Summary; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.

I was waiting for some reviews, but I guess everyone's gone for Christmas. No biggie! Another update for those who do read it. And if you read this, and like it enough to put it on alert or fav status, please just leave a note at least to let me know you like it. I think it's common courtesy.

Reviews appreciated!

"What are you doing?" Jacob demanded, and Embry looked up almost an hour later to see his Alpha glaring down at him in wolf form, Quil nearby and obviously snickering.

"She wanted to go for a walk," he tried to explain, knowing it was weak and expecting to be told off. To his surprise, the wolf only shook his head tolerantly and heaved a sigh.

"Well, it's too cold out."

"She's got my heat," Embry argued, and a growl began to form as Quil trotted over to sniff her.

"Chill man. I think she's sick," he said, and the shifter's eyes widened.

"I thought she was warm, but nothing else seemed to be bothering her," he began in confusion, shifting to nudge his Imprint. He realized with a painful tightening in his chest that her breathing had become shallower. Guilt coursing through him, he also noted the flush in her cheeks.

"It's all right, man," Quil assured him, backing off to avoid provoking his pack member. "There's a virus going around La Push and Forks. Nothing supernatural, it just hits 'em hard," he added quickly. "Claire's mom had it – we had to take Claire to Emily's to keep her from getting it."

"Is it serious?" Embry whined, slowly getting to his feet and propping the young woman against a large paw.

"Enough that Seth should take Jeremy to Emily's as well," Jacob told him firmly. "We'll send Leah with some medication in the morning. Get her home and in bed. It'll be over in a few days, it just has to run its course. We'll let Emily know Seth's coming."

"How'd she get sick?" Embry fretted, looking between his two best friends and feeling utterly helpless.

"It's just going around. If she went into town, she got it there. She's not gonna die, man, so stop looking like that!" Quil ordered, a bark punctuating his words. Embry whimpered one last time before phasing back. His clothes tucked under Haley's arm, he sighed when he scooped her up. He could have sworn Quil snickered, and shot him a warning glare.

"We'll never say a word about to her," Jacob promised, before loping off. Quil barked one last laugh before trotting after the Alpha, leaving Embry to jog back towards the house with their usual shifter-speed.

"Um…do I want to ask?" Seth choked, his eyes threatening to fall out of his head as a stark-naked Embry stalked through the back door with Haley in his arms.

"She wanted to see my wolf form. I phased. I didn't realize she was sick until now," Embry explained shortly, Seth trailing after him as he headed to the bedroom.

"Is it serious?" the boy asked in honest concern, but Embry shook his head as he lowered his Imprint on the bed. Pulling on his pants, he glanced back to Seth.

"No. But take Jeremy to Emily's until she's better. Apparently, it's really contagious," he told him, and winced when Seth's mouth widened into a grin. "Yes, Jake and Quil came to check up on us and Quil told me," he said impatiently, and tossed the baby bag to the boy. "Now, get going."

"All right, all right. Am I coming back?" he asked, backing out of the room.

"No. Leah's coming in the morning. Stay with Jeremy. She'll kill me if something happened," he admitted with a wince, and rolled his eyes as a bark of laughter reached his ears. "It's not that funny!" he hissed.

"Sure it is. The whole pack's gonna know you're whipped enough to phase when she asks you to," Seth chuckled, but whimpered when Embry was suddenly beside him and looking very mad.

"Jake said there wouldn't be a word of this to her. Understand? Not a word," he ordered, and the boy grinned.

"I get it! You don't want her to know you had to run around with her naked? Sure, I can only imagine her reaction if she found out. Your secret is safe with me," he assured his friend, and looked down at the baby helplessly.

"Oh, I'll get him dressed," Embry said in exasperation and began the process after waking up Jeremy, who gurgled happily at the shifter. The young man went at the task with more efficiency than Seth had thought possible, and the boy had to admit he was impressed.

"At least Haley won't have to always take care of the kids," he joked, quickly taking the baby from Embry to protect himself. The shifter turned red, and gently shoved him down the hall.

"I get the point," he said through set teeth. "Jake said he'll let Emily know, so get going before she starts to worry."

"I'm going, I'm going!" Seth complained. "I'm so abused," he muttered before Embry shut the door on him.

Sighing to himself, he checked back on Haley and groaned when he realized he couldn't let her stay in her current clothes, considering they were dirty from being in the forest.

Muttering obscenities to himself, Embry gingerly took off her shoes and decided to leave her socks on for warmth. Steeling himself, the process went quicker than he could have hoped for and she was soon in a pair of blue flannel pajamas he had found.

"I guess that would be the fever," he noticed, seeing her shivering despite her high fever. Tucking her under the blankets, he found several others in the closet and layered them on top of the young woman. Shrugging to himself, he got into the bed next to her and pulled her against him, feeling her relax against his body heat.

