A/N: I have no idea how the whole police thing works. I tried researching stuff on the internet and only came up with a few hits, so this is as good as this chapter is going to get.

Remember it's only a work of fiction lovies!

Happy reading (:

Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight.

Ch19:Hospital & Car Chatter

One hundred and twenty two… one hundred and fifty… two hundred…

Leah's eyes were on the ceiling counting the miniscule holes as she tried to take her mind off the pain in her neck and the annoying sounds in the stale, small sterile hospital room she was alone in. She was tired, hungry, bruised, battered, and most importantly pissed off. She felt like the biggest idiot on the planet to have put not only herself but Jake into this insane situation.

She huffed out a raw sigh that echoed in the room as she shifted her body to the left. She only saw a quick glimpse of her neck in one of the large mirrors placed right by the front door and the view was not pretty. Paul's distinct large four fingers that had been crushed around the sides of her neck and the thumb that he pushed into her clavicle now colored her skin in an ugly reddish-brown. And it felt much worse than it actually looked.

Jake…

That was the hundredth time he came to mind as she laid in the room waiting. She was anxious and concerned about him so much so that she took to pacing as soon as she was placed in this stupid room until her body gave out forcing her to lie down.

She placed her hand on the small pillow and laid her head back down looking at the tan walls and the large window that had a dreadful looking color of avocado curtains closed over the night view. She wondered if Jake was okay because she knew he looked far worse off than she did. She hoped he still had those documents in his possession or everything they both went through was for nothing. She was also unsure if the cops took him in to interrogate him or brought him to the hospital to check his injuries like they had done her.

She knew that an officer was coming to question her soon about the events that had happened seeing as they had tried three times already. And it enlightened her as to why she was in a room alone instead of larger room with probably two to three beds only separated by curtains.

But she had wished with everything in her that she and Jake came up with a solid story together that would stick against whatever lie Paul might come up with. That was if charges were even pressed.

She took another painful breath closing her eyes, counting forgotten, as she thought about what had happened after the police arrived.

Leah vaguely remembered taking her cellphone out of her pocket quickly deleting the texts that Angela had sent her barely placing it back where it belonged before the office door was opened. Although her neck hurt like hell making every breath feel as if her throat were burning from the inside out, she knew something was about to happen and it was in her best interest if she didn't have those texts in her phone.

As strangers crowded the office that was getting smaller by the second—men with badges, pens, bright flashlights and boisterous voices—all seemed to have the same fluctuating looks on their faces that switched back and forth between consternation and pity. She knew she was in shock because everything began to look like a blur of pictures with the sounds of washed out voices. Leah watched from her position on the floor with Jake still lying on her chest, barely processing the policemen wandering through Paul's office to check on the three of them.

Poor Esme would be upset by the filth they were trailing across the otherwise pristine carpet. It was the first thought to break through her foggy disbelief. She should tell them to stop. Esme would be upset...

Not that Esme would even have a job anymore if things turned even more unpleasant, which it looked like they might. Paul still hadn't moved from his crumpled position on the floor and Leah momentarily wondered if something was seriously wrong with him. He wasn't one known for giving up but she was damned sure not going to crawl over there and check for herself. She already did too many stupid things in the past few months and didn't want to add that to her list. That's what the police and paramedics were there for.

Since she was the first to get the okay by the police to be removed from the house by the paramedics, she didn't get to see what had happened to Jake or Paul. Not that she really gave a flying hell what had happened to her husband. She still couldn't believe the bastard had not only put his hands on her but he actually tried to kill her.

Okay, so maybe she could believe it after all the things he had done in the past months to get her to come back to him. But it was still surprisingly painful. To think she thought she knew him and it turned out she never knew the true him at all.

His ex-wives were right. She never wanted this, any of this. She was just glad that her eyes were pried open and that she didn't give him a second chance.

What would have happened if he had gotten his vasectomy reversed? If she had actually had a child with that conniving man, who was to say she would ever be free of him? She would have always had a memory of him and that poor child would've probably had all of his issues passed on to them. Not to mention that Paul would have wanted some form of custody, all so she would be forced to still to have him in her life. And he would probably end up making her child hate her like he did with his other children and ex-wives. Leah definitely did not want that.

All she desired was Jake, her shop, her close circle of friends and to finally live her life the way she wanted to. She knew now that she deserved that much. She wondered why she thought of all these things now and never before while she was insistent on seducing Paul into giving her a child. Things would have been so much easier if she would have not been so blinded by his façade, gifts and her own insecurity.

