Jacob groaned softly as began to wake. His left side was aching so bad he could hardly stand it. He rolled onto his right side and whimpered. His eyes opened slowly, it was still dark outside. Another pain stabbed through his body and he crumpled in half.

That's when he felt her.

His face was lost in the wild auburn waves of her hair and he instinctively buried his nose and breathed deeply. His pain subsided a bit and he smiled to himself. Renesmee was his happy pill and for a moment, he forgot the throbbing ache in his left side.

Jacob slid his right hand under her neck and gripped the soft swell of her hip with his left hand. He pulled her impossibly closer as he pressed kisses to her bare shoulder. She moaned softly in response and he sighed contentedly. "Jacob..." she whimpered.

His breathing started to speed up as he listened to her response to his touch. She moaned again and started quaking. "Jacob..." she breathed, sounding more scared than turned on. "Please don't leave me...I need you."

Jacob's eyes snapped open when he realized she was having a nightmare. He tried to soothe her, but the whimpering continued and she was trying to twist out of his grasp. "Baby, I'm right here," he murmured, but she only got more agitated.

"No!" she cried out, sitting straight up and elbowing him in the side as she did.

Jacob groaned in agony as he reached for her. Her eyes flew open and she tried to focus. "Oh my God," she cringed when she realized what she had done to him. He was lying flat on his back now, holding his left side. "I'm so sorry!"

He held his breath and tried to suffer quietly. He knew she felt bad already. He pressed his lips together and squeezed his eyes closed. The pain was blinding. He kicked his hospital tray table in frustration and it clattered loudly as it fell to the ground.

Renesmee stood by his bed, hands balled up into fists, no idea how to make things better for him. Carlisle and Rosalie rushed in, surveying the scene and trying to ascertain what had happened. Rosalie went to Renesmee's side and wrapped a protective arm around her. Carlisle moved Jacob's hands and examined the wound from his splenectomy. "He broke his stitches open," Carlisle announced.

"Oh God!" Renesmee gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Stitches?" Jacob repeated, still gasping for breath.

"You didn't tell him yet?" Rose accused. Renesmee shook her head slowly. She was afraid if he knew why he wasn't healing, then he would give up hope.

"Tell me what?" Jacob whispered, his breathing started returning to normal.

"Rosalie, will you please take Renesmee upstairs?" Carlisle asked gently.

Rosalie nodded and pulled her gently toward the door.

"Wait!" Jacob called, reaching for Renesmee's hand and tugging her back to him. Renesmee lowered her forehead to his and he peered up to her. "I'm okay, I promise."

Renesmee gulped back tears and nodded as Jacob pressed a small kiss to her lips and released her. She glanced back at him sadly as she left the room with Rose.

Carlisle gave Jacob a shot to numb the area around his incision and began stitching the wound again. "I should have explained some things to you once you regained consciousness yesterday. I apologize for not addressing your concerns sooner, Jacob."

Jacob shook his head and shrugged. "I don't need an apology, Doc. Just tell me what's wrong."

Carlisle sucked in a deep breath and began recounting the events from the past four days. He told Jacob about the injuries he came in with, lacerated spleen and broken ribs and how eventually his spleen had to be removed.

"Why didn't my accelerated healing kick in?"

Carlisle finished his stitches and began drawing medicine from a vial into a syringe. "Well that had me stumped, because as you know, I have treated you before and I know how your body heals itself. I was expecting that to happen this time and when it didn't, I consulted with your father and Sam."

"Oh."

"Sam explained that you were only phasing occasionally, so we determined that must be why you weren't healing as quickly as before."

"And he told you why I stopped phasing?"

Carlisle nodded. Jacob sighed, "And Renesmee knows?"

"I'm afraid she does, son."

Jacob clenched his jaw and a low growl came from the back of his throat. "Dammit! He promised not to tell her!"

Carlisle patted Jacob's leg gently and tilted his head. "I made him tell me. He stressed to me that he didn't feel right betraying your secret, but I needed to know the best course of treatment for you."

"And Nessie had to hear that?" he asked angrily.

"She was devastated with worry over you. We could barely get her to leave your side."

"I think she was having a nightmare about me earlier. She was so scared and calling out my name. That made me wonder if..."

Carlisle raised his eyebrows expectantly and waited for Jacob to continue.

"Did she see me at the accident site?"

Carlisle lowered his gaze and nodded. "She was the one who found you. She moved that tree. Renesmee saved you, Jacob."
........
Renesmee returned to find Jacob trying to make his way back to his bed. "What are you doing?" she exclaimed, running to his side.

He began to stumble, so she slid under his right arm to help support his weight. "Maybe I should go get Emmett..."

"I'm fine...just a little but farther," he replied, straining to keep himself upright.

She helped him to sit on the edge of the bed so he could catch his breath. "I don't think you should be getting out of bed by yourself."

"I'm not. You're here," he whispered hoarsely as he reached for her face. "And from what I hear...you're my hero."

Renesmee pulled up a chair and sat facing Jacob. "Who told you?"

Jacob shrugged. "It doesn't matter. The point is, you didn't."

She rolled her eyes as she reached for his hands. "I didn't want anyone to tell you."

He pressed a kiss to her fingertips and smiled sadly. "And I didn't want you to know why I wasn't phasing, but Sam told you, so I guess neither one of us got what we wanted."

"Jacob..."

He groaned as he tried to scoot back into his bed. "Come
here," he urged, patting the empty spot on the bed.

Renesmee shook her head. "Carlisle said I need to stay out of your bed from now on...so I don't hurt you again."

"Nessie, please?"

Renesmee sighed as she stood and sat on the edge of the bed, facing him but keeping her distance. "I shouldn't sleep in your bed anymore."

Jacob pulled her into his arms. "I want you in my bed. And I need to know what your nightmare was about."

