Gift or Torture Part Two

Chapter four

Turning Over a New Leaf

Jacob's POV

I watched Leah and I could tell she was having a hard time with this. It didn't make sense to me; since she imprinted, she should be happy. I found myself wanting to have the both of us phase so I could fully understand what she's thinking. I was tempted to do something that might not respect her privacy. Hell, I'll do it anyway.

"Edward, can we talk alone?" I asked carefully so that Nessie and Bella didn't follow us.

"I understand, but why are you asking me?" he offers, hearing my thoughts.

"Are you going to help me out here?" I asked.

"Jacob, she is scared of many things here. Unlike the rest of the pack, she's the only female. There isn't a lot of information about how imprinting works for her. Sam had the stories of the other wolves, and you and the others knew how it worked for him. Men and women are different when it comes to falling in love. Leah knows that," he replied.

"Do you really think that Severus will turn her away?" I wondered.

Edward looked at me. "He is very hard to read. However, unlike the women of your tribe, he might not be as understanding. He could choose to walk away."

"That would kill Leah."

Edward nodded. "It would, and she knows that too."

"Maybe I should talk with Sam," I thought out loud. "Maybe more Quileutes have phased and there's another female and more information."

"Jacob, that act alone would be an even bigger breach of her trust. Sam is her ex; she doesn't want him to know that she's hurting." I know Eddie is right, but I want and need to help her in some way. "Besides, if another girl phased, don't you think Sam would have contacted Leah himself? She would be the best to help another girl with this."

"Maybe you should ask your father to see how many of the past spirit warriors had daughters at the right stage in life to transform. It is possible that she's only the first because she is the only one who was at the right time."

"Thanks, Edward." He smiled and nodded as I pulled out my cell and dialled my dad.

"Hello, Jake. What's up?"

"Dad, are you alone?" I knew there was a chance Sam was there.

"Yup, just me," he replied.

"Good, I need a favor and I don't want Sam to know about this."

"You want me to keep something from the tribe's Alpha wolf?"

he teased me.

"Yes. Dad, I need you to find out if any other previous spirit warriors had teenage daughters that phased when vampires came around."

"Why? What's up?"

"Not a word to Sam, Sue, or Charlie," I warned.

"Of course," Dad vowed.

"Leah has imprinted, and instead of being happy she is very stressed out about this."

"That's not good."

"I know. Leah thinks there's something wrong with her because she's the only female wolf. Edward thought maybe there was another reason she is the only one."

"Kay Jake, I'll look into it for you," Dad promised.

Leah's POV

After I woke up, I watched Severus while I aided him and Carlisle in Ginny's treatment. Rosalie was also playing nurse to Ginny. I found out from Jake that Rosalie was raped and left for dead before she was changed. I guess she feels she's the only one who can understand how Ginny is feeling.

As I watched Severus, I noticed how this was killing him. Seeing his daughter like this was hell for him! I decided not to tell him about my imprinting until Ginny is feeling better. I will allow him to focus on her right now. He clearly feels he owes her this for some reason.

I had so many questions I wanted to ask, but I could tell he's a very private person. He would tell me when he's ready, and pushing him before that time won't help me.

What really is mind blowing to me is that all of the Cullens are being so understanding of what I'm going through and what Severus is going through!

If this thing between Jasper and Ginny is like imprinting, I can understand his supportive ways. The rest of them do love her, and each of them is affected in their own way. Even Nessie and Jake; not that Nessie knows exactly what happened to Ginny, just that someone hurt her.

Severus has thrown himself into mixing and brewing stuff to heal Ginny. I must admit that it's amazing how this magic stuff works. Her jaw alone was totally fixed overnight, just like how we heal. What amazed me was most of the potions he made he seemed to know how to make by heart. He's so exact in his methods, I don't think the bloodsuckers could come close to his precision. I have tried to help him, but I seemed just to be in his way.

Instead I helped Carlisle in the lab or helped with Ginny's care.

I understood that Ginny is a witch and Severus is a wizard and he knows the Cullens are vampires, but I'm not sure if he knows what Jacob and I are.

Esme invited me to cook for the food eaters, and while I know this was just more of her trying to make me more comfortable, it helped me a bit by giving me something to do. I hated to admit it, but the kitchen here rocks and I'm almost jealous of it! I was making pasta for everyone when Esme stepped into the kitchen. Again, she was holding Elizabeth.

"I hope you don't mind; I need to heat a bottle for her."

Right, like I'm going to refuse a newborn baby her milk just because her mother is a vampire. "No, that's fine."

As Esme heated the bottle, she watched me. "I wanted to mention to you that Ginny told me before I first met Severus that in his past he had a close call with a Child of the Moon, so when you tell him about yourself you might not want to use the term 'werewolf.'"

