(a/n) Well hello my faithful readers and people who may have stumbled across this story. Its that time of year again, a time for giving. this is my early present to ye' readers. so read, enjoy, review, and possibly recommend to a friend because i spent days writing and then stayed up late to finish this by today.

Oh side note for previous chap, yes blizzard=ice, comforting snow=eddy.

*disclaimer* i dont own twilight

chapter 5

Jacob POV

I woke up early the next day. The cold breeze of the morning sending shivers down my spine. It was still dark outside and the usual darker than grey clouds partially dissipated through the night. I began to lean forward but my body was screaming in protest. When I finally reached my upright position, with the dim light of television in my room I stared at my bandages. They were old, dirty, and tearing.

I slid off my bed as best as I could, making sure to cause myself minimum pain. I put one foot in front of the other, staggering towards the bathroom as I held my side. I put my hands on the sink to support myself as I looked into the large mirror. I looked as if I was recovering from a train wreck. I turned on the water and splashed my face. I grabbed a cloth from the rack to my right and washed my face slowly. Today was going to be a long day. According to what I heard I wasn't leaving anytime soon but who was I kidding. I was still in a bad condition and I was hurting all over. I was hurting so bad my pains had pains, and my aches had aches. I lifted my head and stared at my reflection. I looked the same but for some reason I felt different. Besides the pain I felt like I almost weren't me anymore.

I shrugged off the feeling and turned to head back to the room until I heard a sound behind me. I jumped and winced in surprise which caused me even more pain. When I turned around I glance toward the bathtub.

'Ice.'

Correction, melting ice but how, why, who? Then it occurred to me that I wasn't dreaming yesterday. What was done was done in reality not the in the deepest part of my subconscious. Every touch, word, and kiss.

"AHHHHH" I screamed. I didn't know which was worse, the fact that I told Edward Cullen that I wanted him or the fact that I kissed him. Wait I didn't kiss him he kissed me! Yea he kissed me, that was my story and I was sticking to it. He was the one that leaned in; he was the one that made the connection.

At that moment my heart skipped a beat. My whole body started getting warmer thinking about his cold lips as they grazed mine. I couldn't deny the hint of passion I felt as he held me.

I was so shocked at what I thought I was realizing. The emotions I was feeling. This couldn't have been possible. Had I...no i couldn't have. I turned around to head back to my room once again. To my surprise there Edward stood in the doorway of the bathroom eyes locked with mine. My heart started racing, faster, and faster. I took a step forward in his direction breaking eye contact and loosing my footing.

The floor was wet! I had no strength to move fast enough to break my fall. I was so hurt my body wouldn't react in time. Then for the second time I was caught by a pair of strong chilled arms.

"We really have to stop meeting like this" said Edward in a low tone almost as if a whisper.

That was the last straw. I had some dignity as a pack member and no matter what I thought I was feeling I was not about to befriend a blood sucking leech.

I got back up and pushed him as hard as I could but he didn't budge. He still held on to me, supporting me.

"Can you let me go?" I finally asked.

"Sure. Do you need any help getting back to your bed?"

"No I don't need your help. I can take care of myself." this time I was slightly irritated. I wasn't helpless just a little hurt. I didn't need his pity. This time when I pushed him he stumbled back a couple of steps.

"Well apparently you aren't as capable of taking care of yourself as you claim."

"What's that suppose to mean!" I yelled twice as irritated.

He paused "Nothing" was the first thing he said starring me in my eyes. "I know how well you can fight it's just right now you are hurt"

I couldn't deny that logic. I was baring the pain but the truth was I could barely walk by myself. Each step felt like I was being stabbed repeatedly.

I walked out the bathroom and sat on the edge of my bed and Edward followed quietly. 'Does he have a reason for being here' I thought while starring at the ground. When he didn't reply I looked up. His eyes were glued to me as he had a confused look on his face but it was like he wasn't looking at me but through me.

"Hello" I said snapping in his direction. "Earth to mind reader" he shook his head and looked back at me.

"Yes. Did you say something?" he asked. Why did it seem like he was spacing out?

"No I didn't." I paused. "I was just wondering why you were here."

"Oh" he began" I sort of promised Carlisle I would keep an eye on you." he glanced over my torso. "I think I should change your bandages."

"So are you my baby sitter or my nurse?" I asked finding anything else to look at but him.

"I guess both for the time being." he took a step closer and put a hand on my chest. He slowly rubbed his hands over my chest and back trying to find the end of the long wrap to unravel me.

