Title: Blood on the Moon [Part: 10] Series: Twilight

Type: Alternate Universe (Eclipse) Pairing: Jacob/Edward – Leah/Jasper Rating: 15

Summary: After the devastating attack on the Wolf pack and the Cullen coven, both groups have a lot of challenges ahead...

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Twilight characters or anything from the universe of Twilight. I am just taking the characters and playing with them a while – promising to restore them whole and unblemished! Thanks to Stephanie Meyer for creating these toys for me to enjoy. Please don't take any of my playing as having any bearing on the actual books. Enjoy.

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Jacob Black

Cooling breeze rustled through the leaves and I turned my head to the fresh scent of the woodland in relief.

It had taken damn near three hours to calm Quil down enough so he'd finally get some shut eye, I huffed thinking about how I had started to lose my patience with the countless recaps of his encounter with the killing machine in the forest.

Truth be told, the whole conversation had started to freak me out. The way Quil described the vampires stalking attack was eerie; I had watched as my friend recounted the tale, his eyes alight and body moving as he replayed the action and emotion.

We went over the attack from several angles and came to the same conclusion each time… Quil and Embry would not have survived if they had been left to fend for themselves.

I took a deep breath, feeling each millimetre of oxygen infuse into my blood, spurring me into motion.

I'd spent the last 36 hours considering the future of my tribe and the pack given our alliance with the Cullens. I had come to the uneasy thought that while the Cullens weren't a problem, a small part of me admitting that they were actually an asset, their friends had proven to be a menace and a danger to my pack and even myself in particular.

I felt my teeth grind at the memory of Tanya and her sister.

What could be done if more of these Volturi turned up? How much damage could they inflict? Would my pack even survive?

A sharp twinge barbed its way through my temples and took a hold. The tension was not doing me any favours. Man, I needed sleep. But I had one more house-call and a patrol before I could allow myself the time to relax.

Wearily, I let my feet pull me in the direction of Embry's home, not needing to watch as I moved over the familiar terrain, the soft earth of the forest floor cushioning me as I drifted onward, wrapped deeply in my won thought.

Since when had things turned so serious? I vaguely remembered the optimistic kid I had been less than a year ago, marvelling at how simple life had seemed.

Of course, that was before a certain bronze haired, powder-skinned bloodsucker exploded onto the scene.

Life without Edward would have been simpler, I surmised with a wry grin; but a lot more black and white and a lot less fun.

"Glad to see I prove of some use."

I wasn't surprised to hear his voice echoing from the trees; it seemed to be his favourite past-time, stalking me.

"I'm not stalking you." Edward protested as he landed, lightly, in front of me, obstructing my path.

"Sure, sure…" I mumbled, waving my hand. "I'm tired. Can we, possibly, not do this right now?"

"I wanted to check on you." He told me, concern emanating from every look and movement as he closed the distance between us to rest a hand on my arm. "How are the others?"

"I just got Quil to shut the hell up and sleep." I griped with affection before I explained, "Leah has taken Embry back to his. She's going to stay with him tonight to keep an eye on him."

"And you?" Edward asked quickly. "Are you alright?"

My hand found his and closed around the icy fingers. "I'm fine," I smiled, "really."

He looked at me for the longest moment and I got the distinct impression I was a complicated knot of string he was trying to unravel.

There's no use rummaging about in there. I thought. My brain crashed a few hours ago. I'm running on auto-pilot.

"You always dismiss your own health." He said, surprising me a little with the sharp sound of anger. "It's detrimental."

"Someone's got to be the boss." I shrugged, trying to reassure him. "Lucky I can handle it."

"I mean it." He insisted. "There are times when even the leader of the tribe must give himself time to heal."

I couldn't help but smile, my eyes growing heavy. "That's what I plan to do. I just have a few more things that need tending to."

Edward's other hand found my arm as his grip tightened into a sharp shake, "You need to get some rest."

My short fuse sparked and flamed inside me and I jerked backward, roughly dislodging his hold. "I will. Once I have checked on my pack."

"You're impossible." He snorted.

"Look," I sighed, wiping a hand over my face to stretch my muscles out and refresh them, "Let's not do this right now, ok?"

A laugh came from him in a huff of air, "Funny. You said that the other night."

The flush that ran up my skin left a wave embarrassment as I pushed away, "I don't want to talk about that." I said, stopping all thoughts and refusing any feeling that flashed through me. Just walk away.

Pushing past him, I took three steps before the swish of his movements sounded and he was, again, blocking my path.

"I realise I was asking a lot."

"No," I angered, feeling each nerve in my body charge with adrenaline, "if I remember rightly, you weren't asking at all."

Responding to the sudden burst of aggression that flooded through me, Edward tensed, grinding his diamond-sharp teeth with audible protest. "Don't tell me you weren't expecting it. And don't say you hadn't thought about it yourself," his triumphant smile twisted into a sneer, "I can read minds, you know."

