Chapter7: Raw Nerves
The first thing Leah registered was a blurry sort of pain, and the muffled voice of Carlisle Cullen. Then everything sharpened, and Leah yowled as the pain came into focus, but Carlisle was talking, telling her to focus on him, "Leah, can you understand me blink once for yes, and twice for no." Leah blinked once, "That's very good, now can you shift back without further injury to yourself," again Leah blinked once, and focused on her human shape. First she needed to calm down enough to shift. She was still quaking with pain and fear. Then she felt it. A cold firm hand in Leah's fur and the smell of jasmine. Alice was there. She shifted back so fast that the pain knocked the air out of her lungs, which were burning. She tried to curl in on herself. That made the pain worse, "You're doing great Alice, from what I can tell you're an O positive blood type. That's good, but will regular blood interfere with your shifter physiology?"
Leah tried to focus on the question, after a moment all the words made sense, "I...don't...know," she gasped out, "Alice."
"I'm right here, Leah who did this to you?"
"S-sam," then Leah's eyes fluttered closed, and everything went dark for another moment. When they opened again she saw Alice being restrained by Jasper. Rosalie looked ready to kill something. Then her vision faded to black again. Then there was Seth...in a blindfold...at that point Leah accepted that she was delirious, and decided to let herself be asleep. Except Carlisle insisted she be awake for some reason. Then she felt him stitch together her right side, and apparently relocate her shoulder. Then she couldn't be awake anymore.
The Cullens were angry. Seth was sitting on the couch next to Esme, Emmett had snuck onto the Rez to get him when all the wolves had gone hunting to let off steam. Emily wouldn't let them back into the house otherwise. They were waiting for Leah to wake up. Carlisle had finished patching up the wolf, and her healing abilities would take care of the rest. There probably won't even leave scars. They were still pissed. Emmett was pacing the living room with Rosalie watching his every move. With her fists clenched, she wanted to kill something. This shouldn't be happening to anyone else no one should be...hurt by someone they should have been able to trust. Jasper was growling deep in his chest feeding off of everyone else's anger. Carlisle came out covered in her blood, "She should be fine. However she can't be moved. When he bit her neck it came dangerously close to her spine. If they come for her she can't go yet."
"Of course not, she isn't going anywhere she's under our protection," Esme said finally in her tone, "you can stay too if you want," she directed that at Seth who nodded his thanks. Carlisle came to sit next to his wife patting her on the knee.
Alice was sitting in a chair looking in the direction of the room Leah was in every few minutes. Then she looked at Seth. Jasper was standing behind her leaning on the chair. Then she turned to Seth, "How did this happen?"
"I don't know, honest. She went over to Sam's before I got up, I think she was going to talk to him, and then head over here to talk to you, maybe get to know you. If i could take a guess he didn't take it well."
"Obviously," This came from Emmett with a derisive snort.
""By the time i figured out something was wrong the whole pack was chasing her down. I followed, but got ordered to go back home. Then I was ordered that I couldn't see her, but I found a loophole as long as I don't look at her I should be fine," he smiled obviously proud of himself for being so clever.
"Has anyone told Bella or Edward about this?" Esme asked.
"No, and we aren't going to, they'd come back, and I am not going to be the reason they cut their honeymoon short," Alice said , doing a quick future check on them both, and all was well. At least on that front. She relaxed ever so slightly, though she was so angry at the mutts.
Then she heard the doorbell ring. Rosalie got there first. She could smell them on the other side. She yanked it open, barely able to restrain her strength to not RIP it off the hinges, and saw Sam and the rest. He smiled a little, he probably thought it was charming, "May we help you?" Rosalie asked with a perfect eyebrow perfectly arched.
"We need Seth and Leah to come home. Now."
Rosalie barred her teeth, "I have killed bears bigger than you little wolf man, now we are not handing them over, Leah cannot be moved after being mauled by you, and Seth is not going unless he wants too, now get. Off. my. Lawn." she ended the statement with a snarl. Sam glared at the blonde vampire.
"This has nothing to do with you Leech, they're my pack, now give them back. This violates the treaty."
"How? We haven't harmed Leah, you did. Besides, she and Seth are under our protection."
"Like Hell."
"Technically Leah's under Alice's protection since she is apparently Leah's soulmate, and you'll have to pry Seth away from my mother with a crowbar. If anything you're in violation of the treaty," Rosalie had gotten a law degree in 1972. She made a mental note to retake the bar exam.
