I apologize for not updating the last couple of months. Had another major surgery and am just now able to start writing. Thanks for all your patience!
Chapter 51
I wake sometime during the night. My mind is still in the forest and it takes Tanya and, finally, Esme to wake me enough to realize I'm there but in the Cullen house. I sit trying to calm myself down and stop shaking. Closing my eyes, I take deep breaths and feel a cool washcloth on the back of my neck. Tanya is patting it trying to get the sweat off.
I shudder as I think about the dream I had. I can't remember too much of it only that Josie was in it. Something about him telling me to run, but I can't remember from whom. Giving another shudder I grab the journal he gave me and it isn't on the bed where I left it. Patting the bed around me, I start to get a little desperate when it suddenly appears before me.
"I laid it on the nightstand after you fell asleep. I didn't want it to get ruined." Tanya admitted.
"Thank you." I replied, taking the journal and hugging to my chest.
It's going to be the last thing I get from Josie and that breaks my heart.
Taking another deep breath, I finally calm down and lay down.
"Are you okay, Love?" Tanya whispered.
"Yeah." I muttered.
I turn onto my side and let my arm swing off the bed. It collides with a head full of hair and I hear a small 'ow'. I lean over and barely see someone leaning against the bed with their back to the nightstand. Upon a further look, it's Jamie that's down there sound asleep.
I hear Tanya sigh. "He wouldn't leave your side when we returned. No matter what Jasper and Carlisle tried, Jamie would make his way back up here. So, Carlisle relented and told him to wait until we got you settled in bed. He followed us down the hall and up the stairs to make sure Carlisle didn't renege on his promise."
Everything was a haze when we returned. The only thing that I can clearly remember was everyone taking turns hugging me and telling me not to run off like I did again. Once that was done, Carlisle ushered me up to his office to check me out. The headache was there but not as bad as it was when we were gone. I couldn't keep my eyes open after that, but I made Tanya and Alice promise to hunt while I was asleep.
Turning over to get a good look at Tanya, I look into her eyes and see that they're still black.
"I still have time Abigail." She answered my unspoken question.
"Uh. No you don't. You promised to hunt while I was asleep." I exclaimed.
"Like I said, I still have time. Your going back to sleep, which means I can run and grab a bite." She smiled.
"Ok. How long have I been asleep this time?"
"About fifteen hours so far."
I sigh heavily. It feels like I've only been asleep a couple hours.
"You need more rest. You have had a rough day and bringing four people with you has taken a tremendous amount of strength. Carlisle has ordered for you to rest and no time jumping until he gives you the okay."
"What?" I asked.
"Alice agreed and made her first order for you to rest. I think you may find it hard to time jump without her permission."
"She can't do that," I replied. " I have to get my mother back from…wherever she is. How am I supposed to do that if I can't make a jump?" I demanded.
Jamie gave a grunt but didn't wake up.
"Abigail. You've been through a lot lately. You haven't had time to really absorb what's been happening. It's time to step back and re-evaluate what you've been through. No one wants you to disappear like that again. I don't want to see your health deteriorate and it scares me like hell, to see you hurt."
I lay there for a minute and it feels like a Mac truck hit me…several times. And, I haven't had time to think what's happened over the last several months. If you asked me in January if I was going to travel in time and meet the love of my life, I probably would have laughed at you.
"Where's Alice?" I muttered.
"She's with Jasper."
"And, Emmett and Will?"
"With their mates."
"It is true then? Him and Irina?"
"Looks that way. I haven't really paid attention."
Thinking about Will and Irina together is hard to think about. Irina isn't even supposed to be here. If I hadn't gone back to warn her, they would never had met. I should be happy that they both found each other, but something isn't settling with the idea of them being together. I can't point out what it is right now.
Tanya pulls my face towards her and pecks my lips.
"Go to sleep Love."
It doesn't take much convincing for me to fall back to sleep. I pretty much was gone after she talked.
Something wakes me up. I feel like I'm being watched. The dream I'm having is a good one too. I can't remember it now. Opening my eyes, I stare into a pair of golden ones.
