A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate them and your input.

Allies Ch.2

When the meeting adjourned both packs went their separate ways back to La Push. They waved, gave out their masculine half-hugs and promises to play some backyard football, but it was still bittersweet. Leah could see the longing on both Seth and Jacob's faces. They missed the companionship.

"You guys can go on and hang out." She offered as the three rogues walked amiably through the trees in a comfortable silence.

"Nah," Seth yawned. "I'm beat."

Together, she and Jacob mimicked Seth's yawn, both feeling the effects of a very long and drawn out day on patrol.

"I'll walk you two home." Jacob said, scratching at his tired eyes.

"Take Leah," Seth mumbled. "I'm nearly there anyway."

Jacob nodded and with Leah at his side, turned right and headed south. Leah, having inherited the trust her father had set up for her, had acquired a very old and modest cabin that had once belonged to her great grandparents. It was located on the outskirts of La Push not too far from Jacob's house. In fact, the only thing that separated their residences were two acres of forest. It wasn't much to look at, Leah's cabin, but it was a sanctuary for her, an escape from the house that held too many sad memories. Memories of her father, nights with Sam, and a simple life she would never have again.

"You don't have to walk me home." Leah told her alpha after they'd trudged silently for a half mile.

He shrugged. "Just being cautious."

"Cautious!" she laughed. "Hell, we're the scariest things out here."

"Touche`."

They grew quiet once more, only the moment was awkward, so Leah tried to start up some kind of conversation.

"So…" she began. "How are things with the Spawn?" Leah wasn't being mean, really. Renesmee had accepted the term as a nickname and probably the most endearing sentiment she would ever receive from Leah. So Nessie embraced it, which actually pleased Leah; the Spawn wasn't as uptight as first predicted. It was good considering Leah's alpha had imprinted upon the half-vampire and she would be forced to interact with her occasionally.

"Good I guess."

"You guess?"

He sighed and looked her in the eyes. "We're great, Leah. Everything's wonderful."

She picked up on his exasperated and weary tone, and would've pressed Jacob for the reason why, had it not been for the startling sight the two encountered upon entering the clearing where Leah's cabin rested.

The front door was left wide open.

Without hesitation, they both hurried up the porch steps and bounded inside to see what was up and if there was any need to be alarmed.

"Did you lock up before you left this morning?" Jacob asked as he meandered through the living room furniture, heading toward the kitchen.

"No. This is La Push, dumbass." She said. "Nobody's going to break in around here!"

He stopped before entering the tiny kitchen and gave her an intent look. "Well, somebody did."

Leah sighed and looked around for any missing objects that she found were just not missing.

"Anything gone?" Jacob called from the kitchen. Leah, on her way down the short hall, told him no.

"Maybe the wind blew the door open, then." He suggested as he came back through the living room to catch up with Leah.

But when Leah opened the door to her bedroom she realized with a shock that it couldn't have been the wind. The wind couldn't have opened the drawers to her dresser and closet, turned down the bed neatly, or opened her window to the breezy night air.

Jacob stopped behind her where Leah stood rooted to the spot, her hands braced on the doorframe. "Lord have mercy…" he breathed as he too took in the cryptic sight. "I don't take you as a slob so… You didn't leave your room like this, did you?"

"No." she said quietly.

An icy grip of fear wound its fingers around Leah's toughened heart and she could feel a panic begin to set in despite the strong, bitter guard she worked so hard to keep up. She was honestly creeped out, scared for her safety no matter how ridiculous it was.

"Don't touch anything. I'm going to call the cops." Jacob decided as he made his way back down the hall.

"What good will that do?" Leah called after him, still unable to move from her rigid position.

"Maybe they can get some prints or something. You know, CSI La Push or whatever."

He appeared at her side again, cordless phone in hand.

"They'd be mixed with mine, worthless."

"In that case the least they could do would be to step up the patrol around here." he said as he dialed 911. "That's something."

Just as she'd predicted, the police couldn't get any valuable prints, but they did however, promise to keep an eye out around her house. Leah didn't really feel comforted by their assurance though, but she didn't let on.

Charlie Swan had come over from Forks to check on her, and that she appreciated even though she didn't care much for his daughter. Sam and his pack, her mother and Seth, and Billy showed up as well, all full of concern and attracted by the commotion not usually seen in such a small town. They'd all gathered in the front yard, chatting quietly as the blue police lights danced on their worried faces.

"Leah honey, are you sure you don't want to come home for the rest of the night?" Sue asked her for the fifth time.

Leah took a breath to stem her growing annoyance. "No mother, I'm fine by myself."

"Charlie's staying over." She insisted desperately. "You'll be safe."

