A/N: Thanks to all the reviewers.

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Chapter 12

Hero

Edward

High School had been particularly boring today. It was good that there were only a few months left before summer break. I was grateful that the day was over. Bella walked beside me to my silver Volvo. Her beauty captivated me as it always had even when she was human. She met my gaze and let her mental shield down and showed me that she wanted to spend some 'quality' time with me.

"Not until your homework is done," I teased, she was just as smart as I was and would be done quickly. I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her into me as I kissed her passionately. The thoughts of the human children who saw us made me smile while kissing her.

"Virgin eyes Edward," she breathed as she pulled away. I released my grip on her waist and settled for holding her hand. Alice and Jasper were waiting at the car for us. Jasper just shook his head at the lust Bella and I was no doubt saturating his senses with. Out of respect I did my best to control my emotions.

Get a room you two. You're almost as bad as hormonal teenagers. I shrugged at him and he merely shook his head again. Bella looked between us and smiled mischievously.

"Sorry Jasper, I can't help it sometimes," she said still holding her smile.

"Just try to control yourselves on the way home," he said slowly smiling. Rose and Emmett had ditched earlier to go hunting they claimed. However being a mind reader I saw the actual purpose and knew they were heading to their house with anything but hunting in mind. We all gracefully got in the car and I drove at my usual speed home.

Alice stiffened as we entered the house after arriving home. I picked the blurry images of Leah and Thomas in trouble. They were being attacked by vampires at Leah's house in La Push.

"Alice what do you see," Jasper asked concerned. Bella looked at me and asked the same question with her eyes, knowing I had already seen Alice's vision in her mind.

"What is it," Seth asked seeing us and our tension his perpetual smile faded.

"Thomas and Leah," Alice and I spoke at the same time.

"Bella call Emmett and Rosalie," I said taking the lead. "Seth phase and alert the rest of the pack." Bella pulled her cell phone out as Seth was heading for the back door shaking all the way. A ripping sound was followed by his urgent howl. Another howl farther away answered his call.

"I told Emmett and Rose to meet us at Leah's as soon as possible," Bella informed me.

"Good we need to get there now." We were all out of the house running as fast as we could when another vision invaded my thoughts.

"He's trying to fight them." We all sped up hoping we wouldn't be too late.

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Thomas

I was frozen in place looking in horror at the gigantic vampire before me. How had he found me, why now and where did this bastard get off calling me a murderer. The danger to Leah broke my paralysis and I launched myself at Goliath. The foolishness of that attack was made crystal clear. He didn't even budge, he just chuckled and brought his boulder sized fist crashing on to my shoulder. I grunted as my shoulder dislocated. I cried out as he grabbed both my shoulders and swung me to smash me through the doorframe. I flew through the air and rolled popping my shoulder painfully back into its socket. Leah's cry made him turn and regard her.

"Don't worry pretty we'll get to you." A snarl ripped from my chest, which drew his gaze back to me.

"Aww, the little half-breed wants to protect his bitch," his words and attitude drove me insane with anger. I lunged forward again but a foot connected with my jaw from the side. Pain threatened to make me pass out. A lithe female vampire giggled at me as I tried to get back to my feet.

"This is going to be ever so much fun," she sang in a high pitch voice. She crouched and sprang at me. My hand shot forward palm out to hopefully drive her jawbone into her brain, it wouldn't kill her but it would stun her for at least ten minutes. Instead of that her forward motion was halted and reversed with such force that she crashed into the trees. I grabbed the fork of Jasper's motorcycle and swung it into the vampire sneaking up behind me. It smashed into him and followed it with a kick that sent him sprawling.

On instinct I swung the motorcycle over my head at the charging Goliath. It barely slowed him as he shrugged off the blow like I had hit him with my fist. His back hand caught me in the side of the head leaving no doubt that my jaw was now broken. His fist smashed into my belly doubling me over and dropping me to my knees. His massive hands curled into fists as they rose above his head. They fell on each side of my neck with the force of falling anvils. Both collarbones broke under the blow.

A vicious snarling made him turn his head to see what was behind him. Leah's leap at his throat was intercepted by a vicious blow that sent her crashing off to the side.

I looked at Leah's limp form and rage burned in my eyes and pain muted to nothingness. The horrifying image burned into my memory.

"He thought you would give me trouble," Goliath sneered at me "I'm very disappointed." He roared laughter and raised his hands to crush me into oblivion. His hands rocketed towards me only to be stopped a foot from head. Goliath's grin disappeared as he struggled to move his hands that seemed to be trapped in thin air. He tried to shrink back from my gaze as I turned my head to look at him.

"You are going to die," was all I said. There were suddenly horse sized wolves everywhere. Goliath look of terror deepened when Emmett and Rosalie appeared behind me.

My telekinetic hold on him vanished as more pain broke my concentration. Goliath took that as his queue to leave and leaped into the trees. Some of the wolves and Emmett took up pursuit.