"Alice!" I yelled at the midget.
"Good morning sunshine." She chirped.
"What do you want?"
"Or, should I say, Good afternoon!"
"What do you want?" I repeated.
"I just wanted to see how my favorite niece is doing. That's all."
"That's all?" I replied.
"Yes."
I lay there looking at her. She wants to say something else but is waiting for me to ask her.
"And, what else?" I asked.
"Well, that and see how you're doing with my little probation about the time jumping thing."
With that, I turn over and have my back to her. I'm not happy that she enforced that.
"I thought so." She muttered.
I reach out for Tanya, finally realizing that she isn't saying anything. No one else is on the bed but me…and Alice.
"She finally went hunting. It took Kate and Garrett to force her out. They'll be back in about ten minutes."
"Mmph!" I replied.
"I know you're upset, but I don't want you to do any extraneous moves until you're healed.
"I'm fine!" I replied.
"Okay. Then lets get up and get some food in you."
To prove to her that I am okay I kick the blankets off and roll off the bed onto my feet. However, after two steps the room starts spinning and causes me to stagger. Alice is there in a blink of an eye.
"You're fine, huh?"
"Well, I have been in bed for a while." I replied sitting down. The room finally slows down and stops causing me to sway again.
"Carlisle is coming." She said before said person softly knocks on the door.
"Come in." Alice said.
Carlisle is in and by my side in a heartbeat.
"How are you doing, Abby?"
"I'm fine. Just a little dizzy. How long have I been out?" I asked.
"About a day and a half…almost 2 days." Alice replied.
"Really?"
I don't think I've ever slept that long.
Carlisle sets to work checking me out and make absolutely sure nothing is wrong. After fifteen minutes he gives me the okay to go down to eat. Just as I'm standing again, Alice goes rigid. She isn't gone long, just a few seconds, but when she comes back, a look of frustration and horror is there.
"What is it Alice?" Carlisle asked.
I heard several vampires growl downstairs.
"I can't see anything." She whispered.
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"It means that some wolves are coming. How long do we have?" Carlisle asked, urgency in his voice.
"Not long. A few minutes at the most."
Everyone is in a frenzy at the point. William and Jamie are carried up to the room, much to William's dismay. I'm sure he wants to meet whoever is coming. Irina, Esme and Carmen are inside the room with us.
"Look who's risen from the dead." Jamie says with a huge grin.
I can see relief poring out of him.
"Love the new do, by the way." He adds.
I roll my eyes at and then, suddenly go into a panic attack. Where are Tanya, Kate and Garrett?
Esme comes up to me and places her hands on my cheeks.
"Tanya is on her way now. We can hear them now." Esme reassures me.
I don't fully calm down until Tanya walks through the door and is by my side.
"Sorry, Love. I tried to hurry but someone made me take my time." She glared at Kate, who only shrugs.
Before I can say anything else, several growls rip through the room. The wolves must be here. I take a step towards the door but Tanya pulls me back to her. All the vampires in the room are rigid and would probably jump as the smallest of movements. When I try for the door again, Tanya pulls my behind her.
"Can someone tell us humans what's going on?" Will growled.
"There are two wolves outside. Edward is relaying what they're saying to Carlisle." Alice answered.
I shake Tanya's hand off and make for the door again. I want to see who's here and to know if they had anything to do with Josie's death. As Tanya grabs my arm again, I wave it off and see everyone stop moving. It seems like they are moving in slow motion. Before I could think anything of it, I open the door and walk out.
By the time I reach the main floor, everyone in the room has unthawed or whatever happened to them and are storming the stairs. I'm outside behind Edward and Emmett on the deck as Carlisle is saying something, I can't hear.
"Nice bit of magic Abby." Edward muttered.
"How'd you do it kid?" Emmett asked, smirking.
"No idea. Didn't know I've done anything." I answered.
Both of them raise their brows.
"Who's here?" I asked diverting the attention back to the two wolves.