And she still didn't know what she was supposed to do with the new information about Jake's past. The past he never thought to share with her, not even once, as she poured her heart out to him about her failing relationship with Paul along with her tragic childhood. A mother she would never forgive for not loving her properly and a father she would never forget for trying his best to love her with the little he had left.

She really wished she could talk to Jake; things always felt better after they were able to talk to one another.

Leah still hadn't had a word with any of the police officers that kept coming to the room to get a statement from her. She was utterly exhausted and didn't want to say something that could be possibly held against her. At least not until she got her thoughts completely together. She was done being stupid, naïve and placing herself in unnecessary drama. She had wished the long day that turned into an even longer night had turned out differently.

She only opened her eyes when she heard the four brash knocks on the door. She turned herself around facing the closed egg-white door knowing she was going to have to face them sooner or later. She didn't say anything just sat up slowly to an upright position waiting the few minutes it took before the door opened. She recognized the six foot tall, curly brown haired, thick mustache, brown eyed man in full police uniform stepping into the room. He had introduced himself as Detective Charlie Swan when he had driven up to the baffling scene in front of Paul's home hours earlier.

Detective Swan reeked of Marlboros and his approach made a squishing sound with each step he took on the linoleum towards her. He made himself comfortable in one of the blue padded chrome chairs a few feet away from her bed setting his briefcase down next to him. Then he pulled out and placed a clipboard with several long sheets of papers attached to it on his perpendicular crossed leg with his foot shooting out into the air.

"Hello again," he murmured gruffly flipping through five pages in total on the clipboard. "You already know what I'm here for, I wish it were under better circumstances."

"I know." she said softly. "Are Jacob and Paul..."she swallowed dryly when he had looked up at her, "are they okay?"

Leah didn't even know if it were okay to be ask. But she had to make sure that Jake was okay and although she couldn't stand the sight of Paul she didn't wish death upon him even if he had clearly wished it on her.

"Both men will be fine as far as I know. They're being detained until I fully investigate what is going on." His brown eyes scanned over her bruises but he didn't mention anything about them. "Mrs. La—"

"Clearwater… Ms. Clearwater." Leah corrected him; she refused to be called by his last name again.

"Alright then," he cleared his throat uncomfortably, nodding his head once. "Are you finally ready to give your statement?"

She knew she was about to withhold a majority of the things that had happened that day from the detective but it was the price she was willing to pay. Especially since she could use fainting as an excuse as to why she couldn't remember everything that had happened. She hoped that neither Jake nor Paul decided to press charges and kept their own talking to a minimum. Because Leah knew that no one would win if they took this case to court with each of them committing some sort of crime that day.

Leah decided to hold off on nodding because the motion hurt too much. "Yes, yes I am."

He moved his mouth to the side tapping his pen against the first page before speaking, "I was able to get in contact with an..." he paused looking down at the flipped up second sheet. "uh, Emily Uley who admitted to us that you were at the residence to work things out with your estranged husband, am I correct?" Charlie scratched his thick eyebrows with the back of his pen.

"Actually no, she assumed that was the case when I was really there to collect the rest of my things before he returned home. Paul and I weren't on good terms and I felt it best to avoid conflict as much as possible." Leah watched as he quickly recorded what she had said.

"You thought it best to avoid conflict bringing a..." he squinted down at the sheet before looking back up at her. "Mr. Jacob Black with you?"

"Yes, only as support." Leah said watching the flick of his wrist as he continued to write in his illegible cursive.

"Do you know how you got those bruises on your neck?" he looked up at her raising a rather bushy eyebrow.

Leah shook her head no refusing to say anything past that. As much as she wanted to incriminate Paul, admitting that he had choked her meant confessing to remembering a whole lot more than she was leading on.

"I see," Charlie nodded writing her answer down quickly along with the word trauma which he underlined six times. "Are you choosing to press charges?"

"No, I am not."

After ten minutes more of questioning Detective Swan stood with a heavy sigh placing the victim leaflet along with his card on the bedside table next to her, "I see cases like this all the time Ms. Clearwater... I think it would be in your best interest if you did speak about what really happened because only you and the other two know the truth." He made sure to look into her eyes before saying. "If you can recall anything else after your black out…" he paused giving her a long hard look as his eyebrows furrowed. "and I do mean anything give me a call I always answer. I'll be in contact with you soon Ms. Clearwater."

Leah swallowed and gave a half smile before forcing herself to nod as he left the room. Once he was gone and she didn't hear the sounds of his footsteps anymore she leaned her head back on her pillow exhaling a breath. She didn't know if the incident would be brought up in divorce court and at the moment it wasn't a major concern of hers.