After a good minute he finally found the end and began unwrapping me. The dirty bandages that stretched from my chest down to my waist. My eyes stayed on him as his hands move nimbly to make sure not to hurt me.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked expecting him to look up at me.

"I told you I promised Carlisle I would take care of you."

"No that's not it. You're being nice. Extremely nice to me. You blame me don't you? You blame me for Bella leaving? Don't you hate me?" he kept his eyes on the bandages getting closer and closer to my waistline.

"Yes I blamed you for her leaving but after what happened two days ago in the forest I realized something."

"What exactly did you realize?"

"That you and I are in the same boat. We may be enemies but who better to understand you than the person that's going through the same frustration. So basically I have decided to be more frinedly."

"Friendly? So are you saying that you want to be my friend?" I asked.

"I guess I am in a way. You understand me to some extent and I you. Ok I'm done taking off your bandages but something's wrong."

"What's wrong" I asked looking down at my body. Then I noticed what he did. The many cuts and bruises from the night I got attacked were practically fresh minus the blood.

"Aren't these suppose to gone by now or at least fading away" he said referring to my scars.

"Yea" I said looking in disbelief. "All of these marks should be gone." I wasn't healing. I knew I felt different but why wasn't I healing.

Edward stood up and walked out the room. He returned with a pan filled with what looked like water, two cloths, a tube, and more bandage wrap. He placed the pan on the table beside my bed and soaked a cloth.

"Ok I have to clean your wounds out now." he said giving me a hesitant look. He folded the cloth and brushed my open wounds.

"OH MY AHHHHHH" I screamed at the top of my lungs. Just as fast I screamed I found a hand over my mouth. I pushed it away as he dipped the cloth again. "You didn't tell me it was alcohol."

"Sorry" he grinned "I thought you knew. I'm sure it didn't hurt that bad."

"I may be able to transform into a giant wolf but I'm still human." Edward approached me again with the cloth and I grabbed his wrist. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm going to finish cleaning your wounds"

"No you're not."

He smiled wickedly. "Don't tell me the big bad wolf can't take a little pain" he giggled.

"I can take the pain I just choose not to" Edward next grabbed my wrist and simultaneously grabbed my other hand.

"Look it's just your chest and stomach that need to be cleaned so be a good boy and sit still"

I couldn't tell if that was a dog joke or just ironic word play. I tried to pry my hands free but I had no strength compared to him and soon my struggling began to hurt.

"Stop moving you're opening up your wounds" Edward pushed my hands over my head and pushed me down across my bed. His knees were on the opposing sides of my waist as he hovered over me but he made sure that our lower halves didn't come into contact.

He rubbed the alcohol across my chest as gently as he could but it still hurt. "It feels like acid on my skin." the pain went from bearable to excruciating. His expression screamed sorry but it just had to be done.

I closed my eyes and as tears began to flow. Ok so I had fought the undead and been ripped apart but for some reason this pain was worse. Then something hit my forehead. I opened my eyes to see Edward had lowered his face resting his forehead on mine. I stopped all struggling from shock. Time slowed and I stopped breathing for a moment. He was way to close. I could feel his cool breath float across my skin.

"So is this what friends do?" I asked while inadvertingly making the small space between our lips even smaller.

He smiled again. He was doing that more often now and it beat his scowl. His smile did things to me. It made me happy but at the same time question everything I knew about vampires.

In the midst of the confrontation I forgot what was happening. When Edward finally crawled off of me releasing my hands I notice he was done. He finished cleaning my deep wounds. I was astonished at his method. I glared in his direction to protest his actions but he didn't look at me. He just chuckled as he found the tube and bandage. I didn't know he was capable of such things, so I guess that's what friends do.

As he started to rub the thick substance on me and rewrap me I thought. 'so that's what friends do. Yea just friends, nothing more, nothing less. We help each other out I guess while sometimes using questionable methods. The pack would have just held me down no question about that.'

"Ok I'm done."

"Ah Edward" I began not sure where I was going with this" I guess I wanted to ask about what happened yesterday. Did I or rather did he really kiss me.

"Yes Jacob"

"Wait did you just call me Jacob instead of like mutt or dog"

"Well you did call me Edward"

"So does this mean we're on a first name basis now"

"I guess it does."

The room fell into one of those awkward silences.

"We'll don't think that a few kind gestures and a first name thing changes anything, we may be friends now but it doesn't mean I trust you." I stammered

"But you did say we were friends so I'll take that as us making progress. We're going to be in this town for a long time. So Bella or no Bella we could at least learn to get along."

