~Thanks so much for the feedback. Here's one more treat for the week. I'm not saying I won't update again this week, but I'm back to writing some other stories, so I'll spread it out a little more for now.

Copyright disclaimer: Twilight and all recognizable characters are sole property of Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 3: Still Us

The husband and wife clung to one another for several minutes without saying anything else.

Jacob broke the silence, "What happened?"

"What do you remember?"

"That I was taking out the trash."

"That's it?" she choked out. Her voice still cracked. She kept holding her throat as she tried to clear it up.

He looked down at himself and then side to side. He must have been even more confused since he was no where near he'd been. His shirt was ripped open, blood soaked, but Bella couldn't even see the wounds in the dark.

"What happened to you, Bells?"

She had so much to tell him, but what first, him or her? She decided to explain what she'd found after hearing the gun go off. "They shot you."

He looked again and rubbed his hands up and down his torso. "Did they miss?"

"No, baby...you were gone. I was out of my mind with grief." Bella tried something. She took his fingers with hers and rubbed over the spots she knew were previous holes. That was the only way she found them in the dark. The skin had scarred over, but there were two distinct divots, proof of the bullet holes.

"So I guess, I still have the healing ability," he concluded. She knew better. That wasn't how it happened. He stopped asking questions about himself and grabbed her face in his hands. "But you're human. That's the real mystery, not that I still have characteristics of the wolf. How? What else happened?"

"First off, you didn't heal. Jacob, I swear you've been dead at least an hour up until a few minutes ago when we both took our first breaths together." He kept silent so she could continue. "I guess I'm alive for the same reason you are. The man did something to us."

"What man? The one that shot me?"

"No, I...I was about to..." her voice trailed off but she lifted the lighter. She knew he probably could smell the odor. It was strong enough to penetrate normal, human senses.

"Oh..."

"He interrupted me."

"Did you know him?"

"No, but he knew all about us. He was a shape-shifter without a doubt, but he only revealed himself as a man. He looked out of another era. I pictured him as some type of authority figure...maybe a chief. I think he was a spirit. He had to be."

"Taha Aki."

"The legends?"

"Yeah, the ones about him seemed far-reaching, but who else could it have been?"

"All this time, someone out there had the ability to make me human again? I can't believe it except I have no choice...look at me," her teeth chattered with those last words. Her body was reacting to the cool, moist air and she was still wet from the lake, soaked in lighter fluid across her bottom half.

Jacob rolled to one side. He took his time, but his strength was returning quickly. He made it upright and stretched his body before leaning over and scooping her up. Bella's head fell against his chest and she sighed. He was really back. Everything had changed in an instant on two different occasions that evening, but nothing else mattered; they were still themselves. Jacob stopped at the door. He told her they needed to remove their clothing before tracking all the fuel residue and blood from their clothes inside the house. He shucked off his clothes first and then helped her. They took off everything and he tossed them into their outdoor fireplace. She hadn't realized he'd brought the lighter with them, until he lit the clothes. They ignited and burning brightly. She watched as a few purple streaks moved through the fire.

Her hands covered her mouth, and she sucked in a giant lungful of air. Jacob put his arm around her. "It's okay, it was residual from your clothes." She saw the look in his eyes. He was staring at her body intently. She looked to see what held his attention. "Look...you're cold."

Sure enough, when she touched her skin, she felt the tiny bumps all over her arms. She had goose bumps. He lifted her again and stepped inside their home that was a much more comfortable temperature than the outdoors. Jacob didn't stop, he went to their bathroom and turned on the shower.

The two of them entered at the same time. Bella squealed. "Sorry, I guess we have a lot to relearn." He had it way too hot and as soon as he got the temperature suitable she stood in front of her shower head. The shower had multiple water sources. He had his higher one because of his height. Jacob quickly washed and shampooed. She hadn't attempted anything but standing still underneath the steady stream of water. It was then, that more feelings started to overwhelm her and she felt her legs lose their balance. Bella grabbed his forearm and he ushered her to the bench seat.

"You okay?"

She nodded, but sitting was much better. He got her shampoo and conditioner and did her hair for her. He gave her the handheld so she could rinse her hair clean. Jacob then lathered up his hands and washed her completely. Bella looked at his back where the most damage had been done as the bullets exited. He was rinsing off one more time. She noticed barely a faint pink area existed over each spot. By morning, she suspected there'd be no tangible evidence that it had ever happened, but her mind would never forget. She couldn't ever experience that sort of trauma and pain ever again. He had a seat next to her. "Are you good? Ready to get out?"

"Yes."

Jacob studied her face again. "Bells...I love you so much."

"I love you too."