Reacting to the stress in his voice, I stepped up, "You want to explain that?"

"I don't need to. You know what I mean," he said, taking an equal step and brining us within a breath of each other. "It's the reason you're being so irrational."

The night sparked around us, becoming charged with tension as I felt his bleach-breath stab ice into my skin. My skin flamed, heckles rising in anticipation against their perceived threat standing but a whisper away.

Willing myself to calm, my vision whirled in reaction to the torrent of emotions passing over and around me.

"Is it irrational to speak the truth?" I countered, feebly trying to keep a grip on the reasons why I shouldn't be entertaining this intimate proximity; reminding myself that I should be outraged and not beating down the static sense of excitement that swelled as Edward drew impossibly closer.

"What truth?" He asked, "You gave me excuses. That is entirely different to telling me what is and what can or can't be."

The air became dense as I struggled to breathe. Dragging unwilling oxygen into my lungs, I tried to focus while lights exploded on the edges of my vision and all I could see was intensity in the eyes of the vampire before me.

"Edward." I mumbled, the name becoming burdensome as I fought to maintain control on my mutinous body, "I'm tired."

He didn't move and I had neither the intent nor inclination to progress or feign away. Part of me just wanted to have someone finally make the decision, either way. I was exhausted and drawn to the idea of handing the power and responsibility of the next few moments to someone else.

Just tell me what to do.

The world slowly began to spin away into the chaos of light that surrounded us. Surely there was no one else in the world at this moment.

Someone has to move some time...

And he did, inhaling deeply and closing his eyes... so I couldn't help doing the same and waiting...

In a breathless whisper, he mouthed... "Leah."

What?

The name snapped me back into the moment and I staggered back... "Leah?"

Edwards eyes narrowed, focused in on himself as he heard the voices of others minds. "She's sick."

"Werewolves don't get sick." I said flatly.

"We have to go." He said, moving to the west without thinking.

And, without thinking, I followed.

()()()()()()

LEAH CLEARWATER

"Wow, man… you do not want to go in there…"

Embry's faint protest came from the next room as the clash of Jacobs arrival sounded though the house.

"Where is she?" My Alpha asked.

"Through there." Jasper answered: voice heavy with concern. "She will not let me attend her."

"Jake… I'm serious." Embry continued, his voice getting louder, "It's like that scene from the exorcist or something."

The sound of flesh impacting thin wood reverberated through my being, shaking the slight control I had on my shivering body.

"Leah."

Jakes hot breath was on my neck as he flipped me into his arms, stroking the sweat-matted hair from my face.

The white-knuckled grip I held on the toilet rim was easily plucked away as he cradled me, asking, "What is it? What's wrong?"

My eyes flooded with water, but I couldn't answer him. I could hardly believe the madness that was rushing around my head. It just kept coming back to the inexorable assumption that werewolves never get sick. Yet I was, quite clearly ill. Did that mean that we could get sick? Did that mean I could die?

I fixed his eyes with mine... wanting to convey the anxiety stomping round my heavy head... and all I managed was...

"I threw up," I said feebly, it wasn't the best start… but the first thing that came to the front of my whirlpool brain.

"Yeah, honey," he smiled down at me, "I kinda got that." Then turned to my banished audience, "Will someone fetch me a-"

I strained around to see Edward's hand resting in Jakes, the look of surprise on my Alpha's face soon washed over to impassiveness as he turned to lay a cold flannel on my burning forehead.

In the back of my mind the thought occurred that something was going on with them again… but all I managed to do was squint through watering eyes as Edward retreated to the safety of the doorway.

"Carlisle is asking to see her." I heard the vampire whisper, a guilty edge to his voice.

"When she's ready." Jacob spat back, tightening his hold on me reflexively.

The acid smell was suddenly gone as Jake pressed a searing hand to my cheek.

"What was that about?" I croaked, trying to shift my legs out from under me as they slowly lost feeling.

"Treaty stuff." He dismissed, jostling me slightly as he swept my legs in front of me, resting my back against his chest and seating me in a tight embrace.

The movement roused the nausea in me, "I may throw up on you." I warned.

"Couldn't look worse than Jasper," he quipped.

My fuzzy brain cleared enough to recall the humiliating moment, "Oh God." I groaned, wishing the ground would open and swallow me. "Tell me I didn't."

"Oh yeah," Jake confirmed, the warmth of amusement lighting his words, "and how."

I shrank inward. "Why?"

"It was only a little sick, Leah." He soothed, "Well… a lot, actually. But he'll survive."

I continued to writhe in embarrassment.

"His Calvin Klien jeans on the other hand…"

Knowing I couldn't twist to strike him, I settled with driving my nails into the soft underside of his arm.

