Author's Note: Hey everyone! Bet you weren't expecting another chapter so soon, huh? Teehee! One or two more, then it's on to the sequel. Thanks so much everyone, as always!
Ch 25 Gone Baby Gone
Rachel eyed them all incredulously, and hung up the phone. Jacob had forgotten she was even in the room.
Jacob wore many hats in his life now; not only was he an alpha, a father, and a boyfriend, he was always a son and a brother. He looked deep into Rachel's eyes, and saw nothing but uncertainty and fear. There was no understanding in how he could leave his comatose father to go and play with his friends. There was so many people in his life that Jacob felt the need to take care of. Yes, his sisters were older than him, but this was something different. Their father, their support lay unresponsive in bed. "Will you be okay?" He asked.
Rachel shifted a little, glanced at her father, and then down to the floor.
Rachel was always easy to read. No, she would not be okay, that was written all over her face. He had always wondered why it was he that the werewolf gene had passed onto, and he had never been more grateful that it was him than in this moment. Rachel was not cut out for this life. Sure, she could be the wife of a werewolf, but he had the feeling that she would always be on the water's edge, dipping her toe in the pool instead of jumping in. He needed to do something, make sure she'd be okay. He nodded to Seth, "Why don't you go with Seth? You could hang out with him and the baby until the meeting's over."
Rachel frowned, and turned to him. "Would Paul be able to meet me there?"
Jacob deliberated. He trusted Paul not to harm his sister, but if Sam were to give him orders about his son or Seth...
"I know you're mad at them, Jacob, but we'd probably come back here or to the house."
"It'd be fine, Jake." Seth said.
Jacob looked Seth dead in the eye. "You howl as loud as you can if you need me."
"Paul wouldn't hurt them." Rachel said defensively.
"Unless he was acting on Sam's orders," Jacob mumbled.
"Go." Seth told them, and nodded to Embry and Quil who watched warily from the hallway. He smiled down at his nephew. "We'll all be okay."
Leah walked forward and placed a kiss on little Jacob's forehead. She grimaced at Seth and Rachel, and walked into the hallway.
Jacob gave his sister a hug, and walked to Seth. He seemed ready and eager for anything, as always. Jacob lifted a big hand and ran it down his son's cheek. The little baby slept as if the world was as soft and gentle as his dreams.
**
Jacob and Leah sat across from the three council members; old Quil was in the center now, smiling, while Sue and Sam sat to his left and right respectively. Sue bit her bottom lip. Her brown eyes kept darting to Quil and then to her daughter. Sam's head was bowed, his eyes on his folded hands in his lap. The Ateara residence seemed much smaller with all of them in the house. It was decorated in an old fashioned way, with deep wood floors and knitted afghans resting on chairs. The house tried to be welcoming, but the tension that resided in this room chased any restful thoughts away.
Jacob couldn't seem to remove his eyes from Sam. Sam had gotten everything he wanted now. Sam always got what he wanted. He wanted to be the alpha, he wanted Emily, he wanted Jacob to pay for his dues, and now he had a spot on the council. Jacob's hands balled into fists. He sat beside Leah who seemed to be sending subliminal messages to her mother. Her hands were balled into fists as well.
"Well, welcome back." Quil said, relishing in his new title. He smiled broadly, and clasped his hands on the table. "Let's get started."
"How is he?" Sue asked Jacob, turning her eyes from her daughter. "How is Billy?"
Jacob removed his eyes from Sam and looked at Sue. Jacob always saw her as a replacement mother in ways, especially now since she had been spending more time with Billy. She was so understanding and loving, that Jacob could see where Leah got her motherly instincts, not to mention her beauty. Her feelings were as genuine as her question, she cared for Billy as well.
"There's no change." Jacob whispered.
Sue's eyes became very round and glassy, and she turned away.
Quil's mouth was set in a line, and he glanced at Sam. Sam did not meet his eyes, he sat with his head bowed, unmoving, like a wood carving.
"Yes," Quil said, "let's all wish Billy a speedy recovery."
Jacob turned to him. His words did not match his expression, and Jacob couldn't quite understand it. Was it emotion for his cousin? The realness of being in charge of the council? Jacob wasn't sure.