He leaned in and touched her lips with his. The kiss brought about all sorts of feelings and emotions. They kissed all the time, but something was uniquely different. She was experiencing something not quite like any of their other kisses. She was receiving a human kiss for what felt like the first time. His long arm reached out and shut the water off, then he gently guided her to stand with him. Jacob was interested in resuming those kisses. She knew when he pressed up against her nude body, he wanted much more. It was exactly what they both needed. When he lifted her to his height, she wrapped her legs around his waist and he stepped out on the bath mat; but then she remembered something. It was sketchy, even though the rest of the night was crystal clear. Bella pulled back. She had to interrupt the moment.

"Jacob...wait. We can't. I haven't told you everything."

"Okay, baby...I know we both still have loads of unanswered questions, but the important thing is we survived. Our love brought us back or whatever it was; magic, mysticism, a higher power. I don't care as long as we're together."

She unlocked her legs and he helped her to the ground. They both reached for towels and wrapped themselves with the terry cloth. Bella looked earnestly in her husband's eyes. "I did something. It's bad and we have to fix it now. We can't wait until dawn."

"Okay, what is it? I'll handle it right away. You're safe, I know you're scared...you're trembling."

"I murdered them."

"Who? How?"

"There were two, I couldn't let them get away after what they did to you." She started to cry once again. Crying finally came easy. "Off in the trees, near the end of the driveway...that's where they are inside their car. We can't let them be found. What are we going to do? I'm sorry...please don't think I'm a monster."

He tried to calm her back down. He didn't say one judgmental thing, instead he said he understood. "If I had been in your position and someone hurt you, honey...I have no idea how bad I would react. I'd probably be judge, jury and executioner as well. I'll fix it, I'll take care of everything." He pulled her into the bedroom. She allowed him to do everything for her. In a way, she felt like a child as he dressed her in some comfortable clothes. Jacob remembered his cell phone on the bar. She followed him to the kitchen and sat on a barstool.

He made the call. She realized she wasn't privy to the other side of the conversation any longer. "Yeah, I know what time it is, but I need you to pay close attention, man. I need every guy you can spare. Bring them all to my place...hell, even wake up Sam and Jared...all of you come out as soon as possible. It has to be right now. Something crazy and insane went on here tonight and you guys are the only ones that can help us."

Jacob paused and listened a few seconds.

"No, Bells and I are fine, but tell Lahote to bring the truck, the flatbed and lots of tarps." He also told Quil no matter what, come straight to the house, and not to stop on any other part of the property. He told Bella after hanging up, he figured it was best if they got all the explanations out of the way first and then he'd take them to find the car.

It was then that it all made sense how Jacob planned to take care of things. The pack would do anything for him. They were going to help cover up her murders. Kinda put their friendships all in perspective, the bonds were much stronger than a mere friendship.

He walked over to the fridge and pulled out the oj and turned up the carton to drink straight from the source. She always hated when he did that, but in that moment, she loved it. He looked at the unfinished quesadilla. "Is this mine?"

"Yea, who else?"

"Well?" he eyed the food and wiggled his eyebrows at her. She slipped off the chair. "No honey, I can. You should sit and rest."

"No, you have no idea how much it would mean to me to finish fixing that for you." Bella heated the pan and added a little bit of butter so she could crisp up the tortilla. She was completing what she'd set out to do not too long ago, but a whole world of change had happened in between. When she flipped the quesadilla, she jerked back with a scream. She'd caught her arm on the edge of the pan.

He was at her side in an instant. "Let me see...awe, you burned yourself."

Bella looked down as he ran cold water over the thin pink line. It burned and stung but also felt wonderful. She was feeling new sensations every step of the way. "Newborn human, just not a baby. That's what I feel like."

"You okay?" he brought the wound to his lips and placed a loving kiss there.

She shook her head, but remembered the food. As soon as she shut the burner off, he pulled out a plate and flipped the snack onto it. Jacob brought the knife over and made four cuts like she always did.

He moaned his usual approval for her cooking. She watched him quickly consume one quarter and then start in on another.

She couldn't help finding amusement in the situation, "Leave it to you Jacob Black, to awaken from death and have to eat first thing."

He shrugged, "True..." he held up a portion. "You want some?"

He eyes widened at the thought, she would need to eat again, but there was no way she was ready for that. "No thanks, I'm too nervous, it'd come right back up, I'm sure, but..." she cleared her throat. "I keep feeling this scratchiness and my tongue's all dried out."

He cracked a grin, "You're thirsty, baby."

Her alarm was evident, No, thirsty was a burn...she never planned to be thirsty again.

He grabbed her shoulders and made her realize what he meant, "For water, Bells...you need some water." He went to the cabinet, pulled out a glass and filled it from the refrigerator door. Jacob sat the clear, cool liquid in front of her. She tentatively raised the glass to her lips and let a little bit run down the back of her throat. Relief, so cool and refreshing. Yes, she'd been thirsty...perhaps dehydrated. Bella turned the glass up for the second time and drained the cup.

