply. "I prefer relying on old fashioned instinct. And mine are telling me we need to move." His hard gaze softened as he looked down into her troubled face. He hadn't meant to sound so harsh. "Do you trust me?" He asked.
"You are the only one I trust." Bella responded stoutly.
Jacob had to wonder whether she realised the irony in that statement. But he couldn't stop the warm glow of pleasure at her answer filling him with courage. Seth had joined them now. "We're gonna head lower down the mountain. The weather won't be so wild down there and it will be more sheltered." He told Seth. "I think I spotted some small hollows when I brought Bella up earlier."
"Is that a good idea, Jake. Edward and Alice said we were to stay here." Seth was young and unsure.
"It will be fine, Seth. This is on me. Don't worry." Jacob tried to sound reassuring even though it irked him that the young shifter was being influenced by the Cullens. "Follow me."
Edward had managed to disentangle himself from the tent. He skated across the snow as if he was floating on air. His gaze was immediately drawn to a stricken Bella encased in Jacob's arms. He did his best to hide his emotions as he smiled at her gently. "We'll soon have you settled, my love."
"Not here you won't." Jacob barked at him. "We're moving on."
"Alice told us we this was the lowest we could go." Edward's soft smile turned into a scowl as he regarded Jacob irritably. He loathed the fact that he was unable to keep Bella warm and was forced to rely on Black to do the job for him. "You are placing all our carefully laid plans in jeopardy if you change things up now."
"Going down the mountain for another few miles will make no difference one way or the other. After all the little pixie's visions are subjective and not set in stone."
Bella gasped while Seth's head whipped back and forth in confusion as he looked between Edward and Jacob worriedly. He watched as they engaged in a silent battle of wills. They were glaring at each other, neither seeming willing to back down until...
"Please don't fight." Bella's intervention broke up the pissing contest. "I'm so cold."
"We're leaving. You can do what you like." Jacob snapped at Edward.
Edward's attention was focused on Bella and not him. He regarded her thoughtfully for a while until he saw her shiver when a particularly cold gust of wind hit the exposed parts of her flesh. "If our plans have changed then I need to consult with Alice. I cannot get a signal on my cell because of the blizzard, which means my only way to contact her is to run down the mountain and meet up with her." His teeth gnashed together in frustration.
"I'll be alright, Edward." Bella tried her best to reassure him as best she could through frozen lips. "Jake and Seth will look after me. I'll be okay."
Edward returned her gaze unhappily. He wasn't happy with this arrangement. After what had happened already he didn't trust Black not to take advantage of his absence. HIs only saving grace was that Seth Clearwater was with them acting as a third wheel. Nothing untoward could happen if he was there, too. It's not that he didn't trust Bella's devotion to him, it was Black he didn't trust. He knew how easily the shifter could get under Bella's skin and prey on her vulnerability.
"Fine." Edward agreed eventually. "It's only another three hours until daylight. I should be back before the sun rises."
"Whatever." Jacob muttered.
Edward drew nearer, intending to kiss Bella, but Jacob growled a warning, his nostrils flaring at Cullen's sickening smell. Edward had to settle for briefly grazing his fingers over Bella's cheek instead. He watched her shiver at his touch and he felt his frustration build again. "I will be back soon, Bella. I love you." He waited patiently for her to return his sentiment but noticed her concerned gaze flicking to Jacob. Like always she was being considerate to the dog's feelings of rejection. He hid his disappointment at her lack of response and finally melted into the night.
The cavern wormed it's way a quarter of a mile into the mountain. Small stones littered the floor, which crunched when Bella stepped on them. Behind her Jacob made no noise at all. The cave was built into the muddy brown rock of the cliff, the entrance so low and hidden by foliage, that they had nearly missed it. Inside was dank and dark, but compared to the frigid temperatures outside, it was positively paradise. Bella settled on a rocky outcrop and removed Edward's thick parka. It slumped into a wet heap on the ground. It was gloomy inside the cave but when Jacob switched on the torch they had brought with them, it gave off a warm glow.
Bella stood up again and pulled off her own jacket. Even that was soaked through. She shivered. Jacob ran his hands up her arms to warm her. Bella stood in front of him, shivering, and he pulled her against his chest. Having him hold her was like being wrapped in a warm blanket. She imagined the steam coming off her chilled skin as it began to warm up quickly. Right now she was in heaven.
"Where's Seth?" She asked as she pressed her cheek over his heart and listened to the steady beat. To her it was the most comforting sound in the world.
"He's outside." Jacob's hot breath ghosted across her skin as he sought her lips and kissed them. Bella gasped into his mouth, the sudden rush of heat was like bliss. She melted against him, moulding herself to his taut body. Jacob finally let her breathe and she was left panting and wanting more.
