CHAPTER THIRTY - NINE

(BPOV)

Time seemed to stop as I stood in front of Jacob, waiting to see recognition in his gaze, but he remained guarded. He looked me over, like he were searching for something to jog his memory.

He didn't know me...

I swallowed hard and glanced back at Sam, who appeared as shocked as the rest of us.

"Sam... There's nothing there. He doesn't remember us. Any of us."

"This is messed up!" Paul huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "What did he lose his mind?!"

"Stop it, Paul!" Sue snapped. "This isn't funny! It's not something to joke about!"

Paul drew silent, ducking his head in shame from her harsh words with him.

"I want to leave." Jacob asserted, moving forward with haste. "You can't keep me here against my will."

"That's not what we're doing!" Quil sighed. "You can't just leave, Jacob."

"Stop calling me that name! I don't know who that is!" Jake snapped in agitation. "Let me leave...Now!"

Sam stepped aside upon hearing how angry he was. "Where are you gonna go?"

Jacob didn't answer him, instead he ran past him, heading straight for the back door. None of us made it out of the room before he was gone, slamming the door behind him.

I felt frozen in place. My feet too heavy to move and my legs too unsteady to walk.

How could this be happening?

"Sam? What are we going to do?" Leah asked, her voice sounding low and nervous. "He doesn't know who he is... or where he is. Where is he gonna go! He doesn't even know Bella!"

Her words sent a jabbing pain through me and I struggled to remain upright.

Paul felt me sway beside him and he was quick to take hold of me by the arms.

"Hey- You okay?"

I shook my head, my vision blurring with my reply. "He doesn't know me."

My world felt as if it was closing in on itself. The room began to spin and my head started to pound.

"She doesn't look so good, Sue."

"Sit her down here."

I felt Paul lead me out to the kitchen and pull out a chair. I sank down in it without saying a word.

"Bella, I'll be right back with some cold water for you, okay?" Sue offered to me.

How could Jacob not know me?

"She's been here for days and hasn't had much sleep. I think this is all catching up with her." Leah added, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I could take her home. She probably just needs to sleep in her own bed for a change."

"Do you want Leah to take you home, Bella?"

I blinked in response, trying to speak over the huge lump in my throat was painful.

"I think it would be best for her...-"

Leah helped me put on my coat and escorted me down the gravel driveway and into Sam's truck. I could hear voices echoing behind me but it was hard to make out what they were saying. My head felt as if it was under water. Everything sounded muffled and distant to me.

"Come back with the truck when you drop her off. Make sure Charlie is home or stay until he gets there. She shouldn't be alone right now." Sam shouted to Leah before she hit the gas.

I could feel the rumble of the engine beneath me, see the many passing trees as we flew down the highway to Forks, but everything felt surreal. As if I were only dreaming this and none of it was true.

"You know... Jake is the most stubborn guy I know. I'm sure he'll come back around, Bella. He just needs some time."

I cleared my throat, and turned my head to glance at her for the first time since we'd entered the cab of Sam's truck.

"You don't really believe that." I whispered, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill. "You know what this means, Leah."

I watched her slow her speed and tighten her grip on the steering wheel. Her eyes were carefully trained on the road ahead, as if she were afraid to look me in the eye right now. Scared that I might see the truth.

"Jake's strong, Bella."

"He's lost himself to the wolf."

"No - I don't believe that. Something else is going on here. For him not to recognize you-" She trailed off with a shake of her head as we pulled in behind Charlie's cruiser.

"Thank you, Leah. For driving me home." I sighed, opening the door and heading for the house. My steps were slow and shaky as I trudged up over the porch.

Charlie was sound asleep in his recliner with his dinner still plated in his lap. I was careful not to make any noise when I turned out all the lights and headed for my room.

The stillness of the house only added to the cold and suffocating panic that swirled inside me, chilling me to the bone. I laid down on my bed, feeling shattered in a way that made me want to scream. If Charlie hadn't been fast asleep downstairs... I would have.

