Author's note: If you're enjoying "Like Night and Day," please read my one-shots here on FF. And then come and discuss LNAD on the Twilighted forums! Also, feel free to follow me on Twitter - EllaB_twilight. Thanks for reading!

**

I awoke Tuesday morning to the sound of my alarm. With a grumble, I hit snooze and then realized that my throat was raw and my neck ached with swollen glands. I sat up slightly, groaning again as I felt the stiffness in my arms and legs and the stuffiness in my nose. I suppressed a shiver and gathered my blankets around me once again and plopped back onto my pillow. Now was no time to be sick.

I suppose it was inevitable. I had been depriving myself of sleep and hanging out in chilly, mist-filled clearings for hours at a time. Mustering up my energy, I called out. "Daaaaad!"

Charlie came to my door a few moments later, holding a cup of coffee and already dressed for work. "Yeah, Bells?"

"I'm sick," I groused. "Can you call school and tell them I won't be in today? I'm pretty sure I have a fever." Charlie nodded and asked me if I needed anything. "No, it's okay. I'll just try to get some sleep and have some soup or something a little bit later."

"I'll call and check on you later today, then," he said before turning and leaving.

I grumbled to myself and turned on my side, staring at the window where the first signs of light were coming. I slowly drifted back to sweet, blissful, needed sleep.

**

Not even an hour later, I was roughly awoken by strong hands grabbing my shoulders and a voice shouting at me. Terrified, I shrieked, and then opened my eyes to see Jacob and Quil standing by my bed.

"Jake, what the hell?" I croaked angrily, snatching my covers to pull them up to my neck instinctively. My head throbbed at me as I gave them both the stink eye.

"I had to see if you were okay, Bella…I didn't know if you were..." Jacob said, "Quil's been keeping tabs on the house today, and when he didn't see you leave for school…well, he let me know. I thought something might have happened."

"With Victoria?" I asked, my voice softening in my pained throat. Jacob shook his head no and looked very guilty. "Well, what else could have possibly happened? Wait, did you think maybe one of the Cullens might have…" His face told me I had hit the nail on the head. "Jake! I thought this wasn't an issue!"

"I'm trying, Bella," he said, rolling his eyes. "I'm sorry…I overreacted." He sat down on my bed and looked me up and down. "So what gives? Have you decided to drop out too?"

I gave him a weak punch in the arm, feeling suddenly sleepy now that the adrenaline had calmed. "Ha ha, very funny. Actually, I woke up this morning feeling pretty rotten — I think it's a cold, but I feel like crap and didn't want to take the chance of being miserable in class all day and infecting half of Forks High School." I yawned.

Quil silently climbed out of the window while Jake and I continued talking.

"I knew all of this was pushing you too hard, hon," he said, gathering me against his bare chest. He jumped slightly when I pressed my cold fingers against him, trying to warm them. His heat was comforting, and I found myself drowsing again. "Can I get you anything?"

"Don't need…just…sleep…soup," I mumbled as I drifted off in his arms. I was vaguely aware of him laying me down gently and kissing my forehead before my sleep took me.

**

Several hours later, I awoke on my own accord. I stretched, still feeling miserable but not as exhausted. My pajamas were clinging to my body with sweat — my fever must have broken during my nap. Without warning, I heard a soft snore and sat up in bed, confused. I looked at the rocking chair out of habit, but the snoring wasn't coming from there. I looked around and saw the source of the noise.

Jacob was curled on the floor next to my bed, fast asleep. He had covered himself with my bathrobe, but it barely covered his shoulders and back. He looked uncomfortable, but I didn't want to wake him — he needed sleep even more than I did.

I pulled back my covers and tiptoed past his drowsing form to the bathroom. I made a face when I saw myself in the mirror. My hair was plastered to my forehead and dark circles stained my face under my eyes. My mouth tasted sour. I grabbed some Tylenol and brushed my teeth. Peeling off my damp clothing, I turned the hot water on and stepped into the shower. It felt heavenly as I scrubbed my hair and stood under the steaming water. I stayed in until the water began to lose its heat.

Wrapping one towel around my hair and one around my body, I snuck back into my room to grab some clothes as quietly as possible so as not to wake Jacob. When I pushed my door open, I saw that it was not necessary. Jacob sat cross-legged on my bed, holding a bowl of chicken noodle soup and looking at me with a warm smile.

"I found some in the pantry downstairs."

"Oh, Jake," I croaked, going over to kiss his cheek. "You're too sweet."

