I haven't said it yet in this story I think, which is really bad by the way. But I'm going to say it now, so whatever. I DON'T OWN MAX RIDE OR TWILIGHT! Personally, I'm glad I don't, because I would rather read them than write them, and besides, I would not have come up with stuff that good. Read and review people!
Chapter 13
Max
I've been lying in this bed all day. It really sucks. I can't move. I can't do anything.
Jacob has not come back in to see me once. I can hear all the people out there, but not even one of them came in. I was alone with my thoughts… all… day…
I began crying at one point. It was a soft, sobbing-to-myself kind of cry. I thought about what I should be doing right now. What I would be doing if my family were alive… I slept a few times, but I woke up just as tired as I had been before.
I was trying to sleep later that night when the bedroom door opened. I kept my eyes closed, too worn out to care who it was. The bed creaked as weight was added to it.
"Max," someone whispered. I blinked, opening my eyes. Sam was hovering over me.
"I'm trying to sleep," I muttered.
"That's fine," Sam said. I closed my eyes again, thinking he would leave. Not quite… "What happened Max?" My eyes popped open again.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice a little shaky. I shifted my eyes, cutting them left to right, trying desperately to find a way out of here. Even if I could move, Sam was blocking the door.
"Max, we all heard you. You were crying out in your sleep. 'They're gone, they're gone.' You kept muttering the word 'erasers', and you promised you would kill someone called Zane." I cringed, covering my ears with my hands like a five-year old.
"Go away," I whispered. Sam didn't move. "Go away! Leave me alone!" I knew yelling wouldn't get me far, but it did get Sam to leave. He stopped at the door and looked at me, heaving a great sigh before pulling the door shut behind him.
I hadn't known that I talked in my sleep. I'm pretty sure someone would have told me before now if I talked in my sleep regularly. And it was odd that I was talking at all… I hadn't been dreaming. I hadn't had a dream, or a nightmare for that matter, in months.
"I wish I was dead," I murmured as I dropped into another round of light sleeping.
Jacob
"What has the pack ever done to you?" I asked her. She flinched and said two words that I hadn't expected.
"You exist." I looked at her, surprised that she felt so strongly about us. My forehead creased, the frown lines getting deeper. I closed my eyes, and pinched my nose, trying to clear my thoughts. Why does she hate us?
"I'm sorry that's what you think." I looked down at her, but her eyes stayed closed and she didn't respond. Getting up, I left the room. As I closed the door, I heard Max whisper 'I am too'.
"How is she?" Billy asked, wheeling his chair over to the table. There was a steaming plate of eggs and bacon on the table in front of him. My stomach growled just looking at it. The others had left. It was just Billy and me now.
"Jake? I asked how she is." I looked at him. His eyebrows went up when he took in my rejected expression. "What's wrong?"
I told him about my short conversation with Max. He frowned and looked sympathetically in my direction when he thought I wasn't watching. I told him about her injuries and her refusal to see a doctor.
"What does she want us to do? Call in the vampire doctor?" Billy laughed. My smile was tight.
"Yes." He stopped laughing.
"Really? She won't go to a human doctor, but she'll see a vampire one?" He couldn't seem to wrap his mind around that. "Is it because of the wings?" I shrugged.
"I don't know. She wouldn't say. She just refused to see a doctor. She tried to get up and walk away, but her leg is so banged up that she fell. I caught her and she got mad at me."
"If my memory hasn't completely left me, Max is the kind of person who hates relying on anyone for help. Even things like catching her before she falls. She lived on her own before all this, right?" I nodded, not sure where he was going with this little story. "Jake, she isn't used to depending on other people. She's been her own provider for so many years that having us take care of her makes her feel even less than weak."
"She should at least let us fix her up," I muttered. My dad smiled.
"She's too stubborn for that. She's like you." I blinked. Was I really that stubborn?
"I'm gonna go tell the pack," I mumbled. Billy nodded. I kicked my shoes off and stepped out into the winter air. It should have been freezing, but I felt perfectly fine. All this wolf stuff comes in handy.
