Somebody to Love

Chapter 2

Song for Chapter ~ Jesus Take the Wheel

by Carrie Underwood

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

BPOV

Alex ran in and shoved his finger in my face. "Eww, Alex! What the heck is that?"

I usually had worse language than that, but Charlie had been after me about it around the kids. Jake and all the other wolves were bad influences on me.

"A slug! Isn't it cool mommy?" Ugh.

"Yeah, real cool! Is Pepaw digging for worms?"

He beamed at me. "Yeah, he said to show you. Look, it wiggles!" he giggled.

"Yeah, baby, he does. Now take him back to Pepaw."

I'm not really girly; I just don't want a slimy insect in my face.

"Okay, mommy," he smiled and ran back out the door.

Sophie was sitting in the corner reading a book. She was going to be like me in that respect. She could already read small books and was so proud of herself. Hell, I was radiating pride. But, that is about where the similarities ended with us. She was beautiful, graceful and loved to wear girlie clothes. I was definitely none of those things. She looked at me and rolled her eyes and stuck her nose back in her book.

Alex came tramping back in and hit the separation between the carpet and the hardwood and fell face first into the carpet. He was exactly like me. No broken bones, yet... but a lot of falls and cuts. One concussion, two sprains and a handful of minor abrasions. Following right along in mommy's footsteps. The one thing I wished my kids would never inherited from me.

He jumped back up and ran to the bathroom to wash his hands.

"Alex, you okay, baby?"

"Uh-huh..." He was trying to be the brave big boy, and I really had to learn to let him be just that. So I let that just be that.

"Hey, while your in there, brush your teeth. It's time for bed. Sophie, can you go fix his toothbrush and do yours too?"

"Yeah, Mommy." She jumped up and ran to the bathroom.

Charlie came traipsing in then, grinning from ear to ear. I just gave him a 'don't mess with me' stare and then laughed, his chuckle filtering in with my own.

"You are so off, Dad."

"I know, but that's why you love me."

Charlie was a different man after having grandkids; he talked about love all the time. It was good to see something open him up so fully.

I kissed him on his cheek, and went to the bathroom to make sure they were actually brushing their teeth and not having toothbrush, light saber wars. Jake and his obsession with "The Force". I think it is like a pissing contest, but still funny none the less.

"Ok, guys. Go get dressed for bed. Your clothes are on your bed. Then we'll call Daddy!"

This was our ritual. Jake would talk to them every night before bed. Either on the phone, or in person. Tonight was to be by phone. Once they finished talking with him, Charlie would tell them a goodnight story or read one. Then I would say a prayer and a blessing for everyone we knew and then it was off to bed. I'm not really religious, never have been. But, it couldn't hurt, and my parents had always done it with me.

When I left the kids room for the night, I made my way down to chat with Charlie. He was standing in the kitchen and looked sick to his stomach.

"Charlie, you okay? You look green."

And he truly did.

"Bells, I think I'm going to bed. Don't feel so good. Maybe it's a bug. Stay away and keep the kids from me. I'll talk with ya in the morning."

"You sure, dad? You need me to do anything for you?"

"No, babe. Just going to lay down. Night, Bells! Love you."

"Love you too dad."

He slowly trotted up the stairs and I went to straightening the kitchen. The kids were asleep and I was lost in thought. This was my time. My time to just be. No kids, no thoughts but my own and I cherished it every moment of it.

Just then, I heard a very loud thud right above where I was in Charlie's room. I immediately flew up the stairs and threw the door open. He was slumped over by the bed. His head hung and he was out. I ran over to him and shook him.

"Charlie? You okay? Charlie?" panic seeping into my voice.

The sobbing began, but I tried to keep it down so I wouldn't wake the kids.

I pulled my ear to his chest and made out his heartbeat and that he was breathing.

"Charlie? If you can, answer me please?"

I knew I had to call an ambulance. I didn't have a clue what was the matter but I was scared.

I grabbed my cell out of my pocket and dialed 911. When they were on their way, I called Jake to come over and stay with the kids. Jake got there before the ambulance did.

Stupid werewolves.

We were rushed to the ER and they worked on Charlie forever. Sue Clearwater and Billy showed up and we hugged and I told them what had happened. No new news was coming and I was getting antsy.

I decided then that I was gonna call Alice and see if she would tell me anything. If she had seen anything. Right as I made my decision, my cell started vibrating...

Text message from Alice Cullen

* B - We will all be there in 3 hours! -A- XOXO *

Well, shit. That didn't give me any answers other than they were coming. That could mean bad news. They were coming, all of them. Well, I knew that meant everyone except Edward. But if they were all coming, it could mean Charlie had bad news coming. I mean, they would know I would need support.

Fear started creeping in. If they were in New York, it wouldn't take just 3 hours to get here. They already knew. They were already in the air.

Oh, this is bad.

Billy saw me going to pieces and just rubbed my back.

"Hon, it's gonna be ok."

I might as well be honest with Billy.

"Billy, you remember Alice?"

He tensed for a moment, but then relaxed and said, "Yeah, the fortune teller, right?"

"Yep, that's her. She is on her way here, with the rest of the family. I'm scared that that means something bad is going to happen. Like she knows something, but wants to tell me in person. I'm scared, Billy."

He was still rubbing my back as I dropped my head on my arms and started to sob. I just cried like that for what seemed like hours.

Sue tried to find out some information, but they said they didn't have any yet and that nothing else had changed. I finally curled up on the hard sofa and cried myself to sleep while Billy still rubbed my back. I heard, at some point, Billy talking to someone on the phone, most likely Jake.

Around an hour later, I felt ice cold hands on my arm and my cheek. They were both different feelings, but the same cold touch. I pushed my eyelids tighter closed, not wanting to deal yet. Then another hand on my back. Then another on my lower leg. The last one I felt was on my shoulder. When it brushed my skin close to the base of my neck, I felt an electric current jolt through me. The last time I felt that, Edward had touched me! That started the panic deep down. I couldn't handle all of this and have Edward back in my life right now. That was too much.

And then just as soon as I started to feel all of that pain, it was replaced with the most wonderful sense of calm. One I hadn't felt in a really long time. I would know that feeling anywhere. It didn't matter how long it had been. I knew that calm. It had held me together when we ran from James. It was a wonderful feeling, when needed.

Jasper Hale.

No, Alice told me he went back to his own name. Whitlock. Jasper Whitlock. Here to hold my hand and keep me calm. This must be bad.

Jasper must have felt that pain, because another wave came over me and it irritated the shit out of me. He chuckled and I decided it was time to open my eyes and face my adoptive family.