Not after she had called her lawyer Bree Tanner leaving a message in hopes to meet her in two days with the new information she had found. That was if Jake still had her original and forged document in his possession which she crossed her fingers, hair and toes praying that he did. Or it was as if they went through this whole nonsense for no reason.

As she curled up under the blue flannel blanket letting the countless tears finally fall from her eyes, she wished again that Jake were here with her. But from her discussion with the Detective she knew that he wouldn't be emitted from his holding cell until the police found if charges were being pressed and or if one of them admitted to what had happened. It also meant that neither Paul nor Jake were hurt too bad if they were able to get interrogated and detained.

She needed to know what information Jake had told Charlie and if it matched up with the very vague answers she had given him. She didn't really care what Paul had said because at the moment it was his word against theirs. But she knew he was a smart man, even if he was vindictive, he wouldn't say anything in fear of implicating himself. He usually chose to put himself first before anyone else and she hoped with everything in her that in this one instance he was selfish enough to do that again.

She sighed closing her eyes wearily. The long horrendous day had finally taken its toll on her letting her instantly fall into a dreamless sleep.

After being released the following day with her clothes from the day before, her cell phone, wallet and ointment for her bruises along with instructions not to take any pain medication, Leah waited for Angela to pick her up by the front entrance. Angela didn't say anything until Leah had gotten in the car observing her discolored neck.

"I'm going to kill him for putting his hands on you." she muttered starting up the car and pulling out of the red no-parking zone.

"Angie..." Leah sighed leaning back against the headrest of the seat. She took out her cellphone turning it on. She didn't see any missed calls or texts and her heart fell. She knew that she wouldn't have gotten any calls but she had wished she did.

"Okay, okay so maybe I won't do all that but I really hope you got whatever the hell you went in there for." Angela slightly turned the steering wheel as she pulled onto a smaller road.

Leah nodded keeping it at that, she didn't want to say too much until she knew about Jake's status.

"I have to tell you it's the talk of the whole neighborhood. People are saying you got caught by Paul in the arms of your not so secret lover." Angela had threw a quick glance in Leah's direction just before zooming through a green light.

"I really don't care about that but it figures..."Leah sighed in frustration pausing before the question that kept popping in her mind came up again. "Were you the one who called the police?"

It was something she had wanted to ask the detective but didn't.

"No, and whoever did is not telling." Angela shook her head keeping her eyes forward, "By the time I came that way both men were in separate ambulances being tended to while the cops waited at the side with handcuffs. Jacob just had his head down with a pack of ice on his head. It looked as if Paul were trying to persuade the cops into not taking him in though."

Leah rolled her eyes before looking over at her friend. "Yeah, that sounds like something he would at least try..." Leah saw the confusion on Angela's face, knowing her good friend deserved more details that Leah couldn't give at that point in time. Leah bit her bottom lip before saying. "I know you want more information Angie it's just right now—"

Angela placed her hand on top of Leah's to stop her from talking. "You don't even have to explain. I don't understand everything and I already know from the sight of your neck that I don't want to. But you are my best friend and you've been there for me when I was at my lowest so I'm here for you, no matter what. Let's get you to my house so you can clean up and find out what is going on with Jacob, okay?"

Leah now knew her decision to support Angela no matter the circumstances was the right choice. Both Bella and Jessica would have asked a million questions if they were in Angela's shoes. That was only if Edward or Mike even allowed either of them to see Leah after hearing about the dispute and split with Paul. All the rich men always did like to stick with one another. And Leah knew for a fact that she couldn't even count on Emily like she probably would have a few weeks ago. But she had Angela just like Angela had her as shoulder to lean on.

Leah exhaled a heavy breath she hadn't even realized she had been holding smiling for the first time that day as she replied, "Okay."

Leah felt much better after showering and changing into a comfortable pair of clothes. She made sure to apply the treatment to her neck so the bruises would go away quicker. She was sure if Jake saw the hand prints he would blame himself even though it wasn't close to being his fault. After calling the Forks Police Department she found that they could only keep Jake detained for thirty six hours without him being charged. She hoped that his past didn't come back to bite him in the ass or that the detectives didn't find or hear anything to keep him longer than that.

The following day Leah stood outside the Police Department waiting while she leaned against the 1998 Honda Civic that had the car keys still left inside. She had received the call that he would be released around this time and was too excited to be in his arms again. She had found out from whoever had given her the call that Paul had been discharged at a different time so they could avoid possibly avoid another encounter.

