Summary: What happens when the Pack's resident hot-head and troublemaker is rejected by his imprint ? Will he succumb to grief or find solace in the arms of another ?
Disclaimer: All you recognize belongs to Stephenie Meyer ( including these two fiesty, gorgeous wolves - unfortunately ! ). The rest ? To my warped, hyperactive imagination ...
A/N: The Demon Spawn never happened. EVER ! I'm in complete denial ... In my crazy AU she simply doesn't exist - and never will.

Warning: contains slash and strong language.

*********

Broken

Hot temper with the shortest fuse You're such a mess with an attitude
~ Kelly Clarkson, " I Want You"

*****

Previously: Sam meanwhile, remained where he was, silently fuming. He refused to move and clearly wanted to annihilate Rosalie, who was becoming more impatient and riled with every passing second.

" Back off, Cujo, " she finally snarled, " and let me get on with what I came here to do- "

" Make me ... " he taunted her. " Just make me ... Just give me an excuse - that's all I need, leech ... "

*****

Jacob's pov:

Never let it be said that Rosalie Hale doesn't have a lot of nerve. She possesses it in spades. Before Sam could carry on with his tirade, she was right in his face. Far from daunted, and if anything, going by the cold disdain on her lovely face and the murderous glint in her striking eyes, if looks could kill, Sam would have been dead and buried before he realized it.

" Seriously ... Don't. Tempt. Or. Push. Me. Fleabag ... " The sweet smile curving her full lips, didn't reach her eyes which were now cold and calculating. " You're already on borrowed time. Bigger men than you have tried to bring me down in the past, and where are they now, hmmm ? Cold in the earth, that's where ... You don't frighten me, dog ... I've come across more terrifying chihuahuas with bigger stones, that are way tougher than you ... " She deliberately turned her back and began to elegantly walk away.

" Why ... ? You bi- " Sam snarled. His face was very red and he kept clenching and unclenching his huge fists as he struggled against the overwhelming urge to phase. He lunged forward only to find she'd nimbly sidestepped out of his reach and had him in an unbreakable headlock before he realized what was going on.

" Oh, honestly ... " Rosalie sighed dramatically, arching a perfectly plucked eyebrow. " Is that the best you can come up with, Uley ? And you're meant to be the Alpha ? As much as I'd love to kick your hairy butt to hell and back, puppy, I haven't the time or the inclination right now to play with you. I've far more important things to do. Like helping Jake and more importantly, saving your pack brother. So, quit wasting my time or I will stop playing nice. You seriously don't want to piss me off, Sam Uley - not if you know what's good for you ... " Without warning, she released her deathgrip upon him and he stumbled backwards before landing on his ass.

Sam paused. He looked absolutely dumbstruck and if I'm honest, pitifully lost. Rosalie had thoroughly put him in his place and he hadn't a damn clue how to react to it.

She coolly stood at her father's side, close to where I sat cradling Paul gently. As she passed Leah, the pair of them glanced towards Sam and exchanged satisfied smirks - and a thought suddenly crossed my mind. Poor Sam ... It seemed that the girls had bonded over their animosity towards him and were very likely going be very close friends because of it. If that was the case, Sam's life was going to be a living hell from now on and I wouldn't want to be in his place for love nor money ...

Rosalie crouched down beside me and cast an appraising look at Paul, before calmly reaching across to gently sweep a lock of raven hair away from his face.
" So, Jake ... This is your imprint ? Paul ... ? " she asked softly, glancing up to see me nod in reply. " He's beautiful ... "

I jerked my head up, searching for any sign of sarcasm, malice or bitchiness and found none. All I could detect was truth. Nothing more, nothing less. Then I realized, that this was the first time she'd laid eyes on Paul in human form and she was able to see him without any preconceived ideas. One thing you could always count on with Ros, is that she's always - unfailingly - brutally honest and that she despises lies and deceit. She'd spoken the gods-honest truth and had seen my imprint for what he truly was ... That despite his current predicament and his godawful appearance, he was beautiful ...

I smiled faintly and lightly traced a path with my index finger across his cheekbone and over his firm jawline. The fact that my touch was so tender and delicate surprized me. Paul had been the last person I'd ever imagined capable of evoking such feelings within me. After all, our track record towards each other in the past had never been good. We'd always argued, bickered, brawled and fought viciously. Had never got on. Yet, here I was now, all mushy over the guy. All I wanted was to protect him. Ensure he was safe and well. To care for him and make damn sure that he was happy ... That I'd be the one who could, and would, always make him happy ...

