Prey: Reinforcements

A/N: That last chapter was a bit of a doozy, I've got to say. Oh, and still some BD spoilers.

Disclaimer: If I was Stephenie Meyer, I probably would've given her (we all know who I speak of) Carlie as a first name.

Amanda sat by the hospital bed.

It explained everything.

The fainting. The irregular heartbeats. It wasn't just the strength of her kissing. David needed a new heart, and he was running out of time. The doctors estimated that he had a week, maybe less. She hadn't even mentioned her idea to Howard yet, but she thought he knew what she was thinking.

David's only hope would be to become a vampire. Amanda told the watch that she knew a brilliant surgeon, which was true. She said that he could do things for David that no other doctor could, which was also true.

She just neglected to mention that he was a vampire.

Amanda was staying with Tom for now, and she told him the whole thing. "I need to make David into a vampire." Tom dropped the bottle of Mountain Dew he had been holding, and Amanda barely caught it before it hit the floor. "I've called the Cullens down from Washington. I know that I won't be able to do it myself."

Tom shook as he took the soda back. "You-you're bringing them h-here?" Amanda grabbed Tom in a frantic way, clutching his shoulders. "Am I doing the right thing? I can't even ask his permission. He's been completely out of it ever since he entered." she paused. "We're in love."

Tom backed up. "Wait. What? You didn't tell me!" She nodded ruefully. "We had just accepted that when he blacked out. I know that I barely know him, but we already know each other better than a lot of people ever do- well- do you know what I mean?"

Tom smiled. "I know what you mean." He said in this knowing way that made Amanda wish that she had Edwards power.

Amanda looked at him quizzically. He explained. "I've been seeing this girl Sarah for a while. It's difficult though- she knows that I'm keeping something from her. When you were missing those first couple months, I was jittery, and every little sound made me jump. She could tell that I was afraid of something, and it frustrates her that she feels I can't trust her."

A knock on the door that smelled distinctly female from Amanda's experience interrupted them. Amanda didn't enjoy all the secrecy in their lives and decided that she would do something for Tom. She opened the door, inviting her in. Sarah panicked when she saw the gorgeous brunette in the doorway, and for a wild second thought that Tom might be cheating.

However, they didn't seem like a couple. "Hi. I'm Tom's old friend Amanda. You must be Sarah. He says great things about you." Sarah smiled. An old friend. Not as threatening. They shook hands, and Sarah was startled at the cold touch. Tom looked freaked out, but that was a common emotion for him, Sarah knew. They sat back down on the furniture. "did Tom ever tell you about his other job?" Amanda started. Tom's eyes widened, and Sarah found herself intrigued. "No."

Amanda surreptitiously stood, locking the doors as she made her way around the room. She sat on the armchair opposite Tom, and made her eyes go red. "Well, he's a vampire hunter in his spare time." When she spoke, Sarah got a good look at the eyes, the paleness, and the very sharp teeth. She screamed, and backed away from both of them. "You-You're a-a v-v-v-vampire." She pointed a shaking finger at Amanda, who nodded. "Yeah. We used to be partners, back when I was human. He did the research, and I would go out and do the dirty work. But you don't have to worry- Tom is completely human, and I have a strict people-free diet." Sarah looked at Tom. "Dang." She breathed. She glanced at Amanda nervously. "So... you guys were reliving old times?" Amanda shook her head. "no. I was just bemoaning my current situation. David- my boyfriend, I suppose, needs a heart transplant within a week."

Sarah looked uncomfortable asking her next question. "Is he..." Amanda smiled. "He's one hundred percent human." Sarah sat down on the couch across from her. Amanda realized that the eyes were probably making her uncomfortable and so she dimmed down her vampiness. Sarah was suddenly filled with compassion for her. Sure, vampires were real but... (Oh my GOSH, vampires are real!) Her boyfriend was dying. Amanda looked at Tom. "So would it be okay for Dr. Cullen and his family to stay here for a few days?" Tom's face blanched. "you want me to- to-" Sarah noted with interest that he didn't seem his most comfortable with Amanda either. This made her oddly comforted. She wouldn't have to pretend around David that she was completely cool with everything.

"Umm..." He said after a long pause. "How long are they staying?" Amanda's smile became strained. "As long as it takes." Sarah put two and two together. "oh. OH!" she gasped. "You're making him a- a-" Amanda growled at the disgust in her voice. The feral sound caught Sarah off guard. "It's the only thing I can do. I need to go to the airport now." Amanda swept out of the house and took off in a sprint.

Sarah went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of Dew with shaking hands. Most of the liquid got on the floor, but at this point neither of them cared. They both tried to act as if the last minute or two hadn't taken place, unsuccessfully. Sarah turned to look at Tom, incredulous. "Tom- I thought you were a nerd, goshdarn." And that is when Tom Mapple knew that everything would be ok.

Sarah made sure to leave the house before the Cullens got there- Tom only had to mention the number 'seven' for her to realize that it might not be a good idea to hang around. Amanda had been shocked at the airport to see not only the seven Culen vampires, but a vamped out Bella with a baby in tow. "Her name is Renesmee, but some people call her Nessie."