The emptiness that plagued me now felt crushing.

The darkness around my room felt stifling as I pulled the covers over me and closed my eyes. I knew better than to think sleep would find me tonight.

When the clock shown two in the morning, I heard stirring from Charlie downstairs and hoped he wouldn't bother with checking on me. I wanted to be alone.

Charlie only stopped by the door briefly, his shadow lingering there for a moment before he moved onto his room where he got ready for his early shift at the station. Relief flooded me when I heard him leave the house a short time later. I let out a sob that I had been holding in for what felt like hours when I heard his cruiser pull out of the driveway. My tears came without end in sight. My body feeling utterly numb without Jacob.

I wanted to go back in time and change things somehow.

I tore back the heavy comforter, and slouched down to the hard floor beneath me.

Was this fates cruel way of punishing me somehow? To show me that kind of true love... and then take it away from me?

I placed my head in my hands as the agony tore fresh through me.

What if this was it?

What if he never remembered me again?

I thought of poor Billy and how devastated he would be when he came back to find Jacob gone.

Another hour passed while I sat on the cold floor, wishing there was a way I could find Jacob and make him remember who he was. I slowly stood on weary legs and headed for the bathroom, seeking some kind of warmth and settling for the comfort of a hot shower. When I finished, I secured a towel under my arms and crossed the hall to my room, searching for something warm to put on.

I turned and reached for my sweatshirt that was hanging on the back of my rocking chair when I felt the air leave my body. I jumped back, clutching my towel as the shadowed figure emerged slowly from the corner.

"Jake..."

He stood next to my window, his face still half hidden in the darkness. I took a step toward him, seeing he was still naked as before, his skin covered in small cuts and dirt.

I sucked in a shaky breath when he raised his head to meet my gaze from across the room. His eyes dark and full of confusion still.

He had come here... on his own.

I moved slowly toward him, trying not to scare or spook him away again.

"Are you hurt?" I asked, his gaze downcast now.

My eyes trailed the many cuts that were healing rapidly on his russet skin, noticing the dried blood that stained it and the angry pink lines left behind now.

He had been out in the woods for hours... running to or from something... not knowing who he was anymore. I stopped my hands from shaking and slowly inched closer to him. He raised his head immediately, his eyes empty when they searched mine. I reached out for him cautiously, barely allowing my fingertips to graze the top of his hand. He jerked away from me at the contact. His eyes darkening right before me.

"I'm sorry." I apologized, moving away from him. He stared at me so intensely that I felt as if he was trying to communicate something to me without actually saying it. I stopped my retreat, feeling my skin heat up from his gaze. My eyes loomed with tears as I found my voice again. "Jacob - I know you're in there."

He didn't move this time when I reached for him. His hands shook when I took hold of them and his body was rigid. Like he were waiting to spring into a fight at any moment.

I took a final step forward bringing myself even closer to him. So close I could feel the heat from his skin. I stood as still as a statue, careful not to push him. His fingers slowly laced with mine and he let out a ragged breath, his eyes desperately searching mine again. His warmth wrapped around every inch of me and I basked in it.

He was so lost and confused... but something inside of him still knew me. Something instinctual had led him here. He had run here when he needed sanctuary.

I felt him release my hands and I began to feel the panic of his possible departure sink into me with a heavy weight.

"Please... don't go." I begged him, my voice barely a whisper. He didn't reply to me in words, instead he leaned down and pressed his forehead to mine. His warm breath caressed my lips and my skin tingled from the feel of it.

His lips ghosted mine and I gasped when his hands were suddenly on my hips, pulling me closer to him. My tongue met his with a throaty moan that escaped me. I let go of my towel, moving backwards with him until I reached the bed. He pulled back from me then, his eyes drinking me in as I said his name.

"Jacob..."

A/N: No worries! I assure you there will be more to this tomorrow! Thank you for reading! Please review and tell me if you think Bella can help bring Jacob back to who he is.