Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right

Here Comes the Sun, by The Beatles, from the album Abbey Road, released in 1969

Jacob's POV

Slowly but surely, our bond knitted together, like it had never been strained in the first place. Bella was now resting at her house, the familiar surroundings hoping to be reassuring to her when she woke up. Doctor Leech had stuck to his word, the rest of his family were moving away, with only the Doctor Leech staying here to monitor Bella.

When I say here, I meant at his home, not in our house. I would never let any of that Coven stay here, not after what they had done. Bella looked peculiar lying on the bed, a wolf that wasn't actively trying to maul anybody, laying on something that humans used. Pitiful whines emerged from her throat every so often, the sound causing me to flinch for every second it was uttered. I ran my hand gently down the back of her head, her ears twitching with a response.

I always took a deep breath before doing it, because I was so, so, terrified of causing her further harm. Do you want to know how many bones she had broken? Twenty-fucking-five, including but not limited to, her ribs, right paw, left paw, hip, tail, and those were just the ones I'd kept my temper about. I had stormed out of the room as the list kept incrementing, and tore apart a few trees.

It made me regret ever considering letting that family go. They did so much shit to her, broke her physically and mentally, and I just let them walk away. What kind of an Imprint was I?! I was startled out of my self-depreciative and angered thoughts by the oddest twitch of Bella's forepaw, one of the few that had made it out of the Incident, in one piece. She shifted as I stared at her in disbelief, before she tried to lift herself up, with her back arching ever so slightly.

While no noise escaped her, a pain filled haze fleeted across her brown eyes, like a deer running from a wolf. I moved to stop her, gently placing my hands on her body to push her down, as Sue came beside me and did the safe.

"Easy Bella."

Charlie was the next to come in, slightly out of breath, but otherwise none the worse for wear. He looked a bit bedraggled, and he had a smudge of red on his face. Sue had made lasagne for supper, which Charlie looked like he was in the middle of when he'd come up.

Rubbing his mouth with the back of his hand, he came up next to me, stilling slightly, before scrunching his eyes shut briefly, flicking them back open just as fast. He still hadn't gotten used to the fact that this was Bella.. but at the very least he wasn't in a psychiatric hospital. When Charlie had found out that I'd made the decision to let the Leeches leave, he had been pissed at me.

There had been plenty of yelling, and honestly, I didn't blame Charlie. He'd been under a lot of stress with what had happened.. Bella giving herself up to save him, and honestly, I regretted the decision. But I had to hold myself to my word.. and at least some positives could be made from this, right?

Despite us being on rocky ground, and being new to the whole 'your daughter is a wolf thing and your essential son-in-law is also one, and is bonded to your daughter', he hadn't tried to shoot anyone. Like me, he ran his hands loosely through her fur, sighing in displeasure. She growled lowly, huffing, before barking, flinching ever so slightly.

She huffed again, no doubt annoyed at the fact that she couldn't communicate unless she phased back, which she definitely couldn't do until all her wounds had healed, her bones realigning. Bella seemed to give up on any attempt at escape, because she rested her muzzle back on the pillow.

"Once you're healed, we will be having a talk about this Missy."

He gestured at her wolf, then at me, and then at anything in the general vicinity. Sue excused herself to phone Leech, as I blinked myself out of my stupor, continuing to run my fingers through her fur. There was a brief nudging at the back of my mind, reminiscent of the pack mind but distinctly not, yet it was still familiar.

Concentrating hard, looking at Bella, the faint wisp and whisper of words floated around my head, taunting me. Grabbing onto it gently, I focused on it, the words joining into sentences, and becoming loud and understandable.

How is Charlie?

It had the undercurrents of Bella's voice in it, and as I turned to her, she inclined her head ever so slightly, leaning against the pillow. Turning towards Charlie, I acted as translator, because it was clear as day how important Bella's bond with her father was. Itching my eye, I stifled a yawn before actually translating.

"She's asking after you."

