Chapter 11

A/N: Yes it's a short chapter but it's a goodie.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Not What you Expected

Jake left a motionless Bella covered in blankets on his bed. His mind had gone crazy with theories none of them ending with a good conclusion.

It was only until he actually considered buying a heat lamp for her that he realized he was going off the deep-end and needed a break from her bedside.

He buried his grief telling himself she would wake-up any second, he just needed to let her rest.

In the meantime, he would focus on menial task, like making himself breakfast, cleaning the house and working on his bike that had been rotting in his garage for the past decade.

Yes,things would get better, he told himself. He just needed to focus on anything else besides her.

0-0-0-0

The sun moved higher in the sky and Jake still hadn't dared to go inside his room.

For all he knew she was in the same state, lifeless like a wax doll inside a museum.

As he retightened a few bolts on his bike he heard a quiet rumble of an engine cut-off.

Dean, Jake recognized.

"Jake…" Dean hollered.

Jake wiped his hands clean on an old red rag and tossed it in a dark green bin. He really wasn't in the mood for guest.

"I'm in the shed," Jake shouted.

He could see Dean's shadow approach but suddenly the shadow stood very still.

"Are you alone?" Dean asked in a cautious voice.

Those words indicated what Jake feared. Dean knew.

He walked out to greet his uninvited guest.

"What can I do for you, Chief?" Jake asked in a dry tone.

Dean took a deep breath.

"Let's cut to it, shall we," Dean answered plainly. "My daughter says you have a vampire staying here, a Cullen."

Jake leaned back against his garage and folded his arms.

"She may or may not be a Cullen but most importantly she's an old friend," Jake answered.

Dean took off his burgundy Mets cap and ran his fingers through his dark brown hair before putting the cap back on. Jake knew he was nervous but he had to admire his guts for coming out there.

"Sarah insinuated that she doesn't keep to an animal diet," he answered.

Jake frowned.

"That's not the case," Jake answered. Not anymore.

Dean groaned, always an uphill battle with everyone.

"Well, I have to see for myself."

He could see Jake's hesitation.

"Trust me this is not what I would prefer to do on my day off but for the sake of the tribe I have to do my part. You would do the same if you were in my shoes. In fact, that's why you gave me the responsibility, because you knew I would do right by the tribe. So, I insist, I need to meet it…her."

Jake sighed. Dean had a valid point, he would do the same, and without question probably done everything necessary to dispose of a possible threat.

He gestured Dean towards the house.

"Before we go in, I need to tell you that…" Jake was about to explain that Bella was bedridden but the sound of Bella's humming and the smell of food cooking caught him off guard.

Jake gasped. She was awake and looking very much alive.

His eyes followed her across the room. She was humming some old rock tune that he hadn't heard since she had last sang it to him one afternoon as they were driving into town to get some parts for their bikes, so many years ago.

Bella continued to hum unaware of anyone watching.

Jake swallowed back his emotions and grasped tightly to the wall leaving a tiny indentation.

It took everything in him to not run towards her, pick her up, twirl her around, kiss her senseless and thank God aloud for her well-being. It physically hurt inside his chest and gut watching her move so gracefully. She was beautiful but for all he knew it was just his imagination. He wanted…no…he needed…to hear her speak. To know this wasn't in his head.

"Bella?"

Bella stopped turned to look at him and gave him a big sheepish smile.

"Hey," she grinned, a smile he had never seen on her face, a smile that he knew was just meant for him. "I hope you don't mind but I woke up and was starving and I had this craving for pasta so I said 'what the hell' and came over to the kitchen and I tossed the lasagna in the oven. I'm also doing some veggies just to be healthy," she chuckled, before taking a bite of a sandwich that she had made for the meantime. "Ah this bread is soooo good." She said with a full mouth. "Sarah can really bake."

Jake actually broke into a laugh. It was just too funny to watch her like this.

"Do you want a sandwich?" she asked.

Dean had been hearing their exchange and walked slowly towards the kitchen/living room area.

"Oh, you have a guest," Bella said looking a bit startled. She tugged at Jake's shirt, trying to cover her bare legs, her cheeks blushed a crimson red.

Dean found himself like a moth to the flame. She was beautiful in a wild and yet innocent way.