The morning didn't start out too promising for the poor shifter. He was woken up by a strange noise, and before he could open his eyes he found himself on the floor with the blankets on top of him.

"Haley?" he asked fearfully, but saw her rushing out of the room. Scrambling to his feet, he stopped short when she slammed the door to the bathroom loudly. "Are you all right?" he called, hearing the unmistakable sounds of someone who was literally sick to their stomach.

"Don't come in," she croaked, her voice pitiful. "I missed. I'll clean it up."

"What?" he said indignantly, but she yelled something incoherent at him before emptying her stomach again. Wincing, he slowly backed away from the door and leaned against the wall across from it, staring at it intently.

A few more minutes passed before the door opened, and he gaped at the sight before him.

"I know," she managed to croak. Her skin was sheet white, and her hair was plastered to her face from sweat. "I look horrible. I feel – urp." It was the warning she needed to spin around and slide across the bathroom to the toilet with agility that would have impressed any performer.

"Um…" Embry began, but turned his head when someone knocked on the door. Reluctantly leaving his Imprint in the bathroom, he brightened slightly upon seeing Leah in the doorframe. The female shifter didn't look too pleased, however, and thrust a bag at him.

"Here, Jake sent it by way of Amelia through me. Make sure she takes it, directions are in the bag. I've got things to do, so enjoy doing laundry," she said shortly, turning on her heel and racing off before someone gave her reason to stay. Embry blinked, but shut the door slowly.

"If it's drugs, I want 'em!" Haley yelled weakly, and he trotted back to poke his head through the frame.

"If you can get up off the floor long enough to drink something, you can take it," he told her, skimming the directions on the bottle. She stared at him pitifully, and he sighed.

"Thanks," she mumbled, bracing herself up on the counter as he filled the cup in the bathroom with tap water. Handing it to her, he made sure she could swallow before giving her the pill. She managed to tip her back to choke it down before groaning.

"Don't throw up on me!" he yelped, jumping up as she turned green. Incapacitated, his Imprint only managed a glare before dipping her head in the sink.

Haley was stretched out on the couch that afternoon, wearing her pajamas and a blanket wrapped around her, while Embry tiptoed around the house fearful of bothering her.

She groaned quietly, and he looked up from the book he'd been reading immediately.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just thought something felt weird…" she mumbled, rolling over to face the back of the couch. He began to say something, but growled when he smelled who was outside. Striding to the front door, he threw it open to find Carlisle and Jasper before him, looking as calm as ever.

"Ah! Hello, Embry," the doctor said cheerfully. "Nessie sent us to see if Jacob was over here. We had a newborn attack, you see, and we wanted to inquire what was going on."

"They're attacking our tribe. And Imprints," Embry informed him, reluctantly stepping aside to let the two vampires in. The rest of the Pack had come to a truce with the Cullens after Jacob had Imprinted on Nessie, but they had been born to hate vampires and it was a bit hard to overcome one's natural instincts.

"And I'm assuming she is yours?" Carlisle guessed, glancing at the sick young woman and frowning slightly. "Does she have what's going around?" he asked, moving over to her before Embry could open his mouth to reply. Crouching next to her, he turned her over gently and rested his palm on her forehead.

"Mmm…" Haley sighed in relief at the iciness of his hand. Embry was too warm, and anything cold seemed to warm up seconds after she touched it. This hand was staying nice and cold, something that was a pleasant change.

"What did you come here for?" Embry demanded, unable to order the vampire back when his Imprint was so relaxed. Jasper shook his head, reclining against a wall.

"We told you. We were attacked by a newborn. Jacob told us something of what was going on, and we decided to come into town and see if anything was up," the vampire told him. "Have any of the others been attacked?"

"Haley," the shifter admitted. "Claire's down in La Push – they only had the guts to go down there one night. We haven't caught any trace of them in days, though."

"Well, we are a bit farther away from town," Carlisle said in amusement, obligingly keeping his hand on the sick woman's forehead to cool her. "We disposed of him easily enough, and he didn't tell us anything useful. Now, what were you saying about attacking your tribe?"

"The Pack. They know who's in the Pack, and who our Imprints are," Embry said bleakly, taking a seat. "They want revenge, Sam thinks, for fighting off Victoria's army that time."

"That was years ago!" the doctor replied, visibly startled. He and Jasper exchanged a glance, but the younger man shrugged. "Who on earth could it be?"

"Sam – guessing again – thinks it could be a newborn that managed to escape it all," Embry told them. "We've talked about it, and the best we can come up with is that a newborn was able to curb their instincts and survive. And now they're gathering up a new set of vampires to finish the job."

"A messy business," Carlisle sighed, and glanced down at Haley. "How is she?"

"Sick as a dog," her shifter admitted. Jasper snorted, ignoring the glare sent his way.