I jogged across the lawn and into the woods. Tugging my sweatpants off, I tied them to my leg and shifted. Rolling my shoulders, I loosened my muscles, preparing to run. Leaping forward, I poured on the speed, aiming for Sams' house. I reached it in no time, shifting back at the edge of the tree line.
"Hey Jacob," Paul greeted as I walked in the front door. It seemed like everyone was here. Looking around, I saw that only Embry, Leah, and Seth were missing.
"Hey guys."
"Any progress with bird girl?" Jared asked, shoving a muffin whole into his mouth.
"Not really, no." My brow drew down into a frown as I recalled the last thing Max had said to me.
"What's up Jake?" Sam asked, implying an order. I sighed and repeated what I had told Billy.
"Ouch," Paul agreed when I was finished. "What's her problem with wolves?"
"I think it's because of these mutant-wolf-men that she's been fighting her entire life. I remember from last time she was here that she had trust issues with us, but she never outright hated us."
"Chick's weird," Jared muttered. I flicked the back of his head and grabbed a muffin.
"Yeah, like we can talk," I retorted.
"At least we were born with it," Jared shot back.
"So? She had it forced on her. She didn't have a choice."
"Neither did we! Jake, just accept that your girlfriend is weird."
"Whatever Jared." I turned away from him. "She won't see a doctor."
Sam looked indifferent. "Not surprising. What does she expect us to do then?"
"Get Carlisle to fix her up." The room went dead silent when I mentioned the bloodsuckers' name. "She was insistent. No doctors other than Cullen."
"Can we do that?" Quil asked. Sam shrugged.
"I don't have a huge problem with it, but it's up to the council and the Cullens'."
"Can you ask the council?" Sam nodded. "I'll talk to Cullen then."
"Alright. Stay shifted so I can let you know what they say." I nodded and headed back out the door. "Quil, Jared, go with Jacob." I didn't argue. There was no use telling Sam that the bodyguards were pointless.
"Let's go see us some vamps," Jared said as he pulled his worn jeans off. I rolled my eyes as Quil sniggered.
"Just let me do the talking," I said. Jared nodded firmly, doing a Nazi salute. "Nice, real nice." Nudging Jared once, I shifted and began running towards Forks.
The speed was amazing. It was one of my favorite parts of being a werewolf. Jared and Quil fell behind as I poured on the speed, pushing myself faster and faster. Leah was the only one who could keep up with me and she frequently reminded me of it.
We're coming to talk, Cullen. I thought, trying to get his attention. We reached the house and Edward was standing on the steps, waiting for us.
"What do you need Jacob?" Edward asked, his arms folded over his chest.
Get Carlisle. Edward raised a brow. He's part of this. Edward nodded and went into the house, coming back seconds later with the blonde doctor in tow.
"Hello Jacob. How are your joints?"
They're fine. Nothing wrong with them. I waited while Edward relayed my answer.
"That's good. What can I do for you?" He sounded so willing to help it made me feel better about asking.
I need you to come to La Push. Someone is hurt and only you can fix them.
"He says someone's hurt at La Push and only you can help them," Edward said. Carlisle nodded.
"Who needs my help? A wolf?" I shook my massive head.
Max. Edward frowned, his lips slimming into a thin line. He told Carlisle that Max needed him.
"What happened to her?" I was surprised they didn't know. Didn't they have that bloodsucker who could see the future?
"Yes, but Alice is away on her annual honeymoon with Jasper," Edward said. I huffed.
She broke her leg and one of her wings is banged up. Edward frowned and repeated what I'd said to Carlisle.
"How did this happen?"
She was out flying this morning and she fell. Sam said she smashed against a tree and it made her right wing fold in. She must have done something to her leg at some point.
"When should I come to look at her?"
Sam will be getting back to me on the councils' decision. Until then, I'll stay here. Edward nodded.
Jake. I perked my ears, an automatic reaction every time another voice was in my head. The council can't meet until tomorrow. I'm sorry. My enormous teeth ground together, alerting Edward to the fact that something was wrong.
"The council can't meet until tomorrow?" He sounded incredulous. I nodded, frustrated. He frowned. "And we can't just bring her here?"
She can't be moved. She's got too many serious injuries.
