A/N: So sorry for the wait. I had major writers block with this, though luckily I have a fan-friggin-tastic co- writer and beta that pulled me through! So this is dedicated to those top class chicks!

Also a shout out to Dancingbarefoot! Thank you so much!

Chapter 4. Here I Wait.

Terror.

Panic.

Dread.

Horror.

My shattered heart, mind and soul were caught in a violent fight as each emotion I felt kicked, punched and dragged me down. Everything happened so fast, like a blur. My mind couldn't comprehend what had happened. I couldn't understand why my beautiful Bells was lying, fighting for her precious life, in my arms.

Blood.

There were blood splattered everywhere.

The tears fell from my eyes uncontrollably. She didn't deserve this! She didn't deserve to be lying in the middle of the road, her body broken and shattered to was blood spilling from her mouth, and salty tears staining paths down her cheeks.

I felt it; I felt the pain she was going through. I felt every result of the car's impact. Her fragile body propelled so far up in the air, it crashed to the road with enough force that the ground trembled.

I yelled. I pleaded with her to fight, to stay with me. I needed her to keep her eyes open, her lungs inhaling and what I had been fighting so fucking long for: to keep her heart beating.

To stay alive.

Bella's chest heaved as she fought with everything she had to stay with me. I leaned down and wiped the blood-matted hair from her eyes, and tried everything I could to get her to keep going - to keep living.

"You stay with me! You will not leave me!" I ordered, and choked through my tears.

I received no response.

I tried my best to shield her from the sharpness of the wind, and the droplets of water tumbling from the sky. Each excruciatingly quiet moment that dragged past tore me apart. My entire world was falling to pieces around me and there was absolutely nothing I could fucking do but keep her protected and warm.

I carefully wrapped myself around her body, not daring to touch her in case I inflicted more pain. I cradled her head to my chest and whispered words of love and commitment softly into her ear.

"Me and you, we're gonna have a beautiful life. This time next week I'll be feeding you grapes in bed, while we laugh and joke about how fucked up all of this was. Charlie and Billy will be reminding us constantly to keep our hands to ourselves, but we know that will never happen. Never." A tear rolled down my cheek as I spoke of all the wonderful things we were yet to experience.

"We're going to scare everyone by how fast we're moving in our steamy relationship, and our constant need to be around each other. I will quickly become top five in Charlie's most wanted list for spending too much time with his beautiful girl." My tears continued to fall.

"A few months down the line, if I can wait that long, we'll move in together and argue constantly about the toilet roll not being replaced. Then I'll come home and whisk you off your feet and show you how much I love you, over and over again.

"We'll have the perfect house, with the white picket fence and blue shutters on the windows. Then a little later, you'll come home from work and be greeted with the amazing aromas of my awesome homemade cooking. I'll greet you my normal way, with an extremely passionate kiss, take your coat, and if you're good, maybe even a foot massage," I chuckled through my tears.

"We'll sit down to a beautiful candlelit dinner, giving each other flirtatious looks across the table, trying our hardest to not throw the stuff off, and get down and dirty. Then, a short while later, I will get down on one knee, and ask you to make an honest man out of me." I forced a smile through my unbearable pain.

"We'll have the most amazing, beautiful wedding." I stopped to wipe away the water from her eyes, and softly kissed her bloodied lips.

"Then we will have two fuckin' beautiful children, who will look exactly like you. They will have your amazing personality, stunning looks and my awesome wit. Of course, our son will inherit my awesome muscles and wicked speed," I joked, trying to get a reaction out of her.

Nothing.

Looking down to my best friend, soul mate, love of my life and imprint, I wiped the tears from my eyes so I could see her clearly. Her beautiful eyes were hidden from the world as she lay in my arms, the wind harshly blowing the strands of her hair that had escaped the sheer amount of blood leaving her body.

"Come on, baby. Please...PLEASE...just keep fighting-" My voice broke and I couldn't continue my plea. I just couldn't consider the fact that she might not be with me. I couldn't do it; I wouldn't.

The next few agonizing moments were a blur. The paramedics arrived. They blocked off the scene, explaining it prevented any further accidents from happening.

They then tried, and failed, to pry my glued hands away from my baby.

They had absolutely no chance. There was no fuckin' way I was letting my girl go. Wherever she went, I followed, right behind.

I felt a soft pair of hands pat my shoulder, and a gentle voice flowed with the wind. "Sir, I'm sorry but I need you to stand back so I can assess her injuries." I shook my head vigorously and held my Bells tighter.

After a few more failed attempts to separate our bodies, my patience began to wear thin. They didn't fuckin' understand! She was my whole world! There was no way I was letting her go. Never! My jaw clenched and my hands balled into fists.