"Back to the matter at hand." Quil said, and he produced an envelope from under his chair. "We have been given the paternity test results from the Cullens. I took the liberty of having them re-checked in La Push."
"Re-checked?" Jacob asked. "What was the point?"
He knew that Quil did not trust the Cullens, but that was downright rude. How many ways could Jacob prove that this kid was his son?
"To be thorough." Quil replied. He pulled out a sheet of paper, and said in a grim tone, "Congratulations, it's a boy."
Sue brought her hands up to her mouth. She smiled at Jacob and Leah. Sam still had not moved.
Jacob felt a bad feeling growing in his stomach. He felt like there was more going to happen than some rip-off of a daytime T.V talk show. So, Jacob had been told he was the father. Now what?
"Which brings about our next order of business." Quil said, "The birth of a child without imprinting."
Jacob and Leah looked at each other. Leah unclenched one of her fists, and took Jacob's hand. He squeezed it tightly.
"You are aware of why we imprint?" Quil asked.
"Yes." Jacob spat. He hated when Quil acted like this, like Jacob was an inferior reject because he refused to follow Sam like a good little soldier.
"Then the council must ask this child's parents why they have conceived without imprinting? We imprint to improve our pack. This is the only reason we have children."
"What about love?" Leah snarled. "Why does everyone rely on imprinting? Haven't you ever just fell in love with somebody?"
Quil narrowed his eyes and replied, "Imprinting is love, my dear."
"No, it's mind control!" She yelled back. "Just one more may to lose your individuality..."
"You will not talk out of turn again!" quil yelled. He turned to Jacob, "If Miss Clearwater can not keep her mouth closed, I will see to it personally that she be punished, and she will fulfill the punishment herself. And trust me, she will not like it."
"Leah, honey, be quiet." Sue said. Her eyes flicked from face to face nervously.
There was a few choice words that were on the tip of Jacob's tongue that he'd love to say to Quil. Like: shut the hell up, don't speak to her that way, here comes my fist flying at your face...
But Jacob couldn't have Leah getting into trouble. If she were punished, and he was sure Quil would do it, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself. He leaned close to her, and whispered in her ear, "Please, don't give him what he wants. Say nothing, for me."
Leah gave a curt nod.
Now, back to Quil. Jacob had to be good here. He could get back at the council in another way. He turned his anger to Sam. "I'd like to know what Sam thinks about our baby." He said smugly.
Quil eyed Jacob like a worm under his boot. "That is irrelevant."
"Is it?" Jacob asked. "Because, I remember Leah and Sam going to a doctor to find out just why she couldn't have children."
"The answer alludes us all." Quil said.
Sam jumped as if Jacob's eyes on him were laser beams. "I have nothing to say on the matter."
"You should, you're in the council, happy as a..."
"I take no pleasure in being here." Sam replied, finally turning to Jacob.
The devastation on Sam's face momentarily halted Jacob's attack. It appeared that Sam was generally miserable having to sit there, and listen to this.
"Jacob," Quil said, bringing the attention back to himself. "We as the council acknowledge that you and Leah have a biological child without imprinting."
Jacob squeezed Leah's hand tighter. Here it comes. But he was ready. Like before, whatever the council would dish out, he'd take, just as long as he and Leah and the baby were together. He'd get through everything else. A month banishment. Picking up trash at the park with his teeth, anything...
"Can you guarantee us that your son will be as genetically fit as a child of imprinting?"
Leah's teeth snapped together so loud that Jacob was sure she had broken a few of them. quil was in a roundabout way calling his son, his perfect little boy inferior.
"There's nothing wrong with our son." He spat.
"No, there is not. He is a healthy young baby." Quil said, "But, he does not have a place here."
Leah stood up angrily. The metal folding chair she was sitting in squealed loudly against the floor. She was ready to jump over the table and ring Quil's neck.
Jacob stood up as well, and lowered her back into her seat. He remained standing. What Quil was saying was making the big vein in his forehead pulse. He was not going to sit here and have this old man tell him that his son did not belong. "What the hell are you talking about?" He hissed. His hands were balled into such tight fists that his finger nails dug into his palm.
"A child born out of wedlock, with no imprinting does not have a place in our community."
"Are you saying my son is an outcast?"
"Of course not!" Sue yelled. "That baby is perfect!"