"Carlisle will have to re-break a lot of those injuries if he can't see her until tomorrow," Edward said softly. My ears flattened against my skull.
Why! I crouched threateningly. Edward looked at me curiously.
"Because she heals fast. Not as fast as you do, but faster than Carlisle can get to her to set the bones correctly." Damnit!
"Are you sure there is no way for me to simply fix her up today?" Carlisle asked, sounding less than hopeful. He knew as well as I did, better in fact, that the council wouldn't allow it.
I shook my head and snorted, pissed off. Sam, can we sneak the doctor in? Sam's firm and harsh no! sounded in my head. Edward 'heard' it and frowned.
"And you're sure that there is no possible way Max can be moved?" Edward sounded worried. Why did the bloodsucker care so much? "Because she's my friend," he snapped, his amber eyes narrowing. I growled and lowered my shoulders, front legs bending slightly. Edward crouched a little but Carlisle put a restraining hand on his shoulder, gripping tight enough that Edward stood up straight. He kept his eyes on me, a hard glare directed at me.
"I think I have an idea," Carlisle said suddenly. I cocked my head, curious. "What if you fix her?" I shook my head furiously. I'm not a doctor! Edward nodded in agreement. He too was confused with what Carlisle had said.
"What I meant was, you'll be the hands, but I'll give you directions. Over the phone," he clarified quickly. "You'll have to describe everything to me and I'll help both you and Max through it as best I can."
It wasn't a bad idea actually. I sent the idea to Sam, hoping he would agree to it. He didn't think it was the best thing, but it was worth a shot. Besides, if it doesn't work out, we can push the council harder tomorrow. I didn't like that Sam was being negative, and neither did Edward because he frowned.
"It could work," Edward agreed reluctantly. He didn't like leaving Max in my care. "No, I really don't." I snapped my teeth at him and turned, leaving them behind me as I ran back to La Push.
Will it work? Jared asked.
I hope so. It's the only option we have. I raced back to the house, hoping Max was awake. I didn't want to have to wake her. She wouldn't like it.
It turned out that she was asleep. I groaned when I walked into my room, immediately walking back out. I sat at the table and told Billy what our plan was. He frowned, but he knew as well as I that it was our only option for today. We waited for Carlisle to call. It wasn't long before the phone rang.
"Hello?" I asked quickly.
"Jacob? It's Doctor Cullen. Where's Max?"
"Asleep in my room." I walked towards my room, hesitating with my hand on the doorknob.
"You'll need to wake her. She should know what's going on." I nodded like an idiot and opened the door.
At first, I thought Max was awake. But then I realized the words coming out of her mouth were not things she would say when conscious. She tossed her head around, grimacing even in sleep when her movements caused her leg or wing to move.
"What's going on?" Carlisle asked quickly. He could probably hear her.
"Max is talking in her sleep," I whispered. Carlisle was silent. "What should I do?"
"What is she saying?" I held the phone away from me ear and pointed it at Max.
"No… Gazzy, shut up. No… no… NO!" Max tossed her head again, her face pained. "Angel… baby… I'll kill you Zane!... no Fang! ZANE I WILL KILL YOU!"
"What should I do?" I asked Carlisle helplessly. He heard the panic in my voice and told me to wake Max gently but firmly.
"Max." I shook her shoulder gently. She didn't seem to notice me. I saw tears streaming down her cheeks and shook her harder. "Max!"
Max
I opened my eyes and the shaking stopped. Jacob was leaning over me, a cell phone in one hand. He looked worried and a little scared. Uhmm, okay… His face was pained and I realized my face felt hot. I reached a hand up and felt water on my cheeks. Why was I crying? I didn't remember anything that would make me cry. It's not like I'd dreamed or anything…
"Are you alright?" Jacob asked, his voice thick with worry. I narrowed my eyes and ignored him. "Max, we need to tell you something."
"We?" He nodded. "Who's 'we'?"
"Me and Carlisle." I nodded. "He can't come."
I froze, my face falling. What! "Why not?"
"The council can't meet until tomorrow and a vampire isn't allowed on our side of the line without their permission." He sounded like it pained him that Carlisle couldn't come. What did he care?
