A/N Thanks for your patience. I have been intending to upload this one for days. You should all learn more about the direction of this story from this chapter.

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

Chapter 2

Jacob

Looking around Charlie, I got a glimpse of Bella. I'd memorized her vital signs long ago, and today something was clearly different about her condition. Of course, I knew from Dad the second I walked in the door at home this morning that Bella was coming out of her coma. Pulling an all-nighter on patrol was usually my excuse to fall straight into bed from exhaustion and latent frustration. Abandoning my sleep was inevitable. I needed to see with my own eyes how the facility's most popular patient had transformed from her eternal slumber into consciousness.

We hoped for this day, but the longer she existed in that state, the less likely it seemed a miracle would occur. It wasn't a coincidence that Bella's rehab residence was my first place of employment. Soon after her well-publicized accident, my transformation occurred, and my eyes were open to an alternate universe most people didn't know existed.

This waiting period I endured to visit Bella made me think back to the early days. Maybe because of our fathers, Bella and I were meant to be in each other's lives. Stuff kept happening to prevent that, but I'd been here for her for a long time. She didn't know that yet or maybe she did. I hoped to find that out when and if she ever remembered.

Coming to terms with vampires and shapeshifting hadn't been easy for me. Realizing I would soon be the so-called leader of a pack of hormonal teens and young adults was the icing on the cake. I grew up quickly. The responsibilities of the pack, school, and home life were enough to keep a sixteen-year-old me stretched to capacity. Sam didn't wait long before he added one more task to my plate.

I'd been shifting roughly six months, so I assumed his private chat was about taking over the position he never desired. My bloodline and the rightful alpha were never disputed, but Sam was older, and he shifted first. I'd only been partially right. Sam asked more of me because he thought I was ready, and I was the only practical choice.

"Hey, Jake. I guess you've heard Bella is going to that new rehabilitation center in Port Angeles."

"Sure, sure. Dad and I have dinner with Charlie at least once a week. It's amazing how that place came to be. At first, there was no funding and then some private money came through and boom, the joint went up in record time. Charlie's hopeful. It's supposed to be state-of-the art and they're hiring the best doctors."

"Yeah, about that. Thinking back to what happened at the time of the accident, I have concerns. The bitchy, blonde vamp spilled everything to me at the treaty line that night. She claimed Bella exhibited a freakish attraction or connection with Edward Cullen. Some of the family had concerns and other members were ecstatic."

My nose crinkled because the one called Edward had been the worst one for me to be around. Every fiber of my wolf's spirit radiated tension when he was present. I stayed at a stance of readiness and wariness, despite being fully informed of our treaty with the Cullen family. The first time the leech spoke directly at me, the hackles along my back rose. The dislike was mutual between us. I remained poised to attack. He just needed to give me the slightest reason. The story about him intending to save Bella sounded unbelievable from the start. We knew enough about vamps not to fully trust them, but a premonition by the little witch and interference from Blondie highlighted the added dysfunction among this strange family.

Sam paused his discussion because he witnessed the wolf rise close to the surface. "You alright?"

"Yes," I huffed. "I'm in control."

"Good, because it's imperative you stay in control around Bella." Sam projected his own failure with that statement. He'd come close to injuring Leah when she realized what he was going through and freaked out among other things no one expected. The rest of us got lots of lectures about protecting our loved ones from the beginning.

"I'm not around Bella, Sam. You know that." I'd only seen her twice before she ended up in a coma, not counting when we were little kids. There wasn't a reason for me to visit her after the accident. Things had been critical for a long time, and she wasn't predicted to pull through. I tried to be supportive, for Charlie's sake, whenever I saw him. He'd been through more than any man deserved. Sometimes, I thought it was his sheer will that kept Bella tied to this earth. He refused to give up on her.

Sam grabbed me by the shoulder. "You will be from there for Bella from here on out, Jake. I need you to work at that new facility."

"Huh? Doing what? I'm barely over sixteen." I mean, the thought of a part-time job wasn't new to me before my sixteenth birthday. Having more money would be helpful, but being part of the pack has made me put that aside, along with my studies, socializing, dating, and any hope for a typical future.

