The pack came in relatively early. It had been a close tie between the two cubs so they were going to have a rematch.
Bella was already upstairs asleep when Jacob entered the bedroom.
He sighed as he stroked her hair. She was mumbling in her sleep. He didn't really listen.
It had always been the same thing.
Where are you? Where have you gone Edward?
Jacob ran a hand through his long hair and shook it out of its ponytail. He yanked his PJ's on after his shower and climbed into bed.
Bella had stopped talking and slept quietly. Jacob was glad. He wanted to sleep tonight.
He sat up in bed, alert. His door had inched open of its own accord.
"Who's there?" Jacob asked guardedly, his bleary eyes suddenly awake and alert.
"It's Jake." Jake grunted.
"Come on in son."
Jake shuffled over to his dad's side of the bed. He sat down, Indian style, on the edge of the covers.
Jacob's brow was furrowed in confusion. "What's wrong Jake?"
Jake sighed as if there were a heavy load on his shoulders.
"It's Alix, dad."
Jacob was halfway to the door when..."Dad, wait! There's nothing physically wrong with her. She's asleep."
Jacob let out a shaky breath and walked back to the bed, tense.
"Well, what's...?"
"She's so out of it, dad. It's like she's not even here!" Jake explained, frustrated.
Jacob winced at his son's tone. He felt helpless.
His tongue flopped around uselessly in his mouth, dry. "What can I do Jake? She's just going to have to accept this on her own. I can't force her to do something. She has to learn that this is not a curse, it is a blessing!"
"It must be a blessing in disguise then." Jake said darkly, disgust rising to his otherwise expressionless face.
Jacob clenched his fist. He was caught. He had thought like that too, once upon a time. But it was different now.
"Jake, I can't make you accept my beliefs. I can only teach them as I learned. You must decided on your own and so must Alix." Jacob ground out slowly.
Jake stared at his father, examining his honesty.
Finally, he sighed and broke eye contact.
He nodded silently and backed out the way he came.
Jacob, fully drained now, fell back into bed with a thump!
Why couldn't the world be normal, for once?
Why did his daughter have to suffer with what the fates had put before her?
It wasn't fair.
And he
could not
do
a thing
about
it.
"Wake up! Fire! Tornado! Hurricane! Drought!"
Alix groaned and rolled over. She knew that last one could never be true, not in the rainiest place in the country.
"Leave me 'lone. I be tire'" Alix mumbled unintelligibly.
Jake sighed and whacked her with a pillow.
"Get-up-get-up-get-up!" He repeatedly whacked with each word.
Alix growled at him, snatching up the pillow and ripping it to shreds.
Now her whole room was in chaos.
Jake was smirking, a feather stuck in his hair.
"That was your pillow, princess."
"Argh! Jake!" Alix roared at him.
Jake dashed out the door, faster than ever.
"My work is done!" He announced, plopping into a chair at the breakfast table.
Grandad Black rolled his wheelchair into the kitchen. He smiled at his grandson. Sometimes, he reminded him of his own son, Jacob.
Bella's brow rose as she heard her daughter screaming and furiously cursing upstairs.
"Jake? What did you do?"
"I woke her up! It's not my fault that werewolves are particularly grumpy in the morning." Jake flashed a couple of pearly whites at her. They shined brightly in contrast to his dark, russet skin.
Bella sighed, holding her forehead.
"I'm going to lie down. You two can handle this one." Bella muttered to Jacob and Billy, exiting the kitchen.
Billy's eyebrows rose. "Ah...they're your kids son. I've done my share of parenting. Good luck." And with that, Billy grabbed a donut and swiveled back out the kitchen.
Jacob growled in annoyance at Jake and his father. This was NOT how he wanted to start his day.
"Look son, I suggest you get the hell out of dodge before your sister makes herself known." Jacob said pointedly.
Jake laughed and spooned a little more cereal into his bowl.
"Oh please Dad! What's she gonna do to me? I'm indestructible!"
Jacob narrowed his eyes. "Not when you're finished with me, you're not."
Jake seemed to recede a little after that.
Alix stomped down the stairs in a halfhearted huff.
She swiped the cereal box away from her brother and poured herself a bowl full.
He winced as she balled her hand into a fist.
She seemed to have trouble controlling herself.
"Alix, do you need to go outside?" Jacob asked calmly.
Alix nodded stiffly.
Jacob rose to open the door for her.
Alix darted outside just as her clothes ripped loudly as she changed.
Jacob groaned as he collected her rags.
"Couldn't even wait til she got to the trees..." Jacob mumbled to himself, bending down every once in a while to collect the slowly growing pile.
Alix ran fast and true, her heart not even increasing its steady pace. It was so natural to run. There was nothing unsure about running. Everything made sense, most of the time.
This was not one of those times.
It was a Sunday so Alix did not have to get back home too soon. She ran until she felt slightly fatigued. Her mind was curiously blank as she trudged back home.
Jake was in his wolf form at home, trying to speak to Alix.
Alix? Will you please speak to me?
...
Al?
...
-sigh-
Alix arrived at home, thoroughly tired, around midnight.