"Then I'll go to him," I said simply. Uhh, duh. Jacob shook his head. His dark eyes were still rimmed with pain.
"You can't even get up Max," he said softly. I glared up at him. "There's no way we would be able to take you out of this room, nonetheless across town to Carlisle."
"Then what the hell are you still doing here?" I snapped, becoming aggravated quickly by his obnoxious presence.
"I'm going to fix your injuries," he said quietly, not meeting my eyes. My jaw dropped. He looked at me and I could see he was sorry. "It's the only way. If we wait until tomorrow, your bones will have set wrong and Carlisle will have to re-break them and start over."
"I can handle it," I said through clenched teeth. Jacob shook his head.
"It will be the worst pain you have ever felt." I smiled wryly.
"I seriously doubt that," I whispered, closing my eyes. Jacob sucked in a breath.
I opened my eyes when Jacob pulled the covers back, flipping them off the bed completely. He ignored my hands when he pulled my sweatpants up above my knees.
"What should I do?" he asked into the phone. I faintly heard Carlisle on the other end, but I didn't hear what he said. "Are you sure? Won't that hurt her more?" Whatever Carlisle said didn't seem to sit right with Jacob because he frowned, uncertain. "If you're sure…"
"What're you doing?" I asked frantically. Jacob just gave me a look that said I am so sorry. Shit… "Jacob, what are you doing?"
His hands moved under my injured leg and lifted it up, bending it at the knee. Oh my God, it hurt so badly. I heard myself cry out and I clenched my teeth, almost biting off the tip of my tongue in the process.
"Now what?" Carlisle said something else and Jacob put the phone back on the bed. I grabbed it and held it up to my ear just as Jacob twisted my calf so that my foot stuck straight in the air like it was supposed to. I screamed, dropping the phone as I made a move to shove Jacob away. He slammed his forearm into my chest and shoved me back down onto the bed, his other hand holding my calf in place.
"Dad!" Jacob roared. Billy Black came to the door, concerned. "Get Sam and the others over here! Now!" Billy left the room, reversing in his chair and shutting the bedroom door behind him.
I thrashed around, trying to make him release my leg. I was probably causing myself more pain, but I didn't care. It hurt so badly. He held my calf in place with one hand, the other still on the center of my chest, restraining me. I realized that I was crying and that made me even more upset. When did I start crying so damn much?
It wasn't long before Sam, Emily, Jared, Quil, and Paul showed up. Emily was the first one through the door, rushing immediately to my side. She shoved Jacobs' arm away and put her own hands on my shoulders, holding me down.
"We have to get her sweatpants off," Jacob said after listening to Carlisle for a moment. I glared at him, the tears stopping.
"Get out," Emily said, releasing one of my shoulders to point at the door. Jacob looked shocked. "Get out! Sam will help me. The rest of you, get lost." She gave them a quick glare and the guys all scattered, rushing to get through the door fast enough.
"Max, I'm gonna gently slide your sweatpants off," Emily said soothingly. "Sam, hold her shoulders." Sam moved up to stand beside my head and faced the wall, holding me down. Emily gently tugged on the hem of my black pants, pulling them carefully down my legs. It wasn't her fault, but the pants didn't go all that gently over my injured leg.
Emily grabbed a pair of Jacobs' boxers out of the drawers nearby and slipped them carefully over my legs. It didn't hurt so much getting those on as it had getting the pants off. Emily went to the door and called the boys back in.
"Nice shorts Max," Quil said, smirking. Jacob smacked his head and came to stand beside me.
"Jake, move," Emily said, pushing him roughly aside. She came to stand at my head, taking my face in her warm hands. "It's gonna be ok Max. Don't be scared honey, I won't let anything happen to you," she said soothingly. I cringed back, away from her hands. She pushed the hair away from my face.
"Carlisle, what should I do?" Jacob asked once again. I did not feel safe in his clearly incapable hands. He started describing my leg to Carlisle. I shut my eyes, trying to ignore the fact that there were five werewolves around me, and one woman with frightening scars running down her face.
