Lost

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-thank you for the kind reviews and for following this story!

Chapter Twelve

Jacob ran into the house, his heart racing at one hundred miles an hour. Bella's screams tore at his soul. She sounded so distressed. He entered the house, skidding down the hall as his fast momentum propelled him forward. He found her sitting on the floor, her hands clasping her face as she tried to stem the flow of blood. She was bleeding? Jacob dropped to his knees in front of her.

"Bells, it's me."

Bella raised her head, her eyes wide with fear. Now Jacob could see where the blood was coming from. It was streaming from her nose. He knew that Bella hated the sight and smell of blood. It used to freak her out and often she would faint. Ironic since she became involved with a bloodsucking leech. Jacob pushed this thought aside as he cupped Bella's chin in his hand and tried to calm her down.

"Listen to me, Bells. I just want you to lean forward a little bit, okay." Jacob eased her forward. "Now breathe through your mouth." He instructed her. Bella's cries faded as she began to recover from her hysterics. She breathed raggedly through her mouth. Jacob guided her hand toward her nose. "Now I want you to pinch the bridge of your nose for a few minutes just like this." Gently he unfurled Bella's fingers and placed them on her nose. She was still breathing heavily but the wildness in her eyes had gone. "That's my girl." Jacob praised her. "Now I'm just going to go and get some wipes so we can clean you up, okay."

Jacob hurriedly left Bella and began to rummage through the kitchen cupboards. Because of Billy's diabetes, one thing they always had was a fully stocked first aid kit. Jacob found it and returned to Bella's side. He knelt down and gently caressed her cheek. The usual reaction happened when his fingers connected with her skin. The blood rushed to her face and the translucency faded to be replaced with a more normal skin texture. "You can let go of your nose now, Bells. It should have stopped bleeding now."

Bella sucked in a deep breath before she released her nose. The bloody nostrils were still weeping a little bit but not with the same intensity. Jacob kept talking to Bella, doing his best to distract her as he carefully cleaned her up with the antiseptic wipes. "There you go, all better now." He said when he was finished.

"I..I'm sorry, J…Jacob." Bella stammered.

"Why are you apologising?" Jacob asked curiously. She had done that once before, years ago, after she had hit her head falling off the motorbike. It hadn't occurred to him why at the time but now he suddenly realised what she was saying sorry for. Fucking leeches he thought bitterly. He didn't say anything, but gently put his arms around Bella and lifted her up against his chest. She was as light as a feather. He carried her over to the old couch and made her comfortable. "Do you want anything to eat or drink?"

"No…" Bella shook her head and then changed her mind. She could still feel the metallic tang of the blood in her mouth. "Actually yes…can you make me some coffee and put some cinnamon in it."

"Eww…." Jacob pulled a disgusted face, earning himself a faint smile from Bella. "Just for you, okay. Don't go telling anyone else or it might become a thing."

"I promise." Bella said weakly. She rested her head back against the cushions and closed her eyes.

When Quil returned home after his patrol shift had finished he found his grandfather meditating. He didn't want to disturb the old man so he crept by him silently. But the elder seemed to sense him. Old Quil's eyes opened and he looked directly at his grandson. His face was troubled. Whatever solace he had been seeking from the spiritual realm hadn't worked.

"Are you okay, grandfather?" Quil asked in concern.

"No." The old man rose to his feet. Quil was forever surprised at how flexible the old man was. His grandfather could still sit cross legged on the floor and never had trouble rising after sitting in the same position for hours. His limbs were very supple for his age.

"What's wrong?" Quil looked at his grandfather carefully. He hoped the old man wasn't sickening for something.

The elder's face was still deeply troubled. He began to pace back and forth. "I have always been of the belief that we must never interfere, that we have to embrace our destiny and let fate take its course. No matter how fraught or difficult it may be."

Quil frowned, perplexed. He had no idea what the old man was talking about. "Aren't we supposed to be in charge of our own fate?"

Old Quil's keen eyes darted to his grandson's. "You more than anyone know that sometimes we have no choice."

The young shifter felt a lump lodge in his throat. His grandfather was referring to his imprint with Claire. It had taken Quil a long time to accept the way his life had turned out. Right now Claire was a little sister to him. One day when she was of age, she was supposed to be more. But Quil couldn't envision that yet. A huge part of him hoped that Claire would forever just need him in her life as a brother and friend. If that was the case then he would be free to pursue a relationship of his own. But this was years into the future.

"Isn't there always a way around things?" Quil questioned hopefully. "What seems like its set in stone can actually be altered if we find another way."

"Your grandfather would be proud of the man you have become." Old Quil put his hand on Quil's shoulder and looked at him with pride.

"But you're my grandfather." Quil pointed out uneasily. It wasn't the first time the old man had slipped up like that. He began to wonder if his grandfather was getting forgetful in his old age.

"Of course." Old Quil patted his grandson's shoulder and smiled apologetically. "I think I may pay Jacob and Bella another visit."

"Why?" Quil was completely confused. "I thought you said you couldn't help."

"Like you said there is always a way around things. I have led my life following the natural order of things, but I'm beginning to think I may have been wrong." Old Quil replied cryptically. He said no more as he left, leaving young Quil to ponder what he could mean.