She passed out, still in wolf form, at the front door. She was too tired to change back. She faintly hoped that no one would find her other than her family. They might become scared and shoot at her. Or worse, call her parents.
Then, they'd have to pretend they were scared.
It was too much trouble really...
I'm home...was Alix's last thought as she gratefully drifted into dark, blissful unconsciousness.
"Alixandra Rae!"
Whoosh...
Alix shook her head, coughing as the salty sea water invaded her senses, swallowed her...
Calling her name...
"No. Go 'way... Sleep..." Alix mumbled, her arms weakly trying to wave off the invaders.
"But we come...to help you..."
The voices were beautiful...singing rather than speaking...
Ahhhh...
"Alix! C'mon baby, wake up. You can do it!" Someone pleaded with her from some small part of her conscience.
"No, stay with us Alixandra. We give you peace..."
"Mmhmm, 'k..." Alix slurred as the darkness continued to rise...
Nyahh!!
"Alix, you must awake! PLEASE!" The voice was sobbing, broken tearful sobs. It broke Alix's heart. She wanted to wake up...
"No, we must NOT give you back!" The voice suddenly changed. They were still beautiful, yet hostile. They no longer comforted her...
"Mom..." Alix rasped out.
"You have no mother!" The voices hissed in harmony...as one...
Ahhh...
Nyahh!!
"Oh Jacob! Make her wake up! I don't know what to do...what to do..."
Mom.
Bella pounded onto Jacob's chest as numerous tears poured silently down her face. Drip...drop...drip...
One...two...three...how many more?
Alix felt her face smile. There were five. Yes, five voices...
"Mom, is she up?"
"No!"
"Alix..."
"My granddaughter..."
I love you guys...
Nyahh!! Up! Up you fool! You are not dead yet! Not while I'm still fighting.
Ahhh...go away...
Alix swatted at the irritating voice. But it was in her head. She succeeded in hitting one of the five voices.
"Wah! Alix! Dang, that hurt!"
Heehe...Jake...her laugh tinkled as clear as a bell. Can you hear meeeeee...?
"She must be awake somewhere in her subconscience. Or that could be a natural reflex against your voice..." A voice Alix recognised as her dear grandfather's.
Yet he's old...old...old...
"So every time she hears me, she wants to slap me?" Jake's voice whined uncharacteristically.
Laughs. Dry chuckles. Not really ... happy.
Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day...ahh...
Nyahhh!!
"Oh no, what's happening?!" Bella screamed as Alix's body began to shake.
Jacob felt his daughter's forehead. It was cold. Ice cold.
"No." He whispered.
Jacob tried to hold Alix down as the shaking continued relentlessly. Billy closed his eyes tight, held Jake close to him. Bella was in hysterics, shouting for the somebody to do something.
They couldn't take her to a hospital. Not with her heart beating 100 times per second.
But that might not last for long.
"You know what, screw it. Screw the damn treaty. Son, I'm going to call Carlisle." Billy spat out angrily, rolling towards the nearest phone.
Jacob set his teeth hard, arms around Alix as if that was the only thing that could keep him from lashing out in fury.
Bella gasped and quickly covered her mouth. She knew that Jacob would have a hard time seeing her old friend come over to the house. They were natural enemies.
Bella touched Jacob's arm tentatively. "Baby, please calm down. It's for Alix's sake." She whispered into his ear.
Jacob closed his eyes as tears leaked out, landing on Alix's long black hair.
"Ok. OK! I'll do it." Jacob breathed.
Bella chewed on her lip. Could he?
Carlisle did not take long.
He had run as fast as he could as soon as he received the call. It was only for dire emergencies that the Blacks would EVER call the Cullens for help.
He wished to know what was wrong. Alice was out, hunting with Jasper and Edward. Rosalie had been out in the garage, tinkling with her tools. Esme had offered as much comfort and support as she possibly could supply. She wished to go with him but...Billy had only requested him.
He didn't push it.
He rapped sharply on the door three times. He could smell the tension in the air. And was that...fear?
The door swung open. No one was near to greet him.
He took four long quick strides into the room.
And saw everyone huddled anxiously around a girl.
Carlisle's eyes zeroed in on her face. She looked frail and tremendously tired. She was physically and mentally unsteady. She needed help fast.
"What happened to her?" He asked softly, so as to not frighten anyone further.
No one answered at first.
"She just came in from her run. She collapsed. I d-didn't know what to do...Her thoughts were slurred and meaningless..."
Jake stumbled over his words.
Billy clutched at his grandson, for he knew no words to soothe him.
Carlisle nodded. He slid gently between Bella and Jacob, reaching out to Alix.
Jacob moved back quickly, anxious for Carlisle to help his daughter.
No matter the dislike now.
Carlisle carefully examined Alix's slightly shaking body. He saw that she had just had an attack of some sort. Her heart was straining inside her chest. She felt cold. Colder than Carlisle could imagine. Her blood, while naturally unappealing to him, smelled weak. Her eyes were dilated making her pupils abnormally large.
Was she dying?
"No. It's not fair. No no no!" Bella angrily repeated. Over and over again, Bella could not be hushed.