When the clear doors opened her heart began to speed up. His head was down with his hair looking ruffled and fingered through as if he had been tugging at it in frustration, he held a plastic bag in his right hand, wiping at something on his shirt with his left hand. It seemed as if he could feel her eyes on him because his head immediately snapped up and their eyes locked. A huge bright smile lit up his entire face as they looked at one another breathing heavily for a few seconds.

Leah ran to him and he met her halfway on the steps catching her as she jumped into his arms. She instantly wrapped her arms around his back as he held on to her hips tightly pulling her closely to him.

He spun her lifted form in a complete circle burying his face into a turquoise turtleneck blouse. When he lowered her back onto the step below him he looked down at her cupping her jaw, letting his thumb brush against her cheek gently.

His dark brown eyes gave her body an intense once over before returning his gaze to her face looking into her eyes. His hand that was still on her hip moved to the small of her back and she felt as his fingers spread, his pinkie curling at the loop in her skinny jeans. The penetrating heat of his hand sent tingles throughout her straight to her core. She still had no idea how he did that from just his simple touches alone but she missed it—loved it.

She loved him.

She sighed leaning more into his strength until there was absolutely no space between them. She had no idea how long they stood there like that, and she didn't really care as the breeze from the wind brushed across her body.

Leah's heart was still hammering in her chest so hard that she felt as if it were going to fall out. She knew she had missed him but she didn't comprehend how much until she was able to look at all his love and adoration on his face.

"It was only two and a half days but it felt like an eternity. I thought I would never see you again. I missed you so much, Lee." his voice sounded deep, rough and so amazingly sexy that it took everything in her not to mount him right then.

"I missed you too Jake." she sighed, finally feeling like she could breathe easier again.

"Come on let's get home, I have a lot to tell you love." he said looking at the car.

Leah nodded as he moved his hand from her face and back and led them to the car. He opened the door for her and she got into the passenger seat. He got into the driver's side placing the plastic bag on the floor by her feet reminding her of something important.

"Are the documents—"

"I still have them, no worries there." he took her hand in his and kissed it before narrowing his eyes at her turtleneck for the third time. "Is your neck that bad that you had to hide it from me today?"

She sighed, he knew her too well. "No it looks way better than it did before but I knew you would blame yourself."

"I will always blame myself for that happening." his jaw tensed before he relaxed his face again. "I'm just glad that you still want me even though I fucked up." he grumbled his left hand tightening on the steering wheel.

"Jake I'll always want you...always." she reached across with her free hand and touched his arm causing him to exhale a shaky breath. "How's your head?"

"Seven stitches, the doc said I was lucky that I didn't have a concussion or worse." he grinned knocking his fist twice against the side of his head softly. "My ma always said that I had a head as hard as a rock."

They both laughed.

"Was the detective hard on you?" she asked. She knew she was probably asking way too many questions but she had to know.

"Nah, I think he tried to use the scare tactic on me but it didn't work. Not much scares me anymore except losing you." he gave her a slight smile before he turned his attention back to the road ahead. "I didn't say too much. I just said I came to get something that was important to you and that you didn't tell me anything more than that. That's what I wanted them to believe at least. I told them that it was supposed to be an in and out thing, and with you still being his wife you're technically allowed to get your things. I made it seem as if I was outside the whole time since they brought up Emily not mentioning that she saw me. When Paul saw me we fought...end of story." he shrugged. "I didn't want to press charges and neither did he, so they had no real reason to keep me. They seemed more caught up on trying to get me for my past gang related activities." he grimaced before taking a breath glancing over at her. "About all that... I should have—"

"I know Jake... we'll talk about it later, right now I just want to go home." Leah sighed.

"Okay, anything you want."

The rest of the car ride to his friend's house was in silence. Leah looked at Jake every chance she could shamelessly. Each time their eyes met they smiled at one another before looking back to wherever their attention was before. Once Jake and Embry had swapped cars, it took less than ten minutes to get to the house. Jake parked his car pulling his keys out the ignition and jogged over to her side of the car opening her door before she could.

"Can you hold on to that ridiculous plastic bag?" he asked looking at her feet.

Leah leaned down placing it in her lap just as he bent down and lifted her into his arms. "I can walk you know..."

"I haven't been able to touch you in two days just let me do this babe." he kissed the side of her mouth as he bumped the passenger door close with his leg.

Leah held on to his neck loosely as he held her bridal style. How he had gotten the front door open; she would never know because he was looking down at her with such heat and intensity that she felt burned. She felt the same crazy attraction that had been there from the beginning. It was stupid to ever deny it, and it felt so easy to give in to what she wanted, what her body would always crave from this man. He placed her on her feet once they had gotten through the open door.

