I do not own these characters.
Chapter 16: Victims in Waiting
EPOV
"I don't know how this happened. I mean I do, but it's crazy. One minute I was in my house, trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up and the next I was wandering the woods as a leader of a broken pack protecting a vampire loving girl who seems hell bent on getting herself killed." Jacob was weary. He sounded much older than I remembered, but also more vulnerable.
"Jacob, what happened?"
"The pack split."
"I know that. We've talked with them. I meant, how did Bella end up with you?"
I heard him exhale.
"She was scared. She still hasn't told me everything that went down, but you've read her blog; you know she was in with a real bloodsucker. Not like you I mean."
"It goes deeper than that, Jacob. Someone was using her. She hasn't spoken about it?"
"She's a mess. Pretty tight lipped about it all. I don't know what happened exactly. She called me, and I went. I didn't think it would be a big deal, but it sort of started World War Three at home."
"I'm confused. I thought you were upset with her too. She said you weren't reading her blog anymore."
"I wasn't, but well, it's Bella. Curiosity got the best of me. Anyway, I couldn't leave her with no one."
I wanted to bang my head against a wall, but Esme would have thrown a fit if I put a hole in the wall.
"I should have been there," I whispered.
"She told me she made you leave."
"I shouldn't have listened."
"Yeah, I have that problem with her too."
"It's all more complicated than you know, Jacob."
"Yeah I kind of figured that out from your messages."
"Thanks for calling."
"I didn't want to," he said with resignation.
"I know."
"Will you come? It's not going to be pretty. Bella knew you'd been calling, and she didn't want me to contact you, and well, you haven't met Leah have you?"
I wasn't actually expecting an invitation, so it took me a second to process it. Once I realized I really had the chance to see her again, nothing else mattered. Even if she wanted nothing to do with me, even if she tried to drive a stake in my heart literally or figuratively, I was going.
In a house of vampires , there would be no sneaking out in the middle of the night. When I clicked the end button, I was almost afraid to leave my room, knowing everyone was fully aware of the conversation I'd just had. My portion of it at least.
"Edward," I looked up to see Rosalie standing in the doorway. "May I come in?"
Her tone was cool but not emotionless; I just couldn't identify exactly which emotion was lurking under the surface. I did not have time for a conversation, but I couldn't' shake the feeling I owed Rosalie something.
I inclined my head in invitation, and she walked in quietly.
I despised the idea of what we were, but vampires were truly amazing creatures. Our strengths were dichotomous. As solid, strong, and heavy as we were, we could glide and float with the greatest grace. Rosalie appeared absolutely regal when she walked. In part, it was her stature before she changed. She's always carried herself with a composed confidence which was easily confused for conceit. I knew better. Better than anyone actually. Underneath that façade, she was no more put together than any of us.
"You better love her," she warned.
"I do," I vowed.
"I mean really love her. "
"I know."
"I'm scared, Edward," she thought. She didn't choose this life, but she had more to love in this one than she had when she was human.
"Me too," I answered out loud. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen, and I have no idea what comes next. Right now though, the thing that scares me the most is that I won't be able to protect her, and you will all be brought into this for nothing."
"I'm mad at you, you know." Even in her head, her tone didn't reveal the anger she claimed to have.
"You should be."
"The family will never be the same, no matter what happens, and that's your fault."
"I'm sorry, Rosalie. I don't know what else to say. I will do what I can to protect you all. I know that probably doesn't' mean anything right now. I just have to see her. After that, well, I don't know . . ." I trailed off not wanting to say out loud that I was sure I would no longer be a part of the family regardless.
She rolled her eyes at me. "The problem is. I can't help but be proud of you too. You've been so stupid, but you deserve love too."
"I wish it were that easy."
"With you, Edward. It's always complicated." She reached over and grabbed my hand. I smiled. I knew a lot more was said in that conversation than anyone else would understand. I didn't want to waste time talking when I had a mission to fulfill, but having Rosalie not brooding in anger had to be a benefit.
It wasn't long before everyone congregated in the living room, and I was arguing my case to make this a solo trip. Emmett and Esme had been out hunting and returned just as the discussion was getting heated.
"Could it be a trap?" Demetri asked. "Do you trust these animals?" He tone was laden with disgust.