"Sue, you do not understand our ways well enough to be speaking on this matter..."
"Don't you tell me what I do and do not know!"
Jacob turned to Sue. It was one of the first times she had spoken throughout the whole meeting. He felt gratitude to her for standing up to Quil, but with Sam keeping his mouth shut, she didn't stand a chance. "Say something, Sam!"
Sam looked up at Jacob, the horrid expression still one his face. "What can I say?"
A low snarl escaped Leah's throat. She eyed him like the last piece of cake at a buffet.
Jacob couldn't believe Sam was doing this. He knew Sam could be a major asshole, but for it to go this far? They were brothers! Didn't that mean anything any more?
And then the answer came to Jacob. There was imprinting involved here. Little Jacob had imprinted on Renesmee. "My son has imprinted on Renesmee Cullen."
Sam's eyes snapped up and he stared Jacob down. His head moved a fraction of an inch to the right, and then the left.
"Renesmee Cullen?" Quil asked. "Your former imprint, that was never more than some crush? Am I to believe this?"
"All you need to do is see them together!"
"I saw you and the vampire's child together."
Jacob shook his head. He felt like he was drowning. The more he tried to reach the surface of the water, the more old Quil held him down. Quil had been waiting for a chance to rip Jacob a new asshole, and it seemed like he had finally gotten his chance.
"Jacob, the vampire hybrid is an anomaly, as is your son. There is no telling what their offspring will amount to..."
"Their children will be superior to me in every way."
Quil looked like he wanted to let a jab in there, but instead he replied, "We're getting off topic..." He cleared his throat. "Jacob, it's come to this council's attention that you, as the heir of Ephraim Black broke free of Sam's rule, created your own renegade band of misfits, and have been reeking havoc ever since. You have bred with your sister, and your spawn must now pay the price for your wrong doings."
Spawn? His spawn? Little Jacob was fine, he wasn't inferior, he was a healthy little baby who had done no wrong. He couldn't believe Quil was treating him like the ugly duckling. And just because Jacob broke free of Sam, doesn't mean he was creating havoc! He'd do it all again, repeatedly, with exactly the same outcome.
"I regret none of my actions." Jacob said firmly.
Leah turned to him, tears threatening to fall.
"Then, it is this council's decision that you, Seth and Leah Clearwater, and Jacob Black junior leave La Push by morning. You have once embarrassed your family name, and your complete and utter disregard for our laws is appalling. You will cease communication with the wolf pack under Sam Uley. Your choice to continue as a shape shifter shall be yours, but you must make that choice no less than one hundred miles from La Push."
Jacob let a growl escape his throat. Leah was on her feet again. Sue shouted, "No!"
"You're banning us, Quil? For how long?"
"Indefinitely." Quil said, and a small smile tugged at his lips as he took in all six-foot-seven of Jacob.
"This has nothing to do with the Clearwaters." Jacob said. He couldn't let Leah and Seth go down in a blaze of glory with him. That was just wrong, especially Seth...
"They abandoned their true pack as well. They follow you, their fearless leader."
True pack? Was Quil really going there? Was he going to make Jacob actually say this? Well, here goes hell... "I am the true alpha, Quil! I am the heir of Ephraim Black! The true pack is mine!"
Well, he had said it, there was no going back, and if it helped, so be it. He had to try, and it was the truth.
"Not when your pack acts the way it does, it is not the true pack."
"You can't send my children away!" Sue shouted.
"Sue, I must take in account what's best for our pack. Jacob and his pack do not belong here."
Jacob was shaking now. One more second, and he would have transformed, and tore Quil's voice box from his throat. How dare he ban Jacob now, when his father was in the hospital? "What about my father?" He rasped.
Quil frowned, "Yes, that... you may visit once per week."
"Once a week?!" Jacob yelled. "You have no damn right to tell me..."
"I have every right, Jacob Black. I am head of the council, and that happy power falls with me." He turned to Sam, who still sat still as a statue. "Have your pack on high alert. Any of them breaks my command, you make sure they feel it. If they're not out by sun up, you have your pack throw them out."
"Quil, we should discuss this!" Sue yelled.
"I have made my decision." Quil replied.
"Leah, honey, it's going to be okay!" Sue shouted to her.
Leah grimaced. She had heard that before.