"More, please."

He got her another and she started to drink again, but he cautioned her to pace herself. "Slow, small sips. I think that's how you should do it for now."

He was right, the first glass did wonders at clearing up that discomfort she'd felt. Bella asked when the pack should arrive.

"I think at least an hour for whoever drives, because he was going to have to drag their asses out of bed, but Seth and Embry were on patrol. One of them might be quicker or any of them that decided to run should be here soon. Quil said he'd get everyone here but leave the young ones to patrol on the rez."

"Didn't he want to know why?"

"Nope, he could tell I needed them. That was all that mattered."

Jacob put his strong arm over her shoulder and she leaned over him. Bella smiled at the purring heartbeat, steady and vibrant against her ear. The best sound on earth as far as she was concerned. There was a soft tap at the door. He went to answer it to find Seth standing there.

First words out of his mouth were, "Damn, bro...what's going on? Blood reeks out there, but Quil said, you said you were fine."

Jacob moved out of the line of sight, so Seth could clearly see her. She held her lip tightly between her teeth waiting for the reaction that was sure to come. Her favorite brother looked completely shocked, "Bella?" was a question.

She nodded and got to her feet so that she could run to him. He grabbed her up and spun her around in circles until she felt her head spin.

Seth sat her down and held her face in his hands. It was like he was seeing her for the first time. "How?"

Jake answered, "Not completely sure, but isn't it amazing."

"So that's it, you're just you again?"

"Yep, I'm me."

The same reaction happened again and again as the pack started trickling into the house. Even Brady and Collin were overwhelmed getting their first experience with human Bella. None of them knew what to say. They couldn't stop staring. Jacob took her to the couch and held her in his lap. He was saving the whole story for when they all arrived, so they wouldn't have to keep repeating themselves. Jacob said he heard the truck rumbling down the driveway. They heard several car doors. They had only been waiting on Quil, Paul, Jared and Sam.

Once the full reunion took place, it was time to explain the impossible.

Paul couldn't contain himself. "Holy fuck...you're not a leech. Damn, I'm speechless."

"That's a first," Bella added.

He surprised her by jerking her away from Jacob and giving her a sloppy kiss on her cheek. Paul had never kissed her. Jacob playfully kicked at him and pulled her back to his lap. "Back off the wife, man."

Jacob told them about her first and the visitor.

"You mean that Taha Aki shit is real?"

"Is your furry ass real, Lahote?" Paul kept saying he was quitting too. He and Jacob had a contest, but Jacob won as Paul continued to phase. "Yeah, obviously it is." Jacob reminded them all.

"Oh shit, there's a story about this, right Quil?" Paul asked.

Jacob seemed to be clueless. "What story?"

Quil filled him in on some ancient documents. Parts were missing but his grandfather had translated a few phrases. "A blessed couple...I don't know, none of us paid much attention. We thought it was symbolic or folklore. Grandfather will go wild with it now, but there was mention of Taha Aki bringing forth a blessing to a couple, the leaders of the tribe."

Bella was thinking about the way the tribe in general had acted, it didn't seem remotely possible she and Jacob were their leaders...him maybe, but her...never. She couldn't help but hide her face when the next part of the conversation began.

"Okay, we're all more than thrilled Bella was made whole again even though we have no idea why?" Embry stated, "But why in the fuck is this whole property washed in blood? Some of it's yours Jake, but you're fit as a fiddle, it would seem."

Jacob asked her with his eyes. She shook her head, "No you tell them, I don't want to say any of it again."

He started from the beginning and told them how he was taking out the trash like many other regular nights because he'd forgotten during the afternoon. He said he thought he remembered a noise but he didn't see anything. He told them about waking up with Bella alive in front of him but she'd filled in all the rest he didn't remember. Jacob told them all of it.

They were all starting freak out a little "You were dead, bro?" Quil seemed to be the most emotional one but they were all upset.

"Yeah, Bella said probably over an hour." He pulled his shirt up. They looked closely

"Barely, I can barely tell," Seth said and they all agreed.

Jacob thought they all needed to go outside, even he hadn't seen the spot where he fell. He asked Bella to stay inside, but she refused. She couldn't leave his side. He grabbed a hoodie and slipped it over her head. It swallowed her up since it was his. She and Jacob took them to where the pool of coagulating blood existed. Jared whipped out his police issued flashlight. She couldn't bare to see it again, she pushed her face into his shirt instead.

"Fuck..."

"You were drained, man."

Jacob brushed over her hair, he whispered. "I'm okay, remember? Everything's okay." All of them but Jared walked away from the scene of the crime. He said he was going to launch an informal investigation to see if he could turn up anything.

The group knew where to head next. They were following the scent. She was glad she could no longer smell it herself. He tried to once again to get her to go inside, but she refused. She stayed fused to his side as they made the long journey down the driveway.