"I was wondering the same thing," Rosalie added. She held no love for the werewolves, but her voice reflected more concern. "Anyone could be controlling this. Maybe they are trying to separate us. You don't even know for sure she's there."
"It's not a trap," Alice interjected. "Trust me."
"You're not infallible, Alice," Rosalie argued.
"No, of course things can change, but my vision indicates to no danger."
"What do you see?" Felix questioned.
"It's personal." Alice smiled at me. "I think you should get going, Edward."
"Who's going with him?" Demetri demanded.
"No one," I insisted. "I need to do this on my own."
"You're going to walk into a pack of wolves by yourself?"
I shrugged. "I think it's actually safer than if I bring anyone else."
"He should definitely be alone," Alice added.
"Listen, I have no idea what's coming, but you all know I'll return. I have to talk to Bella, and I need to see what information I can get from her. But I'm also trying to figure out where she is safest at the moment, and it may be here."
"You want to bring wolves here?" Emmett asked and then laughed. "Classic."
"And you think you have no heart," Esme thought. I shook my head slightly at her.
"I don't know what's going to happen, but since it's just the three of them and Bella, I don't see how I can leave them out there on their own. I'll touch base after I've had a chance to talk with Jake more. I'll need to get going though if I'm going to get a chance to discuss strategy with him before Bella wakes up."
Felix looked at me with an odd expression. "We're trusting you," he thought.
"Huh, funny, I was thinking the same thing."
No one else tried to stop me; they knew it was pointless. No one else volunteered to accompany me again. I didn't know whether that was because it didn't seem like a pleasant job, they didn't' want to spend time with me, or they were in tune to the fact that I needed to do this on my own.
I ran. I spent so much time running away from Bella. I loved running like this better. Going forward. Free. Fast. Alone. I ran on instinct for the most part. They weren't that far away. I had to admit it had been a fairly wise move on Jacob's part. He must have assumed that if push came to shove the pack wouldn't leave him hanging out to dry. Whether he realized the other tactical benefit or not, I couldn't' say, but it was sometimes easier to hide practically in plain sight. After all, with such a distinctive scent, our kind might simply assume they were part of the original pack. Jacob had given me the basic coordinates, but I asked him to refrain from specifics until I got out of the house. I called him as I got closer, and he gave me some milestones to look for. Once I picked up the scent, the rest was easy.
It was around 4:30 when I got there. Still dark.
"Hey," Jacob greeted me. I swear the kid was even bigger than the last time I saw him. Except he wasn't really a kid anymore. He looked like he sounded. Older, weary. Whatever edge I remembered about him was gone. He was just a guy, one with whom I shared a number of problems, one of whom was a woman we both loved.
"Where are they?" I asked. I tried to listen for dreams, but I didn't hear anything. I could pick out the faint sounds of breathing, and then I honed in on it. The beating of three hearts. I knew which one was hers instantly.
"A little further. I met you on the perimeter of the camp. Thought I should prepare you first."
"For what?"
"I don't know how they're going to react," he admitted.
"You already mentioned that," I was anxious at this point. Too much talking, too much waiting. I
"Her either."
"I know."
"She's been unpredictable. I'm kind of worried about her." For the first time, it hit me. I knew he was concerned, but all of this was a total act of desperation. How had Jacob Black mustered enough courage to call me? The one person who stood between him and the woman he loved. His mind flashed images of Bella; I could feel his heartache and his eventual realization that he had to let her go.
"I'm not expecting a happily ever after, Jacob. But I appreciate this more than you can know. At the very least, I need to be honest with her, for once. I don't expect that I'm going to come out of all of this unscathed."
"No one will attack if I tell them not to."
"Except Bella."
"Yeah, except her." he kind of chuckled to himself. "Who'd have thought huh?"
"Anyway, I didn't mean tonight. I meant in general. Our world is about to be turned inside out. But the others must have known you were thinking of calling," I said motioning toward where I had ascertained they were sleeping.
"Yeah, they won't be surprised to see you here, but Leah's going to be pretty pissed off."
"Seth?"
"He goes with the flow; he'll trust me." He inhaled, and his eyes narrowed. "I'm kind of surprised you're here alone."
"Leap of faith," I shrugged.
"Is everyone," he waved his hand at me to indicate which 'everyone' he meant, "In Forks now?"
"Yeah, and more are coming. We're using the house there as a place of organization."