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me to him. His breath was warm on my ear. "And you're too tempting…why don't you get dressed and then you can have your soup?" I nodded and set about grabbing some sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt before I went to my underwear drawer for a bra and panties. I felt Jacob's eyes on me as I pawed through the cotton, silk and lace. Grinning with a light flush, I selected a sports bra and some comfortable cotton underwear and took all of my selections back into the bathroom with me.

Soon I was back in my bed, slurping broth and scooping up noodles. I always thought there was something magically healing about chicken noodle soup, but soup made by Jacob seemed to make me feel even better. Finishing every drop, I thanked him and handed him the bowl when he held out his hands.

"Is there anything else I can get you?" he asked, setting the bowl on my nightstand and taking my hands in his. I could feel the start of another fever coming on, and shuddered as a chill went through me.

"Maybe…a Coke?" I asked. He nodded and stood to retrieve it, but I stopped him. "And then…could you just lay down with me? I'm starting to get chills again…"

"Of course, Bells," he said softly, picking up the empty soup bowl. "I'll be right back."

Once he left the room, I sighed contently and rubbed my eyes. He was entirely too good to me. I moaned and stretched, and when I opened my eyes, I was startled to see Alice standing at the foot of my bed, my window slightly open now.

"Bella, is everything okay?" she asked me, coming to sit on the bed. "I saw myself going to the high school to see you during lunch, and you weren't there. So I just skipped all of that and thought I'd come here."

"I'm sick, Alice," I said, "You couldn't see that in your vision?"

At that moment, my bedroom door flew open and an enraged Jacob stood there, trembling — a can of Coke in his hand. When he saw that it was Alice, he calmed somewhat, but they stood there staring at one another with furious looks on their faces.

Alice turned back to me, her nose wrinkled. "No, I couldn't see that…you must have been with Jacob. I can't see you at all when you're with the dogs." I heard a quiet growl from Jacob's chest at her words.

I held my now-aching head. "Guys, really? I'm sick and not in the mood for your bickering. You two need to be nice to each other, or leave. It's up to you," I grumbled.

Jacob's angry face faded and he walked to my side, handing me the soda. "I'll be good," he said, sticking his lower lip out in an exaggerated pout.

I laughed lightly. "Jake, hon…I think you shook this Coke up too much. I really don't want it to explode, so could you maybe get me another one?"

"Sure, sure," he said, his eyes flickering to Alice quickly as he left the room again. I whirled to Alice.

"I think you surprised him," I tried to explain his growling, "but even so, you don't have to antagonize him, Alice! He's important to me…the most important person in my life."

Alice sighed. "You really do love him, don't you…" She smiled sadly. "I'll do better, I promise. But only because it's for you," she added as Jacob came back in the room with an unshaken can of soda. He sat next to me as I opened it and rubbed his hands up and down my arms to keep me warm.

"Can you see anything new for Saturday?" Jacob asked Alice politely. I leaned against his heat, happy that he seemed to be trying to get along too.

"I can't right now," she explained. "Whenever your kind are too close, I'm totally blind to the future." Her eyes were careful, and I had a suspicion she wasn't telling us something. "But it still seems like everything will be as we planned…it's definitely Saturday, probably close to one in the afternoon."

"Thanks," Jacob voice was gruff, and he took my half-empty can from me and eased me down onto my side, laying next to me and spooning me closely. I sighed and snuggled into his warm skin. Alice looked slightly uncomfortable, but Jacob said, "Bella has a fever…I'm trying to keep the chills away."

"Of course," she said, her voice just a bit too bright. "Shall I leave you alone?"

I sat up slightly. "No, Alice…please stay for a while. It's nice to have you both here with me." The two of them gave each other a wary glance, but seemed to relax slightly. "Jake, are you going to take me tonight, or should I have Alice?"

"Bells, I think you need to rest and get better," Jacob said. I started to retort, but he interrupted. "Saturday is going to be a stressful day, and you need to be at your best."

"All I'm doing is standing there," I complained. "How difficult is that? I can do that if I'm sick."

"I agree with Jacob," Alice said, and I turned to her, surprised. "Besides, when you're sick, you don't smell as good…and you have to be able to lure the newborns to you. Most vampires avoid feeding on sick humans — the blood doesn't taste as good."

Jacob trembled slightly as Alice talked about how good I would taste. I sighed, disappointed. "I'm not going to get Jacob sick, am I? Maybe I should quarantine myself from the pack. Jake, can…can werewolves even get sick?"

