CHAPTER 14

*****JACOB POV*****

SIRENS WAILED IN the distance.

I continued talking to Bella as the doc kept working, her features eventually relaxing as the morphine must have kicked in. By the time the ambulance pulled up a couple of minutes later, the doc already had the head wounds cleaned and stitched up and had been able to straighten Bella's arm back out. That was very unpleasant to see… and hear.

They got her arm and neck braced and got her loaded into the ambulance. I paused at the back of the ambulance, considering the size of the small space. Everything inside me demanded to stay with her, but I was afraid my massive frame would just get in the way.

The doc looked at me from inside the vehicle. "Do you mind if Alice gives you a ride to the hospital Jacob? She will stay right behind us."

I hesitated, trying to decide if I could tolerate that. The last thing I wanted was to be in the way, and that was the most logical answer to getting to the hospital with Bella. After just a few moments, I nodded.

"The keys are in the ignition Alice."

The pull to Bella had returned and increased as the ambulance pulled away. Alice did indeed follow right behind them though… even running a red light to do so. The pull remained mild, and I was guessing that maybe it got stronger the further away from Bella I was.

"Does Charlie know yet?" I asked after a bit of silence.

Alice nodded. "I spoke with Emily to let her know what happened. She said Charlie was somewhere in La Push and that she would get a message to him, so I would assume he's been told by now… or will be very soon."

"Good. So, what actually did happen?" I asked, not able to keep the frustration out of my voice. It wasn't directed at her, necessarily, and she ignored it when she answered evenly.

"You want the "official" story," she did the motion for quotation marks in the air with one hand, "or the real one?"

I barked out a small laugh and she gave me a little crooked smile. Yeah, I guess we would need to have a cover story. Might have a bit of an issue if we tried to say a vampire did it.

"Both," I said.

"It was a hit and run. That's the "official" story I told the officer that arrived right before the ambulance. Bella had just gotten in the car and before she could shut her door a car sped by and clipped the back of the Mercedes, sending it into the tree and ejecting Bella out the open passenger door. That'll send the police on a bit of a wild goose chase trying to track down the black sedan that I said hit the Mercedes, but since I couldn't remember any other details of the vehicle, they'll have to let it go after a while."

"That's pretty good. Charlie's going to have a hard time letting that one go, though."

"I know, but that was the best option I could see. So, what really happened was Vitoria hit the car out of the way to get to Bella and then shoved Bella to knock her away from me. She then dashed over, grabbed Bella mid-air, and slammed her into the ground."

I winced… this bloodsucker was going to die.

"She was bending down over Bella when I tackled her away, and I didn't let her touch Bella again," Alice continued. "I don't know why I couldn't see her specific location to know how close she was until it was too late. You were fairly close, judging by how soon after you arrived, but I don't think you were close enough to block my visions at that moment. It was like she didn't decide she was going to go after Bella until she was right there." Alice was clearly frustrated that she had been essentially blind-sided. With her abilities, I got the feeling that didn't happen very often.

As much as I didn't want to admit it, I was gaining a new respect for this little vampire… and the doc. I could have never fathomed it before today—these undead monsters caring for anyone, let alone a poor little human girl. I could see now that they did care for Bella very much. Friendship with them may be too much of a reach, but appreciation and respect could be possible.

"Thank you," I said quietly, "for protecting her until I could get there."

"You're welcome. I'm just sorry I wasn't able to keep her from getting injured." The frustration was still in her voice.

"If it wasn't for you though, she probably would've…" I trailed off, not able to finish. I shuddered at the thought of how close it was… that I wouldn't have made it in time. We are going to have to rethink our approach to Bella's protection.

"I know, I'm thankful I was able to make it when I did, even if it wasn't soon enough to get her out of there. Of course, if Bella had called me as soon as she got home, like she'd agreed to, then I could have had her out of there in plenty of time."

"What do you mean? Why wouldn't she call you?"

"I don't know. I asked, but she didn't have a chance to answer me. I found her in the forest just north of the house, which doesn't seem like something she would normally do."

Oh no. She might do that if she was trying to do some thinking. Was she out there trying to figure out what to do about us? My stomach sunk at the thought and my hands began to tremble slightly. I squeezed them into fists.

Alice glanced at my hands out of the corner of her eyes, and I felt her tense a little. "What is it?" she asked.

"I think I know why she was out there. If I'm right, it's my fault." My voice was tight with irritation.

"Does this have anything to do with why she was so distracted and sad last night?

"Yes."

I think Alice could tell from my clipped answer that I didn't want to discuss it anymore, because she changed the subject.

"It's unfortunate I can't see you and your friends… it really limits my ability to help track Victoria's movements. I'm just so surprised I didn't see her coming in Bella's direction at all though… at least not until I knew she was nearby, and then I couldn't see everything that I usually can. She has somehow figured out ways to work around what I can see."