Leah didn't really want to hear that Charlie was spending the night, or picture herself staying there with him and her mother in the very next bedroom. "No, mother."

As if on cue, Chief Swan ambled over donning is Forks uniform and handgun. He nodded his hello.

"Hey, chief." Leah muttered quietly.

"Hey. Can I have a word? Privately?" He added, glancing at Sue. She got the hint and wandered over to where Billy and Jacob were talking animatedly. Leah always thought it was funny the way Jacob sometimes used his hands to elaborate when he spoke. It was…cute.

"What's up?" she asked once they were alone.

"Leah, what I saw in there was downright eerie," he began. "Nothing was taken, broken, misplaced… And the way your bed was turned down-that's strange."

She nodded, trying to push the rising fear back down her throat.

"This was not an ordinary, everyday break in." he continued. "All the signs suggest a, well… stalker."

"Stalker!" Leah gasped.

Chief Swan nodded grimly. "You need to be careful, on your toes and alert for anymore unusual occurrences."

"Ok."

"Lock all your doors and windows."

"Alright."

"And watch your back. I know, uh - about yours and Jacob's… wolf thing, but still."

"Got it."

Charlie looked over at Sue and then back to Leah. "Don't hesitate to call me. I'm always here for you."

Leah swallowed an uncomfortable lump of emotion as she watched him walk away. Her father would be glad to know that his friend was taking good care of his family, even though Charlie was taking a little too good care of Sue.

She felt a familiar hand on her shoulder and turned to see Sam looking quite worried. "Yes?" she said tersely.

"Are you going to be alright?" he asked.

"Of course I am." She said, keeping things short. "Why do you care?"

He heaved a heavy sigh. "You know I care about you, Leah. Just not-"

"Like you used to?"

Sam looked away, irritated. "I think you should stay at your mom's place, just until things chill out."

She bristled, angry at his audacity. "I really don't care what you think, I'll do what I damn well please."

"Why do I bother?" he asked the universe. She shrugged and he turned to stomp away angrily.

Jacob approached her then, and she watched his eyes linger on Sam's retreating back. "You okay?" he asked, cocking a thumb toward his old alpha.

Leah really wished people would stop asking her that question. But she noted Jake's perceptiveness and appreciated it. "Yeah." She mumbled half-heartedly.

"Listen," he said, fidgeting with his pockets. "If you aren't comfortable staying alone… I could crash here on your couch."

Jake was genuinely concerned and that fact gnawed at Leah's frozen heart. It was nice of him to offer her his protection even though she was always snapping at him. But she really felt okay to stay alone.

"No, Jake." She said. "I'm alright. Honestly."

He shrugged. "Just lookin' out for my beta." he grinned.

Despite the urge to be bitter and angry, Leah grinned back, truly thankful and surprised by all the support. "Thanks." She mumbled, somewhat overwhelmed. She figured she was getting soft in her old age, letting these people get to her like they were.

"Alright," he said as he backed to where Billy sat waiting. "You know where I live."

A half hour later the blue lights and concerned friends were gone as if they were never there to begin with, back to whatever it was they had planned for the Friday night. The cabin seemed so lonely after such a commotion that Leah felt a slow melancholy creep over her heart.

From her position at the kitchen table, Leah glanced at the stove's digital clock; 1:36 a.m., way too early for her to be walking around the house in her pajamas on the weekend. She fought the pathetic sense of loneliness, reminding herself of the long day she'd endured and figuring she was just too tired and creeped out to go anywhere fun.

She ambled back to her bedroom where a crowd of officers had been only a short while ago. They'd left everything as the intruder had left it, including the turned down blankets that, under any other circumstances, would have seemed inviting.

A chill ran up her spine as she imagined some stranger wandering around her room, and she hurried to set the room to rights, closing every drawer and replacing various objects.

She noted that her perfume bottle was missing from the collection of items on the bureau. Leah figured it didn't matter; she never wore the stuff anymore anyways because it would give her away if she were patrolling. Besides, Sam had given it to her years ago now, and she basically hated it.

She slammed the window shut and threw latched, then made her way through the entire house to do the same. She tried to lie down in her bed but found it impossible, too eerie. The stranger had touched her sheets. She would have to wash them.

With a resigned sigh, Leah went to the hall closet and dug around until she produced a spare blanket and a pillow, the latter being left over from her childhood and enclosed in a Disney Pocahontas print pillowcase. She flopped down on her squashy couch, lights in the hall still blazing, and closed her eyes.

She'd told everyone that she would be okay. But Leah was not okay. Leah was scared to death. That night, every sound caused her sensitive ears to perk and her heart to hammer. She would brace herself for anything; she waited, ready for an attack.

But thank the Lord, Leah thought, one never came.