Ricochet

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Chapter Nine

Jacob wasn't happy to find Paul Lahote sprawled across his couch, watching a baseball game on the new flat screen TV he'd recently had installed for Billy as a present. Paul had a bag of potato chips resting on his lap, he lifted one chip to his mouth and crammed the whole lot in, chewing noisily.

"What are you doing here, Paul?" Jacob demanded through gritted teeth. He had been hoping to find his dad home alone when he confronted him, he certainly didn't need his sister and her annoying imprint as witnesses.

"I'm waiting for Rachel to get changed." Paul said with his mouth full.

"Wait outside." Jacob tried to keep his tone even, but there was something about Lahote that always got under his skin. He had been devastated when he found out his sister had imprinted with his least favourite pack brother. It meant he was forced to endure Paul's company more than he wanted to, as Rachel was showing no signs of moving out and earning her own pay check, now she had chucked college in.

"What's bit you on the ass?" Paul complained as he tilted his head back and dumped more potato chips into his opened mouth. He crunched noisily as he made no effort to move from the couch.

"I'm only going to give you one warning, Paul. Leave now or deal with the consequences. I haven't got the patience to put up with your bullshit today."

Paul's grin turned mocking as he finished off the last of the chips and chucked the empty packet behind the couch. His hands came up in fists, close to his face like a boxer. "Bring it on, loser. We both know I can take you down easily."

Jacob lunged, Lahote's nose made a very satisfying crunching sound when his fist connected. In Jacob's head it wasn't Paul Lahote's arrogant smirk he was wiping off his face, but Edward Cullen's. Paul let out a pained yelp as he tried to grab Jacob, but Jacob easily danced out of his way before he could get a good hold.

"You broke my nose, idiot!"

Paul did his best to reposition his nose before it set crooked. The blood had already stopped, it looked like it had no source as it trickled down his lips and off his chin. He cussed, wincing as he pulled at the cartilage.

"JACOB, WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE?"

Jacob winced as his sister's voice screeched close to his ear. She had crept up on them while they were preoccupied facing off with one another. She rushed to Paul's side, her expression turning sympathetic as she used the sleeve of her shirt to wipe the excess blood off of Paul's chin. "Are you alright, baby?" She crooned.

"Your brother is losing it." Paul complained as he let Rachel fawn all over him. He was loving all the attention. Even though there was a four-year age gap, the two of them were very well suited. Both being short-tempered, cocky and domineering. When they fell out, which they seemed to do every other day, their rucks were epic, which meant their reunions were just as monumental.

Sharing the same living space with such a hot-headed pair was taking its toll on both Jacob and Billy. Even though they were glad to have Rachel home, especially Billy, they were both frustrated having Lahote in the house all the time. Billy loved Rachel dearly so he accepted Paul into his house, knowing that Paul was the only reason she decided to stay in La Push. Billy often "escaped" to the Clearwaters' house most days though, to avoid Paul and to keep the recently widowed Sue Clearwater company.

Jacob often avoided the house for the same reason, only coming home to sleep, and leaving early before anyone else was awake to work on his latest restoration project, or patrol with his brothers.

"You are such a pain, Jacob. I swear, you get worse every day." Rachel glared at him irritably.

Jacob let out an exasperated sigh. He wasn't interested in having a pointless argument with his sister. "Where's Dad?" He asked.

"He's out the back. I just picked him up from the Clearwaters. Which you were supposed to do, by the way." Rachel put her hands on her hips as she lectured him. "You left our father hanging. Where have you been?"

"None of your business." Jacob snapped impatiently. "And it's about time you started helping out around here and taking on more responsibility. All you do is laze around all day, hanging out with this fool." He gestured toward a seething Paul angrily.

Rachel stood there, easy tears filling her eyes. "I do plenty around here."

"Back off, Jake." Paul warned. He put his arm around Rachel's slim shoulders protectively and pulled her close. "Don't listen to him, honey bun."

"Ugh." Jacob couldn't take anymore. He stalked off to the tiny kitchen, yanking the back door open so violently, it slammed against the side of the house.

Wasn't it bad enough that yet another member of the pack had imprinted-because, that made four of them now! When would it stop? According to all the old legends it was supposed to be rare. All this mandatory love at first sight was sickening.

Did it have to be his sister? And did it have to be with Paul?

Jacob knew deep down, the reason he was so riled up and angry, was that he had never imprinted with Bella. If he had, he was convinced they would have been together this whole time, all loved up just like all the others. A happy family with little CJ at the centre of it all.

So much wasted opportunity. So much wasted time. It just wasn't fair. Why was he always denied his happy ever after?

Jacob found Billy parked by the little wooden picnic table at the back of the house, staring off into space. His long hair, greyer now than black, hung loose around his shoulders. A slight breeze ruffled the long strands as he turned his head, looking up at Jacob inquisitively as if he had sensed him coming.

"You need to let go of your anger, Jacob. Its not healthy to keep it bottled up inside." Billy said gravely.

So, his father had heard the row inside.