"How would she know how to do that?"

"Well, last year when James was hunting Bella—you know about James?"

"Yes, Bella told me about that… this had better not become an annual thing." I said sourly.

"Yes, I agree," Alice said, shaking her head. "Anyway, Laurent, the one who was in the meadow with Bella that your pack killed, came to us after James started the hunt. He didn't agree with what they were doing, and he let us know some things about James and Victoria. He was also intrigued by our 'vegetarian' lifestyle, so we told him about our cousins in Denali… did Bella tell you about them?"

"No, I don't think she mentioned that."

"Well, they're another coven who follow the same diet as us, and we consider them our extended family. So, he went and spent several months with them, then Victoria found him and spent some time with them as well. Laurent ended up leaving Denali with Victoria and then meet his end when your pack took him down. That's how she learned more about my powers, and she's figured out how to play with my blind spots."

"That sucks." I said as we pulled up to the hospital right behind the ambulance.

"I'm going to head back to the house to see if I can catch Charlie and in case the officers have any more questions. I'll be back up later. Please have Carlisle call me if there are any updates before I make it back."

"Sure, sure," I said distractedly as I got out and followed the doc and the gurney with Bella into the hospital.

Bella was stable, so he let me sit with Bella in the little ER space the put her in, even though I'm not related. Charlie showed up about twenty minutes after we arrived, and the doc insisted that the nurses let us both stay. I was very relieved, because I didn't think I would have been able go against the pull to stay with Bella.

They had given her some blood, so her color was returning to normal, though she smelled weird now… that was interesting. She was being kept drugged up so she would stay asleep because of the injury to her head. After several hours, and a lot of scans and tests, they took her to surgery for her arm. Charlie and I walked with her as far as they would let us, and as they wheeled her through the surgery doors, the strong pull to stay with her returned and continued to grow as she was wheeled further and further away from me.

I hadn't left her side since arriving at the ER, going with them to every machine they had taken her to, and they had allowed it at the doc's instruction… it was almost like he knew. But going with her now wasn't an option. I don't think I'd ever felt anything that brought me so much discomfort. Phasing was close, especially in the beginning, but that was just a flash and then gone… this feeling though, this was relentless.

I stood there at the double doors Bella had just disappeared through, fighting against that pull, telling myself that, it was better for me not to be there, but knowing that didn't help. I was just going to have to find a way to endure it until I could be with her again.

Charlie had been standing next to me while I had this internal struggle, waiting for me to turn and walk to the waiting room. He put his hand on my arm, "Come on kid, you can't go with her for this, and we can't just stand here. We'll hear from Dr. Cullen soon. She's out of the worst danger now, or they wouldn't be doing the surgery yet."

I nodded, knowing he was right, but it would do nothing to ease my draw to Bella.

When we got to the waiting room Sam and Emily were already there. Emily hugged me warmly.

"I'm so sorry Jake," she said quietly. She had become like a sister to me over the past weeks and I appreciated her so much for being here right now. I held her tight for a minute, closing my eyes, holding back the tears that suddenly threatened.

"Thanks Em," I said, releasing her. She looked at me and wiped her thumb across my check… apparently one or two tears ad escaped. She headed over to Charlie and I looked at Sam with the most pressing question in my eye, and he shook his head, his jaw set.

Crap, the filthy leech had gotten away… AGAIN! I looked around wanting to punch something, but there wasn't anything I wouldn't destroy, so I clenched my fists tight, then ran my hands roughly through my hair, and paced over to a chair and sat down heavily.

Emily had sat next to Charlie and placed her hand on his arm. "I'm sorry Bella got hurt Charlie."

"Thanks Emily." He didn't look at all awkward, as he normally would with someone he barely knew comforting him. Em had a way of putting people at ease and comforting in the simplest ways.

About ten minutes later Charlie was updating Sam and Emily on what we knew so far about Bella's condition. I couldn't just sit there and listen anymore.

"I need some air," I said, rising suddenly and heading toward the door.

Emily grabbed my hand as I passed, and I paused to look down at her.

"She's going to be alright Jake." A well of compassion showed in her eyes.

"I know Em… it's just hard sitting here and waiting," I said quietly, squeezing her hand. "I'll be okay. I'll be back in just a little bit."

She nodded and squeezed my hand back before letting me go.

I went toward the front of the hospital, but the desire to go to Bella kept getting stronger the further I went. I made it just outside the main entrance and I couldn't go any further. I stood there for nearly ten minutes, breathing deep and trying to ease the feeling, but it was still just as persistent… almost painful at this distance. It was like someone was gripping my insides and tugging on them over and over again. The further away I went, the tighter the grip was and the more forceful the tug was.

I finally gave in and headed back the way I had come, walking past the waiting room and back to the doors they had taken Bella through for surgery. I found what I hoped was an out of the way spot, next to a water fountain, and eased myself down the wall to the floor. The pull had eased a bit, though it was still strong and made me anxious and irritable.

