A.N. Yay! Chapter 23 is finally going to be posted! Sorry about the wait, it was hell week for the play so I was reaaaalllly busy! But I got it up now. Anyways, seriously folks, I've gotten tons of hits for this story but only like three reviews last time, so if you want me to continue writing this, please review!

It felt like we waited forever for the doctor to come out, and when he did he said only one thing.

"Jacob need's you, Drina," he told me, and taking that as my cue I hurried down the hall and into Jake's room.

"Drina!" He said, looking relieved, but in pain all the same.

"Shh, I'm here," I told him, moving over and kneeling beside his bed. He frowned and patted the space next to him.

I sighed and slowly slipped onto the bed, letting him wrap his arms awkwardly around me. I knew this was probably a bad idea, but I wanted to be close to him just as much as he seemed to want to be close to me. The last few hours have been the longest of my life, and all I needed right now was to have his arms wrapped tightly around me.

"I'm sorry, Drina, about this whole stupid thing. I shouldn't have challenged him, and-" he began, but I turned carefully in his arms and pressed my lips to his, silencing his pointless apologies.

At first, he seemed like he wanted to pull away and continue, but after a moment or two he was kissing me back with an intensity like no other.

I moaned into his mouth as his hand knotted into my hair, holding my face to his.

There was then a soft clearing of a throat and we both broke apart to see Quil, Embry, and Sam standing in the doorway.

"Well, he looks alright to me. I mean if he can pull that off," Quil grinned.

"Yes, he looks fine," Sam agreed, a smile on his face. I blushed, trying to get up again, but Jacob held me down.

"I hurt, but ya, I'm better," he said, smiling softly at me. I scowled back at him and he chuckled softly.

"Alright man, well, we'll be back tomorrow to see how you are then. No horseplay while you're in such a shape now. Be good you two," Quil laughed.

"Shut up, Quil!" We both yelled at him. He chuckled and they all backed out of the doorway, closing it behind them.

I sighed, relaxing again.

"They can be kind of annoying," I said, closing my eyes.

"Ya, they can be," Jacob agreed, trailing his fingers along my arm.

I then slowly propped myself onto my elbow and looked down into his face.

"Are you ok?" I asked, meaning it in more than one way.

"Ya, it's just a few bruises," he shrugged.

"But are you ok, Jacob? You did do something other than fight a vampire today," I reminded him, tracing small circles onto his bicep with my finger.

"Oh," he said, remembering. He was silent for a minute, obviously trying to think back that far.

"Drina…that kiss, it wasn't me. She just all of a sudden-!"

"Shh," I told him, pressing my finger to his lips.

"I know that Jacob. What I asked is if you were alright? Did that visit with her hurt you any way?" I rephrased, because he obviously wasn't getting this.

He looked away from me then, focusing his attention to his fingers on my arm.

"It was… hard, seeing her, but it didn't hurt me. I tried to ignore her most of the time. I really don't remember much of what she said. I do remember your face though, when she kissed me," he said softly, taking my hand in both of his own and beginning to play with my fingers. "It looked so hurt. It nearly broke my heart." He then looked at me.

"Are you ok?" He asked.

"A little jumbled up at the moment, but, I'm fine," I assured him.

"Are you sure?" He pried.

I bit my lip, knowing full well that I definitely wasn't fine. I had been completely beaten down by his former lover, the vampire who murdered my father came, and Jake nearly died protecting me… I wasn't fine.

I looked at him for a minute longer, then closed my eyes and shook my head, tears forming behind my lids.

He slowly wrapped his arms around me, pulling my body against his.

"I'm sorry, Drina," he said softly as my crying increased.

I had held in my rage, and my fear, and my sadness during all of this, but now it all came out in a great wave of tears. I could no longer control myself. I cried and cried, unable to stop myself for some time.

Once I had calmed down Jacob was still there, stroking my hair and soothing me.

I slowly opened my swollen eyes to see his smooth chest, so I leaned in a little farther and set my lips to it, allowing him to release a soft sigh.

"I knew you weren't ok," he commented as I continued to pamper his skin.

"No, I wasn't," I agreed, loving the feeling of his smooth skin against my mouth.

"Are you now?" He asked softly.

"I'm better, yes," I told him.

"What can I do to make it all go away?"

I thought about it for a minute, then smiled.

"Kiss me," I commanded.

He smiled at that too and bent his head, his lips brushing mine in a soft, lasting kiss. They then traveled over my chin, down my throat, and back up again.

"Drina…" he breathed, softly, continuing his circuit. I shivered, I loved when his husky voice said my name. It was so full of love, it made my heart swell with longing.

"I love you," he told me softly, his lips ghosting over mine, but not lingering.

"I love you more," I responded, my voice breathy.

"I don't think that's possible. I don't know how anyone can love someone more than I love you," he crooned, making my breath quicken.

"I do," I murmured, trying to keep my sanity in check.

"Prove your theory," he urged.

"I can't."

"Why not? Because it isn't true?"

"No, because Quil was right."

He looked down at me in confusion.

"There should be no horseplay when you are in such a condition," I told him wisely. His smile returned, spreading across his handsome face.

"Where's the fun in that?" He asked.

"There is none, but I think healing should be your first priority. The horseplay can be taken care of after the fact," I told him, kissing his temple, then carefully nipping at his ear.

"Uhn, that is so stupid," he groaned.

"Stupid is as stupid does," I quoted.

"That's unfair."

"I know."

"You're unfair."

"I know."

"…please," he begged. I laughed, looking into his agonized eyes.

"Nope. It's your fault for getting hurt, you should have fought better," I told him.

"If I knew what I was giving up I definitely would have," he grumbled. I laughed again.

"Just focus on getting better you loser," I told him, kissing his forehead, then slowly got up.

"Hey, where are you going?" He asked.

"To make dinner. You do want to eat, don't you?"

He pondered that for a moment, looking me up and down as he did so.

"Ugh, fine! You don't play fair!" He accused.

"I know I don't," I smiled, then quickly left the room to fix dinner so I could get back to him as soon as I could.