Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight Saga.

I know, its been a million years. A thousand apologies!

Chapter Fourteen: Catch You Later, Alligator

...

I was so over being suicidal.

Sitting at the bonfire, I was mulling over this very fact. Granted, Seth and Sam tried to keep my most recent total mental breakdown quiet, there was only so much they could do when we all pretty much shared a brain. The pack would look at me funny, sometimes with concern, and I just couldn't stomach it. The thought of them seeing me so frail and exposed made me sick to my gut, so now I'd learnt to swallow and accept the agony of daily life without being such a pathetic drama queen and losing my grip on whatever little sanity I had left.

We were sitting on the cliff top, waiting. Jacob had left not long ago to pick up Isabella Swan from the treaty line. Since my becoming a wolf, this was the first sacred council meeting we'd had that included the whole pack, and Bella Swan had been given a freaking invitation to eavesdrop on it.

I sat in silence as a way of protest. I wasn't about to make a fool of myself by causing an uproar at the very thought of being a hundred yards near that goddamn leech lover. Even I had utmost respect for the council and our few elders, particularly since Dad's death.

"Hey, vampire girl!" Embry greeted, and I took it as my cue to roll my eyes and turn away.

They were sucking up because of the guilt trip Jacob had drilled into them a few hours ago, about Bella being here when most of us had argued against it. She shouldn't be here. She was an outsider. I forced myself to stare at the flames, gritting my teeth together. I'd been to plenty bonfires before, but since this one was official it grated on my nerves from the annoying prickle of her meek presence, just knowing that she was sitting right there. My mother was none too pleased about it either, but had taken the time to remind me to behave myself.

I closed my eyes when I knew it was all about to start. I could hear the annoying scratch of Emily's pen as she jotted down Billy's every word. I wasn't really paying attention. Despite my reverence, I'd heard it all a million times before.

When it was coming to a close, I listened closely to Billy's words. Describing the way the sons of our tribe carried the burden our fathers had. It sent a pang of loneliness through me. I couldn't ignore the way he said sons. Everything around me had fallen away in such a short time. Seth and my mother, if it wasn't those barriers of love and devotion I held for them, I was terrified of what else I had to keep me from putting that blade straight through my chest. I'd never been more lost, and even now as I'm surrounded by others, I'd never felt more alone.

I tear feel from my cheek, and I scrubbed it away, sure no one had seen it.

Bella had fallen asleep and I watched as Jake scooped her into his arms. I scowled. The poor thing has such an exhausting life I bet. The fire was all but gone by now, with a few simmering embers left to light up the faces of those who remained. "I'm gonna take her back now," Jake said, nodding to the sleeping girl held against him.

"Finally," I muttered to myself, loud enough for him to hear.

Jacob pretended not to notice and disappeared into the dark. The elders shortly followed, leaving the pack in the night, waiting obediently in silence.

Quileute school was already finished for the summer, not that it mattered to me anymore, but it's the reason why most of the guys weren't trying to watch a few extra winks before morning, and the reason why Seth was around more often lately. Sam doesn't trust the Cullens, and sometimes I wonder if that's the real reason he lets Jake to hang out with the Swan girl without a fuss. After all, we've gotten some valuable information about the coven out of her. Then again, what does Jacob tell her that the vampires find just as useful about us? It was due to this strong suspicion that had Sam making us all run extra shifts for the past week.

Sam stood up, careful not to disturb Emily who had been snoring softly cradled against him.

"Thank you all for attending," he said, his voice was low but those of us with supernatural ears could hear him easily. "Double shifts tonight. Jared, Leah and Paul will be on the perimeter until dawn. The rest of us will circle the treaty line. I want the redhead found and ripped to pieces before sunrise."

"Dawn?" I repeated. "That's over six fucking hours away!"

Sam stared at me for what seemed like hours. "Come walk with me, Leah," he said slowly.

I scowled, rising to my feet. I shot a glance at the pack, but could only find myself noticing Seth, who was curled up on the ground, oblivious to the world, with dark circles under his eyes that made his youthful face appear older and more worn. Not the face of my brother, who should have no burdens. He had the face of everyone in the pack, a heavy, troubled face.

We came to a stop after five minutes of drifting through the forest. Sam turned to face me.

"This is my pack, Leah," Sam whispered. "I'm Alpha. I give the orders. I thought I'd made this very clear to you, but obviously you've chosen to ignore it, like always. In case you haven't noticed, we're in the middle of something important here. We're saving lives."

