AN: So Obviously I am one of those horribly dreadful people who promises chapters and then eventually delivers them 10 months late. I won't bore you with tales of why I haven't posted, beg for forgiveness or make promises that I will keep to a regular updating schedule but I can say to those of you who have stuck around, are just joining in, or have come back, Thank you and I am sorry. Without further ado

Chapter 3- Waking Up Different.

Bella.

I tried to scream out but the darkness was everywhere. It's crushing presence inescapable.

Oh god I'm dead. Oh crap how could I be died?

Victoria. She was at my house, in my house. Oh god I'm dead what am I going to do? Well nothing I suppose, that's why I'm dead.

What is Charlie going to do? What about Jacob? Oh god Jake.

NO! No, no. I'm not dead, I can't be dead, I have to live, I have to, I have to talk to Jake, explain to him. My fist balled up at my sides and I tried to scream, but it was no use. no one could hear me. It was too dark. There was too much pain.

No, pain is good; pain means I'm alive. Oh please, please let this pain be enough to keep me here."

This pain was different. This new agony wasn't like last time. There was no burning sensation, I felt cold as ice. I couldn't feel the blood draining out of me, but a sickly throbbing pain that pulsed through my very core. I wasn't slowly falling into the dark abyss, I was fighting my way out of it. I was fighting this time, fighting hard because he had taught me to fight.

I wasn't sure were I was, or if I was even Bella anymore. The pain was the only thing I could feel, the pain was good, it reminded me that I was still alive, reminded me to bite, kick, claw and fight my way back to the light and the warmth of the sun. I tried to concentrate on each part of my body. My head it hurt but despite the throbbing pain my thoughts were clear. Whip lash in my neck and shoulders, my right arm ached, broken for sure. My left hand was… warm. Yes definitely warmer that the rest of my body, I frowned mentally, how was my hand warm if the rest of me was bone shatteringly cold. Then it clicked. Jacob.

"Ja...ke." The whispered murmur took more strength than I had expected but I could hear my voice, and I knew he could to. He squeezed my hand and I concentrated all my energy on his voice.

"Bella! Bells, I'm here. I am right here please open your eyes." He begged, his voice was so full of worry, raspy from lack of use. I suddenly wondered how long he had been sitting here holding my hand. I tried to open my eyes but they felt glued shut my hands like lead. I sucked in a breath.

"Jake" I groaned again, exhaling, it was more eloquent than my last utterance but not exactly graceful. I felt Jacob's warm lips against my knuckles.

"I'm here.' He whispered against my fingers. My eyes fluttered open to see his deep ebony iris's staring into me. Suddenly everything made sense all the feelings I had been fighting the thoughts I had been denying were as clear as day, I was in love with him.

As I looked up into his eyes and he grinned at me, the most overzealous joyful grin I had seen in a while emotions I could neither place nor understand glinted in his dark eyes.

"W-what happened." I asked hoarsely.

Jake took a shaky breath, "Victoria was there, at your house she slipped through our defences somehow and… and she threw you out a window." his beautiful face was contorted in pain his eyes shot with bitter disappointment.

"Then we were fighting her and Leah, she phased in."

"Wait! What? Leah…Clearwater?" I asked shocked and confused.

"Let me finish?" He begged but despite his tone he was asking a question, letting me decided weather or not I was ready to here the rest, I nodded silently and he continued.

"Yeah Leah Clearwater. She's 19, Seth's sister. She was at the hospital."

He paused as my face fell. "Harry Clearwater had a heart attack this afternoon." Jake shook his head solemnly. My good hand flew to my mouth tears welling in my eyes. Jake took my hand once more and I squeezed his fingers in my own trying to covey all my sorrows and sympathies for him through our limited touch.

"Do you want to hear the rest?" He asked his voice soft and riddled with emotion Once again I nodded, bitting my lip.

"Before we found out about Harry and Leah and everything there was sort of a stand off in your back yard. We were all trying so hard to move around you and not hurt you more and the leech she took an opportunity when we were hesitating and made a run for it, with you. Sam, Jarrod and I chased her down your street, she didn't get far Sam sprung on her back, but she dropped you and your… your arm it b-broke. I'm so sorry Bella. I should have been there faster." His voice trembled as he lay his head against my leg upon the bed his whole body shaking. I lifted my IV taped hand and placed it on top of his head. Slowly brushing through his silky black hair, his shaking stopped immediately and he raised his head.

"Sorry? Jacob, you saved my life. I'm here because of you." I whispered as I continued to stroke that beautiful hair.

"No Bells, your in here, because of me." His words were sickeningly familiar. It had been little more than a year since those same words had been said to me in such a similar place. "We failed you, I failed you." He added quietly his face broke in anguish.

"Jacob Black you listen to me right now. What you did this afternoon saved my life. If it wasn't for you and the pack I wouldn't be here at all, I'd be dead. You could never fail me Jake, ever." My voice croaked from lack of use, my throat was like sandpaper from screaming but even Jacob couldn't doubt the conviction in my words.