"Holy shit." He picked up a rock and threw it. I assumed it was a nervous habit. I remembered him doing that when we me the last time. "You met with the pack?"
"Yes, we met yesterday. They're not happy, but there wasn't much they could do. Carlisle seems to think it would be wise to keep them close. I think maybe you and he have something in common. You both think they will see reason if the time comes."
"You don't?"
I had to think about it. "They are very reactionary; I'm not sure what to think."
"I'm one of them. You think I'm reactionary?"
By nature, the werewolves struck me as emotional, knee jerk types. The whole concept of phasing was a volatile reaction after all. Something about Jacob didn't mesh with that impression.
"Bella seems to believe you are. Most of what I know, I've read in the blogs, but no, I don't think you are. Not the same way."
"They all think I'm stupid or crazy."
"You probably are. Hell, we both are. My family thinks the same thing."
We both laughed.
We spent the next hour talking about what we knew, which was limited. She remained tight lipped with him. The only thing he was sure of is that after I left her, something had happened to scare her enough to come to him. The three of them watched her closely because she began suggesting she'd made a mistake bringing them into it. That it would be better if she went off on her own. She had moments where she completely lost it; others where she was completely angry. Her emotions were all over the place, and it was wearing them all down.
"We can't stay here forever. I just don't know where else to go."
"You can come back with me."
"You're inviting a pack of werewolves designed to kill you to stay at your house? Like a slumber party?" He shook his head, but then his face contorted. "I don't know what's crazier, you asking or me thinking it might be the only option I have. Would she be safe there?"
I swallowed nonexistent saliva. It was a habit. Years of pretending to be human led us adopt certain mannerisms. They bought you time.
"I don't know if she's safe anywhere anymore. I thought maybe she was best here with you, but now I'm not so sure. "
"God, I want to be pissed at you. I had a moment where I thought, 'I could take him' when I realized you were here alone. I knew I had Seth and Leah to back me up."
"Why didn't you?"
"I don't know. I can't help but think you didn't mean for any of this to happen. I know why you left in the first place, and you had no idea she'd make such a mess of things. You made some stupid moves, but then so did she. So did I. I guess it's just human nature. Well, I mean. You know."
I gave a half smile. "Strange bedfellows, eh?"
Seth woke up first. He heard us talking. If I'd ever considered Jacob a kid, I hadn't had Seth to compare him too. He was big; they were all big, but he was the smallest among them. Clearly the youngest as well. Probably not even shaving yet.
He introduced himself with a handshake. "I'm glad you came. Maybe you can help her," he said looking back over his shoulder. "She's very scared. We keep trying to make her feel better, but . . ."
"It's okay, Seth. You are doing your best," Jacob patted Seth on the back to comfort him.
They both tried to prepare me for the reaction I was going to get from Leah. As expected she was bitter, but she reminded me a lot of Rosalie. It wasn't about me, per se. I could hear that in her thoughts; she was scared, and lashing out was her way of handling it. She hadn't left the pack because she was committed to helping a human. She was here to protect her brother and to get away from her ex fiancé. I thought about Rosalie again. The feeling of betrayal, the way it warped your perspective on what people wanted from you. I couldn't help it. Leah spat insults at me, and I smiled back. I had a feeling I would grow to like her.
Jacob and I filled them in while Leah scowled and Seth sat wide eyed listening to us talk. All four of us had impeccable hearing, but they weren't privy to the fact that she'd entered a new sleep stage. I knew she was close to waking, because I could hear her dreaming. It was nothing I recognized. Just random images. Until the end. Just before she woke up, she saw a face. With red eyes. Her own scream woke her up. I jumped up rapidly. Everyone was on their feet; their hearts were racing.
"It was a dream," I whispered to calm them, but Jacob had already taken off toward her.
"Things are about to get very interesting," Leah smiled. "She's not going to like this one bit. I've never seen a crazy girl go ape shit."
"Leah," Seth groaned.
"If I have to deal with his disgusting smell, I'm at least going to have fun with this." She sat down on a rock and waited, like a show was about to begin.
Seth shook his head, "Sorry," he said looking at me.
"Don't worry about it," I dismissed him quickly. My ears were trained on what was happening just out of eyeshot. I inched my way closer; I didn't need to close the distance to hear, but she was there. In an instant, I could be at her side, touching her cheek or kissing her lips.