"How do- you know what, never mind. Just a freaky wolf thing. I'm good Bells. Cullen didn't touch me. You?.. other then the whole… trapped thing."

He gesticulated wildly with his arms, before reigning in his flailing limbs a little. Sue made her re-entrance into the room, followed by Sam and then my Dad. He muttered something in Quiluette, directing his eyes downwards, before returning his eyesight to the group of us. Bella's pale pink tongue hung out of her muzzle, her nose snuffling ever so slightly, before her eyes focused on all of us. Her next words were heavy and weighted and tired, but I dutifully translated them all the same.

I'm.. well, okay would be a lie, but I don't want Charlie to know how bad I'm hurting.

Her brown eyes flickered to my own, silently pleading over just a quick glance. Clenching my knuckle was an attempt to reign in my anger that was flooding through me like blood through my veins, but it didn't do much to stifle it.

"She's.. not well, but not bad. She's hurt but.. is glad to be free."

Judging by a hardened glint in Charlie's eye, I could tell that if he could have, Cullen would be very dead by now, turned to ash by his glare alone. Bella's gratitude was evident, even if my choice of words were perhaps not the best. The conversation hung limply, before we were interrupted by the sound of the door bell going. Dad went to go get it, and almost immediately there was a noticeable change in scents. Liquid bleach went up my nostrils, burning the passageways as acrid sugar soon joined it.

Judging by Bella's own ill-hidden flinch, her sense of smell wasn't one of the things impacted by her experience. It was easy to hear Dad's barely restrained civility, his voice sour and taut, as Leech spoke with that 'velvet-like' voice, as Bella put it. Walking at a human pace, his footsteps audible, he peaked through the door, wearing what looked to be a doctor's uniform.

Figures. Rubbing at my nose as if that could make the smell go away, we all watched the door, golden eyes appearing, followed by my Dad's normal coloured eyes. Leech bowed his head ever so slightly, eyes meeting everybody's for a brief second.

My wolf was screaming at me to be on edge, my hackles were raised, and despite being contained by my human skin, I could feel the edges of my fur standing up on edge, as the tremors going through my body threatened to quick-start my phase.

"I'm just going to check over Bella."

He murmured, in a tone that would have been soothing had he not been a Leech. Now it only served to further make myself on edge. We parted, creating a path for him to walk through, even as a growl budded deep in my throat, and from the looks of it, Sam was in much of the same position.

Bella was oddly quiet, and as I subconsciously moved to where Bella's head rested, my hand resting on her bed, my nails almost claws. Slowly telegraphing his moves, he appeared next to Bella's side, his hands stilling next to his sides.

"I'm just going to look at your hip."

He put on some gloves that were probably more for show then anything, and he went to gently touch her hip. Before he could actually make any contact with her, she yelped, trying to flinch away, rolling over on the bed and almost falling off, if not for me grabbing her. I gently ran my hands down her neck, but almost got my fingers nipped off as she lurched and tried to snap at me. I managed to tear them away before her jaws found purchase.

Her eyes seemed to glaze over, legs kicking out in self defence. Leech stepped away, as I dipped into my own mind, trying to get to hers. But it was shielded tighter then Fort Knox. Words in both Quiluette and English did nothing to sooth her, about as useful as it would be to tie all my limbs together. I didn't dare make contact with her, and she didn't look like she was about to stop flailing any time soon.

The scent of Shadow flooded the room as he stormed through, bursting open the door with such ferocity unusual of him. His head, I would bet, would probably a bit sore, or at the very least, his side, considering he'd slammed through several wooden doors.

There was no sign of his usual hesitance around humans, and normally he just kept himself to himself, living out in the woods. It was odd that he'd come in here: and I couldn't understand why he did, but, resisting the urge to snap, I sat and watched, in pain from watching my Imprint suffer even more.