I scoffed. "Saving lives? That damn leech hasn't so much as left a strand of hair here since she took a little swim in the bloody ocean, and since then you haven't gotten off our backs about it! The guys are tired, Sam. They're tired, and you—"

"We're protectors," he interrupted. "They know what they've signed up for—"

"No! Shut up!" I hissed. "I don't recall signing up for this shit. No one did. We all just happened to be the poor sons of bitches with a fucked up inheritance. You know that, but you're mind is so set to all this responsibility to others and to the elders and tribe that you've forgotten the responsibility you have to the pack!"

"What are you talking about, Leah?" he growled.

"They're just kids, Sam," I snapped. "They're kids. And I'm not going to stand here and let you break Seth too!"

"This is what this is about?" Sam shook his head. "You're pissed because Seth has been running a few more patrols? He may be a kid, Leah, but he's not your kid. And if you're so damn worried about your brother, maybe you should stop putting the guy through watching you try to kill yourself!"

"Fuck you!" I screeched. "This isn't about me, you asshole. So swallow your own fucking pride and admit to yourself that you've made some piss poor decisions for what's best for the pack! And while you're pulling your finger out of your ass, I'm taking my brother home and you can shove your double patrols up there instead!"

And that's exactly what I did.

...

Billy was over when I woke up late in the afternoon. Not unusual. I walked into the kitchen with the typical just-woke-up haze and poured myself a gigantic glass of juice, listening absently to Billy and my mother talking amongst themselves like gossiping neighbours. Which, I guess, they sort of were. Seth hadn't spoken to me after the meeting on the way home, and he wasn't home now, he was already gone, his dishes left in the sink.

"Jake's off with Bella today," Billy said gruffly. "I don't have anything against the girl but..."

"Billy," Sue said curtly. "She's no good for him."

My mother was preaching to the choir. Jacob had been thinking of nothing else lately than his plan that made my stomach churn so bad that I had to pour the rest of my juice down the sink. His plan to smoothly tell Bella Swan that he loves her, officially. It was painful to watch the train-wreck unfold, because it was obvious that the Swan girl knew exactly what his feelings were, and she still choose to ignore them.

He'd come up with elaborate ways he'd sweep her off her feet, confess his undying love and they'd live happily ever after. Poor fool, he had no idea there is no such thing for people like us. Unless there was, and there is just no such thing for people like me.

...

What happened later that day is what we in the pack decided to call, the Bella Kissing Fiasco. She broke her hand on his face. Classic. Absolutely classic.

Quil and Embry offered to go with Jake to her graduation party, right in the heart of enemy territory, after much begging on Jacob's behalf to Sam. I think he agreed to it only because of the amount of humans that they'd have roaming that house during this so-called party, and Jacob was smart enough to play the protecting-innocent-victims card to Sam in order to be allowed to go.

That party's a goddamn feeding frenzy, I just know it. Paul mumbled moodily.

The rest of the pack was waiting, bored out of our minds, at the treaty line the closest place we could be if something went wrong and our brothers needed us.

I'm sure that if it was like that, one of them would have phased by now and alerted us. Jared stated realistically.

Unless they ambushed them, Collin said fearfully, but with a touch of anticipation. He'd never been in an actual fight with a vampire before, like me or Seth or Brady or Quil, and the idea had him itching, and pacing with his ears perked. They've ambushed them, took the wolves out first cause we're the strongest and stuff—

I snarled, and Collin's tail fell between his legs. Don't be stupid, I barked. You don't say things like that. They're fine, and probably stuffing their faces with fancy little hors d'oeuvre. I turned to Seth, who was curled up and quiet. I hadn't heard his voice for days. Right Seth? I prompted. Seth? He was ignoring me. My fur stood on end. Seth, what the hell is your problem?

My little brother turned to glare at me. You wanna know my problem, Leah? He snapped. You promised me. You promised me. And you broke that promise. I don't want anything to do with you right now.

Before I could respond with anything more than shock, and a little hurt, Embry, Quil and Jacob phased and my mind was flooded with voices, pictures, memories and words. An army of vamps heading our way, about to hit Forks, and we've signed up to team with the Cullen's to stop them.

Oh, Jacob added. And we got a meeting with them at 3am.

My sarcasm and hostility hit full throttle. Oh joy, a little tutoring meeting with the Cullens. I'm sure Sam is going to just love this whole situation you've landed us in, Jacob. I turned to Sam, who had responded to everything just the way I knew he would—badly.