The room was silent and Bella didn't want to be rude so she walked towards the human and shook his hand before Dean even had a chance to pull away. "Ummm Hi, I'm Bella. Nice to meet you."

Dean's eyes grew wide.

She's warm and her eyes!

"I'm Dean Uley," he mumbled.

Bella nodded.

Uley, he must be a descendent of Sam.

"Would you like something to eat?" she gestured towards kitchen. "The lasagna should be out in a few minutes. But I also have a pot roast I can heat up and a chicken pot pie."

Dean turned to Jake and turned back to Bella. The young girl's eyes were not gold or red, but a light hazel, he thought.

"You're human," he whispered so softly that only Jake could hear.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you," Bella said before her mouth fell slightly opened at her own admission. She was surprised that she hadn't heard him. In fact, if she thought about it, when she woke up, she felt as though the weight of the air was heavier and the world was slightly more peaceful sounding. She could no longer hear the rustle of the leaves, birds in the trees or far off trickles of water going down the hills. The world was quiet and at peace.

"Ummm nothing," Dean said before turning to Jake. "It was a pleasure meeting you but I have to get back to the reservation." He walked past Jake and whispered, "Can we speak outside?"

Jake nodded and turned to Bella.

"Serve me a big piece, will you Bella," he said.

"Sure thing," she answered.

Outside by Dean's car, Dean looked baffled.

"It can't be her," he whispered to himself. "But she looks like the pictures from the tribe album. She's the same girl but she doesn't look like anything that has ever been described to me as a vampire."

Jake watched as Dean was trying to put the puzzle together.

"She's not a vampire," Jake said. "You saw it yourself."

Dean shook his head.

"Jake," he began. "I don't know what to say. My daughter is a bit of a spoiled brat but I know she wasn't lying to me about Bella. She said that you yourself admitted to her that Bella was a vampire. But now, I see her and her hand is warm, she's eating food and her eyes are not gold or red. Can you explain to me what's going on?"

Jake glanced at Bella through the window. She looked at ease in the kitchen.

"Honestly, we don't really know," he answered.

"At least try," Dean begged. "I think I can ask you to try."

Jake rubbed the back of his neck.

"She was a vampire," he admitted. "And her gift was to turn other vampires human. But it seems her gift has now turned on her."

Dean took deep breaths, he had known about the stories and the legends but now it was all feeling too real for his taste.

"This is all too much," he admitted. "How is it possible for her to go from human to vampire to human?"

"I can't say," Jake confessed.

"Is that why you wanted access to the archives, yesterday?" Dean asked.

He nodded.

"What are you looking for?"

"The twin souls tale," he answered.

Dean took a deep breath.

"But Jake, it's just a legend," Dean said.

"Well being descendants of wolves is also a legend, as are the stories of the Cold Ones," Jake retorted. "Besides, I'm just working off any theory I can get."

Dean shook his head.

The most broken heart anybody would ever feel, Dean recalled his grandfather saying.

"Well give me a heads up when you want to stop by," Dean said before jumping into his electric steam car. "I really do have to get back, but before I go can you tell me…do you think she is a threat?"

Jake shook his head.

"What do you think?" Jake asked.

"For the moment…quite the opposite," he answered before driving away.

0-0-0-0

Back inside Bella took a deep breath. She was a bit disappointed that after eating an apple, a sandwich, some chips that she was feeling quite full.

Darn and I really wanted a bite of that lasagna.

It had been scary to wake up with such a powerful hunger but when her stomach rumbled she knew it wasn't blood she craved.

The timer ringed and Bella opened the oven door that creaked in protest. She touched the pan and cursed. It actually hurt!

She looked around for some mitts and found some kitchen towels to help her take out the lasagna dish.

Jake walked in as she had finished serving him a plate.

"Jake I…" but she didn't get a chance to finish before he swooped her up in his arms and held her tightly against him.

"You're awake," he said with relief in his voice.

A smiled appeared on Bella's face as she squeezed him back the burn on her fingertips almost forgotten.

"I am," she smiled. "Jake…I think I'm human."

He smiled again but then frowned.

"What?" her smile began to fade.

He took her hand and put it on her chest and her smile faded away.

No Heartbeat.