"Look, I'm not letting her go! So get the fuck off my back and help my baby! She's hurt and she needs your help, so do your fucking job!" The woman flinched and took a step back.

"Sir, we understand you're upset, but-" the male paramedic spoke.

Through gritted teeth, I glared viciously at him and growled. "I. Said. Do. Your. Fuckin'. Job."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I watched in disbelief as both paramedics buzzed around, making sure she was fully immobilized before they moved her. They placed a thing called a neck brace around her neck and carefully placed her onto a long spine board to protect her back and keep it in line. They then placed her onto a stretcher.

After a few more grueling seconds of watching them carefully maneuver her body, they loaded her into the ambulance, and secured the bed so it wouldn't move during transit.

I bolted into the back of the ambulance and sat on the seat opposite her body. She was so still, so small. I took hold of Bella's hand as gently as I could, and prayed with everything I had that she made it out of this horrific state.

As the ambulance began to move, I watched the scene before me play out as if I were viewing it through somebody else's eyes. It didn't feel real. Everything was happening so fast, my brain felt like it had shut down and refused to take in anymore information.

The female paramedic took out a clip board and began to ask a bunch of weird-assed questions.

"Hey sweetheart, can you hear me? Do you know where you are?"

No response.

I began to feel the bile rise up my throat as my Bells lay on the stretcher perfectly still.

I watched protectively as she then began to poke Bella behind the ears. A growl erupted from deep inside my chest. I knew I had to just shut the hell up and let her do her job, but I could feel the pain she was inflicting on my Bells and that was NOT fuckin' ok with me!

"What the hell are you doing!" I hissed through gritted teeth.

"Sir, please calm down. I'm checking her pressure points. This enables me to assess just how much she is aware of. If she feels pain, she will automatically flinch or react." She continued to check her pressure points.

"We need her to react to the pain. This will rule out the possibility of concussion or paralysis," she was all fucking gobbledygook to me.

No response.

My heart began to pound fiercely as Bella lay, unmoving.

C'mon baby, just move one tiny finger for me, please?

The woman began to assess Bella's body from head to toe, checking her airway, circulation and breathing.

She talked Bella through everything she was doing; she said it would give her a sense of reassurance. It helped me a lot too.

"I'm now measuring and recording her vital signs," she placed her index finger over Bella's pulse point then continued to check for respiration and blood pressure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bella had been unconscious the entire ride, and quite frankly it was scaring the shit out of me. I prayed over and over again; I made bargains. I promised I would treat my Pack brothers better if she were brought back to me alive and well, but... still nothing.

The ambulance came to a grinding halt, and my wolf sensed doctors and nurses buzz around waiting to take care of my Bells. The paramedics had called through to alert the Forks Hospital to an imminent casualty.

The ambulance door flew open, and the staff removed the bed from the vehicle. I was being shoved out the way, left, right and center. It pissed me off beyond belief, but I had to bite my tongue and let them take care of her.

The doctors began to communicate with words that I didn't even know fuckin' existed.

They then wheeled her bed through to the Trauma Unit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Although I had only been in the hospital for a little over fifteen minutes, it felt more like I had been there for years. I was desperate for any information on my Bells' condition, but the fuckin' doctors refused to tell me anything because I wasn't "immediate family. "

Bullshit!

How much more immediate could I be?! She was my imprint, for God sake, the reason I stayed on this God forsaken planet. The girl lying on the hospital bed, fighting for her life, was my everything. Everything!
Granted, they obviously had no clue that an 'imprint' actually existed, and they would never find out, but all the waiting around to hear what her diagnosis was fuckin' killing me.

Another ten minutes later, and I had become extremely agitated. My wolf begged-demanded-for release from my broken body, but there was no way in hell I was leaving her side. I would stay in that hospital until my girl opened her beautiful eyes, and graced the world with her angelic voice.

As I paced outside the Trauma Unit, it dawned on me that I hadn't contacted Charlie.

Fuck!

That was going to be a conversation from hell. How do I tell a father his daughter was in hospital fighting for her life, when I had PROMISED I would bring her home safely?

What do I say when he asks how it happened?

How would I keep him together when I could barely keep myself from falling apart? My glue was the woman in that room, and without her I would crack and break into a thousand pieces.

I dragged my heavy body towards the nearest pay phone and slowly, hesitantly, picked up the receiver. I had to be strong and step up to the challenge; Bells needed me and, by God, I was going to be there for her. Absentmindedly, my fingers began to dial their house number, and then I heard a loud ringing noise.

"Swan residence, Charlie speaking," Charlie answered.

