A/N: These wonderful characters still belong to Stephenie Meyer. I'm just kidnapping them for a while.

JPOV

I was somewhat awake as I rolled over and stretched, my feet practically hitting the floor past the end of my bed. It was still dark outside. Not that I expected to have a great night's sleep with everything that was going through my mind, but I tried anyway. All of a sudden lights were flashing across my room from outside. I looked at my clock on the nightstand, and the green lights flashed 1:27 a.m. What the hell was going on at this hour?

I rolled again and lifted myself off the bed to look out my window, and saw my Dad's truck pulling into our driveway. Did someone borrow his truck? What was going on? I got up and put a pair of cutoff sweats on just in case we were having company and I needed to keep my privates covered up.

I walked into the living room and opened the front door, and there was my Dad struggling to get back into his wheelchair from his truck. I ran out to help him, and when he saw me he looked panicked.

"Dad, what are you doing out now? You know it's like one-thirty in the morning?"

"Yeah, Jake, I know. I had to take care of some business and didn't want to wake you." He wasn't meeting my eyes, which made me suspicious.

"What kind of business, Dad?" I folded my arms and looked at him like a parent scolding a child that came in after curfew. That's when I got a whiff of him. I could smell a trace of cool, sickening sweetness on him that could only mean one thing.

"You went to see them, didn't you?" I felt my eyes almost pop out of my head, and I could barely get the words out, but it sounded like I was accusing him of some terrible crime.

He looked shocked for a second at my guess, which only confirmed that I was right. Lowering his eyes, he nodded and said, "Let's go inside and talk."

"You did! You went to the Cullen's place! Have you gone crazy? Are they expecting us to attack now? I can't even believe they let you come back here alive. What were you thinking?"

"Jake, it's a bit chilly out here, don't you think?" He was so calm about this. How could he be? If anything had happened to him…..

"I'm not cold. Tell me why, and exactly what happened." I said, wanting to hear an explanation right then.

He looked up at me with an annoyed expression. "Well, I am getting cold, Jacob, so help me into the house and I'll tell you." Whatever it was he went there for, he wasn't about to tell me out here.

"Fine." I guess he was re-assuming the parental role now.

I wheeled him into the living room and stood in front of him while he took off his coat and hat. Once he was settled he folded his hands in his lap and gave me a look that told me he really wished I was still sleeping.

"Okay," he started. "I went to the Cullen's place, and yes I told them that the treaty has been nullified. I wanted to see if they had any ideas as to how we could avoid any violence. Turns out they already assumed your decision, and were trying to figure out the same thing."

Once I could move my frozen face again, I answered "Yeah, because they're afraid we're going to win! But, Dad, you know as well as I do that we have to go with the council's decision. It can't be avoided now." I was almost yelling at him.

"Jacob, is that what you really want? To start a war that can only end in bloodshed and tragedy?"

I started rubbing my temples. I couldn't really answer him, because the same question had been bugging the crap out of me for the past eight hours. Everything in my head started spinning again. I had been the deciding vote. Did I make the wrong choice at the meeting? How could I turn back now without looking like a complete idiot in front of the whole tribe?

"I don't know what I want." I admitted.

"I don't think you want Bella to be hurt."

"That bloodsucker she loves did that already when he put his fangs into her." As I said the words, it cut me to the bone to think of what happened to her, and that she was basically the one to put me in this position. How could she do this to me?

"So what did they say?" I asked my father.

"I spoke with Dr. Cullen and Edward. Bella was there, too, but she didn't say much. She seemed upset, which is understandable. She did ask about you, though." I snorted and rolled my eyes when he said that, and he continued. "She asked me how you voted."

"What did you tell her?" I didn't like where this was going.

"I told her the truth, son." His eyes were sad again, as if he knew he betrayed me and would do it again if he had to.

I stood there with my arms folded and just shook my head. It's the only thing I could do or else I'd end up phasing right there in the living room. "Great. That's just freaking great, Dad. Thanks, a lot." Well, that finished it. The two people I loved most in the world have turned against me. Bella chose her leech, and my father chose all of them over the tribe.

"Edward didn't say anything specific, but he looked like he might have an idea. I don't think he completely trusted me enough to share it, though."

"Yeah, well, he's not the only one who can't trust you, apparently!"

"Jake, don't' be ridiculous. Try to take a step back and look at this whole situation. Please? I don't want to lose my family or my tribe, and whatever happens it will look very suspicious to outsiders that there are so many sudden unexplained deaths and disappearances. Have you thought about that?"

I wasn't really even trying to register what he was saying. I still couldn't believe he went there. My own father, trying to make friends with an enemy that has threatened our tribe for decades. My life here wasn't what I thought it was. Everything I had come to know and depend on was basically over, even if I survived the battle.

"What do I care? I don't plan to stick around after it's over anyway." I could see he wasn't expecting that response.

"What are you talking about, Jake?" He asked, almost whispering.

"I'm talking about being here after it's over. Don't you see?" The tears started now. Dammit, I didn't want to get this upset.

I caught my breath and continued in a colder voice than I thought I had inside me. "As far as I'm concerned, the past five years have been a nightmare. I loved her so much, Dad. And now you are going against me, too? I'm not sticking around to try to pick up the pieces. I'll leave Sam in charge, and he can figure this mess out. I just want my chance at that bloodsucker that killed Bella, then I'm gone, forever."

I could hear Billy call after me, "Jake, please…" but I just sprinted out the door, barely making it over the threshold before phasing. I was done talking. Talking wasn't getting anybody anywhere now. It was time for action.

Sam, are you out here?

Yeah, Jake. I'm running patrol before the big event.

Listen, get some sleep. We move in three hours, at the break of dawn.

Gotcha – excellent! I just couldn't share Sam's enthusiasm.

I ran for about six miles before finally stopping under a big mossy tree and curling up, whimpering softly to myself until I finally drifted off to sleep.

Seems like a short chapter, but I have to get to work on EPOV. Next chapter Edward reveals his plan. Any guesses?? Your reviews make my day, so please take a moment to let me know what you think. Thanks for reading!!