"We knew this must be an Imprint's house as soon as we came into town. It reeks of you dogs," he informed the shifter. "No vampire is going to come within a mile of this damned lot unless they're desperate."

"That's the idea," Embry growled.

"Has she eaten anything?" Carlisle asked, continuing as if there had been interruptions whatsoever.

"No. Leah came by with some medication that she's taking, but it's the first day," Embry admitted. The doctor nodded, and removed his hand reluctantly. Haley muttered something before turning over again, the feverish flush obvious on her cheeks.

"Well, make sure she takes it. Come on, Jasper, time to be getting back. We'll stop in again, you can be sure of that," the vampire assured the shifter as they left the house, his words lacking any threat.

"Why?" Embry growled to himself, locking the door for good measure and resuming his place across from his Imprint.

"Who were they?" Haley asked quietly, turning her head to gaze at Embry. He looked at her in surprise, but grimaced.

"Two of the Cullens. Carlisle is the head – a doctor, and he's the one who turned most of them. As for Jasper…he's the newest one to the family," he explained. He didn't mind Carlisle too much – none of the shifters did. It was hard to, due to his sincere nature and the fact he had patched them up countless times. Jasper they were more wary of, only because they knew his power to manipulate their feelings.

"I liked them," she continued, yawning. "His hand was nice and cold."

"Yeah, they're that, all right," he agreed wryly, sighing in relief when she turned back over to get some sleep.

"Why are we going back, again?" Jasper repeated in the car, halfway back to their home.

"Because these newborns concern not only the shifters, but us as well. And if they are after their Imprints, it's in our best interest to keep informed of the latest plans," the doctor replied, but Jasper narrowed his eyes.

"There's something else. I'll get Edward to pick it out of you," he threatened, and Carlisle shook his head tolerantly.

"It will take you a long time to understand how I view humans," he informed the younger vampire, who remained silent. "She's very human…a singular human, in my opinion. She has an air about her that not even Bella possessed when she was mortal. A pure human…" He trailed off thoughtfully, and raised an eyebrow at Jasper's snort of amusement.

"They all are mortal, Carlisle," he reminded him with a grin. "No more or less than any other humans walking around."

"No, I think you're wrong," his adopted father replied calmly. "There's something different about that young woman. I wish to get to know her better. Besides, she's a very sick young woman and really needs someone other than a shifter to make sure she's improving," he added, his tone suddenly very professional.

Jasper rolled his eyes heavenwards and decided to speak to Edward later.

"Humans don't possess powers," Edward said patiently, reading his brother's thoughts the moment he approached the other.

"You weren't there," Jasper protested. "She somehow knew we were there. And are you forgetting about your own wife?" he asked pointedly, and Edward had the grace to look embarrassed.

"Point taken," he agreed, pausing a moment. "So, you want me to go with Carlisle next time and read her mind?" he realized, looking at his brother doubtfully.

"You'll be able to read it in her mind," the vampire argued firmly. "If she's got some kind of power, we need to know. Especially with these newborns…you know abilities increase once we're turned."

"Strategizing again?" Edward asked in amusement. "So, you want to know what her power is so if she's turned by those newborns, we'll be able to protect ourselves."

"What else?"

"Just wondering if you were jealous," his brother commented, and Jasper growled.

"I'm trying to make sure no one's making a big mistake."

"You have to drink something, you know," Embry reminded her, and she growled something through the bathroom door.

"I know enough that I'm dehydrated," she snapped as best she could through her porcelain prison. "I can't keep anything down anyway!"

Embry winced, but crossed his arms stubbornly. "I'll go pour some soda," he informed her, knowing that clear liquids were best and having bought Sprite a few days ago, luckily. He heard her mumble something, but ignored it. Anticipating another visit from Carlisle, the shifter only sighed in resignation when a knock was heard.

What did surprise him was the sight of Edward behind his creator, looking a bit surprised himself.

"It will take a few days for the virus to work through her system. I wouldn't worry about dehydration, just keep her drinking fluids," Carlisle said, smoothly walking past the shifter and taking a seat. Edward followed, with a curt nod. Embry sighed audibly, and sat across from them.

"What's your interest?" he demanded, but the vampire only smiled.

"I was asked that by my son yesterday," he admitted. "I merely believe she's a special human."

"How?" Embry growled.

"Just in the fact that she senses our presence," Edward said quietly. He was met with a shocked stare, and nodded in confirmation. "I read her mind as we approached. She senses the presence of vampires. I don't know about shifters. Has she ever said anything?"

"She said something felt odd before Carlisle and Jasper came yesterday," Embry admitted. "But…what does that mean?" he demanded, leaning forward as the vampires hesitated.

