Chapter Two: Field Surgery

I closed my eyes and pressed my face into Jacob's shoulder as we fell through the air. I wasn't scared of heights…but this was five, ten times as high as Daddy had ever let me jump on my own. I guess Jake was afraid of being too late, or maybe he didn't want to risk having the plane come down on top of us.

We landed in a slight clearing in the woods; only a few small branches broke off as we fell through. Jake hit the ground first, with a cry of pain that was half a howl.

His body cushioned my landing, and I rolled off him quickly. "Jacob?" My voice rose frantically as I cried his name.

"Ness," he gasped. "You all right?"

"Yes — but you're hurt, Jacob!" Tears stung my eyes.

"Just my legs…broken…" His voice trailed off, and I gave a short scream, terrified until I realized that he was still breathing; I could still hear his heartbeat. But his legs were bent wrong, and I swallowed another scream as I realized the white I saw on one of them was the bone poking through.

Tears were streaming down my face as I dug in both pockets for my cell phone. I had Papa's number programmed into it, but still I had to try three times before my trembling fingers would hit the right buttons to dial.

"Hello, Nessie; is something wrong?"

"Papa," I choked; even I could hardly understand the word. I wished desperately that I could share thoughts over the phone, because I couldn't talk. All I could do was sob hysterically.

"Nessie. Nessie, honey, calm down."

I shook my head frantically, as if he could see me, nearly choking myself on my own sobs.

"Nessie. Just breathe, sweetheart. In…and out. In…and out."

He waited until I was a little calmer; I was still crying, but I wasn't in hysterics. "Can you tell me what's wrong, Nessie? Is Jacob —?"

"He's hurt, Papa! The plane crashed — we had to jump out — Jake broke his legs — he's unconscious! Papa, I'm scared!"

"Shh, Nessie," Papa soothed. "How's his heartbeat; steady?"

"I-I think so."

"He'll be fine; werewolves can recover from any injury that doesn't kill them instantly. Can you tell me where you are, honey?"

"I don't know," I whimpered. Then I looked up and saw a smudge of black smoke over the trees. "North of where the plane went down," I realized. "Aunt Alice can 'see' where that is, can't she, now that we're not on it?" My voice was bordering on hysteria again.

"Yes," he assured me. "Just try to stay calm, Nessie, and keep him warm. I'll be there as soon as I can."

Keep him warm. I didn't have a blanket; all I could do was curl up against him, one hand resting on his cheek. I lay my head on his chest, listening to the reassuring thud of his heart.

I realized now that when I asked if we'd be all right, he hadn't said yes. He said nothing would hurt me — as if losing him wouldn't hurt me far more than any physical pain! I was slightly less vulnerable than he was…but still he would try to take any danger on himself, keep it off me.

"Please, Jake," I whispered. "Just wake up."

I wasn't sure how much time had passed when I heard Jacob moan. I lifted my head quickly. "Jake?"

"Ness…" he groaned.

"How do you feel?" I asked softly.

"Thirsty…"

I bit my lip, fighting the urge to break into hysterical laughter. I don't have any water…sorry.

"All…right."

I gently brushed my hand over his forehead. "Just lie still, Jake. I called Papa; he's on his way."

Jacob's eyes closed again, but I was fairly certain he was still conscious. There was a tense set to his pale lips that made me think he was fighting back howls of pain. I gently ran my fingers through his hair, knowing there was nothing else I could do for him.

oOo

"Renesmée?"

I jumped to my feet as Daddy came running through the trees; the next instant I was crushed against his chest, clinging to him as I sobbed hysterically.

"Shh, baby," he murmured, stroking my hair. "Are you all right?"

Yes…but Jake's hurt, Daddy!

"Carlisle's right behind me; Jacob will be fine."

I-I know.

Daddy pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped my face, then held it to my nose. "Blow, Nessie," he ordered gently.

I obeyed, then cuddled my head against his shoulder, watching with his arm around my waist as Papa appeared through the trees and went straight to Jacob's side. "Jacob?"

"Hey, Doc," Jake said weakly.

Papa frowned. "Don't try to talk; let Edward relay. Does anything hurt besides your legs?"

Daddy glanced quickly at me before answering. "His side is bruised where Nessie landed on him; he might have a couple cracked ribs."

I whimpered softly, hating the thought that I had hurt him. And I had been lying on his chest…

"But on the other side," Daddy reminded me softly as Papa pulled Jacob's shirt back and felt along his side.

"Mm. Nothing's displaced. They seem to be healing well; I don't think I'll even bother wrapping them. Now let's see about those legs."

He cut Jacob's pants away and gently felt his legs, shaking his head as he finished his examination. "It's just what I was afraid of; the bones have already begun to knit together. I'll have to rebreak them in order to set them properly…and, Jacob, the sooner I do it the better."

"Fine…just put me out first."

"Of course. Edward, I'll need your help. Nessie, you'd better go —"

I growled, dropping to my knees by Jacob's side. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Ness," Jacob began; I could hear the alpha command in his tone and clutched frantically at his hand.

"Jake, don't," Daddy said quickly. "She'll be a wreck if she has to leave you, and Carlisle and I can't be in two places at once."

"Don't watch," Jacob ordered instead.

I had no problem with that; hearing was bad enough. Hearing the snap as Papa rebroke Jacob's bones with his bare hands. And then there was a strange rasping, grating noise — what was that? I would have turned and looked in spite of myself, but Jacob's alpha command held me. "What are you doing?" I whimpered.

"The right leg was a compound fracture, Nessie," Papa explained quietly. "The ends of the bone weren't in contact with each other at all; I have to file away the new bone growth so they'll fit together."

I swallowed hard, feeling almost as if I was going to be sick.

"Put your head down, Nessie," Daddy ordered quietly.

I groaned and obeyed.

Moments later, Daddy's arm was around me. "It's over, sweetheart; Carlisle just has to finish splinting the leg."

I still shuddered a little as I leaned against him. He didn't feel anything?

"No," Daddy assured me.

"Nessie, you're as white as a ghost!" Papa exclaimed, coming quickly toward me when he had finished with Jacob's splints. "I've half a mind to check you out."

"I'm fine," I whispered.

Papa insisted on giving me a quick check despite my words, feeling my pulse and shining his penlight into my eyes. "I ought to give you a sedative," he murmured, "but there's two miles to walk. Are you up to it, Nessie?"

I nodded, getting shakily to my feet.

"All right. Edward, help me get Jake on the stretcher."

Next chapter coming next week!

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