"I don't know," Jacob said, unsure. "We heal from injury really quickly, but I don't think we've ever thought about germs and stuff. I don't think anyone's had a cold or the flu since phasing…Jared still has his allergies, though, and Seth has had to use his asthma inhaler a few times."

Alice looked thoughtful. "You wolves certainly are interesting creatures. I didn't see anything like an illness being an issue on Saturday, but next time I'm away from the wolves, I'll check. But, it still might be a good idea for Jacob to keep his distance." Jacob snarled softly at her words, and she held her hands up. "Just until Bella's better, Jacob! We all need you to be at 100%...my family included."

He softened. "Oh," he said simply. "I guess I didn't think about that. We really are working together on this, aren't we? You want to protect your family, just like I'm protecting the pack and Bella."

"Bella is our family, too," she reminded him. "We all want the same conclusion here."

We all fell silent. The atmosphere was slightly awkward, and finally, Jacob stood reluctantly.

"I guess I better go, then," he said quietly. "I'll miss you Bells…hurry and get better soon."

"I'll let you both know when she'll be better," Alice said to Jacob. He nodded.

He kissed my cheek tenderly, lingering just a moment and whispering, "Love you…"

I smiled up at him. "I love you too," I said, my voice slightly nasal from the cold. I blinked once, and he was gone. Shaking my head, I couldn't help but laugh, "Everyone is so much faster than me."

**

Alice and I spent the afternoon downstairs, watching television while she brushed and styled my long hair several different ways. As the time drew near for Charlie to be home, I still didn't feel very well. At one point, Alice's face went blank as she saw something in the future. When her focus cleared, she admitted I probably wouldn't be able to see Jacob until Friday, and that tomorrow I'd feel even worse than I did today. Discouraged, I stomped upstairs to the bathroom and took some Nyquil so I could at least have a long, uninterrupted night of sleep. Then I rejoined Alice, whom I found in the kitchen making a sandwich.

I snickered as I saw her. "Hungry, Alice?"

She smiled as she worked. "I thought I'd make it for Charlie. I don't know much about human germs, but I don't think you should touch his food. I don't want him getting sick…" Her concern for my father touched me. I knew she loved him, but it was another thing to see her caring for him like a second daughter. "Jasper's on his way over," she casually remarked. "He wanted to go over a few things with you for Saturday."

As if on cue, a light knock sounded at the door, followed by a loud booming one and a snicker. Alice sighed. I went to answer the door, and found Jasper on my porch, Emmett behind him with a big grin on his face. I could feel Jasper's annoyance, and it made me annoyed too.

"Emmett, please behave yourself," I pleaded in my croaking voice. "Jasper and I have important things to go over."

Emmett's smile faded. "Aww hell, Bella…I wasn't going to do anything. I knew you were sick and I wanted to check on you. And I missed you, too…" If a vampire could blush, I knew his cheeks would be pink.

My annoyance faded immediately. "Sorry Emmett," I said, stepping forward to hug him. His nose wrinkled as I did. "Werewolf?" I asked. "Jacob was here earlier."

"No…you just smell weird, Bella. You really must be sick. Usually you smell so good…"

I sat down on the couch with a plop, moaning as my head throbbed from the action. "I really need to get better by Saturday," I mumbled as Jasper sat next to me. My headache and muscle pains immediately faded, and I looked at him in wonder. He shrugged.

"I wanted you to feel some relief," he said simply. I smiled at him, taking a deep breath through my now-clear nasal passages. I felt almost normal again — Jasper's gift was incredible. We sat there in comfortable stillness; the only sound that of Alice humming as she fixed Charlie's dinner.

Finally, Jasper spoke. "Bella," he began, "I wanted to take the opportunity to explain why I'm so involved in the planning process for this battle. Alice mentioned my past but didn't go into detail, right?"

I nodded. It had been interesting and curious to see the rest of the Cullens defer to Jasper during the late-night sessions — I had always seen him as on the outskirts of the family, being the newest "vegetarian" and all.

"Well, I haven't always led such a relaxed existence, Bella. For a long time, my life was about war." He held his arm out to me and I studied his skin, gasping as I noticed the faint criss-cross markings covering every inch. How had I never noticed these scars?

"Are these...?"

"Vampire bites," Jasper nodded. "Specifically, newborn vampire bites." And he proceeded to tell me a heartbreaking story of his change at the hands of a woman named Maria. My eyes grew wide at his description of vampire wars in the South, in which he was a crucial participant. Finally, he told me how he broke away from that lifestyle and found Alice.

