Chapter 16 Circling

Disclaimer: the characters and all recognisable situations belong to Stephenie Meyer- this is a work of fan fiction, except for the legends and histories of the Quileute which, of course, belong to them. I pay my respects to their gods.

Thanks to BanSidhe for betaing.

Jake couldn't sleep; his leg was aching and he was so completely aware of Leah lying next to him; aware with every fibre of his being that it was Leah Clearwater in bed with him.

He sighed. He could tell from her breathing that she was asleep. He shuffled around trying to get comfortable. There was an itch under his bandage and the more he thought about it, the itchier it got. He tried to rub at it through the bandage and that kind of worked. He was tired of lying on his back but couldn't get comfortable with the leg. If it was on the bottom, it hurt and if it was on the top it strained and pulled from the drag.

But then Leah rolled over. He froze. She shuffled herself in against his side, making little noises in her sleep. He lifted his arm smoothly and slipped it down her back. If she woke up, he would just deal with it. He pulled her gently against him and she made some small noise of complaint but didn't wake up.

She rubbed her face on his bare chest. He stopped breathing. Her arm slipped across his stomach and she let out a sigh.

He felt warm inside. He kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes. He didn't care about having to sleep on his back now.

Leah opened her eyes and stifled a groan; she had done it again. She was plastered up against Jake's body. She lifted her head and took a look at him. He was sound asleep. She tried to shuffle back without disturbing him, but she had to slip out from under his arm. She stared intently at his face as she moved to make sure he didn't wake up. It didn't help; he really was a very attractive man.

But she hadn't quite decided what to do about it. Clearly she was attracted to him, but she wasn't sure about his feelings. Her vision quest had shown her the wolf couple. She assumed that the message for her was that she, as the only female wolf, was supposed to be part of a wolf couple. Was it a message for the future? Was it going to happen or was she supposed to make it happen? She didn't know.

She had managed to back out of the bed without disturbing him or so she thought, but it was as if, with her gone, he missed her. His arm reached out and hit the now empty side of the bed. His eyes fluttered.

She just couldn't deal with this, so in her usual fashion, she didn't. She hid in the bathroom. She stood under the water in the shower and decided that she would just pretend this wasn't happening. He would be gone today. He was well enough to get around on his own and he could go home. He could be away from her and she would deal with all this later. Yeah, that would work.

The fact that he was her Alpha and she had to see inside his head the next time they phased was a problem, but she would deal with that later, too. One step at a time. It was all she was capable of right now. She had come a few steps forward and she needed to keep doing that. Even little baby steps kept her moving forward.

She looked at herself in the mirror. She had got some of her shit together; she had a job, she had dealt with her survivor guilt a little. She was continuing to hide, away from her own home, but still….

She stood with her hand on the doorknob listening intently. She couldn't hear any movement. Was he still asleep? She sighed. What the hell was wrong with her? Pull yourself together woman! You are Leah fucking Clearwater! And besides, you have to get your clothes. In her panicked rush to hide, she hadn't brought any clothes with her.

She straightened her shoulders, wrapped her towel securely around her and opened the door.

She walked out and went straight to her bag without glancing at the bed. She grabbed some clean underwear and then went to the wardrobe to get her uniform.

"Good morning."

She had to glance at him now. "Morning," she replied. He was lying sideways on the bed; as if he had just managed to bend in the middle. His face was occupying the spot she had vacated so quickly. It was probably still warm from the heat of her body. Just the thought of that made her shiver. Maybe he did miss her?

"Ahh…" she blustered, "I am going to get dressed and have some breakfast. Do you think you can walk on your leg? I could get Paul to come and help you to the kitchen?" Whatever. As long as you don't want me to help you do that, she prayed.

He just looked at her. She felt as if he could see right through her.

"Sure, sure," he said in his trademark response.

"Okay then," she agreed and ran into the bathroom again.

Jake watched her run and chuckled to himself. She was really off balance this morning. He lay there feeling her warmth against his cheek. He closed his eyes and inhaled her scent. God, she was mouth watering.

He waited for her to exit dressed and tried to swing his leg off the side of the bed. With a crutch or crutches, he could probably get around by himself. He could make it to the bathroom at present by hopping and hanging onto walls and furniture.

He heard Paul come in whilst he was washing his face.

"Hey dude, how are you this morning? Almost 100%?"

"Almost. Some crutches would be good."