Simultaneously, each wolf turned to face Sam, who stood tall and towered of the rest of us lounging amongst the foliage. I could feel Sam's twinge of annoyance that Jake had taken charge of the circumstance, but he brushed it away with a more reasonable reason to be pissed off. Jacob, Sam said sternly, but with his usual calm. We don't acquaintance ourselves with bloodsuckers.

The army is a danger to them too, Sam, Jacob stated. We have common grounds.

Double the danger for us, Sam barked. Help them kill off the newborns, then have them turn on our pack?

We can trust them with this, Jake insisted.

It felt strange, listening to them speak, with almost the same tone with one another, like a shift in power waiting to take place. Sam stared at Jacob for a very long, intense time, before finally huffing out a breath into the frosty night air. Despite his doubts, Sam also knew that the pack would never stand a chance on our own. Very well, Sam reluctantly agreed. We'll go in wolf form. I'll not have us vulnerable in front of them.

The mind-reader can translate, Jacob said, somewhat grudgingly.

Then it's decided, Sam turned to the rest of us, and laid down his Alpha command. Don't let your guard down for a single second. Remember, we are not amongst friends tonight.

...

Watching the vampires fight, I must admit, I felt an eerie chill crawl up my spine. Half way through the night, as the pack barely moved a muscle, full attention on every twitch of the vampire's muscles as they attacked each other with vicious accuracy, I thought involuntary. Seth is so not going to be fighting this one, my eyes not leaving the bloodsucker's heated battle.

Urgh shut up, Leah, Seth groaned, because he knew my statement would be seriously considered.

Leah's right, Jared said. The young ones should stay home and watch the rez.

Jared was saying that so that by watching the rez they would feel like they were contributing in some way rather than be left out entirely. The pack agreed simultaneously. Collin and Brady didn't want to be brushed aside, and Seth didn't want this to interfere with his desire to help the pack.

His ears were perked energetically. I don't need to stay home, I want to help!

Don't be stubborn, Seth, Quil chided.

Well, he is my brother after all... I mused unhappily.

You'll be safer, Embry added, even if it wasn't what Seth wanted to hear.

We can't risk any unnecessary burdens, Paul stated, somehow believing his harsh words had good intentions.

We'll discuss it later, Sam snapped. He didn't want to bloodsuckers to see any vulnerability in us through all the bitterness and squabbling going on.

Once the scarred bloodsucker wrapped it up, he offered for us to observe again tomorrow.

Sam accepted. Yes, we'll be here.

It would be better if we known there scents, Jared suggested. You know, so we don't accidently kill them.

That would be a shame, I muttered wirily. My hackles rose in distaste.

I still didn't understand how the hell we had resorted to this. The majority of my brain said that we could take the army of bloodsuckers ourselves, that this little alliance was bad news. We took a whiff of each Cullen, and I gagged, and Seth just about shat himself when he was left uncovered between the two vamps.

I barked at him Move it, twerp and sent him scampering along the line. We backed away, eyes never leaving their still presence for a second. Quil and Embry hesitated, waiting for Jacob who was caught up with the leech-loving twit. Isn't it past her bed time? I sighed impatiently. It was then Jacob decided to phase back to human and rejoin them. I sighed again. Idiot...

When Jacob returned he relayed that Seth would be playing to role of 'cell phone' to which I'd admit I was smug about since I'd gotten my way. It was highly unlikely that he could land himself in any trouble so far away from any action what-so-ever, and it made me feel better about everything as long as Seth was safe. Jake offered to go himself and relay any more information, and Sam told Embry and Quil to go with him.

The pack was preparing for battle. Everyone was excited and energetic, but there was an underlying sense of fear as we passed each other and caught eyes, wondering who among us might be unlucky enough not to survive the day. Wondering whose families we'd bring the news to, of who we might be looking at alive for the last time.

At home, I wasn't worried. If I died, sure it would suck balls, but it wouldn't be Seth and that's all that mattered to me right now. While I was stuffing my face with food for energy I'd be likely to burn off, the phone rang.

I held it against my ear, mouth full of a sandwich. "Uh, yeash?" I answered, muffled with half-digested bread.

"Leah? It's Billy," he sounded sort of nervous, then again it would really suck knowing your only son was fighting a war with the weight of everything on his shoulders and you could do nothing but stand back and hope for the best possible outcome the fates throw at you.

"Mum's not home," I automatically replied.