"Hm, thanks."

She looked at me like there's more she wanted to say.

I wanted to ignore her, so I pretended to be focused on the sauce I was making. I watched her out of the corner of my eye, though, as she slipped the heated bottle into a quilted wrap.

"So it doesn't cool too fast," she explained when she saw my confused expression.

I nodded.

"Leah, I just wanted to say that even though you don't care for us, as part of Jacob's pack I do feel you are a member of this family. I'm sorry that our arrival in Forks has changed you life's path."

Once more I nodded, not knowing what to say.

She smiled and left the room.

Why did she have to be so sweet? It's hard to keep up the hate when she's trying so hard to be nice.

Jake entered a second later and mouthed the words, 'I know.'

I started to laugh. At least I know I'm not the only one.

"That smells good," Jake stated. "Nessie actually said she would try some, which will make Carlisle happy since hes forever trying to get her to eat human food, vegetables particularly. He worries about her vitamin intake."

"That's good, I guess," I shrugged.

"Seth said he would arrive after work."

After a few days' time, Ginny's physical injuries were healed, but she was still ill. When looking at some blood work Carlisle took, we found out she had flesh-eating disease. We thought it was inside her uterus. There's no cure for it; only treatment. We're going to open her up to see. Unfortunately, she most likely would have to lose her uterus.

I watched the Cullens all get set up in record time for Carlisle and myself to operate. Severus remained and assisted. Jasper was demanding to stay, claiming her blood didn't affect him before and that it wouldn't now.

Severus wasn't arguing this point and that made me mad. How could he not see the danger he was putting her at? How could I protect him and be what he needed when he was the one setting himself up for hurt?

Jake offered to stay with Elizabeth so the others could hunt. When they returned, any blood leakage from Ginny's incision wouldn't push anyone over the edge or cause them any discomfort. I also thought part of him is also staying in case I phased in hopes of controlling me should the need arise.

Within ten minutes we were operating on Ginny. I knew Carlisle was fine, but I wasn't so sure of Jasper. I watched for any sign that he was slipping.

Almost as soon as she was opened up, Carlisle said, "I'm closing her up; there's too much damage done."

My eyes shot to Carlisle. "I thought you could cut away the affected area," I said.

He made eye contact with me and shook his head. He didn't need to say it; Ginny was dying!

I looked at Severus, but the surgical mask hid his face. His eyes gave nothing away as to how he was feeling; this amazed me. I then looked at Jasper, who didn't need a mask. He was crumpling, and his pain was already affecting me. If this was how he felt, I couldn't imagine a greater pain.

I felt my own body shake with held back sobs and my tears burned my eyes. Carlisle gently nudged me and I again made eye contact with him through my tears. The look he gave me could be best described as comforting. I tried to pull myself together.

Once she was sewn back together, Carlisle asked me to watch over her while he and Jasper cleaned up so the others could return. Also, it gave Severus a few minutes to collect himself.

A few minutes later, I went to find Carlisle as Ginny was waking and in pain. I needed to know what to give her and how much.

Severus was standing in the doorway. "Change her," he said.

What? He wants her changed? I felt my rage building, my whole body started shaking. I couldn't stay there, so I spun around and bolted for the closest door, phasing as I left the house!

How can I accept this? How can he ask them to turn his daughter? I was running. I didn't know where I was headed for; all I knew was I just had to be away from that house. I couldn't stand by and allow them to change her.

Leah, Leah, you need to calm down! Jake's thoughts entered my mind. He must have seen me phase.

I looked back and saw him come up on my right. I snapped at him. Leave me alone!

What happened? he asked.

He wants them to change her! She's dying and he wants them to change her! I raged.

Yes Leah, but your imprint wants this. You have to accept it, Jake tried to reason with me.

How can I possibly accept this?

Would you stop? Let's just stop and talk about this.

There is no talking! I'm far too mad, I explained.

He growls at me. Just stop then!

I couldn't refuse my Alpha, so I slowed down to a stop and turned to face him.

I didn't order you; that was a request. Leah, I know you are upset...

I can't accept this, I interjected.

Yes Leah, you can. Your imprint needs this, and you know you have to accept this just like I had to accept Bella being turned. He needs her. Look, Edward told me she is Severus' reason for living.

My duty as a spirit warrior is to protect humans from them! I screamed in my mind.

Your duty is to protect humans from being killed by them, Jacob pushed. She is not being killed!

You don't see it right... you may as well be one of them! I lashed out at him.

Jake went totally blank and he turned and walked away from me. I didn't even hear his thoughts and right then I didn't really care.

I didn't even have words for what I was thinking right then.