Paul studied him. He raised his eyebrows in a question. Jake shook his head. Paul shook his head as well and looked oddly disappointed with Jake.

"Hopeless," he said.

"Hey," Jake complained. "She's that bloody nervous, give me a chance. Bella said to take it slow." He spoke very low so only Paul could hear him.

Paul just snorted.

"Besides," argued Jake, "I want to be at 100% when I take that girl down. Gonna do it properly the first time."

Paul punched him in the shoulder, "Way to go, Jakey boy," he encouraged. He rubbed his hands with glee, "Better get Charles to check you out and see how long that bandage has to stay." He leant in and sniffed at Jake. "And you stink. Damn, you need a proper shower, dude."

"Leah doesn't seem to mind," Jake looked supremely pleased with himself.

Paul just laughed and held his arm out. "Breakfast. Come on you old cripple."

"Fuck, speaking of whom, who is looking after Dad?"

"He's moved in with Charlie for a few days. Did you forget? I was sure he told you that. Maybe you were spaced on the drugs or something. So better and better," his voice dropped, "your house is empty… for when the bandage comes off." He wriggled his eyebrows at Jake.

"Yeah… that would work."

They grinned at each other like partners in crime as they made their way to the kitchen.

"Jake! You're up!" Bella greeted him. She placed a glass of milk in front of him when he sat.

"Milk?"

"Doctor's orders. Charles said we need to step up your protein and calcium so that bone heals properly and no caffeine. So no cola drinks or coffee and definitely no beer and here," she placed some pills in his hand, "take your vitamins."

Jake tried the puppy eyes.

Bella stood with her hands on her hips. "Give it up, Jacob," she told him. "puppy eyes don't work."

Leah snorted as she sipped at her coffee. She waved the mug at Jake, reminding him that she had coffee and he didn't.

"You gave me coffee yesterday," he grizzled.

"Well, now I know better," Bella stated.

He frowned. "Can I go back to bed?" he asked sulkily as he swallowed the tablets.

"No!" Bella looked at him suspiciously. "Paul, did you let him drink beer last night?"

"Ahhh …" Paul looked trapped, "maybe just the one," he admitted.

Bella frowned at him.

"You might have to fry him an extra egg. Eggs are good protein, right?" he smiled at her, "to compensate for the one beer."

"Just one?" she asked.

"Oh absolutely; just the one beer." Both boys tried to look innocent. Leah rolled her eyes.

"I have to go to work," Leah stood "and leave this den of iniquity and underage drinking. See you later guys."

When she had left Bella turned on Jake, "So how did it go?"

"How did what go?" he asked.

"Nothing," Paul snorted, "he did nothing."

"Hey, I'm taking it slow," Jake argued. "You told me to."

"God I can't stand it!" Bella exclaimed.

"You can jump me again if it makes you feel better," offered Paul.

She beamed at him and climbed into his lap. "Jumping you always makes me feel better," she assured him with a kiss.

"Guys?... breakfast?" Jake whined.

"Sorry, got distracted." Bella gave Paul another kiss and climbed off him; he pouted.

"I showed her the photo though."

"Why?" asked Bella.

"She argued that I couldn't keep my hands to myself and I had proof it was the other way around."

"Yeah that will work," said Paul sarcastically, "show her that her weakness is you so she will avoid you. No wait…"

"No, it'll work," Jake argued. "She is more aware of what she is doing and how she reacts to me. She still climbed all over me in her sleep. Half of her reactions are innate, is that the word? Maybe instinctive; you know this is the Alpha male here." He gestured at himself with a kind of voila gesture.

"Well, eat your breakfast, alpha male," said Bella placing a plate from the oven in front of him. "I will call Charles and see what his plan for you is. Paul what are you up to today?"

"Sam didn't take the police job because he is starting a construction business. I wanted to talk to him about taking me on. Another salary would be good and it will be good exercise and great cover for the pack."

"Good idea. I am proud of you, honey." She went off to phone Charles.

"Come on Paul, give me a sip of your coffee," begged Jake.

"No way man, I am not getting into any more trouble today; the beer was enough. Drink your milk Alpha."

"I'll get you for this," Jake threatened.

Bella came back. "Charles asked that you go in to the medical centre. He said if anyone asks you can say you injured your leg but don't tell them you broke it because you have healed too fast. He wants to take an x-ray and make sure it is all good before he takes the brace off."

"I'll take him down and then head over to Sam's," Paul offered.

FF_2154210_ - 30/11/2010 03:28:00 AM