Two in one day, since it took so long to update. I'll get another one up tomorrow- or today, since it's past 12. Reviews would be cool.

Cara:

I was positive that blush was permanently on my cheeks. When Sam, Jared and I had finally made it to Jake it had almost been too late. And he was completely naked. I tried to look away, but I couldn't help the occasional glance as we carried him home.

He was beautiful. Really. Even bruised and battered and broken, I couldn't help but marvel at his chest and… other extremities. An uncontrollable desire mingled with the overwhelming worry. My heart still hadn't calmed down.

All night, I paced in the hospital's waiting room. In the end, we had had to take him to the hospital in Forks since the one on the reserve wasn't as… up to date. I fidgeted and had to move constantly to keep myself from hyperventilating. What if he was bleeding internally? What if they couldn't fix him? What if…

I couldn't make myself think the last what if. I looked at Billy in his wheelchair, face lined with a worry almost as intense as my own. When he met my eyes, I looked away first. I felt like this was my fault. If only I had been faster, maybe he'd be okay and maybe we would have caught the guy.

So many what if's and if only's and maybe's.

After hours of waiting, I was close to tears, a lump the size of Guam lodged in my throat. More than anything, I wanted to cry. Cry out my grief and anxiety.

Finally, Doctor Cullen- one of the vampires who asked for our help- came out, his face tight and expressionless. His eyes were golden and oddly hypnotizing. He smiled when he noticed my staring and I blushed, looking down.

"He had four broken ribs, a severely fractured arm, and he received a serious concussion from the hit to his head, along with a variety of scrapes and cuts. But he'll be fine with time" I'm not sure he realizes how close I came to throwing my arms around him right there, but the smell was enough to ward me off.

"When can I- we see him?" I asked, anxious to see Jake's smile, feel his warm touch.

"He'll be unconscious for a few hours, but when he wakes you can visit for a short time. You'll be able to take him home in a few days. He needs his rest though" Dr. Cullen said- making me blush at what his look was hinting at- and with a nod, he and Sam disappeared into his office.

I sank into my seat, deflated and exhausted. The air in the waiting room seemed so much less tense, less constricted, we could finally breathe. Embry's arm draped over my shoulder as he sighed and Paul laughed nervously.

"He's okay" Quil muttered, to make himself believe it, then he repeated it- louder. "He's okay!"

We waited the hours before Jacob woke up- Quil, Billy and I. Jared and Paul drove home for the night but promised to make up some excuse for my dad. Besides, Paul had school that morning. I realized with a rush that I wouldn't have to go. Thank God.

The minutes passed so slowly, I felt like it had been years before a hot hand gentle shook me awake. It had been five hours and I barely remembered them, random images floating back to memory. I was leaning against Quil's shoulder, so tired I could sleep for days.

"He's awake" He whispered and all drowsiness left me. Quil smiled that sweet, goofy smile and we stood.

The nurse led us to his room in ICU and I felt suddenly nervous. I didn't want to see him and yet I did. I didn't want to see how hurt he was, how bad the damage was. But at the same time, I needed to, to make sure he was really okay. That was the only thing that could stop my heart from fluttering and aching.

A door swung open, and there he was. Perched up against a dozen pillows, a heavy cast wrapped around his arm, held in a sling. He looked like he had survived a war. His lip was split open, a gauze wrapped around his head. No shirt, just a very uncomfortable looking cast, keeping him upright in a stiff position. When he saw us, he tried to smile but flinched lazily.

"Oh, Jake" I said gently and was at his side in an instant, my hand wrapped around his uninjured one. There were faint pink lines running up his arm- the remainder of long, deep gashes- and quickly healing scrapes going up his shoulder and slightly onto his neck.

"'s nothin' " He said, brushing off the worried looks I gave him. Nothing? He could have been rammed over by a train.

"Dude… I've been hit by a car before and I can honestly say this is not nothing" Quil crossed his arms over his chest. I wondered for a second where Billy was, but pushed the thought away.

"I already feel better" Jake's false optimism was almost worse than if he'd broken down crying. It meant he knew how close it had come and was trying to forget. He was never going to learn.

"Jake" I said disapprovingly but couldn't yell at him, no matter how much I wanted to. Besides, he didn't deserve. I should have been faster. He also should have known better, though.

We talked for a little while, trying hard not to bring up what was bound to come up later. And after a few minutes, I could see him start to fade, his eyes drooping. Gently, I leaned over and placed a soft kiss on his lips, careful of the now healing cut. Seconds later, he was sleeping soundly.

"So, you need a ride home?" Quil asked out in the hall, jingling the keys to the rabbit in front of me.

A sudden idea came into mind. Dad would kill me for not coming home, Jake will kill me just for thinking what I was thinking. In fact, I was kind of scared what I was going to do would kill me, but I figured it was the right thing to do.

"No… I'll be back in La Push later though, okay?" I walked down the hall quickly, not turning back and not waiting for Quil to answer.

"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?... Cara?!" He called after me, but my plan was already set. Hopefully, I wouldn't regret it too much. It had started to rain in Forks, as usual, and I pulled up the hood of my sweatshirt, not sure where I was going but trusting my senses to lead the way.

I automatically picked up the scent, that not quite living but not altogether dead scent. It was layered all over the town but there was one in particular I was looking for. Laced with strawberry shampoo and not quite as strong as the others…

I hoped Isabella Cullen didn't have any plans, because I was on my way. We needed to talk.