"This is not over," Sam growled before leaving, taking the rest of the pack with him.
Then the minute the door was closed her back was pressed against it, and Emmett was kissing her furiously. After a few minutes he pulled back, and Rosalie smiled fuzzily at him, "Not that i'm complaining, but why?"
"That was hot, but why did you stick up for them."
"I meant what I said, besides you're fond of them, and whatever my baby wants he gets."
"Ya darn tootin'," he said with a chuckle, "so wanna go to our cabin, and maybe play opposing counsel," Emmett is a few credits short of a law degree.
"Yes please," they quickly bade everyone farewell, and left.
Esme and Carmisle looked at each other with mirth and amusement shining in their eyes. Then they heard a whimper From the room where Leah was. Alice had never moved so fast, and neither had Jasper. Alice immediately went to Leah's right side and gingerly picked up her hand. Leah had to sigh happily at the feeling of the cool smoothness of Alice's hand in hers. Leah's eyes opened, and looked over at Alice, "Hey, Alice."
"Leah, I see telling Sam went well," Alice joked weakly.
Leah huffed out a laugh. Then winced and groaned in pain, "Alice, try not to injure my patient," Carlisle said, coming over to check her vitals.
"So doc will I live?"
"Most certainly, now how are you feeling anything hurt?"
Leah took a moment to take stock, "Everything," then she looked at the doorway and saw Jasper hovering outside the door with her brother who did indeed have a blindfold on, "what are you doing ya goof," she asked her brother.
"Sam ordered me not to *see* you I found a work around."
"There's my genius," then a searing white hot pain ripped through Leah's left side causing her to jerk and scream. Alice looked at the young woman clearly in pain.
"What is it? Carlilse?"
"It's a nerve ending mending itself," Leah hissed out, calming down as her body finished its repair. Sweat beaded on her forehead. Alice gently wiped it away with the hand that wasn't holding Leah's.
"Leah I have a few questions about your physiology."
"My people never really got to the science of it doc."
"Well would you mind if I ran some tests on the blood I drew while working on you."
"Sure, whatever er blows your skirt up. Now how do I get up and go to the restroom."
"You can't move a lot, and you'll need some help, would you like one of us to help you, and I think I have a bedpan somewhere," he said looking around, "Though i must say, it was refreshing to put someone back together other than Bella."
"Happy to help doc, but I think I'm good enough to get up," she then proceeded to try, and immediately dropped to the floor, "bedpan you say," Leah gasped out the pain in her neck and side burning, and her vision swam. Then there were cold arms hoisting her up, and she was being placed back into the bed by Alice.
"You are stubborn I see."
"Yup, thanks, now no offense but I think I'll have your dad help me pee in as much privacy as possible. He should be used to it being a doctor and all."
"Actually if you'd prefer a woman Esme has been a nurse in a few of my private practises."
"Yes please if she doesn't mind."
"Not at all my dear, now all of you out visiting hours are over," all the people filed out of the room, Alice was last and reluctant.
That night Alice focused on the heart beat of the shifter in the next room. Her even breathing, lending a bit of relief to the short vampire. She was curled up in Jasper's arms. The familiar feeling of that giving her a bit more relief. She also felt seething hatred for Sam just below the relief of having to people she... cared for safe and sound. She could admit that she cared for Leah. The urge to be near her is nearly as strong as the need to be close to Jasper.
"You're thinking awfully loud there darlin'," Jasper said running his fingers along her spine. He could feel the swirl of tumultuous emotions in Alice, and he knew she would voice them when she wanted and not a moment before, but he was going to let himself be available for her always, "If it hadn't been for you I would have killed Sam."
"But I was there, and we will protect our own."
"Does Leah count as that?" She felt Jasper stiffen beneath her for a microsecond before relaxing once again.
"Do you want it to be?"
"I don't know i… care for her, but she has no choice but to care for me, and that just doesn't seem fair to anyone. I'll get to know her, and maybe help her find someone else to be with, if not love," that thought brought Alice no joy,it seemed to be the only way she didn't feel that way about Leah, but the thought 9f anyone else touching her made Alice decidedly uncomfortable. She took in a deep unnecessary breath, taking in Leah's scent and settled further into Jasper's arms for the night.
A/N: I hope you enjoy this no cliffy this time. Thought I'd cut you guys a break. Please read and let me know what you think I value your opinions.