I swallowed hard and slowly opened my mouth to speak. "Charlie, it's Jake,"

"Oh hey son, everything ok? Are you and Bella on your way home?" Fuck, how do I say this.

"Charlie...there's...there's..." I hesitated.

"Spit it out, son. I don't have all night," he joked, completely unaware of the seriousness in the situation.

I looked around him for help, anything to just help him ease those next few words.

"Charlie, something's happened to...Bella."

Charlie's POV

My blood ran cold, and my legs gave out underneath me.

My worst fear had come true.

My baby was in hospital. She had been hurt, and I had no clue to the seriousness of her injuries.

"Where are you?" I demanded.

I was now on autopilot. The father in me wanted to break down and cry at the mere thought of my only child in hospital, but the Chief in me was now demanding answers.

"Forks Hospital, the Trauma Unit-"

I cut him off before he could finish his sentence; I didn't want to hear anymore.

I needed to BE there.

"I'll be right there." And with that, I let the receiver fall from my hand, not bothering to put it back, and ran to the aid of my baby.

Bella's POV

I had no clue what was going on. Why I was in this place, and why couldn't I wake up?

I knew I had been hit, and quite severely, but I had to make it out of this. Right?

The entire night had been a whirlwind of emotions. Jacob and I finally had our dream. We had each other. I was his and he was mine, imprint or no imprint. That was all I ever wanted, but unfortunately it had taken me a little while to finally realize that fact.

I loved that man with every piece of my heart; I would do anything for him to show him how much he truly meant to me.

I would die for him.

Jacob's POV

I couldn't do anything; I was barely functioning. My entire being wanted to be in that room, holding my girl's hand. I needed her to know I was here, and that I wasn't leaving, ever.

As I sat, waiting anxiously in the family room, I just wanted to cry. Why had this happened? We weren't supposed to be here. Bella wasn't supposed to be hooked up to life support machines fighting for her damn life!

It should have been me, at least I would have healed. What if she didn't...heal?

My cruel mind wandered back to the clearing where we were earlier tonight, where she had confessed her love for me. Hearing those words...those three beautiful words that flowed so effortlessly from her mouth, it was the most breathtaking thing I'd ever heard in my life. Hearing the woman you love say, 'I love you'...nothing compares.

Another moment later, I couldn't stand anymore. My heart and soul couldn't take not knowing what was wrong with its other half. My wolf demanded to know what had happened to his imprint; I NEEDED to know what had happened to my best friend and the love of my life.

I stood slowly and dragged my body towards the waiting room door. My trembling hand gripped a hold of the door handle and hesitantly pushed it down.

I was scared, scared that if I left that room everything would come crashing down on me. Terrified that a member of the hospital's staff would hold vital information from me because I wasn't related to her.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, willing myself to get my shit together, and then pulled the door open.

"Where is she?! Where is my baby girl?!" A familiar voice demanded.

"Sir, please calm down and tell me who you are looking for?"

"My daughter, Isabella Swan..." my ears didn't hear the rest of his plea, I knew what I had to do.

I walked towards Charlie's distraught voice. When I turned a corner, I saw his worn out figure towering over the reception desk.

"Charlie..." I spoke, no more than a whisper. His head snapped toward me, and in seconds he was standing in front of me.

"Jacob, please, tell me what's happened?! Why is my baby in here?!" he cried as his hands gripped and shook my shoulders.

I couldn't answer his plea as I had nothing. I tried to open my mouth and speak, but nothing came out. I slowly looked up at the man who looked completely broken. His face had lost its usual color, his eyes were bloodshot from stress and tears, and the thing that finished my broken heart was when I looked into his eyes, I saw my angel staring back at me. I had never realized before, but now in my time of need, I saw it: she was here, my baby was here with me, by my side.

"We...we were on our way back and her shoe...her shoe-"

"What does a damn shoe have to do with why she's in here!" he roared. Normally I wouldn't have taken that, but considering our circumstances, he had every right to put a gun to my head and pull the trigger.

"We were kiss- kissing and her shoe...it fell off..." I could barely continue as I remembered the moments of magic before what had felt like a lifetime of loss.

"Jacob! Please! I need to know!" he cried louder.

"I accidentally kicked her shoe into the road. I swear I never thought anything of it, Charlie. The road was clear. There was nothing but silence around us. There was no sign of any oncoming danger. I would have sensed it...I know I would've." I began to doubt my wolf senses as my mind went back to the moment just before that...that fuckin' car came into sight. Why hadn't I heard the screech of the wheels when I heard pointless things like owls hooting as clear as day? Why couldn't I smell the burning rubber stench, yet Bella's scent completely engulfed me?

Why couldn't I protect my imprint?!

