Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight but Terry... yes my dearies Terry is mine alllllll mine :D

Ch18:Hold This For Me

Leah was unusually quiet as she sat on the patio crocheting a border of shells on the blanket she had knitted for Kim. Using a tiny pair of scissors, she cut the yarn, and then wove the loose end into the stiches, giving the garment a clean finish. Jacob sat nearby with Terry asleep on his lap. She folded the blanket, placing it in a large box lined with dark green tissue paper. The knitted hat, sweater and booties were placed atop the blanket. She placed a small card, indicating the gift was from her and Jacob, in the box and covered it with a hand painted top.

"I'm going over to Kim's to give this to her."

Jacob pushed to his feet. "I'll take you."

"It won't be necessary. It's only down the road."

"I'll still come with you. Wait here for me."

Leah knew it was pointless to argue with Jacob when he got this way. His voice was completely void of emotion. He knew she was upset because he hadn't mentioned that his brother was adopted, and it was more blatant than ever that she knew very little about the man she had married and to whom she had pledged her future. She had closed and locked the pocket doors when he returned.

"I put Terry in the mudroom," Jacob said. They still didn't trust the puppy to have the run of the house because he still had accidents.

They had just reached the front door when the house phone rand. Leah was galvanized into action by the time it rang a third time. She glanced at the display a seconds before picking up the receiver. It was her mother.

"Hello ma."

"Leah, you have to come home."

"Why?"

Jacob saw the fear in Leah's eyes as her hand tightened on the cordless receiver. He couldn't hear what whoever had called had told her, but he knew instinctually it wasn't good news.

"Great gran died in her sleep this morning."

Leah couldn't stop the tears filling her eyes. "No, no, no."

Sue Clearwater's voice was very calm when she said, "We're making travel arrangements. He wants you at the Asheville Regional Airport by six tonight."

Trance like she nodded. "Okay mom. I'll be there at six." It was a full minute before she could bring herself to hang up. She placed the box on the side table. "I have to go back to Florida."

Jacob closed the distance between them, his hands going to her shoulders. "Why?"

"My great grandmother passed away this morning. My family is sending the corporate jet to pick me up at the Asheville airport at six."

Cradling her face, he kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry, babe."

Leah blinked back the tears. Her great grandmother would have turned one hundred six if she had survived the year. Although she had expected that she wouldn't survive too many more years, the fact remained Leah didn't want to lose her.

"Thank you, Jacob." Resting her head on his chest, she counted the strong, steady heartbeats. "I need you to take the box over to Kim and let her know that I had a death in the family, and that I hope to see her before the baby comes."

Even before he could ask whether she wanted him to accompany her, Leah indicated she was going to back to Florida—alone. Jacob knew she didn't need a bodyguard because the Clearwaters would take the steps to protect their own. They were sending a private jet to take her back to Florida, and no doubt she probably would be met with a security detail comparable to those of the Secret Service.

"You better go upstairs and pack. We're going to have to leave within half an hour if you want to make it to the airport by six."

Leah gave a trembling smile. "Will you take care of Terry for me?"

Jacob gave her a look that said he couldn't believe she would ask him something like that. "Of course I'll take care of him." He patted her behind. "Go and pack baby."

Jacob made it to the airport with time to spare. He showed the police officer outside the terminal his shield and FBI picture ID when he parked his SUV at the curb. "I'll be right back as soon as she's boarded." He said softly

The police officer nodded. "No problem."

Taking Leah's hand, he led her into the terminal and to a section of the airport that led to an area where private jets landed and took off. They walked down a gangway and out to the tarmac where a sleek Gulfstream G550 stood, engine revving. The Clearwater logo was emblazoned on the side, and aircraft identifying numbers on the tail. A tall man wearing a business suit stood outside the aircraft talking to a flight attendant. He turned and stared at them.

Leah moved closer to Jacob. "That's Brady."

Jacob stopped. "This is as far as I go." He handed her the single piece of luggage.

Leah turned, her gaze searching her husband's impassive features under the brim of his baseball cap. She dropped her bag and twisted the platinum band off her finger. "Hold this for me until I come back."

Staring at the ring on her outstretched palm, Jacob took it and slipped it into the pocket of his jeans. He leaned over and picked up her bag, handed it to her, then turned on his heels and retraced his steps. Hold this for me until I come back. Her parting words echoed in his head like a litany.

Leah watched Jacob until he disappeared from her line of vision, then she turned to see her brother coming closer and closer until she found herself cradled in his protective embrace.

"Who was that, Lee Lee?"

"My… my bodyguard." She had almost slipped and said her husband.

"Let's board. We still have to make one more stop to pick up some more family."

Brady took her bag while she climbed the steps and walked into the aircraft. Her cousins filled half the seats. They were asleep, reminding her they were on a different time zone. The Clearwaters always gathered in West Palm from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day. There were smaller reunions during the summer and Thanksgiving. Then there were the unexpected reunions that usually meant a death in the family. This was one of those times.