"I know," Billy never appeared bothered by my, what some would call, rudeness. "Listen Leah..." from that tone, I could feel the good-natured lecture heading towards me a mile away. "Be careful out there. I promised your dad... I promised that I'd look out for you and Seth—"

"The pack has our backs, Billy. All our backs." I hoped to reassure him about Jacob's safety, even if I wasn't too certain about it myself. "So what was it you wanted exactly?"

"Oh, right," It almost made me laugh. Dad was the same. So damn forgetful. I had to hold my breath so that Billy wouldn't be able to tell that the thought of my dad made me get a little choked up considering everything that was happening. "Can you tell Jake that Bella and her bloodsucker will be ready for him in an hour?"

That snapped me out of any emotion I may have been feeling. I didn't want to be playing messenger for any bloodsucker.

"I thought Seth was suppose to be playing the stupid cell phone..." I muttered before hanging up.

...

The next day, Seth woke up in a foul mood.

"You'll thank me when you're still alive," I muttered to him as he stormed out the door and phased, heading into the mountains to the tent where Jacob had spent the night in the middle of a snow storm.

The pack gathered in the clearing, only waiting on Jacob. The Cullen's were at the clearing too, motionless as statues. We took our positions in the forest and waited. "It will be an hour or so," the little bloodsucker with the visions warned Sam. He nodded in understanding.

Everyone just... stay cool, Quil reminded us, even though we all knew he was freaking out the most. It hurt a little almost everyone was thinking about their imprints, and of how because of them they had something to fight for, that extra drive to succeed in order to protect that one person that was most important to them...

All of a sudden I was knocked to my knees in pain and I huffed out a small yelp through my muzzle. The pack felt it simultaneously, like a swift blow to the gut, and we instantly knew why Bella Swan was marrying the vampire. It was Jacob's pain that we felt. None of us bad really been listening to our pack brothers mind, we'd been too busy preparing our own for what was to come.

Jacob, Embry reached out to him. Jake, I'm so sorry bro.

It was clear Jacob didn't want any sympathy, and he was mortified that we'd all witnessed what had just occurred. He phased human, and was gone from our minds. I tuned in to Seth, who saw Jacob run into the woods, worried and concerned. The bloodsucker followed after him, and everything passed in a large and jumbled blur until Alice scared the shit out of us and broke the eerie quiet of our minds.

"We have a small problem," she said to Sam, standing before us all graceful and delicate. "Tell Edward that the Volturi have decided to make an appearance," she cocked her head to the side. "But not to worry," she added. "Everything will go fine. But it would be best if you and your pack make yourself scarce."

And with that dainty message of appending doom she flittered away back to the meadow.

You hear that, cell phone? Paul sneered.

I heard, Seth said grudgingly.

To give a recently-returned Jacob and Bella Swan a chance to chat things out like a bunch of girls, Seth and the bloodsucker discussed strategies and conduct with Sam.

That is, until Seth trotted back into camp.

Aw man! Gross! He cried, and the pack copped Jacob and Bella kissing like another slap in the face.

Really, Jacob? I couldn't help but think. Really? Right now? This is the fucking right time?

And it wasn't long after that till Jake transformed and we had to deal with this shit up close and personal, because Jacob was too busy playing multiple vivid re-enactments of the kiss as he practically skipped to the battleground. The whole thing was making me nauseous, and it felt like I me was inserting my tongue into the mouth of that leech-loving, good-for-nothing—urgh.

Jacob, get your head in the game! Sam growled.

As the vampire predicted, the newborns split themselves into two groups.

We'll ambush them, Sam said, and all that crappy mumbo-jumbo that was occurring had been forgotten. We knew our place. Now, there was nothing but the silence of our expert stalk through the forest as we moved together. We could hear the first group in the clearing collide with the Cullen's and the roar of 'hell yeah!' as the large dark-haired one charged forward.

I blocked it all out, as much as I could, focusing on nothing but the prey. They were getting closer, I could hear their voices, their stench burned my nose like I'd snorted red hot chilli. The pack waited, for the right moment to strike them down.

"Where is she?" one of the newborns said, annoyed. "I want to eat something!"

"She said not to let her escape," said another, who seemed slightly rattled.

"It's one harmless little human," the first one cackled. "How hard could it be?"

"Stop it, Alex," a third one snapped. "She said that the girl was hers."

I could see them now, as I approached angled up the side, the one called Alex was a little ways separated from the group and he had an arrogant grin on his face that made me want to tear it off. I was close, so close I could see the emptiness of his red eyes. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind if I take one little bite..." he paused, I noticed, and took a slight sniff of the air before turning to the other vampires scattered around him.