I was so wrapped up in my thoughts about Paul, that I'd failed to hear what Rosalie'd just said until I became aware of a pale, slim, elegant hand being waved rapidly in front of my eyes.

" Jake ... ? Mutt ...? You need to let Paul go now. Carlisle needs to check him over and it's probably best if you stay with Seth and ... Rin Tin Tin, while we try and sort out your imprint- "

" Ros, I'm not leaving him here alo- " I protested, panicking. It wasn't that I didn't trust her or her father. Far from it. I did. And Carlisle Cullen was a very respected doctor. Gifted and eminent in his field. No, what I was worried about was Paul. I feared what he would do should he regain consciousness and find himself alone. Amongst strangers. And worst still, with his worst enemies - leeches. Paul's temper was notorious and if sufficiently riled or anxious, he could phase at a drop of a hat, and when he did so, carnage and total chaos often ensued. There was no way I'd leave him on his own. I couldn't. I damn well wouldn't ... " I can't, Ros ... "

" But that's it, furball ... " she sighed, for once unusually patient with me. She tossed a long swathe of silky blonde hair across her right shoulder. " Paul won't be on his own. Leah's volunteered to help us. To stay with him and make sure he's ok. He's in fine hands, Jake, I swear to you. We'll do our very best ... everything we possibly can to make sure he pulls through. I promise ... Now, go ... "

*****

So, here I am, half an hour later, pacing back and forth across the landing like a deranged father-to-be, managing to successfully annoy the hell out of both Seth and our "mighty leader" in the process.

Not knowing how my imprint is doing, is freaking the hell outta me and if I'm being truly honest, the panic I'm experiencing is making me feel as sick as a dog. It's as if I'm being driven slowly insane and I'm already suffering from an intense craving to see him.

" Jake, you need to calm down, man ... Paul'll be fine, " Seth murmured in an attempt to calm me. " You have to get a grip. All this pacing - I'm getting dizzy just watching you. Dr Cullen knows what he's doing ... and my sis is with them. Keeping an eye on things ... "

" Yeah, Jacob. There's nothing you can do right now, so park your dumb ass down and wait like the rest of us. " Trust our esteemed Alpha to add his two cents worth and succeed in bugging me at the same time.

It had been pretty quiet behind the closed bathroom door - ever since both Leah and Rosalie had manhandled me out onto the landing. God only knew what Dr Fang and the two harpies were doing to my poor, heartbroken imprint. I was just praying - desperately - that Paul had the strength and the will to make it. Then I heard it. The horrible sound of someone retching and being violently ill. I froze. My panic-stricken eyes met Seth's, which were full of concern. Sam looked equally worried.

Then, a few minutes later, the door opened. Dr Cullen strode out briskly, his handsome face an impassive mask. My imprint was carefully and gently held in his arms. Paul's body was still. Limp. Unresponsive.

The three of us rushed forward. Frightened by what we saw. " What the hell have you done to him ? " Sam immediately demanded, as both he and Seth tried to hold me back. I struggled. Fought desperately to get to Paul's side.

" P-Paul ... ? " I whispered. To my horror, my eyes began to burn with the stinging sensation of unshed tears. " Noooo ... "

" I-is he ... ? Is he dead, Doc ? " Seth managed to voice the words I'd been unable to utter, yet needed so badly to know the answer to. Both he and Sam had a firm grip on me and looked visibly shocked and upset.

" Dead ? " the blond leech asked. " What makes you think that ? " His mild gaze passed over the three of us, noting the fear, distress, grief and anger on our faces. Rosalie silently brushed passed us and ran down the stairs out of the house.

" But he's so- "

" Oh, for fuck's sake ! " Leah growled huskily as she approached us, her arms laden with clean towels and a large plastic bowl. " You three incompetent morons are hopeless ... Haven't you seen an unconscious wolf before ? Honestly ! Dr Cullen's had to pump out his stumoch, then give him something for the pain and to help him rest. He should be coming out of it in a few hours time. " She strode past us and entered the bedroom next door, which I took to be Paul's and calmly stripped the bed and put clean sheets on it.
Leah shook her head in disbelief and sadness and muttered to herself as she tucked the corners of the sheet neatly under the mattress, " I can't believe we hadn't noticed things had gotten so bad. That none of us cared enough for him. That we left him on his own to cope. I should've known something was wrong. That he was hurting. That he was in so much pain ... Damn it ! I should've recognized the signs. I feel like shit. I should've fucking helped him ... Paul's a major pain in the ass, but he's my pack brother. He's family ... I should've fucking been there for him. Paul should never have had to go through all this by himself ... It's not right ... "

Rosalie sauntered into the room toting a stand which had a drip of some sort attached to it and carefully placed it at the head of the bed. She paused at Leah's side and gently squeezed her shoulder, her golden eyes gleaming with rarely seen warmth and sympathy. Leah looked up and gave her a faint, yet brief smile which was tinged with sadness.