Amanda didn't want to insult her, so she called her Renesmee as well.

Even though she wondered a bit at the name choice.

Another surprising addition to the crew- three werewolves. Jacob came, (Edward explained this later, which had made Amanda a little sick feeling- she was a baby!) as well as :Leah and Seth. They were a rather different pack than Amanda had met, and she didn't think she wanted to know what had happened. Dr. Cullen had consulted with the resident specialist at the hospital, which had made the watch fuss a little.

As soon as he had come through the door, forever young and as gorgeous as an angel, they realized that Amanda had been keeping things from them. They worried that he would lose control at all the blood, but he didn't seem to notice. He made the decision with the doctor to transport him to a private facility where he would get the care he needed. David opened his eyes for the first time, upon hearing Amanda conversing with unfamiliar voices. He gasped, seeing a host of strange vampires at his bedside. Where was he? The last thing he remembered, he had been with Amanda... and...

The blond doctor looked at his charts, making notes. "You need a new heart, David. And there's no donor that's a match. I'm afraid that you have to make a difficult decision right now. He turned his head to face Amanda, who confirmed his budding suspicions with a nod. He swallowed, and looked up again at the doctor. "This is the only way?" Amanda's eyes filled with tears. Edward looked on in shock. Could Amanda cry? "What about Howard?" Amanda shook her head. "I haven't told him exactly, but he knows. At least by now he does."

David winced, trying to sit up. "And is this the Cullen family right here?" The Forks vampires were mildly surprised about his knowledge. Amanda sat down by the bed, holding his hand. "Yeah. They know what they're doing." David thought. And thought. For the longest time there was no answer, and Edward wasn't sharing what was going through his mind.

After what seemed like ages, David nodded weakly. "I'll do it."

There was no time to lose. His condition deteriorated rapidly. They loaded him up into an ambulance, and sped him off to a remote part of a forest, where no hiker would dare to go.

David felt a sense of nervousness take over as he was strapped down to the stretcher. He looked up at the morphine drip that Carlisle was preparing. "How bad is it?" He whispered. Amanda gave him a dark look. "Three days of fire." He shuddered, but then looked at Amanda. "Will you be the one to bite me?" Amanda backed up. "Don't say that. Don't mention anything about blood. I'm tempted as it is to kill you right here." But David shook his head. "It has to be you." She turned towards Emmett and Edward. "You're going to hold me back if I go too far." They nodded. Leaning over the stretcher, Amanda's sense of humanity all but vanished. The smell and sound of blood, growing closer and faster... She sank her teeth down into the soft flesh of his neck, and was overwhelmed at the hot rush of sweet blood in her mouth. "Ah..." She murmured, drinking in as much of the blood as-

she felt two pairs of strong arms pulling her away from her meal, and she protested. But after she was far enough away that she couldn't smell him, she recognized his face. "Oh no." she whispered, breaking free of their grip. They couldn't stop her. But she didn't go back to her feast upon going back to the body. Carlisle injected more venom into his heart, and Alice had applied more bites to other parts of his body. His screaming, which he had tried to repress, burst through the otherwise silent forest painfully. His eyes darted around, until they focused on Amanda, who hovered over the bed, using her cold hands in a vain attempt to cool down the burning.

Days passed-

the screams grew hoarse-

until one day, they stopped. David opened his eyes, as if from a long and deep sleep. Gasping, he sat up in the chair. A bewildering array of scents assaulted him, and he saw the face of his angel, his Amanda, break into a relieved smile as she saw that he was unharmed. He closed his eyes. "It's over, isn't it. I'm a vampire." Amanda nodded sadly. "I really wish that I didn't have to stoop to that sort of evil." David shook his head. "No. There's no way I can believe that you're evil. You- you saved me." Amanda smiled ruefully. "Now though, you can't see anyone you know, no humans at all, for a year or so. I've condemned you to a life of solitude. It takes ages to really get over the blood."

She looked away. "I could have killed you. I nearly did." David got off of the stretcher, grabbing her in a hug. "So did I. Now we're even." He kissed her lips, long and slow. A small cough from in front of them reminded the two that they weren't alone. Amanda blushed, and again Edward wondered how she could do that. "How rude of me. David, this is Edward, Emmett, Jasper, Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie and Alice Cullen. Bella isn't here because she's protecting her half-human baby from your ferocious newborn appetite."

David wheeled around to see the other vampires. Every instinct in his body told him to defend himself- these were vampires, scum of the earth, and a threat to his own hunting area. But he had to get past all that. The memories- of teeth biting at his wrists, his ankles. A needle, plunged into his failing heart by a sadistic vampire doctor...

These...people had saved him. Had brought him life with Amanda. "Thank you.' He said finally, and he was surprised at his voice. He hadn't paid attention before, but he sounded so suave, so elegant... but wait... "Half vampire baby?" Edward cleared his throat. "Yes. In a very unlikely series of events, Bella became pregnant when she was still human. Our daughter is very...unique. She has human blood, but will grow to full maturity in about five years time." Amanda leaned over and whispered "Her name is Renesmee, of all things." Edward grinned. "I heard that. And we think that it's a beautiful name."