I didn't care I turned and saw Leah was still lying limply not far away. Ignoring the searing agony movement caused I dragged myself over to her still form. I laid my head on her light grey fur covered chest and breathed a sigh of relief when I heard her heart beat and felt the rise and fall of her breathing.

"Carlisle he's hurt," a musical voice called. I didn't care all that mattered was that Leah was alive. I tried to lean my head deeper into her shoulder.

"I love you too." I blacked out as strong cold hands lifted me from where I was lying.

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My body ached when I had finally awakened. I could feel the bones that had been broken, they were healing properly. Any movement on my part caused waves of nausea and pain. I turned my head as gingerly as possible that at least did not make me want to pass out again.

I was in a hospital style bed in my room at the Cullen's house. Carlisle entered the room having most likely heard my movements. He looked me over and was about to ask how I was feeling, but I cut him off with a question of my own.

"Is Leah alright," I asked as I tried to sit up. Carlisle was at my side in a flash. His hand gently but firmly pushing me flat, I didn't struggle mostly due to the dizziness the movement had caused.

"Leah is fine she's been sleeping in here at night." I relaxed knowing she was fine. "She is eating something in the kitchen."

"Thank you again," I said quietly. This was the second time I had to have my sorry butt saved. My father would have been disappointed, he'd taught me to fight better than I had. I apparently needed more instruction. Thoughts of instruction brought up another kind if training I needed to begin as soon as I was fit.

"I'll bring you some blood," He said and disappeared out of the room. He returned a moment later with a covered cup and straw. I grimaced as he adjusted so it would allow me to sit up. As I was drinking the provided blood Edward, Emmett and Jasper entered the room. Emmett was the only one with an amused expression.

"Tommy boy you got balls, I'll give you that," he exclaimed with a chuckle. I laughed to even though it brought on a grimace of pain. I decided to say something witty.

"You know what they say," I said around my discomfort. "The bigger they are…"

"The more bones they break," everyone's eyes widened at Carlisle who had finished. "What I'm not allowed to make jokes?" Emmett roared his booming laugh and everyone followed suit, even me though mine changed to a gasp of pain from the movement.

"Ow, don't make me laugh." Edward calmed himself and looked like he had questions. I answered before he could ask.

"I knew who that was," I began to explain Edward saw the words in my mind before I spoke them though and a look of horror crossed his features. I told them everything that had brought me to them. They just nodded at appropriate moments. Jacob walked in as I was explaining and waited for me to finish. The look on his face as he stared at me gave me the distinct impression of dislike. After I finished he spoke to Edward and the others in the room.

"The big one got away," he stated simply. "Collin and Brady took the other male and Seth incapacitated the female."

"Good I want to question her and see if I can get some answers." The look in Edward's eyes frightened me a little. Leah stuck her head into the door way and flew to my side when she saw I was awake.

"Are you alright," she asked. Her beautiful eyes were concerned for my well being.

"I'll be fine, I'm just a little sore." Carlisle chose to expand on my answer.

"His collar bones and rib and jaw have knitted back together nicely," he explained becoming Doctor Carlisle as he continued. "His internal bruises are almost healed as well. He's healing quickly so it shouldn't be long."

"Just do me a favor and stay in bed." I nodded at his request and he shooed all but Leah from the room. That was probably a very good idea. I waited until I heard his footsteps go up the stairs.

"Okay help me to the bathroom," I whispered to Leah. Thankfully she didn't give me any 'you should listen to Carlisle' arguments she just helped me swing my feet over the side of the bed and steadied me as I made my way over to the bathroom. I stopped in front of the mirror and saw the angry purple bruises on my jay and torso.

"They looked a lot worse a couple of days ago," Leah whispered to me. I brushed my teeth and took care of some necessary business which I made Leah turn her back while I did. That taken care of I leaned on her as she led me back to the hospital bed.

"No take me to my bed that one is uncomfortable," she redirected our path and helped me lie down on the soft king size bed. She lifted my torso and set a couple of pillows behind my head. Gently she lay me back down and curled into my side. I wrapped my arm around her enjoying the way the heat from her body relaxed my sore muscles. Absently I ran my hand up and down her back.

"Did you mean what you said before?" She looked confused for a moment then it registered what I was talking about. I felt her body stiffen beside me. I looked down to meet her eyes and saw that she was nervous to answer so she asked a question of her own.

"Would it bother you if I did?" I was shocked that she would consider it. I kissed the top of her head.

"No it wouldn't and doesn't," I said before I whispered, "I love you too."

I placed another kiss on top of her head and felt all the tension drain out of her. I couldn't see her face but I was sure she was smiling like I was. We lay like that for hours before I noticed Leah's rhythmic breathing and realized that she was asleep. I smiled for a moment before I realized that they were going to come for me eventually. I needed to prepare myself for that day.

I looked over at my dresser and focused on the bag sitting on top. It shivered as I focused harder and willed it to rise in the air. To my satisfaction it did a fraction of an inch before weariness overcame me. I smiled internally, I just need lots of practice.

"I'll be able to protect you when they come back." I let my breathing slow to match Leah's and drifted off to sleep in moments.