Leah leaned against Seth, praying she wouldn't break down. The funeral mass for their great grandmother was conducted in Quileute, as per wishes of everyone there. She knew she shouldn't cry for a woman whose life had spanned more than a century, but with her great gran's death it meant that the man and woman who had created a family with accomplishments that far exceeded their expectations were gone forever. But what they had left were memories of their stalwart determination to beat the odds.

Everyone had come to West Palm Beach except Quil and Claire Ateara, who was due to give birth any day now. All her younger cousins there were growing so quickly she hardly recognized them. All of the Clearwaters were dark-haired and dark eyed. With the exception of a young cousin who had inherited his grandfather's platinum blond hair and startling light green eyes. Everyone, lined up, walked towards and placed a single rose on the gunmetal-gray casket paying respects to the woman who had been their matriarch for the past years.

Leah felt detached from her family and she knew she should have asked Jacob to come with her. She would celebrate her birthday come August, and she was hiding the fact that she had married like a girl whose parents had forbidden her to see a boy they disapproved of.

Her head popped up when a shadow blocked out the sun. "Hi, Daddy."

Harry Clearwater smiled at his daughter. "May I sit down?"

She patted the seat of the stone bench in the Japanese garden of the West Palm mansion where her great grandparents had raised their four children. "Of course." She leaned against her father's shoulder. The CEO of Clearwater Ltd. for more than three decades, Harry finally retired at sixty turning the reigns over to Brady. His eldest son had taken the company in a direction that defied everything her grandfather Jonathan Clearwater proposed.

Harry's hair was no longer salt-and-pepper but white. It was an attractive contrast to his dark unlined face. He had inherited his mother's delicate features, features he had passed on to Seth.

Putting an arm around his daughter's waist, Harry pulled her closer. "I would like for you to stay in Florida."

"I can't Daddy."

"Why not?" he asked and when she paused he asked again. "Why?"

"I feel at peace in North Carolina."

"You can feel at peace here if you stay with me and your mother."

"You don't understand Daddy."

"I do understand Leah. My hair has turned white worrying about you. Your house in Miami was broken into—"

"When?"

"A couple of weeks ago."

Leah felt a rush of panic that made her lightheaded. "Why didn't you call and tell me?"

"And what would you have done Leah? Jump in your car and drive back to Miami?"

"I… I don't know."

"Let me tell you what I do know. Tyler Crowley's kidnapping was no random act. Even his wife and children have gone into hiding. And it has everything to do with the trial where you are the state's star witness. Last I heard was that Edward Masen asked to be taken off the case. Rumors are he was threatened."

Leah slumped against the back of the bench. Edward Masen had called her and she had refused to speak to him. "Who is replacing him?"

"No one knows. And I'm willing to bet they are not going to get anyone willing to sit on a jury. No jury, no prosecutor means that son of a bitch will walk."

"How can that happen if they have a witness willing to testify?"

"If you live, Leah."

She shook her head. "This is ludicrous. A known drug dealer comes into a hospital E.R. and kills two people before he is shot and he gets a free get out of jail card."

"It's all about drugs, guns and money, sweetheart. These people are ruthless and they don't care who they have to eliminate to get what they want."

"He gets to walk and what happens to me? Do I have to look over my shoulder every time I step out of my house, praying the crazy bastard isn't waiting for me?"

"I don't know what to tell you." Harry kissed the top of her head. "I want you to stay here until the FBI finds Crowley. Right now he is a key piece to a puzzle that is becoming more bizarre with each passing day."

"Can't the Central Intelligence Agency find out something?" she asked.

"The CIA doesn't deal with domestic issues. The FBI does."

"I'm certain he must know some FBI agents."

"Stop it Leah! That's crazy talk. I just buried my grandmother. Please don't make me have to bury you too."

Leah froze. It was the first time in years that she had heard her father raise his voice. "What do you want me to do, Daddy?"

"Stay here until there is word on Tyler Crowley. One way or the other," he added.

She wanted to tell her father that she had left her husband and he was expecting her to come back to him. "I'll think about it."

"When are you going to let me know?"

"Tomorrow." She said quietly.

Shaking his head and blowing out his cheeks, Harry stared at the ground. He had raised his daughter to be strong, but he hadn't realized how strong she was. If she hadn't gone into medicine he was certain she would have become the first female CEO of Clearwater International, Ltd.

Waiting until her father walked back to the house, Leah reached into the pocket of her slacks and took her cell phone out. She had to speak with Jacob. She didn't know his cell phone number, but she prayed he would answer the house phone. It took five rings before Jacob answered.

It took less than three minutes to explain her position and why she had decided to stay in Palm Beach with her parents. Much to her surprise, Jacob agreed with them. He gave her an update on terry and told her he would call her every night at ten. He hung up without saying "I miss you" or "I love you." Leah stared at the tiny phone as if it was something she had never seen before. Then pressed the end button.

LC's Room is in the works of being beta'ed now

& I have another new story lol... ahaha the ideas keep on spinning :)

Already have the last chapter of this story written which should be coming out later

for some reason I couldnt get the action that I wanted in this story without it seeming weird forced and choppy but I hope you like the ending coming soon

but anyways

Review :)

xoxo!