AN: Hey ya'll! SO sorry I know I said I'd have this up last night but RenesmeeCarlieBlackxo got banned from her computer hahaha so that set back getting the chapter edited and sent to me. Gladly though, here it is :) Fully edited by both my betas (thank you jcfed my lovahh :) ) and read to go :) Enjoy! Oh; and don't puke. Reader beware.
No one knew how to feel about the terror they had encountered; The thoughts and expressions were unfathomable. Emotions of anger and sadness radiated around them, werewolves and vampires alike. Mythical enemies bound under the same emotion.
No one knew what to do.
After days, weeks of searching for any evidence of Leah; a trail, a scent.., They had finally found her. The last few hours of rushing to find her, the adrenaline that pumped through their veins, coming to an end. After the desperation and the terror, the pack was now forced to remain still as Carlisle worked on the body of the broken girl.
They'd finally found her. The sheer joy that swirled through them was like a husband returning from the war; a letter you forgot to send or a misplaced important item showing up out of the blue. Whatever it was, it was a relief; and a total complete stressfest.
Their sister was back in their arms, but she was fragile, broken and although the thought devastated them it looked like she might not be there for long and it broke all fourteen hearts in the barren cave. Even those that could not beat. Leah had been shot; it was a serious wound and was still trickling blood. She was so much more banged up then that too, and frankly not even the genius vampire doctor knew where to start.
"I'd like to ask most of you to leave this part of the cave. I have to do an internal exam and clean and dress whatever wounds I can. She seems to be having trouble breathing and her heartbeat is irregular as well and that is what worries me most." The doctor nodded at his golden-haired son, and Edward solemnly nodded back before turning to the others.
The wolves were burning men. Faces contorted in all sorts of pain and glistened with tear-stained cheeks. Movie-like misery; real-life cruelty.
Embry was sweating; he might've picked up pneumonia or the flu from his hard run. But it was easy to tell the difference between sweat and tears as he looked fearfully at his hurt companion; lying limp in his Alpha's arms with nothing but a tee shirt to cover her.
Paul was too ashamed to come near. He sat meters away, almost in another part of the spacious cave (the place was actually huge; perhaps it was the foundations of an old mine? Tourist attraction?) near the flickering flames of the small fire but his eyes never drifted away from her. His fist was raised to his lips; as if the small gesture would stall his trembling. How he regretted his actions that night..
Quil had been the one to grab the other shirt from Esme's backpack and drape it over Leah's broken and bruised body; Sam her only means of support. After that he walked away; same with Jared. They couldn't look at her for long.
Seth was dying inside. He felt paralyzed or crippled, never moved from his spot against the wall of the cave for hours. He never budged until Sam moved a little too quickly and his hurt sister released another heartwrenching sob of pain. Then he was on his feet and walking quickly out into the other part of their temporary home, Jacob hot on his tail even though every vibe in the second Alpha's body told him to stay and take care of Leah. He couldn't bear to watch either.
Because none of them needed to be told the news; they already knew, they felt... Jake, Seth, the pack and the vampires, all they could do was sit and wait. Imagine Carlisle's hands moving swiftly over Leah's wounds. The patrons in the cave could watch stitches being done, bones being reset and blood spurting a meter a minute;...
But they couldn't watch someone they so dearly loved die.
Soon Carlisle, Sam and Leah were the only ones left in the cold, dimly-lighted (fire) cave section.
Carlisle reached down to ply open an eye-lid and Sam grabbed his wrist so fast the oldest Cullen stilled like a rock.
"Sam. I need to make sure she's aware of her surroundings. Shock has probably set in, along with infection and a million other things that could be wrong. Please. I need to see."
Sam gulped. His heart clenched and he wanted nothing more than to rip off the hand of anyone else that ever dare touch, poke or prod his LeeLee. ..But he let Carlisle go. The doctor gave Sam a sorry look (couldn't begin to understand what he was going through despite having lived for hundreds of centuries) and just began his exam. He had never experienced anything like the emotion that Sam was going through; not first-hand.
Carlisle decided he'd check her eyes last; he wanted to give Leah a chance to open them on her own. His first target was the shattered hand. She'd been missing for like two weeks, and the broken bones and splinters hadn't been reset. Briefly Carlisle wondered if she'd lose the hand; when she was handcuffed, wrists above her head blood flow had been restricted and it posed a severe gangrene risk.
"I'm going to have to reset the bones in her hand. The ones I can, anyway. I'll need you to hold her very still, Sam." The Alpha gritted his teeth, his grasp on Leah tightening as Carlisle lifted her hand with little or no resistance from her, and then twisted her palm till he heard a crack.