"I was so scared I was going to loose you" he whispered in a murmur that I am not entirely sure was meant for my ears. He let his head dropped back to the side of my bed, the pain in his voice echoed through me, and I fought hard to keep my breath steady and my head focused.

"Hey Jake, I'm here." The mental fog I had been fighting lifted finally and I was able to ascertain how bad the damage was. The cut on my head was deep and it hurt, I wasn't going to lie to myself, and the arm was going to be cumbersome in the coming weeks, of that I was certain. It was only too obvious that I had been incredible lucky to come away with these injuries alone. As for the bruises well I had definitely had worse.

Jake looked at me again; the look in his eyes was something I could not comprehend.

"I'm not going anywhere, I promise." I added in a whisper, he opened his mouth to speak but we were interrupted by a high pitched beeping sound, Jake's eyes flashed around in horror, as a stout nurse with short red hair bustled into the room.

"Ahh don't worry dear its just your IV." She said soothingly, I think more for Jake's sake than my own. As she spoke a second person entered the room, Dr Snow.

"Well Ms Swab, how are you feeling?" he questioned taking my chart and flipping through it.

"Great," I half lied putting a little extra enthusiasm into my voice for Jacob's sake.

"Well it looks like once again you were extremely lucky." I noticed Jake shudder in the corner, we both knew that if anything I was extremely unlucky.

"You've suffered another concussion and although it is mild it is your second in a month so you need to be extra vigilant about your safety," Jake's muscles tensed.

"Ideally I would like to keep you for further observation." I opened my mouth to protest but he held his hands up in surrender with a smile, "However I know that you will fight that tooth and nail so I will let you go home, so long as you can ensure me that someone will be home to wake you up every 4 hours tonight to ensure your concussion doesn't have lasting effects. Will Charlie be around?" he questioned his eyes flitting to Jacob who was silent beside my bed.

"I-I'll be there Doc" he murmured through gritted teeth.

Dr Snow nodded, "Right. Now your arm." He continued walking over to examine the fresh white cast covering my wrist and lower arm.

"You've broke two bones in you wrist, they had to be re-set so we will need you to come back in a weeks time so we can assess there recovery." Doctor Snow added scribbling more notes onto the discharge form.

"I would like for you to take two Tylenol before you go to bed tonight, and when you wake up Bella, and of course no operating machinery, adventure sports or reckless behaviour for at least the next 48 hours. Take it easy Bella get some rest and please try to be safe. " He added, looking to Jacob for further support who nodded furiously.

"Thank-you Dr Snow." I said smally and he smiled before leaving the room. The remaining nurse set to removing my IV drip, and disconnecting the wires, I looked away my eyes searching Jake's face as she removed the needles.

"We'll just need you to sign out when you ready Ms Swan." The nurse smiled before leaving but my eyes were locked onto Jake's.

"I'm staying at your house tonight." He whispered.

"Jake you don't have to." I started but he silenced me with pleading eyes.

"What, did you not hear what the doctor just said?" he demanded staring at me as if I had three heads

A sad smile tugged at my lips and I nodded in acceptance.

I pushed my self up off the thin hospital bed and swung my legs towards the ground, as I stood up I felt a familiar wave of vertigo hit and I swayed were I stood, Jacob's strong arms caught me and his alarmed eyes searched my face. I grinned at him as my vision cleared, and began untying the hospital gown I was wearing over my jeans. I peeled the ghastly mint green gown off my bruised shoulders, before I realised they were completely bare, I looked down at my scratched stomach to see nothing but my lacy purple bra, Jakes eyes grew wide and blood rushed to my face.

"H-here." Jake offered unzipping the athletic jacket he was wearing over his bare chest and handed it to me. I smiled at him my face red with embarrassed as I took the jacket from him. My mortification grew as I discovered my inability to pull his jacket over my right, cast covered arm. He grinned, my favourite smile, at me as he gently guided my arm through the sleeve.

Outside it was dark, we had been at the hospital a long while, I shivered against the bitter wind that ripped through my hair. As Jake and I left the fluorescent lights of Forks Hospital he noticed my shivering and gently pulled me into his side, rapping his arm around my shaking shoulders. I relaxed into his side and wondered how on earth we were going to get home, until I sore my truck standing alone in the almost empty parking lot.

Jacob.

We drove home in silence. I desperately wanted, no needed to know what she was thinking. What was running through her mind that caused her brow to knot together in a look of such confusion. She had only raised her eyebrows slightly when I steered her towards the truck that Quil had driven over from Bella's house while she had been having x-rays. Uncharacteristically she hadn't protested as I slipped into the driver's seat of the truck. However I was relatively sure that was more due to the fact that she wasn't sure how to drive with a broken arm rather than a sign of any serious mental ailments induced by her recent trauma.

