Completing Someone – Chapter 20 - Relief

Sha'nia was shocked at first, but narrowed her eyes down on him as she took one foot out from beneath him.

They landed on the ground and she proceeded to grapple him to submission. She held his arms behind his back and pinned his legs down with her own shins. "Damn you!"

Jake growled beneath her, "I won't let you sully her name!"

Sha'nia let him go and sprung back. "What?" She felt sick. Her stomach turned and she felt her skin break out in goose bumps.

Jake whipped around to be sitting with his knees pulled up to his chest. He refused to meet anyone's eye. The regular humans were still stunned, or long gone. Everyone else was watching him quietly, tensely and quietly. "She died." He said no more. He just sat there.

Sha'nia felt her stomach ease slightly. "So, you were mated once?"

Jake just nodded.

Sha'nia felt awful. "I'm so sorry, Jake."

He shook his head, "There was no way for you to know."

Sha'nia shook her head, "I went too far. I'm sorry."

Jake looked at her, "Yeah, cause my grabbing you by the throat wasn't 'too far'? Come on, Nye."

She bit her lip, "Still, I'm sorry."

Jake nodded, "Me too."

Chad finally released a breath that sounded as though it might have killed him to hold onto any longer. "Oh my freaking God!"

Jake looked over at the kid. "You are truly strange."

Chad laughed, "Yeah, but I got one helluva jump shot, dude!"

Jake laughed, "Yeah?"

Chad nodded, "Definitely."

Jake let his head drop. He looked back up at the young African American kid. "We'll have to see about that."

Chad nodded, "Oh yeah. You'll see."

Sha'nia moved over to Jake and helped him up. "Come on, Gimp. Let's get you back to bed."

Chad snickered.

Sha'nia glared at him.

Jake laughed and moved with his doctor who smelled like the only woman he could ever need. He wanted to pull her into his bed with him and… Jake shook his head as though shaking out the 'bad' thoughts. He felt Sha'nia stop them.

"What is it? Are you feeling okay?"

Jake looked over at her, "Bad thoughts."

She let out a breath she'd held on to. "So, you're really not going to tell me what he whispered?"

Jake's expression changed, "I don't know that I'm going to say anything to anyone yet. I'm not sure this is mine to tell, babe." He turned to reach for his bed, but felt her hands holding him back. He turned back to her, "What?"

She shook her head, "You called me 'babe'."

Jake furrowed his brow, "Okay. Do you have something against that term of endearment?"

She rolled her eyes, "No, but Jake, I'm not going to be your mate. I know I had a weak moment earlier and you were there for me, but we aren't—this isn't going—I can't mate with anyone Jake. Not after what he tried to do forcing me to mate with him."

Jake stroked her face, "Did he manage to finish?"

She closed her eyes, "He never actually got into me, but that doesn't really matter. I'll never be comfortable with mating, Jake."

Jake nodded, "I wouldn't be either, but Nye, I can't stop what I'm starting to feel for you."

Sha'nia leaned her head onto his shoulder.

He laughed, "This isn't helping me feel like you need distance, Nye."

Sha'nia laughed against his shoulder. She smacked his chest lightly, a lover's tap. "Shut up."

Jake kissed the side of her head, "I read somewhere that when girls hit you on the playground it's because they like you."

Sha'nia laughed harder, "Jackass."

Jake smiled as she raised her head from his shoulder, "See."

She rolled her eyes and let a few more laughs out. "Whatever…" She smiled at him, but took a deep, sad breath. "I just don't want to lead you on. I can't be what you want me to be. We have chemistry, I get it. But, I can't pretend I'm ever going to be anything but what I am."

Jake shook his head as he took her face between his hands, "I would never want you to be anything else. If you need space and time, it will be hard, but I'll give you space and time."

She shook her head, "I keep expecting to see you saying these exact same things to the night nurse."

Jake shook his head, "Not gonna happen. I know what I want. I'd forgotten how this feels."

Sha'nia shook her head gently in his hands, "I never wanted to feel thing again, ever."

Jake smoothed the hair from her face. "No one will ever touch you without your permission ever again, Nye. Whether I'm your alpha, friend, or lover, I will never allow another person or wolf to hurt you that way. I don't allow forceful mating in my pack. I never have; I never will."

She wrapped her arms around his waist and helped him into the bed as his knees began to buckle slightly.

