The Twilight Series belongs to S. Meyer, no copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing with the characters.

AN: Please don't kill me. *hides face behind hand*

Chapter 36

Missing Everything about You

Leah woke up to the sound of Embry and Billy's voices. She untangled herself from Jake's arm and moved off his bed just as Embry came into view. She stood next to his bed and stretched, acting as though she had fallen asleep next to his bed, not in it.

"Good, you're here. I'm going home. I'm hungry and still tired. A couple hours' nap, sitting on the floor isn't enough," she told him.

"Jared sent Quil out on patrol for now. He wasn't sure what you'd want to do but…well just because we took out an army of vampires, doesn't mean we got them all."

Leah shrugged, "Yeah, probably true. Maybe I'll stop by…did he tell you if he was going to be home or at Kim's?"

"I think his house," Embry replied.

"Okay, I'll stop by and get it figured out. We'll still need to patrol but I think we can back off a bit," she paused before saying, "Embry…"

"Yeah, Leah."

She closed the distance between them and hugged him. It was the first time she had. They may have known they were siblings for weeks now and Leah may have always been openly affectionate with Seth but she never was with Embry. His arms wrapped around her and she whispered, "I'm so proud of you. You did really well today. You all did. Thank you."

Embry felt tears prick at this eyes and he squeezed her tight for just a moment longer before telling her, "Leah, it was all you. I don't think we could have done it without you there. Heck, you have nearly every one of us wrapped around your finger. You know we'd do anything for you."

She pulled away and smiled at him. "I'll see you later, Embry. He's been sleeping for a while so he might need some meds when he wakes up."

When Jake woke up some time after Leah left, he knew he was alone in bed. He could tell Embry was in the room with him. He lay there for a moment with his eyes closed and wondered if he had imagined her. Taking a deep breath, his lungs filled with her unique scent, lily and vanilla. When he opened his eyes and turned his head, his eyes met Embry's concerned ones.

"You okay, Jake? Do you need Sue to bring you some more meds? I can go get her. Tell me what you need," Embry rambled.

"I'm fine," he replied hoarsely. "Though something to eat and drink would be great. You'll probably have to help me though," he said frowning.

Embry left Jake's room and brought in a veritable feast of food. He helped Jake to sit up so he could at least use his good arm to eat. It wasn't long though before he was tired and sore. He heard his dad call Sue. Embry helped Jake go to the bathroom which was awkward as he wasn't allowed to walk there, so a leftover drink cup from some fast-foot joint ended up sufficing. Sue came and gave him another dose of medication and once again he slept. Thankfully, there were no clowns or balloons this time around.

The days began to blend together and even with one member being injured, the pack still needed guidance. Therefore, no one said much when Leah was absent at Jake's bedside, despite her insistence the first day. She transitioned back into her role as Alpha and oversaw the pack, ensuring the rez was protected.

She and Jared had discussed new patrols along with a schedule for everyone to help out at the Black house. Until Jake was completely healed, someone needed to be around to help Jake and take over Jake's normal caregiving duties for Billy. Leah volunteered running double patrols for the night shifts.

Sam remained absent from the pack, nor did they have him help out with Jake at all. Leah still hadn't determined what she was going to say or do with him. The pack knowing they could trust her leadership, didn't question her decision.

Carlisle had come by the day after Jake's injuries as promised and was pleased with Jake's healing. Everything seemed to be healing right. The treaty was back in force after that day and Leah mentioned to him, once things were settled more, she'd sit down with the pack and they would discuss what changes they wanted to the treaty. Carlisle had simply nodded at her.

Nearly every night when Leah ran patrol alone, she thought about Jake and the imprint. When she should tell him? How to bring it up? And every day that passed she was more nervous about it than the last. She'd put off dealing with Sam because she didn't know how to handle him when her thoughts were in such a turmoil.

It was easy to blame Sam for everything but in the end, she realized once again what happened was a combination of many factors. Sam refusing to accept his imprint. Leah fighting her imprint with Jake. Had she been honest from the beginning about it; even though she didn't like it and Jake may not have wanted her, it could have changed things. Maybe it would have been what was needed to get Sam to have let her go and accept Emily.

She decided in the end, once Jake was healed; first she'd tell the elders the importance of marking. Then when they approached Sam, the elders would have the same information the rest of the pack now had. After that, she'd talk to Jake and tell him about the imprint. Explain to him why she had acted the way she had. In the end, what happened after that was dependent on Jake.

She still had a suspicion he could have imprinted on her. The conversation before the fight with Jasper had gotten her thinking about it. Jasper had been sure about it, but what if he just thought there was something there? It was still possible in the end she'd be alone and miserable.

All of these doubts didn't stop her from getting her daily Jake fix. During her patrol, she'd usually stop by his house and lay down outside his window for a while before continuing on. And every morning when she passed patrol off to one of the other wolves, she'd casually ask how he was doing. Now that she'd decided to accept the imprint, she needed these few things to keep her wolf calm.

Little did Leah know fate was going to intervene once again in her life. Later, she'd wonder if fate had a vendetta against her. It was the seventh day after Jake had been injured and he was finally healed. She'd finished her morning patrol and ran to the cliffs by First Beach. Today was the day; once again she'd changed her plans.

She decided she needed to have her feelings about Jake and the imprint figured out before she approached the elders about marking and Sam's imprint. So she sat on the cliffs, staring out into the ocean and working up the courage to tell Jake.

