~Excited by the responses.

Chapter 1: Breaking

Bella's throat already hurt from swallowing all that salty water, but she screamed it raw yelling for Jacob. She got in as far as her ankles before Sam pulled her back.

"Enough. I can't spare another wolf to go out and rescue your ass. I'm already stretched far too thin. Do you even know how this stunt of yours came at the worst possible time? Seth Clearwater is about to phase, Harry is being rushed to the ER. Old Quil just called and revealed Quil broke a bunch of shit and is now burning with fever. I've already sent for Emily to take you to the hospital and I have to send Jared with you because my mate isn't safe in your presence."

She heard all the terrible things Sam was saying. He usually only gave her disapproving looks but he was beyond furious. She knew a lot of it was fear. It looked bad, but Bella knew there was an explanation.

She couldn't focus on anything but the fact Jacob was missing. She wasn't going to jump. Well, technically at first she was. She went there to jump, but she changed her mind for Jake. Why did she have to go out there at all? No one would ever believe her story.

Emily came up behind her and gave her a sympathetic look. "Come on, Bella. Let's get you checked out. Charlie's already at the hospital."

"Wait, I can't leave until I see that Jacob's fine. Can I borrow your phone?" She left hers at home, that's how thoughtless and careless she was.

Bella called Charlie. His voice was shaky, "Bells, I can't talk right now. There's been an emergency."

"Don't hang up. I'm sorry about Harry, but I'm involved in my own emergency and we need your help."

"What? Where are you? Are you okay?"

She gave him a brief synopsis of what had occurred. "Please, can you come or send some guys... I don't know, call the fire department or the Coast Guard. It's been almost an hour."

Her father breathed heavily into the phone. He said he would put in the calls necessary and as soon as he could get a quick update on Harry, he'd get Billy. They'd be there as soon as possible but he wanted her to let Emily bring her to the hospital immediately. If she briefly lost consciousness, she really needed to be seen by a doctor.

"Are you sure about bringing Billy?"

"Yes, this is his son we're talking about. I can't keep him in the dark." Bella might have been thinking of herself again. She just didn't think she had the strength to face Jacob's father. What would he think about her? She knew she had disappointed him ever since she moved there.

Emily kept encouraging her to leave, but she refused. Embry kept going back in the water, but he looked like he was about to collapse. Sam sent Paul back to check on Seth already. He needed Embry to go to Quil's. They were arguing about it until Sam made it an order.

"You aren't going to the hospital?" Emily asked again.

"No, not unless my dad makes me."

A piercing howl rang out minutes later. Sam told Emily to go home. He said he and Jared had to go. "Stay out of the water Bella. I can't help you again."

That was it. They all left her. None of the emergency personnel had arrived yet. It was just Bella staring out at the breaking waves again. He got out of the water. She knew he did. Jacob wasn't a regular person. She knew he could fight the waves. Sam was right, she was no match for that surf. Bella wasn't going to chance it because when Jacob came out of hiding, she wanted to be in plain sight waiting for him.

She walked close to the water and had a seat. In the distance, she heard sirens. She occasionally had to wipe the spray from her cheeks. Bella closed her eyes and tried to make it all go away briefly. If she could only open them back up and see his smiling face in front of her, she would never let him go.

Bella thought about her vision in the water. Sam might have rescued her but she was certain, she did come in contact with Jacob. He had a hold on her before she blacked out. Something else came to her. It was a flash of color before the darkness. A fiery orange-red wave floated past her.

She opened her eyes and screamed. A paramedic rushed to her side. Bella was starting to have a full blown panic attack. She fought back, but something was happening to her. No one listened. Bella tried to tell them. They strapped her to a gurney and put her in the back of an ambulance. She soon felt a sharp stick and stinging in her arm. Her mind became foggy, but they needed to know. Her last coherent speech was, "Tell Sam… it was Victoria. She was there."

Cold. Bella was extremely chilled. An annoying beep wouldn't stop sounding in her left ear. She was asleep, but not at home. Where was she?

"Bells."

"Jake."

"Honey, it's Dad. You're okay. They've been keeping you sedated but your lungs are clear and there's no head injury."

"Where's Jacob?"

Charlie looked away.

"Dad, how long has it been? They found him, didn't they? Tell me."

He took a little bit before he spoke up but her father said it was the next day and the answer was no. "I'm sorry, Kid, but at this point it doesn't look good. They are changing the rescue mission in about twelve hours to a recovery one."

"Recovery? What does that mean?"

"Bella, you were out there. There was a storm. The surf was too damn rough. Rip currents are powerful and unyielding. We're fortunate all you other kids were able to get out. I'm sorry, but we have to be realistic. The Coast Guard will be searching for his body but there are no guarantees. I hate to think of my friend not even having the opportunity to give his only boy a proper burial. The days ahead will be grim, but Harry pulled through. That's one bit of good news. The doctors were able to perform surgery."

Bella heard her father talking, but his words weren't completely registering.

He took her hand and held it between both of his. She'd never noticed her father's hands. They were strong, but kind. Was that even a thing...kind hands? He looked like he hadn't slept in days.

She started shaking her head vigorously.

"We'll get through this... somehow. I'm here for you."

Her head moved faster, and tears fell from her eyes. "No, no, no Dad. That's not what happened. Jacob did not drown. He is not dead!"

"Of course, we still hold out some hope but you need to face facts, Bells."

"No, I refuse. He's alive. Jacob is still alive and I'm going to find him."

"You are not going anywhere near that damn ocean again, do you hear me Isabella Marie? "

Bella found the strength to sit up. She was going to get out of the bed and get dressed. Charlie grabbed onto her. He hugged her tightly and she sobbed into his shoulder.

"Jacob's not dead. He can't be."

"Bells...I'm so sorry."

"No, I mean it. He's not...I still can feel him."

~Thanks for reading.

So yeah, now you know why I made Celebrations. I think I'll have to go back and forth between these. Also, I almost have some Decadence ready to post. Reviews are sweet gifts and they fuel my muse, so pretty please. I need to know if you're hanging on by a thread. Please, stick with me.