She screamed out at the same time, Sam squeezing his eyes shut and just praying for her pain to end. It was like swallowing hot coals; burying a dagger into his own heart as he watched the love of his life fight through such pain. He would rather it be himself, him to endure her pain then watch her go through it alone.
It was only going to get worse.
Alice was seated near the entrance in the other part of the cave. She was the look-out, sort of; that, and she couldn't bear to hear Leah's screams. She sighed silently, resting herself against the side of the wall.
..There was a strange cracking; only Alice could hear it over the wind. The pixie-like vamp cocked an eyebrow and pressed her ear to the wall of the cave. There it was again; a creaking, cracking in the rocks.
Alice stepped away, she looked up at the ridge of rocks that bordered the entrance; the water from the rain dripping from hanging stones.
Her eyes moved to Jared, who was looking at her curiously and tending to the fire.
".....Move."
Jared didn't get a word out before Alice grabbed the collar of the shirt he'd slipped on and tugged him forward with her as she made a quick-as-lightning dart across the rocky floor. Just in time to escape the avalanche of rocks that fell, hindering their exit; blocking their escape.
"..Holy shit!" Jared breathed out, looking to the vampire in a silent thank you.
By this time other pairs of feet came rushing around the shoulder of rock, eyes wide for what might have happened.
"What's goin' on!?" Embry said, eyeing the mountain of rocks that now so effectively blocked the door of the cave.
"What do you think?" Rosalie hissed sarcastically. "This is just great. Leah needs a hospital, the storm's already too bad for us to take her and now we're trapped!" The blonde vampire seethed.
(What a night what a night what a night..)
"Well we need to find another way out!" Seth yelled, causing all heads to turn to him. "My sister is not dying in this cave..!" With that he turned and began to walk quickly down one of the many interconnecting tunnels of the cavern.
Everyone winced at his words, eyes tearing up again so quickly for the boy who was close to losing his world. Jasper breathed out a sigh, the emotion hurting him more than they could imagine. His silent heart wrenching as he felt the love for Leah, and the sadness at her soon-to-be death in the hearts of the wolves.
"Seth, wait." Seth reluctantly turned to him. "There's bound to be another way out; this place is too big, it takes up pretty much the entire side of this mountain. I'll go, check the tunnels. I'll come back when I've found a way out."
"I'll go too." Quil stood up quickly. (The rocks falling may have succeeded in deafening everyone else to Leah's second scream of pain, but he was too close.) "Seth... Stay here with your sister."
Quil marched over with Jasper, while Seth walked frailly back out of the first tunnel. The boy scoffed; pain evident on his face. "Sam won't even let me near her... Staying here is pointless." Seth spat.
Edward placed a cold hand on the boy's shoulder.
"I don't think it's entirely Sam's fault, Seth. Please try to understand." Seth, reluctantly once again looked at him. "I've been listening to Samuel's thoughts... They're... They are one-tracked, to say the least. All he wants is what's best for your sister."
"Yeah? How's that keeping me away from her!?" Seth growled.
"I believe Sam did indeed break off his imprint on Emily; it was the love he still had for your sister that helped him do it. His love for Leah was simply too powerful; But, as you know, imprinting is considered to be two halves of a whole finally meeting to form one; soul mates. If Sam imprinted on your sister in Emily's place.. And.. If your sister doesn't make it through this-"
"Sam'll die too."
Heads turned to Paul in the cave; still in the same place where he was the last time they'd looked. "Well.. He won't 'die' as in die, but... He'll take it pretty hard." He gulped. "I dunno what I'd do if Rachel died..." Paul trailed off.
Edward nodded sadly. "Sam needs to feel like he's in total control of this situation... I agree, sort of. I think.. If there's anyone Leah would benefit from having around, it's him." (He didn't wanna mention how she thought of close to nothing but Sam and Seth; that would only further the boy's want to be with her.)
"But... I..." Seth turned his back to them.
Esme's dead heart nearly choked her and she was across the room, wrapping Seth in her icy arms as the boy cried. "Oh Seth..." She cooed. "I know exactly how you feel... But believe me, honey.. I think you should have faith in Sam. He'll save her."
Seth's growl surprised everyone.
"He shouldn't have the right to save her..! He's the reason she's been like this!" The boy sobbed, Esme pulling him into her stone arms yet again as Leah's little brother turned around.
Jacob placed a warm, comforting hand on Seth's back.
"It'll be okay, Seth... It'll be okay."