"You can't keep letting Rachel take advantage. She needs to contribute to this household if she's going to continue to live here." Jacob didn't hide his resentment.

Billy blanched, the lines on his face deepening as he struggled to hold Jacob's stern gaze. "You know she will just leave again if I come down too hard on her, Jake. I can't risk it."

"They're just empty threats. She has nowhere else to go. And she wouldn't leave Paul." Jacob pointed out testily. "You sound just like Charlie used to do about Bella. He tiptoed around her, and she left anyway."

Billy looked up at Jacob sharply. This was new. Bella's name was a forbidden word in the Black household after she married Edward Cullen and left Forks for good. Billy was shocked that his son had mentioned her name so casually now. Something was definitely up.

"What's really going on, Jake?" Billy asked cautiously. "Something tells me you didn't come out here to talk about Rachel."

"No." Jacob paused, his expression hardening. "I came to talk about Bella."

Panic flashed in Billy's eyes. "Bella? Why do you want to talk about her now? Have you heard something? Has there been some news? I only spoke to Charlie yesterday, he never mentioned – "

"Bella is back in Forks." Jacob cut in harshly. He leaned down, resting his hands on the armrests of Billy's wheelchair, trapping him in place. "And she's not alone. My son is with her."

"I don't – what do you mean your son?" Billy faltered as his confused thoughts slowly caught up with him.

"Exactly what I said. His name is CJ. He's six years old. Apparently, I've been a father this whole time and I didn't know it. And the reason I've been kept in the dark about him for all his life, is partly down to you and your damn meddling!"

Billy's complexion turned grey. His mouth dropped open as he stared at his son in disbelief. "I don't un-understand." He stammered.

"Explain to me what is so hard to understand about it?" Jacob demanded angrily. "You knew that Bella and I spent the night together all those years ago. I confided in you, trusted you-I was happy, dammit. And then you go behind my back by deliberately lying to Bella, telling her I didn't want to see her anymore, that I wanted nothing to do with her again. You ruined everything! You ruined my whole damn life!"

Billy was reeling from the shocking revelation of CJ's existence. "I – I was trying to protect you, Jake. She was never going to leave her vampire. We both knew that. I couldn't bear to see you suffer more heartbreak…"

"That was not your choice to make. It was mine!" Jacob began to tremble as his anguish became overwhelming. He stood up, retreating a few paces.

"Careful, Jake. Easy. Calm down."

"Yeah." Jacob said bitterly. "Calm." He shook his head back and forth quickly. After a moment, only his hands were shaking.

"You okay, son?"

"I don't think I'll ever be okay again." Jacob lamented; his tone coloured with sadness. "And I don't think I can ever forgive you for this."

"Oh, my boy, don't say that." Billy begged, his hands coming together in a pleading gesture. "It's always been you and I. We're a team. You can't turn away from me now. I'm your dad. We can get past this. We – "

"You've got Rachel now." Jacob answered dully. "She'll look after you. I need to concentrate on my son."

"You sound like you're cutting me out of your life, Jake. You're angry. You don't know what you're saying. And I'm the boy's grandfather. I want to meet him. I – "

"I don't care what you want right now!" Jacob held his hand up to stop Billy talking further. "I'm moving out."

"You can't. Where will you go?" Billy rolled his chair forward, his eyes wet with grief.

Jacob backed away, shaking his head again. "That's not your concern. I need space. I'll be in touch."

"When?"

"Sometime."

Jacob took off running, not for the dirt path through the weedy hedge at the back of the house, but in the shortest line toward the forest. He hurdled over a fallen tree trunk and then ripped his way through some thick briars. He felt the little tears as the thorns cut into his skin, but ignored them. Their sting only added to the stinging pain he already felt in his heart. Anyway, they would soon heal.

Once he was in the safety of the trees, he ran faster, taking longer strides and enjoying the feel of the cold breeze cooling his hot skin. As soon as he was in the true forest, unbound by roads or houses, he skidded to a stop and kicked his shorts off, and stripped off his shirt. With quick, practised moves, he rolled them up and tied them to the leather cord around his ankle. He was shifting even before he had pulled the ends tight. The fire trembled down his spine, throwing spams down his arms and legs. Soon he was running on four legs, the heat flooding through him. He threw his paws against the matted earth, and stretched his back in one long, rolling motion.

Jacob was feeling totally centred now. He didn't have issues with his temper now that he was a wolf and he could think more clearly. Things had been becoming unbearable at home for a long time now, made worse when Paul moved in. He should have moved out ages ago, but his usual feelings of responsibility had stopped him. Jacob knew that Embry would let him crash at his place for a while, until he found something more permanent.

As he continued to run, he was glad to be alone with his thoughts. He had chosen the right moment to phase. None of the other members of the pack were out yet. It was too early. They never bothered patrolling until at least midday these days. He knew that if any of them had been, they would have stopped him doing what he was about to do. They would have seen his intent inside his mind. He was too wired up to conceal it from them-he was going to confront Edward Cullen alone on his own turf.

Wheeling to the right, Jacob headed for Forks and the Cullens old mansion.

A/N-thanks for reading!