Need You Now
Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.
A/N-thank you for the kind reviews!
Part Nine
"Charlie, we need to talk." Billy's face was ashen as he spoke to his old friend.
"Okay." The fact that Billy was being so formal and calling him by his name and not his usual nickname was the first give away that this talk was about something serious. The last time Billy had called him Charlie was when he had to deliver the bad news that Harry had passed away.
"Let's talk outside." Billy didn't wait for him to respond, but instead spun his chair around and wheeled it toward the hallway.
Charlie hesitated as he glanced at Jacob. Billy's son didn't appear uneasy after his little talk with his father in the kitchen. He was tending to Bella, helping her brush the tangles out of her wet hair with a large toothed comb. This little scene of domesticity brought a lump to Charlie's throat. He suddenly didn't want to follow Billy outside. He had a feeling that it was going to be bad news. He wondered if Jacob actually knew what it was. He appeared too calm, much too relaxed. He saw Bella smile up at Jacob, it was such a tender smile, full of love and compassion. This struck Charlie as odd. Wasn't this the look she was supposed to be saving for her supposed boyfriend, Edward Cullen. It was certainly not a look you'd give your best friend. Charlie grew thoughtful as he finally followed Billy outside.
While the men were outside Jacob leaned back against the couch. "Come here, honey." Bella crawled back beside him, but he lifted her up and sat her in front of him, his legs either side of her.
Slowly and carefully, he lifted small sections of her hair and used the comb to work through the knots in the ends. When he finished he began to brush it. He loved Bella's hair. It was thick and luxuriantly long and fine as a baby's. Bella closed her eyes and relaxed underneath his ministrations. He was pleased to see the tension in her muscles go slack. He was deliberately trying to soothe her before he broke the news of what was happening outside.
"You're too good to me." Bella sighed in bliss. She was feeling toasty warm with Jacob's heated aura surrounding her like an electric blanket. Her troubles seemed far away in that moment. She could almost forget about the impending battle and the worry over Edward's arrival and his desolation at her betrayal.
Jacob divided Bella's hair into three sections and braided it, tying it off with a band that once belonged to him before he'd been forced to sacrifice his hair when he turned wolf. The memory was sobering. Bella leaned back against him when he was finished. He wrapped his arms around her possessively and kissed the top of her head.
"I wish we could stay like this forever." She said wistfully. "I feel so peaceful right now."
Jacob winced. He was about to shatter that peace. He kissed the side of her face and held her tighter. "I made another decision." He finally revealed.
"What decision?" Bella twisted around so she was facing him. Concerned that he looked so pensive, she kissed his cheek but he caught her lips instead. Bella turned around completely, rising on her knees as the kiss intensified. Her hands travelled up around his torso and found their way around his neck. She was breathing heavily when the kiss ended. "Jake?"
Jacob looked her steadily in the eyes as he broke the bad news. "Dad's outside right now telling Charlie everything. The lies need to stop, Bells. Your dad deserves to know the truth."
Bella let out a faint cry of distress as she pushed Jacob away and staggered to her feet. She couldn't believe he had done this without consulting her. She sure couldn't wrap her head around the fact that Billy had agreed to it. She darted to the window on unsteady legs and pressed her face against the cold pane. Her breath fogged the window, obscuring her vision, and she angrily wiped the cold glass with her sleeve, desperate to see her father's reaction.
"Bells." Jacob's voice was soft as he joined her at her post. "Don't be mad."
"He'll never forgive me." Bella whispered brokenly as tears pooled in her eyes. He'll-"
"Charlie loves you." Jacob cut her off before she had a chance to go down that road. He hated it when she blamed herself for things that were out of her control. "He's stronger and more self aware than you give him credit for."
Bella swallowed back her fears as she leaned against him for support. She was still mad at him but she understood his reasons. But still, she wasn't prepared for it. He had ripped the band aid off without warning. But she supposed that was the point. He knew she would have put up endless protests if he had forewarned her. "I'm scared." She faltered.
Warm fingers wrapped around hers as Jacob lent her his silent support. He smiled at her gently before they both looked out of the window. They saw Charlie kneeling down in front of Billy, his hand planted firmly on his friend's shoulder. Billy was bent over, shaking slightly, almost as if he was weeping.
"Jake?" Bella whispered. "What's going on? Why is Billy the one who is upset?"
