CHAPTER FIFTEEN

(BPOV)

I was passed from one set of arms to the other and had to stifle a laugh from Natalie's stunned reaction when she saw this, her attention completely stolen by the pack as she shamelessly gawked and ogled at them. The phone continued to ring behind the nurses station and I had to nudge her to get it, before she could break out of the trance she was in enough to pick up the call.

The many onlookers present in the ER didn't hide their stunned gazes from us, as they passed by with disbelieving expressions when they took in the packs larger size and physique. No one from these parts looked anything like them and I simply shook my head as I gestured for them to follow me back out into the waiting room.

Sam motioned for the others to stay behind when he pulled me aside and voiced his concern.

"We came to help bring Jacob back home. How is he? Be straight with me, Bella. Billy phoned home and told us about Lillian."

"He's holding it together the best he can. You know Jacob. Always the brave face. I'm worried for him, Sam."

"Yeah, I know. I am, too. He's healed though? No lasting injuries to be accounted for?" Sam nervously questioned, as I nodded in assurance to him and saw the others gather in around us despite Sam's prior warning. They all looked as worried about Jacob as Sam did and it was touching to see the care they had for Jacob and his loss. It served as a good reminder to me about the family unit they were and how that loyalty didn't fade away with time or circumstance. How it was solid and true.

"He's back on his feet. He definitely defied the odds." I replied, knowing that Sam caught the double meaning behind my words then as I saw his gaze go wide.

"What do you mean? Are you saying what I think you're saying? That doesn't make sense. Jacob hasn't phased in four years. When he met Lillian and married her, he stopped. We all supported his choice. That's what he really wanted. He wanted to be able to grow old with her and build a family together."

I bit down on my bottom lip and slowly nodded at his words, hearing the sadness that filled his voice now and looking up to see his gaze full of a brotherly concern for one of his own.

"Does he know you're coming?" I hedged.

"No, we raced here overnight. We wanted to be with him today and support him in any way we could. We don't want him thinking he's alone in this when he returns back home."

I was moved beyond words then as Jacob stepped out into the hall from Clarissa's room while the nurse checked her over one last time before signing off on his discharge papers, his eyes trained to his phone and only looking up when Sam called his name.

"Jake-…"

He raised his head and met Sams gaze with disbelief, as his eyes slowly took in the sight of all of them standing there to greet him. No words were spoken as Sam went up to him and wrapped him in a strong hug, the sight of it making my emotion return while I blinked back the tears and moved aside with Natalie so they could have the needed room to surround him.

This was what he needed most right now and it touched my very soul to see him get it.

In that moment, it wasn't about pack duty or even obligation, it was about something much deeper than that. A bond that could not be broken and a cord that could not be severed. Something that had the ability to carry some of the load off of Jacobs tired shoulders. They all huddled in around him, reaching out a hand in offered support with their words of heartfelt condolenses and promises of always being there.

Sam didn't let go as some of the others took a step back, he kept a tight arm around Jacobs shoulders and looked him over again, his care for him easy to see when he offered his thoughtful words of encouragement.

"We're here, man. We're not going anywhere without you and Clarissa. I won't promise you that everything is going to be okay, cause I know that's the last thing you want to hear right now, but I will promise you that we've got you. We'll get through this together, Jacob. As a family. We'll carry it with you. Every step of the way." Sam vowed to him.

I heard Natalie softly let out a gasp and quickly dry her tears beside me when we looked to one another, her emotions now matching my own at the sight of the brotherly love on display in the ER.

"Thank you." Jacob replied, his husky voice now strained with his words to Sam and the others.

"Anything you need. We're here, bro." Seth stated, reaching out his hand to firmly grip Jacobs, and I marveled at just how much he'd grown. Gone was the boyish kid who followed Jacob around years ago, and in his place stood a much taller full grown man who looked to be just as muscular as Sam was, and had at least three inches on him in height. He soon looked my way and gave me a faint smile. It was the one thing about him that hadn't changed.

They had an audience now but it didn't seem to phase any of them in the least as they backed away from Jacob and looked to me, their determined gazes clueing me in that they had something up their sleeves.

"... and we're not going anywhere without you, either." Sam declared, reaching out a hand toward me and silently motioning for me to take it.

I looked back at him and tried to form a reply, but struggled to do so when Jacob's tear filled stare steadily held mine, his plea there in his gaze without saying a single word.

"Come back with us, Bella. Just for a while?" Paul hedged, as I tore my gaze from Jacobs and glanced at the abandoned paper on the desk that Natalie had waved in front of me just a few minutes ago.

"Yeah, Forks hasn't been the Same without you. Neither has the Res for that matter." Seth sighed, coming around behind me to lightly nudge me forward. "Please...?"

"He's right you know? It hasn't been the same without you and trust me, that's hard for me to admit, but I will." Paul jokingly stated. "Who else am I gonna tease!? You know deep down you love me!"

I nervously tugged on my I.D. badge and saw Jacobs firm swallow while they persistently tried to convince me to leave with them.

Sam stepped forward then, his whispered words to me making me pause there.

"You're part of our family, too. You always have been Bella and we've missed you. It'd be nice to have you close by again, even if it is only for a week or so. Will you at least consider it? If not for yourself or for us? Will you consider it for Jacob? He needs his family close. Wouldn't be complete without you there."

His tone was soft and barely audible, but I knew Jacob had heard it, along with the rest of the pack.

Jacobs cell phone rang then and his face fell when he backed away from the others and looked down at the screen, before hesitantly answering it. The sadness in his voice was evident as he stood by Clarissa's room and addressed the caller on the other end of the line. Sam looked his way before returning his attention to me, his peering eyes seeming to see right through me.

I reached up for the clip that held my badge in place, my hand swiftly pulling it down and releasing it as I placed the square name tag on the desk and nodded to Sam.

"Nat, can I have that paper please? I have a lot of packing to do in the next hour. So, I better get a move on."

Natalie nearly tripped over herself, as she snatched up the work leave form ahead of her and placed it down on the desk in front of me with a pen. I signed it, laying my badge over the pale pink paper and sliding them both toward her. She eagerly filed them then and got busy with adjusting the schedule for next weeks shifts.

"Looks like we're taking one more home with us! I can't wait to tell Charlie when he gets here!" Seth exclaimed, wrapping me in a hug.

"Tell me what?" Charlie's voice suddenly asked from behind me and I turned to see him there with Billy. The two of them looking about as confused as I felt a moment ago. I took a step his way and leaned up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek with my reply.

"I'm coming back home with you, dad." I softly stated, seeing Charlie's gaze go misty then as I bent down and hugged Billy tight. "Cause that's what family does and that's what we are. What we've always been."

I walked further down the hall and drew myself in close to Jacobs side, my hand securely taking hold of his when he ended the call and peered down at me. I saw the heartbreak there in his gaze after he finished making Lillians funeral arrangements and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, his whispered words seeming to take more energy out of him than he had left.

"You're coming back..."

"Yeah, I'm going home."

A/N: Two chapters in one day! I really spoiled you guys because you're all so awesome. Thank you for reading and for your great reviews. Look for another chapter tomorrow! :-)