"Max, this might hurt a bit," Jacob said softly, taking my leg gently in his large brown hands. I clenched my jaw and squeezed my eyes shut. At the last moment, I grabbed Emily's hand, clutching it in mine. I barely suppressed a scream when Jacob moved my calf even further to the left, trying to shift everything straight. "Sorry," he muttered. I just nodded and kept my eyes closed tight. They moved on to fixing my wing later, when my leg was strapped securely onto a wooden board. Jacob and Sam had to flip my over. I faced away from them, trying desperately not to cry. My wing didn't hurt nearly as much as my leg had, but it was still extremely painful.
Hours and many, many screams later, Jacob sighed and put the phone on the bed. I didn't hear him say anything, but the others started clearing out suddenly. Emily hung back and put her hand on my sweat-covered face. She stroked my cheek softly before leaning down and planting a quick kiss on my forehead.
"Max?" Jacob asked hesitantly. I opened my eyes slowly. I had a headache and my leg and wing were still hurting. Not as much, but still enough to make me cringe.
"What?" I whispered hoarsely, my throat dry.
"How are you feeling?" He seemed so concerned that I felt a little bad being so mean and snippy to him.
"I hurt all over," I confessed softly.
He reached a hand tentatively forward and brushed the back of his fingers along my hairline from my temple to my jaw. I didn't move. His hand was warm and it felt good on my face. I opened my mouth when he pulled away to tell him to keep his hand on my cold skin, but then I thought better of it.
He has feelings for you Max. Gee, thanks for the insight Voice. Trust him Maximum.
"I can't," I whispered aloud before I could catch myself. Jacob looked strangely at me, clearly confused.
"What can't you do Max?" he asked softly, leaning forward. He looked into my eyes and smoothed my hair back from my face.
"I can't trust you," I said without thinking first. His face dropped and he pulled his hand back. Damnit! Why can't I think about the stupid things that come out of my big mouth before I say them?
Because that's not who you are, the Voice said. I knew it was right, but it bothered me that I couldn't control myself better.
"Why can't you trust me?" Jacob asked calmly. He didn't seem at all bothered by what I had said. I didn't answer. "Max, why can't you trust me?"
"Because you're a wolf," I whispered, looking away from him. I expected him to leave again, but the bed didn't move.
"What do you have against wolves?" Jacob was desperate to get answers, I could see that much. What I couldn't see was why he cared so much.
I sighed and explained to him as quickly as I could about my troubled past. His frown became more prominent as I continued. I left out anything that didn't include the Erasers. I stopped with the last first time we had moved to Forks. I wasn't ready to repeat my most recent horror. When I was done, I lay my head back on the pillow and closed my eyes.
"Max, look at me." I ignored him, suddenly exhausted. Jacob took my chin in one of his large, warm hands and tilted my face to the left. "Open your eyes Max." I opened them slowly and saw Jacobs' face not too far from my own. "We are nothing like those Erasers." I flinched at the name but kept my eyes on Jacob. "We have no reason to hunt you. We would never hurt you Max. I would never hurt you." He sounded so sincere. I searched his dark eyes for some thread of truth in his words. I found it.
"Alright," I said with a sigh. I closed my eyes. "I believe you." Jacob sighed with relief and released my chin.
"I'm glad. You're safe now Max, I promise." I managed a small snort.
"I'm safe because of me. Not you, me." Jacob had risen, but he hadn't moved away from the bed.
"And I will keep you safe," Jacob countered. My lips lifted into a small smile. I liked arguing with him. It was fun and it didn't hurt me like arguing with… Fang had.
"Ok," I murmured, too tired to think up a better comeback.
"Sleep now Max," Jacob said softly. His hand rested against my cheek, warming my face.
"Mmm." I moved towards his hand. "That feels good." Jacob chuckled.
"I'm glad." He kept his hand there a few seconds more before stroking my cheek quickly. He took his hand away and I heard his footsteps leaving the room. The door closed softly behind Jacob as he left me alone to get some rest.
Let him in Maximum.
Sure, Voice, whatever you say. Even my thoughts were tired.
You should really trust him. He can help you.
Help me with what?
Staying in one piece.
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