Jake thanked her and watched her go. It was getting harder to watch her leave him. Each time he so desperately wanted her to stay with him. He wanted to pull her against him and feel her body. He wanted that connected moment when skin met skin and there was nothing but each other. He knew he couldn't, but that doesn't stop the heart from wanting.

Troy tapped her shoulder, "We should go relieve Chad."

Gabriella nodded, "What are they going to do when we all leave for school this weekend? Jake's getting better. He still gets tired easily, but he's definitely out of the woods, no pun intended."

Troy smiled and dropped a quick kiss to her lips. "I love you, baby."

She narrowed her eyes on him, "What was that for?"

Troy laughed lightly, "You." He glanced over as he got into the truck and pulled it away from the curb. "What? You are always the one who is thinking ahead. You're ten steps ahead of everyone else."

She looked out the window a little insulted. She didn't know what to say. So, she simply didn't say anything at all. When he reached over and silently took her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it softly, she knew he was concerned. She glanced over at him. "I'm fine. I just need some time to think."

Troy nodded, "Seems like we've all been going from one crisis to the next, constantly putting out fires for entirely too long now."

Gabriella let out a heavy breath. "I couldn't agree more."

As Troy pulled up to the hospital, he saw Chad wheeling Jake out to his Jeep in a wheel chair. Jake was dressed in plain clothes and obviously enjoying the fresh air that Troy was sure the other alpha had missed terribly. "Hey, maybe we won't be needed after all? Looks like Chad is springing Jake outta this place."

Gabriella looked over toward the doors on the circle where patients were dropped off and picked up. "Wow. That could certainly make life easier."

Troy nodded in agreement and took her hand as he helped her out of the truck. As they walked toward Chad and Jake, Troy cleared his throat. He spoke a little louder than he had with Gabriella in the truck. "Where do you two think you're going?"

Chad jumped, turned and glared at Troy, "Dude! You sounded way too much like your dad just then! Watch it! I almost started running ladders as a knee-jerk reaction, man!"

Troy chuckled, "Nice to know I have that effect on you, man."

Chad rolled his eyes, and mumbled under his breath, "Not you, just the alpha."

Troy smiled and raised his eyebrow. "I am the alpha, Chad."

Chad shook his head, "Nah, you're our pack's alpha. Your dad is still 'The Man' for the time being."

Troy nodded and gave Chad a half smile, "Touche. So, are you busting Jake out or has he actually been released?"

Jake turned his head and finally joined the conversation. "Discharged. They kicked my ass out. Said I was having too much of an effect on the female staff." His eyes caught sight of someone exiting through the sliding doors and smirked, "Especially the female doctors."

Sha'nia turned and caught his eyes scanning her. "Go home, Dr. Reynolds!"

Jake smiled, "Want to come with me?"

She rolled her eyes and headed for her car.

Jake called out to, "It's a long drive since I live in California, but I'd let you come home with me if you wanted to. In fact, I might even be willing to let you move in if you really wanted to."

His voice kept getting louder as she walked away. Finally as she was a few steps from her car door she held up a hand and flipped him off. She smirked as she reached her car. She was going to be free of him very soon. Then suddenly she felt a hand grasp her wrist. She quickly took a gasped breath and froze. Then she felt the cool familiar feel of the stranger. She didn't know what else to call the guy. He'd come to the hospital in search of Jake a couple of times now.

He leaned forward and slipped a hand along her waist. "Oh, well aren't you a pretty one in your skin."

Even more suddenly, the stranger was ripped from behind her and sliced into very deeply. As the man lay bleeding, he took one look up at his assailant and disappeared.

Jake stood staring down at the creep until he was gone. Just as the guy disappeared, Jake stumbled forward and into Sha'nia.

She wrapped her arms around him and felt his legs trembling. "Oh my god…"

Jake got his balance and leaned against the car. "I'm sorry. I just reacted. I saw him touch you and I—" Two lips crashed over Jake's in a very possessive sort of way. He leaned back on the car as she jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist. He could feel her urgency. Her body wanted to mate immediately, but he knew she would regret it. So, as his legs gave out and he slid them to the ground, he pulled away his lips away from her. "Baby, wait."

She tried desperately again, but he refused. She whimpered, then looked directly at him.

