Chapter five:

Jacob was in love with Bella. A werewolf was in love with Bella.

I felt like a fool for not realizing it sooner. Jacob's big display yesterday had defiantly indicated his devotion for Bella, but I was hardly in a state of mind to think about that.

How could this have happened? I had left to keep her from getting hurt, but really what I had done was put Bella in a place without my protection. The fact that she was associating with werewolves was almost worse than what she had done to herself. Almost.

He could tell the last thing on Jacob's mind was hurting Bella in any way shape or form, but the fact still remained that he was a werewolf and although he had no intention of harming her he was guiding her into a world full of people that could kill her.

Just like you a voice in my head said.

As I contemplated what a mess I'd made of everything Carlisle came out of Bella's room.

"How is she?" I demanded.

"From what I can tell she's a lot better than she was before we came" Carlisle informed me, sympathetically. "According to her doctor she hadn't spoken a word since... what happened happened, but since your arrival she's talking again. There are still some questions she won't answer, but that's probably just to protect us. She has improved magnificently."

"Thank god" I breathed, as I nodded gratefully.

We stood in silence and Carlisle watched me.

"Can I see her?" I asked desperately.

"Do you think you can take it?" he asked.

My throat thickened at his words. I didn't know how to reply to his question.

"I think I can" I choked. "Yeah, I can for her."

For a moment Carlisle just kept on staring at me with that same sad expression, but then unexpectedly he reached out and encircled me in a hug. At first I went tense, but gradually I relaxed into his embrace.

"Thank you, dad" I croaked.

"No problem, son" He said, pulling away from me. "Now go do what you have to do."

. . .

The second I walked into Bella's room her eyes were piercing into mine. I felt myself melt under her gaze. I felt like my knees might fall out from under me.

Her eyes were about the only thing that hadn't changed about her. She was a lot thinner than the last time I seen her. Some of her bones were even jutting out of her skin. Her hair was greasy and mated as if it hadn't been brushed or washed in months and oh lord! She was almost as pale as me.

I hadn't thought it was possible for someone to look awful and beautiful all at the same time before, but here this broken angel lay before me, proving me wrong.

Without breaking eye contact with her I edged closer to her bed until I was standing by her side looking down on her.

"The doctors keep trying to tell me I'm not dreaming" Bella said, in a weak voice. "I know that's what you all want me to think. It's like everyone in this dream is just out to make the pain worse."

My stomach sank.

"Oh, Bella" I cried, reaching to take her hand.

"No" she squealed, yanking her hand away. "No you can't! If I touch you then the pain will be too bad when I wake up. I can't go through that again. I can't lose control like that. Even if all I want to do is kiss you I know I won't survive if I do!"

"Wake up then" I begged, sitting on the side of her bed then burying my head in her shoulder. "Just wake up!"

I heard Bella let out a gasp as my head touched her skin. Almost as if on their own accord her hands reached up and entangled themselves in my hair. She tugged at it tight as if she was holding on for dear life.

"Oh!" she sobbed. "This gonna hurt later. This is gonna hurt real bad."

"Oh, Bella" I repeated.

My voice didn't sound like my own. I was hoarse and rough; like a human's after they'd been crying for hours.

"I love you" I choked into her shoulder.

I didn't know what else there was to say. Every fibre of my being was lit up with a painful love for her in that moment and for some reason it felt like just addressing that out loud would make everything okay.

Her hands travelled from my hair down to my shoulder blades. For a moment she just let her hands relax against them, but then without warning she dug her fingernails into them.

"Don't tell lies" she whispered, her lips pressing against my ear.

Her quiet word chilled me to the bone, but before I had the time to respond a voice from behind us asked: "Is everything alright in here?"

I jolted upright like I'd been given an electric shock and turned to meet the concerned eyes of Bella's doctor.

"Yes!" I said automatically.

Both the doctor and I knew that wasn't true. I not sure what he thought was happening in here, but I could tell he strongly disapproved.

"Right... well, it looks like our Bella here has gotten a little overexcited so I think she better have no more visitors for today." The doctor said with an unspoken so leave.

I nodded dimly, but before I got up to leave I bent over and kissed Bella's cheek.

"I'll be back soon" I promised.

And reluctantly I left.

I think I did a better job on this job than I did on the last one! I hope you think so too! Thank you so much to those who reviewed the last chapter. You guys are what keep me writing! Please do review this chapter! I am anxious to see what you think! I'm not too sure when I'll have the next chapter up. It's gonna be kinda hard to write because although I know what's gonna happen I don't know how I'm gonna execute it. But the more reviews I get the faster I will update. So, PLEASE review!