(How he wished that was even close to true.)
Back with Leah in one of the other chambers, Carlisle was setting up to do the internal-pelvic exam. As soon as his hand even came near, Sam let loose a growl. Carlisle's old eyes drifted up to his; pain was so easy to see in Sam's chocolate-colored irises.
"Samuel, please. This is what's best for Leah." Sam chewed his lip and looked away. 'Concentrate on her, Sam, only her. The doc needs to do this. Calm down man before you end up scarring more than one girl.'
His own thoughts caused his growl to stop; he looked back at Carlisle and nodded. "..But make it quick."
Sam gently lifted her upper body against his chest, at the same time Carlisle bent her knees and pushed them back, before letting them fall to the sides gently.
That was when the fighting started.
As soon as Leah felt that unwanted, too-familiar position she was being put in the useless fight she'd committed herself to over and over the last few weeks returned and she stifled out a 'No!' and kicked out with a leg.
Sam gasped and held her as still as he could in the dingy cave, trying his hardest to keep her struggling to a minimum when Carlisle barked at him to hold her still.
"Leah! Leah please, it's me!" He said into her ear, attempting to calm down the scared girl in his arms. "Leah it's Sam!" His blood had stilled in his veins; this racheted up the pain he felt flood his being another whole notch; what had they done to her!? How often had he touched her-
He started to tremble again and he grit his teeth till they practically lost enamel. Instead of phasing, Sam buried his head into Leah's hair. "LeeLee... Baby.... Please.." His eyes closed, breathing in that scent that was undeniably his beautiful Leah (crossed with a scumbag he was going to painfully neuter and then some). "Please..."
Carlisle's eyes widened slightly in amazement as her kicking slowed to a stop, the harsh pants intended to be regular breaths slowed and she let herself fall limp against the boy's strong chest. "Just relax Leah.." The doctor heard himself speak, "No one is going to hurt you anymore. You're safe."
The sweat pouring from her beaten brow began to stop as did the harsh movement of her chest. Carlisle hesitantly positioned her legs apart once again, and Sam didn't want to see that so he buried his head into the crook of her tanned neck.
Leah flinched a few seconds later and whimpered a depressing sound lowly as Carlisle irritated the tears and soreness. Sam found himself kissing and nuzzling at her neck like they'd never broken up. Like this whole mess had never happened and Leah was just home sick in bed. When he was content that she would lie still for Carlisle, he let one hand play with her hair; untangling knots and running through the greasy strands. That had always calmed her down; Sam knew it always would.
Minutes later, Carlisle was done.
"The damage isn't too serious.. I'm concerned that her pelvic bone may be fractured, and she has some vaginal tearing that should heal in a few days." Sam tried not to take notice of the blood on the gloves as Carlisle threw them into the fire. "Now, I would like to clean her up a little."
Edward walked in soon with three or four bottles of water in his arms, and he set them down by the fire along with a small pot. (Esme and Carlisle had thought of everything.)
Carlisle set to emptying some water into the pot while he handed Sam a bottle of his own. As the doctor heated the water, Sam helped Leah relax her legs back to lying straight and tried to get her to drink.
"Come on LeeLee.. You gotta drink some of this, okay babe?" He rested her head against his shoulder and poured some of the water out onto his fingertips. He didn't want to waste any on her, the water was cold. (He never missed a detail.) So he gently stroked a split lip with one wet finger, trying to coax the injured girl to open her mouth. But she whimpered, turning her head to the side away.
"Leah, please... Do this for me. Please..?" It was the softest his voice had been in two weeks, Sam was sure of it. And it was his first smile in two weeks too as Leah slowly parted her lips for him, and he let his fingers slip inside so she could suck the water. He kissed her cheek. "You're doin' so good love.. Want some more?" This time he'd try the bottle. As he lifted it to her lips, Leah began to drink greedily and he smiled again; hope.
Carlile let the corners of his mouth turn upwards as he regarded the couple, and Leah's reponse. Sam gently stroked away any water at the corners of her mouth and kissed her scratched cheek again.
There wasn't really anymore doubt; Sam Uley was still in love with Leah Clearwater. Probably always would be.
Gently, once it was cooled down from boiling, Carlisle set the pot of water on the ground beside her. "We're going to wash her down now Sam. I don't want to chance repairing the bullet wound until I'm sure that the area I'm working with is clean."
Sam nodded, taking a facecloth Carlisle handed him and gently let it soak up the warm water. He started with her arms, letting his ex get used to the strange feeling of warmth before moving on to her stomach and thighs.