Sam further explained. "I don't care what you need to do to land a job there. You've got experience with Billy and his disability. I'm sure you could be an orderly or transportation aide. Tell them you'll do anything. You're huge. Maybe they'll hire you for security. Hell, I don't know, Jake. Offer to mow the lawn. Bella needs our protection, and we can add the facility to our patrol route, but I think she needs one of us on the inside. I'm certain Edward or his family is the source of the secret funding. He has a fixation on her. Rosalie spoke vaguely about the reasons she blocked her foster brother in that school parking lot, but she claims Bella must see the flip side, whatever that means. Since this horrible accident occurred in their presence, Edward is not forgetting about her anytime soon."

Sam showed us various conversations inside the pack mind he had with the Cullens before some of us shifted. The kooky pixie told the family she had a vision about Bella joining them one day. Piecing everything together after Rose's confession, it seemed like the mind-reader alternatively battled between his attraction and bloodlust daily, ever since Bella moved to Forks.

Sam made me think of something that hadn't crossed my mind before. "Our kind can't trust any of them, but Edward had bloodlust for Bella Swan. What if he wants to make his fortune-teller sister's claim come true? Top medical opinions don't give her much hope. That deviant might consider turning her to save her. Who knows what we'd have on our hands then?"

Distrust of Edward was an understatement. I loathed that demonic creature, and there was no way in hell he would turn Bella. She might not be a fully functioning human right now, but the pack would never allow an intentional turning. The jealous and vindictive vampire, Rosalie, was the source of all our information. Sam found her slightly credible for several reasons, even though her interference with Edward trying to block Bella from Tyler's van meant she was willing to let her die. She claimed death was an act of mercy compared to their existence.

The pack rallied in those early days to put pressure on the Cullens to leave the region. They weren't supposed to become entangled with humans, and were failing miserably, but Carlisle pleaded their case. He swore he only meant to help people anyway he could, and it was difficult to establish new routines for their kind. He recited all the various charitable causes his family donated to help Forks and the surrounding communities. That blood money meant nothing to me.

Sam conceded after speaking to the council and said they could stay under one additional condition to the treaty: Stay away from Bella Swan. The old-timers on the council had a weird belief allowing the vegetarian vamps nearby deterred the less desirable kind from sticking around. We had a steady stream of stragglers, so I didn't think their assessment was correct. I had thought little about the unusual speed of completion or elaborate development of this high-level rehabilitation facility in an average town like Port Angeles. Sam was right. This had the Cullen's trademark all over it. After that meeting, Sam recognized the added stress he'd given me, so he gave me a three-month extension before requesting I assume the alpha role. My only task was securing the job, which was easier than I thought.

The rehab hospital allowed me to work in various positions since I had experience with my father and several mechanical inclinations. They soon determined I was an asset and an adaptive learner. It wasn't easy, and I barely had any downtime, but I became a study machine. Dual credits during the rest of high school got me a head start in community college. I continued with my pack responsibilities, took care of my father, and watched over Bella while working part time.

Recently, I got my two-year physical therapy assistant degree. I love my job and am eager to take more classes, hoping to get my PhD in physical therapy one day. Having the money and time for all that school will take years, but I'm committed. Over the past three years, I'd gone from knowing Bella through Charlie to being Bella's personal, supernatural bodyguard. A day didn't go by that I didn't check on her in one way or another, even on my days off. It was a strange thing to explain to anyone how she'd become such an integral part of my life now. I didn't think of this a duty or an obligation. There was no place I'd rather be. Each quick visit or one-sided chat I had with her grounded me. She reminded me of my humanity when I'd come close to losing it not too long ago. Another reward of my position was the Cullens relented. They left Washington. Rose later promised me when I became the Alpha it was actually vital that they stay far away from Bella now.

A few weeks ago, an accidental interaction occurred during one of my visits. Even though other staff had asked me to help position or move Bella during her bedside therapy over the years, my newest job title made me a lot more hands-on during my professional duties. Last night before clocking out, I popped in for an extra visit. It was during my goodbye that I noticed the braid the day nurse had given Bells had unraveled. A thick piece of Bella's long hair rested over her eye and across her cheek. Without thinking, my thumb swept it away. An electrical current traveled from my hand and up my arm before it spread rapidly throughout my entire body. I was used to running hot, but I couldn't ever think of a time I transferred my heat to someone else, but that's what it felt like.