Jacob regarded Bella sadly. "Because he's finally free. He doesn't have to lie to Charlie anymore. He's been carrying this heavy weight of guilt for so long and now the burden's gone. I didn't just want my dad to tell Charlie the truth because he deserved to know, I wanted him to do it for his sake as well. I couldn't bear to see how much it was weighing him down."
A rush of love for Jacob overrode Bella's fear of Charlie's reaction. He was so unselfish, caring, kind and thoughtful. She leaned forward to kiss him, unable to find the right words to express how much she loved him. This wasn't imprint love. Not the kind shared between Sam or Emily, or Kim and Jared. No, this was real love, borne out of years of warmth, tenderness and intimacy. "I love you so much. I really do." She said when the kiss was over. "I can't express how much you mean to me."
"I love you, too." Jacob kissed her hungrily. Overcome by emotion, he cradled the back of her head, his lips lingering on hers as he told her over and over how he felt.
Billy and Charlie's discussion was interrupted by Samuel Uley. He strode up onto the front porch wearing nothing but the pack's signature uniform of cut off sweats. His bare chest was wet with melting snow; his black hair sprinkled with flakes. He paused when he saw the two men and frowned when he saw Charlie eyeing him warily. "Is Jacob inside?" He asked Billy curtly.
Billy wiped his streaming eyes and jerked his head. He felt Charlie's fingers biting into his shoulder. "Now is not the time, chief." He said wearily.
Charlie let go of Billy's shoulder and put his hands on his hips. "Jake is inside with Bella. I-" He paused when he noticed Billy's pained expression. "Go on inside." He said eventually.
"Is everything okay here?" Sam questioned as he scrutinised the two men. Something was definitely off. "You shouldn't be out here in this weather."
"We'll be in soon." Billy said tiredly. "Go on in."
Sam's frown deepened but he didn't say anymore but went inside wondering what the hell was going on.
"Your dad shouldn't be out in this foul weather." Sam lectured as soon as he laid eyes on Jacob. "Bella." He nodded in her general direction as he greeted her.
"Dad's fine." Jacob replied as he tried to hide his irritation.
"Hi, Sam." Bella gave him a weak smile. "Can I make you a drink?"
Sam regarded her thoughtfully before nodding. Bella fled the room, glad to be away from his intense scrutiny. Sam always made her feel uncomfortable, as if she was lacking in some way. She was well aware that he only tolerated her because Jacob wouldn't leave her alone. She sighed, wondering what was going through his mind now that he knew about the imprint.
Now that Bella was out of the way Sam unleashed his anger at Jacob, berating him for messing up their carefully laid plans. "You should have consulted with me first." He seethed in a low voice so Bella wouldn't overhear. "What you've done is reckless and essentially pit us against the Cullens and the damn newborn army."
"Nothing has changed." Jacob stood his ground. "Apart from the location. Bella will be much safer here on the res. I found out the little pixie's visions are not set in stone."
"What are you talking about?" Sam demanded.
Jacob brought him up to speed on what Bella had told him about how subjective and prone to change Alice's visions really were. They were based on the decisions the subject made in that moment. If they changed their mind, the outcome changed along with it. Sam was incredulous. He paced back and forth, his fingers running through his hair restlessly. "I thought this was set in stone."
"Apparently not. We would have been going in blind."
"Risking our lives on a whim." Sam threw Jacob a tortured look. "Jake, I don't know what to do."
This was a huge admission for Sam to make. Jacob had never heard his Alpha talk like this before. Once he made a decision, Uley usually stuck to it. He never wavered, but now he was clearly at a loss. "We do what we always do. We protect our home."
Sam swallowed thickly as he stopped pacing and sank onto the couch. "But the Cullens? The newborns?"
Before Jacob could respond Bella came back carrying a tray of drinks. The cups clinked together as the tray shook in her hands. He quickly took it from her. "Thanks, Bells." He said with a warm smile.
Billy and Charlie chose that moment to come inside. Jacob took in his father's reddened eyes but didn't comment on it. Bella was staring at her father in trepidation. Her brown eyes were wide with worry. Jacob longed to wrap his arms around her and comfort her, but she wouldn't thank him for it. This was something she had to face alone.
"Bells, can I have a word?" Charlie asked gruffly.
Bella nodded. She picked up her coat and shrugged it on, throwing Jacob a desperate glance as she did so. He gave her an encouraging smile in return. "Shall we bring the drinks?" She asked Charlie tremulously.
"Yeah, it's chilly out." Charlie picked up the mugs of steaming coffee and led the way outside.
Taking a deep breath to give her some courage, Bella followed him.
A/N-thanks for reading!