Bella felt weak and drained. She came out of the shower, a towel wrapped around her body. Her long hair was done up in another towel. She wobbled over to the sink and looked in the small mirror. Her complexion was ghostly. The dark bruises under her eyes were more prominent than ever. She looked wan and sickly. Bella turned away from her reflection. She couldn't bear to see herself anymore. Her symptoms were worsening. She had never had a nosebleed before. The cold sweats had died down. Whatever drugs Carlisle and Edward had put into her system had worked their way out, but they had left her sicker than before.

There was a light tap on the door. It was Charlie. He had and Billy had finally returned from their impromptu shopping trip. "Dinner's ready, kiddo." He called through the locked door.

"I'm coming." Bella said with effort. Her stomach churned at the thought of eating. But she would try for her dad's sake. Jacob was not at home. He was out patrolling with his brothers. He wouldn't be back until late. She was already missing his calming presence. He was once again her knight in shining armour and she missed him. Sighing, Bella began to dry herself off as got ready to join her father and Billy at the dinner table.

Her eyes were drooping before the meal was even finished. She was totally exhausted. When she swayed in her seat, Charlie was forced to catch her. "That's enough now, kiddo. You should be in bed." His face swam in and out of focus. Bella felt him lift her up easily and carry her to Jacob's room. Behind she heard the scrape of Billy's wheelchair on the wooden flooring as he followed behind. "If this carries on I am going to take her to the hospital." Charlie said to his friend.

Bella didn't hear Billy's response. Her head lolled on Charlie's shoulder as she fell into a deep sleep.

Bella didn't know how long she had been out. But when she awoke it was dark. The drapes had been drawn tight. She sat up in Jacob's bed, her hair falling around her face like a satin curtain. One glance at the clock told her that it was gone midnight. Bella wondered if Jacob had come back yet. She would have got up to look for him but that would mean passing her father who was sleeping in the lounge. Bella knelt on the bed and pulled back the curtains. As she breathed the window pane fogged up. The ground was still blanketed in thick snow. The sky was clear though and was sparkling with a thousand stars. Bella was too caught up in the view and didn't realise that someone else was in the room with her.

"It's a beautiful night, child."

Bella nearly fell off the bed in fright at the sound of the deep voice. She twisted around searching for the owner. Out of the shadows Old Quil emerged. Or was it really him. He was wearing the elder's face but underneath Bella fancied that she could see someone else. The old man was smiling in amusement. "How did you get in here?" She asked. Bella was surprised that she wasn't fearful of this guy. He was in her room, unannounced. Just like Edward used to be. This memory made her pause. "I feel like I'm getting worse." Why was she admitting this to the old man? She had only met him a few times. Their last meeting was already blurred in her mind.

"I think I was wrong, child." Old Quil seemed regretful. His amusement had vanished like a puff of smoke. "I was taught never to interfere. Not directly anyway, a nudge or two in the right direction of course. But that's all. Everyone has a preordained path. My last wife sacrificed herself for me, for our people. As much as it pained me to witness the horror of her death I had to accept that was her fate. She sacrificed herself for the greater good." His expression turned sad. "But when I returned to the spiritual realm in search of her I could never find her." The elder shook his head. "After our last meeting I have been meditating. I began to question everything that I believed was true." He raised his dark eyes to Bella's brown ones. "I prayed to the spirits but could find no comfort."

Bella remained silent as the old man rambled. Her head hurt, she was tiring already. There was something significant about Old Quil that she was supposed to remember, but it eluded her.

"I remember the utter despair and hopelessness at the loss of my soul mate. Truthfully I have never recovered from her loss and I hold a sense of anger toward the spirits that they continue to keep her from me." A flash of unaccustomed anger crossed the old man's face. "Your young man is different to how I was then. I was a lot older. I had already outlived two wives. My last, my darling was my true mate. But Jacob Black is young, impetuous. He fights against his destiny; he refuses to give in to his fate. I admire that. I do."

"Jake is strong." Bella whispered.

Old Quil rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "He is strong but he needs to be stronger." He paused as he scrutinised Bella carefully. "I have never interfered to this extent before, but something impels me to do so. But in order to help I need to understand more. I need to see exactly what happened from the moment you left for your honeymoon."

"But I can't remember." Bella said weakly. She was feeling afraid now.

"I can help you remember." Old Quil offered. "But it won't be an easy journey. It will mean reliving everything that happened to you."

"I'm afraid." Bella whimpered.

The elder's face turned solemn. "Fear can be our biggest weakness but also our greatest strength. You will not be alone, Bella Swan. I will be right there with you, observing, watching. I won't let you fall."

Bella's body trembled as she gazed into the old man's eyes. She trusted him just like she trusted Jacob. There was something similar between the two. She wished she could remember their last meeting. "I'm scared but I'll do it." She finally agreed.

Old Quil's face softened. "You are so much braver than you give yourself credit for, child." He held out his hands toward her. "Place your hands in mine."

Bella took a deep breath before complying. She hoped that her fear was going to be her greatest strength just like he had said because right now she felt as weak as a kitten. "I'm ready." She said tremulously.

Old Quil held her hands in his warm grip as he smiled. "Close your eyes, child."

Bella took another fortifying breath as she did as the old man asked. As soon as her eyelids shut she was flung back into the past.

A/N-thanks for reading!