Sam found that crease in his forehead practically become a painful scar when he scrubbed the washcloth over the wolf pack tattoo on her left hip. Felt the bone almost jagged. Out of concern alone he moved upward to her breasts and ribs, gently washing away the dirt and grime as she let out small sighs at the warm water. Her ribs were easily visible. Sam could tap every single bone.
Soon enough the duo had finished cleaning Leah up and were slightly more enthused at her reactions to the water. Slightly. Leah had yet to open those beautiful eyes and look at them. It broke Sam's heart.
(Jesus. How much more breaking could a heart take for fuck's sake!?)
..Sadly, Sam didn't know the answer. But Leah probably did.
The sheer thought made him bend, kiss her forehead that was creased in pain and made him hate himself all over again for not being able to take it away.
"Are you ready Sam?"
Carlisle shook the Alpha out of his thoughts and he turned to the vampire doctor. "Huh..? Yeah." He grit his teeth (bit through his lip when Leah moaned out in pain at being turned onto her side with the sorest voice in the world), and took his first good look at Leah's most serious injury.
Those freaks had fucking shot her. A fellow wolf. They shot her. Sam had never been so livid.
He contained it, though; simply because his grief over possibly losing Leah was so much greater. He didn't know whether to scream or cry so he kept his mouth shut.
"No ...Poor girl." Sam looked up at him and cocked an eyebrow. Carlisle had slanted eyes, a sorry look on his handsome face.
"What's wrong?" Sam asked, looking back down at the bullet hole. Blood was still trickling from the wound, dripping onto the tee shirt she laid on and sliding down her russet back. (Over more scratches and cuts.)
"It seems they... I believe they tried to stop the bleeding."
"....Okay? How? She's still bleeding."
"That's what I meant. They tried to cauterize the wound, Sam; they just did it wrong."
Cauterize. Sam was no biology genius or medicine man but he damn well knew what that meant and he pressed his hand to his forehead to stifle a sob.
The pain she went through.... Sam could've cried. Again.
He just got the same sad look from Carlisle and the blonde vampire doctor sighed. "The bullet's still in the shoulder." Sam looked back up at him, feeling Leah's harsh breathing under his other hand (remembered Carlisle mutter something about 'blood in her lungs' and wished his hand was somewhere different).
"Are you gonna cut it out?" Sam asked, eyeing the silver blade Carlisle picked out of his pocket.
"No. She's still bleeding slightly, and that's my obstacle for now. The cauterization they attempted was faulty. So, sadly..." Carlisle turned and hovered the blade amongst the dancing flames.
Sam cursed and shook his head. "Don't you have any pain medication? Something you can give her?" He questioned urgently.
Carlisle shook his head. "No. I'm sorry. We could dose her with tylenol and advil but that would just make her sleepy.. And I don't feel comfortable letting her rest until we're in a hospital. There's a likely chance her lungs will flood; or her heart could stop."
'Wish I had that gun.'
Carlisle took the knife out of the fire and leant carefully over Leah's shoulder.
"Hold her steady, Sam. I don't want to cause her unnecessary pain." Carlisle pursed his lips and Sam had to stop himself from vomiting up his heart as Carlisle pressed the knife (glowing a violent orange) to the gunshot wound and the flesh made a sizzling sound along with steam. And Leah's heartwrenching scream of pain.
Her voice was hoarse but it was so diluted with agony that it sent her brother back into the room for approximately three seconds, and then back out like the poor guy was gonna puke; sounds they heard a moment later confirmed it.
The disgusting smell of burnt human flesh was the undernote of dirt and water in the large cave, causing the creatures inside to wrinkle their noses and pray for their sister's health.
As Carlisle finished the last side of the wound, he breathed a sigh of relief like he was holding a breath he didn't need.
"Finished."
"..Now what?" Sam asked, tears welling up in his cloudy eyes as he saw them begin to fall from her's.
"Keep her warm, so the water doesn't give her the chills. There's nothing more we can do... It's still too stormy outside to warrant an escape.. And according to Alice it may be awhile before we can do so anyway." Sam cursed himself and their luck to hell.
If they lost Leah to natural disasters, they would lose him to sheer hatred for the world. ..Sam Uley didn't belong in a world where she didn't exist.
Sam wasn't going to sleep that night, or eat; once again. Tonight he would suffer simply for the suffering all of them had caused Leah.
He would suffer with the others; he looked up and saw Seth walk into the chamber, the heart-broken boy wearily sat down a few feet from them.
They would suffer; but they would hope.