She swung her feet around so the she could curl up next to him. He held her tightly and waited for her to talk to him. "Renesmee..."

"Who said I had a nightmare?"

"Just tell me," he urged, tipping her head back and forcing her to meet his gaze as they lay side by side.

"Was I talking in my sleep?"

Jacob grinned devilishly. "More like moaning in your sleep. I thought you were...well, wanting something different. Then I realized you were scared. You asked me not to leave you."

Renesmee nodded. "I just keep dreaming about the day I found you. I was so terrified that I wouldn't be able to help you. In my dreams, I'm too late and..."

"Okay, baby. I'm right here," he soothed her gently as he cradled her in his arms.

She sniffled back a few tears and whispered, "I thought you were gonna die, Jake. And I was ready to die right there with you."

"That's not gonna happen. I promise to get stronger for you, Nessie. As soon as I'm well, I can start phasing again and then you won't have to worry anymore."

"I wish you had talked to me about it. Why didn't you tell me you weren't phasing anymore?"

Jacob sighed as he rubbed his hands over her arms, she felt cold. "I thought you wanted me to be different, not so hot headed. I thought you wanted me to be more like Seth."

"You don't ever have to change for me. I love everything about you, Jacob. I'm sorry I made you feel like you weren't enough for me."

He sighed, his heart full of regret. "I was just so lost all those months you wouldn't talk to me. You were so angry about the way I behaved and I thought I could control my emotions better as a human. I never intended to completely stop being a wolf, I just wanted to be more human. Sometimes I just can't separate the two."

"I don't expect you to be anyone but you," she paused to tip his chin and make sure she held his gaze. "I love you...all of you and that includes your wolf side and your hot temper."

"Now you do," he pouted.

"What can I say? I was being an idiot."

"You really were," he agreed, trying not to laugh.

Renesmee gasped in fake shock. "You're not supposed to agree with me!"

Jacob mumbled, "Sorry," as he crushed his lips to hers.
..........
Renesmee squeezed her eyes shut as the morning light poured in and filled the room. She had slept soundly with no nightmares after talking to Jacob. And falling asleep in his arms made her feel so good.

She sighed softly when she felt him behind her, a protective arm around her waist was pulling her closer and she smiled in response. When she breathed deeply, she smelled pancakes and maple syrup. Her stomach growled and she laughed lightly.

"Good morning."

Renesmee didn't want to open her eyes. Breakfast wasn't a dream and that wasn't Jacob's voice. She cringed when she found Esme smiling down at her. "Morning."

Jacob groaned softly when Renesmee began untangling herself from him. He pulled her back against his chest and his lips found her ear. "Not yet," he breathed, his arousal pressing insistently against her backside.

Renesmee turned bright red as Esme beamed. "I won't tell your grandfather that you slept here again, but I'd get up soon if I were you. He'll be along any time now to check up on Jacob."

Renesmee nodded and thanked her grandmother before Esme breezed back out of the room as quietly as she had come in. "Jacob," she murmured, still trying to wriggle out of his hold.

"Five more minutes," he begged, digging his fingers into the soft swell of her hip. His breath became ragged as he nibbled gently on her shoulder.

"We can't," she moaned. "I can't let anybody else catch me in this bed."

Jacob loosened his grip on her as she turned slightly to face him. He glanced at the food on the tray and grimaced. "Who saw us?"

Renesmee laughed lightly. "Just Grandma Esme and she promised not to tell."

When she began to roll away, Jacob slid a hand around her neck and pulled her back for a kiss. "Uh uhh," she protested. "You're killing me, Jake."

He reached for her as she made her escape. "No, I think you're killing me," he argued as he pointed to his groin and laughed.

Renesmee blushed and shrugged. "I didn't do anything but lie next to you."

"I know!"

She laughed as she reached for his hand. "Come on, let me help you to the bathroom."

Jacob groaned a bit and waved her on. "You go ahead...I need a minute."

Renesmee gave him a look of pity and tried to bite back a giggle. "I won't be long," she promised.

He nodded and smiled, watching her slip behind the bathroom door. Jacob tried to focus on lifting his legs in order to let them hang over the side. They felt sluggish and heavy, and it took every bit of strength to move them just a few inches.

Renesmee smiled at her reflection in the mirror. She knew she shouldn't get her hopes up and Jacob still had a long way to go, but it felt like things were getting back to normal between them. That dull ache between her legs was gonna take a while to wear off, but she enjoyed it just the same. It still felt so good to know he wanted her, regardless of how badly his body hurt.

After washing up in the sink, brushing her teeth, and giving her auburn locks a quick combing, she returned to find Carlisle giving Jacob a thorough exam. "Everything okay?" she asked as she sat next to Jacob and he offered her a bite of his breakfast.

"So far, so good," Carlisle beamed. "No sign of infection and I might be able to take those stitches out tomorrow."

"Yes!" Renesmee cheered as Jacob leaned over to kiss a drop of syrup from her chin.

Carlisle gave Renesmee a knowing look. "You need to take it easy on Jacob, Renesmee. He needs more time for his ribs to heal before you..."

"Grandpa!" Renesmee gasped. "Don't even say it."

"I just want you to wait before you resume your...activities."

Renesmee rolled her eyes and groaned. "We have no activities. We haven't...done anything yet," she stammered.

Jacob nearly choked on his pancakes as he smiled widely. "I'll behave, Doc."

She covered her eyes and shook her head. "I'm so embarrassed..."

Jacob pressed a sticky kiss to her cheek and squeezed her against him, "I wanna talk to you about getting out of here. I'm going a little stir crazy, Carlisle."

"Jacob, you need some major physical therapy before I could even consider that."

"When do I start?" he asked happily, shoving another bite of pancake into his mouth.

"Today."