A/N: Short Chapter update! Stay tuned for more this week!

CHAPTER THIRTY - EIGHT

(BPOV)

Sue had administered all the morphine she could to Jacob and had checked his vitals regularly. Her worry for him continued to grow with each day that passed without him resurfacing. The entire pack had been camped out around Jacobs bed for hours this morning. All of them talking to him and eagerly awaiting for his reply. Paul, who was known for his arrogance and severe sarcasm, had been the only silent one in there. He seemed lost in thought more than the others. Quil and Embry continued to ask Sue if there was anything else that could be done for Jacob, but to their dismay, the answer remained the same. Sue had done all she could. She had exhausted all her efforts.

I had tried to keep my head about me through it all, but today was day thirteen...

Thirteen days of not seeing his eyes open and meet mine...

Thirteen days without his voice or contagious laughter...

Thirteen days without his warmth...

I was slowly losing my mind and my hope. I felt like I was clinging to my sanity by my fingertips.

"You haven't eaten anything in hours, Bella. You have to keep up your strength." Emily urged from beside me, her hand catching mine as I sat down at the table.

"I'm really not hungry. I'm sorry." I replied, pushing away the plate of muffins Emily gestured to.

"You're looking rather pale-"

"I'm fine." I insisted.

"But-"

"Em-... " Sam interrupted. "She doesn't feel like eating. Can't say that I blame her."

Emily nodded to me in understanding and kindly took the muffins away. I offered her half a smile, feeling guilty for maybe hurting her feelings at my rejection of her offer. The truth was, I just couldn't bring myself to stomach anything and for the first time since I had known them all, none of the pack was eating the offered food either. They acted as if there wasn't a table full of food before them.

"It's been two weeks-" Sam sighed, rubbing a hand over his tired eyes. "The council haven't given me any answers either. They don't understand why his man hasn't resurfaced.-"

"He shows signs of improvement. Like squeezing Bella's hand. That's some kind of recognition and it's better than none." Quil added.

"Yes - But he should be coming to by now. Sue has done all she can for his pain and Bella hasn't left his side now for days. I'm beginning to think he's losing this fight." Sam replied wearily. "The longer he goes on like this... the harder it will be for him to come back. After talking to the elders and the council... they have made it clear that the only one who can truly help Jacob is himself."

A loud crash suddenly came from Jacobs room causing us all to jump up from the table. I was the one who made it down the hall first. My breath caught in my throat when my gaze fell on Jacobs body laying naked on the floor. His eyes were wide and frantic when they met mine.

"Jacob." I gasped, kneeling down in front of him. He pushed himself away from me, shaking his head.

"Jake... do you know what happened? Where you are?" Sue asked, reaching out a hand to him but stopping as Sam entered the room.

"Be careful Sue! He could be confused... or disoriented!"

"Yeah, be careful!" Quil added, trying to pull me away.

"Jacob... You've been out for a few weeks."

"Who are you? What do you want with me!" Jacob shouted, moving further away from us with his hands up like he were waiting for us to attack him.

Sue went mute and stilled her movements, looking stunned as she stared back at him in confusion.

"Jake-" Sam huffed, moving forward in caution. "I know your probably confused. That's normal. You've been out for a while now."

Sue tried to touch his arm, seeing the blood dripping on the floor now from him ripping his own IV out moments ago.

"Your arm, Jake...-"

"Get away from me!" He yelled to her. The frantic look in his eyes made my heart shatter. He was terrified. His eyes roamed around the room instinctively... wildly... like he were waiting for an attack to strike at any moment.

"It's okay, Jacob!" Sam huffed, stepping forward.

"Whose Jake!?"

"Calm down, bro. Take a deep breath!" Paul yelled.

"Don't touch me!"

"He doesn't know who he is!" Sue sighed. "Or where he is."

Jacobs eyes met mine from across the room and the terrified look in them made me gasp.

"Something's very wrong, Sam." I breathed.

"What do you want with me!" Jake roared, pushing past Paul and quickly approaching Sam.

"We just want to help you."

"I don't know you!" Jacob raged, shoving forcefully into Sam.

"Yes you do! It's me! Sam! Sam Uley!"

Jacob backed away, glaring at all of us with such anger and bitterness. I had never seen him this way.

"You don't remember any of us?" Sue softly asked.

"No... Where the hell am I? Who the hell are you?"

"I'm Sue... and we all want to help you. I know it's really confusing right now, but we're your friends and family, Jacob."

"I don't have a family!" Jake replied, his eyes meeting mine again and holding my gaze. He stepped forward, and opened his mouth to say more but he seemed to struggle speaking now.

I moved without thought, feeling a pull I couldn't deny drag me to him with magnetic force. My legs felt heavy but I moved anyway.

"Bella...-" Sam cautioned, worry clear in his tone. "Don't -"

I ignored him and kept my gaze on Jacob, seeing his immense fear as I drew near. Tears began to stream down my face as I realized he was looking at me as if I was a complete stranger to him now.

It shattered me to the core of who I was.

Never had he looked at me like this.

"It's okay, Jake... Do you remember Bella?" Sue hedged.

Jacob stared at me long and hard with eyes I did not know. His gaze was dark and lacking the warmth I so loved.

This was not my Jacob.