"Yea but I think we might have been to little to late".

"Well you never know." he walked out of the room closing the door behind him and I crawled back in bed. The cold air that floated into my room before was now a warm breeze and the glow of the red orange sun peeked over the horizon. Today would be a long day.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Edward POV

I closed the door as I left Jacobs room.

"So is this what friends do" I heard. I looked to my right to find Emmet holding Alice's hands over her head bodies barely touching. They stopped there little charade and began laughing while walking my way.

"I didn't know I had an audience" I said while walking the opposite direction. They both followed behind each with with upbeat spirits."

"Well we couldn't miss that performance of yours Eddy" Alice chimed. "It was so cute" she screamed like a yaoi fan-girl. "I mean the way you" she did a very intense and lustful hand motion "scrubbed his chest and abs. The way you looked into his eyes. I wish I would have recorded it" she was so giddy with excitement.

"Friends; that all we have become, nothing more nothing less" i exclaimed."And Emmet what do you have to say about this?"

"Nothing right now" he mumbled "besides Alice said if I played along she would tell me what was going on between you and the pup."

"There is nothing going on we are" they cut me off in unison

"We know, we know; friends nothing more nothing less. You don't have to repeat it a second time but you have to admit there was something questionable about your actions"

I paid the comments no thought as I made my way back to Carlisle's office. I knocked twice before entering, opening the door letting Alice and Emmett slide through before closing it behind them.

"Hello children. Is everything alright?" Carlisle asked while shuffling through his papers on his desk.

"Oh everything is fine" stated Alice. "We just thought that we should come to check on Eddy since he didn't come home last night."

"Yes Edward has been a big help to me by assisting me in the care of Jacob. He stayed here all night observing him just in case he showed any change in condition."

"So in other words he was watching the pup as he slept" Emmet teased knowing well that it was a habit of mine when Bella was here. I couldn't help the fact that I found sleeping interesting. I haven't been able to do it myself for so long."

"Well he is awake now and Carlisle there is something strange going on. His wounds are still very fresh." I said remembering what i saw.

"Well that is very strange. When I asked to keep him here I expected him to be healed over night so I could run some test but I'm glad he's here now to know that if we would have sent him home he wouldn't have made a full recovery. Well Edward if you want you can go home now with Emmett and Alice if you want. I appreciate the help."

I stood there quiet, pondering that option but something happened. "I think I'll stay a little while longer." I said to Carlisle. Emmet and Alice both gave each other a look.

"We thought we would stay here a while too." Emmet said.

"Well actually we can come back Emmet. I left a important little bag at the house I think we should get." Alice said with a devious grin. "Come on Emmet it will be a quick trip"

"But we just left the house" he wined

"Well they weren't done cooling off then so come on you big lug"

Alice walked past me swiftly pushing Emmet before her through the door as I opened it.

"Wouldn't you like to know what I was thinking" she whispered into my ear while walking past. I tried to hone it to her thoughts but my mind was a blank. The only thoughts I could here were ...my own. My mind was quiet and I didn't know why. Something told me Alice was behind this little trick but by the time I stuck my head out of the door they were gone.

"Well Edward since our patient is up would you mind running down to the cafe and grabbing him something to eat from the kitchen. It's been a whole day since he's had food and the cafe doesn't technically open for another couple of hours so they won't be serving for a while."

"Sure"

"I'll be making my mid morning rounds in a while so I shall be there not to long after you."

I shook my head to confirm and walked out of his office. My mind wandered from thought to thought my whole slow walk to the cafe. The fact that I could only hear my own thoughts knowing that this building was still full of people, and most of all, my whole entire Jacob situation. I really couldn't explain my own actions. Ever since yesterday I've just been in disarray. Wait no not just yesterday, the day before that as well. Ever since our encounter I have felt different towards him. Was it because I finally knew how much he really cared for Bella like I did? No I always knew he cared. It was the fact that he was as hurt as I was and practically stopped me. For my thoughts, words of comfort but instead I lost it. I yelled at him. We tussled and tumbled but we didn't really fight. Then when I said I had fun he gave me that odd look but I know he wasn't angry anymore either so what was the problem. He ran off so fast he forgot his apple. Oh that's right I guess I should grab one of those while I'm there too.

I even thought about our kiss but now that I think about it he had an extreme fever. Maybe his hallucination caused him to believe I was someone else but that left another question. What if he wasn't hallucinating? I told him I wanted to be his friend and that was it. I mean we had to stop our fighting eventually and my reason to fight was hundreds of mikes away.