Jake laughed in response. "Though it might be wise to have Doc Fang check you out."

"I thought us super-freaks didn't get sick." I said, looking at the dull wall ahead of me and trying to compose myself to hear the answer.

"Not usually." Jake admitted, "But you, being you, had to go brake the mould."

I huffed, disliking the taste the action brought into my mouth. "Fine."

Neither one of us moved.

"Help me?"

Jake got me to my feet, lifted me into the bath and washed me down, taking particular care to massage my hair and release tension.

The water was hot and cleansing as a vaguely wondered when our relationship had become so close that I would allow him to do this. It wasn't as if Jake hadn't seen me naked a hundred times, it was such a part of werewolf life that the fact I stood, calm and still, while he ran a sponge over my inflamed skin, hardly gave me pause to blink. It was more the fact I could trust him to take such a responsibility. To have him see me exposed and weak with sickness was a position I would not usually allow.

But it was Jake. I trusted him with my life. He was worthy of such faith and I knew he would look after me.

I was soon wrapped in a soft towel and lifted onto the floor. I had already displayed how out-of-sorts I was feeling, there was no need to insult my pride by carrying me through to the others.

No sooner had I opened the door, than I was met with the concerned caramel eyes of Jasper. The vampire shot a quick glance to Jacob, before reaching out to me.

"I'm fine." I told him in a wafer thin voice.

His look showed me I fooled no one as I brushed past him into the living room and took care to place myself on the easy chair closest to the bathroom.

Carlisle was there in a moment, a glass of water in his hand, "For the dehydration." He muttered, moving his hands over my forehead, to the link of my jaw and then to the pulse point on my neck.

A low growl sounded from across the room as Edward moved into view. "He's not hurting her." He told someone; and I was surprised to see that someone wasn't Jake as the tanned man settled in the sofa opposite me.

"Jazz…" I said around the thermometer that was shoved in my mouth.

He was there in a heartbeat, shouldering Carlisle back and taking over the space. Edward snarled, "For Gods sake, Jazz! She was trying to tell you she's ok."

The blonde head whipped round to me, light, cold fingers tracing my cheek as he whispered; "Are you alright?"

For a moment I wondered if I were still solid, impressed that I had not melted away in receiving such tender, earnest emotion. "Jazz." I sighed, "I'm just a little sick. Carlisle can help."

The vampire doctor moved forward taking my hand, testing Jaspers resolve. "Jasper, I need to find out what's wrong."

"It could be nothing." I soothed, pulling at his shirt to give Carlisle space. "Could be a wolfie cold."

"Food poisoning." Embry offered, clearing the last of the greasy cardboard boxes from the living room.

"We can eat raw meat," Jake reminded him incredulously, "Are you saying fast-food could turn her stomach."

"In this case, it might not be the quality… but more about quantity." Embry replied, stacking his third load of empty cartons and heading out to the kitchen.

All eyes turned to me. A smothered anger fired and fizzled inside me. I felt too tired to be angry, so played a different card. Widening my eyes and allowing my pupils to grow large in the lamplight, I reached out my empty glass and whimpered, "Could I have more water, please?"

To my utter surprise, Edward, Jasper, Jake and Embry clambered to reach the glass. Men, I thought as I watched them hustle out to the kitchen, all equally simple to manipulate.

I looked at Carlisle. "Well?"

The vampire shook his head, "I think I will have to run some tests, if you are willing."

I snorted, "Sure, sure." What harm would it do? Had there ever been a hypoglycaemic werewolf?

"Then we'll get you back to the house." Carlisle concluded, gesturing to me as if to pick me up.

I struggled, gracelessly to my feet, determined to show I was more than capable of controlling my own bodily responses, when the ground span beneath me and I found myself swept up in Jaspers arms. "Where are we going?"

"Just when the smell had abated."

I glared at Rosalie while Carlisle tightened tourniquet my arm. "And I thought you had learned manners while I was gone."

The woman crinkled her nose and, flicking out her blonde hair, turned and left.

"I'm sorry," Carlisle apologised, looking up from the needle he was checking, "Rosalie isn't pleased with the turn of events."

I snorted, the motion causing a jolt of pain as the needle pierced my skin. "Don't think any of us are Doc."

"I am sure, if we stick together, everything will be alright."

I rolled my eyes and wondered if 'unfathomable optimism' had become one of Carlisle's special gifts along with resisting the siren call of human blood.

"You're looking better." He said appearing mildly amused that I was still gazing at him. "At least there is some colour back in your cheeks."

"Yeah." I frowned, frustrated that I didn't have any answers for him. "Perhaps it was just food poisoning."

"Well," he breathed, pulling the needle from my arm in a smooth movement. "Let me be the judge of that." Then he gave a smile of dazzling reassurance.