Jake had closed his eyes and seemed to be falling into a fretful sleep.
Carlisle narrowed his eyes. He longed for sleep...
No. He must focus on the task at hand. He could not let this little girl, the one who favored Bella, die at his watch.
Wait. Bella.
This must be Bella's daughter and son...Jacob's her husband?
Carlisle mentally was shaking his head. Oh Edward...that's why he was so down...Of course, what was he to expect? He broke up with her those many years ago.
Focus!
"Well Carlisle?" Bella asked anxiously. She was the only one who would speak to him.
Carlisle sighed.
"It doesn't look good Bella. But she is extremely stressed and tired. Her mind has shut down to the outside world. She must choose to wake up. It's like she's in a vegetable state."
All hope flew out the window.
"Please stay." Jacob hoarsely pleaded.
Carlisle watched him for a moment, then nodded.
Hope tiptoed back...
Bella's eyes looked at Jacob, lifeless.
Her baby was dying...
An angel going back to heaven?
She's too young, you know that. Bella internally argued with the celestial being.
She hoped He would listen to her.
She wasn't particularly religious. They didn't always go to church on Sunday. Today was Monday, 2:45 AM.
Sleep wasn't important at all.
"I want to go back...ahhhh..."
Bella jumped. Alix was talking!
Was she?
"Please, I'm not ready to go home...not yet...I'll accept it...I know...That's...fine..."
Alix spoke fervently in her 'sleep'.
Bella's hope was coming back quickly.
Please...
Alix's body shuddered one last time. They could hear the death rattle in her chest.
And then, Bella saw her die.
Carlisle was immediately alarmed. Werewolves didn't die like this, not new ones anyway!
He whipped his head toward Bella.
"She needs CPR."
Bella's eyes were frightened. Then, something changed in them.
She was determined.
"Move." She said steely to Jacob.
He departed with a strangled sob.
Bella placed her hands onto Alix's chest and pumped.
One...two...three...four...
Then she pinched Alix's nose and breathed the breath of life into her mouth.
One...two...three...
Breathe.
One...two...
Breathe!
One...
Bella started to slam her fist against her daughter's chest.
"C'mon Alix!" Bella sobbed.
Jacob moved her out of the way, a strange look in his eye.
"Let me do it."
He was stronger.
He slammed his fist, hard, into her chest. Forcing her heart to pump the rich blood through her veins again...
Whoosh...
We will meet again...
Fair enough...
Coughing.
"AHHHH!"
Alix sat straight up, her eyes unnaturally wide. Jacob's hand froze above her body.
Alix breathed in and out huge gulps of air...oxygen...life...
And Bella just about suffocated her.
"Oh God! Oh Alix! Oh thank God! Ohhh!" Bella wept into Alix's hair, clutching her close.
Then everyone just about went crazy.
"What the heck was that?! Huh?! You freaked me out! Oi!" Jake was shouting, tears running down his snotty cheeks.
"You're back...you came back..." Billy was whispering, his hand locked around hers, never letting go again.
"Don't ever scare me like that again! You are not running alone ever, ever, ever!" Jacob was scolding her lightly, rocking her and Bella back and forth.
Carlisle closed his eyes. There is a God.
"I'm...so...glad...to be back...ack...D-dad, I can't breathe..." Alix struggled to get out, her arms still trembling from the near death experience.
After a while, Jacob and Bella let Alix go. She gratefully sucked in a lungful of air.
Jake stared at her, as if not believing she was here.
Alix stared back at her brother. Then she winked. "I'm not going to die, honestly."
That seemed to crack Jake, though his laugh was rather shaky.
"I'm glad you're back, dudette." Jake mumbled as he hugged her tight.
Alix knew that he was elated to have her back. She was too. That was the freakiest thing she had ever experienced.
Was this normal?
Certainly not!
Alix focused her vision on Jacob. "Dad, is this normal for a wolf?"
Jacob's eyes narrowed. "Of course not. This should never happen to anyone, much less a werewolf."
Carlisle rubbed his temples. "I've been going over the facts numerous times and it just seems that you've had your first panic attack times 1 million. Being a werewolf makes things infinitely harder." He said wearily.
"Oh God." Bella moaned, her face still buried in Alix's sweaty hair.
Alix winced as her mother's grip tightened. "Let up a little bit, will ya mom?"
Bella seemed to shake herself out of something before letting up and standing a few inches back.
"Sorry." Bella blushed for the first time in a long time.
"It's...cool." Alix tested out her shoulder. It felt stiff.
Carlisle's eyebrows were slanted into a frown. He stepped in front of Alix and knelt down, finally eye level with her.
"Alix is it? I'm Carlisle, Edward's father? You remember him?"
Alix nodded.
"Good. I'm a doctor. Now, I want to know exactly what you last remember before you passed out."
Alix looked defeated. "Do I have to?"
"Yes. It is imperative that I know exactly what set you off so that it will not happen again. This has been extremely unusual. It's...never happened before..." Carlisle frowned at some unfinished thought.
Alix sighed and took one last glance at her family.
Then she closed her eyes.
And went back.
Dreamed.
Saw.
Lived.
Again.