I took him out without a second hesitation. The prick had caught our scent, and I easily pinned him to the ground, and blocked off his windpipe so he couldn't make a sound. It felt natural standing there, overpowering this creature that was trying in vain to take a chunk out of me. This would be my first real vampire kill. It was almost surreal. And I was glad that if I was going to kill something it was this cocky asshole. Sam approached and pinned the bloodsucker down as I tore off his head with my teeth.

It was simple, easy. Sam looked at me briefly; through his eyes I could see blood covering my muzzle and his feeling of sadness, that he would have never wanted me to turn out this way, a killer like him.

I broke his gaze and turned to Paul and Jacob, who'd just joined us, taking down another one. The rest of the newborn group is on to us now, their defences rose as they became aware of our presence.

"What the hell are they?" one of the newborns cried.

Another cracked their neck and took a defensive stance. "Nothing we can't handle,"

Paul chuckled and stepped forward eagerly in front of Sam. Don't you wish, pipsqueak, he growled.

Paul, get back into rank! Sam barked at him, before reassuming the position of leader. The newborns were drawing closer together instinctually, safety in numbers meant it would be more difficult for us to pick them off. We took a step forward and they would take a step back, driving them towards the clearing.

It was then I caught my breath as Seth, miles away in the mountains, caught the scent of two bloodsuckers quickly approaching their little camp. My heart stopped. Seth...? Seth... Seth, oh god no, SETH! Baby bro, I'm coming, I'm coming to help—

Leah, stop! Sam ordered. There's nothing you can do right now. Stay here.

I need to go, I fretted. I need to go, I need to go to him— the mind-reading bloodsucker had told him to run, and I could do nothing but agree, with Sam's order forbidding me to join him.

What do I do? Seth's mind was a mess of uncertainty, as he bolted through the forest.

Run, you moron! I told him. And don't you dare stop running!

Jacob let out a loud howl into the sky. Bella's in danger!

Jacob, no! Jared called out.

Jacob, don't you move! Sam barked. You are to stay here and protect this pack!

She'll be fine, Jake, Embry said. Of course, she's got the leech to protect her...

With the orders in place we advanced on the group of bloodsuckers who were eyeing us with uncertainty. We were at the clearing with the two groups starting to merge together; the Cullen's blocking their retreat and the pack blocking their advance.

Chow time, Quil snarled, and we leapt forward as one single unit.

Everything was a shadow of clashing bodies and teeth. I could barely keep my head straight with Seth anywhere near danger, and in the back of my mind, through the carnage around me, I felt his mind click as he made a choice. I'm going to go back and help, Seth decided.

Seth, no! I whined, my jaws locked firmly around a newborn.

I watched as he turned tail and tackled the blonde bloodsucker in the mountains.

Leah, behind you! Embry called, as he ripped into the vampire about to take out my hind legs. One of the Cullens, the doctor, helped him finish it off by shredding off both its arms like they were attached by Velcro.

Distained by the help of the leech doctor, I mumbled an unenthusiastic thanks.

I noticed a figure hiding amongst the trees, and a growl escaped my clenched canines. I approached, about to land a final blow, when another bloodsucker stood in my way. "No!" the woman Cullen, the mother, cried out, taking a shielding stance in front of the cowering newborn. "She surrendered. We're taking responsibility for her."

I eyed them both suspiciously, about to disregard the Cullens request when I noticed the newborn was only a young girl, probably Seth's age, and she looked so scared and confused. My teeth were close to them, that instinct screamed out at me to bite, but all I could think about was Seth and of how scared he must be right now, lost to me in the chaotic frenzy of the packs thoughts.

I let out a huff. Fine, I sighed, even though I knew they wouldn't understand.

There were only a few left now as we closed in even tighter on the surviving newborns. I took this chance to examine my pack brothers, even though that through the connection in our minds I knew no one was severely hurt, I needed to see them all with my own eyes. They were all panting, out of breath but unscathed, and Seth still fighting all alone and unprotected in the middle of nowhere. I tried to repress a low whine of worry.

This ends here, Sam snarled.

It was all over quicker than I expected, and all my brothers were congratulating each other, but I wasn't listening.

Seth? I reached out to him anxiously; I just needed to know he's okay.

Did you see that, Leah? Seth said smugly. I can almost call that a single-handed defeat.

Almost, Jacob stated, amused. But not quite.

You dipshit, was all I could manage to express.