While I sat there, I tried to distract myself with planning and working out possible strategies. We had to do better, with both Bella's protection and finding a way to get the edge on this freaking bloodsucker! The one thing I would not allow myself to think about was Bella's decision about our future. That was a sure way to drive myself right over the edge of sanity while trying to deal with the intense need to be by her side.

I suddenly remembered something Alice had said in the car on the way to the hospital… that leech with the dreads had told them some things about James and Victoria. Maybe something he told them would help us figure out a way to take her down.

"You doin' alright Jake?" I looked up to find Sam standing in front of me.

"Yeah, I just needed to think… and get as close to Bella as I could. I tried to go outside, but the pull to her was too strong. I'm having a hard time being even this far away."

He nodded in understanding and sat down next to me.

"We've got to rethink the way we are protecting Bella," I continued. "We were all too far away from her today. The Cullens will be leaving soon… and if it weren't for Alice and the doc today, the outcome would have been very different."

"I've thought of that as well. When she's home, we need to have more constant direct protection for her. I just can't believe the leech got by us like that!"

"I think Alice may actually have some info that could be useful, and not realize it." I told Sam about my conversation with her in the car.

"We definitely need to ask her about that as soon as we get a chance."

I nodded, staring at the floor. The pull to Bella was really starting to eat at me. I wanted to pace, but anywhere I went would take me further away, and that wouldn't help. I remembered the thought Sam and Jared had earlier, so I asked him about it, hoping to at least distract myself some more.

"Oh yeah," he said. "Well, we don't know what in the world it means. We only know that it seemed to be the same feelings we have toward Emily and Kim. It's what we felt right before we imprinted, drawing us to them, and we feel it if we are away from them for too long, though that one isn't as strong and more easily managed, if need be. From what I could tell, it was identical to what I felt after Emily got hurt.

"None of it makes sense Jake… seriously. By every indication, you absolutely should have imprinted on Bella… no, it's almost like you did imprint on her, without that initial shift we had. Like something is stopping that permanent attachment from forming. Even the way she looks at you, and acts toward you, it is as though you have imprinted on her… but it has only been since you kissed her, when she realized her love for you."

"I noticed that too. I loved her before that, and I wanted more with her, but things have slowly changed since our kiss woke her up. Our connection, my love for her, her scent, my ability to read her emotions, and now this pull to her… everything keeps intensifying. I don't know what I'm going to do if she chooses –"

"Don't do that to yourself right now, Jake. She was overwhelmed and confused last night, so it was understandable she wanted a little time to process all the implications. She wouldn't have been so upset about it if she didn't truly love you.

"I have to tell you, Emily fully believes Bella will choose to stay with you. In her mind it's a done deal, so much so that I have trouble not believing her."

"I want to believe that… with all my heart I want that. I hope Em is right."

"Charlie said you didn't leave her side the whole time… that you went with them to all the tests and the doc let you."

"Yeah, he insisted they let me stay with her… like he knew somehow."

"You should ask him about that if you get the chance." He paused, a contemplative look on his face. "There are so many things that are different from the legends with this pack. How big the pack is getting, having a female wolf, and Seth phasing so young. There may be a lot about this life that has never been discovered before that we're going to learn about.

I sighed in frustration. "The whole damn thing feels messed up. Maybe it at least means I won't imprint on someone else." I leaned my head back against the wall and shut my eyes. "God, I pray it at least means that! And that Emily is right."

Sam put his hand on my shoulder, and we sat in silence for several minutes. I watched the hospital workers coming and going through the door. We got a few weird looks, but no one said anything to us about sitting there.

"What about the voice you heard?" Sam asked, breaking the silence. "You said you heard Bella's voice in your head?"

I had nearly forgotten about that.

"Yeah, shortly before reaching Bella's house, and right before I heard the car crash into the tree, I heard Bella call my name. It was just once, but it didn't sound like it was far away, it sounded like it was in my head… clearer than hearing the pack's thoughts." I looked at Sam. "Have you ever heard Emily in your head?"

"No," he said thoughtfully, "but she has never been in mortal danger like Bella was." He shook his head. "Just so bizarre. Only time will tell what it all means, because it has to mean something."

We circled back around and went over some ideas for better protection for Bella and strategies on catching the redhead. I tried to keep the conversation going to distract myself from the need to be with Bella until the doc finally came back through the doors.

He saw us sitting there and smiled sympathetically but kept going toward the waiting room. We got up and followed him and saw that Alice was there too. He let us know the surgery went well and he expected her to make a full recovery, including regaining full function of her arm.

He provided us with her room number. Everyone except Alice headed up to go see her.

Every step brought me some relief. Now I just needed Bella to wake up and tell me she wanted to stay with me. I wouldn't be able to truly rest easy until then.