Can't Stand To See You Cry (Jacob)

Chapter 23

Renesmee raised her head slowly. The spinning room, all the voices shouting at her, the hands reaching out to help her up, and the way her eyes couldn't focus had her mind swirling. Suddenly she remembered why she had collapsed. Jacob.

Now she struggled to stand. Emmett cleared the way, swept her into his arms and set her back on her feet. He led her to the table where Jacob was lying. Emmett seemed to be the only one who understood her fears. "Look, he's okay. They were just covering him up."

She held her hand over her mouth as she gasped. He looked so small lying there. She reached for Jacob's hand, but Emmett pulled her aside. "We should go and let them take care of him now. We'll get you all cleaned up," Emmett offered.

Renesmee twisted out of his grasp. Her eyes widened as she saw her father and grandfather on either side of the table, each with a scalpel in their hands. "What are you doing?" she demanded.

"Both lungs are collapsed. And all of his ribs are broken. We have to reinflate his lungs before it's...." Carlisle's calm voice trailed off. "You should go. You won't want to see this."

Renesmee rounded the table to stand near the end where his head was. She lifted her hands to his face, pushing his inky hair off of his forehead and leaving kisses everywhere. "I'm not going anywhere," she said quietly when she noticed everyone staring.

"We're running out of time," Edward warned, his voice surprisingly calm.

"Just do it, I'll be fine."

She watched as they both trailed gloved fingers down Jacob's ribs, looking for the fifth intercostal space. Edward hesitated momentarily before making the incision. He saw the fear in his daughter's eyes and he wanted nothing more than to end her pain.

"Do it now, Daddy."

Her wavering voice brought Edward around. After they sliced into his skin, they each inserted a gloved finger and fed the tube directly in. You could hear the woosh of air as it was released from his body and the hitch in his breath. Color was already returning to his face.

"That should bring him some relief," Carlisle commented as he continued to examine Jacob. The gaping wound near his stomach continued to bleed as Carlisle changed the gauze and applied more pressure. Jacob winced and everyone looked to see if he was finally going to open his eyes. No such luck.

"I don't understand it either," Edward breathed, shaking his head slowly.

"Something just isn't right here," Carlisle said, agreeing with his son.

Renesmee raised her head slowly. "What are you talking about?"

Carlisle leveled his gaze with hers, eyes full of genuine concern. "Jacob normally heals much faster than this. I've treated him for other injuries and I've never seen him like this before."

"Renesmee, do you have any idea what's going on with him?" Edward asked gently.

She glanced back and forth between her father and grandfather, confusion evident in her expression. "I have no idea..." she paused to search her mind and remember if he had said anything. "Maybe we should call Sam...and oh my God, I should have told Billy."

"I'll call them," Alice offered as she rushed out of the room with Bella's cell phone in her hand.

Edward agreed. "Maybe one of them will have some idea of how we can help him."

Renesmee nodded absently, her mind so clouded by everything that happened and how badly she just wanted him to wake up and smile at her.
........
Carlisle glanced over at Renesmee's sleeping figure. The family had tried to convince her to go lie down in the guest room and try to get some sleep, but she refused. So now she sat in a chair next to Jacob, her head resting on the edge of the table near his hand. She told them she had to be there in case he woke up.