Only on one occasion did my actions suggest other than that I wanted to be more than friends but it was a mistake. When I dropped my arms and held him close. I kissed him... Repeatedly. I think I just got caught up in the moment. Yea that's the only way to explain it. To have that heat against my body. Just made me think of Bella and how I missed her touch. That was the only logic there was. Now what I did while I was rubbing him down with alcohol was just to distract him right?

I eventually made it to the cafe and walked into the back. The kitchen was empty, just my luck it was shift change but I didn't think I had enough time to cook something so I scavenged together a box of cereal with a few small cartons of milk and a lot of assorted fruit not forgetting to grab multiple apples. I hoped he liked this stuff. Now that I think back on it I could of at least stopped by his room to see what he would have preferred but I was lost in thought.

I shrugged in indifference and neatly arranged everything I had on small tray-cart with wheels. I rolled it swiftly through the cafe doors and made my way to the elevator. I made it back to his room and knocked twice before opening his door. I strolled in to find him lying peacefully in his bed, eyes closed. The television was on but it was on mute.

"Ah Jacob" I said while walking over towards his bed. "I brought you some food. Carlisle thought you might have been hungry having not eaten for a day". He didn't react at all to my words. I stopped the cart inches from his bed. I rearranged the items so they looked neater. "I didn't know what exactly you liked so I grabbed" I picked up the cereal box "honey-comb and a lot of fruit." he still didn't react so I sat at the foot if his bed.

Maybe he was sleep again. The only other option was that he was giving me the cold shoulder after I thought we made so much progress. But I was pretty sure I hadn't done anything to offend him since I left the room.

"I hate fruit" Jacob said to me, his new cold... friend? sitting next to him on his bed.

"Really" I said immediately hopping up. "Well I'll just take it back then, im sure they have something else down there, just tell me what you would prefer. I mean I think I would have to sneak past a couple of chefs now but I don't mind."

"Are you serious" came his voice as he turned over. "you would really do that"

"Yea it's no problem"

"So you were serious"

"Yea I said just tell me what you would prefer"

"No not that. About wanting to befriend me.

"Well yea, we are going to be here for a long time. I guess it's about time we learned to get along even if we were too late. Now what would you prefer."

He snickered and grabbed the tray and rolled it closer to himself.

"This is fine" he said smiling.

"Are you sure"

"Yes it's perfectly fine. Thank you." he immediately took an apple off the tray. He looked at it and his smile got wider before he took a bite. I small drop of juice trickled down his lower lip. I found myself staring again. His body was sculpted like a man butt his face still portrayed him as a teen.

In seconds the apple was gone and I once again had Jacob snapping me out of my trance. I shook my head"

"Huh you say something."

"ahh no." he said while launching his apple core across the room into a trash can beside the door. His celebration dance was short lived due to the painful reminder that his chest and abs were still ripped apart. Seconds later Carlisle walked though the door.

"Hello Jacob" he said "it looks like you boys are getting along quite well"

Carlisle walked to my side and continued speaking.

"Edward has told me that your wounds haven't healed." Carlisle and I both looked and his bandages to see a small spot where fresh blood had made contact from his recent victory dance. "has this ever happened before, with anyone in you tribe.

"No or not that I know of. This is a first for me"

Carlisle looked towards Jacob while thinking.

"Well venom could have this affect but it usually involves alot more pain than you are in right now."

"Venom?" Jacob said quizzically. "but I wasn't bitten"

"Oh well see we just assumed that since a vampire attacked you, that you were bitten" I said

"No not at all. I was saved right before he could do any harm"

"So you saw his face" I said trying to figure out who could have attacked him.

"Edward one problem at a time. I'll make sure everyone is on high alert but first let's fix Jacob here. Well the best I can do right now is take your blood pressure and take your temperature. I'll be back after I order some test. "

Carlisle took Jacobs blood pressure and stuck the thermometer into Jacobs's mouth. Right when Carlisle was done with his blood pressure recording it on his chart as normal the thermometer beeped. Carlisle's expression went from 'ok' to 'worried' quickly.

"What's wrong" I asked.

Carlisle looked at me and responded "his temperature is ninety-eight point six degrees"

"That's normal right?"

"Yes for most people not for a for him." Carlisle, Jacob and I all gave each other different confused looks until we all heard the same female voice

"Well it looks like our little wolf has become human"

(a/n) i know, cliffhanger, hope you enjoyed ^_^