David shrugged. "It's fine to me." Amanda was incredulous. Well, she thought privately. When I adopt a kid I'm going to give it a name that's less ridiculous. Then, remembering that Edward could hear her, Amanda blushed. But Edward pretended not to have heard, and instead focused on a small irritation. "how is it that you are able to blush and cry, Amanda?"

She waved dismissively. "I can change appearances. Nothing like mind reading or emotion controlling." David looked at Amanda in alarm. "Mind reading?" Amanda winced. 'Yeah. They're incredibly gifted, this bunch. They've got..." she pointed to each Cullen in turn. "Super self control- Great love- insane beauty- strength- mind reading- future seeing- emotion manipulating- and if I'm not horrendously mistaken, Bella and Nessie have some freaky powers as well. Correct?" Edward smiled. "Bella can block the mental powers of others, and Renesmee uses touch to project her thoughts to people."

David laughed shakily, trying not to betray the blatant fear that he had. "We sure as heck can't tell Howard about this. Combined- the family has a score of about sixty or seventy." Edward told the other family members about the scale, and they were adequately impressed. But Edward took Amanda's hand. "You need to take him hunting." Amanda smiled, though it was forced. "How about it? Bloodsucking seems to be the only thing on the agenda for today- just make sure it's the right blood. We're teetotalers." Emmet cocked his head at Amanda. "Think you can handle a newborn on your own?"

Amanda responded with an eye roll. "You forget that he's not the only newborn around here. I can take him." She put up her fists lamely, not really sure if she could. Alice thought for a moment. "Just keep him away from the road. You should be fine." Seth and Leah stepped into the clearing. Seth clearly had more bounce in his wolfish step than Leah, who was not thrilled with all the vampires being made so willy-nilly. David's nose filled with a disgusting odor, and his muscles coiled to attack. Amanda put a firm hand over his teeth, which were aching to tear some flesh. "Yeah, werewolves. But they're on our side." David's red eyes narrowed. "Which side would that be?" She laughed. It really was getting harder to tell the difference between friends and enemies, especially nowadays. "The side of the Watch- they nobly protect the town of Forks from evil bloodsuckers such as the Cullens and ourselves."

And then David was gone. There was no smell of a vampire, no body. Amanda's hand was still clamped over a mouth, invisible though it may be. "Carlisle?" She said weakly. "Any explanation?" He stepped forward, curious. He ran a hand across the space where his hair was- and it still was. He looked at Amanda with sparkling eyes. "He has no smell or color- no kind of pigment at all. Did he ever display any uncanny skills or anything that would cause this?"

Amanda thought about all the times she hadn't been able to smell him sneaking up on her, the way he could creep in the shadows almost as well as a vampire. That day in the sewer- she'd been able to resist for so long because his scent was almost self masking from a distance..." Edward whispered this all to his father. "He could already suppress his scent, and he had extraordinary abilities as far as staying undetected." Amanda imagined him back to his normal looks, but she couldn't do anything about the lack of smell. The werewolves were uneasy- even Seth- about this latest turn.

This was a vampire who would be impossible to track if he went out of control.

Amanda smiled comically to David. "You're going to need to get that gift of yours under control so I don't have to work my bum off to give the wolves an easier time." David painstakingly pulled himself back into detectability. Amanda released her control on him with relief. "Ok. We know that you're bloody dangerous- now can we eat?"

When hunting alone, Amanda had enough to worry about. Not making a mess, not going near any human throats...

This concern was doubled as she was given the charge of feeding with David. They found a buck in a thicket, and Amanda tried to coach David quietly on how to be less loud and obvious. When the great beast was finally felled, Amanda nearly had to push David's head down to drink. "It's just not that appetizing." He had said with a wince.

Amanda grabbed his face. "It's this or rats. Humans may be appetizing, but just think about what you'd be doing. Think about when you released Stewart." She hated playing such a mean card on him, but she had to get him to accept the realities of their situation. Davids eyes flashed, and he dug into the animal with enthusiasm. "That's better." Amanda nodded. When she was sure that he wasn't going to run off in search of better blood, she joined him in the feast. When it was finished with, Amanda brought some bigger game over. "Ok, you had better not complain. This is a full grown bear. Pretty good stuff in the veins."

After they had gone through five more animals, Amanda felt better about bringing him back to "camp".

In their absence, a cabin had been built to contain David during his newborn training. It was spartan, but Amanda noted with embarrassment that there was a bed stowed in a closet. "We barely know each other." She muttered to no one. Thankfully, no one heard.

Amanda took a look at the walls. Andy Warhol prints? "Alice, you're amazing." The Cullens were at home in Chicago, spending some time there until they could be sure that David was manageable.

Amanda sighed, sitting on a chair. "Home sweet home."

A/N: Long, crazy chapter. Don't worry, I'm going to speed things up a bit. Review! I worry about the quality of this chapter more than I've worried about any chapter since Hunter!