The scarred Cullen started a fire in the meadow, and hurled in the head of a newborn. "Collect the pieces and throw them in," he said sombrely.

The pack dispersed and began gathering the mass of limbs that showered the clearing. I scornfully began to oblige to the request with my ears pricked and I noticed a newborn hiding where had it come from? We thought we'd killed all of them. The others weren't close, but the answer came quick and clear to me like a bell. I can take one of these things myself... and I prepared to attack. This would be easy. Cake.

Leah! The voices in my head were loud and alarmed. Lee-Lee, no!

What the hell are you doing?

Leah, get out of the way!

The bloodsucker greeted me with speed and opened arms. The breath was knocked from my lungs and an agonizing cry escaped me, as my body was compressed and my bones split. The cry was loud, every member of the pack screamed in torment. I was quivering in pain on the ground, only to notice it was not my body that the newborn had gotten a hold of. It was Jacobs as Sam and Paul knocked the vampire off him and tore it to shreds while Jacob howled in anguish and lay motionless a few feet from me.

Jacob! Embry and Quil bolted over; to move took much will to surpass the pain we all felt. Shit, Jake?

Jacob, you idiot, I thought, teeth clenched. Why the fuck did you go and do something that stupid?

Nothing was coming out of Jacob's mind then a never-ending supply of curses and swears most of which he had learnt from me. The Cullen's approached with concern, and some caution. I guess they were a little nervous on us turning on them after the battle, too.

The doctor knelt beside Jake and ran his gold eyes over him with unease. "The right half of his body is crushed," he pronounced grimly, his usually perfect features pursed. He looked up to meet Sam's gaze. "You and your pack must go now. Carry Jacob home and I'll meet you there and treat him, with your permission."

Sam nodded. We've got no choice, do we?

The doctor nodded back. "Try and get him to phase human, before his bones heal."

The guys phased and pulled on their shorts, and each took a hold of Jake who was still withering and howling in pain. As gently as they possibly could, they lifted him off the earth and began the walk back to the rez. I'd didn't want to transform human, but the pain was almost unbearable. I felt like I deserved it though, after all, it should have been me. I'd rather it be me. Sam stayed wolf to talk Jake through turning back.

We were almost home when Jake finally mustered the will to phase.

There was an undeniable snapping sound and Jacob threw his head back. "MOTHER FUCKERS! FUCK ME DEAD! SHIT! FUCKING LIMP-DICK COCK-SUCKERS!" he gritted his teeth together. "Urgh, fucking ass-wiping son of a bitch!"

"Jake," Jared said gently. "Try and calm down "

"Fuck you spineless shit, and your mother!" Jake replied, squeezing his eyes shut, his breathing laboured. "Jesus fucking Christ!"

Billy was waiting anxiously as we entered, as well as Charlie, which complicated a few things. The guy's faces were sombre, and I can't exactly say I was over the moon with any sort of happiness. The two older men looked horrified, but Charlie was the first to jump the gun and start interrogating.

"What the bloody hell happened here?" the officer spluttered, using his best professional tone.

"Motorcycle accident," Sam answered. "We called Dr. Cullen and he'll be here soon."

Charlie looked surprised, and I was surprised that Billy had nothing to say about vampires being on the rez. Jacob started laughing hysterically and grabbed a hold of Charlies arm on the way of being led into his bedroom. "I bet you're glad she loves Cullen instead of me today, huh, Charlie?" he laughed again, but it was strained. The pack looked away from each other uncomfortably. "Aren't I a mess?"

I found the guts to finally speak. "Alright Romeo," I said, trying not to let my voice falter. "Bed."

Jacob let go of his grip on Charlies arm and was carried away to his shoebox of a room. It looked pretty bad at this point; Jake's body was battered, bruised and swollen, his face pale. When he was in bed, everyone waited in the tiny front room for the doctor leech to show up while Billy and Charlie were at his bedside, and I was waited for the spark that would send the packs accusation towards me. I couldn't bare the silence.

Of course, it was brought upon by myself. "I could have handled it," I whispered, brow furrowed.

"Leave it alone, Leah," Sam said lowly, so the men in the next room would not hear.

"He didn't have to get in the way like that," I defended. "I was fine on my own."

"Obviously not," Paul hissed. "That leech would have killed you."

"I was fine," I hissed back through my teeth.

There was a tap at the door and about everyone jumped up to get it, anything to get away from the awkwardness. The doctor was there, fulfilling his promise, and with him the Swan girls leech. Jacob would love this... I thought ironically, to which the bloodsucker shot me a curious glance. I scowled at him and turned away.

