Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
Alice and Jasper stood as still as possible just outside the door of Carlisle's makeshift hospital. The pair had taken it upon themselves to ensure Carlisle's request for no entry be honored. The task, however, proved more difficult than anticipated.
Jasper sighed and released another wave of calm at the two women pacing in front of them. Leah and Rosalie stumbled mid step only to be helped back by Jacob and Emmett, respectively.
Doesn't she have a leash? Alice grinned at her own joke until the icy glare from the girl in question made her realize she had spoken the words out loud. Oh, hell.
"Sorry," she mumbled, rolling her eyes and not really all that sorry. "What?" She shrugged to her husband, was was giving her a look as if to say 'was that really necessary?' "She still thinks Bella's gonna kill him!"
Leah made an incoherent sound from the corner, and Jasper felt a little bad so he eased up on his "medicine."
Her words came out in a slur but their impeccable ears understood them anyway. "I swear if something happens to him, I'll kill her myself."
Jasper groaned internally when he felt Rosalie's rage reach new heights. He had no chance of containing her when she got like this so he settled for trying to deflect the worst of it from himself. Alice understood his distress and squeezed his hand, mentally berating herself for contributing to yet another escalation from Rosalie. She hadn't seen any of this coming, and was starting to blame these dogs for clouding her vision.
The blonde strained against Emmett's firm arms. When she spoke her voice was low and hard, full of distress and anger. "You have no fucking idea what she's going through to save your fucking brother." She set her eyes on Jacob, who, apart from doing what he could to keep Leah from storming through the closed door, had spoken nary a word since entering the Cullen's house. "She's doing this for you. So you better be fucking grateful and treat her like a human being when this is all over."
Jacob met her eyes. Brave kid, Alice thought. But stupid. Rosalie's never lost a glaring contest.
"Was I supposed to give her a hug when I found out she killed my mom? Sorry, but we humans value life a little more that."
Rosalie narrowed her eyes and took a step forward. Emmett kept a hand linked to hers but did not follow. In fact he looked just as inclined as Rosalie to rip off the boy's head.
"She tried to end her life after it happened," Rosalie whispered furiously. "She jumped off that same cliff with every intention of dying with your mother. Would that have made you feel better? Would that bring you justice?"
He didn't answer, but at least he had the sense to look away.
The tension in the air around them was thick enough to fog the glass. All was quiet on the other side of the door, but that didn't mean they weren't aware of what was happening there. Earlier, before Bella cut off all sound from the room, they heard bones and cartilage breaking and re-breaking. They heard Seth's pitiful cries of pain. And now, though it had been hours since they heard anything from the room thanks to Bella's gift, the vampires could smell the fear rolling off of Seth. And most worriedly, they could smell the increasing distress coming from Bella. It was maddening that they couldn't learn more.
Holding a huge tray in her arms, Esme descended like a fairy godmother with plates of human food that left a sour taste in Alice and Jasper's throats. The shifters hesitated for a few moments, then Jacob got up, thanked Esme, and took a sandwich. Leah reluctantly followed his lead, and the group had its first few minutes of relative peace as the pair devoured the food in front of them.
Here, piggy piggies, Alice thought with a grin. She shared a look with Jasper and knew they were thinking the same thing. Next time they negotiate a treaty, they'll be sure to bring snacks.
"...he'll be all right..."
"...what's wrong with her?"
"...Exhaustion I think..."
"...how long..."
"...she's ever strained herself so much before..."
"...lot of effort..."
"...too much at once..."
Something cool was radiating from the left side of her body, which was a nice, if not odd contrast to the heat from her right side. What on earth…?
Stirring, she groggily opened her eyes and met Rosalie's looking back at her. Her cold hand, which was gripping her own softly, tightened.
"You're here…" Bella said with a smile, surprising herself. Guess she had half expected Rosalie to disappear again. She wouldn't blame her this time, after the stupidity of last (was it only a day ago?) night.
Rosalie looked down at her lap and paused before turning to her again, eyes bright. "I'll always be here. From now on, I promise: no more running."
What Rosalie wasn't telling her was that she had ultimately decided she couldn't wait anymore. The question that had burned inside her for over a year; burning, she was sure, far more painfully than the worst of Bella's fire, had finally leaped past the last of Rosalie's hurdles. In the five days alone with her thoughts and unshed tears, Rosalie had reached her reckoning. She came to her last night ready to talk, ready to ask her to be hers forever.
