A/N: If you don't like the characters or plot, then don't read. This is slightly AU as fair as Lana and their ancestry and stuff like that. But the main premise will not change.

DISCLAIMER: I only own my OC, nothing else.

WORD COUNT: 1, 881

Chapter 17

Lost

"Dad, she can't have gone far, could she?" Lana asked, securing Jacob's parka around herself as Charlie wrapped his arms tighter around his youngest daughter, pressing warm kisses to the top of her head in front of the car

"I hope not, baby." Charlie rested his cheek on the crown of her head as Harry Clearwater looked up from the laptop on top of the bonnet of the car.

"Lana!" Seth called, bounding up to her from their driveway and she gently extricated herself from her father's warm hold reluctantly but she was more than happy to engulf the boy in a tight hug. "I really hope Bella's okay!"

"So do I, Seth." A hand brushed over Lana's waist, turning with Seth still rugged up in her arms, her eyes fell to Billy who tried to comfort her in his own way. A small, thankful smile curled her down-turned lips and she mouthed her gratitude to him and nodded.

"It's going to be alright, sweetheart. The moon is high, it will guide us to her." His words soothed the biting chill in her heart- replacing it with a warm flame.

"I'm going to try the Cullen's place again." Charlie murmured, already flicking through his contacts for his phone.

"I tried six times, Dad." Lana said, tightening her hold on Seth as he trembled from the cold- his hold around her hips tightening to burrow into her warmth, "I called all of them, none of them are answering."

"The Cullen's left town, Charlie." Billy informed as Charlie's head swung to his Quileute friend's, eyes widening.

"What?!" Lana piped up, lips lifting into a snarl. 'What the hell is going on? Why would they leave and not tell us. . . and what has Edward done to Bella?'

"Good riddance." Harry spoke up, looking over the maps of the woods surrounding the Swan residence.

"Dad!" Seth reproached.

"Where'd they go?" Charlie asked, Lana listening to them intently.

Harry straightened, one hand pressing against Charlie's back, ignoring his question, "we'll find her, Charlie."

"Thanks, Harry."

Lana sniffled, head pressing against the top of Seth's head and she bit back a sob.

"Hey," Jacob whispered, his hands sliding over her shaking shoulders about to speak to her before he tensed completely, "Charlie, Lana!" He called, both Swan's turned to Jacob's voice to see Sam Uley carrying an unconscious Bella.

Seth immediately pulled away as Lana and Charlie sprinted toward them, "she's alright," Sam soothed their worries as he transferred the elder Swan daughter to her father gently.

"I got her," Charlie wrapped his arms tight around Bella, "thank you, Sam."

Lana moved forward and hugged the Quileute man, almost jumping back from the sheer heat he was giving off"thank you so much!"

"It's alright, Lana. I'm glad I found her." Sam pulled back, smiling down at the youngest Swan who smiled, running after her Dad and big sister, missing the silent interactions with Harry and Jacob.

Sam watched Lana run to the house, her interesting scent lingering against his skin. Dark eyes flicked to Billy who slightly shook his head- his deep voice almost reverberating in Sam's head, as if to say, 'we'll talk later.'

Later it would be. . .

(..)

Neither Lana nor Charlie were ready for what would ensue for the next few months.

Sleepless nights filled with Bella's harrowed shrieking- distressing both her father and sister that watched over her. Lana had taken to laying next to Bella to be right there when the screaming started so she could easily look after her broken sister when Bella needed her.

Charlie watched as Lana came home for months, collapsing on the couch only to pass out almost immediately.

It hurt him to see Lana so lifeless, bruise-like circles covering her drooping eyes, shuffling through the house like a zombie. He had taken to driving her to the Reservation as he didn't trust that she would be able to operate her motorcycle without causing an accident. Her grades were starting to slip due to her exhaustion, her friends were coming by less for Bella and now more for Lana to help her out with classes and homework.

That group of kids were saints.

Jacob could see what looking after Bella was doing to his best friend, Lana's constant shadowing over her shell-like sister was only serving to hurt her and nobody else. Countless times had Jacob gone with Lana to the Cullen house to see if they had come back- only to see all their personal items gone, the house bare and what furniture was left, covered with white sheets in a weak attempt to protect them from dust.

Lana was going above and beyond for her sister and it was tearing her apart.

She didn't babysit Seth anymore, couldn't hang out with Jacob, Quil and Embry because she was sleeping on the couch to ready herself to look after Bella in the middle of the night.