Meanwhile, Jake was getting sick of his babysitters. He just wanted to be left alone in own thoughts. He didn't want someone by him, talking to him, looking at him, watching him twenty-four hours a day. He was finally healed and he felt the need to phase in his bones. He growled at his latest babysitter, Quil and if he wasn't in such a shitty mood already he might have laughed when Quil scampered away.

He heard the mail truck pull up and looked at the clock, it was ten. He decided he'd grab the mail quick for his dad and then maybe go for a run. His wolf was restless and anxious and Jake wasn't sure why but maybe it had to do with the fact he'd never went this long without phasing. He walked out to the mailbox, enjoying the rare feel of sun on his skin.

Grabbing the envelopes, he walked back to the house flipping through them. As he neared the bottom of the pile, his senses were assaulted with the scent of strawberries, Bella. He walked into the house and stared at the cream colored envelope addressed to him and his dad. He placed the rest of the mail on the kitchen table and ran a finger along the writing on the front. Turning the envelope over, he opened it and pulled the contents out.

He quickly scanned the various items, the largest of which explained exactly what this envelope was about. He had nearly died to protect her and she was sending him an invitation to her wedding. The wedding to the enemy. He was filled with rage; he threw the invitation on the table and stalked over to the phone to call her. His anger intensifying as he waited for her to answer.

"Hello," he heard her answer.

"Why," he growled at her. "Why would you send me that?"

"Jake," she breathed, "How are you? Are you doing better? I've missed you."

Jake laughed cruelly, "Missed me? I nearly died to protect you and you haven't even shown your face here. Don't lie, Bella."

"I do miss you, Jake," he heard as her voice cracked and as she swallowed several times. "I wanted to see you…I did. But I couldn't."

"Just stop, Bella. I get it, okay. It's him. You're always going to choose him."

"But Jake…I want you in my life, too. You're my best friend. I don't understand why we can't stay friends."

"Friends," he snarled. "You're going to become one of them. Who knows how many people you'll slaughter in your first year! It's done. Have a nice life," he said hanging up the phone.

Billy had rolled into the kitchen when he'd heard Jake on the phone. He sat there glancing at Jake in concern. "Son," he started.

Jake turned to his dad, "Just stop. I don't want to here. I need to get out of here. I'll be back…I don't know when." Jake ran out the door and phased into his wolf. He needed to get as far from this place as he could. Everything he thought and believed in was a lie. He didn't want to be in this place where the monsters you heard of in fairy tales were real. Where the girl didn't get saved. His anger and heart break fueled his muscles and he ran.

Leah felt it, a change in the atmosphere and the shimmer of someone's phase. She'd passed patrol off to Seth earlier in the morning. She sat on the cliff and listened tuning her senses into what was happening. Her wolf was agitated and pacing and when she heard Seth's howl, she raced into action. There were families on the beach so she couldn't phase where she was, so she ran. She had just passed by old man Hudson's front porch when she couldn't hold the phase in.

Fuck, I think I just flashed old man Hudson, she swore. What's going on?

She heard the chaos, Quil, Embry, and Seth calling after Jake. She looked to see where he was and realized he was already far from them and moving away faster than she'd ever seen him run. Soon Jared, Paul, and even Sam who hadn't phased since the battle, joined the pack mind.

What's going on, Jared asked. Vamps?

I don't know. It's Jake. Seth, what happened?

Seth replayed what happened from the moment just before Jake phased in until now. They saw everything, Jake getting the mail, reading the invitation, and the phone call with Bella. Jake didn't say anything to any of them, he just kept running. He was done. He didn't care what his duty was. He was done.

Leah felt as he began to pull himself away from the pack. She felt as he began to tear at the bonds and close himself off from the pack mind. As he pulled away from her, whether he realized it or not.

Jake, please, she begged. Just stop. Don't do this over her. Just don't leave. Think of Billy. What about us, your pack? Quil? Embry?

NO! he snarled and put the final brick in place. The wall was erected between them. And Jake was too far for any of them to catch up. Leah stumbled slightly at the pain the separation caused. Seth had stopped and turned his way back towards La Push. But Embry and Quil continued on, she couldn't let them go any further. She knew well enough what Jake had done. He'd accepted at least some of his Alpha heritage if not all. She knew from experience, they wouldn't be able to find him. She couldn't even feel him anymore and he was her imprint.

Quil, Embry, stop. You two need to come back to La Push.

No, we're going to get him and bring him back, Quil told her.

Leah, please…he's our best friend, Embry begged.

No, I can't let you guys. I'm sorry. Please, don't make me order you. You won't find him unless he wants to be found. He'll probably run off some steam and he'll be back soon. Jared, Paul, and Sam, thanks for trying to help but you guys can go home. I'll get the boys home.

What about Jake, Jared asked.

He'll be home soon, I'm sure. We'll just have to wait it out, okay. He just needs some time.

And for the first time ever, Leah felt like she had truly let the pack down. She'd lied. She didn't know if Jake would ever come back. For a long time, she'd wanted to run, too. And if she could have run after Sam and Emily, she would have. Jake had the means to go. He might not have money but he had his wolf and it would be enough for him to survive as long as he wanted to. She just hoped he'd be back soon because the ache in her chest was getting worse by the minute.

AN: Sorry I couldn't let it just be that easy. And one of the genres is angst. So from 0 to 10, how angsty is this? Don't forget to review.