"Seth and Leah." Emmett said. He took one look at me and smiled. "Love the hairdo, by the way."
I rolled my eyes and look around him to see two wolves cowering before us. They are about four feet from the steps and whining.
I feel Tanya walk up behind me before she arrived.
"We need to talk about that little incident." She whispered.
I merely shrug.
"They said that they had no knowledge of what Jacob and Embry were doing. They were commanded to stay at the campsite and keep an eye out for anything that might come that way." Edward relayed to Carlisle.
"How do we know they're telling the truth?" Emmett boomed.
"Because they're showing me what happened the day Josiah was shot." Edward stated. "Yes. That was his name." He said to the wolves.
"And, I can feel that they are scared about Jacob and Embry coming back to find that they aren't there. They have nothing to hide from us. If anything, they want our protection." Jasper added.
"What do you think, Edward?" Carlisle asked.
"I don't see why we shouldn't. Maybe they could shed some light about what happened to Jacob and Embry. It could give us a clue as to who's behind the threat to Abby." Edward stated.
"Or…" I started, holding my hand up like we were in class and I'm participating in the discussion, but am shot down by everyone.
"Absolutely not Abby. I'm not letting you do that." Alice shouts.
"Geez! It was just a suggestion."
"Thank you for that, Abby, but I don't want to see you do anything else till you're fully rested and your body has healed." Carlisle replied.
"Now, that this is settled… for now, Leah wants to transform and doesn't want anyone to see her." Edward replied.
"Wait a minute," Emmett shouted, "What about Quil? Where's he in all this?"
"Yeah. Where was he when Josiah was killed?" Jasper added.
"Leah says he was with Jacob and Embry, but, she doesn't think he's really a part of them. He didn't seem all riled up after…wards." Edward relayed.
"So, is he with them or just tagging along?" Emmett asked.
"They're not sure."
"Well..." I started again.
"Abigail Ann! I said NO!" Alice interrupts me.
"Okay. Okay. Geez!" I replied holding my hands up in surrender.
"She sounded like mom there for a moment." Will snickered.
"Lets give them some privacy to transform and then we can talk more once they've changed and had a decent meal" Carlisle said.
"And, Abby needs to eat something. She hasn't had a decent meal in a few days either." Esme adds.
"What! She didn't like the roasted bunny?" Emmett laughed.
I gag at the mere mention of rabbit.
Walking past Will, I see a tick in his jaw. I don't think he believes what Seth and Leah are saying and, probably, won't be satisfied until he sees for himself that they weren't part of Josie's death.
Esme guides me to the kitchen and sits me down at my usual stool. Now, that the original threat is over, I realize that I'm starving. Her and Carmen are zipping around the kitchen gathering food from the pantry and getting the pots and pans ready.
Tanya has me pressed up against her. I think the presence of the wolves have brought out her protective side. Even Alice and Rosalie are standing extremely close to me. When Jamie comes into the kitchen to take a seat next to me, he has to tell Rosalie twice to move before nudging himself between her and Alice to sit.
"So, Chief. I found some interesting stuff working on the family history and I need your help in trying to figure it out." He said without even acknowledging how everyone is feeling.
"Okay. I can take a look at it later." I replied.
Every single vampire in the kitchen freezes and I turn to see that Seth and Leah are walking in, unsure what to do.
"There's plenty of room at the dining room table." Esme suggested, getting back to her cooking. They walk over to the table and sit down.
Tanya squeezes me a little too hard and I grunt. I turn to her and raise a brow.
"Sorry." She whispered.
Carlisle walks in with Edward and both of them with Bella sit at the table with Seth and Leah. I rise and am about to go too, but Tanya pulls on my waist and forces me back down on my stool. Rosalie does the same with Jamie, but he tries to fight her off. The battle of wills between the two is a bit entertaining. Jamie, finally gives in and sits still.
"Now, that everyone is here, could you two please tell us from the start what happened." Carlisle said.
I look around and, indeed, everyone is standing in the kitchen or the outskirts of the dining room waiting to hear what Seth and Leah saw and how they managed to escape.
