Warning: This chapter contains mature, adult content. Think of this as a discreet warning. Read with caution.

The Last Summer

9. Decisions

After what felt like hours Edward had all the information he needed to open an investigation against James. He had taken pictures of Bella's injuries and the house that had been violently destroyed - with Sue patiently waiting, broom in hand, so she could continue cleaning her late husbands house - and he was leaving for the police station to look into James's file and hopefully figure out where he had disappeared to.

Everybody else had gone home after Bella insisted she'd be fine with Jacob staying with her tonight. The thought of them being completely alone made her both nervous and excited but she pushed the thought away, for now, opting to walk Edward to his cruiser instead of standing in her broken house under the intense eyes of Jacob.

She stood silently as Edward opened the drivers door. She hesitated briefly, biting her lip. "Do you really think you'll find him?"

"I hope so. I want to make sure he doesn't hurt anybody else." Edward said, a sad smile on his face. "You were very brave. Are you sure I can't take you to the hospital? You should get your eye looked at by my father. He works there on weekends."

"The swelling's gone down, and I can pretty much see out of it now. But I'll go tomorrow." She said, shivering in the cool summer air. "I just want to go to sleep right now." She reached up and touched the skin underneath her eye, it was a deep purple but she was able to open it again, after icing it for the last few hours.

Edward nodded. "I understand. I will call you with the first bit of news I have, and if you need anything," He reached into his pocked and pulled out his notepad and scribbled something on it before passing it to her. "here's my personal number. You may call me for whatever you need."

She blushed and turned her head, waiting until he got into his cruiser before she looked back. "Thank you, detective."

He smiled up at her and nodded. "Goodnight, Isabella Witherdale."

When his car rounded the corner and disappeared Bella turned to go back inside and was surprised to see Jacob standing on the doorstep, a sour look on his face. "He gives me the creeps." He said as she reached him.

"I hope he finds him." Bella said, suddenly feeling small, and looking around her front lawn in the darkness. "He could be anywhere at this point." She passed him and walked into the house, Jacob shutting the door behind her. She took in the mostly cleaned house, but the haunting memories were still vivid. She could still picture James's limp body laying against the staircase, the broken lamp laying on the floor, bulb smashed into a hundred shards of glass.

She started to hyperventilate when Jacob reached out to touch her hand. "Bells, are you okay?"

"I- I thought I could be here, but I can't, Jacob." She said finally, spinning around to look up at him with wide, frightened eyes. "I can't. Charlie- my father died, he left me this house- and James- James ruined-"

"Shhh, it's okay." He pulled her in and stroked her her hair softly, until her breathing settled. "You don't have to stay here. Do you want me to call Leah? I'm sure you'd be okay there."

"No," Bella said in his chest. "Can we stay at your place? I just... I want to be with you."

She didn't miss his heart start pounding against his chest, the familiar beat beat beat she had heard a million times throughout their lives. He nodded and swallowed - she didn't miss that either - and didn't meet her eyes. "Yeah, uh, sure, sure. If that's what you want."

She looked up at him frantically. "It is. Please."

His exhale was steady and controlled. "Okay. Do you want to go upstairs and pack a bag?"

"No," She said quickly. "Let's just go."

The drive back to the reservation was quiet. The sky had turned a creamy cyan color, and the clock on the Rabbit blinked four-thirty three. Jacob kept one hand on the steering wheel and the other on Bella's lap, cradling hers. His thumb rubbing slow circles against her hand as they both stared out the windshield.

"Were you really going to kill him?" She finally asked, cutting the tension with a knife.

"I honestly don't know." He said after a few moments. "When I saw your face I couldn't even think straight."

She leaned her head over until it rested against his shoulder. "I'm sorry I ran away from you."

He didn't say anything for a while, but when they pulled into the parking lot he quietly said "I'm sorry I didn't come after you." Before cutting the engine.

They sat in silence for a few minutes until Jacob rubbed the back of his head and mumbled something about locking up the garage and passing Bella his keys to unlock the apartment.

Once they were both inside and Jacob had finished locking up the garage, he joined her in the apartment. He found her standing in his bedroom shivering, despite the summer heat and how stuffy his apartment was. He frowned and dug in his dresser drawer until he pulled out the largest t-shirt he owned. It was black and had a couple small holes in the right sleeve and collar, but it was his favorite Metallica shirt and he'd chew dirt before ever getting rid of it.