"We can't leave Seth outside." Bella rasped as her hands glided up and down his chest unconsciously.
"He's fine in his wolf form. He's guarding the entrance. Not even a mouse could crawl in here without him noticing. He wanted to do it." Jacob gave her a toothy grin. He massaged Bella's shoulders in an effort to get her to relax.
"How close to the entrance is he?"
"Far enough away so he can't hear anything he shouldn't." Jacob teased as Bella blushed deeply.
They lay in the sleeping bag together, their clothes, or rather Bella's, were strewn on the ground beside them. Their bodies were pressed together so she could extract the optimum amount of heat from him. Jacob was cupping her face in his warm hands as he gazed deeply into her sad brown eyes. She gazed back at him, knowing what he was trying to do. He was trying to will the imprint to happen. He was desperate. More desperate then she had seen him in a long time. It was like they had an hourglass hanging over their heads with the sands of time trickling through it. Each second, each moment was precious, and they were losing the battle to stop it slipping away. Bella wished she could suspend time, halt it in its tracks so they could savour this peaceful interlude forever.
Forever.
That one word had turned into a curse.
Forever wasn't for them. It was an impossibility. There were too many obstacles in the way. Edward. An imprint. A whole army of newborn vampires. The Volturi.
Bella felt the tears welling in her eyes. She hadn't wanted to cry but she couldn't help it. She had never felt so desolate in her life. And that was saying something considering the emotional turmoil she had suffered after Edward first abandoned her. Now she lay here with the guy who had put all her broken pieces back together. Jacob was still staring into her eyes, his whole being stretched taut with concentration as he tried to force the connection.
"It's not going to happen, Jake."
Jacob's jaw flexed as he wallowed in his denial. "I'm not giving up." He whispered hoarsely.
"My Jacob." Bella sighed sadly as she eased her head out of his grasp and hovered over him. "I'm so sorry." Her tears spilled over and they dribbled down her cheeks.
Despairing, Jacob rose up and kissed her. His fingers tangled in her luxuriant hair as he brought her face close to his. His heart was aching, his soul threatening to unravel. He needed to feel her, needed to touch every part of her, in turn making her a part of him so he wouldn't have to let her go.
"I love you." He murmured against her burning lips. "I love you more than my own life. I'm never going to give up. Not until your heart stops beating or mine does."
Bella felt his desire, his need. She shared it. Hs lips found hers again and she could barely breathe as he kissed her hungrily. She concentrated on his hands against her body, his lips on the tops of her breasts. His warm tongue began to tease her nipples and she arched her back, moaning softly as she tried to draw closer to him. Jacob pulled back, taking a long shuddering breath as he stared into her eyes again, more desperate than ever. Bella couldn't bear to see that melancholic look in his eyes. It killed her. Time was so short. She put her arms around his neck and clung to him, kissing him wildly, trying to distract him from his woes.
"I love you." His said huskily as his fingers explored between her legs, his thumb finding her nub and pressing in circles against it. Bella fell apart, writhing in ecstasy as something inside her body seemed to explode. Deep shallow breaths left her parted lips, her eyes seeking his as she gazed at him in awe. She had experienced her first orgasm.
Jacob cupped her face in the palm of his hand again as she came down from her high. He stared into her eyes, which were so bright, lambent, so beautiful. "Bella." He whispered. "Bella. Why?"
"Oh, Jake." Bella took his hand away from his face and kissed his palm, before kissing his face over and over, following the tracks of his tears as he gave into his heartbreak. "I want it to happen, too." She murmured against his hot skin. "You don't know how much I wanted it. But the imprint is not going to happen. I'm not the one."
Jacob pressed his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. "You are the one. It's only ever been you. You are the only girl I see. Always you. Only you."
Like they were connected, the echo of his pain twisted inside her. His pain was her pain. She felt it all the time. "I feel you." She whispered.
"What?" Jacob opened his eyes and looked at her in confusion.
"I feel you." Bella said again, an awakening realisation burgeoning inside her. Suddenly she wanted to laugh out loud even though the situation was far from funny. She was verging on hysteria. "I feel your pain. I've always felt it."
"Bells?" Jacob was uncomprehending.
"Don't you see I've always felt it. Like I felt your happiness, your sadness, your hope. Your everything. I was drawn to you from the beginning. You were my own personal sun, perpetually happy, you carried this happiness around with you like an aura, sharing it with everybody, sharing it with me. I've never been like that before, getting so close to someone both emotionally and physically. It was never my style. I never normally relate to people so easily, on such a basic level. Not human beings. But you, you got under my skin from the get go."
"What are you saying?" Jacob was getting impatient.
"Silly boy." Bella smiled, but it was one full of sadness and regret. "You didn't need to force the imprint. It was there all the time. It was such a natural feeling we didn't even see it."
A/N-thanks for reading!