As much as the words shot out from her heart, as much as they yearned to be uttered, Rosalie held back and waited. They needed privacy for this, and the house was teeming with vampires and wolves.
"Seth is going to be all right," she broke the silence after her last statement. "He's on a steady supply of morphine so he won't move. He keeps burning through it, but Carlisle just gives him more. He thinks he'll be fine in a week or two."
Bella nodded, remembering her ordeal from the night before. Turns out, there's only so many things her brain could focus on at one time. 206 bones in the human body. Muscles. Tissues. Keeping the vampires' scents from reaching the wolves, and vice versa. Keeping Seth's screams confined to the room... Whatever that magic number was, if the splitting headache and near catatonic state she experienced during and after Carlisle relieved her last night were any indication, she had clearly surpassed it.
"What's so funny?" Rosalie asked suddenly with a questioning, queer look.
"Huh?"
Rosalie pointed to her own ear, and Bella, getting the hint, asked the wind for help. It complied and, thank goodness, without any pain this time.
Emmett and Jasper were laughing quietly downstairs.
"We were just thinking of the lost business opportunity," Jasper said, still laughing. "Bella could've started an airline company. 'Swan Airlines, the cheapest tickets, the fastest flights, and the most comfortable seats…in fact there are none!'"
Bella looked at Rosalie, perplexed. "What the hell are you talking about?" She asked the disembodied voice.
"Dude you could've gotten people to pay you to fly them!" Emmett exclaimed. "You could've made a whole business out of it. And you wouldn't have had to worry about airplanes or pilots or any of that! But now we know you can't. Bummer."
Silence.
Then, Alice said, "Why exactly are we married to you two?"
"Psht, wits and charm. Duh."
Though his lips twitched ever so slightly from the exchange happening in front of him, Jacob's heart felt too heavy to grant him more than a smile that did not reach his eyes. He was still clutching his phone in his hand, fresh from a phone call with his dad.
"You need to stay away from the reservation for a while," Billy said. "Sam is making a huge ruckus out of this. I don't know what he'll do if he sees you."
Jacob growled into the phone. "I had every right to do what I did. I'm the alpha by blood."
"I know that, son. But we have two packs now and the rest of the boys are loyal to Sam."
"He was gonna leave Seth to die!"
"And he's going to be ok now thanks to you."
"No dad. Thanks to Carlisle. And-and Bella."
"Well," Billy replied slowly. "That's good to hear. Listen son, watch yourself and your pack. They need the council's permission to do something drastic, and Sue and I will do what we can to make sure that never happens. But you can bet they'll try to incite you if they find you. Don't give them the chance."
How did things get so messed up? Jacob wondered. Like his life wasn't already complicated before. A day ago he hated his life, but at least he knew his place in it. Now he was responsible for an insurrection. This was the first time in the tribe's history that two packs existed at once. He was responsible for this, and for two other people who now looked to him for guidance he honestly did not feel he could provide. And he couldn't go home. The second pack from La Push had to rely on vampires. The situation made his spine tingle. It felt like treason.
The woman who played the mother, Esme, walked up to him slowly with yet another tray. It was supremely difficult to go against his instincts, which reacted violently from the horrible smell these bloodsuc-vampires, he mentally corrected himself-exuded. He hadn't noticed for much of last night until Bella went to sleep. Then, as the scent suddenly creeped up on him and Leah, the others explained that it was Bella who was until then keeping their scents from mixing. He wanted to lash out against the offending scent and its owner but...he couldn't really do that, could he?
Besides, Esme was the last leech-vampire-he wanted to see hurt. The woman had been feeding him and Leah all night.
"Thank you," he forced a smile for Esme as he helped himself to a roast beef sandwich.
She smiled warmly back. "You're welcome dear."
Leah knew she should't feel threatened at this point, but try telling that to her jumbled nerves. She sat stiffly by her brother, her arms protectively around him while the doctor looked him over.
It's going to be ok. They're helping him. They're not going to hurt him. They're NOT going to hurt him.
Carlisle frowned as he inspected the IV line.
"How often have you increased his dosage?" He asked her.