Leah placed the plastic bag on the small table, a few feet away from the door, which held a flowered pot she had decorated two weeks ago. Then she turned and watched Jake as he looked at her. He shut the front with the bottom of his right shoe his eyes scanning the entire length her but he still hadn't moved from his position to touch her even though she really wanted him to.

"Can I touch you?" he asked softly.

"Please," Leah closed her eyes leaning forward and that was all the answer he needed.

He groaned and his lips found hers in a deep, soul searching kiss. After days of tension and being away from one another, neither of them had the ability to hold back or hide their desire.

Within seconds, kissing turned into licking and sucking. Gentle touches turned to teasing and stroking as they made their way blindly towards the bedroom. The passion between them was explosive and got hotter and hotter until soon they were peeling off each other's clothes right there in the hallway. He had managed to get all his clothes off between the door and the hallway, leaving her with the most clothes on for once. She was only left in her panties and the turtleneck shirt that she really didn't want to remove in fear of his reaction. Would he still want her after seeing it?

He eventually had her lift her arms to remove her blouse. His dark gorgeous eyes immediately moved down to her neck, the bruise was yellowing as the ointment from the hospital helped the discoloration fade faster. But his eyes still showed his dislike for it.

"I'm sorry...I'm so fucking sorry baby." he murmured kissing her clavicle and all around her neck as gently and lovingly as he could.

Leah lifted his head by grabbing on to his chin so that she was able to brush her lips across his and look into his eyes, "Make love to me, please."

He backed her against the nearest wall before lifting her up and wrapping her legs around his hips.

"Oh, God, Leah. This thing between us is so good," he whispered into the sensitive spot behind her ear. "We're so good."

"Mmhm," she mumbled in agreement, barely able to string coherent words together.

He gripped her under her ass to brush his thick arousal against her sweet spot. They both moaned with frustration and heightened stimulation.

"Tell me if I'm going too fast, okay?" he demanded softly.

Leah shook her head while trying to keep breathing. "No, it's fine... it's good... perfect."

"Yeah?"

Jake stroked along her mound with the rigid tip of his cock. She was dripping wet. Leah arched her back against the wall, grateful for its support.

"Yes!" she panted.

He kissed Leah on the forehead, then sweetly on the lips as he shifted her up further until his cock was almost where she needed him to be. With gentle fingers, he brushed aside the thin fabric of her panties and entered her hot passage with one sure stroke. The intensity of their connection left them both still and breathless.

"Hold on to me babe," he instructed.

She followed his direction and allowed him to take control of the moment. Gently and with complete control. Jake started them on an incredibly passionate ride. Stroke after stroke brought Leah closer to absolute fulfillment until she was hanging off the edge, begging for completion. He was right there with her and pulled her in his full embrace as he finally shuddered in climax. His intense pulsation deep inside her core was the catalyst for her own uncontrollable orgasm.

When it was over, they were both sweating and breathing heavily. Jake still held her tight in his arms, using the wall for support. Leah's legs were still wrapped around him, though they hung limply from the knee with exhaustion.

"Hmm," he mumbled, nuzzling her ear. "Maybe we should head to bed now."

Leah laughed weakly while pressing her face into his neck. "I love you Jake."

"Not as much as I love you." He kissed the tip of her nose before untangling their legs.

He then swept her up into his arms with one across her back and the other under her knees. When he reached the bed, he lay her down on it, and together they climbed under the sheet. He pulled her close to his chest and they promptly fell asleep.

When Leah woke up alone the next day, she had a happy smile on her face and her mood was equally bright. Things were finally starting to look up, she had Jake, the documents, a meeting with her lawyer Bree Tanner and hopefully very soon she would be divorced from Paul and her shop back open.

It got even better when she checked her cellphone and found a text message from Jake, stating he was thinking about her, wishing her a good day and that he would be back for dinner after a good talk with the principal at the local high school. The warm-fuzzy feeling lasted until the doorbell rang.

Leah walked to the door opening it with a smile that quickly fell off her face as she took in the person in front of her—someone she didn't plan on ever seeing again.

Leah scowled gripping onto the door handle just in case. "What are you doing here?"

"It's nice to see you too Leah. Aren't you going to invite me in? We sure do have a lot to catch up on."

Any guesses as to who the visitor is?

Woo took forever to get this out... I struggled with the beginning of this chapter for the last couple days... but here it is...

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

I know that I am now that I have freedom to relax. Sorry about neglecting my stories I'm trying to get back into it... if only my professors would let me lol.

Reviews equal faster updates! :)

xoxo