All characters except for Annabelle Causley and Frederick Randal Laskaris and a few others belong to Stephenie Meyer…and, of course, the writer is not receiving any profit for this story whatsoever.

This story starts three years after Jacob heads to Italy to rescue Annabelle in the Good As Gone AU. Technically, this is not a sequel to Good As Gone but it does take place in that alternate storyline.

Chapter Nine

"Well, Kimberly, it was a pleasure working with you," Leah pulled the front door of the diner shut, locking the two locks before handing the keys to the tall redhead standing next to her, "Abby is a real sweet lady and I think you'll enjoy working for her."

"Thanks Leah. You were an amazing teacher. What time are you heading out tomorrow?"

"I think sometime before five in the morning," Leah shrugged as she slipped the strap of her purse over her shoulder, "I want to make it into Indiana by tomorrow night."

"You know, I envy you…this cross country road trip. It sounds like a lot of fun."

"Yeah," Leah smiled as she started walking towards the roadside motel that had been home for the past two months, "I suppose it could be. You have a good night Kimberly."

"You too," Kimberly called over her shoulder as she quickly walked towards her little faded red Toyota Paseo, the street lights casting shadows across the street but keeping the parking lot in front of the diner well lighted.

Leah sighed as she walked slowly down the street, feeling slightly emotional about leaving the town she had been living in for the past two months, yet euphoric about moving on, continuing on the journey to finding that elusive something that kept avoiding her ever since Sam had left her.

She turned the corner onto the street where her roadside hotel home was when out of nowhere, and without warning, she was roughly grabbed from behind, a large hand covering her mouth to keep her from screaming as she was dragged down a dark alley.

"Well, Leah, I heard your date stood you up…I'm willing to stand in for him."

Leah felt a surge of anger as she recognized the voice that whispered into her ear. Instinctively, she kicked her leg out, hoping to connect with his crotch but he jumped back quickly, a low chuckle weaving through the darkness.

"Let's take her into the woods back here," Kevin reached out to run his fingers down Leah's face, anticipation welling inside him, "Now, Leah, I'll have Lenny take his hand off your mouth once we're in there but I have to ask you to keep the screaming to a minimum."

Leah struggled but having three big country boys holding her wasn't easy to shake off as they dragged her several feet until they were about a yard or so into the woods behind the roadside motel.

Leah took a deep breath when the hand on her mouth was lifted, glowering at Kevin, her mouth tight with anger, "I'm warning you Kevin. Tell your buddies to let go of me or you will regret this."

Kevin laughed as he started undoing his belt, his face filled with an evil intention that Leah knew she couldn't allow him to follow through with, "There are four of us and one of you Leah. What can you do?"

"One last time," Leah's voice shook as she felt a familiar fire travel down her spine, "Let me go now or you will be very sorry."

"Oh no Leah," Kevin slowly undid the button and zipper on his jeans, "I've wanted you since I first saw you but you kept blowing me off. Now, I'm going to have you…we all are."

"HOLY FUCKING SHIT!"

She knew it had to have been nightmarish for them, but she didn't care. She erupted into gray fur and large paws and sharp teeth, her growls echoing in the woods as she pounced on Kevin, her mouth open, moonlight glistening off the teeth that were ready to go for the kill, not caring that the rest of his cronies were running off, knowing full well she could sniff them out once she was done with the first sick bastard.

Seth: Son of a bitch! Rip his throat out!

Brady: Bite his head off!

Collin: Both of them!

Sam: Leah, no! Don't you dare kill any of them!

Paul: Holy fuck! She's gone for three months and now that she's back in our heads, turns out she can't take care of herself?

Seth: Shut up you dickhead!

Brady: Yeah, Paul, shut your mouth. Unless you want Seth to rip a new one into you.

Leah: Fucking bastard is going to die! He could do this to another girl if I don't stop him and those other sick bastards. Who knows how many others there were before me? Please, Sam, let me kill him.

Sam: No. We are protectors of the people Leah. We don't hurt them in any way. Just get out of there. Come back home where we can look out after you.

Leah: No Sam. I won't kill him but I'm not ready to go back. Please don't make me go back.

Sam: Okay, then, leave. Knock him out and leave. Please watch after yourself better, Leah. I don't want you to get hurt.

Seth: Holy fuck! He's bleeding something fierce.

Sam: Leah!

Leah: What?! You said not to kill him…I didn't. But I had to teach this asshole a lesson.

Paul: That's gonna leave one hell of a scar.

Leah: I hope it does…that way he won't forget this night.

Sam: Leah, just walk away. Walk away before I have to make you.

Leah: Fine. Let me just grab my purse to get to my room…

Sam: LEAH!

Leah: WHAT?! So I accidentally stepped hard on his crotch…what's that gonna do to him?

Seth: Aside from the unbearable pain? I hope it renders the bastard unable to get it up.

Brady: HA! HA! I'm with Seth, Sam. Scum like this guy shouldn't be able to do anything with it. They're safer that way. Leah just ensured the safety of countless other girls.

Leah: That's right. I am protecting other girls…shit! Why the hell are there so many freaking people out here?

Seth: Just wait it out Lee. Once the coast is clear, get to your door, phase and get in before anyone sees you in your birthday suit…it may cause more problems.

Leah: Funny, little brother. So what do I have to do while I wait? Kill the time with you morons?

Paul: Well, there goes my assumption that you might have changed in the past three months. Still the same bitter bitch, uh Leah?

Seth: You call my sister a bitch one more time and I swear to God, you'll be walking with three legs.

Brady: Well, we can update you on what's been going on here in La Push.

Leah: Oh, gossip. Wonderful. I knew I missed you girls for a reason.

Sam: Leah, knock it off. You're the one that phased…it's not like we intruded into your head.

Leah: So what, Sam? Was I just supposed to let those jerks rape me to avoid the reunion?

Sam: That's not what –look, let's just change the conversation, okay?

Seth: Jared and Kim got married.

Leah: That's not much news.

Seth: The reason for the sudden wedding is news, though.

Leah: What happened? Seth, stop snickering and just tell me.

Brady: Kim's father walked in on them.

Leah: A shotgun wedding?

Seth: Yeah.

Leah: That's funny. Has Jared stopped phasing?

Paul: Yes, he has. But you haven't asked about Emily yet, Leah. Don't you want to know about your cousin?

Collin: Why do you always have to be such an ass, Paul?

Leah: How is Emily?

Sam: She's fine.

Leah: So…boy or girl?

Sam: ...One of each.

Leah: Oh.

Leah felt her heart breaking, something she thought couldn't happen, but it seemed that the pieces that were her heart needed to be broken down even further into more manageable pieces. Even through the haze of her pain, she was able to feel Sam's inability to contain his joy at the news he had so casually shared with her.

Sam: Leah –

Leah: Don't worry about it. Coast is clear, so I'm going. Seth, tell mom I'll call her in a day or two.

Sam: Leah, wait. Where are you –

Leah moved quickly to her door, phasing as she grabbed her purse from her mouth and pulling out the key to unlock the door. Rushing into the room, she closed and locked the door behind her and headed to the bathroom, collapsing in front of the toilet, her dinner coming up violently, tears streaming down her face.

Standing up, she washed out her mouth, looking into the mirror. She couldn't believe that after three months away from Sam, the pain was still so fresh and sharp she could see it in her eyes. For the first time since she left, she wondered if there was any hope at all…maybe this trip was a waste of time. Maybe she would have to live with this pain until she died.

Maybe death was the only foreseeable relief when it came to her…