Billy wheeled himself away from Jake's side to shake the leech's hand, and to give him room to work, I guess. It was long before Charlie left, the imprints and Seth arrived, followed shortly by Bella Swan. After getting all his bones re-broken, Jake had passed out cold.

From experience, I knew this was a better fate than being conscious.

Almost everyone had decided to go home after Jake was settled, covered in braces and looking like death itself. Sitting in the previously cramped living room, was Billy, Embry and myself. I made sure that my seat had a clear view into Jake's room, so I could watch every move the bloodsuckers made.

The leeches walked out, the doctor wiping his hands. "He's patched up for now," he said, looking a little less haggard then when he first got here and got a good look at Jake's condition. "He's starting to wake up. I've given him morphine for the pain, but he's sure to burn it off with a body temperature like that. His bones are healing nicely. I'll be back regularly to check up on him and administer another dose."

Billy leant forward to shake his hand again. "Thank you," he said sincerely.

The parasite nodded. "My pleasure," and they drove away in their fancy Mercedes.

Billy sighed. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost him," he admitted quietly, and I was lost for words.

I looked desperately at Embry, who was usually good at this sort of thing, but he seemed just as lost as I was. I swallowed hard and cleared my throat. "Hey Billy," I said uncomfortably. "Would you mind if I spent some time alone" with your shit-for-brains son, I wanted to add, but instead said "with him?"

"Sure, Leah," Billy agreed gruffly.

"I guess I'll head out and inform the others," Embry said, nodding to both of us before walking out the door.

I took the walk of shame to Jacob's room, feeling angry, frustrated and miserable. Jake was awake, like the doc said, looking like he'd just been chewed up and spat back out. Being me, he'd think something was up if I didn't greet him with some sort of insult. "Look what the leech dragged in," I drawled, closing the door behind me.

Jacob looked at me and sighed. "But I don't want to go to school today, Mum..."

"Wow," I said. "Those vamps drugged you up good."

"Not really," Jake said, wincing a sly grin. "I'm just messing with you a little." I pursed my lips and observed his damage, suddenly not too sure on what it was exactly that I wanted to say.

Then I found the words I was looking for. "You, Jacob Black, are a dickface."

Jacob looked confused. "What?"

"You heard me," I snapped. "If you weren't already looking like someone took a large dump shaped like you, then I'd tear you a new asshole myself and shove fistfuls of salt up there."

Jacob flared, even though I could tell it caused pain. "Are you serious right now?"

I stared at the floor. "I just came here to say that if you knew what was good for you, you won't try something that stupid like saving me again, got it?"

"But I did save you," he whispered. "Shouldn't you at least come here to thank me?"

"I should, but I'm not," I said stubbornly. Jacob was quiet for a long second before starting a smile that started to grow larger as the seconds passed. This only annoyed me more. "What the hell are you grinning about?" I scowled. "None of this is funny, Jacob!"

"You were worried about me," Jake stated, amused. "Leah Clearwater was worried about me."

I flushed. "What?" I flushed some more. "At what point did me threatening you give you the idea that I was worried about your dumbass in any way?"

"I know you, Leah," Jacob smirked. "You were worried in your own little violent way."

I scowled again and gathered my composure. "I'm leaving," I declared moodily. "Here," I threw a quilt onto his body to cover the worse of his injuries. "So it saves everyone else the eyesore." Not to mention, I didn't add, defying all possible ways of our nature he appeared a little cold.

Turning my heal to storm out, his husky voice called out to me. "Hey, Leah?"

I faced him once more, with my best bored face. "Yeah?"

"You're welcome." He had a small, cheeky sparkle to his eye.

My eyes narrowed. "I didn't say thank you."

Jacob let out a breathy laugh that I hadn't heard him give in a while. "You didn't have to."

I shot him my best death glare before slamming the door shut. I bypassed Billy, preoccupied by watching the television, and walked outside and a few blocks down to my house. I froze in the front yard and gazed back to the Blacks home, and then into the cloudy sky. I sighed and muttered a low 'thanks Jacob... sort of' before heading inside and going to sleep.

...

I was running, running so fast with no idea where I was going, or what I would find there. All of a sudden I was lying on the ground, with sensual hands brushing over me like cool water. I closed my eyes and tried to picture a face, but found that no one in particular came to mind. The hands slipped down my back and I felt their breath on my lips, making my whole body shiver, until finally our mouths met.