He jumped up on his hind legs, his front paws resting gently on the pillow. I quickly closed my eyes and tried to immerse myself in the pack mind. It wasn't easy, given I was in human form, and hell, I wasn't even sure if I could access it. It was like searching for something that you knew was there, but very, very, well hidden. Still, I narrowed my eyes, and sensing something that felt like a closed door, I pulled it open.

Several thoughts trickled in like water from a faucet, and as I kept it open, I could feel a headache coming on. Tuning them out, I snaked towards what I thought was Shadow's mind, and I could feel it slowly intertwine with Bella's, with an ease that I would love to have. I listened in to what Shadow was whispering, as Bella continued her symphony of growls and whine. She was obviously terrified, and with good reason.

Tuning into what Shadow was saying, quiet and commanding words in another language, I couldn't help but watch as Bella calmed down, no longer thrashing.

"Dum spiro, spero. Dum vita est, spes est. Qui dormit non peccat et Quod nocet, saepe doce. Amor est in aeternum, sed proditione est cruciataque."

("While I breathe, I hope. While there is life, there is hope. He who sleeps does not sin, and that which harms, often teaches. Love is forever, but betrayal is anguished")

Unfortunately, being able to understand many languages was not one of our gifts. And I didn't know any one who could speak whatever the hell that was. Hesitantly, I reached towards Bella, who's sad brown eyes looked at my own, as her ears folded downwards. She seemed very remorseful about nearly biting me, and I was reminded back when Edward had mauled her, and she was so.. timid.

Bella was strong and determined at the best of times, but even the strongest material can break. Leech moved forwards once again, but this time he remained in Bella's eyesight. Backing out of the pack mind, I instead traipsed along our bond, slowly reforming in front of my eyes.

I know it is hard. I know you have a lot of well-earned anger, especially towards Leeches. And trust me, if there was any other option, they would not be anywhere near you. But we can't take you to the hospital without revealing our secret, and the Leech is the only one who can take care of injuries as severe as yours.

I could almost hear a mental growl, despite the lack of a real one present in her closed throat. Leech was keeping his hands by his sides, waiting for the go ahead from one of us before proceeding. We all knew that if he put one foot out of place, his foot would no longer be attached to his body. And his feet would no longer be feet, but ash.

When Bella spoke- or whatever you wanted to classify it as- there was a dangerous undertone that I'd never heard before. She was bristling, angry, and I could tell she wanted to chew me out for something. That wasn't a conversation I was looking forward towards, but it was one that was going to happen. I was hoping at the very least she would let me explain myself before she leapt at my throat.

The things the Leech did to me- he did not hurt me in perhaps the worst way, and I will forever be grateful for that- hurt me physically and mentally. The days of me being submissive to his actions are over, and I want him to get his due punishment. But that won't happen, will it, Jacob? No matter, that conversation is for another time. I think it is understandable that I flinch whenever a Leech comes near me, after what I've been through due to one.

I was tore in two. One part of me, the prideful Jacob Alpha part, wanted to put her into her place for even daring to talk to me like that. I fought to suppress that with all of my might, because that kind of attitude wouldn't get us anywhere, other then me being in the literal doghouse. Plus, it was a very much, not okay, thing to do in any relationship, even if we were wolves. Trust me, it was definitely not okay.

The other part of me, the more human part, wanted to hide away from her, because after whatever had happened to her? She was a scary god damn person to mess with. My wolf was purring inside of me, seemingly happy about something in this scenario that I wasn't privy too. She huffed, a growl echoing her thoughts, as her body shifted, so that she was angled towards facing Leech, her eyes piercing through his entire body. Any feelings she had towards them had seemingly vaporised, and honestly, I couldn't blame her.

He can do it. I will restrain myself. But this conversation is not over.

With that angered word, her mind cut off from me. I could still sense our bond, but her thoughts were cut off from me once more. Sighing, and gently rubbing my thumb on her ear, I nodded towards Doctor Leech, and he proceeded on. The tension in the room could be cut with a knife fifteen times over, as we watched with bated breath, our fingers either tensing on various weapons or preparing to phase. We wouldn't let it happen a second time.