"Human abilities are amplified unnaturally when we're turned," Edward said, repeating knowledge the shifter already knew. "If she can sense a vampire's presence as a human, imagine what she could do as one of us. A vampire radar, and possibly something more." He would have continued, but was cut off when Embry lunged at him. The vampire easily avoided his grasp and appeared beside the front door, calm as ever.

"You sick bastard!" the shifter growled, shaking in anger. Carlisle got to his feet in an instant, visibly startled.

"Embry! Calm down!" he ordered firmly. "Edward wasn't implying we were going to turn her! You should know better than that!"

"Then what is he implying?"

"I'm saying that you need to think what will happen if you can't stop one of the newborns," Edward said patiently. "Would you want her to die? Or have one of us save her and turn her? You might not have a choice, if a newborn has enough sense to keep her alive long enough."

Carlisle rested a heavy hand on the young man's shoulder, having to reach up to make the contact. Embry winced at the ice-cold touch, but forced himself to take a deep breath.

"That'd be up to her. And not a word of it," he added warningly. To his surprise, both creatures bowed their heads amicably.

"Of course not. But it is why I wish to see her," Carlisle added. "The closer we are, the better chance you have to protect her."

"Your concern is touching," Embry began snidely, but froze when Haley made her way down the hall, still as pale and tired. "All done?" he asked without a trace of sarcasm, but she glared at him anyway.

"For the moment…are you Carlisle?" she asked, and the man inclined his head with a smile.

"I am. I'm sorry we weren't able to be introduced yesterday. This is my son, Edward," he added, and the other vampire smiled briefly at the young woman. She stared at both of them, not quite in awe but more like surprise.

"Pleased to meet you," she said after a split-second, and sank onto the couch with a slight groan. Exchanging a glance with Carlisle, Edward slipped out of the house as the older vampire took a seat next to the young woman. Embry made a noise in his throat, but took the other couch sulkily.

"How are you feeling? Besides the obvious," the doctor asked, switching to his professional mode and resting his hand on her forehead again. It was obvious relief to her fever-induced heat, and she sighed.

"Like crap."

"I assumed that much," he replied in amusement, a small smile appearing on his face. Embry watched the vampire suspiciously, but decided he wasn't a threat and stretched out with a yawn. If Jasper had been there, the shifter would have suspected tampering, but since he wasn't – the shifter couldn't smell him, at least – there was no reason to worry.

"Why are you here?" she asked suddenly, and Carlisle blinked.

"I'm a doctor, after all," he told her. "But we were worried about the newborns arriving, and wanted to speak to someone about them. It was impossible not to notice there were shifters here," he added dryly, "so we thought we'd stop in."

"I see," Haley remarked, and it was unclear whether she believed the vampire or not. She felt too sick to bother with it all anyway, and only leaned her head back against the couch and closed her eyes.

"If it comes down to a fight, you can rest assured I'll protect her as if she were my own," Carlisle assured the shifter several hours later. Haley had been put back to bed under doctor's orders, and the two creatures were out on the porch.

"Why?" Embry demanded. "You've just met her."

"I think she would have been the daughter I might have had, if I had remained human," the vampire mused, his eyes softening slightly. "My family is the most important thing to me. She is a precious, fragile mortal, though. She needs protection more than my family does right now, especially with her so sick."

"And?"

"She's so full of life, of energy," Carlisle told him. "We see them differently than you do. Much more than Bella, to be honest. Bella…she was never too fond of living, I think," he admitted with a frown. "Obsession, unfortunately. But your Imprint has a will to live that is quite startling. It has a lot to do with that nephew of hers – and a lot to do with you as well, Embry," he added with a smile.

The shifter turned red, but decided not to remark on the vampire's comment.

"So don't worry. I'm a doctor and a vampire – I hold a mortal life in the highest regard, especially one such as hers," he assured the young man, before disappearing from sight. Embry rolled his eyes at this blatant display of speed, but shrugged it off. He was pacified by the doctor's words – his respect for Carlisle outweighed most suspicion, and the knowledge Jasper wasn't messing with his mind helped as well.

Striding to the bedroom, he poked his head to check on his Imprint. She stirred a bit, hearing him, and looked up over the pile of blankets to smile dimly at him.

"Don't worry, I still like you best," she said teasingly, as he ambled towards the bed. He blinked in surprise, but she snorted. "Please. You were so jealous you couldn't even see straight."

"Was not!"

"Was too," she replied calmly. "Ice-cold is nice when I'm sick, but nothing beats a warm, furry bed partner," she added with a quiet laugh. He turned red again, but slipped in next to her.

"Glad to know I'm furry," he said in exasperation, but she giggled.

"You are," she assured him, a yawn escaping her before she slipped back into the complete sleep of the sick. Embry spent a long time merely watching her before he yawned as well and crossed his arms behind his head, stretched out as far as he could on the bed.

"Night," he said quietly, before closing his own eyes.