Jake stared into her eyes. He knew his own were showing the frustration and the overwhelming desire he had to simply pull her back to him and take her body. Inwardly he was actually a little marveled at his self-control. Still, he said, "This will pass, Sha'nia. I won't take you like this."

Her breath hitched in her throat as she realized the state they were in and what she'd been trying to do. She looked down at him with fear and panic building up inside of her. She sat back, but her legs wouldn't move. She felt anxiety building in her chest. She bit her lip. "Jake…" She had tears welling in her eyes now. "Oh God…" She felt herself rub against him as she straddled his lap. "Oh God, I want you…"

Jake flexed his muscles and clamped his jaw. She was torturing him. He wasn't sure how much longer he could hold on with her moving on him like this. Finally he basically whimpered, "Please, baby, you have to stop. You need to stop, Nye. Not like this…not like this."

She froze and sat back. She felt the tears crest her lashes, "It wouldn't even matter, would it? It wouldn't satisfy because it would just be getting off, not mating."

Jake looked back up into her tortured eyes as he brushed a few strands of hair aside. "No, it wouldn't sate your lust, Nye. But, if you'd let me mate with you, you'd never have to be this way again. I could take care of your needs, baby. Just let me. Please…Nye…just let me in."

She shook her head. "Don't."

He stopped and looked at her. He waited.

Finally, she looked back into his eyes, "You don't understand how hard this is for me. I've been alone, Jake. Completely and utterly alone…for years. I have managed to avoid the pack that lives here, because I couldn't risk another wolf trying to mate or claim me. I refuse to be subordinate to some male just because he has a dick and I don't."

Jake looked at her, "What, in any of our conversations, has led you to believe that you would be subordinate to me? When have I ever treated you with any real disrespect? I've teased you. I've tried desperately to get your attention, but I've never put you down. I've told you that I will protect you, but I'm not stupid enough to think you can't take care of yourself. I've told you that I would take care of your needs, but I don't really believe you need me to do that. I'm not asking you to need me in spite of yourself. I'm asking you to choose to be with me! I'm begging you to want to be with me!"

She looked down at him, "No, you don't! You've chided me and not once have you told me that you cared about me! Not a single time did you ever mention that you wanted me beyond lust!"

He shook his head, "This morning, I told you I couldn't stop feeling the things I was already beginning to feel for you."

She shook her head, "A vague reference to feelings you might develop isn't enough."

He looked into her eyes, "You want feelings? I love you! I love you! Damn it! Sha'nia, I have been trying to hold back. I've been trying to give you the space and time you needed, but I don't need those things! I love you. I can feel it in my chest. I can feel it when you are not near me. I feel this empty whole when you aren't close." He had tears streaming down his face now too.

She shook her head, "You're just trying to get me to let my guard down."

He raised his eyebrows, "What?"

She shook her head more forcefully, "I'm not loveable! You don't even know anything about me!"

He brushed her hair back from her face again. He took her face between both of his hands and made her look at him, "I love you! I know that you are strong enough to survive something that our kind considers a curse! I know that you can fight and beat the shit out of me! I know that you're intelligent and kind and care, because you're a doctor! I know that we have unbelievable chemistry! And, I'm 100% sure that we should be together!"

She felt the tears stinging her cheeks as he listed off the things he'd learned, "I'm not worth it, Jake. I'm not the girl you keep forever. I'm just a right now kind of girl."

Jake's face softened. "You are beautiful and smart and strong. You are everything any man could want, Sha'nia."

She shook her head the little bit that his hands would allow. "But, I killed the last man who tried to…"

Jake growled, "I would never rape you. And the son of a bitch who tried deserved his fate."

She let her head drop down into her hands. She cried so hard. She felt Jake's arms close around her and pull her into the safety of his chest. Sobbing, she said, "Jake…I…I just…I need you and it…it scares me."

Jake kissed her hair. "I need you too, baby. And, I'd be lying if I told you it doesn't worry me too. I don't think there's anything I'm not willing to do if you asked me too. That can be very dangerous in an alpha. If someone tried to use you against me, I wouldn't be capable of letting them live."

Sha'nia rubbed her head against his the way wolves and dogs both do. That loving gesture that is intimate and vulnerable at the same time. She whimpered and she heard him respond to her whimper with a small, grumbly growl. He was answering her call of need.