"You're the Doc'… Doc."

And he was gone.

I looked over to Jake, who had been ensconced in the armchair opposite me, Jasper at his side. "See. Nothing to be concerned with."

Neither looked convinced.

Edward entered the room, handing Jake a drink and passing one to me.

"O negative?" Jake asked, wagging the cup at him.

Edward soured. "Fruit juice. To keep your sugars up."

"Right." My Alpha intoned, but drank all the same. "So... You going to fill me and my Second in on what happened after we ended that sorry son-of-a-bitch Demitri?"

"We killed Alec." Jasper said, offhandedly, never breaking his look from me.

"Yeah, I got that part." Jake said a little softer, "I meant the part about how he's all tied up in some weird Vampire Mafia."

The two pale men shared a long look, before Jasper nodded curtly and returned his concerned gaze to me.

"The Volturi are, essentially a peace-keeping group." Edward began, holding a hand out to Jake and pleading, "just hear me out."

Hurling himself back in the seat, Jake simmered, chewing his lower lip.

"They essentially enforce the law."

"Vampires have laws?" I heard myself asking. What a ridiculous idea. Most were nomads whose only law was unto themselves…

"You're right." Edward conceded.

Jakes nostrils flared, "Care to share?"

"She was thinking that most vampires are nomads and how could any policing force keep them under control." Edward shot quickly at Jake, before turning back to me, "The answer is Demitri."

I huffed. Demitri isn't an answer.

"He was their tracker." The fractious vampire went on to explain. "His unique ability was the way in which he could locate his prey."

I remembered Embry's anxious eyes as he told me that he and Quil had barely escaped their encounter with the Volturi blood-hound with their lives…

I nodded understanding as a distinct knot formed in my throat. "And we killed him."

There was a profound silence as Edward looked at me meaningfully.

"Good." Jake suddenly said, throwing his legs out to rest on the near coffee table. "One threat gone… what's next? Party on the beach? Holiday in Mumbai?"

"There are some things you can take seriously in life, you know." The vampire sneered at him.

"Oh there are." Jacob retorted, a dark edge bleeding into his words, "Some things I take very seriously."

A further silence reigned, borne from irritation and fraying allegiance. Sometimes I wished I knew what the two men were talking about as they communed in silence, Jake with his minds-voice and Edward with his reactive expressions… but from the scowls and glares crossing the room before me, I was glad to be ignorant of the situation between the pair of them.

"Jazz," I said, growing weary of the storm brewing between our brothers, "Just tell me what's going on."

He was at my side in a heartbeat, lacing a hand through my hair and drawing me closer with the other, it didn't even disturb me how quickly the move had been made, I was just glad to relax against him and have him hold me upright. "Nothing for you to worry about. The Volturi are our concern."

"Tell that to 'Bry and Quill." Jake snipped, still glaring at Edward.

"That was… unfortunate."

"Keep a lot of unfortunate friends, don't you?"

"They aren't our friends." Edward spat, hunching his shoulders like a cat.

"Really," Jake said slowly, provoking further tension in the tone of his voice. "They just pop into town for the kicks? God knows Forks is quite the draw when it comes to sight-seers of the world."

"They came to see if Bella was dead." Edward exploded, smashing his hand down for emphasis.

Everyone blinked.

"What?"

Jaspers hand on mine tightened.

"So… let me get this straight. They found out she was dead and hung around for tea and biscuits?"

Edward said nothing, just leaned forward as a man would brace himself against the wind…

"And," Jake continued slowly, "If that Terminator had found her alive… What then?"

The question didn't need answering.

An almost electric charge spiked the air as I held my breath, waiting in painful, dreadful anticipation as I watched the anger shiver up Jacobs frame in waves he fought to control.

Jaspers vice-like hold flexed and I instinctually turned to him, watching the tension build around his eyes, knowing that he could taste the turbulent emotions that swirled through the room like a monsoon.

Something had to break.

There was a clatter from upstairs; a loud smash of objects hitting the floor…

I was on my feet, Jasper at my side as Jake and Edward took involuntary steps forward to meet each other.

"Ed…" I heard Jasper warn, as I murmured, "Jake…"

And then Edwards expression melted.

The hard-lined threat cleared from his face and was quickly overtaken by blank shock.

"It can't be." The vampire whispered in utter disbelief as Carlisle joined us, seeming not to notice the currents of tension that rippled as he moved into the room.

And then time made a rebellious effort to slow as Carlisle turned to me, holding out a small vile of my blood in one hand and gripping a piece of paper in the other.

"What is it?" Jasper asked, anxiety lacing his voice.

The doctor scanned the room, nervously before pinning me with a look.

"You're pregnant, Leah."

The words rushed out to meet me as the floor span up. Then there was darkness.

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