The Culprit's POV

The drive down the long, winding country lanes was tedious, but I craved the distraction. I already knew what was happening as I drove. That filthy leech-loving paleface would be all over him, touching him with her disgusting cold hands, her treacherous heart skipping a beat as they gazed at each other.

It was revolting...enough to make me sick.

Why wouldn't Jake realize that what he'd had was so right for him?

How could he not see what he gave up to be with her?

Why couldn't he see she would just play him and lead him on, like she had every other fuckin' time?

Then she would run back to Sir Sparks-a-lot and the Fuckin' Fang Clan, and play happy leech families with them.

It all made me sick, and there was nothing I could do to escape it. Even with the Pack, earlier on that morning, he was shoving the fact that he had a date "with the sexiest girl he'd ever seen" in our faces.

I didn't want to hear that!

I couldn't stand the fragile little freak as it was, but now I had to deal with his on the minute, every minute, news flashes?

I don't think so.

I did the only thing I could do. I phased back to human form, and ran to my only means of freedom: my car.

The feel of the cool leather beneath my bare legs made me want to purr from satisfaction. Yeah, now I sounded like a fuckin' cat!

The smooth vibration of the car humming beneath me made me smirk. I was going to push this baby to the limits, test how fast she could go, see whether the brakes would work.

Now, as I drove, I felt a sense of independence wash over me. I needed this; I needed to escape the constant bashing from the Pack the persistent piss taking. I just needed to be free.

As I drove I pushed my foot further down on the gas pedal, making the car push forward even harder. I wanted to feel nothing but speed. I wanted to yell at the top of my lungs from the speed.

I wound down my window and smirked as the cool, night air whipped around my face.

That was the feeling of living, not battling some fuckin' vampire clan...even though that was fun.

My car flew down the middle of the road, not really giving a shit whether there were oncoming cars. I was in my element, and there was no way I was moving for anyone.

My speed had hit 70, and to me that wasn't enough. The car was teasing me, flirting with me. I saw a long, straight piece of road ahead of me, and decided to push the pedal to the floor.

Tree after tree flew by me so fast; they were nothing but mere blurs. The lines separating the roads had blurred too, and I could no longer tell which was which. In this distance I saw several flickering lights, perhaps street lamps?

I began to slow down as I turned a corner, when I saw some wet patches shimmering off the road. I swerved left to avoid them, when I felt the wheels spin. A flash of terror ran through me as I tried to steer the car, but the speed caused it to spin out of control.

The next few moments were a blur, until I saw what appeared to be two familiar, sickening faces ahead of me. I didn't know what came over me, but the sight of them invoked something evil inside me.

I managed to regain control of the car, and made a decision that would destroy my entire life. But at that point, I really didn't care.

She had to pay.

I replaced my foot on the gas, and narrowed my eyes towards my intended target.

Bella Swan.

I vaguely saw him kiss her and that angered me even more. Was he fuckin' stupid?!
I watched as he held her against his car, and I felt myself begin to tremble with nothing but pure rage. A smirk spread across my face as I saw her head out into the middle of the road.

That was my opportunity to end everyone's frustration and agony, and I wasn't going to miss it .

I flicked on my headlights and pushed the car harder, my speed almost hitting 80. I swerved with purpose from left to right to make it look like the car was out of control, when I saw Jacob's eyes widen in fear.
She had bent down to pick up her shoe when my sensitive ears heard him scream at her to move. All I could do was chuckle. The car hurtled forwards and as her face became clearer. I knew she wouldn't have been able to tell it was me, as my headlights were too blinding.

Jacob was by her side in a shot, trying his best to remove her from the situation, but each time he failed.

I was millimeters away from them now, so close I could see the tears in his eyes. He was crying because he knew what was going to happen.

I was going to take away his air; I was going to destroy his reason for breathing.

Bella knew what was going to happen and, for once in her life, she did the right thing. She pushed Jacob out the way, and risked her own life instead.

And then it happened. I felt her entire body collide with the front bumper, and heard her piercing scream as she began to tumble over my windshield.

A part of me wanted to feel sad, to feel sick for the disgusting act I had carried out...but I felt nothing

If anything I felt relieved.

I cringed slightly as I heard her body crash over the roof of my car, and then watched in my wing mirror as her body plunged onto the pavement.

I wasn't completely heartless; the look of her face sent chills through me. I never wanted things to come to this, but they had. And now I couldn't and wouldn't change the final outcome.

She deserved that. She deserved to go through the pain she had put my Pack brother through-and more.

Bella Swan deserved to be lying on the cold, hard road, fighting for her life.

And with any luck, there wouldn't be much fight left in her...