"Jacob?"

"Yeah, who else?"

Sam's voice sounded exhausted. "Jake, I haven't got time for this. I know you're tired, and so am I, but I need to ask you to do something."

Jacob groaned and sank into his kitchen chair. "What is it?" he asked.

"I, uh...I need you to talk to Leah."

His teeth gritted together. "Seriously?" he asked. "Why me?"

"Two reasons; you're more personable than I am, and she and I have history. If I did it myself, things would get awkward fast."

Jacob paused, and sighed. He had slept fitfully the night before, and not for very long. The telephone had woken him before dawn. "Is this an order?" he asked.

"No, it's not. But if you find it so distasteful, are you really going to pawn it off on one of your brothers?"

"No, I guess not. What should I say to her?"

"I need you to give her and Seth the ropes, like we did for you."

"Ok, fine. I'll take them on patrol. Which way will you be going today?"

"To bed, Jake, I'm going to bed as soon as I hang up. I was out all night."

"Oh..." Jacob had not realized how far he had gone from the loop. With Sam's words came the realization that he had no idea where the others would be. "I'm sorry Sam, I know I haven't exactly been at my best since that Cullen came back."

"No problem man, we've had you covered. But it's time for you to do something."

"Ok."

"Thanks man."

"And Sam? We need to keep Bella's house in our patrols. I promised her I'd look after Charlie while she's gone."

"No problem. Goodbye. And uh...good luck too."

"Go to bed."

Maybe it was the predawn light, but Jacob thought the Clearwater residence looked absolutely miserable. He parked the rabbit and turned it off.

The ground was dry for a change, but there would likely be more rain before long.

He could see that Leah's window was open, but he knocked on the door anyway. It was safest that way.

"Hey Jake" she said.

He looked up, then went to her window. She lay on her bed, fully clothed, hands behind her head. "Good morning" he replied.

She rolled over to look him in the eye. "How's it going?" she asked.

"The girl I love flew off to Italy to save her boyfriend from his own stupidity. I bet that's one you haven't heard before.

Leah smirked, though the smile did not reach her hollow eyes. "You're still mooning about Bella?" she asked.

"It's kind of what I do. How are you?"

"Tired. Hurt. Sad. Hateful. It's kind of what I do."

Jacob returned her empty smile. "Have you eaten yet?"

"No. I smoked a joint last night. No pun intended, but it didn't phase me. Nothing. I could as easily have been breathing fresh sea air."

"You should get some breakfast."

"Right, I've heard that one before. Why are you here?"

"Alpha sent me to show you the ropes. You need to get ready for your first patrol."

Leah growled, eyes narrowed. "Tell Alpha to go shove a cactus up his ass."

"By now he's probably asleep, but I'm sure he'd appreciate the sentiment. Now get up."

Leah sat up and put her feet on the floor. "Jacob," she said, "go to hell."

"Let's go together, after our patrol. Now go get something to eat while I get Seth up."

"What?"

"You're not thinking of staying behind and making me take him out alone, are you?"

Unlike the smile she had shown him, Jacob could see her snarl reaching her eyes.

"I'll take that as a no."

"Jacob, would you like some coffee?"

"Yes please. I like mine black. No sugar, no cream, and I'm allergic to arsenic."

"Then get ready to sneeze."

As Jacob had predicted, Seth was more eager than his sister to begin his new alternate life. He was more somber than usual, as befit a boy the day after his father's funeral, but he leapt at the chance to occupy himself.

Leaving a note on the table for Sue, Jacob made sure each of his charges had an extra change of clothes, and drove them deep into the mossy woods.

"I'm not stripping with you here" Leah said as she shut her door.

"Good" said Jacob. "We'll split up, each undress in privacy, and for god's sake remember where you left your clothes. Leave the extra pair in the car. No point in leaving them in the same place."

As soon as he phased, Jacob could feel the other two's minds as clearly as day. Sadness and fear swept over them as they shifted for the second time. Remembering their first phase was inevitable.

Jacob tried to think calming thoughts, but he ended up being caught up in their memories. It was bad enough that Harry had been his father's best friend, almost as close as an uncle, but seeing the heart attack first hand gave him a fresh pain at the base of his heart. The betrayal he felt at Bella's disappearance seemed insignificant by comparison.

'Come on guys,' he thought, 'let's go.'

Eager for the distraction, both Leah and Seth caught on quickly. Their canine forms were less buff than those of the other wolves, but they were almost as fast as Jacob even at a full run. Leah particularly gloried in the speed. It was hard not to share the feeling as she sped ahead leaving her troubles far behind her. Like a swarm of flies they would return the moment she stopped, but in motion she was free.

As they went, Jacob relayed his own experience to them, and they drank it in with eager minds.

When the patrol was finished, unsuccessfully, Jacob started toward the fishing hole, but he stopped in his tracks as Leah responded. His fur stood on end as he was treated to the image of Bella's dead stare from half a year earlier.

Mentally he kicked himself. His failure to remember what had happened the last time Leah was there had ruined an otherwise good day.

'Right, sorry' he said. 'Let's head back to the car. We should go get lunch somewhere.'

They found the idea agreeable; despite his suggestion neither of them had eaten breakfast.

He felt, seeing them return from the woods, that they had changed dramatically through the course of the day. They stood taller, and walked with a greater air of confidence, exhilarated by the run, though their faces were despondent. Leah doubtless did not like letting Seth know how bothered she was by what she had seen that day, and he in turn was suitably disturbed by the account. The affect was compounded by the fact that their father had also been there when it happened.

"I really am sorry" said Jacob, "I honestly didn't think about it."

"Well you shouldn't now either."

Jacob nodded. "So where for lunch? I think I can set us up at my dad's house if you're interested."

Seth grinned, though not as widely as was his custom. "Fine by me" he said.

"Whatever" said Leah.

"Then it's settled" said Jacob, opening his door.

When they were all seated, he started the engine and turned the car around.

As they sped down the dirt road, Seth leaned forward. "Hey Jake," he said, "When do we get the tattoo?"

"Any time, but we have to go to Port Angeles for it. Do you two feel like making that trip today?"

"Sure" said Seth.

Leah rolled her eyes. "Whatever," she answered, "as long as I don't have to see Emily again just yet."

Jacob nodded, his expression grim. Leah's animosity would have to reach some kind of resolution eventually, but it was the wrong time to say so. "Then I think we'd better swing by your place again and let your mom know."