Of course in that same moment she'd be screaming and pushing me away. I would have gone, but Jacob must have sensed me.
"Not yet," he warned. "Let me tell her first."
I heeded. To a point. I got just close enough that I caught a glimpse of her through the trees.
"Stay the fuck back," Jacob demanded. I stopped, though I hadn't actually intended to move any closer.
He comforted her, asked her about the dream. She shook her head, refused both to answer and to be calmed. I couldn't see her eyes, but a hint of her hand came into view. She was thin. Too thin. Her speech was almost incoherent as she ranted leaving her alone. She was tired. Too tired.
Jacob tried several times to interrupt her. "I have something . . ." he began. "You're not going to . . .," he continued. "I need to tell you . . .," he tried again.
In the end, there was no warning. She had begun to pace. I didn't move. Frozen in my spot. I just wanted her to know I was here. For better or worse, I was ready to face her again. I leaned slightly to see her expression. "Jake, you can't hold me prisoner anymore. You need to go back to the pack."
I could hear his frustration building. When she claimed he held her against her will, it made him angry. "Easy, Jacob," I whispered in a voice so low no human could hear it. He flicked his hand back toward me imperceptibly. Or so I thought. Bella had always been more perceptive than others. Her eyes followed his hand, and I tucked myself back away. She couldn't have seen or heard anything. It would have been impossible. Yet her eyes fixated on the tree right in front of me. She took several small steps toward where I stood.
Jacob, reached a hand out to block her. "You need to listen to me," he insisted.
She shook her head, and pushed his hand. The force didn't make a dent, but he pulled it back anyway.
She took a breath. "Edward," she said. It wasn't a question. There was almost no inflection to it. A declarative statement.
"How did you . . .?" Jacob questioned. She held her index finger up to her mouth and shot him a look filled with daggers. He stopped talking and stood there with his mouth hanging open
She didn't move. She planted herself in that spot. Legs spread a about hip distance apart. Fists clenched at her side. The situation was impossible. She didn't want me here. A war was brewing. Three wolves could overtake me at any second, but I only saw the girl I fell in love with. The spitfire.
"Well," she said calmly. "I'm waiting."
I made my feet move. I wanted to hide and watch her. I wanted to see her determined expression. The very one Jacob tried to tell me I stole from her. But I had promised honesty. No more waiting. It was painful to move so slowly, but I didn't want to scare her.
I didn't go too far, just out into the open where she could get a full look at me. I watched as a smile began to form on her face. I'd like to think I smiled back, but I may have been too shocked by the sight of her.
She began to move toward me, picking up speed as she narrowed the distance. I didn't move my gaze from her eyes. They were filled with so much emotion. People talk about peoples' eyes as reflective pools, but this was like muck. Dirty brown muck. That isn't to say her eyes were ugly, but you could see the mess that lay within, and I knew I was the cause of it all.
It was probably why I missed the right hook that connected with my jaw. I was stunned by the impact, not because it hurt but because whatever "it' was still manifested itself when our skin connected.
"FUCK!" Bella yelled, grabbing her right hand with her left. She fell to the ground and threw her head back. "Oh my god, it hurts," she cried rocking herself back and forth.
"Damn it, Bella!" Jacob interjected. "When are you going to keep your punches for humans?"
He tried to sit down next to her but she glared at him. "Stay the fuck away from me. How dare you!"
"Bella," he pleaded.
She looked away.
"Will you let me look at it?" Their eyes whipped to me. It was the first I'd spoken. I held my hands out like I was approaching a rabid dog. "It could be broken. I have medical training."
Bella laughed. She fucking laughed. "Oh but of course you do."
"Please?" I asked.
"No."
"Bella," Jacob begged again. "Just let him look."
"No," she insisted.
"Hey Bella?" Leah's voice called out. "Want me to come sit by you? I won't let him do anything but look at your hand."
It was all comical. Three wolves and a vampire, and we were treating the fragile human girl like she was the dangerous one.
Leah had a smirk on her face. She appreciated the feistier side of Bella. None of them had ever seen her strength, not like I had. Her determination wasn't gone. It was always there; just not with Jacob. They had seen her lost, defeated, and resigned. The minute I walked out from behind the tree, she stood tall, fierce, literally swinging. Jacob had called it her best quality, and it was most evident in reaction to me.