"Whenever he started to move, just like you told me," she said defensively. Leah had been climbing the walls until someone finally gave her something to do. Carlisle had instructed her to keep a watchful eye on Seth (like she wouldn't have done that anyway). He had shown her how to increase the flow of the morphine and she had, as instructed, done that whenever Seth gave the slightest twitch.
Carlisle looked down at her brother, who was barely visible through the vast swaths of bandages mummifying him.
"His tolerance is rising."
"So give him more. It's not like it'll hurt him."
"I can't exhaust the hospital's supply without someone noticing," he explained. "I can order more on my own, but it won't get here today."
"So now what?" She asked angrily. "You're just gonna let him die?!"
"Of course not," he replied gently. It really irked her how nice these people were. She'd feel a lot better if one of them threw her a punch so she'd have an excuse to fight back. She needed a good fight.
He raised his voice. "Bella?"
After another few seconds he spoke again. "Bella, I'm sorry to have to ask you again, but are you feeling up to this?"
The door opened not long after, and Bella and the blonde walked in followed immediately by Jacob.
Carlisle looked at Bella apologetically. "I'm so sorry about this."
The blonde, Rosalie, flashed him a steely look of anger but stayed silent by Bella's side.
"It's ok," Bella said. "It's easier now that I don't have to divide my attention over different parts of his body. This is fine."
While she spoke, Rosalie went over to the windows in the room and opened them (rather dramatically, Leah thought). Have at it, bitch.
Carlisle left. The four of them, and Seth remained in silence.
...
...
...
Well...this is awkward. Bella's face was perfectly neutral. She stood above Seth, half watching him and half watching something else in her own head. A step behind her, Rosalie kept absolutely still, on alert. She watched her and Jacob, clearly ready to pounce if either of them didn't toe the line.
Leah, for once, thought it best to keep her mouth shut. But boy, was it hard. She wasn't bothered by Bella. Did she think they'd ever be best friends? No. No, Bella was just another stupid girl who fantasized about vampires and was unlucky enough to actually find them. Her past was too fucked up for Leah to think about, but she did at least save her brother. That makes her all right in her book.
Beside her, Jacob too was obviously distracted by both the company and his thoughts. But she couldn't blame him now could she? On the one hand, Leah hated that for the rest of her life she'd have to follow another. Sam, now Jacob, and who knows who else one day...but she'd never be able to call the shots in her own life. On the other hand, looking at Jacob now, she knew she'd rather follow him than try to lead them. Leah wasn't built for leading a pack. She wasn't built for the overwhelming responsibility that was so clearly weighing on Jacob's shoulders. And she was grateful.
The irritable blond finally visibly relaxed when Bella gently entwined her hand in hers.
Leah said nothing, but her outward appearance, her scent...she didn't know what, but something must have changed for Rosalie to react.
"What's your problem?" Rosalie snapped.
"Nothing…"
"I can smell it on you," Rosalie narrowed her eyes. "You're disgusted by something."
Jesus, they can smell that? She shook her head indignantly. She didn't have to answer to her. She glanced at Jacob for help, but he eyed her back with only mild curiosity and caution. Thanks a lot, O mighty leader.
"I'm not-"
"She's not going to hurt you or your brother!" Rosalie exclaimed, wrapping an arm around her girlfriend (who was oddly quiet through all this). "Jesus, what more do you-"
"I don't give a shit about your girlfriend!"
"Then, I ask again. What's your problem?"
Oh no. Don't say it. Don't say it. Word vomit. Don't.
"You are."
Oh fuck it. Blondie wants a fight? Leah's itching for one.
"What?"
"I have a problem with two-timers. I have a problem with people who have a perfectly good relationship but then suddenly decide that's not enough. I have a problem with people who lead the people that love them on."
Everyone looked at her in surprise. Well, Jacob looked at her with surprise and dismay. He must have seen this coming.
Bella moved closer to Rosalie, rested her hand on her arm to calm her, and finally spoke up. "You've been misinformed, Leah. There's no two-timing or leading on here. Emmett and I are both aware and content with our relationships. I'm in this because I want to be."
Leah snorted. "You tell yourself whatever you want. Remember that when she breaks your heart. Or his."
Author's note: We are so, so, so close to the you-know-what. I have much of it outlined but this is your chance to give feedback on what you think will happen/what you want to happen. It wouldn't be the first time good feedback's had an influence on how things turn out in Gifted!