Bella had been.. distant throughout Leech checking her over. I didn't mean in terms of verbally, or even physically, but more of the mental variety. Her mind was shut off, her eyes were shut, and her breaths slowed, to the extent where I could hardly see her chest rise and fall. Leech had been quick, saying everything had been healing correctly, she couldn't phase back for at least three weeks, and that there wasn't much he could do in terms of medicine.

He couldn't risk overdosing her on medicine or whatever, and there wasn't any stronger stuff that wouldn't have side effects. With the examination finished, he excused himself, leaving a small sticky note, before nodding his head slightly.

"I'll be going now."

He turned to Bella, her eyes still scrunched shut, her body still largely casted. His slightly darkened amber eyes looked upon Bella, before sighing, and without any human pretences, disappeared in a blur. Picking up the note, I clenched it tightly in my hand, before shoving it in my jean pocket, to be disposed of later.

Bella opened her eyes, but there was something else lingering in them for a brief second- a flash of gold. But as soon as I blinked, and refocused my attention on her eyes, there was nothing there, just her normal chocolate orbs. Nobody else seemed to notice, because not one of them mentioned in it. Bella yawned, her tongue waving up and down as he did so, her teeth shining ever so quickly.

"You hungry Bells?"

Bella blinked once more, before turning her head. I could feel the warm blanket of a shield she has wrapping around me, selective thoughts of hers slowly marching through my head. Some of her tell-tale humour seemed to have return, and the angry undertone of her voice that had disappeared. But still, the emphasis she put on the 'this' only served to reassure me that we would be having a conversation, and that it likely wouldn't be a pretty one.

As long as it isn't him cooking. I don't mind.

With a small smile on my face, I relayed the words back to Charlie, who seemed to have quirked a smile in response.

"Sue's cooked Bells. Lasagne. You want some of that?"

She looked as if she was thinking about it, before shaking her head. She didn't say any words, but gave him a quick stare, as if to say 'think about what I am right now.' It took him a second, before he chuckled, rubbing his hands together. Something had most definitely happened with Bella, because between the amber flash of her eyes and the new.. less walkover-y attitude, her personality seemed to have at least partially changed.

"Oh yeah.. no hands.. uhhh… a sandwich?"

This time she nodded, so Charlie quickly left, a stride in his step. The door shut with a click, as I sighed, before moving towards the cupboard, and closing myself inside it. It would be easier to talk wolf to wolf.. I completely undressed, before allowing myself to phase, being forced onto the ground quickly, as my tail grew and my spine adjusted.

Without much fanfare, I was phased, with Bella's shield still wrapped around me. From what I could tell, we were alone, the only remaining others having left. Feeling like a puppy about to be scolded for chewing on the furniture. I sat down in Bella's sight, watching her as took a breath in, and then exhaled another.

"We have a lot to talk about."

Author's Note

Hi!

How are you all? I hope you are all doing well!

The bit of Latin may seem random, but I promise it has to do with Shadow's past.

Also, I've got a friend waiting for me, so I've got to type this quickly. With this chapter, I hope I've managed to highlight how Bella is not going to be steamrolled over: and the change in her character.

Right, question of the week: If you could make one thing that is fictional real, what would it be?

I'd probably say either Stark Industries, the EDITH Glasses, the Grimm Universe, minus all the murdering, or maybe even the Daemons, from Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. A series of great books, I highly recommend.

Stark Industries would be revolutionary, but also pretty cool to work for. The Glasses, I'd think, would be very much awesome to use, especially as a glasses wearer myself. The Grimm Universe- I'm a sucker for fantasy, and Daemons- it's like a pet, that is interconnected with your soul.

Right, I've got to go- But I'm going to enjoy my holiday tomorrow. And my friend's birthday party which is on Sunday.

See you all later, and thanks for reading!

~Cait