Bella was shaking slightly from the pain but she nodded. Leah approached slowly and plopped down next to her. "Okay, work your magic," she said while patting Bella's back. It was a double meaning. She was challenging me to fix more than Bella's hand.
I barely needed an exam to tell she had broken something, maybe more than one bone. "Bella, you need a doctor."
"What I need is for you all to leave me alone," she tried to play tough. She attempted to straighten her fingers but ended up wincing in pain. "Crap. I hate hospitals."
"Carlisle can help. You don't have to go to the hospital."
"Your dad?"
I nodded.
"He's back?"
"We're all back. Sort of. It's complicated."
"Tell me something I don't know," she chuckled.
I ignored her joke. "I will. I was hoping to talk when everyone wasn't around, but you need to see a doctor."
"So, after all these years, I'm finally going to meet your parents?"
"So it seems."
"Great. I haven't showered in a week, and I'm highly emotional. I'll stink and I'll cry. Can't wait for that first impression."
"Don't worry. No one will notice the smell over these three," I said.
"Oh no! no fucking way!" Leah protested. She looked to Jacob. "I'm not going back there."
Jacob followed her when stormed off.
"I almost feel sorry for the guy. He's been dealing with a lot of estrogen here," I joked.
"You're not off the hook yet," Bella stated.
"I know. But neither are you." I stared into her eyes, searching for some indication of what the future might hold. She gave nothing away. She went to brush a stray hair from her face, and accidentally used her broken hand. She let out a squeal of pain. "Come on, let's get you checked out."
I stood up and held my hand out to her good side. She accepted. She jumped slightly at the initial shock of our touch. She looked down, but I saw the smile on her face. I pulled gently to help her up. She tried to make a quick getaway, but I wasn't going to let that happen. I grabbed her waist to bring her close so I could whisper in her ear.
"I know we have a lot to talk about. There is so much I need to tell you, but please know just one thing. I love you. You can be mad; you can try to run; you choose not to love me back, but it will never change how I feel about you."
She kept her head down, but I saw the slight nod. I could hear her swallow hard, and I smelled the salt of the tears. I didn't know what I expected her to say; she surprised me. As she always did. "You're such a shit, Edward. Lie after lie. Well not even really a lie. You just never told me a damn thing. Not one fucking thing. After all these years, you pick now for honesty?"
"I promised myself if I saw you alive again it would be the first thing I told you. I should have told you before. It was just all so confusing, and I wanted to protect you, and then you said . . . well you remember. But in your blog you claimed you lied. I'm so sick of the lies and the hiding, Bella. So, yes, I choose now for honestly."
"How convenient for you. It's a lot easier to be honest when everything's falling apart, huh? And why should I believe you anyway? Maybe you just want something from me too."
"Of course I want something. I want you. God Bella, you have to know. The only thing that matters to me now is keeping you alive. What I felt . . . what I feel . . . with you isn't something I could fake. One of the last things you said to me was, 'let's not compare lies.' How about we compare truths? Just tell me the truth. It won't change the fact that I will protect you, but I need to know."
"Need to know what? That I love you?"
"Do you?"
"I don't know how you could have believed anything else." She didn't say it, but she didn't have to yet. She was too conflicted.
"Because I'm a shit."
"We finally agree on something."
It was an uncomfortable understanding. I could wait. I'd been doing little else lately. I was used to waiting for things I cared far less about than this. I could wait forever for her to say those three words again.
E/N: I wasn't sure when I'd get this up given ff issues, but here it is. SHE'S BACK! Was her reaction what you expected? We still need more from her on what happened to take her to Jake. And of course, we're still waiting on Eleazar to return.
So my question of the week . . . at this point, name one vampire you think will definitely make their way into the story?
Thanks to hmonster4 as always. She wrote a Support Stacey auction piece for Daisy3853 called Divinity and Redemption that is all kinds of win. It's a great Emmett/Rosalie novella. Special love to H also since I got my early birthday present this week. She bid on the support Stacey auction on my behalf. Americnxidiot wrote a lovely 2nd epi to Beautiful Beat. Love to staceygirl/jackbauer for another set of eyes.
Voting started this week in the For the Love of Jasper contest. My one shot goes up in the second round next week, but there are great options for voting this week too.