As soon as I had started the engine up Bella curled into the side of my 108 degree body, I wrapped my free arm around her shoulders and she sighed contentedly. I smiled a little despite pain, grief, anger and guilt that was coursing through me. The trip back to Charlie's didn't take long and before I was completely aware of it we were pulling into Bella's street, she looked up at me suddenly, panic clear in her dark eyes.

"Charlie." she gasped frantically.

"I called him from the hospital," I soothed.

"He doesn't know the whole story, he just knows that you got hurt. He yelled at me for a while and then yelled at the doctors too, he wants you to call him when we get inside, said he would have come but he needed to stay and… and make arrangements with Sue." I explained, trying to keep the anger and pain from my voice.

"We…we should go inside," Bella said after a moment her voice was shaky and I cringed as she tried to open the door with her broken arm. I jumped out of the passenger seat and sped to her door, she didn't look frightened or awed at my speed and then I realised with a shudder that the bloodsucker would have been just as fast, if not faster than me.

I took her cold hand in my own, feeling the goose bumps fly up along her wrist as I pulled her up the stairs and inside.

"Jake, please talk to me." she begged a slight hint of hysteria audible in her voice. My eyes shifted to meet hers, and I squeezed her hands in mine. I wanted to pull her into my arms but I was too afraid of hurting her, or worse yet the rejection that was sure to follow. After this hellish day her dismissal might've actually killed me.

"You're always saving me." She whispered dropping her eyes. My mind spun off imagining all the different connotations those small words could have.

Snap out of it Jake, you know how she feels. She's told you enough. I thought to my self desperately trying to pull my self away from the delusions of grandeur dancing around in my psyche.

I ducked my head to look into her captivating dark eyes not realising how close she was to me, she blinked once her eyelashes brushing against her slightly pink checks I was leaning against the kitchen bench so our heights were much closer than usual. It took every ounce of strength in me to keep from pulling her into my arms, and kissing her.

"I will always be here to protect you Bella." I vowed, her dark eyes darted to mine; She locked onto them like she was searching for a lie in my eyes, as if I was trying to deceive her. Did she really think that I would, that I could, leave her?

"Bella, I swear on everything I hold dear that, I. Will. Never. Let. You. Go." She had no idea just how much truth hid behind my words I could see in her eyes that she was beginning to trust again, not me so much, she had reluctantly put her trust in me some months back, but now finally she was beginning to have faith in the promises I made her

"I'm. Not. Him." I added through gritted teeth, trying hard to control the tremors beneath my skin.

She stepped forward, defying everything the silly voice in her head that attempted to prevent her happiness would surely have been screaming, and closed the gap between us. She placed her small, slightly clammy, hand upon my chest, just above my heart, the calming sensation ran through my bloodstream in an instant. In wonder quickly if she was in anyway aware of the sheer amount power she had over me?

"I know." She whispered her eyes locking back onto mine and her sweet scent crashing over me. Her gaze softened but she didn't look away, a small shy smile tugged at the corner of her perfect pink lips. I leaned down towards her, my face millimetres from hers, she didn't pull away nor did she break my gaze and for a fleeting moment it felt like we were playing chicken, like she was daring me to go on.

In my moment of hesitation, her eyes disappeared behind ivory lids, I seized my lone opportunity, brushing my lips slowly across hers. I pulled away slightly trying to gage her reaction, my lips burned painlessly, her eyes were wide and confused but they showed neither anger nor resentment.

"What, what was that?" she asked and I cringed a little ok, maybe she was mad.

"I-I love you Bells." I figured the bandaid had already been ripped off I figured there was no point in stopping now.

Bella stood still her eyes had dissapeared from mine again, but this time I was too afraid of the imminent rejection to pull her eyes back towards mine. She moved quickly, throwing her battered arms around my neck, her heavy cast clubbed me in the back of the head, it should have hurt but I couldn't feel anything except the girl I was holding. She buried her face into my neck.

"Bells, can you talk to me." I murmured after a while, hating myself for disturbing the moment, but desperate to understand what she was thinking and feeling.

"You, you love me" she whispered to herself more than me, her eyes darted to and from my face , the silence was maddening. She blinked quickly as if waves of shock were rolling over her. When finally her eyes meet mine once more the beautiful brown orbs were glistening with fresh tear. Her face was crazily close to mine I could almost feel her eyelashes brushing my check.

"I…." she began but my entire body went rigid as the painfully sweet smell filled my nose.

NO, NO, NO! You stupid heartless leeches. You heinous vile bloodsuckers,

"Jake, what is it?" she asked panic and hysteria flooding her tone, eyes darting around the room wildly. I pulled her, a little roughly, behind me pressing her against the kitchen bench as I assumed a protective stance and a low shudder rolled down my spine.

"Vampire." I seethed trying to keep the snarl from my voice.