Meaningful Artifacts [Edward/Jacob]

seventeen.

a/n: will be editing everything soon. 

Edward's got a couple of theories about the museum. There was a disturbingly long list of possibilities to explain what they were seeing. It was a list casually growing longer by the second because his scope wasn't dependent on what was "mythical" and "real" by human standards. Technically, he was a mythical being. It made the search vast and seemingly unending as his eyes ran over the 40 books Carlisle had graciously produced.

"Jumping back in so soon?" Carlisle not-so-subtly digs as he stares down at the stack of dusty, ancient works in front of him.

Jumping back in? Into what?

 Edward looked around his office, confused as to where that had come from and what it was referencing. He watches as Carlisle peers up at him as if he's offended Edward would even try to hide...whatever it is that he's supposed to be hiding. 

"Now my nose may not be as strong as a werewolf..."

Okay, okay, completely unnecessary.  

"I'll bring them back as soon as I'm done." He says before making a swift exit. 

Jacob doesn't linger once they've made their way into the building. He heads off to the security room, allowing Mike to shuffle off to Eric's office. Honestly, having Mike start the day off with a potentially earth-shattering conversation wasn't the best idea, but Jacob couldn't handle the man waiting until lunch. The leg bouncing, the constant clock checking, the mid-morning breakdown, all within the span of a couple of hours would drive him crazy. Jacob thinks he'd rather deal with a red-eyed, snotty-nosed, weeping Mike. So, he makes himself comfortable at his desk and gets about five minutes into his day when the migraine hits him. 

He knew that it was only a matter of time before the pain reared its ugly head, but he was hoping that he'd be able to manage it. He thought if he allowed himself to be around Edward in short bursts, and share a weekend or two now and then, he could stave it off until he figured out how to stop this thing from consuming him.  

However, it feels as if giving in had somehow made it worse. More intense, more frequent. It no longer just happened when he came into contact with Edward, but also when he hadn't touched him, seen him in hours. 

It's so intense that his eyes close on their own accord. He's not even aware that they've done so until Mike throws the door open, a giant grin plastered on his face as if he's won the lottery, as he makes his way into the room.

"Go well?" He finds himself droning into his hands as a dull pain throbs behind his eyes. 

"He's single!" Mike proclaims, laughing giddily as he throws himself into his seat.

Jacob doesn't have to peel his eyes open to know that the man is swooning. He doesn't even have the energy to tease him, ask for details, issue a well-deserved "I told you so." 

He tries not to flinch at the sound of Mike's chair rolling across the floor, keeping stock still as the pain twists his stomach. Nausea keeps him frozen in place as he works to swallow it down. 

Mike opens his mouth, looking as if he's about to go on an entire love-drunk rant, but pauses as he narrows his eyes.

Even with his own closed, Jacob can feel himself being watched. He can practically hear the gears slowly turning in Mike's head as he takes in Jacob's hunched shoulders and sweat-covered brow. 

"Do you need me to go and get him?" Mike eventually whispers as if they're sharing some kind of secret.

Him? Go and get who from where?