Chapter 7 - Fighting For Life

Her legs were carrying her as fast as they could. Feeling the slight breeze in the air as it whipped through her honey blonde hair as feet kept moving forward along the road. She'd been in La Push for 6 months now. She still only spoke in a whisper, but she was dying to talk out, just randomly talk out at a normal level where people could hear her. she could feel herself being drawn to Paul in weird ways. He looked at her funny all the time. She wasn't really sure why. Sometimes it looked like adoration or love or dreamily. She'd tried so hard to just talk to Paul out right. He'd been so patient with her.

Lakota reached the beach entrance from the road and stopped to rest her legs and lungs for a minute. She couldn't help shake the feeling that she was being followed or watched. Lakota walked down the wooden steps to the beach and sat in the sand and watched as the ocean waves crashed into each other. She pulled her knees into her chest and felt the sorrow take over her thoughts. She'd gotten a few phone calls in the last six months. The two other girls who'd survived with her had let depression over take them. The guilt of knowing they were alive when nine other girls had been murdered and they'd somehow cheated death and survived became too much for them and they'd both killed themselves. She felt the tears as they slid down her cheeks.

"You shouldn't be out here alone Lakota." The deep voice behind her brought her from her thoughts. Her face turned up as she looked into the onyx eyes of Paul, when he saw the tears sliding down her cheeks he slowly sank to his knees in front of her as he reached out and caught couple of tears with his thumb as he tried not to smash her to his chest while she cried. He couldn't stand to watch her cry or feel the sadness radiating from her body. She'd been doing good for the last six months. He reached out and cupped her face in his scorching hands as he leaned over and pressed his forehead against hers.

Her huge grey eyes just staring into his blackened eyes. Lakota felt like she could get lost in his eyes. Like they were swallowing her whole. But she also felt safe with Paul. When she first got to La Push she felt as if she wouldn't feel safe with anyone ever again. the more she hung around with Paul and listened to his stories about him, Jake, Jared and Embry growing up together and then later picking on Seth, Brady and Collin. She remembered laughing so hard as they would walk along the beach or through the woods. Paul always had his overly warm hand on the middle of her back guiding her, making sure she felt safe and secure where ever she went with him.

Paul frowned, "Don't cry please Kota. You're too beautiful for your grey eyes to shed tears." She sobbed a little, "Sorry." in something above a whisper. Paul closed his eyes trying to push her sobs out of her ears, "What happened Lakota…Please talk to me." Paul watched as she tried to talk, but more tears poured down her face. Paul gathered her in his arms as he pulled her body between his legs, "It's okay Kota. I know you're not ready yet."

Lakota felt her cell phone vibrate in her pocket, She dug her phone out and handed it to Paul, After Paul spoke with whoever was on the other line, he closed the phone ended the call effectively. He placed a soft kiss on Lakota's forehead, "C'mon that was Dallas she wants you back at the house." Paul stood up and gently pulled Lakota up to stand in front of him, she smiled at him softly and whispered, "Thank you." Paul took her hand in his and softly kissed the back of it. As his hand moved to the small of her back and he guided her through the woods and back to Dallas's. The heat on the middle of her back felt wonderful.

Once they got back to Dallas's, they walked inside and Dallas was scowling, Jake was keeping his distance from her as they stared at each other over the counter in the kitchen. Paul looked at both, "Okay, what's going on you two?" Dallas broke eye contact with Jake as she spared a glance at Paul and Lakota, "Kota, mom and dad are on their way hear...Apparently they think they found a solution to the problem with you not talking...Go get cleaned up before they get here."

Once Lakota was in the shower, Paul rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm gonna take off. Parents don't usually like me much." Jake chuckled, "True. I'd go to, but I'm not leaving Dallas here alone with them. Their parents are not high on Dallas's list of people to be next to without murdering and since I don't want to see my girlfriend on America's Most Wanted, I'm gonna stick around for her sanity." Paul chuckled as he tapped his fist against Jake's shoulder, "Good luck with that. Howl if you need me." Jake nodded as he watched Paul take off into the trees.

Lakota finished up her shower as she pulled on jeans, sneakers and a blue form fitting t-shirt. She blow dried her hair and left it down as she jogged down stairs and watched as her parents, Dallas and Jake came into view. Her mother was the first to greet her as she walked into the living room. Her dad just walked over and kissed the top of her head.

Everyone sat down as their mother started to speak, "So we've noticed you've been here for six months Lakota and you're still not speaking. We know that what you went through was traumatic and horrifying, but honestly you need to get yourself together and get back to school." The girl's father spoke next, "We didn't shell out eighty grand for you to take a year and a half of college and then drop out...No matter what you've been through." Jake felt Dallas tense as she scowled at both of them, "Is this what this is really about? College tuition? You guys are both going to sit there and be more worried about college tuition then the shit your own daughter had to endure? REALLY?" Their father spoke up again, "Dallas this is none of your concern, she's our child."

Dallas stood up, "Except she's not a child anymore dad. She's a grown woman who went through hell a year ago, you can't expect her to be all roses and sunshine just because you want her to go back to college. And why the hell would she want to go back to the scene of the damn crime? Are you do delusional or something?" Jake stood up and looked at both of them, "You're not taking her with you when you two leave in five seconds." Dallas looked at Jake wide eyed, she'd fully not expected him to get involved he was only supposed to be there for her support...She was really loving his dominating rebel side. Dallas glared at her parents, "Leave...Now."

Their father stood up and grabbed Lakota by the upper arm and jerked her to stand up, "You're coming with us young lady whether you like it or not. We're going to check you into the Seattle Institute you'll get healed and you'll go back to school." Dallas growled, "Dad that's a mental hospital! My sister is not going into a mental hospital I don't care what you say or do." Jake stepped in front of Lakota and Dallas's parents when they started to head for the front door. Their father growled right back, "She will go anywhere I say and love it."

By now Lakota was struggling to get out of her father's grip, Jake was blocking the door. Jake looked down at Lakota and could tell by the pained look across her face she didn't want to leave with them, Jake wasn't about to let her be taken against her will. Their father glared at Jake, "Get out of my way you savage." Jake growled deep as he threw his fist forward and connected with their dad's nose watching with a satisfied smirk as he hit the ground like a sack of rocks. their mother gasped out as she hit her knees next to her husband.

Lakota wrenched her arm out of his grasp as she pushed through the doorway and outside and ran towards the trees.

Jake took his place next to Dallas as she smiled up at him, "Thank you." Jake kissed her lips softly, "Anytime beautiful...Anytime." Dallas frowned, "Lakota went into the woods." Jake grabbed his cell phone, "Don't worry I'll call Paul, he'll find her." Dallas nodded as she looked at her mother trying to help pick up her father whose nose was definitely broken, she giggled as she watched the blood soak the front of his shirt as she glared at them, "Leave my house and don't ever come back. You're going to leave my little sister alone from now on. If you come here again I'll have you both arrested for trespassing."

She watched as they both walked out the front door and Jake closed and locked it as he hung up the phone. Jake looked at Dallas with a playful smirk on his beautiful red lips, he ran over before she had a chance to move and tossed her over his shoulder as he ran up the stairs to her room and tossed her on the bed as he kicked the door closed with his foot and pounced on her as she giggled.