Something else occurred. Her heart always exhibited the same steady cadence, but I heard an accelerated rush occur inside her veins. She felt the zap same as me, and I couldn't ignore that my incidental contact caused a reaction, so I tested it once again. The next time, I reached forward to give her hand one gentle squeeze. No big sparks occurred, but a soft buzz reverberated inside the small room and the heat flowed out of me and into her through some invisible channel. Her heart made another surge that I couldn't ignore. Over the next two weeks, I continued to make small contact with Bella when I checked on her. I was always cautious not to overdo it or act creepy. It wasn't exactly normal to touch someone without their acknowledgement, but this was a unique situation.

When I took her hand, I silently spoke affirmations to her. "Wake up, Bells. Please. Charlie is so sad, and your mom is, too. You are so loved by everyone. No one in Forks had time to get to know you that well, but a bunch of your classmates have visited at least once. A few still come regularly. Even a few of my friends have stopped by. They all feel like they know you. I think you'd get along great in our group. The doctors say it's a miracle you survived your injuries. They don't understand why you won't wake up. There's no true medical explanation any longer. I'm guessing you were just extra tired, but you've rested long enough. Come on. It's time to wake up. You're missing out on life, but it's also like life is waiting for you to move forward."

Last night in Bella's room, I might have gotten a bit carried away. Lowering my head close to her bed, I whispered into her ear. "Your family needs you, Bells." I paused, listening to her elevated heart rate. Strange sensations urged me closer. My mouth accidentally brushed against her skin. "I need you too." Powerful surges filled me and for a moment, I swore, a golden orb surrounded us. "Bells… did you feel that? It's like electricity."

Her evening nurse arrived immediately following that charged encounter, so I backed away a bit jolted and confused, but I didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea about my professional ethics. It was my night to patrol with Paul, so I needed to get my head on straight and clear my mind. I'd been around Bella for years, but something was changing, and I'd never been so hopeful I could help her more than anyone believed was possible.

Charlie backed me out of the room and pulled the door closed. The wolf awakened. His primal urge desired to push Bella's father out of the way, so we could take a full assessment. Sometimes, the wolf was a little overzealous and needed to be subdued. He had grown especially fond of Bella during my shifts. I should have stayed after that supernatural phenomenon yesterday, but I'd listened to too many experts say Bella Swan would never be the same.

Charlie explained why he wasn't allowing me inside the room. "She just drifted back to sleep." He looked over his shoulder at Renee. She remained focused on her phone while sitting close to Bella's bed. Charlie's facial expression screamed tension, even though he must be so relieved.

We took a few steps down the hall. "Everything okay with Bella?" I asked.

"Yes, better than it's been in a long time. The truth was hard on her, though, and she's confused, which is understandable. I don't always agree with her mother's responses, but I know she wants what's best for Bells."

"What happened exactly?" I asked.

"Renee laughed at Bella a couple of times, which further upset her. I could tell, but her mother was oblivious. I don't know what the protocol is for newly awakened coma patients, but laughing at them seems wrong." Even though I was curious, I waited to see if Charlie wanted to say more. "Bella said a few off-the-wall things. Renee assumes she had dreams. I don't think anyone knows for sure what's happening in someone's mind after such a long time in a comatose state."

"What exactly did she say?" I was curious if she could have heard me during our recent meetings. It might be a coincidence that she regained consciousness so soon after I started my little experiments. It wasn't like I could tell anyone I knew Bella had physical responses to me when her entire medical team categorized her as an unresponsive patient for more than three years. Telling them about mystical orbs, heat transfers, and electric currents within our bodies would get me fired for sure, so I played a bit dumb.

Charlie's discomfort grew. "Um, yes, weird stuff. Bells thought she was married." I didn't have much time to dwell on what that might mean before he added one other bit of information, "to Edward Cullen."

~Thanks so much for reading.

Dropped an Easter egg. Would love to hear your guesses.