The snarl did not come from Jasper, I noticed with extreme relief.

His body was completely still, not rumbling with the force of a vocalization.

The noise came from the ground level.

Jasper's head snapped to the side and before I realized what was happening he had jumped out of the tree.

I gasped and glanced down. In a burst of growls and ferocity, Jasper and a horse-sized wolf were fighting with one another.

I felt my mouth fall open and my vision went momentarily hazy as I watched them.

What the fuck was that thing? A mutant wolf? They shouldn't get that big!

I turned hastily and tried to climb down the tree, carefully settling my feet on the lower branches as I slid my hands down the bark.

The wolf crunched his teeth around Jasper's torso and he wailed. The massive black creature jerked his head to the side, tossing Jasper

almost three hundred feet away.

I screamed, "Jasper! No!"

I lost my balance and felt my heart leap out of my chest as I plummeted 40 feet towards the ground.

Jasper wailed, "Bella!"

A gray wolf was holding Jasper down by his leg, stopping him from coming to catch me.

The large black wolf bolted my direction, but gravity is a hell of a lot faster than anyone gives it credit for.

I screamed as I landed on my leg. I didn't hear a snap, or a crack, like I should have. My leg seared with the worst pain I have ever felt. I heard bones splintering and I crumpled onto the forest floor, tears starting to fall from my eyes.

I cried, "Jasper, Jasper!"

I couldn't say anything else.

Not 'help', or 'it hurts', or 'are you okay', or 'I think I broke it'.

The only thing in my head right now was his name.

I needed his arms around me, his eyes looking into mine, to distract myself from that terrible, agonizing, throb that was now claiming my right leg.

Jasper snarled, "Stay away from her, Quileute! Don't touch her!"

The black wolf hesitated, looking (if I could judge an animals facial expression) beyond confused.

I watched through blurry eyes as Jasper bit the muzzle of the wolf holding onto him. With a high pitched yelp it jumped away.

Jasper scrambled to his feet and darted over to me in less then a second.

He gently took me into his arms, and I clung to his neck, weeping so hard I couldn't even breathe.

He kissed my wet cheeks and fretted, "It's okay, Bella, it's okay. I'll make it go away, sugar, just calm down."

I gasped for air as I thanked the holy stars for this, Jasper pushed away the unbearable hurt that lanced through my dangling limb.

I felt my foggy head begin to clear and heard my tears gradually die down as wave upon wave of tranquility gripped me.

I knew that I was not actually so peaceful; I knew that he was doing this for me, and I managed to kiss his neck in gratitude before my body became so relaxed I was lying limp, and serene, in his protective hold.

I watched calmly as Edward and Alice appeared beside Jasper, both of them snarling aggressively.

Jasper seemed to be holding his breath, because I didn't feel his chest moving.

I asked casually, "Am I bleeding? I'm sorry, Jasper, I didn't mean to fall."

Alice flickered from hostile to motherly in an instant.

She lifted my pant leg before announcing, "The bone didn't break through the skin, but it's swelling with blood. She needs to see Carlisle immediately, Jasper."

I heard, at the same time as my inspection, Edward snarling at the wolves. "He wasn't trying to bite her, you fools! He's her mate! You broke the treaty, and look what it resulted in!"

I turned my head to watch what was going on, not at all interested. The only thing I was physically able to care about right now was the fuzzy feeling flowing through me.

Never once in my life have I heard someone sound so menacing, so sinister, as Edward did when he warned, "Your folly will not be overlooked, mutt."

Edward glanced at Jasper, who took off running. Alice was right beside us. The only reason she wasn't blurring out of focus is because she was exactly at the same speed as Jasper.

Alice announced, "She's going to need surgery. Edward is running ahead. Charlie is going to freak when he finds out, so get a damn good excuse ready."

I snuggled up against Jasper and smiled, "Tell him I was running up your stairs and fell over the banister. It sounds like something I would do."

I mocked Edward, "'Bella's very presence attracts danger remember?"

Alice snorted in disbelief, "He'll actually buy that. If you're the one to tell him, Jasper, you can obviously stop him from rampaging."

Jasper let his eyes fall onto me and he demanded, "Are you hurting?"

I chuckled, "How can I hurt when I have my own personal morphine with me?"

He actually cracked a smile, kissing my cheek. "I'm sorry, Bella, this is all my fault."

I knew it was impossible for me to sound angry, but I still knew I was.

I did manage to sound sharp, at least, "Don't say that, Jasper. This is the wolf's fault. He started the fight.

After a second I added, "Hey, you called him Quileute, what was up with that?"

Alice promised, "You can learn about that later, Bella, we're here."

I glanced up; Carlisle was waiting patiently by the entrance to the ER with one of those rolling beds.

Luckily for all of us, there wasn't anyone in the parking lot.

Jasper took the risk and ran over there, skidding to a halt right by Dr. Cullen.

I smiled at him, "Hi, Carlisle."

He frowned slightly, "Hello, Bella. What happened?"

Jasper set me on the gurney and reported in a whisper, "She fell out of the tree. Did Edward tell you about…?"

Carlisle nodded silently. Without Jasper's arm around me, his power didn't have as strong of an effect. I could feel an uncomfortable tingle in my leg already.

Carlisle said suddenly, "I smell her blood."

Alice told him, "I think she has an internal tear, her leg is swelling with it like crazy. Look how fat it is."

I protested indignantly, "My leg is not fat!"

Carlisle agreed with Alice, "We're going to have to take a look around, but we need Charlie's consent first. I'll call him. Jasper, I'm going to sneak you into the back room so you can sit with her until she goes unconscious. I imagine she won't want to feel anything right now."

Carlisle started pushing me into the hospital.

Jasper was noticeably paler and his voice was grave, "Oh, God, it was terrible before I got to her. That damn dog was holding me back; I had to watch her fall! She was hurting so much!"

A too-loud growl ripped out of his throat and Alice hit his arm, hissing sternly.

He cut himself off and glanced around quickly to make sure nobody had heard.

In his distraction, his concentration on me was broken. I gasped and writhed sideways, gasping for air, as the white-hot fire started licking at my limb again.

Jasper grabbed my hand hastily, "Bella, I'm so sorry for that! I didn't mean to let go."

I breathed shakily and promised, "It's alright.'

Carlisle parked me in a waiting room, and then poked a needle into my arm. I felt the liquid gush into me and he smiled, "You'll be under in three minutes or so. I will go and call your father. When you wake up, you'll be half way to recovery."

I smiled at him blushing when he kissed my hand before he left the room.

Alice and Jasper started talking to one another much, much, too fast for me to hear them.

Alice disappeared just as my vision began to fog over.

Jasper kissed my forehead and promised, "I'll be right beside you when you wake up."

And then the world went black.