Bella wondered why that one memory, the attack she led was so hard to recall. Only scattered bits and pieces remained. Jacob stopped her at the back of the vehicle. The rest of them looked in side. The reactions erupted from their mouths all at once.

"Holy shit!"

"Uh."

"Wow, fucking wow!"

"Is that?" Jacob shushed Quil. "I mean he's inside out."

"Quil, shut the fuck up. Okay...we all get it. They're dead, now we need to get rid of them. This can't come back to Bella." Quil was following Jacob's lead, he didn't say another word. None of them did. Her curiosity got the best of her and she moved to the side but a bloody palm print on the window halted her steps.

Jacob pushed her back a ways, "No...I don't want you seeing that."

"But..." she stammered, "But I did it."

"Yeah, but you said you can't remember so let's leave it that way." He kissed the top of her head

Paul came around and added his two cents. "Yeah trust me...you killed them with extreme prejudice. I almost threw up in my mouth so don't dare look."

"Oh," was all she managed, and she took two more steps back of her own free will.

There was a little debate going on as to how to get rid of all the evidence. They all kept asking for Jake's opinion to anything that was mentioned. Paul suggested pushing it in the lake, "It's deep enough isn't it?"

Bella screamed, "NO! This is our home. We love the lake. Seriously, Paul would you want to play again in those waters with Wyatt and Whitney knowing their decomposing corpses were right there?"

Em thought of something and Sam concurred. There was a spot on the far northwest side of the reservation. "It could work, no one goes there."

"Yeah, I agree."

"Can you get the truck up there?" Jacob asked Paul.

"Yeah, pretty sure I can. Is that what you want, Jake?" Bella looked around at all of them. Something was happening. Things were different. It wasn't even subtle. Every thought, every move was being run by Jacob. Did any of them even notice? They had just about decided on the details so they started up the driveway.

Jared met them halfway. He had found something. "Look at this." he held his flashlight over the bullet he'd recovered.

Quil asked what sort of ammo it was, "I've never seen something like that."

"That's because these are highly illegal in the US. I swear I've only seen specs on something like this. I thought they existed in theory only. This is an armor piercing bullet, meant to explode all the tissue around it as it goes through. Jake, man...wolf or not; no one gets shot with one of these and lives to tell about it. Dude, do you have any fucking enemies? Like Russian mafia or something?"

"Hell no, I design engines. How would I make enemies like that?"

"Well, it goes without saying...you were fucking assassinated. Think...who would want this?"

"I don't know, like I said I don't have enemies. Maybe it was mistaken identity. Those guys certainly aren't recognizable, so I have no clue."

Paul planted a seed in all their minds, "No Jake...I can think of one enemy that maybe you discounted all too easily."

They started a dialogue about the possibility, but her mind already completely extinguished that possibility. No way, he was a brat, sometimes an asshole when he didn't get his way, but Bella still felt like she knew enough about him. No, it couldn't be him. Why would he do such a thing? They were wrong. Jacob was probably right and it was mistaken identity. They didn't know their neighbors, maybe one of them was involved in sinister activities.

Jared said he'd do his best at launching a covert investigation and he'd carry the evidence to the lab. He only recovered one, he said the other appeared to be lost.

She started shivering soon after, they'd been outside for awhile and the hoodie was no longer enough even though she didn't particularly feel cold, she couldn't stop shaking. Seth noticed and told them to all be quiet. "Bella, are you okay?"

His voice sounded far off but she could see him right in front of her face. She felt like she could pass out any second. Jacob's voice was next, "Seth, you take Bella inside." There he went again giving orders. She kept noticing that's how it'd been the entire evening and no one hesitated to do what he said, even Quil.

"No," she breathed out. "Jake, need you, Jacob."

"Yeah, but Seth's warmer, honey. Let him warm you up sweetheart and then I'll come in and check on you. Let us finalize everything."

Seth tried to take her but she pushed and resisted with the last bit of strength she could muster up.

"No, need Jake." Bella grabbed hold him. He felt plenty warm to her. In fact, she swore he felt hot. Jacob was all she needed to warm up, but a little voice inside her head told her it wasn't only the elements...she was going into shock. She wanted to tell them but couldn't. Things were happening around her but she couldn't respond. She felt Jacob lift her up.

One of the guys commented, "Bro, you don't look so great either. You're sweating buckets and it's not the least bit hot."

She was hardly aware of much else, perhaps she'd drifted off, but she imagined she was on their sofa when heated lips pressed against her forehead. "Seth, will take care of you. Don't worry, I'll be back."

She wanted to yell at him, No, Jacob don't leave me, but nothing came out before she was consumed by total darkness.

~Thanks so much for reading.

Who's got some predictions? Would love to hear your thoughts.