I was speechless, and hugged him before I realized what I was doing. He froze, but didn't push me away. I was grateful he trusted me enough to share his story. Emmett chuckled at Jasper's strained face over my shoulder, and I broke away, feeling the discomfort rolling off his body. Jasper ran his fingers through his hair shakily, his eyes fading from dark to their usual golden hue. "Sorry," I sputtered.

"It's okay, Bella…your cold and the medicine you must have taken are making you quite resistible. Anyway, now that we have that out of the way, let's talk about your position and responsibilities for Saturday."

I clutched a pillow to my stomach as anxiety settled over me. It was immediately placated by Jasper's gift.

"I will meet Emily at her aunt's house at 8 a.m. to get a shower and wash any traces of vampires or werewolves from me. The two of us will head to the beginning of the easternmost walking trail in La Push at 9 a.m.," I began. "I'll have good boots and comfortable clothes on. Alice will call me on my cell phone to tell the two of us where to walk. We'll follow her directions and walk several miles into the forest surrounding La Push, then I'll remain in the Clearwater's yard until the battle and Emily will go to the Makah reservation."

Much to Sam's discomfort, it was necessary to have Emily's assistance with this part of the plan. I didn't know my way through many of the La Push trails, and we couldn't have a werewolf or vampire show me the way, because we needed a clean scent that could be picked up by the attacking vampires. The Clearwater's house was in a central location on the reservation, giving us a buffer before we hit the ocean — if Victoria's group made it there, they would have an advantage over the werewolves.

Jasper nodded and handed me a tissue for my now-running nose. Alice continued her quietly-hummed song from the kitchen where she continued preparing Charlie's dinner. I noticed that she had already finished three sandwiches and was working on a fourth, and I snorted in laughter as I blew my nose.

"I don't think he'll be that hungry, Alice," I said, wiping my swollen nose. Emmett settled next to me on the couch and threw his granite arm around my shoulders where it was surprisingly comfortable. I nestled against him, pressing my feverish forehead against his chest.

Jasper hesitated before he spoke. "Bella, I have to ask you something, and I don't want you to feel uncomfortable. But it's important when dealing with a newborn." I motioned for him to continue, my eyes wide. "Is there a chance you'll be…menstruating…on Saturday?"

I spluttered, the my cheeks turning crimson. Emmett chuckled lowly. "No," I managed to gasp.

"Okay," Jasper looked thoughtful. "That's a shame. It really drives newborns crazy." He glanced at Alice, who was now standing in the doorway. "Okay Bella, there's something I'm going to ask you to do, but I couldn't ask you in front of Jacob. He's too protective of you and would try to stop you."

"I want to do anything to help," I said firmly, sitting up and feeling a slight head rush from the Nyquil. "What is it?"

"I know you're squeamish about…your blood," he said, his eyes glinting black for a moment before he gained his composure. "But I wanted to see if you would consider cutting yourself to leave traces of blood along the trail, and then make sure you have some on your clothes for when they come to you at the Clearwater's."

I looked at Alice and Emmett, and their faces were serious. "If you think that's a good idea, then I'll do it. But won't that distract you guys too?"

Emmett gave me a squeeze and I leaned into him, suddenly exhausted. "No way, little sis. We can control ourselves, and we don't want any harm to come to you. But it will distract the hell out of those newborns…maybe even enough that we can finish them in a few minutes."

Alice spoke from the doorway to the kitchen. "I've been looking very closely at what might happen, and it's difficult because the werewolves make everything disappear. But I see you walking with Emily, and your arm is bleeding. And I can see you after the battle with me, and we're both safe." Her eyes went out of focus for a second before she broke out into a big smile. "Now that you've made the decision, I can see the outcome more clearly. Jazz, you take me to Seattle next week to celebrate." She giggled as she walked to his side and they gazed at each other for a second, sharing a moment of joy and relief that they both apparently would be okay after the battle.

"What about Rose?" Emmett said quietly. "Can you see what happens with her?" I noticed that he didn't ask about himself. Alice was quiet for a moment before grinning at him. His face was relieved.

I stood to walk over to Alice and my legs failed me. Emmett caught me before I could hit the ground. I chuckled against his shoulder, feeling drunk as the room spun. The Nyquil was finally taking effect. I heard Alice and Emmett speaking in low voices, but all I could make out was "medicine," "sleep" and "room."

"I'm tired," I mumbled as I felt myself being carried up the stairs before giving way to blissful sleep.

**

Nearly thirteen hours later, I woke up. I shook, sniffled, swallowed and cursed Alice for being right about her predictions. My nose was totally blocked and I could barely swallow. It would be another soup and Tylenol day.