Chapter Three: Nightmare

Daddy and Papa strapped Jake to a stretcher that had been lengthened somehow to fit him. "Nessie, could you grab my bag?" Papa asked as he and Daddy picked up the ends of the stretcher. I obeyed and followed them through the woods.

When we emerged beside a quiet road, I blinked in surprise. I had expected to see Papa's Mercedes waiting for us, or maybe Daddy's silver car. Not this… "You stole an ambulance?" I gasped.

Daddy gave me a crooked half smile. "Borrowed, Nessie." He reached with one hand to open the doors to the back, and he and Papa loaded Jake inside. Then Daddy went around to the driver's seat while Papa reached down a hand to help me in. "I assume you don't want to ride up front with your father."

I shook my head and sank onto the bench along one side as Papa pulled the doors shut. He paused to check Jake's eyes, then sat beside me and wrapped an arm around me.

"How did you get an ambulance?" I demanded. "I mean, won't someone notice it's missing?"

"Alice says not; it's actually unused right now because some of the life support equipment needs to be replaced. We flew in to the nearest town and picked this up there."

I shuddered slightly at the word flew, and Papa pulled me into his lap. He and Daddy both treated me like a little girl…but at the moment, I felt like one. I sighed and leaned my head against Papa's shoulder. He said nothing, but simply sat stroking my hair.

Then Jacob groaned, and I was off Papa's lap and at his side in a moment. "Jake?" I breathed.

"Ness…"

I caught at his hand, and he squeezed mine weakly.

Papa was on his other side, checking him over. "How's the pain, Jake?"

"Pretty…bad…"

"All right; I'm going to give you a shot of morphine. I'm guessing at the dose, what with your size and body temperature, so let me know if it wears off or if it doesn't seem to be enough."

I looked at Jake, knowing he wouldn't…not in front of me. Daddy, please tell Papa if Jake needs more morphine! Daddy would do it, now; there had been a time I almost thought he would have enjoyed seeing Jake in pain, but all that had changed in the months before my wedding.

Jacob licked his lips. "Got any water, Doc?"

"Sure." Papa came forward with a cup and gently lifted Jacob's head. "Drink slowly…not too much."

"Thanks." Jacob let his eyes drift shut again, and I rested my hand on his forehead.

I don't know how fast Daddy was driving; probably the ambulance couldn't go as fast as his car. But it was starting to get dark when he pulled up in front of the big house.

Momma was standing on the front porch watching for us, and I jumped down and ran into her arms, burying my face in her shoulder as Daddy and Papa carried Jacob inside to get him settled in the guest room. I barely noticed when Aunt Alice and Uncle Jasper left to return the ambulance.

"Nessie?"

I lifted my head and saw Mama Esme standing in the doorway, and wondered how long I had been standing here with Momma.

Mama Esme came forward and gently touched my shoulder. "I have some food for Jacob — if you want to take it up to him?"

I pulled away from Momma instantly, hurrying into the house after Mama Esme. "Wash your face first," she told me gently, handing me a damp washcloth. I did as she asked, knowing I really must look a mess. Then I picked up the tray she had fixed and ran tiptoe up the stairs.

Jake was alone in the guest room, half sitting against the headboard. He smiled slightly when he saw me. "Hey, Ness."

"Hey," I replied softly. I set the tray on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed, reaching to press my hand to his face.

He snorted at the wordless tone of my thoughts. "Aw, don't go all melodramatic, Ness; I wasn't hurt that bad. Did you bring that food up so I could starve to death smelling it, or were you planning on feeding me anytime soon?"

I laughed a bit shakily. Feed you? I questioned, my thought carrying an image with it.

"Hey, I'm beat." His voice was still teasing…but he did sound tired, and I found myself biting my lip as I reached for the tray of food.

I balanced it on my lap, gazing into Jake's eyes as I fed him each bite. I could almost forget why I was doing this, it felt so romantic.

And then Jake's eyes drifted shut, his head falling back against the headboard. I stared at the bites still left, my stomach twisting with new fear. Jake never left food on his plate; he never left food on the plate of anyone at the same table with him.

Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Relax, Nessie," Daddy said quietly. "It's just the morphine kicking in; as hazy as his thoughts were getting, I'm surprised he lasted that long." He caught the tray as I turned with a sigh to bury my face in his arm.

Daddy gently ran a hand over my hair. "Your mother has a hot bath ready for you, Nessie."

That sounded wonderful, but I hesitated. I don't want to leave him alone, Daddy.

"I'll stay with him. You go on now."

Whose bathroom?

"Mama Esme's."

My eyes widened slightly; it was the best bathroom in the house.

Daddy smiled slightly and kissed my forehead as I stood. "I love you, Renesmée."

Love you, too, Daddy.

Momma stayed in the bathroom with me, washing my hair and singing softly. I felt myself growing drowsy from the hot water.

Finally I got out and sat wrapped in a towel as Momma gently dried my hair. She hugged me as I stood in my nightgown. "Good night, Nessie."

"Good night, Momma."

I slipped barefoot up the stairs and into Jake's room. Papa stood beside the bed, turning as I entered. "Hi, Nessie," he said softly. "Come to say good night? Edward says he'll be able to hear your thoughts even with the morphine."

I stopped in confusion. "Oh, but — Papa, please!"

He frowned. "What is it, Nessie?"

I ran forward to press my hand to his face, showing him an image of me in bed with Jake. It honestly hadn't even occurred to me that they might make me sleep in my own room…well, I just wouldn't! I'd sleep on the floor in here if I had to.

Papa seemed to consider a moment. "All right," he said quietly. "You're small enough…and his ribs are fine now. Just try not to bump his legs, all right?"

All right, Papa. Thank you. I quickly slipped in beside Jake, and Papa bent to pull the covers over me and kiss my cheek.

"Good night, Nessie," he said softly.

"Good night."

He turned the light out as he left the room, and I rolled over, resting my hand on Jacob's face as I curled against his chest with my head on his shoulder.

oOo

I stood clinging to Jake in the open doorway of a dead, doomed airplane. "You have to leave me, Ness!" he insisted. "I love you!" Wrenching free of my clinging hands, he shoved me through the door.

I screamed as I fell. It wasn't the fall that scared me — I knew I would be all right. It was the fact that Jacob was still on that plane. "Jacob!"

I hung suspended in the air, watching helplessly as the plane spiraled toward the ground trailing black smoke. I fancied I could still see Jake sometimes, his face as stoic as all the old Indian chiefs in the face of death. I wished he was scared; maybe then he would have jumped.

Then I was on the ground, running toward the flaming wreck that had been an airplane. I tossed twisted metal aside recklessly, burning my hands but not caring, not if I could get to Jake before he burned to ashes. "Jacob!" I half sobbed, half screamed.

I was ready to throw myself into the plane after him when I felt a hand on my shoulder — and heard his voice. "Nessie, wake up. It's just a dream; I'm right here."

My eyes flew open. I was lying in bed beside Jake, his anxious face bending over me. "Oh — Jacob!" I gasped, throwing myself against him. My cheeks were wet; I had been crying in my sleep.

"I'm fine, Ness," he repeated, wrapping an arm around me.

I buried my face against his warm chest and bit until I could taste his blood. "I'm never flying again as long as I live!" I sobbed.

Next chapter coming next week!

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