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EMBRY
She doesn't speak to anyone; she doesn't even acknowledge anyone's presence.
It's been a exactly three days since she was raped and the image is still etched into my mind that I can't even sleep without her eyes popping into my mind, her eyes so full of desperation begging me to help her and me being completely useless.
I didn't expect it to be okay by now, what she went through was torture for everyone who witnessed but ten times worse for her, she lived it, had to go through it, and had to feel that bastard in her.
We were finally able to bring her home last night; Carlisle wanted to keep her close the first couple of days because rape victims tend to be put in suicidal watch at the hospital so it was only right to do the same for Leah. Edward never entered her room but remained in close hearing distance in order to be able to see what was going through her head.
Ever since the incident Leah became our first priority, we needed to protect her, help her, and show her that we cared.
"She is in a vulnerable state of mind" Carlisle has told us "Any man automatically sets off a trigger in her body telling her to be on defense"
"But why does she let you touch her?" Seth had asked.
"My cold skin signals her that I was not of the same species. You all must understand that everything about you reminds her of him. May it be the tone of your skin or even the temperature of your touch it all brings back memories that Leah isn't ready to come to terms with."
"But I would never hurt her" Seth exclaimed.
"I know Seth, but Leah is going to need time to get adjusted. It is going to take a while before Leah can trust anyone ever again."
Seth had done everything possible to stay close to his sister; he slept in the hallway outside of the room where she was staying, made sure that her door was always left a tad bit open, and that she was being properly fed.
Sue had also become a permanent fixture in the Cullen's home, and it was her that practically begged Carlisle to let Leah go home.
Carlisle conceded but only because Sam had allowed him temporary permission to enter La Push to check on Leah.
It irritated me how Sam's pack acted like they cared; they had all sent flowers and passed by regularly to check on Leah. Paul passed by the most, at first I thought it was because Rachel wanted to see her friend but once he started showing up alone was when I realized that the bastard probably felt guilty for all the hell he put Leah through.
Sam and Emily came by occasionally, Sam more than Emily because Leah didn't care for Emily even after all the time Leah wasn't very fond of her dear cousin. So when Emily passed by believing that she could be Leah's support system and walking into see that spot had already been filled by the Cullen women she was hurt and left immediately.
Sam, to my astonishment didn't follow her choosing to wait for some sense of reaction from Leah.
Which of course has yet to come, even though we have all done everything Carlisle has asked of us Leah still pretends we don't exist whenever we walk into her room and ask her how she is doing?
"Do you think she will ever be truly okay?" Jake asked me as he watched Seth slump on the floor outside of Leah's room.
I shook my head "She will never be truly okay, but she will learn to live with it. They all do" I tell him.
"What do you mean 'all'?
"Jake, Leah isn't the first or the last woman who will ever get raped. What I am trying to say is that there have been woman before her who have continued with their lives and Leah will too, she just needs time to cope is all"
He nodded "I hope you are right" he chuckled "I actually miss her stubbornness"
I smile "I know what you mean she does know how to leave an impression"
Jake turns to look at me "You are falling for her, aren't you?"
I sigh "I don't know, but I know that my feelings for her aren't what they used to be."
Jake claps me on the back and stands up "I have to check on Nessie, let me know if Leah, you know … responds." He turns and walks to the door "And Embry …"
I turn to face him "I think that you are going to be good for her" he shrugs "who knows you may just be what she needs"
I nod and watch him leave, I sigh and my head droops back, I have been thinking about her like crazy for what seems like months now. I know that she has changed; I was the only one whose mind didn't revolve around an imprint so I was the one who was able to truly watch and appreciate how much she tried to put the past behind her.
I hated the fact that in one single night, after all her progress she was taken twenty steps back. The rape was only going to cause her to shelter herself more. Leah was already someone who didn't trust people easily and now she was going to be worse.
The opening of the front door brought me back from reverie.
"Oh, hello Embry" Sue said as she walked in with an armful of groceries. I got up from the couch and grabbed the bags from her; she gave me an appreciative smile.
"How is she?" Sue asked.
I shrugged "The same"
She sighed "I am really worried about her. I know what happened isn't something that she is going to get over easily, but I wish that we should talk to someone"
"I know I feel the same way, but I mean what can we do besides wait for her to come to us, we can't push her or else she will just cower away more"
Sue smiled as she walked up to me and hugged me "I am so glad she has you Embry. You are going to be so good to her"
I pulled away blushing "Sue, Leah and I are only friends"
"Embry, I know my daughter better than she knows herself and I know that before this ordeal happened that she couldn't stop thinking about you. Every time she would come home from spending time with you she would have this gleam in her eye" she placed a hand on my cheek "You did that to her, you are making me my daughter happy and for that I thank you"
I was about to respond, when Seth came running into the kitchen looking frantic "Mom, come quick!"
Sue and I exchanged a quick glass and followed Seth to where he was standing outside of Leah's room.
"Seth, what is going on?" Sue asked.
Seth looked at us like we were missing something really obvious "Don't you hear her?" he asked.
Sue shook her head but I was able to make out Leah's sobs from the other side of door.
"She's crying" I stated.
Sue looked at me and then Seth with an eyebrow raised, "You almost gave me a heart attack because she was crying?" Sue hissed.
Seth looked at her sheepishly "She hasn't cried once since it happened, I thought Carlisle said that crying in her case was a good thing. I mean it is a good thing, right?" he asked hopeful.
Poor kid, if only Leah knew what she was putting Seth through. Seth was always the one person in her life that defended her no matter what. When Sam left her for Emily, Harry and Sue didn't pick sides because they were obviously aware of the situation.
So that left Seth to go and curse out Sam for his sister. I remember standing outside of my mom's store with Paul, Jared, and Sam when Seth suddenly comes forward and starts yelling at Sam about hurting his sister and threatening him to stay the hell away from her. I watched dumbstruck as he walked away, Seth Clearwater was lover not a hater, so to see him that upset shocked all of us including Sam.
Then there was the time that he phased and found out about imprinting, he didn't give in telling Sam that he never loved Leah because if he had he would have fought for her and saying that Emily was guilty for choosing Sam rather than Leah.
When Leah became a wolf, he stayed by her side until she changed back, defended her when anyone would make snide comments and would threaten anyone who looked at her while she was naked.
Seth loved his sister more than anyone could ever imagine, and since his dad died he has done whatever it takes to protect his mom and sister, more Leah because he at least knows that Sue has Charlie.
Sue walked up to Seth and hugged him "Seth, sweetie maybe you should go and get some rest" she turned to me "You two Embry, I bet your mother is worried about you"
Seth nodded "I am going to sleep but right here" pointed to the floor "I am just going to get my pillow" he said before hurrying into his room.
Sue sighed "He won't leave unless she finally talks"
"Well that's Seth for you" I teased.
She laughed and turned to me "Embry you should really go home"
"Sue, please my mom knows I am here and I really don't want to leave Leah, at least not yet"
She nodded "Okay, but you are not blocking my hallway either; you can sleep in the guest room"
"Thanks"
"You're welcome now if you excuse me I have to go make dinner"
Since Seth had gone to search for a pillow, I decided to slump down the wall and just watch and wait.
Leah's sobs had subsided and were replaced by slow breathing and the occasional hiccups.
She wasn't having a peaceful sleep because I could hear her tossing and turning.
I rested my head on my hands and just lost myself in hoping that maybe tomorrow would turn out to be better in helping her get better.
Next chapter I promise that there will be a response from Leah, so in order to get that chapter faster, REVIEW!