Charlie would take her to the Res almost daily so she could get away from the stress of home. Lana would be outside in the garage with the boys, smiling tiredly at their attempts to get her to belly laugh, only getting an amused huff for their efforts. Half an hour later she'd be asleep, curled up on one of the old arm chairs- snoring softly as she clutched a wrench to her chest.

Quil and Embry sighed, looking sadly at Lana's unconscious form.

"What the hell is going on at her house, Jake? Lana's sleep-walking these days." Quil murmured quietly, turning around in the wheelie chair to face his friend.

"Yeah, I heard from Seth that she hasn't been around since Sam found Bella." Embry added, gently covering his sleeping friend before going back to help Jake with the bike.

Sighing, Jake gently set the ratchet down so as not to wake Lana, "Bella's been really bad since the Cullen's left. She's hardly eating- not talking. She's having really bad nightmares. She screams and wakes up Charlie and Lana in the middle of the night. To prevent that, Lana's been sleeping in Bella's room so her dad can get some rest and Bella doesn't have to suffer."

"But when is Lana sleeping?" Embry asked.

"Now. At times when it's quiet and she doesn't have to worry as much." Jacob said, looking over the bike to see her still asleep, full lips parted slightly, eyes fluttering gently and eyelashes brushing against her high cheekbones- golden skin illuminated by the dim yellow light and black hair blanketing her upper half, a lock of hair laying across her face messily.

"I can't believe Bella would do this to Lana." Quil sighed, shaking his head.

"What?" Jacob growled, his hackles rising instantly, "this isn't Bella's fault!"

"The hell it isn't, Jake." Embry agreed with Quil, meeting Jacob's glare with a furious one of his own, "Bella got broken up with, yeah. It's gonna hurt, yeah. But you don't completely lose yourself because of it and make your family suffer with you. Your dad even said that Charlie is too worried about his daughters to do his job properly. Bella shouldn't break because one guy left her and her sister feels obligated to pick up the pieces she's willingly breaking into. Lana shouldn't suffer because her sister can't pick herself up." Embry growled, "Bella's not some saint you can put on a pedestal- not when she does this," He pointed to the girl's sleeping form, "to Lana! That is not Lana, Jake. That is a robot on autopilot, programmed to care for Bella 24/7."

"She can't be herself at home- that's why she comes here all the time. To get away from her sister for a couple hours in the day, because here she feels comfortable with y-us." Jacob, too far in thought, didn't catch the slight misstep on Quil's part.

"How can everyone see it but you?" Embry asked before standing up, shrugging on his jacket.

"Where are you going?" Jacob asked, his voice having diminished quite a bit.

"I'm going to get Seth, he'll be happy to see Lana for a little bit." With that, Embry walked out of the garage.

Jacob sighed, fingers reaching to pick up the ratchet- only for it to drop loudly on the ground- the sound reverberating.

Lana jumped out of the seat, eyes wild as she gasped, "Bella!" She called, pure concern twisting her features as a tears filled her eyes but never slipped down her cheek.

She was holding them back.

Jacob was first on his feet, running to Lana to wrap her in his arms, "it's okay, Lana! It's just me, I'm sorry! I dropped the ratchet, I'm sorry." As Jacob repeated his apologies, he slowly felt Lana relax and sink into his arms, shuddering in relief as she realised Bella wasn't screaming in her ear or snapping at her for saying that Alice wouldn't return her emails- no matter how many times she sent another.

"Jake?" Lana whispered, sniffling.

"Yeah, it's me." Jacob answered gently, pulling back to see Lana looking up at him with a soothed smile and he reciprocated before gently lifting the lock of hair from her face, smoothing it into place. "It's going to be alright. You still tired? You want to go back to sleep?" His hand rested against the base of her skull, massaging it.

Lana thought, expression changing into one of contemplation, "can we get pizza?"

The request caused Jacob and Quil to burst out in fits of laughter and Lana soon followed, holding Jacob by his arms to keep him from falling.

As always, Lana was hyper aware of Jacob whenever he was near and that also translated to now. He was taller but that normal- they were only sixteen. But this was different. She felt his biceps tense under her hold, her hands couldn't fit around them like they used to. His whole body seemed heavier and when he held her against him, she could feel the ripples and muscles of his chest and the heat that was starting to exude from him was a hot rush of comfort that she melted into. It was like the heat called for her and when she looked into his eyes, it was like there was something underlying those deep brown eyes of his that made her want to free herself from whatever chains were holding her back.

Jacob was changing and it wasn't just puberty.

Something was happening and whatever was happening to him, was also happening to her.