"Here, you've gotta get out of those wet clothes." He said behind her, and she turned to see him holding out the shirt.

She frowned back at him, and stared up into his eyes trying to figure him out. He looked back at her until he had to look away, pursing his lips and studying the paint on the wall. She took the shirt wordlessly and left the room to change.

He paced the floor silently, unsure of what to say to her, cussing himself out in his head for not being able to come up with the right words to help her. She had been the only girl he'd loved, and while she was living a nightmare he had hated her for leaving him. Finding comfort in the arms of multiple women over the years, pretending that she didn't matter. The guilt washed over him until he felt like he was drowning in it.

When Bella returned - wearing nothing but the t-shirt that barely covered her thighs - he inhaled sharply and looked away, thankful his dark skin kept his blush from showing.

She looked nervously towards the door and he could tell what she was worrying about instantly. "He won't come here, Bella." He said. "I promise you, you're safe."

"Thank you, Jake. For everything you've done for me... Despite what I said to you in my living room." She hesitated before the last part.

"Why did you come here, Bella?" He finally asked. "You could have gone to Leah or Sue, but you came to me. Why?"

She breathed in deeply, not leaving his eyes. "I knew you'd protect me. I should have left that day with you. I was just... so afraid he'd hurt me. And he did anyway." Her eyes welled up in tears and she looked away.

He looked down at his wet socks. "You made me believe you loved him."

"I thought I did."

"I'd do anything for you." He said, suddenly feeling sixteen years old again. "You knew how I felt all along, right?"

She put her head down in shame. "I was just trying to protect you."

He took a long breath and it was quiet for a few moments. "I'm going to shower." He said finally. "Will you be alright?"

"No." She said quietly. "Don't leave me, please."

Jacob Black had been in love with Bella Swan for as long as he could remember. Since they were old enough to play in the sandbox and swim in the ocean. He had made the first move - plenty of times - throughout their entire lives but this time he stopped himself. She had just been beaten again by her husband, and he would be damned if he put her in a position where she either felt she had to comply with his wants and needs, or run. And he was not going to let either happen. He didn't think he would survive her running away again, after all, he barely got by the first time. So, for the first time in his life Jacob didn't kiss Bella. It would have to be on her own terms, or none at all.

As if she was a mind reader, Bella reached out and touched the side of his face, closing her eyes as she ran her hand over it the way she used to so long ago. The scratch of his unshaven face bristled against her palm. When she opened her eyes again he was staring back at her.

"I'll never leave you again," He said thickly. "But you have to be honest with me this time."

She turned away shyly. "Don't."

"Don't what?"

"Don't make me say it." She repeated just as he did that day not so long ago.

"Bella." He practically begged. "I can't lose you again."

"You won't lose me, Jacob. I'm not going anywhere."

"Then show me." He dared, his dark eyes bore into hers.

She took a deep breath and leaned in, until their noses were touching. "Jake..." She breathed as her lips melted into his slowly, and that was all he needed.

His hands went to her sides, feeling the familiar parts of her body that he had almost forgotten as she felt his hair, his neck, his shoulders, everything that had become foreign to her. Their kisses were more passionate and she pressed herself against him, sighing into his mouth.

She lifted her arms as he raised the Metallica shirt over her head and was pleasantly surprised to see that she was wearing nothing else underneath. His eyes raked over her and instead of cowering away shyly she stood proudly before him with a confidence he never knew but it turned him on like nothing else.

When his hand slowly touched her skin and moved down her torso he stopped and caught her eye. "Is this okay?"

She nodded.

"It's not too soon?"

She shook her head and he found his confidence again, crushing his body into hers, his teeth gently biting her neck the way he always used to, making her shiver in delight. He sighed into her as she reached for his belt, undoing it with one hand, the other pressed against his chest.

When his jeans dropped to his ankles he stepped out of them and their passion became desperate as they found each other again, Jacob forgetting the lonely years he spent hating her and loving her and Bella forgetting the lonely years she spent missing him and being with James and his violent wrath.

He had lifted her up by her thighs and they crashed loudly into the bathroom, the door smashing against the wall, and then stepping into the shower; her hands swiping the curtains back and his free hand reaching down to turn on the faucet. The hot water almost instantly smothering them in a wet blanket of liquid and steam. She sighed in relief as the water washed over her and she reached up to smooth her hair back. He turned them against the shower wall so the water was hitting them both. When he finally entered her she cried out and dug her fingernails into his back.

"I love you." She moaned into his mouth.