Chapter 10 - Blooded

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, New Moon, or Eclipse. I just like having fun with the characters and world the wonderful Stephenie Meyer created.

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Bella POV:

While Carlisle was pacing, I thought I'd take the opportunity to change into whatever Emmett had brought for me. I took my clothes and went into the woods to put them on. Of course, Alice had chosen a skimpy blue tank top and shorts. I kept Edward's shirt over my tank top, though - it comforted me as I walked back into the meadow to try to figure out what happened to me. Because, of course, becoming a vampire wasn't exciting enough for me!

"Are we any closer to figuring out what is happening to me?" I said, sitting back down in the loose circle. I was sitting between Edward and Jacob, and leaned against Edward for support. I needed to know what was happening to me, but to be honest I wasn't sure I wanted to know.

"Can you describe what happened on the day you needed to bite her, Edward?" Carlisle asked.

"Of course," Edward replied, his voice taking on a detached, clinical tone. "Bella, Jake, and I were playing in the creek. Bella fell over, and hit her head and ribs. She was bleeding. Jake slipped trying to catch her, and he got scraped up too. I carried her to the grass, and Jake and I sat with her deciding what to do."

"Jake," Carlisle interrupted Edward, "is there any chance that some of your blood could have gotten into Bella's bloodstream?"

Jake blinked, and I could see him thinking. "Yes. I had no shirt on in the creek, so my scratches were bleeding without anything to stop them. I wasn't worried about my injuries, because I heal quickly - I was worried about Bella."

"And you held her against your chest in the car," remembered Edward, following Carlisle's train of thought.

"Yes..." replied Jake - he and I seemed to both be confused, but I could see Sam's eyes light up with understanding.

"I think I know what's happened," said Carlisle. "Changing into a wolf isn't your vampire power - you got some werewolf blood in your body at the same time your transformation into a vampire started. Since the venom works slowly throughout your body, the werewolf blood would have had time to affect you before the Change was complete. I'm thinking that you have some werewolf characteristics, in addition to vampire."

I looked at Carlisle, dazed by all this information. "So," I said slowly, "your theory is that I managed to have werewolf blood mixed with my blood after my accident, and it mutated me while the venom was Changing me?"

Carlisle smiled at me, "Mutated wasn't the word I would use - you aren't a mutant! But other than that, yeah."

"Makes sense to me," Sam agreed. "Trust Bella to manage something unique!"

I rolled my eyes. "So, no one has heard of this before? Really?"

Edward shook his head, "Vampires and Werewolves rarely spend time together. I think you might be one of the few people to be friends with both. You have to admit that it is a rather unusual circumstance to be bled on by a werewolf while a vampire bites you."

"Yeah, I can admit that's unusual." I leaned against Edward for support, I felt drained, and wished that vampires could nap. Mystic cuddled up into my lap. "Hey look! I've got an Australian Cuddle Dog!" I smiled, trying to break the tension a bit.

Jake laughed. "She is a very cuddly Cattle Dog. Hey, Emmett - did you get Stripes from Charlie's house? Or should I go pick him up?"

"Naw, I got him. The mutant over there still has her pets." Emmett grinned at me, and I knew that I would never live down the mutant comment.

"We're going to need to move soon, Bella." Carlisle said, turning the conversation serious again. "We can't risk people seeing you after you 'died'. But if Sam will agree, I'd like you to talk to Billy, and see if his legends mention anything about Cold Ones and Spirit Warriors mixing together."

"That's a good idea," Sam said. "Jake and I can meet you somewhere with him, but it can't be here - there's no way I want to move the wheelchair through the forest."

Carlisle nodded. "But it can't be in public, either. Could you bring him to our house? We could sit on the back porch. It's away from prying eyes, but much more accessible in a wheelchair than this meadow."

"I'll check with him," Jake said. "It's going to take some convincing. I'll call Bella when I've worked it out." Everyone nodded.

"Jake, I could also use some practice in learning how to phase into a werewolf - could you swing by later to help me?" I asked. I knew Edward wouldn't be thrilled with Jake coming to the house, but there was no way I could go to the reservation.

Edward looked at me thoughtfully, "That sounds like a good idea, Bella. We're teaching you the ins and outs of being a vampire, but we can't help with the werewolf part. It would be great if you could learn from Jake before we have to leave."

Jake nodded. "I'll feel better about you being out in the world, Bella, if I know you can control the wolf part of you. I'l give you a call in a little while, and we can meet in the woods near their house."

"Thanks, everyone. You don't know how much it means to me to have all of you helping me. I couldn't cope with everything without you." If I had been human, my eyes would have started tearing up. I hugged everyone quickly, but Emmett held on tightly.

"You know, if all of us weren't involved, you wouldn't have to deal with all this." He smiled, teasing.

I stuck out my tongue at him. "Yeah, and if you weren't around I wouldn't be saddled with two pets, either. I've got a death to deal with, turning into a vampire, turning into a werewolf, a boyfriend, a best friend, a new family, and 2 pets. My plate's a little full."

"You sound like that guy in The Princess Bride!" Emmett cheered. "The one who says he's too busy for torture because he has 'a wedding to plan, a wife to murder, and Guilder to blame for it. I'm swamped'. Except you actually are more busy. Wow."

"What do I say to that?" I asked. There really wasn't a response, so I thwapped him on the head. "C'mon Edward, run with me back to the house, I want to feel the wind in my hair again - this is almost like flying! Not tripping is a wonderful bonus to becoming a vampire!"

Edward smiled, and reached for my hand. I took it and gave Jake a quick hug with the other arm. "Thanks again everyone - I'll see you later. Emmett, you can bring Mystic home, right?" I said, and pulled Edward after me into the forest without waiting for a reply.

We ran together, and I loved every second of that feeling of almost-flight. Edward slowed and stopped after a bit, and I looked at him. He smiled at me and took my face in his hands, kissing me.

"Bella," he said, his voice husky, "I love you so much. I'm so glad you're still here."

I kissed him back, then smiled. "Even though I'm a mutant?"

I loved seeing his crooked smile. "Mutant or not, I love you forever." Edward's eyes were dark with longing, and he kissed me again.

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A/N: OK, that chapter turned out a bit different than I was expecting. I have to see a new neurologist, and that is going to suck up the rest of my day. I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can.