I won the dominance, tongues entwined in a passionate embrace. I pulled away for air, brushing hair from my eyes and found myself looking into the face of Isabella Swan. I pulled her close to me, my hand sliding up her leg, and moved my lips back towards her—

"Urgh!" I woke with a start, feeling physically ill. "Oh, fuck no," I groaned.

...

"Jacob, do you think this is going to take too much longer?" I demanded.

"Jump off a cliff, Leah," Jake said calmly, pointing to the churning waters bellow his feet.

It was really nice to see the guy had healed so well. Not. "Really, kid," I sighed, sprawling beside him. "You have no idea how hard this is for me." If I knew Jacob, saying something like that was sure to get some sort of reaction out of him.

I wanted to get him angry, to push his boundaries, because the guy needed to feel something else other than moping around the place.

"For you?" he exclaimed. And bingo, I thought. "You have to be the most self-absorbed person alive, Leah. I'd hate to shatter that dream world you live in the one where the sun is orbiting the place where you stand so I won't tell you how little I care what your problem is. Go. Away."

"Just look at this from my perspective for a minute, okay?" he laughed and I glared. "Stop snorting and pay attention."

"If I pretend to listen, will you leave?"

I scowled. "This is making me sick, Jacob. Can you imagine what this feels like to me? I don't even like Bella Swan. And you've got me grieving over this leech-lover like I'm in love with her, too. Can you see where that might be a little confusing? I dreamt about kissing her last night!" I grimace as I relived the moment; a small shudder crawled up my spine. "What the hell am I suppose to do with that?"

"Do I care?"

I stared at him. I couldn't believe that he could sit there and lecture me about being selfish, when he wasn't giving two shits about anything else going on around him that didn't involve Bella-bitch. "I can't stand being in your head anymore! Get over her already! She's going to marry that thing. He's going to try to change her into one of them! Time to move on, boy."

I could see the irony in it, out of anyone I should be the last person lecturing on moving on...

"Shut up," he growled.

"He'll probably just kill her anyway," I mused. "All the stories say it happens more often than not. Maybe a funeral will be more closure than a wedding. Ha." It was under the belt. I regretted the words almost immediately after saying them, but it's not like I could tell him that. I smiled at the tremors rocketing through him. This is what he needed. A release. To get angry and not keep everything bottled up inside, before it slowly started to eat away at him and everything he use to be.

I noticed something click in him, and he took the angry in a whole new direction. "If you're upset about gender confusion, Leah… how do you think the rest of us like looking at Sam through your eyes? It's bad enough that Emily has to deal with your fixation. She doesn't need us guys panting after him, too."

I flinched and scrambled to my feet. Asshole, I thought bitterly, even knowing I'd somewhat deserved that.

I aimed a spit at him. "You missed," he laughed as I ran for the cover of the trees.

I soon as I ran I knew it was stupid, letting him get to me like that. I'd pushed the boundaries a little too far and it came back to bite me in the face. I got home not long after; Sue was waiting having spent the day with Billy. When she mentioned the wedding invitation that had arrived for us, and for the Blacks, and I knew for sure I'd been too harsh on Jacob. And, Christ help me, I was feeling a little guilty.

Before leaving, I mentioned to my mother that 'hell would freeze over before I'm seen at a leech wedding' even if it did mean giving up the free food.

When I phased, Jacob was running alone—Sam, Embry and Quil had just left him.

Jacob? I called out, confused.

He groaned. Leah, seriously, I want to be alone right now.

Where do you think you're going? I demanded.

Don't you dare try and stop me, he said, and he picked up his pace.

He knew that, if any one had a chance of catching him and bringing him home, it was me.

I'm not, I said softly.

What? Jacob questioned.

If you need to go, then go, I shrugged.

Okay then... he hesitated, and couldn't quite follow my thoughts. Catch you later, Clearwater.

I nodded and phased human, giving him the privacy he wanted. I sat in the forest, thinking. I let Jacob keep running, imagining a world where that's all you had to do you could run, and your problems would never be able to catch you. Too bad I knew better now, and I guess Jake had to learn it the hard way.

Alone.

Okay, I kind of feel like we're getting somewhere now that we're heading into Breaking Dawn and Leah's healing story can finally begin! I'm really sorry about my lack of updating, if I have any readers left that is! This chapter was a struggle to get through, but now that its done... I hope to write more in the future, I've just realised that I really miss this story and how much fun it is to write about Leah! Please let me know any feedback and what you think!

Please read and review!

Hazel-Buttafly