" We should get Paul settled down. Let him rest ... " Carlisle remarked quietly from the doorway. He entered the room with Paul still held in his arms and approached the queen-sized bed, then carefully placed him under the covers. Rosalie gently took Paul's right hand and silently attached the drip to it, using a cannula inserted into the vein and held firmly in place with surgical tape.

" Someone should stay with him tonight. Just to keep an eye on him. " Carlisle began, only for Sam to interrupt him.

" As Alpha, I think I should st- "

I gave a low, deep, possessive growl and moved to stand between Sam and the bed. There was no way in hell that was happening. Over my dead body. Paul was my imprint. My responsibility. Mine ...

Leah immediately stepped between us and snapped angrily, " What the fuck's wrong with you, Sam ? Huh ? You just can't leave well alone, can you ? Quit interfering and trying to control everything and everyone. Have you forgotten something ? Paul is Jake's imprint, not yours. Jake should be the one to stay with him. Stop trying to come between them. You have your own imprint. Your precious little Emily ... If you want to be with an imprint, why the hell don't you just fuck off home, back to yours ? Just leave Jacob and Paul alone ... They don't need this shit from you right now. " Her chest rose and fell in agitation and she glared at him with pure contempt, practically daring him to defy her.

Carlisle had been silently watching the exchange between our fiesty she-wolf and our high-handed Alpha. Then after a moment's contemplation, he ran his hand through his immaculately coiffed blond hair and sighed.

" I'm afraid I must agree with Leah on this matter, Sam. Jacob should be the one to stay with him. Paul's his imprint and it's vital they forge some sort of bond. To be able to get along somehow. Besides, you have your own imprint to take into consideration. Your Emily must be worried about you by now - you should go home. She needs you ... I'll call back in the morning, to see how he's doing ... "

Sam gave him a curt nod of thanks and turned on his heel and left. Seth gave the doctor a warm, grateful smile and Leah - who turned out to be full of surprizes this evening - actually gave him a brief hug before grabbing Seth's hand and hauling his ass back home.

" Th-thank you ... Both of you ... " I said quietly as I ran a tired hand through my dark hair. " You didn't have to do this. But you did and I really appreciate it. "

Carlisle merely smiled kindly and replied, " You're welcome. If there's any change at all. Anything you're not happy with or worried about, call me straight away. You have Rosalie's number. Use it. Otherwise, if I don't hear anything from you, I'll be over first thing to check up on things. "

I nodded and watched him leave. Suddenly, I was engulfed in an ice-cold embrace.

" I'll be seeing you in the morning, Wolfie, " Rosalie announced huskily, with a slightly impish smile.

" What ? You're willingly volunteering to come back ? What about your delicate nose ? " I teased half-heartedly.

" Oh ... I can live with it, mutt. It wasn't so bad once your brainless Alpha took his stench back home with him ! " she retorted. " Besides, I want to see that gorgeous man of yours awake ... Look after him, Jake. And if there's any change and he gets worse and you don't call, I'll have your hide. D'ya understand ? "

" Sure ... sure ... I'm running scared, Blondie ! " I drawled, grinning and winced when she playfully punched my left bicep.

" You better be, Black, you better be ... " Rosalie smirked, then sashayed elegantly out of the house to where her father waited patiently in the car.

*****

I must have fallen asleep. I'd slept fitfully on and off during the night and kept waking up to check on Paul. Not trusting if he would eventually wake up or not. In the end, I fell into a deep and restless slumber in the chair beside the bed, with my head propped on my forearms which were resting on the mattress.

I suddenly woke up to a very pissed off, husky voice demanding, " What the fuck d'ya think you're doing here, Jacob ... ? "

I opened my sleepy eyes to meet a pair of equally drowsy, smokily seductive, velvety chocolate-hued ones. They were fixed intently upon me and full of heated anger and deep suspicion ...

T. B. C.